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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 17, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Entanglement recycling makes teleportation more practical- Nearly perfect, ultrathin invisibility cloak could have wide practical applications
- Mouse research links adolescent stress and severe adult mental illness
- Novel metamaterial sensor provides bigger picture
- New key to organism complexity identified: Critical transcription factor co-exists in two distinct states
- Researchers expose new vulnerabilities in the security of personal genetic information
- A new world record for solar cell efficiency
- Researchers discover how tree frogs use their bodies to cling to overhanging surfaces (w/ video)
- People with low risk for cocaine dependence have differently shaped brain to those with addiction
- Is athleticism linked to brain size? Research on mice shows that exercise-loving mice have larger midbrains
- Amazon says music catalog open to Apple users
- Fighting sleep: Discovery may lead to new treatments for deadly sleeping sickness
- Molecular twist helps regulate the cellular message to make histone proteins
- Extreme weather events a potent force for arctic overwintering populations
- Scientists use luminescent mice to track cancer and aging in real-time
Space & Earth news
Eclipse Calculator: New eclipse-simulation app for your mobile
Which future eclipses will be visible from my location? What will they be like? How long will they last? These are some of the questions answered by the new application Eclipse Calculator, designed by University of Barcelona researcher Eduard Masana for Android mobiles.
Rich countries reluctant to help finance mercury treaty, UN officials say
Crisis-weary developed countries' reluctance to help finance a ground-breaking international treaty to rein in the use of health-hazardous mercury is threatening the accord, UN officials warned Thursday.
Researchers first to identify nature of historic meteorite
(Phys.org)—When an asteroid streaked across the sky over California and Nevada and exploded last spring, scientists from across the world rushed to the scene to recover as many pieces of the space rock as possible.
Ozone study may benefit air standards, climate
(Phys.org)—A new NASA-led study involving the University of Colorado Boulder finds that when it comes to combating global warming caused by emissions of ozone-forming chemicals, location matters.
ESA workhorse to power NASA's Orion spacecraft
(Phys.org)—The ATV-derived service module, sitting directly below Orion's crew capsule, will provide propulsion, power, thermal control, as well as supplying water and gas to the astronauts in the habitable module.
Keeping a float: Researchers gather data from high-tech float launched near Antarctica
(Phys.org)—Off the coast of Antarctica, a 4-foot-long, bright yellow tube is drifting through the Southern Ocean and collecting scientific data on the frigid surrounding water.
Curiosity's rambling tracks visible from Mars orbit
Look closely and see where the Curiosity rover has been roving about inside Gale Crater on Mars, from "Bradbury Landing" to its current location in "Yellowknife Bay." This shot was taken by the HiRISE camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on January 2, 2013.
Iconic beach resorts may not survive sea level rises
A leading coastal scientist has warned that some of the world's best known beach resorts may not survive projected sea level rises and that problems caused by changing sea levels are compounded by a lack of political will and short-term coastal management initiatives.
Trading wetlands no longer a deal with the devil
If Faust had been in the business of trading wetlands rather than selling his soul, the devil might be portrayed by the current guidelines for wetland restoration. Research from the University of Illinois recommends a new framework that could make Faustian bargains over wetland restoration sites result in more environmentally positive outcomes.
Dietary shifts driving up phosphorus use
Dietary changes since the early 1960s have fueled a sharp increase in the amount of mined phosphorus used to produce the food consumed by the average person over the course of a year, according to a new study led by researchers at McGill University.
Russian national park to bridge US-Russia divide
Russia on Thursday decreed a national park in its remote Far Eastern Chukotka region, paving the way for a joint US-Russian nature reserve spanning the Bering Strait, an idea first proposed by the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Space station to get $18 million balloon-like room (Update)
NASA is partnering with a commercial space company in a bid to replace the cumbersome "metal cans" that now serve as astronauts' homes in space with inflatable bounce-house-like habitats that can be deployed on the cheap.
Black holes growing faster than expected
(Phys.org)—Astronomers from Swinburne University of Technology have discovered how supermassive black holes grow - and it's not what was expected.
Bubbling up organics in an ocean vent simulator
(Phys.org)—This week, fizzy ocean water and the alkaline fluid that bubbles up from deep ocean vents are coursing through a structure at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. that is reminiscent of the pillared Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. Scientists with the NASA Astrobiology Institute's JPL Icy Worlds team have built this series of glass tubes, thin barrels and valves with a laser and a detector system. The set-up mimics the conditions at hydrothermal vents at the bottom of Earth's ocean and also detects compounds coming out of it. They want to see if sending these two liquids through a sample of rock that simulates ancient volcanic ocean crust can lead to the formation of simple organic molecules such as ethane and methane, and amino acids, biologically important organic molecules. Scientists have long considered these compounds the precursor ingredients for what later led to chains of RNA, DNA and microbes.
A hidden treasure in the Large Magellanic Cloud
(Phys.org)—Nearly 200 000 light-years from Earth, the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, floats in space, in a long and slow dance around our galaxy. Vast clouds of gas within it slowly collapse to form new stars. In turn, these light up the gas clouds in a riot of colours, visible in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Extreme weather events a potent force for arctic overwintering populations
Climate change is known to affect the population dynamics of single species, such as reindeer or caribou, but the effect of climate at the community level has been much more difficult to document. Now, a group of Norwegian scientists has found that extreme climate events cause synchronized population fluctuations among all vertebrate species in a relatively simple high arctic community. These findings may be a bellwether of the radical changes in ecosystem stability that could result from anticipated future increases in extreme events. The findings are published in the 18 January issue of Science.
Titan gets a dune 'makeover'
(Phys.org)—Titan's siblings must be jealous. While most of Saturn's moons display their ancient faces pockmarked by thousands of craters, Titan - Saturn's largest moon - may look much younger than it really is because its craters are getting erased. Dunes of exotic, hydrocarbon sand are slowly but steadily filling in its craters, according to new research using observations from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Reull Vallis: A river ran through it
(Phys.org)—ESA's Mars Express imaged the striking upper part of the Reull Vallis region of Mars with its high-resolution stereo camera last year.
NASA beams Mona Lisa to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter at the moon (w/ video)
(Phys.org)—As part of the first demonstration of laser communication with a satellite at the moon, scientists with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) beamed an image of the Mona Lisa to the spacecraft from Earth.
Technology news
Chile's 'Power-opedia' shines light on elites
Journalists and concerned citizens can now trawl for conflicts of interest among Chile's political and business elites thanks to a new startup based on Wikipedia.
Tajikistan renews Facebook access ban
(AP)—The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan has blocked social media website Facebook for the third time in twelve months.
PVA Tepla, imec demonstrate 3D through-silicon via (TSV) void detection using GHz scanning acoustic microscopy
Imec and PVA Tepla present breakthrough results in the detection of TSV voids in 3D stacked IC technology. After having applied Scanning Acoustic Microscopy to temporary wafer (de)bonding inspection, they successfully used new advanced GHz SAM technology to detect TSV voids at wafer-level after TSV Copper plating. Together, they will continue to investigate the applicability of high-frequency scanning acoustic microscopy for non-destructive submicron void detection.
Review: 'Devil May Cry' an infernal thrill ride
At the beginning of "DmC: Devil May Cry" (Capcom, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99), demons run amok through a seaside amusement park. Arcades are yanked from their foundations, rides spin out of control and a Ferris wheel breaks loose and rolls down the boardwalk.
Hackers disrupt Mexico defense ministry website
Hackers claimed a cyber attack on the Mexican defense ministry website on Wednesday, posting a manifesto from the Zapatista rebel group for two hours.
Michelle Obama opens new Twitter account
Michelle Obama's office said Thursday it had opened a Twitter account, as the US first lady turned 49.
Ex-Nokia CEO Kallasvuo heads TV software company
Former Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo has joined Swedish TV software company Zenterio as chairman of the board.
US software engineer outsources his job to China
"Bob" the software engineer was becoming a modern workplace legend on Thursday as word spread that he had secretly outsourced his own job to China and sat at his desk watching cat videos.
Prosecutor defends handling on Internet activist case
A US prosecutor at the center of a controversy over the handling of a case involving an Internet activist who committed suicide has defended the government's actions as "appropriate."
French nuclear firm tightens safety at Niger mine
French nuclear energy conglomerate Areva said on Thursday it had beefed up safety procedures at two uranium mines in Niger after green activists said contaminated scrap metal from the facilities had been discovered at a local junkyard.
Japan's Sharp in TV tie-up talks with Lenovo
Shares in struggling Japanese electronics maker Sharp shot up 7.30 percent on Thursday on reports it is in talks with Chinese computer giant Lenovo Group to work together on the production of televisions.
CEO says Sony is on track for comeback
Sony Corp., the struggling Japanese electronics and entertainment company, is headed in the right direction although its comeback is not yet complete, its chief executive said Thursday.
TSMC reports 32 percent profit jump in 4Q of 2012
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, reported a 32 percent jump in profits in the final quarter last year, benefiting from increasing global sales of smartphones and tablet computers.
Lithium batteries central to Boeing's 787 woes (Update)
Lithium batteries that can leak corrosive fluid and start fires have emerged as the chief safety concern involving Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, a problem that apparently is far more serious than government or company officials acknowledged less than a week ago.
Nokia sheds 300 IT jobs, transfers 820 workers
Struggling Nokia Corp. is downsizing by more than 1,000 jobs, part of a wide-ranging plan to cut costs and streamline operations.
Doubling down on energy efficiency
Spending on energy efficiency programs funded by electric and natural gas utility customers will double by 2025 to about $9.5 billion per year, according to projections published today by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
Yelp to add restaurants' health-inspection grades
Reviews site Yelp is adding restaurants' health-inspection grades to its site, giving users yet another filter through which they can decide where to eat.
Anonymous hacks Argentina data agency
Hacker group Anonymous blocked the official website of Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census amid an international stand-off over claims the country has lied about its economy.
Intel 4Q profit down, beats Street
Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, on Thursday said its fourth-quarter net income fell 27 percent from the previous year, as PC sales continued to weaken.
Knight grant boosts Wikipedia move to mobile phones
The group behind Wikipedia on Thursday won a $600,000 Knight Foundation grant to improve access to the communally compiled online encyclopedia from mobile phones.
Seeing beyond cameras: Predicting where people move in CCTV blind spots
A new model from Queen Mary, University of London could be a useful security tool in tracking people in large, busy venues such as airport terminals and shopping centres.
New research to support the huge potential of tidal power
(Phys.org)—New research from a global group of scientists and engineers, including from the University of Southampton, has been published in a special issue journal of the Royal Society. The work is in support of tidal power, which has the potential to provide more than 20 per cent of the UK's electricity demand.
Photovoltaics beat biofuels at converting sun's energy to miles driven
In 2005, President George W. Bush and American corn farmers saw corn ethanol as a promising fossil fuel substitute that would reduce both American dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, the 2005 energy bill mandated that 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel be added to the gasoline supply in 2006. That rose to 4.7 billion gallons in 2007 and 7.5 billion in 2012.
Amazon says music catalog open to Apple users
Amazon said Thursday its 22-million song music catalog was now "optimized" for users of Apple devices, making it easier for iPhone owners to circumvent the iTunes store.
Global Web censors use devices from US firm, study reports
Authoritarian regimes around the world are using technology from a Silicon Valley firm for Internet surveillance, filtering and censorship, according to a report by Canadian researchers.
A new world record for solar cell efficiency
In a remarkable feat, scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of 20.4 percent for converting sunlight into electricity. The cells are based on CIGS semiconducting material known for its potential to provide cost-effective solar electricity. The technology is currently awaiting scale-up for industrial applications.
Novel metamaterial sensor provides bigger picture
Duke University engineers have developed a novel sensor that is more efficient, versatile and cheaper for potential use in such applications as airport security scanners and collision avoidance systems for aircraft, cars or maritime vessels.
Medicine & Health news
Integrated neglected tropical disease control and elimination programs: A global health 'best buy'
A recently released report, entitled "Social and Economic Impact Review on Neglected Tropical Diseases," highlights links between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and socio-economic prosperity. Published by Hudson Institute's Center for Science in Public Policy, in partnership with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the paper found NTD control and elimination efforts to be both inexpensive and highly effective, especially when paired with other major disease treatment efforts, making NTD programs one of the most cost-effective public health interventions available.
Scientists devise unique stroke assessment tool
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have devised a unique screening instrument that provides a 'one-stop' brain function profile of patients who have suffered stroke or other neurological damage.
Australian safe sex to save African lives
A new condom company, founded by a recent University of Sydney Business School graduate, is offering Australians the opportunity to help "save a life" in Africa each time they have safe sex.
High school athletes take lead from coaches in reporting concussive symptoms, study finds
In a recent study, UW researchers sought to understand why high school athletes do not report concussive symptoms. The researchers conducted focus groups with 50 male and female Seattle-area varsity athletes from a variety of sports. They learned that although athletes could list concussive symptoms and understood the possible long term complications, when faced with potential concussive injury scenarios, athletes said they would not report symptoms.
Pregnancy model shows obstacles to remote care
Estimates of the cost of pregnancy in Western Australia have revealed those with inadequate access to antenatal care, mostly those in remote areas, are paying $2,581 more than those with access.
New mechanism found on how a parasite leads to cancer
About 200 million people across 75 of the poorest countries in the world are now infected by the blood parasite Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium). The infection causes severe urogenital disease, but also causes bladder cancer in a number of patients and why this occurs is not clear.
Lawyer: Surgeons left 16 items in German after op
A lawyer in Germany claims surgeons left up to 16 objects in her client's body after an operation for prostate cancer.
In Africa, success against AIDS: School of Public Health reviews decade of increasingly effective treatment
Harvard AIDS researchers gathered at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) last Thursday to mark 10 years of work under a key federal anti-AIDS program that has been instrumental in stemming the tide of a disease that once threatened to destroy entire societies.
How are middle-aged women affected by burnout?
Emotional exhaustion and physical and cognitive fatigue are signs of burnout, often caused by prolonged exposure to stress. Burnout can cause negative health effects including poor sleep, depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular and immune disorders. The findings of a 9-year study of burnout in middle-aged working women are reported in an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Drug abuse impairs sexual performance in men even after rehabilitation
Researchers at the University of Granada, Spain, and Santo Tomas University in Colombia have found that drug abuse negatively affects sexual performance in men even after years of abstinence. This finding contradicts other studies reporting that men spontaneously recovered their normal sexual performance at three weeks after quitting substance abuse.
The new age of proteomics: An integrative vision of the cellular world
The enormous complexity of biological processes requires the use of highperformance technologies —also known as 'omics'—, that are capable of carrying out complete integrated analyses of the thousands of molecules that cells are made up of, and of studying their role in illnesses. In the post-genomic age we find ourselves in, the comprehensive study of cellular proteins —prote-omics— acquires a new dimension, as proteins are the molecular executors of genes and, therefore, the most important pieces of the puzzle if we wish to understand more completely how cells work.
Guided care provides better quality of care for chronically ill older adults
Patients who received Guided Care, a comprehensive form of primary care for older adults with chronic health problems, rated the quality of their care much higher than patients in regular primary care, and used less home care, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. In an article published online by the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers found that in a 32-month randomized controlled trial, Guided Care patients rated the quality of their care significantly higher than those in normal care, and were 66 percent more likely to rate their access to telephone advice as excellent or very good. Patients also had 29 percent fewer home health care visits.
Empa spin-off bound for success with its electronic bedside care assistant
The first product to hit the Swiss market from Empa and ETH Zurich spin-off compliant concept is surpassing all expectations. The successful market launch of the electronic healthcare assistant also impressed investors. Following a successful round of financing, the company's investors now include Lausanne-based pharmaceutical development group Debiopharm, Zürcher Kantonalbank (Cantonal Bank of Zurich) and Empa. As a result, compliant concept can continue to grow and expand abroad.
Study offers new insights into the mechanics of muscle fatigue
A study in The Journal of General Physiology examines the consequences of muscle activity with surprising results, indicating that the extracellular accumulation of potassium that occurs in working muscles is considerably higher than previously thought.
Study of cancer cell metabolism yields new insights on leukemia
University of Rochester Medical Center scientists have proposed a new reason why acute myeloid leukemia, one of the most aggressive cancers, is so difficult to cure: a subset of cells that drive the disease appear to have a much slower metabolism than most other tumors cells.
Botox beats steroids for painful foot condition, plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most frequent cause of chronic heel pain, leaving many sufferers unable to put their best foot forward for months at a time. Now a Mexican study suggests that physicians should turn to Botox rather than steroids to offer patients the fastest road to recovery. The research appears in the journal Foot & Ankle International.
Health and law expert: NFL not alone in handling concussions as 'benign' problems
More than 2,000 former football players are suing the National Football League, saying the league should have taken action earlier to deal with injuries related to concussions more seriously.
Jimmy Carter: Guinea worm cases decreasing
Guinea worm disease cases were cut to less than 600 in 2012, marking significant progress in eradicating the parasitic infection, former President Jimmy Carter said Thursday.
Factors linked with survival differences between Black, White kidney failure patients
Complex socioeconomic and residential factors may account for differences in survival between Black and White kidney failure patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings could help researchers design interventions to prolong patients' lives.
Insurers may prove choosy with overhaul exchanges
UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley is warning analysts not to assume that the insurer will participate widely in a key health care overhaul coverage expansion that unfolds later this year.
New model may help predict response to chemotherapy for colorectal cancer
Scientists may be able to better predict which patients with colorectal cancer will respond to chemotherapy using a new mathematical model that measures the amount of stress required for a cancer cell to die without harming healthy tissue. The results of this study are published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Childhood vaccine schedule is safe, report says
(HealthDay)—The standard vaccine schedule for young children in the United States is safe and effective, a new review says.
Calorie-rich shrimp pasta tops Xtreme Eating list
A plate of crispy battered shrimp, mushrooms, tomato and arugula tossed with spaghettini and a cream sauce took the cake Wednesday as the most calorie-rich chain restaurant dish in America.
FDA approves new type of flu vaccine
(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a novel type of flu vaccine, the agency announced Wednesday.
Deodorants: Do we really need them?
New research shows that more than 75 per cent of people with a particular version of a gene don't produce under-arm odour but use deodorant anyway.
2 Americans, 1 Swede share Crafoord science prize
Two Americans and a Swede have won this year's Crafoord Prize, a 4 million kronor ($600,000) scientific award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to honor achievements not always covered by its more famous Nobel Prizes.
Monitoring of immune function in critically ill children with influenza reveals severe immune suppression in non-survivo
(Medical Xpress)—Investigators from 15 children's medical centers, including Nationwide Children's Hospital, observed and evaluated critically ill children with influenza to evaluate the relationships between levels of systemic inflammation, immune function and likelihood to die from the illness. The study appears in the January issue of Critical Care Medicine.
Vaginal delivery safest option for women with pelvic girdle pain, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Caesarean section increases the risk of persistent pelvic girdle pain after delivery compared with vaginal delivery, according to a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Potential new treatment for gastrointestinal cancers discovered
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, and shown that medications that block the function of this complex have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for these diseases.
Gastric banding an effective long-term solution to obesity
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding – lap banding – is a safe and effective long-term strategy for managing obesity, according to the findings of a landmark 15-year follow-up study of patients treated in Australia.
Sunbed skin cancer risk double that of Mediterranean midday summer sun
(Medical Xpress)—The average skin cancer risk from sunbeds is more than double that of spending the same length of time in the Mediterranean midday summer sun – according to new research from the University of Dundee and published today in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Study finds that age does not impair decision-making capabilities
(Medical Xpress)—Contrary to conventional wisdom that cognitive function declines beginning in the mid-40s, aging does not correlate with a deteriorating ability to think for ourselves. These are the findings of one of the first projects to investigate the connection between cognitive health, aging and decision-making capacity.
Improved physician-patient communication could influence pregnant women to quit smoking
(Medical Xpress)—Many obstetric care providers could benefit from additional communication training to effectively address smoking cessation with their pregnant patients, according to new research published by Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine investigators.
Surgeon, optical scientist collaborate on surgery camera
(Medical Xpress)—Dr. Mike Nguyen, a urologist and UA associate professor of surgery, and Hong Hua, a UA professor of optical sciences, have teamed up with the goal of creating a camera that will allow surgeons to view both wide angle and high-resolution, close-up images simultaneously using a single, integrated probe.
Women and binge drinking: Expert weighs in
One in eight women in the U.S. participates in binge drinking, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate among high school-age women is even higher—one in five—according to the report.
Positive mindset influences health decisions
(Medical Xpress)—An analysis of the personality types, diet and exercise habits of more than 7,000 people has shown that a positive attitude, and the belief that you can determine your life's outcomes, leads people to make healthier lifestyle choices.
New study suggests that yogurt may help keep blood pressure low
People who eat yogurt a few times per week are less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who rarely eat it, according to Tufts research.
Call for policymakers to consider genetic link to soft drink consumption
Policymakers should understand the urge to drink soft drinks is genetically determined, rather than being solely a lifestyle choice, argue endocrinologists from the Garvin Institute of Medical Research.
Amputations among people with diabetes can be reduced by 50%, study finds
Every 30 seconds somebody in the world is amputated as a consequence of foot complication due to diabetes. A new study at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, confirmes that shoe inserts, podiatry, regular checkups and other simple interventions can reduce the number of amputations by more than 50%.
Enzyme CaM kinase II relaxes muscle cells: Researchers find overactive enzyme in failing hearts
A certain enzyme, the CaM kinase II, keeps the cardiac muscle flexible. By transferring phosphate groups to the giant protein titin, it relaxes the muscle cells. This is reported by researchers led by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Linke of the Institute of Physiology at the Ruhr Universität in the journal Circulation Research.
As colorectal cancer gets more aggressive, treatment with grape seed extract is even more effective
(Medical Xpress)—When the going gets tough, grape seed extract gets going: A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Cancer Letters shows that the more advanced are colorectal cancer cells, the more GSE inhibits their growth and survival. On the other end of the disease spectrum, GSE leaves healthy cells alone entirely.
Cancer mortality down 20 percent from 1991 peak
Jan. 17, 2013–As of 2009, the overall death rate for cancer in the United States had declined 20 percent from its peak in 1991, translating to the avoidance of approximately 1.2 million deaths from cancer, 152,900 of these in 2009 alone. These figures come from the American Cancer Society's annual Cancer Statistics report, one of the most widely-cited medical publications in the world.
Critically ill flu patients saved with artificial lung technology treatment
In recent weeks the intensive critical care units at University Health Network's Toronto General Hospital have used Extra Corporeal Lung Support (ECLS) to support five influenza (flu) patients in their recovery from severe respiratory problems.
Viagra converts fat cells
Researchers from the University of Bonn treated mice with Viagra and made an amazing discovery: The drug converts undesirable white fat cells and could thus potentially melt the unwelcome "spare tire" around the midriff. In addition, the substance also decreases the risk of other complications caused by obesity. The results are now published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).
Hearing-loss-prevention drugs closer to reality thanks to new UF test
A new way to test anti-hearing-loss drugs in people could help land those medicines on pharmacy shelves sooner. University of Florida researchers have figured out the longstanding problem of how to safely create temporary, reversible hearing loss in order to see how well the drugs work. The findings are described in the November/December 2012 issue of the journal Ear & Hearing.
Implicit race bias increases the differences in the neural representations of black and white faces
Racial stereotypes have been shown to have subtle and unintended consequences on how we treat members of different race groups. According to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, race bias also increases differences in the brain's representations of faces.
Lack of key enzyme in the metabolism of folic acid leads to birth defects
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that the lack of a critical enzyme in the folic acid metabolic pathway leads to neural tube birth defects in developing embryos.
Research shows commonly prescribed medications could have adverse effects
A research team with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta reported findings that significantly improve understanding of how widely used drugs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) affect the heart health of treated patients.
Novel technique reveals dynamics of telomere DNA structure
Biomedical researchers studying aging and cancer are intensely interested in telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. In a new study, scientists at UC Santa Cruz used a novel technique to reveal structural and mechanical properties of telomeres that could help guide the development of new anti-cancer drugs.
Study shows how immune cells navigate through the skin by sensing graded patterns of immobilized directional cues
A research paper by the group of Michael Sixt, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), published today in Science, provides new insights into how immune cells find their way through tissues. The findings provide the first evidence for directed cell migration along concentration gradients of chemical cues immobilized in tissues, a concept that has long been assumed but never experimentally proven.
Inadequate food facilities in NC migrant camps could cause illness
Farmworkers are at potential risk from food and waterborne illnesses because of the condition of cooking and eating facilities available to them, according to a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Weight loss helps to oust worms
Scientists from The University of Manchester have discovered that weight loss plays an important role in the body's response to fighting off intestinal worms.
Irregular heart beat elevates risk of kidney failure
Many people who suffer from chronic kidney disease progressively lose their kidney function over time and eventually develop a condition called end-stage renal disease – the complete failure of the kidneys – placing them in need of lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Researchers identify enzyme involved in deadly brain tumors
One of the most common types of brain tumors in adults, glioblastoma multiforme, is one of the most devastating. Even with recent advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the aggressive and invasive tumors become resistant to treatment, and median survival of patients is only about 15 months. In a study published in Neuro-Oncology, researchers at Mayo Clinic identify an important association between the naturally occurring enzyme Kallikrein 6, also known as KLK6, and the malignant tumors.
Measles deaths fall by over 70% in last decade, WHO reports
The global number of measles deaths dropped by 71 percent between 2000 and 2011 largely thanks to a boost in vaccination efforts, the UN World Health Organisation said Thursday.
Obesity in young kids dropped in NYC, grew in LA (Update)
In the battle against childhood obesity, New York City appears to be doing better than Los Angeles and one reason may be that Mexican-American boys are more likely to be obese than white or black kids.
Study findings have potential to prevent, reverse disabilities in children born prematurely
Physician-scientists at Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital are challenging the way pediatric neurologists think about brain injury in the pre-term infant. In a study published online in the Jan. 16 issue of Science Translational Medicine, the OHSU Doernbecher researchers report for the first time that low blood and oxygen flow to the developing brain does not, as previously thought, cause an irreversible loss of brain cells, but rather disrupts the cells' ability to fully mature. This discovery opens up new avenues for potential therapies to promote regeneration and repair of the premature brain.
New study challenges links between day care and behavioral issues
A new study that looked at more than 75,000 children in day care in Norway found little evidence that the amount of time a child spends in child care leads to an increase in behavioral problems, according to researchers from the United States and Norway.
Buy breast pumps with caution, FDA says
(HealthDay)—Women who are breast-feeding should take precautions when deciding what type of breast pump to use, particularly if they are considering buying or renting a used or second-hand pump, according to a new report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Cases of rare but deadly encephalitis rising among kids, report finds
(HealthDay)—Although still rare, the extremely serious disease known as Eastern equine encephalitis may be affecting more people than before.
Migraine sufferers stigmatized because of their condition: study
(HealthDay)—People who suffer from frequent migraines are stigmatized in much the same way as people with epilepsy are, new research suggests.
Octaplas approved for blood-clotting disorders
(HealthDay)—Octaplas has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to augment insufficient clotting proteins that could otherwise lead to excessive bleeding or excessive clotting.
TB drug shortages put U.S. patients in peril, study finds
(HealthDay)—Shortages of key tuberculosis drugs are posing a real hazard to patients throughout the United States, a new report finds.
Post-laminectomy spine strength can be predicted
(HealthDay)—Following lumbar laminectomy, loss of strength and shear stiffness (SS) can be predicted in the human lumbar spinal segment using measurable parameters, according to a study published in the December issue of the European Spine Journal.
Fasting plasma glucose beats HbA1c for diabetes screening
(HealthDay)—For patients without diabetes undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) performs better in diabetes screening than glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), according to a study published online Dec. 13 in Diabetes Care.
Web learning improves nurses' triage skills
(HealthDay)—Web-based learning is effective at standardizing training for triage skills of registered nurses (RNs), according to a review published in the January issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Inhibitor development risk similar for factor VIII products
(HealthDay)—For children with severe hemophilia A, the risk of inhibitor development is similar with plasma-derived and recombinant factor VIII products and is not affected by von Willebrand factor content or by switching among products, according to research published in the Jan. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Case study IDs B. miyamotoi as cause of meningoencephalitis
(HealthDay)—The spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi, may be an underrecognized cause of meningoencephalitis, according to a case study published in the Jan. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Wild animals may contribute to the resurgence of African sleeping sickness
Wild animals may be a key contributor to the continuing spread of African sleeping sickness, new research published in PLOS Computational Biology shows. The West African form of the disease, also known as Gambiense Human African trypanosomiasis, affects around 10,000 people in Africa every year and is deadly if left untreated.
Understanding personality for decision-making, longevity, and mental health
Extraversion does not just explain differences between how people act at social events. How extraverted you are may influence how the brain makes choices – specifically whether you choose an immediate or delayed reward, according to a new study. The work is part of a growing body of research on the vital role of understanding personality in society.
In minutes a day, low-income families can improve their kids' health
When low-income families devote three to four extra minutes to regular family mealtimes, their children's ability to achieve and maintain a normal weight improves measurably, according to a new University of Illinois study.
Diabetic fruit flies support buzz about dietary sugar dangers
Regularly consuming sucrose—the type of sugar found in many sweetened beverages—increases a person's risk of heart disease. In a study published January 10 in the journal PLOS Genetics, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and Mount Sinai School of Medicine used fruit flies, a well-established model for human health and disease, to determine exactly how sucrose affects heart function. In addition, the researchers discovered that blocking this cellular mechanism prevents sucrose-related heart problems.
Drug targets hard-to-reach leukemia stem cells responsible for relapses
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that hard-to-reach, drug-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSCs) that overexpress multiple pro-survival protein forms are sensitive – and thus vulnerable – to a novel cancer stem cell-targeting drug currently under development.
Researchers discover how the flu virus tells time
Scientists have discovered that that the flu virus can essentially tell time, thereby giving scientists the ability to reset the virus' clock and combat it in more effective ways. According to researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the flu knows how much time it has to multiply, infect other cells, and spread to another human being. If it leaves a cell too soon, the virus is too weak. If it leaves too late, the immune system has time to kill the virus.
Scientists use luminescent mice to track cancer and aging in real-time
In a study published in the January 18 issue of Cell, researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a new method to visualize aging and tumor growth in mice using a gene closely linked to these processes.
Fighting sleep: Discovery may lead to new treatments for deadly sleeping sickness
While its common name may make it sound almost whimsical, sleeping sickness, or African trypanosomiasis, is in reality a potentially fatal parasitic infection that has ravaged populations in sub-Saharan Africa for decades, and it continues to infect thousands of people every year.
Is athleticism linked to brain size? Research on mice shows that exercise-loving mice have larger midbrains
Is athleticism linked to brain size? To find out, researchers at the University of California, Riverside performed laboratory experiments on house mice and found that mice that have been bred for dozens of generations to be more exercise-loving have larger midbrains than those that have not been selectively bred this way.
People with low risk for cocaine dependence have differently shaped brain to those with addiction
People who take cocaine over many years without becoming addicted have a brain structure which is significantly different from those individuals who developed cocaine-dependence, researchers have discovered. New research from the University of Cambridge has found that recreational drug users who have not developed a dependence have an abnormally large frontal lobe, the section of the brain implicated in self-control. Their research was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
GI tract bacteria may protect against autoimmune disease
Early life exposure to normal bacteria of the GI tract (gut microbes) protects against autoimmune disease in mice, according to research published on-line in the January 17 edition of Science. The study may also have uncovered reasons why females are at greater risk of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus compared to males.
Want to ace that interview? Make sure your strongest competition is interviewed on a different day
Whether an applicant receives a high or low score may have more to do with who else was interviewed that day than the overall strength of the applicant pool, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Researchers expose new vulnerabilities in the security of personal genetic information
Using only a computer, an Internet connection, and publicly accessible online resources, a team of Whitehead Institute researchers has been able to identify nearly 50 individuals who had submitted personal genetic material as participants in genomic studies.
Mouse research links adolescent stress and severe adult mental illness
Working with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have established a link between elevated levels of a stress hormone in adolescence—a critical time for brain development—and genetic changes that, in young adulthood, cause severe mental illness in those predisposed to it.
Biology news
Camera on Maine island streams gray seal video
A camera that records seal-pupping activities on a remote Maine island has begun live streaming in what is believed to be the first live camera installed on an East Coast seal-pupping site.
Brian Wynne: GMOs acceptance hinges on proven benefits
Acceptance of genetically modified organisms is a complex issue linked to public perception of their potential benefits. Brian Wynne, professor of science studies at Lancaster University, tells youris.com about his long time interest in public risk perceptions and how this relates to public attitudes to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). He also has a particular interest in public understanding of science, with a focus on the relations between expert and lay knowledge and policy decision making.
'Shell-shocked' crabs can feel pain
The latest study by Professor Bob Elwood and Barry Magee from Queen's School of Biological Sciences looked at the reactions of common shore crabs to small electrical shocks, and their behaviour after experiencing those shocks. The research has been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
New study sheds light on the origin of the European Jewish population
Despite being one of the most genetically analysed groups, the origin of European Jews has remained obscure. However, a new study published online today in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution by Dr Eran Elhaik, a geneticist at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, argues that the European Jewish genome is a mosaic of Caucasus, European, and Semitic ancestries, setting to rest previous contradictory reports of Jewish ancestry. Elhaik's findings strongly support the Khazarian Hypothesis, as opposed to the Rhineland Hypothesis, of European Jewish origins. This could have a major impact on the ways in which scientists study genetic disorders within the population.
Bacteria to spot pollution
Scientists are recruiting bacteria to spot pollutants spilling into our rivers and lakes.
Kenya study: Big jump in elephant poaching deaths
A 14-year study of a nearly 1,000 elephants in Kenya shows an alarming death rate among older males—those with large, valuable tusks—and an acceleration in poaching deaths, the group Save The Elephants said Thursday.
Rolling dice reveals level of illegal badger killing
A little-used method for estimating how many people are involved in sensitive or illegal activities can provide critical information to environmental policy makers involved in the proposed badger culling scheme in England, according to new research.
Bacteria's hidden skill could pave way for stem cell treatments
A discovery about the way in which bugs spread throughout the body could help to develop stem cell treatments.
A nano-gear in a nano-motor inside you
Diverse cellular processes require many tiny force-generating motor proteins to work in a team. Paradoxically, nature often chooses the weak and inefficient dynein motor to generate large persistent forces inside cells. Here we show that a reason for this choice may be dynein's special ability to speed up or slow down depending on the load it senses.
Learning the alphabet of gene control
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have made a large step towards the understanding of how human genes are regulated. In a new study, published in the journal Cell, they identified the DNA sequences that bind to over four hundred proteins that control expression of genes. This knowledge is required for understanding of how differences in genomes of individuals affect their risk to develop disease.
Study may explain why wolves are forever wild, but dogs can be tamed
Dogs and wolves are genetically so similar, it's been difficult for biologists to understand why wolves remain fiercely wild, while dogs can gladly become "man's best friend." Now, doctoral research by evolutionary biologist Kathryn Lord at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests the different behaviors are related to the animals' earliest sensory experiences and the critical period of socialization. Details appear in the current issue of Ethology.
Old crabs wave longer, not harder, in order to attract young females
Older male fiddler crabs are more likely to wave at females, and spend more time waving, than younger males, according to new research published today in Biology Letters.
Link between shape of crocodile's lower jaw and diet examined
(Phys.org)—Researchers have shown how the shape of a crocodile's snout could determine its ability to feast on certain types of prey, from large mammals to small fish.
Mating swarm study offers new way to view flocks, schools, crowds
The adulthood of a midge fly is decidedly brief—about three days. But a new study of its mating swarm may yield lasting benefits for analyses of bird flocks, fish schools, human crowds and other forms of collective animal motion.
Researchers find gender bias in sexual cannibalism papers
(Phys.org)—A trio of biologists, Liam Dougherty, Emily Burdfield-Steel and David Shuker from the U.K.'s University of St Andrews, School of Biology, have found that when researchers write papers that are published in scientific journals, they tend to use gender biased terminology to describe acts of sexual cannibalism. In their paper, published in the journal Animal Behavior, they suggest that gender stereotypical word choices can cloud study results and lead to inaccurate results.
Genetic admixture in southern Africa: Ancient Khoisan lineages survive in contemporary Bantu groups
An international team of researchers from the MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the CNRS in Lyon have investigated the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA of 500 individuals from southern Africa speaking different Khoisan and Bantu languages. Their results demonstrate that Khoisan foragers were genetically more diverse than previously known. Divergent mtDNA lineages from indigenous Khoisan groups were incorporated into the genepool of the immigrating Bantu-speaking agriculturalists through admixture, and have thus survived until the present day, although the Khoisan-speaking source populations themselves have become extinct.
How cells know when it's time to eat themselves
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a molecular mechanism regulating autophagy, a fundamental stress response used by cells to help ensure their survival in adverse conditions.
'Jet-lagged' fruit flies provide clues for body clock synchronisation
New research led by a team at Queen Mary, University of London, has found evidence of how daily changes in temperature affect the fruit fly's internal clock.
The neurobiological consequence of predating or grazing
Researchers in the group of Ralf Sommer at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tuebingen, Germany, have for the first time been able to identify neuronal correlates of behaviour by comparing maps of synaptic connectivity, or "connectomes", between two species with different behaviour. They compared the pharyngeal nervous systems of two nematodes, the bacterial feeding Caenorhabditis elegans and the predator/omnivore Pristionchus pacificus and found large differences in how the neurons are "wired" together.
Quail really know their camouflage
When it comes to camouflage, ground-nesting Japanese quail are experts. That's based on new evidence published online on January 17 in Current Biology that mother quail "know" the patterning of their own eggs and choose laying spots to hide them best.
A global approach to monitoring biodiversity loss
In contrast to climate change, there is no coordinated global system in place for measuring and reporting on biodiversity change or loss. An international team of biologists is now addressing this gap.
Molecular twist helps regulate the cellular message to make histone proteins
Histone proteins are the proteins that package DNA into chromosomes. Every time the cell replicates its DNA it must make large amounts of newly made histones to organize DNA within the nucleus.
Global plant diversity still hinges on local battles against invasives, study suggests
(Phys.org)—In Missouri forests, dense thickets of invasive honeysuckle decrease the light available to other plants, hog the attention of pollinators, and offer nutrient-stingy berries to migrating birds. They even release toxins to make it less likely native plants will germinate near them.
Researchers discover how tree frogs use their bodies to cling to overhanging surfaces (w/ video)
(Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from the U.K., China, and Germany has discovered that tree frogs adjust their posture to reduce the angle of their toe pads to avoid falling from an overhanging surface. They have published the results of their study in Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
New key to organism complexity identified: Critical transcription factor co-exists in two distinct states
Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley researchers have discovered that the transcription factor protein TFIID coexists in two distinct structural states, a key to genetic expression and TFIID's ability to initiate the process by which DNA is copied into RNA.
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