- September 24, 2008
- 11:00 AM
- 1,259 views
Caterpillars use wormholes and early warning hairs for defence
by Ed Yong in Not Exactly Rocket Science
A caterpillar is an eating machine - a mobile set of mandibles, whose sole mission is to survive long enough to munch its way to adulthood. Standing in their way are spiders, birds and predatory insects that want to eat them, and parasitic wasps that want to convert them into living incubators for their own larvae.
With so many enemies, defence is paramount for caterpillars and the various species have evolved a dazzling array of countermeasures. Some camouflage themselves, others use bright co........ Read more »
J ROTA, & D WAGNER. (2008) Wormholes, sensory nets and hypertrophied tactile setae: the extraordinary defence strategies of Brenthia caterpillars. Animal Behaviour. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.06.024
- September 24, 2008
- 09:43 AM
- 2,264 views
Do mosquitoes get the mumps?, part IV
by Sandra Porter in Discovering Biology in a Digital World
Part IV. Assembling the details and making the case for a novel paramyxovirus
This is the fourth in a five part series on an unexpected discovery of a paramyxovirus in a mosquito. In this part, we take a look at all the evidence we can find and try to figure out how a gene from a virus came to be part of the Aedes aegypti genome.
image from the Public Health Library
I. The back story from the genome record
II. What do the mumps proteins do? And how do we find out?
III. Serendipity stri........ Read more »
Z LI, M YU, H ZHANG, D MAGOFFIN, P JACK, A HYATT, H WANG, & L WANG. (2006) Beilong virus, a novel paramyxovirus with the largest genome of non-segmented negative-stranded RNA viruses. Virology, 346(1), 219-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.10.039
V. Nene, J. R. Wortman, D. Lawson, B. Haas, C. Kodira, Z. Tu, B. Loftus, Z. Xi, K. Megy, M. Grabherr.... (2007) Genome Sequence of Aedes aegypti, a Major Arbovirus Vector. Science, 316(5832), 1718-1723. DOI: 10.1126/science.1138878
- September 24, 2008
- 08:15 AM
- 1,955 views
[movie] Dual-luciferase for membrane biogenesis
by 96well in Reportergene
Jove is featuring a movie which explains how to study the coordination of membrane biogenesis by a luciferase-based reporter gene approach using the Dual-Glo Luciferase Assay System from Promega. As usual, Jove provides a step-by-step protocol that can be commented for asking clarifications.Zhang S Jove.comIn my humble opinion, this is definitively the new revolutionary way to make science and I'm quite surprised to get replies from big seniors wondering only about Jove's impact factor.Shaochong........ Read more »
Shaochong Zhang, & Axel Nohturfft. (2008) Studying Membrane Biogenesis with a Luciferase-Based Reporter Gene Assay. Journal of Visualized Experiments. DOI: http://www.jove.com/index/details.stp?id
- September 24, 2008
- 03:21 AM
- 683 views
neurobituary
by koohii in kaleidoscopik
The neocortex is organized horizontally into layers. Layer I is closest to the outside of the brain, closest to the top, if you will. Layer VI is the deepest layer, closer to subcortical regions and the ventricles. The neocortex is also organized vertically into columns. The basis for columnar organization is more recently established and [...]... Read more »
M. F. Casanova, A. E. Switala, J. Trippe, & M. Fitzgerald. (2007) Comparative minicolumnar morphometry of three distinguished scientists. Autism, 11(6), 557-569. DOI/10.1177/1362361307083261
- September 24, 2008
- 01:00 AM
- 1,559 views
What does crying do for you?
by Christian Jarrett in BPS Research Digest
Nearly all of us cry sometimes. But what makes us cry, how often we do it, and how it makes us feel varies hugely from person to person. According to Jonathan Rottenberg and colleagues, crying in general, and particularly how crying makes us feel, are surprisingly under-researched aspects of human behaviour.Rottenberg's team asked 196 adult Dutch women (aged between 17 and 84 years) to answer questions about their personalities, their mental health, their propensity for crying and how crying mad........ Read more »
J ROTTENBERG, L BYLSMA, V WOLVIN, & A VINGERHOETS. (2008) Tears of sorrow, tears of joy: An individual differences approach to crying in Dutch females. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(5), 367-372. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.006
- September 24, 2008
- 12:21 AM
- 1,703 views
Deep Brain Stimulation for Addiction?
by Dr Shock in Dr Shock MD PhD
With the expanding knowledge of the neuronal circuits responsible for the behavioral disorders associated with addiction, though, DBS could become a future treatment option for patients suffering from addiction.
In people addicted to psychoactive substance it has been shown by Positron emission tomography studies that, when they take the psychoactive substance, dopamine is released in the [...]... Read more »
Bianca M. L. Stelten, Lieke H. M. Noblesse, Linda Ackermans, Yasin Temel, & Veerle Visser-Vandewalle. (2008) The neurosurgical treatment of addiction. Neurosurgical FOCUS, 25(1). DOI: 10.3171/FOC/2008/25/7/E5
- September 23, 2008
- 01:42 PM
- 719 views
Developmental topographagnosia
by Mo in Neurophilosophy
We continually rely on our abilities of spatial navigation, be it for the daily commute to work, a trip to the local supermarket, or simply to make our way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. These tasks involve complex cognitive processes, yet most people perform them effortlessly and some develop them to a remarkable degree. Take, for example, London taxi drivers, who have a highly detailed knowledge of the 25,000 streets that lie within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross station, as w........ Read more »
G IARIA, N BOGOD, C FOX, & J BARTON. (2008) Developmental topographical disorientation: Case one. Neuropsychologia. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2008.08.021
- September 23, 2008
- 12:43 PM
- 732 views
Humans in Love
by Evil Monkey in Neurotopia
A good while ago I did a Friday Weird Science which I thought was really cool. Unfortunately, it just wasn't...weird...enough, and so I put it into poetry, because everything is better in verse. It was on Prairie Voles and monogamy, and was called Prairie Voles in Love:
Out on the lonely prairie, gazing at the stars above
I saw through the night
the wondrous sight
Of prairie voles in love
So you can imagine my happiness when I found out that it's not just in voles!!! A study came out rec........ Read more »
H. Walum, L. Westberg, S. Henningsson, J. M. Neiderhiser, D. Reiss, W. Igl, J. M. Ganiban, E. L. Spotts, N. L. Pedersen, E. Eriksson.... (2008) Genetic variation in the vasopressin receptor 1a gene (AVPR1A) associates with pair-bonding behavior in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(37), 14153-14156. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803081105
- September 23, 2008
- 10:00 AM
- 857 views
Publication bias in clinical trials used for FDA approval
by Orac in Respectful Insolence
If there is one difference that defines scientific medicine compared to "alternative medicine" it is the application of the scientific method to health claims. Science and the scientific method require transparency: transparency in methodology, transparency in results, transparency in data analysis. Because one of the most important aspects of science is the testing of new results by other investigators to see if they hold up, the diligent recording of scientific results is critical, but even mo........ Read more »
Kirby Lee, Peter Bacchetti, Ida Sim, & Mike Clarke. (2008) Publication of Clinical Trials Supporting Successful New Drug Applications: A Literature Analysis. PLoS Medicine, 5(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050191
PLoS Editors. (2008) Next Stop, Don't Block the Doors: Opening Up Access to Clinical Trials Results. PLoS Medicine, 5(7). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050160
- September 23, 2008
- 08:00 AM
- 2,210 views
FDA approval of drugs and transparency in clinical trial results
by SBMBlogger in Science-Based Medicine
Note: The reason that I am posting today rather than my usual Monday slot is because the article I discuss here was embargoed until last night. Consequently, I asked Harriet if she would trade days with me this week, and she was kind enough to do so.
One thing that science relies on almost absolutely is [...]... Read more »
Kirby Lee, Peter Bacchetti, Ida Sim, & Mike Clarke. (2008) Publication of Clinical Trials Supporting Successful New Drug Applications: A Literature Analysis. PLoS Medicine, 5(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050191
PLoS Editors. (2008) Next Stop, Don't Block the Doors: Opening Up Access to Clinical Trials Results. PLoS Medicine, 5(7). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050160
- September 23, 2008
- 03:39 AM
- 779 views
Protein evolution switch-off fluorescent proteins (and on)
by 96well in Reportergene
Canonical fluorescent proteins (FPs) emit light once excited by appropriate irradiation. In a peculiar group of them, the reversibly switchable fluorescent proteins (RSFPs), irradiation converts the protein from the fluorescent on-state to the non fluorescent off-state. Then, a subsequent exposure with UV light brings back the protein to the on-state. Intriguingly, switchable fluorescence allow for sub-diffraction resolution microscopy (nanoscopy) as previously explained, so any RSFP is importan........ Read more »
Martin Andresen, Andre C Stiel, Jonas Fölling, Dirk Wenzel, Andreas Schönle, Alexander Egner, Christian Eggeling, Stefan W Hell, & Stefan Jakobs. (2008) Photoswitchable fluorescent proteins enable monochromatic multilabel imaging and dual color fluorescence nanoscopy. Nature Biotechnology, 26(9), 1035-1040. DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1493
- September 23, 2008
- 03:11 AM
- 689 views
notes on recognition
by koohii in kaleidoscopik
Malcom Brown came by and shared some of his perspective on recognition memory and the perirhinal cortex last week. Let’s see if my notes still make sense.
One thing I should note before we get started is that the perirhinal cortex is closely associated with the hippocampal formation, and some have lumped it in with [...]... Read more »
S GRIFFITHS, H SCOTT, C GLOVER, A BIENEMANN, M GHORBEL, J UNEY, M BROWN, E WARBURTON, & Z BASHIR. (2008) Expression of Long-Term Depression Underlies Visual Recognition Memory. Neuron, 58(2), 186-194. DOI/10.1016/j.neuron.2008.02.022
- September 23, 2008
- 12:48 AM
- 2,961 views
Gender Bias in Medical Textbooks
by Dr Shock in Dr Shock MD PhD
Current medical textbooks do not consistently integrate gender-related aspects of coronary heart disease, depression and alcohol abuse, thereby omitting information. When it is available, information mainly applies to epidemiological data and reproduction.
This is not limited to text books but also applies to guidelines and medical curriculum.
The authors selected medical textbooks recommended by at least [...]... Read more »
Anja F Dijkstra, Petra Verdonk, & Antoine L M Lagro-Janssen. (2008) Gender bias in medical textbooks: examples from coronary heart disease, depression, alcohol abuse and pharmacology. Medical Education, 42(10), 1021-1028. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03150.x
- September 23, 2008
- 12:00 AM
- 1,771 views
Where will science blogging go from here?
by Dave Munger in ResearchBlogging.org News
ResearchBlogging.orgIn 2007, Bora Zivkovic estimated the number of science blogs at 1,000 - 1,200. Now, over a year later, I suspect that figure is outdated. We have over 450 blogs registered for ResearchBlogging.org, but only half of the blogs at scienceblogs.com are registered. Nature Network, with its hundred or so blogs, is not represented at all because their blogging software isn't compatible with our system. Scientific Blogging, larger than the Nature Network, barely has a presence h........ Read more »
Shelley A. Batts, Nicholas J. Anthis, & Tara C. Smith. (2008) Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy. PLoS Biology, 6(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060240
- September 22, 2008
- 09:47 PM
- 976 views
Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy
by Nick Anthis in The Scientific Activist
Just over a year ago, I joined fellow science bloggers Shelley Batts (Of Two Minds) and Tara Smith (Aetiology) in setting out to catalogue the accomplishments--and pitfalls--of the scientific blogosphere and to explain why people should pay attention. In a sense, we wanted to say "We are the science bloggers; hear us roar!" And, in order to make our case, we drew from the collective experience of our fellow science bloggers, far and wide, asking how blogging had affected their work, their care........ Read more »
Shelley A. Batts, Nicholas J. Anthis, & Tara C. Smith. (2008) Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy. PLoS Biology, 6(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060240
J WILKINS. (2008) The roles, reasons and restrictions of science blogs. Trends in Ecology , 23(8), 411-413. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2008.05.004
L Bonetta. (2007) Scientists Enter the Blogosphere. Cell, 129(3), 443-445. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.04.032
A. Ashlin and R.J. Ladle. (2006) Environmental Science Adrift in the Blogosphere. Science, 312(5771), 201-201. DOI: 10.1126/science.1124197
- September 22, 2008
- 09:20 PM
- 1,520 views
Advancing Science Thru Blogging
by Evilutionary Biologist in The Evilutionary Biologist
In an article published in PLoS Biology, Shelly Batts, Nick Anthis and Tara Smith write about blogging as a means of science communication.
Batts et al. write "Scientific discovery occurs in the lab...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]... Read more »
Shelley A. Batts, Nicholas J. Anthis, & Tara C. Smith. (2008) Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy. PLoS Biology, 6(9). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060240
- September 22, 2008
- 11:31 AM
- 2,553 views
The Cancer Genome Atlas Reports Molecular Characterization of Brain Tumors
by Walter Jessen in Highlight HEALTH
A large-scale, multi-dimensional analysis of the genomic characteristics of glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor in adults, provides new insights into the roles of several genes and defines core biological pathways altered in tumor development [1]. The new Cancer Genome Atlas study, published in the September 4th advanced online edition of the journal Nature, [...]... Read more »
Roger McLendon, Allan Friedman, Darrell Bigner, Erwin G. Van Meir, Daniel J. Brat, Gena Mastrogianakis, Jeffrey J. Olson, Tom Mikkelsen, Norman Lehman, Ken Aldape.... (2008) Comprehensive genomic characterization defines human glioblastoma genes and core pathways. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/nature07385
- September 22, 2008
- 10:48 AM
- 1,139 views
Are Doctors Super Human?
by Shaheen Lakhan in Brain Blogger
It’s common knowledge that an example is more powerful than words. After all, aren’t parents routinely admonished for telling their children to do one thing while clearly breaking that same rule themselves? For parents and non-parents alike, saying one thing while doing something else greatly diminishes the influence of the words. Maybe that explains why [...]... Read more »
J. H. Tanne. (2008) Efforts to reduce US trainees' hours were ineffective, study says. BMJ, 337(aug05 2). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.a1140
- September 22, 2008
- 09:48 AM
- 647 views
Girls with Asperger's more likely to have eating disorders?
by Nestor Lopez-Duran in Translating Autism
A review of Efrosini Kalyva (2008). Comparison of Eating Attitudes between Adolescent Girls with and without Asperger Syndrome: Daughters’ and Mothers’ Reports Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0648-5The marked gender difference in the rate of autism spectrum diagnoses has resulted in a major gender disparity in research. That is, the overwhelming majority of studies on autism are conducted with boys, and studies examining mostly girls are very rare. The s........ Read more »
Efrosini Kalyva. (2008) Comparison of Eating Attitudes between Adolescent Girls with and without Asperger Syndrome: Daughters’ and Mothers’ Reports. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0648-5
- September 22, 2008
- 09:47 AM
- 765 views
Heat-Based DNA Sequencing and Dual Discoveries
by Brandon Miller in Biomicrofluidics
Lots of neat-o scientific discoveries were stumbled on by two or more people at about the same time. Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz both invented calculus. The first patent for an integrated circuit was given to Robert Noyce...... Read more »
Hesaam Esfandyarpour, Bo Zheng, R Pease, & Ronald Davis. (2008) Structural optimization for heat detection of DNA thermosequencing platform using finite element analysis. Biomicrofluidics, 2(2), 24102. DOI: 10.1063/1.2901138
topics
join us!
Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research.
If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world.
