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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 1, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists propose creating Maxwell's demon with two quantum dots- Nanoscale MRI being developed
- Thinnest graphene sheets react strongly with hydrogen atoms; thicker sheets are relatively unaffected
- Mapping the living cell: New technique pinpoints protein locations, helping scientists figure out their functions
- Scientists use Amazon Cloud to view molecular machinery in remarkable detail
- Routes towards defect-free graphene
- Researchers crack olfactory code for partner selection, synthesise first biologically effective perfume
- If you are impulsive, take modafinil and count to 10
- New stroke gene discovery could lead to tailored treatments
- Programming cells: The importance of the envelope
- Can plants be altruistic? You bet, study says
- Listening to cells: Scientists probe human cells with high-frequency sound
- Imaging unveils temperature distribution inside living cells
- Apple is biggest US phone seller for first time
- Synchrotrons explore water's molecular mysteries
Space & Earth news
More extreme weather predicted in national climate report
Americans can expect more heat waves, heavy downpours, floods and droughts, sea level rise and ocean acidification, according to a draft national climate assessment report that included two Cornell researchers as lead authors.
Clean seas by 2020: Scientists identify main environmental 'stressors' in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
Over 200 leading scientists from over 20 countries around the Mediterranean and Black Seas gathered in Barcelona last week to share the results of their joint work carried out over the last year. They summarized on a regional and basin scale the environmental "stressors" on which the scientific research of PERSEUS will focus intensively over the next three years.
New protocol recommendations for measuring soil organic carbon sequestration
Increased levels of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), have been associated with the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, cultivation of grasslands, drainage of the land, and land use changes. Concerns about long-term shifts in climate patterns have led scientists to measure soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural landscapes and to develop methods to evaluate how changes in tillage practices affect atmospheric carbon sequestration. University of Illinois professor of soil science Kenneth Olson has used data collected over a 20-year period at Dixon Springs, Ill., to develop a new protocol for more accurately measuring the carbon removed from the atmosphere and subsequently sequestered in the soil as SOC.
Aarhus University builds research station in North Greenland
Climate change is one of the major challenges facing the international community in the coming century. The warmer climate has already had a significant impact on the distribution of the sea ice, and has led to the advancement of spring in the Arctic. There is a close connection between the Arctic climate and our own. The cold we are experiencing in Denmark at present is due to the polar front extending south, for example.
Russia-launched satellite plunges into Pacific (Update)
A Russian rocket carrying a US telecommunications satellite plunged into the Pacific Ocean on Friday only moments after being launched from a mobile sea platform in Moscow's latest space failure.
Planting trees may not reverse climate change but it will help locally
Afforestation, planting trees in an area where there have previously been no trees, can reduce the effect of climate change by cooling temperate regions finds a study in BioMed Central's open access journal Carbon Balance and Management. Afforestation would lead to cooler and wetter summers by the end of this century.
Australia failing UNESCO demands on Barrier Reef
Australia insisted Friday that protecting the Great Barrier Reef was a top priority, but conservationists WWF said not enough had been done to prevent UNESCO deeming it a world heritage site "in danger".
NASA marks 10 years since loss of Columbia, crew
NASA will honor the seven astronauts who perished when the space shuttle Columbia was destroyed 10 years ago.
Hydraulic fracturing produces less wastewater per unit of gas, but more overall
(Phys.org)—Hydraulically fractured natural gas wells are producing less wastewater per unit of gas recovered than conventional wells would. But the scale of fracking operations in the Marcellus shale region is so vast that the wastewater it produces threatens to overwhelm the region's wastewater disposal capacity, according to new analysis by researchers at Duke and Kent State universities.
After the flood: Harnessing the power of mud
(Phys.org)—On the 60th anniversary of the 'big flood' that devastated the coastline of eastern England, new research shows that integrating 'natural' sea defences such as salt marshes with sea walls is a more sustainable and effective method of flood prevention.
Increases in extreme rainfall linked to global warming
(Phys.org)—A worldwide review of global rainfall data led by the University of Adelaide has found that the intensity of the most extreme rainfall events is increasing across the globe as temperatures rise.
Where are all the dwarfs?
Astronomers of the international CLUES collaboration have identified "Cosmic Web Stripping" as a new way of explaining the famous missing dwarf problem: the lack of observed dwarf galaxies compared with that predicted by the theory of Cold Dark Matter and Dark Energy.
How do corals survive in the hottest reefs on the planet?
Coral reefs are predicted to decline under the pressure of global warming. However, a number of coral species can survive at seawater temperatures even higher than predicted for the tropics during the next century. How they survive, while most species cannot, is being investigated by researchers at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
First color image of Curiosity's tracks from orbit
As Curiosity prepares for the historic first drilling operation on Mars, the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image of it from 271 km (169 miles) up, along with twin lines of tracks and the blast marks from the dramatic rocket-powered descent back on August 6 (UTC).
Solar Dynamics Observatory provides first sightings of how CME forms
(Phys.org)—On July 18, 2012, a fairly small explosion of light burst off the lower right limb of the sun. Such flares often come with an associated eruption of solar material, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME – but this one did not. Something interesting did happen, however. Magnetic field lines in this area of the sun's atmosphere, the corona, began to twist and kink, generating the hottest solar material – a charged gas called plasma – to trace out the newly-formed slinky shape. The plasma glowed brightly in extreme ultraviolet images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and scientists were able to watch for the first time the very formation of something they had long theorized was at the heart of many eruptive events on the sun: a flux rope.
VISIONS: Seeing the aurora in a new light
On a cold February night in Poker Flat, Alaska, a team of scientists will wait patiently for the exotic red and green glow of an aurora to illuminate the sky. Instead of simply admiring the view, this group from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center of Greenbelt, Md., and The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif. will launch a sounding rocket up through the Northern Lights. The rocket could launch as early as the night of Feb. 2, 2013, but the team has a two-week window in order to find the perfect launch conditions.
Space robots: Coming soon to a planet near you
Earlier this week, NASA announced the development of a mining robot called RASSOR: the Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot. RASSOR has been designed to assist in extracting water, ice and fuel from soil on the moon – all essential resources for future human habitation.
NASA sees cyclone felling squeeze between Madagascar and La Reunion
NASA satellite imagery ahowed Cyclone Felleng appear to squeeze between Madagascar and La Reunion island as it moves southward in the Mozambique Channel.
Ten years on, US recalls Columbia shuttle disaster
With somber ceremonies, the United States on Friday commemorated the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew on the tenth anniversary of the disaster.
If space shuttle is doomed, do you tell the crew?
A NASA top official wrestled with what he thought was a hypothetical question: What should you tell the astronauts of a doomed space shuttle Columbia?
Peatland forest destruction raises climate concern
The destruction of tropical peatland forests is causing them to haemorrhage carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, scientists say.The destruction of tropical peatland forests is causing them to haemorrhage carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, scientists say.
Technology news
Computer scientists developing tools to reduce greenhouse gases at the source
Despite advances in alternative energy sources, the United States will continue to rely on coal-fired power plants to generate much of the nation's electricity for the next 20 years or more. While coal is an economically viable fuel, its environmental cost is high—in 2011, coal accounted for 34 percent of the energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States.
Development of high-definition infrared color night-vision imaging technology
Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and Toshitaka Ohta, NRI, have developed 3CCD full high-definition (HD), infrared color night-vision imaging technology.
Panasonic, Sharp expect red ink despite yen help
Japanese electronics makers Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp. both stuck to full year forecasts for massive losses even as results for the latest quarter got a boost from the weaker yen.
Sony invites press to mystery New York event
Sony sent out invitations Thursday to a mystery event in New York City on February 20, sparking rumors that the world would get its first look at a new-generation PlayStation videogame console.
Samsung chairman keeps fortune in inheritance case
The chairman of Samsung Electronics has kept his fortune and control of the Samsung conglomerate after a South Korean court Friday ruled against his older brother in an inheritance battle.
Next-generation HD videoconferencing will provide immediate public benefits
The patient, who sees her neurologist regularly for "memory coaching" to counter the effects of short-term memory loss, never has to leave home for her appointments. The doctor, who is 40 minutes away, never has to leave his office. They "meet" by video.
US weighs tougher action over China cyberattacks
(AP)—High-level talks with the Chinese government to address persistent cyberattacks against U.S. companies and government agencies haven't worked, so officials say the Obama administration is now considering a range of actions.
Teenage hacker sentenced in UK for cyber-attacks
A British court has sentenced a teenage hacker to youth rehabilitation after he and other members of the Anonymous movement carried out cyber-attacks targeting financial sites like PayPal and Visa.
Social network Path settles privacy probe (Update)
Social network app Path agreed Friday to pay $800,000 to settle charges it violated privacy of young users by uploading address book information without seeking permission, officials said.
HP cutting at least 850 jobs in Germany
US computer giant Hewlett-Packard said Friday it was closing its enterprise software operation in Ruesselsheim, Germany, in a move eliminating at least 850 jobs.
Google to set up $82M fund for French publishers
Google will help French news organizations increase their online advertising revenue and also set up a €60 million ($82 million) fund to finance digital publishing innovation, settling a dispute over whether the Internet giant should pay to display news content in its search results.
Google's stock rides latest rally to new high
Google's stock climbed to a new high Friday as Wall Street's best known indexes approached record territory, too.
Vagaries of real-world circuitry affect performance of promising new technique in signal processing and imaging
The last 10 years have seen a flurry of research on an emerging technology called compressed sensing. Compressed sensing does something that seems miraculous: It extracts more information from a signal than the signal would appear to contain. One of the most celebrated demonstrations of the technology came in 2006, when Rice University researchers produced images with a resolution of tens of thousands of pixels using a camera whose sensor had only one pixel.
Toray is set to free touchscreens of scratches and smudges
(Phys.org)—Toray Industries has combined its no-scratch, no smudge technologies of 2012 and moved them up a notch with a recent demo at the nano tech 2013 exhibition in Japan. Toray showed off its touchscreen coating that is designed to self-repair scratches and to make fingerprint smudges easy to remove. The goal is to develop this special protective substance for phones and tablets.
Scientists use Amazon Cloud to view molecular machinery in remarkable detail
In this week's Nature Methods, Salk researchers share a how-to secret for biologists: code for Amazon Cloud that significantly reduces the time necessary to process data-intensive microscopic images.
Apple is biggest US phone seller for first time
The launch of the iPhone 5 and the declining popularity of non-smartphones have made Apple the biggest seller of phones in the U.S. for the first time, research firm Strategy Analytics said Friday.
Medicine & Health news
New report: State action on Affordable Care Act's 2014 health insurance market reforms
Only 11 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or issued regulations to implement the Affordable Care Act's major health insurance market reforms that go into effect in 2014, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Thirty-nine states have not yet taken action to implement these requirements, potentially limiting their ability to fully enforce the new reforms and ensure that consumers receive the full protections of the law. These reforms include bans on denying people health insurance due to preexisting conditions, a minimum benefit standard, and limits on out-of-pocket costs.
Nurses at forefront of genomics in healthcare
On April 14, 2003 a map of the human genome was completed, ushering in a new era of genetics in medicine with applications that include genetic testing; newborn screening; susceptibility to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, or psychiatric conditions; screening, diagnosis and monitoring of disease; and treatment planning. A special Genomics Issue, including an evidence review by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), published by Wiley in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship on behalf of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, addresses these genetic applications that are essential to advancing nursing knowledge and patient care.
Majority of primary care physicians prefer delivering radiology test results to patients themselves
According to a study in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, primary care physicians prefer to deliver the results of radiology examinations themselves and feel medico-legally obligated by recommendations within radiology reports.
Hope for millions of Germans suffering from periodontitis
Twelve million Germans suffer from periodontitis, an inflammation that can lead to the loss of teeth if left untreated. Bleeding gums during brushing or when biting into an apple could be an indication of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Bacterial plaque attacks the bone, meaning teeth can loosen over time and in the worst case even fall out, as they are left without a solid foundation to hold them in place. Furthermore, periodontitis also acts as a focal point from which disease can spread throughout the entire body: If the bacteria, which can be very aggressive, enters the bloodstream, they can cause further damage elsewhere. Physicians suspect there is a connection between periodontitis pathogens and the sort of cardiovascular damage that can cause heart attacks or strokes. In order to stop the source of inflammation, dentists remove dental calculus and deposits from the surface of teeth, but this is often not en! ough; aggressive bacteria can only be eliminated with antibiotics.
Examining the so-called Basque mutation of Parkinson's
The relationship between genetics and Parkinson's has been investigated for more than a decade, but it is only over the last few years that significant results have begun to be obtained. The first mutations related to the development of this disease were found in 2004. A team from the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country came across a mutation of the LRRK2 gene, which is particularly prevalent among the population of Gipuzkoa. It is the R1441G mutation and is known as the Basque mutation. Now, Doctor Javier Ruiz, a doctor on the same team, has submitted a thesis in which he has studied this mutation; apart from the study of its prevalence, the study includes the calculation of its penetrance, the description of its clinical phenotype, its progression, and the neuropathological study of a patient carrying this mutation. The results have been published in the prestigious journals Neurogenetics and Movement Disorders.
Care pathway offers dignity for patients
A pioneering study in Tayside working with community nurses and terminally ill patients has produced a standardised care package which researchers say could be a valuable aid for the NHS and other health systems.
Infection preventionists know safe care
There is general agreement among hospital infection preventionists (IPs) with respect to which practices have weak or strong evidence supporting their use to prevent healthcare-associated infection, according to a new study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Generic competition, charges cut Merck Q4 profit (Update)
Merck & Co.'s fourth-quarter profit fell 7 percent because of hits from generic competition and one-time charges, and the company pushed back plans to seek approval of a key experimental osteoporosis drug.
Outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty in the pediatric population
Cartilage tympanoplasty can be performed successfully in 95 percent of young children when appropriate conditions exist, according to a study in the February 2013 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Novel radiation therapy method shortens prostate cancer treatment time
According to a study in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, the use of volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to deliver intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to prostate cancer patients results in an overall reduction in treatment time of approximately 14 percent. The study was performed at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta.
Ark. judge affirms $181 million in legal fees
(AP)—An Arkansas judge says Johnson & Johnson must pay $181 million in fees to attorneys who successfully argued that the pharmaceutical company committed Medicaid fraud in the marketing of its antipsychotic drug Risperdal.
Rules would make school snacks healthier
(AP)—The government for the first time is proposing broad new standards to make school snacks healthier, a move that would ban the sale of almost all candy, high-calorie sports drinks and greasy foods on campus.
KaloBios Pharma edges higher following IPO
(AP)—Shares of respiratory drug maker KaloBios Pharmaceuticals are inching higher on the first day of trading.
Medical societies to launch large-scale study on vein filter use
The Society of Interventional Radiology and Society for Vascular Surgery jointly will launch PRESERVE—the first large-scale, multispecialty prospective study to evaluate the use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters and related follow-up treatment.
New NIH resources help growing number of Americans with vision loss
A 20-page large-print booklet and a series of videos to help people adapt to life with low vision are available from the National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The materials were released during Low Vision Awareness Month, February 2013.
New methods for quantifying antisense drug delivery to target cells and tissues
Powerful antisense drugs that target disease-associated genes to block their expression can be used to treat a broad range of diseases. Though antisense therapy has been proven effective, challenges remain in ensuring that the drugs reach their intended targets. Two new methods for detecting and measuring the levels of antisense drugs in cells that could accelerate the development of improved antisense drugs are described in an article in BioResearch Open Access.
Humanitarian aid workers in Uganda show signs of stress, depression, and burnout
Latest research points to the high risk for mental health problems among staff working in humanitarian organizations in northern Uganda, due in large part to their work environment. A new study by researchers at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health examined the mental health of 376 Ugandan workers at 21 humanitarian aid agencies and found that a significant number of the staff at these organizations experienced high levels of symptoms for depression (68%), anxiety disorders (53%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (26%), respectively.
Obama administration revises controversial contraception mandate
(HealthDay)—Religious organizations that object to providing birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act would be allowed to hand that responsibility off to a third party under new rules proposed Friday by the Obama administration.
Medical school gift restriction policies linked to subsequent prescribing behavior
Doctors who graduate from medical schools with an active policy on restricting gifts from the pharmaceutical industry are less likely to prescribe new drugs over existing alternatives, suggests a study published in BMJ today.
Mental health parity reduces out of pocket expenses for patients
In a study examining the impact of a parity policy for mental health insurance benefits, researchers have concluded that parity had a different impact on spending and service utilization for enrollees with illnesses that are more severe and chronic. As a result of the parity policy, individuals seeking treatment for major depression or bipolar disorder had lower out-of-pocket spending, despite no significant difference in the amount of behavioral health services they used. However, individuals with adjustment disorder (a less severe, acute illness) had lower spending, in part because they also received fewer psychotherapy services after the parity policy was implemented.
Bioelectric signals can be used to detect early cancer
Biologists at Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences have discovered a bioelectric signal that can identify cells that are likely to develop into tumors. The researchers also found that they could lower the incidence of cancerous cells by manipulating the electrical charge across cells' membranes.
Inactive people can achieve major health and fitness gains in a fraction of the time
With many of us struggling to get enough exercise, sport and exercise scientists at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the University of Birmingham, under the lead of Professor Anton Wagenmakers, have been working on a time-saving solution.
Is dieting or exercise better for losing weight?
Are you diligently exercising but seeing no results around your midsection? It's not just you.
New computational pipeline analyzes tumor images, may help predict response to cancer therapy
(Medical Xpress)—How's this for big data: A whole-slide image of a tumor section can be ten billion pixels. There can be thousands of such images in the tumor cohorts maintained by The Cancer Genome Atlas project, which are collected from a large pool of patients.
Desire for a tan is making teenage girls ignore sunbed dangers
Teenage girls desperate for a tan are determined to find ways of getting round the law banning under-18s from using sunbeds, according to a new study from Cancer Research UK published in the Journal of Public Health.
Researchers conduct deep brain stimulation in Alzheimer's patient
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Florida have performed deep brain stimulation on a patient with Alzheimer's disease as part of a clinical trial studying whether the treatment can slow progression of the disease.
Research sheds light on the dangers of positive stereotypes
(Medical Xpress)—We all know about the dangers of negative stereotyping. But what about positive stereotyping? Is it really bad to assume that women are more in touch with their emotions or that immigrants work harder than the majority population? Research led by Aaron Kay, a professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, reveals that positive stereotypes may actually be worse.
People perceive medicine to be more vital when it's low-cost, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—People may think it's more vital to take their medicine, if that medicine is cheap. A new study from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University shows consumers believe prices for lifesaving products are based on need and not profit. Therefore, they often assume their risk of getting a serious illness is higher when the medicine is less expensive, and they're also more likely to plan to get the treatment, including flu shots.
Discovery that specific protein modification important in cancer development
All proteins are made from chains of amino acids and their functions can be modified by adding small molecules to specific amino acids. One such modification is the addition of a methyl group, which is made of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms, that is attached to the amino acids lysine or arginine. This methylation occurs in many proteins, but its function is unclear.
Recently identified receptor helps trigger first wave of immune response
B cells can generate different 'classes' of antibodies, each of which carries a specific type of protein chain that triggers a specific downstream cascade of immune responses. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, which are the first on the scene, play a particularly important role in fighting off pathogen infection.
Ovarian cancer risk reduced by prolonged lactation
Curtin University researchers have found that women who breastfeed their babies have significantly reduced rates of ovarian cancer in a study that extends what was known about the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on mothers.
Treatment to prevent Alzheimer's disease moves a step closer
(Medical Xpress)—A new drug to prevent the early stages of Alzheimer's disease could enter clinical trials in a few years' time according to scientists.
Anthropologists study effects of modernization on physical activity, heart disease
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, and a sedentary lifestyle is often cited as a major contributing factor. Among the Tsimane, an indigenous population in the lowlands of Bolivia's Amazon basin, however, indicators of heart disease are practically non-existent –– cholesterol is low, obesity is rare, and smoking is uncommon.
Blood vessel cells coax colorectal cancer cells into more dangerous state
Blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to tumors can also deliver something else - a signal that strengthens nearby cancer cells, making them more resistant to chemotherapy, more likely to spread to other organs and more lethal, scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report online in Cancer Cell.
Germany clears genetic testing of embryos
Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday gave its green light to testing embryos after in vitro fertilisation in certain cases after a passionate ethical debate in the country on the issue.
Ranibizumab no better than saline for vitreous hemorrhage
(HealthDay)—For patients with vitreous hemorrhage from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), the probability of vitrectomy within 16 weeks after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or saline is lower than expected, with little difference seen between the two treatments, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Overuse of surveillance colonoscopy after resection
(HealthDay)—Approximately one-third of patients with normal results on their first and second colonoscopies after undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer undergo subsequent surveillance colonoscopies within two years, which is earlier than recommended by current guidelines, according to research published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Adiposity, hyperglycemia tied to cognitive performance
(HealthDay)—Among healthy middle-aged adults, adiposity and hyperglycemia correlate with poor cognitive performance, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Will climate change mean worse flu seasons?
(HealthDay)—Mild winters where few people catch the flu tend to be followed by serious flu outbreaks the next year, a new study finds, suggesting that global warming could mean harsher flu seasons ahead.
Energy drinks pose risks to teens, study finds
(HealthDay)—A new report warns that popular energy drinks such as Red Bull and Rockstar pose potential hazards to teens, especially when mixed with alcohol.
Score points for hosting a healthy Super Bowl party
(HealthDay)—Super Bowl party hosts and guests are ready for some football. But they also need to get ready to fight the temptation to eat and drink too much while watching the game, an expert warns.
Needless abdominal CT scans can be avoided in children, study says
A study of more than 12,000 children from emergency departments throughout the country in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) has identified seven factors that can help physicians determine the need for a computed tomography (CT) scan following blunt trauma to the abdomen. Because CT scans pose radiation hazards for youngsters, the findings may enable doctors to determine which children do not need to be exposed to such tests after a traumatic injury.
A gut feeling about neural stem cells
Proper function of the digestive system requires coordinated contraction of the muscle in the wall of the intestinal tract, regulated by the enteric nervous system. Damage or loss of these neurons can result in intestinal motility disorders, such as Hirschsprung's disease, for which there is a dearth of effective treatments. In principle, disorders of the enteric nervous system could be treated by cell therapy, but it was previously unknown whether transplanted stem cells could migrate to the appropriate location in the gut and then become neurons that could properly innervate the bowel.
Early therapy for HIV vital
New insight into the optimal timing of therapy for HIV infection could give patients a better chance of responding to potential cure strategies of the future.
New study sheds light on link between dairy intake and bone health
A study by researchers at the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS), has found that dairy intake —specifically milk and yogurt —is associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip, but not the spine. Cream, on the other hand, may be associated with lower BMD overall. Published today in the journal Archives of Osteoporosis, these findings suggest that not all dairy products are equally beneficial in promoting bone strength.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate linked to immune suppression
(HealthDay)—Use of the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), common in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa with high HIV-1 prevalence, is associated with suppression of the immune response, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in Endocrinology.
Sex differences in return to work for cancer survivors
(HealthDay)—Significant differences have been identified in the return-to-work (RTW) process for male and female cancer survivors, according to research published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Knowing cost of imaging tests doesn't cut utilization
(HealthDay)—Physicians do not order fewer imaging tests if they are aware of the costs, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
One-third of physician assistants work in primary care
(HealthDay)—Roughly one-third of physician assistants (PAs) choose to work in primary care, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Low adiponectin in first trimester linked to GDM
(HealthDay)—Low adiponectin levels during the first trimester of pregnancy correlate with a higher level of insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), according to research published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes Care.
Researchers develop automated breast density test linked to cancer risk
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have developed a novel computer algorithm to easily quantify a major risk factor for breast cancer based on analysis of a screening mammogram. Increased levels of mammographic breast density have been shown in multiple studies to be correlated with elevated risk of breast cancer, but the approach to quantifying it has been limited to the laboratory setting where measurement requires highly skilled technicians. This new discovery opens the door for translation to the clinic where it can be used to identify high-risk women for tailored treatment.
Trauma patients, community say they support exception from informed consent research
Traumatic injury – including car accidents, gunshot wounds, and stabbings – is the leading cause of death for people younger than 40 years old in the United States, but despite the toll of these injuries, few emergency medical interventions considered to be the standard of care for these injuries have been rigorously studied in clinical trials, because patients and their families are typically unable to consent to participate in research. A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania sought to examine peoples' willingness to be enrolled in these types of studies under the federal provisions that allow patients with time-sensitive illnesses and injuries to be part of clinical trials without their express consent. The study revealed that those surveyed expressed high levels of approval and willingness to be part of these types of trials, both for themselves and their family members and friends. The findings provide important clues for increasing the number of studies aimed at improving care for this patient population.
Type II diabetes and the Alzheimer's connection
A research team in Israel has devised a novel approach to identifying the molecular basis for designing a drug that might one day decrease the risk diabetes patients face of developing Alzheimer's disease. The team will present its work at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society (BPS), held Feb. 2-6, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Autism speaks through gene expression
Autism spectrum disorders affect nearly 1 in 88 children, with symptoms ranging from mild personality traits to severe intellectual disability and seizures. Understanding the altered genetic pathways is critical for diagnosis and treatment. New work to examine which genes are responsible for autism disorders will be presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society (BPS), held Feb. 2-6, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Group Therapy: New approach to psychosis treatment could target multiple nervous system receptors
Antipsychotic drugs, used in the treatment of psychotic disorders involving severe delusions and hallucinations, have been studied for more than 70 years. Currently available antipsychotic drugs, however, only alleviate certain symptoms, with results that vary greatly from patient to patient and frequently cause significant side effects.
Propping open the door to the blood brain barrier
The treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases can be particularly challenging because many of the therapeutic agents such as recombinant proteins and gene medicines are not easily transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound can be used to "open the door" of the blood brain barrier. However, finding a way to "prop the door open" to allow therapeutics to reach diseased tissue without damaging normal brain tissue is the focus of a new study by a team of researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at National Taiwan University presenting at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society (BPS), held Feb. 2-6, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Caring friends can save the world
Craig Kielburger was only 12 years old when he travelled to India to see the plight of child laborers first hand. 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai took a stand against the Taliban with her campaign for women's education rights. Alongside these individuals, organizations like Teenactivist.org and Dosomething.org rally teens to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Half of world countries unprepared to deal with cancer, WHO says
Less than half of all countries in the world have functioning plans to prevent cancer and provide treatment and care to cancer patients, the World Health Organisation lamented Friday.
Ravicti approved for urea cycle disorders
(HealthDay)—Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat certain urea cycle disorders (UCDs) in people 2 years and older.
New stroke gene discovery could lead to tailored treatments
An international study led by King's College London has identified a new genetic variant associated with stroke. By exploring the genetic variants linked with blood clotting – a process that can lead to a stroke – scientists have discovered a gene which is associated with large vessel and cardioembolic stroke but has no connection to small vessel stroke.
Scientists link excess sugar to cancer
Sugars are needed to provide us with energy and in moderate amounts contribute to our well-being. Sustained high levels of sugars, as is found in diabetics, damages our cells and now is shown that can also increase our chance to get cancer: The dose makes the poison as Paracelsus said.
If you are impulsive, take modafinil and count to 10
Poor impulse control contributes to one's inability to control the consumption of rewarding substances, like food, alcohol, and other drugs. This can lead to the development of addiction. FDA-approved medications for alcoholism, like naltrexone (Revia) and disulfiram (Antabuse), are thought to reduce alcohol consumption by curbing cravings and creating unpleasant reactions to alcohol, effects which reduce the desire to drink alcohol.
Biology news
Solomons seeks to prevent mass dolphin killings
The Solomon Islands on Friday urged villagers to stop the mass slaughter of dolphins, saying the traditional practice was damaging the Pacific nation's tourism industry.
Invasion of wild cats could see the end of a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean
The population of Yelkouan Shearwater of the French island of Le Levant is seriously under threat due to the invasion of wild cats, according to a French and Spanish joint study. The archipelago is home to the main colonies of this species.
Discovery in synthetic biology takes us a step closer to new 'industrial revolution'
Scientists report that they have developed a method that cuts down the time it takes to make new 'parts' for microscopic biological factories from two days to only six hours.
Internal structure of bones reveals loading and walking behavior
The form and structure of bones change as a result of the forces to which they are subjected.
'Psychic cells': Scientists discover cells can communicate through physical barriers
(Phys.org)—Scientists at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science have discovered a possible method by which cancer cells and dying cells communicate with nearby normal nerve cells without being physically connected to them.
Cats and humans suffer from similar forms of epilepsy
Epilepsy arises when the brain is temporarily swamped by uncoordinated signals from nerve cells. Research at the Vetmeduni Vienna has now uncovered a cause of a particular type of epilepsy in cats. Surprisingly, an incorrectly channelled immune response seems to be responsible for the condition, which closely resembles a form of epilepsy in humans. The work is published in the current issue of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Genetically modified tobacco plants produce antibodies to treat rabies
Smoking tobacco might be bad for your health, but a genetically altered version of the plant might provide a relatively inexpensive cure for the deadly rabies virus. In a new research report appearing in The FASEB Journal, scientists produced a monoclonal antibody in transgenic tobacco plants that was shown to neutralize the rabies virus. This new antibody works by preventing the virus from attaching to nerve endings around the bite site and keeps the virus from traveling to the brain.
US: Warming imperils wolverines
The tenacious wolverine, a snow-loving carnivore sometimes called the "mountain devil," is being added to the list of species threatened by climate change—a dubious distinction that puts it in the ranks of the polar bear and several other animals that could see their habitats shrink drastically due to warming temperatures.
Tracking the evolution of antibiotic resistance
With the discovery of antibiotics, medicine acquired power on a scale never before possible to protect health, save lives, and reduce suffering caused by certain bacteria. But the power of antibiotics is now under siege because some virulent infections no longer respond to antibiotic drugs.
Even adaptable viruses have trouble surviving erratic temperatures
(Phys.org)—Aside from rising sea levels, many climate change models predict that in the future, the planet's temperature and weather will become increasingly erratic with wild, unpredictable storms and fluctuating conditions. A new study from researchers at the University of Florida and Yale University and published today by the journal Evolution investigated how an organism – in this case, a simple virus –adapts to temperature change when that change comes in different ways: constant, in a recognizable pattern or at random.
Promiscuous females are trying to avoid selfish genes
So-called 'selfish genes' may make females more promiscuous and also lower male fertility.
Ant executions serve a higher purpose, research shows
Natural selection can be an agonizingly long process. Some organisms have a way of taking matters into their own hands, or—in the case of the ant species Cerapachys biroi—mandibles.
Researchers crack olfactory code for partner selection, synthesise first biologically effective perfume
(Medical Xpress)—Individual body odour plays an important role in partner selection. Humans, mice, fish and birds, and probably other vertebrates too, receive important information about a potential partner's immune system from their body odour. A partner is chosen on the bases of whether he or she offers the optimum complement to the individual's own immune genes. The aim is to pass on a wide variety of immune genes to the offspring so that they are resistant to a broad spectrum of pathogens. Although several hundred different forms of the immune genes exist in humans, individuals only have a few variants which co-determine their typical body odour, their individual "scent". Scientists from the Max Planck Institutes of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg and for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, together with colleagues from the University of Dresden Medical School, have succeeded in explaining the chemical nature of this individual scent, synthesized it and tested i! ts effectiveness on test persons. The results show how perfumes that are completely effective biologically can be produced synthetically without resorting to animal products.
Programming cells: The importance of the envelope
In a project that began with the retinal cells of nocturnal animals and has led to fundamental insights into the organization of genomic DNA, researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich show how the nuclear envelope affects nuclear architecture - and gene regulation.
Can plants be altruistic? You bet, study says
We've all heard examples of animal altruism: Dogs caring for orphaned kittens, chimps sharing food or dolphins nudging injured mates to the surface. Now, a study led by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests some plants are altruistic too.
Imaging unveils temperature distribution inside living cells
A research team in Japan exploring the functions of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) – a molecule that encodes the chemical blueprint for protein synthesis – has discovered a way to take a close look at the temperature distribution inside living cells. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of diseases, such as cancer, which generate extraordinary intracellular heat.
Cooperators can coexist with cheaters, as long as there is room to grow
Microbes exhibit bewildering diversity even in relatively tight living quarters. But when a population is a mix of cooperators, microbes that share resources, and cheaters, those that selfishly take yet give nothing back, the natural outcome is perpetual war. A new model by a team of researchers from Princeton University in New Jersey and Ben-Gurion University in Israel reveals that even with never-ending battles, the exploiter and the exploited can survive, but only if they have room to expand and grow. The researchers present their findings at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society (BPS), held Feb. 2-6, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Mapping the living cell: New technique pinpoints protein locations, helping scientists figure out their functions
To get a clear picture of what's happening inside a cell, scientists need to know the locations of thousands of proteins and other molecules. MIT chemists have now developed a technique that can tag all of the proteins in a particular region of a cell, allowing them to more accurately map those proteins.
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