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| Dec 2008 | Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sep 2008 | Aug 2008 | Jul 2008 | Jun 2008 | May 2008 | Apr 2008 | Mar 2008 | Feb 2008 | Jan 2008 | Dec 2007 |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 Sim