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Wed, 25 Feb 09
DNA Evidence Is In, Psychedelic Looking Bouncing Fish Is A New Species, Dubbed 'Psychedilica'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1yJQhtLZGeY/090224154912.htm
"Psychedelica" seems the perfect name for a fish that is a wild swirl of tan and peach zebra stripes and behaves in ways contrary to its brethren, including bouncing like a ball along the seafloor instead of swimming. The fish, which has rare forward-facing eyes like humans, also has a secretive nature. That could be the reason they weren't spotted by divers until just last year nor described in the scientific literature until now.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Hormone Disorder Drug Could Help Drinkers Stay Sober
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e41CTtiC-v8/090223221610.htm
A drug prescribed for male and female infertility and menstrual disorders could hold the key to a more effective treatment for alcoholism, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Are Women More Generous? New Study Sheds Light On Donation Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ObdhaGV2g6w/090223221606.htm
Why would women give more to the victims of Hurricane Katrina than to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami? A new study sheds light onto the way gender and moral identity affect donations.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Family History Of Melanoma Linked To Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gjnevw30S-o/090216164510.htm
People with a family history of melanoma may have a greater risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
40-year Mystery Revisited: Newtonian System Mimics 'Baldness' Of Rotating Black Holes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MPV6HU8UZUY/090223221439.htm
In 1968, theoretical physicist and cosmologist Brandon Carter showed that a particle's wild gyrations while orbiting a rotating black hole nevertheless hold another variable fixed, which was named the "Carter constant," remaining somewhat mysterious 40 years later. Now Clifford M. Will, of Washington University has shown that, even in Newton's theory of gravitation, arrangements of masses exist whose gravitational field also admits a Carter-like constant of motion, in addition to energy and angular momentum.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Sexual Lyrics In Popular Songs Linked To Early Sexual Experiences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rKIJ5ee46zQ/090224132903.htm
With sexual activity among adolescents in the United States resulting in over 750,000 teenage pregnancies each year, researchers and public health officials are looking for those factors that might increase sexual activity in teens. Researchers have found that teenagers who preferred popular songs with degrading sexual references were more likely to engage in intercourse or in pre-coital activities.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Alps-like Mountain Range Exists Under East Antarctic Ice Sheet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d5ifvJK3p5I/090224133156.htm
Flying twin-engine light aircraft the equivalent of several trips around the globe and establishing a network of seismic instruments across an area the size of Texas, scientists have not only verified the existence of a mountain range that is suspected to have caused the massive East Antarctic Ice Sheet to form, but also have created a detailed picture of the rugged landscape buried under more than four kilometers (2.5 miles) of ice.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Babies Born In Pollen And Mold Seasons Have Greater Odds Of Developing Asthma Symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LjvEqkAhp0Y/090223221349.htm
A new study suggests that newborns whose first few months of life coincide with high pollen and mold seasons are at increased risk of developing early symptoms of asthma.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Antibiotic Resistance: Rising Concern In Marine Ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/If5JjZrYrMQ/090213161033.htm
A team of scientists are calling for new awareness of the potential for antibiotic-resistant illnesses from the marine environment, and pointed to the marine realm as a source for possible cures of those threats.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
New Research Identifies Faster Detection Of Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5aiuJtLU8TY/090216093014.htm
Scientists can now detect viruses more specifically and faster than ever before. Viruses can currently be detected in fluids and their detection is of major importance in medical diagnostics. However, despite recent advances, current assays are time consuming and labor intensive. New research shows a more efficient and practical system in detecting the viruses by using micro-sized cantilevers to directly detect viruses binding to membrane proteins.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Scientists Prove Graphene's Edge Structure Affects Electronic Properties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nGvf0-8NMFE/090215151623.htm
Graphene, a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon, holds remarkable promise for future nanoelectronics applications. However, whether graphene actually cuts it in industry depends upon how graphene is cut, say researchers.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Don't Flatter Yourself: Why Survey Research Can Be Flawed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ivztPwfLcKI/090223221448.htm
We all do things to impress others -- exaggerate our accomplishments, downplay our faults, even fib on surveys. A new study sheds light on why we don't tell the strict truth about ourselves in surveys and what, if anything, can be done about it.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Watching Venus Glow In The Dark
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LJ68HC_35CY/090224133735.htm
ESA's Venus Express spacecraft has observed an eerie glow in the night-time atmosphere of Venus. This infrared light comes from nitric oxide and is showing scientists that the atmosphere of Earth's nearest neighbour is a temperamental place of high winds and turbulence.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Metastasis-promoting Protein In Urine Identified; Could Provide A Prognostic Test Or Target For Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LQEYB8Jcvsk/090223221245.htm
A small protein detectable in urine can predict a breast cancer's aggressiveness, and possibly provide a new avenue for treating the disease. When its production is shut down, cell migration -- a key step in progression and metastasis -- is inhibited. The protein, which has been licensed for clinical development, also plays a key biological role in advancing cancer, triggering the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and reducing cells' response to the hormone estrogen.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Carotenoids Are Cornerstone Of Bird's Vitality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RoebPCdb7Ac/090213114154.htm
"What you see is what you get" often is the mantra in the highly competitive life of birds, as they use brilliant displays of color to woo females for mating. Now researchers are finding that carotenoids -- the compounds responsible for amping up red, orange and yellow colors of birds -- also may play a role in color perception and in a bird's ability to reproduce, making it a cornerstone in birds' vitality.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Laser Treatment Of Brain Cells Does Not Significantly Reduce Stroke Disability, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BMUvkfZ8u00/090220164924.htm
Low-radiation infrared laser therapy failed to significantly reduce stroke disability in a clinical trial. Patients with mild stroke did have improvement in neurological deficits after laser therapy.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Molecular Motors In Cells Work Together, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a_EZUwt27YA/090213161043.htm
Molecular motors, the little engines that power cell mobility and the ability of cells to transport internal cargo, work together and in close coordination, according to a new findings. The work could have implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Skin Diseases Among Military Personnel Who Were Evacuated From Combat Zones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OlFqz3nMBFY/090216164515.htm
Dermatitis, benign moles, hives and cancerous skin lesions are among the most common diagnoses among military personnel who were evacuated from combat zones for ill-defined dermatologic diseases, according to a new report.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Researchers Generate Functional Neurons From Engineered Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UXcu7oYs758/090224133154.htm
Researchers have generated functionally mature motor neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells, which are engineered from adult somatic cells and can differentiate into most other cell types.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Closure Of Slight Opening Between Right Atrium And Left Atrium Of Heart May Benefit Migraine Sufferers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ebZc5ulMc6c/090216175109.htm
Reducing the frequency and severity of disabling migraines is crucial for quality of life. A new study finds significant improvement of migraine following catheter-based closure of patent foramen ovale -- a slight opening in the wall between the right and left atria.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
When Fish Farms Are Built Along The Coast, Where Does The Waste Go?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gUKxaQe0kx8/090215151758.htm
Commercial fish pens are placed in the open waters of oceans and bays with no reliable method of predicting where the waste plume will be carried by winds, currents and tides. This can lead to damage to fragile coastline environments. As state and federal regulators begin to draw up rules for fish pens, a new fluid dynamics modeling system can provide answers.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Behavioral Link Between Insomnia And Tension-type Headaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z-kXHqvYKaw/090215151753.htm
Using sleep or napping to cope with chronic pain caused by tension-type headaches could lead to chronic insomnia according to a new study. The study found that napping to relieve headache pain could serve as a behavioral link between headache and sleep disturbance.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Greenland And Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting, Rate Unknown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gb0_2miuOY4/090216131158.htm
The Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are melting, but the amounts that will melt and the time it will take are still unknown, according to researchers.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
An Angry Heart Can Lead To Sudden Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uDXx0ToDO_U/090223221235.htm
Before flying off the handle the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, consider the latest research that links changes brought on by anger or other strong emotions to future arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrests, which are blamed for 400,000 deaths annually. New research finds that anger-induced electrical changes in the heart can predict future arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant Is Now 'Dust Factory' Around Dead Star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ubt_EAdb9k4/090224133503.htm
Astronomers have found some very unusual stardust. They discovered new evidence for the production of copious quantities of dust in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant, the remains of a star that exploded about 300 years ago.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Indicator Found That Warns Leukemia Is Progressing To More Dangerous Form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Non359gjawc/090217102135.htm
Scientists have identified a mechanism by which a chronic form of leukemia can progress into a deadlier stage of the disease. The findings may provide physicians with an indicator of when this type of cancer -- chronic myeloid leukemia -- is progressing, enabling them to make more accurate prognoses for the disease and improved treatment choices.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
What Biology And Evolution Can Teach Us About Our Safety: Tribute To Darwin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pqiBpzGcri8/090213161123.htm
When it comes to our own security, says one behavioral ecologist, there is much we can learn from biology and evolution. Speaking at a symposium paying tribute to Charles Darwin a day after the 200th anniversary of his birth, Daniel T. Blumstein shared lessons and insights from Darwin that can be applied to our own safety -- from using ATMs in unsafe neighborhoods to dealing with terrorist threats.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Mechanisms That Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: Enzymatic Activity Plays Key Role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yUJP_ehXEsM/090216092837.htm
Scientists have been gaining further insight in the functioning of endogenous mechanisms that protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. It was found that the activity of the enzyme α-secretase is mainly responsible for the protective effect.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Mathematician Contends Earlier Study Overstated Validity Of Findings On Risks Of Bisphenol A
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wja0EQ-OAyA/090218141955.htm
A mathematician presents the statistical limitations of a study claiming that bisphenol A is associated with cardiovascular diagnoses, diabetes and abnormal blood level liver enzyme levels that was published in an earlier study.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Health Insurance Essential For Health And Well-being, Report Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eY3DtyBB4QU/090224133201.htm
The evidence shows more clearly than ever that having health insurance is essential for people's health and well-being, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Gravitational Lensing: Astronomers Harness Einstein’s Telescope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-d1nk117GXQ/090220172053.htm
Scientists are harnessing the cosmos as a scientific "instrument" in their quest to determine the makeup of the universe. Long ago Einstein recognized the potential existence of gravitational lensing, a consequence of his theory of general relativity. According to general relativity, celestial objects create dimples in space-time that bend the light traveling from behind.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Brain Cells' Hidden Differences Linked To Potential Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I05PfrL50rk/090219211923.htm
Brain cells long lumped into the same category have hidden differences that may contribute to the formation of tumors, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
'Cyber Soccer Players' Cloned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qDRLw31WloU/090220131402.htm
Scientists have managed to program clones that imitate the actions of humans playing soccer (known as football in the U.K.) on a computer. The clones learn the players’ behavior and apply this knowledge in order to avoid their opponents and score goals.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Iron Overload: An Important Co-factor In The Development Of Liver Disease In Alcoholics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i9KI_-PbF8I/090217125337.htm
Heavy drinking is associated with iron overload. A research group in Portugal found an association between HFE mutations/iron overload and alcoholic liver disease.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Global Warning: Hotter Days, Increased Hospitalizations For Respiratory Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FhesnisTwKE/090220074831.htm
High summer temperatures, pushed higher by global climate change, may bring with them a spike in hospitalizations for respiratory problems, according to an analysis of data from twelve European cities, from Dublin to Valencia. The data comes from a three-year collaboration between epidemiologists, meteorologists and experts in public health collaboration that investigated the short-term effects of weather in Europe.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Female Genital Mutilation Among Israel's Negev Bedouins Has Virtually Disappeared, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b0i47Kxw6KI/090220090748.htm
A follow-up study has determined that the once prevalent custom of female genital mutilation among Israel's Bedouin population in the Negev has virtually disappeared. The findings were reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Why Hair Turns Gray Is No Longer A Gray Area: Our Hair Bleaches Itself As We Grow Older
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/arJ9HznzpnQ/090223131123.htm
Wash away your gray? Maybe. Scientists have now solved a mystery that has perplexed humans throughout the ages: why we turn gray. These researchers show that going gray is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of our hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, our hair's natural pigment.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Human Stem Cells Provide A New Model For Lou Gehrig's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pjAbdVmzrLk/090223083144.htm
Human stem cells are used to create motor neurons that carry familial ALS mutations. These human stem cell-derived neurons look and act like normal motor neurons, and, when carrying ALS mutations, the cells undergo changes similar to those seen in ALS. This study presents a new human-derived cell system to use in studying ALS and ALS therapies.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Sprightly Explanation For UFO Sightings?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gccsVN_SG-A/090223131119.htm
In legend, sprites are trolls, elves and other spirits that dance high above our ozone layer. But scientists have discovered that some very real "sprites" are zipping across the atmosphere as well, providing a possible explanation for those other legendary denizens of the skies, UFOs.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Working On A Vaccine For The Plague
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z9HQT-QPYAA/090223121502.htm
Scientists have proposed brown Norway rats as a new model for plague vaccine development. 

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Patience Pays Off With Methanol For Uranium Bioremediation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B-5qfTxwUG4/090223121411.htm
Uranium contamination is a devastating legacy of nuclear weapon and energy development, but new testing has shown that adding organic molecules can positively affect the bioremediation of this uranium, converting it to a solid mineral and sequestering it within the sediment.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Do Experiences Or Material Goods Make Us Happier?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PdQ2OEoU2R0/090223221532.htm
Should I spend money on a vacation or a new computer? Will an experience or an object make me happier? A new study says it depends on different factors, including how materialistic you are.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Turbulence May Promote Birth Of Massive Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1DGCL89unEw/090223221608.htm
When it comes to the theory of how massive stars form, the devil is in the details. We know the basics: a cloud of cosmic gas draws itself together, growing denser and hotter until nuclear fusion ignites. But how does massive star formation begin? What determines how many stars form from a single cloud? New data from the Submillimeter Array is helping to answer these questions.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Healing Arthritis Caused By Traumatic Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b2c6ZesfpqQ/090222142145.htm
A strain of laboratory mice that has "superhealing" powers has been found to resist inflammation after a knee injury, and also to avoid developing arthritis at the injury site in the long term, according to researchers. Their findings illuminate the mechanisms of post-traumatic arthritis and could point to therapies for this condition, which commonly afflicts younger people who lose productivity during their prime working years.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Don't Touch That Dial! Watching Commercials Leads To Greater Enjoyment Of TV Programs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HREZ0_HF3yE/090223221528.htm
We all complain about commercials, and many people invest in technology to eliminate them. But a surprising new study shows that, contrary to popular belief, commercials improve television viewing in many cases.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Lowering Your Cholesterol May Decrease Your Risk Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/STG1y5WDYrM/090223121505.htm
Current research suggests that lowering cholesterol may block the growth of prostate tumors.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
First Step Towards A World Reclassification Of Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VMdHr4qeEeI/090213172047.htm
Scientist have discovered the structure of a biological protein from the vaccinia virus. This is a significant step towards unlocking effective therapies to treat viruses.

Wed, 25 Feb 09
Beware The Left-digit Effect: Price Gimmicks May Affect Choice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ElySlfDbimI/090223221526.htm
When shopping, we often find ourselves choosing between lower- and higher-cost items. But most people make a choice based on the first digit they see, according to a new study.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Genetic Discovery Could Lead To Advances In Dental Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nMLw7EFyDYg/090223221345.htm
Researchers have identified the gene that ultimately controls the production of tooth enamel, a significant advance that could some day lead to the repair of damaged enamel, a new concept in cavity prevention, and restoration or even the production of replacement teeth.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Male Infertility Associated With Testicular Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o375QB7H_Nc/090223221338.htm
Men who are infertile appear to have an increased risk of developing testicular cancer, according to a new report.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
How A Cometary Boulder Lit Up The Spanish Sky
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uQMxxsqC2R4/090213115338.htm
Astronomers link a brilliant fireball seen in 2008 to the breakup of Comet Metcalf in 1920. They suggest that pieces of the comet may have survived their fiery passage through the Earth's atmosphere and could be recovered for study in a laboratory.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Drug Improves Memory In Alzheimer's Disease, Animal Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qLlXbfpYr-c/090218103515.htm
A drug used in a type of hereditary metabolic disorder improved the memory of laboratory animals with Alzheimer's disease.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Mating That Causes Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2N6O8iPVEfo/090220075144.htm
Researchers can now show that what is good for one sex is not always good for the other sex. In fact, evolutionary conflicts between the two sexes cause characteristics and behaviors that are downright injurious to the opposite sex.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Technique Tricks Bacteria Into Generating Their Own Vaccine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yb0rwRmO6E4/090223221427.htm
Scientists have developed a way to manipulate bacteria so they will grow mutant sugar molecules on their cell surfaces that could be used against them as the key component in potent vaccines. Any resulting vaccines, if proven safe, could be developed more quickly, easily and cheaply than many currently available vaccines used to prevent bacterial illnesses.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Vitamin D Deficiency May Increase Risk Of Colds, Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZCZsxlEXglc/090223221242.htm
Vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold. In the largest and most nationally representative study of the association between vitamin D and respiratory infections, people with the lowest blood vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu. The risks were even higher for those with chronic respiratory disorders, such as asthma and emphysema.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Structure Of Bacteria That Causes Lyme Disease Detailed In 3D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ugXcfF6_89w/090213115016.htm
They are borne by ticks and can cause acute and chronic symptoms in joints, muscles and the nervous system -- the bacteria that cause Lyme borreliosis. Researchers have now succeeded in identifying their structure more accurately. Using a cryo-tomography microscope, the previously unknown detailed structure of the spirochete bacteria can be shown in three dimensions.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Childhood Chicken Pox Can Lead To Shingles Later In Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bdHcYpXQ_SE/090218181902.htm
You may recall as a child catching the itchy red rash, chicken pox. The unsightly infection was caused by the varicella zoster virus and was responsible for nearly 4 million cases each year, until a vaccine introduced in 1995 reduced that number by 83 percent. Varicella zoster can lie dormant in the body for decades, and if activated can lead to herpes zoster, more commonly referred to as shingles, according to a new study.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Nanoparticle Toxicity Doesn't Get Wacky At The Smallest Sizes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t91OcdygHMU/090214162629.htm
The smallest nano-sized silica particles used in biomedicine and engineering likely won't cause unexpected biological responses due to their size, according to new research. The result should allay fears that cells and tissues will react unpredictably when exposed to the finest silica nanomaterials in industrial or commercial applications. The researchers concluded this by using total surface area as a measure of dose, rather than particle mass or number of particles.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
For Iraq Veterans, Headaches Continue After Traumatic Brain Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PzehQamZOrM/090223221225.htm
Many soldiers who experienced mild head trauma or a blast exposure while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are returning to the United States with headaches, according to a new study.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Brain Hub That Links Music, Memory And Emotion Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dpQfUzci6zE/090223221230.htm
By using fMRI to map brain activity of college students as they listened to a variety of tunes from their younger years, then comparing the activity to the students' responses to questions about each tune, a researcher has found that the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex is a hub that responds to music, memory and emotion.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Calcium Associated With Lower Risk Of Cancer In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xboIUOcSv0M/090223221332.htm
Women with higher intake of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system, according to a new report.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Figuring Out Green Power: Scientists Speed Up Discovery Of Plant Metabolism Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ui4AqiIbXF8/090213114216.htm
Researchers are dramatically speeding up identification of genes that affect the structure and function of chloroplasts, which could lead to plants tailored specifically for biofuel production or delivering high levels of specific nutrients.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Wakefulness Tests To Detect Daytime Sleepiness In Drivers May Be Unreliable, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZqRQBf1xjsw/090215151443.htm
A new study shows that a 40 minute protocol for the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test is superior to a 20-minute protocol at detecting excessive daytime sleepiness in adults who may be unable to maintain wakefulness while driving. Yet results also suggest that the test may not be completely reliable when the strong motivation to keep a driver's license enables individuals to overcome sleepiness during the test.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Breaking The Barrier: Discovery Of Anti-resistance Factors And Novel Ocean Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FkV3c7ElF4s/090213161027.htm
Investigations into coral disease, red tides and other marine environmental issues have led to discoveries of new chemicals as a source for pharmaceuticals. These chemicals function as antibiotics for microorganism providing survival advantages and may be usable in human health care. We believe that one could apply many of these chemical mechanisms or novel pharmaceuticals to human disease resulting in a number of alternatives to deal with growing antibiotic resistance.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Re-shaping The Family: What Happens When Parents Seek Siblings Of Their Donor-conceived Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7lfWhAKJjvE/090223221352.htm
Parents who have conceived children with the help of sperm or egg donors and then try to find the donors and also other children conceived with the donors' help, often end up creating new forms of extended families, according to new research.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Shape-shifting Coral Evade Identification
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FE8iPQoweSE/090223221343.htm
The evolutionary tendency of corals to alter their skeletal structure makes it difficult to assign them to different species. Researchers have used genetic markers to examine coral groupings and investigate how these markers relate to alterations in shape, in the process discovering that our inaccurate picture of coral species is compromising our ability to conserve coral reefs.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Insight Into Ways Organ Systems Outside The Brain May Affect Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RK51szhsS9c/090216092725.htm
A new study provides insights into the way A-beta in the peripheral blood stream affects A-beta clearance in the brain. Scientists found that when circulating A-beta levels in the blood stream of rats were elevated, known amounts of radioactively tagged A-beta were swept from the brain more slowly.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Village Bird Study Highlights Loss Of Wildlife Knowledge From One Generation To Another
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6QBbcy-8QBw/090213070920.htm
Our ability to conserve and protect wildlife is at risk because we are unable to accurately gauge how our environment is changing over time, says new research.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
HPV Vaccine Does Not Increase Risk Of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pt-uGoysnwk/090213172045.htm
The HPV vaccine does not increase the risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, according to a new study. Guillain-Barre is a disorder that causes muscle weakness and tingling that can progress to paralysis.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Survival Of The Weakest? Cyclical Competition Of Three Species Favors Weakest As Victor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XIKuXyug1vo/090213115127.htm
Researchers have shown in computer simulations that in a cyclical competition of three species, it is nearly always the weakest species that comes out as victor -- while the other two are condemned to extinction.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Women Less Likely To Receive Critical Care After A Stroke, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hEymLj7igpA/090219121332.htm
Women are 30 percent less likely than men to receive a critical clot-busting drug than can limit brain damage after a stroke, according to a new study.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Hot Chili Peppers Help Unravel The Mechanism Of Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jw33b5H_1Bo/090223221232.htm
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in spicy hot chili peppers such as the jalapeno, is most often experienced as an irritant, but it may also be used to reduce pain. New research uses capsaicin to uncover novel insight into how pain-receptor systems can adapt to painful stimuli.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Common Gene Variants Increase Risk Of Hypertension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JiWLG1Gd5P8/090215151804.htm
A new study has identified the first common gene variants associated with an increased incidence of hypertension -- a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. The report identifies variants in genes for proteins involved with cardiovascular response to stress that also appear to influence blood pressure levels, an association previously seen in animals but not demonstrated in humans.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Foraging Behavior Of Key Antarctic Predators Unchanged After Storms That Alter Prey Distribution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ASDwl_kV1J8/090213105052.htm
Chinstrap penguins and fur seals showed persistent preferences for particular foraging areas even after a storm reduced the availability of food of choice in those areas, according to a new study. The research shows that the spatial distribution of fur seals and foraging chinstrap penguins did not change after a near gale, despite substantial changes in the abundance and distribution of their prey, Antarctic krill.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Periodontitis And Myocardial Infarction: A Shared Genetic Predisposition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mDJ68_VBQxc/090213115011.htm
A mutual epidemiological relationship between aggressive periodontitis and myocardial infarction has already been shown in the past. Scientists have now presented the first evidence of a shared genetic variant on chromosome 9, which maps to a genetic region that codes for the "antisense RNA" Anril.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Superconductivity: The New High Critical Temperature Superconductors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LtCTn6QlZYQ/090216092835.htm
Scientists are helping to broaden our understanding of the nature of superconducting materials and of the origin of the superconductivity phenomenon in high critical temperature materials.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Increased Research In Flu Transmission Needed To Prepare For Pandemic Flu Outbreak, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3bBiWZqFY9w/090218114322.htm
Researchers have completed a study to better understand the impact of infection control measures during a possible flu pandemic. Their study focused on the likelihood of the transmission of flu from individuals showing no symptoms (asymptomatic) or from individuals who are infected but have not yet exhibited symptoms. The researchers call on the scientific community to better understand the transmission of influenza in order to provide guidelines for effective pandemic flu planning.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Protein Complex Linked To Parkinson Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pzTU6P-Unns/090224004510.htm
Mutations in the genes PINK1, PARKIN, and DJ-1 have each been linked to early-onset inherited forms of Parkinson disease. However, the functional relationship between the proteins generated by these genes and how the mutations lead to Parkinson disease are not well understood.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
New Insight Into How The Immune System Is Finely Balanced In The Livers Of Individuals Chronically Infected With Hepatitis C Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lqfr-EAxGfQ/090224004435.htm
One group of immune cells that help control viral infections are known as T cells. However, it is important to keep these cells under control, as overly vigorous T cell responses can lead to tissue damage, which has potentially serious health consequences.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Muscular Dystrophy And Exercise-induced Muscle Fatigue Have More In Common Than You Might Think
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UaXIrLmwPf4/090224004346.htm
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which is a severe disorder characterized by rapid progression of muscle weakness that ultimately leads to death, is caused by genetic mutations that result in the absence of the protein dystrophin. Loss of localization of the muscle-related molecule nNOS at the muscle cell membrane (which is known as the sarcolemma) is also observed in DMD and has been linked to muscle damage. What determines the localization of nNOS in muscle cells is not well understood.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Materials Science Mystery Of 'Hidden Order' Solved: How A New Phase Arises And Why
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EJQRlPBc6EM/090223091900.htm
Scientists have now explained the formerly unsolved mystery in materials science known as 'the hidden order' -- how a new phase arises and why. This is a discovery that can be of great importance to our understanding of how new material properties occur, how they can be controlled and exploited in the future. The findings may be of great importance to future energy supply.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Nano-hydrogels Capable Of Detecting Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fbScV-77nPE/090217080012.htm
One of the problems in the treatment of cancers continues to be the lack of ability when it comes to discriminating between healthy and unhealthy cells, with the result being that all cells are affected non-specifically by the treatment. Now scientists have been to provide an answer to this problem by using intelligent nano-hydrogels - small particles capable of detecting diseased cells and releasing the medication only where required.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Take A Darwinian Approach To A Dangerous World: Ecologist Preaches 'Natural' Security For Homeland Defense
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QAWvV3pxGpo/090213114158.htm
Global society is undergoing rapid political and socioeconomic changes, to which our security measures must adapt. Fortunately, we're surrounded by millions of examples of security measures from nature that do just that.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Women's Cancer Outcomes Improved By Surgical Evaluation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hg27MJjCLQo/090212132318.htm
Too many hysterectomy patients should have had a more comprehensive cancer surgery, something a specialist is trained to do, according to a new data. If seen by a specialist, it should be recommended they undergo a procedure that focuses on lymph nodes and other organs not involved in a traditional hysterectomy, according to an expert.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Molecular Machine Turns Packaged Messenger RNA Into A Linear Transcript
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DsHxkHwCJUs/090213113340.htm
For RNA, the gateway to a productive life outside the nucleus is the nuclear pore complex, an amalgamation of 30 kinds of proteins that regulates all traffic passing through the nuclear membrane. New research shows that one of these proteins magnetically couples with a special molecule -- a helicase -- to form a machine that unpacks balled-up messenger RNA particles so that they can be translated.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Non-traditional Therapy Is Effective As Pain Management, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_hZoElUfDa4/090217104443.htm
Researchers have discovered that 73 percent of patients receiving Non-Contact Therapeutic Touch experienced a significant reduction in pain, had fewer requests for medication, and slept more comfortably following surgery.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Tree Lizard’s Quick Release Escape System Makes Jumpers Turn Somersaults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ygU2g_XjVjk/090213070546.htm
Lizards have the ultimate quick release escape system. When in a predator's grips, they drop their tails to escape. But what price do tree dwelling lizards pay for freedom? Biologists tested the effect the loss had on the lizards' mobility and found that the lizards are extremely compromised. They can no longer jump, somersaulting backwards, making it difficult to land safely when jumping between branches.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Key To Regenerative Therapies? Process For Expansion And Division Of Heart Cells Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w5FPdpU8UeQ/090217125331.htm
Researchers have unraveled a complex signaling process that reveals how different types of cells interact to create a heart.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
'Quantum Data Buffering' Scheme Demonstrated; Potentially Useful For Quantum Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qXBmgR7bKNg/090213115040.htm
Pushing the envelope of Albert Einstein's "spooky action at a distance," known as entanglement, researchers have demonstrated a "quantum buffer" -- a technique that could be used to control the data flow inside a quantum computer.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Number Of Cerebral Cells At Embryonic Development Stage Controlled By Newly Discovered Mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T1cISn5g_mM/090213070922.htm
Researchers have discovered that a protein present in the nucleus of progenitor cells of the embryonic central nervous system forms part of the genetic mechanisms through which these cells transform into neurons and astrocytes, the two cell types that constitute the majority of the adult brain.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
New Questions About Evolution Of Hormones In Mammals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TOaxGUfdte8/090213114309.htm
The recent developments of noninvasive techniques such as tracking mammals to gather feces, and sensitive assays for fecal hormone metabolites, have allowed the formulation of a more complete picture of the relationships among behavior, social systems and hormone function in mammals in the wild -- sometimes contradicting findings in the lab.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Asian Elephants Under Increasing Threat As Illegal Ivory Prices Soar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kz912fwZJEo/090217104646.htm
Southeast Asia's few surviving elephants are under increasing threat from booming illegal ivory prices in Vietnam, according to a new study. Vietnamese illegal ivory prices could be the highest in the world, with tusks selling for up to $1,500 per kilogram and small, cut pieces selling for up to $1,863 per kilogram.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Most Detailed Lunar Map Suggests Little Water Inside Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F_4c0A4LXek/090212141201.htm
The most detailed map of the Moon ever created has revealed never-before-seen craters at the lunar poles. The map is also revealing secrets about the Moon's interior -- and hinting about Mars's interior as well.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Suppressing Cancer With A Master Control Gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ze1OLiD__Ww/090223094702.htm
Starting with the tiny fruit fly and then moving into mice and humans, researchers have shown that expression of the same gene suppresses cancer in all three organisms. Reciprocally, switching off the gene -- called Ato in flies and ATOH1 in mammals -- leads to cancer. The authors show there is a good chance that the gene can be switched on again with a drug.

Tue, 24 Feb 09
Fruit Flies Soar As Lab Model, Drug Screen For The Deadliest Of Human Brain Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uynJ1ZgkO78/090212210716.htm
Fruit flies and humans share most of their genes, including 70 percent of all known human disease genes. Taking advantage of this remarkable evolutionary conservation, researchers transformed the fruit fly into a laboratory model for an innovative study of gliomas, the most common malignant brain tumors.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Lab-made Proteins Neutralize Multiple Strains Of Seasonal And Pandemic Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KIVO8UCgFxc/090222142139.htm
Scientists have identified a small family of lab-made proteins that neutralize a broad range of influenza A viruses, including the H5N1 avian virus, the 1918 pandemic influenza virus and seasonal H1N1 flu viruses. These human monoclonal antibodies, identical infection-fighting proteins derived from the same cell lineage, also were found to protect mice from illness caused by H5N1 and other influenza A viruses.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
X-ray Eyes Bring Us Closer To Early Diagnosis Of Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iE61kShPvEM/090213172050.htm
It is estimated that 4 million people world-wide are suffering from Parkinson's, a complex disease that varies greatly among affected individuals. Understanding the brain chemistry that leads to the onset of Parkinson's is vital if we are to develop methods for early MRI diagnosis and new treatments for this devastating disease.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Field Of Germs: Food Safety Is In Farm Worker's Hands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kyHYDzy_GvA/090220074835.htm
Food safety policy experts say protocols need to look beyond dirty processing plants. Farm workers aren't required to be vaccinated, which presents an increased threat for the spread of disease, particularly among foods that do not require cooking.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Fructose-sweetened Drinks Increase Nonfasting Triglycerides In Obese Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uYolWbUXMF0/090212161819.htm
Obese people who drink fructose-sweetened beverages with their meals have an increased rise of triglycerides following the meal, according to new research. This effect was especially pronounced in insulin-resistant subjects, worsening their already adverse metabolic profiles and potentially increasing their risk for heart disease and other metabolic disorders.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Next Generation Digital Maps Are Laser Sharp
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IpdWGoFfwwY/090212093650.htm
New airborne laser elevation, or lidar, surveys of the earth provide a 10-fold improvement in the precision of digital topographical maps, geologists report. This revolution in mapping will soon benefit anyone who relies on map data for work or recreation.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
How We Think Before We Speak: Making Sense Of Sentences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AFFmM8C-ZzI/090220102254.htm
How does the brain turn seemingly random sounds and letters into sentences with clear meaning? Recent findings suggest that, as we read or have a conversation, our brains are continuously trying to predict upcoming information. These findings reveal that our brains very rapidly draw upon a wide range of information, including what was stated previously and who the speaker is, in helping us understand what is being said to us.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Most Extreme Gamma-ray Blast Ever, Seen By Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NEo9mYY1gJs/090219141458.htm
With the greatest total energy, the fastest motions, and the highest-energy initial emissions ever before seen, a gamma-ray burst recently observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is one for the record books. The spectacular blast also raises new questions about gamma-ray bursts.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
New Method To Eliminate Ibuprofen From Polluted Waters Using Ultrasound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lb_e6-R4XwE/090212093941.htm
Scientists have developed an ultrasound treatment to remove ibuprofen from waters polluted with this drug. This method could be used in water purification plants, which would avoid the emission of pharmaceutical pollutants into rivers, lakes, seas and other surface waters.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Herpes Virus: To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IM01z2AO_rY/090212132320.htm
Scientists have followed up on an intriguing study showing that mice persistently infected with certain forms of herpes virus, which can establish lifelong latent infections, are resistant to infection with bacterial pathogens. Researchers are concerned with the implications of such research for the development of vaccines against herpesvirus infections.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Aerosols May Have High Impact On Rainfall, Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-ECtbmKFFVc/090212093653.htm
Aerosols may have a greater impact on patterns of Australian rainfall and future climate change than previously thought, according to a leading atmospheric scientist.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
'Good' Bacteria Can Be Effective Vehicle For Oral Vaccine Against Anthrax
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9jY6TDtgiE4/090216175207.htm
Researchers have discovered that the good bacteria found in dairy products and linked to positive health benefits in the human body might also be an effective vehicle for an oral vaccine that can provide immunity to anthrax exposure. The approach could possibly be used as an EZ Pass to deliver any number of specific vaccines that could block other types of viruses and pathogens.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
New 'Bubble' Targets Only Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0T14KZM0WTs/090219202835.htm
For millions of Americans with cancer, the side effects of chemotherapy and other treatment drugs can be devastating. But new drug-delivery research based on nano- and microtechnology might provide much-needed relief, as well as more effective cancer treatment.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
New Lab Evidence Suggests Preventive Effect Of Herbal Supplement In Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4E0ljpWRKys/090212093646.htm
DHEA is a natural circulating hormone and the body's production of it decreases with age. Men take DHEA as an over-the-counter supplement because it has been suggested that DHEA can reverse aging or have anabolic effects since it can be metabolized in the body to androgens.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Pediatric Hodgkin's Disease Survivors Face Increased Breast Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3S3CnHCpjTM/090212125132.htm
Women who as children received radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease are almost 40 times more likely than others to develop breast cancer, according to findings from five institutions.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Viscosity-enhancing Nanomaterials May Double Service Life Of Concrete
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JhyY8urlHVU/090211120939.htm
Engineers have developed a method that is expected to double the service life of concrete. The key is a nano-sized additive.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
If It's Hard To Say, It Must Be Risky
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WsK6cbLKi0E/090220102245.htm
Will a product's name and how easy it is to pronounce, affect how we view the product? In a new study reported in Psychological Science, psychologists present evidence that we if have problems pronouncing something, we will consider it to be risky.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Ocean Less Effective At Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emitted By Human Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fc5nhDueW_M/090216092937.htm
In the Southern Indian Ocean, climate change is leading to stronger winds, which mix waters, bringing carbon dioxide up from the ocean depths to the surface. As a result, the Southern Ocean can no longer absorb as much atmospheric CO2 as before. Its role as a 'carbon sink' has been weakened, and it may now be ten times less efficient than previously estimated. The same trend can be observed at high latitudes in the North Atlantic.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Unrelated And Mismatched Cord Blood Transplantation Can Still Help Children With Deadly Conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/agKdTFwAD_A/090213114311.htm
An unrelated cord blood transplant, even from a mismatched donor, can be effective in treating children with a host of life-threatening diseases and disorders including cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other genetic diseases, according to researchers. Unrelated cord blood may be easier to obtain than adult bone marrow, allowing for the treatment of more patients.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Australia Wildfires Extract A Heavy Toll In Lives, Land
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cR9cWNbCIfU/090222183944.htm
Satellite images of Australia's severe wildfires show the global transport of their pollution, extent of the devastation and the fires still burning as of Feb. 17. The bushfires burning in Victoria Australia have claimed almost 200 lives, destroyed more than 1,800 homes and scorched more than 1,500 square miles (3,900 square kilometers).

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Specific Protein Is Crucial To Reproduction Of Parasites Involved In Toxoplasmosis Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MxwAwyiQHSY/090212125130.htm
Scientists have discovered a protein in T. gondii that is essential for the parasite's growth. The group's work points the way toward a new model system that can be used in studying other parasitic diseases and could one day lead to an effective target for drug intervention.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
How Mosquitoes Survive Dengue Virus Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iqjzj6IqRCA/090212210708.htm
Scientists have discovered that mosquitoes that transmit deadly viruses such as dengue avoid becoming ill by mounting an immediate, potent immune response. Because their immune system does not eliminate the virus, however, they are able to pass it on to a new victim.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Invasive Species: Part Of The Price Of Doing Business, Environmental Economist Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oD83UfL0sms/090213172042.htm
When the sun rides low on the horizon and winter chills wrap us all in down and fleece, global trade brings blueberries from South America, oranges from Israel. But trade in exotic goods also comes with significant local economic costs, explains a professor of environmental economics.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
How We Keep Visual Details In Short-term Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OZSpqNQEDRk/090220102247.htm
People voluntarily pick what information they store in short-term memory. Now, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers can see just what information people are holding in memory based only on patterns of activity in the brain.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Nanoscopic Changes To Pancreatic Cells Reveal Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jwa-08bzwT8/090213070553.htm
Scientists have developed a way to examine cell biopsies and detect never-before-seen signs of early-stage pancreatic cancer, according to a new article. Though the new technique has not yet proven effective in double-blind clinical trials, it may one day help diagnose cancers of the pancreas and, potentially, other organs at their earliest and most treatable stages, before they spread.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
NASA-Funded Carbon Dioxide Map Of U.S. Released On Google Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pfC78OSXCKY/090222184453.htm
Interactive maps that detail carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion are now available on the popular Google Earth platform. The maps, funded by NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy through the joint North American Carbon Program, can display fossil fuel emissions by the hour, geographic region, and fuel type.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Early Switch From IV To Oral Meds Is Effective For Children With Acute Bone Infection, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OIPSam7WQBU/090212112749.htm
When treating hospitalized children with acute osteomyelitis -- a bacterial bone infection -- an early changeover from intravenous antibiotic delivery to oral antibiotics is just as effective as continuing the IV therapy, according to pediatric researchers. In addition, the oral drugs are more convenient for children and families, and avoid a major drawback of IV use: Increased risk of complications from using central catheters, such as infections or breaks in the catheter.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Publication Of Flu Vaccines Studies In Prestigious Journals Are Determined By The Sponsor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jOJau5t2Mps/090212210731.htm
Industry-sponsored studies on influenza vaccines are published in journals with higher rankings (impact factors) and are cited more than studies with other sponsors, but this is not because they are bigger or better, finds a new study.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Open Online Access To Scientific Papers May Not Guarantee Wide Dissemination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BKrcFoBNnws/090220164952.htm
If you offer something of value to people for free while someone else charges a hefty sum of money for the same type of product, one would logically assume that most people would choose the free option. According to new research in the journal Science, if the product in question is access to scholarly papers and research, that logic might just be wrong.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
What's Feeding Cancer Cells?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pQUb0LGQQyo/090217092748.htm
Cancer cells need a lot of nutrients to multiply and survive. While much is understood about how cancer cells use blood sugar to make energy, not much is known about how they get other nutrients. Now, researchers have discovered how the Myc cancer-promoting gene uses microRNAs to control the use of glutamine, a major energy source.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Gut Parasites That Can Infect Humans May Be Widespread In Domestic And Wild Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z6MRaHKE8sI/090216092939.htm
The gut protozoans Giardia duodenalis and various species of Cryptosporidium are extremely contagious single-celled parasites liable to cause digestive disease in both humans and animals. Some species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia are important zooneses, as they occur in both animals and humans. Zooneses are diseases that may be transmitted between animals and people.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
When Acute Hepatitis Develops Into Chronic Hepatitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/It8WdCxvCFI/090216092930.htm
Researchers demonstrate how the immune system reacts to a hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is the most prevalent infectious disease in the world. It results in either an acute infection or, in rare cases, it can develop into a chronic disease. Researchers have now examined the way in which the immune system reacts differently to both chronic and acute hepatitis B.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
Cosmological Simulations Key To Understanding The Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WJVU2-ZLcgs/090217092750.htm
Physicists are harnessing the power of supercomputing to recreate how galaxies are born, how they develop over time and, ultimately, how they collapse. Scientists are creating computer simulations to better understand the physics of black holes and the role they play in galaxy formation.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
When Dreaming Is Believing: Dreams Affect People's Judgment, Behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0cQni-8UVTc/090217125544.htm
While science tries to understand the stuff dreams are made of, humans, from cultures all over the world, continue to believe that dreams contain important hidden truths, according to newly published research.

Mon, 23 Feb 09
X-rays Used To Reveal Secrets Of Famous 'Dinobird' Fossil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-mhhUUFdCB0/090215151858.htm
Researchers are using powerful X-rays to find elemental traces of dinosaur tissue next to fossilized bones.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Cannibalism Among Rattlesnakes Helps Females To Recover After Birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YtJuXt_lIVQ/090219095533.htm
Researchers have produced the first quantitative description of cannibalism among female rattlesnakes (Crotalus polystictus) after monitoring 190 reptiles. The study has shown that these animals ingest on average 11% of their postpartum mass (in particular eggs and dead offspring) in order to recover energy for subsequent reproduction.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Nanoscale Materials Grow With The Flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g0v8SIX8Wfs/090212132322.htm
Scientists have shown that nanoscale, uniform lead islands on silicon are spontaneously and quickly created by unusually mobile atoms. The discovery of the "liquid-like" nanogrowth mechanism is promising for nanotechnology applications, which require fast, consistent, and efficient material growth for industrial-scale production.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Durability Of Dental Fillings Improves If The Enzyme Activity Of Teeth Is Inhibited
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5G0QXy2FN0E/090212093658.htm
A dental filling is more durable if the enzyme activity of the tooth can be inhibited. Professor Leo Tjaderhane of the Department of Pedodontics, Cariology and Endodontology at the University of Oulu, together with wide international collaborative team, has been developing this method with funding from the Academy of Finland.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Tracking Warming Trend In Northwestern North America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8ty1G91aAdE/090212150848.htm
A new study says that weather, especially in late winter and early spring, is getting warmer in northwestern North America.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Student Finds Rare Lincoln Fingerprint
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/12jgpHmDkt0/090213104743.htm
A first-year university student has discovered what experts say is a fingerprint belonging to Abraham Lincoln from nearly 150 years ago.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Single-celled Algae Took The Leap To Multicellularity 200 Million Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0XGhcY2WGgU/090219140546.htm
Ancestors of the alga Volvox made the transition from the solitary life of a single-celled organism to that of a multicellular colony much earlier than previously thought, according to new research. Studying how algae made the leap provides clues to how organisms such as plants and animals evolved from single-celled ancestors. Mediating conflict between the cooperating cells is the key.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Stem Cell Research Uncovers Mechanism For Type 2 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lmZIxtlEfKs/090212171947.htm
Taking clues from their stem cell research, investigators have discovered that a signaling pathway involved in normal pancreatic development is also associated with type 2 diabetes.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Neural Circuitry Of Near-misses May Explain The Allure Of Gambling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tFuJkJlVg2E/090211122130.htm
Why do people gamble if they know that the house always wins? Researchers argue that near-misses, where the gambler narrowly misses out on the jackpot, may provide part of the answer.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Hypertension Drug Dramatically Reduces Proteinuria In Kidney Disease Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8saqIgvXmQ0/090211193803.htm
Taking a much higher than recommended dose of the hypertension drug candesartan cilexetil effectively lowered the amount of protein excreted in the urine of patients with kidney disease, according to a new study. By reducing such proteinuria, the drug could potentially prevent the development of serious complications such as end-stage kidney disease and therefore save many patients' lives.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Intrepid Explorers And The Search For The Origin Of Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7NptLOxi1AI/090212161817.htm
Evolution, we know, is the guiding thread of biology and explains life as we know it. But how that big idea was inspired and expanded over two centuries of natural history is really a tale of the adventures of a handful of intrepid scientists whose derring-do, perseverance and intellectual curiosity sparked a revolution that forever changed our view of the living world.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Simply Hoping That Humanity Will Save The Environment May Do More Harm Than Good, Experts Argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NAS_iZPblGA/090220110906.htm
Do you "hope" that everyone will see the light and start living more sustainably to save the environment? If so, you may be doing more harm than good.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Glaciers In China And Tibet Fading Fast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ZyRurmYYsc/090220185537.htm
Glaciers that serve as water sources to one of the most ecologically diverse alpine communities on earth are melting at an alarming rate, according to a recent report.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Surprising Interactions Of Diabetes Mellitus And Sepsis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FSd2YwsNOKQ/090212210710.htm
Diabetic patients are less likely to suffer from acute respiratory failure during severe sepsis. Researchers studied 930 million hospitalizations over a 25-year period to investigate the protective effect, adding to our knowledge of both diabetes and sepsis.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Taking The Stress Out Of Magnetic Field Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jy8lwfxsKd0/090211120937.htm
Researchers have discovered that a carefully built magnetic sandwich has dramatically enhanced sensitivity to magnetic fields and could lead to greatly improved magnetic sensors for a wide range of applications from weapons detection and non-destructive testing to medical devices and high-performance data storage.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment of Ustekinumab Effective, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4YOeXZ5JEAE/090211193813.htm
A group of patients suffering from potentially debilitating psoriatic arthritis showed significant and prolonged improvement after treatment with ustekinumab, according to data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
New Anti-graffiti Coating Able To Protect Cultural Heritage Ancient Materials Has Been Developed To Prevent Damage Caused By Graffiti Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o29xmFcTYwU/090220075137.htm
Cultural Heritage materials are often porous and in many cases present decay in several forms. Because of their historical value, they must be protected. Today, this type of material is threatened by graffiti, which is not only aesthetically unpleasing, but also damages the historic substrates due to the penetration of paints and the methods used to remove the graffiti later.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Easing Children's Fears Of The Dentist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vk4emBfDk2s/090220074822.htm
For many children, a trip to the doctor or dentist is a stressful experience. The sensory environment (i.e., the sounds, smells, and lights associated with the clinical setting) can cause a child's anxiety levels to rise. This is especially true in children with developmental disabilities who may have difficulty understanding the unfamiliar clinical environment.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Most Wars Occur In Earth's Richest Biological Regions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ECESI5BDiN8/090220110910.htm
In a startling result scientists find that more than 80 percent of the world's major armed conflicts from 1950-2000 occurred in regions identified as the most biologically diverse and threatened places on Earth.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
New Therapy With Stem Cells To Treat Crohn's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VQgQBBtidYA/090219105326.htm
Scientists are exploring an innovative cellular therapy that uses stem cells to treat Crohn's disease, a chronic genetic disease which has considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Seamounts May Serve As Refuges For Deep-sea Animals That Struggle To Survive Elsewhere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H7BlZkO-ioc/090211161944.htm
Over the last two decades, marine biologists have discovered lush forests of deep-sea corals and sponges growing on seamounts (underwater mountains) offshore of the California coast. It has generally been assumed that many of these animals live only on seamounts, and are found nowhere else. However, two new research papers show that most seamount animals can also be found in other deep-sea areas. These findings may help coastal managers protect seamounts from damage by human activities.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
Eosinophils As Markers For Asthma: Largest Scale Study So Far On Asthma Genetics Sheds Light On Disease Mechanisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w1fn_BpzoSM/090210134555.htm
Asthma and allergic diseases are associated with a number of biological reactions. One of these reactions is an elevated blood count of eosinophils, multifunctional leukocytes that release highly active proteins primarily to combat parasites. In the largest study so far on asthma genetics, scientists used this immune reaction as an easily measurable marker to elucidate the underlying disease mechanisms.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
New Reference Material Can Improve Testing Of Multivitamin Tablets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xAJeg6sWlpc/090211111011.htm
NIST has developed a new certified reference material that can be an important quality assurance tool for measuring the amounts of vitamins, carotenoids and trace elements in dietary supplements.

Sun, 22 Feb 09
New Treatment Approach Needed For Management Of Depression With Bipolar Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nEwjmTGK8jk/090211161948.htm
Scientists have attempted to identify what factors make some people with bipolar depression more likely to experience treatment-emergent mania.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Life Forms May Have Evolved In Ancient Hot Springs On Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BdyNUk5Dmsk/090212112829.htm
Data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest the discovery of ancient springs in the Vernal Crater, sites where life forms may have evolved on Mars, according to a report in Astrobiology.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
'Normalizing' Tumor Vessels Leaves Cancer More Benign
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1BlAxAAIE4k/090212125126.htm
New research suggests a counterintuitive new method to make cancer less likely to spread: by normalizing the shape of tumors' blood vessels to improve their oxygen supply. Such a treatment strategy might also boost the efficacy and reduce resistance to available anti-cancer drugs and so-called anti-angiogenic drugs that work by cutting off the growth of new blood vessels.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Spread Of Rice Virus Could Be Reduce With Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sB8YWOU8Z_g/090210182437.htm
Building on plant virus research started more than 20 years ago, biologists have discovered a technology that reduces infection by the virus that causes Rice Tungro Disease, a limiting factor of rice production in Asia.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
New Obesity Staging System May Help Doctors Measure Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dhEB0cd_2A4/090210125533.htm
A new system proposed by Canadian and US obesity researchers may provide another weapon in the battle against obesity. Scientists have proposed a classification system to help doctors assess and treat overweight patients.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
On The Origin Of Subspecies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S0R7EadMXXQ/090211161842.htm
Scientists have sequenced over seventy strains of yeast, the greatest number of genomes for any species, bringing into focus the small branches of Darwin's Tree of Life.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Smoking Prevention Campaign Saving Billions In Smoking-related Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/irCAsBtwbfE/090212132313.htm
Researchers have estimated that "Truth", the nations' largest youth smoking prevention campaign, saved $1.9 billion or more in health care costs associated with tobacco use.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Animals Successfully Relearn Smell Of Kin After Hibernation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q0sKt51gcus/090213114207.htm
Animals can re-establish their use of smell to detect siblings, even following an interruption such as prolonged hibernation. Smell is an important animal survival tool. Female ground squirrel sisters bond for protection and use smell to recognize each other. Animals also need to recognize siblings to avoid inbreeding, which would have a negative effect on their genetic fitness. The research on how animals recognize kin is vital to helping plan conservation programs for endangered species.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
New Platinum-based Anti-tumor Compound Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KWkIE8ZSWXM/090211193818.htm
Researchers have developed a new class of platinum-based anti-tumor drugs that animal studies have shown to be 10 times more effective than current treatments in destroying certain types of lung cancer cells.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Simple Method Strengthens Schools, Other Buildings Against Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fR2a3FIpm9g/090210125429.htm
Civil engineers using a specialized laboratory have demonstrated the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive method to strengthen buildings that have a flaw making them dangerously vulnerable to earthquakes.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Diseased Heart Valve Replaced Through Small Chest Incision On 91-Year-Old Patient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9wSFu9tHc-Y/090210133916.htm
When a 91-year-old man was diagnosed with severe blockage of his heart valve -- hardening that is formally known as aortic valve stenosis -- open-heart surgery was out of the question. He'd already survived quadruple bypass while in his 50s, and having lived almost a century,he wasn't a good candidate for heart surgery for many reasons.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
'Green' Plastics Could Help Reduce Carbon Footprint
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QcnikaI_I4M/090211122145.htm
More than 20 million tons of plastic are placed in US landfills each year. Results from a new study suggest that some of the largely petroleum-based plastic may soon be replaced by a nonpolluting, renewable plastic made from plants. Reducing the carbon footprint and the dependence on foreign oil, this new "green" alternative may also provide an additional cash crop for farmers.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Sexual Health Promotion Is Low Among People With Serious Mental Illnesses, Despite Higher Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0VNe6y4yhlk/090212093702.htm
A survey of mental health workers found that although 80 percent felt sexual health promotion was an important part of their role, only 30 percent routinely discussed sexual health issues with service users. Most were not aware that people with schizophrenia face a higher HIV risk than the general population.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
New Silver-based Nanoparticle Ink Could Lead To Better Flexible, Printed Electronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MTS27CDDEEA/090212141204.htm
A new ink, composed of silver nanoparticles, can be used in electronic and optoelectronic applications to create flexible, stretchable and spanning microelectrodes that carry signals from one circuit element to another. The printed microelectrodes can withstand repeated bending and stretching with minimal change in their electrical properties.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Cell Injections Accelerate Fracture Healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ssfagbKwXoU/090211193807.htm
Long bone fractures heal faster after injections of bone-building cells. New research has shown that osteoblast cells cultured from a patient's own bone marrow can be injected into the fracture area and can speed the healing process.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
View Into The Human Body: The Formation Of Cell Organelles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3mKBMZiOhCE/090210134548.htm
Peroxisomes, multifaceted functional units within cells, fulfil the most diverse of tasks. In human beings, failure of these organelles is fatal. Their biogenesis does not adhere to the standard rules and still remains to be fully clarified. Scientists have identified a new pathway for components of the peroxisomal membrane proteins. The data gained is a significant contribution towards the comprehension of the formation and origin of peroxisomes.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
IL-2 Immunotherapy Fails To Benefit HIV-infected Individuals Already Taking Antiretrovirals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zSi_r2ZTsyk/090210125441.htm
Providing a synthetic form of the immune system protein interleukin-2 to HIV-infected individuals already taking combination antiretroviral therapy boosts their numbers of CD4+ T cells, the key white blood cells destroyed by HIV, but fails to reduce their risk of HIV-associated opportunistic diseases or death compared with combination antiretroviral therapy alone.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Cracking The Species Code For Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f-qpNLRMi48/090217080017.htm
A recent article searches for one or more short pieces of DNA code that could eventually be used in an automated fashion to reliably identify almost all land plant species.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Parents 'Avoid Pregnancy' Rather Than Face Testing Choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6qz6qwmflYA/090211101716.htm
Parents of children with genetic conditions may avoid the need to choose whether to undergo pre-natal testing or to abort future pregnancies by simply avoiding subsequent pregnancy altogether, a study has found.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Japanese Corals Change Sexes On The Sea Floor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IHxLdaajSf8/090219202833.htm
Trees do it. Bees do it. Even environmentally stressed fish do it. Now biologists have discovered that Japanese sea corals engage in "sex switching" too.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Innovative Method To Starve Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fLyxK_-zcX0/090211110958.htm
Scientists have just discovered a new mechanism that tumors use to stimulate the growth of the blood vessels that feed them. The researchers have also proposed a new way to control this process, which may translate into future therapies.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Most Road Salt Is Making It Into Lakes And Rivers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JiDAAY7GBNk/090210125424.htm
New research has revealed that road salt used throughout the winter is making the state's lakes and rivers saltier, which could affect aquatic life and drinking water. The research indicates that better training of snow plow drivers and more judicious use of road salt could help lessen the impact and save the state money.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Model Of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Against HIV Forecasts Benefits, Potential Cost-effectiveness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vtMGF-lpNtw/090210092837.htm
For every two people who begin treatment for HIV infection globally, five others become newly infected. Therefore, preventing new HIV infections is the foremost strategy for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
First Crystal Structure Of An Intermediate Particle In Virus Assembly Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v9mQck9mU8M/090208133232.htm
Scientists been able to produce the first crystal structure of a virus particle caught in the midst of assembling its impenetrable outer protein coat.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Educational Video Games Effective In Classroom If Certain Criteria Are Met
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YsEcC2QbRs8/090210134746.htm
Playing and studying are not incompatible activities. A team of researchers looked into integrating virtual graphic adventures into online education platforms and analyzes the educational and technological aspects that lead to success.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Comet Lulin: 'Green Comet' Fast Approaching Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/34XrLjKz3dQ/090220075316.htm
Space scientists are keeping a close eye on a 'green comet' fast approaching the Earth - reaching its nearest point to us on February 24. Comet Lulin will streak by the earth within 38 million miles -- 160 times farther than the moon -and is expected to be visible to the naked eye. Discovered only a year ago, the comet gains its green color from poisonous cyanogen and diatomic carbon gases in its atmosphere.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Clot-buster Boosts Survival, Decreases Disability For Deadly Subset Of Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g265A1vnNg0/090219152128.htm
Patients who got an experimental clot-busting treatment for a particularly lethal form of stroke were not only dramatically more likely to survive but also continued to shed lingering disabilities six months later.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Bacteria In Urinary Tract Infections Caught Making Burglar's Tools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hwi-Cxzjmd0/090219202725.htm
Bacteria that cause urinary tract infections make more tools for stealing from their host than friendly versions of the same bacteria found in the gut, researchers have found. The tools help the bad bacteria to survive and reproduce. But they also provide a potential way to target them without adversely affecting the good strains.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Gaza Strip Families Give First Clue To Condition Causing Blindness And Tooth Decay
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EzJX_fgkHoY/090212112751.htm
Scientists studying an inherited condition resulting in blindness and crumbling teeth have found a single defective gene can affect both eye function and normal tooth development.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Unusual Electronic Properties In Bismuth-based Crystalline Material May Lead To Better Computer Chips And Solar Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dz8sQ5BwoFQ/090219141530.htm
Physicists have discovered unusual electronic properties in a material that has potential to improve solar cell efficiency and computer chip design. The material has potential to improve solar cell efficiency and computer chip design. Researchers determined that a crystal made of bismuth, iron and oxygen can act as a reversible diode, and that diodes made from this material generate current when light falls on them. The material appears sensitive to light at the blue end of the spectrum, a property that could increase solar cell efficiency.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Number Of Fast-food Restaurants In Neighborhood Associated With Stroke Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jIW4w_hSFkg/090219202714.htm
Research suggests the more fast-food restaurants in a neighborhood, the higher the stroke risk for area residents. The study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between eating fast foods and increased stroke risk.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
How Fat or Fit Were Dinosaurs? Scientists Use Laser Imaging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_zBSmPNL1Es/090220110912.htm
Scientists used laser imaging to investigate how fat -- or fit -- T. rex and his fellow dinosaurs were. Researchers found that a small T. rex could have weighed anywhere between 5.5 and 7 tonnes, while their larger specimen (Stan) might have weighed as much as 8 tonnes.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Revolutionary New Model For Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iAh5tRUG7dM/090219202839.htm
Is there something missing from the conventional theory that Alzheimer's is a disease of toxicity -- based on the accumulation of sticky amyloid plaques in the brain? New research focuses on Alzheimer's Disease as a nerve signaling disorder that occurs when there's an imbalance in the making and breaking of memories. The discovery of a naturally occurring brain protein, Netrin-1, offers a new target for therapeutics.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Stroke: Innovative Team Approach Brings Man Back From The Dead Twice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K1uZ1FRbohE/090219211416.htm
He was in the throes of a heart attack--the kind so bad it's called "the widow maker." PATCAR was at the rescue, a state-of-the-art response that required three medical teams-from ambulance to cath lab-to all work from the same playbook in precision time. Alive and well, he cheated death twice in one day.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Can Breastfeeding Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Relapses?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RU_Eu4oIdk4/090219202716.htm
Women who have multiple sclerosis may reduce their risk of relapses after pregnancy if they breastfeed their babies, according to a new study.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
How Complex Movements Of Enzymes Make Fat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_B8II0lsCVI/090211193820.htm
A groundbreaking study has revealed in great detail how enzymes in the cell cooperate to make fat.

Sat, 21 Feb 09
Violent Media Numb Viewers To The Pain Of Others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9pdOAXOcOKk/090219202831.htm
Violent video games and movies make people numb to the pain and suffering of others, according to a research report published in Psychological Science.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
NASA's Kepler Mission To Seek Other Earths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xr5hmZELRcI/090219201411.htm
NASA's Kepler spacecraft is ready to be moved to the launch pad and will soon begin a journey to search for worlds that could potentially host life. It is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth -- rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface. Liquid water is believed to be essential for the formation of life.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Injections Of Licorice Ingredient Show Promise As Treatment For Cocaine Addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zvdPZWxDU3w/090218223504.htm
An ingredient in licorice shows promise as an antidote for the toxic effects of cocaine abuse, including deadly overdoses of the highly addictive drug, researchers are reporting. 

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Indoor Plants Can Reduce Formaldehyde Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UVFJl5IKz_k/090217141419.htm
The toxic gas formaldehyde is contained in building materials including carpeting, curtains, plywood, and adhesives. As it is emitted from these sources, it deteriorates the air quality, which can lead to "multiple chemical sensitivity" and "sick building syndrome," medical conditions with symptoms such as allergies, asthma and headaches. The prevalence of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds is greater in new construction. Researchers are studying the ability of plants to reduce formaldehyde levels in the air.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Genetics Research Sheds Light On Evolution Of The Human Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_fxmPNXvsac/090212150822.htm
Diet -- and how it has shaped our genome -- occupies much of an evolutionary scientist's time. Scientist hav explored how diet holds keys to understanding who we are, how we live and form societies, and how we evolved from hunter-gatherers to agriculturists, all the way to modern urban dwellers.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Water Vapor Feedback Loop Will Cause Accelerated Global Warming, Professor Warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RRF8zoO731Q/090219152132.htm
Here's yet another reason to hate humidity: it expands global warming, says a professor of Atmospheric Sciences writing in the journal Science. He says that warming due to increases in greenhouse gases will lead to higher humidity in the atmosphere. And because water vapor itself is a greenhouse gas, this will cause additional warming.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Will Online Shopping Look Something Like Second Life In The Future?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q7ZnHV_zY_U/090219131305.htm
For all of the conveniences of online shopping -- no crowds, easy parking, seemingly endless choices -- it can't always compete with the real thing. At least not yet. A marketing professor said consumers can expect that some of the disadvantages of online shopping will disappear as retailers adapt models from Second Life.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Fruit Flies Sick From Mating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0I2bSyQwHcY/090219081040.htm
Mating can be exhausting. When fruit flies mate, the females' genes are activated to roughly the same extent as when an immune reaction starts. Using a combination of behavioral studies and genomic technology, researchers in Sweden can show how fruit fly females are affected by mating.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Soybean Product Fights Abnormal Protein Involved In Alzheimer’s Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kiV3eam58sk/090218223842.htm
A vegan food renowned in Asia for its ability to protect against heart attacks also shows a powerful ability in lab experiments to prevent formation of the clumps of tangled protein involved in Alzheimer's disease, scientists are reporting. 

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Shark Attacks Decline Worldwide In Midst Of Economic Recession
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Epmr4qs5eLY/090219111000.htm
The recession may be responsible for a slump of a different sort: an unexpected dive in shark attacks, says a University of Florida researcher.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Chewing Gum Helps Treat Hyperphosphatemia In Kidney Disease Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6e8UcWo7ZF8/090212150854.htm
Chewing gum made with a phosphate-binding ingredient can help treat high phosphate levels in dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease, according to a new study. The results suggest that this simple measure could maintain proper phosphate levels and help prevent cardiovascular disease in these patients.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Orbiting Carbon Observatory Aims To Boost Carbon Management Options
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AS0H9-F3AqM/090219201657.htm
As the concentration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere continues to rise, so also does public awareness, as well as efforts to find solutions to this global problem. Increasing concentrations of this potent greenhouse gas threaten to alter Earth's climate in ways that will have profound impacts on the welfare and productivity of society and Earth's ecosystems.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Are There Positive Aspects To Binge-drinking? Researchers Ask The British
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hbPJUEWhHUQ/090218081624.htm
Are there positive aspects to the British taste for binge drinking? And are health experts and policy makers too quick to condemn what is a key part of British cultural life? These controversial issues are raised by a Dutch-born academic in an article in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Coastal Wetlands In Eastern U.S. Disappearing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wy57FQt3omA/090219141134.htm
While the nation as a whole gained freshwater wetlands from 1998 to 2004, a new report documents a continuing loss of coastal wetlands in the eastern United States.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
High-fat Diets Inflame Fat Tissue Around Blood Vessels, Contribute To Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LpcZ6uiM41s/090218142001.htm
A new study shows that high-fat diets, even if consumed for a short amount of time, can inflame fat tissue surrounding blood vessels, possibly contributing to cardiovascular disease.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Dendritic Cells As New Player In Arteries And Heart Valves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vQt5Cl2EYDc/090219120416.htm
In 1973, Ralph M. Steinman launched a new scientific discipline when he published his discovery of the dendritic cell, an odd-shaped player in the immune system. Since then, dendritic cells have proved to be critical sentinels on the lookout for foreign invaders, involved in early immune responses such as graft rejection, resistance to tumors and autoimmune diseases. Now it appears they need to be considered in research on arterial and heart function, too, according to new research in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Gene Mutation Increases Drug Toxicity, Rejection Risk In Pediatric Kidney Transplants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3H9ZhINhF4U/090218091924.htm
Screening for mutations in a gene that helps the body metabolize a kidney transplant anti-rejection drug may predict which children are at higher risk for side effects, including compromised white blood cell count or organ rejection, according to new research. This genetic approach could also help physicians tailor personalized anti-rejection drug doses to prevent adverse reactions, according to researchers.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Two-step Chemical Process Turns Raw Biomass Into Biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ComUTXyB6Nw/090210182439.htm
Taking a chemical approach, researchers have developed a two-step method to convert the cellulose in raw biomass into a promising biofuel. The process is unprecedented in its use of untreated, inedible biomass as the starting material.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Collective Religious Rituals, Not Religious Devotion, Spur Support For Suicide Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/POsgiMEit_s/090218161949.htm
While the relationship between religion and popular support for suicide attacks is a topic of frequent conjecture, scientific study of the relationship is rare. A new study in Psychological Science has found that the relationship between religion and support suicide attacks is real but is unrelated to devotion to particular religious beliefs or religious belief in general. Instead, collective religious ritual appears to facilitate parochial altruism in general and support for suicide attacks in particular.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Oil In Ocean Shows Up On NASA Images: Half Of The Oil In The Ocean Bubbles Up Naturally From Seafloor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zWjPKMdgbTE/090219101658.htm
About half of the oil in the ocean bubbles up naturally from the seafloor, with Earth giving it up freely like it was of no value. Likewise, NASA satellites collect thousands of images and 1.5 terabytes of data every year, but some of it gets passed over because no one thinks there is a use for it.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Meningitis Bacteria Dress Up As Human Cells To Evade Our Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zhf6Dul1_F0/090218135039.htm
The way in which bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis mimic human cells to evade the body's innate immune system has been revealed. The study could lead to the development of new vaccines that give better protection against meningitis B, the strain which accounts for the vast majority of cases of the disease in the UK.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Roles Of DNA Packaging Protein Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IeclpUVfYgk/090212150840.htm
Scientists have found that a class of chromatin proteins is crucial for maintaining the structure and function of chromosomes and the normal development of eukaryotic organisms.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Key Cellular Factor That Regulates Length Of Actin Filaments Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3jgkEtKPAtM/090218161947.htm
Researchers have raised the curtain on how actin maintains just the right filament length to keep the cell healthy and happily dividing.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Hidden Phosphorus Food Additives Dangerous To Kidney Disease Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jvYBijG900E/090210161912.htm
Advanced kidney disease patients have a list of foods they know to avoid because they naturally contain a high level of the mineral phosphorus, which is difficult for their compromised kidneys to expel. But researchers have discovered that a great deal of processed and fast food actually contains phosphorus additives which can be just as dangerous for these patients.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Having A Parent With Dementia May Affect Memory In Midlife
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-yGWM7NRs-4/090218161945.htm
People who have parents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia perform less well on formal memory testing when compared to people of the same age whose parents never developed Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. This is true even in middle-aged persons who do not have a diagnosis of clinical stroke or dementia, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
New Imaging Technique Reveals Atomic Structure Of Nanocrystals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CsBl5Ca3Z3I/090218141959.htm
A new imaging technique overcomes the limit of diffraction and can reveal the atomic structure of a single nanocrystal with a resolution of less than one angstrom (less than one hundredth-millionth of a centimeter).

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Protein Domain Linked To Tumor Progression Isolated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9XYZxx7ywek/090217141533.htm
When a promising cancer drug reached clinical trials in the 1990s, researchers were disappointed by the debilitating side effects that limited the trials. The drug inhibited a family of enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases. Now, researchers have shown that creating drugs that inactivate a different part of the MMP enzyme could have the capacity to target the tumor without the damaging side effects. Their findings hold promise for improved cancer therapies.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Detecting Disease In Greenhouse Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k9mmLtNM7bI/090217112128.htm
Greenhouses are an integral part of US agriculture. Nearly $200 million of food is produced in domestic greenhouses each year. Researchers have been examining the stresses of a variety of greenhouse plants using color infrared photography.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Young Adult Stroke Patients May Be Misdiagnosed In ER
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MgUDrm385lo/090218135025.htm
Stroke patients under age 50 may be misdiagnosed in the emergency rooms -- missing out on important time-sensitive treatment. Some are misdiagnosed with vertigo, migraine or alcohol intoxication. Researchers said people under 50 with "seemingly trivial" symptoms such as vertigo and nausea should be assessed meticulously by emergency room staff.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Device Aims To Decrease Wait Period For Patients Needing Immunotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GjCdUYQxmU0/090213130736.htm
Researchers have created a device that significantly decreases the time needed to produce genetically manipulated T cells in preclinical tests for leukemia.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Cancer Death Rates Dropping Among African Americans But Survival Rates Still Low
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xhUtbVw9HYE/090218080939.htm
While death rates from cancer continue to drop among African Americans, the group continues to be diagnosed at more advanced stages and have lower survival rates at each stage of diagnosis compared to whites for most cancer sites.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Rapid Burst Of Flowering Plants Set Stage For Other Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S12ytweGQXI/090209205204.htm
A new study based on DNA analysis from living flowering plants shows that the ancestors of most modern trees diversified extremely rapidly 90 million years ago, ultimately leading to the formation of forests that supported similar evolutionary bursts in animals and other plants.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Weight Loss Improves Fatty Liver Disease, Researchers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GcoCzkaHkKU/090217104439.htm
Recent study findings will allow doctors to give patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, specific weight loss goals that are likely to improve their health.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
NASA Study Predicted Outbreak Of Deadly Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_XoxIen4L-I/090217101433.htm
An early warning system, more than a decade in development, successfully predicted the 2006-2007 outbreak of the deadly Rift Valley fever in northeast Africa, according to a new study led by NASA scientists.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Systolic And Diastolic Blood Pressures Together More Useful For Predicting Cardiovascular Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/he-yqVCVl8M/090218181909.htm
Individuals with diastolic blood pressure under 70 mm Hg coupled with an elevated systolic blood pressure may have a greater risk of heart attack and stroke than indicated by the systolic blood pressure values alone, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Download, Install And Drive – The Future Of Automotive Software
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zFwjMDQ2S3g/090218182133.htm
Computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices regularly download software updates to keep obsolescence at bay. That’s not the norm for cars. But that could change thanks to an automotive software architecture developed by European researchers to keep vehicles up to date with the latest technology.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Reading: Yours, Mine, Ours: When You And I Share Perspectives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p5YZP_QxiE0/090218135124.htm
While reading a novel, why do we imagine scenes differently -- when do we view the action from an outsider's perspective and when do we place ourselves in the main character's shoes? The results of a new study, reported in Psychological Science, indicate that we use different perspectives, depending on which pronouns are used.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Planet Earth: Avoiding The Hothouse And The Icehouse Of The Future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gY4cg5NSdAk/090211082405.htm
By controlling emissions of fossil fuels we may be able to greatly delay the start of the next ice age, new research concludes. From an Earth history perspective, we are living in cold times. The greatest climate challenge mankind has faced has been surviving ice ages that have dominated climate during the past million years.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Blocking Protein Leads To Fewer, Smaller Skin Cancer Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lDLkQZanD1Y/090217104648.htm
New research suggests that blocking the activity of a protein in the blood could offer powerful protection against some skin cancers. In the study, normal mice and mice that had a genetically engineered protein deficiency were exposed to almost a year of ultraviolet light that mimics chronic sun exposure.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
NASA Spacecraft Falling For Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CtV_aCjX1DA/090217101249.htm
The gravity of Mars will change the Dawn spacecraft's path about the sun, helping send the probe toward its 2011 encounter with the asteroid Vesta.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Human Papillomavirus Lesion Identified At The Dentist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UAelzIdBIM0/090218181904.htm
Oral HPV can be detected using a very familiar, conventional device that patients may already experience in your mouth during routine procedures. This device is the VELscope. It's the wand that emits a bright, indigo blue light. If you've ever had a cavity, your dentist may have used the VELscope to set/harden the material used to fill the cavity.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Robotic Therapy May Reduce Stroke Physical Disability Years Later
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OzyXAiOcljI/090218161940.htm
Robotic therapy improved physical disability caused by stroke, even years after the stroke. All patients experienced improvement. The greater the disability when therapy began, the less improvement patients achieved.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Recreational Genomics: Will That Be A Paternity Or Cancer Test Today?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XGE8v7ixvGs/090218200316.htm
Commercial genetic tests, which can verify risks of cancer risks to paternity, have become commonplace in the Western societies. Yet these tests provide little information and raise a lot more questions, according ton one bioethics expert.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Huge Pressures Melt Diamonds On Planet Neptune
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YGgMcD-NjKk/090218091937.htm
The enormous pressures needed to melt diamond to slush and then to a completely liquid state have been determined 10 times more accurately than ever before. It may not immediately obvious why accelerating a projectile about the size of a stick of gum to 25 times the speed of a rifle bullet and smashing it into a target in central New Mexico would say anything about nuclear fusion or the state of diamonds on Neptune.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Estrogen Found To Increase Growth Of The Most Common Childhood Brain Tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CGXXwwR0SR8/090217112130.htm
Researchers have discovered that estrogen receptors are present in medulloblastoma -- the most common type of pediatric brain tumor -- leading them to believe that anti-estrogen drug treatments may be beneficial in limiting tumor progression and improving patients' overall outcome.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Mars Spirit Rover Gets Energy Boost From Cleaner Solar Panels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ZY-sscZT4k/090217101110.htm
A small but important uptick in electrical output from the solar panels on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit this month indicates a beneficial Martian wind has blown away some of the dust that has accumulated on the panels.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Inhibiting Proteins May Prevent Cartilage Breakdown In Arthritis Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AO6ZGxv8oZE/090218181907.htm
Researchers hope to find new therapeutic targets for arthritis by studying the interaction between two proteins that, if interrupted, may prevent arthritis pain caused by joint damage. They have found potential evidence that blocking the proteins responsible for inducing inflammation prevents cartilage breakdown.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
Cheaper Materials Could Be Key To Low-cost Solar Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/68JSPonjSFE/090218091939.htm
Solar cells today are made from expensive materials such as crystalline silicon or exotic thin films of rare elements like cadmium and tellurium. A new study finds that unconventional solar cell materials, such as iron pyrite -- fool's gold -- may be a better deal if photovoltaics are expected to meet energy demands of the future. These materials are more abundant and cheaper to extract, which can offset their somewhat lower efficiency.

Fri, 20 Feb 09
'Badly Fragmented' Forensic Science System Needs Overhaul
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kEgip8731rk/090218135119.htm
A congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council finds serious deficiencies in the U.S. forensic science system and calls for major reforms and new research.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Sophisticated Nano-structures Assembled With Magnets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OpOf_yPaLVE/090218135034.htm
What do Saturn and flowers have in common? As shapes, both possess certain symmetries that are easily recognizable in the natural world. Now, at an extremely small level, researchers have created a unique set of conditions in which tiny particles within a solution will consistently assemble themselves into these and other complex shapes.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Newly Discovered Gene Could Be A Prime Target In The Most Lethal Brain Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K5jNTiXqiiI/090218181818.htm
Scientists have discovered mutations in two genes that could become therapeutic targets in malignant glioma, a dangerous class of brain tumors.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Diamond-like Films Help In Study Of Solar Winds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4bXOmRXLT6Y/090218095842.htm
Diamond-like carbon films are helping probe the far boundaries of the solar system as part of a NASA mission to study how the sun's solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium -- the matter that exists between the stars within a galaxy.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Commonly Available Drug Found To Treat Opioid Addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/exKTj1K-AA0/090217212255.htm
Scientists have discovered that a commonly available non-addictive drug can prevent symptoms of withdrawal from opioids with little likelihood of serious side effects.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Permafrost Is Thawing In Northern Sweden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CIJ8y3KLick/090218081629.htm
Areas with lowland permafrost are likely to shrink in northern Sweden. Warmer summers and more winter precipitation are two of the reasons.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Science Suggests Access To Nature Is Essential To Human Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fye-SPUJX7U/090217092758.htm
Considerable research supports the idea that nature is essential to the physical, psychological and social well-being of the human animal.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Vast Cache Of Ice-age Fossils Uncovered At La Brea Tar Pits In Los Angeles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UjXOWW0ZuCE/090218090539.htm
The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles has announced an endeavor of discovery and research so enormous that it could potentially rewrite the scientific account of the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits and their surrounding area -- one of the richest sources of life in the last Ice Age, approximately 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Could Genetics Improve Warfarin Dosing? New Research Says Yes -- Now For The Clinical Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fcmEY0Sf1MQ/090218181810.htm
A world wide team of researchers addressed one of the trickiest drugs to prescribe -- the blood-thinner warfarin. Each patient's optimal dose varies widely, is hard to predict, and is crucial for his or her safety. Using data from thousands of genetically and geographically diverse patients, the international team developed a gene-based dosing strategy that could work for a broad range of patients. To test the concept in patients, NIH is launching a large-scale clinical trial.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Plants Take A Hike As Temperatures Rise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dl2ScajVqag/090210110036.htm
Plants are flowering at higher elevations along trails in Arizona's Santa Catalina Mountains, according to new research. Individual plant species respond differently to a warming climate. An analysis of 20 years of data collected by an avid local hiker and naturalist shows that 93 species of plants have shifted their flowering ranges uphill to find the right conditions for flowering.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
New 'Light' On Fascinating Rhythms Of Circadian Clock
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2hwXLCLGYKQ/090217104445.htm
Scientists shed new light on circadian timing systems and focuses on a key gene that seems to regulate the response of the circadian clock to light signals.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
New Monitoring Stations Detect 'Silent Earthquakes' In Costa Rica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AW9l6QIuCV8/090215151609.htm
After installing an extensive network of monitoring stations in Costa Rica, researchers have detected slow slip events (also known as "silent earthquakes") along a major fault zone beneath the Nicoya Peninsula. These findings are helping scientists understand the full spectrum of motions occurring on the fault and may yield new insights into the events that lead to major earthquakes.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
The Liberating Effects Of Losing Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w0XxYFPsq4o/090218141953.htm
Self-control is one of our most cherished values. But is it possible that willpower can sometimes be an obstacle rather than a means to happiness and harmony? A new study reveals that the volunteers lacking discipline and self-control found talking about race with a black interviewer much more enjoyable than did those with their self-control intact, presumably because they weren't working so hard at monitoring and curbing what they said.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
New Recipe For Dwarf Galaxies: Start With Leftover Gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b0k9lin-t9E/090218132145.htm
There is more than one way to make a dwarf galaxy, and NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer has found a new recipe. The spacecraft has, for the first time, identified dwarf galaxies forming out of nothing more than pristine gas likely leftover from the early universe. Dwarf galaxies are relatively small collections of stars that often orbit around larger galaxies like our Milky Way.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
New Genomic Markers Associated With Risk Of Heart Disease And Early Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CIfRFtoIp7M/090218182115.htm
Researchers have for the first time identified clusters of genetic markers associated with heart attack and coronary heart disease. In the largest ever study of its kind, the Myocardial Infarction Genetics Consortium identified nine precise genes associated with an increased risk of infarction (MI), three of them newly discovered; the investigators said that these nine gene variants "identify 20% of the population at 2.25-fold increased risk for MI."

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Potential Health Risks Associated With Stressed Foodstuffs Such As Foie Gras
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cumHqKGEW7E/090210092736.htm
Harmful proteins fragments known as amyloid fibrils associated with damage to brain cells in Alzheimer's disease and to pancreatic cells in Type II diabetes can be present in the meat of poultry and mammals. These amyloids are not destroyed even with high-temperature cooking process.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Novel Economical Blood Test For Hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fk_1i1juQY8/090210134744.htm
A novel blood test could bring a breakthrough in the battle against the dangerous hepatitis-C virus. This procedure offers a considerably cheaper alternative to the normal commercial tests, whilst maintaining equal sensitivity. So now, for the first time, poorer countries will also have the opportunity to monitor their entire blood banks for the hepatitis C virus using optimum methods.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Self-regulating Molecular 'Transformers' Control Intracellular Protein Delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qJXxHe7CWk4/090210162043.htm
Scientists have uncovered the Transformer-like properties of molecules responsible for carrying and depositing proteins to their correct locations within cells. The research could eventually lead to novel treatments for diseases that result from flaws in protein delivery as well as the development of new types of antibiotics.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
I Totally Empathize With You ... Sometimes: Effects Of Empathy On Ethnic Group Interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mT8gasEEubc/090218141951.htm
A new study reveals that empathy for minority groups has a much less positive effect when it is triggered in the context of an actual intergroup interaction situation than it does when directed toward minority group members in the abstract. The researchers surmise that empathy has a negative effect during interactions with members of the minority group because the empathetic individuals become preoccupied with how they will be viewed by that minority group.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
One-fifth Of Fossil-fuel Emissions Absorbed By Threatened Forests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/POeW16p1Iq0/090218135031.htm
Scientists have discovered that rainforest trees are getting bigger. They are storing more carbon from the atmosphere in their trunks, which has significantly reduced the rate of climate change.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Autism: Fluoxetine Not Effective In Reducing Repetitive Behaviors, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cbx89PLmwSg/090218135122.htm
Autism Speaks reported initial results for the first industry-sponsored Autism Clinical Trials Network study, the Study of Fluoxetine in Autism which showed that fluoxetine was not effective for reducing repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents with autistic disorder as compared to placebo. The study of 158 patients (ages 5 -- 17) was carried out in 19 CTN sites.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Diverse 'Connectomes' Hint At Genes' Limits In Nervous System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LqzjbmJ_qsU/090209205209.htm
Genetics may play a surprisingly small role in determining the precise wiring of the mammalian nervous system, according to painstaking mapping of every neuron projecting to a small muscle mice use to move their ears. These first-ever mammalian "connectomes," or complete neural circuit diagrams, reveal that neural wiring can vary widely even in paired tissues on the left and right sides of the same animal.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Immunosuppressant Medication May Be Cost-effective For Dry Eye Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bf-Cm4qBnSQ/090209163307.htm
A topical eye emulsion consisting of cyclosporine (a medication used to reduce transplant rejections or to treat arthritis and psoriasis) may be a cost-effective treatment for dry eye syndrome that does not respond to other therapies, according to a new report.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Including Native Perennials In Biofuel Crops Could Keep Watersheds Healthy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gIqoYE0qBGo/090213114218.htm
Field work and computer simulations in Michigan and Wisconsin are helping biofuels researchers understand the basics of getting home-grown energy from the field to consumers. Preliminary results suggest that incorporating native, perennial plants during biofuels production reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, improves water quality and enhances biodiversity. The results are part of an experimental effort to make biofuels economically and environmentally sustainable.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
'Suicide By Cop' Phenomenon Occurring In Over A Third Of North American Shootings Involving Police
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dbd7sB9lmv8/090218103529.htm
"Suicide by cop" is a suicide method in which a person engages in actual or apparent danger to others in an attempt to get oneself killed or injured by law enforcement. A new study in the Journal of Forensic Sciences examined the prevalence of this phenomenon among a large sample of officer-involved shootings.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Unique Details Of Double Star In Orion Nebula And Star T Leporis Captured By 'Virtual' Telescope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1nBWgWX9aMw/090218103517.htm
A team of French astronomers has captured one of the sharpest color images ever made. They observed the star T Leporis, which appears, on the sky, as small as a two-storey house on the moon. The image was taken with ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), emulating a virtual telescope about 100 m across and reveals a spherical molecular shell around an aged star.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Blood Pressure Compound May Benefit Brain Tumor Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xHCH8fpZu-0/090218091933.htm
A widely used blood pressure medication may be the key to preventing brain function loss common after radiation treatment, according to a newly published study. The findings offer the hope of an improved quality of life for cancer patients.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Bus Left You Waiting In The Cold? Use Your Cell Phone To Track It Down
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hk9aO7PBmzE/090210161914.htm
Two graduate students have created a free tool that lets Seattle bus-riders use a cell phone, iPhone or computer to see whether their bus is running late.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Study Examines Effects Of Exercise On Quality Of Life In Postmenopausal Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mqDQS2ZV7KE/090209163207.htm
Exercise appears to improve quality of life in postmenopausal women regardless of whether they lose weight, according to a new report.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Towards A New Generation Of Materials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XpT8L6Hf4Sk/090210134442.htm
Scientists have developed a mechanical method to generate and stabilize at room temperature and atmospheric pressure crystalline phases of metals that until now have only been stable at very high pressures.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Accelerating Urbanization Presents Daunting Engineering Challenge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1FhdXgIgCjE/090216092713.htm
Ensuring the world's fast-growing urban regions function efficiently in the future will demand a much more complex public infrastructure than anything yet designed. Engineers are facing challenges of not only dealing with information, communication and public-utility systems that are themselves becoming more complicated, but must develop the technological advances necessary to effectively interconnect and control these systems on larger scales than anything achieved to date.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Forget The Antioxidants? Researchers Cast Doubt On Role Of Free Radicals In Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G6r6G0R-ON8/090217173040.htm
For more than 40 years, the prevailing explanation of why we get old has been tied to what is called oxidative stress. This theory postulates that when molecules like free radicals, oxygen ions and peroxides build up in cells, they overwhelm the cells' ability to repair the damage they cause, and the cells age. Now researchers are calling the entire oxidative stress theory into question. Some organisms live longer when their ability to rid themselves of free radicals is partially disabled.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Obesity During Pregnancy Associated With Increased Risk Of Birth Defects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cxf-iBOLwWE/090210161900.htm
For women who are obese during pregnancy, there is an associated increased risk of certain birth defects, such as spina bifida and neural tube defects, although the absolute increase in risk is likely to be small, according to an analysis of previous studies.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Dry Beans Inhibit Development Of Mammary Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Ya4F6kVS94/090204131621.htm
With increasing interest in the ways certain food can reduce people's risks for contracting chronic diseases, a new study demonstrates the benefits of dry beans in reducing the risk of contracting mammary cancer, due to their levels of antioxidants and other cancer reducing contents.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Oncostatin M May Be Promising Drug For Treating Viral Hepatitis And Liver Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xHyb3RKFUE8/090209075820.htm
Medical researchers have identified a molecule as possibly effective for improving the treatment of chronic hepatitis and liver cancer.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Clinicians Override Most Electronic Medication Safety Alerts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pu0HzCRwf8k/090210125439.htm
A new study reveals that clinicians using electronic prescribing often override the alerts and rely instead on their own judgment. The study suggests that most clinicians find the current medication alerts more of an annoyance than a valuable tool. The authors conclude that if electronic prescribing is to effectively enhance patient safety, significant improvements are necessary.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Top Soccer Players Dissatisfied With Physique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zBFdvlen-Oc/090210134819.htm
Researchers have analyzed the professional soccer players’ perception of and satisfaction with their bodies. The results indicate that, contrary to popular belief, soccer players would like to have a greater amount of body fat to attain a look similar to that of people who do not play sports professionally.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Cancer-causing Toxins Linked To Unexploded Munitions In Oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZXuJOceZ7hQ/090218091930.htm
During a research trip to Puerto Rico, an ecologist took samples from underwater nuclear bomb target USS Killen, expecting to find evidence of radioactive matter -- instead he found a link to cancer. Data revealed that the closer corals and marine life were to unexploded bombs from the World War II vessel and the surrounding target range, the higher the rates of carcinogenic materials.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Mutation That Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_VLrgZyOoJk/090210162025.htm
Scientists have linked a mouse mutation to an increased susceptibility for developing inflammatory bowel disease -- represented in humans as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which together are estimated to affect more than a million people in the United States. The findings may one day lead to new and better treatments for the disease.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Body's Defenses May Worsen Chronic Lung Diseases In Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ntc7iNWy9j0/090209205307.htm
Although the immune system is designed to protect the body from harm, it may actually worsen one of the most difficult-to-treat respiratory diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, according to new University of Cincinnati research.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
A New Gene Silencing Platform -- Silence Is Golden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WU_SCkQWHZ0/090208133225.htm
Researchers have developed a novel gene silencing platform with very significant improvements over existing RNAi approaches. This may enable the development and discovery of a new class of drugs to treat a wide array of diseases. Critical to the technology is the approach this team took to specifically target RNA biosynthesis.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Super Solar Cells? Certain Nanocrystals Shown To Generate More Than One Electron
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NCYYiC_0vD8/090210125531.htm
Scientists have shown that carrier multiplication -- when a photon creates multiple electrons -- is a real phenomenon in tiny semiconductor crystals and not a false observation born of extraneous effects that mimic carrier multiplication. The research shows the possibility of solar cells that create more than one unit of energy per photon.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Smoking Kills, Irrespective Of Social Class And Gender
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D8zcNjtaqhM/090217212258.htm
A well-off professional who smokes has a much lower survival rate than a non-smoking low-paid worker of the same sex, concludes new research.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Easter Island’s Controversial Collapse: More To The Story Than Deforestation?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bITDePpmY7A/090218095435.htm
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) has gained recognition in recent years due in part to a book that used it as a model for societal collapse from bad environmental practices --- ringing alarm bells for those concerned about the health of the planet today. But that's not the whole story, according to an archaeologist who has studied the island --- famous for its massive stone statues --- with a Rapa Nui scientist for nearly 20 years.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Can Exercising Your Brain Prevent Memory Loss?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SI9KohlbyqU/090217173022.htm
Participating in certain mental activities, like reading magazines or crafting in middle age or later in life, may delay or prevent memory loss, according to a new study.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
'Middle Class' Coral Reef Fish Feel The Economic Squeeze
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pnyDZFe7CL4/090209122546.htm
The economy isn't just squeezing the middle class on land, it's also affecting fish. Overfishing on coral reefs isn't simply caused by too many people. Rather, researchers found that the biomass of fish found on coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean depended mostly on the complexity of the reefs themselves and the socioeconomic status of the people living on the shores.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Stroke Therapy Window Might Be Extended Past Nine Hours For Some
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HNLEY_31zM4/090209122549.htm
Some patients who suffer a stroke as a result of a blockage in an artery in the brain may benefit from a clot-busting drug nine or more hours after the onset of symptoms.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Engineer Develops Method To Combat Congenital Heart Disease In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_CEeA_5A7H8/090209152418.htm
Mechanical and aerospace engineers have developed a unique set of computer modeling tools that are expected to enhance pediatric surgeons' ability to perform heart surgery on children.

Thu, 19 Feb 09
Anti-social Behavior In Girls Predicts Adolescent Depression Seven Years Later
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N1PogeAKlRo/090217141538.htm
Social scientists tracked first- and second-graders for seven years and found that anti-social behavior among girls and anxiety among both sexes predicted depression in early adolescence. Surprisingly, early signs of depression were not predictive of adolescent depression.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Air-filled Bones Extended Lung Capacity And Helped Prehistoric Reptiles Take First Flight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RGC7KZqEHRg/090217212305.htm
In the Mesozoic Era, 70 million years before birds first conquered the skies, pterosaurs dominated the air with sparrow- to Cessna-sized wingspans. Researchers suspected that these extinct reptiles sustained flight through flapping, based on fossil evidence from the wings, but had little understanding of how pterosaurs met the energetic demands of active flight.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Tiny 'Lab-on-a-chip' Detects Pollutants, Disease And Biological Weapons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uplK1TrPWvk/090217125732.htm
For centuries, animals have been our first line of defense against toxins. A canary in a coalmine served as a living monitor for poisonous gases. Scientists used fish to test for contaminants in our water. Even with modern advances, though, it can take days to detect a fatal chemical or organism. Until now. Working in the miniaturized world of nanotechnology, researchers have made an enormous -- and humane -- leap forward in the detection of pollutants.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Nanotechnology: Lithium-Ion Batteries Have Better Performance With New Electrode Material
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iHqkB1IZygw/090209122554.htm
Researchers have created hybrid carbon nanotube metal oxide arrays as electrode material that may improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Pathologically Elevated Blood Fat Levels In Obesity: Molecular Causes Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dlNKcy6xQBQ/090209110646.htm
Scientists have discovered a mechanism in liver metabolism that is responsible for pathologically elevated blood fat levels found in severe metabolic disorders. Mice suffering from metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes produce only small amounts of a molecule called LSR in the liver. As a result, only small amounts of fat are transported from the blood into the liver and blood fat levels rise immensely.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Nanotube's 'Tapestry' Controls Its Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V3y-NN0Hov8/090205113740.htm
Materials scientists have put a new "twist" on carbon nanotube growth. The researchers found nanotubes grow like tiny molecular tapestries, woven from twisting, single-atom threads. The research finds a direct relationship between a nanotube's "chiral" angle -- the amount it's twisted -- and how fast it grows.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Surfing The Net Helps Seniors Cope With Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PiZkAcCZPAc/090210092723.htm
Surfing the Internet could provide significant relief for seniors with chronic pain, according to new research.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Bin Laden's Hide-out? Geographers Urge US To Search Three Structures In Pakistan For Bin Laden
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5DVtdFaBh9o/090217141536.htm
While U.S. intelligence officials have spent more than seven years searching fruitlessly for Osama bin Laden, geographers say they have a good idea of where the terrorist leader was at the end of 2001 -- and perhaps where he has been in the years since.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Light On Longstanding Medical Mystery That May Link Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis And Perhaps Even Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2AMOozeM_Wc/090217125753.htm
A researcher finds a clue to the calcification process by studying how a genetic mutation in rats makes them resistant to poison but also leaves them susceptible to arterial calcification and, potentially, osteoporosis.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Guideline For Prescribing Opioid Pain Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o9dxjIy5VWk/090206135315.htm
A national panel of national pain management experts has published the first comprehensive, evidence-based clinical practice guideline to assist clinicians in prescribing potent opioid pain medications for patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Environmental Impact Of Building Construction Can Now Be Predicted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JT9cw-Hjj3o/090204140815.htm
Researchers have developed a method that makes it possible to evaluate the environmental impacts caused during the construction of buildings in advance. Before beginning the works, with just the project data, the new method makes it possible to predict up to 37 environmental impacts. This information, according to the creators, could help improve environmental management in the construction processes.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Heart Attacks: Patients Treated By Experienced Doctors In Experienced Hospitals Most Likely To Survive, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ao_mfzi9NU0/090209205206.htm
When it comes to treating heart attacks, experience matters. New research shows that patients have a much better chance of survival when both their hospital and their physician have a strong track record in treating heart attack with angioplasty and stenting.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
In Flurry Of Studies, Researcher Details Role Of Apples In Inhibiting Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NhRYHHTeQYM/090217125742.htm
Six studies published in the past year by a Cornell researcher add to growing evidence that an apple a day -- as well as daily helpings of other fruits and vegetables -- can help keep the breast-cancer doctor away.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Engineers Create Intelligent Molecules That Seek And Destroy Diseased Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5KCKEH3R_Rw/090213114323.htm
Current treatments for diseases like cancer typically destroy nasty malignant cells, while also hammering the healthy ones. Using new advances in synthetic biology, researchers are designing molecules intelligent enough to recognize diseased cells, leaving the healthy cells alone.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Working Toward Artificial Corneas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MwRm0B_TPhE/090213172052.htm
Extremely intense X-rays from Diamond - the UK's national synchrotron - are helping to advance research into the understanding and treatment of eye diseases. Due to the detailed nature of the experiments, researchers are making discoveries about the eye that should help to advance laser surgeries such as LASIK and contribute to the eventual development of an artificial cornea.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Black Women With Uterine Cancers More Likely To Die Than White Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PF4jw2g3ODg/090209075641.htm
Black women with cancers of the uterus are less likely to survive the disease than white women, and relatively little progress has been made over the past two decades to narrow this racial difference.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Measuring Molecules To Improve Drug Design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FbxgYHs5k7Y/090206101603.htm
CSIRO has patented an improved microscopy method for measuring the shapes and sizes of proteins which could help scientists create new pharmaceuticals that are a better match for the proteins they target.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Diagnoses May Provide Window Of Opportunity For Health Behavior Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qickIlrExGg/090209163159.htm
Older adults appear more likely to quit smoking or lose weight following a recent diagnosis of heart disease, diabetes or another serious condition, according to a new report.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Robot Playmates Monitor Emotional State Of Children With Autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hOeDVP6HXMM/090217141544.htm
The day that robot playmates help children with autism learn the social skills that they naturally lack has come a step closer with the development of a system that allows a robot to monitor a child's emotional state.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Gene Linked To Aggressive Progression Of Liver Cancer Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aTqKRqSc08Q/090216175114.htm
Researchers have identified a gene that plays a key role in regulating liver cancer progression, a discovery that could one day lead to new targeted therapeutic strategies to fight the highly aggressive disease.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Compact Biosensor For Wide-ranging Applications Under Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IE-D9vmI5e8/090203142523.htm
Scientists are developing a sensor system for biomolecules that could make a significant contribution to a variety of fields such as healthcare, veterinary diagnostics, food safety, environmental testing, and national security.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Routine Scans For Low-back Pain Do Not Improve Outcomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GGbQm8fmVZk/090206125741.htm
Physicians should not immediately order routine scans for low-back pain unless they observe features of a serious underlying condition, researchers report. Performing routine X-rays or MRIs for patients with low-back pain does not lead to improved pain, function or anxiety level, and there are even some trends toward worse outcomes.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Accidental Wireless: Wireless-based Sensor System Could SAVE Lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DjXwQqEY9aM/090209163319.htm
Following a rollover automobile accident, driver and passengers are usually unable to call for help. So, unless the accident occurs on a busy road, rescue is unlikely to arrive in time to save them. Researchers describe SAVE, which could solve that problem and reduce deaths on the roads.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Chronic Low-back Pain On The Rise: Study Finds 'Alarming Increase' In Prevalence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M1kQi-s4nzM/090209163146.htm
The proportion of people suffering from long term, impairing low back pain has more than doubled in North Carolina since the early 1990s, according to a new study. What's more, researchers believe the increase may be indicative of a similar trend across the country.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FSSxrc_Sf44/090217141540.htm
In a new, year-long survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Fibromyalgia Pain Linked To Central Nervous System Dysfunction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ujhEFwiLgyQ/090217123124.htm
Widespread body pain in fibromyalgia patients is associated with specific brain metabolite abnormalities, according to new research.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Growing Peppers: Does Hotter Mean Healthier?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EyavjB0JwZo/090203142519.htm
Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is a major plant disease that affects many crop species worldwide, including chile peppers in New Mexico. Farmers' observations suggested that Phytophthora capsici caused less damage in pepper crops of the hot pepper varieties than low-heat pepper varieties.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Genes Involved In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Play Fundamental Role In Prognosis Of The Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U0FQ4Vq23GA/090206094651.htm
The inactivity or “silence” of certain genes plays a fundamental role in the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as well as in response to treatment, according to a new study.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Semantic Web Promises A Smarter Electricity Grid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0SrZfogLskg/090210134817.htm
Dispersed wind farms and solar panels on people’s homes are posing new challenges for managing power grids that were designed when all electricity was generated in centralized plants. A new semantic web technology promises a solution.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
High Blood Pressure Control Continues To Improve In England
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xbSo5kuNG5g/090209163152.htm
Awareness, treatment and control of high blood pressure have increased significantly in England. Rates of blood pressure control have increased to more than 50 percent in men and women. Controlling blood pressure is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths, researchers said.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Climate 'Flickering' Ended Last Ice Age In North Atlantic Region
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n-e1e2jz0yA/090216092824.htm
The period towards the end of the ice age was engraved by extreme and short-lived variations, which finally terminated the ice age.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Novel Genetic Markers Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5ocdAD6dJjw/090216092831.htm
Scientists have succeeded in identifying new gene variants associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack. The identified genes and their underlying mechanisms provide new starting points for understanding genetic patterns in MI and for developing new treatment options. A key finding is that the MI risk is more than twice as great in individuals who carry not only one but several of the genetic markers.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Link Between Control Of Chromosome Duplication And Segregation Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gu-KmXyKTss/090205174544.htm
A dividing cell duplicates its chromosomes and its centrosome, an organelle that helps divide the two sets of chromosomes equally to daughter cells, just once. Extra centrosome copies can lead to incorrect distribution of chromosomes, genomic instability and cancer. Now scientists have identified the protein that controls the copying of the centrosome and prevents it from being re-duplicated.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Voluntary Vaccination Programs Shown Effective For Some Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AjFLPU7jYgw/090205214406.htm
Scientists analyze "free-rider" effects under voluntary vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases where disease transmission occurs in a social network. Previous studies have suggested that voluntary programs cannot be 100% effective due to the self-interested behavior of individuals. However, most mathematical models used in these studies assume that populations mix homogenously – in effect, that an individual is just as likely to be infected by a complete stranger as by a close friend or family member.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Multilingualism Brings Communities Closer Together
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mz353zzPJaM/090210092721.htm
Learning their community language outside the home enhances minority ethnic children's development, according to research led from the University of Birmingham. The research found that attending language classes at complementary schools has a positive impact on students.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Genetic Adaptations Key To Extreme Microbe's Survival In Challenging Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dpHQX5MGl2E/090210125435.htm
The genome of a marine bacterium living 2,500 meters below the ocean's surface is providing clues to how life adapts in extreme thermal and chemical gradients, according to a new article.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Way That Bacteria Evolve Into Something That Can Make You Sick
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dPknIzqgJjE/090216175124.htm
Researchers have discovered a new way that bacteria evolve into something that can make you sick. The finding has implications for how scientists identify and assign risk to emerging diseases in the environment.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Engineering Graduate Student Narrows Gap Between High-resolution Video And Virtual Reality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JkwIqUXWfVw/090204161845.htm
A graduate student has found a way to optimize virtual reality environments for high resolution video.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Colorectal Cancer: Immunological Tests For More Accurate Detection Of Cancer Precursors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cM0OeqYNFP4/090205102827.htm
The detection of hidden blood in the stool is an important part of the early detection of colorectal cancer. Scientists have now shown that a number of immunological tests are significantly superior to the commonly used enzymatic method. However, the scientists found a wide variance in diagnostic performance of tests by different providers.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Photosynthesis Genes Linked To Marine Virus Fitness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dQlcnc60Xjo/090205183849.htm
A recent study has shown, for the first time, the effect of individual genes on the fitness of a marine species at the ecosystem level. Using his innovative computer simulation model, an engineering professor has found that eliminating photosynthesis genes from viruses that attack important marine photosynthetic bacterial organisms will negatively impact the fitness of these viruses, ultimately killing them.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Gardening Gives Older Adults Benefits Like Hand Strength And Self Esteem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qvHeh3gAHZM/090203142517.htm
Researchers already have shown that gardening can offer enough moderate physical activity to keep older adults in shape. The researchers also discovered that among the other health benefits of gardening is keeping older hands strong and nimble.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Carina Nebula: Astronomers Capture Intricate Structures Of One Of Brightest Nebulae In Sky
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bziJohSpbxw/090212093858.htm
Astronomers have captured amazing detail in the intricate structures of one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372), where strong winds and powerful radiation from an armada of massive stars are creating havoc in the large cloud of dust and gas from which the stars were born.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Secrets Of Potential Bioterror Virus Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M0VSF800Og8/090217102149.htm
Researchers have discovered a key tactic that the Rift Valley fever virus uses to disarm the defenses of infected cells.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
New Plasma Transistor Could Create Sharper Displays
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dTEpWExQTXw/090204131617.htm
By integrating a solid-state electron emitter and a microcavity plasma device, researchers have created a plasma transistor that could be used to make lighter, less expensive and higher resolution flat-panel displays.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Mutant Rats Resist Warfarin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q5lFQ0JuT2Y/090205214433.htm
A new series of mutations have been discovered that allow rats to resist the effects of the popular poison warfarin. New research describes 18 new genetic changes found in rats from four continents.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Utilities: Protecting Electrical Equipment Against Lightning Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wr6ewguBvZI/090205183620.htm
Firing bolts of lightning at expensive electrical equipment is all in a day's work at the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Applications Center. The goal for the lightning research and other testing done by the center is to improve reliability for the nation's electric energy transmission and distribution system.

Wed, 18 Feb 09
Food Counterfeiting, Contamination Outpace International Regulatory Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Y5BZ3MuCbo/090216131153.htm
Intentionally contaminated Chinese milk killed several children and sickened 300,000 more, causing concern around an increasingly connected world economy. Demand for inexpensive products virtually guarantees future repeats of food adulteration and counterfeiting from overseas, researchers said, as trade volumes overwhelm regulatory oversight.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
'Frozen Smoke:' Ultimate Sponge For Cleaning Up Oil Spills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WUgjEjQPvUg/090213102721.htm
Scientists in Arizona and New Jersey are reporting that aerogels, a super-lightweight solid sometimes called "frozen smoke," may serve as the ultimate sponge for capturing oil from wastewater and effectively soaking up environmental oil spills.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Botanical Drug May Silence Peanut Allergies, Animal Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XEoPcLoqGIs/090213105713.htm
A new study finds that a botanical drug could provide the key to new treatments for peanut allergies.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Satellite Collisions: What Can Be Done To Prevent Them In The Future?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XpCJnWHcxsY/090213102047.htm
The recent collision involving an active U.S. commercial Iridium satellite and an inactive Russian Cosmos 2251 satellite in low Earth orbit has demonstrated an urgent need to establish a civil space traffic control system.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Fat Synthesizing Enzyme Is Key To Healthy Skin And Hair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XsuwIDU-HKM/090213070543.htm
Scientists have found that an enzyme associated with the synthesis of fat in the body is also an element in healthy skin and hair.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Statistical Analysis Could Yield New Drug Target For Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vtX6KQYP6hA/090213103053.htm
An elaborate statistical analysis of genes from more than 7,000 individuals has identified an amino acid that appears to be a major risk factor for multiple sclerosis, a devastating autoimmune disorder that afflicts 2.5 million people worldwide.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Loneliness Affects How The Brain Operates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/svib96-LTcU/090215151800.htm
Social isolation affects how people behave as well as how their brains operate, a new shows. The research is the first to use fMRI scans to study connections between perceived social isolation (or loneliness) and activity in the brain. Combining fMRI scans with data relevant to social behavior is part of an emerging field examining brain mechanisms.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Cosmologists Aim To Observe First Moments Of Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OLX37crex-M/090216092722.htm
During the next decade, a delicate measurement of primordial light could reveal convincing evidence for the popular cosmic inflation theory, which proposes that a random, microscopic density fluctuation in the fabric of space and time gave birth to the universe in a hot big bang approximately 13.7 billion years ago.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Built-in Volume Control Helps Protect Auditory Nerve Against Loud Sounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGoonrn3IOQ/090212094110.htm
When our ears are exposed to very loud sounds, such as the blast of a firecracker, too much of a neurotransmitter is released, damaging these auditory nerve cells and causing hearing loss. Researchers have found that auditory nerve cells temporarily reduce the expression of a key neurotransmitter receptor on their surfaces when exposed to loud noise.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Method For Screening Thousands of Proteins: Major Step For Drug Discovery And Diagnostics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FwE4kD3neVY/090212112745.htm
Researchers have developed a new general method to study membrane proteins. This method can be used to screen several thousand proteins, and it will reduce the way from development to useful drugs substantially.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Maintaining Balance And Listening At Same Time May Become More Difficult For Older Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M3Cnd6UuTeA/090212093924.htm
Listening to a conversation or audio book while walking or exercising sounds simple enough for most people, but it may become more difficult for people in their upper 70s and above, according to new research.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Antibacterial Plaster Could Put A Clean Sheen On Walls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fD9uPBxld3E/090213103750.htm
Scientists in China are reporting development and testing of new self-sanitizing plaster with more powerful antibacterial effects than penicillin. The material could be used in wall coatings, paints, art works and other products.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Automated 'Intelligent' Houses Help Elderly Stay In Homes Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HQhbIDXFuDo/090213115332.htm
Many aging people would like to live independently as long as possible within their own homes. Automated and intelligent surroundings can assist in making this wish a reality.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Plugging In Molecular Wires To Capture Light Energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PLfT1kPSOLA/090212112736.htm
Japanese researchers have developed a new process to capture light energy -- they "plug" a molecular "wire" directly into a biological photosynthetic system to efficiently conduct the free electrons to a gold electrode.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
An Inexhaustible Source Of Neural Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jE7PMNFAMCo/090216092833.htm
Research scientists have succeeded in deriving so-called brain stem cells from human embryonic stem cells. These can not only be conserved almost indefinitely in culture, but can also serve as an inexhaustible source of diverse types of neural cell. The scientists have also shown that these neural cells are capable of synaptic integration in the brain.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Climate Change May Alter Malaria Patterns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qj_PvoV4NRM/090214162631.htm
Temperature is an important factor in the spread of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, but researchers who look at average monthly or annual temperatures are not seeing the whole picture. Global climate change will affect daily temperature variations, which can have a more pronounced effect on parasite development, according to a Penn State entomologist.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
How Cells Handle Broken Chromosomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Aakmu5U7k8w/090212133209.htm
Scientists have discovered a novel cellular response towards persistent DNA damage: After being recognized and initially processed by the cellular machinery, the broken chromosome is extensively scanned for homology and the break itself is later tethered to the nuclear envelope. The researchers have uncovered a surprising feature of how DNA strand breaks can be handled.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Our Aging Ears And Brains: Why Listening In Background Noise Gets Tougher As We Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m3-GOaK8HPI/090212093549.htm
Older adults often have trouble understanding what someone is saying when surrounded by background noise, such as at a restaurant or party, but their ears may not be the only problem. Researchers are studying how much the brain plays a role as well.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Protective Shield Used By Hundreds Of Viruses Deciphered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iVBXnQpIp08/090216175205.htm
A new image reveals the precise structure of the protective protein coat, or "capsid," shared by hundreds of known viruses. The image reveals the precise location of some 5 million atoms in a spherical type of capsid that many viruses use to shield their genomes.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Approaches To Prevent Transplant Rejection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BsrK_5FkLLU/090211101720.htm
Researchers have discovered what seems to trigger the immune system to attack transplanted organs and cells. The finding could help chart a course to therapies that may prevent graft-versus-host disease.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Threat To Cod Fisheries: Pathogenic Bacterium Identified In Cod
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t_lpnKiCeAU/090212093856.htm
Farmed cod have recently been hit by a serious disease caused by an unknown bacterium. The bacterium has now been identified, and called Francisella philomiragia noatunensis. The disease caused by the bacterium is now called francisellosis and is listed in the national disease register and regulated under the terms of the Norwegian Food Act.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Inflammation May Be Common Thread Behind Nervous And Heart Rhythm Problems In Cirrhosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aX4nDs_p358/090210092728.htm
Inflammatory molecules known as cytokines can lead to the neurological and cognitive abnormalities and changes in heart rhythm found in patients with cirrhosis of the liver, a new study finds. The results of the study may also apply to other conditions where heart rate variability is also decreased, such as bipolar disorder and post-menopausal depression.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Virtual Library Of Medieval Manuscripts Created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F5D76_PXrwo/090210161916.htm
Employing a web application which promotes the use of computer technology in humanities research and instruction, a new Catalogue of Digitized Medieval Manuscripts allows users to search for manuscripts according to their author, title, language and archiving institution.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Multiracial Identity Associated With Better Social And Personal Well-being
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lVeVwEMJMAg/090210110045.htm
Many people assume that individuals who identify with one race should be better off than multiracial individuals who identify with a mixed race heritage. However, a new study in the Journal of Social Issues found that students who reported they were from multiple ethnic/racial groups were more engaged at school and felt better in general than those who reported they were from a single group.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Hydrogen Fuel From Woodchips And Other Non-food Sources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nKgXbGzbHyg/090211162026.htm
Tomorrow's fuel-cell vehicles may be powered by enzymes that consume cellulose from woodchips or grass and exhale hydrogen. Researchers have produced hydrogen gas pure enough to power a fuel cell by mixing 14 enzymes, one coenzyme, cellulosic materials from nonfood sources, and water heated to about 90 degrees.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Stem Cells: Deathly Awakening By Interferon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NO8UJZHu2jI/090212093700.htm
Interferon-alpha, a messenger substance of the immune system, awakens dormant hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow to become active, thus making them vulnerable for the effect of many drugs. The researchers suppose that this might also be a way to stimulate tumor stem cells to divide and, thus, sensitize them to anticancer drugs.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Test May Help To Ensure That Dengue Vaccines Do No Harm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j4zOsERy6gs/090212125141.htm
As vaccines against a virus that infects 100 million people annually reach late-stage clinical trials this year, researchers have developed a test to better predict whether a given vaccine candidate should protect patients from the infection, or in some cases, make it more dangerous, according to a new article.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Fluid Buildup In Lungs Is Part Of The Damage Done By The Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yY50PibfZ9A/090210133918.htm
In a fight against respiratory infections, the body typically produces a little fluid to help the lungs generate a productive cough. But new research suggests that the influenza virus can tip the balance toward too much fluid in the lungs, interfering with the supply of oxygen to the rest of the body. An immune response ultimately is needed to eliminate the virus, but this research suggests that it's not the presence of the virus alone that does all the harm to a sick person.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Using Personal Digital Assistants To Track TB Data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B9jU8X-nKsE/090211122149.htm
In a project launched in Lima, Peru, researchers found that equipping health care workers with PDAs to record data dropped the average time for patients' test results to reach their doctors from 23 days to eight days.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
High Level Of Medical Mistrust Among Minority Women Impacts Quality Of Health Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6uLDTzJTiJk/090205110612.htm
Nearly 70 percent of minority women agree that health-care organizations sometimes deceive or mislead patients, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Parasite Wasps Have Practiced Gene Therapy For A Hundred Million Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iH-CNLXLREs/090216100425.htm
Braconid parasite wasps and their caterpillar hosts form a unique host-parasite model: the wasps lay their eggs inside the caterpillars and simultaneously inject some viral particles to get around the host's defenses and control its physiology. The genes from these viral particles have now been identified in the wasp's own genome.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Does Gene Show Link Between Migraine And Stroke Or Heart Attacks?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uxHpcYiO-Kk/090216164505.htm
New research looks at whether a gene variant may affect the link between migraine and stroke or heart attacks. The study involved 25,000 women who answered a questionnaire about their history of migraines and migraines with aura.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
No Joy In Discoveries Of New Mammal Species, Only A Warning For Humanity, Paul Ehrlich Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jxch7aMC1Yc/090209205309.htm
In the era of global warming, when many scientists say we are experiencing a human-caused mass extinction to rival the one that killed off the dinosaurs, one might think that the discovery of a host of new species would be cause for joy. Not entirely so, says Paul Ehrlich, co-author of an analysis of the 408 new mammalian species discovered since 1993.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Insights on Economic Choices From Game Theory and Cognitive Psychology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I50CX69OOSY/090215151809.htm
Game theory and insights from cognitive psychology can shed light on the economic choices people and corporations make. With more than 2.5 million observations to analyze -- as well as a laboratory recreation of the lottery using numbers 1 to 99--scientists say the results fit extremely well with the original theory. If people were accurately guessing what everyone else would do, they would pick numbers from 1 to 5000 with equal frequency, and rarely pick any higher numbers. The Swedish players, however, chose lower numbers -- numbers below 1000 -- much too often, from a strategic point of view.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
College Science Requirements Keep US Ahead Of World, Researcher Argues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3T4tSKU0GRc/090216131202.htm
Despite frequent warnings of the inadequacy of education in the United States, citizens here are still among the world's most scientifically literate, according to an expert. You can thank those general education requirements that force English majors to sit through biology classes and budding engineers to read Hemingway, he said.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Deaf Children Use Hands To Invent Own Way Of Communicating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cmxk5yBPJbw/090215151441.htm
Deaf children are able to develop a language-like gesture system by making up hand signs and using homemade systems to increase their communication as they grow, just as children with conventional spoken language.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Baboons And Pigeons Are Capable Of Higher-level Cognition, Behavioral Studies Show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dIkoepc_IOk/090212141143.htm
It's safe to say that humans are smarter than animals, but one researcher is investigating the extent of that disparity in intelligence. And, it may not be as great a gap as you suspect.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Biomarker For Fatal Prostate Cancer Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yQ7EFkYXTik/090213070548.htm
New research findings may help provide some direction for men diagnosed with prostate cancer about whether their cancer is likely to be life-threatening.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Eye Movement: Involuntary Maybe, But Certainly Not Random
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/42JKTeKYvFY/090212141156.htm
Our eyes are in constant motion. Even when we attempt to stare straight at a stationary target, our eyes jump and jiggle imperceptibly. Although these unconscious flicks, also known as microsaccades, had long been considered mere "motor noise," researchers found that they are instead actively controlled by the same brain region that instructs our eyes to scan the lines in a newspaper or follow a moving object.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Evolutionary Link To Modern-day Obesity, Other Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tm8co3OSKtM/090212150826.htm
That irresistible urge for a cheeseburger has its roots in dramatic environmental changes that occurred some 2 million years ago. Higher quality, nutritionally dense diets became necessary to fuel high-energy demands of humans' exceptionally large brains and for developing the first rudimentary hunting and gathering economy. Today, the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure is the root cause of obesity in the industrialized world, according to some anthropologists.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Improved Sensor Technology Could Someday Keep Tabs On Terrorists By Remote Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5oZnUlacJq8/090212150852.htm
Scientists are designing a new kind of optical sensor to fly in unmanned air vehicles tracking terrorists. The efficient multi-modal sensor will collect only the data it needs using the best sensing mode for the task -- black and white imaging, hyperspectral or polarization.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Rote Memorization Of Historical Facts Adds To Collective Cluelessness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CMMezVgViGU/090212125135.htm
Americans' historical apathy is an indictment of the way history is taught in grades K-12, according to an expert.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Stem Cells In Hair Follicles Point To General Model Of Organ Regeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BipWtE5tQf4/090213112923.htm
Most people consider hair as a purely cosmetic part of their lives. To others, it may help uncover one of nature's best-kept secrets: the body's ability to regenerate organs. Now, new research gets to the root of the problem, revealing that a structure at the base of each strand of hair, the hair follicle, uses a two-step mechanism to activate its stem cells and order them to divide.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Nanoparticle 'Smart Bomb' Targets Drug Delivery To Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c5R2C3hq_po/090212125139.htm
Researchers have successfully modified a common plant virus to deliver drugs only to specific cells inside the human body, without affecting surrounding tissue. These tiny "smart bombs" -- each one thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair -- could lead to more effective chemotherapy treatments with greatly reduced, or even eliminated, side effects.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Artificial Cells, Simple Model For Complex Structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RzwHx6Sl1lg/090214162646.htm
A simple, chemical materials model may lead to a better understanding of the structure and organization of the cell according to a researcher.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Chronic Infection May Add To Developing-world Deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZiAqBj2pvn8/090212171952.htm
Worldwide, nearly 2 million people per year die from diarrhea, the vast majority of them in poor countries. The disease accounts for 18 percent of all deaths among children -- and yet is almost always preventable with proper treatment. New research indicates that underlying, low-level undiagnosed infection may greatly add to the severity of a significant number of these cases. This realization could lead to changes in health-care strategies to address the problem.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
New Sequencing Technology Pinpoint 'On-off Switches' In Genomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eN8Huma1u1A/090212171945.htm
Scientists have developed a set of molecular tools that provide important insight into the complex genomes of multicellular organisms. The strategy promises to clarify the longstanding mystery of the role played by vast stretches of DNA sequence that do not code for the functional units -- genes -- that nevertheless may have a powerful regulatory influence.

Tue, 17 Feb 09
Can Monkeys Choose Optimally When Faced With Noisy Stimuli And Unequal Rewards?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iyk89BlImsI/090212210706.htm
Even when faced with distractions, monkeys are able to consistently choose the path of greatest reward, according to a new study. The study adds to the growing evidence that animal foraging behavior can approach optimality, and could provide a basis for understanding the computations involved in this and related tasks.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Hundreds Of Identical Species Thrive In Both Arctic And Antarctic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/roaNO7ksYOA/090215151619.htm
The Arctic and Antarctic have revealed a trove of secrets to Census of Marine Life explorers, who were especially surprised to find at least 235 species live in both polar seas despite a distance of more than 13,000-km distance in between. Among many other findings, scientists also documented evidence of cold water-loving species shifting towards both poles to escape rising ocean temperatures. The discoveries were made on a series of landmark, often perilous voyages during International Polar Year, 2007-2008.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Shortening Telomeres Linked To Aging In Population Studies, But Original Telomere Length Varies Between Individuals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/htOL8H3cXz0/090213115136.htm
Researchers have shown that the shortening of telomeres in pace with increasing age, as demonstrated in population studies, does not apply at the individual level. The attrition rate seems to mainly depend on the original length of the telomeres, which indicates that some individuals can even have longer telomeres over time.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Ancient Geologic Escape Hatches Mistaken For Tube Worms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9urTPKg8mNM/090204121506.htm
New study finds Colorado fossils previously identified as tube worms are actually ancient methane venting structures. The findings could lead to new concerns for underground carbon dioxide storage plans.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Vitamin E May Decrease Mortality Of Elderly Male Smokers, Yet Increase Mortality Of Middle-aged Smokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E0941dKR2BI/090214084823.htm
Six-year vitamin E supplementation decreased mortality by 41% in elderly male smokers who had high dietary vitamin C intake, but increased mortality by 19% in middle-aged smokers who had high vitamin C intake.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Tandem Mission Brings Ocean Currents Into Sharper Focus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iD92-vjJDiU/090209082350.htm
When the two ocean-observing satellites OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-1 begin their tandem mission in February, they'll be flying in a new configuration designed to get the most detailed measurements possible of the ocean surface. They'll enable scientists to distinguish much smaller ocean features than they could with only one satellite and see more quickly how these features change over time.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Perception Of Time Pressure Impairs Performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WBAt-N6p9gM/090210162035.htm
A psychology student recently studied 163 subjects performing the Iowa Gambling Task, a popular psychological assessment tool, to investigate the effect of perceived time pressure on a learning-based task. His study is the first to look at the relationship between perceived time pressure and IGT performance.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Songbirds Fly Three Times Faster Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tSqC-hwnGNI/090212141152.htm
Researcher have tracked the migration of songbirds by outfitting them with tiny geolocator backpacks -- a world first -- revealing that scientists have underestimated their flight performance dramatically.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
New Test For Mysterious Metabolic Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kbtYmWpIcF0/090211094040.htm
Scientists have devised a much-needed way to monitor and find treatments for a mysterious and devastating group of metabolic diseases that arise from mutations in cells' fuel-burning mechanism.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Draft Version Of The Neanderthal Genome Completed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AzMeED-sFAU/090212112731.htm
Scientists they have completed a first draft version of the Neandertal genome.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
First Brain Study Reveals Benefits Of Exercise On Quitting Smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MzKvZV6yk3k/090210092738.htm
Research reveals for the first time, that changes in brain activity, triggered by physical exercise, may help reduce cigarette cravings. The study shows how exercise changes the way the brain processes information among smokers, thereby reducing their cravings for nicotine. For the first time, researchers used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to investigate how the brain processes images of cigarettes after exercise.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Simplicity Is Crucial To Design Optimization At Nanoscale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lhSgfrDd3Fg/090204161850.htm
Researchers who study the structure of protein-based materials to learn the key to their lightweight and robust strength have discovered that the particular arrangement of proteins that produces the sturdiest product is not the arrangement with the most built-in redundancy or the most complicated pattern. Instead, the optimal arrangement of proteins in the rope-like structures they studied is a repeated pattern of two stacks of four bundled alpha-helical proteins.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Genetic Risk For Substance Use Can Be Neutralized By Good Parenting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OFTaROf_3KQ/090210125437.htm
A genetic risk factor that increases the likelihood that youth will engage in substance use can be neutralized by high levels of involved and supportive parenting, according to a new study.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Empathy Partly Based On Genes, Mouse Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0kA0YZrX70g/090211082354.htm
The ability to empathize with others is partially determined by genes, according to new research on mice.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Genetic 'Hotspot' For Breast Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b1bYM1i55nA/090215151856.htm
Investigators have identified a new genetic hotspot for breast cancer. They have identified a region on chromosome 6 that is strongly associated with breast cancer susceptibility in Asian women. This genetic "locus" may help guide efforts to find the specific genes linked with sporadic -- or noninherited -- forms of the disease, the authors suggest.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Cancer Diagnosis: Now In 3-D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ji5M6tB6hHM/090209152416.htm
Researchers have developed a new kind of microscope to visualize cells in three dimensions, an advance that could bring great progress in the field of early cancer detection.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
New Surgical Option For Wrist Arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I5ZTJEjFuo8/090213172055.htm
Breaking a fall, such as a tumble on the sidewalk, with your hands and wrists is everyone's natural reflex. But, if you fall hard enough, you'll often fracture your radius bone, or even one of the smaller wrist bones and wrist ligaments. Left untreated, these injuries could lead to disabling wrist arthritis.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Air Pollution Too High Near Some US Schools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CfQHrmDkVZY/090214103104.htm
Air pollution is dangerously high around schools near some U.S. industrial plants, according to a recent study.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Males Are More Tolerant Of Same-sex Peers. Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7PXht1Y8YBI/090211122138.htm
Women have traditionally been viewed as being more social and cooperative than men. However, there is recent evidence that this may not be the case and new study in Psychological Science reveals that males are more tolerant than females of unrelated same-sex individuals. These findings suggest that gender differences in tolerance may be based on the different functions and expectations that same-sex friendships serve for males and females.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Toddlers' Gesturing Linked To Later Vocabulary And School Readiness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZNjkh-pF6pA/090212141145.htm
Children who convey more meanings with gestures at age 14 months have much larger vocabularies at 54 months than children who convey fewer meanings and are accordingly better prepared for school, according to new research. The research showed that the differences particularly favored children from higher-income families with well-educated parents and may help explain the disadvantages some children from low-income families face upon entering school.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Deciphering The Body's Healing Secrets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lbYDF2e81Yk/090212093710.htm
Healthy blood vessels play a key role in the prevention and treatment of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and are critical to the regulation of blood vessel growth and function. Researchers at the Centenary Institute have discovered a mechanism that helps control the development of endothelial cells.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Babies & Robots: Infant Power Mobility On Display
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pplvbc7q9QU/090204165529.htm
Children with mobility issues, like cerebral palsy and spina bifida, can't explore the world like other babies, because they can't crawl or walk. Infant development emerges from the thousands of daily discoveries experienced by babies as they move and explore their worlds.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Home Pregnancy Tests Can Lead To Better Prenatal Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rx5GS0696DI/090210162033.htm
The simple intervention of providing women who are having unprotected sex with a home pregnancy test could have a substantial impact on the health of potential newborns, according to a new study.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Climate Change Increasingly Impacting Investment Decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XdcAPxIP5Gg/090211082357.htm
Three-quarters of 80 global institutional investors factor climate change information into investment decisions and asset allocations. Some investor institutions are now willing to ask companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Internal Choices Are Weaker Than Those Dictated By The Outside World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vLg5pvYIui0/090211094036.htm
The underlying sense of being in control of our own actions is challenged by new research which demonstrates that the choices we make internally are weak and easily overridden compared to when we are told which choice to make.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Mars Gullies May Have Been Formed By Flowing Liquid Brine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OtjZYFpj3HI/090213110731.htm
Researchers have used chemistry and geology to create a model that may explain the mystery of how modern-day gullies form on the surface of Mars.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Vitamin B12 identified As An Effective Canker Sore Therapy, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0YTxOxKBM3o/090210092732.htm
Physicians have discovered that a nightly dose of vitamin B12 is a simple, effective and low risk therapy to prevent Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, better known as "canker sores." According to the lead researcher, "the frequency of RAS is as much as 25 percent in the general population."

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Molecule That Suppresses Immune Response Under Study In Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T-fFhCe_zsA/090204121535.htm
The idea is to teach the immune system of children at high risk for type 1 diabetes not to attack the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
More Children Need Medical Help For RSV Than Previously Known
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Al3rJHipgsg/090204174253.htm
More than 2 million children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are seen in hospitals, emergency rooms and doctors' offices in the United States every year -- many more than doctors know. In fact, only 3 percent of children with RSV in an outpatient setting actually receive a diagnosis of RSV infection.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Medical Students Target Aphids With Insecticide Safe For Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4erSu0HvXfg/090203192433.htm
Medical scientists are focusing their expertise on a pest that destroys soybeans. The goal is to develop an insecticide that is safe for humans but will kill the soybean aphid, a bug that's been ravaging Minnesota crops.

Mon, 16 Feb 09
Increasing Prosperity Has Prompted Irish Children To Balloon 24 Kilograms Since 1948
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M3B105fAvBc/090209205158.htm
Irish children now weigh 24 kilograms more than they did in 1948, reveals new research.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Better Artificial Nose Inspired By Sniffer-dogs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/00ItloEUs6k/090213172533.htm
For the sensitive work of detecting explosives and drugs in airports and other high-risk areas, humans have long relied on a marvel of evolutionary biology: the sniffer dog. The canine nose can detect a seemingly infinite range of odors, alone and in combination, at concentrations down to the parts per trillion level.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Shades Of 1918? Comparing Avian Flu With A Notorious Killer From The Past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WJpEZoiE-HA/090210092842.htm
Scientists compared the recent avian strain known in the scientific community as H5N1, with genetic ressortants of the 1918 virus -- source of the most severe influenza pandemic in recorded history. H5N1 was found to replicate profusely within the first 24 hours, causing severe damage to respiratory tissues while sending the host's innate immune response into a lethal overdrive, reminiscent of the trajectory of the original 1918 virus.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Inuit Trails Represent Complex Social Network Spanning Canadian Arctic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0DzCi3RutQg/090204112237.htm
Inuit trails are more than merely means to get from A to B. In reality, they represent a complex social network spanning the Canadian Arctic and are a distinctive aspect of the Inuit cultural identity. And what is remarkable is that the Inuit's vast geographic knowledge has been passed through many generations by oral means, without the use of maps or any other written documentation.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Tailor-made Recombinant Proteins In Mammals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L7XIh7oCV9U/090209122551.htm
"Aldehyde tags" are used to label proteins in bacterial recombinant-DNA systems -- and now in proteins that can only be expressed by mammalian systems. While some recombinant drugs like insulin are made in bacterial systems, most have to be produced by mammalian cells. Aldehyde tags direct chemical modifications to specific sites on proteins, including monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutics important in the pharmaceutical industry.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Volcanic Spreading And Lateral Variations In Structure Of Olympus Mons, Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zhaTU54hTQA/090203175343.htm
The immense Olympus Mons volcano on Mars (about 23 km tall and 600 km wide) exhibits a somewhat lopsided structure: elongated to the northwest, shortened to the southeast, with corresponding types of faulting (extensional and compressional, respectively) prevalent in each sector.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Pre-verbal Number Sense Common To Monkeys, Babies, College Kids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lpow3cSnaV4/090213114156.htm
Scientists are studying how human adults and infants, lemurs, and monkeys think about numbers without using language. One researcher is looking for the brain systems that support number sense and trying to figure out how this cognitive skill develops.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Climate Change Likely To Be More Devastating Than Experts Predicted, Warns Top IPCC Scientist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/abj1CF0wnOU/090214162648.htm
Without decisive action, global warming is likely to accelerate at a much faster pace and cause more environmental damage than predicted, says Stanford scientist Chris Field, a leading member of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Field warns that higher temperatures could ignite tropical forests and melt the Arctic tundra, releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gas that could raise temperatures even more -- a vicious cycle that could spiral out of control.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
New Data Suggest 'Jumping Genes' Play A Significant Role In Gene Regulatory Networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1LtqRWCzj9U/090214082107.htm
New research suggests that mobile repetitive elements -- also known as transposons or "jumping genes" -- do indeed affect the evolution of gene regulatory networks.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
How Deadly Fungus Protects Itself
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z7fzPF9r450/090203175341.htm
Researchers have discovered how a deadly microbe evades the human immune system and causes disease. The study may help scientists develop new therapies or vaccines against infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. These fungal infections occur most commonly in those with compromised immune systems ý especially AIDS patients and transplant patients who must take lifelong immunosuppressive therapy.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Ways To Minimize Tinnitus -- Troublesome Noises In The Ears
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yjCsLeExmPQ/090204165913.htm
Ringing, whining, whistling, hissing or whooshing. Any of those sounds in one or both ears when there is no external noise present could be a sign of tinnitus.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Researchers Dig Through Millennia In The Valley Of The Kings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJDX4NeLvVM/090203173651.htm
The first field season is now over at the hut village of the workmen who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. However, the archaeologists working on the excavation have found that they still have a great deal to do. The sun, the wind and tourists have left their mark on the village, originally discovered by Bernard Bruyère in 1935.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
It's Hard Work That Fosters Responsibility In Teen Programs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZxjeDupr-4k/090206081310.htm
Researchers surveying more than 100 high schoolers involved in 11 different summer and after-school programs find that it's not the fun and games of these programs but the tough tasks -- those that ask young people to make sacrifices and do difficult things for the good of the group -- that are most likely to foster responsibility and self-discipline. In fact, many respondents spontaneously reported that developing responsibility was a goal of their participation in these programs.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Micro RNA Plays A Key Role In Melanoma Metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JB6dUlBp0j8/090209131500.htm
Scientists have long wondered how melanoma cells travel from primary tumors on the surface of the skin to the brain, liver and lungs, where they become more aggressive, resistant to therapy, and deadly. Now, scientists have identified the possible culprit -- a short strand of RNA called microRNA that is over-expressed in metastatic melanoma cell lines and tissues.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
‘Wake Up’ To Health Risks Of Heavy Snoring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pk9s8DHDeS0/090203140837.htm
Heavy snoring can be far from a nuisance. It can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where an individual briefly stops breathing during the night which raises the risk of heart failure and strokes.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Plan Offers Guidance For Evaluating Menopause-like Condition In Girls And Young Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mKI0gnrJuzY/090204174247.htm
A comprehensive plan to help health care professionals diagnose and treat primary ovarian insufficiency -- a menopause-like condition affecting girls and young women that may occur years before normal menopause is expected -- has been developed.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
White-nose Kills Hundreds Of Bats Near Abandoned Mines In Pennsylvania
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/srDjFDrYUns/090203172713.htm
Several hundred little brown bats are dead from White-Nose Syndrome in Lackawanna County, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking to residents for help uncovering other sites where this deadly disorder may have surfaced.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Amid Rising Childhood Obesity, Preschoolers Found To Be Inactive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gl4uQg8i8cM/090206081305.htm
A study of children enrolled at 24 community-based preschool programs finds that preschoolers are inactive for much of their preschool day, with 89 percent of physical activity characterized as sedentary. The study also finds that teachers very rarely encourage children to be more physically active. Based on these findings, there may be more of a need for preschool teachers to organize, model and encourage physical activity.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Cupid's Arrow May Cause More Than Just Sparks To Fly This Valentine's Day
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EHmN-WeRVCE/090214104322.htm
Getting struck by Cupid's arrow may very well take your breath away and make your heart go pitter patter this Valentine's Day, reports an expert. Dopamine creates feelings of euphoria while adrenaline and norepinephrine are responsible for the pitter patter of the heart, restlessness and overall preoccupation that go along with experiencing love.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Radioimmunotherapy: Promising Treatment For HIV Infection And Viral Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t4349koVj0E/090214162804.htm
Scientists have piggybacked antibodies onto radioactive payloads to deliver doses of radiation that selectively target and destroy microbial and HIV-infected cells. The experimental treatment -- called radioimmunotherapy, or RIT -- holds promise for treating various infectious diseases, including HIV and cancers caused by viruses.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Biofuels Boom Could Fuel Rainforest Destruction, Researcher Warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aec6fdvTJs8/090214162758.htm
Farmers across the tropics might raze forests to plant biofuel crops, according to new research. "If we run our cars on biofuels produced in the tropics, chances will be good that we are effectively burning rainforests in our gas tanks," she warned.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Mixed Population Provides Insights Into Human Genetic Makeup
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z9kVSEUWNKw/090214162756.htm
Genetic diseases and genetically mixed populations can help researchers understand human diversity and human origins according to a physical anthropologist.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Virtual Games Players Stick Close To Home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fQQ1b11HcEM/090214162754.htm
Researchers have analyzed a "gold mine" of networking data from EverQuest II, a fantasy massive multiplayer online role-playing game, along with a survey of 7,000 players. Their findings include that many players underestimate the amount of time they spend playing the games, the number of players who say they are depressed is disproportionately high -- and surprisingly -- most people played with people in their general geographic area.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Molecules Self-assemble To Provide New Therapeutic Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SKEshXcz3Wg/090214162751.htm
By tailoring peptide amphiphiles, small synthetic molecules, and combining them with other molecules, researchers can make a wide variety of structures that may provide new treatments for medical issues including spinal cord injuries, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Combining the PA molecules with hyaluronic acid, a biopolymer found in the human body in places like joints and cartilage, resulted in an instant membrane structure in the form of self-assembling sacs.

Sun, 15 Feb 09
Could Nanotechnology Make An Average Donut Into Health Food?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z410Exf66mo/090214162746.htm
European food companies already use nanotechnology in consumer products, but few voluntarily inform consumers. "The promise of nanotechnology," a Dutch scientist said, "is that it could allow re-engineering ingredients to bring healthy nutrients more efficiently to the body while allowing less-desirable components to pass on through."

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Humans And Chimpanzees Genetically More Similar Than One Yeast Variety Is To Another
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7-v5WkD4TMw/090213114325.htm
There may be greater genetic variation between different yeasts of the same species than between humans and chimpanzees. This is one of the findings of a new study. This study heralds a new era in evolutionary genetics research -- the mapping of an individual's DNA.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Vigorous Exercise May Help Prevent Vision Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Stog0DDVFzU/090210092840.htm
Vigorous exercise may help prevent both cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, according to a pair of studies that tracked approximately 31,000 runners for more than seven years.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
World’s Oldest Swan Found Dead In Denmark
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AIs05yDL6Xg/090213115129.htm
What was probably the world’s oldest mute swan has been found dead in Denmark. This unusual example of Denmark’s national bird lived to just past the ripe old age of 40. The previous record for a mute swan was 28 years old.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Surgical Technique Shows Promise For Improving Function Of Artificial Arms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZcyCV2dhK_w/090210161902.htm
A surgical technique known as targeted muscle reinnervation appears to enable patients with arm amputations to have improved control of functions with an artificial arm, according to a new study.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Cancer Research Tool: Tool Analyzes Function Of Crucial Set Of Proteins In Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E6mCvjUuaWA/090203135551.htm
Scientists have developed a new tool that enables them to analyze the function of a crucial set of proteins in animals --- a finding that could lead to a host of better drugs for and deeper insights into the workings of cancer.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Tracking The Digital Traces Of Social Networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vI5oslvxoiQ/090213161031.htm
Researchers have studied the massive online virtual world Second Life to test whether or not certain social theories are true. Having access to huge amounts of data gave them a way to answer how networks are created. Searching through anonymized data from Teen Grid, where only teenage players can socialize, the researchers found that teens' online friendships were disproportionately with people in their immediate geographic area -- likely with people they already knew.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
When It Comes To Elephant Love Calls, The Answer Lies In A Bone-shaking Triangle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OKNigHcshZE/090213161038.htm
An ecologist has been studying elephant communication for more than 15 years. During that time she's puzzled over which or their two seismic sensing systems -- either bone conduction or somatosensory reception -- elephants use most often in locating the source of a call. In her most recent field season last summer, she finally got an answer.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Genomic Test Can Personalize Breast Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TZaDwo1OBiY/090209163315.htm
A set of 50 genes can be used to reliably identify the four known types of breast cancer, according to new research. Using this 50-gene set, oncologists can potentially predict the most effective therapy for each breast tumor type and thereby personalize breast cancer treatment for all patients.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Cheap Roses Cost The Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/io0-hnWWa4Q/090213070917.htm
A stark warning was given by a U.K. expert on high ecological price paid for cheap roses.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Ongoing Statin Therapy Associated With Lower Risk Of Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uO2VbAFke2k/090209163201.htm
Patients with high cholesterol levels who continually take statins appear to have a lower risk of death over four to five years, regardless of whether they already have diagnosed heart disease, according to a new report.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Public Funding For Specialty Crops Inadequate, Research Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QFOCGDxMI9A/090203130711.htm
Specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, have become increasingly important compared to other categories of agriculture in the United States over the past 50 years. These crops have continued to grow in production value, but this growth has not been matched by growth in public agricultural research spending.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Social Support During Breast-feeding Helps Humans Have More Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/igU7E1ooZro/090213130745.htm
The fact that human mothers have support from family while they're breast-feeding may be a key strategy that enables humans to reproduce more rapidly than other primates, new research suggests. Social support helps mothers conserve energy in a way that allows their bodies to prepare for their next pregnancy.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Wildlife Salute Valentines Day Of Their Own
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lj7qOotwRGA/090206171633.htm
While they might not be giving roses and writing love poems, wildlife have some pretty fascinating -- and sometimes downright bizarre -- courtship and mating rituals of their own.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Camouflaging Of Viral DNA Could Be Crucial Step In Progression Of Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zQzNyUW1eEA/090209205045.htm
Fifteen percent of cancers can be linked to a viral infection. However, the biological changes that cause some asymptomatic carriers of a virus to develop malignancies are not well understood. In a new study, scientists mapped a chemical modification of DNA in Epstein-Barr, human papilloma and hepatitis B viruses and found that the viral genomes undergo changes during the progression of disease, with implications for new prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Education And Money Attract A Mate; Chastity Sinks In Importance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bah-M-0Uauw/090205182737.htm
This Valentine's Day, researchers have some new answers to the perennial question of what men and women want in a partner.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Talking And Treating Erectile Dysfunction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_v7eLlf03Yo/090204172216.htm
The conversation about male sexual dysfunction has grown from a whisper to a roar. From Bob Dole to Mike Ditka, erectile dysfunction, or ED, is no longer hush-hush as more men are talking more openly.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Continuous Descent Arrivals: Atlanta Flight Test Evaluates Technique For Saving Fuel And Reducing Noise In Airliners
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lv9o93tqD7k/090203091356.htm
Airline passengers arriving in Atlanta on early morning "redeye" flights during the past few months may have noticed something different during their descent to the runway. Instead of the typical sound of engine power rising and falling as the aircraft descended in a series of level flight steps, they may have noticed a quieter arrival -- without the steps.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Happiness Research Demonstrates When Material Items Are The Best Option
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6JDftVyqGRo/090211111000.htm
It matters whether you give your loved one a material gift or an experience for Valentine's Day, say researchers.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Hamsters On Treadmills Provide Electricity Through Use Of Nanogenerators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gjyHnOj7wLs/090213115020.htm
Could hamsters help solve the world's energy crisis? Probably not, but a hamster wearing a power-generating jacket is doing its own small part to provide a new and renewable source of electricity.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Targeted Immune Cells Shrink Tumors In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3CasKVUn9n8/090210162023.htm
Researchers have generated altered immune cells that are able to shrink, and in some cases eradicate, large tumors in mice. The immune cells target mesothelin, a protein that is highly expressed, or translated in large amounts from the mesothelin gene, on the surface of several types of cancer cells. The approach shows promise in the development of immunotherapies for certain tumors.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Spaniards Prefer Love To Be Passionate, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yY_GixdtDjs/090213115445.htm
Spaniards of all ages, in the main, have a “romantic” conception of love. They see it as an irresistible passion, which involves great intimacy and a strong physical attraction, which is classified as “Eros” love. Far fewer of them view the sentiment as a lasting commitment based on closeness, friendship, companionship and affection (amiable or “storge” love), a model which is more common in the north of Europe.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Computerized Writing Aids Make Writing Easier For Persons With Aphasia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ox-uFNbr0hY/090203081611.htm
New research shows that it is possible to improve writing skills for those with aphasia with the aid of computerized writing aids.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Exposure To Ash From TVA Spill Could Have 'Severe Health Implications'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ML79ey4lHB4/090203090859.htm
Scientists who analyzed water and ash samples from last month's coal sludge spill in eastern Tennessee concludes that "exposure to radium- and arsenic-containing particulates in the ash could have severe health implications" in the affected areas.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Smokers Putting Their Loved Ones At Risk Of Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZpGuQskyogM/090211101714.htm
New research shows that people living with someone who smokes continue to be at risk of the harmful effects of passive smoking.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Penguins Marching Into Trouble
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JeVEdQAGAO4/090212171936.htm
Magellanic penguins, like most other species of the flightless birds, are having their survival challenged by wide variability in conditions and food availability, a biologist has found.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Anti-HIV Gel Shows Promise In Large-scale Study In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZBC4z1RLE8U/090209110637.htm
An investigational vaginal gel intended to prevent HIV infection in women has demonstrated encouraging signs of success in a clinical trial conducted in Africa and the United States.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Particulate Matter From California Wildfires Is More Toxic Than Particulate Matter In Ambient Air
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7CDs_mr17NQ/090213111441.htm
A study of coarse and fine particulate matter (PM) generated by the California wildfires of 2008 suggests a toxicity level greater than that of an equivalent dose of PM in ambient air. The study adds to growing literature supporting source and component specific differences in toxicity of pollutant particles of a given size, and challenges regulators to consider toxicity as well as mass or size when regulating particle pollution.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Few Women Follow Healthy Lifestyle Guidelines Before Pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LzUWZbp3AzM/090212210726.htm
Very few women follow the nutritional and lifestyle recommendations before they become pregnant, even when pregnancy is in some sense planned, finds a new study.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Mass Media Often Failing In Its Coverage Of Global Warming, Says Climate Researcher
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xSbycVKkfhw/090213114321.htm
What is wrong with reporting on global warming? "The problem is CNN just fired their science team. Why didn't they fire their economics team or their sports team?" "Why don't they send their general assignment reporters out to cover the Superbowl?" one expert said. Researchers have to do their part, too, he said, by clearly explaining issues.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Startling Numbers Of Active-military Personnel Engaging In Frequent Binge Drinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wp_bravvJ9w/090212132315.htm
Binge drinking is common among active-duty military personnel and is strongly associated with many health and social problems, including problems with job performance and alcohol-impaired driving, according to a new study. More than 30 million binge-drinking episodes were reported in 2005.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Ultra-Compact Dwarf Galaxies: Stars Packed Together In Early Universe A Million Times More Closely
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N_ouN2xurrI/090212093900.htm
In the early Universe, a newly-discovered type of galaxy, Ultra-Compact Dwarfs (UCDs) had stars packed together a million times more closely than anything we see today. Astronomers suggests that the remnants of these stars still make up most of the mass of UCDs in the present day.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Alzheimer's Prevention? New Method To Stimulate Immune System May Be Effective At Reducing Amyloid Burden In Alzheimer’s
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qqi-QF0sajA/090211161940.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel way to stimulate the innate immune system of mice with Alzheimer's disease -- leading to reduced amyloid deposits and the prevention of Alzheimer's disease related pathology -- without causing toxic side effects.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Cancerous Kidney Removed Through Belly Button
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i4U-SeHrb_c/090213110220.htm
Surgeons have removed a patient's diseased kidney through one incision hidden in the belly button. No other incisions were used.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Have Migraine? Bigger Waistline May Be Linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QLSIoilkpWs/090212161812.htm
Overweight people who are between the ages of 20 and 55 may have a higher risk of experiencing migraine headaches, according to a new study.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Seeing The Forest And The Trees Helps Cut Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mM2etRnFFmE/090213114313.htm
Putting a price tag on carbon dioxide emitted by different land use practices could dramatically change the way that land is used, according to new research. When all carbon emissions -- fossil fuel, industrial and land-use change emissions -- are included in a global management plan, deforestation slows and could reverse, managers place limits on the expansion of biofuels production, and emission control becomes cheaper.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Psychoactive Compound Activates Mysterious Receptor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DsVGA9T9M3k/090212141158.htm
A hallucinogenic compound found in a plant indigenous to South America and used in shamanic rituals regulates a mysterious protein that is abundant throughout the body, researchers have discovered.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Novel Quantum Effect, Quantum Spin Hall Effect, Directly Observed And Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5h0G7iYxJ6M/090212141248.htm
Physicists has succeeded in gaining an in-depth insight into a most unusual phenomenon. They succeeded for the first time in directly measuring the spin of electrons in a material that exhibits the quantum spin Hall effect, which was theoretically predicted in 2004 and first observed in 2007. Astonishingly, the spin currents flow without any external stimulus as a result of the internal structure of the material. The electrons mimic the presence of a magnetic field.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Second-hand Smoke May Cause Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k0HJgI26kJ4/090212210721.htm
Exposure to second-hand smoke could increase the risk of developing dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment, according to new research.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Neural Mapping Paints Haphazard Picture Of Odor Receptors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AQaFda2yfGE/090203110525.htm
Despite the striking aromatic differences between coffee, peppermint, and pine, a new mapping of the nose's neural circuitry suggests a haphazard patchwork where the receptors for such disparate scents are as likely as not to be neighbors. Inexplicably, this seemingly random arrangement is faithfully preserved across individuals and even species, with cells that process the same scent located in precisely the same location on the olfactory bulb, the brain's first processing station for odors.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Extra Copies Of A Gene Carry Extra Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zCiSBk6NHeg/090204101300.htm
A missing LIS1 gene causes severe mental retardation. New research shows that extra copies of LIS1 can cause developmental problems, as well.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Violent Computer Games Have Role In Fire Safety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QEDN-n8gqYA/090203192427.htm
The software code underlying violent computer games can be used to train people in fire safety, new academic research has found. Commercial games such as Doom 3 and Half Life 2 can be used to build virtual worlds to train people in fire evacuation procedures by applying the games' underlying software code, according to researchers.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Bar Workers Who Smoke Also Benefit From Smoking Ban, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z0WwjCMP2-A/090209205154.htm
The health of bar workers, who actively smoke cigarettes, significantly improves after the introduction of a smoking ban, reveals new research.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
High-tech Tests Allow Anthropologists To Track Ancient Hominids Across The Landscape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tEy0ZCV5X6Y/090212150838.htm
Dazzling new scientific techniques are allowing archaeologists to track the movements and menus of extinct hominids through the seasons and years as they ate their way across the African landscape, helping to illuminate the evolution of human diets.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
How Influenza Virus Hijacks Human Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yS8AGF5GJOc/090204131615.htm
Researchers have now precisely defined an important drug target in influenza. A new high resolution image details a crucial protein domain that allows the virus to hijack human cells and multiply in them.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Method Monitors Critical Bacteria In Wastewater Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BNUlPk7TkaQ/090204121539.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique using sensors to constantly monitor the health of bacteria critical to wastewater treatment facilities and have verified a theory that copper is vital to the proper functioning of a key enzyme in the bacteria.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Marijuana Use Linked To Increased Risk Of Testicular Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_C12JGbUcbc/090209075631.htm
Frequent and/or long-term marijuana use may significantly increase a man's risk of developing the most aggressive type of testicular cancer. Being a marijuana smoker at the time of diagnosis was associated with a 70 percent increased risk of testicular cancer. The risk was particularly elevated (about twice that of those who never smoked marijuana) for those who used marijuana at least weekly and/or who had long-term exposure to the substance, beginning in adolescence.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
Test Reveals Genetic Defect That Causes Infertility In Pigs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qXs2_pFbK84/090209075824.htm
In the late 1990s the Finnish Yorkshire pig population was threatened by a genetic defect which spread at an alarming rate and led to infertility. The defective gene has now been mapped. Sequence analysis of the candidate gene KPL2 revealed the presence of an inserted retrotransposon, a DNA sequence which moves around independently in the host genome.

Sat, 14 Feb 09
New Factor In Teen Obesity: Parents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pkA_3YhXusw/090209125824.htm
Researchers have found that adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food or drink soda are more likely to do the same.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
New Shock Absorber Harvests Energy From Bumps In The Road, Increases Fuel Economy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vzsIe5M8VcA/090212181904.htm
Undergraduate students have invented a shock absorber that harnesses energy from small bumps in the road, generating electricity while it smooths the ride more effectively than conventional shocks. The students hope to initially find customers among companies that operate large fleets of heavy vehicles. They have already drawn interest from the US military and several truck manufacturers.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Medical Complications Of Obesity, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oMN6m8DBClU/090212150842.htm
Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids protect the liver from damage caused by obesity and the insulin resistance it provokes. This research should give doctors and nutritionists valuable information when recommending weight-loss diets and help explain why some obese patients are more likely to suffer some complications associated with obesity. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in canola oil and fish.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Mother-of-pearl From Shells Could Inspire Regeneration of Human Bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SFG7OJrR9SU/090212112741.htm
Scientists have studied nacre's growing mechanism of gastropods, a step for the artificial reproduction of this material in laboratories which could make possible its use in biomedicine. Although molluscs have been producing nacre for million years, humans have not been able to reproduce it artificially. One of its possible applications would be the regeneration of human bones.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Fat-free Diet Reduces Liver Fat In Fat-free Mice, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S59nG1NCpRk/090203120718.htm
Researchers have uncovered crucial clues about a paradoxical disease in which patients with no body fat develop many of the health complications usually found in obese people.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Through Technology And Smart Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UbW7LI6aAQI/090211161854.htm
A new study on climate change, published by Environmental Science and Technology, shows that "smart growth" combined with the use of hybrid vehicle technology could reduce cities' carbon dioxide emissions -- the principal driver of global warming -- significantly by 2050.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
First-time Mothers At Greater Risk Of Psychosis In Month Following Childbirth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vGtVlxhxW-Q/090209205043.htm
A study of risk factors associated with psychotic illness after childbirth shows that first-time mothers are at the greatest risk of developing psychosis in the month following the birth of their child -- even if they have never been treated in hospital for mental illness in the past.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Stem Cells From Skin Cells Can Make Beating Heart Muscle Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4cLig9DIOxY/090212161808.htm
A little more than a year after scientists showed they could turn skin cells back into stem cells, they have pulsating proof that these "induced" stem cells can indeed form the specialized cells that make up heart muscle.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
New Target For Medicine To Combat Alzheimer's: Scientists Confirm Protein's Key Role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nixPHsXv848/090212141251.htm
Scientists have demonstrated that a particular protein is extremely well suited to be a target for a new medicine against Alzheimer's disease.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Method For Detecting 23 Drugs And Medicines In Saliva Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0pj-Z1DreAk/090211122532.htm
Scientists have developed a technique for detecting the presence of 23 illicit drugs and medicines in saliva samples. The method is already being used by the DGT in Spain, as part of a European study on the frequency of alcohol and drug consumption amongst drivers.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
HIV Antiretroviral Medications Linked To Heart Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UfBEJeW2YyI/090212094042.htm
New research findings help explain why some HIV patients treated with antiretroviral medications experience increased incidence of heart attacks.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Molecular Machines Drive Plasmonic Nanoswitches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/35K3hDKcp80/090211161846.htm
Plasmonics -- a possible replacement for current computing approaches -- may pave the way for the next generation of computers that operate faster and store more information than electronically-based systems and are smaller than optically-based systems, according to an engineer who has developed a plasmonic switch.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
True Or False? How Our Brain Processes Negative Statements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t0cjY54_ZX4/090211122147.htm
Previous research has suggested that including negative words in the middle of a sentence can throw off our brains and make it more difficult to understand. A new study reveals that the way negative statements are processed in the brain depends on the structure of the sentence itself. This indicates that negation, when it is useful and informative, does not make it more challenging for the brain to understand the negative meaning of the statement.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Astronomers Unveiling Life's Cosmic Origins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/541p18k5QWc/090212161814.htm
The foundations for life on Earth were laid by the processes of star and planet formation, and the production of complex, prebiotic molecules in interstellar space. Those processes are yielding their secrets to astronomers with powerful research tools and better tools are on the way.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Drug Found To Prevent Colon Cancer Development In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9l5eR_cGYZE/090212093648.htm
Researchers have found that a drug now being tested to treat a range of human cancers significantly inhibited colon cancer development in mice. Because the agent appears to have minimal side effects, it may represent an effective chemopreventive treatment in people at high risk for colon cancer, the investigators say.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Uranium Poisoning Treatment Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PbEuDoiDpts/090212112738.htm
Researchers have developed a protein that binds to uranium selectively and tightly -- a simple, effective methods for the sensitive detection and effective treatment of uranium poisoning.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Bone Marrow Transplant Patients May Benefit From New Immune Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iF8OShkVX_o/090211193809.htm
Bone marrow transplant researchers may have found a mechanism that could preserve the leukemia-killing effects of a transplant graft, while limiting the damage donor immune cells might do to the recipient host's vital organs.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Are Increasingly Recognized As A Source Of Food Poisoning Outbreaks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8mJ5R1YUehw/090211122613.htm
Raw fruits and vegetables are good for you but may also send you to the doctor. New research highlights the fact that fresh fruits and vegetables are increasingly recognized as a source of food poisoning outbreaks in many parts of the world.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Read My Lips: Using Multiple Senses In Speech Perception
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hu1auXeSs7M/090211161852.htm
When someone speaks to you, do you see what they are saying? We tend to think of speech as being something we hear, but recent studies suggest that we use a variety of senses for speech perception - that speech is not meant to be just heard, but also to be seen. A new report describes research examining how our different senses blend together to help us perceive speech.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Code Of The Common Cold Cracked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7DoDCxlXy-o/090212141149.htm
Scientists have begun to solve some of the mysteries of the common cold by putting together the pieces of the genetic codes for all the known strains of the human rhinovirus. The researchers say this work provides a powerful tool that may lead to the development of the first effective treatments against the common cold. The study also sheds light on the suspected cause of asthma and acute asthma attacks.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Can A Dietary Supplement Stave Off Hearing Loss?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HesTAosgczs/090212093704.htm
Many people take a vitamin each morning to maintain good nutrition, energy, bone strength, and overall health. Can popping a pill also protect our hearing against damage caused by loud noise?

