Science Daily
Main
Science
Beeb ScienceClimate Change
Eco News
Science Daily
Random Feeds
Archives
| Dec 2008 | Nov 2008 | Oct 2008 | Sep 2008 | Aug 2008 | Jul 2008 | Jun 2008 | May 2008 | Apr 2008 | Mar 2008 | Feb 2008 | Jan 2008 | Dec 2007 |Sun, 30 Nov 08
Farming And Chemical Warfare: A Day In The Life Of An Ant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v9-uvW67njI/081117082048.htm
One of the most important developments in human civilization was the practice of sustainable agriculture. But we were not the first; ants have been doing it for over 50 million years. Just as farming helped humans become a dominant species, it has also helped leaf-cutter ants become dominant herbivores and one of the most successful social insects in nature.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Does Hormone Treatment Predispose Patients To Breast Cancer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GNhiatw73pM/081121081059.htm
Breast cancer, the leading cause of death among women in France, is the most commonly occurring cancer in women. Sporadic breast cancer, which is non-hereditary, turns out to be the most widespread, representing 85 to 90% of all cases, but remains the least well-known. Researchers have just discovered the cause of 50% of sporadic breast cancers.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Rabies Barrier To Save World's Rarest Wolf
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P8UHeW0mfro/081119175533.htm
Conservationists are battling to save the world's rarest wolf from a rabies outbreak by creating a 'barrier' of vaccinated wolf packs.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Portuguese Scientists Discover New Mechanism That Regulates Formation Of Blood Vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IplE4uFPdQ8/081117153305.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism which regulates the process whereby new blood vessels are formed and wounds heal, including chronic wounds, such as those found in diabetic patients and those suffering from morbid obesity. These findings have implications for the development of new therapeutic approaches to healing damaged blood vessels and building new ones.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
How Binge Drinking May Drive Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oonmifCDNpA/081126081403.htm
As the holidays arrive, a group of researchers has identified the precise mechanisms by which binge drinking contributes to clogs in arteries that lead to heart attack and stroke. The works adds to a growing body of evidence that drinking patterns matter as much, if not more, to risk for cardiovascular disease than the total amount consumed. Irregular, heavy drinking pattern clogs blood vessels.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Common Cold Virus Came From Birds About 200 Years Ago, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mXmavj0k_QU/081120073115.htm
A virus that causes cold-like symptoms in humans originated in birds and may have crossed the species barrier around 200 years ago, according to an article in the Journal of General Virology. Scientists hope their findings will help us understand how potentially deadly viruses emerge in humans.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Ultrasound Waves Aid In Rapid Treatment Of Deep Vein Thrombosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n_esGBHXf90/081123150253.htm
The use of ultrasound waves for deep vein thrombosis may help dissolve blood clots in less time than using clot-busting drugs alone, according to researchers.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Climate Change Opens New Avenue For Spread Of Invasive Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YiBmXx4zado/081119161125.htm
A team of researchers from the Netherlands and Florida has found that plants that range beyond their normal distribution because of warming climates may have advantages over native plants. Global warming-induced biological invasions may represent an additional threat to biodiversity.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Exercise And Rest Reduce Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jDytXTfpGUo/081117153154.htm
Exercise is good for more than just your waistline. A recent study suggests that regular physical activity can lower a woman's overall risk of cancer -- but only if she gets a good night's sleep. Otherwise, lack of sleep can undermine exercise's cancer prevention benefits.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Sustainable Garden Roofs Developed As New Construction Material
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSWj-9gMrx8/081121151914.htm
A Spanish research study has tested different combinations of supports and indigenous plants to determine which are the best for reducing energy consumption inside buildings. This type of roof is a “rurban,” sustainable architectural solution that will lead to a reduction in environmental and acoustic contamination levels in cities, and be visually pleasing.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Science Professors Know Science, But Who Is Teaching Them How To Teach?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xYz9-ZxUspE/081127145125.htm
U.S. science and engineering students emerge from graduate school exquisitely trained to carry out research. Yet when it comes to the other major activity they'll engage in as professors -- teaching -- they're usually left to their own devices. That's now beginning to change.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Records
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eIOK2VI3xAQ/081129124902.htm
The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially comes to a close on November 30, marking the end of a season that produced a record number of consecutive storms to strike the United States and ranks as one of the more active seasons in the 64 years since comprehensive records began. A total of 16 named storms formed this season. The storms included eight hurricanes, five of which were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Fast Food A Potential Risk Factor For Alzheimer’s
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-RCdB7vAKSM/081128082937.htm
Mice that were fed a diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol for nine months developed a preliminary stage of the morbid irregularities that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. The study gives some indications of how this difficult to treat disease might one day be preventable.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
New Excavations Strengthen Identification Of Herod’s Grave At Herodium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NRMeMZPh5Bo/081119084537.htm
Analysis of newly revealed items found at the site of the mausoleum of King Herod at Herodium (Herodion in Greek) have provided archaeological researchers with further assurances that this was indeed the site of the famed ruler’s 1st century B.C.E. grave. Herod was the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4 B.C.E., who was renowned for his many monumental building projects, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the palace at Masada, the harbor and city of Caesarea, as well as the palatial complex at Herodium, 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Three Esophageal, Stomach Cancer Subtypes Linked To Smoking; One Associated With Alcohol Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fjCZpxnKBC4/081117103649.htm
Researchers who have been following the health of more than 120,000 residents of the Netherlands for more than two decades have found that smoking is associated with two forms of esophageal cancer as well as a form of stomach cancer, and that drinking alcohol is strongly linked to one form of esophageal cancer.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Model To Measure Soil Health In Bioenergy Era
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EH-OpUufoVI/081119120229.htm
The loss of soil organic matter due to poor land-management practice threatens farmlands, and while the use for crop residues as feedstock for biomass ethanol and bio-based products increases, these materials no longer contribute to the health of the soil. Scientist have now developed a method of measuring soil quality to assure an adequate amount of soil organic matter, called the CQESTR model.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Specific DNA Variations Of The Serotonin Transporter Gene Can Influence Drinking Intensity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KEp1MrzBlzg/081120162841.htm
The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. New findings show that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
New HIV Cases Could Be Reduced By 95% With Universal Voluntary Testing And Immediate Treatment, Mathematical Model Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/85zJPBQfLJ8/081129135520.htm
Universal and annual voluntary testing followed by immediate antiretroviral therapy treatment (irrespective of clinical stage or CD4 count) can reduce new HIV cases by 95% within 10 years, according to new findings based on a mathematical model developed by a group of HIV specialists in WHO.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Is An Anchor Responsible For Mad Cow Disease (BSE) Infections?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6cOxRWo4eL0/081129174042.htm
Chemists are providing prion researchers with a new tool to elucidate the role played by specific anchor molecules. These complicated anchor compounds are suspected of promoting infections with BSE or Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Tracking Down Strange Seismic Waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V4n6uwRFiFo/081129173952.htm
Seismic waves generated by earthquakes pass through the earth. Changes in their direction or velocity indicate variations in the materials through which they pass. Geophysicists have now been able to show in a model exactly what happens at zones where crustal plates subduct below one another.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
A Surgeon You Can Swallow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rH84Q6dzSjo/081129173859.htm
In the future, tablet-shaped robots could perform some surgical operations without injuring the body. A new publication shows how such surgical bio-microrobots might function.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Pesticides Are In For It Now
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wCTGBZGXFsY/081129173816.htm
Chemists have developed a method to detect pesticide residues in foodstuffs -- a method that may also be of interest for other areas and may enable quality checks on a running basis.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
YouTube Usage Decoded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EvVN_t3DqBk/081129173718.htm
Why are certain videos on YouTube watched millions of times while 90 percent of the contributions find only the odd viewer? A new study reveals that increased attention in social systems like the YouTube community follows particular, recurrent patterns that can be represented using mathematical models.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Humanity May Hold Key For Next Earth Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XaJq24jROmg/081129173302.htm
Human degradation of the environment has the potential to stall an ongoing process of planetary evolution, and even rewind the evolutionary clock to leave the planet habitable only by the bacteria that dominated billions of years of Earth's history, according to Harvard geochemist Charles Langmuir.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Boll Weevil Feeding Habits Now Better Understood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_j_6GOWIfJs/081129152632.htm
Boll weevils don't hibernate during winter in the subtropics but actually remain active, feeding on orange, grapefruit and other plants, according to a scientist studying this infamous cotton pest.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Insecticides Or Genetically Modified Crops? Non-Target Insects Affected More By Insecticides Than By Crops Engineered To Make Insect-specific Toxins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ab6bgEDdpOU/081129151957.htm
Non-target insects are probably affected more by conventional insecticides than by crops that contain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), according to a new article. Bt crops such as maize and cotton are genetically engineered to produce insect-specific toxins.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Humans Prompted New Paths For Parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j_i-AkTYvCA/081129151143.htm
Scientists are tracking how the dissemination of the parasite Trichinella spiralis throughout Europe, North Africa and the Americas was facilitated by human travel and the transportation of animals.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Cell Receptor Identified As Target For Anti-inflammatory Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B4FzlCY2RLk/081129124253.htm
Invading pathogens provoke a series of molecular heroics that, when successful, muster an army of antibodies to neutralize the threat. Like with any close-quarter combat, however, an aggressive immune response runs the risk of friendly fire accidents. For the last decade, immunologists have intensively studied mechanisms evolved by the immune system to avoid these accidents by shutting off the immune response once the invaders have been eliminated.
Sun, 30 Nov 08
Influence Of Climate Warming On The Increase In Tick-borne Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HPWeZJxAhKM/081129100146.htm
Rises in the ambient temperature modify the behavior of dog ticks and increase their affinity for humans. There is thus a risk that episodes of global warming may be associated with epidemics of tick-borne diseases.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Virtual Ears And The Cocktail Party Effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DA9i06COlgk/081119175851.htm
New research has helped understanding of the so-called 'cocktail party effect' -- how our brains develop the ability to pinpoint and focus on particular sounds among a background of noise.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Selenium May Slow March Of AIDS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G8-d58Sy91M/081128082835.htm
Increasing the production of naturally occurring proteins that contain selenium in human blood cells slows down multiplication of the AIDS virus, according to biochemists.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Bird Population Estimates Are Flawed, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C3mOVSvgTco/081121080819.htm
Most of what we know about bird populations stems from surveys conducted by professional biologists and amateur birdwatchers, but new research shows that the data from those surveys may be seriously flawed -- and proposes possible means to resolve the problem.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Bad Cholesterol Inhibits The Breakdown Of Peripheral Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dEr5OwD-Z18/081120073117.htm
The so called bad cholesterol (LDL) inhibits the breakdown of fat in cells of peripheral deposits, according to a new study. The discovery reveals a novel function of LDL as a regulator of fat turnover besides its well-established detrimental effects in promoting atherosclerosis.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Highly Efficient Lithium Batteries Could Greatly Extend Battery Life Of Laptop Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LMe89IAWYDE/081120103802.htm
Scientists have developed a new material for anodes, which could clear a path for a new generation of rechargeable batteries. Their new material involves three-dimensional, highly porous silicon structures.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Ban On Fast Food TV Advertising Would Reverse Childhood Obesity Trends, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6l99ivUMXzs/081119120149.htm
A ban on fast-food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent, according to a new study. The study also reports that eliminating the tax deductibility associated with television advertising would result in a reduction of childhood obesity, though in smaller numbers.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Panamanian Termite Goes Ballistic: Fastest Mandible Strike In The World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jP3I7LpaU_8/081124165259.htm
A single hit on the head by the termite Termes panamensis (Snyder), which possesses the fastest mandible strike ever recorded, is sufficient to kill a would-be nest invader.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
New Screening Halves Number Of Children Born With Down Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F_TU-Np-ciY/081127204346.htm
A new national screening strategy in Denmark has halved the number of infants born with Down's syndrome and increased the number of infants diagnosed before birth by 30 percent, according to a new study.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Spinning Into The Future Of Data Storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1HEI7KehzhY/081124102710.htm
Scientists have improved their understanding of the inner workings of our computers and MP3 players, thanks to an exciting new field of research called "organic spintronics."
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Study Documents What May Be First Cases Of Certain Tick-borne Disease In China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EezZXH7fQfk/081118161239.htm
It appears that for the first time human granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging tick-borne infectious disease found in the US and Europe, has been identified in China and apparently was transmitted from person to person, according to a new study.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Making Gases More Transportable: Methane Gas Converted To Powder Form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4WjRyYYsMnc/081120073126.htm
Chemists have developed a way of converting methane gas into a powder form in order to make it more transportable.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
New National Survey Says Public Reveres Bison
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lMi3beoGXIU/081118131857.htm
Americans are woefully out of touch with the fact that the American bison, or buffalo, is in trouble as a wild, iconic species, but they do love them as an important symbol of their country -- and as an entree on the dinner table. These sentiments were found in a public survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society at a national conference on restoring bison populations in the North America.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Solar Wind Rips Up Martian Atmosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V9IaDexV9Kk/081123142222.htm
Researchers have found new evidence that the atmosphere of Mars is being stripped away by solar wind. It's not a gently continuous erosion, but rather a ripping process in which chunks of Martian air detach themselves from the planet and tumble into deep space. This surprising mechanism could help solve a longstanding mystery about the Red Planet.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Chandrayaan-1 Starts Observations Of The Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vH1m2O5_86k/081124131241.htm
The Indian Space Research Organization's lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 released a probe that impacted close to the lunar south pole on Nov. 14. Following this, the instruments on the spacecraft are being switched on to get the science observations started.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Risk Of Maternal And Newborn Complications May Be Lower After Bariatric Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iUyq2emxz_8/081118161241.htm
A review of previously published studies suggests that rates of adverse outcomes for mothers or pregnant women and newborn babies, such as gestational diabetes and low birth weight, may be lower after bariatric surgery compared with pregnant women who are obese, according to a new study.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Toward Healthier Bread And Other Whole Grain Foods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jelEMGvEF_E/081119155941.htm
Bread, pasta, and other foods made from whole grains -- known to help protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes -- may get even healthier in the future.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Asthma Over-Diagnosed In One Third Of Canadian Adults, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FdrInRbG_cg/081117192754.htm
Asthma may be overdiagnosed in countries like Canada, suggests a longitudinal study of 540 obese and non-obese adults that found approximately one third of Canadians with physician-diagnosed asthma do not have asthma when objectively tested.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
'The Photon Force Is With Us': Harnessing Light To Drive Nanomachines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5OaEEcyFULE/081126133305.htm
Science fiction writers have long envisioned sailing a spacecraft by the optical force of the sun's light. But, the forces of sunlight are too weak to fill even the oversized sails that have been tried. Now a team led by researchers at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science has shown that the force of light indeed can be harnessed to drive machines when the process is scaled to nano-proportions.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Mouse Model Of Prion Disease Mimics Diverse Symptoms Of Human Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MpvrH0azNrM/081126133300.htm
A comprehensive mouse model of inherited prion disease exhibits cognitive, motor and neurophysiological deficits that bear a striking resemblance to the symptoms experienced by patients with the human version of "mad cow disease," Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The research, published in the journal Neuron, provides exciting insight into the mechanism of disease and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Drink Brewed Tea To Avoid Tooth Erosion, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VU6RLkKMfYw/081125132514.htm
Researchers compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their short- and long-term erosive effect on human teeth. The study found that the erosive effect of tea was similar to that of water, which has no erosive effect.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Resistance to TB Vaccine May Be Uncommon, Protects Against Nine Strains in Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8CcEsEnF7ps/081125161535.htm
A new study shows that the current tuberculosis vaccine induces protective immunity against nine strains of the bacteria in mice indicating that strain-specific resistance may be uncommon.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Delving Into Mysterious Irregularity Of Earth's Magnetic Field: Observatory Being Built In Middle Of Atlantic Ocean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3wbuIZp5nBQ/081125090348.htm
A new Danish observatory on a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean will provide researchers with new knowledge about the mysterious irregularity of the Earth’s magnetic field known as the South Atlantic Anomaly.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Expressing Emotions In E-mail So As Not To Be Misinterpreted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/luIzDNqW8Pg/081125161537.htm
How do people use emoticons, subject lines, and signatures to define how they want to be interpreted in email? The authors find that "a shift to email interaction requires a new set of interactional skills to be developed." Unlike face-to-face conversations, email interactions leave out tone of voice, body-language and context, which can lead to misunderstandings.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Route To Obesity Passes Through Tongue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XVFaFuy_lKw/081126133409.htm
Obesity gradually numbs the taste sensation of rats to sweet foods and drives them to consume larger and ever-sweeter meals, according to neuroscientists. New findings could uncover a critical link between taste and body weight, and reveal how flab hooks the brain on sugary food.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Master Gene Plays Key Role In Blood Sugar Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8w_XI91MiZ8/081127145132.htm
When mice that lack steroid receptor-2, a master regulator gene called a coactivator, fast for a day, their blood sugar levels plummet. If they go another day without food, they will die. The severity of the hypoglycemia was unexpected, according to an article in Science.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Fast Molecular Rearrangements Hold Key To Plastic’s Toughness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jlwXawFY_v8/081127145128.htm
Researchers report that subjecting a common plastic to physical stress - which causes the plastic to flow - also dramatically increases the motion of the material's constituent molecules, with molecular rearrangements occurring up to 1,000 times faster than without the stress.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Estrogen Therapy Could Be Dangerous For Women With Existing Heart Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gpLDjZck-3g/081125161533.htm
Hormone therapy could accentuate certain pre-existing heart disease risk factors and a heart health evaluation should become the norm when considering estrogen replacement, new research suggests.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Key Link In How Plants Adapt To Climate Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ky7fNHLR0Y4/081125113112.htm
How many mouths does a plant need in order to survive? The answer changes depending on climate and some of the decisions are made long before a new leaf sprouts. Stanford researchers have found that the formation of microscopic pores called stomata is controlled by a specific signaling pathway that blocks activity of a single protein required for stomata development. Stomata are found on almost every terrestrial plant on Earth.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Explanation For 'Face Blindness' Offered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FH5jg8psTQg/081125141604.htm
For the first time, scientists have been able to map the disruption in neural circuitry of people suffering from congenital prosopagnosia, sometimes known as face blindness, and have been able to offer a biological explanation for this intriguing disorder. Currently thought to affect roughly two percent of the population, congenital prosopagnosia manifests as the lifelong failure to recognize faces in the absence of obvious neurological damage, and in individuals with intact vision and intelligence.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Biologists Find New Environmental Threat In North American Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G8ipnF35_20/081127145141.htm
A new and insidious environmental threat has been detected in North American lakes. Boreal forest lakes suffer from 'aquatic osteoporosis.'
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Experimental TB Drug Explodes Bacteria From The Inside Out
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v9FXuofUOg8/081127145137.htm
Biochemists have discovered how an experimental drug unleashes its destructive force inside the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The finding could help scientists develop ways to treat dormant TB infections, and suggests a strategy for drug development against other bacteria as well.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
New National Park Protects World's Rarest Gorilla
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bbPgHTn7-7U/081127114733.htm
A new national park to help protect the world's most endangered great ape, the Cross River gorilla, has been created. The Cross River gorilla is the rarest of the four gorilla subspecies.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Inhaled Corticosteroids Raise Pneumonia Risk For Lung Disease Sufferers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/437ProQEDK0/081125161529.htm
Lung disease experts are calling for physicians to show much greater caution in prescribing inhaled corticosteroid drugs for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after finding evidence that the widely used anti-inflammatory medications increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
Protein Fibers Can Become Electrical Wiring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Phffe5s3BoM/081125113322.htm
Researchers have succeeded in creating electrical wires consisting of protein fibers encased in plastic. The 10 nanometer thin fibers are self-organizing and compatible with biological systems.
Sat, 29 Nov 08
New Research Sheds Light On Fly Sleep Circuit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N-q9AI30lnk/081126133401.htm
Researchers have identified a specific set of wake-promoting neurons in fruit flies that are analogous to cells in the much more complex sleep circuit in humans. The study demonstrates that in flies, as in mammals, the sleep circuit is intimately linked to the circadian clock and that the brain's strategies to govern sleep are evolutionarily ancient.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Insight Into 'Dancing' Atoms: To Make Better MRI Images, Let The Atoms Spin Out Of Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NkOXzb3dwuc/081125121234.htm
Scientists have made a new theoretical advance in atomic behavior that could lead to sharper magnetic resonance imaging pictures. The discovery could one day help enable the development of portable MRI machines.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Surgeons Perform World's First Pediatric Robotic Bladder Reconstruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/62bdaZz8eTA/081120090604.htm
A 10-year-old Chicago girl born with an abnormally small bladder that made her incontinent has become the first patient to benefit from a new robotic-assisted bladder-reconstruction procedure. The surgeons have now performed the operation six times, with good results and no significant complications.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Road Emissions Dominate Global Transport Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KzbkbvFlZf8/081121081355.htm
The world’s car park is growing. It has become so big that the impact of emissions from today’s road traffic on the global temperature in 2100 will be six times greater than that from today’s air traffic.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Hormones: The Reason Why Females With Cystic Fibrosis Have A Worse Outlook Than Males With The Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vfkr1hn-QNI/081120173008.htm
Females with cystic fibrosis have more severe disease than males with cystic fibrosis and have a shorter lifespan. Although many suggestions have been put forward to explain this sex-related difference, a concrete mechanism to explain it has remained elusive.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
The Perfect Nanoballoon: How Ultrathin 'Graphene' Carbon Sheets Keep Everything Inside
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l0vRGjSAW7A/081125135938.htm
Airtight containers are not always so airtight. As any child will discover the day after a birthday party, even a tightly tied helium balloon will leak its gas out over the course of many hours. Now scientists have come up with a supremely efficient barrier that lets nothing in or out.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Eye Divergence In Children Triples Risk Of Mental Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bgnbSriKGpY/081126150747.htm
Children whose eyes are misaligned and point outward are at significantly increased risk of developing mental illness by early adulthood, according to findings published in Pediatrics.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Using Invisibility To Increase Visibility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oBR494-1R0A/081127074618.htm
Research into the development of invisibility devices has spurred two physicists' thought on the behavior of light to overcome the seemingly intractable problem of optical singularities which could soon lead to the manufacturing of a perfect cat's eye.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WGxfE97uZnQ/081124141047.htm
A new species of bacterium that causes leprosy has been identified through intensive genetic analysis of a pair of lethal infections, a research team reports.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Land Iguanas Under Continuing Threat On Galapagos Archipelago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TNRa8dGj2e4/081126133413.htm
The Galapagos Islands, which provided impetus and inspiration for Charles Darwin's seminal work, "On the Origin of Species," are home to unique populations of reptiles. Since the time of man's first visit in the 16th century to this crucial incubator for evolutionary theory, the islands' native plants and animals have faced grave challenges, including severe pressures from introduced species, habitat destruction and predation by man himself.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Helping The Embryo Implant: A New Role For One Type Of Immune Cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/czd7O6KyPOI/081120172930.htm
One of the most critical stages in establishing a pregnancy is the implantation of the embryo in the wall of the uterus. Although the accumulation of immune cells known as DCs has been observed in the uterus after fertilization and prior to implantation, their function was not known.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Meteorite: 10-ton Rock Responsible For Fireball In Western Canada
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bi0LAkME_LU/081125141602.htm
Investigation of the fireball that lit up the skies of Alberta and Saskatchewan on Nov. 20 has determined that an asteroid fragment weighing approximately 10 tons entered the Earth's atmosphere over the prairie provinces last Thursday evening.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Childhood Constipation Just As Serious As Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-VsMlkXggsE/081126122319.htm
Family life gets crazy around the holidays, and kids can get out of their bathroom routine. A new study finds childhood constipation is much more than an inconvenience - it's a common, sometimes serious medical problem that costs nearly $4 billion each year to treat. That's equal to major chronic illnesses like asthma and ADHD. We have some important tips for parents to help treat or prevent the problem before it gets serious.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Global Warming Is Changing Organic Matter In Soil: Atmosphere Could Change As A Result
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MxQROqYTpI4/081124130948.htm
New research shows that we should be looking to the ground, not the sky, to see where climate change could have its most perilous impact on life on Earth. Scientists have shown that global warming actually changes the molecular structure of organic matter in soil.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
How DNA Is Unwound So That Its Code Can Be Read
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w01Zis5Lv_4/081124141057.htm
Researchers have figured out how a macromolecular machine is able to unwind the long and twisted tangles of DNA within a cell's nucleus so that genetic information can be "read" and used to direct the synthesis of proteins, which have many specific functions in the body.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Ocean Acidification In The Caribbean Significant, Yet Variable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MySSU7_IgXY/081121163353.htm
A new study, which confirms significant ocean acidification across much of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, reports strong natural variations in ocean chemistry in some parts of the Caribbean that could affect the way reefs respond to future ocean acidification.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Increased Calcium Sensitivity In The Heart Can Make For An Irregular Heartbeat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1wKyRQ6f-x8/081120173129.htm
New mouse studies, by Björn C. Knollmann and colleagues, at Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, have uncovered a potential new molecular mechanism to explain why some individuals suffer irregular heartbeats that can cause sudden death. The results suggest a potential new target for drugs that would be beneficial to those at risk.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Final World Trade Center 7 Investigation Report On September 11, 2001 Collapse Released
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-vhd82Mx0qo/081120144246.htm
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released its final report on the Sept. 11, 2001, collapse of the 47-story World Trade Center 7 in New York City. The study is strengthened by clarifications and supplemental text suggested by comments on the draft WTC 7 report, but the revisions did not alter the investigation team's major findings and recommendations, including identification of fire as the primary cause for the building's failure.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Secret To Workplace Happiness? Remember What You Love About The Job, Study Urges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r08s3gkhBo4/081126122317.htm
Urging employees to rethink their jobs was enough to drop absenteeism by 60 percent and turnover by 75 percent, a new study shows.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Bacterial Biofilms As Fossil Makers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9v_Uy1Idtm8/081124174859.htm
Bacterial decay was once viewed as fossilization's mortal enemy, but new research suggests bacterial biofilms may have actually helped preserve the fossil record's most vulnerable stuff -- animal embryos and soft tissues.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
New Type Of Vaccines Deliver Stronger And Faster Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e10VtPKvh1k/081124130941.htm
A new vaccine principle is being developed by scientists in Denmark which, if it works to its full expected potential, could help to save millions of lives and revolutionize current vaccine technology. The 'InVacc' platform, as it is known, represents an advance on the original DNA vaccines and generates new vaccines with greatly enhanced properties.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
U.S. Winter Outlook Calls For Variability, According To NOAA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mAMpvwAR4S0/081121162734.htm
In announcing the 2008-2009 U.S. Winter Outlook for meteorological winter from December through February, forecasters at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center are calling for warmer-than-normal temperatures for much of the central part of the nation, and a continuation of drier-than-normal conditions across the Southeast.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Tumor Environment Determines Whether The Cellular Process Autophagy Enables Cancer Cells To Live Or Die
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oIKjyv8E05U/081120173048.htm
Confusingly, the cellular process autophagy (essentially self-eating) has been implicated in both cancer cell death and survival. New insight into this paradox has now been provided by work which indicates that the context in which the process occurs determines the outcome.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Urban Trees Enhance Water Infiltration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0qP0oF25ca0/081119120153.htm
The management of stormwater in urban areas is often focused on restoring the hydrologic cycle disrupted by extensive pavement and compacted urban soils, but now a group of researchers have been investigating innovative ways to maximize the potential of trees to address stormwater. The development of structural soil reservoirs may provide new opportunities for meeting engineering, environmental, and greenspace management needs in urban areas.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Fear Of Hypoglycemia A Barrier To Exercise For Type 1 Diabetics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fqGf5DRJFyU/081126122315.htm
According to a new study, published in Diabetes Care, a majority of diabetics avoid physical activity because they worry about exercise-induced hypoglycemia and severe consequences including loss of consciousness.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Jupiter's Rocky Core Bigger And Icier, According To New Simulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EBnCZLFOcLo/081125132520.htm
When Jupiter formed 4.5 billion years ago, rocks and ice combined to form a rocky core 14-18 times the mass of the Earth, according to a new simulation by UC Berkeley geophysicist Burkhard Militzer. This is twice what previous models predicted. Militzer employed a simulation technique designed to model the properties of semiconductors and now used for nanomaterials. This simulation also predicts few ices throughout the rest of the atmosphere.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Bacterial Decision-making Explained By 'Moving' Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cy4twiw0Mlk/081124141059.htm
Biochemists have answered a fundamental question of how important bacterial proteins make life-and-death decisions that allow them to function, a finding that could provide a new target for drugs to disrupt bacterial decision-making processes and related diseases.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Kidney Injury Puts Elderly Individuals At High Risk For Developing Serious Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cQaZB10VW8Q/081119171320.htm
Acute kidney injury, which is often caused by trauma, illness, or surgery, predisposes elderly individuals to the most serious form of chronic kidney disease, known as end stage renal disease, according to a new study. The findings indicate that close medical follow-up is important for maintaining the health of patients who have experienced kidney damage.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Scientists Teach Enzyme To Make Synthetic Heparin In More Varieties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wbU1-tRMfdY/081125132516.htm
Scientists have learned to customize a key human enzyme responsible for producing heparin, opening the door to a more effective synthetic anticoagulant as well as treatments for other conditions.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Older People Should Have The Flu Jab This Winter, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yC3uJ-tfg_U/081118200549.htm
Despite recent doubts about its effectiveness, the influenza vaccine does give valuable protection against illness, hospital admission and death caused by influenza, and people over 65 should have the flu jab this winter, say experts.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Social Amoeba Seek Kin Association
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Mk4j7kd5oE/081124203654.htm
Starving "social amoebae" called Dictyostelium discoideum seek the support of "kin" when they form multi-cellular organisms made up of dead stalks and living spores, researchers report.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Brain Sense Fatty Food: Molecule Shuts Down Food Intake And Turns On 'Siesta Mode'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o2yJxYCQLzA/081126122207.htm
Researchers have identified a molecule that tells your brain when it's time to push back from the Thanksgiving table. In studies with mice and rats, researchers found that a chemical messenger called NAPE is made in the small intestine after a greasy meal, then travels to the brain, where it quashes hunger signals. Rats treated with extra NAPE ate less and lost weight.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Humpback Whales' Dining Habits And Energy Costs Of Feasting On Tiny Prey, Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8r_ASPe7A6s/081127074620.htm
As most American families sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, a University of British Columbia researcher is revealing how one of the largest animals on earth feasts on the smallest of prey -- and at what cost.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Scientists Identify 13 New Tumor-suppressor Genes In Liver Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xJVUiwMpOOA/081118170623.htm
Researchers have developed a means of speeding up the discovery of cancer-related genes and validating their function in living animals. A collaborative effort yielded a large-scale, rapid, cost-effective genetic screen that in a preliminary test succeeded in uncovering 13 new tumor suppressors in human liver cancer, many of which have not been linked to cancer before.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Track Your Fitness, Environmental Impact With New Cell Phone Applications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dgjFATELtTU/081119140719.htm
Planning on gobbling a few extra treats this holiday season? Soon, your cell phone may be able to help you maintain your exercise routine and keep the pounds off over winter months, without your having to lift a finger to keep track.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Want To Be Happier? Be More Grateful
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0h3xXLPyaQo/081125113005.htm
Want to quickly improve your happiness and satisfaction with life? Then the pen may be a mighty weapon. Researchers recruited students from six courses to explore the effects of writing letters of gratitude to people who had positively impacted the students' lives. Over the course of a six-week period, students wrote one letter every two weeks with the simple ground rules that it had to be positively expressive, required some insight and reflection, were nontrivial and contained a high level of appreciation or gratitude. "I saw their happiness increase after each letter, meaning the more they wrote, the better they felt," says the lead researcher.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Adult Brain Neurons Can Remodel Connections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DnjoTCgoqxI/081124174909.htm
Overturning a century of prevailing thought, scientists are finding that neurons in the adult brain can remodel their connections.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Sealing Off Portion Of Intestinal Lining Treats Obesity, Resolves Diabetes In Animal Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HrKWuCeJb4w/081124151017.htm
Lining the upper portion of the small intestine with an impermeable sleeve led to both weight loss and restoration of normal glucose metabolism in an animal model of obesity-induced diabetes. Researchers report that the procedure reproducing several aspects of gastric bypass surgery led to a significant reduction in the animals' food intake and a resolution of diabetes symptoms.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
NASA Prepares For New Juno Mission To Jupiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VziN9gQXfhQ/081124164600.htm
NASA is officially moving forward on a mission to conduct an unprecedented, in-depth study of Jupiter. Called Juno, the mission will be the first in which a spacecraft is placed in a highly elliptical polar orbit around the giant planet to understand its formation, evolution and structure. Underneath its dense cloud cover, Jupiter safeguards secrets to the fundamental processes and conditions that governed our early solar system.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
New CT Technology Shows Anorexia Impairs Adolescent Bone Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NFoYHDSnpn0/081118071132.htm
Children and teenagers with even mild cases of anorexia exhibit abnormal bone structure, according to a new study.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Computers Determine When To Stop Searches For Missing People At Sea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0RG90npYGkk/081119084531.htm
British researchers are developing a new computer model to predict how long someone will survive when lost at sea, which will in turn determine when a search and rescue operation may be stopped.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
In Sickness And Health: Caring For Ailing Spouse May Prolong Your Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mLMjnl5mtZ0/081125141614.htm
Older people who spent at least 14 hours a week taking care of a disabled spouse lived longer than others. This unexpected finding is published in Psychological Science.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Declines In U.S. Cancer Incidence And Death Rates According to Annual Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I8kUX8nsK4g/081125161415.htm
A new report from the nation's leading cancer organizations shows that, for the first time, both incidence and death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing, driven largely by declines in some of the most common types of cancer. The report notes that, although the decreases in overall cancer incidence and death rates are encouraging, large state and regional differences in lung cancer trends among women underscore the need to strengthen tobacco control programs.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9s7MSl2dSGA/081126122203.htm
Researchers have uncovered what may be a universal cause of aging, one that applies to both single cell organisms such as yeast and multicellular organisms, including mammals. This is the first time that such an evolutionarily conserved aging mechanism has been identified between such diverse organisms. The mechanism probably dates back more than one billion years. The study shows how DNA damage eventually leads to a breakdown in the cell's ability to properly regulate which genes are switched on and off in particular settings.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Stopping Germs From Ganging Up On Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xi_Ocr3DJWk/081120103758.htm
Evolutionary theory points to a new approach to combat drug resistance in disease-causing organisms and in cancer, according to new research. Keeping germs from cooperating can delay the evolution of drug resistance more effectively than killing germs one by one with traditional drugs such as antibiotics.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
New Filtering Technology Has Environmental, Industrial Applications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kebn5GjKebc/081118122152.htm
Materials engineers have created a new type of membrane that separates oil from water and, if perfected, might be used for environmental cleanup, water purification and industrial applications.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Simple New Method Detects Contaminants In Life-saving Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qHr6zUa-r28/081117193011.htm
The blood-thinning drug heparin is highly effective when used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins, arteries and lungs, but earlier this year its reputation as a lifesaver was sullied when contaminated heparin products caused serious allergic reactions that led to a large number of deaths.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Precise Measurement Of Phenomenon Advances Solar Cell Understanding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iiLA4JkPmlk/081118161601.htm
Researchers have shed light on a basic process that could improve future solar cells. They have now directly measured the rate of hole transfer between identical porphyrin compounds in their ground states. These results are key to understanding the fundamental processes underlying charge separation and have applications for improving the efficiency of solar cells.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Two From One: Evolution Of Genders From Hermaphroditic Ancestors Mapped Out
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ot4JzGDYgko/081120171328.htm
Research could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
How Did Turtles Get Their Shells? Oldest Known Turtle Fossil, 220 Million Years Old, Give Clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PR5Tqt9o5YM/081126133307.htm
Since the age of dinosaurs, turtles have looked pretty much as they do now with their shells intact, and scientists lacked conclusive evidence to support competing evolutionary theories. Now with the discovery in China of the oldest known turtle fossil, estimated at 220 million years old, scientists have a clearer picture of how the turtle got its shell.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Marijuana-inspired Painkiller? New Chemical Pathway Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X7pKQeMpc-Q/081123150249.htm
Marijuana can be an effective painkiller, but social issues and unhealthy smoke inhalation complicate its use. As a result, researchers have focused great attention on understanding the biochemical system involved so they might manipulate it by other means. Toward that end, scientists have definitively identified a chemical pathway that, in mice, imitates marijuana's painkilling effect. The work could enable the development of new pain treatments.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
A Good Ear: Rats Identify Specific Sounds In Noisy Environments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t40sFkQf0t8/081118122105.htm
Alex Martin placed rats in a partially echo-free, sound-proof chamber and simultaneously played two types of sounds: Gaussian sound (containing all frequencies) of 25 decibels and a pure sound (made up of one frequency). He found that auditory neurons respond to a pure sound even if there is background noise.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Cause And Possible Treatment Of Motor Neurone Disease Illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tWo7s8KRhds/081117192920.htm
Researchers have identified a molecule that could be the key to understanding the cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neurone disease. This insight opens up the possibilities for developing new treatments to treat these devastating progressive conditions.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Biomedical Research Profits From Exploration Of Deep Sea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/INaUji7T4bw/081119100820.htm
Exploration of the ocean depths can benefit humankind. This is the story of a voyage of discovery, starting with marine animals that glow, the identification of the molecules responsible and their application as marker in living cells.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
200-year-old Scientific Debate Involving Visual Illusions Solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VSFaKpyf9YI/081120183733.htm
Neuroscientists have discovered a direct link between eye motions and the perception of illusory motion that solves a 200-year-old debate.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Baffling Chronic Pain Linked To Weird Rewiring Of Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sVQjySW5mWc/081126133353.htm
Scientists peered at the brains of people with a baffling chronic pain condition and discovered something surprising. Their brains looked like an inept cable guy had changed the hookups, rewiring the areas related to emotion, pain perception and the temperature of their skin. The new finding begins to explain a mysterious condition that the medical community had doubted was real.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
SARS Virus Recreated: Opens Door For Potential Defenses Against Future Strains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PjDhMKpKzak/081125113001.htm
Researchers have synthetically reconstructed the bat variant of the SARS coronavirus that caused the SARS epidemic of 2003.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
26 Percent Of Sleepless Children Become Overweight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kJy8nszohsg/081118122141.htm
One quarter of children who sleep fewer than 10 hours a night become overweight by age 6, according to new research. The research team analyzed a sample of 1,138 children and found: 26 percent of kids who didn't sleep enough were overweight, 18.5 percent carried extra weight or a body mass index of 25 to 30, while 7.4 percent were obese with a body mass index greater than 30.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Breaking BubR1 Mimics Genetic Shuffle Seen In Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xOc643fP7JA/081117091622.htm
A study of how BubR1 helps make sure chromosomes are equally distributed during mitosis might explain how the process of cell division goes so awry in cancer, according to researchers. Mutations in BubR1 lead to a genetic rearrangement similar to a process that allows cancer cells to evade destruction by medical treatment. Inhibiting BubR1 could be a strategy that enhances the killing power of current therapeutics.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Indigo Ointment May Help Treat Patients With Psoriasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AfczUjRHbbw/081117192904.htm
An ointment made from indigo naturalis, a dark blue plant-based powder used in traditional Chinese medicine, appears effective in treating plaque-type psoriasis, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Prejudice Affects Perception Of Ethnic Minority Faces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7o-vdpK3kps/081125113104.htm
Prejudice can be a powerful influence, biasing the way we think about and act towards ethnic minorities. Now, a new study revels that the way people view ethnic minority faces is related to their level of prejudice. It turns out that the visualized faces based on the choices of prejudiced people were characterized by another group as being more criminal-looking.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Plate Tectonics Started Over 4 Billion Years Ago, Geochemists Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y6u2pivD-II/081126133357.htm
A new picture of the early Earth is emerging, including the surprising finding that plate tectonics on Earth may have started more than four billion years ago -- much earlier than scientists had previously believed.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Nitric Oxide Can Alter Brain Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aPfvSVIVVJo/081126133403.htm
Nitric oxide can change the computational ability of the brain. This finding has implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and our understanding of brain function more generally.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Clouds And Climate Change: CERES Flight Model Moves Toward Launch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/992l5ESlZtg/081124163607.htm
NASA's Langley Research Center's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments have been observing clouds and the radiation budget for nearly a decade now. Key questions remain about how a warming climate will affect clouds, which play an important role in what scientists call the planet's "radiation budget."
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Behavior, Lifestyle Factors Influence Cancer Risk Among The Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nexJ6fRLRjI/081117153152.htm
Behavioral risk factors have a significant effect on cancer risk in the US elderly population, according to new research. Understanding these factors may allow clinicians to make specific recommendations for their elderly patients in order to reduce their risks of future cancers.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Increased Irrigation In Wetland Linked To Reduction Of Tenebrionid Beetles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7qLO5kFlrNM/081114134952.htm
Hydrological changes over the past 24 years in the Mar Menor, including increased irrigation, are altering habitats and biological communities of the wetland area. Researchers have studied tenebrionid beetles and how their numbers have declined as a result of increased ground moisture and salinity.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Electronic Health Records May Lower Malpractice Settlements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N7lZL9lUmuU/081125141608.htm
Use of electronic health records may help reduce paid malpractice settlements for physicians, according to a new study. The study showed a trend toward lower paid malpractice claims for physicians who are active users of electronic health records technology.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Source Of Geysers On Saturn's Moon Enceladus May Be Underground Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t596-TpjHn8/081126133405.htm
Saturn's moon may have underground water which is spewing plumes of water vapor into space through geysers. Scientists found that the source of plumes on Enceladus may be vents on the moon that channel water vapor from a warm, probably liquid source to the surface at supersonic speeds.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Exercise Increases Brain Growth Factor And Receptors, Prevents Stem Cell Drop In Middle Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NDs2lTBkyqo/081118071144.htm
A new study confirms that exercise can reverse the age-related decline in the production of neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the mouse brain, and suggests that this happens because exercise restores a brain chemical which promotes the production and maturation of new stem cells.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Dawn Spacecraft Glides Into New Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/axF0t3d26n0/081124164156.htm
NASA's Dawn spacecraft shut down its ion propulsion system this week as scheduled. The spacecraft is now gliding toward a Mars flyby in February of next year.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
New European Guidelines On Heart Attack Management Put Emphasis On Speed Of Action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xT5E1I8W4ns/081113181032.htm
New European guidelines on the management of heart attack emphasize speed of action and the importance of "reperfusion" therapy to restore blood flow to the heart and improve survival rates. "A well-functioning regional system of care... and fast transport to the most appropriate facility is key to the success of the treatment," state the guidelines, which have been developed by a Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
New Molecular Insight Into Vertebrate Brain Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YC6LCw6sHMU/081117153203.htm
Scientists reveal a role for the Hippo signaling pathway in the regulation of vertebrate neural development, identifying new factors and potential therapeutic targets that may be involved in congenital brain size disorders and neurological tumor formation.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Researcher Sheds New Light On Witch-hunting And Epidemics Of Fear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7o5xcJr2T70/081121151918.htm
Research by the Russian semiologist Yuri M. Lotman analyzes how epidemics of fear work, through the study of witch-hunting processes which claimed thousands of victims among Catholics and Protestants.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Hubble Captures Outstanding View Of Mammoth Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3BDS43hMrHQ/081125090510.htm
The Hubble telescope has captured a spectacular image of a pair of colossal stars, WR 25 and Tr16-244, located within the open cluster Trumpler 16. This cluster is embedded within the Carina Nebula, an immense cauldron of gas and dust that lies approximately 7500 light-years from Earth.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Sperm Size Isn't Everything
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j8FQIbqBA6Q/081124194356.htm
Contrary to common scientific belief, the length of a sperm's tail does not always determine how fast it can swim. Research has shown that in the counterintuitive microscopic world in which sperm operate, streamlining and longer tails don't always provide a speed advantage.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Light Pollution Offers New Global Measure Of Coral Reef Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SjyAOMBXH3M/081124174955.htm
Scientists unveil the first global index correlating night light with threats to coral reefs. The Lights Proximity Index offers a new tool for conservation and for studying the direct and indirect effects of light pollution.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
New Layer Of Regulation In Cell Division Cycle Discovered: Could Help Cancer Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RwNFSWZLms0/081121161123.htm
Scientists have discovered an important new layer of regulation in the cell division cycle, which could lead to a greater understanding of the way cancer begins.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Collapse Of Helium’s Chemical Nobility Predicted By Polish Chemist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G-uwKEuSG4o/081123222840.htm
140 years since its discovery, and despite the best endeavors of many scientists, helium, the lightest of the 'noble' gases, still stubbornly refuses to enter into any chemical alliance. Now a new glimmer of hope has emerged from Poland as a chemist there has calculated that two new compounds containing a helium-oxygen bond could be formed.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Publication Bias Found Among Trials Submitted To FDA: New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wtiR6vqzJGc/081124203712.htm
A quarter of drug trials submitted in support of new drug applications to the US Food and Drug Administration remain unpublished five years after the fact, says new research.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Synthetic Sea Worm Glue May Mend Shattered Knee, Face Bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/taHk3MZ3CUM/081125085620.htm
Sandcastle worms live in intertidal surf, building sturdy tube-shaped homes from bits of sand and shell and their own natural glue. Bioengineers have made a synthetic version of this seaworthy superglue, and hope it will be used within several years to repair shattered bones in knees, other joints and the face.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Pain Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r41e9M-bGh8/081125141610.htm
By manipulating the appearance of a chronically achy hand, researchers have found they could increase or decrease the pain and swelling in patients moving their symptomatic limbs. The findings reveal a profound top-down effect of body image on body tissues, according to the researchers.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Scientists Shed Light On Evolution Of Gene Regulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H78UGA6NeWo/081125113108.htm
Scientists have shed light on some of the processes that regulate genes and on the evolution of the DNA regions that regulate genes. The team focused on regulatory regions that, when bound to a certain protein, are thought to turn on genes that play an important role in the development of red blood cells. The research results could help in the development of drugs to treat sickle-cell anemia and other blood disorders.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
High Blood Pressure In The Doctor's Office May Not Predict Heart Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hHv0MFPZlW4/081124165119.htm
Continuously measuring blood pressure may help predict heart disease and related deaths among individuals with treatment-resistant hypertension, while blood pressure readings taken in a medical office do not appear to predict future heart risks, according to a report in Nov. 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
New Light Shed On Catalyzed Reactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VgkF9_NHx2o/081119144556.htm
Scientists searching for a better way to clean up the stubborn pollutant TCE have found a new way to watch the molecules break apart as individual chemical bonds are formed and broken. Researcher Michael Wong says, "We can watch how molecules transform into other molecules step-by-step. There's no other method that lets you 'see' these catalyzed reactions in water while the reaction is happening."
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Mothers' Mental Games Increase Depressive Symptoms In Daughters, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eWtbiGNqx34/081124131229.htm
A new study in the journal Family Relations examined the effects of a mother's psychological control on the risk for depression of African-American adolescents. Researchers found that girls whose mothers played mental games with them like making them feel guilty or withdrawing expressions of love reported much higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of personal agency.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Record Set Simulating Seismic Wave Propagation Across The Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/erDIH4936Ao/081125113106.htm
Scientists have successfully completed record-setting, petascale-level simulations of the earth's inner structure, paving the way for seismologists to model seismic wave propagations at frequencies of just over one second -- the same frequencies that occur in nature.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Tiny Protein Provokes Healthy Bonding Between Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eFmiqYx8Iu8/081125141606.htm
In human relationships, a certain "spark" often governs whether we prefer one person to another. Critical first impressions can occur within seconds. Researchers have found that cell-to-cell "friendships" operate in much the same way and that dysfunctional bonding is linked to the spread of cancer.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Gasping Helps Cardiac Arrest Victims Survive, New Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H0g1lrsHhE0/081124165125.htm
People who witness an individual collapse suddenly and unexpectedly should perform uninterrupted chest compressions even if the patient gasps or breathes in a funny way, a new study shows. Researchers hope their findings lead to greater willingness of untrained bystanders to jump in and perform continuous chest compressions.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Misfolded Proteins Accelerate Yeast Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a09MQkS9jmU/081124203828.htm
In yeast, a protein-misfolding mechanism can reveal hidden genetic variations and thus generate new phenotypes that may increase cell survival. Researchers now have demonstrated that when yeast cells are stressed, this mechanism is triggered much more often. This heightened ability to adapt to changing environments may be maintained in yeast as a way to accelerate evolutionary changes.
Thu, 27 Nov 08
Archeology Of Homelessness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QLnrOb0w-Rs/081124130956.htm
No matter what you see in the movies, archaeology isn't really about finding ancient temples or golden idols. It's about the day-to-day "stuff" -- the material culture—of people's lives. It doesn't even have to be ancient, as a study of homeless peoples' stuff in Indianapolis is showing. Instead of being an exotic field, archaeology may even help the homeless to live better lives.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Sweet Molecule Could Lead Us To Alien Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rWQffSnt0q4/081125090344.htm
Scientists have detected an organic sugar molecule that is directly linked to the origin of life, in a region of our galaxy where habitable planets could exist.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Key Advance Toward Treatment For Most Common Adult Form Of Muscular Dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9dHJyMy5N8A/081119084242.htm
Using a drug-discovery technique in which molecules compete against each other for access to the target, scientists have identified several compounds that, in the laboratory, block the unwanted coupling of two molecules that is at the root of muscular dystrophy.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Space Waste: Handling Garbage When Your Dumpster Is 100 Million Miles Away?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FLJkwjz3_nM/081118121948.htm
In space, no one takes out the trash. Garbage can pile up, spoil and become a health hazard for astronauts in the cramped living quarters of a space station.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
'Let The Sunshine In' To Protect Your Heart This Winter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yC-B8f12uOU/081117110840.htm
The temperature might not be the only thing plummeting this winter. Many people also will experience a decrease in their vitamin D levels, which can play a role in heart disease, according to a new article.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Nontoxic Nanoparticle Can Deliver And Track Drugs, According To New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XUcutIW6q9c/081118150637.htm
A nontoxic nanoparticle is proving to be an all-around effective delivery system for both therapeutic drugs and the fluorescent dyes that can track their delivery.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Household Exposure To Toxic Chemicals Lurks Unrecognized, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JldjO_l0fqY/081121092451.htm
Many women are surprised to learn the extent of personal, in-home contamination caused by exposure to everyday consumer products, according to a team of researchers. The study, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, is one of the first accounts of participants' responses to learning personal exposure data, research critical to environmental science and public health.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Hubble Resolves Puzzle About Loner Starburst Galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4yOutZ6tTZE/081124164420.htm
Astronomers have long puzzled over why a small, nearby, isolated galaxy is pumping out new stars faster than any galaxy in our local neighborhood. Now NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has helped astronomers solve the mystery of the loner starburst galaxy, called NGC 1569, by showing that it is one and a half times farther away than astronomers thought.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Some Cancers Found By Mammograms Would Have Naturally Regressed, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MhYZ2RI2WBk/081124165117.htm
Breast cancer rates increased significantly in four Norwegian counties after women there began undergoing mammography every two years, according to a new report. Rates among regularly screened women remained higher than rates among women of the same age who were screened only once after six years, suggesting that some of the cancers detected by mammography may have spontaneously regressed had they not been discovered and treated.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
New Tool Trains Athlete Brains To React 53 Percent Faster
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gjcDHtyUQfo/081118122107.htm
Researchers have discovered how to train the brain of athletes to improve their overall athletic performance.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Breast Cancer Common Among Women With Family History But Without BRCA1 Or BRCA2
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zqfVGMi6Kso/081117103647.htm
New data assesses breast cancer risk among women with a strong family history of breast cancer, but without a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. This may facilitate earlier detection and prevention among high-risk women.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Nanocoatings Boost Industrial Energy Efficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bYXF7LZlOeU/081118131901.htm
Reducing friction in industrial machinery can save substantial amounts of energy and researchers are working to develop nanoscale coatings for machine parts that not only reduce friction but extend tool life as well. Estimated energy savings from the innovation could reach 31 trillion BTUs annually by the year 2030.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Study Reveals Smoking's Effect On Nurses' Health, Death Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y7W9fnXtzOs/081113140430.htm
A new UCLA School of Nursing study is the first to reveal the devastating consequences of smoking on the nursing profession. The findings describe smoking trends among nurses and emphasize the importance of supporting smoking cessation programs for U.S. nurses.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Jurassic Turtles Could Swim
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Qebszeftv0/081119093227.htm
Around 164 million years ago the earliest aquatic turtles lived in lakes and lagoons on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, according to new research.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
14 Drugs Identified As Most Urgently Needing Study For Off-label Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8IJq02XuIUo/081124130939.htm
Physicians and policy-makers know that drugs are frequently prescribed to treat certain diseases despite a lack of FDA approval, a practice known as off-label prescribing. Now researchers have developed a list of 14 widely prescribed medications most urgently in need of additional study to determine how effective and safe they are for their off-label uses. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are the most prominent classes of drugs on the list.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
NASA Plans Test Of 'Electronic Nose' On International Space Station
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Fr_Ae3lL8o/081119164314.htm
NASA astronauts on Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission will install an instrument on the International Space Station that can "smell" dangerous chemicals in the air. Designed to help protect crew members' health and safety, the experimental "ENose" will monitor the space station's environment for chemicals such as ammonia, mercury, methanol and formaldehyde.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Vitamin D Can Alter Color Cancer Cells In Many Ways, Through One Pathway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KPS_3c9zDig/081117091614.htm
A colon cancer cell isn't a lost cause. Vitamin D can tame the rogue cell by adjusting everything from its gene expression to its cytoskeleton. Scientists now show that one pathway governs the vitamin's diverse effects. The results help clarify the actions of a molecule that is undergoing clinical trials as a cancer therapy.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Acid Soils In Slovakia Tell Somber Tale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3-cvX1Pqq7Q/081117153158.htm
Increasing levels of nitrogen deposition associated with industry and agriculture can drive soils toward a toxic level of acidification, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Two Antidepressants Taken During Pregnancy Linked To Heart Anomalies In Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zbbR5oF1xZs/081124081150.htm
Women who took the antidepressant fluoxetine during the first three months of pregnancy gave birth to four times as many babies with heart problems as women who did not and the levels were three times higher in women taking paroxetine.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Ocean Growing More Acidic Faster Than Once Thought; Increasing Acidity Threatens Sea Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QbVwcjUVd-Q/081124141053.htm
Scientists have documented that the ocean is growing more acidic faster than previously thought. In addition, they have found that the increasing acidity correlates with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The increasingly acidic water harms certain sea animals and could reduce the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Controlling Bad Cholesterol: Finding May Herald Scientific Breakthrough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pTgJLzUcO7Q/081124130953.htm
A new study shows for the very first time that the degradation by PCSK9 of the LDLR receptor, which is responsible for removing the bad cholesterol from the bloodstream, may be inhibited by a third protein, annexin A2.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Grow Old In Good Health: Vast Disparity Between European Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UZ36BIDeCIM/081117082429.htm
Although life expectancy is constantly growing in the countries of the EU, living longer isn't always the same as living well, and knowing to what age someone will live in good health remains a different question altogether.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Chemotherapy Plus Targeted Therapies Shows Improved Survival In Advance-stage Lung Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zEjyPpwA4FA/081113091621.htm
The combination of traditional chemotherapy agents with targeted therapies called monoclonal antibodies showed no safety concerns and improved survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer according to a study presented at the 2008 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology, sponsored by ASTRO, ASCO, IASLC and the University of Chicago.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
New Catalysts Promise Faster, Cleaner And More Efficient Research Platform
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5IushlqSnxo/081116142336.htm
A new class of catalysts provides a highly selective, efficient and environmentally friendly new platform for research in medicine, biology and materials science.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Television: Not The Only Channel To Early Sex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ri9p3LGiD7I/081124102744.htm
A new study says a combination of factors must be targeted to reduce sexual activity in teenagers. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 750,000 pregnancies and almost half of new cases of sexually transmitted infections were among adolescents.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Getting Warmer? Prehistoric Climate Can Help Forecast Future Changes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q14oUBPvCZI/081124141055.htm
New data on a prehistoric warm period allow for more accurate predictions of future climate and improved understanding of today's warming. Past warm periods provide real data on climate change and are natural laboratories for understanding the global climate system. Scientists examined fossils from 3.3 to 3.0 million years ago, known as the mid-Pliocene warm period.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Novel Approach For Suppressing Prostate Cancer Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I7SoGjqD24g/081124174905.htm
Researchers have found that inactivating a specific biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer blocks the development of prostate cancer in animal models.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Why Poppies Have One Flower Per Stalk and Tomatoes Have Many
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qIlAndhxrjQ/081117203839.htm
Why do poppies and sunflowers grow as a single flower per stalk while each stem of a tomato plant has several branches, each carrying flowers? Botanists have identified a genetic mechanism that determines the pattern of flower growth in the Solanaceae family of plants that includes tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant, tobacco, petunia and deadly nightshades.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Hypertension Develops Early, Silently, In African-American Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xg0-h2yydaw/081117082046.htm
Young and healthy African-American men were found to silently develop hypertension earlier than their white counterparts, and this rise in blood pressure may go undetected unless young African-American men are screened by measuring central blood pressure, not brachial pressure, according to a new study.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Chinese Forest Project Could Reduce Number Of Environmental Disasters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f4srkGoGcNY/081124165134.htm
The "Green Great Wall," a forest shelterbelt project in northern China running nearly parallel to the Great Wall, is likely to improve climatic and hydrological conditions in the area when completed, according to a new study.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Developing A Neighborhood Watch For The Internet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iOFO25cGeAM/081124141049.htm
Internet network performance problems are not only annoying to users -- they are costly to businesses and network operators. But since the Internet has no built-in monitoring system, network problems often go unnoticed. To help fix this problem, researchers have developed a new way to detect and report such problems in real time. Network Early Warning System focuses only on problems that affect end-users and does so without requiring any extra network-measurement traffic.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
'Gray's Paradox' Solved: Researchers Discover Secret Of Speedy Dolphins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rr-0koqwIFA/081124131334.htm
In 1936, zoologist Sir James Gray observed dolphins swimming faster than 20 mph, but his studies had concluded that the muscles of dolphins simply weren't strong enough to support that speed. The conundrum came to be known as "Gray's Paradox." For decades the puzzle prompted much speculation and conjecture in the scientific community. But now, armed with cutting-edge flow measurement technology, researchers have tackled the problem and conclusively solved Gray's Paradox.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Overuse Of Narcotics And Barbiturates May Make Migraine Attacks More Frequent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fhlYB0nJNNs/081119092941.htm
Scientists have determined that certain commonly-prescribed medications may have the unintended consequence of increasing the frequency of migraine attacks.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
E. Coli Bacteria Transferring Between Humans And Mountain Gorillas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BqHoizfvDbw/081124165253.htm
A new study finds that mountain gorillas are at increased risk of acquiring gastrointestinal microbes, such as E. coli, from humans. The study examines the exchange of digestive system bacteria between humans, mountain gorillas and domestic animals with overlapping habitats.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Inherited Genetic Cause, Possible Treatment Found For Complex Lung Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jvXSWIQGgEM/081124130943.htm
A tale of two sisters has helped researchers solve a medical mystery and discover a familial genetic mutation that causes an inherited form of the lung disease pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The researchers also point to the possibility of an inhaled therapy to overcome a chain of molecular events that lead to PAP.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Pinning Down The Fleeting Internet: Web Crawler Archives Historical Data For Easy Searching
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xjc94B1SC6M/081117153236.htm
Researchers are grabbing hold of the fleeting Web and storing historical Web sites that users can easily search using an intuitive application called Zoetrope.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Study Shows How Social Support May Protect Brain During Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_PJxWTl5XHE/081118121935.htm
New research in mice suggests that high levels of social support may provide some protection against strokes by reducing the amount of damaging inflammation in the brain. Researchers found that male mice that lived with a female partner before and after a stroke had a much higher survival rate compared to those mice that lived alone.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Feed A Cold, Feed A Fever: Calorie Cut Makes It Harder To Fight Flu, Animal Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/emMAu-UcLZA/081125113102.htm
Dieters or those who consume fewer calories during flu season could have a harder time fighting off the flu virus, according to a nutritional immunology professor. Researchers have shown that mice with a calorie-restricted diet were more likely to die during the first few days of infection than mice with a normal diet.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Robotic Lizards Help Prove Long-standing Signaling Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mBrNT1s_ssA/081124174849.htm
Like teachers who rap a ruler before announcing homework in noisy classrooms, Puerto Rican anole lizards perform eye-catching pushups before beginning head-bobbing displays that advertise their territory and status, according to a new study. The study is the first to show that animals in noisy environments can use visual displays to grab their neighbors' attention before initiating a more information-rich performance.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
New Research Helps Explain Genetics Of Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RIKwfkyz8H8/081124102659.htm
A new study suggests that Parkin, the product of the Parkinson's disease-related gene Park2, prompts neuronal survival by clearing the cell of its damaged mitochondria.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
RFID Chips: A Privacy And Security Pandora's Box?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mT9zhmeNLwk/081118141854.htm
A research article published in the current issue of the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management suggests that Big Brother could be opening a privacy and security Pandora's Box if human rights, particularly regarding data protection are not addressed in the design of new RFID applications.
Wed, 26 Nov 08
Football Helmet Shields Can Protect Against A Kick In The Face, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GDKdlorZOA4/081117193017.htm
Researchers have determined that the two most popular brands of football helmet faceshields can withstand a hit equivalent to a kick in the face and provide that protection without disrupting players' vision. The eye specialists used an air cannon to hurl baseballs at the plastic faceshields. The impact was designed to mimic the force of a kick to the face, considered the riskiest way to sustain an eye injury in football.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Global Warming Predictions Are Overestimated, Suggests Study On Black Carbon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pfc9M0IzOWQ/081119120155.htm
A detailed analysis of black carbon -- the residue of burned organic matter -- in computer climate models suggests that those models may be overestimating global warming predictions.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
New Diabetes Treatment? New Source Of Insulin-producing Cells Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BbQCq08K8b8/081124174855.htm
Researchers have shown that insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells can form after birth or after injury from progenitor cells within the pancreas that were not beta cells.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Forests May Play Overlooked Role In Regulating Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uHZfgKw1BSg/081117192811.htm
Scientists show that forests may influence the Earth's climate in important ways that have not previously been recognized.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Pain And Itch Responses Regulated Separately
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jTPc3MRtIEQ/081117153156.htm
Historically, scientists have regarded itching as a less intense version of the body's response to pain, but researchers have now determined that pain and itch actually are regulated by different molecular mechanisms.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Can An Ant Be Employee Of The Month?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n8zrXJnCXxs/081117203826.htm
Ants specializing on one job such as snatching food from a picnic are no more efficient than "Jane-of-all-trade" ants, according to new research from the University of Arizona in Tucson. The finding casts doubt on the idea that the worldwide success of ants stems from job specialization within the colony.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
How Is Our Left Brain Is Different From Our Right?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/osMhDXdigoQ/081117192918.htm
Scientists found that synaptic size and shape in the center of the spatial memory (i.e. hippocampus) were asymmetrical between synapses receiving input from the left and right hemisphere. Differences were found in the synaptic connections of the learning center of the brain.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Old Flies Can Become Young Moms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WinM-zFfsaI/081124141051.htm
Female flies can turn back the biological clock and extend their lifespan at the same time, biologists report. Study casts doubt on the old notion of a trade off between reproduction and longevity.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Transporting Broiler Chickens Could Spread Antibiotic-resistant Organisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yM2OB-De_f4/081124130946.htm
Researchers have found evidence of a novel pathway for potential human exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria from intensively raised poultry -- driving behind the trucks transporting broiler chickens from farm to slaughterhouse.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Robots Created That Develop And Display Emotions And Become Attached To Certain People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/62q4eY84D6g/081120111622.htm
New robots develop and display emotions as they interact with humans, and become attached to them.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
FoxJ1 Helps Cilia Beat A Path To Asymmetry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9M0mfAB4h_k/081116142334.htm
Scientists have discovered how a genetic switch, known as FoxJ1, helps developing embryos tell their left from their right. While at first glance the right and left sides of our bodies are identical to each other, this symmetry is only skin-deep. Below the surface, some of our internal organs are shifted sideways -- heart and stomach to the left, liver and appendix to the right.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Microarray Analysis Improves Prenatal Diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZGEDHNWxPs/081117110842.htm
A "chip" or array that can quickly detect disorders such as Down syndrome or other diseases associated with chromosomal abnormalities proved an effective tool in prenatal diagnosis in a series of 300 cases at Baylor College of Medicine, according to an article in the journal Prenatal Diagnosis.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
'Wiring' In The Brain Influences Personality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FV2IuFy5DQk/081123150245.htm
Some people are constantly seeking a new kick; some prefer to stick to tried and tested things. Which group you belong to seems to be connected, inter alia, with the 'wiring' of specific centers of the brain. This was discovered by scientists at the University of Bonn using a new method. Even how much acceptance people seek is apparently also determined by nerve fibers in the brain.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Microcapsules Act As 'Roach Motel' To Kill Harmful Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m4t2Tu8MDl4/081119155459.htm
Scientists have created tiny microscopic spheres that trap and kill harmful bacteria in a manner the scientists liken to "roach motels" snaring and killing cockroaches. The research could lead to new coatings that will disinfect common surfaces, combat bioterrorism or sterilize medical devices, reducing the devices' responsibility for an estimated 1.4 million infection-related deaths each year.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Gulf War Research Panel Finds 1 In 4 Veterans Suffers From Illness Caused By Toxic Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2b91olI6z4k/081117121239.htm
At least one in four of the 697,000 US veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness, a condition caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas, and no effective treatments have yet been found, a federal panel of scientific experts and veterans concludes in a new report.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Deep Heat Solution To 500-million Year Fossil Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GOdekkRuVtk/081112074906.htm
Scientists have shed new light on a 500-million year old mystery. Some 500 million year-old fossils of the Burgess Shale in Canada, discovered over a century ago, still provide one of the most remarkable insights into the dawn of animal life. The beautiful silvery fossils show the true nature of the life of that time, just after the "Cambrian explosion" of animal life. Yet, their existence is a paradox: the fossils have been buried deep in the Earth's crust and heated to over 300°C (~600 °F), before being thrust up by tectonic forces to form a mountainous ridge in the Rockies.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Advanced Lung Cancer Patients See Improved, Progression-free Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sIYqe5DH_MI/081113091619.htm
Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed following chemotherapy have a higher rate of tumor shrinkage and a longer interval before cancer progression when bevacizumab is added to standard second-line erlotinib therapy, according to a study presented at the 2008 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology, sponsored by ASTRO, ASCO, IASLC and the University of Chicago.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Sicilian Plant Gene Enters British Genetic Language
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qqw9xdBXg3U/081113181158.htm
Scientists have identified a key gene that was transferred from a Sicilian plant into a close relative in Britain, showing how genetic cross-talk between species can be important for evolution.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Predicting The Future For Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aVfInVDUt3Y/081117110831.htm
"How will our loved one come out of this?" After an accident that results in severe traumatic brain injury, the answer to this simple question can change everything. A new study describes the tools that are most effective at providing an objective answer to this question almost as soon as patients leave intensive care.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Flies May Reveal Evolutionary Step To Live Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dUWhhJNyMlU/081123222848.htm
A species of fruit fly from the Seychelles Islands often lays larvae instead of eggs, biologists have discovered. Clues to how animals switch from laying eggs to live birth may be found in the well-studied species' ecology and genes.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Drug Therapy For Premature Infants Destroys Brain Cells In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zt38Dr74cBk/081117121227.htm
A class of drugs that are used in premature infants to treat chronic lung damage can cause damage in the brain. New research suggests the drugs may cause cognitive and motor-control problems even when they are given before birth.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Sea Level Rise Alters Chesapeake Bay's Salinity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q4EQTQKiDec/081120122157.htm
While global-warming-induced coastal flooding moves populations inland, the changes in sea level will affect the salinity of estuaries, which influences aquatic life, fishing and recreation.
Tue, 25 Nov 08
Breast Cancer Incidence Among Premenopausal U.S. Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedai