Short Video on Multiphysics Simulation
The Phys.org team would like to share a short video about simulation from our current sponsor, COMSOL.
In this overview you will see how COMSOL Multiphysics software allows you to add and couple any physical effects in your designs. http://goo.gl/wKybK
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 9, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers measure Brazil nut effect in reduced gravity- A step toward optical transistors? Study demonstrates new way to control light in semiconductor nanocrystals
- Retired star found with planets and debris disc
- Sea urchins cope with rising CO2 levels
- Advancing secure communications: A better single-photon emitter for quantum cryptography
- Flexible electronics could transform the way we make and use electronic devices
- Single photon from a quantum emitter? It's a matter of timing...
- Thames Water, 2OC will deliver power from London's fatbergs
- The Fat Chip: Controlling obesity the smart way
- 'Spooky action at a distance' aboard the ISS
- Google superfast Internet service heads to Texas (Update)
- High pressure gold nanocrystal structure revealed
- Breakthrough in nanotechnology imaging under extremely high pressures
- The search for new antibiotics: Tiny proteins prevent bacterial gene transcription
- Researchers create next-generation Alzheimer's disease model
Space & Earth news
Petrobras fined $5 million for oil spill off Sao Paulo coast
Brazil's state-run energy giant Petrobas has been ordered to pay a fine of $5 million over an oil spill that fouled several beaches along Sao Paulo state's coast, authorities said Monday.
Brazil allows Chevron to resume oil exploration after spill
Chevron was given the green light to resume oil exploration in Brazil following a massive 2011 spill which led to the US oil giant halting its activities, authorities said Monday.
Irrigation wastewater can help salvage damaged soils
Agricultural producers on the west side of California's San Joaquin Valley (WSJV) used to drain irrigation wastewater into Kesterson Reservoir, a series of holding ponds that were part of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. But selenium levels in the water became hazardous to waterfowl, so the storage facility was closed in 1987. Since then, farmers have been keeping the wastewater—which also contains salt and traces of arsenic, boron, and molybdenum—in evaporation ponds on their own land, which takes around 10 percent of the crop land out of production.
Image: Great Sandy Desert, Australia
(Phys.org) —In northwest Australia, the Great Sandy Desert holds great geological interest as a zone of active sand dune movement. While a variety of dune forms appear across the region, this astronaut photograph features numerous linear dunes (about 25 meters high) separated in a roughly regular fashion (0.5 to 1.5 kilometers apart).
Spring rains bring life to Midwest granaries but foster Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone'
The most serious ongoing water pollution problem in the Gulf of Mexico originates not from oil rigs, as many people believe, but rainstorms and fields of corn and soybeans a thousand miles away in the Midwest. An expert on that problem—the infamous Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone"—today called for greater awareness of the connections between rainfall and agriculture in the Midwest and the increasingly severe water quality problems in the gulf.
Land degradation causes up to 5% loss in farm output
Loss of land through desertification and drought costs up to five percent of world agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP), or some $450 billion (340 billion euros), every year, said a study presented at a UN conference Tuesday.
Galaxy collisions
Collisions between galaxies are common. Indeed, most galaxies have probably been involved in one or more encounters during their lifetimes. One example is our own Milky Way, which is bound by gravity to the Andromeda galaxy, our neighbor, and towards which we are approaching at a speed of about 50 kilometers per second, perhaps to meet in another billion years or so. Galaxy-galaxy interactions are thought to stimulate vigorous star formation because the encounters somehow induce the interstellar gas to condense into stars. These stimulated starbursts in turn light up the galaxies, especially at infrared wavelengths, making some systems hundreds or even thousands of times brighter than the Milky Way while they are active. Many of the massive stars that are produced become supernovae whose explosive deaths enrich the environment with carbon, oxygen, and all the other elements that are essential for life. Interacting galaxies are important not only in shedding light on how ga! laxies evolve, form stars, and seed the interstellar medium, but because they can be very bright and seen across cosmological distances.
NASA celebrates four decades of plucky Pioneer 11
Forty years ago, on April 5, 1973, a small, ambitious spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, heading towards the third-brightest point of light in the night sky. Following in the footsteps of its sister craft, Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11 was intended as a backup for the dangerous mission. A single additional instrument, a Flux-Gate Magnetometer, was the only difference between Pioneer 11 and the craft that had already become the first human-made object to leave the inner solar system and was well on its journey to the first and most massive of the gas giant planets, Jupiter.
A detailed look at the coma of comet PANSTARRS
Comet PANSTARRS has peaked, but astronomers are still keeping an eye on this comet to try and determine what its future might hold. The team from the Remanzacco Observatory has just produced some really interesting views of Comet PANSTARRS, with a little help from Martino Nicolini and his Astroart software.
Polluting plastic particles invade the Great Lakes
Floating plastic debris—which helps populate the infamous "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" in the Pacific Ocean—has become a problem in the Great Lakes, the largest body of fresh water in the world. Scientists reported on the latest findings from the Great Lakes here today at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.
Pioneering study calculates Arctic Ocean nutrient budget
The first study of its kind to calculate the amount of nutrients entering and leaving the Arctic Ocean has been carried out by scientists based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
Sea level rise: Jeopardy for terrestrial biodiversity on islands
Model calculations predict a sea level rise of about one meter by the end of this century and of up to five and a half meters by the year 2500. Until now there are few studies on the potential impacts of a rising sea level on biodiversity. Florian Wetzel and colleagues of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna together with Walter Jetz of Yale University, USA have now published modelling results for the Southeast Asia and Pacific regions. Their results show that many terrestrial vertebrates are vulnerable to sea level rise and the risk of extinction is highest for endemics found only on certain islands and already endangered species. Their findings are published online in the journal Global Change Biology.
New chart shows the entire topography of the Antarctic seafloor in detail for the first time
Reliable information on the depth and floor structure of the Southern Ocean has so far been available for only few coastal regions of the Antarctic. An international team of scientists under the leadership of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, has for the first time succeeded in creating a digital map of the entire Antarctic seafloor. The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) for the first time shows the detailed topography of the seafloor for the entire area south of 60°S. An article presented to the scientific world by IBCSO has now appeared online in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Urban grass might be greener, but that doesn't mean it's 'greener'
New research from the University of Cincinnati shows how some things you do to make your lawn green might not be conducive to "going green."
Satellite sandwich technique improves analysis of geographical data
Combining parallel data from separate satellites can be like trying to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Trouble in penguin paradise? Research analyzes Antarctic ice flow
University of Cincinnati student Shujie Wang has discovered that a good way to monitor the environmental health of Antarctica is to go with the flow – the ice flow, that is.
Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable
Wetlands serve as the Earth's kidneys. They filter and clean people's water supplies while serving as important habitat for many species, including iconic species like cattails, cranes and alligators. Conventional ecosystem health assessments have focused on populations of these larger species. However, the tiny, unseen creatures in the wetlands provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health in a study by University of Missouri Associate Professor of Engineering Zhiqiang Hu and his team. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter human's wastewater.
Characterizing the Moon's radiation environment
The radiation environment near the Moon could be damaging to humans and electronics on future missions. To characterize this potentially hazardous environment, the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which orbits at 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the Moon's surface, measures the radiation that would be absorbed by either electronic parts or human tissue behind the shielding of a spacecraft.
Retired star found with planets and debris disc
(Phys.org) —ESA's Herschel space observatory has provided the first images of a dust belt – produced by colliding comets or asteroids – orbiting a subgiant star known to host a planetary system. The team of scientists who made the discovery publishes their results in the Oxford University Press journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Technology news
Austin next city for ultra-fast Google Fiber (Update)
(AP)—Google Inc. says tech-savvy Austin will be the next city to receive the search giant's ultra-fast Internet service starting next year.
Chinese report on labor camp fuels reform debate
(AP)—A Chinese magazine's report on abuses at a notorious labor camp is giving reformers added ammunition in a campaign to abolish a part of the penal system that China's government says needs change.
US safety board probes case of texting pilot
(AP)—The pilot of a medical helicopter that ran out of fuel and crashed, killing four people, was distracted by text messages when he should have been conducting pre-flight checks, U.S. accident investigators said Tuesday.
NREL launches initiative to build solar performance database
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched an initiative to build an open-source database of real-world performance from solar facilities across the country. As part of DOE's SunShot Initiative, the Open Solar Performance and Reliability Clearinghouse (O-SPaRC) will give the private market tools to develop investment vehicles to tap low-cost public capital.
Hundreds of Amazon workers in Germany demonstrate
Hundreds of workers at the biggest German-based site of online retailer Amazon demonstrated on Tuesday, according to a trade union which plans strike action over better working conditions.
Art exhibit pushes boundaries of online privacy
Image after image splashes on the wall of the art exhibit—a snapshot of young people laughing and drinking, a picture of an elephant, an exposed belly of a woman barely covering her breasts with one arm. The photos were taken from their computers without their knowledge through a technological glitch.
US lawmakers offer cybersecurity olive branch
Backers of a cybersecurity bill which stalled in Congress last year offered changes in an effort to ease concerns of privacy and civil liberties activists.
India's Wipro shares dive after business split
Shares in India's third-biggest software firm Wipro tumbled more than 11 percent on Tuesday, its first day of trading as a standalone IT company since it hived off other businesses into a separate unit.
'Don't despair, repair' - keeping electronics in austerity Britain
An innovative project in London is helping people to prolong the life of their electronic devices by repairing them and encouraging others to do learn to do the same.
Google's Android target of new antitrust complaint (Update)
A group of companies led by Microsoft have called on European authorities to launch an antitrust investigation into Google's dominance of Internet usage on mobile devices.
New wind harvesting invention to bring cities to life
Is this what the cities of the future will look like? Towering skyscrapers fitted with softly rotating panelled windows that harness wind energy and convert it into electricity? It is if Professor Farzad Safaei has anything to do with it.
Microsoft escalates advertising assault on Google
Microsoft is skewering Google again with ads and regulatory barbs that say as much about the dramatic shift in the technology industry's competitive landscape as they do about the animosity between the two rivals.
One screen not enough for US viewers, survey finds
American television viewers are increasingly finding that one screen won't do: almost all have a second-screen device and 87 percent use it while watching shows, a survey said Tuesday.
US Navy readies 'laser attack' weapon in 2014
The US Navy said it is preparing to roll out a sea-based laser weapon capable of disabling small enemy vessels and shooting down surveillance drones.
LulzSec hacker pleads guilty to cyberattacks
A British computer hacker affiliated to the group Lulz Security pleaded guilty Tuesday to cyberattacks on institutions including Sony, Britain's National Health Service and Rupert Murdoch's News International.
Google superfast Internet service heads to Texas (Update)
Google announced Tuesday that its experimental superfast Internet service will spread to Austin, the Texas home of a South By Southwest festival beloved by technology trendsetters.
Thames Water, 2OC will deliver power from London's fatbergs
(Phys.org) —From fish and chips to pork pies, some of London's tastiest foods create unappetizing and costly fat and oil buildups in drains. These fatbergs, as they are dubbed, end up in the city sewers system. A fatberg is a hefty clump of congealed fat and cooking oil, but also intertwined with other materials passing through the sewers. Leaders at two companies have a plan that, while not making lemonade out of lemons, will do even better, making energy out of leftover fat. Fat and oil from restaurants and build-ups in drains will find re-use as a result of an ambitious plan, it was announced on Sunday. The grease will be fed into what is claimed to be the world's largest fat-fueled power station, at Beckton in east London, to be run by energy company, 2OC.
Medicine & Health news
Thinking you're old and frail
Older adults who categorise themselves as old and frail encourage attitudinal and behavioural confirmation of that identity.
Pre-pregnancy body fat, in-pregnancy weight gain, gestational diabetes combine to increase risk of high birthweight
A new study shows that a woman's pre-pregnancy body fat (adiposity), in-pregnancy weight gain, and presence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can all combine to steeply increase the risk of giving birth to large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies to different degrees in white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, White Hispanic, and Asian women, with the highest combined risk being in White non-Hispanic women. The research is published in the journal Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) and is led by Dr Katherine Bowers and Dr Cuilin Zhang at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (USA), and colleagues.
Birch juice season takes Latvia by storm
As spring melts away a long winter deep in Latvia's vast forests, the stillness is almost imperceptibly broken by a rhythmic drip, drip, drip.
China to vaccinate 90,000 pigeons against bird flu
An association of pigeon enthusiasts plans to vaccinate up to 90,000 of the birds in eastern China to help ward off the spread of the latest avian flu.
Majority of Americans now favor legalizing marijuana
(HealthDay)—A majority of Americans (52 percent) now favor legalizing marijuana, and 72 percent feel that the government efforts to enforce marijuana laws are not worth their cost, according to research published by the Pew Research Center.
Baby Lake doing fine 5 months after exit procedure
(AP)—Lake Annabelle Hall wouldn't be alive today if doctors at Children's Hospital of Colorado hadn't operated on a cyst on her left lung before she was born.
Europe-wide pollen count map unveiled
In future there could be precise, personal travel warnings for hay fever sufferers covering the whole of Europe. The pollen warning service of the MedUni Vienna is working on a pollen count map in order to be better able to warn hay fever sufferers. This is being reported by Katharina Bastl from the University Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases of the MedUni Vienna on the occasion of the coming international Allergy Week (8-14 April).
New treatment holds promise for resistant lung cancer
A new chemotherapy regimen appears to produce minimal side effects in patients with lung cancer that has not responded to previous therapy, paving the way for additional research to determine if the new regimen also helps shrink tumors, according findings to be presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Tuesday, April 9.
Copper surfaces reduce the rate of health care-acquired infections
Placement of copper objects in intensive care unit (ICU) hospital rooms reduced the number of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) in patients by more than half, according to a new study published in the May issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, in a special topic issue focused on the role of the environment in infection prevention.
Removal of hypothalamic hamartoma curbs compulsive eating and excessive weight gain
Neurosurgeons at the University of Texas–Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (Houston, Texas) report on the success they achieved when they removed a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) from a 10-year-old girl to combat hyperphagia (excessive appetite and compulsive overeating) and consequent unhealthy weight gain. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time resection of an HH was performed for this particular reason. Findings in this case are reported and discussed in "Successful treatment of hyperphagia by resection of a hypothalamic hamartoma. Case report," by Yoshua Esquenazi, M.D., David I. Sandberg, M.D., and Harold L. Rekate, M.D., published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.
First genetic factor in prostate cancer prognosis identified
Patients with prostate cancer and hereditary mutations in the BRCA2 gene have a worse prognosis and lower survival rates than do the rest of the patients with the disease. This is the main conclusion to come out of a study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, in which David Olmos, Head of the Prostate Cancer and Genitourinary Tumours Clinical Research Unit at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), has taken part in, along with Elena Castro, a member of the Unit, and British researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Decontamination of unused medical supplies reduces health-care costs
In rooms of patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), the outside of the packages containing sterile items can become contaminated. Unused medical supplies are often thrown away to prevent the items from becoming pathways for transmission of drug-resistant microbes, and in the process this leads to increased healthcare costs. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital found that hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) is an effective way to sanitize the outside of the packages of these sterile supplies.
Rigosertib Phase 1 results lead to disease-focused Phase 2 development
Results of a phase 1 clinical trial reported at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual conference show that orally administered Rigosertib is well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors. This is the first trial in which orally administered Rigosertib, a dual kinase inhibitor, was studied in solid tumors. Intravenously rigosertib is already in phase 3 clinical trials for myelodysplastic syndrome and pancreatic cancer and oral rigosertib is being studied in a pair of Phase II trials in lower-risk transfusion dependent MDS patients. The drug candidate is being developed by Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., of Pennington, NJ.
Chronic pain ranks well below drug addiction as a major health problem in new poll
A new national public opinion poll commissioned by Research!America shows only 18% of respondents believe chronic pain is a major health problem, even though a majority of Americans (63%) say they know someone who experienced pain so severe that they sought prescription medicines to treat it. Chronic pain conditions affect about 100 million U.S. adults at a cost of approximately $600 billion annually in direct medical treatment costs and lost productivity.
Is medical therapy a better and safer choice than angioplasty
The decision to perform an invasive procedure to open clogged arteries in the heart instead of first trying medication and lifestyle changes may not reduce a patient's risk of death or of a major cardiac event. Unnecessary procedures to treat chronic, stable heart disease contribute to rising health care costs. A targeted approach to avoiding this kind of overutilization by instead relying on evidence-based decision-making is presented in Population Health Management, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Population Health Management website at http://www.liebertpub.com/bari.
Quantifying heterogeneity in breast cancer
A variety of mutations may give rise to breast cancer, but scientists generally assume that it starts off with just a few. That's because later-stage breast cancers tend to have more mutations—they are more heterogeneous—than early stage cancers. Now, new findings by scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center demonstrate heterogeneity is prevalent even within legions of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common, earliest stage non-invasive breast cancer (stage 0). The results, to be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Tuesday, April 9, suggest that a multiple-target approach to diagnosis and therapy may be needed to fight breast cancer from the very start.
Few to no work efficiencies when different providers read different scans on same patient
According to a new study published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, any efficiencies in physician interpretation and diagnosis gained when different providers interpret different medical imaging scans performed on the same patient are minute and vary by procedure.
Clinical trial results for BIND-014 presented at AACR 2013
The nanoparticle drug BIND-014 is effective against multiple solid tumors, according to results generated by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, and presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013.
Fat cells prolong survival of human stem cells grown in vitro
One of the main obstacles that stands in the way of using human hematopoietic stem cells (hHSCs) to treat a variety of diseases is the difficulty growing them in culture—they quickly die or differentiate into other cell types. A series of experiments that demonstrate the successful use of fat cells as part of a feeder layer to support prolonged growth of hHSCs in culture is reported in an article in BioResearch Open Access.
Defining the scope of skills for family medicine residencies
Medical school graduates entering one family medicine residency program might receive training that is markedly different than another family medicine residency program. While these new medical school graduates, called residents, will gain the clinical knowledge needed to practice medicine, their scope of skills depend on their specific experiences as residents. A team of healthcare professionals from the Family Medicine Residency Program at Tufts University School of Medicine have published a paper in the Journal of Graduate Medical Education that suggests a way to evaluate family medicine residents based on their level of competency.
Study suggests federal guidelines for treating teen PID need clarification
A Johns Hopkins Children's Center survey of 102 clinicians who treat teenage girls with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has found that official guidelines designed to inform decisions about hospitalization versus outpatient care leave some clinicians scratching their heads.
SAfrica: H7N1 bird flu found in ostrich farm
(AP)—South African officials say they have detected bird flu on an ostrich farm but that it is unrelated to the strain that has killed eight people in China.
Vet drug bute found in British corned beef
British supermarket chain Asda on Tuesday recalled all of its budget corned beef range after veterinary drug phenylbutazone was found in some samples.
New guidelines for writing abstracts will help authors summarise their research
A new extension to the PRISMA guideline on reporting systemic reviews and meta-analyses (types of studies that analyse information from many studies) will help authors to give a more robust summary (abstract) of their study and is detailed by an international group of researchers in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Risk of comorbidities up with hypoglycemia in T2DM
(HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia, regardless of its severity, correlates with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause hospitalization, and mortality, according to research published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
Reframing stress: Stage fright can be your friend
Fear of public speaking tops death and spiders as the nation's number one phobia. But new research shows that learning to rethink the way we view our shaky hands, pounding heart, and sweaty palms can help people perform better both mentally and physically.
Short daily walk might help teen smokers cut down or quit, study says
Teenagers who increased the days on which they got just 20 minutes of exercise were able to cut down on their smoking habit. And teenage smokers were more likely to quit altogether if they participated in a smoking cessation/fitness program—and they ramped up the days on which they got at least 30 minutes of physical activity, according to a study published online April 9.
Google searches about mental illness follow seasonal patterns
A new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that Google searches for information across all major mental illnesses and problems followed seasonal patterns, suggesting mental illness may be more strongly linked with seasonal patterns than previously thought.
Robot hot among surgeons but FDA taking a new look
The biggest thing in operating rooms these days is a million-dollar, multi-armed robot named da Vinci, used in nearly 400,000 surgeries nationwide last year—triple the number just four years earlier.
Cambodia fights surge in bird flu deaths
As China scrambles to contain a deadly new strain of bird flu, Cambodia is battling a spike in the better known H5N1 strain that is baffling experts a decade after a major outbreak began in Asia.
Vietnam reports first bird flu death in 14 months
A four-year-old child has become Vietnam's first victim of the H5N1 bird flu virus in more than a year, a health worker said on Tuesday, amid growing regional concerns about the virulent disease.
China bird flu outbreak spurs food safety fears
China's bird flu outbreak is "devastating" poultry sales, an industry group said Tuesday, as the H7N9 virus which has killed seven people triggered a new food safety scare.
Delayed allergy reactions seen with pediatric meat consumption
(HealthDay)—Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody specific for galactose-α1,3-galactose (α-Gal), which is associated with delayed anaphylaxis and urticaria that occurs several hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb, has been identified in children reporting idiopathic anaphylaxis or urticaria, according to a study published online April 8 in Pediatrics.
Plastic chemical may expose foetuses to cancer (Update)
France said Tuesday it would call for Europe-wide controls on a paper product containing bisphenol A after a watchdog agency said the widely-used chemical may expose unborn children to breast cancer later in life.
Fish oil cuts heart risk for middle-aged overweight men
(Medical Xpress)—A daily dose of fish oil may be good for a healthier heart in overweight, middle-aged men, according to researchers at The University of Western Australia.
New brain cancer treatment may be more effective, less toxic
(Medical Xpress)—A Phase 2 clinical trial testing a new protocol for treating a relatively rare form of brain cancer, primary CNS lymphoma, may change the standard of care for this disease, according to doctors at UC San Francisco who led the research.
Researchers help find new therapeutic target for treating traumatic brain injury
(Medical Xpress)—A research team including members of the Department of Bioengineering in the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science has discovered that drug intervention to reduce intercellular signaling between astrocytes following traumatic brain injury reduces cognitive deficits and damage.
Cartilage restored using imitation human tissue: End of expensive knee implants in sight
More than one million people in the Netherlands suffer from painful joints. This is due to the wear and tear of cartilage caused by trauma, aging or diseases such as osteoarthritis. Cartilage is the tissue that protects bones when the body is in motion. Wear and tear makes joints feel stiff and painful during movement. In the course of his PhD research, Jos Wennink of the University of Twente studied ways of restoring worn cartilage, through the use of new injectable materials.
Some melanoma survivors still use tanning beds, skip sunscreen
Although most survivors of melanoma take precautions to protect their skin from the sun and further occurrences of cancer, data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10, revealed that more than a quarter do not use sunscreen when outside for more than an hour, and more than 2 percent still use tanning beds.
Patients with BRCA1 mutations, but not BRCA2 mutations, had poorer prognosis compared with noncarriers
Patients with breast cancer who had a BRCA1 mutation had significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival rates compared with patients without BRCA mutations, but no evidence for a difference in survival was found between patients with BRCA2 mutations and those without a BRCA mutation, according to data from a large Dutch study presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Novel AKT pathway inhibitor, ARQ 092, demonstrated safety, effective target inhibition
Researchers have confirmed that the novel oral agent ARQ 092 inhibits the AKT pathway and has a manageable safety profile in patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors, according to phase I data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Monday's medical myth: You lose most heat through your head
As the weather starts to cool down and winter clothes enter rotation in our wardrobes, some peculiar combinations emerge: shorts and scarves; thongs and jackets; T-shirts and beanies. The last is often explained with an old saying: you lose most of your head through your head. But, in fact, scientists know this to be untrue.
Legal high Benzo Fury may be dangerous due to stimulant and hallucinogenic effects
The 'legal high' known as Benzo Fury may have stimulant as well as hallucinogenic effects according to new research presented at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience today (Tuesday 9 April 2013).
Digitally aged photos encourage young smokers to quit
Showing young people computer-generated images illustrating the effects of smoking on their appearance later in life may encourage them to quit, a new study has found.
Rosemary aroma may help you remember to do things
The aroma of rosemary essential oil may improve prospective memory in healthy adults. This is the finding of a study conducted by Jemma McCready and Dr Mark Moss from the University of Northumbria. The findings presented today, Tuesday 9 April, at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Harrogate, suggest that this essential oil may enhance the ability to remember events and to remember to complete tasks at particular times in the future.
Researchers show that a promising drug can help prevent head and neck cancers
Head and neck cancers typically begin in squamous cells that line moist surfaces inside the mouth, nose and throat. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States, and it is sometimes preceded by the appearance of changes inside the oral cavity called precancerous lesions. The most common type of change is a white patch known as a leukoplakia. Because it often takes decades for leukoplakias to develop into HNSCC, there is a window of opportunity to recognize and revert precancerous changes, thus preventing this type of cancer.
Currently approved drugs found effective in laboratory mice against bioterror threats
In the most extensive screen of its kind, Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio have demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing already-approved drugs for use against highly pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The pathogens included emerging diseases and potential bioterror threats ranging from anthrax to the Marburg and Ebola viruses.
One-two punch could be key in treating blindness
Researchers have discovered that using two kinds of therapy in tandem may be a knockout combo against inherited disorders that cause blindness. While their study focused on man's best friend, the treatment could help restore vision in people, too.
Misregulated genes common to tobacco-related cancers offer potential new prognostic tool
Believe it or not, while researchers have explored which genes are mutated in each type of tobacco-associated cancer, until now no one had thought to look across these types for common genes that might predict patient outcomes. Results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 show that in lung and bladder cancers, genes related to the regulation of the cell cycle are associated with poor patient outcomes.
Ranibizumab may prevent retinal detachment side effect
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), or the formation of scar tissue in the eye, is a serious, sight-threatening complication in people recovering from surgical repair of retinal detachment. PVR is difficult to predict, lacks effective treatment options, and substantially reduces an individual's quality of life. Each year 55,000 people are at risk for developing PVR in the United States alone.
New target plus new drug equals death of melanoma cells
Collaborative research presented by the University of Colorado Cancer Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Harvard Medical School and the University of Pittsburgh, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Conference, shows that the protein receptor Mer is overexpressed in melanoma and that the investigational drug UNC1062 blocks Mer survival signaling in these cells, killing them.
Little molecule makes big difference in bladder cancer metastasis
In order to kill, bladder cancer must metastasize, most commonly to the lung – what are the differences between bladder cancers that do and do not make this deadly transition? Research presented by the Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 shows that one big difference is a little molecule known as hsa-miR-146a.
K9 osteosarcoma samples identify drivers of metastasis in pediatric bone cancer
Human osteosarcoma samples are hard to come by, making the disease difficult to study. However, K9 bone cancer is genetically indistinguishable from the human form of the disease, and over 10,000 canine patients develop the disease every year. Research from the University of Colorado Cancer Center and the Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 used easily available K9 osteosarcoma samples to discover a novel protein that governs metastasis and chemoresistance in pediatric osteosarcoma.
Omega-3 fatty acids more effective at inhibiting growth of triple-negative breast cancer
Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolite products slow or stop the proliferation, or growth in the number of cells, of triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively than cells from luminal types of the disease. The omega-3s worked against all types of cancerous cells, but the effect was observed to be stronger in triple-negative cell lines, reducing proliferation by as much as 90 percent. The findings will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Tuesday, April 9.
Six2 homeoprotein allows breast cancer cells to detach and metastasize
In results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center show that the Six2 homeoprotein, while not involved in primary tumor growth, allows cells to detach from substrate and survive their transition through the bloodstream to faraway sites of metastasis.
Indo-Canadian student gives boost to cancer treatment (Update)
A Canadian high school student has improved an ineffective experimental cancer therapy with a simple tweak—pairing it with antibiotics—earning accolades Tuesday from a panel of eminent scientists.
Dedicated cleaning staff shown to reduce C. difficile contamination in hospital rooms
With rates and deaths associated with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) at historically high levels, many hospitals have taken extra steps to reduce these infections. New research finds that a dedicated daily cleaning crew who adequately clean and disinfect rooms contaminated by C. difficile using a standardized process can be more effective than other disinfection interventions. The study is published in the May issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), in a special topic issue focused on the role of the environment in infection prevention.
Researchers identify gene variations that predict chemotherapy side effects
Seemingly benign differences in genetic code from one person to the next could influence who develops side effects to chemotherapy, a Mayo Clinic study has found. The study identified gene variations that can predispose people to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a condition that is hard to predict and often debilitating enough to cause cancer patients to stop their treatment early. Results of the research were presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Many Americans skipping meds to save money, CDC says
(HealthDay)—Cash-strapped Americans often skip doses of pricey prescription drugs or take less than was prescribed by their doctor, new research shows.
New bird flu no immediate threat, US experts say
(HealthDay)—At this point, there's no reason to believe that the emerging H7N9 strain of bird flu that has sickened at least 24 people and killed seven in China is cause for alarm, health officials in the United States say.
New study shows meditating before lecture leads to better grades
(Medical Xpress)—Practicing a little Zen before class can lead to better grades, according to a new experimental study by George Mason University professor Robert Youmans and University of Illinois doctoral student Jared Ramsburg.
New evidence that natural substances in green coffee beans help control blood sugar levels
Scientists today described evidence that natural substances extracted from unroasted coffee beans can help control the elevated blood sugar levels and body weight that underpin type 2 diabetes. Their presentation on chlorogenic acids—widely available as a dietary supplement—was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held here this week.
25 percent don't complete recommended breast cancer treatment
One-quarter of women who should take hormone-blocking therapies as part of their breast cancer treatment either do not start or do not complete the five-year course, according to a new study led by University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers.
The relationship between prenatal stress and obesity is confirmed in rats
The intrauterine environment plays an important role in the health of the offspring. Now, experts from the University of Navarra affirm that the mother's stress, due to socio-economic or psycho-social causes, is associated with the development of pathologies related with obesity.
System provides clear brain scans of awake, unrestrained mice
Setting a mouse free to roam might alarm most people, but not so for nuclear imaging researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Maryland who have developed a new imaging system for mouse brain studies.
Producing new neurones under all circumstances: A challenge that is just a mouse away
Improving neurone production in elderly persons presenting with a decline in cognition is a major challenge facing an ageing society and the emergence of neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. INSERM and CEA researchers recently showed that the pharmacological blocking of the TGFβ molecule improves the production of new neurones in the mouse model.
Low on self-control? Surrounding yourself with strong-willed friends may help
the resolve to skip happy hour and go to the gym instead, to finish a report before checking Facebook, to say no to the last piece of chocolate cake. Though many struggle to resist those temptations, new research suggests that people with low self-control prefer and depend on people with high self-control, possibly as a way to make up for the skills they themselves lack.
'Diseases of affluence' spreading to poorer countries
High blood pressure and obesity are no longer confined to wealthy countries, a new study has found. These health risks have traditionally been associated with affluence, and in 1980, they were more prevalent in countries with a higher income.
Success in patients with major depression: For the first time, physicians stimulated patients' medial forebrain bundles
Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression with amazing results: In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly. The method of Deep Brain Stimulation had already been tested on various structures within the brain, but with clearly lesser effect. The results of this new study have now been published in the renowned international journal Biological Psychiatry.
New technology spots drugs' early impact on cancer
A new preclinical technology enables researchers to quickly determine if a particular treatment is effective against gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), providing a boost to animal research and possibly patient care, according to new findings presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Tuesday, April 9.
Researchers identify critical metabolic alterations in triple-negative breast cancer cells
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified a host of small molecules critical to metabolism in cells of triple-negative breast cancer—one of the least understood groups of breast cancer. These molecules, called metabolites, include key players in energy regulation and lipid synthesis. They could help pave the way for helping researchers differentiate among different forms of the disease and ultimately point to new targets for treatment.
Excess estrogen in pregnancy can silence BRCA1 in daughters, increasing breast cancer risk
Excess estrogen levels during pregnancy can disable, in their daughters, a powerful breast cancer tumor suppressor gene, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. They found the DNA repair gene BRCA1 to be silenced in one year-old girls exposed to a high hormonal fetal environment.
Exposure to space radiation reduces ability of intestinal cells to destroy oncoprotein
Two studies funded by NASA and presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 help explain why space radiation may increase the risk of colorectal cancer in humans.
Clinical trial finds new class of cancer drugs safe and effective
The safety and preliminary efficacy of a new class of tumor fighting drugs were reported today by Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Short-term benefits seen with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for focal hand dystonia
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is being increasingly explored as a therapeutic tool for movement disorders associated with deficient inhibition throughout the central nervous system. This includes treatment of focal hand dystonia (FHD), characterized by involuntary movement of the fingers either curling into the palm or extending outward. A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience reports short-term changes in behavioral, physiologic, and clinical measures that support further research into the therapeutic potential of rTMS.
Researchers find there is no single sexy chin
A new Dartmouth College global study finds significant geographic differences in chin shapes.
Study finds potential link between auto pollution, some childhood cancers
Scientists from UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health led by Julia Heck, an assistant researcher in the school's epidemiology department and a member of UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, have found a possible link between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and several childhood cancers.
On Yak-a-mein soup, a.k.a, 'Old Sober'
One of the Crescent City's time-honored traditions – a steaming bowl of Yak-a-mein Soup, a.k.a., "Old Sober"—after a night of partying in the French Quarter actually does have a basis in scientific fact. That was the word today from an overview of the chemistry of hangovers, presented as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
New evidence that egg white protein may help high blood pressure
Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites—already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk—may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure. Their study was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
International research finds heart disorder genetic variants in stillbirth cases
In a molecular genetic evaluation involving 91 cases of intrauterine fetal death, mutations associated with susceptibility to long QT syndrome (LQTS; a heart disorder that increases the risk for an irregular heartbeat and other adverse events) were discovered in a small number of these cases, preliminary evidence that may provide insights into the mechanism of some intrauterine fetal deaths, according to a study in the April 10 issue of JAMA, a Genomics theme issue.
