Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 22, 2010:
PhysOrg.com is the official media sponsor of the SPIE Photonics West 2011
SPIE Photonics West is the world's most important photonics and laser technical event. This is the event for lasers, MEMS/MOEMS, optoelectronics, biomedical optics and the spectrum of light-driven technologies. Every year over 18,000 people gather from around the world to explore the latest advancements in research and technologies. Photonics West's culture of innovation is driven by the scope of its presented research and the far-reaching impact of the solutions seen in the exhibition hall. For more information: http://spie.org/photonics-west.xml?WT.mc_id=RPW11PHYSBVE
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Damaging graphene to create a band gap- Uptake protein acts as zinc's doorway to the cell
- New function of gene in promoting cancer found
- Sensory detection and discrimination: Study reveals neural basis of rapid brain adaptation
- Banking on predictability, the mind increases efficiency
- Report suggests more rigorous assessment of nanosilver use
- End to cheap coal closer than we thought?
- Making stars: Studies show how cosmic dust and gas shape galaxy evolution
- Breakthrough could lead to disposable e-readers
- Ultrathin alternative to silicon for future electronics
- Researchers kick-start ancient DNA
- Breakthrough with mutant gene that causes familial form of Lou Gehrig's disease
- New tool detects Ebola, Marburg quickly, easily
- Flexible wings driven by simple oscillation may be viable for efficient micro air vehicles
- Adding face shields to helmets could help avoid blast-induced brain injuries
Space & Earth news
Scientists call for protection of Australia's subtropic seas
Leading scientists and marine managers have called for a greater national effort to protect vital 1000-kilometre stretches in the middle of Australia's eastern and western coastlines.
Why do the ionized gas clouds stream out from galaxies?
Using the Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam) in their observations of the Coma Cluster, researchers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Hiroshima University, the University of Tokyo, and other institutes have discovered 14 galaxies accompanied by extended, ionized hydrogen clouds.
Indonesia declares protected zone to save coral reefs
Indonesia on Sunday declared the coral-rich waters around Bali -- a popular scuba diving spot which is home to the giant Mola-Mola ocean sunfish -- a protected zone.
Classified spy satellite launched from Fla.
(AP) -- The Air Force has launched a new classified spy satellite.
Successful launch for NASA's microsatellite FASTSAT
NASA's Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite, or FASTSAT, launched at 7:25 p.m. CST Friday aboard a Minotaur IV rocket from Kodiak Launch Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. FASTSAT is a unique platform that can carry multiple small payloads to low-Earth orbit creating opportunities for researchers to conduct low-cost scientific and technology research on an autonomous satellite in space.
'M8' earthquake simulation breaks computational records, promises better quake models
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers has presented the world's most advanced earthquake shaking simulation at the Supercomputing 2010 (SC10) conference held this week in New Orleans. The research was selected as a finalist for the Gordon Bell prize, awarded at the annual conference for outstanding achievement in high-performance computing applications.
US launches giant eavesdropping satellite
The United States has placed in orbit a vast reconnaissance satellite reputed to be the largest eavesdropping device ever launched into space.
Hybrid tugboat cuts emissions, study shows
A new study by University of California, Riverside scientists of what is believed to be the world's only hybrid electric tugboat found that the vessel is effective in reducing emissions at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Canada accused of trying to kill US, EU clean fuel policies
Environmentalists on Monday accused Canada of attempting to kill proposed US and EU clean energy policies in order to protect its oil exports.
Study could mean greater anticipated global warming
Global climate models disagree widely in the magnitude of the warming we can expect with increasing carbon dioxide. This is mainly because the models represent clouds differently. A new modeling approach successfully simulates the observed cloud fields in a key region for climate. The study finds a greater tendency for clouds to thin with global warming than in any of the current climate models. This means the expected warming may be greater than currently anticipated.
Scientists start to piece together damage puzzle of BP spill
The search for what the BP oil well blowout did to the Gulf of Mexico already has gone to extraordinary lengths: more than 125 research cruises covering hundreds of square miles and taking thousands of water and sediment samples.
The Amazon: from wetland to river
(PhysOrg.com) -- How do you turn a mega wetland into the world's largest river? By continental tilting, suggests an international team led by a University of Sydney group.
Profiling the largest solar explosions
Solar flares – they're big and they're fast. They can knock out a satellite or create a beautiful aurora. And the jury is still out on what causes these explosions.
End to cheap coal closer than we thought?
(PhysOrg.com) -- A report entitled "The End of Cheap Coal," published in the journal Nature by Richard Heinberg and David Fridley, suggests we may reach peak coal in the next two decades.
Making stars: Studies show how cosmic dust and gas shape galaxy evolution
Astronomers find cosmic dust annoying when it blocks their view of the heavens, but without it the universe would be devoid of stars. Cosmic dust is the indispensable ingredient for making stars and for understanding how primordial diffuse gas clouds assemble themselves into full-blown galaxies.
Technology news
World's most powerful base station controller helps GSM operators save on energy costs
Nokia Siemens Networks has introduced a new Flexi BSC (base station controller) that offers up to 80% reduction in energy consumption along with a 40% increase in capacity over existing base station controllers.
New test method for solar cells into production
These years, many universities and companies are working to create efficient and cheap polymer solar cells, so-called third generation solar cells. This means a shift from few handmade laboratory cells to very large series, produced by machine. It requires lots of tests. However, existing test methods are slow and cumbersome. Therefore, scientists from the Solar Energy Programme at Risø DTU have now developed a faster and better test method.
Cyberthieves still rely on human foot soldiers
(AP) -- Sitting at a computer somewhere overseas in January 2009, computer hackers went phishing.
China Internet firms made to apologise over feud
Two of China's leading Internet firms have been forced by the government to issue public apologies over a nasty spat marked by accusations of unfair market practices and privacy infringement.
Cadillac Aera concept wins 7th annual L.A. design challenge
The Cadillac Aera concept vehicle won the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, tying with Smart and besting entries from seven other automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Maybach. GM Advanced Design has now won the honor more times than any other design team; this is its third victory since 2005.
New Globus Online service to use the grid for high-performance file transfer
A new tool that will provide secure file–transfer service to manage large–scale data was introduced Nov. 18 at an international conference in New Orleans. Globus Online, which will use a cloud–based system rather than complex, custom information technology infrastructure, was displayed at SC10, an international conference for high–performance computing, networking, storage and analysis.
WikiLeaks: New release 7 times size of Iraq logs
(AP) -- WikiLeaks' next release will be seven times the size of the Iraq war logs, already the biggest leak in U.S. intelligence history, the website said Monday.
Netflix shares soar on new streaming-only plan
Netflix shares soared on Monday after the US video rental giant announced a subscription plan for unlimited streaming of movies and television shows over the Web that does not require signing up to rent and receive DVDs by mail.
HP's fiscal 4Q tops Wall Street estimates
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s net income rose 5 percent in the latest quarter as it benefited from stronger corporate spending, even as consumer and government demand throughout the industry have wobbled.
Jet engine too hot? Schedule an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a medical imaging technology used to image organs and soft tissues, may hold the key to improving the efficiency of jet engines, according to Lt. Colonel Michael Benson, a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.
Verizon grabs for Internet speed crown in new plan
(AP) -- Verizon Communications Inc. is zooming past cable-company competitors by tripling the top download speed of its FiOS Internet service to 150 megabits per second, or 50 times faster than a typical DSL line.
When the playroom is the computer
For all the work that's gone into developing educational media, even the most stimulating TV shows and video games leave kids stationary. Researchers at the MIT Media Laboratory are hoping to change that with a system called Playtime Computing, which gives new meaning to the term "computing environment."
Flexible wings driven by simple oscillation may be viable for efficient micro air vehicles
In the future, tiny air vehicles may be able to fly through cracks in concrete to search for earthquake victims, explore a contaminated building or conduct surveillance missions for the military. But today, designing the best flying mechanism for these miniature aerial machines is still a challenging task.
Novell draws new bid of $2.2 billion
Novell Inc. has tried many times to turn itself around since it began slipping from its place as the No. 1 provider of computer network software back in the 1990s - one such effort even spearheaded by Eric Schmidt before he became Google Inc.'s CEO.
Tech-savvy put explosion of data to work
Sitting in a cafe in Sydney awhile back, Danny Kennedy and Andrew Birch mused about all the valuable free data Microsoft and Google float out on the Internet. In particular, they wondered if they could tap into the tech giants' mapping services to remotely design rooftop solar energy systems using satellite images and aerial photos.
Medicine & Health news
People with paraplegia can find help in new spinal implant
Engineers have developed a new type of microchip muscle stimulator implant that will enable people with paraplegia to exercise their paralysed leg muscles.
For burns at home, knowing first-aid technique is key
For many, Thanksgiving means home-cooked meals: stuffing on the stove and turkey from the oven. But if you’re not careful, a hot pan could mean a painful burn instead of a tasty dinner.
Loyola trauma, burn surgeon gives tips to safely prepare holiday bird
Aficionados agree that deep-frying a turkey is the best way to prepare the most flavorful and moist version of the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal.
Daily hemodialysis helps protect kidney patients' hearts
Frequent hemodialysis improved left ventricular mass (heart size) and self-reported physical health compared to conventional hemodialysis for kidney failure, according to the Frequent Hemodialysis Network (FHN) Daily Trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Results were published online Nov. 20, 2010, in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with a presentation at the American Society of Nephrology meeting in Denver.
Economic benefits of the global polio eradication initiative estimated at $40-50 billion
A new study released today estimates that the global initiative to eradicate polio could provide net benefits of at least US$40-50 billion if transmission of wild polioviruses is interrupted within the next five years. The study provides the first rigorous evaluation of the benefits and costs of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)--the single largest project ever undertaken by the global health community. The study comes at a crucial time--following an outbreak in the Republic of the Congo and one in Tajikistan earlier this year—that highlight the risk of delays in finishing the job on polio.
Targeted breast ultrasound plays key role in evaluating breast abnormalities in women younger than 40
Targeted breast ultrasound should be the primary imaging technique used to evaluate focal (confined) breast signs and symptoms in women younger than 30, according to a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
True whole-body field view using PET/CT could allow doctors to more accurately manage cancer patients
When using combined positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) imaging, adopting a true whole-body field of view in the imaging of cancer patients could lead to more accurate staging and restaging than achieved with the routinely used limited whole-body field of view, according to a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. PET/CT is a dual imaging technique that is used to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers.
For HIV-positive patients, delayed treatment a costly decision
HIV infected patients whose treatment is delayed not only become sicker than those treated earlier, but also require tens of thousands of dollars more in care over the first several years of their treatment.
Military experts provide civilian surgeons with guidance on handling bomb blast injuries
Hospitals all over the world need to be aware of how to treat emergency blast injuries and military surgeons can provide valuable knowledge and advice to their civilian counterparts based on their experience of battlefield injuries. That is the driving force behind two papers published online by BJS, the British Journal of Surgery.
World Health Report 2010 balanced but incomplete account of how to achieve universal health coverage
With the financial crisis still hanging over many countries, this year's World Health Report from the World Health Organization, "Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage" is timely and relevant to the question of how to ensure that all people have access to health care services, without suffering financial hardship.
Breast milk sugar promotes colitis in offspring
A sugar found in mouse breast milk promotes the generation of colitis in offspring, according to a study published online on November 22 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine .
Exercise may improve complications of deep vein thrombosis
A pilot trial showed that a six-month exercise training program designed to increase leg strength, leg flexibility and overall fitness may improve post-thrombotic syndrome, a frequent, chronic complication of deep vein thrombosis, states a research article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
New clinical practice guideline may help reduce the pain of childhood immunization
A new evidence-based clinical practice guideline will help doctors, healthcare providers and parents reduce the pain and distress of immunization in children, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Very low birthweight Down syndrome infants at high risk for heart, lung disorders
Very low birthweight Down syndrome infants are at higher risk for disorders of the heart and lungs than are very low birthweight infants who do not have a chromosomal variation, according to a study by a National Institutes of Health research network.
Research reveals UK's north-south divide in vitamin D deprivation
(PhysOrg.com) -- Women in the north of the UK are more deprived of vitamin D from sunlight than their southern counterparts.
Study finds aggressive surgery is best for children with brain tumors
A new Mayo Clinic study found that children with low-grade brain tumors (gliomas) who undergo aggressive surgery to completely remove the tumor have an increased chance of overall survival. If complete removal is not possible, adding radiation therapy to a less complete surgery provides patients with the same outcomes as a complete removal. This study was presented at the Society for NeuroOncology Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day in Montreal on Nov. 21.
Feds are investigating drinking glasses with lead
(AP) -- Federal regulators launched an investigation Monday into lead levels in drinking glasses depicting comic book and movie characters, declaring that the items are subject to standards for "children's products."
Implanted devices as effective in 'real world' as in clinical trial settings
Implanted devices that treat cardiac dysfunction in heart failure patients are as successful in "real world" use as they are in controlled clinical trial settings, according to a large new study reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Study examines risk of bleeding among patients taking 2 anti-platelet drugs
treatment with the medications clopidogrel and aspirin together to prevent blood clots—poses a clinically significant risk of hemorrhage that should be considered before prescribing, according to a report in the November 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Black children more likely to die from neuroblastoma, study finds
Black, Asian, and Native American children are more likely than white and Hispanic children to die after being treated for neuroblastoma, according to new research on the pediatric cancer. The study, of more than 3,500 patients with the disease, is the largest ever to look at racial disparities in risk and survival for the most common solid cancer found in young children.
Lower-income families with high-deductible health plans may put off care because of costs
Lower-income families in high-deductible health plans appear more likely to delay or forgo medical care based on cost than higher-income families with similar coverage, according to a report in the November 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. However, lower-income families did not report any more troubles understanding or using their plans.
Spontaneous mutations important cause of mental retardation
New research by Dutch geneticists affiliated with the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre demonstrates that spontaneous mutations are an important cause of mental retardation. The majority of mental retardation is caused by spontaneous mutations in paternal sperm or maternal egg cells, the scientists say.
In Brief: New drug slims down mice
A treatment that blocks the action of ghrelin—a peptide that has been called a "hunger hormone" -- leads to weight loss and other beneficial metabolic effects in mice, according to new research.
Kids' ER visits fell after cold medicines' removal
Removing cough and cold medicines for very young children from store shelves led to a big decline in emergency room visits for bad reactions to the drugs, government research found.
Prostate cancer clinical stage does not predict recurrence
A new study challenges the current staging system that determines the extent or severity of prostate cancer that has not metastasized. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study found that there is no link between localized prostate cancer's clinical stage and a patient's risk of cancer recurrence after having his prostate removed.
Hong Kong bird flu patient improves
Hong Kong health authorities said a woman who contracted bird flu was moved from intensive care Monday after her condition improved, as fears of an outbreak linked to the case eased.
Melamine-tainted drinks emerge again in China: report
Authorities in central China are searching for a batch of dairy products containing high levels of melamine, the chemical that killed six babies and sickened 300,000 others in 2008, state media said Monday.
80% university students mentally stressed
More than 80 percent of university students are struggling with psychological distress with almost one-fifth of these classified as having a serious mental illness, according to a UQ study.
30 new gene variants linked to Crohn's disease
An international team of scientists, including researchers from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, have found 30 new gene variants associated with the risk of Crohns disease. The results of the study provide valuable insight into the causal mechanisms of the disease, and offer hope of developing new drugs to prevent bowel inflammation in the future.
Poll: Boomers unhappiest over their own sex life
(AP) -- Baby boomers are the unhappiest age group when it comes to their sex life.
Benefits of more frequent dialysis shown in new study
(PhysOrg.com) -- More frequent dialysis — six times a week versus the conventional three times a week — results in improved heart structure and self-reported physical health for patients with kidney failure, according to a new study led by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine published online Nov. 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Health-improving tattoos
Heather Clark isn’t your average tattoo artist. She won't take requests, and her tattoos won’t be permanent. They won’t even make people look hip — but they will keep them healthier.
Understanding ageing by studying reproduction benefits
Do examples of rejuvenation exist in nature? Yes, during reproduction! For the first time, a team from the Laboratoire de Biologie Moleculaire de la Cellule at CNRS (France) has managed to visualize, in the model organism C. elegans, the sudden "rejuvenation" of oocytes just before fertilization. Published in the journal Aging Cell, this work opens new avenues for understanding ageing and the diseases that are associated with it.
New sleep cycle discovery explains why fatty diets during pregnancy make kids obese
The link between sleeping and obesity is drawn tighter as a new research published online in the FASEB Journal study shows that what your mother ate when she was pregnant may make you obese or overweight by altering the function of genes (epigenetic changes) that regulate circadian rhythm. In the report, pregnant primate females consuming a high-fat diet altered the function of fetal genes that regulate circadian rhythm (including appetite and food intake) during development. The offspring also had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Sleep program needed for IT engineers
Insomnia is bad news for software engineers' quality of life and deserves greater recognition and attention, according to new research by Sara Sarrafi Zadeh and Khyrunnisa Begum from the University of Mysore in India. Their work shows that poor sleep has a bearing on quality of life - affecting physical and mental health in particular - in this group with high levels of job-related stress. Their paper is published online in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.
Protein found to predict brain injury in children on 'ECMO' life support
Johns Hopkins Children's Center scientists have discovered that high blood levels of a protein commonly found in the central nervous system can predict brain injury and death in critically ill children on a form of life support called extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO.
Study ties parental divorce in childhood to stroke in adulthood
Children who experience a parental divorce are over twice as likely to suffer a stroke at some point in their lives, according to new research presented in New Orleans at The Gerontological Society of America's (GSA) 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting.
Fat yet muscular mouse provides clues to improving cardiovascular health
A fat yet muscular mouse is helping researchers learn whether more muscle improves the cardiovascular health of obese individuals.
Late-preterm babies at greater risk for problems later in childhood
Late-preterm babies – those born between 34 and 36 weeks – are at an increased risk for cognitive and emotional problems, regardless of maternal IQ or demographics, according to new research published by Michigan State University researchers in the current edition of the journal Pediatrics.
More than half of depression patients give up their treatment
Most patients who take anti-depressants give up their treatment in less than six months, the minimum period recommended for treating severe depression and other derived pathologies. This is the conclusion of a new study carried out by Catalan researchers, which reveals that only 25% continue their treatment for more than 11 months.
Hong Kong hospital reports possible airborne influenza transmission
Direct contact and droplets are the primary ways influenza spreads. Under certain conditions, however, aerosol transmission is possible. In a study published in the current issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, available online, the authors examined such an outbreak in their own hospital in Hong Kong.
Method for manufacturing patient-specific human platelets
Skin cells from humans can be revamped into pro-clotting cells called platelets, according to a study published on November 22 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Patients with diseases causing thrombocytopenia—platelet deficiency—often require repeated transfusions with platelets obtained from healthy donors.
US gonorrhea rate at record low, other STDs rise
(AP) -- A new government report on sexually spread diseases shows gonorrhea in the United States has dipped to the lowest rate ever recorded.
Concussions change brains
(PhysOrg.com) -- The high incidence of concussions in contact sports and the risk of traumatic brain injury are a major cause for concern.
Cholesterol drug shows benefits for kidney patients
(PhysOrg.com) -- A combination drug that lowers levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood can benefit people with chronic kidney disease and is safe, a study led by the Clinical Trial Service Unit at Oxford University has found.
Overweight primarily a problem among wealthier women in low- to middle-income countries
A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) finds that high body mass index (BMI) in developing countries remains primarily a problem of the rich. The findings suggest that the shift towards overweight and obesity among the poor that has already happened in wealthier countries has not yet happened in developing countries.
Perceptual training improves vision of the elderly
Elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training, according to a study from the University of California, Riverside and Boston University that has implications for the health and mobility of senior citizens.
Haiti cholera toll hits 1,344: officials
Haitian health officials said Monday that at least 1,344 people have died from a worsening cholera epidemic that has ravaged the country since mid-October.
A divide and conquer strategy for childhood brain cancer
Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors of childhood, with 40 to 50 percent overall mortality. One of the greatest challenges in treating them is that they vary substantially from patient to patient. In the largest genomic study of human medulloblastomas to date, researchers from Children's Hospital Boston, together with collaborators, have identified six subtypes with distinct molecular "fingerprints" that will improve doctors' ability to direct and individualize treatment.
High alpha-carotene levels associated with longer life
High blood levels of the antioxidant alpha-carotene appear to be associated with a reduced risk of dying over a 14-year period, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Exercising to piano music appears to help reduce falls among older adults
Introducing a music-based multitask exercise program for community-dwelling elderly people may lead to improved gait (manner or style of walking), balance and a reduction in the rate of falling, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Personalized multimedia program may help prevent falls in patients without cognitive impairment
A patient education program combining videos with one-on-one follow-up did not appear to reduce the risk of falls among all older hospital patients, but was associated with fewer falls among patients who were not cognitively impaired, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
US death rate from congenital heart defects continues to decline
The U.S. death rate from congenital heart defects dropped 24 percent from 1999 to 2006 among children and adults, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Depression may be both consequence of and risk factor for diabetes
Diabetes appears to be associated with the risk of depression and vice versa, suggesting the relationship between the two works in both directions, according to a report in the November 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Nearly 25 percent of overweight women misperceive body weight
A startling number of overweight and normal weight women of reproductive age inaccurately perceive their body weight, affecting their weight-related behaviors and making many vulnerable to cardiovascular and other obesity-related diseases, according to new research from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston.
The not-so-sweet truth about sugar -- a risk choice?
More and more people have become aware of the dangers of excessive fructose in diet. A new review on fructose in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) indicates just how dangerous this simple sugar may be.
Cadmium, lead found in drinking glasses
(AP) -- Drinking glasses depicting comic book and movie characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman and the Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz" exceed federal limits for lead in children's products by up to 1,000 times, according to laboratory testing commissioned by The Associated Press.
Feds OK 2nd human study of embryonic stem cells
(AP) -- For only the second time, the U.S. government has approved a test in people of a treatment using embryonic stem cells - this time for a rare disease that causes serious vision loss.
A tilt of the head can lure a mate
(PhysOrg.com) -- The angle we tilt our head can play a significant role in how attractive we are to the opposite sex, according to latest research.
Medical imaging breakthrough uses light and sound to see microscopic details inside our bodies
See it for yourself: a new breakthrough in imaging technology using a combination of light and sound will allow health care providers to see microscopic details inside the body. Access to this level of detail potentially eliminates the need for some invasive biopsies, but it also has the potential to help health care providers make diagnoses earlier than ever before -- even before symptoms arise. Details describing this advance are published online in the FASEB Journal.
Breakthrough with mutant gene that causes familial form of Lou Gehrig's disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that eventually destroys most motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body. There is no cure and the current treatment has only a moderate effect on the march of the disease, which typically kills within three to five years. This week in PNAS, a team of Brandeis scientists reports an innovative approach to treating the most common form of familial ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Adding face shields to helmets could help avoid blast-induced brain injuries
More than half of all combat-related injuries sustained by U.S. troops are the result of explosions, and many of those involve injuries to the head. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, about 130,000 U.S. service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained traumatic brain injuries -- ranging from concussion to long-term brain damage and death -- as a result of an explosion. A recent analysis by a team of researchers led by MIT reveals one possible way to prevent those injuries -- adding a face shield to the helmet worn by military personnel.
Upper-class people have trouble recognizing others' emotions
Upper-class people have more educational opportunities, greater financial security, and better job prospects than people from lower social classes, but that doesn't mean they're more skilled at everything. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds surprisingly, that lower-class people are better at reading the emotions of others.
Sensory detection and discrimination: Study reveals neural basis of rapid brain adaptation
(PhysOrg.com) -- You detect an object flying at your head. What do you do? You probably first move out of the way — and then you try to determine what the object is. Your brain is able to quickly switch from detecting an object moving in your direction to determining what the object is through a phenomenon called adaptation.
Banking on predictability, the mind increases efficiency
(PhysOrg.com) -- Like musical compression saves space on your mp3 player, the human brain has ways of recoding sounds to save precious processing power.
New function of gene in promoting cancer found
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have discovered that a gene well known for its involvement in tumor cell development, growth and metastasis also protects cancer cells from being destroyed by chemotherapy. By inhibiting the expression of this gene, doctors may have a new viable and effective approach for treating aggressive cancers such as breast, liver and prostate carcinomas, malignant gliomas and neuroblastomas that result from high expression of this cancer-promoting gene.
Biology news
Central Pennsylvania is a great place to watch migrating raptors
As raptors migrate over Pennsylvania this fall, the number of bald eagles among them is close to an all-time high, according to an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
New oyster farming technique increases productivity, offers entrepreneurial opportunities
A new oyster farming initiative has launched in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The goal of this effort, a collaboration between researchers from LSU and Auburn University, is industry adoption of off-bottom oyster culture to supplement the traditional harvest. Historically, oysters are grown on and harvested from reefs on the water bottom. In this new process, oysters are grown suspended in the water column.
Connecting with outdoors, nature top motivation for Wisconsin hunters, survey finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent survey conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that the most important motivations for hunters in Wisconsin are spending time outdoors and being close to nature.
Experts: Demand in China fuels tiger poaching
(AP) -- International experts say demand in China poses the greatest threat to tigers in the wild and organized crime runs the illicit trade in the world's largest felines.
In Brief: A symbiotic, color-changing relationship
For the tiny pea aphid, body color is a matter of life and death: Red and green color morphs determine their susceptibility to various predators and parasites in the wild.
More than a million Atlantic sharks killed yearly: study
At least 1.3 million sharks, many listed as endangered, were harvested from the Atlantic in 2008 by industrial-scale fisheries unhampered by catch or size limits, according to a tally released Monday.
Fall bonefish census sounds warning bell that warrants careful future monitoring
This October more than 60 guides and anglers in the Florida Keys poled across the flats from Biscayne Bay to the Marquesas, assisting in the annual bonefish census. This year's count, held in extremely difficult weather with lowered visibility, was down by 25-percent from an 8-year mean estimate of 316,805 bonefish to a new low of about 240,000 bonefish, according to Professor Jerry Ault, a fisheries scientist with the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.
A correctly set circadian clock, whatever the light intensity
How are circadian clocks able to synchronize themselves accurately to the day/night cycle without taking account of extreme light intensity fluctuations over the course of a single day or from one day to the next? The mathematical analysis of the activity profiles of two central genes of the circadian clock of a microscopic green alga has recently been carried out by French researchers from the Observatoire Oceanologique de Banyuls at CNRS. This study reveals that the circadian clock is only sensitive to light if it is out of sync and needs to be reset. This work has recently been published in the journal PloS Computational Biology.
Putting the squeeze on fat cells
From fad diets to exercise programs, Americans continue to fight the battle of the bulge. Now they'll have help from recent Tel Aviv University research that has developed a new method to look at how fat cells -- which produce the fat in our bodies -- respond to mechanical loads.
Bacteria help infants digest milk more effectively than adults
Infants are more efficient at digesting and utilizing nutritional components of milk than adults due to a difference in the strains of bacteria that dominate their digestive tracts. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, and Utah State University report on genomic analysis of these strains in the November 2010 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology identifying the genes that are most likely responsible for this difference.
Muscle cells point the finger at each other
A new study reveals that muscle cells fuse together during development by poking "fingers" into each other to help break down the membranes separating them. The study appears online on November 22, 2010 in the Journal of Cell Biology.
Vienna's new panda to be called 'Happy Tiger': zoo
The baby panda born in August at Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo is to be called Fu Hu, or Happy Tiger in Mandarin, the zoo announced on Monday.
Scientists offer new knowledge on 're-discovered' switchgrass moth
(PhysOrg.com) -- South Dakota State University scientists and their colleagues elsewhere are adding to what is known about an insect "re-discovered" in switchgrass research plots at SDSU.
The spice of life: Variety is also good for hares
Since 1871, when Charles Darwin wrote The Descent of Man, it has been widely accepted that "Variability is the necessary basis for the action of selection." Variability is associated with the ability to adapt, which is clearly beneficial at a species level. But there is increasing evidence that genetic variability may also give rise to advantages at the level of the individual. Steve Smith and Franz Suchentrunk at the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna have now shown that variation at a particular gene locus in hares is associated with greater reproductive success. Their results are published in the October issue of the journal Molecular Ecology.
Research carries cautionary warning for future stem cell applications
Research work carried out at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem arouses a cautionary warning in the growing field of the development of stem cells as a means for future treatment of patients through replacement of diseased or damaged tissues by using the patient's own stem cells. The research indicates a possible danger of cancerous tissue development in the use of such cells.
Trigger mechanism provides 'quality control' in cell division
Researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah report that they have identified a previously undiscovered trigger mechanism for a quality control checkpoint at the very end of the cell division process in a paper to be published in the November 29 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and online today. This trigger mechanism monitors whether the cell's nucleus, where the DNA resides, has the proper structure and delays cell division if the structure is not correct. Previously discovered triggers have been associated with improper DNA division and distribution, but not the nuclear structure.
Scientists clock on to how sunlight shapes daily rhythms
Fresh insight into how biological clocks adjust to having less sunlight in the winter could help us better understand the impact of jet lag and shift work.
Age estimation from blood has immediate forensic application
In principle, the new profiling method could be put to immediate practical use by law enforcement, according to the researchers who report their findings in the November 23rd issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. They have already begun the required validation of the test, which is designed to assure that quality standards are met.
Researchers kick-start ancient DNA
Binghamton University researchers recently revived ancient bacteria trapped for thousands of years in water droplets embedded in salt crystals.
New findings suggest species' interactions don't always promote diversity
Biologists have long thought that interactions between plants and pollinating insects hasten evolutionary changes and promote biological diversity. However, new findings show that some interactions between plants and pollinators are less likely to increase diversity than previously thought, and in some instances, reduce it.
Gene find could lead to healthier food, better biofuel production
(PhysOrg.com) -- Purdue University scientists have found the last undiscovered gene responsible for the production of the amino acid phenylalanine, a discovery that could lead to processes to control the amino acid to boost plants' nutritional values and produce better biofuel feedstocks.
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