Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 8, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- On the origins of the Schrodinger equation- Google Glass advocate to developers: Seize the moment (w/ video)
- Cry me a river of possibility: Scientists design new adaptive material inspired by tears
- Surface diffusion plays a key role in defining the shapes of catalytic nanoparticles
- Optimal evidence accumulation in decision-making
- Suzaku 'post-mortem' yields insight into Kepler's supernova
- Remaining Martian atmosphere still dynamic
- The ethics of resurrecting extinct species
- Rapid climate change and the role of the Southern Ocean
- No map, no problems for monarchs
- Moving cells with light holds medical promise
- Adding intestinal enzyme to diets of mice appears to prevent, treat metabolic syndrome
- Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry
- New pathways in bacterial intercellular competition uncovered
- HP launches power-efficient Moonshot servers
Space & Earth news
Eyes on our Sun: ESA opens new space weather centre in Brussels
This week, ESA opened a new Space Weather Coordination Centre to gather up-to-date information on our Sun. It is the first such data coordination centre opened under the Agency's Space Situational Awareness Programme.
CO2 at work during last global 'hot spell' but hardly alone
(Phys.org) —UC Santa Cruz ocean sciences professor Christina Ravelo is part of an international team that is using ocean floor sediment samples to compile data on past periods of global warming in order to understand today's climate changes.
NASA commercial crew partner Boeing completes launch vehicle adapter review
The Boeing Company of Houston, a NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partner, has successfully completed a preliminary design review (PDR) of the component that would connect the company's new crew capsule to its rocket.
Natural soil bacteria pump new life into exhausted oil wells
Technology that enlists natural soil bacteria as 21st century roughnecks now is commercially available and poised to recover precious oil remaining in thousands of exhausted oil wells, according to a scientist who spoke here today. His report on a process termed microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Population boom poses interconnected challenges of energy, food, water
Mention great challenges in feeding a soaring world population, and thoughts turn to providing a bare subsistence diet for poverty-stricken people in developing countries. But an expert speaking here today at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, described a parallel and often-overlooked challenge.
Bi-ocular animations of two oceans
NOAA's GOES-13 and GOES-15 weather satellites sit 60 degrees apart in a fixed orbit over the eastern and western U.S., respectively, providing forecasters with a look at the movement of weather systems in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The GOES Project at the NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. announced the creation of satellite animations of both GOES-13 and GOES-15 to show continuous views of both oceans, with conjoined images reminiscent of binoculars.
Mapping lava tubes in the Galapagos
(Phys.org) —Yearly expeditions to explore the lava tubes on the famed archipelago will culminate in an international symposium to be held there next year.
Student and professor solve astronomical mystery
(Phys.org) —To ordinary folks, stars in the galaxy may seem like tiny specks of light. But to Penn State Brandywine Professor Timothy Lawlor and undergraduate researcher Nick Rufo, one of those bright balls of gas is actually more massive than scientists originally reported and holds implications for understanding the evolution of the universe.
Making the case for regional modeling: Tackling global environmental issues means adopting smaller, regional approach
(Phys.org) —While it is important to understand how the Earth system works from a process-level basis, it is clear that human activities are increasingly challenging assumptions about how that system works. Factor in climate change, and it is quickly apparent: one size certainly does not fit all. In their paper, "The Regional Nature of Global Challenges: A Need and Strategy for Integrated Regional Modeling," authors Dr. Kathy Hibbard and Dr. Anthony Janetos of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory make the case for integrated regional-scale analyses, where they discuss how regional dynamic interactions between human and natural systems provide insight into mitigation and adaptation strategies, their tradeoffs and consequences, and how these influence the global Earth system.
Scientists find mysterious giant pockmarks on Chatham Rise
(Phys.org) —New Zealand, German and American scientists have found what may be the world's biggest pockmarks on the seafloor of the Chatham Rise about 500km east of Christchurch.
Listening to the Big Bang—in high fidelity
A decade ago, spurred by a question for a fifth-grade science project, University of Washington physicist John Cramer devised an audio recreation of the Big Bang that started our universe nearly 14 billion years ago.
Gulf of Mexico has greater-than-believed ability to self-cleanse oil spills
The Gulf of Mexico may have a much greater natural ability to self-clean oil spills than previously believed, according to Terry Hazen, University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chair for Environmental Biotechnology.
CO2 released from burning fuel today goes back into new fuels tomorrow
The search for ways to use megatons of carbon dioxide that may be removed from industrial smokestacks during efforts to curb global warming has led to a process for converting that major greenhouse gas back into the fuel that released it in the first place. Research on the project was a topic here today at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
High salt levels in Saharan groundwater endanger oases farming
For more than 40 years, snowmelt and runoff from Morocco's High Atlas Mountains has been dammed and redirected hundreds of kilometers to the south to irrigate oases farms in the arid, sub-Saharan Draa Basin.
Byrd came oh-so-close, but probably didn't reach North Pole
(Phys.org) —When renowned explorer Richard E. Byrd returned from the first-ever flight to the North Pole in 1926, he sparked a controversy that remains today: Did he actually reach the pole?