ABCA7 gene associated with almost doubled Alzheimer's risk in African-Americans
African-Americans with a variant of the ABCA7 gene have almost double the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease compared with African-Americans who lack the variant. The largest genome-wide search for Alzheimer's genes in the African-American community, the study was undertaken by the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium and led by neurologists from Columbia University Medical Center. It will be published in the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Genetic biomarker may help identify neuroblastomas vulnerable to novel class of drugs
An irregularity within many neuroblastoma cells may indicate whether a neuroblastoma tumor, a difficult-to-treat, early childhood cancer, is vulnerable to a new class of anti-cancer drugs known as BET bromodomain inhibitors, Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center scientists will report at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington, April 6-10.
Genomics may help ID organisms in outbreaks of serious infectious disease
Researchers have been able to reconstruct the genome sequence of an outbreak strain of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) using metagenomics (the direct sequencing of DNA extracted from microbiologically complex samples), according to a study in the April 10 issue of JAMA, a Genomics theme issue. The findings highlight the potential of this approach to identify and characterize bacterial pathogens directly from clinical specimens without laboratory culture.
Association between genetic mutation and risk of death for patients with thyroid cancer
Presence of the genetic mutation BRAF V600E was significantly associated with increased cancer-related death among patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC); however, because overall mortality in PTC is low and the association was not independent of tumor characteristics, how to use this information to manage mortality risk in patients with PTC is unclear, according to a study in the April 10 issue of JAMA, a Genomics theme issue.
Take a kidney transplant now or wait for a better one? Researchers create 'decision' tool
Johns Hopkins scientists have created a free, Web-based tool to help patients decide whether it's best to accept an immediately available, but less-than-ideal deceased donor kidney for transplant, or wait for a healthier one in the future.
Two-drug combo more effective in treating sarcomas, study shows
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida have found that when given together, a two-drug combination acts synergistically in test animals modeled with sarcoma tumors. They report that the drug combination of MK-1775 and gemcitabine resulted in a 70 percent decrease in the tumor volume when compared to receiving one drug or the other.
Probe to detect spread of breast cancer gets distribution boost
A device co-developed by a University of Houston (UH) physicist to detect the spread of breast cancer and allow physicians to better plan intervention is extending its market reach, bringing it another step closer to clinical trials in the U.S.
Researchers confirm multiple genes robustly contribute to schizophrenia risk in replication study
Multiple genes contribute to risk for schizophrenia and appear to function in pathways related to transmission of signals in the brain and immunity, according to an international study led by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy researchers.
In autism, age at diagnosis depends on specific symptoms
The age at which a child with autism is diagnosed is related to the particular suite of behavioral symptoms he or she exhibits, new research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison shows.
Study offers new approach for spinal muscular atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy is a debilitating neuromuscular disease that in its most severe form is the leading genetic cause of infant death. By experimenting with an ALS drug in two very different animal models, researchers at Brown University and Boston Children's Hospital have identified a new potential mechanism for developing an SMA treatment.
Manipulating calcium accumulation in blood vessels may provide a new way to treat heart disease
Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is the primary cause of heart disease. It is caused by calcium accumulation in the blood vessels, which leads to arteries becoming narrow and stiff, obstructing blood flow and leading to heart complications. Although many risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the cause is not known and there is currently no way to reverse it once it sets in. In a new study published 9th April in the open access journal PLOS Biology, researchers have characterized the cells responsible for driving this calcium build-up in vessel walls.
Treatment leads to near-normal life expectancy for people with HIV in South Africa
In South Africa, people with HIV who start treatment with anti-AIDS drugs (antiretroviral therapy) have life expectancies around 80% of that of the general population provided that they start treatment before their CD4 count drops below 200 (cells per microliter), according to a study by South African researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Shingles vaccine is associated with reduction in both postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster
Shingles vaccine is associated with reduction in both postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster, but uptake in the US is low.
Co-infections not associated with worse outcomes during H1N1 pandemic
A study at Rhode Island Hospital has found that despite complications, patients co-infected with the pandemic 2009-2010 influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) and a second respiratory virus were not associated with worse outcomes or admission to the hospital's intensive care unit. The study is published online in the journal PLOS ONE.
Modest population-wide weight loss could result in reductions in Type 2 diabetes and cardio disease
A paper published today in BMJ suggests a strong association between population-wide weight change and risk of death from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
New genetic link found between normal fetal growth and cancer
Two researchers at the National Institutes of Health discovered a new genetic link between the rapid growth of healthy fetuses and the uncontrolled cell division in cancer. The findings shed light on normal development and on the genetic underpinnings of common cancers.
Are people really staring at you?
(Medical Xpress)—People often think that other people are staring at them even when they aren't research led by the University of Sydney has found.
Cancers don't sleep: The Myc oncogene can disrupt circadian rhythm
The Myc oncogene can disrupt the 24-hour internal rhythm in cancer cells. Postdoctoral fellow Brian Altman, PhD, and graduate student Annie Hsieh, MD, both from the in the lab of Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, director of the Abramson Cancer Center, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, present their data in the "Metabolic Pathway Regulation in Cancer" session at the 2013 American Association for Cancer Research meeting, Washington, D.C., April 9, 2013.
Key pathway to stop dangerous, out-of-control inflammation discovered
A potential new strategy to developing new drugs to control inflammation without serious side effects has been found by Georgia State University researchers and international colleagues.
Researchers create next-generation Alzheimer's disease model
A new genetically engineered lab rat that has the full array of brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease supports the idea that increases in a molecule called beta-amyloid in the brain causes the disease, according to a study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Hallmarks of psychiatric illness can reveal themselves remotely
Researchers discovered that healthy people and those with borderline personality disorder displayed different patterns of behavior while playing an online strategy game, so much so that when healthy players played people with borderline personality disorder, they gave up on trying to predict what their partners would do next.
The Fat Chip: Controlling obesity the smart way
(Medical Xpress)—Gastric banding, a common surgery to reduce obesity, leaves much to be desired. Typically, the patient is left with a feeling of constant hunger. Stimulators implanted in the feeding centers of the brain, like the hypothalamus, have met with mixed results. Partly that is to be expected since there is considerable functional overlap within those areas, and also due to the limited resolution that can be obtained with implanted electrodes in bulk brain tissue. Doctors have also tried to stimulate the main trunk of the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The vagus nerve, however, hits all the major organ systems, not least being the heart. It also provides two-way channels of communication throughout its extent. Researchers in the U.K. , led by Chris Toumazou, have developed a nerve cuff electrode that targets the branch of the vagus that ennervates the gut. The controller can apparently read conditions in the stomach and provide signals of satiety ! to the brain with proper stimulation.
Biology news
Being there: Turning research into action in Gabon
Michelle Lee first set foot in Gabon in 2001: 'I went with just a backpack expecting to stay three weeks, but ended up being the project manager there for six years,' she tells me.
How a little plant became a model for pioneering research
In recent decades, research into a diminutive plant, Arabidopsis thalania, which goes through daily life as a common weed, has generated a tremendous amount of knowledge. Much of the research on Arabidopsis, which has meanwhile become the most important model for plant genetic research, has been conducted in Wageningen, where this type of research began in 1962. During his career, Professor Maarten Koornneef made a substantial contribution to this field of study. On Thursday 11 April he will retire from his personal chair in Genetics at Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR.
S. Africa sets up first offshore marine protection zone
South Africa has turned two small islands in the southern Indian Ocean into its first offshore marine protected area, the environment ministry said Tuesday.
New mouse viruses could aid hepatitis research
Newly discovered mouse viruses could pave the way for future progress in hepatitis research, enabling scientists to study human disease and vaccines in the ultimate lab animal. In a study to be published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, scientists describe their search for viruses related to the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human pegiviruses (HPgV) in frozen stocks of wild mice. The discovery of several new species of hepaciviruses and pegiviruses that are closely related to human viruses suggests they might be used to study these diseases and potential vaccines in mice, without the need for human volunteers.
World-first research will save koalas
The "holy grail" for understanding how and why koalas respond to infectious diseases has been uncovered in an Australian-led, world-first genome mapping project.
Protein structure discovery could lead to better treatments for HIV, early aging
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have determined the molecular structure of a protein whose mutations have been linked to several early aging diseases, and to side effects of common HIV and AIDS medications. This breakthrough could eventually help researchers develop new treatments for these early aging diseases and redesign AIDS medications to avoid side effects, such as diabetes.
Delivering a virus that gets rid of house flies
The house fly is often considered merely a nuisance. But these flies are capable of transmitting animal and human pathogens that can lead to foodborne diseases, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella bacteria.
Better monitoring and diagnostics tackle algae biofuel pond crash problem
Sandia National Laboratories is developing a suite of complementary technologies to help the emerging algae industry detect and quickly recover from algal pond crashes, an obstacle to large-scale algae cultivation for future biofuels.
Der Steppenworm? Two new species differ from the elusive 'Mongolian Death Worm'
The 'Mongolian Death Worm', called olgoi-khorkhoi by the local population is a legendary animal with an unconfirmed existence that has preoccupied the imagination of the inhabitants and travelers in the region. It is said to inhabit the southern Gobi Desert where it terrorizes travelers with its deadly abilities to project acid that, upon contact, turns anything it touches yellow and corroded.
Class project inspires research article in Ecology
A study that began as a class project among graduate students at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is now a peer-reviewed research article in Ecology, the flagship journal of the Ecological Society of America.
Reliably higher levels of healthy compound in Beneforte broccoli
Field trials and genetic studies have shown that a new variety of broccoli reliably yields higher levels of a health-promoting compound.
Environmental change triggers rapid evolution
A University of Leeds-led study, published in the journal Ecology Letters, overturns the common assumption that evolution only occurs gradually over hundreds or thousands of years.
Study says beavers use scent to detect when trespassers could be a threat
For territorial animals, such as beavers, "owning" a territory ensures access to food, mates and nest sites. Defending that territory can involve fights which cause injury or death. How does an animal decide whether to take on an opponent or not? A new study by Helga Tinnesand and her colleagues from the Telemark University College in Norway has found that the anal gland secretions of beavers contain information about age and social status which helps other beavers gauge their level of response to the perceived threat. The study is published online today in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Striped like a badger: New genus of bat identified in South Sudan
Researchers have identified a new genus of bat after discovering a rare specimen in South Sudan. With wildlife personnel under the South Sudanese Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Bucknell Associate Professor of Biology DeeAnn Reeder and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Programme Officer Adrian Garside were leading a team conducting field research and pursuing conservation efforts when Reeder spotted the animal in Bangangai Game Reserve.
Surf's up: Turbulence tells sea urchins to settle down
(Phys.org) —Tumbling in the waves as they hit a rocky shore tells purple sea urchin larvae it's time to settle down and look for a spot to grow into an adult, researchers at the University of California, Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory have found. The work is published April 8 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Sea urchins cope with rising CO2 levels
(Phys.org) —Increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere are causing oceans to become more acidic. This situation poses a threat to marine organisms with shells made of calcium carbonate, because acid will corrode these shells. If they are to survive, these organisms will have to adapt to conditions of high acidity. In a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Melissa Pepseni of Indiana University at Bloomington and her colleagues at Stanford University and University of California, Davis report that when exposed to high CO2 levels, purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) experience significant changes in genes that affect survival in an acidic environment. This indicates that the sea urchins can adapt to high CO2 levels caused by climate change.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment