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Wed, 30 Apr 08
First Nanoscale Image Of Soil Reveals An 'Incredible' Variety, Rich With Patterns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364188/080428104525.htm
Soil "unearthed" at the nanoscale: Soil scientists have seen -- for the first time -- seen soil at a scale of 50 nanometers. This view provided a beautiful glimpse of patterns, how carbon sequestration works, and what happens when soils get wet, warm and cool.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Aspirin-like Compounds Increase Insulin Secretion In Otherwise Healthy Obese People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082302/080429075329.htm
Aspirin-like compounds can claim another health benefit: increasing the amount of insulin produced by otherwise healthy obese people. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, the first step toward type 2 diabetes.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Life-Probing Instrument Preparing For Mission To Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748266/080428203702.htm
A new life-detecting instrument is preparing for a mission to the Red Planet. The Urey: Mars Organic and Oxidant Detector instrument, developed by a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, received approximately $2 million in NASA funding to further refine the design and technology for the European Space Agency's (ESA) 2013 ExoMars Rover Mission.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Promising Early Evidence Of The Superior Benefits Of Drug Therapy For Diabetic Eye Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748267/080429130924.htm
A drug for the treatment of diabetic eye disease has performed better in clinical trials than the current standard treatment using laser surgery. "These are very encouraging results, showing that drugs we have been testing in human clinical trials can be effective in slowing or stopping the effects of eye disease brought on by diabetes," said one of the scientists.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Nanoengineered Barrier Is World's Best Protection From Moisture And Oxygen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082304/080429075325.htm
A breakthrough barrier technology that protects sensitive devices such as organic light emitting diodes and solar cells from moisture 1000 times more effectively than any existing technology has been invented by Singapore researchers.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Moral Philosopher Questions Memory Manipulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748268/080429122431.htm
Is medicated memory manipulation ethically sound? And perhaps more importantly, who should be charged with the decision to deliver such a treatment: patient or physician? A philosophy professor, is seeking answers to these questions in her new research.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
'New' Ancient Antarctic Sediment Reveals Climate Change History
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748269/080428175339.htm
Recent additions to the premier collection of Southern Ocean sediment cores at Florida State University's Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility will give international scientists a close-up look at fluctuations that occurred in Antarctica's ice sheet and marine and terrestrial life as the climate cooled considerably between 20 and 14 million years ago.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Pesticide Metabolites Associated With Increased Risk Of Testicular Cancers, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748270/080429170604.htm
Men exposed to organochlorine pesticide metabolites, such as DDE, had an increased risk of testicular germ cell tumors. Previous research suggested that persistent exposure to organochlorine pesticides may increase the risk for some types of testicular cancer, but that observation had not been replicated in an independent data set.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Virtual World Therapeautic For Addicts: Study Shows Impact Of Environment To Addiction Cravings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748271/080428175336.htm
Patients in therapy to overcome addictions have a new arena to test their coping skills -- the virtual world. A new study found that a virtual reality environment can provide the climate necessary to spark an alcohol craving so that patients can practice how to say "no" in a realistic and safe setting.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Targeted Combination Therapy Triggers Cell Death in Mouse Models of Metastatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748272/080429164733.htm
A combination of two targeted drugs--one that blocks protein breakdown and one that activates the programmed cell death pathway--reduces the number of tumor metastases in mouse models of kidney and breast cancer. The combination also prolonged overall survival in mice with kidney cancer. Bortezomib blocks the activity of the proteasome, an enzyme complex which degrades misfolded or unwanted proteins. Bortezomib has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of multiple myeloma, but its activity against solid tumors is still being tested.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Hyperviscous Fluids: Better Treatment For Severe Blood Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280049426/080429075340.htm
Intravenous administration of isotonic fluids is the standard emergency treatment in the US for patients with severe blood loss, but bioengineering researchers have reported improved resuscitation with a radically different approach. Building on earlier studies in humans that have shown benefits of intravenous fluids that are eight times saltier than normal saline, the researchers combined hypertonic saline with viscosity enhancers that thicken blood.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Consistencies Found In Synaesthesia: Letter 'A' Is Red For Many; 'V' Is Purple
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748273/080429171000.htm
New research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that commonalities do indeed exists across synesthaetes. In their own study of 70 synesthaetes, and a reanalysis of 19 more in previously published data, psychologists have found that synesthaetes share certain grapheme-color combinations.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
High-flying Electrons May Provide New Test Of Quantum Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748274/080429170954.htm
Researchers believe they can achieve a significant increase in the accuracy of one of the fundamental constants of nature by boosting an electron to an orbit as far as possible from the atomic nucleus that binds it. The experiment could put the modern theory of the atom to the most stringent tests yet.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Hydrogen Sulphide, The Smell Of Sewage And Rotten Eggs, May Be Involved In Regulating Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748275/080429095034.htm
Hydrogen sulphide is a gas most commonly associated with the smell of stink bombs, sewage and rotten eggs, but researchers have now identified a role for this gas in regulating blood pressure.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Single-celled Bacterium Works 24/7
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748276/080428165240.htm
Researchers have gained the first detailed insight into the way circadian rhythms govern global gene expression in Cyanothece, a type of cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) known to cycle between photosynthesis during the day and nitrogen fixation at night.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Epilepsy Drug Causes Bone Loss In Young Women, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748277/080428162552.htm
Young women who took the commonly used epilepsy drug phenytoin for one year showed significant bone loss compared to women taking other epilepsy drugs, according to a new study in Neurology.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Scientists Make Chemical Cousin Of DNA For Use As New Nanotechnology Building Block
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082303/080429075327.htm
In the rapid and fast-growing world of nanotechnology, researchers are continually on the lookout for new building blocks to push innovation and discovery to scales much smaller than the tiniest speck of dust. While scientists are fully exploring the promise of DNA nanotechnology, some researchers are working to give scientists brand new materials to aid their designs. One team has now made the first self-assembled nanostructures composed entirely of glycerol nucleic acid -- a synthetic analog of DNA.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Why People Engage In Risky Behavior While Intoxicated: Imaging Study Provides Glimpse Of Alcohol's Effect On Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748278/080429204252.htm
New brain imaging research published this week shows that, after consuming alcohol, social drinkers had decreased sensitivity in brain regions involved in detecting threats, and increased activity in brain regions involved in reward. The study, in the April 30 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, is the first human brain imaging study of alcohol's effect on the response of neuronal circuits to threatening stimuli.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
New Findings Challenge Conventional Ideas On Evolution Of Human Diet, Natural Selection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280748279/080429204255.htm
New findings suggest that the ancient human "cousin" known as the "Nutcracker Man" wasn't regularly eating anything like nuts after all. Researchers used a combination of microscopy and fractal analysis to examine marks on the teeth of members of an ancient human ancestor species and found that what it actually ate does not correspond with the size and shape of its teeth. This finding suggests that structure alone is not enough to predict dietary preferences and that evolutionary adaptation for eating may have been based on scarcity rather than on an animal's regular diet.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Newly Refined Antibody Therapy May Be Potent Treatment For Autoimmune Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364189/080428145012.htm
An old, fickle therapy for a variety of autoimmune diseases is getting a makeover, thanks to a decade-long investigation. The original treatment, called intravenous immunoglobulin or IVIG, is an amalgam of specific antibodies made from the pooled blood plasma of thousands of healthy donors. Physicians have used it both on-label and off in patients with lupus, arthritis, asthma and other immune disorders, to varying degrees of success. But new research shows that understanding how the therapy works at a molecular level can help researchers create a version in the lab that's many times more potent.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Bison Can Thrive Again, Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364190/080429130927.htm
Bison can repopulate large areas from Alaska to Mexico over the next 100 years provided a series of conservation and restoration measures are taken, according to continental assessment of this iconic species. Bison once numbered in the tens of millions but were wiped out by commercial hunting and habitat loss. By 1889 fewer than 1,100 animals survived.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Stem Cell-Like Cancer Cells Resistant To Standard Therapy, Responsive To Targeted Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364192/080429170436.htm
A comparison of breast cancer biopsies before and after treatment show that a subset of cells, which have stem cell-like properties, are resistant to standard chemotherapy. Tumors treated with lapatinib, which inhibits a pathway important for self-renewal, retained a smaller fraction of these tumorigenic cells after therapy.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Copper Nanowires Grown By New Process Create Long-lasting Displays
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364193/080428142028.htm
A new low-temperature, catalyst-free technique for growing copper nanowires has been developed. The copper nanowires could serve as interconnects in electronic device fabrication and as electron emitters in a television-like, very thin flat-panel display known as a field-emission display.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Silver Nanoparticles May Be Killing Beneficial Bacteria In Wastewater Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364194/080429135502.htm
For years, scientists have known about silver's ability to kill harmful bacteria. Now, researchers have found that silver nanoparticles also may destroy benign bacteria that are used to remove ammonia from wastewater treatment systems.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Micro-origami: Micrometer-scale 'Voxels' Folded Up For Drug Delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364195/080429130931.htm
Researchers have demonstrated a way to manufacture minuscule closed containers that might be used to deliver precise micro- or even nano-quantities of drugs. First the scientists create flat patterns, origami, of exactly the fold up shapes familiar to kindergarten children making paper pyramids, cubes or other solids, except that these are as small as 30 micrometers on a side. (1 inch = 25,400 micrometers)

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Osteoporosis Drug Fosamax Linked To Heart Problem, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364196/080428162542.htm
Women who have used fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) than are those who have never used it, according to new research.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Restoration Of A Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem Successful On Small-scale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364197/080428133928.htm
Half a century after most of Costa Rica's rain forests were cut down, researchers are attempting what many thought was impossible -- restoring a tropical rain forest ecosystem. When the researchers planted worn-out cattle pastures in Costa Rica with a sampling of local trees in the early 1990s, native species of plants began to move in and flourish, raising the hope that destroyed rain forests could one day be replaced. Ten years after the tree plantings, researchers counted the species of plants that took up residence in the shade of the new planted areas. They found remarkably high numbers of species -- more than 100 in each plot. And many of the new arrivals were also to be found in nearby remnants of the original forests.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Cancer Treatment: Selecting Patients Based On Genotype May Increase Efficacy Of Tamoxifen, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364198/080429170256.htm
Breast cancer patients who carry the wild-type gene required for tamoxifen metabolism may have comparable risk of recurrence when taking tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, according to modeling data. Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) converts tamoxifen into its metabolically active form called endoxifen.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Inexpensive Roof Vent Could Prevent Billions Of Dollars In Wind Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364199/080428141822.htm
Hurricanes often lift the roofs off buildings and expose them to havoc and damaging conditions, even after the worst of the wind has passed. A local roofer, Virginia Tech faculty members from architecture and engineering, and a graduate student have devised an inexpensive vent that can reduce roof uplift on buildings during high winds, even a hurricane.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Online Intervention Paramount For Reducing HIV In High-risk Population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364200/080429164720.htm
Young Internet-using men who have sex with men AND who meet their sexual partners both online and offline have greater numbers of partners, appear more likely to contract HIV, and report higher substance use rates than those who meet their partners exclusively online or offline, according to new research.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
NASA Spacecraft Tracks Raging Saturn Storm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364201/080429174658.htm
As a powerful electrical storm rages on Saturn with lightning bolts 10,000 times more powerful than those found on Earth, the Cassini spacecraft continues its five-month watch over the dramatic events. Scientists with NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission have been tracking the visibly bright, lightning-generating storm--the longest continually observed electrical storm ever monitored by Cassini.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Stem Cells Found For The First Time In The Pituitary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364202/080428175343.htm
Scientists have for the first time identified stem cells that allow the pituitary glands of mice to grow even after birth. They found that, in contrast to most adult stem cells, these cells are distinct from those that fuel the initial growth of this important organ. The results suggest a novel way that the hormone-secreting gland may adapt, even in adolescents and adults, to traumatic stress or to normal life changes like pregnancy.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Tight Blood Pressure Control Not Enough To Temper Kidney Disease In African-Americans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364203/080428162526.htm
Even when their blood pressure is kept strictly under control with the best available medicine, African-American patients with chronic kidney disease continue to lose their kidney function over time, research shows. The finding suggests that treating CKD in this population may be vastly more complex than researchers had previously thought, with blood pressure control being only one piece of the therapeutic puzzle.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Physics Advance Leads To A Better Understanding Of Optics At The Atomic Scale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364204/080428164259.htm
An advance by physicists improves our understanding of how light interacts with matter, and could make possible the development of new integrated-circuit technologies that result in faster computers that use less energy.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Caring Men Are Happier Than Traditional 'Macho' Men, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082299/080429084317.htm
Researchers found two distinct views on what it means to be a gentleman or a "macho" man in the Mexican-American culture. Traditional machismo is the stereotypical masculine personification of a Mexican-American man as controlling, sexist and violent, correlated with antisocial behavior, aggressive masculinity and wishful thinking as a coping style. These men tend to have more difficulty expressing emotion. However, traditional machismo did not correlate with dominance as hypothesized. Caballerismo is a positive image of a man as the family provider who respects and cares for his family. It depicts Mexican-American men as chivalrous, nurturing and noble. These men rated higher on the social connectedness scale, saying they felt value in their family relationships and were in touch with their feelings, and the feelings of others. They also displayed more practical ways of solving their problems.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
New Class Of Fatty Acids Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280116998/080429085910.htm
Researchers have discovered a new class of fatty acids -- alpha-hydroxy polyacetylenic fatty acids -- that could be used as sensors for detecting changes in temperature and mechanical stress loads. Researchers believe the discovery has opened up an entirely new class of chemistry.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Ancient Sunflower Fuels Debate About Agriculture In The Americas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082306/080429075321.htm
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Florida State University have confirmed evidence of domesticated sunflower in Mexico -- 4,000 years before what had been previously believed.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Women Associated With Increased Risk Of Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364205/080428162540.htm
Postmenopausal women taking hormone therapy appear to have an increased risk of stroke regardless of when they started treatment, according to a new report. Compared to women who had never used hormones, women currently taking hormone therapy had an increased risk for stroke (39 percent for those taking estrogen and 27 percent for those taking estrogen with progestin).

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Unusual Degradation Pathway For Ribosomes Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279380755/080428083942.htm
Biochemists have discovered a new pathway by which the cell selectively degrades ribosomes. The pathway is called ribophagy and will probably mean new revisions for the textbooks. Ubiquitin makes it all possible. Ribosomes are the cell's translation engines. They use genetic information to build chains of amino-acids that afterwards fold to form proteins.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Factors Leading To Hospital Admission For Heart Failure Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364206/080428162550.htm
Nearly two out of three patients have one or more precipitating factors that may contribute to hospital admissions nationwide for heart failure, according to a new study. Pneumonia, irregular heart beats and obstructed blood flow to the heart are the most frequent factors. The findings may help cardiologists better understand the factors that contribute to hospitalizations for heart failure and may help improve management of the disease.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Safe Water? Lessons From Kazakhstan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364207/080429095039.htm
Despite significant efforts to improve access to safe water and sanitation, a new report argues that much more needs to be done. A major survey in Kazakhstan found that, despite meeting the UN definition of what constitutes safe water, a large number of people reported suffering from illnesses like hepatitis and gastroenteritis.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Body Image Program Reduces Onset Of Obesity And Eating Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280364208/080429151134.htm
Researchers have found that a new obesity prevention program reduced the risk for onset of eating disorders by 61 percent and obesity by 55 percent in young women. These effects continued for as long as 3 years after the program ended. These results are noteworthy because, to date, the idea that we can reduce risk for future onset of eating disorders and obesity has been an unrealized goal: over 80 prevention programs have been evaluated, but no previous program had been found to significantly reduce risk for onset of these serious health problems.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Researchers Discover Molecular Basis Of A Form Of Muscular Dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280781870/080430081258.htm
Researchers report that people with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy are missing a protein called c-FLIP, which the body uses to prevent the loss of muscle tissue. By targeting the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for creating this protein, scientists could develop new drugs to stop muscle wasting from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and other conditions.

Wed, 30 Apr 08
Birds Can Tell If You Are Watching Them -- Because They Are Watching You
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280781871/080430075912.htm
In humans, the eyes are said to be the 'window to the soul,' conveying much about a person's emotions and intentions. New research demonstrates for the first time that birds also respond to a human's gaze.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Beating The Codebreakers With Quantum Cryptography
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144498/080428123555.htm
Quantum cryptography may be essentially solved, but getting the funky physics to work on disciplined computer networks is a whole new headache. Cryptography is an arms race, but the finish line may be fast approaching. Up to now, each time the codemakers made a better mousetrap, codebreakers breed a better mouse. But quantum cryptography theoretically could outpace the codebreakers and win the race. Forever.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Predicting Breast Cancer Patient Outcome: New Genes Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279514436/080428125807.htm
The environment surrounding breast cancer cells plays a crucial role in determining whether tumor cells grow and migrate or whether they fade away. A new study is the first to identify the genes behind this environmental control and correlate them with patient outcome.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
NASA Satellite To Map Earth's Water Cycle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144499/080428104521.htm
A new NASA satellite mission will make global soil moisture and other measurements essential to the accuracy of weather forecasts and predictions of global carbon cycle and climate. At present, scientists have no network for gathering soil moisture data as they do for rainfall, winds, humidity and temperature. SMAP will change that.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Evolutionary Intricacies Of Rickettsia Pathogens Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144500/080428154720.htm
Scientists have unveiled some of the evolutionary intricacies of rickettsial pathogens by analyzing over a decade's worth of genomic data. Some species of Rickettsia cause such disease as epidemic typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, while other species have been identified as emerging pathogens and organisms that might be weaponized.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Are Nanobots On Their Way?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279415563/080428094214.htm
The first real steps towards building a microscopic device that can construct nano machines have been taken by US researchers. Researchers have developed an early prototype for a nanoassembler.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Restaurant Inspections: Public Perceptions Vs. Reality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280082301/080429075334.htm
Foodborne diseases cause an estimated 76 million illnesses in the US each year with about half associated with restaurant meals (more than 70 billion meals). Therefore, preventing restaurant-associated foodborne disease is an important task of public health departments. According to a new article the public is generally unaware of the frequency of restaurant inspections and the consequences of poor inspection results.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Legless Lizard And Tiny Woodpecker Among New Species Discovered In Brazil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144501/080429095049.htm
Researchers discovered a legless lizard and a tiny woodpecker along with 12 other suspected new species in Brazil's Cerrado, one of the world's 34 biodiversity conservation hotspots. The Cerrado's wooded grassland once covered an area half the size of Europe, but is now being converted to cropland and ranchland at twice the rate of the neighboring Amazon rainforest, resulting in the loss of native vegetation and unique species.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Clumps Of Red And White Blood Cells May Contribute To Sickle Cell Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144502/080428142026.htm
It's long been known that patients with sickle cell disease have malformed, "sickle-shaped" red blood cells -- which are normally disc-shaped -- that can cause sudden painful episodes when they block small blood vessels. Now, researchers have shown that blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that may contribute to the blockages.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Cracks In The Foundation: Fundamental Geological Assumption Relating To Planet Earth Not Quite True
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279380758/080428081732.htm
Chondritic meteorites have a similar chemical composition to the sun and are therefore reliable witnesses as to what the solar nebula, from which the planets formed, was composed of. This can be used to deduce what the Earth consists of chemically. However, researchers have now discovered that strictly speaking this fundamental geological assumption is not true.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Thyrotropin Levels May Be Associated With Coronary Heart Disease Mortality In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144504/080428162532.htm
Women with increasing levels of thyrotropin within the normal range appear to have a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease, according to a new article.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
An Organizer For Structuring Silicon Without High Temperatures Developed: Useful For Solar Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144507/080424211516.htm
Organizers make life easier; aluminum could help the semi-conductor industry to convert silicon from a disordered to an ordered form at low temperatures. This crystalline silicon functions much more efficiently in solar cells, for example. However up to now it has only been possible to manufacture it at high temperatures and it could therefore not be applied to heat-sensitive materials such as plastic or paper. Scientists have now found a way to systematically lower the crystallization temperature of silicon - from 700º to 150º Celsius and to any temperature within that range.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Detox Diets, Procedures Generally Don't Promote Health, Experts Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144508/080428170407.htm
Infomercials and Web sites urge us to eliminate the buildup of toxins that supposedly results from imprudent habits or exposure to hazardous substances. But the human body defends itself very well against most environmental insults and occasional indulgences, reports the Harvard Women's Health Watch.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Ultra-dense Galaxies Found In Early Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144509/080429095054.htm
Astronomers looking at the universe's distant past found nine young, unusually compact galaxies, each weighing in at 200 billion times the mass of the Sun. These young galaxies are the equivalent of a human baby that is 20 inches long, yet weighs 180 pounds.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Women's Biological Clock Revealed: Hormone May Predict Age At Menopause
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144510/080428143108.htm
Age at menopause may now be predicted more realistically according to a new study. The study revealed that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are related to the onset of menopause and are able to specify a woman's reproductive age more accurately than chronological age alone. The levels of AMH in the blood reflect the number of small follicles present in a woman's ovaries. This follicle stock enables reproduction by ensuring monthly ovulations. Depletion of the stock leads to menopause, which normally occurs between 40 and 60 years of age.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Marriage Crises In Blue Tits Are Probably Caused By Other Females
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144511/080424210747.htm
Divorce is widespread, not only in humans, but also in socially monogamous birds like the blue tit. Behavioural ecologists have found divorce rates of up to 50% in a long-term study of this species. But why do partners split up? To answer this question, it helps to know who suffers and who benefits from the separation.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Exercise Related To Lower Heart Disease Risk In Overweight Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144512/080428162537.htm
The risk of heart disease in women associated with being overweight or obese is reduced but not eliminated by higher levels of physical activity, according to a new article. Both obesity and physical inactivity are modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Watering Tomato Plants With Diluted Seawater Boosts Levels Of Antioxidants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279415565/080428092116.htm
Watering tomatoes with diluted seawater can boost their content of disease-fighting antioxidants and may lead to healthier salads, appetizers, and other tomato-based foods, scientists report. Besides their use in a variety of ethnic food dishes, tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown home garden vegetables, particularly cherry tomatoes. Scientists have linked tomatoes to several health benefits, including protection against prostate cancer and heart disease. Researchers have known for years that seawater does not stimulate the growth of tomatoes, but scientists know little about its effects on the nutritional content of the vegetables.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Hypnosis: The Key To Unlocking The Delusional Mind?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/280144513/080428160113.htm
Researchers have developed an original new approach to the study of delusions, using hypnosis to temporarily create typical delusional beliefs in otherwise non-delusional people. A group of psychologists have been investigating the effectiveness of using hypnosis as a technique for studying the delusion known as mirrored-self misidentification, and a range of other delusions also.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
'Tiny Radio Antennas' Under Skin Could Act As Remote Sensors Of Humans' Emotional, Physiological State
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691576/080428155737.htm
Scientists have discovered a method for remote sensing of the physiological and emotional state of human beings. The researchers believe the discovery could theoretically help remotely monitor medical patients, evaluate athletic performance, diagnose disease and remotely sense the level of excitation -- which could have significant implications for technology in the biomedical engineering, anti-terror and security technology fields.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Cell-based Therapy Shows Promise In Patients With Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691577/080428120705.htm
A novel cell therapy using retinal pigment epithelial cells attached to tiny gelatin bead microcarriers implanted in the brain can improve the symptoms of patients with moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Endangered Right Whales Protected With New Warning Buoys In Shipping Lanes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691578/080428104518.htm
Endangered North Atlantic right whales are safer along Massachusetts Bay's busy shipping lanes this spring, thanks to a new system of smart buoys. The buoys recognize whales' distinctive calls and route the information to a public Web site and a marine warning system, giving ships the chance to avoid deadly collisions.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Researchers Light Up Lungs To Help Diagnose Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279514437/080428125804.htm
Researchers have developed innovative technology which illuminates a person's lungs and helps clinicians identify if they are functioning correctly. The new technology could result in earlier diagnosis of emphysema and smoking related damage, as well as other lung conditions and diseases.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
How E. Coli Attaches To Host: One Catalyst Protein Greatly Accelerates Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279380757/080428082653.htm
For the first time ever, the thread-like adhesive attachment organs of the bacterium Escherichia coli have been copied in a test tube. Biologists did this using purified proteins extracted from the bacteria and from which the pili are composed. The most important discoveries include a catalyst protein that greatly accelerates the assembly of the modules of the pili.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Cause And Affect: Emotions Can Be Unconsciously And Subliminally Evoked, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691579/080428155208.htm
Most people agree that emotions can be caused by a specific event and that the person experiencing it is aware of the cause, such as a child's excitement at the sound of an ice cream truck. But recent research suggests emotions also can be unconsciously evoked and manipulated.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Human Protein May Offer Novel Target For Blocking HIV Infection: Successful In Lab
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691580/080428175345.htm
A research group has uncovered a new route for attacking the human immunodeficiency virus that may offer a way to circumvent problems with drug resistance. Researchers have blocked HIV infection in the test tube by inactivating a human protein expressed in key immune cells.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Intuitive Grammar Develops By Age Six, Say Researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691581/080428104545.htm
Psychologists have discovered that children as young as six are as adept at recognizing possible verbs and their past tenses as adults. In a new study children aged between six and nine were given sentences containing made-up verbs such as 'the duck likes to spling' and were asked to judge the acceptability of possible past tense forms. The study focused on the process the children used to come to their conclusions rather than whether their answers were right or wrong.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Critically Endangered Seabirds Not Finding Mates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279348989/080428080356.htm
A study into one of the world's rarest seabirds provides knowledge that could help avoid extinction. Molecular analysis of the Critically Endangered Magenta Petrel Pterodroma magentae (also known as the Chatham Island Taiko) discovered that 95% of non-breeding adults were male. This suggests that critically low population levels may be causing male birds difficulty in attracting a mate. Their calls are too spread out to attract the infrequent females which pass by.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Diabetes Drugs May Be Related To Fracture Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691582/080428162545.htm
A widely used class of diabetes medications appears to be associated with an increased risk for fractures, according to a new article. After adjusting for other risk factors, individuals who were currently taking rosiglitazone and pioglitazone had approximately double or triple the odds of hip and other non-spine fractures than those who did not take these drugs.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
On Shaky Ground: Geological Faults Threaten Houston
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691583/080424153833.htm
After finding more than 300 surface faults in Harris County, a geologist now has information that could be vitally useful to the region's builders and city planners. This information -- the most accurate and comprehensive of its kind -- was discovered using advanced radar-like laser technology. Although geologists have long known of the existence of faults in Southeast Texas, only recently have researchers produced a comprehensive map pinpointing the locations of the faults.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
What Does It Mean To Be Alive?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279691584/080428104529.htm
Understanding the concept of a "living thing" is a late developmental achievement. New research proposes that the way in which "alive" and other biological concepts are named within a given language shapes their understanding and acquisition in children.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
'Sticky Nanotubes' Hold Key To Future Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609030/080428135243.htm
Researchers have precisely measured the forces required to peel tiny nanotubes off of other materials, opening up the possibility of creating standards for nano-manufacturing and harnessing a gecko's ability to walk up walls.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Vision Partially Restored In Blind Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609033/080428141242.htm
The idea of going blind is a frightening thought for anyone. Recent work to restore visual function during retinal degenerative diseases resulting in complete loss of photoreceptors that enable vision, has created hope that retinal diseases leading to blindness may one day be reversed.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Oldest Known Celestial Objects Are Surprisingly Immature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609036/080428140351.htm
Some of the oldest objects in the Universe may still have a long way to go, according to a new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. These new results indicate that globular clusters might be surprisingly less mature in their development than previously thought. Globular clusters are incredibly dense bunches of up to millions of stars that are found in the outskirts of galaxies, including the Milky Way. They are among the oldest known objects in the Universe, with most estimates of their ages ranging from 9 to 13 billions of years old. Understanding the nature of globular clusters is very important as they are thought to contain some of the first stars to form in a galaxy.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Use Of Hemoglobin-based Blood Substitutes Associated With Increased Risk Of Death, Heart Attack, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609041/080428120708.htm
An analysis of studies involving the use of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes indicates their use is associated with an increased risk of death and heart attack, according to a new article.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
How Dry We Are: European Space Agency To Test Earth's Soil Moisture Via Satellite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609042/080424152254.htm
Europeans want to peek into the world's soil and see how dry various regions are. The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite this fall as researchers try to learn more about the amount of moisture in the ground in the United States and around the world.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Decision Making: Is It All 'Me, Me, Me'?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279415564/080428094212.htm
Psychologists find evidence that it's not. People act in their own best interests, according to traditional views of how and why we make the decisions that we do. However, psychologists have recently found evidence that this assumption is not necessarily true. In fact, most of us will act in the best interest of our team -- often at our own expense.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Will Corals Survive The Stormy Future?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609043/080428140002.htm
Hurricanes and storms limit the ability of corals in Belize to "recruit" new coral into their communities, according to a new study in Marine Environmental Research. Coral reefs --- which can grow to be thousands of years old --- form and grow when free-swimming coral larvae in the ocean attach to rocks or other hard surfaces and begin to develop. Intense storms can wipe out this "recruitment" process.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
New Drug Discovery Tool For Alzheimer's Disease Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279443877/080428093000.htm
A new drug discovery tool has been developed for Alzheimer's disease. An abnormal form of tau protein, as it occurs in Alzheimer's disease, can now be produced in very simple cell models. Tau proteins are a family of neuron-specific proteins believed to play an important role in the organization of the skeleton of nerve cells.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Monitoring Of Carbon Dioxide Will Require Global Data Collection Ten Times Larger Than Current Set Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609044/080424141929.htm
Monitoring Earth's rising greenhouse gas levels will require a global data collection network 10 times larger than the one currently in place in order to quantify regional progress in emission reductions, according to a new research.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
African Americans Have Five Times Higher Amputation Rate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609050/080428104534.htm
People in African American communities in Chicago have a five times higher rate of lower limb amputations than people in the predominantly white suburbs and exurbs. This starkly contrasts to a declining overall amputation rate in northern Illinois due to improved care for diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. Amputations are the canary in the coal mine for primary care.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Formation Of Ice Sheets 34 Million Years Ago Changed Ocean Acidity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609051/080428130641.htm
Before ice first began to form in Antarctica around 34 million years ago, the Earth was a very different place - but then greenhouse conditions swiftly gave way to an icehouse climate, causing the oceans to become less acidic. Scientists have been piecing together how Earth's changing climate affected ocean chemistry during this period of transition. Their work sheds light on the links between glaciation and the ocean carbon cycle.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Will You Be Misdiagnosed? How Diagnostic Errors Happen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609052/080428092956.htm
How frequently do doctors misdiagnose patients? While research has demonstrated that the great majority of medical diagnoses are correct, the answer is probably higher than patients expect and certainly higher than doctors realize. A collection of articles and commentaries sheds light on the causes underlying misdiagnoses and demonstrates a nontrivial rate of diagnostic error.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Carbon Footprint Of Best Conserving Americans Is Still Double Global Average
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279514434/080428120658.htm
An MIT class has estimated the carbon emissions of Americans in a wide variety of lifestyles -- from the homeless to multimillionaires, from Buddhist monks to soccer moms -- and compared them to those of other nations. The somewhat disquieting bottom line is that in the United States, even the people with the lowest usage of energy are still producing, on average, more than double the global per-capita average.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Genes For Common Heart Condition And Kidney Problem Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609053/080428142031.htm
A gene that can cause the heart to become enlarged, greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks and heart failure, is identified today in a new study. A gene that can cause the kidney to become inflamed, which can lead to kidney failure, is also revealed in a parallel discovery. The heart research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, reveals how a gene called osteoglycin, which had not previously been linked with heart function, plays a key role in regulating heart growth.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Scientists Call For More Access To Biotech Crop Data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609054/080424140413.htm
More than one billion acres of biotech crops have been grown in the US, but their environmental impacts are not fully known. In Arizona, farmers share maps of biotech cotton fields with University of Arizona scientists, enabling detailed analyses of the effects of this technology. Now a team of biologists proposes that making similar maps of the entire US available to scientists will permit much-needed studies of the environmental impacts of genetically engineered crops.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Tissue-specific Blood Stem Cell Line Established From Embryonic Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279514438/080428125706.htm
Researchers in Sweden have established and isolated the tissue-specific stem cell that produces blood cells (blood stem cell) by using genetically modified embryonic stem cells.

Tue, 29 Apr 08
Even Part-time Work Can Have A Negative Effect On Breastfeeding Rates, Says New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279609055/080428090707.htm
Part-time and casual work among new mothers has almost as big a negative impact on breastfeeding rates as returning to work full-time, says a new study. While previous studies have shown that women who return to full-time work are far less likely to be breastfeeding at six months, the new study is the first to show dramatically reduced breastfeeding rates in those who return on a part-time or casual basis.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Birds Can Detect Predators Using Smell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131741/080427233813.htm
Many animal species detect and avoid predators by smell, but this ability has been largely overlooked in the study of birds, since it was traditionally thought that they did not make use of this sense. However, it has now been discovered that birds are not only capable of discerning their enemies through chemical signals, but that they also alter their behavior depending on the perceived level of risk of predation.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Gene Therapy Improves Vision In Patients With Congenital Retinal Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040488/080427194726.htm
Researchers have used gene therapy to safely restore vision in three young adults with a rare form of congenital blindness -- Leber congenital amaurosis. Although the patients have not achieved normal eyesight, the preliminary results set the stage for further studies of an innovative treatment for this and possibly other retinal diseases.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Anthrax Spore Standards Will Be Reference For Anthrax Detection And Decontamination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131742/080415164309.htm
Researchers have developed reliable methods based on DNA analysis to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage. The techniques and data are essential steps in developing a reliable reference standard for anthrax detection and decontamination.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Gene For Branchio-oculo-facial Syndrome Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131743/080423153329.htm
Researchers have discovered that deletions or mutations within the TFAP2A gene result in the distinctive clefting disorder Branchio-Oculo-Facial syndrome. This rare disorder is characterized by specific skin anomalies involving the neck and behind the ear, eye abnormalities, a typical facial appearance, and frequently cleft lip and palate.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Low-Carbon Electricity is Needed To Power Plug-in Hybrids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277865182/080425163711.htm
Engineering researchers report that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming, but the benefits are highly dependent on how the electricity system changes in the coming decades.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
A First: Researchers Apply Efficient Coding Principle To Sense Of Smell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277561539/080425065418.htm
For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the efficient coding principle regarding neurobiological processes applies to sense of smell. The team displays this quantitative relationship in a study of male moths and pheromone plumes, published in PLoS Computational Biology.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Refining The Date Of Dinosaur Extinction And The Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131744/080424140400.htm
Thanks to a new calibration of the versatile argon-argon dating technique, geochronologists have established a more precise date for the dinosaur die-off at the end of the Cretaceous period: 65.95 million years ago, give or take 40,000 years. This improves on the previous date of 65.5 million years plus or minus 300,000 years, but more importantly, brings argon-argon dating into agreement with other dating methods.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Mutation Database Helps Personalized Treatment Of Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131745/080425095147.htm
A groundbreaking free tool to help oncologists choose the best therapies for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer has been just launched by scientists at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference. The online database brings together data on all the known somatic mutations (tumor derived - tumor specific) in a molecule called epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). Somatic mutations in this cell-surface molecule are known to affect treatment with the newer tyrosine kinase inhibitor class of drugs.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
New Hybrid Hearing Device Combining Advantages Of Hearing Aids, Implants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131746/080417100013.htm
A new hybrid hearing aid/cochlear implant device designed for patients who can benefit from both is being evaluated by otolaryngologists, as part of a national study.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Mammography May Be Beneficial To All Women, Regardless Of Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131747/080421180946.htm
Mammography, the gold-standard for breast cancer screening and early detection, has shown to significantly reduce the risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in women over the age of 80, an age group currently without clear guidelines recommending regular screenings.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Pathway Found That Lets Mosquitoes Fatten Up, Slow Down For Winter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131748/080424151500.htm
Two genes that help insulin regulate mosquitoes' growth have been identified as key contributors to how the insects enter a dormant state to survive winter's cold. The research finding broadens the understanding of the mosquito life cycle and appears to shed some light on how other insects and invertebrate species weather the winter months.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
How Animals Identify Each Other: Insights Into How The Nervous System Processes Sensory Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131749/080424140403.htm
The results of large-scale imaging experiments examining how social signals are represented in the sensory system have just been published. Working with a newly-developed line of transgenic mice that expresses the genetic calcium indicator G-CaMP2, the team monitored neural activity in the vomeronasal organ, a sensory organ found in many vertebrate animals that detects pheromones.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Help For Insomnia Patients? Different Processes Govern Sight, Light Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277679970/080425095204.htm
Biologists, in research with implications for people suffering from seasonal affective disorder and insomnia, have determined that the eye uses light to reset the biological clock through a mechanism separate from the ability to see.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
New Lymphoma Therapies Targets Diverse And Difficult Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131750/080424131937.htm
The fifth leading cause of cancer in the United States, lymphoma is made up of more than 40 rare and highly diverse diseases that target the body's lymphatic system. Lymphomas include both one of the fastest growing cancers -- Burkitt's lymphoma, which can double in size in as little as a day -- and one of the slowest, chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
3-D Measuring System Speeds Up Optical Design For Cameras, Projectors, Headlights
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131751/080416104314.htm
Today, complex optical free-form geometries are used primarily in car headlamps and in optics for cameras and digital projectors. These optical components are expensive to manufacture and to test. A new 3-D measuring system LensShape renders the manufacturing process faster and more cost-effective.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Breast Reconstruction Advances Fix Distortions Left By Lumpectomy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131752/080423121425.htm
Lumpectomy or breast conservation surgery is the most common type of breast cancer surgery currently performed. A new report examines advances plastic surgeons have made in breast reconstruction to repair the damage left when cancer is removed.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Desalination Can Boost US Water Supplies, But Environmental Research Needed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131753/080424113456.htm
Recent advances in technology have made removing salt from seawater and groundwater a realistic option for increasing water supplies in some parts of the US, and desalination will likely have a niche in meeting the nation's future water needs, says a new report.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Trojan Horse Of Viruses Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277591691/080425065354.htm
Viruses use various tricks and disguises to invade cells. Researchers have now discovered yet another strategy used by viruses: the vaccinia virus disguises itself as cell waste, triggers the formation of evaginations in cells and is suspected to enter the cell interior before the immune defense even notices. The research results have been published in Science.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Engineers Create New Technique For Malaria Diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040487/080427194738.htm
Researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Coventry have developed the first new technique for diagnosing malaria able to challenge the rapid diagnostic tests currently used in the field. Early results suggest that the technique could be as effective as RDTs but far faster and cheaper. The team is now working on a noninvasive version of the device, which it plans to trial in Kenya later this year.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
New Iconic Drug Information System Inspired By Road Signs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131754/080423202903.htm
Although drug prescriptions are notoriously difficult to read, prescribing errors due to a lack of knowledge of drug properties are a worse problem. Now, a new graphical language for medical knowledge visualization has been developed.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Work Better Than Standard Anti-inflammatories, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165324/080417084026.htm
The latest class of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are better than standard anti-inflammatories, according to a new study. Analysis of the combined results of thirteen trials showed that anti-TNF± drugs, given at recommended doses, were better than the usual treatments, such as methotrexate, for treating RA. Patients who had previously seen little benefit from methotrexate alone showed a better response with combined anti-TNF± plus methotrexate therapy.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Engineers Discover Theoretical Model To Predict Jamming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277738484/080425130102.htm
Researchers have come up with a theoretical model to predict when granular materials become jammed. This advancement not only broadens fundamental knowledge, it also provides new avenues to a number of practical areas that ranges from materials innovation to medicine.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
How Can Consumers Make Informed Decisions About Genetic Tests?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279131755/080424151117.htm
Consumers are increasingly being marketed a broad range of genetic tests. Paternity tests at the local drugstore ... Personal genome mapping ... Gene tests to predict future baldness. With ongoing genetic discoveries and technology improvements, more genetic tests are available than ever before. How can consumers make informed decisions about genetic tests? To help address some of the important questions raised about Direct-to-Consumer genetic testing, the American College of Medical Genetics has developed the ACMG 2008 Policy Statement on DTC Genetic Testing.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Nitric Oxide Regulates Plants As Well As People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040485/080427194945.htm
Nitric oxide has emerged as an important signaling molecule in plants -- as in mammals, including people. In studies of a tropical medicinal herb as a model plant, researchers have found that nitric oxide targets a number of proteins and enzymes in plants.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Emissions Irrelevant To Future Climate Change?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040486/080427194938.htm
Climate change and the carbon emissions seem inextricably linked. However, new research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Carbon Balance and Management suggests that this may not always hold true, although it may be some time before we reach this saturation point.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Looking At Neurons From All Sides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040489/080427194715.htm
A new technique that marries a fast-moving laser beam with a special microscope that look at tissues in different optical planes will enable scientists to get a 3-D view of neurons or nerve cells as they interact, said Baylor College of Medicine scientists in a report that appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Mon, 28 Apr 08
Epigenetic Research Uncovers New Targets For Modification Enzymes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/279040490/080427194710.htm
A consortium of scientists has discovered new non-histone targets for one enzyme previously believed to modify only histones -- the group of proteins that creates tightly bundled packages of DNA strands.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Technological Breakthrough In Fight To Cut Greenhouse Gases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364029/080424103217.htm
Scientists have developed a highly energy-efficient method of converting waste carbon dioxide into chemical compounds known as cyclic carbonates. Cyclic carbonates are widely used in the manufacture of products including solvents, paint-strippers, biodegradable packaging, as well as having applications in the chemical industry. The team estimates that the technology has the potential to use up to 48m tons of waste carbon dioxide per year, reducing the UK's emissions by about four percent.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Protozoa May Enable Food-Borne Pathogens On Leafy Vegetables
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277679975/080425095200.htm
Protozoa found on lettuce and spinach may sequester harmful food-borne pathogens ultimately contributing to their survival on produce surfaces. Several outbreaks of food-borne illnesses attributed to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica have received national attention in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fresh produce was the most significant source of food-borne illness in 2005.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Ancient Signaling Pathway Tells Cells To Conserve Energy When Food Is Scarce
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364030/080424121443.htm
Got food? A team of scientists think they know how many -- if not most -- living organisms answer this question. They recently showed that when food supplies dwindle, mammals, fruitflies, or frogs probably activate the same ancient cell signaling pathway in order to conserve energy.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Common Vitamin And Other Micronutrient Supplements Reduce Risks Of TB Recurrence, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277712934/080425112208.htm
New findings show a link between micronutrient supplementation and reduced risk of recurrence during tuberculosis chemotherapy, according to a new study.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Dinosaurs Probably Lacked Tissue To Generate Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364031/080423171524.htm
Scientists have discovered why birds, unlike mammals, lack a tissue that is specialized to generate heat. There is a surprising implication that the same lack of heat-generating tissue may have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Picture This: Explaining Science Through Drawings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364032/080410153625.htm
If a picture is worth a thousand words, creating one can have as much value to the illustrator as to the intended audience. This is the case with "Picturing to Learn," a project in which college students create pencil drawings to explain scientific concepts to a typical high school student. The National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education, provides support for this effort.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Yeast Gives Rise To New Concept: Cell Fuel Is 'Brains' Behind Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278260458/080426083332.htm
Mitochondria, the fuel of a cell, has been found to be the "driver" for cell division, according to biochemists. This discovery could play a big role in finding cures for many human diseases, they say. The biochemists studied yeast cells and found that mitochondria, which generates 90 percent of the cell's energy, can be the deciding factor -- the "brain power" -- behind how fast cells divide.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Rare Musk Ox May Be Threatened By Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364033/080424112455.htm
The Wildlife Conservation Society recently launched a four-year study to determine if climate change is affecting populations of a quintessential Arctic denizen: the rare musk ox. The research team will be assessing how musk ox are faring in areas along the Chukchi and northern Bering Seas, and the extent to which snow and icing events, disease, and possibly predation may be driving populations.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Elusive Protein Protects Malaria Parasite From Heme
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277591689/080425065411.htm
Researchers have identified Heme Detoxification Protein, a unique protein encoded in the malaria genome that represents a potential target for developing new malaria drugs. They have characterized HDP and demonstrated that it plays a major role in protecting Plasmodium as the pathogen pursues infection of its host.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Light Research Opens Door For Optical Storage And Computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364034/080424103646.htm
The goal of replacing electronics with optics for processing data in computers is coming closer through cutting-edge European research into the mysterious properties of "fast and slow" light. The long-term aim is to boost processing speeds and data storage densities by several orders of magnitude and take the information technology industry into a new era, combining greatly improved performance with dramatically lower energy consumption.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Overuse Of Codeine, Oxycodone And Barbiturates Increases Risk Of Chronic Migraine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364035/080417145746.htm
People who overuse barbiturates and opioids, such as codeine, butalbital, and oxycodone, to treat migraine are at an increased risk of developing chronic migraine, according to new research.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Insects Use Plants Like A Telephone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364036/080423101813.htm
Ecologists have discovered that subterranean and aboveground herbivorous insects can communicate with each other by using plants as telephones. Subterranean insects issue chemical warning signals via the leaves of the plant. This way, aboveground insects are alerted that the plant is already "occupied."

Sun, 27 Apr 08
New Method Simultaneously Tests For Fifteen Respiratory Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277712935/080425103124.htm
A new test capable of simultaneously detecting 15 respiratory viruses may allow for quicker diagnosis and treatment of potentially deadly respiratory infections in children and adults worldwide.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Biodiversity Is Crucial To Ecosystem Productivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364037/080424112451.htm
In the first experiment in a natural environment, scientists have shown that greater plant diversity significantly enhances an ecosystem's productivity. The finding underscores the importance of biodiversity to an ecosystem's value, such as capturing the global warming gas carbon dioxide.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Proteins That Stop A Major Signaling Pathway Can Also Generate New Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364038/080424112445.htm
Researchers have discovered that a crucial communications pathway in cells not only stops cells from making proteins, it also makes them go. The team was able to define the way in which proteins called beta arrestins (for their role in stopping signals) also turn on pathways that ultimately lead to the production of new proteins in virtually all tissues in the body.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Invention Gives Improved Gene Technology Analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278364039/080424103222.htm
A newly patented invention from Norwegian researchers gives more reliable results in gene technology-based diagnostic tests. Previously, the state of the art was to use an unprotected internal control reagent to verify the validity of results. The problem was that it could only be added late in the analysis. The use of tailored coating of the internal control opens for, and enables presence of the control throughout the whole analytical process -- giving improved quality assurance.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Autistic Mannerisms Reduced By Sensory Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277679974/080425102403.htm
Children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent sensory integration therapy exhibited fewer autistic mannerisms compared to children who received standard treatments. Such mannerisms, including repetitive hand movements or actions, making noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests, often interfere with paying attention and learning.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
Minimally Invasive Robotic Bypass Surgery Provides Health And Economic Benefits, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278392594/080426135226.htm
Minimally invasive heart bypass surgery using a DaVinci robot means a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery for patients, as well as fewer complications and a better chance that the new bypass vessels will stay open. And, according to a University of Maryland study, robotic heart bypass surgery also makes good economic sense for hospitals.

Sun, 27 Apr 08
False Memories Of Living Will Complicate End-of-life Treatment Decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278260459/080426083329.htm
Advance directives, or living wills, may not effectively honor end-of-life wishes because life-sustaining treatment preferences often change without people being aware of the changes, according to a new study.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Arctic Marine Mammals On Thin Ice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001649/080423154558.htm
The loss of sea ice due to climate change could spell disaster for polar bears and other Arctic marine mammals. Sea ice is the common habitat feature uniting these unique and diverse Arctic inhabitants. Sea ice serves as a platform for resting and reproduction, influences the distribution of food sources, and provides a refuge from predators. The loss of sea ice poses a particularly severe threat to Arctic species, such as the hooded seal, whose natural history is closely tied to, and depends on, sea ice.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
New Genetic Techniques To Combat Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277712933/080425112225.htm
New results on genetic techniques that are helping doctors diagnose and treat lung cancer have just been released. A new test helps make crucial distinctions between types of lung cancer. The researchers show the method can accurately distinguish between squamous and non-squamous forms of non-small-cell lung cancer based on the levels of different microRNA molecules found in tissue samples.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Lizard Hunting Styles Impact Ability To Walk, Run
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001650/080421145204.htm
The technique lizards use to grab their grub influences how they move, according to new research. Lizards use two basic foraging techniques. In the first approach, aptly dubbed sit-and-wait, lizards spend most of their time perched in one location waiting for their prey to pass. Then, with a quick burst of speed, they run after their prey, snatching it up with their tongues. In the other form of foraging, known as wide or active foraging, lizards move constantly but very slowly in their environment, using their chemosensory system to stalk their prey.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Extreme Nausea And Vomiting Varies Among Pregnant Women From Different Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277679973/080425102414.htm
Mothers born in India and Sri Lanka are three times more likely to suffer from extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy than ethnic Norwegians. Earlier studies reported that 90 percent of pregnant women experience some degree of nausea and vomiting, whereas 0.5 to 2 percent have extreme nausea.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
New 3-D Ultrasound Could Improve Stroke Diagnosis, Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001651/080424104349.htm
Using new 3-D ultrasound technology bioengineers can compensate for the thickness and unevenness of the skull to see in real-time the arteries within the brain that most often clog up and cause strokes.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Surprising Language Abilities In Children With Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277802347/080425144319.htm
What began as an informal presentation by a clinical linguist to a group of philosophers, has led to some surprising discoveries about the communicative language abilities of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While they may not make appropriate use of context or common sayings, psychologists discovered speakers with ASD have a rich array of pragmatic abilities.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Next Step In Robot Development Is Child's Play
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001652/080421162240.htm
Teaching robots to understand enough about the real world to allow them act independently has proved to be much more difficult than first thought. The team behind the iCub robot believes it, like children, will learn best from its own experiences. The technologies developed on the iCub platform -- such as grasping, locomotion, interaction, and even language-action association -- are of great relevance to further advances in the field of industrial service robotics.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Important Markers Of High Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277738486/080425123400.htm
Researchers have found markers that indicate endothelial dysfunction (changes in the cells which line the blood vessels) and sub-clinical systemic inflammation can also help identify a far greater number of people at high risk for future development of type 2 diabetes.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Scientists Reveal Presence Of Ocean Current 'Stripes'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277647002/080425095207.htm
More than 20 years of continuous measurements and a dose of "belief" yield discovery of subtle ocean currents that could dramatically improve forecasts of climate, ecosystem changes. A scientific team detected the presence of crisscrossing patterns of currents running throughout the world's oceans. The new data could help scientists significantly improve high-resolution models that help them understand trends in climate and marine ecosystems.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Cancer Immunotherapy Reduces Risk Of Relapse After Surgery, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277591690/080425065402.htm
New, long-term results from a clinical trial show that MAGE-A3 ASCI, an immune-boosting treatment for lung cancer patients, reduces the risk of relapse after surgery -- to the same extent as chemotherapy but without the side-effects of chemotherapy.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Plan To Identify Watery Earth-like Planets Develops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276926018/080424092743.htm
Astronomers are looking to identify Earth-like watery worlds circling distant stars from a glint of light seen through an optical space telescope and a newly developed mathematical method.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Fibromyalgia Affects Women More Often Than Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277865180/080425165218.htm
Are you exhausted? Do you have pain all over but can't figure out what's wrong? If so, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances and diffuse pain in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Northern Lights Glimmer With Unexpected Trait
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277738487/080425123355.htm
Some light in Earth's aurora glow is polarized -- a state not thought possible for the aurora, new observations indicate. The findings may improve understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere, its magnetic field, and the energies of particles from the Sun. If detected also in the atmospheres of the other planets, such polarization may help map the Sun's extended magnetic field, researchers say.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Device That Produces Tiny Skull Vibrations A Big Help For Hearing Impaired
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277865181/080425164738.htm
A patient who is completely deaf in his right ear, he still can hear from that side. A sound processor he wears just behind his right ear converts sound waves into tiny vibrations that move through his skull. The vibrations are detected by his good left ear, so it sounds to him like he can hear from both sides. A new study has found that this system of conducting sound through skull bone is a big boost to people who are deaf in one ear and can't be helped by hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Sierra Nevada Rose To Current Height Earlier Than Thought, Say Geologists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646991/080423153318.htm
Geologists studying deposits of volcanic glass in the western United States have found that the central Sierra Nevada largely attained its present elevation 12 million years ago, roughly 8 or 9 million years earlier than commonly thought. The finding has implications not only for understanding the geologic history of the mountain range, but for modeling ancient global climates.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Minimally Invasive Pancreas Surgery Leads To Fewer Complications, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001653/080425095144.htm
When surgeons need to remove part of the pancreas, performing the operation with minimally invasive techniques offers patients a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications, researchers have concluded.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
First Transistor Using Nanotechnology Is 50 Times More Energy Efficient Than Current Models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001654/080424212327.htm
Transistors are an indispensable building block in electric appliances, where they amplify weak electric currents. Now researchers have developed a new type of transistor that is 50 times more energy efficient than today's models. It is also the first to be developed using nanotechnology.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Self-referring Physicians Behind Increase In Diagnostic Imaging, Researcher Argues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001655/080424171831.htm
Physicians who refer patients to their own facilities or machines for scans account for much of the increase in diagnostic imaging ordered for privately insured patients according to a new article.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
New Prosthetic Hand Has Grip Function Almost Like A Natural Hand: Each Finger Moves Separately
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646989/080422112942.htm
It can hold a credit card, use a keyboard with the index finger, and lift a bag weighing up to 20 kg -- the world's first commercially available prosthetic hand that can move each finger separately and has an astounding range of grip configurations.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Study Breaks Ground In Revealing How Neurons Generate Movement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646990/080424133403.htm
When the eye tracks a bird's flight across the sky, the visual experience is normally smooth, without interruption. But underlying this behavior is a complex coordination of neurons that has remained mysterious to scientists. Now, researchers have broken ground in understanding how the brain generates this tracking motion.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Discovery To Hasten New Malaria Treatments, Vaccines For Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/278001656/080423171532.htm
April 25 is World Malaria Day 2008 and despite the grim statistics out of Africa there's cause for celebration. Biologists have discovered an autoimmune-like response in blood drawn from malaria-infected African children that helps to explain why existing DNA-based anti-malaria vaccines have repeatedly failed to protect them.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Low Cortisol Levels Found In Kids Whose Mothers Show Signs Of Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646993/080424210415.htm
A new study of young children living in extreme poverty found that those whose mothers showed symptoms of depression had low levels of cortisol, a hormone activated during times of stress, compared with children whose mothers did not exhibit depressive symptoms.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Volcanic Eruption Of 1600 Caused Global Disruption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646994/080423135236.htm
The 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina in Peru had a global impact on human society, according to geologists. The eruption is known to have put a large amount of sulfur into the atmosphere, and tree ring studies show that 1601 was a cold year, but no one had looked at the agricultural and social impacts.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Baby Boomer Health Care Crisis Looms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646995/080417111300.htm
America's aging citizens are facing a health care workforce too small and unprepared to meet their needs, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The Gerontological Society of America fully supports the publication's call for a labor pool of adequate size and competency to care for a rapidly increasing over-65 population.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Major Step Forward In Understanding How Memory Works
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646996/080423121427.htm
By blocking certain mechanisms that control the way that nerve cells in the brain communicate, scientists have been able to prevent visual recognition memory in rats. This demonstrates they have identified cellular and molecular mechanisms in the brain that may provide a key to understanding processes of recognition memory.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Viruses May Play A Role In Lung Cancer Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614433/080425082125.htm
New research highlights emerging evidence that common viruses may contribute to the development of lung cancer. Experts agree that smoking is by far the most important factor that contributes to lung cancer development. But other factors can play a role in some cases.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Significant 'Red Tide' Season Predicted For 2008 Based On Computer Models And Observations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646997/080424165309.htm
Conditions are ripe for another large red tide bloom in New England waters; weather and current patterns will determine outcome. The end of April usually brings the first signs of harmful algae in New England waters, and this year, researchers are preparing for the worst.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Metabolic Genes Tied To Inflammatory Predictor Of Heart Disease And Stroke Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646998/080424121447.htm
Two new studies provide evidence that differences in people's blood levels of C reactive protein stem in part from natural variation in known metabolic genes.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
New Nanotechnology Products Hitting The Market At The Rate Of 3-4 Per Week
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277646999/080424102505.htm
Nanotechnology consumer products are in your mouth and on your face. New nanotechnology consumer products are coming on the market at the rate of 3-4 per week. The number of consumer products using nanotechnology has grown from 212 to 609 since March 2006.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Concrete Examples Don't Help Students Learn Math, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277647000/080424140410.htm
A new study challenges the common practice in many classrooms of teaching mathematical concepts by using "real-world," concrete examples. Researchers found that college students who learned a mathematical concept with concrete examples couldn't apply that knowledge to new situations.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Exotic Quantum State Of Matter Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614428/080424130707.htm
Scientists from Princeton University have found that one of the most intriguing phenomena in condensed-matter physics -- known as the quantum Hall effect -- can occur in nature in a way that no one has ever before seen. The 'quantum Hall-like effect' was found in a bulk material without an applied magnetic field. The work, while significant in a fundamental way, could also lead to advances in new kinds of fast quantum or "spintronic" computing devices, of potential use in future electronic technologies.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Tumor Growth Blocked In Leukemia Animal Model: Two Suppressor Molecules Affect 70 Genes In Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614429/080424151111.htm
By restoring two small molecules that are often lost in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, researchers were able to block tumor growth in an animal model. The study also uses human CLL cells to show that the two molecules, called miR-15a and miR-16-1, affect 70 genes, most of which are involved in cell growth, death, proliferation and metabolism. This reveals how the molecules normally protect against cancer and suggests a possible new CLL treatment strategy.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Earthquake In Illinois Could Portend An Emerging Threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614430/080424171350.htm
To the surprise of many, the earthquake on April 18, 2008, about 120 miles east of St. Louis, originated in the Wabash Valley Fault, not the better-known and more-dreaded New Madrid Fault in Missouri's bootheel. The concern of seismologists is that the New Madrid Fault may have seen its day and the Wabash Fault is the new kid on the block.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Higher Wealth Linked To Lower Stroke Risk From Age 50 To 64
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277647001/080424165320.htm
Higher wealth is linked with a lower risk of stroke in Americans between the ages of 50 and 64, but does not predict strokes in those over age 65, researchers reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Freshwater Herring Had Salty Origin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614431/080422203315.htm
East Africa's Lake Tanganyika has a highly diverse fauna which closely resembles marine animals. A researcher has traced the origins of the Lake's freshwater herring to a marine invasion which occurred in West Africa 25 to 50 million years ago. The ancient freshwater capture of marine organisms may help to explain the origins of other species unique to this Lake.

Sat, 26 Apr 08
Sexual Intimacy: Why College Men May Hear 'Yes' When Women Mean 'No'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277614432/080424140251.htm
Faulty male introspection may explain why men so often misinterpret women's indirect messages to stop or slow down the escalation of sexual intimacy, according to new research. "When she says 'It's getting late,' he may hear 'So let's skip the preliminaries,'" the researcher says. "The problem is that he is interpreting what she said by trying to imagine what he would mean -- and the only reason he can imagine saying 'It's getting late' while making out is to mean 'Let's speed things up.'"

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Molecular Analysis Confirms Tyrannosaurus Rex's Evolutionary Link To Birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313594/080424140418.htm
Putting more meat on the theory that dinosaurs' closest living relatives are modern-day birds, molecular analysis of a shred of 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex protein -- along with that of 21 modern species -- confirms that dinosaurs share common ancestry with chickens, ostriches, and to a lesser extent, alligators.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Coffee May Protect Against Breast Cancer, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313595/080424115324.htm
Depending on which variant of a certain gene a woman has, a coffee consumption rate of at least two-three cups a day can either reduce the total risk of developing breast cancer or delay the onset of cancer, according to new research. The effect of coffee is related to estrogens, female sex hormones. Certain metabolic products of these hormones are known to be carcinogenic, and various components of coffee can alter the metabolism so that a woman acquires a better configuration of various estrogens. What's more, coffee contains caffeine, which also hampers the growth of cancer cells.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Efficient Emergency Escape Gas Mask Protects Against Toxic Chemicals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313596/080421111659.htm
A new emergency escape hood worthy of James Bond: a "one size fits all" concealable hood weighing under a pound, folding to the dimensions of a DVD case, and donnable in ten seconds, has been developed. Furthermore, the hood must be maintenance-free, filter nerve, blood, and blister agents, remove toxic industrial chemicals, and fit two-to-a-breast pocket -- one for the protectee, the other for the protector.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Positive Findings In Treating Patients With Advanced Hepatitis C, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313597/080424112458.htm
The hepatitis C therapy peginterferon alfa-2b, when given as low-dose maintenance therapy, can prevent disease progression in certain patients who failed previous interferon-based hepatitis C therapies and have advanced liver disease.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
First 3-D Image Of Antibody Gene Shown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313598/080423131714.htm
Using a multidisciplinary mix of geometry, biological research and techniques developed to solve problems on supercomputers, scientists have shown for the first time how a genome is organized in three-dimensional space.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Smokers Have A 41 Percent Higher Risk Of Suffering Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313605/080424103225.htm
The risk of suffering depression increases 41 percent in smokers, in comparison with nonsmokers. This was the conclusion of a study undertaken with 8,556 participants.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Early Human Populations Evolved Separately For 100,000 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313606/080424130710.htm
Over 600 complete mtDNA genomes from indigenous populations across the continent were analyzed and the data provided surprising insights into the early demographic history of human populations before they moved out of Africa. The extensive data analysis revealed that early human populations were small and isolated from each other for many tens of thousands of years.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Eliminating Germline Lengthens Fly Lifespan: Does Reproductive System Affect Human Aging?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313607/080423171527.htm
Biologists have found that eliminating germline stem cells, the cells that make eggs and sperm, lengthens the life of fruit flies and alters insulin production. These findings suggest a provocative general principle at work: Molecular signals from the reproductive system affect aging and metabolism in animals -- and possibly in humans. The work also proposes a new mechanism of how this control may occur.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Skating Beads Of Water: Chemists Reproduce The Rose's 'Petal Effect'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313608/080421091319.htm
The lotus flower is nature's "slip n' slide," where water beads skate along each petal's surface like liquid metal. Now, chemists reveal the ying to the lotus' frictionless yang: rose petals. Chemists have found the physical basis for the rose's ability to grip water droplets in place, even when the flower is upside down. This newly described "petal effect" could lead to unique new adhesive materials, coatings and fabrics.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Specialized White Blood Cells Coordinate First Responders To Viral Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313609/080424152249.htm
Regulatory T cells are thought to call a halt to immune responses as the fight against infection draws to a close. Researchers have evidence that these cells also help coordinate the early stages of the fight against viral infections.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Structure Of Protein That Repairs Damage To Cancer Cells Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313610/080423131611.htm
Scientists have shown how two proteins locate and repair damaged genetic material inside cells. One protein detects and repairs damage in malignant cells that may result from a certain type of cancer therapy. The team raised the possibility of designing a molecule that could interfere with the repair process, making cancer treatment more effective.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Fruit-eating Bats Eat Dirt To Detoxify Bad Parts Of Vegetables
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313611/080422203305.htm
"Don't eat the green parts of tomatoes, cut the green off the potatoes." Any child would know that eating these parts of vegetables is a bad idea. The reason behind this is that they contain secondary plant compounds which may have detrimental effects on the consumer. Each night, tropical fruit-eating bats ingest large amounts of secondary plant compounds with their food. This may become particularly problematic for pregnant or lactating bat mothers, since secondary plant compounds may damage the embryo or the juvenile. Biologists have now found evidence that fruit-eating bats take up large amounts of mineral rich water and clay from so-called mineral licks to detoxify the secondary plant compounds they ingest in fruits.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Autism Risk Linked To Distance From Power Plants, Other Mercury-releasing Sources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313612/080424120953.htm
How do mercury emissions affect pregnant mothers, the unborn and toddlers? Do the level of emissions impact autism rates? Does it matter whether a mercury-emitting source is 10 miles away from families versus 20 miles? Is the risk of autism greater for children who live closer to the pollution source? A newly published study of Texas school district data and industrial mercury-release data indeed shows a statistically significant link between pounds of industrial release of mercury and increased autism rates.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
New Finding On How Memory Is Formed And Stored
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313613/080423171537.htm
The location of protein-destroying "machines" in nerve cells in the brain may play an important role in how memories are formed -- a finding with potential implications for treating Alzheimer's and other brain diseases.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Testing And Improving The Exceptional Vision Of Athletes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313614/080421170215.htm
The standard eye chart only covers letters and numbers, but athletes need above average vision to track balls hurtling toward them at alarming speeds. To test those special skills, optometrist will have athletes perform while a strobe light is flashing, play tag with a board of lights and engage in other activities designed to improve their visual abilities.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Method For Clamping Down On A Cancer-promoting Enzyme Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273061332/080418130206.htm
Taking a cue from the Croc Hunter, researchers have now identified a molecule capable of taping shut the "jaws" of PAK1 before the enzyme becomes active. The molecule, IPA-3, was shown to be highly specific for PAK1 inhibition in cell cultures studies. Previously, PAK1 activity has been linked with breast cancer and to pathways related to the ras oncogene, which is thought to cause up to 30 percent of all cancers.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Shining Light On The Brain's Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313615/080422155735.htm
The microscopic structure of the human brain is almost incomprehensibly complicated, composed of trillions of interconnections between tens of billions of neurons. Understanding this circuitry, the aim of modern neuroscience, is a laudable goal for fundamental as well as neurological health care reasons. Exploring the brain's microcircuitry has traditionally been done by lining up tiny electrodes within or near single neurons to probe their electrical activity.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Pretermers Bounce Back From Pain With A Cuddle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313616/080423202907.htm
Very preterm babies, born between 28 and 31 weeks, could benefit from skin-to-skin cuddling with their mother before and during painful procedures such as a heel lance, according to new research.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Stratospheric Injections To Counter Global Warming Could Damage Ozone Layer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313617/080424140407.htm
A much-discussed idea to offset global warming by injecting sulfates into the stratosphere would drastically affect the ozone layer. A new study warns that such an approach might delay recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole by decades and cause significant ozone loss over the Arctic.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
New Gene Discovered For New Form Of Intellectual Disability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276926017/080424092752.htm
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has discovered a new form of intellectual disability involving mental retardation along with the eye defect retinitis pigmentosa. CAMH also discovered the previously unidentified gene that causes this disorder, CC2D2A. This scientific advance will help understand the developmental and biological processes involved in brain development, and may help identify ways to diagnose and treat intellectual disabilities.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Organic Farming: Early-Flowering, Winter-Hardy Hairy Vetch Released For Northern United States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274145747/080420112906.htm
Agricultural geneticists have released "Purple Bounty," the first winter-hardy, early-flowering vetch for the northern United States. Until now, hairy vetch -- a cover crop and weed-suppressing mulch favored particularly by organic farmers -- had limited use north of Maryland because it copes poorly with northern winters. But Purple Bounty has survived winters as far north as upstate New York.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
A Simplified Method Of Giving Rabies Vaccine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313618/080422203312.htm
A simplified economical method of giving rabies vaccine is just as effective as the expensive standard vaccine regimen at stimulating anti-rabies antibodies, study shows. A clinical trial in healthy volunteers has found that a simpler and cheaper way of using rabies vaccines proved to be just as effective as the current most widely used method at stimulating antibodies against rabies.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Tiny Laser Arrays For Sensitive Chemical Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277313619/080422155058.htm
Early miners used to carry canaries into coal mines because the birds were sensitive to certain gasses. Modern chemical analysis does the same thing, though much more powerfully. For instance, infrared spectroscopy can detect even trace amounts of a wide range of chemicals, including toxic components of hazardous waste or chemical weapons, because many chemicals absorb light in the mid-infrared band.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Urban Slum Conditions Are A Source Of Leptospirosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962776/080422203308.htm
A study conducted in an urban slum setting in Salvador, Brazil has found that open sewers, accumulations of refuse, and inadequate floodwater drainage are acting as sources for transmission of the disease leptospirosis.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Presence Of Certain Antibodies Signals Healthier Teeth And Gums
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962771/080423171513.htm
Antibodies present in people with good oral health could become the first tool for dental professionals to assess a patient's probable response to periodontal disease treatments, say researchers.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Archaeologists Find 18th Century Log Road In Annapolis, Maryland, US
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962772/080423180059.htm
Archaeologists have uncovered traces of a very early log road deep under an Annapolis street -- the first ever found in the city and perhaps one of the oldest such finds in the Washington, D.C. area. The discovery comes in the midst of Annapolis' 300th anniversary.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
The Spring In Your Step Is More Than Just A Good Mood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962773/080423171516.htm
Scientists using a bionic boot found that during walking, the ankle does about three times the work for the same amount of energy compared to isolated muscles -- in other words, the spring in your step is very real and helps us move efficiently.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Nanotubes Grown Straight In Large Numbers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962774/080423124533.htm
Chemists have found a way to grow long, straight cylinders only a few atoms thick in very large numbers, removing a major roadblock in the pursuit of nano-scale electronics.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Sexual Harassment At School -- More Harmful Than Bullying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962781/080423115922.htm
Schools' current focus on bullying prevention may be masking the serious and underestimated health consequences of sexual harassment. New research shows that although less frequent, sexual harassment has a greater negative impact on teenagers' health than the more common form of victimization, bullying.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Mystery Of Ancient Supercontinent's Demise Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962777/080423185112.htm
Geologists can now explain how one of the largest continents ever to exist met its demise. Gondwana was a 'supercontinent' that existed between 500 and 180 million years ago. For the past four decades, geologists have debated how Gondwana eventually broke up, developing a multitude of scenarios which can be loosely grouped into two schools of thought -- one theory claiming the continent separated into many small plates, and a second theory claiming it broke into just a few large pieces. A new computer model shows that the supercontinent cracked into two pieces, too heavy to hold itself together.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Neurofeedback May Help 'Retrain' Brainwaves In Children With Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962778/080423175535.htm
Playing a video game called 'Space Race' that requires nothing more than brainpower to make rockets on a computer screen move forward is more than just fun and games. A researcher is using video games to see if the brainwaves of children with autism can be 'retrained' to improve focus and concentration.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Can Certain Metals Repel Sharks From Fishing Gear?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962779/080422120313.htm
Sharks in captivity avoid metals that react with seawater to produce an electric field, a behavior that may help fishery biologists develop a strategy to reduce the bycatch of sharks in longline gear. Shark bycatch is an increasing priority worldwide given diminished populations of many shark species, and because sharks compete with target species for baited lines, reducing fishing efficiency and increasing operating costs.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Listening To The Urinary Stream: Microphone Replaces Catheter For Diagnosis Of Voiding Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962780/080423101819.htm
Benign prostate enlargement affects most of the elder men and often compresses the urethra resulting in voiding symptoms. Researchers have now found a way to measure the resistance of the urethra using sound: via a microphone placed behind the scrotum. The sound spectrum of the recorded sound depends on how much the urethra has been compressed.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
First-class Protein Crystals Thanks To Weightlessness On Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276183498/080423093249.htm
A Dutch chemist has developed two attractive alternatives for allowing protein crystals to grow under weightless conditions. If the crystals are grown upside down in a strong magnetic field, fluid flows that disrupt crystal growth are suppressed. Therefore, high-quality proteins no longer need to be grown in space, but can be grown here on earth.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Passes U.S. Senate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277204566/080424173942.htm
The U.S. Senate has passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), approving by unanimous consent an amended version of H.R. 493, which passed the House April 25, 2007 by a vote of 420-3. The House is expected to take up the measure again quickly before sending it to President Bush to sign the measure into law.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Ozone Hole Recovery May Reshape Southern Hemisphere Climate Change And Amplify Antarctic Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/277003129/080424113454.htm
A full recovery of the stratospheric ozone hole could modify climate change in the southern hemisphere and even amplify Antarctic warming, according to scientists. While Earth's average surface temperatures have been increasing, the interior of Antarctica has exhibited a unique cooling trend during the austral summer and fall caused by ozone depletion, they said.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Galaxies Gone Wild: Dramatic Collisions Trigger Bursts Of Star Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276926016/080424092756.htm
Interacting galaxies are found throughout the Universe, sometimes as dramatic collisions that trigger bursts of star formation, on other occasions as stealthy mergers that result in new galaxies. Galaxy mergers, which were more common in the early Universe than they are today, are thought to be one of the main driving forces for cosmic evolution, turning on quasars, sparking frenetic star births and explosive stellar deaths.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Fat-cell Hormone Linked To Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962782/080422171522.htm
Reduced levels of a hormone produced by fat cells and linked to the development of insulin resistance may also be related to a higher risk of kidney disease, according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Thomas Jefferson University.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Energy Saving Lights: Organic Light Emitting Diode Made To Last Longer, Resist Moisture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962783/080422123102.htm
Researchers have developed an improved organic light emitting diode (OLED) sealing process to reduce moisture intrusion and improve device lifetime. They are using advanced ion assisted deposition to deposit a high-density, pinhole-free thin silicon oxynitride (SiON) film on the OLED surface. The process can be completed at room temperature, which keeps the organic material intact.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Researchers Link Master Regulator Of Innate Immunity To The Hypoxic Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962784/080423131618.htm
Survival of all animals depends on their ability to withstand microbial infections and adapt to fluctuations in oxygen concentrations. These abilities depend on two ancient, evolutionary gene expression responses called the innate immune response and the hypoxic response. In a new study scientists reveal that a single protein is essential to both responses. This understanding may lead to new therapies to boost the body's immune function or to limit inflammatory damage in tissues deprived of oxygen.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Three Viruses Threaten Watermelon, Squash, Pumpkins, Cucumbers And Now Green Beans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274145746/080420113317.htm
Agricultural scientists have made recommendations to help growers deal with several whitefly-transmitted viruses that threaten cucurbits and other crops in that state. In recent years, the number of whitefly-transmitted viruses in cucurbit fields, home to crops like cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, melons and watermelons, has increased to almost epidemic proportions in Florida.

Fri, 25 Apr 08
Laser Dissection Of Depression In The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276962785/080422171500.htm
Hyperactivity of certain brain regions is considered to be pivotal in symptoms of depression. Using post-mortem brain tissue collected by the Netherlands Brain Bank, a Chinese-Dutch research group has, for the first time, isolated these regions from the brains of depressed patients and controls using a laser dissection microscope. Molecular changes were found that may explain the hyperactivity of these brain areas and may thus be potential targets for new therapeutic strategies.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Newly Created Microbe Produces Cellulose And Sugars For Biofuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571517/080423115917.htm
A newly created microbe produces cellulose that can be turned into ethanol and other biofuels, report scientists. They say the microbe could provide a significant portion of the nation's transportation fuel if production can be scaled up.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Scientists Unravel Heparin Death Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571518/080423171529.htm
Scientists have explained how contaminated batches of the blood-thinner heparin were able to slip past traditional safety screens and kill dozens of patients recently in the United States and Germany.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Transgenic Papaya Genome Draft Yields Many Fruits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571520/080423131624.htm
Researchers have produced a first draft of the papaya genome. This draft sheds new light on the evolution of flowering plants. And because it involves a genetically modified plant, the newly sequenced papaya genome offers the most detailed picture yet of the genetic changes that make the plant resistant to the papaya ringspot virus.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Pregnancy Is Possible After Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571521/080423115925.htm
It has been reported for the first time in Germany that healthy ovarian tissue has been taken from a nonpregnant woman with cancer and then reimplanted after cancer therapy. The patient is now 32-years-old, and could become pregnant as a result.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Watch Digital TV And Films Without Disruptions Thanks To Mathematical Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571522/080423101810.htm
Researchers have developed a method to calculate how a device can provide maximum functionality with a minimum quantity of processor and memory capacity. TVs, DVD players and mobile phones can malfunction when the inbuilt chips and software cease to cope with the increasingly large flow of data.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Environment Key Early: Genes' Role Expands In Alcohol Dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571523/080423131608.htm
The influence of genetics increases as young women transition from their first drink to alcohol dependence. Researchers found that although environment is most influential in determining when drinking begins, genes play a larger role in advancing to problem drinking and alcohol dependence.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Humans May Lose Battle With Bacteria, Medicinal Chemist's Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571524/080423181124.htm
It may not be an ideal topic for polite conversation, but human beings are swarming with bacteria: Even the average healthy adult plays host to about 100 trillion microscopic organisms. Infection takes place when the bacteria get out of hand. Now, a new history of the struggle between man and bacteria -- and warns that humankind someday may lose its advantage.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Menstrual Blood: A Valuable Source Of Multipotential Stem Cells?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571525/080423075810.htm
Researchers suggest that stromal cells derived from menstrual blood may represent a potentially unlimited, ethically unencumbered, easily collectable and inexpensive source of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine. The study found that MenSCs are easily expandable to clinical relevance and express multipotent markers at both the molecular and cellular level. The abundance and plasticity of MenSCs suggest a potential role for MenSCs in regenerative transplantation therapies for many different organs and tissues.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Silicon Nanotubes For Hydrogen Storage In Fuel Cell Vehicles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571526/080421123120.htm
After powering the micro-electronics revolution, silicon could carve out an important new role in speeding the debut of ultra-clean fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen, researchers in China suggest. Their calculations show for the first time that silicon nanotubes can store hydrogen more efficiently than their carbon nanotube counterparts.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Primary Driver Of Stomach Cancer Development Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571527/080422171458.htm
Scientists have discovered what appears to be the primary driver of tumor development in the stomach. Inhibiting the signaling cascade initiated by the IL-11 protein prevented the development of inflammation, hyperplasia (an abnormal increase in the number of cells) and tumor formation in pre-clinical models of gastric cancer.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
UK's Iconic 1930s Semi-detached House Goes Green
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571528/080422103930.htm
The 1930s semi-detached house: three million of them were built in the United Kingdom, they stimulated a boom in employment, and they turned a nation of shop keepers into a nation of home owners.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
On The High Horse: Why Dominant Individuals Climb The Proverbial Ladder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571529/080423153322.htm
Psychological findings imply that a person's level of dominance could be measured based on their biases favoring vertical representations of power, as is the case in a hierarchy. In an attempt to grasp complex concepts, humans have tried to represent abstractions like power and dominance through visually-stimulated metaphors such as pyramids and steeples. And dominance especially has been measured socially, linguistically and artistically on a vertical dimension, as with upper and lower class divisions in hierarchical structures.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Secrets Of Massive Black Hole Unveiled: Workings Of Giant Galactic Particle Accelerators Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571530/080423131621.htm
At the cores of many galaxies, supermassive black holes expel powerful jets of particles at nearly the speed of light. Just how they perform this feat has long been one of the mysteries of astrophysics. Now, astronomers have watched material winding a corkscrew outward path and behaving exactly as predicted by a leading theory.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
New Cell Targets For Preventing Growth Of Breast And Other Tumors Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571531/080423153326.htm
Researchers have discovered new targets for cancer treatment aimed at blocking a key step in tumor progression. This step -- the creation of new blood vessels -- enables tumors to grow out of control and ultimately spread cancer to other parts of the body.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Gene Clusters Offer Potential Protection Against Plant Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274118265/080420110441.htm
New research has revealed novel pseudomonad compounds and toxins with potential benefits for plants and people. Pseudomonads are a diverse group of bacteria, some of which harm plants and animals, while others are beneficial.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
First Atomic-level Look At A Protein That Causes Brain Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571532/080422152816.htm
For the first time, researchers have peered deeply at the atomic level into the protein that causes hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy -- a disease thought to cause stroke and dementia. The study pinpointed a tiny portion of the protein molecule that is key to the formation of plaques in blood vessels in the brain.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Fertilizer Run-off From Agricultural Activities Blamed For Gulf Dead Zone In Gulf Of Mexico
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571533/080421143836.htm
Improved management of crops and perennials could go a long way toward alleviating the problem of hypoxia, which claims thousands of fish, shrimp and shellfish in the Gulf of Mexico each spring. The problem is caused in part by fertilizer run-off from agricultural activities in the Mississippi basin, which drains about 48 percent of the U.S. land.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Psychologists Demonstrate Simplicity Of Working Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571534/080423171519.htm
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but humans may have even less to work with than previously thought. Researchers found that the average person can keep just three or four things in their "working memory" or conscious mind at one time. This finding may lead to better ways to assess and help people with attention-deficit and focus difficulties, improve classroom performance and enhance test scores.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Greenhouse Gases, Carbon Dioxide And Methane, Rise Sharply In 2007
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571535/080423181652.htm
Last year alone global levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global climate change, increased by 0.6 percent, or 19 billion tons. Additionally methane rose by 27 million tons after nearly a decade with little or no increase. NOAA scientists released these and other preliminary findings Aprill 23 as part of an annual update to the agency's greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Scientists Discover A Mechanism That Can Send Cells On The Road To Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571536/080422160537.htm
Using a common virus as a tool for investigating abnormal cell proliferation, scientists have succeeded in clarifying an intricate series of biochemical steps that shed light on a way that cancer can begin.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Preserving Biodiversity Within Food Crops: Saving Old Distinctive Varieties Of Carolina Collards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274118266/080420110157.htm
Some people comb through neighborhood yard sales and secondhand stores to find that one-of-a-kind treasure. Agricultural Research Service plant geneticists used similar tactics --- but on a much larger scale --- in his search for distinctive varieties of Carolina collards. Collard, a cole crop related to broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, has always been a local staple in the South. But its commercial cultivation expanded dramatically in the 20th century, and is now dominated by a few hybrid varieties.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Stem Cell Type Supposed To Be Crucial For Angiogenesis And Cancer Growth Does Not Exist?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571537/080422113003.htm
It is widely believed that tumor angiogenesis and cancer growth critically depend on circulating endothelial precursor cells, mobilized from the bone marrow. A new study now suggests that a stem cell type supposed to be crucial for blood vessel formation and cancer growth does not actually exist.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Mechanism Of Epigenetic Inheritance Clarified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571538/080422151826.htm
Although letters representing the three billion pairs of molecules that form the "rungs" of the helical DNA "ladder" are routinely called the human "genetic code," the DNA they comprise transmits traits across generations in a variety of ways, not all of which depend on the sequence of letters in the code.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Reputation And Money: New Insights Into How The Brain Processes Social, Economic Reward
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571539/080423125954.htm
Researchers have mapped the brain regions that process social standing and money rewards, yielding new insights that they said will aid understanding of the basis of social behaviors.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Human Brain Appears 'Hard-wired' For Hierarchy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571540/080423121430.htm
Human imaging studies have for the first time identified brain circuitry associated with social status. Researchers found that different brain areas are activated when a person moves up or down in a pecking order -- or simply views perceived social superiors or inferiors. Circuitry activated by important events responded to a potential change in hierarchical status as much as it did to winning money, reflecting its influential role in human motivation and health.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Lying? The Face Betrays Deceiver's True Emotions, But In Unexpected Ways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221464/080422200952.htm
How can we tell who's lying, who's not? New research shows that the face will betray the deceiver's true emotion, but not in the stereotypical ways we think.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Lumbar Supports Not Particularly Effective For Low Back Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571541/080422202813.htm
Lumbar or lower back supports -- those large belts that people wear around their waists when they lift or carry heavy objects -- are not very useful for preventing low back pain, according to a new systematic review. Although many people use lumbar supports to bolster the back muscles, they are no more effective than lifting education -- or no treatment whatsoever -- in preventing related pain or reducing disability in those who suffer from the condition, reviewers found.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Precision Irrigation Built Into Sprinkler Booms Controls Water Usage, Optimizes Crop Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274145749/080420111817.htm
A system that turns irrigation water on and off automatically based on leaf temperature is being developed by Agricultural Research Service soil scientists. They are developing time-temperature threshold technology that is based in part on the discovery that plants grow best at certain narrow temperature ranges that vary by crop species.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Drug-releasing Stent Shows Promise For Improving Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571542/080422160941.htm
For patients who underwent angioplasty to open narrowed coronary arteries, the use of stents releasing the drug everolimus reduced the rate of renarrowing of the arteries and significantly reduced the risk of major cardiac events, compared to the widely-used paclitaxel-releasing stents, according to a new article.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Costs, Considerations Of Switching To Natural Or Organic Agricultural Methods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571543/080422150655.htm
The definition of "organic" is defined by the US Department of Agriculture; "natural," however, can be defined differently depending on who's doing the labeling. But both terms mean one thing: higher costs for producers. That's why researchers hope to provide another tool to help those in the beef industry pondering whether to abandon conventional methods and go natural or organic.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Benefits Of Omega-3s Still Unclear For Bipolar Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276571544/080422203136.htm
Despite intriguing findings that omega-3 fatty acid supplements could alleviate depression symptoms, there is still not enough evidence to say whether omega-3s are useful treatments for people with bipolar disorder, according to a review of recent studies. Nevertheless, omega-3s deserve further study, since they seem to have no serious side effects and most experts recommend the supplements for people with heart disease and some immune disorders, said the authors.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Infant Carrying Ruled Out As Reason Why Early Humans Walked Upright, According To New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276183497/080423093254.htm
Scientists investigating the reasons why early humans -- the so-called hominins -- began walking upright say it's unlikely that the need to carry children was a factor, as has previously been suggested.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
How Exercise Changes Structure And Function Of Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221465/080422103857.htm
For the first time researchers are beginning to understand exactly how various forms of exercise impact the heart. Scientists have found that 90 days of vigorous athletic training produces significant changes in cardiac structure and function and that the type of change varies with the type of exercise performed.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Computer Scientists Develop Solutions For Long-term Storage Of Digital Data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221466/080421133025.htm
Although the digital age is well under way, one crucial detail remains to be worked out -- how to store vast amounts of digital information in a way that allows future generations to recover it.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
New Insight Into The Development Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275499439/080422112946.htm
According to estimates there are 85,000 Alzheimer patients in Belgium and approximately 20,000 new cases every year. This spectacular increase is due to the increasing aging population. Unfortunately it is still unclear precisely which aging process forms the basis of this spectacular rise in the occurrence of the disease. Scientists have now discovered an important molecular link between Alzheimer's disease and the development of the typical plaques in the brains of Alzheimer patients.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Researchers Propose Way To Incorporate Deforestation Into Climate Change Treaty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275499433/080422115016.htm
Researchers have proposed a new option for incorporating deforestation into the international climate change treaty. The approach would provide carbon credits for developing countries that both set aside a portion of existing forests and slow the rate at which the remaining forests are cut down. A key point in the approach is its call for a deceleration of deforestation.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Numerical Information Can Be Persuasive Or Informative Depending On How It's Presented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221467/080422150652.htm
Would you rather support research for a disease that affects 30,000 Americans a year or one that affects just .01 percent of the US population? The numbers represent about the same number of people, but how you answered explains how you understand numerical information, according to a psychology professor.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Shell-breaking Crabs Lived 20 Million Years Earlier Than Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221468/080422171449.htm
While waiting for colleagues at a small natural history museum in the state of Chiapas, Mexico last year, Cornell paleontologist Greg Dietl chanced upon a discovery that has helped rewrite the evolutionary history of crabs and the shelled mollusks upon which they preyed.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Protein That Helps Predict Prostate Cancer Survival Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221469/080422115012.htm
Scientists have identified a protein that is a strong indicator of survival for men with advanced prostate cancer. The C-reactive protein, also known as CRP, is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is elevated in the presence of inflammation.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Potential Viral Therapy Weapon For Difficult Cancers Is Safe And Effective In Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221470/080422103831.htm
Combining a herpes virus genetically altered to express a drug-enhancing enzyme with a chemotherapy drug effectively and safely reduced the size of highly malignant human sarcoma grafted into mice. This new finding may add to the growing arsenal of so called oncolytic viruses under development as novel cancer treatments, especially for difficult, inoperable tumors, according to research in Molecular Therapy.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Engineering Students Create Headset To Muffles Loud, Unnerving MRI Noises
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221471/080422120311.htm
Having an MRI exam, an experience many people describe as stressful and uncomfortable, could soon become a bit less unpleasant. The students have designed a headset that shows promise of reducing the extremely loud, repetitive, industrial-like noises that accompany magnetic resonance image examinations. The noises, which range from beeping to whirring to grinding and can often be as loud as a jet engine, stem from the workings of the powerful magnets at the heart of the machines’ ability to produce sharply defined internal images of the body or body parts.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Variety Is The Spice Of Life: Too Many Males, Too Little Time...
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221472/080423104031.htm
Female Australian painted dragon lizards are polyandrous, that is, they mate with as many males as they can safely get access to. Research has shown that this preference could therefore contribute to the maintenance of both male types within the population. Female painted dragons possess the remarkable ability to store sperm inside their reproductive tract that remain viable for a considerable amount of time, so that the sperm of different males actually compete with each other to fertilize her eggs.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Glaciers Reveal Martian Climate Has Been Recently Active
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276367369/080423131602.htm
Researchers have found compelling evidence of thick, recurring glaciers on Mars, a discovery that suggests that the Red Planet's climate was much more dynamic than previously believed -- and could change again.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
One Protein, Opposite Effects: Beneficial In Alzheimer's Disease, Detrimental To Some Forms Of Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276154634/080422172624.htm
Unexpected findings suggest need for alternate therapeutic approaches, different animal models for future research. One of the characteristics of the brain of people with Alzheimer disease (AD) is the presence of tangles, insoluble twisted fibers that build up inside the nerve cells of the brain resulting in malfunctions in communication between nerves and later in their death. A new study finds that the Pin1 enzyme, previously shown to be of benefit in "detangling" tau in Alzheimer's disease, actually has the contradictory effect in cases in which the tau has certain mutations.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Self-assembling Method Could Lead To Inexpensive Diamond-like Crystals For Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276154635/080422123058.htm
Chemical engineers have developed a "self-assembling" method that could lead to an inexpensive way of making diamondlike crystals to improve optical communications and other technologies.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
Nasal Surgery Associated With Improvements In Quality Of Life For Those With Sleep Apnea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221473/080421170221.htm
Nasal surgery to remove obstructions from the airway is associated with improvements in quality of life for patients with obstructive sleep apnea and symptoms of nasal blockages, according to a new article.

Thu, 24 Apr 08
To A Fault: The Bottom Line On Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/276221474/080422103901.htm
Although many people think that California "owns" all the earthquakes, Ohio also has its share of faults. Unlike another earthquake that woke people on another April 18, 102 years ago, this quake was fairly mild.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Mother's Diet Influences Infant Sex: High Energy Intake Linked To Conception Of Sons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800028/080422194553.htm
New research provides the first evidence that a child's sex is associated with the mother's diet. A new study shows a clear link between higher energy intake around the time of conception and the birth of sons. The findings may help explain the falling birth-rate of boys in industrialized countries.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Developmental Changes In Adolescence Raise Men's Heart Disease Risk, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800029/080421170254.htm
The risks and protection from cardiovascular disease appear to emerge during adolescence. Boys had a rapid increase in insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk and girls had a decrease -- despite boys' decreasing body fat and girls' increasing body fat, although the reasons are unclear. The study followed children transitioning through adolescence to adulthood, while previous studies have not followed this population over time.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Birds Announce Their Sentry Duty To Help Comrades Get A Good Meal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800030/080417130549.htm
Soldiers on sentry duty in hostile territory keep in regular radio contact with their colleagues to assure them that all is well and that they are safe to carry on their maneuvers. New research in Current Biology reveals that this is also a feature of the bird world and is very likely to be a rare example of truly cooperative behavior.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Chocolate Bar Shown To Lower Cholesterol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800031/080421114616.htm
The results of a new study have demonstrated an effective way to lower cholesterol levels -- by eating chocolate bars. Researchers attribute the drop in cholesterol numbers (total cholesterol by 2 percent and LDL or "bad" cholesterol by 5.3 percent) to the plant sterols that have been added to the bar and the drop in blood pressure to the flavanols found in dark chocolate.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
'Crime Scene Investigation' Methods Could Help In The Battle Against Hospital Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800032/080422112954.htm
Inspired by the popular television drama CSI, investigators in the Netherlands have trialed methods used by forensic scientists at crime scenes to highlight infection risks in their hospital. Researchers used Luminol, a chemical used by crime scene investigators, to detect traces of blood in their haemodialysis unit.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Regenerative Medicine Seen As Means To Repair Wounded Warriors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800033/080422134702.htm
The U.S. Defense Department has launched a five-year, Army-led cooperative effort to leverage cutting-edge medical technology to develop new ways to assist servicemembers who've suffered severe, disfiguring wounds during their wartime service. A key component of the initiative is to harness stem cell research and technology in finding innovative ways to use a patient's natural cellular structure to reconstruct new skin, muscles and tendons, and even ears, noses and fingers.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Many African-Americans Have A Gene That Prolongs Life After Heart Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274247728/080420151801.htm
About 40 percent of African-Americans have a genetic variant that can protect them after heart failure and prolong their lives, according to new research. The new study offers a reason why beta blockers don't appear to benefit some African-Americans.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Building A Global Reference Library Of DNA Barcodes Of Marine Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800034/080418105531.htm
The global Fish Barcode of Life Initiative plans to collect at least five representatives each of all 30,000 plus marine and freshwater species in the world. FISH-BOL is part of the global Consortium for the Barcode of Life, started in 2003 to barcode everything from fishes, mushrooms and flowers, to microbes, insects and animals of every description.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Children With ADHD Should Get Heart Tests Before Treatment With Stimulant Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800035/080421170219.htm
The side effects of stimulant drugs, like those used to treat ADHD are usually insignificant, but are important to monitor for children with ADHD and certain heart conditions. Children diagnosed with ADHD should receive an electrocardiogram to rule out heart abnormalities before beginning treatment with stimulant drugs. Children currently taking stimulant drugs who did not have an ECG prior to treatment should get an ECG, according to a newly issued statement "Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents with Heart Disease Receiving Stimulant Drugs."

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Herbicide-tolerant Crops Can Improve Water Quality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800036/080422103853.htm
Researchers investigated the water quality effects of using residual versus contact herbicides on corn and herbicide-tolerant soybean. They found that losses of contact herbicides in surface runoff were usually much less than those for the residual herbicides, and never exceeded established or proposed drinking water standards. These results suggest that herbicide losses and concentrations in runoff can be reduced by planting herbicide-tolerant corn and soybean varieties and applying contact herbicides.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Inaccuracies Revealed In Studies Of Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274665907/080421072217.htm
Certain biases may exist in observational studies that compare outcomes of different cancer therapies, making the results questionable. That is the conclusion of a new study published in Cancer. Clinical trials are considered the gold standard for demonstrating the effectiveness of new treatments for cancer, but observational studies, which do not involve randomization but where available data are nonetheless analyzed to make treatment comparisons, have also been used to provide information on how well patients respond to particular drugs.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Link Between Ozone Air Pollution And Premature Death Confirmed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800037/080422135728.htm
Short-term exposure to current levels of ozone in many areas is likely to contribute to premature deaths, says a new National Research Council report, which adds that the evidence is strong enough that the US Environmental Protection Agency should include ozone-related mortality in health-benefit analyses related to future ozone standards.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Vitamin D Important In Brain Development And Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274665910/080421072159.htm
Scientists have found evidence to suggest an important role for vitamin D in brain development and function, and that supplementation for groups chronically low in vitamin D is warranted. Vitamin D is present in only a few foods (e.g., fatty fish), and is also added to fortified milk, but our supply typically comes mostly from exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Charting The Epigenome: Zooming In On Genome-wide DNA At Single Base Resolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800038/080417130542.htm
Until recently, the chemical marks littering the DNA inside our cells like trees dotting a landscape could only be studied one gene at a time. But new high-throughput DNA sequencing technology has enabled researchers to map the precise position of these individual DNA modifications throughout the genome of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and chart its effect on the activity of any of Arabidopsis' roughly 26,000 genes.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
American Cancer Society Report Details Cancer Prevention Efforts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275397218/080422083314.htm
An annual report from the American Cancer Society highlights that long-term favorable trends have stalled for several factors that have been responsible for declining cancer death rates in the US.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Analysis Of RNA Role In Spreading Disease Advances Study Of Damaging Plant Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800039/080421151804.htm
Recent research that links specific pieces of RNA to an infectious organism's duplication and spread could lead the way to the prevention of viroids, pathogens that can kill or damage food crops and other plants. The findings could also have applications in the study of how certain viruses spread in humans because the pathogens have some similar characteristics.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
What's Not To Like? Why Fondness Makes Us Poor Judges, But Dislike Is Spot-on
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275800040/080421111647.htm
How good are we at guessing other people's likes and dislikes? Ever bring a favorite dish to a potluck -- only to watch it go uneaten? Or receive an unwelcome shock when a cherished product is discontinued for lack of sales? People have the tendency to assume the whole world likes what we like. However, we don't generalize the same way when it comes to things we hate.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Migraine Increases Risk Of Severe Skin Sensitivity And Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540224/080421170300.htm
People with migraine are more likely to experience exacerbated skin sensitivity or pain after non-painful daily activities such as rubbing one's head, combing one's hair and wearing necklaces or earrings, compared to people with other types of headache, according to a new study in Neurology.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Data Transfer In The Brain: Newfound Mechanism Enables Reliable Transmission Of Neuronal Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540226/080416220639.htm
The receptors of neurotransmitters move very rapidly. This mobility plays an essential, and hitherto unsuspected, role in the passage of nerve impulses from one neuron to another, thus controlling the reliability of data transfer.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
First Method For Testing, Assessing Drug Treatments For Chagas' Disease Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274247730/080420151756.htm
Scientists have identified for the first time a sensitive method for testing and assessing the efficacy of treatments for Chagas' disease. The study could lead to new treatments for long-term sufferers of a disease that can be fatal.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
'What Can I, Robot, Do With That?'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540228/080421162714.htm
A new approach to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to a revolution in the field by shifting the focus from what a thing is to how it can be used. Identifying what a robot is looking at is a key approach of AI and machine cognition. So far ambitious researchers have managed to teach a computer's vision system to recognize up to 100 objects. Granted, this is a huge achievement, yet far short of an "I, Robot" scenario.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Counseling Trauma Victims Causes Secondary Trauma, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540233/080421170211.htm
In a study of several hundred New York City social workers after Sept. 11, new research finds that mental health workers themselves can experience a psychological problem known as secondary trauma. The study in Research on Social Work Practice shows a clear link between secondary or vicarious trauma and counseling.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Ancient Buddhist Paintings From Bamiyan Were Made Of Oil, Hundreds Of Years Before Technique Was 'Invented' In Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275397219/080422083309.htm
The world was in shock when in 2001 the Talibans destroyed two ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan. Behind them, there are caves decorated with precious paintings from 5th to 9th century A.D. The caves also suffered from destruction but today they have become the source of a major discovery. Scientists have proved that the paintings were made of oil, hundreds of years before the technique was "invented" in Europe.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Most Lethal Melanomas Are On Scalp And Neck
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540235/080421170258.htm
People with scalp or neck melanomas die at nearly twice the rate of people with melanoma elsewhere on the body, including the face or ears, researchers have found.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Earthquake Hazard Maps Show How U.S. Shakes With Quakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540237/080421193729.htm
The recent magnitude-5.2 earthquake in southern Illinois is a reminder that earthquakes are a national hazard. Today, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are revealing how shaky the nation is by releasing an updated version of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Inflammation Triggers Cell Fusions That Could Protect Neurons, Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274247731/080420151752.htm
Chronic inflammation triggers bone marrow-derived blood cells to travel to the brain and fuse with a certain type of neuron up to 100 times more frequently than previously believed.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Gel-like Material Shows Promise As Oral Insulin Pill For Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540238/080421123008.htm
Researchers report development of a gel-like material that could help speed the long-awaited arrival of insulin that can be taken in a pill by mouth, rather than with injections. They point out acid in the stomach destroys insulin, preventing its administration by mouth. Many different research groups worldwide are searching for ways to overcome that obstacle. However, an ideal material for safe, effective oral delivery remains elusive.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Patients Arriving At Hospitals In Off Hours Get Slower, Less Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540240/080421170256.htm
Heart attack patients arriving at hospitals at night, weekends or holidays were slightly less likely to receive emergency angioplasty or receive it in a timely fashion. Death rates were similar for those arriving during regular and off-hours.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Chemotherapy's Damage To The Brain Detailed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275463169/080422103947.htm
A commonly used chemotherapy drug causes healthy brain cells to die off long after treatment has ended and may be one of the underlying biological causes of the cognitive side effects -- or "chemo brain" -- that many cancer patients experience.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Researchers Identify New Class Of Photoreceptors, Pointing To New Ways Sights And Smells Are Regulated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275499442/080422083318.htm
The identification of a new class of photoreceptors in the retina of fruit flies sheds light on the regulation of the pigments of the eye that confer color vision, researchers at New York University's Center for Developmental Genetics report in a new study. The findings, they write, may also have implications for the regulating of olfactory receptors, which are responsible for the detection of smells, because both types of receptors belong to the same protein family.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Ugandan Monkeys Harbor Evidence Of Infection With Unknown Poxvirus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275499435/080422115008.htm
Red colobus monkeys in western Uganda have been exposed to an unknown orthopoxvirus, a pathogen related to the viruses that cause smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox. Most of the monkeys screened harbor antibodies to a virus that is similar – but not identical – to known orthopoxviruses.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
New Treatment For Aortic Valve Stenosis May Let Patients Avoid Open Heart Surgery, Animal Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272989689/080418115022.htm
A new type of medication can lead to an improvement in the aortic valve narrowing. Treatment based on raising high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol level in patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis, could potentially transform the treatment approach of this disease, notably by avoiding open heart surgery. After only 14 days of treatment animals with aortic valve narrowing had returned almost to normal.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Low Grades, Bad Behavior? Siblings May Be To Blame, Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275540241/080422120304.htm
We all know the story of a man named Brady and the group that somehow formed a family. But if the iconic '70s sitcom about a "blended" family reflected reality, the Brady Bunch likely would have been dealing with much more than silly sibling squabbles.

Wed, 23 Apr 08
Chemical In Plastic Bottles Raises Some Concern, According To New Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275499436/080422114734.htm
Concern about the potential health effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in consumer plastic products, is growing, following the recent release of a draft report from the US National Toxicology Program. That report says there's "some concern" about the potential negative health effects of BPA on infants and children and calls for more research to determine just what the risks of BPA exposure might be.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Larger Pacific Climate Event Helps Current La Nina Linger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033750/080421195005.htm
Boosted by the influence of a larger climate event in the Pacific, one of the strongest La Niñas in many years is slowly weakening but continues to blanket the Pacific Ocean near the equator, as shown by new sea-level height data collected by the U.S.-French Jason oceanographic satellite.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Chemotherapy Causes Delayed Severe Neural Damage, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033751/080421191425.htm
Cancer treatment with chemotherapeutic agents is often associated with delayed adverse neurological consequences -- an occurrence often referred to as "chemobrain" -- that may compromise the quality of life of a proportion of cancer survivors. Now, new research demonstrates that treatment with a single chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil, by itself is sufficient to cause a syndrome of delayed degeneration in the central nervous system.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Questioning Nuclear Power's Ability To Forestall Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033752/080421123231.htm
Rising energy and environmental costs may prevent nuclear power from being a sustainable alternative energy source in the fight against global warming, according to a new study.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Mutation In Human Gene Helps Protect Against Fatal Malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033753/080421114612.htm
New research suggests that not everyone who is bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito develops life threatening health problems. Malaria causes an estimated 500 million clinical cases worldwide with symptoms ranging from headache, high fevers and nausea to more than 1 million deaths annually.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Platinum Nanocube Makes Hydrogen Fuel Cells Cheaper And More Efficient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919347/080418090427.htm
Two great obstacles to hydrogen-powered vehicles lie with fuel cells. Fuel cells, which like batteries produce electrical power through chemical reactions, have been plagued by their relatively low efficiency and high production costs. Scientists have tested a wide assortment of metals and materials to overcome the twin challenge.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
How Stereotypes Can Lead To Success, Psychologists Explain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033754/080421191418.htm
Stereotypes can boost as well as hinder our chances of success, according to psychologists. They argue that the power of stereotypes to affect our performance should not be underestimated.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Arctic Ice More Vulnerable To Sunny Weather, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033755/080421124230.htm
The shrinking expanse of Arctic sea ice is increasingly vulnerable to summer sunshine. New research finds that unusually sunny weather contributed to last summer's record loss of Arctic ice, while similar weather conditions in past summers did not have comparable impacts.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Cancer Cells Spread By Releasing 'Bubbles', According To New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033756/080421111609.htm
A new fundamental mechanism of how tumour cells communicate has just been discovered. These findings could change our view on how cancerous tissues work and lead to major clinical innovations.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Water Needed To Produce Various Types Of Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033757/080417173953.htm
It is easy to overlook that most of the energy we consume daily, such as electricity or natural gas, is produced with the help of a dwindling resource -- fresh water. Scientists are researching the water-efficiency of some of the most common energy sources and power generating methods.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Many Captive Tigers Are Of Purebred Ancestry; Finding Raises Their Conservation Value
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033758/080417130601.htm
Tigers held in captivity around the world -- including those in zoos, circuses and private homes -- may hold considerable conservation value for the rapidly dwindling wild populations around the world.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Advanced MRI Studies Provide New Insight On Early Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033759/080417172623.htm
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain affecting movement, speech, mood, behavior, thinking and sensation for which there is no known cause or cure. Two new studies shed new light on very early development of the disease.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Increasing Levels Of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Cause A Rise In Ocean Plankton Calcification
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033760/080421160728.htm
Increased carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is causing microscopic ocean plants to produce greater amounts of calcium carbonate (chalk) - with potentially wide ranging implications for predicting the cycling of carbon in the oceans and climate modelling.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Self-healing Ceramic Modeled: Potentially Useful Material For Nuclear Waste Storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273092876/080418141246.htm
A new computer simulation reveals a self-healing behavior that repairs radiation-induced damage in yttria-stabilized zirconia, indicating that the engineered ceramic may be suitable for use in development of radiation-resistant materials for nuclear power plants and nuclear waste storage.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Rat Study Suggests Why Teens Get Hooked On Cocaine More Easily Than Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033761/080421133021.htm
New drug research suggests that teens may get addicted and relapse more easily than adults because developing brains are more powerfully motivated by drug-related cues. This conclusion has been reached by researchers who found that adolescent rats given cocaine -- a powerfully addicting stimulant -- were more likely than adults to prefer the place where they got it.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Computer System Can Carry On Conversations With Humans By Reacting To Voice, Facial Signals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033762/080416100455.htm
Imagine a computer system that can carry on a discussion with a human being by reacting to signals such as tone of voice and facial expression. That's what is being developed by an international team of computer scientists.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Scientists Deconstruct Process Of Bacterial Division: Could Lead To New Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033763/080417142500.htm
Researchers have made a major advance in understanding how bacteria divide. This could lead to new antibiotic treatments that prevent dangerous bacteria from multiplying.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Want To Reduce Your Food-related Carbon Footprint? What You Eat Is More Important Than Where It Came From
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033764/080421161338.htm
The old adage, "We are what we eat," may be the latest recipe for success when curbing dangerous global warming. Despite the recent popular attention to the distance that food travels from farm to plate, aka "food miles," some researchers argue that it is dietary choice, not food miles, which most determines a household's food-related climate impacts. Fruit, vegetables, meat and milk produced closer to home rack up fewer petroleum-based transport miles than foods trucked cross country to your table. Yet despite the large distances involved -- the average distance traveled for food in the U.S. is estimated at 4,000-5,000 miles -- the large non-energy based greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing food make food production matter much more than distance traveled.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Fertility Expert Finds Genetic Markers Of An Egg's Maturity, Could Boost Pregnancies With IVF
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033765/080417165437.htm
Fertility experts have long been interested in understanding why so few human eggs harvested during in vitro fertilization result in pregnancies. Researchers found that eggs that matured in culture, as opposed to eggs that were already mature at the time of harvesting, tended to lack gene activity normally involved in the development of the cytoplasm of the egg, or the area outside the nucleus. Furthermore, they compiled a list of mRNA-mediated gene expression changes that take place as the eggs matured.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Aerodynamic Truck Trailer Cuts Fuel And Emissions By Up To 15 Percent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033766/080417105446.htm
Creating an improved aerodynamic shape for truck trailers by mounting sideskirts can lead to a cut in fuel consumption and emissions of up to as much as 15%. Earlier promising predictions, based on mathematical models and wind tunnel tests have been confirmed during road tests with an adapted trailer.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Coke Or Pepsi? Being Distracted Can Make You More Susceptible To Ads
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033767/080421111649.htm
When distracted, those who were initially neutral towards both brands strongly tended to choose the brand that had been paired with positive images or words in the earlier task. Importantly, this happened even when the participant couldn't remember which brand had been paired with positive information, reports a new study.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Mars Radar Instruments Work Together To Discover Hidden Martian Secrets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274145744/080420114718.htm
A radar instrument has looked beneath the surface of Mars and opened up a new dimension for planetary exploration. The technique's success is prompting scientists to think of other places in the solar system where they would like to use radar sounders.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Using Anti-cholinergic Drugs May Increase Cognitive Decline In Older People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033768/080417211539.htm
Anticholinergic drugs, such as medicines for stomach cramps, ulcers, motion sickness and urinary incontinence, may cause older people to experience greater decline in their thinking skills than people not taking the drugs.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Breastfeeding While Taking Seizure Medicine Does Not Appear To Harm Children, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033769/080417145752.htm
A first of its kind study finds breastfeeding while taking certain seizure medications does not appear to harm a child's cognitive development. Researchers tested the cognitive development of 187 two-year-old children whose mothers were taking the epilepsy drugs lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or valproate. Forty-one percent of the children were breastfed.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Scientists Test Device To Track Medication Adherence In Patients With HIV/AIDS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033770/080421121947.htm
Most of us have missed a dose of antibiotic or forgotten to take a daily vitamin. But when the stakes are higher -- as they are for people with HIV/AIDS -- a skipped pill could mean the difference between health and hazard for the entire population. Now, scientists have developed a breath monitoring device that may help prevent the emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV by monitoring medication adherence in high-risk individuals.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Counting Every Thought: What Consumers See When Looking At Ads
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033771/080421111640.htm
Thought-listing exercises are frequently used by researchers to gauge people's reactions to advertisements. But new research suggests two alternative methods that may more accurately reveal what consumers actually notice.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Mice Can Sense Oxygen Through Their Skin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033772/080417130545.htm
Biologists have discovered that the skin of mice can sense low levels of oxygen and regulate the production of erythropoietin, or EPO, the hormone that stimulates our bodies to produce red blood cells and allows us to adapt to high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
High Blood Levels Of Vitamin D Protect Women From Breast Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033773/080418094101.htm
High blood levels of vitamin D protect post-menopausal women from breast cancer. This connection has been confirmed by research of the German Cancer Research Center. It also shows that a particular gene variant of the vitamin D receptor is associated with an elevated breast cancer risk if the tumor has receptors for the female sex hormone estrogen.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Marijuana, Genes, Medicines And Brain Scans Help Scientists Find Better Anxiety Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273123496/080418154959.htm
Right now, about half of all people who take medicine for an anxiety disorder don't get much help from it. And doctors have no definitive way to predict who will, and who won't, benefit from each antianxiety prescription they write. Scientists are working to bring more certainty to anxiety treatment, by probing the connection between brain activity, genetics and medication.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Effective Cancer Immune Therapy Through Order In The Blood Vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033774/080421111612.htm
Researchers have discovered a key molecule that is responsible for the characteristic immature structure of blood vessels in malignant tumors. If this molecule is switched off in mice, vessels normalize so that immune cells are better able to get to the tumor tissue from the bloodstream. This significantly increases the effectiveness of immune therapies and, thus, considerably enhances the survival time of treated animals.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Pathogen Virulence Proteins Suppress Plant Immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033775/080421114609.htm
Researchers have identified a key function of a large family of virulence proteins that play an important role in the production of infectious disease by the plant pathogen Phytophthora sojae, which damages soybean crops, resulting in $1-2 million in annual losses in the United States and much more worldwide.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
When Positive Thinking Leads To Financial Irresponsibility Like Compulsive Gambling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/275033776/080421111630.htm
Looking on the bright side can lead to irresponsible financial behavior, reveals a new article. In a series of studies, scientists examine repeat gambling in the face of loss. They find that people often engage in too much positive thinking, selectively focusing on one win among hundreds of losses when they think back on the overall experience.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Making Environmentally Friendly Plastics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733088/080416211436.htm
Every year, more than 30 billion water bottles are added to America's landfills, creating a mountainous environmental problem. But if new research is successful, the plastic bottles of the future could literally disappear within four months of being discarded. Scientists are constructing new breeds of biodegradable and bioavailable plastics in an effort to reduce the tons of plastic waste that ends up in the nation's landfills each year. Bioavailable plastics contain substances that can be absorbed by living systems during their normal physiological functions.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Mature B Cells Reprogrammed To Stem-cell-like State
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733101/080417130552.htm
Fully differentiated mouse cells, such as mature B cells, can be reprogrammed to embryonic-stem-cell-like induced pluripotent stem cells, without the use of an egg. Using reprogrammed mature B cells, researchers may be able to create mouse models that will aid in understanding autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
New Robots Can Provide Elder Care For Aging Baby Boomers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733103/080416212725.htm
Over 77 million baby boomers will retire in the next 30 years, and robots are ready to assist with elder care. Engineers have created a robotic assistant that can recognize medical emergencies and call 911, remind clients to take their medication, help with grocery shopping and cleaning and allow retirees to communicate with loved ones.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Antidepressants Enhance Neuronal Plasticity In The Visual System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733105/080417142449.htm
Scientists illuminate the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. A new study suggests that antidepressants could also be used for the treatment of amblyopia. However, to produce a functional effect, antidepressant treatment also seems to require environmental stimuli, such as rehabilitation or therapy.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
How Nanocluster Contaminants Increase Risk Of Spreading Through Groundwater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733108/080417152019.htm
For almost half a century, scientists have struggled with plutonium nanoclusters spreading further in groundwater than expected, increasing the risk of sickness in humans and animals. Scientists were able to finally discover and study the structure of plutonium nanoclusters.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Communication Tactics Used By Sexual Predators To Entrap Children Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733112/080417163856.htm
A child's innocence and vulnerability presents a target for a sexual predator's abusive behavior. Researchers are beginning to understand the communication process by which predators lure victims into a web of entrapment. This information could better equip parents and community members to prevent, or at least interrupt, the escalation of child sexual abuse.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Slowly-developing Primates Definitely Not Dim-witted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733114/080416140928.htm
Some primates have evolved big brains because their extra brainpower helps them live and reproduce longer, an advantage that outweighs the demands of extra years of growth and development they spend reaching adulthood, anthropologists have concluded in a new study.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Yeast Has Potential For Selecting Lou Gehrig's Disease Drugs, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733115/080417163854.htm
Researchers are developing a novel approach to screen for drugs to combat neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease -- using yeast cells. The clumping process of proteins takes decades in humans but the researchers could model the process within a matter of hours in yeast cells. This now allows for rapid genetic screening to identify proteins that can reverse the harmful effects of the disease protein; visualizing the clumping; and testing molecules that could eliminate or prevent clumping.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
New Model Predicts Where Corals Can Thrive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733118/080416165732.htm
Scientists have developed a new model that accurately maps where coral reefs are in the most trouble, and identifies regions where reefs can be protected best. The model is being applied in areas throughout the Indian Ocean.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Migraine Frequency Linked With Women's Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733120/080417145757.htm
New research shows women who have weekly migraine are significantly more likely to have a stroke than those with fewer migraines or no migraine at all, but those with lower migraine frequency may face increased risk of heart attacks.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Breakthrough In Nanotechnology By Uncovering Conductive Property Of Carbon-based Molecules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733122/080417142457.htm
Researchers have discovered that certain organic -- or carbon-based -- molecules exhibit the properties of atoms under certain circumstances and, in turn, conduct electricity as well as metal. Detailed in Science, the finding is a breakthrough in developing nanotechnology that provides a new strategy for designing electronic materials, including inexpensive and multifunctional organic conductors that have long been considered the key to smaller, cheaper and faster technologies.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Children With Migraine At Increased Risk Of Sleep Disturbances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733124/080417145749.htm
Children with migraine are more likely to have sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and lack of sleep, than children without migraine, according to research on the effects of headaches on children's sleep patterns.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Neanderthals Speak Again After 30,000 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274952368/080421154426.htm
An anthropologist has reconstructed vocal tracts that simulate the sound of the Neanderthal voice. Using 50,000-year-old fossils from France and a computer synthesizer, the researcher has generated a recording of how a Neanderthal would pronounce the letter "e."

Tue, 22 Apr 08
First Targeted Therapy To Produce Remission Of Metastatic Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733127/080417211534.htm
Researchers report the first instance in which metastatic melanoma has been driven into remission by a targeted therapy. A patient with abdominal melanoma tumors that carried an abnormality in the KIT gene, was treated with Gleevec, a drug known to target that gene. After four weeks, exams showed a dramatic reduction in tumor size and metabolism, including two tumor masses that disappeared and several had shrunken considerably.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
How Dietary Restriction Slows Down Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733128/080417130533.htm
Scientists have uncovered details about the mechanisms through which dietary restriction slows the aging process. Working in yeast cells, they have linked ribosomes, the protein-making factories in living cells, and Gcn4, a specialized protein that aids in the expression of genetic information, to the pathways related to dietary response and aging.

Tue, 22 Apr 08
Readily Available Treatment Could Help Prevent Heart Disease In Kidney Patients, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274733130/080417163859.htm
The estimated 19 million Americans living with chronic kidney disease face a high risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Now researchers have demonstrated that high blood phosphate directly stimulates calcification of blood vessels and that phosphate-binding drugs can decrease vascular calcification. That means drugs that reduce phosphate levels could help protect CKD patients from cardiovascular disease.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Moon Gets A Lashing From Earth's Magnetotail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274173155/080420123319.htm
Behold the full moon. Ancient craters and frozen lava seas lie motionless under an airless sky of profound quiet. It's a serene, slow-motion world where even a human footprint may last millions of years. Nothing ever seems to happen there, right? Wrong. Scientists have realized that something happens every month when the moon gets a lashing from Earth's magnetic tail.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Can Food Allergies Be Overcome With Scheduled Small Doses Of Allergens?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443705/080417111254.htm
Researchers are conducting trials to evaluate a method to prevent allergic reactions to food. They are feeding allergic people increasing doses of egg and peanut protein to see if they can induce the participants' immune systems to tolerate the food.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Road Kill Losses Add Up, Taxing Amphibians And Other Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443707/080416151943.htm
When frogs hit the road, many croak. Researchers found more than 65 animal species killed along a short stretch of roads and nearly 95 percent of the total dead were frogs and other amphibians, suggesting that road-related death, or road-kill, possibly contributes to their worldwide decline.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Clue To Cataract Formation Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443708/080417155909.htm
Cataracts, which can have devastating effects on the eye, affect 42 percent of the population between the ages of 70 and 80, and 68 percent of the population over the age of 80, according to the National Eye Institute. Now, a professor has identified an important step in how cataracts form. This discovery could lead to a better treatment or cure for cataracts in the future.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Sudden Oak Death Pathogen Is Evolving, Restriction On Movement Of Infected Plants Urged
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443709/080416174607.htm
The pathogen responsible for Sudden Oak Death, a disease that has felled millions of oaks and tanoaks along the Pacific Coast, is evolving, suggesting that movement of infected plants between different quarantined regions should be restricted. The study also revealed that the pathogen got its first toehold in California's forests outside a nursery in Santa Cruz and at Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
New Molecule Could Be Key To Anti-heart Attack Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274247727/080420154905.htm
When too many blood platelets stick together in the bloodstream, they form dangerous clots that can clog blood vessels and cause a heart attack. If a clot doesn't get dissolved or rapidly removed, it can cause permanent damage or even death. But new research suggests that it should be possible to create a clot-busting pill that targets a receptor on the blood cells' surface, something that high-risk patients could take at the first sign of chest pain.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Breakthrough In Migraine Genetics: Genomic Locus Of Migraine Susceptibility Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418280/080417095932.htm
Scientists have, for the first time, convincingly demonstrated a genomic locus linked to migraine susceptibility in two diverse populations. Migraine is the most common cause of episodic headache, and by far the most common neurological cause of a doctor's visit. It affects some 15% of the population, including some 41 million people in Europe, and places a considerable burden on healthcare in both the developed and the developing world.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Airport Security From Chaos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418281/080416161215.htm
There's safety in numbers -- especially when those numbers are random. That's the lesson learned from new research that is already helping to beef up security at LAX airport in Los Angeles. Soon it may be used across the country to both predict and minimize risk.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Drug Compound Leads To Death Of Ovarian Cancer Cells Resistant To Chemotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443710/080417145744.htm
In a discovery that may be useful for maintaining remission in chemo-resistant ovarian cancer, Yale scientists report that pre-clinical studies have shown the drug compound NV-128 can induce the death of ovarian cancer cells by halting the activation of a protein pathway called mTOR.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Experiencing Virtual Products Prior To Product Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443711/080416111607.htm
From cars and mobile phones to computers and furniture, most of today's products are created virtually on a computer before they are actually produced. Researchers are adding new functionalities to digital product development.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Study In Flies Points To Unisex Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443712/080417130555.htm
While males and females might sometimes act as though they come from different planets, a new study in flies suggests they are both equipped with a largely unisex brain. By artificially triggering the neurons responsible for singing -- normally a male only activity -- the researchers made female flies play their first tune.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Could There Be Life On Saturn's Moon Enceladus?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274173156/080420122601.htm
Could microbial life exist inside Enceladus, where no sunlight reaches, photosynthesis is impossible and no oxygen is available? To answer that question, we need look no farther than our own planet to find examples of the types of exotic ecosystems that could make life possible on Saturn's geyser moon. The answer appears to be, yes, it could be possible. It is this tantalizing potential that brings us back to Enceladus for further study.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Tiny Magnets Offer Breakthrough In Gene Therapy For Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274345441/080417095908.htm
A revolutionary cancer treatment using microscopic magnets to enable 'armed' human cells to target tumors has been developed. Research in Gene Therapy shows that inserting these nanomagnets into cells carrying genes to fight tumors, results in many more cells successfully reaching and invading malignant tumors.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Current Spike In Atmospheric Methane Mirrors Early Climate Change Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443713/080416140958.htm
Using novel isotopic studies, scientists have identified the most important processes responsible for changes in natural methane concentrations over the transition from the last ice age into our warm period. The study shows that wetland regions emitted significantly less methane during glacial times. The glacial/interglacial changes in atmospheric methane concentrations are quite drastic. Glacial concentration were on average 350 ppbv (part per billion by volume) and increased to approximately 700 ppbv during the last glacial/interglacial transition. During the last centuries human methane emissions artificially increased methane concentrations to approximately 1750 ppbv.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Hormone Therapy: Does Timing Matter?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418282/080416174627.htm
Hormone therapy may have different effects on blood vessels if it is started early in menopause as opposed to later, researchers suggest.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
3-D Images -- Cordless And Any Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418283/080416114413.htm
Securing evidence at the scene of a crime, measuring faces for medical applications, taking samples during production -- 3-D images are in demand everywhere. A handy cordless device now enables such images to be prepared rapidly anywhere.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Babies' Development 'Catches Up' After Surgery To Fix Crossed Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418284/080417095928.htm
Babies with an eye-alignment disorder called infantile esotropia have delays in motor development milestones, but development "catches up" after corrective surgery. Infants tested after esotropia surgery had no delays in developmental milestones.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Extreme Ocean Storms Have Become More Frequent Over Past Three Decades, Study Of Tiny Tremors Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274418285/080417105456.htm
Data from faint earth tremors caused by wind-driven ocean waves -- often dismissed as "background noise" at seismographic stations around the world -- suggest extreme ocean storms have become more frequent over the past three decades. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other prominent researchers have predicted that stronger and more frequent storms may occur as a result of global warming trends.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
New Strategies Against Bird Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443714/080417130539.htm
Multiple lethal pathogens such as H5N1 avian flu trigger acute lung injury with a high death rate. Scares of an epidemic have led to an increasing interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms that lead to this condition. Scientists have now identified oxidative stress and innate immunity as a common pathway that controls the severity of ARDS.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Fast AFM Probes Measure Multiple Properties Of Biomolecules Or Materials Simultaneously
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443715/080416104322.htm
Researchers have developed novel atomic force microscopy probes that can quickly and simultaneously measure biomolecule or material properties including adhesion, stiffness, elasticity and viscosity, in addition to the standard AFM topography scan.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Stem Cells: The Role Of Cancer-initiating Cells In Diagnosis And Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274443716/080415194433.htm
Recent discoveries about the role of stem cells in cancer have altered the landscape of cancer research. As scientists learn more their cancer-initiating properties, stem cells are emerging as potential therapeutic targets for many types of cancers. Studies presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 12-16, report stem cell discoveries related to pancreatic, bladder, ovarian, and breast cancer and glioma.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Commander Peggy Whitson Breaks Record For Time In Space For A U.S. Astronaut
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274145745/080420114045.htm
Commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko of the 16th International Space Station crew landed on the steppes of Kazakhstan around 4:30 a.m. EDT April 19 after 192 days in space. All three people aboard the Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft were reported to be in good condition after their re-entry and landing.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
No Place Like Home: Hurricane Katrina's Lasting Impact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273123495/080418155002.htm
New Orleans residents who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina were over five times more likely to experience serious psychological distress a year after the disaster than those who did not.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Variants Of Vitamin D Receptor Linked To Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165325/080417084022.htm
Genetic variations in the body's receptor for vitamin D could increase the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, according to a new study. The researchers explain that vitamin D intake and serum concentrations of its metabolites have been associated with a decreased risk of developing breast cancer. The vitamin plays a known role in controlling calcium levels and influences the differentiation of cells and so could play a part in preventing the runaway proliferation of cells characteristic with cancer.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
New Technique Yields More Detailed Picture Of Chromatin Structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274345442/080416140924.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique for imaging cells under an electron microscope that yields a sharper image of the structure of chromatin, the tightly wound bundle of genetic material and proteins that makes up the chromosomes.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Interleukin-12 Indicates Survival Prospects For Melanoma Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274345443/080416141017.htm
Higher blood levels of an immune system protein predict poor survival prospects for melanoma patients with advanced disease, researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report today at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
New Technologies Offer More Accurate Means Of Diagnosis And Monitoring Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274345444/080416141021.htm
Irregular molecules in the lining of the mouth, the saliva, the fallopian tube or the bladder can identify early stage cancer, according to research presented today at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 12-16. Scientists who hope to apply basic knowledge to medical practice are developing tests that diagnose, predict or monitor cancer risks without invasive tissue sampling.

Mon, 21 Apr 08
Growth Hormone Is Used To Treat Twice As Many Short Boys Than Girls In The US And Asia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/274345445/080417102510.htm
Boys are twice as likely as girls in the US and Asia to receive recombinant human growth hormone for growth hormone deficiency, illnesses that affect height, and short stature of a non-medical nature. A smaller gender difference exists in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but in the rest of the world short boys and girls are treated at the same rate. This indicates a likely cultural bias for male height in some countries.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Early Elephant 'Was Amphibious'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273797994/080416221459.htm
The scientists were investigating the lifestyle of two early elephants (proboscideans) Moeritherium and Barytherium that lived in the Eocene period, over 37 million years ago. By analysing isotopes in tooth enamel from Moeritherium they were able to deduce that it was very likely a semi-aquatic mammal, spending its days in water eating freshwater plants.'

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Vitamin D May Protect Against Peripheral Artery Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273797995/080416140954.htm
People with low vitamin D levels may face an increased risk for peripheral artery disease, according to scientists. PAD is a common disease that occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed by fatty deposits, causing pain and numbness and impairing the ability to walk.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Mercury In River Moves Into Terrestrial Food Chain Through Spiders Fed To Baby Birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273797996/080417175221.htm
Songbirds feeding near the contaminated South River are showing high levels of mercury, even though they aren't eating food from the river itself, according to a new article in Science. Mercury is one of the world's most troublesome pollutants, especially in water. "The birds eat a lot of spiders... The spiders have a lot of mercury in them and are delivering the mercury to these songbirds," one of the researchers said.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Experimental Drug Shows Promise In Treating Certain Lymphomas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273797998/080416140930.htm
Data showed that AME-133v had a potent tumor-halting response in patients with follicular lymphoma, a portion of lymphoma cases. Results add to research showing a new class of monoclonal antibodies like AME-133v may lengthen survival times, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Patients Receive Heart Valve Replacements Without Surgery Using High-tech Device
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273797999/080418105524.htm
Interventional cardiologists now offer a minimally-invasive transcatheter valve replacement procedure for patients with congenital heart disease that doesn't involve open heart surgery. Recently, the minimally-invasive pulmonic valves were successfully implanted the first three patients.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Slight Of Hand Is Not So Slight, Motor Development Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798000/080417163851.htm
Typing on a keyboard or scribbling on paper may be similar activities, but there is a significant difference in how the body moves, according to new motor development research. In a physical therapy setting many skills are taught discretely first, such as stepping or bending a joint, and then the patient is told to perform continuously, such as walking. Humanoid robots, which resemble people and walk upright, often control movements as a series of discrete actions.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Mighty Microbes: Bacteria Filaments Can Bundle Together And Move Objects 100,000 Times Bacterium's Body Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273092877/080418133406.htm
Scientists have discovered that tiny filaments on bacteria can bundle together and pull with forces far stronger than experts had previously thought possible. Retraction forces from a bundle allow the bacterium to move objects 100,000 times its body weight.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
New Treatment Could Double Pregnancy Rates With Assisted Reproductive Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798001/080416212231.htm
Pregnancy rates could be doubled for couples undertaking certain fertility treatments, thanks to a revolutionary project currently being trialled. Researchers have devised a new formula to significantly improve embryo implantation rates and reduce pregnancy complications in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Parkinson's Drugs Tradeoff: Better Muscle Control, Worse Side Effects, Review Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798002/080415194241.htm
Compared to older drugs for Parkinson disease, a newer class of medications called dopamine agonists might be better at preventing some of the disabling muscle control problems associated with the disease and its treatment, a new review concludes. However, patients who take the new drugs suffer from an increase in numerous side effects, and are more likely to drop out of treatment.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Green Gel: New Hybrid Materials Made From Synthetic Polymers And Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273061333/080418105534.htm
Researchers have developed a new strategy for the formation of hybrid materials from synthetic polymers and proteins. They can fuse the specific biological functions of proteins with the advantageous bulk and processing properties of plastics. They have successfully synthesized a green-fluorescing biodegradable gel that responds to changes in pH value and temperature.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Aerobic Exercise Boosts Older Bodies And Minds, Review Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798003/080417173453.htm
Aerobic exercise could give older adults a boost in brainpower, according to a recent review of studies from the Netherlands. "Aerobic physical exercises that improve cardiovascular fitness also help boost cognitive processing speed, motor function and visual and auditory attention in healthy older people," said the lead review author. Around age 50, even healthy older adults begin to experience mild declines in cognition, such as occasional memory lapses and reduced ability to pay attention. Convincing evidence shows that regular exercise contributes to healthy aging, but could the types of exercise a person does influence his or her cognitive fitness?

Sun, 20 Apr 08
New Vaccine May Give Long-term Defense Against Deadly Bird Flu And Its Variant Forms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798004/080417152027.htm
A new vaccine under development may provide protection against highly pathogenic bird flu and its evolving forms, according to researchers who discovered the new preventative drug and have tested it in mice.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
New Type Of Drug Shrinks Primary Breast Cancer Tumors Significantly In Just 6 Weeks, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165326/080417083955.htm
A drug that targets the cell surface receptors that play an important role in many types of cancer can bring about significant tumor regression in breast cancer after only six weeks of use. Cancer researchers said that the work demonstrated for the first time that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib could decrease tumor-causing breast cancer stem cells in the primary breast cancers of women receiving neoadjuvant treatment.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Greenland Ice May Not Be Headed Down Too Slippery A Slope, But Stability Still Far From Assured
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798005/080417142507.htm
Lubricating meltwater that makes its way from the surface down to where a glacier meets bedrock turns out to be only a minor reason why Greenland's outlet glaciers accelerated their race to the sea 50 to 100 percent in the 1990s and early 2000s, scientists say. Their work also shows that surface meltwater is reaching bedrock farther inland under the Greenland Ice Sheet, something scientists had speculated was happening but had little evidence.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Children Should Not Take Antihistamines For Chronic Cough, Reviewers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798006/080415194239.htm
Chronic cough can cut into children's sleep and fray parents' nerves. Although antihistamines can alleviate cough, possible side effects outweigh their benefits, say authors of a new review of studies from Australia.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
What Happens When You Pop A Quantum Balloon?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798007/080417155913.htm
When a tiny, quantum-scale, hypothetical balloon is popped in a vacuum, do the particles inside spread out all over the place as predicted by classical mechanics? A Nature paper answers the question, which is deceptively complex and bears on quantum computing and information theory.

Sun, 20 Apr 08
Factors That Influence Premature Infant Survival, Disability Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273798008/080416174622.htm
Based on observations of more than 4,000 infants, researchers have identified several factors that influence an extremely low birth weight infant's chances for survival and disability. The findings offer new information to physicians and families considering the most appropriate treatment options for this category of infants.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
What Are The Odds Of Finding Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372842/080416110124.htm
A mathematical model suggests that the odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets are low, given the time it has taken for beings such as humans to evolve and the remaining life span of the Earth. Structurally complex and intelligent life evolved late on Earth and it has already been suggested that this process might be governed by a small number of very difficult evolutionary steps.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Newly Identified Process May Help Treat Parkinson's, Spinal Cord Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372843/080416161222.htm
A new discovery by University of Minnesota researchers may lead to a better understanding of how the spinal cord controls how people walk. These insights could help lead to treatments for central nervous system maladies such as Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Bloodless Worm Sheds Light On Human Blood, Iron Deficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372844/080416140912.htm
Using a lowly bloodless worm, researchers have discovered an important clue to how iron carried in human blood is absorbed and transported into the body. The finding could lead to developing new ways to reduce iron deficiency, the world's number one nutritional disorder.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Health Risks, Benefits Come With Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372845/080415194222.htm
Waiting just a few minutes to clamp the umbilical cord after a baby is born could boost iron stores in the newborn's blood, but delayed cord clamping comes with an increased risk of jaundice, according to a new review of studies.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
How Arsenic Can Cure One Type Of Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372848/080416220013.htm
Arsenic is a remarkably effective treatment against a rare form of leukemia. Researchers have shown how arsenic cures one type of leukemia. This research should lead to a better understanding of the therapy, and thus to medical strategies which are better adapted to this disease.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
One In Five Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Suffer From PTSD Or Major Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372850/080417112102.htm
Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan -- 300,000 in all -- report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slight more than half have sought treatment. Researchers found about 19 percent of returning service members report that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed, with 7 percent reporting both a probable brain injury and current PTSD or major depression.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Climate Change Likely To Intensifies Storms, New Study Confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372851/080417170213.htm
Hurricanes in some areas, including the North Atlantic, are likely to become more intense as a result of global warming even though the number of such storms worldwide may decline, according to a new study by MIT researchers. The lead author of the new study, wrote a paper in 2005 reporting an apparent link between a warming climate and an increase in hurricane intensity. That paper attracted worldwide attention because it was published in Nature just three weeks before Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Deep-sea Sharks Wired For Sound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458592/080416091012.htm
Deep-sea sharks have been tagged and tracked and their habitats precisely mapped in world-first research to test the conservation value of areas closed to commercial fishing.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
World-first Discovery Could Help Treat Life-threatening Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372853/080416140951.htm
Researchers investigating how blood vessel growth keeps cancers alive have made a world-first discovery that could boost the chances of successfully treating life-threatening tumors.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Older People Are Nation's Happiest: Baby Boomers Less Happy Than Other Generational Groups
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372854/080416110114.htm
Americans grow happier as they grow older, according to a new study that is one of the most thorough examinations of happiness ever done in America. The study also found that baby boomers are not as content as other generations, African Americans are less happy than whites, men are less happy than women, happiness can rise and fall between eras, and that, with age the differences narrow.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Clearer Day For Gene Therapy: New Vector Carries Big Genes Linked To Inherited Blindness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372855/080415185025.htm
For some inherited diseases, one barrier to successful gene therapy is that a commonly used vector (package into which the curative gene is placed) cannot accommodate the large size of the curative gene. However, a newly developed vector derived from the AAV5 form of adeno-associated virus has been used to successfully carry large genes into cells and to improve eye function in a mouse model of an inherited disease causing progressive loss of sight.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Critical Detail Of Cellular Defense Against Genetic Mistakes Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372856/080417130536.htm
Researchers are closing in on a completed diagram of how human cells protect themselves against constant genetic mistakes that contribute to most diseases, according to a new study.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Sign Language Interpreters At High Ergonomic Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372857/080417105449.htm
Sign language interpreting is one of the highest-risk professions for ergonomic injury, according to a new study. The research indicates that interpreting causes more physical stress to the extremities than high-risk tasks conducted in industrial settings, including assembly line work.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Global Land Temperature Warmest On Record In March 2008
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272989690/080418112341.htm
The average global land temperature in March of 2008 was the warmest on record and ocean surface temperatures were the 13th warmest. Combining the land and the ocean temperatures, the overall global temperature ranked the second warmest for the month of March. Global temperature averages have been recorded since 1880. An analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center shows that the average temperature for March in the contiguous United States ranked near average for the past 113 years. It was the 63rd warmest March since record-keeping began in the United States in 1895. The average global land temperature in March of 2008 was the warmest on record and ocean surface temperatures were the 13th warmest. Combining the land and the ocean temperatures, the overall global temperature ranked the second warmest for the month of March. Global temperature averages have been recorded since 1880.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Oral Drug Reduces Disease Activity In Multiple Sclerosis, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372858/080415194436.htm
A drug that can be taken orally reduces the number of attacks people with multiple sclerosis have, according to new research. After six months, those taking FTY720 had more than 50 percent fewer relapses, or attacks, than those who took the placebo.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Almost Extinct Turtle Discovered Living In Wild In Northern Vietnam
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273397225/080416213653.htm
A critically endangered turtle that previously was thought to be extinct in the wild has been discovered in northern Vietnam. Experts confirmed that they have identified the only known living specimen of a Swinhoe's soft-shell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) in nature.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Intelligence And Rhythmic Accuracy Go Hand In Hand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372859/080416100459.htm
People who score high on intelligence tests are also good at keeping time, new Swedish research shows. The team that carried out the study also suspect that accuracy in timing is important to the brain processes responsible for problem solving and reasoning.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Combining Liver Cancer Treatments Doubles Survival Rates, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372860/080415164311.htm
By combining the use of stents and photodynamic therapy, also called SpyGlass, physicians have been able to significantly increase survival rates for patients suffering from advanced cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the liver bile duct.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Anti-cancer Medicines Obtained From The Elecampe, A Wild Plant Growing In The Mediterranean, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372861/080417102522.htm
Scientists have found out that the plant “Dittirichia viscose”, known as elecampe, can be used to obtain inhibitors of neurogenic vasodilatation, a significant progress in migraine and cancer treatments.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Work Hassles Hamper Sleep, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273372862/080417095947.htm
Common hassles at work are more likely than long hours, night shifts or job insecurity to follow workers home and interfere with their sleep. Previous research has shown that lack of sleep can have serious consequences ranging from traffic accidents to health problems, chronic disease and mortality. As many as 70 million Americans suffer from some kind of chronic sleep disorder.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Control The Urge To Splurge - Try Dividing Things Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273397232/080419021157.htm
Good things come in small packages -- like the Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack. But do these portion-controlled offerings help dieters lose weight? Yes, according to new research. Dividing food into smaller portions creates a "partitioning effect;" a phenomenon where segmenting a resource, such as food or money, can dramatically affect consumption.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
World's Rarest Gorilla Finds Sanctuary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273397233/080419020546.htm
The government of Cameroon --- with guidance from the Wildlife Conservation Society --- has created the world's first sanctuary exclusively for the Cross River gorilla, the world's rarest kind of great ape. Classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN's Red List, the Cross River gorilla is the rarest of the four subspecies of gorilla. The entire population numbers under 300 individuals across its entire range, which consists of 11 scattered sites in Cameroon and Nigeria.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Music Has Its Own Geometry, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919325/080417142454.htm
Three music professors have devised a new way of analyzing and categorizing music that takes advantage of the deep, complex mathematics they see enmeshed in its very fabric. Writing in Science, they have outlined a method called "geometrical music theory" that translates the language of musical theory into that of contemporary geometry.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Breast Cancer Risk Amplified By Additional Genes In Combo With BRCA Mutation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919326/080416140915.htm
Many women with a faulty breast cancer gene could be at greater risk of the disease due to extra risk-amplifying genes, according to research published this month in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Early Exposure To Common Weed Killer Impairs Amphibian Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458591/080416091015.htm
Tadpoles exposed to the herbicide atrazine during an often overlooked growth phase named organ morphogenesis develop deformed hearts and impaired kidneys, according to biologists. Atrazine is one of the most widely used weed killers in the United States and is already known to be harmful to amphibians exposed to the chemical in early and late developmental stages. But the Tufts research focuses on a critical third stage.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Health Disparities: Genetics Plays An Important Role In Cancer Detection, Prognosis Among Minorities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919327/080415154216.htm
Poorer outcomes for breast cancer and prostate cancer among minorities may be due to biologic factors, new research suggests. In addition, researchers present a new theory on why a recent decline in breast cancer rates was less pronounced among African-American women, and offer data on a relatively simple means of reducing racial disparities in breast cancer care.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Historic Soviet Nuclear Test Site Offers Insights For Today's Nuclear Monitoring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919328/080417105453.htm
Newly published data from the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, the Soviet Union's primary nuclear weapons testing ground during the Cold War, can help today's atomic detectives fine-tune their monitoring of nuclear explosions around the world, according to new research. The treasure trove of data from Semipalatinsk are especially important in light of the fact that only three nuclear tests -- back-to-back tests in India and Pakistan in 1998 and a 2006 test in North Korea -- have been conducted since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1996.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Self-repairing Materials For Futuristic Buildings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919329/080417095916.htm
When a person suffers a minor wound, the human body reacts to close the opening, sending the blood platelets needed to the affected area -- and with no need in many cases for any external coagulant substance to be employed. This reaction of nature to damage suffered was the starting point for the development of self-repairing polymer materials with the capacity of recovering a good part of the properties lost and with no or with minimal external help.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Solar Flares Set The Sun Quaking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919334/080418090439.htm
Data from the ESA/NASA spacecraft SOHO shows clearly that powerful starquakes ripple around the Sun in the wake of mighty solar flares that explode above its surface. The observations give solar physicists new insight into a long-running solar mystery and may even provide a way of studying other stars.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
How And Where Fat Is Stored Predicts Disease Risk Better Than Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919336/080416110120.htm
A new study in mice indicates that overeating, rather than the obesity it causes, is the trigger for developing metabolic syndrome, a collection of heath risk factors that increases an individual's chances of developing insulin resistance, fatty liver, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Illinois Earthquake Is A Wake-Up Call
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273123494/080418160135.htm
Today's early morning earthquake that jolted many in the central U.S. is a reminder that seismic events do occur in areas not normally thought of as "earthquake country." It is also a lesson that earthquakes east of the Mississippi River are felt more widely than those in the west. This event was felt as far west as Kansas, as far north as Upper Michigan, and as far south as Georgia.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
A Better Fog And Smoke Machine From Computer Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919338/080415185011.htm
Computer scientists have created a fog and smoke machine for computer graphics that cuts the computational cost of making realistic smoky and foggy 3-D images, such as beams of light from a lighthouse piercing thick fog. By cutting the computing costs, the computer scientists are helping to pull cutting edge graphics techniques out of research labs and into movies and eventually video games and beyond.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Drug Can Reduce Leg Pain Caused By Narrowed Arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919339/080415194401.htm
Patients with pain caused by narrowed arteries in their legs have 37 percent more pain-free walking if they take naftidrofuryl (200 mg three times a day) than those taking placebos, a Cochrane Review has found. In addition, 55 percent of patients taking naftidrofuryl improved, while only 30 percent of people on placebo treatments improved. Naftidrofuryl is used to treat circulatory problems.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Broad Analysis Of Pollutants Using Fuzzy Logic Could Guide Water Quality Improvement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919340/080417095919.htm
A fuzzy logic approach to analyzing water quality could help reduce the number of people in the developing world forced to drink polluted and diseased water for survival.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
People With Cardiac Arrest Less Likely To Survive If Admitted On Weekend, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919341/080416151956.htm
People admitted to the hospital on the weekend after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are less likely to survive than people admitted on a weekday, according to new research.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Graphene Used To Create World's Smallest Transistor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919342/080417142452.htm
Researchers have used the world's thinnest material to create the world's smallest transistor, one atom thick and ten atoms wide. The smaller the size of their transistors the better they perform, say the Manchester researchers.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Gene Therapy For Addiction: Flooding Brain With 'Pleasure Chemical' Receptors Works On Cocaine, As On Alcohol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458593/080416081628.htm
Increasing the brain level of receptors for dopamine, a pleasure-related chemical, can reduce use of cocaine by 75 percent in rats trained to self-administer it. Earlier research had similar findings for alcohol intake. Treatments that increase levels of these chemicals -- dopamine D2 receptors -- may prove useful in treating addiction.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Hawaiian Plant, Thought To Be Newcomer, Actually Shaped Ecology Of The Islands From The Beginning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919343/080415210623.htm
One of Hawaii's most dominant plants, Metrosideros, has been a resident of the islands far longer than previously believed. Metrosideros, commonly called "ohi'a" in the Hawaiian Islands, has puzzled researchers for years. Although previously thought to be a newcomer to the islands, these plants are well integrated into the islands' ecosystems.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
New Therapies Show Promise For Fighting Basal Cell Carcinoma And Pancreatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919344/080415130724.htm
Researchers at Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen have announced the results of two clinical trials that show promise for patients battling two types of cancer: basal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Unearthing Clues Of Catastrophic Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919345/080416174634.htm
The destruction and disappearance of ancient cultures mark the history of human civilization, making for fascinating stories and cautionary tales. The longevity of today's societies may depend upon separating fact from fiction, and archaeologists and seismologists are figuring out how to join forces to do just that with respect to ancient earthquakes.

Sat, 19 Apr 08
Men More Likely To Have Problems With Memory And Thinking Skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272919346/080416152000.htm
When it comes to remembering things, new research shows men are more likely than women to have mild cognitive impairment, the transition stage before dementia.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Ice Sheet 'Plumbing System' Found: Lakes Of Meltwater Can Crack Greenland's Ice And Contribute To Faster Ice Sheet Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600156/080417142503.htm
Researchers have for the first time documented the sudden and complete drainage of a lake of meltwater from the top of the Greenland ice sheet to its base. From those observations, scientists have uncovered a plumbing system for the ice sheet, where meltwater can penetrate thick, cold ice and accelerate some of the large-scale summer movements of the ice sheet.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Inherited Cancer Mutation Is Widespread In America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600157/080417155859.htm
A gene mutation responsible for a form of inherited colon cancer is older than formerly believed. The findings offer a better understanding of the American Founder Mutation, which in North America causes Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer syndrome that increases colon-cancer risk. A 2003 study by the same investigators concluded that the mutation arrived in North America in 1727. The new study indicates that the mutation is actually about 500 years old.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Millions Of Pounds Of Trash Found On Ocean Beaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198317/080416214912.htm
Ocean Conservancy released its annual report on trash in the ocean with new data from the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup the most comprehensive snapshot of the harmful impacts of marine debris. The mission of Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup is to engage people to remove trash from the world's beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris and to change the behaviors that cause pollution.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Immunotherapy: Enlisting The Immune System To Fight Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600158/080415111730.htm
Researchers are directing the body's immune system to shrink tumors and prevent new ones from forming. New research details how cellular strategies and new vaccines are changing the cancer treatment landscape.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Flu Tracked To Viral Reservoir In Tropics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600159/080416140948.htm
Each winter, strains of influenza A virus infect North Americans, causing an average of 36,000 deaths. Now, researchers say the virus comes from a viral reservoir somewhere in the tropics, settling a key debate on the source of each season's infection. "We now know where the influenza A virus comes from every year," said a biologist involved with the research. "And because we now know how the virus evolves, we have a much better chance of controlling it."

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Mental Stress Reduces Blood Flow To The Heart In Patients With Gene Variation, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600160/080415114501.htm
Researchers induced stress in 148 patients with coronary artery disease by asking them to speak in public. Those with a particular gene variation were three times more likely to experience dangerous decreases in blood flow to the heart during stress.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction To A New Home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600161/080417112433.htm
In 1971, biologists moved five adult pairs of Italian wall lizards from their home island of Pod Kopiste, in the South Adriatic Sea, to the neighboring island of Pod Mrcaru. Now researchers have shown that introducing these small, green-backed lizards, Podarcis sicula, to a new environment caused them to undergo rapid and large-scale evolutionary changes.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Early Clinical Trial Results Back New Drug For Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600162/080415164326.htm
Preliminary but encouraging findings from a Phase 0 human clinical trial of a melanoma drug have been reported. Scientists found an approved drug used to treat Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), slows the growth of melanoma, the most aggressive form of malignant skin cancer.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
'Nanodrop' Test Tubes Created With A Flip Of A Switch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600163/080415154819.htm
Researchers have demonstrated a new device that creates nanodroplet "test tubes" for studying individual proteins under conditions that mimic the crowded confines of a living cell.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
In Blood Vessel Stents, Innovative Materials Allow Better Control, Delivery Of Gene Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600164/080415111713.htm
Before gene therapy becomes practical for treating human diseases, researchers must master the details of safe and effective delivery. Cardiology researchers have advanced delivery techniques by creating a versatile synthetic material that can bind to a variety of gene therapy vectors and can be custom-designed for controlled local release of therapeutic genes at a disease site.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
New Details Presented In Outbreak In Pork Processing Plant Workers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600165/080416174618.htm
New details have emerged on the neurological illness that has affected workers at several pork processing plants. Neurologists have identified the illness as a new disorder which causes symptoms ranging from a transverse myelitis syndrome, inflammation of the spinal cord, in one patient to mild weakness, fatigue, numbness and tingling in arms and legs.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Are Humans Hardwired For Fairness?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600166/080416140918.htm
The psychologists wanted to know if there is something inherently rewarding about being treated decently. So, they scanned several parts of the participants' brains while they were in the act of weighing both fair and miserly offers. Consistent with previous results, the researchers found that a region previously associated with negative emotions such as moral disgust (the anterior insula) was activated during unfair treatment.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Presumed Extinct Javan Elephants May Have Been Found Again - In Borneo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600167/080416223340.htm
The Borneo pygmy elephant may not be native to Borneo after all. Instead, the population could be the last survivors of the Javan elephant race -- accidentally saved from extinction by the Sultan of Sulu centuries ago, a new publication suggests. The origins of the pygmy elephants, found in a range extending from the north-east of the island into the Heart of Borneo, have long been shrouded in mystery. Their looks and behavior differ from other Asian elephants and scientists have questioned why they never dispersed to other parts of the island.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells Identified, Characterized
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600168/080417152031.htm
Researchers have identified, characterized and cloned ovarian cancer stem cells and have shown that these stem cells may be the source of ovarian cancer's recurrence and its resistance to chemotherapy.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Mixing Farm Animal Waste Just Right To Make Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600170/080416140922.htm
Engineers have determined the importance of mixing in anaerobic digesters, reactors that use bacteria to breakdown organic matter in the absence of oxygen. They are studying ways to take "the smell of money," as farmers long have termed manure, and produce biogas with it.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Basis Of Anticancer Drug Resistance In Childhood Leukemia Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600171/080414221554.htm
The first analysis of the genetic determinants of resistance to the anti-cancer drug methotrexate in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia could offer a pathway to predicting such resistance and treatments to overcome it, according to a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital study.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Chromium's Hidden Magnetic Talents Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600172/080416161226.htm
Chemists have determined that the element chromium displays electrical properties of magnets in surprising ways. This finding can be used in the emerging field of "spintronics," which might someday contribute to new and more energy efficient ways of processing and storing data.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Who Owns Your Medical Tests Results and Personal Health Data?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600174/080416094953.htm
Who owns your medical tests results and your personal health data? Such a vexing question cuts to the core of personal liberty and freedom of information. Now, researchers have introduced the notion of ownership of medical information and present a basic research model for the adoption of personal health records.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Stellar Birth In The Galactic Wilderness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600176/080416141356.htm
A new image from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer shows baby stars sprouting in the backwoods of a galaxy -- a relatively desolate region of space more than 100,000 light-years from the galaxy's bustling center. The striking image shows the Southern Pinwheel galaxy, also known simply as M83.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Different Mutations In Single Gene Suggest Parkinson's Is Primarily An Inherited Genetic Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600177/080416104317.htm
Scientists are now rounding out the notion that Parkinson's disease is largely caused by inherited genetic mutations that pass through scores of related generations over hundreds, if not thousands of years. These genetic influences, which can be small but additive, or large and causative, overturn common beliefs that the neurodegenerative disease mostly occurs in a random fashion or is due to undetermined environmental factors.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Seven Months On A Drifting Ice Floe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600178/080414103617.htm
For the first time, a German has taken part in a Russian drift expedition. He has spent seven months on an ice floe and gained observational data from a region, which is normally inaccessible during the Arctic winter.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
First Functional Insulin-binding Protein In Invertebrates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600179/080414193033.htm
Insulin-like growth factor signaling that helps to regulate mammals' growth, metabolism, reproduction and longevity is well documented. Now research in the Journal of Biology describes the genetic identification of the first functional insulin-like growth factor binding protein ortholog in invertebrates.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Fruit Flies Show How Salmonella Escapes Immune Defenses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600180/080416140945.htm
Salmonella are wily and obnoxious bacterial invaders -- escape artists capable of evading multiple immune responses and causing a harsh and debilitating intestinal infection. Researchers have come closer to understanding how these bacteria manage to thwart two major categories of immune defenses at once and set up shop in a host organism.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Getting A Good Night's Sleep Is The Biggest Problem For Women Entering Menopause
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272600181/080416094942.htm
American women have identified sleep disruption as the most common and severe problem when periods change and they start entering menopause. New research contradicts previous findings linking sleep problems to night sweats and shows that, with the exception of sleep problems, the most common menopause problems aren't always the ones that bother women the most.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Clues To Ancestral Origin Of Placenta Emerge In Genetics Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270736079/080414145645.htm
Researchers have uncovered the first clues about the ancient origins of a mother's intricate lifeline to her unborn baby, the placenta, which delivers oxygen and nutrients critical to the baby's health.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Chemical Exposure May Increase Risk Of ALS, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198318/080416151952.htm
Preliminary results show that a common environmental chemical may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, according to new research.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Prototype Terahertz Imager Promises Advances In Biochemistry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198319/080415164314.htm
Researchers have demonstrated a new imaging system that detects naturally occurring terahertz radiation with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. The technology may become a new tool chemical and biochemical analyses ranging from early tumor detection to rapid and precise identification of chemical hazards for homeland security instruments.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Gender-related Differences Found In Development Of Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198320/080415101024.htm
A new study has found evidence that supports gender-related differences in the development and survival of metastatic colon cancer. Specific gene variants linked to the development of colon cancer resulted in opposite survival outcomes for men and women.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Chinese Club Moss Extract (Huperzine A) May Improve Cognition In Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198321/080415194410.htm
Existing evidence suggests that patients with Alzheimer's disease who have taken Huperzine A have improved general cognitive function, global clinical status, functional performance and reduced behavioral disturbance compared to patients taking placebos.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
When It Comes To Sex, Some Men Are From Mars, Others From Venus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198322/080416081609.htm
A study by researchers at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University finds that men report a variety of different experiences involving sexual desire and arousal.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Drifting Star Discovered: Implications For Star And Planet Formation Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198323/080415101016.htm
By studying in great detail the 'ringing' of a planet-harboring star, a team of astronomers have shown that it must have drifted away from the metal-rich Hyades cluster. This discovery has implications for theories of star and planet formation, and for the dynamics of our Milky Way.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Vitamin E May Help Alzheimer's Patients Live Longer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198324/080415194438.htm
People with Alzheimer's disease who take vitamin E appear to live longer than those who don't take vitamin E, according to new research. The study found people who took vitamin E, with or without a cholinesterase inhibitor, were 26 percent less likely to die than people who didn't take vitamin E.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
New Nanotube Sensor Can Continuously Monitor Minute Amounts Of Insulin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198325/080415134043.htm
A new method that uses nanotechnology to rapidly measure minute amounts of insulin is a major step toward developing the ability to assess the health of the body's insulin-producing cells in real time.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Flu Vaccines Can Reduce Respiratory Problems By Up To 3/4
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198326/080415101012.htm
A study of 87 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- a major international cause of ill health and death -- found that having the annual flu vaccine reduced overall problems by 67%. The figure rose to 75% in men with severe COPD. The men were studied for a year before and after receiving their first ever annual flu vaccination.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
New Insights Into Cellular Death And The Aging Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198327/080414215640.htm
Protein researchers have clarified a complex safety mechanism that drives damaged cells to cell death when they can no longer be rescued. They identified on the one hand the part of Protein p66Shc that is responsible for a cell's suicide and they additionally ascertained the precise mechanism of its regulation. In order for the self-destruction to be initiated, several protein components must work together as a complex.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
One Step Closer To Understanding The Causes Of Sexual Difficulties In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198328/080416213304.htm
Researchers at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction are shedding light on why some women experience sexual problems and others do not. A study published in the April issue of the journal "Archives of Sexual Behavior" found connections between personality traits such as sexual inhibition and sexual problems.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Flu Viruses Take One-way Ticket Out Of Asia, Then Travel The World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198329/080416141011.htm
Seasonal influenza strains constantly evolve in overlapping epidemics in Asia and sweep the rest of the world each year, an international research team has found. These findings suggest that by focusing surveillance efforts on East and Southeast Asia, researchers may be able to extend their forecast of the flu strains most likely to cause epidemics, which may in turn help experts decide which strains should go in the flu vaccine each year.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Calorie Restricted Diet Prevents Pancreatic Inflammation And Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165315/080414171502.htm
Prevention of weight gain with a restricted calorie diet sharply reduced the development of pancreatic lesions that lead to cancer in pre-clinical research. The research sheds light on the connection between obesity, calorie intake and pancreatic cancer by comparing a calorie restricted diet, an overweight diet and an obesity-inducing diet in a strain of mice that spontaneously develops pancreatic lesions that lead to cancer.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Molecular Movies Allow Scientists To See Molecular Movements Firsthand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198330/080415115349.htm
They may never win an Oscar, but scientists have developed techniques for creating accurate movies of biological and chemical molecules, a feat only theorized up until now. Biological and organic molecules in solution are far more complex than the standard crystalline structures of salt or metals since they are constantly moving and changing over time. These motions have not yet been seen directly, but scientists using the high intensity x-rays at the Advanced Photon Source have measured images that are "blurred" by these motions and have used them to create more accurate movies of molecular motions.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Physical Activity Is Natural Pain Reliever For Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165316/080408173045.htm
It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when suffering with joint pain, but physical activity is actually a natural pain reliever for most people suffering from arthritis. A recent study published in Arthritis Care and Research journal concluded that regular exercise, specifically the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, is an effective course in significantly improving and managing arthritis pain.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Scientists Probe Water's Mysterious Interactions At Molecular Level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165317/080411101936.htm
Some of the most challenging problems in science concern the behavior of the most commonplace compound on the planet's surface -- water. But some of the mysteries are now being unravelled by the latest analysis and imaging techniques in an unfolding story that was presented at a recent conference organized by the European Science Foundation focusing on interaction between water and other compounds at the molecular level.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Type Of Anesthetic Will Improve Sleeping Medication, Probe Mysteries Of The Snooze
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272198331/080416161219.htm
Researchers have discovered sleep patterns in a type of anesthesia that are the closest ever to a natural, nongroggy snooze. The anesthetic used in the study, known as ethyl carbamate or urethane, provides researchers with a tool to more thoroughly investigate ways of treating sleep disorders and improving existing sleep medications.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Jet Streams Are Shifting And May Alter Paths Of Storms And Hurricanes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165318/080416153558.htm
The Earth's jet streams are shifting -- possibly in response to global warming. Scientists have determined that over a 23-year span from 1979 to 2001 the jet streams in both hemispheres have risen in altitude and shifted toward the poles. The jet stream in the northern hemisphere has also weakened. These changes fit the predictions of global warming models and have implications for the frequency and intensity of future storms, including hurricanes. Storm paths in North America are likely to shift northward as a result of the jet stream changes. Hurricanes, whose development tends to be inhibited by jet streams, may become more powerful and more frequent as the jet streams move away from the sub-tropical zones where hurricanes are born.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Your Belly Fat Could Be Making You Hungrier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165319/080416153551.htm
The extra fat we carry around our middle could be making us hungrier, so we eat more, which in turn leads to even more belly fat. Scientists found abdominal fat tissue can reproduce a hormone that stimulates fat cell production. The researchers hope this discovery will change in the way we think about and treat abdominal obesity.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Gravity Wave 'Smoking Gun' Fizzles: Gravitational Radiation Can Be Produced More Than One Way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165320/080415143816.htm
Gravitational radiation -- widely expected to provide "smoking gun" proof for a theory of the early universe known as "inflation" -- can be produced by another mechanism, according to physics researchers.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
How Smoking Encourages Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165321/080414193036.htm
Smokers are often more prone to bacterial infections and inflammatory diseases than the rest of us, thanks to hundreds of toxic components in their cigarettes.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
New Hazard Estimates Could Downplay Earthquake Dangers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165322/080416174630.htm
The dangers posed by a major earthquake in the New Madrid and Charleston, South Carolina, zones in the Midwestern and Southern parts of the United States may be noticeably lower than current estimates if seismologists adjust one of the major assumptions that go into calculating seismic hazard, according to a new study.

Fri, 18 Apr 08
Why Parents Are Stricter With Older Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/272165323/080416152245.htm
If you think your parents let your younger siblings get away with everything, you're probably right. A new study concludes that parents punish older children more harshly -- and they're wise to do so. A new mathematical model supports unequal treatment of children because more severe discipline of older children deters younger siblings from engaging in the activities for which they know their older siblings were penalized.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Worst Offenders For Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Top 20 US Counties Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271821253/080416175442.htm
The top twenty carbon dioxide-emitting counties in the United States have now been identified. The top three counties include the cities of Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago. Fittingly the county of Carbon, Pennsylvania is on the list.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Molecule Prompts Blood Stem Cells To Help Repair Heart Damage In Animal Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271821254/080414174848.htm
Researchers have for the first time used drug-treated blood stem cells to repair heart damage in an animal model, results that might point to methods for healing injuries from heart attacks or disease.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Possible Link Between Baby Swimming And Breathing Problems In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271821255/080415111646.htm
Children with mothers who have allergies or asthma have an increased risk of wheezing in the chest if they take part in baby swimming before 6 months of age.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Air Pollution Affects Respiratory Health In Children With Asthma, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566542/080415185019.htm
A new study reports that inner-city children with asthma may be particularly vulnerable to air pollution at levels below current air quality standards. The study analyzes the short-term effects of outdoor pollution levels on asthma symptoms and lung function in children.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
First Successful Libraries Of Avian Flu Virus Antibodies Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493663/080414174851.htm
Scientists have created the first comprehensive monoclonal antibody libraries against avian influenza using samples from survivors of the 2005/2006 "bird flu" outbreak in Turkey. These antibody libraries hold the promise for developing a therapy that could stop a pandemic in its tracks and provide treatment to those infected, as well as potentially pointing the way towards the development of a universal flu vaccine.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Chemotherapy May Not Affect Memory In Breast Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271821256/080415154225.htm
Women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer frequently report problems with memory and concentration, but two new studies suggest that chemotherapy is not the cause of these problems, and the stress of the diagnosis may be.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
How Big Is Your Brain? Its Size May Protect You From Memory Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666358/080415154223.htm
From autopsies, researchers have long known that some people die with sharp minds and perfect memories, but their brains riddled with the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's disease. New research shows that those people have a larger part of the brain called the hippocampus.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Statins Shown To Lower Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666360/080414161546.htm
A large, randomized drug trial has shown for the first time that statin drugs result in a modest, but significant, reduction in blood pressure. These effects may contribute to the reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular events reported for patients on statins, according to scientists.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
NASA Extends Cassini's Grand Tour Of Saturn Two More Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666362/080415133647.htm
NASA is extending the international Cassini-Huygens mission by two years. The historic spacecraft's stunning discoveries and images have revolutionized our knowledge of Saturn and its moons. Cassini's mission originally had been scheduled to end in July 2008. The newly-announced two-year extension will include 60 additional orbits of Saturn and more flybys of its exotic moons. These will include 26 flybys of Titan, seven of Enceladus, and one each of Dione, Rhea and Helene. The extension also includes studies of Saturn's rings, its complex magnetosphere, and the planet itself.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Sleeping Sickness Finding Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666363/080414174845.htm
Sleeping sickness creates a metabolic 'fingerprint' in the blood and urine, which could enable a new test to be developed to diagnose the disease, according to new research. Sleeping sickness is usually fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in time.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Micro Sensor And Micro Fridge Make Cool Pair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666366/080415154822.htm
Researchers have combined two tiny but powerful inventions on a single microchip, a cryogenic sensor and a micro-refrigerator. The combination offers the possibility of cheaper, simpler and faster precision analysis of materials such as semiconductors and stardust.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Antidepressants Account For Only 10% Of Fall In Suicide Rates Among Older People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271666368/080414193027.htm
The use of antidepressants is likely to account for only 10 percent of the fall in suicide rates among middle aged and older people, suggests a large study.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Saliva Can Help Diagnose Heart Attack, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566532/080416111556.htm
Early diagnosis of a heart attack may now be possible using only a few drops of saliva and a new nano-bio-chip, according to new research. The nano-bio-chip assay could some day be used to analyze a patient's saliva on board an ambulance, at the dentist's office or at a neighborhood drugstore, helping save lives and prevent damage from cardiac disease. The device is the size of a credit card and can produce results in as little as 15 minutes.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Hormone Use Related To Lower Risk Of Macular Degeneration In Postmenopausal Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566533/080414161535.htm
Women who take postmenopausal hormones appear to have a lower risk of developing advanced stages of the eye disease age-related macular degeneration, especially if they had also taken oral contraceptives in the past, according to a new report.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
NASA Spacecraft Fine Tunes Course For Mars Landing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566534/080415134614.htm
NASA engineers have adjusted the flight path of the Phoenix Mars Lander, setting the spacecraft on course for its May 25 landing on the Red Planet. The mission's two prior trajectory maneuvers, made last August and October, adjusted the flight path of Phoenix to intersect with Mars.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Study Sheds Light On Deadly Lung Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566535/080414155241.htm
Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is characterized by the formation of fibrosis, or scar tissue, on internal organs as well as the skin. Beyond its disfiguring symptoms, SSc is associated with a high rate of deadly lung disease. Pulmonary fibrosis strikes at least one-third of SSc sufferers, and kills 30 percent within 10 years. Assessing and treating SSc remains challenging, despite recent clinical trials, due in part to an incomplete understanding of the origins and progression of this autoimmune disorder.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Tumors Use Sugars To Avoid Programmed Cell Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566536/080415194236.htm
Researchers have apparently solved the riddle of why cancer cells like sugar so much, and it may be a mechanism that could lead to better cancer treatments. They have found that tumor cells use glucose sugar as a way to avoid programmed cell death.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Exercise Combats Cancer-related Fatigue, Review Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566537/080415194430.htm
When cancer and its treatments leave a patient with a relentless weariness of body and mind, exercise might help, according to a new review. The meta-analysis of 28 studies of cancer-related fatigue found that exercise is more effective at combating the problem than the usual care provided to patients.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Electric Solar Wind Sail Could Power Future Space Travel In Solar System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493661/080415162612.htm
A new electric solar wind sail is almost ready for implementation. Electric sail propulsion might have a large impact on space research and space travel throughout the solar system. The electric solar wind sail uses the solar wind as its thrust source and therefore needs no fuel or propellant. The solar wind is a continuous plasma stream emanating from the Sun. Changes in the properties of the solar wind cause auroral brightening and magnetic storms, among other things.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Diuretics Associated With Bone Loss In Older Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566539/080414161538.htm
Older men who take loop diuretics, commonly prescribed drugs for heart failure and hypertension, appear to have increased rates of hip bone loss than men who are not taking this medication, according to a new report.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Hepatitis C: Identification Of A Protein That Inhibits The Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566540/080414213816.htm
Scientists have provided evidence of a protein that inhibits the hepatitis C virus at an early stage of its infective cycle. This research suggests possible new perspectives for the development of therapies to block the virus before it enters a cell. Hepatitis C is a major public health problem that affects some 130 million people throughout the world.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Discovery Of Differences In Heart's Precursor Cells May Advance Treatment Options
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566541/080414145708.htm
Scientists have long thought that the cells that ultimately give rise to the heart all respond to the same cue before turning into the muscle tissue of this vital organ.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Computer Game Helps COPD Patients Breathe Better, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566543/080415075711.htm
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may gain better control over their breathing and breathe more efficiently by using their breath to play a computer game, according to new research.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Older Americans Are More Socially Engaged Than Many People May Think
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566544/080416114410.htm
Older people remain vital and active members of society as they age, despite a popular notion that they are more likely to be socially isolated. A research team found that although older individuals have fewer intimate relationships, they may respond to social loss by becoming more likely to volunteer, attend religious services and spend time with their neighbors than those in their 50s.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, Largest In Northern Hemisphere, Has Fractured Into Three Main Pieces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458590/080415205350.htm
The largest ice shelf in the Northern Hemisphere has fractured into three main pieces. During a recent patrol across the northernmost parts of Canada, researchers found a new 18 kilometer-long network of cracks running from the southern edge of the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf to the Arctic Ocean. This accompanies a large central fracture that was first detected in 2002, and raises the concern that the remaining ice shelf will disintegrate within the next few years.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Alzheimer's Starts Earlier For Heavy Drinkers, Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271422201/080416081636.htm
Heavy drinkers and heavy smokers develop Alzheimer's disease years earlier than people with Alzheimer's who do not drink or smoke heavily, according to new research.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Cycling More Intelligently
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493662/080411150945.htm
Cycling is fun -- if you can find the right tread. But those who tire themselves out quickly lose the desire to conquer the world on two wheels. A remedy could soon be available in the form of adaptronic components which report inappropriate biomechanical stress.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
In Lab Study, Researchers Find Molecule That Disrupts Ewing's Sarcoma Oncogene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270001274/080414082550.htm
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have found a small molecule they say can block the action of the oncogene that causes Ewing's sarcoma, a rare cancer found in children and young adults. If further studies continue to prove beneficial, they say the novel agent could be the first targeted therapy to treat the disease, which can produce tumors anywhere in the body.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Excess Pneumonia Deaths Linked To Engine Exhaust, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493667/080414193025.htm
Engine exhaust fumes are linked to excess deaths from pneumonia across England, suggests new research. Calculations revealed that pneumonia, peptic ulcer, coronary and rheumatic heart diseases, lung and stomach cancers, and other diseases, were all associated with a range of emissions, as well as deprivation, smoking, binge drinking and a northern UK location.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Antipsychotic Drugs Increase Risk Of Developing Pneumonia In Elderly, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493664/080415111640.htm
Elderly patients who use antipsychotic drugs have a 60 percent increased risk of developing pneumonia compared to non-users. This risk is highest in the first week following prescription and decreases gradually thereafter.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Ghosts Of Galaxies: Lingering Star Streams Skirt Two Nearby Spiral Galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493669/080415160358.htm
Astronomers have identified huge star streams in the outskirts of two nearby spiral galaxies. For the first time, they have obtained a panoramic overview of an example of galactic cannibalism similar to that involving the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in the vicinity of the Milky Way. The detection of these immense stellar fossils confirms the predictions of the cold dark matter model of cosmology, which proposes that present-day grand design spiral galaxies were formed from the merging of less massive stellar systems.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
High Cholesterol In Your 40s Increases Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271422200/080416081641.htm
People with high cholesterol in their early 40s are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with low cholesterol. A new study found people with total cholesterol levels between 249 and 500 milligrams were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those people with cholesterol levels of less than 198 milligrams.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Price Change In Aisle 5, At The Push Of A Button: New System Simplifies Retail Price Tagging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268634632/080411150953.htm
Changing the prices on supermarket shelves often involves a lot of running around for the employees. A system of networked displays enables prices to be updated quickly and at any time from a central computer.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Stem Cell Marker Controls Two Key Cancer Pathways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493666/080414113212.htm
Researchers have discovered that a gene associated with human breast stem cells can stimulate development of mammary cells by activating two critical cancer pathways. This finding provides new evidence that breast cancer can arise from stem cells and that targeting this gene might provide a new way to treat cancers of the breast as well as other tumor types.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
World's First Thermal Nanomotor Propelled By Changes In Temperature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493665/080415114510.htm
Researchers have created the first nanomotor that is propelled by changes in temperature. A carbon nanotube is capable of transporting cargo and rotating like a conventional motor, but is a million times smaller than the head of a needle. This research opens the door to the creation of new nanometric devices designed to carry out mechanical tasks and which could be applied to the fields of biomedicine or new materials.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Fittest Males Don't Always Get The Girl
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271493668/080415210626.htm
The fittest males don't always get the girl, biologists report. Study tackles a paradox in species from fruit flies to humans: If warriors win the spoils, why don't males evolve towards super-aggressiveness? Female fruit flies sometimes choose males who win fights, sometimes choose males who do not fight, and sometimes choose males for no obvious reason, say biologists.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
World's Oldest Living Tree -- 9550 years old -- Discovered In Sweden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271566545/080416104320.htm
The world's oldest recorded tree is a 9,550 year old spruce in the Dalarna province of Sweden. The spruce tree has shown to be a tenacious survivor that has endured by growing between erect trees and smaller bushes in pace with the dramatic climate changes over time.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
High Blood Pressure May Protect Against Migraine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458587/080414161552.htm
People with high blood pressure appear to be less likely to have migraine than those with low blood pressure. Researchers say stiff arteries associated with high blood pressure may play a role in protecting against migraine.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Community-based Approach Best Bet To Control Free-roaming Cats, Survey Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458588/080415075640.htm
A survey gauging Ohioans' attitudes about free-roaming cats suggests that no single statewide measure would be sufficient in managing cat overpopulation because public opinion about outdoor cats varies widely across the state. In particular, perceptions about the need to regulate cat overpopulation in Ohio tend to differ among rural and urban dwellers and among cat owners and people who do not own pets. Compounding the problem is that a quarter of Ohio households are feeding free-roaming cats, but most of those residents aren't ensuring that the outdoor cats they feed are spayed or neutered.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Brain Study May Lead To Improved Epilepsy Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271458589/080414102411.htm
Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body's own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain. Researchers say this may explain why approximately 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic medications.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Investigational Drug May Treat Biliary Cancers, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271821257/080415111702.htm
Researchers have shown that the investigational drug triphendiol causes cell death in pancreatic and bile duct cancer cell lines, slows tumor growth and sensitizes tumors to chemotherapy treatments. Scientists assessed the potential of triphendiol as a treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma using three representative cell lines.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Limit TV, Video Games, To Two Hours A Day To Reduce Childhood Obesity, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271422202/080416081631.htm
The American Academy of Pediatrics created guidelines regarding physical activity and screen time (television, video games): boys should take at least 11,000 steps a day; 2) girls at least 13,000 steps a day; 3) children should limit total screen time to two hours a day. A new study evaluates these recommendations and the combined influence of screen time and physical activity on a child's risk of being overweight.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Milky Way's Giant Black Hole 'Awoke From Slumber' 300 Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092212/080415111724.htm
Astronomers have discovered that our galaxy's central black hole let loose a powerful flare three centuries ago. The finding helps resolve a long-standing mystery: why is the Milky Way's black hole so quiescent? The black hole, known as Sagittarius A* (pronounced "A-star"), is a certified monster, containing about 4 million times the mass of our Sun. Yet the energy radiated from its surroundings is billions of times weaker than the radiation emitted from central black holes in other galaxies.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Effective Colon Cancer Prevention Treatment Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092213/080414155256.htm
Using a combination of a targeted cancer-fighting agent called DFMO and a low dose of an anti-inflammatory drug, researchers have reduced the risk of reoccurring colorectal polyps, an early sign of colon cancer, by as much as 95 percent with fewer toxic side effects.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Mouse Study Can Illuminate How Tumors Manipulate The Human Vascular System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092214/080414102414.htm
Tumors use the body's blood system for their own purposes: They stimulate the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumor. Medical treatment blocks this process in order to restrain tumors. Scientists have now developed a method for producing a complex human vascular system in mice.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Studies Don't Support Common Treatments For Patchy Hair Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092215/080415194243.htm
If clumps of your hair start to fall out from a common form of baldness, a new review of existing research unfortunately offers little comfort. Patients who are afflicted by the condition known as alopecia areata -- patchy hair loss -- should understand that there is no reliable, safe, effective, long-term treatment.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Disturbances In Brain Circuitry Linked To Chronic Exposure To Solvents, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092216/080415111635.htm
Chronic occupational exposure to organic solvents, found in materials such as paints, printing and dry cleaning agents, is widespread all over the world, and is thought to damage the central nervous system.

Thu, 17 Apr 08
Are Sacrificial Bacteria Altruistic Or Just Unlucky?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/271092217/080415101006.htm
An investigation of processes accompanying spore formation in the bacteria B. subtilis shows that chance plays a significant role in determining which of the microbes sacrifice themselves for the colony and which go on to form spores. The results, which appear in Molecular Systems Biology, highlight the degree to which individual bacteria can deviate from population-wide norms.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Better Understanding Hurricane Trajectories Learned From Patterns On Soap Bubbles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446951/080414214800.htm
Researchers have discovered that vortices created in soap bubbles behave like real cyclones and hurricanes in the atmosphere. Soap bubbles have enabled the researchers to characterize for the first time the random factor that governs the movement and paths of vortices.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Skin Cancer Breakthrough? New Molecule Shows Promise In Patients With Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446952/080414161050.htm
A novel molecule, GDC-0449, shrinks tumors for patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma with limited side effects, suggesting a viable new treatment option for patients with the advanced form of this cancer. "Basal cell carcinoma affects about one million people a year, and a very small fraction of these patients have disease that is not curable with surgery. We currently do not have any treatments that can effectively slow tumor growth in these advanced patients. This finding has enormous implications in this population," said one of the physicians involved with the research.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Impairments In Language Development Can Be Detected In Infants As Young As 3 Months Old
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446953/080410153652.htm
Uncover how the brains of infants distinguish differences in sounds and it may become possible to correct language problems even before children start to speak, sparing them the difficulties that come from struggling with language. Psychologists are learning new and exciting clues about how infant brains begin to acquire language.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
A Genetic Cause For Iron Deficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269646327/080413161038.htm
The discovery of a gene for a rare form of inherited iron deficiency may provide clues to iron deficiency in the general population -- particularly iron deficiency that doesn't respond to iron supplements -- and suggests a new treatment approach.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Where's The Glue? Scientists Find A Surprise When They Look For What Binds In Superconductivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446954/080410140538.htm
For more than 20 years since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity, scientists have been debating the underlying physical mechanism for this exotic phenomenon. Now, provocative results yielded by two years of experiments carried out at Princeton University have a group of scientists saying that high-temperature superconductivity does not hinge on a magical glue binding electrons together. The secret to superconductivity, they say, may rest instead on the ability of electrons to take advantage of their natural repulsion in a complex situation.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Too Many Choices -- Good Or Bad -- Can Be Mentally Exhausting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446955/080414155238.htm
Each day, we are bombarded with options -- at the local coffee shop, at work, in stores or on the TV at home. Do you want a double-shot soy latte, a caramel macchiato or simply a tall house coffee for your morning pick-me-up? Having choices is typically thought of as a good thing. Maybe not, say researchers who found we are more fatigued and less productive when faced with a plethora of choices.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
California Has More Than 99% Chance Of A Big Earthquake WIthin 30 Years, Report Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446956/080414203459.htm
California has more than a 99% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes. The likelihood of a major quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46% - and such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Blood Pressure Drugs Halt Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446957/080414113210.htm
Researchers are inching closer to understanding how common blood pressure medications might help prevent the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer. They have found in the laboratory that one type of pressure-lowering drug called an angiotensin receptor blocker inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and causes cell death. In previous work, they showed that such drugs helped reduce the development of tumor-feeding blood vessels, or angiogenesis.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Constant Cross-talk Between Motor And Sensory Nerves Keeps Growth Coordinated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446958/080410140516.htm
Come summer, we will once again marvel at the amazing athletic skills of Olympic athletes while in fact, the simple act of walking is no less remarkable. Just to prevent us from toppling over, the neuromuscular circuitry that controls all bodily movements relies on constant sensory feedback from the periphery to fine-tune its commands to hundreds of muscles.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Solar Energy: Popcorn-ball Design Doubles Efficiency Of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446959/080410140451.htm
By using a popcorn-ball design -- tiny kernels clumped into much larger porous spheres -- engineers can more than double the efficiency of a type of solar cell at converting the sun's rays to electricity.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Testosterone Levels Predict City Traders' Profitability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446960/080414174855.htm
When city traders have high morning testosterone levels they make more than average profits for the rest of that day, researchers have discovered. The scientists hypothesize that this may be because testosterone has been found to increase confidence and appetite for risk -- qualities that would augment the performance of any trader who had a positive expected return.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Decision-making May Be Surprisingly Unconscious Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446961/080414145705.htm
Contrary to what most of us would like to believe, decision-making may be a process handled to a large extent by unconscious mental activity. A team of scientists has unraveled how the brain actually unconsciously prepares our decisions. "Many processes in the brain occur automatically and without involvement of our consciousness. This prevents our mind from being overloaded by simple routine tasks. But when it comes to decisions we tend to assume they are made by our conscious mind. This is questioned by our current findings."

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Elevated Urate Levels May Slow The Progression Of Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446962/080414161549.htm
Naturally elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease in men. Researchers examined data from an earlier study and found that, among recently diagnosed Parkinson's patients, those with the highest urate levels had a significantly slower rate of disease progression during the two-year study period.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Asthma Sufferers May Feel Better In The Long Run By Feeling Worse For A While, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446963/080409174606.htm
One month of tough breathing may help asthma sufferers breathe easier in the long run with a pharmacology professor relying on a medical taboo to treat asthma. Although counterintuitive, these studies are like hair-of-the-dog folk wisdom -- treating like with like -- using beta blockers instead of stimulants in asthmatics. Termed "paradoxical pharmacology" -- treating patients with medicine that initially worsens their symptoms before eventually improving their overall health -- the studies have moved into human clinical trials.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Lung Transplants In Cystic Fibrosis Patients With Life-threatening Bacteria Sparks Debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446964/080411150847.htm
At a recent symposium researchers discussed some of the unique challenges in achieving excellent lung transplant outcomes in patients with CF. Patients with life threatening lung disease due to CF have a lot to gain by lung transplantation. Compared to other possible indications for transplant, patients with CF have, in general, the best outcomes, and a successful transplant can mean a significant increase in lifespan and a huge improvement in quality of life.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Scientists Debate The Accuracy Of Al Gore's Documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446965/080414115107.htm
There is no question that Al Gore's 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth is a powerful example of how scientific knowledge can be communicated to a lay audience. What is up for debate is whether it accurately presents the scientific argument that global warming is caused by human activities. Climate change experts express their opinions on the scientific validity of the film's claims in several recent articles.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Good Nutrition Starts Before Conception: Maternal Diet Critical To Health Of Offspring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446966/080414193022.htm
You are what you eat, as the old saying goes. Maybe so, but increasingly researchers are finding that you are also what your mother ate -- maternal nutrition has profound consequences on the health of offspring. It is well known that smaller babies are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, hypertension and diabetes. More recently, poor nutrition around the time of fertilization and egg implantation have also been shown to be detrimental in adult life.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Ancient Method, 'Black Gold Agriculture' May Revolutionize Farming, Curb Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446967/080410153658.htm
Fifteen hundred years ago, tribes people from the central Amazon basin mixed their soil with charcoal derived from animal bone and tree bark. Today, at the site of this charcoal deposit, scientists have found some of the richest, most fertile soil in the world. Now this ancient, remarkably simple farming technique seems far ahead of the curve, holding promise as a carbon-negative strategy to rein in world hunger as well as greenhouse gases.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins Inhibit Tumor Growth, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446968/080414212841.htm
Low-molecular-weight heparins block the formation of new blood vessels and prevent tumor growth, according to the results of a study. Angiogenesis -- the development of new blood vessels -- fuels cancer cell reproduction. The use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) has been shown to extend survival in cancer patients by reducing the clotting action of blood. However, the mechanism is unclear.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
It's Neck-and-neck Down The Long Stretch For 2 Stroke-prevention Procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446969/080409174612.htm
Like horses running down the long stretch of a race track, two different artery-opening treatments appear to be running neck-and-neck when it comes to preventing stroke among people with clogged neck arteries and other health problems. After three years, patients who had a minimally invasive procedure were just as likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack, or to die, as those who had open-neck surgery.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
New Technique In Treating Patients With Liver Cancer Proves Effective, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446970/080411150859.htm
Use of multipolar radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases is effective and has a relatively low recurrence rate, according to a recent study.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Nuclear Power: Most Successful Fuel Performance Ever For US Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446971/080414115101.htm
Advanced gas reactors offer more efficient operation, less waste disposal and other benefits over water-cooled reactor designs used in U.S. nuclear power plants. But creating fuel that burns efficiently and reliably in the higher temperatures of advanced gas reactors has been a challenge -- until now. Fuel fabricated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in cooperation with Idaho National Laboratory and the Babcock & Wilcox Company, has demonstrated the most successful performance ever for U.S. advanced gas reactor fuel.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Ethnic Identity Expressed In Clothing Is Good For Adolescents' Mental Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270446972/080414193030.htm
Young people who dress according to the customs of their own ethnic group are less likely to have subsequent mental health problems than those who don't, suggests new research.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Radiation Risks For Astronauts On A Mission To Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024731/080414094156.htm
The European Space Agency has chosen the GSI accelerator facility to assess radiation risks that astronauts will be exposed to on a Mars mission. GSI was selected because its accelerator is the only one in Europe able to create ion beams similar to those found in space. To determine possible health risks of manned space flights, scientists from all over Europe have been asked to investigate the effects of ion beams in human cells and organs.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Twin Findings Raise Hopes Of Improved Anemia Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268422531/080411101952.htm
A new understanding of how red blood cell production is controlled could lead to improvements in the treatment of the blood disorder anemia, according to medical researchers.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
When Genetics And Geology Meet In Patagonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270056949/080409205136.htm
When Charles Darwin first set foot on Patagonia, he was a fresh-faced 22-year old yet to finesse his revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection. But traveling around the tip of South America aboard the HMS Beagle--part of an epic, five-year scientific expedition--the young naturalist had his eyes opened to the immense diversity of species and landscapes.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Stem Cells And Cancer: Scientists Investigate A Fine Balancing Act
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268422533/080411101941.htm
The mechanisms normally involved in balancing different functions of stem cells may also contribute to cancer. Scientists are delving into these mechanisms to understand how stem cells are normally regulated, and what role they may play in malignant brain tumors.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Girls In Sports At Record High, Yet Many Not Active Enough, Report Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270001277/080414082537.htm
A report released to be released on April 14 by the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport shows that girls are participating in sports in record numbers, but their participation in physical activity outside of organized sports is declining, especially as they move from childhood into adolescence.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Novel Living System Recreates Predator-prey Interaction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270001278/080414082525.htm
The hunter-versus-hunted phenomenon exemplified by a pack of lionesses chasing down a lonely gazelle has been recreated in a Petri dish with lowly bacteria. Researchers have developed a living system using genetically altered bacteria that he believes can provide new insights into how the population levels of prey influence the levels of predators, and vice-versa.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Gene Variant Increases Risk Of Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270056951/080409174614.htm
Variation in a gene known as CHI3L1 increases susceptibility to asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decline in lung function. The gene variant causes increased blood levels of YKL-40, a biomarker for asthma. A slightly different version lowers YKL-40 levels and protects against asthma.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Discovery Of Link In Mosquito Mating Mechanism Could Lead To New Attack On Dengue And Yellow Fever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024724/080410124650.htm
Researchers have identified a mating mechanism that possibly could be adapted to prevent female mosquitoes from spreading the viruses that cause dengue fever, second only to malaria as the most virulent mosquito-borne disease in the tropical world. Specifically, they have discovered 63 proteins that male mosquitoes transfer to mosquito females during mating and are thought briefly to change the females' physiology and behavior, in particular suppressing the female's appetite for mammalian blood.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
'Modus Operandi' Of Heart Muscle Protein Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024725/080410153613.htm
Researchers have discovered that a protein called leiomodin promotes the assembly of an important heart muscle protein called actin. What's more, Lmod directs the assembly of actin to form the pumping unit of the heart.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
With Annual Deaths From Malaria On The Rise: Scientists Ask 'Where Is All The Money Going?'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024726/080411150852.htm
With more than $220 million dollars dedicated to malaria treatment and prevention, why is the annual mortality rate from malaria on the rise? A new study examines the current methods used to control and prevent the spread of malaria.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Prostate Cancer Can Be Halted With Anti-inflammatory And Statin Used In Tandem, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270185226/080414113215.htm
Researchers have shown that administering a combination of the widely used drugs Celebrex (celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and Lipitor (atorvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug) stops the transition of early prostate cancer to its more aggressive and potentially fatal stage.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Vitamin D And Calcium Influence Cell Death In The Colon, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269624259/080413161052.htm
Researchers are learning how vitamins and minerals in the diet can stimulate or prevent the appearance of colon cancer. Biological markers could influence colon cancer risk.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Macadamia Nuts Can Be Included In Heart Healthy Diet, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268581981/080411124611.htm
Macadamia nuts included in a heart healthy diet reduced low-density cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and should be included among nuts with qualified health claims, according to researchers.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Plan Brokered By Archaeologists Would Remove Roadblock To Mideast Peace
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493378/080411123057.htm
Israelis and Palestinians may not be able to agree right now on their present or future, but, if a pair of Los Angeles archaeologists have their way, they soon will see eye to eye on their past. Working tirelessly for the past five years, Ran Boytner, a University of California, Los Angeles archaeologist and Lynn Swartz Dodd, an archaeologist at the University of Southern California, have guided a team of prominent Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists to arrive at the first-ever agreement on the disposition of the region's archaeological treasures following the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Ancient Komodo Dragon Has Space-age Skull
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024728/080414091357.htm
The fearsome Komodo dragon is the world's largest living lizard and can take very large animal prey: now a new international study has revealed how it can be such an efficient killing machine despite having a wimpy bite and a featherweight skull.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Exercise May Lead To Faster Prostate Tumor Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269624260/080413161048.htm
Prostate tumors grew more quickly in mice who exercised than in those who did not, leading to speculation that exercise may increase blood flow to tumors, according to a new study. The researchers want to caution men against interpreting these findings as an endorsement for not exercising for fear of getting or exacerbating cancer.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Method To Deliver Molecules Within Embryonic Stem Cells Improves Differentiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/270024729/080409150104.htm
New research shows that delivering molecules within aggregates of embryonic stem cells via biodegradable microspheres enhances the efficiency and purity of differentiation.

Tue, 15 Apr 08
Major Surgery No Longer Needed For The Removal Of Uterine Fibroids, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268581980/080411124619.htm
The treatment of uterine fibroids with 3T MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is safe, noninvasive and effective, according to a recent study. According to the study, at 6 month follow-up, there was a decrease in SSS (ranging between 10-59%), treated fibroid volume, and total uterine volume. At 12 month follow-up, there was a persistent decrease in SSS (ranging between 15-62%), treated myoma volume, and total uterine volume.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Sea Salt Worsens Coastal Air Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710698/080408163231.htm
Air pollution in the world's busiest ports and shipping regions may be markedly worse than previously suspected, according to a new study showing that industrial and shipping pollution is exacerbated when it combines with sunshine and salty sea air.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Stem Cells Offer Cartilage Repair Hope For Arthritis Sufferers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389642/080411085922.htm
New research could offer hope that bone stem cells may be harnessed to repair the damaged cartilage that is one of the main symptoms of osteoarthritis. Scientists have successfully identified stem cells within articular cartilage of adults, which although it cannot become any cell in the body like full stem cells, has the ability to derive into chondrocytes - the cells that make up the body's cartilage -- in high enough numbers to make treatment a realistic possibility.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Fly Is At Home On A Crab, With New Evolutionary Neighbors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710699/080408202041.htm
Scientists have rediscovered a fly living in the mouth of land crabs. One of the more bizarre choices of breeding substrates comes from Drosophila endobranchia. This species is one out of three known fruit flies that have found a home on (and inside) land-crabs. Although frequently mentioned in biology textbooks, the crab flies have somewhat surprisingly been neglected in active research since their description. The fly has actually not even been seen since its initial discovery in 1966.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
The Good And Bad Side Of Anti-cancer Compounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710700/080410140502.htm
Two recent studies provide a potential mechanism by which investigational anti-cancer compounds known as HDAC inhibitors specifically damage cancer cells as well as clues about possible adverse effects of these compounds -- findings with important implications for their clinical use as cancer therapies.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Nervous System For Airplanes, Bridges And Other Structures Should Improve Safety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268422529/080411103051.htm
Technical structures may soon have their own nervous system. Developers and users expect this to bring greater safety, maintenance activities only when required, and a more efficient use of material and energy. Sophisticated systems of sensors, actuators and signal processing devices detect cracks, rust and other defects at an early stage in order to prevent damage – especially in critical places that are difficult to reach.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Keep Boys And Girls Together In The Classroom To Optimize Learning, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710701/080411150856.htm
Boys benefit a great deal from having girls in the classroom. And there are benefits for both genders. A higher percentage of girls in a classroom lowers the amount of classroom disruption and fosters a better relationship between pupils and their teacher, a study of the data suggests. Teachers are less tired in classrooms with more girls, and pupils overall seem to be more satisfied when a high female-to-male ratio persists.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Unusual Earthquake Swarm Off Oregon Coast Puzzles Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669432/080413184801.htm
Scientists have recorded more than 600 earthquakes in the last 10 days off the central Oregon coast in an area not typically known for a high degree of seismic activity. This earthquake "swarm" is unique, according to marine geologists, because it is occurring within the middle of the Juan de Fuca plate -- away from the major, regional tectonic boundaries.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Manufactured Buckyballs Don't Harm Microbes That Clean The Environment, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710702/080408160640.htm
Even large amounts of manufactured nanoparticles, also known as Buckyballs, don't faze microscopic organisms that are charged with cleaning up the environment, according to new research.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Stem Cells And Cancer: Cancer Pathways That Also Control The Adult Stem Cell Population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763809/080410101153.htm
Researchers in the United Kingdom are investigating a mechanism that normally drives adult stem cells to repair the intestine. They have found that if things go wrong and a crucial gene called Apc is lost or damaged, then this normal function of controlling the adult stem cell population breaks down and ultimately leads to a tumour.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
More Safety For Cell Phone Batteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268634631/080411151001.htm
Researchers have created a novel safer lithium-ion battery. It is based on a polymer electrolyte, which is -- unlike the liquid electrolyte in conventional lithium-ion batteries -- not inflammable. Lithium-ion batteries supply the power for cell phones and PDAs, and larger devices such as laptops, cordless screwdrivers and lawnmowers are becoming increasingly dependent on this power source.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Supercomputers Simulating As Close As Possible To Reality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268634633/080411150948.htm
Supercomputers simulate products and manufacturing processes within minutes. In the Computer Aided Robust Design CAROD project, researchers are developing new methods and software that significantly improve the quality of the virtual components.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Developing Cancer Treatments Directed At Critical Developmental Pathway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710703/080410131606.htm
Researchers discovered that the Notch signaling pathway, which determines the development of many cell types, and is also implicated in some cancers, is not universally essential for the maintenance of stem cells. This indicates that inhibitors of Notch may not affect bone marrow stem cells.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Extracts From Reishi Mushroom And Green Tea Shows Synergistic Effect To Slow Sarcoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710704/080408175308.htm
Reishi mushroom and green tea scientific studies have found that combining the active ingredients in the mushroom and the tea creates synergetic effects that inhibited the growth of tumors and delayed the time of death in mice with sarcomas.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Heart And Lung Transplant Patients May No Longer Need Biopsies And Could Receive Personalized Care From Biomarkers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763810/080410101121.htm
New data suggest the potential of a significant impact of using biomarkers to reduce the need for biopsies and personalize transplant patient care. Non-invasive testing using gene-based blood or urine could offer transplant patients personalized care and medication and may replace the need for costly, invasive biopsy procedures that can be risky for patients.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Not All Smoke Alarms Created Equal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268422532/080411101947.htm
If you thought all smoke alarms were equally effective, think again. Photoelectric smoke alarms are much more likely to remain functioning after installation than are ionization alarms. But ionization alarms are the most common type found in US households.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Doctor's Offices Can Help Stem Abuse Of Oxycontin, Other Narcotic Painkillers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710706/080410140519.htm
A new study shows how doctor's offices and clinics can identify patients who may be diverting or misusing narcotic painkillers such as Oxycontin, and steer them to help, while preserving access to the drugs for patients who truly need them to control their pain.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Insects Evolved Radically Different Strategy To Smell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269646328/080413161035.htm
Insects have adopted a strategy to detect odors that is radically different from those of other organisms. This is an unexpected and controversial finding that may dissolve a dominant ideology in the field. Scientists find that insects use fast-acting ion channels to smell odors, a major break with the ideology of the field -- and evolution.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Excessive Alcohol Drinking Can Lead To Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669437/080413173510.htm
A healthy diet and lifestyle protect against a wide range of diseases, and new research shows that cancer is no exception. Researchers demonstrate how excessive alcohol drinking could lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Fungus Fight: Researchers Battle Against Dangerous Corn Toxin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710707/080408175312.htm
The spiraling use of corn for food and fuel is creating heightened concerns about contamination of this staple crop with deadly aflatoxin. Produced by certain fungi that grow on corn, this contaminant is a known human carcinogen that especially threatens food safety in the developing world and can potentially cause the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in the United States each year.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Long-term Benefit Of Carotid Stenting As Alternative To Surgery Shown In New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710708/080410140459.htm
Carotid artery stenting is an effective option for high risk patients who are not eligible for surgery, according to a long-term study. Carotid artery disease, which involves clogging of the arteries in the neck that provide blood to the brain, is a significant risk factor for stroke, making these study results important for the estimated 200,000 Americans each year who would otherwise not be candidates for the treatment.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Personality Study Shows Risk Of First Depression Episode Late In Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269710709/080411124607.htm
Even after the age of 70, people prone to feelings of anxiety, worry, distress and insecurity face a risk for a first lifetime episode of clinically significant depression, according to a unique study.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Dr. Mom Was Right -- And Wrong -- About Washing Fruits And Vegetables
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763806/080410101203.htm
Washing fresh fruits and vegetables alone -- even with chlorine disinfectants -- may not be enough to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Studies show that certain disease-causing microbes can make their way inside the leaves of lettuce, spinach and other vegetables and fruit, where surface treatments cannot reach.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Sleep, Baby, Sleep: Parents' Behavior Has Direct Impact On Children's Sleep Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269504598/080407160748.htm
Parents who want their babies to sleep through the night would be wise to avoid co-sleeping arrangements or feeding their children evening snacks beyond early infancy. The way parents put their babies to bed has a direct impact on how well children sleep when they reach 4 to 6 years old, according to a new study.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Genetic Test Offers Clues About Cardiac Hypertrophy In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269504599/080409174618.htm
Some children with unexplained cardiac hypertrophy -- a thickening of the heart muscle -- harbor mutations in the same 10 genes responsible for the condition in many adults. Regardless of the age at which symptoms appear, cardiac hypertrophy can share common genetic roots.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Safer, Easier System For Remote Explosive Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269504600/080409205858.htm
Detecting roadside bombs may become easier, thanks to chemical sensors under development. Chemists have created materials that sniff out TNT and give off signals that can be detected remotely -- from a moving Humvee, for example.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Mouth May Tell The Tale Of Lung Damage Caused By Smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669433/080413183701.htm
Cells lining the mouth reflect the molecular damage that smoking does to the lining of the lungs. Examining oral tissue lining the mouth to gauge cancer-inducing molecular alterations in the lungs could spare patients and those at risk of lung cancer from more invasive, uncomfortable procedures used now.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Genes Involved With Alcohol Metabolism Associated With Increased Risk For Breast Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669434/080413183237.htm
Specific variations within two genes involved with alcohol metabolism are associated with an increased risk for breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a new study. The work indicates that sequence variations within the genes ADH1B and ADH1C may as much as double a postmenopausal woman drinker's risk for breast cancer.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Folic Acid Supplementation Provided In Utero, But Not After Birth, May Protect Offspring From Colorectal Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669435/080413183000.htm
Although folic acid fortification has proven to lower rates of neural tube defects and some childhood cancers, there is a growing body of evidence that too much folic acid may increase one's risk of developing colorectal cancer. A new study suggests that folic acid supplementation provided in utero, but not postnatally, may protect offspring from developing colorectal cancer.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Dietary Energy Balance Modulates Multistage Epithelial Carcinogenesis In Mouse Skin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269669436/080413182838.htm
Dietary energy balance may affect the risk for skin tumor development. Researchers believe that these effects of dietary energy balance are mediated by changes in signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). "We have demonstrated that dietary energy balance directly modulates activation of cell surface receptors, specifically the EGFR and the IGF-1R, which subsequently affects signaling through downstream pathways, such as Akt and mTOR. Negative energy balance inhibits, while positive energy balance enhances, signaling through these pathways, thereby modulating cellular growth, proliferation, and survival," said the lead author of the study.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Pepper Compound Could Aid Millions With Vitiligo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269646324/080413172937.htm
A family of compounds derived from black pepper extract have shown potential in animal studies to be effective in treating vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder. Vitiligo, which afflicts an estimated 100 million people worldwide, is characterized by the loss of pigment in affected areas of skin.

Mon, 14 Apr 08
Slightly Abnormal Blood Test May Point To A 'Silent' Form Of Hepatitis B
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269646325/080413172649.htm
Silence isn't always golden. In the case of hepatitis B, people with a past -- and seemingly resolved -- infection often don't know that they still have a silent form of the disorder. Now, new research suggests that slightly abnormal results from a blood test, once thought to be a fleeting curiosity, can tip off doctors to the presence of this potentially infectious and lethal viral renegade.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Treatment Target For Liver Cancer Recurrence And Survival Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219694/080410160839.htm
Deadly and difficult to treat, liver cancer has long resisted attempts by researchers to develop ways to prolong life and prevent recurrence. But researchers now report that the protein sulfatase 2 (SULF2) may provide one of the keys needed to begin the design of new therapies.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Shorebird Numbers Crash In Australia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219695/080409170333.htm
One of the world's great wildlife spectacles is under way across Australia: as many as two million migratory shorebirds of 36 species are gathering around Broome before an amazing 10,000-kilometer annual flight to their northern hemisphere breeding grounds. But an alarming new study has revealed that both these migrants and Australia's one million resident shorebirds have suffered a massive collapse in numbers over the past 25 years.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Cells On Path To Becoming Mature T-cells More Flexible Than Commonly Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219696/080409150044.htm
Contrary to the currently accepted model of T-cell development, researchers have found that juvenile cells on their way to becoming mature immune cells can develop into either T-cells or other blood-cell types versus only being committed to the T-cell path.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Researchers Classify Web Searches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219697/080410115336.htm
Although millions of people use Web search engines, researchers completed by show that -- by using relatively simple methods -- most queries submitted can be classified into one of three categories.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Triple Threat: Young Macho Men With Serious Injuries Often Abuse Alcohol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219698/080410153633.htm
Men with serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, must deal with a range of emotions. If these men have strong traditional masculine ideas and abuse alcohol, it becomes even more difficult to help them heal and come to terms with their emotions and situations. A psychology researcher studied these challenging factors to find better ways to understand and treat men who fit this mold, such as the injured soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
NASA Sets Sights On Lunar Dust Exploration Mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389640/080411092032.htm
NASA is preparing to send a small spacecraft to the moon in 2011 to assess the lunar atmosphere and the nature of dust lofted above the surface.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Blood Vessels: The Pied Piper For Growing Nerve Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219699/080410153636.htm
Researchers have discovered that blood vessels in the head can guide growing facial nerve cells with blood pressure controlling proteins. The findings suggest that blood vessels throughout the body might have the same power of persuasion over many nerves.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Biochemical Signals Associated With Atherosclerosis May Damage Other Organs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219700/080409151843.htm
In a finding that challenges conventional medical knowledge, researchers report that plaques formed in during atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, are associated with certain harmful chemical reactions that can contribute to damage in the lungs, liver and other organs. The study suggests that the effects of the disease are more widespread than previously believed.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Low Birth Weight And Excessive Weight Gain Linked To Heart Problems In Later Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219701/080409205848.htm
Researchers who have followed 5,840 people from before birth to the age of 31 have found evidence suggesting that small size at birth and excessive weight gain during adolescence and young adulthood may lead to low grade inflammation, which, in turn, is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. The study underlines the important role of healthy lifestyles, from the fetal period, through childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, in preventing heart problems.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Wine May Protect Against Dementia, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269219702/080410115326.htm
Wine may protect against dementia. A study looked at 1,458 women over a long period of time. After 34 years, 162 women had been diagnosed with dementia. The results show that among those women who reported that they drank wine a considerably lower proportion suffered from dementia, whereas this correlation was not found among those who had reported that they regularly drank beer or liquor.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Map Reading For Dummies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147513/080412175905.htm
A huge European project into car and road safety has developed a system that will read satellite navigation maps and warn the driver of upcoming hazards -- sharp bends, dips and accident black spots -- which may be invisible to the driver. Even better, the system can update the geographic database. Suddenly, all drivers can become mapmakers. You are driving along an unfamiliar road, using your satellite navigation to find your way. But clever technology in your car is also tracking the route, looking at the terrain, and upcoming bends and intersections. It has information on accident blind spots, dips in the road, and more. Linking into other in-car wireless communication systems, it can even communicate with other vehicles in the vicinity.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Emotional Machines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147514/080412175657.htm
Emotions are an intrinsic part of communications. But machines don't have, perceive or react to them, which makes us -- their handlers -- hot under the collar. But thanks to building blocks developed by European researchers, machines that 'feel' may no longer be confined to science fiction. Nearly everybody has to communicate with machines at some level, be it mobile phones, personal computers or annoying, automated customer support 'solutions'. But the communication is on the machine's terms, not the person's.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Road Safety: The Uncrashable Car?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147515/080412175201.htm
The largest road safety research project ever launched in Europe will usher in a series of powerful road-safety systems for European cars. But, in the long term, its basic, experimental research could lead to a car that is virtually uncrashable. A truck exits suddenly from a side road, directly into your lane only dozens of metres ahead. Suddenly, your car issues a warning, starts applying the brakes and attempts to take evasive action. Realising impact is unavoidable; in-car safety systems pre-tension the safety belts and arm the airbag, timing its release to the second before impact.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Vehicle Communications System In Your Pocket
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147516/080412174944.htm
The device that will manage the telematics communications of next-generation vehicles may already be in our pockets. Multiple application 'nomadic' devices like the mobile phone are ideal for telematics solutions. Automotive manufacturers are now facing up to that reality. It hasn't been easy.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Walking Through Virtual Environments: One Virtual Step For Man, One Real Leap For Mankind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147517/080412174455.htm
Imagine being able to take a step back in time and walk through the streets of ancient Pompeii hours before the eruption of Vesuvius. In April 2008, European researchers will demonstrate that walking through virtual environments is set to be a reality. In the virtual environment you have flight simulators, car simulators, but the most natural way of locomotion for humans is walking and this was practically impossible, according to the researchers.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Breast Cancers : What If Their Invasive Power Were 'Latent' From The Beginning Of Their Development?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147518/080412173331.htm
Why are some cancers more aggressive than others? This was the question explored by a number of doctors when they studied the biological profile of a form of breast cancer. The results were astounding: tumor aggressiveness seems to be determined from the very first tumor cells and the biological diversity observed in invasive cancers already exists in localized forms.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Labor Pain Comes From The Cervix
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147519/080412172431.htm
Childbirth is painful, yet scientists are still somewhat in the dark about what actually causes the pain. A new doctoral thesis now shows where this pain comes from and opens the way to the development of improved methods of pain relief.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Wireless EEG System Self-powered By Body Heat And Light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147520/080412172006.htm
Scientists have developed a battery-free wireless 2-channel EEG system powered by a hybrid power supply using body heat and ambient light which could be used to monitor brain waves after a head injury or for other applications. The hybrid power supply combines a thermoelectric generator that uses the heat dissipated from a person's temples and silicon photovoltaic cells. The entire system is wearable and integrated into a device resembling headphones. The system can provide more than 1mW on average indoor, which is more than enough for the targeted application.

Sun, 13 Apr 08
Parkinson Transplants Survive At Least 16 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/269147521/080412112931.htm
Transplanted cells to help Parkinson's patients can survive in the brain for over one and half decades. However, some of the transplanted cells developed Parkinson-like features which is very surprising. These are the main findings of a study on grafting of new neurons to the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease. 'Previous studies have shown that transplanted dopamine cells can clearly improve speed of movement, reduce rigidity and the need for medication for at least a decade', says a Neurobiology professor involved with the research. 'We now see that they also are alive in large numbers, which is very exciting.'

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Geologists Discover New Way Of Estimating Size And Frequency Of Meteorite Impacts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268609160/080411160239.htm
Scientists have developed a new way of determining the size and frequency of meteorites that have collided with Earth.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Repairing Tissue Damage: Scientists Uncover Potential To Control Adult Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763807/080410101159.htm
Researchers have made an important step towards the use of adult stem cells to repair damaged tissue. University of Manchester scientists report that they have uncovered a messaging system that instructs adult stem cells to contribute to tissue repair in response to chemical signals in the body.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Nanotechnology In The Environment: Making Sure Wonder Materials Don't Become Wonder Pollutants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769426/080408132129.htm
As useful as nanotubes may be, the process of making them may have unintentional and potentially harmful impacts on the environment. Carbon nanotubes are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, yet stronger than steel and more durable than diamonds. They conduct heat and electricity with efficiency that rivals copper wires and silicon chips, with possible uses in everything from concrete and clothes to bicycle parts and electronics.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Gene Involved In Blood Stem Cell Replication, Movement, Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769427/080409120629.htm
Researchers have identified a gene that is responsible for the division and movement of marrow-derived, blood-forming stem cells, a finding that could have major implications for the future of bone marrow and blood cell transplantation.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Why Bone Cells Colonize Glass Scaffolding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769428/080410201501.htm
Why do bone cells colonize glass scaffolding? One researcher says it's like seeding a fishing environment by throwing an old Christmas tree into the water. The submerged tree provides good pockets of cover for all kinds of fish. But this isn't really a discussion about aquatic habitats. The scientist is trying to explain why human bone cells would want to colonize medical scaffolding made out of glass fibers. "Nature abhors a void," he says. "And the body likes certain kinds of glass."

Sat, 12 Apr 08
DNA Paternity Test Almost Fooled: Man Put Someone Else's Saliva In His Mouth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769429/080410131603.htm
Detection of a fraud attempt in sample taking for a DNA analysis is modifying forensic scientists' action protocol: It will be compulsory for the donor to wash his mouth out before a witness. The fraud attempt took place in a paternity test, when the donor mixed his own saliva with that of someone else's. Faced with the evidence, the suspect admitted that, shortly before the sample taking, he put someone else's saliva into his mouth from a little container.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Nose Spray Anthrax Vaccine Effective In Early Tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268634629/080411175427.htm
Early studies show that a new mucosal vaccine against anthrax has the potential to provide military personnel with more effective and efficient protection against a "popular" bioweapon, according to a new study. With the new vaccine, researchers sought to take two steps at once, fine-tuning its ingredients and delivering it by nose spray instead of injection.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Process Behind Heart Muscle Contraction Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769430/080409124859.htm
Researchers were able to control heart muscle function in a new way after discovering the previously unknown role of two enzymes in heart muscle contraction. Although in the early stages, the research provides fresh knowledge of how heart muscle functions and also holds early potential as a treatment for various heart diseases—including congestive heart failure—that is possibly less taxing on the heart than current regimens.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
First Merger Of Three Black Holes Simulated On A Supercomputer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769431/080408132137.htm
The same team of astrophysicists that cracked the computer code simulating two black holes crashing and merging together has now, for the first time, caused a three-black-hole collision. Scientists have simulated triplet black holes to test their breakthrough method that, in 2005, merged two of these large mass objects on a supercomputer following Einstein's theory of general relativity.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Cholesterol Lowering: Neuroprotective Effect Of Lovastatin Described
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769432/080409114625.htm
High cholesterol levels are considered to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease including stroke. Therefore, many cholesterol lowering drugs have been developed by pharmaceutical companies in recent years. One class of these drugs, statins, has been found to reduce the incidence of stroke and progression of Alzheimer's disease when prophylactically administered.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Getting Forgetful? Then Blueberries May Hold The Key
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769433/080410115405.htm
If you are getting forgetful as you get older, then scientists may have good news for you. They have found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Cornell Robot Sets A Record For Distance Walking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268749570/080411220112.htm
We're not sure what brand of batteries it was using, but the Cornell Ranger robot just kept going and going April 3 when it set an unofficial world record by walking nonstop for 45 laps -- a little over 9 kilometers or 5.6 miles -- around the Barton Hall running track. The robot walked (and walked) until it finally stopped and fell backward, perhaps because its battery ran down.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Secrets Of Cellular Signaling Shed Light On New Cancer Stem Cell Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769434/080409120616.htm
By revealing the inner workings of a common cell-to-cell signaling system, biologists have uncovered new clues about mysterious and contentious creatures called cancer stem cells.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Protecting A Life-saving Blood Product From Human Form Of Mad Cow Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769435/080408144827.htm
Amid concern that recipients of certain blood transfusions may risk infection with a deadly protein responsible for the human form of mad cow disease, researchers now report development of a special filter that quickly and effectively removes the protein from blood.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Small Molecule MiRNAs Regulate Female Mouse Fertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769436/080408175230.htm
Small molecules known as miRNAs, which are generated naturally by the body, regulate the conversion of genetic information into proteins. New data have now indicated that miRNAs can control the fertility of female mice by regulating the development and function of the corpus luteum, the structure that forms at the site of release of the fertilized egg and that is required to maintain pregnancy at the early stages.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Kidney Cancer Deaths Show Overall Decrease In Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769437/080409101328.htm
Male kidney cancer deaths have fallen by 13 percent across Europe since they peaked in the early 1990s and women have benefited from a 17 percent reduction. But the study of 32 countries, based on data from the World Health Organization, has revealed wide variations between countries.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Methamphetamine Use In Pregnancy Damages Learning Ability Of Offspring, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268769438/080409150107.htm
Using a guinea pig model that can assess neural changes in offspring born to mothers given methamphetamine during an otherwise normal pregnancy, researchers provide new evidence for the cognitive damage of these drugs.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Earliest Step In Human Development Revealed By Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493372/080410184336.htm
Researchers have uncovered the molecular underpinnings of one of the earliest steps in human development using human embryonic stem cells. Their identification of a critical signal mediated by the protein BMP-4 that drives the differentiation of stem cells into what will become the placenta, will be published in Cell Stem Cell. The finding, they say, also highlights one aspect of human cell biology that has not been replicated in other animal model systems.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Shift Work Linked To Organ Disease, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493373/080409205727.htm
Disruption of an individual's natural sleep-wake cycle has been determined to be a contributing factor in the development of organ disease. The human body works according to a natural 24 hour sleep-wake cycle, also referred to as a circadian rhythm, which controls body temperature, sleep/wake timing, and the way our organs and body systems work together.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Precise Cut For Sparkling Jewels Using Automated Gem Cutting Machine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493374/080408102835.htm
Rubies, emeralds and tourmalines can only sparkle with the right cut. Since early this year, a fully automatic machine has undertaken this grinding process one gem cutter. It saves up to 30 percent of the precious material and grinds the gems with greater precision.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Blocking The Effect Of Inflammation-causing Cells Lowered Prostate Cancer Cells Invasion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493375/080408175303.htm
Recent studies have suggested an association between chronic inflammation and cancers of the prostate, colon, stomach and liver. Now scientists report success in blocking an early step in metastasis of prostate cancer cells by interrupting the communication between the cancer cells and other cells that promote inflammation.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Scientist Seeks Ways To Squeeze More Oil Out Of Existing Wells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493376/080409204618.htm
Scientists studying petroleum microbiology are figuring out how to squeeze more petroleum out of abandoned or soon-to-be-abandoned oil fields. One Mississippi State researcher already has extended the life of one field by 17 years. That may sound far-fetched for those unfamiliar with his ongoing research that involves the forced growth of oil-chasing microbes used to redirect injected water that, in turn, sweeps once-inaccessible oil from old wells into production.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Mass Media Campaigns Can Convince Young Adults To Adopt Safer Sex Practices, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268493377/080410115333.htm
Targeted mass media campaigns can be effective in convincing young adults to adopt safer sex practices. Past public health campaigns, particularly those promoting healthy behaviors, were rarely successful unless associated with other interventions. But this study indicates that mass media campaigns can be successful alone, at least in the short-term.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Journey To The Center Of The Earth: Discovery Sheds Light On Mantle Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389622/080411092336.htm
Uncovering a rare, two-billion-year-old window into the Earth's mantle, geoscientists have found our planet's geological history is more complex than previously thought. The researchers went on a North Pole expedition, resulting in a discovery that could shed new light on the mantle. Ancient rocks were found along the bottom of the Arctic Ocean floor, unearthed during voyages to Gakkel Ridge.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Closing In On Origins Of Main Ingredient Of Alzheimer's Plaques
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389623/080409120612.htm
The ability of brain cells to communicate and to take in substances from their surface is essential to the production of a key ingredient in Alzheimer's brain plaques, neuroscientists have learned.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Spitzer Sees Shining Stellar Sphere; Omega Centauri Looks Radiant In Infrared
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389624/080411091744.htm
Millions of clustered stars glisten like an iridescent opal in a new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Called Omega Centauri, this sparkling orb of stars is like a miniature galaxy. It is the biggest and brightest of the more than 150 similar objects, called globular clusters, that orbit around the outside of our Milky Way galaxy. Stargazers at southern latitudes can spot the stellar gem with the naked eye in the constellation Centaurus.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Gene Oppositely Controlled By Dietary Protein, Sugar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389625/080408132154.htm
Researchers have discovered a gene in flies whose activity rises and falls depending upon the amount of protein and sugar in the insects' diets. The findings might shed light on the way the insects' bodies -- and perhaps those of humans too -- handle dietary extremes.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Protein Data Bank Archives 50,000th Molecule Structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389627/080408132144.htm
The Protein Data Bank has reached a significant milestone in its 37-year history. The 50,000th molecule structure was released into its archive, joining other structures vital to pharmacology, bioinformatics and education.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Certain Sleep Disorders Linked to Behavior Issues In Kids, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389630/080409110023.htm
New study offers a closer look at the association between childhood sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and sleep apnea, and behavioral problems like hyperactivity and anxiety. Children with sleep-disordered breathing who are also overweight, sleep for short periods of time, or have another sleep disorder like insomnia are more likely to have behavior issues.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Grand Canyon May Be As Old As Dinosaurs, 40-50 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389631/080410140455.htm
New geological evidence indicates the Grand Canyon may be so old that dinosaurs once lumbered along its rim. Researchers used a technique known as radiometric dating to show the Grand Canyon may have formed more than 55 million years ago, pushing back its assumed origins by 40 million to 50 million years. The researchers gathered evidence from rocks in the canyon and on surrounding plateaus that were deposited near sea level several hundred million years ago before the region uplifted and eroded to form the canyon.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Omega-3 Intake During Last Months Of Pregnancy Boosts An Infant's Cognitive And Motor Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389633/080409110029.htm
A new study reveals that omega-3 intake during the last months of pregnancy boosts an infant's sensory, cognitive, and motor development. However, high concentration of omega-3s in mother's milk doesn't seem to have the same positive effect in breast-fed babies, highlighting the importance of prenatal exposure to omega-3 fatty acids.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Stress May Lead Students To Use Stimulants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389634/080407195349.htm
The performance pressures from end-of-semester exams and papers can take a toll on students, even leading them to turn to potentially harmful substances to keep them awake and alert. Recent studies show that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress -- particularly during exam time, says an adolescent medicine specialist.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Too Many Gene Copies Stimulate Tumor Cell Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389635/080408175227.htm
New data have characterized a molecular pathway underlying low-grade forms of a type of brain tumor known as an astrocytoma. The authors therefore suggest that therapeutics targeting this pathway might provide a new approach to treating individuals with low-grade atrocytomas.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Safe 'Green' Decontamination Method Detoxifies Nerve Agents In Chemical Weapons And Pesticides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389636/080408132133.htm
Scientists have developed a new method for rapidly and safely destroying toxic agents such as chemical weapons and pesticides. When tested in solution, full destruction of all three tested agents was achieved in less than 30 seconds. Testing on contaminated surfaces showed virtually complete decontamination of the agents in 10 minutes -- the shortest of the time periods tested.

Sat, 12 Apr 08
Marijuana And Alcohol Taken Together Induced Widespread Nerve Cell Death In Brains Of Young Rats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268389637/080408150512.htm
Marijuana is among the most frequently used illicit drugs by women during their childbearing years and there is growing concern that marijuana abuse during pregnancy, either alone or in combination with other drugs, may have serious effects on fetal brain development. There is strong evidence that THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, crosses the placenta, that maternal marijuana abuse results in intrauterine growth retardation and that infants exposed to marijuana exhibit a temporary syndrome that includes lethargy and decreased muscle tone. A new study using rats found that THC combined with mildly intoxicating doses of alcohol induced widespread nerve cell death in the brain.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Absence Of Clouds Caused Pre-human Supergreenhouse Periods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049409/080410140531.htm
In a world without human-produced pollution, biological productivity controls cloud formation and may be the lever that caused supergreenhouse episodes during the Cetaceous and Eocene, according to paleoclimatologists.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
How Neural Sludge Accumulates In Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049410/080409120632.htm
Researchers have identified a key mechanism by which the protein sludge that kills brain cells accumulates in Alzheimer's disease. Their findings in mice offer clues to treating AD and also could explain why memory centers of the brain are most affected in the disease.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Ancient DNA: Reconstruction Of The Biological History Of A Human Society
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049411/080408112112.htm
Archaeologists have reconstructed the history of the evolution of human population and answered questions about history, using DNA extracted from skeleton remains at the Aldaieta necropolis. It is clear that the genetic analysis of skeleton remains, despite the labor-intensive work involved and the problem of authenticity of the results, has provided an essential contribution in the reconstruction of the biological history of human populations.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
'Connecting The Dots' In Path That Leads To Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049412/080408132147.htm
Researchers report the discovery of a critical early player in the path that turns cells to fat. Given that obesity is a major health concern, such a fuller understanding of the molecular processes governing fat tissue formation could ultimately hold clinical importance.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Nanotechnology In Environment: Citrate Appears To Control Buckyball Clumping But Environmental Concerns Remain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049413/080408100542.htm
Fullerenes, also fondly known as buckyballs, are showing an ugly side. It appears that the hydrophobic, or water hating, carbon molecules clump together in water, forming aggregates of thousands of molecules. And there are reports that these aggregates can be toxic. Now researchers have demonstrated that this behavior can be changed.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
You Get What You Pay For With Online Q & A Sites, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049414/080409100456.htm
Computer science and engineering researchers revealed that the answer quality provided by online question-and-answer Web sites, such as Yahoo! Answers and Google Answers, depends on two factors -- how much you pay and how many people contribute to your answer.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
The First Animal On Earth Was Significantly More Complex Than Previously Believed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049415/080410153648.htm
A new study mapping the evolutionary history of animals indicates that Earth's first animal -- a mysterious creature whose characteristics can only be inferred from fossils and studies of living animals -- was probably significantly more complex than previously believed.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Cancer Stem Cells Created With New Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049416/080409120640.htm
With a bit of genetic trickery, researchers have turned normal skin cells into cancer stem cells, a step that will make these naturally rare cells easier to study.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Expert Foresees 10 More Years Of Research & Development To Make Solar Energy Competitive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049417/080407172717.htm
Despite oil prices that hover around $100 a barrel, it may take at least 10 or more years of intensive research to reduce the cost of solar energy to levels competitive with petroleum, according to a leading expert on the topic.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
How Proteins Control The Process When Bacteria Multiply: May Lead To New Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049418/080408105816.htm
A team has solved important puzzles concerning how certain proteins guide the reproduction of bacteria. Solving the Z ring's mysteries may lead to new antibiotics.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Electricity And Gas Consumption At A Glance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049419/080408100532.htm
People who want to save energy should always keep an eye on their consumption. The EWE Box offers customers a neat solution: It enables private households to monitor their electricity and gas consumption whenever they want -- and save costs thanks to new pricing models.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Should Genetic Modification And RNA Interference Be Used On Farm Animals?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049420/080408112101.htm
A range of new technologies including genetic modification and RNA Interference are being deployed to improve the health of farm animals in a series of European and global initiatives. New technologies under the banner of GM have the potential to provide disease resistance with huge benefits for human health, animal welfare, and the agricultural sector, but only if public confidence can be restored.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Flowers' Fragrance Diminished By Air Pollution, Study Indicates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049421/080410170413.htm
Air pollution from power plants and automobiles is destroying the fragrance of flowers and thereby inhibiting the ability of pollinating insects to follow scent trails to their source, a new study indicates. This could partially explain why wild populations of some pollinators, particularly bees -- which need nectar for food -- are declining in several areas of the world, including California and the Netherlands.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Diabetes Drug May Hold Potential As Treatment For Epilepsy, Using Same Mechanism As Ketogenic Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049422/080408132158.htm
Researchers describe a next step in this research that may mean a drug already widely used by people with diabetes could also be an effective and safe therapy for epilepsy, especially for that one third of patients who have recurrent seizures despite therapy with the best available antiepileptic drugs.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Archaeologist Helps Community By Keeping African Artifacts In Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049423/080407162341.htm
It is common for professional archaeologists and paleoanthropologists working in Africa to populate western museums with foreign artifacts by excavating and permanently removing them from history rich communities in Africa. The first museum of its kind has now been established in Mozambique and it will officially open in August. The Museu Local aims to be an interactive cultural heritage center.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Microwave Treatments For Enlarged Prostate Cause Blood Pressure Surges, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049424/080408105820.htm
Many men who receive microwave therapy for enlarged prostates experience significant surges in blood pressure that could raise their risk of a heart attack or stroke. An enlarged prostate gland is a condition affecting half of men over age 50 and 80 percent of those over 70.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Computer Model Developed To Study Cell Membrane Dynamics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049425/080408140849.htm
A cell constantly remodels its fluid membranes to carry out critical tasks, such as recognizing other cells, getting nutrients or sorting proteins. Because membranes are fluid and intrinsically disordered, investigating these and other life-sustaining processes in detail has always been difficult. But a computer model provides a new approach by allowing scientists simulate and observe membrane dynamics the large scale where critical membrane-mediated processes take place.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Your Neighborhood Can Affect Your Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049426/080409114622.htm
Research shows middle-aged and elderly people in poor neighborhoods 'significantly more likely' to suffer mobility and cognitive problems. The type of neighborhood you live in has an important effect on your health in later life, according to the researchers.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Massive Study Of Madagascar Wildlife Leads To New Conservation Roadmap
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049427/080410140535.htm
Biologists have developed a remarkable new roadmap for finding and protecting the best remaining holdouts for thousands of rare species that live only in Madagascar, an island nation considered one of the world's jewels of biodiversity.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Looping Genes May Hold A Key To Understanding Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049428/080409100453.htm
Another piece of the puzzle that is breast cancer has been found. Researchers have discovered how a particular gene associated with breast cancer behaves, which may lead to better testing for the debilitating disease.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Researchers 'See' Structure Of Open Nicotinic Acetylcholine Ion Channels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049429/080407153039.htm
Researchers have painstakingly mapped the interior of a key component of the relay system that allows the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to get its message across.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Surgeons Announce Advance In Atrial Fibrillation Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049430/080407172700.htm
Heart surgeons report that by adding a simple 10-20 second step to an operative procedure they achieved a significant improvement in the outcome for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Biologists Build A Better Mouse Model For Cancer Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049431/080409153318.htm
Metastasis, the spread of cancer from a primary site to other tissues and organs in the body, is the leading cause of death among cancer patients. Without an animal model that consistently reproduces human-like metastasis, researchers have relied on individual cancer patients to assess new therapies. Researchers now have a new mouse model they used it to make a new finding about the role of macrophage cells in the spread of cancer.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Physicians' Choice Of Prescriptions Often Influenced By Their Patients, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268049432/080409170324.htm
Physicians' choice of prescriptions are often influenced by patients, with patient experience using specific drugs playing a strong role, according to an article in Management Science. The inherent preference for a drug, by both patients and physicians, increases once a patient has used the drug.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Bioterrorism: Outbreak Strains Can Be Quickly Analyzed With Next-generation DNA Sequencing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358476/080411083006.htm
Following an outbreak or a bioterrorist attack, standard DNA sequencing and analysis of a pathogen genome for rapid identification of genetic changes or manipulations is time-intensive and likely impractical during an emergency. Researchers have now developed a comparative genomics strategy to drastically reduce the time needed to accurately identify unique genetic properties of a potential outbreak strain.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Elastic Stresses Influence Formation Of Leaf Veins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358477/080411083002.htm
Elastic stresses may play a crucial role in determining a leaf's venation pattern, according to a new study. Biologists have developed a model that reproduces statistical properties of venation patterns, based on the assumption that cells can suffer abrupt elastic distortions during growth. These distortions appear due to the elastic stresses generated by the unequal growth rate of different leaf tissues.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Mental Health Cultivated On The Farm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358478/080411082957.htm
Time down on the farm with animals could provide some therapeutic benefit for people with mental illness, according to researchers. The results come from the first randomized controlled study of the benefits of farm animals, as opposed to domestic pets.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Does The Internet Really Influence Suicidal Behavior?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358479/080411082947.htm
People searching the Internet for information about suicide methods are most likely to come across sites that encourage suicide rather than sites offering help and support, finds a new study.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
T-cell Multiplication Unexpectedly Delayed After Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358480/080411082939.htm
In a surprising outcome that overturns the conventional wisdom on the body's immune response to infection, scientists have shown that T-cells do not begin proliferation until up to three days after infection. Lag may provide protection against a possible autoimmune reaction.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Embryonic Stem Cells Could Help To Overcome Immune Rejection Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268358481/080411082935.htm
Tissues derived from embryonic stem cells could help to pacify the immune system and so prevent recipients from rejecting them.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Malfunctioning Kidneys May Raise Risk Of Sudden Death In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827553/080407162348.htm
Women whose kidneys are poor at filtering impurities from the blood are at heightened risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a new report.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Sydney Harbors Deadly Diet For Sea Creatures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827555/080407114644.htm
Contaminated seaweeds in Sydney Harbour could be threatening the small animals that feed on them, according to a new study revealing that the harbor's seaweeds have the world's highest levels of copper and lead contamination.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
New Guidelines Issued For Treating Resistant Hypertension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827557/080407162345.htm
For the first time, the American Heart Association has issued guidelines to help patients and healthcare providers tackle resistant high blood pressure that seems to defy treatment.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Low-carbon Living Takes Off In The US
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827558/080408102839.htm
Co-housing offers a low-carbon lifestyle, and developers are poised for a market that could soon burgeon in the US, according to a new study. Until now, cohousing has occupied a niche market in the US, but new research suggests the situation is changing. Co-housing not only helps to halve energy use, it offers health and social benefits for families and older people seeking secure and affordable homes.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Just 20 Minutes Of Weekly Housework Boosts Mental Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827560/080409205840.htm
Just 20 minutes of any physical activity, including housework, in a week is enough to boost mental health, reveals a large study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
How Strong Is That Hurricane? Just Listen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827561/080410115330.htm
Knowing how powerful a hurricane is, before it hits land, can help to save lives or to avoid the enormous costs of an unnecessary evacuation. So far, there's only one surefire way of measuring the strength of a hurricane: Sending airplanes to fly right through the most intense winds and into the eye of the storm, carrying out wind-speed measurements as they go. Researchers think there may be a better, cheaper way of determining how powerful a hurricane is. The technique involves listening for the storms with acoustic sensors.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Maintaining Aerobic Fitness Could Delay Biological Aging By Up To 12 Years, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827563/080409205827.htm
Maintaining aerobic fitness through middle age and beyond can delay biological aging by up to 12 years and prolong independence during old age.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Anticipating A Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827564/080407114617.htm
Researchers investigating the interaction between the brain, behavior, and the immune system found in 2006 that simply anticipating a mirthful laughter experience boosted health-protecting hormones. Now, two years later, the same researchers have found that the anticipation of a positive humorous laughter experience also reduces potentially detrimental stress hormones.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Animal Research Suggests Long-term Effects Of Fetal Cocaine Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827565/080407162403.htm
Are the estimated 1 million young adults who were exposed to cocaine before birth more vulnerable to drug abuse today? New research indicating long-lasting brain changes suggests the possibility -- especially in males -- according to a new report.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Digestive Process Affects Anti-cancer Activity Of Tea In Gastrointestinal Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267827566/080407172713.htm
Increased consumption of teas rich in catechins is associated with reduced risk of stomach, colon and other gastrointestinal cancers. Now researchers have found found that the digestive process could both alter the structure of the tea catechins and their anticancer activity.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Leading Experts Investigate Shaken Baby Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763804/080410101213.htm
Shaken Baby Syndrome is the leading cause of death from childhood maltreatment. Unlike many types of child abuse, the action that causes SBS is known, occurs quickly, and is, theoretically, largely preventable. An international symposium sponsored by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome examined how to establish the incidence of inflicted traumatic brain injury in young children and explored issues of definitions, passive versus active surveillance, study designs, proxy measures, statistical issues and prevention.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Future Of Solar-powered Houses Is Clear: New Windows Could Halve Carbon Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763805/080410101210.htm
People could live in glass houses and look at the world through rose-tinted windows while reducing their carbon emissions by 50 percent, thanks to new Australian research.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Hope For New Diabetes Treatments: Novel Gut-brain-liver Circuit Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763797/080409130708.htm
Scientists have discovered a novel signaling pathway between three organs -- the gut, the brain, and the liver -- which lowers blood sugar when activated. Researchers used a rat model to discover that fats can activate a subset of nerves in the intestine, which then send a signal to the brain and subsequently to the liver to lower glucose or sugar production. But eating a high-fat diet for just three days can interfere with this signal, disabling it so that it does not signal the other organs to lower blood glucose levels.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Novel 'Gene Toggles' In Rice, World's Top Food Crop
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763798/080409174609.htm
Researchers have found a new type of molecule -- a kind of "micro-switch" -- that can turn off genes in rice, which is the primary source of food for more than half the world's population.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
How Fast You'll Age Is Written In Your Bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763799/080409150054.htm
Perhaps the aging process can't be stopped. But it can be predicted, and new research indicates that people may live longer and lead healthier lives as a result. Researchers have developed a new biological marker that represents the age of a body's bones. It reveals that the speed of physical aging is strongly influenced by genetics.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Sweet Nanotech Batteries: Nanotechnology Could Solve Lithium Battery Charging Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763801/080410101128.htm
Nanotechnology could improve the life of the lithium batteries used in portable devices, including laptop computers, mp3 players and mobile phones. New research demonstrates that carbon nanotubes can prevent such batteries from losing their charge capacity over time.

Fri, 11 Apr 08
Rise In Institutionalized Children Linked To 'Madonna-style' Adoption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267763802/080409101313.htm
Psychologists say that "Madonna-style" inter-country adoptions are causing a rise in the number of children in orphanages. Some parents in poor countries are now giving up their children in the belief that they will have a 'better life in the west' with a more wealthy family.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Carbon Nanotubes Made Into Conductive, Flexible 'Stained Glass'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267036104/080409091733.htm
Carbon nanotubes are promising materials for many high-technology applications due to their exceptional mechanical, thermal, chemical, optical and electrical properties. Now researchers have used metallic nanotubes to make thin films that are semitransparent, highly conductive, flexible and come in a variety of colors, with an appearance similar to stained glass. These results could lead to improved high-tech products such as flat-panel displays and solar cells.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Brain Tissue Could Be Regenerated After Stroke By Inserting Microscaffolding And Stem Cells, Animal Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697553/080410080230.htm
Inserting tiny scaffolding into the brain could dramatically reduce damage caused by strokes, according to new research. Scientists from the Institute of Psychiatry have found that combining scaffold microparticles with neural stem cells could regenerate lost brain tissue.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
How Rocket Engines Can Be Destroyed By Mysterious Sound Waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697554/080409150058.htm
Researchers have discovered why rocket engines are occasionally destroyed by mysterious waves of sound. The new imaging techniques allow scientists to observe and understand the destructive waves.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Diabetes In Mid-life Linked To Increased Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697555/080409170343.htm
Men who develop diabetes in mid-life appear to significantly increase their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a long-term study in Neurology.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Dietary Oil May Need Help In Avoiding Any Side Effects Of Weight Loss, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697557/080409110016.htm
An oil made of natural fatty acids that is sometimes used as a weight-loss supplement may need to be paired with hormones or other substances to prevent health problems that can follow rapid weight loss, a new study suggests.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Shattered Shangri-La: Depression And Anxiety Widespread In Young Tibetan Refugees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697558/080409170339.htm
Depression and anxiety are more prevalent in Tibetan refugees than they are in ethnic Tibetans born and raised in the comparative stability of exile communities in Northern India and Nepal. The study's author concludes that there is a need for continued support for refugee communities, even after prolonged periods of what seems to be successful adaptation in an exile environment.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
NASA Spacecraft Images Mars Moon In Color And In 3D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267444642/080409231029.htm
A new stereo view of Phobos, the larger and inner of Mars' two tiny moons, has been captured by a NASA spacecraft orbiting Mars. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of Phobos 10 minutes apart on March 23. Scientists combined the images for a stereo view.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Methamphetamine Addiction Mechanism Discovered, Explains Why Cravings Last So Long
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267444643/080409120619.htm
Repeatedly stimulating the mouse brain with methamphetamine depresses important areas of the brain, and those changes can only be undone by reintroducing the drug, according to new research. It explains why the craving of addiction is so stubborn and long-lived. This research also suggests that withdrawal from the drug may not undo the changes the stimulant can cause in the brain.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Gut Reaction: Cow Stomach Holds Key To Turning Corn Into Biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366673/080408085453.htm
An enzyme from a microbe that lives inside a cow's stomach is the key to turning corn plants into fuel. The enzyme that allows a cow to digest grasses and other plant fibers can be used to turn other plant fibers into simple sugars. These simple sugars can be used to produce ethanol to power cars and trucks.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Blood Pressure Enzyme Can Have Tumor-sensing Role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267444644/080407144651.htm
By increasing production of a blood pressure-regulating enzyme in mice, researchers have found they can enhance the mouse immune system's ability to sense tumor growth. When scientists engineered mice that make more angiotensin-converting enzyme in white blood cells called macrophages, the mice could more effectively limit the growth of injected tumors.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Playing Dead Works For Young FIre Ants Under Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267444645/080408100536.htm
Pretending to be dead is an effective self-defense strategy adopted by young fire ant workers under attack from neighboring colonies. This tactic makes them four times more likely to survive aggression than older workers who fight back.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Depression Increases Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267444646/080407162400.htm
People who have had depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who have never had depression, according to a new study. The study involved 486 people age 60 to 90 who had no dementia.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
New Rocky Planet Found In Constellation Leo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368454/080409113958.htm
Astronomers have discovered a possible terrestrial-type planet orbiting a star in the constellation of Leo. The new planet, which lies at a distance of 30 light years from the Earth, has a mass five times that of our planet but is the smallest found to date. One full day on the new planet would be equivalent to three weeks on Earth.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Language And Color Perception Linked In Human Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368455/080407201846.htm
Does the language people speak influence their perception of the world? Recent findings suggest that it may well. For the first time, scientists have found patterns of brain activation that signal a positive relationship between language and color perception.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Cataract Research: Genetic Defect Responsible For Small Eyes And Clouded Lens Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368456/080407102817.htm
The ocular lens belongs to the optical apparatus and focuses incidental beams of light onto the retina. Now researchers have deciphered a genetic defect responsible for small eyes and an incomplete, clouded lens in the so-called Aey12 mouse mutants. These results lead to conclusions concerning cataracts in humans, because, in this case too, the lens loses its transparency.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Uncontrollable Stress Worsens Symptoms Of Endometriosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368457/080407114627.htm
A new study investigating the relationship between stress and the painful symptoms of endometriosis is currently underway. It offers, for the first time, evidence of the negative consequences of stress in the progression of endometriosis, most likely through an effect on the immune system.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Simple Tools Would Enhance Experience Of Bloggers, Blog Readers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267036106/080409085902.htm
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have provided new insight into blog readers' online habits and experiences, as well as how they perceive their roles in blog-based communities. A better understanding of the reader-blogger connection could lead to new, advanced features that would enable richer interactions between the two groups. For readers, an installed add-on could enrich their experience by tracking blog habits of which they might not be aware. For bloggers, a logging tool could help them easily distinguish between different types of readers and allow them to better connect with audiences.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Child Sleep Problems Linked To Later Behavioral Difficulties, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368458/080407160745.htm
Children who sleep less may be more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, depression and aggression later in life, according to a new report.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Sugar-powered Cars: World's Most Efficient Method To Produce Hydrogen Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368459/080409170347.htm
Sugar-powered cars may be in your future. Chemists report development of a "revolutionary" process for converting plant sugars into hydrogen, which could be used to cheaply and efficiently power vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cells without producing any pollutants.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
An Unexpected Way To Cause Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368460/080407123832.htm
Researchers have now used genetic engineering to introduce a mutation found in human leukemia patients into mice. In Cancer Cell they report that the mutation causes leukemia by triggering innate genetic programs that allow white blood cells to proliferate uncontrollably. The findings have implications for the way leukemia should be treated.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Tart Cherries May Reduce Factors Associated With Heart Disease And Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368461/080407114647.htm
Tart cherries may have more than just good taste and bright red color going for them, according to new animal research. Rats that received whole tart cherry powder mixed into a high-fat diet didn't gain as much weight or build up as much body fat as rats that didn't receive cherries. And their blood showed much lower levels of molecules that indicate the kind of inflammation that has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Depression Is A Risk Factor Rather Than Early Sign Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368462/080407160731.htm
A new study supports the idea that depression is truly a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease rather than a subtle early sign of its underlying pathology. The study found no evidence of an increase in depressive symptoms during the prodromal phase before the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Traffic Exhaust Can Cause Asthma, Allergies And Impaired Respiratory Function In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368463/080409114631.htm
Children exposed to high levels of air pollution during their first year of life run a greater risk of developing asthma, pollen allergies, and impaired respiratory function. However, genetic factors are also at play.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Exercise During Pregnancy Leads To A Healthier Heart In Moms- And Babies-to-be
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368464/080407114630.htm
Studies have shown that exercise has a positive effect on mothers-to-be, and no detrimental impact on their developing offspring. A new study finds that not only do women benefit from exercise in pregnancy, their fetuses do too.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
'Well Above-average' Hurricane Season Forecast For 2008
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368465/080409133718.htm
The Colorado State University forecast team upgraded its early season forecast saying the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a well above-average hurricane season. The team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Eight of the storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected to develop into intense or major hurricanes (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. Long-term averages are 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 intense hurricanes per year.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Stem Cell Research Leads To Potential New Therapy For Rare Blood Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368466/080407123836.htm
A unique partnership between industry and academia has led to human clinical trials of a new drug for a rare class of blood diseases called myeloproliferative disorders, which are all driven by the same genetic mutation and can evolve into leukemia.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
How Will North America's Largest Aquifer, The Ogallala Aquifer, Fare?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575390/080405094350.htm
Are the tens of thousands of playa lakes that dot the Southern High Plains key to keeping the Ogallala Aquifer's dwindling waters clean? That's the question plant physiologists are asking about North America's largest aquifer. Playas are ephemeral lakes that form when rainwater fills natural clay depressions in the landscape. Gitz found that this water flows continually downward, if slowly, into the Ogallala, contributing to its recharge.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
New Regulatory Circuit Identified For Aggressive, Malignant Brain Tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368467/080407123839.htm
Researchers have developed a new algorithm for ranking abnormal genes according to their likelihood of contributing to a cancer. They also show that a gene identified by the algorithm as a likely restrainer of tumor growth does indeed play that role in a common type of brain cancer, and is not a mere "bystander" to another restrainer gene.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Power Of Molecular Imaging Reveals Secrets Of The Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368468/080409110013.htm
The extraordinary action of a new cellular therapy came to light as a result of powerful PET and SPECT imaging in a recent study. Researchers were able to observe the repair action of circulating progenitor cells, immature blood-derived cells capable of developing into adult stem cells, as they successfully preserved healthy heart tissue and corrected blood flow imbalance within the heart.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Maltreatment During Childhood Associated With Combination Of Inflammation And Depression In Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267368469/080407160740.htm
A history of neglect or abuse in childhood appears to be associated with depression and inflammation in adulthood, a combination that may increase cardiovascular risk.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Researchers Pilot New Electronic System For Infectious Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267697559/080410080225.htm
Scientists have created a set of computer programs that use electronic medical records to help clinicians and public officials detect contagious illness and automatically report them to public health departments.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Estrogen Therapy Increases Benign Breast Disease Risk, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068948/080408175248.htm
Women who took conjugated equine estrogen, a commonly prescribed form of estrogen, had more than twice the risk of developing specific types of benign breast disease as women who took a placebo, according to a randomized controlled trial.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Faster Forage Crop Can Help Growers Beat Back Weeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575389/080405094818.htm
A new bahiagrass may provide forage growers with a better shot at beating back weeds before they gain a stranglehold on forage pastures. Agricultural scientists have now developed a cultivar called "TifQuik" that would do just that.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Treatment With An Anti-psychotic Drug Found To Cause Changes In Metabolism Earlier Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068949/080407114614.htm
Schizophrenia is a complex type of psychotic mental illness characterized by thoughts that are uncoupled from reality. While enormous gains in the effective treatment of affected individuals have been achieved through the use of antipsychotic drugs, the medications have side effects. Researchers have created a new animal model that allows them to explore the sequence of some drugs' early effect in an effort to optimize the medications during treatment.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Evolution In The Classroom: 'Evolution Machine' Lets Students See It Happen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366671/080408085508.htm
Evolution has taken another step away from being dismissed as "a theory" in the classroom. A new article documents the automation of evolution: researchers have produced a computer-controlled system that can drive the evolution of improved RNA enzymes -- biological catalysts -- without human input. In the future, this "evolution-machine" could feature in the classroom as well as the lab, allowing students to watch evolution happen in their biology lessons.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Treating Post-traumatic Stress First Helps Children Overcome Grief, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068950/080408160631.htm
Post traumatic stress disorder is commonly thought to effect victims of major trauma and those who witness violence, but a new study finds that it also can effect children who have lost a parent expectedly to diseases such as cancer. The finding has major implications for helping children cope with grief.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Crime Scene Investigations: Gunshot Residue Analysis On A Single Gunpowder Particle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068951/080407074558.htm
Scientists in Texas report development of a highly dependable, rapid and inexpensive new method for identifying the presence of gunshot residue. The test fills a detection gap that results from wider use of "green" -- lead free -- ammunition.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Hepatitis B Virus Triggers Cell 'Suicide' In Patients With Chronic Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068952/080408175224.htm
Scientists have identified a key difference between people who can fight the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) off successfully and those who fail to do so -- that a group of cells important in controlling the disease are triggered to "commit suicide" in patients who are chronically infected. This discovery provides an important new focus for developing therapies or vaccines that boost the body's ability to manage this infection.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Better Dams, Levees, Embankments: Soil Type And Compaction Factors Can Make Soil 1,000 Times More Resistant To Erosion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575387/080405095557.htm
The safety of earthen embankments, including levees and dams, depends in large part on how resistant they are to erosion. That resistance can hinge on the soil materials used in their construction.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
For Children With Heart Disease, A Risk Of Attention And Behavior Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068953/080407074551.htm
Schoolchildren who required surgery as infants for congenital heart disease run a significant risk of having problems with inattention and hyperactivity, and often require remedial services in school. "These children are at risk for academic and behavior problems, and our findings reinforce how important it is to provide them with ongoing follow-up and neurodevelopmental screening," said the study leader, a pediatric cardiologist.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Creating Quantum Computers Using Entangled Photons In Optical Fibers Getting Closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068954/080408144820.htm
Computer scientists are one step closer to realizing distributed quantum computing. They recently demonstrated one of the basic building blocks for distributed quantum computing using entangled photons generated in optical fibers.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Attitudes Towards Sexual Relationships Can Be Judged From Photos Of Your Face
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068955/080408202048.htm
Suitors can tell a young person's attitude to sexual relationships by the look on their face, according to new research which gives deeper insight into mate attractiveness. The study of 700 heterosexual participants also found that young men and women look for complete opposites when it comes to relationships with the other sex.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Eating Soy Foods In Puberty Protects Against Breast Cancer, Evidence Now Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267036105/080409091727.htm
Evidence is growing from animal and human studies that genistein, a potent chemical found in soy, protects against development of breast cancer -- but only if consumed during puberty. The challenge now, she says, is for scientists to understand precisely why soy appears to provide a shield against the most common cancer in women.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
For Some Who Have Lost Their Sense Of Smell, A Once Popular Asthma Drug Could Help
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068956/080407114619.htm
Some seven percent of Americans have lost their sense of smell and with it their ability to enjoy the fragrance of flowers, foods and beverages. For individuals whose smell loss relates to the biochemistry of two common proteins, there is some good news. A team of researchers has found that a drug used long ago to help asthmatics can benefit some with smell loss.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Why Is Arctic Sea Ice Melting Faster Than Predicted? NOAA Probing Arctic Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068957/080407132120.htm
Scientists are now flying through springtime Arctic pollution to find out why the region is warming -- and summertime sea ice is melting -- faster than predicted. Some 35 NOAA researchers are gathering with government and university colleagues in Fairbanks, Alaska, to conduct the study.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Adverse Effects Of Estrogen Replacement Therapy Are Related To The Dose, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068958/080407114608.htm
Recent clinical trials indicate that estrogen replacement therapy may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study in mice has examined whether adverse effects of ERT are related to the doses used. Researchers found that moderate and high doses of ERT increased problems in the kidney and heart. The results suggest that ERT dosage may be an important determinant in a woman's overall health.

Thu, 10 Apr 08
Why Is The Internet Sometimes So Slow? Internet 'Black Holes' May Be To Blame
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/267068959/080408144817.htm
A surprisingly large fraction of Web traffic gets sucked into temporary black holes, in which information between two computers disappears en route. A new online observatory monitors Internet black holes so network administrators -- and frustrated Web users -- can diagnose problems in real time.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Scientists Find A Fingerprint Of Evolution Across The Human Genome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719927/080408163236.htm
The Human Genome Project revealed that only a small fraction of the 3 billion "letter" DNA code actually instructs cells to manufacture proteins, the workhorses of most life processes. This has raised the question of what the remaining part of the human genome does. How much of the rest performs other biological functions, and how much is merely residue of prior genetic events?

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Rise In Autism Is Related To Changes In Diagnosis, New Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719928/080408112107.htm
New research suggests that many children diagnosed with severe language disorders in the 1980s and 1990s would today be diagnosed as having autism. The research supports the theory that the rise in the number of cases of autism may be related to changes in how it is diagnosed.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Needle-size Device Created To Track Tumors, Radiation Dose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719929/080408120106.htm
Engineers are creating a wireless device designed to be injected into tumors to tell doctors the precise dose of radiation received and locate the exact position of tumors during treatment.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Testosterone Replacement Theraphy Beneficial In Men 60 And Older, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719931/080407114612.htm
In one of the first clinical trials involving men 60-85 years of age, researchers' preliminary results indicate that testosterone treatment for five months has a positive effect on the bone markers of older men. This is the first known study to report on the impact of bone metabolism based on dosing schedules.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Carbon Dioxide Removed From Smockstacks Could Be Useful In DVD And CD-ROM Manufacture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719932/080408144824.htm
Chemists report that carbon dioxide removed from smokestack emissions in order to slow global warming could become a valuable raw material for the production of DVDs, beverage bottles and other products made from polycarbonate plastics.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Humor Plays An Important Role In Healthcare Even When Patients Are Terminally Ill
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719933/080408112104.htm
Canadian researchers spent nearly 300 hours observing and carrying out interviews with staff, patients and families in an intensive care unit and a palliative care unit for people with terminal illnesses. They concluded that "combined with scientific skill and compassion, humor offers a humanizing dimension in healthcare that is too valuable to be overlooked."

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Rats Can Discriminate Odors In Milliseconds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366672/080408085505.htm
Imaging the olfactory bulb of awake rats reveals that odor discrimination occurs about 100 milliseconds after sensory input reaches the brain, sharply limiting the role that spike rate and temporal integration can play in coding odor identity.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
How Things Get Wet: New Mathematical Formula Sets Wetting Theory Straight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719934/080407092936.htm
The relationship between a thin liquid film or drop of liquid and the shape of the surface that it wets is explained with a new simplified mathematical formula. Understanding the precise interaction between liquids and surfaces is important for a number of areas, including the chemical industry and new nanotechnologies.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Back Pain May Be In Your Genes, Twin Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719937/080408160636.htm
What do you learn by looking at the spines of hundreds of Finnish twins? If you are the international team of researchers behind the Twin Spine Study, you find compelling proof that back pain problems may be more a matter of genetics than physical strain.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Identification Of Dopamine 'Mother Cells' Could Lead To Future Parkinson's Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719939/080407114604.htm
"Mother cells" which produce the neurons affected by Parkinson's disease have been identified by scientists. The new discovery could pave the way for future treatments for the disease, including the possibility of growing new neurons, and the cells which support them, in the lab. Scientists hope these could then be transplanted into patients to counteract the damage caused by Parkinson's.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Leaky Blood Vessels Open Up Nerve Cells To Toxic Assault In Lou Gehrig's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719940/080407101842.htm
Leaky blood vessels that lose their ability to protect the spinal cord from toxins may play a role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to research in Nature Neuroscience.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Bacteria Pitted Against Fungi To Protect Wheat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575391/080405092836.htm
Beneficial flower-dwelling bacteria could soon join the fight against Fusarium graminearum, the fungus that causes Fusarium head blight disease ("scab") in wheat, barley and other cereal crops. Plant pathologists believe that the naturally occurring bacteria may compete with F. graminearum for nutrients exuded by the wheat plant's anthers.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
We're Surrounded! House Dust Is A Rich Source Of Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719942/080407190600.htm
If you've always suspected there are unknown things living in the dark and dusty corners of your home and office, scientists are now one step closer to cataloguing exactly what might be lurking in your indoor environment. Buildings have their own pattern of bacteria in indoor dust, which includes species normally found in the human gut, according to new research. Bacteria in indoor dust are diverse, thanks to the people around us.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Newly Discovered Fundamental State Of Matter, A Superinsulator, Has Been Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719943/080408160614.htm
Superinsulation may sound like a marketing gimmick for a drafty attic or winter coat. But it is actually a newly-discovered fundamental state of matter created by scientists. This discovery both opens new directions of inquiry in condensed matter physics and breaks ground for a new generation of microelectronics.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Cholesterol, Blood Pressure Control May Reverse Atherosclerosis In Adults With Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719944/080408163259.htm
Aggressively lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels below current targets in adults with type 2 diabetes may help to prevent -- and possibly reverse -- hardening of the arteries. The three-year clinical trial, Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study, is the first to compare two treatment targets for LDL ("bad") cholesterol and systolic blood pressure levels, key risk factors for heart disease, in people with diabetes.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Lucky Squirrels Born With 'Silver Spoon' Effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719945/080404114309.htm
A study of female red squirrels revealed that advantageous 'silver spoon' factors such as spring temperature in the first year of life could reflect later on each squirrel's lifetime fitness.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Asthma And Smoker's Lung: Dry Airways Play A Key Role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719946/080407101837.htm
Dry airways may not only play a central role in the development of the inherited lung disease cystic fibrosis, but also in acquired chronic lung diseases like asthma and smoker's lung, the cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers found, in animal studies, that insufficient hydration of the airways leads to pathologies typical of COPD in humans.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Most Powerful Laser In The World Fires Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366674/080408085449.htm
The Texas Petawatt laser reached greater than one petawatt of laser power on Monday morning, March 31, making it the highest powered laser in the world. When the laser is turned on, it has the power output of more than 2,000 times the output of all power plants in the United States.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Genetic Factors Are Associated With Common Fears, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719947/080407160738.htm
Genetic factors that are associated with fears appear to change as children and adolescents age, with some familial factors declining in importance over time while other genetic risk factors arise in adolescence and adulthood, according to a new report.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Mobile T-Rays Ready To Go: Terahertz Device Offers Clear View Of Hidden Objects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719948/080408102830.htm
Terahertz waves, which until now have barely found their way out of the laboratory, could soon be in use as a versatile tool. Researchers have mobilized the transmitting and receiving devices so that they can be used anywhere with ease. Everybody knows microwaves -- but what are terahertz waves? These higher-frequency waves are a real jack-of-all-trades. They can help to detect explosives or drugs without having to open a suitcase or search through items of clothing. They can reveal which substances are flowing through plastic tubes. They can penetrate wood, ceramics, paper, plastic or fabrics and are not harmful to humans. On the other hand, they cannot pass through metal.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Quasars Quash Star Formation In Active Galactic Nuclei
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719949/080404200325.htm
An ambitious study of active and inactive galaxies has given new insights into the complex interaction between super-massive black holes at the heart of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and star formation in the surrounding galaxy. Astronomers studied the properties of light from 360,000 galaxies in the local Universe to understand the relationship between accreting black holes, the birth of stars in galaxy centres and the evolution of the galaxies as a whole.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Mitochondria Play Role In Pathogenesis Of Alzheimer's And Estrogen-induced Neuroprotection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265062766/080406080210.htm
As the major source of free radicals in cells, mitochondria contribute to the high levels of oxidative stress believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Now a study demonstrates that estrogen reduces this oxidative stress caused by the mitochondria while increasing the ability of the mitochondria to generate energy -- important since there is usually an energy deficit in the Alzheimer brain.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Double Trouble With Insecticide-resistant Mosquitoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719951/080407190606.htm
Geneticists discover that insecticide resistance genes work together in mosquitoes, increasing their survival rate with important consequences for pest management. Mosquitoes harboring two insecticide-resistance genes have been found to survive unexpectedly well in an insecticide-free environment where carrying such genes would normally expected to be a burden. This results from the genes interacting with one another to the advantage of the host and to the detriment of pest management strategies affecting human health.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Faster Test Reported For Detecting Fake Tamiflu In Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719952/080407123843.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a fast new method to detect fake Tamiflu, the mainstay medication for preventing and treating bird flu. Tamiflu has become a target for counterfeiters as recent outbreaks of bird flu have increased public demand for supplies of just-in-case antiviral drugs to use in case of an epidemic of the deadly disease.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Biological Link Between Pain And Fatigue Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400319/080407153037.htm
A recent study reveals a biological link between pain and fatigue and may help explain why more women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Technique Traces Origins Of Disease Genes In Mixed Human Populations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719953/080408132122.htm
Researchers have developed a technique to detect the ancestry of disease genes in mixed human populations. The technique determines how a set of DNA markers shows the ancestral origin of locations on each chromosome. The team constructed an algorithm for the technique that selects panels of DNA markers that render the best picture of ancestral origin of disease genes.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
A Novel Approach To Protein Variation In Synapses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719954/080404174806.htm
Most brain functions, such as memory, require a sophisticated network of molecular interactions. However, experimental methods can only analyze a limited number of these interactions at a time. Now, researchers have pioneered a novel approach, which enables them to analyze hundreds of network molecules simultaneously. They were able to compare the relative amount and, importantly, the phosphorylation status of proteins in the synapses of four different brain regions.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Creating Homes That Please America's Wild Bees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575392/080405092526.htm
Just like people who are looking for a perfect place to live, some female bees search for the ideal place to build their nests. Entomologists are discovering more about the "nesting cues" that influence wild bees' house-hunting decisions. It's information that may help entice more of the hardworking pollinators to take up residence in new, ready-to-occupy nesting structures that growers and beekeepers provide.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Where College Students Live Can Impact Their Weight, Eating And Exercise Habits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266719955/080407114624.htm
A new study of female freshman dorm residents adds a new perspective to the 15 pounds that female college freshman are alleged to gain during the first year of higher education, finding that those who avail themselves of school housing consume significantly higher numbers of calories and more sugar and -- unlike their off-campus counterparts -- engage in higher levels of calorie-curbing physical activity.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
War Between The Sexes Begins Before Twins' Birth, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366664/080407144648.htm
The battle of the sexes may begin in the womb, researchers have found. And it may have troubling consequences -- a male twin can compromise the health of his twin sister before she is born.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
New Strategy For Treating Cocaine Addiction, Animal Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226420/080406153352.htm
New research in monkeys suggests the feasibility of treating cocaine addiction with a "replacement" drug that mimics the effects of cocaine but has less potential for abuse -- similar to the way nicotine and heroin addictions are treated.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
New Data Show Strong Labor Market For Scientists And Engineers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400320/080403131954.htm
Science and engineering workforce availability in the United States is under serious scrutiny by observers who worry about a decline in the nation's ability to fill future demand. However, three new National Science Foundation reports show increasing supplies of scientists and engineers, as well as a strong labor market.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Redox-active Iron Is A Sensor Of Cognitive Impairment Associated With Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400321/080404125354.htm
An innovative discovery has been reported that highlights the problems that oxidative stress resulting from iron cumulated in the human brain can generate in relation with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, the brain disorder affecting almost 30 million throughout the world.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Organic Materials May Be Wave Of The Future In Digital Signal Processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400322/080407153030.htm
Fungi processing audio signals. E. Coli storing images. DNA acting as logic circuits. It's possible, and in some cases, it's already happened. In any event, performing digital signal processing using organic and chemical materials without electrical currents could be the wave of the future. Electrical engineers and computer science specialists describe experiments that perform signal processing with novel materials while stirring the engineering community towards "a possible not-so-electronic future" of digital signal processing.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Less Sleep, More TV Leads To Overweight Infants And Toddlers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400323/080407160735.htm
Infants and toddlers who sleep less than 12 hours a day and who watch two or more hours of television per day are twice as likely to become overweight by age 3 than children who sleep longer.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Breakthrough In Biofuel Production Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400324/080407102812.htm
Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of "green gasoline," a liquid identical to standard gasoline yet created from sustainable biomass sources like switchgrass and poplar trees.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Green Tea Ingredient, EGCG, Significantly Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth In Female Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400325/080407114633.htm
Consuming EGCG, an antioxidant in green tea, significantly inhibits breast tumor growth in female mice. These results bring us one step closer to better understanding the disease and potentially new and naturally occurring therapies.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Herding Nano-particles Into Precise Lattices Could Be Basis For Improved Tissue Engineering
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400326/080407132129.htm
Researchers are developing a manufacturing strategy that could improve technologies used in tissue engineering and information technology.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Backpack Straps Can Decrease Blood Flow In The Shoulder And Arm, And May Result In Loss of Fine Motor Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400327/080407114622.htm
In some professions -- such as the military, firefighting and mountain rescue -- the load of a backpack may equal as much as 60 percent of adult body weight. A new study finds that even light loads can decrease upper extremity blood flow and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Prehistoric Cultures Were Hunting Whales At Least 3,000 Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366659/080404160335.htm
Prehistoric cultures were hunting whales at least 3,000 years ago, 1,000 years earlier than was previously known, according to new research. Researchers found an ivory carving, approximately 50 cm long, with detailed carvings of animals and humans, including scenes of men in umiaks harpooning whales.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
More Genes For Lou Gehrig's Disease Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266400328/080407160234.htm
In recent months a spate of mutations have been found in a disease protein called TDP-43 that is implicated in two neurodegenerative disorders: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, and certain types of frontotemporal dementia. These mutations could potentially become candidates for drug targets. Recently, scientists have found two more mutations.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Synthetic Molecules May Be Less Expensive Alternative To Therapeutic Antibodies, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366660/080404122032.htm
Researchers have developed a simple and inexpensive method to screen small synthetic molecules and pull out a handful that might treat cancer and other diseases less expensively than current methods.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Potential Approach To Treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy Devised
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366661/080404181918.htm
In the neuromuscular disease called spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, a protein deficiency caused by a single gene mutation leads to serious damage in growing nerve cells and the muscles they control. Now, in laboratory experiments, researchers have induced cells to replenish the protein by activating an existing, slightly modified copy of the mutant gene. These early results hold out hope for one day successfully treating this often-fatal disease.

Wed, 9 Apr 08
Visualizing The Machinery Of mRNA Splicing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266366662/080404181914.htm
Recent research at Yale provided a glimpse of the ancient mechanism that helped diversify our genomes; it illuminated a relationship between gene processing in humans and the most primitive organisms by creating the first crystal structure of a crucial self-splicing region of RNA.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
'Revolutionary' Carbon Dioxide Maps Zoom In On Greenhouse Gas Sources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105533/080407172656.htm
A new, high-resolution, interactive map of US carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels has found that the emissions aren't all where we thought. The maps and system, called Vulcan, show carbon dioxide emissions at more than 100 times more detail than was available before. Until now, data on carbon dioxide emissions were reported monthly at the level of an entire state. The Vulcan model examines carbon dioxide emissions at local levels on an hourly basis.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Caffeine Prevents Multiple Sclerosis-like Disease In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105534/080407162405.htm
Mice given caffeine equivalent to a human drinking six to eight cups of coffee a day were protected from developing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the animal model for the human disease multiple sclerosis, according to researchers at Cornell University.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Exactly How Much Housework Does A Husband Create?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105535/080403191009.htm
Having a husband creates an extra seven hours a week of housework for women, according to a new study of a nationally representative sample of U.S. families. For men, the picture is very different: A wife saves men from about an hour of housework a week.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
New Option For Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105536/080404160330.htm
Researchers may have found a new option for targeted breast cancer therapy by showing the link between a certain protein and the development of blood vessels that feed breast tumors. The scientists developed the first living model to study the effect of the protein called T-cadherin on tumor angiogenesis by creating a strain of mice that develops spontaneous mammary gland tumors in the absence of T-cadherin.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Earthquakes Along The Cascadia And San Andreas Faults May Be Linked, Affecting Risk To San Francisco Bay Region
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105537/080403131923.htm
Seismic activity on the southern Cascadia Subduction fault may have triggered major earthquakes along the northern San Andreas Fault in California, according to new research. This new information will have significant meaning for seismic hazard models for San Francisco. The research refines the recurrence rate for the southern portion of the Cascadia fault to approximately every 220 years for the last 3000 years.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Does Raising The Terrorism Alert Level Cause Undue Stress?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105538/080404114320.htm
The Department of Homeland Security's color-coded system for warning the public of the risk of a terrorist attack does not appear to cause undue stress among law enforcement officers, according to a new study. The study is among the first to examine the psychological impact of the alert system on first responders.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Prenatal Exposure To Drugs, Alcohol And Tobacco Affect The Brain Into Early Adolescence, Scans Show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105539/080407153034.htm
Over 1 million babies born annually in the United States are exposed to drugs, alcohol or tobacco while in utero. New research suggests that prenatal exposure to these substances (alone or in combination) may have effects on the baby's brain structure that persist into adolescence.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Reprogrammed Cells Reduce Parkinson's Symptoms In Rats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105540/080407172707.htm
This is the first demonstration that neurons derived from reprogrammed cells can integrate into an adult animal brain and improve symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease. The results may indicate a path to future therapeutic use in human patients, once hurdles associated with reprogramming adult cells have been addressed.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Plants Grow Spindly When Reaching For Sunlight: Now Researchers Understand How
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105541/080403125601.htm
Those spindly plants that desperately try to reach for a break in the canopy formed by larger plants all suffer from the same affliction: Shade avoidance syndrome or SAS. Now, the molecular details of SAS have been brought to light.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Pieces Coming Together In Parkinson's, Cholesterol Puzzle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105542/080404161832.htm
In 2006, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that people with low levels of LDL cholesterol are more likely to have Parkinson's disease than people with high LDL levels. But that study could not answer the question of whether low LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels were present in study participants before they were diagnosed with Parkinson's, or if they developed low LDL levels after being diagnosed.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Fish Hatchery Controversy Takes On New Significance As Wild Chinook Salmon Populations Crash
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105543/080403125221.htm
A recent study indicates that wild salmon may account for just 10 percent of California's fall-run chinook salmon population, while the vast majority of the fish come from hatcheries. The findings are especially troubling in light of the disastrous decline in the population this year, which will probably force the closure of the 2008 season for commercial and recreational salmon fishing.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Inactive Kids Face 6-fold Risk Of Heart Disease By Teen Years, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105544/080403202818.htm
Young children who lead inactive lifestyles are five-to-six times more likely to be at serious risk of heart disease, with that degree of danger emerging as early as their teenage years, according to a new study.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Regional Nuclear Conflict Would Create Near-global Ozone Hole, Says Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105545/080407172710.htm
A limited nuclear weapons exchange between Pakistan and India using their current arsenals could create a near-global ozone hole, triggering human health problems and wreaking environmental havoc for at least a decade, according to a new study. Mid-latitude ozone decreases would approach 40 percent and last for years, impacting human health and ecosystems.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Newly Identified Gene May Prompt Pancreas Cells To Form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105546/080403224455.htm
Before a pancreas is a pancreas, it's part of the endoderm, one of three layers of cells in a developing embryo that eventually form its organs. Researchers have now uncovered key genetic signals involved in how the pancreas begins forming, a finding they say might lead to regenerative therapies for patients with certain forms of diabetes whose pancreases no longer function.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Asian Waterbirds Stage Remarkable Comeback
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105547/080403125426.htm
According to a new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society, several species of rare waterbirds from Cambodia's famed Tonle Sap region have staged remarkable comebacks, thanks to a project involving a single team of park rangers to provide 24-hour protection to breeding colonies.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
New Test Could Cut Unnecessary Treatment For Blood Disorder In Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105548/080403202738.htm
A new test for identifying a mismatch between the blood of a pregnant woman and her baby is accurate, feasible, and could substantially reduce unnecessary treatment, finds a new study.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Computer Memory In Artificial Atoms: Carbon Nantubes Can Rev Up Speed, Accuracy Of Data Storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105549/080407101854.htm
Nano-physicists have made a discovery that could change the way data is stored on computers. In the future it will be possible to store data much faster, and with more accuracy. A computer has two equally important elements: computing power and memory. Traditionally, scientists have developed these two elements in parallel. Now computer scientists have made a step towards a new means of data-storage, in which electricity and magnetism are combined in a new transistor concept.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Marketing Of Unproven Genetic Tests A Threat To Public Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105550/080403141118.htm
No mechanism currently exists to ensure that genetic tests are supported by adequate evidence before they go to market, or that marketing claims are truthful and not misleading, according to a policy analysis in Science. Misleading claims about genetic tests may lead health care providers and patients to make inappropriate decisions about which tests to take and how to use genetic tests that have potential for profound medical consequences, the authors argue.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Rare Quasar Discovered That Produces More X-rays Than Thought Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105551/080407091757.htm
XMM-Newton has been surprised by a rare type of galaxy, from which it has detected a higher number of X-rays than thought possible. The observation gives new insight into the powerful processes shaping galaxies during their formation and evolution. Scientists working with XMM-Newton were looking into the furthest reaches of the universe, at celestial objects called quasars. These are vast cosmic engines that pump energy into their surroundings. It is thought an enormous black hole drives each quasar.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
New Study Aims To Halt The Progression Of Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105552/080404114459.htm
A new research study aims to stop the progression of early active stage multiple sclerosis in its tracks. There are currently more than 2.5 million people worldwide with MS, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Climate Change Will Erode Foundations Of Health, World Health Organization Warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105553/080407094610.htm
Scientists tell us that the evidence the Earth is warming is "unequivocal." Increases in global average air and sea temperature, ice melting and rising global sea levels all help us understand and prepare for the coming challenges. In addition to these observed changes, climate-sensitive impacts on human health are occurring today. They are attacking the pillars of public health. And they are providing a glimpse of the challenges public health will have to confront on a large scale.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
RING Finger Protein 5 May Guide Treatment For Muscle Disease In Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105554/080404094547.htm
Researchers have discovered a new player in the development of Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis, a muscle disease that affects predominantly older men, causing muscles to gradually weaken and waste away. Although it is the most common muscle disease among those over the age of 50, it is probably underdiagnosed due to its unfamiliarity. This discovery provides a potential avenue for future diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for this disease.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Salt-tolerant Gene Found In Simple Plant Nothing To Sneeze At
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105555/080407172703.htm
Whether a plant withers unproductively or thrives in salty conditions may now be better understood by biologists. The cellular mechanism that controls salt tolerance has been found in the arabidopsis plant. Complex-N-glycan, a carbohydrate linked to a protein in plant cells, was previously thought to have no helpful function for plant growth and to cause certain allergies in humans, said one of the researchers.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Yoga Poses Can Prevent Falls In Women Over 65, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/266105556/080404114445.htm
Basic yoga moves could help prevent falls in women over 65 years old, finds a new pilot study. Researchers examined the gait and postural stability of 24 elderly females who were enrolled in an Iyengar yoga program specifically designed for those over 65. They found that at the end of the nine-week program, participants had a faster stride, an increased flexibility in the lower extremities, an improved single-leg stance and increased confidence in walking and balance.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Animals Are 'Stuck In Time' With Little Idea Of Past Or Future, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646396/080403183024.htm
Dog owners, who have noticed that their four-legged friends seem equally delighted to see them after five minutes away as five hours, may wonder if animals can tell when time passes. New research in Science may bring us closer to answering that very question.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
A Comprehensive Protein Map of a Stem Cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646397/080404122202.htm
Researchers have successfully identified over 5,000 proteins that are present in embryonic stem cells, tripling the size of previous results and in the process creating the largest quantified protein map to date. Stem cells hold great potential in biology and medicine, but a host of questions lingers about how they operate and convert into other cells.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Working Memory Has Limited 'Slots'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646398/080402212855.htm
A new study shows how our very short-term "working memory," which allows the brain to stitch together sensory information, operates. The system retains a limited number of high-resolution images for a few seconds, rather than a wider range of fuzzier impressions. Humans rarely move their eyes smoothly. As our eyes flit from object to object, the visual system briefly shuts off to cut down visual "noise," said one of the psychologists. So the brain gets a series of snapshots of about a quarter-second, separated by brief gaps.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Answer To Troublesome Question Of Why Some Genetic Link Studies Have Failed Replication Attempts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646399/080403131907.htm
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and elsewhere have described a possible reason why some studies have been unable to replicate associations between genes and traits -- namely that the strength of a gene/trait association might vary with age and that current study designs typically fail to take that into account.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Genes Key To Hormone Production In Plants Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646400/080403131915.htm
Researchers have pinpointed a small group of genes responsible for "telling" plants when, where and how to produce a hormone that is key to their development. Their findings shed light on the ways in which hormone production in plants affects both a plant's growth and its ability to adapt to changing environments.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
High-flying Moths Don't Just Go With The Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646401/080403131936.htm
Enormous numbers of migratory moths that fly high above our heads throughout the night aren't at the mercy of the winds that propel them toward their final destinations. Rather, they rely on sophisticated behaviors to control their flight direction.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Fetal Cells Used To Treat Parkinson's Disease May Not Function Long Term, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226422/080406153348.htm
Neurons grafted into the brain of a patient with Parkinson's disease fourteen years ago have developed Lewy body pathology, the defining pathology for the disease, according to new research in Nature Medicine.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Birdfeeders Can Both Help And Harm Bird Populations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646402/080403104353.htm
Millions of people tend birdfeeders in their backyards each year, often out of a desire to help the animals. But a new survey of research on the topic finds that feeding may not always bring a positive outcome for the birds.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Bonelike Coating For Dental Implants Makes Everyone Smile
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646403/080404114421.htm
New research suggests that coating dental implants with a synthetic bone material prior to implantation allows such implant to become incorporated much more successfully into the jaw, leading to smiles all round.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Health Remains Poor, But Slightly Improved In 2007
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646404/080403125546.htm
An independent scientific analysis gives the Chesapeake Bay (near Washington DC, US) a C-minus in 2007, indicating that Bay ecological conditions were slightly better than the previous year, but far below what is needed for a healthy bay.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Early Neglect Predicts Aggressive Behavior In Children, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646405/080407074531.htm
Children who are neglected before their second birthday display higher levels of aggressive behavior between ages 4 and 8, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Early child neglect may be as important as child abuse for predicting aggressive behavior.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Alligator Blood May Put The Bite On Antibiotic-resistant Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646406/080407074556.htm
Despite their reputation for deadly attacks on humans and pets, alligators are wiggling their way toward a new role as potential lifesavers in medicine. Scientists report that proteins in gator blood may provide powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers, severe burns and "superbugs" that are resistant to conventional medication.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
First Diagnostic Test For Alzheimer's And Parkinson's Disease On The Horizon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646407/080407074544.htm
A new blood test that can give an early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease and distinguish between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease could be launched this summer.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Bats Play A Major Role In Plant Protection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646408/080403140921.htm
If you get a chance to sip some shade-grown Mexican organic coffee, please pause a moment to thank the bats that helped make it possible. At Mexican organic coffee plantations, where pesticides are banned, bats and birds work night and day to control insect pests that might otherwise munch the crop. Until now, the birds got nearly all the credit.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Drug Used To Treat Bipolar Disorder Has Potential For Treating Alcohol Dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646409/080403183046.htm
Aripiprazole is currently approved to treat bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia. A new study has found that it significantly and dose-dependently increases the sedative effects of alcohol and, to a lesser degree, decreases the euphoric effects of alcohol. Future research will need to examine the beneficial versus the side effects of aripiprazole for treatment of alcohol dependence.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Do Dwarf Galaxies Favor MOND Over Dark Matter?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646410/080402202332.htm
A detailed analysis of eight dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way indicates that their orbital behavior can be explained more accurately with Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) than by the rival, but more widely accepted, theory of dark matter.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Teens Who Have TV In Their Bedroom Are Less Likely To Engage In Healthy Habits, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646411/080407074546.htm
Older adolescents who have a bedroom television are less likely to engage in healthy activities such as exercising, eating fruits or vegetables, and enjoying family meals. They also consumed larger quantities of sweetened beverages and fast food, were categorized as heavy TV watchers, and read or studied less than teens without TVs in their bedrooms.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Harmful Algae Takes Advantage Of Global Warming: More Algae Blooms Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646412/080403140928.htm
You know that green scum creeping across the surface of your local public water reservoir? Or maybe it's choking out a favorite fishing spot or livestock watering hole. It's probably cyanobacteria -- blue-green algae -- and, according to an article in Science, relishes the weather extremes that accompany global warming.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Occupational Therapists Use Wii For Parkinson's Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646413/080407074534.htm
Mrs. Bell is playing the Nintendo Wii as part of her occupational therapy. She is among 30 Parkinson's disease patients participating in a study to determine if occupational therapy enhances the treatment of the disease.

Tue, 8 Apr 08
Five Years Later, Patient On Vaccine Trial Still Free Of Ovarian Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265646414/080404183243.htm
Like most women with ovarian cancer, 44-year-old Christine Sable of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, did not discover she had the disease until it was in the advanced stages and had spread to other areas of the abdomen. "I knew my chances of recurrence were very high--75 to 80 percent at that particular stage--and that the disease would likely recur within a year or two," she says. "Once it recurs, it is difficult to cure."

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Meteorites Delivered The 'Seeds' Of Earth's Left-hand Life, Experts Argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265129731/080406114742.htm
Desert heat, a little water, and meteorite impacts may have been enough to cook up one of the first prerequisites for life: The dominance of "left-handed" amino acids, the building blocks of life on this planet. Our amino acid signature may well have come from outer space.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Pregnant Mothers' Diet Linked To Baby's Obesity, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338545/080403202751.htm
Rats eating trans-fatty acid while pregnant or breastfeeding have fatter babies. The unhealthy diet has deleterious consequences even after the fats were removed from the diet and has links to insulin production.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Focused Solar Explosions Get Hotter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338546/080402200155.htm
Astronomers have discovered that solar flares - explosions in the atmosphere of the sun - get much hotter when they stay "focused". Solar flares are caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy. The largest can release as much energy as a billion one-megaton nuclear bombs.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Continuous Oral Contraceptives Better At Easing Pain, Bleeding, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338547/080403133905.htm
Continuous oral contraceptives may be more effective than the standard 28-day birth control pills in suppressing the ovary, according to researchers. They say that the continuous pill also causes a significant improvement in pain and behavioral changes.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Smart Brake Light System Would Provide More Information To Drivers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338548/080402204950.htm
You are driving in heavy traffic. The brake lights on the car in front of you come on. Is the car slowing or is it going to stop? It slows to 25 mph and the lights go off. You drop back. The car in front of you stops suddenly! You stop just in time. The car behind you collects your rear bumper.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Computer System Consistently Makes Most Accurate NCAA Picks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338549/080403133910.htm
Three engineering professors have created a computer ranking system that consistently predicts NCAA basketball rankings more accurately than polls, formulas, other computer models and even the tournament seeds themselves.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
The Tall And The Short Of It: New Research Adds To Growing Body Of Knowledge Of Genetics Of Height
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226423/080406153335.htm
Scientists are beginning to develop a clearer picture of what makes some people stand head and shoulders above the rest. A team of researchers who last year identified the first common version of a gene influencing height has now identified a further twenty regions of the genome which together can make a height difference of up to 6cm.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Over-The-Counter Pain Killers Increase Muscle Mass, Strength During Long-term Resistance Training, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265271050/080406153404.htm
Taking daily recommended dosages of ibuprofen and acetaminophen caused a substantially greater increase over placebo in the amount of quadriceps muscle mass and muscle strength gained during three months of regular weight lifting.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Hot, Bright, Massive Stars Have Complex Mixing Processes In Their Great Depths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338550/080402160844.htm
A surprising analysis of material churned up from the depths of massive stars shows that the mixing processes in these hot, bright stars are much more complicated than thought. The study used the FLAMES instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to decipher the spectra of light emitted by over 800 stars and estimate the chemical composition of the stars' surfaces. This is the most extensive survey of massive stars ever undertaken.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
How A Signaling Molecule Orchestrates Breast Cancer's Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338552/080403131932.htm
A new study has uncovered how breast tumors use a particular type of molecule to promote metastasis -- the spread of cancer cells. Metastasis is the cause of approximately 90 percent of all cancer-related deaths.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Laurel Wilt Of Redbay And Sassafras: Will Avocados Be Next?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338553/080402151409.htm
Scientists have provided the first description of a fungus responsible for the wilt of redbay trees along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Plant pathologists have now provided results from their assessment of the fungus, the beetle that carries it, and their combined effect on redbay and other members of the laurel family, including sassafras, spicebush and avocado.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Subordinate Monkeys More Likely To Choose Cocaine Over Food
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226418/080406153354.htm
Having a lower social standing increases the likelihood that a monkey faced with a stressful situation will choose cocaine over food, according to a new study. More dominant monkeys undergoing the same stressful situation had fewer changes in brain activity in areas of the brain involved in stress and anxiety and were less likely to choose cocaine.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Periodic Table: Nuclear Scientists Eye Future Landfall On A Second 'Island Of Stability'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265156529/080406114739.htm
Those exploring the uncharted seas at the fringes of the Periodic Table of the Elements have landed on one long-sought island -- the fabled Island of Stability, home of a new genre of superheavy chemical elements sought for more than three decades. Researchers now are eying other islands on the more-distant fringes of the periodic table.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
New Genetic Links To Psoriasis Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338554/080403202742.htm
In the first comprehensive study of the genetic basis of psoriasis, researchers have discovered seven new sites of common DNA variation that increase the risk of the troublesome skin condition. They also found that variations in one genetic region link psoriasis and a related joint disorder, psoriatic arthritis, to four autoimmune diseases: type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
New Method For Combating The Greenhouse Gas Nitrous Oxide Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338556/080402101704.htm
The cost of treating wastewater contaminated with nitrogen could be lowered in future. Soil scientists have developed a new mathematical model which can help determine the optimum conditions for microbiological water treatment. Using the stable natural nitrogen isotope, this mathematical model is the most accurate to date.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Prenatal Syphilis Screening Rates: Are They Being Accurately Reported?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338557/080403125439.htm
A study in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases reports that state Medicaid statistics, when used to determine screening rates, may seriously underestimate the number of expectant mothers being screened for syphilis.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Huge Virulence Gene Superfamily Responsible For Devastating Plant Diseases Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338558/080402164143.htm
An enormous superfamily of pathogen genes involved in the infection of plants has been identified. Research results suggest that a single gene from a common ancestor of the two pathogen species has spawned hundreds of very different, fast-evolving genes that encode for highly damaging effector proteins.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Discrimination Varies By Gender And Race
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338559/080402164146.htm
Men are more likely to tolerate discrimination than women, however both sexes tend to accept prejudice against poorly educated immigrants and Arab-American airplane travelers.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Damaged Brain Can Be Repaired And Cerebral Functions Restored, Neuronal Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264738116/080405165601.htm
Scientists have shown that it is possible to repair an injured brain by creating a small number of new, specifically-targeted innervations, rather than a larger number of non-specific connections. Behavioral tests have demonstrated that such reinnervation can thus restore damaged cerebral functions.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Selenium Supplements May Not Be Needed, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338560/080404114428.htm
Selenium, an 'essential trace element' often included in multimineral supplements, may not be as important as once thought. Although this trace element is essential in the diet of humans, it seems that we have lost some of the need for selenium, which occurs in proteins and is transported in blood plasma, when our evolutionary ancestors left the oceans and evolved into mammals.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Gypsy Moth Management Made More Efficient, Cost-effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338561/080402164135.htm
A new computer model has been developed that provides land managers with a more efficient and cost-effective approach for controlling gypsy moths and other invasive pests. The model, which recommends different management strategies for individual situations, indicates the best strategies for managing the destructive pests.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
HPV, Periodontitis Work In Tandem To Increase Risk Of Tongue Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338562/080404114448.htm
Persons with periodontitis who also are infected with human papillomavirus are at increased risk of developing tongue cancer, new research has shown. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys connective tissue and bone supporting the teeth. It has been associated with various systemic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
One Year After Solomon Islands, Scientists Learn Barrier To Earthquakes Weaker Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265338563/080402164140.htm
On the one year anniversary of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands that killed 52 people, scientists are revising their understanding of the potential for similar giant earthquakes in other parts of the globe. According to a new report in Nature Geoscience, the rupture in the Solomon Islands broke through a geological province previously thought to form a barrier to earthquakes. Implications are worldwide. This discovery means other sites such as the Cascadia Subduction Zone in northwestern North America have potential for more severe earthquakes than once thought.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Environmental Enrichment Can Reduce Cocaine Use, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226421/080406153350.htm
Simple environmental enrichment and increased social stress can both affect the level of individual drug use, according to new monkey research. Enrichment reduced drug use by all of the study animals; additional stress caused more drug intake in subordinate monkeys.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Why Do Rats Die Younger Than Humans? Newly Discovered Biological Clock Provides Tantalizing Clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264595386/080405095747.htm
A newly discovered biological clock, or biological rhythm, controls many metabolic functions and is based on the circadian rhythm, which is a roughly 24-hour cycle that is important in determining sleeping and feeding patterns, cell regeneration, and other biological processes in mammals.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Astronomers View Distant Galaxies Evolving One Billion Years After The Big Bang
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265129728/080404201105.htm
UK astronomers have produced the most sensitive infrared map of the distant Universe ever undertaken. Combining data over a period of three years, they have produced an image containing over 100,000 galaxies over an area four times the size of the full Moon.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Mitosis Gets Harder Thanks To New Gene Discovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265129729/080403104400.htm
A biological process taught to every pupil studying science at high school has just become a little more complicated thanks to a new discovery. Scientists have found that a protein called RASSF7 is essential for mitosis, the process by which a cell divides in two.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Hairy Vetch Mulch Activates Genes For Phytonutrients In Tomatoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264575388/080405095039.htm
Hairy vetch mulch activates, in regular tomatoes, some of the same metabolic pathways and genes that are activated in biotech tomatoes by the insertion of the ySAMdc gene, which makes tomato plants more vigorous and makes their fruit more tasty and nutritious.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Global Warming Heats Up Urgency Of Salmon Recovery Efforts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265129730/080402213640.htm
Federal efforts to recover endangered salmon on the Columbia and Snake rivers can no longer ignore global warming, which already has fundamentally changed the river and ocean habitats of salmon and steelhead, warns a new scientific review.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Evolution Of Venus: First Too Fast, Then Too Slow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863722/080402202055.htm
Scientists analyzing the data from the European Venus Express spacecraft now orbiting Earth's prodigal twin planet have been piecing together an understanding of why the climate on both worlds is so different.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Drinking Tea May Offer Health Benefits, But Evidence Still Limited
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863723/080402212206.htm
Tea drinkers who opt for black, oolong, green or white teas may find that these beverages offer health benefits. But what is -- and isn't -- known about the health effects of drinking tea? Black, oolong, green or white teas have a common origin. Each is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. The leaves are loaded with flavonoids and other polyphenols that work as antioxidants, possibly lowering the risk of some diseases.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Scientists Explore The Role Nanoparticles May Play In Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863724/080402104151.htm
What role do nanoparticles play in hardening of the arteries and in the formation of kidney stones? How may these super-small particles affect the body's physiology? Nanoparticles are a thousand times smaller than the bacteria, E. coli, but recent advances in microscopy have allowed researchers to watch them interact with cells in the body.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Mechanism Underlying Multidrug Resistance In Fungi Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863725/080402131147.htm
Scientists have identified a mechanism controlling multidrug resistance in fungi, a discovery that could help advance treatments for opportunistic fungal infections that frequently plague individuals with compromised immunity, such as patients receiving chemotherapy, transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive drugs, and AIDS patients.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Catch A Shooting Star On Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863726/080402160216.htm
Astronomers have, for the first time, detected a storm of shooting stars on Mars. The detections were made using predictions of when meteor showers should occur as the orbit of Mars intersects with debris from comet 79P/du Toit-Hartley. These predictions were cross-referenced with observations of activity in the Martian ionosphere.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
New Technologies Help Determine Whether Cognitive Impairment Will Lead To Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863727/080402211731.htm
Mild cognitive impairment -- a state between the normal forgetfulness that comes with aging and the more pronounced thinking deficits of dementia -- often progresses to Alzheimer's disease, but some people remain stable and others recover. New technology is improving the ability to determine who might fall into each category.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Darwin Was Right: Natural Selection Speeds Up Speciation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863728/080402071538.htm
In the first experiment of its kind conducted in nature, evolutionary biologists have come up with strong evidence for one of Charles Darwin's cornerstone ideas -- adaptation to the environment accelerates the creation of new species.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
New And Deadly Viruses Passed Through Sweet Food And Domestic Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863729/080402194413.htm
Nipah virus is a new and deadly brain and lung disease that emerged from Singapore and Malaysia ten years ago. It is now spreading into rural India and Bangladesh killing up to three-quarters of the people who become infected in some outbreaks.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Some Of Our Oxygen Is Produced By Viruses Infecting Micro-organisms In The Oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863730/080401200449.htm
Some of the oxygen we breathe today is being produced because of viruses infecting micro-organisms in the world's oceans according to scientists. About half the world's oxygen is being produced by tiny photosynthesising creatures called phytoplankton in the major oceans.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Experiments Point To New Treatments For PKD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863731/080402120508.htm
A family of small molecules called CFTR inhibitors show promising effects in slowing the progression of polycystic kidney disease, the most common genetic disease of the kidneys. Patients with PKD develop cysts on the kidneys, which progressively increase in size and number.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Climate Models Look Good When Predicting Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863732/080402100001.htm
The accuracy of computer models that predict climate change over the coming decades has been the subject of debate. A new study by meteorologists shows that current climate models are quite accurate and can be valuable tools for those seeking solutions on reversing global warming trends. Most of these models project a global warming trend that amounts to about 7 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 100 years.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
FDA Plans To Reduce Oversight Of Off-label Drug Use Criticized By Medical Researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/264863733/080402181245.htm
Proposed guidelines from the US Food and Drug Administration would allow companies to market more drugs for unapproved uses and are a step in the wrong direction, said a researcher from the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Rare Genes Have Big Impact On Blood Pressure, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226412/080406153345.htm
Researchers have found that rare mutations in three genes contribute to blood pressure variation in the general population. The study suggests that an estimated 100 million people worldwide carry functional mutations in these genes.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
As Nanotechnology Goes Mainstream, 'Toxic Socks' Raise Concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265316355/080406175050.htm
Nanotechnology is now available in a store near you. Valued for it's antibacterial and odor-fighting properties, nanoparticle silver is becoming the star attraction in a range of products from socks to bandages to washing machines. But as silver's benefits propel it to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials, scientists are recommending a closer examination of the unforeseen environmental and health consequences of nanosilver.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
A Boost For Bamboo-based Blouses And Blankets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265316356/080406175047.htm
Chemists in Colorado now are reporting solutions to two major problems with bamboo fabrics that may speed adoption of this amazing plant -- which grows like Jack's beanstalk without special care -- in garments and other consumer products.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
'Healing Clays' Show Promise For Fighting Deadly MRSA Superbug Infections, Other Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265248804/080406155621.htm
Mud may be coming to a medicine cabinet or pharmacy near you. Scientists report that minerals from clay could form the basis of a new generation of inexpensive, highly effective antimicrobials for fighting MRSA infections that are moving out of health care settings and into the community.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
One Third Of Risk For Dementia Attributable To Small Vessel Disease, Autopsy Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226414/080406153401.htm
Alzheimer's disease may be what most people fear as they grow older, but autopsy data from a long-range study of 3,400 men and women in the Seattle region found that the brains of a third of those who had become demented before death showed evidence of small vessel damage: the type of small, cumulative injury that can come from hypertension or diabetes.

Mon, 7 Apr 08
Fabled 'Freshman 15' Pound Gain More Often Only 5, Report Researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/265226417/080406153357.htm
The "Freshman 15" -- the rapid weight gain believed to afflict many new college students when they begin school -- appears to be a bit of an urban legend: a cautionary tale often told but not well substantiated.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Graphene Gazing Gives Glimpse Of Foundations Of Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692475/080403140918.htm
Researchers have used graphene to measure an important and mysterious fundamental constant -- and glimpse the foundations of the universe. The universe and life on this planet are intimately controlled by several exact numbers; so-called fundamental or universal constants such as the speed of light and the electric charge of an electron.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Nano-sized Technology Has Super-sized Effect On Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692476/080402181236.htm
Anyone facing chemotherapy would welcome an advance promising to dramatically reduce their dose of these often harsh drugs. Using nanotechnology, researchers have taken a step closer to that goal.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Soccer Robots Compete For The Title
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667106/080401110128.htm
Robot soccer is an ambitious high-tech competition for universities, research institutes and industry. Several major tournaments are planned for 2008, the biggest of which is the 'RoboCup German Open.' 80 teams of researchers from more than 15 countries are expected to face off.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Female Veterinarians At Risk Of Miscarriage From Anesthetic Gases And Pesticides, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692477/080402194359.htm
Female vets run twice the risk of miscarriage as a result of exposure to anesthetic gases and pesticides, suggests a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Planet Finder Catches A Comet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692478/080402201148.htm
Last October, astronomers all over the world were astounded when the normally very faint Comet Holmes erupted in the largest outburst for more than a century. Comets are bodies orbiting the Sun composed of frozen gases and microscopic solid particles in a small solid nucleus. When they come close to the Sun, they heat up and some of the icy material turns to gas, producing characteristic tails. But during this outburst, Comet Holmes released a large amount of its material all at once.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Two Frontal Brain Areas Contribute Specifically To Certain Decision-making Processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692479/080402071542.htm
Scientists used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine what happens in the brain when people are presented with the option either to determine their own course of action or to let someone else make the decision.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Fossil From Last Common Ancestor Of Neanderthals And Humans Found In Europe, Dates Back 1.2 Million Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692480/080403185958.htm
Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known remains of human ancestors in Western Europe. The fossil is about 1.2 million years old. That's 500,000 years older than the previous oldest known humanlike fossils from the area. The new find bolsters the view that Homo reached Europe not long after leaving Africa almost 2 million years ago.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Stem Cell Breakthrough Offers Diabetes Hope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263383603/080403104403.htm
Scientists have discovered a new technique for turning embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing pancreatic tissue in what could prove a significant breakthrough in the quest to find new treatments for diabetes.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Feathered Friends Favor Fruity Flavonoids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692481/080331223816.htm
Fruit-eating birds actively select fruit with the highest concentrations of antioxidants -- compounds that help them maintain a healthy immune system -- ecologists have found. This is the first time that a group of antioxidants known as flavonoids have been found to boost the immune system in studies on living animals, as opposed to test-tube studies.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Corneas From Older Donors Perform Successfully After Five Years, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667108/080401103941.htm
Surgeons and patients can now show that corneas from older donors are as successful for transplants after five years as is tissue from younger donors, allowing possible expansion of the donor pool.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
New Mineralogical Techniques Contribute To Prevent National Heritage Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667110/080401110243.htm
Churches, palaces, monasteries, paintings, sculptures... national heritage is threatened by stone decay. Researchers have now designed crystallization inhibitors against the salt that destroys stone buildings, thereby contributing to the improvement of maintenance and restoration techniques.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Short, Long Sleep Duration Is Associated With Future Weight Gain In Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667109/080401081932.htm
Both short and long sleeping times predict an increased risk of future body weight and fat gain in adults. Short and long duration sleepers were 35 percent and 25 percent more likely to experience a 5 kg weight gain, respectively, as compared with average duration sleepers over six years. The risk of developing obesity was elevated for short and long duration sleepers as compared with average duration sleepers, with 27 percent and 21 percent increases in risk, respectively.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
DNA Building Block Creation Seen In Living Cells: Could Be Key To New Cancer Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692482/080403141112.htm
Scientists have observe for the first time in living cells a key step in the creation of adenine and guanine, two of the four building blocks that comprise DNA. Also called purines, the building blocks are essential for cell replication. The findings, published in Science, could lead to new cancer treatments that prevent cancer cells from replicating by interfering with their abilities to make purines.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Genomic Profiling Of Breast Tumors Might Determine Prognosis, Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692483/080401161643.htm
Combining a breast cancer patient's clinical characteristics with a genomic profile of her tumor may provide important information for predicting an individual patient's prognosis and accurately guiding treatment options, according to a new study.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Global Warming Holds New Threats For Australian Wildlife
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667107/080401095229.htm
Climate change is likely to transform many of Australia's natural landscapes. Temperatures over Australia are projected to rise by about 1 degree Celsius by 2030, and 1.8 degrees C by 2070, relative to 1990 levels.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Better And Faster: Distinguishing Non-TB Pulmonary Disease From TB
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692484/080401081920.htm
A diagnostic kit shows new promise for distinguishing between tuberculosis and its infections from disease caused by related mycobacteria family, which mimic TB and other lung disease in symptoms but require distinctly different clinical treatments.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Fueling Ethanol Production While Protecting Water Quality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667111/080401112400.htm
Grain-based ethanol production has increased dramatically in recent years and with this expansion comes unintended negative water quality impacts. Scientists evaluated potential impacts of grain- and cellulose-based ethanol on nutrient and animal management as they relate to water quality in US inland and coastal waters. They recommended advanced conservation measures to minimize N and P losses and suggested a viable cellulosic ethanol industry could reduce grain dependence and provide water quality and other environmental benefits.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Lack Of Sleep Can Provoke Sleepwalking, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692485/080402105332.htm
Sleepwalkers are advised to keep a regular bedtime to avoid unwanted evening strolls, based on new research. In the study, patients were kept awake for the entire evening and remained under constant supervision. Recovery sleep was allowed the next morning after patients had been awake for 25 hours. The research team evaluated their behavior, which ranged from playing with bed sheets to trying to jump over the bed rails. Results were striking.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Climate Change Is Not Caused By Cosmic Rays, According To New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263320693/080403083932.htm
New research has dealt a blow to the skeptics who argue that climate change is all due to cosmic rays rather than to man-made greenhouse gases. The new evidence shows no reliable connection between the cosmic ray intensity and cloud cover.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Immune System Needs Food To Function Well, So Feed That Cold
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667112/080401091210.htm
Researchers studying deer mice have discovered evidence to support what mothers everywhere have long suspected: the immune system needs food to function properly. Why immune activity is variable in many wild animals is a question that has long puzzled researchers.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Europe's Automated Ship Docks To The ISS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263738578/080403125509.htm
ATV Jules Verne, the European Space Agency's first resupply and reboost vehicle, has successfully performed a fully automated docking with the International Space Station. This docking marks the beginning of Jules Verne's main servicing mission to deliver cargo, propellant, water, oxygen and propulsion capacity to the Station, as well as ESA's entry into the restricted club of the partners able to access the orbital facility by their own means.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Scientists Solve Mystery Of Polyketide Drug Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667113/080401112350.htm
Many top-selling drugs used to treat cancer and lower cholesterol are made from organic compounds called polyketides, which are found in nature but historically difficult for chemists to alter and reproduce in large quantities.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Smear Campaign: Faster Detection Of Multidrug-resistant TB For Public Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692486/080401081917.htm
There is a new tool in the arsenal to fight multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a rapid diagnostic test that can function in high-burden settings such as public health clinics. MDR-TB is increasingly on the rise, and spreads most rapidly through vulnerable communities that are already riven by HIV and poverty. One of the biggest barriers to appropriate treatment is the lengthy diagnostic process of conventional techniques that is not well-suited to public health settings serving vulnerable populations.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Heavy Metals In UK Park: Evidence From Bugs In Blanket Bogs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263667114/080401095212.htm
Bacteria that consume heavy metals have been found in some of the most contaminated parts of the Peak District in the Southern Pennines, UK and may be changing the pollutants into more toxic forms that could leak out into reservoirs.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Insomnia May Perpetuate Depression In Some Elderly Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263692487/080401081930.htm
In addition to being a risk factor for a depressive episode, persistent insomnia may perpetuate the illness in some elderly patients, and especially in those receiving standard care for depression in primary care settings.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Chance Of Finding Earthlike Planets On The Rise, UK Astronomers Believe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263481961/080402201541.htm
Using a revolutionary new camera, UK astronomers have a real chance of being the first to find Earth-like planets around other stars. Since the early 1990s, astronomers have found more than 200 planets in orbit around stars other than our Sun (so-called 'extrasolar' planets). These have been detected through two techniques that are particularly sensitive to massive planets in orbit close to their parent star.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Gene Behind Devastating Vitamin B12-related Disorder Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263481962/080402181241.htm
Researchers have identified the gene responsible for a rare but serious genetic disorder and have simultaneously provided more clues as to how vitamin B12 works in the body. Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin found in animal-based foods -- including dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, fish and shellfish -- but not in plants.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Feta Cheese Made From Raw Milk Has Natural Anti-food-poisoning Properties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/263481963/080402194410.htm
Eating Feta cheese made from raw milk in small seaside tavernas when you are on holiday in Greece could be a good way to combat food poisoning, according to researchers.

Fri, 4 Apr 08
Common Weed, Ayurvedic N