Volume 8, Number 22 June 1, 2009

Physical sciences and technology Quantum computing Fuel cells Extrasolar planets Large Hadron Collider Supercomputers Carbon nanotube digital storage Relic neutrinos Astrochemistry Sea level rise Enceladus Supernovae Global warming Macroscopic quantum tunneling Black holes Nanotechnology Earth's mantle Carbon nanotubes Virtual reality Ocean climate modeling Controlled fusion Axionlike particles Mid-Permian mass extinction Galaxy clusters Dark energy and 'chameleon' particles Superconductivity Earthquakes Photonics of spin Terahertz technology Life sciences Epigenetics Regulation of plant innate immunity Disordered proteins Immune response and lymph nodes Gene regulation Yersinia infection Evolution of adaptive immunity Group selection theory Mouse genome Extremophiles Polyadenylation by viruses Cohesin and gene regulation Induced pluripotent stem cells Glucose trafficking Genomic imprinting Gene expression in Listeria monocytogenes Immune system memory, interferon-α and interleukin-12 Contractile rings Tandem repeats and gene activity Proteasomes Ω-3/Ω-6 balance, PI3K, gene expression, and inflammation Oxidative stress and longevity Mitosis and chromosome segregation Ogt, polycomb proteins, GlcNAc, and development Neanderthals MicroRNA and circadian rhythm Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior Brain-imaging studies Animal intelligence Single-event memory Brain processing of speech and language Mirror neurons Antidepressants Neurolignin and synaptogenesis Gamma oscillations BDNF and drug addiction FOXP2, speech, and language Synaesthesia Deep brain stimulation and neurogenesis Theta oscillations in the hippocampus Autism Health and medicine Cancer Cardiovascular disease Genetics of autoimmune disease Antibiotic resistance Nanobiotechnology Vitamin D and dementia Stem cells and cancer Multiple sclerosis Cancer biology Inflammatory bowel disease Malaria Diabetes AIDS Lupus Drug delivery RNAi therapy Alzheimer's disease Avian flu Antibiotics Hepatitis C Gene therapy Stem cells Rheumatoid arthritis Prions NF-κB, osteoporosis, and periodontitis Gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem cells

Physical sciences and technology

Quantum computing

1. May 25, 2009 - Too much entanglement can render quantum computers useless
2. May 28, 2009 - Scientists demonstrate all-fiber quantum logic
3. May 29, 2009 - Researchers make breakthrough in the quantum control of light - also here

Fuel cells

1. May 25, 2009 - New Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Seal Could Help Bring Efficient Energy Technology To Market

Extrasolar planets

1. May 26, 2009 - Scientists Develop New Method to Find Alien Oceans, Earth-like Planets
2. May 26, 2009 - New Technique Could Find Water On Earth-like Planets Orbiting Distant Suns
3. May 27, 2009 - "Hot Jupiter" Planet's Phases Seen -- A First
4. May 27, 2009 - Illuminating an Extrasolar Planet
5. May 27, 2009 - Exoplanet Phases Seen in Optical Light
6. May 27, 2009 - Yin-yang planet has phases like the moon
7. May 28, 2009 - Exoplanet Mapping Tested on Earth
8. May 28, 2009 - Phases reveal glowing exoplanet
9. May 28, 2009 - Planet-Hunting Method Succeeds at Last - also here
10. May 28, 2009 - Discovery: Even Tiny Stars Have Planets
11. May 28, 2009 - New method to seek life-supporting exoplanets
12. May 28, 2009 - Exoplanet found by measuring star's sideways shift
13. May 29, 2009 - At Last, an Exoplanet by Astrometry
14. May 29, 2009 - Planet Found Orbiting Same-Size Star
15. June 1, 2009 - Distant world circles tiny star
16. June 1, 2009 - Astrometry nabs an exoplanet
17. June 1, 2009 - New Technique Could Reveal Exoplanets with Water

Large Hadron Collider

1. May 26, 2009 - Before Higgs particle, scientists must learn soul of new machine

Supercomputers

1. May 26, 2009 - Europe's fastest supercomputer unveiled in Germany

Carbon nanotube digital storage

1. May 26, 2009 - New Memory Material May Hold Data For One Billion Years - also here
2. May 29, 2009 - A Billion-Year Hard Drive
3. June 15, 2009 - New Ultradense Memory Chip to Last a Billion Years?

Relic neutrinos

1. May 26, 2009 - Ginormous Neutrino
2. June 2, 2009 - Particles Larger Than Galaxies Fill the Universe?
3. June 9, 2009 - Stretched neutrinos could span the universe

Astrochemistry

1. May 26, 2009 - Space rock yields carbon bounty
2. June 3, 2009 - Space rock yields answers about origins of life on Earth

Sea level rise

1. May 27, 2009 - Greenland ice could fuel severe U.S. sea level rise
2. May 27, 2009 - Melting Greenland ice sheets may threaten Northeast United States, Canada - also here, here
3. May 28, 2009 - New York, Boston "Directly in Path" of Sea Level Rise

Enceladus

1. May 27, 2009 - Evidence mounts for liquid interior of a Saturn moon
2. May 29, 2009 - Freeze-thaw cycle may explain Saturn moon's odd activity

Supernovae

1. May 27, 2009 - Blast Seen in "Exploding" Galaxy
2. May 27, 2009 - Rare radio supernova in nearby galaxy is nearest supernova in five years - also here
3. May 27, 2009 - Hidden Radio Supernova Finally Found
4. May 28, 2009 - Massive supernova is nearest in five years

Global warming

1. May 27, 2009 - Arctic thaw could prompt huge release of carbon dioxide
2. May 27, 2009 - Hot times ahead for the Wild West
3. May 27, 2009 - Biologists: Greening Arctic not likely to offset permafrost carbon release - also here
4. May 27, 2009 - Study cites 'slow-motion' threat from permafrost
5. May 27, 2009 - Permafrost Meltdown May Bog Down Global Warming--For Awhile
6. May 29, 2009 - Permafrost melt poses long-term threat

Macroscopic quantum tunneling

1. May 27, 2009 - Evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling detected in nanowires - also here

Black holes

1. May 27, 2009 - XMM-Newton takes astronomers to a black hole's edge - also here
2. May 27, 2009 - Close-up Look at Black Hole Reveals Feeding Frenzy
3. May 28, 2009 - ESA takes us closer than ever to a black hole
4. May 28, 2009 - Ghost remains after black hole eruption - also here
5. May 28, 2009 - Chandra Telescope Spies X-ray 'Ghost' of Black Hole

Nanotechnology

1. May 27, 2009 - New rotors could help develop nanoscale generators - also here
2. May 27, 2009 - Sperm-like nanopropeller is smallest swimmer ever

Earth's mantle

1. May 27, 2009 - What goes down, must come up: Geoscientists offer new model for degassing of Earth's mantle - also here

Carbon nanotubes

1. May 27, 2009 - New Gas Sensor Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Virtual reality

1. May 27, 2009 - Really virtual reality - also here

Ocean climate modeling

1. May 27, 2009 - NASA Supercomputing Goes Green: Modeling Earth's Ocean Climate

Controlled fusion

1. May 27, 2009 - Fusion dreams delayed

Axionlike particles

1. May 28, 2009 - Galactic nuclei offer some indication of axionlike particles

Mid-Permian mass extinction

1. May 28, 2009 - Ancient volcano may have caused mass extinction - also here
2. May 28, 2009 - China volcano may have caused mass extinction
3. May 29, 2009 - Supervolcano triggered mass extinction

Galaxy clusters

1. May 28, 2009 - Suzaku snaps first complete X-ray view of a galaxy cluster - also here
2. May 29, 2009 - Galaxy Cluster X-ray Revealed

Dark energy and 'chameleon' particles

1. May 29, 2009 - Dark-energy particle spotted?

Superconductivity

1. May 29, 2009 - Superconducting Chips To Become Reality

Earthquakes

1. May 29, 2009 - Ground truths: Predicting the 'big one'

Photonics of spin

1. May 31, 2009 - French physicists claim breakthrough in ultra-fast data access
2. June 1, 2009 - Tiny laser bursts speed up data access

Terahertz technology

1. May 31, 2009 - First Multi-pixel Terahertz Modulator Created

Life sciences

Epigenetics

1. May 25, 2009 - Knowledge Of Epigenetics Helps Scientists Develop Tool To Study Deadly Parasite's Histone Code

Regulation of plant innate immunity

1. May 25, 2009 - Identification Of Protein Domain Contributes To Safer Food

Disordered proteins

1. May 26, 2009 - 'Disordered' amino acids may really be there to provide wiggle room for signaling protein - also here

Immune response and lymph nodes

1. May 26, 2009 - What is the function of lymph nodes? - also here
2. May 27, 2009 - Immunity can be lymph-less

Gene regulation

1. May 26, 2009 - The evolution of gene regulation: How microbial neighbors settle differences - also here

Yersinia infection

1. May 26, 2009 - Bacteria With A Built-in Thermometer: How Bacteria Measure Temperature And Thereby Control Infection

Evolution of adaptive immunity

1. May 27, 2009 - Ancient organism, modern immunity
2. May 29, 2009 - "Alien" Sea Creature Sheds Light on Evolution of Immune System

Group selection theory

1. May 27, 2009 - Going against the group
2. May 27, 2009 - The nail in the coffin for group selection?

Mouse genome

1. May 27, 2009 - Meet the complete mouse -- whole mouse genome sequence published - also here
2. May 27, 2009 - Mouse genome laid bare to science

Extremophiles

1. May 27, 2009 - Geographic isolation drives the evolution of a hot springs microbe - also here

Polyadenylation by viruses

1. May 27, 2009 - Viruses are sneakier than we thought - also here

Cohesin and gene regulation

1. May 27, 2009 - In a rare disorder, a familiar protein disrupts gene function - also here

Induced pluripotent stem cells

1. May 28, 2009 - U.S. company finds "safer" way to make stem-like cells
2. May 28, 2009 - Patient-ready iPS cells?
3. May 28, 2009 - Stem-cell therapies closer to the clinic
4. May 28, 2009 - Stem cell breakthrough gets closer to the clinic

Glucose trafficking

1. May 28, 2009 - Of men, not mice
2. May 28, 2009 - Flaws found in mouse model of diabetes

Genomic imprinting

1. May 28, 2009 - Nurture has greater effect than nature, says study

Gene expression in Listeria monocytogenes

1. May 28, 2009 - Scientists follow live infection by food-poisoning bacteria Listeria

Immune system memory, interferon-α and interleukin-12

1. May 28, 2009 - Immunologists identify biochemical signals that help immune cells remember how to fight infection - also here

Contractile rings

1. May 28, 2009 - Study may aid efforts to prevent uncontrolled cell division in cancer - also here

Tandem repeats and gene activity

1. May 28, 2009 - Saved by junk DNA - also here

Proteasomes

1. May 28, 2009 - Researchers Find Tools Needed To Build a Cellular Shredder

Ω-3/Ω-6 balance, PI3K, gene expression, and inflammation

1. May 29, 2009 - Omega fatty acid balance can alter immunity and gene expression - also here

Oxidative stress and longevity

1. May 29, 2009 - How oxidative stress may help prolong life - also here

Mitosis and chromosome segregation

1. May 29, 2009 - Slicing chromosomes leads to new insights into cell division - also here

Ogt, polycomb proteins, GlcNAc, and development

1. May 29, 2009 - Sugarcoating fruit fly development - also here

Neanderthals

1. May 29, 2009 - Virtual Reconstruction Of A Neanderthal Woman's Birth Canal Reveals Insights Into Evolution Of Human Child Birth

MicroRNA and circadian rhythm

1. May 31, 2009 - MicroRNAs grease the cell's circadian clockwork

Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior

Brain-imaging studies

1. May 25, 2009 - Brain-behavior disconnect in cocaine addiction - also here
2. May 26, 2009 - Brain takes just 200 milliseconds to interpret facial expressions
3. May 27, 2009 - Neural mechanisms of strategic decision making
4. May 28, 2009 - Brain Activation Can Predict Strategies People Use To Make Risky Decisions
5. May 28, 2009 - Brain's object recognition system activated by touch alone - also here

Animal intelligence

1. May 25, 2009 - Necessity is the mother of invention for clever birds - also here
2. May 26, 2009 - Rooks reveal remarkable tool use
3. May 26, 2009 - Rooks rival chimpanzees in their ability to use tools

Single-event memory

1. May 26, 2009 - Scientists discover how the brain remembers one-time experiences

Brain processing of speech and language

1. May 26, 2009 - Scientists reaching consensus on how brain processes speech - also here

Mirror neurons

1. May 26, 2009 - Role of mirror neurons may need a rethink

Antidepressants

1. May 27, 2009 - New mouse model of depression/anxiety enhances understanding of antidepressant drugs - also here

Neurolignin and synaptogenesis

1. May 27, 2009 - Capturing the birth of a synapse - also here

Gamma oscillations

1. May 28, 2009 - Long-distance brain waves focus attention - also here

BDNF and drug addiction

1. May 28, 2009 - Flipping the brain's addiction switch without drugs - also here

FOXP2, speech, and language

1. May 28, 2009 - Why can we talk? 'Humanized' mice speak volumes - also here
2. May 28, 2009 - Human speech gene gives mouse a baritone squeak
3. May 28, 2009 - A Human Language Gene Changes the Sound of Mouse Squeaks

Synaesthesia

1. May 28, 2009 - People may be able to taste words

Deep brain stimulation and neurogenesis

1. May 29, 2009 - Electrodes spark neuron growth

Theta oscillations in the hippocampus

1. May 29, 2009 - Scientists reveal how neuronal activity is timed in brain's memory-making circuits - also here

Autism

1. May 29, 2009 - Many autism cases 'undiagnosed'

Health and medicine

Cancer

1. May 25, 2009 - Meat intake not linked to breast cancer
2. May 25, 2009 - Breast MRI Detects Additional 'Unsuspected' Cancers Not Seen On Mammography Or Ultrasound
3. May 26, 2009 - Green tea extract shows promise in leukemia trials - also here
4. May 26, 2009 - Carbohydrate restriction may slow prostate tumor growth - also here
5. May 26, 2009 - Less Toxic Drug Prolongs Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer - also here
6. May 26, 2009 - PET scan can non invasively measure early assessment of treatment for common type of breast cancer - also here
7. May 26, 2009 - New study finds dramatic increase in metastatic colon cancer survival - also here
8. May 26, 2009 - New broad-spectrum vaccine to prevent cervical cancer induces strong responses in animals - also here
9. May 26, 2009 - Researchers identify biological markers that may indicate poor breast cancer prognosis - also here
10. May 26, 2009 - Lifelong cancer risk for patients treated for childhood cancer - also here
11. May 26, 2009 - Targeting The More Lethal Form Of The Cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma
12. May 27, 2009 - Radio waves kill potential esophageal cancer cells
13. May 27, 2009 - FDA staff questions data on leukemia drug
14. May 27, 2009 - Why some prostate cancer returns - also here
15. May 27, 2009 - New therapy enlists immune system to boost cure rate in a childhood cancer - also here
16. May 27, 2009 - Predicting higher risk for prostate cancer diagnosis - also here
17. May 27, 2009 - First Comprehensive Guidelines For Managing Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
18. May 27, 2009 - Protein Predicts Development Of Invasive Breast Cancer In Women With Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
19. May 27, 2009 - Genetic Testing For Breast Or Ovarian Cancer Risk May Be Greatly Underutilized
20. May 27, 2009 - Cancer risk for child survivors
21. May 28, 2009 - New Roche drug helps shrink breast cancer tumors
22. May 28, 2009 - Study: Radio waves erase pre-cancer cells in esophagus
23. May 28, 2009 - Technique Eradicates Problems In Most Patients With Barrett's Esophagus
24. May 28, 2009 - New blood test greatly reduces false-positives in prostate cancer screening - also here
25. May 28, 2009 - Small molecule inhibitor shows promise in trastuzumab-resistant metastatic breast cancer - also here
26. May 28, 2009 - Cottonseed-based drug shows promise in treating severe brain cancer - also here
27. May 29, 2009 - Combo treatment allows surgery for liver cancer
28. May 29, 2009 - HU177 levels predict primary melanoma
29. May 29, 2009 - Low oxygen level prostate tumors often recurrent
30. May 29, 2009 - FDA advisers back Glaxo, Genmab cancer drug
31. May 29, 2009 - Chemotherapy combination outcomes differ for aged, younger colon cancer patients - also here
32. May 30, 2009 - Breast Cancer Etiology May Vary By Subtype
33. May 30, 2009 - Hormone pills may make lung cancer more deadly
34. May 30, 2009 - Immune system taught to fight deadly skin cancer
35. May 31, 2009 - New breast cancer drugs block cell repair enzyme
36. May 31, 2009 - OncoGenex CEO seeks prostate cancer drug partner
37. May 31, 2009 - Hormone therapy lifts lung cancer death risk: study
38. May 31, 2009 - Astra drug keeps lung cancer from worsening: study
39. May 31, 2009 - Failed Avastin early-stage cancer study detailed
40. May 31, 2009 - Tarceva helps slow lung cancer progression: study
41. May 31, 2009 - Lilly drug helps lung cancer patients live longer
42. May 31, 2009 - Herceptin improves stomach cancer survival: study
43. May 31, 2009 - Researchers discover genetic risk factor for testicular cancer - also here
44. May 31, 2009 - 2-drug combination appears safe and active in metastatic kidney cancer - also here
45. May 31, 2009 - Study shows drug combination improves outcome for advanced non-small cell lung cancer - also here
46. May 31, 2009 - Surgery not necessary for most late-stage colorectal cancers - also here
47. May 31, 2009 - New treatment combination proves safe for head and neck cancer patients - also here
48. May 31, 2009 - Eight Newly Identified Genes Help Predict A Melanoma Patient's Response To Treatment
49. May 31, 2009 - Testicular cancer genetic advance
50. May 31, 2009 - Some antidepressants may risk breast cancer return
51. May 31, 2009 - Immune therapies finally working against cancer
52. June 1, 2009 - Testicular cancer genes identified

Cardiovascular disease

1. May 25, 2009 - Blood flow affects clot formation
2. May 25, 2009 - Scientists find shared genetic link between periodontitis and heart attack - also here
3. May 25, 2009 - Gene links heart and gum disease
4. May 25, 2009 - Cholesterol-lowering drugs may help prevent stroke recurrence - also here
5. May 26, 2009 - Researchers lead the way in blood clotting discovery
6. May 26, 2009 - Drug-eluting stents more effective than bare-metal stents in heart attack patients
7. May 26, 2009 - Pediatrician creates easier way to identify kids' high BP - also here
8. May 26, 2009 - Newly Discovered Mechanism Promotes Blood Clot Formation
9. May 28, 2009 - Anemia associated with greater risk of death in heart disease patients - also here
10. May 28, 2009 - Routine aspirin benefits queried
11. May 29, 2009 - Benefit of aspirin for healthy people is uncertain - also here
12. May 30, 2009 - Novel biomarkers in heart failure - also here
13. May 30, 2009 - Better Treatment Selection And Improved Therapies -- Key To Improving Prognosis In Acute Heart Failure
14. May 31, 2009 - Recognizing signs and symptoms of acute HF

Genetics of autoimmune disease

1. May 25, 2009 - Immune genes adapt to parasites - also here

Antibiotic resistance

1. May 25, 2009 - Antibiotic multiresistance: why bacteria are so effective - also here

Nanobiotechnology

1. May 25, 2009 - Buckyball Computer Simulations Help Team Find Molecular Key To Combating HIV
2. May 27, 2009 - Silver nanoparticles show 'immense potential' in prevention of blood clots - also here
3. May 28, 2009 - So Long Aspirin, Hello Silver

Vitamin D and dementia

1. May 26, 2009 - Is vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia? - also here
2. May 29, 2009 - Low vitamin D levels may impair thinking

Stem cells and cancer

1. May 26, 2009 - Activated stem cells in damaged lungs could be first step toward cancer - also here

Multiple sclerosis

1. May 26, 2009 - Diabetes drug shows promise against multiple sclerosis - also here
2. May 26, 2009 - One size does not fit all: A new look at therapies - also here
3. May 26, 2009 - Prescribing sunshine for multiple sclerosis?
4. May 26, 2009 - AM80 Blocks Early Multiple Sclerosis in Mice

Cancer biology

1. May 26, 2009 - Zebrafish provide a model for cancerous melanoma in humans - also here
2. May 27, 2009 - Novel cancer gene accelerates or stops tumour growth
3. May 27, 2009 - To spread, skin cancer attacks immune dendritic cells - also here
4. May 28, 2009 - Studies find new weaknesses in cancer
5. May 28, 2009 - Cancer cells need normal, nonmutated genes to survive
6. May 28, 2009 - Hitting cancer where it hurts
7. May 29, 2009 - The Vulnerable Cancer Cell: New Studies Reveal Broad, Hidden Network That Lets Tumors Thrive

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. May 26, 2009 - Caffeic Acid Inhibits Colitis In A Mouse Model: Is A Drug-metabolizing Gene Crucial? - also here

Malaria

1. May 26, 2009 - Spread Of Malaria Parasites Curbed With Combination Of Methylene Blue And New Malaria Drugs
2. May 27, 2009 - Malaria vaccine enters phase III clinical trials
3. May 28, 2009 - Fears for new malaria drug resistance
4. May 29, 2009 - New malaria agent found in chimpanzees close to that commonly observed in humans - also here
5. May 29, 2009 - Malaria parasites 'resist drugs'

Diabetes

1. May 27, 2009 - Type 1 diabetes to double in European kids under five
2. May 27, 2009 - Child diabetes cases 'to double'
3. May 28, 2009 - Youth diabetes in Europe set to explode: study
4. May 28, 2009 - Researchers discover new glucose-regulating protein linked with diabetes - also here
5. May 28, 2009 - How Viral Infection Can Protect From Type 1 Diabetes

AIDS

1. May 27, 2009 - Research suggests new cellular targets for HIV drug development - also here
2. May 28, 2009 - Scientists develop a new HIV microbicide -- and a way to mass produce it in plants - also here

Lupus

1. May 27, 2009 - Team develops DNA compounds that could help treat lupus - also here

Drug delivery

1. May 27, 2009 - New 'microcapsules' put more medication into the bloodstream to treat disease - also here

RNAi therapy

1. May 27, 2009 - 'Gene silencing' may improve treatment of a deadly complication of liver disease

Alzheimer's disease

1. May 27, 2009 - Test for early Alzheimer's in late development

Avian flu

1. May 28, 2009 - Scientists develop new basis for H5N1 vaccine: WHO

Antibiotics

1. May 28, 2009 - 'Surprising link' leads toward a new antibiotic - also here
2. May 29, 2009 - Common Antibiotics May Be Best First Treatment For Children With MRSA-related Infections

Hepatitis C

1. May 28, 2009 - New treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis C - also here

Gene therapy

1. May 28, 2009 - Gene therapy advance in severe genetic disorder - also here

Stem cells

1. May 28, 2009 - Adult bone marrow stem cells injected into skeletal muscle can repair heart tissue - also here
2. May 28, 2009 - Stem cell study seeks to wean non-related transplant recipients from anti-rejection drugs
3. May 29, 2009 - Early heart muscle cells identified
4. May 29, 2009 - Stem Cells Transplanted From Marrow Into Heart May Improve Heart's Performance

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. May 28, 2009 - Treating gum disease helps rheumatoid arthritis sufferers - also here

Prions

1. May 29, 2009 - Scientists devise accelerated method to determine infectious prion strains - also here

NF-κB, osteoporosis, and periodontitis

1. May 30, 2009 - Dental Researchers ID New Target In Fight Against Osteoporosis, Periodontitis

Gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem cells

1. May 31, 2009 - Combined stem cell-gene therapy approach cures human genetic disease in vitro - also here
2. May 31, 2009 - Diseased cells transformed into healthy stem cells
3. May 31, 2009 - Patched-up human stem cells
4. June 1, 2009 - Embryonic-like Cells Advance Toward Disease Treatment

Copyright © 2009 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved