Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 10, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Chip-in-a-pill may be approved in 2012- New highly stable fuel-cell catalyst gets strength from its nano core
- Ultrafast imaging of electron waves in graphene (w/ Video)
- DNA repair protein caught in act of molecular theft
- A greener way to grow carbon nanotubes
- Mobile phone app to diagnose sexually transmitted infections
- Cassini's CIRS reveals Saturn is on a cosmic dimmer switch
- Researchers unlock how key drug kills tropical parasites
- Primordial dry ice fuels comet jets
- NIST pings key material in sonar, closes gap on structural mystery
- Inhibitory neurons key to understanding neuropsychiatric disorders
- Circuit regulating anti-diabetic actions of serotonin uncovered by researchers
- Evolutionary bestseller in image processing
- Scientists describe the delicate balance in the brain that controls fear
- Tetris flashback reduction effect 'not common to all games'
Space & Earth news
Pioneering research to reduce coastal flooding
(PhysOrg.com) -- Coastal areas could be saved from the misery of flooding thanks to groundbreaking new research from the University of Plymouth.
SOFIA Prepares for Short Science
(PhysOrg.com) -- The SOFIA flying observatory was the subject of several nights of telescope system checkout activities in mid-October in preparation for upcoming early astronomical science flights.
A greenhouse in space
(PhysOrg.com) -- It's small, but it's a greenhouse for space voyagers – and for you. Paolo Nespoli will take a special greenhouse with him to the International Space Station and he’s inviting young science enthusiasts to conduct an experiment with him.
Aerosol particles at global view
Of all the pollution that fills our lungs on any given day, the most dangerous is the small stuff. Aerosol particle pollution—airborne solid particles and liquid droplets--comes in a range of sizes. Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers pose the greatest risk to human health because they are small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs and, in some cases, enter the blood stream. These fine particles, about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair, are also a major cause of poor visibility.
'Toxic toy crisis' requires fresh solutions
Manufacturer recalls of toys, promotional drinking glasses, and other children's products constitute an ongoing "toxic toys crisis" that requires banning potentially harmful ingredients in these products and other changes in policy and practices. That's the conclusion of a new analysis in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
Mars Rover sensor to measure radiation environment
About eight months before the NASA rover Curiosity touches down on Mars in August 2012, the mission's science measurements will begin much closer to Earth.
Growing sorghum for biofuel
Conversion of sorghum grass to ethanol has increased with the interest in renewable fuel sources. Researchers at Iowa State University examined 12 varieties of sorghum grass grown in single and double cropping systems. The experiment was designed to test the efficiency of double cropping sorghum grass to increase its yield for biofuel production.
NASA's new space telescope costs shoot the moon
(AP) -- A new NASA report says the replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope is again overbudget - this time by another $1.5 billion. And it won't be ready for its already delayed 2014 launch.
Atoms-for-Peace: A galactic collision in action (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- European Southern Observatory astronomers have produced a spectacular new image of the famous Atoms-for-Peace galaxy (NGC 7252). This galactic pile-up, formed by the collision of two galaxies, provides an excellent opportunity for astronomers to study how mergers affect the evolution of the Universe.
Role of melt in arctic sea ice loss found by NASA study
A NASA analysis of satellite data has quantified, for the first time, the amount of older and thicker "multiyear" sea ice lost from the Arctic Ocean due to melting.
Cassini to resume nominal operations
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., expect the Cassini spacecraft will resume normal operations on Nov. 24. They have traced the steps taken by an onboard computer before Cassini put itself in precautionary "safe mode" last week.
Cool star is a gem of a find
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has eyed its first cool brown dwarf: a tiny, ultra-cold star floating all alone in space.
Fossil record receives new timeline
Beginning around 542 million years ago, a profusion of animals with shells and skeletons began to appear in the fossil record. So many life forms appeared during this time that it is often referred to as the "Cambrian Explosion."
