Volume 6, Number 47 November 19, 2007

Physical sciences and technology Supercomputers Quantum theory Astrochemistry Hydrogen storage Nanotechnology Large Hadron Collider Cosmic microwave background Supernova 2006gy Extrasolar planets "Trapped rainbow" optical data storage E8 unified theory DNA computing Robotics Resistive RAM Galaxy evolution 4-quark mesons Carbon nanotubes Photonics Global warming IPCC climate change report Control of electron spin in quantum dots Life sciences Metagenomics Cancer biology Sense of fairness Rearrangement hotspots in the human genome Primate cloning Filial cannibalism Dendritic cells Biofilms Neural plasticity Genetic modularity Proteins Telomerase Sleep and long-term memory Single-copy gene expression Brain-imaging studies Auditory perception Early brain development Social isolation, stress, and aggression Amphibian breeding strategies Gene splicing and human-chimpanzee differences Sleep, hunger, and metabolism P53, endogenous retroviruses, and gene regulatory networks Random gene silencing Brain area for voluntary behavior Melatonin and memory Helicase protection of genome stability Male-female genetic differences and evolution Speed of memory consolidation Optic flow Synapse maintenance Agricultural biotechnology Ion channels Brain flexibility Plankton uptake of CO2 Health and medicine Alzheimer's disease Cardiovascular disease HDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease Diabetes Metabolic syndrome Multiple sclerosis Cancer Drug addiction Avian flu Rheumatoid arthritis Stem cells Autoinflammatory diseases Antioxidants Schizophrenia Lupus Ulcerative colitis Cancer vaccine AIDS Allergies Poxvirus vaccines Nanoparticle drug delivery for cancer Anti-obesity drugs Inflammatory bowel disease

Physical sciences and technology

Supercomputers

1. November 12, 2007 - IBM's Blue Gene Pulls Away from the Pack
2. November 13, 2007 - India enters supercomputing race
3. November 13, 2007 - Newcomers hit top 10 in supercomputer list

Quantum theory

1. November 12, 2007 - Do classical laws arise from quantum laws?

Astrochemistry

1. November 13, 2007 - New evidence for extragalactic life-forming matter

Hydrogen storage

1. November 13, 2007 - Record-breaking Hydrogen Storage Materials For Use In Fuel Cells Developed - also here
2. November 16, 2007 - New Material Doubles Record for Holding Hydrogen

Nanotechnology

1. November 13, 2007 - Breakthrough Toward Industrial-scale Production Of Nanodevices - also here
2. November 14, 2007 - Novel Nanostructure Response Opens Possibilities For Electrical Devices
3. November 14, 2007 - Pioneering research to assist in creation of nanomachines
4. November 15, 2007 - New method for the production of defined microparticles with 3-D nanopatterns
5. November 16, 2007 - 'Nanosoldering' makes a clean contact

Large Hadron Collider

1. November 13, 2007 - Large Hadron Collider Installs Its Precision Silicon Detector, VELO - also here

Cosmic microwave background

1. November 14, 2007 - Big-bang satellite data 'not flawed'
2. November 16, 2007 - Analysis confronts model of universe’s formation

Supernova 2006gy

1. November 14, 2007 - Multi-star pile-up caused brightest supernova
2. November 14, 2007 - Flashes of Insight Into Mondo Supernova?
3. November 14, 2007 - Mystery Probed in Record-Setting Cosmic Explosion
4. November 14, 2007 - New calculations target brightest-ever supernova
5. November 14, 2007 - Competing Theories Proposed for Superbright Supernova
6. November 15, 2007 - Brightest Supernova May Reignite
7. November 15, 2007 - Brightest supernova died six times
8. November 15, 2007 - How To Make The Brightest Supernova Ever: Explode, Collapse, Repeat - also here

Extrasolar planets

1. November 14, 2007 - Small planets forming in the Pleiades: astronomers
2. November 15, 2007 - Planets Forming In Pleiades Star Cluster, Astronomers Report - also here, here
3. November 15, 2007 - Rocky Planets Might Inhabit Popular Nearby Star Cluster

"Trapped rainbow" optical data storage

1. November 14, 2007 - New technique to slow down, stop and capture light offers bright future for internet, powerful computer - also here
2. November 14, 2007 - Negative refraction 'could trap rainbows'
3. November 15, 2007 - Rainbows to give computers some oomph
4. November 15, 2007 - "Trapped rainbow" key step to superfast computing

E₈ unified theory

1. November 15, 2007 - Is mathematical pattern the theory of everything?
2. November 18, 2007 - Einstein on a snowboard

DNA computing

1. November 15, 2007 - Molecular 'amplifier' boosts DNA computing

Robotics

1. November 15, 2007 - Robot science turns to nature for inspiration

Resistive RAM

1. November 15, 2007 - Remembering the future

Galaxy evolution

1. November 15, 2007 - Watching Galaxies Grow Old Gracefully - also here
2. November 19, 2007 - Nature vs. Nurture in the Cosmos

4-quark mesons

1. November 15, 2007 - Physicists spot unusual charged meson

Carbon nanotubes

1. November 16, 2007 - Nanotube tangles power printable batteries
2. November 16, 2007 - First Direct Images of Carbon Nanotubes Entering Cells

Photonics

1. November 17, 2007 - New Way To Manipulate Light A Million Times More Efficiently - also here

Global warming

1. November 17, 2007 - First-ever 'State Of The Carbon Cycle Report' Finds Troubling Imbalance - also here, here

IPCC climate change report

1. November 17, 2007 - Climate Change Talks Reach Agreement - also here, here
2. November 17, 2007 - UN challenges states on warming
3. November 17, 2007 - UN Panel: Climate Change Accelerating
4. November 17, 2007 - UN Panel Gives Dire Warming Forecast - also here
5. November 17, 2007 - Key Findings of UN Scientific Report

Control of electron spin in quantum dots

1. November 17, 2007 - Optical Technique For Controlling Electron Spins In Quantum Dot Ensembles Developed - also here, here

Life sciences

Metagenomics

1. November 12, 2007 - New Study Suggests Many Unknown Microbes in Soil

Cancer biology

1. November 12, 2007 - Synthetic compound promotes death of lung-cancer cells, tumors
2. November 13, 2007 - Synthetic Molecule Makes Cancer Cells Commit Suicide
3. November 13, 2007 - Balancing Act Protects Vulnerable Cells From Cancer
4. November 14, 2007 - How To Switch Off Cancer Cell Genes: Epigenetic Silencing Involves Distinct Changes In DNA Structures
5. November 15, 2007 - How 'IAP antagonist' chemicals kill tumors

Sense of fairness

1. November 13, 2007 - Envious monkeys can spot a fair deal

Rearrangement hotspots in the human genome

1. November 13, 2007 - Are There Rearrangement Hot Spots In The Human Genome?

Primate cloning

1. November 13, 2007 - Scientists claim to clone monkey embryos - also here
2. November 14, 2007 - Scientists in Oregon and elsewhere report cloning monkey embryos
3. November 14, 2007 - Monkey Clones Unlikely to Bring New Care - also here
4. November 14, 2007 - Researchers get stem cells from cloned monkeys
5. November 14, 2007 - Breakthrough in primate cloning
6. November 14, 2007 - Scientists say they have created first cloned embryo from primate
7. November 14, 2007 - Cloned monkey stem cells produced
8. November 15, 2007 - Primate Stem Cell Barrier Broken
9. November 15, 2007 - Monkey embryonic stem cells a world first
10. November 15, 2007 - Primate Embryonic Stem Cells Successfully Cloned

Filial cannibalism

1. November 14, 2007 - So Cute You Could Just Eat Them Up

Dendritic cells

1. November 14, 2007 - Immune Cells Can Simultaneously Stimulate And Inhibit Killer Cell Activity

Biofilms

1. November 14, 2007 - Bacteria Organize Into Biofilms To Survive Hostile Zones - also here

Neural plasticity

1. November 14, 2007 - Certain Mature Neurons Can Retain A Youthful Form Of Plasticity

Genetic modularity

1. November 14, 2007 - Changing Environment Organizes Genetic Structure - also here, here

Proteins

1. November 14, 2007 - Proteins Pack Tighter In Crowded Native State
2. November 17, 2007 - How Water 'Lubricates' Proteins - also here
3. November 21, 2007 - Protein calms the waters

Telomerase

1. November 14, 2007 - Telomerase Enzyme Structure Provides Significant New Target For Anti-cancer Therapies - also here

Sleep and long-term memory

1. November 15, 2007 - Sleeping brain plays back events in fast-forward

Single-copy gene expression

1. November 15, 2007 - When only mum or dad matters

Brain-imaging studies

1. November 15, 2007 - Are You a Liar? Ask Your Brain
2. November 15, 2007 - Women View Men's Faces Differently Depending On The Stage Of Their Menstrual Cycle

Auditory perception

1. November 15, 2007 - Left brain picks desired sounds from cacophony
2. November 18, 2007 - Left Brain Helps Hear Through The Noise

Early brain development

1. November 15, 2007 - Cancer Gene Drives Pivotal Decision In Early Brain Development - also here

Social isolation, stress, and aggression

1. November 15, 2007 - Effects Of Social Isolation Traced To Brain Hormone - also here

Amphibian breeding strategies

1. November 15, 2007 - Parasites Might Spur Evolution Of Strange Amphibian Breeding Habits - also here, here

Gene splicing and human-chimpanzee differences

1. November 15, 2007 - Humans And Chimps Differ At Level Of Gene Splicing - also here, here

Sleep, hunger, and metabolism

1. November 15, 2007 - Hormone Links Sleep, Hunger And Metabolism - also here, here

P53, endogenous retroviruses, and gene regulatory networks

1. November 15, 2007 - Ancient Retroviruses Spurred Evolution Of Gene Regulatory Networks In Humans And Other Primates

Random gene silencing

1. November 15, 2007 - Random silencing of genes may explain family differences: study

Brain area for voluntary behavior

1. November 15, 2007 - Neuroscientists Uncover Brain Region Involved in Voluntary Behavior

Melatonin and memory

1. November 16, 2007 - Sleep hormone may make you forget
2. November 17, 2007 - Melatonin Could Hurt Memory Formation At Night - also here

Helicase protection of genome stability

1. November 16, 2007 - Human RecQ Helicases, Homologous Recombination And Genomic Instability - also here

Male-female genetic differences and evolution

1. November 16, 2007 - Simple Reason Helps Males Evolve More Quickly - also here

Speed of memory consolidation

1. November 16, 2006 - 'Speed Of Thought' Guides Brain's Memory Consolidation - also here
2. November 19, 2007 - Slumber Reruns: As We Sleep, Our Brains Rehash the Day

Optic flow

1. November 16, 2007 - Virtual Reality Shows Our Need For Optic Flow In Finding Our Way - also here

Synapse maintenance

1. November 16, 2007 - Enzymes Key To Brainpower Identified

Agricultural biotechnology

1. November 16, 2007 - Scientists harvest fish oil crop

Ion channels

1. November 17, 2007 - Zeroing In On Cellular Machinery That Enables Neurons To Fire

Brain flexibility

1. November 18, 2007 - Neuroscientists Propose New Theory Of Brain Flexibility - also here, here

Plankton uptake of CO₂

1. November 18, 2007 - Ocean Plankton Reducing Greenhouse Gases By Using More Carbon Dioxide - also here

Health and medicine

Alzheimer's disease

1. November 12, 2007 - Beta carotene protects memory in study
2. November 12, 2007 - Long-term beta carotene supplementation may help prevent cognitive decline
3. November 12, 2007 - An Alzheimer's Vaccine? Promising Results In Mice - also here
4. November 13, 2007 - Eating Fish, Omega-3 Oils, Fruits And Veggies Lowers Risk Of Memory Problems - also here
5. November 13, 2007 - Staving Off Alzheimer's Disease With The Right Diet, Prescriptions
6. November 14, 2007 - Racial differences seen in Alzheimer's survival
7. November 15, 2007 - Latinos And African-Americans Live Longer With Alzheimer's Disease - also here
8. November 15, 2007 - Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease can be trusted in clinical trials
9. November 16, 2007 - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease special issue explores multifaceted aspects of AD

