Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for September 28, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Programmer has fun with monkeys typing Shakespeare theory- Structure of vital protein complex, G protein-coupled receptors, described in unprecedented detail
- Mimicking cells with transistors
- Toshiba announces chip to boost TransferJet
- Strong bonds between rare-earth metals and graphene
- Light from galaxy clusters confirms theory of relativity
- Video shows tool use by a fish
- First detection of pregnancy protein in older people destined for Alzheimer's disease
- Control gene for developmental timing discovered
- Sexy snacks: Study finds female mate searching evolves when mating gifts are important
- Romance scams online hit hundreds of thousands of victims
- 'Teleportation' of rats sheds light on how the memory is organized
- March on, Hydrogen! Mild but very efficient: new catalytic process extracts hydrogen from bioalcohols
- Scientists identify new stem cell activity in human brain, raise questions of how it develops and evolves
- Global warming: New study challenges carbon benchmark
Space & Earth news
Hungary toxic levels 'lower than expected' after spill
A year after Hungary's worst chemicals spill released vast amounts of poisonous red mud, levels of toxic substances are lower than feared but still above average, Greenpeace said on Wednesday.
Floods may impact Moreton Bay marine life
Dr Chris Roelfsema, from the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management at UQ, is concerned about the impact the 2011 floods may have on seagrass in Moreton Bay.
Giant star expels multiple dust shells
An international team led by Leen Decin, a K.U. Leuven (Belgium) astronomer, has discovered a series of dust shells in the vicinity of CW Leonis, a dying giant star. The star expelled the shells in the course of its long life: the most distant shell was expelled 16,000 years ago and, in that time, has drifted more than 7,000 billion kilometres from the star.
Image: Asteroid caught marching across Tadpole Nebula
(PhysOrg.com) -- This infrared image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, showcases the Tadpole Nebula, a star-forming hub in the Auriga constellation about 12,000 light-years from Earth. As WISE scanned the sky, capturing this mosaic of stitched-together frames, it happened to catch an asteroid in our solar system passing by. The asteroid, called 1719 Jens, left tracks across the image. A second asteroid was also observed cruising by.
Assessing California earthquake forecasts
In the study, UC Davis researchers compare seven different earthquake forecasts (including their own) that were submitted to a competition organized by the Southern California Earthquake Center.
An easy guide to observing the Aurora
With the recent solar activity and the high possibility of more coming up, here is an easy guide to observing the aurora. An aurora is a natural light display high in the Earth’s atmosphere, caused by energetic particles from the Sun, colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field.
How common are terrestrial, habitable planets around sun-like stars?
Once again news from the Kepler mission is making the rounds, this time with a research paper outlining a theory that Earth-like planets may be more common around class F, G and K stars than originally expected.
Restorative benefits of beach peak during low tides and cooler days
(PhysOrg.com) -- People head to the beach to escape the stress of everyday life, but a new study out of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis finds that there are peak times to reap the restorative benefit.
Help NASA find life on Mars with MAPPER
(PhysOrg.com) -- Would you like to participate in NASA's analog research program? Interested in helping scientists pinpoint where to look for signs of life on Mars and elsewhere in the universe? Now you can, with an exciting new citizen science website called MAPPER (getmapper.com) that was launched in conjunction with the Pavilion Lake Research Project's 2011 field season.
Loss of 'lake lawnmowers' leads to algae blooms
Unprecedented algae growth in some lakes could be linked to the decline of water calcium levels and the subsequent loss of an important algae-grazing organism that helps keep blooms at bay.
Managing future forests for water
Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) scientists recently used long-term data from the Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory (Coweeta) in Western North Carolina to examine the feasibility of managing forests for water supply under the changing weather conditions forecast for the future.
Study uncovers predictable sequence toward coral reef collapse
Coral reefs that have lots of corals and appear healthy may, in fact, be heading toward collapse, according to a study published by the Wildlife Conservation Society and other groups.
Report: EPA cut corners on climate finding
(AP) -- The Obama administration cut corners before concluding that climate-change pollution can endanger human health, a key finding underpinning costly new regulations, an internal government watchdog said Wednesday.
China to launch module for future space station
China is due to take its first step towards building a space station on Thursday when it launches an experimental module ahead of the country's National Day celebrations.
Global warming: New study challenges carbon benchmark
The ability of forests, plants and soil to suck carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air has been under-estimated, according to a study on Wednesday that challenges a benchmark for calculating the greenhouse-gas problem.
Light from galaxy clusters confirms theory of relativity
All observations in astronomy are based on light emitted from stars and galaxies and, according to the general theory of relativity, the light will be affected by gravity. At the same time all interpretations in astronomy are based on the correctness of the theory of relatively, but it has never before been possible to test Einstein's theory of gravity on scales larger than the solar system. Now astrophysicists at the Dark Cosmology Centre at the Niels Bohr Institute have managed to measure how the light is affected by gravity on its way out of galaxy clusters. The observations confirm the theoretical predictions. The results have been published in the journal Nature.
Technology news
More than 800 arrested in fraud blitz: Taiwan
Taiwan police said Wednesday that a record 827 suspected fraudsters, including nearly 500 Chinese and over 300 Taiwanese nationals, have been arrested in an international crackdown on the crime.
Research could lead to wearable sensors for the blind
Wearable sensors that allow the blind to "see" with their hands, bodies or faces could be on the horizon, thanks to a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to researchers at The City College of New York and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).
Groupon newest deal to reward customer loyalty
(AP) -- Groupon has come up with another way for bargain hunters to save money as the online coupon distributor prepares to raise money from wary investors.
Google to build Asia data centres as market surges
Google said it will build three data centres in Asia at a cost of more than $200 million, as the number of Internet users in the region soars along with stiff competition from rivals.
2,700 hacking attempts on S.Korea military in year
South Korea's military has seen more than 2,700 attempts to hack into its websites over the past year, a lawmaker said Wednesday, amid growing concern over North Korea's cyber warfare capability.
Taiwan saves electricity with new traffic lights
Authorities in Taiwan said Wednesday they had changed more than 690,000 traffic lights throught the island in a project that will save enough electricity to power more than 60,000 homes.
In unique fire tests, outdoor decks will be under firebrand attack
The National Institute of Standards and Technology will unleash its Dragon -- a NIST invention that bellows showers of glowing embers, or firebrands -- at a unique wind tunnel test facility in Japan, where researchers will evaluate the vulnerability of outdoor deck assemblies and materials to ignition during wildfires, a growing peril that accounts for half of the nation’s 10 most costly fires.
Green Flight Challenge teams successfully fly over first round of competition hurdles
The Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google has taken off! The competition in Santa Rosa, Calif., is challenging, pushing the envelope in aviation technology. As a result, only three of the 13 original registered teams remain in the competition for the NASA funded prize purse of $1.65 million. They are PhoEnix, Pipistrel-USA and e-Genius.
Microsoft, Samsung expand smartphone partnership (Update)
(AP) -- Microsoft and Samsung Electronics have agreed to cross-license one another's patent portfolios, with Microsoft getting royalties for the mobile phones and tablets Samsung sells that run Google Inc.'s Android operating system.
Swiss parliament approves nuclear plant phase out
The Swiss parliament's upper house on Wednesday approved plans to phase out the country's nuclear plants over the next two decades in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan.
Berkeley Lab tests cookstoves for Haiti
The developers of the fuel-efficient Berkeley-Darfur Stove for refugee camps in central Africa are at it once again, this time evaluating inexpensive metal cookstoves for the displaced survivors of last year's deadly earthquake in Haiti.
Behind the scenes at hip and hard-charging YouTube, Google
Clearly, this isn't the typical American workplace. Just inside the sleek glass doors of YouTube's corporate headquarters is a rock climbing wall - "for Googlers only." Straight ahead, five guys in T-shirts and jeans cluster around a foosball table, engrossed in a lunch hour game. Nearby, a Russian film crew jabbers away, shooting footage for a documentary on the global company. Over at the reception desk, the candy jar is a big, red, furry head of Sesame Street's Elmo, watched over by the receptionist's tiny, quivering Chihuahua, who's definitely not stuffed.
Colleges struggle with students' data demand
University of Missouri-Columbia students arrived on campus this fall with a slew of new electronic toys and immediately wrought havoc with the school's wireless network.
Virtual training for real combat
I zipped up the flak jacket, put on an Army helmet and snapped a pair of goggles over my eyes.
Whitman faces big challenges at HP
No one's counting Hewlett-Packard Co. out. But by any measure, new CEO Meg Whitman faces a mountain of problems as she takes the reins of the world's biggest-selling tech company.
Annoyed consumers have alternatives to Netflix
If you're ticked off at Netflix because of its recent price increases and service changes, the good news is you've got plenty of options for streaming video. The bad news is that none offers exactly what you get from Netflix.
App controls drone flying 3,000 miles away
Military mobile apps may one day help soldiers on the battlefield.
Yahoo touches up Flickr amid internal turmoil
(AP) -- It isn't a pretty picture at Yahoo Inc. right now, but that's not stopping the beleaguered Internet company from touching up its popular photo-sharing service, Flickr.
FCC sued over new Internet rules
(AP) -- A media and Internet advocacy group is suing the federal government over its new rules covering Internet traffic, saying they don't protect wireless traffic from interference by phone companies.
DOJ to take closer look at Google's Motorola deal
(AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department is taking a closer look at Google's proposed $12.5 billion acquisition of mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility.
IBM looks to take pain out of parking
US technology stalwart IBM and Internet startup Streetline on Wednesday will begin courting cities with a system designed to take the pain out of parking.
Swiss, Nissan research car that reads the driver's thoughts
In the future, thinking about turning left may no longer be just a thought. Japanese auto giant Nissan and a Swiss university are developing cars that scan the driver's thoughts and prepares the vehicle for the next move.
New offshore turbine design to create and store energy
(PhysOrg.com) -- While many are taking to the oceans and trying to find the best ways to harness offshore wind and provide clean energy from renewable sources, the basic design of any wind turbine is that of a windmill. That is until now. The new design in the works is by Ehrnberg Solutions AB, which is owned and operated by Daniel Ehrnberg. Ehrnberg is also the inventor behind this newly designed turbine called SeaTwirl.
Toshiba announces chip to boost TransferJet
(PhysOrg.com) -- Toshiba earlier this week announced a wireless chip that can help carry TransferJet forward to wider use. The newly developed chip, "TC35420," is designed to support the TransferJet near-field wireless transmission technology that has drawn interest over the past several years. Toshiba said that samples will start shipping at the end of January 2012 and mass production will begin around April to June of next year.
Programmer has fun with monkeys typing Shakespeare theory
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sometimes you just have to shake your head at some experiments done in the name of science, and go with the flow, or as Jesse Anderson puts it on his blog, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” He’s conducting an experiment, for fun, to see if he can reproduce some part of the old philosophy question of whether putting infinite numbers of monkeys before infinite numbers of typewriters, working indefinitely, would at some point result in the reproduction of the entire works of Shakespeare. Anderson’s efforts have created quite a stir on Internet, though for different reasons. Some see the humor in his approach, others point out how his efforts aren’t really proving anything at all.
Medicine & Health news
End-of-life discussions do not affect survival rates, study shows
Discussing and documenting patients' preferences for care at the end of life does not cause them any harm, contrary to recent claims. A new study published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine found that patients who talk with their physicians about end-of-life care and have an advance directive in their medical record have similar survival rates as patients who do not have these discussions and documents.
Medical education needs more of a public health and prevention focus
If future physicians are to best serve the changing health needs of patients and their communities, medical education must put greater emphasis on public health and prevention, experts say in a supplement to October's American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM).
Clinical research needs to be more attuned to the needs of patients and clinicians
Sir Iain Chalmers, coordinator of The James Lind Initiative, will use his plenary lecture at the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology meeting to highlight the need for the research community to be more effective in serving the information needs of patients and professionals. He will state there are currently large inefficiencies in the way health research is carried out, with the result that the needs of consumers of research results - patients and clinicians - are not being met effectively.
Postcode lotteries in preventative health care -- not necessarily all bad news
There is much interest in the unequal health care caused by postcode lotteries. The area you live in can impact the treatment you receive for cancer treatment, surgery or GP care. Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health shows that there are also geographic differences in the implementation of public health programs.
Lawmakers: CDC to have student concussion protocol
(AP) -- As awareness continues to grow about sports-related concussions among student athletes, two New Jersey lawmakers say it's time for schools to start following nationwide protocols governing such injuries.
On the cusp of new transplant era
Transplant surgery is entering an era of new complexity, where complex surgeries will become standardized and the goal will be restoration of pre-injury form and function rather than merely reconstruction, the surgeon who led Brigham and Women's Hospital's face transplant team said Monday.
Hollywood thriller Contagion echoes real-life study at University of Warwick
Soon-to-be released Hollywood film Contagion stars Kate Winslet as a doctor battling the horrors of a global pandemic – but real-life scientists at the University of Warwick are urging people to help them track how contagious diseases spread in the real world.
Inflammation marker may guide prognosis for prostate cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Current methods of prostate cancer detection, like the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, often fail to identify which cancers will prove fatal and which cancers will remain benign until a patient dies of other causes.
Scientists help develop new sports bra fitting service
The University of Portsmouth’s Research Group in Breast Health have joined forces with a specialist running retailer and developed the UK’s first evidence-based professional sports bra fitting service.
As influenza season begins, researchers work to improve vaccine for seniors
As the influenza season gets underway, Health Center researchers study ways of making the flu vaccine more effective for older adults.
High-risk donor livers used with greater frequency in transplantations
The shortage of available organs for transplantation has driven up use of high-risk donor livers. New research published in the October issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, reported that high volume transplant centers more frequently utilized livers with a high donor risk index, but achieved better risk-adjusted graft and recipient survival rates compared with lower volume centers.
Confronting homophobia in South Africa
"Being gay is not a sickness or a choice." This is just one of the uncompromising messages in a bold poster campaign being rolled out by the newly launched Ukwazana Programme which works in the sprawling townships around Cape Town. Another of its messages reads: "We are all men, we are all African, some of us love other men."
New NICE guideline calls for improvements to antenatal care for women pregnant with twins or triplets
A University of Birmingham fetal medicine expert has helped to shape new advice from NICE on antenatal care for women pregnant with twins or triplets. Professor Mark Kilby says the new guideline, published today (September 28), charts the way forward for managing multiple pregnancy in the NHS.
Europe 'punches above its weight' in biomedical research, despite limited funding
European biomedical research is advancing at a great pace compared to the relatively small funds available, and with more funding, it could do better. This is one of the main conclusions from a new White Paper, published by the European Medical Research Councils (EMRC) – the European Science Foundation's membership organisation for all medical research councils in Europe.
NIH modifies 'VOICE' HIV prevention study in women
A large-scale clinical trial evaluating whether daily use of an oral tablet or vaginal gel containing antiretroviral drugs can prevent HIV infection in women is being modified because an interim review found that the study cannot show that one of the study products, oral tenofovir, marketed under the trade name Viread, is effective.
Obama asks Supreme Court to rule on health care
President Barack Obama's administration Wednesday asked the US Supreme Court to rule on his landmark health reforms, seeking to halt a flurry of conservative legal assaults on the new law.
Study finds risk factors for cat cancer, could have human implications
A recent, large-scale study on cat intestinal cancer has provided new insight into a common pet disease and its causes; the findings could ultimately benefit humans.
The level and nature of autistic intelligence II: What about Asperger Syndrome?
Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome, have generally been associated with uneven intellectual profiles and impairment, but according to a new study of Asperger individuals published in the online journal PLoS ONE, this may not be the case – as long as intelligence is evaluated by the right test. Both autistic and Asperger individuals display uneven profiles of performance in commonly used intelligence test batteries such as Wechsler scales, and their strongest performances are often considered evidence for deficits.
Dementia patients face burdensome transitions in last 90 days
A new study in the Sept. 29, 2011, edition of the New England Journal of Medicine reports that nearly one in five nursing home residents with advanced dementia experiences burdensome transitions in the last 90 days of life, such as moving to a different facility in the last three days of life or repeat hospitalizations for expected complications of dementia in the last 90 days of life.
How the use of smartphones can revolutionize research in cognitive science
Smartphones may be the new hot tool in cognitive psychology research, according to a paper in the online journal PLoS ONE.
Blood sugar control beyond standard target doesn't improve cognitive decline for diabetics
Intensive control of blood sugar levels beyond standard targets provides no additional protection against cognitive decline in older people with diabetes than standard treatment, according to a national study coordinated by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily
The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from 1996 to 2008, according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study was published online ahead of print September 28, 2011, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Removal of fibroids that distort the womb cavity may prevent recurrent miscarriages
Researchers have found the first, firm evidence that fibroids are associated with recurrent miscarriages. They have also discovered that if they removed the fibroids that distorted the inside of the womb, the risk of miscarriage in the second trimester of pregnancy was reduced dramatically – to zero.
Killer cantaloupes leave 13 dead in US: officials
Cantaloupes grown in the US state of Colorado have been linked to a outbreak of listeria monocytogenes that has killed 13 people and infected dozens more, US health authorities said Tuesday.
MVA-B Spanish HIV vaccine shows 90 percent immune response in humans
Phase I clinical trials developed by Spanish Superior Scientific Research Council (CSIC) together with Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid and Clínic Hospital in Barcelona, reveals MVA-B preventive vaccine's immune efficiency against Human's immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 90% of the volunteers who went through the tests developed an immunological response against the virus and 85% has kept this response for at least one year. Safety and efficiency of this treatment have been described in articles for Vaccine and Journal of Virology science magazines.
Mom's lead exposure linked to higher blood pressure in their daughters
(Medical Xpress) -- Prenatal lead exposure is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure in teen girls, but not in boys, a new study from the University of Michigan shows.
Rebranding exercise: 'Quality of life' a better motivator than 'Live longer'
(Medical Xpress) -- A new University of Michigan study finds that the most convincing exercise message emphasizes immediate benefits that enhance daily quality of life.
Who are you? People yearn for positive perception about themselves
(Medical Xpress) -- People care about how others view them and will go to great lengths to repair negative perceptions, a new University of Michigan study found.
Correcting sickle cell disease with stem cells
(Medical Xpress) -- Using a patient’s own stem cells, researchers at Johns Hopkins have corrected the genetic alteration that causes sickle cell disease (SCD), a painful, disabling inherited blood disorder that affects mostly African-Americans. The corrected stem cells were coaxed into immature red blood cells in a test tube that then turned on a normal version of the gene.
Popular colorectal cancer drug may cause permanent nerve damage
(Medical Xpress) -- Oxaliplatin, a platinum-based anticancer drug that’s made enormous headway in recent years against colorectal cancer, appears to cause nerve damage that may be permanent and worsens even months after treatment ends. The chemotherapy side effect, described by Johns Hopkins researchers in the September issue of Neurology, was discovered in what is believed to be the first effort to track oxaliplatin-based nerve damage through relatively cheap and easy punch skin biopsies.
Women with pulmonary arterial hypertension have greater response to treatment than men
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients of different sexes and races may respond differently to treatment with commonly used medications for the disease, says a new study from researchers at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.The results of the study are published online ahead of print in the journal CHEST.
Resisting peer pressure
The company an adolescent keeps, particularly when it comes to drugs and criminal activity, affects bad behavior. Right?
