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Wed, 31 Dec 08
Clockwork That Drives Powerful Virus Nanomotor Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-jXLskvKwDo/081229200748.htm
Peering at structures only atoms across, researchers have identified the clockwork that drives a powerful virus nanomotor. Because of the motor's strength -- to scale, twice that of an automobile -- the new findings could inspire engineers designing sophisticated nanomachines. In addition, because a number of virus types may possess a similar motor, including the virus that causes herpes, the results may also assist pharmaceutical companies developing methods to sabotage virus machinery.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Gene Therapy Reversed Heart Damage In Rats With Heart Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bdcdtn-caqA/081229200746.htm
Long-term gene therapy resulted in improved cardiac function and reversed deterioration of the heart in rats with heart failure, according to a recent study.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Mouse Trap? Immunologist Calls For More Research On Humans, Not Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yel1_etMhjU/081218122154.htm
The fabled laboratory mouse -- from which we have learned so much about how the immune system works -- can teach us only so much about how we humans get sick and what to do about it, says a leading researcher.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Don't Scratch That Itch: Blocking The Protein IL-21R Helps Prevent A Form Of Eczema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZCiMdn6PF5Y/081217200746.htm
Researchers have identified a role for the protein IL-21R in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis, a common allergic inflammatory skin disease often known as eczema.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Shade Coffee Benefits More Than Birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H1kHveaFh0s/081222143513.htm
Here's one more reason to say 'shade grown, please' when you order your morning cup of coffee. Shade coffee farms, which grow coffee under a canopy of multiple tree species, not only harbor native birds, bats and other beneficial creatures, but also maintain genetic diversity of native tree species and can act as focal points for tropical forest regeneration.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Family Rejection Of Lesbian, Gay And Bisexual Children Linked To Poor Health In Childhood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2_uxKA7rCrQ/081229080901.htm
A predictive link has been established between negative family reactions to their child's sexual orientation and serious health problems. Negative parental behaviors toward LGB children dramatically compromises their health.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Songs From The Sea: Deciphering Dolphin Language With Picture Words
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iA1S3Kd_jRI/081231005531.htm
In an important breakthrough in deciphering dolphin language, researchers in Great Britain and the United States have imaged the first high definition imprints that dolphin sounds make in water.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Genes That Made 1918 Flu Lethal Isolated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LYTAQcvBOoE/081229200738.htm
By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the "Spanish flu" -- a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history's most devastating outbreak of infectious disease -- researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Aphids Leave Old Exoskeletons Near Their Colonies, As Decoys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KzyX403PyZM/081218213627.htm
By leaving the remains of their old exoskeletons, called 'exuviae', in and around their colonies, aphids gain some measure of protection from parasites. Parasitoid wasps are likely to attack the empty shells, resulting in a lower attack rate on their previous occupants -- much like in the popular 'shell game' confidence trick.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Small Molecules, Large Effect: How Cancer Cells Ensure Their Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-30fHT6qGXg/081217095600.htm
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism used by cancer cells to "defend" themselves against chemotherapeutics in an attempt to ensure their own survival. Both the messenger substance nitrogen monoxide (NO) and the protein survivin play a role in this.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Cracking A Tough Nut For Semiconductor Industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t04gJ1Dyu64/081223172749.htm
Researchers have developed a method to measure the toughness of the thin insulating films that play a critical role in high-performance integrated circuits, a technique that can help improve the reliability and manufacturability of ICs.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Risk Takers, Drug Abusers Driven By Decreased Ability To Process Dopamine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oEDlkPVv0-E/081230072240.htm
For risk-takers and impulsive people, New Year's resolutions often include being more careful, spending more frugally and cutting back on dangerous behavior, such as drug use. But new research finds that these individuals -- labeled as novelty seekers by psychologists -- face an uphill battle in keeping their New Year's resolutions due to the way their brains process dopamine.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Better Antifreezes To Preserve Donor Organs For Transplantation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bjJ9x3CkMQc/081222081214.htm
Chemists in Canada have developed a new approach for producing more effective medical antifreeze fluids for preserving kidneys, hearts, and other organs donated for transplantation. These next-generation antifreezes can decrease damage to organs caused by ice crystals, and thus prolong the time a donated organ will remain viable prior to transplantation. This could increase the number of available organs for potential recipients.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Blood Sugar Linked To Normal Cognitive Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N0_kX81AUOg/081230072238.htm
Maintaining blood sugar levels, even in the absence of disease, may be an important strategy for preserving cognitive health, suggests a new study. The findings suggest that exercising to improve blood sugar levels could be a way for some people to stave off the normal cognitive decline that comes with age.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Researchers Print Dense Lattice Of Transparent Nanotube Transistors On Flexible Base
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jNqK0UU18z0/081216161142.htm
It's a clear, colorless disk about 5 inches in diameter that bends and twists like a playing card, with a lattice of more than 20,000 nanotube transistors capable of high-performance electronics printed upon it using a potentially inexpensive low-temperature process.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
MRI Scans Can Predict Effects Of Multiple Sclerosis Flare-ups On Optic Nerve
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oUllArAPzj8/081216201416.htm
One of the most pernicious aspects of multiple sclerosis -- its sheer unpredictability -- may finally be starting to yield to advanced medical imaging techniques.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S9TRqiaQnzI/081229104704.htm
Studies have shown that human hair, a readily available waste generated from barbershops and hair salons, combined with additional compost, is an additional nutrient source for crops.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Third-hand Smoke: Another Reason To Quit Smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ev-Fc75x_XM/081229105037.htm
Researchers have described how tobacco smoke contamination lingers even after a cigarette is extinguished -- a phenomenon they define as "third-hand" smoke. They examine, for the first time, adult attitudes about the health risks to children of third-hand smoke and how those beliefs may relate to rules about smoking in their homes.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Another Reason To Avoid High-fat Diet: It Can Disrupt Our Biological Clock, Say Researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NTtrCPQdjME/081228191054.htm
Indulgence in a high-fat diet can not only lead to overweight because of excessive calorie intake, but also can affect the balance of circadian rhythms -- everyone's 24-hour biological clock, researchers have shown.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Moderate Drinking Can Reduce Risks Of Alzheimer's Dementia And Cognitive Decline, Analysis Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PdNF-NqkT8k/081229200750.htm
Moderate drinkers often have lower risks of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive loss, according to researchers who reviewed 44 studies. In more than half of the studies, published since the 1990s, moderate drinkers of wine, beer and liquor had lower dementia risks than nondrinkers.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Botany: Root System Architecture Arises From Coupling Cell Shape To Auxin Transport
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FuWXa--nAyI/081216104319.htm
What determines the pattern of root growth has until now been a mystery, but a new paper in PLoS Biology shows that the shape of the existing root can determine how further roots branch from it because shape determines hormone concentration. The work also suggests that the root-patterning system shares a deep evolutionary relationship to the patterning system of plant shoots, something that had not been realized previously.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Women Double Fruit, Veggie Intake With Switch To Mediterranean Diet Plan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VCp0ayUiB28/081217101430.htm
Women more than doubled their fruit and vegetable intakes and dramatically increased their consumption of 'good' fats when they were counseled by registered dietitians and provided with a list of guidelines on the amount of certain foods they should eat each day.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Professor Helps Control Infectious Diseases With Models And Math
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Sj64XnKcSI/081219172041.htm
Can an algebraic equation hold the secret to eradicating malaria or schistosomiasis? A mathematics professor is utilizing the combination of algorithms and models in an effort to assist his medical colleagues in the fight against infectious diseases.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Skipping Sleep May Signal Problems For Coronary Arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_YlFdga3_h0/081223172652.htm
One extra hour of sleep per night appears to decrease the risk of coronary artery calcification, an early step down the path to cardiovascular disease. Calcified arteries were found in 27 percent of those who slept less than five hours a night, 11 percent of those who slept five to seven hours and six percent of those who slept more than seven hours a night.

Wed, 31 Dec 08
Mars Rovers Near Five Years Of Science And Discovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d7kZB0zcPxc/081231011008.htm
NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity may still have big achievements ahead as they approach the fifth anniversaries of their memorable landings on Mars.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Why Locusts Abandon A Solitary Life For The Swarm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dI33bMx1rVM/081218122152.htm
By applying an old theory that has been used to explain water flow through soil and the spread of forest fires, researchers may have an answer to a perplexing ecological and evolutionary problem: why locusts switch from an innocuous, solitary lifestyle to form massive swarms that can devastate crops and strip fields bare.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Common Food Additive Found To Increase Risk And Speed Spread Of Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ks_pYAOBF3E/081229080851.htm
New research in an animal model suggests that a diet high in inorganic phosphates, which are found in a variety of processed foods including meats, cheeses, beverages and bakery products, might speed growth of lung cancer tumors and may even contribute to the development of those tumors in individuals predisposed to the disease.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Flowering Plants Speed Post-surgery Recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KUCQedjPrN4/081229104700.htm
Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Pre-existing Diabetes For Persons Diagnosed With Cancer Associated With Increased Risk Of Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xyMBUbqnGpU/081216161048.htm
Patients with diabetes at the time of a cancer diagnosis have an increased risk of death compared to patients without diabetes, according to a meta-analysis of studies.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
How Small Can Computers Get? Computing In A Molecule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zeKqWhizbL4/081222113532.htm
Over the last 60 years, ever-smaller generations of transistors have driven exponential growth in computing power. Could molecules, each turned into miniscule computer components, trigger even greater growth in computing over the next 60?

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Bizarre Reproductive Techniques Discovered For Deep-ocean Squid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GVQvIuH3w8c/081209130253.htm
Males that produce sperm packages that can penetrate deep into the skin. Females with bellies full of stored sperm. Males that seriously injure the females during mating. This is just a selection of the bizarre reproductive techniques that marine biologist Henk-Jan Hoving has discovered with different species of deep-ocean squid.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Competition, Not Climate Change, Led To Neanderthal Extinction, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C-z_L3jQwMY/081229105039.htm
Neanderthal extinction was principally a result of competition with Cro-Magnon populations, rather than the consequences of climate change, according to a new study.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Both Major Theories About Human Cellular Aging Supported By New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C7RbOzVAX-c/081216133428.htm
Aging yeast cells accumulate damage over time, but they do so by following a pattern laid down earlier in their life by diet as well as the genes that control metabolism and the dynamics of cell structures such as mitochondria, the power plants of cells.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Pollen Grain Study Yields New Picture Of Ice Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u2XzIlU1d3o/081222113522.htm
According to a new analysis of deposits of pollen grains, it is possible that all of Sweden was virtually free of ice for long periods during the latest ice age. The findings show that the glaciation might have started some 20,000 later than was previously assumed.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Area Of Brain Key To Choosing Words Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/puojjhh7CGY/081224111644.htm
Psychologists have now clearly identified the parts of the brain involved in the process of choosing appropriate words during speech.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Facial Expressions Of Emotion Are Innate, Not Learned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/74w9naUakEg/081229080859.htm
Facial expressions of emotion are hardwired into our genes, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The research suggests that facial expressions of emotion are innate rather than a product of cultural learning.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Anti-fungal Drug Offers Great Benefits To Some With Severe Asthma, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-LI9zICGKfk/081229080853.htm
Some patients with severe asthma who also have allergic sensitivity to certain fungi enjoy great improvements in their quality of life and on other measures after taking an anti-fungal drug, according to new research.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Berry Compound Reduces Aging Effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aIavJgxiBQU/081228194218.htm
Aged laboratory animals that ate a diet rich in the berry and grape compound pterostilbene performed better than those in a group that did not eat the enriched diet, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service have reported. Pterostilbene reversed measurable negative effects of aging on brain function and behavioral performance.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Breast Cancer: Diet High In Vegetables, Fruit And Fiber May Cut Risk Of Cancer Recurrence In Women Without Hot Flashes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gxfSaFEH1Eo/081215184208.htm
A secondary analysis of a large, multicenter clinical trial has shown that a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and fiber and somewhat lower in fat compared to standard federal dietary recommendations cuts the risk of recurrence in a subgroup of early-stage breast cancer survivors -- women who didn't have hot flashes -- by approximately 31 percent. These patients typically have higher recurrence and lower survival rates than breast cancer patients who have hot flashes.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Diverse Landscapes Are Better: Policymakers Urged To Think Broadly About Biofuel Crops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mu6Vimkj0zU/081215184212.htm
Scientists have found that growing more corn to produce ethanol, creating less diverse landscapes, reduces the ability of beneficial insects to control pests, a loss valued at about $58 million per year in the four states studied.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
T'is The Season To Be Jolly?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oDvJX5nGiSE/081228191026.htm
As the party season approaches, a timely reminder of the issues surrounding the binge drinking culture are again highlighted by research into "young people and alcohol" a team lead by Professor Christine Griffin, at the University of Bath. The research suggests several considerations for future policy.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Nanotechnology May Be Used For Food Safety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f6KVKLGy2Sg/081228194854.htm
A microscopic biological sensor that detects Salmonella bacteria in lab tests has been developed. The sensor could be adapted to detect other foodborne pathogens as well.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Molecule That Targets Brain Tumors Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SBMH_dTUrXA/081229105033.htm
Researchers have discovered a molecule that targets glioblastoma, a highly deadly form of cancer.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Climate Change Effects On Imperiled Sierra Frog Examined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FnDJfinJ30U/081211093559.htm
Climate change can have significant impacts on high-elevation lakes and imperiled Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged frogs that depend upon them.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Voriconazole: A Highly Potent Treatment For Fungal Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zm9LVuYrdzw/081216104029.htm
The effectiveness of voriconazole in combating fungal infections has been confirmed by a new study to be featured in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Multilingual Culture and Heritage Internet Search System Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Jczl3QEXJw/081224094636.htm
European researchers say they are pushing online culture and heritage research way beyond Google by using a smart search system that is multilingual, multimedia and optimized for cultural heritage. Better yet, this promising system has wide application in other fields.

Tue, 30 Dec 08
Gardening Provides Recommended Physical Activity For Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t6mxkwf77xo/081229104702.htm
Gardening is a very popular leisure activity for adults aged 65 or older in the United States. A recent study set out to determine if gardening enables older adults to meet the physical activity recommendation set forth by the CDC and the ACSM.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Potential Autoimmunity-inducing Cells Found In Healthy Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GlfHSZqPa5c/081222100655.htm
It's not just patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that have self-attacking immune cells; healthy people have them too, according to a new report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. However, in healthy adults, these cells are maintained in an "off" state, perhaps explaining their innocuous nature.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Breakthrough In Production Of Double-walled Carbon Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EyTOJ67QeeM/081223091316.htm
In recent years, the possible applications for double-walled carbon nanotubes have excited scientists and engineers, particularly those working on developing renewable energy technologies. These tiny tubes, just two carbon atoms thick, are thin enough to be transparent, yet can still conduct electricity. This combination makes them well-suited for advanced solar panels, sensors and a host of other applications

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Vitamin D Deficiency In Infants And Nursing Mothers Carries Long-term Disease Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06fJP-D-Aus/081216161058.htm
Once believed to be important only for bone health, vitamin D is now seen as having a critical function in maintaining the immune system throughout life. The newly recognized disease risks associated with vitamin D deficiency are clearly documented in a report in Breastfeeding Medicine.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
New Label-free Method Tracks Molecules And Drugs In Live Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YQt5K5mtwSc/081218141722.htm
A new type of highly sensitive microscopy could greatly expand the limits of modern biomedical imaging, allowing scientists to track the location of minuscule metabolites and drugs in living cells and tissues without the use of any kind of fluorescent labeling.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Changing Drivers' Perceptions Of Law Enforcement May Deter Drunk Driving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mVLkMvhg_1Q/081222221543.htm
In 2007, approximately 1,500 people nationwide were killed in crashes that involved a drunk driver from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Researchers found that the most important deterrence factors for high-risk drivers are their perceptions of the likelihood of being stopped or arrested and their support for deterrence laws.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
How Helium Can Be Solid And Perfect Liquid At Same Time, Now Explained By Computer-assisted Physics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1s9wFnD0y2U/081227220745.htm
At very low temperatures, helium can be solid and a perfect liquid at the same time. Theoreticians, though, have incorrectly explained the phenomenon for a long time. Computer simulations have now shown that only impurities can make this effect possible.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Protein Sports Drinks Proven To Give Best Performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8C68EAyJZqA/081223193108.htm
Sports drinks containing protein are better at improving athletes' performance. Research published in the International Society of Sports Nutrition has shown that drinks containing a mix of carbohydrate and protein are superior to carbohydrate-only drinks in improving cyclists' recovery from exercise.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
How Certain Vegetables Combat Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7zhIgcNXx08/081223121135.htm
Women should go for the broccoli when the relish tray comes around during holiday celebrations this season.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Diet For Diabetics: Low-glycemic Diet Shows Greater Improvement In Glycemic Control Than High-fiber Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tLbWg9mBhL0/081216161044.htm
Persons with type 2 diabetes who had a diet high in low-glycemic foods such as nuts, beans and lentils had greater improvement in glycemic control and risk factors for coronary heart disease than persons on a diet with an emphasis on high-cereal fiber, according to a new study.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Climate Change Could Dramatically Affect Water Supplies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/73P6M1XASYc/081217190435.htm
It's no simple matter to figure out how regional changes in precipitation, expected to result from global climate change, may affect water supplies. Now, a new analysis has found that the changes in groundwater may actually be much greater than the precipitation changes themselves.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
DNA Profiling For Tracing Parental Ancestry Becomes More Accurate And Reliable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YHPpvkoVAbw/081223172751.htm
A lesser known but rapidly growing application of DNA profiling is tracing paternal ancestry. NIST researchers recently published a paper with recommendations for genealogy testing that they hope will improve accuracy and reliability.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Sleep Disorders: Warning Sign For Neurodegenerative Disease?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LUttvHFl6wk/081224215534.htm
People with a sleep disorder that causes them to kick or cry out during their sleep may be at greater risk of developing dementia or Parkinson's disease, according to a new study.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Researchers Map New Path To Colon Cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1IzM1jEwjv4/081215184206.htm
Researchers have identified a promising new target in the battle against colorectal cancer -- a biochemical pathway critical to the spread of tumors to new locations in the body.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Microscale System To Study Frustration In Buckled Monolayers Of Microspheres
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S4x7OLSb_vI/081217190340.htm
Physicists have demonstrated a simple system based on micron-sized spheres in water to study and control geometric frustration. Their research elucidates open questions about frustration and frustration relief and provides a new tool for scientists grappling with these issues in a variety of fields from magnetism to basic statistical mechanics.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Our Unconscious Brain Makes The Best Decisions Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xt66zUUIDA0/081224215542.htm
Researchers have shown that the human brain -- once thought to be a seriously flawed decision maker -- is actually hard-wired to allow us to make the best decisions possible with the information we are given.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Circumcision Reduces The Risk Of HIV Infection In Heterosexual US Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DFnfSwfmYEM/081217123819.htm
A new US study has found that being circumcised significantly reduced the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual African-American men known to have been exposed to the virus. The findings of the new study, along with similar results from other studies, suggest that circumcision may protect other heterosexual males in the US.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Cost Of Hatchling Turtles' Dash For Freedom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yc5jJXWIb2E/081212080551.htm
The first few hundred meters that a newly hatched turtle swims are the most dangerous of its life. Frantically swimming and surrounded by predators, as many as 30 percent die on their maiden voyage. Curious to know how much energy the youngsters need to reach safe deep water, scientists measured the hatchling's oxygen consumption and found that they have enough energy reserves to survive 14 days at sea without feeding.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Allergies Alone Not Associated With Increased Risk Of Nighttime Breathing Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uhqwCFcZN4Q/081215184200.htm
Allergic rhinitis does not appear to be associated with snoring or daytime sleepiness, but individuals with obstructed nasal passages are likely to experience both regardless of whether they have allergies, according to a new report.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
How Healthy Are America's Coasts?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/np9mgbWyVzo/081216161145.htm
The overall condition of the nation's coastal waters has improved slightly, based on a recently released environmental assessment. The overall condition of America's coasts is rated as "fair," based on five indicators.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Are Older Antidepressants Better For Depression In Parkinson's Disease?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q-n05LVoG_E/081217190332.htm
A new study shows that antidepressant drugs which only affect serotonin, often used as first choice treatments, may not be best for depression in people with Parkinson's disease. The new research is published in the journal Neurology. Depression affects up to 50 percent of people with Parkinson's disease.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Brain Birth Defects Successfully Reversed Through Stem Cell Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zTH9bmc7vUU/081228191056.htm
Scientists have succeeded in reversing brain birth defects in animal models, using stem cells to replace defective brain cells. The work involved using mouse embryonic neural stem cells, which migrate in the brain, search for the deficiency that caused the defect, and then differentiate into becoming the cells needed to repair the damage.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Hot Southern Summer Threatens Coral With Massive Bleaching Event
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YDoAwa-tVOo/081228201342.htm
A widespread and severe coral bleaching episode is predicted to cause immense damage to some of the world's most important marine environments over the next few months.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Space Technology To Soothe Roadster Ride
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2NBz4acW--8/081228200100.htm
Space missions are highly complex operations, not only because the satellites or space probes are unique pieces of top-notch intricate high-tech, but also because it is so challenging to get them to their assigned position in space without damage. The technology used is now being transferred to the car industry to increase comfort.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Defatted Soy Flour Eyed As Filler Substitute For Rubber Tires
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G8T42MbdVKk/081228195823.htm
In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a plastic-bodied car whose panels included soybean meal as component. The feat made headlines--and history--but the idea never took off commercially. However, researchers continue to toy with the idea and are now testing soy flour as a "green" filler for tires and other natural rubber products.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
New Tool Fertilizes Fields And Reduces Runoff Nutrients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jAvrQhCTt3k/081228195611.htm
A new field tool developed by Agricultural Research Service scientists applies poultry litter to fields in shallow bands, reducing runoff of excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.

Mon, 29 Dec 08
Military Uniforms Now Provide Reliable Protection From Mosquitoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fRGOUWFfA4A/081228195413.htm
Assuring that uniforms issued to U.S. military personnel are properly treated to repel mosquitoes is now possible, thanks to a new testing method.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Biologists Learn Structure, Mechanism Of Powerful 'Molecular Motor' In Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cpXfO8IOY9U/081224215530.htm
Researchers have discovered the atomic structure of a powerful "molecular motor" that packages DNA into the head segment of some viruses during their assembly, an essential step in their ability to multiply and infect new host organisms.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Redesigned Protein Accelerates Blood Clotting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pY2kZ_5Hu6U/081222122554.htm
Researchers have made several, subtle changes in the structure of a key protein, dramatically increasing its ability to drive blood clotting, according to a new study. The findings have profound implications for the treatment of hemophilia, the inherited blood disorder that causes easy or excessive bleeding in 30,000 Americans.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f4rOAjalw3c/081223091318.htm
A new study suggests that college students may handle stressful situations better if they have a pet. Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. But researchers have recently found that many college students may also benefit from owning a cat or a dog.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Chink Found In Armor Of Viral 'Tummy Bug'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LgyUKRzmvbA/081223091328.htm
Researchers have moved a step closer to identifying a broad spectrum treatment for the dreaded 'viral tummy bug' or rotavirus.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Bioreactors Might Solve Blood-platelet Supply Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EzrfwQJiubs/081223091314.htm
It might be possible to grow human blood platelets in the laboratory for transfusion, according to a new study. The findings might help end the tight supply of these critical blood components. Platelets are needed by certain cancer patients, bone marrow transplant patients, those needing massive blood transfusions and people with aplastic anemia. But concentrates from donors are expensive and up to 40 percent must be discarded.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
We Are Better Able To Detect Racial Tension In Members Of Our Racial Group
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9FiMz-9hPXo/081222122605.htm
Is it more difficult for members of different races to understand each others' emotions and intentions? A new study in Psychological Science reveals that we are better able to detect anxiety in members of our own racial group than in people of different racial backgrounds. The authors suggest that "race-matched observers appeared to draw upon subtle nonverbal indicators of intergroup anxiety that were undetectable to race-mismatched observers."

Sun, 28 Dec 08
NASA Study Links Severe Storm Increases, Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fICHP4yjyIA/081227214927.htm
The frequency of extremely high clouds in Earth's tropics -- the type associated with severe storms and rainfall -- is increasing as a result of global warming, according to a study by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Brain Starvation As We Age Appears To Trigger Alzheimer's: Improving Blood Flow To Brain Is Preventive Strategy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lP5LEnwTFyw/081224215704.htm
A slow, chronic starvation of the brain as we age appears to be a major trigger of a biochemical process that causes some forms of Alzheimer's disease. A new study has found when the brain doesn't get enough sugar glucose -- as when cardiovascular disease restricts blood flow to the brain -- a process is launched that produces the sticky clumps of protein that appear to be a cause of Alzheimer's.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Honeybees As Plant 'Bodyguards'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ut4XUiJsd9w/081222143511.htm
Honeybees are important to plants for reasons that go beyond pollination, according to a new study in Current Biology. The insects' buzz also defends plants against the caterpillars that would otherwise munch on them undisturbed.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Common Treatment For Chronic Prostatitis Fails To Reduce Symptoms, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/95QMYM9LorI/081218122200.htm
Alfuzosin, a drug commonly prescribed for men with chronic prostatitis, a painful disorder of the prostate and surrounding pelvic area, failed to significantly reduce symptoms in recently diagnosed men who had not been previously treated with this drug, according to a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
First Experimental Evidence For Speedy Adaptation To Pesticides By Worm Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kjmml1kA9eg/081218052706.htm
Scientists in Portugal have shown that populations of the worm Caenhorabditis elegans become resistance to pesticides in 20 generations -- that is, in only 80 days.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
How We Make Proper Movements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_cG31EmXuiU/081218122246.htm
How do we make proper movements? A new study in Psychological Science suggests that when we see an object, a number of motor programs in the brain are involuntarily activated (each with a different potential movement we can make), which all compete with one another. One program emerges as the winner of the competition and is ready to be implemented while the other programs (which would result in erroneous movements) are inhibited.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
What Can Swiss Cheese Teach Us About Dark Energy?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/efAtHO7_k64/081227214703.htm
About 10 years ago, scientists reached the astonishing conclusion that our universe is accelerating apart at ever-increasing speeds, stretching space and time itself like melted cheese. The force that's pushing the universe apart is still a mystery, which is precisely why it was dubbed "dark energy." But is dark energy really real? Is our universe really accelerating?

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Newly Found Enzymes May Play Early Role In Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/umNqiD0nI5s/081224215544.htm
Researchers have discovered two enzymes that, when combined, could be involved in the earliest stages of cancer. Manipulating these enzymes genetically might lead to targeted therapies aimed at slowing or preventing the onset of tumors.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Nutritious Fast-food Kids' Meals Are Scarce, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Es1U-9RpTJM/081222221541.htm
Only three percent of kids' meals served at fast-food restaurants met federal dietary guidelines in the first study to examine the nutrient quality of such meals in a major US metropolitan market. The small percentage of meals that did meet dietary guidelines included fruit as a side dish and milk, and nearly all were deli-sandwich meals.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Better Patient Outcomes With Drug Eluting Stents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1igL1XNbTV4/081218051241.htm
Patients receiving drug eluting stents -- stents coated with medication to prevent narrowing of the artery -- as part of an angioplasty had better outcomes one year later than patients with bare metal stents, according to a new study.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Advancing Knowledge Of Little 'Nano-machines' In Our Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/phi7Hpdl6ms/081218122252.htm
A discovery by Canada-US biophysicists will improve the understanding of ion channels, akin to little "nano-machines" or "nano-valves" in our body, which when they malfunction can cause genetic illnesses that attack muscles, the central nervous system and the heart.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Men, Women Give To Charity Differently, Says New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k6aDRYw2G3Q/081218132142.htm
To whom would you rather give money: a needy person in your neighborhood or a needy person in a foreign country? If you're a man, you're more likely to give to the person closest to you -- that is, the one in your neighborhood -- if you give at all.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
3-D Moon Imaging Inaugurated With NASA Instrument Aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 Spacecraft
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jVugHI_0_sw/081227215817.htm
Different wavelengths of light provide new information about the Orientale Basin region of the moon in a new composite image taken by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, a guest instrument aboard the Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Cancer Drug Effectively Treats Transplant Rejections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uzrc1zNHTU8/081227205553.htm
Researchers have discovered a new therapy for transplant patients, targeting the antibody-producing plasma cells that can cause organ rejection.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Humans, Oceans Shaped North American Climate Over Past 50 Years, NOAA Report Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eNGmXiVpuCE/081227230140.htm
Greenhouse gases play an important role in North American climate, but differences in regional ocean temperatures may hold a key to predicting future U.S. regional climate changes, according to a new NOAA-led scientific assessment.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Scientists Attempt Disentanglement Of Right Whale Off Florida
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XJ0jMVs6JCQ/081227225829.htm
Scientists recently attempted a disentanglement of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Abrupt Climate Change: Will It Happen this Century?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GuA59hnkifw/081227225501.htm
The United States faces the potential for abrupt climate change in the 21st century that could pose clear risks to society in terms of our ability to adapt.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Four Years After Tsunami, Coral Reefs Recovering
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xJXyIs2E2T0/081227225250.htm
Scientists have reported a rapid recovery of coral reefs in areas of Indonesia, following the tsunami that devastated coastal regions throughout the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
New Hope For Diabetes Patients? Signal Pathway Found That May Be Involved In Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tmk0GPo9jrU/081227224645.htm
Researchers have identified a signal pathway that could be involved in the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes. If it is deactivated, it may be possible to delay the illness by many years.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
New Model For Nuclear Pore Complex Backed By Structural Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xk8zLHuk9dA/081227224147.htm
In higher organisms, the genetic material is confined and protected in the cell nucleus. In order for a healthy cell to function, the DNA must send manufacturing orders through the double membrane of the nucleus and into the cell's cytoplasm, where the protein production factories are and where most cellular functions are carried out. The sole portals through which these instructions pass -- nuclear pore complexes -- have a say in what the orders are and how they are conveyed. But these conspicuously large structures have ironically proved all but inscrutable to researchers over the years.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Single Letter In Human Genome Points To Risk For High Cholesterol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pR-XkZ08tLs/081227223642.htm
Write out every letter in the human genome, one A, C, T or G per millimeter, and the text would be 1,800 miles long, roughly the distance from New York to Colorado. Now, in the search for genes that affect how humans synthesize, process and break down cholesterol, scientists have found a single letter among this expanse of code that is associated with elevated LDL cholesterol levels, one of the leading health concerns that has come to dominate the 21st century.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Microbiologist Tests Safety Of Spiked Eggnog
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Zxb2OOpaCE/081227223340.htm
With one in every 20,000 eggs contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, drinking homemade eggnog can be something of a gamble. But an experiment designed to test whether the alcohol in spiked eggnog can kill the deadly bugs suggests that, in general, few bacteria survive in a mixture containing both raw eggs and 20 percent rum and bourbon.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Defensive Protein Killed Ancient Primate Retroviruses, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kOMwl-xZmAM/081227223102.htm
Retroviruses are the worst sort of guest. Over eons, these molecular parasites have insinuated themselves into their hosts' DNA and caused a ruckus. The poor hosts can't even be rid of the intruders by killing them, because they stubbornly remain after death.

Sun, 28 Dec 08
Drilling Holes Through Deadly Bacteria's Kevlar-like Hide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GGtbnIgik1c/081227222727.htm
To protect themselves from human defenses, disease-causing bacteria have evolved a cell wall made from a nearly impenetrable tangle of tightly woven strands. That's made it difficult for scientists to see what goes on inside these potentially deadly organisms. But that era is now over. Researchers have now figured out how to drill holes through the Kevlar-like hide of gram-positive bacteria without obliterating them, and in doing so, they've made it possible to study, from the inside out, most of the known bacteria on the planet.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Real-time Gene Monitoring Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3WmvufiBQmc/081216141855.htm
Imagine having GeneVision: the uncanny ability to view the activity of any chosen gene in real time through a specially modified camera. With GeneVision, military commanders could compare gene expression in victorious and defeated troops. Retailers could track genes related to craving as shoppers moved about a store. "The Bachelor" would enjoy yet one more secret advantage over his love-struck dates. A new study correlates real-time gene expression with movement and behavior for the first time.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Ecosystem Changes In Temperate Lakes Linked To Climate Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zKLBRXFUueE/081216133442.htm
Unparalleled warming over the last few decades has triggered widespread ecosystem changes in many temperate North American and Western European lakes, say researchers.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Breathing Problems During Sleep Associated With Calories Burned At Rest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sif7xMdLpBQ/081215184157.htm
Individuals with sleep-related breathing disorders appear to burn more calories when resting as their conditions become more severe, according to a new report.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Molecular Manual For Hundreds Of Inherited Diseases Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xCOnSkiUuyQ/081217095604.htm
Researchers have created a catalogue of tissue-specific processes involved in hundreds of inherited diseases. These results could help treat diseases such as breast cancer, Parkinson disease, heart diseases and autism.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Head And Neck Injury Risks In Heavy Metal: Head Bangers Stuck Between Rock And A Hard Bass
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e7bNrqPN64o/081218051245.htm
Head banging increases the risk of head and neck injury, but the effects may be lessened with reduced head and neck motion, head banging to lower tempo songs or to every second beat, and using protective equipment such as neck braces, finds a new study.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Humans And Chimps Register Faces By Using Similar Brain Regions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7LWJ0gz_AMw/081218122150.htm
Chimpanzees recognize their pals by using some of the same brain regions that switch on when humans register a familiar face. The study -- the first to examine brain activity in chimpanzees after they attempt to match fellow chimps' faces -- offers new insight into the origin of face recognition in humans, the researchers said.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Killer Peptide May Offer New Therapy Against Influenza A Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lFZXTqDRlI4/081219093652.htm
In a new study researchers identified what appears to be the first antibody-derived peptide that inhibits the activities of harmful microbes such as influenza A virus and HIV-1.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Warmer Temperatures Could Lead To A Boom In Corn Pests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GNj7w1wBRJo/081216131024.htm
Climate change could provide the warmer weather pests prefer, leading to an increase in populations that feed on corn and other crops, according to a new study. Warmer growing season temperatures and milder winters could allow some of these insects to expand.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
New Insight Into Birth Defect Characterized By Digit Duplication And Fusion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FKAhjbvsKuQ/081215183953.htm
Birth defects characterized by malformation of the limbs are relatively common. New insight into one form of the birth defect synpolydactyly, where individuals have 1 or more digit (finger or toe) duplicated and 2 or more digits fused together, has now been provided researchers in Germany who studied a mouse model of the condition.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Gesture Recognition Will Allow People With Disabilities To Interact More Easily With Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XTQg4NHMh7Q/081218140543.htm
A system that can recognize human gestures could provide a new way for people with physical disabilities to interact with computers. A related system for the able bodied could also be used to make virtual worlds more realistic.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Researchers Revisit Male Bisexuality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1knW4ZZQm6w/081216104027.htm
While the Kinsey Scale has become a fixture in sexuality textbooks and even popular culture, the rating system and Alfred Kinsey's findings regarding male bisexuality and cultural influences on male sexuality in general have largely been overlooked by today's sex researchers.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
New Titanium-glass Alloys Are Tough, Cheap And Light-weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q6uE6stUvto/081219172129.htm
Scientists have created a range of structural metallic-glass composites, based in titanium, that are lighter and less expensive than any the group had previously created, while still maintaining their toughness and ductility -- the ability to be deformed without breaking.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Phosphorus-lowering Drugs Linked To Lower Mortality In Dialysis Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iFq2jdgLWok/081217190342.htm
For patients on dialysis, taking medications to reduce levels of the mineral phosphorus in the blood may reduce the risk of death by 25 to 30 percent, reports a new study.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Just A Little Squeeze Lets Proteins Assess DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ko_1jbUyFRI/081216161102.htm
To find its target, all a protein needs to do is give quick squeezes as it moves along the DNA strand, suggests new research. Scientists had thought DNA-binding proteins primarily used full-body hugs for accurate readings of the information coded in the DNA's sequence. Doing the quick squeezes that scientists call indirect readout probably works faster, the researchers said. The finding has implications for the development of designer drugs.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Colonoscopy Significantly Reduces Death From Left-sided Colon Cancer But Not From Right-sided
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WFCIYWueQJo/081215183945.htm
A new study finds that colonoscopy is strongly associated with fewer deaths from colorectal cancer. However, the risk reduction appears to be entirely due to a reduction in deaths from left-sided cancers. According to the study, colonoscopy shows almost no mortality prevention benefit for cancer that develops in the right side of the colon.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
No Quick Or Easy Technological Fix For Climate Change, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tdAzofSHAF0/081217190429.htm
Global warming can be reversed, some are arguing, with a "geoengineering" fix, such as flying a giant blimp and spraying liquefied sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere. But a professor in the UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences sees no evidence there is any quick or easy technological fix.

Sat, 27 Dec 08
Fears Of Promiscuity Pose Barrier To Cervical Cancer Vaccinations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/domPsw8IUxw/081217190441.htm
The public's concerns about costs and increased promiscuity among teenagers appear to be hindering use of a vaccine against the human papilloma virus to prevent life-threatening diseases, according to a new study.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Visual Areas Of Brain Respond More To Valuable Objects, Brain-imaging Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-X0jyBy_TZo/081224215540.htm
Dollar signs for eyes -- cartoonists have been drawing them for years, and the artists, while whimsical, may have been onto something. According to new research, areas of the brain responsible for vision respond more strongly to objects of value.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
New Evidence That Humans Make Aspirin's Active Principle -- Salicylic Acid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HJXW2uKvpU4/081222122559.htm
Scientists are reporting evidence that humans can make their own salicylic acid -- the material formed when aspirin breaks down in the body. Salicylic acid, which is responsible for aspirin's renowned effects in relieving pain and inflammation, may be the first in a new class of bioregulators, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Quiet Bison Sire More Calves Than Louder Rivals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yVdIjQNQ7Vw/081216131014.htm
During bison mating season, the quietest bulls score the most mates and sire the most offspring while studs with the loudest bellows see the least action, according to a surprising new study. The researchers also found that the volume of a bull's bellow was not related to its weight or age.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Hormones Increase Frequency Of Inherited Form Of Migraine In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/POlLEIuUFEA/081222221447.htm
Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is an inherited form of severe migraine that is accompanied by visual disturbances known as aura. As with other types of migraine, it affects women more frequently than men. New research in mice has now provided insight into events in the brain that lead to FHM and demonstrated that hormones produced by the ovaries increase susceptibility to FHM.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Enhancing Solar Cells With Nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fYx7xSUj4Ds/081223172705.htm
Deriving plentiful electricity from sunlight at a modest cost is a challenge with immense implications for energy, technology and climate policy. A new article describes a relatively new approach to solar cells: lacing them with nanoscopic metal particles. The method helps solar cells harvest light more efficiently.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Published Reports Inaccurate Concerning Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy, Experts Warn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xWa2REpELJg/081219172048.htm
A national alcohol research group is concerned that the media's misinterpretation of a recent British research study could encourage pregnant women to be more at ease with temperate alcohol consumption.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Shape Changes In Aroma-producing Molecules Determine The Fragrances We Detect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uuGQAc11MgI/081222163053.htm
Shakespeare wrote "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But would it if the molecules that generate its fragrance were to change their shape?

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Genetic Diseases More Complicated: Mechanism Underlying Alternative Splicing Of Premessenger RNA Into Messenger RNA Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XNrVOO3RxgQ/081224215710.htm
A professor of medicine and biochemistry has discovered an unexpected mechanism governing alternative splicing. The new mechanism suggests that curing the more than half of genetic diseases that are caused by mutations in the genetic code that in turn create mistakes in alternative splicing may be considerably more complicated than researchers have previously assumed.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Protein Shown To Be Major Component Of Synapse Construction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GgW4NzQ1E1Y/081215111133.htm
Nitric oxide gets neurons together. And it seems to do it backward. New research suggests that a protein called PSD-95 prompts nitric oxide release from postsynaptic dendritic spines, prompting nearby presynaptic axons to lock on, and develop new synapses.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Immune Cells Contribute To Development Of Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QtTL7rx5Zcc/081222221451.htm
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs movement, balance, speech, and other functions. Although immune cells accumulate in the brain of individuals with Parkinson's disease, these cells were not thought to have a role in the development of disease. However, new research has now shown that immune cells known as CD4+ T cells make a significant contribution to the development of disease in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Small Molecule Triggers Bacterial Community
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PCk9sBnPWlA/081222221531.htm
Researchers identify mechanisms behind biofilm formations, with implications for developing new antibiotics.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Medical Myths For The Holiday Season: True, False Or Unproven?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Da0_DvLJIQ/081218051243.htm
In a new study, researchers applied rigorous search methodology to explore the science behind six medical myths commonly associated with the holidays yet relevant year-round.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Modified Plants May Yield More Biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A7TfIfSTPR8/081222163051.htm
Plants, genetically modified to ease the breaking down of their woody material, could be the key to a cheaper and greener way of making ethanol, according to researchers who add that the approach could also help turn agricultural waste into food for livestock.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Recipe For Capturing Authentic Embryonic Stem Cells May Apply To Any Mammal, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gTKpSutfCdU/081224215532.htm
Researchers have what they think may be a basic recipe for capturing and maintaining indefinitely the most fundamental of embryonic stem cells from essentially any mammal, including cows, pigs and even humans. Two new studies show that a cocktail first demonstrated to work in mice earlier this year, which includes inhibitory chemicals, also can be used to successfully isolate embryonic stem cells from rats.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Prostaglandin Receptor Key To Atherosclerosis Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dAGKVCCaV18/081215140940.htm
Atherosclerosis -- a disease that includes the buildup of fatty, cholesterol-laden lumps of cells inside the artery wall -- is the underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers have now demonstrated that a receptor for prostaglandin-E2 plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. The findings point to this receptor and its signaling pathways as molecular targets for modulating atherosclerosis development.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Experts Detail The Three Rules For Technological Fixes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lYla91C_TdQ/081218094626.htm
Technology can do great things, but it also can be over sold as panacea for a host of social ills. A better use of technology can be gained if those who guide technology policy are clear about how to apply it and know what to expect, according to experts.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
Effect Of Parental Education On Heritability Of Children's Reading Disability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0OdWNqCuvLs/081222122601.htm
There is a significant interaction between parents' years of education and the heritability of reading disability. Researchers concluded that on average, poor instruction or lack of reading practice may often be the main influence on reading disabilities in families with low socioeconomic status, while genes may be the main influence on reading disability among children in families with high socioeconomic status and educational support.

Fri, 26 Dec 08
White Christmas In Antarctica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ato57fDier4/081222113530.htm
The idea of a white Christmas may seem magical for many of us, but spare a thought for a team of scientists forgoing the festive season to take part in a novel campaign being carried out in one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth to support ESA's CryoSat mission.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Honey Bees On Cocaine Dance More, Changing Ideas About The Insect Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rQ2qWahGG3U/081223091308.htm
In a study that challenges current ideas about the insect brain, researchers have found that honey bees on cocaine tend to exaggerate.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Greater Rates Of Cesarean Sections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jELUGCOFHIc/081223121127.htm
Pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient are also at an increased risk for delivering a baby by cesarean section as compared to pregnant women who are not vitamin D deficient.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
New Way Of Viewing Cells Could Lead To Easier Routes For Drug Manufacture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/loy-oDmRYmQ/081210122230.htm
New research could eventually lead to a quicker and easier way of developing protein-based drugs that are key to treating a number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis. Scientists used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine protein aggregations, or inclusion bodies, in genetically modified Escherichia coli. This research could help find a way to more easily extract usable protein for use in pharmaceuticals and research.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Reducing The Damage Of A Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fbt60xUvke0/081215140942.htm
In the aftermath of a heart attack, the body's own defenses may contribute to future heart failure. Authors of a new study believe they have identified a protein that plays an important role in a process that replaces dead heart muscle with stiffening scar tissue. The researchers are hopeful that the findings will lead to the development of new therapies to prevent this damage.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Primary Cilium As Cellular 'GPS System' Crucial To Wound Repair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jp2UqmS2cd0/081217190330.htm
The primary cilium, the solitary, antenna-like structure that studs the outer surfaces of virtually all human cells, orients cells to move in the right direction and at the speed needed to heal wounds, much like a global positioning system helps ships navigate to their destinations.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Blind Man Walking: With No Visual Awareness, Man Navigates Obstacle Course Flawlessly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_kbSzgDgqMo/081222143507.htm
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that people can successfully navigate an obstacle course even after brain damage has left them with no awareness of the ability to see and no activity in the visual cortex, a region of the brain's cortex that is primarily responsible for processing visual inputs.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Sparkling Spray Of Stars Seen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kEwgON7Uo5g/081216114435.htm
NGC 2264 lies about 2600 light-years from Earth in the obscure constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn, not far from the more familiar figure of Orion, the Hunter. The image shows a region of space about 30 light-years across.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Why Analgesic Drugs May Be Less Potent In Females Than In Males
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vfOKT1Ixp1M/081223091310.htm
Investigators have identified the most likely reason analgesic drug treatment is usually less potent in females than males. This discovery is a major step toward finding more effective treatments for females suffering from persistent pain.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Fisheries Catch-22: Captive Breeding Aims To Conserve Biodiversity But Plunders Genetic Diversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5gvtfLjU3jY/081211081616.htm
Human impacts on the environment have reduced populations of wild species to dangerously low levels. Nowhere is this more apparent than in worldwide fisheries, where thanks to overfishing and habitat destruction, countless species and populations of fish are on the brink of disappearing forever. To attempt to mitigate the dire situation, captive breeding, the controlled breeding of organisms in protected environments, is regularly initiated.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Peripheral Artery Disease: Pain When Walking Can Be Reduced With Moderate Exercise, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zdEu2NED_KA/081215075123.htm
You probably know that poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to dangerous deposits of fatty plaques in arteries. But it is not just the heart that is affected – blood flow can be blocked to the legs too, leading to pain when walking, immobility and even in extreme cases, amputation. Approximately 20% of us will suffer from this peripheral artery disease (PAD) once we are 65 or over, and with risk factors including smoking, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure it is on the rise.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Nanowires Can Now Be Controlled Down To Single Atom Level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EYK4qCWqyDY/081223091433.htm
Nanoscience researchers have shown that they can control the growth and crystal structure of nanowires down to the single atom level.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Cousin Marriage Laws Outdated, Expert Argues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HC3AO7warjA/081222221535.htm
Marriage between first cousins is highly stigmatized in the West and, indeed, is illegal in 31 US states. But is the hostility to such marriage scientifically well-grounded?

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Mystery Of Hexagonal Column Formations Such As Giant's Causeway Solved With Kitchen Materials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pzpq35wLfyc/081216104325.htm
Physicists have cracked the mystery behind the strange and uncannily well-ordered hexagonal columns found at such popular tourist sites as Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway and California's Devil's Postpile, using water, corn starch and a heat lamp. Using a combination of field observation, experiments and mathematical theory, they have solved the problem of what decides the size of the columns.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Older Adults At High Risk For Harmful Drug Interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9SG8j1-DVqY/081223172655.htm
At least one in 25 older adults, about 2.2 million people in the United States, take multiple drugs in combinations that can produce a harmful drug-drug interaction, and half of these interactions involve a non-prescription medication.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Flame Retardants Prove Ineffective On Fresh-cut Christmas Trees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dNE2zNaqmtc/081212102942.htm
This Christmas season, think twice about spending money on a commercial flame retardant for your Christmas tree. The good, old-fashioned method -- keeping your tree in a container of fresh water -- is probably all you need to keep your tree green and healthy. Researchers have determined that some flame retardants don't work on cut Christmas trees; in fact, in several cases the chemical retardants sped up the drying process and made trees more flammable.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Efficient Organic LEDs A Step Toward Better Lights
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XfDHpY7dQmk/081223121129.htm
For those who love "green" compact fluorescent bulbs but hate their cold light, here's some good news: Researchers are closer to flipping the switch on cheaper, richer LED-type room lighting.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Reward-stress Link Points To New Targets For Treating Addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L5jc07Nbf8o/081216201414.htm
Investigators have discovered a functional link between reward and stress. They found that dopamine -- the brain's chief reward signal -- works through corticotrophin-releasing factor -- the brain's main stress signal -- to increase the activity of a brain region involved in addiction relapse. The findings, reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, point to new potential targets for treating alcohol and drug abuse -- particularly the problem of relapse.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Nanoparticles Delivering Drugs Can Kill Skin, Breast Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_iaTVCViMoE/081215151147.htm
Researchers are reporting for the first time that nanoparticles -- 1/5,000 the diameter of a human hair encapsulating an experimental anticancer agent -- can kill human melanoma and drug-resistant breast cancer cells growing in laboratory cultures.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Various Immune-related Diseases Have A Strong Genetic Overlap
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dleCW-PiHGg/081219180530.htm
A limited number of genes appear to be involved in the development of eleven immune-related diseases such as type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. This has emerged from an analysis by geneticists of all globally conducted association studies of these diseases. The analysis reveals that although the diseases have different manifestations, they also have a major, comparable origin.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Spain’s Biggest Meteorite Strike Remembered 150 Years On
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_pSyKiOib_w/081224094630.htm
Early on Christmas Eve, 1858 “people who in the streets, on pathways and in the fields saw a magnificent ball of fire appear, which shone with a brilliant, blinding light and all the colors of the rainbow, obscured the light of the moon and descended majestically from the sky”. This comes from a report commissioned by the person whose farm was struck by the largest meteorite recovered to date in Spain. In 1863, Queen Isabel II accepted it as a donation to the National Museum of Natural Sciences, where it has been conserved and exhibited ever since.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Early Stage, HER2-positive Breast Cancer Patients At Increased Risk Of Recurrence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iDhbAcG09Os/081212122937.htm
Early-stage breast cancer patients with HER2 positive tumors one centimeter or smaller are at significant risk of recurrence of their disease, compared to those with early-stage disease who do not express the aggressive protein, according to a new study.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Researchers Create New Class Of Fluorescent Dyes To Detect Reactive Oxygen Species In Vivo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v8XG7N9UxQ8/081215111253.htm
Researchers have created a new family of fluorescent probes called hydrocyanines that can be used to detect and measure the presence of reactive oxygen species -- superoxide and the hydroxide radical -- in cells, tissue and, for the first time, in vivo.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Excessive Police Violence Evident In Emergency Care Cases, Say US Doctors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QAVFTS1Pma8/081223193110.htm
Excessive police violence is evident in the types of injury and trauma emergency care doctors are treating in the US, indicates research published in Emergency Medicine Journal.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Premature Babies Have Altered Sensory Responses In Later Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f3440TkfZXA/081222100710.htm
Premature infants who need intensive care or surgery are less sensitive to thermal (hot and cold) sensations later in life. The new study suggests that pain and injury related to major medical interventions in early development may alter how children respond to painful stimuli much later in life.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Protein Helps Build Muscle Mass: Possible Treatment For Muscle Wasting Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ZGBxAiQ_-I/081215111131.htm
Researchers are reporting how to build muscle mass with the protein FHL1. The protein partners with and activates the transcription factor, NFATc1. Encouraging this partnership might provide a possible treatment for muscle wasting disorders.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Snowy Owl -- A Marine Species?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cvY0EnH9Cqs/081210143416.htm
Wildlife satellite studies could lead to a radical re-thinking about how the snowy owl fits into the Northern ecosystem. "Six of the adult females that we followed in a satellite study spent most of last winter far out on the Arctic sea ice," said a professsor who is working to better understand key indicator species of Canadian northern ecosystems.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Lumbar Fusion Has Long-term Benefits, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9HdBd-Uj56M/081215074640.htm
Lumbar fusion is becoming an increasingly common treatment for low-back pain, but its long-term effects are relatively unknown. New research now suggests that the long-term effects are superior to those of physiotherapy.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Seeing The Unseen With 'Super-resolution' Fluorescence Microscopy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gOHDyimUwtE/081216133434.htm
Thanks to new "super-resolution" fluorescence microscopy technique, researchers have succeeded in resolving features of cells as minuscule as 20-30 nanometers, an order of magnitude smaller than conventional fluorescence light microscopy images.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Passage Graves From An Astronomical Perspective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EcREa5s9y2c/081218122206.htm
Passage graves are mysterious barrows from the Stone Age. New research indicates that the Stone Age graves' orientation in the landscape could have an astronomical explanation. The Danish passage graves are most likely oriented according to the path of the full moon, perhaps even according to the full moon immediately before a lunar eclipse.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Spotless Mind? Unwanted Memories Might Be Erasable Without Harming Other Brain Functions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ps4_ZMmskew/081223121137.htm
A molecule known to preserve memories -- PKMzeta -- specifically stores complex, high-quality memories that provide detailed information about an animal's location, fears and actions, but does not control the ability to process or express this information. This finding suggests that PKMzeta erasure that is designed to target specific debilitating memories could be effective against the offending memory while sparing the computational function of brain.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Estrogen Pills Can Benefit Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iigydo2T6AQ/081211121825.htm
Estrogen-receptor positive metastatic breast cancer often develops resistance to conventional therapies that severely lower a woman's estrogen level. A group of researchers headed by a breast cancer specialist has found that in one-third of these cases, such tumors will respond, paradoxically, to therapy that raises a woman's estrogen level.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
How Gene Function Drives Natural Selection In Important Class Of Genetic Elements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bcywF1OAuc0/081210121922.htm
For years, researchers thought that most of DNA was passive "junk" and knew little about it. However, new findings are peeling back the odd and baffling world of transposons. Now, researchers have just found that natural selection on gene function is driving the evolution of one kind of transposable element called the LTR retrotransposon.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Cancer: Tamoxifen's Power Comes From Endoxifen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-I2KFQwgQuM/081211141838.htm
Researchers have discovered that a chemical known as endoxifen appears to be the primary metabolite responsible for the effectiveness of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer and that it works against cancer in an entirely unexpected way.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Genes Involved In Antibiotic Resistance Vary Within A Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R6xpEveXYyE/081216131009.htm
When comparing the genome sequence of three MDR A. baumannii isolates and three drug-susceptible A. baumannii isolates, scientists found that one variation of bacteria would respond to antibiotics while another variation of the same bacteria may not.

Thu, 25 Dec 08
Patient Consent Forms Should Educate Not Intimidate, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PItA7GTiio4/081217124158.htm
The way current patient consent forms are written -- as formal, legal documents -- plants a litigious relationship in both the patient's and the surgeon's mind even before treatment has begun. Researchers propose a set of five recommendations to return consent forms to their intended purpose -- that of allowing patients to meaningfully take part in the decision-making process.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
New Type Of Laser Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zT19Re5AiIU/081222122609.htm
Researchers have discovered an entirely new mechanism for making common electronic materials emit laser beams. The finding could lead to lasers that operate more efficiently and at higher temperatures than existing devices, and find applications in environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Probiotics May Help People Taking Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gnJmda3CyTo/081217190443.htm
Up to one in five people on antibiotics stop taking their full course of antibiotic therapy due to diarrhea. Physicians could help patients avoid this problem by prescribing probiotics, according to a new study.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Why Do We Believe in Santa?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VPZJMVwsFe4/081208180345.htm
Having kids believe there's a jolly man in a red suit who visits on Christmas Eve isn't detrimental, although some parents can feel they're outright lying to their children, according to a new analysis. If children attribute the same supernatural powers to Santa as they do to God, why do they stop believing in Santa, but continue their belief in God?

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Slamming Brakes On Deadly Ovarian Cancer Cells: Blocking Proteins Coded By Notorious Cancer-causing Gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T55hPRbYvao/081215140934.htm
Ovarian cancer cells are "addicted" to a family of proteins produced by the notorious oncogene, MYC, and blocking these Myc proteins halts cell proliferation in the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Does Global Warming Lead To A Change In Upper Atmospheric Transport?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_yTC-9PNjMY/081215111305.htm
Most atmospheric models predict that the rate of transport of air from the troposphere to the above lying stratosphere should be increasing due to climate change. Surprisingly, an international group of researchers has now found that this does not seem to be happening. On the contrary, it seems that the air air masses are moving more slowly than predicted. This could also imply that recovery of the ozone layer may be somewhat slower than predicted by state-of-the-art atmospheric climate models.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
'Smart' Surveillance System May Tag Suspicious Or Lost People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0SlhrhxKpng/081217190437.htm
Engineers here are developing a computerized surveillance system that, when completed, will attempt to recognize whether a person on the street is acting suspiciously or appears to be lost. Intelligent video cameras, large video screens and geo-referencing software are among the technologies that will soon be available to law enforcement and security agencies.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
CAT Scan Reveals Inner Workings Of Volcano Island
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M5QyjEyTRX0/081219092044.htm
On the ground and in the water, researchers have been collecting imaging data on the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat to understand the internal structure of the volcano and how and when it erupts.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Newly Discovered Esophagus Stem Cells Grow Into Transplantable Tissue, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_jMAiP40aEo/081215184315.htm
Researchers have discovered stem cells in the esophagus of mice that were able to grow into tissue-like structures and when placed into immune-deficient mice were able to form parts of an esophagus lining.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Ocean Acidification From Carbon Dioxide Emissions Will Cause Physiological Impairment To Jumbo Squid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-IdYrZK0wUQ/081215184321.htm
The elevated carbon dioxide levels expected to be found in the world's oceans by 2100 will likely lead to physiological impairments of jumbo squid.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Tumor Suppressor Gene: Gene Function 'Lost' In Melanoma And Glioblastoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sy9A2ZAxR60/081215074349.htm
Researchers have found a gene they say is inactivated in two aggressive cancers -- malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and glioblastoma multiforme, a lethal brain tumor. They add that because this gene, known as PTPRD, has recently been found to be inactivated in several other cancers as well, their discovery suggests that PTPRD may play a tumor suppressor role in a wide variety of different cancers.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Green Homes That Withstand Hurricanes Under Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YWkAZ2YQD2I/081210150116.htm
Home foundations and frames built of a lightweight composite material that may bend - but won’t break - in a hurricane and can simply float on the rising tide of a storm’s coastal surge? Sounds too Sci-Fi? Maybe like something from the distant future?

Wed, 24 Dec 08
The Virtue Of Variety: More Options Can Lead To Healthier Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lGiTc3CucNw/081215111435.htm
Could longer menus lead people to choose salads over French fries? According to a new study, people who choose from a large variety of menu items are more likely to make healthy choices than people who choose from shorter lists.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Solving The Mysteries Of Metallic Glass
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XN9NutSLUhM/081222122603.htm
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding a class of materials that has resisted analysis for decades. Their findings could lead to the rapid discovery of a variety of useful new kinds of glass made of metallic alloys with potentially significant mechanical, chemical and magnetic applications.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
E. Coli Engineered To Produce Important Class Of Antibiotic, Anti-cancer Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S_ovc-3EY28/081222163047.htm
Escherichia coli bacteria has been engineered to synthesize an important group of antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Honey Adds Health Benefits, Is Natural Preservative And Sweetener In Salad Dressings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ubXxwNhugac/081209125927.htm
Antioxidant-rich honey is a healthy alternative to chemical additives and refined sweeteners in commercial salad dressings, said a new study.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Irregular Heart Beat: Rare Disease Provides Clues About Enzyme Role In Arrhythmias
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kKTWf8CnQo4/081211121927.htm
A new study provides insight into calmodulin kinase II, a calcium-sensing enzyme already known to play a role in irregular heartbeats and other critical functions. The researchers showed that CaM kinase II contributes to arrhythmia in an extremely rare disease called Timothy syndrome and that inhibiting the enzyme prevents irregular heartbeats. The findings, which involved a new cellular model, could help with developing treatments for irregular heartbeat.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Great Indian Ocean Earthquake Of 2004 Set Off Tremors In San Andreas Fault
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jmyySoX4UaM/081210131040.htm
New research shows that the great Indian Ocean earthquake that struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on the day after Christmas in 2004 set off tremors nearly 9,000 miles away in the San Andreas fault at Parkfield, Calif.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
For Best Results, Ask A Few Thought-provoking Questions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AofhFskNzoU/081215111427.htm
The next time a telemarketer opens with a friendly question, you might stop and wonder why. A new study shows that it is surprisingly effective when salespeople or fundraisers ask how your day has been or which football team you support before broaching the subject of a purchase or donation.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Chocolate, Wine And Tea Improve Brain Performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8n84z_tXDt4/081223123530.htm
All that chocolate might actually help finish the bumper Christmas crossword over the seasonal period. According to Oxford researchers working with colleagues in Norway, chocolate, wine and tea enhance cognitive performance.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Breast Cancer Genome Shows Evolution, Instability Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/83qIcZvDTG8/081215121634.htm
A newly published genome sequence of a breast cancer cell line reveals a heavily rearranged genetic blueprint involving breaks and fusions of genes and a broken DNA repair machinery, said researchers in the journal Genome Research.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Why Do Pigs Die During Commercial Transportation?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KQAsEjz2hHc/081210091035.htm
Scientists have evaluated the factors involved in causing injuries or even death in pigs as they are transported to the slaughter house. The results show that the stress and suffering the animals undergo would be reduced if more time was spent on loading them properly onto trucks and the temperature was kept down.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Poor Sleep Quality Linked To Postpartum Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Ecn2g0hThc/081210122236.htm
Postpartum depression (PPD) can lead to poor sleep quality, recent research shows. The study shows that depression symptoms worsen in PPD patients when their quality of sleep declines.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Researcher Nabs Doubly Magic Tin Isotope, A North American First
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sODZthFiizU/081210145307.htm
Researchers have been able to make first-of-its-kind measurements of several rare nuclei, one of which has been termed a "holy grail" of experimental nuclear physics.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Go For The Gold (or Silver): Status Tiers Promote Loyalty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sd8qtXncyNE/081215111425.htm
How special does that gold card offered by a hotel or airline make you feel? A new study explores the connection between status and loyalty.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Unusual Microbial Ropes Grow Slowly In Cave Lake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W1JKxekX2bY/081219172031.htm
Deep inside the Frasassi cave system in Italy and more than 1,600 feet below the Earth's surface, divers found filamentous ropes of microbes growing in the cold water, according to a team of researchers.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
New Technique Is Quantum Leap Forward In Understanding Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/80za8JeCNN4/081223172747.htm
Proteins drive critical functioning in the cells of everything from bacteria to humans. But deciphering genomic data to discover just how the thousands upon thousands of proteins in a given organism interact has emerged as one of the most confounding biological challenges of the new century. The new method should enable the development of new antibiotics and other drugs.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Developing Countries Lack Means To Acquire More Efficient Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NdKwUVgHfOg/081209125931.htm
Contrary to earlier projections, few developing countries will be able to afford more efficient technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next few decades, new research concludes. Continuing economic and technological disparities will make it more difficult than anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Does Not Appear To Increase Cardiac Deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/du9L02hFh2A/081210122228.htm
Treating prostate cancer patients with drugs that block hormonal activity does not appear to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study. While a 2006 report from members of the same study team found that treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists increased the risk of diabetes and heart disease, the current study is the first to examine whether treatment actually increased heart disease-related deaths.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Movement Ecology: Unifying Theory Of How Plants And Animals Move From One Place To Another
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Hh8G0fBEO0/081209085631.htm
Movement ecology is a developing academic pursuit, combining expertise in a variety of fields, including biology, ecology, botany, environmental science, physics, mathematics, virology and others. It involves the study of how microorganisms, plants and animals travel from one place to another, sometimes for great distances and in highly surprising ways.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Just Look: When It Comes To Art, Viewing May Be As Satisfying As Buying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kiAlIaT25KY/081215111423.htm
The experience of purchasing art shares much in common with viewing it in exhibits, according to a new study. Research shows that visiting a gallery can provide many of the same benefits as buying a painting.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Protea Plants Help Unlock Secrets Of Species 'Hotspots'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yRI4ZbmD7L4/081222221539.htm
New species of flowering plants called proteas are exploding onto the scene three times faster in parts of Australia and South Africa than anywhere else in the world, creating exceptional 'hotspots' of species richness, according to new research.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Advanced Imaging Technology Improves Spinal Surgery Outcome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AjmU8xuqIQM/081210112800.htm
Using a three-dimensional image-guided system to help place screws in the spines of patients results in safe and accurate surgery with a decrease in the number of misplaced screws, and subsequent injuries, seen in more traditional operations, say neurosurgeons.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
First 3-D Images Obtained Of Core Component Of Molecular Machinery Used For Cell Reproduction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nuLWs1B4y4k/081209125822.htm
For the first time, structural biologists have managed to obtain the detailed three-dimensional structure of one of the proteins that form the core of the complex molecular machine, called the replisome, that plant and animal cells assemble to copy their DNA as the first step in cell reproduction.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Examination Of Widely Used Antimicrobial Compound Reveals New Strategies To Fight Malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ihzp3DwOH5A/081210121910.htm
Scientists working on a common antimicrobial compound with antimalarial activity have discovered a range of new therapeutic strategies to combat malaria. The research, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, provides valuable insight into how the human malaria parasite's requirement for fatty acids can be exploited as it progresses through the distinct stages of its complex life cycle.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Mathematical Models Of Adaptive Immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FFpVzRwmQyk/081211081610.htm
More than five million people die every year from infectious diseases, despite the availability of numerous antibiotics and vaccines. The discovery of penicillin to treat bacterial infections, along with the development of vaccines for previously incurable virus diseases such as polio and smallpox, achieved great reductions in mortality during the mid-20th century.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Snoring Intensity Linked To Subjective Measure Of Sleepiness In Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xdPHKRpPIlI/081215074400.htm
A new study shows that objectively measured snoring intensity is correlated with subjective sleepiness independent of the apnea-hypopnea index in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Evolution: Life On Earth Got Bigger In 2-million-fold Leaps
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JIXLlkHYj7g/081222221537.htm
Earth's creatures come in all sizes, yet they (and we) all sprang from the same single-celled organisms that first populated the planet. So how on Earth did life go from bacteria to the blue whale? "It happened primarily in two great leaps, and each time, the maximum size of life jumped up by a factor of about a million," said a professor of geological and environmental science.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Scientists Unlock Key Mechanism Behind Cancer Metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ahu4gFD5Ux4/081215074408.htm
Researchers have shed light on a key mechanism behind the development of metastasis -- the main cause of death associated with cancer. The findings, published in Cancer Research, could have potential in treating the spread of metastasis, and so reduce cancer deaths.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Gender Gap In Spatial Skills Starts In Infancy, Psychologists Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2IBMUrW8qqw/081209100948.htm
Men tend to perform better than women at tasks that require a person to rotate an object mentally, studies have indicated. Now developmental psychologists have discovered that this type of spatial skill is present in infancy, and can be found in boys as young as five months old.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Popular Class Of Diabetes Drugs Doubles Risk Of Fractures In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g72lT61eg4U/081210090815.htm
New findings out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of East Anglia show that long-term use of a popular class of oral diabetic drugs doubles the risk of fractures in women with type 2 diabetes.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Novel Technique For Fluorescence Tomography Of Tumors In Living Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LrxHt1VTnqk/081210090823.htm
Fluorescent molecules -- i.e. substances which can be stimulated to emit light -- are extremely valuable tools in biological research and medical diagnosis. Fluorescence can be used for instance to analyze the regulation and expression of genes, to locate proteins in cells and tissues, to follow metabolic pathways and to study the location and migration of cells. Of particular importance is the combination of fluorescence imaging with novel techniques that allow tomographic three-dimensional visualization of objects in living organisms.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Dark Chocolate Is More Filling Than Milk Chocolate And Lessens Cravings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d2iDqp2Y4CI/081210091039.htm
Dark chocolate is far more filling than milk chocolate, lessening our craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods, according to new research. In other words, eating dark chocolate may be an efficient way to keep your weight down over the holidays.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Health Monitoring With Your Cell Phone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WVN9-ZHRp5s/081222221600.htm
Cell phones have already revolutionized the way people all over the world communicate and do business. Now they are about to do the same thing for medicine. A prototype cell phone has been constructed which is capable of monitoring the condition of HIV and malaria patients, as well as testing water quality in undeveloped areas or disaster sites. New advances result in accurate ID of smaller particles using holograms.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Your Genetic Make-up Influences The Levels Of Fats In Your Blood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9G6gC-9vwJU/081217200648.htm
A team of researchers has provided new insight into how genetic variation can cause different individuals to have distinct levels of a fat known as triglyceride in their blood.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
3-D Cell Growth: Engineers' New Microfluidic Device Could Help With Drug Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LFt3br4OabE/081218054635.htm
Engineers have built a device that gives them an unprecedented view of three-dimensional cell growth and migration, including the formation of blood vessels and the spread of tumor cells.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
EPA Should Pursue Cumulative Risk Assessment Of Phthalates And Other Chemicals, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FAzI2z4C49s/081218122208.htm
The US Environmental Protection Agency should examine whether combined exposures to chemicals known as phthalates could cause adverse health effects in humans, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
Satellites Used To Measure Inland Floods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vbd6wJmAc-U/081217124426.htm
Satellites that were designed to measure sea level over the world's oceans can serve a valuable purpose over land, a new study has found. Researchers used satellite to measure the height and extent of flooding in North America, South America, and Asia.

Wed, 24 Dec 08
A Walk In The Park A Day Keeps Mental Fatigue Away
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BI0ayGexnp8/081218122242.htm
If you spend the majority of your time among stores, restaurants and skyscrapers, it may be time to trade in your stilettos for some hiking boots. A new study in Psychological Science reveals that spending time in nature may be more beneficial for mental processes than being in urban environments.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Cognitive Computing: Building A Machine That Can Learn From Experience
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MjRxuk1B3ws/081221215537.htm
Suppose you want to build a computer that operates like the brain of a mammal. How hard could it be? After all, there are supercomputers that can decode the human genome, play chess and calculate prime numbers out to 13 million digits.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
New Treatment For Diabetes? Leptin's Long-distance Call To The Pancreas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kri0tDAgC-A/081222100658.htm
A new study boosts researchers' hopes of using osteocalcin to treat diabetes. Researchers show, the fat-derived hormone leptin enlists the sympathetic nervous system to prevent bone-making cells from releasing a molecule that prods the pancreas to discharge insulin.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Caffeine Has Greater Effect On Men, And Starts Only Ten Minutes After Consumption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rQjh4Tug7d0/081222113526.htm
Caffeine has a greater effect on men than women, and that these effects start just 10 minutes after it is drunk. In addition, contrary to what was previously thought, it has also been shown that decaffeinated coffee also produces an increased state of alertness.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
First Trimester Smoking Linked To Oral Clefts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2CG-9x5ceYc/081218094559.htm
Smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy is clearly linked with an increased risk of cleft lip in newborns. Genes that play a role in detoxification of cigarette smoke do not appear to be involved, according to a new study.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Quantum Computing Closer To Reality As Mathematicians Chase Key Breakthrough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IxMiql4HpW0/081222100700.htm
The ability to exploit the extraordinary properties of quantum mechanics in novel applications, such as a new generation of super-fast computers, has come closer following recent progress with some of the remaining underlying mathematical problems.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Are Power And Compassion Mutually Exclusive?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G7OWSjVuteY/081217124154.htm
A new study reveals that individuals with a higher sense of power experience less compassion and distress when confronted with another's suffering, compared to low-power individuals. In addition, powerful people were not motivated to establish a relationship with distressed individuals. The authors suggest that powerful people's tendency to show less compassion and distress towards others reinforces their social power.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Origin Of Life On Earth: Simple Fusion To Jump-start Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Pq0bPm76_w/081218213634.htm
With the aid of a straightforward experiment, researchers have provided some clues to one of biology's most complex questions: how ancient organic molecules came together to form the basis of life.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
MRI Brain Scans Accurate In Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Um9zSP7y7_U/081218213630.htm
MRI brain scans should be included as a diagnostic test for early Alzheimer's disease, experts conclude.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Embryonic Development: First Look At How Groups Of Cells Coordinate Their Movements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CU-s1BAWxfA/081209100944.htm
Using novel imaging, labeling and data-analysis techniques, scientists have been able to visualize, for the first time, large numbers of cells moving en masse during some of the earliest stages of embryonic development.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Selenium, Vitamin E Do Not Prevent Prostate Cancer, Study Concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d89YhxrISag/081210131046.htm
Findings from one of the largest cancer chemoprevention trials ever conducted have concluded that selenium and vitamin E taken alone or in combination for an average of five and a half years did not prevent prostate cancer, according to a team of researchers coordinated by the Southwest Oncology Group and led by scientists at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Fix For Global Warming? Scientists Propose Covering Deserts With Reflective Sheeting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QWZmPCvKkHA/081222114546.htm
A radical plan to curb global warming and so reverse the climate change caused by our rampant burning of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution would involve covering parts of the world's deserts with reflective sheeting, according to an article in the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues. The heat reflecting sheets could be used to cover arid areas and not only reflect the sun's heat back into space by increasing the Earth's overall reflectivity, or albedo, but also to act as an anti-desertification measure.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Eating At Buffets Plus Not Exercising Equals Obesity In Rural America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RVTKD4ali_8/081219172133.htm
In small towns in the Midwestern United States, people who eat out often at buffets and cafeterias and who perceive their community to be unpleasant for physical activity are more likely to be obese.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Young Active Star Resembles The Sun When It Was Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0YIahcMELTk/081222163112.htm
Astronomers recently observed a star analogous to the young Sun at an age of approximately 500 million years, named CoRoTExo-2a. This star is accompanied by a giant planet orbiting around it in only 1.7 days.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Blocking The Spread Of Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wO6_dXGWm1A/081218141730.htm
It's as simple as A, T, G, C. Scientists have exploited the Watson-Crick base pairing of DNA to provide a defensive tool that could be used to fight the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. They discovered that a special DNA sequence found in certain bacteria can impede the spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic staphylococci. It blocks DNA molecules that move from one cell to another, spreading antibiotic resistance genes.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Not All Fats Are Created Equal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FYQgOv0wuZI/081208180431.htm
Eating saturated fats from butter, cream and meat, as well as trans fats found in hydrogenated oils can boost our risk of cardiovascular disease, while consuming mono-unsaturated fat can be good for our heart. Yet what's the effect of all these fats on our weight? Are some better than others?

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Overweight Siblings Of Children With Type 2 Diabetes Likely To Have Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qe--il-psBM/081209221744.htm
Overweight siblings of children with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have abnormal glucose levels compared to other overweight children. Because abnormal glucose levels may indicate risk for diabetes or diabetes itself, these children could benefit from screening tests and diabetes prevention education.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Baby Fish In Polluted San Francisco Estuary Waters Are Stunted And Deformed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XQV9F4a5Yik/081209100940.htm
Striped bass in the San Francisco Estuary are contaminated before birth with a toxic mix of pesticides, industrial chemicals and flame retardants that their mothers acquire from estuary waters and food sources and pass on to their eggs, say researchers. The findings have implications far beyond fish, because the estuary is the water source for two-thirds of the people and most of the farms in California.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Racial Tension In A 'Split Second'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oTFMhQmMdhI/081217124146.htm
Interracial and interethnic interactions can often be awkward and stressful for members of both majority and minority groups. A new study reveals just how fragile intergroup relations are when people are first getting acquainted. The results showed that a mere one second delay in conversation was sufficient to raise anxiety in intergroup but not intragroup interactions.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Miscarriage And Infertility Treatment Increase Pre-eclampsia Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0FM5KEltiuU/081218094555.htm
Repeated miscarriages and hormone treatment for infertility give an increased risk of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women, according to a study of more than 20,000 first-time mothers in Norway.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Robotic Technology Improves Stroke Rehabilitation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o6KKMt3JPxI/081203084306.htm
Research scientists using a novel, hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI have found that chronic stroke patients can be rehabilitated. This is the first study using fMRI to map the brain in order to track stroke rehabilitation.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Echocardiography Now Recommended As The 'First-line' Test In Cardiovascular Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SUWWKNqBrG4/081209221659.htm
The first-line test in patients with a suspicion of cardiovascular disease -- including arterial disease and heart failure -- should now be echocardiography, according to an expert.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Role Of Soil Patterns In Dam Restoration Examined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uWg2WU87s-o/081203185010.htm
Looking at the site today, it's easy to forget that a dam and pond stood for 43 years on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Franbrook Farm Research Station in southwestern Wisconsin. All traces of the structure are gone and acres of plants, both native and weedy, now carpet the floor of the former basin.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Study: Prejudice Could Cost A Black Worker Thousands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-i-QozSlc0g/081217124150.htm
A recent study sheds light on the role racial prejudice plays in the wage gap between whites and blacks in the US. Prejudice accounts for approximately one-quarter of the racial wage gap, costing a black worker up to $115,000 over a lifetime depending upon where he or she lives, the authors say.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Artificial Human Bone Marrow Created In A Test Tube
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ABHt9AF_0Ak/081222221558.htm
Artificial bone marrow that can continuously make red and white blood cells has been created in a lab. This development could lead to simpler pharmaceutical drug testing, closer study of immune system defects and a continuous supply of blood for transfusions.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Molecular Marker Identifies Normal Stem Cells As Intestinal Tumor Source
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uEKnYMI8NAo/081217190346.htm
Scientists have answered a central question in cancer biology: Whether normal stem cells can give rise to tumors. Stem cells are immature cells that can renew themselves and give rise to mature differentiated cells that compose the range of body tissues. In recent years, researchers have developed evidence that cancers may arise from mutant forms of stem cells.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
A Price On Carbon Not Enough To Save Rainforests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SQx-7hpu-Xs/081209085729.htm
Including carbon emissions from tropical deforestation in a future international climate regime will not suffice to protect the world's remaining tropical forests from expanding palm oil plantations.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Nonhormonal Treatment Regimens Improve Survival In Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gQlAqImjGxo/081209221501.htm
Nonhormonal treatment regimens, including anthracycline-based regimens and taxanes, have improved overall survival in women with advanced (metastatic or recurrent inoperable) breast cancer over the last 35 years, according to a systematic review in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Intestinal Health In Salmon Fed A Plant-based Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cv8nXk58bk4/081205095954.htm
Access to marine raw materials for fish feed production is limited. Any future increase in the numbers of farmed salmon will therefore necessitate an increased use of feeds of plant origin. If salmon are to grow satisfactorily and remain healthy, it is important to obtain knowledge of just how plant-based feed affects the health of fish.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Women Prefer Prestige Over Dominance In Mates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sCLJ-3Cj5jM/081217123825.htm
A new study reveals that women prefer mates who are recognized by their peers for their skills, abilities, and achievements, while not preferring men who use coercive tactics to subordinate their rivals. Indeed, women found dominance strategies of the latter type to be attractive primarily when men used them in the context of male-male athletic competitions.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Mechanism That Triggers Differentiation Of Embryo Cells Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SY-wXyJIpBs/081221220328.htm
The mechanism whereby embryonic cells stop being flexible and turn into more mature cells that can develop into specific tissues has been discovered. The discovery has significant consequences towards furthering research that will eventually make possible medical cell replacement therapy based on the use of embryonic cells.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Common Infant Virus May Trigger Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gexjWNmzaA0/081218094557.htm
Human parechovirus is a harmless virus which is encountered by most infants and displays few symptoms. Suspected of triggering type 1 diabetes in susceptible people, research methods need to take this 'silent' virus into consideration.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Length Of Root Hairs On Plants Made To Grow Longer: Potential Broad Implications For Agriculture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qzmuHCGLgnw/081214191012.htm
A new article in Nature Cell Biology has shown how to increase the length of root hairs on plants, potentially improving crop yields, as plants with longer root hairs take up minerals and water more efficiently.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Alternating Mammography And MRI May Be Best For High-risk Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iKUtmNnzGgc/081214090343.htm
Magnetic resonance imaging alternated with mammography at six-month intervals can detect breast cancers not identified by mammography alone, according to new research.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Arctic Greening Linked To Retreating Sea Ice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ulVt6MVnbiM/081217203316.htm
An interdisciplinary group of scientists has strongly linked sea ice changes to changes in Arctic land-surface temperatures and increased tundra greenness.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
The Language Of Emotion: Ad Slogans In Native Tongues Connect To Consumers' Emotions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eZIsbBr6iXk/081215111433.htm
In our globalized world, consumers are exposed to marketing messages in many languages. But a new study says messages expressed in people's native languages are most effective at triggering emotional reactions.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Groundbreaking, Inexpensive, Pocket-sized Ultrasound Device Can Help Treat Cancer, Relieve Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L4edlBs2s2I/081219172050.htm
A prototype of a therapeutic ultrasound device fits in the palm of a hand, is battery-powered and packs enough punch to stabilize a gunshot wound or deliver drugs to brain cancer patients. It is wired to a ceramic probe, called a transducer, and it creates sound waves so strong they instantly cause water to bubble, spray and turn into steam.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Faulty Brain Wiring May Be Bypassed With Carbon Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MnyXb26mh5s/081221210150.htm
Research done by scientists in Italy and Switzerland has shown that carbon nanotubes may be the ideal 'smart' brain material. Their results are a promising step forward in the search to find ways to 'bypass' faulty brain wiring.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Solar Activity Between 1250-1850 Linked To Temperature Changes In Siberia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DTd9ELc50Aw/081219180532.htm
Scientists have discovered a strong link between regional temperatures and the solar activity in the period 1250-1850, concluding that the sun was an important driver of preindustrial temperature changes in the Siberian Altai. Interestingly, the regional temperatures followed the solar forcing with a time lag of 10 to 30 years.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Breast Cancer Risk Varies In Young Women With Benign Breast Disease, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l3u3j72S4NY/081214090341.htm
A type of benign breast disease known as atypical hyperplasia substantially increases a young woman's risk of developing breast cancer, even if there is no history of breast cancer in her family, say researchers.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Heart Attack Calculator Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7k6WXQUQ1lI/081219073045.htm
Greek researchers describe a quick and easy artificial intelligence approach to working out heart attack risk. Physicians could use their system to provide patients with a personal risk factor and so advise on lifestyle changes or medication to lower their risk.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Storybooks On Paper Better For Children Than Reading Fiction On Computer Screen, According to Expert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zlq3eNCYnVQ/081219073049.htm
Clicking and scrolling interrupt our attentional focus. Turning and touching the pages instead of clicking on the screen influence our ability for experience and attention. The physical manipulations we have to do with a computer, not related to the reading itself, disturb our mental appreciation, according to a professor. She has investigated the pros and cons of new reading devices, especially for children.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Genes May Influence Popularity, Study Of College Students Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/alemdeBJV4I/081222074607.htm
A groundbreaking study of popularity has found that genes elicit not only specific behaviors but also the social consequences of those behaviors.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Two Cardiovascular Proteins Pose A Double Whammy In Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fcDsgmCA6ek/081221210155.htm
Researchers have found that two proteins which work in tandem in the brain's blood vessels present a double whammy in Alzheimer's disease. Not only do the proteins lessen blood flow in the brain, but they also reduce the rate at which the brain is able to remove amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in toxic quantities in the brains of patients with the disease.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Stronger Coastal Winds Due To Climate Change May Have Far-reaching Effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V_s62y-iMNo/081219172037.htm
Future increases in wind strength along the California coast may have far-reaching effects, including more intense upwelling of cold water along the coast early in the season and increased fire danger in Southern California, according to researchers.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Natural Immune Response to HIV Not Sufficient to Prevent Secondary Superinfection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QyRB8zyBp8k/081219092048.htm
Researchers studying the phenomenon known as HIV superinfection have determined that the immune system's initial antibody response may not be sufficient to provide protection against later infection with a different HIV virus, a finding that may have significant implications for HIV vaccine development.

Tue, 23 Dec 08
Potentially Disruptive Antibody Sequencing Technology Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CEunRAFhuUQ/081219092046.htm
Bioinformatics researchers have developed a new, quicker way to sequence monoclonal antibodies -- a process that is many times faster than the sequencing technology typically used by academic and industry researchers today.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Snails And Humans Use Same Genes To Tell Right From Left
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qCSl39ftIjg/081221210157.htm
The genes that in vertebrates establish the right and left sides of the body were thought to be of fairly recent origin, since fruit flies and nematodes don't have them. A new study shows that snails do use the same genes as vertebrates, suggesting that these genes arose more than 500 million years ago in the first bilaterally symmetric organisms.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
How Asbestos Fibers Trigger Cancer In Human Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hX_NHoLVjnU/081218140541.htm
Scientists are now studying the molecular underpinnings of cancer by probing individual bonds between an asbestos fiber and human cells. Though any clinical application is years away, the researchers hope their findings could aid in drug development efforts targeting illnesses caused by excessive exposure to asbestos, including the deadly cancer called mesothelioma.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Remarkably Bright White Light Given Off When Diaper Rash Cream Concoction Is Heated To High Temperature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Kdw8V9Gb2o/081218122238.htm
Scientists have found that a cheap and nontoxic sunburn and diaper rash preventative can be made to produce brilliant light best suited to the human eye. Physicists have discovered that adding sulfur to ultra-fine powders of commonplace zinc oxide at about 1,000 degrees centigrade allows the preparation to convert invisible ultraviolet light into a remarkably bright and natural form of white light.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Medication For Depression Can Also Fight Cancer Drug Resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eMvhUCJoc7I/081218122240.htm
Prozac is regularly prescribed to ease the emotional pain of patients who are being treated for cancer. But can this common anti-depressant help to fight cancer itself?

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Watching Water From Space Could Aid Disease Prevention In China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T3NPWzmG-zA/081218140539.htm
Scientists are looking to outer space for help in their attempt to prevent new outbreaks of the tropical disease schistosomiasis in southern China. Once the Three Gorges Dam is fully operational, researchers plan to use satellite data from space to determine whether changing water conditions in Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, create favorable conditions for the snails associated with the chronic disease that can damage internal organs and impair growth and cognitive development in children.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Shame On Us: Shaming Some Kids Makes Them More Aggressive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HA-Z5f8bZow/081219172143.htm
Aren't you ashamed of yourself? All these years, you've been trying to build up your child's self-esteem, and now a growing body of research suggests you may be making a big mistake. A study published in Child Development finds that early adolescents with high self-esteem are more likely to react aggressively when they feel ashamed than their peers with lower levels of self-esteem.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
New Insights Into Autism, Obsessive Behavior: Decreased Levels Of Binding Gene Affect Memory And Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CuH8McWKIno/081210121916.htm
Reducing the activity of a gene called FKBP12 in the brains of mice affected neuron-to-neuron communication (synapse) and increased both fearful memory and obsessive behavior, indicating the gene could provide a target for drugs to treat diseases such as autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disease and others, according to an article in the journal Neuron.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Drama In The Heart Of The Tarantula Nebula
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gQDWz7BMYDc/081211141844.htm
A new Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the Tarantula Nebula gives scientists a close-up view of the drama of star formation and evolution. The Tarantula, also known as 30 Doradus, is in one of the most active star-forming regions in a galaxy close to the Milky Way. Massive stars in 30 Doradus are producing intense radiation and searing winds of multimillion-degree gas that carve out gigantic super-bubbles in the surrounding gas.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Protein Levels Indicate Risk Of Death In Some Colorectal Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ac2sCtlU11o/081208203903.htm
A pair of proteins may help explain why people with surgically removed colorectal cancer and who are overweight, physically inactive and follow a Western-pattern diet may have an increased risk of dying of the disease or other causes, scientists report.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Portable CT Increases Chance Of Stroke Survival And Recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oAR6wEv7JdI/081202080807.htm
New research has found that the availability of a portable eight-slice computed tomography scanner in an emergency room can significantly increase the number of stroke victims who receive a potentially life-saving treatment.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Vulnerability To Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Runs In Families, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nmj9QPh7qSI/081219201324.htm
Researchers have discovered that vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression run in families.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Breathing Life Into Injured Lungs: World-first Technique Will Expand Lung Donor Organ Pool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7FQ6Qvdj2L8/081219172039.htm
For the first time in the world, transplant surgeons in Canada used a new technique to repair an injured donor lung that was unsuitable for transplant, and then successfully transplanted it into a patient. The use of this technique could significantly expand the lung donor organ pool and improve outcomes after transplantation.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Gene Subnetworks Predict Cancer Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MYo-unbZ8Lw/081215140930.htm
The metastasis or spread of breast cancer to other tissues in the body can be predicted more accurately by examining subnetworks of gene expression patterns in a patient's tumor than by conventional gene expression microarrays.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Scientists Watch Membrane Fission In Real Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C4AM6V8WVts/081211121821.htm
Researchers have solved one of biology's neatest little tricks: They have discovered how a cell's outer membrane pinches a little pouch from itself to bring molecules outside the cell inside -- without making holes that leak fluid from either side of the membrane.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Generally Safe To Withdraw Anti-seizure Medication In Children With Epilepsy, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s6P3PcZtt7U/081207133719.htm
A new study found that it is generally safe to withdraw anti-seizure medications in children with epilepsy who have achieved seizure-freedom while on the medication. Researchers found that these children were not at high risk of subsequently developing intractable epilepsy.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Waste Peel From Pomegranate Juice Factories Makes Healthy Cattle Feed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0tZtPqJQdmk/081208085228.htm
Pomegranate peel left over from production of the juice renowned for its potential health benefits can make a nutritious feed supplement for cattle, researchers report in an article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The peel packs some of the weight-boosting and health-enhancing effects of antibiotics and hormones without the detrimental effects, and researchers say it may yield meat with higher levels of beneficial antioxidants.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Selflessness -- Core Of All Major World Religions -- Has Neuropsychological Connection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7hn1ySyUuYc/081217124156.htm
All spiritual experiences are based in the brain. That statement is truer than ever before, according to a University of Missouri neuropsychologist. A new study has data to support a neuropsychological model that proposes spiritual experiences associated with selflessness are related to decreased activity in the right parietal lobe of the brain. The study is one of the first to use individuals with traumatic brain injury to determine this connection.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Structured Warm-up Exercises May Prevent Up To Half Of Severe Sports Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rVBPlsG0l7Y/081209221703.htm
A warm-up program that focuses on improving strength, balance, core stability and muscular awareness cuts injury in female footballers by a third and severe injuries by almost a half, according to new research.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
HIV Dementia: How Major HIV Strains Affect The Brain Differently
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A2ur2w6NVcQ/081203185012.htm
A new study has clarified how two major variants of HIV differ in their ability to cause neurologic complications.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Science's Breakthrough Of The Year: Cellular Reprogramming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XZhAuNCegwk/081218141720.htm
In its annual list of the year's top ten scientific breakthroughs, the journal Science has given top honors to research that produced "made-to-order" cell lines by reprogramming cells from ill patients. These cell lines, and the techniques for producing them, offer long-sought tools for understanding -- and hopefully someday curing -- difficult-to-study diseases such as Parkinson's disease and type 1 diabetes.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Oil Spray Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Pig Finishing Barns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gWvHVEsQ_xo/081208114306.htm
Researchers have known that the animal feeding industry creates a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane and carbon dioxide. As the industry works to address this concern, scientists have tested various types of oil sprays to measure their effectiveness in reducing these emissions. The results show positive signs in reducing environmental impact.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Childhood Vaccines Cause Financial Burden To Many Health Care Providers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lEGWwEgITaM/081201081723.htm
The costs that health care providers are charged and reimbursed for childhood vaccines vary widely, and the high cost of some immunizations is leading to significant financial strain for some physicians, according to a pair of new studies.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
First Functional Stem-cell Niche Model Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GPqdjEkydX4/081210131036.htm
Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine employing a similar "peeping Tom" tactic to learn more about how stem cells develop have taken a significant step forward by devising a way to recreate the cells' lair -- a microenvironment called a niche -- in an adult animal.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
CT Colonography Offers One-stop Screening For Cancer And Osteoporosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IUZabhePNaY/081202080811.htm
New research reveals that computed tomography colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, has the potential to screen for two diseases at once -- colorectal cancer and osteoporosis, both of which commonly affect adults over age 50.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Modeling Neonatal Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2hvpjTUvUFY/081208180232.htm
Neonatal diabetes is a rare form of diabetes that is usually detected within the first six months of life. Approximately 50 percent of cases of neonatal diabetes are caused by mutations in either the KIR6.2 gene or the SUR1 gene. A new article describes the development of a mouse model of neonatal diabetes that the authors believe provides new insight into the human disease.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Nitrogen Emissions In Dairy Pastures Peak In The Springtime
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fpZc7LcCTOw/081211081618.htm
The nitrogen emissions from boreal dairy pastures vary depending on the time of year and ley rotation. The emissions peak in spring, when the nitrates accumulated in the soil over the previous summer and winter leach with the melting snow.

Mon, 22 Dec 08
Increasing Physical Activity And Limiting Television May Lead To Reduction In Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hXAHu_AV3xo/081208114333.htm
Researchers have found that reducing time spent watching television and increasing time spent walking briskly or engaged in vigorous physical activity may reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in African-American women.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Archaeological Discovery: Earliest Evidence Of Our Cave-dwelling Human Ancestors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G2hDXPCzi9Q/081219172137.htm
Archaeologists have discovered the earliest evidence of our cave-dwelling human ancestors at the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Saturn's Dynamic Moon Enceladus Shows More Signs Of Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jlwHymNbpQI/081215194801.htm
The closer scientists look at Saturn's small moon Enceladus, the more they find evidence of an active world. The most recent flybys of Enceladus made by NASA's Cassini spacecraft have provided new signs of ongoing changes on and around the moon. The latest high-resolution images of Enceladus show signs that the south polar surface changes over time.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
New Vaccine Protects Monkeys From Pneumonic Plague
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OOuTKKf5ieY/081219093756.htm
Scientists have developed a vaccine incorporating the protein V10 and found that it protected macaques from lethal pneumonic plague and may have implications for use in humans.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Can Large-scale Pumps Inject Oxygen And Life Into The Lifeless Seabed Of The Baltic?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ztSmwBt2xdg/081218132258.htm
A pilot study will attempt to answer whether it is possible to maintain the Baltic in this oxygen rich state, by continuously adding oxygen rich water to the deep water.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
British Scientist Warns We Must Protect The Vulnerable From Robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0-e-k5d8lU8/081218141724.htm
Top robotics expert professor Noel Sharkey has called for international guidelines to be set for the ethical and safe application of robots before it is too late. Professor Sharkey believes that as the use of robots increases, decisions about their application will be left to the military, industry and busy parents instead of international legislative bodies.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Hubble Catches Jupiter's Largest Moon Going To The 'Dark Side'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dcrHSX4yw6k/081220085849.htm
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has caught Jupiter's moon Ganymede playing a game of "peek-a-boo." In this crisp Hubble image, Ganymede is shown just before it ducks behind the giant planet.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Modified Gene Targets Cancer Cells One Thousand Times More Often Than Healthy Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tv06VWC5UrY/081217190348.htm
Researchers have designed a gene that produces a thousand times more protein in cancer cells than in healthy cells. The findings may help address the prime challenge in anticancer therapy, improving treatments' ability to specifically and effectively target cancer cells. Using this new approach, scientists should be able to insert "self-destruct" codes into the modified gene, forcing cancer cells to kill themselves while healthy cells remain largely unaffected.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Advance In The Battle Against 'Gray Mold'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hyJOyvUCW_g/081215151106.htm
Scientists are reporting identification of the cluster of genes responsible for the toxins produced by "gray mold," a devastating plant disease that kills almost 200 different food and ornamental plants including tomatoes, strawberries and roses.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Researchers Compile 'Molecular Manual' For Hundreds Of Inherited Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XTOs2zlzzlw/081217124144.htm
An international research team has compiled the first catalog of tissue-specific pathologies underlying hundreds of inherited diseases. These results provide information that may help treat conditions such as breast cancer, Parkinson's disease, heart disease and autism.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Poor-man’s Supercomputing Goes Commercial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y0g_yu9KzKQ/081219073158.htm
Grid computing technology has long been the darling of cash-strapped academics in desperate need of raw processing power. Now a new research effort has created an industrial-strength platform already appearing in commercial applications.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
How Mirror Neurons Allow Us To Learn And Socialize By Going Through The Motions In The Head
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8r7IzNd-L20/081219073047.htm
The old adage that we can only learn how to do something by trying it ourselves may have to be revised in the light of recent discoveries in neuroscience. It turns out that humans, primates, some birds, and possibly other higher animals have mirror neurons that fire in the same pattern whether performing or just observing a task. These mirror neurons clearly play an important role in learning motor tasks involving hand eye coordination, and possibly also acquisition of language skills, as well as being required for social skills, but the exact processes involved are only just being discovered.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Say It In Song: Researcher Deciphers Meaning Within Bird Communication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TY5wO7hXQUw/081219172125.htm
To many people, bird song can herald the coming of spring, reveal what kind of bird is perched nearby or be merely an unwelcome early morning intrusion. But to Sandra Vehrencamp, Cornell professor of neurobiology and behavior, bird song is a code from which to glean avian behavior insight.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Bacteria Tricked Into Killing Themselves To Survive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qBgGyc7Uo4w/081216104309.htm
Like firemen fighting fire with fire, researchers have found a way to fool a bacteria's evolutionary machinery into programming its own death.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
The Medium Is The Message: Manipulating Salmonella In Spaceflight Curtails Infectiousness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fiZK5jXJqhM/081212092052.htm
Scientists have explored the novel environment of space to investigate the cellular and molecular machinery of virulence. Some of the latest findings are derived from experiments aboard NASA space shuttle mission STS-123, launched in March, 2008. In addition to confirming the effects of microgravity observed in the STS-115 experiments, the new study homed in on the importance of the microbial growth medium to gene expression and virulence during spaceflight.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
New Gene Found To Be Associated With Widely Used Marker Of Blood Glucose Concentration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d-dAQ2rDphs/081218213625.htm
Scientists have found that genetic variation at the hexokinase-1 gene is linked to variation in the blood concentration of glycated hemoglobin, an index of long-term blood glucose concentration widely used in the follow-up of diabetes patients.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Lifecycles Of Tropical Cyclones Predicted In Global Computer Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HEF-M3c9u2A/081219092050.htm
The initial results of the first computer model that simulates the global atmosphere with a detailed representation of individual clouds have been analyzed. The model captured the timing and location of the formation of the observed cyclones as well as their paths and overall evolution.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Damages White Matter, The Brain's Connective Network
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wefjbWqYJyI/081219172033.htm
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause a wide array of problems, including cognitive dysfunction. New findings demonstrate that alcohol can damage the microstructural integrity of fetal cerebral white matter in the frontal and occipital lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are particularly relevant for executive functions and visual processing.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
New Tooth Cavity Protection: Make Surface Too Slippery For Bacteria To Adhere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W7rfNG7hz7w/081220085436.htm
Scientists have discovered a new method of protecting teeth from cavities by ultrafine polishing with silica nanoparticles.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Alzheimer’s Disease: Women Affected More Often Than Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l6VCdFxY_SE/081220085057.htm
Nearly 4.5 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD) in our country, and more than half of them are women, according to the National Institute on Aging. As the general population continues to age, this number is expected to increase significantly over the next few decades.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Geoscientists Drill For Earth Secrets Under Arctic Lake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qQkZa2Q4gbI/081220084841.htm
In the next few days, a convoy of bulldozers and trucks will set out from a remote airport in Siberia, heading for a frozen lake 62 miles north of the Arctic Circle, but the trip isn't a holiday visit to the North Pole. Instead, the trucks will deliver core-drilling equipment for a study of sediment and meteorite-impact rocks that should provide the longest time-continuous climate record ever collected in the Arctic.

Sun, 21 Dec 08
Biofuel Development Shifting From Soil To Sea, Specifically To Marine Algae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F5RxMl5NOAE/081220084424.htm
Bell-bottoms... Designer jeans... Disco... Big hair... Gas shortages. Some icons of the 1970s are emblazoned in the memories of those old enough to remember. A few styles, to the dismay of many, have come back in vogue--oil-related crises among them. Broad anxiety over fuel manifested again in 2008, illuminating the dark side of the nation's continued oil addiction.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Pain Hurts More If Person Hurting You Means It
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gcqA4f5Tk_0/081215111307.htm
Psychologists at Harvard University have found that pain hurts more when we think that someone intended to cause hurt. Intentional pain also seems to have a fresh sting every time, whereas we get used to unintentional pain.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Inflamed Gums Linked To Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/byXYaswV2Tc/081215184308.htm
The next person who reminds you to floss might be your cardiologist instead of your dentist. Scientists have known for some time that a protein associated with inflammation is elevated in people at risk for heart disease. But where's the inflammation coming from? A new research study shows that infected gums may be one place.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Ancient Soil Replenishment Technique Helps In Battle Against Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TA_Miv4FD14/081217190439.htm
Former inhabitants of the Amazon Basin enriched their fields with charred organic materials-biochar-and transformed one of the earth's most infertile soils into one of the most productive. These early conservationists disappeared 500 years ago, but centuries later, their soil is still rich in organic matter and nutrients. Now, scientists, environmental groups and policymakers forging the next world climate agreement see biochar not only as an important tool for replenishing soils, but as a powerful tool for combating global warming.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Shared Survival Mechanism Explains Why 'Good' Nerve Cells Last And 'Bad' Cancer Cells Flourish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H-uR6BQlnYY/081215121630.htm
Cancer cells and nervous system neurons may not look or act alike, but both use strikingly similar ways to survive, according to new research.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Scans Show Immune Cells Intercepting Parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_fmxIQkH294/081210171904.htm
Researchers may have identified one of the body's earliest responses to a group of parasites that causes illness in developing nations and are now infecting US soldiers on patrol in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Whispering Bats Are Shrieking 100 Times Louder Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PkWOdLlmtG8/081212080548.htm
Some echo-locating bats seem to be really quiet, appearing to make echo-locating calls that are no louder than 70 decibels. But no one had successfully recorded their volume under natural conditions, until now. When researchers recorded whispering bats they found that some of them are shrieking 100 times louder than thought.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
LEDs And Smart Lighting Could Save Trillions Of Dollars, Spark Global Innovation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G9pJtCOkIHc/081217074908.htm
A "revolution" in the way we illuminate our world is imminent. Innovations in photonics and solid state lighting will lead to trillions of dollars in cost savings, along with a massive reduction in the amount of energy required to light homes and businesses around the globe, researchers forecast.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Benefits Of Breastfeeding Outweigh Risk Of Infant Exposure To Environmental Chemicals In Breastmilk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tf38WAnEqr4/081216161056.htm
A study comparing breastfed and formula fed infants across time showed that the known beneficial effects of breastfeeding are greater than the potential risks associated with infant exposure to chemicals such as dioxins that may be present in breastmilk, according to a new report published in Breastfeeding Medicine.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
New Model Explains Movements Of The Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xguTVFlK0X8/081217192747.htm
Scientists are developing a mathematical formula to study the rotation of the moon, taking into account its structure, which comprises a solid external layer and a fluid internal core. Their work is part of an international study, which has come up with an improved theoretical model about the orbital and rotational dynamics of the Earth and its satellite, and which the scientific community will be able to use to obtain more precise measurements in order to aid future NASA missions to the moon.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Cancer Treatments Redefined To Reduce Potential Nerve Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UKhZd62g0nY/081215111137.htm
While radiation treatments deliver precise doses of high-energy X-rays to stop cancer cells from spreading or to shrink tumors, oncologists have become increasingly concerned about inadvertent exposures during head and neck cancer treatments to nerves responsible for upper body mobility.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
New York City Beaver Returns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vq6zkCncDtE/081218080817.htm
New York City's most famous beaver, José, has come home for the holidays! After a year-long hiatus, José -- the first wild beaver to return to New York in at least two centuries -- is back at the zoo and has even cut down his own Christmas tree, which he is now using to construct a new lodge on the Bronx River.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Possible Genetic Causes Of Borderline Personality Disorder Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D5wtj7GhPJc/081216114100.htm
Scientists have found that genetic material on chromosome nine was linked to BPD features, a disorder characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behavior, and can lead to suicidal behavior, substance abuse and failed relationships.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Breathing Cycles In Earth's Upper Atmosphere Tied To Solar Wind Disturbances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z_dEYNMMz6M/081215184317.htm
A new study shows the periodic "breathing" of Earth's upper atmosphere that has long puzzled scientists is due in part to cyclic solar wind disturbances, a finding that should help engineers track satellites more accurately and improve forecasts for electronic communication disruptions.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Male Circumcision May Decrease Risk Of HPV Infection And Cervical Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HIjjv-p_VDM/081217123817.htm
Two new studies suggest that male circumcision may assist in the prevention of human papillomavirus infection, particularly infection with the high-risk subtypes associated with cervical, penile, and other cancers.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Hotel, Restaurant And Carpentry Trades Are Among Professions Posing Highest Risks For Cancer Of The Esophagus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tX7ZqiskPPI/081217192811.htm
A new study led by Spanish researchers has revealed that exposure to certain substances may increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus. The hotel and restaurant trades, animal handling, mining and carpentry are some of the professions posing the highest risk.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Popular Hypothesis Concerning Emergence Of Multiple Sclerosis Contested
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WYP_qT3niIg/081216115012.htm
During an autoimmune disease, the endogenous defence system (the immune system) loses the ability to distinguish between "self" and "foreign." As a consequence, the immune system directs its defence against itself, with fatal consequences. In the case of multiple sclerosis, a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the protective layer encapsulating the nerve fibres: This protective layer formed by myelin works like insulation for electrical cables. If the insulation is damaged, the nerves can no longer transmit messages effectively.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
How Genes And Proteins Interact To Build Life's Dynamic Architecture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/42g0iyvAx60/081216131020.htm
While life on Earth didn't originate from a blueprint, researchers are avidly working to uncover the basic architecture of living things. One researcher has now developed novel technologies that have enabled him to examine how proteins interact within cells.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Aging Brains Allow Negative Memories To Fade
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/485wtcZW7Zw/081216104025.htm
It turns out there's a scientific reason why older people tend to see the past through rose-coloured glasses. Medical researchers have identified brain activity that causes older adults to remember fewer negative events than their younger counterparts. These neuroscientists have discovered that older people use their brains differently than younger people when it comes to storing memories, particularly those associated with negative emotions.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Earth's Original Ancestor Was 'LUCA'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iPs0BUgZ_Ak/081217124200.htm
Evolutionary geneticists have published a ground-breaking study that characterizes the common ancestor of all life on earth, LUCA (last universal common ancestor). Their findings show that the 3.8-billion-year-old organism was not the creature usually imagined.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Study Of Placenta Unexpectedly Leads To Cancer Gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rU7EHXpcoFA/081216114058.htm
Scientists have discovered a gene mutation that impairs the placenta and also is influential in cancer development.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Gut Instinct: Salmonella Bacteria's Molecular Tactics To Cause Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dHl8KOrTgTk/081217101539.htm
Hundreds of trillions of bacteria make their home in the vertebrate gut. Though many of these microbes perform helpful duties for their host, others -- the pathogens -- are unwelcome visitors, causing disease. New research unveils a key survival circuit, which activates a signaling cascade, switching on or off a suite of genes necessary to circumvent the body's multiple defense mechanisms and cause illness.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Molecular Therapy For Spinal Muscular Atrophy Closer To Clinical Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uRTkqPQKLkg/081216104313.htm
Spinal muscular atrophy, a neurodegenerative disorder that causes the weakening of muscles, is the leading cause of infant death and occurs in 1 in 6,000 live births. While trans-splicing (a form of molecular therapy) has had impressive results as a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy in cell-based models of disease, scientists have been unable to translate the therapy to the human body. Researchers have now developed a strategy that will enhance trans-splicing activity and bring it closer to being used in the clinical setting.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
Failed Vaccine Mystery Solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aHLmW8hjIig/081215184310.htm
Scientists have figured out why a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine used in 1966 to inoculate children against the infection instead caused severe respiratory disease and effectively stopped efforts to make a better one. The findings could restart work on effective killed-virus vaccines not only for RSV but other respiratory viruses, researchers say.