Cardiovascular disease

1. November 12, 2007 - Mini-stroke: warning that major stroke is near
2. November 14, 2007 - Aspirin provides less heart protection for women
3. November 14, 2007 - Eating Your Greens Could Prove Life-saving If A Heart Attack Strikes
4. November 15, 2007 - Obesity paradox seen in people with heart disease
5. November 15, 2007 - Daily walk lowers diabetics' heart risks
6. November 15, 2007 - Discovery About Urine May Lead To Hypertension Treatment
7. November 15, 2007 - Trial To Evaluate Cardioprotective Properties Of Insulin - also here
8. November 15, 2007 - Heart attacks and nerves
9. November 16, 2007 - Lowered BP after "no salt added" diet
10. November 16, 2007 - Multiple stressors compound heart disease risk
11. November 18, 2007 - Natural protein 'heals the heart'

HDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease

1. November 12, 2007 - Two Proteins -- ABCA1 and ABCG1 -- combine to enable HDL to protect against cardiovascular disease

Diabetes

1. November 12, 2007 - Drug With The Potential To Prevent Or Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes In Clinical Trials - also here
2. November 14, 2007 - Older People With Diabetes Face A Heavy Burden From Co-existing Health Conditions - also here
3. November 15, 2007 - Novo sees advantages over Byetta LAR
4. November 15, 2007 - Family Ties Raise Risk Of Diabetes Complications: Risk Greater For Women

Metabolic syndrome

1. November 12, 2007 - Sex, Sugar And Metabolic Disease

Multiple sclerosis

1. November 12, 2007 - Anti-inflammation Molecule Helps Fight MS-like Disease, Study Suggests - also here

Cancer

1. November 12, 2007 - Chemotherapy And Radiation Together Extend Lung Cancer Patients' Lives - also here
2. November 12, 2007 - Obesity And Overweight Linked To Higher Prostate Cancer Mortality - also here
3. November 13, 2007 - Toward Cancer Drugs That Penetrate Ten Times Deeper Into The Brain - also here
4. November 13, 2007 - Biomarkers Predict Risk For Invasive Breast Cancer Years Before The Tumor Develops
5. November 13, 2007 - A protein converts immune cells to tumor killers
6. November 14, 2007 - Zinc Transporters Regulate Pancreatic Cancer - also here
7. November 14, 2007 - Simpler Way To Assess Breast Cancer Risk Found - also here
8. November 14, 2007 - Ultrasound May Better Classify Ovarian Tumors - also here
9. November 14, 2007 - Tumor-suppressor Gene For Lung Cancer Identified
10. November 14, 2007 - Smoking is Associated with Rectal Cancer
11. November 14, 2007 - A Low-carb Diet May Stunt Prostate Tumor Growth - also here, here
12. November 14, 2007 - Experimental Technique Offers Real-Time Analysis of Breast Cancer Biopsies
13. November 15, 2007 - Skin Cancer Prevention Helped By New Research, Regulations
14. November 15, 2007 - New Guidelines On Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Released - also here
15. November 15, 2007 - Important Indicators Of Early-stage Ovarian Cancer Highlighted
16. November 15, 2007 - Scientific Evidence Of The Significant Anti-cancer Effect Of Milk Thistle - also here
17. November 15, 2007 - Type Of Oral Cancer Linked To Ethnicity: Are Cultural Habits To Blame? - also here
18. November 15, 2007 - Grape Powder Blocks Genes Linked To Colon Cancer - also here
19. November 15, 2007 - Predicting the future in ovarian cancer - also here
20. November 16, 2007 - Similarities In Dog And Human Breast Cancer Pre-malignant Lesions Found - also here, here
21. November 16, 2007 - Deficiency In Exposure To Sunlight Linked To Endometrial Cancer - also here, here
22. November 18, 2007 - PET Scans Useful For Some Cancer Treatment, But How Do Patients Fare?
23. November 18, 2007 - Two Proteins May Be Survival Markers In Some Breast Cancers - also here, here

Drug addiction

1. November 12, 2007 - Cocaine Abuse Blunts Sensitivity To Monetary Reward

Avian flu

1. November 12, 2007 - New bird flu outbreak in Britain
2. November 13, 2007 - UK bird flu outbreak confirmed as H5N1
3. November 13, 2007 - Outbreak of lethal bird flu confirmed in Britain
4. November 13, 2007 - Suffolk bird flu is H5N1 strain
5. November 14, 2007 - More culls in bird flu outbreak
6. November 17, 2007 - Lessons From Turkey's Bird Flu Outbreak - also here, here
7. November 18, 2007 - Bird flu culling round over in Britain

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. November 13, 2007 - Therapy Reduces Risk Of Heart Attack By 80 In People With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Study Shows
2. November 14, 2007 - Tocilizumab Appears Safe And Effective In Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, Study Suggests
3. November 15, 2007 - Promising New Therapy Being Studied to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
4. November 16, 2007 - Blood clotting protein linked to rheumatoid arthritis

Stem cells

1. November 13, 2007 - First Steps Towards Spinal Cord Reconstruction Following Injury Using Stem Cells
2. November 15, 2007 - Menstrual blood could be rich source of stem cells
3. November 15, 2007 - Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived From Preimplantation Genetically Diagnosed Embryos
4. November 16, 2007 - 'Fingerprints' Help Find Genes Involved In Differentiation
5. November 16, 2007 - Cells Discarded From Womb Lining During A Woman's Period Are New Type Of Stem Cell - also here

Autoinflammatory diseases

1. November 13, 2007 - Key Pathway, Potential Drug Targets In Autoinflammatory Disease Uncovered - also here

Antioxidants

1. November 14, 2007 - Long-term Beta Carotene Supplementation May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline, Study Suggests
2. November 14, 2007 - Citrus Juice, Vitamin C Give Staying Power To Green Tea Antioxidants - also here, here

Schizophrenia

1. November 14, 2007 - Connection Between Startled Response And Schizophrenia

Lupus

1. November 14, 2007 - Researchers investigate ways to detect lupus-associated kidney disease - also here, here

Ulcerative colitis

1. November 14, 2007 - New therapeutic targets in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Cancer vaccine

1. November 14, 2007 - Hope for tailored cancer vaccine

AIDS

1. November 16, 2007 - Study shows how some AIDS vaccines may harm
2. November 16, 2007 - Suppressing Herpes Virus May Reduce Infectiousness Of HIV - also here, here
3. November 17, 2007 - Virus Used To Create Experimental HIV Vaccines Directly Impairs Immune Response - also here
4. November 17, 2007 - Chronic HIV-1 Infection Frequently Fails To Protect Against Superinfection - also here, here

Allergies

1. November 16, 2007 - Understanding Allergies By Mapping Chemical Structures Recognized By Immune System - also here

Poxvirus vaccines

1. November 16, 2007 - Poxvirus' ability to hide from the immune system may aid vaccine design - also here, here

Nanoparticle drug delivery for cancer

1. November 16, 2007 - Remote-control nanoparticles deliver drugs directly into tumors - also here

Anti-obesity drugs

1. November 16, 2007 - Fat pills give modest weight loss
2. November 17, 2007 - Three Long-term Diet Pills Show Poor Performance, Study Suggests

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. November 18, 2007 - Sensing Bacteria In The Gut Keeps Inflammation At Bay

Copyright © 2007 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved