Volume 7, Number 34 August 25, 2008

Physical sciences and technology Hydrogen production Nanotechnology Molecular computing Water on Mars Earth's core and magnetic field Dense compact galaxies Kaon particle decay Coreless planets Galactic magnetic fields Mid-size black holes Magnetic random access memory Neutrinos Non-Landau-Fermi liquids Star formation near black holes Black hole collisions Large Hadron Collider Axions and solar flares Metallic nanoparticle waveguides Quantum computing Neuro-electronic interfaces Brown dwarfs Isolated top quarks Plate tectonics Quantum dots Life sciences Bacterial infection and quorum sensing Language and counting Dopamine and sleep regulation Ribosome evolution Anxiety and Eph receptors of amygdala neurons Calcium signaling and synaptic partner selection Telomeres and biological aging Self-destructive cooperation in bacteria Animal arithmetic Attention and awareness Vibrio parahaemolyticus and autophagy Cilia Brain-imaging studies SNP identification Face recognition Hydrothermal vent viruses Astrocytes and T cells Enzyme design Free-lunch learning Trichoplax adhaerens Neuron evolution Evolution of secondary sexual characteristics NMR determination of protein structures Glutamate Auditory attention Cancer biology Functional protein arrays Sexual selection Yeast life cycle Pluripotent stem cells Genome packaging Audio-visual integration Biofilms Health and medicine Cardiovascular disease Cancer AIDS Alzheimer's disease Health benefits of flavanols Stem cells Diabetes Autism Malaria Tuberculosis Obesity Calorie-burning fat cells Dementia Antibiotics Schizophrenia MAPK inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and cancer Rheumatoid arthritis Tissue engineering Drug delivery Autoimmune diseases Endocannabinoids, neuroinflammation, and COX-2 inhibition Influenza vaccines Cellular senescence and inflammation Allergy gene Nanobiotechnology

Physical sciences and technology

Hydrogen production

1. August 18, 2008 - Hydrogen harvested using nature's recipe
2. August 18, 2008 - Key Photosynthesis Step Replicated: Scientists Learn From Nature To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen - also here
3. August 21, 2008 - A Better Way To Make Hydrogen From Biofuels - also here
4. August 25, 2008 - Catalyst for water oxidation adopted from plants: a means for energy-efficient production of hydrogen?

Nanotechnology

1. August 18, 2008 - Scientists Overcome Nanotechnology Hurdle
2. August 20, 2008 - Researchers Create Stable, Highly Pure Helical Peptide Arrays - also here
3. August 21, 2008 - Structure Of Gold Nanoparticles Solved
4. August 21, 2008 - New Instrument To Control The Size Of Nanoclusters - also here
5. August 21, 2008 - New 'Nano-positioners' May Have Atomic-scale Precision - also here, here, here, here

Molecular computing

1. August 18, 2008 - Researchers awarded $10M for molecular programming project

Water on Mars

1. August 18, 2008 - Phoenix Camera Sees Morning Frost at the Landing Site

Earth's core and magnetic field

1. August 18, 2008 - Sloshing Inside Earth Changes Protective Magnetic Field

Dense compact galaxies

1. August 19, 2008 - Bloating galaxies confound astronomers

Kaon particle decay

1. August 19, 2008 - Studies of the decay of kaons hint at possible flaws in standard model of particle physics

Coreless planets

1. August 20, 2008 - Planets without metal cores may be bad for life

Galactic magnetic fields

1. August 20, 2008 - Galactic 'spaghetti monster' powered by magnetic fields
2. August 20, 2008 - Hubble Sees Magnetic Monster In Erupting Galaxy - also here, here
3. August 20, 2008 - Space 'Ropes' Hang Together by Threads

Mid-size black holes

1. August 20, 2008 - Data from far off star cluster suggests cosmos holds few, if any, mid-sized black holes
2. August 20, 2008 - Middleweight Black Holes Nearly Ruled Out
3. August 20, 2008 - Black holes 'dodge middle ground'
4. August 21, 2008 - Most Black Holes Might Come In Only Small And Large - also here

Magnetic random access memory

1. August 20, 2008 - New Speed Record For Magnetic Memories - also here, here
2. August 21, 2008 - Spin-flip speed is pushed to the limit

Neutrinos

1. August 20, 2008 - Chemist Travels World To Study Mysterious Properties Of Neutrinos - also here

Non-Landau-Fermi liquids

1. August 20, 2008 - Spinning electrons make for an unconventional metal
2. August 21, 2008 - Quantum Halfway House Between Magnet And Semiconductor Discovered - also here, here

Star formation near black holes

1. August 21, 2008 - Simulation shows stars form around black holes after all
2. August 21, 2008 - How Stars Form Amid Black Hole Chaos
3. August 21, 2008 - Massive young stars defy tidal forces
4. August 21, 2008 - How Puzzling Stars Formed near Galactic Black Hole
5. August 22, 2008 - The Mystery of Young Stars Near Black Holes Solved - also here
6. August 22, 2008 - Star-Studded Black Holes
7. August 22, 2008 - Black Holes Can Spawn Large, Odd Stars, Model Suggests
8. August 22, 2008 - Black Holes May Make Good Mommies
9. August 23, 2008 - Black hole star mystery 'solved'

Black hole collisions

1. August 21, 2008 - Supermassive black holes pack a punch when they collide

Large Hadron Collider

1. August 21, 2008 - Large Hadron Collider Set To Unveil A New World Of Particle Physics - also here, here, here

Axions and solar flares

1. August 22, 2008 - Some solar flares may be caused by dark matter

Metallic nanoparticle waveguides

1. August 21, 2008 - Optical Computing Closer To Reality - also here, here

Quantum computing

1. August 21, 2008 - Fast quantum computer building block created - also here, here

Neuro-electronic interfaces

1. August 22, 2008 - Coatings To Help Medical Implants Connect With Neurons - also here

Brown dwarfs

1. August 22, 2008 - Brown Dwarfs Revealed As Third Class Of Celestial Bodies After Stars And Planets - also here, here

Isolated top quarks

1. August 22, 2008 - Physicists 'See' Single Top Quarks at the Tevatron

Plate tectonics

1. August 23, 2008 - Pangea Conundrum

Quantum dots

1. August 24, 2008 - Controlling The Behavior Of Quantum Dots - also here, here

Life sciences

Bacterial infection and quorum sensing

1. August 18, 2008 - Fruit Flies Provide Insight Into Bacterial Infections In Humans

Language and counting

1. August 18, 2008 - Researchers say numbers aren't needed to count - also here
2. August 19, 2008 - Language no barrier to counting
3. August 19, 2008 - Aboriginal kids count without numbers
4. August 19, 2008 - Aboriginal Kids Can Count Without Numbers
5. August 19, 2008 - Indigenous children don't need number words to 'count', says new study - also here
6. August 19, 2008 - Brain's counting skill 'built-in'

Dopamine and sleep regulation

1. August 19, 2008 - Dopamine fends off zzzzz's
2. August 21, 2008 - One Sleepless Night Increases Dopamine In The Human Brain - also here, here

Ribosome evolution

1. August 19, 2008 - Molecular Sleuths Track Evolution Through The Ribosome - also here, here

Anxiety and Eph receptors of amygdala neurons

1. August 19, 2008 - A molecule keeps anxiety down

Calcium signaling and synaptic partner selection

1. August 19, 2008 - Efficient technique enables thinking

Telomeres and biological aging

1. August 19, 2008 - Biomarkers reveal our biological age

Self-destructive cooperation in bacteria

1. August 20, 2008 - Kamikaze bacteria illustrate evolution of co-operation
2. August 22, 2008 - Some Cells Self-destruct For The Greater Common Good - also here

Animal arithmetic

1. August 20, 2008 - Elephants master basic mathematics
2. September 1, 2008 - Elephants no Dumbo at sums: Japanese researcher

Attention and awareness

1. August 20, 2008 - How Humor And Misdirection Can Manipulate Levels Of Attention - also here, here
2. August 28, 2008 - Magic teases out clues to consciousness

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and autophagy

1. August 20, 2008 - Researchers Uncover Attack Mechanism Of Illness-inducing Bacterium - also here, here

Cilia

1. August 20, 2008 - Critical Protein Complex In Formation Of Cell Cilia Identified - also here, here

Brain-imaging studies

1. August 20, 2008 - How Memory Deals With A Change In Plans - also here

SNP identification

1. August 20, 2008 - Matsushita says new DNA technology identifies disease risks

Face recognition

1. August 20, 2008 - Face recognition: nurture not nature

Hydrothermal vent viruses

1. August 21, 2008 - New viral way of life discovered in deep-sea vents
2. August 21, 2008 - Virus DNA may help bacteria survive at hydrothermal vents

Astrocytes and T cells

1. August 21, 2008 - Brain Cells Called Astrocytes Undergo Reorganization And May Engulf Attacking T Cells - also here

Enzyme design

1. August 21, 2008 - Catalyst Mystery Unlocked - also here, here

Free-lunch learning

1. August 21, 2008 - Relearning Process Not Always A 'Free Lunch' - also here

Trichoplax adhaerens

1. August 21, 2008 - Genome of saltwater creature could aid understanding of gene grouping - also here
2. August 23, 2008 - Genome Of Simplest Animal Reveals Ancient Lineage, Confounding Array Of Complex Capabilities - also here
3. August 26, 2008 - Genome sequence deepens mystery of inconspicuous sea creature
4. September 4, 2008 - Trichoplax genome sequenced -- 'rosetta stone' for understanding evolution - also here, here

Neuron evolution

1. August 22, 2008 - Tracing Origins Of Critical Step In Animal Evolution: The Development Of Nerves - also here

Evolution of secondary sexual characteristics

1. August 22, 2008 - Manes, Trains And Antlers Explained: How Showy Male Traits Evolved - also here

NMR determination of protein structures

1. August 22, 2008 - Improved Technique Determines Structure In Membrane Proteins - also here

Glutamate

1. August 22, 2008 - With Skate Eyes, Scientists Peer Into Human Disease

Auditory attention

1. August 22, 2008 - Measuring the auditory dynamics of selective attention - also here, here

Cancer biology

1. August 23, 2008 - New Insights Into The Regulation Of PTEN Tumor Suppression Function - also here, here
2. August 23, 2008 - Dense Tissue Promotes Aggressive Cancers - also here, here

Functional protein arrays

1. August 23, 2008 - Biological Chips For Disease Detection, Drug Discovery, Now Easy To Make With New Method - also here, here

Sexual selection

1. August 23, 2008 - Fish Cancer Gene Linked To Pigment Pattern That Attracts Mates - also here, here

Yeast life cycle

1. August 23, 2008 - How Daughter Is Different From Mother ... In Yeast Cells - also here, here

Pluripotent stem cells

1. August 24, 2008 - A new test distinguishes embryonic stem cells and those with equal therapeutic potential

Genome packaging

1. August 24, 2008 - Exploding Chromosomes Fuel Research About Evolution Of Genetic Storage - also here

Audio-visual integration

1. August 24, 2008 - Ventriloquism In Motion: How Sound Can Move Light

Biofilms

1. August 24, 2008 - How Well Do Antimicrobial Products Kill Biofilms? - also here

Health and medicine

Cardiovascular disease

1. August 18, 2008 - Poor sleep equals high blood pressure for teens
2. August 19, 2008 - Poor Teen Sleep Habits May Raise Blood Pressure, Lead To CVD - also here
3. August 19, 2008 - Poor sleep in teens linked to higher blood pressure
4. August 19, 2008 - B vitamins fail to curb risks in heart patients
5. August 19, 2008 - Ultrasound Used To Predict Heart Attack Risk - also here
6. August 22, 2008 - For Coronary Artery Disease Patients, B Vitamins May Not Reduce Cardiovascular Events - also here
7. August 23, 2008 - Daily aspirin in middle-age call

Cancer

1. August 18, 2008 - "Bystander Effect" Hints at Dangers of Low-Dose Radiation
2. August 18, 2008 - Synthetic Molecules Could Add Spice To Fight Against Cancer - also here
3. August 19, 2008 - New Method To Overcome Multiple Drug Resistant Diseases - also here, here
4. August 19, 2008 - Tag for aggressive bowel cancer
5. August 20, 2008 - Obese Prostate Cancer Patients May Benefit More From Brachytherapy
6. August 20, 2008 - Obesity Raises Risks Of Serious Digestive Health Concerns: Incidence Of GERD, Colorectal Cancer Increase With Body Mass - also here, here
7. August 20, 2008 - Researcher aim to 'unmask' cancer cells to trigger body's immune system
8. August 20, 2008 - First detection of 'odor profile' for skin cancer may lead to rapid, non-invasive diagnostic test
9. August 21, 2008 - Scent Of Skin Cancer Discovered - also here, here
10. August 21, 2008 - Chemists Synthesize Promising Anti-cancer Product - also here, here
11. August 21, 2008 - Machine 'sniffs out skin cancer'
12. August 21, 2008 - Sniffing out cancer
13. August 22, 2008 - Prostate cancer risk increased in obese men: study
14. August 22, 2008 - Asians with gastric cancer have better prognosis
15. August 22, 2008 - Plant-based flavonoids may cut ovarian cancer risk
16. August 22, 2008 - Positive Thinking May Protect Against Breast Cancer - also here, here
17. August 22, 2008 - Why A Common Treatment For Prostate Cancer Ultimately Fails - also here, here
18. August 22, 2008 - Positive thinkers 'avoid cancer'
19. August 23, 2008 - Drugs To Inhibit Blood Vessel Growth Show Promise In Rat Model Of Deadly Brain Tumor - also here, here
20. August 23, 2008 - Women exposed to negative life events at greater risk of breast cancer - also here
21. August 24, 2008 - Gene found for rare and deadly childhood cancer
22. August 24, 2008 - Enzyme New Potential Target In Treating Blood Cancer
23. August 24, 2008 - Going From Ulcers To Cancer - also here, here
24. August 24, 2008 - Scientists nail childhood nerve cancer gene
25. August 28, 2008 - Stress may raise breast cancer risk in young women

AIDS

1. August 18, 2008 - India Continues To Progress In AIDS Vaccine Development Efforts - also here
2. August 19, 2008 - Chemical Liberated By Leaky Gut May Allow HIV To Infect The Brain, Scientists Find - also here

Alzheimer's disease

1. August 18, 2008 - Potential Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Cure Found In Century-old Drug
2. August 22, 2008 - Brain stimulation improves memory in Alzheimer's
3. August 22, 2008 - Pinpointing Alzheimer's Structures - also here, here
4. August 22, 2008 - Compounds Have Potential For Diagnosis, Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease - also here

Health benefits of flavanols

1. August 18, 2008 - Researchers link cocoa flavanols to improved brain blood flow - also here

Stem cells

1. August 19, 2008 - Stem cell test to help treat bowel cancer
2. August 19, 2008 - Stem cells could allow "blood farms," company says - also here
3. August 19, 2008 - Stem cells from menstrual blood save limbs
4. August 19, 2008 - Limbs Saved By Menstrual Blood Stem Cells - also here, here
5. August 19, 2008 - First red blood cells grown in the lab
6. August 19, 2008 - Immune Response To Human Embryonic Stem Cells In Mice Suggests Human Therapy May Face Challenge - also here
7. August 19, 2008 - Stem cell advance may help transfusion supplies - also here
8. August 19, 2008 - Body May Reject Transplanted Human Embryonic Stem Cells
9. August 20, 2008 - Novel Method To Grow Human Embryonic Stem Cells Developed - also here, here
10. August 20, 2008 - Stem Cell Indicator For Bowel Cancer Should Lead To Better Survival Rates - also here, here
11. August 20, 2008 - Bowel cancer indicator should lead to better treatment
12. August 20, 2008 - Stem cells can be used to create limitless blood supplies: paper
13. August 20, 2008 - Researchers produce blood in lab from stem cells
14. August 21, 2008 - Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Help Control Inflammatory Bowel Disease - also here, here
15. August 22, 2008 - Blood transfusion for stem cell company?
16. August 22, 2008 - Japanese create stem cells from wisdom teeth
17. August 22, 2008 - Stem cells 'created from teeth'

Diabetes

1. August 19, 2008 - Arsenic has firm link to diabetes in U.S. study
2. August 19, 2008 - Inorganic arsenic in water may be linked with diabetes risk
3. August 19, 2008 - Trace arsenic in water may be linked with diabetes - also here
4. August 20, 2008 - Are Your Eyes A Window To Diabetes-related Health Issues?
5. August 20, 2008 - Arsenic Exposure Could Increase Diabetes Risk - also here, here
6. August 21, 2008 - Diabetes Transmitted From Parents To Children, New Research Suggests - also here, here

Autism

1. August 19, 2008 - Can Facial Structures, Brain Abnormalities Reveal Formula For Detection Of Autism? - also here, here

Malaria

1. August 19, 2008 - Scientists Discover What Drives The Development Of A Fatal Form Of Malaria - also here, here

Tuberculosis

1. August 19, 2008 - Rifamycin antibiotics attack tuberculosis bacteria with walls, not signals
2. August 24, 2008 - Poor treatment may cause "untreatable" TB: study
3. August 24, 2008 - Aggressive TB treatment 'success'

Obesity

1. August 20, 2008 - Addiction drug reverses obesity in rats
2. August 22, 2008 - Scientist Finds Key To Overeating As We Age - also here, here
3. August 24, 2008 - The Older The Fatter: Longitudinal Study About Overweight Children
4. August 24, 2008 - Addiction Treatment Proves Successful In Animal Weight Loss Study - also here, here

Calorie-burning fat cells

1. August 20, 2008 - "Good" fat may be new weapon in obesity fight
2. August 20, 2008 - Muscle-like fat?
3. August 20, 2008 - Boosting 'good' fat to burn off the bad
4. August 21, 2008 - Study Identifies Protein That Produces 'Good' Fat: Finding May Lead To Ways To Treat, Prevent Obesity - also here, here
5. August 21, 2008 - Making 'Good' Fat From Muscle And Vice Versa - also here, here
6. August 21, 2008 - Could We Lose Weight by Injecting Fat into Our Bellies?

Dementia

1. August 20, 2008 - Study examines testing model to predict and diagnose new cases of dementia - also here, here

Antibiotics

1. August 21, 2008 - New antibiotic may block toxins from bacteria
2. August 22, 2008 - Gentle approach could cripple drug-resistant bugs
3. August 22, 2008 - Molecule That Keeps Pathogens Like Salmonella In Check Uncovered - also here, here
4. August 22, 2008 - Study on salmonella self-destruction

Schizophrenia

1. August 21, 2008 - Early pregnancy trauma boosts schizophrenia risk
2. August 21, 2008 - Acute Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Linked To Development Of Schizophrenia - also here, here

MAPK inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and cancer

1. August 21, 2008 - Cancer Therapy: A Role For MAPK Inhibitors Combined With MTORC1 Inhibitors - also here, here
2. August 22, 2008 - Anti-tumor effects are enhanced by inhibiting 2 pathways rather than 1 - also here

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. August 21, 2008 - How Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes Bone Loss - also here, here

Tissue engineering

1. August 21, 2008 - Hydrogels Provide Scaffolding For Growth Of Bone Cells - also here

Drug delivery

1. August 21, 2008 - Breaking The 'Mucus Barrier' With A New Drug Delivery System - also here, here
2. August 21, 2008 - Breaking the mucus barrier
3. August 24, 2008 - Coated nanoparticles solve sticky drug-delivery problem - also here
4. August 24, 2008 - Biodegradable Polymers Show Promise For Improving Treatment Of Acute Inflammatory Diseases - also here, here

Autoimmune diseases

1. August 21, 2008 - Accumulated Bits Of A Cell's Own DNA Can Trigger Autoimmune Disease - also here, here

Endocannabinoids, neuroinflammation, and COX-2 inhibition

1. August 22, 2008 - Protecting Brain Cells From Diseases Like Alzheimer's Using New Method - also here

Influenza vaccines

1. August 22, 2008 - Researchers Test New Vaccine To Fight Multiple Influenza Strains - also here, here

Cellular senescence and inflammation

1. August 22, 2008 - To Protect Against Liver Disease, Body Puts Cells 'Under Arrest' - also here, here
2. August 22, 2008 - Senescence in liver cells is found by CSHL scientists to help limit acute tissue damage - also here

Allergy gene

1. August 22, 2008 - Researchers discover key allergy gene - also here

Nanobiotechnology

1. August 22, 2008 - Engineering new uses for gold

Copyright © 2008 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved