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| Dec 2008 | Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sep 2008 | Aug 2008 | Jul 2008 | Jun 2008 | May 2008 | Apr 2008 | Mar 2008 | Feb 2008 | Jan 2008 | Dec 2007 |Thu, 31 Jan 08
Increased Hurricane Activity Linked To Sea Surface Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561093/080130130647.htm
The link between changes in the temperature of the sea's surface and increases in North Atlantic hurricane activity has been quantified for the first time. The research shows that a 0.5 C increase in sea surface temperature can be associated with a ~40 per cent increase in hurricane activity.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Naturally Occurring Peptide Inhibits Common Viral Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561094/080130114119.htm
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found that a naturally occurring peptide known for its antibacterial action can also inhibit viral infection.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Urinary Dysfunction Troubles Men Who Undergo Prostate Removal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561095/080130113056.htm
Men with prostate cancer who have their prostate removed cite sexual dysfunction as the most common side effect after surgery, but urinary dysfunction troubles these patients most. What's more, many aren't emotionally prepared to face these complications. A new study underscores the need for health care practitioners to educate their patients about the physical and psychological effects of prostate removal.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Micro Chip Processor Design Gets Mathematical Sweetener
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561098/080130195211.htm
A breakthrough microchip specification language will allow ambiguous English to be replaced by a mathematically precise description of processor functions and design. Better yet, it applies to every stage of microprocessor design. The upshot could mean major savings for microchip producers. Microchip design is a tricky business. First, there is a question of functionality. Engineers describe, in minute detail, what a particular microchip must do, in plain English. It is an essential task detailing the chip specifications for each stage of the microchip creation process: design, fabrication and verification.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Oil Exploration In Arctic Highly Risky: 'Response Gap' In Case Of Oil Spill, According To New Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561100/080130200934.htm
Arctic marine conditions contribute to an oil spill "response gap" that effectively limits the ability to clean up after an oil spill. A new report concludes that the only way to avoid the potentially devastating environmental risks is to ensure that no more of the Arctic is opened up to oil development until the response gap is closed.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Supernova Surprise: Black Holes May Pull Apart, Reignite White Dwarf Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/225471316/080129125350.htm
A strange and violent fate awaits a white dwarf star that wanders too close to a moderately massive black hole. According to a new study, the black hole's gravitational pull on the white dwarf would cause tidal forces sufficient to disrupt the stellar remnant and reignite nuclear burning in it, giving rise to a supernova explosion with an unusual appearance.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Wired For Sound: Implant Sends Signals Direct To Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561102/080130175721.htm
A delicate surgery that involves placement of tiny electrodes onto the brainstem is helping some people avoid total hearing loss. The electrodes, connected to a device known as an auditory brain implant, are being placed in patients who require surgery to remove noncancerous tumors associated with a disorder called neurofibromastosis type II. The tumors are often entwined around the nerves that facilitate hearing. Over time the tumors -- or the surgical intervention to remove them, can result in fractional or total hearing loss.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
'Generalist Bacteria' Discovered In Coastal Waters May Be More Flexible Than Known Before
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224125245/080127130911.htm
New research led by a marine microbial ecologist is showing for the first time that the roles played by bacteria in coastal waters aren't nearly as specific as some scientists suspected. In fact, these bacteria are generalists in how they get their nourishment and may have the option of doing many different things, depending on what works best at the time.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Intensive Insulin Therapy Protects Kidneys In Critically Ill Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561103/080130130642.htm
For critically ill patients, intensive insulin therapy to keep blood sugar at normal levels reduces the risk of acute kidney injury, reports a new study. For many years, the medical community has considered high blood sugar levels in critically ill patients -- called "stress diabetes" -- as a beneficial reaction of the body to ensure adequate energy supply to the organs during severe illness. Reductions in kidney injury and mortality risk question thinking on 'stress diabetes'.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Device Zeroes In On Small Breast Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561104/080128165711.htm
A new medical imager for detecting and guiding the biopsy of suspicious breast cancer lesions is capable of spotting tumors that are half the size of the smallest ones detected by standard imaging systems, according to a new study. The results of initial testing of the PEM/PET system will be published in the journal Physics in Medicine and Biology.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Ecosystem Engineers: Elephant Eating Habits Influence Lizard Habitat Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561105/080128154611.htm
An examination of the connections between elephants and lizards appears this month in the journal Ecology, where a researcher reports that the elephants' eating habits have a strong influence on the lizards' habitat choices. The results demonstrate an important and little understood aspect of ecosystem engineering, and may help land managers working on wildlife refuges in Africa.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
With A Jolt, 'Nanonails' Go From Repellent To Wettable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/225503345/080129160724.htm
Sculpting a surface composed of tightly packed nanostructures that resemble tiny nails, engineers have created a material that can repel almost any liquid. Add a jolt of electricity, and the liquid on the surface slips past the heads of the nanonails and spreads out between their shanks, wetting the surface completely.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
New Test Detects Flu, Common Cold And Other Respiratory Viruses Fast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561106/080128165659.htm
A new test simultaneously detects the most prevalent respiratory viruses, including flu and the common cold, helping doctors more accurately diagnose patients. The speed and reliability of the test will help physicians provide appropriate treatment, and prevent inappropriate antibiotic use that has contributed to the creation of "superbugs."
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Links Between Prostate Cancer, Cadmium And Zinc Investigated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561107/080130161756.htm
Cadmium exposure is a known risk factor for prostate cancer, and a new study suggests that zinc may offer protection against cadmium. Zinc stimulates production of a protein that binds cadmium thereby taking it out of circulation and reducing its toxic effects. However, it is too early to recommend zinc supplements for those who're worried about prostate damage, according to the researcher.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
El Nino At Play As Source Of More Intense Regional US Wintertime Storms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561108/080128113104.htm
The next time you have to raise your umbrella against torrents of cold winter rain, you may have a remote weather phenomenon to thank that many may know by name as El Nino, but may not well understand.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Free, Downloadable Training Program Helps Teen Drivers Anticipate And Avoid Crashes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226561109/080130185654.htm
A free, downloadable training program developed teaches teen-age drivers how, when and where to anticipate and avoid potentially fatal traffic hazards. It's called a "Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) Program" and all the training is done on a personal computer.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
E. Coli Bacteria: A Future Source Of Energy?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/225958724/080129170709.htm
A professor has "tweaked" a strain of E. coli so that it produces substantial amounts of hydrogen. Specifically, the new strain produces 140 times more hydrogen than is created in a naturally occurring process, according to an article in Microbial Biotechnology.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Consumption Of Fruits May Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226160968/080130130553.htm
Apples, bananas, and oranges are the most common fruits in both Western and Asian diets, and are important sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A new study explores the additional health benefits of these fruits and reveals they also protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Traces Of The Martian Past In The Terby Crater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226160969/080125223819.htm
The High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express has returned striking scenes of the Terby crater on Mars. The region is of great scientific interest as it holds information on the role of water in the history of the planet.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
Going For The Jugular In Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226160970/080130114015.htm
It's increasingly believed among scientists that nearly every cancer contains small populations of highly dangerous cells -- cancer stem cell -- that can initiate a cancer, drive its progression, and create endless copies of themselves. On the theory that targeting these cells might be an effective therapeutic strategy, researchers around the world have begun isolating stem cells from various kinds of cancers.
