Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 17, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists demonstrate a four-fold quantum memory- Laser-based camera can see around corners
- Antihydrogen trapped for first time (w/ Video)
- ARMAR-III, the robot that learns via touch (w/ Video)
- Researchers create iridescent glass that can reflect UV or infrared light
- Scientists devise broad new technique for screening proteins
- Scientists question indicator of fisheries health, evidence for 'fishing down food webs'
- Nanoscale probe reveals interactions between surfaces and single molecules
- Stuxnet virus could target many industries
- Mortal chemical combat typifies the world of bacteria
- Rett syndrome mobilizes jumping genes in the brain
- As Arctic temperatures rise, tundra fires increase, researchers find
- Months of geologic unrest signaled reawakening of Icelandic volcano
- Structure of Lassa virus protein reveals viral thievery
- Scientists identify antivirus system
Space & Earth news
OSU, Oxford, others launch citizen scientist climate modeling initiative
An international group of scientists from the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States is collaborating on a fascinating new climate modeling initiative – using the idle computers of thousands of citizens to create a network of digital power that surpasses that of the best supercomputers.
Action on climate change cannot wait for a global deal, business leaders say
Business leaders of hundreds of companies from around the world yesterday released a renewed demand for “an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal on climate change”, adding that businesses are already investing in a low-carbon future and governments must respond to this by both redoubling efforts to secure an international framework but also by pursuing an ambitious “parallel mitigation strategy”.
Image: To the rescue
This unique, close-up view of the X-38 under the wing of NASA's B-52 mothership prior to launch of the lifting-body research vehicle was taken from the observation window of the B-52 bomber as it banked in flight.
EPA tells states to consider rising ocean acidity
(AP) -- States with coastal water that is becoming more acidic because of carbon dioxide should list them as impaired under the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Agency said.
Yihua Zheng: A new breed of weather forecaster
Solar storms sweeping from the Sun to Earth can damage anything from spacecraft to Earth's electrical utilities. The "Halloween Storm" of October 29, 2003 destroyed the $450 million Midori-2 research satellite. A storm on March 13, 1989 caused a collapse of the entire Quebec power grid. But such things can be avoided with enough advance warning.
How to see the best meteor showers of the year: Tools, tips and 'save the dates'
There are several major meteor showers to enjoy every year at various times, with some more active than others. For example, April's Lyrids are expected to produce about 15 meteors an hour at their peak for observers viewing in good conditions. Now, if you put the same observer in the same good conditions during a higher-rate shower like August's Perseids or December's Geminids, that person could witness up to 80 meteors an hour during peak activity.
BP failed to learn from past 'near misses': oil spill panel
BP's failure to learn from past "near misses" and its "insufficient consideration of risk" were major factors in the oil well blowout that led to the biggest US environmental disaster, a panel of US scientists concluded on Wednesday.
Camera on Curiosity's arm will magnify clues in rocks
NASA's next Mars rover, Curiosity, will wield an arm-mounted magnifying camera similar to one on the Mars Rover Opportunity, which promptly demonstrated its importance for reading environmental history from rocks at its landing site in 2004.
Dissolving star systems creates a mess in Orion
For young stars, stellar outflows are the rule. T Tauri stars and other young stars eject matter in generally collimated jets. However, a region in Orion‘s giant molecular cloud known as the Becklin-Neugebauer/Kleinmann-Low (BN/KL) region, appears to have a clumpy, scattered set of outflows with “finger-like” projections in numerous directions. A new study, led by Luis Zapata at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explores this odd region.
NASA goes to the set of CBS's 'The Big Bang Theory'
It all started with a Big Bang. Well, actually, it all started with a beach ball. Not just any beach ball, but one that is printed with data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). This educational beach ball was developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and NASA's Blueshift team decided to blog about it. As a result, they ended up visiting the set of the popular CBS sitcom about geeky scientists, "The Big Bang Theory."
Scientists dig below Dead Sea for slice of Earth's history
An international team of scientists has begun drilling deep below the Dead Sea in an effort to extract material that could provide an unusual look at Earth's history over the past 500,000 years.
Cosmic rays detect soil moisture
(PhysOrg.com) -- An instrument that uses cosmic rays to measure the moisture content in soil ultimately could prompt major improvements in weather forecasting and irrigation practices, and provide a wealth of new data about land density and the impacts of climate change. The University of Arizona's Marek Zreda is leading the project.