Sat, 20 Dec 08
'Dirty War Index': New Tool Identifies Rates Of Prohibited Or Undesirable War Outcomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p4ClQb_R7Lw/081216104317.htm
Researchers have created a new tool called the "Dirty War Index" based on the laws of war, a tool which identifies rates of prohibited or highly undesirable ("dirty") war outcomes, such as torture, child injury and civilian death.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
'Hobbit' Fossils Represent A New Species, Concludes Anthropologist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bGEGuk0jqos/081217124418.htm
Fossilized skeletons resembling a mythical 'hobbit' creature represent an entirely new species in humanity's evolutionary chain, according to researchers. Cutting-edge 3D modeling technology was used to connect the fossilized hominid skeletons of the so-called "hobbit people," or Homo floresiensis to the human evolutionary chain.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Single Virus Used To Convert Adult Cells To Embryonic Stem Cell-like Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L-YRHTljaT0/081215184343.htm
Adult cells, from both humans and mice, can be converted into embryonic stem cell-like cells using a single virus to insert four reprogramming genes into the cells' genomes. Previous reprogramming approaches have relied on four separate viruses, one virus for each gene, to deliver the genes to cellular nuclei. Because this new method inserts the genes in only one place, it is less disruptive to a cell's genome.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Cry Me A River: The Psychology Of Crying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gsTBEWAq6RA/081217123831.htm
We've all experienced a 'good cry.' But why is crying beneficial? And is there such a thing as a 'bad cry'? A new report describes some recent findings about the psychology of crying. Analysis of the detailed accounts of more than 3,000 recent crying experiences found that the benefits of crying depend entirely on the what, where and when of a particular crying episode.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Preventing A Broken Heart: Research Aims To Reduce Scarring From Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NRIq7cn7Ots/081214190955.htm
A heart damaged by heart attack is usually broken, at least partially, for good. The injury causes excessive scar tissue to form, and this plays a role in permanently keeping heart muscle from working at full capacity.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Olympic Pollution Controls In Beijing China Had Big Impact On Air Pollution Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q-NTd7OMaQw/081216131016.htm
NASA researchers have since analyzed data from NASA's Aura and Terra satellites that show how key pollutants responded to the Olympic restrictions in China.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
'Gross' Messaging Used To Increases Handwashing, Fight Norovirus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/km3ieHzqKXc/081215184341.htm
Research suggests that it takes "gross" messaging to get undergraduate students to wash their hands more frequently after going to the bathroom.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Polygamy, Paternal Care In Birds Linked To Dinosaur Ancestors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8gxTgkH8UYE/081218141734.htm
Sure, they're polygamous, but male emus and several other ground-dwelling birds also are devoted dads, serving as the sole incubators and caregivers to over-sized broods from multiple mothers. It is rare behavior, but research described in Science found that it runs in this avian family, all the way back to its dinosaur ancestors.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Exercise Suppresses Appetite By Affecting Appetite Hormones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mrm3GxjRfXM/081211081446.htm
A vigorous 60-minute workout on a treadmill affects the release of two key appetite hormones, ghrelin and peptide YY, while 90 minutes of weight lifting affects the level of only ghrelin. The research shows that aerobic exercise is better at suppressing appetite than nonaerobic exercise and provides a possible explanation for how that happens. This line of research may eventually lead to more effective ways to use exercise to help control weight.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
'Seeing' The Quantum World: How A Quantum Computer Would Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/afnLxM4j5C4/081217124434.htm
Barry Sanders, director of the University of Calgary's Institute for Quantum Information Science, is hoping computer animation can help the public better understand quantum physics. Videos are published for the first time in the New Journal of Physics. For the first time, a detailed description on the making of Sanders' animation -- Solid State Quantum Computer in Silicon -- was published this month in the New Journal of Physics.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Blocking Molecular Pathway With Whimsical Name Possible Therapeutic Target For Pancreatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/22q6LN21_jU/081214190940.htm
A possible new therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer, the most lethal form of human cancer, has been identified in the proteins whose DNA recipe comes from the gene, "Seven-In-Absentia."

Fri, 19 Dec 08
World's First Deep Sea Lab-on-a-chip Sensors Proved To Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ulhVd1N5qi8/081211081622.htm
Innovative marine sensor technologies have been tested on a research cruise (D333, RRS Discovery, Canary Islands) and are now ready to be developed further for commercialization.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Does A Younger Dad Mean A Healthier Child?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PyNowU9FEYA/081215121603.htm
A father's age is associated with decreased social abilities in boys, according to new research.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Life On Mars? Elusive Mineral Bolsters Chances, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aI7f9OvKduA/081218141718.htm
A research team led by Brown University has found evidence of a long-sought mineral that shows Mars was home to a variety of watery environments, including regional pockets of neutral or alkaline water. The finding, detailed in the Dec. 19 edition of Science, bolsters the chances that primitive life sprang up in those benign spots.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
New Way To More Rapidly Generate Bone Tissue Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kTnnEqfzcXk/081215140936.htm
Using stem cell lines not typically combined, researchers have designed a new way to 'grow' bone and other tissues. The work takes a new approach: rarely have mesenchymal and hematopoietic cells been delivered in combination for the healing of defects and the treatment of diseases -- partially due to the separate research communities in which these two cell groups are studied.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Heat Waves And Crop Losses Predicted For California
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Bue0U0_Das/081215091019.htm
Global warming will likely put enormous strain on California's water supply and energy systems and have a devastating impact on certain crops. Stanford researchers predicted outcomes based on projections from two different emission scenarios. One assumes a continuing moderate increase in greenhouse gas emissions until 2100; the other assumes emissions would increase until mid-century and then start dropping off. Both of the scenarios indicate there will be more frequent heat waves and generally rising temperatures.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Cancer Treatment: Aromatase Inhibitors More Effective Than Tamoxifen In Preventing Cancer From Coming Back
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HraZI2P3HI8/081211161737.htm
Two separate meta-analyses of clinical trials from around the world that tested tamoxifen against aromatase inhibitor drugs in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer have each reached the same conclusion: aromatase inhibitors are more effective in preventing breast cancer from coming back. Patients using aromatase inhibitors had more than a 3 percent lower cancer recurrence 6-8 years after diagnosis, compared to women using tamoxifen alone.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Research In Magnetic Semiconductors Leading to Advances in Computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VbOnJML5nYo/081209100836.htm
The fast pace of growing computing power could be sustained for many years to come with new advances in magnetic semiconductors.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
God Or Science? A Belief In One Weakens Positive Feelings For The Other
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BFDpLawIijI/081215121559.htm
A person's unconscious attitudes toward science and God may be fundamentally opposed, researchers report, depending on how religion and science are used to answer 'ultimate' questions such as how the universe began or the origin of life.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
'Wet' Early Universe: Water Vapor Detected At Record Distance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ywLLbmvODrU/081218122244.htm
Scientists have used the 100 m Effelsberg radio telescope to detect water at the greatest distance from Earth so far. The water vapor was discovered in a quasar which corresponds to a light travel time of 11.1 billion years, a time when the Universe was only a fifth of the age it is today. The water vapor is thought to exist in clouds of dust and gas that feed the supermassive black hole at the center of the distant quasar. The detection was later confirmed by high-resolution interferometric observations with the Expanded Very Large Array.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Breakthrough In Generating Novel Types Of Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yj4bmWea3G0/081218122156.htm
Scientists have for the first time developed a technique for generating novel types of rat and human stem cells with characteristics similar to mouse embryonic stem cells, currently the predominant type of stem cells used for creating animal models of human diseases in research. The technique potentially provides scientists with new sources of stem cells to develop drugs and treatments for human diseases.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Urbanization: 95% Of The World's Population Lives On 10% Of The Land
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_mUqtoeN-rU/081217192745.htm
A new global map measures urbanization from the new perspective of Travel Time to 8,500 Major Cities. The map fills an important gap in our understanding of economic, physical and even social connectivity.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Higher Levels Of Obesity-related Hormone Found In Patients With Psoriasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-h4nuoaEsNg/081215184202.htm
Patients with the skin disease psoriasis appear more likely to have higher levels of leptin (a hormone produced by fat cells that may contribute to obesity and other metabolic abnormalities) than persons without psoriasis, according to a new report.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
First Portable System Enabling In Situ Detection Of Cetacean Hearing Loss Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UYMlZGnUzVI/081217095602.htm
Marine scientists have developed the world’s first portable system for measuring cetacean hearing sensitivity.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
New Psychotherapy Has Potential To Treat Majority Of Cases Of Eating Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1lVGsgxqAhA/081215074404.htm
Researchers have developed a new form of psychotherapy that has been shown to have the potential to treat more than eight out of ten cases of eating disorders in adults, a new study reports.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
New World Post-pandemic Reforestation Helped Start Little Ice Age, Say Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q-OdJIsIXN4/081218094551.htm
The power of viruses is well documented in human history. Swarms of little viral Davids have repeatedly laid low the great Goliaths of human civilization, most famously in the devastating pandemics that swept the New World during European conquest and settlement. In recent years, there has been growing evidence to suggest that the effect of the pandemics in the Americas wasn't confined to killing indigenous peoples. Global climate appears to have been altered as well.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
New Therapy For Hepatitis C Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tq5CxCL79KM/081209052149.htm
Combination therapies similar to those used for HIV patients may be the best way of treating hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Botany: Nature's Shut-off Switch For Cellulose Production Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pzAd0ktkbso/081217190427.htm
Researchers found a mechanism that naturally shuts down cellulose production in plants, and learning how to keep that switch turned on may be key to enhancing biomass production for plant-based biofuels.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Nearly Three-quarters Of Youths With Diabetes Insufficient In Vitamin D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c-uWOos3bJY/081215121605.htm
Three-quarters of youths with type 1 diabetes were found to have insufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a new study -- findings that suggest children with the disease may need vitamin D supplementation to prevent bone fragility later in life.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Weather Forecasting: Mathematical Model Illuminates Polar Lows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J-sdEVLMULE/081212092054.htm
Scientists have developed a mathematical method that enables a reconstruction of the occurrence of small-scale polar storms -- so-called polar lows -- in the North Atlantic.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Depression, Anxiety Spur Poor Health Habits, Damaging Heart And Blood Vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q-qJUEBeGak/081215183949.htm
New research shows that many people who experience psychological distress also slip into poor health habits, particularly smoking and physical inactivity. Over several years, these two factors alone may account for nearly two-thirds of the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular illnesses in people with depression and anxiety.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Where Did Venus's Water Go?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PlX1BCQLr5c/081218094605.htm
Venus Express has made the first detection of an atmospheric loss process on Venus's day-side. Last year, the spacecraft revealed that most of the lost atmosphere escapes from the night-side. Together, these discoveries bring planetary scientists closer to understanding what happened to the water on Venus, which is suspected to have once been as abundant as on Earth.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Shedding Light On Cause Of Bowel Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mAaherh04oE/081208203928.htm
Scientists have uncovered vital clues about how to treat serious bowel disorders by studying the behavior of cells in the colon. Researchers believe a chemical messenger that is essential for developing a baby's gut in the womb could hold the key to new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Breakthrough In Understanding Development Of Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rbjXPM1PBVI/081217123829.htm
Finnish scientists have reported a breakthrough in understanding the development of type 1 diabetes. They discovered disturbances in lipid and amino acid metabolism in children who later progressed to type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. The alterations preceded the autoimmune response by months to years. The study may prompt new approaches for prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes in pre-autoimmune phase of the disease.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Between Dormancy And Self-renewal: Mouse Model Shows Blood Stem Cells In Action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hpe_xGzpdl0/081215074646.htm
Over a period of five years, scientists have created a genetically modified mouse in which the activity of the blood stem cells can be tracked. "This mouse was created from a single embryonic stem cell. We are able to observe its blood stem cells in detail and see when they divide, i.e., become active, and when they are dormant," said Dr Ernesto Bockamp of the Institute for Toxicology.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Data Mining Of Inpatient Records Reveals The Disease Pattern Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3H52bxBzwfw/081215074353.htm
A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is the first to show the full clinical picture of comorbid conditions associated with obstructive sleep apnea, quantify their frequency of occurrence and reveal their possible interrelationships.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Racial Gap Growing In Colorectal Cancer, Says New Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yYK4ERntueo/081215074358.htm
Despite unprecedented progress in reducing incidence and death rates from colorectal cancer, the gap between blacks and whites continues to grow, says a new report from the American Cancer Society.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Cough Medicine Ingredient Could Effectively Treat Prostate Cancer, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rbPF-6hU8kM/081219032647.htm
An ingredient used in a common cough suppressant may be useful in treating advanced prostate cancer. Researchers found that noscapine, which has been used in cough medication for nearly 50 years, reduced tumor growth in mice by 60 percent and limited the spread of tumors by 65 percent without causing harmful side effects.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Earth Not Center Of The Universe, Surrounded By 'Dark Energy'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PGHGji29B1Y/081219032649.htm
Earth's location in the Universe is utterly unremarkable, despite recent theories that propose toppling a foundation of modern cosmology, according to a team of University of British Columbia researchers.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Replicating Milgram: Most People Will Administer Shocks When Prodded By 'Authority Figure'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZMhNh74E1Js/081219032645.htm
Nearly 50 years after one of the most controversial behavioral experiments in history, a social psychologist has found that people are still just as willing to administer what they believe are painful electric shocks to others when urged on by an authority figure.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Lean Muscle Mass Helps Even Obese Patients Battle Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WtgziqaihBs/081217124424.htm
Lean muscle-mass may give even obese people an advantage in battling cancer, a new study shows.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Scientists Probe Limits Of 'Cancer Stem-cell Model'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YJ-n0SDUZXw/081203131037.htm
One of the most promising new ideas about the causes of cancer, known as the cancer stem-cell model, must be reassessed because it is based largely on evidence from a laboratory test that is surprisingly flawed when applied to some cancers, researchers have concluded.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Novel Basis Identified For Tamoxifen Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RAqKjUlINfA/081203201330.htm
Tamoxifen may worsen breast cancer in a small subset of patients. New research suggests that in patients who show reduced or absent expression of the protein E-cadherin, commonly used anti-estrogen drugs such as tamoxifen may promote more harmful cancer cell behavior.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Cellular Senescence A Double-edged Sword
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jJW8zVvYhMQ/081203184922.htm
Scientists have shown that cellular senescence, the process by which biological cells stop dividing in response to stress or damage to their DNA, triggers the secretion of proteins that cause inflammation in neighboring cells and tissue. Inflammation is linked to almost every major disease associated with aging, including many cancers.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Online Register Created To Flag Scientific Papers That May Be Tainted By Fraud Or Misconduct
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mZ1vWzZqHHQ/081217075134.htm
A group of French research students is launching an online register to flag up scientific papers that have been tainted by fraud and other types of scientific misconduct. Once a fraudulent paper has been published it is very difficult to remove it. Journals can retract articles from their online databases but libraries all over the world are stocked with printed journals that cannot be recalled.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Tiny Magnetic Crystals In Bacteria Are A Compass, Say Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U48joWJgfCc/081216201412.htm
Scientists have shown that tiny crystals found inside bacteria provide a magnetic compass to help them navigate through sediment to find the best food.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
Autism And Schizophrenia Share Common Origin, Review Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U5qYsZObuZw/081216114746.htm
The first month of pregnancy forms the basis for disrupted development that can have life-long implications. Schizophrenia and autism probably share a common origin, hypothesizes researchers following an extensive literature study. A developmental psychologist has demonstrated that both mental diseases have similar physical abnormalities which are formed during the first month of pregnancy. For example, both autistics and schizophrenics sometimes have protruding ears and peculiar toes.

Fri, 19 Dec 08
New Research Into Fair-weather Clouds Important In Climate Predictions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zo3UfPzTfuk/081208114258.htm
New research has led to better understanding of clouds, the unknown quantity in current climate models. Scientists have tackled this issue with a combination of detailed computer simulations and airplane measurements. They have charted data including cloud speed, temperature and the "life span" of clouds.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
What Came Before The Big Bang? Interpreting Asymmetry In Early Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oeXCZMvdscY/081216131106.htm
The Big Bang is widely considered to have obliterated any trace of what came before. Now, astrophysicists think that their new theoretical interpretation of an imprint from the earliest stages of the universe may also shed light on what came before.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Genetic Change Extends Mouse Life, Points To Possible Treatment For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UK7tzhW1t0g/081209221515.htm
There are many ways to die, but amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease must be one of the worst. By the time a patient notices muscle weakness, the neurons that control the muscles have already begun dying, in an untreatable process that brings death within two to five years.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Wave Energy: New System Captures Significantly More Wave Energy Than Existing Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tuECubhtKTA/081216114102.htm
Scientists have designed a pilot-scale device that will capture significantly more of the energy in ocean waves than existing systems, and have used it to power an electricity-generating turbine.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Interactive Gene 'Networks' May Predict If Leukemia Is Aggressive Or Slow-growing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mXvrzUj64Yk/081208180435.htm
Rather than testing for individual marker genes or proteins, researchers have evidence that groups, or networks, of interactive genes may be more reliable in determining the likelihood that a form of leukemia is fast-moving or slow-growing.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Tracking Community-wide Drug Use By Testing Water At Sewage Treatment Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TJrAQzY-J1g/081215151237.htm
Scientists in Oregon and Washington State are reporting the development and successful testing of a new method for determining the extent of illicit drug use in entire communities from water flushed down toilets that enters municipal wastewater treatment plants.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Slippery Slope: One Tiny Truffle Can Trigger Desire For More Treats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WkaxoW8JjTU/081215111431.htm
Indulging in just one small chocolate truffle can induce cravings for more sugary and fatty foods -- and even awaken a desire for high-end status products, according to a new study.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Global Warming Impacts On U.S. Coming Sooner Than Expected, Report Predicts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TGaG9VgIfHI/081216201404.htm
A new report provides insights on the potential for abrupt climate change and the effects it could have on the United States, identifying key concerns that include faster-than-expected loss of sea ice, rising sea levels and a possibly permanent state of drought in the American West.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Long-term Memory Disrupted Genetically In Fruit Flies; Drug Found To Help Them Regain Memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y4n62ttK49A/081210131044.htm
A pediatric neuroscientist has shown that genetically disrupting a specific gene in a fruit fly's brain will wipe out its long-term memory. The researcher has also found a class of drugs that helps fruit flies with this disrupted gene to regain their memories. The news is significant for humans, because the gene, Fragile X Mental Retardation, malfunctions in people with intellectual disabilities and there are currently no clinically available treatments.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Girls Have Superior Sense Of Taste To Boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZhDroOFXPJI/081216104035.htm
The findings of the world's largest study so far on the ability of children and young people to taste and what they like have now been published. Findings include: girls have a better sense of taste than boys; every third child of school age prefers soft drinks which are not sweet;

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Clinical Trial Demonstrates Safety Of Pre-transplant Expansion Of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mTCDE6_EM2s/081208180425.htm
Taking blood stem cells collected from an umbilical cord into the lab and expanding their number before transplanting them to replace a patient's blood supply is as safe as a standard cord blood transplant, researchers have reported.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Evolutionary Roots Of Ancient Bacteria May Open New Line Of Attack On Cystic Fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/op45cNM6ssM/081216133432.htm
The redox-active pigments responsible for the blue-green stain of the mucus that clogs the lungs of children and adults with cystic fibrosis are primarily signaling molecules that allow large clusters of the opportunistic infection agent, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to organize themselves into structured communities.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Truth About Give And Take In Social Situations: The More You Take The More You Lose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OxjO8x6mKiU/081217074906.htm
In everyday social exchanges, being mean to people has a lot more impact than being nice, research has shown. Feeling slighted can have a bigger difference on how a person responds than being the recipient of perceived generosity, even if the net value of the social transaction is the same, the research on reciprocity -- giving and taking -- shows.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Did Early Global Warming Divert A New Glacial Age?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lbc82ckKEmY/081217190433.htm
The common wisdom is that the invention of the steam engine and the advent of the coal-fueled industrial age marked the beginning of human influence on global climate.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
New Genetic Cause Of Boy In The Bubble Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5iTACgzpaNE/081215183951.htm
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an inherited disease sometimes known as "boy in the bubble syndrome," because the patient lacks one or more type of immune cell, making them very susceptible to infections. Researchers have now identified a new genetic cause of SCID characterized by a lack of T cells and B cells. Specifically, they have identified a patient who has a mutation in the gene DNA-PKcs.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
New Explanation For Migration Of Volcanic Activity On Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7PTTMiqOX8A/081215121607.htm
A new study indicates a moving, shell-like plate encapsulating Mars may explain explains the volcanic activity in the Tharsis Rise region of the 'red planet.'

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Biologists Spy Close-up View Of Poliovirus Linked To Host Cell Receptor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3fhPA3Xbgck/081208180341.htm
Researchers have determined the precise atomic-scale structure of the poliovirus attached to key receptor molecules in human host cells and also have taken a vital snapshot of processes leading to infection.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Hi-tech Vaccine Designed By Students Shows Promise Against Ulcer Causing Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ra49sghblwA/081209130255.htm
Almost half of the world population is infected with bacteria Helicobacter pylori which colonizes stomach, causing gastritis and ulcers and is recognized by WHO as a type I carcinogen. Current antibacterial treatment, implemented after the seminal discovery that H. pylori infection is the underlying cause of ulcers, which brought the discoverers the Nobel Prize in 2005, requires combination of at least three different drugs to eliminate bacteria.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Sedative And Analgesic Drugs Can Have Profound Negative Effects On Young Brains, Mouse Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wnwZie2-skA/081211141936.htm
A large proteomics study on the brains of newborn mice provides more evidence that sedative and analgesic drugs often used in obstetric or pediatric medicine can have profound and long-term negative effects, even after minimal exposure.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Beaked Whales’ Tusks Evolved Through Sexual Selection Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x2VGxNZ6Pj0/081216205707.htm
For years, scientists have wondered why only males of the rarely seen family of beaked whales have "tusks," since they are squid-eaters and in many of the species, these elaborately modified teeth seem to actually interfere with feeding.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Smoking Associated With Increased Risk For Colorectal Cancer And Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0QAVX3nIK3o/081216161050.htm
An analysis of previous studies indicates that smoking is significantly associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer and death, according to a new article.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Why Did The London Millennium Bridge 'Wobble'?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gzYWCpb5ufo/081216201406.htm
A new study finally explains the Millennium Bridge 'wobble' by looking at how humans stay balanced while walking.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Occurrence Of Major Eye Disease Projected To Increase Among Patients With Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JX9uIPF-3Ok/081208180331.htm
Based on projected increases in the prevalence of diabetes, the number of people with diabetes-related retinal disease, with glaucoma and with cataracts is estimated to increase significantly by 2050.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Natural Product Useful In Developing New Drug To Treat Devastating Parasitic Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sISjhLlUUK8/081216161054.htm
Compounds derived from a natural product can be used in developing a new drug to treat leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Financial Incentives Appear Effective For Short-term Weight Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EPvXq1A6_WE/081209221511.htm
A preliminary study suggests that economic incentives appear to be effective for achieving short-term weight loss.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Ocean Acidification Could Have Broad Effects On Marine Ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RwHKlxK1R0o/081217190334.htm
Concern about increasing ocean acidification has often focused on its potential effects on coral reefs, but broader disruptions of biological processes in the oceans may be more significant, according to a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and an expert in coral reef ecology and marine biodiversity.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Unpasteurized Milk Poses Health Risks Without Benefits, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/chvchvXLNXQ/081216161100.htm
With disease outbreaks linked to unpasteurized milk rising in the United States, a review in Clinical Infectious Diseases examines the dangers of drinking raw milk.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Work With Fungus Uncovering Keys To DNA Methylation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-EfV51J4JZU/081215091009.htm
Researchers have made progress on understanding biochemical communications among proteins involved in gene silencing. They have shed more light on the mechanism that regulates DNA methylation, a fundamental biological process in which a methyl group is attached to DNA, the genetic material in cells of living organisms.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Anti-clotting Drug Thins Risk To Pregnancy And Surgery Patients With Blood Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rpHbWyqqBso/081208180439.htm
Pregnancy and surgery patients with a serious blood disorder that causes excessive clotting have responded well to treatment with a man-made anti-clotting protein.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Computational Tool To Untangle Complex Data Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cTeyeTNzxOI/081216131022.htm
Researchers have developed a mathematical tool that can be used to unscramble the underlying structure of time-dependent, interrelated data, like the votes of legislators over their careers, second-by-second activity of the stock market, or levels of oxygenated blood flow in the brain.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Epilepsy Drugs: Doctors Raise Questions, Concerns About FDA Suicide Warning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tX2dZtdbV0g/081209125826.htm
Among the doctors' concerns is that news reports of the FDA's analyses have confused patients and, perhaps, some physicians on the risks associated with epilepsy drugs. They cite data showing that the risk of suicide possibly associated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is extremely small compared to the potential danger of leaving patients untreated. Also of concern is that epilepsy patients prone to suicidal ideation or behavior will be excluded from clinical trials of new AEDs.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
New Anti-cancer Components Of Extra-virgin Olive Oil Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zMr_6xsQESo/081217192815.htm
Good quality extra-virgin olive oil contains health-relevant chemicals, ‘phytochemicals’, that can trigger cancer cell death. New research sheds more light on the suspected association between olive oil-rich Mediterranean diets and reductions in breast cancer risk.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Moon’s Polar Craters Could Be The Place To Find Lunar Ice, Scientists Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/szd6WFuFNtQ/081217192743.htm
Scientists have discovered where they believe would be the best place to find ice on the moon.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Stem-cells Drug Testing Predicted To Boom Under Obama
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oQe-Oa4x8vY/081217192741.htm
Embryonic stem cells could provide a new way of testing drugs for dangerous side effects. Since researchers are able to make unlimited human heart cells from embryonic stem cells, they may offer a viable and scientifically exciting alternative. Barack Obama is an ardent supporter of stem cell research.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
European First As ALICE Achieves Energy Recovery At 11 Million Volts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Xzn4MHWqrA/081216114433.htm
Scientists have successfully demonstrated energy recovery on the ALICE advanced particle accelerator design, potentially paving the way for new accelerators using a fraction of the energy required under conventional methods.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Cosmic Rays Do Not Explain Global Warming, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3P-B_d0CDzE/081217075138.htm
A new study supports earlier findings by stating that changes in cosmic rays most likely do not contribute to climate change.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
From Mother To Daughters: A Central Mystery In Cell Division Solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NJNkT0PCmG0/081209100942.htm
Researchers have identified a key step required for cell division in a study that could help improve therapies to treat cancer. Their work describing the mechanism of the contractile ring -- a structure that pinches the mother cell into two daughter cells -- has been published in the journal Science.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Answers To Huge Wind-farm Problems Are Blowin' In The Wind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wQi0yLUG1jg/081216104307.htm
While harnessing more energy from the wind could help satisfy growing demands for electricity and reduce emissions of global-warming gases, turbulence from proposed wind farms could adversely affect the growth of crops in the surrounding countryside.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Biomarkers In Blood Could Aid Diagnosis Of Crippling, Often Fatal Forms Of Malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vXVZh4P_xS0/081207195909.htm
Researchers have identified protein biomarkers that may let doctors detect earlier two crippling malaria variations -- one that develops in the placenta of pregnant women affecting countless unborn children, the other, cerebral malaria, that develops in the brain's blood vessels -- malaria's most deadly form.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
New System Can Improve Video-sharing Web Sites Like YouTube
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G5jFU_9Y_bY/081208114308.htm
As video sharing websites like YouTube continue to grow in popularity, so do challenges around proper labeling of videos and monitoring for copyright infractions. But one student from the University of Toronto has created a framework that can improve the efficiency of such websites and cut down on copyright infringement.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
I'm A Believer: Some Product Claims Work Better Than Others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6x08tosC4Xs/081215111311.htm
Consumers face a barrage of product claims each day. What makes those claims believable? A new study says both marketers and consumers can benefit from information about the way people process product claims.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Astronomers Use Ultra-sensitive Camera To Measure Size Of Planet Orbiting Star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iEOYKTOzwE8/081211112223.htm
A team of astronomers has used a new technique to measure the precise size of a planet around a distant star. They used a camera so sensitive that it could detect the passage of a moth in front of a lit window from a distance of 1,000 miles.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Possible Clues To Root Of Epilepsy, Autism, Schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a_L11e_NT2c/081209100950.htm
Researchers have found a potential clue to the roots of epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Mars Orbiter Completes First Phase Of Science Mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y2bjP7OpMJM/081215213130.htm
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has completed its primary, two-year science phase. The spacecraft has found signs of a complex Martian history of climate change that produced a diversity of past watery environments.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Genetic Signature Predicts Outcome Of Pediatric Liver Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bgqFty1yr7E/081208123247.htm
Scientists have identified a genetic signature that is remarkably effective at predicting the prognosis of an aggressive liver cancer in children. The research, published by Cell Press in the December issue of the journal Cancer Cell, may lead to better treatments for pediatric liver cancers.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Implantable Monitor May Help In Managing Diastolic Heart Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sjVA69P2BD8/081211112006.htm
An implantable hemodynamic monitor may help to guide medical treatment in a large subgroup of patients with heart failure: those with diastolic heart failure.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
We've Got Your Number: Consumers Choose Products With More Technical Specs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HrVrCVsxBhk/081215111429.htm
Many products have numbers attached: megapixels for cameras, wattage ratings for stereos, cotton counts for sheets. A new study shows that consumers are heavily influenced by quantitative specifications, even meaningless ones.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
Seeing The Shape Of Material Around Black Holes For First Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QCvbC5zUBOw/081216104311.htm
After culling the literature for observed black holes, astronomers looked at 245 active galactic nuclei to characterize the shape of material swirling around them. The result: active galactic nuclei look like donuts, funneling from a dark center. This observation should constrain theories about how the material around black holes is produced and eventually allow scientists to study black holes themselves.

Thu, 18 Dec 08
New Medication Brings Hope Of Jet Lag Cure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yaTGXOp_gAA/081208212901.htm
Researchers have found a new drug with the potential to alleviate jet lag and sleep disorders caused by shift work.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Biggest Breach Of Earth's Solar Storm Shield Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JJZNvQ7gjL8/081216161147.htm
Earth's magnetic field, which shields our planet from particles streaming outward from the Sun, often develops two holes that allow the largest leaks, according to researchers sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
New Way Men Can Transmit HIV To Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G7UmJiqlCpg/081216133436.htm
Researchers have discovered a critical new way a man can transmit the HIV virus to a woman. Scientists had long believed that the normal lining of the female vaginal tract was an effective barrier to invasion of the HIV virus during sexual intercourse. But new research has shown for the first time that the HIV virus does indeed penetrate a woman's normal, healthy genital tissue to a depth were it can gain access to its immune cell targets.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Engineers Developing Energy-harvesting Radios
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VnovzZUocrQ/081216114104.htm
Engineers are helping a semiconductor manufacturer implement its idea of an energy-harvesting radio. It could transmit important data -- like stress measurements on a bridge, for instance -- without needing a change of batteries, ever.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Protein That Contributes To Cancer Spread Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E8WfDonN6xo/081208123251.htm
Researchers have identified a protein likely responsible for causing breast cancer to spread. Metastatic cancer occurs when cancer cells from the original tumor travel to distant sites via the blood system.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Starting High School One Hour Later May Reduce Teen Traffic Accidents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3bZRdYYgqec/081215074351.htm
With a one-hour delay of school start times, teens increased their average nightly hours of sleep and decreased their "catch-up sleep" on the weekends, and they were involved in fewer auto accidents.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Persistent Imminent Orgasms In Women Are Associated With Restless Legs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Bq23Nq7gtA/081216115010.htm
Persistent imminent orgasms in women are associated with restless legs and overactive bladder. Scientists studied 18 Dutch women with Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome. Women affected by this rare and mysterious syndrome experience persistent genital sensations as if they are continuously on the verge of an orgasm. According to one of the researchers PSAS is a genital form of restless legs.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Dark Energy Found Stifling Growth In Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V_UY1wJ4iKs/081216133438.htm
For the first time, astronomers have clearly seen the effects of 'dark energy' on the most massive collapsed objects in the Universe. By tracking how dark energy has stifled the growth of galaxy clusters and combining this with previous studies, scientists have obtained the best clues ever about what dark energy is and what the destiny of the universe could be.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Low Dose Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Damage Heart Of Offspring For A Lifetime
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/be_jWHf989Y/081216133440.htm
The equivalent of one dose of caffeine (just two cups of coffee) ingested during pregnancy may be enough to affect fetal heart development and then reduce heart function over the entire lifespan of the child. The study was in mice, but the biological cause and effect described in the research paper is plausible in humans.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
'Follow The Elements' To Understand Evolution In Ancient Oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nWQVDg65jXc/081208102422.htm
In the search for life beyond Earth, scientists "follow the water" to find places that might be hospitable. However, every home gardener knows that plants need more than water, or even sunshine. They also need fertilizer: a mixture of chemical elements that are the building blocks of the molecules of life. Scientists are now studying how the distribution of these elements on Earth -- or beyond -- shapes the distribution of life, the state of the environment and the course of evolution.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Advance Toward Early Diagnosis Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3ySqh4wQbrA/081208085002.htm
Researchers in Finland are reporting identification of the first potential "biomarker" that could be used in development of a sputum test for early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That condition, which causes severe difficulty in breathing — most often in cigarette smokers — affects 12 million people in the United States.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
New 'Molecular Memory' Only 10 Atoms Thick: Massive Storage Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SU_pX5xvnhc/081121151719.htm
Researchers have determined that a strip of graphite only 10 atoms thick can serve as the basic element in a new type of memory, making massive amounts of storage available for computers, handheld media players, cell phones and cameras.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Ancestral History Explains Roots Of Income Inequality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iKNDDM1gHmg/081216114106.htm
Two economists have created a new data set that enables them to explain differences in countries' incomes based on their people's ancestral histories. They find that where the ancestors of a country's present population lived some 500 years ago is a significant predictor of economic outcomes today.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
New Species Of Prehistoric Giants Discovered In The Sahara
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wv7d9B88Qn4/081216114750.htm
Dinosaur hunters on a month-long expedition to the Sahara desert have returned home in time for Christmas with more than they ever dreamed of finding.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Synthetic Molecules Prevent HIV Virus From Reproducing Within The Body, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OtGsAx90LnM/081216114056.htm
Researchers have identified broad-spectrum aptamers. Aptamers are synthetic molecules that prevent the HIV virus from reproducing. In lab tests, aptamers known as RT5, RT6, RT47 and some variants of those were recently identified to be broad-spectrum, which would allow them to treat many subtypes of HIV-1. Now, researchers are gaining a better understanding of the biochemical characteristics that make aptamers broad-spectrum.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Mistaken Identity Leads Researchers To Two New Extinct Species Of Coral
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fHUjqmcQBDA/081208114304.htm
Scientists have made an unexpected discovery that links corals of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. A new species of fossil coral -- some 6 million years old -- has been found on the Island of Curaçao. The new species, originally thought to be an elkhorn coral was recently positively identified as a Pacific coral species.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Targeting By Degradation: A New Way Forward For Treating Leukemias?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cP3RvXxW4oA/081205213832.htm
Used with success for treating acute promyelocytic leukemias, retinoic acid and arsenic oxide induce the differentiation of malignant cells. Is this differentiation responsible for the eradication of the disease? Researchers have managed to prove that this is not the case: the remissions are above all linked to the disappearance of the malignant stem cells responsible for the leukemia.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Climate Change: A Dark Future For Migratory Fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8eHwFyITaTA/081212143527.htm
In Europe, most migratory fish species completing their cycle between the sea and the river are currently in danger. Although restoration programs have been set up, the future distribution of these species may be modified because of climate change.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
When It's More Than The 'Terrible Twos'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cQtWskYpLZA/081209125925.htm
Could those toddler tantrums be a sign of a more serious developmental problem? A researcher explains more about regressive autistic spectrum disorder, which describes children who have been diagnosed with autism who demonstrate a history of a losing language and social skills they once had.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Ancient Magma 'Superpiles' May Have Shaped The Continents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BvgzalkiguA/081215184306.htm
Two giant plumes of hot rock deep within the earth are linked to the plate motions that shape the continents, researchers have found. The two superplumes, one beneath Hawaii and the other beneath Africa, have likely existed for at least 200 million years, explained a professor of earth sciences.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Vitamin B1 Could Reverse Early-stage Kidney Disease In Diabetes Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BXY7ErvtEs4/081208092149.htm
High doses of thiamine -- vitamin B1 -- can reverse the onset of early diabetic kidney disease, according to new research.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Why A Virus With Unusual Properties Injects Unusual Substance Into E. Coli Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tyMqzX0v73s/081208140200.htm
A team of researchers has uncovered clues that may explain how and why a particular virus, called N4, injects an unusual substance -- an RNA polymerase protein -- into an E. coli bacterial cell. The results contribute to improved understanding of the infection strategies used by viruses that attack bacterial cells and they also may help researchers to devise new ways to kill E. coli bacteria, which can be dangerous to humans.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Prostate Cancer Drug Reduces Testosterone Levels In As Little As Three Days Without Initial Hormone Surge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sgvm76qE5IQ/081203084519.htm
More than 95 per cent of men who took degarelix for prostate cancer saw their testosterone levels fall dramatically as early as three days after they started treatment, according to a new article.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
New Movement Models Tested In Panama
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GEAnzYbRPcY/081201200117.htm
New, movement models for organisms as diverse as gut bacteria, ants, marine larvae and cheetahs include tree seed dispersal model and animal tracking systems tested in Panama.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Electronic Prescribing System May Encourage Physicians To Choose Lower-cost Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RxW3Q2PRfHQ/081208180244.htm
Clinicians using an electronic prescribing system appear more likely to prescribe lower-cost medications, reducing drug spending, according to a new report.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
United States Death Map Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOkj6sngCa4/081216201408.htm
A map of natural hazard mortality in the United States has been produced. The map gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying as the result of natural events such as floods, earthquakes or extreme weather.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Unintentional Overdose Deaths Associated With Nonmedical Use Of Prescription Pain Relievers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6zMO72VLQHA/081209221509.htm
An examination of unintentional overdose deaths in West Virginia, a state that has experienced one of the highest increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths, finds that the majority of these were associated with the nonmedical use and diversion of pharmaceuticals, primarily pain relievers, according to a new study.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Loggerhead Turtle Territories Defined By Salinity of Sea Water In Western Mediterranean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8wIzi2mw_iw/081203095425.htm
Researchers have shown that the salinity of sea water could act as a "barrier", preventing the turtles from moving between the areas of the Western Mediterranean. This is why loggerhead turtles from the south and north of the Western Mediterranean do not mix as juveniles. This finding could help in the development of measures to protect this migratory species.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Some Blood-system Stem Cells Reproduce More Slowly Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s_S7kAguZ_Y/081205171001.htm
Investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital have found a subpopulation of hematopoietic stem cells, the source of all blood and immune system cells, that reproduce much more slowly than previously anticipated. Use of these cells may improve the outcome of stem cell transplants -- also called bone marrow transplants -- for the treatment of leukemia and other marrow-based diseases.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Biofuel Plantations On Tropical Forestlands Are Bad For The Climate And Biodiversity, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jvroQ_O7NQ4/081201105657.htm
Keeping tropical rain forests intact is a better way to combat climate change than replacing them with biofuel plantations, a study in the journal Conservation Biology finds.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Siblings Of Mentally Disabled Face Own Lifelong Challenges, According To Researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dhM9Tdn8I00/081209111522.htm
People who have a sibling with a mental illness are more likely to suffer episodes of depression at some point in their lives, say researchers who analyzed four decades of data.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Ocean-bearing Planets: Looking For Extraterrestrial Life In All The Right Places
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KW3c_LC1ENE/081215091011.htm
Scientists are expanding the search for extraterrestrial life -- and they've set their sights on some very unearthly planets. Cold 'super-Earths' -- giant, "snowball" planets that astronomers have spied on the outskirts of faraway solar systems -- could potentially support some kind of life, they have found. Such planets are plentiful; experts estimate that one-third of all solar systems contain super-Earths.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Virus Discovery Could Lead To Vaccine For West Nile Virus And Dengue Fever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/57G-J1H0VHM/081211112225.htm
New research could contribute to the development of a vaccine and cure for West Nile virus and Dengue fever.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Hawaii's Bird Family Tree Rearranged
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mfyc4F1Y9SI/081211121827.htm
A group of five endemic Hawaiian songbird species were historically classified as "honeyeaters" due to striking similarities to birds of the same name in Australasia. Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution, however, have discovered that the Hawaiian birds share no close relationship with the other honeyeaters and in fact represent a new family of birds -- unfortunately, all members of the new family are extinct, with the last species of the group disappearing about 20 years ago.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Medication Used To Reduce Nausea Following Tonsillectomies Linked With Increased Risk Of Bleeding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WYuZtug3CDs/081209221513.htm
Use of the steroid medication dexamethasone is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting after tonsillectomies for children, but also is associated with an increased risk of postoperative bleeding, according to a new study.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Method Sorts Out Double-walled Carbon Nanotube Problem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T6FsOKhEda8/081214190949.htm
It's hard to study something with any rigor if the subject can't be produced uniformly and efficiently. Researchers who study double-walled carbon nanotubes find themselves in just this predicament. The problem is that current techniques for synthesizing double-walled carbon nanotubes also produce unwanted single- and multi-walled nanotubes. Researchers now offer a clever solution: They used a technique called density gradient ultracentrifugation to cleanly and easily separate the double-walled nanotubes from the undesirables.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Filling In The Gaps: Personality Types Lead People To Choose Certain Brands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ShUHZ0ZbiJA/081215111437.htm
Why do Gap brand jeans appeal to people who seek intimacy in relationships? It may be a result of their upbringing. According to a new study, people's relationship styles can affect their brand choices.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Tiny Ecosystem May Shed Light On Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ws1Ev7s1eLE/081215121555.htm
Rsearchers have created a microbial ecosystem smaller than a stick of gum that sheds new light on the plankton-eat-plankton world at the bottom of the aquatic food chain. The work may lead to better predictions of marine microbes' global-scale influence on climate.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Light Shines For Potential Early Cancer Diagnosis Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c_hrEgoNJQg/081211093555.htm
Scientists have developed a new optical technique that holds promise for minimally invasive screening methods for the early diagnosis of cancer. The researchers have shown for the first time that nanoscale changes are present in cells extremely early on in carcinogenesis. Their simple yet sensitive technique can detect subtle abnormal changes in human colon cancer cells even when those same cells appear normal using conventional microscopy.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Over 1,000 Species Discovered In The Greater Mekong In Past Decade
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i-0Rcy8qbkQ/081215111309.htm
A rat thought extinct for 11 million years and a hot-pink, cyanide-producing dragon millipede are among a thousand new species discovered in the Greater Mekong Region of Southeast Asia in the last decade, according to a new report by World Wildlife Fund. First Contact in the Greater Mekong reports that 1,068 species were discovered or newly identified by science between 1997 and 2007 -- which averages two new species a week.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Diabetes Drug Shows Potential For Treating One Cause Of Chronic Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZkW3IuhOuo0/081210180839.htm
The antidiabetes drug rosiglitazone may have the potential to protect kidney function in patients with a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, according to a new study. The phase I clinical findings indicate that the drug warrants further study in phase II and phase III trials.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Viewing Cancer Cells In 'Real' Time: Spotlights Tumor’s Microenvironment In Living Mouse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u42FQ5aPnLw/081215140928.htm
A breakthrough technique that allows scientists to view individually-labeled tumor cells as they move about in real time in a live mouse may enable scientists to develop microenvironment-specific drugs against cancer.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Once Upon A Time, Scales Were Displayed In Parlors, Not Hidden In Bathrooms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fCqRXOGLgOU/081212092058.htm
Stepping onto a scale after a calorie-filled holiday season isn't an activity many 21st-century Americans relish. But in the late 19th century, scales were all the rage at festive gatherings -- the 1800s' answer to Guitar Hero. "A family would think it fun to weigh themselves before and after a big holiday dinner to see how much they had gained," said Deborah I. Levine, Ph.D. "Knowing your weight was a novelty, a kind of parlor trick."

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Goose Eggs May Help Polar Bears Weather Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OTCals81y0I/081215111303.htm
Polar bears -- especially the marginal individuals like some sub-adult males -- could adapt to changes in ice and the ability to hunt seals by eating snow goose eggs. According to new calculations, bear movement should coordinate more and more with nesting as the Arctic warms, especially near Hudson Bay.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Neither Vitamin C Or E Associated With Reduced Risk Of Prostate Cancer, Or Other Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BJfD-8JVSx8/081209221507.htm
In a major cancer prevention study, long-term supplementation with vitamin E or C did not reduce the risk of prostate or other cancers for nearly 15,000 male physicians.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Brain Enzyme May Play Key Role In Controlling Appetite And Weight Gain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NFmr3iQZmWY/081212141845.htm
An enzyme in the hypothalamus appears to regulate feeding behavior. Researchers have found that overactivity of a brain enzyme may play a role in preventing weight gain and obesity.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Use Weights, Not Aerobics, To Ease Back Pain, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XgWYEE2CnQM/081211141848.htm
People who use weight training to ease their lower back pain are better off than those who choose other forms of exercise such as jogging.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Toxic Brown Recluse Spiders Pose Danger As They Look To Move In For The Winter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rnTRZt_7txc/081215121557.htm
As the cold weather creeps in, so do brown recluse spiders. True to their name, the brown recluse is a shy, reclusive spider looking for a warm home. Drawn to clutter, closets and complex storage environments, the spiders actually want to stay away from humans. But, if care is not taken, people could find themselves sharing their home with one of 'the big three,' according to entomologists. Often, bites occur when a person puts on a jacket or clothing that has a brown recluse spider inside, according to experts.

Wed, 17 Dec 08
Experienced Pilots May Be At Risk Of DNA Damage From Ionizing Radiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dzf7rQyJU18/081210205048.htm
Airline pilots who have flown for many years may be at risk of DNA damage from prolonged exposure to cosmic ionizing radiation, suggests a study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Boundary Between Earth's Upper Atmosphere And Space Has Moved To Extraordinarily Low Altitudes, NASA Instruments Document
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1XepcB6sudc/081215121601.htm
Observations made by NASA instruments onboard an Air Force satellite have shown that the boundary between the Earth's upper atmosphere and space has moved to extraordinarily low altitudes.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Nanotubes Sniff Out Cancer Agents In Living Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N-2fsNuJWek/081214190951.htm
MIT Engineers have developed carbon nanotubes into sensors for cancer drugs and other DNA-damaging agents inside living cells.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Rare Lead Bars Discovered Off The Coast Of Ibiza May Be Carthaginian Munitions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zEQU2EbAp78/081215074650.htm
Archaeologists have recovered three lead bars which may originate from the third century before Christ, 39 meters under the sea off the north coast of Ibiza. One of the bars has Iberian characters on it. The lead originates from the mines of Sierra Morena in southern Spain.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Charting HIV's Rapidly Changing Journey In The Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gfFjmckHpT0/081211200312.htm
HIV is so deadly largely because it evolves so rapidly. With a single virus as the origin of an infection, most patients will quickly come to harbor thousands of different versions of HIV, all a little bit different and all competing with one another to most efficiently infect that person's cells. Now scientists have settled a longstanding question about just how HIV morphs in the body.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Graphical Models: New Mathematical Tool Could Unpick Complex Cancer Causes And Help Sociologists Mine Facebook
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YbU804mU17U/081215074648.htm
Researchers have devised a new research tool that could help unpick the complex cell interactions that lead to cancer and also allow social scientists to mine social networking sites such as Facebook for useful insights.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Parents Be Aware This Holiday Season: Magnets In Children's Toys Pose Significant Health Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dCacRvlEx-4/081210103039.htm
A growing number of adults know about the potential risk of swallowing magnets, but medical complications from magnets continue to be extensive worldwide and throughout childhood.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Titan's Volcanoes Give NASA Spacecraft Chilly Reception
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JIGA8n-eHK4/081215194108.htm
Data collected during several recent flybys of Titan by NASA's Cassini spacecraft have put another arrow in the quiver of scientists who think the Saturnian moon contains active cryovolcanoes spewing a super-chilled liquid into its atmosphere. The information was released today during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, Calif.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Single Adult Stem Cell Can Self Renew, Repair Tissue Damage In Live Mammal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c6Dw5c9ePVA/081214190945.htm
The first demonstration that a single adult stem cell can self renew in a mammal was reported by scientists. The transplanted adult stem cell and its differentiated descendants restored lost function to mice with hind limb muscle tissue damage.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Ocean Fish Farming Harms Wild Fish, Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cja7xjfrNqY/081215091017.htm
Farming of fish in ocean cages is fundamentally harmful to wild fish, according to an essay in this week's Conservation Biology. Using basic physics, the author explains how farm fish cause nearby wild fish to decline. The foundation of his paper is that higher density of fish promotes infection, and infection lowers the fitness of the fish.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Cellular Stress Causes Fatty Liver Disease In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D_Slt3xkK9c/081208123255.htm
Researchers have discovered a direct link between disruption of a critical cellular housekeeping process and fatty liver disease, a condition that causes fat to accumulate in the liver. The findings might open new avenues for understanding and perhaps treating fatty liver disease, which is the most common form of liver disease in the Western world.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Greenland's Glaciers Losing Ice Faster This Year Than Last Year, Which Was Record-setting Itself
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MBbI1r--1vo/081215091015.htm
Researchers watching the loss of ice flowing out from the giant island of Greenland say that the amount of ice lost this summer is nearly three times what was lost one year ago. The loss of floating ice in 2008 pouring from Greenland's glaciers would cover an area twice the size of Manhattan Island in the US, they said.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Overweight Children At Increased Risk Of Arm And Leg Injuries Following Motor Vehicle Crash
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/35PUXpiwr5E/081210090810.htm
Children who are overweight or obese are over two and a half times more likely to suffer injuries to their upper and lower extremities following a motor vehicle crash compared with normal weight children, according to a report.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Warming Climate Signals Big Changes For Ski Areas, Says New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N0qyAYgEtag/081215121632.htm
Rocky Mountain ski areas face dramatic changes this century as the climate warms, including best-case scenarios of shortened ski seasons and higher snowlines and worst-case scenarios of bare base areas and winter rains, says a new Colorado study.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Premature Aging Disease: Gene Discovery To Clinical Trial Of Potential Treatment, All Done In Just 5 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b8bRhF_kDNI/081214190947.htm
Progeria, premature aging disease of children, is rare, fatal. One of the fastest translations of a basic research discovery into a promising clinical trial for an "untreatable" and fatal disorder will be discussed at the American Society for Cell Biology's annual meeting in San Francisco.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
New Hybrid Nanostructures Detect Nanoscale Magnetism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7k50mzlJCxM/081208140202.htm
Researchers have created a new process for growing a single multi-walled carbon nanotube that is embedded with cobalt nanostructures. Using this new hybrid material, the team determined that the electrical conductance of MWCNTs is sensitive enough to detect and be affected by trace amounts of magnetic activity. It is believed to be the first instance of demonstrating the detection of magnetic fields of such small magnets using an individual carbon nanotube.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Half-dose Flu Shot Appears To Produce Immune Response In Young, Healthy Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oNBZNMbs330/081208180240.htm
Individuals younger than 50 who have been previously vaccinated do not appear to have a substantially different immune response to a half-dose of influenza vaccine than to a full dose, according to a new report. This suggests that half-dose vaccination in healthy young individuals may be effective in times of vaccine shortage.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Molecules In The Spotlight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4JdQL3UnHv8/081212101539.htm
A novel x-ray technique allowing the observation of molecular motion on a time scale never reached before has just been developed. This discovery opens promising prospects for the study of chemical and biological systems.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Under-reported Dementia Deaths Raises Questions About Accuracy Of Mortality Statistics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KWrx85qmFKA/081210171914.htm
Deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer's disease are underreported on death certificates, according to a new study, raising concerns about the accuracy of mortality statistics based on these documents.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Solar Flare Surprise: Stream Of Perfectly Intact Hydrogen Atoms Detected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rirfj1pfaIg/081215121609.htm
Solar flares are the most powerful explosions in the solar system. Packing a punch equal to a hundred million hydrogen bombs, they obliterate everything in their immediate vicinity. Not a single atom should remain intact. At least that's how it's supposed to work.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
New Mechanism For Attentional Control In The Human Brain Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/llDntMlNsgQ/081215091021.htm
A new study in the journal Science reports the discovery of a new mechanism of attention in the human brain. Researchers also provides new insights into the workings of a stimulant-like drug that could have broad applications for enhancing the cognition of people with conditions ranging from autism to schizophrenia.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
UV-B Light Sensing Mechanism Discovered In Plant Roots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XQc8VBXl__E/081208180238.htm
Scientists have discovered that plant roots can sense UV-B light and have identified a specific gene that is a vital player in UV-B signaling, the communication between cells. The gene RUS1 measures UV-B light levels and passes this information on to other parts of the plant responsible for healthy development.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Key Mechanism That Occurs At Inception Point Of Many Human Lymphomas Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LPs0eAnKyww/081211141942.htm
Researchers have explained how certain key mutations occur in human lymphomas -- a process that has, until now, remained a mystery.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
The European Eel: To Migrate Or Not To Migrate In Freshwaters?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dw2uR2Ht_2Y/081212143531.htm
The European eel’s biology and ecology never cease to amaze us. At the elver stage, certain individuals swim up estuaries to grow in rivers, whereas others spend their entire life cycle at sea. In Bordeaux, researchers have looked into the origin of this divergence in migratory behavior. What if it was only a question of energy reserves and feeding behavior?

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Children With Diabetes At Increased Risk For Developing Eating Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xWPZiT9Uqlc/081210171916.htm
Children with diabetes are at an increased risk for developing eating disorders, and researchers want to know if it's their disease or treatment that's to blame.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
High Pesticide Levels Found In Fruit-based Drinks In Some Countries Outside United States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OHWxVaFyvWQ/081215151003.htm
In the first worldwide study of pesticides in fruit-based soft drinks, researchers in Spain are reporting relatively high levels of pesticides in drinks in some countries, especially the United Kingdom and Spain. Drinks sampled from the United States, however, had relatively low levels, the researchers note.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Late Preterm Births Present Serious Risks To Newborns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSjcSXV9-mc/081211081924.htm
More than half a million babies are born preterm in the United States each year, and preterm births are on the rise. Late preterm births, or births that occur between 34 and 36 weeks (approximately 4 to 6 weeks before the mother’s due date), account for more than 70% of preterm births. Despite the large number of affected babies, many people are unaware of the serious health problems related to late preterm births. A new study and an accompanying editorial soon to be published in The Journal of Pediatrics investigate the serious neurological problems associated with late preterm births.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Metabolic Reactions: Less Is More In Single-celled Organisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4IEuxBg69Ms/081205094616.htm
A new study of four single-celled organisms had some surprising results. The organisms, which differed in size and complexity of each organism's genome, used the same number of biochemical reactions when optimizing growth. And, contrary to what you might expect, each, to efficiently perform metabolic tasks such as growing fast or converting sugars to ethanol, tended to use only a small fraction of the biochemical reactions available to them in the metabolic network.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Good News For Young Male Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NrEaQ-G9kLY/081212081542.htm
Young men undergoing treatment for cancer often want to know how the disease and its treatment affect their chances of fathering healthy children. A new large-scale study shows that there is a slightly higher risk of deformities, but the actual risk of having a child with deformities is nevertheless extremely low.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Computer Scientists Launching Indoor Navigation System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LNiWfu56sFo/081212143529.htm
Now that navigation systems are here to stay, we can hardly imagine life without them. Aside from private use for getting about on roads, they play an essential role in air and ocean traffic, and even in rail transport for guiding and monitoring trains. Now researchers are developing positioning and navigation technologies to be used in the field of traffic logistics and for emergency services. What they are focusing on in particular is indoor positioning and navigation.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Rife In China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FTQD6LSM5wU/081210205044.htm
Levels of drug-resistant tuberculosis in China are nearly twice the global average. Nationwide research published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases has shown that almost 10 percent of Chinese TB cases are resistant to the most effective first-line drugs.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Practice As Well As Sleep May Help Birds Learn New Songs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ovqrZ6Vlooo/081214190957.htm
The reorganization of neural activity during sleep helps young songbirds to develop the vocal skills they display while awake. Practice, or auditory feedback, may also play a role in learning.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Gene Mutation Appears To Help Prevent Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZymjSlH-t98/081211141830.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Meiosis: Cueing Up At The Meiotic Starting Line
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ukKutdfGQyU/081211141836.htm
Geneticists have been debating if meiosis requires only external or internal signals. Although earlier work revealed that an external cue from retinoic acid is needed, new research shows that embryonic germ cells must first express the Dazl gene in order to process the retinoic acid signal.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Intense Chemotherapy Wards Off Recurrence In Half Of Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients After Seven Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OA9l-3lfl3I/081209125832.htm
More than half of younger mantle cell lymphoma patients who received an intensive regimen of chemotherapy as front-line treatment remain in remission seven years later, researchers have reported.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Supercomputer Center Director Offers Tips On Data Preservation In The Information Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pk_WE2qSDQs/081211093551.htm
The world has gone digital in just about everything we do. Almost every iota of information we access these days is stored in some kind of digital form and accessed electronically -- text, charts, images, video, music, you name it. The key questions are: Will your data be there when you need it? And who's going to preserve it?

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Effects Of Unconscious Exposure To Advertisements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZHygYXxJrM4/081209125828.htm
Fads have been a staple of American pop culture for decades, from spandex in the 1980s to skinny jeans today. But while going from fad to flop may seem like the result of fickle consumers, a new study suggests that this is exactly what should be expected for a highly efficient, rationally evolved animal.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
As Ice Melts, Antarctic Bedrock Is On The Move
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/flXF8vZ1qP4/081215091013.htm
As ice melts away from Antarctica, parts of the continental bedrock are rising in response -- and other parts are sinking, scientists have discovered. The finding will give much needed perspective to satellite instruments that measure ice loss on the continent, and help improve estimates of future sea level rise.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
How Mutations Are Transmitted From One Generation To The Next
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bcS8vJNZdcE/081211161739.htm
A fundamental process in the transmission of genes from mother to child has been identified. The new study identifies a mechanism that plays a key role in how mutations are transmitted from one generation to the next, providing unprecedented insight into metabolic diseases.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Robotic Aircraft Designed For Weather Forecasting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1sLIgala4OA/081211141938.htm
At MIT, planning for bad weather involves far more than remembering an umbrella. Researchers in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics are trying to improve weather forecasting using robotic aircraft and advanced flight plans that consider millions of variables.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Hepatitis C Treatment Reduces The Virus But Liver Damage Continues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gvb8t8NgDOI/081209111518.htm
Treating patients who have chronic hepatitis C and advanced liver disease with long-term pegylated interferon significantly decreased their liver enzymes, viral levels and liver inflammation, but the treatment did not slow or prevent the progression of serious liver disease, a study finds.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Predecessor of Cows, The Aurochs, Were Still Living In The Netherlands Around AD 600
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeV1obsAzaM/081212081544.htm
Archaeological researchers have discovered that the aurochs, the predecessor of our present-day cow, lived in the Netherlands for longer than originally assumed. Remains of bones recently retrieved from a horn core found in Holwerd (Friesland, Netherlands), show that the aurochs became extinct in around AD 600 and not in the fourth century.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Low-carb Diets Can Affect Dieters' Cognition Skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DgAnOtv5XRk/081211112014.htm
A new study shows that when dieters eliminate carbohydrates from their meals, they performed more poorly on memory-based tasks than when they reduce calories, but maintain carbohydrates. When carbohydrates were reintroduced, cognition skills returned to normal.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Obesity All In Your Head? Brain Genes Associated With Increased Body Mass
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yjgTMiP3cJw/081214190959.htm
Is obesity all in your head? New research suggests that genes that predispose people to obesity act in the brain and that perhaps some people are simply hardwired to overeat. A genetic study of more than 90,000 people has identified six new genetic variants that are associated with increased Body Mass Index. Five of the genes are known to be active in the brain, suggesting that many genetic variants implicated in obesity might affect behavior.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Immunity Stronger At Night Than During Day
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zhK6TyVO0xQ/081214191014.htm
A fruit fly's immune system can tell time, researchers have found, and how hard it punches back against infections depends on whether the fly is snoozing or cruising. The discovery could have implications for human health, too.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Dwarf Crocodiles Split Into Three Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kLPJ-EYIRe0/081212122943.htm
Biologists have discovered that the African dwarf crocodile -- once thought to be two subspecies -- is genetically three distinct species. This result highlights the need for accurate taxonomy for conservation management. The new, unnamed species comes from a population in West Africa.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Promising New Drug Blocks Mutation In Bone Marrow Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/66NDp0eobao/081209100828.htm
Researchers have found that an experimental drug successfully blocks an enzyme that causes some bone marrow cancers. The oral drug, called CYT387, was tested in mice as well as in human cells. In both cases, it blocked the growth of certain bone marrow cancers called myeloproliferative disorders, also referred to as MPDs.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Astrophysicists Aim To Recreate Stars In The Lab
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cwXkVpwDxxs/081212081546.htm
A greater understanding of energetic processes in stars could accelerate development of clean energy from nuclear fusion.

Tue, 16 Dec 08
Danger Of Heavy Toilet Seats To Male Toddlers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zi4S_aDgEMU/081211081608.htm
Doctors have expressed considerable concerns about the growing trend for heavy wooden and ornamental toilet seats after a number of male toddlers were admitted with crush injuries to their penises.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Jupiter's Moon Europa Does The Wave To Generate Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iZg_6lcN1x8/081212092056.htm
One of the moons in our solar system that scientists think has the potential to harbor life may have a far more dynamic ocean than previously thought. If the moon Europa is tilted on its axis even slightly as it orbits the giant planet Jupiter, then Jupiter's gravitational pull could be creating powerful waves in Europa's ocean, according to an oceanographer.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Toothbrushing Can Prevent Hospital-borne Pneumonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dz96jHldtFU/081211141842.htm
Toothbrushing can prevent hospital-borne pneumonia. Hospital-borne infections are a serious risk of a long-term hospital stay, and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a lung infection that develops in about 15% of all people who are ventilated, is among the most dangerous.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Why Climbers Die On Mount Everest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9yTveKcCSjM/081209221709.htm
Researchers have conducted the first detailed analysis of deaths during expeditions to the summit of Mt. Everest. They found that most deaths occur during descents from the summit in the so-called "death zone" above 8,000 meters and also identified factors that appear to be associated with a greater risk of death, particularly symptoms of high-altitude cerebral edema.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Radiation Before Surgery Improves Pancreatic Cancer Outcomes, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qGC1_AtseYQ/081125181107.htm
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest and most difficult to treat cancers. Now, in a major step forward, researchers have shown that administering radiation therapy prior to surgery nearly doubles survival in pancreatic cancer patients with operable tumors.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
4,000-year-old Amber Necklace Has Been Unearthed In England
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cTEKTu2yAZQ/081207210018.htm
The rare find was unearthed from a stone-lined grave -- known as a Cist. It is the first time a necklace of this kind from the early Bronze Age has been found in north west England.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Probing Genetic Underpinnings Of Nicotine Addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gFm6uw1CfOE/081209154947.htm
Smokers who carry a particular version of a gene for an enzyme that regulates dopamine in the brain may suffer from concentration problems and other cognitive deficits when abstaining from nicotine -- a problem that puts them at risk for relapse during attempts to quit smoking.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Biologist Modifies Theory Of Cells' Engines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IN3ZSgPIc9Y/081211141834.htm
Biologists have known for decades that cells use tiny molecular motors to move chromosomes, mitochondria, and many other organelles within the cell, but no one has been able to understand what "steers" these engines to their destinations. Now, researchers have shed new light on how cells accomplish this feat and the results may eventually lead to new approaches to fighting pathogens and neurological diseases.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Discovery Could Improve The Lives Of Premature Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2j56fVqm9W4/081212222024.htm
Scientists have identified a potential new avenue for altering lung development in the embryo which may help to improve the outcome for very premature babies. Researchers have discovered a key player in early lung development which is a potential drug target for treating very premature babies with small, immature lungs.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Mould Toxins More Prevalent And Hazardous Than Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jZBlj3iNRXs/081209085622.htm
Mould toxins in buildings damaged by moisture are considerably more prevalent than was previously thought, according to new international research. Researchers have analyzed dust and materials samples from buildings damaged by mould. Virtually all of the samples contained toxins from mould.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Proinflammatory Cytokines Could Help Improve Diagnosis And Treatment Of Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/REtBce2MEII/081203133843.htm
Researchers have concluded that there could be a link between the high expression of proinflammatory cytokines and high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) with the progression of prostate cancer.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Mathematical Model Gives Clearer Picture Of Physics Of Cells, Organelles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WAS65Px_P2A/081208180508.htm
Cells are filled with membrane-bound organelles like the nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula. Over the years, scientists have made much progress in understanding the biomolecular details of how these organelles function within cells, but understanding the actual physical forces that maintain the structures of these organelles' membranes continues to be a challenge. Mathematicians have recently devised a new mathematical procedure for accurately predicting the 3-D forces involved in creating and maintaining certain organelle membrane structures that could one day shed light on the lifecycle of membrane-bound viruses such as HIV.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Fraud In Science: How Prevalent Is It And What Can Be Done?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FhuseDVDcB0/081210091031.htm
Public confidence in the honesty of scientists is being harmed by a small minority of researchers who behave badly, a conference heard last week. European research organizations agreed to work more closely to tackle the problem of fraud and other misconduct in science.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Planet Formation Could Lie In Stellar Storms Rather Than Gravitational Instability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c4u2xxyqAvk/081212101543.htm
New research suggests that turbulence plays a critical role in creating ripe conditions for the birth of planets. The study challenges the prevailing theory of planet formation. Using three-dimensional simulations of the dust and gas that orbits young stars, the study demonstrates that turbulence is a significant obstacle to gravitational instability, the process that scientists have used since the 1970s to explain the early stage of planet formation.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Time Running Out On Coral Reefs As Climate Change Becomes Increasing Threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pNaabct5yFo/081210112808.htm
Increasing pressures from climate change will reach a tipping point in less than a decade, triggering a significant decline in the health of the planet's coral reef ecosystems according to the findings in an international report. Coral reefs continue to be threatened from direct human activities of pollution and over-fishing, but now the threat of climate change is being recognized as the major threat to the future of reefs around the world.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Hope For The Treatment Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Er0REpcp7Nc/081205212450.htm
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease that progressively damages numerous organs in the body. Treatments are available, but none is specific to the disease, and they can have severe adverse effects. Scientists have now discovered a protein fragment, the P140 peptide, that is capable of treating lupus-affected mice.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
The Crash Of 2008: A Mathematician's View
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H0SotSrGIlc/081208203915.htm
Markets need regulation to stay stable. We have had thirty years of financial deregulation. Now we are seeing chickens coming home to roost. This is the key argument of a mathematician at Imperial College London, in an article just published in Significance, the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Confusion, Not Decay, Most Important In Forgetting Over Short Term
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JY5GTOnGAxA/081212153204.htm
Theories suggest that we forget when information simply decays from our memory (when too much time has passed) or when we confuse an item with other items that we have previously encountered (also known as temporal confusability). Psychologists investigated the two theories to pinpoint the main cause of forgetfulness over the short term. The results, reported in Psychological Science, reveal that temporal confusability, and not decay, is important for forgetting over the short term.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Waste Coffee Grounds Offer New Source Of Biodiesel Fuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CdcWNHjVHjM/081210171900.htm
Researchers in Nevada are reporting that waste coffee grounds can provide a cheap, abundant, and environmentally friendly source of biodiesel fuel for powering automobiles and industries.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Childhood Obesity Linked To Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mxSryz2oWdQ/081212153208.htm
A new study that found that healthy children with higher levels of body fat and lower levels of physical activity had greater amounts of airway narrowing after exercise. These findings may point to the increase over the past several decades in asthma prevalence as well as obesity prevalence, the researcher said.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Radiologists Diagnose And Treat Self-embedding Disorder In Teens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/12GbU-CmTBM/081203084304.htm
Minimally invasive, image-guided treatment is a safe and precise method for removal of self-inflicted foreign objects from the body, according to the first report on "self-embedding disorder," or self-injury and self-inflicted foreign body insertion in adolescents.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Key Step In Maturation Pathway Of Telomerase Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hImxgYbY3fs/081205113936.htm
Scientists have discovered an important step in the maturation pathway of telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes the sequences that are lost at chromosome ends with every cell division. The findings were published in Nature.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Safer, Better, Faster: Addressing Cryptography’s Big Challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qya9OPIhu_A/081204074806.htm
Every time you use a credit card, access your bank account online or send secure email cryptography comes into play. But as computers become more powerful, network speeds increase and data storage grows, the current methods of protecting information are being challenged.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Use Of Rapid Response Team In Hospital Not Linked With Reduction In Cardio Arrests Or Deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I5rHcNgOl_s/081202170818.htm
Although there is an effort to implement rapid response teams in hospitals throughout the country, new research suggests that they do not result in a reduced rate of cardiopulmonary arrests or deaths, according to a new study.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Hottest White Dwarf In Its Class
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lcXkNrJy2hU/081212081540.htm
Astronomers have identified a white dwarf that is among the hottest stars known so far, with a temperature of 200,000 K at its surface. It is so hot that its photosphere exhibits emission lines in the ultraviolet spectrum, a phenomenon that has never been seen before.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Innovative MRI-based Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VPe3d7VOveA/081205212913.htm
A new approach to the early prediction of the evolution of cerebral infarcts caused by stroke has just been evaluated on nearly 100 patients. The NEURiNFARCT technique yields an estimate of the final extent of brain tissues at risk of infarction for acute stroke patients. This new technique is derived from unprecedented analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Understanding Of Bone Marrow Stem Cell Niche Expanded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rEIZRl33l88/081205113938.htm
Scientists have identified the precise location of the bone marrow stem cell niche. The findings were published in Nature.

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Dune And Dirty: Hurricane Teaches Lessons Through Ecosystem Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IOW6vN1juy0/081208114331.htm
Dr. Rusty Feagin was managing several ecosystem research projects on Galveston Island when the 2008 hurricane season began. Then he got an unexpected visit from a research assistant named Ike. "Ike reconfirmed the basic idea I've had for several years," said Feagin, ecosystem scientist with Texas AgriLife Research. "The plants on sand dunes and in marshes build an island's elevation, so we shouldn't compromise that."

Mon, 15 Dec 08
Contraceptive Methods Shape Women's Sexual Pleasure And Satisfaction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JIdNCOWdjfg/081208180437.htm
Many women think condoms undermine sexual pleasure, but those who use both hormonal contraception and condoms also reported higher overall sexual satisfaction.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Discovery Of Warm Plasma Cloak Surrounding Earth, New Region Of Magnetosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sm_VLhUCAZs/081212141849.htm
A detailed analysis of the measurements of five different satellites has revealed the existence of the warm plasma cloak, a new region of the magnetosphere, which is the invisible shield of magnetic fields and electrically charged particles that surround and protect Earth from the onslaught of the solar wind.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Selenium May Prevent High Risk-bladder Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jqqFQcvC1dw/081208080958.htm
New research suggests that selenium, a trace mineral found in grains, nuts and meats, may aid in the prevention of high-risk bladder cancer.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Why Atmospheric Pressure Peaks At 10am And 10pm In The Tropics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2um-wBlziHU/081203092437.htm
For over two centuries, meteorologists were puzzled by the observation that atmospheric pressure in the tropics peaks at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. nearly every day.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Understanding Brain Tumor Growth Through Applying Weather Forecasting Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ae2rQr7CbTY/081208090743.htm
Researchers are applying weather forecast technology to model and track the growth patterns of brain tumors.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Sweetened Beverage Consumption Increases Dramatically In U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gc88k58Q33A/081211121925.htm
Over the past two decades, the number of adults consuming sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, fruit drinks and punches has increased dramatically, according to a new study.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Inside The Consumer Mind: Brain Scans Reveal Choice Mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ccEEDwII_Q4/081211141846.htm
A marketing professor has conducted research that shows that decision making is simplified when a consumer considers a third, less attractive option. For example, when a second, less desirable sweater is also considered in the situation above, the shopper could solve their conundrum by choosing the more attractive sweater.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Massive Jellyfish Swarms In Hawaii, Gulf Of Mexico And Other Locations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mR_Dxkk2BYA/081212170654.htm
Massive swarms of stinging jellyfish and jellyfish-like animals are transforming many world-class fisheries and tourist destinations into veritable jellytoriums that are intermittently jammed with pulsating, gelatinous creatures. Areas that are currently particularly hard-hit by these squishy animals include Hawaii, the Gulf of Mexico, the east coast of the US, the Bering Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Australia, the Black Sea and other European seas, the Sea of Japan, the North Sea and Namibia.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
New Mammography Technology Effective In Detecting Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gx0cwfOog3w/081202080813.htm
A study has found that positron emission mammography, a new technique for imaging the breast, is not affected by either breast density or a woman's hormonal status, two factors that limit the effectiveness of standard mammography and MRI at detecting cancer.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Patient Photos Spur Radiologist Empathy And Eye For Detail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DimIhwLOcyk/081202080809.htm
Including a patient's photo with imaging exam results may enable a more meticulous reading from the radiologist interpreting the images, as well as a more personal and empathetic approach, according to a new study.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Treatment Fails To Improve Common Form Of Heart Failure, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QcsHvN6J9bg/081204133558.htm
A medication used for high blood pressure does not improve a common form of heart failure, according to new results from a large, international study.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Improving Internet Access On The Move
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xsR6_nUF0Ko/081208092120.htm
The on-board entertainment and internet access enjoyed by train passengers could soon be transformed by new technology developed at the University of York.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Why Are Some People More Susceptible To Depression Than Others? Stressed-out Mice Reveal Role Of Epigenetics In Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R7ZV2Hz-cUY/081211121823.htm
Research conducted by a team in Switzerland suggests that a family of genes involved in regulating the expression of other genes in the brain is responsible for helping us deal with external inputs such as stress. Their results, appearing in the journal Neuron, may also give a clue to why some people are more susceptible to anxiety or depression than others.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Antisocial, Invasive Cells Are Basis Of Cancer, Finding Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AmaS_E_Qk8Q/081212222722.htm
Scientists have discovered the mechanism by which cells normally repel each other -- a process sidestepped by cancer cells which go on to invade and conquer healthy regions of the body.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Eleven New Gene Sites Linked To Cholesterol, Triglyceride Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZkWPf7zbrc/081207133707.htm
Scientists have identified 11 novel locations in the human genome where common variations appear to influence cholesterol or triglyceride levels, bringing the total number of lipid-associated genes to 30. Major mutations in some of these genes underlie rare lipid metabolism disorders and it is becoming apparent that common changes that have modest effects can combine with other risk-associated gene variants to significantly influence blood lipid levels.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Broccoli Compound Targets Key Enzyme In Late-stage Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N9cplV43FRw/081203092435.htm
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables have long been known to have anti-cancer benefits, and researchers have now found out why. One well-known anti-cancer chemical in broccoli, indole-3-carbinol, was found to inhibit the enzyme elastase, which is found at high levels in late-stage breast and prostate cancers. The discovery of this target will help to design better anti-cancer drugs and to target treatment to specific types of cancer, including late-stage breast and prostate cancers.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Ovarian Cancer Subtypes Are Different Diseases: Implications For Biomarker Studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fkBqtKa-pkg/081201233445.htm
In a new analysis of tissue biomarkers expressed in ovarian cancer samples, published in PLoS Medicine, David Huntsman and his colleagues from Vancouver General Hospital suggest that substantial differences exist between ovarian cancer subtypes which should be reflected in patient management.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
'Strained' Quantum Dots Show New Optical Properties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6HQGclySbNw/081207133751.htm
The first generation of quantum dots were made from the toxic heavy metal cadmium and had emission wavelengths, and colors, determined by their size. "Lattice strain" created by layers of different semiconductor materials allows the color of quantum dots to be tuned independent of size. Small enough to pass through the kidneys if administered systemically, the new quantum dots are expected to be useful for cancer detection and possibly in solar energy conversion.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
More Than Just Being A Sentimental Fool: The Psychology Of Nostalgia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tiiK_42TZSw/081212141851.htm
Nostalgia has a long history, being viewed initially as a medical disease, then as a psychiatric disease. According to a new report in Current Directions in Psychological Science, only recently have psychologists begun focusing on the positive and potentially therapeutic aspects of nostalgia. Research suggests that nostalgia can promote psychological health, including counteracting the effects of loneliness and providing us with a greater sense of continuity and meaning to our lives.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Breast Cancer: Research On Tamoxifen Leads To Recommendation For CYP2D6 Gene Test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yYM4AuHfmcQ/081213130059.htm
Findings from a new study have prompted Mayo Clinic researchers to recommend CYP2D6 gene testing for postmenopausal women about to begin tamoxifen therapy. This data confirms that women with an inherited deficiency in the CYP2D6 gene, which is important for the metabolism of tamoxifen, have a nearly fourfold higher risk of early breast cancer recurrence compared to women who have not inherited the deficiency.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Historic Architecture: People, Not Just A Building, Make For 'Place'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2y_wSRPZvTo/081213130057.htm
A building designed to recapture the past may bring nostalgia, but the end product may not capture current realities of a place, says a professor of historic preservation.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Tau Protein Expression Predicts Breast Cancer Survival -- Though Not As Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sZ7ylFYJFWU/081213130055.htm
Expression of the microtubule-binding protein Tau is not a reliable means of selecting breast cancer patients for adjuvant paclitaxel chemotherapy, according to new research.

Sun, 14 Dec 08
Potential Links Between Breast Density And Breast Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nvh4dV_Qkw8/081213130021.htm
Having dense breasts -- areas that show up dark on a mammogram -- is strongly associated with increased breast cancer risk, but "why" remains to be answered. Now, by examining dense and non-dense tissue taken from the breasts of healthy volunteers, researchers have found several potential links.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Iron Age 'Sacrifice' Is Britain's Oldest Surviving Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wi1NiIAFCiM/081212081722.htm
The oldest surviving human brain in Britain, dating back at least 2000 years to the Iron Age, has been unearthed during excavations on the site of the University of York's campus expansion at Heslington East.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Amputees Can Experience Prosthetic Hand As Their Own
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jcowwX0O9DE/081211081809.htm
Scientists have succeeded in inducing people with an amputated arm to experience a prosthetic rubber hand as belonging to their own body. The results can lead to the development of a new type of touch-sensitive prosthetic hands.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
These Shells Don't Clam Up: Innovative Technique To Record Human Impact On Coastal Waters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p58vPdGBd3Y/081202133226.htm
Using stable isotope techniques, scientists have demonstrated it is possible to identify and trace wastewater inputs to estuaries and coastal food webs by studying the organic matrix in the shell of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Surge In Older Cancer Survivors Expected As Baby Boomers Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BOP1uk6g2tE/081210090821.htm
Given the high incidence and prevalence of cancer in older adults and the anticipated growth of this population over the next few decades, oncologists, geriatricians and primary care providers will be challenged to provide timely and appropriate post-treatment care to older cancer survivors. More post-treatment studies are needed to understand the mental, social and physical health issues among older cancer survivors, behavioral health experts say in special supplement to the journal Cancer.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Clear Computer Chip Fabricated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BjYxeZ5xQJ0/081209154935.htm
A group of scientists at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has fabricated a working computer chip that is almost completely clear -- the first of its kind. The new technology is called transparent resistive random access memory.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Strategic Video Game Improves Critical Cognitive Skills In Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0v8K9dklMzQ/081211081442.htm
A desire to rule the world may be a good thing if you're over 60 and worried about losing your mental faculties. A new study found that adults in their 60s and 70s can improve a number of cognitive functions by playing a strategic video game that rewards nation-building and territorial expansion.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Supermassive Black Hole Dissected With Natural Magnifying Glasses: 1,000 Times Clearer Than Best Telescopes Can Do
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HEOJe0269-c/081212122941.htm
Combining a double natural "magnifying glass" with the power of ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have scrutinized the inner parts of the disc around a supermassive black hole 10 billion light-years away. They were able to study the disc with a level of detail a thousand times better than that of the best telescopes in the world, providing the first observational confirmation of the prevalent theoretical models of such discs.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Heart Regenerates After Infarction: First Trials With Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rd_CrNKzgKY/081211112016.htm
Up until today, scientists assumed that the adult heart is unable to regenerate. Now, researchers from Germany have been able to show that this dogma no longer holds true. They demonstrated that the body's heart muscle stem cells generate new tissue and improve the pumping function of the heart considerably in adult mice, when they suppress the activity of a gene regulator known as beta-catenin in the nucleus of the heart cells.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Ecological Impact Of African Cities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rsQfuqHiSwQ/081202081457.htm
African cities are growing faster than anywhere else in the world. This is having a major impact, but few ecologists are studying the urban environment and effect of cities on rural areas. One of the most important ecological changes in Africa’s history is being over-looked.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Potential Breakthrough For T-Cell Lymphoma Patients With Drug That Mimics Folic Acid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wuRtBbnrG4s/081209155010.htm
Preliminary results of a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of pralatrexate, a drug that partially works by mimicking folic acid, showed a complete or partial response in 27 percent of patients with recurrent or resistant peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Computer Quantifies Carbon Sequestration Of Urban Trees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4q6I9y59cF0/081209221748.htm
Scientists are providing online software that can show users how much carbon dioxide an urban tree in California has sequestered in its lifetime and the past year.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Women's Magazines Downplay Emotional Health Risks Of Cosmetic Surgery, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3XZgupKN-wU/081211093548.htm
While the emotional health implications of cosmetic surgery are still up for scientific debate, articles in women's magazines such as the Oprah Magazine and Cosmopolitan portray cosmetic surgery as a physically risky, but overall worthwhile option for enhancing physical appearance and emotional health, a new study has found.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Wobbly Planets Could Reveal Earth-like Moons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IS4nu9S6o3U/081211112309.htm
Moons outside our Solar System with the potential to support life have just become much easier to detect. Astronomers have found that such moons can be revealed by looking at wobbles in the velocity of the planets they orbit.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Gene Therapy Effective Treatment Against Gum Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u1cj9-DLRuk/081211081448.htm
Scientists have shown that gene therapy can be used to successfully stop the development of periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
ESA Satellites Focusing On The Arctic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V4gvGisOgvU/081202115606.htm
The Arctic is undergoing rapid transformation due to climate change, pollution and human activity. ESA's ERS and Envisat satellites have been providing satellite data of the region for the last 17 years. These long term data sets in combination with ESA's future missions will be key in implementing the newly adopted European Commission policy called 'the European Union and the Arctic Region'.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Can Have Genetic Causes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/670mr1hbTN8/081210121920.htm
Irritations of the bowel can have genetic causes. The causes of what is known as irritable bowel syndrome, one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, are unclear, making diagnosis and treatment extremely difficult.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Easier To Produce Drugs Using New Biosensor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BUSCmHLstvg/081209085727.htm
Scientists have developed a biosensor with an artificial membrane, which means that membrane-bound proteins can retain their natural structure and function. The method facilitates the study of the function of the proteins, which could be of major significance in the search for new drugs.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Death Rates In Hospital Highest For Infants, And Children Without Insurance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QFk6GDn5vfo/081210103043.htm
The vast majority of children who die while hospitalized are newborns, according to a new nationwide study. Additionally, death rates are higher for hospitalized children without insurance compared to those with insurance researchers found.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
In The Animal World, Bigger Isn't Necessarily Better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/icN6X7QiFLA/081211121833.htm
Shocking new research shows size isn't always an advantage in the animal world, shattering a widely-held belief that bigger is better.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Age-related Farsightedness May Affect More Than 1 Billion Worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3MS9Y6O_AC4/081208180329.htm
It is estimated that more than 1 billion individuals worldwide in 2005 had presbyopia, or age-related difficulty in seeing objects nearby, with an estimated 410 million with the condition unable to perform tasks requiring near vision, according to a new report.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
2,000 Elephants Missing, Poaching Likely To Blame
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UVBltRF4-B0/081211141928.htm
Elephants in Zakouma National Park, the last stronghold for the savanna elephants of Central Africa's Sahel region, now hover at about 1,000 animals, down from an estimated 3,000 in 2006. Ivory poachers using automatic weapons have decimated elephant populations -- particularly when herds venture seasonally outside of the park.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Double Threat: Deadly Lung Disease Also Linked To Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0wFLNTd9EsE/081205094500.htm
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are three times as likely to experience severe coronary events -- including heart attacks -- than people without the disease, according to a recent study that analyzed the risk of cardiovascular disease in nearly 1,000 patients with IPF and more than 3,500 matched controls.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Mystery Of Gravity Fingers Mathematically Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3sUaua9teec/081211141934.htm
Researchers recently found an elegant solution to a sticky scientific problem in basic fluid mechanics: why water doesn't soak into soil at an even rate, but instead forms what look like fingers of fluid flowing downward. Scientists call these rivulets "gravity fingers," and the explanation for their formation has to do with the surface tension where the water meets the soil. Accounting for this phenomenon mathematically will have wide-ranging impact on research in many fields.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Keeping The Weight Off: Which Obesity Treatment Is Most Successful?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6tGOAYMxNjY/081208123257.htm
Severely obese patients who have lost significant amounts of weight by changing their diet and exercise habits may be as successful in keeping the weight off long-term as those individuals who lost weight after bariatric surgery.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Groundwater Springs Played Important Role In Shaping Mars, Perhaps Sheltering Primitive Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Y-Xg8Noimw/081211112307.htm
Data and images from Mars Express suggest that several Light Toned Deposits, some of the least understood features on Mars, were formed when large amounts of groundwater burst on to the surface. Scientists propose that groundwater had a greater role in shaping the martian surface than previously believed, and may have sheltered primitive life forms as the planet started drying up.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Alzheimer's Disease Screening Breakthrough Will Help Identify Potential Treatment Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CaVOdQLq8Ho/081208100854.htm
Scientists have developed a new system to screen for compounds that can inhibit one of the processes that takes place during the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Pioneering Space Station Experiment Keeps Reactions In Suspense
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/arTEMXTrhlw/081211081805.htm
A revolutionary container-less chemical reactor has been installed on the International Space Station. The reactor, named Space-DRUMS, uses beams of sound to position chemicals in mid-air so they don’t come into contact with the walls of the container.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Gene Packaging Tells Story Of Cancer Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vNRrgIaKnb4/081204183243.htm
To decipher how cancer develops, researchers must take a closer look at the packaging, a new study suggests.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
'Impossible' Nanoscale Process Succeeds: Molecular Chain Reaction On Metal Surface Offers Potential For Information Storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7WzTINpxWrQ/081211141932.htm
People said it couldn't be done, but researchers have demonstrated a molecular chain reaction on a metal surface, a nanoscale process with sizable potential in areas from nanotechnology to developing information storage technology.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Harm-reduction Cigarettes Are More Toxic Than Traditional Cigarettes, UC Riverside Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aFuoMgOwobQ/081208180510.htm
Smoke from harm-reduction cigarettes retains toxicity and researchers found that this toxicity can affect prenatal development. The smoke is toxic to pre-implantation embryos and can retard growth or kill embryonic cells at this stage of development. The researchers found, too, that mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke from these harm-reduction cigarettes are more potent than the corresponding smoke from traditional brands of cigarettes.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Orangutan's Spontaneous Whistling Opens New Chapter In Study Of Evolution Of Speech
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QP-O35bKCd4/081211112004.htm
An orangutan's spontaneous whistling is providing scientists at Great Ape Trust of Iowa new insights into the evolution of speech and learning.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Key To Regulation Of Puberty Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9AdZuEBye_0/081211152512.htm
Scientists have taken a major step to understanding how the brain controls the onset of puberty. They have identified the hormone Neurokinin B as a critical part of the control system that switches on the master regulator of human puberty.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Technique To Count Messages Made By Single Genes Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IBgU69cvtMQ/081202181713.htm
Researchers describe a technique for looking more precisely at a fundamental step of a cell's life: a gene, DNA, being read into a message, mRNA. The technique could provide a window into the process by which genes are switched on inappropriately, causing disease.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
New Cause Of Heart Arrhythmia Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lSiCl5yBxjY/081211121819.htm
A new study shows that atrial fibrillation -- the most common form of sustained heart arrhythmia -- can be caused in an unexpected way. Researchers report the first evidence that a rare and particularly severe form of the disease stems from a gene involved in shuttling other molecules in and out of the cell nucleus, where the DNA that serves as the blueprint for life is housed.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Wave Power Facility Successful in Sweden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yIqO-urFaTk/081209052145.htm
A wave energy plant located in the sea outside Lysekil, Sweden has been quite successful. For nearly three years, a wave power plant has stood on the bottom of the ocean a couple of kilometers off the west coast of Sweden, near Lysekil. The station is uniquely durable and maintenance-free because of its simple mechanical construction.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Engineers To Create Virtual Crash Test Dummy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0O9WTlRVBwM/081211161734.htm
Engineers are working on a new "virtual" crash test dummy, one that will live entirely within computers, but will be more realistic than any physical dummy ever subjected to a crash test.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
New Detector Will Aid Dark Matter Search
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aqxd5zgsGf0/081211141940.htm
Several research projects are underway to try to detect particles that may make up the mysterious "dark matter" believed to dominate the universe's mass. But the existing detectors have a problem: They also pick up particles of ordinary matter that masquerade as the dark-matter particles. An MIT physicist has a solution.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Hot Drinks Help Fight Cold And Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/87XS31-OuAc/081210121924.htm
A hot drink may help reduce the symptoms of common colds and flu, according to new research. New research at the Center has found that a simple hot drink of fruit cordial can provide immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Avalanches -- Triggered From The Valley
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hWGNAu0EH4g/081202115322.htm
When slab avalanches thunder into the valley, winter sports fans are in danger. Researchers have now gained amazing insights into the formation of these avalanches -- especially regarding how they are remotely triggered by skiers in more gently inclined areas.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
If MRI Shows Signs Of Multiple Sclerosis, Will The Disease Develop?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BeN6lz79A_0/081210171857.htm
With more and more people having brain MRIs for various reasons, doctors are finding people whose scans show signs of multiple sclerosis even though they have no symptoms of the disease. A new study published in Neurology found that a third of these people developed MS within an average of about five years.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
New Technology Helps Protect US Troops From Infectious Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/83jMdAQiXtc/081211093553.htm
An enhanced computerized system has been designed to assess environmental and health concerns for deployed US forces. The Global Situational Awareness Tool, developed and operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command, is a computerized set of linkable databases that characterizes and predicts health risks and other dangers to US troops and multi-national forces in Afghanistan and other areas.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Panic Attacks Linked To Higher Risk Of Heart Attacks And Heart Disease, Especially In Younger People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FyTHAdUWPM0/081210205042.htm
People who have been diagnosed with panic attacks or panic disorder have a greater risk of subsequently developing heart disease or suffering a heart attack than the normal population, with higher rates occurring in younger people, according to new research.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Lethal 'Lint Brush' Captures And Kills Cancer Cells In Bloodstream
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fh3sBt6gVJA/081211152518.htm
In a new tactic in the fight against cancer, scientists have developed what they call a lethal "lint brush" for the blood -- a tiny, implantable device that captures and kills cancer cells in the bloodstream before they spread through the body.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Cellular 'Brakes' May Slow Memory Process In Aging Brains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2r5F9OJIe2Q/081210171912.htm
When diseases or even old age threaten brain cells, some neurons survive while neurons no farther than a millimeter away die. Researchers may have discovered a molecular mechanism that puts the brakes of cell-survival processes, a finding that could be important for understanding age-related memory loss.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Oscillation Rules As The Pacific Cools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ztCIFwS3go/081210190517.htm
The latest image of sea-surface height measurements from the U.S./French Jason-1 oceanography satellite shows the Pacific Ocean remains locked in a strong, cool phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a large, long-lived pattern of climate variability in the Pacific associated with a general cooling of Pacific waters. The image also confirms that El Niño and La Niña remain absent from the tropical Pacific.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
RNA Interference Can Facilitate Vaccine Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PINo4Xs_qnQ/081210171902.htm
Pharmaceutical companies and universities are racing to develop drugs that use the gene silencing mechanism known as RNA interference to treat a host of diseases. Now, a new study opens up an entirely new possibility for this powerful tool: Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that RNA interference can be used as a tool in the development of vaccines.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Semantic Web Technologies Could Improve The Shopping Experience
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/niwwDyKMmKA/081209100832.htm
Scientists at Toshiba's Corporate Research and Development Center in Japan have developed a system that offers shoppers advice on what to buy based on the product barcode and the current weblog buzz around the gadget. The team describes the system WOM Scouter this month in the International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies.

Sat, 13 Dec 08
Living In Multigenerational Households Triples Women's Heart Disease Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R_K_4PDBlSQ/081210205046.htm
Living in a household with several generations of relatives triples a woman's risk of serious heart disease, suggests research published in the journal Heart.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Key Event That Breaks Continents Apart Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W0-FpFuFhpY/081210090817.htm
Researchers have captured for the first time a geological event considered key in shaping the Earth's landscape. The first "dyking event" ever recorded within the planet's continental crust.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Maintaining Brain's Wiring In Aging And Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M7EcXYF_8V8/081205113942.htm
Researchers have discovered that the brain's circuitry survives longer than previously thought in diseases of aging such as Alzheimer's disease.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Genetic Patterning In Fruit Fly Development Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ua4Glcgke14/081202115719.htm
No matter the species, from flies to humans, we all start the same: a single-cell fertilized egg that embarks on an incredible journey. The specifics of this journey are being uncovered by one biologist who is researching how from one cell a jumble of many are able to organize and communicate, allowing life to spring forth.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Brand-name Drugs Do Not Appear Superior To Generic Drugs For Treating Cardiovascular Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZE4Pqd6dSb8/081202170811.htm
Contrary to the perception of some patients and physicians, there is no evidence that brand-name drugs are clinically superior to their generic counterparts, according to a new article, which examined studies comparing the effectiveness of generic vs. brand-name drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Methane, Potent Greenhouse Gas, Flowing Into The Atmosphere From Tundra Much Faster Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BC3oINEfD6c/081210133814.htm
Much more methane gas is being emitted into the atmosphere from the tundra in northeast Greenland than previous studies have shown. New figures reveal that large amounts of greenhouse gases are being emitted into the atmosphere, not just during the warm summer months, but also during the colder autumn months.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
High School Sports: Football Leads Sports Associated With Rare Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FpowS8PPs50/081202170824.htm
Rare injuries accounted for 3.5 percent of high school athletes' injuries 2005 through 2007, according to the first study to examine rare injuries and conditions of US high school athletes. Rare injuries include eye injuries, dental injuries, neck and cervical injuries and dehydration and heat illness, which may result in high morbidity, costly surgeries and treatments or life-altering consequences.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Sugar Can Be Addictive: Animal Studies Show Sugar Dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SW_nDBqwihE/081210090819.htm
Scientists have demonstrated that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse. Researchers found profound behavioral changes in rats that, through experimental conditions, have been trained to become dependent on high doses of sugar. Lab animals that were denied sugar for a prolonged period after learning to binge worked harder to get it when it was reintroduced to them. They consumed more sugar than they ever had before, suggesting craving and relapse behavior.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Model Unravels Rules That Govern How Genes Are Switched On And Off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ik6j95qoBIA/081204160600.htm
For years, scientists have struggled to decipher the genetic instruction book that details where and when the 20,000 genes in a human cell will be turned on or off. Different genes operate in each cell type at different times, and this careful orchestration is what ultimately distinguishes a brain cell from a liver or skin cell. Scientists have developed a model of gene expression in yeast that predicts with a high degree of accuracy whether a gene will be switched on or off. Genes operate in each cell type at different times, and this careful orchestration is what ultimately distinguishes a brain cell from a liver or skin cell.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Breast Cancer Treatment Offers Better Outcome To Women With Implants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tx1Mc6itP6U/081201081911.htm
Women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation may be treated successfully with a partial-breast radiation treatment called brachytherapy, according to a new study.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Vaccine And Drug Research Aimed At Ticks And Mosquitoes To Prevent Disease Transmission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p0rIW2v8P68/081202170822.htm
Most successful vaccines and drugs rely on protecting humans or animals by blocking certain bacteria from growing in their systems. But a new theory actually hopes to take stopping infectious diseases such as West Nile virus and Malaria to the next level by disabling insects from transmitting these viruses.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Asian Students Top Latest Global Math, Science Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r6kOH9U0S5k/081210171906.htm
Students from Asian countries were top performers in math and science at both the fourth and eighth grade levels, according to TIMSS 2007, the world's largest assessment of student math and science achievement, with 425,000 students surveyed across 59 countries.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Breaking The Silence After A Study Ends
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T_UUHAX7tKQ/081208180236.htm
While an estimated 2.3 million people in the United States take part in clinical trials every year, there currently exists no formal requirement to inform them of study results, an oversight that leaves participants confused, frustrated, and, in some cases, lacking information that may be important to their health. Now researchers have proposed an effective approach to disseminate the results of clinical trials to study volunteers.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
The Last Neandertals? Late Neandertals And Modern Human Contact In Southeastern Iberia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/47w7So-rnJM/081209221750.htm
It is widely accepted that early modern humans spread westward across Europe about 42,000 years ago, displacing and absorbing Neandertal populations in the process. But how long did they survive? New research, is shedding light on what were probably the last Neandertals.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Lack Of Vitamin D Causes Weight Gain And Stunts Growth In Girls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/912SLljp2Mo/081210122238.htm
Insufficient vitamin D can stunt growth and foster weight gain during puberty, according to a new study. Even in sun-drenched California vitamin D deficiency was found to cause higher body mass and shorter stature in girls at the peak of their growing spurt.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Fructose Metabolism More Complicated Than Was Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tISGrcYAOK0/081209221742.htm
A new study suggests that we may pay a price for ingesting too much fructose. Chances are you consume quite a bit of fructose. Most Americans do --- in refined sugars such as sucrose or table sugar (which is half fructose) and in high-fructose corn syrup, used in products as diverse as soft drinks, protein bars, and fruit juice. Dietary fructose affects a wide range of genes in the liver that had not previously been identified.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Transplanted Fat Cells Restore Function After Spinal Cord Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sutJAasq3Y8/081210122254.htm
Fat cells, plentiful and easily obtained from adipose tissues without discomfort and grown under culture conditions as de-differentiated fat cells (DFAT), have been for the first time shown to successfully differentiate into neuronal cells in in vivo tests.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Building World's Largest Neutrino Telescope At South Pole
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k8WD-wQszQs/081209221746.htm
It's 40 degrees F below zero (with the wind chill) at the South Pole today. Yet a research team from the University of Delaware is taking it all in stride. The physicists, engineers and technicians are working to build the world's largest neutrino telescope in the Antarctic ice, far beneath the continent's snow-covered surface.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Are Men Hardwired To Overspend?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r4OxdQCnSyI/081208180514.htm
Bling, foreclosures, rising credit card debt, bank and auto bailouts, upside down mortgages and perhaps a mid-life crisis new Corvette -- all symptoms of compulsive overspending.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
How The Brain Thinks About Crime And Punishment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TsNrQ7EhhxY/081210121912.htm
A new study reveals that humans use different neural mechanisms for determining criminal responsibility and assigning an appropriate punishment. The research, published in the journal Neuron, provides fascinating insight into brain systems that may explain how thousands of years of reliance on human sanctions to enforce social norms gave rise to our current criminal justice system.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Type 1 Diabetes And Celiac Disease Linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YJCJrRFBNCE/081210180841.htm
Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and celiac disease appear to share a common genetic origin, scientists have confirmed.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Ice Beetles Impacted By Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NDFQCOlxXws/081202115650.htm
California Academy of Sciences entomologist Dave Kavanaugh never intended to embark on a climate change study this past summer. But the beetles he's been observing and documenting for more than 40 years left him little choice.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Why Gleevec-type Drugs Control, But Do Not Eradicate, Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BuPjRPYt7o0/081208114252.htm
Researchers are closer to understanding why certain chronic myeloid leukemia mutations are not stopped by the revolutionary targeted cancer pill, Gleevec, or similar therapies in that drug family.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Genetics: Why Some Drinkers Feel Effects Of Alcohol Strongly, And Why Some Are Prone To Alcohol Abuse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mdYWLJRnmK0/081209154939.htm
Researchers have identified a region on the human genome that appears to determine how strongly drinkers feel the effects of alcohol and thus how prone they are to alcohol abuse.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Astronomers Find The Two Dimmest Stellar Bulbs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9RU7TWj-9gA/081210190655.htm
It's a tie! The new record-holder for dimmest known star-like object in the universe goes to twin "failed" stars, or brown dwarfs, each of which shines feebly with only one millionth the light of our sun.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Secreted Protein Sends Signal That Fat Is On The Way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g1EyLX83yEc/081202133218.htm
After you eat a burger and fries or other fat-filled meal, a protein produced by the liver may send a signal that fat is on the way, suggests a new report.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
New Treatment Eliminates Heel Pain Caused By Plantar Fasciitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dFPU-jyHMO8/081201081909.htm
Combining an ultrasound-guided technique with steroid injection is 95 percent effective at relieving the common and painful foot problem called plantar fasciitis, according to a new study.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
No Place Like Home: New Theory For How Salmon, Sea Turtles Find Their Birthplace
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3ovmttnMvR4/081201200039.htm
How marine animals find their way back to their birthplace to reproduce after migrating across thousands of miles of open ocean has mystified scientists for more than a century. But marine biologists now think they might finally have unraveled the secret.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
More Than 2,000 Children Die Every Day From Unintentional Injury; At Least Half Could Be Saved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qF79dov-s-s/081210090825.htm
More than 2,000 children die every day as a result of an unintentional, or accidental injury, and every year tens of millions more worldwide are taken to hospitals with injuries that often leave them with lifelong disabilities. The World Report on Child Injury Prevention provides the first comprehensive global assessment of childhood unintentional injuries and prescribes measures to prevent them. It concludes that if proven prevention measures were adopted everywhere at least 1,000 children's lives could be saved every day.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
New Class Of Anti-inflammatory Drugs Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_0_6728wQCE/081210112755.htm
Scientists have discovered a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs. The new substances promise to be more effective and to cause fewer side effects than aspirin.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Clues About Controlling Cholesterol Rise From Yeast Studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SHl4oeMjbHs/081202133222.htm
Having discovered how a lowly, single-celled fungus regulates its version of cholesterol, Johns Hopkins researchers are gaining new insight about the target and action of cholesterol-lowering drugs taken daily by millions of people to stave off heart attacks and strokes.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Some Beetles Can Quickly Neutralize Bacteria And Reduce Emergence Of Resistant Bacteria At Same Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cf9GjZWkdu8/081129095531.htm
In less than an hour, the immune system of the beetle Tenebrio molitor neutralizes most of the bacteria infecting its hemolymph (the equivalent to blood in vertebrates); this is rendered possible by a cascade of ready-to-use cells and enzymes. The principal function of the antimicrobial peptides produced by the insect immune system is to prevent the resurgence of bacteria resistant to the host's constitutive defenses, which will consequently reduce the emergence of resistant bacteria.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Breast Cancer In Men: Mammography And Sonography Findings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9lo0eVgTXVg/081201144551.htm
Mammography and sonography findings help doctors identify and appropriately treat breast cancer in men, according to a new study.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
EPA's Risk Assessment Process Bogged Down By Unprecedented Challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/16dWxDWuUTY/081203184648.htm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's process of generating risk assessments -- which estimate the potential adverse effects posed by harmful chemicals found in the environment in order to protect public health -- is bogged down by unprecedented challenges, and as a decision-making tool it is often hindered by a disconnect between available scientific data and the information needs of officials, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Palm Pilots Bridge Communication Gap Between Therapists And Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xKUxMuQjXbg/081201144727.htm
Palm Pilots already perform a variety of functions, and in the future, they may be used as a therapeutic tool that benefits people with personality disorders. In a new study, researchers used Palm Pilots as electronic diaries to record and analyze mood variability in patients with borderline personality disorder and found that the devices helped bridge an important communication gap between therapists and patients.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Acoustic Phenomena Explain Why Boats And Animals Collide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uhevQR8gaO4/081210151154.htm
Researchers have laid the groundwork for a sensory explanation for why manatees and other animals are hit repeatedly by boats. Last year, 73 manatees were killed by boats in Florida's bays and inland waterways. Marine authorities have responded to deaths from boat collisions by imposing low speed limits on boats.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Thrombosis Patients Face Greater Risks Than Previously Believed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4x3hIEWu6FA/081202153527.htm
Researchers warn that in addition to the well-known risks of pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis patients also face postthrombotic syndrome, a poorly understood, long-term complication not addressed by traditional treatment approaches like blood thinners.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
To Contract Or Not: A Key Question For The Uterine Muscles In Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x-ymgC5lVdQ/081120171321.htm
During pregnancy, the muscles of the uterus are relatively inactive. A switch to an activated state capable of strong contractions is therefore essential prior to the onset of labor. New research provides insight into the events that prime the uterine muscles for contraction, something the investigators hope might have implications for the development of therapies for preterm labor (i.e., labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy), the most serious complication of pregnancy in developed countries.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Tool Helps Identify Gene Function In Soybeans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ka953OIRjCQ/081201144725.htm
Researchers have demonstrated the applicability of a genomic tool for identifying gene function in soybeans. Understanding gene function in soybeans will ultimately benefit crop performance.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
China's Paradoxical Policies On HIV And Drug Use Threaten Health, Experts Argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Bkit_keLog/081208203857.htm
Injection drug users sentenced to compulsory detention under China's paradoxical policies on HIV/AIDS and narcotics suffer human rights abuses that may imperil their health, says a new study published in PLoS Medicine.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Tropics No Longer Museum Of Plant Biodiversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CD7tRvhhTOE/081209221705.htm
The biodiversity picture in the region known as the "lungs of the Earth" contradicts commonly held views relating to extinction in that area. New research outlines that the risk of extinction for plants is higher in countries close to the equator than previously thought.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
When Less Is More: Brief Inhibition Of Cancer Target Is Effective And Less Toxic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4HpEP8XfRkw/081208123249.htm
New research shows that the delicate balance between maximum clinical impact and toxicity may not be quite as fragile as scientists had previously believed. The study, published in the journal Cancer Cell, is likely to have a major impact on the future design and implementation of targeted cancer therapies.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Unique Archaeological Discovery In Balkan: World’s First Illyrian Trading Post Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u4XXJU9L1Hc/081208092151.htm
Archaeologists have found the very first traces of an Illyrian trading post that is more than two thousand years old. The Illyrians were an ancient people who lived by hunting, fishing and agriculture. They were known as both warriors and pirates.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Eye Disorders Linked To Statin Drug Use In Some Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dEjv4Hy1jbU/081202182232.htm
Statin medications are used to lower patients' cholesterol levels, thus helping prevent coronary heart disease, stroke and other deaths related to high cholesterol levels. Statin use has grown rapidly since 1992, and seems likely to increase in light of the recent, widely-reported Jupiter Study on statin benefits in patients with low cholesterol but elevated C-reactive protein.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Robust Watermarking Offers Hope Against Digital Piracy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QlOE6uFJvDw/081208092114.htm
Watermarks have been used for centuries to prove the authenticity of bank notes, postage stamps and documents. Now European researchers are considering them as a new tool in the fight against digital piracy and to authenticate and verify the integrity of digital media.

Thu, 11 Dec 08
Marital Problems Lead To Poorer Outcomes For Breast Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P-FKux9CvKs/081208123304.htm
Breast cancer patients who have a poor relationship with their spouse may face a more difficult road to recovery than would other women, according to a new study. Researchers found that, over five years, patients in distressed marriages had higher levels of stress, less physical activity, slower recovery and more symptoms and signs of illness than did similar patients who reported good marriages.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Plastic Made To Conduct Electricity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ufv3BWRymIw/081209111514.htm
Plastic that conducts electricity and metal that weighs no more than a feather? It sounds like an upside-down world. Yet researchers have succeeded in making plastics conductive and cutting production costs at the same time.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Production Line For Artificial Skin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0AUqJG5QeWo/081209100838.htm
A fully automated process is set to improve the production of artificial tissue: medical scientists can perform transplants with skin produced in the laboratory. This tissue is also suitable for testing chemicals at a low cost without requiring animal experiments.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Classification Of Spinal Deformity Defines Range Of Normalcy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1H8fa3MEMbo/081209154953.htm
A neurosurgeon who has spent his career helping people with severe spine problems stand up straight has spearheaded the creation of a new spinal deformity classification system.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Dual-head Gamma Camera Increases Ability To Detect Breast Tumors Not Seen On Mammography
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/208GEKEvSBY/081201144555.htm
A dual-headed dedicated gamma camera used during molecular breast imaging can accurately detect small breast tumors less than 2 cm in size, according to a new study.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Keeping Track: Software Locates People And Objects, Immediately Detects Unauthorized Persons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hj7jfXMRiXQ/081209111512.htm
Aircrafts and fueling vehicles move around, cleaning brigades come and go. Security staff keep watch on everything to ensure nobody gets into danger. A software will soon help them with their task: It locates people and objects and immediately detects unauthorized persons.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Thinking Like A President: How Power Affects Complex Decision Making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5sBxpYMef2M/081209154943.htm
Presidential scholars have written volumes trying to understand the presidential mind. Do those seeking office have a unique approach to decision making? Studies have suggested that power changes not only a person's responsibilities, but also the way they think. Now, a new study in Psychological Science indicates that having power may lead people to automatically think in a way that makes complex decision-making easier.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Clothing With A Brain: 'Smart Fabrics' That Monitor Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V8g-NP6IgNg/081208085058.htm
Researchers are reporting progress toward a simple, low-cost method to make "smart fabrics," electronic textiles capable of detecting diseases, monitoring heart rates, and other vital signs. These straight-out-of-science-fiction-fibers are made of carbon nanotubes.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Drug Reduces Aggression, Wandering And Paranoia In Alzheimer's Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kN0a-M7rg-8/081209125838.htm
Cholinesterase inhibitors, used to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, are also a safe and effective alternative therapy for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, according to a study in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New 3-D Views From Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/12WQg8Hsfwo/081209091354.htm
The team operating the highest-resolution camera orbiting Mars has posted 362 stereo images, providing three-dimensional views of mounds, canyons, gullies and other features.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Enzyme May Hold Key To Successfully Treating Pancreatic Cancer With Targeted Immunotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UWUBq9hXlwE/081201112620.htm
An enzyme that is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells may hold the key to successfully treating the disease with targeted immunotherapy. The enzyme is IDO2.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems Offer Considerable Potential For Improving Traffic Safety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EmeFxeSzxOY/081209085626.htm
Intelligent vehicle safety systems will clearly improve traffic safety if they are extensively taken into use. Many of the systems effectively reduce the number of fatalities and injuries, although without special measures, the systems will only slowly become more common in vehicles.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Year's Eve Is Extended : New Year's Eve Will Last One Second Longer Due To A Leap Second
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z-zRbBLpStk/081209130258.htm
For three years it was possible to do without it. But now it's become necessary again. This coming New Year's Eve, the radio controlled clocks will, after 0:59:59, instead of jumping to 1 o'clock at the next tick of the second, pause shortly in order to insert a small portion of extra time: a leap second.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
'Border Patrol Agents' Identified In The Gut
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TNJ_bbY-SI8/081208180335.htm
Researchers have shown in mice how and under what circumstances the gut activates its defensive mechanisms to prevent illness.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Statin Warning For Pregnant Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-C_0guF0lzM/081209085620.htm
Pregnant women or those hoping to start or extend a family should talk to their physician about avoiding using the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins, say scientists.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
100-meter Sprint World Record Could Go As Low As 9.48 Seconds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fRqdlgME2_M/081128082831.htm
During the last century human athletic records have continued tumbling, but are there limits to how fast elite athletes can run? Marathon runner Mark Denny from Stanford University has calculated human athletes' speed limits over distances ranging from 100m to the marathon and predicts that male runners may eventually sprint 100m in 9.48s.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Therapies Sought For Alcoholic Hepatitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cINytJmglPk/081201112618.htm
A new study finds the use of the drug therapy etanercept ineffective in treating alcoholic hepatitis, an acute inflammation of the liver caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Bringing Lab-on-a-chip To A Surgery Near You
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HwGcjZhNyKI/081202081455.htm
If doctors were able to conduct efficient genetic analysis at the point of care, using inexpensive, portable equipment, it would revolutionize disease detection and treatment. Researchers are close to enabling this revolution.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
When 2 + 2 = Major Anxiety: Math Performance In Stressful Situations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l-P_LTGQWUw/081209125840.htm
New research indicates that working memory is a key component of math anxiety. These findings suggest that worrying about a situation (such as solving an arithmetic problem in front of a group of people) takes up the working memory that is available for figuring out the math problem, resulting in poor performance in problem solving during stressful situations.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Secret Ingredient For The Health Of Tropical Rainforests Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vO-ffN1e3iA/081209125830.htm
Scientists have found for the first time that tropical rainforests, a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem, rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive growth. Most of the nitrogen that supports the rapid, lush growth of rainforests comes from tiny bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into fertilizer in the soil.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Vitamin D Found To Fight Placental Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nzhUd14P_t0/081201162125.htm
Vitamin D induces immune responses in placental tissues, suggesting that the ability of the placenta to combat bacterial infection may be enhanced if pregnant women supplement their diets with vitamin D.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Apoptosis Inhibitors Prevent Not Only Cell Death, But Also Play A Role In Cell Migration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4yfG_zIe7mI/081201105847.htm
Many of the cancer drugs currently undergoing clinical trials target apoptosis inhibitors (IAPs), since if the levels of IAPs are reduced, tumor cells will be destroyed by the body's own self-protecting mechanism or by the chemotherapeutic drugs. However, researchers have recently discovered that IAPs also have another life: they control cell migration.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Towards Improved Immunotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tvAPRMBRs8I/081201082355.htm
A new study describes a new method that facilitates the induction of a specific type of immune suppressive cells, called 'regulatory T cells' for therapeutic use. These immune suppressive cells show great potential for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and improving transplantation outcomes.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Semantic Desktop Paves Way For Semantic Web
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y4f4pXjNOGM/081202081546.htm
Researchers have developed innovative software to make finding information on your computer and sharing it with others considerably easier. In the process, they may have solved the chicken and egg problem that has held back development of the semantic web.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Higher Rates Of Mental Illness Among The Homeless In Western Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FpdzzDRqU6w/081201233443.htm
Homeless people in Western countries have substantially higher rates of mental health problems than the general population, according to results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in PLoS Medicine.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Rivers Of Gas Flow Around Stars In New Space Image
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6zf5FHli3tI/081209085703.htm
A new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows a turbulent star-forming region, where rivers of gas and stellar winds are eroding thickets of dusty material.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Global Blueprint To Treat Childhood Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9tygPgN2wQw/081201200304.htm
Scientists have developed a global blueprint for the treatment of the most common childhood cancer - neuroblastoma, which affects an estimated 11,000 children each year worldwide.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Statistical Model Could Help Reduce Breast-lesion Biopsies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJTceLkoOek/081130085941.htm
A new method of characterizing breast lesions found during an MRI exam could result in fewer biopsies of benign tumors with the benefits of reduced pain and expense for patients and providers, according to a new article.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Collective Solution To Accessing The Internet Via Satellite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tzc2kmMLUIc/081202081542.htm
In many rural areas of Europe, getting on the internet means putting up with sluggish dial-up connections or, at best, erratic mobile services. A new satellite-based solution developed by European researchers promises to change that.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
A New Light On Work-related Fatigue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vgfKGZdyy40/081201105849.htm
A research group from Taiwan examined the associations between the objective health indicators and the high need for recovery (NFR) after work. They found that for apparently healthy workers, high NFR after work is not simply a subjective experience. Objective health measures, such as elevated ALT and increased waist circumference, should be carefully evaluated for the apparently healthy workers.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Why Some Bird Species Lay Only One Egg
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TRk8B3KuU-A/081208203911.htm
A global study of the wide variation among birds in this trait, known as the "clutch size," now provides biologists with some answers. The study combined data on the clutch sizes of 5,290 species of birds with information on the biology and environment of each of these species.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Progression Of Retinal Disease Linked To Cell Starvation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V4n998U0Kwo/081207133721.htm
A new study illuminates an incurable eye disease that afflicts approximately 100,000 Americans. Your retina contains two types of cells that send signals when they detect light: rods and cones. In patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa, first the rods, then the cones die, leading to blindness. While most cases of the disease are due to mutations in rod-specific genes, cones don't escape death. New data suggest that the cones die because they are starving.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Soybean Genome Sequenced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Bs5azR_0Kc/081208124605.htm
Scientists have released a complete draft assembly of the soybean genetic code, making it widely available to the research community to advance new breeding strategies for one of the world's most valuable plant commodities. Soybean not only accounts for 70 percent of the world's edible protein, but also is an emerging feedstock for biodiesel production and is the leading US agricultural export.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Up To 2 Drinks Per Day Not Linked With Higher Risk Of Irregular Heart Beat For Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zCt_vVBzvIA/081202170809.htm
Women who have up to two alcoholic drinks per day do not appear to be at increased risk of atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), but drinking more than that amount is associated with a higher risk.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Heart Pumps: High Cost, High Mortality In An Emerging Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d4GFIpf13rk/081125161437.htm
Ventricular assist devices, or VADs -- surgically-placed mechanical pumps that can support failing hearts or buy time to transplant -- are associated with high hospital costs and high rates of early death among Medicare recipients, say researchers.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Nipping Violence In The Bud In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZtuiUEV1weg/081208180429.htm
Violent behavioral problems that persist in early childhood are good indicators of school drop-outs and future delinquency.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Hubble Telescope Finds Carbon Dioxide On An Extrasolar Planet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fwx8GfL_gHQ/081209144923.htm
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. This breakthrough is an important step toward finding chemical biotracers of extraterrestrial life.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Food Can Affect A Cell In The Same Way Hormones Do
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MLu8rWkAgfw/081207133813.htm
Researchers have discovered an important new mechanism with which cells can detect nutrients. This happens in the same way - and with the same effects – as when cells receive a message from a hormone. This finding can teach us more about how food affects our body; and, furthermore, it can form the basis for new candidate targets for medicines.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Neutron Researchers Discover Widely Sought Property In Magnetic Semiconductor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IDFN0U08Mk8/081125181041.htm
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time the existence of a key magnetic property of specially built semiconductor devices that raises hopes for even smaller and faster gadgets that could result from magnetic data storage in a semiconductor material.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Analysis Supports Use Of Surgery To Treat Medication-resistant Epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1tqqUDwGn7o/081202170816.htm
Persons with temporal lobe epilepsy who do not respond to medication could receive a substantial gain in life expectancy and quality of life by undergoing surgery of the temporal lobe part of the brain, according to a new analysis.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Lighted Fabric, Packaging, Easy With New Manufacturing Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FmpHbBwiSoU/081208092112.htm
Ultra-thin and energy efficient displays that use organic compounds to emit light have been stirring up excitement in the consumer electronics industry for several years. Researchers have now developed a cost-effective method for manufacturing flexible displays in much the same way that newspapers are printed. Their work promises to revolutionize packaging, advertising and even clothing.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Why Do People Make 'A Mountain Out of a Molehill?' Aggression, Status And Sex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bkK-9CVfqwo/081208140156.htm
Have you ever wondered why it seems like the littlest things make people angry? Why a glance at the wrong person or a spilled glass of water can lead to a fist fight or worse? One researcher has three words to explain why people may be evolutionarily inclined to make a mountain out of molehill: aggression, status and sex.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Cancer Projected To Become Leading Cause Of Death Worldwide In 2010
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-iZm8svnxGA/081209111516.htm
Despite the recent good news that cancer incidence and death rates for men and women in the United States continue to decline, cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide in the year 2010 and low- and middle-income countries will feel the impact of higher cancer incidence and death rates more sharply than industrialized countries.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
New Breast Imaging Technology Targets Hard-to-detect Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mwAztEaOWd0/081203084308.htm
Breast-specific gamma imaging is effective in the detection of cancers not found on mammograms or by clinical exam.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Discovery Of Microbe In Roundworm Provides Animal Model For 'Emerging Pathogen'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zu4Es1EvaBQ/081208203913.htm
An international team of biologists has discovered a new species of microsporidia, a single-celled parasite of animals, in a roundworm used in genetic laboratories around the world.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Dismissed Leukemia Drug Helps Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients, Studies Show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_mTiOvLyu5w/081208081012.htm
A drug once dismissed as ineffective in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia has shown promising results in two phase I and II clinical trials, according to new research.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Atomic Clock Could Be Miniturized
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xsxw4nZdyP4/081208084254.htm
The world's most precise clock - on which all time-keeping and navigation systems are based - might be made as small as a wristwatch with a new design proposed by an international team of physicists.

Wed, 10 Dec 08
Natural Hormone Reduces Stress Hormones In Arguing Couples
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Iq7q7QhY6Q/081208092108.htm
A dose of the hormone Oxytocin reduces the stress hormone Cortisol in arguing couples. In addition, Oxytocin strengthens positive behavior, as researchers have discovered. Various studies in recent years have repeatedly shown that the hormone Oxytocin in the brain of mammals -- and therefore human beings too -- is jointly responsible for regulating the social behavior.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Key To 'Curing' Obesity May Lie In Worms That Destroy Their Own Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UqIovn3HazA/081208114335.htm
A previously unknown mutation discovered in a common roundworm holds the promise of new treatments for obesity in humans, researchers say.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Mediterranean Diet Plus Nuts May Be Helpful In Managing Metabolic Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BrO9J2HEJZA/081208180242.htm
A traditional Mediterranean diet with an additional daily serving of mixed nuts appears to be useful for managing some metabolic abnormalities in older adults at high risk for heart disease, according to a new report.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Snail, Slug Invasions In Hawaii
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fCpGRRqwgHs/081126102518.htm
Hawaii's ongoing problem with invasive species such as snails and slugs, including their serious impact on plant nurseries and other aspects of the local horticultural industry, has been investigated and documented.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
No Association Found Between Fat, Protein, And Meat Consumption And Kidney Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VMWib7aazPM/081125161428.htm
There is no association between consumption of fat, protein, or meat and kidney cancer, according to a pooled analysis of prospective studies.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Ship-in-a-bottle Kit On A Microchip
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pkg14eNvFNs/081202115159.htm
Remote-controlled with a magnetic field, aggregates of plastic particles on a microchip function like stirrers and pumps.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
For Nanotechnology, Religion In U.S. Dictates A Wary View
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eAe_-Tl21hk/081207133717.htm
When it comes to the world of the very, very small -- nanotechnology -- Americans have a big problem: nano and its capacity to alter the fundamentals of nature, it seems, are failing the moral litmus test of religion.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Dinosaurs Were Airheads, CT Scans Reveal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qFYvvp0c2NM/081208114300.htm
Paleontologists have long known that dinosaurs had tiny brains, but they had no idea the beasts were such airheads. Scientists suggest that newly discovered large air spaces helped lighten the load of the head, making it about 18 percent lighter than it would have been without all the air. That savings in weight could have allowed the predators to put on more bone-crushing muscle or even to take larger prey.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Prostate Cancer Spurs New Nerves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EdgOD_nckvg/081201081719.htm
Prostate cancer -- and perhaps other cancers -- promotes the growth of new nerves and the branching axons that carry their messages, a finding associated with more aggressive tumors, said researchers in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Developing A Global Antidote For Snake Bites: 100,000 People Die From Snake Bites Each Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p8Dpc-Nntbc/081127115320.htm
Globally snake bite affects the lives of some 4.5 million people every year, and conservative estimates suggest that at least 100,000 people die from snake bite, and another 250,000 are permanently disabled. The world's leading authorities on snake bite are launching a Global Snake Bite Initiative aimed at developing practical solutions to prevent and treat what is one of the world's most neglected tropical conditions.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Genetic Variant, Poor Glycemic Control Linked To Coronary Artery Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f4EwDCtffgg/081125161433.htm
A common genetic variant associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease in the general population is also linked to an even higher risk for people with diabetes, particularly those with poor glucose control.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Exposure To Organochlorate Pollutants And Lead Weakens Animals Bones, According To Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZXM4kHw5-4k/081201101149.htm
Researchers have studied for the first time in Spain the toxicological effects of organochlorate pollutants and lead in living creatures by investigating the bone tissue in bird populations.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Un-masking A Faster Solution For Chip-making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9E2RhRmfLdI/081202081540.htm
Researchers have developed a promising solution to ‘mask-less’ semiconductor lithography and generated intense interest among major industry players.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Pavlov's Neurons: Brain Cells That Are A Key To Learning Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sVlEL90B9nM/081208180228.htm
More than a century after Ivan Pavlov's dog was conditioned to salivate when it heard the sound of a tone prior to receiving food, scientists have found neurons that are critical to how people and animals learn from experience.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Epilepsy Drug Taken When Pregnant May Increase Risk Of Autism In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7wohHNJzZCE/081201162028.htm
A new study shows that women who take the epilepsy drug valproate while pregnant may significantly increase their child's risk of developing autism.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
No ESKAPE! New Drugs Against MRSA, Other Superbugs Still Lacking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GKkyyU0yiJ0/081201105706.htm
Infectious disease experts warn that new drugs are urgently needed to treat six drug-resistant bacteria that cause most hospital infections and increasingly escape the effects of antibiotics.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Understanding Donor-recipient Genetics Could Decrease Early Kidney Transplant Complications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4GSdggIHw0A/081125161540.htm
Researchers have found an association between the genetics of donor-recipient matches in kidney transplants and complications during the first week after transplantation. The team has shown that small differences in the building blocks of cell-surface proteins used to match donors and recipients for deceased-donor kidney transplantation was associated with an increased risk for delayed allograft function.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Powerful Online Tool For Protein Analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VQB-Qe_oSSY/081201162129.htm
Scientists around the world may benefit from a powerful new database, available for free online, that will help them to hone in on the parts of proteins most necessary for their function. The novel bioinformatics tool was recently launched, enlisting evolution as the guide to determining the role different proteins play in a wide array of organisms.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
High Levels Of Prenatal Smoking Exposure Affect Sleep Patterns In Preterm Neonates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YiQRHdN7oCo/081201082005.htm
A new study is the first to show that high levels of prenatal smoking exposure strongly modify sleep patterns in preterm neonates, which places infants at a higher risk for developmental difficulties that could persist throughout early and middle childhood.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Global Warming Aided By Drought, Deforestation Link
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EGMXpyCkmMs/081208180339.htm
In the rainforests of equatorial Asia, a link between drought and deforestation is fueling global warming, finds an international study.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
How Ovarian Tumors Evade Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R32L9Pu16uI/081201081919.htm
Scientists have determined how the characteristic shedding of fatty substances, or lipids, by ovarian tumors allows the cancer to evade the body's immune system, leaving the disease to spread unchecked. The potential exists for drugs to halt shedding of fatty molecules, stop tumor growth and kill cancer.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Growth Hormone Not Beneficial For ALS, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VichTYHO2jo/081124165115.htm
A growth hormone that had shown some promise for treating people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis showed no benefit in a new study.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Harnessing MiRNA Natural Gene Repressors For Anticancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ceYboiu6Lv4/081201200034.htm
Researchers have developed a new approach to harness natural repressors of gene expression known as miRNAs to modulate the expression of genes for therapeutic purposes and used this approach to mediate effective anticancer therapy in mice.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Revised Hours And Workloads For Medical Residents Needed To Reduce Fatigue-Related Mistakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZE-9b9YjzYs/081202133515.htm
A new report proposes revisions to medical residents' duty hours and workloads to decrease the chances of fatigue-related medical errors and to enhance the learning environment for these doctors in training.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
'Intelligent' Materials To Revolutionize Surgical Implants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KvRI3il8JzE/081203133813.htm
A brand new process that could revolutionize the reliability and durability of surgical implants, such as hip and knee replacements, has received recognition for its medical and commercial potential.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Prion Infectivity Found In White And Brown Fat Tissues Of Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Qs_Le0lB18/081205094509.htm
Researchers have found novel prion infectivity in white and brown fat tissues of mice. Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are infectious progressive fatal neurodegenerative diseases which affect humans as well as wild and domestic animals.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Antibiotics: Single Largest Class Of Drugs Causing Liver Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lvs4Gtw56XI/081201081904.htm
Antibiotics are the single largest class of agents that cause idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury, reports a new study in Gastroenterology. DILI is the most common cause of death from acute liver failure and accounts for approximately 13 percent of cases of acute liver failure in the US. It is caused by a wide variety of prescription and nonprescription medications, nutritional supplements and herbals.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
An Old Dream Fulfilled: Zinc Oxide As Semiconductor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DTsdy4nE8Jo/081205095950.htm
Zinc oxide is a “jack of all trades” – thousands of tons are produced all over the world every year for a wide range of uses. Zinc oxide has been used for everything from a food additive to a sun screening agent. It is even a significant semiconductor, although the long-awaited breakthrough in this field is yet to come. Perfect doping -- important in the production of semiconductor devices -- is not yet possible. Researchers now a clearer understanding of why.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Nanotechnology 'Culture War' Possible, Says Yale Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GIVcy5hjdhQ/081207133749.htm
Rather than infer that nanotechnology is safe, members of the public who learn about this novel science tend to become sharply polarized along cultural lines, according to a new study published online in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. These findings have important implications for garnering support of the new technology, say the researchers.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Spider Love: Little Guys Get Lots More
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4ObEoIeGUZs/081208081008.htm
Big males outperform smaller ones in head-to-head mating contests but diminutive males make ten times better lovers because they're quicker to mature and faster on their feet, a new study of redback spiders reveals. Published in the current online issue of Journal of Evolutionary Biology, the study shows the importance of maturation in defining mating and paternity success.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Novel Bioreactor Enhances Interleukin-12 Production In Genetically-modified Tobacco Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bUVNWI93V7E/081203184525.htm
Scientists have found a way to produce significant quantities of murine interleukin-12, a naturally occurring protein essential for the proper functioning of the human immune system, from the hairy roots of genetically-modified tobacco plants by growing them in a novel mist bioreactor system.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
New Enzyme In Cancer Growth Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nIoIEiX8VEU/081203184932.htm
Researchers have discovered a new enzyme that not only affects the blood, but seems to play a primary role in how cancer tumors expand and spread throughout the body.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Golf Course: Playing Fields, Wildlife Sanctuaries Or Both
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fchboGnHIqg/081203184924.htm
Researchers are examining the effect of golf courses on salamander populations. Working with 10 golf courses in North Carolina, they are measuring stream salamanders' abundance and diversity in order to make biologically relevant management suggestions for golf course superintendents. The researchers are hoping to balance human recreation with the protection of wildlife.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Men Are Red, Women Are Green, Brown Researcher Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3PDWx_Vn-hI/081208081006.htm
A professor of cognitive and linguistic sciences at Brown University, has discovered a difference in skin tone associated with gender. Men are red. Women are green.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Body Clock Linked To Diabetes And High Blood Sugar In New Genome-wide Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eq9Wl9Tlf1o/081207133817.htm
Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar may be linked to abnormalities in a person's body clock and sleep patterns, according to a genome-wide association study published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Shared Features Of Human Gut Microbial Communities: Variations Linked To Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9h6859CzdU/081203092433.htm
Researchers have catalogued the microbial species in the guts of lean and obese female twins and their mothers, finding that each individual carries a unique collection of bacteria, although the communities are more similar among family members. However, when the scientists looked closer, they found the various collections of bacterial species carried a common set of genes that performed key functions to complement those performed by our human genes.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Interferon Needed For Cells To 'Remember' How To Defeat A Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BAi9mHCjakQ/081203084316.htm
Scientists have determined that the immune-system protein interferon plays a key role in "teaching" the immune system how to fight off repeated infections of the same virus.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Advanced CT Scans Valuable To Check For Clogged Arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-drQKrbEcRw/081126215254.htm
In a development that researchers say is likely to quell concerns about the value of costly computed tomography scans to diagnose coronary artery blockages, researchers report solid evidence that the newer, more powerful 64-CT scans can easily and correctly identify people with major blood vessel disease and is nearly as accurate as invasive coronary angiography.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
ESA Tests Laser To Measure Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5W1gXlnDJ-E/081203133817.htm
A recent ESA campaign has demonstrated how a technique using lasers could be employed to measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The campaign supports one of the main objectives of the candidate Earth Explorer A-SCOPE mission.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
How Shift Workers Can Improve Job Performance And Implement Realistic Sleep Schedule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8-PhdtibS7I/081201082003.htm
The use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a "compromise circadian phase position," which may result in increased performance and alertness during night shifts while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on days off.

Tue, 9 Dec 08
Six Genetic Variants Associated With 'Bad' Cholesterol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v2BR4IQWT1U/081207133745.htm
A new study presages a real aim of genetics: to look at whole populations in order to determine the significance of individual genetic variants for individual health. The researchers found six novel genetic variants that are associated with lipid levels, a common indicator of heart or artery disease. This study is the first to find lipid--gene links by looking at the general population, rather than patients.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Physicists Set New Record For Quantum Memory Storage And Retrieval
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06mFHHAq_Rk/081207133753.htm
Physicists have taken a significant step toward creation of quantum networks by establishing a new record for the length of time that quantum information can be stored in and retrieved from an ensemble of very cold atoms. Though the information remains usable for just milliseconds, even that short lifetime should be enough to allow transmission of data from one quantum repeater to another on an optical network.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Genes For Nine Health Indicators: Population Study Finds Genetics Clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oMeIAl3xUIs/081207133815.htm
A new genome-wide study examines genetic variants associated with nine metabolic traits and is the first to draw out novel variants from a population unselected for current disease. The traits are indicators for common disease such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, inflammation and lipid levels.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
How Disease Disables Tomato Plant's 'Intruder Alarm'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8QF4u8-yKgo/081204133359.htm
How a bacterium overcomes a tomato plant's defenses and causes disease, by sneakily disabling the plant's intruder detection systems, is revealed in new research in Current Biology.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Wind Screen Collects Cool Air To Help Save The Rhône Glacier In Switzerland
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oW94TKdGv-E/081206131037.htm
A small wind screen has been erected on a glacier to test the concept of collecting cool air and reducing melting caused by global warming. By constructing a wind screen on the Rhône glacier in Switzerland, cold downwinds, which normally pass unhindered into the valley, can be intercepted and collected, thus creating a cold air cushion at the wind screen and in its close vicinity.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Unlocking The Mysteries Of Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4tNr97_r3Yg/081204133612.htm
Stop and think for a moment. What do you remember about your breakfast this morning? One part of your brain will recall the smell of coffee brewing, while another will remember your partner's smile while walking out the door. How does the brain weave together these fragments, and how does it bring them back to conscious life?

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Bio-inspired Toughest Ceramic Mimics Mother Of Pearl
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C7QPZKi4R94/081205171011.htm
Biomimicry -- technological innovation inspired by nature -- is one of the hottest ideas in science but has yet to yield many practical advances. Time for a change. Scientists have mimicked now the structure of mother of pearl to create what may well be the toughest ceramic ever produced.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Vitamin E Shows Possible Promise In Easing Chronic Inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/90JPZznpqE0/081204133604.htm
With up to half of a person’s body mass consisting of skeletal muscle, chronic inflammation of those muscles – which include those found in the limbs – can result in significant physical impairment. Researchers have found that vitamin E shows promise in easing inflammation.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Interferon As Long-term Treatment For Hepatitis C Not Effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BJacR8cqhlw/081204133645.htm
Use of the drug interferon as a long-term maintenance strategy to slow the progression of liver disease associated with the hepatitis C virus is ineffective, according to new research.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Iressa Proves Just As Effective As Chemotherapy For Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lqPreAPIbSk/081120202508.htm
Gefitinib, also known as Iressa, the once-promising targeted therapy for the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer, has proven as effective as chemotherapy as a second-line therapy for the disease with far fewer side effects, according to an international Phase III clinical trial.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Rooted Plants Move Mysteriously Down Greenways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ALR7FGxDVng/081203184934.htm
The wild pea pod is big and heavy, with seemingly little prayer of escaping the shade of its parent plant.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Do Stereotypes About Social Groups Bias Personnel Decisions?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jBG0lpfVRVo/081203184531.htm
Research that is said to demonstrate that stereotypes about social groups bias personnel decisions may be based on faulty methods of studying the question.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Intervention In Infants With Cystic Fibrosis Key To Slowing Progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AqJ2l0eX6lw/081205094502.htm
Early detection of lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF), combined with aggressive treatment in infants, may be the key to controlling the progression of the disease, according to a recent study. New research shows that contrary to previous scientific opinion, progressive lung damage in CF patients can begin as early as infancy even though lung function shortly after diagnosis is normal.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Robotics Integrated With Human Body In Near Future? Technology Gulf Between 'Have' And 'Have Nots' Predicted By 2020
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gWTpAWEkKrQ/081205100137.htm
What is the potential future impact of robots on society? New conclusions show that the enormous automation capacity of robots and their ability to interact with humans will cause a technological imbalance over the next 12 years between those who have them and those who do not. One significant area of research may well result in the insertion of robots into our bodies, such as intelligent implants in the brain, which will improve our rational thought, and nanorobots to be released into the blood to clean our arteries.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Discovery Of A Debilitating Genetic Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kJ1ff4IQE8k/081205094620.htm
Canadian researchers announce the discovery of MEDNIK Syndrome, a debilitating genetic syndrome. Scientists have demonstrated that this syndrome is caused by a newly found mutation in the AP1S1 gene.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Large-scale Gene Silencing Mystery Solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0WMDFE3DY0U/081204183245.htm
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the phenomenon of nucleolar dominance, the silencing of an entire parental set of ribosomal RNA genes in a hybrid plant or animal. Since the machinery involved in nucleolar dominance is some of the same machinery that can go haywire in diseases such as cancer, this new study may have important implications for applied medical research.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Body Shape and Heart Disease Risk: Apple Or Pear Shape Is Not Main Culprit To Heart Woes -- It's Liver Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJyUQ77NOUw/081204133600.htm
Pear-shaped people who carry weight in the thighs and backside have been told for years they are at lower risk for high blood pressure and heart disease than apple-shaped people who carry fat in the abdomen. But in two studies, School of Medicine researchers report that body shape isn't the only marker of risk. Excess liver fat appears to be the key to insulin resistance, cholesterol abnormalities and other problems that contribute to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
California's Deep Sea Secrets: New Species Found, Human Impact Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fMymH8PZMMA/081203184926.htm
Scientists returning from research expeditions in Mexico have captured unprecedented details of vibrant sea life and ecosystems in the Gulf of California, including documentations of new species and marine animals previously never seen alive. Yet the expeditions, which included surveys at unexplored depths, have revealed disturbing declines in sea-life populations and evidence that human impacts have stretched down deeply in the gulf.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Bone Marrow-derived Stem Cells May Offer Novel Therapeutic Option For Skin Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gyoIe7jirJg/081204133556.htm
Stem cells derived from bone marrow may serve as a novel therapeutic option to treat a disease called epidermolysis bullosa, a disorder characterized by extraordinarily fragile skin, according to a study in Blood.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Best Treatments For Long-term Survival In Brain Tumor Patients Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LdRKRaYWiyA/081203185018.htm
A new study found that patients with low-grade gliomas survived longest when they underwent aggressive surgeries to successfully remove the entire tumor. If safely removing the entire tumor was not possible, patients survived significantly longer when surgery was followed by radiation therapy.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
New Bone Implant Technology Using Techniques Used To Make Catalytic Converters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vw6neJXR_zM/081204074812.htm
A method of producing synthetic bone, using techniques normally used to make catalytic converters for cars, is being developed by researchers.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Privacy Issues: Avoiding Becoming A Victim Of Online Crime
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lK7bRfQpnNc/081204094555.htm
Individuals must take control of their own online identities if they are to avoid becoming victims of online crime. That is the conclusion of two studies published in the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Mutualism By Natural Selection: Imitation Is Not Just Flattery For Amazon Butterfly Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y_FLDCRM_Ik/081201233452.htm
Many studies of evolution focus on the benefits to the individual of competing successfully -- those who survive produce the most offspring, in Darwin's classic 'survival of the fittest'. But how does this translate to the evolution of species? A new article reviews an aspect of the natural world that, like survival of the fittest individual, is explained by natural selection: namely, mutualism -- an interaction between species that has benefits for both. The work shows that some species of butterfly that live alongside one another have evolved in ways that, surprisingly, benefit both species.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
New Target Discovered To Treat Epileptic Seizures Following Brain Trauma Or Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8EeagZRwq8k/081205094622.htm
New therapies for some forms of epilepsy may soon be possible, thanks to a new discovery by neuroscience researchers. The researchers found that hemichannels -- the same channels the researchers previously found to that cause cell death following a stroke -- may also cause epileptic seizures that occur following head trauma or a stroke.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Transporting Young Salmon To Help Them Avoid Dams Hinders Adult Migration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w37fAIE9CN0/081205113934.htm
Scientists have discovered that management efforts intended to assist migrations of salmon and steelhead trout can have unintended consequences for fish populations. Juveniles that are transported downstream on boats can lose the ability to migrate back to their breeding grounds, reducing their survivorship and altering adaptations in the wild. Attempts to avoid dams can therefore decrease survival in adult fish. Transportation programs have been in place for over three decades to improve the survival of fish that hatch in rivers but migrate downstream to the ocean, where they live most of their adult lives.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Long-term Antibiotics Reduce COPD Exacerbations, Raise Questions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V7lVUJEgIL0/081121080823.htm
Long-term use of a macrolide antibiotic may reduce the frequency of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by as much as 35 percent, according to a London-based study.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Managing Carbon Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ot60jN_v7Ps/081203184535.htm
The push for alternative energy has created a large demand for corn stover, a popular feedstock used to produce cellulosic ethanol, but utilizing these materials, rather than using it as compost, means a loss of soil organic carbon. Researchers have studied the effectiveness of alternative carbon augmentation practices and have reported positive results.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
American Values Blamed For U.S Health-care Crisis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xGW_IPEemo4/081204160558.htm
To heal our ailing health-care system, we need to stop thinking like Americans. That's the consensus of two new articles published in the journal Neurology by a neurologist and leading expert on national health-care reform.

Mon, 8 Dec 08
Cold Sore Virus Linked To Alzheimer's Disease: New Treatment, Or Even Vaccine Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5pPGP_WGh84/081207134109.htm
The virus behind cold sores is a major cause of the insoluble protein plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease sufferers, researchers have revealed. They believe the herpes simplex virus is a significant factor in developing the debilitating disease and could be treated by antiviral agents such as acyclovir, which is already used to treat cold sores and other diseases caused by the herpes virus. Another future possibility is vaccination against the virus to prevent the development of the disease in the first place.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Carbon Dioxide Helped Ancient Earth Escape Deathly Deep Freeze
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7RNhlIQM-pI/081130164511.htm
The planet's present day greenhouse scourge, carbon dioxide, may have played a vital role in helping ancient Earth to escape from complete glaciation, say scientists.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Winter Brings Flu, Summer Brings Bacterial Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jZYezOE0dew/081126215300.htm
In the same way that winter is commonly known to be the "flu season," a new study suggests that the dog days of summer may well be the "bacterial infection" season.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Proteins Strangle Cell During Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iUQnB-jx68c/081125121337.htm
A Swedish research group has discovered a new mechanism for cell division in a microorganism found in extremely hot and acidic conditions. The results of the research offer insights into evolution, but also into the functioning of the human body.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Type Of Breast Reconstruction Impacts Radiation Therapy Outcomes, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b0J_hhWJJwk/081120154509.htm
For breast cancer patients who underwent a mastectomy and who undergo radiation therapy after immediate breast reconstruction, autologous tissue reconstruction provides fewer long-term complications and better cosmetic results than tissue expander and implant reconstruction, according to a new study.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Cell Movements Totally Modular, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EM3R2vhdE70/081130201922.htm
A study describing how cells within blood vessel walls move en masse overturns an assumption common in the age of genomics -- that the proteins driving cell behavior are doing so much multitasking that it would be near impossible to group them according to a few discrete functions. But now researchers have shown that distinct groups of proteins each control one of four simple activities involved in the cells' collective migration.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Juries Not As Racially Diverse As The Communities From Which They Are Drawn, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pW2uM6YeTYU/081203184641.htm
Results reveal that there is a wide range of factors that conspire to prevent juries from being as racially diverse as the communities they represent.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Climate Change Wiped Out Cave Bears 13 Millennia Earlier Than Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u32-5HgaD38/081125203143.htm
Enormous cave bears, Ursus spelaeus, that once inhabited a large swathe of Europe, from Spain to the Urals, died out 27,800 years ago, around 13 millennia earlier than was previously believed, scientists have reported. The new date coincides with a period of significant climate change, known as the Last Glacial Maximum, when a marked cooling in temperature resulted in the reduction or loss of vegetation forming the main component of the cave bears' diet.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Presence Of Gum Disease May Help Dentists And Physicians Identify Risk For Cardiovascular Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mvx0Ykob4rs/081125112956.htm
Individuals reporting a history of periodontal disease were more likely to have increased levels of inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease, compared to those who reported no history of periodontal disease, according to new research. The findings suggest persons with increased levels of inflammatory markers associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease might be identified by asking about oral health history.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Clue To Safer Obesity Drugs: Mechanism Links Serotonin With Regulation Of Food Intake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DTKNzqr7DD8/081125121238.htm
Once hailed as a miracle weight-loss drug, Fen-phen was removed from the market more than a decade ago for inducing life-threatening side effects, including heart valve lesions. Scientists are trying to understand how Fen-phen behaves in the brain in order to develop safer anti-obesity drugs with fewer side effects.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
New Drug For Skin Cancer Approaching Commercialization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7VBT0L3djto/081120104007.htm
A drug that is activated by light can be a quick, simple, and cheap treatment for tens of thousands of patients with skin cancer in Sweden alone.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Reprogrammable Cell Type Depends On Single Gene To Keep Its Identity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cDUD_LqX6VY/081201120428.htm
Scientists have discovered that a certain differentiated cell type is so ready to change its identity that it requires the constant expression of a gene called Prox1 to dissuade it.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Collaboration Of Soloists Makes The Best Science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YYNTEWWbwkU/081204133606.htm
For the success of a major research university, which is better: large, well-funded laboratory empires with many investigators working toward the same end, or the individual scientist toiling alone in his own laboratory or at his own desk?

Sun, 7 Dec 08
More Evidence The Aging Brain Is Easily Distracted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IsFKQedDPaU/081125181035.htm
Researchers have found more evidence that older adults aren't able to filter out distracting information as well as younger adults. In an interesting twist, this latest discovery was made because of -- rather than in spite of -- the noisy environment that research participants must tolerate when having their brains scanned inside a donut-shaped magnet known as a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
New Imaging Technique Tracks Cancer-killing Cells Over Prolonged Period
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yY4FsHdKTl8/081118071138.htm
Coaxing a patient's own cells to hunt down and tackle infected or diseased cells is a promising therapeutic approach for many disorders. Now, for the first time, researchers have devised a way to obtain repeated "snapshots" of the location and survival of such cells in a living human patient months and possibly years later.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Immune Cells Reveal Fancy Footwork
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b__YtjKY3fI/081125113329.htm
Our immune system plays an essential role in protecting us from diseases, but how does it do this exactly? Biologists discovered that before dendritic cells move to the lymph nodes they lose their sticky feet. This helps them to move much faster. Immature dendritic cells patrol the tissues in search of antigens.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Causes Of Bone Loss In Breast Cancer Survivors Include Cancer Drugs And Vitamin D Deficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0kSMGIK8bkI/081120072909.htm
Osteoporosis is a growing concern among breast cancer survivors and their doctors because certain cancer drugs can cause bone loss. But a new study has found that cancer drugs aren't the only culprits. Among 64 breast cancer patients referred to a bone health clinic, 78 percent had at least one other cause of bone loss, such as vitamin D deficiency and an overactive parathyroid gland.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
PET Is Most Powerful Imaging Tool In Cancer Management, Nationwide Study Confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1up3mqOp75s/081201105653.htm
With the most recent release of data from the National Oncologic PET Registry, researchers may have reached the moment of critical mass by confirming the effectiveness of positron emission tomography in the monitoring of tumor activity across a wide range of cancers. In the article, researchers reported results by cancer type for the first two years of data collected from nearly 41,000 PET studies conducted at more than 1,300 cancer centers nationwide.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
European Ancestry Increases Breast Cancer Risk Among Latinas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cJJusObEeZg/081201081715.htm
Latina women have a lower risk of breast cancer than European or African-American women generally, but those with higher European ancestry could be at increased risk, according to data published in the Dec. 1 issue of Cancer Research.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Novel Treatments Show Improvements In Survival And Response Rates For Leukemia And Lymphoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RuroXLa7BXM/081206224604.htm
The use of dexamethasone early in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer, may help reduce the risk of relapse according to study results being presented in a press conference on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m., during the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco, Calif.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Public Health Policy Expert Says U.S. Can Learn From Dutch Universal Healthcare Coverage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_UO7HY3pQJ8/081206130857.htm
The United States can learn from the Dutch Health Insurance System model, according to a new article. With several industrialized countries providing universal health care coverage, the Netherlands' model closely resembles the model that U.S. policymakers are looking to create, according to expert opinion.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Ultrasound Screening Helps Prevent Stroke In Children With Sickle Cell Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f1Edtymeatc/081206130855.htm
Screening with an ultrasound machine has proved highly successful in preventing stroke among children with sickle cell disease, by identifying children who are then preventively treated with blood transfusions. Over an eight-year period at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, researchers found that the technique, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, along with regular transfusions for children found to be at high risk, reduced stroke to one-tenth of the incidence found before TCD was introduced.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Novel Therapeutic Approaches May Improve Patient Outcomes In Several Platelet Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BbMqwoyIF68/081206130853.htm
Four studies that highlight significant advances in treatment and survival outcomes for patients with various forms of thrombocytopenia, a group of bleeding disorders characterized by a low number of platelets in the blood, were presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco, Calif.

Sun, 7 Dec 08
Pieces Coming Together For First Test Launch Of NASA's New Spacecraft
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6HVuDN9F4D8/081206130151.htm
NASA is using powerful computers and software programs to design the rocket that will carry crew and cargo to space after the space shuttle retires. But those computers will have their work checked the old-fashioned way with the first of several uncrewed demonstration launches beginning in 2009.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Inner Workings Of The Immune System Filmed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-MhLub-SSqY/081203185020.htm
Forget what's number one at the box office this week. The most exciting new film features the intricate workings of the body, filmed by scientists using ground-breaking technology.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Mouse Model Of Prion Disease: Mutant Proteins Result In Infectious Prion Disease In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0qxA3Q96xUM/081205122936.htm
Scientists have created an infectious prion disease in a mouse model, in a step that may help unravel the mystery of this progressive disease that affects the nervous system in humans and animals.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
'Zinc Zipper' Plays Key Role In Hospital-acquired Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/koHWg8Vb3jA/081204160602.htm
Scientists are exploring a "zinc zipper" that holds bacterial cells together and plays a key role in hospital-acquired infections.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Scientists Prove Endothelial Cells Give Rise To Blood Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l0UNFDaZaG4/081203131039.htm
Stem cell researchers have proven definitively that blood stem cells are made during mid-gestational embryonic development by endothelial cells, the cells that line the inside of blood vessels.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Dry Winter Weather Results In Highest Particulate Pollution Levels From Traffic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/268NODPxIB8/081204074814.htm
Dry winter weather and low level mixing of pollutants from vehicle exhausts in cities leads to the highest concentrations of the tiny soot particles, known as PM10 particles, according to an article in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution. These findings suggest that traffic controls, other than an outright ban for several days at a time, would have little effect on levels.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Past Religious Diversity And Intolerance Have Profound Impact On Genetics Of Iberian People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aymHNi3MlJU/081204133357.htm
New research suggests that relatively recent events had a substantial impact on patterns of genetic diversity in the southwest region of Europe. The study shows that geographical patterns of ancestry appear to have been influenced by religious conversions of both Jews and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Poor Children's Brain Activity Resembles That Of Stroke Victims, EEG Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dKpQ43AyCAA/081203092429.htm
Prefrontal cortex activity in children from low socioeconomic levels is lower than in similar children from well-off families. The brain differences, documented through EEGs, are dramatic: the prefrontal cortexes of poor kids 9 and 10 years of age react to novel stimuli in the same way as the brain of a stroke victim. The researchers believe this is fixable, however.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Secondhand Smoke Raises Odds Of Fertility Problems In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GVEfgYyMGKE/081205113932.htm
If you need another reason to quit smoking, consider that it may diminish your chances of being a parent or grandparent. Scientists have found that women exposed to second hand smoke, either as adults or children, were significantly more likely to face fertility problems and suffer miscarriages.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Invasive Garden Ants As New Pest Insects In Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z-0l78MzvQE/081202210215.htm
A new study illuminates where Lasius neglectus, a new ant that was discovered in 1990, comes from, how it organizes its supercolonies, and how it attained its pest status. The study provides a wake-up call for closer monitoring of urban ecosystems to eliminate infestations before they become problematic.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Genetic Ancestry Of African-Americans Reveals New Insights About Gene Expression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fqvfmj57sZk/081205094513.htm
The amount of proteins produced in cells -- a fundamental determinant of biological outcomes collectively known as gene expression -- varies in African-American individuals depending on their proportion of African or European genetic ancestry.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Biodiversity Hotspots Are Also Major Carbon Sinks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YK3TuGoT9SY/081205153515.htm
New research shows how reducing emissions from deforestation can not only assist in combating climate change but can also help the conservation of biodiversity, from amphibians and birds to primates. Close to 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are a result of deforestation.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Vitreous Humor In The Eye Helps To Establish Time Of Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D5XjTSnOAg4/081204133857.htm
Scientists have proposed a new method to estimate the approximate time of death. This is based on the analysis of several substances from the vitreous humor of the eye of cadavers, according to an article published in the journal Statistics in Medicine. Using this system, scientists have developed a piece of software that makes it possible to establish precisely the post mortem interval (PMI), information that will make the work of the police and the courts of justice easier.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Decline Of Roman And Byzantine Empires 1,400 Years Ago May Have Been Driven By Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nppdjmfkons/081205171005.htm
The decline of the Roman and Byzantine Empires in the Eastern Mediterranean more than 1,400 years ago may have been driven by unfavorable climate changes.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Exploring Gene Therapy To Fight AIDS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KG2_CFnv9tw/081205171007.htm
The apparent success of a case in which German doctors cured a man of AIDS using a bone marrow transplant comes as no surprise to a UC Davis stem cell researcher. He has been working for more than 10 years on a similar cure for AIDS based on replacing the devastated immune system of an HIV-infected patient with stem cells that have been engineered to resist human immunodeficiency syndrome.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Technique To Differentiate Between Original And Bootleg CDs Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WEevLBNAPoQ/081205122941.htm
A group of scientists has developed a new optical technique which permits to know if a Compact Disc (CD) is original or a copy. This new technique is economical, fast and effective, and allows to detect illegal CD copies.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Fractional Dose Of Scarce Meningitis Vaccine May Be Effective In Outbreak Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gdju52Ji5pg/081201233450.htm
A partial dose of a commonly used vaccine against meningitis may be as effective as a full dose, according to new research. Fractional dosing would enable large-scale vaccination campaigns during epidemics, especially at a time of global vaccine shortages.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Human Approach To Computer Processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PHv4aJQMY1g/081202115421.htm
A more human approach to processing raw data could change the way that computers deal with information, according to academics.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Depression Rife Among Medical Students
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4WdXfOnSpIA/081205094515.htm
Medical students frequently suffer from depression, especially during their internship years. Affective symptoms represent the core symptoms of a depressive mood, based on students' reported levels of sadness, dissatisfaction, episodes of crying, irritability and social withdrawal. The cognitive cluster assessed pessimism, sense of failure or guilt, expectation of punishment, dislike of self, suicidal ideation, indecisiveness and change in body image. Finally, the somatic cluster assessed the presence of slowness, insomnia, fatigue, loss of weight and loss of sexual interest.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Happiness Is 'Infectious' In Network Of Friends: Collective -- Not Just Individual -- Phenomenon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yfG4M8eza44/081205094506.htm
Happiness spreads through social networks like an emotional contagion, according to a study that looked at nearly 5,000 individuals over a period of 20 years. When an individual becomes happy, the network effect can be measured up to three degrees. One person's happiness triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only his friends, but his friends' friends, and his friends' friends' friends. The effect lasts for up to one year. Conversely, sadness does not spread through social networks as robustly as happiness.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Escape Cancer, But Age Sooner? The Dark Side Of The Tumor Suppressing Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fgqkr7a_Elo/081201233454.htm
Cells shut down and stop dividing when their DNA is damaged so as to prevent damaged DNA from leading to unregulated cell division and therefore cancer. However, a new study has found that when these cells shut down they also spew proteins into their surrounding environment. This causes inflammation and sets up conditions that support the development of age-related diseases including, ironically, cancer.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Toys Made Of Liquid Wood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/euEO8OTwsEg/081202115326.htm
Most plastics are based on petroleum. A bio-plastic that consists of one hundred percent renewable raw materials helps to conserve this resource. Researchers have now optimized the plastic in such a way that it is even suitable for products such as Nativity figurines.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Study Identifies Link Between Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers In Healthy Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-i2jIMHrpE/081202115611.htm
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease provides an insight into normal, physiological levels and association between proteins involved in development of Alzheimer's disease. A group of scientists and physicians performed a study in cognitively normal and generally healthy adults, from young to old (age range 21-88 years), of both genders, measuring levels of different brain-derived molecules associated with AD.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Approach Eliminates Software Deadlocks Using Discrete Control Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o3QCxR7e0CQ/081202115324.htm
Software deadlocks are the catch-22s of the computer world. These common bugs can freeze the machine when different parts of a program end up in an endless cycle of waiting for one another as they access shared data.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Cardiovascular Disease Causing Increasing Inequity Between Rich And Poor, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Ju5ZC370gE/081202133517.htm
A new paper is warning a cardiovascular disease based epidemic is gaining pace among many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), exemplified at its worst in the world's largest populated countries -- China and India. Preventive cardiovascular treatments that are widely available in high income countries are not yet widely accessed in LMIC, contributing to an escalating inequality in health status between rich and poor.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Virtual Faces Created With Emotions, Moods And Personality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EySudFN0Tu8/081204133855.htm
Computer scientists developed a computer model that enables the creation of faces which for the first time display emotions and moods according to personality traits.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Extraordinary Immune Cells May Hold The Key To Managing HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G-fwgpmj9ZY/081204133355.htm
People who manage to control HIV on their own are providing scientists with valuable information about how the immune system eliminates virus-infected cells. A new study identifies specific characteristics of the immune cells that successfully destroy HIV-infected cells and may drive strategies for developing the next generation of HIV vaccines and therapies.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
NASA's Swift Looks To Comets For A Cool View
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IdT1fDnFL3s/081203184928.htm
NASA's Swift Gamma-ray Explorer satellite rocketed into space in 2004 on a mission to study some of the highest-energy events in the universe. The spacecraft has detected more than 380 gamma-ray bursts, fleeting flares that likely signal the birth of a black hole in the distant universe. In that time, Swift also has observed 80 exploding stars and studied six comets.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Maternal Exposure To Folic Acid Antagonists Increases Risks Of Certain Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XR5PYOfM4SA/081202080821.htm
Exposure to folic acid antagonists during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of placenta-mediated adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction or fetal death reports a retrospective cohort study.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Shrinking Glaciers Reveal Hidden Forests And A Warmer Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0bkNKlSJwmc/081204133853.htm
Uniquely old tree remains have recently been uncovered by the thawing of the rapidly shrinking Kårsa Glacier west of Abisko in Lapland, in northernmost Sweden. The finds show that in the last 7,000 years it has probably never been so warm as during the last century.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Easing The Stress Of Trauma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xqIYADmZNac/081201162040.htm
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects as many as one in five of all Americans who survive a harrowing experience like rape, assault, war or terrorism. It has emotionally paralyzed survivors of 9/11 and broken up survivors’ families. There is no broadly accepted treatment that can lower the chance of developing the disorder, but thanks to new research, a medical means of preventing PTSD may be just around the corner.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Venus Comes To Life At Wavelengths Invisible To Human Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qvjzksYbqEI/081203133811.htm
A pale yellow-green dot to the human eye, Earth's twin planet comes to life in the ultraviolet and the infrared. New images taken by instruments on board ESA's Venus Express provide insight into the turbulent atmosphere of our neighboring planet.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Screening Tool To Identify Patients With Prediabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Do3lDv5wq4c/081204133657.htm
Scientists have created a clinical tool to identify those at highest risk for having undetected hyperglycemia, impaired fasting glucose and undiagnosed diabetes. If these conditions are identified early, patients may benefit from preventative strategies that can minimize progression to diabetes, other diseases and mortality.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Insights On Fusion Power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GwYe4rTrLVo/081203185016.htm
Research carried out at MIT's Alcator C-Mod fusion reactor may have brought the promise of fusion as a future power source a bit closer to reality, though scientists caution that a practical fusion powerplant is still decades away. Fusion, the reaction that produces the sun's energy, is thought to have enormous potential for future power generation because fusion plant operation produces no emissions, fuel sources are potentially abundant, and it produces relatively little (and short-lived) radioactive waste. But it still faces great hurdles.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Researchers Identify Cell Group Key To Lyme Disease Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7SmFDA4vBP0/081203184920.htm
A research team has illuminated the important role of natural killer T cells in Lyme disease, demonstrating that the once little understood white blood cells are central to clearing the bacterial infection and reducing the intensity and duration of arthritis associated with Lyme disease.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Satellites Flying In Formation To Help Improve Understanding Of Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JU37zSn_294/081203133821.htm
Based on the outstanding success of the first tandem mission between ERS-2 and Envisat last year, ESA has paired the two satellites together again to help improve our understanding of the planet.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Subtitles Do Not Guarantee Hearing-impaired Viewers A Total Comprehension Of Television Messages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s2UB9Fkpwew/081202133230.htm
Researchers have studied the level of comprehension of subtitled television programs by groups of students who have a severe or profound hearing impairment. The results demonstrate that deaf children and adolescents have difficulties in following subtitles and images together, due to the speed at which the subtitles appear and the literal transcription of the dialogues.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Mobile Phones Affect Memory In Laboratory Animals, Swedish Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xcArXwMnvzw/081205095956.htm
Can radiation from cell phones affect memory? Yes -- at least it appears to do so in one series of rat experiments conducted in Sweden. Researchers studied rats that were exposed to mobile phone radiation for two hours a week for more than a year. These rats had poorer results on a memory test than rats that had not been exposed to radiation.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Blood Scanner Detects Even Faint Indicators Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zxXgFgSEGys/081202115656.htm
Researchers have developed a prototype blood scanner that can find cancer markers in the bloodstream in early stages of the disease, potentially allowing for earlier treatment and dramatically improved chances of survival. The system based on MagArray biodetection chips can find cancer-associated proteins in a blood serum sample in less than an hour, and with much greater sensitivity than existing commercial devices.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
New Population Of Extremely Rare Snub-Nosed Monkey Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rj7kp2SIyDI/081204084904.htm
A new population of the extremely rare Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, so-called because of its unusual and distinctive up-turned nose, has recently been discovered in a remote forested area of northern Vietnam.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Dormant Stem Cells For Emergencies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b-2yStZ9IT8/081204094515.htm
A small group of stem cells in the bone marrow remains dormant almost throughout life. Only in case of injury or blood loss do they awaken and become active. Then they start dividing immediately to make up for the loss of blood cells. The possibility of specifically waking up these dormant stem cells opens up new prospects for cancer treatment.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Engineers Work To Make Historic Buildings Safer During Strong Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1E-ZihIc4Ak/081204133649.htm
Recent simulated earthquake tests conducted by engineers are expected to lead to retrofit schemes that make historic buildings safer.

Sat, 6 Dec 08
Link Between Tobacco Smoke And Behavioral Problems In Boys With Asthma Strengthened With New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n_NGxOgwuh8/081204133553.htm
Boys with asthma who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke have higher degrees of hyperactivity, aggression, depression and other behavioral problems, according to researchers. The researchers said behavioral problems increase along with higher exposure levels, but they added even low levels of tobacco smoke may be detrimental to behavior.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Ancient Climate Cycles Recorded In Mars Rocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wwzsPQ6c1hU/081204141801.htm
The ancient climate change on Mars was caused by regular variation in the planet's tilt, or obliquity, according to new research. On Earth, similar "astronomical forcing" of climate drives ice-age cycles.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Flesh-eating Bacteria: Blood Tests Can Help Detect Presence Of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T77Nk0-wncA/081204074446.htm
A quick surgical reaction to 'flesh-eating bacteria' reduces mortality. With less than half of patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections displaying the physical signs of these very serious infections, researchers have found two simple blood tests can help physicians diagnose what is commonly known as "flesh-eating bacteria."

Fri, 5 Dec 08
A Little Wine Boosts Omega-3 In The Body: Novel Mechanism For A Healthier Heart Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f8OFbKDw2Og/081204133610.htm
Moderate alcohol intake is associated with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells. The study suggests that wine does better than other alcoholic drinks. This effect could be ascribed to compounds other than alcohol itself, representing a key to understand the mechanism lying behind the heart protection observed in moderate wine drinkers.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Cutting The Cord To Determine Babies' Health Risk From Toxic Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u9R65ujo72Q/081203184409.htm
Despite the well-known dangers of first- and secondhand smoke, an estimated ten percent of pregnant women in the US are smokers. Now, in the first study of its kind, a team of researchers has completed a global assessment of newborns' umbilical cord blood to provide the first assessment of proteins detectable in infant blood and to identify possible molecular predictors, or biomarkers, of fetal health risks from smoking mothers.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Opening Up The Last Part Of Electromagnetic Spectrum
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rgQLRvkXKQc/081202081459.htm
New research on the last, hidden part of the electromagnetic spectrum is producing new, safe and non-destructive tests for medicine, security and industrial quality control.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Why The 'Perfect' Body Isn't Always Perfect: How Hormones Interact With Waist-to-hip Ratios In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iTAe8paq2e0/081201200036.htm
The hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress also tend to redistribute fat from the hips to the waist, according to one anthropologist. So in societies and situations where women are under pressure to procure resources, they may be less likely to have the classic hourglass figure.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Quantum Trick Makes Metals Become Insulators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OFRQkEKZZeI/081204141757.htm
Future technologies ranging from information technology to high-temperature superconductivity require new materials with tailored electronic properties. A novel quantum simulator consisting of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice functions as a construction kit with which scientists can create and investigate new materials. Physicists have succeeded in simulating one of the most dramatic electronic phenomena with the aid of this quantum simulator: when the interactions between the electrons become too strong, a metal can suddenly become insulating.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
New Genetic Target For Sickle Cell Disease Therapy Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ySxbH41huvs/081204141759.htm
Researchers have identified a gene that directly affects the production of a form of hemoglobin that is instrumental in modifying the severity of the inherited blood disorders sickle cell disease and thalassemia. The discovery could lead to breakthrough therapies for sickle cell disease and thalassemia, which could potentially eliminate the devastating and life-threatening complications of these diseases, such as severe pain, damage to the eyes and other organs, infections, and stroke.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Old As You Want To Be: Study Finds Most Seniors Feel Younger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cyr_Hxu_1wo/081202153521.htm
Older people tend to feel about 13 years younger than their chronological age. Researchers analyzed the responses of 516 men and women age 70 and older who participated in the Berlin Aging Study, tracking how their perceptions about age and their satisfaction with aging changed over a six-year period.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Genetic Breakdown In Fanconi Anemia May Have Link To HPV-associated Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MPrlDJEyr2A/081203184413.htm
A genetic malfunction that causes DNA instability in people with the blood disorder Fanconi anemia may put them at high risk for squamous cell carcinomas linked to human papillomavirus, according to a new study. Researchers report breakdown of a cell signaling pathway for the FA gene complex triggers cellular abnormalities, when then are made worse by HPV cancer genes in skin cells.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Crystallography Reveals The 3D Structure Of Mammalian Sperm Receptor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ciatuFM4Sec/081204074646.htm
Scientists have determined the first 3D structure of ZP3, a protein essential for the interaction between the mammalian egg coat and sperm. The findings, presented in Nature, gives a first glimpse into the molecular architecture of animal egg coats, with important implications for the future of human reproductive medicine and the possibility of developing novel contraceptives.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Fertility Patients Concerned About Embryo Disposition, But Resist Giving Embryos To Anyone Else
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2BrTGutG8tI/081204074444.htm
Fertility patients who are done having children feel responsible for the stored, frozen embryos left over from their treatment, yet more than half are against implanting the embryos in anyone else, according to a new study.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
New Insight On Wonder Of Cell Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aOSF6HSqjZo/081204141753.htm
Biologists have discovered a mechanism that is critical to cytokinesis -- nature's completion of mitosis, where a cell divides into two identical daughter cells. Researchers opened a new window on the assembly and activity of a ring of actin and myosin filaments that contract to pinch a cell at just the right time.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Study Offers Insights About Development Of Human Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wknbn8Gew8M/081204141755.htm
A new study has found that a surprisingly high number of maternal cells enters the fetus during pregnancy, prompting the generation of special immune cells in the fetus that suppress a response against the mother.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Wireless Crib Monitor Keeps Tabs On Baby's Breathing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hpH9ZVjYe9g/081202170826.htm
Radar -- the technology that tracks enemy bombers and hurricanes -- is now being employed to detect another danger: when babies stop breathing.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
New 'Control Knobs' For Stem Cells: Changes In Membrane Voltage Control Timing Of Differentiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bx9fIySqfSY/081203101515.htm
Natural changes in voltage that occur across the membrane of adult human stem cells act as a signal to delay or accelerate the decision of a stem cell to differentiate into a specific cell type. This discovery gives scientists in regenerative medicine a new set of "control knobs" to use in ongoing efforts to shape the behavior of adult stem cells.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Young People Choose Cars Above Greener Transport Options
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WlOvqYuFuPk/081204074658.htm
Young people find the prospect of driving cars more attractive than other modes of travel that are kinder to the environment, according to new research.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Still Increasing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yxAw34n9yVM/081204093041.htm
Total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 7,282 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO 2e) in 2007, an increase of 1.4 percent from the 2006 level according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2007. Since 1990, U.S. GHG emissions have grown at an average annual rate of 0.9 percent.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Fruit Fly Research May Lead To Better Understanding Of Human Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HVFa9IbJRO8/081202115652.htm
Researchers have shown in both fruit flies and humans that genes involved in embryonic heart development are also integral to adult heart function.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Replacing Corn With Perennial Grasses Improves Carbon Footprint Of Biofuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_bLRozJ4G_I/081202133228.htm
Converting forests or fields to biofuel crops can increase or decrease greenhouse gas emissions, depending on where -- and which -- biofuel crops are used, researchers report.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Adult Survivors Of Childhood Leukemia Have Lower Bone Mineral Density, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KhY2DINQCJ4/081203184411.htm
Men who survived childhood leukemia treatment into adulthood were more likely to have low bone mineral density than other adults their age, putting them at risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures, according to a new study.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Operations Engineering For More Efficient Operating Rooms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9OUMaRc-YlY/081202153525.htm
Work by specialists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has led to significant improvements in turnover times for operating rooms at three California safety net hospitals, allowing "many more hours of daytime surgery per year."

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Coerced Medication Used In Psychiatric Care Despite Lack Of Clinical Evidence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xrzVkDj9GF8/081204074644.htm
Researchers are calling for more studies into the practice of forcing psychiatric patients to take medication, after a research review showed that there have been very few rigorous investigations of the procedure.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Brown Dwarfs Really Do Form Like Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7cU1OMvHLrk/081203184529.htm
Astronomers have uncovered strong evidence that brown dwarfs form like stars. Using the Smithsonian's Submillimeter Array, they detected molecules of carbon monoxide shooting outward from the object known as ISO-Oph 102. Such molecular outflows typically are seen coming from young stars or protostars. However, this object has an estimated mass of 60 Jupiters, meaning it is too small to be a star. Astronomers have classified it as a brown dwarf.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Major Breakthrough For Dialysis Patients, According To Preliminary Results
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YL_dfQ3Y-f4/081127123127.htm
Suffering from end-stage renal disease, a growing number of patients, have become the beneficiaries of a North American breakthrough: high efficacy hemodiafiltration. Preliminary results show a clear advantage of high efficacy HDF over conventional hemodialysis in several areas.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Novel Human Stem Cell-based Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Opens Doors For Rapid Drug Screening
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i-i57xRNxlw/081203131035.htm
Long thought of as mere bystanders, astrocytes are crucial for the survival and well-being of motor neurons, which control voluntary muscle movements. In fact, defective astrocytes can lay waste to motor neurons and are the main suspects in the muscle-wasting disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Preoperative Radiation May Improve Survival Rates In Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F9CvMqDFN4E/081202115150.htm
A new study shows that preoperative treatment for rectal cancer shouldn't be a "one sized fits all approach." After reviewing nine recent studies, investigators concluded that physicians need to consider a variety of factors such as tumor size, cancer stage and patient preference before deciding on the course of preoperative treatment.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Uncovering The Real Dirt On Granular Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MFvAMpVtncg/081203185008.htm
A handful of sand contains countless grains, which interact with each other via friction and impact forces as they slip through your fingers. When a handful becomes a load in an excavator bucket, those interactions multiply exponentially.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Up To 10% Of Children Start School Suffering From Sleep Disturbances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n_Ggec8Udtg/081203084541.htm
Up to 10% of children starting school suffer from sleep disturbances and these may lead to poor performance or behavioral difficulties.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Rolling 'Sea Grape' Rocks The Fossil Record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O6nHwgRbL5k/081203190030.htm
A submarine expedition that went looking for visually flashy sea creatures instead found a drab, mud-covered blob that may turn out to be truly spectacular indeed.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
New Hope For Treatment Of Brain-damaging Disorder In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l9-jZxLz45o/081126133311.htm
Researchers have used fruit flies to gain new insights into a brain-damaging disorder afflicting children. Their work suggests a possible therapy for the disease, for which there is currently no treatment.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Towards Domestication Of Largest Fish In Amazon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlQ0HR-cOcY/081125113320.htm
The Amazon and its tributaries are home to almost one tenth of the world’s freshwater fish biodiversity, 2500 species being recorded. The giant fish Arapaima gigas is one of the most emblematic of these. Better known by the name of paiche in Peru or pirarucu in Brazil, it is one of the word’s largest freshwater fish.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Calcium And Vitamin D May Not Be The Only Protection Against Bone Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fek2nMS9AsI/081203084314.htm
Diets that are high in protein and cereal grains produce an excess of acid in the body which may increase calcium excretion and weaken bones, according to a new study. The study found that increasing the alkali content of the diet, with a pill or through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has the opposite effect and strengthens skeletal health.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Traffic Violations Detected In A Flash
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pmmO5F36zoo/081204074648.htm
Researchers in Finland are developing movable traffic surveillance equipment capable of automatically measuring the speed and height of passing vehicles and the distances between them as well as assessing the condition of brakes in heavy vehicles. In the future, the equipment will also be able to measure the weight of a moving vehicle and the friction of the road surface.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Infants Participate In Complex Interactions With Their Parents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xc6PlX2FC-4/081203184537.htm
A new study shows that infants appear to be active participants in complex interactional sequences with their parents far earlier than previously thought.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Unique Extrasolar Planet Orbits Fast-rotating Hot Star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c5mI73ATqbE/081204074652.htm
Three undergraduate students, from Leiden University in the Netherlands, have discovered an extrasolar planet. The extraordinary find, which turned up during their research project, is about five times as massive as Jupiter. This is also the first planet discovered orbiting a fast-rotating hot star.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Protein That Determines Cell Polarity Prevents Breast Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9LqfPBSd3E4/081126133355.htm
A team of scientists has found that a protein called Scribble, originally discovered as a cell-shape regulator in fruit flies and worms, is an important regulator of breast cancer. They report that Scribble normally directs breast epithelial cells to form the structures that give breast tissue its shape and thereby resist cancer formation. When Scribble stops functioning, the tissue loses its shape and cancers ensue.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
How Tiny Cell Proteins Generate Force To 'Walk'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-_TWn6TXghU/081124174907.htm
Researchers have shown how a cell motor protein exerts the force to move, enabling functions such as cell division.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Pediatric Obesity May Alter Thyroid Function And Structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/11076DNm-lU/081203084312.htm
In addition to its strong associations with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, pediatric obesity may induce alterations in thyroid function and structure, according to a new study.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
'Stress Tests' Probe Nanoscale Strains In Materials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ya4o9lBHQ0/081125181037.htm
Researchers have demonstrated their ability to measure relatively low levels of stress or strain in regions of a semiconductor device as small as 10nm across. Their recent results not only will impact the design of future generations of integrated circuits but also lay to rest a long-standing disagreement in results between two different methods for measuring stress in semiconductors.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Myth About 'Dirty Old Men' Supported By Science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A5bSlUUbqIc/081204074654.htm
Middle-aged men want younger women, often touting their intelligence and their high income. This is shown in research that studied 400 lonely hearts ads to see how men and women choose partners.

Fri, 5 Dec 08
Robot That Jumps Like A Grasshopper And Rolls Like A Ball Created For Space Exploration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zN_9aYmoxHU/0812