Thu, 31 Jan 08
New Discovery On Magnetic Reconnection To Impact Future Space Missions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226160971/080125230056.htm
ESA's Cluster mission has, for the first time, observed the extent of the region that triggers magnetic reconnection, and it is much larger than previously thought. This gives future space missions a much better chance of studying it. Space is filled with plasma (a gas composed of ions and electrons, globally neutral) and is threaded by magnetic fields. These magnetic fields store energy which can be released explosively, in a process called magnetic reconnection.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Earth's Getting 'Soft' In The Middle, Geologists Note
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334266/080124145022.htm
A new study suggests that material in part of the lower mantle has unusual electronic characteristics that make sound propagate more slowly, suggesting that the material there is softer than previously thought. The results call into question the traditional techniques for understanding this region of the planet.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Hungry Mothers Risk Addiction In Their Adult Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223089740/080125120152.htm
Babies conceived during a period of famine are at risk of developing addictions later in life, according to new research. Researchers studied men and women born in Rotterdam during the Dutch "hunger winter." Those whose mothers had suffered severe food shortages and starvation during their early pregnancy were significantly more likely to be receiving treatment for addictive disorders.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Engineers Use Blood's Hydrodynamics To Manipulate Stem, Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334267/080123125615.htm
A tiny, implantable device has pulled adult stem cells out of a living rat with a far greater purity than any present technique. This is a new field; manipulating stem cells, white blood cells, and even cancer cells by exploiting the mechanics of the cells' movement with great precision. Researchers are even having success capturing and reprogramming several cell types as they pass through the device.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Mammalian Protein Plays Unexpected Role In Cell Division, And Perhaps Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334268/080124142425.htm
The French Nobel laureate Jacques Monod famously said, "What's true for E.coli is true for an elephant." With this in mind, researchers at Rockefeller University set out to determine the function of Tel2, a protein originally found in yeast where it maintains the length of chromosome tips called telomeres. But one experiment after another informed the group that Tel2 in humans plays an altogether different role.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Scientists To Study High-risk Plant Pathogen Using Small, Unmanned Aircraft
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334269/080125214750.htm
A plant pathologist known for his investigation of microbial life in the lower atmosphere is using unmanned aerial vehicles in a new, three-year study to detect, monitor, and forecast the spread of a fungus-like organism responsible for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s and 1850s. This famine resulted in the deaths of more than 1 million people in Ireland and caused at least 1.5 million more to flee the country.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Don't Worry, Be Moderately Happy, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334270/080124132506.htm
Could the pursuit of happiness go too far? Most self-help books on the subject offer tips on how to maximize one's bliss, but a new study suggests that moderate happiness may be preferable to full-fledged elation.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Dramatic Wind Action Detailed On Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334271/080124191716.htm
Mars has an ethereal, tenuous atmosphere with less than one-percent the surface pressure of Earth, which challenges scientists to explain complex, wind-sculpted landforms seen with unprecedented detail in images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. One of the main questions has been if winds on present-day Mars are strong enough to form and change geological features, or if wind-constructed formations were made in the past, perhaps when winds speeds and atmospheric pressures were higher.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Is Diabetes Linked To Environmental Pollution?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223089739/080125125108.htm
Scientists are advocating additional research into the little understood links between environmental pollution and type 2 diabetes. Some recent research has demonstrated a very strong relationship between the levels of POPs in blood, particularly organochlorine compounds, and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
New Discoveries At The Ash Altar Of Zeus Offer Insights Into Origins Of Ancient Greece's Most Powerful God
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334272/080123114601.htm
The Greek traveler, Pausanias, living in the second century, CE, would probably recognize the spectacular site of the Sanctuary of Zeus at Mt. Lykaion, and particularly the altar of Zeus. At 4,500 feet above sea level, atop the altar provides a breathtaking, panoramic vista of Arcadia.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Hospital To Use Large-scale 'Cocoon Strategy' Against Whooping Cough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334273/080125174441.htm
The nation's first major "cocoon strategy" vaccination program to protect newborn infants from the life-threatening infection pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is underway.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
New Techniques Create Butanol, A Superior Biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334274/080123153142.htm
Environmental engineers are plying new techniques to produce a biofuel superior to ethanol. The fuel is butanol; it can be derived from lignocellulosic materials, which are plant biomass parts that range from woody stems and straw to agricultural residues, corn fiber and husks, all containing in large part cellulose and some lignin.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Why The Web Tells Us What We Already Know
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334275/080124092536.htm
The Internet is not the font of all knowledge, despite the plethora of information available at your fingertips. Researchers have found that while Internet searches do bring up a variety of useful materials, people pay more attention to information that matches their pre-existing beliefs.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Earth's Soils Bear Unmistakable Footprints Of Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223140429/080125154634.htm
The dirt under our feet is being so changed by humans that it is now appropriate to call this the "Anthropocene (or man-made) Age," says a new worldwide overview by a soil scientist.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Cells Use Velcro-like Mechanism To Keep Viruses From Spreading
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334276/080124134717.htm
Like mobsters, cells keep their friends close and their enemies -- at least some of them -- closer. According to new results from HIV researchers, one way that human cells prevent certain viruses from raging out of control is by blocking new viral particles from ever leaving an infected cell's surface. And, they believe, HIV thrives in part because it has evolved the ability to get around this obstacle. Viruses can only reproduce using the mechanisms and material of their hosts. Some of them -- the so-called "enveloped" viruses, which are encapsulated inside a lipid membrane -- assemble at the host cell's outer membrane and then bud off during their release.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Move Over US -- China To Be New Driver Of World's Economy And Innovation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334277/080124103159.htm
A new study of worldwide technological competitiveness suggests China may soon rival the United States as the principal driver of the world's economy -- a position the US has held since the end of World War II. If that happens, it will mark the first time in nearly a century that two nations have competed for leadership as equals.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Computer-based Tool Aids Research, Helps Thwart Questionable Publication Practices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334278/080123131740.htm
A new computer-based text-searching tool automatically -- and quickly -- compares multiple documents in a database for similarities, providing a more efficient method to carry out literature searches, as well as offering scientific journal editors a new tool to thwart questionable publication practices.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
One In Four Elderly Americans Given Inappropriate Or Suboptimal Medications, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334279/080124203957.htm
For many elderly Americans, the day begins and ends with a dose of one or more prescription medications. However, some patients could be less likely to receive the wrong dosage or type of medications than others are, according to a recent study of more than 800,000 U.S. seniors.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
New Method Enables Design, Production Of Extremely Novel Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334280/080123161246.htm
A new chemical synthesis method is based on a catalyst worth many times the price of gold and providing a far more efficient and economical method than traditional ones for designing and manufacturing extremely novel pharmaceutical compounds.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Major Step Toward A More Targeted Treatment For Auto-immune Diseases?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224125243/080127130924.htm
More and more people in Western society are suffering from auto-immune diseases. Discovering the cause of these chronic inflammations is a first important step in the search for targeted medicines. Researchers can now describe the function of MALT1, a key player in controlling inflammatory reactions.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
New Alzheimer's Treatment Completes First Phase Of Testing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334281/080123101629.htm
A molecule designed by a Purdue University researcher to stop the debilitating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease has been shown in its first phase of clinical trials to be safe and to reduce biomarkers for the disease. CoMentis, the pharmaceutical company developing the drug, announced completion of its Phase 1 study of a treatment based on the molecule. Results from the study indicate that the treatment is safe and well tolerated.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Adult Stem Cell Application Effective In Treatment Of Peripheric Vascular Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334282/080124100304.htm
Multipotent adult progenitor stem cells extracted from bone marrow, and known as MAPCs, have proved to be effective in the regeneration of blood vessel tissue and also in muscle tissue when treating peripheric vascular disease.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
New Technique Quickly Detects Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334283/080123101254.htm
Researchers have developed a new way to detect protein movements inside cells, which signal a variety of cellular changes such as those in cancer cell development. The method could help diagnose cancer in the future. By combining two distinct techniques, the technology can examine large numbers of cells individually, a feat not previously possible.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Anthrax Cellular Entry Point Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223194995/080125170905.htm
Anthrax spores enter the cell through something called Mac-1, a receptor that sits on the surface of certain cells, according to a new study. Unraveling the anthrax-Mac-1 gateway will speed the development of new drugs and vaccines to fight or prevent infection, and advance the understanding of bacterial infection.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
How To Reduce Risks Of Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination In Food Processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334284/080123164553.htm
A problematic pathogen occurring in food processing is Listeria monocytogenes. Its efficient control at the processing plant level requires good equipment hygiene, including functioning good manufacturing and hygiene practices used by all employees, effective means of decontamination and rapid detection of contamination sources, as well as hazard analysis systems supported by risk assessment procedures.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Increase In GERD Hospitalizations Underscores Importance Of Seeking Treatment Early
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334285/080125154648.htm
Hospitalizations for disorders caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD rose 103 percent between 1998 and 2005. Also, hospitalizations for patients who had milder forms of GERD (in addition to the condition for which they were admitted), rose by 216 percent during the same time period. The numbers underscore the importance of seeing a physician if symptoms suggestive of GERD are present.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
American Geophysical Union Revises Position On Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223194996/080125154628.htm
A statement by the world's largest scientific society of Earth and space scientists -- the American Geophysical Union -- updates the organization's position on climate change: the evidence for it, potential consequences from it, and how to respond to it. The AGU has a membership of 50,000 researchers, teachers, and students in 137 countries.
Mon, 28 Jan 08
Sense Of Injustice Reverses Effects Of Power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/224334286/080125231539.htm
Power is intoxicating, but feelings of injustice soon sober up the one with the power. PhD student Joris Lammers investigated the role that the meaning of a power situation has on the automatic effects of power. He concludes that feelings of injustice reverse the automatic effects of power on behavior and cognition. The one with the power becomes more careful and the subordinate displays more uncontrolled behavior.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Dental Tooth Fillings Containing Mercury Don't Affect Children's Brain Development, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850361/080124173752.htm
Dental amalgam tooth fillings do not adversely affect children's brain development and neurological status, researchers report in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Dental amalgam contains elemental mercury combined with other metals such as silver, copper, tin and zinc to form a safe, stable alloy.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Vitamin D Deficiency Study Raises New Questions About Disease And Supplements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850362/080125223302.htm
Low blood levels of vitamin D have long been associated with disease, and the assumption has been that vitamin D supplements may protect against disease. However, this new research demonstrates that ingested vitamin D is immunosuppressive and that low blood levels of vitamin D may be actually a result of the disease process. Supplementation may make the disease worse. Increased vitamin D intake affects much more than just nutrition or bone health. The Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor (VDR) acts in the repression or transcription of hundreds of genes, including genes associated with diseases ranging from cancers to multiple sclerosis.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Maya Mask Splendor Enhanced With Sparkling Mica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850363/080123085308.htm
Ancient Mayan temple builders used dazzling lustrous pigments. Studying tiny shards of paint from the Mayan city of Copan, a physical and chemical sciences researcher found evidence of mica that would have made the buildings glitter when hit by the sun.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Infants With Poor Intestinal Flora Often Develop Eczema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850364/080123175324.htm
In a healthy intestinal system there is a great variety of natural bacteria. Today many people have an imbalanced flora of intestinal bacteria. Now a new study shows that children with only a limited variety of bacteria in their feces one week after birth more often developed atopical eczema by the age of 18 months. In the study feces were examined from children in Göteborg, London, and Rome.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Astronomers Prepare To Obtain Close Images Of A Near-Earth Asteroid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222996541/080125102156.htm
Astronomers will observe a newly discovered asteroid on Jan. 27-28 and Feb 1-4, 2008, as the object called 2007 TU24 passes within 1.4 lunar distances, or 334,000 miles, from Earth. The asteroid, estimated at between 150 and 600 meters in diameter -- about 500 feet to 1,900 feet, or the size of a football field, at 360 feet, to the size of Chicago's 110-story Sears Tower, at 1,454 feet -- was discovered in October 2007. It poses no threat to Earth, but its near approach gives astronomers a golden opportunity to learn more about potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Giant Particle Accelerator Discovered In The Sky
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850365/080125224810.htm
ESA's orbiting gamma-ray observatory, Integral, has made the first unambiguous discovery of highly energetic X-rays coming from a galaxy cluster. The find has shown the cluster to be a giant particle accelerator. The Ophiuchus galaxy cluster is one of brightest in the sky at X-ray wavelengths. The X-rays detected are too energetic to originate from quiescent hot gas inside the cluster and suggest instead that giant shockwaves must be rippling through the gas. This has turned the galaxy cluster into a giant particle accelerator.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Genetic Difference Predicts Antidepressant Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850366/080123125619.htm
Researchers have identified subtle genetic variations that predict the efficacy of two widely used antidepressant drugs. They found that certain variants in the gene for a protective transporter protein that pumps drugs and other substances out of the brain compromise the effectiveness of the antidepressants citalopram (trade name Celexa) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Low Vitamin E Levels Associated With Physical Decline In Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221266609/080122165555.htm
Researchers have found that a low concentration of vitamin E in the blood is linked with physical decline in older persons. The study included 698 people age 65 or older who were randomly selected from the population registry in two municipalities close to Florence, Italy.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Chopped Up Proteins Trigger Autoimmunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850367/080124100249.htm
A biochemist has mapped several proteins that can regulate the activity of the human exosome and which play a role in the degradation of RNA molecules. He has also discovered that PM/Scl-75, one of the components from which the exosome is built, is cut as soon as a cell dies.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Taking A Look At Baby's First Biofilm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850368/080123103446.htm
A sludgy substance seen on the ultrasound images of about 15 percent of pregnancies is in fact a bacterial biofilm in the amniotic fluid, according to an expert on the slimy structures. "Doctors kept seeing this stuff on the ultrasound and we wanted to figure out what it was," the researcher said. "We suspected it was bacteria but didn't know for sure."
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Less Education May Lead To Delayed Awareness Of Alzheimer's Onset
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850369/080123150503.htm
A review of epidemiological data has found evidence that people who spend fewer years in school may experience a slight but statistically significant delay in the realization that they're having cognitive problems that could be Alzheimer's disease.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Birth Control Pill Gives Long-lasting Protection Against Ovarian Cancer, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223753158/080126194137.htm
The contraceptive pill gives women substantial and long-lasting protection against ovarian cancer, according to a new report. The researchers found that the protection against ovarian cancer lasted for more than 30 years after women had stopped taking the Pill. They also found that the longer the Pill was used the greater the protection and that taking the Pill for 15 years halved the risk of ovarian cancer.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Marijuana Smokers Face Rapid Lung Destruction -- As Much As 20 Years Ahead Of Tobacco Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850370/080123104017.htm
A new study finds that the development of bullous lung disease occurs in marijuana smokers approximately 20 years earlier than tobacco smokers. A condition often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, bullous lung disease (also known as bullae) is a condition where air trapped in the lungs causes obstruction to breathing and eventual destruction of the lungs.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
ESA's Columbus Space Laboratory Set For Take Off February 7
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850371/080123090504.htm
With NASA's recent confirmation of the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Thursday, Feb. 7, ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel of Germany and Leopold Eyharts of France are set to deliver ESA's Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Arthritic Knees Remain Painful After Arthroscopic Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850372/080124132503.htm
Trimming damaged tissue through arthroscopic surgery does not relieve pain and swelling in arthritic knees any better than simply flushing loose debris from the joint, according to a new review of evidence.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
Airport Safety: Magnetic Fingerprinting In The Fog?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850373/080125232911.htm
By monitoring tiny fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field caused by a passing plane, a team of European researchers has developed an innovative system to increase airport safety even in the worst weather conditions. Using magnetic field detectors they have developed a unique system to pinpoint the location of aircraft at airports even in places where other traffic monitoring systems face difficulties.
Sun, 27 Jan 08
No Time Before Valentine's Day? You'll Pay More For A Gift Just To Avoid A Negative Outcome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223850374/080123125546.htm
With time to spare before Valentine's Day, you consider a number of grand ways to demonstrate your affection. But what if it's the night before and you still don't have a gift? A timely study proves that, when the gift-giving deadline approaches, our perspective shifts from gifts with positive outcomes -- something that will knock your sweetheart off his or her feet -- to gifts that will simply help us avoid a fight.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Could Tiny Diatoms Help Offset Global Warming?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222340837/080123150516.htm
Diatoms -- some of which are so tiny that 30 can fit across the width of a human hair -- are so numerous that they are among the key organisms taking the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide out of the Earth's atmosphere. The shells of diatoms are so heavy that when they die in the oceans they typically sink to watery graves on the seafloor, taking carbon out of the surface waters and locking it into sediments below.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
'Telepathic' Genes Recognize Similarities In Each Other
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293370/080124103151.htm
Genes have the ability to recognize similarities in each other from a distance, without any proteins or other biological molecules aiding the process, according to an exciting new finding. This discovery could explain how similar genes find each other and group together in order to perform key processes involved in the evolution of species.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Key Factor In Stress Effects On The Brain Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293371/080123100328.htm
Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and researchers have now pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle. Uncontrollable stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, which have been linked to cellular changes in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is particularly susceptible to stress.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Thousands Of Crop Varieties Depart For Arctic Seed Vault
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293372/080122203028.htm
At the end of January, more than 200,000 crop varieties from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East -- drawn from vast seed collections maintained by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research -- will be shipped to a remote island near the Arctic Circle, where they will be stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a facility capable of preserving their vitality for thousands of years.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Does Mood Matter? What About The Order Of Choices?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293373/080123125558.htm
Sure, you're more likely to give things a favorable evaluation when you're happy, and a negative evaluation when you're sad. But how does mood influence your choices among items? Researchers found that when happy consumers were asked to withhold judgment until all options were presented, they tended to prefer the last option they saw.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
New Research Could Help Reverse The Biological Clock For Dementia Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293374/080124104917.htm
Medical experts believe they could have found the key to turning back the brain's biological clock and reverse the effects of dementia and memory loss. Pioneering research has shown that regular exposure to safe low level infra-red light can improve learning performance and kick-start the cognitive function of the brain.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Researchers Identify Brain's 'Eureka' Circuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293375/080123102413.htm
Researchers have found the brain region that controls the decision to halt your midnight exploration of the refrigerator and commence enjoyment of that leftover chicken leg. In their experiments, the researchers presented monkeys with a choice of touch targets on a computer screen, requiring the monkeys to spend time exploring which target would trigger a juice reward. Once the monkeys discovered the reward target, the researchers then gave the animals a period during which they could repeatedly touch the reward target to obtain more juice.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Proposed New City Of Istanbul Could Be Refuge In Case Of Severe Earthquake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293376/080123104527.htm
Istanbul is at such high risk for a devastating earthquake that engineers at Purdue University and the Republic of Turkey have come up with a bold new proposal: build a second city. A second, satellite city would provide immediate refuge to inhabitants of the old city in the event of a catastrophic earthquake and soften such an event's effects on the nation's economy.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Genetic Link To One Form Of Common Pediatric Illness -- Inflammation Of The Middle Ear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293378/080124173806.htm
Inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) is one of the most common pediatric ailments. Young children are particularly prone to otitis media as their Eustachian tubes, which regulate the pressure in the middle ear, have not yet fully developed. In many instances it is accompanied by an acute ear infection and can be resolved by a course of antibiotics.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
2007 Was Tenth Warmest For U.S., Fifth Warmest Worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293379/080124121218.htm
The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. in 2007 is officially the tenth warmest on record, according to data from scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The agency also determined the global surface temperature last year was the fifth warmest on record.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293380/080124200913.htm
Laughter is the best medicine. We've heard the expression time and again. For decades, researchers have explored how humor helps patients relieve stress and heal. Now, researchers have taken it one step further, with new research on how humor helps medical professionals cope with their difficult jobs. She also looked at how humor affects the elderly and how it can increase communication in the workplace and in the classroom.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Great Apes Endangered By Human Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222996542/080125100320.htm
The opening of gorillas and chimpanzees reserves for tourism is often portrayed as the key to conserving these endangered great apes. There are also however serious concerns that tourism may expose wild apes to infection by virulent human diseases.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Metabolic Syndrome Affects Nearly 1 In 10 US Teens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222996543/080125100317.htm
About nine percent of teenagers may have metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors that put them on the path toward heart disease and diabetes in adulthood. This shocking statistic represents some of the first concentrated efforts to define and measure metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents -- a necessary starting point for combating the problem, but one that has proven even trickier in youth than it has been in adults.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Mercury In Color
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293381/080123085313.htm
One week ago, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft transmitted to Earth the first high-resolution image of Mercury by a spacecraft in over 30 years, since the three Mercury flybys of Mariner 10 in 1974 and 1975.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Protein Class Displays Strong Anticancer Action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293382/080124183731.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unsuspected mechanism of cell death that may afford a new way to find and develop stronger yet less-harmful anticancer drugs. Specifically, they have found that a cellular stress-response protein prevents cells from dying by interacting with a particular signaling protein and mediating its response to some conventional anticancer drugs.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Man-made Changes Bring About New Epoch In Earth's History
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222996544/080125100314.htm
Geologists propose that humankind has so altered the Earth that it has brought about an end to one epoch of Earth's history and marked the start of a new epoch.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
New Radar Satellite Technique Sheds Light On Ocean Current Dynamics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293383/080124105735.htm
Ocean surface currents have long been the focus of research due to the role they play in weather, climate and transportation of pollutants, yet essential aspects of these currents remain unknown.
Sat, 26 Jan 08
Talk Therapy May Help Kids With Chronic Stomach Pain, Review of Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223293384/080124203443.htm
"My tummy hurts" is one of the most common complaints of childhood. Yet for up to 25 percent of school-age children, ongoing abdominal pain is serious enough to interfere with school, playtime and family life. In most of these cases, there are no medical problems-- and reassurance and support are all the child needs. For children whose pain persists, however, a new review of the research suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Price Tag Can Change The Way People Experience Wine, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223554111/080126101053.htm
In what will be music to the ears of marketers, the old adage that you get what you pay for really is true when it comes to that most ephemeral of products: bottled wine. If a person is told he or she is tasting two different wines -- and that one costs $5 and the other $45 when they are, in fact, the same wine -- the part of the brain that experiences pleasure will become more active when the drinker thinks he or she is enjoying the more expensive vintage.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Computer Scientist Makes Splash With Academy Award For Fluid Simulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223554112/080126100827.htm
The rushing floodwaters in Evan Almighty, the heaving seas of the latter two Pirates of the Caribbean movies and the dragon's flaming breath in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire all featured computer-generated fluids in spectacular action. The science behind those splashy thrills will be recognized Feb. 9 with an Academy Award for Ron Fedkiw, associate professor of computer science at Stanford, and two collaborators at the special effects firm Industrial Light and Magic (ILM).