Computer users simulate extreme weather at home
(PhysOrg.com) -- Volunteers are being asked to run a series of climate prediction experiments on their computers to help understand how global climate change will affect weather in different regions of the world.
Scientists look at whether climate change is causing bigger ocean waves
It's one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world, where 1 million cubic feet of water a second collides with 20- or 30-foot ocean swells over a four-mile stretch of shifting sand.
As Arctic temperatures rise, tundra fires increase, researchers find
In September, 2007, the Anaktuvuk River Fire burned more than 1,000 square kilometers of tundra on Alaska's North Slope, doubling the area burned in that region since record keeping began in 1950. A new analysis of sediment cores from the burned area revealed that this was the most destructive tundra fire at that site for at least 5,000 years. Models built on 60 years of climate and fire data found that even moderate increases in warm-season temperatures in the region dramatically increase the likelihood of such fires.
Months of geologic unrest signaled reawakening of Icelandic volcano
Months of volcanic restlessness preceded the eruptions this spring of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, providing insight into what roused it from centuries of slumber.
WISE image reveals strange specimen in starry sea
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer shows what looks like a glowing jellyfish floating at the bottom of a dark, speckled sea. In reality, this critter belongs to the cosmos -- it's a dying star surrounded by fluorescing gas and two very unusual rings.
Technology news
Taiwan taekwondo fighter disqualified over 'sensor' socks
Taiwan taekwondo fighter Yang Shu-Chun was disqualified from the Asian Games after being accused of wearing extra sensors inside her socks to score more points.
Power consumption cut by 50% with Panasonic's 32-bit microcomputer
Panasonic Corporation has successfully developed a new series of 32-bit microcomputers with built-in flash memory which contribute to energy-saving and system cost reduction of in-car electronics, office equipment, and household electrical appliances. The company will start volume shipment of the MN103L series microcomputers in January, 2011.
What will threaten us in 2040?
Could terrorists of the future use a swarm of tiny robots -- less an a quarter-inch high -- to attack their targets? Will new bio materials be able to target individuals carrying specific genetic markers? Could cyber-attackers melt down a nuclear facility with the press of a "return" key, or implant chips to control our minds?
DARPA grant to fund research into magnetic logic
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a team of researchers led by Wolfgang Porod, Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering and director of the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Nano Science and Technology, a $9.9 million grant to explore logic in a magnetic system, which may open the door to all-magnetic information processing systems.
Northeastern researchers made the call on 'zombie virus'
Northeastern University researchers predicted last year that major Smartphone viruses will become a real threat to devices such as Blackberrys and iPhones once a particular operating system approaches a 10 percent market share. Based on news reports indicating that more than one million Smartphones in China have been hit with such a virus, it appears their predictions have been realized.
Microsoft revamps online game service, more social
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is creating a new online games hub and making it more social by linking it to players' Facebook and Windows Live accounts.
October video game retail sales slide 4 percent
(AP) -- U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories slipped 4 percent in October as demand for most gaming consoles declined from a year earlier, according to data from market researcher NPD Group.
Yahoo teams with Groupon, others to dangle deals
(AP) -- Yahoo Inc. is hopping on the bargain-hunting bandwagon with Groupon, the Internet's hottest discount broker, and more than a dozen other similar services.
Breyer says justices must adapt to Facebook world
(AP) -- Don't expect a Facebook friend request from Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer any time soon.
US, China launch clean energy research initiative
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Wednesday the United States and China had launched a joint clean energy initiative -- one of the largest research collaborations between two countries in the world.
App-centric iPhone model is overrated: RIM CEO
The head of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) fired a shot at rival Apple, slamming the notion that smartphones need "apps."
'Don't hold your breath' for Facebook IPO: Zuckerberg
Facebook is poised to transform an array of businesses including news, movies and music but it is nowhere near issuing stock, its celebrity co-founder said Tuesday.
Facebook swats bug that disabled accounts
Facebook said a bug in a system designed to detect fake profiles had disabled a number of legitimate accounts on the social network.
Samsung chairman says son to be promoted
(AP) -- The chairman of Samsung Electronics said Wednesday his son will be promoted to a more powerful executive position, preparing the global technology giant for an eventual change in leadership.
Navigating underwater using spiral sound
With the increased use of underwater robotics in both Navy and commercial applications, underwater navigation becomes more and more important. As researchers attempt to make these vehicles smaller and less expensive, simple systems for the navigation of multiple vehicles become important. A research team from Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Washington, and Naval Surface Warfare Center has developed and tested an underwater navigation system that uses a spiral shaped acoustic wave to determine aspect. The single stationary beacon can provide a navigation signal for any number of underwater vehicles.
TWIPS -- sonar inspired by dolphins
Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a new kind of underwater sonar device that can detect objects through bubble clouds that would effectively blind standard sonar.
Researchers design machine learning technique to improve consumer medical searches
Medical websites provide consumers with more access than ever before to comprehensive health and medical information, but the sites' utility becomes limited if users use unclear or unorthodox language to describe conditions in a site search. However, a group of Georgia Tech researchers have created a machine-learning model that enables the sites to "learn" dialect and other medical vernacular, thereby improving their performance for users who use such language themselves.
OpenStudy aims to create worldwide study group
Think about online courses. They're great, right? You take a professor who's interested in teaching a certain topic, say computer science, and hook him or her up with hundreds or thousands of students across the globe who want to learn. Add some podcasting technology and you've got an online class where people from all walks of life can learn about computer science. Except there's one problem.
Google strikes deal to scan French books
Internet giant Google struck an agreement with France's biggest publisher Hachette Livre to scan thousands of out-of-print French books for Google's online library, the companies said on Wednesday.
Google opens online boutique for stylish women
Google sauntered into the world of haute couture on Wednesday with the launch of boutiques.com, an online shop that matches hot fashions to women's tastes.
Hulu officially launches pay service, cuts price
(AP) -- Online video site Hulu formally launched its premium streaming service Wednesday and cut the price to $8 a month.
PS3 video game consoles getting Vudu films
Vudu will begin routing online films to Internet-linked PlayStation 3 video game consoles in the United States in a deal announced on Wednesday with Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Report: Online video providers not protecting kids
(AP) -- The Parents Television Council has released a study that says online video destinations like Hulu and Fancast don't do enough to keep explicit content from kids.
Comcast's new iPad app to show TV listings
It's the newspaper TV grid on electronic steroids.
After tussle, Google Voice application comes to iPhone
Google launched a Google Voice for the iPhone application Tuesday after a lengthy dispute with Apple that drew the attention of US government telecom regulators.
Minneapolis disaster spawning new concepts in bridge research, testing and safety
Civil engineers at Oregon State University have developed a new system to better analyze the connections that hold major bridge members together, which may improve public safety, help address a trillion-dollar concern about aging infrastructure around the world, and save lives.
E-mail's lowly 'at' so much more around the world
(AP) -- The squiggly little "at" symbol that makes our e-mail go is more colorful in translation.
Experts: rare earths headed for 2011 supply crunch
Global demand for the increasingly important "rare earth" minerals that power a range of digital products could outstrip supply by next year as dominant producer China slashes exports, analysts warn.
Methane-powered laptops may be closer than you think
(PhysOrg.com) -- Making fuel cells practical and affordable will not happen overnight. It may, however, not take much longer.
Stuxnet virus could target many industries
(AP) -- A malicious computer attack that appears to target Iran's nuclear plants can be modified to wreak havoc on industrial control systems around the world, and represents the most dire cyberthreat known to industry, government officials and experts said Wednesday.
Internet traffic 'hijacked' to China servers, says US report
Highly sensitive Internet traffic on US government and military websites was briefly "hijacked" and routed through Chinese servers earlier this year, a report to the US Congress said Wednesday.
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
Government's personal health record project meets with limited enthusiasm from patients
HealthSpace, the internet-accessible personal health organiser developed as part of the National Programme for IT in the National Health Service, was significantly less popular than anticipated, a research team from the University of London has found.
Scientists identify potential new target for treating triple negative breast cancer
Scientists believe they may have found a new target for treating triple negative breast cancer – one of the more difficult breast cancers to treat successfully and for which there is no targeted therapy at present.
Researchers map the way to personalised treatment for ovarian cancer
mis-spellings in a single letter of genetic code – that drive the onset and growth of cancer cells can be detected successfully in advanced ovarian cancer using a technique called OncoMap. The finding opens the way for personalised medicine in which every patient could have their tumour screened, specific mutations identified, and the appropriate drug chosen to target the mutation and halt the growth of their cancer.
Experts urge UK prime minister to act on 'massive' rises in the prices of drugs for rare diseases
An open letter from 20 consultants and a patient group published in the British Medical Journal today, calls on the prime minister to take action over a legal loophole that allows drug companies to make easy profits by licensing existing treatments for rare (orphan) diseases.
Structural brain changes in people at risk for Alzheimer's disease
People at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease exhibit a specific structural change in the brain that can be visualized by brain imaging, according to new research presented at Neuroscience 2010, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health. The findings may help identify those who would most benefit from early intervention.
Multidisciplinary approach is key to successful treatment of aggressive prostate cancer
A research team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Kimmel Cancer Center (KCC) at Jefferson has concluded – for the first time – that a multidisciplinary clinic approach to aggressive prostate cancer can improve survival in patients. The results from the 15-year study of the multidisciplinary clinic can be found in the November issue of Journal of Oncology Practice.
New way for nonverbal dysphagia patients to communicate
Though many people suffering from neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy and Lou Gehrig’s disease have lost their ability to speak, they can communicate using augmentative and alternative communications (AAC) devices such as keyboards, head sticks and other hands-free options. Nonverbal people, however, are also susceptible to feeding and swallowing problems (dysphagia). In late 2006, Ithaca College faculty member and speech pathologist Mary Pitti and her colleague Liz Begley (an AAC specialist now on staff at College Station Medical Center in Texas) made an eye-opening discovery: AAC devices offering icons and software applications for dysphagia sufferers were nearly nonexistent.
Study to look at progesterone's effect on kids with traumatic brain injury
A University of Michigan researcher has received a two-year, $600,000 grant to plan a randomized controlled study of progesterone to treat traumatic brain injuries in children.
Platform for in-vitro study of brain tissue developed by Imec and PEIRA
The nanoelectronics research centre imec and Peira, a Belgium-based manufacturer of pharmaceutical and chemical research instruments, jointly developed an innovative slice-tilting instrument for in-vitro research on brain tissue. The new tool enables long-term studying of brain cultures through electronic stimulation and read-out, essential in getting insight into the functioning of the brain.
The war against mental illness
Professor Mike Owen, Director of the University’s new Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute has said the time has come to declare war on mental illness.
Drinking problems in women linked to childhood sexual, physical abuse
Women who suffered sexual or physical abuse as children are more likely to abuse alcohol than are others, according to a new study of 3,680 women.
Health literacy impacts chance of heart failure hospitalization, study says
Being able to read and understand words like anemia, hormones and seizure means a patient with heart failure may be less likely to be hospitalized, according to a new study from Emory University School of Medicine. Findings will be presented Nov. 17 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago.
Doubled risk of anxiety for 18 month-old children with congenital heart defects
Research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) shows that children with severe congenital heart defects have twice the risk of anxiety at 18 months of age compared to healthy children. Children with mild and moderate heart defects, on the other hand, did not show an increased risk of anxiety.
Nurse practitioner-led spinal clinic produced impressive results and shorter waiting times
Ninety-six per cent of patients with back problems were satisfied with the assessment carried out by a specially trained nurse practitioner, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Aged, damaged hearts yield stem cells that could treat heart failure
Cardiac stem cells — even in elderly and sick patients — could generate new heart muscle and vessel tissue and be used to treat heart failure, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010.
Researchers fight America's 'other drug problem'
Medications do not have a chance to fight health problems if they are taken improperly or not taken at all. Non-adherence to medications costs thousands of lives and billions of dollars each year in the United States alone, according to the New England Healthcare Institute. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed an intervention strategy that is three times more effective than previously studied techniques at improving adherence in patients.
Cardiac MR sheds light on obscure heart muscle condition
Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), a cardiomyopathy about which little is fully understood, is associated with heart failure (HF), stroke and ventricular arrhythmias, according to a study to be presented Nov. 17 at the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Chicago. The researchers also will report that advanced imaging technologies reveal that developing these cardiac risks appear to progress over time in patients with LVNC.
Research suggests mercury linked to dementia
New research by Northeastern University professor Richard Deth and academic colleagues in Germany suggests that long-term exposure to mercury may produce Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in people.
Artificial retina more capable of restoring normal vision
Researchers have developed an artificial retina that has the capacity to reproduce normal vision in mice.
Phone-in doctoring fails to improve patient outcomes
Keeping in close contact with heart failure patients once they leave the hospital has been an ongoing challenge for physicians. A patient's condition can worsen with no notice and early intervention could potentially make a big difference.
MRI scans show structural brain changes in people at risk for Alzheimer's disease
New results from a study by neuroscientists at Rush University Medical Center suggest that people at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease exhibit a specific structural change in the brain that can be visualized by brain imaging. The findings may help identify those who would most benefit from early intervention.
Haiti's cholera death toll grows, fueling riots
(AP) -- An outbreak of cholera has killed more than 1,000 people, the Haitian government said Tuesday as it sent top officials to the country's north in hopes of quelling violent protests against U.N. peacekeepers accused of spreading the disease.
Personalized medicine: Tumor analysis reveals new opportunities for existing cancer drugs
Targeted cancer therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), gefitinib (Iressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva) could be used to treat a wider range of cancers than previously thought, according to new research presented today (Wednesday) at the 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Berlin.
Preterm birth rates improve in most states
Eight states earned a better grade on the 2010 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card and 32 others and the District of Columbia saw their preterm birth rates improve.
FDA panel recommends first lupus drug in 50 years
An advisory panel for the US Food and Drug Administration recommended a new drug treatment Tuesday for lupus that if approved would be the first for the disease in over 50 years.
First cholera case detected in Dominican Republic: official
A first case of cholera has been detected in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas said Tuesday.
US watchdog says caffeinated alcoholic drinks unsafe
The US food safety watchdog on Wednesday warned that drinks combining caffeine and alcohol are unsafe and illegal, and ordered companies that make them to remove them from shop shelves.
Development of a safer vaccine for Alzheimer's disease
A new vaccine protects against memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease, but without potentially dangerous side effects, a new animal study reports. The research was presented at Neuroscience 2010, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Hope for treatment of cocaine addiction
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two separate discoveries by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) offer potential for development of a first-ever pharmacological treatment for cocaine addiction.
Gene screening may refine prediction of heart attack risk, researchers say
Testing for 11 specific genetic variations in hundreds of people with no history of heart disease provided information that led to revision of their estimated heart attack risk, say Mayo Clinic researchers.
New needle-free HPV vaccine increases effectiveness, availability in developing world
New research being presented at the 2010 FIP Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress in association with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition will highlight a targeted inhalable dry powder vaccine that may prove preferable in terms of needle avoidance and expected lower cost than the current commercial human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine used throughout the world.
Lower back and foot pain associated with more severe knee osteoarthritis symptoms
A new study found that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who also have pain in other joints were more likely to experience greater knee pain. Specifically, pain in the lower back as well as foot pain and elbow pain on the same side as the affected knee were associated with more severe knee pain. Full details appear in the December issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.
Next big thing? Big cholesterol drop with new drug
(AP) -- An experimental Merck drug safely boosted good cholesterol to record highs while dropping bad cholesterol to unprecedented lows in a study that stunned researchers and renewed hopes for an entirely new way of lowering heart risks.
Zapping nerves helps control high blood pressure
(AP) -- Some people who couldn't get their blood pressure under control despite taking a fistful of pills every day found relief from an experimental treatment that shows promise as a permanent fix for the condition.
Report details how hospitals can be risky places
(AP) -- Medicare's new chief called for more steps to improve patient safety Tuesday, in the wake of a government report that said one in seven hospitalized Medicare patients is harmed during their stay.
Turning the cancer genes off
In the past 40 years, scientists have learned a great deal about how cells become cancerous. Some of that knowledge has translated to new treatments, but most of the time doctors are forced to rely on standard chemotherapy and radiation, which can do nearly as much damage to the patients as they do to the tumors. This series looks at targeted treatments that are on the horizon, and what needs to be done to make them a reality.
New heart failure pump works well in those awaiting transplants
An experimental pump implanted to assist the heart in patients with advanced heart failure waiting for a heart transplant works as well as approved devices, according to late-breaking clinical trial results presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2010.
