Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 18, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Laser-based camera can see around corners- DNA can act like Velcro for nanoparticles
- Pushing black-hole mergers to the extreme: RIT scientists achieve 100:1 mass ratio
- Astronomers find first planet from another galaxy (w/ Video)
- Study suggests precognition may be possible
- Light bending by a black hole may offer proof of extra dimensions
- US Senate committee passes online piracy bill
- Pitt physicist wins 2011 Einstein Prize for lifetime unraveling, reshaping general relativity theory
- Dell 3Q net income more than doubles
- Scientists ferret out a key pathway for aging
- Why so many antibodies fail to protect against HIV infection
- For macaques, male bonding is a political move
- Bacteria use 'toxic darts' to disable each other, scientists say
- Spacecraft flew through 'snowstorm' on encounter with comet Hartley 2
- US Volt beats Asian rivals to LA green car prize
Space & Earth news
Medical journals come together to put health at the heart of the climate change agenda
Several leading medical journals have come together to urge health professionals everywhere to put health at the heart of climate change negotiations.
FASTAT launch on its way
Launch of the FASTSAT Satellite is scheduled for this Friday night, November 19, at 8:24 PM ET on a Minotaur IV launch vehicle from the Alaska Aerospace Corporations Kodiak Launch Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Tannins' surprising benefits for soils, forests and farms
The tannins that help make good red wine and bright fall colors also may help make good soil and healthy livestock, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers.
Cameroon timber tax study shows challenges of distributing REDD payments to local communities
A new study finds a lack of transparency and corruption are reducing the impact of an initiative in Cameroon that channels a portion of national timber levies to rural forest communities. The study highlights the challenges of using a climate change pact to do something similar in forested regions around the world.
Study eyes fluoxetine in recreational waters
Mercyhurst College's research of contaminants in the recreational waters at Presque Isle State Park got a $250,000 boost from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it was announced today.
Explorer of the 'Cool Universe'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Emory astrochemist Susanna Widicus Weaver will soon begin one of the first broad spectral surveys of small organic molecules in deep space. Her lab's research proposal - to search for the raw materials of life in star-forming regions - recently won 42 hours of observing time on the Herschel Space Observatory.
BP deep-cleaning Gulf beaches amid new worries
(AP) -- What's typically a beautiful, quiet stretch of beach in the fall now resembles a construction site. Bulldozers and yellow dump trucks shake the ground; a giant sifting machine spits clean sand out one end, tar balls out another.
Ten years of Soufriere Hills Volcano research published
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Soufriere Hills Volcano on Montserrat erupted in 1995, and an international team of researchers has studied this volcano from land and sea since then to understand the workings of andesite volcanos more completely.
The enigma of the missing stars in space may be solved
In the local group of galaxies, there are about 100 billion stars. According to astronomers' calculations, there should be many more. Now, physicists from the University of Bonn and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland may have found an explanation for this discrepancy. Their study will appear in the upcoming issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Hand-built satellite to be launched by engineering students
Two satellites designed and constructed by students at The University of Texas at Austin will be launched on Nov. 19 on the first student-developed mission in which satellites will orbit and communicate with each other in real-time.
A tale of two cities
You would never confuse Seattle, Washington, with New York City. One is home to about 600,000 people, the other has a population of 8.2 million. One ardently protects the wild salmon thrashing through its rivers, the other likes its salmon smoked and served with cream cheese on a bagel. But these cities share an important feature: They're both leaders in addressing the issue of climate change, and both rely on space-based data to help them make their plans.
Ikeya-Murakami: The new comet on the cosmic block (w/ Video)
The animation below shows the motion of Comet Ikeya-Murakami on Nov. 13, 2010, captured with a New Mexico-based telescope operated remotely by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
Green Europe eyes farming revolution
In a radical overhaul of Europe's controversial Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission on Thursday suggested a greener, fairer farming policy for the future, including a rethink of subsidies.
