Volume 9, Number 5 February 1, 2010 Physical sciences Technology Life sciences Neuroscience, psychology, behavior Health and medicine

Physical sciences Global warming Hurricanes and global warming WISE telescope Solar accretion of dark matter Earthquakes WMAP 7-year results Solar flares Quantum behavior of extended systems Bc* mesons Engine-driven supernovae Formation of massive stars Stellar mass black holes Entropy of the universe Carbon cycle feedback Dark matter Higgs boson and alternatives Recurrent novae Atmospheric water vapor and global warming Cepheid variables Brown dwarfs Technology Superconductivity Carbon nanotubes Nanotechnology Quantum computing Controlled fusion Optical switching Life sciences Synthetic biology Parthenogenesis in sharks Riboswitches Mapping gene interactions Left-right symmetry breaking in embryonic development Helicobacter pylori inhibition of immune response PLC cascade Genetics of disease heritability Macrophages and age-related immune system changes Calmodulin and DAPK Longevity-related genes and inflammation Induced neuronal cells Homo floresiensis Intestinal bacteria and immune system priming Neanderthals Rotifers and asexuality DNA repair CD44 and immunologic memory CD25 and memory T cells Genomics Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior Small-molecule surrogates for BDNF Exercise and cognitive function Corticotropin-releasing factor and alcohol dependence Sex differences in jealousy Nmnat2 and axon survival Neurogenesis and contextual memory Magnesium supplements and memory Rest and memory consolidation Insomnia and reduced cortical volume Fear memory and BDNF Anesthesia and sleep Anxiety Brain-imaging studies Brain arousal and sexual activity Independence of neuron excitation Schizophrenia Synapse development Health and medicine Cancer stem cells Cancer biology Cancer Cardiovascular disease Diabetes Vaccines Cognitive impairment AIDS Alzheimer's disease Hepatitis C Parkinson's disease Leptin-based appetite suppression Antioxidants Antibiotics Nanobiotechnology Stem cells Inflammatory bowel disease Gene therapy Autoimmune disease Prions Rheumatoid arthritis Exercise and metabolism Obesity Malaria Metabolic syndrome Multiple sclerosis Tuberculosis

Physical sciences

Global warming

1. January 25, 2010 - Ozone hole healing could cause further climate warming - also here
2. January 25, 2010 - World's glaciers continue to melt at historic rates
3. January 26, 2010 - Study documents reaction rates for three chemicals with high global warming potential - also here
4. January 27, 2010 - Arctic 'Melt Season' Is Growing Longer, New Research Demonstrates
5. January 27, 2010 - Save the Ozone Layer, Give Global Warming a Boost?
6. January 28, 2010 - Harsh winter a sign of disruptive climate change, report says

Hurricanes and global warming

1. January 25, 2010 - Strongest Hurricanes May Double in Frequency, Study Says
2. January 29, 2010 - Cyclone model forecasts more Katrina-like storms

WISE telescope

1. January 25, 2010 - The First of Many Asteroid Finds for WISE - also here, here

Solar accretion of dark matter

1. January 25, 2010 - Sun's appetite for dark matter may affect Earth's orbit

Earthquakes

1. January 25, 2010 - A Deadly Quake in a Seismic Hot Zone
2. January 26, 2010 - NSF scientists return to Haiti to assess possibility of another major quake - also here

WMAP 7-year results

1. January 26, 2010 - WMAP 7-year Results Released
2. February 2, 2010 - Ancient dawn's early light refines age of universe
3. February 9, 2010 - Universe 20 Million Years Older Than Thought
4. February 14, 2010 - WMAP Refines "Precision Cosmology"

Solar flares

1. January 26, 2010 - Some Solar Storms Start With a Twist

Quantum behavior of extended systems

1. January 26, 2010 - Making Quantum Behavior Observable Using Optical Levitation

B_c* mesons

1. January 26, 2010 - Glasgow scientists predict mass of new particle

Engine-driven supernovae

1. January 27, 2010 - Oddball Cosmic Explosion Holds Clues to Universe's Biggest Bangs
2. January 27, 2010 - Astronomers in the Netherlands catch supernova, observe relativistic expansion
3. January 27, 2010 - Astronomers Find Rare Beast by New Means - also here
4. January 27, 2010 - Newborn Black Holes May Add Power to Many Exploding Stars - also here
5. January 28, 2010 - Supernovae linked to gamma ray bursts
6. January 28, 2010 - Star Shoots out Material at Close to the Speed of Light
7. January 29, 2010 - Some baby black holes give boost, but no burst

Formation of massive stars

1. January 27, 2010 - A Master Blueprint for Making Stars
2. January 28, 2010 - Are heavyweight stars born like our Sun? - also here
3. January 29, 2010 - Are heavyweight stars born like our Sun?

Stellar mass black holes

1. January 27, 2010 - Black Hole Hunters Set New Distance Record - also here, here
2. January 27, 2010 - Star-Mass Black Hole Is Farthest Known
3. January 27, 2010 - Massive black hole found devouring star
4. January 27, 2010 - 'Farthest' star-mass black hole

Entropy of the universe

1. January 27, 2010 - Universe Is 30 Times More Run Down Than Thought, Astronomers Find
2. January 29, 2010 - Universe has less time left than thought

Carbon cycle feedback

1. January 27, 2010 - Estimate of CO2-temperature feedback suggests lower impact
2. January 27, 2010 - Carbon-cycle feedback smaller, but still positive
3. January 27, 2010 - Temperature and CO2 feedback 'weaker than thought'
4. January 28, 2010 - Scientists confirm positive CO2 feedback
5. January 28, 2010 - Amplification of Global Warming by Carbon-Cycle Feedback Significantly Less Than Thought, Study Suggests

Dark matter

1. January 28, 2010 - Light extinguishes dark-matter claims

Higgs boson and alternatives

1. January 28, 2010 - Physicists Investigate Possibility of an 'Unhiggs'

Recurrent novae

1. January 28, 2010 - Long Anticipated Eruption of U Scorpii Has Begun - also here

Atmospheric water vapor and global warming

1. January 28, 2010 - Water vapor slowed recent global warming trend
2. January 28, 2010 - Water vapour could be behind warming slowdown
3. January 28, 2010 - Stratospheric Water Vapor is a Global Warming Wild Card - also here
4. January 28, 2010 - Less Water Vapor May Slow Warming Trends
5. January 29, 2010 - Drop in warming linked to water vapour decrease
6. January 29, 2010 - Is Water Vapor in the Stratosphere Slowing Global Warming?

Cepheid variables

1. January 29, 2010 - The Cosmic Distance Scale

Brown dwarfs

1. January 29, 2010 - Astronomers discover cool stars in nearby space - also here, here

Technology

Superconductivity

1. January 25, 2010 - Superconducting hydrogen? - also here

Carbon nanotubes

1. January 27, 2010 - Carbon nanotube dye may put a capacitor in your shorts
2. January 28, 2010 - Nanocables could lead to more powerful lithium-ion batteries
3. January 28, 2010 - How many argon atoms can fit on the surface of a carbon nanotube? - also here

Nanotechnology

1. January 27, 2010 - Decorated with Electric Current, Nanoribbons Align with Expectations

Quantum computing

1. January 27, 2010 - Using degrees of freedom to get hyperentanglement

Controlled fusion

1. January 28, 2010 - Levitating magnet could make fusion faster and cheaper
2. January 28, 2010 - Planetary physics shrunk into a lab as MIT pursues fusion
3. January 28, 2010 - Scientists Produce Unprecedented 1 Megajoule Laser Shot, Step Towards Fusion Ignition
4. January 28, 2010 - Fusion Power a Step Closer After Giant Laser Blast
5. January 28, 2010 - Laser fusion test results raise energy hopes
6. January 29, 2010 - Clean power from fusion now one step closer
7. January 29, 2010 - Peering inside an artificial sun
8. January 29, 2010 - Experiments Meet Requirements for Fusion Ignition; New Physics Effect Achieves Symmetrical Target Compression
9. January 29, 2010 - Lasers zap fusion doubts at NIF
10. January 30, 2010 - Levitating Magnet May Yield New Approach to Clean Energy
11. February 1, 2010 - National Ignition Facility Achieves Unprecedented 1 Megajoule Laser Shot