Fri, 25 Jan 08
New Experimental Website Converts Photos Into 3D Models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223554113/080126100444.htm
A new computer program developed by Stanford computer scientists, can take any two-dimensional image and create a three-dimensional "fly around" model of its content, giving viewers access to the scene's depth and a range of points of view.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Nanochemists Discover Novel, Semi-Conducting Nanotube Needed For Next Generation Electronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223533473/080126095824.htm
Chemists have developed a technique that could break through the bottleneck that so far has stymied the scientific quest to create a new generation of electronic systems on the nano-scale. They have achieved near single type purity nanotube production.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Newly Engineered Genetic Switches Enhance Production Of Proteins, Pharmaceuticals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223533474/080126094838.htm
Bacteria have evolved complex mechanisms called quorum sensing systems that provide for cell-to-cell communication, an adaptation that allows them to wait until their population grows large enough before mounting an attack on a host or competing for nutrients. A chemical engineer has now engineered one of these systems to create genetic switches that could lower the cost of producing therapeutic proteins and pharmaceuticals.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Natural Gas Formation By Bacteria Linked To Climate Change And Renewable Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223554114/080126093649.htm
Natural gas reservoirs in Michigan's Antrim Shale are providing new information about global warming and the Earth's climate history. The new study is also good news for energy companies hoping to make natural gas a renewable resource. Scientists found that carbon-hungry bacteria trapped deep in the rock beneath ice sheets produced the gas during the ice age, as glaciers advanced and retreated over Michigan.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Keeping The Dust Down When Separating The Chaff From The Nuts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223511863/080126083601.htm
Agricultural scientists are developing an add-on device to control dust emissions from nut harvesters. Researchers are testing a prototype device that uses centrifugal force to trap soil and bits of leaves and sticks so the harvester emits cleaner air.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Developing Better Forage For Feeding Hungry Cattle Year Round
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223511864/080126082643.htm
A herd of hungry cattle isn't a pretty sight. So scientists are developing forage grasses that provide nutritious forage to livestock in the southern Great Plains, US, throughout the year. A key goal of this work is producing both warm-season and cool-season forage grasses that can live for long periods on highly erodible lands. Candidates need to be able to withstand major challenges from extended dry spells, insect pests and plant diseases.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
EDGE Amphibians: World's Weirdest Creatures Just Got Weirder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965604/080124132336.htm
A gigantic, ancient relative of the newt, a drawing-pin sized frog, a limbless, tentacled amphibian and a blind see-through salamander have all made it onto a list of the world's weirdest and most endangered creatures. ZSL EDGE program is highlighting some of the world's most extraordinary creatures currently threatened with extinction. This year ZSL scientists have assessed all amphibian species according to how Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) they are.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Search For The 'On' Switches May Reveal Genetic Role In Development And Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965605/080124132515.htm
A new resource that identifies regions of the human genome that regulate gene expression may help scientists learn about and develop treatments for a number of human diseases. New sequencing technologies are able to determine the genetic code of millions of DNA fragments.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Scientists Look At Those In Evolutionary Race Who Don't Make It 'Out Of The Gate'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965606/080122203059.htm
In the race of evolution, scientists until now have only looked at winners and losers. Now, they've come up with a way to look at the contenders who never made it out of the gate. It's the organisms that die early in life, before scientists can assess what they might bring to the reproduction game, and that have gone uncounted in the effort to quantify genetic fitness. This group has been dubbed the "invisible fraction."
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Handwashing Can Reduce Diarrhea Episodes By About One Third
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965607/080122203221.htm
Promoting the simple act of hand washing can save lives in many developing countries, according to a new systematic review of studies. The review shows that teaching people about hand washing can reduce the incidence of diarrhea by up to 30 percent and might have as great an affect as providing access to clean water.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Extra Power From Private Wind and Solar Generation Can Be Given Back To Grid More Easily
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965608/080124104453.htm
An increasing number of people use wind or solar energy as a power source, and at times, they have extra power available that could be sold to the electricity grid. A new system allows this externally generated energy to be better stored and transferred.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Abstinence-plus Programs For HIV Prevention Can Reduce Risk Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965609/080122203227.htm
Programs that aim to encourage sexual abstinence while also encouraging and teaching safer sex strategies for those who are sexually active can reduce short- and long-term HIV risk behavior among young people in high-income countries, according to new findings.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Universal Influenza Vaccine Tested Successfully In Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965610/080124185522.htm
Scientists report the successful conclusion of Phase I trials of the universal flu vaccine in humans. The universal influenza vaccine is intended to provide protection against all 'A' strains of the virus that causes human influenza, including pandemic strains. Therefore, this vaccine will not need to be renewed annually. The vaccine was tested at multiple centers in the US and involved 79 healthy volunteers. The trial results demonstrate that ACAM- FLU-ATM is well tolerated and immunogenic, and no significant side-effects were observed.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Genes Linked To Parkinson's Protection Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965611/080124194933.htm
Researchers have identified five genes within animal models displaying protective capabilities against a hallmark trait of Parkinson's disease. The research is a possible step toward identifying both new targets for drug treatment development and genetic factors which make some people more susceptible to the disease, the researchers said.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Seeing Is Believing: Visualizing Inflammation In Fat Tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965612/080118093619.htm
Individuals who are obese are at increased risk of developing a combination of medical disorders associated with type 2 diabetes and heart disease known as the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies have suggested that adipose (fat) tissue obesity induces an inflammatory state that is crucial to the development of the metabolic syndrome.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Turning On Adult Stem Cells May Help Repair Bone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965613/080124173809.htm
The use of a drug to activate stem cells that differentiate into bone appears to cause regeneration of bone tissue and be may be a potential treatment strategy for osteoporosis.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
New Robotics Challenge Aims To Develop Friendly Highly Autonomous Robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965614/080124100256.htm
The "ROBAUCO: mobile, autonomous and collaborative robots" project was recently initiated. The principal objective of the project is the generation of the technologies necessary for the development of mobile robots able to carry out complex tasks with a high degree of autonomy and capacity for collaboration. These robots, moreover, have to share tasks with people in the most friendly and natural way possible.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
World's Aging Population To Defuse War On Terrorism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965615/080124161644.htm
Changing demographic trends will impact the future of international relations, according to the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report. Several hotbed areas in the world that offer the motive and opportunity for political violence are due to stabilize by the year 2030.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Asteroid To Make Rare Close Flyby Of Earth January 29
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965616/080124192818.htm
Scientists are monitoring the orbit of asteroid 2007 TU24. The asteroid, believed to be between 150 meters (500 feet) and 610 meters (2,000 feet) in size, is expected to fly past Earth on Jan. 29, with its closest distance being about 537,500 kilometers (334,000 miles) at 12:33 a.m. Pacific time (3:33 a.m. Eastern time). It should be observable that night by amateur astronomers with modest-sized telescopes.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Popular Arthritis Drug May Disrupt Heart Rhythm, New Research Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965617/080124161621.htm
Celebrex, a popular arthritis drug that blocks pain by inhibiting an enzyme known as COX-2, has been shown in laboratory studies to induce arrhythmia, or irregular beating of the heart, via a novel pathway unrelated to its COX-2 inhibition.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Hot Springs Microbes Hold Key To Dating Sedimentary Rocks, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965618/080122154606.htm
Scientists studying microbial communities and the growth of sedimentary rock at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park have made a surprising discovery about the geological record of life and the environment. Their discovery could affect how certain sequences of sedimentary rock are dated, and how scientists might search for evidence of life on other planets.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Unexpected Protein Interaction Suggests New Lou Gehrig's Disease Drug Target
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965619/080124173815.htm
Discovery of an unexpected protein-protein interaction has led scientists to identify a drug that slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in mice and nearly doubles the animals' lifespan. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Unravelling The Mystery Of Cell Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965620/080124194506.htm
Experts in mitosis (cell division) have made discoveries that explain how one protein -- the kinase Aurora B -- could have such a large role in guiding and policing the process of cell division. This discovery ultimately may help to explain spatial regulation during cell division, according to their findings, published in Science.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
New Facility For Hydrogen Pipeline Testing Made To Prompt 'Hydrogen Economy'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965621/080124094006.htm
A new NIST laboratory will evaluate tests, materials, mechanical properties and standards for hydrogen pipelines. The facility will include the nation's biggest hydrogen test chamber.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Can Condoms Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections Other Than HIV?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222965622/080124190810.htm
Consistent condom use can reduce the spread of HIV, but are they the answer to rising rates of other sexually transmitted infections? Despite some inconsistencies in the evidence, studies show that condoms are an effective physical barrier against passage of even the smallest sexually transmitted pathogens. But a big problem with condoms is that average people, particularly teenagers and young adults, do not use them consistently, regardless of knowledge or education.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Camera In A Pill Offers Cheaper, Easier Window On Your Insides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222632073/080124161613.htm
A minuscule, single-eyed camera fits in a easily swallowed pill. The device would conduct low-cost screens to prevent esophageal cancer. A fundamentally new design has created a smaller endoscope that is more comfortable for the patient and cheaper to use than current technology. Its first use on a human, scanning for early signs of esophageal cancer.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Elusive Pancreatic Stem Cells Found In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222510002/080124132520.htm
Just as many scientists had given up the search, researchers have discovered that the pancreas does indeed harbor stem cells with the capacity to generate new insulin-producing beta cells.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Vaccination Of Adolescent Girls Is An Effective Strategy Against Cervical Cancer, Report Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223753159/080126195225.htm
A scientific report published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control finds that vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is an effective prevention strategy against cervical cancer. Available HPV vaccines protect against two high-risk HPV types that are estimated to be responsible for 73% of cervical cancer cases in Europe, and are spread by sexual contact.
Fri, 25 Jan 08
Fruit Cell Wall Proteins Help Fungus Turn Tomatoes From Ripe To Rotten
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/223712460/080126172454.htm
Using tomatoes as a research plant, scientists have discovered that two plant enzymes that occur in the plant's cell walls cooperate with each other to make ripe fruit more susceptible to a disease-causing fungus.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Obesity Connected With Nervous System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082746/080123150457.htm
Biologists have shed new light on the genetic roots of obesity -- a condition that is increasing dramatically in North America and has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Stem Cells May Gradually Replace Antirejection Drugs For Kidney Transplant Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082747/080123125623.htm
After transplant surgery, antirejection drugs for the organ recipient are a must. But prolonged use can have serious side effects, including infections, heart disease and even cancer. A new study seeks to eliminate the need for antirejection drugs by transplanting stem cells from a kidney donor's bone marrow into the organ recipient.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Newly Discovered Active Fault Building New Dalmatian Islands Off Croatian Coast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082748/080122154347.htm
A newly identified fault that runs under the Adriatic Sea is actively building more of the famously beautiful Dalmatian Islands and Dinaride Mountains of Croatia, according to a new research report. Geologists had previously believed that the Dalmatian Islands and the Dinaride Mountains had stopped growing 20 to 30 million years ago. The Croatian coast is an increasing popular tourist destination. Dubrovnik, known as "the Pearl of the Adriatic," is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Clean Or Boiled Tap Water Is As Good As Saline At Cleaning Acute Wounds, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082749/080122203204.htm
Using drinkable tap water to clean wounds does not increase infection rates, according to the findings. There is, however, no evidence that it reduces infection rates or increases healing rate over leaving the wound alone.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Low-cost, 'Green' Way To Make Antimicrobial Paints Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082750/080122154351.htm
Researchers have developed a low-cost, environmentally friendly technique for embedding antimicrobial silver nanoparticles into vegetable oil-based paints. The method could give homes and workplaces a new defense against germs by applying a fresh coat of paint.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Sports Machismo May Be Cue To Male Teen Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082751/080123150510.htm
The sports culture surrounding football and wrestling may be fueling aggressive and violent behavior not only among teen male players but also among their male friends and peers on and off the field, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Seismic Images Show Dinosaur-killing Meteor Made Bigger Splash
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082752/080123125543.htm
The most detailed 3-D seismic images yet of the Chicxulub impact crater may modify a theory explaining the "KT Extinction Event" that wiped out most life on Earth, including the dinosaurs. According to new research the asteroid landed in deeper water than previously assumed and therefore released about 6.5 times more water vapor into the atmosphere, possibly making it deadlier by altering climate and generating acid rain.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
New Therapeutic Target For Treatment Of Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082753/080122110042.htm
Scientists have identified new therapeutic targets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.They provide fresh answers concerning the role of novel adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of MS, a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
New Microchip For PCR Testing At Crime Scenes, Doctors' Offices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220441963/080121100909.htm
Researchers in Hong Kong have miniaturized technology needed to perform the versatile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -- widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, and a range of other key applications. They report development of a long-sought PCR microchip that could permit use of PCR at crime scenes, in doctors' offices, and other out-of-lab locations.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Transplant Patient Thrives Two Years After Stopping Immunosuppressive Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082754/080123173154.htm
Luck smiled on Larry Kowalski when his brother agreed to donate a kidney Kowalski needed to live. He was even luckier that his brother's kidney was such a good match. That last stroke of luck led Kowalski to connect with a team of researchers whose efforts have enabled him for two years to live free of the heavy-duty drugs that transplant patients normally have to take for the rest of their lives.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Nanomaterials Used To Localize And Control Drug Delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082755/080122110045.htm
Using nanotechnology, scientists have developed a localized and controlled drug delivery method that is invisible to the immune system, a discovery that could provide newer and more effective treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Your Personality Type Influences How Much Self-control You Have
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082756/080123125608.htm
A new study introduces personality types used frequently in consumer research to the realm of self-improvement. According to the research, people are better able to exercise self-control when they choose goal-pursuit strategies -- such as diets or money management -- that "fit" with a promotion or prevention focus. "Self-control is not just about doing the right things, but also about doing things the right way," the researchers explain.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Antarctic Ice Loss Speeds Up, Nearly Matches Greenland Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082757/080123181952.htm
Ice loss in Antarctica increased by 75 percent in the last 10 years due to a speed-up in the flow of its glaciers and is now nearly as great as that observed in Greenland, according to a new, comprehensive study by NASA and university scientists. They estimated changes in Antarctica's ice mass between 1996 and 2006 and mapped patterns of ice loss on a glacier-by-glacier basis. They detected a sharp jump in Antarctica's ice loss, from enough ice to raise global sea level by 0.3 millimeters (.01 inches) a year in 1996, to 0.5 millimeters (.02 inches) a year in 2006.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Driving Proves Potentially Hazardous For People With Early Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082758/080123161250.htm
People with Alzheimer's disease experienced more accidents and performed more poorly on road tests compared to drivers without cognitive impairment. While the study does confirm previous reports of potentially hazardous driving in persons with early AD, it also indicates that some individuals with very mild dementia can continue to drive safety for extended periods of time.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Skin Care: Scar-free Healing Shown With Gene Suppression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220387803/080121080355.htm
New research shows that by suppressing one of the genes that normally switches on in wound cells, wounds can heal faster and reduce scarring. This has major implications not just for wound victims but also for people who suffer organ tissue damage through illness or abdominal surgery.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Experimental Procedure Induces Tolerance To Mismatched Kidney Transplants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082759/080123173157.htm
Four of five patients participating in a trial of an experimental protocol designed to induce immune tolerance to HLA-mismatched kidney transplants have been able to discontinue immunosuppressive drugs. The report describes the first successful, intentional induction of tolerance across the HLA barrier in a group of transplant recipients. Combined organ and bone marrow transplant allows patients to halt immunosuppression.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Quality Control Mechanism Tags Defective Sperm Cells Inside The Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082760/080123131524.htm
Defective sperm cells do not pass through the body unnoticed. A new study provides evidence that the body recognizes and tags defective sperm cells while they undergo maturation in the epididymis, a sperm storage gland attached to the testis. According to researchers, only the best sperm that have the highest chance of succeeding in fertilization will survive the production process without a "tag."
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Kids Learn More When Mom Is Listening
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082761/080123140402.htm
Kids may roll their eyes when their mother asks them about their school day, but answering her may actually help them learn. New research reveals that children learn the solution to a problem best when they explain it to their mom.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Ulysses Spacecraft Flies Over Sun's North Pole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082762/080123182720.htm
The Ulysses spacecraft today is making a rare flyby of the sun's north pole. Unlike any other spacecraft, Ulysses is able to sample winds at the sun's poles, which are difficult to study from Earth. Ulysses has flown over the sun's poles three times before, in 1994-95, 2000-01 and 2007. Last week, solar physicists announced the first indications of a new solar cycle. Visiting the pole at this time may lead to new insights about solar activity.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Cigarettes Leave Deadly Path By Purging Protective Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082764/080123150522.htm
The toxins in cigarette smoke wipe out a gene that plays a vital role in protecting the body from the effects of premature aging. Without this gene we not only lose a bit of youthfulness -- but the lungs are left open to destructive inflammation and diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
For Best Pest Detection, Suit The Attractant To The Fruit Fly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/219091507/080118155848.htm
Several fruit fly species that plague Latin American fruit growers are also quarantine pests in the United States. To evaluate lures used to monitor fruit flies in production areas, scientists recently tested two ammonia-based formulations and found them to differ in effectiveness, depending on the species.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Large Study Links Folic Acid Supplementation With Reduced Risk Of Preeclampsia During Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082765/080123113752.htm
Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has long been known to reduce the risk of birth defects in newborns, but a new study now suggests that the vitamin may also reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death worldwide.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Farming Has Significantly Changed The Hydrology And Chemistry Of The Mississippi River
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082766/080123131737.htm
Farming has significantly changed the hydrology and chemistry of the Mississippi River, injecting more carbon dioxide into the river and raising river discharge during the past 50 years.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Low-income US Children Less Likely To Have Access To Qualified Math Teachers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082767/080123131519.htm
Children from low-income families in the United States do not have the same access to qualified teachers as do wealthier students, according to a new study. Compared to 46 countries, the United States had the fourth largest opportunity gap, the difference between students of high and low socioeconomic status in their access to qualified teachers.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Leukemia-causing Cells Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082768/080123112050.htm
Scientists have discovered the cancer 'stem cells' that cause acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most common form of childhood cancer. The breakthrough came through studying four-year-old identical twins Olivia, who has leukaemia, and Isabella, who is healthy. They found that both twins had abnormal 'pre-leukaemia' stem cells in their blood that can either lie dormant in the bone marrow or develop into full-blown leukaemia stem cells. The results were then confirmed with experiments using human cord blood cells.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Regular, Long-term Aspirin Use Reduces Risk Of Colorectal Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082769/080122110035.htm
The use of regular, long-term aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk associated with colorectal cancer, according to a new study. However, the use of aspirin for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer may require using the drug at doses that are higher than recommended over a long period of time, which may cause serious side effects including gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients need to talk to their doctor to discuss risks vs. benefits.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
From And For The Heart, My Dear Valentine: Broccoli
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220441966/080121091349.htm
Wishing your Valentine good heart health on February 14 -- and throughout 2008? Then consider the food some people love to hate, and hand over a gift bag of broccoli along with that heart-shaped box of chocolates. Researchers are reporting impressive new evidence that eating broccoli may protect against heart disease.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
Disparities Among Patients With Extremity Soft-tissue Sarcomas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082770/080122101937.htm
A new study reveals significant racial and ethnic differences in the treatment and survival of patients with soft-tissue sarcomas, a rare but dangerous cancer that begins in muscle, fat, blood vessels or other supporting tissue of the body.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
New Advanced Method For Measuring Protein Synthesis Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082771/080122110050.htm
In a major breakthrough for future research and drug development, investigators have developed a new, more reliable method for measuring protein synthesis and turnover, processes that are critical to understanding cellular functions.
Thu, 24 Jan 08
UK Doctors 'Failing' Children Trapped In Gender Limbo, According To Experts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/222082772/080123174355.htm
Gender disordered children as young as ten are being denied desperately needed hormonal drugs leading to bullying, violence and even suicide according to new research. Dr Simona Giordano from The University of Manchester says British doctors are depriving children relief from "extreme suffering" caused by their condition - forcing their families into seeking help outside the UK. Homophobic bullying in schools is experienced by 89.2% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths in the UK.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Captive Carnivores Not Up To Wild Living
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220387801/080121080406.htm
There are serious problems with reintroducing animals to the wild for conservation projects. New research highlights the low survival rates of captive carnivores that are released into their natural habitats. On average only one in three captive-born carnivores survives in the wild, with most deaths related to human activities.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Daily Exercise Dramatically Lowers Men's Death Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221294596/080122165618.htm
Increased exercise capacity reduces the risk of death in African-American and Caucasian men. The study included 15,660 participants and is the largest known to assess the link between fitness and mortality.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Human Activities Contribute To California's Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398522/080118093350.htm
Over the past 85 years, humans have helped shape California climate during certain seasons. But that's not necessarily good. Recent research shows that California temperatures have jumped statewide by more than 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit between 1915 and 2000. This warming is likely related to human activities.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Combination Therapy Improves Survival For Certain Prostate Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398523/080122165650.htm
Men with localized prostate cancer who were treated with male hormone suppression therapy and radiation treatment had longer survival, but those with moderate to high levels of other illnesses did not experience this effect.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
DNA Sensors Found To Be An Effective Artificial Nose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221348162/080122203315.htm
Short sequences of solid-state DNA can selectively signal their interactions with small molecules in the vapor phase. These observations have been implemented in odor sensing in an electronic "nose" and further suggest that in vivo responses to small molecules may represent new, nongenetic attributes of DNA.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
A Good Fight May Keep You And Your Marriage Healthy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221266608/080122173036.htm
A good fight with your spouse may be good for your health, research suggests. Couples in which both the husband and wife suppress their anger when one attacks the other die earlier than members of couples where one or both partners express their anger and resolve the conflict.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Blacker Than Black: Darkest Manmade Material Ever Made
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221294593/080122154610.htm
Researchers have created the darkest material ever made by man. The material, a thin coating comprised of low-density arrays of loosely vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes, absorbs more than 99.9 percent of light and one day could be used to boost the effectiveness and efficiency of solar energy conversion, infrared sensors and other devices. The researchers who developed the material have applied for a Guinness World Record for their efforts.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Early Promising Results In Malaria Vaccine Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398524/080122203034.htm
A small clinical trial has found that a candidate malaria vaccine was safe and elicited strong immune responses in the 40 Malian adults who received it. The trial was the first to test this vaccine candidate, which is designed to block the malaria parasite from entering human blood cells, in a malaria-endemic country.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Combined Radiation Seed, Chemotherapy Wafer Implants Show Promise In Treating Cancerous Brain Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398525/080118093336.htm
In the battle against malignant brain tumors, dual implantation of radioactive seeds and chemotherapy wafers following surgery showed promising results in a study led by specialists at the Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cincinnati and University Hospital.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Seasonal Weight Changes Linked To Metabolic Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398526/080122203107.htm
Seasonal changes in weight increase the risk for metabolic syndrome. According to the current study, individuals with metabolic syndrome have more seasonal changes in their mood and behavior. The study concludes that the seasonal changes in weight in particular are linked to metabolic syndrome. With people having the 'winter blues' the risk of metabolic syndrome is heightened by 56 per cent. The negative effect of the seasonal changes equals to the protective effect against metabolic syndrome gained with regular physical exercise.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Optical Fiber: Secure In All The Chaos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220524004/080121130022.htm
Secure messages hidden in chaotic waveforms, transmitted at up to 10 gigabits per second, is the vision behind a group of dedicated European researchers. Now they are prototyping the equipment that could make the vision a reality. Hiding a message within a chaotic transmission offers a way of securing information exchange -- provided the message can be distinguished from the chaos by the receiver.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
By Jove, We've Got It: EEG Correlates Of Insightful Problem Solving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398527/080122203120.htm
Researchers investigated brain rhythms and their dynamics while human volunteers solved verbal problems. Often, the participants reached a state of mental block and could not progress further: excessive amount of gamma brain rhythm (the same rhythm gets enhanced with selective attention) might cause this mental road block. It clearly indicates that focusing or attending too much on a topic might have a detrimental effect.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Missing Link Between Belly Fat And Heart Disease?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398528/080122102055.htm
Overweight people have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and other problems that arise from clogged, hardened arteries. Now, a new study in mice gives the first direct evidence of why this link might exist -- and a tantalizing look at how it might be broken.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Cough Medicine: Not Worthwhile For Children Or Adults?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221348159/080122203331.htm
Alert parents know that small children should not take over-the-counter cough medications. Now researchers say the stuff might not help adults much, either. Over-the-counter medicine is commonly and casually used by millions of cold sufferers every year, but there is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of OTC cough medicines, concludes a new systematic review of studies.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Predators Do More Than Kill Prey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398529/080117164144.htm
The direct effect predators have on their prey is to kill them. The evolutionary changes that can result from this direct effect include prey that are younger at maturity and that produce more offspring. But killing prey also has indirect effects -- rarely characterized or measured -- such as a decline in the number of surviving prey, resulting, in turn, in more food available to survivors. In a new study characterizing the complex ecological interactions that shape how organisms evolve, biologists present a novel way of quantifying the indirect effects of predators by showing that prey adapt to food availability as well as the presence of predators.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Gene Therapy Technique: Water Droplets Produced By Electrospray Render Cells Permeable To External DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398530/080118101931.htm
Genetically engineered products have become indispensable. For example, genetically modified bacteria produce human insulin. In future, gene therapy should make it possible to introduce genes into the cells of a diseased organism so that they can address deficiencies to compensate for malfunctions in the body. Japanese researchers have now developed a new method to introduce foreign (or synthetic) DNA into cells. The equipment needed is simple, inexpensive, and portable.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Pharmacists Believe Drive-through Windows Contribute To Delays, Errors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398531/080122173024.htm
Consumers who pick up their prescription medications at a pharmacy drive-through window might be jeopardizing their own safety in the name of convenience. A new study indicates that pharmacists who work at locations with drive-through windows believe the extra distractions associated with window service contribute to processing delays, reduced efficiency and even dispensing errors.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Amphibian Skin Agent May Battle Multi-drug Resistant Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221064073/080122102502.htm
Researchers found that a naturally occurring agent in frog skin may inhibit multi-drug resistant bacterial strains associated with hospital-acquired infections. Resistance to current antibiotic therapies is on the rise in both hospital and community settings. With some bacterial strains now resistant to every available drug, a return to the preantibiotic era in regard to such infections is cause for great concern.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Motorcycle Helmets Keep Riders Alive, International Review Confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221348163/080122203237.htm
An international group of researchers has combined data from a variety of studies to determine how effective helmets really are. Their findings confirm what seems intuitive: Helmet use is highly significant in reducing both accidental death and injury, reducing head injury risk by 69 percent and death by 42 percent.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Genome Scan Shows Polynesians Have Little Genetic Relationship To Melanesians
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/218933049/080118093728.htm
The origins and current genetic relationships of Pacific Islanders have generated interest and controversy for many decades. Now, a new comprehensive genetic study of almost 1,000 individuals has revealed that Polynesians and Micronesians have almost no genetic relation to Melanesians, and that groups that live in the islands of Melanesia are remarkably diverse.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Dividing Lip Zones To Be Injected For Augmentation May Help Increase Patient Satisfaction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220601092/080121164105.htm
Dividing the lips into zones based on structure may help cosmetic surgeons perform enhancement procedures with high patient satisfaction and few adverse effects, according to a new article. Studies have found that wider and fuller lips are a mark of female attractiveness with a trend in fuller lips in models featured in magazines over the past century.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
RNA Biology Finding Makes Waves By Challenging Current Thinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/219066335/080118151710.htm
Researchers challenge molecular biology's established body of evidence and widely-accepted model for nonsense-mediated messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) decay. Scientists directly tested the "faux 3' UTR" model and proved it could not explain how cells recognize and destroy deviant mRNA.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Mothers Trade Child Quantity For Quality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398533/080122203051.htm
Researchers have shown that mothers are choosing to have fewer children in order to give their children the best start in life, but by doing so are going against millenia of human evolution. The research sheds new light on the decline of modern day fertility.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
1000 Genomes: Most Detailed Map Of Human Genetic Variation To Support Disease Studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221721974/080122101914.htm
An international research consortium today announced the 1000 Genomes Project, an ambitious effort that will involve sequencing the genomes of at least a thousand people from around the world to create the most detailed and medically useful picture to date of human genetic variation.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
The RNA Drug Revolution: A New Approach To Gene Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693839/080123093137.htm
RNA interference represents an innovative new strategy for using small RNA molecules to silence specific genes associated with disease processes, and a series of review articles describing the state-of-the-art and potential therapeutic applications of RNAi and microRNAs in Human Gene Therapy.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Controlling Schistosomiasis: Buffalo Or Snails?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693840/080122102221.htm
A parasitic infection common in China and Southeast Asia could be effectively reduced by controlling snail populations, according to research. Infection with schistosomes of various species affects some 200 million people worldwide, and can cause serious chronic illnesses, including liver failure.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Zanzibar Study Paves Way For Mass Co-delivery Of Three Antiparasitic Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693841/080122203242.htm
Findings from a new study in Zanzibar pave the way for the World Health Organization to recommend the mass co-delivery of three antiparasitic drugs for the first time. The study shows the safety of delivering three drugs simultaneously -- ivermectin, albendazole and praziquantel -- in order to tackle three diseases, elephantiasis, soil-transmitted worms, and schistosomiasis.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Unique Fungal Collection Could Hold Key To Future Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221237433/080122154659.htm
Scientists are establishing a facility to screen for potential new antibiotics. The aim of the project is to build a highly focused natural products drug discovery operation that will address the urgent need for bringing new antibiotic compounds to market.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Equal Level Of Commitment And Relationship Satisfaction Found Among Gay And Heterosexual Couples
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693844/080122101929.htm
Same-sex couples are just as committed in their romantic relationships as heterosexual couples, say researchers who have studied the quality of adult relationships and healthy development. Their finding disputes the stereotype that couples in same-sex relationships are not as committed as their heterosexual counterparts and are therefore not as psychologically healthy.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Cranberries Might Help Prevent Urinary Infections In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221348160/080122203326.htm
Evidence supports drinking cranberry juice -- a familiar home remedy --- to treat urinary tract infection. People have used cranberries, especially cranberry juice, for decades to prevent and treat UTIs. The fruit contains organic substances, such as quinic acid and citric acid, which act as antibacterial agents to help eliminate bacteria from the bladder.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Gastric Banding Reverses Impact Of Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693847/080122165647.htm
Preliminary research indicates that obese patients with type 2 diabetes who had gastric banding surgery lost more weight and had a higher likelihood of diabetes remission compared to patients who used conventional methods for weight loss and diabetes control, according to a new study.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Palpable Computing: A Taste Of Things To Come
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220524006/080121124809.htm
Virtually everyone stands to benefit from the more pervasive use of computer technology. But while adding microchips to more everyday objects can make lives easier – and even save them – the approach creates some unique problems of its own. “Palpable” rather than “ubiquitous” computing promises a solution. “Palpable computing” refers to pervasive computer technology that is also tangible and comprehensible to its users.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
One Out Of Four Children Involved In A Divorce Undergoes Parental Alienation Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693849/080122110040.htm
Children undergoing PAS are manipulated by their custodial parent, who tries to turn them against their father/mother, arousing in them feelings of hatred and contempt for the other parent. Children usually not only reject the noncustodial parent, but also his or her family and close friends.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
World's Best Microscope Can Produce Images Less Than Diameter Of Single Hydrogen Atom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693850/080122154357.htm
The first of two advanced microscopes has been installed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. TEAM 0.5 is the world's most powerful transmission electron microscope and is capable of producing images with half-angstrom resolution, less than the diameter of a single hydrogen atom.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Drugs To Bulk Up Muscles May Make Injuries More Likely
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693851/080122165601.htm
Brittle tendons in mice reveal the potential downside of myostatin inhibitor drugs that are attracting interest as possible treatments for muscular dystrophy and as illicit performance-enhancing drugs for athletes. A new animal study raises doubts about one approach to treating muscular dystrophy.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Cigarette Smoke May Enhance HPV And Increase Risk Of Cervical Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221064075/080122102342.htm
For the first time researchers suggest a direct interaction between cigarette smoke carcinogens and the human papillomavirus that may lead to increased risk of cervical cancer.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Lab Gives Early Warnings Of Biological Invaders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693852/080122102226.htm
A Montana State University lab provides early warnings about biological invaders, serving as producers, home gardeners and Homeland Security. "We are sent mystery samples," says one of the scientists. The team identifies whether the samples are true invading pests or harmless look-alikes.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Few Strategies Exist To Prevent MRSA Spread In Nursing Homes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693853/080122203232.htm
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is making news as a dangerous, sometimes fatal disease for hospital patients, and in recent cases, students. MRSA is also a major source of illness acquired in nursing homes, yet few studies have looked at how to prevent its spread among elderly residents, according to a new review.
Wed, 23 Jan 08
Economists Help Climate Scientists To Improve Global Warming Forecasts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221693860/080122102101.htm
Climate scientists are collaborating with experts in economic theory to improve their forecasting models and assess more accurately the impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Although there is broad consensus that there will be a significant rise in average global temperature, there is great uncertainty over the extent of the change, and the implications for different regions.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Pigmentation In Some Butterfly Wings Created By Nanostructures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626531/080117201947.htm
Nowhere in nature is there so much beautiful color as on the wings of butterflies. Scientists, however, are still baffled about exactly how these colors are created. One young scientist has been examining the structure of the surface of the wings of the cabbage white and other butterflies in great detail. He notes that the colors on butterfly wings are created in two different ways: via pigments and via nanostructures on the scales, which ensure that light is distributed in ways that are sometimes spectacular.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Saline Nasal Wash Helps Improve Children's Cold Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220601087/080121164118.htm
A saline nasal wash solution made from processed seawater appears to improve nasal symptoms and may help prevent the recurrence of respiratory infections when used by children with the common cold, according to a new report.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
California Flood Risks Are 'Disaster Waiting To Happen,' Say Engineers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626532/080117140831.htm
While flooding in California's Central Valley is "the next big disaster waiting to happen," critical water-related infrastructure issues confront almost every community across the country, according to engineers.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Can Hantavirus Infection Spread Among Humans?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626533/080118093221.htm
In connection with last year's epidemic, a research team at Umea University in Sweden has managed for the first time to show that hantavirus exists in human saliva. This raises the question of whether this contagion can spread among humans.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Battling Potential Disease Outbreaks Online
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626534/080117114305.htm
Researchers have found that automated electronic medical laboratory reporting improves both the completeness and timeliness of disease surveillance, significantly bettering the odds of stopping the spread of disease.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation A New Treatment Of Bulimia Nervosa?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626535/080117202807.htm
Researchers report on a new modality of treatment for bulimia nervosa, transcranial magnetic stimulation, in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, neurophysiological method, which affects cortical neurons with a short magnetic pulse. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is often associated with depressive symptoms and treatment with antidepressants has shown positive effects.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
96-million-year-old Fossil Pollen Sheds Light On Early Pollinators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626536/080117181233.htm
The collapse of honeybee colonies across North America is focusing attention on the honeybees' vital role in the survival of agricultural crops, and a new study shows insect pollinators have likely played a key role in the evolution and success of flowering plants for nearly 100 million years.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Chromosomal Abnormalities Play Substantial Role In Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626537/080117121518.htm
Genome-wide scans of families affected by autism spectrum disorder have revealed new evidence that previously unknown chromosomal abnormalities have a substantial role in the prevalent developmental disorder.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Alzheimer's Molecule Is A Smart Speed Bump On The Nerve-cell Transport Highway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626538/080117164046.htm
Researchers have discovered that proteins carrying chemical cargo in nerve cells react differently when exposed to the tau protein, which plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
New View Of Drugs Used To Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220387804/080121080343.htm
Powerful drugs used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a profound, previously unrecognized effect on the immune system, breaking up molecular "training camps" for rogue cells that play an increasingly recognized role in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Strong Variations In Tectonic Stresses Discovered In Earthquake Prone Area Near Japan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626540/080117103739.htm
Earth scientists have reported the discovery of a strong variation in the tectonic stresses in a region of the Pacific Ocean notorious for generating devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in southeastern Japan. The team used a high-tech drill ship to probe deep into a zone responsible for undersea earthquakes known to cause tsunamis.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Rapid Effects Of Intensive Therapy Seen In Brains Of Patients With Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626541/080117164133.htm
In a study that may significantly advance the understanding of how cognitive-behavioral therapy affects the brain, researchers have shown that significant changes in activity in certain regions of the brain can be produced with as little as four weeks of daily therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The discovery could have important clinical implications.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Altering Brain's Lipid Metabolism Reduces Alzheimer's Plaques In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/218904443/080118093354.htm
Increasing levels of a protein that helps the brain use cholesterol may slow the development of Alzheimer's disease changes in the brain, according to researchers studying a mouse model of the disease. The study highlights a new possibility for potential Alzheimer's treatment: altering the brain's use of lipids, a class of fat-soluble compounds that includes cholesterol.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
New Function For Colon Cancer Gene Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626542/080117140848.htm
Geneticists have discovered a striking turnabout role for a gatekeeper known to put on the brakes for colon cancer. Flaws in a gene called adenomatous polyposis coli, which normally prevents excessive cell growth, are thought to trigger development of most colorectal cancers. But in an about face, the tumor suppressor gene also has a second task, the researchers found, as a gas pedal that accelerates signaling between cells.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Vascular Disease: Majority of Device Malfunctions Occur With Off-label Use Of Biliary Stents, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220415105/080121080347.htm
Although approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a palliative treatment for cancer patients who have developed bile-duct obstructions, biliary stents are sometimes used "off-label" for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. A new study finds that off-label use of biliary stents is increasing, and that the majority of adverse events and device malfunctions associated with the use of these stents occurs during off-label usage.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
'Nonlinear' Ecosystem Response Points To Environmental Solutions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626543/080117140845.htm
The preservation of coastal ecosystem services such as clean water, storm buffers or fisheries protection does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach, a new study indicates, and a better understanding of how ecosystems actually respond to protection efforts in a "nonlinear" fashion could help lead the way out of environmental-versus-economic gridlock.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Does It Help To Continue Antidepressant Drug Treatment For Preventing Recurrence In Depression?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626544/080117203139.htm
Apparently it doesn't help much, according to a new study in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Maintenance antidepressant (AD) medication is the most commonly used preventive strategy in a highly recurrent disease, i.e. depression. Little is known about the discontinuation of maintenance AD use and the association with recurrence in daily clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the discontinuation rate of maintenance AD in daily clinical practice in recurrently depressed patients and the associated risk of recurrence.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
'Tree Of Life' Has Lost A Branch, According To Largest Genetic Comparison Of Higher Life Forms Ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220468509/080121112642.htm
Biologists have made a startling discovery about the relationship between organisms that most people have never heard of. The Tree of Life must be re-drawn, textbooks need to be changed, and the discovery may also have significant impact on the development of medicines. The discovery has gained attention from biologists worldwide. The findings come from the largest ever genetic comparison of higher life forms on the planet.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Melanomas May Appear Noticeably Different Than Other Moles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220601091/080121164108.htm
A preliminary study suggests that melanomas have a different appearance than other irregular skin moles (i.e., are "ugly ducklings"), according to a new article. Rates of malignant melanoma continue to increase, and early identification allows surgeons to treat the disease by removing the tumor, according to background information in the article.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
HIV Peptide's Possible Pathway Into The Cell Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626545/080117164152.htm
Theoretical physicists have uncovered what they believe is the long-sought-after pathway that an HIV peptide takes to enter healthy cells. The theorists analyzed two years of biocomputation and simulation to uncover a surprisingly simple mechanism describing how this protein fragment penetrates the cell membrane. The discovery could help scientists treat other human illnesses by exploiting the same molecules that make HIV so deadly proficient.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Duloxetine Does Not Relieve Painful Physical Symptoms In Depression, According To Current Analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220497807/080121120154.htm
Duloxetine is marketed as a treatment for both the core emotional symptoms and painful physical complaints that often accompany depression. Based upon the currently available evidence, the marketing of duloxetine as an antidepressant with analgesic properties for people with depression does not appear to be adequately supported.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Cost Effectiveness Of Digital Mammography Screening Questioned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626546/080117180351.htm
Digital mammography does not improve health enough to warrant its higher cost unless its use is limited to women under age 50 or women with dense breasts, according to a cost-effectiveness study comparing digital mammography and conventional film mammography for breast cancer screening.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Europe Should Adopt WHO Recommendations For Particulate Matter Cuts, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220626547/080117102119.htm
Europe must adopt the World Health Organization standard on fine particulate matter pollution if it is to significantly curb needless premature deaths, concludes new research. Fine particulate matter has been associated with an increase in death from all causes, and particularly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Immunologists Find Better Way To Boost The Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398534/080122154556.htm
Immunologists have discovered how to manipulate the immune system to increase its power and protect the body from successive viral infections. These findings may point the way toward developing new and more effective vaccines against diseases like influenza or HIV and enhance new developments in immunology.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
UltraBattery Sets New Standard For Hybrid Electric Vehicles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398535/080118093341.htm
The odometer of a low emission hybrid electric test vehicle recently reached 100,000 miles as the car circled a track in the UK using the power of an advanced CSIRO battery system. The UltraBattery combines a supercapacitor and a lead acid battery in a single unit, creating a hybrid car battery that lasts longer, costs less and is more powerful than current technologies used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Low Variation In Platelet Protein Expression Within The Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221208174/080122154845.htm
The variation in human platelets in the elderly population is not significantly large, report researchers in a study that has strong implications for clinical biomarker research.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Copper's Not Coping: New Chips Call On Light Speed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220524007/080121124509.htm
The tiny copper wires that connect different areas of an integrated circuit may soon limit microchip-processing speeds. So European researchers have developed technologies to produce and combine semiconductor micro-lasers with silicon wave guides for novel, power-efficient optical connections. We have all experienced the effect of Moore's Law: almost from the second you unpack a newly purchased computer it is already outdated. The next model – with faster processing power and more advanced features – is already in the shop.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Stress At Work Is Linked To Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221398536/080122203124.htm
New research has produced strong evidence of how work stress is linked to the biological mechanisms involved in the onset of heart disease. It is the first large-scale study to look at the cardiovascular mechanisms of work stress in the population and provides the strongest evidence yet of the way it can lead to coronary heart disease, either directly, by activating stress pathways controlled by neuroendocrine mechanisms, or indirectly via its association with unhealthy lifestyles.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Men May Be More Susceptible To Head Injury Than Women, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220497805/080121122138.htm
Women's skulls are thicker than men's, but they both shrink slowly after we reach adulthood. That's the conclusion of a new imaging study of 3000 people. The detailed results could help in the design of more effective devices for protecting the head in vehicle collisions and other accidents.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Gene Responsible For Debilitating Blood Cell Disorder Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221064072/080117174244.htm
For many years, scientists have sought the faulty genes in myelodysplasia, a blood cell disorder that arises late in life and segues, sometimes rapidly, sometimes quite slowly, into cancer. In that search, intense focus has been paid to a form of the disease called the 5q minus syndrome, where a chunk of DNA from chromosome 5 is characteristically lost from patient's blood cells. That kind of trademark error has kindled a deeper understanding of many diseases, especially cancers, but not so for this syndrome. More than three decades have transpired since the identification of its distinctive genetic blunder, and since then, research has brought little more than a glimmer of insight into what causes the disease. Now, researchers have lifted the seemingly impenetrable curtain surrounding the 5q minus syndrome, with the long-awaited discovery of the guilty gene.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Ovarian Cancer Risk Not Affected By Alcohol And Smoking, But Reduced By Caffeine, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221208172/080122101945.htm
A new study has found that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk, while caffeine intake may lower the risk, particularly in women not using hormones.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Short Bacterial Protein Is Surprisingly Versatile
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/219015287/080118134218.htm
Researchers have discovered why an unusually short bacterial protein can have many more interactions than would normally be expected of something its size. The team found that the protein, UmuD, belongs to a recently discovered class of proteins called intrinsically disordered proteins.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Strongest Predictors For Oscar Nominations Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221181030/080121080351.htm
Using Internet Movie Database records for every Oscar-eligible film made between the founding of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in 1927 and 2005, researchers looked for conditions that improved the odds of a performer getting the nod. The analysis of nearly 20,000 films shows that odds favor dramas, female performers and big distributors.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Increased Risk Of Heart Attack Or Stroke For Patients Who Are Resistant To Aspirin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221064071/080118093613.htm
Being resistant to aspirin makes patients four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or even die from a pre-existing heart condition, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Distillers' Grain In Cattle Feed May Contribute To E. Coli Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/221064074/080122102428.htm
A new study suggests that the addition of dried distillers' grain, an ethanol by-product, to cattle feed may contribute to the prevalence of E. coli O157 infection in cattle. The researchers from Kansas State University, Manhattan report their findings in the January 2008 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Pros, Cons Of Drug Proven To Prevent Prostate Cancer Should Be Considered, Researchers Recommend
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220415106/080121080339.htm
Researchers encourage men to weigh both the potential benefits and side effects of the drug finasteride before taking it to reduce prostate cancer risk. Analysis indicates that cost effectiveness and quality of life issues associated with taking the drug are not clear cut.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Artificial Viral Shells Could Be Useful Nano-Containers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/219015285/080118135314.htm
Researchers are designing an artificial viral shell as a valuable nano-container for pinpoint drug delivery, molecular computing components, and a host of other applications. Chemists were inspired by the construction of natural viral capsids, which enclose a virus's genetic material within a sphere knitted together from identical protein building blocks.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Human Brain: Detective Of Auditory And Visual Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/218961216/080118115432.htm
The human brain is capable of detecting the slightest visual and auditory changes. Several studies have indicated, however, that even a small span of time in between pre- and post-change images can disturb the brain's ability to detect visual discrepancies. In a recent study, psychologists assessed the effect of time gaps on change detection in audition.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
How Ultrafine Particles In Air Pollution May Cause Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220387800/080121084718.htm
Patients prone to heart disease may one day be told by physicians to avoid not only fatty foods and smoking but air pollution too. A new academic study has revealed that the smallest particles from vehicle emissions may be the most damaging components of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Surgical Site Infections More Common Than Expected Following Breast Procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220601090/080121164111.htm
Infections at the incision site occurred in more than 5 percent of patients following breast surgery and cost them more than $4,000 each in hospital-related expenses, according to a new article.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Web 3.0: User-generated Networks?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220524003/080121130202.htm
European researchers took the concepts of Web 2.0, like user-generated content and social networking, into the real world. They hope to create user-generated physical networks so internets could be set up, by anyone, anytime. It's radical and, surprisingly, fairly realistic. Welcome to Web 3.0. The internet, Web 1.0, is so incredibly powerful that even now, almost 20 years later, we have only begun to explore its potential. Web 2.0, with its YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and blogs galore is even younger and shows even more potential.
Tue, 22 Jan 08
Growing Consumer Demand For 'Greener' Cleaning Products Sparks Industry Changes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220441965/080121100554.htm
Amid growing consumer demand for more environmentally-friendly cleaning products, chemical suppliers are stepping-up their efforts to provide greener ingredients with the same effectiveness of conventional ones, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News.
Mon, 21 Jan 08
Could The Universe Be Tied Up With Cosmic String?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220078631/080120182315.htm
Astronomers have uncovered hints that there may be cosmic strings - lines of pure mass-energy - stretching across the entire Universe. Cosmic strings are predicted by high energy physics theories, including superstring theory. This is based on the idea that particles are not just little points, but tiny vibrating bits of string Cosmic strings are predicted to have extraordinary amounts of mass - perhaps as much as the mass of the Sun - packed into each meter of a tube whose width is less a billion billionth of the size of an atom.
Mon, 21 Jan 08
Evidence Found For Genes That Affect Risk Of Developing Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220228627/080117102124.htm
Through one of the largest studies yet of Alzheimer's disease patients and their brothers, sisters, and children, researchers have found strong evidence that genes other than the well-known susceptibility risk factor APOE4 influence who is at risk for developing the neurodegenerative disease later in life.
Mon, 21 Jan 08
Discovery Cuts Cost Of Next Generation Optical Fibers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/220228628/080117104850.htm
Scientists have discovered a way of speeding up the production of hollow-core optical fibers -- a new generation of optical fibers that could lead to faster and more powerful computing and telecommunications technologies.
Mon, 21 Jan 08
Scientists Test The Safety Of Experimental Drug For Vision Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2