An app for remembering pills, recording medical history, rating health services
A new iPhone application which empowers patients to make more informed decisions and better manage their health has been launched.
The long road of fertility
Surviving childhood cancer comes at a cost; along with temporary but gruelling side effects, the life-saving treatments children receive may render them infertile as adults.
Study finds evidence of gender bias toward diagnosing boys with autism
Social factors can play a key role in whether or not a child is diagnosed as autistic, a new study has found.
Chemicals' study pinpoints threat to workers' lungs
Tiny particles used in a range of everyday products from computers to shampoo can adversely affect the lungs in very different ways, a study has shown.
Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to death, atherosclerosis in veterans
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more than doubles a veteran's risk of death from any cause and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010.
The pericyte becomes a player in Alzheimer's, other diseases
Cells in the brain called pericytes that have not been high on the list of targets for treating diseases like Alzheimer's may play a more crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases than has been realized.
Researchers discover potential genetic target for heart disease
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have found a potential genetic target for heart disease, which could lead to therapies to prevent the development of the nation's No. 1 killer in its initial stages.
Haiti cholera death toll hits 1,100: health officials
Health officials in Haiti announced 76 new cholera deaths Wednesday, pushing the toll to 1,100 since the disease first surfaced in the destitute Caribbean nation in late October.
It takes two: Double detection key for sensing muscle pain
A new study discovers a molecular mechanism involved in pain associated with muscles. The research, published by Cell Press in the Nov. 18 issue of the journal Neuron, provides new insight into what underlies one of the most common, and least understood, forms of human pain.
IQ scores fail to predict academic performance in children with autism
New data show that many children with autism spectrum disorders have greater academic abilities than previously thought. In a study by researchers at the University of Washington, 90 percent of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders showed a discrepancy between their IQ score and their performance on reading, spelling and math tests.
Hearing loss study reveals role of bone hardness in tissue function
Scientists are reporting the first direct evidence that a subtle change in the physical properties of a tissue can affect its function. The finding has immediate implications for understanding several rare hearing disorders, they said, and ultimately could offer insight into such conditions as osteoporosis, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
New insight into dementia pathophysiology
New research unravels a key molecular pathway underlying a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a devastating type of dementia. The study, published by Cell Press in the November 18 issue of the journal Neuron, sheds light on the pathological processing of Progranulin, a protein that normally promotes the survival of brain cells but is reduced in some neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists show how anthrax bacteria impair immune response
Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have determined a key mechanism by which Bacillus anthracis bacteria initiate anthrax infection despite being greatly outnumbered by immune system scavenger cells. The finding, made by studying genetically modified mice, adds new detail to the picture of early-stage anthrax infection and supports efforts to develop vaccines and drugs that would block this part of the cycle.
Following 7 steps can cut a person's death risk by more than half, experts say
For those interested in reducing their risk of death from cardiovascular disease, heart experts have some good news: regular exercise, a healthy diet and five other simple measures can cut one's near-term risk of death by more than half.
Researchers open window on a little-studied form of dementia
(PhysOrg.com) -- Yale University researchers have discovered one of the first tantalizing clues to how frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - often mistaken for Alzheimer's disease - wreaks havoc in the brain.
Stem cell secreted protein can be given to reduce scarring and improve heart function
(PhysOrg.com) -- Heart tissue and stem cells spring into action to begin repairing muscle damaged in a heart attack, and researchers at Duke University School of Medicine found that a protein naturally produced in the body may potentially play a role in accelerating heart muscle repair. Giving the right dose of this protein named secreted frizzled related protein 2 (sfrp2) in studies of rats helped to prevent heart failure and reduce collagen layering that can form thick scar tissue after a heart attack (also called MI, or myocardial infarction). Previously the same researchers demonstrated that this protein also saves heart muscle cells from dying in response to heart attack.
The Great American Smokeout
You already know smoking is bad, and that it contributes to heart disease, strokes, lung and other cancers and can lead to poor healing, chronic lung disease, wrinkled skin, erectile dysfunction, and it worsens asthma.
Speech monitoring could track Parkinson's
(PhysOrg.com) -- The severity of Parkinson's disease symptoms could be accurately monitored remotely through analysing a patient's speech patterns, a new Oxford University study suggests.
