Volume 7, Number 48 December 1, 2008

Physical sciences and technology Ocean acidification Cosmic rays and dark matter Global warming Hydrogen ionization in early galaxies Superconductivity Black holes Nanotechnology Solar System origins Dark energy Galaxy evolution Paleoclimatology Photovoltaics Plate tectonics Astrochemistry Lab-on-a-chip Seismic wave simulations Enceladus European astronomy roadmap Exobiology Climate modeling Earth's magnetic field Extreme volcanism on the early Earth Graphene Invisibility cloaks Organic spintronics Life sciences Brain-imaging studies Cytoskeleton Sex and mixability Sleep and memory Gender gap in spatial abilities Social amoebae Cilia and asymmetry in bilaterians Reproduction and longevity Synapses and left-right brain asymmetry Kinesin Prions and gene expression in yeast Mitosis in Archaea Aging and memory Sirtuins and aging Cell bonding Synthetic SARS virus Brain stroke protection Serotonin and bone growth Serotonin and feeding behavior Synapse remodeling Anti-inflammatory immune response Body rhythms and metabolism Adaptive ability of cells Insect immune systems Nitric oxide and brain function Interneuron remodeling Early brain development Condensin II Piwi-interacting RNA and epigenetic inheritance Neanderthals Bacterial phylogenetic trees Mathematical modeling of cellular drug resistance RSC chromatin remodeling complex Neural sleep circuits Blood vessel formation and Notch signaling T cell exhaustion Health and medicine Autoimmune diseases Cancer Antiviral drugs Fat metabolism Parkinson's disease Alzheimer's disease Diabetes Nicotine addiction Longevity and disease Dementia Coronary artery disease and diabetes Cardiovascular disease Depression and heart disease Malaria Adiponectin and bone density Cancer biology Obesity AIDS Appetite suppression Stem cells Metabolism genes MicroRNA and cardiovascular disease Metabolic syndrome Vaccines Strabismus and mental illness Tuberculosis Prions Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Physical sciences and technology

Ocean acidification

1. November 24, 2008 - Oceans Ten Times More Acidic Than Thought
2. November 25, 2008 - Marine life faces 'acid threat'
3. November 26, 2008 - Ocean Growing More Acidic Faster Than Once Thought; Increasing Acidity Threatens Sea Life - also here, here
4. November 28, 2008 - Ocean Acidification In The Caribbean Significant, Yet Variable

Cosmic rays and dark matter

1. November 24, 2008 - A Disturbance in the Neighborhood
2. November 24, 2008 - Cosmic Ray 'Hot Spots' Bombarding Earth With Cosmic Rays - also here, here
3. November 25, 2008 - Milagro detects cosmic ray hot spots
4. November 26, 2008 - Cosmic-ray hot spots puzzle researchers

Global warming

1. November 24, 2008 - Second Warmest October For Global Temperatures, NOAA Says
2. November 25, 2008 - Tibetan glaciers rapidly melting
3. November 26, 2008 - Water confirmed as major greenhouse gas
4. November 28, 2008 - Global Warming Is Changing Organic Matter In Soil: Atmosphere Could Change As A Result - also here
5. November 30, 2008 - Climate change gathers steam, say scientists

Hydrogen ionization in early galaxies

1. November 24, 2008 - Mystery Of Missing Hydrogen: Apparent Absence From Distant Galaxies Puzzles Astronomers - also here, here
2. November 25, 2008 - Riddle of the missing hydrogen

Superconductivity

1. November 24, 2008 - Researchers Induce Superconductivity in an Insulator

Black holes

1. November 24, 2008 - Black Holes Burp Big Bubbles

Nanotechnology

1. November 24, 2008 - Putting One Foot in Front of the Other
2. November 26, 2008 - High-Temp Superconducting Nanowire System is First of its Kind
3. November 26, 2008 - Light moves tiny devices
4. November 26, 2008 - Nanomachines Powered by Light
5. November 27, 2008 - Photon force harnessed to do some light work
6. November 28, 2008 - Harnessing Light To Drive Nanomachines - also here

Solar System origins

1. November 25, 2008 - 'Little Bang' created our Solar System

Dark energy

1. November 25, 2008 - NASA And DOE Collaborate On Dark Energy Research

Galaxy evolution

1. November 25, 2008 - Strangulation Of Spiral Galaxies: 'Missing Link' Discovered
2. November 25, 2008 - 'Missing link' galaxies discovered
3. November 25, 2008 - Galaxy 'missing link' uncovered

Paleoclimatology

1. November 25, 2008 - Prehistoric Climate Can Help Forecast Future Changes - also here, here

Photovoltaics

1. November 25, 2008 - Boosting the power of solar cells - also here, here
2. November 25, 2008 - Nanomanufactured polymer film could lead to lower-cost solar cells
3. November 26, 2008 - Researchers create polymer solar cells with higher efficiency levels - also here

Plate tectonics

1. November 26, 2008 - Plate Tectonics Got an Early Start
2. November 26, 2008 - Minerals yield signs of early plate tectonics
3. November 27, 2008 - Plate Tectonics Started Over 4 Billion Years Ago, Geochemists Report - also here
4. November 29, 2008 - Earth's crust was drifting 4 billion years ago

Astrochemistry

1. November 25, 2008 - Milky Way's sweetness throughout
2. November 26, 2008 - Most Planets May Be Seeded With Life
3. November 26, 2008 - Sweet Molecule Could Lead Us To Alien Life - also here
4. November 26, 2008 - Key Molecule for Life Found in Habitable Region of the Galaxy
5. November 27, 2008 - Space sugar may be alien building block
6. December 9, 2008 - Sweet Find in Search for Alien Life
7. December 10, 2008 - Astronomers find Milky Way's sweet spot

Lab-on-a-chip

1. November 26, 2008 - 'Barcode Chip' For Cheap, Fast Blood Tests Developed - also here

Seismic wave simulations

1. November 26, 2008 - Record Set Simulating Seismic Wave Propagation Across The Earth - also here

Enceladus

1. November 26, 2008 - Plumes from Saturn moon may come from liquid water
2. November 26, 2008 - Sources of Saturn Moon's Supersonic Water Jets Revealed
3. November 26, 2008 - Supersonic water jets shoot from Saturn moon
4. November 27, 2008 - Source Of Geysers On Saturn's Moon Enceladus May Be Underground Water - also here
5. November 27, 2008 - Icy moon blasts liquid water

European astronomy roadmap

1. November 26, 2008 - Europe unveils 20-year astronomy roadmap

Exobiology

1. November 27, 2008 - Researchers Say Tides Can Cut Life Short On Planets Orbiting Smaller Stars

Climate modeling

1. November 27, 2008 - Modelling civilization as 'heat engine' could improve climate predictions

Earth's magnetic field

1. November 27, 2008 - Polar Opposites

Extreme volcanism on the early Earth

1. November 28, 2008 - Ancient times were hell on earth
2. November 28, 2008 - 'Lava bomb Earth' buried surface under 15 km of molten rock
3. December 1, 2008 - A New Picture of the Early Earth

Graphene

1. November 28, 2008 - The Perfect Nanoballoon: How Ultrathin 'Graphene' Carbon Sheets Keep Everything Inside

Invisibility cloaks

1. November 25, 2008 - A simpler route to invisibility

Organic spintronics

1. November 29, 2008 - Spinning Into The Future Of Data Storage - also here, here

Life sciences

Brain-imaging studies

1. November 24, 2008 - A Brain Circuit for Bungee Jumping?
2. November 25, 2008 - 'Wiring' In The Brain Influences Personality - also here

Cytoskeleton

1. November 24, 2008 - Scientists discover cells reorganize shape to fit the situation - also here

Sex and mixability

1. November 24, 2008 - Flexibility trumps fitness in sexual reproduction, says new theory in evolutionary biology - also here

Sleep and memory

1. November 24, 2008 - Nap without guilt: It boosts sophisticated memory

Gender gap in spatial abilities

1. November 25, 2008 - Baby boys may show spatial supremacy
2. December 9, 2008 - Psychologists report that a gender gap in spatial skills starts in infancy - also here

Social amoebae

1. November 25, 2008 - Amoebae Family Values
2. November 27, 2008 - Social Amoeba Seek Kin Association - also here

Cilia and asymmetry in bilaterians

1. November 25, 2008 - FoxJ1 Helps Cilia Beat A Path To Asymmetry

Reproduction and longevity

1. November 25, 2008 - Old Flies Can Become Young Moms - also here, here

Synapses and left-right brain asymmetry

1. November 25, 2008 - How Is Our Left Brain Is Different From Our Right?

Kinesin

1. November 25, 2008 - Engineers show how tiny cell proteins generate force to 'walk' - also here, here

Prions and gene expression in yeast

1. November 25, 2008 - Prion switching in response to environmental stress
2. November 26, 2008 - Misfolded Proteins Accelerate Yeast Evolution

Mitosis in Archaea

1. November 25, 2008 - Proteins strangle cell during division - also here

Aging and memory

1. November 25, 2008 - Scientists find more evidence the aging brain is easily distracted - also here
2. November 26, 2008 - Distractions 'hit old-age memory'
3. November 26, 2008 - Brain scans show root of memory glitch with aging - also here

Sirtuins and aging

1. November 26, 2008 - The Catch-22 of Aging
2. November 26, 2008 - Mice share yeast's ageing system
3. November 26, 2008 - Where does the gene activity of youth go? New findings may hold the key
4. November 26, 2008 - Has universal ageing mechanism been found?
5. November 26, 2008 - Scientists Find Clues to Aging in a Red Wine Ingredient's Role in Activating a Protein
6. November 27, 2008 - Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified - also here

Cell bonding

1. November 26, 2008 - Tiny Protein Provokes Healthy Bonding Between Cells - also here, here, here, here

Synthetic SARS virus

1. November 26, 2008 - Synthetic virus supports a bat origin for SARS
2. November 27, 2008 - SARS Virus Recreated: Opens Door For Potential Defenses Against Future Strains - also here, here

Brain stroke protection

1. November 26, 2008 - An emergency brake in the brain - also here

Serotonin and bone growth

1. November 26, 2008 - It takes guts to build bone - also here

Serotonin and feeding behavior

1. November 26, 2008 - Research reveals mechanism linking serotonin with regulation of food intake
2. December 7, 2008 - Mechanism Links Serotonin With Regulation Of Food Intake

Synapse remodeling

1. November 26, 2008 - It takes two to tango: Not only the receiving, but also the transmitting terminal of a nerve cell's synapse is higly adaptable - also here, here

Anti-inflammatory immune response

1. November 26, 2008 - Research identifies cell receptor as target for anti-inflammatory immune response

Body rhythms and metabolism

1. November 26, 2008 - Molecular partnership controls daily rhythms, body metabolism - also here

Adaptive ability of cells

1. November 26, 2008 - Scientists offer insight into adaptive ability of cells - also here

Insect immune systems

1. November 26, 2008 - Two-phase microbial resistance: the example of insects

Nitric oxide and brain function

1. November 27, 2008 - Nitric Oxide Can Alter Brain Function - also here

Interneuron remodeling

1. November 27, 2008 - Adult Brain Neurons Can Remodel Connections - also here, here

Early brain development

1. November 27, 2008 - Neuroscientists isolate gene essential to early brain development

Condensin II

1. November 27, 2008 - Keeping chromosomes from cuddling up - also here

Piwi-interacting RNA and epigenetic inheritance

1. November 27, 2008 - Scientists discover a new way in which epigenetic information is inherited - also here, here

Neanderthals

1. November 27, 2008 - Did Neanderthal cells cook as the climate warmed?

Bacterial phylogenetic trees

1. November 28, 2008 - Terrestrial origin mooted for more microbes

Mathematical modeling of cellular drug resistance

1. November 28, 2008 - Understanding The Body's Rejection Of Drugs - also here

RSC chromatin remodeling complex

1. November 28, 2008 - How DNA Is Unwound So That Its Code Can Be Read - also here, here

Neural sleep circuits

1. November 28, 2008 - New Research Sheds Light On Fly Sleep Circuit - also here

Blood vessel formation and Notch signaling

1. November 30, 2008 - New Mechanism That Regulates Formation Of Blood Vessels Discovered

T cell exhaustion

1. November 30, 2008 - Scientists find key to keeping killer T cells in prime shape for fighting infection, cancer - also here, here

Health and medicine

Autoimmune diseases

1. November 24, 2008 - New inhibitor drug seen for arthritis, lupus

Cancer

1. November 24, 2008 - Some breast cancers may spontaneously disappear
2. November 24, 2008 - Antigenics vaccine promising in small cancer study
3. November 24, 2008 - Study boosts Roche's Avastin in breast cancer
4. November 24, 2008 - Genes Associated With Fat Metabolism Could Increase Kidney Cancer Risk
5. November 24, 2008 - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Study May Result In More Targeted Drugs
6. November 24, 2008 - Tissue Analyses Indicate Survival Benefits For Some Lung Cancer Patients
7. November 24, 2008 - Researchers identify potential new drug target for chronic leukemia
8. November 24, 2008 - Genomic signature of colon cancer may individualize treatment - also here
9. November 24, 2008 - Study Suggests Some Cancers May Go Away
10. November 25, 2008 - Some breast cancers may naturally regress: study
11. November 25, 2008 - Overweight women at risk for advanced breast cancer
12. November 25, 2008 - Pelvic Lymphadenectomy Does Not Improve Survival In Early-stage Endometrial Cancer - also here
13. November 25, 2008 - Radiation Before Surgery Improves Pancreatic Cancer Outcomes, Study Shows - also here
14. November 25, 2008 - Advanced Lung Cancer Patients See Improved, Progression-free Survival
15. November 26, 2008 - Chemotherapy Plus Targeted Therapies Shows Improved Survival In Advance-stage Lung Cancer Patients
16. November 26, 2008 - Some Cancers Found By Mammograms Would Have Naturally Regressed, Study Suggests - also here
17. November 27, 2008 - Behavior, Lifestyle Factors Influence Cancer Risk Among The Elderly
18. November 28, 2008 - Experts Debate CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
19. November 30, 2008 - Exercise And Rest Reduce Cancer Risk
20. November 30, 2008 - Does Hormone Treatment Predispose Patients To Breast Cancer?
21. November 30, 2008 - New statistical model could help reduce breast-lesion biopsies - also here, here

Antiviral drugs

1. November 24, 2008 - Inside-out cells offer target for antiviral drugs

Fat metabolism

1. November 24, 2008 - High-protein meals may help overweight burn fat
2. November 24, 2008 - COPI Complex Is A Regulator Of Lipid Homeostasis - also here

Parkinson's disease

1. November 24, 2008 - Protein Crucial in Preventing Parkinson's
2. November 25, 2008 - New Research Helps Explain Genetics Of Parkinson's Disease - also here, here

Alzheimer's disease

1. November 24, 2008 - Reliability Of Cognitive Assessment Tool Varies Widely, Study Suggests - also here
2. November 25, 2008 - Brains with incredible memory less tangled
3. November 26, 2008 - Apnea therapy may help cognition in Alzheimer's
4. November 28, 2008 - Research on mice links fast food to Alzheimer's
5. November 30, 2008 - Fast Food A Potential Risk Factor For Alzheimer's - also here

Diabetes

1. November 24, 2008 - Diabetes medications in same class carry different risks of heart failure, death - also here
2. November 25, 2008 - New Source Of Insulin-producing Cells Identified - also here
3. November 25, 2008 - Potassium loss from blood pressure drugs may explain higher risk of adult diabetes - also here, here
4. November 27, 2008 - Sealing Off Portion Of Intestinal Lining Treats Obesity, Resolves Diabetes In Animal Model - also here, here

Nicotine addiction

1. November 24, 2008 - Scientists find blocking a neuropeptide receptor decreases nicotine addiction - also here

Longevity and disease

1. November 25, 2008 - Longevity Linked to Heart Disease Protection

Dementia

1. November 25, 2008 - Simple test might catch early mental decline
2. December 3, 2008 - Memory test may help diagnose problem

Coronary artery disease and diabetes

1. November 25, 2008 - Genes that raise heart risks amplified in diabetics
2. November 25, 2008 - New research links genetic variant, poor glycemic control to coronary artery disease - also here

Cardiovascular disease

1. November 25, 2008 - Diabetic women more likely to die after heart attack
2. November 25, 2008 - Cardiovascular Health: Understanding How Oxidative Stress Impairs Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function - also here, here
3. November 25, 2009 - Bad bosses may damage your heart
4. November 26, 2008 - Scientists doubt utility of CT scan as heart test
5. November 26, 2008 - Study supports value of advanced CT scans to check for clogged arteries - also here
6. November 26, 2008 - Controlling Bad Cholesterol: Finding May Herald Scientific Breakthrough - also here, here
7. November 26, 2008 - Presence of gum disease may help dentists and physicians identify risk for cardiovascular disease - also here, here
8. November 26, 2008 - Inactivity puts coronary patients in jeopardy, study finds
9. November 27, 2008 - The Minimal Impact of a Big Hypertension Study
10. November 27, 2008 - Hopkins study supports use of CT scan of heart
11. November 28, 2008 - Increased Calcium Sensitivity In The Heart Can Make For An Irregular Heartbeat
12. November 28, 2008 - Estrogen Therapy Could Be Dangerous For Women With Existing Heart Risk - also here, here, here
13. November 30, 2008 - How Binge Drinking May Drive Heart Disease - also here

Depression and heart disease

1. November 25, 2008 - Lifestyle May Link Depression and Heart Disease
2. November 25, 2008 - Link Between Depression, Higher Risk Of Cardio Events May Be Because Of Change In Health Behaviors - also here
3. November 28, 2008 - Treating depression seen important in heart failure

Malaria

1. November 25, 2008 - Combination Therapies May Be Almost As Effective As Insecticide-treated Bednets In Preventing Malaria In Areas Of Low Transmission
2. November 25, 2008 - ACTs may achieve malaria transmission reductions comparable to insecticide treated nets
3. November 26, 2008 - New Papers Offer Insights Into Process Of Malarial Drug Resistance - also here

Adiponectin and bone density

1. November 25, 2008 - Adiponectin Is A Metabolic Link Between Obesity And Bone Mineral Density - also here, here

Cancer biology

1. November 25, 2008 - Novel Approach For Suppressing Prostate Cancer Development - also here
2. November 25, 2008 - Cancer cell 'bodyguard' turned into killer - also here
3. November 26, 2008 - Scientists show how a protein that determines cell polarity prevents breast cancer - also here
4. November 26, 2008 - Vitamin D Can Alter Color Cancer Cells In Many Ways, Through One Pathway
5. November 27, 2008 - Scientists track genetic changes in leukemia
6. November 27, 2008 - Genetics of cancer relapse revealed
7. November 27, 2008 - How Childhood Leukemia Fights Back
8. November 27, 2008 - Scientists identify genomic causes of a certain type of leukemia relapse - also here, here
9. November 28, 2008 - Tumor Environment Determines Whether The Cellular Process Autophagy Enables Cancer Cells To Live Or Die
10. November 30, 2008 - Combining targeted therapy drugs may treat previously resistant tumors - also here, here

Obesity

1. November 25, 2008 - Researchers find clue to safer obesity drugs
2. November 28, 2008 - Obese children 'chew through' antioxidants
3. November 28, 2008 - Route To Obesity Passes Through Tongue - also here

AIDS

1. November 25, 2008 - Study says HIV could be eliminated in a decade
2. November 26, 2008 - Universal test 'would slash Aids
3. November 27, 2008 - Phase I Clinical Trial To Test Combination Of Two HIV Vaccine Candidates Starts
4. November 29, 2008 - Selenium May Slow March Of AIDS - also here, here

Appetite suppression

1. November 26, 2008 - Gut chemical may inspire new way to fight obesity
2. November 26, 2008 - How the brain senses fatty food
3. November 26, 2008 - Researchers enlist a new recruit in battle of the bulge
4. November 26, 2008 - Anti-fat pill could help keep the weight off
5. November 27, 2008 - Brain Sense Fatty Food: Molecule Shuts Down Food Intake And Turns On 'Siesta Mode' - also here

Stem cells

1. November 26, 2008 - Scientists Achieve Repair Of Injured Heart Muscle In Lab Tests Of Stem Cells - also here, here

Metabolism genes

1. November 28, 2008 - Scientists find 4 genes that drive metabolism
2. November 28, 2008 - Study identifies genetic variants giving rise to differences in metabolism - also here

MicroRNA and cardiovascular disease

1. November 27, 2008 - Inhibiting MicroRNAs Through ANTAGOMIRs: An Experimental Strategy That Increases Vascularization And Reduces Infarct Size
2. November 30, 2008 - Gene "silencing" drug blocks heart disease in mice
3. November 30, 2008 - Heart disease 'reversed in mice'

Metabolic syndrome

1. November 28, 2008 - Exercise, calcium may lower metabolic syndrome risk

Vaccines

1. November 28, 2008 - New Type Of Vaccines Deliver Stronger And Faster Immune Response - also here

Strabismus and mental illness

1. November 28, 2008 - Eye Divergence In Children Triples Risk Of Mental Illness - also here

Tuberculosis

1. November 28, 2008 - Experimental TB Drug Explodes Bacteria From The Inside Out - also here
2. November 28, 2008 - Resistance to TB Vaccine May Be Uncommon, Protects Against Nine Strains in Mice

Prions

1. November 28, 2008 - Mouse Model Of Prion Disease Mimics Diverse Symptoms Of Human Disorder - also here

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

1. November 28, 2008 - A novel target for therapeutics against Staph infection - also here

Copyright © 2008 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved