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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 24, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Is a classical electrodynamics law incompatible with special relativity?- Nvidia says Kai platform will turn price tide for tablets
- Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological
- First direct observation of oriented attachment in nanocrystal growth
- HyperSolar shows dirty water no barrier to power world
- In nanorod crystal growth, nanoparticles seen as artificial atoms
- Pivotal role for proteins -- from helping turn carbs into energy to causing devastating disease
- Solar Impulse takes off on first intercontinental flight
- Newly modified nanoparticle opens window on future gene editing technologies
- Excitons: Exotic particles, chilled and trapped, form giant matter wave
- Boundary stops molecule right where it needs to be
- Researchers identify protein necessary for behavioral flexibility
- Thioridazine kills cancer stem cells in human while avoiding toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments
- Gourmet butterflies speed north: study
- Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity
Space & Earth news
Nasa concludes wind tunnel testing to aid in SpaceX reusable launch system design
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., completed wind tunnel testing for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorn, Calif., to provide Falcon 9 first stage re-entry data for the company's advanced reusable launch vehicle system.
China hits back at claims it is blocking climate talks
China hit back Thursday at claims it was holding up global climate talks in Germany, saying the United States, Europe and other rich states were the ones applying the brakes.
Neil Armstrong gives rare interview - to accountant
The famously private Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has been coaxed into giving a rare interview -- with an Australian accountant.
Ancient rocks provide critical clues about modern earthquakes
At first glance, there's nothing remarkable about the rocky Maine blueberry field in which University of Maine graduate student Nancy Price does her research. But those rocks are crucial to our understanding about how faults work nearly 10 miles below the surface of the Earth. Indeed, that’s where rocks are supposedly the strongest.
Colliding galaxy cluster unravelled
An international team of astronomers has used the International LOFAR Telescope from ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, to study the formation of the galaxy cluster Abell 2256.
Warming could exceed 3.5 C, say climate scientists
Climate researchers said Thursday the planet could warm by more than 3.5 degrees Celsius (6.3 degrees Fahrenheit), boosting the risk of drought, flood and rising seas.
LiDAR technology reveals faults near Lake Tahoe
Results of a new U.S. Geological Survey study conclude that faults west of Lake Tahoe, Calif., referred to as the Tahoe-Sierra frontal fault zone, pose a substantial increase in the seismic hazard assessment for the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada, and could potentially generate earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9. A close association of landslide deposits and active faults also suggests that there is an earthquake-induced landslide hazard along the steep fault-formed range front west of Lake Tahoe.
NASA's TRMM satellite sees some heavy rainfall in Typhoon Sanvu
Tropical Storm Sanvu strengthened overnight as forecast and is now a Typhoon in the western North Pacific Ocean. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed that most of the rainfall is falling in the eastern half of the storm.
NASA satellites feed forecasters information as Bud becomes a hurricane
Bud has now become the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific Hurricane Season, as NASA visible and infrared satellite imagery revealed an organized structure of spiraling thunderstorms around the eye. Watches and warnings are already in effect for southwestern Mexico as Bud nears.
SpaceX readies space station rendezvous
The US company SpaceX on Thursday prepared for the climax of its Dragon capsule's landmark mission to the International Space Station with a high-stakes bid to latch on to the orbiting research lab.
Tiny planet-finding mirrors borrow from Webb Telescope playbook
NASA's next flagship mission — the James Webb Space Telescope — will carry the largest primary mirror ever deployed. This segmented behemoth will unfold to 21.3 feet in diameter once the observatory reaches its orbit in 2018.
Rapid coral death by a deadly chain reaction
(Phys.org) -- Most people are fascinated by the colorful and exotic coral reefs, which form habitats with probably the largest biodiversity. But human civilisation is the top danger to these fragile ecosystems through climate change, oxygen depletion and ocean acidification. Industrialisation, deforestation and intensive farming in coastal areas are changing dramatically the conditions for life in the oceans. Now scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology from Bremen together with their colleagues from Australia, Sultanate of Oman and Italy have investigated how and why the corals die when exposed to sedimentation. According to their findings, oxygen depletion, together with an acidification of the environment, creates a chain reaction that leads to coral death.
Did ancient Mars have a runaway greenhouse?
Cosmic impacts that once bombed Mars might have sent temperatures skyrocketing upward on the Red Planet in ancient times, enough to set warming of the surface on a runaway course, researchers say.
Robot monitors toxic red tides
A robotic device suspended under the ocean surface from a buoy off the New Hampshire coast is monitoring seawater for evidence of the red tide, clusters of microscopic plants that release toxins into fish and shellfish, making them poisonous to anyone who eats them.
Pair call for public discourse on treating wastewater contaminated with birth control pill chemicals
(Phys.org) -- As people go about their daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the impact their lifestyle has on the environment. Resources are used and as a result of their use, certain elements are placed back into the environment, some of which many people may not even think about. One of these is what happens to chemicals we take in after our bodies finish with them? Some are breathed into the air though most are flushed down the toilet after being deposited into our feces and urine. Workers at waste treatment facilities could point out chemical ingredients found in shampoos, for example, or those used in the production of food for another and most particularly drugs that we take to keep our various ailments at bay.
Private supply ship flies by space station in test (Update)
The world's first private supply ship flew tantalizingly close to the International Space Station on Thursday but did not stop, completing a critical test in advance of the actual docking.
Autopsy of a eruption: Linking crystal growth to volcano seismicity
A forensic approach that links changes deep below a volcano to signals at the surface is described by scientists from the University of Bristol in a paper published today in Science. The research could ultimately help to predict future volcanic eruptions with greater accuracy.
New mapping of Mars shows western Medusae Fossae formation older than once thought
(Phys.org) -- Recent geologic mapping of the Medusae Fossae Formation on Mars—an intensely eroded deposit near the northern edge of the cratered highlands—has revealed a wider distribution of its western component than was previously recognized.
Asteroid nudged by sunlight: Most precise measurement of Yarkovsky effect
Scientists on NASA's asteroid sample return mission, Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx), have measured the orbit of their destination asteroid, 1999 RQ36, with such accuracy they were able to directly measure the drift resulting from a subtle but important force called the Yarkovsky effect – the slight push created when the asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits that energy as heat.
Organic carbon from Mars, but not biological
Molecules containing large chains of carbon and hydrogen--the building blocks of all life on Earth--have been the targets of missions to Mars from Viking to the present day. While these molecules have previously been found in meteorites from Mars, scientists have disagreed about how this organic carbon was formed and whether or not it came from Mars.
Technology news
Automated image analysis arises from handcraft and machine learning
The amount of visual information increases with tremendous speed. The archives of television networks, image bank databases and social media in the web are all bursting with billions of pictures – and more is produced by the second. In order to organise these heaps of data and to find wanted information from it, the analysis of the images must be automatised.
Fighting house fires with computer models
(Phys.org) -- Through advanced computer modelling of house fires, mechanical engineers at UNSW are giving fire fighters a new suite of tools to investigate and battle dangerous blazes in time for the traditionally high-risk winter months.
New Orleans newspaper to end daily publication
The Times-Picayune, the largest newspaper in New Orleans, said Thursday it would end daily print publication, moving to a schedule of three issues per week, to adapt to "an increasingly digital age."
Football: Goal-line technology for England friendly - FIFA
Goal-line technology will be tested in an international match for the first time, when England take on Belgium in a Euro 2012 warm-up, FIFA said on Thursday.
Airbus offers US airlines fat profits from obese seats
Airbus is offering US airlines buying its A320 passenger jet extra-wide seats for obese passengers, leading to fatter profits, Airbus' aircraft interiors director said Thursday.
S. Korea, Peru announce defense technology deal
South Korea's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan agreed Thursday to grant technology transfers to Peru to help strengthen the Latin American nation's navy and air force.
Fox sues Dish Network over ad-skipping DVR service
(AP) -- Broadcaster Fox is suing Dish Network over a service that offers commercial-free TV.
Pandora sees higher loss, but revenue grows
Internet radio firm Pandora on Wednesday reported that its loss widened in the past quarter but investors welcomed news of a jump in revenue.
Scotland Yard deploys mobile fingerprint devices
(AP) -- Scotland Yard says it's equipping its police officers with handheld fingerprint devices, something the force says will help identify suspects in a matter of seconds.
Internet voting still faces hurdles in US
Shop online. Bank online. Why not vote online?
Malware intelligence system enables organizations to share threat information
As malware threats expand into new domains and increasingly focus on industrial espionage, Georgia Tech researchers are launching a new weapon to help battle the threats: a malware intelligence system that will help corporate and government security officials share information about the attacks they are fighting.
Android vulnerability neutralised
Smart phones and tablet computers - once the latest must-have devices for technology geeks - are becoming increasingly more popular with the mainstream. The Android platform is now one of the most popular platforms with over 300 million Android devices in use since February and 700 000 devices being activated with each passing day. One of its main attractions is the open source software that allows a huge community of program developers to write applications. But with so many people contributing to this innovation, the operating system is open to bugs and security holes. In a new study, however, researchers in Italy may have neutralised any potential problems.
TV maker Vizio turns to computers, takes on Apple, Dell and HP
Vizio is no stranger to defying the odds. The once little-known company came from practically nowhere to become one of the USA's biggest TV makers, wresting the title from the top electronics companies, including Sony. Its co-founder and CEO survived a plane crash more than a decade ago.
Zynga unleashes zombies on smartphones
Zombies stalked San Francisco streets on Thursday as social game maker Zynga ghoulishly introduced a game that lets iPhone or iPod Touch users slash and hack the undead.
Food, water safety provide new challenges for today's sensors
Sensors that work flawlessly in laboratory settings may stumble when it comes to performing in real-world conditions, according to researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Scientists invent revolutionary chipset for high-speed wireless data transfer
Here is a new microchip that can transfer data the size of 80 MP3 song files (or 250 megabytes) wirelessly between mobile devices, in the flick of a second. Or how about transferring a typical 2-hour, 8-gigabyte DVD movie in just half a minute compared to 8.5 hours on Bluetooth?
New Google data show Microsoft's piracy problems (Update 2)
(AP) -- Google's Internet search engine receives more complaints about websites believed to be infringing on Microsoft's copyrights than it does about material produced by entertainment companies pushing for tougher online piracy laws.
Nasdaq caused $35 mn loss in Facebook IPO: broker
A New York broker has asked Nasdaq to compensate it for up to $35 million in losses on the Facebook initial public offering due to the market's computer problems on the first day of trade.
Yahoo seeks to shake up search, Web browsing
(AP) -- Joining the battle to redefine Internet search, Yahoo is taking aim with a new browser enhancement it calls "Axis."
Device may inject a variety of drugs without using needles
Getting a shot at the doctor’s office may become less painful in the not-too-distant future.
Young alum creates iPad user experience improvement (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- When Daniel Hooper became frustrated with editing text on his iPad, he wrote an application that could revolutionize the way users select and arrange their words on tablets.
Researchers prove new circuit pattern-design process, see promise for 14 nanometer design with directed self-assembly
(Phys.org) -- Researchers sponsored by Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) announced that they have successfully created contact hole patterns for a wide variety of practical logic and memory devices using a next-generation directed self-assembly (DSA) process. Applying a relatively simple combination of chemical and thermal processes to create their DSA method for making circuits at 22 nanometers (nm), the research team at Stanford University projects that the nanofabrication technique will enable pattern etching for next-generation chips down to 14nm.
Solar Impulse takes off on first intercontinental flight
The Swiss sun-powered aircraft Solar Impulse on Thursday took off for Morocco on its first intercontinental flight attempt without using a drop of fuel.
Facebook launches iPhone camera app (Update)
Facebook released a "camera" application Thursday that lets people take Instagram-style pictures that can be shared with iPhones.
HyperSolar shows dirty water no barrier to power world
(Phys.org) -- The Santa Barbara, California, company, HyperSolar, is set to transparently share the ups and downs of its research experiences toward the company’s ultimate vision, successfully producing renewable hydrogen. The company is setting down experiences with their own development processes. The company this week reported an achievement, in that it was able to announce that its first proof of concept prototype is successfully producing renewable hydrogen.
Medicine & Health news
Distress of child war and sex abuse victims halved by new trauma intervention
A new psychological intervention has been shown to more than halve the trauma experienced by child victims of war, rape and sexual abuse.
Study finds humble people are the most helpful to others
In a three-part research project involving 310 students at Baylor University, UMaine psychology lecturer Jordan LaBouff and colleagues found that people determined to be humble were more willing to donate time and resources to a hypothetical student in need. The results held true even when researchers controlled the study for potential influencers, such as empathy, agreeableness and other personality traits.
Mums-to-be missing out on benefits of water immersion
Queensland mums-to-be are being denied access to water immersion during labour even though research shows it shortens labour and reduces interventions.
Expert: Medicaid cuts will hurt low-, middle-income Illinois seniors
(Medical Xpress) -- Springfield’s plan to slash nearly $1.4 billion from the state’s Medicaid program will ultimately result in bigger medical (and financial) problems for low- and middle-income senior citizens and their families, says a University of Illinois elder law expert.
Professor conducting study to determine whether supplements help muscles grow
Nutritional supplements are often associated with athletes and body builders, but a University of Kansas professor is conducting a research project to determine whether they are in fact, effective and if they might be able to help older individuals with muscle loss.
Older African-Americans use religious songs to cope with stress, study shows
(Medical Xpress) -- New research from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Nursing has shown that older African-Americans use religious songs in a personal way to cope with stressful life events. Songs long have been an important way for religious African-Americans to express their beliefs and faith, and the study provided evidence that religious songs are linked to the mental health of older African-Americans.
The auditory cortex adapts agilely with concentration
The birth of sensory perception on the human cerebral cortex is yet to be fully explained. The different areas on the cortex function in cooperation, and no perception is the outcome of only one area working alone. In his doctoral dissertation for the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science in Aalto University Jaakko Kauramäki shows that the auditory cortex is not left to its own devices.
Developing new drugs to treat diabetes
The Canadian Diabetes Association reports that nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes and that 20 new cases are diagnosed every hour.
'How-to' video tutorials could boost hearing aid use, say researchers
(Medical Xpress) -- The main barriers to hearing aid use are being addressed by experts in Nottingham as part of an innovative research project.
Missouri opts for untested drug for executions
(AP) -- The same anesthetic that caused the overdose death of pop star Michael Jackson is now the drug of choice for executions in Missouri, causing a stir among critics who question how the state can guarantee a drug untested for lethal injection won't cause pain and suffering for the condemned.
Marked for destruction: Newly developed compound triggers cancer cell death
The BCL-2 protein family plays a large role in determining whether cancer cells survive in response to therapy or undergo a form of cell death known as apoptosis. Cells are pressured toward apoptosis by expression of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. However, cancer cells respond to therapy by increasing expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, which bind and neutralize pro-apoptotic family members and mediate therapeutic resistance. Therefore, development of therapeutic strategies to neutralize resistance to apoptosis will be critical to clinical improvements.
A new strategy for developing meningitis vaccines
Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain. Children, elderly patients and immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk for the development of severe bacterial meningitis.
In Brazil number of hip fractures expected to increase 32 percent by 2050
A new Audit report on fragility fractures, issued today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), predicts that Brazil will experience an explosion in the number of fragility fractures due to osteoporosis in the coming decades.
Dramatic increase in fragility fractures expected in Latin America
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), in cooperation with medical and patient societies from throughout Latin America, has today published a landmark report which compiles osteoporosis-related data on 14 countries and the region as a whole. The report shows that fragility fractures due to osteoporosis are predicted to more than double in some countries in the coming decades.
Doctors group warns EU health care access shrinking
Access to health care is declining in Europe, and Greece in particular faces a humanitarian crisis as it cuts health and social spending, aid group Doctors of the World warned Thursday.
Scotland sets minimum price for booze
Scotland on Thursday became the first part of Britain to introduce a minimum price for alcohol in an attempt to change its unhealthy relationship with booze.
Infections may be deadly for many dialysis patients
An infection called peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that peritonitis may be a deadly condition for some kidney failure patients.
Obese patients face increased risk of kidney damage after heart surgery
Oxidative stress may put obese patients at increased risk of developing kidney damage after heart surgery, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Effective antioxidants or other therapies that reduce oxidative stress might help lower this risk, particularly among obese patients.
Calcium supplements linked to significantly increased heart attack risk
Calcium supplements might increase the risk of having a heart attack, and should be "taken with caution," concludes research published in the online issue of the journal Heart.
Caesarean section delivery may double risk of childhood obesity
Caesarean section delivery may double the risk of subsequent childhood obesity, finds research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Childhood obesity increases likelihood of a cranial disorder that may cause blindness
Children who are overweight or obese -- particularly older, non-Hispanic white girls -- are more likely to have a neurological disorder known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a rare condition that can result in blindness, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Patients may receive too much acetaminophen in hospital
(HealthDay) -- Roughly 2.5 percent of admitted hospital patients may receive more than the safe daily cumulative dose of the pain-reliever acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol, on at least one day, according to a new U.S. study.
Aspirin may prevent recurrence of deep vein blood clots
(HealthDay) -- After suffering a type of blood clot called a venous thromboembolism, patients usually take a blood-thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin). But aspirin may do just as well after a period of time, according to a new Italian study.
New estimates up dementia rates in mid-income countries
(HealthDay) -- Use of 10/66 dementia diagnosis criteria (10/66) results in an increase in the estimated incidence of dementia in middle-income countries, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet.
Clot buster seems to help up to 6 hours after stroke
(HealthDay) -- The largest study of its kind finds that stroke patients benefit from a clot-busting drug even six hours after a stroke, suggesting that the current recommended 4.5-hour limit could be expanded.
A smoke-free country? New Zealand taxes aim for it
(AP) -- There are smoke-free bars, smoke-free parks, even smoke-free college campuses. But a smoke-free country?
A revealing hand
What did you have for lunch yesterday? How many times a month do you eat nuts? How about your kids -- how many servings of vegetables did they consume today?
World's biggest stroke clot-buster trial reveals patient benefits
(Medical Xpress) -- Patients given a clot-busting drug within six hours of a stroke are more likely to make a better recovery than those who do not receive the treatment, new research has found.
Long-term meditation leads to different brain organization
(Medical Xpress) -- People who practice mindfulness meditation learn to accept their feelings, emotions, and states of mind without judging or resisting them. They simply live in the moment.
Study links mental health problems to poor prognosis in male cancer patients
Men suffering from psychiatric problems when diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die from the disease, according to a new study part-funded by the Wellcome Trust. The findings also reveal that those with psychiatric illness are likely to be older when they are diagnosed with cancer, possibly indicating a delay in diagnosis.
Formal recognition of PMDD will lift stigma for women
A decision to recognise premenstrual dysphoric disorder as a genuine psychiatric condition will finally provide “validation for this awful and poorly understood” syndrome and alleviate the stigma attached to it, an Australian authority on the subject said.
Genetic 'reset switch' enables signaling pathway to induce multiple developmental outcomes for olfactory neurons
Within the nervous system, a handful of signaling pathways modulate development of a cornucopia of different neuronal subtypes. “Even small alterations in neuron differentiation pathways can disrupt subsequent circuit organization and catalyze the genesis of neurological disorders,” explains Adrian Moore of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Wako.
Lifting barriers to nutrition
(Medical Xpress) -- A University of Alberta study has revealed challenges that schools are working through, to adopt healthier food choices for their students in an effort to meet government guidelines for nutrition.
Who pays for personalized medicine?
While researchers are busy identifying new biomarkers to detect disease and tailor treatments to individual needs, legal battles have been waged all the way up to the Supreme Court, trying to sort out whether a private company can own the rights to a particular biomarker.
