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Scientists Discover That Shape Matters in DNA Nanoparticle Therapy
Cells control energy metabolism via hedgehog signalling pathway
‘Invisibility’ could be a key to better electronics
Mars Rock Touched by NASA Curiosity has Surprises
Earth sunblock only needed if planet warms easily
A Gene Implicated In Schizophrenia Risk Is Also Associated With Risk for Cannabis Dependence
Plasma screens enhanced as disorder strikes
Nerve and muscle activity vary across menstrual cycle
New tool determines leukemia cells' 'readiness to die,' may guide clinical care
Large International Study Finds 21 Genes Tied to Cholesterol Levels
Parental bonding=happy, stable child
Preemies from low-income families at high risk for dangerous brain bleeds
HIV And Breast Cancer May Share A Common Enemy: Nelfinavir
Changing Their Ultrasonic Tunes: Mice Can Learn New Songs
Researchers Develop New Technique for Heterogenizing Homogenous Nano Catalysts

Scientists Discover That Shape Matters in DNA Nanoparticle Therapy

Posted: 12 Oct 2012 08:09 AM PDT

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Northwestern universities have discovered how to control the shape of nanoparticles that move DNA through the body and have shown that the shapes of these carriers may make a big difference in how well they work in treating cancer and other diseases.

This study, published in the Oct. 12 online edition of Advanced Materials, is also noteworthy because this gene therapy technique does not use a virus to carry DNA into cells. Some gene therapy efforts that rely on viruses have posed health risks.

Cells control energy metabolism via hedgehog signalling pathway

Posted: 12 Oct 2012 07:08 AM PDT

Cancer, diabetes, and excess body weight have one thing in common: they alter cellular metabolism. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg and the Medical University of Vienna together with an international research team have jointly resolved a new molecular circuit controlling cellular metabolism. The previously unknown signalling pathway, acting downstream of the hedgehog protein enables muscle cells and brown fat cells to absorb sugars without relying on insulin.

‘Invisibility’ could be a key to better electronics

Posted: 12 Oct 2012 07:01 AM PDT

A new approach that allows objects to become “invisible” has now been applied to an entirely different area: letting particles “hide” from passing electrons, which could lead to more efficient thermoelectric devices and new kinds of electronics.

The concept — developed by MIT graduate student Bolin Liao, former postdoc Mona Zebarjadi (now an assistant professor at Rutgers University), research scientist Keivan Esfarjani, and mechanical engineering professor Gang Chen — is described in a paper in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Mars Rock Touched by NASA Curiosity has Surprises

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 03:55 PM PDT

The first Martian rock NASA's Curiosity rover has reached out to touch presents a more varied composition than expected from previous missions. The rock also resembles some unusual rocks from Earth's interior.

Earth sunblock only needed if planet warms easily

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 03:48 PM PDT

An increasing number of scientists are studying ways to temporarily reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the earth to potentially stave off some of the worst effects of climate change. Because these sunlight reduction methods would only temporarily reduce temperatures, do nothing for the health of the oceans and affect different regions unevenly, researchers do not see it as a permanent fix. Most theoretical studies have examined this strategy by itself, in the absence of looking at simultaneous attempts to reduce emissions.

A Gene Implicated In Schizophrenia Risk Is Also Associated With Risk for Cannabis Dependence

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 11:31 AM PDT

A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synaptic development and function.

The researchers set out to investigate susceptibility genes for cannabis dependence, as research has already shown that it has a strong genetic component.

Plasma screens enhanced as disorder strikes

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 11:27 AM PDT

A new study improves our understanding of plasma sources, a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionised and which are used for example in plasma display panels. These results revealed by physicists from the University of Greifswald, Germany, Robert Wild and Lars Stollenwerk, and are about to be published in EPJ D.

Nerve and muscle activity vary across menstrual cycle

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 11:14 AM PDT

Numerous studies have shown that female athletes are more likely to get knee injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and chronic pain, than their male counterparts. While previous research has focused on biomechanical differences as the main source of these problems, a new study suggests another distinction that could play a role: changes across the menstrual cycle in nerves that control muscle activity. The finding may eventually lead to new ways to prevent knee problems in female athletes.

New tool determines leukemia cells' 'readiness to die,' may guide clinical care

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 10:51 AM PDT

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a novel method for determining how ready acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are to die, a discovery that may help cancer specialists to choose treatments option more effectively for their patients who have AML.

Large International Study Finds 21 Genes Tied to Cholesterol Levels

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT

In the largest-ever genetic study of cholesterol and other blood lipids, an international consortium has identified 21 new gene variants associated with risks of heart disease and metabolic disorders. The findings expand the list of potential targets for drugs and other treatments for lipid-related cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death and disability.

Parental bonding=happy, stable child

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 10:29 AM PDT

Parents: Want to help ensure your children turn out to be happy and socially well adjusted? Bond with them when they are infants.

Preemies from low-income families at high risk for dangerous brain bleeds

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 09:07 AM PDT

Babies born prematurely to low-income parents have a disproportionately high risk for developing dangerous brain bleeds that require multiple surgeries and extensive follow-up, according to a small Johns Hopkins Children's Center study.

The findings - published online Sept. 28 in the journal Pediatric Neurosurgery and based on an analysis of 38 patients referred to Johns Hopkins for treatment of brain hemorrhages related to premature birth - offer a sobering reminder of the role socio-economic factors can play in health outcomes, the researchers say.

HIV And Breast Cancer May Share A Common Enemy: Nelfinavir

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 09:04 AM PDT

After screening more than 2,300 drugs for their ability to halt the growth of breast cancer cells, Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that the anti-HIV drug nelfinavir slows the progress of HER2-positive tumor cells, even if they are resistant to other breast cancer drugs.

Changing Their Ultrasonic Tunes: Mice Can Learn New Songs

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 08:55 AM PDT

Unlike human speech, most of the squeaks, calls, and songs produced in the animal kingdom do not have to be learned -- the vast majority of animals rely on innate vocalizations for their acoustic communications. Only a few, such as songbirds, whales, and dolphins, are known to be vocal learners, modifying the sequence or pitch of their sounds based on what they hear from other members of their species. New evidence suggests another animal can be added to that list: mice.

Researchers Develop New Technique for Heterogenizing Homogenous Nano Catalysts

Posted: 11 Oct 2012 07:46 AM PDT

Catalysts are substances that speed up the rates of chemical reactions without themselves being chemically changed. Industrial catalysts come in two main types – heterogeneous, in which the catalyst is in a different phase from the reactants; and homogeneous, in which catalyst and the reactants are in the same phase. Heterogeneous catalysts are valued for their sustainability because they can be recycled. Homogeneous catalysts are valued for their product selectivity as their properties can be easily tuned through relatively simple chemistry.