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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 |Sat, 31 May 08
Possible Ice On Mars Seen By Phoenix Lander Robotic Arm Camera
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591278/080530204454.htm
Scientists have discovered what may be ice that was exposed when soil was blown away as NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed on Mars last Sunday, May 25. The possible ice appears in an image the robotic arm camera took underneath the lander, near a footpad.
Sat, 31 May 08
Fruits, Vegetables And Teas May Protect Smokers From Lung Cancer, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591279/080529091128.htm
Tobacco smokers who eat three servings of fruits and vegetables per day and drink green or black tea may be protecting themselves from lung cancer, according to a first-of-its-kind study by cancer researchers. The study is the first to find that plant components called flavonoids may prevent the disease.
Sat, 31 May 08
Olfactory Receptor Neurons Select Which Odor Receptors To Express
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591280/080527201826.htm
Scientists have looked at the problem of understanding the regulatory mechanisms that create different cells from a single template by using the olfactory system of the fruit fly. The ability to discriminate odors depends on receptor cells expressing different patterns of receptor genes, despite each cell having the same genes. Receptor patterns are controlled by DNA sequences upstream of the receptor genes.
Sat, 31 May 08
Quest For Better Treatment For Effects Of Menopause
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591281/080528102929.htm
During menopause, lack of estrogens increases the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases. Menopause is a natural period in the aging process of a woman. On ceasing the ovary function, the body gradually stops producing eggs and female sex hormones (amongst these being estrogen and progesterone), responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Lack of estrogens increases the risk of very important diseases with respect to premenopause, amongst these being osteoporosis and illnesses related to the cardiovascular system.
Sat, 31 May 08
Healthy Parents Provide Clues To Survival Of Young Haddock On Georges Bank
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591282/080527155450.htm
In 2003, haddock on Georges Bank experienced the largest baby boom ever documented for the stock, with an estimated 800 million new young fish entering the population. With typical annual averages of 50 to 100 million new fish in the last few decades, fisheries biologists have been puzzled by the huge increase and its ramifications for stock management. They have been looking for answers and may have found one -- healthy adults.
Sat, 31 May 08
Inflammation, Depression And Antidepressant Response: Common Mechanisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301591283/080529162740.htm
In findings published electronically in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers found polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes that are associated with susceptibility to major depression and antidepressant response. Two genes critical for T-cell function in the immune system have been associated with susceptibility for major depressive disorder and antidepressant treatment response: PSMB4 (proteasome beta 4 subunit) and TBX21 (T-bet).
Sat, 31 May 08
Slide Rule Sense: Amazonian Indigenous Culture Demonstrates Universal Mapping Of Number Onto Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301442181/080529141344.htm
The ability to map numbers onto a line is universal. But for an Amazonian tribe, this mapping is not linear but logarithmic. The finding illuminates both the nature and the limits of the human predisposition to measurement, a foundation for science, engineering, and much of our modern culture.
Sat, 31 May 08
Alzheimer's Plaques Cleared Up In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301411831/080530132216.htm
Blocking a common immune system response cleared up plaques associated with Alzheimer's Disease and enabled treated mice to recover some lost memory, Yale University researchers report in the journal Nature Medicine.
Sat, 31 May 08
Apparent Problem With Global Warming Climate Models Resolved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301442182/080530144943.htm
Yale University scientists may have resolved a controversial glitch in models of global warming: A key part of the atmosphere didn't seem to be warming as expected. Computer models and basic principles predict atmospheric temperatures should rise slightly faster than, not lag, increases in surface temperatures. Also, the models predict the fastest warming should occur at the Tropics at an altitude between eight and 12 kilometers. However, temperature readings taken from weather balloons and satellites have, according to most analysts, shown little if any warming there compared to the surface.
Sat, 31 May 08
Colon Cancer Screening Sooner? Prevalence Of Pre-cancerous Masses In Colon Same In Patients In Their 40s And 50s
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301442183/080530144012.htm
The prevalence of pre-cancerous masses in the colon is the same for average-risk patients who are 40 to 49 years of age and those who are 50 to 59 years of age, reports a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute.
Sat, 31 May 08
Access To Electronic Medical Records Significantly Increases Efficiency Of Emergency Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301251709/080530074313.htm
A new study discusses the benefits gained from providing health care workers with immediate access to patient medical records during a mass casualty incident. The authors believe that using radiofrequency devices that electronically contain a person’s medical records presents a solution that could both streamline aid and reduce medical charges, two often incompatible goals.
Sat, 31 May 08
New West Nile And Japanese Encephalitis 'Pseudoinfectious' Vaccines Produced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/301279359/080530095509.htm
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have developed new vaccines to protect against West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses. The investigators created the vaccines using an innovative technique that they believe could also enable the development of new vaccines against other diseases, such as yellow fever and dengue fever, which are caused by similar viruses.
Fri, 30 May 08
Did Walking On Two Feet Begin With A Shuffle?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935666/080529140042.htm
A pair of researchers have developed a model that suggests shuffling emerged millions of years ago as a precursor to walking on two feet as a way of saving metabolic energy by a common ancestor of today's primates.
Fri, 30 May 08
Even Low Levels Of Air Pollution May Pose Stroke Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935667/080529162856.htm
A new study investigated the association between short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and the risk of stroke. Researchers found that recent exposure to fine particulate matter may increase the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular events.
Fri, 30 May 08
New Vegetarian Food With Several Health Benefits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935668/080528095627.htm
A new vegetarian food that boosts the uptake of iron and offers a good set of proteins. The food, called tempe, is moreover a whole-grain product with high folate content. It is generally accepted in medicine that whole-grains reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and it is also believed that it protects against age-related diabetes and certain forms of cancer. The B vitamin folate is the natural form of folic acid and, among other things, is necessary for normal fetal development.
Fri, 30 May 08
Genetic Cause For A Type Of Childhood Epilepsy Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935669/080529120715.htm
Researchers have discovered the genetic cause of a type of childhood epilepsy called childhood absence epilepsy, which accounts for 10-12 percent of epilepsy cases in children under age 16. The finding may explain why CAE mysteriously disappears in adulthood. In addition, the study may provide insight into developing treatments and cures for CAE and other forms of epilepsy.
Fri, 30 May 08
New Design Enables More Cost-effective Quantum Key Distribution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935670/080529124827.htm
Researchers have demonstrated a simpler and potentially lower-cost method for distributing cryptographic keys using quantum cryptography, the most secure method of transmitting data. The new method minimizes the required number of detectors, by far the most costly components in quantum cryptography.
Fri, 30 May 08
Looking Tired Or Angry May Have More To Do With Facial Aesthetics Than How You Feel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935671/080528102900.htm
The old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," has been scientifically shown to be true. A study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that variations in eyebrow shape, eyelid position, and wrinkles significantly impact how your facial expressions, and subsequent mood, are perceived by others.
Fri, 30 May 08
Big Bangs: 'Stirring' Secrets Of Deadly Supervolcanoes Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935672/080529131034.htm
Researchers have simulated in the lab the process that can turn ordinary volcanic eruptions into so-called "supervolcanoes." Supervolcanoes are orders of magnitude greater than any volcanic eruption in historic times. They are capable of causing long-lasting change to weather, threatening the extinction of species, and covering huge areas with lava and ash.
Fri, 30 May 08
Abnormalities In Gene For Melanoma Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935673/080529170602.htm
New research from the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute about mutations in melanoma may bring a wellspring of hope to many patients. Researchers have discovered that there are several different kinds of DNA abnormalities that can occur in a gene called the KIT gene. These abnormalities are associated with different kinds of acral and mucosal melanomas, which are less common, but highly malignant forms of skin cancer.
Fri, 30 May 08
Could Amyloid Deposits Have Potential As Nanomaterials?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935674/080528105931.htm
Amyloid deposits in tissues and organs are linked to a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type II diabetes, and prion diseases such as BSE. However, amyloids are not just pathological substances; they have potential as nanomaterials.
Fri, 30 May 08
Researchers Identify Genetic Markers That Predict Efficacy Of Novel Cancer Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935675/080529120722.htm
Researchers have identified genetic markers in cancer cells that predicted the benefit of a novel cancer drug prior to chemotherapy. Specific genetic profile within tumor cells may indicate increased patient benefit from a particular drug.
Fri, 30 May 08
Organic Free Grazing Cows Are Cream Of The Crop
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299902217/080527101003.htm
Organic farmers who let their cows graze as nature intended are producing better quality milk. Milk from grazing cows on organic farms in the UK contains significantly higher beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins than its conventional 'high input' counterparts. During the summer, one of the beneficial fats in particular -- conjugated linoleic acid -- was found to be 60 percent higher.
Fri, 30 May 08
Where Man Boldly Goes, Bacteria Follow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935676/080528191418.htm
Life in outer space is an absolute certainty, and it is likely to be more familiar than we might think, according to an article in Microbiology Today. Ever since the start of the space race we have sent more than just satellites and astronauts into space: spacecraft are not routinely decontaminated and are teeming with microbial life.
Fri, 30 May 08
Mars' Water Appears To Have Been Too Salty To Support Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935677/080529141404.htm
A new analysis of the Martian rock that gave hints of water on the Red Planet -- and, therefore, optimism about the prospect of life -- now suggests the water was more likely a thick brine, far too salty to support life as we know it.
Fri, 30 May 08
Pregnancies Linked To Tooth Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935678/080529162934.htm
Women who have more children are more likely to have missing teeth, according to a nationwide study of 2,635 women. Profound biological and behavioral changes related to pregnancy and child birth are likely to be a factor in tooth loss.
Fri, 30 May 08
World's Rarest Rhinos Make First Video Trap Appearance -- Then Toss Camera
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935679/080529200129.htm
After just a month in operation, specially designed video cameras installed to capture wildlife footage in the jungles of South East Asia have twice recorded remarkable images of a mother and child pair of the world's rarest rhino. But the success was not without incident as after a short inspection, the rhino mother charged the camera installation in Ujung Kulon National Park and sent it flying.
Fri, 30 May 08
Sugar-coated Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935680/080528095709.htm
Researchers have recently elucidated the structure and function of an enzyme which is involved in decorating antibiotics with sugar molecules. Many antibiotics have different carbohydrate molecules attached to them which can help the antibiotic to be taken up by the target organism or overcome resistance. By manipulating the sugar, it may be possible to restore usefulness in antibiotics to which resistance has developed.
Fri, 30 May 08
Computer Scientists Devise A 'P4P' System For Efficient Internet Usage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935681/080527155517.htm
A Yale research team has engineered a system with the potential for making the Internet work more efficiently, in which Internet Service Providers and Peer-to-Peer software providers can work cooperatively to deliver data.
Fri, 30 May 08
Altruism In Social Insects Is A Family Affair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935682/080529141329.htm
The contentious debate about why insects evolved to put the interests of the colony over the individual has been reignited by new research from the University of Leeds, showing that they do so to increase the chances that their genes will be passed on.
Fri, 30 May 08
Stonehenge Could Have Been Resting Place For Royalty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935683/080529195341.htm
Archaeologists at the University of Sheffield have revealed new radiocarbon dates of human cremation burials at Stonehenge, which indicate that the monument was used as a cemetery from its inception just after 3000 B.C. until well after the large stones went up around 2500 B.C.
Fri, 30 May 08
Cumulative Radiation Exposure Shows Increased Cancer Risk For Emergency Department Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935684/080521093034.htm
According to a new study, patients are receiving estimated doses of radiation from medical diagnostic imaging studies, such as CT scans, that may be detrimental to their long term health, putting them at an increased risk of developing cancer.
Fri, 30 May 08
The Secret Behind Silkworm's Hardy Stomachs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935685/080527170509.htm
Researchers have found that silkworms produce a special digestive enzyme, previously not found in any animals, that is not affected by the toxic chemicals found in mulberry leaves.
Fri, 30 May 08
C-sections A Critical Factor In Preterm Birth Increase
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935686/080528095746.htm
C-sections account for nearly all of the increase in US singleton preterm births. Between 1996 and 2004 there was an increase of nearly 60,000 singleton preterm births and 92 percent of those infants were delivered by a c-section. While singleton preterm births increased by about 10 percent during this time, the c-section rate for this group increased by 36 percent.
Fri, 30 May 08
Sticky Business: Researchers Devise New Way Of Mapping The Viscosity Of Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935687/080523201301.htm
A fluorescent dye can be used to map how viscous, or 'gloopy', different parts of a cell are, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Changes in viscosity have been linked to disease and malfunction in human cells. For example, changes in the viscosity of the membranes of red blood cells have been observed in diabetes patients. Knowing more about these changes could lead to a greater understanding of how some diseases affect the human body.
Fri, 30 May 08
Active Social Life May Delay Memory Loss Among US Elderly Population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935688/080529162938.htm
In a new study, Harvard School of Public Health researchers found evidence that elderly people in the US who have an active social life may have a slower rate of memory decline.
Fri, 30 May 08
Common Aquatic Animal's Genome Can Capture Foreign DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935689/080529141401.htm
Long viewed as straitlaced spinsters, sexless freshwater invertebrate animals known as bdelloid rotifers may actually be far more promiscuous than anyone had imagined: Scientists have found that the genomes of these common creatures are chock-full of DNA from plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals. The apparent ease of DNA incorporation may reveal a bizarre new form of sexual reproduction.
Fri, 30 May 08
Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen May Be Equally Effective At Reducing Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935690/080528162804.htm
Different types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, appear to be equally effective in lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to the largest study of its kind published in Neurology. Experts have debated whether a certain group of NSAIDs that includes ibuprofen may be more beneficial than another group that includes naproxen and aspirin.
Fri, 30 May 08
New Breathing Exercises Help Manage Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935691/080528095853.htm
A presentation that demonstrates breathing exercises designed to help reduce the use of asthma inhalers is today available to the general public for free from the Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways website.
Fri, 30 May 08
Killer Algae's 'Fingerprints' Wrap Up The Case
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935692/080527211502.htm
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that are the base of the food chain in oceans and lakes. Some phytoplankton can produce toxins that are harmful to other marine organisms, including fish. Researchers have studied the DNA of phytoplankton in order to identify and quantify different types of harmful phytoplankton species. New work forms a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding when and how harmful phytoplankton species, such as e.g. the "killer algae" become dominant and threaten to kill off fish.
Fri, 30 May 08
A Little Bit Of Egg Makes Tracking Aphids Easier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935693/080527120756.htm
The green peach aphid, despite its name, is a pest of potatoes. Besides siphoning off juices from potato plants, the aphid can infect the plants with viruses that cause an estimated $100 million annually in yield losses. Now, tracking where and when the aphid is likely to transmit potato viruses could be easier to do than ever.
Fri, 30 May 08
Exercise Cuts Cancer Death In Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935694/080529093431.htm
Men who exercise often are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't exercise, according to a new study from a Swedish medical university. In the study, the researchers looked at the effect of physical activity and cancer risk in 40,708 men aged between 45 and 79.
Fri, 30 May 08
Scientists Hold Seance For Supernova
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935695/080529141946.htm
Astronomers have unearthed secrets from the grave of a star that blasted apart in a supernova explosion long ago. By decoding ghostly echoes of light traveling away from the remains of a supernova called Cassiopeia A, the scientists have pieced together what the star looked like in life, and ultimately how it met its demise.
Fri, 30 May 08
Long-term Hormone Replacement Therapy Increases Breast Cancer Risk Until 5 Years After Use, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935696/080528102922.htm
Now there is proof for women in Germany, too: If hormone replacement therapy is taken over a period of more than five years, the risk of breast cancer will increase. While this risk is considerably elevated during use of hormone medication, it drops back to the original level within about five years after a woman has stopped taking hormones.
Fri, 30 May 08
Biofuels: Fungus Use Improves Corn-to-ethanol Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935697/080527155540.htm
Scientists are developing a process that cleans up and improves the dry-grind ethanol production process. The process uses fungus to reduce energy costs, allow more water recycling and improve a co-product that's used as livestock feed. The process could change ethanol production in dry-grind plants so much that energy costs can be reduced by as much as one-third, according to researchers.
Fri, 30 May 08
High Throughput Microscopy Quantifies Regulation Of Estrogen Receptor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935698/080527201836.htm
High throughput microscopy that uses robots and special microscopes and techniques to generate thousands of images of a cell in a short time enabled researchers to describe how the genetic message of estrogen receptor-alpha is regulated, a finding that could have implications for breast cancer.
Fri, 30 May 08
Structure Of Salt Lake Archaeal Virus Solved In Finland
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935699/080527183017.htm
Researchers have solved the structure of archaeal virus SH1 to the resolution of one nanometer. The results that shed new light on the evolution of viruses.
Fri, 30 May 08
Relaxation Exercises Sharpens Shooting In Biathlon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300935700/080529093411.htm
Biathletes who have learned to apply a relaxation technique can improve their results in the rifle-shooting range. Half of the test group integrated the relaxation exercise in their rifle-shooting practice for ten weeks. The control group practiced as usual. The results showed a clear difference. The group that used the relaxation technique learned to shoot better. They held their rifle barrels steadier and placed their shots within a narrower area. The control group made no progress whatsoever.
Fri, 30 May 08
Carbon Nanoribbons Could Make Smaller, Speedier Computer Chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568672/080528095936.htm
Stanford chemists have developed a new way to make transistors out of carbon nanoribbons. The devices could someday be integrated into high-performance computer chips to increase their speed and generate less heat, which can damage today's silicon-based chips when transistors are packed together tightly.
Fri, 30 May 08
Medication Shows Promise For Patients With Severe Chronic Constipation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568673/080528172015.htm
A new medication appears to offer significant relief to patients with severe chronic constipation while minimizing the likelihood of cardiac-related side effects. Constipation is a common medical problem, affecting about 15 percent of Americans who spend several billion dollars each year on laxatives and other treatments.
Fri, 30 May 08
Skin Defects Set Off Alarm With Widespread And Potentially Harmful Effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568674/080527201755.htm
When patches of red, flaky and itchy skin on newborn mice led rapidly to their deaths, researchers looked for the reason why. What they found was a molecular alarm system that serves as a sentinel to monitor the integrity of skin -- the body's essential protective barrier.
Fri, 30 May 08
Many Patients With Heart Disease Have Poor Knowledge Of Heart Attack Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655853/080526171406.htm
Nearly half of patients with a history of heart disease have poor knowledge about the symptoms of a heart attack and do not perceive themselves to have an elevated cardiovascular risk, according to a new article.
Fri, 30 May 08
Tourists To Caribbean Urged To Pay One Dollar Each To Help Fight Tropical Diseases Of Poverty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568675/080527201817.htm
In an editorial in this month's PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the journal's Editor in Chief, Professor Peter Hotez (George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine Institute) proposes that a modest $1 airline or cruise ship tax or a tax on tourist entry could provide a funding mechanism for the Caribbean countries to control these NTDs.
Fri, 30 May 08
Heat, Not Light, May Be Real Engine Driving Biodiversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568676/080527155533.htm
The diversity of species increases from the poles to the tropics, but until now bacteria were thought to be an exception. A new study shows that bacteria follow the same pattern and provides new insight in a long debate about the relative importance of temperature and sunlight in driving biodiversity.
Fri, 30 May 08
First 'Smell Map' Supports Idea That Universal Laws For Smell Are Hard-Wired In Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118707/080527094159.htm
Scientists have created a 'smell map' based on the chemical properties of odor molecules. This map, which can predict the neural response to an unfamiliar smell, supports the idea that universal laws governing smell are hard-wired into the brain.
Fri, 30 May 08
Robots Go Where Scientists Fear To Tread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568678/080527170513.htm
Researchers have created specially designed robots called SnoMotes to traverse potentially dangerous ice environments. The SnoMotes work as a team, autonomously collaborating among themselves to gather data that could give scientists a better understanding of the important dynamics that influence the stability of ice sheets.
Fri, 30 May 08
Has Decreased Infection Load Of Infants Led To Increased Allergic And Autoimmune Diseases?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/300568680/080528095732.htm
The starting point of the hygiene hypothesis is that the decreasing infection load of infants in the developed countries leads to an increase in allergic and autoimmune diseases. Such development has been observed practically in all industrialized countries after the Second World War. Now an extensive research project begins to establish how the living environment affects the development and maturation of a child's immune system.
Thu, 29 May 08
Geoengineering Could Slow Down Global Water Cycle
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500245/080527155519.htm
As fossil fuel emissions continue to climb, reducing the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth would definitely have a cooling effect on surface temperatures.
Thu, 29 May 08
Bone Repair Using Patient's Stem Cells Comes Closer
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624929/080526170313.htm
Enzyme induces adult stem cells to grow bone. Until now it has been difficult to induce adult human stem cells to produce bone, e.g. in order to repair bone tissue. Researchers have just shown that if the enzyme PKA is previously activated in the stem cells in the lab, following implantation this results in substantial bone formation. This opens up new ways of repairing bone tissue using cell material from the patient.
Thu, 29 May 08
Miracle Leaves That May Help Protect Against Liver Damage
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296493962/080523064620.htm
Sea buckthorn berries are well known for their cholesterol busting properties, but scientists in India say that its leaves are also rich in antioxidants and may help ward off liver disease, according to new research in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
Thu, 29 May 08
Current Vitamin D Recommendations Fraction Of Safe, Perhaps Essential Levels For Children
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085826/080527084255.htm
The current recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for children is 200 International Units, but new research reveals that children may need and can safely take ten-times that amount. According to a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, this order-of-magnitude increase could improve the bone health of children worldwide and may have other long-term health benefits.
Thu, 29 May 08
Rice In Your Gas Tank: Boosting Biofuel Production From Rice Straw
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594437/080526153329.htm
Researchers in China are reporting a discovery that could turn rice straw into an inexpensive new renewable source of biofuel. Their new study describes a way to boost production of biofuel from rice straw by almost 65 percent.
Thu, 29 May 08
Flat Carbonated Drinks Not An Effective Alternative To Oral Rehydration Solution, Study Finds
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085824/080527084303.htm
"Flat" carbonated drinks should not be used as an alternative for oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration in children with acute vomiting and diarrhea, according to advice in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Thu, 29 May 08
Authentic Viking DNA Retrieved From 1,000-year-old Skeletons
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500246/080527201804.htm
Although "Viking" literally means "pirate," recent research has indicated that the Vikings were also traders to the fishmongers of Europe. Stereotypically, these Norsemen are usually pictured wearing a horned helmet but in a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, investigated what went under the helmet; the scientists extracted authentic DNA from ancient Viking skeletons, avoiding many of the problems of contamination faced by past researchers.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Technique Allows Targeted Inactivation Of Genes In Research Model
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500247/080527101044.htm
A new technique improves the ability of scientists to target individual genes for inactivation -- a technique with broad potential implications for both basic science research and human disease.
Thu, 29 May 08
Using Maize As An Efficient 'Factory' For Protein-based Pharmaceutical Products
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297742405/080525085111.htm
Maize (corn) seeds are an effective and dependable platform within molecular agriculture in the effort to alleviate diseases. Over the next few years AIDS could be one of the first diseases to benefit from these results, although regulations for this technology are being developed at the same time as research is being undertaken. Maize, the third most important cereal in the world, has a great number of advantages for molecular agriculture. Among these are its physiology, its capacity to express recombinant proteins in the seeds, its widespread cultivation and its genetic diversity, as well as being anti-allergenic and non-toxic.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Cancer Stem Cell Driving Metastatic Tumors Identified
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500248/080522181533.htm
The molecular profile of cancer stem cells that initiate metastatic colon tumors is significantly different from those responsible for primary tumors, according to new research. New data, generated by analysis of human colon cancer cells and mice, have shed doubt on the recently proposed designation of the protein CD133 as a marker of colon cancer stem cells -- a term given to the small number of cells within a colon cancer that are thought to be able to give rise to a new tumor and that therefore are responsible for tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Thu, 29 May 08
Super-hard Nanocrystalline Iron Developed That Can Take The Heat
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500249/080527155512.htm
Researchers have created a substance far stronger and harder than conventional iron, and which retains these properties under extremely high temperatures -- opening the door to a wide variety of potential applications, such as engine components that are exposed to high stress and high temperatures.
Thu, 29 May 08
Electroshock: Electroconvulsive Therapy Without Cognitive Side Effects
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500250/080527091907.htm
Scientists report that a new form of electroconvulsive therapy is just as effective as older forms in treating depression but without any of the cognitive side effects found in the older forms.
Thu, 29 May 08
Giant Flying Reptiles Preferred To Walk
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500251/080527201814.htm
New research into gigantic flying reptiles has found they weren't all gull-like predators grabbing fish from the water but that some were strongly adapted for life on the ground. Pterosaurs lived during the age of dinosaurs 230 to 65 million years ago. A new study on one particular type of pterosaur, the azhdarchids, claims they were more likely to stalk animals on foot than fly.
Thu, 29 May 08
Hormone May Hold Key To Helping Elderly Men Live Longer
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085827/080527084252.htm
Elderly men with higher activity of the hormone IGF-1 -- or insulin-growth factor 1 -- appear to have greater life expectancy and reduced cardiovascular risk, according to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Thu, 29 May 08
Novel Toxin Receptor Discovered For Ulcer-causing Stomach Pathogen
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500252/080523162909.htm
Helicobacter pylori is one tough bug. It can survive in the human stomach, a zone with a pH somewhere between that of lemon juice and battery acid. Now researchers have discovered how an H. pylori toxin gets into cells, a feat that helps the bacterium live in one of the most inhospitable environments in the body.
Thu, 29 May 08
Cocoa Could Be A Healthy Treat For Diabetic Patients
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655850/080526171410.htm
For people with diabetes, sipping a mug of steaming, flavorful cocoa may seem a guilty pleasure. But new research suggests that indulging a craving for cocoa can actually help blood vessels to function better and might soon be considered part of a healthy diet for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Method Identifies Rat Poison In Humans
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118710/080527094142.htm
Researchers have developed a method to identify bromadiolone poisoning in humans. Bromadiolone is a rat poison that can be purchased freely in shops. A number of cases have been reported internationally where people have been poisoned, with a mortality rate of 20 percent.
Thu, 29 May 08
People With ADHD Do One Month's Less Work Per Year, Study Finds
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500253/080527125324.htm
Workers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do 22 days less work per year than people who do not have the disorder, finds new research. So much work is being lost that the researchers recommend employers consider screening staff for ADHD and providing treatment for those affected, because it would be more cost-effective for their businesses.
Thu, 29 May 08
Chemists Create Cancer-detecting Nanoparticles
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500254/080527100950.htm
Chemists have created the smallest iron oxide nanoparticles to date for cancer detection by magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic nanoparticles operate like tiny guided missiles, seeking and attaching themselves to malignant tumor cells. Once they bind, the particles emit stronger signals that MRI scans can detect.
Thu, 29 May 08
Antibiotics Accompanying Surgery Prevent Some Infections But Increasingly Cause Another
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500255/080527155508.htm
The risk of contracting a Clostridium difficile infection following operations for which a "prophylactic" antibiotic is given to prevent infection is 21 times greater now than it was just a decade ago, according to researchers.
Thu, 29 May 08
Scientists Remove Thousands Of Aspen Trees To Glimpse Forest's Future
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500256/080523095759.htm
Armed with chainsaws and pry bars, researchers recently hastened the end for nearly 7,000 mature aspen and birch trees in a large-scale, long-term experiment to glimpse the Great Lakes region's future forests.
Thu, 29 May 08
Many Men With Low Testosterone Levels Do Not Receive Treatment
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655856/080526171401.htm
The majority of men with androgen deficiency may not be receiving treatment despite having sufficient access to care, according to a new article.
Thu, 29 May 08
Battling Bird Flu By The Numbers
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500257/080527120211.htm
A new mathematical tool could help health experts and crisis managers determine in real time whether an emerging infectious disease such as avian influenza H5N1 is poised to spread globally.
Thu, 29 May 08
Family Feuds: Why Close Relatives Keep Their Distance In The Animal Kingdom
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500258/080527193138.htm
Mammals cannot share their habitat with closely related species because the need for the same kind of food and shelter would lead them to compete to the death, according to new research.
Thu, 29 May 08
Massive Star In Nearby Galaxy Has Mammoth Belt
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500259/080527110944.htm
Talk about a diet! By resolving, for the first time, features of an individual star in a neighboring galaxy, ESO's VLT has allowed astronomers to determine that it weighs almost half of what was previously thought, thereby solving the mystery of its existence. The behemoth star is found to be surrounded by a massive and thick torus of gas and dust, and is most likely experiencing unstable, violent mass loss.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Treatments For Viral And Other Diseases By Blocking Genes
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624930/080526165817.htm
The elusive goal of developing effective treatments for viral diseases such as AIDS and influenza has been brought closer by dramatic progress in the ability to interfere with viral genetic machinery. It has been possible for many years to protect against some viral diseases such as polio in advance by vaccination, but there is still no effective treatment for patients once infection has occurred.
Thu, 29 May 08
Origin Of Cells For Connective Tissues Of Skull And Face Challenged
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500260/080523162928.htm
With improved resolution, tissue-specific molecular markers and precise timing scientsists have possibly overturned a long-standing assumption about the origin of embryonic cells that give rise to connective and skeletal tissues that form the base of the skull and facial structures in back-boned creatures from fish to humans.
Thu, 29 May 08
CT May Better Predict Those At Higher Risk For Heart Disease
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655861/080526171355.htm
Adding noninvasive imaging to current risk-assessment protocols may identify more people who are at risk of developing heart disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.
Thu, 29 May 08
Large-scale Community Protein Annotation -- WikiProteins
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500261/080527193146.htm
Today sees the launch of a new collaborative website initially focusing on proteins and their role in biology and medicine. The WikiProfessional technology underlying the site has been developed based upon the collaborative Wikipedia approach. WikiProteins provides a method for community annotation on a huge scale.
Thu, 29 May 08
Parental Involvement Strongly Impacts Student Achievement
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500262/080527123852.htm
New research shows that students do much better in school when their parents are actively involved in their education. Parents seemed particularly interested in the academic achievements of their daughters. The researchers found parents spent more time talking to their daughters about their school work during dinnertime discussions.
Thu, 29 May 08
DNA Clues To Reproductive Behavior
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118689/080523200910.htm
A species of wild yeast goes through a cycle of sexual reproduction once in every 1,000 asexual generations, according to new research. The study focused on the wild yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus, which is able to reproduce both sexually and asexually. The scientific team used this yeast to examine how sexual and asexual reproduction cause different types of variations in an organism's DNA sequence.
Thu, 29 May 08
Common Gene Disorder Doubles Risk Of Lung Cancer, Even Among Nonsmokers
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655862/080526171349.htm
Researchers have found that carrying a common genetic disorder doubles the risk of developing lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers.
Thu, 29 May 08
NASA Mars Lander Prepares To Move Arm
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500263/080527213850.htm
NASA's Phoenix Lander is ready to begin moving its robotic arm, first unlatching its wrist and then flexing its elbow. Mission scientists are eager to move Phoenix's robotic arm, for that arm will deliver samples of icy terrain to their instruments made to study this unexplored Martian environment.
Thu, 29 May 08
Understanding Autumn Rain Decline In SE Australia
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118691/080523091736.htm
Fluctuations in sea-surface temperatures to the north of Australia and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns over the sub-tropical Indian Ocean have been identified as key factors leading to declining rainfalls in southeastern Australia since 1950.
Thu, 29 May 08
Hypoxia Training Suppresses Harmful Cardiac Nitric Oxide Production During Heart Attack
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118692/080523162957.htm
Ischemic heart disease is the leading killer in the United States and other developed nations, yet clinically effective, noninvasive therapies to prevent ischemic damage of the heart remain elusive. Researchers are studying how a program of brief, moderate hypoxia exposures increases the heart's resistance to ischemia-induced damage. This study shows that hypoxia conditioning dampens enzymatic nitric oxide formation, which minimizes the toxic burst of nitric oxide formation when blocked coronary arteries are reopened.
Thu, 29 May 08
'Avalanche Effect' In Solar Cells Demonstrated
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118712/080527091942.htm
Researchers have found irrefutable proof that the so-called avalanche effect by electrons occurs in specific, very small semiconducting crystals. This physical effect could pave the way for cheap, high-output solar cells. One possible improvement could derive from a new type of solar cell made of semiconducting nanocrystals (crystals with dimensions in the nanometre size range). In conventional solar cells, one photon (light particle) can release precisely one electron.
Thu, 29 May 08
Educating Managers On Computer Fraud Could Cut Crime
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118693/080523095755.htm
A computer scientist has devised an antifraud strategy for business. He suggests that managers should be made aware of security issues and send out cues to junior staff that they have this knowledge. Researchers in this field and security practitioners have recently begun to emphasize the need to take into account the "social" aspects of information security. They also emphasize that a lack of communication at the wider organizational level is often associated with computer fraud.
Thu, 29 May 08
Electron Traps That Compute
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296516809/080523075105.htm
Physicists have used a semiconductor material to create superimposed quantum dots that "trap" single electrons. Not only can these dots be studied with lasers, their energy can be influenced as well. Another point: the state of one of the dots governs that of the other above it. This has taken the researchers another step closer to quantum computers.
Thu, 29 May 08
Failed HIV Drug Gets Second Chance With Addition Of Gold Nanoparticles
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769912/080523162920.htm
Researchers have discovered that adding tiny bits of gold to a failed HIV drug rekindle the drug's ability to stop the virus from invading the body's immune system. The addition of gold nanoparticles to a modified version of a drug designed in the 1990s to combat HIV - but discarded due to its harmful side effects - creates a compound that prevents the virus from gaining a cellular foothold.
Thu, 29 May 08
Neuromuscular Activation By Means Of Vibrations
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118694/080522082716.htm
Researchers have studied the possible effects of vibrations as a mean of neuromuscular activation to improve jumping performance. The results suggest that the effect could be dependent on the level of training.
Thu, 29 May 08
A Protein's Role In Enabling AIDS Virus To Reproduce Detailed
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118695/080523162950.htm
Scientists have discovered new details about how a simian strain of the AIDS virus replicates. The findings are significant because they suggest new strategies to prevent replication, and because they are applicable to human strains of the virus, which, despite the persistent efforts of scientists over two decades, can only be slowed by drug treatments but neither cured nor prevented.
Thu, 29 May 08
Building A Better DNA Molecule
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118708/080527094154.htm
Scientists have demonstrated that a mathematical concept called recursion can be applied to constructing flawless synthetic DNA molecules. The ideal molecules are created in successive rounds in which faultless segments are lifted from longer, error-containing DNA strands and assembled anew.
Thu, 29 May 08
Raising A Stop Sign To Human Traffic
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118696/080523095752.htm
Trade in people is not a new phenomenon, but the modern manifestation of slavery, according to US researchers. However, writing in the Journal of Global Business Advancement, they point out that human trafficking and trade in human organs has intensified with increased globalization. They hope to raise awareness of the issue among the business research community with a view to finding solutions.
Thu, 29 May 08
Next-generation Explosives: More Power And Safety Without The Pollution
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594438/080526153255.htm
Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a new generation of explosives that is more powerful than TNT and other existing explosives, less apt to detonate accidentally, and produce fewer toxic byproducts.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Immunization Strategy Could Be Effective Against 10 To 15 Percent Of All Cancers
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299145286/080527091916.htm
Researchers have discovered a new strategy for an immunization against certain forms of cancer. They have determined that immune cells react strongly to the modified proteins in tumor cells in which a DNA repair defect has occurred. It is estimated that this repair defect is present in some 15 percent of all tumors.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Target For Cancer Drugs? Gatekeepers Are Discovered In The Human Cell 'Shredder'
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118702/080522093344.htm
Human cells make use of a "shredder," the proteasome, to degrade proteins that are old, misfolded or no longer needed. If the system does not work, illnesses such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease may occur. Biochemist report finding a long-awaited receptor for ubiquitin on the proteasome which may have a key role in fighting tumors.
Thu, 29 May 08
Drug Bivalirudin Better Than Heparin After Heart Attack, Large Study Suggests
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118703/080523163004.htm
Heart attack patients who were administered the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin during primary angioplasty had a reduced rate of adverse clinical events, a lower rate of major bleeding, and a lower mortality rate than those who were treated with a regimen of heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
Thu, 29 May 08
New Serpentine Nanotube Structures Created
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118709/080527094150.htm
Scientists are developing techniques to coax carbon nanotubes to self-assemble into ordered structures -- essentially making the nanotubes do the hard work for them. Ironically, the universal principle of 'order through chaos,' has allowed the team’s most recent research to give rise to nanotubes that are strikingly more ordered and complex than any ever observed before. These intriguing new nanotube structures have dubbed 'serpentines' due to their self-assembly into snake-like or looped configurations.
Wed, 28 May 08
Geoengineering Could Slow Down Global Water Cycle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500245/080527155519.htm
As fossil fuel emissions continue to climb, reducing the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth would definitely have a cooling effect on surface temperatures.
Wed, 28 May 08
Bone Repair Using Patient's Stem Cells Comes Closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624929/080526170313.htm
Enzyme induces adult stem cells to grow bone. Until now it has been difficult to induce adult human stem cells to produce bone, e.g. in order to repair bone tissue. Researchers have just shown that if the enzyme PKA is previously activated in the stem cells in the lab, following implantation this results in substantial bone formation. This opens up new ways of repairing bone tissue using cell material from the patient.
Wed, 28 May 08
Current Vitamin D Recommendations Fraction Of Safe, Perhaps Essential Levels For Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085826/080527084255.htm
The current recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for children is 200 International Units, but new research reveals that children may need and can safely take ten-times that amount. According to a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, this order-of-magnitude increase could improve the bone health of children worldwide and may have other long-term health benefits.
Wed, 28 May 08
Rice In Your Gas Tank: Boosting Biofuel Production From Rice Straw
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594437/080526153329.htm
Researchers in China are reporting a discovery that could turn rice straw into an inexpensive new renewable source of biofuel. Their new study describes a way to boost production of biofuel from rice straw by almost 65 percent.
Wed, 28 May 08
Flat Carbonated Drinks Not An Effective Alternative To Oral Rehydration Solution, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085824/080527084303.htm
"Flat" carbonated drinks should not be used as an alternative for oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration in children with acute vomiting and diarrhea, according to advice in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Wed, 28 May 08
Authentic Viking DNA Retrieved From 1,000-year-old Skeletons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500246/080527201804.htm
Although "Viking" literally means "pirate," recent research has indicated that the Vikings were also traders to the fishmongers of Europe. Stereotypically, these Norsemen are usually pictured wearing a horned helmet but in a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, investigated what went under the helmet; the scientists extracted authentic DNA from ancient Viking skeletons, avoiding many of the problems of contamination faced by past researchers.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Technique Allows Targeted Inactivation Of Genes In Research Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500247/080527101044.htm
A new technique improves the ability of scientists to target individual genes for inactivation -- a technique with broad potential implications for both basic science research and human disease.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Cancer Stem Cell Driving Metastatic Tumors Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500248/080522181533.htm
The molecular profile of cancer stem cells that initiate metastatic colon tumors is significantly different from those responsible for primary tumors, according to new research. New data, generated by analysis of human colon cancer cells and mice, have shed doubt on the recently proposed designation of the protein CD133 as a marker of colon cancer stem cells -- a term given to the small number of cells within a colon cancer that are thought to be able to give rise to a new tumor and that therefore are responsible for tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Wed, 28 May 08
Super-hard Nanocrystalline Iron Developed That Can Take The Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500249/080527155512.htm
Researchers have created a substance far stronger and harder than conventional iron, and which retains these properties under extremely high temperatures -- opening the door to a wide variety of potential applications, such as engine components that are exposed to high stress and high temperatures.
Wed, 28 May 08
Electroshock: Electroconvulsive Therapy Without Cognitive Side Effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500250/080527091907.htm
Scientists report that a new form of electroconvulsive therapy is just as effective as older forms in treating depression but without any of the cognitive side effects found in the older forms.
Wed, 28 May 08
Giant Flying Reptiles Preferred To Walk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500251/080527201814.htm
New research into gigantic flying reptiles has found they weren't all gull-like predators grabbing fish from the water but that some were strongly adapted for life on the ground. Pterosaurs lived during the age of dinosaurs 230 to 65 million years ago. A new study on one particular type of pterosaur, the azhdarchids, claims they were more likely to stalk animals on foot than fly.
Wed, 28 May 08
Hormone May Hold Key To Helping Elderly Men Live Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299085827/080527084252.htm
Elderly men with higher activity of the hormone IGF-1 -- or insulin-growth factor 1 -- appear to have greater life expectancy and reduced cardiovascular risk, according to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Wed, 28 May 08
Novel Toxin Receptor Discovered For Ulcer-causing Stomach Pathogen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500252/080523162909.htm
Helicobacter pylori is one tough bug. It can survive in the human stomach, a zone with a pH somewhere between that of lemon juice and battery acid. Now researchers have discovered how an H. pylori toxin gets into cells, a feat that helps the bacterium live in one of the most inhospitable environments in the body.
Wed, 28 May 08
Cocoa Could Be A Healthy Treat For Diabetic Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655850/080526171410.htm
For people with diabetes, sipping a mug of steaming, flavorful cocoa may seem a guilty pleasure. But new research suggests that indulging a craving for cocoa can actually help blood vessels to function better and might soon be considered part of a healthy diet for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Method Identifies Rat Poison In Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118710/080527094142.htm
Researchers have developed a method to identify bromadiolone poisoning in humans. Bromadiolone is a rat poison that can be purchased freely in shops. A number of cases have been reported internationally where people have been poisoned, with a mortality rate of 20 percent.
Wed, 28 May 08
People With ADHD Do One Month's Less Work Per Year, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500253/080527125324.htm
Workers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do 22 days less work per year than people who do not have the disorder, finds new research. So much work is being lost that the researchers recommend employers consider screening staff for ADHD and providing treatment for those affected, because it would be more cost-effective for their businesses.
Wed, 28 May 08
Chemists Create Cancer-detecting Nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500254/080527100950.htm
Chemists have created the smallest iron oxide nanoparticles to date for cancer detection by magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic nanoparticles operate like tiny guided missiles, seeking and attaching themselves to malignant tumor cells. Once they bind, the particles emit stronger signals that MRI scans can detect.
Wed, 28 May 08
Antibiotics Accompanying Surgery Prevent Some Infections But Increasingly Cause Another
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500255/080527155508.htm
The risk of contracting a Clostridium difficile infection following operations for which a "prophylactic" antibiotic is given to prevent infection is 21 times greater now than it was just a decade ago, according to researchers.
Wed, 28 May 08
Scientists Remove Thousands Of Aspen Trees To Glimpse Forest's Future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500256/080523095759.htm
Armed with chainsaws and pry bars, researchers recently hastened the end for nearly 7,000 mature aspen and birch trees in a large-scale, long-term experiment to glimpse the Great Lakes region's future forests.
Wed, 28 May 08
Many Men With Low Testosterone Levels Do Not Receive Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655856/080526171401.htm
The majority of men with androgen deficiency may not be receiving treatment despite having sufficient access to care, according to a new article.
Wed, 28 May 08
Battling Bird Flu By The Numbers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500257/080527120211.htm
A new mathematical tool could help health experts and crisis managers determine in real time whether an emerging infectious disease such as avian influenza H5N1 is poised to spread globally.
Wed, 28 May 08
Family Feuds: Why Close Relatives Keep Their Distance In The Animal Kingdom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500258/080527193138.htm
Mammals cannot share their habitat with closely related species because the need for the same kind of food and shelter would lead them to compete to the death, according to new research.
Wed, 28 May 08
Massive Star In Nearby Galaxy Has Mammoth Belt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500259/080527110944.htm
Talk about a diet! By resolving, for the first time, features of an individual star in a neighboring galaxy, ESO's VLT has allowed astronomers to determine that it weighs almost half of what was previously thought, thereby solving the mystery of its existence. The behemoth star is found to be surrounded by a massive and thick torus of gas and dust, and is most likely experiencing unstable, violent mass loss.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Treatments For Viral And Other Diseases By Blocking Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624930/080526165817.htm
The elusive goal of developing effective treatments for viral diseases such as AIDS and influenza has been brought closer by dramatic progress in the ability to interfere with viral genetic machinery. It has been possible for many years to protect against some viral diseases such as polio in advance by vaccination, but there is still no effective treatment for patients once infection has occurred.
Wed, 28 May 08
Origin Of Cells For Connective Tissues Of Skull And Face Challenged
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500260/080523162928.htm
With improved resolution, tissue-specific molecular markers and precise timing scientsists have possibly overturned a long-standing assumption about the origin of embryonic cells that give rise to connective and skeletal tissues that form the base of the skull and facial structures in back-boned creatures from fish to humans.
Wed, 28 May 08
CT May Better Predict Those At Higher Risk For Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655861/080526171355.htm
Adding noninvasive imaging to current risk-assessment protocols may identify more people who are at risk of developing heart disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.
Wed, 28 May 08
Large-scale Community Protein Annotation -- WikiProteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500261/080527193146.htm
Today sees the launch of a new collaborative website initially focusing on proteins and their role in biology and medicine. The WikiProfessional technology underlying the site has been developed based upon the collaborative Wikipedia approach. WikiProteins provides a method for community annotation on a huge scale.
Wed, 28 May 08
Parental Involvement Strongly Impacts Student Achievement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500262/080527123852.htm
New research shows that students do much better in school when their parents are actively involved in their education. Parents seemed particularly interested in the academic achievements of their daughters. The researchers found parents spent more time talking to their daughters about their school work during dinnertime discussions.
Wed, 28 May 08
DNA Clues To Reproductive Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118689/080523200910.htm
A species of wild yeast goes through a cycle of sexual reproduction once in every 1,000 asexual generations, according to new research. The study focused on the wild yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus, which is able to reproduce both sexually and asexually. The scientific team used this yeast to examine how sexual and asexual reproduction cause different types of variations in an organism's DNA sequence.
Wed, 28 May 08
Common Gene Disorder Doubles Risk Of Lung Cancer, Even Among Nonsmokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655862/080526171349.htm
Researchers have found that carrying a common genetic disorder doubles the risk of developing lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers.
Wed, 28 May 08
NASA Mars Lander Prepares To Move Arm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299500263/080527213850.htm
NASA's Phoenix Lander is ready to begin moving its robotic arm, first unlatching its wrist and then flexing its elbow. Mission scientists are eager to move Phoenix's robotic arm, for that arm will deliver samples of icy terrain to their instruments made to study this unexplored Martian environment.
Wed, 28 May 08
Understanding Autumn Rain Decline In SE Australia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118691/080523091736.htm
Fluctuations in sea-surface temperatures to the north of Australia and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns over the sub-tropical Indian Ocean have been identified as key factors leading to declining rainfalls in southeastern Australia since 1950.
Wed, 28 May 08
Hypoxia Training Suppresses Harmful Cardiac Nitric Oxide Production During Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118692/080523162957.htm
Ischemic heart disease is the leading killer in the United States and other developed nations, yet clinically effective, noninvasive therapies to prevent ischemic damage of the heart remain elusive. Researchers are studying how a program of brief, moderate hypoxia exposures increases the heart's resistance to ischemia-induced damage. This study shows that hypoxia conditioning dampens enzymatic nitric oxide formation, which minimizes the toxic burst of nitric oxide formation when blocked coronary arteries are reopened.
Wed, 28 May 08
'Avalanche Effect' In Solar Cells Demonstrated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118712/080527091942.htm
Researchers have found irrefutable proof that the so-called avalanche effect by electrons occurs in specific, very small semiconducting crystals. This physical effect could pave the way for cheap, high-output solar cells. One possible improvement could derive from a new type of solar cell made of semiconducting nanocrystals (crystals with dimensions in the nanometre size range). In conventional solar cells, one photon (light particle) can release precisely one electron.
Wed, 28 May 08
Educating Managers On Computer Fraud Could Cut Crime
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118693/080523095755.htm
A computer scientist has devised an antifraud strategy for business. He suggests that managers should be made aware of security issues and send out cues to junior staff that they have this knowledge. Researchers in this field and security practitioners have recently begun to emphasize the need to take into account the "social" aspects of information security. They also emphasize that a lack of communication at the wider organizational level is often associated with computer fraud.
Wed, 28 May 08
Neuromuscular Activation By Means Of Vibrations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118694/080522082716.htm
Researchers have studied the possible effects of vibrations as a mean of neuromuscular activation to improve jumping performance. The results suggest that the effect could be dependent on the level of training.
Wed, 28 May 08
A Protein's Role In Enabling AIDS Virus To Reproduce Detailed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118695/080523162950.htm
Scientists have discovered new details about how a simian strain of the AIDS virus replicates. The findings are significant because they suggest new strategies to prevent replication, and because they are applicable to human strains of the virus, which, despite the persistent efforts of scientists over two decades, can only be slowed by drug treatments but neither cured nor prevented.
Wed, 28 May 08
Building A Better DNA Molecule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118708/080527094154.htm
Scientists have demonstrated that a mathematical concept called recursion can be applied to constructing flawless synthetic DNA molecules. The ideal molecules are created in successive rounds in which faultless segments are lifted from longer, error-containing DNA strands and assembled anew.
Wed, 28 May 08
Raising A Stop Sign To Human Traffic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118696/080523095752.htm
Trade in people is not a new phenomenon, but the modern manifestation of slavery, according to US researchers. However, writing in the Journal of Global Business Advancement, they point out that human trafficking and trade in human organs has intensified with increased globalization. They hope to raise awareness of the issue among the business research community with a view to finding solutions.
Wed, 28 May 08
Next-generation Explosives: More Power And Safety Without The Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594438/080526153255.htm
Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a new generation of explosives that is more powerful than TNT and other existing explosives, less apt to detonate accidentally, and produce fewer toxic byproducts.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Immunization Strategy Could Be Effective Against 10 To 15 Percent Of All Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299145286/080527091916.htm
Researchers have discovered a new strategy for an immunization against certain forms of cancer. They have determined that immune cells react strongly to the modified proteins in tumor cells in which a DNA repair defect has occurred. It is estimated that this repair defect is present in some 15 percent of all tumors.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Target For Cancer Drugs? Gatekeepers Are Discovered In The Human Cell 'Shredder'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118702/080522093344.htm
Human cells make use of a "shredder," the proteasome, to degrade proteins that are old, misfolded or no longer needed. If the system does not work, illnesses such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease may occur. Biochemist report finding a long-awaited receptor for ubiquitin on the proteasome which may have a key role in fighting tumors.
Wed, 28 May 08
Drug Bivalirudin Better Than Heparin After Heart Attack, Large Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118703/080523163004.htm
Heart attack patients who were administered the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin during primary angioplasty had a reduced rate of adverse clinical events, a lower rate of major bleeding, and a lower mortality rate than those who were treated with a regimen of heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
Wed, 28 May 08
New Serpentine Nanotube Structures Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/299118709/080527094150.htm
Scientists are developing techniques to coax carbon nanotubes to self-assemble into ordered structures -- essentially making the nanotubes do the hard work for them. Ironically, the universal principle of 'order through chaos,' has allowed the team’s most recent research to give rise to nanotubes that are strikingly more ordered and complex than any ever observed before. These intriguing new nanotube structures have dubbed 'serpentines' due to their self-assembly into snake-like or looped configurations.
Tue, 27 May 08
Electron Traps That Compute
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296516809/080523075105.htm
Physicists have used a semiconductor material to create superimposed quantum dots that "trap" single electrons. Not only can these dots be studied with lasers, their energy can be influenced as well. Another point: the state of one of the dots governs that of the other above it. This has taken the researchers another step closer to quantum computers.
Tue, 27 May 08
Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species In Last Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769910/080523163054.htm
Scientists responsible for species exploration and classification -- have just announced the top 10 new species described in 2007. The taxonomists are also issuing a SOS -- State of Observed Species report card on human knowledge of Earth's species. In it, they report that 16,969 species new to science were discovered and described in 2006.
Tue, 27 May 08
Light-driven 'Molecular Brakes' Provide Stopping Power For Nanomachines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594439/080526153228.htm
Researchers in Taiwan report development of a new type of "molecular brake" that could provide on-demand stopping power for futuristic nanomachines. The brake, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, is powered by light and is the first capable of working at room temperature, the researchers say.
Tue, 27 May 08
Why Are Some People Unable To Express Their Emotions?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624933/080526164054.htm
Italian investigators have published a new study on the neurobiologic correlates of the inability to express emotions (alexithymia). A deficit in interhemispheric transfer was hypothesized in alexithymia more than 30 years ago, following the observation that split-brain patients manifest certain alexithymic characteristics.
Tue, 27 May 08
Bright Sparks Make Gains Towards Plastic Lasers Of The Future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769911/080523201046.htm
Researchers have come one step closer to finding the 'holy grail' in the field of plastic semiconductors by demonstrating a class of material that could make electrically-driven plastic laser diodes a reality. Conventional electrically-powered laser diodes used in everyday consumer goods like DVD players are currently based on inorganic semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide, gallium nitride and related alloys. The term 'semiconductor' describes the material's ability to pass an electric current, which lies somewhere between that of a metallic conductor and that of an insulator.
Tue, 27 May 08
Failed HIV Drug Gets Second Chance With Addition Of Gold Nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769912/080523162920.htm
Researchers have discovered that adding tiny bits of gold to a failed HIV drug rekindle the drug's ability to stop the virus from invading the body's immune system. The addition of gold nanoparticles to a modified version of a drug designed in the 1990s to combat HIV - but discarded due to its harmful side effects - creates a compound that prevents the virus from gaining a cellular foothold.
Tue, 27 May 08
Chaotic Lasers Tamed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296516810/080523074709.htm
"Classical" laser light has become part of everyday life. There is a laser in every CD player, lecturers point to their slides with laser pointers and surgeons carry out medical operations with laser beams. Nevertheless there are numerous unusual kinds of laser light that are still largely unexplored, one of them being Diffusive Random Lasers.
Tue, 27 May 08
Protein May Be Key To New Therapies For Elevated Triglycerides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769913/080523095748.htm
Diabetes researchers have identified a potential target for the development of new therapies to treat hypertriglyceridemia, a lipid disorder commonly seen in people who are obese and diabetic.
Tue, 27 May 08
Short-term Use Of Antipsychotics In Older Adults With Dementia Linked To Serious Adverse Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655854/080526171404.htm
Older adults with dementia who receive short-term courses of antipsychotic medications are more likely to be hospitalized or die than those who do not take the drugs, according to a new article.
Tue, 27 May 08
Melting Glaciers May Release DDT And Contaminate Antarctic Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594442/080526153152.htm
In an unexpected consequence of climate change, scientists are raising the possibility that glacial melting is releasing large amounts of the banned pesticide DDT, which is contaminating the environment in Antarctica.
Tue, 27 May 08
'Intrabody' Can Mop Up Mutant Protein In Huntington's Disease Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298374216/080526081225.htm
Scientists have created a tool for mopping up the clumps of mutant protein that drive neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease. Researchers engineered a virus to make an intracellular antibody or 'intrabody' against huntingtin, the protein whose mutant forms poison the brain cells of people with Huntington's. Injecting the virus into the brains of mice that make mutant huntingtin improves their ability to move their limbs, although it does not prolong their lives.
Tue, 27 May 08
Lifestyle Evolution Of Wild Marine Bacteria: Free-floating Cells Share With Attached Relatives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769914/080522145217.htm
Marine bacteria in the wild organize into lifestyle groups that partition resources rather than competing for them, so that microbes with one lifestyle, such as free-floating cells, flourish in proximity with related microbes that may spend life attached to zooplankton or algae. This information and the methodology behind it could change the way scientists approach the classification of microbes by making it possible to determine on a large scale the genetic basis for ecological niches.
Tue, 27 May 08
New Cheaper Method For Mapping Disease Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624931/080526165347.htm
Scientists have developed a new DNA-sequencing method that is much cheaper than those currently in use in laboratories. They hope that this new method will make it possible to map disease genes in large patient groups, which in turn can mean quicker breakthroughs for new treatments for a wide variety of diseases.
Tue, 27 May 08
How Fast Does A Stressed Cell React?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624935/080526162114.htm
When subjected to stress, such as an alteration to its environment, a cell reacts more or less rapidly in order to ensure its survival. In yeast, this takes place through a series of reactions that are well-known, but whose dynamics had never been studied -- until now.
Tue, 27 May 08
Male-Male Courtship Pattern Shaped By Emergence Of A New Gene In Fruit Flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655852/080526171408.htm
When a young gene known as sphinx is inactivated in the common fruit fly, it leads to increased male-male courtship. Such behavior is widespread in many fly species, but not in Drosophila melanogaster, which has the sphinx gene. Other fly species do not. When two D. melanogaster males that lack the sphinx gene are put together, they court each other.
Tue, 27 May 08
Scorched Earth Millenium Map Shows 'Fire Scars'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769915/080522093333.htm
A geographer has produced for the first time a map of the scorched Earth for every year since the turn of the millennium. The map reveals that between 3.5 and 4.5 million square kilometers of vegetation burns on an annual basis. This is an area larger than the country of India that is burnt every year. The information is vital for scientists and agencies involved in monitoring global warming, measuring and understanding pollutants in the atmosphere, managing forests and controlling fire and even for predicting future fire occurrence.
Tue, 27 May 08
Camera On Mars Orbiter Snaps Phoenix During Landing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594435/080526155742.htm
A telescopic camera in orbit around Mars caught a view of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suspended from its parachute during the lander's successful arrival at Mars Sunday evening, May 25. "We can see cracks in the troughs that make us think the ice is still modifying the surface," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "We see fresh cracks. Cracks can't be old. They would fill in."
Tue, 27 May 08
Immune Cells May Induce Gastritis During H. Pylori Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296516812/080523071035.htm
Researchers have examined the inflammatory response induced by macrophages that may contribute to the development of gastritis during Helicobacter pylori infection in mice. H. pylori is the causative agent of human chronic gastritis, a condition that often leads to gastrointestinal ulcers and cancer.
Tue, 27 May 08
Clinical Investigation Meets Computer Simulation To Analyze Risk Factor Of Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769916/080522210021.htm
Researchers have developed a novel, computer-based strategy to study plasma lipoprotein profiles considered a major predictor of cardiovascular disease. Lipoproteins are the "container ships" in our blood that transport lipids (fats) such as cholesterol and triglycerides to various tissues; they differ largely in size and "cargo" composition. Abnormalities in the amount of certain lipoprotein fractions are considered a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and CVD.
Tue, 27 May 08
First Female DNA Sequenced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594436/080526155300.htm
Geneticists have, for the first time, determined the DNA sequence of a woman. She is also the first European whose DNA sequence has been determined. Following in-depth analysis, the sequence will be made public, except incidental privacy-sensitive findings. The results will contribute to insights into human genetic diversity.
Tue, 27 May 08
Vertigo Can Be Treated Easily And Quickly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298655849/080526171412.htm
A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology found that the best treatment for vertigo is the easiest and quickest one. The disorder causes a feeling of spinning or whirling when the head is moved in certain ways, such as looking up or bending. The feeling lasts a short time but can be severe.
Tue, 27 May 08
Biological Control: Insect Release Proposed To Control Exotic Strawberry Guava
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769917/080522093339.htm
US Forest Service scientists with the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry have submitted a proposal to release a Brazilian insect to control the spread of strawberry guava, a South American tree that has invaded and degraded native Hawaiían ecosystems since it was introduced in 1825 as a garden plant.
Tue, 27 May 08
New Single-Dose Orthopoxvirus Drug In First Stage Of Human Trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296516811/080523071221.htm
A new single-dose antiviral drug has been developed against orthopoxvirus that was safely tolerated in humans during phase I trials and could potentially be used to prevent and treat smallpox. Prior to eradication, variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox and member of the orthopoxvirus family, was estimated to have killed, crippled, or disfigured up to 10% of the human population.
Tue, 27 May 08
New System Which Eliminates Carbon Dioxide Emissions Through Microalgae Under Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298624932/080526165116.htm
Scientists are carrying out a research project on the development of new systems to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions through the use of microalgae photosynthetic activity. The mechanism developed is simple on paper. By the gas emission points a water tank would be installed in order to retain the pollutant gases resulting from a specific industrial process. This polluted water would go through a system of bioreactors with a microalgae culture system, which would then transform the carbon dioxide emissions into vegetal matter and oxygen through the photosynthesis process, according to researchers.
Tue, 27 May 08
Virtual Health Care Worker Could Save Patient Time And Nursing Resources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298769918/080523162954.htm
With search engine companies establishing online personal health records for their users and surgeons on the brink of making robotic surgery routine, it makes sense to have a remote medical care system that can support nursing staff, care managers and other health care workers.
Tue, 27 May 08
Miracle Leaves That May Help Protect Against Liver Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/296493962/080523064620.htm
Sea buckthorn berries are well known for their cholesterol busting properties, but scientists in India say that its leaves are also rich in antioxidants and may help ward off liver disease, according to new research in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
Tue, 27 May 08
Why Don't Monkeys Infected With HIV-like Viruses Get AIDS?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298406776/080522181527.htm
Many strains of monkey become naturally infected with viruses that are related to HIV. These viruses are known collectively as SIV and naturally infected monkeys do not develop AIDS. It is hoped that understanding why monkeys naturally infected with SIV do not develop AIDS might teach researchers important lessons about the mechanisms underlying the development of AIDS in humans infected with HIV and identify ways to prevent this happening.
Tue, 27 May 08
How Arteries And Veins Develop In Parallel Pairs In The Embryo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298406777/080522090023.htm
Using physical measurements, theoretical models and numerical simulations, researchers have shown how the growth of the arteries directly controls that of the veins through a process that depends solely on the mechanical forces present.
Tue, 27 May 08
High Blood Pressure Patients Advised To Use Home Monitors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298406778/080522181538.htm
People with hypertension should routinely monitor their blood pressure at home to help manage the disease, according to a new joint scientific statement from the American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses' Association.
Tue, 27 May 08
President Bush Signs Landmark Genetic Nondiscrimination Information Act Into Law
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298594434/080526152654.htm
U.S. President George W. Bush has signed into law the first civil rights legislation of the new millennium, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). GINA is the first and only federal legislation that will provide protections against discrimination based on an individual's genetic information in health insurance coverage and employment settings.
Tue, 27 May 08
New Research Forces U-turn In Population Migration Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298406779/080523163046.htm
Genetic evidence that overturns existing theories about human migration into Island Southeast Asia (covering the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo) taking the timeline back by nearly 10,000 years has been discovered.
Tue, 27 May 08
Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298340849/080526075337.htm
A NASA spacecraft has sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars. The images from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander's robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site's soil and ice.
Mon, 26 May 08
Scientists Image A Single HIV Particle Being Born
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297875410/080525132345.htm
By using a specialized microscope that only illuminates the cell's surface, scientists have for the first time, in real time and in plain view, seen hundreds of thousands of molecules coming together in a living cell to form a single particle of the virus that has, in less than 25 years, claimed more than 25 million lives: HIV.
Mon, 26 May 08
Oral Hormone Replacement Therapy More Than Doubles Risk Of Blood Clots, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121965/080522210018.htm
Hormone replacement therapy given in skin patches may cause fewer blood clots than HRT given orally, according to a new report. Furthermore, women who take the oral form of HRT more than double their risk of developing a blood clot, say the authors.
Mon, 26 May 08
Climate Change Does Double-whammy To Animals In Seasonal Environments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121971/080521201206.htm
Plant-eating animals in highly seasonal environments, such as the Arctic, face two climate-related challenges in locating nutritious food. Not only are these animals now arriving at their breeding grounds after the plants there have passed their peak nutritional value (previously published) but now animals also are less able to find good food by moving to locations where plants had been available later in the season, prior to global warming.
Mon, 26 May 08
Children's Premature Tooth Loss Can Affect Oral Health For Years To Come
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121974/080522181523.htm
According to a new study parents and caretakers more often than not do not know what to do with a traumatically affected tooth and do not take proper steps to respond to the injury, which can affect their child's oral health permanently.
Mon, 26 May 08
Tapping The Early Universe For Secrets Of Fundamental Physics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121975/080523163050.htm
The future of fundamental physics research lies in observing the early universe and developing models that explain the new data obtained. The availability of much higher resolution data from closer to the start of the universe is creating the potential for further significant theoretical breakthroughs and progress resolving some of the most difficult and intractable questions in physics. But this requires much more interaction between astronomical theory and observation, and in particular the development of a new breed of astronomer who understands both.
Mon, 26 May 08
Fixing The Education Digital Disconnect One Video Game At A Time: FAS Launches Immune Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121978/080522090248.htm
A fast-moving new video game, Immune Attack, teaches the critical scientific facts of immunology. The game is designed to teach how the immune system works to defend the body against invading bacteria. The visual elements and simulations are critical for grasping the complex interactions of the biological systems.
Mon, 26 May 08
Big Earthquakes Spark Jolts Worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297875409/080525132352.htm
Until 1992, when California's magnitude-7.3 Landers earthquake set off small jolts as far away as Yellowstone National Park, scientists did not believe large earthquakes sparked smaller tremors at distant locations. Now, a definitive study shows large earthquakes routinely trigger smaller jolts worldwide, including on the opposite side of the planet and in areas not prone to quakes.
Mon, 26 May 08
Protein That Provides Innate Defense Against HIV Could Lead To New Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297875411/080525132341.htm
The HIV-1 protein Vpu is necessary for the HIV-1 virus to be released from human cells. Scientists have identified CAML as a human cellular protein that blocks the release of HIV-1 viral particles from the membrane of infected cells. The Vpu protein is able to counteract the effects of CAML and allow the release of HIV-1 particles. Understanding how CAML provides an innate defense against HIV and how Vpu counteracts this defense should help scientists develop new treatments.
Mon, 26 May 08
Anti-rejection Drug May Increase Risk Of Diabetes After Kidney Transplant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121980/080522121621.htm
For patients undergoing kidney transplantation, treatment with the anti-rejection drug sirolimus may lead to an increased risk of diabetes, reports a new study. The results suggested a higher rate of post-transplant diabetes among patients treated with sirolimus, compared to other anti-rejection drugs. Depending on which additional drugs they received, diabetes risk was 36 to 66 percent higher for patients receiving sirolimus.
Mon, 26 May 08
Honey Bee Losses Continue To Rise In U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121981/080521205303.htm
Colony Collapse Disorder, diseases, parasitic mites and other stressors continue to take a devastating toll on U.S. honey bee populations, but Pennsylvania beekeepers on average fared better than their counterparts nationally during this past winter, according to apiculture experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. A recent survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America found that losses nationwide topped 36 percent of managed hives between September 2007 and March 2008, compared to a 31 percent loss during the same period a year earlier.
Mon, 26 May 08
Americans Believe Wounded Iraq War Veterans Are Not Receiving High Quality Medical Care In U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297875412/080525080011.htm
A majority of Americans (62 percent) believe that wounded Iraq war veterans do not receive high quality care in military and Veteran's Administration hospitals once they return to the US. Americans who have a close family member who is serving or has served in the military are just as likely as Americans with no military connection to say that wounded Iraq veterans do not receive high quality care in military and VA hospitals (64% versus 59%).
Mon, 26 May 08
New Image-recognition Software Could Let Computers 'See' Like Humans Do
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298152210/080526000936.htm
It takes surprisingly few pixels of information to be able to identify the subject of an image, a team led by an MIT researcher has found. The discovery could lead to great advances in the automated identification of online images and, ultimately, provide a basis for computers to see like humans do.
Mon, 26 May 08
Parts Of UK Could Be Too Hot For Wine-making By 2080, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298152211/080526000353.htm
Increasing summer temperatures could mean some parts of southern England are too hot to grow vines for making wine by 2080, according to a new book launched today.
Mon, 26 May 08
Interactive Web Sites Draw Minds, Shape Public Perception
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298152212/080526000349.htm
The interactive look and feel of a corporate website could help shape positive perceptions about the organization if the site includes a likable design and features that engage the target audience, especially job seekers, according to Penn State media researchers.
Mon, 26 May 08
NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Lands At Martian Arctic Site
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121984/080525232853.htm
NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars May 25 to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the lander's robotic arm.
Mon, 26 May 08
Anti-HIV Drugs Reduce The Cause Of Some Forms Of Vision Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121986/080522181535.htm
A potential new therapeutic use for anti-HIV drugs known as protease inhibitors in limiting the vision loss that often follows retinal detachment has been suggested by researchers studying the effects of the drugs in a mouse model of the condition.
Mon, 26 May 08
What Is The Value Of Biodiversity To Our Collective Future?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/295105325/080521105713.htm
What will the loss of biodiversity cost us in the long term? How much do national economies need to invest now in order to stop the trend? And what price will we have to pay if we do not act?
Mon, 26 May 08
Metagenomics Of Skin Reveals Insights Into The Human Microbiome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121989/080522145226.htm
The human body is home to a diverse range of microorganisms, estimated to outnumber human cells in a healthy adult by ten fold. The importance of characterizing human microbiota for understanding health and disease is highlighted by the recent launch of the Human Microbiome Project by the National Institutes of Health. A report, published in Genome Research describes the investigation of healthy human skin for microbiota diversity and establishes the basis for determining a core microbiome.
Mon, 26 May 08
New Coronavirus Found in Beluga Whale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121990/080522155802.htm
Researchers have determined a never before seen virus found in the liver of a beluga whale to be a new strain of the coronavirus. With emerging infectious diseases on the rise, it is now estimated that 75% derive from zoonotic sources. This being the case, health officials are now looking to zoological parks and aquariums for emerging virus surveillance.
Mon, 26 May 08
Unlocking The Promise Of Clinical And Translational Science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/298121991/080522145200.htm
The emerging field of clinical and translational science provides the bridging force that transforms lab discoveries into customized, patient-specific therapy.
Mon, 26 May 08
Ideal Treatment For Potentially Fatal Heart Condition Changes With Age, Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/297875407/080525134758.htm
Doctors now make more informed decisions on how to treat an electrical disorder of the heart -- be it with dr