Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treatWhether it\'s magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) giving an army of \'therapeutically armed\' white blood cells direction to invade a deadly tumour\'s territory, or the use of mNPs to target specific nerve channels and induce nerve-led behaviour (such as the life-dependant thumping of our hearts), mNPs have come a long way in the past decade. The future for mNPs however appears even brighter.

New statement outlines ATS positions on research, education, advocacyThe ATS has issued an official statement that outlines the Society\'s position on research, training, education, patient care and advocacy. The statement, which appears in the November 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, also makes specific recommendations on how elements of the organization can make these policies a part of new and ongoing projects.

Air pollution increases infants\' risk of bronchiolitisInfants who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution are at increased risk for bronchiolitis, according to a new study. The study appears in the November 15 issue of the American Thoracic Society\'s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. "There has been very little study of the consequences of early life exposure to air pollution," said Catherine Karr, M.D. PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and the paper\'s lead author.

2 children suffering from adrenoleukodystrophy saved thanks to the ELA AssociationThe ELA Association represents the largest funder for research on this fatal brain diseaseIMAGE:Andres who received gene therapy to treat his adrenoleukodystrophy together with Dr. Cartier and Guy Alba, founding president of the ELA Association. Click here for more information.

Enlarge Image Gene fix. The blood cell with red dots has been engineered to make ADL, a protein that had been missing in this patient until he received gene therapy 2 years earlier. Credit: Patrick Aubourg Gene Therapy Halts Brain Disease in Two BoysBy Jocelyn Kaiser ScienceNOW Daily News 5 November 2009 Researchers have used a modified AIDS virus to halt a devastating brain disease in two young boys.

Enlarge Image Crying out loud. German newborn Amélie hangs out with her parents just before providing a cry to the database. Credit: Kathleen Wermke Don\'t Shush That Baby, It\'s LearningBy Helen Fields ScienceNOW Daily News 5 November 2009 A newborn\'s cry is a call to action. "Quick, somebody help me!" But bawling babies are getting something else besides attention: language practice. A new study finds that, in the first few days of life, babies produce cries that mimic the melodies of their native language.

Enlarge Image Bargain. A new apprach promises cheaper genome sequencing. Credit: Complete Genomics The $4400 GenomeBy Robert F. Service ScienceNOW Daily News 5 November 2009 The cost of sequencing an entire human genome continues to plummet. Complete Genomics, a Mountain View, California-based biotechnology company last year claimed it would soon be able to sell full human genome sequences for as little as $5000 apiece. That now appears within reach.

New synthetic molecules trigger immune response to HIV and prostate cancerNew Haven, Conn.—Researchers at Yale University have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body\'s immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. Their findings, published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

AGU journal highlights -- Nov. 5, 2009The following highlights summarize research papers that have been published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL).

Mom was right: Nice guys don\'t always finish lastBINGHAMTON, NY -- Picture it: One jerk in a bar spends the night delivering bad come-ons to women. By the end of the evening, the women aren\'t receptive to even the nicest guys around. It\'s a scenario with a basis in evolutionary theory. Males increase their fitness by acquiring more mates; however, this is often not the case for females – and therein lies the conflict.

Coral reefs inspire rare consensus -- just save themCORVALLIS, Ore. – One of the first set of studies to examine what tourists and recreation enthusiasts actually think about coral reef ecosystems suggests they are a rare exception to controversies over human use versus environmental conservation – their stunning beauty is so extraordinary that almost everyone wants them protected in perpetuity.

Newly revised guidelines for managing thyroid cancer published in Thyroid journalNew Rochelle, NY, November 5, 2009—The American Thyroid Association has released new, revised Management Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. The new guidelines are published in Thyroid, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). Thyroid is the official journal of the American Thyroid Association (ATA).

Researchers hail innovative plan to save rainforest, reduce greenhouse gas emissionsCOLLEGE PARK, Md. -- An innovative proposal by the Ecuadorian government to protect an untouched, oil rich region of Amazon rainforest is a precedent-setting and potentially economically viable approach, says a team of environmental researchers from the University of Maryland, the World Resources Institute and Save America\'s Forests.

Keeping hearts pumping with \'LifeFlow\'Tel Aviv University\'s smart IV device to save lives at disaster sitesWhen paramedics rush to the scene of a multi-car pileup or a terror attack, their first task is to assess who needs immediate care. But blood hemorrhaging can obscure damage, and the gruesome mess means paramedics can\'t always determine who should be treated first. Tel Aviv University\'s new LifeFlow device, currently in development, could become the paramedic\'s new best friend ― and save many lives in the process.

Physical education key to improving health in low-income adolescentsSchool-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.

Research findings key for understanding, interpreting genetic testing for long QT syndromeStudy has important implications for genetic testing and individualized medicineROCHESTER, Minn.

Chemists describe solar energy progress and challenges, including the \'artificial leaf\'WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 — Scientists are making progress toward development of an "artificial leaf" that mimics a real leaf\'s chemical magic with photosynthesis — but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks. That is among the conclusions in a newly-available report from top authorities on solar energy who met at the 1st Annual Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium.

Plastic surgeons offer microsurgery technique for breast reconstruction, tummy tuck after mastectomyDALLAS – Nov. 5, 2009 – Since her teens, Jennifer Jablon had watched family members deal with breast cancer during their 40s, 50s, and 60s. She wondered whether it would be her fate too. In her mid-50s, Jennifer\'s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for the recently identified BRCA1 gene, indicating a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. "I spent about six months in denial after my mom tested positive.

New Notre Dame study provides insights into the molecular basis of tumor cell behavior A new study by a team of researchers led by Crislyn D\'Souza-Schorey, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, sheds light on the molecular basis by which tumor cells modulate their surroundings to favor cancer progression.

Autism Consortium symposium draws record number of researchers, advocates, parents for autism updateBoston – November 5, 2009 – The Autism Consortium, an innovative collaboration of researchers, clinicians, funders and families dedicated to catalyzing research and enhancing clinical care for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), held its fourth annual symposium on October 28th, 2009, at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Crossing the line: how aggressive cells invade the brainThis press release is available in German.VIDEO:The film shows in real time how the green labeled T-cells creep along the inside walls of blood vessels before single cells force their way through the vessels\' walls and... Click here for more information. In diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cells of the immune system infiltrate the brain tissue, where they cause immense damage. For many years, it was an enigma as to how these cells can escape from the bloodstream.

Carnegie Mellon researchers receive grantImproving awareness of electricity consumption PITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University\'s Lucio Soibelman, H. Scott Matthews and Jose M.F. Moura received a three-year $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to identify inexpensive ways to track energy consumption in buildings.

Researchers explore new ways to prevent spinal cord damage using a vitamin B3 precursorWeill Cornell Medical College team receives $2.5 million New York State research grant to undertake laboratory studyNEW YORK (November 5, 2009) -- Substances naturally produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College. A recent $2.5 million grant from the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Board will fund their research investigating this possibility.

Researcher: \'Optical biopsy\' for breast cancer increasingly accurateGAINESVILLE, Fla. — Most biopsies following mammograms reveal benign abnormalities, not cancer. But women may not have to endure the medical costs, stress and potential complications that accompany such invasive biopsies forever. A University of Florida biomedical engineering researcher is making progress on an "optical biopsy" that has the potential to determine whether growths are cancerous without ever puncturing the skin.

Study suggests dentists can identify patients at risk for fatal cardiovascular eventCHICAGO, November 5, 2009 – A new study indicates dentists can play a potentially life-saving role in health care by identifying patients at risk of fatal heart attacks and referring them to physicians for further evaluation.