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Sat, 31 Jan 09
Stanford Writes In World's Smallest Letters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Myr2gSkj0Uc/090130154918.htm
Stanford researchers have reclaimed bragging rights for creating the world's smallest writing, a distinction the university first gained in 1985 and lost in 1990. How small is the writing? The letters in the words are assembled from subatomic sized bits as small as 0.3 nanometers, or roughly one third of a billionth of a meter.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Blue Light Destroys Antibiotic-resistant Staph Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p58FbvaL7-U/090129131839.htm
Two common strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, were virtually eradicated in the laboratory by exposing them to a wavelength of blue light, in a process called photo-irradiation.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Fewer Days Of Extreme Cold And More Days Of Extreme Heat In Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l7xbJz9NLI0/090130084127.htm
Scientists have selected 262 European observatories which analyzed the series of minimum and maximum daily temperatures from 1955 to 1998 to estimate trend variations in extreme temperature events. According to the study, in Europe days of extreme cold are decreasing and days of extreme heat increasing. From 0.5ºC to 1ºC in the average minimum temperature, and from 0.5ºC to 2ºC in the average maximum temperature.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Skin Color Studies On Tadpoles Lead To Cancer Advance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u7qaIb9uD3Y/090129122521.htm
The humble tadpole could provide the key to developing effective anti-skin cancer drugs, thanks to a new discovery.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Quantum Dots May Be Toxic To Cells And Environment Under Certain Conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dkcPIPneoj0/090128214342.htm
Researchers in Texas are reporting that quantum dots (QDs) -- a product of the revolution in nanotechnology increasingly used in electronics, solar cells, and medical imaging devices -- may be toxic to cells under acidic or alkaline conditions. Their study is the first to report on how different pH levels may affect the safety of QDs.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
No Such Thing As A 'Born Leader,' Study In Fish Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MbYrEqygjXY/090129122516.htm
Followers are just as important to good leadership as are the leaders themselves, reveals a new study of stickleback fish. By randomly pairing fish of varying degrees of "boldness," the researchers showed that each member of a pair adopts the role of leader or follower. More importantly, they found, the behavior of each member of the pair is strongly influenced by its partner.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Chemists Shed Light On Health Benefits Of Garlic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C6cQScUvkCI/090130154901.htm
Researchers have widely believed that the organic compound, allicin -- which gives the pungent vegetable its aroma and flavor -- acts as an antioxidant. But until now it hasn't been clear how allicin works, or how it stacks up compared to more common antioxidants such as Vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, which stop the damaging effects of radicals. Researchers now trace benefits to acid produced in the decomposing organic compound.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
'Healthy' Obesity May Be Explained By Newly Identified Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-T9FDh-FH2k/090129122529.htm
Mice whose fat cells were allowed to grow larger than fat cells in normal mice developed "healthy" obesity when fed a high-fat diet, researchers found in a new study.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Genes Linked To Parkinson's Side Effects Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZW2bK-UHcSY/090129155412.htm
What causes motor complications of Parkinson’s treatment? Researchers have now identified two molecules whose expression in the brain is altered in the brains of animals with side effects related to Parkinson's disease. The results may lead to new approaches to the treatment of these side effects in Parkinson's patients.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Lung Transplants: Hospitals Doing More Transplants Are Better And Safer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SENGUgUhPnI/090127202046.htm
Transplant surgeons have evidence that hospitals performing at least 20 lung transplant procedures a year, on average, have the best overall patient survival rates and lowest number of deaths from the complex surgery.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Freak Waves May Be Sinking Ships Off The Coast Of Japan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jDeZk38rVl8/090128183927.htm
On 23 June 2008, the Suwa Maru No. 58, a fishing boat with 20 crew members, sank in seemingly moderate sea conditions of Cape Inubosaki, Japan. Reports from the investigators indicated that although reported wave heights were between 2 and 3 meters (6.5 and 9.8 feet), the ship may have encountered abnormal waves twice, sinking the ship about 10 minutes after being hit by the initial wave.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Language Performance And Differences In Brain Activity Possibly Affected By Sex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Jjyyap_icg/090129090011.htm
In a new fMRI study researchers found differences among male and female groups on activation strength linked to verbal fluency (words generation).

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Bird Song Discoveries May Lead To Refinement Of Darwinian Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7mJBdESYVaA/090130221227.htm
For one professor, the songs birds sing are more than a pleasant part of a spring day. They are a window into how communication works in the natural world. A birdsong is more than just an encapsulated package of information, it is "a behavior frozen in time."

Sat, 31 Jan 09
New Pathway Is Common Thread In Age-related Neurodegenerative Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-3RBbYDmQvk/090129131846.htm
How are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's initiated, and why is age the major risk factor? A recent study of a protein called MOCA (Modifier of Cell Adhesion) provides new clues to the answers of these fundamental questions.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Surprising Lion Stronghold Uncovered In War-torn Central Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zslRveM0_UY/090129122531.htm
Times are tough for wildlife living at the frontier between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Armies are reportedly encamped in a national park and wildlife preserve on the Congolese side, while displaced herders and their cattle have settled in an adjoining Ugandan park.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Periodontal Treatment Doesn't Reduce Preterm Birth Risk, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S3JEPR-Y52Q/090129122523.htm
Despite an apparent link between gum disease and preterm births, standard periodontal treatment does not decrease the risk of preterm birth. Nor is the treatment enough to halt periodontal disease progression in pregnant women, according to new research.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Call To Action: Running Out Of Options To Fight Ever-changing 'Super Bugs'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q-A_fiAqTNY/090128183925.htm
People are dying from "super bugs" because our antibiotic arsenal has run dry, leaving the world without sufficient weapons to fight ever-changing bacteria, warn infectious disease researchers.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Imaging Study Illustrates How Memories Change In The Brain Over Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xeqIn3kzSAE/090127190432.htm
A new brain imaging study illustrates what happens to memories as time goes by. The study shows that distinct brain structures are involved in recalling recent and older events.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
High Hormone Levels In Women May Lead To Infidelity, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gJXs4Aw7hu8/090127133113.htm
Women with high levels of the sex hormone oestradiol may engage in opportunistic mating, according to a new study.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
How Ebola Virus Avoids The Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y31u1bSF8T0/090127152838.htm
Researchers have likely found one reason why the Ebola virus is such a powerful, deadly, and effective virus. Using a cell culture model for Ebola virus infection, they have discovered that the virus disables a cellular protein called tetherin that normally can block the spread of virus from cell to cell.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Help Possible For People Obsessed With Imaginary Physical Flaws
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3S-C-AUqsp0/090121215232.htm
Worrying about a bad hair day or idly wishing for a more-perfect profile: we've all been there. However, people suffering from body dysmorphic disorder go far beyond that, obsessing over exaggerated or even imaginary physical defects, to the point where it affects their ability to work, attend school or have ordinary social contacts.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Umbilical Cord Protein Analysis Detects Early Onset Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nWIRxGhJeDo/090129113316.htm
Researchers have identified proteins associated with early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS), a stealthy bacterial infection linked to premature birth, illness and death. Using protein analysis, the researchers have found the biomarkers that can provide key information on how EONS develops.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Although Our Genetics Differ Significantly, We All Look Alike
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Aut0qji16Gk/090126082353.htm
The genetic variation within a species can be significant, but very little of that variation results in clear differences in morphology or other phenotypes. Much of the diversity remains hidden 'under the surface' in buffered form.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Did I See What I Think I Saw?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/se0DzgU7JAk/090128160835.htm
Research increasingly suggests that eyewitness testimony may not be as accurate as we would like it to be. A new study examining how false information following a recall test affects volunteers' memories of a witnessed event suggests that recalled information is prone to distortion. These results suggest that the recall test may have improved subjects' ability to learn the false information -- that it enhanced learning of new and erroneous information.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Dinosaur Fossils Fit Perfectly Into The Evolutionary Tree Of Life, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DQo5SgcqDFE/090126082351.htm
A recent study by researchers in England has found that scientists' knowledge of the evolution of dinosaurs is remarkably complete.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Autism Spectrum Disorder May Be More Prevalent Among Children Born Very Prematurely
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xLiC4k6vwD8/090129085839.htm
Children born more than three months premature, are at three times the risk for screening positive on the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT). Children who screen positive on M-CHAT may be at greater risk for developing autism.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Simple Reasoning Strategies Can Be As Precise As Complex Ones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LBlAID-Hzyo/090126153959.htm
We go into a restaurant with the aim of eating healthily. The menu does not tell us much about fats, salt or additives contained in the dishes. So how do we make the best decision? Psychologists have analyzed the influence that inferences about missing information can have on the accuracy of our decisions.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
New Function Of Protein In Cellular Respiration Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gb-BRWlLlys/090128113248.htm
Researchers have found that the protein Stat3 plays a key role in regulating mitochondria, the energy-producing machines of cells. This discovery could one day lead to the development of new treatments for heart disease to boost energy in failing heart muscle or to master the abnormal metabolism of cancer.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Capture Of Nanomagnetic 'Fingerprints' A Boost For Next-generation Information Storage Media
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bbLOXhqgY-E/090129102338.htm
A technique of capturing the magnetic "fingerprints" of magnetic nanostructures -- even when they are buried within the boards and junctions of an electronic device -- has been developed. The technique should serve as a valuable tool in the development of next-generation storage and recording media by contributing to the understanding of how to encode information with nanomagnetic arrays.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Dog Owners More Likely To Share Germs With Pets By Not Washing Hands Than By Sleeping With Dog
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-8i_P_ecHw0/090127131652.htm
Dog owners who sleep with their pet or permit licks on the face are in good company. Surveys show that more than half of owners bond with their pets in these ways. Research done by a veterinarian found that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Black Hole Outflows From Centaurus A
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AG1_vGMi1lY/090128074617.htm
Astronomers have a new insight into the active galaxy Centaurus A, as the jets and lobes emanating from the central black hole have been imaged at submillimeter wavelengths for the first time.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
New Disease, Comparable To BSE, Created In Laboratory Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jr8htpX3nVg/090127214430.htm
Scientists have created a new disease, comparable to BSE, in laboratory mice. They have shown that exchanging just two amino acids in the structure of the prion protein is enough to trigger a disease.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Compound That Frees Trapped Cholesterol Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jX3ebhlw7s4/090126173717.htm
Researchers have identified in mice a compound that liberates cholesterol that has inappropriately accumulated to excessive levels inside cells.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
Exercise No Danger For Joints: Non-Elite Level Activity Does Not Increase Risk Of Osteoarthritis, Review Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x1e7JPv9ejw/090127101854.htm
There is no good evidence supporting a harmful effect of exercise on joints in the setting of normal joints and regular exercise, according to a review of studies. Researchers reviewed existing studies on the relationship between regular exercise and osteoarthritis (OA) and concluded that in the absence of existing joint injury there is no increased risk of OA from exercise.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
The Dead Sea: Tectonic Concurrence Below Ten Kilometers Of Sediments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-kW8gHXSB3k/090128074624.htm
The Dead Sea lies in a basin structure situated below the sea level. This deep subsidence is a result of a tectonic concurrence between processes in the upper lithosphere that led to subsiding and a compensating upward flow of rocks in the deeper layers of the lithosphere.

Sat, 31 Jan 09
What Happens When We Sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/owyWvxJw4H8/090128160839.htm
Lack of sleep is a common complaint but for many, falling asleep involuntarily during the day poses a very real and dangerous problem. A new study demonstrates interestingly, that sleep-wake states are regulated by two different types of nerve cells (neurons), melanin-concentrating hormone neurons and orexin neurons, which occupy the same region of the brain but perform opposite functions.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Low–cost LEDs May Slash Household Electric Bills Within Five Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O9PoGguDU7k/090129090218.htm
A new way of making LEDs could see household lighting bills reduced by up to 75% within five years.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Working Artificial Nerve Networks Under Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PnJ5OW3vceY/090128092339.htm
Scientists hope to learn how to grow nerve networks that perform as logic circuits. They have already hooked brains directly to computers by means of metal electrodes, in the hope of both measuring what goes on inside the brain and eventually healing conditions such as blindness or epilepsy. In the future, the interface between brain and artificial system might be based on nerve cells grown for that purpose.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Termite Insecticide Found To Be Potent Greenhouse Gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I6tCEDtGCKw/090121144059.htm
An insecticide used to fumigate termite-infested buildings is a strong greenhouse gas that lives in the atmosphere nearly 10 times longer than previously thought,new research has found.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Risk Of Heart Attacks For Patients On Common Cardiac Drug, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VRxHmZuZOXE/090128113250.htm
Patients taking the common cardiac drug clopidogrel following a heart attack are at a significantly higher risk of a recurrence if they are also taking widely used acid-lowering medications called proton pump inhibitors, a new study has found.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
New Questions Raised About Controversial Plastics Chemical Bisphenol A
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L9JjXIuI154/090128074926.htm
A new study challenges common assumptions about the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), by showing that in some people, surprisingly high levels remain in the body even after fasting for as long as 24 hours. The finding suggests that BPA exposure may come from non-food sources, or that BPA is not rapidly metabolized, or both. Controversy around BPA is mounting.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Women Have More Nightmares Than Men, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-DRoZO8gOrI/090128104535.htm
A researcher was inspired by her own nightmares and a chance encounter at a lecture to examine more closely the stuff that dreams are made of. Her PhD study has focused on an astounding discovery that women suffer more nightmares then men.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Cassini Captures Changes In Titan's Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wy8wt7b0nNo/090129182514.htm
Recent images of Titan from NASA's Cassini spacecraft affirm the presence of lakes of liquid hydrocarbons by capturing changes in the lakes brought on by rainfall.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Surgical Implants Coated With One Of 'Nature's Antibiotics' Could Prevent Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ENLhopURhRk/090129180313.htm
Researchers have discovered a mimic of one of "nature's antibiotics" that can be used to coat medical devices to prevent infection and rejection.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Continents Act Like Thermal Blankets: How Continental Drift Will Change Continents In 120 Million Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tVPqFapcKFg/090122100828.htm
Drifting of the large tectonic plates and the superimposed continents is not only powered by the heat-driven convection processes in the Earth's mantle, but rather retroacts on this internal driving processes. In doing so, the continents function as a thermal blanket, which leads to an accumulation of heat underneath, and which in turn can cause the break-up of the super-continents.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
New Insights Into A Leading Poultry Disease And Its Risks To Human Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UFBQfpPoes0/090127094038.htm
Scientists are developing a vaccine against a leading poultry disease called avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). They has now analyzed the critical genetic element of APEC that contains several genes responsible for triggering its harmful effects. They have also shown that human and avian E. coli can carry the same disease-causing elements, which may increase the human risk of infection from poultry.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
When A Baby Dies: Distress Of Medical Staff Highlighted In New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ms1fq38OWSs/090128074824.htm
Losing a baby is highly distressing for parents, but until now it has been less widely acknowledged that medical staff themselves can be affected by the losses experienced by their patients.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Robots To Clean Your Kitchen And Play A Game Of Hockey?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CosTx3GBZ88/090129155416.htm
Scientists are working on software that will enable robots to learn. It won't be long, they say, before personal robots are part of our lives.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Brain Structure Assists In Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/obqBogje-YM/090128132652.htm
For the first time, medical researchers have imaged in real time the body's immune response to a parasitic infection in the brain.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Gene's Past Could Improve The Future Of Rice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QMpscsYR6mM/090123164359.htm
In an effort to improve rice varieties, a research team traced the evolutionary history of domesticated rice by using a process that focuses on one gene. Studying the gene allows researchers to better understand how it evolved over time through natural selection and human interaction. Understanding the variations could allow scientists to place genes from wild rice species into domesticated rice to create varieties with more favorable characteristics.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Magnetic-anchor-guided Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Shows Promise For Gastric Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WN-GqfxDkdY/090127112057.htm
A prospective clinical trial from researchers in Japan shows magnetic-anchor-guided endoscopic submucosal dissection for large early gastric cancer to be a feasible and safe method in humans. Endoscopic submucosal dissection is useful in the en bloc removal of large gastric lesions because it reduces the risk of a local recurrence caused by removing the lesions piecemeal. The magnetic-anchor-guided endoscopic submucosal dissection technique was developed to facilitate the standard ESD procedure.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Climate Change's Impact On Invasive Plants In Western US May Create Restoration Opportunities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3XpC2WnDQU0/090127112055.htm
A new study has found that global climate change may lead to the retreat of some invasive plant species in the western United States, which could create unprecedented ecological restoration opportunities across millions of acres throughout America. At the same time, global warming may enable other invasive plants to spread more widely.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Physically Fit Kids Do Better In School
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6quib8DEak4/090128113246.htm
A new study found that physically fit kids scored better on standardized math and English tests than their less fit peers.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Biologists Find Stem Cell-like Functions In Other Types Of Plant Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OvTdk20oqhs/090128132645.htm
Ordinary cells have the ability to replace lost organs in plants -- a function previously thought to be limited to stem cells -- researchers have found.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
How Cancer Cells Survive A Chemotherapy Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kNQrq_HzhlY/090128104633.htm
New techniques enabled scientists to assess the actions of thousands of proteins in cancer cells and identify those that help some survive a chemotherapy treatment.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Football Players Are Not The Only Ones Who Get Hurt On Super Bowl Sunday
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pwW5qOPXvLk/090126160418.htm
You're cheering on your favorite team in the Big Game, but the next minute you are choking on a chicken wing. It turns out injuries are not limited to the playing field on Super Bowl Sunday.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
'Chain Of Survival' Saves Lives, Lessens Damage In Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients In Japan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AV5uAO5ZXYw/090126173727.htm
In an eight-year study, Japanese citizens were trained in CPR and procedures were changed to allow emergency service personnel to deliver shocks and intubate patients in the field. Implementing the "chain of survival" for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest increased survival.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Testbeds To Breed Next-generation Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-RNH8cTAy8g/090128122652.htm
The systems that let you zap a photo to a friend, or an astronomer to control a telescope continents away, require intensive simulation and testing. European research has now made those key steps far easier.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
American Seniors Living Longer On Less
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WBdeHd7ZcFY/090128122816.htm
Older Americans have experienced huge, negative financial shifts that now make it more difficult to enter retirement with sustainable economic security, according to a new study. Seventy-eight percent of all senior households are financially vulnerable when it comes to their ability to meet essential expenses and cover projected costs over their lifetimes.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
How Does A Dog Walk? Surprisingly, Many Of Us Don't Really Know
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qEy8PFwj8J8/090126121348.htm
Despite the fact that most of us see our four-legged friends walking around every day, most of us -- including many experts in natural history museums and illustrators for veterinary anatomy text books -- apparently still don't know how they do it. A new study shows that anatomists, taxidermists, and toy designers get the walking gait of horses and other quadruped animals wrong about half the time.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Spinal Fluid Proteins Signal Lou Gehrig's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u8ottHDurhc/090128104635.htm
High levels of certain proteins in the spinal fluid could signal the onset of Lou Gehrig's disease, according to researchers. The discovery of these biomarkers may lead to diagnostic kits for early diagnosis, accurately measuring the progression of the disease and monitoring the effects of treatment.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
'Fishy' Clue Helps Establish How Proteins Evolve
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tybVAR_0ZV0/090127112043.htm
Three billion years ago, a "new" amino acid was added to the alphabet of 20 that commonly make up proteins in organisms today. Now researchers have demonstrated how this rare amino acid -- and, by example, other amino acids -- made its way into the menu for protein synthesis.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Statins' Adverse Effects Documented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WtBNU6h7Yco/090127090735.htm
Scientists analyzed nearly 900 studies on the adverse effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a class of drugs widely used to treat high cholesterol. The research provides evidence for reported side effects including muscle and cognitive problems.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Substantial Work Ahead For Water Issues, Say Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EJTHsXyWHes/090127190440.htm
Scientists and engineers will face a host of obstacles over the next decade in providing clean water to millions of people caught up in a water shortage crisis, a panel of scientists and engineers have said.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Global Warming Fix? Some Of Earth's Climate Troubles Should Face Burial At Sea, Scientists Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mr4pu5RPgP0/090128212809.htm
Making bales with 30 percent of global crop residues -- the stalks and such left after harvesting -- and then sinking the bales into the deep ocean could reduce the build up of global carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by up to 15 percent a year, according to new calculations.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Diabetes Treatment May Lie In Helping Muscles To Burn Fat Better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NxbTnugR1Kg/090128092344.htm
Scientists in Sydney and Melbourne Australia have produced results that could silence the current debate about exactly how fat molecules clog up muscle cells, making them less responsive to insulin. The finding is an important milestone in understanding the mechanisms of obesity related insulin resistance, a precursor of Type 2 diabetes.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Billion-year Revision Of Plant Evolution Timeline May Stem From Discovery Of Lignin In Seaweed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nxak1vPcBkU/090127090723.htm
Land plants' ability to sprout upward through the air, unsupported except by their own woody tissues, has long been considered one of the characteristics separating them from aquatic plants, which rely on water to support them. Now lignin, one of the chemical underpinnings vital to the self-supporting nature of land plants -- and thought unique to them -- has been found in marine algae.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Human Metapneumovirus Infection Predisposes Mice To Severe Pneumococcal Pneumonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2iComlG59X8/090127093208.htm
A new study suggests that prior infection with human metapneumovirus or influenza A virus predisposes mice to a severe secondary bacterial infection with pneumococcal pneumonia.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Dermatitis Is More Prevalent In Humid Cities Where There Is A High Level Of Rainfall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/badCRcyj7gQ/090127140400.htm
Climate affects children who have atopic dermatitis, a recurrent disease of the skin. This is suggested in a study that links this disease with rainy and humid areas. However, the experts point out that both temperature and the number of hours of sunshine combine together in the treatment of this condition.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Pain Relieving Effects Of Acupuncture Are Limited
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TlIKFwcU-dY/090127202048.htm
The pain relieving effects of acupuncture compared with placebo are small and seem to lack clinical relevance, according to a study published on the British Medical Journal website.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Natural Brain Substance Blocks Weight Gain In Mice, Researchers Discover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bl_e0LN30iQ/090128074931.htm
Mice with increased levels of a natural brain chemical don't gain weight when fed a high-fat diet, researchers have found.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Widely Used Chemicals, Perfluorinated Chemicals, May Reduce Women's Fertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uo60qXfYDJU/090128192129.htm
Researchers have found the first evidence that perfluorinated chemicals -- chemicals that are widely used in everyday items such as food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products -- may be associated with infertility in women. The study found that women who had higher levels of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in their blood took longer to become pregnant than women with lower levels.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Roadkill Study Could Speed Detection Of Kidney Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/slTE5O6L4DY/090127090725.htm
Large-scale data mining of gene networks in fruit flies has led researchers to a sensitive and specific diagnostic biomarker for human renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. The biomarker known as SPOP is produced by 99 percent of clear cell renal cell carcinomas but not by normal kidney tissue. It could serve as a diagnostic tool, lead to new drug targets and potentially help detect kidney cancers sooner.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Research Elucidates Way Lungs Fight Bacteria And Prevent Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RKnD3tkQsRg/090123101205.htm
Airway epithelial cells initiate an immune response to inhaled bacteria by signaling for white blood cells to move from the bloodstream into the lungs and airway to fight potential infection. Researchers have demonstrated that this signaling cascade includes the activation of epithelial proteases, a type of enzyme capable of opening the junctions between the cells in the airway mucosa, to enable the white blood cells to get through to the site of the infection.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
'Fossil Earthquakes' Abundant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8duoR6zckuo/090128160816.htm
Rocks formed only under the extreme heat and friction during earthquakes, called pseudotachylytes, may be more abundant than previously reported, according to new research focused on eight faults found in the Sierra Nevada.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Newborn Brain Cells 'Time-stamp' Memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dWqk0_jnyOA/090128122812.htm
"Remember when...?" is how many a wistful trip down memory lane begins. But just how the brain keeps tabs on what happened and when is still a matter of speculation. A computational model now suggests that newborn brain cells -- generated by the thousands each day -- add a time-related code, which is unique to memories formed around the same time.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Iron Fertilization To Capture Carbon Dioxide Dealt A Blow: Plankton Stores Much Less Carbon Dioxide Than Estimated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Aicy_cmhxyg/090128183744.htm
A possible solution to global warming has been dealt a blow. Fertilizing plankton by the artificial addition of iron has long been proposed as a potential way to geoengineer the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Now, scientists measuring how much of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is locked away in the deep ocean by plankton when it dies found that it was significantly less than previous estimates.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Stem Cells Used To Reverse Paralysis In Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HFYA3tbL3P8/090128160933.htm
A new study has found that transplantation of stem cells from the lining of the spinal cord, called ependymal stem cells, reverses paralysis associated with spinal cord injuries in laboratory tests. The findings show that the population of these cells after spinal cord injury was many times greater than comparable cells from healthy animal subjects.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
New Computational Technique Allows Comparison Of Whole Genomes As Easily As Whole Books
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T3Bvjvd49sM/090128160833.htm
When comparing the genomes of different organisms to create an evolutionary tree, scientists have been restricted to using a few dozen genes common to all of them. No longer. Scientists have discovered a way to compare entire genomes across a range of sizes. The method, which treats the genome as a book without spaces or punctuation, works equally well for comparing written texts to detect plagiarism or authorship.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Use Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improves Diagnosis Of Patients In Vegetative State
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-beXnFqxI5Q/090128122656.htm
A new study analyzed the importance of the use of magnetic resonance imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients in a vegetative state. Until now these tests have not been performed in this type of patient. The results show activation of the auditory and linguistic areas of the brain despite the absence of observable behavioral responses.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Early Warning Systems Underestimate Magnitude Of Large Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y1xmg6Y8MBQ/090128160818.htm
Scientists seek to create reliable early warning systems that accurately estimate the magnitude of an earthquake within the first seconds of rupture. Scientists looked at the idea that an earthquake's final size can be determined during its initiation, rather than something that only becomes apparent at the end of the rupture.

Fri, 30 Jan 09
Witness For The Prosecution? The Effect Of Confessions On Eyewitness Testimony
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rbRdQ9YX7IU/090128160928.htm
What is it with false confession? A new study in Psychological Science indicates to what extent confessions may influence eyewitness testimony. An astonishing 60 percent of volunteers who had identified a suspect from a line up flip-flopped when a different man confessed. Even those who had been very sure of their original identification experienced a steep drop in confidence.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Astronomers Get A Sizzling Weather Report From Distant Planet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MHi2TiUbds4/090128132639.htm
Astronomers have observed the intense heating of a distant planet as it swung close to its parent star, providing important clues to the atmospheric properties of the planet. The observations enabled astronomers to generate realistic images of the planet by feeding the data into computer simulations of the planet's atmosphere.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
First Gene Discovered For Most Common Form Of Epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/glxKsBsqGdM/090128122809.htm
Researchers have uncovered the first gene linked to the most common type of epilepsy, called Rolandic epilepsy. One out of every five children with epilepsy is diagnosed with this form, which is associated with seizures starting in one part of the brain.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Global Warming From Carbon Dioxide Will Increase Five-fold Over The Next Millennia, Scientists Predict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZkU4DoyKoz0/090128104533.htm
Scientists have found that heating from carbon dioxide will increase five-fold over the next millennia.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New Role For Serotonin 'Ironed Out'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-oCpqapmgcM/090127123009.htm
Investigators have found a surprising link between brain iron levels and serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in neuropsychiatric conditions ranging from autism to major depression. The new study also demonstrates the utility of a powerful in silico approach for discovering novel traits linked to subtle genetic variation.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New Catalyst Paves The Path For Ethanol-powered Fuel Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dl89-wIemwo/090126100645.htm
Scientists have developed a new catalyst that could make ethanol-powered fuel cells feasible. The highly efficient catalyst performs two crucial, and previously unreachable steps needed to oxidize ethanol and produce clean energy in fuel cell reactions.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Adolescents With Unpopular Names More Prone To Committing Crime
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2PBRqqLVsgs/090128113244.htm
A new study examined the relationship between first name popularity in adolescents and tendency to commit crime. Results show that, regardless of race, juveniles with unpopular names are more likely to engage in criminal activity.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Reptile Fossil Reignites Debate Over New Zealand Submergence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WTcmsu-oViE/090121092403.htm
The fossil of a lizard-like New Zealand reptile has been identified by a team of scientists. The fossil, dating back 18 million years, has triggered fresh arguments over whether the continent was fully submerged some 25 million years ago.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Previously Unidentified Bacteria May Cause Preterm Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jpBu_MWxqMw/090127090730.htm
A new study suggests that that previously unidentified bacteria may play a key role in intra-amniotic inflammation and ultimately preterm births.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Mars Rover Team Diagnosing Unexpected Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/swNFHIeU0AI/090128132641.htm
The team operating NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit plans diagnostic tests this week after Spirit did not report some of its weekend activities, including a request to determine its orientation after an incomplete drive.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Humans With Rare Defects In The Insulin Receptor Signaling Pathway Provide Insight Into A Common Metabolic Defect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Ad3xfXzg8Q/090126210941.htm
Analysis of individuals with rare, molecularly defined defects in the signaling pathway activated by the hormone insulin (which controls blood glucose levels) has provided new insight that might be applicable to the many individuals with obesity-related resistance to insulin, something that predisposes individuals to type 2 diabetes.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New Method Prevents MicroRNAs From Escaping Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hw8p4t_Hk9c/090126161706.htm
MicroRNAs -- one of the tiniest entities in the human genome -- are great escape artists. Despite scientists' best efforts to detect and capture them in different tissues, they often manage to make a getaway, sneaking through the tissues' tiny holes before anyone can detect them.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
I Feel Your Pain: Neural Mechanisms Of Empathy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aJ9unGCoj38/090128074929.htm
Is it possible to share a pain that you observe in another but have never actually experienced yourself? A new study uses a sophisticated brain-imaging technique to try and answer this question. The research provides insight into brain mechanisms involved in empathy.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Nuclear Fusion-fission Hybrid Could Contribute To Carbon-free Energy Future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mE1bBA7wmOw/090127131654.htm
Physicists have designed a new system that, when fully developed, would use fusion to eliminate most of the transuranic waste produced by nuclear power plants, making nuclear power a more viable alternative to carbon-based energy sources.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New NA Inhibitor Offers Long-Lasting Protection Against Influenza Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VkwrjAAY348/090127093114.htm
A recent study suggests that a derivative of a new potent neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor offers long-lasting protection against various strains of influenza viruses A and B, including the avian influenza subtype N1 and current drug-resistant strains.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Astronauts On International Space Station Lose Alarming Amounts Of Hipbone Strength
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AEiumTbr_x8/090126121350.htm
Astronauts spending months in space lose significant bone strength, making them increasingly at risk for fractures later in life.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Combined Aerobic And Strength Exercises May Help Decrease Functional Limitations And Insulin Resistance Among Obese Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E7RP48rI0Vg/090126173621.htm
Sedentary, obese older adults appear to improve their functional abilities and reduce insulin resistance through a combination of resistance and aerobic exercises, according to a new report.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Tracking Poultry Litter Phosphorus: Threat Of Accumulation?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ee7jVpjCG20/090128113240.htm
A recent analysis of soils in the Delmarva Peninsula has shown that two forms of phosphorus are heavily present as a result of composted poultry litter, and two scientists have measured the accumulation of one of these forms from the manure to the crop soils.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
'Paperless' Hospitals Are Better For Patients, Study Confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RXwVexYd6lo/090126173721.htm
Results from a large-scale study of more than 40 hospitals and 160,000 patients show that when health information technologies replace paper forms and handwritten notes, both hospitals and patients benefit strongly.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking And Analysis?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kNba8wp1PCs/090128092341.htm
As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved, according to psychological research.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Earlier Diagnosis Of Uterine Cancer Possible With New Findings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v4uWPcfT150/090128074613.htm
Cancer of the uterus (womb) is the commonest gynaecological malignancy in the West. Medical researchers have now identified a gene that may simplify future diagnosis.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Hoard Of Hundreds Of Antique Gold Coins Uncovered In Walls Around Jerusalem National Park
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r60azOmv06g/090127161357.htm
One thousand three hundred year old Chanukah money in Jerusalem: a hoard of more than 250 gold coins was exposed December 11 in excavations in the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park. "This is one of the largest and most impressive coin hoards ever discovered in Jerusalem -- certainly the largest and most important of its period," archaeologists said.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Loop Diuretics And Fractures In Postmenopausal Women Studied
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TUhZhEgjrPU/090126173715.htm
Short-term use of loop diuretics does not appear to be associated with changes in bone mineral density, falls or fractures in postmenopausal women, according to a new report. However, prolonged use of loop diuretics may increase fracture risk in this group.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Biofuels Ignite Food Crisis Debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VKsJJAXYW5c/090128074830.htm
Study highlights problems linked to converting crops into biofuels. Taking up valuable land and growing edible crops for biofuels poses a dilemma: Is it ethical to produce inefficient renewable energies at the expense of an already malnourished population? Researchers highlight the problems linked to converting a variety of crops into biofuels. Not only are these renewable energies inefficient, they are also economically and environmentally costly and nowhere near as productive as projected.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases May Be Key To US Foreign Policy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NlFi-X0fuoo/090126203203.htm
Stating that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) not only promote poverty but also destabilize communities, experts call upon the public-health and foreign-policy communities to embrace medical diplomacy and NTD control as a means to combat terrorism.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Honey Bees Can Tell The Difference Between Different Numbers At A Glance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r50e-TcMZAs/090127202103.htm
The remarkable honey bee can tell the difference between different numbers at a glance. A fresh, astonishing revelation about the 'numeracy' of insects has emerged.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Fast-food Diet Cancels Out Benefits Of Breastfeeding In Preventing Asthma, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MoE81xhfH3E/090127083638.htm
Eating fast food more than once or twice a week negated the beneficial effects that breastfeeding has in protecting children from asthma.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Infants Draw On Past To Interpret Present, Understand Other People's Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EMJz2nfeHEc/090122141224.htm
Psychologists have learned that 10-month-old infants use their prior exposure and understanding of familiar actions by a person to unravel novel actions. However, this ability is limited by the location in which the new action is performed.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New Class Of Small RNAs Discovered: Function Defined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qhqM-igl13I/090126173837.htm
Researchers have discovered a new class of small RNAs and the presence of a strikingly novel biochemical pathway for RNA processing in which these and possibly other small RNAs are produced. These findings significantly improve our understanding of how functional information is stored in the genome.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Hybrid Foams And Lightweight Constructions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/82yLvfeknmI/090126082440.htm
A special process will make it possible to improve the mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties of foams in the future. This will be of particular benefit to lightweight construction.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Contagious Products: For Good Luck, Stay Close To A Winner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yM81okdGnkw/090126112309.htm
Is luck contagious? A new study sheds light on why, at a casino, people seem to gather around machines and people on a winning streak.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
New Twist On Old Medical Technology May Prevent Amputations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VoBm65H3SeI/090127103312.htm
Old technologies, bone cement and a well known antibiotic, may effectively fight an emerging infection in soldiers with compound bone fractures, according to a new study. An urgent search for solutions is underway as 20,000 additional American soldiers head for Afghanistan, and as evidence emerges that the infection studied may set the stage for more dangerous infections that can lead to amputation.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Bears, Gazelles And Rats Inspire New Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D9RaChcokTU/090127170708.htm
Observing bears, gazelles and rats has inspired a new Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) model and treatment.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Reducing Salt Intake Isn't The Only Way To Reduce Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nFAdvbasK3Q/090126173839.htm
Most people know that too much sodium from foods can increase blood pressure. A new study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Researchers found that the ratio of sodium-to-potassium in subjects' urine was a much stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than sodium or potassium alone.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Superconductivity: Pseudogap Persists As Material Superconducts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kME_pq8pbBs/090127083634.htm
Physicists combined two investigative techniques to discover that the mysterious pseudogap state that precedes superconductivity actually persists and may even compete with the phase where materials conduct electricity with zero resistance.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Shaken Self-confidence? Certain Products And Activities Can Fix It
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YRdLD4j6V4k/090126112321.htm
Someone who has momentarily lost confidence in her intelligence is more likely to purchase a pen than a candy bar, according to a new study. The pen helps restore her belief in herself as an intelligent person.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Birds Survived Mass Extinction That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Because Of Their Larger Brains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yDUd-RsxtgE/090127165505.htm
The Cretaceous--Tertiary mass extinction 65 million years ago may have wiped out the dinosaurs, but those that survived -- the ancestors of today's birds -- may have done so because of their bird brains.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Major Immune System Branch Has Hidden Ability To Learn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Dm6gWxUgNU/090126173723.htm
Half of the immune system has a hidden talent, researchers have discovered. They found the innate immune system, long recognized as a specialist in rapidly and aggressively combating invaders, has cells that can learn from experience and fight better when called into battle a second time. Scientists previously thought any such ability was limited to the immune system's other major branch, the adaptive immune system.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Chemical Come-on Successfully Lures Lovesick Lampreys To Traps
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3y0MQcdd_DU/090121122724.htm
A synthetic chemical version of what male sea lampreys use to attract spawning females can lure them into traps and foil the mating process of the destructive invasive species. A professor of fisheries and wildlife, with colleagues developed a synthetic lamprey pheromone that shows promise for controlling the destructive parasitic species.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Is Rapid Transition Through Menopause Linked To Earlier Onset Of Heart Disease?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7U3TU3QI5io/090127165945.htm
An evaluation of 203 women found that those who transitioned more quickly through menopause were at increased risk for a higher rate of progression of "preclinical atherosclerosis" -- narrowing of arteries caused by the thickening of their walls.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Gene-engineered Flies Are Pest Solution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8h7YR3ydkgQ/090126203205.htm
For the first time, male flies of a serious agricultural pest, the medfly, have been bred to generate offspring that die whilst they are still embryos. Researchers describe the creation of the flies that, when released into a wild population, could out-compete the normal male flies and cause a generation of pests to be stillborn -- protecting important crops.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Stress Disrupts Human Thinking, But The Brain Can Bounce Back
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eIcgLrGrhNc/090127190442.htm
Med school students prepping for their boards and rodents digging for food have a bit of psychology in common: Stress hampers their nimbler thinking abilities. A new neuroimaging study, building on earlier rodent research, shows that stressed-out men, like rats, have a hard time shifting their attention from one task to another. But the work holds good news too, for both rats and humans: Their brains are resilient. Less than one month after the stress disappears, the quick thinking returns.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Ancient Wounds Reveal Triceratops Battles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FBV4gMKmz1M/090127202044.htm
How did the dinosaur Triceratops use its three horns? The horns and frills of horned dinosaurs were not just for looks. Battle scars on the skulls of Triceratops preserve rare evidence of Cretaceous-era combat.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Skin Cell Into Sperm Or Egg? Human Induced Plurtipotent Stem Cells Reprogrammed Into Germ Cell Precursors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1c-XPzLXVsw/090127090732.htm
For the first time, researchers have reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem cells into the cells that eventually become eggs and sperm, possibly opening the door for new treatments for infertility using patient-specific cells. Theoretically, an infertile patient's skin cells, for example, could be taken and reprogrammed into iPS cells, which, like embryonic stem cells, have the ability to become every cell type in the human body. Those cells could then be transformed into germ line precursor cells that would eventually become eggs and sperm.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Dynamical Theory And Novel 4-D Colorimetric Method Reveal Modus Operandi Of Intact Living Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8xpP2L_oPlU/090121122842.htm
For the brain to achieve its intricate functions such as perception, action, attention and decision making, neural regions have to work together yet still retain their specialized roles. Excess or lack of timely coordination between brain areas lies at the core of a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders and depression. How the brain is coordinated is a complex and difficult problem in need of new theoretical insights as well as new methods of investigation.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Bacterial Intestinal Infections: Was It The Chicken Salad, Private Well Water, Or The Swim?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f1pZYGlCU7A/090126173831.htm
A new study finds swimming, having a private well or septic system, and other factors not involving food consumption were major risk factors for bacterial intestinal infections not occurring in outbreaks.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Artificial Mechanism Analogous To Human Body Clock Created In Mammalian Cell Cultures For First Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MBTfafOtr3M/090127213306.htm
Scientists have succeeded in artificially creating mechanisms analogous to the human body clock in mammalian cell cultures for the first time ever -- a first step towards therapeutic use.

Thu, 29 Jan 09
Does Smokeless Tobacco Help Smokers Quit Cigarettes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1LxXuPq-W3g/090127211658.htm
Some smokers say they just can't quit cigarettes. But previous studies of smokers in Sweden have suggested that many have done just that, by switching to smokeless tobacco. While not without health risks, smokeless tobacco is less harmful than cigarettes.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Climate Change Largely Irreversible For Next 1,000 Years, NOAA Reports
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zphwGF351i0/090127163403.htm
A new scientific study led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reaches a powerful conclusion about the climate change caused by future increases of carbon dioxide: to a large extent, there's no going back.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Getting Diabetes Before 65 More Than Doubles Risk For Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Z188w7aqF8/090127152835.htm
Diabetics have a significantly greater risk of dementia, reveals important new data from an ongoing study of twins. The risk of dementia is especially strong if the onset of diabetes occurs in middle age, according to the study.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Daily School Recess Improves Classroom Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yQL3HObXW1g/090126173835.htm
All work and no play may impede learning, health and social development. A large study of shows that school children who receive more recess behave better and are likely to learn more.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Early Mammograms May Have Net Harm in Some BRCA Mutation Carriers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jZzRMadwRHU/090127170703.htm
The risk of radiation-induced breast cancer may outweigh the benefits of mammography in women under the age of 30 who carry a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, according to a mathematical modeling study.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Nanotechnology Provides New Generation Of Orthopedic, Dental And Cardiovascular Prostheses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/13cF0uvwoWU/090127123002.htm
Scientists have discovered a process to produce new metal surfaces that promise to lead to superior medical implants that will improve healing and allow the human body to better accept metal prostheses.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Repeat Pregnancies Among Teenagers On The Increase
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wnxJ_tI0SQU/090127123006.htm
An expert in health services is calling for urgent action to improve contraceptive advice and services to reduce the growing number of repeat teenage pregnancies in the United Kingdom.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Natural Selection Not The Only Process That Drives Evolution?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HTTCXHSIWqM/090126203207.htm
Why have some of our genes evolved rapidly? It is widely believed that Darwinian natural selection is responsible, but new research suggests that a separate neutral (nonadaptive) process has made a significant contribution to human evolution.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Cell Type That Limits Stroke Damage Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nCj9IV91pAs/090127112046.htm
Medical researchers have demonstrated the existence of a type of cells that limits brain damage after a stroke.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
White Eyed Birds Diversify Across A Hemispheric Range Faster Than Any Other Bird
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qml3HVtr2nc/090126173719.htm
New molecular research shows that white eye birds (family Zosteropidae) form new species at a faster rate than any other known bird. Remarkably, unlike other rapid diversifications, which are generally confined in geography, white eyes diversified across multiple continents and far-flung islands. These birds were dubbed "Great Speciators" for this ability to rapidly form new species with little geographic limitation, and both thought that some intrinsic trait drove the extreme, observed patterns.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
More Than 100 Gene Variations Linked With Response To Leukemia Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wxkuJIYb0pQ/090127170655.htm
Scientists have discovered in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia scores of inherited genetic variations that clinicians might be able to use as guideposts for designing more effective chemotherapy for this cancer.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Precious Coatings For Plastic Parts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1AIhQK6_VFI/090126082355.htm
Bearings are universal components. Few devices can do without them. A diamond-like coating reduces friction in ball and slide bearings: The carbon layer can be applied to the plastic cage using a special process, and increases the components’ resilience and life span.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Fake Internet Drugs Risk Lives And Fund Terrorism, Warns Journal Editor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/efN6ELKa2GM/090127103310.htm
Americans who bought fake Viagra unknowingly helped to fund Middle East terrorism. Other people are buying fake cancer drugs and ingesting harmful ingredients like arsenic and leaded road paint. International action and greater patients awareness is needed to tackle this growing problem, as lives are clearly at risk says the editor of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Smallest Quantum Dots Ever Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vs6P-ZzEnqY/090127170710.htm
Single atom quantum dots make possible a new level of control over individual electrons, a development that suddenly brings quantum dot-based devices within reach. Composed of a single atom of silicon and measuring less than one nanometer in diameter, these are the smallest quantum dots ever created.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Common Medication Associated With Cognitive Decline In Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I8mtE6ZExsQ/090126124646.htm
The use of certain medications in elderly populations may be associated with cognitive decline. The study examined the effects of exposure to anticholinergic medications, a type of drug used to treat a variety of disorders that include respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, on over 500 relatively healthy men age 65 years or older with high blood pressure.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Butterflies Across Europe Face Crisis As Climate Change Looms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r0MkVCx2MPU/090126102043.htm
Climate change will cause Europe to lose much of its biodiversity as projected by a comprehensive study on future butterfly distribution. The Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies predicts northward shifts in potential distribution area of many European butterfly species. As early warning indicators of environmental change, butterflies are a valuable tool to assess overall climate change impact and to provide some indication on the chances to come nearer to the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 set by the EU Heads of State in 2001.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Substance Use Common Among Patients With TB, Associated With Treatment Difficulties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aXluQ3Kx0vY/090126173619.htm
About one in five US tuberculosis patients reports abusing alcohol or using illicit drugs, and those who do appear more contagious and difficult to treat, according to a new report.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Crystal Clear View Of Chalk Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/atfRrPWc5bQ/090123101201.htm
Chalk crystallizes differently from the way we once thought it did. This discovery will allow the development of new scale inhibitors and other materials, and has also consequences for climate change.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Preferential Treatment: How What We Like Defines What We Know
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0OJrMdp-RqM/090126135140.htm
Preference by itself can influence categorization, according to a new study in Psychological Science. The participants in the positive group sorted the symbols into finer, more specific categories compared to participants in the negative group. The authors suggest that when we like something, we will spend more time thinking about it, poring over its finer details and this will result in more specific categorization.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Helium Rains Inside Saturn, Jupiter And Other Jovian Planets, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C5v1HdeFCoo/090126173731.htm
Models of how Saturn and Jupiter formed may soon take on a different look. By determining the properties of hydrogen-helium mixtures at the millions of atmospheres of pressure present in the interior of Saturn and Jupiter, physicists have determined the temperature at a given pressure when helium becomes insoluble in dense metallic hydrogen.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Individualized Approach To Breast Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-lQTNEwJCDo/090126153943.htm
Scientists develop MRI-and-ultrasound application to recognize malignant tumors before they metastasize. The new approach -- based on a combination of MRI and ultrasound -- is able to measure the metabolism rates of cancer cells. The approach helps determine at an earlier stage than ever before which cells are metastasizing, and how they should be treated.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Seabird’s Ocean Lifestyle Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ItIIAPx5pZs/090126162256.htm
An important British seabird has been tracked for the first time using miniature positioning loggers. The results are giving zoologists information that could help conserve wildlife around Britain's shores.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Rationale For Deciding Which Glucocorticoid To Use To Treat Preterm Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3XJlHUU4-U8/090126173612.htm
Although drugs known as glucocorticoids are used clinically to treat mothers at risk of preterm delivery and infants with life-threatening lung conditions, there are ongoing concerns about the therapy because it adversely affects brain development. New mouse research suggests that some glucocorticoids, e.g. corticosterone and prednisolone, might be less damaging to the fetal brain than others, such as dexamethasone.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
New Insight Into Architecture Of Cellular Protein Factories: Efficient Working In Confined Spaces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1fRRrPGeNmg/090122120941.htm
Each cell in an organism possesses its own protein factories known as ribosomes. Every second, these enzyme complexes produce new proteins with messenger molecules (mRNA) from the cell nucleus as blueprints. In order to generate as many proteins as possible at the same time, several ribosomes cluster together to form an “industrial complex” – the polysome - and read simultaneously the same messenger molecule. Scientists have now, for the first time, been able to reveal the three-dimensional structure of these complexes.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
'Happiness Gap' In The US Narrows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X4ZRD2jZsyY/090126121352.htm
The American population as a whole is no happier than it was three decades ago. But happiness inequality -- the gap between the happy and the not-so-happy -- has narrowed significantly.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Regular Sprints Boost Metabolism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_sTj7eI4Ad4/090127190344.htm
A regular high-intensity, three-minute workout has a significant effect on the body’s ability to process sugars. New research shows that a brief but intense exercise session every couple of days may be the best way to cut the risk of diabetes.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Concussion In Former Athletes Can Affect Mental And Physical Processes Later In Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tHJFoHnQ8Ng/090127190340.htm
Researchers have found the first evidence that athletes who were concussed during their earlier sporting life show a decline in their mental and physical processes more than 30 years later.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Geoengineering Projects That Could Offset Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/neqYsj8Ail8/090127190338.htm
The first comprehensive assessment of the climate cooling potential of different geoengineering schemes has been carried out.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Pacific People Spread From Taiwan, Language Evolution Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LYPDQxm-FGg/090122141146.htm
New research into language evolution suggests most Pacific populations originated in Taiwan around 5,200 years ago.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Statins May Treat Blood Vessel Disorder That Can Lead To Fatal Strokes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nqX7in75WO8/090126130302.htm
In a finding that could save thousands of lives a year, researchers have shown that a blood vessel disorder leading to unpredictable, sometimes fatal, hemorrhagic strokes, seizures, paralysis or other problems is treatable with the same statin drugs that millions of people take to control high cholesterol.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Mixing Genomics And Geography Yields Insights Into Life And Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q1UP8WO8jlY/090122110654.htm
Marrying genomics and geography on a grand scale, researchers have detected often-subtle molecular changes that occur within micro-organisms living in a host of different marine environments.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Hypertension And Cholesterol Medications Present In Water Released Into St. Lawrence River
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2r3o9hCzfd8/090126112427.htm
A study on downstream and upstream water from the Montreal wastewater treatment plant has revealed the presence of chemotherapy products and certain hypertension and cholesterol medications.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Hoarding Rainwater Could Dramatically Expand Range Of Dengue-fever Mosquito
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-zWXUqx8HMA/090127083546.htm
Ecologists have developed a new model to predict the impact of climate change on the dengue fever-carrying mosquito Aedes aegypti in Australia – information that could help limit its spread.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Remember That Time? New Study Demystifies Consumer Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u9NLzaI_fKk/090126112311.htm
If a vacation starts out bad and gets better, you'll have a more positive memory than if it starts out good and gets worse -- if you're asked about it right afterward.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Newborn Infants Detect The Beat In Music
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-mBL0QKgtA/090127083540.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that two to three day old babies can detect the beat in music. This phenomenon - termed 'beat induction' - is likely to have contributed to music's origin. It enables such actions as clapping, making music together and dancing to a rhythm. Beat induction is also considered to be uniquely human. Even our closest evolutionary relatives, such as the chimpanzee and bonobo, do not synchronize their behavior to rhythmic sounds.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Gene Therapy Demonstrates Benefit In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yY9XwvbL4PE/090126153941.htm
Researchers have reported the first clinical evidence that gene therapy reduces symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an important milestone for this promising treatment which has endured a sometimes turbulent past.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Breakdown Of Barriers In Old Cells May Hold Clues To Aging Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dz7upYZWqz0/090122123900.htm
Like guards controlling access to a gated community, nuclear pore complexes are communication channels that regulate the passage of proteins and RNA to and from a cell's nucleus. Recent studies offer new insights about the pores' lifespan and how their longevity affects their function.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Patients Starting Parkinson's Drug Rasagiline Earlier Do Better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Bg8H4HmQiI/090126104357.htm
A new study looking at the long-term effects of rasagiline on newly diagnosed patients indicates that people who began the drug earlier continued to do better than those for whom treatment was delayed six months.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Invasions By Alien Plants Have Been Mapped In European Union
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p3d-7QK_hnU/090122080935.htm
Biological invasions are one of the major threats to biodiversity and in many cases they have considerable impact on economy and human health. For their effective management it is important to understand which areas and ecosystems are at the highest risk of being invaded.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Trust Your Gut: Too Much Thinking Leads To Bad Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E11n0k_HNCg/090126112313.htm
Don't think too much before purchasing that new car or television. According to a new study, people who deliberate about decisions make less accurate judgments than people who trust their instincts.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Emperor Penguins March Toward Extinction?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6NgRwE2pxV0/090127090728.htm
Popularized by the 2005 movie "March of the Penguins," emperor penguins could be headed toward extinction in at least part of their range before the end of the century, according to a new article.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Gene May Lead To Early Onset Of Brain Tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9GyV3DE99bA/090126173602.htm
People with a particular gene variant may be more likely to develop brain tumors, and at an earlier age, than people without the gene, according to a new study.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Cell Phones Dangerous For Child Pedestrians, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nb9qb3QUoyU/090126112429.htm
Children who talk on cell phones while crossing streets are at a higher risk for injuries or death in a pedestrian accident, said psychologists.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Shoulder Injuries In US High School Athletes Occur More Often In Boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6aBLX5RQR-w/090126082528.htm
Although shoulder injuries accounted for just 8 percent of all injuries sustained by high school athletes, shoulder injuries were relatively common in predominately male sports such as baseball (18 percent of all injuries), wrestling (18 percent) and football (12 percent). Moreover, boys experienced higher shoulder injury rates than girls, particularly in soccer and baseball/softball.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Cutting Cost Of Making Cellulosic Biofuels With New Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/faEjsU5F7vg/090122123902.htm
A new process to pre-treat corn-crop waste before conversion into ethanol means extra nutrients don't have to be added, cutting the cost of making biofuels from cellulose. The pretreatment process uses ammonia to make the breakdown of cellulose and hemicellulose in plants 75 percent more efficient than when conventional enzymes alone are used. Cellulose in plants must be broken down into fermentable sugars before they can be turned into biofuel.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Rational Or Experiential? New Study Highlights Differences In Thinking Styles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vf2H6HUYc7c/090126112315.htm
Consumers approach problems, products, and websites differently according to distinct thinking styles, says a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Danube Delta Holds Answers To 'Noah's Flood' Debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dgBjMCJMjqg/090123101207.htm
Did a catastrophic flood of biblical proportions drown the shores of the Black Sea 9,500 years ago, wiping out early Neolithic settlements around its perimeter? A geologist says that, if the flood occurred at all, it was much smaller than previously proposed by other researchers.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Bone Marrow Cells Help Repair Damaged Lung
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4DZLZUH-2U8/090126173614.htm
Scientists have identified a population of mouse bone marrow cells that can contribute to repair of the injured lung. As cells expressing similar markers were identified in human bone marrow, the authors suggest that this cell population might be used therapeutically to treat individuals with diseases characterized by damage to the lining of the lungs.

Wed, 28 Jan 09
Plastic Solar Cells For Portable Electronic Devices Coming Soon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-ngsSYPFAus/090121215012.htm
Researchers are developing plastic solar cells for portable electronic devices. The prototype, a cell measuring eight square inches (50 square centimeters), is expected to achieve 8 percent efficiency and to have a lifetime of at least three years.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
New Tree Of Life Divides All Lower Metazoans From Higher Animals, Molecular Research Confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xoAsE7k_qYw/090126203157.htm
New and comprehensive molecular research confirms a deep evolutionary division among animals. This new tree of life divides all so-called "lower" metazoans (Placozoa, corals, sponges, and jellyfish) from "higher" animals (all other metazoans, from flatworms to chordates). Placozoans have also passed over comb jellies and other organisms as an animal that most closely mirrors the root of this tree of life.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Aspirin May Prevent Liver Damage That Afflicts Millions, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xmH_9S_XVmw/090126173608.htm
Simple aspirin may prevent liver damage in millions of people suffering from side effects of common drugs, alcohol abuse, and obesity-related liver disease, a new Yale University study suggests.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Risk Factors That Affected World Trade Center Evacuation Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zaa67x_60nc/090126104355.htm
Researchers have identified factors that affected evacuation from the World Trade Center Towers on Sep. 11, 2001. A research methodology known as participatory action research (PAR) was used to identify individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) barriers to safe and rapid evacuation.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Huge Burden Of Diabetes Shown By New Survey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yu2Ba8Vn_9k/090126112317.htm
In the United States, nearly 13 percent of adults age 20 and older have diabetes, but 40 percent of them have not been diagnosed, according to epidemiologists. Diabetes is especially common in the elderly: nearly one-third of those age 65 and older have the disease.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Rewrite The Textbooks: Transcription Is Bidirectional
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MKF46sAIkUc/090125142123.htm
Researchers have now unraveled how yeast generates its transcripts and have come a step closer to understanding their function. The study redefines the concept of promoters (the start sites of transcription) contradicting the established notion that they support transcription in one direction only.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Mind Out Of Balance, Body Out Of Balance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_wydnkacuBU/090122141226.htm
Many of the 40 million American adults who suffer from anxiety disorders also have problems with balance. As increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with anxiety, researchers have discovered that the link between balance and anxiety can be assessed at an early age and that something can be done about it before it becomes a problem.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
12,900 Years Ago: North American Comet Impact Theory Disproved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A0j4PwhJNA4/090126173729.htm
New data disproves the recent theory that a large comet exploded over North America 12,900 years ago, causing a shock wave that traveled across North America at hundreds of kilometers per hour and triggering continent-wide wildfires. Scientists tested the theory by examining charcoal and pollen records to assess how fire regimes in North America changed between 15 and 10,000 years ago, a time of large and rapid climate changes.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
New Asthma Research Opposes Current Drug Treatment, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MNDqr3koWyQ/090126173733.htm
Just as the FDA is reconsidering the use of stimulants to treat asthma, a new study offers evidence to support a theory that an opposite approach to asthma treatment may be in order. Scientists are investigating whether beta-2 adrenoreceptor antagonists (beta blockers) might be a safer, more effective strategy for long-term asthma management. A new study shows the absence of asthma-like symptoms in mice lacking the key gene that produces the receptor.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Scientists Use Lasers To Measure Changes To Tropical Forests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eh0plq8vIxk/090123152547.htm
New technology deployed on airplanes is helping scientists quantify landscape-scale changes occurring to Big Island tropical forests from non-native plants and other environmental factors that affect carbon sequestration.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Risk Factors For Contralateral Breast Cancer Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DeOfAJBh-pI/090126082534.htm
A preventive procedure to remove the unaffected breast in breast cancer patients with disease in one breast may only be necessary in patients who have high-risk features as assessed by examining the patient's medical history and pathology of the breast cancer.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Polish And Italian Get Advanced Language Recognition System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_rXds4_cNXM/090123101253.htm
European researchers have developed the most advanced spontaneous language understanding (SLU) system for both Polish and Italian. In fact, it is the first one.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Genetics Of Popularity: Genetic Influence In Social Networks Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lKTruSAKyjo/090126173604.htm
Our genes partly influence our place within our social network, according to new research. The researchers found that both popularity and the likelihood of friends to know one another were strongly heritable.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Scientists Unmask Genetic Markers Associated With Psoriasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EM_L4pvubNA/090125142116.htm
Scientists have found DNA "hotspots" that may reveal how genetic differences among individuals result in psoriasis, an autoimmune disease of the skin. The findings could lead to new drug targets and tailored treatments for the disease.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Orbiting Carbon Observatory Investigates Mystery Of The Missing Sinks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6NNIB7iBEU0/090126100148.htm
Trees "inhale" carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, transforming that greenhouse gas into the building materials and energy it needs to grow its branches and leaves. Though scientists agree the remaining carbon dioxide is also "inhaled" by Earth, they have been unable to precisely determine where it is going, what processes are involved, and whether Earth will continue to absorb it in the future. A new NASA satellite scheduled to launch in February 2009 is poised to shed a very bright light on these "missing" sinks: the Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Mortality Is Unchanged Since 1994
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xs04uKXtDU8/090123074958.htm
Mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not fallen since 1994, according to a comprehensive review of major studies that assessed ARDS deaths. This disappointing finding contradicts the common wisdom that ARDS mortality has been in steady decline.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Fluorescent Proteins Illuminating Biomedical Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1GRDTIi8prE/090125142127.htm
Remarkable new tools that spotlight individual cellular molecules are transforming biomedical research. These new tools are photoactivatable fluorescent proteins (PAFPs) and other advanced fluorescent proteins (FPs). PAFPs and FPs allow scientists to noninvasively visualize the structures and processes in living cells at the molecular level. It is now possible, for example, to follow cancer cells as they seek out blood vessels and spread throughout the body or to watch how cells manage intracellular debris, preventing premature aging.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Bacteria That Increase Plant Growth Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QdUpbAzb7GI/090126104349.htm
Through work originally designed to remove contaminants from soil, scientists have identified plant-associated microbes that can improve plant growth on marginal soil. The findings may help scientists design strategies for sustainable biofuel production that do not use food crops or agricultural land.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Frequent Sex And Masturbation In 20s And 30s Linked To Higher Prostate Cancer, But Risks Diminish With Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SGhhCviPT8Y/090126082343.htm
Men who are very sexually active in their twenties and thirties are more likely to develop prostate cancer, especially if they masturbate frequently, according to a new study.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Safely Fixed Hip Prostheses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fTFazZ29nuU/090126082436.htm
Artificial hip joints are firmly anchored to the patient's damaged bone by screws. But which parts of the bone will safely hold the screws in place? A simulation model is to calculate the strength of the bone from computer tomography images.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Survey Could Help Pediatricians Better Treat Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O0mbuGBXy6I/090122123904.htm
Researchers are developing a tool that will enable pediatric physicians to use quality-of-life information to pinpoint children's health problems.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Climate Change Enhances Grassland Productivity: More Frequent Freeze-thaw Cycles Intensify Soil Processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CHW4NXdyIGY/090126082444.htm
More frequent freeze-thaw cycles in winter can increase biomass production according to the results of a recent study. Researchers installed underground heating on their plots, thereby enabling five additional thawing periods to take place in the winter of 2005/2006. They found that on the manipulated plots ten percent more biomass grew compared to on the control plots. Such increased plant productivity can be explained by several factors; such as an increase in nitrogen supply in the spring, according to the researchers.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
'Abusive Behavior' Towards People With Dementia By Family Carers Is Common
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f0MlpkVQmiU/090122202757.htm
Half of family carers of people with dementia report some abusive behavior towards the person they are caring for and one third report 'significant' levels of abuse, according to new research.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Baby Beetles Inspire Scientists To Build 'Mini Boat' Powered By Surface Tension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gIso8W1K6B8/090121144105.htm
Inspired by the aquatic wriggling of beetle larvae, a research team has designed a propulsion system that strips away paddles, sails, and motors and harnesses the energy within the water's surface. The technique destabilizes the surface tension surrounding the object with an electric pulse and causes the craft to move via the surface's natural pull.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Compromised Skin Barrier Function Plays A Role In Psoriasis Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tjirln0_rA0/090125142125.htm
New research on genetic basis of psoriasis may prove important for early diagnosis and prediction of an individual's risk for this common chronic skin disease.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Football Has Not Changed At All In Past Three World Cups
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kwuaf4JEKe4/090123144033.htm
Researchers in Spain have found that football has changed so little during recent World Cups that, if shown action from matches, we would be incapable today of differentiating between a France ’98 game and another from Germany ’06.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Treatments After Prostate Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qrp0UqoF6so/090122080713.htm
Although primary prostate surgery or radiotherapy is successful in many cases of prostate cancer, some patients suffer a recurrence of the disease, which is most often first detected by a measurable PSA blood test -- affecting 30 percent to 40 percent of patients after surgery. The presence of cancer potentially outside the prostate after surgery, will affect about a third of men.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
MRSA Found In Midwestern Swine, Workers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HEFzixPZsXw/090122202804.htm
The first study documenting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in swine and swine workers in the United States has just been published. The investigators found a strain of MRSA known as ST398 in a swine production system in the Midwest.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Decline In Health Among Older Adults Affected By Hurricane Katrina
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/25llRAmkS70/090122110650.htm
In the year following Hurricane Katrina, the health of survivors 65 and over declined nearly four times that of a national sample of older adults not affected by the disaster, according to a new study.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Dramatic Expansion Of Dead Zones In Oceans Likely With Unchecked Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aENoWCWL9fg/090125142118.htm
Unchecked global warming would leave ocean dwellers gasping for breath. Dead zones are low-oxygen areas in the ocean where higher life forms such as fish, crabs and clams are not able to live. Scientists have now shown that unchecked global warming would lead to a dramatic expansion of low-oxygen areas zones in the global ocean by a factor of 10 or more.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Hidden Amphetamines In Some Diet Pills Pose Health and Employment Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QRg4zVo70cQ/090126082438.htm
Americans who use illegal diet pills from South America may be taking amphetamines without knowing it and seriously risking both their health and their jobs. Physicians need to be made aware of the range of serious side effects of these drugs to allow them to identify and treat those patients presenting with unexplained symptoms.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
First Study To Test Real-world Effects Of Stun Gun Use Raises Questions About Safety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tVmJuNZqccM/090123101213.htm
The rate of sudden deaths increased six-fold in the first year that California law enforcement agencies deployed the use of stun guns, according to a new study. Findings also showed a two-fold increase in the rate of firearm-related deaths during the same time period.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Sexually-Transmitted Diseases Disrupt Genetic Bottleneck That Usually Constrains HIV Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nHAWAzpbImw/090122202800.htm
Scientists have shown that HIV faces a genetic "bottleneck" when the virus is transmitted heterosexually from one person to another, by way of the genital mucosa. The results explain why prior infection by other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) makes individuals more susceptible to HIV infection.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Genetic Interactions Are Key To Understanding Complex Traits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6lUjfy3w1KE/090122141154.htm
Researchers have shown they can tease apart a complex genetic trait to reveal the precise genetic variations that combined to produce it. The research suggests scientists need better statistical models to understand how genetic interactions influence the risk of common diseases.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Consumers Desire More Genetic Testing, But Not Designer Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hm_lu1bY6ak/090126100642.htm
Researchers have found a high desire for additional genetic testing among consumers for life altering and threatening medical conditions including mental retardation, blindness, deafness, cancer, heart disease, dwarfism and shortened lifespan from death by 5 years of age. Consumers, however, are less interested in prenatal genetic testing for traits including tall stature, superior athletic ability and superior intelligence.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Brain's Memory 'Buffer' Discovered In Single Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-1Sfl0eyxK0/090125142121.htm
Individual nerve cells in the front part of the brain can hold traces of memories on their own for as long as a minute and possibly longer, researchers have found.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Mask-wearing Significantly Boosts Flu Protection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GYnRqIpLz3A/090126082530.htm
Donning a face mask is an easy way to boost protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, new research has found, but convincing a reluctant public and health workers is proving a struggle.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
New Wireless Standard Promises Ultra-Fast Media Applications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MRrXrUY6bXg/090122161953.htm
Rapid transfer of a high-definition movie from a PC to a cell phone -- plus a host of other media and data possibilities -- is approaching reality.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
In-flight Emergencies Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VyjyRUgLkus/090123075630.htm
Fainting is the most common in-flight medical emergency. Researchers analyzed over 10,000 emergencies. The number, type and frequency of medical emergencies on board two airlines were then compiled.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Gold Can Get Harder, Not Softer, When Heated To High Temperatures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d-cT74G8vkA/090122141152.htm
Common sense tells us that when you heat something up it gets softer, but scientists have now demonstrated the exact opposite. The gold was heated at rates too fast for the electrons absorbing the light energy to collide with surrounding atoms and lose energy, researchers explain.

Tue, 27 Jan 09
Schizophrenic Patients' Frozen Faces Harm Social Interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ukBv4Jqq-9E/090122202755.htm
Non-verbal communication, in the form of facial expressions, may be impaired in people with schizophrenia. Researchers writing in Behavioral and Brain Functions have shown that deficits in non-verbal expressivity in schizophrenia are linked to poor social skills and an unawareness of the thoughts and intentions of others.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Hope For Restoring Injured Nerves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sE1hxfE-3q8/090122141144.htm
Scientists have identified a worm gene that is essential for damaged nerve cells to regenerate, and showed they could speed nerve regeneration by over-activating the gene -- a step toward new treatments for nerves injured by trauma or disease.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Breakthrough Against Poxviruses May Lead To Medication For Smallpox and Monkeypox
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y0MDlGcxzwY/090123111513.htm
Smallpox has a nasty history throughout the world. Caused by poxviruses, smallpox is one of the few disease-causing agents against which the human body’s immune system is ineffective in its defense. A breakthrough by structural biologists may be the first step towards a pharmaceutical medication for smallpox and the emerging human monkeypox.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Species Hotspot In Remote Cambodian Mekong
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QCS68NahMWw/090120174138.htm
Cantor's Giant softshell turtle, thought to be extinct in Cambodia since 2003 has been rediscovered in a section of the Mekong River almost untouched by humans.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Crib-side Studies Help Struggling Newborns Go Home Without Feeding Tubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BbVnfjxqroQ/090123075002.htm
A new strategy is helping premature infants and other newborns with severe swallowing difficulties learn to feed on their own. Physicians were able to help 15 out of 20 infants with severe feeding difficulties and airway concerns learn to feed by mouth.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Cooking Up New Gelled Rocket Fuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PI9qU3bFWG4/090121122938.htm
Engineers and food scientists are teaming up to develop a new type of gelled fuel the consistency of orange marmalade designed to improve the safety, performance and range of rockets for space and military applications.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Researchers Explore What Contemporary Science Cannot Explain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8TU2QWui_jg/090123075632.htm
A team philosophers is conducting a three-year research project to explore conscious experiences that contemporary science still cannot explain.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Insight Into How Bees See Could Improve Artificial Intelligence Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/435MpUIzmDk/090123101211.htm
New research on bees could lead to improved artificial intelligence systems and computer programs for facial recognition.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Stimulating Recovery From Chronic Stress Disorders: Novel Approach Uses Body's 'Fight Or Flight' Mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YyMmOnOENDA/090122202802.htm
A Canadian/US research team has reported a novel approach to stimulating recovery from chronic stress disorders. Researchers have detailed a therapeutic model which exploits the natural dynamics of the body's "fight or flight" system. In contrast to conventional time-invariant therapy, the researchers propose a well-directed therapeutic push delivered according to an optimal treatment schedule.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
'Astronaut Food Approach' To Medical Testing: Dehydrated, Wallet-sized Malaria Tests Promise Better Diagnoses In Developing World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9gtZV5iCHtg/090121123049.htm
Bioengineers have created a credit-card sized tool can be stored for months and then used to test for malaria. It's part of a larger project to develop high-tech tools for global health. The prototype delivered a diagnosis in just nine minutes.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Treatment Option For Latent Tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vXkLdPfIM9E/090122110648.htm
Patients who are infected with the latent form of tuberculosis (TB) show no symptoms and are not contagious, yet they pose the biggest challenge when it comes to controlling the disease. A new potential treatment for this particular form of TB has been developed.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Light-speed Nanotechnology: Controlling The Nature Of Graphene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j6vaSHug1GA/090121122836.htm
Researchers have discovered a new method for controlling the nature of graphene, bringing chip manufacturers one step closer to realizing the mass production of graphene-based nanoelectronics. The chemistry of the surface on which graphene is deposited plays a key role in shaping the material's conductive properties: results show that when deposited on a surface treated with oxygen, graphene exhibits semiconductor properties. When deposited on material treated with hydrogen, graphene exhibits metallic properties.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
I Quit, We Quit: What Works Better For Smokers?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tmS8O3pZXPU/090122112625.htm
A new study has found that smokers are twice as likely to kick the habit if they use a support group rather than trying to give up alone.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Here's Venom In Your Eye: Spitting Cobras Hit Their Mark
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eWWcmq7awfU/090122152709.htm
Spitting cobras have an exceptional ability to spray venom into eyes of potential attackers. A new study reveals how these snakes maximize their chances of hitting the target. Using high-speed photography and electromyography, scientists uncover the mechanics of a cobra "spit."

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Blocking Toxic Effects Could Make Clot-buster Safer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2qDsjXLK5cI/090123101159.htm
The drug tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) can break up the blood clots that cause strokes and heart attacks, but it can also loosen the blood-brain barrier and generate inflammation in the brain. In mice, genetically removing LRP1, a receptor for tPA, from brain cells called microglia can soften tPA's harmful effects. Blocking LRP1 could make tPA safer.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Evolution And Epilepsy: Improvement In Brain Electrical Signaling Is Critical Both For Vertebrate Evolution And For Preventing Epileptic Seizures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lKeBrLSB1IM/090121122834.htm
Studies on brain electrical signaling offer a fresh perspective on vertebrate evolution, provide additional evidence supporting Darwinian views of evolution, and may also lead to more effective treatment of epileptic seizures in infants.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Drug-coated Stents Less Risky For Heart Bypass Patients, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pqBsc12teCs/090122080717.htm
Coronary bypass surgery may carry less risk of serious complications if stents coated with a drug that suppresses cell growth are used in the procedure rather than bare-metal stents, scientists have found.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Electrochemical Capacitors For Water Desalination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EvNsLA7yMwg/090122080928.htm
Recent advances in electrochemical capacitors for energy storage open new opportunities for water desalination devices with high energy efficiency.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
The Total Package: A Skillful, Compassionate Doctor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rxwb8kdLgMY/090122100822.htm
Patients and their families want physicians who are gifted in diagnosis and treatment and who are caring individuals with the interpersonal skills needed to communicate complex information in stressful circumstances. A new study shows training physicians to be humanistic is feasible and produces measurably better communicators.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Feeling Your Words: Hearing With Your Face
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vrEHcY9EZcM/090123143910.htm
The movement of facial skin and muscles around the mouth plays an important role not only in the way the sounds of speech are made, but also in the way they are heard according to a new study.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Treatment Reduces Severity Of Asthma Attacks In Preschoolers, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KQOs4WvcIqw/090122111717.htm
The largest study of its kind on preschoolers has demonstrated that preventive treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids is effective in reducing the severity and duration of asthma attacks triggered by colds.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Off The Shelf Maps Help Mitigate Volcanic Hazards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVYaJzoV7Nk/090121155316.htm
When volcanoes erupt, pinpointing the regions at high risk for lethal hazards and deciding whether or not to evacuate a resistant population comprise the most difficult problems faced by hazards managers. Now a team of volcanologists has a program that maps potential problem areas quickly, taking much of the guesswork out of decision making and evacuations.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Sleep Disordered Breathing And Obesity: Independent Effects, Causes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TVqpiO9_RBg/090123074956.htm
Two studies found that obesity and sleep disordered breathing are independently linked to insulin resistance and liver disease -- and that either alone is a cause for concern, but together, they equal a one-two hit to some of the most important metabolic pathways in the body. A third study found that OSA is linked to a sedentary lifestyle, also independent of obesity.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Microbes Fuel Energy Debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gjwiFGHlihw/090122093923.htm
Microbes may well be the answer to our global energy crisis. By fermenting biomass to produce biofuels, they offer a possible climate-friendly solution to the anticipated shortfall in fossil fuel supply. A new review considers how microbes could be used to salvage the energy crisis.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Trust Me, I'm A Journalist: Trust In The Media Promotes Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gllf9doaPRE/090121205657.htm
Trust in the media promotes health. A study of people from 29 Asian countries, reported in the open-access journal BMC Medicine, has shown that individuals with high levels of trust in the mass media tend to be healthier.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Eating Less May Not Extend Human Life: Caloric Restriction May Benefit Only Obese Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JorPc0Pj-Tw/090123101224.htm
Caloric restriction only benefits obese mice, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition. The results suggest that caloric restriction may not be a universally beneficial anti-aging strategy, as commonly believed.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Key Protein Regulator Of Inflammation And Cell Death Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ADreC9jXCLE/090122120522.htm
Scientists have discovered a key protein component involved in inflammation. The protein, AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2), is involved in the detection and reaction to dangerous cytoplasmic DNA that is produced by infection with viral or microbial pathogens, or by tissue damage. AIM2 also appears to be a tumor suppressor, and its inactivation may play a role in the development of cancer, according to researchers.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Musical Instrument Drums Up YouTube Hit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HWtHmhTNGI0/090121174256.htm
A video of a new musical instrument created by a student has attracted over one million hits on the internet. The PhD student made the video to demonstrate the BeatBearing - his electronic musical instrument that uses ball bearings to create different drum patterns.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Medical Mystery Of 9-month-old Infant Solved: Breastfed Baby Had Rickets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E35DLmLUMPU/090121174114.htm
A-month-old infant who was admitted to a local Boston hospital with seizures and a bulging soft spot was actually suffering from rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
WineCrisp: New Apple Was More Than 20 Years In The Making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GVcdvnZ3d2o/090122100824.htm
A new, late-ripening apple named WineCrisp which carries the Vf gene for scab resistance was developed over the past 20 plus years through classical breeding techniques, not genetic engineering. License to propagate trees will be made available to nurseries.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Drug Treatment Of Heart Failure Is Influenced By Gender Of Patient And Of Physician
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wGe8zxX5RRY/090121205655.htm
While the treatment of heart failure has improved over the past two decades, a new study finds that "the use of evidence-based treatments appears to be imbalanced according to the gender of the patient."

Mon, 26 Jan 09
Could Caffeine In Pregnancy Affect Risk Leukemia Risk In Offspring?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-l-6mYs9hgs/090125193152.htm
A new study is looking into the effects of consuming caffeine during pregnancy on the unborn baby.

Mon, 26 Jan 09
New Tactics To Tackle Bystander’s Role In Bullying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0REC3F--_5o/090125193150.htm
A new psychodynamic approach to bullying in schools has been successfully trialled. CAPSLE (Creating a Peaceful School Learning Environment) is a groundbreaking method focused more on the bystander, including the teacher, than on the bully or the victim. The study shows that an easily implemented school-wide intervention focusing on empathy and power dynamics can reduce children’s experiences of aggression in school and improve classroom behavior.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Supermassive Black Holes Not Guilty Of Shutting Down Star Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qAQGg1ubDQk/090122090146.htm
Astronomers have discovered that galaxies stop forming stars long before their central supermassive black holes reach their most powerful stage, meaning the black holes can't be responsible for shutting down star formation.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
How Chemotherapy Drugs Block Blood Vessel Growth, Slow Cancer Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NYQevt29pMo/090122164319.htm
Researchers have discovered how a whole class of commonly used chemotherapy drugs can block cancer growth. Their findings suggest that a subgroup of cancer patients might particularly benefit from these drugs.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Sources Of Climate- And Health-afflicting Soot Pollution Over South Asia Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wutXS5wuKRs/090123075628.htm
A gigantic brownish haze from various burning and combustion processes is blanketing India and surrounding land and oceans during the winter season. This soot-laden Brown Cloud is affecting South Asian climate as much or more than carbon dioxide and cause premature deaths of 100 000s annually, yet its sources have been poorly understood. Now researchers have used a novel carbon-14 method to determine that two-thirds of the soot particles are from biomass combustion such as in household cooking and in slash-and-burn agriculture.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have Surprisingly High Folate Levels, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lapM260BRAI/090123152545.htm
Children with newly diagnosed cases of inflammatory bowel disease have higher concentrations of folate in their blood than individuals without IBD, according to a new study. The findings bring into question the previously held theory that patients with IBD are prone to folate -- also known as folic acid -- deficiency.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Aeroacoustics Study Helps Control Noise From Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_WCXjLeLBBU/090122161522.htm
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are playing increasingly important roles in many fields. Ranging in size from the huge Global Hawk aircraft to hand-held machines, these remotely controlled devices are growing ever more vital to the U.S. armed forces in roles that include surveillance and reconnaissance.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Makeover Shows Correspond With Increased Body Anxiety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8vXp8jxVq8w/090122163319.htm
"The Swan." "I Want a Famous Face." "Dr. 90210." "Extreme Makeover." "Nip/Tuck." The list goes on. These are a few of the TV shows that have examined, and promoted, the benefits of plastic surgery in recent years. Some experts believe the shows are driving women to go under the knife to conform to a heightened definition of beauty, one that is increasingly difficult to attain.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Secrets Of Stradivarius' Unique Violin Sound Revealed, Professor Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JQNXokQKWGs/090122141228.htm
For centuries, violin makers have tried and failed to reproduce the pristine sound of Stradivarius and Guarneri violins, but after 33 years of work put into the project, one professor is confident the veil of mystery has now been lifted.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Slices Of Living Brain Tissue Are Helping Scientists Identify New Stroke Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3yAH1CgYo0w/090121122838.htm
Slices of living human brain tissue are helping scientists learn which drugs can block the waves of death that engulf and engorge brain cells following a stroke.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
C1XS Catches First Glimpse Of X-ray From The Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hcJAbGEDIt4/090123075626.htm
The C1XS X-ray camera has successfully detected its first X-ray signature from the Moon. This is the first step in its mission to reveal the origin and evolution of our Moon by mapping its surface composition.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Type Of Supporting Cells Resistant To Notch Signaling Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ay5FRox-H3A/090121215806.htm
Researchers have shown that by blocking a biochemical pathway called the Notch signaling pathway, most of the supporting cells in the inner ear of juvenile mice are induced to directly change into hair cells.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
How Natural Oils Can Be Hydrogenated Without Making Unhealthy Trans Fats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nSplfQzY5X4/090123143908.htm
To prolong the shelf life of foods, manufacturers often add hydrogen to natural oils, a process called hydrogenation. But hydrogenation also results in the production of trans fats, which have adverse health effects such as raising bad cholesterol and increasing the risk for coronary heart disorders. Now chemists have designed a catalyst that allows hydrogenated oils to be made while minimizing the production of trans fats.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Offspring Of Male Geezers: A New Wrinkle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zAtbxAdRY-U/090121214648.htm
Although mammalian males can reproduce until late in life, evidence of hazards to offspring has emerged in human and animal models. Two new studies provide clear, well-controlled data of deleterious effects on the offspring of aged male mice mated to females of prime reproductive age.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Global Warming: Tree Deaths Have Doubled Across The Western U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5WX56rZrhGg/090122141222.htm
A new study led by the US Geological Survey and involving the University of Colorado at Boulder indicates tree deaths in the West's old-growth forests have more than doubled in recent decades, likely from regional warming and related drought conditions.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Cancer-causing Gene Discovery Suggests New Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZeVEd58OQ_g/090123143912.htm
Scientists have discovered a novel way by which a much-studied cancer-promoting gene accelerates the disease. The finding suggests a new strategy to halt cancer's progress.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
More Accurate FEMA Flood Maps Could Help Avoid Significant Damages And Losses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2bgaroVwivE/090123111515.htm
Significant loss of life, destroyed property and businesses, and repairs to infrastructure could be avoided by replacing Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps with ones that contain high-accuracy and high-resolution land surface elevation data, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Protease Inhibitor May Aid In Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gHVWNkXcPFs/090121122830.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that a specific inhibitor of the protease plasma kallikrein, ASP-440 may provide a new therapeutic approach for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the most common eye-related complication of diabetes.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
NOAA Gives Navy Marine Mammal Protection Measures For Sonar Training Off The Atlantic Coast And Gulf Of Mexico
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TMldcCF-dwk/090124122305.htm
NOAA's Fisheries Service has issued regulations and a letter of authorization to the U.S. Navy that includes measures to protect marine mammals while conducting Atlantic fleet active sonar training off the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The regulations require the Navy to implement measures designed to protect and minimize effects to marine mammals.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Video Games Linked To Poor Relationships With Friends, Family
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vahyyOplNNE/090123075000.htm
The study of young adults connected video games to poor relationships with peers and with parents -- measured by things like time, trust, support and affection.

Sun, 25 Jan 09
Air Bags, Seat Belts Important In Preventing Spine Fractures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KYuvcOmJEXs/090124113659.htm
In 2007, there were over 6 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States, and of those, 2.5 million were injured and more than 41,000 lost their lives. Spine fractures are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. New research provides evidence that the combination of air bags and seat belts affords the best protection against spinal fractures sustained in motor vehicle crashes.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Cosmic Rays Detected Deep Underground Reveal Secrets Of Upper Atmosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2TxyT85qPUU/090121091228.htm
Cosmic-rays detected half a mile underground in a disused U.S. iron-mine can be used to detect major weather events occurring 20 miles up in the Earth's upper atmosphere, a new study has revealed. Scientists were surprised to see intermittent and sudden increases in the levels of muons during the winter months. These jumps in the data occurred over just a few days. On investigation, they found these changes coincided with very sudden increases in the temperature of the stratosphere (by up to 40 deg C in places).

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Potential New Antibody Treatment For Autoimmune Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xF8T9OWiVZ8/090122100836.htm
Scientists have discovered an abnormality in a patient's immune system that may lead to safer therapies for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and colitis, as well as potential new ways to treat transplant rejection.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Europe’s Aquatic Birds Will Seek New Nesting Sites In Face Of Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kX5YQmYMaWg/090121092357.htm
Scientists have produced a break-down of 152 aquatic bird species with a similar level of distribution throughout continental Europe. The study shows that environmental energy, in other words temperature, is the driving factor behind birds’ mobility, above all in relation to global warming.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Hope For Rabies Eradication Strategy In Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nlmIhisvL14/090121091237.htm
Most of the rabies virus circulating in dogs in western and central Africa comes from a common ancestor introduced to the continent around 200 years ago, probably by European colonialists. Scientists report that within this common ancestry there are distinct subspecies at country level and that there is only limited movement of virus between localities. These factors mean that, if neighboring countries collaborate, a progressive strategy to eliminate rabies from this area of sub-Saharan Africa is possible.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Design Of Microlasers Could Be Improved, Based On New Theoretical Analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_8kwSdmdLZQ/090122152715.htm
Tiny disk-shaped lasers as small as a speck of dust could one day beam information through optical computers. Unfortunately, a perfect disk will spray light out, not as a beam, but in all directions. New theoretical results explain how adding a small notch to the disk edge provides a single outlet for laser light to stream out.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
The Un-favorite Child: Adults Who Perceived Parents As Being Lenient With Siblings Still Happy Later In Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P6GjSPn3tnM/090121123047.htm
Adults who recall their parents being more lenient with siblings can still grow to be generally happy, thanks to personality type and life experience, says a new study.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Infidelity Produces Faster Sperm, Swedish Fish Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uPcPrTYpy34/090121093339.htm
Until now, it has been difficult to prove that fast-swimming sperm have an advantage when it comes to fertilizing an egg. But now Swedish researchers can demonstrate that unfaithful females of the cichlid fish species influence the males' sperm.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Apple Juice Can Delay Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3OF0JBHMe40/090122100826.htm
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that we can take steps to delay age-related cognitive decline, including in some cases that which accompanies Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
New Test Speeds Triclosan Detection In Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K4mQ9YikL0M/090120142556.htm
A new test for detecting triclosan should expedite environmental monitoring of the antibacterial agent in rivers, wells and other water sources, according to new studies.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Two Nonsurgical Treatments For Reflux Disease Compared
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5NBN77WbrY0/090119210433.htm
Two nonsurgical, nonpharmacological treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease both appear effective in reducing medication use and improving voice and swallowing symptoms, according to a new report. One type of therapy also appears effective for reducing heartburn and cough, whereas the other may be associated with a reduction in regurgitation.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Prince Uses Date Stones To Decrease Air And Water Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGKet-rDF1s/090123144031.htm
New research by a Saudia Arabian prince could see the millions of date stones disposed of in Saudi Arabia each year used to decrease air and water pollution.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Postmenopausal Women's Loss Of Sexual Desire Affects Health, Quality Of Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2bnHqWJLqos/090121174130.htm
Women with low levels of sexual desire, often as a result of menopause, are more likely to be depressed and to suffer physical symptoms such as back pain and memory problems than women who report higher levels of desire, according to a new study.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Native U.S. Lizards Are Evolving To Escape Attacks By Fire Ants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2DOXyNmICQ4/090121123041.htm
Native fence lizards in the southeastern United States are adapting to potentially fatal invasive fire-ant attacks by developing behaviors that enable them to escape from the ants, as well as by developing longer hind legs, which can increase the effectiveness of this behavior. This finding provides biologists with an example of evolution in action, and provides wildlife managers with knowledge that they can use to develop plans for managing invasive species.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Low Levels Of Vitamin D Link To Cognitive Problems In Older People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/waPhSPT6Vqo/090122093918.htm
Medical researchers have for the first time identified a relationship between vitamin D and cognitive impairment. The study found that as levels of Vitamin D went down, levels of cognitive impairment went up. Compared to those with optimum levels of Vitamin D, those with the lowest levels were more than twice as likely to be cognitively impaired.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Food Choices And Location Influence California Sea Otter Exposure To Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WWrG3XFtG2Q/090119210537.htm
Sea otters living along the central California coast risk higher exposure to disease-causing parasites as a consequence of the food they eat and where they feed.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Retinoid Cream Associated With Death In Clinical Trial, But Relationship Does Not Appear Causal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bZDw3B18dCg/090119210427.htm
Patients using a cream containing tretinoin, a retinoid commonly used to treat acne and other conditions, appeared more likely to die than those using a placebo in a clinical trial that was halted early as a result, according to a new report. However, evidence does not suggest these excess deaths were caused by the therapy.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
First Test Of New Bobsled On Ice Track
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rbza-xqjQ2Y/090119113514.htm
After wind tunnel tests it was now the turn of the ice track, a big moment for those taking part in developing and building the Citius bobsleigh. The initial results were more than a relief. It was two o'clock on Monday afternoon and the time had come: the Citius bobsleigh made its first run on the ice track.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Disabled And Other Vulnerable Groups More Susceptible To Terrorism Fears
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/699MJ-Du5fo/090121174128.htm
Research has shown that certain marginalized groups -- including the mentally ill, the disabled and ethnic minorities such as African Americans and Latinos -- fare worse than others in the aftermath of natural disasters, suffering disproportionate impoverishment, injuries and fatalities. Now a new study has found that they also experience greater terrorism-related fears and make more behavioral changes based on those fears -- such as avoiding certain activities -- than others.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Immune System: Decoding The Language Of Memory Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G9Q5S3tGyPI/090122141150.htm
When an infection attacks, the body's immune system sounds the alert, kills the invading germs and remembers the pathogen to protect against contracting the same type of infection again. Exactly how immunological memory develops is a mystery just beginning to be unveiled in an article in the journal Science.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Treeline Advances In Canada’s Arctic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_HHhEO3mbnw/090122162332.htm
With climate change is a global concern, it’s timely to consider how trees are faring on the highest mountain slopes and at the northern treeline. In such extreme environments, oddly contorted forms of pine, spruce, birch and fir are created by blasting winds and inhospitable soils.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Inflammation Worsens Danger Due To Atherosclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ABq6OEZUSo/090122080719.htm
Current research suggests that inflammation increases the risk of plaque rupture in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease of arterial blood vessels where fats, cholesterol, blood cells, and fibers form hardened plaques on the artery wall.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Quantum Technologies Move A Step Closer With Demonstration Of An 'Entanglement' Filter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NVOxAc8_XeI/090122141148.htm
A team of physicists and engineers has demonstrated an optical device that filters two particles of light (or photons) based on the correlations between their polarisation that are only allowed in the seemingly bizarre quantum world. This so called "entanglement filter" passes the pair of photons only if they inhabit the same quantum state, without the user (or anything else) ever knowing what that state is. This device will have many important applications to quantum technologies, including computers, communication and advanced measurement.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Popular Songs Can Cue Specific Memories, Psychology Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XCbEGj-yDj4/090121174126.htm
Whether the soundtrack of your youth was doo-wop or disco, new wave or Nirvana, psychology research shows that even just thinking about a particular song can evoke vivid memories of the past.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Scientists Unlock Possible Aging Secret In Genetically Altered Fruit Fly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6vzbXbqkIds/090122152713.htm
Biologists have identified a cellular mechanism in mutated "Indy" fruit flies that appears to reduce significantly the production of free radicals, which are blamed for contributing to the aging process.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Implants Mimic Infection To Rally Immune System Against Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3_fEGiXLo3w/090122164317.htm
Bioengineers have shown that small plastic disks impregnated with tumor-specific antigens and implanted under the skin can reprogram the mammalian immune system to attack tumors. The research -- which ridded 90 percent of mice of an aggressive form of melanoma that would usually kill the rodents within 25 days -- represents the most effective demonstration to date of a cancer vaccine.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Nano-tetherball Biosensor Precisely Detects Glucose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m9554DYmveQ/090122110652.htm
Researchers have created a precise biosensor for detecting blood glucose and potentially many other biological molecules by using hollow structures called single-wall carbon nanotubes anchored to gold-coated "nanocubes."

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Cell Transplantation And Diabetes: New Sites, New Devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sZuZN8SoeNE/090121122720.htm
Two review articles examining the best sites for islet cell transplantation, value of porcine islet cells, and engineering of a bioartificial pancreas demonstrate that problems of poor engraftment and immune recognition can be better prevented, making islet transplantation more feasible. Findings suggest the pancreas remains the best site for islet transplantation; porcine islet cells for transplant can be obtained in quantity and easily proliferate; and a newly fabricated prevascularized bioartificial pancreas can increase blood flow.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Scientists Test Blast-resistant Concrete
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jnEvWN2GA1w/090122080930.htm
Engineers have tested a new form of concrete designed to reduce the impact of bomb blasts in public areas.

Sat, 24 Jan 09
Revisiting The Anthrax Attacks Of 2001
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kfq_db496ko/090122100832.htm
When anthrax was sent through the US Postal Service in 2001, an overwhelming majority of postal workers elected not to be inoculated with the available vaccine because of confusion and distrust, according to a new study. Although the FBI officially closed the case on the attacks this year, lingering suspicion and uncertainty remain, say study authors, which could influence the public's reactions to future emergencies.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
New Way To Produce Hydrogen Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sjKDR_Ad1J4/090122141230.htm
Scientists have discovered a way to produce hydrogen by exposing selected clusters of aluminum atoms to water. The findings are important because they demonstrate that it is the geometries of these aluminum clusters, rather than solely their electronic properties, that govern the proximity of the clusters' exposed active sites. The proximity of the clusters' exposed sites plays an important role in affecting the clusters' reactions with water.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Mediterranean Diet Reduces Long-term Risk Of Subsequent Weight Gain And Obesity Among Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c3ezZjaX6nU/090122081334.htm
A research group from Spain has studied the dietary patterns associated with a high intake of fruits and vegetables in Mediterranean populations. They have analyzed the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and weight gain over a 10-year period in an adult Mediterranean population. The researchers found that increased fruit and vegetable intake was associated with significantly lower risk of a medium weight gain (3,41 kg) over 10 years among adults.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
New Stretchable Electrodes Created To Study Stresses On Cardiac Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yRhoGJ8te9Y/090122104811.htm
Engineers have created stretchable electrodes to study how cardiac muscle cells, neurons and other cells react to mechanical stresses from heart attacks, traumatic brain injuries and other diseases.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
'Bliss' Blocks Sperm: Investigating Impact Of Marijuana Exposure On Male Infertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8XA2NXtcm2Y/090121214131.htm
Evidence suggests that human male fertility is impacted by long-term exposure to marijuana. Indeed, endocannabinoids and their receptors are present in the male reproductive tract, further suggesting a functional role in fertility, but there has been no genetic test to clarify mechanisms. Now researchers have characterized the phenotype of mice genetically lacking FAAH, fatty acid amide hydrolase.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Evolutionary Process More Detailed Than Previously Believed, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yY_p6X1iwzg/090116142117.htm
New evidence from a study of yeast cells has resulted in the most detailed picture of an organism's evolutionary process to date, says a chemical engineering professor whose findings provide the first direct evidence of aspects, which up until now have remained mostly theory.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Just Living With Females Extends The Reproductive Life Of The Male Mouse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TtTB5ym9_HY/090122152711.htm
Living with a female mouse can extend the reproductive life of a male mouse by as much as 20 percent, according to a new study. The results have significant implications for the maintenance of male fertility in wildlife, livestock and even human populations.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Nicotine Activates More Than Just The Brain's Pleasure Pathways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yHD4uLNzdF4/090122152707.htm
Researchers have discovered there are differing taste pathways for nicotine, which could provide a new approach for future smoking-cessation products.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Quantum Teleportation Between Distant Matter Qubits: First Between Atoms 1 Meter Apart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DQDsBIrkgqE/090122141137.htm
For the first time, scientists have successfully teleported information between two separate atoms in unconnected enclosures a meter apart – a significant milestone in the global quest for practical quantum information processing. Teleportation may be nature's most mysterious form of transport: Quantum information, such as the spin of a particle or the polarization of a photon, is transferred from one place to another, without traveling through any physical medium.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Measles Virus May Be Effective Prostate Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gukgm1srn3k/090121144057.htm
A new study appearing in the Prostate has found that certain measles virus vaccine strain derivatives, including a strain known as MV-CEA, may prove to be an effective treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Bacterial Pathogens And Rising Temperatures Threaten Coral Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Gq-gLsiSvk/090120074629.htm
Coral reefs around the world are in serious trouble from pollution, over-fishing, climate change and more. The last thing they need is an infection. But that's exactly what yellow band disease is -- a bacterial infection that sickens coral colonies. Researchers have found that YBD seems to be getting worse with global warming and announced that they've identified the bacteria responsible for the disease.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Researchers Examine Developing Hearts In Chickens To Find Solutions For Human Heart Abnormalities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MeoW-JOvkzQ/090121122828.htm
By studying chickens' hearts, a researcher has identified certain proteins within the heart muscle that play an important regulatory role in embryonic heartbeat control. Understanding these components and how they interact will give researchers a better understanding of heart development and abnormalities in humans.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Image Recognition Software Breakthrough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vr3JjghwwV4/090108082912.htm
Image recognition is a long-standing challenge in science. But researchers have achieved a breakthrough by developing a powerful image-recognition application with mass-market appeal. There is a bright future for the technology.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Link Between Social Rejection And Aggressive Behavior Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ZaKhuC26vY/090121122936.htm
People who feel socially rejected are more likely to see others' actions as hostile and are more likely to behave in hurtful ways toward people they have never even met, according to a new study.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Research Exposes Risk To Infants From Chemicals Used In Liquid Medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zQv_VPMbx5Q/090121122726.htm
A new study reveals importance of researching medicines for children. The chemicals added to medicines to improve their taste, absorption and to prolong their shelf-life could be potentially harmful to very small babies.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Altered Brain Activity In Schizophrenia May Direct Focus On Self
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rnqBylWTH-M/090120145316.htm
Schizophrenia may blur the boundary between internal and external realities by overactivating a brain system that is involved in self-reflection, and thus causing an exaggerated focus on self, a new brain imaging study has found.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Excessive Weight Loss Can Be A Bad Thing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZO8XIPqAaJY/090121144107.htm
Beware of unexplained and sudden weight loss, warns a Saint Louis University physician. Cachexia can signal a serious underlying sickness.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Novel Explanation For A Floral Genetic Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J2B6dgYlYec/090116073159.htm
Scientists have put forth a novel explanation of the evolutionary driving force behind a genetic switching circuit that regulates flower development and survival. The hypothesis is based around the obligatory pairing of certain molecules.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Binge Drinking Leads To A Greater Risk Of Preterm Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xtG6rgLfims/090121123055.htm
A new study has revealed the consequences of heavy and binge drinking on pregnancy even after these drinking patterns have stopped.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
'Warrior Gene' Predicts Aggressive Behavior After Provocation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ysdrfy4VBMo/090121093343.htm
People with the so-called "warrior gene" exhibit higher levels of behavioral aggression in response to provocation, according to new research. In the experiment, subjects penalized opponents by administering varying amounts of hot sauce.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Inflammation Contributes To Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9FnQr9kFv70/090121122832.htm
Mice that lack the immune inhibitory molecule Smad3 are acutely sensitive to both bacterially-induced inflammation and cancer.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Nutrient Supports Bone Health Over Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FmsNRVSjuDc/090120143252.htm
Natural pigments found in plants may help protect against bone loss in older men and women. Biological antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, such as carotenoids, protect cells and tissues from damage caused by naturally occurring oxygen free radicals in the body.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Further Study Of Helicobacter Pylori Reducing Gastric Blood Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ao_ChxTeBCY/090121093356.htm
A research group from Sweden investigated the mechanisms underlying the reduction in gastric blood flow induced by a luminal water extract of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). They found that the H. pylori water extract reduces gastric mucosal blood flow acutely through iNOS- and nerve-mediated pathways.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Two Vital Cellular Components In Plants Are Specialized Forms Of Essential Enzyme Of All Eukaryotic Organisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UhEhlPn4CAA/090106154404.htm
It's a little like finding out that Superman is actually Clark Kent. A team of biologists has discovered that two vital cellular components, nuclear RNA Polymerases IV and V, found only in plants, are actually specialized forms of RNA Polymerase II, an essential enzyme of all eukaryotic organisms, including humans.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Ex-Smokers Have Few Proven Weapons Against Relapse, Weight Gain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oAAULEZq_U0/090120212727.htm
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to keep the White House a "smoke-free zone" when he takes office on January 20, despite his admitted struggles with tobacco relapse. For former smokers like Obama, kicking the habit can prove incredibly difficult, and here is a new blow for abstainers: a large review of studies concludes that programs designed to help former smokers often fail to improve long-term quit rates.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Baffling The Body Into Accepting Transplants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BdDjKflt_7g/090121093345.htm
An unexpected discovery has potential to alter the body's response to anything it perceives as not 'self,' such as a tissue or organ transplant.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Lou Gehrig's Disease In Humans Genetically Linked To Dog Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/htnPKnfyYYU/090121174124.htm
Researchers have found that the genetic mutation responsible for degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is the same mutation that causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the human disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. As a result of the discovery, researchers can now use dogs with DM as animal models to help identify therapeutic interventions for curing the human disease, ALS.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
MIRI Method Reduces Water Use In Rice Field Tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qMwK1C6MTD8/090120143617.htm
Scientists are studying a system that, in rice field tests, cuts water use by 24 percent. Rice, one of the world's most important foods, is a labor-intensive crop that also requires plenty of water. Often, water pumped to flood rice fields comes from shallow aquifers that are dwindling.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Genetic Testing Not Cost-effective In Guiding Initial Dosing Of Common Blood Thinner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v_LUgR-bCn4/090119210421.htm
New analyses show that genetic testing used to guide initial dosing of the blood-thinner warfarin may not be cost-effective for typical patients with atrial fibrillation but may be for patients at higher risk for major bleeding.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Silicon Chip Manufacture: Flat Fixtures For EUV Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZDRe9rqm2PM/090119081352.htm
Exposing silicon wafers to light during chip manufacture requires special fixtures called chucks. Novel electrostatic chucks made of glass ceramics are incredibly flat. This prevents structural distortions on the exposure mask and the silicon chip.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
School-based Physical Activity Has Benefits Even If It Doesn't Help Lose Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/59C85lVDZho/090120204919.htm
School-based health and exercise programs have positive outcomes despite having little effect on children's weight or the amount of exercise they do outside of school, say Cochrane Researchers who carried out a systematic review of studies on physical activity programs in schools.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Much Of Antarctica Is Warming More Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rk8OYg1N2IM/090121144049.htm
Scientists have long believed that while the world was getting warmer, most of Antarctica was getting colder. New research shows that for the last 50 years much of Antarctica has actually been warming at a rate comparable to the rest of the world.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
New Antiviral Protein Discovered In Human Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MBwRORmtGrc/090121174254.htm
Scientists have discovered a new molecular sensor in human cells capable of recognizing infecting viruses and transmitting an alarm signal to the body. The newly discovered protein, termed AIM2, patrols the inside of human immune cells and when it encounters a DNA that is suspicious, possibly coming from an intruding virus or bacterium, triggers the secretion of the signaling protein Interleukin-1.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Scientific Submarine Makes Deep-sea Discoveries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-LaEFqh_FVE/090121093349.htm
A four-week expedition to explore the deep ocean south-west of Tasmania has revealed new species of animals and more evidence of impacts of increasing carbon dioxide on deep-sea corals.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Measurement Of Kidney Function In Children With Kidney Disease Improved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TQh_sTxp17M/090120204925.htm
A formula used to measure kidney function in children with chronic kidney disease has been revised to make it more precise, according to a new study. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the flow rate of fluid through the tiny capillaries in the kidney (glomeruli) that filter waste materials out of the blood and into the urinary system, is the most useful indicator of kidney function.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Robot Inspects Wind Energy Converters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L3NA-lOnJ7k/090119081348.htm
The material of wind energy converters must withstand intense forces. Are rotor blades damaged? A new robot inspects wind energy converters more precisely than a human ever could. It detects the minutest damage – even below the surface.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
School Performance And Body Weight Affects Kids' Self-esteem, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BXW5DH1LnWY/090121123045.htm
It's well-known that within the adult population body weight and self esteem are very much inter related. But until now, the same wasn't known about children's healthy body weight and its relationship with a positive self-image.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Smallest Possible Switch: Single Gold Atom Forms The Contact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tYUhKfhFWuI/090121091220.htm
The smallest mechanical switch plus an electronic switch of a type never seen before. That's how one young physicist sums up the results of his PhD research on electric current through atoms and molecules. "The ultimate aim of nanotechnology is to use molecules for electronics," he says. "That aim has now come a step closer."

Fri, 23 Jan 09
New Portable Device Detects Salmonella In Under An Hour
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xbEY_dpW5h8/090122080922.htm
Scientists have designed a low-cost, rapid diagnostic device for detecting the presence of Salmonella spp. and other bacteria in less than one hour, a much shorter time than current systems. Unlike others, this project used clinical samples directly, without prior treatment in a laboratory.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
A Pest That Knows No Borders: Balkan States Consider Sterile Insect Technique Against Mediterranean Fruit Fly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nj8pCYBrAWw/090121122940.htm
Farmers in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina join forces to suppress one of the world's most destructive farm pests, the Mediterranean fruit fly, by using the Sterile Insect Technique.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Impaired Kidney Function Raises Risk Of Heart Problems In The Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/szrknGzXo5g/090120204749.htm
Elderly people with damaged kidneys are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure and stroke, and other causes of mortality, according to a new study.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Speech Recognition: It’s Like Software Understands, Um, Language
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RMTcVtexSDk/090121174301.htm
Researchers have taken speech recognition to a whole new level by creating software that can understand spontaneous language. It will, like, make human-machine interaction, um, work a lot more, er, smoothly.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Racial Bias Can Be Reduced By Teaching People To Differentiate Facial Features Better In Individuals Of A Different Race
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y2jh-4RbbeM/090120204759.htm
Researchers have determined that racial bias can be reduced by teaching people to differentiate facial features better in individuals of a different race.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Fish Out Of Water: New Species of Climbing Fish from Remote Venezuela Shakes the Catfish Family Tree
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZOYWqQY1mn4/090121122947.htm
A new species of catfish from tropical South America combines traits typically found in two related but different catfish families. The new species, Lithogenes wahari, not only has the bony armor of the Loricariidae but has adaptations that allow it to climb like the Astroblepidae. Researchers think that the common ancestor to both families probably combined these traits as well.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Breastfeeding May Prevent Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CFTiRvnG8F8/090122080721.htm
Scientists have found that extended lactation protects again mammary tumor development. Women who breastfeed for greater than two years have a significantly reduced risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
'Smart' Fridges Stay Cool By Talking To Each Other
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xd0DeoebmNA/090121093351.htm
'Smart' fridges that run on renewable electricity and are capable of negotiating the most energy efficient way to keep food cold have been developed by researchers in Australia.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Abnormal Heart Function Associated With Reduced Capacity For Exercise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6ByFFaOjc5g/090120164213.htm
Patients with abnormal diastolic function (when the heart is relaxed and expanded) in the left ventricle of the heart have a substantially lower maximum capacity for exercise, according to a new study.

Fri, 23 Jan 09
Rock Climbing With Better Safety: Analysis Of Climbing Karabiners
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NO231M4FrA8/090119105447.htm
How safe are the karabiners used in climbing? Every climber knows the dilemma: so as to tackle the wall carrying as little extra weight as necessary, he puts the lightest aluminum karabiners he can find into his backpack, knowing full well that heavier steel hooks would really be safer. The "ideal" climbing karabiner should be as light, strong and easy to operate as possible but must not open unintentionally.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Humans And Mice Express The Same Olfactory Preferences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IIyn2yip6eA/090121092401.htm
Humans and mice are attracted by the same odors. This has been revealed for the first time by a team of French researchers, whose work confirms that olfactory preferences are not solely determined by experience or culture, but also by the structure of the odorant molecule. It will undoubtedly enable a clearer understanding of the neuronal mechanisms coding for olfactory perception. More immediately, it may be possible to predict human olfactory preferences based on those observed in the mouse.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Blocked Protein Prevents Lupus In Mouse Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PCXfJOGYtoU/090120213454.htm
Mice from a strain that ordinarily develops systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but bred with a deficiency in receptor for the protein Interleukin 21, stayed healthy and exhibited none of the symptoms of the disease, researchers report.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
New Sperm Shaker Set To Improve IVF Success Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RmODXxhN8ug/090119081344.htm
Scientists have developed a ground-breaking method for testing the quality of a sperm before it is used in IVF and increase the chances of conception.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Experimental Topical Microbicide Offers Convenient, Long-lasting Protection Against Genital Herpes, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iZUxDYxNAjo/090121122840.htm
A topical microbicide that silences two genes can safely protect against genital herpes infection for as long as one week, according to a new study.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Electronics Created With Printer Significantly Improved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8JPDtYraUys/090119081350.htm
Electronic systems designed to perform simple functions, such as monitor the temperature on a yogurt pot, mustn’t cost much: This is where printed electronics are at an advantage. Researchers are now significantly improving the properties of printed circuits.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Vision Tests For Older Drivers Not Proven To Prevent Crashes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qJUpxc5eNgI/090120213156.htm
Recent automobile accidents with tragic results have prompted questions about the eyesight of elderly drivers, but researchers say they are unable to determine whether vision tests actually lead to fewer fatal crashes.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
'Super-Neptune' Exoplanet Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jsq0ikxQuz8/090121123043.htm
Astronomers have discovered a planet somewhat larger and more massive than Neptune orbiting a star 120 light-years from Earth. While Neptune has a diameter 3.8 times that of Earth and a mass 17 times Earth's, the new world (named HAT-P-11b) is 4.7 times the size of Earth and has 25 Earth masses.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Growing Years Cut Short For Toddlers From Poor Families
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7AePeIVh-YA/090121123228.htm
Continuous poverty during toddler years can curb the height of children by the time they reach kindergarten, even in industrialized countries, according to new research from the University of Montreal. Regardless of hereditary factors such as maternal height and education level, according to the finding, children from poor families are more likely to be shorter than their peers.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
MRSA’s 'Weak Point' Visualized By Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PiVsZONan4Y/090119210612.htm
An enzyme that lives in MRSA and helps the dangerous bacterium to grow and spread infection through the human body has been visualized for the first time.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Low Glycemic Diets Help Diabetics Control Blood Sugar, Review Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-nGVnq6g7_o/090120212945.htm
Following a low glycemic index diet helps people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to improve their blood glucose (blood sugar) control significantly, according to a new review.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Coastal Barrier Island Researchers Learn Lessons From Ike Destruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EihbwX88LPU/090121093422.htm
More than 20 coastal barrier island researchers came to Galveston Island in early January -- from New England, the Pacific coast and all points between where ocean meets US soil. Many had never seen the level of destruction wrought by Hurricane Ike. But now they have a goal that will involve research, management and outreach to the public in order to help the nation's barrier islands.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
When Less Attention Improves Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JhgEZYvmW5Q/090121091222.htm
In confused patients with false memories, memory accuracy improves when attentional resources are reduced. Most cognitive processes supporting adaptive behavior need attentional resources for their operation. Confabulation is a devastating memory disorder consisting in the uncontrolled production of “false memories”. Patients often act upon their false memories, with dramatic consequences.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
All Earth's Seasons Now Arrive Two Days Earlier, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r6b3ii0tWTA/090121144053.htm
Biologists have long noticed that global warming is causing springtime flowering and ice melting to arrive earlier, but a new study shows that the seasonal cycle has also shifted, causing summer's peak temperature and winter's lowest temperature on land to arrive nearly two days earlier than was true 50 years ago. The cause is unknown, but researchers suspect it involves changing wind patterns over land and ocean, or drier soils.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Researchers Discover Three Genes That Increase Risk Of Severe Obesity In Kids And Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XH0LN8H6jJI/090121123232.htm
European and Canadian researchers have, for the first time, drawn a map of genetic risk factors that can lead to two forms of severe obesity: early-onset obesity in children, and morbid obesity in adults.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Stretchable Electronics With A Twist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hlzXaf193JA/090121144101.htm
Electronic systems that can withstand high-strain deformations are of growing importance, because of their ability to make possible biomedical devices and other applications, difficult to develop with conventional technologies. A new mechanical design can be used to build stretchable electronics that function during stretching, compression, bending, twisting and other types of extreme mechanical deformation, without a reduction in electronic performance.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Oral Steroids Ineffective In Treatment Of Preschool Virus-induced Wheezing, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zSWLRTEkn7k/090121174122.htm
A new study has found that a common treatment for wheezing in preschool children is no more effective than a placebo.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Structure Of TIGAR, A Possible Cancer Flag, Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/etC5fvC1KeU/090117082852.htm
Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of TIGAR, an enzyme whose presence in the body can warn doctors that cancer may follow.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Industrialization Of China Increases Fragility Of Global Food Supply
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ss14aj0ydHw/090121122826.htm
Global grain markets are facing breaking point according to new research into the agricultural stability of China. Experts predict that if China's recent urbanization trends continue, and the country imports just 5 percent more of its grain, the entire world's grain export would be swallowed whole.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Women Cannot Control Their Hunger As Well As Men, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ec685CLjYPc/090121211340.htm
A ground-breaking brain-imaging study shows that men, but not women, are able to control their brain's response to their own favorite foods. The study may help explain why rates of obesity and eating disorders are higher among women than men, and why women typically have more difficulty losing weight.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Americans Owe Five Months Of Their Lives To Cleaner Air
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fTBKIL_iK-E/090121174116.htm
Reducing air pollution brings measurable health gains. The average life expectancy in 51 US cities increased nearly three years over recent decades, and approximately five months of that increase came thanks to cleaner air.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Semiconducting Nanotubes Produced In Quantity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XdxPPHgeKdU/090121122728.htm
After announcing last April a method for growing exceptionally long, straight, numerous and well-aligned carbon cylinders only a few atoms thick, a Duke University-led team of chemists has now modified that process to create exclusively semiconducting versions of these single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Progress Made In Understanding Causes And Treatment Of Endometriosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VzDAQ9d1nSY/090116164057.htm
Endometriosis is a poorly understood chronic disease characterized by infertility and chronic pelvic pain during intercourse. It affects between 5 to 10 million women in the US. A researcher who has studied it for 15 years describes the progress his lab has made in identifying the causes of and medical treatment for this disease.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Virtual Reality: Keyhole Surgeons Training Could Help Meet European Working Time Directives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9mn7d8y9dkk/090120204923.htm
Trainee surgeons who add virtual-reality training to standard "apprenticeship" training in key-hole surgery learn more quickly, work with greater accuracy and have less errors than those with no virtual-reality training, and perform as well as those who use additional video training. The finding is important because training surgeons is time-consuming and costly, and surgeons have to develop new skills while working within the hour limits set by European legislation.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Osteoporosis? Look Out For Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jfxUZYJzlXc/090119091116.htm
A review articlee analyzes the relationship between depression and bone metabolism.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
New Understanding Of The Origin Of Galaxies Advanced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7AmlC5ZMEw0/090121144051.htm
A new theory as to how galaxies were formed in the Universe billions of years ago has been formulated by cosmologists. The theory takes issue with the prevailing view on how the galaxies came to exist.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
New Molecular Mechanism Associated With Arrhythmias Discovered: Possible Novel Target For Treating Arrhythmias
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4oAldwSX56c/090121155318.htm
A new molecular mechanism associated with arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) has been discovered. Scientists report that increased calcium sensitivity of the heart cell's contractile apparatus contributes to arrhythmia susceptibility. The findings could lead to novel arrhythmia treatments.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Novel Forensic Technique To Be Applied To Decade-old Murder Probe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Oq38TcH1U1Y/090115092701.htm
A pioneering forensic scientist at Northamptonshire Police and the University of Leicester is being called on by US force officers to tackle a decade-old murder case.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Pre-emptive Treatment Helped Curtail Skin Toxicity With Panitumumab
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FpLDYrncXjM/090116164059.htm
With a pre-emptive, prophylactic skin regimen, patients who receive panitumumab for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer may be able to avoid some of the skin-associated toxicities.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Global Impact Of Climate Change On Biodiversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qaAMXQHid94/090121091239.htm
When three undergraduates set off on an expedition in 1965 to trap moths on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, little did they realize that they were establishing the groundwork for a study of the impacts of climate change.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Technology Improves Treatment Options For Drug Users
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x0xcxHYy_7I/090121093420.htm
Australia's leading scientific journal in the substance use area, the Drug and Alcohol Review published by Wiley-Blackwell, has released a special issue on the use of new technologies in the treatment of drug problems. The issue highlights the use of mobile phones, Internet and computers to treat drug use problems.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
New Insights Into Convection In Planets And Stars Gleaned From Novel Device That Charts Heat Transfer In Rotational Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E2eM_EKVc4w/090121093424.htm
Planetary scientists have overturned a longstanding scientific tenet and provides new insights into how convection controls much of what we observe on planets and stars.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Early Immune System Exposures Linked To Chronic Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qL0tICBI4E0/090119091814.htm
Scientists and regulators have a golden opportunity to reduce the health toll from a range of diseases by focusing more attention on identification of environmental factors that can damage the prenatal immune system as well as that of infants and children, according to a new article.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Nile Delta Fishery Grows Dramatically Thanks To Run-off Of Sewage, Fertilizers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v6c0P8Qxw_o/090119210423.htm
While many of the world's fisheries are in serious decline, the coastal Mediterranean fishery off the Nile Delta has expanded dramatically since the 1980s. The surprising cause of this expansion, which followed a collapse of the fishery after completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1965, is run-off of fertilizers and sewage discharges in the region. Considered pollutants in the West, discharges help to feed millions in Egypt.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Less Severe First Heart Attacks Linked To Heart Disease Death Reductions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kMIhFQJ3NhA/090119210338.htm
The severity of first heart attacks dropped significantly over 15 years among 10,285 hospitalized Americans which may help to explain the decline in death from coronary heart disease. Prevention efforts as well as improvements in hospital care appear to have contributed to the decline in severity.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Robo-surgery: As Safe And Capable As Human Assistant In Key-hole Gallbladder Removal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H7YdZ2LDtDQ/090120204921.htm
Using a robotic assistant to remove a patient's gallbladder by key-hole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is as safe as working with a human assistant, a Cochrane Review has concluded. Comparisons between robot- and human-assisted surgery showed that there were no differences in terms of morbidity, the need to switch to open surgery, total operating time, or length of stay in hospital.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Breast Cancer Survivors Call For More 'Survivorship Care' From Primary Care Physicians
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7LYF789LxVg/090121093341.htm
Many breast cancer patients give low marks to the post-cancer care they receive from their primary care physicians, who generally serve as a patient's main health care provider after they're released from active treatment with their oncologists, according to a new study.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Frogs Are Being Eaten To Extinction, Experts Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vdMFrZseDsU/090120195731.htm
The global trade in frog legs for human consumption is threatening their extinction, according to a new study. The researchers say the global pattern of harvesting and decline of wild populations of frogs appears to be following the same path set by overexploitation of the seas and subsequent "chain reaction" of fisheries collapses around the world.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Plant DNA Finding Sheds Light On Human Neurological Genetic Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HhOIFtAEVcg/090121093347.htm
A cure for debilitating genetic diseases such as Huntington's disease, Friedreich's ataxia and Fragile X syndrome is a step closer, thanks to a recent finding in plant DNA that has similarities to certain genetic abnormalities in humans.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Magnesium Sulphate Protects Babies Against Cerebral Palsy, Review Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fr3xjG59vtQ/090120195421.htm
Giving pregnant mothers magnesium sulphate when they are at risk of very preterm birth can help protect their babies from cerebral palsy, according to an international review of research.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Genetic Fingerprint of Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wQDJ88hjXfQ/090116152421.htm
One in six American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime and 186,000 will be diagnosed this year. For most men, their disease is confined to the prostate gland, making it easier to treat and less lethal. However, some unfortunate patients suffer from a more aggressive cancer that metastasizes, or spreads beyond the boundaries of the prostate gland.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
New Development in Spintronics: Spin-polarized Electrons On Demand, With A Single Electron Pump
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nd8C2-WERzU/090115081745.htm
Many hopes are pinned on spintronics. In the future it could replace electronics, which in the race to produce increasingly rapid computer components, must at sometime reach its limits. Different from electronics, where whole electrons are moved (the digital "one" means "an electron is present on the component", zero means "no electron present"), here it is a matter of manipulating a certain property of the electron, its spin.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Vulnerable Children Fare Well With Relatives, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UBMIHsuGk2M/090120204805.htm
Placing vulnerable children with relatives is a viable option, a new study by Cochrane Researchers suggests. In view of several recent high profile child abuse cases, the study may have important policy implications.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Smoking Linked To Most Male Cancer Deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vzP_iyXFd2s/090121144103.htm
The association between tobacco smoke and cancer deaths -- beyond lung cancer deaths -- has been strengthened by a recent study. The analysis linked smoking to more than 70 percent of the cancer death burden among Massachusetts men in 2003. This percentage is much higher than the previous estimate of 34 percent in 2001.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Engineered Virus Targets And Kills Apparent Cancer Stem Cells In Neuroblastoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/45WBfUQ10UI/090120204755.htm
After identifying an apparent population of cancer stem cells for neuroblastoma, researchers successfully used a reprogrammed herpes virus to block tumor formation in mice by targeting and killing the cells. The study adds to evidence suggesting early stage cancer precursor cells with stem-cell-like properties may explain how some cancers form, are treatment resistant and prone to relapse.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Orphaned Elephants Forced To Forge New Bonds Decades After Ivory Ban
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2PAAwIiai6U/090120091425.htm
An African elephant never forgets -- especially when it comes to the loss of its kin, according to researchers. New findings reveal that the negative effects of poaching persist for decades after the killing has ended.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Kidney Transplant Survival Can Be Long-term For People With HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7HVbZwIWQu8/090119210530.htm
HIV-positive kidney transplant recipients could have the same one-year survival rates for themselves and their donor organs as those without HIV, provided certain risk factors for transplant failure are recognized and tightly managed.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Pathogenic Soil Bacterium Is Influenced By Land Management Practices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UN8tgfk_HZM/090120204757.htm
Researchers have found that the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes the emerging infectious disease melioidosis in humans and animals, is associated with land management changes such as livestock husbandry or residential gardening. The study sheds light on the environmental occurrence of this bacterium in the soil.

Thu, 22 Jan 09
Clinical Trials: Unfavourable Results Often Go Unpublished
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t1A_9aoScX0/090120204807.htm
Trials showing a positive treatment effect, or those with important or striking findings, were much more likely to be published in scientific journals than those with negative findings, a new review from the Cochrane Library has found.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
'Hobbit' Skull Study Finds Hobbit Is Not Human
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cdCJ5CW3cpM/090120144508.htm
In a an analysis of the size, shape and asymmetry of the cranium of Homo floresiensis, scientists conclude that the fossil, found in Indonesia in 2003 and known as the "Hobbit," is not human.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Immunotherapy Alleviates Hay Fever And Asthma In Children, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Y_3yZc53yY/090120074822.htm
Taking one grass pollen tablet every day can alleviate hay fever and asthma in children, new research shows.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
From Golf To Gulf, Drainage Industry Greens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LZbdzXwRtVQ/090120142909.htm
A new idea being explored for cleaning drainage water originating on and off golf courses is to attach a filter cartridge to drainage pipe and retention pond outlets to filter out pollutants before they reach streams.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Anakinra For Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Modest Benefit With Some Risk, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aYgkpmgHnIQ/090120204915.htm
New research supports a modest beneficial effect of anakinra for rheumatoid arthritis patients, but warns against potential risks for serious infections and its use with other biologic medications.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Stop Traffic Crashes: Switch On The Lights
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zDnEIQJYX88/090120204803.htm
Street lighting provides a simple, low cost means of stemming the global epidemic of road traffic death and injury. Low income countries should consider installing more lights, and high income countries should think carefully before turning any off to reduce carbon emissions, is the advice from a new Cochrane Review.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Acupuncture Stops Headaches, But 'Faked' Treatments Work Almost As Well
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e20JyHF9HbI/090120204801.htm
Headache sufferers can benefit from acupuncture, even though how and where acupuncture needles are inserted may not be important. Two separate systematic reviews by Cochrane Researchers show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for prevention of headaches and migraines. But the results also suggest that faked procedures, in which needles are incorrectly inserted, can be just as effective.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
New Imaging Method Lets Scientists 'See' Cell Molecules More Clearly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hjv8BjBjbK0/090119210535.htm
Scientists have developed a unique new imaging tool. The new technique allows for imaging whole cells in liquid with a scanning transmission electron microscope.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Research Exposes Risk To Infants From Chemicals Used In Liquid Medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/crwCaEZc2Lc/090120074826.htm
A team of medical scientists has published research which looks into the harmful substances in liquid medicines that premature babies are being exposed to. Their study revealed that the chemicals added to medicines to improve their taste, absorption and to prolong their shelf-life could be potentially harmful to very small babies.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Sailboat To Sail Autonomously Across The Atlantic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Rx5jMGrKyA/090119113903.htm
Eight mechanical engineering students have taken on something big: in the context of their focus project, they are designing a sailing boat to sail autonomously across the Atlantic.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Mutant Host Cell Protein Sequesters Critical HIV-1 Element
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OLHFVHYHMkE/090115164513.htm
Scientists have identified a new way to inhibit a molecule that is critical for HIV pathogenesis. The research presents a target for development of antiretroviral therapeutics that are likely to complement existing therapies and provide additional protection from HIV and AIDS.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Power Emissions Limits To Save Most Carbon At Least Cost, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hio4NupJTFI/090120171459.htm
The least cost way to reduce power related carbon emissions in Europe would be to supplement the EU's Emissions Trading System with the introduction of Emissions Performance Standards for energy, according to a new study.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Girls Have The Edge In New Technologies, New Report Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n1bbiYcPWus/090120074828.htm
A new report has revealed that girls are more likely to have new technologies at home than boys and it is mothers rather than fathers who assist them.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Scientists Agree Human-induced Global Warming Is Real, Survey Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wtgvyMyqfPA/090119210532.htm
A broad poll of experts taken by earth scientists finds that the vast majority of climatologists and other earth scientists believe in global warming and think human activity is a factor for the temperature rise. This survey dispels lingering doubts by some of a consensus among the scientists.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Potential Colon Cancer Biomarker Revealed Through Study Of Human Tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GNjc6qJTBQA/090116073157.htm
Scientists have identified a new biomarker that could help predict a person's risk of developing colon cancer and how aggressive it may become.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Special Nanotubes May Be Used As A Vehicle For Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C1Xs4oE25KM/090114212227.htm
Electrical engineering researchers have demonstrated that magnetic nanotubes combined with nerve growth factor can enable specific cells to differentiate into neurons. The results from in vitro studies show that magnetic nanotubes may be exploited to treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease because they can be used as a delivery vehicle for nerve growth factor.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
E. Coli Persists Against Antibiotics Through HipA-induced Dormancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-iUPVbzz2Ps/090115164609.htm
Bacteria hunker down and survive antibiotic attack when a protein flips a chemical switch that throws them into a dormant state until treatment abates, researchers report in Science.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Scientists 'Write' With Atoms Using An Atomic Force Microscope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qtxu9GAbNZE/090109083455.htm
Scientists have discovered a new method to manipulate atoms. Using the atoms at the tip (that are chemically different to those at the surface) as “ink”, it is possible to “write” or “draw” with the microscope.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Drugs For Children Are Not Safe Enough, German Analysis Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u4dtAxGp90I/090120074832.htm
Drugs are regularly prescribed to children in outpatient care that have not been licensed for children. German pharmacologists present the result of their health services analysis in the new edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
First Americans Arrived As Two Separate Migrations, According To New Genetic Evidence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o7fwjkSImSU/090108121618.htm
The first people to arrive in America traveled as at least two separate groups to arrive in their new home at about the same time, according to new genetic evidence.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
New Step In DNA Damage Response In Neurons Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R4ubkYbGhTs/090118200642.htm
Mutations in the ATM gene cause neurological problems combined with immune deficiency and radiation sensitivity in humans. ATM controls cells' response to DNA damage in several cell types. Cdk5, involved in several neurodegenerative diseases, is required to activate ATM.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Prenatal Exposure To Chemicals With Higher BMI In Toddlers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B6GoJPbTXrE/090114210025.htm
A new study reveals an association between prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants and elevated body mass index (BMI) during the first three years of life, as reported in Environmental Health Perspectives. The study also found associations between exposures to various pollutants and birth weight and length.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Rise In Antibiotic Resistant Pediatric Head And Neck Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8DT2UR3gyAY/090119210524.htm
There was a nationwide increase in the prevalence of pediatric methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus head and neck infections from January 2001 to December 2006, contributing to a growing concern in the medical community about an epidemic of community acquired antibiotic resistant infections.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
New Tool Improves Reliability Of Climate Models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9SO5kMm5bls/090120091421.htm
Scientists have created a new quantitative tool which reconstructs the sea surface temperature during the Last Glacial Maximum. Project MARGO offers more exhaustive data than that available at present and will serve to represent more exact models of the past and predict the climate's evolution in the future.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Medication May Provide Some Benefit For Older Adults With Anxiety Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vi1XDPowu6Q/090120164215.htm
Preliminary research suggests that use of the drug escitalopram provided some improvement in symptoms for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder, although the overall benefits were diminished because of nonadherence to the drug by some patients, according to a new study.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
New Findings On The Evolution Of Parasitism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N9JD_aF7-oE/090113074425.htm
Today, 150 years after Darwin’s epochal “On the Origin of Species,” many questions about the molecular basis of evolution are still waiting for answers. How are signaling pathways changed by genes and by the environment enabling the development of new species? Scientists are seeking answers by decoding the molecular basis of parasitism, using nematode worms.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Gene Associated With Reduced Mortality From Acute Lung Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0nCwIL-zdXM/090116095639.htm
Researchers have discovered a gene that is associated with improved survival among patients with acute lung injury. Acute lung injury (ALI) results in low oxygen levels in the blood, and fluid in the lungs. It is one of the most vexing problems for intensive care units, killing 40 percent of the 200,000 ALI patients in the US each year.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Satellites Help Locate Water In Niger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RMkRgJe9wsQ/090119094856.htm
Like most sub-Saharan African countries, Niger faces problems meeting its water needs. As part of ESA’s TIGER initiative, satellite data are being used to identify underground water resources in the drought-prone country.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
New Analysis Estimates Numbers Of Older US Adults Who May Benefit From Statin Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O242O2DZ1wU/090113174432.htm
Researchers estimate more than 11 million older Americans may be newly eligible for statin therapy if findings from a recently published large clinical trial are adopted into clinical practice guidelines, according to a new analysis of the trial data.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Computer Program Alerts Doctors To The Risk Of Thrombosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o1DWOb7USuo/090119142315.htm
Doctors have developed an electronic alarm system that alerts doctors to the level of risk of thrombosis in hospitalized patients. The program, which performs a daily evaluation of each hospitalized patient, is a way to solve the problem of the lack of preventive treatment.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
African-Americans Have Worse Prognosis At Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/blkWRFfdWgk/090116164101.htm
African-American patients with colorectal were more likely to present with worse pathological features at diagnosis and to have a worse five-year survival rate compared to Caucasian patients, according to a new study.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Rethinking The Genetic Theory Of Inheritance: Heritability May Not Be Limited To DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JRbIVEL-2r8/090118200632.htm
In the first study of its kind, scientists have detected evidence that DNA may not be the only carrier of heritable information; a secondary molecular mechanism called epigenetics may also account for some inherited traits and diseases. The epigenetic heritability may help explain currently unclear issues in human disease.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Low-carbohydrate Diet Burns More Excess Liver Fat Than Low-calorie Diet, Clinical Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pKwMCR2lVbk/090120074631.htm
People on low-carbohydrate diets are more dependent on the oxidation of fat in the liver for energy than those on a low-calorie diet, researchers have found in a small clinical study.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Discovery Could Help Scientists Stop 'Death Cascade' Of Neurons After A Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8icAuTqbwqw/090116175214.htm
Distressed swimmers often panic, sapping the strength they need to keep their heads above water until help arrives. When desperate for oxygen, neurons behave in a similar way. They freak out, stupidly discharging energy until they drown in a sea of their own extruded salts. Every year, millions of victims of stroke or brain trauma suffer permanent brain damage because of this mad rush to oblivion that begins once a part of the brain is deprived of blood.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Greater Quadriceps Strength May Benefit Those With Knee Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gY1iO0NHbF8/090113174539.htm
Studies on the influence of quadriceps strength on knee osteoarthritis, one of the leading causes of disability among the elderly, have shown conflicting results.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Possible New Hope For Crops Battling Parasitic Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i8v9wbojRnU/090116073207.htm
Scientists have demonstrated how nematodes, also known as roundworms, manipulate the transport of the plant hormone auxin in order to force the plant to produce food for them. Their findings could open up new possibilities for the development of nematode-resistant plants.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Motor Skill Learning May Be Enhanced By Mild Brain Stimulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9KoNalVmsws/090119210528.htm
People who received a mild electrical current to a motor control area of the brain were significantly better able to learn and perform a complex motor task than those in control groups. The findings could hold promise for enhancing rehabilitation for people with traumatic brain injury, stroke and other conditions.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Adaptation Plays Significant Role In Human Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2NllizeytrI/090116073211.htm
For years researchers have puzzled over whether adaptation plays a major role in human evolution or whether most changes are due to neutral, random selection of genes and traits. Geneticists now have laid this question to rest. Their results show adaptation-the process by which organisms change to better fit their environment-is indeed a large part of human genomic evolution.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Experimental Therapy Turns On Tumor Suppressor Gene In Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UaUxPYcy2tA/090120074627.htm
Researchers have found that the experimental drug they are testing to treat a deadly form of thyroid cancer turns on a powerful tumor suppressor capable of halting cell growth. Few other cancer drugs have this property, they say.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Bobsled Design: Hammerhead On The Test Bed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R2KWJCZfIyg/090119112654.htm
After nearly two years of development and production, the day had arrived: the "Citius" bobsleigh went into the wind tunnel. The tests exceeded expectations. Now the next hurdle must be cleared: the ice track.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Glitches In DNA Repair Genes Predict Prognosis In Pancreatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TxDrdJ74A6w/090113201352.htm
Variations in mismatch repair genes can help predict treatment response and prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer, according to new research.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Temporal Relationships Established Within Archaeological Complexes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/swTTwEwQJ1w/090116091521.htm
A researcher has developed a solution that makes it possible to establish the temporal relationships between artefacts within archaeological complexes. He has linked the lifestyle and behavior of the Neanderthals of the Mid Palaeolithic with archaeological remains deposited over the period. This is the best way of understanding the history of stones.

Wed, 21 Jan 09
Reduced Breast Cancer Risk: Physical Activity After Menopause Pays Off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iq4yhsMLjws/090115103812.htm
The breast cancer risk of women who are regularly physically active in the postmenopausal phase is reduced by about one third compared to relatively inactive women.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Declining Male Fertility Linked To Water Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tqC_-m0-PQs/090118200636.htm
New research strengthens the link between water pollution and rising male fertility problems. The study shows for the first time how a group of testosterone-blocking chemicals is finding its way into UK rivers, affecting wildlife and potentially humans.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Advance Toward First Saliva Test For Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uXcC1bYe6Kw/090119091615.htm
Scientists in Oregon and India are reporting an advance toward developing the first saliva test to diagnose and monitor effectiveness of treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The number of cases of that disease (18 million in the United States alone) has doubled during the last 30 years in parallel with the epidemic of obesity.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Pathogenic Microorganisms And Phenotypic Noise: Combat Zone Reconnaissance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9C2dl-KT_S8/090119113008.htm
Phenotypic noise is a novel concept in biology that explains the division of labor among pathogens. Researchers have now developed a new method that simplifies the process by which the genes carrying the pathogenic properties are found.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
How Aging Undermines Bone Healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-DR6gg79lTA/090115103810.htm
Researchers have unraveled crucial details of how aging causes broken bones to heal slowly, or not at all, according to an article in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. The research team also successfully conducted preclinical tests on a potential new class of treatments designed to "rescue" healing capability lost to aging.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Earthquakes, El Ninos Fatal To Earliest Civilization In Americas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uw79xxujoxQ/090119210342.htm
First came the earthquakes, then the torrential rains. But the relentless march of sand across once fertile fields and bays, a process set in motion by the quakes and flooding, is probably what did in America's earliest civilization.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Blast Overpressure Is Generated From The Firing Of Weapons, And May Cause Brain Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8i4FGZyw4H8/090119091112.htm
Blast overpressure is generated from the firing of weapons and may cause brain injury. The brain may be injured by the noise, which is produced when, for example, an anti-tank weapon (Bazooka, Karl Gustav) or a howitzer (Haubits) is fired. Scientists have demonstrated mild injury to brain tissue.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
NASA Radar Provides First Look Inside Moon’s Shadowed Craters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0sDa-Ek9evA/090119091827.htm
Using a NASA radar flying aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists are getting their first look inside the moon's coldest, darkest craters.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Gene Switch Sites Found Mainly On 'Shores,' Not Just 'Islands' Of The Human Genome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JqKLps-d7CU/090118200626.htm
Scientists who study how human chemistry can permanently turn off genes have typically focused on small islands of DNA believed to contain most of the chemical alterations involved in those switches. But after an epic tour of so-called DNA methylation sites across the human genome in normal and cancer cells, scientists have found that the vast majority of the sites aren't grouped in those islands at all, but on nearby regions that they've named "shores."

Tue, 20 Jan 09
The When, Where, Why Of Road Accidents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tl7eWmrQOg4/090114141656.htm
European researchers are re-examining the causes of road accidents and studying which technologies can make our roads safer for everyone.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Salt Reduction May Offer Cardioprotective Effects Beyond Blood Pressure Reduction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o60wZhgJdsw/090116142126.htm
Decreasing one's sodium intake can improve blood vessel health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, along with many other health benefits.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
European Evolutionary Biologists Rally Behind Richard Dawkins' Extended Phenotype
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GJBpQiLSjXk/090119081333.htm
Richard Dawkins' Extended Phenotype (EP) concept is as relevant now as when it was first proposed 26 years ago and is not at odds with other evolutionary explanations, according to experts.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Socially Active And Not Easily Stressed? You May Not Develop Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nb_NZvSFpj0/090119210328.htm
A new study shows that people who are socially active and not easily stressed may be less likely to develop dementia. The study found that people who were not socially active but calm and relaxed had a 50 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared with people who were isolated and prone to distress. The dementia risk was also 50 percent lower for people who were outgoing and calm compared to those who were outgoing and prone to distress.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Frantic Activity Revealed In Dusty Stellar Factories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kv3EX3v-Lr0/090119142319.htm
Astronomers have studied the fine detail in NGC 253, one of the brightest and dustiest spiral galaxies in the sky. Adaptive Optics (AO) corrects for the blurring effect introduced by the Earth's atmosphere. This turbulence causes the stars to twinkle in a way that delights poets, but frustrates astronomers, since it smears out the images. With AO in action the telescope can produce images that are as sharp as is theoretically possible, as if the telescope were in space.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Key Protein That May Cause Cancer Cell Death Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Plf85QmHCYw/090116164055.htm
A human protein called Bax-beta (Bax²), which can potentially cause the death of cancer cells and lead to new approaches in cancer treatment, has been identified and characterized.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Game Of Two Halves Leads To Brain Asymmetry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uVVMnrX07eY/090114124113.htm
A tug-of-war between the two sides of the brain causes it to become asymmetrical, according to research published in the journal Neuron. Asymmetry in the brain is thought to be important to enable the two hemispheres to specialize and operate more efficiently.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Gene Therapy Studied For Preeclampsia: New Clues To Mysterious Pregnancy Condition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HO_62apaOiw/090116152323.htm
To better understand preeclampsia, a sudden rise in maternal blood pressure and onset of kidney disease during pregnancy, researchers are studying mice that have the same affliction. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of both maternal and fetal death — killing more than 500,000 women worldwide each year and causing 15 percent of all premature births — yet the condition is not well understood.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Aerosol Research Key To Improving Climate Predictions, Experts Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GwwA-o74zWA/090117082850.htm
Scientists need a more detailed understanding of how human-produced atmospheric particles, called aerosols, affect climate in order to produce better predictions of Earth's future climate, according to a NASA-led report issued by the US Climate Change Science Program.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Space Mission For Worms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d5Z2SyQBpo4/090119081340.htm
Worms from The University of Nottingham should be checking in for a flight onboard the Space Shuttle later this year — to help researchers investigate the effect of zero gravity on the body’s muscle development and physiology. Researchers are also hoping to get primary school children involved in the project.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Bleeding Hearts Revealed With New Scan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HhQ5ZxRvs0o/090119081530.htm
Images that for the first time show bleeding inside the heart after people have suffered a heart attack have been captured by scientists. The research shows that the amount of bleeding can indicate how damaged a person's heart is after a heart attack.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Blood Pressure Varies By The Season
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZIfWRSq0Nww/090116091523.htm
Scientists have found a strong correlation between blood pressure and outdoor temperature in a large sample of the elderly. As a result, the investigators advise that, during periods of extreme temperatures, careful monitoring of blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment “could contribute to reducing the consequences of blood pressure variations in the elderly”.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
New Invasive Fish Spreads Through The Ebro Delta
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2bFlcNdtB0A/090114095105.htm
Biologists have researched and described for the first time in Europe the spread of the invasive dojo loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) fish species. The fish comes from East Asia and was first discovered in the Ebro delta in 2001. Since then, it has occupied various parts of the river during its lightning spread, and is now definitively established. The researchers do not rule out that it could occupy new areas within coming years and threaten the survival of native species.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Is There A Relationship Between Sleep-wake Rhythm And Diabetes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bs1MUcMLalM/090116073601.htm
Scientists have succeeded in identifying a new gene variant which is associated with elevated fasting glucose levels and a high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence Display Distinct Patterns Of Facial Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mNTGVhjcI10/090119210431.htm
Women who are victims of intimate partner violence tend to have different patterns of facial injury than women who experience facial trauma from other causes, according to a new report. This information, and other key characteristics such as a delay before visiting a health-care facility, could help surgeons and other physicians recognize patients who are victims of this type of abuse.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Microbe Composition In Gut May Hold Key To One Cause Of Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JzZn0ASUWjQ/090119210437.htm
A new study suggests that the composition of microbes within the gut may hold a key to one cause of obesity and the prospect of future treatment. Researchers reveal a tantalizing link between differing microbial populations in the human gut and body weight among three distinct groups: normal weight individuals, those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery, and patients suffering the condition of morbid obesity.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Possible Alzheimer's Disease Marker Discovered In Rare Genotype
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/24koAFlAah0/090116073559.htm
Researchers have uncovered evidence that Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be clinically confirmed in patients with apolipoprotein E2 homozygote.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Five Invasive Plants Threatening Southern Forests In 2009 Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_8n5zY2huFY/090112201210.htm
Ecologists have identified the invasive plant species they believes pose the biggest threats to southern forest ecosystems in 2009.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Treadmill Exercise Improves Walking Endurance For Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pWQOIpkFZCA/090113174426.htm
Patients with peripheral arterial disease, which can include symptoms such as pain in the legs, who participated in supervised treadmill exercise improved their walking endurance and quality of life, according to new study. The treadmill exercise also improved walking performance for PAD patients without the classic symptoms of pain in the leg muscles.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Infrared Spotlights Crystal Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HkZWNaq4eLw/090119081337.htm
The creation of a reproducible crystallization process is a fundamental challenge to drug manufacturers, but a technique which provides real time detailed analysis of chemical processes could provide an answer.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Food Advertisements In Your Magazine: How Healthy Are They?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bCmZJjd91Tk/090119210440.htm
At a time when many of us are thinking about how to get rid of a few extra pounds, new U.K. research has shown that even the magazine you read may affect how healthy your diet is.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Microbot Motors Fit To Swim Human Arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gtnMOPiWkQ8/090119210620.htm
A range of complex surgical operations necessary to treat stroke victims, confront hardened arteries or address blockages in the bloodstream are about to be made safer as researchers put the final touches to the design of micro-motors small enough to be injected into the human bloodstream.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
New Criteria For Measuring Tumor Size And Progression Will Help Ease Workloads In Clinical Trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nDSmWx2gnJ0/090119210616.htm
The first, formal revision of specific guidelines, known as RECIST, used by clinicians to measure tumor size and response to treatment, has just been published. The authors say that the revisions will ease the workload involved in running clinical trials, without compromising study outcomes.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Language Driven By Culture, Not Biology, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U7ADwl9Zl3M/090119210614.htm
Language in humans has evolved culturally rather than genetically, according to a new study. By modeling the ways in which genes for language might have evolved alongside language itself, the study showed that genetic adaptation to language would be highly unlikely, as cultural conventions change much more rapidly than genes. Thus, the biological machinery upon which human language is built appears to predate the emergence of language.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Large DNA Stretches, Not Single Genes, Shut Off As Cells Mature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hHYLE9cKMFg/090118200628.htm
The gradual maturing of embryonic cells into cells as varied as brain, liver and immune system cells is apparently due to the shut off of several genes at once rather than in individual smatterings as previous studies have implied.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Nitrogen Fixation In The Western English Channel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yoBbAOTFfQA/090119103204.htm
An intriguing discovery could overturn present thinking about the role of shelf seas such as the English Channel and North Sea in global nitrogen budgets.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
How Toxoplasma Gondii Gets Noticed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EttcwDEFlT0/090119091053.htm
Researchers provide insight into how Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite of people and other animals, triggers an immune response in its host.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Surprising New Health And Environmental Concerns About Tungsten
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NNA9jWIABwY/090119091051.htm
Surprising new scientific research is raising concerns about the potential health and environmental hazards of tungsten — a metal used in products ranging from bullets to light bulbs to jewelry — that scientists once thought was environmentally-benign, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Predicting Politics: Professors Model Prediction Markets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZlgF25Klhuc/090119210526.htm
Political prediction markets accurately predicted Barack Obama's 2008 victory. Now researchers have determined that these markets behave similar to financial markets, except when traders' partisan feelings get in the way (as they did in the 2000 presidential election). The researchers have created a model of how prices fluctuate in these prediction markets -- a model that could eventually be used to tell how certain events affect the outcomes of elections.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Parasites In The Genome? Molecular Parasite Could Play An Important Role In Human Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VwdKOTJft-w/090119081342.htm
Researchers have determined the structure of a protein which is encoded by a parasitic genetic element and which is responsible for its mobility. The so-called LINE-1 retrotransposon is a mobile genetic element that can multiply and insert itself into chromosomal DNA at many different locations. Researchers say that there would be very few human genes that have not been affected in the past by the integration of a LINE-1 or Alu element.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Neurons Show Sex-dependent Changes During Starvation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MhZriz8iasY/090116151644.htm
Researchers found that nutrient deprivation of neurons produced sex-dependent effects. Male neurons more readily withered up and died, while female neurons did their best to conserve energy and stay alive.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Sensor In Artery Measures Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kzrbg4ym4hk/090119081512.htm
High blood pressure can be a trial of patience for doctors and for sufferers, whose blood pressure often has to be monitored over a long time until it can be regulated. This will now be made easier by a pressure sensor that is inserted in the femoral artery.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
New Structural Motif In Key Enzymes: Essential To Prevent Autoimmune Disease; Key To Cancer Drug Resistance?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kOl_yCL-PvU/090116142123.htm
Scientists have found a specific mutation that leads to the development of severe autoimmune kidney disease in mice. The research sheds light on the basic biology of the immune system, as well as on the effectiveness of drugs such as the anti-leukemia medication Gleevec/Imatinib.

Tue, 20 Jan 09
Lack Of Grey Matter In Brain Is Linked To Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UFePm8BQS2s/090116073803.htm
Lack of grey matter in the brain is linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A new study shows that adolescents experiencing a first outbreak of psychosis have lower levels of gray matter in their brains than healthy teenagers. Strangely, this change was seen in patients suffering from various psychoses, including bipolar illness and schizophrenia.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Dust Detected Around A Primitive Star, Shedding New Light On Universe's Origins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/594QA2daxBA/090115164528.htm
Astronomers have observed dust forming around a dying star in a nearby galaxy, giving a glimpse into the early universe and enlivening a debate about the origins of all cosmic dust.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Bone Marrow Stem Cells Used To Regenerate Skin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8KlJrFZ2ug4/090114160548.htm
A new study suggests that adult bone marrow stem cells can be used in the construction of artificial skin. The findings mark an advancement in wound healing and may be used to pioneer a method of organ reconstruction. The study is published in Artificial Organs.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Biofuel Carbon Footprint Not As Big As Feared, New Analysis Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QvIwDbJVhik/090115164641.htm
Some researchers have blasted biofuels' potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions, calling into question the environmental benefits of making fuel from plant material. But a new analysis says these dire predictions are based on a set of assumptions that may not be correct.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
New Tool Could Prevent Needless Stents And Save Money, Cardiologist Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eP7WAx4otO0/090114172300.htm
Doctors may be implanting too many artery-opening stents and could improve patient outcomes -- and ultimately save lives -- if they did more in-depth measurements of blood flow in the vessels to the heart, according to experts.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Molecular Forklifts Overcome Obstacle To 'Smart Dust'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MDA7riN3rT0/090118200630.htm
Algae is a livid green giveaway of nutrient pollution in a lake. Scientists would love to reproduce that action in tiny particles that would turn different colors if exposed to biological weapons, food spoilage or signs of poor health in the blood.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Paintballs Can Cause 'Devastating' Eye Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J_fWCQPQVEE/090115081739.htm
Paintballs can cause severe and 'visually devastating' eye injuries, especially when used in unsupervised settings without proper eye protection, reports a study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Now You See It, Now You Don't: Scientists Unraveling The Mystery Of Camouflage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1g_o8O4ruDo/090115164615.htm
Marine biologists have discovered three broad classes of camouflage body patterns. This study of cephalopod camouflage has implications for analyzing camouflage tactics throughout the animal kingdom.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Genetic Mutation, Almost Guaranteed To Lead To Heart Disease, Found In One Percent Of Population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yCyqu-soWhI/090118200634.htm
A study of almost 1500 people has uncovered a genetic mutation that is almost guaranteed to lead to heart disease. The mutation is found worldwide, but appears to be restricted to people with an origin in the Indian subcontinent, where 4 percent of the population are carriers. The size and simplicity of the genetic effect is staggering in a disease that has a wide range of causes, many related to lifestyle.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Is Human 'Imperfection' Such A Bad Thing?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mGbgPNZRnHU/090116073605.htm
Imagine a world of 'human perfection' where disabled people are a distant memory, edited out by medical enhancement and economic cost-benefit analysis: a world where thanks to generic selection and economic crises disabled people find themselves expendable. Is such a world desirable? Not necessarily so, says one researcher.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
New Model System May Better Explain Regulation Of Body Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RvLqDEs4NIk/090114114932.htm
A new mathematical model of the physiological regulation of body weight suggests a potential mechanism underlying the difficulty of losing weight, one that includes aspects of two competing hypotheses of weight regulation.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
High-tech Solutions Ease Inaugural Challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/krbc-Q8CADU/090115164619.htm
Transportation and security officials on Inauguration Day will have a centralized, consolidated stream of traffic information and other data displayed on a single screen. The Regional Integrated Transportation Information System gives officials a single real-time view far more comprehensive than previously available. The idea is to enhance officials' ability to monitor vehicular traffic, accidents, incidents, response plans, air space, weather conditions and more.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Alcohol Taxes Have Clear Effect On Drinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dozGVpUY660/090115103814.htm
With many local and national governments currently debating proposals to raise alcohol taxes, a timely new study finds that the more alcoholic beverages cost, the less likely people are to drink. And when they do drink, they drink less. After analyzing 112 studies spanning nearly four decades, researchers documented a concrete association between the amount of alcohol people drink and its cost.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Fish Guts Explain Marine Carbon Cycle Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OPCALa8suTc/090115164607.htm
Research reveals the major influence of fish on maintaining the delicate pH balance of our oceans, vital for the health of coral reefs and other marine life. The discovery could help solve a mystery that has puzzled marine chemists for decades. Published in Science, the study provides new insights into the marine carbon cycle, which is undergoing rapid change as a result of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Childhood Obesity Risk Increased By Newly-discovered Genetic Mutations, Says Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ltBazXvZ4BM/090118200638.htm
Three new genetic variations that increase the risk of obesity are revealed in a new study. The authors suggest that if each acted independently, these variants could be responsible for up to 50 percent of cases of severe obesity.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Northern Fur Seal Pup Decline: Lowest Birth Rate Since 1916
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vZGsYL2c2G8/090116164521.htm
Researchers have marked another decline in northern fur seal pup births in the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea, where most of the world's population of northern fur seals gather in the summer to rest and breed.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Scientists Explain Genetic Disease First Discovered In Quebec 24 Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uauO5oHCLaI/090114160544.htm
Scientists have identified a gene essential for the uptake of vitamin B12 in human cells. The discovery of this gene finally completes a 24 year-old hunt for the cause of an incredibly rare genetic disorder called, cblF combined homocystinuria and methylmalonic aciduria, first documented in a Quebec infant in 1985.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Prairie Soil Organic Matter Shown To Be Resilient Under Intensive Agriculture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xrxYqzRTAFQ/090115190458.htm
A recent study has confirmed that although there was a large reduction of organic carbon and total nitrogen pools when prairies were first cultivated and drained, there has been no consistent pattern in these organic matter pools during the period of synthetic fertilizer use, that is, from 1957-2002.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Science Learning At Museums, Zoos, Other Informal Settings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EC7xKmSEWQQ/090114114934.htm
Each year, tens of millions of Americans, young and old, choose to learn about science in informal ways by visiting museums and aquariums, attending after-school programs, pursuing personal hobbies and watching TV documentaries, for example.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Origin Of Jawed Vertebrates: Prehistoric Fish Provides New Piece In Evolution's Jigsaw Puzzle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I9PN23Ni4LY/090115103808.htm
Scientists describe the skull and jaws of a fish that lived about 410 million years ago. Their study may give important clues to the origin of jawed vertebrates.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
New Anti-cancer, Anti-infection Response Control Mechanism Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wxl_gH-3DNo/090118200640.htm
Scientists have made a discovery that could have a significant impact on the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. Researchers have demonstrated that a molecule known as CRACC, which is present at the surface of NK cells, increases their killer function.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Study May Give Hope That Ivory-billed Woodpeckers Still Around
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KDYnfn0T32Q/090116142115.htm
Until credible sightings popped up three years ago, the scientific world was in agreement that ivory-billed woodpeckers had gone the way of the dodo. A new study reveals that the ivory-billed woodpecker could have persisted if as few as five mated pairs survived the extensive habitat loss during the early 1900's.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Novel Drugs Selectively Target Pathway Important In Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nQKkScELQkw/090113174544.htm
Methotrexate, a folate antagonist that blocks folic acid activity, is the most widely used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for rheumatoid arthritis. It enters the cell via several pathways, one of which involves folate receptor, which is highly specific for cells present in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Students Launch Audiball, An Xbox Community Game
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7H1p0MDaSXU/090116165324.htm
Most students like to play video games, but a group of Georgia Tech students have built and are selling their own. Their game, Audiball, was launched during the first week of Xbox Community Games in November.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
2008 Global Temperature Ties As Eighth Warmest On Record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ci_p9_u3YxY/090116163206.htm
The year 2008 tied with 2001 as the eighth warmest year on record for the Earth, based on the combined average of worldwide land and ocean surface temperatures through December, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. For December alone, the month also ranked as the eighth warmest globally, for the combined land and ocean surface temperature. The assessment is based on records dating back to 1880.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
New Technique To Tap Full Potential Of Antibody Libraries Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NjidtHyP82g/090115164611.htm
Antibodies are the attack dogs of the immune system, fighting off bacterial and other invaders. Massive libraries of synthetic antibodies that mimic this natural response, for instance to attack proteins critical to a particular cancer, are also available, but current techniques have allowed scientists to screen these antibodies for effectiveness against only a very limited number of disease-causing agents.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Free Antibiotics: Wrong Prescription For Cold And Flu Season, Experts Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BRbrc_CSjq8/090116111137.htm
With an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant infections growing, experts are warning grocery-store pharmacies that antibiotics giveaways are an unhealthy promotional gimmick. If grocery stores want to help customers and save them money during cold and flu season, the Infectious Diseases Society of America says, they should offer free influenza vaccinations instead.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
New Genetic Model Predicts Plant Flowering In Different Environments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I_BDtIp2MxQ/090115164526.htm
Botanists have created a model that precisely charts the genetic and environmental signals that guide the life cycle of a scientifically important plant species. The model could help scientists better understand how plants will respond to climate change.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Recovery Plan For The Northwest Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle Revised
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2yAzqzx7gNk/090116163930.htm
A revised recovery plan for the Northwest Atlantic population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) has been issued by NOAA. The species is listed globally as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Fatty Liver Disease Medication May Have No Effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PZoAsC89jIE/090113174535.htm
A new randomized, prospective trial has shown that orlistat, a commonly prescribed inhibitor of fat absorption, does not help patients with fatty liver disease lose weight, nor does it improve their liver enzymes or insulin resistance.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Essential Proteins For Critical Stage Of Malaria Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ShL4iLn808/090116073203.htm
Researchers have identified the molecular components that enable the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium to infect the salivary glands of the Anopheles mosquito -- a critical stage for spreading malaria to humans.

Mon, 19 Jan 09
Women May Be More Likely To Experience Emergency Medical Services Delays For Heart Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t1sU0FR4tQo/090113174434.htm
Women who called 9-1-1 complaining of cardiac symptoms were 52 percent more likely than men to experience delays during emergency medical services' (EMS) care, according to a report in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Slight Changes In Climate May Trigger Abrupt Ecosystem Responses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4tN92JRbaaM/090116142119.htm
Slight changes in climate may trigger major abrupt ecosystem responses that are not easily reversible. Some of these responses, including insect outbreaks, wildfire, and forest dieback, may adversely affect people and ecosystems and their plants and animals.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Novel Use For Old Compound In Cancer Treatment Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/As6FvB0NtCA/090115164613.htm
Scientists have found a potentially beneficial use for a once-abandoned compound in the prevention and treatment of neuroblastoma, one of the most devastating cancers among young children.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Game Theory Explains Why You Can’t Hurry Love
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fNb4dxT5UJY/090116073603.htm
Scientists have developed a mathematical model of the mating game to help explain why courtship is often protracted. The study shows that extended courtship enables a male to signal his suitability to a female and enables the female to screen out the male if he is unsuitable as a mate.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Intake Of Certain Fatty Acid Appears To Improve Neurodevelopment For Preterm Girls, But Not Boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I9wTFyv7nvU/090113174430.htm
Preterm infant girls who received a high amount of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid) had higher measures of neurodevelopment than preterm girls who received a standard amount of DHA, but this effect was not seen among preterm boys, according to a study in the Jan. 14 issue of JAMA.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Largest-to-date Genetic Snapshot Of Iceland 1,000 Years Ago Completed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1JfJi985M9k/090116073205.htm
Scientists at deCODE genetics have completed the largest study of ancient DNA from a single population ever undertaken. Analyzing mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mother to offspring, from 68 skeletal remains, the study provides a detailed look at how a contemporary population differs from that of its ancestors.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
How We Are Tricked Into Into Giving Away Our Personal Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vwak3jFYKHU/090115081741.htm
We human beings don’t always do as we have been taught, and organizations are poorly prepared for IT security attacks that target human weaknesses. Since it is difficult to change people’s behavior, it doesn’t help to provide training about how to behave securely. Scientists are studying attacks that are considered social engineering in IT contexts.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Scientists Resolve Mystery Of How Massive Stars Form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ptshWFVFxl8/090115164617.htm
New research has shown how a massive star can grow despite outward-flowing radiation pressure that exceeds the gravitational force pulling material inward.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Busted Spine-Discs? Researchers Are Growing New Ones, Bioengineering Intervertebral Discs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LKt5gM0-NKs/090116151648.htm
Each year, 40 to 60 percent of American adults suffer from chronic back pain. For patients diagnosed with severe degenerative disc disease, neurosurgeons must perform surgery called discectomy — removing the IVD — followed by a fusion of the vertebrate bones to stabilize the spine. Even after all that effort, the patient's back will likely not feel the same as before their injury.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Lack Of Thermoelectric Effect Is Cool Feature In Carbon Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QA0c21C7MN8/090115191940.htm
Metallic carbon nanotubes have been proposed as interconnects in future electronic devices packed with high-density nanoscale circuits. But can they stand up to the heat?

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Abnormal DNA Repair Genes May Predict Pancreatic Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-p_8mPdw2TQ/090115081515.htm
Abnormalities in genes that repair mistakes in DNA replication may help identify people who are at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer, scientists report in Clinical Cancer Research.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Energy-efficient Water Purification Made Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1a9RxF0yqsc/090114172310.htm
Water and energy are two resources on which modern society depends. As demands for these increase, researchers look to alternative technologies that promise both sustainability and reduced environmental impact. Engineered osmosis holds a key to addressing both the global need for affordable clean water and inexpensive sustainable energy according to researchers.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Help Seniors Keep Disabilities At Bay
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UOgIomIpKLc/090115103803.htm
It is well known that moderate drinking can have positive health benefits. For instance, a couple of glasses of red wine a day can be good for the heart. But if you're a senior in good health, light to moderate consumption of alcohol may also help prevent the development of physical disability.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Humans Are Reason For Why Domestic Animals Have Such Strange And Varied Coat Colors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UvHYGvQz4Hg/090116073327.htm
A new study on pigs reveals that the prime explanation for the bewildering diversity in coat color among our pigs, dogs and other domestic animals, is that humans have actively changed the coat color of domestic animals by cherry-picking and actively selecting for rare mutations. This process that has been going on for thousands of years.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Scientists Discover Gene Responsible For Brain's Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OR4WprDfXbY/090116123129.htm
Researchers have identified a gene that controls the normal and pathological aging of neurons in the central nervous system.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Researchers Identify Potential Cancer Target
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ajSdjutaZ4A/090116142121.htm
Researchers have found two proteins that work in concert to ensure proper chromosome segregation during cell division. The finding is relevant for treating solid cancerous tumors that lose the ability to accurately segregate their chromosomes. Tumors that shuffle chromosomes, a process called chromosomal instability, are known to have a poor prognosis.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
How Defective DNA Repair Triggers Two Neurological Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2RJ55XQx-B4/090114200007.htm
Scientists have teased apart the biological details distinguishing two related neurological diseases -- ataxia telangiectasia-like disease and Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Chemistry Discovery Brings Organic Solar Cells A Step Closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WVnVbdRL5OY/090115164518.htm
Inexpensive solar cells, vastly improved medical imaging techniques and lighter more flexible television screens are among the potential applications envisioned for organic electronics. Recent experiments may bring these closer thanks to new insights into ways molecules absorb and move energy.

Sun, 18 Jan 09
Key To A Healthy Lifestyle Is In The Mind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zlr78BQCErU/090115190449.htm
The main factors influencing the amount of physical exercise people carry out are their self-perceived ability and the extent of their desire to exercise. A study of 5167 Canadians has shown that psychological concerns are the most important barriers to an active lifestyle.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
New Family Of Antibacterial Agents Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7umvdVESPbA/090115190456.htm
As bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics continue to increase in number, scientists keep searching for new sources of drugs. Researchers have now found a potential new antibiotic agent in the tiny freshwater animal Hydra.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
New Drug Holds Out Promise Of Normal Diet For Sufferers Of Devastating PKU Genetic Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qF4m1RKj5NY/090114132734.htm
A new pharmaceutical being developed is offering sufferers of the genetic disease phenylketonuria the hope of being able to eat a normal, protein-rich diet.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Huge Population Of Endangered Asian Elephants Living In Malaysian Park
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ndNxZ5KeAPs/090114205447.htm
New data released by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) reveals that a population of endangered Asian elephants living in a Malaysian park may be the largest in Southeast Asia.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Probiotics May Prevent Certain Allergies In Cesarean-delivered Children But Not In All Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AkMwXkX5IgI/090114075925.htm
According to a recent study, no allergy-preventive effect is extended to age 5 years by perinatal supplementation with probiotics in babies at risk for developing allergies; protection is conferred only to Cesarean section babies.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Study Refutes Notion That Eating A Certain Cereal Will Result In More Male Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VLe5rXOSQmI/090114075759.htm
Could eating cereal really make it more likely for someone to have a boy baby than a girl baby? Not according to a new statistical analysis that refutes earlier findings.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Birth Control Pill: Oral Contraceptive Use May Be Safe, But Information Gaps Remain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ljKnxNlieM/090114092848.htm
Oral contraceptives have been used by about 80 percent of women in the United States at some point in their lives. For women without pre-existing risks for heart disease, the early formulations were generally safe and the newer ones appear to be even safer, but all the risks and benefits are yet to be established, according to specialists in women's heart disease.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Easy Assembly Of Electronic Biological Chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5e5z3ThiysE/090115164520.htm
A handheld, ultra-portable device that can recognize and immediately report on a wide variety of environmental or medical compounds may eventually be possible, using a method that incorporates a mixture of biologically tagged nanowires onto integrated circuit chips, according to researchers.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Smoking During Pregnancy May Impair Thyroid Function Of Mom And Fetus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I2stmTLgvb0/090113090459.htm
Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with potentially harmful changes in both maternal and fetal thyroid function, according to a new study.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
'Two-faced' Bioacids Put A New Face On Carbon Nanotube Self-assembly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YhUldM7DSCs/090113174546.htm
Researchers have demonstrated an inexpensive way to induce carbon nanotubes to "self-assemble" in long, regular strands, a useful technique for studying nanotube properties and potentially a new way to assemble nanotube-based devices.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Diabetes Associated With Different Types Of Brain Injury In Patients With Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mf_U9QCHvms/090112201118.htm
Patients with dementia and diabetes appear to display a different pattern of injuries in their brains than patients with dementia but without diabetes, according to a new study.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Intestinal Lymphatic Tissue Important For The Absorption And Spread Of The Scrapie Prion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MbZj1-PBai8/090109095115.htm
Scrapie is a transmissible, degenerative and ultimately fatal disease of the nervous system of sheep. The cause of the disease is a prion protein, and absorption from the intestine is assumed to be the natural route of infection. Lymphatic tissue associated with the intestine is important for the early accumulation of prion protein and its subsequent spread to the central nervous system.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
High Live Birth Rates Following In Vitro Fertilization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jguWj8PCQtI/090114172306.htm
When deciding whether or not to pursue IVF treatment, the obvious question of most patients is, "What is the chance that this therapy will result in a baby?" They now have an answer.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
DNA Testing May Unlock Secrets Of Medieval Manuscripts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xVnLDh8m4AQ/090112093328.htm
Scholars have long struggled with questions about when and where the majority of the thousands of painstakingly handwritten books produced in medieval Europe originated. Now a researcher is using modern advances in genetics to develop techniques that will shed light on the origins of these important cultural artifacts.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Key Developmental Mechanisms Of The Amygdala Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8d6ETLDD8CM/090113074144.htm
For the first time, scientists have successfully identified a key developmental program for the amygdala -- the part of the limbic system that impacts how the brain creates emotional memories and responses. This knowledge could help scientists to better understand autism and similar disorders in which altered function of this region is known to occur.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Relapses More Frequent In Patients Diagnosed With Pediatric-onset Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HyDT1EWzx6Q/090112201121.htm
Patients who develop multiple sclerosis before age 18 appear to experience more relapses of symptoms than those diagnosed with the disease as adults, according to a new report.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
How The Sensory Organs Of Bacteria Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D6KzxpueBQY/090115081747.htm
Bacteria can occur almost anywhere on earth and exist under the most varying conditions. If these tiny, microscopic organisms are to survive in these environments, they need to be able to rapidly detect changes in their surroundings and react to them.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Huge Rise In Male Mortality Coincided With Move From Communism To Capitalism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TiNWUGU1wnM/090115081743.htm
Countries seeking to make massive changes in the way their economies are run, for example by privatizing formerly state-run sectors, must take into account the potential impact of such changes on people's health, experts warn.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Arctic Heats Up More Than Other Places: High Sea Level Rise Predicted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V6_09aT_FfE/090116111135.htm
Temperature change in the Arctic is happening at a greater rate than other places in the Northern Hemisphere, and this is expected to continue. As a result, glacier and ice-sheet melting, sea-ice retreat, coastal erosion and sea level rise can be expected. A new comprehensive scientific synthesis of past Arctic climates demonstrates for the first time the pervasive nature of Arctic climate amplification.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Cause Of Cartilage Degeneration In Osteoarthritis Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RmlVHS2iM6A/090112201135.htm
Scientists have found an important link between a protein that declines with age and the development of osteoarthritis, the most common disease of aging affecting nearly 27 million Americans. The finding opens the door to developing effective new treatments for osteoarthritis. Currently, no treatment for this degenerative disease exists apart from palliative drugs for pain and inflammation.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Hubble Snaps Images Of A Nebula Within A Cluster
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JZrteMkUzmc/090115175523.htm
The unique planetary nebula NGC 2818 is nested inside the open star cluster NGC 2818A. Both the cluster and the nebula reside over 10,000 light-years away, in the southern constellation Pyxis (the Compass). NGC 2818 is one of very few planetary nebulae in our galaxy located within an open cluster. Open clusters, in general, are loosely bound and they disperse over hundreds of millions of years.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Chemotherapy Most Effective At Time Of Day When Particular Enzyme At Lowest Level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fM86i7UeG5I/090113090501.htm
A new study has suggested that treatment is most effective at certain times of day because that is when a particular enzyme system -- one that can reverse the actions of chemotherapeutic drugs -- is at its lowest levels in the body.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
When It Comes To Sleep Research, Fruit Flies And People Make Unlikely Bedfellows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/19zAkdCBTuM/090113101118.htm
You may never hear fruit flies snore, but rest assured that when you're asleep, they are too. Scientists have shown that sleep/wake cycles of fruit flies and vertebrates are regulated by some of the same "cellular machinery" as humans. This is significant because the sleep-regulating enzyme that was analyzed is one of only a few possible drug targets for circadian problems.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Brain Mechanisms Of Social Conformity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eT2MGUqFCBs/090114124109.htm
New research reveals the brain activity that underlies our tendency to "follow the crowd." The study provides intriguing insight into how human behavior can be guided by the perceived behavior of other individuals.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Fantastic Voyage: Medical 'Mini-submarine' Invented To Blast Diseased Cells In The Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ggr1slwCLsI/090115164623.htm
Scientists developed a medical "mini-submarine" to blast diseased cells in the body. The blueprints for the submarine and a map of its proposed maiden voyage were developed earlier this year. Now the scientists will build and test-run the actual "machine" in human bodies.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Alzheimer's Therapeutic Target? DREAM gene Regulates Pain, Learning And Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rH_NO9xDJ3c/090115103806.htm
The DREAM gene, which is crucial in regulating pain perception, also seems to influence learning and memory. The new findings could help explain the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and yield a potential new therapeutic target.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
NASA Tests Engine Technology For Landing Astronauts On The Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e5hMIJz38us/090114142824.htm
A technology development engine that may help NASA safely return astronauts to the lunar surface has successfully completed its third round of testing. The goal of these tests is to reduce risk and advance technology for a reliable and robust rocket engine that could enable America's next moon landing.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Link Between Two Aging Pathways In Mice Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/njQJMGRlwkI/090108121620.htm
Two previously identified pathways associated with aging in mice are connected, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The finding reinforces what researchers have recently begun to suspect: The age-related degeneration of tissues, organs and facial skin is an active, deliberate process rather than a gradual failure of tired cells.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Better MRI Scans Of Cancers Now Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I4M1t4EeSRc/090113074417.htm
Researchers have developed a substance that enables doctors to get better MRI scans of tumors. The medical profession’s ability to trace and visualize tumors is increasing all the time. Detection and imaging techniques have improved enormously in recent years. One of the techniques that have come on by leaps and bounds is MRI. Patients who are going to have MRI scans are often injected with a ‘contrast agent’, which makes it easier to distinguish tumors from surrounding tissues.

Sat, 17 Jan 09
Video Game Players Love The Game, Not The Gore
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VF2txZzylQc/090116073152.htm
The next time a loved one brandishes a virtual shotgun in their favorite video game, take heart. That look of glee, says a new study, likely stems from the healthy pleasure of mastering a challenge rather than from a disturbing craving for carnage. A new psychology study shows that violence does not motivate video game players.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Next Generation Cloaking Device Demonstrated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rAitYNb_M-I/090115164530.htm
A device that can bestow invisibility to an object by "cloaking" it from visual light is closer to reality. After being the first to demonstrate the feasibility of such a device by constructing a prototype in 2006, a team of Duke University engineers has produced a new type of cloaking device, which is significantly more sophisticated at cloaking in a broad range of frequencies.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Epilepsy Linked To Genetic Defect On Chromosome 15
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nyUMXvhzOqY/090114075919.htm
Scientists find link between genetic defect on chromosome 15 and epilepsy. A subset of patients with epilepsy lack a certain part of this chromosome. The loss of small chromosomal segments, called microdeletions by geneticists, has previously not been connected with common disorders.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Common Soil Mineral Degrades The Nearly Indestructible Prion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4fDOyqWxWUo/090114142028.htm
In the rogues' gallery of microscopic infectious agents, the prion is the toughest hombre in town. Warped pathogens that lack both DNA and RNA, prions are believed to cause such fatal brain ailments as chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and moose, mad cow disease in cattle, scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Now researchers have found that a common soil mineral, an oxidized from of manganese known as birnessite, can penetrate the prion's armor and degrade the protein.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
New Generation Of Salmonella-based, Single Dose Vaccine Candidates To Fight Infant Pneumonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q7kZeWhQRoc/090112201240.htm
One of the major challenges in modern vaccinology is to engineer vectors that are highly infectious, yet don't cause illness. Now scientists have unveiled what may prove a winning strategy in the fight against infant bacterial pneumonia.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Free-range Chickens Are More Prone To Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K06TcsPpKLw/090114200003.htm
Chickens kept in litter-based housing systems, including free-range chickens, are more prone to disease than chickens kept in cages, according to a new study.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Switchboard In The Brain Helps Us Learn And Remember At The Same Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ys05PEaN8K8/090112212453.htm
The brain is in a constant struggle between learning new experiences and remembering old experiences, PLoS Biology reports. Most social interactions require the rapid exchange of new and old information. Normal conversation requires that while listening to the new information, we are already retrieving information for a reply. Yet, some memory theories assume that these different modes of memory cannot happen at the same time and compete for priority within our brain.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Mars May Still Be A Living Planet, Methane In Atmosphere Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PYNhI5vKP_g/090115164621.htm
Scientists has achieved the first definitive detection of methane in the atmosphere of Mars. This discovery indicates the planet is either biologically or geologically active. If microscopic Martian life is producing the methane, it likely resides far below the surface where it is warm enough for liquid water to exist.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Odors Can Alter Gene Expression In An Olfactory Neuron
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oLmjEXoZlH0/090114124111.htm
In a study of how sensory neurons in the microscopic worm C. elegans process smell, researchers have discovered the first evidence that a chemical in the environment changes gene expression within a sensory organ in its own specific way. The investigators also report that in contrast to previous studies showing that Pumilio proteins suppress gene expression, the proteins are activators of expression in the worm's olfactory sensory cell.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
New Tool Gives Researchers A Glimpse Of Biomolecules In Motion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4U9PYPEznXg/090113174541.htm
Using nanoscale "test tubes" researchers have demonstrated how terahertz spectroscopy can reveal the dynamic behavior of biomolecules like amino acids and proteins in water, important data for understanding their complex molecular behavior.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Largest Ever Prospective Medical Study Shows Epidurals And Spinal Anesthetics Are Safer Than Previously Reported
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S7V5MeXZPio/090113074445.htm
The largest ever prospective study into the major complications of epidurals and spinal anesthetics concludes that previous studies have over-estimated the risks of severe complications of these procedures. The study concludes that the estimated risk of permanent harm following a spinal anesthetic or epidural is lower than 1 in 20,000 and in many circumstances the estimated risk is considerably lower.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Global Warming Linked To European Viral Epidemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pbw3mVM-te8/090115190453.htm
An epidemic of the viral disease nephropathia epidemica has been linked to increases in the vole population caused by hotter summers, milder winters and increased seedcrop production by broadleaf trees. Research links outbreaks of this rodent-borne disease to known effects of global warming.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Tequila Boom Triggers Social, Environmental Hangover In Mexico
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/loRMkkedfXk/090113074138.htm
New research shows that tequila's surge in popularity over the past 15 years has been a boon for industry, but is triggering a significant hangover of social and environmental problems in the region of Mexico where the once-notorious liquor is produced.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Microscopic 'Hands' For Building Tomorrow’s Machines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n6Lx_oDwSD8/090114210651.htm
In a finding straight out of science fiction, chemical and biomolecular engineers in Maryland are describing development of microscopic, chemically triggered robotic "hands" that can pick up and move small objects. They could be used in laboratory-on-a-chip applications, reconfigurable microfluidic systems, and micromanufacturing, the researchers say.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Evolutionary Keys To Common Birth Disorders Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cqWrewW3z1g/090114075801.htm
Scientists have revealed that duplication and diversification of protein regions ("modules") within ancient master control genes is key to the understanding of certain birth disorders. Tracing the history of these changes within the proteins coded by the Msx gene family over the past 600 million years has also provided additional evidence for the ancient origin of the human mouth.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Molecular Origin Of Blood Stem Cells Unlocked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CbMIj2iF4NI/090109154724.htm
A research team led by a Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, has identified the location and developmental timeline in which a majority of bone marrow stem cells form in the mouse embryo. The findings, appearing in the journal Nature, highlight critical steps in the origin of hematopoietic (or blood) stem cells.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
New Infant Formula Safety Advice Could Prevent Infant Suffering
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M-Y5V76r49I/090106083832.htm
Wheat-based infant follow-on formulas are better reconstituted with fruit juice and should be stored in the fridge at 4°C to prevent growth of meningitis bacteria, according to recent research.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Americans Eager To Reduce Their Energy Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nb0BRTt_WIw/090114172312.htm
Many Americans have already taken action to reduce their energy use and many others would do the same if they could afford to, according to a national survey conducted by Yale and George Mason universities.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Letting Infants Watch TV Can Do More Harm Than Good
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vr3qL4zwMNs/090113074419.htm
A leading child expert is warning parents to limit the amount of television children watch before the age of two, after an extensive review showed that it can do more harm than good to their ongoing development.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Cooling The Planet By Growing The Right Crops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VjPu2VlPhdY/090115164522.htm
By carefully selecting which varieties of food crops to cultivate, much of Europe and North America could be cooled by up to 1 degree Celsius during the summer growing season, say researchers. This is equivalent to an annual global cooling of over 0.1 degrees Celsius, almost 20 percent of the total global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. Unlike growing biofuels, such a plan could be achieved without disrupting food production.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
'Window Into The Brain' Reveals Deadly Secrets Of Malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Oc7GEJr218/090114195959.htm
Looking at the retina in the eyes of patients with cerebral malaria has provided scientists with a vital insight into why malaria infection in the brain is so deadly. Researchers in Malawi have shown for the first time in patients that the build-up of infected blood cells in the narrow blood vessels of the brain leads to a potentially lethal lack of oxygen to the brain.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Speech Disorders Can Be Assessed From A Distance, Research Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AzeyT5uJSz8/090112093338.htm
There should be no barriers to providing high-quality speech pathology services, according to one Australian researcher. Her work has found that speech and language disorders can be validly and reliably assessed over the internet using a telerehabilitation application.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Molecular Insight Into How A Heart Failure Drug In Clinical Trials Works
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7GjsIjj6TjM/090105175023.htm
Individuals who have persistent high blood pressure are at increased risks of a number of serious medical conditions, including heart failure. One of the factors that contributes to such heart failure is thickening of the muscle wall of the heart.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Mass Production Micro-hybrid Technology Set To Cut Emissions And Fuel Use In Cars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H5Ro_x2hA7I/090115092703.htm
Engineers are developing a compact, fully integrated and low-cost start-stop system for cars to replace conventional alternators in mass production. This second-generation starter alternator reversible system is intended to enable the European automotive industry to meet new EU emissions legislation and significantly reduce fuel consumption without needing to redesign the engine. Additionally, it will fulfill global demands for more energy-efficient vehicles.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Free Exercise And Nutrition Program In Brazil Could Serve As Model In United States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XXt5XST2fqI/090113155843.htm
What if free exercise classes were offered in public spaces such as parks, beaches and recreation centers? When a city government in Brazil tried such a program, it greatly increased physical activity among community members. A group of health researchers who studied the program believes it could also work in US cities with warm climates.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Protein That Amplifies Cell Death Discovered: Potentially A New Way To Kill Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FhqGesw5RGE/090114172314.htm
Scientists have identified a small intracellular protein that helps cells commit suicide. In response to stress or as a natural part of aging, many cells undergo programmed suicide, also known as apoptosis. Cancer cells often become immortal and dangerous by developing the ability to suppress apoptosis.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Pediatric Vaccine Effectively Prevents Pneumococcal Meningitis, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/82DRn_Gu5wA/090114172308.htm
A standard pediatric vaccine used to prevent several common types of life-threatening infections also effectively reduced the rates of pneumococcal meningitis in children and adults, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, based on a detailed review of pneumococcal meningitis cases, also noted an increase in strains of pneumococcal meningitis not susceptible to the vaccine and those resistant to antibiotics.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
New Method Accelerates Stability Testing Of Soy-based Biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q042V8-XR4I/090113174537.htm
Researchers have developed a method to accelerate stability testing of biodiesel fuel made from soybeans and identified additives that enhance stability at high temperatures, work that could help overcome a key barrier to the practical use of biofuels.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Biologist Enhances Use Of Bioinformatic Tools And Achieves Precision In Genetic Annotation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ycdz8gWw3ns/090115081737.htm
Biologists have enhanced the use of bioinformatic tools for the identification and annotation of certain fungal and bacterial genes.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
New Evidence That Humans Make Aspirin's Active Principle -- Salicylic Acid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fjgdlXcM5hs/090112093330.htm
Scientists in the United Kingdom are reporting new evidence that humans can make their own salicylic acid (SA) -- the material formed when aspirin breaks down in the body. SA, 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 new study.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Early Childhood Diet May Influence Future Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EPUO6gfhz-I/090114160546.htm
Surprising new research published in the Journal of Physiology, indicates a direct connection between an adult's propensity to put on weight and our early childhood diet.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Unique Skeletal Muscle Design Contributes To Spine Stability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C1BpYiXCVyc/090107134537.htm
The novel design of a deep muscle along the spinal column called the multifidus muscle may in fact be key to spinal support and a healthy back, according to researchers. Their findings about the potentially important "scaffolding" role of this poorly understood muscle has been published on line in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Few DNA Repair Genes Maintain Association With Cancer In Field Synopsis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZmT5FsYoLkQ/081231005313.htm
Variants of numerous DNA repair genes initially appeared to be statistically significantly associated with cancer risk in epidemiological studies. When the data from individual studies are pooled, however, few DNA repair gene variants appear truly associated with increased cancer risk, according to a new field synopsis.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Structural Defects Introduced Into Carbon Nanotubes Could Lead The Way To Carbon Nanotube Circuits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2gfRXAwKYTI/090113174531.htm
Structural defects introduced into carbon nanotubes could lead the way to carbon nanotube circuits, new research shows.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Contrary To Earlier Predictions, Older Driver Fatal Crashes Trend Down
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pU5O1LSJQcQ/090114211840.htm
Despite growing numbers on the road, fewer older drivers died in crashes and fewer were involved in fatal collisions during 1997-2006 than in years past, a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study reports. Crash deaths among drivers 70 and older fell 21 percent during the period, reversing an upward trend, even as the population of people 70 and older rose 10 percent.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Primate Culture Is Just A Stone's Throw Away From Human Evolution, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ddhRwes7HnI/090112110058.htm
For 30 years, scientists have been studying stone-handling behavior in several troops of Japanese macaques to catch a unique glimpse of primate culture. By watching these monkeys acquire and maintain behavioral traditions from generation to generation, the scientists have gained insight into the cultural evolution of humans.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Midlife Coffee And Tea Drinking May Protect Against Late-life Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VLVNsY56l94/090114200005.htm
Midlife coffee drinking can decrease the risk of dementia/Alzheimer's disease later in life. The study found that coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk for dementia and AD later in life compared to those drinking no or only little coffee. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found among moderate coffee drinkers (drinking 3-5 cups of coffee/day).

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Thomas Harriot: A Telescopic Astronomer Before Galileo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qJnyXuSafGM/090114110948.htm
This year the world celebrates the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), marking the 400th anniversary of the first drawings of celestial objects through a telescope. This first has long been attributed to Galileo Galilei, the Italian who went on to play a leading role in the 17th century scientific revolution. But astronomers and historians in the UK are keen to promote a lesser-known figure, English polymath Thomas Harriot, who made the first drawing of the Moon through a telescope several months earlier, in July 1609.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Why Bladder Cancer Is Deadlier For Some
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zxVqn3SDe68/090108111429.htm
Bladder cancer is much more likely to be deadly for women and African-Americans, but the reasons long believed to explain the phenomenon account for only part of the differences for such patients compared to their white and male counterparts, according to new results.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Physicists Resolve Confounding Paradox Of Quantum Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zQ4SL5JedeU/090114141509.htm
University of Toronto quantum physicists Jeff Lundeen and Aephraim Steinberg have shown that Hardy's paradox, a proposal that has confounded physicists for over a decade, can be confirmed and ultimately resolved, a task which had seemingly been impossible to perform.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Expect More Speeding Tickets in Weak Economy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZMFAdTjLGc0/090112121819.htm
When local revenue falls, traffic citations go up. Researchers have found statistical evidence that local governments use traffic citations to make up for revenue shortfalls. So as the economy tanks, motorists may be more likely to see red and blue in the rearview.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Medieval Walls In Spain Contain Bits Of Bone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z-pme7O_mo8/090114210910.htm
In a macabre discovery fit for Indiana Jones, archaeologists in Spain unearthed a 14th century brick oven with a unique role -- to bake bones. Scientists report that the animal bones were burnt in the oven and mixed with other materials to produce a protective coating to strengthen the grand medieval walls of what is today Granada, Spain. Scientists now describe how they found these materials thanks to a powerful new testing method.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Invisible Surgery: Appendix Removed Through Patient's Vagina
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S7yBVvk1qz8/090114203639.htm
Breaking new ground in what many surgeons consider the next frontier in minimally invasive surgery, surgeons have successfully performed an appendectomy with no abdominal incision. The appendix was removed through a small incision in the patient's vagina.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Orbiting Carbon Observatory Will Help Track Sources Of Rising Carbon Dioxide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3M_eUc8WfNY/090114142548.htm
Scientists still do not know precisely where all the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere comes from and where it goes. Now, they soon expect to get some answers to these and other compelling carbon questions, thanks to the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, a new Earth-orbiting NASA satellite set to launch in early 2009.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Prolonged Nevirapine In Breast-fed Babies Prevents HIV Infection But Leads To Drug-resistant HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u6OUKGpiaRg/090105150841.htm
Babies born to HIV-positive mothers and given the antiretroviral drug nevirapine through the first six weeks of life to prevent infection via breast-feeding are at high risk for developing drug-resistant HIV if they get infected anyway, a team of researchers report. But the investigators highlight the proven superiority of the six-week regimen in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in breast-fed infants.

Fri, 16 Jan 09
Nations That Sow Food Crops For Biofuels May Reap Less Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_HNNx9qT2PM/090114124115.htm
Global yields of most biofuels crops, including corn, rapeseed and wheat, have been overestimated by 100 to 150 percent or more, suggesting many countries need to reset their expectations of agricultural biofuels to a more realistic level.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Could Ice-like Cages Be Used To Trap Carbon Dioxide Underground?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IGSjd44W2X8/090114162235.htm
Ice-like "cages" of gas trapped underground may offer a safe and efficient way to reduce global warming. Researchers are investigating the potential for permanently storing carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs, by locking the global-warming gas within solid, cage-like structures called hydrates.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
A Good Night's Sleep Protects Against Parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/giNRwohbrr0/090108194405.htm
Animal species that sleep for longer do not suffer as much from parasite infestation and have a greater concentration of immune cells in their blood according to a study published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
More Chip Cores Can Mean Slower Supercomputing, Simulation Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jUSYSJ7mEbM/090114132730.htm
The worldwide attempt to increase the speed of supercomputers merely by increasing the number of processor cores on individual chips unexpectedly worsens performance for many complex applications, new simulations have found.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Smart Lighting: New LED Drops The 'Droop'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WI5dFXP37wQ/090113123718.htm
Researchers have developed and demonstrated a new type of light emitting diode (LED) with significantly improved lighting performance and energy efficiency. The new polarization-matched LED exhibits an 18 percent increase in light output and a 22 percent increase in wall-plug efficiency.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Most Young Violent Offenders In Two NYC Neighborhoods Have Seen Someone Killed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1da1RTXWekk/090113114001.htm
More than three-quarters of young, violent offenders interviewed in two poverty-stricken New York City neighborhoods had seen someone die in a violent incident, a new study reveals. About half of them (51 percent) had been shot themselves and 78 percent said they had a close friend who died in a violent attack.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Exoplanet Atmospheres Detected From Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tudZ3qAviTE/090114160540.htm
Two independent groups have simultaneously made the first-ever ground-based detection of extrasolar planets thermal emissions. Until now, virtually everything known about atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way has come from space-based observations. These two independent results are very interesting for astronomers and planetary scientists because they allow a direct probe of the temperature of these planetary atmospheres, and because they show that such measurements can be made from ground-based observatories, and not only when using space telescopes.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Surgical Safety Checklist Drops Deaths And Complications By More Than A Third
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lgfnxOKuitM/090114172304.htm
Hospitals in eight cities around the globe demonstrated that the use of a simple surgical checklist during major operations can lower the incidence of deaths and complications by more than one third. Inpatient deaths fell by more than 40 percent.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
New Technology For Detecting Gene Fusions Opens Field In Cancer Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X8_IpCgk3Yw/090111163025.htm
Using new technologies that make it easier to sequence the human genome, researchers have identified a series of genes that become fused when their chromosomes trade places with each other. These recurrent gene fusions are thought to be the driving mechanism that causes certain cancers to develop.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Why Prostate Cancer Patients Fail Hormone Deprivation Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xN5kKhJGo5I/081231005301.htm
The hormone deprivation therapy that prostate cancer patients often take gives them only a temporary fix, with tumors usually regaining their hold within a couple of years. Now, researchers have discovered critical differences in the hormone receptors on prostate cancer cells in patients who no longer respond to this therapy.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Questioning Safety Of Nanotechnology In Your Vitamins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cWj8RtO9BlU/090114114936.htm
The ability of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the safety of dietary supplements using nanomaterials is severely limited by lack of information, lack of resources and the agency's lack of statutory authority in certain critical areas, according to a new expert report by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Tips To Prevent Frostbite During These Sub-zero Temperatures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RuOby7-YWN0/090114211625.htm
Severe temperatures are hitting most of the country this week, but cold weather is no excuse to sit inside over the long winter months. If you do go outside for some fresh air and exercise, make sure to guard yourself from frostbite. When body tissues are frostbitten, skin cells become damaged--sometimes permanently. Therefore, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has some suggestions to help keep your skin safe from the cold.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Archeologist Uncovers Evidence Of Ancient Chemical Warfare
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BkeJ527nTkg/090114075921.htm
A researcher has identified what looks to be the oldest archeological evidence for chemical warfare -- from Roman times. Persians appear to have routed Romans with poison gas.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Glaucoma May Be Linked To Higher Rates Of Reading Impairment In Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wD259YF3Aek/090112201125.htm
Glaucoma appears to be associated with slower spoken reading and increased reading impairment in older adults, according to a new report.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Super Sensitive Gas Detector Goes Down The Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vhlyDCCrKQY/090113174548.htm
Researchers have devised a new method to cast arrays of metal oxide nanotubes to create novel gas sensors that are 100 to 1,000 times more sensitive than current devices based on thin films.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Inflammation Contributes to Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4uH9mC9aR2U/081230072246.htm
Researchers found that mice that lack the immune inhibitory molecule Smad3 are acutely sensitive to both bacterially-induced inflammation and cancer.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Heavy Pyridine Crystallizes Differently: Discovery May Aid Development of Pharmaceuticals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cpyh2TobR5Y/090108111427.htm
When the hydrogen atoms of pyridine are replaced with deuterium, it adopts a crystalline form that can only be achieved under high pressure with "normal" pyridine. Perhaps the minimal differences responsible for this type of effect can be implemented to improve the spectrum of properties available to pharmaceutical agents.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Education Professor Dispels Myths About Gifted Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MhRReUtRfeo/090113123714.htm
Though not often recognized as "special needs" students, gifted children require just as much attention and educational resources to thrive in school as do other students whose physical, behavioral, emotional or learning needs require special accommodations. So says a professor who has studied gifted students for years.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
'Stellar Cannibalism' Is Key To Formation Of Overweight Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jtYZuxM2pew/090114095103.htm
Astronomical researchers have discovered evidence that blue stragglers in globular clusters, whose existence has long puzzled astronomers, are the result of 'stellar cannibalism' in binary stars.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Hormone Therapy Linked To Brain Shrinkage, But Not Lesions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cd0oPg1sOLA/090112201027.htm
Two new studies show that commonly prescribed forms of post-menopausal hormone therapy may slightly accelerate the loss of brain tissue in women 65 and older beyond what normally occurs with aging.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
New Research Lights Up Chronic Bacterial Infection Inside Bone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KaZZN6EtHD4/081222143515.htm
A new study describes how live animal imaging allows researchers to visualize chronic bacterial infection in the bone marrow of mice.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Potential New Molecule To Prevent Inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BDc08WMP_ek/081230074827.htm
Scientists have identified a potential new molecule that inhibits inflammation, receptor for formylated peptides-2 (FPR-2).

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Harmful Substances Poorly Monitored In Baltic Sea Region
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vXckPQ6mFw4/090113100107.htm
In the Baltic Sea region, there are considerable deficiencies in the observation and monitoring of the biological effects of harmful substances in comparison to many other maritime regions. In particular, there is little use of so-called biomarkers, early warning signs at a molecular and cell level.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
How Mental Health Care Affects Outcomes For Foster Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qwnl6CPgToo/090113133142.htm
Of the approximately half-million children and adolescents in foster care in the US, experts estimate that 42 to 60 percent of them have emotional and behavioral problems. Despite the prevalence of mental health problems among foster children, little is known about how pre-existing mental health conditions affect their outcomes in foster care.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Presumed Consent For Organ Donation Urged By Experts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_h_BlBsW3Q0/090114200207.htm
Introducing presumed consent or opt-out system may increase organ donation rates, suggests a new systematic review.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Great Lakes Water Levels Sensitive To Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m8TKxz-mK8Y/090113101122.htm
The water level in the Great Lakes has varied by only about two meters during the last century, but new evidence indicates that the water level in the lake system is highly sensitive to climate changes.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
New Protein That Triggers Breast Cancer Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bVSoUkBKYis/090114110929.htm
Canadian researchers have identified a new protein in the progression of breast cancer. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the protein ARF1 plays a critical role in cancer cell growth and the spread of tumors. Targeting this protein with drug therapy may provide hope to women with breast cancer.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Insights Into Polymer Film Instability Could Aid High Tech Industries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pty6OBnExls/090113174614.htm
While exploring the properties of polymer formation scientists made a fundamental discovery about these materials that could improve methods of creating the stable crystalline films that are widely used in electronics applications -- and also offer insight into a range of other phenomena.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Low-cost Strategy Developed For Curbing Computer Worms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y1gOLNbwwYo/090113155900.htm
A new, cost-effective strategy to limit the spread of worms through computer networks has been developed. The two-pronged plan compiles suspicious incoming activity from the network's computers to create an early-warning system for worm attacks. As the threat level rises and falls, an algorithm determines whether to toggle computers online or offline depending on whether the benefit of staying online outweighs the cost of worm infection, and vice versa.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Physical Activity Improves Mood For People Serious Mental Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LM5N50yaLTA/090114110931.htm
Researchers combined experience sampling during random signaling throughout the day with physical activity measures recorded on study participants' accelerometers. They found that even low levels of physical activity improved mood for people with serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. A challenge, they say, is to find everyday activities to help this population, which typically has low levels of activity, become more active and engaged.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Genetic Variation Cues Social Anxiety In Monkeys And Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z3YalBFcyXo/090113201339.htm
A genetic variation involving the brain chemical serotonin has been found to shape the social behavior of rhesus macaque monkeys, which could provide researchers with a new model for studying autism, social anxiety and schizophrenia.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Breakthrough In Treating Premature Babies: Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3g6K91oQPiU/090114092844.htm
Researchers have made a breakthrough in treating premature babies at risk of developmental disorders. Researchers found that a major lipid in the brain - the omega-3 fatty acid known as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - is not developed sufficiently in babies born before 33 weeks' gestation, leading to possible impaired mental development.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Scientists Bring Painted Warrior 2,000 Years Old To Virtual Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V5PK1LvqwGU/090112093513.htm
A 2000-year-old painted statue is being restored to her original glory by scientists with a conservation project.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Guide To Protect People From Theft Of Personally Identifiable Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3z3wonbeHf4/090113174619.htm
A new draft guide on protecting personally identifiable information such as social-security and credit-card account numbers from unauthorized use and disclosure.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Little Or No Evidence That Herbal Remedies Relieve Menopausal Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GXv3Z94_2RE/090113201348.htm
There is no strong evidence either way for several herbal remedies commonly taken to relieve troublesome menopausal symptoms, concludes an article in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. And for some, there is hardly any evidence at all.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Stellar Zombie: XMM-Newton Measures Speedy Spin Of Rare Celestial Object
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3t5ewc92LRA/090113101120.htm
XMM-Newton has caught the fading glow of a tiny celestial object, revealing its rotation rate for the first time. The new information confirms this particular object as one of an extremely rare class of stellar zombie -- each one the dead heart of a star that refuses to die.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
New Tool To Improve Oral Hygiene Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vCNdNFWryAQ/090113074423.htm
Scientists have developed a new dental product to identify plaque build-up in the mouth before it is visible to the human eye.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Bacteria In Ice May Record Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/65zc-yimWnM/081231131813.htm
Scientists in China report that small bugs deposited in ice and snow might tell how our climate has been changing.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Researchers Identify Another Potential Biomarker For Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1PHIpb2KV_s/090113155850.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that a recently discovered class of molecule called microRNA (miRNAs), regulate the gene expression changes in airway cells that occur with smoking and lung cancer.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
'Green' Gasoline On The Horizon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ueUSBwzWuQQ/090113155902.htm
Researchers believe newer, more environmentally friendly fuels produced from biomass could create alternative energy solutions and alleviate dependence on foreign oil without requiring changes to current fuel infrastructure systems. According to an expert on biological and materials engineering, the development of "green" fuels is an important part of the world's energy future.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Web Site Design Affects How Children Process Information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i1K2xeFBJ7M/090114110927.htm
A new study in the journal Psychology & Marketing investigates the influence of Web site design on children's information processing. Results show that the type of interface used can significantly affect how children process and retain information; age strongly affected this relationship.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
High-tech Imaging Of Inner Ear Sheds Light On Hearing, Behavior Of Oldest Fossil Bird
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/53bfY7FR498/090113201350.htm
The earliest known bird, the magpie-sized Archaeopteryx, had a similar hearing range to the modern emu, which suggests that the 145 million-year-old creature -- despite its reptilian teeth and long tail -- was more birdlike than reptilian.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Popular Cold And Cough Treatment May Create Respiratory Distress In Young Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HHgYCNLGPxw/090113074140.htm
New research suggests that Vicks VapoRub, a popular menthol compound used to relieve symptoms of cough and congestion, may instead create respiratory distress in infants and small children. Vicks VapoRub may stimulate mucus production and airway inflammation, which can have severe effects on breathing in an infant or toddler.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
From Outer Space To The Eye Clinic: New Cataract Early Detection Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A-weF1vpsAw/090112121824.htm
A compact fiber-optic probe developed for the space program has now proven valuable for patients in the clinic as the first non-invasive early detection device for cataracts, the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.

Thu, 15 Jan 09
Mobile Phone Use Not Associated With Melanoma Of The Eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gx9Ox__y_m0/090113174418.htm
Mobile phone use is not associated with the risk of melanoma of the eye, researchers report.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Swings In North Atlantic Oscillation Variability Linked To Climate Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AI6ebjE4v6Q/090113101200.htm
Using a 218-year-long temperature record from a Bermuda brain coral, researchers have created the first marine-based reconstruction showing the long-term behavior of one of the most important drivers of climate fluctuations in the North Atlantic.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Possible New Alzheimer's Treatment? Destroying Amyloid Proteins With Lasers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YOq6oiYAg0M/090107155018.htm
Researchers have found that a technique used to visualize amyloid fibers in the laboratory might have the potential to destroy them in the clinic. The technique involves zapping the fluorescently-tagged fibers with a laser, which can inhibit their growth and degrade them.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Clothing To Crow About: Chicken Feather Suits And Dresses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qrhYm_hOboQ/090112094607.htm
In the future, you may snuggle up in warm, cozy sweats made of chicken feathers or jeans made of wheat, enjoying comfortable, durable new fabrics that are "green" and environmentally friendly. Researchers in Australia are reporting that new advances are paving the way for such exotic new materials — made from agricultural waste or byproducts — to hit store shelves as environmentally-friendly alternatives to the estimated 38 million tons of synthetic fabrics produced worldwide each year.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Safe New Therapy For Genetic Heart Disease, Clinical Trial Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/queubgwW8d0/081230072242.htm
A new clinical trial suggests that long-term use of candesartan, a drug currently used to treat hypertension, may significantly reduce the symptoms of genetic heart disease.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Auto Gear-Change Bicycle: Computer Controlled Bicycle Gear Changes Optimize Power, Comfort
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eToHjn_WEYA/090113101116.htm
Researchers in Taiwan are designing a computer for pedal cyclists that tells them when to change gear to optimize the power they develop while maintaining comfort.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Job Strain Associated With Stroke In Japanese Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/am4kJAHoiyc/090112201033.htm
Japanese men in high-stress jobs appear to have an increased risk of stroke compared with those in less demanding positions, according to a new report.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Can You See Me Now? Flexible Photodetectors Could Help Sharpen Photos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ax8bbLivG9M/090113155847.htm
Distorted cell-phone photos and big, clunky telephoto lenses could be things of the past.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Of Mice And Peanuts: A New Mouse Model For Peanut Allergy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/63fzogdwirQ/090112201218.htm
Researchers report the development of a new mouse model for food allergy that mimics symptoms generated during a human allergic reaction to peanuts. The animal model provides a new research tool that will be invaluable in furthering the understanding of the causes of peanut and other food allergies and in finding new ways to treat and prevent their occurrence.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Nearly A Century Later, New Findings Support Warburg Theory Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TGRaPvCo9cI/090112093334.htm
Pioneering German biochemist Otto H. Warburg's landmark theory about the origin of cancer has inspired debate and controversy for nearly 80 years. New research into mouse brain tumors has finally detailed the elusive biochemical basis for his theory.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Ovarian Cancer: Obese And Non-obese Patients Have Same Overall Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kDmwkJ3JcfM/081229104706.htm
A new study showed that when actual body weight was used in chemo dosing for epithelial ovarian cancer, the overall survival is 40 months for non-obese patients and 47 months for obese patients, not a significant difference. Similar outcomes are seen in obese and non-obese cancer survivors being monitored for recurrence of their ovarian cancer, the study authors said. Earlier studies found obesity as a negative indicator.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Texas State Dinosaur Facing Name Change: Case Of Mistaken Dino-identity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ELMPxOW-AWc/090113113953.htm
A Texas legislator is seeking a name change for the official state dinosaur, after master's level research at Southern Methodist University revealed the titleholder was misidentified. The Texas State Dinosaur, currently identified as Pleurocoelus, is actually Paluxysaurus jonesi - a new genus and species unique to Texas.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Elderly May Have Higher Blood Pressure In Cold Weather
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A5uMrkmBUhI/090112201031.htm
Outdoor temperature and blood pressure appear to be correlated in the elderly, with higher rates of hypertension in cooler months, according to a new report.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Simply Weird Stuff: Making Supersolids With Ultracold Gas Atoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1RoYPG6lSmY/090113174617.htm
Physicists have proposed a recipe for manipulating ultracold mixtures of atoms into a "supersolid," an exotic state of matter that behaves simultaneously as a solid and a friction-free superfluid.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Vitamin D Is The 'It' Nutrient Of The Moment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9oXWQuErCbs/090112121821.htm
Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes. A recent review article concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
A Win-win: U-pick Pumpkin Farms Recycle Urban Leaves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U-bUhxD-rtY/081229104654.htm
The growing popularity of rural fall festivals, grade school farm tours, and "u-pick" pumpkin farms has resulted in an increase in consumer demand for pumpkins throughout the country. A critical challenge for pumpkin farmers promoting entertainment agriculture, or "agritourism," is maintaining fields that are weed-free, attractive, and safe for consumers.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Reduction In Antibody Gene Rearrangement In B Cells Related To Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h2SyiPc42kc/081223121133.htm
Scientists have discovered that a B-cell editing process may go awry in people with certain types of autoimmune diseases.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
New Technology Needed To Monitor Rain Forest Destruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mFAYiQ4-EOo/090112201025.htm
Human impact on tropical forest ecosystems has reached a "tsunami" stage, say scientists, and will require a new generation of sophisticated remote-sensing technology to monitor the changes. Roughly 1.4% of the world's tropical humid forests was deforested between 2000 and 2005, and that as of 2005 more than half of the forests contained 50% or less tree cover.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Evolution Of New Brain Area Enables Complex Movements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bHw-aFU6kDk/090112201214.htm
A new area of the cerebral cortex has evolved to enable man and higher primates to pick up small objects and deftly use tools. The brain's primary motor cortex turns out to have neighboring "old" and "new" parts. In most animals, including cats, rats and some monkeys, the old primary motor cortex controls movement indirectly through the circuitry of the spinal cord.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
High Caffeine Intake Linked To Hallucination Proneness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mLVU-emTQXk/090113203901.htm
High caffeine consumption could be linked to a greater tendency to hallucinate, a new research study suggests.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Potential New Weapon In Battle Against HIV Infection Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SOHgaxnesZ8/090112110050.htm
Researchers have discovered a potentially important new resistance factor in the battle against HIV: blood types. An international team of researchers have discovered that certain blood types are more predisposed to contracting HIV, while others are more effective at fending it off.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
New Soybean Variety Sets Sights On Japanese Soyfoods Market
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LiqyoZwIDMk/081228194458.htm
A new small-seed soybean variety that was developed for the lucrative Japanese soyfoods market has been released by Agricultural Research Service scientists.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Mutations Common To Cancer And Developmental Disorder Examined In A Novel Disease Model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a-XAdcdonI4/081222074559.htm
A new zebrafish model of Costello syndrome is used to investigate this developmental illness and the control of a cancer-causing gene.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Might Migrating Birds Have Infected The Svalbard Arctic Fox With Parasites?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rS7I-eAgQ8w/081222113524.htm
The cat is the main host for Toxoplasma and spreads the infection in its droppings. Previous research has shown that isolated island groups without cats are in reality free of the parasite. New research suggests that migratory birds are a probable source of infection for the Arctic fox population on Svalbard (the Spitsbergen archipelago).

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Epidurals And Spinal Anesthetics Are Safer Than Previously Reported, Medical Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fbbils2iljY/090112130649.htm
The largest ever prospective study into the major complications of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics concludes that previous studies have over-estimated the risks of severe complications of these procedures. The study concludes that the estimated risk of permanent harm following a spinal anesthetic or epidural is lower than 1 in 20,000 and in many circumstances the estimated risk is considerably lower.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Biodiversity Passes The Taste Test And Is Healthier Too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c75MKe002f4/090113203903.htm
Cattle and sheep grazed on natural grasslands help maintain biodiversity and produce tastier, healthier meat, according to a new study. The research, which draws together the social and natural science, concluded that pasture-based farming is good for the environment, the consumer and the producer but needs stronger support from British policy makers if it is to realize its full potential.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Worse In Women?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2SvlZUw3w4c/090113203859.htm
Women appear to suffer more from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than men. The finding is revealed in research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Microswimmers Make Big Splash For Improved Drug Delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DcFVcKTSe2A/090112094740.htm
They may never pose a challenge to Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, but the "microswimmers" developed by researchers in Spain and the United Kingdom could break a long-standing barrier to improving delivery of medications for cancer and other diseases.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Healthy, Younger Adults Could Be At Risk For Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bEzcVXcCEII/090112201129.htm
Even younger adults who have few short-term risk factors for heart disease may have a higher risk of developing heart disease over their lifetimes, according to new findings.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Study Of Disease Risk Suggests Ways To Avoid Slaughter Of Yellowstone Bison
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3-O26sv2ZoY/090112201017.htm
Last winter, government agencies killed one third of Yellowstone National Park's bison herd due to concerns about the possible spread of a livestock disease to cattle that graze in areas around the park. However, such drastic measures may be unnecessary, according to researchers who have assessed the risk of disease transmission from Yellowstone bison to cattle.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Gene Therapy Eliminates Brain Tumors Through Selective Recruitment Of Immune Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0qidZRzJdW0/090112212447.htm
Scientists seeking to harness the power of the immune system to eradicate brain tumors face two major hurdles: recruiting key immune cells called dendritic cells into areas of the brain where they are not naturally found and helping them recognize tumor cells as targets for attack. Researchers have identified a sequence of molecular events that accomplish both objectives.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Continental-scale Salt Tectonics On Mars And The Origin Of Valles Marineris And Associated Outflow Channels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ie62U5vzNO0/090112130645.htm
A synthesis of deformation patterns within and around the Thaumasia Plateau, Mars, points to a new interpretation for regional deformation and the origin of Valles Marineris and associated outflow channels.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Race And Gender Determine How Politicians Speak
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6tPxY-wmK18/090113074427.htm
A new study looks at speech patterns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and others. Race and gender influence the way politicians speak, which is not always to their advantage. Scientists compared the language of male and female, and black and white politicians to determine whether ethnicity and gender play a role in the way they speak.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Voracious Sponges In Underwater Caves Save Reefs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V_mqFMGlBiw/090113100111.htm
Tropical oceans are known as the deserts of the sea. And yet this unlikely environment is the very place where the rich and fertile coral reef grows. Dutch researchers have investigated how caves in the coral reef ensure the reef's continued existence. Although sponges in these coral caves take up a lot of dissolved organic material, they scarcely grow. However, they do discard a lot of cells that in turn provide food for the organisms on the reef.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Getting Less Sleep Associated With Lower Resistance To Colds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-8przVndqyg/090112201127.htm
Individuals who get less than seven hours of sleep per night appear about three times as likely to develop respiratory illness following exposure to a cold virus as those who sleep eight hours or more, according to a new report.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Unconventional Superconductivity Discovered In New Iron Arsenide Compounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/esPEgdXUFm4/090112201222.htm
Scientists used inelastic neutron scattering to show that superconductivity in a new family of iron arsenide superconductors cannot be explained by conventional theories. Normally, electrons repel each other because of their similar charge, but, in superconductors, they coordinate with vibrations of the crystal lattice to overcome this repulsion.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Antibodies Produced Within Joints In Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/92oukDGYSno/090112212449.htm
Antibodies produced within the joints themselves may be responsible for joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
'Refinery Dust' Reveals Clues About Local Polluters, Research Team Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rzmqVaulQs0/090112201224.htm
Cloaked in the clouds of emissions and exhaust that hang over the city are clues that lead back to the polluting culprits, and a research team led by the University of Houston is hot on their trails.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Delusions Associated With Consistent Pattern Of Brain Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VYBY9R4yAis/090113113955.htm
A new study provides a novel theory for how delusions arise and why they persist. Researchers performed an in-depth analysis of patients with certain delusions and brain disorders revealing a consistent pattern of injury to the frontal lobe and right hemisphere of the human brain.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
'Smart Scaffolds' May Help Heal Broken Hearts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/67N7fp50BIQ/090112110056.htm
Canadian researchers have, for the first time, developed an organic substance that attracts and supports cells necessary for tissue repair and can be directly injected into problem areas. This development is a major step toward treatments that allow people to more fully recover from injury and disease and may even help reduce the need for organ transplantation.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Dirty Snow Causes Early Runoff In Cascades, Rockies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6T2tPoe0iAg/090112093336.htm
Soot from pollution causes winter snowpacks to warm, shrink and warm some more. This continuous cycle sends snowmelt streaming down mountains as much as a month early, a new study finds, which could exacerbate winter flooding and summer droughts. How pollution affects a mountain range's natural water reservoirs is important for water resource managers in the western United States and Canada who plan for hydroelectricity generation, fisheries and farming.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Most Heart Attack Patients' Cholesterol Levels Did Not Indicate Cardiac Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D1yI9gYaZJM/090112130653.htm
A new national study has shown that nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels that would indicate they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event, according to current national cholesterol guidelines.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Schistosomiasis Could Be Eradicated With Strategy Shift, Expert Aruges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hC3KaTxR4xc/090108171632.htm
A schistosomiasis expert concludes that global eradication of schistosomiasis is feasible if the current infection control strategy shifts to a proactive, comprehensive elimination strategy.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Mechanism For Dental Pain Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K3M0C5LDJ0U/090108141205.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel function of the peptide known as Nerve Growth Factor in the development of the trigeminal nerve.

Wed, 14 Jan 09
Giant Bird Feces Record Pre-human New Zealand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qfG6PEvlhec/090112110115.htm
A treasure trove of information about pre-human New Zealand has been found in feces from giant extinct birds, buried beneath the floor of caves and rock shelters for thousands of years.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Traditional Risk Assessment Tools Do Not Accurately Predict Coronary Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y44_miuJGdo/090106181731.htm
The Framingham and National Cholesterol Education Program tools do not accurately predict coronary heart disease, according to a new study.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Tiny Insect Develops Long-term Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ihSH5IsTbbM/090112201312.htm
If a specific butterfly anti-sex scent is coupled with a pleasant experience, then parasitic wasps are able to develop long-term memory and respond to this scent that they do not instinctively recognize. After successfully ‘hitch-hiking’ with a mated female cabbage white butterfly and parasitizing her eggs, the parasitic wasps are able to remember the route and navigate it again.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Toward A Long-sought Saliva Test For Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FfsrYbFLynw/090112095427.htm
Researchers are reporting discovery of abnormal proteins in the saliva of autism patients that could eventually provide a clue for the molecular basis of this severe developmental disorder and could be used as a biomarker for a subgroup of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Rats Say: Manhattan Rules!
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vXa_Yi2hryk/090112201212.htm
If you leave it up to the rats, New York City beats New Orleans any day. Researchers have invented a novel way to test urban designers’ city plans. Instead of using humans as guinea pigs, the scientists went to their nearby zoo and enlisted lab rats to determine the functionality of theoretical and existing plans.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Cell's Inactive State Is Critical For Effectiveness Of Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6S0ZJ9GKcMU/090109125632.htm
A new study sheds light on a little understood biological process called quiescence, which enables blood-forming stem cells to exist in a dormant or inactive state in which they are not growing or dividing. According to the study's findings, researchers identified the genetic pathway used to maintain a cell's quiescence, a state that allows bone marrow cells to escape the lethal effects of standard cancer treatments.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Structure Of Key Ebola Protein Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vOwjGDAFNxI/090112201208.htm
Scientists are a step closer to finding a way to counter the Ebola virus. They have recently solved the structure from a key part of the Ebola protein known as VP35.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Girls Twice As Likely As Boys To Remain Victims Of Bullying, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f3_EWO1a-b8/090112093509.htm
Girls targeted by bullies at primary school are two and a half times more likely to remain victims than boys, according to new research.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Hair Of Tasmanian Tiger Yields Genes Of Extinct Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HR-vAQ8-SD0/090112201131.htm
All the genes that the exotic Tasmanian Tiger inherited only from its mother will be revealed in a new article. The research marks the first successful sequencing of genes from this carnivorous marsupial, which looked like a large tiger-striped dog and became extinct in 1936. The research also opens the door to the widespread, nondestructive use of museum specimens to learn why mammals become extinct and how extinctions might be prevented.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Workers Exposed To Lead Show More Cognitive Problems Later In Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QEGNQHyKNU8/090112093332.htm
Both the developing brain and the aging brain can suffer from lead exposure. For older people, a buildup of lead from earlier exposure may be enough to result in greater cognitive problems after age 55, according to a follow-up study of adults exposed to lead at work.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Tiny Nanoparticle Capsules Deliver Medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F3r4Am_AC3Y/090112121815.htm
A tiny particle syringe composed of polymer layers and nanoparticles may provide drug delivery that targets diseased cells without harming the rest of the body, according to a team of chemical engineers. This delivery system could be robust and flexible enough to deliver a variety of substances.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Findings Turn Events In Early TB Infection On Their Head, May Lead To New Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VtDnMCnjh4w/090108121622.htm
Masses of immune cells that form as a hallmark of tuberculosis have long been thought to be the body's way of trying to protect itself by literally walling off the bacteria. But a new study in the journal Cell offers evidence that the TB bacteria actually sends signals that encourage the growth of those organized granuloma structures, and for good reason.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Organic Soils Continue To Acidify Despite Reduction In Acidic Deposition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-gQzSz_XHVs/090112130647.htm
Scientist's understanding of how soils have responded to decreases in acidic deposition at the regional scale is limited, but a recent study confirms that the acidification of soils in watersheds slows the recovery of aquatic ecosystems, an effect that is threatening the health of forests in the northeastern United States.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
New Clues To How We Locate Objects In Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D4ab6dkFx8A/090112121817.htm
In a new report in Current Directions in Psychological Science,researchers suggest that we can locate objects in space by accurately combining features from perception and visualization. The resulting spatial representation is called amodal, because it is independent of any particular sensory experience, like vision.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Wireless Microgrippers Grab Living Cells In 'Biopsy' Tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Dtyn-wIIWQ/090112201137.htm
Researchers have invented dust-particle-size devices that can be used to grab and remove living cells from hard-to-reach places without the need for electrical wires, tubes or batteries. Instead, the devices are actuated by thermal or biochemical signals.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Disabling Enzyme Allows Mice To Gorge Without Becoming Obese, New Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LEpheUUTYe8/090111163036.htm
Researchers have discovered that a key enzyme in fat tissue plays a major role in regulating fat metabolism. Mice that have had this enzyme disabled remained lean despite eating a high-fat diet and losing a hormone that suppresses appetite.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
New Power Line De-icing System Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ApfChqgqej4/090109131100.htm
Engineers have invented a way to cheaply and effectively keep ice off power lines. The new proprietary technology is called a variable resistance cable (VRC) de-icing system. With only minor cable modifications plus some off-the-shelf electronics, the system switches the electrical resistance of a standard power line from low to high. The high resistance automatically creates heat to melt ice build-up or keep it from forming in the first place.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Biologists Discover Link Between CGG Repeats In DNA And Neurological Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5UJlBqpB_dQ/090111163027.htm
CGG repeats not only stall the cell's replication process but also thwart the cell's capacity to repair and restart it. Researchers focused on this CGG repeat because it is associated with hereditary neurological disorders such as fragile X syndrome and FRAXE mental impairment.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Infrared Light Visualizes Nanoscale Strain Fields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rR5T7dlhIuA/090111165018.htm
Scientists report the non-invasive and nanoscale resolved infrared mapping of strain fields in semiconductors. The method, which is based on near-field microscopy, opens new avenues for analyzing mechanical properties of high-performance materials or for contact-free mapping of local conductivity in strain-engineered electronic devices

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Making The Most Of It: Study Reveals Motivating Factor For Enjoying The Present
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xek86rpj73k/090112110104.htm
It is common knowledge that when something becomes scarce, its value goes up. This concept does not just apply to material goods -- time can be an extremely valuable commodity, especially when it is in short supply. According to a new study, thinking that we have a limited amount of time remaining to participate in an activity makes us appreciate the activity that much more and motivates us to make the most of it.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Active Galaxies Are Different Near And Far, Swift Spacecraft Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l57sWGnhEFg/090112102350.htm
An ongoing X-ray survey undertaken by NASA's Swift spacecraft is revealing differences between nearby active galaxies and those located about halfway across the universe. Understanding these differences will help clarify the relationship between a galaxy and its central black hole.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Variants In Gene On X Chromosome Associated With Increased Susceptibility To Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HjOQ-iIc9dw/090111163032.htm
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered the first gender-linked susceptibility gene for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Mink Control Vital To Save Water Voles In Britain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XeMXbUWWPkA/090110084246.htm
Keeping water vole and mink populations apart is vital if efforts to reintroduce water voles, one of Britain's most endangered mammals, are to be successful.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Genetic Determinants Of ADHD Examined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gWhZCj1zdn0/090107134541.htm
A special issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics: Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics presents a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in genetic research of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Key To Future Medical Breakthroughs Is Systems Biology, Say Leading European Scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yVaxl96pOP4/090106083834.htm
Crucial breakthroughs in the treatment of many common diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's could be achieved by harnessing a powerful scientific approach called systems biology, according to leading scientists from across Europe. In a Science Policy Briefing released by the European Science Foundation, the scientists provide a detailed strategy for the application of systems biology to medical research over the coming years.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
While The Cat's Away: How Removing An Invasive Species Devastated A World Heritage Island
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7y5BhVeHw0U/090112093523.htm
Removing an invasive species from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, a World Heritage Site, has caused environmental devastation that will cost more than A$24 million to remedy, ecologists have revealed. Writing in the new issue of the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology, they warn that conservation agencies worldwide must learn important lessons from what happened on Macquarie Island.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
As Super-predators, Humans Reshape Their Prey At Super-natural Speeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iDZhv7aopss/090112201123.htm
Fishing and hunting are having broad, swift impacts on the body size and reproductive abilities of fish and other commercially harvested species, potentially jeopardizing the ability of entire populations to recover, according to the results of a new study.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Growth Of New Brain Cells Requires 'Epigenetic' Switch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4eog8k7kgpU/090108171642.htm
New cells are born every day in the brain's hippocampus, but what controls this birth has remained a mystery. Neuroscientists have now discovered that the birth of new cells, which depends on brain activity, also depends on a protein that is involved in changing epigenetic marks in the cell's genetic material.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Area Of El Bierzo Vineyards In Spain Calculated By Satellite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YyhlxkJaFTI/090112093511.htm
Spanish researchers used a computer program able to distinguish grapevines from other crops in satellite images. The tool has been successfully used in the El Bierzo area of León, and can be used to calculate the potential wine production of an area under cultivation.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Newborn Screening Test Could Increase Early Detection Of Heart Disease And Save Lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tNG9AOPk0jU/090108194412.htm
Routine screening of blood oxygen levels before discharge from hospital improves the detection of life threatening congenital heart disease in newborns and may save lives, according to a new study.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Implantable Defibrillators Lower Risk Of Death In Older Heart Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gRq1toOc2Zo/090106161512.htm
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators can improve survival in patients with heart damage -- even those in their 70s -- according to new research.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Growth In Research Comes At A Steep Price, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rsOM03FybN8/090112121813.htm
A study released this month confirms and quantifies what many medical school deans and financial administrators have long understood: Basic science research can be an expensive luxury. The study found that the school had to add 40 cents to every dollar of external grant support received by newly recruited scientists in order to achieve financial equilibrium.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Microscopic Morphology Adds To Scorpion Family Tree
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aw1lYkVZuPc/090112110100.htm
Scientists have examined the smallest features scorpion lungs. Tiny morphological features like the sculpting of the hair-like outgrowths on lamellae -- structures that fold like the leaves of a book and give the scorpion respiratory system its name, the book lung -- gives insight into the evolutionary relationships among scorpions.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Brain Disorder Suggests Common Mechanism May Underlie Many Neurodegenerative Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w1H_9gN8j4Q/090111163030.htm
Scientists have found a mechanism that may help explain Parkinson's and other neurological disorders.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Re-introduction Of Plant In Danger Of Extinction Successfully Monitored Over 10 Years For First Time Ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Grce4PFAbcc/081219180528.htm
An international team of researchers has carried out the first long-term study into the demographic dynamics of naturally-occurring and artificially-introduced plants of the same species. By using simultaneous monitoring, the scientists have identified biological and demographic features of the plants that could help to optimize conservation strategies.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Biomarkers Improve Ischemic Stroke Prediction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sLTCYYsbEAQ/081218213636.htm
Testing patient's blood for two proteins or biomarkers that occur when inflammation is present could help doctors identify which patients are more likely to have a stroke, according to a new article in the journal Stroke.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
For Fats, Longer May Not Be Better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M4GVK57LRx8/090108171634.htm
Researchers have uncovered why some dietary fats, specifically long-chain fats, such as oleic acid (found in olive oil), are more prone to induce inflammation. Long-chain fats, it turns out, promote increased intestinal absorption of pro-inflammatory bacterial molecules called lipopolysaccharides.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope Unveils A Dozen New Pulsars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HUnuxxPB5sU/090112101704.htm
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered 12 new gamma-ray-only pulsars and has detected gamma-ray pulses from 18 others. The finds are transforming our understanding of how these stellar cinders work.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
New Clues To Mystery Childhood Illness: Kawasaki Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zq4z3aK-SqM/090109035316.htm
A study looking at the entire human genome has identified new genes that appear to be involved in making some children more susceptible to Kawasaki disease, a serious illness that often leads to coronary artery disease, according to a new international study published in PLoS Genetics. This is the first genetic study of an infectious disease to look at the whole of the genome, rather than just selected genes.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
New Protein Function Discovered; Sheds Light On Intricate Mechanics Of Cell Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IqNeiMrNvxk/090109115042.htm
Researchers have found a new function for one of the proteins involved with chromosome segregation during cell division.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Simple Model Predicts Those At Risk For Chronic Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9PL2b-C-zHI/081222143517.htm
Traditionally, doctors have had no clear way to predict which of their patients might be headed down the road to chronic kidney disease. Now, researchers have created a simple eight-point risk factor checklist to do just that.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
How Do Cells Count? Scientists Take A Step Further In Unraveling Mystery Of How Cells Control Number Of Centrosomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/srh21Md4Po8/090112093517.htm
Researchers provide insight into an old mystery in cell biology, and offer up new clues to understanding cancer. Scientitists have unraveled the mystery of how cells count the number of centrosomes, the structure that regulates the cell’s skeleton, controls the multiplication of cells, and is often transformed in cancer.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Why We Procrastinate And How To Stop
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4kd5t-zCn3M/090112110106.htm
Psychologists wanted to see if there might be a link between how we think about a task and our tendency to postpone it. It turns out, the students who thought about the questions abstractly were much more likely to procrastinate. By contrast, those who were focused on the how, when and where of doing the task e-mailed their responses much sooner, suggesting that they started the assignment right away rather than procrastinating.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
'Reverse Evolution' In Real Time Provides Key Insights Into Basic Mechanisms Of Evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TddnwUwm_pA/090111163023.htm
Evolutionary biology tells us that replaying life's tape will not not look at all like the original. The outcome of evolution is contingent on everything that came before. Now, scientists have turned back the clock on the evolution in the fruit fly to provide key insights into the basic mechanisms of evolution.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Protein That Regulates Hormones Critical To Women's Health Found In Pituitary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TNcSlV9Hig8/090111163034.htm
Researchers have solved the mystery surrounding a "rogue protein" that plays a role in the release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Why The Swamp Sparrow Is Hitting The High Notes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4-lvh_XZYdg/090109125636.htm
Scientists have long thought that a bird's vocal performance is a static characteristic-set once a song is learned. Yet, biologists now explain that songbirds can modulate vocal performance, when it is important to do so.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Target That Could Ease Spinal Muscular Atrophy Symptoms Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gYv2FBLaWSI/090107122656.htm
There is no cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder that causes the weakening of muscles and is the leading genetic cause of infant death, but researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target that improves deteriorating skeletal muscle tissue caused by SMA. The new therapy enhanced muscle strength, improved gross motor skills and increased the lifespan in a SMA model.

Tue, 13 Jan 09
Next NASA Moon Mission Completes Major Milestone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xPy0OKSCXiA/090105090553.htm
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, which simulates the extreme hot, cold and airless conditions of space LRO will experience after launch. This milestone concludes the orbiter's environmental test program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Hazards Of Severe Space Weather Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E5eeTw5zdIQ/090111141246.htm
A new study describes how extreme solar eruptions could have severe consequences for communications, power grids and other technology on Earth. The report provides some of the first clear economic data that effectively quantifies today's risk of extreme conditions in space driven by magnetic activity on the sun and disturbances in the near-Earth environment. Instances of extreme space weather are rare and are categorized with other natural hazards that have a low frequency but high consequences.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Researchers First To 'See' Reactive Oxygen Species In Vital Enzyme
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5ubXEcTYXs8/090109175524.htm
Using two simultaneous light-based probing techniques, scientists have illuminated important details about a class of enzymes involved in everything from photosynthesis to the regulation of biological clocks.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Possible New Target For Treating Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WAdUr14g_ds/081230075154.htm
Scientists have uncovered that cyclophilin B may contribute to progression in breast cancer.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
You Can Look -- But Don't Touch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tq9oCKLb-90/090107134535.htm
Consumers are often told that if they break an item, they buy it. But a new study suggests that if they just touch an item for more than a few seconds, they may also end up buying it. Researchers tested how touching an item before buying affects how much they are willing to pay for an item.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
How Martian Winds Make Rocks Walk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r-cyRj_6sWg/090107122708.htm
At first, figuring out how pebble-sized rocks organize themselves in evenly-spaced patterns in sand seemed simple and even intuitive. But once one researcher started observing, he discovered that the most commonly held notions did not apply. And even more surprising, was that his findings revealed answers to NASA’s questions about sediment transport and surface processes on Mars.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
High Insulin Levels Raise Risk Of Breast Cancer In Postmenopausal Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/peM--zSTxpg/090109173207.htm
Higher-than-normal levels of insulin place postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer, researchers report.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Researchers Control The Assembly Of Nanobristles Into Helical Clusters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QJSJv2WIvKI/090108144751.htm
From the structure of DNA to nautical rope to distant spiral galaxies, helical forms are as abundant as they are useful in nature and manufacturing alike. Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have discovered a way to synthesize and control the formation of nanobristles, akin to tiny hairs, into helical clusters and have further demonstrated the fabrication of such highly ordered clusters, built from similar coiled building blocks, over multiple scales and areas. The finding has potential use in energy and information storage, photonics, adhesion, capture and release systems, and chemical mixing.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Protein Has Pivotal Role In Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W5XKEkdnb8U/090106144935.htm
COUP-TFII, a protein known to play a role in development and the formation of organs is also an important factor in the control of obesity and diabetes, said researchers in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Where Am I? How Our Brain Works As A GPS Device
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KeQxOjVqBQg/090109173203.htm
The results of a new study in Psychological Science reveal that the brain does not have a distinct preference for certain cues during reorientation. These findings indicate that the brain takes into account a number of factors, including the environment and our past experiences, while determining the best way to reorient us to our surroundings.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Dead Stars Tell Story Of Planet Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZNWL1DpriKM/090111140432.htm
Astronomers have turned to an unexpected place to study the evolution of planets -- dead stars. Observations made with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveal six dead "white dwarf" stars littered with the remains of shredded asteroids. This might sound pretty bleak, but it turns out the chewed-up asteroids are teaching astronomers about the building materials of planets around other stars.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Heart Valves Implanted Without Open-heart Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-faOe9PGC2o/090107155016.htm
An innovative approach for implanting a new aortic heart valve without open-heart surgery is being offered in a Phase 3 multicenter study. It is focused on the treatment of patients who are at high risk or not suitable for open-heart valve replacement surgery.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
New NASA Balloon Successfully Flight-Tested Over Antarctica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3hFeIBDMijw/090111140149.htm
NASA and the National Science Foundation have successfully launched and demonstrated a newly designed super pressure balloon prototype that may enable a new era of high-altitude scientific research. The super-pressure balloon ultimately will carry large scientific experiments to the brink of space for 100 days or more.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Hormone Therapy Associated With Reduced Colorectal Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rTTiAdfmtNg/090108082527.htm
The combination of estrogen plus progestin, which women stopped taking in droves following the news that it may increase their risk of breast cancer, may decrease their risk of colorectal cancer, according to a new report published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Digital Communication Technology Helps Clear Path To Personalized Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JG7DTVFJuHs/090109125634.htm
Researchers have shown that search algorithms used in digital communications can help scientists identify effective multi-drug combinations.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Spirituality Is Key To Kids' Happiness, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/niGiEDT6xAg/090108082904.htm
A new study suggests that spirituality, not religious practices, determine how happy children are.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Hind Wings Help Butterflies Make Swift Turns To Evade Predators, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5ih-3BTkJOk/090108101635.htm
New tires allow race cars to take tight turns at high speeds. Hind wings give moths and butterflies similar advantages: They are not necessary for basic flight but help these creatures take tight turns to evade predators.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Stem Cell Troops Called To Repair The Body Using New Drug Combinations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aiT3F3NMA0I/090108101623.htm
Scientists have tricked bone marrow into releasing extra adult stem cells into the bloodstream, a technique that they hope could one day be used to repair heart damage or mend a broken bone, in a new study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Repeat C-section Before 39 Weeks Raises Risk Of Neonatal Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gcRh_KEke4A/090107172544.htm
Women choosing repeat cesarean deliveries and having them at term but before completing 39 weeks gestation are up to two times more likely to have a baby with serious complications including respiratory distress resulting in mechanical ventilation and NICU admission.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Studies Offer Guide As Protein Interaction Mapping Comes Of Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fimi_JVwMOQ/090106154412.htm
During the past 20 years, researchers have identified thousands of cell protein interactions with the goal of developing a comprehensive catalogue known as the interactome. Unfortunately, the data collected by different research teams have been somewhat inconsistent. Dana-Farber investigators have examined the accuracy of current interactome maps and how they were compiled for the purpose of improving future research and demonstrating the power of such research when backed by well-proven experimental techniques.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Chances Of Surviving Cardiac Arrest Depend On Where Patients Are Treated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i-jSgJI2igo/090109115045.htm
Patients in large, urban, and teaching hospitals are more likely to survive compared to those in small, often rural, non-academic hospitals, according to a new study published in the journal Intensive Care Medicine. A second study, published in Resuscitation, suggests that patients who are cared for in the highest volume intensive care units after cardiac arrest are also most apt to survive.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Decline Of Plankton That Gobble Carbon Dioxide Coincided With Ancient Global Cooling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BY_ulwl1ImI/090108111419.htm
The evolutionary history of diatoms -- abundant oceanic plankton that remove billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year -- needs to be rewritten, according to a new study. The findings suggest that after a sudden rise in species numbers, diatoms abruptly declined about 33 million years ago -- trends that coincided with severe global cooling.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Molecule Linked To Muscle Maturation, Muscle Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WjCyUzzHoXY/081231005401.htm
Cancer researchers have discovered that a molecule implicated in leukemia is also important in muscle repair and rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer caused proliferating immature muscle cells. The study shows that immature muscle cells require the molecule miR-29 to mature, and that the molecule is nearly missing in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The findings should give a better understanding of muscle repair and development, and of rhabdomyosarcoma, and could lead to new treatments for muscle diseases.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
What Is The Connection Between Sleep Apnea, Stroke And Death?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z4zXhrkz8VY/090106100009.htm
Obstructive sleep apnea decreases blood flow to the brain, elevates blood pressure within the brain and eventually harms the brain's ability to modulate these changes and prevent damage to itself. The findings may help explain why people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer strokes and to die in their sleep.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Using Math To Understand Hep. C: Patterns Paint Picture Of Who Will Respond To Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/68i9NBcKWUo/081222221529.htm
New research findings show doctors how to predict whether or not a patient with hepatitis C will respond to traditional therapy.

Mon, 12 Jan 09
Behavioral Difficulties At School May Lead To Lifelong Health And Social Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VuhBqci-xBw/090108194410.htm
Adolescents who misbehave at school are more likely to have difficulties throughout their adult lives, finds a 40-year study of British citizens. These difficulties cover all areas of life, from mental health to domestic and personal relationships to economic deprivation.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
How Cheating Ants Give Themselves Away
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QkKz4Hj1acU/090108121616.htm
In ant society, workers normally give up reproducing themselves to care for their queen's offspring, who are their brothers and sisters. When workers try to cheat and have their own kids in the queen's presence, their peers swiftly attack and physically restrain them from reproducing.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Converting Adult Somatic Cells To Pluripotent Stem Cells Using A Single Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tfL_08ttW0E/090107134633.htm
Scientists have found a more efficient way to create induced pluripotent stem cells using a single virus vector instead of multiple viruses in the reprogramming process. The ability to combine four vectors into single "stem cell cassette" containing all four genes using a combination of 2A peptides and IRES dramatically improves iPS cell production efficiency -- 10 times higher than previously reported studies.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Women's Brains Recognize, Encode Smell Of Male Sexual Sweat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1cmJOgKvHCg/090108101625.htm
Socioemotional meanings, including sexual ones, are conveyed in human sweat. Nineteen healthy female subjects inhaled olfactory stimuli from four sources, one of which was sweat gathered from sexually aroused males.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Looking Through Galileo’s Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y9o7KrNrWtc/090108082902.htm
In 1609, exactly four centuries ago, Galileo revolutionized humankind's understanding of our position in the Universe when he used a telescope for the first time to study the heavens, which saw him sketching radical new views of the moon and discovering the satellites orbiting Jupiter.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Mortality Rates Higher For Heart Disease Patients In Poorer Neighborhoods, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xq9Q2Zq5LSA/090108141159.htm
Heart disease patients living in poorer areas of B.C. are up to twice as likely to die from chronic diseases than patients living in better-off areas, a University of British Columbia study has found.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Sea Level Rise Of One Meter Within 100 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8x1wH6XGY0o/090108101629.htm
New research indicates that the ocean could rise in the next 100 years to a meter higher than the current sea level -- which is three times higher than predictions from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Synthetic HDL: New Weapon To Fight Cholesterol Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vgDUNwTaGd4/090109134130.htm
Scientists now offer a promising new weapon that could help fight high cholesterol levels and the deadly heart disease that often results: synthetic high-density lipoprotein, or HDL -- the "good" cholesterol. The researchers successfully designed synthetic HDL and show that their nanoparticle version is capable of irreversibly binding cholesterol. The synthetic HDL, based on gold nanoparticles, is similar in size to HDL and mimics HDL's general surface composition.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
In Fight Against Pathogens, Calcium Helps Plants Make Their Own Aspirin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oydS3o6F1_I/090106145544.htm
Calcium builds strong bones, good teeth--and healthy plants, according to a new study.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
On A High-fat Diet, Protective Gene Variant Becomes Bad Actor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H49X1weKh9Y/090106144933.htm
New evidence in mice bolsters the notion that a version of a gene earlier shown to protect lean people against weight gain and insulin resistance can have the opposite effect in those who eat a high-fat diet and are heavier, reveals a new report in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Andes' Formation Was A 'Species Pump' For South America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fBc_h_KZzZk/090109083451.htm
South America is the world’s most species-rich area. There have been many theories as to why, ranging from animals and plants accompanying the continent when it broke loose from Africa to variations in the extent of the rainforests over millions of years creating new species. New research supports the theory that the formation of the Andes was a species pump which spread animals and plants across the continent.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Online Racial Discrimination Linked To Depression, Anxiety In Teens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KEe_kC1D81c/090108121629.htm
Educational psychologists says adolescents are increasingly experiencing both individual and vicarious discrimination online, which in turn triggers stress, depression and anxiety.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
California's Autism Increase Not Due To Better Counting, Diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jKZAVyEc_5M/090108095429.htm
Scientists have found that the seven- to eight-fold increase in the number children born in California with autism since 1990 cannot be explained by either changes in how the condition is diagnosed or counted -- and the trend shows no sign of abating.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Antipsychotic Drugs Double Risk Of Death Among Alzheimer's Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j28owWAE83U/090108194416.htm
New research into the effects of antipsychotic drugs commonly prescribed to Alzheimer’s patients concludes that the medication nearly doubles risk of death over three years.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Genetic Mutation Causes Familial Susceptibility For Degenerative Brain Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dBGB50-sffE/090106144939.htm
Mutation of a gene that helps proteins migrate in and out of the cell's genetic command center -- the nucleus -- puts some families at higher risk for the degenerative brain disease acute necrotizing encephalopathy.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Displacing Petroleum-derived Butanol With Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ENfwOCUyn3M/090108171638.htm
As a chemical for industrial processes, butanol is used in everything from brake fluid, to paint thinners, to plastics. According to researchers, butanol made from plant material could displace butanol made from petroleum, just not at the fuel pump.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Recognizing Children's Successes In All Areas May Prevent Teenage Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q3gS6xZpHxg/090108111425.htm
Students' successes in the first grade can affect more than their future report cards. In a new study researchers found links among students' weak academic performance in the first grade, self-perceptions in the sixth grade, and depression symptoms in the seventh grade.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
How Bed Bugs Outsmart Poisons Designed To Control Them
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9frZcuJ0K0o/090110090254.htm
Bed bugs, once nearly eradicated in the built environment, have made a big comeback recently, especially in urban centers such as New York City. In the first study to explain the failure to control certain bed bug populations, toxicologists show that some of these nocturnal blood suckers have developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides, in particular deltamethrin, that attack their nervous systems.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Menthol Cigarettes Are More Addictive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F9bIV1_odwM/090110085918.htm
Menthol cigarettes are harder to quit, particularly among African American and Latino smokers, according to new research.

Sun, 11 Jan 09
Large Earthquakes Trigger A Surge In Volcanic Eruptions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ts7l72WJq_Y/090110084653.htm
New evidence shows that very large earthquakes can trigger an increase in activity at nearby volcanoes. An analysis of records in southern Chile has shown that up to four times as many volcanic eruptions occur during the year following very large earthquakes than in other years. This 'volcanic surge' can affect volcanoes up to at least 500 km away from an earthquake's epicentre.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
People Are More Suggestible Under Laughing Gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sjxz1dn6hOw/090109083453.htm
The pain-relieving effects of nitrous oxide -- laughing gas -- may be enhanced by suggestion or hypnosis, according to a new study. The study's findings -- that people are more suggestible under the gas -- mean that dental patients may benefit from being coached to relax while undergoing sedation.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Protein That Protects Against Alzheimer's?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BLViwpPSyDU/090106144941.htm
Research on the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, stroke, dementia, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis, to name a few, has taken a step forward thanks to the work of researchers who have successfully demonstrated the protective and reparative role of apolipoprotein D, or ApoD, in neurodegenerative diseases. Their discovery suggests interesting avenues for preventing and slowing the progression of this type of illness.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
New Computer Program Enables Powerful Data Analysis On Small Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4SevnfZUDk8/090108082531.htm
A powerful new tool that can extract features and patterns from enormously large and complex data sets has been developed. The tool -- a set of problem-solving calculations known as an algorithm -- is compact enough to run on computers with as little as two gigabytes of memory.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Obesity: Reviving The Promise Of Leptin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_JLUHxGWjIs/090106144937.htm
The 1995 discovery of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, generated great hopes for an effective obesity drug. But hopes dimmed when it was found that obese people are leptin-resistant. Now, researchers have, for the first time, re-sensitized the brain to leptin, using oral drugs that are already FDA-approved. In mice, this led to significant weight loss when combined with leptin treatment.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Smaller, Brighter Probe Tailored For Molecular Imaging And Tumor Targeting Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E_mm7e1qqhs/081222221545.htm
Researchers have developed a new generation of microscopic particles for molecular imaging, constituting one of the first promising nanoparticle platforms that may be readily adapted for tumor targeting and treatment in the clinic.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Ecstasy For Treatment Of Traumatic Anxiety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TpfY5NrpaVo/090108121656.htm
Treatment with a pharmacological version of the drug ecstasy makes PSTD patients more receptive to psychotherapy, and contributes to lasting improvement. Now researchers explain why.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Scientists Refute Argument Of Climate Skeptics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nLH7a-zO5Gw/090109115047.htm
Scientists have investigated the frequency of warmer than average years between 1880 and 2006 for the first time. The result: the observed increase of warm years after 1990 is not a statistical accident.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
New Molecule In Blood-pressure Control System Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EmOSckc06q8/090108141207.htm
Researchers have discovered that the nerve cells controlling heart rate and blood pressure synthesize a molecule known to be critically important for proper nervous system growth. The finding could someday play a significant role in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and high blood pressure.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Olive Skins Provide Natural Defense Against Colon Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/02gQhU_gTu8/090108101621.htm
Scientists have found that the compound, present in olive skin's leaf and wax, inhibits the growth of HT29 colon-cancer cells. It may provide a useful new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colon carcinoma. Low concentrations of maslinic acid are to be found in plants with medicinal properties, but its concentration in the waxy skin of olives may be as high as 80 percent.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
'Stroke Belt' Deaths Tied To Non-traditional Risk Factors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KOW8SWTGXNE/090108171640.htm
A new report underscores the notion that stroke risks go beyond geographic and racial differences. Researchers report that non-traditional risk factors must explain the South's higher stroke death rate. What those factors are need further study, but clearly diabetes and hypertension play an important role, the study authors said.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Renaissance Capitalist: New Research Answers Mystery About Illegitimate Daughter Of Pope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/raCgm31GYrA/090107134631.htm
In popular legend, Lucrezia Borgia stands falsely accused of poisoning her second husband. Victor Hugo portrayed her in thinly veiled fiction as a tragic femme fatale. Buffalo Bill named his gun after her. But groundbreaking new research reveals that the infamous duchess was less interested in political intrigue than in running a business.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
How Did Life Begin? RNA That Replicates Itself Indefinitely Developed For First Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9u3TQKwAxgU/090109173205.htm
One of the most enduring questions is how life could have begun on Earth. Molecules that can make copies of themselves are thought to be crucial to understanding this process as they provide the basis for heritability, a critical characteristic of living systems. New findings could inform biochemical questions about how life began.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Gene That Increases Susceptibility To Crohn's Disease Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LH7J5FU3t8c/090108144755.htm
Researchers have discovered DNA variations in a gene that increases susceptibility to developing Crohn's disease. A 'Broken' bacterial sensor doesn’t detect harmful bacteria in the digestive system.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Protein's Essential Role In Repairing Damaged Cells Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Us8bo74cLow/090106102907.htm
Researchers have discovered that a key protein in cells plays a critical role in not one, but two processes affecting the development of cancer.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
More Effective Treatment For Pneumonia Following Influenza Found, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j3sEELvW0IU/090108171636.htm
Scientists have demonstrated a more effective treatment for bacterial pneumonia following influenza. They found that the antibiotics clindamycin and azithromycin, which kill bacteria by inhibiting their protein synthesis, are more effective than a standard first-line treatment with the "beta-lactam" antibiotic ampicillin, which causes the bacteria to lyse, or burst.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Droughts And Floods: Extent Of Damage To Vegetation Depends On Sequence Of Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fc67vRJg5wQ/090108095425.htm
When extremes of drought and flood come in rapid succession, the extent of damage to vegetation may depend in part on the sequence of those events, according to a new study.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Preterm Births Rise 36 Percent Since Early 1980s
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z0dWLBz1LZ4/090107155014.htm
Nearly 543,000 babies were born too soon in 2006, according to new government statistics. The nation's preterm birth rate (birth before 37 completed weeks gestation) rose to 12.8 percent in 2006 -- that's a 36 percent increase since the early 1980s.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Mosquitoes Create Harmonic Love Song Before Mating, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U2DXbD6drDI/090108171644.htm
That pesky buzz of a nearby mosquito is the sound of love, scientists have known for some time. But a new study reports that males and females flap their wings and change their tune to create a harmonic duet just before mating.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Hormone Improves Human Ability To Recognize Faces But Not Places
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-2NovN0JEgM/090106170744.htm
Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new research in the Journal of Neuroscience. Study participants who had one dose of an oxytocin nasal spray showed improved recognition memory for faces, but not for inanimate objects.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
The Ribosome: Perfectionist Protein-maker Trashes Errors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gYMvjbEPx1Y/090107134529.htm
The enzyme machine that translates a cell's DNA code into the proteins of life is nothing if not an editorial perfectionist.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment For Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients Provides Benefits, Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9uZWuiZv1Qs/090106161510.htm
Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who received deep brain stimulation treatment had more improvement in movement skills and quality of life after six months than patients who received other medical therapy, but also had a higher risk of a serious adverse events, according to a new study.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Understanding Extinct Microbes May Influence The State Of Modern Human Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CWLLv-rVxa4/090105175354.htm
The study of ancient microbes may not seem consequential, but such pioneering research has implications for the state of modern human health. New results raise questions about the microbes living on and within people.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Surprisingly High Tolerance For Racism Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7gzxzdllGxY/090108144747.htm
One reason racism persists is that many people imagine they would respond strongly to a racist act but actually respond with indifference, a new study shows. The study, being published just days before the inauguration of America's first black president, found that people overestimate how strongly they would react to racist comments.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Milky Way A Swifter Spinner, More Massive, New Measurements Show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H8rOohlZSQ8/090105131208.htm
Our home galaxy is rotating about 100,000 miles per hour faster than previously thought, meaning its mass is 50 percent greater. This makes it even with the Andromeda Galaxy, and no longer the "little sister" in our local group of galaxies.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Young Blood Fights Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZbgjpAui7XA/081231005351.htm
'New blood' can revitalize a company or a sports team. New research now finds that young blood does a body good as well, especially when it comes to fighting cancer.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Nose-spray Vaccine Against Botulism Effective In First Tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JgAsR-xLNfw/090108101633.htm
A pre-clinical study found a new nasal spray vaccine to provide complete protection against a major botulism toxin, according to a new study.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Angina: New Drug Gets Right To The Heart Of The Problem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QNI8SAgQCEk/090106230724.htm
A compound designed to prevent chest pains in heart patients has shown promising results in animal studies, say scientists. Researchers have shown that the novel compound F15845 has anti-angina activity and can protect heart cells from damage without the unwanted side effects often experienced with other drugs.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Particulate Emission From Natural Gas Burning Home Appliances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4xl2TxFt6Qk/090108121627.htm
Natural gas, believed to be among the cleanest forms of fuel, does emit ultrafine airborne particulate matter when burned in home appliances such as stove tops and water heaters.

Sat, 10 Jan 09
Metabolic Syndrome A Risk For Veterans With PTSD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HZZ0ceUDrpg/090107203124.htm
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to have metabolic syndrome than veterans without PTSD, according to a new study.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Astrophysicists Map Milky Way's Four Spiral Arms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hwcnvHxIMTI/090105090844.htm
A research team has developed the first complete map of the Milky Way galaxy's spiral arms. The map shows two prominent, symmetric spiral arms in the inner part of the galaxy. The arms extend into the outer galaxy where they branch into four spiral arms.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Structure Of Key Breast Cancer Target Enzyme Unraveled
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DXwadBJp1mk/090107134520.htm
Most people know that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women affecting about 1 in 8 women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. Seventy-five to 80 percent of all breast cancer tumors are estrogen-fed. A key estrogen-related breakthrough has been discovered by a scientist in Buffalo, NY which can be the basis for developing customized novel breast cancer drugs that cause minimal side effects.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Big, Old Mice Spread Deadly Hantavirus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wxj-v_jceFA/090106230720.htm
Researchers dusted wild deer mice with fluorescent pink, blue, green, yellow and orange talcum powders to show which rodents most often fought or mated with others and thus were most likely to spread deadly hantavirus. The study identified bigger, older mice as the culprits.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Physical Activity May Not Be Key To Obesity Epidemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vQD1PzmmxQo/090106091143.htm
A recent international study fails to support the common belief that the number of calories burned in physical activity is a key factor in rising rates of obesity.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Half Of World's Population Could Face Climate-induced Food Crisis By 2100
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cyEgIUorAqQ/090108144745.htm
New research shows that rapidly warming climate is likely to seriously alter crop yields in the tropics and subtropics by the end of this century and, without adaptation, will leave half the world's population facing serious food shortages.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Smoking During Pregnancy Fosters Aggression In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5_QnS0ptUuU/090106100011.htm
Women who smoke during pregnancy risk delivering aggressive kids according to a new Canada-Netherlands study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology. While previous studies have shown that smoking during gestation causes low birth weight, this research shows mothers who light up during pregnancy can predispose their offspring to an additional risk: violent behavior.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Mothers Pass On Disease Clues To Offspring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cfgw4gcZODc/090105120312.htm
When there is a threat of disease during pregnancy, mothers produce less aggressive sons with more efficient immune systems, researchers have discovered. The new study provides the first evidence for a transgenerational effect on immune response based on environmental cues -- with maternal perception of disease risk in the immediate environment potentially determining offspring disease resistance and social dominance.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Structure Mediating Spread Of Antibiotic Resistance Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3WhKzroxt1s/090108144753.htm
Scientists have identified the structure of a key component of the bacteria behind such diseases as whooping cough, peptic stomach ulcers and Legionnaires' disease. The research sheds light on how antibiotic resistance genes spread from one bacterium to another. The research may help scientists develop novel treatments for these diseases and novel ways to curtail the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Brown Dwarfs Don't Hang Out With Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/imTbI1_G8V8/090106140143.htm
Brown dwarfs, objects that are less massive than stars but larger than planets, just got more elusive, based on a study of 233 nearby multiple-star systems by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble found only two brown dwarfs as companions to normal stars. This means the so-called "brown dwarf desert" (the absence of brown dwarfs around solar-type stars) extends to the smallest stars in the universe.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Nicotine Gum Effective For Gradual Smoking Reduction And Cessation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U6sJztcnXPo/090106083830.htm
Nicotine gum has been in use for over 20 years to help smokers quit abruptly yet close to two-thirds of smokers report that they would prefer to quit gradually. Researchers have now found that smokers who are trying to quit gradually can also be helped by nicotine gum.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Floods To Become Commonplace By 2080
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qFQlMD99Viw/090108101627.htm
Storms across the UK are set to increase in intensity by up to 30 percent in the next 75 years, new research shows. Scientists predict that severe storms – the likes of which currently occur every five to 25 years across the UK – will become more common and more severe in a matter of decades.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Macbeth's Curse: Link Between Sleeplessness And Paranoia Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/86bb1WEY7Qg/090108150857.htm
A link between sleeplessness and paranoid thinking, a theme highlighted in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' has been identified. Researchers show that a potential consequence of insomnia is increased suspiciousness.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Extreme Weather Boosts Antioxidant Levels In Soybean Seeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WGv7clN9dgM/081228195157.htm
Scientists have found that weather and climate play key roles in levels of a family of antioxidants tucked inside soybean seeds.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
New Insight Into Effectiveness Of Procedure To Stop Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FVkZCV20lmM/090105175358.htm
Experts estimate that 20 percent of women experience excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding at some time during their lives, particularly as they approach menopause. A new, less invasive procedure called global endometrial ablation preserves the uterus, while decreasing menstrual bleeding and shortening patients' recovery time.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Solution To Darwin's Dilemma Of 1859
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lPaQ8WdLCp4/090108082914.htm
A solution to the puzzle which has come to be known as ‘Darwin’s Dilemma’ has been uncovered. Darwin puzzled, ‘To the question of why we do not find rich fossiliferous deposits belonging to these…periods prior to the Cambrian system, I can give no satisfactory answer’.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Seven Personality Types Who Are Most Likely To Help Sick-listed Employees Back To Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LkX1Xx9Dygw/090105091538.htm
Scientists have studied which leadership qualities could help employees return from sick leave early. Being considerate, understanding and able to maintain contact with the sick-listed are the most important leadership qualities, according to the study.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Volcanoes Cool The Tropics, But Global Warming May Have Helped Override Some Recent Eruptions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KoRh674jxYU/090105175356.htm
Climate researchers have shown that big volcanic eruptions over the past 450 years have temporarily cooled weather in the tropics but suggest that such effects may have been masked in the 20th century by rising global temperatures.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
'Relocation' Plan Of Metastatic Cancer Cells Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p4dkTeQooO4/090105131210.htm
Few things are as tiresome as house hunting and moving. Unfortunately, metastatic cancer cells have the relocation process down pat. Tripping nimbly from one abode to another, these migrating cancer cells often prove far more deadly than the original tumor. Although little has been known about how these rogue cells choose where to put down roots, researchers have now learned just how nefarious they are.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Deaths From Lung Cancer Could Be Reduced By Better Policies To Control Indoor Radon, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LCyAtN3Qhe0/090106230722.htm
About 1,100 people each year die in the UK from lung cancer related to indoor radon, but current government protection policies focus mainly on the small number of homes with high radon levels and neglect the 95 percent of radon-related deaths caused by lower levels of radon, according to a study.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Packing A Lunch For Preschoolers May Not Be A Good Idea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sax7uCI9GFE/090106144947.htm
Approximately 13 million children in the United States eat three or more meals and snacks each day at one of the country’s 117,000 regulated child-care centers. Due to increasing cost of food preparation and storage, more and more of these centers are requiring parents to provide food for their children.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Computer Game 'Tetris' May Help Reduce Flashbacks To Traumatic Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K8X1obVyHYc/090108151700.htm
Playing 'Tetris' after traumatic events could reduce the flashbacks experienced in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), preliminary research by Oxford University psychologists suggests.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Nerve Cells In The Brain And Spinal Cord Sense Pain Caused By Physical Insult
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h-Af7OusQEg/090105175019.htm
Researchers have shown that the protein COX2 in mouse nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS) is crucial for hypersensitivity to pain caused by the physical insult associated with inflammation, but not pain caused by the heat associated with inflammation. As pain caused by physical insult is a major symptom of postoperative and arthritic inflammation, it seems that COX2 in nerve cells in the CNS is central to the pain that accompanies these conditions.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Inflammatory Factors And Diabetic Macular Edema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vK-jNp3gSd8/090105090833.htm
With a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicting that diabetic retinopathy will triple from 5.5 million in 2005 to 16 million in 2050, improved treatments are urgently needed for this leading cause of blindness in working-age people. The CDC study is the latest indicator of a world-wide diabetes epidemic that is motivating ophthalmic research around the globe.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Models Simulate Nitrate Dynamics In A Watershed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SjISccN0UnY/090105101505.htm
A new study details the first European application of two models that simulate the daily flow and dynamics of nitrogen in a watershed, which will help researchers prevent the over-enrichment of fresh, transitional, and marine waters with nitrogen, as well as understand the impacts of environmental change.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Caution Urged When Giving Kids Cold And Flu Medications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_chI4_047mw/090106140624.htm
It's cold and flu season, which means misery for kids and the parents trying to help them. But doctors are asking parents to resist the urge to give children under the age of 6 over-the-counter cough and cold medication.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
U.S. Congressional Health-care Reform Proposals Would Offer Coverage To Many Without Insurance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wy5-Mx044jM/090109035312.htm
With health reform high on the agenda of the incoming Congress and president, a new analysis of legislative proposals -- including the plans of President-elect Barack Obama and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) -- shows that several proposals already put forth could substantially reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and would either reduce health-care spending or add only modestly to annual health-care expenditures.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Eating Habits And Exercise Behaviors In Children Can Deteriorate Early
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7A5Ou6_s1Xc/090109035310.htm
School-age children may develop eating habits and leisure-time patterns that may not meet current recommendations and contribute to childhood obesity. In a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, researchers report that parents perceived that their pre-school children had relatively good eating habits and physical activity levels, but that parents of school-aged children (6 to 12 years) felt their children had less healthful diets and leisure-time activities.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Half-baked Asteroids Have Earth-like Crust
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qf8bAy41C5Y/090107134526.htm
Asteroids are hunks of rock that orbit in the outer reaches of space, and scientists have generally assumed that their small size limited the types of rock that could form in their crusts. But two newly discovered meteorites may rewrite the book on how some asteroids form and evolve.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Low-carb Diets Prove Better At Controlling Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BKTgyfAtumg/090105175326.htm
In a six-month comparison of low-carb diets, one that encourages eating carbohydrates with the lowest-possible rating on the glycemic index leads to greater improvement in blood sugar control, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Star Light, Star Bright, Its Explanation Is Out Of Sight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5_P79mEukCQ/090107175009.htm
A mysterious flash of light from somewhere near or far in the universe is still keeping astronomers in the dark long after it was first detected by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in 2006. It might represent an entirely new class of stellar phenomena that has previously gone undetected in the universe, say researchers.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
'On Switch' For Cell Death Signaling Mechanism Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LqZpyBCpDMw/090105175320.htm
Scientists have determined the structure of the interactions between proteins that form the heart of the death inducing signaling complex, which is responsible for triggering apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Tilting At Wind Farms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9YodSb8619A/090107092724.htm
A way to make wind power smoother and more efficient that exploits the inertia of a wind turbine rotor could help solve the problem of wind speed variation, according to new research.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Test Will Catch Sports Cheats On New Endurance Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HB0uGQ57tjo/090107203122.htm
Avoiding detection just got harder for drug cheats who try to use a particular range of untested, but potentially enhancing, compounds. In the past, tests have been developed once a drug is known to be in circulation. Now a German research team has developed tests for a class of drugs that they believe could be used in the near future.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Ancient Odor-detecting Mechanism In Insects Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jc3C3_E6NX8/090108121625.htm
A newly discovered family of receptors in the fly nose fills in a missing piece of the insect olfactory system -- and also suggests a new role for a class of receptors long believed to be confined to the depths of the brain.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Obesity Starts In The Head? Six Newly Discovered Genes For Obesity Have A Neural Effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YbhI5bvuEyM/090108082908.htm
Obesity is known to increase the risk of chronic disorders, such as diabetes (type 2). Scientists have now identified six new obesity genes. Gene expression analyses have shown that all six genes are active in brain cells.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Chemopreventive Agents In Black Raspberries Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UV1sRnhfd7c/090108082529.htm
Components of black raspberries have been found to have chemopreventive potential. Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids in black raspberries, inhibited growth and stimulated apoptosis in the esophagus of rats treated with an esophageal carcinogen.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
NO Help: Nitric Oxide Monitoring Does Not Help Most Children With Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bPa4bjA8eVo/090107085024.htm
A recent multi-center prospective study found that calibrating medications based on daily monitoring of the fractional exhaled nitric oxide and symptoms in asthmatic children showed no significant improvement over medicating based on daily symptom monitoring alone.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Mountaineers Measure Lowest Human Blood Oxygen Levels On Record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rrMYbG0vZ0Y/090107172540.htm
The lowest ever levels of oxygen in humans have been reported in climbers on an expedition led by UCL doctors. The world-first measurements of blood oxygen levels in climbers near the top of Mount Everest, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could eventually help critical care doctors to re-evaluate treatment strategies in some long-term patients with similarly low levels of blood oxygen.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Restoring Trust Harder When It Is Broken Early In Relationship
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DlxgGlMJD58/090107134533.htm
In relationships built on trust, a bad first impression can be harder to overcome than a betrayal that occurs after ties are established, a new study suggests. While betraying trust is never good for a relationship, the results show that early violations can be particularly devastating, and plant seeds of doubt that may never go away.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Older Women Who Are More Physically Fit Have Better Cognitive Function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xs17OvM0stk/090108111423.htm
Being physically fit helps the brain function at the top of its game, according to new research. People who are fit have been found it have better blood flow to their brain. New findings also show that better blood flow translates into improved cognition.

Fri, 9 Jan 09
Prognostic Test for Breast Cancer May Not Detect All Tumor Types
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E9N5Unda1a8/081231005347.htm
An antibody-based test that is used to detect circulating breast cancer cells and provide prognostic information for patients during treatment may not detect all subtypes of breast cancer.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
NASA Space Balloon Mission Tunes In To Cosmic Radio Mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hg4gfy9_4aM/090107172546.htm
Listening to the early universe just got harder. Astronomers have discovered cosmic radio noise that booms six times louder than expected.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Avian Flu Becoming More Resistant To Antiviral Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S7u_36SFOzg/090107122658.htm
A new study shows the resistance of the avian flu virus to a major class of antiviral drugs is increasing through positive evolutionary selection, with researchers documenting the trend in more than 30 percent of the samples tested.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
To Climate-change Worries, Add One More: Extended Mercury Threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4b54OcEnZ1Y/090107134635.htm
Mercury pollution has already spurred public health officials to advise eating less fish, but it could become a more pressing concern in a warmer world.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
New Bartonella Species That Infects Humans Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eixbUdpOw_o/090106145006.htm
Researchers have produced the first link between a species of bacteria most commonly found in sheep and human illness.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
'It Takes Two To Know One': Shared Experiences Change Self-recognition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NtLbjumNC5k/090107092720.htm
Looking at yourself in the mirror every morning, you never think to question whether the person you see is actually you. A new study challenges this common-sense notion about our own self image. The study shows for the first time that the image we hold of our own face can actually change through shared experiences with other people's faces.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Spookfish Uses Mirrors For Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n0zL8cX-wf8/090107134539.htm
A remarkable new discovery shows the four-eyed spookfish to be the first vertebrate ever found to use mirrors, rather than lenses, to focus light in its eyes.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
'Scrawny' Gene Keeps Stem Cells Healthy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mS50qIUu9FU/090106170746.htm
Stem cells are the body's primal cells, retaining the youthful ability to develop into more specialized types of cells over many cycles of cell division. How do they do it? Scientists have identified a gene, scrawny, that appears to be a key factor in keeping a variety of stem cells in their undifferentiated state. Understanding how stem cells maintain their potency has implications for basic biology and also for medical applications.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Cassiopeia A Comes Alive Across Time And Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-hNdyN3qtt8/090106091145.htm
Two new efforts have taken a famous supernova remnant from the static to the dynamic. A new movie of data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows changes in time never seen before in this type of object. A separate team has produced a dramatic 3-D visualization of the same remnant.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Cellular Task Force To Safeguard Genome Stability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qQs2OkPj7qo/081218132250.htm
The maintenance of genome stability is crucial for protecting an organism against the onset of cancer and the study of the mechanisms controlling genome stability represents one of the most promising frontiers in cancer research.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Wii Fit A Promising Tool For All Ages, Though Game's Health Measurements Are Flawed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eJA4WMWKdTc/090106181733.htm
Games like Nintendo's Wii Fit can help promote physical rather than sedentary activities for people of all ages.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Hubble Finds Stars That Go 'Ballistic'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/633SEJHU0oo/090107174617.htm
Even some stars go ballistic, racing through interstellar space like bullets and tearing through clouds of gas.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Control Of Blood Vessels A Possible Weapon Against Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eUvQGMs72Qs/090107085314.htm
Mice exposed to low temperatures develop more blood vessels in their adipose tissue and metabolise body fat more quickly, according to a new study. Scientists now hope to learn how to control blood vessel development in humans in order to combat obesity and diabetes.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Asian Grasslands May Hold Global Promise To Restore Grasslands In Arid Areas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_MicLfTAJss/081228193530.htm
Grazinglands in the Asian steppes and the rangelands in the western United States share similar climates, vegetation, land-use practices and problems. So an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist joined a search in Asia to find and preserve native forage plants--and to see if these plants can be used to sustain and restore arid grasslands in other parts of the world.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Producing A More Effective Oral Form Of A Powerful Disease-fighting Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NLZkpM7AaoE/081222074601.htm
Scientists in Japan are reporting an advance toward using a natural disease-fighting protein in pills or syrups that patients can take by mouth rather than injection. Their study is the first to show that coating the protein with a polymer material already in wide medical use can increase its absorption by the intestine.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
P2P Traffic Control: Wireless Technology Could Reduce Congestion, Accidents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L_o0auBx_Ks/090107092722.htm
Could a concept from information technology familiar to online file sharers be exploited to reduce road congestion and even traffic accidents? That is the question answered in the affirmative by researchers in California.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Wonderful Cheese Is All In The Culture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NxM3syozswA/090106144945.htm
Scientists have identified a new line of bacteria they believe add flavor to some of the world's most exclusive cheeses.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Lunar Rock-Like Material May Someday House Moon Colonies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U8snzbaDd8E/090106145348.htm
Dwellings in colonies on the moon one day may be built with new, highly durable bricks developed by students from the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Dangerous New Method For Bacterial Toxin Transfer Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VeA3IKbx0Mk/090106145004.htm
Scientists have discovered a new way for bacteria to transfer toxic genes to unrelated bacterial species, a finding that raises the unsettling possibility that bacterial swapping of toxins and other disease-aiding factors may be more common than previously imagined.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Modified Lignin Has Potential Benefits For Ethanol, Paper And Feed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vu8ENjKGciY/081228193833.htm
Cellulose is a key component of plant cell walls that can be converted into ethanol and other products. New findings could help make that conversion process easier.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Cystic Fibrosis Patients' Self-assessment Of Health Can Predict Prognosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-MhWBpWapiQ/081229080857.htm
Adult cystic fibrosis patients can provide important information that helps to predict their prognosis, according to research that asked 223 adult CF patients to assess their own health and well-being.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Lifelong Gender Difference In Physical Activity Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ckatWKrcUUg/090105190740.htm
Females of all ages are less active than their male peers. Two new studies reveal the gender difference in activity levels among school children and the over 70s. Both studies show males to be more physically active than females.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Promising New Drug Being Evaluated As Possible Treatment Option For Fragile X Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/68LKh5Hf130/090107092716.htm
A pilot trial of an oral drug therapy called fenobam has shown promising initial results and could be a potential new treatment option for adult patients with Fragile X syndrome. Findings of the open label, single-dose study are to be published in the Journal of Medical Genetics.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Treating Gum Disease Linked To Lower Medical Costs For Patients With Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UPImZZzWD6c/081223172745.htm
A new report suggests that treating gum disease in patients who have diabetes with procedures such as cleanings and periodontal scaling is linked to 10 to 12 percent lower medical costs per month.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Modulation Of Gene Expression By Protein Coding Regions Demonstrated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8vGQqswTiLE/081223121131.htm
Scientists have discovered how the expression of one of the Hox master control genes is regulated in a specific segment of the developing brain. The findings provide important insight into how and where the brain develops some of its unique and important structures.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Tackling Climate Change With New Permits To Pollute
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SPZtWPBo1nI/090105190742.htm
A new way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and tackle climate change had been unveiled by leading economists.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Young Adults Need To Make More Time For Healthy Meals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V3qCp3Bs_b0/090106102904.htm
Researchers observed that while young adults enjoy and value time spent eating with others, 35 percent of males and 42 percent of females reported lacking time to sit down and eat a meal. They further noted that "eating on the run" was related to higher consumption of unhealthy items like fast foods and lower consumption of many healthful foods.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Black Holes Lead Galaxy Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vygaH1-f1Fg/090106181729.htm
Peering deep into the early universe, astronomers may have solved a longstanding cosmic chicken-and-egg problem -- which forms first -- galaxies or the black holes at their cores?

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Old Gastrointestinal Drug Slows Aging, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qAPQ0wDyly0/090106170748.htm
Recent animal studies have shown that an 80-year old drug once used to treat gastrointestinal disorders can reverse the progression of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. However, scientists had a variety of theories to attempt to explain how a single compound could have such similar effects on three unrelated neurodegenerative disorders. According to researchers at McGill University, clioquinol might actually slow down the aging process. The study was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Mechanisms That Regulate DNA Damage Control And Replication Illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tIZK2InHyl4/090105154258.htm
Scientists have demonstrated important new roles for the protein kinase complex Cdc7/Dbf4 or Cdc7/Drf1 in monitoring damage control during DNA replication and reinitiating replication following DNA repair.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Can Nature's Leading Indicators Presage Environmental Disaster?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B7q5n7d7Rec/090105175315.htm
Economists use leading indicators -- the drivers of economic performance -- to take the temperature of the economy and predict the future. Now, in a new study, scientists take a page from the social science handbook and use leading indicators of the environment to presage the potential collapse of ecosystems.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Majority Of Teens Discuss Risky Behaviors On MySpace, Studies Conclude
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CAm7OIPCS7M/090105175317.htm
Fifty-four percent of adolescents frequently discuss high-risk activities including sexual behavior, substance abuse or violence using MySpace, the popular social networking Web site.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Levitation At Microscopic Scale Could Lead To Nanomechanical Devices Based On Quantum Levitation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qqem5TcM0R0/090107161422.htm
Magicians have long created the illusion of levitating objects in the air. Now researchers have actually levitated an object, suspending it without the need for external support. Working at the molecular level, the researchers relied on the tendency of certain combinations of molecules to repel each other at close contact, effectively suspending one surface above another by a microscopic distance. Researchers have measured, for the first time, a repulsive quantum mechanical force that could be harnessed and tailored for a wide range of new nanotechnology applications.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Gene Abnormality Found To Predict Childhood Leukemia Relapse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gxCJ3kBFJTo/090107172538.htm
Scientists have identified mutations in a gene that predict a high likelihood of relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although the researchers caution that further research is needed to determine how changes in the gene, called IKZF1 or IKAROS, lead to leukemia relapse, the findings are likely to provide the basis for future diagnostic tests to assess the risk of treatment failure. By identifying this genetic marker in ALL patients, physicians should be better able to assign patients to appropriate therapies.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Male Crickets With Bigger Heads Are Better Fighters, Study Reveals, Echoing Ancient Chinese Text
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9OlLx4SyGwU/090107092718.htm
Biologists show that male crickets with larger heads and mouthparts are more successful in fights with smaller-headed rivals.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Catastrophic Coincidence: Second Ever Example Of Contemporaneous Meteorite Impact And Flood Volcanism Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3n63l8AhNBw/090107085320.htm
Scientists have discovered only the second example of a meteorite impact that occurred at the same time as massive volcanic activity. The first time such a coincidence was observed, at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, was the catastrophic event thought to be responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, 65 million years ago.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Why Smokers Struggle To Quit: New Findings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DwP9sL86-kI/090105175324.htm
Just seeing someone smoke can trigger smokers to abandon their nascent efforts to kick the habit, according to new research.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Polarized Light Leads Animals Astray: 'Ecological Traps' Cause Animal Behaviors That Can Lead To Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BE4ykj4gFqU/090107092714.htm
Human-made light sources can alter natural light cycles, causing animals that rely on light cues to make mistakes when moving through their environment. In the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, a collaboration of ecologists, biologists and biophysicists has now shown that in addition to direct light, cues from polarized light can trigger animal behaviors leading to injury and often death.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Gene Linked To Inherited Form Of Fatal Lung Disease Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cZawcA4t-ac/081219172127.htm
Researchers have determined that a mutation in a gene known for its role in defending the lungs against invading pathogens is responsible for some inherited cases of a lethal lung disease affecting older adults. The same mutation may also be associated with lung cancer, the researchers said.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Astronomers Use Gamma-ray Burst To Probe Star Formation In The Early Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ITT2dPSQgXI/090106154400.htm
The brilliant afterglow of a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) has enabled astronomers to probe the star-forming environment of a distant galaxy, resulting in the first detection of molecular gas in a GRB host galaxy. By analyzing the spectrum of light emitted in the GRB afterglow, the researchers are gleaning insights into an active stellar nursery in a galaxy so far away it appears as it was 10 billion years ago.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Drinkers With Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Are At Greater Risk Of Colorectal Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b9yWiJcEzms/081219172035.htm
Chronic drinking is a known risk factor for colorectal cancer, possibly due to the creation of acetaldehyde by the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. New findings show that individuals with a polymorphism of the ADH1C gene produce more acetaldehyde when they drink, which creates a higher risk for colorectal cancer.

Thu, 8 Jan 09
Vision Problems Prompt Older Drivers To Put Down The Keys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XUvAgAE3ixc/090106154402.htm
With 30 million drivers in the US aged 65 and over, we count on older Americans to recognize when they can no longer drive safely and decide that it's time to stay off the road. A new study finds that a decrease in vision function is a key factor in bringing about this decision.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Four, Three, Two, One . . . Pterosaurs Have Lift Off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5HsLldRCxXM/090106161514.htm
Pterosaurs have long suffered an identity crisis. Pop culture heedlessly -- and wrongly -- lumps these extinct flying lizards in with dinosaurs. Even paleontologists assumed that because the creatures flew, they were birdlike in many ways, such as using only two legs to take flight.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Viagra's Other Talents: Help A 'Signaling' Protein Shield The Heart From High Blood Pressure Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gl2MY26UHoE/090105175033.htm
Researchers report what is believed to be the first direct evidence in lab animals that the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil amplifies the effects of a heart-protective protein.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Uncultured Bacteria Found In Amniotic Fluids Of Women Who Experience Preterm Births
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i_DVsjW4RI8/090105101503.htm
Researchers have made a significant advancement in understanding the cause behind why some pregnant women suffer from inflammations in the inner womb without any signs of an infection. Using gene-cloning techniques, researchers discovered that approximately 60 percent of the bacteria present in women with intra-amniotic inflammations were missed by traditional culture testing -- considered the gold standard for finding bacterial infections.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Asthma Attacks Triggered By Exertion At Work And Play
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SSESQxGbXHg/090105120318.htm
Exertion at work and play can trigger deadly asthma attacks, according to new research. If you're an asthma sufferer, make sure the medical history at your doctor's office includes your employment and recreation plans. A new screening tool may save you a trip to the emergency room later on.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Physicists Squeeze Light To Quantum Limit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pz4F0r-AndY/090106145008.htm
Physicists have demonstrated a way to squeeze light to the fundamental quantum limit, a finding that has potential applications for high-precision measurement, next generation atomic clocks, novel quantum computing and our most fundamental understanding of the universe.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Brain Circuit Abnormalities May Underlie Bulimia Nervosa In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wxxryhcsBsg/090105175031.htm
Women with bulimia nervosa appear to respond more impulsively during psychological testing than those without eating disorders, and brain scans show differences in areas responsible for regulating behavior, according to a new report.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Genetic Roots Of Cacao Trees Traced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vn7eG6utGII/081228193212.htm
By examining the DNA of cacao trees, scientists have traced the genetic roots of the key ingredient in chocolate.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Clues About The Evolution Of Epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lVMT8e42JhY/090106144943.htm
Two children have a seizure. One child never has another seizure. Twenty years later, the other child has a series of seizures and is diagnosed with epilepsy. A new study is looking at what could possibly happen in the development of these two children that would lead to such extreme variations in their neurologic health.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Childhood Trauma And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Risk Biologically Linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C9-Ocs5tw2g/090105175025.htm
Childhood trauma is a potent risk factor for development of chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a new study.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Scientists See Brain Aging Before Symptoms Appear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06I2JrMA79o/090106091141.htm
Scientists have used innovative brain-scan technology along with patient-specific information on Alzheimer's disease risk, to help diagnose brain aging, often before symptoms appear.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
New Hope For Cancer Comes Straight From The Heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eDNf7Z0tyek/090105150839.htm
Digitalis-based drugs like digoxin have been used for centuries to treat patients with irregular heart rhythms and heart failure and are still in use today. Researchers now report that this same class of drugs may hold new promise as a treatment for cancer. This finding emerged through a search for existing drugs that might slow or stop cancer progression.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Peering Inside Skull Of A Mouse To Solve Meningitis Mystery: Immune Cells Implicated In Fatal Seizures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fk833ZqmsOA/081222143519.htm
Scientists have discovered an unexpected cause for the fatal seizures seen in mice with viral meningitis, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The finding may lead to a new way of thinking about how the human immune system responds to viral diseases.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
New Insight Into Aggressive Childhood Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_nsMiVDIBX8/090105131204.htm
A new study reveals critical molecular mechanisms associated with the development and progression of human neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children. The research, published in the journal Cancer Cell, may lead to development of future strategies for treatment of this aggressive and unpredictable cancer.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
California Study Shows Shade Trees Reduce Summertime Electricity Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tY1ch253k18/090105150831.htm
A recent study shows that shade trees on the west and south sides of a house in California can reduce a homeowner's summertime electric bill by about $25.00 a year. The study, conducted last year on 460 single-family homes in Sacramento, is the first large-scale study to use utility billing data to show that trees can reduce energy consumption.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Maternity Leave Linked To Fewer C-sections And Increased Breastfeeding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uc7AujDN6n4/090105090835.htm
Two new studies find that women who start their leave in the last month of pregnancy are less likely to have cesarean deliveries, and that new mothers are more likely to establish breastfeeding the longer they delay their return to work. The studies take a rare look into whether taking maternity leave can affect health outcomes in the United States.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Hubble Views Galactic Core In Unprecedented New Detail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J-U-dOwVjlo/090106135601.htm
A new color infrared image of the center of our Milky Way galaxy reveals a new population of massive stars and new details in complex structures in the hot ionized gas swirling around the central 300 light-years. This sweeping panorama is the sharpest infrared picture ever made of the Galactic core. It offers a nearby laboratory for how massive stars form and influence their environment in the often violent nuclear regions of other galaxies.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Cell Biologists Identify New Tumor Suppressor For Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M27qZM8LFpg/090105150845.htm
Cancer and cell biology experts have identified a new tumor suppressor that may help scientists develop more targeted drug therapies to combat lung cancer.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Timetable For Puget Sound Restoration Suffers Setback
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nFuDxgLfPxA/081218213632.htm
The slow natural restoration of hazardous sediments mired beneath the Puget Sound is progressing, but researchers warn that this recovery process may take 10 to 30 years longer than first predicted, because of increased urban growth and its associated untreated runoff.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Pneumococcal Vaccine Does Not Appear To Protect Against Pneumonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LuEZcE4JyI4/090105175313.htm
Commonly used pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines do not appear to be effective for preventing pneumonia, found a new study by a team of researchers from Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
'Recovery Coaches' Effective In Reducing Number Of Babies Exposed To Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VeBLtqu9-Ao/090105150833.htm
Recovery coaches can significantly reduce the number of substance-exposed births as well as help reunite substance-involved families, saving state child-welfare systems millions of dollars in foster-care and other placement costs.

Wed, 7 Jan 09
Researchers Create Car Parts From Coconuts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/scie