Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 23, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Storing data in individual molecules: Molecular memory near room temperature- Controlled crumpling of graphene forms artificial muscle
- Researchers make DNA storage a reality
- Open source 3-D printed robot extends hand to DIY fans (w/ video)
- Never mind the noise: Quantum entanglement allows channel information rate to exceed Shannon zero-error capacity
- How salt stops plant growth
- Retrovirus in the human genome is active in pluripotent stem cells
- Nanoparticles digging the world's smallest tunnels
- Researchers create self-healing, stretchable wires using liquid metal
- Deep ice cores show past Greenland warm period may be 'road map' for continued warming of planet
- Pavlov's rats? Rodents trained to link rewards to visual cues
- New method of producing nanomagnets for information technology
- Blocking digestive enzymes may reverse shock, stop multiorgan failure
- Space instrument adds big piece to the solar corona puzzle
- Owl monkeys who 'stay true' reproduce more than those with multiple partners, Penn study finds
Space & Earth news
Japan launching spy satellite to monitor North Korea
Japan is to launch a new spy satellite on Sunday to strengthen its monitoring capabilities amid concern that North Korea may carry out more missile and nuclear tests.
New study shows fortnightly collection can increase recycling
A new study from the University of Southampton, which investigated the controversial alternate weekly collection (AWC) system for residual waste and recyclables, has found that a switch from weekly to fortnightly collection increased recycling rates by up to 9 per cent and reduced collection costs.
NASA selects experimental commercial suborbital flight payloads
NASA's Flight Opportunities Program has selected 13 cutting-edge space technology payloads for flights on commercial reusable launch vehicles, balloons and a commercial parabolic aircraft in 2013 and 2014. The flights will allow participants to demonstrate their technologies to the edge of space and back, before committing them to the harsh and unforgiving conditions of spaceflight.
Phoenix rising: New video shows advances in satellite repurposing program
Inserting new capabilities into a satellite is no simple task. Doing so as that satellite hurdles through space 22,000 miles above the Earth is a bit more challenging still. DARPA's Phoenix program, which hopes to repurpose retired satellites while they remain in orbit, seeks to fundamentally change how space systems could be designed here on earth and then sustained once in space.
Scientists predict Santiago de Chile will get drier and warmer
Today, 10% or more of the population in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile is affected by extreme heat or floods. And, these threats will likely increase due to the continuous expansion of the Chilean capital, the consequent changes in land use, and the influences of climate change. Because of that, the international research project ClimateAdaptationSantiago (CAS) has developed, during the last three years, an Adaptation Plan for climate change for the metropolitan region, and has handed it over to the Regional Government and the Regional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment. This Plan was developed by German and Chilean scientists working at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT), and the Universidad de Chile and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Water restored in Chile capital after day-long cut
Water has been restored in Chile's capital Santiago after a 24-hour pollution-related outage that affected more than two million people, the water utility said Wednesday.
University of Arizona grad student sends research into space and back; Earns top professional honors
Not many students can say they had to wait for their research to come back from space before they could collect their doctorate degrees. And not many can say that along the way they earned the top award in their professional community. Meet UA's Brian Fox.
Studies show biosolids can boost soil phosphorus levels for years
Treated wastewater solids called biosolids are sometimes used by farmers to boost soil nutrient levels. Now research by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist provides new information about how long those plant nutrients remain after biosolids have been applied to the soil.
Climate change could cause massive losses in Pyrenees ski resorts
An increase in temperatures due to climate change could mean that the Andorran ski resorts have a shorter season in the future, especially in lower areas. A study undertaken by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the Andorran Sustainability Observatory has analysed the specific case of the Pyrenean country and predicted that financial losses could come close to 50 million euros.
Sickening fog settles over Salt Lake City area
A group of Utah doctors is declaring a health emergency over the Salt Lake City area's lingering air pollution problem.
ASU graduate student to build infrared camera for nanosatellite
Michael Veto, a third-year graduate student in the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University (ASU), has been chosen to build an infrared and visible light camera system that will launch on a space satellite. Veto, who earned his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at ASU, is a geology Ph.D. student of Philip Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences in ASU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
NASA sees massive rainfall totals from Tropical Storm Oswald
Tropical Storm Oswald's heavy rains have caused flooding in Queensland, Australia and NASA's TRMM satellite measured almost two feet of rain fell in certain areas.
Hubble focuses on 'the great attractor'
(Phys.org)—A busy patch of space has been captured in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Scattered with many nearby stars, the field also has numerous galaxies in the background.
Super-TIGER shatters scientific balloon record in Antarctica
(Phys.org)—Before he left for Antarctica in November, W. Robert Binns, principal investigator for Super-TIGER, said that he would be deliriously happy if the balloon carrying the cosmic-ray detector stayed up 30 days.
NASA's veteran Mars rover ready to start 10th year
(Phys.org)— NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, one of the twin rovers that bounced to airbag-cushioned safe landings on Mars nine years ago this week, is currently examining veined rocks on the rim of an ancient crater.
Residents near Chinese e-waste site face greater cancer risk
Residents living near an e-waste recycling site in China face elevated risks of lung cancer, according to a recent study co-authored by Oregon State University researchers.
Scientists underestimated potential for Tohoku quake. Now what?
The massive Tohoku, Japan, earthquake in 2011 and Sumatra-Andaman superquake in 2004 stunned scientists because neither region was thought to be capable of producing a megathrust earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 8.4.
NASA catches the very brief life of Tropical Cyclone Peta
Infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite has shown that soon after a low pressure system in northwestern West Australia became Tropical Storm Peta, it made landfall and started to fall apart.
Why NASA observes the Sun in different wavelengths
(Phys.org)—Taking a photo of the sun with a standard camera will provide a familiar image: a yellowish, featureless disk, perhaps colored a bit more red when near the horizon since the light must travel through more of Earth's atmosphere and consequently loses blue wavelengths before getting to the camera's lens. The sun, in fact, emits light in all colors, but since yellow is the brightest wavelength from the sun, that is the color we see with our naked eye—which the camera represents, since one should never look directly at the sun. When all the visible colors are summed together, scientists call this "white light."
Atacama Pathfinder Experiment: Setting the dark on fire
(Phys.org)—A new image from the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope in Chile shows a beautiful view of clouds of cosmic dust in the region of Orion. While these dense interstellar clouds seem dark and obscured in visible-light observations, APEX's LABOCA camera can detect the heat glow of the dust and reveal the hiding places where new stars are being formed. But one of these dark clouds is not what it seems.
CSIRO telescope takes temperature of Universe
(Phys.org)—Using the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array near Narrabri, NSW, an international team from Sweden, France, Germany and Australia has measured how warm the Universe was when it was half its current age.
Prediction of Asian summer monsoon rainfall and tropical storm activity close at hand
The amount of rainfall and number of tropical storms during the summer monsoon season greatly impact the agriculture, economy, and people in Asia. Though meteorologists and climate scientists have worked for years to develop helpful prediction systems, seasonal predictions of these two types of weather phenomena are still poor. Scientists working at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, have now made a promising breakthrough for predicting in spring both the summer monsoon rainfall over East Asia and the number of tropical storms affecting East Asian coastal areas.
Deep ice cores show past Greenland warm period may be 'road map' for continued warming of planet
A new study by an international team of scientists analyzing ice cores from the Greenland ice sheet going back in time more than 100,000 years indicates the last interglacial period may be a good analog for where the planet is headed in terms of increasing greenhouse gases and rising temperatures.
Space instrument adds big piece to the solar corona puzzle
(Phys.org)—The Sun's visible surface, or photosphere, is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. As you move outward from it, you pass through a tenuous layer of hot, ionized gas or plasma called the corona. The corona is familiar to anyone who has seen a total solar eclipse, since it glimmers ghostly white around the hidden Sun.
Technology news
Business, government can span tech divide for people with disabilities
Forging public and private partnerships that encourage broadband access for people with disabilities may help bridge a technological divide that hinders them from reaching their potential, according to an international team of researchers.
Ultra-compact 3-axis accelerometer with embedded microcontroller: Advanced motion-recognition capabilities, sensor hub
STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and the world's top manufacturer of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), today announced details of a miniature smart sensor that combines a 3-axis accelerometer with an embedded microcontroller together in an ultra-compact 3x3x1mm LGA package for advanced custom motion-recognition capabilities.
New survey unveils worldwide innovation gap: Only five out of ten people satisfied with innovations currently available
Royal Philips Electronics released its "Meaningful Innovation Index " today, during its participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Meaningful Innovation Index is a 5000-person, multi-country survey looking at people's needs, attitudes and expectations regarding innovation. Based on responses from five key markets, the survey shows that even with the recent advances in technology, there is huge appetite for innovations that will make a real difference in people's everyday lives.
Standardised measurement methods enable transition of IPL treatments from specialist clinics to consumers' homes
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is used to treat unwanted body and facial hair. The light emitted from IPL devices reduces hair growth by damaging individual hairs and therefore preventing their re-growth.
Reacting to meltdown
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has helped CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission of France) measure high temperature reference standards in one of their research furnaces, which are used in studies to help minimise the risk of nuclear accidents through better plant design and the improved understanding of stages involved in severe reactor accidents.
New program looks at how information is connected to stay ahead of the cyber threat
The Department of Defense (DoD) maintains one of the largest computer networks in the world. The network follows DoD personnel across the globe collecting, transferring and processing information in forms as diverse as data warehouses, in-the-field mobile devices and mission computers on board F-18's. This network is also constantly changing in size and shape as new missions are undertaken and new technology is deployed. In military terms, that means the cyber terrain of the DoD network is constantly shifting.
Yahoo! buys scrapbook website Snip.it
Yahoo! confirmed Tuesday that it bought Snip.it, a young San Francisco startup that lets people create scrapbooks with pictures, articles, videos and other content found online.
SAP sees 'double-digit' growth in 2013 after record 2012 (Update)
German software giant SAP said on Wednesday it was projecting rising sales and earnings this year thanks to new business areas such as cloud computing.
Fujitsu develops easy way to transfer files with video of pc screens shot by mobile devices
Fujitsu Laboratories announced the development of technology that makes it possible to transfer files between a PC and a mobile device by simply using a mobile phone or tablet to capture a video of a file displayed on a PC screen. The new technology is based on Fujitsu Laboratories' previously developed intermediary image communications technology, which enables communication between a PC screen and a mobile device by superimposing invisible communications data into images that can be captured by a mobile phone camera.
Ice detector warns drivers in advance: Technology makes driving on black ice safer
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed an automatic slipperiness detection system for cars. The system helps drivers to avoid personal injuries and damage to vehicles in slippery road conditions. Thanks to the system, vehicles are warned in advance of a road's actual slipperiness. If the road becomes slippery, other vehicles arriving in the area will also be warned immediately.
US: 3 charged over 'Gozi' global computer virus (Update)
Three men from Russia, Romania and Latvia were in custody Wednesday in the U.S. on charges that they spread a computer virus to more than a million computers worldwide, including almost 200 of the U.S. space agency, siphoning off passwords and online banking information that allowed hackers to steal tens of millions of dollars.
UK politician slams 'lie detector' fraud tests
A British politician has resigned over a county council's decision to use voice analysis technology that some liken to lie detector tests on people claiming a tax discount.
Steady rise in government data requests, Google reports (Update)
Google on Wednesday reported a "steady increase" in government requests to hand over data from Internet users in the second half of 2012.
Knobbly knees in competition with fingerprints
Forget digital fingerprints, iris recognition and voice identification, the next big thing in biometrics could be your knobbly knees. Just as a fingerprints and other body parts are unique to us as individuals and so can be used to prove who we are, so too are our kneecaps. Computer scientist Lior Shamir of Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan, has now demonstrated how a knee scan could be used to single us out.
Tablet sales forecast leaps again
Global tablet computer sales are expected to hit 145 million this year, a research firm said Wednesday in the latest upgrade of the sizzling segment.
Apple pressed Palm on 'no poaching' pact: documents
Late Apple chief Steve Jobs threatened to slap Palm with patent lawsuits to prevent the tech rival from hiring away its talent, according to court documents available on Wednesday.
United Technologies 4Q profit down but sales grow
United Technologies Corp. posted a 26 percent drop in fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations on Wednesday due to one-time items including restructuring costs and completing its $18.4 billion Goodrich acquisition.
Review: Mega sharing service lacks versatility
New Zealand entrepreneur Kim Dotcom—still wanted by U.S. authorities on allegations of copyright infringement—launched a new online service this week for storing and sharing files.
Netflix's stock soars on big 4Q subscriber gains (Update)
Netflix's Internet video service warded off stiffer completion to add 2 million U.S. subscribers during the final three months of the year to produce an unexpected profit for the company.
Apple's profit rocket hits air pocket
Apple's profit surge halted in the latest quarter, as a flood of new products like the iPhone 5 meant high start-up costs for new production lines.
What holds energy tech back? The infernal battery
As 21st century technology strains to become ever faster, cleaner and cheaper, an invention from more than 200 years ago keeps holding it back. It's why electric cars aren't clogging the roads and why Boeing's new ultra-efficient 787 Dreamliners aren't flying high.
Dutch architect to build house with 3D printer
A Dutch architect has designed a house "with no beginning or end" to be built using the world's largest 3D printer, harnessing technology that may one day be used to print houses on the moon.
Scientists analyse global Twitter gossip around Higgs boson discovery
(Phys.org)—A model of the spread of gossip on Twitter prior to the Higgs boson discovery announcement has been developed by University of Birmingham computer scientists, according to research published on the online repository, arXiv.
Global Internet hit 2012 speed bump, study finds
Global Internet connection speeds around the world slowed in late 2012, according to a survey released Wednesday that suggested a temporary stall in broadband gains.
Motion control keeps electric car's four wheels—and four motors—on the road
It weighs half as much as a sports car, and turns on a dime—so its no surprise that the electric car being developed at Ohio State University needs an exceptional traction and motion control system to keep it on the road.
Medicine & Health news
Increase in proportion of livers not used for transplantation
(HealthDay)—The proportion of livers not used for transplantation is increasing, with the primary causes being donation after cardiac death (DCD), older donor age, greater body mass index (BMI), and increasing diabetes prevalence, according to research published in the January issue of Liver Transplantation.
Novartis Q4 net profit rebounds to $2.1 billion
(AP)—Swiss drug maker Novartis AG reported a jump in fourth-quarter net profit to $2.08 billion on Wednesday, citing the lack of a $900-million one-time charge it took in the same period the previous year.
Beverage attorney: NYC drinks limit bad for public (Update)
(AP)—New York City's limit on the size of sugary drinks is an "extraordinary infringement" on consumer choice, a lawyer for the American Beverage Association and other critics said in court Wednesday. Opponents also are raising questions of racial fairness as the novel restriction faces a court test.
New report evaluates palliative and hospice care in Ireland
Investment in end-of-life care has made Ireland a world leader in advancing palliative and hospice care but regional inequities persist, according to an evaluation report just published by the Dean of Health Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, Professor Mary McCarron and colleagues at the School of Nursing and Midwifery. The Trinity report examined The Atlantic Philanthropies funded 'End of Life programme' – which aimed to improve the care and quality of life for patients dying from an incurable illness and to ensure they and their families received excellent end-of-life care and services.
Food ads targeting parents promise taste, convenience, but deliver bad nutrition, study finds
With childhood obesity recognized as a growing national problem, a University at Albany School of Public Health study finds that a majority of food advertisements in magazines targeting parents emphasize products of poor nutritional quality that may contribute to unhealthy weight gain.
Study calls for reform of laws on the use and destruction of IVF embryos
UTS Law researchers this week released a report that shows a more flexible and responsive approach is required to support IVF participants to make their own decisions about frozen embryos.
Men at 'high' skeletal risk prior to prostate cancer hormone therapy likely to have more fractures after treatment
In what is believed to be the first study to describe the impact on men with a 'high' risk of bone fracture who are receiving long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer, new research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows this population to have a higher fracture incidence following treatment completion. The findings, published in the latest online version of BJU International, also show that men who experienced a fracture had a 1.38-fold higher mortality risk than those who did not. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a Center of Excellence of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS).
Researchers design new imaging technique for identifying age, sex of a corpse
Researchers at the University of Granada, Spain, have designed a new computing system that determines the age and sex of a corpse with a reliability of 95%. This system is based on free software called Image and a free DICOM displayer called K-Pacs. This state-of-the-art system is very different from the traditional macroscopy systems used to evaluate the osteoarticular features of a corpse, and it is much faster and user-friendly.
Can proper nutrition regulate mood swings?
In a new study, preliminary data yields conflicting but mainly positive evidence for the use of n–3 fatty acids and chromium in the treatment of bipolar depression. Limited evidence found that inositol may be helpful for bipolar depression, but larger sample sizes are needed. Preliminary randomized, controlled trials suggest that choline, magnesium, folate and tryptophan may be beneficial for reducing symptoms of mania.
New staging systems may improve assessment and treatment of mental disorders
A paper recently published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics introduces new systems of classification of mental disorders that may supplement diagnostic formulations. Characterizing each stage of an illness demarcates major prognostic and therapeutic differences among patients who otherwise seem to be deceptively similar since they share the same psychiatric diagnosis.
New additions increase number of records in USP food fraud database by 60 percent
Nearly 800 new records of "food fraud" added to the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention's (USP) Food Fraud Database present new information about foods that are vulnerable to fraudulent manipulation in today's food supply. The first iteration of the database compiled 1,300 records of food fraud published between 1980 and 2010. The update increases the total number of records by 60 percent—and consists mostly of newer information published in 2011 and 2012 in both scholarly journals and general media.
First special edition updating progress on efforts to map human proteins
Almost 10 years after completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, scientists are making progress toward the next major goal in applying the genetic information in that "Book of Life" in medicine, leaders of an international research effort are reporting. A package of the latest updates on the goals, organization and achievements of the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) appear in a special issue of ACS' Journal of Proteome Research.
NIH clinical trial begins for treatment of rare, fatal neurological disorder
A clinical trial to evaluate a drug candidate called cyclodextrin as a possible treatment for Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC), a rare and fatal genetic disease, will start today, researchers announced. Scientists from the NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) will conduct the clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center. Reaching this trial stage required collaboration among government, industry, patient advocacy groups and academic researchers.
Microdosing: Updating its role in developing new medicines
One of yesterday's most promising new tools for speeding the development of new medicines—"microdosing"—has found niches in that process today, and they include uses unanticipated a decade ago. That topic, an update on microdosing, is the cover story in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Pakistan records 103 child measles deaths in 19 days: WHO
More than 100 children have died of measles in Pakistan this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday, calling it "an alarming outbreak."
Beverage attorney: NYC drinks limit bad for public
(AP)—An industry lawyer calls New York City's limit on the size of sugary drinks an "extraordinary infringement" on consumer choice.
Free clinics reduce emergency department visits
People who receive primary care from free clinics are less likely to use the emergency department for minor issues, according to a team of medical researchers.
Polycystic ovary syndrome: Panel recommends changing name of common disorder in women
An independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health has concluded that the name of a common hormone disorder in women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), causes confusion and is a barrier to research progress and effective patient care. The current name focuses on a criterion—ovarian cysts—which is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose the syndrome. In a report released today, the panel recommended assigning a new name that more accurately reflects the disorder.
Treatment targeting PI3K may delay resistance to anti-HER2 therapy in breast cancer patients
Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer being treated with anti-HER2 therapy may be able to prevent or delay resistance to the therapy with the addition of a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor to their treatment regimens.
Ohio State implants first brain pacemaker to treat Alzheimer's
During a five-hour surgery last October at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Kathy Sanford became the first Alzheimer's patient in the United States to have a pacemaker implanted in her brain.
Immigration fallout from saying no to 'Obamacare'
(AP)—There's another quirk in the federal health care law.
After shootings, states rethink mental health cuts
(AP)—Dozens of states have slashed spending on mental health care over the last four years, either because of the recession's toll on revenue or a new zeal to shrink government.
U.S. vets with Gulf War Syndrome need individualized treatment, report says
(HealthDay)—A one-size-fits-all approach to treating U.S. veterans with Gulf War Syndrome does not work, and therapy needs to be tailored to meet each patient's needs, according to a new Institute of Medicine report released Wednesday.
Implementation of smoke-free legislation reduces the number of acute myocardial infarctions by 11 percent
Researchers participating in the REGICOR Study (Girona Heart Registry), with the participation of IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) from Barcelona, the Josep Trueta Hospital, the Blanes Hospital and IDIAP Jordi Gol from Girona (Primary Healthcare Research Institute) have carried out a study to assess the impact of the partial smoke-free legislation passed in 2006 on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the province of Girona and observed it has dropped 11%. This decrease has been noticed especially among women, population aged between 65 and 74, and among non-smokers.
Amgen 4Q profit drops 16 pct. on higher spending
Drugmaker Amgen Inc. on Wednesday posted a 16 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit, as higher costs for production, marketing, research and other items offset higher sales for many of its biologic medicines. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations.
When will we all live to 100? 40 percent of girls born now expected to reach this milestone
An article from John Appleby, Chief Economist at the Kings Fund, published on BMJ website today brings attention to the rising amount of those expected to live to 100 and asks where it will end.
Are antidepressants overprescribed?
Antidepressant prescriptions in the UK have increased by 9.6% in 2011, to 46 million prescriptions. Does this reflect overmedicalisation or appropriate treatment? Two experts debate the issue on BMJ website today.
Study reveals long-term effects on child IQ of epilepsy drug valproate during pregnancy
Research published today in the Lancet Neurology shows that taking the antiepileptic drug valproate during pregnancy affects the IQ of children up to the age of six.
New study reveals sex to be pleasurable with or without use of a condom or lubricant
A new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that within a nationally representative study of American men and women, sex was rated as highly arousing and pleasurable whether or not condoms and/or lubricants were used. Condoms and lubricants are commonly used by both women and men when they have sex.
Can changes in nutrition labeling help consumers make better food choices?
The Nutrition Facts label was introduced 20 years ago and provides consumers with important information, including: the serving size, the number of servings in the package, the number of calories per serving, and the amount of nutrients for each serving of a packaged food. However, research has shown that consumers often miscalculate the number of calories and the nutritional content of products that have two or more servings per container but are usually consumed in a single eating occasion.
Helping healthy cells could be key to fighting leukemia, research suggests
Researchers at Imperial College London have shown that keeping healthy blood cells alive could be a more important tool in the fight against leukaemia than keeping cancerous cells at bay.
Eczema in infants linked to gut bacteria
Children with eczema have a more diverse set of bacteria in their guts than non affected children, finds a new study in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Microbiology. The types of bacteria present were also more typical of adult gut microbes than for toddlers without eczema.
Oxygen-free energy designed to fuel brain development spurs on growth of cancer
The metabolic process which fuels the growth of many cancers has its origins in normal brain growth finds a new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Cancer & Metabolism. Using knock-out mice the study shows that interfering with Hexokinase-2 (Hk2), an enzyme integral to glucose metabolism, reduces the aggressiveness of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, and allows long term survival of mice.
Postpartum hemorrhage during a first pregnancy does not affect future fertility
First pregnancies complicated by postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) have no detrimental effect on future fertility but women who have caesarean sections at the time of PPH are less likely to conceive again, finds a new study published today in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
One path to fitter kids: More P.E. at school
(HealthDay News) —Remember the physical education component of children's education? Many schools have cut back on P.E. classes, but a new study finds that might be a mistake.
Perceived weight gain accurate for new contraceptive users
(HealthDay)—For new contraceptive users, perceived weight gain, reported by about one-third of users, often represents actual weight gain, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Early predictors of occupational back reinjury identified
(HealthDay)—About 25 percent of workers with back injury report reinjury after returning to work, with risk factors including male sex, previous similar injury, and having health insurance, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
Simple intervention ups pneumococcal vaccination rate
(HealthDay)—Use of a simple point-of-care paper reminder form is associated with an increase in the percentage of immunosuppressed rheumatology patients who remain up-to-date with their pneumococcal vaccinations, according to research published in the January issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Study shows smoking cessation more successful for cancer patients who quit before surgery
Lung and head and neck cancer patients who smoked before surgery are more likely to relapse than those who had quit before surgery, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers say. They found that smoking-relapse prevention interventions are needed immediately after surgery to help prevent relapse.
Health issues linked to nearby liquor outlets
(Medical Xpress)—People with more liquor outlets in their neighbourhood have higher levels of harmful drinking and worse mental health than those who live further away from such outlets, according to new research at The University of Western Australia.
Study finds smokefree playground policies can make a difference
British and New Zealand playgrounds have a significantly smaller proportion of people smoking than other types of public outdoor areas, according to latest research from the University of Otago, Wellington.
Docetaxel significantly increases survival for incurable gastric cancers
Survival for advanced stomach and oesophagael cancer patients increases by 40 per cent when treated with the chemotherapy drug, Docetaxel – providing evidence to prescribe it as a second-line treatment, according to the results of a Cancer Research UK trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal cancers symposium today (Wednesday).
Prostate cancer lifetime risk trebles in 25 years
Boys born in 2015 will have almost three times the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lives than those born in 1990.
Master switch discovery could provide road map for treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists trying to create drugs to treat chronic inflammation in diseases like arthritis now have a new culprit known MMP2. New University of British Columbia research shows that this enzyme works as a master switch to activate inflammatory diseases.
Domestic abuse prevention programmes able to have a positive impact on children's attitudes toward violence
A team of researchers has shown that domestic abuse prevention programmes are able to have a positive impact on secondary school children's attitudes to violence.
Fast food linked to asthma and eczema
(Medical Xpress)—A large international study led from The University of Auckland has shown that an increased risk of severe asthma, eczema and rhinitis in adolescents and children is associated with eating fast food three or more times a week.
Commuting to work by car linked to weight gain
Using active transport to commute to work can reduce the weight gain common to most adults. According to an Australian study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, urban residents who drive to work gain more weight than those who do not commute by car.
Type 1 diabetes in urban children skyrockets
(Medical Xpress)—Over the past two decades, the incidence of type 1 diabetes in very young children under age 5 has increased by 70 percent in the city of Philadelphia, according to research from a University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing researcher who currently maintains the only US registry of diabetes in children that has collected data continuously since 1985.
Astrocytes identified as target for new depression therapy
Neuroscience researchers from Tufts University have found that our star-shaped brain cells, called astrocytes, may be responsible for the rapid improvement in mood in depressed patients after acute sleep deprivation. This in vivo study, published in the current issue of Translational Psychiatry, identified how astrocytes regulate a neurotransmitter involved in sleep. The researchers report that the findings may help lead to the development of effective and fast-acting drugs to treat depression, particularly in psychiatric emergencies.
Candidate dengue vaccine shows promise in early-stage trial
A candidate dengue vaccine developed by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been found to be safe and to stimulate a strong immune response in most vaccine recipients, according to results from an early-stage clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH. The trial results were published online on January 17 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Parents numb to misuse of narcotic pain meds by youth, new poll shows
Despite data on rising rates of abuse and overdoses of narcotic pain medicines across all age groups, in a new poll from the University of Michigan, most parents said they are not very concerned about misuse of these medicines by children and teens. .
Experts believe plain packaging of tobacco products would cut smoking
Experts believe that plain packaging of tobacco products would cut smoking, a new study has found. Tobacco control experts from around the world estimate that two years after the introduction of generic packaging the number of adult smokers would be reduced by one percentage point (in the UK - from 21 to 20%*), and the percentage of children trying smoking would be reduced by three percentage points (in the UK - from 27 to 24%*). The Cambridge research was published today in the journal BMC Public Health.
Study: Transparent pricing doesn't curb doctors' use of high-cost hospital imaging tests
In a study designed to see if doctors who are told the exact price of expensive medical tests like MRIs in advance would order fewer of them, Johns Hopkins researchers got their answer: No.
Women must do more to reap same positive health outcomes as men, research suggests
More than one-third of Americans are obese, and these individuals often experience accompanying health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. In response to the so-called "obesity epidemic," many medical professionals have suggested ways to improve the health outcomes of obese individuals through diet and exercise. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri suggests certain exercises that benefit obese men may not have the same positive results for obese women. These findings could help health providers and researchers develop targeted exercise interventions for obese women.
Study shows high blood calcium levels may indicate ovarian cancer
A new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is the first to report that high blood calcium levels might predict of ovarian cancer, the most fatal of the gynecologic cancers.
Personal epigenetic 'signatures' found consistent in prostate cancer patients' metastases
In a genome-wide analysis of 13 metastatic prostate cancers, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found consistent epigenetic "signatures" across all metastatic tumors in each patient. The discovery of the stable, epigenetic "marks" that sit on the nuclear DNA of cancer cells and alter gene expression, defies a prevailing belief that the marks vary so much within each individual's widespread cancers that they have little or no value as targets for therapy or as biomarkers for treatment response and predicting disease severity.
Researchers discover promising prognostic marker for aggressive breast cancer
A team of researchers led by Goutham Narla, MD, PhD, at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and collaborators at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Erasmus Medical Center, have discovered a gene variant that drives the spread of breast cancer. Published in Science Translational Medicine (embargoed Jan. 23 at 2:00 pm ET), the study lays the early foundation for predicting which breast cancer patients may develop more aggressive disease and for designing more effective treatments.
Scientists identify new strategy to fight deadly infection in cystic fibrosis
New research suggests that lowering excessive levels of a protein in immune system cells could be a strategy to clear an infection that is deadly to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Learn to be more understanding by watching The Bachelor (this season, anyway)
A new USC study finds evidence suggesting that the brain works hard to understand those who have different bodies when watching them in action.
Health and environment: A closer look at plastics
Plastics have transformed modern society, providing attractive benefits but also befouling waterways and aquifers, depleting petroleum supplies and disrupting human health.
Caloric restriction has a protective effect on chromosomes
One of the indicators of a cell's health is the state of its DNA and containers—the chromosomes—so when these fuse together or suffer anomalies, they can become the source of illnesses like cancer and/or ageing processes.
Socially isolated rats are more vulnerable to addiction, report researchers
Rats that are socially isolated during a critical period of adolescence are more vulnerable to addiction to amphetamine and alcohol, found researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. Amphetamine addiction is also harder to extinguish in the socially isolated rats.
Hyperbaric treatment has significantly resuscitated activity in damaged brains
Stroke, traumatic injury, and metabolic disorder are major causes of brain damage and permanent disabilities, including motor dysfunction, psychological disorders, memory loss, and more. Current therapy and rehab programs aim to help patients heal, but they often have limited success.
Beta-catenin molecule is required for tooth root formation
Today, the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published a paper titled "ß-catenin is Required in Odontoblasts for Tooth Root Formation." The paper, written by lead authors Tak-Heun Kim and Cheol-Hyeon Bae, Chonbuk National University Korea School of Dentistry, Laboratory for Craniofacial Biology, is published in the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research.
Learning and memory may play a central role in synesthesia
People with color-grapheme synesthesia experience color when viewing written letters or numerals, usually with a particular color evoked by each grapheme (i.e., the letter 'A' evokes the color red). In a new study, researchers Nathan Witthoft and Jonathan Winawer of Stanford University present data from 11 color grapheme synesthetes who had startlingly similar color-letter pairings that were traceable to childhood toys containing magnetic colored letters.
New research may aid treatment of multiple myeloma patients
A study led by Robert G. Hawley, Ph.D., professor and chair of the department of anatomy and regenerative biology at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), may help predict which patients with multiple myeloma will respond better to certain treatments. The study, titled "Identification of an ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein)-positive carfilzomib-resistant myeloma subpopulation by the pluripotent stem cell fluorescent dye CDy1," was published in the American Journal of Hematology .
Care transition initiative decreases rehospitalizations
(HealthDay)—Communities instituting quality improvement initiatives for care transitions see significant declines in the rate of 30-day rehospitalizations and hospitalizations, according to a study published in the Jan. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Physical activity cuts mortality in colorectal cancer survivors
(HealthDay)—For patients with invasive, non-metastatic colorectal cancer, increased recreational physical activity is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, while prolonged sedentary time correlates with increased all-cause mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
High BMI increases risk of chronic low back pain later
(HealthDay)—High body mass index (BMI) significantly increases the risk of chronic low back pain later, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
Poor arthritis outcome risk up in overweight black women
(HealthDay)—Overweight African-American women with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis are at higher risk than overweight white women of poor functional outcomes, according to a study published in the January issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Fatty liver may directly mediate CAD in metabolic syndrome
(HealthDay)—Men and women with fatty liver are more likely to have metabolic syndrome (MetS) with type 2 diabetes, and women with fatty liver are more likely to have MetS with subclinical atherosclerosis, according to research published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes Care.
Low ratio of n3:n6 fatty acids correlates with CAD progression
(HealthDay)—For statin-treated patients with coronary artery disease, decreases in the ratio of serum n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) correlate with atherosclerosis progression, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Jaw pain disorder tied to anxiety, depression
(HealthDay)—There's a link between depression and anxiety symptoms and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder pain, a condition that affects the jaw, according to a new study.
Too much sitting may lower odds of surviving colon cancer
(HealthDay)—People diagnosed with colorectal cancer who spend a lot of their leisure time sitting have a higher risk of dying, according to researchers at the American Cancer Society.
Blood test might help guide pancreatic cancer treatment
(HealthDay)—A simple blood test might help predict a pancreatic cancer patient's chances of benefiting from chemotherapy, a small study suggests.
Tall and thin not so great for lung disease
Tall, thin women face a greater risk of infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), cousins of the organism that causes tuberculosis, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. Women with NTM infections also showed a weakened immune response associated with their fat cells, in a paper published in the Jan. 15, 2013, issue of The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care.
SNPs associated with breast cancer risk alter binding affinity for pioneer factor FOXA1
Dartmouth scientists showed that more than half of all the SNPs associated with breast cancer risk are located in distant regions and bound by FOXA1, a protein required for estrogen receptor-α (ER) function according to a paper published in the journal Nature Genetics in November.
Children's complex thinking skills begin forming before they go to school
New research at the University of Chicago and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that children begin to show signs of higher-level thinking skills as young as age 4 ½. Researchers have previously attributed higher-order thinking development to knowledge acquisition and better schooling, but the new longitudinal study shows that other skills, not always connected with knowledge, play a role in the ability of children to reason analytically.
Teenagers avoid early alcohol misuse through personality management
In a study published in the very first issue of the new journal JAMA Psychiatry, researchers from Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, University of Montreal and King's College London have shown that personality-targeted school interventions delivered to high risk adolescents manage to reduce and postpone problem drinking, which is responsible for 9% of the deaths in young people between the ages of 15 and 29 in developed countries. Furthermore, by delaying alcohol uptake in at-risk youth, low-risk youth apparently gain group immunity due to reduced drinking within their social network.
Migraine triggers may not be as strong as you think
A new study suggests that triggers for migraine with aura may not be as strong as some people think. The research is published in the January 23, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Auras that occur with migraine include visual disturbances, with symptoms such as flashing lights or wavy lines.
Planning for bacteria in cancer patients may help hospitals fight infections
What cancerous conditions lead to what kinds of bacterial infections? If doctors knew, they could predict which patients would likely benefit from pre-treatment with certain kinds of antibiotics. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in this month's issue of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases shows the answer: E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are especially prevalent in patients with lung and GI cancers, more so for Klebsiella if these patients have been treated previously with aminopenicillins.
Experts propose overhaul of ethics oversight of research
The longstanding ethical framework for protecting human volunteers in medical research needs to be replaced because it is outdated and can impede efforts to improve health care quality, assert leaders in bioethics, medicine, and health policy in two companion articles in a Hastings Center Report special report, "Ethical Oversight of Learning Health Care Systems." One of the authors calling for a new approach is the main architect of the current ethical framework.
New method is first to predict brain cancer outcome and quickly show if therapy is effective
The critical question shortly after a brain cancer patient starts treatment: how well is it working? But there hasn't been a good way to gauge that.
Bioengineers discover the natural switch that controls spread of breast cancer cells
With a desire to inhibit metastasis, Cornell biomedical engineers have found the natural switch between the body's inflammatory response and how malignant breast cancer cells use the bloodstream to spread.
Novel approaches needed to end growing scourge of 'superbugs'
With the rising awareness of the so-called "superbugs," bacteria that are resistant to most known antibiotics, three infectious disease experts writing in the Jan. 24 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine called for novel approaches based on a "reconceptualization of the nature of resistance, disease and prevention."
Risk of lung cancer death has risen dramatically among women smokers in recent decades
Female smokers have a much greater risk of death from lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in recent years than did female smokers 20 or 40 years ago, reflecting changes in smoking behavior according to a Special Article published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The increase in risk of death from lung cancer and COLD in female smokers has been large enough to completely offset improvements in longevity from medical advances that have reduced death rates in the rest of the population over the last 50 years.
Self-reported BMI bias estimates increasing due to weight bias, not weight loss
The gap between obesity levels measured by self-reported height and weight and obesity recorded by measured height and weight is increasing. This is due to an increasing bias in self-reported weight, according to research published January 23 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Frances Shiely and colleagues from University College of Cork, Ireland.
Effect of taking smaller bites outweighs tendency to eat more when distracted
Eating while distracted generally makes people eat more without being aware of it, but reducing bite sizes may be able to counter this effect, according to new research published January 23 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Dieuwerke Bolhuis and colleagues from Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Japan researchers say kidney tissue grown from stem cells (Update)
Researchers in Japan said Wednesday they have succeeded in growing human kidney tissue from stem cells for the first time, in a potential first step towards helping millions who depend on dialysis.
Estrogen fights urinary infection in mouse study
(Medical Xpress)—Estrogen levels drop dramatically in menopause, a time when the risk of urinary tract infections increases significantly.
Immune cell death defects linked to autoimmune diseases
Melbourne researchers have discovered that the death of immune system cells is an important safeguard against the development of diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which occur when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.
Pavlov's rats? Rodents trained to link rewards to visual cues
In experiments on rats outfitted with tiny goggles, scientists say they have learned that the brain's initial vision processing center not only relays visual stimuli, but also can "learn" time intervals and create specifically timed expectations of future rewards. The research, by a team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, sheds new light on learning and memory-making, the investigators say, and could help explain why people with Alzheimer's disease have trouble remembering recent events.
New brain circuit sheds light on development of voluntary movements
All parents know the infant milestones: turning over, learning to crawl, standing, and taking that first unassisted step. Achieving each accomplishment presumably requires the formation of new connections among subsets of the billions of nerve cells in the infant's brain. But how, when and where those connections form has been a mystery.
Whole-exome sequencing identifies inherited mutations in autism
While autism clearly runs in some families, few inherited genetic causes have been found. A major reason is that these causes are so varied that it's hard to find enough people with a given mutation to establish a clear pattern. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have pinpointed several inherited mutations—among the first to be identified—through an unusual approach: using whole-exome sequencing to study large Middle Eastern families with autism.
Blocking digestive enzymes may reverse shock, stop multiorgan failure
New research from the University of California, San Diego published in the Jan. 23 issue of Science Translational Medicine moves researchers closer to understanding and developing treatments for shock, sepsis and multiorgan failure. Collectively, these maladies represent a major unmet medical need: they are the number one cause of mortality in intensive care units in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. There is currently no treatment for these conditions in spite of many clinical trials.
Retrovirus in the human genome is active in pluripotent stem cells
A retrovirus called HERV-H, which inserted itself into the human genome millions of years ago, may play an important role in pluripotent stem cells, according to a new study published in the journal Retrovirology by scientists at UMass Medical School. Pluripotent stem cells are capable of generating all tissue types, including blood cells, brain cells and heart cells. The discovery, which may help explain how these cells maintain a state of pluripotency and are able to differentiate into many types of cells, could have profound implications for therapies that would use pluripotent stem cells to treat a range of human diseases.
Scientists to resume work with lab-bred bird flu
International scientists who last year halted controversial research with the deadly bird flu say they are resuming their work as countries adopt new rules to ensure safety.
Frequent multitaskers are bad at it: Motorists overrate ability to talk on cell phones when driving
Most people believe they can multitask effectively, but a University of Utah study indicates that people who multitask the most – including talking on a cell phone while driving – are least capable of doing so.
Biology news
Fur flies over call to rid New Zealand of cats
A campaign to eradicate New Zealand's cats as a way of protecting native wildlife has raised the hackles of pet lovers, with critics leaping to the defence of their feline friends.
Research chimps to be sent to US sanctuary
(AP)—All but about 50 of hundreds of research chimpanzees belonging to the National Institutes of Health should be retired to the national sanctuary in northwest Louisiana, and all of them should have plenty of room to play and climb, an NIH committee recommended Tuesday.
Seagulls turn backs on the rest of NZ in favour of the Otago Coast
New Zealand's common fish n chip lovin' seagull increasingly prefers the Otago coast as its home more than anywhere else in New Zealand, a University of Otago study has found.
A new future for an old crop: Barley enters the genomics age
A Japanese team led by Kazuhiro Sato of Okayama University participates in the International Barley Sequencing Consortium (IBSC) to produce a high resolution assembly of the majority of barley genes.
Thousands inspired by nature through OPAL citizen science
From recording over a million bugs to discovering that gardens are a haven for earthworm diversity, the successes of one of the largest national citizen science projects, Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), are highlighted in the Community Environment Report published today.
Stem cells: Tuning the death sentence
In this week's issue of Science Signaling (22 January, 2013), Danen and colleagues of the Division of Toxicology of LACDR report novel insights into the question how stem cells decide to commit suicide when their DNA is damaged.
Poachers kill 32 S. African rhinos this year
Poachers have slaughtered 32 South African rhinos in the first three weeks of 2013, marking a disturbing start to the year for a country battling crisis level killings of the beast, government said Wednesday.
Research chimps may be headed from lab to leisure
(AP)—Chimpanzees who have spent their lives in U.S. research labs being prodded, poked and tested may be headed for retirement in a leafy sanctuary where they can climb trees, socialize at will, play with toys and even listen to music.
Great white shark hanging out near NC coast again
A 16-foot great white shark named Mary Lee is among those who like calling North Carolina home.
How the purple and pink sunscreens of reef corals work
(Phys.org)—New research by the University of Southampton has found a mechanism as to how corals use their pink and purple hues as sunscreen to protect them against harmful sunlight.
Scientists identify essential wildcat habitat
Woodlands and grasslands that support rabbits and small rodents should be protected if we are to save the wildcat, say scientists.
Groundbreaking findings on global biodiversity, alternative energy
Innovative University of Maryland research went to print last week in two leading scientific publications. Faculty members and a Ph.D. student from the Department of Geographical Sciences (Behavioral and Social Sciences) highlighted their significant findings on the use of marginal lands for alternative fuel production and global biodiversity research.
The biology of plague: Systems approach used to investigate strains of Yersinia
(Phys.org)—When is the plague not the plague? When it's a different strain of the same bacteria. In two strains of the bacteria genus Yersinia —a highly lethal pathogen and its less-virulent form—scientists performed multi-omic analyses to gain insights how they differ. They found that how the genes in both are expressed contribute to the striking difference in the diseases caused by these pathogens. The research team included scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the J. Craig Venter Institute, and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
The global gene pool of the goat seriously under threat
Amongst the range of domestic livestock species, the goat is not just the 'black sheep' but a resource of survival in impoverished countries, and many breeds are at great risk of disappearing. This is the case according to researchers of the Regional Service of Agro-Food Research and Development in their first monographic study tackling the global impact of this species.
Better outlook for dwindling black macaque population in Indonesia
Since at least the 1970s, the population of critically endangered Sulawesi black macaques living in an Indonesian nature reserve has been dropping. But a new study by researchers at the University of Washington and in Indonesia shows that the population has stabilized over the past decade.
Underwater CO2 shows potential as barrier to Asian carp
As the Asian carp population grows and the threat of the invasive species entering Lake Michigan through one of the Chicago canals is monitored, a University of Illinois researcher believes using two barrier methods is better than one.
Parasites of Madagascar's lemurs expanding with climate change
Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns in Madagascar could fuel the spread of lemur parasites and the diseases they carry.
Hailstones reveal life in a storm cloud
It isn't life on Mars, but researchers have found a rich diversity of microbial life and chemicals in the ephemeral habitat of a storm cloud, according to a study published January 23 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Tina Šantl Temkiv and colleagues from Aarhus University, Denmark.
By deforming cells, researchers deliver RNA, proteins and nanoparticles for many applications
Living cells are surrounded by a membrane that tightly regulates what gets in and out of the cell. This barrier is necessary for cells to control their internal environment, but it makes it more difficult for scientists to deliver large molecules such as nanoparticles for imaging, or proteins that can reprogram them into pluripotent stem cells.
Curiosity killed the ape
Recent research has brought to light the illegal practice of using mantraps to catch chimps in Uganda.
Giraffes are 'choosy' when hanging out with friends
(Phys.org)—Studying social relationships among female giraffes may provide essential information for the management and conservation of the species, a study by The University of Queensland (UQ) has found.
Chimpanzees: Hormone oxytocin likely to play key role in maintaining social relations with cooperation partners
Animals which maintain cooperative relationships show gains in longevity and offspring survival. However, little is known about the cognitive or hormonal mechanisms involved in cooperation. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have now found that cooperative relationships are facilitated by an endocrinological mechanism involving the hormone oxytocin, even when these are between non-kin. They collected urine samples of 33 chimpanzees from Budongo Forest, Uganda, and measured their urinary oxytocin levels after single episodes of a specific cooperative behaviour, mutual grooming. The result: Oxytocin levels were higher after grooming with cooperation partners compared with non-cooperation partners or after no grooming, regardless of genetic relatedness or sexual interest. This suggests that in chimpanzees oxytocin, which acts directly on neural reward and social memory systems, plays a key role maintaining social relatio! ns beyond genetic ties and in keeping track of social interactions with multiple individuals over time.
How salt stops plant growth
Until now it has not been clear how salt, a scourge to agriculture, halts the growth of the plant-root system. A team of researchers, led by the Carnegie Institution's José Dinneny and Lina Duan, found that not all types of roots are equally inhibited. They discovered that an inner layer of tissue in the branching roots that anchor the plant is sensitive to salt and activates a stress hormone, which stops root growth. The study, published in the current issue of The Plant Cell, is a boon for understanding the stress response and for developing salt-resistant crops.
Starchy genes made dog into Man's best friend, study reports
The question of how some wolves evolved into the trusty dogs that work on farms, lead the blind and curl up on pillows in bedrooms has remained largely unanswered. Until now.
Owl monkeys who 'stay true' reproduce more than those with multiple partners, Penn study finds
Breaking up is hard to do—and can be detrimental to one's reproductive fitness, according to a new University of Pennsylvania study.
Researchers make DNA storage a reality
Researchers at the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) have created a way to store data in the form of DNA – a material that lasts for tens of thousands of years. The new method, published today in the journal Nature, makes it possible to store at least 100 million hours of high-definition video in about a cup of DNA.
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