From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 2:04 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Wednesday, Jul 17
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 17, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Ultrasonically-interrogated neural dust for the ultimate brain interface- Intel's multimillion baby Omek is acquired for motion sensing
- Elastic electronics: Stretchable gold conductor grows its own wires
- Scientists find 3D structure of key drug target for diabetes
- Scientists show proof-of-principal for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome
- A new Anagnorisma moth species from the beautiful Binaloud Mountain Iran
- Review: Pebble watch is a great way to be bugged
- Deciphering butterflies' designer colors: Findings could inspire new hue-changing materials
- Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery
- Nanoparticles with protein 'passports' evade immune system, deliver more medication to tumors
- Birds and humans have similar brain wiring
- The key to ion beams' polarisability
- Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow
- Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells
- Impossible material with world record breaking surface area made swedish researchers
Space & Earth news
Indonesia set to ratify haze treaty by early 2014
Indonesia said Wednesday it hopes to ratify a regional treaty by early next year to fight smog from forest fires that brings misery to millions, but an activist said tougher steps are needed.
EU hails China's commitment to climate change
The European Union said Wednesday that China, the world's largest carbon emitter, was willing to cooperate more closely to address climate change worldwide ahead of a key global pact due in 2015.
Stop marine pollution to protect kelp forests
(Phys.org) —University of Adelaide marine biologists have found that reducing nutrient pollution in coastal marine environments should help protect kelp forests from the damaging effects of rising CO2.
Antarctic glacier calves iceberg one-fourth size of Rhode Island
This week a European Earth-observing satellite confirmed that a large iceberg broke off of Pine Island Glacier, one of Antarctica's largest and fastest moving ice streams. The rift that led to the new iceberg was discovered in October 2011 during NASA's Operation IceBridge flights over the continent. The rift soon became the focus of international scientific attention. Seeing the rift grow and eventually form a 280-square-mile ice island gave researchers an opportunity to gather data that promises to improve our understanding of how glaciers calve.
Kerry vows to fight on for Antarctic marine haven
US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed to keep up the battle to set up a sanctuary to protect the unique marine ecosystem in parts of the Antarctic.
The 'not so quiet' before the storm: Study of Florida workers confirms employee pre-hurricane fears
Recent uneventful hurricane seasons have done little to calm Florida workers' fear of hurricanes, according to a new study by Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration at the Florida State University College of Business.
VLT watches in real time as gas cloud makes closest approach to the monster at the centre of the Milky Way
In 2011 ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) discovered a gas cloud with several times the mass of the Earth accelerating towards the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way (eso1151. This cloud is now making its closest approach and new VLT observations show that it is being grossly stretched by the black hole's extreme gravitational field.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Cimaron pass between Taiwan and the Philippines
Tropical Depression 08W strengthened into a tropical storm and was renamed Cimaron by the morning of July 17. NASA's Aqua satellite captured the storm is it passed between the northern Philippines and Taiwan.
'Brown ocean' can fuel inland tropical cyclones
In the summer of 2007, Tropical Storm Erin stumped meteorologists. Most tropical cyclones dissipate after making landfall, weakened by everything from friction and wind shear to loss of the ocean as a source of heat energy. Not Erin. The storm intensified as it tracked through Texas. It formed an eye over Oklahoma. As it spun over the southern plains, Erin grew stronger than it ever had been over the ocean.
Pollution costs India $80 bn a year: World Bank
Pollution and other environmental degradation costs India $80 billion a year, nearly six percent of gross domestic product, the World Bank said in a report released on Wednesday.
The best defense against catastrophic storms: Mother Nature, researchers say
Extreme weather, sea level rise and degraded coastal systems are placing people and property at greater risk along the coast. Natural habitats such as dunes and reefs are critical to protecting millions of U.S. residents and billions of dollars in property from coastal storms, according to a new study by scientists with the Natural Capital Project at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.
NASA still perplexed by astronaut's flooded helmet
(AP)—The astronaut who came close to drowning in a flooded helmet is searching for clues in his spacesuit.
80 percent of Malaysian Borneo degraded by logging
A study published in the July 17, issue of the journal PLOS ONE found that more than 80% of tropical forests in Malaysian Borneo have been heavily impacted by logging.
