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'Living Fossil' Tree Contains Genetic Imprints Of Rain Forests Under Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561602/081030192853.htm
A "living fossil" tree species is helping a researcher understand how tropical forests responded to past climate change and how they may react to global warming in the future.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
High-fat Diet Could Promote Development Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561603/081028103107.htm
Researchers have shown that the main neurological markers for Alzheimer's disease are exacerbated in the brains of mice fed a diet rich in animal fat and poor in omega-3s. Details of the study -- which suggests that diets typical of most industrialized countries promote the development of Alzheimer's -- are outlined in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Grapes May Aid A Bunch Of Heart Risk Factors, Animal Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561604/081029084040.htm
Could eating grapes help fight high blood pressure related to a salty diet? And could grapes calm other factors that are also related to heart diseases such as heart failure? A new study performed in animals suggests so.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Cancer Requires Support From Immune System To Develop
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561605/081030123945.htm
Tumors that grow around nerves in a rare genetic disease need cooperation from cells from the immune system in order to grow, according to scientists.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Mathematician Cracks Mystery Beatles Chord
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561606/081030201607.htm
It's the most famous chord in rock 'n' roll, an instantly recognizable twang rolling through the open strings on George Harrison's 12-string guitar: the opening chord to the Beatles song "A Hard Day's Night." Now, a researcher has used a mathematical calculation known as Fourier transform to solve the Beatles' riddle. The process allowed him to decompose the sound into its original frequencies using computer software and parse out which notes were on the record.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Negative Cues From Appearance Alone Matter For Real Elections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561607/081029181558.htm
Brain-imaging studies reveal that voting decisions are more associated with the brain's response to negative aspects of a politician's appearance than to positive ones, says researchers. This appears to be particularly true when voters have little or no information about a politician aside from their physical appearance.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Clues To Planets' Birth Discovered In Meteorites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561608/081030144626.htm
Meteorites that are among the oldest rocks ever found have provided new clues about the conditions that existed at the beginning of the solar system, solving a longstanding mystery and overturning some accepted ideas about the way planets form.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Drinking Milk To Ease Milk Allergy? Oral Immunotherapy Study Shows Promise -- But Do Not Try This At Home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561609/081030192851.htm
Giving children with milk allergies increasingly higher doses of milk over time may ease, and even help them completely overcome, their allergic reactions, according to the results of a new study. However, the researchers emphasize that the findings require further research and advise parents and caregivers not to try oral immunotherapy without medical supervision.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Evidence Of Tsunamis On Indian Ocean Shores Long Before 2004
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561610/081029141037.htm
A quarter-million people were killed when a tsunami inundated Indian Ocean coastlines the day after Christmas in 2004. Now scientists have found evidence that the event was not a first-time occurrence.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Pneumococcal Vaccine Could Prevent Numerous Deaths, Save Costs During A Flu Pandemic, Model Predicts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561611/081028184742.htm
A new predictive model shows that vaccinating infants with 7 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine -- the current recommendation--not only saves lives and money during a normal flu season by preventing related bacterial infections; it also would prevent more than 357,000 deaths during an influenza pandemic, while saving $7 billion in costs.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Predicting Evolution’s Next Best Move With Simulator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437605181/081030201857.htm
Biologists today are doing what Darwin thought impossible. They are studying the process of evolution not through fossils but directly, as it is happening. Now, by modeling the steps evolution takes to build, from scratch, an adaptive biochemical network, biophysicists have gone one step further. Instead of watching evolution in action, they show that they can predict its next best move.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Study In Transsexuals: Significant Genetic Link To Gender Identity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561612/081030111005.htm
In the largest ever genetic study of male to female transsexuals, Australian researchers have found a significant genetic link between gender identity and a gene involved in testosterone action.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Ultrafast Lasers Show Snapshot Of Electrons In Action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561613/081030144622.htm
In the quest to slow down and ultimately understand chemistry at the level of atoms and electrons, scientists have found a new way to peer into a molecule that allows them to see how its electrons rearrange as the molecule changes shape.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Key Mechanism Behind Cancer Spread Is Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561614/081030194338.htm
Scientists have discovered the two key processes that allow cancer cells to change the way they move in order to spread through the body, according to a new study.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Astronauts To Vote From Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437605188/081030194230.htm
In this day and age, people engage in their right to vote from all over the world. But this Nov. 4, few ballots will have traveled as far as those cast by two NASA astronauts.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Engineering Technique Can Identify Disease-causing Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561616/081028184820.htm
Scientists believe that complex diseases such as schizophrenia, major depression and cancer are not caused by one, but a multitude of dysfunctional genes.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Local Retail Meat Safe From Antibiotic-resistant Organisms, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561617/081029104302.htm
Rhode Island Hospital researchers report that findings from a new study of retail meat in the Providence, RI area indicate little to no presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study, prompted by the identification of such organisms in retail meat in Canada, Europe and Asia, is among the first in this country to look at the possible spread of infection through retail meat.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
U.S. Nicotine Addiction Reaches 15-year High
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561618/081028102816.htm
Nicotine dependence has reached a 15-year high, with nearly 75 percent of people currently seeking tobacco-dependence treatment categorized as highly nicotine dependent.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Mysterious Bat Disease Decimates Colonies: Newly Identified Fungus Implicated In White-nose Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561619/081030144613.htm
White-nose syndrome in bats is a disease that is decimating bat populations in the northeast U.S. A previously undescribed, cold-loving fungus has been linked to white-nose syndrome, a condition associated with the deaths of over 100,000 hibernating bats in the northeastern United States.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
New Way To Attack Some Forms Of Leukemia Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561620/081028184744.htm
What if a way could be found to reprogram cancerous cells back into normal cells? Researchers believes it may have found a way to do just that. Scientists discovered a way to disrupt the protein switch that is a critical component in the process to create white blood cells.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Locksmiths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561621/081029181606.htm
Computer scientists have built a software program that can perform key duplication without having the key. Instead, the computer scientists only need a photograph of the key.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Anti-seizure Drug Could Be Fatal, New Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561623/081028074315.htm
New research presented at CHEST 2008 shows that patients treated for their prolonged seizures with the sedative propofol may be at high risk for complications and even death.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Researchers Find New Way Of Measuring 'Reality' Of Virtual Worlds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561624/081029084038.htm
A research team has developed a new way of measuring how "real" online virtual worlds are -- an important advance for the emerging technology that can be used to foster development of new training and collaboration applications by companies around the world.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Difficult To Read Instructions Decrease Motivation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437605189/081030110955.htm
A new study shows that if directions for a task are presented in a difficult-to-read style, the task will be viewed as being difficult, taking a long time to complete and lead to decreased motivation for completing the task.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
One In 17 Men In Mediterranean Basin May Have A Phoenician As Direct Male-line Ancestor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561625/081030123943.htm
The Phoenicians gave the world the alphabet and a love of the color purple, and a new study shows that they left some people their genes as well. The study finds that as many as one in 17 men in the Mediterranean basin may have a Phoenician as a direct male-line ancestor.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Antimalarial Drug Prevents Diabetes In Arthritis Patients, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561626/081028120955.htm
New research sheds light on how an antimalarial drug may prevent the onset of diabetes in some high risk patients.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Marriage Dowry As Major Cause Of Poverty In Bangladesh
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436856962/081030075654.htm
More than 35 million people in Bangladesh, around a quarter of its population, face acute poverty and hunger. Dowry payments of more than 200 times the daily wage and costly medical expenses are major causes of this chronic poverty says research from the University of Bath.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Gleevec Holds Potential As First Drug To Successfully Treat Neurofibromatosis, Scientists Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437561628/081030123837.htm
The anti-cancer drug gleevec holds out promise to become the first effective treatment for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease that has resisted treatments until now. The research team is conducting clinical tests of the drug following successful laboratory tests and a "compassionate use" of the drug.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
EPA's Stormwater Program Needs Significant Overhaul
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774366/081015120736.htm
Radical changes to the US Environmental Protection Agency's stormwater program are necessary to reverse degradation of fresh water resources and ensure progress toward the Clean Water Act's goal of "fishable and swimmable" waters, says a new report. Increased water volume and pollutants from stormwater have degraded water quality and habitats in virtually every urban stream system.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Baby Talk: Roots Of Early Vocabulary In Infants' Learning From Speech
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437605190/081030123947.htm
A new report describes an increasing emphasis among researchers in studying vocabulary development in infants. Recent findings have shown that infants are not only aware of the pieces that make up a word, but they are already aware of the entire word and by one year of age, children are able to recognize mispronunciations of words. In addition, there is a relationship between young children's performance in word recognition and their later language achievement.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Daylight Saving Time: Clock-shifts Affect Risk Of Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436908111/081030075647.htm
Adjusting the clocks to summer time on the last Sunday in March increases the risk of myocardial infarction in the following week, according to a new Swedish study. In return, putting the clocks back in the autumn reduces the risk, albeit to a lesser extent.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Cancer Drug Resistance: 'New' Estrogen Receptor Found To Be Key Player In Tamoxifen Resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436908107/081030083050.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel way in which breast cancer cells become resistant to tamoxifen, the world's largest-selling breast cancer prevention and treatment drug. They say the findings could provide a way to identify tamoxifen users who are no longer benefiting from the drug, allowing doctors to try another therapy option sooner.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Amateur Sports Can Lead to Unexpected Health Problems Later in Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064064/081029121931.htm
Taking up bowling or tennis is an excellent way to stay fit. But if you're not careful, you might find that these amateur sports can have unexpected long-term health risks.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Open-heart Surgery Should Remain Viable Treatment Option For People In Their 80s, According To Experts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064067/081028121001.htm
Patients 80 years and older who are in overall good health are perfectly able to withstand open-heart surgery, according to a new study.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Probing Antarctic Glaciers For Clues To Past And Future Sea Level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064068/081028074329.htm
Scientists believe the barely observed Aurora Subglacial Basin, which lies in East Antarctica, could represent the weak underbelly of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, the largest remaining body of ice on Earth, holding clues about how Earth's climate changed in the past and how future climate change will affect global sea level.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Office Workers Given Blue Light To Help Alertness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064071/081029105807.htm
Changing traditional white-light lighting to blue-enriched white light helped office workers stay more alert and less sleepy during the day, in a new study. The research also showed improvements in subjective measures of positive moods, work performance, fatigue in the evening, irritability, ability to concentrate and focus and eye strain. Furthermore the workers reported improved sleep at night.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Eating Red Meat Sets Up Target For Disease-causing Bacteria, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064072/081029141035.htm
Offering another reason why eating red meat could be bad for you, researchers have uncovered the first example of a bacterium that causes food poisoning in humans when it targets a non-human molecule absorbed into the body through red meats such as lamb, pork and beef.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Prostate Cancer Prevention: No Benefit For Use Of Selenium And Vitamin E Supplements, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436908106/081030090201.htm
Initial, independent review of study data from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) shows that selenium and vitamin E supplements, taken either alone or together, did not prevent prostate cancer.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Do Dams Make A Difference? Similar Survival Rates For Pacific Salmon In Fraser And Columbia Rivers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064073/081028074430.htm
Canadian and US researchers have made a surprising discovery that some endangered Pacific salmon stocks are surviving in rivers with hydroelectric dams as well as or better than in rivers without dams.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Well-known Drug (AAT) Could Overcome Obstacles To Islet Transplantation, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064074/081030102618.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that treating diabetic animals with alpha-1-antitrypsin following an islet transplantation procedure eliminates the inflammation that causes islet transplants to fail.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Hazardous Levels Of Metal Ions Found In Many Commercial Table Wines, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064076/081029203031.htm
Potentially hazardous levels of metal ions are present in many commercially available wines. An analysis of reported levels of metals in wines from 16 different countries found that only those from Argentina, Brazil and Italy did not pose a potential health risk owing to metals.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Night-time Driving Over Long Periods Increases Risk Of Accidents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064077/081029135039.htm
Does driving at night affect the risk of accidents? Drowsiness resulting from a lack of sleep is a recognized risk factor which causes traffic accidents. But what happens if drivers combine extended driving and sleep deprivation?
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Searching For Primordial Antimatter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437005349/081030102608.htm
Scientists are on the hunt for evidence of antimatter -- matter's arch nemesis -- left over from the very early Universe. New results using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory suggest the search may have just become even more difficult.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Artificial Pancreas Could Revolutionize Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437064078/081029104717.htm
Researchers across the globe are testing a computerized, subcutaneous system that could one day transform the way Type 1 diabetics manage their disease.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Significant Fossil Discovery In Utah Shows Land Plants Of 200 Million Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437005350/081029115137.htm
The importance of a new archeological site in St George, Utah, U.S. was recently highlighted. The site is significant because it is the only early Jurassic land flora known in the western United States. It provides evidence that a variety of land plants were present in the area about 200 million years ago.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Aggressive Phototherapy Can Improve Neurodevelopmental Outcomes In Some Preemies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437005360/081029181556.htm
Researchers say the use of aggressive phototherapy reduces the odds that tiny premature infants will develop neurodevelopmental impairment such as cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness or physical or mental challenges.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Powered By Olive Stones? Turning Waste Stones Into Fuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437005364/081029203033.htm
Olive stones can be turned into bioethanol, a renewable fuel that can be produced from plant matter and used as an alternative to petrol or diesel. This gives the olive processing industry an opportunity to make valuable use of 4 million tons of waste in olive stones it generates every year and sets a precedent for the recycling of waste products as fuels.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Our Cheatin' Brain: The Brain's Clever Way Of Showing Us The World As A Whole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437005366/081029154853.htm
Boundary extension is a mistake that we often make when recalling a view of a scene -- we will insist that the boundaries of an image stretched out farther than what we actually saw. Results of a new study indicate that boundary extension occurs when a scene is interrupted for as little as 42 milliseconds (quicker than an eye blink!) and even when volunteers know exactly what is being tested.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Common Cold Symptoms Caused By Immune System -- Not The Cold Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487654/081029101201.htm
Scientists confirm that it is how our immune system responds, not the rhinovirus itself, that causes cold symptoms. Of more than 100 different viruses that can cause the common cold, human rhinoviruses are the major cause.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Allergies May Protect Against Certain Types Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487655/081029121828.htm
A new article provides strong evidence that allergies are much more than just an annoying immune malfunction. They may protect against certain types of cancer.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
World's Smallest Hand-held Instrument For Detecting Health And Safety Threats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487656/081027101344.htm
Researchers in Indiana are describing development of the world's smallest complete mass spectrometer (MS), a miniature version of a standard lab device -- some of which would dominate a living room -- to identify tiny amounts of chemicals in the environment.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Cholesterol-lowering Drugs May Also Lower PSA, But Whether They Cut Cancer Risk Is Still Not Known
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487657/081028184740.htm
Popular cholesterol-busting drugs -- statins -- appear to lower men's PSA values along with their cholesterol levels, according to researchers. But whether the drugs prevent prostate cancer growth or just mask it is not known yet.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Predicting Boom And Bust Ecologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436528925/081029141039.htm
While scholars may be a long way from predicting the ins and outs of the economy, biologists have uncovered fundamental rules that may govern population cycles in many natural systems.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Gender Affects Perceptions Of Infidelity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487658/081029121925.htm
A new study explored how men and women perceive online and offline sexual and emotional infidelity. When given the choice, men were more upset by sexual infidelity and women were more upset by emotional infidelity.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Methane Gas Levels Begin To Increase Again
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487659/081029141043.htm
The amount of methane in Earth's atmosphere shot up in 2007, bringing to an end a period of about a decade in which atmospheric levels of the potent greenhouse gas were essentially stable, according new research.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Drug Target In Obesity: Fat Cells Make Lots Of Melanin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487660/081029121812.htm
As millions of Americans gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday, a new report may provide some relief for those leery second helpings. Researchers describe a discovery that may allow some obese people avoid common obesity-related metabolic problems without losing weight: they make a common antioxidant, melanin, in excess. Even more promising is that some of the antioxidant drugs that can mimic the melanin effect are FDA-approved and available.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Gene Responsible For Puberty Disorders Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487661/081027140814.htm
A new gene responsible for some puberty disorders has been identified. Scientists found that the gene mutated in CHARGE syndrome – a multi-system disorder characterized by diverse problems from heart defects to hearing loss to cleft lip and palate and mental retardation – also accounts for about 6 percent of two puberty disorders.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Vaginal/Caesarean Combo Delivery Of Twins Safe, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487662/081029121927.htm
Doctors need not go straight to Caesarean section when delivering twins, but can start with vaginal delivery of the first twin in many cases, researchers have found in a new study.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Methylmercury Warning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436528926/081028103103.htm
Recent studies hint that exposure to the toxic chemicals, such as methylmercury can cause harm at levels previously considered safe. A new analysis of the epidemiological evidence in the International Journal of Environment and Health, suggests that we should take a precautionary approach to this and similar compounds to protect unborn children from irreversible brain damage.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Facing Fears Early May Reduce Childhood Anxiety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436528927/081029181548.htm
Helping children face their fears may be more productive than focusing on other techniques to help them manage their anxieties, according to new research.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Programmable Genetic Clock Made Of Blinking Florescent Proteins Inside Bacteria Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487663/081029141041.htm
Bioengineers have created the first stable, fast and programmable genetic clock that reliably keeps time by the blinking of fluorescent proteins inside E. coli cells. The clock's blink rate changes when the temperature, energy source or other environmental conditions change, a fact that could lead to new kinds of sensors that convey information about the environment through the blinking rate.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Chemical Key Could Unlock Hundreds Of New Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487664/081029105805.htm
Chemistry researchers have found a novel signaling molecule that could be a key that will open up hundreds of new antibiotics unlocking them from the DNA of the Streptomyces family of bacteria.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Catching Earthquake Details With Ordinary Laptop Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487665/081027140823.htm
Inside your laptop is a small accelerometer chip, there to protect the delicate moving parts of your hard disk from sudden jolts. It turns out that the same chip is a pretty good earthquake sensor, too -- especially if the signals from lots of them are compared, in order to filter out more mundane sources of laptop vibrations, such as typing.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Improved Rodent Trials Can Speed Cancer Drug Development, Expert Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487666/081028184736.htm
Better design of rodent trials could reduce the cost and time required for cancer drug development, according to an expert.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Pervasive Network Discovered Driving Protein Production And Placement In Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487667/081028074422.htm
Researchers have uncovered what appears to be an extensive, but until now barely noticed, network of regulatory interactions that influence what proteins are made inside a cell, and when and where.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Abducted Children: Conventional Photos Alone Don't Aid The Search
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487668/081028205652.htm
People's ability to recognize abducted children is impaired when they view a photo of a smiling, clean child, but come into contact with the same child whose appearance is very different because he or she is upset, crying, disheveled or unkempt.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Real Robinson Crusoe: Evidence Of Alexander Selkirk’s Desert Island Campsite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487669/081029105803.htm
An archaeological dig unearths evidence of the campsite of castaway Alexander Selkirk, the model for Robinson Crusoe.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Hurdles For Muscular Dystrophy Therapy Cleared
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487670/081029104313.htm
Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will usually lose the ability to walk by their teens and typically die before the age of 30. For years, scientists have studied the use of gene therapy as a possible way to correct the muscle deterioration, but hurdles such as the need to treat all muscles in the body, including both skeletal muscle and heart muscle, have challenged researchers looking for an effective therapy until now. New studies demonstrate an effective way to deliver gene therapy and scientist show that therapy can be beneficial for the heart.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Why Some Marine Algae Are Shaped Like Crumpled Paper
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432608475/081026094936.htm
What is the connection between crumpled paper and marine algae? Saddle-like shapes similar to those found in an Elizabethan "ruff" collar, say physicists in a new article.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
HIV-infected Patients Should Start HAART Sooner, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487671/081027101353.htm
Under current treatment guidelines, highly active antiretroviral therapy should be considered for HIV-infected patients when their CD4+ T-cell counts fall below 350 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3). However, new epidemiological research suggests that patients with HIV may have less risk of dying if they begin HAART sooner.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Supercomputer Can Do 50 Trillion Operations Per Second
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487672/081029084044.htm
In less time than the blink of an eye, the Translational Genomics Research Institute's new supercomputer at Arizona State University can do operations equal to every dollar in the recent Wall Street bailout. That would be 700 billion computations in less than 1/60th of a second.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Strengthen Restrictions On Off-label Promotion By Pharmaceutical Companies, Researchers Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487673/081028074426.htm
Researchers are asking for tougher penalties and fines for pharmaceutical companies that market drugs for "off label" promotion, according to a new study. Researchers describe ways that the pharmaceutical industry uses marketing to encourage "the unmonitored, potentially dangerous use of drugs by patients for whom risks and benefits are unknown."
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Climate Change Seeps Into The Sea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435820139/081029090335.htm
Good news has turned out to be bad. The ocean has helped slow global warming by absorbing much of the excess heat and heat-trapping carbon dioxide that has been going into the atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution. All that extra carbon dioxide, however, has been a bitter pill for the ocean to swallow. It's changing the chemistry of seawater, making it more acidic and otherwise inhospitable, threatening many important marine organisms.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Hormone Data Can Predict Menopause Within A Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487676/081027155901.htm
For many women, including the growing number who choose later-in-life pregnancy, predicting their biological clock's relation to the timing of their menopause and infertility is critically important.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Progress Toward New Storage Media: Reliable Nanopatterns On Chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487677/081027140721.htm
Scientists have produced reliable nanopatterns of a spin-transition compound on silicon oxide chips. This is a decisive step toward a new generation of molecular storage media.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
MRSA Screening Downplayed As Effective Infection Control Intervention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487678/081023100900.htm
Epidemiologists are downplaying the value of mandatory universal nasal screening of patients for MRSA, arguing that proven, hospital-wide infection control practices can prevent more of the potentially fatal infections.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Computer Scientists Seek New Framework For Computation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487679/081029104256.htm
There have been several revolutions during the 60 year history of electronic computation, such as high level programming languages and client/server separation, but one key challenge has yet to be fully resolved. This is to break down large complex processes into small more manageable components that can then be reused in different applications.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Racial And Ethnic Disparities Detected In Patient Experiences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/436487680/081028184826.htm
A study surveying patients in more than 1,500 physician practices has found racial and ethnic disparities in patient experiences, with minority patients having worse experiences than white patients. The findings suggest that while all doctors should be attentive to differences in patient experiences, Hispanic, Native American, and black patients are often visiting physician practices that are less patient-centered.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Statins Associated With Lower Risk Of Death From Pneumonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883552/081027174547.htm
Individuals who take cholesterol-lowering statins before being hospitalized with pneumonia appear less likely to die within 90 days afterward, according to a new report.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Toward Non-invasive Disease Diagnosis With Wellness Cards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883553/081027112944.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a device that could serve as the electronic "reader" for a coming generation of "wellness cards," specimen holders used to diagnose disease from a drop of a patient's saliva or blood.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Exercise-induced Fatigue In Muscular Dystrophies Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432866984/081026150147.htm
A new study suggests that the prolonged fatigue after mild exercise that occurs in people with many forms of muscular dystrophy is distinct from the inherent muscle weakness caused by the disease. The research identifies a faulty signaling pathway that appears to cause exercise-induced fatigue in mouse models of muscular dystrophy and shows that Viagra can overcome the signaling defect and relieve the fatigue.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Reduce Computer Power Usage? Silicon Optical Fiber Made Practical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883554/081028074333.htm
Scientists have, for the firsts time, been able to make a practical optical fiber with a silicon core.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
New Understanding Of How We Remember Traumatic Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883555/081028103111.htm
Neuroscientists have discovered a new way to explain how emotional events can sometimes lead to disturbing long term memories.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
NASA's Phoenix Mission Faces Survival Challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883556/081029093633.htm
In a race against time and the elements, engineers with NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission hope to extend the lander's survival by gradually shutting down some of its instruments and heaters, starting this week.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
In Mice, Anxiety Is Linked To Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883557/081027174644.htm
Scientists reveal that immune cells in the brain influence how mice respond to stressful situations.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
'Cheshire Cat' Escape Strategy In Response To Marine Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432608476/081026094351.htm
A novel defense strategy displayed in response to marine viruses by some of the most abundant unicellular organisms found in our oceans has recently been demonstrated. The results enable a clearer understanding of the origin of, and reasons for, sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Glutamate: Too Much Of A Good Thing In Schizophrenia?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883558/081027115427.htm
Is schizophrenia a disorder of glutamate hyperactivity or hypoactivity? While the predominant hypothesis for many years was that schizophrenia was a glutamate deficit disorder, there is growing evidence of glutamate hyperactivity as well.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Virtual Screening Leads To Real Progress In Drug Design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883559/081028121025.htm
Around 150 thousand people per year get the parasitic disease African sleeping sickness, but the only medicines to treat it are either difficult to administer, expensive, or toxic. Now a team of scientists has put computers to work to find a solution.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
A Face By Any Other Name: Seeing Racial Bias
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883560/081028103109.htm
If Barack Obama had taken his mother's surname and kept his childhood nickname, American voters might literally see "Barry Dunham" as a quite different presidential candidate, a new study suggests. A name significantly changes our perception of someone's face and race, according to research in the journal Perception.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Amphibians' Ability To Predict Changes In Biodiversity Confirmed By New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883561/081028184750.htm
Biologists have long suspected that amphibians, whose moist permeable skins make them susceptible to slight changes in the environment, might be good bellwethers for impending alterations in biodiversity during rapid climate change.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Women's Voices Become More High-pitched During Ovulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883562/081027175249.htm
A new study adds to mounting evidence that human ovulation -- a state once thought to be undetectable without medical equipment -- actually prompts a range of subtle but observable behaviors aimed at attracting the best possible mate.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Monitoring Broken Bones Without Using Electronics: Wireless Bone Monitor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430851052/081024103858.htm
The novel sensor is intended one day to help doctors monitor broken bones as they grow back together. Depending on the values of the forces measured by the sensor, they can decide whether the healing process is progressing normally or whether there is a danger that the fracture or implants might be overloaded. Until now doctors have used expensive and complicated electronic devices which sent the measured data to the outside world as radio signals.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Vaccinating Family Members Offers Important Flu Protection To Newborns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432866985/081026150142.htm
Vaccinating new mothers and other family members against influenza before their newborns leave the hospital creates a "cocooning effect" that may shelter unprotected children from the flu, a virus that can be life-threatening to infants, according to researchers at Duke Children's Hospital.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
How Toxic Environmental Chemical DBT Affects The Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883563/081028121021.htm
Scientists have issued a report on the mechanism of toxicity of a chemical compound called Dibutyltin (DBT). DBT is part of a class of high toxic and widely distributed chemical compounds called organotins, DBT is most commonly used as an anti-fouling agent in paint, for example in the fishing and shipbuilding industries. It is also used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic tubes and bottles.
Thu, 30 Oct 08
Methamphetamine Abuse Linked To Underage Sex, Smoking And Drinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435883564/081027195718.htm
Children and adolescents who abuse alcohol or are sexually active are more likely to take methamphetamines, also known as 'meth' or 'speed.' New research reveals the risk factors associated with MA use, in both low-risk children (those who don't take drugs) and high-risk children (those who have taken other drugs or who have ever attended juvenile detention centers).
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Dinosaur Smelling Skills Open New Angle On Bird Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388151/081028205650.htm
Scientists are providing new insight into the sense of smell of carnivorous dinosaurs and primitive birds. Researchers found that Tyrannosaurus rex had the best nose of all meat-eating dinosaurs, and their results tone down the reputation of T. rex as a scavenger.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Pregnant Women Consuming Flaxseed Oil Have High Risk Of Premature Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435331/081027140817.htm
The risks of a premature birth quadruple if flaxseed oil is consumed in the last two trimesters of pregnancy, according to a new study.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Flexible, Affordable Light Source Can Printed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435332/081028132300.htm
Researchers working in the European ROLLED project have developed a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) element that can be mass produced using roll-to-roll printing technology. The OLED elements can be used to add value to product packages. The new method is considerably cheaper than the traditional manufacturing method.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Scientists Identify Single MicroRNA That Controls How Heart Chambers Form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435334/081027174557.htm
The discovery of the role of a microRNA called miR-138, could offer strategies for the treatment of congenital heart defects.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
The Great Cosmic Challenge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435335/081028132104.htm
Today cosmologists are challenging the world to solve a compelling statistical problem, to bring us closer to understanding the nature of dark matter and energy which makes up 95 per cent of the ‘missing’ universe.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Undecided Voters May Already Have Decided, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435336/081028184752.htm
Do "undecided" voters actually make their choices before they realize? That is a question one psychology professor is trying to answer. "Many people, especially early in the political process, declare themselves as undecided," he said. "But while they have consciously said that they are undecided, they unconsciously may have already made a choice."
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Global Warming Is Killing Frogs And Salamanders In Yellowstone Park, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388152/081028184830.htm
Frogs and salamanders, those amphibious bellwethers of environmental danger, are being killed in Yellowstone National Park. The predator, Stanford researchers say, is global warming. One biology graduate student spent three summers in a remote area of the park searching for frogs and salamanders in ponds that had been surveyed 15 years ago. Almost everywhere she looked, she found a catastrophic decrease in the population.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
New Brain Link As Cause Of Schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388159/081027140719.htm
A lack of specific brain receptors has been linked with schizophrenia in new research.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
New Mass Sensor To Weight Atoms With Unprecedented Resolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435337/081028132110.htm
Scientists have developed an ultrasensitive mass sensor, which can measure tiny amounts of mass with atomic precision, and with an unprecedented resolution to date.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Statins Show Promise For Blood Clot Prevention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435339/081027101336.htm
New research suggests that the use of statins may be associated with a significant reduction in the occurrence of venous thromboembolism, a condition that includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, in patients with solid organ tumors, including breast, lung and colon cancers.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Role Of Soil Microbes In Global Warming Clarified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435340/081028120951.htm
Current models of global climate change predict warmer temperatures will increase the rate that bacteria and other microbes decompose soil organic matter, a scenario that pumps even more heat-trapping carbon into the atmosphere. But a new study shows that while the rate of decomposition increases for a brief period in response to warmer temperatures, elevated levels of decomposition don't persist.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Pain Automatically Activates Facial Muscle Groups
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388153/081027121519.htm
All individuals have a nonverbal mode of communication influenced by culture, education, age, sex. A new study has found that people who facially express pain in a more intense way are not exaggerating if their perception of a painful stimulation is controlled.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Brain's 'Hate Circuit' Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388154/081028205658.htm
People who view pictures of someone they hate display activity in distinct areas of the brain that, together, may be thought of as a "hate circuit," according to new research.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
MicroRNAs Make For Safer Cancer Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432866982/081026150151.htm
Viruses -- long regarded solely as disease agents -- now are being used in therapies for cancer. Concerns over the safety of these so-called oncolytic viruses stem from their potential to damage healthy tissues. Now researchers have discovered a way of controlling the viruses behind potential cancer therapeutics.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Light Shortens The Life Of Supermarket Vegetables
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430851047/081024115342.htm
Exposure to light reduces the quality of cauliflower, broccoli, chard, leeks and asparagus, which have been processed for sale. New research shows that the useful life of chard is reduced by 11 days if it is exposed to light instead of keeping it in the dark, even though it has been covered in the best protective wrap.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Osteoporosis Drugs Increase Risk For Heart Problems, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388155/081027101338.htm
New research shows that people taking alendronate or zoledronic acid, two common medications to prevent or slow the occurrence of osteoporosis, were significantly more likely to experience serious atrial fibrillation, including hospitalization or death, compared with placebo.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
New 3-D Image Systems To Provide Reliable Face Biometrics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435341/081028132258.htm
A novel 3-D face imaging system which will capture detailed images of people's faces as they pass through high security zones.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Consumers And Plastic Surgeons Say Economy Is Cutting Into Cosmetic Procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435342/081028120947.htm
While history has taught us that looks matter for everyone from presidential candidates to the person next door, the economic crisis is forcing many consumers to re-evaluate their cosmetic surgery plans. It is very clear the economy is affecting the demand for surgical cosmetic procedures, according to the researchers.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
NASA Orbiter Reveals Details Of A Wetter Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388156/081028163653.htm
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has observed a new category of minerals spread across large regions of Mars. This discovery suggests that liquid water remained on the planet's surface a billion years later than scientists believed, and it played an important role in shaping the planet's surface and possibly hosting life.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Stress During Pregnancy Has Detrimental Effect On Offspring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388157/081027140724.htm
That stress during a mother's pregnancy can cause developmental and emotional problems for offspring has long been observed by behavioral and biological researchers, but the objective measuring and timing of that stress and its results are difficult to prove objectively in humans. New experimental work has demonstrated the relationship between maternal stress and impairment of offspring in rats.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Mapping The Boreal Forest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435343/081020120131.htm
How best to map 'boreal' or northern forest with space-borne radar is the focus of an ESA campaign currently underway in northern Sweden. Covering about 15% of the Earth’s land surface, boreal forest plays an important role in the global cycling of energy, carbon and water.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
How Women With Lupus Can Increase Chance For Healthy Pregnancies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432563345/081026084232.htm
In the not so distant past, women with systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease, were advised not to have children, and if they became pregnant, to have therapeutic abortions to prevent severe flares of their lupus. Research by rheumatologists at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, in patients with lupus who have had successful pregnancies is yielding insights that support a reversal of that thinking.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Laser Flashes Without Bounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435344/081028132108.htm
Researchers have developed a novel optical fiber that enables transmission of ultrashort light pulses with an unprecedented low degree of distortions. The researchers transmitted light pulses of 13 fs duration (1 fs = 1 millionth billionth of a second) over one meter distance, with the pulses only stretching to about double of the initial duration. "Currently, no other fiber-based technique is capable of such little distortion", says one of the researchers.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Groups of Dangerous Drivers Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435345/081028132256.htm
Young drivers, elderly drivers and motorcyclists are stigmatized by society, according to one professor. He's researching who the dangerous drivers really are.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
New Cell Division Mechanism Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435388158/081028103101.htm
A novel cell division mechanism has been discovered in a microorganism that thrives in hot acid. The finding may also result in insights into key processes in human cells, and in a better understanding of the main evolutionary lineages of life on Earth.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising Among Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432563344/081026084235.htm
After four decades on the decline, rheumatoid arthritis is on the upswing among women in the United States. Compared to the previous decade when approximately 36 women out of every 100,000 developed rheumatoid arthritis each year, the new study showed a jump to 54 women in the more recent decade.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Neighborhood Greenness Has Long Term Positive Impact On Kids' Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435346/081028074327.htm
In the first study to look at the effect of neighborhood greenness on inner city children's weight over time, researchers report that higher neighborhood greenness is associated with slower increases in children's body mass over a two year period, regardless of residential density.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Increasing Number Of People Vaccinated Against Influenza Can Decrease Burden Of Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435347/081028074416.htm
Two new studies published in the journal PLoS Medicine show that increasing the number of people vaccinated against influenza can decrease the burden of the disease, and not just in the individuals receiving the vaccine.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Nitrous Oxide Emissions Respond Differently To No-till Depending On The Soil Type
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435348/081022135622.htm
The practice of no-till has gained in popularity as it creates a soil less prone to erosion and more rich in organic matter, but a new study raises questions about its influence on net greenhouse gas emissions. While scientists have been documenting the benefits of carbon sequestration in no-till crops, researchers have found that an increased amount of nitrous oxide emissions may offset the benefits of the carbon dioxide sink created, depending on soil type.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Improved Poverty Analysis: Early Warning System For Food Shortages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435435349/081028120959.htm
In areas of extreme poverty it is often difficult to determine the standard of living. During her doctoral research in Uganda, Nicky Pouw developed a method to analyze relatively simple material and immaterial possessions that can serve, for example, as an early warning system for food shortages.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Soybeans No Longer 'A Musical Fruit?'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797064/081027112825.htm
Soybeans may drop off the list of musical fruit. Scientists in Singapore are reporting victory over some consumers' No. 1 complaint about soy products -- the "flatulence factor" caused by indigestible sugars found in soy.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Exploring Use Of Fat Cells As Heart Attack Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797067/081027152127.htm
For those of us trained to read nutrition labels, conventional wisdom tells us that fat isn't good for the heart. But a team researchers has set out to use fat cells to beef up heart muscles damaged by heart attack -- and they're using an out-of-this-world device to do it.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Revolutionary Operation Performed Live For Heart Rhythm Congress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797081/081020095954.htm
A revolutionary heart operation technique using cutting edge technology is being performed live to delegates at the Heart Rhythm Congress 2008. The procedure to tackle heart rhythm disorder will be performed using technology that allows rapid and accurate location of the origin of the heart rhythm disturbance in a 3-dimensional geometry of the heart chambers and guides successful treatment with the use of catheter ablation.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
BRAF Mutations In Colorectal Cancer Cause Resistance To Anti-EGFR Therapy, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797087/081023100856.htm
European researchers have found that metastatic colorectal cancer patients with a mutation in the BRAF gene do not respond to anti-EGFR therapy with cetuximab and panitumumab. The finding could help doctors better identify which patients are likely to benefit from such treatment, which is commonly used as last-effort therapy but only works in a fraction of patients.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Nanoscale Coating Protects Products And The Economy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797089/081020093448.htm
A professor's unique nanolaminate coatings adjust to protect products from a wide range of adverse conditions. Her work has applications in industries such as manufacturing, optical products and biomedical devices.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Credit Crunch Threatens New Medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797093/081027082121.htm
The global financial crisis could seriously delay the discovery and production of many new life-saving medicines, warns a major international conference.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Red Enhances Men's Attraction To Women, Psychological Study Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434641991/081028074323.htm
Psychologists have added color -- literally and figuratively -- to the age-old question of what attracts men to women. Psychologists have demonstrated that the color red makes men feel more amorous toward women. And men are unaware of the role the color plays in their attraction.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Sensitive Ultrasound To Spot Early-stage Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759665/081024084736.htm
Researchers have developed highly sensitive ultrasound equipment that can detect tiny quantities of reflective microbubbles engineered to stick to specific tumor cells. The technique should pick up tumors early and improve patients' chances of survival.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
DNA Research Taking Guesswork Out Of Finding The 'Therapeutic Window'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797094/081023120232.htm
Researchers are using DNA to "custom fit" your drug prescriptions, before you even take one dose. The quest to personalize medicine is underway as researchers target warfarin, a drug often associated with adverse drug reactions.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Anti-Inflammatory Medications May Become A Treatment For Schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797095/081027115435.htm
Many of the structural and neurochemical features of schizophrenia are present long before the full syndrome of schizophrenia develops. What processes tip the balance between the ultra-high risk states and the development of schizophrenia? One candidate mechanism is cerebral inflammation, according to an article in Biological Psychiatry.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Robotic Technology Takes Inspiration From Service Dogs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432653476/081026101212.htm
Service dogs, invaluable companions providing assistance to physically impaired individuals, are an elite and desired breed. Their presence in a home can make everyday tasks that are difficult - if not impossible - achievable, enhancing the quality of life for the disabled. Yet with a cost averaging $16,000 per dog -- not to mention the two years of training required to hone these skills -- the demand for these canines' exceeds their availability.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Can You Recognize People By Their Voices? Case Study Of Phonagnosic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433553889/081027082236.htm
The first known case of someone born without the ability to recognize voices has been reported. The rare condition is known as phonagnosia. Phonagnosia has only been documented so far in people with brain lesions in the right hemisphere following a stroke or brain damage, and the mechanisms behind it are not well understood. In this newly documented case, a MRI brain scan showed no evidence of brain damage in regions associated with voice or auditory perception, and her hearing abilities were found to be normal.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Undressing The Human Body: Program Created To Calculate Body Shape Under Clothing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797096/081027101350.htm
Imagine you are a police detective trying to identify a suspect wearing a trench coat, baggy pants and a baseball cap pulled low. Or imagine you are a fashion industry executive who wants to market virtual clothing that customers of all shapes and sizes can try online before they purchase. Computer scientists have now created a computer program that for the first time can accurately estimate the human body's shape from digital images or video.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Stem-cell Sentry Sounds The Alarm To Maintain Balance Between Cancer And Aging, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797097/081015144127.htm
Like a sentry guarding the castle walls, a molecular messenger inside adult stem cells sounds the alarm when it senses hazards that could allow the invasion of an insidious enemy: Cancer.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Snakes, Salamanders And Other Creatures Thrive In Areas With Higher Deer Populations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434797098/081020120129.htm
Reducing the number of deer in forests and parks may unexpectedly reduce the number of reptiles, amphibians and insects in that area, new research suggests. A recent study found that higher deer activity is modifying forest ecosystems in unexpected ways. Out of several species of snakes, salamanders, and invertebrates studied, a greater diversity of animals were found in areas with deer populations than were in areas with no deer activity.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Novel Genetic Screens Provide Panoramic Views Of Cellular Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423004966/081016141419.htm
Researchers often use the technique of RNA interference to identify genes involved in particular biological processes by knocking them down, one at a time, and observing the result. But this approach fails to capture some key players because many genes are redundant. Thus, cells can mask their distress when they lose a single gene by turning to fail-safes with the same function. A team has now overcome this obstacle, using RNAi to systematically knock down pairs of genes in fruit fly cells.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Removal Of 'Super-polluters' Could Reduce Pollution From Nanoparticles By 25%
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422646304/081016085027.htm
If the "super-polluters", the high-polluting vehicles, such as certain buses and transport trucks in a poor condition, were removed, pollution from nanoparticles could be reduced by up to 25% and 48%, depending on the parameter analyzed. These minute particles may cause serious health problems.
Wed, 29 Oct 08
Stress May Make You Itch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433553891/081027082123.htm
Current research suggests that stress may activate immune cells in your skin, resulting in inflammatory skin disease.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
How We See Objects In Depth: Brain's Code For 3-D Structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180369/081027140825.htm
Neuroscientists have discovered patterns of brain activity that may underlie our remarkable ability to see and understand the three-dimensional structure of objects.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Fight Obesity With New Antibody That Degrades Appetite Stimulant?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180370/081027174630.htm
Scientists have discovered a catalytic antibody that degrades a known appetite stimulant. The antibody works against the gastric hormone ghrelin, which has been linked to weight gain and fat storage through its metabolic actions.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
NASA Tests Rover Concepts In Arizona
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433034437/081026191657.htm
NASA's newest lunar rover prototype has now gone farther than it ever has before. A collection of engineers, astronauts and geologists have spent the past week testing out the Small Pressurized Rover in the 11th annual Desert RATS -- or Research and Technology Studies -- field tests.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Healing Process Found To Backfire In Lung Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180371/081027121513.htm
A mechanism in the body which typically helps a person heal from an injury, may actually be causing patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to get worse, researchers have found.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Models Help Assess Biofuels' Sustainability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180372/081013195322.htm
Many agricultural products can be converted into feedstocks for alternative fuel. Now analysis from the Agricultural Research Service suggests that they can be used this way without reducing the nation's food supply, soil production capacity or environmental quality.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Does Religion Make A Difference In Politics?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180373/081027155909.htm
Hoping to answer the question of which political party has a monopoly on the "best" values and how religion affects these values, researchers compared the "extrinsic" values (financial success, status, appearance) with "intrinsic" values (growth, intimacy, helping) of self-declared Democrats and Republicans in four different samples.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Fire Out Of Africa: A Key To The Migration Of Prehistoric Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180374/081027082314.htm
The ability to make fire millennia ago was likely a key factor in the migration of prehistoric hominids from Africa into Eurasia, according to an archaeologist studying the findings at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological site in Israel.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Masks, Hand Washing, Prevent Spread Of Flu-like Symptoms By Up To 50 Percent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180375/081027155907.htm
Wearing masks and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers may prevent the spread of flu symptoms by as much as 50 percent, a new study suggests.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
NASA's Spitzer Gets Sneak Peek Inside Comet Holmes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180376/081027113648.htm
When comet Holmes unexpectedly erupted in 2007, professional and amateur astronomers around the world turned their telescopes toward the spectacular event. Their quest was to find out why the comet had suddenly exploded. Observations taken of the comet after the explosion by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope deepen the mystery, showing oddly behaving streamers in the shell of dust surrounding the nucleus of the comet.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Honing In On New Strategy To Treat Common Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180377/081027121504.htm
Researchers have successfully tested a genetic strategy designed to improve treatment of human infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans, ranging from diaper rash, vaginitis, oral infections (or thrush which is common in HIV/AIDS patients), as well as invasive, blood-borne and life-threatening diseases.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
North Pole Exploration: Large Sliding Masses Close Beneath The Seafloor Of East-Siberian Continental Shelf Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180379/081020120045.htm
RV Polarstern has returned to Bremerhaven from the Arctic Sea. It has cruised both the Northeast and the Northwest Passages and thereby circled the North Pole. The third part of the research vessel's 23rd Arctic expedition started its journey on Aug. 12 in Reykjavik and ended it on Oct. 17 in Bremerhaven. The ship traveled a distance of 20,000 km.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
News Flash: Candidates' Ads Actually Match Deeds In Congress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180380/081027152123.htm
If you think candidates never keep their promises and will say anything to get elected, you're certainly not alone. And you're not right, either.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Bacteria Cause Old Buildings To Feel Off-color
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180381/081027140819.htm
The assumption that time, weather, and pollution are what cause buildings to decline is only partly true. Bacteria are also responsible for the aging of buildings and monuments -- a process known as biodeterioration. Scientists have just isolated five new strains of bacteria that degrade old buildings.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Common Epilepsy Drug Could Prevent And Treat Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180382/081027101346.htm
Researchers have discovered that a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders blocks the formation of plaques that cause Alzheimer's disease in animal models.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Exposing Chicks To Maternal Stress Leads To Long-term Reproductive Success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180383/081021093942.htm
Exposure to maternal stress during pre-natal development has negative impacts, so why doesn't natural selection work to block it? European starling sons exposed to the stress hormone corticosterone experienced increased mortality. But those that survived were of better quality. The mothers began later broods in better condition, had increased future reproduction, and increased survival compared to "stressed" mothers that raised "normal" offspring that were not exposed to corticosterone.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
New Test Promises Quicker, More Accurate Evaluation For Cystic Fibrosis Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180384/081024084210.htm
Researchers have identified a simple gene-based blood test that more accurately and quickly measures cystic fibrosis patients' response to therapy than current tests. The test, a measure of inflammatory gene expression, could improve patient care and help clear a backlog of promising medications now hung up in clinical trials.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Scientists Unwrap The Elements Of Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180385/081022135429.htm
Researchers have taken a step forward in our understanding of how the fundamental building blocks of life are put together. They have revealed a mechanism that ensures the right metal goes to the right protein. Proteins are essential and involved in just about every process in living cells.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Role Of Slave Trade In Evolution Of American Wild Rice Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180386/081027152539.htm
Rice is the world’s foremost cereal crop as a human food source. Today’s cultivated varieties derive from the species Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrina, domesticated respectively in Asia and West Africa. Besides these two domestic taxa, there are around 20 species of wild rice of the genus Oryza, all located in the tropics. Their common ancestor appears to have emerged from Eurasia about 50 million years B.P.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
New Process Promises Bigger, Better Diamond Crystals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180387/081027174541.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique for improving the properties of diamonds -- not only adding sparkle to gemstones, but also simplifying the process of making high-quality diamond for scalpel blades, electronic components, even quantum computers.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Revealing Secrets Of 'African Sleeping Sickness'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180388/081027113047.htm
Scientists have identified a long-sought chink in the armor of the parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease that kills at least 50,000 people each year.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
How Plants Know to Send Roots Down and Leaves Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180389/081027115431.htm
Researchers have discovered how the transport of an important plant hormone is organized in a way that the plant knows in which direction its roots and leaves have to grow. They discovered how the needed transport protein turns up at the underside of plant cells. The discovery helps explain how plants grow, and how they organize themselves in order to grow.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Mental Health Dangers Of Birth Hypoxia: Lower Levels Of Protein Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180390/081027115433.htm
Complications during pregnancy and birth, such as birth hypoxia - the shortage of oxygen in the body - are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia. However, it is not clear why hypoxia increases the risk for schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry includes an article by researchers who show that the presence of a specific indicator of fetal distress following hypoxia was more likely to be present among people who later develop schizophrenia. Their findings suggest that the inability of a high-risk fetus to respond adequately to metabolic stresses that it faces in the womb may contribute to its later risk for developing schizophrenia.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Wetlands Expert: China Should Think Outside The Flooding Box With Three Gorges Dam
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180391/081023175131.htm
China's farmers and merchants should take advantage of new opportunities that could help mitigate some effects of the annual flooding behind the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. The reservoir's water level behind the dam will peak at 575 feet above sea level during the winter. The reservoir pool will extend over 400 square miles -- equivalent to the land area of Hong Kong. By summer the water level will drop 100 feet. The flooding and receding water will repeat every year.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Early Achievement In Math May Identify Future Scientists And Engineers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180392/081027121515.htm
New research in Psychological Science suggests that there may be a way to identify future scientists and engineers. Adolescents who had scored in the top 1 percent on the math portion of the SAT were more likely to go on to receive advanced degrees, author a peer-reviewed scientific publication or earn a patent as adults.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
King Solomon's Copper Mines?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180393/081027174545.htm
Did the Bible's King David and his son Solomon control the copper industry in present-day southern Jordan? Though that remains an open question, the possibility is raised once again by research reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Effects Of Anesthesia On The Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180394/081027101348.htm
Researchers have created the first animal model that can reveal the side effects of anesthetic agents (the substances used to block pain during surgery) in individuals genetically predisposed to sudden cardiac death. The researchers also found that some anesthetic agents may trigger arrhythmias.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Diversity Of Trees In Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest Defies Simple Explanation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180395/081023175133.htm
Trees in a hyper-diverse tropical rainforest interact with each other and their environment to create and maintain diversity, researchers report in the journal Science. This study was conducted in the Yasuni forest dynamics plot of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, a diverse tropical forest site.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Better Instructions Reduce Complications Among Patients Using Common Blood Thinner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180396/081027152125.htm
Patients who report receiving written and verbal instructions on the proper way to take the blood thinner warfarin are significantly less likely to suffer the serious gastrointestinal and brain bleeding problems that are associated with misuse of the drug, according to new research.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
New Molecules With Many Branches Will Help Unleash Potential Of Nanotechnology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759663/081024084740.htm
Materials science and the pharmaceutical industry could soon be revolutionized by emerging nanotechnologies based on designer molecules with long complex tree-and branch structures. Such molecules offer almost limitless scope for design of bespoke compounds for specific applications in disease therapy, for novel materials such as resins, as well as electronic displays, and energy storage. Almost every field involving design and synthesis of chemical compounds will be transformed by the arrival of technologies allowing nanoscale design of these branched molecules, known as hyperbranched polymers.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Study Reveals Factors Of Exceptional Health In Old Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434180397/081027140726.htm
Elderly people who have a positive outlook, lower stress levels, moderate alcohol consumption, abstention from tobacco, moderate to higher income and no chronic health conditions are more likely to thrive in their old age, according to a study in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Arctic Sea Ice Is Getting Thinner As Well As Receding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/434131402/081027200309.htm
Last winter, the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic fell by nearly half a meter (19 per cent) compared with the average thickness of the previous five winters. This followed the dramatic 2007 summer low when Arctic ice extent dropped to its lowest level since records began.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Orange Peel Can Help Clean Up Dirty Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615142/081020093500.htm
Highly colored industrial waste water is a serious environmental problem as it seriously discolors waterways as well as blocking sunlight for photosynthesizing plant species in the water. Now, researchers in Algeria have discovered that nothing more sophisticated than orange peel could be used to remove acidic dyes from industrial effluent.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Eating Whole Grains Lowers Heart Failure Risk, According To New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433553890/081027082230.htm
About 5 million people in the United States suffer from heart failure (HF). While some reports indicate that changes to diet can reduce HF risk, few large, prospective studies have been conducted. In a new study researchers observed over 14,000 participants for more than 13 years and found that whole grain consumption lowered HF risk, while egg and high-fat dairy consumption raised risk. Other food groups did not directly affect HF risk.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Bumblebees Learn The Sweet Smell Of Foraging Success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431021258/081024144101.htm
Bumblebees use flower scent to guide their nest-mates to good food sources, according to new research.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Newly Discovered Mechanism Can Explain Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759662/081024084742.htm
Researchers have discovered a mechanism that silences several genes in a chromosome domain. The findings, published in Molecular Cell, have implications in understanding the human disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
How To 'Stamp' Nanodevices With Rubber Molds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615144/081022135624.htm
By manipulating the way tiny droplets of fluid dry, researchers have created an innovative way to make and pattern nanoscale wires and other devices that ordinarily can be made only with expensive lithographic tools. The process is guided by molds that "stamp" the desired structures.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Enabling The Blind To Find Their Way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759664/081024084738.htm
"Eyes on the future" is the mantra of the 'World Sight Day' held this month to raise awareness of blindness and vision impairment. New technologies, developed by European researchers offering the visually impaired greater independence, live up to this vision.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
High Dose Of Flu Vaccine Boosts Immune Response In Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432824706/081026150153.htm
Giving people age 65 and older a dose four times larger than the standard flu vaccine boosts the amount of antibodies in their blood to levels considered protective against the flu, more so than the standard flu vaccine does.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
'Voter-Verifiable' Voting System Ensures Accuracy And Privacy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432653473/081026102246.htm
Approximately two-thirds of Americans voting in the November Presidential election will cast their votes on paper ballots. How can voters be assured their votes are counted and kept private?
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Inmates Conduct Ecological Research On Slow-growing Mosses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615146/081020150621.htm
Nalini Nadkarni of Evergreen State College currently advises a team of researchers who sport shaved heads, tattooed biceps and prison-issued garb rather than the lab coats and khakis typically worn by researchers. Why is Nadkarni's team composed of such apparently iconoclastic researchers? Because all of her researchers are inmates at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, a medium security prison in Littlerock, Wash.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Ballet Dancers Are Fitter Than International Swimmers, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428499108/081022073916.htm
New research reveals that the overall fitness of ballet dancers is greater than that of international swimmers.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
New Clue To Muscular Dystrophy Uncovered: Mediator In Communication Between Neurons And Muscle Cells Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615147/081022135807.htm
A missing piece of the puzzle of how neurons and muscle cells establish lifelong communication has been found by researchers who suspect this piece may be mutated and/or attacked in muscular dystrophy.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Cold Virus Found To Manipulate Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615148/081024084206.htm
Sneezing, runny nose and chills? You might blame the human rhinovirus, which causes 30 to 50 percent of common colds. But in reality, it's not the virus itself but HRV's ability to manipulate your genes that is the true cause of some of the most annoying cold symptoms.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Exposure To Low Doses Of Mercury Changes The Way The Arteries Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615149/081023222556.htm
An international team of researchers has shown that mercury is another important factor in cardiovascular disease as it changes the way arteries work. One of the possible sources of exposure of humans to mercury is by eating contaminated fish.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Early Trial Of New Multi-kinase Inhibitor Shows Impressive Activity In Thyroid Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615150/081023100858.htm
Preliminary trials of a new multi-kinase inhibitor have indicated it has impressive tumor shrinkage activity in patients with a difficult to treat type of thyroid cancer. The results have put the drug's development on a fast track, prompting the accelerated initiation of a large phase III trial.
Tue, 28 Oct 08
Secret Lives Of Catalysts Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433615151/081021185101.htm
The first-ever glimpse of nanoscale catalysts in action could lead to improved pollution control and fuel cell technologies. Scientists have observed catalysts restructuring themselves in response to various gases swirling around them, like a chameleon changing its color to match its surroundings.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Robotic Ants Building Homes On Mars?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428004914/081021190644.htm
Recent discoveries of water and Earth-like soil on Mars have set imaginations running wild that human beings may one day colonize the Red Planet. However, the first inhabitants might not be human in form at all, but rather swarms of tiny robots.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Gene Find Sheds Light On Motor Neuron Diseases Like ALS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191566/081022135433.htm
Scientists have identified a gene in mice that plays a central role in the proper development of one of the nerve cells that goes bad in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and some other diseases that affect our motor neurons.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Purple Tomatoes, Rich In Health-Protecting Anthocyanins, Developed With Help Of Snapdragons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432866983/081026150149.htm
Scientists have expressed genes from snapdragon in tomatoes to grow purple tomatoes high in health-protecting anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring pigments found at particularly high levels in berries such as blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry. Scientists are investigating ways to increase the levels of health-promoting compounds in more commonly eaten fruits and vegetables.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Toxic Bile Damages The Liver
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191567/081024103209.htm
Researchers have discovered a new genetic disease that can lead to severe liver damage. Because a protective component of the bile is missing, the liver cells are exposed to the toxic components of the bile, resulting in cirrhosis of liver. This could explain some of the cases of liver cirrhosis of unknown origin and open up a new approach for treatment.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Increase in Leptospirosis Disease in Sea Lions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191568/081022135842.htm
The Marine Mammal Center has seen an increase in leptospirosis cases in sea lions this year. Researchers there are launching a new study to determine causes of cyclical outbreaks and how the disease is spread among sea lions.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Nearly Half Of US States Fail On Emergency Plan Communication, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191569/081023113101.htm
Seven years after Sept. 11, and in the wake of many major natural disasters such as forest fires, hurricanes and flooding, nearly half of US states either have no state-level emergency plan or do not provide it readily to the public, reveals a new study by George Mason University communication professor Carl Botan.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
21st Century Detective Work Reveals How Ancient Rock Got Off To A Hot Start
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191570/081015144131.htm
A new technique using X-rays has enabled scientists to play "detective" and solve the debate about the origins of a three billion-year-old rock fragment.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Depression During Pregnancy Can Double Risk Of Preterm Delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191571/081023100804.htm
Depressed pregnant women have twice the risk of preterm delivery than pregnant women with no symptoms of depression, finds a new study in the journal Human Reproduction. The study, which is among the first to examine depression and pre-term delivery in a diverse population, provides a clear look at the link between depression and preterm delivery because the majority of the women in the study did not use anti-depressants.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
New Antibiotic Target And Antibiotic Mechanism Identified; Discoveries Hold Promise For Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191572/081016124035.htm
Scientists have identified a new antibiotic target and a new antibiotic mechanism that may enable the development of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents effective against bacterial pathogens resistant to current antibiotics. In particular, the results could lead the way to new treatments for tuberculosis that involve shorter courses of therapy and are effective against drug-resistant TB.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Avian Flu Threat: New Approach Needed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191573/081023100848.htm
As the first globally co-ordinated plan for the planet's gravest health threats is hatched by government ministers from around the world this weekend, a new report sets out a 10-point plan for a globalized approach to infectious diseases such as avian flu.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Wireless Soil Sensors Designed To Improve Farming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417084269/081010135039.htm
Researchers are developing wireless soil sensors that could one day help farmers maximize their production while minimizing environmental impacts. The prototype sensors are designed to collect and send data about soil moisture -- and eventually soil temperature and nutrient content -- while working completely underground. Farmers and their equipment could work right over the top of them.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Genome-wide Study Uncovers Increase Of Genetic Distances Towards Northern Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191574/081023222256.htm
A recent study shows that genetic differences in Central Europe appear smaller than between and even within North European populations.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Acupuncture Used For Animal Ailments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432653477/081026100516.htm
Needles are often equated with pain and discomfort; however, for a horse named Gypsy the tiny sharp objects brought about much needed relief as a professor administered acupuncture therapy.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Memory Function Varies After Damage To Key Area Of The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191575/081023100549.htm
Scientists have discovered dramatic differences in the memory performance of patients with damage to the hippocampus, an area of the human brain key to memory.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Space Tech Prosthetic Leg Helps To Reach Long-jump World Record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/410604080/081003123250.htm
German athlete Wojtek Czyz, running with a space-tech enhanced prosthetic leg, set a new world record at the Paralympics 2008 in Beijing, reaching an amazing 6.50 m and beating the previous world record by 27 cm.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Novel Marker Of Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191576/081023100756.htm
The studies examined the gene profiles in non-invasive and invasive colon cancer using laser microdissection and polypeptide analysis. Their result indicated that combined use of polypeptide analysis might identify early expression profiles of five differential genes associated with the invasion of colon cancer and these genes may be marker of submucosal invasion in early colon cancer.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
DNA Repair: Structure Of The Mre11 Protein Bound To DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191577/081003122754.htm
DNA repair is critical for avoiding cancer and other diseases. A molecular machine called the MRN complex finds and signals double-strand breaks and initiates error-free repair by means of homologous recombination. Researchers have solved the structure of MRN's core protein, called Mre11, and learned how it does its job.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Paraplegic Pianists Can Operate A Piano Pedal With The Mouth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430812169/081024103211.htm
Scientists have developed a method with which a pianist can operate the right pedal of a concert grand wirelessly -- a first in the world. A paraplegic pianist can thus overcome the handicap of being able to play the piano using only his arms and hands.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
How Breastfeeding Transfers Immunity To Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432653474/081026101713.htm
Scientists have identified a molecule that is key to mothers' ability to pass along immunity to intestinal infections to their babies through breast milk.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Optimized Radiation For Prostate Cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191578/081016084047.htm
The determination of the precise anatomical location of a tumor is the prerequisite for setting optimal parameters for radiation treatment of prostate cancer. This approach guarantees that the ionizing radiation only destroys tumorous cells and does not affect other organs in the vicinity of the prostate. In a cooperative study with Innsbruck Medical University and the East-Vienna Center of Social Medicine, two physicists of Vienna University of Technology (TU), evaluated the mean deviation of radiation parameters for prostate cancers and compared various sources of radiation.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
How Does Climate Change Affect The Water Cycle?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191580/081013143031.htm
Climate change is having an impact on the water cycle, raising the issue of whether we should be investing in adapting to these impacts or focusing on more pressing water resource issues, such as providing water and sanitation for increasing populations? If investment in adapting to climate change is a priority, then is it best to invest in protecting natural ecosystems or developing engineered infrastructure?
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Even Mild Sleep Apnea Increases Cardiovascular Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759666/081024084212.htm
People with even minimally symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease because of impaired endothelial function and increased arterial stiffness, according to a study from the Oxford Center for Respiratory Medicine in the UK.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Soil Conservation And River Management Tied Together
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191581/081001125956.htm
Sediment in rivers comes from erosion of the landscape as well as the erosion and collapse of the banks themselves. Just how much each source contributes to a river -- and how it affects the flow and path of that river -- is the subject of new research.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Socioeconomic And Treatment Factors Affect Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients' Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191582/081020093408.htm
Socioeconomic factors and the type of treatment received have an impact on a non-Hodgkin lymphoma patient's risk of dying.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Physical And Interpersonal Warmth Linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191583/081023144059.htm
People appear to trust others more when they experience physical warmth, according to new research. Researchers say that simply handling a hot cup of coffee can change one's attitude toward a stranger.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
How Epilepsy Develops: New Relationship Between Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Inflammatory Signaling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191584/081022142948.htm
The development of epilepsy in adult rats is linked to functional changes in the expression of alpha 1 containing GABA-A receptors.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Biodiversity In A Warmer World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191585/081009144059.htm
Will climate change exceed life's ability to respond? Biodiversity in a Warmer World, published in the Oct. 10, 2008, issue of the journal, Science, illustrates that cross-disciplinary research fostered by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama clearly informs this urgent debate.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Evidence-based Drug Therapy In Acute Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191586/081020171217.htm
Patients who received treatment from non-cardiologists and physicians with 29 or more years of experience had significantly lower use of evidence-based drug therapies compared with cardiologists and physicians with fewer than 14 years of experience, found a retrospective, population-based cohort study of heart attack patients.
Mon, 27 Oct 08
Thinking It Through: Scientists Call For Policy To Guide Biofuels Industry Toward Sustainability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/433191587/081002172438.htm
As the United States and other nations commit to the path of biofuels production, 23 scientists call for sustainable practices in an industry that will, as one of them says, "reshape the Earth's landscape in a significant way."
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Climate Change, Acid Rain Could Be Good For Forests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253097/081021214850.htm
After more than 20 years of research in the northern hardwood forests of Michigan, scientists have reached a surprising conclusion: Moderate increases in temperature and nitrogen from atmospheric pollution actually improve forest productivity.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Green Tea May Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253102/081023144119.htm
A powerful antioxidant in green tea may prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, Medical College of Georgia researchers say. Researchers were testing EGCG, green tea's predominant antioxidant, in a laboratory mouse with type 1 diabetes and primary Sjogren's syndrome, which damages moisture-producing glands, causing dry mouth and eyes.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Victorian Manchester Home To First Youth Gangs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253103/081021190638.htm
A historian has uncovered extensive archive material detailing the activities of the ‘scuttlers’ - one of Britain’s earliest youth cults.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Mechanism In Cells That Generate Malignant Brain Tumors May Offer Target For Gene Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253104/081024103221.htm
The researchers who first isolated cancer stem cells in adult brain tumors in 2004 have now identified a molecular mechanism that is involved in the development of these cells from which malignant brain tumors may originate. This could offer a target for scientists seeking treatments that would kill malignant brain tumors at their source and prevent them from recurring.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Mapping A Clan Of Mobile Selfish Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253105/081022164720.htm
Alu retrotransposons are gradually changing human DNA by making copies of themselves and "jumping" to new locations. Their activity appears to depend on being able to mimic parts of the cell's internal machinery. To identify the Alu retrotransposons that are still capable of moving around, researchers divided them into families and tested a representative of each family in the laboratory.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Could Your Initials Influence Where You Choose To Work?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253106/081023113109.htm
The "name-letter effect," is a phenomenon which shows that we have a preference for things that begin with the same letter as our first name. Belgian psychologists wanted to know if this effect is strong enough to affect where we work. The researchers found 12 percent more matches between employee initials and their company's name than was expected based on a probability estimate, indicating "name-letter effect" occurs between employee names and the company they work for.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Dolphins Use Complex Coordination During Predation, High-tech Acoustics Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253107/081021093946.htm
Spinner dolphins have long been known for their teamwork in capturing prey, but a new study using high-tech acoustics has found that their synchronization is even more complex than scientists realized and likely evolved as a strategy to maximize their energy intake.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Human Brain Minimizes Energy Expenditure And Integrates Gravity Into The Action Plan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253108/081023222250.htm
When reaching for an object, the brain prepares neural commands sent to the target muscles to minimize energy expenditure, according to a new study.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Phony Friends? Rejected People Better Able To Spot Fake Smiles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430812168/081024103215.htm
All of us have "faked a smile" at some point. Now, a new study might make us think twice about sending out a phony grin. It has been shown that individuals who are experiencing rejection are better at picking up subtle social cues and according to a recent study published in Psychological Science, socially rejected people are particularly good at discerning fake smiles from real ones.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Practice Makes Perfect In Lung Cancer Surgery, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253109/081023144121.htm
Patients operated on by surgeons who do not routinely remove cancer from the lungs may be at a higher risk for complications, according to new study.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Making Flies Sick Reveals New Role For Growth Factors In Immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253110/081023175137.htm
A salmonella infection is not a positive experience. However, by infecting the common laboratory fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with a Salmonella strain known for causing humans intestinal grief, researchers have shed light on some key cell regulatory processes -- with broad implications for understanding embryonic development, immune function and congenital diseases in humans.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Why Some People Have A Better Head For Languages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253111/081023101345.htm
Learning a second language is usually difficult and often when we speak it we cannot disguise our origin or accent. However, there are important differences between individuals with regard to the degree to which a second language is mastered, even for people who have lived in a bilingual environment since childhood.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Protein Compass Guides Amoebas Toward Their Prey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253112/081023144057.htm
Amoebas glide toward their prey with the help of a protein switch that controls a molecular compass, biologists have discovered.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise In Patients With Bowel, Kidney And Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253113/081023195220.htm
Analysis of data from several phase I and II clinical trials of a new cancer vaccine has shown it is capable of eliciting an immune response in most patients with bowel, kidney and prostate cancer, and that it may provide clinical benefit.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Seabass And Chips: Harnessing Science To Predict Ocean Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253114/081023222558.htm
Cod, salmon and eels and other native cold water fish might eventually become a rarity in Irish waters--and not necessarily because of overfishing, pollution or habitat destruction. Long-term changes in the temperature and salt content of our regional seas, brought about by climate change, may force species such as these into deeper, colder waters and replace them with warm water species such as sea bass and boarfish.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Post-cardiac Arrest Care Key To Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253115/081023100850.htm
The urgent need for treatment doesn’t end when a person regains a pulse after suffering sudden cardiac arrest — healthcare providers need to move quickly into post-cardiac arrest care to keep a person alive and ensure the best outcome. That’s the conclusion of the American Heart Association science advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Alternative Medicine And Heavy Metal Poisoning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253116/081023101226.htm
Many Ayurvedic medicines can contain dangerous quantities of heavy metals, including lead, mercury, thallium and arsenic, according to clinical toxicology specialists in London writing in the International Journal of Environment and Health.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Spirituality Protects Against Depression Better Than Church Attendance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/432253117/081023120228.htm
Researchers have found that the different ways people worship a higher power can offer some insight into their risk for depression.
Sun, 26 Oct 08
Rapid HIV Testing In The ER Boosts Diagnoses, Screening
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431956906/081025142255.htm
One in every 50 people screened for a suspected sexually transmitted infection in the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Hospital was found to be infected with HIV using a rapid blood sample screening test.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Genetic Explanation For Moles' Poor Eyesight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374529/081020191534.htm
Due to their underground habitats, moles' eyes have been modified by natural selection in ways very different from those of surface-dwelling animals. New research offers a detailed anatomical and genetic examination of the changes that result from living life in the dark.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Research Uncovers New Steps On Pathway To Enlarged Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374530/081023144103.htm
Researchers have new insight into the mechanisms that underlie a pathological increase in the size of the heart. The research may lead to the development of new strategies for managing this extremely common cardiac ailment that often leads to heart failure.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
First Inhabitants Of Caribbean Brought Drug Heirlooms With Them
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451094/081020093410.htm
Scientists have found physical evidence that the people who colonized the Caribbean from South America brought with them heirloom drug paraphernalia that had been passed down from generation to generation as the colonists traveled through the islands.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
High-Dose Hormone Treatment Might Reduce Risk For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428499110/081022073910.htm
Cortisol helps our bodies cope with stress, but what about its effects on the brain? A new study in Biological Psychiatry, suggests that the answer to this question is complex. In an animal model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), high doses of a cortisol-related substance, corticosterone, prevented negative consequences of stress exposure, including increased startle response and behavioral freezing when exposed to reminders of the stress. However, low-dose corticosterone potentiated these responses.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Development Puts An End To Evolution Of Endless Forms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374531/081023222252.htm
Researchers have put forward a simple model of development and gene regulation that is capable of explaining patterns observed in the distribution of morphologies and body plans (or, more generally, phenotypes).
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Why Binge Drinking Is Bad For Your Bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374532/081023100902.htm
Studies in recent years have demonstrated that binge drinking can decrease bone mass and bone strength, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Now a new study has found a possible mechanism: Alcohol disturbs genes necessary for maintaining healthy bones. The findings could help in the development of new drugs to minimize bone loss in alcohol abusers and in those who don't abuse alcohol but are at risk for osteoporosis.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Birth Of White Rhino After Artificial Insemination With Frozen Sperm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430812166/081024103856.htm
A world-first: birth of a white rhino after artificial insemination with frozen sperm. The rhino baby, a male, was born at 4:57am in the Budapest Zoo on the 22nd of October 2008. In June 2007, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin artificially inseminated his mother, the rhino cow Lulu, with frozen bull semen.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Potential Strategy To Eliminate Poisonous Protein From Alzheimer Brains Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374533/081023144055.htm
Scientists discovered that the activity of a potent AB-degrading enzyme can be unleashed in mouse models of the disease by reducing its natural inhibitor cystatin C.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Caste In Ant Colonies: How Fate Is Determined Between Workers And Queens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374534/081021093944.htm
In colonies of social insects the struggle for the spoils is embodied by a reproductive division of labor. Some individuals (the queens) reproduce, while large and small workers provide the labor. Larvae become different castes (small workers, large workers, or new queens) based on genetics, nutrition, and environment (colony size). However the relative importance of each factor was different for each caste.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Hepatitis C Treatment Is Cost-effective For The US Prison Population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374535/081020150617.htm
Treating all US prisoners who have hepatitis C with the standard therapy of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin would be cost-effective, says a new study.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Origin Of Root Offshoots Revealed; Possible Basis For New Ecological Agricultural Applications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374536/081023144046.htm
Researchers have discovered the substance that governs the formation of root offshoots in plants, and how it works. Root offshoots are vitally important for plants -- and for farmers. Plants draw the necessary nutrients from the soil through their roots. Because they do this best with a well-branched root system, plants must form offshoots of their roots at the right moment. The researchers describe how this process is controlled in the professional journal Science.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
U.S. Doctors Regularly Prescribe Real Drugs As Placebo Treatments, Study Claims
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374537/081023195216.htm
Many rheumatologists and general internal medicine physicians in the US say they regularly prescribe "placebo treatments" including active drugs such as sedatives and antibiotics, but rarely admit they are doing so to their patients, according to a new study.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Cameras Capture 'Fireball' In The Sky: Meteor May Have Crashed In Ontario
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431264656/081024204136.htm
For the second time this year, the University of Western Ontario Meteor Group has captured incredibly rare video footage of a meteor falling to Earth. Astronomers suspect the fireball dropped meteorites in a region north of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, that may total as much as a few hundred grams in mass. The Physics and Astronomy Department at Western has a network of all-sky cameras in southern Ontario that scan the sky monitoring for meteors.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Study Shows How Antibiotic Sets Up Road Block To Kill Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374538/081022135615.htm
Scientists have taken a critical step toward the development of new and more effective antibacterial drugs by identifying exactly how a specific antibiotic sets up a road block that halts bacterial growth. The antibiotic, myxopyronin, is a natural substance that is made by bacteria to fend off other bacteria. Scientists already knew that this antibiotic inhibited the actions of an enzyme called RNA polymerase, which sets gene expression in motion and is essential to the life of any cell.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Physical Strength, Fighting Ability Revealed In Human Faces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374539/081022135809.htm
For our ancestors, misjudging the physical strength of a would-be opponent might have resulted in painful -- and potentially deadly -- defeat.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Laser Therapies For Hair Removal Appear To Be More Effective Than Combination Treatments, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374540/081020171237.htm
Laser therapies commonly used for removal of unwanted hair appear to be safer and remove leg hair more effectively when used separately than when used as a combination treatment, according to a new report.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Photo Safeguards Confidential Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374541/081022101503.htm
These days you can take a photograph with almost every mobile phone. However, using this sort of photo to protect confidential data and send it safely is something new. Scientists have been researching this new way of employing biometrics.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
UK Teen Suicide Rates On The Decline
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/431374542/081022211024.htm
Suicide rates in those aged 10-19 in the UK declined by 28 percent in the seven year period from 1997-2003, shows a study recently published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The study showed that the decline was particularly marked in young males, where rates declined by 35 percent.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Female Plant 'Communicates' Rejection Or Acceptance Of Male
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700166/081023113107.htm
Without eyes or ears, plants must rely on the interaction of molecules to determine appropriate mating partners and avoid inbreeding. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers have identified pollen proteins that may contribute to the signaling processes that determine if a plant accepts or rejects individual pollen grains for reproduction.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Secret Of Death Protein's Activation Unlocked; May Lead To Drugs That Force Cancer Cells To Self-destruct
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700167/081022135613.htm
Scientists have identified a previously undetected trigger point on a naturally occurring "death protein" that helps the body get rid of unwanted or diseased cells. They say it may be possible to exploit the newly found trigger as a target for designer drugs that would treat cancer by forcing malignant cells to commit suicide.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Secrets From Within Planets Pave Way For Cleaner Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700168/081023100552.htm
Research that has provided a deeper understanding into the center of planets could also provide the way forward in the world's quest for cleaner energy. Scientists have gained a deeper insight into the hot, dense matter found at the center of planets and as a result, has provided further understanding into controlled thermonuclear fusion.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Gene Mutation In Worms Key To Alcohol Tolerance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428499107/081022073918.htm
Scientists have found that a genetic mutation in worms could further understanding of alcoholism in humans.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Modern Genetics Versus Ancient Frog-killing Fungus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700169/081014111403.htm
Scientists have sequenced the genome of the chytrid fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Bd has been a major player in declining frog populations around the world. The scientists compared gene activation in two stages of Bd's life cycle. Out of several genes identified, one gene family in particular may hold the key to how the fungus kills frogs.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Should Hepatitis C Patients Who Smoke Marijuana Be Eligible For Liver Transplants?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700170/081022211032.htm
The pain is debilitating. The only option: smoking medical marijuana. That's the reality for many hepatitis C patients whose road to health includes a liver transplant. Although Canadian transplant centres are more willing than those in the United States, not everyone says yes to liver patients who smoke marijuana, and a University of Alberta researcher says that decision-making process is unacceptable.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Highest Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency Ever Reached
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700171/081023100536.htm
Scientists have created the first silicon solar cell to achieve 25 percent efficiency following a revision of the international standard.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Seeing Red -- In The Number 7
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700172/081022135803.htm
Hypnosis can induce synaesthetic experiences -- where one sense triggers the involuntary use of another according to a new study in Psychological Science.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Cancer Treatment: How Eating Fruit And Vegetables Can Improve Cancer Patients' Response To Chemotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700174/081022164724.htm
The leading cause of death in all cancer patients continues to be the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy, a form of treatment in which chemicals are used to kill cells. A new study shows that ingesting apigenin -- a naturally occurring dietary agent found in vegetables and fruit -- improves cancer cells' response to chemotherapy. Apigenin localizes tumor suppressor p53, a protein, in the cell nucleus -- a necessary step for killing the cell.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Cause Of Weakness In Marine Animal Hybrids Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419748105/081013132625.htm
A genetic malfunction found in marine crustaceans called copepods likely explains why populations of animals that diverge and eventually reconnect produce weak "hybrid" offspring.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Child Abuse Increases Risk For Later Sexually Coercive Behavior In Some Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700175/081021185103.htm
Researchers trying to identify factors that put men at risk for committing sexual coercion have found that being victims of both childhood physical and sexual abuse made them 4.5 times more likely to engage in sexually coercive behavior than men who were not abused.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Potent Greenhouse Gas From Computer Display And TV Manufacture Prevalent In Atmosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700176/081023120230.htm
A compound used in manufacture of flat panel televisions, computer displays, microcircuits, solar panels is 17,000 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The amount of the gas in the atmosphere, which could not be detected using previous techniques, had been estimated at less than 1,200 metric tons in 2006. The new research shows the actual amount was 4,200 metric tons. In 2008, about 5,400 metric tons of the gas was in the atmosphere, a quantity that is increasing at about 11 percent per year.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Chemists Devise Self-assembling 'Organic Wires'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700179/081023144117.htm
Chemists have created water-soluble electronic materials that spontaneously assemble themselves into tiny "wires" that can be used in the human body.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Mercury Pollution Causes Immune Damage To Harbor Seals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759658/081020191532.htm
Methylmercury, the predominant form of mercury found in the blood of marine mammals and fish-eating communities, could be more damaging to seals than has previously been thought. New research shows that MeHg harms T-lymphocytes, key cells in a seal's immune system. Similar results were also found for human lymphocytes.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Gene Expression Pattern Predicts Response In Advanced Bowel Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428536242/081022073726.htm
Research has shown for the first time that identifying patterns of gene expression can be used to predict response to treatment in patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Engineering Nanoparticles For Maximum Strength
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430759659/081020135223.htm
Individual nanocrystals are remarkably strong. But under stress, complex nanostructures often fail because of large internal strains. Research on hollow nanospheres at the National Center for Electron Microscopy shows that engineering can greatly increase the strength of complex nanoparticles, with potential for stronger nanostructures and large-scale alloys as well.
Sat, 25 Oct 08
Stem Cell Research To Benefit Horse Owners And Trainers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430700180/081021094010.htm
In a potential breakthrough for the performance horse industry (such as racing and polo), scientists are aiming to harness stem cells to repair tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone damage in horses.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Tiny Juvenile Dinosaur Fossil Sheds Light On Evolution Of Plant Eaters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356292/081023222248.htm
Scientists have identified one of the smallest dinosaur skulls ever discovered as coming from a very young Heterodontosaurus, an early dinosaur. This juvenile weighed about 200 grams. This skull suggests how and when the family of herbivorous dinosaurs that includes Heterodontosaurus made the transition from eating meat to eating plants.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
New Hope For Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356293/081022211030.htm
A drug which was initially designed to treat a form of leukemia has also proven effective against combating the debilitating neurological disease multiple sclerosis.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Science Of Speed: Building The Fastest Car In The World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356294/081023100554.htm
When Andy Green puts his foot on the accelerator and tries to break the land speed record in 2011, he can be sure that some of the UK's top scientists have done everything possible to make sure he achieves his goal, and is safe in the process.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Heart Failure Patients Have Higher Risk Of Fractures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356295/081020171339.htm
Heart failure patients have four times the risk of fractures and 6.3 times the risk of hip fracture as other heart patients. Heart failure patients should be screened and treated for osteoporosis if necessary, researchers said.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Digesting The Termite Digestome: A Way To Make Biofuels?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356296/081021190648.htm
If the biofuel known as bioethanol is to make a major contribution to our fuel supplies, then we may well require the assistance of some tiny insect helpers, says an assistant professor of entomology.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Genomic Changes Found In Brains Of People Who Commit Suicide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356297/081023100543.htm
New light is being shed on the complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors as the result of growth in the field of epigenetics.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Deprived Of A Sense Of Smell, Worms Live Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356298/081023222254.htm
Many animals live longer when raised on low calorie diets. But now researchers have shown that they can extend the life spans of roundworms even when the worms are well fed -- it just takes a chemical that blocks their sense of smell.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Safer, More Effective TB Vaccine For HIV-positive People Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356299/081023144105.htm
Scientists have engineered a new tuberculosis vaccine specifically designed for HIV-positive people that was shown to be safer and more potent than the current TB vaccine in pre-clinical trials.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
New Coral Reef Discovered In The Seychelles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356301/081023101343.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown coral reef in the Seychelles. Diving revealed an extensive coral reef to the south of the island, at a depth which would not be visible to the occasional snorkeler, according to researchers.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Sun-damaged Skin Responds Well To Laser Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356302/081020171335.htm
Researchers have found scientific evidence that the appearance of sun-damaged skin may be improved by treatment with a topical product that increases the skin's sensitivity to light, followed by laser therapy.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Scientist Uses Tracer To Predict Ancient Ocean Circulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356307/081020171448.htm
Measuring a chemical tracer in samples of ancient fish scales, bones and teeth, researchers have studied circulation in the Late Cretaceous North Atlantic Ocean. The Late Cretaceous was a time with high atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and warm temperatures. Understanding such ancient greenhouse climates is important for predicting what may happen in the future. The new findings contradict some previous models.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Mouse Genes Guide Search For Human Anxiety Disorder Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356308/081023100541.htm
We are all familiar with the question "Are you a man or a mouse?" What if the answer is "a little of both"? Because of the power of molecular genetics research in animals and the maturation of animal models, the path to identifying genes involved in particular types of behavior, such as fear, is much clearer in animals than in humans. There is new evidence that the genes implicated in these animal models may be directly applicable to humans.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Naturally Produced 'Rotten Egg' Gas Helps Control Blood Pressure In Body, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356309/081023144053.htm
Anyone with a nose knows the rotten-egg odor of hydrogen sulfide, a gas generated by bacteria living in the human colon. Now scientists have discovered that cells inside the blood vessels of mice -- as well as in people, no doubt -- naturally make the gassy stuff, and that it controls blood pressure. Researchers have discover that hydrogen sulfide is a major regulator of blood pressure.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
First Gene For Clubfoot Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356310/081023144101.htm
Clubfoot, one of the most common birth defects, has long been thought to have a genetic component. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found the first gene linked to clubfoot in humans.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
When Under Attack, Plants Can Signal Microbial Friends For Help
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424019748/081017150732.htm
Researchers have discovered that when the leaf of a plant is under attack by a pathogen, it can send out an S.O.S. to the roots for help, and the roots will respond by secreting an acid that brings beneficial bacteria to the rescue.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Knocking The 'Sox' Off Cancer And Lymphatic Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356311/081020093504.htm
Researchers have identified a gene critical for the development of the lymphatic system in a discovery that will have implications for treatment of cancer and lymphatic disorders and other diseases.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
3-D Doppler Ultrasound Helps Identify Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356312/081021093933.htm
Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound helps radiologists distinguish between malignant and benign breast masses, according to a new study.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Race And Insurance Status Associated With Death From Trauma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356313/081020171231.htm
African American and Hispanic patients are more likely to die following trauma than white patients, and uninsured patients have a higher death risk when compared with those who have health insurance, according to a new report.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Good Vibrations Of Nearby Stars: Satellite Data Sheds New Light On The Sun
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356314/081023144044.htm
Some of the first data collected by the CoRoT space telescope mission, launched in December 2006, provides valuable information about the physical vibrations and surface characteristics of nearby stars that are similar to our sun, researchers say. This novel information illustrates the great value of space-based observations, and provides astronomers with insights into the interior of our sun, other stars, and the overall evolution of our galaxy.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
New Way Of Inhibiting The Cell Cycle Shows Promise In Cancer Patients In A Phase I Clinical Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428536241/081022073728.htm
A new anti-cancer compound that works by blocking a part of the cell's machinery that is crucial for cell division has shown promising results in a phase I clinical trial in patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Extinction Risks High For Social Species Such As The African Wild Dog
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356315/081020191536.htm
Because African wild dogs face bigger competitors like lions, whose larger stomachs handle large irregular meals, the African wild dog evolved a runner's metabolism (lithe, smaller stomachs) and formed large packs. In packs they reduce costs and ensure a regular supply of food. But in packs less than five, they end up in poverty traps, less well fed, less able to have pups, and spiral downward. This study reveals an extinction risk for social species.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Getting To Grips With The Complexity Of Disease Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356316/081020093502.htm
New research into how proteins in human cells interact and 'talk' to each other is leading to a better understanding of how drug molecules work and should result in more effective therapies, according to scientist.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Fisheries Management And Environmental Conditions: Win-win For Baltic Cod
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356317/081020095843.htm
Politics have played a critical role in the increase of the cod stock in the Baltic Sea, but environmental conditions are equally important. Only the synergies from these two factors have resulted in a stock increase that exceeds the sums of both factors. The study is highly relevant for the management decision on Baltic cod, which will be taken by the Council of Ministers on October 27th 2008.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Overweight Women Find Health Care Access And Attitudes A Constant Struggle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/430356318/081023100539.htm
Shame, embarrassment, distress, anger. Those are just some of the emotions overweight women expressed when they were asked to talk about their health care experiences. It's vital to tackle the issue, say researchers, as other studies show that when women have bad experiences they may avoid or delay health care.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
New Candidate Genes For Schizophrenia Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727693/081021093948.htm
Researchers have identified three new candidate genes for schizophrenia that may contribute to a better understanding of how the disease evolves.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Heart Valves That Grow With The Patient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727694/081021094212.htm
Three scientists have developed and successful transplanted tissue-engineered biological cardiac valves for children that grow with the patients.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Exercise Gives Longer Life For People With Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727695/081021094218.htm
Exercising once a week can help prolong life expectancy for people with heart disease, according to a new study.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Unique Properties Of Boron Harnessed To Develop New Drugs And Diagnostics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727696/081021094210.htm
Researchers are on the verge of unleashing the power of the element boron in a new generation of drugs and therapies, as decades of research begins to bear fruit. Boron has to date far been one of biology's best kept secrets, but is now attracting fast growing research interest and investment from the pharmaceutical industry in the quest for novel drugs to tackle cancer and infectious diseases, potentially overcoming limitations and side effects of current products.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Extra Cash From Government Program Linked To Higher Risk Of Adult Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727697/081021093950.htm
Adults are not seeing the same benefits as children in a popular poverty-alleviation program that gives cash to impoverished families in exchange for participation in health-promoting activities, according to a new study. The study found that the cash component of the program, launched by the Mexican government and modeled worldwide, is linked to a greater risk of obesity and higher blood pressure in adults.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Biologists Discover Gene Behind 'Plant Sex Mystery'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727698/081022135427.htm
An enigma -- unique to flowering plants -- has been solved by researchers from the UK and South Korea. Scientists already knew that flowering plants require not one, but two sperm cells for successful fertilisation. The mystery of this 'double fertilization' process was how each single pollen grain could produce 'twin' sperm cells.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Overweight Mums Have Chubby Babies, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428587622/081022095552.htm
Researchers have highlighted a link between childhood obesity and a mother's diet before and during pregnancy. The work in animals proves that overweight expectant mothers are more likely to have babies with more body fat, who are at greater risk of diabetes and lipid metabolic disorders later in life.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Building A Better Bee
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727700/081021185217.htm
A researcher known for her honey bee line "New World Carniolans" has crossed her bees with their Old World counterparts to enhance their positive characteristics.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Increased Rate Of Common Birthmarks Linked To Rise In Number Of Low Birth Weight Infants In US
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727702/081020093412.htm
Low birth weight is the most significant factor for the development of infantile hemangiomas, a common birthmark, according to a new study.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Smart Fabrics Make Clever (Medical) Clothing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727703/081021190640.htm
European researchers have developed a smart fabric that can monitor muscular overload and help prevent repetitive strain injury or RSI. But that is just the beginning. The team is also exploring a pregnancy belt to monitor baby's heartbeat, clothing to help coach hockey, and shirts that monitor muscle fatigue during training.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
'Dry Cleaning Effect' Explained By Forgetful Researcher
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727704/081020171343.htm
Researchers have described how dueling brain systems may explain why you forget to drop off the dry cleaning and may point to ways that substance abusers and people with obsessive compulsive disorder can overcome bad habits.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
World's Most Advanced Microscope Unveiled
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727705/081020120050.htm
The most advanced and powerful electron microscope on the planet -- capable of unprecedented resolution -- has been installed in the new Canadian Center for Electron Microscopy at McMaster University. It is so powerful it can probe the spaces between atoms.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Individual's Gene Variations Linked To Likelihood Of Surviving Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727706/081022135620.htm
New research shows that certain genes can influence a person's likelihood to contract particular diseases, cancer for example. The finding demonstrates that genetic markers may also show a person's likelihood to survive the disease.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Rare Corals Breed Their Way Out Of Trouble
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727707/081021094006.htm
Rare corals may be smarter than we thought. Faced with a dire shortage of mates of their own kind, new research suggests they may be able to cross-breed with certain other coral species to breed themselves out of a one-way trip to extinction. This finding has raised hopes for the ability of the world's corals to withstand the rigors of changing climates and human impacts.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Skin Creams Can Make Skin Drier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727713/081022101500.htm
Many people have noticed that as soon as you start using a skin cream, you have to continue with it; if you stop lubricating, your skin becomes drier than when you started. And now there is research to confirm for the first time that normal skin can become drier from creams.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Nanomaterials May Have Large Environmental Footprint
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429727719/081022135805.htm
Environmental gains derived from the use of nanomaterials may be offset in part by the process used to manufacture them, according to research published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.
Fri, 24 Oct 08
Developing Depression After A Heart Attack Increases One’s Risk Of Death Or Readmission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428499109/081022073912.htm
Science has found many links between depression and other serious medical illnesses, such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. For example, people who develop depression following a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or chest pain (angina) have an elevated risk of cardiac death or hospital readmission over the following year.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Memories Selectively, Safely Erased In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246171/081022135801.htm
Targeted memory erasure is no longer limited to the realm of science fiction. A new study describes a method through which a selected set of memories can be rapidly and specifically erased from the mouse brain in a controlled and inducible manner. New and old memories have been selectively and safely removed from mice by scientists.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Silencing A Protein Could Kill T-Cells, Reverse Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246173/081022135626.htm
Blocking the signals from a protein that activates cells in the immune system could help kill cells that cause a rare form of blood cancer, according to physicists and oncologists who combined computer modeling and molecular biology in their discovery.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Florida's 'Worm Grunters' Collect Bait Worms By Inadvertently Imitating Mole Sounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246175/081014111154.htm
Vanderbilt biologist Ken Catania has discovered the secret of "worm grunting" -- the Florida practice of driving a wooden stake into the ground and rubbing it with a long piece of steel to produce a grunting sounds that drives nearby earthworms to the surface where they can be collected for bait. The worm grunters are unknowingly mimicking the sounds that the worm's arch-enemy the mole causes while burrowing.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Sugar Plays Key Role In How Cells Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246176/081020171442.htm
Scientists were dubious in the early 1980s when they stumbled on small sugar molecules lurking in the centers of cells; not only were they not supposed to be there, but they certainly weren't supposed to be repeatedly attaching to and detaching from proteins, effectively switching them on and off.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Impacts Of Climate Change On Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427657770/081021120918.htm
Climate change will have different effects on lakes in warmer and colder regions of the globe. This is the conclusion reached by Japanese and German researchers following studies of very deep caldera lakes in Japan.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Been There, Done That: Brain Mechanism Predicts Ability To Generalize
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246179/081022135421.htm
A new study reveals how the brain can connect discrete but overlapping experiences to provide a rich integrated history that extends far beyond individually experienced events and may help to direct future choices.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
'Magnetic Death Star' Fossils: Earlier Global Warming Produced A Whole New Form Of Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246180/081022135844.htm
An international team of scientists has discovered microscopic, magnetic fossils resembling spears and spindles, unlike anything previously seen, among sediment layers deposited during an ancient global-warming event along the Atlantic coastal plain of the United States.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
New Genes Linked To Lung Cancer In Large-scale Genetic Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246181/081022135416.htm
A multi-institution team reports results of the largest effort to date to chart the genetic changes involved in the most common form of lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma. The findings should help pave the way for more individualized approaches for detecting and treating the nation's leading cause of cancer deaths.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Neural Probe Developed That Will Limit Damage To Cells And Biological Tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421974551/081015164334.htm
Engineering researchers have just developed a neural probe that demonstrates significantly greater electrical charge storage capacity than all other neural prosthetic devices to date. More charge storage capacity means the device can stimulate nerves and tissues with less damage and sense neural signals with better sensitivity.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Seemingly Suicidal Stunt Is Normal Rite Of Passage For Immune Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246182/081020171347.htm
Researchers have shown that self-induced breaks in the DNA of immune cells known as lymphocytes activate genes that cause the cells to travel from where they're made to where they help the body fight invaders. The new finding is the first to link such serious DNA damage to activation of genes not directly involved in the cells' attempts to either fix the harm or self-destruct to stop themselves from becoming cancerous.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Memoirs Of A Qubit: Hybrid Memory Solves Key Problem For Quantum Computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246183/081022164709.htm
Scientists have performed the ultimate miniaturization of computer memory: storing information inside the nucleus of an atom. This breakthrough is a key step in bringing to life a quantum computer -- a device based on the fundamental theory of quantum mechanics which could crack problems unsolvable by current technology.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Effective Anti-tobacco Ads Should Either Scare Or Disgust Viewers, Study Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246184/081022135811.htm
Researchers examined the effects of two types of content commonly used in anti-tobacco ads -- tobacco health threats that evoke fear and disturbing or disgusting images. The researchers found that ads focused on either fear or disgust increased attention and memory in viewers; however, ads that included both fear and disgust decreased viewers' attention and memory.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Denser, More Powerful Computer Chips Possible With Plasmonic Lenses That 'Fly'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246185/081022164712.htm
Engineers are reporting a new way of creating computer chips that could revitalize optical lithography, a patterning technique that dominates modern integrated circuits manufacturing. The researchers say this development could lead to ultra-high density disks that can hold 10 to 100 times more data than disks today.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
ADHD Appears To Increase Level Of Nicotine Dependence In Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246186/081021185053.htm
Young people with ADHD are not only at increased risk of starting to smoke cigarettes, they also tend to become more seriously addicted to tobacco and more vulnerable to environmental factors such as having friends or parents who smoke. The report also found that individuals with more ADHD-related symptoms, even those without the full syndrome, are at greater risk of becoming dependent on nicotine than those with fewer symptoms.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Which Grass Is Greener? Study To Select Northeast Grasses That Can Power The Bioenergy Era
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246187/081022135630.htm
Talk about a field of dreams. Cornell bioenergy plant experts are learning which field grasses are the best candidates for "dedicated energy" crops in the Northeast, considering the region's climate and soil conditions.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Why Past Oral Contraceptive Use Dramatically Lowers Risk Of Ovarian And Uterine Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246188/081020171345.htm
Researchers may be one step closer to understanding why past oral contraceptive use dramatically lowers the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers later in life. Birth control has a long-term effect on hormone exposure.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
LCDs Improved With 3-D Nanoimaging Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246189/081022164716.htm
Professors of physics and macromolecular science have developed a method of 3-D optical imaging of anisotropic fluids such liquid crystals, with volumetric resolution one thousand times smaller than existing techniques.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Early-onset Depressive Disorders Predict The Use Of Addictive Substances In Adolescence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246190/081021120908.htm
In a prospective study of over 1,800 interviewed young Finnish twins, early-onset depressive disorders at age 14 significantly predicted daily smoking, smokeless tobacco use, frequent illicit drug use, frequent alcohol use and recurrent intoxication three years later.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Cross-protective Vaccine May Treat Broad Spectrum Of Bacterial Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246191/081021185055.htm
Doctors have always hoped that scientists might one day create a vaccination that would treat a broad spectrum of maladies. They could only imagine that there might be one vaccine that would protect against, say, 2,500 strains of Salmonella. And what if that same vaccine could help protect the elderly?
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Chronic Inflammation Can Help Nurture Skin Cancer, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246192/081021120916.htm
Inflammation, a frontline defense against infection or disease, can help nurture skin cancer, researchers have found. IDO, an enzyme that works like a firefighter to keep inflammation under control, can be commandeered to protect early malignant cells, say researchers studying an animal model of chronic inflammation and skin cancer.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Ecosystem-level Consequences Of Frog Extinctions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246193/081016124252.htm
Streams that once sang with the croaks, chirps and ribbits of dozens of frog species have gone silent. They're victims of a fungus that's decimating amphibian populations worldwide. Such catastrophic declines have been documented for more than a decade, but until recently scientists knew little about how the loss of frogs alters the larger ecosystem. A new study has found that tadpoles play a key role keeping the algae at the base of the food chain productive.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
New TB Test Reveals Patients At Risk, Says Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246194/081020171341.htm
A recently introduced blood test can reveal which patients may develop active tuberculosis much more precisely than the 100-year old TB skin test, according to a new study published today in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Around a third of the world's population is infected with the TB bacteria and approximately 9 million new cases of active TB are diagnosed around the world each year, according to World Health Organization estimates. The majority of those infected live in the developing world.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Scientists Go Cloud-hopping In The Pacific To Improve Climate Predictions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246195/081021190646.htm
A 20-strong -team of cloud and climate experts from the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science are setting off for Chile to investigate how massive swathes of clouds that hang over the Pacific are affecting climate and weather all round the world. This new project aims to reduce some of the largest errors currently in our climate models and thus greatly improve predictions of future climate change.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Different Psychosocial Factors Predict Adoption, Maintenance Of Physical Activity Program
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246196/081022135628.htm
A new study offers some new insight into the role of social and environmental influences on physical activity behaviors.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Archaeologists Find Unique, Early US Relic Of African Worship
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427657766/081021120755.htm
Archaeologists have dug up what they believe to be one of the earliest US examples of African spirit practices. The researchers say it's the only object of its kind ever found by archaeologists in North America -- a clay "bundle" filled with small pieces of common metal, placed in what had been an Annapolis street gutter three centuries ago.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Safety Problems For Biological Products Documented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246197/081021120743.htm
Approximately one in four biological medicinal products (such as antibodies, enzymes and insulin) approved since 1995 in the US and Europe have had at least one safety-related regulatory action issued for them 10 years after their approval, including about 11 percent receiving a "black box" warning, according to a new study.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Biomarkers For Identifying Infant Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777575/081014134108.htm
Current diagnostic tests for infection in premature infants can be slow and nonspecific, but researchers have now identified potential biomarkers in the blood that can rapidly identify both the onset of infection and type of microbe.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Chest Scans May Help Monitor Spread Of Head And Neck Cancer In High-risk Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246198/081020171333.htm
Among high-risk patients with head and neck cancer, chest computed tomography may help detect disease progression involving the lungs, according to a new report.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Cracking The Case Of Recycled Gadgets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246199/081022222905.htm
Recycling devices built with plastic cases and other components, such as mobile phones, mp3 players, and personal digital assistants, is difficult and requires repetitive manual labor. However, a new approach to creating the fastenings and tabs for such devices based on the shape-memory effect in plastics could mean that disassembling such devices at end of life could be automated.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Hospital Rankings: More Than Meets The Eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429246200/081021120753.htm
Medicare's pay-for-performance program ranks and rewards hospitals according to how well they meet certain guidelines for clinical care. But researchers say the program penalizes hospitals that care for the greatest numbers of the poor and needy by not taking into account their greater clinical burden.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Voters Swayed By Candidates Who Share Their Looks, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429279757/081023004653.htm
Made up your mind who to vote for? Maybe it's because you like the looks of the candidate. Or maybe it's because the candidate looks a little like you, even if you don't realize it. In a new study, researchers say that people are subconsciously swayed by candidates who share their facial features.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
New Promising Obesity Drug May Have Huge Potential
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/429204774/081022222907.htm
According to trials, a new obesity drug, Tesofensine, which may be launched on the world market in a few years, can produce weight loss twice that of currently approved obesity drugs.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Crossing Blood-Brain Barrier: Scientists Develop Drug Delivery System For Brain Cancers, Other Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428536239/081022073724.htm
Scientists have developed a new drug delivery system that is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to reach and kill cancer cells in the brain. Following successful preclinical studies, the technology is being evaluated in two phase I clinical trials in patients with malignant glioma and brain metastases.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Common Respiratory Syncytial Virus May Hide In The Lungs, Lead To Asthma, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649217/081021120914.htm
Conventional wisdom has been that respiratory syncytial virus -- a common virus that causes infection in the lungs -- comes and goes in children without any long lasting impact. A study conducted in mice, however, suggests that RSV may hide in the lungs even after other symptoms abate, ultimately resurfacing to cause recurrent wheezing and chronic airway disease.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Throwing Light On The Dark Side Of The Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500797/081021094208.htm
Although we may believe humans know a lot about the Universe, there are still a lot of phenomena to be explained. A team of cosmologists are searching for the model that best explains the evolution of the Universe.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Estimate Of Lives Lost Due To Delay In Antiretroviral Drug Use For HIV/AIDS In South Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649218/081020171349.htm
More than 330,000 lives were lost to HIV/AIDS in South Africa from 2000 and 2005 because a feasible and timely antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program was not implemented, assert researchers in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Plant-eating Predator To Fight Superweed Is Not Magic Bullet, According To Japanese Knotweed Expert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669323/081014092840.htm
Plans to introduce plant-eating predators to fight a superweed spreading throughout Britain should not be seen as a 'magic bullet', says a world expert on Japanese knotweed.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
U.S. Suicide Rate Increasing; Largest Increase Seen In Middle-aged White Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649219/081021093938.htm
The rate of suicide in the United States is increasing for the first time in a decade, according to a new report. The increase in the overall suicide rate between 1999 and 2005 was due primarily to an increase in suicides among whites aged 40-64, with white middle-aged women experiencing the largest annual increase.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Ancient Bone Tool Sheds Light On Prehistoric Midwest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649220/081021214301.htm
A prehistoric bone tool just discovered by archeologists is the oldest such artifact ever documented in Indiana, researchers say.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Erectile Dysfunction Gives Early Warning Of A Heart Attack, Warns Expert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649221/081021210309.htm
Erectile dysfunction gives a two to three year early warning of a heart attack, warns an expert.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Turtle Doves Commit Adultery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649222/081015100033.htm
A biologist has shown that bastard doves can fend for themselves. Despite having a strange coo, hybrid offspring are still able to defend their territory. This is necessary for further reproduction.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
New MRI Technique May Identify Cervical Cancer Early
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649223/081021093935.htm
Using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging with a special vaginal coil, a technique to measure the movement of water within tissue, researchers may be able to identify cervical cancer in its early stages, according to a new study.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Computer Model Against Unnecessary Use Of Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649224/081015100039.htm
Patients in intensive care units are often administered antibiotics against ventilator-associated pneumonia, "to be on the safe side." Researchers have now developed a model that can quickly establish whether or not a patient has pneumonia. This can prevent unnecessary treatment with antibiotics.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Couples With Children With ADHD At Risk Of Higher Divorce Rates, Shorter Marriages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649225/081021185207.htm
Parents of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are nearly twice as likely to divorce by the time the child is 8 years old than parents of children without ADHD, the first study to look at this issue in depth has shown.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Scientists Enhance Immune System Attacks On Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649226/081021185215.htm
Researchers have tweaked, prodded, and pushed immune system cells into successfully attacking tumors in laboratory and animal studies. They say their new strategy could prove to be safer than some treatments now being used to stimulate cancer immunity in humans.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
X Marks The Spot: Sharpies Get Thumbs-up For Marking Surgery Sites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428649227/081021185211.htm
Researchers have found that Sharpies used to mark surgical sites do not pose a risk of bacterial infection since the ink has an alcohol base. It's standard practice to throw away marking pens used to mark operative sites after one use to prevent the spread of germs, costing thousands of dollars a year.
Thu, 23 Oct 08
Evolution Of Genes That Trigger The Body's Immune Response To Viral Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427657767/081021120951.htm
Researchers have traced the evolutionary origin of two genes that serve as primary cellular sensors of infection with RNA viruses, such as influenza, polio virus, West Nile virus, and HIV, which may ultimately provide researchers with insight into a possible new pathway for the development of innate immunity.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Physicists Find New State Of Matter In 'Transistor': Huge Implications For New Electronic Devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428004915/081021185213.htm
Scientists have discovered a new state of matter, a quasi-three- dimensional electron crystal, in a material very much alike those used in the fabrication of modern transistors. This discovery could have momentous implications for the development of new electronic devices.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Contact Lenses Are Home To Pathogenic Amoebae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040051/081020093458.htm
Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness. New research shows that a high percentage of contact lens cases in Tenerife are contaminated with Acanthamoeba that cannot be killed by normal contact lens solution.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
A Large Spiral Galaxy, NGC 7331, In All Its Splendor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040052/081020095952.htm
The spiral galaxy NGC 7331, in Pegasus, can be seen with small telescopes under dark skies as a faint fuzzy spot. It is an island universe similar to our own Galaxy (or maybe somewhat larger) and placed at a distance of 50 million light-years. NGC 7331 was discovered by Wilhelm Herschel in 1784, and it shows all its magnificence in long-exposure photographs taken through large telescopes.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Allergy Patch Test: Children Tend To React To Different Allergens Than Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040053/081020171331.htm
Adults and children who are referred for patch testing of allergens appear equally likely to have allergic contact dermatitis, although they tend to react to different allergens, according to a new report.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Egg Whites Solve The 3-D Problem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040054/081007123651.htm
The real world is three-dimensional. That's true even in the laboratory, where scientists have to grow cells to study how they develop and what happens when their growth is abnormal. More and more laboratories are seeking to develop three-dimensional cell culture systems that allow them to test their new techniques and drugs in a system that more closely mimics the way in which cells grow. However, a big sticking point is the cost of commercial media for growing such cultures.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Scientific Hunch Poised To Save Thousands From Toxic Fish Poisoning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040055/081021093952.htm
A neuroscientist has found a way to combat a debilitating illness that affects an estimated 50,000 people a year in tropical regions.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Study Of Polar Dinosaur Migration Questions Whether Dinosaurs Were Truly The First Great Migrators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428004918/081021185205.htm
A recently released study of northern and southern polar dinosaur migration indicates that some species may have migrated nearly 3,000 km in a six month period- far short of the distance needed to reach warmer climes. What's more, the study also revealed that other species would have been forced to endure polar winters and exhibited characteristics similar to today's nonmigratory animals when dealing with hibernating, foraging and even burrowing.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Education Protects Against Pre-Alzheimer's Memory Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040056/081020171227.htm
People with more education and more mentally demanding occupations may have protection against the memory loss that precedes Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in Neurology.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
‘Waterless’ Concrete Seen As Building Block On Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423740808/081017090612.htm
A new article demonstrates a concept of creating concrete structures on the lunar surface without the use of water.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus Reveals Its Access Code
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040063/081020093356.htm
Biologists have identified an amino acid switch that flaviviruses flip to gain access to cells. Flaviviruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), yellow fever, and dengue are dangerous human pathogens.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
$2 Egg-beater Could Save Lives In Developing Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717265/081015110226.htm
Plastic tubing taped to a handheld egg-beater could save lives in developing countries. The low-cost centrifuge replacement can separate plasma from blood in minutes, which is used in tests to detect lethal infectious diseases responsible for half of all deaths in developing countries.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
'Western' Diet Increases Heart Attack Risk Globally
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040065/081020171337.htm
A study that examined various dietary patterns suggests that the typical Western diet -- fried foods, salty snacks and meat -- accounts for about 30 percent of heart attack risk across the globe. A diet high in fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower risk of heart attack. A diet high in tofu and soy did not affect heart attack risk.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Serendipitous Observations Reveal Rare Event In Life Of Distant Quasar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428004916/081021185209.htm
A bit of serendipity has given astronomers a surprise view of a never-before-observed event in the birth of a galaxy.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Self-assembling Nano-fiber Gel Delivers High Concentrations Of Clinically Approved Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428004919/081021185057.htm
Scientists have developed a new self-assembling hydrogel drug delivery system that is biocompatible, efficient at drug release, and easy to tailor. Importantly, these structures can deliver clinically approved drugs in high concentrations without requiring carriers for the drug or generating toxic components, a problem with hydrogel systems until now.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Mechanical Pressure Accelerates Early Stages Of Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423705933/081017082011.htm
Genes are not the be all and end all of carcinogenesis. Scientists have shown that mechanical pressure can alter gene expression, and in particular activate the oncogenes(1) Myc and Twist, which are implicated in the early stages of colon cancer.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
T Cell Response To New Melanoma Antigen Linked To Relapse-free Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040067/081020093400.htm
Melanoma patients infused with a special type of tumor-fighting T cell are more likely to survive without relapse, suggests a new study by researchers in France.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Smart Materials: Textile That Change Phase, Intelligent Molecules That Absorb Shocks, And More
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422680857/081016084043.htm
Norway's most elaborate travel-wear keeps the body cool in hot helicopter cabins, but transforms into a heat-retaining suit if the helicopter should fall into the sea.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Grades In College Directly Linked To Health-related Behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040071/081021120925.htm
Lack of sleep, excessive television/computer screen time, stress, gambling, alcohol and tobacco use and other health-related issues are taking a toll on college students' academic performance.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Amphibian Diversity Decreases Chances Of Parasitic Disease, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040073/081021185059.htm
A new study showing that American toads who pal around with gray tree frogs reduce their chances of parasitic infections known to cause limb malformations has strong implications for the benefits of biodiversity on emerging wildlife diseases.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
On The Trail Of A Targeted Therapy For Blood Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918696/081010114109.htm
Researchers are examining a family of blood proteins that they hope holds a key to decreasing the toxic effects of chemotherapy in children and adults. Their findings may one day help in the development of targeted therapies for leukemia, multiple myeloma and other cancers of the blood.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Fitness In A Changing World: Genetics And Adaptations Of Alaskan Stickleback Fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416881210/081010100457.htm
The stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is one of the most thoroughly studied organisms in the wild, and has been a particularly useful model for understanding variation in physiology, behavior, life history and morphology caused by different ecological situations in the wild.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
How Neuronal Activity Leads To Alzheimer's Protein Cleavage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040077/081020093358.htm
Amyloid precursor protein, whose cleavage product, amyloid-b, builds up into fibrous plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, jumps from one specialized membrane microdomain to another to be cleaved, according to a new report in the Journal of Cell Biology.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Out Of Mesopotamia: Evolutionary History Of Tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423705932/081017085214.htm
The evolutionary timing and spread of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), one of the most successful groups of bacterial pathogens, remains largely unknown. Using mycobacterial tandem repeat sequences as genetic markers, scientists show that the MTBC consists of two independent clades, one composed exclusively of M. tuberculosis lineages from humans and the other composed of both animal and human isolates.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Improve Health Care Quality, Efficiency, Study Claims
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040080/081020120103.htm
Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy, according to a new study. Although the cost of such a system could reach $11 billion, the effort would likely return even more in benefits to the nation's health care system.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Microscopic Structure Of Quantum Gases Made Visible: Bose-Einstein Condensate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040081/081020095950.htm
Scientists have, for the first time, succeeded in rendering the spatial distribution of individual atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate visible. Bose-Einstein condensates are small, ultracold gas clouds which, due to their low temperatures, can no longer be described in terms of traditional physics but must be described using the laws of quantum mechanics. The first Bose-Einstein condensates were generated in 1995 by Eric A. Cornell, Carl E. Wieman and Wolfgang Ketterle, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work only six years later. Since then, these unique gas clouds, the coldest objects humans ever created, have become a global research object.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Can Exercise Prevent A Severe Stroke?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040083/081020171229.htm
A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in the journal Neurology.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Embolic Neuroprotection System Reduces Risk Of Cardiac Events, Study Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040103/081016162251.htm
New research shows a low number of strokes and cardiac events in patients who had stents implanted utilizing a new embolic neuroprotection system during carotid stenting with commercial stents.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
New Hope For The Red Squirrel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422861325/081016124528.htm
Study says free-living red squirrels are mounting an immune response to the squirrelpox viral disease.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Baseball: Professor Sees 59 Percent Chance Of Rays Win Over Phillies In World Series
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/428040107/081020120101.htm
A mathematician who has applied mathematical modeling techniques to elucidate the dynamics of scoring in baseball, has computed the probability of the Rays and Phillies winning the World Series now that the Rays have defeated the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Vast Stellar Nursery: Claret-colored Cloud With A Massive Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427657765/081021120949.htm
An image of the amazing intricacies of a vast stellar nursery, which goes by the name of Gum 29, is now available. In the center, a small cluster of stars -- called Westerlund 2 -- has been found to be the home of one of the most massive double star systems known to astronomers.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Vaccine Type That Holds Promise In Protecting Against TB Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427966586/081020093450.htm
A recombinant vaccine against tuberculosis shows promise, researchers find. The investigational vaccine for TB appears likely to offer significantly better protection against the potentially fatal disease than the one in current use.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Microwaves Could Extract Water From Moon And Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423740807/081017091230.htm
When astronauts land on the Moon in the not too distant future, it's possible they will be visiting an outpost where they can pick up some fuel and a refreshing container of liquid.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Potential New Way To Make A Good Anti-leukemia Drug Even Better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427966587/081020093402.htm
A recently identified cancer-causing protein makes the anti-leukemia drug imatinib, less effective. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow the spread of leukemia cells in culture. The study, which will appear in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the most effective treatment for leukemia may rely on a combination of targeted drugs, rather than a single miracle drug.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Squeezing More Synthetic Fuel From Abundant Supplies Of Coal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451095/081020093404.htm
Scientists in Italy are reporting that a new process could eliminate key obstacles to expanded use of coal gasification to transform that abundant domestic energy resource into synthetic liquid fuels for cars and trucks.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Effect Of Gamma Waves On Cognitive And Language Skills In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427657768/081021120945.htm
Gamma wave activity in the brains of children provide a window into their cognitive development, and could open the way for more effective intervention for those likely to experience language problems.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Governor's Palace In Turkey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500787/081021094216.htm
Archaeologists have unearthed parts of a Neo-Assyrian governor's palace dating back to the 9th to 7th century BCE in an excavation program amongst the ruins on Ziyaret Tepe. The discoveries were extraordinary. The site in the south-east of Turkey (Diyarbakir province) is at risk from the construction of the Ilisu Dam.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Beta-blocker Use Linked To Risks Of Death And Heart Attack After Surgery, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500788/081020171233.htm
Some patients who received beta-blockers before and around the time of undergoing non-cardiac surgery appear to have higher rates of heart attack and death within 30 days of their surgery, according to a new report.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Cleaning Up Iraqi Nuclear Facilities, Radioactive Waste
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500789/081020135225.htm
Sandia scientists are helping train Iraqi scientists and technicians to clean up radioactively contaminated sites and safely dispose of the radioactive wastes as part of the Iraqi Nuclear Facility Dismantlement and Disposal Program.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Non-AIDS Deaths In People With HIV Linked To Inflammation And Coagulation, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500790/081021073859.htm
In an analysis of deaths occurring during a large international trial of treatments for HIV-positive patients, researchers have found a strong association between markers of inflammation and coagulation and increased risk of death from non-AIDS diseases, including cardiovascular problems.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Pesticide Concentrations Decreasing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500791/081020120052.htm
The use of pesticides in the United States has been widespread for decades, and a new study shows the effects they have had as a contaminant in the nation's groundwater. The researchers took samples from over 300 wells and examined different contaminants that have been used over the years, with encouraging results as to the levels of concentration that the samples have measured.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
The Nose Knows: Two Fixation Points Needed For Face Recognition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500792/081020171452.htm
Many of us are bad at remembering names but we are very quick to point out that at least we never forget a face. Never mind recognizing a familiar face -- how is it that we recognize faces at all?
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Man's Best Friend Recruited In Hunt For Disease Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500793/081016084051.htm
For centuries man has had a uniquely close relationship with dogs -- as a working animal, for security and, perhaps most importantly, for companionship. Now, dogs are taking on a new role -- they are helping in the hunt for genetic mutations that lead to diseases in humans.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Low-carb Diets Alter Glucose Formation By The Liver
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500794/081020150619.htm
A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet changes hepatic energy metabolism. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver relies more on substances like lactate and amino acids to form glucose, instead of glycerol.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Blowing Bubbles On A Nanoscale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637174/081013112157.htm
Scientists are puzzled by the nanobubbles that can develop on surfaces under water. It should be impossible for them to exist but nevertheless they remain intact for hours. They are something of a mystery, yet it is possible to manipulate the development of these bubbles, according to experts. The bubbles can then, for example, be used to reduce flow resistance in liquids.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Respiratory Rhythms Can Help Predict Insomnia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500795/081020120054.htm
The breathing and heart rates and cortisol levels of women with metastatic breast cancer can be used to predict if they'll suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disruptions, a common complaint from patients who want to maintain their quality of life, according to a new study.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Alternative Fuels May Drain Dwindling Water Supplies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451090/081020094614.htm
As the search for new fuels intensifies, researchers in Texas report that switching to certain alternative fuels to power cars, trucks, and SUVs may require the use of much more water than conventional petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. The findings suggest that producing alternative fuels could strain already limited water supplies in some regions of the country.
Wed, 22 Oct 08
Group Bragging Betrays Insecurity, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427500796/081020171444.htm
Groups that boast, gloat and denigrate outsiders tend to be of low social status or vulnerable to threats from other groups, research shows.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Cosmic Lens Reveals Distant Galactic Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093874/081020171450.htm
Nature provides a magnifying glass that scientists cleverly decipher to gain a rare look at the violent processes at work in a young galaxy in the early universe.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Do Cell Phones Increase Brain Cancer Risk?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093875/081020093456.htm
Major research initiatives are needed immediately to assess the possibility that using cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors, according to an editorial the journal Surgical Neurology.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Diatom Genome Helps Explain Success In Trapping Excess Carbon In Oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093876/081015144125.htm
Diatoms have profound influence on climate, producing 20 percent of the oxygen we breathe by capturing atmospheric carbon and countering the greenhouse effect. These photosynthetic wonders have come to acquire advantageous genes from bacterial, animal and plant ancestors enabling them to thrive in today's oceans.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Innovations Improve Accuracy Of MRI As Internal 'Thermometer'; Technique Can Enhance Cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093877/081016141455.htm
Chemists say they have developed a new way to measure temperature changes inside the body with unprecedented precision by correcting a subtle error in the original theory underlying magnetic resonance imaging.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Producing New U.S. Energy Crops By The Barrel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093878/081013195803.htm
Scientists have produced oils of camelina, canola, Cuphea, lesquerella, milkweed and pennycress by the barrelful in a commercial-scale pilot plant.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Voters In Battleground States More Ambivalent About Presidential Candidates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093879/081020120105.htm
Heavy advertising by both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates may actually make voters in battleground states more confused about which candidate to vote for, a new study suggests. A nationwide study found that voters in heavily contested states like Florida and Ohio become more ambivalent when they are exposed to a lot of opposing messages from the two candidates.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Earth In Midst Of Sixth Mass Extinction: 50% Of All Species Disappearing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093880/081020171454.htm
The Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of both plants and animals, with nearly 50 percent of all species disappearing, scientists say. Which plants should be a top priority to conserve? Researchers say the most genetically unique species are the ones that have the greatest importance in an ecosystem.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Ripening Bananas Glow An Intense Blue Under Black Light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093881/081020093454.htm
Under UV light, ripening bananas appear in a bright blue color, which is is connected to the degradation of chlorophyll.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Study Claims Acne Is Not Associated With Yet-Uncultured Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897009/081016133544.htm
In a new study researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark found bacteria in the follicles of acne patients and healthy individuals to be those of previously known species, disputing the theory that acne is caused by some yet-to-be-identified bacteria.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Searching For Rare Ladybugs, With Unusual Spots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093882/081013201003.htm
Agricultural Research Service scientists and cooperators are seeking the public's help in surveying for once-common ladybug species that are now hard to find.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Designing Wildlife Corridors: Wildlife Need More Complex Travel Plans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093883/081020135221.htm
A new study says that people trying to help nature by designing corridors for wildlife need to think more naturally. "Human beings tend to think in terms of regular, symmetrical structures, but nature can be much more irregular," said the lead researcher.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
'Filament' Of Dark Matter Supports 'Bubbly' Universe Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093884/081020135219.htm
Despite thousands of years of research, astronomers know next to nothing about how the universe is structured. One strong and accepted theory is that large galaxies are clustered together on structures similar to giant soap bubbles, with tinier galaxies sprinkled on the surface of this "soapy" layer. Astronomers have uncovered what they believe are visible traces of a "filament" of dark matter -- an entity on which galaxies meet, cluster and form. A filament can originate at the junction of two "soap bubbles," where the thin membrane is thicker.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Revealing The Evolutionary History Of Threatened Sea Turtles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774364/081015120740.htm
New genetic research carried out at the American Museum of Natural History clarifies our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among all seven sea turtle species and shows that specialized diets arose independently. The refined phylogeny has important implications for conservation of these threatened, highly migratory animals.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Best Treatment Determined For Childhood Eye Problem, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093886/081013171501.htm
A nine-site study has helped determine the best of three currently-used treatments for convergence insufficiency in children. Convergence refers to the natural ability of the eyes to focus and align while viewing objects up close.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Tools That Model 3D Structure Of Amorphous Materials To Transform Technology Driven R&D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093888/081014111405.htm
Researchers have accurately identified tools that model the atomic and void structures of a network-forming elemental material. These tools may revolutionize the process of creating new solar panels, flat-panel displays, optical storage media and myriad other technological devices.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Hypertension Disparity Linked To Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093889/081020120048.htm
Social environment may play a greater role in the disparity between the numbers of African-Americans living with hypertension compared to non-Hispanic whites with the disease. A new study found that the disparity was substantially reduced when comparing groups of African Americans and non-Hispanic whites living in similar social environments.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Scientists Create 'World's Most Relaxing Room'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426934044/081020192707.htm
Psychologists have designed and constructed a large-scale multi-media space that aims to calm even the most stressed out of minds.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Hope For A Better Treatment For Childhood Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093891/081017082017.htm
Children who are diagnosed with cancer could benefit from better diagnosis and treatment in the future, thanks to a new research project.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Toxoplasma Parasite's Family Tree Traced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093893/081013200305.htm
Scientists are tracing the family tree of Toxoplasma gondii, one of the most widespread parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates. Understanding how T. gondii has evolved and disseminated will help parasitologists and public health officials improve methods for controlling the parasite in humans and animals.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Integrating Antiretroviral Therapy With TB Treatment For Co-infections Reduces Mortality By 55%
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093894/081016124258.htm
A South African treatment study shows that mortality among TB-HIV co-infected patients can be reduced by a remarkable 55 percent, if antiretroviral therapy is provided with TB treatment at the same time.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Herbicide-resistant Grape Could Revitalize Midwest Wine Industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093895/081014171011.htm
An herbicide that is effective at killing broadleaf weeds in corn, but also annihilated most of the grapes in Illinois and other Midwestern states, may finally have a worthy contender. Researchers have developed a new grape called Improved Chancellor which is resistant to the popular herbicide 2, 4-D.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Framework Could Consign Slavery To The Past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/427093896/081020135356.htm
A panel of international experts is expected to join forces to create a new framework that would help major organizations around the world make meaningful reparations for the transatlantic slave trade.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Less Ice In Arctic Ocean 6000-7000 Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451088/081020095850.htm
Recent mapping of a number of raised beach ridges on the north coast of Greenland suggests that the ice cover in the Arctic Ocean was greatly reduced some 6000-7000 years ago. The Arctic Ocean may have been periodically ice free.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
City Trash Plus Farm Leftovers May Yield Clean Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506740/081013195119.htm
Tomorrow's household garbage might be blended with after-harvest leftovers from fields, orchards, and vineyards to make ethanol and other kinds of bioenergy. Scientists are investigating this straightforward, eco-friendly strategy in their laboratories.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Blood Flow Reversal System Used During Carotid Stenting Is Both Safe And Effective, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506741/081016162248.htm
Results of a study on an embolic protection system during carotid stenting that uses a novel blood flow reversal system were reported during the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Protected 'Swimways' Urged For Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506742/081018093221.htm
A new resolution urges nations to protect the leatherback sea turtle and sharks from the world's industrial fisheries by identifying and creating marine protected areas along the Pacific leatherback's migratory routes. The routes were based on recent satellite tracking data. 8,000 scientists from 250 nations support the resolution.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Forest Peoples' Rights Key To Reducing Emissions From Deforestation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717263/081015110238.htm
Unless based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and forest communities, efforts by rich countries to combat climate change by funding reductions in deforestation in developing countries will fail, and could even unleash a devastating wave of forest loss, cultural destruction and civil conflict, warned a leading group of forestry and development experts meeting in Oslo this week.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Engineers Build First-ever Multi-input 'Plug-and-play' Synthetic RNA Device
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423925471/081017131010.htm
Engineers have created a "plug-and-play" synthetic RNA device -- a sort of eminently customizable biological computer -- that is capable of taking in and responding to more than one biological or environmental signal at a time. Such devices could have a multitude of potential medical applications, including being used as sensors to sniff out tumor cells or determine when to turn modified genes on or off during cancer therapy.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
'Junk' DNA May Have Important Role In Gene Regulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506743/081017080145.htm
For about 15 years, scientists have known that certain "junk" DNA -- repetitive DNA segments previously thought to have no function -- could evolve into exons, which are the building blocks for protein-coding genes in higher organisms like animals and plants. Now, there is evidence that a significant number of exons created from junk DNA seem to play a role in gene regulation. The findings increase understanding of how humans differ from other animals.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Spinning Natural Proteins Into Fabrics For New Wound-repair Products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451091/081020094447.htm
Scientists in Israel are reporting the first successful spinning of a key natural protein into strong nano-sized fibers about 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. The advance could lead to a new generation of stronger, longer-lasting biocompatible sutures and bandages to treat wounds.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Enlarged Prostates: Choice Of Treatment Needs Careful Consideration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424019746/081017150734.htm
In the last few years, the treatment options for prostate problems have expanded. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has assessed new treatments and warns that some new surgical techniques are being heavily promoted without first having been adequately evaluated.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Researchers Write Protein Nanoarrays Using A Fountain Pen And Electric Fields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506744/081013171417.htm
Most tools capable of patterning on the nanoscale were developed for the silicon microelectronics industry and cannot be used for soft and relatively sensitive biomaterials such as DNA and proteins. Now researchers have demonstrated the ability to rapidly write nanoscale protein arrays using a tool they call the nanofountain probe. The probe works much like a fountain pen, only on a much smaller scale, and the "ink" is the protein solution.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Catching Smugglers With Technology To Detect Guilt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506745/081002095014.htm
Researchers are looking to increase security at border controls by developing a computer system that can detect guilt.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Dinosaur Dance Floor: Numerous Tracks at Jurassic Oasis on Arizona-Utah Border
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451089/081020093414.htm
Geologists identified an amazing concentration of dinosaur footprints and tail-drag marks that they call "a dinosaur dance floor," located in a wilderness on the Arizona-Utah border where there was a sandy desert oasis 190 million years ago.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
LEDs May Help Reduce Skin Wrinkles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451093/081020094355.htm
Researchers in Germany are describing a potential alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery for easing facial wrinkles. Their study reports that high intensity visible light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied daily for several weeks resulted in "rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience." LEDs are the miniature lights used in an array of products, from TV remote controls to traffic lights.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Potential Treatment To Prevent Diabetes And Obesity Using Interleukin-6
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506746/081017082009.htm
A molecule called interleukin-6 has opened new doors for the creation of new drugs against obesity and diabetes.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Ship Strike Reduction Rule Aims To Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418609528/081012093255.htm
NOAA officials have issued a regulation that will implement new measures to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. The regulation will, for the first time, require large ships to reduce speeds to ten knots in areas where the whales feed and reproduce, as well as along migratory routes in between. The goal of the regulation is to reduce the risk of ship collisions with the whales.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Kidney Donation Web Sites Raise Ethical Concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426506747/081015183543.htm
Some patients do not have access living donors who are both willing and medically eligible to give them a kidney. As a result, some are now turning to websites that attempt to match people in need of transplantation with those who want to donate a kidney, so-called "Good Samaritan" donors.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Method May Rapidly And Effectively Detect Significant Food-Borne Pathogen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897008/081016133621.htm
Researchers from Sweden and Finland have developed a rapid and specific method that may detect the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica, a common cause of gastric illness, in food.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Real Pilots And 'Virtual Flyers' Go Head-to-head
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841642/081017103640.htm
Stunt pilots have raced against computer-generated opponents for the first time -- in a contest that combines the real and the "virtual" at 250 miles per hour.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
Varying Combinations Of Antiviral Drugs May Effectively Treat Chronic Hepatitis Virus Infection In Woodchucks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897010/081016133509.htm
Oral administration of various combined and independent antiviral drug therapies may effectively treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in woodchucks, a well-characterized mammalian model for research with human implications, and provide an alternative strategy for managing drug resistance.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
New Natural Products Act Against Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451086/081017082013.htm
A group of antibiotic natural products points to a new mode of action against pathogenic bacteria. Isolated from myxobacteria, the substances prevent an enzyme of the pathogens from being able to translate their genetic material.
Tue, 21 Oct 08
See What I See: Machines With Mental Muscle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426451087/081003123246.htm
The way we use and interact with machines is undergoing a profound change as computers are programmed to learn from experience and see more how we see. European research into machine learning is pushing back the boundaries of computer capabilities.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Listening To Dark Matter: New Clues From Lab Deep Underground
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422646307/081016074659.htm
Researchers in Canada have made a bold stride in the struggle to detect dark matter. The PICASSO collaboration has documented the discovery of a significant difference between the acoustic signals induced by neutrons and alpha particles in a detector based on superheated liquids.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Gene Mutation Protects Against Obesity And Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425855707/081019184802.htm
Scientists have identified a natural mutation in the Tbc1d1 gene that keeps mice lean and also protects against diabetes despite a high-fat diet. The researchers were thus able to gain a deep insight into the function of the gene. Further clarification of its function would provide a basis for developing new approaches for prevention and treatment, as this gene could also be linked to obesity and diabetes in humans.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Worms' Nervous System Shown To Alert Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045660/081014114846.htm
The nervous system and the immune system have something in common. Each has evolved to react quickly to environmental cues. Because the nervous system is able to detect some of these cues at a distance, it sometimes can sense trouble earlier than the immune system, which has to wait until the pathogen invades the organism. Now, geneticists have shown that, indeed, the two systems talk to one another.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
First Tunable, 'Noiseless' Amplifier May Boost Quantum Computing, Communications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045661/081015183506.htm
Researchers have made the first tunable 'noiseless' amplifier. By significantly reducing the uncertainty in delicate measurements of microwave signals, the new amplifier could boost the speed and precision of quantum computing and communications systems.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Genes That Control Cell Death Fingered In Age-related Hearing Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422861327/081016124333.htm
Several genes that play a role in how our body's cells normally auto-destruct may play a role in age-related hearing loss, according to new research in a journal devoted to the topic of cell suicide, or programmed cell death.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Alternative Energy: New Sugarcanes To Deliver One-Two Energy Punch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045662/081013194043.htm
New varieties of sugarcane and other crops adapted to the U.S. Gulf Coast region are being developed for use in making ethanol as a cleaner-burning alternative to gasoline.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
New Fossil Reveals Primates Lingered In Texas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045663/081014111401.htm
More than 40 million years ago, primates preferred Texas to northern climates that were significantly cooling, according to new fossil evidence.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Bird Flu Vaccine Protects People And Pets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425855708/081019184800.htm
A single vaccine could be used to protect chickens, cats and humans against deadly flu pandemics, according to a new article published in the Journal of General Virology. The vaccine protects birds and mammals against different flu strains and can even be given to birds while they are still in their eggs, allowing the mass vaccination of wild birds.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Steroids Aid Recovery From Pneumonia, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045664/081014145904.htm
Adding corticosteroids to traditional antimicrobial therapy might help people with pneumonia recover more quickly than with antibiotics alone, scientists have found.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Single-pixel Camera Has Multiple Futures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045665/081014134021.htm
A terahertz version of the single-pixel camera could lead to breakthrough technologies in security, telecom, signal processing and medicine.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Aspirin Does Not Prevent Heart Attacks In Patients With Diabetes, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045666/081016191814.htm
Taking regular aspirin and antioxidant supplements does not prevent heart attacks even in high risk groups with diabetes and asymptomatic arterial disease, and aspirin should only be given to patients with established heart disease, stroke or limb arterial disease, according to a new study.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Buckypapers Clarify Electrical, Optical Behavior Of Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045667/081015183502.htm
Using highly uniform samples of carbon nanotubes, materials scientists have made some of the most precise measurements yet of the concentrations at which delicate mats of nanotubes become transparent, conducting sheets. Their recent experiments point up the importance of using relatively homogeneous nanotubes for making high performance conducting films.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Alternative Theory Of Information Processing In The Cortex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045668/081016162240.htm
With remarkable precision, neurons in the sound-processing part of the brain's cortex fire electrochemical pulses or "spikes" in sync with cues they receive from other neurons. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that "spike timing" in cortical neurons can influence behavior in rats when signals are separated by as little as three milliseconds. This discovery helps make the case for an alternate theory of how neuron-to-neuron messaging is processed in the cortex.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
NASA Launches Interstellar Boundary Explorer Mission To Outer Solar System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045669/081019234839.htm
NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer mission, or IBEX, successfully launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean Sunday. IBEX will be the first spacecraft to image and map dynamic interactions taking place in the outer solar system.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Promising Gene Target For Neuroblastoma Therapy Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421920036/081015153220.htm
Researchers have identified a set of previously unknown mutations in a single gene in 8 percent of neuroblastomas, tumors of the nervous system that occur in young children and account for approximately 15 percent of all childhood cancer deaths. The discovery is intriguing because a small "targeted" molecule inhibitor caused neuroblastoma cell lines carrying two of the mutations to die when treated in the laboratory.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Gold Nanostars Outshine The Competition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045670/081015183504.htm
Scientists used surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to demonstrate that gold nanostars exhibit optical qualities that make them superior for chemical and biological sensing and imaging. These uniquely shaped nanoparticles may one day be used in a range of applications from disease diagnostics to contraband identification.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Vitamin K Does Not Stem Bone Mineral Density Decline In Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045671/081013201301.htm
In a randomized controlled trial called the "Evaluate the Clinical use of vitamin K Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia" trial, Angela Cheung and colleagues at the University of Toronto found that a high dose daily vitamin K1 supplement did not protect against age-related bone mineral density decline.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Star Count Goes Global
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421865758/081015144139.htm
Schoolchildren, families and citizen scientists around the world will gaze skyward after dark from Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, 2008, looking for specific constellations and then sharing their observations through the Internet.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Providing Toilets, Safe Water Is Top Route To Reducing World Poverty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704165/081019144621.htm
Simply installing toilets where needed throughout the world and ensuring safe water supplies would do more to end crippling poverty and improve world health than any other possible measure, according to an analysis released by the United Nations University.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Finding Hidden Tomb Of Genghis Khan Using Non-Invasive Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423705934/081017081030.htm
According to legend, Genghis Khan lies buried somewhere beneath the dusty steppe of Northeastern Mongolia, entombed in a spot so secretive that anyone who made the mistake of encountering his funeral procession was executed on the spot. Once he was below ground, his men brought in horses to trample evidence of his grave, and just to be absolutely sure he would never be found, they diverted a river to flow over their leader's final resting place.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Genetic Switch Critical For Cell Survival In Hypoxia Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045672/081017080147.htm
Researchers have identified a critical metabolic "switch" in fruit flies that helps oxygen-deprived cells survive.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Mathematicians Put Forward Model For Studying Submarine Avalanches And Tsunamis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422646305/081016084059.htm
A team of Andalucian and French scientists has put forward a mathematical model that enables submarine avalanches and certain types of tsunamis to be studied using equations, according to a recent article in the Journal of Computational Physics. Mathematicians are already applying the model to analyse landslides on the island of Alborón (Almería).
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Surgeons Evaluate Treatment Options For Traumatic Aortic Injury, Including Minimally Invasive Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045673/081015183456.htm
A blunt traumatic injury to the aorta is one of the leading causes of death following a vehicle crash. University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons have published a review of treatments for this devastating injury in the the New England Journal of Medicine. The physicians have had success with a minimally invasive technique, which spares patients the trauma of a traditional operation, which involves a large incision in the chest.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Estimate Soil Texture-by-feel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717262/081015110240.htm
A new article details methods of determining a soil's texture by feel, an important skill for students of soil science. Soil texture strongly influences the nutrient holding ability of a soil, the amount of water the soil can store, as well as many other properties.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
'Water Footprint' Promotes Sustainable And Fair Use Of Water Resources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/426045674/081016084053.htm
Researchers have proposed the concept of a 'water footprint,' which gives a detailed insight into the water consumption of individuals, companies and countries, in an international effort to promote sustainable, fair and efficient use of water on a global scale.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Drug-embedded Microparticles Bolster Heart Function In Animal Studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704154/081019144629.htm
Tiny polymer beads embedded with anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce damage to the heart when injected into rats' hearts after a simulated heart attack. The beads (average size: 1/50 of a millimeter wide) are made of a "polyketal" material that breaks down over a few weeks in the body. Because polyketals are less inherently inflammatory than other biodegradable polymers, they could be used to treat several inflammatory diseases.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Achilles Heel Of Common Childhood Tumor Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704158/081019144627.htm
Researchers have, for the first time, found a mechanism for the rapid growth of the benign blood vessel tumor known as infantile hemangiomas, the most common tumor found in children. The findings implicate gene mutations that facilitate the abnormal activity of a hormone called VEGF, and suggest that anti-VEGF therapies -- already approved for other conditions -- may be an effective treatment.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
4 In 10 Parents Wrong On Whether Their Child Is Under Or Overweight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704159/081019144625.htm
More than four in 10 parents with underweight and overweight children mistakenly believe their children are in the average weight range, according to University of Melbourne research.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Swamping Bad Cells With Good In ALS Animal Models Helps Sustain Breathing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704163/081019144623.htm
In a disease like ALS -- one that's always fatal and that has a long history of research-resistant biology -- finding a proof of principle in animal models is significant.
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Role Of Fatty Acids In Alzheimer's Disease Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425704167/081019144618.htm
Scientists have found that complete or partial removal of an enzyme that regulates fatty acid levels improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. A large-scale analysis of brain lipids identifies a potential therapeutic strategy.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Genetic-based Human Diseases Are An Ancient Evolutionary Legacy, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016723/081016124043.htm
Evolutionary geneticists reveal that disease genes emerged very early in evolutionary history. They have systematically analyzed the time of emergence for a large number of genes -- genes which can also initiate diseases.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Nicotine Linked To Breast Cancer Growth And Spread, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016724/081015073938.htm
A new study suggests a possible role for nicotine in breast tumor development and metastases.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Chicken Soup May Help Fight High Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637183/081013110117.htm
Chicken soup, that popular home remedy for the common cold sometimes known as "Grandma's Penicillin," may have a new role alongside medication and other medical measures in fighting high blood pressure, scientists in Japan are reporting.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Fructose -- Found In High-fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar -- Sets Table For Weight Gain Without Warning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422646306/081016074701.htm
Table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are about 50% fructose and these ingredients have become increasingly common in many foods and beverages. Eating too much fructose can induce leptin resistance, a condition that can easily lead to becoming overweight when combined with a high-fat, high-calorie diet, according to a new study with rats. This is the first study to show that leptin resistance can develop as a result of high fructose consumption and that leptin resistance can develop silently, that is, with little indication that it is happening.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Human Protein Atlas Will Help Pinpoint Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841641/081017103642.htm
Researchers in Sweden are compiling a remarkable "atlas" that pinpoints the location of thousands of individual proteins in the body's tissues and cells which will give scientists important insights into the function of different proteins and how changes in the distribution of proteins could be reflected in diseases such as cancer.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Risk And Reward Compete In Brain: Imaging Study Reveals Battle Between Lure Of Reward And Fear Of Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016725/081009144325.htm
Imaging study follows on previous lesion studies to pinpoint regions of brain involved in risk management: finds that individuals' response to risk and reward can be gauged from activity in two distinct brain regions.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Waste From Gut Bacteria Helps Host Control Weight, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016726/081018093223.htm
A single molecule in the intestinal wall, activated by the waste products from gut bacteria, plays a large role in controlling whether the host animals are lean or fatty, a research team has found in a mouse study.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Antioxidants Could Help Huntington’s Disease Sufferers, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827322/081010092322.htm
Therapeutic strategies to strengthen antioxidant defenses could help to prevent the progression of Huntington's Disease. New research shows that oxidative stress and damage to certain macromolecules are involved in the progression of Huntington's Disease (HD), which is characterised by psychiatric and cognitive disturbance, involuntary movements (chorea) and dementia.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Warming In Yosemite National Park Sends Small Mammals Packing To Higher, Cooler Elevations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016727/081009144057.htm
UC Berkeley's resurvey of animal populations in California's eastern mountains kicked off in 2003 with a resurvey of Yosemite National Park, following the route of Joseph Grinnell in 1914-20. The first results show that small mammals have moved to higher elevations as a result of warming, some expanding their range upward, others moving upward and abandoning lower elevations entirely. Though biodiversity remains unchanged, the rapid rate of change sounds a cautionary note about global warming.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Polio Could Be Wiped Out In Nigeria With Improved Vaccine, Says Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016728/081015162531.htm
A recently introduced polio vaccine is four times more effective at protecting children than previous vaccines and has the potential to eradicate type 1 polio in Nigeria if it reaches enough children, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Sensitive Nanowire Disease Detectors Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416881208/081010102720.htm
Scientists have created nanowire sensors coupled with simple microprocessor electronics that are both sensitive and specific enough to be used for point-of-care disease detection, according to a new report.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Intelligent Programs Protect Your Computer Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016729/081015110845.htm
Scientists have developed a system capable of detecting computer intrusions and automatically deciding the best response.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Genes Hold Secret Of Survival Of Antarctic 'Antifreeze Fish'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016730/081016124049.htm
A genetic study of a fish that lives in the icy waters off Antarctica sheds light on the adaptations that enable it to survive in one of the harshest environments on the planet.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Gene Hunt In Dyslexia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827318/081010092326.htm
Letters are warped, syllables left out. Scientists seek to spot responsible genes and try to develop a genetic screening test to support affected children at an earlier age.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Opening A Can Of Worms: Serendipitous Discovery Reveals Earthworms More Diverse Than First Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016731/081010081652.htm
Scientists have found that the UK's common or garden earthworms are far more diverse than previously thought, a discovery with important consequences for agriculture. Biologists have found that many of the common earthworm species found in gardens and on agricultural land are actually made up of a number of distinct species that may have different roles in food chains and soil structure and ecology.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Sunlight Exposure Plus Low Antioxidant Levels May Place Older Adults At Risk For Eye Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016732/081013171431.htm
People who lack essential antioxidants, and who have high levels of sunlight exposure, have a higher risk of developing advanced macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study. AMD is a leading cause of poor vision.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Feel The Light: OLED With Touch Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/425016733/081009144645.htm
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) are one of the most promising lighting technology for future lighting solutions. The OLED technology is the first real area light source technology in history. It overcomes traditional restrictions by point source lighting technologies (e.g. light bulbs or LED). Now, scientists have demonstrated an important innovation in OLED lighting: the worldwide first interactive touch controlled flat light source.
Sun, 19 Oct 08
Migratory Moths May Hitch Their Rides, But They're Anything But Drifters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696848/081013124414.htm
Night-traveling migratory moths may hitch a ride on the wind, but a new study in Current Biology confirms that they are anything but drifters.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Ghostly Glow Reveals Galaxy Clusters In Collision
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421865755/081015144157.htm
Astronomers have detected long wavelength radio emission from a colliding, massive galaxy cluster which, surprisingly, is not detected at the shorter wavelengths typically seen in these objects.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
No Higher Risk Of Leukemia Found For Children Living Near Powerful Radio Or Television Transmitters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841640/081017082005.htm
Children living in the vicinity of powerful radio and television transmitters are not significantly more at risk of leukemia than others, according to a new German study.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Turf Wars: Sand And Corals Don't Mix
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414903123/081008095708.htm
When reef fish get a mouthful of sand, coral reefs can drown. "We've known for a while that having a lot of sediment in the water is bad for corals and can smother them. What we didn't realize is how permanent this state of affairs can become, to the point where it may prevent the corals ever re-establishing."
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Optics Of Alzheimer’s Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918693/081010115747.htm
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of plaques made of protein aggregates in the brain tissue. There is still considerable debate among scientists as to whether these plaques are the cause of the neuronal death that occurs in Alzheimer’s or just a by-product of the disease, however.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Spallation Neutron Source Sends First Neutrons To 'Big Bang' Beam Line
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258497/081009144321.htm
New analytical tools coming on line at the Spallation Neutron Source, the Department of Energy's state-of-the-art neutron science facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, include a beam line dedicated to nuclear physics studies.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Viruses And 'Young Cuckoos' Lead The Way In The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422741416/081016084049.htm
Harmless viruses and genetic 'young cuckoos' are going to reveal the answers as to how the brain establishes where we are. The understanding of our sense of locality will be the first higher brain function that we understand at a molecular level.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Physical Decline Caused By Slow Decay Of Brain's Myelin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424019744/081017150738.htm
Human's physical and mental abilities slow as we age, caused by the steady decay of myelin, the "insulation" around neuronal axons.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Keeping Herpes Infection In Check: Researchers Describe Immune System Strategies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416087579/081009143710.htm
Herpes simplex virus type I can cause bouts of cold sores, blindness and potentially lethal encephalitis when it reawakens from a quiescent state in the nerve cells it infects. To prevent these consequences, the stealthy virus is kept under constant guard by the immune system, say University of Pittsburgh scientists. Their research challenges the once common notion that latent HSV-1 in sensory neurons is invisible to the immune system.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Fine Balance: Class Of Spinal Cord Neurons Makes Sure That Sides Of Body Don't Get Ahead Of One Other
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258498/081008150449.htm
Once a toddler has mastered the art of walking, it seems to come naturally for the rest of her life. But walking and running require a high degree of coordination between the left and right sides of the body. Now researchers have shown how a class of spinal cord neurons, known as V3 neurons, makes sure that one side of the body doesn't get ahead of the other.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Drug Candidate Slows Age-related Macular Degeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258499/081009144107.htm
Research results show that the progression of age-related macular degeneration is markedly slowed in new laboratory-engineered mice when they received treatments of retinylamine, a trial drug that has been tested in a medical school lab. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Wildfires Cause Ozone Pollution To Violate Health Standards, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258500/081009144115.htm
Wildfires can boost ozone pollution to levels that violate US health standards. A new study has found that California wildfires in 2007 tripled the number of ozone violations across a broad area.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Smell Of Smoke Does Not Trigger Relapse In Quitters, New Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841643/081017103638.htm
Research into tobacco dependence has shown that recent ex-smokers who find exposure to other people's cigarette smoke pleasant are not any more likely to relapse than those who find it unpleasant.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Stem Cell Breakthrough: Mass-Production Of 'Embryonic' Stem Cells From A Human Hair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424061518/081017164917.htm
Researchers have successfully reprogrammed adult human cells called keratinocytes -- attached to a single hair -- into induced pluripotent stem cells, which by all appearances looked and acted like embryonic stem cells. And, the researchers have boosted reprogramming efficiency more than 100-fold, while cutting the time it takes in half.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Mechanism For Immune System Suppression Pinpointed; Could Help Treat HIV, Measles, And Tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424019745/081017150736.htm
Diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and measles claim countless lives by weakening immune systems in ways that have remained unclear. For the first time, researchers have now pinpointed a clear mechanism for immunosuppression. They have shown how an initial viral infection can block production of critical immune system proteins known as type I interferons, leading to susceptibility to other, potentially deadly infections.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Stabilizing Force For Good Communication Between Neurons And Muscle Cells Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415897081/081009111026.htm
A neuron sends a message, or neurotransmitter, to a muscle cell to tell it what to do. To get the message, the receiving cell must have a receptor. Oddly, the unstable protein rapsyn is responsible for anchoring the receptor so it's properly positioned to catch the message. Now have found what keeps rapsyn in proper conformation.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Steroid Treatment Offers No Benefit In Preemies, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258501/081009144323.htm
Results of a new study challenge the longstanding practice of treating premature babies with hydrocortisone, a steroid believed to fight inflammation and prevent lung disease.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Evolution Of Virulence Regulation In Staphylococcus Aureus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258502/081009143657.htm
Scientists have gained insight into the complex mechanisms that control bacterial pathogenesis and, as a result, have developed new theories about how independent mechanisms may have become intertwined during evolution. The research may lead to strategies for developing more effective therapeutics against the human pathogen responsible for most of the antibiotic-resistant infections contracted in the community.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Importance Of Sex-specific Testing Shown In Anxiety Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/424258503/081015100051.htm
An Australian study has flagged an important truth for the medical research community. Like their human counterparts, male and female mice are not only different, their respective genetic responses can often be the reverse of what you'd expect from pharmacological results. This has important ramifications for laboratory and clinical testing.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Emotion And Scent Create Lasting Memories -- Even In A Sleeping Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841637/081016162242.htm
In a series of experiments with sleeping mice, researchers at the Duke University Medical Center have shown that the part of the brain that processes scents is indeed a key part of forming long-term memories, especially involving other individuals.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Border Control: How Proteins Permit Entry To A Cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422953938/081016140800.htm
The means by which proteins provide a 'border control' service, allowing cells to take up chemicals and substances from their surroundings, whilst keeping others out, is revealed in unprecedented molecular detail for the first time, in the journal Science.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
'Lost' Miller-Urey Experiment Created More Of Life's Building Blocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422953939/081016141411.htm
A classic experiment proving amino acids are created when inorganic molecules are exposed to electricity isn't the whole story, it turns out. The 1953 Miller-Urey Synthesis had two sibling studies, neither of which was published. Vials containing the products from those experiments were recently recovered and reanalyzed using modern technology. The results are reported in this week's Science.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Human Microbiome Consortium To Investigate Role Of Microbes In Human Health And Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841638/081016124526.htm
Scientists from around the globe have formed the International Human Microbiome Consortium, an effort that will enable researchers to characterize the relationship of the human microbiome in the maintenance of health and in disease.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
New Solar Energy Material Captures Every Color Of The Rainbow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897013/081016132836.htm
Researchers have created a new material that overcomes two of the major obstacles to solar power: it absorbs all the energy contained in sunlight, and generates electrons in a way that makes them easier to capture. Chemists combined electrically conductive plastic with metals including molybdenum and titanium to create the hybrid material.
Sat, 18 Oct 08
Medical Textbooks Use White, Heterosexual Men As A 'Universal Model'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423841639/081015132108.htm
Images of white men predominate in western anatomy textbooks, which present them as a "universal model" of the human being. This is the main conclusion of a study that has analysed 16,329 images from 12 manuals currently recommended by 20 of the most prestigious universities in Europe, the United States and Canada.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
First Gamma-ray-only Pulsar Observation Opens New Window On Stellar Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423004963/081016141421.htm
About three times a second, a 10,000-year-old stellar corpse sweeps a beam of gamma-rays toward Earth. This object, known as a pulsar, is the first one known to "blink" only in gamma rays, and was discovered by the Large Area Telescope onboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Gene Screen To Identify Causes Of Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092539/081016074703.htm
A new screening method can be used to detect the chromosomal abnormalities most commonly associated with autism spectrum disorders. By screening for genetic defects associated with various kinds of cognitive impairment, the approach will help clinicians identify the underlying causes of some patients' autism spectrum disorders.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Prostate Cancer Gene Test Provides New Early Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092542/081016084055.htm
Currently, early detection of prostate cancer depends on an abnormal digital rectal examination and an elevated prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) level requiring a prostate biopsy, often associated with anxiety, discomfort, complications, and heavy expenses. Now researchers have developed a test using a new PCa gene-based marker that can be carried out with a urine sample.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Mathematicians Illuminate Deep Connection Between Classical And Quantum Physics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416780422/081010081650.htm
Mathematicians have proven a significant version of the quantum unique ergodicity conjecture. The new work, based in the pure mathematics area of number theory, illuminates deep connections between classical and quantum physics in what is being hailed as one of the best theorems of the year.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Better Beer: College Team Creating Anticancer Brew
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092543/081016162238.htm
College students often spend their free time thinking about beer, but a group of Rice University students are taking it to the next level. They're using genetic engineering to create beer that contains resveratrol, a chemical in wine that's been shown to reduce cancer and heart disease in lab animals.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Invisibility Cloak And Ultra-powerful Microscopes: New Research Field Promises Radical Advances In Optical Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423004962/081016141450.htm
A new research field called transformation optics may usher in a host of radical advances including a cloak of invisibility and ultra-powerful microscopes and computers by harnessing nanotechnology and "metamaterials."
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Bugs In The Gut Trigger Production Of Important Immune Cells, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092544/081015183450.htm
A new study reveals that specific types of bacteria in the intestine trigger the generation of pro-inflammatory immune cells, a finding that could eventually lead to novel treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and other diseases.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Neuroscientist Finds Transplanted Hand-to-brain Mapping 35 Years After Loss Of Limb
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416050437/081009143652.htm
Four months after a successful hand transplant -- 35 years after amputation in an industrial accident at age 19 -- a 54-year-old man's emerging sense of touch is registered in the former "hand area" of the his brain, says a University of Oregon neuroscientist.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Disease Leads To Vision Loss More Often In Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092545/081015183547.htm
A new study shows that men are more likely to lose vision as a result of a particular cause of intracranial hypertension, or increased pressure in the brain, than women with the condition.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
'CarTel' Aims To Reduce Commute Times, Detect Engine Woes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415897079/081009111035.htm
Dozens of cars in the Boston area are testing the latest generation of an MIT mobile-sensor network for traffic analysis that could help drivers cut their commuting time, alert them to potential engine problems and more.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
ER Staffs: Gaps Exist In Hospital Preparedness For Dirty Bombs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092546/081016162236.htm
Serious challenges remain in radioactivity readiness, according to a new study that finds emergency room doctors and nurses worry that hospitals are not adequately prepared to handle casualties from a radioactive 'dirty bomb.' Among the concerns is whether ER staffers, in a dirty bomb scenario, could protect themselves and give appropriate care, the study authors said.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Obesity, Abnormal 'Reward Circuitry' In Brain Linked: Gene Tied To Dopamine Signaling Also Implicated In Overeating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423004964/081016141415.htm
Using brain imaging and chocolate milkshakes, scientists have found that women with weakened "reward circuitry" in their brains are at increased risk of weight gain over time and potential obesity. The risk increases even more for women who also have a gene associated with compromised dopamine signaling in the brain.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Brain Function: Supersensitive Receptor Engineered, Gain Better Understanding Of Dopamine System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092547/081014145908.htm
Genetically modifying a receptor found on the neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine has given researchers a unique glimpse into the workings of the brain's dopamine system -- as well as a new target for treating diseases that result from either too much or too little of this critical neurotransmitter.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Human Brain Still Awake, Even During Deep Sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092548/081008101740.htm
Sleep in humans is divided in two main phases: non-REM sleep, which occupies most of our early sleep night, and REM sleep, during which our dreams prevail. Non-REM sleep is usually considered as a compensatory 'resting' state for the brain, following the intense waking brain activity. Now, new research challenges previous brain imaging studies which showed that the brain was less active during periods of non-REM sleep as compared to periods of wakefulness.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
New Look At Mini-strokes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092549/081009144111.htm
Like a burning fire, the brain is in constant need of oxygen, and when a blood vessel is blocked during a stroke, part of the brain becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, neurons in that part of the brain die off, leading to permanent loss of function in the parts of the body those neurons serve.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
What Causes Cell Defences To Crumble? Proteins In Mussels Act As Barrier To Toxic Environmental Chemicals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415721655/081009072718.htm
German and American researchers have for the first time identified complete gene sequences and function of two proteins in mussels that play a key defensive role against environmental toxicants. These proteins form part of an active, physiological barrier in mussel gills that protects them against environmental toxicants.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Could Dr. House Be Replaced By A Computer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897012/081016132839.htm
Computer scientists are cracking the code on the metabolism of human diseases. Scientists know that different normal and diseased tissues behave differently. But a method that tells them just how they do so may one day give medical science a new way to fight obesity, hypertension, diabetes and other dangerous disorders of the metabolism.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Scientists Use Light To Control Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423004965/081016141407.htm
Scientists have discovered a way to use light to control certain proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions. This discovery is one of the first examples of someone successfully controlling the activity of a protein using light. The technology eventually could be expanded to have multiple uses, including the ability to turn off the activities of some disease-causing proteins in the cell.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Scientists Trace Molecular Origin Of Proportional Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696845/081013124421.htm
When it comes to embryo formation in the lowly fruit fly, a little molecular messiness actually leads to enhanced developmental precision, according to a new study. The study provides new information about how cells choose their own fates, especially in maintaining the size relationship and proportionality of body parts during embryonic development.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Never Fear: It May Be OK To Let Your Kids Gorge On Candy This Halloween
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413790444/081007090054.htm
Halloween can present a very scary time of year for any parent concerned about their child's oral health. One pediatric dentist says that when his daughters go trick or treating, they come back with a pretty big haul -- but he lets them enjoy as much as they want.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Flu Vaccine Not Associated With Reduced Hospitalizations Or Outpatient Visits Among Young Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092550/081006180652.htm
Use of the influenza vaccine was not associated with preventing hospitalizations or reducing physician visits for the flu in children age 5 and younger during two recent seasons, perhaps because the strains of virus in the vaccine did not match circulating strains, according to new report.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Protein Shown To Play A Key Role In Normal Development Of Nervous System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092551/081007192528.htm
A protein that enables nerve cells to communicate with each other plays a key role in controlling the developing nervous system. Research into how that protein helps precise connections to form among nerve cells may provide a basis for eventual treatments for patients who suffer injuries to their nervous system, including spinal cord injury.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Racial Disparities In Cardiovascular Health Linked To Birth Weight, Slavery, Researchers Suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092552/081016124335.htm
Two new articles examine the theory of "fetal programming" and their effect on racial health disparities. The studies, published in American Journal of Human Biology, suggest that the higher rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease present in African Americans may be a consequence of low birth weights, and that these low birth weights may be a result of social rather than genetic factors.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Einstein's Relativity Survives Neutrino Test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421865757/081015144155.htm
Physicists working to disprove "Lorentz invariance" -- Einstein's prediction that matter and massless particles will behave the same no matter how they're turned or how fast they go -- won't get that satisfaction from muon neutrinos, at least for the time being, says a consortium of scientists.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Lack Of Vitamin D Linked To Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092553/081013171503.htm
A majority of Parkinson's patients in a clinical study had insufficient levels of vitamin D, significantly more than Alzheimer's patients or healthy elderly people. The finding suggests that lack of vitamin D may contribute to the risk of developing Parkinson's.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Portable Imaging System Will Help Maximize Public Health Response To Natural Disasters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092555/081006112101.htm
Researchers have developed a low-cost, high-resolution imaging system that can be attached to a helicopter to create a complete and detailed picture of an area devastated by a hurricane or other natural disaster. The resulting visual information can be used to estimate the number of storm refugees and assess the need for health and humanitarian services.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Is It Appendicitis? Symptoms Checklist Available For Doctors From Johns Hopkins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092556/081006180817.htm
A young child arrives at the emergency room after several days of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea and is sent home with a diagnosis of viral gastritis and treatment for the symptoms. The child seems better for a while, only to return to the ER with worse symptoms and a ruptured appendix, a life-threatening complication of appendicitis.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Brazilian Acai Berry Antioxidants Absorbed By Human Body, Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092559/081006112053.htm
A Brazilian palm berry, popular health food though little research has been done on it, now may have its purported benefits better understood. In the first research involving people, the acai berry has proven its ability to be absorbed in the human body when consumed both as juice and pulp.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Retail Display Fixtures Can Affect Consumer Perceptions Of Products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092570/081015130640.htm
In virtually all stores, consumers view products on display fixtures that are presumed to be of little consequence. Yet, suppose that you were shopping for a set of trendy new coffee mugs and noticed some on a nearby table or shelf. Would your evaluation of just how trendy the mugs are change depending on the display fixture's surface material -- the piece of glass or wood beneath the product? According to a new study, there is reason to believe so.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Gorilla Study Gives Clues To Human Language Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422861326/081016124524.htm
A new study provides evidence that gorilla communication is linked to the left hemisphere of the brain - just as it is in humans.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Researchers Continue To Find Genes For Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669321/081014114844.htm
Genetics researchers have identified two novel gene locations that raise the risk of type 1 diabetes. As they continue to reveal pieces of the complicated genetic puzzle for this disease, the researchers expect to improve predictive tests and devise preventive strategies.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Lichens Function As Indicators Of Nitrogen Pollution In Forests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092571/081006155929.htm
Scientists have found lichens can give insight into nitrogen air pollution effects on Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino mountain ecosystems, and protecting them provides safeguards for less sensitive species.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Formoterol For Asthma: Evidence Of Serious Adverse Effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092572/081007192437.htm
Asthma sufferers who regularly take the beta2-agonist formoterol are more likely to suffer non-fatal serious adverse events than those given placebos. A review carried out by Cochrane researchers showed a significantly increased risk for people who took the drug once or twice daily for at least 12 weeks.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Increased Retail Security With Smart Items
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092573/081006155943.htm
It is not uncommon for a few boxes of valuable goods to disappear from palettes on the way to retail outlets. That is why researchers in Germany are working on a new technical platform to safeguard such items. This involves using wireless ad-hoc sensor networks to create logistical information systems that allow them to be tracked along the entire distribution chain.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Study Looks At The Lives Of Boys Who Commit Dating Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423092574/081014204448.htm
A new study sheds light on the lives of teenage boys who abuse their girlfriends.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Computer Model Reveals Cells' Inner Workings: Could Help Tailor Chemotherapy Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061985/081016124039.htm
After spending years developing a computational model to help illuminate cell signaling pathways, a team of MIT researchers decided to see what would happen if they "broke" the model. The results reveal new ways in which cells process chemical information and could indicate how to maximize the effectiveness of disease treatments such as chemotherapy.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Scientists Propose Creation Of New Type Of Seed Bank
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422741411/081015144135.htm
While an international seed bank in a Norwegian island has been gathering news about its agricultural collection, a group of US scientists has just published an article outlining a different kind of seed bank, one that proposes the gathering of wild species -- at intervals in the future -- effectively capturing evolution in action.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Get Moving: New Research Shows Early Mobility Better Than Bed Rest For ICU Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061986/081007172826.htm
A critical care specialist who has reviewed recent studies of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and data from the Johns Hopkins Hospital concludes that the routine use of deep sedation and bed rest in ICU patients may be causing unnecessary and long-term physical impairment and poor quality of life after hospital discharge.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Is It A Bird, Is It A Plane? No It’s Supercopter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061987/081013112557.htm
Unmanned helicopters could soon be a key part of emergency relief operations, as well as bringing a new dimension to filmmaking, thanks to some innovative work done by European researchers.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Blindsight: How Brain Sees What You Do Not See
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061988/081014204444.htm
Blindsight is a phenomenon in which patients with damage in the primary visual cortex of the brain can tell where an object is although they claim they cannot see it. Scientists now provide compelling evidence that blindsight occurs because visual information is conveyed bypassing the primary visual cortex.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Colossal Black Holes Common In Early Universe, Spectacular Galactic Collision Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422861324/081016124331.htm
Astronomers think that many -- perhaps all -- galaxies in the universe contain massive black holes at their centers. New observations with the Submillimeter Array now suggest that such colossal black holes were common even 12 billion years ago, when the universe was only 1.7 billion years old and galaxies were just beginning to form. The new conclusion comes from the discovery of two distant galaxies, both with black holes at their heart, which are involved in a spectacular collision.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Gene Therapy Restores Vision To Mice With Retinal Degeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422897007/081016124250.htm
Researchers have used gene therapy to restore useful vision to mice with degeneration of the light-sensing retinal rods and cones, a common cause of human blindness. Their report describes the effects of broadly expressing a light-sensitive protein in other neuronal cells found throughout the retina.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Substantial Loss Of Carbon, Nitrogen From Burned Soils -- And Connections To Warming Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061989/081016124041.htm
A new study led by the Pacific Northwest Research Station represents the first direct evidence of the toll wildfire can take on forest soil layers. It draws on data from the 2002 Biscuit Fire, which scorched some 500,000 acres in southwest Oregon.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
High-altitude Climbing Causes Subtle Loss Of Brain Cells And Motor Function, Says Everest And K2 Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061990/081016084045.htm
A study of professional mountain climbers has shown that high-altitude exposure can cause subtle white and grey matter changes to the area of the brain involved in motor activity.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Microbes Useful For For Environmental Cleanup And Oil Recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061991/081016095145.htm
A unique, patent-pending microbial consortium can be used both for cleaning up the environment and addressing our energy needs. The Savannah River National Laboratory's BioTiger was originally developed for cleaning up oil-contaminated soils, but has also shown itself useful for increasing oil recovery from oil sands.
Fri, 17 Oct 08
Early Exposure To Drugs, Alcohol Creates Lifetime Of Health Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/423061992/081016124244.htm
Is it bad kids who do drugs, or doing drugs that makes kids bad? The answer is "both." People who began drinking and using marijuana regularly prior to their 15th birthday face a higher risk of early pregnancy, as well as a pattern of school failure, substance dependence, sexually-transmitted disease and criminal convictions that lasts into their 30s.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Global Warming Threatens Australia's Iconic Kangaroos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774367/081015120734.htm
An increase in average temperature of only two degrees Celsius could have a devastating effect on populations of Australia's iconic kangaroos.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Baby Formula Contamination May Be Linked To Pet Food Contamination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717255/081015110840.htm
A new study in Toxicological Sciences describes the kidney toxicity of melamine and cyanuric acid based on research that was done to characterize the toxicity of the compounds that contaminated pet food in North America in 2007. This research points to a possible link between the pet food contamination that occurred in North America in 2007 and the recent adulteration of milk protein and resultant intoxication of thousands of babies from Asia.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Methamphetamine Enters Brain Quickly And Lingers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331357/081014111303.htm
Using positron emission tomography to track tracer doses of methamphetamine in humans' brains, scientists find that the addictive and long-lasting effects of this increasingly prevalent drug can be explained in part by its pharmacokinetics -- the rate at which it enters and clears the brain, and its distribution.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Obtaining Kidney Transplants Abroad Carries Certain Medical Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331371/081015183454.htm
People traveling to other countries to receive kidney transplants experience more severe post-transplant complications with a higher incidence of acute rejection and severe infections, according to a new study. The findings suggest that such "transplant tourism" by Americans may not be as safe as receiving transplants in the United States.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Sensitive Laser Instrument Could Aid Search For Life On Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421660659/081015110234.htm
Minuscule traces of cells can be detected in a mineral likely present on Mars, researchers report in the current online issue of the peer-reviewed Geomicrobiology Journal. The results, obtained using a technique developed at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, could help mission scientists choose Martian surface samples with the most promise for yielding signs of life.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
10 Years On, High-school Social Skills Predict Better Earnings Than Test Scores
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774361/081015120749.htm
Ten years after graduation, high-school students who had been rated as conscientious and cooperative by their teachers were earning more than classmates who had similar test scores but fewer social skills, said a new study.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Movement Restored To Paralyzed Limbs In Monkeys Through Artificial Brain-muscle Connections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421920033/081015144129.htm
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a direct artificial connection from the brain to muscles can restore voluntary movement in monkeys whose arms have been temporarily anesthetized.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Coastal Dead Zones May Benefit Some Species, Scientist Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777578/081014134025.htm
A Brown ecologist has found that coastal "dead zones" may not be so dead after all. In a paper published this month in the journal Ecology, Andrew Altieri has found that the commercially valuable quahog clam thrives in hypoxic waters in Narragansett Bay -- partly because the clam's predators flee the low-oxygen areas.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Preventing Colds: Washing Your Hands Is More Effective Than Taking Vitamins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331385/081009111038.htm
Many people have started taking vitamin C tablets as a precautionary measure. But research has shown that vitamin supplements do not provide nearly as much protection as other measures, like frequently washing your hands -- and that high doses can even be harmful.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Creating Wireless Network Using Visible Light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331401/081006130548.htm
Researchers are developing a new generation of wireless communications based on visible light instead of radio waves. This capability would piggyback data communications capabilities on low-power light emitting diodes or LEDs to create "smart lighting." This technology would also be more secure and faster than current network technology -- all over existing power lines with low power consumption, high reliability and no electromagnetic interference.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Safety Decisions Often Based On Incomplete Scientific Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717257/081015110749.htm
Professionals may overlook important information when they search for research findings about injury prevention and safety promotion. The typical search uses no more than one or two online databases, and often only familiar search terms are used thereby limiting the search even further.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Earth-like Planets May Be Easier To Find Than Previously Thought: Young Planets Stay Hotter Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421865759/081015144137.htm
Hot, young planets may be easier to spot because they stay that way longer than astronomers have thought. A new study shows that newborn Earth-like planets could be easier to find than previously thought.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Drug May Reduce Coronary Artery Plaque
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418720896/081012121318.htm
New research suggests that olmesartan, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, may play a role in reducing coronary plaque.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Virus As Nano-building Block: Extreme Nature Helps Scientists Design Nano Materials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669325/081014092722.htm
Scientists are using designs in nature from extreme environments to overcome the challenges of producing materials on the nanometre scale. They have now identified a stable, modifiable virus that could be used as a nanobuilding block.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
New Guidelines Urge Physical Activity During Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331425/081008151322.htm
Moderate physical activity during pregnancy does not contribute to low birth weight, premature birth or miscarriage and may actually reduce the risk of complications, according to a Michigan State University professor who contributed to the US government's first-ever guidelines on physical activity.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
'Two In One' Enzyme: Unusually Flexible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/412929689/081006093026.htm
Scientists have solved the structure of an unusually flexible enzyme in a virus that infects marine bacteria.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Death Rate 70 Percent Lower At Top-rated Hospitals: HealthGrades Annual Hospital Quality Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331437/081014092355.htm
Patients have on average a 70 percent lower chance of dying at the nation's top-rated hospitals compared with the lowest-rated hospitals across 17 procedures and conditions analyzed in the eleventh annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. Based on the study, HealthGrades today made available its 2009 quality ratings for all nonfederal hospitals in the country at www.healthgrades.com.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Quantum Mechanical 'Hurricanes' Form Spontaneously In Super-Cold Gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331450/081015183545.htm
Scientists have discovered experimentally that when super-cold gas becomes a Bose-Einstein condensate, it can spontaneously spin up what might be described as quantum mechanical twisters or hurricanes.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Gene With Probable Role In Human Susceptibility To Pulmonary Tuberculosis Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415897080/081009111030.htm
A new gene that may confer susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis has been identified. First time that gene, toll-like receptor 8, linked to bacterial infections.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Decline In Alaskan Sea Otters Affects Bald Eagles' Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/410278645/081003081635.htm
Sea otters are known as a keystone species, filling such an important niche in ocean communities that without them, entire ecosystems can collapse. Scientists are finding, however, that sea otters can have even farther-reaching effects that extend to terrestrial communities and alter the behavior of another top predator: the bald eagle.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Simpler Diagnostic Method May Be As Effective At Detecting Blood Clot In The Leg
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331463/081007172814.htm
A comparison of two diagnostic methods used to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT; a blood clot in a deep vein in the leg or thigh) of the lower extremities indicates that a simpler method, with wider availability, has rates of DVT detection that are equivalent to a more complex method, according to a new study.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
New Instrument Puts New Spin On Superconductors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331476/081010172447.htm
The race to understand the latest superconducting iron-arsenic compounds has taken another step forward. Researchers have used a brand new instrument that indicates the compound's superconducting properties could be related to magnetic spins rather than lattice vibrations.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Obama's and McCain's Technology Policies Examined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774368/081015120729.htm
As the 2008 presidential election enters its final month, researchers have found some sharp differences -- and surprising similarities -- in the two major candidates' positions on technology policy.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Magellanic Group And Its Seven Dwarf Galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717253/081015110842.htm
Astronomers have proposed a new theory for the formation of dwarf galaxies. Researchers solve several outstanding problems by comparing observed dwarfs to supercomputer simulations of their formation.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Probiotic Bacteria Don't Make Eczema Better, And May Have Side Effects, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331488/081007192433.htm
There is no evidence probiotics can relieve the symptoms of eczema, but there is some evidence that they may occasionally cause infections and gut problems. These findings from the Cochrane Library come at a time when use of probiotics to treat eczema is increasing.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Novel Imaging Approach May Assist In Predicting Success Of Treatment For Atrial Fibrillation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331501/081007155056.htm
Researchers have developed a magnetic resonance imaging-based method for detecting and quantifying injury to the wall of the heart's left atrium in patients who have undergone a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Computer Grids Get Down To Business
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420614004/081014092842.htm
New technology developed by European researchers allows companies to deploy their business processes using grid computing and, even better, it validates a platform that gives easy access to grid resources. It is a big deal.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Deal Or No Deal? The Role Of Emotions In Negotiating Offers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422331515/081015100049.htm
Do skilled negotiators simply go with their gut instinct every time or are they just extremely calculating, figuring out all possible outcomes before making a choice? Researchers examined how emotions affect our negotiating skills by having participants play a negotiation game. Their results show that emotional players were more focused on the "gist" of the offer itself (and what felt good), rather than on calculating the probabilities of payoff.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Details Of Evolutionary Transition From Fish To Land Animals Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421865756/081015144123.htm
New research has provided the first detailed look at the internal head skeleton of Tiktaalik roseae, the 375-million-year-old fossil animal that represents an important intermediate step in the evolutionary transition from fish to animals that walked on land. A predator, up to nine feet long, with sharp teeth, a crocodile-like head and a flattened body, Tiktaalik's anatomy and way of life straddle the divide between fish and land-living animals.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Brain-nourishing Molecule May Predict Schizophrenia Relapse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717258/081015110300.htm
A factor that helps optimize brain formation and function may also provide clues about whether patients suffering with schizophrenia are headed toward relapse, researchers say.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Being Altruistic May Make You Attractive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777577/081014134027.htm
Displays of altruism or selflessness towards others can be sexually attractive in a mate. In three studies of more than 1,000 people, researchers discovered that women place significantly greater importance on altruistic traits than anything else.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Public Health Experts Discover New Information About Diabetes' Link To Tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422003154/081014171009.htm
New evidence shows that patients with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of contracting tuberculosis because of a compromised immune system, resulting in life-threatening lung infections that are more difficult to treat.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
New Computer Program Improves Search For People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/422003155/081015100043.htm
A new computer program speeds up the process of finding the right person in an organization's network. This technique can also make it easier to search for specific people on the Internet.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
A Walk In The Park Improves Attention In Children With ADHD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421774363/081015120742.htm
For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tasks that require concentration such as doing homework or taking a test can be very difficult. A simple, inexpensive remedy may be a "dose of nature."
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Violently Variable Black Holes Probed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717254/081015110838.htm
Unique observations of the flickering light from the surroundings of two black holes provide new insights into the colossal energy that flows at their hearts. By mapping out how well the variations in visible light match those in X-rays on very short timescales, astronomers have shown that magnetic fields must play a crucial role in the way black holes swallow matter.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Breast Is Best In Fight Against Childhood Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669324/081014092724.htm
Breast feeding is linked to a lower incidence in asthma in young children, according to a new study.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Did Pirates Create The Credit Crunch?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717256/081015110751.htm
As the world’s money markets do their best to combat the Credit Crunch, a politics lecturer has discovered that the root of modern democracy’s money woes may lay with the first corporations – pirates.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
In A Last 'Stronghold' For Endangered Chimpanzees, Survey Finds Drastic Decline
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696846/081013124419.htm
In a population survey of West African chimpanzees living in Côte d'Ivoire, researchers estimate that this endangered subspecies has dropped in numbers by a whopping 90 percent since the last survey was conducted 18 years ago. The few remaining chimpanzees are now highly fragmented, with only one viable population living in Taï National Park, according to a report in Current Biology.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Searching The Internet Increases Brain Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669322/081014111043.htm
Scientists have found that for computer-savvy middle-aged older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The findings demonstrate that Web search activity may help stimulate and possibly improve brain function.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
People With Autism Make More Rational Decisions, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421717252/081015110228.htm
People with autism-related disorders are less likely to make irrational decisions, and are less influenced by gut instincts, according to new research. The study adds to the growing body of research implicating altered emotional processing in autism.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Resveratrol Prevents Fat Accumulation In Livers Of 'Alcoholic' Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421660649/081014134019.htm
A new study shows that a substance found in grapes, red wine and peanuts, prevents alcoholic fatty liver by coordinating molecules that control fat metabolism. The accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of chronic alcohol consumption could be prevented by consuming resveratrol, according to the study with mice. The research found that resveratrol reduced the amount of fat produced in the liver of mice fed alcohol and, at the same time, increased the rate at which fat within the liver is broken down.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Why Do Women Get More Cavities Than Men?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420725307/081014111046.htm
Reproduction pressures and rising fertility explain why women suffered a more rapid decline in dental health than did men as humans transitioned from hunter-and-gatherers to farmers and more sedentary pursuits, says an anthropologist.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
More Americans Have, Get Treated For High Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421660650/081014111357.htm
An analysis of data from two national health studies shows that more US adults have hypertension than ever before. The percent of those aware of, being treated for and having the disorder under control has increased and as a result more people are living with rather than dying from hypertension. Researchers say the nation's obesity epidemic is a major factor for the increase in hypertension prevalence.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
NASA's Phoenix Lander Weathers Martian Dust Storm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421660651/081015104753.htm
The Phoenix Lander over the weekend successfully weathered a regional dust storm that temporarily lowered its solar power, and the team is back investigating the Red Planet's northern plains.
Thu, 16 Oct 08
Subconscious Encounters: How Brand Exposure Affects Your Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421660652/081014111202.htm
Products with visible brand names are everywhere; many times we don't even notice them. But how much do those unnoticed exposures affect brand choices? Quite a bit, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
World's Oldest Fossil Impression Of Flying Insect Discovered: Found In Suburban Strip Mall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919724/081014134015.htm
While paleontologists may scour remote, exotic places in search of prehistoric specimens, Tufts researchers have found what they believe to be the world's oldest whole-body fossil impression of a flying insect in a wooded field behind a strip mall in North Attleboro, Mass.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Marijuana Use Takes Toll On Adolescent Brain Function, Research Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919727/081014111156.htm
Brain imaging shows that the brains of teens that use marijuana are working harder than the brains of their peers who abstain from the drug.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Nanodiamond Drug Device Could Transform Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919728/081002172244.htm
Researchers have developed a promising nanomaterial-based biomedical device that could be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs locally to sites where cancerous tumors have been surgically removed. The team demonstrated that the flexible microfilm device, which resembles a piece of plastic wrap and can be customized easily into different shapes, releases the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin in a sustained and consistent manner. The device takes advantage of nanodiamonds, an emergent technology.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Key Mechanism Regulating Neural Stem Cell Development Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919729/081008150455.htm
Scintists have discovered a novel mechanism that regulates how neural stem cells of the retina generate the appropriate cell type at the right time during normal development. These findings could influence the development of future cell replacement therapies for genetic eye diseases that cause blindness.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
New Comet Discovered By Canadian Astronomer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777579/081014134023.htm
Rob Cardinal was looking for an asteroid, but ended up finding a comet. There is not much known yet about the Cardinal comet. Scientists are trying to determine more information about its orbit, whether its passing by Earth is periodic or whether it will only come by the sun once, which would mean its orbit is parabolic.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
What Do You Know? Not As Much As You Think
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919730/081014111355.htm
We've all met know-it-alls -- people who think they know more than they actually do. If they're talking about products, like wine or motorcycles, they might actually know as much as they think. But when it comes to health plans, social policy, or nutrition, they might not, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
New Evidence Provides An Alternative Route 'Out Of Africa' For Early Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919731/081014114848.htm
The widely held belief that the Nile valley was the most likely route out of sub-Saharan Africa for early modern humans 120,000 year ago is challenged. A new team shows that wetter conditions reached a lot further north than previously thought, providing a wet 'corridor' through Libya for early human migrations. The results also help explain inconsistencies between archaeological finds.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Protein Made In Liver Restores Blood Glucose In Type 1 Diabetes Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919732/081014111311.htm
A protein made by the liver in response to inflammation and used to treat patients suffering from a genetic form of emphysema has been shown to restore blood glucose levels in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus, according to a new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Neurons In Zebrafish May Reveal Clues To The Wiring Of The Human Ear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919733/081002211401.htm
Developing neurons tend to play the field, making more connections than they will ever need. Then the weakest are cut. But scientists now show that neurons in young zebrafish -- vertebrates, like humans -- behave differently: They immediately find a cluster of specialized cells and make the right match. The findings may help reveal the mechanism by which analogous cells are wired in the human ear and eventually help those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Memory Improves If Neurons Are New
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919734/081007132511.htm
The birth of new neurons (neurogenesis) does not end completely during development but continues throughout all life in two areas of the adult nervous system, i.e. subventricular zone and hippocampus. Recent research has shown that hippocampal neurogenesis is crucial for memory formation. These studies, however, have not yet clarified how the newborn neurons are integrated in the existing circuits and thus contribute to new memories formation and to the maintenance of old ones.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Dramatically Extending Lifetime Of Organic Solar Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919735/081014160813.htm
Scientists have developed a method to stabilize the nanomorphology of organic solar cells resulting in a lifetime improvement of at least a factor 10. With these stabilized solar cells, efficiencies were achieved comparable to state-of-the-art organic solar cells. This breakthrough paves the way to commercial organic solar cells with an operational lifetime of over 5 years and efficiencies of over 10%.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Pajama Gamblers Could Lose Their Shirts: Online Gambling Can Be Dangerously Comfortable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919736/081014111158.htm
People who gamble from the comfort of their home tend to think they're more in control of their gambling than people who gamble in casinos, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Challenge To Discover Antarctica’s Hidden World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919737/081014160743.htm
Later this month teams of scientists, engineers, pilots and support staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), USA, Germany, Australia, China and Japan will join forces for one of the most scientifically, technically ambitious and physically demanding Antarctic projects yet to be undertaken.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Ancient Chinese Salad Plant Transformed Into New Cancer-killing Compound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919738/081014111309.htm
Researchers have updated a traditional Chinese medicine to create a compound that is more than 1,200 times more specific in killing certain kinds of cancer cells than currently available drugs, heralding the possibility of a more effective chemotherapy drug with minimal side effects.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Turning Freshwater Farm Ponds Into Crab Farms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/410699706/081003191417.htm
Biologist are working to grow and harvest blue crabs from freshwater ponds, instead of from the sea.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Herbal Menopause Therapy A Good Fit For Breast Cancer Patients?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919740/081007120423.htm
When it comes to understanding the effectiveness and safety of using herbal therapies with other drugs, much is unknown. Now, a researcher will study how black cohosh -- an herbal supplement often used to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women -- interacts with tamoxifen, a common drug used to treat breast cancer.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Smart Solutions Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919741/081014160737.htm
Better house envelopes, more efficient energy supply systems, and use of biofuels for heating buildings would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. Buildings account for 36% of Sweden’s energy consumption, and many homes are still heated with electricity. Existing houses therefore have a key role to play in reducing the use of electricity in Sweden.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Filling In The Blanks: Consumers Want Complete Information To Make Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919742/081014111206.htm
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines the way consumers behave when information about a purchase is incomplete. The study suggests that there are ways for marketers to reduce the number of customers who leave empty handed.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Did Termites Help Katrina Destroy New Orleans Floodwalls And Levees?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777576/081014134102.htm
A new article suggests that Formosan subterranean termites played a large role in the destruction of floodwalls and levees during Hurricane Katrina.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Critical Genetic Link Found Between Human Taste Differences And Nicotine Dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919743/081014111301.htm
Researchers report that two interacting genes related to bitter taste sensitivity, TAS2R16 and TAS2R38, play an important role in a person's development of nicotine dependence and smoking behavior. The researchers found that people with higher taste sensitivity aren't as likely to become dependent on nicotine as people with decreased taste sensitivity.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Surface Tension Drives Segregation Within Cell Mixtures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919744/081006130546.htm
What does a mixture of two different kinds of cells have in common with a mixture of oil and water? The same basic force causes both mixtures to separate into two distinct regions. That is the conclusion of a new 3-D computer model of the cell sorting process.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Insight On Common Heart Rhythm Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919745/081007120427.htm
Researchers have identified a gene variant that causes a potentially fatal human heart rhythm disorder called sinus node disease. While the newly discovered gene variant is rare, the study provides insight into cellular mechanisms that regulate sinus node function and identifies an unanticipated new pathway for developing future therapies to regulate more common forms of sinus node disease.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Early-stage Gene Transcription Creates Access To DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919746/081006130459.htm
An international team of researchers, probing how a yeast cell senses its cellular environment and makes decisions about whether or not to express a gene, finds the process of transcribing non-coding RNAs is required for the eventual production of the protein-encoding RNA. The transient synthesis of these non-coding RNAs serves to unfurl the tightly wound DNA, essentially loosening the structure to allow for gene expression.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Landmark Study Links Sleep, Memory Problems In Elderly African-Americans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420919747/081014111048.htm
A landmark study shows that African-American seniors who have trouble falling asleep are at higher risk of having memory problems -- raising the possibility that identifying and treating sleep difficulties in the elderly may help preserve their cognitive functioning. The study is the first to examine the link between sleep and cognitive functioning in older African-Americans.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Both Genetic And Environmental Factors Contribute To The Process Of Disability Retirement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/421115779/081014213518.htm
The research findings of the new study clarify the complex process and the risk factors of work disability. The Finnish research group found a moderate genetic contribution to the variation of disability retirement.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Targeting Space Debris Using Networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669307/081013112443.htm
How to deal with the ever-increasing problem of space debris, poses a major challenge for space agencies, industry and academia around the globe. Now, research suggests a new technique for identifying key pieces of debris that should be targeted for removal from orbit.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Discovery May Lead To Treatment For Neurodegenerative Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420813486/081009144103.htm
Over the past several decades, many laboratories have studied the communication between nerve cells and muscle fibers that are crucial to form and maintain neuromuscular synapses. Now, researchers have found that a protein named Lrp4 is the missing link that allows communication between two crucial molecules -- one derived from the nerve and the other from muscle -- that enables the formation of the synapse.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Bays On US Gulf Coast Vulnerable To Flooding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420813487/081002172434.htm
The most comprehensive geological review ever undertaken of the upper US Gulf Coast suggests that a combination of rising seas and dammed rivers could flood large swaths of wetlands this century in one or more bays from Alabama to Texas. The findings stem from bayfloor sediment samples, radiocarbon tests and seismic surveys compiled over 30 years.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
New Therapeutic Treatment Approach Improves Survival In Esophageal Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/412878771/081006102539.htm
A new study has found that a new therapeutic treatment, when delivered endoscopically and used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, improved survival rates in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Cancer of the esophagus often has a poor survival rate.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Time Of Day Influences Yield For Pharmacologically Stimulated Stem Cell Mobilization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420813488/081008150441.htm
A new study uncovers a previously unrecognized, species-specific impact of circadian rhythms on the production of mobilized stem cells. The research suggests that when it comes to collecting human stem cells for clinical transplantation, picking the right time of day to harvest cells may result in a greater yield.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
How Are Children Choosing Their Food Portions?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413790445/081007085534.htm
Researchers are trying to pinpoint the factors that affect how much food a child eats, to stave off unhealthy relationships with food later in life.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Lunar Prospecting Robot To Be Field Tested On Hawaii's Mauna Kea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420777574/081014134111.htm
The cool, rocky slopes of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that is Hawaii's highest mountain, will serve as a stand-in for the moon as researchers test a robot designed for lunar prospecting.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Why Sufferers From Alzheimer's Disease Might Have Lower Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669309/081014111050.htm
A new study proposes that some people suffering from Alzheimer's disease experience a reduction in their high blood pressure because of cognitive decline.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
How 'Sandfish' Swim: Could Help Materials Handling And Process Technology Specialists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669311/081003122547.htm
It moves as quickly in sand as a fish moves through water, which is why this lizard, a species of skink (Scincus scincus) that grows to about 15 cm long and lives in the deserts of North Africa and the Near East, is commonly known by the name "sandfish."
Wed, 15 Oct 08
New Risk Factor For Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418609527/081012094307.htm
The greater the levels of a protein called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), the greater the risk of prostate cancer, a new study has found.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Genome Of A Monkey-human Malaria Parasite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669314/081008151114.htm
Researchers have decoded the genome of a malaria parasite that infects humans and monkeys. Human infection with P. knowlesi was first reported just over 40 years ago. It is the fifth and emerging human malaria parasite: recent surveys that many P. knowlesi infections have been misdiagnosed, underestimating its prevalence. The genome sequence reveals a dramatic example of 'molecular mimicry' that is likely to be crucial for survival and propagation of the parasite in the body.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
When Seeing IS Believing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669316/081003081639.htm
New research published in the journal Science explains why individuals seek to find and impose order on an unruly world through superstition, rituals and conspiratorial explanations by linking a loss of control to individual perceptions.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Despite 'Peacenik' Reputation, Bonobos Hunt And Eat Other Primates, Too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696847/081013124416.htm
Unlike the male-dominated societies of their chimpanzee relatives, bonobo society -- in which females enjoy a higher social status than males -- has a "make-love-not-war" kind of image. While chimpanzee males frequently band together to hunt and kill monkeys, the more peaceful bonobos were believed to restrict what meat they do eat to forest antelopes, squirrels and rodents.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Scientists Trigger Cancer-like Response From Embryonic Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669317/081013171415.htm
Scientists have discovered a new control over embryonic stem cells' behavior. The researchers disrupted a natural bioelectrical mechanism within frog embryonic stem cells and trigged a cancer-like response, including increased cell growth, change in cell shape, and invasion of the major body organs. This research shows that electrical signals are a powerful control mechanism that can be used to modulate cell behavior.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Rising Arctic Storm Activity Sways Sea Ice, Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669318/081006180815.htm
A new NASA study shows that the rising frequency and intensity of arctic storms over the last half century, attributed to progressively warmer waters, directly provoked acceleration of the rate of arctic sea ice drift, long considered by scientists as a bellwether of climate change.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Noxious Gas Stove Emissions Worsen Asthma Symptoms In Young Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419748108/081013131530.htm
Scientists report that high levels of a noxious gas from stoves can be added to the list of indoor pollutants that aggravate asthma symptoms of inner-city children, especially preschoolers.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Computers That Understand How You Feel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669319/081014092836.htm
A navigation system able to provide emergency services with the quickest route while at the same time taking stress into account; this is an example of a new type of dialogue system just developed. The dialogue system recognizes the user’s emotions and is able to react to them.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Soothing Music Reduces Stress, Anxiety And Depression During Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420669320/081006093020.htm
Music therapy can reduce psychological stress among pregnant women, according to research just published in a special complementary and alternative therapy medicine issue of the UK-based Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Men Who Never Smoke Live Longer, Better Lives Than Heavy Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420580401/081013171425.htm
Health-related quality of life appears to deteriorate as the number of cigarettes smoked per day increases, even in individuals who subsequently quit smoking, according to new research.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Pectin Power: Why Fruits And Vegetables May Protect Against Cancer's Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419508342/081013084334.htm
Scientists from the UK's Institute of Food Research have found a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers. They have shown that a fragment released from pectin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
Caffeine Consumption Not Associated With Breast Cancer Risk In Most Women, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420580402/081013171427.htm
Caffeine consumption does not appear to be associated with overall breast cancer risk, according to a new report. However, there is a possibility of increased risk for women with benign breast disease or for tumors that are hormone-receptor negative or larger than 2 centimeters.
Wed, 15 Oct 08
NASA's Mars Odyssey Shifting Orbit For Extended Mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420580403/081013172349.htm
The longest-serving of six spacecraft now studying Mars is up to new tricks for a third two-year extension of its mission to examine the most Earthlike of known foreign planets. NASA's Mars Odyssey is altering its orbit to gain even better sensitivity for its infrared mapping of Martian minerals. During the mission extension through September 2010, it will also point its camera with more flexibility than it has ever used before. Odyssey reached Mars in 2001.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Playing Pinball With Atoms: How To Turn Nanotech Devices On And Off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094660/081006170627.htm
With nanotechnology yielding a burgeoning menagerie of microscopic pumps, motors, and other machines for potential use in medicine and industry, here is one good question: How will humans turn those devices on and off?
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Toward An Effective Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637182/081013110208.htm
Scientists are reporting a key advance toward developing the first effective drug treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease that involves motor neuron loss and occurs in 1 out of every 6,000 births. SMA is the leading cause of hereditary infant death in the United States.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Nanoscopic Screening Process To Speed Drug Discovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094661/081006130505.htm
Researchers are using nanotechnology to search for new cancer-fighting drugs through a process that could be up to 10,000 times faster than current methods.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Bacteria That Can Cause Bone Infections Related To Tuberculosis Pathogen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094663/081013112449.htm
Scientists have discovered that a bone infection is caused by a newly described species of bacteria that is related to the tuberculosis pathogen. The discovery may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of similar infections, according to an article in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
High Powered New Explosive Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416881209/081010102718.htm
Scientists have developed a novel tetranitrate ester, which is solid at room temperature, is a highly powerful explosive, and can be melt-cast into the desired shape.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Drinking Alcohol Associated With Smaller Brain Volume
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094664/081013171421.htm
The more alcohol an individual drinks, the smaller his or her total brain volume. Brain volume decreases with age at an estimated rate of 1.9 percent per decade, accompanied by an increase in white matter lesions, according to background information in the article.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
New Gene Found That Helps Plants Beat The Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094665/081006180803.htm
Plant scientists have discovered another piece of the genetic puzzle that controls how plants respond to high temperatures. That may allow plant breeders to create new varieties of crops that flourish in warmer, drier climates.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Common Variant Increase Risk Of Most Common Form Of Skin Cancer By 170%
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094666/081013141438.htm
Scientists report the discovery of common versions of two single-letter variations in the human genome (SNPs) that confer risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common cancer among people of European ancestry. Unlike the four sets of SNPs previously found by deCODE to confer risk of BCC and cutaneous melanoma, those reported today are not linked to fair pigmentation traits that also make certain people prone to freckling and sunburn.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Tropical Wetlands Hold More Carbon Than Temperate Marshes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414854811/081008091125.htm
Tropical wetlands are able to absorb and hold onto about 80 percent more carbon than can wetlands in temperate zones, according to a new study. The scientists extracted soil cores from wetlands in Costa Rica and in Ohio and analyzed the contents of the sediment from the past 40 years. Based on their analysis, they estimated that the tropical wetland accumulated a little over 1 ton of carbon per acre per year, and the temperate wetland accumulated .6 tons of carbon per acre per year.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Vision Loss More Common In People With Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094667/081013171433.htm
Visual impairment appears to be more common in people with diabetes than in those without the disease, according to a new report.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Byproduct Of Steel Shows Potential In Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637181/081013110345.htm
With steelworks around the world emitting huge amounts of carbon dioxide, scientists are reporting that a byproduct of steel production could be used to absorb that greenhouse gas to help control global warming.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Signs Of Heart Disease Are Attributed To Stress More Frequently In Women Than Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418720898/081012121314.htm
Coronary heart disease symptoms presented in the context of a stressful life event were identified as psychogenic in origin when presented by women and organic in origin when presented by men. The study could help explain why there is often a delay in the assessment of women with heart disease.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Archaeological Dig Uncovers Roman Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094668/081013210144.htm
Archaeologists have dug up a mystery worthy of Indiana Jones, one that includes a tomb, skeletons and burial rites with both Christian and pagan elements.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Embryonic Heart Exhibits Impressive Regenerative Capacity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696844/081013124423.htm
A new study demonstrates that the embryonic mouse heart has an astounding capacity to regenerate, a phenomenon previously observed only in non-mammalian species. The research describes the previously unrecognized potential of the embryonic heart to replace diseased tissue through compensatory proliferation of healthy cells.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
New Knowledge About Thermoelectric Materials Could Give Better Energy Efficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094669/081007102841.htm
New research could be used to develop motors that are more fuel-efficient and provide for more environmentally friendly cooling methods. The new data describes properties of thermoelectric materials.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Unraveling The Complexity Of Human Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637178/081013111942.htm
The mysteries of the human genome are slowly being revealed -- but the more we uncover the more complicated the picture becomes. This was one key message to emerge from the European Science Foundation's 3rd Functional Genomics Conference. Functional genomics describes the way in which genes and their products, proteins, interact together in complex networks in living cells. If these interactions are abnormal, diseases can result.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Significant Process In Creating 3D Stacked Integrated Chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696842/081013125723.htm
A nanoelectronics research institute has announced that it has made significant progress with its 3D-SIC (3D stacked IC) technology. Scientists recently demonstrated the first functional 3D integrated circuits obtained by die-to-die stacking using 5µm Cu through-silicon vias (TSV). The next step is to further develop 3D SIC chips on 200mm and 300mm wafers.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Five Basic Things To Know About Stem Cell Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419748107/081013132250.htm
In just a few weeks, voters will have an important decision to make when casting their ballots. Not just who they want to be president, or to represent them in Congress, but what they want the state to do about stem cells. And the way they vote on a ballot measure called Proposal 2 will determine the fate of a Michigan law that currently restricts research using embryonic stem cells.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
New Guidelines Double Amount Of Recommended Vitamin D For Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094672/081013141737.htm
The American Academy of Pediatrics is doubling the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children and adolescents. The new clinical report, "Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency in Infants, Children, and Adolescents," recommends all children receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D, beginning in the first few days of life.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Why Starving Cells Prolong Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637179/081013111940.htm
Cellular damage due to stress is an important factor in aging processes. It is, thus, amazing that starving, which is a stress factor per se, decelerates ageing processes and extends the lifespan of organisms. It has long been known that proteins from the sirtuin family contribute to this mechanism.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Minimal Composting Of Beef Cattle Manure Greatly Reduces Antibiotic Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094674/081013200632.htm
Composting beef cattle manure, even with minimal management, can significantly reduce the concentrations of antibiotics in the manure. Scientists found that composting manure from beef cattle could reduce concentrations of antibiotics by more than 99 percent.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Circumcision Not Associated With Reduced Risk Of HIV For Men Who Have Sex With Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094677/081007172820.htm
An analysis of previous research indicates there is a lack of sufficient evidence that circumcision reduces the risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection or other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men, according to a new article.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Brightening The Future For Optical Circuits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094678/081013112555.htm
By working together to share costs and know-how, European researchers are shaking up the way research and development is carried out on optical chips.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Pregnancy Does Not Affect Cognitive Functions, Despite Mothers' Fears: Australian Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/420094682/081010100459.htm
Pregnancy and motherhood may make us all go a little gooey, but it's not turning mums' brains into mush, according to mental health researchers in Australia.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Huge Gap Between World Demand For Fish And What Can Be Sustainably Harvested
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637177/081013111947.htm
There is a huge gap between world demand for fish and what we can harvest from the world's natural stocks. The figures are clear: If we don't do something about the over fishing, the stocks of wild fish will be dealt a death blow. At the same time, the world's population continues to grow -- and with it the global demand for food.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
First Evidence That Common Pollutant May Reduce Iodine Levels In Breast Milk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637184/081013105309.htm
Researchers in Texas are reporting the first evidence from human studies that perchlorate, a common pollutant increasingly found in food and water, may interfere with an infant's availability of iodine in breast milk. Iodine deficiency in infants can cause mental retardation and other health problems, the scientists note. The study also provides further evidence that iodine intake in U.S. mothers is low and that perchlorate may play a key role.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Atlantic Tuna Return Thousands Of Miles To Birthplace To Spawn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783460/081002172443.htm
Scientists have found new migratory patterns for Mediterranean and western Atlantic bluefin tuna. The Atlantic bluefin tuna is the largest and most sought-after of all tunas, weighing as much as 1,400 pounds and capable of fetching as much as $50,000 or more in Asian markets where its meat is a prized commodity, one big reason why its numbers have declined precipitously since the 1970s. New research findings reported in Science have critical implications for how bluefin tuna are managed.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Wheezing And Asthma In Young Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783461/081007123649.htm
The diagnosis of asthma in a young child may well be more challenging to pediatricians than previously appreciated, according to a review of research and clinical experience literature.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Sound Is An Integral Part Of Products, Industrial Designer Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/412878775/081006093033.htm
Does coffee taste better when your coffee machine produces a particular sound? According to one industrial designer, the sound a product makes is an integral part of that product.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Just A Numbers Game? Making Sense Of Health Statistics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783462/081010172449.htm
Health statistics fill today's information environment, but even most doctors, who must make daily decisions and recommendations based on numerical data, lack the basic statistical literacy they require to make such decisions effectively. A major new report in Psychological Science in the Public Interest shows that statistical illiteracy is a significant problem having widespread negative impact on healthcare and society.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Machines Edge Closer To Imitating Human Communication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419637176/081013112148.htm
At a major artificial intelligence competition, machines have come close to imitating human communication.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Response To Immune Protein Determines Pathology Of Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419587567/081013105307.htm
New research may help reveal why different parts of the brain can come under attack in patients with multiple sclerosis. According to a new study in mice with an MS-like disease, the brain's response to a protein produced by invading T cells dictates whether it's the spinal cord or cerebellum that comes under fire.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
New Properties Of Skin Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696849/081013111934.htm
New research reveals completely new properties of the skin’s stem cells – discoveries that contradict previous findings. The studies, which are published in Nature Genetics, show amongst other things, that hair follicle stem cells can divide actively and transport themselves through the skin tissue.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Reason For Body’s Response To Borrelia Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783463/081007132505.htm
Inside a cell it is so crowded that a certain protein from borrelia winds up being crunched. From having been like an oblong rugby football, it gets bent and then collapses into a lump. At this point a previously hidden part appears, known to trigger the formation of antibodies. This explains how Borrelia can be diagnosed, a process that was previously unknown.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Paleozoic 'Sediment Curve' Provides New Tool For Tracking Sea-floor Sediment Movements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783464/081002172538.htm
As the world looks for more energy, the oil industry will need more refined tools for discoveries in places where searches have never before taken place, geologists say. A new tool follows sea-level rise and fall between 542 and 251 million years ago.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
One Hour Of Moderate Daily Exercise Insufficient To Curb Childhood Obesity, Experts Argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416881211/081010100421.htm
One hour of moderate exercise a day recommended to children from health experts may not be enough to tackle the rising problem of childhood obesity.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Climate Change: Pushing Species To The Brink
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419783465/081013142545.htm
Thirty-five percent of the world's birds, 52 percent of amphibians and 71 percent of warm-water reef-building corals are likely to be particularly susceptible to climate change, the first results of an IUCN study have revealed.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Potential Non-invasive Optical Detection Of Pancreatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918691/081010120155.htm
Researchers are investigating whether tissue optical spectroscopy can be employed for early cancer detection in the pancreas during minimally-invasive endoscopic diagnostic procedures.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Hidden Boundaries Of Sunspots Pump Out Plasma Into Interplanetary Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419748102/081001135112.htm
Complicated networks of magnetic fields power the sun's atmosphere and create both the beautiful structures and violent explosions that scientists study. Active regions, anchored in sunspots, are areas of the sun where the concentrated magnetic fields that give rise to these phenomena are extremely strong. Measured in ultraviolet or X-ray wavelengths these regions appear bright against the cooler surface.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Vitamin D A Key Player In Overall Health Of Several Body Organs, Says Biochemist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696837/081009162743.htm
Vitamin D, once linked to only bone diseases, is now recognized as a major player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D. He lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus. According to Norman, vitamin D deficiency can impact all 36 organs.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Claim That Simulated Temperature Trends For Tropics Inconsistent With Observations Is Flawed, Experts Argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417119694/081010151121.htm
Scientists have helped reconcile the differences between simulated and observed temperature trends in the tropics. They have refuted a recent claim that simulated temperature trends in the tropics are fundamentally inconsistent with observations. This claim was based on the application of a flawed statistical test and the use of older observational datasets.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Why Your Boss Is White, Middle-class And A Show-off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696838/081003122543.htm
The way male managers power dress, posture and exercise power is due to humans' evolutionary biology, according to new research.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Giant Cyclones At Saturn's Poles Create A Swirl Of Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696839/081013124220.htm
New images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal a giant cyclone at Saturn's north pole, and show that a similarly monstrous cyclone churning at Saturn's south pole is powered by Earth-like storm patterns.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Age-related Macular Degeneration: New Genetic Association Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696840/081013112447.htm
Clinicians and scientists have identified a major new genetic association with age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in developed countries.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
'Caffeine Receptor' Solved: Structure Of Important Neurological Receptor Defined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419696841/081006102607.htm
Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of an adenosine receptor that plays a critical role in a number of important physiological processes including pain, breathing, and heart function. The findings could lead to the development of a new class of therapeutics for treating numerous neurological disorders, including Parkinson's and Huntington disease.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Potential New Tool For Brain Surgeons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918695/081010115003.htm
One of the primary ways of treating brain cancer is surgically removing the tumors. The risk of this sort of procedure is obvious -- it involves cutting away tissue from the brain, potentially severing nerve fibers and causing neurological damage. MRI and CT scans can reveal the extent of tumors, but only prior to surgery.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Using Electrons To Treat Organic Seeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827314/081010092332.htm
Sales of organic products are booming: Consumers want their food to be untainted. To avoid the use of fungicides yet nevertheless protect plants from disease, researchers have developed a method that involves bombarding seeds with electrons to kill fungal spores and viruses.
Tue, 14 Oct 08
Girls Are Happier Than Boys At Primary School, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827325/081010092320.htm
Just over one quarter (26 per cent) of primary seven boys are completely happy coming to school, compared with 44 per cent of girls, according to a new survey.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Climate Change To Devastate Or Destroy Many Penguin Colonies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418637206/081012105113.htm
Half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies face decline or disappearance if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than 2°C.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Nerve Stimulation Therapy Alleviates Pain For Chronic Headache
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416140251/081009162741.htm
A novel therapy using a miniature nerve stimulator instead of medication for the treatment of profoundly disabling headache disorders improved the experience of pain by 80-95 percent, according to a new study.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
New Robotic Repair System Will Fix Ailing Satellites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107346/081002172253.htm
Researchers are developing a new robotic system to service more than 8,000 satellites now orbiting the Earth, beyond the flight range of ground-based repair operations. Currently, when the high-flying celestial objects malfunction -- or simply run out of fuel -- they become "space junk" cluttering the cosmos.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Tumor Formation In Stem Cells Linked to Mitochondria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417084268/081010135041.htm
Researchers report on a previously unknown relationship between stem cell potency and the metabolic rate of their mitochondria -- a cell's energy makers. Stem cells with more active mitochondria also have a greater capacity to differentiate and are more likely to form tumors.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Millisecond Brain Signals Predict Response To Fast-acting Antidepressant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107347/081002172432.htm
Images of the brain's fastest signals reveal an electromagnetic marker that predicts a patient's response to a fast-acting antidepressant. Such use of a brain scanner could someday minimize trial-and-error prescribing and speed delivery of care, say researchers. Depressed patients showed increased activity in a mood-regulating hub near the front of the brain while viewing flashing frightful faces -- the more the increase, the better their response to an experimental fast-acting medication called ketamine.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
American Culture Derails Girl Math Whizzes, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416780423/081010081648.htm
A culture of neglect and, at some age levels, outright social ostracism, is derailing a generation of students, especially girls, deemed the very best in mathematics, according to a new study.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Space Fly-by Reveals New Insights Into Titan's Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418926828/081012171113.htm
Cracking the secrets of the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's mysterious moon, and how planetary atmospheres evolve, have come a step closer after evaluation of data from a successful fly-by of its surface by the Cassini spacecraft.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
H. Pylori Bacteria May Help Prevent Some Esophageal Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107348/081006092511.htm
Some bacteria may help protect against the development of a type of esophageal cancer, known as adenocarcinoma, according to a new review of the medical literature. These bacteria, which are called Helicobacter pylori, live in the stomachs of humans.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
What Is Wild? Odor Attraction Is Different Among Different Wildtype Flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107349/081002095135.htm
Vinegar flies (Drosophila melanogaster) show a highly selective behavior towards odor stimuli. A series of behavioral studies showed that a single olfactory stimulus is often not sufficient for immediate attraction to potential food sources or oviposition sites. Interestingly, the behavior differed between investigated D. melanogaster varieties, so-called "wildtypes".
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Endoscopic Therapy May Offer An Alternative To Surgery In Patients With Esophageal Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107350/081006092650.htm
New research has evaluated the long-term efficacy of endoscopic mucosal resection, or EMR, in the treatment of patients with early stage esophageal cancer or Barrett's esophagus. Two separate studies suggest EMR is an effective treatment alternative to surgery and generally yields positive long-term results.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Under Pressure At The Nanoscale, Polymers Play By Different Rules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107351/081002172011.htm
Scientists putting the squeeze on thin films of polystyrene have discovered that at very short length scales the polymer doesn't play by the rules.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Connections Between Vision And Movement, As They Relate To Perceived Threats, Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107352/081008184828.htm
In research designed to assist US Department of Homeland Security and provide insight into how autistic individuals perceive others, scientists are examining how our visual system helps interpret the intent conveyed in subtle body movements. While most autism research has focused on difficulties in face perception, this new research examines autism as it relates to connections between visual analysis, body movement and our ability to interact.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Unique Fossils Capture ‘Cambrian Migration’
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418609526/081012093843.htm
A unique set of fossils indicates that 525 million years ago marine animals congregated in Earth's ancient oceans, most likely for migration, according to an international team of scientists. Fossil evidence of collective behavior is extremely rare. But what makes the find even more intriguing is that it indicates that such behavior was occurring at the beginning of the 'Cambrian explosion' -- a major event that saw a vast profusion of complex organisms enter the fossil record for the first time.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
St. John's Wort Relieves Symptoms Of Major Depression, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107353/081007192435.htm
New research provides support for the use of St. John's wort extracts in treating major depression. A Cochrane systematic review backs up previous research that showed the plant extract is effective in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Atlantic Wolffish: Fearsome Fish That Deserve Protection?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107354/081002091915.htm
A group has filed a scientific petition with the federal government seeking endangered species protection for the Atlantic wolffish, a fish threatened with extinction due to years of overharvesting and habitat loss due to modern fishing gear. If the petition is successful, this will be the first listing of a marine fish as an endangered in New England.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Vitamin D Deficiency Common In Patients With IBD, Chronic Liver Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107355/081006092645.htm
Researchers have found patients with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic liver disease were at increased risk of developing Vitamin D deficiencies. Two separate studies highlight the importance of regular Vitamin D checkups in the evaluation of patients with certain digestive diseases.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Mechanism Of Asymmetry In Meiotic Cell Division Probed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107356/081007120421.htm
Scientists have characterized a mechanism that allows for asymmetrical cell division during meiosis in oocytes. By tracking chromosome movement in live mouse oocytes, they have discovered that chromosomes can recruit to their vicinity a protein called formin-2. This protein allows the oocyte to retain the majority of the cytoplasm -- a requirement for embryonic development after fertilization -- while the other daughter cell (called a polar body) resulting from the asymmetric division gets only a minimal amount and subsequently dies.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Ergonomic Boost: Improving Workers' Posture And Working Conditions In Manufacturing Plant Can Increase Productivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/412878776/081006093029.htm
New research suggests that teaching staff about improving their posture and working conditions in a manufacturing plant can boost productivity by more than 50 percent.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Baldness Gene Discovered: 1 In 7 Men At Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418926829/081012164437.htm
Researchers have identified two genetic variants in Caucasians that together produce an astounding sevenfold increase the risk of male pattern baldness.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Thinner Cortex In Cocaine Addicts May Reflect Drug Use And A Pre-existing Disposition To Drug Abuse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107357/081008150443.htm
New research findings suggest that structural abnormalities in the brains of cocaine addicts are related in part to drug use and in part to a predisposition toward addiction. The research maps the topography of the addicted brain and provides new insight into the effect of cocaine on neural systems mediating cognition and motivation.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Engineering Aluminum-tolerant Crop Plants: Biochemists Devise Method For Bypassing Toxicity Effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107358/081002171906.htm
Aluminum toxicity, a global agricultural problem, halts root growth in plants, severely limiting agricultural productivity for more than half of the world's arable land. Now biochemists have determined that it is not aluminum toxicity that is directly responsible for inhibiting plant growth. The researchers identified a factor in plant cells, called AtATR, that functions as a built-in DNA surveillance system for alerting the plant of damage from excess aluminum and shutting down growth.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Radio-frequency Identification Reduces Specimen Labeling Errors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107359/081006092524.htm
With a long-held commitment to continuously improving the quality and safety of patient care, Mayo Clinic researchers are recommending a new technologically-advanced labeling system aimed at reducing specimen labeling errors in a high-volume gastrointestinal endoscopy center.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Paving The Way Towards Optical Sensing Foils
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107360/081007132507.htm
Scientists have made the first functional optical links embedded in a flexible substrate. The links include optical waveguides, light sources, and detectors. With this technique, it becomes possible to make foils that sense changes in pressure. Such sensing, skin-like foils could be used for monitoring irregular or moving surfaces, e.g. in robots, pliable machinery, or as an artificial skin.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Parents Foster Significant Misperceptions Of Children's Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/419107361/081006092658.htm
Results of a survey have revealed that many parents do not accurately perceive their children as overweight or at risk for adulthood obesity. Obesity in the United States is often accompanied by an increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases and has emerged as a major health concern, particularly the issue of obesity among children and adolescents.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Body's Anti-HIV Drug Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418885902/081012164445.htm
Humans have a built-in weapon against HIV, but until recently no one knew how to unlock its potential. A new study in the journal Nature reveals the atomic structure of an enzyme capable of repelling the virus HIV, suggesting new approach for drug development.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Pandemic Flu Models Help Determine Food Distribution And School Closing Strategies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418885903/081012164443.htm
Pandemic flu models can help organizations improve their food distribution and school closing strategies in the event of such an emergency. The models are flexible so that multiple scenarios can be investigated to see which options meet an organization's specific goal.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Nanotechnology Boosts War On Superbugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418885904/081012164441.htm
Scientists are using nanotechnology to investigate the workings of vancomycin, one of the few antibiotics that can be used to combat increasingly resistant infections such as MRSA. The researchers developed ultra-sensitive probes capable of providing new insight into how antibiotics work, paving the way for the development of more effective new drugs.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Important New Hair-loss Gene Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418885908/081012164439.htm
Scientists have discovered an important hair-loss gene. In 2005, these scientists had already characterized the first hair-loss gene inherited through the maternal line, which explained why hair-loss in men often reflects that of their maternal grandfathers. This newly discovered gene, on the other hand, may now account for the similarity in cranial hair growth between father and son.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Vulnerable Plaque May Be Easier To Detect Through New Imaging Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418720893/081012121322.htm
Research results indicate that optical coherence tomography, a newly evolving imaging method, may be the best tool available to detect vulnerable plaque in coronary arteries.
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Triple Antiplatelet Therapy Appears Superior To Dual Antiplatelet Therapy, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418720895/081012121320.htm
New results suggest that triple antiplatelet therapy for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents achieves greater platelet inhibition than conventional dual antiplatelet therapy.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Insects Trained In Quest For Artificial Nose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218031/081002172150.htm
Researchers have discovered that when training insects, the process of building associations is not a simple matter of strengthening connections through reinforcement. Understanding how associations are built between stimuli and behavior gives insight into the nature of learning and could inform the design of artificial "noses," sensor arrays that can detect chemicals in the air.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Fat-regenerating 'Stem Cells' Found In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218032/081010172443.htm
Researchers have identified stem cells with the capacity to build fat. Although they have yet to show that the cells can renew themselves, transplants of the progenitor cells isolated from the fat tissue of normal mice can restore normal fat tissue in animals that are otherwise lacking it. The findings may yield insight into the causes of obesity, a condition characterized by an increase in both the size and number of fat cells.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Preserved By Ice: Glacial Dams Helped Prevent Erosion Of Tibetan Plateau
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218033/081008151104.htm
New research suggests that the edge of the Tibetan plateau might have been preserved for thousands of years by ice and glacial debris at the mouth of many tributaries to the Tsangpo River. Those deposits appear to have acted as dams that prevented the rapidly traveling Tsangpo from carving upstream into the plateau.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Pollution From Livestock Farming Affects Infant Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937071/081008114516.htm
A new study finds that pollution from livestock facilities is associated with an increase in infant mortality.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Gut Reaction To Arsenic Exposure Simulated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218034/081007192530.htm
A simulated gastrointestinal system is helping scientists test contaminated soil for its potential to harm humans. The method is likely to save time and money for people hoping to repurpose land with an industrial past. Most testing for potential arsenic exposure is conducted in recognition of a dirty little secret of modern life: Humans unknowingly eat a little bit of soil each day. For children who might play on contaminated soil and ingest dirt, the testing is considered particularly important.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Babies And Beethoven: Infants Can Tell Happy Songs From Sad
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417215479/081010175022.htm
A new study shows that 5-month-old babies can distinguish an upbeat tune, such as "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, from a lineup of gloomier compositions. By age 9 months, babies can do the opposite and pick out the sorrowful sound of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony from a pack of happy pieces.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Brainy Genes, Not Brawn, Key To Success On Mussel Beach
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416087578/081009143712.htm
Scientists have found that mussels in their natural habitat express their genes in cyclic waves, in what appears to be a survival strategy akin to the circadian rhythms that govern sleep. In addition, two sets of genes used to cope with heat stress are identified, in the first real-time molecular sampling of two mussel communities.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Important Clue To Learning Deficit In Children With Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218035/081010100501.htm
An important clue to why children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble imitating others has been discovered: they spend less time looking at the faces of people who are modeling new skills.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
RNA Molecules, Delivery System Improve Vaccine Responses, Effectiveness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218036/081008150520.htm
A novel delivery system that could lead to more efficient and more disease-specific vaccines against infectious diseases has been developed by biomedical engineers.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Tamoxifen Chemoprevention Tied To Early Detection Of Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218037/081007172824.htm
The drug tamoxifen does not prevent or treat estrogen receptor negative breast cancer, but it can make the disease easier to find, researchers report in the Oct. 1 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Scientists Explore Putting Electric Cars On A Two-way Power Street
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218038/081002172140.htm
Think of it as the end of cars' slacker days: No more sitting idle for hours in parking lots or garages racking up payments, but instead earning their keep by providing power to the electricity grid. Scientists are exploring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that not only use grid electricity to meet their power needs, but return it to the grid, earning money for the owner.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Does It Matter If Black Plus White Equals Black Or Multiracial?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218039/081010135033.htm
"Is Barack Obama Black or Biracial?" a recent CNN.com headline asks. Should such racial characterizations of people like Obama -- who have one black parent and one white parent -- really matter? According to a new study, they do matter. When study participants knew of a person's black-white ancestry, in comparison to not knowing of the parentage, they quickly adhered to the simplistic characterization of biracial people as black.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
How Dust Rings Point To Exo-Earths With Supercomputer's Help
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417084267/081010135035.htm
Supercomputer simulations of dusty disks around sunlike stars show that planets nearly as small as Mars can create patterns that future telescopes may be able to detect. The research points to a new avenue in the search for habitable planets.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Eliminating Viral Vector In Stem Cell Reprogramming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417119689/081010135037.htm
Scientists have eliminated the need for a viral vector in the stem cell reprogramming process In a report in Science, they showed the ability to reprogram adult cells into iPS cells without viral integration into the genome which lays to rest concerns that the reprogramming event might be dependent upon viral integration into specific genomic loci that could mediate the genetic switch.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Future Risk Of Hurricanes: The Role Of Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218040/081008150459.htm
Researchers are homing in on the hurricane-prone Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to assess the likely changes, between now and the middle of the century, in the frequency, intensity, and tracks of these powerful storms. Initial results are expected early next year.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Hodgkin Lymphoma: New Characteristics Discovered; Cytokines Help Tumor Cells Evade Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218041/081008113432.htm
Researchers are still discovering new characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma, a common form of cancer of the lymphatic system. Researchers in Germany have now demonstrated the production of interleukin 21 in the tumor cells of Hodgkin lymphoma. IL-21 promotes the growth of cancer cells and helps them evade immune system detection.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
New Tool Probes Function Of Rice Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/418218042/081009094647.htm
Researchers have developed a new tool for investigating the rice genome. The inexpensive, publicly-available rice DNA microarray covers nearly all the 45,000 genes in the rice genome.
Sun, 12 Oct 08
Religiosity Curbs Teen Marijuana Use By Half, National Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417215478/081010175311.htm
While many congregations of different faiths preach against drug abuse, it has been unclear whether a youth's religious involvement has any effect on his risk of drug abuse. Now a new national study finds that religious involvement makes teens half as likely to use marijuana.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Digital Zebrafish Embryo Provides First Complete Developmental Blueprint Of A Vertebrate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416087580/081009143706.htm
Researchers in Europe have generated a digital zebrafish embryo -- the first complete developmental blueprint of a vertebrate. With a new microscope scientists could for the first time track all cells for the first 24 hours in the life of a zebrafish. The data was reconstructed into a three-dimensional, digital representation of the embryo.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Statins May Prevent Miscarriages, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417119696/081010151119.htm
Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found that statins may be able to prevent miscarriages in women who are suffering from pregnancy complications caused by antiphospholipid syndrome, according to a study in mice.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Extending The Life Of Fresh Cranberries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329514/080929104609.htm
Cranberries are tart, tiny fruits packed with powerful antioxidants. The good news about cranberries is spreading, resulting in growing consumer demand for fresh cranberries and cranberry products. This demand has led to increased interest in finding ways to extend the shelf life of the popular fruit.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Key Proteins In Blood Stem Cell Replication Pinpointed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329515/081008150451.htm
A discovery from Stanford researchers is the first to directly link the notorious members of the retinoblastoma family of proteins to the cellular production factories responsible for churning out all the blood and immune cells in the body.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Waterborne Disease Risk Upped In Great Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329516/081008150522.htm
An anticipated increased incidence of climate-related extreme rainfall events in the Great Lakes region may raise the public health risk for the 40 million people who depend on the lakes for their drinking water, according to a new study.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Tobacco Smuggling Is Killing More People Than Illegal Drugs, Experts Claim
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329517/081010081656.htm
Tobacco smuggling causes around 4,000 premature deaths a year -- four times the number of deaths caused by the use of all smuggled illegal drugs put together -- but the UK government is not doing enough to tackle the problem, claim experts on the British Medical Journal website.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Unlocking Stem Cell, DNA Secrets To Speed Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417119692/081010154152.htm
Researchers have discovered that as embryonic stem cells turn into different cell types, there are dramatic corresponding changes to the order in which DNA is replicated and reorganized.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
New Findings May Improve Treatment Of Inherited Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329518/081009143655.htm
Scientists have identified some of the elusive downstream molecules that play a critical role in the development and progression of familial breast cancer. The research also identifies a compound found in grapes and red wine as an excellent candidate for treatment of some forms of breast cancer.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Understanding The Cycle Of Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329519/080924153505.htm
Researchers have long known that children who grow up in an aggressive or violent household are more likely to become violent or aggressive in future relationships but the developmental link has been unclear. Researchers now say children who grow up in aggressive households may learn to process social information differently than their peers. "Children with high-conflict parents are more likely to think that aggressive responses would be good ways to handle social conflicts."
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Breast Stem Cell Fate Is Regulated By 'Notch'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329520/081008151110.htm
A normal developmental protein that sometimes goes awry has been implicated in breast cancer. This discovery indicates the mechanism by which inappropriate expression of the notch pathway may contribute to breast cancer.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Reality To Go: 3-D Virtual Reality On Mobile Devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329521/081008203111.htm
If mere texting, talking, e-mailing and snapping pictures on mobile devices aren't enough to satisfy your data cravings, now there's the prospect of accessing and displaying 3-D virtual reality simulations and animations on them. New information architecture from researchers in Offenburg, Germany puts 3-D visualizations in the palm of your hand to make this possible.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Can Taking Ecstasy Once Damage Your Memory?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415721657/081009072714.htm
Academics in the UK are issuing new warnings about the dangers of ecstasy and its effects on the brain.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
'Virgin Birth' By Shark Confirmed: Second Case Ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417215477/081010173054.htm
Scientists have confirmed the second-ever case of a "virgin birth" in a shark, indicating once again that female sharks can reproduce without mating and raising the possibility that many female sharks have this incredible capacity.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Crucial Control In Long-lasting Immunity Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417119691/081010135031.htm
Scientists have identified a protein that links two key types of white blood cells, T and B cells, letting them interact in a way that is crucial to establishing long-lasting immunity after an infection. Their finding may also explain why some individuals who have a genetic defect that prevents them from making this protein suffer from lethal infections with a common virus that otherwise is rarely fatal, while others have problems with B-cell lymphomas.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Phoenix Lander Digs And Analyzes Soil As Darkness Gathers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329523/081008230817.htm
As fall approaches Mars' northern plains, NASA's Phoenix Lander is busy digging into the Red Planet's soil and scooping it into its onboard science laboratories for analysis.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Implantable Device May Help Manage Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329524/081008151326.htm
A new study aims to improve the heart's pumping action and help to manage congestive heart failure symptoms. The US PARACHUTE trial tests the effectiveness of placing a small device in the left ventricle, or main pumping chamber of the heart. Physicians recently implanted the sixth person in the United States with the device.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Potential New Tool For Brain Surgeons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/417329525/081008203214.htm
One of the primary ways of treating brain cancer is surgically removing the tumors. The risk of this sort of procedure is obvious -- it involves cutting away tissue from the brain, potentially severing nerve fibers and causing neurological damage.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Sixties Generation Is Heading For Conventional Old Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415721663/081009072206.htm
Britain's post-war baby boomers, associated throughout their lives with social change, are failing to break new ground in their approach to growing old.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Astronomers Get Best View Yet Of Infant Stars At Feeding Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827327/081010092318.htm
Astronomers have used ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer to conduct the first high resolution survey that combines spectroscopy and interferometry on intermediate-mass infant stars. They obtained a very precise view of the processes acting in the discs that feed stars as they form. These mechanisms include material infalling onto the star as well as gas being ejected, probably as a wind from the disc.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Rapid Improvement In Overactive Bladder Symptoms, International Drug Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415721660/081009072710.htm
Patients with overactive bladders who took part in a multi-centre study to measure the effectiveness of solifenacin noticed improvements in as little as three days, according to new research.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Mimicking Gecko Feet: Dry Adhesive Based On Carbon Nanotubes Gets Stronger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416087581/081009143704.htm
The race for the best "gecko foot" dry adhesive just got a new competitor this week with a stronger and more practical material reported by US researchers.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Early Breast Cancer: LHRH Agonists Show Considerable Promise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918684/081007192441.htm
Women who have had early stage breast cancer surgically removed, and whose tumor cells are stimulated by the hormone estrogen, can benefit from taking luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonists, a Cochrane systematic review has concluded. This medication may be taken alone or alongside the use of tamoxifen.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Biological Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414764043/081008065841.htm
With increasing consumer pressure on both farmers and supermarkets to minimize the use of chemical pesticides in fruit and vegetables, a new study looks at why there is currently little use of biological alternatives in the UK.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Scientists Adapt Economics Theory To Trace Brain's Information Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918685/081009185035.htm
Scientists have used a technique originally developed for economic study to become the first to overcome a significant challenge in brain research: determining the flow of information from one part of the brain to another.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Can Genetic Information Be Controlled By Light?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416827310/081010092352.htm
Can genetic information be controlled by light? Researchers report sequence-dependent effects of light on DNA. DNA, the molecule that acts as the carrier of genetic information in all forms of life, is highly resistant against alteration by ultraviolet light, but understanding the mechanism for its photostability presents some puzzling problems.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Genetic Finding Implicates Innate Immune System In Major Cause Of Blindness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918686/081007120425.htm
Scientists have identified one of the genes implicated in age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in developed countries.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Daily Dose Of Ginkgo May Prevent Brain Cell Damage After Stroke, Mouse Studies Suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918687/081009162739.htm
Working with genetically engineered mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that daily doses of a standardized extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree can prevent or reduce brain damage after an induced stroke.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
One Dose Of Hormone May Halt Cell Suicide Following A Heart Attack, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918688/081008114359.htm
Two things happen following a heart attack--necrosis (normal cell death) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) -- and both are bad. Now researchers in Japan have found that a single intravenous dose of the hormone erythropoietin immediately after myocardial infarction (heart attack) can drastically reduce or eliminate apoptosis and thereby limit the amount of damage to the heart, according to an article in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Scientists Engineer Superconducting Thin Films
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918689/081008151102.htm
Scientists have successfully produced two-layer thin films where neither layer is superconducting on its own, but which exhibit a nanometer-thick region of superconductivity at their interface. The work is one step on the path toward making useful superconducting devices.
Sat, 11 Oct 08
Flawed Corporate Watchdog Methods Helped Fuel Economic Crisis, Expert Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416918690/081009144329.htm
Archaic corporate governing systems that failed to ferret out risky business deals helped stoke the nation's deepest financial meltdown since the Great Depression, a University of Illinois business law expert says.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Journey Toward The Center Of The Earth: One-of-a-kind Microorganism Lives All Alone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416087577/081009143708.htm
The first ecosystem with only a single biological species has been discovered and its genome analyzed by a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary team. Living 2.8 km beneath the surface of the earth in the Mponeng gold mine near Johannesburg, South Africa, the rod-shaped bacterium Desulforudis audaxviator exists in complete isolation, total darkness, a lack of oxygen, and 60-degree-Celsius heat.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
New Light On Link Between Snoring And Cognitive Deficits In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413755835/081007073924.htm
About two-thirds of children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) -- snoring or obstructive sleep apnea -- have some degree of cognitive deficit, but the severity of the cognitive deficit has been notoriously difficult to correlate to the severity of the SDB, suggesting that other important issues may be at play, or that the right factors were simply not being measured.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Wielding Microbe Against Microbe, Beetle Defends Its Food Source
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347653/081002171921.htm
As the southern pine beetle moves through the forest boring tunnels inside the bark of trees, it brings with it both a helper and a competitor. The helper is a fungus that the insect plants inside the tunnels as food for its young. But also riding along is a tiny, hitchhiking mite, which likewise carries a fungus for feeding its own larvae.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
How Effective Are Probiotics In Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416392437/081006092656.htm
Several new studies highlight the safety and efficacy of probiotics in improving symptoms and normalizing bowel movement frequency in patients suffering from constipation or diarrhea related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Baked Slug: New Method To Test Fireproofing Material
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416392439/081002172144.htm
Researchers have developed a technique for measuring a key thermal property of fire-resistive materials at high temperatures. The measurement technique has already been adopted commercially and incorporated into a national standard.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Species Extinction By Asteroid A Rarity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347654/081007102904.htm
New research argues in favor of a "sick earth" mechanism for most extinctions, rather than external event like an asteroid strike.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Promising New Material Could Improve Gas Mileage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416140249/081009144327.htm
With gasoline at high prices, it's disheartening to know that up to three-quarters of the potential energy you are paying for is wasted. Now researchers have identified a promising new material that could transform a technology that currently cools and heats car seats -- thermoelectrics -- into one that also efficiently converts waste heat into electricity to help power the car and improve gas mileage.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
How Fatty Foods Curb Hunger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347655/081007123647.htm
Fatty foods may not be the healthiest diet choice, but those rich in unsaturated fats -- such as avocados, nuts and olive oil -- have been found to play a pivotal role in sending this important message to your brain: stop eating, you're full.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Diversity Of Plant-eating Fishes May Be Key To Recovery Of Coral Reefs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347656/081008113434.htm
A report scheduled to be published this week in the early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that maintaining the proper balance of herbivorous fishes may be critical to restoring coral reefs, which are declining dramatically worldwide.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
New Screening Technologies Improve Detection Of Polyps During Colonoscopy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347657/081006092648.htm
Two new studies highlight new technologies with the potential to improve the detection of colorectal polyps and flat lesions during colonoscopy.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Satellite Data Reveals Extreme Summer Snowmelt In Northern Greenland
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937070/081008114518.htm
The northern part of the Greenland ice sheet experienced extreme snowmelt during the summer of 2008, with large portions of the area subject to record melting days. This conclusion is based on an analysis of microwave brightness temperature recorded by the Special Sensor Microwave Imager onboard the F13 satellite.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Narcissistic People Most Likely To Emerge As Leaders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347658/081007155100.htm
When a group is without a leader, you can often count on a narcissist to take charge, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people who score high in narcissism tend to take control of leaderless groups. Narcissism is a trait in which people are self-centered, exaggerate their talents and abilities and lack empathy for others.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Ripple Effect: Water Snails Offer New Propulsion Possibilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416140248/081009144333.htm
A UC San Diego engineer has revealed a new mode of propulsion based on how water snails create ripples of slime to crawl upside down beneath the surface.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Clue To Genetic Cause Of Fatal Birth Defect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416140250/081009162745.htm
A novel enzyme may play a major role in anencephaly, offering hope for a genetic test or even therapy for the rare fatal birth defect in which the brain fails to develop, according to a new study.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Tracking Down The Cause Of Mad Cow Disease: First Synthetic Prion Protein With An Anchor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347659/081008113430.htm
Researchers in Germany and Switzerland have developed a new general method for the synthesis of anchored proteins, such as GPI-anchored prions, which cause scrapie and mad cow disease.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Outlook For Crohn's Disease Improves Thanks To New Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347660/081006092639.htm
A study led by Mayo Clinic has found that infliximab (Remicade) administered alone (monotherapy) or in combination with azathioprine is a more effective treatment for patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease than azathioprine alone.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
An Accurate Picture Of Ice Loss In Greenland
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/407257586/080930081355.htm
Researchers are developing a method for creating an accurate picture of Greenland’s shrinking ice cap. On the strength of this method, it is now estimated that Greenland is accountable for a half millimetre-rise in the global sea level per year.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Bipolar Disorder In Children Appears Likely To Continue Into Young Adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347661/081006180654.htm
About 44 percent of individuals who had bipolar disorder as children continue to have manic episodes as young adults, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This rate, along with the severity of the disease at young ages, strongly suggest that bipolar disorder can be continuous from childhood to adulthood, the authors note.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Small Intestine Can Sense And React To Bitter Toxins In Food
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416223617/081009185032.htm
Toxins in food often have a bad, bitter taste that makes people want to spit them out. New research finds that bitterness also slows the digestive process, keeping bad food in the stomach longer and increasing the chances that it will be expelled.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Better Insights Needed Into Failure Mechanisms Of Hip Replacements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347662/081001093747.htm
If a hip prosthesis implanted to replace a worn-out joint itself fails, then what are the reasons? Until now this problem has been little understood: partly due to incomplete records, partly due to insufficient knowledge of the forces acting on the hip replacement. Computation models developed by the University of Twente and UMC St. Radboud can make an important contribution to our understanding in this field, says Prof. Nico Verdonschot in his inaugural lecture as Professor of Implantation Biomechanics at the University of Twente. Such models can, for instance, predict the strength of a bone much better than a specialist can do visually using an X-ray image.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Green Coffee-growing Practices Buffer Climate-change Impacts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347663/081001093458.htm
Chalk up another environmental benefit for shade-grown Latin American coffee: University of Michigan researchers say the technique will provide a buffer against the ravages of climate change in the coming decades.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Thinning Of Greenland Glacier Attributed To Ocean Warming Preceded By Atmospheric Changes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347664/080929093754.htm
The sudden thinning in 1997 of Jakobshavn Isbræ, one of Greenland's largest glaciers, was caused by subsurface ocean warming, according to research in the journal Nature Geoscience. The research team traces these oceanic shifts back to changes in the atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic region.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Free Drug Samples Carry Risks For Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347665/081006092522.htm
Free prescription drug samples distributed to children may be unsafe, according to a study by physicians from Cambridge Health Alliance and Hasbro Children's Hospital.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Tropical Rainforest And Mountain Species May Be Threatened By Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347666/081009143700.htm
Contrary to conventional wisdom, tropical plant and animal species living in some of the warmest places on Earth may be threatened by global warming, according to ecologists.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Turning Cancer Friend Into Cancer Foe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347667/081007120429.htm
Scientists have created a peptide that binds to Bcl-2, a protein that protects cancer cells from programmed cell death, and converts it into a cancer cell killer. The research may lead to new cancer treatments.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Population Growth Puts Dent In Natural Resources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347668/081008091127.htm
It's a 500-pound gorilla that Robert Criss, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, sees standing on the speaker's dais at political rallies, debates and campaigns. Its name is population growth. "Population growth is driving all of our resource problems, including water and energy. The three are intertwined," Criss says.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Growing Role Of Molecular Diagnostics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/410638374/081003155616.htm
Novel platform technologies and key advances in genomics are rapidly driving the development of molecular diagnostics, reports Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. The payoff for successful molecular diagnostic products can be significant as Kalorama Information predicts that this market currently exceeds $3.2 billion worldwide and will reach $5.4 billion in four years.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
New International Building Codes Address Fire Safety And Evacuation Issues For Tall Structures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347669/081003122707.htm
Future buildings -- especially tall structures -- should be increasingly resistant to fire, more easily evacuated in emergencies, and safer overall thanks to 23 major and far-reaching building and fire code changes approved recently by the International Code Council based on recommendations from the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology. The recommendations were part of NIST's investigation of the collapses of New York City's World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Premature Ejaculation? Not Your Fault: Gene Determines Rapidity Of Ejaculation In Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416347670/081007132509.htm
The rapidity of ejaculation in men is genetically determined. Neuropsychiatrists studied 89 Dutch men with premature ejaculation and will publish results in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Deep Magma Matters: Volcanic Eruptions More Complex And Harder To Predict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416050429/081009144101.htm
New research by a team of US and UK scientists into volcanoes has found that they function in a far more complex way than previously thought, making future eruptions even harder to predict. Although the Soufrière Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat exhibits cycles of eruption and quiet, magma is continuously supplied from deep in the crust but that a valve acts below a shallower magma chamber, releasing lava to the surface periodically.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Post-term Pregnancies Risk Infant's Life And Health, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416296729/081007091459.htm
Infants born more than one week past their due dates have a higher risk of both impaired health and death, according to two new studies.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Satellite Image Analysis Reveals South Ossetian Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416296731/081009144105.htm
Satellite images captured before and after the Aug. 7-8 clash between Georgia, South Ossetian separatists and Russia reveal that 424 civilian structures near Tskhinvali were damaged by Aug. 19 -- although they appeared intact in images taken on Aug. 10 and earlier, researchers report.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Major Study Of Opiate Use In Children's Hospitals Provides Simple Steps To Alleviate Harm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416296732/081006092514.htm
Hospitalized kids with painful ailments from broken bones to cancer are often dosed with strong, painkilling drugs known as opiates. The medications block pain, but they can have nasty side effects. Constipation, for instance, is one side effect that can cause discomfort and even extend a child's hospital stay.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
New Sensor Could Help Avert Pipeline Failures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416296733/081002172146.htm
Researchers have developed a prototype sensor that quickly detects very small amounts of hydrogen accumulation in coated pipeline steel. The new sensor could provide early warning of pipes that have accumulated excessive amounts of hydrogen and avert potentially disastrous failures of pipelines.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Car Or Pedestrian? How We Follow Objects With Our Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/416296734/081002094840.htm
When an object moves fast, we follow it with our eyes: our brain correspondingly calculates the speed of the object and adapts our eye movement to it. This in itself is an enormous achievement, yet our brain can do even more than that. In the real world, a car will typically accelerate or brake faster than, say, a pedestrian. But the control of eye movement in fact responds more sensitively to changes in the speed of fast moving objects than slow moving objects.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Researchers Discover How Infectious Bacteria Can Switch Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415721656/081009072716.htm
Scientists in the UK have developed a rapid new way of checking for toxic genes in disease-causing bacteria which infect insects and humans. Their findings could in the future lead to new vaccines and anti-bacterial drugs.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Double Flu Jab Needed Against Bird Flu Pandemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811940/081008184817.htm
Scientists recommend stockpiling influenza vaccine. Researchers have determined that vaccination will be the best way to protect people in the event of the next influenza pandemic -- but that each person would need two doses.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Beavers: Dam Good For Songbirds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811941/081008151316.htm
The songbird has a friend in the beaver. According to a study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the busy beaver's signature dams provide critical habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds, particularly in the semi-arid interior of the West.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Deflated 'Pancake' Breasts Restored After Pregnancy, Weight Loss, Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811942/081008114414.htm
Women who desire a mommy-makeover, have had major weight loss, or are unhappy with the toll age has taken on their breasts can breathe easier. An innovative procedure to correct severely deflated, sagging breasts left looking like "pancakes" will be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2008 conference.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
New Material Could Act As Nanofridge For Microchips In Smaller And Faster Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811943/081008095716.htm
Researchers in Spain have developed a material which could act as a nanofridge for computers, thus eliminating the barrier posed by overheating in ever smaller chips. The material is based on germanium nanostructures, presents a significant reduction in thermal conductivity and therefore could be a potential candidate in the development of thermoelectric systems compatible with silicon.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Learning How Not To Be Afraid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811944/081008150445.htm
Scientists are showing how the brain changes when mice learn to feel safe and secure in situations that would normally make them anxious. The mice developed a conditioned inhibition of fear that squelches anxiety as effectively as antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Structure Of 'Beneficial' Virus That Can Infect Cancer Cells Solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811945/081008151320.htm
Researchers have, for the first time, solved the structure of a virus that can infect specific cancer cells. This new knowledge may help drug designers tweak the pathogen enough so that it can attack other tumor subtypes.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Chemical Found In Plastics, Bisphenol A, Linked To Chemotherapy Resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937072/081008114401.htm
Exposure to bisphenol A may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. BPA -- a man-made chemical found in a number of plastic products, including drinking bottles and the lining of food cans —- actually induces a group of proteins that protect cancer cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
When It Comes To Galaxies, Diversity Is Everywhere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811946/081001094346.htm
A group of galaxies in our cosmic backyard has given astronomers clues about how stars form. A thorough survey using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has observed around 14 million stars in 69 galaxies. Some galaxies were found to be full of ancient stars, while others are like sun-making factories.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Controversial Fat Injections Can Improve Breast Reconstruction; Jury's Out On Augmentation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811947/081008114408.htm
Injecting fat after breast reconstruction to correct implant wrinkling or dimpling may be safe and effective to improve breast shape, according to a new study.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
'Fingerprinting' Method Tracks Mercury Emissions From Coal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811948/081008184822.htm
Researchers have developed a new tool that uses natural "fingerprints" in coal to track down sources of mercury polluting the environment.
Fri, 10 Oct 08
Bad Breath? Mouthrinses Work, But Some Cause Temporary Staining
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415811949/081007192431.htm
Over-the-counter mouthrinses really do put a stop to bad breath. The first systematic review on the effectiveness of mouthrinses shows that they play an important role in reducing levels of bacteria and chemicals that cause mouth odours. Pick which one you use though, because some can temporarily stain your tongue and teeth, warns a new review.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Circadian Clock May Be Critical For Remembering What You Learn, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340454/081008151318.htm
The circadian rhythm that quietly pulses inside us all, guiding our daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness and back to sleep again, may be doing much more than just that simple metronomic task, according to researchers. Working with Siberian hamsters, biologist Norman Ruby has shown that having a functioning circadian system is critical to the hamsters' ability to remember what they have learned. Without it, he said, "They can't remember anything."
Thu, 9 Oct 08
The Pepperoni Pizza Hypothesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340455/081008184820.htm
What's the worst that could happen after eating a slice of pepperoni pizza? A little heartburn, for most people. But for up to a million women in the US who have a chronic bladder condition, enjoying that piece of pizza and other foods can cause intense pelvic pain and an urgent need to frequently urinate. Researchers believe a surprise culprit is causing the pain: the colon. This concept opens up new treatment options for this debilitating condition.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Sharpest Whole-Planet Picture Of Jupiter Taken From The Ground
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340456/081002095016.htm
A record two-hour observation of Jupiter using a superior technique to remove atmospheric blur has produced the sharpest whole-planet picture ever taken from the ground. The new image reveals changes in Jupiter's smog-like haze, probably in response to a planet-wide upheaval more than a year ago.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Burn Treatment Cream May Delay Healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340457/081007192447.htm
A cream commonly used to treat burns may actually delay healing. In addition, despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment, say researchers who carried out a systematic review of existing data.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Plant Virus Research Could Lead To New Ways To Improve Crop Yields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340458/081001145114.htm
An interdisciplinary group of scientists has obtained the first detailed information about the structure of the most destructive group of plant viruses known: flexible filamentous viruses.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Children's Asthma Affected By Parental Expectations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340459/081006092641.htm
Asthmatic children whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Cosmic Eye Sheds Light On Early Galaxy Formation, Just Two Billion Years After Big Bang
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340460/081008151116.htm
Astronomers have provided unique insight into the nature of a young star-forming galaxy as it appeared only two billion years after the Big Bang and determined how the galaxy may eventually evolve to become a system like our own Milky Way.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Honey Helps To Heal Wounds, Review Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340461/081007192524.htm
Honey may reduce healing times in patients suffering mild to moderate burn wounds. A systematic review concluded that honey might be useful as an alternative to traditional wound dressings in treating burns.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Molecule That Coordinates The Movement Of Cells Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340462/081002172544.htm
A molecule bridging two proteins that gives cells their shape and ability to migrate in a directed fashion may also shed light on how to keep cancer from spreading.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Levels Of Key Hormone During First Trimester Of Pregnancy Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340463/081008101742.htm
New research shows women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus) have reduced levels of an insulin-sensitive hormone, adiponectin, as early as nine weeks into the pregnancy. The findings show early warning signs of gestational diabetes (GDM) are evident months before the clinical diagnosis is currently made (20-22 weeks).
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Robots: The Bizarre And The Beautiful
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340464/081001094342.htm
The future is a foreign country, and nowhere is it more foreign that the designs thrown up by a surge in robotics research. The feverish imagination and creativity of European robot scientists has led to dozens of robot designs, some bizarre, some beautiful, but all are inspired.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
School Vending Machines Dole Out Excess Calories, Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340465/081006092509.htm
Recent figures from the HEALTHY Study, a nationwide effort led by Temple University to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes in middle school students, found vending machines beverages had added sugars, high calorie 100 percent fruit juices, and snacks over 200 calories.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Genome Of Parasite That Causes Relapsing Malaria Decoded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340466/081008151314.htm
In research aimed at addressing a global epidemic, a team of scientists from around the world has cracked the genetic code for the parasite that is responsible for up to 40 percent of the 515 million annual malaria infections worldwide. Scientists have deciphered the complete genetic sequence of the parasite Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of relapsing malaria, and compared it with the genomes of other species of malaria parasites.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Proteins In Sperm Unlock Understanding Of Male Infertility, Says New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340467/081008151324.htm
Proteins found in sperm are central to understanding male infertility and could be used to determine new diagnostic methods and fertility treatments, according to a paper published by the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The article demonstrates how proteomics, a relatively new field focusing on the function of proteins in a cell, can be successfully applied to infertility, helping identify which proteins in sperm cells are dysfunctional.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Method Of Predicting Clear Air Turbulence Could Make Flights Smoother In The Future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340468/081001093239.htm
A new method of forecasting clear air turbulence will be published this week in the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences. The research, led by a scientist at the University of Georgia, could help pilots chart new courses around these patches of rough but clear air that can turn an otherwise unremarkable flight into a nightmare.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Belt And Braces Approach May Prevent Deep Vein Thromboses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340469/081007192439.htm
Combining short periods of leg compression with medications such as heparin is more effective at preventing blood clots in high-risk patients than using either preventative measure alone. A team of Cochrane researchers believe that this "belt and braces" approach can significantly decrease a patient's risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Highest Power Tabletop Laser Ever Built
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340470/081008203706.htm
Physicists at the University of Texas have built a tabletop laser that produces, at the present time, the largest peak power of any laser in the world: 1.1 petawatts (PW), or 1,100 terawatts (1.1 x 10^15 watts).
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Little Evidence That Sobriety Checkpoints Curb Drunk-Driving Crashes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414764042/081008073045.htm
Although communities commonly use sobriety checkpoints and increased police patrols to detect drivers under the influence of alcohol, a new review finds that there is not enough evidence to say definitively that the efforts work to cut down the number of accidents and deaths from drunk driving.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Star Born From The Wind: Unique Multi-wavelength Portrait Of Star Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414854809/081008095712.htm
Telescopes on the ground and in space have teamed up to compose a colorful image that offers a fresh look at the history of the star-studded region NGC 346. This new, ethereal portrait, in which different wavelengths of light swirl together like watercolors, reveals new information about how stars form.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Can Stem Cells Heal Damaged Hearts? No Easy Answers, But Some Signs Of Hope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340471/081007192443.htm
Recent studies indicate that infusing hearts with stem cells taken from bone marrow could improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (tissue damage that results from a heart attack). But in a recent systematic review researchers concluded that more clinical trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of stem cell therapies for heart patients, as well as studies to establish how these treatments work.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Psychologists Show Experience May Be The Best Teacher For Infants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340472/080930144218.htm
There's a lot of truth in the old proverb "experience is the best teacher," and apparently it even applies to 10-month-old infants.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Carpal Tunnel Surgery Relieves More Symptoms Than Splinting, According To Review
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414764041/081008073422.htm
Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is more effective at relieving the symptoms of the painful condition than splinting, according to an updated review of studies by Chilean researchers.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
New Optics For Improved Solar Power Generators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340473/081008203442.htm
Researchers are hoping to achieve higher solar cell efficiency involves using special coatings on solar cells that split light into colors like blue and red, which scientists estimate will increase efficiency by 50 percent.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Plastic Surgeons Face War Injuries From Iraq To Inner-city Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415340474/081008114410.htm
Born out of war, plastic surgery remains at the forefront of surgical innovation, and advances from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit victims of inner city wars being fought on our streets.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Arctic Soil May Contain Nearly Twice Greenhouse-Gas Producing Material Than Previously Estimated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982073/081008091129.htm
Frozen arctic soil contains nearly twice the greenhouse-gas-producing organic material as was previously estimated, according to new research. The research team discovered a previously undocumented layer of organic matter on top of and in the upper part of permafrost, ranging from 60 to 120 centimeters deep.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Killing 'Angry' Immune Cells In Fat Could Fight Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982077/081007123642.htm
By killing off "angry" immune cells that take up residence in obese fat and muscle tissue, researchers have shown that they can rapidly reverse insulin resistance in obese mice. The findings suggest that treatments aimed at specific subsets of the so-called macrophage cells might offer a very effective new anti-diabetic therapy, according to the researchers.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Alternative Fossil Fuels Have Economic Potential, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414854812/081008091123.htm
Alternative sources of fossil fuels such as oil sands and coal-to-liquids have significant economic promise, but the environmental consequences must also be considered, according to a new study.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Lifesaving TB Vaccine A Step Closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982080/081007192532.htm
Researchers have licensed ground-breaking research to a non-profit product development partnership working to develop new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis. This development will give hope that significantly better prevention and treatment of TB will be available within the next few years.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Fuzziness On The Road To Physics' Grand Unification Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982081/081006130509.htm
Leave it to hypothesized gravity to weigh down what physicists have thought for 30 years. If theoretical physicists are right, the idea that nature's forces merge under grand unification has grown fuzzy. Theoretical physicists now suggest a layer of particles may exist and block a merger.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Assisted Suicide Laws May Overlook Depressed Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982085/081007192534.htm
One in four terminally-ill patients in the State of Oregon who opt for physician assisted suicide have clinical depression and the Death with Dignity Act may not be adequately protecting them, concludes a new study.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Scent On Demand: Scientists Genetically Enhance Scent Of Flowers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982088/081007102847.htm
Scientists have found a way to genetically enhance the scent of flowers and implant a scent in those that don't have one.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
New, Tiny, Super-sensitive Probe Could Cut Colon Polyp Removal In Half, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982089/081007155054.htm
Researchers see a future in which virtual biopsies will eliminate the need to remove colon polyps that are not cancerous or will not morph into the disease.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Deep Biosphere Research Points To New Methods For Recovering Petroleum
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982090/081008091133.htm
Miles below us, deep within Earth's crust, life is astir. Organisms there are not the large creatures typically envisioned when thinking of life. Instead, thriving there are microbes, the smallest and oldest form of life on Earth. Researchers are using a novel approach to uncover the source of organic compounds found deep within Earth's crust; in the process, new ideas will be tested about how petroleum forms from deeply buried organic matter.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Largest Review Of Its Kind Associates Anti-inflammatory Drugs With Reduced Breast Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982091/081007172858.htm
Analysis of data from 38 studies that enrolled more than 2.7 million women -- the largest of its kind -- reveals that regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a 12 per cent relative risk reduction in breast cancer compared to nonusers.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
New Invention Could Change Design Of Future Memory Storage Devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982092/081008091131.htm
A new phase change material that has the potential to change the design of future memory storage devices has been invented.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Traumatic Brain Injury Common Amongst Homeless People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/415028329/081006180509.htm
Traumatic brain injury is common amongst homeless people and is associated with poorer health, found a study of more than 900 homeless men and women in Toronto.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
DNA Could Reveal Your Surname
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414982093/081007192526.htm
Researchers have shown that men with the same British surname are highly likely to be genetically linked. The results of the research have implications in the fields of forensics, genealogy, epidemiology and the history of surnames.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Pneumococcal Vaccine Associated With 50 Percent Lower Risk Of Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937064/081006180506.htm
Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccination was associated with a 50 percent lower risk of heart attacks two years after vaccination, suggests a large hospital-based case-control study.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Future Looks Bleak For One Of World’s Smallest Seal Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937066/081006093024.htm
One of the smallest seals -- the Caspian -- has joined a growing list of mammal species in danger of extinction.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Pediatric Study Finds Alternatives For Radiation Of Low-grade Brain Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937067/081006112055.htm
A new study has found that using chemotherapy alone and delaying or avoiding cranial radiation altogether can be effective in treating pediatric patients with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Fungus Fights Air Pollution By Removing Sulfur From Crude Oil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937068/081006170753.htm
Researchers in Iran are publishing what they describe as the first study on a fungus that can remove sulfur -- a major source of air pollution -- from crude oil more effectively than conventional refining methods.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Customers' Fixation On Minimum Payments Drives Up Credit Card Bills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414937069/081006130542.htm
Many credit card customers become fixated on the level of minimum payments given on credit card bills. The mere presence of a minimum payment is enough to reduce the actual amount many people choose to pay on their bills, leading to further interest payments.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Possibilities -- But No Proof -- To Prevent Alzheimer’s
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414764040/081008073741.htm
No one knows how to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. But researchers are finding clues to the mystery by studying exercise, estrogen, diet and drugs, and many other avenues.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Bomb-proof Thermometer To Measure Heat Of Explosions Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414854808/081008095718.htm
Scientists have designed a high-speed thermometer that can measure the temperature inside explosions without being damaged in the impact.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Contracting Pelvic Floor Muscles Prevents Urine Leakage Before And After Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414903120/081007192445.htm
Women who receive one-to-one instruction on how to contract the pelvic floor muscles and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises with health professional supervision are less likely to suffer urine leakage during or after pregnancy. A systematic review suggests that these exercises are effective for preventing and treating incontinence.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Flexi Display Technology Is Now
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/409241610/081002084217.htm
Screen display technology is taking a significant step forward as researchers from Sony and the Max Planck Institute demonstrate the possibility of bendable optically assessed organic light emitting displays for the first time, based on red or IR-A light upconversion.
Thu, 9 Oct 08
Counterterrorism Programs That Collect And Mine Data Should Be Evaluated For Effectiveness, Report Recommends
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414903121/081007155102.htm
All US agencies with counterterrorism programs that collect or "mine" personal data -- such as phone, medical and travel records or Web sites visited -- should be required to systematically evaluate the programs' effectiveness, lawfulness, and impacts on privacy, says a new report from the National Research Council.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Atomic-resolution Views Suggest Function Of Enzyme That Regulates Light-detecting Signals In Eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281159/081007120433.htm
An atomic resolution view of an enzyme found only in the eye is providing clues about how the enzyme is activated. The enzyme, PDE6, is critical to the way light entering the retina is converted into signals to the brain.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Even Occasional Smoking Can Impair Arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281160/081007120417.htm
Even occasional cigarette smoking can impair the functioning of your arteries, according to a new University of Georgia study that used ultrasound to measure how the arteries of young, healthy adults respond to changes in blood flow.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Anti-cancer Drug Prevents, Reverses Cardiovascular Damage In Mouse Model Of Premature Aging Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281161/081006180807.htm
An experimental anti-cancer drug can prevent -- and even reverse -- potentially fatal cardiovascular damage in a mouse model of progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes the most dramatic form of human premature aging researchers have reported.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Neurotransmitter Defect May Trigger Autoimmune Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/412878772/081006102535.htm
A potentially blinding neurological disorder, often confused with multiple sclerosis, has now become a little less mysterious. A new study may have uncovered the cause of Devic's disease. The research could result in new treatment options for this devastating disease.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
New Material Could Speed Development Of Hydrogen Powered Vehicles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281162/081006170531.htm
Researchers in Greece report design of a new material that almost meets the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2010 goals for hydrogen storage and could help eliminate a key roadblock to practical hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
New Fake-Proof Personality Test Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281163/081007102849.htm
Psychologists have developed a personality inventory that can predict who will excel in academic and creative domains, even when respondents are trying hard to fake their answers.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Deepest-living Fishes Caught On Camera For First Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281164/081007132552.htm
Scientists filming in one of the world's deepest ocean trenches have found groups of highly sociable snailfish swarming over their bait, nearly five miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This is the first time cameras have been sent to this depth.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Genetic Variant Plays Role In Cleft Lip, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281168/081006112105.htm
Researchers have found, in a previously identified gene, a variation that likely contributes to one in five cases of isolated cleft lip. It's the first time a genetic variant has been associated with cleft lip alone, rather than both cleft lip and palate. The study provides insight on a previously unknown genetic mechanism and could eventually help with diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cleft lip, which affects more than five million people worldwide.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Bird Diversity Lessens Human Exposure To West Nile Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281169/081006180811.htm
This one's for the birds. A study by biologists shows that the more diverse a bird population is in an area, the less chance humans have of exposure to West Nile Virus.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
New Diagnostic Test For Rare Leukemia Appears To Give Faster Results, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281171/081006130455.htm
A new twist on a well-known cell sorting technique may allow physicians to diagnose rare leukemias in hours instead of weeks, according to new study. The clinical promise of the Stanford-developed approach, which eavesdrops on individual cells to decipher potentially dangerous molecular conversations, is likely to extend to many other disorders in which cell-signaling pathways are disrupted.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Potentially Toxic Flame Retardants Highest In California Households
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281173/081006170710.htm
In what may be an unintended consequence of efforts to make furniture safer and less flammable, residents of California have blood levels of potentially toxic flame retardants called PBDEs at levels nearly twice the national average, scientists from Massachusetts and California are reporting.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Hack-a-vote: Students Learn How Vulnerable Electronic Voting Really Is
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281175/081007102851.htm
This week undergraduate and graduate students in an advanced computer security course at Rice University in Houston are learning hands-on just how easy it is to wreak havoc on computer software used in today's voting machines.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
'Deadly Dozen' Reports Diseases Worsened By Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413755833/081007073928.htm
A new report lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Scientists Trace A Novel Way Cells Are Disrupted In Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281176/081006130540.htm
A research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is clarifying a previously unappreciated way that cellular processes are disrupted in cancer. Following upon previous work showing that a splicing factor called SF2/ASF can induce tumors in cell cultures, the team now shows that the same splicing factor induces changes in proteins in a pathway called PI3K-mTOR well known for its involvement in cancers.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
NASA Spacecraft Ready To Explore Outer Solar System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281179/081006155921.htm
The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space is ready for launch Oct. 19. The two-year mission will begin from the Kwajalein Atoll, a part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Proteins Involved In Blood Vessel Dysfunction In Type 2 Diabetes Are Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281180/081006130544.htm
Using precise microscopes, researchers are dissecting coronary microvessels and testing which proteins are responsible for inflammation that causes blood-vessel dysfunction. By identifying the proteins that play important roles in blood-vessel dysfunction, they hope to develop new treatments for blood-vessel dysfunction in people with type 2 diabetes.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
How Many Earthquakes Are There?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281181/081003081641.htm
Authors explore how ground motion measures scale with magnitude and explore the question: How many earthquakes are there?
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Mentally Ill Smoke At 4 Times The Rate Of General Population, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413893171/081007091457.htm
Australians with mental illness smoke at four times the rate of the general population, according to a new study.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Stars Stop Forming When Big Galaxies Collide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281182/081007120431.htm
Astronomers studying new images of a nearby galaxy cluster have found evidence that high-speed collisions between large elliptical galaxies may prevent new stars from forming.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
C. Difficile And Antibiotics Not Necessarily Linked, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281183/081006180511.htm
A new study questions the assumption held by a vast majority of medical professionals that Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) infections are essentially always preceded by antibiotic use. The finding could have a major impact on how patients with diarrhea are evaluated upon their admission to the hospital.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Bioengineers Fill Holes In Science Of Cellular Self-organization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281184/081006155919.htm
The chemical and biological aspects of cellular self-organization are well-studied; less well understood is how cell populations order themselves biomechanically -- how their behavior and communication are affected by high density and physical proximity. Bioengineers and physicists have now begun to address these fundamental questions.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Racial Differences For Brain Bleeds Suggest Stroke Risk Greater Than Thought For Blacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281185/081006180517.htm
Small, clinically silent areas of bleeding in the brain appear to be more common in black versus white stroke patients hospitalized for new brain bleeds, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. These findings may help explain the higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke among the black population, especially in those who are medically underserved.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Good News For Pig Breeders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281186/081002094832.htm
There are currently two methods for artificial insemination: bull semen can be frozen to a temperature of -172 °C and may be stored indefinitely. However, pig semen must be diluted and stored liquid, and the storage capacity is only a few days. The window of opportunity for insemination is also limited. Striking the period when the sow is receptive is difficult and farmers need to inspect the animals regularly.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
ADHD Stimulant Treatment May Decrease Risk Of Substance Abuse In Adolescent Girls; Results Mirror Findings In Boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/414281187/081006180519.htm
Researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs does not increase and appears to significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Mysterious Snippets Of DNA Withstand Eons Of Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413944446/081001181306.htm
Small stretches of seemingly useless DNA harbor a big secret, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. There's one problem: We don't know what it is. Although individual laboratory animals appear to live happily when these genetic ciphers are deleted, these snippets have been highly conserved throughout evolution.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Occasional Memory Loss Tied To Lower Brain Volume
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413893165/081006180515.htm
People who occasionally forget an appointment or a friend's name may have a loss of brain volume, even though they don't have memory deficits on regular tests of memory or dementia, according to new study.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Fishy Future Written In The Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413944447/080930094653.htm
The roadmap to the future of the gorgeously-decorated fish which throng Australia’s coral reefs may well be written in their genes. Of particular importance may be to protect ‘pioneer’ fish populations which are able to re-colonize regions of reef devastated by global warming and other impacts or settle new areas as the corals move south.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Many Receptor Models Used In Drug Design May Not Be Useful After All
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413944448/081002204433.htm
It may very well be that models used for the design of new drugs have to be regarded as impractical. Scientists have elucidated the structure of the adenosine A2A receptor, one of caffeine's main targets in the body and a key player in Parkinson's.
Wed, 8 Oct 08
Computer Hardware 'Guardians' Protect Users From Undiscovered Bugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/413944449/081001181312.htm
As computer processor chips grow faster and more complex, they are likely to make it to market with more design bugs. But that may be OK, according to researchers who have devised a system that lets chips work around all functional bugs, even those that haven't been detected.