Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 5, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Archaeons shown to thrive on fireworks ingredient- Material turns 'schizophrenic' on way to superconductivity
- Origins of life? Discovery could help explain how first organisms emerged on Earth
- Power struggles are best kept out of the public eye
- New emissions standards would fuel shift from coal to natural gas
- Accidental discovery may lead to improved polymers
- Detroit Electric pegs SP:01 production output at 999
- Asian Long-Horned Beetle eradicated from Canada
- Senator says NASA to lasso asteroid, bring it closer (Update)
- Vaccine adjuvant uses host DNA to boost pathogen recognition
- Highly lethal Ebola virus has diagnostic Achilles' heel for biothreat detection, scientists say
- Judge defers class action in US tech 'poaching' case
- Stem cells enable personalised treatment for bleeding disorder
- Researchers find non-ape species engages in rapid facial mimicry
- New vision of how we explore our world
Space & Earth news
Trade emerging as a key driver of Brazilian deforestation
A new study published online April 4th in the journal Environmental Research Letters finds that trade and global consumption of Brazilian beef and soybeans is increasingly driving Brazilian deforestation. Consequently, current international efforts to protect rainforests (e.g., REDD) may be undermined by the increased trade and consumption.
The resilience of the Chilean coast after the earthquake of 2010
In February 2010, a violent earthquake struck Chile, causing a tsunami 10 m in height. Affecting millions of people, the earthquake and giant wave also transformed the appearance of the coastline: the dunes and sandbars were flattened, and the coast subsided in places by up to 1 m. But although the inhabitants are still affected for the long term, the shore system quickly rebuilt itself. A team from IRD and its Chilean partners showed that in less than a year, the sedimentary structures had reformed. The Chilean coast therefore represented a unique "natural laboratory" for studying coastal formation processes. The subsidence of the coast also revealed the effects of rising sea levels on shores.
Culturally correct sustainable initiatives
Scientists studying way of protecting the environment while encouraging economic growth have mapped cultural and spiritual vulnerabilities for the first time, thus giving new a dimension to the notion of sustainability.
Scientists at UH partner with NASA, astronauts to study immune system
Fighting viruses is a regular battle for your body, one it routinely wins if it has a healthy immune system. But compromised systems, as experienced occasionally by astronauts during space flights, can allow viruses to return.
Observationally confirmed supernova explosion of a yellow supergiant star
Observational results of the Hubble Space Telescope announced in March 2013 confirmed the theoretical prediction by the Bersten team at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe that the yellow supergiant star found at the location of supernova SN 2011dh in the famous nearby galaxy M51 was indeed the star that exploded.
Unique calibration technique uncovers details of precipitation in a climate model
(Phys.org) —Not all precipitation is created equal. Using a unique uncertainty quantification (UQ) technique, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Nanjing University calibrated the ratio between showery and stormy rain for simulations in a popular atmospheric model. Although current model results depict total precipitation fairly well, the details of precipitation type or origin does not compare well to real-life observations. The team, led by PNNL's Dr. Yun Qian, tested the sensitivity of precipitation and atmospheric circulation to several key variables used in the model. The new model results matched observations in both cases.
NASA selects astrobotic to demonstrate asteroid and moon landing technology
Last week Astrobotic successfully flew a sensor package designed to guide spacecraft safely to the surface of asteroids, moons, planets, and beyond. The flight occurred on an unmanned helicopter operated by a pilot on the ground. The flights are preparation for demonstration of this capability on a propulsive lander similar to Astrobotic's Griffin. Astrobotic was selected by NASA for flight opportunities on a propulsive lander which culminate in a fully autonomous landing demonstration with hazard detection, trajectory planning, and closed-loop control.
High rates of nitrogen fixation measured in equatorial upwelling region
Surface waters in upwelling regions of the ocean are generally rich in nutrients. Scientists had thought that these areas would have low rates of nitrogen fixation because diazotrophs-microbes that convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into usable forms, such as ammonia-could use the nutrients in the water directly instead of having to fix nitrogen gas. However, researchers recently recorded high rates of nitrogen fixation in an upwelling region in the equatorial Atlantic.
Are our textbooks wrong? Astronomers clash over Hubble's legacy
Edwin Hubble's contributions to astronomy earned him the honor of having his name bestowed upon arguably the most famous space telescope (the Hubble Space Telescope, HST). Contributions that are often attributed to him include the discovery of the extragalactic scale (there exist countless other galaxies beyond the Milky Way), the expanding Universe (the Hubble constant), and a galaxy classification system (the Hubble Tuning Fork). However, certain astronomers are questioning Hubble's pre-eminence in those topics, and if all the credit is warranted.
A warming world will further intensify extreme precipitation events, study finds
(Phys.org) —According to a newly-published NOAA-led study in Geophysical Research Letters, as the globe warms from rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, more moisture in a warmer atmosphere will make the most extreme precipitation events more intense.
A meteorite mystery: Could this stone be the first meteorite from Mercury ever found?
(Phys.org) —Could this stone be the first meteorite from Mercury ever found? WUSTL's meteorite expert sifts the evidence.
Mapping the chemistry needed for life at Europa
(Phys.org) —A new paper led by a NASA researcher shows that hydrogen peroxide is abundant across much of the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. The authors argue that if the peroxide on the surface of Europa mixes into the ocean below, it could be an important energy supply for simple forms of life, if life were to exist there. The paper was published online recently in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Research points to abrupt and widespread climate shift in the Sahara 5,000 years ago
As recently as 5,000 years ago, the Sahara—today a vast desert in northern Africa, spanning more than 3.5 million square miles—was a verdant landscape, with sprawling vegetation and numerous lakes. Ancient cave paintings in the region depict hippos in watering holes, and roving herds of elephants and giraffes—a vibrant contrast with today's barren, inhospitable terrain.
Computer simulation shows the sun's "heartbeat" is magnetic
(Phys.org) —A research team made up of Paul Charbonneau, a physicist with the University of Montreal and Piotr Smolarkiewicz, a weather scientist with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in the U.K., has created a new kind of computer simulation of the sun's energy flow. In their Perspective article published in the journal Science, the two describe the solar engine deep within the sun as its "heartbeat" and suggest that it underlies virtually all solar activity.
Senator says NASA to lasso asteroid, bring it closer (Update)
NASA is planning for a robotic spaceship to lasso a small asteroid and park it near the moon for astronauts to explore, a top U.S. senator disclosed Friday.
Technology news
'Jurassic' filmmakers recall video-effects nightmare
The makers of the original "Jurassic Park" film are recalling the "nightmare" of using pioneering visual effects, as a 3D version of the Oscar-winning movie is released.
Click, swirl, sip? Interest in online wine surges
The internet is blossoming into quite the virtual vineyard. Online wine options are everywhere, from flash sale sites like Lot18 offering daily deals to Facebook prodding you to send a little something for Aunt Suzy's birthday. And now there's a new generation of startups such as Club W, which adds a little algorithm to your albarino, using surveys and ratings to figure out what you might like to drink next.
Ultrasonic sounds of the rainforest
Research aimed at developing ultrasonic microphones with insect-like sensitivity is to continue in the rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador.
Promising drilling tool
An innovative new oil-drilling tool concept has seen the light of day.
Your Web product, in a locker near you
Online retailers Walmart.com and Amazon.com are looking to extend their reach by putting delivery lockers in drugstores and convenience stores, and in chain stores like Staples, to meet customers' demands for faster access to online orders.
Fisker to cut three-fourths of its work force (Update)
Troubled electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. has laid off about three-fourths of the workers at its California headquarters as it struggles with financial and production problems.
India files police complaint over Google mapping
India's national surveying agency has filed a police complaint against Google over a contest organised by the firm for its Map Maker application, a senior official said on Friday.
22 bidders join Myanmar mobile telephone battle
Vodafone, China Mobile and an investment fund linked to billionaire George Soros are among 22 bidders vying to enter Myanmar, one of the world's last unexplored mobile telephone frontiers.
iPhone app supports parents, helps teens become safer drivers
Book after book has been written to help parents know what to expect when they are expecting, how to handle the terrible twos, and how to talk about the birds and the bees. Now the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) and the Center for the Study of Young Drivers have developed a smartphone app that provides guidance to parents when their teen reaches another important milestone: learning to drive.
Vintage website seen as glimpse at teenage Zuckerberg
A website thought to be the handiwork of Mark Zuckerberg at the age of 15 resurfaced on the Internet on Thursday, providing a glimpse into the early days of the famed Facebook co-founder.
Samsung's operating profit up 53 percent in 1Q
Samsung Electronics Co. said its operating profit last quarter rose 53 percent over a year earlier, outpacing expectations for what's normally a slow time for consumer electronics sales.
Tiny technology could spark revolution in house buying
The endless ranks of estate agents' signs peppering towns and cities across the country could be a thing of the past thanks to scientists at Plymouth University.
Facebook barges into Google turf with Home
Facebook Home, the new application that takes over the front screen of a smartphone, is a bit of a corporate home invasion. Facebook is essentially moving into Google's turf, taking advantage of software the search giant and competitor created.
Explainer: What is hacking?
Last week, we woke to news that the largest cyber attack ever was underway in Europe, with reports of global internet speeds falling as a result of an assault on the anti-spamming company Spamhaus.
New kit pumps up 3-D feedback
A brand new computer system which provides 3-D feedback on weightlifting performance will now be taken to another level by a Lancaster University scientist.
New tool promises private photo-sharing—even using Facebook and Flickr
In the next five minutes, roughly a half-million photos will be shared online. Embarrassing or not, many are only intended for a certain audience—family, or friends maybe—not the whole world. And yet, relatively few will be encrypted, leaving them vulnerable to simple data harvesting.
Germany quashes Apple's patent on unlocking iPhones
Germany's patent court invalidated Friday a patent held by Apple—and contested by rivals Motorola and Samsung—on its "slide to unlock" function for smartphones, but the ruling can still be appealed.
French zoo to recycle dung of celebrity pandas
Not content with housing a pair of celebrity pandas that attract hordes of avid onlookers, a zoo in France has decided to put their droppings to good use by recycling them into gas and electricity.
US drivers talk and text as much as ever
Americans are using cellphones and other gadgets behind the wheel as much as ever, despite widespread awareness of the risks involved, a federal government agency said Friday.
Dutch banks' online services hit by cyberattack
Dutch banks say a cyberattack has affected their online services, but did not breach the security of customers' accounts.
New emissions standards would fuel shift from coal to natural gas
Tougher EPA air-quality standards could spur an increased shift away from coal and toward natural gas for electricity generation, according to a new Duke University study. Complying with stricter regulations on sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and mercury may make nearly two-thirds of the nation's coal-fired power plants as expensive to run as plants powered by natural gas. The regulations would make 65 percent of U.S. coal plants as expensive as natural gas, even if gas prices rise significantly.
Detroit Electric pegs SP:01 production output at 999
(Phys.org) —Look what just pulled up to claim a parking spot in the electric sports car market. Detroit Electric has unveiled the SP:01, an all-electric car. With a top speed of 155 mph, the makers say it is the world's fastest production electric car. The two-seater SP:01 can stay on the go for 190 miles on a single charge. According to Detroit Electric, "With an impressive energy storage capacity of 37 kWh, the battery gives the SP:01 a range of almost 190 miles between recharges, when tested to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard."
Judge defers class action in US tech 'poaching' case
A judge on Friday cited strengths of a suit charging Silicon Valley giants with secretly agreeing not to "poach" each other's workers but shot down a request for broad class action status.
Medicine & Health news
All hospital emergency rooms should be prepared for children
(HealthDay)—All hospital emergency departments (EDs), including community hospital EDs, should have the appropriate medications, equipment, policies, and staff to provide effective emergency care for children, according to a policy statement published in the March issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
"Never events" rare after bladder cancer surgery
(HealthDay)—"Never events", ten hospital-acquired conditions deemed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as being reasonably preventable, are rare in patients with bladder cancer who have undergone radical cystectomy, according to a study published in the March issue of Urology.
CMS announces final rates for medicare drug, health plans
(HealthDay)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the 2014 rate announcement and final call letter for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefit Part D programs.
China kills market birds as flu found in pigeons
(AP)—China announced a sixth death from a new bird flu strain Friday, while authorities in Shanghai halted the sale of live fowl and slaughtered all poultry at a market where the virus was detected in pigeons being sold for meat.
Will urgent care facility benefit more from additional GP or nurse?
More and more hospitals and general practitioners in the Netherlands are collaborating in urgent care facilities: a single point of contact (instead of two) for acute patient care outside office hours. Depending on the patient's medical needs upon intake, he will be referred to the hospital's emergency room or to the GP. This makes healthcare in the Netherlands more efficient, cheaper and better. Scientists at the University of Twente's CTIT research institute have developed a simulation model which gives insight into patient waiting times and the utilization of available equipment and treatment rooms. The simulation model helps the urgent care facility make better choices.
Study finds virtual colonoscopy is used appropriately, may expand screening to more patients
In 2009, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) halted reimbursement for so-called "virtual colonoscopy" for routine colon-cancer screening in asymptomatic patients, in part due to concerns over how this procedure, computed tomography colonography (CTC), was being used in the elderly population. In the first study to examine appropriate utilization of the test among asymptomatic Medicare beneficiaries from 2007 to 2008, a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that CTC was used appropriately and may have expanded colorectal cancer screening beyond the population screened with standard ("optical") colonoscopy. The findings, led by Hanna M. Zafar, MD, MHS, an assistant professor of Radiology, are published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Sexuality, traumatic brain injury, and rehabilitation
Each year more than three million Americans are living with traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition that is associated with physical, cognitive, and emotional problems that often affect their sexuality, and subsequently their marital stability, identity, and self-esteem. Taking an in-depth look at the impact of TBI on sexuality, an investigative team critically reviews fourteen studies representing a collective study sample of nearly 1,500 patients, partners, spouses, control individuals, and rehabilitation professionals to examine brain injury and sexuality. It is published in NeuroRehabilitation: An International Journal.
Mental illness a frequent cell mate for those behind bars
(HealthDay)—Eugene King ran away from home at the age of 16, the start of a lifelong pattern of drug abuse, crime and incarceration.
Individualized genomic testing allows for tailored cancer treatment, new drug research
Just like a massive iceberg jutting out of the ocean, many of cancer's genetic underpinnings remain hidden under the surface, impossible to predict or map from above. The foreboding shadows and shapes that appear on CT scans and MRIs – and even in the field that doctors see when they zoom in to look at cancer cells under a high-powered microscope – are just the tip of the iceberg.
Liver transplantation for patients with genetic liver conditions has high survival rate
Patients faced with the diagnosis of a life-threatening liver disease have to consider the seriousness of having a liver transplant, which can be a definitive cure for many acquired and genetic liver diseases. Among the main considerations are the anxiety of waiting for a donor organ, the risks associated with the transplant operation, and the chance that the transplant procedure will not achieve the desired result. There is also the six-figure cost of the procedure and accompanying patient care, all of which may not be completely covered by health insurance. But, according to a study appearing in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA), found that liver transplants are worth the risk for people who have genetic liver conditions.
EU minimum tax legislation for cigarettes has had no effect on smoking prevalence
Up to 2009 there is no statistically significant evidence of any reduction in smoking amongst men – and very little evidence of a reduction in smoking amongst women – resulting from the introduction of EU minimum tax legislation in Spain in 2006. This is despite the price of cigarettes rising up to three times faster than before the legislation came into effect, according to a new study published online in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Counting copy numbers characterises prostate cancer
Non-invasive 'liquid biopsies' can find metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer, in a low cost assay suitable for most healthcare systems, finds research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine. Genomic signatures of prostate cancer, isolated from plasma DNA, display abnormal copy numbers of specific areas of chromosomes. It is even possible to separate out patients who develop resistance against hormone deprivation therapy, which is the most common form of treatment in men with metastatic prostate cancer.
Researchers discuss new frontiers in breast cancer screening
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center predict that advancements in breast cancer screening will need a personalized touch because mammography is not a "one strategy fits all" technology.
Sixth H7N9 bird flu death as China culls poultry
A sixth person has died of H7N9 bird flu in China, state media said Friday, after authorities slaughtered poultry in a mass cull at a Shanghai market where the virus has been detected.
US health authorities in bird flu vaccine effort
US health authorities are liaising with domestic and international partners to develop a vaccine for the H7N9 bird flu virus that has killed five people in China.
Is it safe to exercise while undergoing cancer treatment?
Exercise can improve the quality of life for cancer survivors as well as for patients still undergoing treatment, based on an extensive review I was involved in as a research librarian. The massive study was a systematic review, a type of research whose goal is to retrieve all the relevant research that has already been completed on a topic and answer specific clinical questions.
Trial shows 'high tech' approaches help reduce diabetes-related complications
As global rates of diabetes escalate, a new computerised self-care system for people with Type 2 diabetes has been shown to significantly improve diabetes control and mental health-related quality of life, according to a global health expert.
Improving the search for new schizophrenia treatments
(Medical Xpress)—Controlling the symptoms of schizophrenia is the job of antipsychotic drugs which block a set of specific neural signals. But the way these drugs work can lead to a host of severe and debilitating long-term motor side-effects.
Protein that takes care of our DNA is critical to leukaemia cell survival
A protein – already known to be involved in a cell's response to stress – called Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 5 (TTC5) is critical to the development of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), according to a new Cancer Research UK study published in Cell Death and Disease.
Researchers developing device that could improve sound resolution for deaf individuals who opt for cochlear implants
(Medical Xpress)—The cochlear implant is widely considered to be the most successful neural prosthetic on the market. The implant, which helps deaf individuals perceive sound, translates auditory information into electrical signals that go directly to the brain, bypassing cells that don't serve this function as they should because they are damaged.
Public support can influence soldiers' mental health, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Can events like Red Fridays, Tickets for Troops and the yellow ribbon campaign reduce the chances of Canadian soldiers experiencing combat-related stress disorders? The authors of a new study from the University of Alberta think so.
Differential hearing difficulties cause kids to fall behind at school
(Medical Xpress)—Some children who have trouble learning in the classroom have difficulty switching their listening attention and so have trouble following a conversation from one talker to the next, according to a University of Sydney study published online in Nature's Scientific Reports.
Blindness more than a pain in the neck
(Medical Xpress)—Surveys regularly reveal that, when asked about their greatest fear, people nominate blindness as one of the two things they dread most (cancer being the other).
Breakthrough in neuroscience could help re-wire appetite control
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have made a discovery in neuroscience that could offer a long-lasting solution to eating disorders such as obesity.
Child heart surgeons access clearer picture of their success rate
For the first time, teams that care for children needing heart surgery have been able to review their short-term success rate better across all the different operations they perform.
Researcher examines the risks of early methadone exposure
(Medical Xpress)—Longitudinal studies of children exposed to methadone in the womb need to accompany methadone maintenance treatment for drug-addicted pregnant mothers, according to a research team led by a University of Maine doctoral student in psychology.
Scientists discover how brains change with new skills
(Medical Xpress)—The phrase "practice makes perfect" has a neural basis in the brain. Researchers have discovered a set of common changes in the brain upon learning a new skill. They have essentially detected a neural marker for the reorganization the brain undergoes when a person practices and become proficient at a task.
Study links suicide risk with rates of gun ownership, political conservatism
(Medical Xpress)—Residents of states with the highest rates of gun ownership and political conservatism are at greater risk of suicide than those in states with less gun ownership and less politically conservative leanings, according to a study by University of California, Riverside sociology professor Augustine J. Kposowa.
Investigating child abuse: How interview training really matters
(Medical Xpress)—Gathering evidence from children about alleged sex abuse is problematic. Research shows that when interviewers are trained in a protocol that favours open-ended questions more cases lead to charges and more charges lead to prosecution.
Hong Kong girl tests negative for H7N9 (Update)
A seven-year-old Hong Kong girl has tested negative for the H7N9 flu virus, officials said Friday, after she became the city's first suspected case of the disease that has killed six killed on mainland China.
Primary care model ups African Americans' glycemic control
(HealthDay)—A primary care strategy targeting rural, low-income, African-American patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with improved glycemic control, according to research published in March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Prevalence of self-reported hypertension rises in US
(HealthDay)—The prevalence of self-reported hypertension among U.S. adults increased slightly, but significantly from 2005 to 2009, and the proportion of adults using anti-hypertensive medications also increased, according to research published April 4 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly.
Timing, duration of obesity impact adult diabetes risk
(HealthDay)—The likelihood of diabetes in young adulthood is increased for those who are obese as adolescents and those with persistent obesity, compared to those with adult-onset obesity, according to a study published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
Low risk with normal coronary arteries, nonobstructive CAD
(HealthDay)—Patients who experience acute chest pain, and have nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), as determined by coronary computed tomographic angiography, have similarly benign outcomes as those with normal coronary arteries, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
New genetic evidence suggests continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders
A paper published this month in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Neurology suggests that a broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, 'developmental brain dysfunction,' rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes.
Lessons from the long-lived: Researcher says the elderly are pragmatic 'masters and mistresses of resilience'
Not long ago, Karl Pillemer had a revelation. A gerontologist with close to 30 years of experience, Pillemer, who is director of the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging, realized that his research was "entirely focused on older people as problems."
Type of shoe changes how people run, researchers find
The style of your running shoes isn't just making a fashion statement. It may be controlling the way you run and setting you up for injuries down the road. That's what researchers at the University of Kansas Hospital found when they put a dozen high school athletes through their paces on a treadmill.
Skin deep: Fruit flies reveal clues to wound healing in humans
A person's skin and a fruit fly's exoskeleton, called a "cuticle" may not look alike, but both coverings protect against injury, infection, and dehydration. The top layers of mammalian skin and insect cuticle are mesh-works of macromolecules, the mammal version consisting mostly of keratin proteins and the fly version predominantly of the carbohydrate chitin. Yet the requirement of an outer boundary for protection is so ancient that the outermost cells of both organisms respond to some of the same signals. And because of these signaling similarities, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster serves as a model for wound healing.
New minimally invasive, MRI-guided laser treatment for brain tumor found to be promising in study
The first-in-human study of the NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System finds that it appears to provide a new, safe and minimally invasive procedure for treating recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), a malignant type of brain tumor. The study, which appears April 5 in the Journal of Neurosurgery online, was written by lead author Andrew Sloan, MD, Director of Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, who also served as co-Principal Investigator, as well as Principal Investigator Gene Barnett, MD, Director of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center at Cleveland Clinic and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues from UH, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Florida, University of Manitoba and Case Western Reserve University.
Watching 'Biggest Loser' can spur anti-fat attitudes, according to communication study
(Medical Xpress)—People who watch the NBC reality weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser" are prone to have negative opinions of obese people, according to a study by Jina H. Yoo, associate professor of communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
New HIV findings reveal genetic double-edged sword
A major international research study involving Murdoch University has found that individuals born with high numbers of a receptor known as HLA-C on their cells can naturally inhibit HIV.
Education can offset impact of low fertility trap
A smarter, better educated population may help offset the impacts of declining fertility rates in East Asia, and provide lessons for Australia, according to a new report from the Australian National University's Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute.
Vitamin D proven to boost energy—from within the cells
Vitamin D is vital for making our muscles work efficiently and boosting energy levels, new research from Newcastle University has shown.
Researchers identify edema inhibitor
Researchers of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) and the Leibniz Institute of Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) in Berlin-Buch, Germany, have now detected a substance that can prevent the accumulation of fluid in body tissue and thus edema formation. The results of Dr. Jana Bogum (MDC/FMP) from the MDC research group led by Professor Walter Rosenthal and PD Dr. Enno Klußmann could be important in the future for the treatment of excessive fluid retention in patients with chronic heart failure. Using a novel approach, the researchers have also discovered a new molecular mechanism controlling water homeostasis in the kidneys.
Fecal microbial transplantation found to be possible treatment
A Spectrum Health clinical trial has found that fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has resulted in the improvement or absence of symptoms in most pediatric patients with active ulcerative colitis.
US court orders wider access for morning-after pill (Update 2)
After a decade-long battle over access to emergency contraception, a federal judge ordered US regulators Friday to make the morning-after pill available over the counter without age limits.
H7N9 bird flu strain has worrying traits: experts
A mutated bird flu virus that has killed six people in China displays worrying traits that warrant high vigilance, experts say, though the true extent of the threat is unclear.
MRI measure of blood flow over atherosclerotic plaque may detect dangerous plaque
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure blood flow over atherosclerotic plaques could help identify plaques at risk for thrombosis. The findings, which appear in the March issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, offer a non-invasive application in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis.
Huge disparities in hypertension seen across US counties
One in five Americans are completely unaware that they are at risk for the second leading cause of premature death: high blood pressure. In the first ever analysis of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension for every county, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington revealed significant differences across the US.
UN urges strict hygiene to avoid spread of H7N9 virus
The United Nations on Friday presented a list of recommendations, including a strict hygiene culture and keeping different breeds of animals apart, to try to curb the spreading of the H7N9 flu virus which has killed six people in China.
Experts call for research on prevalence of delayed neurological dysfunction after head injury
One of the most controversial topics in neurology today is the prevalence of serious permanent brain damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Long-term studies and a search for genetic risk factors are required in order to predict an individual's risk for serious permanent brain damage, according to a review article published by Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in a special issue of Nature Reviews Neurology dedicated to TBI.
Motor skills research nets good news for middle-aged
People in their 20s don't have much on their middle-aged counterparts when it comes to some fine motor movements, researchers from UT Arlington have found.
Treatments, not prevention, dominate diabetes research
Research for diabetes is far more focused on drug therapies than preventive measures, and tends to exclude children and older people who have much to gain from better disease management, according to a Duke Medicine study.
Mitochondrial metabolic regulator SIRT4 guards against DNA damage
(Medical Xpress)—Healthy cells don't just happen. As they grow and divide, they need checks and balances to ensure they function properly while adapting to changing conditions around them.
Brain-building gene plays key role in gut repair
(Medical Xpress)—A gene with a colorful name – mindbomb 1 – plays a key role far beyond the brain. New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that mindbomb 1 may be involved in repairing cells injured by infection or inflammation in the stomach and pancreas. Researchers also found hints that mindbomb 1 problems may have connections to cancer in those organs.
Measuring enzyme levels in cancer patients may reveal healthy cells' ability to survive chemotherapy
New research from MIT may allow scientists to develop a test that can predict the severity of side effects of some common chemotherapy agents in individual patients, allowing doctors to tailor treatments to minimize the damage.
Nanokicking stem cells to open for new generation of orthopaedics
(Medical Xpress)—New research has shown that it is possible to grow new bone by "nanokicking" stem cells 1,000 times per second using high frequency vibrations.
New vision of how we explore our world
Brain researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have discovered that we explore the world with our eyes in a different way than previously thought. Their results advance our understanding of how healthy observers and neurological patients interact and glean critical information from the world around them.
Stem cells enable personalised treatment for bleeding disorder
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have shed light on a common bleeding disorder by growing and analysing stem cells from patients' blood to discover the cause of the disease in individual patients.
Vaccine adjuvant uses host DNA to boost pathogen recognition
Aluminum salts, or alum, have been injected into billions of people as an adjuvant to make vaccines more effective. No one knows, however, how they boost the immune response. In the March 19, 2013, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences researchers at National Jewish Health continue unraveling the mystery of adjuvants with a report that host DNA coats the alum adjuvant and induces two crucial cells to interact twice as long during the initial stimulation of the adaptive immune system.
Highly lethal Ebola virus has diagnostic Achilles' heel for biothreat detection, scientists say
By screening a library of a billion llama antibodies on live Ebola viruses in the Texas Biomedical Research Institute's highest biocontainment laboratory, scientists in San Antonio have identified a potential weakness in the make-up of these deadly agents that can immediately yield a sensitive test.
Biology news
Japan whaling haul at 'record low'
The haul from Japan's whaling mission in the Southern Ocean was a "record low" this year, a government minister said, blaming "unforgivable sabotage" by activists.
Racing start for two-year-old thoroughbreds not detrimental
This coming Saturday, Sydney will again play host to the Golden Slipper, the most lucrative horse race for two-year-old thoroughbreds in the world, despite ongoing criticism of horses being raced at this young age including by an Australian Senate Select Committee on animal welfare.
Sudy unravel mechanism critical for fungal virulence
Metallothioneins, proteins able to capture metal ions, play a major role in the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal pathogen which causes severe infections in immunodeficient and immunocompetent individuals (AIDS patients, transplant receivers, etc.) This is one of the main conclusions of the research published on the journal Cell, Host & Microbe, and developed by the researchers Sílvia Atrian and Anna Espart, from the Department of Genetics and the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), affiliated with the campus of international excellence BKC.
New methodology for the analysis of proteins
A study led by the professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Faculty of Chemistry of the UB Modesto Orozco, and by Xavier Salvatella, from the Department of Biochemistry, both ICREA scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), has devised a new strategy to study the shape of proteins.
RIKEN BioResource Center to provide seeds of model cereal plant
Seeds of the model cereal plant Brachypodium distachyon are now available at the RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC) in Japan, the second bioresource facility to provide seeds of this important model plant to the international scientific community.
Symposium highlights epigenetic effects of milk
It seems the ads were right. A milk mustache is a good thing to have. Animal and dairy scientists have discovered that drinking milk at an early age can help mammals throughout their lives.
Japan aquarium shows mysterious clear-blood fish
The deep oceans have yielded many mysteries that have puzzled people for centuries, from the giant squid to huge jellyfish that look like UFOs. To that list add a fish with totally transparent blood.
Endangered whale becoming a regular visitor to New Zealand
(Phys.org) —Scientists have shown that mainland New Zealand has become an increasingly important winter habitat for southern right whales – a population hunted to near extinction in the 19th century – and members of the public have played a critical role in the research.
Researcher says mosquitos, larger than a dime and packing a painful bite, could invade soon
With plenty of news reports talking about giant mosquitos invading Florida, Deby Cassill, a biologist at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, said it's just a matter of time before the "gallinipper" or flying, "hairy legged-zebra" take the stage.
Help 'Merlin' become a wizard at identifying birds
(Phys.org) —Soon, when you see a bird you can't identify, Merlin, a new online bird ID tool from Cornell, will be able to help.
Researchers help unlock pine beetle's Pandora's box
(Phys.org) —Twenty researchers—more than half of them Simon Fraser University graduates and/or faculty—could become eastern Canada's knights in shining white lab coats. A paper detailing their newly created sequencing of the mountain pine beetle's (MPB) genome will be gold in the hands of scientists trying to stem the beetle's invasion into eastern forests. The journal Genome Biology has published the paper.
Nonnative salmon alter nitrification in Great Lakes tributaries
Nonnative species can affect the biogeochemistry of an ecosystem. For instance, Pacific salmon have been introduced as a sport fishery in many streams and lakes beyond their native range, but their introduction may be altering nitrogen cycling in those ecosystems.
Fewer vole outbreaks across Europe risking other species
(Phys.org) —A dramatic change in the fluctuations of vole numbers is being seen across Europe, according to a major international study.
Researchers find non-ape species engages in rapid facial mimicry
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers made up of members from three academic centers in Italy has found the first instance of rapid facial mimicry (RFM) outside of humans and apes. In their paper published in Scientific Reports, the researchers report observation of RFM in geladas, a type of cercopithecoid or old-world monkey.
Power struggles are best kept out of the public eye
For animals, prevailing in a fight affects their likelihood of winning future conflicts. The opposite is true of losing a fight. The sex hormone testosterone is often believed to mediate this "winner effect". Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen have examined whether the presence of an audience influences the behaviour and the testosterone changes of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) after a fight. The evidence shows that both winners and losers exhibit raised testosterone levels after a conflict without an audience.
Asian Long-Horned Beetle eradicated from Canada
Canada has eradicated the destructive Asian Long-Horned Beetle first detected in the Toronto area a decade ago after hitching a ride across the Pacific in wood packaging materials.
Archaeons shown to thrive on fireworks ingredient
(Phys.org) —A new study in the Netherlands has found a deep-sea microbe living in high-temperature hydro-thermal vents can thrive on chlorate and perchlorate anions. Perchlorate, an ingredient in rocket fuel and fireworks, is toxic to most organisms.
Origins of life? Discovery could help explain how first organisms emerged on Earth
(Phys.org) —A structural biologist at the Florida State University College of Medicine has made discoveries that could lead scientists a step closer to understanding how life first emerged on Earth billions of years ago.
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