New study explains surprising acceleration of Greenland's inland ice
Surface meltwater draining through cracks in an ice sheet can warm the sheet from the inside, softening the ice and letting it flow faster, according to a new study by scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Evidence for a Martian Ocean
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have discovered evidence for an ancient delta on Mars where a river might once have emptied into a vast ocean.
Air-breathing rocket engine gets funding infusion
The technology, which sounds straight out of a science-fiction movie, has enough reality to it for the United Kingdom government to offer $90.62 million (£60 million), in stages, to a company looking to develop the engine.
Seeing Red: Hunting Herschel's Garnet Star
Quick, what's the reddest star visible to the naked eye?
Earth's gold came from colliding dead stars
We value gold for many reasons: its beauty, its usefulness as jewelry, and its rarity. Gold is rare on Earth in part because it's also rare in the universe. Unlike elements like carbon or iron, it cannot be created within a star. Instead, it must be born in a more cataclysmic event - like one that occurred last month known as a short gamma-ray burst (GRB).
Medicine & Health news
Cancer survivors have more frequent and severe menopausal hot flashes
Women who survive cancer have more frequent, severe, and troubling hot flashes than other women with menopausal symptoms, according to a study published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). But surprisingly, the cancer survivors fare better psychologically and report a better quality of life than the women without cancer and have about the same levels of sexual activity and function.
Sex and BC East Asian teenagers
A new study by University of British Columbia researchers shows that although 90 per cent of East Asian adolescents in British Columbia are not sexually active, those who are may engage in high-risk sexual behaviours.
Novartis lifts sales outlook despite Q2 profit dip
(AP)—Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG raised its sales outlook for the full year on Wednesday, despite posting a 5 percent net income drop in the second quarter.
Good vibrations: Mediating mood through brain ultrasound
University of Arizona researchers have found in a recent study that ultrasound waves applied to specific areas of the brain are able to alter patients' moods. The discovery has led the scientists to conduct further investigations with the hope that this technique could one day be used to treat conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Study reveals what food lovers want
University of Queensland researchers found affordable regional cuisine, local market produce, hands-on experiences and food events are the key to attracting food tourists.
Technology takes on breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—An ANU student has developed a smartphone app for the early detection of breast cancer.
What do you do in your kitchen?
Understanding what people do in their kitchens and why will inform thinking about how to reduce the burden from illness caused by food prepared and eaten at home, according to a new report by University of Hertfordshire researchers on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Health Affairs July issue contains global innovation studies from India And Brazil
Two new studies, in Health Affairs July 2013 issue, describe health success stories outside the US.
Health-related quality of life in PD patients in northeastern Sicily, Italy
Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory emphasizes the development of a series of nested environment systems with which an individual interacts.
China launches crackdown on drug industry
(AP)—China announced a crackdown Wednesday on misconduct in its drug market, stepping up pressure on the problem-prone industry while it pursues a bribery investigation of GlaxoSmithKline.
No benefit to community-wide dementia screening: review
(HealthDay)—There's no proof that community-wide screening for dementia results in any emotional, clinical or economic benefits, new research indicates.
Conflict threatens global nutrition progress, new report warns
Major progress in tackling child undernutrition in some of the world's toughest countries is under threat as military and security funding takes precedence, a new report from aid agency World Vision warns.
Most health care records now are electronic
An ever-expanding amount of the nation's medical records—millions of prescriptions, medical reports and appointment reminders—are now computerized and part of an ambitious electronic medical records program, the Obama administration reports.
Primary care docs rate many hospitalizations as avoidable
(HealthDay)—Physicians acknowledge that a considerable proportion of hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are avoidable, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Tylenol-induced liver failure presents own set of problems: study
(HealthDay)—People with liver failure caused by an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) have poorer health than patients whose liver failure was caused by other problems, a new study finds.
Seafood still considered a good source of nutrients but consumers confused on safety
Seafood continues to be a proven strong nutrient-rich food providing essential vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, but consumers and some toxicologists still keep a watchful eye on safety, according to a July 16 panel discussion at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo held at McCormick Place.
New technologies and ingredients provide better options for gluten-free eating
New technologies and ingredients are improving the taste, appearance and nutritional content of gluten-free food products, a market that is expected to grow to $6 billion by 2017, according to a presentation today at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago.
Personality may predict if you like spicy foods
Certain aspects of an individual's personality may be a determining factor in whether they like their food plain and bland or spicy and hot, according to research presented at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo.
Monitoring nutrient intake can help vegetarian athletes stay competitive
A balanced plant-based diet provides the same quality of fuel for athletes as a meat-based diet, provided vegetarians seek out other sources of certain nutrients that are more commonly found in animal products, according to a presentation at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Expo.
Splitting donated livers shown to be safe, allowing doctors to save two lives from single organ
Split liver transplantation carries no increased risk of failure in either recipient, allowing surgeons to safely save two lives from a single donated organ (graft), according to new research from Boston Children's Hospital published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
WHO holds off raising MERS alert level as Muslim hajj looms
The World Health Organization on Wednesday held off from calling for travel restrictions related to the MERS virus striking Saudi Arabia as the kingdom braces for the Muslim hajj pilgrimage.
TGen-TD2-Scottsdale Healthcare breast cancer pilot study shows value of proteomic mapping
The Side-Out Foundation's breast cancer pilot study, led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Translational Drug Development (TD2) and Scottsdale Healthcare, has shown that cancer patients do better when their treatment is guided by molecular profiling.
Bodychecking rules don't reduce concussions in elite hockey
Recent changes in hockey rules regulating contact to the head have not reduced the number of concussions suffered by players during National Hockey League (NHL) season, according to research published July 17 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Michael Cusimano and colleagues from the Injury Prevention Research Office at St. Michael's Hospital, Canada.
Epoetin alfa reduces anemia in breast cancer patients with no negative impact on survival
In patients with high-risk breast cancer, addition of the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) epoetin alfa to the chemotherapy regimen may help avoid the decrease in hemoglobin levels and resulting anemia often seen in these patients and does not negatively affect relapse-free (RFS) or overall survival (OS). However, it can increase the risk of thrombotic events, according to a study published July 17 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Greatly increased risk of stroke for patients who don't adhere to anti-hypertensive medication
People with high blood pressure, who don't take their anti-hypertensive drug treatments when they should, have a greatly increased risk of suffering a stroke and dying from it compared to those who take their medication correctly.
Bias pervades the scientific reporting of animal studies
A new study published in the open access journal PLOS Biology suggests that the scientific literature could be compromised by substantial bias in the reporting of animal studies, and may be giving a misleading picture of the chances that potential treatments could work in humans.
Taiwan couples seek surrogacy abroad to escape ban
Three years ago Mr and Ms Lee fulfilled their dream of parenthood with the help of a surrogate mother.
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing kits vary in predictions of disease risk
(Medical Xpress)—An in-depth analysis and comparison study conducted by investigators at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health demonstrated variations in predicted disease risks by companies that offer direct-to-consumer personal genome testing.
Research shows paraeducators need more training in speech language services
According to Sarah Douglas, an assistant professor of special education, paraeducators do not typically receive training that helps them support children with cognitive, motor or communications needs. Research by Douglas shows that paraeducators—school employees who work under the supervison of teachers—can better support students with complex communication needs, and that paraeducators who received training are more effective in their classrooms.
Cancer biology: Charting a tumor's genomic roots
Whole-genome sequencing gives researchers a deeper understanding of factors contributing to the onset and progression of gastric cancer.
Nano drug crosses blood-brain tumor barrier, targets brain tumor cells and blood vessels
(Phys.org) —An experimental drug in early development for aggressive brain tumors can cross the blood-brain tumor barrier and kill tumor cells and block the growth of tumor blood vessels, according to a recent study led by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
New technology to measure radiation exposure in pilots
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the University of Wollongong have developed a unique device that measures how much radiation pilots and astronauts are exposed to.
Obesity is a major obstacle for disabled americans
Obesity and its related health problems impacts far more people with a disability than previously reported, according to new research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Astronomy technology used for early detection of age-related macular degeneration
(Phys.org) —Engineers used to designing state of the art instruments for ground and space based telescopes are now applying their expertise to the development of a diagnostic test for the developed world's most common form of sight loss in adults, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Study shows link between Early Head Start and reductions in child abuse
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Portland State University (PSU) and Harvard University have found that low-income children who participate in Early Head Start are less likely to suffer abuse at home than their peers who are not in the program.
Accurate prognosis for epilepsy patients
Scientists at Bonn University Hospital and at the Max Planck Institute for neurological research in Cologne have developed a method with which the chances of success of a surgical procedure for temporal lobe epilepsy can be accurately predicted. The rate of accurate predictions is more than 90%. The results are now being presented in the scientific journal "NeuroImage:Clinical."
From birdsong to heavy metal: How cancer patients use music to work through their feelings
Very few treatments or therapies endured by cancer patients can be described as pleasant, but a study published in Arts & Healt shows the positive impact of using music as a personal coping method when faced with the disease.
Single dose of ADHD drug can reduce fall risk in older adults
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have discovered that a single dose of methylphenidate (MPH), used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, helps to improve balance control during walking, hence reducing the risk of falls among elderly adults.
Dubai diet: Slim down, get paid in gold
(AP)—Shedding weight is as good as gold under an unusual slim-down initiative in Dubai over growing concerns about rising obesity levels in the wealthy Gulf city-state.
Outgoing people lead happier lives
Research from the University of Southampton has shown that young adults, who are more outgoing or more emotionally stable, are happier in later life than their more introverted or less emotionally stable peers.
Danish survey evaluates the content of chemical contaminants in food
In general, Danes have no reason to worry about unwanted chemical compounds in the food they put on their table—especially if they eat a varied diet. However, a monitoring survey puts focus on certain compounds—e.g. inorganic arsenic and acrylamide, the intake of which should be reduced due to health risk. These findings are presented in the latest report on chemical contaminants in food prepared by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Cancer drug tested in pet dogs is now bound for human trials
Thanks to a new $2 million investment, a drug that spurs cancer cells to self-destruct while sparing healthy cells is on the road to human clinical trials. The compound, known as PAC-1, has so far proven safe and has promising anti-cancer effects in cell culture, in mouse models of cancer and in pet dogs with spontaneously occurring lymphomas and osteosarcomas.
Sugar coating reveals black death
Even today, the lives of humans and animals are claimed by plague. A new antibody-based detection method can be used to reliably and sensitively identify plague in patient serum and other biological samples. The antibody specifically recognizes a particular carbohydrate structure found on the cell surfaces of the bacterium that causes plague, as reported by German researchers in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
Protein responsible for 'bad' blood vessel growth discovered
The discovery of a protein that encourages blood vessel growth, and especially 'bad' blood vessels – the kind that characterise diseases as diverse as cancer, age-related macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis – has been reported in the journal Nature.
People who eat nuts have reduced risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease
(Medical Xpress)—People who eat nuts, particularly walnuts, are more likely to live longer, finds research in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine. In a longitudinal study, researchers suggest that those who eat nuts more than three times a week have a reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease than non-nut eaters.
Gold nanofibers in engineered heart tissue can enhance electrical signalling, researchers find
Heart tissue sustains irreparable damage in the wake of a heart attack. Because cells in the heart cannot multiply and the cardiac muscle contains few stem cells, the tissue is unable to repair itself—it becomes fibrotic and cannot contract properly.
Researchers target the Achilles' heel of bacteria behind hospital-associated infections
Kansas State University researchers are defeating persistent bacteria known for causing infections in hospitals.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may increase odds of women developing mild hypothyroidism
Exposure to perfluorinated chemicals is linked to changes in thyroid function and may raise the risk of mild hypothyroidism in women, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Routine tasks pose problems for older individuals with vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D-deficient older individuals are more likely to struggle with everyday tasks such as dressing or climbing stairs, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Modified forms of bisphenol A found to alter hormone signaling in new, disturbing ways
For years, scientists have been worried about bisphenol A. The chemical is known as an "endocrine disruptor," a substance that interferes with the body's hormone signaling system, and it's found in everything from plastic drink bottles to the linings of food and drink cans to the thermal paper used for cash register receipts—not to mention the urine of 92.6 percent of Americans over the age of six. BPA has been associated with the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and ovarian dysfunction. In 2012, the FDA banned BPA from use in the production of baby bottles and drinking cups.
Cost of treating dizziness in the emergency room soars
A new Johns Hopkins research report says emergency room visits for severe dizziness have grown exponentially in recent years, with costs topping $3.9 billion in 2011 and projected to reach $4.4 billion by 2015. The investigators say roughly half a billion a year could be saved immediately if emergency room physicians stopped the routine and excessive use of head CT scans to search for stroke in dizzy patients, and instead used simple bedside physical exams to identify the small group of patients that truly needs imaging.
Memory decline may be earliest sign of dementia
(AP)—Memory problems that are often dismissed as a normal part of aging may not be so harmless after all.
'Intelligent knife' tells surgeon which tissue is cancerous
Scientists have developed an "intelligent knife" that can tell surgeons immediately whether the tissue they are cutting is cancerous or not.
Empty decoys divert antibodies from neutralizing gene therapy in cell, animal studies
Gene therapy researchers have produced a bioengineered decoy that fools the immune system and prevents it from mistakenly defeating the benefits delivered by a corrective gene. The decoy was effective in animal studies, and if the approach succeeds in humans, it offers a potential new treatment for genetic diseases such as hemophilia, while advancing the broader field of gene therapy.
Epidural during/Post spine surgery gives better outcomes
(HealthDay)—In patients undergoing reconstructive spine surgery, combined epidural and general anesthesia results in better pain control and other outcomes compared with general anesthesia plus narcotics, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
Financial incentives can drive health IT adoption
(HealthDay)—Financial incentives can drive providers' adoption of health information technology, including e-prescribing, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
Free postpartum contraception optimizes pregnancy intervals
(HealthDay)—Providing postpartum contraception to low-income women through publicly-funded programs helps avoid short pregnancy intervals, according to research published online July 8 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Sleep apnea treatment eases nightmares in vets with PTSD: study
(HealthDay)—For military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep apnea, treatment with continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, reduces their nightmares, a new study finds.
Uncovering a healthier remedy for chronic pain
Physicians and patients who are wary of addiction to pain medication and opioids may soon have a healthier and more natural alternative.
The new frontier: Creating and marketing food products that prevent disease and obesity
(Medical Xpress)—Creating and promoting foods that contain natural inhibitors of unhealthy angiogenesis – the formation of blood vessels that feed and promote disease, obesity and inflammation – is the "new frontier in dietary health," according to a presentation at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Chicago.
Exercise, endurance sports increase arryhthmia and heart failure risk in carriers of ARVD/C mutation
A Johns Hopkins study finds that healthy people who carry a genetic mutation for arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) are at much higher risk of developing the symptoms of the life-threatening heart disease if they participate in endurance sports and frequent exercise. The study also suggests that those carriers who significantly cut back on their exercise regimen may reduce their risk or delay the onset of symptoms.
Poor sleep in pregnancy can disrupt the immune system and cause birth-related complications
Poor sleep quality and quantity during pregnancy can disrupt normal immune processes and lead to lower birth weights and other complications, finds a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published today in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Women with depression also are more likely than non-depressed women to suffer from disturbed sleep and to experience immune system disruption and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Unattractive people more likely to be bullied at work, study shows
It's common knowledge that high school can be a cruel environment where attractive students are considered "popular," and unattractive kids often get bullied. And, while that type of petty behavior is expected to vanish with adulthood, new research proves it does not.
Probiotic bacterium lessens severity of Salmonella infections by hoarding iron
(Medical Xpress)—UC Irvine microbiologists have learned how a probiotic bacterium used to treat irritable bowel syndrome can soothe gut bacterial infections caused by Salmonella, paving the way for potential relief from foodborne illnesses that affect millions of people annually.
Mutation linked to congenital urinary tract defects
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and collaborators have identified a genetic mutation that causes congenital malformations of the kidney and urinary tract, a common form of birth defect and the most common cause of kidney failure in children. It is the first time that a specific genetic mutation has been linked to a non-syndromic form of urinary tract malformation. The findings were published in the July 17 online issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Spectrum Health study first to identify heart attack-causing plaque in living patients (w/ Video)
We may be closer to predicting who is at risk for a heart attack, according to a recently published Spectrum Health study.
Discovery of a new class of white blood cells uncovers target for better vaccine design
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) have discovered a new class of white blood cells in human lung and gut tissues that play a critical role as the first line of defence against harmful fungal and bacterial infections. This research will have significant impact on the design of vaccines and targeted immunotherapies for diseases caused by infectious microbes such as the hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Legalise doping or lose the spectacle of sport
Sport, at both international and local levels, seems to constantly be in a doping crisis. It may be time to consider legalising performance enhancers because zero tolerance is clearly not working.
Accelerated search identifies drug targets for neurodegenerative disease
(Medical Xpress)—Like Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease caused when a toxic protein accumulates inside nerve cells, clogging normal function. The coordination and balance problems caused by SCA1 make it difficult for patients to speak, breathe, and swallow.
Cancer biology: Targeting tumors with 'stapled' peptides
(Phys.org) —Designer peptides containing chemically stabilized helices emerge as a potent way to activate anti-tumor proteins inside cells.
Amyloid formation: Designer proteins light the way forward
Insight into the mechanism of protein aggregation provides a model system that could lead to treatments for several associated diseases
Information in brain cells' electrical activity combines memory, environment, and state of mind
(Medical Xpress)—The information carried by the electrical activity of neurons is a mixture of stored memories, environmental circumstances, and current state of mind, scientists have found in a study of laboratory rats. The findings, which appear in the journal PLoS Biology, offer new insights into the neurobiological processes that give rise to knowledge and memory recall.
Researchers devise method for growing 3-D heart tissue
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at MIT and Charles Stark Draper Laboratory have developed a method of growing living 3-D tissue using a modified version of a machine normally used to build integrated circuits. In their paper published in the journal Advanced Materials, the group describes how they built customized scaffolding that allowed for the growth of functional three dimensional heart tissue—a technique that could one day lead to a means for growing artificial organs.
Tasting event set for artificial beef grown from stem cells
(Medical Xpress)—Ogilvy Public Relations has announced that a media event will take place on August 5th in London to publicize the results of efforts by Mark Post, a researcher at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands—he has been trying to grow palatable beef in a lab. An unknown person will be invited to taste the beef sample that has been grown from stem cells, in front of an invitation-only crowd of guests.
Injectable 'smart sponge' holds promise for controlled drug delivery
Researchers have developed a drug delivery technique for diabetes treatment in which a sponge-like material surrounds an insulin core. The sponge expands and contracts in response to blood sugar levels to release insulin as needed. The technique could also be used for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.
Scientists find 3D structure of key drug target for diabetes
An international team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has determined and analyzed the three-dimensional atomic structure of the human glucagon receptor. The receptor, found mainly on liver and kidney cells, helps regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream and is the target of potential therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.
Scientists show proof-of-principal for silencing extra chromosome responsible for Down syndrome
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School are the first to establish that a naturally occurring X chromosome "off switch" can be rerouted to neutralize the extra chromosome responsible for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by cognitive impairment.
Molecular switch controls the destiny of self-eating cells
The study is the result of a collaboration of scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, University of Michigan, and University of California San Diego, USA, who were interested in finding out whether autophagy can be affected by events in the cell nucleus. Surprisingly, they discovered that a signal chain in the nucleus serves as a kind of molecular switch that determines whether the cell dies or survives.
Genomic imprinting maintains a reserve pool of blood-forming stem cells in mouse bone marrow
Hematopoietic stem cells—bone marrow-derived adult stem cells that give rise to the wide variety of specialized blood cells—come in two flavors: the reserve force sits quietly waiting to be called upon while the active arm continually proliferates spawning billions of blood cells every day. In their latest study, researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research reveal a new mechanism that is critical in maintaining the delicate balance between the two.
New way to target an old foe: Malaria
Although malaria has been eradicated in many countries, including the United States, it still infects more than 200 million people worldwide, killing nearly a million every year. In regions where malaria is endemic, people rely on preventive measures such as mosquito netting and insecticides. Existing drugs can help, but the malaria parasite is becoming resistant to many of them.
Ultrasonically-interrogated neural dust for the ultimate brain interface
The fantastic mechanical isolation of the brain in the skull, makes high impact maneuvers, like heading a soccer ball, routine for an organ that would otherwise barely hold up under its own weight. The downside of this level of protection is that accessing the brain for large scale activity recording is a difficult proposition. The current state of the art in simultaneous electrical recording is around 2,000 neurons. This was done by Miguel Nicolelis as part of his ambitious project to build a brain computer interface (BCI) that will be used by a paralyzed person to perform the opening kickoff in an upcoming World Cup soccer match.
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