From stem cell to brain cell - new technique mimics the brain
A new technique that converts stem cells into brain cells has been developed by researchers at Lund University. The method is simpler, quicker and safer than previous research has shown and opens the doors to a shorter route to clinical cell transplants.
Feeling strong emotions makes peoples' brains 'tick together'
Experiencing strong emotions synchronises brain activity across individuals, research team at Aalto University and Turku PET Centre in Finland has revealed.
Locating ground zero: How the brain's emergency workers find the disaster area
Like emergency workers rushing to a disaster scene, cells called microglia speed to places where the brain has been injured, to contain the damage by 'eating up' any cellular debris and dead or dying neurons. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have now discovered exactly how microglia detect the site of injury, thanks to a relay of molecular signals. Their work, published today in Developmental Cell, paves the way for new medical approaches to conditions where microglia's ability to locate hazardous cells and material within the brain is compromised.
A boost in microRNA may protect against sepsis and other inflammatory diseases
Acute inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, as well as chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes and arthritis, develop as a result of sustained inflammation of the blood vessel wall. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered that a microRNA (small, non-coding RNA molecule) called miR-181b can reduce the inflammatory response that is responsible for such diseases.
Knowing genetic makeup may not significantly improve disease risk prediction
Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers have found that detailed knowledge about your genetic makeup—the interplay between genetic variants and other genetic variants, or between genetic variants and environmental risk factors—may only change your estimated disease prediction risk for three common diseases by a few percentage points, which is typically not enough to make a difference in prevention or treatment plans. It is the first study to revisit claims in previous research that including such information in risk models would eventually help doctors either prevent or treat diseases.
Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency
Severe combined immunodeficiency is defect in the immune system that results in a loss of the adaptive immune cells known as B cells and T cells. Mutations in several different genes can lead to the development of severe combined immunodeficiency, including mutation of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene.
Male fertility genes discovered
A new study has revealed previously undiscovered genetic variants that influence fertility in men. The findings, published by Cell Press on May 24th in the American Journal of Human Genetics, shed much-needed light on human reproduction and might provide answers for countless men suffering from infertility.
Researcher calls for new approach to regulating probiotics
In today's Nature scientific journal Dr. Gregor Reid, Director of the Canadian R&D Centre for Probiotics at Lawson Health Research Institute and a scientist at Western University, calls for a Category Tree system to be implemented in the United States and Europe to better inform consumers about probiotics.
Exercise does not improve lipoprotein levels in obese patients with fatty liver disease
New research found that moderate exercise does not improve lipoprotein concentrations in obese patients with non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Results published in the June issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, report that moderate physical activity produces only a small decrease in triglyceride and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels.
Persistent sensory experience is good for aging brain
Despite a long-held scientific belief that much of the wiring of the brain is fixed by the time of adolescence, a new study shows that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring of the brain, even as one ages. In addition, the study found that this rewiring involves fibers that supply the primary input to the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for sensory perception, motor control and cognition. These findings promise to open new avenues of research on brain remodeling and aging.
Key gene found responsible for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer
Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have, for the first time, identified a single gene that simultaneously controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer.
The cells' petrol pump is finally identified
The oxygen and food we consume are converted into energy by tiny organelles present in each cell, the mitochondria. These 'power plants' must be continuously supplied with fuel, to maintain all vital functions. A team led by Jean-Claude Martinou, professor at the University of Geneva, has identified this fuel's carrier, baptized Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier. The study, published online by Science, henceforth allows the researchers to investigate how the activity of the carrier is modulated.
New test shows potential for detecting active cases of Lyme disease
George Mason University researchers can find out if a tick bite means Lyme disease well before the bite victim begins to show symptoms.
Cyber exercise partners help you go the distance: Motivation gains can double
A new study testing the benefits of a virtual exercise partner shows the presence of a moderately more capable cycling partner can significantly boost the motivation – by as much as 100 percent – to stick to an exercise program.
Childhood cancer scars survivors later in life
Scars left behind by childhood cancer treatments are more than skin-deep. The increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss caused by childhood cancer and treatment are associated with emotional distress and reduced quality of life in adulthood, according to a new study led by a Northwestern Medicine advanced practice nurse, Karen Kinahan, and based on data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).
Report: State tobacco prevention funding lacking
(AP) -- States have spent only about 3 percent of the billions they've received in tobacco taxes and legal settlements over the last decade to fund tobacco prevention programs, making it harder to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use, according to a report released Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Low vitamin D in diet increases stroke risk in Japanese-Americans
Japanese-American men who did not eat foods rich in vitamin D had a higher risk of stroke later in life, according to results of a 34-year study reported in Stroke, an American Heart Association journal.
'Personality genes' may help account for longevity
"It's in their genes" is a common refrain from scientists when asked about factors that allow centenarians to reach age 100 and beyond. Up until now, research has focused on genetic variations that offer a physiological advantage such as high levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. But researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University have found that personality traits like being outgoing, optimistic, easygoing, and enjoying laughter as well as staying engaged in activities may also be part of the longevity genes mix.
Brentuximab vedotin effective in large-cell lymphoma
(HealthDay) -- More than half of patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) treated with the CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin achieve a complete remission, according to the results of a phase II study published online May 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
No new neurons in the human olfactory bulb
(Medical Xpress) -- Research from Karolinska Institutet shows that the human olfactory bulb - a structure in the brain that processes sensory input from the nose - differs from that of other mammals in that no new neurons are formed in this area after birth. The discovery, which is published in the scientific journal Neuron, is based on the age-determination of the cells using the carbon-14 method, and might explain why the human sense of smell is normally much worse than that of other animals.
Spatial configuration can spark deja vu, psychology study reveals
(Medical Xpress) -- Déjà vu - that strange feeling of having experienced something before - is more likely to occur when a scene's spatial layout resembles one in memory, according to groundbreaking new research by a Colorado State University psychology professor.
New genetic method pinpoints geographic origin
(Medical Xpress) -- Understanding the genetic diversity within and between populations has important implications for studies of human disease and evolution. This includes identifying associations between genetic variants and disease, detecting genomic regions that have undergone positive selection and highlighting interesting aspects of human population history.
Research team uncovers mechanism behind drugs that cause altered immunity
(Medical Xpress) -- An Australian research team has opened the door to understanding why certain drugs cause a so called altered immunity response when offered as treatment for certain specific ailments. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team explains how they’ve uncovered the mechanism that causes an HIV treatment drug to lead to hypersensitivity syndrome.
The search for the earliest signs of Alzheimer's
(Medical Xpress) -- For the past five years, volunteers from the City of Berkeley and surrounding areas have come to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to participate in an ongoing study that’s changing what scientists know about Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers identify protein necessary for behavioral flexibility
Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings, which appear in the journal Cell Reports, may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia—afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.
Boundary stops molecule right where it needs to be
A molecule responsible for the proper formation of a key portion of the nervous system finds its way to the proper place not because it is actively recruited, but instead because it can't go anywhere else.
Thioridazine kills cancer stem cells in human while avoiding toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments
A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.
Amino acid consumption associated with how fast cancer cells divide
For almost a century, researchers have known that cancer cells have peculiar appetites, devouring glucose in ways that normal cells do not. But glucose uptake may tell only part of cancer's metabolic story. Researchers from the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital looked across 60 well-studied cancer cell lines, analyzing which of more than 200 metabolites were consumed or released by the fastest dividing cells. Their research yields the first large-scale atlas of cancer metabolism and points to a key role for the smallest amino acid, glycine, in cancer cell proliferation. Their results appear in the May 25 issue of the journal Science.
Gene discovery points towards non-hormonal male contraceptive
A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development.
Biology news
Burmese cats to benefit from genetic test for newly discovered mutation
Burmese cats can inherit a muscle weakness, called Burmese hypokalaemia, which is caused by low levels of blood potassium.
Bees at risk from chemicals increase, scientists say
Pesticide use rose by 6.5% between 2005 and 2010, increasing the risk to bee populations, according to new research from the University of Reading launched today by Friends of the Earth.
Social media used to collect information on marine wilderness
(Phys.org) -- Researchers from Murdoch University's Cetacean Research Unit are working with colleagues from Duke University in the US and Marine Ventures Foundation on an innovative project that will use social media to collect information on one of the world's last great marine wildernesses. Ashley Yeager from Duke University explains.
Researchers film rare striped rabbit in Sumatra (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- With cameras set up in Sumatra looking for medium- and small-sized wild cats, such as leopards, a research group involving the University of Delaware's Kyle McCarthy, found images of something else entirely -- a rabbit. Not just any ordinary rabbit, but a Sumatran striped rabbit, one of the world's rarest species and one that had been captured on film only three times before.
USDA links gene flow between weedy and domesticated rice to rising carbon dioxide levels
(Phys.org) -- New research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide facilitate the flow of genes from wild or weedy rice plants to domesticated rice varieties. As a result, domesticated plants could take on undesirable weedy characteristics that may interfere with future rice production.
Marine scientist discusses cod colonization
New evidence suggests that Atlantic cod may have the ability to affect entire food webs in both benthic and pelagic marine ecosystems, according to a University of Maine marine scientist, writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Plants could use light even more effectively for food production
(Phys.org) -- Scientists from Wageningen University have concluded that it is possible to develop plants that produce even more food by reducing the level of pigments which make no contribution to photosynthesis. The conclusion is based on research into the effectiveness of photosynthesis in various light conditions, which was carried out in cooperation with the VU University in Amsterdam. The scientists discovered that leaf pigments not directly involved in photosynthesis ‘dissipate’ light by absorption rather than using it effectively. Their findings were published in the scientific magazine Plant Cell.
DNA evidence shows that marine reserves help to sustain fisheries
Researchers reporting online on May 24 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology present the first evidence that areas closed to all fishing are helping to sustain valuable Australian fisheries. The international team of scientists applied a forensic DNA profiling approach to track the dispersal pathways of fish larvae throughout a network of marine reserves on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The secret to good tomato chemistry
There is nothing better than a ripe, red, homegrown tomato, and now researchers reporting online on May 24 in Current Biology have figured out just what it is that makes some of them so awfully good (and your average supermarket tomato so bland).
Brightly colored bird bills indicate good health
Troy Murphy has found female bill colour reflects the health of the bird. Females with more colourful bills have higher antibody levels, indicating greater strength and the ability to fight off invaders.
Deep sea animals stowaway on submarines and reach new territory
Marine scientists studying life around deep-sea vents have discovered that some hardy species can survive the extreme change in pressure that occurs when a research submersible rises to the surface. The team's findings, published in Conservation Biology, reveal how a species can be inadvertently carried by submersibles to new areas, with potentially damaging effects on marine ecosystems.
Commonly used pesticide turns honey bees into 'picky eaters'
Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered that a small dose of a commonly used crop pesticide turns honey bees into "picky eaters" and affects their ability to recruit their nestmates to otherwise good sources of food.
Crowding causes cells to produce an orderly matrix of molecules
When researchers conduct experiments on the way cells grow and respond to outside cues, they tend to use solutions that are much more dilute than the crowded environments found inside living cells. Now, new research from MIT shows that this dilute environment may skew the results of such experiments.
Fungi shifted plant balance of power
Cooperating with fungi didn't just help the earliest plants spread across a barren, rocky landscape; it also played a decisive role in the rise of more complex plants with roots and leaves that make up most of today's flora.
Researchers find a way to delay aging of stem cells
Stem cells are essential building blocks for all organisms, from plants to humans. They can divide and renew themselves throughout life, differentiating into the specialized tissues needed during development, as well as cells necessary to repair adult tissue.
Gourmet butterflies speed north: study
A new study led by scientists in the Department of Biology at the University of York has shown how a butterfly has changed its diet, and consequently has sped northwards in response to climate change. Their study is published in the latest issue of Science.
Global warming winner: Once rare butterfly thrives
(AP) -- Global warming is rescuing the once-rare brown Argus butterfly, scientists say.
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