Panama Canal, Panama City at risk of large earthquake, says new research
New data suggest that the Limon and Pedro Miguel faults in Central Panama have ruptured both independently and in unison over the past 1400 years, indicating a significant seismic risk for Panama City and the Panama Canal, according to research published today by the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA).
Rare earth elements in US not so rare: report
Approximately 13 million metric tons of rare earth elements (REE) exist within known deposits in the United States, according to the first-ever nationwide estimate of these elements by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Scientists find toxic algae in open ocean, botching idea for fighting global warming
Blooms of toxic algae can occur in the open ocean, a team led by University of California-Santa Cruz and Moss Landing Marine Lab scientists reported last week.
Expect more rain, heat and hurricanes, say scientists
Hungry polar bears gathering along the tundra, twice as many record-breaking temperatures and stronger hurricanes are among the latest signs of climate change, scientists say.
Mars 'hopper': Space scientists develop new breed of space vehicle
Scientists and engineers at the internationally acclaimed Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester are developing a conceptual motor design for a Mars 'hopping' vehicle which should lead to a greater understanding of the 'Red Planet'.
Spacecraft flew through 'snowstorm' on encounter with comet Hartley 2
On its recent trip by comet Hartley 2, the Deep Impact spacecraft took the first pictures of, and flew through, a storm of fluffy particles of water ice being spewed out by carbon dioxide jets coming from the rough ends of the comet. The resulting images and data shed new light on the nature and composition of comets, according to the University of Maryland-led EPOXI science team, which today announced its latest findings and released the first images of this comet created snowstorm.
FDA review on transgenic salmon too narrow: study
The review process being used by the Food and Drug Administration to assess the safety of a faster-growing transgenic salmon fails to weigh the full effects of the fish's widespread production, according to analysis by a Duke University-led team in this week's Science.
Hubble captures new life in an ancient galaxy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Elliptical galaxies were once thought to be aging star cities whose star-making heyday was billions of years ago.
Astronomers find first planet from another galaxy (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- An exoplanet orbiting a star that entered our Milky Way from another galaxy has been detected by a European team of astronomers using the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. The Jupiter-like planet is particularly unusual, as it is orbiting a star nearing the end of its life and could be about to be engulfed by it, giving tantalizing clues about the fate of our own planetary system in the distant future.
Technology news
Cable execs ask for new rules in programming talks
(AP) -- Executives for two leading cable TV companies are asking lawmakers for new government rules that would give them more clout in negotiations with TV broadcasters over programming.
OnLive to start selling streaming game console
(AP) -- Video game streaming company OnLive plans to start selling its small gaming console for $99 on Thursday, with delivery starting on Dec. 2.
Social network game developer Zynga unveils 'CityVille'
Social network game developer Zynga has unveiled "CityVille," the first globally released online game built by the hot startup behind play hits "FarmVille" and "Mafia Wars."
Chinese woman jailed over Twitter post
A Chinese woman has been sentenced to a year in a labour camp after she retweeted a Twitter post that mocked anti-Japanese protesters, according to human rights groups.
Big Fish expanding in sea of casual game lovers
Big Fish Games is diving into more countries as the sea of casual game lovers grows exponentially worldwide.
Bill promoting federal teleworking goes to Obama
(AP) -- The bureaucratic halls of Washington could get a little quieter under legislation that encourages federal agencies to let more employees work from home.
Sweden to issue int'l warrant for Assange
(AP) -- The elusive Australian behind the biggest leak of U.S. war documents in history is wanted by Sweden in a drawn-out rape probe, and could soon face an international arrest warrant curtailing his ability to jump from one country to another.
Expert explains how shopping online for gifts offers risks, benefits
(PhysOrg.com) -- The idea of holiday shopping can excite, scare or depress those who participate. Depending on the emotions the thought of retail evokes, online shopping might be the remedy.
Spread of electronic medical records raises privacy concerns
As efforts to implement electronic medical records escalate, so do the debate about patient privacy and the potential for commercial exploitation of the technology.
Comcast's new iPad app to show TV listings
It's the newspaper TV grid on electronic steroids.
Consultants sue HuffPo, say site was their idea
(AP) -- Two Democratic political consultants say The Huffington Post's founders stole their blueprint for the popular news-and-views website, and they're suing to get what they say is their rightful credit - and money.
Air Force warns troops about Facebook feature
(AP) -- The Air Force is warning its troops to be careful when using Facebook and other popular networking sites because some new features could show the enemy exactly where U.S. forces are located in war zones.
Wireless carriers team up on mobile payment network
Three of the largest US wireless carriers announced on Wednesday they are teaming up to build a national network to make payments by mobile phones.
China Telecom denies US web hijack allegations
State-owned China Telecom on Thursday rejected US claims that its servers "hijacked" highly sensitive Internet traffic on American government and military websites earlier this year.
Twitter looking to friend Facebook
Twitter wants to friend Facebook but the hot Internet stars have been unable to make a relationship work, a co-founder of the microblogging said.
Facebook messaging poses risks for users: watchdog
Facebook's new online messaging service makes users of the social networking site more vulnerable to identity theft by cybercriminals, computer security firm Sophos warned Thursday.
NATO mobilises for cyber warfare
In 1989, before the Internet revolution, Suleyman Anil was the lone man in charge of the security of NATO's IT system, armed with a single computer.
20 German cities on Street View
(AP) -- Internet users can now take a virtual tour of 20 of Germany's largest cities on Google Inc.'s panoramic Street View program - but they won't always get a full view.
Electric, diesel or hybrid car? Cost and CO2 calculator helps consumers choose
As the Environmental Protection Agency struggles with how to accurately label passenger vehicles for fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, a new online cost and CO2 emissions calculator has launched to help fill the void.
Google creates its own real estate boom
Google's aggressive online growth increasingly has a counterpart in bricks and mortar, with the company's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters mushrooming over the past four years to occupy more than 4 million square feet, or the equivalent of about 40 Home Depot stores.
Disney 'checks in' with Gowalla with custom trips
(AP) -- Visitors to Disney's theme parks in the U.S. can now use their smart phones not just to "check in" to the resorts, but earn digital versions of the parks' popular pins and go on custom-designed tours.
Record quarter for US online advertising revenue: IAB
US online advertising revenue was up 17 percent in the third quarter of the year to a record 6.4 billion dollars, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers reported.
MySpace deepens ties with rival Facebook
MySpace on Thursday began letting members tap into entertainment preferences expressed in Facebook profiles in a deepening of ties with the firm that snatched its social networking crown.
Tougher rating system evaluates nine supercomputer capabilities
Nine supercomputers have been tested, validated and ranked by the new "Graph500" challenge, first introduced this week by an international team led by Sandia National Laboratories. The list of submitters and the order of their finish was released Nov. 17 at the supercomputing conference SC10 meeting in New Orleans.
4G cellular networks might not live up to hype
If today's fastest smart phones deliver e-mails and Web pages with the speed of a thoroughbred racehorse, then the next generation of phones - now rolling onto the runway - may feel like jet planes.
Eyes, ears of US military take shape in high-tech labs
A Global Hawk robotic plane, hovering more than 11 miles above Afghanistan, can snap images of Taliban hide-outs so crystal clear that U.S. intelligence officials can make out the pickup trucks parked nearby - and how long they've been there.
Toyota unveils hybrid car push
The world's top automaker Toyota Motor plans to launch 11 new hybrid models by the end of 2012, the company said Thursday, as the race to build more environmentally friendly vehicles heats up.
US Volt beats Asian rivals to LA green car prize
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt beat back competition from Asian rivals including Nissan and Hyundai to win the Green Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles auto show on Thursday.
US Senate committee passes online piracy bill
The US Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation on Thursday that would give US law enforcement more tools to crack down on websites engaged in piracy of movies, television shows and music.
Dell 3Q net income more than doubles
Personal computer maker Dell Inc. said Thursday that its net income for the latest quarter more than doubled as companies spent more to replace aging technology.
Laser-based camera can see around corners
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from MIT have developed a camera that can capture images of a scene that is not in its direct line of sight. The camera is equipped with a femtosecond laser, which fires extremely short bursts of light that can reflect off one object (such as a door or mirror) and then a second object before reflecting back to the first object and being captured by the camera. Algorithms can then use this information to reconstruct the hidden scene.
Medicine & Health news
NIH experts describe influenza vaccines of the future
In a review article appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, examine research under way to address the limitations of currently available influenza vaccines and develop more efficient and reliable strategies to make vaccines to protect against seasonal as well as pandemic influenza.
Regenerative stem cell therapy offers new hope for treating cardiovascular disease
Northwestern Medicine physician researchers are revolutionizing treatment of cardiovascular disease by utilizing patients' own stem cells to regenerate heart and vascular tissue. Northwestern Medicine is the lead site for a study examining stem cell transplantation as treatment for critical limb ischemia. Chief investigator Douglas Losordo, MD, director of the Program in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Eileen M. Foell Professor of Heart Research of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, will present the findings of this study at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, on Wednesday, November 17.
New drug targets vitamin D receptors in hormone resistant prostate cancers
A new anti-cancer drug aimed at vitamin D receptors on cancer cells has prompted encouraging responses in the levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in men with prostate cancer that has become resistant to hormonal therapies.
PARP inhibitor, MK-4827, shows anti-tumor activity in first trial in humans
A new drug that targets proteins responsible for helping cancer cells to repair damage to their DNA has shown promising anti-tumour activity in its first trial in humans. Some patients with a range of solid tumours, many of whom had been treated unsuccessfully for their cancer with other therapies, have seen their tumours shrink or stabilise for periods of between 46 days to more than a year. The research will be presented at the 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Berlin today (Thursday).
US adults most likely to forgo care due to cost, have trouble paying medical bills
A new 11-country survey from The Commonwealth Fund finds that adults in the United States are far more likely than those in 10 other industrialized nations to go without health care because of costs, have trouble paying medical bills, encounter high medical bills even when insured, and have disputes with their insurers or discover insurance wouldn't pay as they expected. According to the report, the findings highlight the need for Affordable Care Act reforms that will ensure access to health care, protect people from medical debt, and simplify health insurance.
Shockwaves work better than surgery for smaller kidney stones trapped in the ureter
Different techniques should be used to remove single stones that have become lodged in the distal ureter after being expelled by the kidney, depending on whether they are under or above one centimetre, according to the December issue of BJUI.
Transcription factor scan identifies genetic cause for inherited blindness
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited eye disorder characterized by progressive loss of vision that in many instances leads to legal blindness at the end stage.
Hormone therapy use may increase or decrease dementia risk depending upon timing
Compared to women never on hormone therapy, those taking hormone therapy only at midlife had a 26 percent decreased risk of dementia; while women taking HT only in late life had a 48 percent increased risk of dementia, according to Kaiser Permanente researchers.
Researchers learn that genetics determine winter vitamin D status
Vitamin D is somewhat of an unusual "vitamin," because it can be made in the body from sunlight and most foods do not contain vitamin D unless added by fortification. Synthesis of vitamin D in the body requires exposure to ultraviolet light and can be influenced by genetics, skin color, and sun exposure.
Researchers insert identification codes into mouse embryos
Spanish researchers from the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), in collaboration with researchers from the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), have developed an identification system for oocytes and embryos in which each can be individually tagged using silicon barcodes. Researchers are now working to perfect the system and soon will test it with human oocytes and embryos.
LSUHSC reports first successful salivary stone removal with robotics
Dr. Rohan Walvekar, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Director of Clinical Research and the Salivary Endoscopy Service at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has reported the first use of a surgical robot guided by a miniature salivary endoscope to remove a 20mm salivary stone and repair the salivary duct of a 31-year-old patient. Giant stones have traditionally required complete removal of the salivary gland. Building upon their success with the combination of salivary endoscopic guidance with surgery, Dr. Walvekar and his team have significantly advanced the procedure by adding robotics. The technique not only saves the salivary gland, it also reduces blood loss, scarring, and hospital stay. The case is published online in the Early View (articles in advance of print) section of the journal, The Laryngoscope.
Teenage girls face greater violence threat from poverty
Living in a deprived area increases the risk of violence more sharply for girls than boys, according to a Cardiff University study of former industrial areas.
Economic downturn takes toll on health of Americans with heart disease, diabetes or cancer
A new poll from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Knowledge Networks (KN) shows that many people with heart disease, diabetes or cancer believe the economic downturn is hurting their health and will have further negative impacts in the future. Many Americans with these illnesses face financial problems paying for medical bills in this economy. Most of these people do not believe the new national health care reform law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010) will help them. This national poll is the first in a collaborative series of polls by HSPH and KN focused on people with heart disease, diabetes, or cancer; it was conducted October 27-31, 2010.
Researchers identify PTSD measures for use in traumatic brain injury research
Five U.S. federal agencies recently cosponsored a set of expert work groups to formulate common data elements for research related to psychological adjustment and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Danny G. Kaloupek, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine, chaired the work group on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Kaloupek's work at the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare helped to guide identification of key PTSD-related characteristics and evidence-based measures that might be used in future research. The results have been published in the November 2010 issue of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Taking a break from osteoporosis drugs can protect bones
Taking time off from certain osteoporosis drugs may be beneficial to bone health, according to a study conducted at Loyola University Health System. Researchers found that bone density remained stable for three years in patients who took a drug holiday from bisphosphonates, a popular class of osteoporosis drugs that can cause fractures in the thigh bones and tissue decay in the jaw bone.
Culturally sensitive treatment model helps bring depressed Chinese immigrants into treatment
A treatment model designed to accommodate the beliefs and concerns of Chinese immigrants appears to significantly improve the recognition and treatment of major depression in this typically underserved group. In a report in the December American Journal of Public Health, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team describes how their model for screening and assessing patients for depression in a primary care setting increased the percentage of depressed patients entering treatment nearly sevenfold.
Major international study to test new heart disease drug
(PhysOrg.com) -- A major international study to test whether a new type of cholesterol treatment can prevent coronary deaths and heart attacks will start in early 2011. The study will be coordinated by the Clinical Trial Service Unit at Oxford University.
Study: Placebo improves sex life for women
Many are constantly searching for the key to more satisfying sex, but a recent study suggests that finding that key may be easier than we think.
How video games stretch the limits of our visual attention
They are often accused of being distracting, but recent research has found that action packed video games like Halo and Call of Duty can enhance visual attention, the ability that allows us to focus on relevant visual information. This growing body of research, reviewed in WIREs Cognitive Science, suggests that action based games could be used to improve military training, educational approaches, and certain visual deficits.
New insight into the cause of common dementia found
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found a clue as to how some people develop a form of dementia that affects the brain areas associated with personality, behavior, and language.
Vitamin C: A potential life-saving treatment for sepsis
Physicians caring for patients with sepsis may soon have a new safe and cost-effective treatment for this life-threatening illness. Research led by Dr. Karel Tyml and his colleagues at The University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute have found that vitamin C can not only prevent the onset of sepsis, but can reverse the disease.
Novel genetic mutation that causes the most common form of eye cancer discovered
An international, multi-center study has revealed the discovery of a novel oncogene that is associated with uveal melanoma, the most common form of eye cancer. Researchers have isolated an oncogene called GNA11 and have found that it is present in more than 40 percent of tumor samples taken from patients with uveal melanoma. The findings are being published early online November 17, 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine and will appear in the December 2, 2010, print issue.
Novel approach shows promise for cystic fibrosis
An investigational drug targeting a defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis has been shown to improve lung function in a small study of CF patients, according to findings published Nov. 18, 2010, in the New England Journal of Medicine. The investigational drug, VX-770, appeared to improve function of what is known as CFTR--the faulty protein responsible for CF. It is among the first compounds being developed for CF that specifically targets the root cause of cystic fibrosis.
Hong Kong officials meet after bird flu confirmed
(AP) -- Hong Kong has confirmed its first case of human bird flu in seven years.
Tiny Trojan horses attack brain cancer cells
Scientists in Germany have developed a way of smuggling an anti-cancer drug past the protective blood-brain barrier and into brain tumours and metastases using a nanocarrier – a tiny capsule specially designed to pass through cell membranes and deliver its anti-cancer drug to the cancer cell.
The science of decisions
You may not realize it, but you just made a decision: namely, to read (or at least start to read) this article. Why? What process just occurred in your brain to cause you to be reading this sentence right now? How and why did you make that decision at that moment? That's what Joe Kable, Assistant Professor of Psychology, wants to know. He studies the neurological and psychological workings of choice. "What are the processes that are going on in the brain while people are making decisions; what are the computations that are being performed in different areas of the brain during decision-making?" he asks. "That's something that neuroscientists can study using techniques of neuroscience."
Women get the health message, but not from men
Women are much more likely to be persuaded to either eat healthily or undertake dangerous dieting by other women, not men, according to new ANU research.
The rising population of healthy elderly
In the basement of Harvard Law School’s Hemenway Gymnasium, a battle of the ages is being waged.
Study suggests mammograms under 50 if family risk
(AP) -- Women in their 40s with a moderate family risk of breast cancer should get yearly mammograms, a new study suggests.
US at bottom of health care survey of 11 rich countries
Americans are the most likely to go without health care because of the cost and to have trouble paying medical bills even when insured, a survey of 11 wealthy countries found Thursday.
Exhaustion syndrome leaves measurable changes in the brain
Exhaustion syndrome, also called burnout and exhaustion depression, leaves objectively measurable changes in the brain – including reduced activity in the frontal lobes and altered regulation of the stress hormone cortisol. This is shown in a new dissertation from Umea University in Sweden.
Organ procurement air transportation displays poor safety record
The transplant community was largely unaware of sub-standard transportation practices for donor organs until a number of fatal air crashes took the lives of transplant personnel, calling attention to procurement aviation safety. A new report highlighting the need for improved safety measures in organ procurement travel appears in the December issue of Liver Transplantation, a peer-reviewed journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).
Does sex matter? It may when evaluating mental status
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that differs between the sexes in terms of age at onset, symptomatology, response to medication, and structural brain abnormalities. Now, a new study from the University of Montreal shows that there is gender difference between men and women's mental ability – with women performing better than men. These findings, published recently in, Schizophrenia Research, have implications for the more than 300 000 affected Canadians.
Compound that blocks sugar pathway slows cancer cell growth
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have identified a compound that could be used to starve cancers of their sugar-based building blocks. The compound, called a glutaminase inhibitor, has been tested on laboratory-cultured, sugar-hungry brain cancer cells and, the scientists say, may have the potential to be used for many types of primary brain tumors.
Discovery sheds more light on deadly thoracic aortic disease
Discovery of a fifth gene defect and the identification of 47 DNA regions linked to thoracic aortic disease are the subject of studies released this month involving researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Less is more in malaria control
A new malaria study by University of Queensland scientists challenges World Health Organisation guidelines for using DDT chemical spray to kill mosquitoes.
High blood pressure treatment has major breakthrough
Researchers from the University of Glasgow have piloted a new technique which can dramatically reduce blood pressure in patients.
Getting sick from worry
Three years ago, Victor May began to wonder about an obscure protein. From nerve cells he was testing in his laboratory, "it looked as if it could be active in stress/anxiety pathways in the brain," he says, "but we didn't know where."
Vital balance brought to elders
by Tele-Tai Chi
Imagine swaying to and fro, dancing to the rhythm of a slow love song. Then switch that image to maintaining balance while standing on one foot. How about standing straight with two feet on the ground and not moving? It's not as easy as one would think.
Gene therapy for metastatic melanoma in mice produces complete remission
A potent anti-tumor gene introduced into mice with metastatic melanoma has resulted in permanent immune reconfiguration and produced a complete remission of their cancer, according to an article to be published in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The online version is now available.
Well-known molecule may be behind alcohol's benefits to heart health
(PhysOrg.com) -- Many studies support the assertion that moderate drinking is beneficial when it comes to cardiovascular health, and for the first time scientists have discovered that a well-known molecule, called Notch, may be behind alcohol's protective effects. Down the road, this finding could help scientists create a new treatment for heart disease that mimics the beneficial influence of modest alcohol consumption.
Author predicts widespread acceptance of pocket-sized ultrasound machines
Since the Civil War, the stethoscope has been a standard tool of the trade for physicians. Soon, the average doctor may be toting another valuable diagnostic tool: a pocket-sized ultrasound machine.
It takes a village: Mechanism alerts neighbors to amplify immune response
New research reveals a clever strategy that enables a host organism to outsmart an invading bacterium by counteracting its efforts to suppress the innate immune response. The study, published by Cell Press in the November 24th issue of the journal Immunity, describes a mechanism by which an infected cell can quickly alert unsuspecting (and uninfected) neighboring cells that can join the fight, amplify the immune response and defeat the invader.
Laboratory studies show promise for new multiple sclerosis treatment
Successfully treating and reversing the effects of multiple sclerosis, or MS, may one day be possible using a drug originally developed to treat chronic pain, according to Distinguished Professor Linda Watkins of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Gov't says full-body scanners at airports are safe
(AP) -- They look a little like giant refrigerators and pack a radiation dose big enough to peer through clothing for bombs or weapons, yet too minuscule to be harmful, federal officials insist. As the government rolls out hundreds more full-body scanners at airports just in time for crowds of holiday travelers, it is working to reassure the public that the machines are safe.
Assessment tool predicts blood clot risk after plastic surgery
Patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery should receive a risk assessment before their procedure to predict whether they'll develop potentially fatal blood clots in the legs or lungs, according to research at the University of Michigan Medical School. Researchers also found that 1 in 9 patients at highest risk based on that assessment will develop clots if not given clot-preventing medications after surgery.
Study shows importance of exercise for those at special risk for Alzheimer's
Physical activity promotes changes in the brain that may protect high-risk individuals against cognitive decline, including development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study done at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
Researcher looks for link between people's health and where they live
We know that smoking causes cancer, yet we still light up. We know that overeating causes obesity and diabetes, yet we still overeat. We know that exercise makes us healthier, yet we can’t resist the couch’s siren song.
Why estrogen makes you smarter
Estrogen is an elixir for the brain, sharpening mental performance in humans and animals and showing promise as a treatment for disorders of the brain such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. But long-term estrogen therapy, once prescribed routinely for menopausal women, now is quite controversial because of research showing it increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Light at night causes changes in brain linked to depression
Exposure to even dim light at night is enough to cause physical changes in the brains of hamsters that may be associated with depression, a new study shows.
Study suggests reliance on GPS may reduce hippocampus function as we age
(PhysOrg.com) -- McGill University researchers have presented three studies suggesting depending on GPS to navigate may have a negative effect on brain function, especially on the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and navigation processes.
Modulating a protein in the brain could help control Alzheimer's disease
A protein known to exist in the brain for more than 30 years, called 5-lipoxygenase, has been found to play a regulatory role in the formation of the amyloid beta in the brain, the major component of plaques implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at Temple University's School of Medicine.
Speed heals
USC College's Samantha Butler and collaborators show that the rate and direction of axon growth in the spinal cord can be controlled, a discovery that one day may help improve treatment for spinal injuries or neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists ferret out a key pathway for aging
For decades, scientists have been searching for the fundamental biological secrets of how eating less extends lifespan.