Mysterious cells may play role in ALS
(PhysOrg.com) -- By tracking the fate of a group of immature cells that persist in the adult brain and spinal cord, Johns Hopkins researchers discovered in mice that these cells undergo dramatic changes in ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Experimental blood thinner gets high marks
An experimental blood thinner called rivaroxaban is at least as good at preventing strokes as the old "war horse" warfarin, which has been used for decades in people with erratic heartbeats, researchers said Monday. The drug also sharply reduces the risk of major bleeding that is seen with warfarin.
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.
Can you prevent Alzheimer's disease by doing crossword puzzles?
(PhysOrg.com) -- By stripping patients of their memories, Alzheimer’s disease gradually robs people of their very identities. Patients eventually lose the ability to care for themselves and to control basic bodily functions, such as swallowing and urination. No one has a cure.
Doomsday messages about global warming can backfire, new study shows
Dire or emotionally charged warnings about the consequences of global warming can backfire if presented too negatively, making people less amenable to reducing their carbon footprint, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley.
Combating cancer with the body's own defenses
In the past 40 years, scientists have learned a great deal about how cells become cancerous. Some of that knowledge has translated to new treatments, but most of the time doctors are forced to rely on standard chemotherapy and radiation, which can do nearly as much damage to the patients as they do the tumors. This series looks at targeted treatments that are on the horizon, and what needs to be done to make them a reality.
Being faced with gender stereotypes makes women less likely to take financial risks
Last year Nicholas Kristof declared in his New York Times column what banks need to fix their problems: Not just a bailout, but also "women, women, and women." Women are generally thought to be less willing to take risks than men, so he speculated that the banks could balance out risky men by employing more women. Stereotypes like this about women actually influence how women make financial decisions, making them more wary of risk, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
New imaging method reveals stunning details of brain connections
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, applying a state-of-the-art imaging system to brain-tissue samples from mice, have been able to quickly and accurately locate and count the myriad connections between nerve cells in unprecedented detail, as well as to capture and catalog those connections' surprising variety.
Rett syndrome mobilizes jumping genes in the brain
With few exceptions, jumping genes-restless bits of DNA that can move freely about the genome-are forced to stay put. In patients with Rett syndrome, however, a mutation in the MeCP2 gene mobilizes so-called L1 retrotransposons in brain cells, reshuffling their genomes and possibly contributing to the symptoms of the disease when they find their way into active genes, report researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Structure of Lassa virus protein reveals viral thievery
Scientists at Emory University and the University of St. Andrews have solved the structure of a key protein from Lassa virus, which is endemic to West Africa and can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever.
Differences in brain development between males and females may hold clues to mental health disorders
Many mental health disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, produce changes in social behavior or interactions. The frequency and/or severity of these disorders is substantially greater in boys than girls, but the biological basis for this difference between the two sexes is unknown.
New laser system shows promise for cataract surgery
(PhysOrg.com) -- Imagine trying to cut by hand a perfect circle roughly one-third the size of a penny. Then consider that instead of a sheet of paper, you're working with a scalpel and a thin, elastic, transparent layer of tissue, which both offers resistance and tears easily. And, by the way, you're doing it inside someone's eye, and a slip could result in a serious impairment to vision.
Process leading to protein diversity in cells important for proper neuron firing
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have documented a novel form of splicing in the cytoplasm of a nerve cell, which dictates a special form of a potassium channel protein in the outer membrane. The channel protein is found in the dendrites of hippocampus cells -- the seat of memory, learning, and spatial navigation -- and is involved in coordinating the electrical firing of nerve cells.
Why estrogen makes you smarter
CHICAGO --- 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.
Biology news
Finding the right time for rolling rye
(PhysOrg.com) -- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are helping growers adopt an environmentally friendly practice that is catching on nationwide: "rolling" their rye when they use it as a cover crop.
Pelletized manure reduces toxic runoff
There is considerable amount of uncertainty concerning the environmental impacts that animal hormones have on surface water. Higher concentrations of hormones in waterways have been found to cause physiological and sexual impairment in fish and other aquatic species. However, a study from the University of Delaware that examined estrogen concentrations runoff from agricultural fields fertilized with chicken manure found that it is as much about the application of the manure as it is about the measurement of the types of estrogen.
Cancer drug target is promising lead for new TB treatments
A key enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that enables the microbe to reproduce rapidly could be a golden target for new drugs against tuberculosis (TB), according to a study published in Microbiology on 17 November.
Orangutans count on stats for survival
Orangutans threatened with extinction could be brought back from the brink with help from a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) statistician.
One-touch make-up -- for our cells
A new technique developed by scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, France and collaborators enables them to introduce up to 15 fluorescent markers to a mammalian cell in one go, and could help speed up drug development and screening. Their work is published online today in Nature Communications.
Fish sleep more soundly when they have a mosquito net
University of Queensland research has found fish have developed their own mosquito nets in order to get a good night's sleep.
Beware of the enemy within
Evidence supporting Australia's internal quarantine restrictions designed to stop the spread of insect pests, has been published in the respected scientific journal, Nature Communications.
The secrets of soil bacteria diversity
The soil is the biosphere's most biologically active zone and harbours the largest reservoir of genetic diversity. In various disciplines, scientists – among them Dani Or's group – employ models of dynamic, aquatic soil micro-habitats with innovative experiments to try to solve the question of how this diversity originates and maintained.
National Zoo and partners first to breed critically endangered tree frog
many killed by a rapidly spreading disease called chytridiomycosis, which attacks the skin cells of amphibians—one critically endangered species has received an encouraging boost. Although the La Loma tree frog, Hyloscirtus colymba, is notoriously difficult to care for in captivity, the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project is the first to successfully breed this species.
Cholesterol-lowering statins boost bacteria-killing cells
Widely prescribed for their cholesterol-lowering properties, recent clinical research indicates that statins can produce a second, significant health benefit: lowering the risk of severe bacterial infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. A new explanation for these findings has been discovered by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, who describe for the first time how statins activate the bacterial killing properties of white blood cells.
Advance toward controlling fungus that caused Irish potato famine
Scientists are reporting a key advance toward development of a way to combat the terrible plant diseases that caused the Irish potato famine and still inflict billions of dollars of damage to crops each year around the world. Their study appears in ACS' journal Organic Letters.
You are not what you eat
The types of gut bacteria that populate the guts of primates depend on the species of the host as well as where the host lives and what they eat. A study led by Howard Ochman at Yale University examines the gut microbial communities in great apes, showing that a host's species, rather than their diet, has the greatest effect on gut bacteria diversity. These findings will publish next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.
Length of pregnancy influenced by placenta structure
The nine-month pregnancy in humans is influenced by the structure of the placenta, according to new research into the evolution of reproduction in mammals which ends a 100-year mystery.
Brent geese show parents know best
Research from a six year study on migrating geese has discovered an interesting outcome – they return to the same spots they were taken to as youngsters.
The lifeblood of leaves: Vein networks control plant patterns
New University of Arizona research indicates that leaf vein patterns correlate with functions such as carbon intake and water use – knowledge that could help scientists better understand the complex carbon cycle that is at the heart of global climate warming.
Mediterranean home to great white sharks
(PhysOrg.com) -- Great white sharks found in the Mediterranean were originally from Australia, researchers have discovered.
Faster water flow means greater diversity of invertebrate marine life
One of biggest factors promoting the diversity of coastal ocean life is how fast the water flows, according to new research by ecologists at Brown University. Experiments and observation in Palau, Alaska, and Maine showed that the faster the flow, the greater the number of invertebrate species that live on rocks under the water.
Scientists announce new advance with potential for future cancer targeting
New research that provides potential for exciting new approaches to targeting diseases such as cancer has been announced by an international team of academics.
Mortal chemical combat typifies the world of bacteria
Like all organisms, bacteria must compete for resources to survive, even if it means a fight to the death.
Scientists question indicator of fisheries health, evidence for 'fishing down food webs'
The most widely adopted measure for assessing the state of the world's oceans and fisheries led to inaccurate conclusions in nearly half the ecosystems where it was applied according to new analysis by an international team led by a University of Washington fisheries scientist.
Hybrid plants with over-reactive immune system
(PhysOrg.com) -- Individuals from the same species can often be crossed without any trouble. However, genes also have their preferences, and some gene variants are not compatible with those found in other individuals of the same species. Natural selection can give rise to gene variants that do not suit the genes of plants from other populations within the same species. In this way, new species may arise.
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