Spiral galaxies may be dying because of bars
With the help of the army of volunteers working on the Galaxy Zoo 2 'citizen science' project an international team of scientists led by a Portsmouth astrophysicist may have discovered what is killing spiral galaxies.
Extreme global warming in the ancient past
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.
Cassini's CIRS reveals Saturn is on a cosmic dimmer switch
(PhysOrg.com) -- Like a cosmic light bulb on a dimmer switch, Saturn emitted gradually less energy each year from 2005 to 2009, according to observations by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Primordial dry ice fuels comet jets
One of the biggest comet findings coming out of the amazing images and data taken by the University of Maryland-led EPOXI mission as it zipped past comet Hartley 2 last week is that dry ice is the 'jet' fuel for this comet and perhaps many others.
Technology news
ARM launches streamline performance analyzer targeting Linux developers
ARM has introduced Streamline Performance Analyzer, a powerful tool for optimizing Linux applications running on ARM powered devices. Streamline automates the collection of performance data and the generation of intuitive graphical reports, which enable software developers to easily locate application hot-spots, multi-threading issues, and inefficient usage of system resources.
Cuba denounces 'virtual' Castro plot in new game
(AP) -- Cuba harshly criticized a new video game in which U.S. special operations soldiers try to kill a young Fidel Castro, saying Wednesday that the violent role-playing glorifies assassination and will turn American children into sociopaths.
Amazon sells book offering advice to pedophiles
(AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. is selling a self-published guide that offers advice to pedophiles, and that has generated outrage on the Internet and threats to boycott the retailer.
Apple to bring iAd mobile ad platform to Japan
Apple and Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Inc. are teaming up to bring the California-based company's iAd advertising network for portable devices to Japan early next year, the companies said Wednesday.
Virtual White House tours go online
The Oval Office, the "situation room" and the first family's organic garden are among the highlights of a new virtual tour of the White House put online Tuesday.
Australia's Groggle goes down in Google fight
To Australian entrepreneur Cameron Collie, Groggle seemed the perfect name for a website comparing the price of alcohol, or 'grog' as it is known Down Under, at nearby bottleshops.
Microsoft sues Motorola over 'excessive' royalty demands
Microsoft, which accused Motorola a month ago of violating its smartphone patents, filed suit against the US telecom giant again on Tuesday, accusing it of demanding "excessive" royalties.
A Northeastern undergraduate turns timekeeping into music
Shop for a new wristwatch these days, and you'll find the latest models souped up with technologies like GPS capabilities and solar-powered batteries. Now, thanks to a Northeastern undergraduate and a freelance software developer, you could own a watch that translates your movements into music.
PC maker Lenovo's quarterly profit up 45 percent
(AP) -- Lenovo Group, the world's fourth-largest personal computer maker, said Wednesday its latest quarterly profit rose 45 percent on strong sales in China and other emerging markets.
Google doles out 10 percent pay hike to stem defections: WSJ
Google, in a bid to stem defections to rival technology companies such as Facebook, has given all of its 23,000 employees a pay hike, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Looking for wireless? Try a local farm
Wireless. For most, the word conjures images quaint coffee shops or busy airport lobbies – places where people drop in to check on business or check in with other people.
Updated NIST software uses combination testing to catch bugs fast and easy
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have released an updated version of a computer system testing tool that can cut costs by more efficiently finding flaws. A tutorial on using the tool accompanies the new release.
Cisco 1Q earnings up 8 pct; outlook sinks stock
(AP) -- Cisco Systems Inc. said Wednesday that its earnings for the latest quarter climbed from last year. But the company's outlook for the current quarter cast some doubt on the pace of recovery in corporate technology spending and sent Cisco's shares down more than 10 percent in extended trading.
FCC investigating Google 'Street View' data harvest
US government telecom regulators said Wednesday they are investigating the collection of private wireless data by Google's "Street View" mapping service.
EU unveils trillion-euro single energy market
The European Union's energy chief Wednesday unveiled an ambitious 10-year trillion-euro energy investment plan for a single EU energy network to cut fossil fuel imports and fight climate change.
New chip technology makes way for exploding number of internet users
IBM announced a new chip-making technology that can be used to create advanced semiconductors that can keep pace with the exploding number of internet-connected devices and the tidal wave of data they are generating.
Survey: Smart phone market up 96 percent in Q3
(AP) -- Global smart phone sales nearly doubled in the third quarter, and Apple is now one of the top five bestselling manufacturers, a new study finds.
New cyber attack linked to Nobel Peace Prize
A fake email invitation to this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is currently circulating and carrying with it a virus capable of infecting the computer of anyone who opens it, computer security experts warned.
Android now second biggest smartphone platform: Gartner
Google's Android mobile operating system surged past Apple's iPhone and Canada's Blackberry in the third quarter to become the second biggest smartphone platform after Nokia's Symbian, research firm Gartner said Wednesday.
Medicine & Health news
College days -- more sedentary days
During college years, students become more sedentary and as their physical activity levels decrease, Body Mass Index and weight increase.
Attacking the drinking culture on college campuses from different directions
A multi-tiered effort designed to stem binge drinking at a large university and to change the drinking culture among its students produced notable results during the 2.5 years of an Indiana University study.
NEWMEDS announces new drug database
In a remarkable and unprecedented collaboration NEWMEDS (Novel Methods leading to NeW MEdications in Depression and Schizophrenia) have pooled resources to bring together data of 23,401 anonymized patients from 67 trials on 11 compounds in over 25 countries to form the single largest database of clinical trial data ever amassed in psychiatric research.
New guide can predict cancer patients' survival
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Manchester scientists have helped develop a new way of predicting how long terminally ill cancer patients have to live.
Illness thrives in maturing nations
A three-pronged health challenge is putting the squeeze on already-scarce resources in the developing world, with heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic ailments growing. At the same time, the threat from infectious diseases and neglected tropical diseases demands new attention, the head of the Institute of Medicine said Monday (Nov. 8).
By reducing disease risk, 'Desktop Medicine' will transform the practice of medicine
Gone are the days when a doctor's only way of helping patients is by treating the disease after symptoms have started. Instead, a new approach to medicine, called "Desktop Medicine" is emerging, in which the emphasis shifts from diagnosing diseases and treating symptoms to identifying risk-factors for medical conditions such as hypertension and osteoporosis, and intervening before they develop. The commentary appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Portrait of gambling behavior in Quebec
The initial findings of a survey on the prevalence of gambling in Quebec have been released. The study also deals with behavior problems associated with gambling. The study reveals that nearly 70 percent of Quebec adults report having bet or spent money on gambling during the previous 12 months. It also found Quebecers spend an average of $483 annually on gambling activities.
Researchers see ethical dilemmas of providing care in drug detention centers
(Garrison, NY) Organizations that seek to provide health care, food, and other services to people held in drug detention centers in developing countries often face ethical dilemmas: Are they doing more good than harm? Are they helping detainees or legitimizing a corrupt system and ultimately building its capacity to detain and abuse more people?
Infant foods should be screened for mycotoxins
An international team of scientists calls for protecting complementary food for infants in developing countries – especially those where corn is a staple food – against fumonisin, a toxin produced by fungi. Until now, physicians thought the growth retardation of children in those regions was to be blamed on the poor nutritional value of the complementary maize porridge they receive when breast milk is no longer sufficient. But toxins indeed are involved, the scientists report in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.
Citywide smoking ban contributes to significant decrease in maternal smoking, pre-term births
New research released today takes a look at birth outcomes and maternal smoking, building urgency for more states and cities to join the nationwide smoke-free trend that has accelerated in recent years. According to the new data, strong smoke-free policies can improve fetal outcomes by significantly reducing the prevalence of maternal smoking.
Researchers can predict heart transplant patient's health earlier
Michael Mengel, a pathology researcher with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, has found a new way to analyze biopsies from heart transplant patients by looking at their genes. This allows him to make an early prediction whether the transplant is working.
Analysis shows stress on clinicians can be effectively measured
It's no surprise that being a physician is a very stressful job and carries a lot of responsibility with it.
Study clarifies needs of rural-dwelling elderly
A novel project set in a rural community near Rochester, N.Y., to screen elderly people for unmet needs showed that, indeed, there is a great opportunity to match older adults with professional assistance. This new model of care for rural-dwelling adults is described this month in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
JDRF clinical panel recommends next steps for artificial pancreas clinical testing
Diabetes experts at a meeting convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) took the next step in advancing efforts toward the development of an artificial pancreas: putting forth clinical recommendations to ensure the safe and effective testing of artificial pancreas technology in real-life situations. We are pleased at today's meeting there was a strong consensus among leading clinicians, researchers and industry leaders regarding the path toward outpatient studies for both low-glucose suspend and artificial pancreas systems.
Romiplostim more effective than standard care for immune thrombocytopenia
A new study finds that an FDA-approved drug to treat the rare autoimmune disorder immune thromobocytopenia (ITP) is more effective than earlier medical therapies in helping patients avoid surgical treatment and significantly improving their quality of life. The paper in the Nov. 11 New England Journal of Medicine reports that treatment with romiplostim, which mimics the effects of a growth factor that regulates platelet production, was more than three times more successful than standard therapy with steroids or immunosuppressive drugs.
Putting the spotlight on membranous nephropathy
The Halpin Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) proudly highlight the research advances in membranous nephropathy made possible by The Halpin Foundation-ASN Research Grant, created to help young faculty develop independent research careers. This award provides recipients transition funding toward successful application for an NIH RO1 grant.
Unhappy children turn to sex and alcohol
Young children who don't like school are more likely to be involved in underage drinking and sexual activity. A study reported in BioMed Central's open access journal Substance Abuse, Treatment, Prevention and Policy, has found that pupils' general wellbeing and specific satisfaction with school were both associated with the incidence of risky behaviors.
Probiotics shorten diarrhea episodes
Probiotic bacteria given as therapies for diarrhoea reduce the length of time sufferers are affected and lessen the chance of episodes continuing for more than four days. These are the findings of a new systematic review by Cochrane researchers.
Changing family behavior helps schizophrenic patients avoid relapse
Working to change the behaviour of family members may be an effective treatment for people with schizophrenia, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. The researchers reviewed the most up-to-date evidence on the subject and found that patients whose families received the interventions were less likely to relapse.
Concern over traumatic brain injury in youth offenders
A new study of young offenders has revealed they have a significantly higher rate of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) than that expected in society as a whole.
Doctors set up cholera centers in Haiti's capital
(AP) -- Doctors and aid groups are rushing to set up cholera treatment centers across Haiti's capital as officials warn that the disease's encroachment into the overcrowded city will bring a surge in cases.
New bowel cancer gene discovery
Targeting a specific genetic area linked to survival in patients with advanced bowel cancer could help increase survival rates by up to three months, new University research has found.
Taking aim at deadliest cancer: Study highlights advances in targeted drug therapy
Each year, lung cancer kills nearly 160,000 Americans, more than breast, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined. Its incidence rate is among the highest of all cancers, and its five-year survival rate is among the lowest.
Stressing the positive by changing the way many view stress
(PhysOrg.com) -- Professor Salvatore R. Maddi has changed the way many view stress. Not only is it an unavoidable part of life, he argues, it can be good for us.
Early life conditions affect pregnancy
A new study of female reproduction suggests that a disrupted early childhood can lead to girls having babies at a younger age.
Use of birthing instruments helpful but with risks to mother, child
Forceps might be a better instrument than a vacuum cup for assisting a successful birth, but new mothers might experience more trauma and complications after a forceps delivery, according to a new review of studies.
Fructose-rich beverages associated with increased risk of gout in women
Consumption of fructose-rich beverages, such as sugar-sweetened sodas and orange juice is associated with an increased risk of gout among women, although their contribution to the risk of gout in the population is likely modest because of the low incidence rate among women, according to a study that will appear in the November 24 print edition of JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific meeting.
New risk factor for developing breast cancer
An Australian research team from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland has identified a new risk factor for developing breast cancer. This has been published online in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
Cervical screenings could be cut to twice in a lifetime with HPV vaccine
Women who have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could need only two HPV screening tests for the rest of their lives according to new research being presented at the NCRI Cancer Conference in Liverpool (9 November 2010).
Feds propose graphic cigarette warning labels (Update)
(AP) -- Corpses, cancer patients and diseased lungs: These are some of the images the federal government plans for larger, graphic warning labels that will take up half of each cigarette package.
Cancer news articles may contribute to confusion about cancer
New research from North Carolina State University shows that most online news stories about cancer contain language that likely contributes to public uncertainty about the disease – a significant finding, given that at least one-third of Americans seek health information online.
Research strengthens evidence of link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and childhood asthma
Evidence suggesting that the risk of childhood asthma associated with prenatal paracetamol exposure may depend on antioxidant genes in the mother has been found by a team of UK scientists. The results of their study - which strengthens the argument for a causal link between paracetamol exposure in early life and later childhood asthma - are published online (10 November) in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Trojan Horse ploy to sneak protective drug into brains of stroke patients
Scientists are reporting development of a long-sought method with the potential for getting medication through a biological barrier that surrounds the brain, where it may limit the brain damage caused by stroke. Their approach for sneaking the nerve-protective drug erythropoietin into the brain is medicine's version of the Trojan Horse ploy straight out of ancient Greek legend. It also could help people with traumatic head injuries, Parkinson's disease, and other chronic brain disorders. Their report appears in ACS' Molecular Pharmaceutics.
Study finds low birth weight may cause lifelong problems processing medications
New research has found that a mother's poor nutrition during pregnancy and nursing can cause problems for her offspring's ability to process medications, even well into adulthood.
New indicator found for rapidly progressing form of deadly lung disease
A diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is not much better than a death sentence, given a survival rate averaging 4 to 6 years as the disease robs its victim of the ability to breathe.
More Americans uninsured, but rate about the same
(AP) -- The government says the number of uninsured Americans is now nearly 47 million, up about 7 percent from 2006. And a large percentage of people say they have put off health care for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Hospitals try high-tech to better inform patients
(AP) -- Learning he had prostate cancer floored John Noble. Then came the prospect of surgery and his overpowering fear of being "put under" with anesthesia.
CWRU nurse researcher finds prescribed bed rest has down side for pregnant women
Despite lack of evidence about bed rest's effectiveness, doctors annually prescribe it for roughly 1 million pregnant women to delay preterm births.
Our normal genetics may influence cancer growth, too
The genes we possess not only determine the color of our eyes and hair and how our bodies grow, they might also influence the changes that occur in tumors when we develop cancer.
High cholesterol in middle age women not a risk factor for Alzheimer's and other dementias
High cholesterol levels in middle age do not appear to increase women's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia later in life, new Johns Hopkins-led research finds, despite a body of scientific evidence long suggesting a link between the two.
Pleasurable behaviors reduce stress via brain pathways, research shows
Whether it's food or sex, pleasurable activity provides more than just pleasure, University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers say. It actually reduces stress by inhibiting anxiety responses in the brain.
US survey: 1 in 10 kids has ADHD, awareness cited
(AP) -- A government survey says 1 in 10 U.S. children has ADHD, a sizable increase from a few years earlier that researchers think might be explained by growing awareness and better screening.
Tuning in to a new hearing mechanism
More than 30 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, and about 6 million wear hearing aids. While those devices can boost the intensity of sounds coming into the ear, they are often ineffective in loud environments such as restaurants, where you need to pick out the voice of your dining companion from background noise.
Depression linked to altered activity of circadian rhythm gene
(PhysOrg.com) -- Depression appears to be associated with a molecular-level disturbance in the body’s 24-hour clock, new research suggests.
Researchers identify molecular program for brain repair following stroke
(PhysOrg.com) -- A stroke wreaks havoc in the brain, destroying its cells and the connections between them. Depending on its severity and location, a stroke can impact someone’s life forever, affecting motor activity, speech, memories, and more.
Synapses recycle proteins for the release of neurotransmitters
Neurons communicate via chemical transmitters which they store in the bubble-like synaptic vesicles and release as required. To be able to react reliably to stimulation, neurons must have a certain number of "acutely releasable" vesicles. With the help of a new method, neuroscientists at the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Gottingen have now discovered that neurons systematically recycle the protein components necessary for transmitter release and in this way guarantee the reliability of signal transmission in the brain.
Researchers find learning in the visual brain
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts and College of Science and Engineering have found that an early part of the brain's visual system rewires itself when people are trained to perceive patterns, and have shown for the first time that this neural learning appears to be independent of higher order conscious visual processing.
Stress takes its toll in Parkinson's disease
We all know that living a stressful lifestyle can take its toll, making us age faster and making us more susceptible to the cold going around the office.
Scientists describe the delicate balance in the brain that controls fear
The eerie music in the movie theater swells; the roller coaster crests and begins its descent; something goes bump in the night. Suddenly, you're scared: your heart thumps, your stomach clenches, your throat tightens, your muscles freeze you in place. But fear doesn't come from your heart, your stomach, your throat, or your muscles. Fear begins in your brain, and it is there -- specifically in an almond-shaped structure called the amygdala -- that it is controlled, processed, and let out of the gate to kick off the rest of the fear response.
Evolutionary bestseller in image processing
The eye is not just a lens that takes pictures and converts them into electrical signals. As with all vertebrates, nerve cells in the human eye separate an image into different image channels once it has been projected onto the retina. This pre-sorted information is then transmitted to the brain as parallel image sequences. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have now discovered that fruit flies process optical information in a similar way. The evidence suggests that this type of wiring is an effective energy-saving mechanism and is therefore deployed by a diverse range of animal species. (Nature, November 11, 2010)
Circuit regulating anti-diabetic actions of serotonin uncovered by researchers
New findings by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center suggest that serotonin – a brain chemical known to help regulate emotion, mood and sleep – might also have anti-diabetic properties.
Inhibitory neurons key to understanding neuropsychiatric disorders
The brain works because 100 billion of its special nerve cells called neurons regulate trillions of connections that carry and process information. The behavior of each neuron is precisely determined by the proper function of many genes.
Genes hold key to how well coalitions work, psychologists say
How well a person performs in a coalition is partly hereditary, according to a recent study.
Stem cell transplants in mice produce lifelong enhancement of muscle mass
A University of Colorado at Boulder-led study shows that specific types of stem cells transplanted into the leg muscles of mice prevented the loss of muscle function and mass that normally occurs with aging, a finding with potential uses in treating humans with chronic, degenerative muscle diseases.
Tetris flashback reduction effect 'not common to all games'
The computer game Tetris may have a special ability to reduce flashbacks after viewing traumatic images not shared by other types of computer game, Oxford University scientists have discovered in a series of experiments.
Mobile phone app to diagnose sexually transmitted infections
(PhysOrg.com) -- An innovative plan in the UK aimed at cutting rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) such as herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in young people will use mobile phones or computers to diagnose the diseases. The idea taps into the reluctance of many young people to seek help by conventional means because of their embarrassment, and their love of technology.
Chip-in-a-pill may be approved in 2012
(PhysOrg.com) -- Giant Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG, based in Basel, is developing a pill containing an embedded microchip, which it hopes to submit for regulatory approval in Europe within 18 months. The chip is activated by the stomach acid, and transmits information to a patch attached to the patient's skin, which then sends it on to a doctor via the Internet or a smartphone.
Biology news
Researchers investigate what makes tree mallow turn nasty
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists are studying an invasive shrub which is threatening Scottish puffins and other seabirds.
Improving safety and quality of organic leafy greens
A USDA-funded project at the UA aims to increase the safety and quality of organic leafy greens and profitability for farmers. The endeavor includes an outreach and an education program.
Robust methods for GMO detection ready at hand
A new Reference Report published today by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) lists 79 reference methods for GMO analysis which have been validated according to international standards. This Compendium, developed jointly by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) and the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL), presents the technical state of the art in GMO detection methods. Each method is described in a user-friendly way, facilitating the implementation of GMO legislation by official control bodies.
Potential hemlock hybrids tolerant to invasive hemlock woolly adelgid
New hemlock hybrids that are tolerant to the invasive insect known as hemlock woolly adelgid have been created by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Guardian angels for seeds
The seeds that you plant in your backyard garden next spring -- and farmers sow in their fields -- may have a guardian angel that helps them sprout, stay healthy, and grow to yield bountiful harvests. It's a thin coating of chemicals termed a "seed treatment" that can encourage seeds to germinate earlier in the season, resist insects and diseases, and convey other advantages. These new seed defenders are the topic of an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.
Ecologists get fish eye view of sexual signals
Carotenoid pigments are the source of many of the animal kingdom's most vivid colours; flamingos' pink feathers come from eating carotenoid-containing shrimps and algae, and carotenoid colours can be seen among garden birds in blackbirds' orange beaks and blue tits' yellow breast feathers.
Australia's deadly redback spiders invade NZealand
Australia's deadly redback spider has established itself in New Zealand, posing a significant risk to humans as it threatens to colonise major cities, researchers have found.
Malaysia rescues rare golden cat from pot
Malaysian wildlife authorities said Wednesday they rescued a rare Asian golden cat, which was caught in a snare and destined for the cooking pot.
New class of 'dancing' dendritic cells derived from blood monocytes
Dendritic cells, known to be the prime movers of the body's immune response, are still notoriously difficult to study in humans. Samples, which come primarily from bone marrow or lymphoid tissue, are simply too difficult to obtain. But new research at Rockefeller University has shown scientists a way to study "authentic" dendritic cells from mouse monocytes, which are abundant in the blood, a much more accessible source in humans. The discovery, published last week in Cell, promises to accelerate research into therapeutic uses of dendritic cells in people, particularly in vaccine development and cancer treatment; it comes from the lab of Ralph M. Steinman, who first published his discovery of dendritic cells in 1973.
Spain's typhus epidemic revealed by 18th century skeletons
By studying the dental pulp of skeletons buried in Douai (northern France), French researchers from CNRS and the Universite de la Mediterranee have identified the pathogenic agents responsible for trench fever and typhus. Published in the journal PLoS ONE, this work reveals for the first time the presence of typhus in Europe at the start of the 18th century and lends weight to the hypothesis that this disease could have been imported into Europe by Spanish conquistadors returning from the Americas.
Sunburnt whales: Rising UV radiation could be damaging whales' skin
Whales exhibit skin damage consistent with acute sunburn in humans, and it seems to be getting worse over time, reveals research published this week in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Which species has the largest testicles? Big secret revealed by researchers
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Derby and colleagues at the University of Cambridge believe they have found which species has the largest testicles in relation to body weight on the planet – and why!
A love game: Fish courtship more complex than thought
Monash University researchers have discovered that male Australian desert goby fish are surprisingly strategic when it comes to courtship, adapting their tactics depending on the frequency of their contact with females.
Sharks and wolves: Predator, prey interactions similar on land and in oceans
There may be many similarities between the importance of large predators in marine and terrestrial environments, researchers concluded in a recent study, which examined the interactions between wolves and elk in the United States, as well as sharks and dugongs in Australia.
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