Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 18, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Electronics like it cold, and 30 K cryocooler delivers- Physicists show math behind growth of 'coffee rings'
- Google Glass may run with laser-projected keyboard
- IEEE 802.11ad approval steps up marketplace WiGig
- Study provides new insights on drought predictions in East Africa
- Scientific breakthrough reveals secret to successful exercise programmes
- Japan to replace nuclear plant with world's largest wind farm
- Melt ponds cause the Artic sea ice to melt more rapidly
- 'Judas' fish could help wipe out Asian carp
- Powerful people better at shaking off rebuffs, bonding with others
- Studying ancient Earth's geochemistry
- When mom is the CEO at home, workplace ambitions take a back seat
- Controlling particles for directed self-assembly of colloidal crystals
- Oral breast cancer vaccine may offer new prevention tool
- New material for warm-white LEDs invented
Space & Earth news
Audit slams S.Korea's $20 bln river project
South Korea's state auditor on Friday panned President Lee Myung-Bak's $20 billion effort to dredge, dam and beautify four major rivers, saying it was riddled with costly flaws.
First long-term experiment with GEOMAR mesocosms off Sweden investigates effects of ocean acidification
In the past decade, research has revealed a wide range of organism responses to ocean acidification – the decline of seawater pH due to an uptake of man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) by the ocean. Laboratory and field experiments have focused primarily on individual species. Their responses to ocean acidification have mostly been studied in short-term experiments. But how do complex biological communities react to ocean acidification? Are they able to adapt to new conditions when exposed over long periods? To address these questions, long-lasting experiments on natural communities are urgently needed. "With the modified seagoing experimental platform, KOSMOS, we are now able to conduct the first long-term mesocosm experiment in the natural environment", Ulf Riebesell points out. Riebesell is professor for biological oceanography at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. He coordinates the BIOACID project and the upcoming mesocosm experiments.
Philippines to seek damages for US navy ship mishap
The Philippines will seek damages from the United States after a navy ship ran aground on a coral reef in a protected marine reserve, an official said Friday.
Climate change's effects on temperate rain forests surprisingly complex
Longer, warmer growing seasons associated with a changing climate are altering growing conditions in temperate rain forests, but not all plant species will be negatively affected, according to research conducted by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Temperature hits all-time record in Sydney
Temperatures in Sydney on Friday hit their highest levels since records began 150 years ago, after an Australian government agency warned of more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future.
Factory smoke clouds China pollution pledges
Clouds of smoke billow from the chimneys at a Chinese chemical plant rumbling with activity, more than a year after authorities closed it following protests by thousands of people.
Unrestricted access to the details of deadly eruptions
Details of around 2,000 major volcanic eruptions which occurred over the last 1.8 million years have been made available in a new open access database, complied by scientists at the University of Bristol with colleagues from the UK, US, Colombia and Japan.
Forecasters look higher to make better cold weather predictions
(Phys.org)—As Britain shivers through another spell of snow and ice, new research could help weather forecasters predict when such cold snaps are likely to occur.
TEPCO: Record high radiation level found in fish
A fish contaminated with radiation levels more than 2,500 times the legal limit has been caught near Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, its operator said Friday.
Climate change to profoundly affect the Midwest in coming decades
In the coming decades, climate change will lead to more frequent and more intense Midwest heat waves while degrading air and water quality and threatening public health. Intense rainstorms and floods will become more common, and existing risks to the Great Lakes will be exacerbated.
What's causing Australia's heat wave?
Australia has started 2013 with a record-breaking heat wave that has lasted more than two weeks across many parts of the country. Temperatures have regularly gone above 48°C, with the highest recorded maximum of 49.6°C at Moomba in South Australia. The extreme conditions have been associated with a delayed onset of the Australian monsoon, and slow moving weather systems over the continent.
Savanna study highlights African fuelwood crisis
(Phys.org)—The dwindling reserves of fuelwood in Africa have been illuminated in a new study published today, which shows a bleak outlook for supplies across savannas in South Africa.
Climate models benefit from medical methods
Researchers have used mathematical techniques taken from the analysis of medical images to bring climate models into closer agreement.
Study finds severe climate jeopardizing Amazon forest
(Phys.org)—An area of the Amazon rainforest twice the size of California continues to suffer from the effects of a megadrought that began in 2005, finds a new NASA-led study. These results, together with observed recurrences of droughts every few years and associated damage to the forests in southern and western Amazonia in the past decade, suggest these rainforests may be showing the first signs of potential large-scale degradation due to climate change.
Study provides new insights on drought predictions in East Africa
(Phys.org)—With more than 40 million people living under exceptional drought conditions in East Africa, the ability to make accurate predictions of drought has never been more important. In the aftermath of widespread famine and a humanitarian crisis caused by the 2010-2011 drought in the Horn of Africa—possibly the worst drought in 60 years— researchers are striving to determine whether drying trends will continue.
Melt ponds cause the Artic sea ice to melt more rapidly
The Arctic sea ice has not only declined over the past decade but has also become distinctly thinner and younger. Researchers are now observing mainly thin, first-year ice floes which are extensively covered with melt ponds in the summer months where once metre-thick, multi-year ice used to float.
Studying ancient Earth's geochemistry
Researchers still have much to learn about the volcanism that shaped our planet's early history. New evidence from a team led by Carnegie's Frances Jenner demonstrates that some of the tectonic processes driving volcanic activity, such as those taking place today, were occurring as early as 3.8 billion years ago. Their work is published in Geology.
Technology news
Google pulls 'Make Me Asian' app after uproar
Google has removed a "Make Me Asian" app—that let players change their appearance—following an uproar by Asian American activists who said the game promoted derogatory stereotypes.
Kim Dotcom poised for return with Megaupload successor
Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom will launch a new file-sharing site at his Auckland mansion on Sunday, exactly a year after armed police arrested him at the same venue in the world's largest online piracy case.
Capitvated by hoax, US learns about 'catfishing'
A spectacular hoax involving a popular US sportsman's fake dead girlfriend has put a spotlight on a practice known as "catfishing" and raised fresh concerns about news media fact-checking.
Sundance screens short films on YouTube
YouTube on Friday began online screenings of a selection of short films being showcased at the Sundance Film Festival underway in an enclave in the mountains of Utah.
Wipro profits up 18 pct on strong demand
Wipro reported an 18 percent rise in December quarter profits Friday, beating expectations as global cost-cutting drives global businesses to Indian outsourcing companies.
Boeing plans to carry on with 787 production
Boeing plans to keep building its flagship jetliner while engineers try to solve battery problems that have grounded most of the 787 fleet.
China Mobile seeks Taiwan handset makers' support
China Mobile is seeking support from Taiwanese chip and handset makers to back the fourth generation high-speed mobile network co-developed by the state-owned Chinese telecom operator.
Black silicon can take efficiency of solar cells to new levels
Scientists at Aalto University have demonstrated results that show a huge improvement in the light absorption and the surface passivation of silicon nanostructures. This has been achieved by applying atomic layer coating. The results advance the development of devices that require high sensitivity light response such as high efficiency solar cells.
US venture investments declined in 2012 (Update)
A new study shows that funding for U.S. business startups declined in 2012, the first time that's happened in three years, as venture capitalists spent less money on fewer deals.
Reliable electric power supply for the energy turn-around
Getting the grid prepared for the increased use of renewable energy sources is the goal of the Helmholtz Energy Alliance "Technologies for the Future Power Grid" coordinated by KIT. Helmholtz researchers are developing solutions for a flexible and reliable grid which manages the fluctuating power supply from renewable energy sources in cooperation with university partners and utilities.
Swedish music sales 'boosted by Spotify'
Music sales in Sweden rose last year thanks to the growing popularity of music streaming service Spotify, the country's music industry body said, offering hope to a sector battered by file-sharing.
Analysts: Dell buyout could make sense
Back in 2010, Michael Dell acknowledged that he had considered taking his company, Dell Inc., private, but he declined to say much about it.
New material for warm-white LEDs invented
Light emitting diodes, more commonly called LEDs, are known for their energy efficiency and durability, but the bluish, cold light of current white LEDs has precluded their widespread use for indoor lighting.
Microsoft Security Essentials misses AV-Test Certified status
(Phys.org)—Microsoft Security Essentials failed another certification test by independent testing lab, AV-Test Institute. The group publishes test results every two months. Microsoft Security Essentials 4.1 was among three failures, in the testing that was done for the months of November and December 2012. The testing looked at over two dozen consumer antivirus security programs. The other two that failed certification were PC Tools Internet Security 2012 and AhnLab Internet Security 8.0.
Kickstarter project team claims its LED bulb world's most efficient
(Phys.org)—Entrepreneurs Christian Yan, Tom Rodinger and Gimmy Chu have formed a partnership and created a company they call NanoLight. Their products are LED light bulbs that the group claims are the world's most efficient. They are currently looking for backing on Kickstarter, the crowd funding site.
Japan to replace nuclear plant with world's largest wind farm
(Phys.org)—Officials in Japan have announced plans for building the largest wind farm in the world, ten miles off the coast of Fukushima – site of the nuclear disaster that followed the earthquake and tsunami that struck the island nation in 2011. Projections call for developing a wind farm capable of producing 1 gigawatt of power.
Google Glass may run with laser-projected keyboard
(Phys.org)—Just when you thought you could swing into 2013 without another report on Google Glass in-the-wings, this is the week your luck runs out. Ideas continue to fly regarding what could possibly be the ideal way to manage control of Google Glass, in order for the user to communicate with the device. How? With what? If touchscreens and mousepads are out of this wearable-computing picture, one uncomfortable alternative would be having to keep reaching up to the glasses themselves to maneuver around.
IEEE 802.11ad approval steps up marketplace WiGig
(Phys.org)—IEEE has adopted a new standard, 802.11ad, which marks the advent of 7Gbps wireless. The newly approved standard will be commercially known as WiGig, and the technology behind WiGig is seen as a step forward for wireless mobile use; data transfer rates will be over ten times the maximum speed previously enabled within the IEEE 802.11 standard. This involves fast speeds over short distances; the standard will deliver 7Gbps speeds over 60GHz frequencies.
Medicine & Health news
Russians warily turn to AA in battle with alcohol
One-time Russian prisoner Andrei tried to quit drinking 22 times, going for cures that lasted from one to six months. But each time, he went back to the bottle.
Food servers more vulnerable to legal threats
People with severe food allergies have a new tool in their effort to find menus that fit their diet: federal disabilities law. And that could leave schools, restaurants and anyone else that serves food more vulnerable to legal challenges over food sensitivities.
Study shows medication errors lead to child fatalities
(Medical Xpress)—Serious errors administering drugs to children are occurring frequently due to workload, distraction and ineffective communication, according to a new study exploring the relationship between the nursing work environment and the administering of pediatric medication. The study showed negligence was rarely to blame in these incidents.
Repeated aggressions trigger social aversion in mice
One of the mechanisms involved in the onset of stress-induced depression has been highlighted in mice by researchers from CNRS, Inserm and UPMC.
Following mammography, physicians must notify of breast density, NY law states
A New York state law that goes into effect Jan. 19, 2013, could impact up to half of all women who get annual mammograms, according to Avice O'Connell, M.D., director of Women's Imaging at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Highland Breast Imaging.
Discovering a new role for a breast cancer gene
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the School of Biosciences have identified an unexpected role for a tumour-associated gene in breast cancer.
Semen quality of young men in southeast Spain down by 38% in the last decade
The first comparative study on the evolution of sperm quality in young Spanish men over ten years, headed by researchers at the University of Murcia, reveals that spermatozoid concentration in men between 18 and 23 years in the regions of Murcia and Almeria has dropped by an annual average of 2%.
How the brain copes with multi tasking alters with age
The pattern of blood flow in the prefrontal cortex in the brains alters with age during multi-tasking, finds a new study in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Neuroscience. Increased blood volume, measured using oxygenated haemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) increased at the start of multitasking in all age groups. But to perform the same tasks, healthy older people had a higher and more sustained increase in Oxy-Hb than younger people.
Severity of emphysema predicts mortality
Severity of emphysema, as measured by computed tomography (CT), is a strong independent predictor of all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in ever-smokers with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study from researchers in Norway. In patients with severe emphysema, airway wall thickness is also associated with mortality from respiratory causes.
Stroke survivors with PTSD more likely to avoid treatment
A new survey of stroke survivors has shown that those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are less likely to adhere to treatment regimens that reduce the risk of an additional stroke. Researchers found that 65 percent of stroke survivors with PTSD failed to adhere to treatment, compared with 33 percent of those without PTSD. The survey also suggests that nonadherence in PTSD patients is partly explained by increased ambivalence toward medication. Among stroke survivors with PTSD, approximately one in three (38 percent) had concerns about their medications. Results of the study, led by Columbia University Medical Center researchers, are published today in the British Journal of Health Psychology.
Researchers find that simple blood test can help identify trauma patients at greatest risk of death
A simple, inexpensive blood test performed on trauma patients upon admission can help doctors easily identify patients at greatest risk of death, according to a new study by researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
India's vast Ganges gathering 'good for health', study says
India's Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival which sees up to 100 million people flock to take a bath in the river Ganges, is good for pilgrims' health, according to a new study.
Flu means extra precautions for older people
(Medical Xpress)—We've all read about the severity of the current flu season. Boston declared an emergency, hospitals are seeing patients in tents outside their emergency departments and we all probably know someone who has been laid up for a week with fever and aches and generally feeling lousy.
Study finds abortions are safe when performed by nurses practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives
(Medical Xpress)—First trimester abortions are just as safe when performed by trained nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives as when conducted by physicians, according to a new six-year study led by UCSF.
New report offers assurance, future research on kids' shots
New parents quickly learn that their kids have years of vaccinations ahead of them. The vast majority of parents keep up with the schedule but some parents diverge from the recommended timeline, and a small minority object to the vaccines overall. A new report from the Institute of Medicine should reassure parents.
Pregnant women seek alternative care
Nearly half of all pregnant women in Australia consult a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner for pregnancy-related health conditions.
Study explores promoting teen health via text message
(Medical Xpress)—A study of 177 teenagers looks at whether teens are open to receiving text messages about health and what kind of information those messages should contain.
Cold or flu? Visit your doctor, not the ER
During cold and flu season, most of us inevitably will experience one or more acute illness. Fortunately, most acute problems are treatable without hospital admission. With that in mind, doctors say it is important to seek care in the proper place for the best possible treatment, outcome, cost and satisfaction.
Vital children's cancer drug being underdosed
(Medical Xpress)—A study has found that many patients receiving a potentially life-saving drug for the childhood cancer neuroblastoma are potentially being under-dosed. Every year in the UK approximately 100 children aged between 0-15 are diagnosed with neuroblastoma and currently only half of those will survive. The drug, 13-cis-retinoic acid, has been used in high doses to treat children with the disease for the last ten years. It plays a key role in stopping cancer returning after tumours are treated by surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
A natural sense of rhythm: Shifting levels of molecules in the blood provide a snapshot of internal 'body-time'
Anybody who has worked the overnight shift will testify that sometimes the time displayed on the clock is not the same as the one in your head. This disconnect is not merely perception; many physiological functions follow an internal chronological rhythm. 'Body-time' can profoundly affect overall health and even the response to therapies for cancer and other disorders.
Hugging is good for you, but only with someone you know very well
Hugging someone can help reduce stress, fear and anxiety, has a lowering effect on blood pressure, promotes wellbeing and improves memory performance. These positive effects are caused by the secretion of the peptide oxytocin – but only when we are hugged by someone we know very well. Hugging strangers can have the opposite effect, as neurophysiologist Jürgen Sandkühler, Head of the Centre for Brain Research at the Medical University of Vienna, points out in anticipation of "National Hug Day" on 21st January 2013.
Physical and sexual assault linked to increased suicide risk in military
According to results of a new study by researchers at the University of Utah, military personnel experience increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions if they were the victims of physical or violent sexual assault as adults. In contrast, undergraduate students experience increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions if they were the victims of unwanted sexual experiences as children or adults.
Rheumatism drug also effective at half dose
The treatment of moderately active rheumatoid arthritis with the tumour necrosis factor inhibitor Etanercept achieves excellent success in more than 80 per cent of patients. With this method, the success can be maintained at half of the drug dose just as effectively as with the full dose. These are the latest findings of a study led by Josef Smolen, Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the MedUni Vienna, which has just been published in the top journal Lancet. Says Smolen: "This finding underpins on the one hand the tremendous successes that can be achieved with the drugs that are available today, and on the other paves the way for the healthcare system to achieve excellent potential savings with reduced drug burdens for patients who have achieved good treatment successes."
Children and siblings of deployed military more likely to use drugs
Youth with a deployed military parent or sibling use drugs and alcohol at a higher rate than their peers, finds a new study in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Good bacteria in the intestine prevent diabetes, study finds
All humans have enormous numbers of bacteria and other micro-organisms (10 to 14) in the lower intestine. In fact our bodies contain about ten times more bacteria than our own cells and these tiny passengers are extremely important for our health. They help us digest our food and provide us with energy and vitamins. These "friendly" commensal bacteria in the intestine help to stop the "bad guys" such as Salmonella that cause infections, taking hold. Even the biochemical reactions that build up and maintain our bodies come from our intestinal bacteria as well as our own cells.
Exposure to COI policies during residency reduces rate of brand antidepressant prescriptions
Psychiatrists who are exposed to conflict-of-interest (COI) policies during their residency are less likely to prescribe brand-name antidepressants after graduation than those who trained in residency programs without such policies, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study is the first of its kind to show that exposure to COI policies for physicians during residency training – in this case, psychiatrists – is effective in lowering their post-graduation rates of prescriptions for brand medications, including heavily promoted and brand reformulated antidepressants. Full results of the study will be published in the February issue of Medical Care and are now available online.
Which nutritional factors help preserve muscle mass, strength and performance in seniors?
Sarcopenia, or the gradual loss of muscle mass, is a common consequence of ageing, and poses a significant risk factor for disability in older adults. As muscle strength plays an important role in the tendency to fall, sarcopenia leads to an increased risk of fractures and other injuries.
Differences in care for e-visits, office visits for sinusitis, UTI
(HealthDay)—For patients with sinusitis or urinary tract infection (UTI), follow-up is similar following office visits or e-visits, but antibiotics are more likely to be prescribed and preventive care is less likely with e-visits, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 14 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
Tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity up in childhood cancer survivors
(HealthDay)—About one-quarter of adult survivors of childhood cancer who received chest-directed radiation therapy (RT) have increased tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV), according to research published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
High medical bills driving some Americans to extreme measures
(HealthDay)—Insured Americans with serious medical conditions say the financial stress of rising out-of-pocket health care costs is forcing them to juggle household budgets, delay or skimp on care and even run up credit cards or dodge debt collectors, a new study reveals.
Flu remains widespread in US; eases in some areas
Health officials say nine more deaths of children from the flu have been reported, bringing the total this flu season to 29.
Flu watchers tap social media might
Dr. Andrea Dugas recalled widespread skepticism at a medical conference a few years ago when a colleague suggested that social media mentions and search volume could one day forecast flu activity.
EAST: Stand-your-ground law linked to more gun injuries
(HealthDay)—States with a Stand-Your-Ground (SYG) law have significantly more pediatric assault injuries due to firearms, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, held from Jan. 15 to 19 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Expression, genomic patterns predict sarcoma progression
(HealthDay)—The Complexity Index in Sarcoma (CINSARC) and Genomic Index prognostic signatures are valid independent methods of assessing synovial sarcoma (SS) prognosis, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Palliative radiation use for lung cancer higher than advised
(HealthDay)—Half of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receive at least one course of palliative radiation therapy (RT), with younger patients and those who received chemotherapy or surgery more likely to receive palliative RT, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
BCIS myocardial jeopardy score predicts post-PCI death
(HealthDay)—The British Cardiovascular Intervention Society myocardial jeopardy score (BCIS-JS) predicts mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to research published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Specificity up with stereoscopic mammography for CA detection
(HealthDay)—Three-dimensional stereoscopic digital mammography (DM) significantly improves the specificity and accuracy of breast cancer detection, with a lower patient recall rate and a sensitivity comparable to that of standard DM in a high-risk population, according to research published in the January issue of Radiology.
Coronary artery calcium predicts cardio death in T2DM
(HealthDay)—In addition to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, in patients with type 2 diabetes, coronary artery calcium (CAC) predicts the risk of cardiovascular death, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Diabetes Care.
48 states now report flu activity, 29 children dead: CDC
(HealthDay)—Forty-eight states are now reporting widespread flu activity, up from 47 last week, U.S. health officials reported Friday.
Businesses should plan for flu disruptions, doctor says
(HealthDay)—With flu widespread throughout the United States this season, businesses need to prepare to deal with productivity challenges, a doctor advises.
Immune-boosting foods may add to flu defense
(HealthDay)—As U.S. health officials recommend flu shots and frequent hand washing for protection during this season's influenza outbreak, dietitians point to another significant defense weapon: healthy foods.
A light switch inside the brain
Activating and deactivating individual nerve cells in the brain is something many neuroscientists wish they could do, as it would help them to better understand how the brain works.
Scientists discover new method of predicting response to chemotherapy in bowel cancer
Scientists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Beaumont Hospital have developed a new method of predicting which patients with bowel (colorectal) cancer will respond effectively to chemotherapy. The results of this study are published in the current issue of the prestigious Cancer Research journal.
Complex spinal surgeries with two attending physicians, instead of one, benefit patients
Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes – and a new study by a duo at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) demonstrates how having two attending surgeons in the operating room during spinal surgeries can benefit patients in multiple ways.
Lilly drug chosen for Alzheimer's prevention study (Update)
Researchers have chosen an experimental drug by Eli Lilly & Co. for a large federally funded study testing whether it's possible to prevent Alzheimer's disease in older people at high risk of developing it.
New study confirms immune cells are guided by gradients
(Medical Xpress)—A group of researchers in Austria and Switzerland has for the first time proven that immune cells migrate along chemical concentration gradients. This process has long been assumed but never demonstrated experimentally in living tissues.
Oral breast cancer vaccine may offer new prevention tool
(Medical Xpress)—A new oral vaccine that produces a novel two-pronged immune system attack on cancer cells could be effective in preventing breast cancer recurrence, according to findings from a collaborative research team from the University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Scientific breakthrough reveals secret to successful exercise programmes
Do you feel like exercise just leaves you fatigued without any real improvements? A study of cyclists by scientists at the University of Stirling has uncovered the secret to successful training, a discovery which could help us all lead healthier lives.
Powerful people better at shaking off rebuffs, bonding with others
Employees often tiptoe around their bosses for fear of offending them. But new research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows people in power have thicker skin than one might think.
Biology news
It's a dog's life: Doggy database aims to define pet health
Using data collected about Labrador Retrievers, research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Veterinary Research is beginning to quantify the health, illnesses, and veterinary care of dogs.
Molecular assembly line brings muscles into shape
Scientists at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna, Austria and at the University of Cologne, Germany have discovered the molecular basis underlying the patterned folding and assembly of muscle proteins. They describe the strikingly new mechanism in the current issue of Cell.
Scientists shed light on the 'dark matter' of DNA
In each cell, thousands of regulatory regions control which genes are active at any time. Scientists at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna have developed a method that reliably detects these regions and measures their activity. The new technology is published online by Science this week.
Lipid vesicles to replace mouse experiments
Researchers from ETH Zurich have filed a patent application for a method to test the biological activity of one of the strongest toxins known, the botulinum neurotoxin. If the procedure is adopted by the pharmaceutical industry, it could save the lives of more than half a million mice per year.
New research highlights influence of intraspecific variability on biodiversity studies
(Phys.org)—A study of around 100 newly collected specimens of early ammonoids (marine invertebrates with distinctive coiled shells) suggests that the number of species they belong to might have been over-estimated due to the large variability in size and shape within each species.
Life thrives in the fast lane: Cars could have a greater impact on kerb dwelling plant life than previously thought
A team of researchers has found new evidence that the slipstream behind a moving vehicle blows seeds great distances, meaning some invasive plant species could thrive at the road side.
Do hens have friends? It seems not
(Phys.org)—A Royal Veterinary College study has found that hens reared in commercial conditions do not form friendships and are not particular about who they spend time with.
New report reveals insights into Swan River dolphin population
(Phys.org)—A new report by Murdoch University researchers on dolphins in the Swan Canning Riverpark has shown that a core group of around 20 dolphins are resident year-round in the estuary, while 16 others make occasional visits throughout the year.
The cell that isn't: New technique captures division of membrane-less cells
This may look like yet another video of a dividing cell, but there's a catch. You are looking at chromosomes (red) being pulled apart by the mitotic spindle (green), but it's not a cell, because there's no cell membrane. Like a child sucking an egg out of its shell, Ivo Telley from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, removed these cellular 'innards' from a fruit fly embryo, at a stage when it is essentially a sac full of membrane-less 'cells' that divide and divide without building physical barriers to separate themselves from each other.
Cell: Protein folding via charge zippers
Membrane proteins are the "molecular machines" in biological cell envelopes. They control diverse processes, such as the transport of molecules across the lipid membrane, signal transduction, and photosynthesis. Their shape, i.e. folding of the molecules, plays a decisive role in the formation of, e.g., pores in the cell membrane. In the Cell magazine, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Cagliari are now reporting a novel charge zipper principle used by proteins to form functional units.
ARS scientists test improved stink bug trapping methods
Baited black traps in a pyramid shape attract significantly more brown marmorated stink bugs than other traps, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. Evaluating stink bug responses to different visual stimuli may help manufacturers design better traps for monitoring the bugs.
Central America battles to save coffee from fungus
Central America is scrambling to contain a coffee-eating fungus that has invaded a third of the impoverished region's crops, threatening to cost the vital industry hundreds of millions of dollars.
Rare dolphin species threatened by big fishnets
The long-beaked La Plata River dolphin, a small species living in in South America's Atlantic coastal waters, is increasingly threatened with extinction from big-net fishing, Brazilian researchers warn.
World's largest natural sound archive now online
(Phys.org)—After 12 years of work, Cornell's Macaulay Library archive, the largest collection of wildlife sounds in the world, is now digitized and fully available online.
Golden algae: They hunt, they kill, they cheat
(Phys.org)—Cheating is a behavior not limited to humans, animals and plants. Even microscopically small, single-celled algae do it, a team of UA researchers has discovered.
'Judas' fish could help wipe out Asian carp
Methods used to eradicate feral pigs and goats in Hawaii, Australia, the Galapagos Islands and southern United States could be employed in Minnesota to fight the Asian carp invasion.
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