Why so many antibodies fail to protect against HIV infection
Researchers have been stymied for years over the fact that people infected with the AIDS virus do indeed produce antibodies in response to the pathogen – antibodies that turn out to be ineffective in blocking infection.
UCLA team uncovers mechanism behind organ transplant rejection
UCLA researchers have pinpointed the culprit behind chronic rejection of heart, lung and kidney transplants. Published in the Nov. 23 edition of Science Signaling, their findings suggest new therapeutic approaches for preventing transplant rejection and sabotaging cancer growth.
Scientists report molecular structure of dopamine receptor
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has solved the structure of one of the receptors that responds to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Although dopamine transmission is essential to normal brain functioning, the biological assembly of the molecules involved in this crucial neuronal interplay had not been known—until now.
Researchers identify key enzyme that regulates the early growth of breast cancer cells
New University of Georgia research, published this week in the early online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found that blocking the action of an enzyme called GnT-V significantly delays the onset and spread of tumors in mice with cancer very similar to many cases of human breast cancer.
Study suggests precognition may be possible
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Cornell University scientist has demonstrated that psi anomalies, more commonly known as precognition, premonitions or extra-sensory perception (ESP), really do exist at a statistically significant level. Psi anomalies are defined as "anomalous processes of information or energy transfer that are currently unexplained in terms of known physical or biological mechanisms."
Biology news
Bioscience researchers defeating potato blight
Researchers funded by the BBSRC Crop Science Initiative have made a discovery that could instigate a paradigm shift in breeding resistance to late blight – a devastating disease of potatoes and tomatoes costing the industry $5-6 billion a year worldwide. They will share this research with industry at an event in London later today (18 November).
New disease-resistant food crops in prospect
Researchers have uncovered the genetic basis of remarkable broad-spectrum resistance to a viral infection that, in some parts of the world, is the most important pathogen affecting leafy and arable brassica crops including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, swede and oilseed rape. They have tested resistant plants against a range of different strains of the virus taken from all over the world and so far, no strain has been able to overcome the resistance.
Battle lines emerge in bluefin tuna battle
A meeting on the fate of the Atlantic bluefin tuna got into its stride on Thursday as Europe mulled a call for a modest cut in catches and Japan said it would propose a fishing ban on nations that cheat.
Underground microorganisms don't slack off in winter
It is known that soil microorganisms can maintain some activity during the cold winter months. Scientist at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Umea University in Sweden have now shown that the microorganisms in frozen soils are much more viable than previously anticipated and also has large potential for growth.
Gangster birds running protection racket give insight into coevolution
Like gangsters running a protection racket, drongos in the Kalahari Desert act as lookouts for other birds in order to steal a cut of their food catch. The behaviour, revealed in research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) published in Evolution and reported in Nature's Research Highlights today (18 November), may represent a rare example of two species evolving from a parasitic to a mutualistic relationship.
For macaques, male bonding is a political move
Contrary to expectations, new evidence shows that unrelated male macaques in the wild form close and stable social partnerships with select males in their groups. Although the degree of emotional attachment obviously can't be measured, those relationships resemble human friendship, according to researchers who report their findings online on Nov. 18 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. What's more, it appears the motivation for those males to maintain close ties with other males is political in nature.
Bacteria use 'toxic darts' to disable each other, scientists say
(PhysOrg.com) -- In nature, it's a dog-eat-dog world, even in the realm of bacteria. Competing bacteria use "toxic darts" to disable each other, according to a new study by UC Santa Barbara biologists. Their research is published in the journal Nature.
In fending off diseases, plants and animals are much the same, research shows
(PhysOrg.com) -- It may have been 1 billion years since plants and animals branched apart on the evolutionary tree but down through the ages they have developed strikingly similar mechanisms for detecting microbial invasions and resisting diseases.
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