Optical switching

1. January 29, 2010 - Major Step Towards Low-Power All-Optical Switching for Optical Communications

Life sciences

Synthetic biology

1. January 25, 2010 - Engineering a stripped-down bacterial drug factory

Parthenogenesis in sharks

1. January 25, 2010 - Study of shark virgin birth shows offspring can survive long term - also here

Riboswitches

1. January 25, 2010 - Scientists achieve first rewire of genetic switches - also here

Mapping gene interactions

1. January 25, 2010 - Genetic 'atlas' of cells will pinpoint causes of disease

Left-right symmetry breaking in embryonic development

1. January 25, 2010 - Gene family found to play key role in early stages of development - also here

Helicobacter pylori inhibition of immune response

1. January 25, 2010 - Gastric ulcer bacteria turn immune defense inwards - also here

PLC cascade

1. January 25, 2010 - Studies shed new light on early transmembrane signaling - also here

Genetics of disease heritability

1. January 26, 2010 - Hiding place for missing heritability uncovered
2. January 26, 2010 - Rare genetic variants create 'synthetic' genome-wide signals of disease risk - also here

Macrophages and age-related immune system changes

1. January 26, 2010 - Rejuvenating the old immune system - also here

Calmodulin and DAPK

1. January 26, 2010 - How to shoot the messenger - also here

Longevity-related genes and inflammation

1. January 26, 2010 - Why humans outlive apes
2. January 26, 2010 - Why meat-eating humans outlive apes

Induced neuronal cells

1. January 27, 2010 - Researchers directly turn mouse skin cells into neurons, skipping IPS stage
2. January 27, 2010 - Pluripotency not required
3. January 27, 2010 - Researchers directly turn mouse skin cells into neurons, skipping IPS stage - also here
4. January 28, 2010 - Skin cells transformed into nerve cells
5. January 28, 2010 - Brain cells created directly from skin cells
6. January 28, 2010 - Neuron breakthrough offers hope on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
7. January 28, 2010 - A Biotech Magic Trick: Skin Cells Transformed Directly Into Brain Cells
8. January 30, 2010 - Scientists transform skin cells to brain cells in a pioneering study that could benefit sufferers of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
9. February 1, 2010 - Skin cells transformed directly into neurons
10. February 8, 2010 - Scientists announce 'huge step forward' in stem cell research

Homo floresiensis

1. January 27, 2010 - Is the Hobbit's brain unfeasibly small? - also here

Intestinal bacteria and immune system priming

1. January 27, 2010 - 'Good' bacteria keep immune system primed to fight future infections - also here

Neanderthals

1. January 27, 2010 - Last Neanderthals died out 37,000 years ago - also here

Rotifers and asexuality

1. January 28, 2010 - Desiccation Helps Rotifers Beat the Red Queen
2. January 28, 2010 - Rotifers avoid sex for millions of years by blowing away - also here
3. February 1, 2010 - How to Survive Without Sex for 50 Million Years? Dry Up

DNA repair

1. January 28, 2010 - Researchers Find New Way To Study How Enzymes Repair DNA Damage - also here

CD44 and immunologic memory

1. January 28, 2010 - Secrets of immunologic memory - also here

CD25 and memory T cells

1. January 28, 2010 - Immune memory formation seen in early stages of viral infection - also here

Genomics

1. January 31, 2010 - Gene function discovery: Guilt by association

Neuroscience, psychology, and behavior

Small-molecule surrogates for BDNF

1. January 25, 2010 - New class of brain-protecting drugs emerging - also here

Exercise and cognitive function

1. January 25, 2010 - Weight training improves cognitive function in seniors
2. January 26, 2010 - Exercise to Protect Aging Bodies - and Brains
3. January 30, 2010 - Physical Activity Associated With Healthier Aging: Links Between Exercise and Cognitive Function, Bone Density and Overall Health

Corticotropin-releasing factor and alcohol dependence

1. January 25, 2010 - Scripps research team finds stress hormone key to alcohol dependence - also here

Sex differences in jealousy

1. January 26, 2010 - Study offers new explanation for sex differences in jealousy - also here

Nmnat2 and axon survival

1. January 26, 2010 - Scientists find survival factor for keeping nerve cells healthy - also here

Neurogenesis and contextual memory

1. January 26, 2010 - Gene Essential for Neuron Development and Contextual Memory

Magnesium supplements and memory

1. January 27, 2010 - Magnesium supplement helps boost brainpower - also here

Rest and memory consolidation

1. January 27, 2010 - A mind at rest strengthens memories, researchers find - also here
2. January 28, 2010 - Break time may improve memory
3. January 29, 2010 - Studies: An Idle Brain May Be Ripe for Learning

Insomnia and reduced cortical volume

1. January 27, 2010 - Losing sleep, losing brain? - also here

Fear memory and BDNF

1. January 27, 2010 - Brain scientists extend map of fear memory formation - also here, here

Anesthesia and sleep

1. January 27, 2010 - Brain responses during anesthesia mimic those during natural deep sleep - also here

Anxiety

1. January 27, 2010 - Functional connection between hippocampus and cortex modulates anxiety - also here

Brain-imaging studies

1. January 27, 2010 - Music in speech equals empathy in heart? - also here
2. January 27, 2010 - Empathy is like music to the ears
3. January 29, 2010 - Study: Older investors are prone to mental misfires while playing the market
4. January 31, 2010 - One day, girls, you will laugh at this
5. February 1, 2010 - When it comes to comedy, women have the last laugh

Brain arousal and sexual activity

1. January 27, 2010 - Brain arousal heightens sexual activity in male mice - also here

Independence of neuron excitation

1. January 28, 2010 - Neurons may function more solo than thought
2. January 28, 2010 - Uncorrelated activity in the brain - also here

Schizophrenia

1. January 28, 2010 - Stopping schizophrenia before it starts? - also here
2. January 28, 2010 - Signs of schizophrenia in childhood

Synapse development

1. January 29, 2010 - Researchers identify brain protein for synapse development - also here, here

Health and medicine

Cancer stem cells

1. January 25, 2010 - Scientists find quicker way to study cancer drivers
2. January 26, 2010 - Targeting cancer stem cells in the lab - also here
3. January 27, 2010 - Disarming Specialized Stem Cells Might Combat Deadly Ovarian Cancer - also here, here

Cancer biology

1. January 25, 2010 - Project seeks genetic basis of childhood cancer
2. January 25, 2010 - Discovery of epigenetic memory during breast cancer - also here
3. January 25, 2010 - Researchers correct the record about behavior of important human protein tied to cancer - also here
4. January 25, 2010 - How Anticancer Immune Responses Are Suppressed
5. January 27, 2010 - Researchers find leukemia cells metabolize fat to avoid cell death - also here
6. January 28, 2010 - A protein may switch off cancer cells
7. January 29, 2010 - Researchers perform complete genomic sequencing of brain cancer cell line - also here

Cancer

1. January 25, 2010 - Alternative prostate cancer vaccine shows promise
2. January 25, 2010 - Vaccine approach extends life of metastatic prostate cancer patients - also here
3. January 26, 2010 - Virtual colonoscopy an effective colorectal cancer screening exam in Medicare age patients - also here
4. January 26, 2010 - Overcoming taxane resistance in cancer - also here
5. January 26, 2010 - Possible new heritable marker for retinoblastoma - also here
6. January 26, 2010 - Genetic Variability in a Tumor as an Indicator of Patient Risk
7. January 27, 2010 - Scanner helps doctors pinpoint prostate cancer
8. January 27, 2010 - High vitamin D levels, lower colon cancer risk?
9. January 27, 2010 - Genetic factors key to prostate cancer death risk
10. January 27, 2010 - Sniffing out lung cancer at early stages - also here
11. January 27, 2010 - Biochemical profile may help diagnose, determine aggressiveness of prostate cancer - also here
12. January 28, 2010 - Plant flavanoid may help prevent leukemia
13. January 28, 2010 - Pelvic symptoms unlikely to mean ovarian cancer
14. January 28, 2010 - Reflux surgery no guard against throat cancer
15. January 28, 2010 - Symptoms have little value for early detection of ovarian cancer - also here
16. January 28, 2010 - Biologists Discover Enzyme Degrades Protein that Suppresses or Promotes Cancer
17. January 28, 2010 - Scientists show how molecular switch helps pancreatic cancer beat drugs - also here
18. January 28, 2010 - Change in mammography guidelines questioned - also here
19. January 28, 2010 - Immune cell levels predict skin cancer risk in kidney transplant patients - also here
20. January 28, 2010 - Cancer study backs Roche's Herceptin with chemo
21. January 28, 2010 - Roche's Herceptin gets EU backing in stomach cancer
22. January 29, 2010 - Fighting cancer with light
23. January 29, 2010 - Curing more cervical cancer cases may be in the math - also here
24. January 29, 2010 - New computational tool for cancer treatment - also here
25. January 29, 2010 - FDA OKs expanded use of Glaxo breast cancer drug
26. January 31, 2010 - No difference in survival between leukaemia patients 10 years after undergoing stem-cell or marrow transplant
27. February 1, 2010 - Study weighs benefits of transplants for leukemia

Cardiovascular disease

1. January 25, 2010 - Low-carb diet effective at lowering blood pressure - also here
2. January 25, 2010 - One in five U.S. teenagers has high cholesterol
3. January 26, 2010 - Low-carb diet best for lowering blood pressure
4. January 26, 2010 - Searing the heart for the better
5. January 26, 2010 - Landmark heart treatment study - also here
6. January 26, 2010 - Childhood obesity alone may increase risk of later cardiovascular disease - also here
7. January 27, 2010 - Mediterranean diet good for the heart
8. January 27, 2010 - Heart procedure beats drugs for irregular heartbeat
9. January 27, 2010 - Atrial fibrillation treatment with catheter shows better results than drug therapy
10. January 27, 2010 - Surgical procedure urged for atrial fibrillation
11. January 28, 2010 - Research reveals how blood flow force protects blood vessels - also here
12. January 29, 2010 - Diet changes improve older adults' cholesterol too - also here

Diabetes

1. January 25, 2010 - Insulin research points way to better diabetes treatments - also here
2. January 25, 2010 - Genetic testing no real help in predicting type 2 diabetes
3. January 27, 2010 - Avoid extremes in diabetes treatment, study finds
4. January 27, 2010 - Severe complications of diabetes higher in depressed patients - also here
5. January 27, 2010 - Small Clusters of Islet Amyloid Polypeptides May Contribute to Diabetes
6. January 27, 2010 - Diabetes sugar 'can go too low'
7. January 28, 2010 - Family fat explains some of family diabetes risk
8. January 29, 2010 - Treating diabetes

Vaccines

1. January 25, 2010 - Study: New vaccine delivery system may be more effective
2. January 26, 2010 - Vaccine could be lethal weapon against malaria, cholera - also here
3. January 26, 2010 - Two-Pronged Immune Response Offers Hope for Effective Salmonella Vaccine
4. January 27, 2010 - Scientists find potential new way to enhance vaccines - also here
5. January 28, 2010 - New Vaccine Strategy May Protect Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus
6. January 28, 2010 - Rotavirus Vaccine Offers New Tool to Combat Severe Diarrhea in Developing World
7. January 28, 2010 - Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Protects Monkeys from Chikungunya Virus

Cognitive impairment

1. January 25, 2010 - Psychologists develop tools to predict cognitive impairment

AIDS

1. January 25, 2010 - New compound could be alternative strategy for preventing HIV infection - also here
2. January 25, 2010 - Control of herpes symptoms does not reduce HIV transmission, international study found
3. January 25, 2010 - Study predicts HIV drug resistance will surge
4. January 31, 2010 - HIV researchers solve key puzzle after 20 years of trying - also here
5. January 31, 2010 - Scientists say crack HIV/AIDS puzzle for drugs

Alzheimer's disease

1. January 25, 2010 - Nationwide clinical trial of nutritional drink for Alzheimer's - also here
2. January 26, 2010 - Examining the mechanical properties of Alzheimer's amyloid fibrils
3. January 26, 2010 - New target for fighting Alzheimer's: study
4. January 26, 2010 - Gene Therapy Study Seeks to Improve Brain Function in Alzheimer's Disease
5. January 26, 2010 - More blood pressure worry: It's linked to dementia - also here
6. January 27, 2010 - Early menopause can result in earlier onset dementia - also here
7. January 28, 2010 - Researchers image earliest signs of Alzheimer's, before symptoms appear - also here
8. January 29, 2010 - Promising new neuroimaging techniques for early detection of Alzheimer's disease - also here

Hepatitis C

1. January 25, 2010 - Tree Shrew Offers Small-Animal Model of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
2. January 26, 2010 - Hepatitis fight aided by liver cells advance

Parkinson's disease

1. January 26, 2010 - Treadmill helps Parkinson's patients walk better
2. January 26, 2010 - Researchers studying 'deep brain stimulation' for Parkinson's disease - also here
3. January 27, 2010 - US Parkinson's rates highest in whites, Hispanics, and Midwest, Northeast - also here

Leptin-based appetite suppression

1. January 26, 2010 - A gimmick-free weight-loss pill in the works - also here

Antioxidants

1. January 26, 2010 - Antioxidants aren't always good for you and can impair muscle function, study shows - also here

Antibiotics

1. January 26, 2010 - Antibiotics might team up to fight deadly staph infections - also here

Nanobiotechnology

1. January 27, 2010 - 'Nanofactories': Stopping Bacterial Infections Without Antibiotics

Stem cells

1. January 27, 2010 - Blood tells old cells to act young
2. January 27, 2010 - Fat tissue may be a source of valuable blood stem cells, study says - also here
3. January 27, 2010 - New way to grow embryonic stem cells holds promise of dramatic reduction in animal use
4. January 28, 2010 - Stem cell breakthrough: Bone marrow cells are the answer - also here
5. January 29, 2010 - Researchers propose novel theory for mammalian stem cell regulation - also here
6. January 30, 2010 - Making Old Stem Cells Act Young Again

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. January 27, 2010 - Vitamin D supplements could fight Crohn's disease - also here

Gene therapy

1. January 27, 2010 - Researchers develop new tool for gene delivery - also here

Autoimmune disease

1. January 27, 2010 - Environmental Exposure to Hairspray, Lipstick, Pollution, Can Trigger Autoimmune Diseases

Prions

1. January 28, 2010 - Prion Diseases: No Accomplice Needed
2. January 28, 2010 - Study Offers Evidence That Spongiform Brain Diseases Are Caused By Aberrant Protein - also here

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. January 28, 2010 - New 'suicide' molecule halts rheumatoid arthritis - also here, here
2. January 28, 2010 - Blood test can predict rheumatoid arthritis before symptoms arise - also here
3. January 29, 2010 - Biomarker could help doctors tailor treatment for rheumatoid arthritis - also here

Exercise and metabolism

1. January 28, 2010 - What you eat after exercise matters - also here

Obesity

1. January 28, 2010 - 'Overweight' adults age 70 or older are less likely to die over a 10-year period - also here
2. January 29, 2010 - Overweight elderly 'live longer'
3. January 31, 2010 - New Tools and Systems May Help Patients, Primary Care Clinicians Manage Obesity
4. February 2, 2010 - If you're 70 and overweight, you may live longer
5. February 14, 2010 - Elderly 'live longer if they are overweight'

Malaria

1. January 28, 2010 - Research breakthrough could lead to new treatment for malaria - also here, here

Metabolic syndrome

1. January 29, 2010 - Overweight in 20s could lead to serious problems in 40s - also here

Multiple sclerosis

1. January 29, 2010 - Multiple sclerosis risk changes with the season

Tuberculosis

1. January 29, 2010 - New vaccine effective in preventing TB in African patients with HIV infection - also here
2. January 30, 2010 - Vaccine 'could cut HIV TB deaths'

Copyright © 2010 by Charles Daney, All Rights Reserved