Hubble sees light and dust in a nearby starburst galaxy
(Phys.org) —Visible as a small, sparkling hook in the dark sky, this beautiful object is known as J082354.96+280621.6, or J082354.96 for short. It is a starburst galaxy, so named because of the incredibly (and unusually) high rate of star formation occurring within it.
Fasten seatbelts for bumpier flights, climate study says
Flights will become bumpier as global warming destabilises air currents at altitudes used by commercial airliners, climate scientists warned Monday.
Rapid climate change and the role of the Southern Ocean
Scientists from Cardiff University and the University of Barcelona have discovered new clues about past rapid climate change.
Carbon's role in planetary atmosphere formation
(Phys.org) —A new study of how carbon is trapped and released by iron-rich volcanic magma offers clues about the early atmospheric evolution on Mars and other terrestrial bodies.
Pandas vs pinot as vineyards adjust to warming
Which is more important, pandas or pinot? Researchers say that is a question conservationists and wine-growers will have to answer in the coming years as climate change sparks a hunt for cooler places to grow wine grapes, even if those places are home to sensitive animal populations.
Remaining Martian atmosphere still dynamic
(Phys.org) —Mars has lost much of its original atmosphere, but what's left remains quite active, recent findings from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity indicate. Rover team members reported diverse findings today at the European Geosciences Union 2013 General Assembly, in Vienna.
Suzaku 'post-mortem' yields insight into Kepler's supernova
(Phys.org) —An exploding star observed in 1604 by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler held a greater fraction of heavy elements than the sun, according to an analysis of X-ray observations from the Japan-led Suzaku satellite. The findings will help astronomers better understand the diversity of type Ia supernovae, an important class of stellar explosion used in probing the distant universe.
Technology news
WikiLeaks to release more US diplomatic records
Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks was on Monday to publish more than 1.7 million US diplomatic and intelligence documents from the 1970s, founder Julian Assange revealed.
'Skywalker': Aeronautical technology to improve maize yields
To design a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle which helps to select the maize varieties which are best adapted to adverse environmental conditions is the main objective of an international project led by Josep Lluís Araus, professor from the Department of Plant Biology of the UB and head of the Consolidated Research Group on Ecophysiology of Mediterranean Agriculture. Nowadays, constraints in phenotyping capability limit our ability to dissect the genetics of quantitative traits, especially those related to harvestable yield and stress tolerance. In particular, phenotyping under real environmental conditions remains the bottleneck for future breeding advances.
Domain name group plans satellite office in China
(AP)—The agency that oversees Internet domain names says it will open a satellite office in China, home of the world's largest Internet population.
Exec threatens to pull Fox signal if Aereo goes on
(AP)—A top executive with the owner of the Fox broadcast network is threatening to convert the network to a pay-TV channel if Internet startup Aereo continues to "steal" Fox's over-the-air signal and sell it to consumers without paying for rights.
Battery research at NSLS aims to solve energy storage challenges
(Phys.org) —The shrinking size and increasing capacity of batteries in the past few decades has made possible devices that have transformed everyday life. But small isn't the only frontier for battery technology. As the world enters its most energy-intensive era, the search is on for bigger, cheaper and safer batteries that can capture, store, and efficiently use sustainable energy on a large scale.
Taiwan's HTC reports record low net profit
Taiwan's smartphone maker HTC said Monday net profit slumped 98.1 percent in the three months to March compared to a year earlier, hitting a record low of Tw$85 million ($2.83 million).
Facebook, Google and Apple: partners and rivals, too
In war, the saying goes, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. But in the tech industry, sometimes your enemy is also an important business partner.
New 'transient electronics' disappear when no longer needed
Scientists today described key advances toward practical uses of a new genre of tiny, biocompatible electronic devices that could be implanted into the body to relieve pain or battle infection for a specific period of time, and then dissolve harmlessly.
US newspaper industry limits revenue drop to 2%
US newspapers saw revenues fall two percent in 2012, an industry association said Monday, suggesting an easing of the woes of the beleaguered sector.
Ericsson to buy Microsoft's TV software unit
Ericsson says it has agreed to buy Microsoft's Mediaroom business, which makes the software that powers AT&T's U-Verse TV service.
WikiLeaks launches searchable US historical archive
WikiLeaks on Monday launched a searchable archive containing 1.7 million US State Department documents from 1973-76 that had been officially declassified but were not easily accessible to the public.
Startup touts ultrafast charging: What if a smartphone could charge in 12 minutes instead of two hours?
(Phys.org) —Potential Difference Inc., a Nevada startup, has developed a versatile charger that it claims can refill the batteries in smartphones, laptops and even electric vehicles to 80 percent capacity in 12 minutes. That's a major improvement considering the Tesla Motors Supercharger needs 30 minutes to recharge 50 percent of a battery.
Forget your password: The future is 'passthoughts'
(Phys.org) —Instead of typing your password, in the future you may only have to think your password, according to School of Information researchers. A new study explores the feasibility of brainwave-based computer authentication as a substitute for passwords.
Crowdfunding gaining momentum, study says
Crowdfunding, a practice which allows startup firms to raise money from small investors over the Internet, picked up steam in 2012 with some $2.7 billion invested, a study showed Monday.
Computer scientists develop video game that teaches how to program in Java
Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have developed an immersive, first-person player video game designed to teach students in elementary to high school how to program in Java, one of the most common programming languages in use today.
Google Glass advocate to developers: Seize the moment (w/ video)
(Phys.org) —Along with dancing elephants and magnificent acrobats, there's nothing that can draw an audience, especially curious developers, more than a New Paradigm. Computing machines that are reduced from fridge-sized boxes to computers that can fit on a desktop. Telephones without cables that can fit in the pocket and be used while you're walking. Still greater phones that give you Internet access, play music, and take pictures. And in 2013, the world awaits what Google positions as a Newer Paradigm, Google Glass. (Not to be mistakenly called GlassES, as the device is worn over one eye only.)
Medicine & Health news
WHO talks with China on sending bird flu team (Update)
The World Health Organization is talking with the Chinese government about sending international experts to China to help investigate a new bird flu strain that has sickened at least 24 people, killing seven of them.
Haemodialysis works for reducing dabigatran levels: Implications for urgent use during bleeding or surgery
Dabigatran is one of the new oral anticoagulants which are increasingly used to prevent thrombosis. In case of an emergency (e.g. bleeding or urgent surgery), there are - despite the lack of a specific antidote - effective ways to quickly lower plasma dabigatran concentrations, as now demonstrated by a study published in this month's issue of Thrombosis and Haemostasis by Prof. Harm Peters, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
Black women have worse breast cancer mortality regardless of cancer subtype
Black women with breast cancer had significantly worse survival compared with other racial and ethnic groups across cancer subtypes, which suggests that the survival differences are not solely attributable to the fact that black women are more frequently diagnosed with less treatable breast cancer subtypes, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Preclinical study indicates potential for novel inhibitor to overcome drug resistance induced by RAF, MEK inhibitors
A new class of investigational medicines may help to treat patients with cancers driven by mutations in genes such as BRAF or KRAS/NRAS, including those patients who have become resistant to therapies that target BRAF directly, according to preclinical data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Intermittent treatment with vemurafenib may prevent lethal drug resistance in melanoma
Vemurafenib-resistant tumors in patients with melanoma showed reduced growth after cessation of treatment, and in animal models, drug resistance was prevented by intermittent treatment, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
First trial—investigating magic mushrooms as a treatment for depression—delayed by UK and EU regulations
The world's first clinical trial to explore the use of the hallucinogenic ingredient in magic mushrooms to treat depression is being delayed due to the UK and EU rules on the use of illegal drugs in research.
For older women, missed mammograms tied to worse breast cancer outcomes
(HealthDay)—Older women diagnosed with breast cancer years after their last mammogram, and those who never had a mammogram, have an increased risk of dying from their cancer, a new study suggests.
Possible predictive biomarker for patients who may respond to autophagy inhibitors
Autophagy, the process by which cells that are starved for food resort to chewing up their own damaged proteins and membranes and recycling them into fuel, has emerged as a key pathway that cancer cells use to survive in the face of assault by chemotherapy and radiation. Using drugs to shut down that survival mechanism shows great promise, especially when combined with targeted agents and standard chemotherapies, but until recently, it has been unclear which patients' cancers would respond to that combination therapy.
High-risk screening and high rate of follow up—patient navigators credited
Low-income and minority women screened for breast cancer at Capital Breast Cancer Center (CBCC) in Washington, DC, exceed national standards in their rate of medical follow-up after a positive mammogram, according to a small study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2013. Researchers credit CBCC patient navigators with playing a key role in ensuring high follow-up rates.
Nearly half of breast cancer patients at risk of having BRCA mutations not sent for genetic testing
Only 53 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who were at high risk of carrying a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation – based on age, diagnosis, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer – reported that their doctors urged them to be tested for the genes, according to a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Older patients have higher expectations and are more satisfied with healthcare
New research on patients' experiences of health services and how these relate to their expectations and satisfaction, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that older people have higher expectations of their care and that they believe that their expectations are being met. The research questions prevailing stereotypes that characterise older patients as being satisfied with their care because their expectations are lower.
Researchers identify transcription factors that regulate retinal vascularization
The retina is a highly vascularized tissue, but too much or too little vascularization can lead to visual impairment and diseases such as familial exudative vitreoretinopathy or macular degeneration.
$87 bn needed to fight AIDS, TB, malaria: report
The fight against HIV AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria will cost some $87 billion (67 billion euros) between 2014-16 if the three scourges are to be kept in check, a report showed Monday.
Non-invasive mapping helps to localize language centers before brain surgery
A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a study in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
'Extracellular vesicles' may open new opportunities for brain cancer diagnosis and treatment
The recent discovery of circulating "nano-sized extracellular vesicles" (EVs) carrying proteins and nucleic acids derived from brain tumors may lead to exciting new avenues for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, according to a special article in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Transcendental Meditation significantly reduces posttraumatic stress in African refugees
A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families. A randomized/matched study published today in the April 2013 issue of Journal of Traumatic Stress (Volume 26, Issue 2, pp. 295-298.) measured the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms in refugees in Africa before and after learning the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. The reductions were dramatic.
ACMG releases statement on noninvasive prenatal screening
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has just released an important new Policy Statement on "Noninvasive Prenatal Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy." The Statement can be found in the Publications section of the ACMG website at http://www.acmg.net and will soon be published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Genetics in Medicine.
Canada loses out on drug pricing, study says
Health systems worldwide are increasingly negotiating secret price rebates from pharmaceutical companies and Canadians risk losing out on the deal.
Hospital group says 'alarm fatigue' can be deadly
(AP)—Constantly beeping alarms in hospitals are being linked to patient deaths and other dangers in a new alert from the Joint Commission.
Pathological gambling is associated with age
Researchers of the Psychiatry and Mental Health research group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), in the Bellvitge University Hospital, have shown that patient age influences the onset of pathological gambling disorder and its clinical course. The study results were published in the Journal of Gambling Studies.
New Mayo software identifies and stratifies risk posed by lung nodules
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Mayo Clinic has developed a new software tool to noninvasively characterize pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of cancerous nodule in the lungs. Results from a pilot study of the computer-aided nodule assessment and risk yield (CANARY) are published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Traumatic brain injury worsens outcomes for those with nonepileptic seizures
A new study by a Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly increase the odds of having major depression, personality impulsivity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). The paper, by W. Curt LaFrance Jr., M.D., M.P.H., director of neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology, is published online in advance of print in the journal Epilepsia.
Diabetes patients need to be consulted to improve treatment
Patients with type 2 diabetes who tailor their own treatment in cooperation with their doctor can reduce their risk of complications such as heart attack with up to 20 percent. This is the result of a new Danish study from the Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen.
Roadmap to 25 percent reduction in premature deaths From RHD in the under 25s by 2025 published
The World Heart Federation has published a new position statement outlining the five key strategic targets required to meet its strategic goal for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – a 25% reduction in premature deaths from rheumatic fever (RF) and RHD among individuals aged
Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy enables patients with advanced colorectal cancer, liver metastasis to undergo surgery
New results from a clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to standard chemotherapy enables some patients with otherwise inoperable liver metastases due to colorectal cancer have their metastases surgically removed. Such surgery can be curative, and is generally critical to long-term survival. While this combination regimen is a standard treatment option for many patients with advanced colorectal cancer, this is the first randomized study to explore its impact on inoperable liver metastases.
Increased rates of hospitalization linked to elder abuse, researchers find
Older adults who are subject to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation face a greater risk of being hospitalized than other seniors, according to the results of a study published in the April 8 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.
Fewer unnecessary early deliveries seen in multistate, hospital-based study
A study published today in Obstetrics & Gynecology shows that multistate, hospital-based quality improvement programs can be remarkably effective at reducing early elective deliveries of babies.
Arrhythmia drug may increase cancer risk
One of the most widely used medications to treat arrhythmias may increase the risk of developing cancer, especially in men and people exposed to high amounts of the drug. That is the conclusion of a new retrospective study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results indicate that a potential link between amiodarone and cancer warrants further investigation.
Developmental delays in children following prolonged seizures
Researchers from the UK determined that developmental delays are present in children within six weeks following convulsive status epilepticus (CSE)—a seizure lasting longer than thirty minutes. The study appearing today in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), suggests that neurodevelopmental impairments continue to be present one year after CSE.
Higher mercury levels in humans associated with increased risk for diabetes
A new study found that higher levels of mercury exposure in young adults increased their risks for type 2 diabetes later in life by 65 percent. The study, led by Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington epidemiologist Ka He, is the first to establish the link between mercury and diabetes in humans.
Causes of migraines nearly impossible to determine
Women often point to stress, hormones, alcohol, or even the weather as possible triggers for their migraines. But a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that it is nearly impossible for patients to determine the true cause of their migraine episodes without undergoing formal experiments.
No proof China's H7N9 spreading between humans, WHO says
The World Health Organisation said Monday there is no evidence China's new H7N9 strain of bird flu is spreading between humans, as the death toll rose to seven and airline and tourism shares slumped.
New obesity, height genes identified
(Medical Xpress)—Busselton residents and researchers from The University of Western Australia have helped a worldwide scientific collaboration identify new genes associated with height and obesity.
How news about violence affects kids
Grim images of gun incidents spanning from Newtown, Conn., to Los Angeles have filled news reports of late, presenting a challenge for parents whose children are exposed to these events through the media—whether by television, newspaper or the Internet. And with discussions in the Senate to potentially ban assault weapons and boost funding for school security, gun violence is a topic that remains in the public eye.
Bushfire smoke poses health risks
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers are looking at how smoke from bushfires may pose risks to some people's health.
Mind over matter? Study reveals for the first time that core body temperature can be controlled by the brain
A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Maria Kozhevnikov from the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences showed, for the first time, that it is possible for core body temperature to be controlled by the brain. The scientists found that core body temperature increases can be achieved using certain meditation techniques (g-tummo) which could help in boosting immunity to fight infectious diseases or immunodeficiency.
South Africa rolls out new single dose AIDS drug
South Africa's health minister on Monday launched a new single dose anti-AIDs drug which will simplify the world's biggest HIV treatment regime to just one life-saving pill a day.
Researchers identify mutation that causes short-sightedness and hearing loss
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have identified a new disorder caused by a genetic mutation that leads to short sightedness and deafness. They say the new link between the two sensory problems could lead to better understanding of the disease mechanism of each.
Comprehensive genomic analysis identifies alterations in head and neck cancer that could lead to targeted therapy
Not all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have the same pattern of genomic alterations, but those cancers with certain distinctive patterns could be amenable to specific targeted therapies, according to a researcher who presented the data at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
More accurate markers identified for detecting response to epigenetic drugs for myelodysplastic syndromes
Researchers have identified and validated two DNA methylation markers that could help physicians to more accurately determine a patient's response to epigenetic drugs for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to Xiaojing Yang, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, who presented the data at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Bird flu mutation study offers vaccine clue
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have described small genetic changes that enable the H5N1 bird flu virus to replicate more easily in the noses of mammals.
BRAF mutation less common among patients with melanoma in Ireland
The BRAF mutation believed to drive disease in about half of patients with melanoma was found to occur at a significantly lower frequency in patients with melanoma in Ireland, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
New research shows how our bodies interact with our minds in response to fear and other emotions
New research has shown that the way our minds react to and process emotions such as fear can vary according to what is happening in other parts of our bodies.
KDM1 may represent a new therapeutic target for glioma
Researchers have generated preclinical data demonstrating that the protein KDM1, which functions as a lysine demethylase, is a potential target for glioma treatment, according to Gangadhara R. Sareddy, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Vadlamudi Laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, who presented the results at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
AKT inhibitor AZD5363 well tolerated, yielded partial response in patients with advanced solid tumors
The investigational drug AZD5363, which has shown activity in preclinical studies, was well tolerated in humans, and two patients with advanced solid tumors showed partial response, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Biomarkers discovered that may help predict response to drugs targeting KRAS-mutated NSCLC
Scientists have identified biomarkers that may help predict whether patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will respond to concurrent treatment with an MEK inhibitor and a PI3 kinase inhibitor, a drug combination currently being investigated in ongoing clinical trials. The discovery was made as part of a study presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10, by Aaron N. Hata, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Paragazole excels in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer
Breast cancers that lack estrogen receptors are more difficult to treat than ER+ cancers. Research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 demonstrates an investigational drug, Paragazole, that makes triple-negative breast cancer cells express estrogen receptors, and that increases the sensitivity of these cells to chemotherapy.
Kids given big plates help themselves to more food
(HealthDay)—Small kids who are given large plates and then allowed to serve themselves take more food and consume more calories, new research finds.
Frequent eating in kids tied to less weight gain
(HealthDay)—In what may seem a surprising finding, kids in a new study who ate more often over the course of a day were less likely to be overweight than their peers who ate the traditional three squares.
When teens focus on TV, obesity risk rises
(HealthDay)—It's not how much time teens spend watching TV but how intensely they watch that adds on the pounds, new research suggests.
Healthy doctors make healthy patients, study finds
Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers at the University of British Columbia and in Israel have discovered.
Autophagy-addicted breast cancers killed by anti-malaria drug, chloroquine
The process of autophagy cleans cells – they wrap up the bad stuff and then dispose of it. And so it stands to reason that inhibiting autophagy would make cancer cells less able to cleanse themselves of chemotherapy and so more susceptible to the drugs. That's what the traditional anti-malaria drug, chloroquine, does – it inhibits autophagy. Existing clinical trials are testing chloroquine/chemotherapy combinations against breast cancer.
Exploring lincRNA's role in breast cancer
Once considered part of the "junk" of our genome, much of the DNA between protein-coding genes is now known to be transcribed. New findings by scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified several dozen transcripts known as lincRNAs, or long intergenic non-coding RNAs, that are dysregulated in breast cancer. The results, to be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Monday, April 8, offer both a new research path for better understanding of how breast cancer works and a new method for identifying lincRNAs that may contribute to tumorigenesis or regulation of other cancers.
XL-184 (Cabozantinib) goes 12-for-12 in colorectal cancer explants
The novel c-MET and VEGFR2 inhibitor, XL-184 (Cabozantinib), resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth in 12 out of 12 colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived explants, with 8 of the explants exhibiting stable disease. The results of this preclinical work are presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013.
Protecting against aging at the molecular level
Research from Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute sheds new light on a gene called ATRX and its function in the brain and pituitary. Children born with ATRX syndrome have cognitive defects and developmental abnormalities. ATRX mutations have also been linked to brain tumors. Dr. Nathalie Bérubé, PhD, and her colleagues found mice developed without the ATRX gene had problems in in the forebrain, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory, and in the anterior pituitary which has a direct effect on body growth and metabolism. The mice, unexpectedly, also displayed shortened lifespan, cataracts, heart enlargement, reduced bone density, hypoglycemia; in short, many of the symptoms associated with aging. The research is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Link between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated
The relationship between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome may be exaggerated, likely because the women who actively seek care for the condition tend to be heavier than those identified through screening of the general population, researchers report.
Technique finds software bugs in surgical robots and helps developers fix flaws, ensure safety
Surgical robots could make some types of surgery safer and more effective, but proving that the software controlling these machines works as intended is problematic. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have demonstrated that methods for reliably detecting software bugs and ultimately verifying software safety can be applied successfully to this breed of robot.
Fatheads: How neurons protect themselves against excess fat
We're all fatheads. That is, our brain cells are packed with fat molecules, more of them than almost any other cell type. Still, if the brain cells' fat content gets too high, they'll be in trouble. In a recent study in mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins pinpointed an enzyme that keeps neurons' fat levels under control, and may be implicated in human neurological diseases. Their findings are published in the May 2013 issue of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Stillbirth rates have increased significantly, although spontaneous stillbirth rates have not
The rate of stillbirths in British Columbia, Canada, increased by 31% over a decade, although the rate of spontaneous stillbirths did not increase, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Researchers design drug to restore cell suicide in HPV-related head and neck cancer
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy.
Increased sleep could reduce rate of adolescent obesity
Increasing the number of hours of sleep adolescents get each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Results of the study show that fewer hours of sleep is associated with greater increases in adolescent body mass index (BMI) for participants between 14 and 18-years-old. The findings suggest that increasing sleep duration to 10 hours per day, especially for those in the upper half of the BMI distribution, could help to reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity. Full results of the study are available online in the latest issue of Pediatrics.
Study finds key to calling back-up help when tumor-fighter p53 goes down
Tumor suppression, the family business of the sibling genes p53, p63 and p73, is undermined from within by the split personalities of p63 and p73, which each produce protein forms that not only block the work of the other two genes but also shut down its own cancer-stifling fraternal twin.
Certain breast cancer patients may benefit from combined HER2 targeted therapy without chemotherapy
Is the era of targeted therapy for breast cancer at hand? It could be, said experts at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine – at least for a certain population of women.
Heart surgery increases death risk for cancer survivors who had radiation
Cancer survivors who had chest radiation are nearly twice as likely to die in the years after having major heart surgery as similar patients who didn't have radiation, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Alcohol consumption has no impact on breast cancer survival
Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease. In fact, a modest survival benefit was found in women who were moderate drinkers before and after diagnosis due to a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a major cause of mortality among breast cancer survivors.
Strict school meal standards associated with improved weight status among students
A study suggests that states with stricter school meal nutrition standards were associated with better weight status among students who received free or reduced-price lunches compared with students who did not eat school lunches, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics.
Month of birth impacts on immune system development
Newborn babies' immune system development and levels of vitamin D have been found to vary according to their month of birth, according to new research.
Newly discovered blood protein solves 60-year-old riddle
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have discovered a new protein that controls the presence of the Vel blood group antigen on our red blood cells. The discovery makes it possible to use simple DNA testing to find blood donors for patients who lack the Vel antigen and need a blood transfusion.
Protein's well-known cousin sheds light on its gout-linked relative
Johns Hopkins scientists have found out how a gout-linked genetic mutation contributes to the disease: by causing a breakdown in a cellular pump that clears an acidic waste product from the bloodstream. By comparing this protein pump to a related protein involved in cystic fibrosis, the researchers also identified a compound that partially repairs the pump in laboratory tests.
Study finds that hot and cold senses interact
A study from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine offers new insights into how the nervous system processes hot and cold temperatures. The research led by neuroscientist Mark J. Zylka, PhD, associate professor of cell biology and physiology, found an interaction between the neural circuits that detect hot and cold stimuli: cold perception is enhanced when nerve circuitry for heat is inactivated.
Researchers find avian virus may be harmful to cancer cells
A study at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine has identified a chicken-killing virus as a promising treatment for prostate cancer in humans.
A fly mutation suggests a new route for tackling ALS
A team of researchers, led by Marc Freeman, PhD, an early career scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Sustained stress heightens risk of miscarriage
Several studies have examined the impact of stress on a pregnancy – both chronic stress, such as workload, and acute stress associated with traumatic events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They conclude that stress can lead to adverse birth outcomes, including miscarriage and premature birth.
A hijacking of healthy cellular circuits
Proteins that control cell growth are often mutated in cancer, and their aberrant signaling drives the wild proliferation of cells that gives rise to tumors. One such protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fuels a wide variety of cancers—including a highly malignant brain cancer known as glioblastoma. Yet drugs devised to block its signaling tend to work only for a short while, until the cancer cells adapt to evade the therapy. So far, much of the research examining such drug resistance has focused on how mutations of other proteins in cancer cells allow them to resist drugs.
Smoking may negatively impact kidney function among adolescents
Exposure to tobacco smoke could negatively impact adolescent kidney function; this is according to a new study led by a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. They examined the association between exposure to active smoking and kidney function among U.S. adolescents and found the effects of tobacco smoke on kidney function begin in childhood. The results are featured in the April 2013 issue of Pediatrics.
Posture provides clue for future disability
The shape of an individual's spinal column may predict his or her risk for nursing home admission or need of home assistance in old age, according to a new article published online in the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.
Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being lazy, study finds
Studies show 97 percent of American adults get less than 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is the minimum recommended amount based on federal guidelines. New research from the University of Missouri suggests certain genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less motivated to exercise and remain active. Frank Booth, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, along with his post-doctoral fellow Michael Roberts, were able to selectively breed rats that exhibited traits of either extreme activity or extreme laziness. They say these rats indicate that genetics could play a role in exercise motivation, even in humans.
Debunking a myth: IUDs proven safe birth control for teenagers
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are as safe for teenagers – including those who have never given birth – as they are for adults, according to research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Minocycline, an antibiotic, improves behavior for children with fragile X syndrome
Minocycline, an older, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the tetracycline family, provides meaningful improvements as a therapeutic for children with fragile X syndrome, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. The finding is important, the researchers said, because minocycline is a targeted treatment for the condition that is readily available by prescription.
American College of Physicians releases new prostate cancer screening guidance statement
Men between the ages of 50 and 69 should discuss the limited benefits and substantial harms of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test with their doctor before undergoing screening for prostate cancer, according to new recommendations issued today by the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Doctors too pap-happy, survey suggests
(HealthDay)—Most primary care physicians advise women to get "Pap" tests for cervical cancer screening more often than clinical guidelines recommend, new research reveals.
Tapeworm-linked seizures may be rising in US, doctors say
(HealthDay)—Tapeworm infection in the brain that can trigger seizures is a growing health concern, doctors say.
Resveratrol has no effect in healthy obese men, study finds
(HealthDay)—Resveratrol appears not to have a metabolic effect in obese men, according to a study published in the April issue of Diabetes.
Acupuncture reduces pain of chronic low back discomfort
(HealthDay)—Individualized acupuncture treatment reduces some negative symptoms of chronic low back pain (cLBP) better than sham treatment, according to a study published in the April issue of Spine.
Lumbar disc herniation surgery is effective for octogenarians
(HealthDay)—For octogenarian patients with lumbar disc herniation, unilateral laminectomy and discectomy seems safe and effective, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques.
Cellular gatekeepers do more than open doors for drugs, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—The cellular gatekeepers that escort the most common pharmaceuticals into our cells continue to work within the cells as well, according to a UC San Francisco discovery that could transform drug design and lead to new ways to treat disease.
Further potential insight into the complex neuropathology of Down's syndrome
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Bristol have revealed new insight into the function of a key protein attributed to impaired learning and memory in Down's syndrome. The findings, published online in Nature Cell Biology, offer further molecular insight into how the reduced level of this key protein termed 'sorting nexin-27' [SNX27] may contribute to learning and memory problems associated with Down's syndrome.
Study reveals how melanoma evades chemotherapy
Nitric oxide (NO), a gas with many biological functions in healthy cells, can also help some cancer cells survive chemotherapy. A new study from MIT reveals one way in which this resistance may arise, and raises the possibility of weakening cancer cells by cutting off their supply of NO.
Neuroscientists show 'jumping genes' may contribute to aging-related brain defects
As the body ages, the physical effects are notable; wrinkles in the skin appear, physical exertion becomes harder. But there are also less visible processes going on. Inside aging brains there is another phenomenon at work, which may contribute to age-related brain defects.
Moving cells with light holds medical promise
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.
Copying is social phenomenon, not just learning, say scientists
Mimicking the behaviour of mum and dad has long been considered a vital way in which children learn about the world around them. Now psychologists at The University of Nottingham have shown that copying unnecessary behaviour is more likely to be a social phenomenon than part of the practical process of acquiring new skills.
Adding intestinal enzyme to diets of mice appears to prevent, treat metabolic syndrome
Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome – a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver – and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition. In their report published online in PNAS Early Edition, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators describe how dietary supplementation with intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) reduced the inflammation believed to underlie metabolic syndrome by blocking a toxic molecule found on the surface of many bacteria.
Penis size does matter to women, researchers say in PNAS study
The eternal question of whether penis size matters to women has been probed by a team of international scientists who reported on Monday that yes, ladies do find larger men more attractive.
Research advances therapy to protect against dengue virus
Nearly half of the world's population is at risk of infection by the dengue virus, yet there is no specific treatment for the disease. Now a therapy to protect people from the virus could finally be a step closer, thanks to a team at MIT.
New study finds plant proteins control chronic disease in Toxoplasma infections
A new discovery about the malaria-related parasite Toxoplasma gondii—which can threaten babies, AIDS patients, the elderly and others with weakened immune function—may help solve the mystery of how this single-celled parasite establishes life-long infections in people.
Optimal evidence accumulation in decision-making
(Medical Xpress)—At the same settings and light conditions, a camera will take the same picture every time. In contrast, a brain does not make perfect reconstructions of a stimulus. It appears instead to accumulate evidence over time, which it then fits to an evolving internal model. A group of Princeton researchers has sought to explain some aspects of how rats and humans might accumulate evidence in an experimental decision-making task. Publishing recently in Science, they present a method which they claim can reveal internal properties of the decision processes in the absence of any details about how that accumulator works. They further conclude that the accumulator, the memory of the rat or human subject, operates with zero noise.
Biology news
With a new diagnostic tool, veterinarians are demystifying feline heart disease
Cats hold their own counsel. Independent, solitary, even mysterious, they've long fascinated their owners with their aloofness. But the very qualities that appeal to their human companions can also make it difficult to tell when they're sick. One of the most common feline ailments, for example, is heart disease, which affects 10 to 15 percent of cats. All too often, though, the signs are noticed too late.
The snakelocks anemone, a marine species prized in cooking, has been bred for the first time in captivity
Researchers from Granada have managed to breed for the first time in captivity a marine animal known as the snakelocks anemone, (Anemonia sulcata), and have also begun breeding a species of sea cucumber (Sticophus regalis), although this process is still in its initial stages. Both species have great culinary potential and possess excellent nutritional properties. As well as these two species of marine invertebrates, the scientists have cultivated the edible saltmarsh plant Salicornia, also known as marsh samphire or sea asparagus.
India uses drones to fight rhino poaching
India said Monday it is deploying drones over a reserve to safeguard the rare one-horned rhino from poachers, the first time the country has employed aerial technology to protect wildlife.
Without birds, will Guam's forests look like Swiss cheese?
Ecologists and students from Rice University and the University of Guam will begin an ambitious four-year study this summer to examine how the loss of birds on Guam may be thinning the island's forests as fewer seeds are spread into open gaps.
Comprehensive protection required to save Hector's dolphin
(Phys.org) —New Zealand's heavily endangered Hector's dolphin population could recover if protection measures were extended out to 100m deep throughout its habitat, according to a new University of Otago review.
Protecting Aussie grapevines from new virus
(Phys.org) —University of Adelaide researchers are working to prevent the introduction into Australia of a potentially devastating new grapevine virus.
Plants communicate what type of light they want
Enormous amounts of energy are wasted in greenhouses where our food is grown as a result of the plants receiving too much and the wrong kind of light. This can also stress and damage the plants. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are working on a globally unique method to measure how much and what type of light plants want.
Acidifying oceans may be harmful to porcelain crabs
(Phys.org) —As the world's oceans soak up carbon dioxide from an atmosphere increasingly polluted by fossil fuels, seawater will become more acidic. Two new studies by San Francisco State University students suggest marine animals like the porcelain crab may not thrive over the long term under these highly acidic conditions.
Researchers propose new mechanism for cell membrane fission
A study led by the Membrane Nanomechanics group of the Biophysics Unit of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country has made it possible to characterise the functioning of a protein responsible for cell membrane splitting. The results of the study, published in the prestigious journal Science, make it possible to see the basic mechanisms of cell life from a fresh perspective, like the fusion and splitting of cell membranes. What is more, the methodology developed will allow various neuromuscular disorders to be diagnosed.
Birds find ways to avoid raising cuckoos' young
Some species of birds reproduce not by rearing their own young, but by handing that task on to adults of other species. Known as brood parasitism, this habit has been most thoroughly researched in the cuckoo. Previous research has found, however, that the nests of martins and swallows in Europe are rarely parasitized by cuckoos. A new study by Wen Liang from the Hainan Normal University in China and his colleagues suggests that swallows build their nests close to humans to reduce their susceptibility to brood parasitism. The findings are published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Flies with personality
(Phys.org) —Fruit flies may have more individuality and personality than we imagine.
Rare primate's vocal lip-smacks share features of human speech
The vocal lip-smacks that geladas use in friendly encounters have surprising similarities to human speech, according to a study reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 8th. The geladas, which live only in the remote mountains of Ethiopia, are the only nonhuman primate known to communicate with such a speech-like, undulating rhythm. Calls of other monkeys and apes are typically one or two syllables and lack those rapid fluctuations in pitch and volume.
No map, no problems for monarchs
Monarch butterflies have long been admired for their sense of direction, as they migrate from Canada and the United States to Mexico. According to new findings from a team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Guelph, the winged insects fly without a map, and use basic orientation and landmarks to find their way to their wintering sites, thousands of miles away.
Surprising predictor of ecosystem chemistry
Carnegie scientists have found that the plant species making up an ecosystem are better predictors of ecosystem chemistry than environmental conditions such as terrain, geology, or altitude. This is the first study using a new, high-resolution airborne, chemical-detecting instrument to map multiple ecosystem chemicals. The result, published in the April 8, 2013, Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a key step toward understanding how species composition affects carbon, nitrogen and other nutrient cycling, and the effects of climate change, land use, and other ecosystem pressures.
'Pharmaceutical' approach boosts oil production from algae
Taking an approach similar to that used for discovering new therapeutic drugs, chemists at the University of California, Davis, have found several compounds that can boost oil production by green microscopic algae, a potential source of biodiesel and other "green" fuels. The work appears online in the journal Chemical Biology.
New pathways in bacterial intercellular competition uncovered
(Phys.org) —There's an epic battle taking place that's not on the national radar: intercellular competition. While it's not an Olympic event, new research from UC Santa Barbara demonstrates that this microscopic rivalry can be just as fierce as humans going for the gold.
The ethics of resurrecting extinct species
(Phys.org) —At some point, scientists may be able to bring back extinct animals, and perhaps early humans, raising questions of ethics and environmental disruption.
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