Parents feel shock, anxiety and the need to protect children with genital ambiguity
Parents of babies born without clearly defined male or female genitals experience a roller-coaster of emotions, including shock, anxiety and the need to protect their child, according to a study in the October issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
English court in landmark right-to-die ruling
An English judge ruled on Wednesday that a brain-damaged, minimally conscious woman should not be allowed to die, in a landmark case about the right to life-supporting treatment.
Regular mammograms prolong life in breast cancer survivors
Mammography done yearly or every two years to detect new or recurrent tumors after surgery appears to prolong the lives of breast cancer survivors, according to a large new evidence review.
Pediatricians in Appalachia less likely to recommend HPV vaccine
(Medical Xpress) -- Pediatricians in Appalachia are less likely than doctors in other areas to encourage parents to have their children receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a new study.
Hide-and-seek: Altered HIV can't evade immune system
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Johns Hopkins have modified HIV in a way that makes it no longer able to suppress the immune system. Their work, they say in a report published online September 19 in the journal Blood, could remove a major hurdle in HIV vaccine development and lead to new treatments.
Homegrown solution for physician shortage described in Academic Medicine
An innovative program at the University of Missouri School of Medicine could help states deal with a dilemma in Washington, D.C. If deficit-reduction measures cut billions of dollars for training physicians who are already in short supply, who will care for the more than 30 million newly insured patients entering the health care system?
Estradiol from fatty tissue doesn't cause low testosterone in type 2 diabetic men
It's not estrogen produced by body fat that causes low levels of testosterone in type 2 diabetic men, according to a University at Buffalo study published last month in Diabetes Care.
Genetic variant linked to blocked heart arteries in patients with diabetes
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified the first genetic variant associated with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
SLAC invention measures stroke damage in the brain
(Medical Xpress) -- A technique SLAC scientists invented for scanning ancient manuscripts is now being used to probe the human brain, in research that could lead to new medical imaging methods and better treatments for stroke and other brain conditions
Cholesterol contributes to bone loss during aging
(Medical Xpress) -- High cholesterol has been found to contribute to a loss of bone density in two ways, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. It blocks formation of new bone cells and it encourages the activity of mechanisms responsible for breaking down bone.
HPV testing in screening program saves 3,500 women from unnecessary tests
Testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) as part of cervical screening reduces the number of women unnecessarily going on for further tests by over a third, new research shows today.
Children with autism benefit from early, intensive therapy
A primary characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is impairments in social-communication skills. Children and adolescents with social-communication problems face difficulty understanding, interacting and relating with others. University of Missouri researchers found that children who receive more intensive therapy to combat these impairments, especially at early ages, achieve the best outcomes.
Team identifies key protein causing excess liver production of glucose in diabetes
Researchers at the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a powerful molecular pathway that regulates the liver's management of insulin and new glucose production, which could lead to new therapies for diabetes. The findings were published online this week in Diabetes, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.
Additives meant to protect vitamin C actually cause more harm
Anti-caking agents in powdered products may hasten degradation of vitamin C instead of doing what they are supposed to do: protect the nutrient from moisture.
Study shows link between smoking and chronic pain in women
Kentucky women who smoke heavily may experience more chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggests a new study led by University of Kentucky researchers.
Students 'jump into action' for better health
The National Survey of Children's Health indicates 31 percent of Missouri children are overweight or obese; yet, the state lacks physical activity requirements for students and nutritional standards for school meals beyond those recommended by the USDA. A new study from the University of Missouri shows Jump Into Action (JIA), a school-based physical activity program, is effective in changing unhealthy youth behaviors.
Researchers advocate for new approaches to biomedical research
Two deans from the UC Davis School of Medicine have outlined several approaches to biomedical research workforce development, a topic that is currently under scrutiny by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Their ideas were published today in Science Translational Medicine in a focus article titled, "Creating the future biomedical research workforce," and is available online.
Commentary: Drug companies must report clinical trial results, even when they won't lead to a product
Drug companies sponsoring human trials of possible new medications have ethical responsibilities to study participants and to science to disclose the results of their clinical research -- even when product development is no longer being pursued, says a commentary co-authored by a leading UC Davis drug researcher published online today in Science Translational Medicine.
Computers find EKG anomalies, warn whose heart attacks could be fatal
Newly discovered subtle markers of heart damage hidden in plain sight among hours of EKG recordings could help doctors identify which heart attack patients are at high risk of dying soon.
Instead of defibrillator's painful jolt, there may be a gentler way to prevent sudden death
Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 people have a cardiac defibrillator implanted in their chest to deliver a high-voltage shock to prevent sudden cardiac death from a life-threatening arrhythmia. While it's a necessary and effective preventive therapy, those who've experienced a defibrillator shock say it's painful, and some studies suggest that the shock can damage heart muscle.
Research finds high cost and randomness in grant funding decisions
(PhysOrg.com) -- Which scientific health and medical research projects receive government funding in any given year relies to some extent on 'chance' according to recent research by a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) expert in health economics.
Big Tobacco knew radioactive particles in cigarettes posed cancer risk but kept quiet
Tobacco companies knew that cigarette smoke contained radioactive alpha particles for more than four decades and developed "deep and intimate" knowledge of these particles' cancer-causing potential, but they deliberately kept their findings from the public, according to a new study by UCLA researchers.
New research focuses on teenage mind
Carla Sharp, an associate professor and director of the Developmental Psychopathology Lab in clinical psychology at the University of Houston (UH), became interested in the way people think, how they organize thoughts, execute a decision, then determine whether a decision is good or bad.
No butts: Reebok slapped in US on rear-toning claims
US government regulators have clamped down on sportswear maker Reebok for claims that its buttock-toning footwear would lead to a more shapely butt for its wearers.
Killer US cantaloupes expected to infect more people
Cantaloupes infected with listeria have sparked the deadliest US foodborne disease outbreak in over a decade and are likely to claim more victims in the weeks ahead, officials said Wednesday.
New research discovers key to survival of brain cells
Nicolas G. Bazan, MD, Ph.D, Boyd Professor and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and David Stark, an MD/Ph.D student working in his lab, have discovered how a key chemical neurotransmitter that interacts with two receptors in the brain promotes either normal function or a disease process -- determining whether brain cells live or die. The work is published and highlighted in the September 28, 2011 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
Blood pressure slightly above normal? You may still be at increased risk of stroke
People with prehypertension have a 55 percent higher risk of experiencing a future stroke than people without prehypertension, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in a new meta-analysis of scientific literature published in the September 28 online issue of the journal Neurology.
Commonly used supplement may improve recovery from spinal cord injuries
A commonly used supplement is likely to improve outcomes and recovery for individuals who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI), according to research conducted by University of Kentucky neuroscientists.
Soviet-era pill from Bulgaria helps smokers quit
(AP) -- A pill developed in Bulgaria during the Soviet era shows promise for helping millions of smokers cheaply and safely kick the habit, the first big study of it shows.
Women have stronger immune systems than men and it's all down to a single chromosome
As anyone familiar with the phrase 'man-flu' will know women consider themselves to be the more robust side of the species when it comes to health and illness. Now new research, published in BioEssays, seems to support the idea. The research focuses on the role of MicroRNAs encoded on the X chromosome to explain why women have stronger immune systems to men and are less likely to develop cancer.
Worm 'cell death' discovery could lead to new drugs for deadly parasite
Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have for the first time identified a 'programmed cell death' pathway in parasitic worms that could one day lead to new treatments for one of the world's most serious and prevalent diseases.
Texting has rewired your brain
(Medical Xpress) -- Do you know what the numbers 5683 and 3327 mean? According to a recent study, if you are a person who frequently sends text messages, your brain knows what these numbers mean and is unconsciously influencing how you feel about phone numbers you dial.
Israeli researchers create artificial rat cerebellum
(Medical Xpress) -- Taking another step towards creating devices that could be meshed with brain function to help those with brain damage, or perhaps one day, to improve on abilities, researchers at Tel Aviv University, led by Professor of Psychobiology Matti Mintz, have developed an adjunct to a part of a rat brain. The team, who will be presenting their results this month at a biotechnology meeting in the UK, has created a computer chip that is able to emulate one of the functions of the rat cerebellum.
'Teleportation' of rats sheds light on how the memory is organized
You're rudely awakened by the phone. Your room is pitch black. It's unsettling, because you're a little uncertain about where you are – and then you remember. You're in a hotel room.
Scientists identify new stem cell activity in human brain, raise questions of how it develops and evolves
Researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center have identified a new pathway of stem cell activity in the brain that represents potential targets of brain injuries affecting newborns. The recent study, which raises new questions of how the brain evolves, is published in the current issue of Nature, one of the world's most cited scientific journals.
How normal cells become brain cancers
Brain tumor specimens taken from neurosurgery cases at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center has given scientists a new window on the transformation that occurs as healthy brain cells begin to form tumors.
Easily embarrassed? Study finds people will trust you more
If tripping in public or mistaking an overweight woman for a mother-to-be leaves you red-faced, don't feel bad. A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that people who are easily embarrassed are also more trustworthy, and more generous.
Structure of vital protein complex, G protein-coupled receptors, described in unprecedented detail
Three international teams of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California San Diego, University of Michigan and Stanford University, have published a trio of papers describing in unprecedented detail the structure and workings of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of human proteins that are the target of one-third to one-half of modern drugs.
Biology news
The mark of the beast: tradition or stress?
For animal welfare reasons, many veterinarians are currently promoting the method of implanting a microchip over the traditional practice of branding. However, officials of major sport horse breed registries deny that branding really causes pain or stress to foals. The team of Christine Aurich at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna has now examined the effects on foals of the two methods. The results have just been made available online in The Veterinary Journal.
Sharks in Australia's Great Barrier Reef in decline
Sharks inhabiting Australia's Great Barrier Reef are in decline due to over fishing, researchers warned, after developing what they said was a new way to measure falling numbers.
Heidi, Germany's cross-eyed opossum star, dead
Heidi, a cross-eyed opossum who became an Internet sensation in Germany, winning three times more Facebook admirers than Chancellor Angela Merkel, died on Wednesday, her zoo said.
Global conservation priorities for marine turtles
Marine turtles worldwide are vulnerable and endangered, but their long lives and broad distribution make it difficult for scientists to accurately determine the threat level to different populations and devise appropriate conservation strategies. To address this concern, researchers have developed a new method to evaluate spatially and biologically distinct groups of marine turtles, called Regional Management Units, or RMUs, to identify threats and data gaps at different scales.
Tendons absorb shocks muscles won't handle
Anyone who has hiked down a mountain knows the soreness that comes a day or two after means the leg muscles have endured a serious workout. While the pain is real, it's not well understood how leg muscles cope with the force from such movement.
Killing crop-eating pests: Compounds work by disrupting bugs' winter sleep
(PhysOrg.com) -- The creation of compounds that disrupt a worldwide pest's winter sleep hints at the potential to develop natural and targeted controls against crop-eating insects, new research suggests.
Sexy snacks: Study finds female mate searching evolves when mating gifts are important
In the animal world, males typically search for their female partners. The mystery is that in some species, you get a reversal -- the females search for males.
Control gene for developmental timing discovered
University of Alberta researchers have identified a key regulator that controls the speed of development in the fruit fly. When the researchers blocked the function of this regulator, animals sped up their rate of development and reached maturity much faster than normal.
Video shows tool use by a fish
The first video of tool use by a fish has been published in the journal Coral Reefs by Giacomo Bernardi, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Mimicking cells with transistors
As the world has become less analog and more digital -- as tape decks and TV antennas have given way to MP3 players and streaming video -- electrical engineers’ habits of thought have changed, too. In the analog world, they used to think mostly in terms of quantities such as voltage, which are continuous, meaning they can take on an infinite range of values. Now, they tend to think more in terms of 0s and 1s, the binary oppositions of digital logic.
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