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Exercise After Knee Replacement Critical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CnphNfSGeyw/090202175309.htm
Exercising to strengthen your quadriceps after knee replacement surgery can boost the function of your new knee to nearly that of a healthy adult your age. It's a simple thing, but such rehab isn't common practice.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Healthy People With High Urinary Protein Levels Have Elevated Kidney Disease Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8h0kgAkfiPc/090211193805.htm
Measuring the amount of protein lost in the urine can identify individuals at risk of developing kidney disease, according to a new study. The results suggest that a simple and low-cost urine screen is a promising way to address the epidemic of chronic kidney disease.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Biodiversity In Crops Decreases Fertilizer Damage To Rivers And Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DwoLsrRebqw/090211094033.htm
Researchers have identified a link between the diversity of crops grown in farmlands and the pollution they create in lakes and rivers. Ecologists show that when the biodiversity of crops is high, less dissolved nitrogen is found exiting the surrounding watersheds.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Two Genes Influence Social Behavior, Visual-spatial Performance In People With Williams Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BUt-K1zuChE/090211122258.htm
Unraveling the genetics of social behavior and cognitive abilities, researchers have traced the role of two genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD, in a rare genetic disorder known as Williams Syndrome.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Rift Zones: New Understanding Of Incredible Forces, Oil And Gas Reserves Beneath The Earth’s Surface
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nx3NE3r52tE/090211122136.htm
Researchers have developed a new model to explain the forming of rift zones. Rift zones are long cracks in the Earth's crust between the tectonic plates. They are generally over 1000km long, 30-100km wide and up to 10km deep. Over time they fill up with the remains of volcanic explosions and other sediment. The research results has great significance for oil and natural gas exploration, plus our general understanding of the forces beneath.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Long-term Use Of Popular Inhalers Increases Risk Of Pneumonia For COPD Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oAg0uZiZ6XA/090209163144.htm
Newly published research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine finds that a popular class of anti-inflammatory inhalers significantly increases the risk of pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Chronic Asthma: Study Reveals Long-Lasting Airway Blockages, Even In Medicated Asthma Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/28leZ8n0Ce8/090206165947.htm
Scientists now are able to get a much clearer picture of what happens inside the lungs of asthma patients, thanks to an innovative MRI technique that shows the flow of air within the lung. The new images show that asthma patients can continue to have persistent narrowing of airways over a span of a month or more – even while taking medication.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Angiogenesis Linked To Poor Survival In Patients With Rare Type Of Ovarian Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/coiPH2SSwOY/090205120406.htm
Researchers have found that increased angiogenesis, or blood vessel formation, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression are associated with poor survival in women with sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Portuguese Mine Generates Acidic Water Following 43 Years Of Inactivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t07yathnOPs/090209094555.htm
Located five kilometers from the Spanish border, the Portuguese São Domingos mine, abandoned since 1966, continues to pollute the river ways that flow into Chanza dam, the largest drinking water reservoir in the province of Huelva, according to scientists. The new study shows that oxidation and the dissolving of sulfurs are processes that remain active today, so the researchers are asking that solution plans be put in place.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Old Or Tired? How People Read And Rate Faces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HSs6QDRz5Ho/090202182940.htm
How do people read faces to judge age or fatigue? This question is explored in the February issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
How Do You Build A Synthetic Brain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NlMUYTLvoco/090211194151.htm
Nanocarbon modeling may be the next step toward emulating human brain function. That's the focus of a "synthetic cortex" under development.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Wrinkles Removed With Protein RHAMM, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pGUBNJZJCe0/090211161936.htm
Hollywood stars of a certain age take note: New research suggests that a protein linked to the spread of several major human cancers may also hold great potential for the elimination of wrinkles and the rejuvenation of the skin. If this promise bears fruit, the protein, called RHAMM, could one day replace injections with neurotoxins that carry such unpleasant side-effects as muscle paralysis and loss of facial expressions.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Artificial Vision Used To Improve Recycling Of Electronic Scrap Metal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rsq5E3UWXs4/090205083519.htm
Researchers are studying an innovative method based on multispectral artificial vision systems to enhance the value of electronic scrap which currently represent 4% of urban waste in Europe.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Cystic Fibrosis And Muscular Dystrophy: New Findings Raise Questions About Identifying Experimental Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o4qt0_LqMBQ/090203090706.htm
Researchers have revealed surprising new insights into the process used to initially identify an experimental drug now being tested in people with cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Multimedia System Provides New View Of Musical Performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7iqABq9vZBw/090203081714.htm
Musicians can now use 3D computer analysis to radically improve their technique using the latest research in multimedia technology.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Boys Have Greater Psychological Well-being Than Girls, Due To Better Physical Self-concept, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RAXKVuPKje0/090203081618.htm
New research has investigated the relationship between adolescents' perception of their physical qualities and their psychological well-being and unwellness.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Restoring Function Of A Mutant Gene Without Altering DNA Might Be Possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RV-i2qVY7PU/090211161946.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that it might be possible to treat genetic diseases, including some forms of cancer, by "rescuing" the misshapen, useless proteins produced by some mutant genes. The researchers demonstrate that manipulating the cellular amounts of a protein called Hsp70, they can give mutants another shot at refolding. The researchers believe it may be a means of hacking the natural biochemistry of cells to restore proteins otherwise lost to mutation.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
People Who Exercise Lower Their Risk Of Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5m53IALeOY/090211193822.htm
An ambitious new study has added considerable weight to the claim that exercise can lower the risk for colon cancer. Researchers combined and analyzed several decades worth of data from past studies on how exercise affects colon cancer risk. They found that people who exercised the most were 24 percent less likely to develop the disease than those who exercised the least.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
A Better Mesh: Researchers 'Tighten' Body's Protective Coating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PrkDwbSnKPs/090205113738.htm
Fibers in the mucus coatings of the eyes, lungs, stomach or reproductive system naturally bundle together and allow the tiniest disease-causing bugs, allergens or pollutants to slip by. But researchers have discovered how to shrink the holes in the mucus layer's "netting" so that it keeps out more unwanted particles.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Snail1 May Spur Cancer Cells By Stimulating Tissue Invasion And Angiogenesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SalWnC8hD3w/090202102925.htm
A transcription factor known to drive the formation of fibroblasts during development also promotes their ability to invade and remodel surrounding tissues, report researchers.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Mediterranean Sea Dried Up Five Million Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NZPpY5FFFNI/090211122529.htm
Upward movement of the Earth's crust transformed the Straits of Gibraltar into a dam. Approximately five million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea dried up after it was sealed off from the Atlantic Ocean. According to earth scientists, a reduction in the weight on the Earth's crust led to the Straits of Gibraltar moving upwards.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Alcohol Advertisements Attract The Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q4j9CfwNLdc/090205214408.htm
Alcohol advertising and marketing may lead to underage drinking. A large systematic review of more than 13,000 people suggests that exposure to ads and product placements, even those supposedly not directed at young people, leads to increased alcohol consumption.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
New Refrigeration System Based On Magnetics More Economical And Quieter Than Current Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OoqXNpR1FiE/090211111013.htm
An exotic metal alloy may be the key to a new quieter, more economical class of home and commercial refrigeration systems based on magnetics rather than conventional gas compression and expansion.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Women Who Drink Lots Of Soda At Higher Risk For Early Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5BCJALIK-DI/090209125821.htm
Women who drink two or more cans of soda pop per day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of kidney disease, a recent study has found. However, researchers did not find an elevated risk for men, or for people who drink diet soda.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Carbon Nanotube Avalanche Process Nearly Doubles Current
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A_ibc5_1hWk/090209110644.htm
By pushing carbon nanotubes close to their breaking point, researchers have demonstrated a remarkable increase in the current-carrying capacity of the nanotubes, well beyond what was previously thought possible.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Lack Of Specific Gene Plays Role In Autism, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CnhUCZMbauQ/090209094403.htm
It is estimated that three to six out of every 1,000 children in the United States have autism -- and the number of diagnosed cases is rising. Autism is one of a group of series developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders that appear in early childhood, usually before age 3. Through symptoms and severity vary, all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
Fish Oil Alternatives To Farmed Fish Feed May Alleviate Global Seafood Shortage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rNf7pII78F4/090211122408.htm
Fish oil replacements for farmed fish feeds may help reduce the aquaculture industry’s dependence on wild fisheries for their essential omega-3 requirements. This move may also help overcome existing barriers that impede the industry’s expansion. A new study focuses on the effects of fish oil replacement in finfish nutrition on feed quality, fish performance, feed efficiency, lipid metabolism, final eating quality and related economic aspects.

Fri, 13 Feb 09
How Your Brain Deciphers Cocktail Party Banter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mlQx67oWs9g/090212094240.htm
Anyone who has tried to carry on a conversation in a roomful of talkers knows how difficult it can be to concentrate on what one person is saying while tuning everyone else out. Researchers now have a better picture of how the brain manages this feat.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Did Burst Of Gene Duplication Set Stage For Human Evolution?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DIbcgTK2vDY/090211161840.htm
Roughly 10 million years ago, a major genetic change occurred in a common ancestor of gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Segments of DNA in its genome began to form duplicate copies at a greater rate than in the past, creating an instability that persists in the genome of modern humans and contributes to diseases like autism and schizophrenia. But that gene duplication also may be responsible for a genetic flexibility that has resulted in some uniquely human characteristics.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Could Carbon Dioxide Replace Antibiotics In Surgery?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uAMqel7aYQA/090204085301.htm
Filling a surgical wound with carbon dioxide gas could reduce infection and improve healing. A wound could continuously be flooded with carbon dioxide gas during surgery. Carbon dioxide could prevent airborne bacteria from reaching the wound and would also suffocate germs. CO2 is already used for this purpose in the food packaging business. Humidified CO2 would also keep the wound warm and moist, which should reduce tissue damage and speed-up healing.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Dangerous Printer Particles Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AKAD5H81WXU/090211094043.htm
The identity and origin of tiny, potentially hazardous particles emitted from common laser printers have been revealed by a new study.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Leukemia Stem Cells Have More In Common With Embryonic Stem Cells Than Adult Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FFgEvr_tO-M/090205133742.htm
Research using a mouse model of human leukemia has provided critical insight into the genetic factors related to the generation and maintenance of myeloid leukemia stem cells. The study is likely to have a profound impact on the future design of therapeutic approaches targeted against cancer stem cells.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Pubic Hair Provides Evolutionary Home For Gorilla Lice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NmUVjrljYuU/090211101711.htm
There are two species of lice that infest humans: pubic lice, Pthirus pubis, and human head and body lice, Pediculus humanus. A new article suggests one explanation for the separation of the two species.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Born To Be Wild? Thrill-seeking Behavior May Be Based In The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ne1R39MGClE/090211161942.htm
What draws some people to daredevil behavior while others shy away from it? The results of a new study in Psychological Science show that high sensation seekers respond very strongly to arousing cues, but have less activity in brain areas associated with emotional regulation. These findings may indicate the way by which sensation seeking results in negative behaviors, including substance abuse and antisocial behavior.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Why Sleep Is Needed To Form Memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pw8-LbQGgj0/090211161934.htm
If you ever argued with your mother when she told you to get some sleep after studying for an exam instead of pulling an all-nighter, you owe her an apology, because it turns out she's right. And now, scientists are beginning to understand why. Scientists describe for the first time how cellular changes in the sleeping brain promote the formation of memories.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
High Level Of Adverse Drug Reactions In Hospitals Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YLfbF7RWlyE/090211082403.htm
In a study of more than 3,000 patients, researchers have found that one in seven admitted to hospital experience adverse drug reactions to medical treatment.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Decoding Funny Faces To Detect Mental Illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QoSVT_ehkDE/090204131619.htm
Researchers have discovered that brain imaging can identify mental illness before it starts. Until now, detecting mental illness before symptoms appear has been nearly impossible.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New Clues To Pancreatic Cells' Destruction In Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uCBbxSRbOwA/090203120716.htm
Researchers have found what appears to be a major culprit behind the loss of insulin-producing b cells from the pancreases of people with diabetes, a critical event in the progression of the disease.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New Tool Gets Handle On Cropland Carbon Dioxide Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gnEWPACVuZA/090209152420.htm
For the first time, farmers have data that tracks at the county level on-site and off-site energy use and carbon dioxide emissions associated with growing crops in the United States.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Happy Hospitals Make Happy Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/flhycpSiuao/090209152414.htm
Imagine a hospital where morale is high, employee turnover is low and patient call buttons rarely go unanswered -- and if they do, you can call the hospital's CEO.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Engineers Revolutionize Nano-device Fabrication Using Amorphous Metals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ffLiMcHeX-o/090211161838.htm
Engineers have created a process that may revolutionize the manufacture of nano-devices from computer chips to biomedical sensors by exploiting a novel type of metal. The material can be molded like plastics to create features at the nanoscale and yet is more durable and stronger than silicon or steel.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Drug Discovery Short-circuits Cancer Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kZNLPRIoRjk/090209205052.htm
A new drug that blocks cancer's main source of growth has been created in the lab and proven effective in mice, scientists are reporting. It is now being readied for clinical trials in patients.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New High Frequency Amplifier Harnesses Millimeter Waves In Silicon For Fast Wireless
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bl6ThwFxKk4/090211094038.htm
A record breaking amplifier for high capacity wireless communications systems has been developed. New imaging and high capacity wireless communications systems are one step closer to reality, thanks to a new millimeter wave amplifier.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Genetics May Predict Risk For Relapse Among Alcohol-dependent Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cyMqSsr7g2M/090203162316.htm
A number of biological markers have been linked to a predisposition for developing alcohol dependence (AD). New findings have linked relapse among AD patients to the Val66Met polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Researchers Shake Up Scientific Theory On Motor Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uk2PWWKqBWY/090205133755.htm
Scientists have shed new light on the little-understood motor protein called dynein, thought to be involved in progressive neurological disorders such as motor neuron disease.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Girls Growing Up With Heroin-addicted Parent More Resilient Than Boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2NOXcLo8R4w/090211161859.htm
Growing up with a heroin-addicted parent exposes children to a variety of detrimental experiences before the age of 18 and new research indicates that girls are four times more resilient than boys in overcoming such adverse events.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New Prostate Cancer Marker In Urine Indicates Whether Cancer Is Spreading
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rTr3Uri71yg/090211161844.htm
Researchers have identified a new biological marker present in the urine of patients with prostate cancer that indicates whether the cancer is progressing and spreading. Scientists identified 10 metabolites that become more abundant in prostate cells as cancer progresses. Their studies showed that one of these chemicals, sarcosine, helps prostate cancer cells invade surrounding tissue.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Arginine Discovery Could Help Fight Human Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cc1pcs6DPdI/090204161848.htm
Arginine, an amino acid, reduces fat mass in diet-induced obese rats and could help fight human obesity.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Automatic Measuring Stations For Pollen Will Improve Forecasts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qu0cDg9vil0/090203081615.htm
The snow is thawing, the first crocuses are fighting their way through the cold earth into the daylight and hay fever sufferers are already pulling out their handkerchiefs. A new type of measuring station will automatically determine the pollen count and thus improve the forecast.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Surgical Technique Enables Extirpation Of Benign Tumors Of The Pancreas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cgmwjVS9S6k/090203110449.htm
A laparoscopic surgical technique enables extirpation of pancreatic tumors that are benign or of scant, highly localized malignant potential and that preserves the function of the organ to the maximum, at the same time significantly reducing the number of possible complications and the period of hospitalization.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Test Tube Chemistry Inside A Carbon Nanotube
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eVIR7lsDzkM/090205083531.htm
Test tube chemistry just took a leap down in size to the nano-scale, with new test-tubes measuring only about one billionth of a meter across. The scaling factor is like scaling up from a normal test tube to one a hundred kilometers across. When chemistry is performed in a conventional manner in laboratory test tubes, the reactions that occur are a result of billions and billions of molecules reacting with each other and with anything else we put into the tube. Being able to watch or control chemical reactions between individual molecules at this scale is like understanding and then controlling the interaction between two people on a tube train while you are sitting in the International Space Station!

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New Direction In Search For Genetic Causes Of Schizophrenia Proposed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MmxlxNLuuGM/090205214400.htm
A new study shows that schizophrenia is caused, at least in part, by large, rare structural changes in DNA referred to as copy number variants -- not the tiny, single letter alterations (single nucleotide polymorphisms that scientists have pursued for years.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Why Fruits Ripen And Flowers Die: Scientists Discover How Key Plant Hormone Is Triggered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5wAUnNEbWwA/090210162027.htm
Best known for its effects on fruit ripening and flower fading, the gaseous plant hormone ethylene shortens the shelf life of many fruits and plants by putting their physiology on fast-forward. In recent years, scientists learned a lot about the different components that transmit ethylene signals inside cells. But a central regulator of ethylene responses, a protein known as EIN2, resisted all their efforts.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Compounds Could Be New Class Of Cancer Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X4_cV3RA6ZA/090203145513.htm
Investigators have developed a group of chemical compounds -- the first selective inhibitors of the protein phospholipase D -- that could represent a new class of drugs for treating cancer. The new inhibitors block the invasive migration of breast cancer cells, supporting their further development as antimetastatic agents.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Novel Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Arteries Shown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uti7ngxqFao/090205161105.htm
Scientists have found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart. The beneficial actions of fish oil that block cholesterol buildup in arteries are even found at high fat intakes.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Stroma Genomic Signature Predicts Resistance To Anthracyclin-based Chemotherapy In Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DJnSZxuIp4U/090203093123.htm
Researchers have developed a new test to predict how breast cancer patients respond to chemotherapy, which could help change how treatment is delivered in the future.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Improving Brain Processing Speed Helps Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gdfcw3M-n5Y/090210162039.htm
Researchers found that healthy, older adults who participated in a computer-based training program to improve the speed and accuracy of brain processing showed twice the improvement in certain aspects of memory, compared to a control group.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Y Chromosome And Surname Study Challenges Infidelity 'Myth'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NlX6q0KPApA/090211111002.htm
Our surnames and genetic information are often strongly connected, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, may help genealogists create more accurate family trees even when records are missing. It also suggests that the often quoted "one in ten" figure for children born through infidelity is unlikely to be true.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
New Cause Of Ozone Wheezing And Potential Treatments Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HTiPubyR054/090203110500.htm
Researchers have discovered a cause of airway irritation and wheezing after exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant. Using an animal model, the researchers were also able to identify several ways to stop the airways from narrowing. These findings help identify potential new targets for drugs which may eventually help physicians better treat emergency room patients suffering from wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Jaguar Spotted In Central Mexico For First Time In 100 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NC--qcao_Rg/090210134448.htm
The jaguar (Panthera onca) has become an animal in danger of extinction over recent decades, due to the fragmentation and deterioration of its habitat, as well as hunting and illegal animal smuggling. As a result of this vulnerability, no individuals have been seen in the centre of Mexico since the start of the 20th Century. However, Mexican and Spanish scientists have now managed to photograph a male jaguar in this region.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Chronic Drinking Causes More Liver Injury Than Acute Or Binge Drinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CiWgOS2atbA/090203162318.htm
Alcohol consumption can cause liver damage. Recent rodent findings have shown that the pattern of drinking can determine the degree of liver damage. Chronic drinking causes more injury to the liver than acute or binge drinking.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Long-term Recovery Of Reefs From Bleaching Requires Local Action To Increase Resilience
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zKyhJybZ254/090203110520.htm
Scientists have assessed more than 25 years of data on reef ecosystems recovery from climate change-related episodes of coral bleaching. The new study represents the first comprehensive review of long-term global patterns in reef recovery following bleaching events.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Slow Down: Those Lines On The Road Are Longer Than You Think
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AOCX8-Fxrbw/090202175107.htm
How long are the dashed lines that are painted down the middle of a road? Most people answer, "two feet." The real answer is 10 feet. That's the federal guideline for every street, highway, and rural road in the United States, where dashed lines separate traffic lanes or indicate where passing is allowed. A new study found that people grossly underestimate the length of these lines -- that implies we're all misjudging distances as we drive, and are driving too fast as a result.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Cosmologists 'See' The Cosmic Dawn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T1epVxI-eDc/090211082359.htm
Scientists have used a computer simulation to predict what the very early universe would have appeared like 500 million years after the "Big Bang."

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Higher Blood Sugar Levels Linked To Lower Brain Function In Diabetics, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XJcgxxa2wQM/090211101723.htm
Cognitive functioning abilities drop as average blood sugar levels rise in people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Discovery Fleshes Out Metabolism Of Key Environmental And Energy Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WrBqmheXB4I/090202174650.htm
Researchers have discovered a new enzyme in a species of bacteria with potential environmental cleanup and energy roles. This is the first multi-protein enzyme of its kind, a lactate dehydrogenase. Although many microbes use a single-protein version, the results suggest that dozens of bacteria use only the multi-protein one instead to consume L-lactate. This advance in understanding the microbe's metabolism will help researchers use the bugs to clean up toxic or radioactive pollutants.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Rare Skin Tumor Responds Better To Treatment Than Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wq0m7n7j430/090202121030.htm
Researchers have learned that a type of skin tumor with many similarities to melanoma actually behaves quite differently. The finding could have implications on diagnosis and treatment of these skin tumors.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Unexpected Discovery Could Impact On Future Climate Models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hpF_VhmTi48/090210134440.htm
Astronomers have made an unexpected find using a polarimeter (an instrument used to measure the wave properties of light) that has the potential to affect future climate models.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Big-time Financial Risk Taking: Blame It On Their Genes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9sAKlnBGz-8/090211082352.htm
A new study provides provocative insights that relate to the question of the day: "How in the world did so many financial titans take such huge risks with out nation's well being?" The new research pinpoints the roles specific variants of the serotonin transporter gene and the dopamine receptor gene play in predicting whether people are more or less likely to take financial risks.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Deducing Diet Of Prehistoric Hominid With Mathematical Models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OgVa3uJbO7Q/090211111005.htm
In an unusual intersection of materials science and anthropology, researchers have applied materials-science-based mathematical models to help shed light on the dietary habits of some of mankind's prehistoric relatives.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
MRI Shows Brain Atrophy Pattern That Predicts Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W4mudiDwaiE/090210092719.htm
Using special MRI methods, researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer's disease.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Even Natural Perfumes May Cause Allergies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/svOOjiYswNo/090203110549.htm
Hypersensitivity to perfumes is the most common contact allergy in adults. Research has demonstrated that even natural aromatic oils, which many deem harmless compared to synthetic perfumes, may cause allergic reactions.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Drugs May Be 'Magic Bullet' For Infants Born With Rare Form Of Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6kARMtPFBp8/090203120714.htm
Infants born with a rare form of inherited diabetes might avoid irreversible damage to their pancreases if they are treated immediately with sulfonylurea drugs rather than insulin, according to a new report.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Electricity From Straw And Other Waste Materials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cKSBhjcTN6g/090203081613.htm
Researchers have developed the first-ever biogas plant to run purely on waste instead of edible raw materials -- transforming waste into valuable material. The plant generates 30 percent more biogas than its predecessors. A fuel cell efficiently converts the gas into electricity.

Thu, 12 Feb 09
Adolescents Involved With Music Do Better In School
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/deCFhm3XzE8/090210110043.htm
Music participation, defined as music lessons taken in or out of school and parents attending concerts with their children, has a positive effect on reading and mathematics achievement in early childhood and adolescence.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Scientists Read Minds With Infrared Scan: Optical Brain Imaging Decodes Preference With 80 Percent Accuracy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pGiGInvSxnU/090210092730.htm
Researchers at Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital have developed a technique that uses infrared light brain imaging to decode preference -- with the goal of ultimately opening the world of choice to children who can't speak or move.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
An Infectious Hereditary Illness?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UnnPR8awixE/090210134557.htm
Could a hereditary illness ever spread by contamination? Researchers studying Huntington’s disease have shown that the normal form of huntingtin protein can acquire an abnormal form without any modification of its genetic code. These researchers observed that clumps of abnormal huntingtin protein, characteristic of Huntington’s disease, could induce clumping in the normal form of the protein.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Don’t Go Changing: New Chemical Keeps Stem Cells Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/35kw9zuXSS8/090203081620.htm
Scientists have discovered a chemical that stops stem cells from turning into other cell types, allowing researchers to use these cells to develop new medical treatments more easily.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Visual Decline As We Age: Genetics Or Environment?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ehwGdOFx9ZA/090202183038.htm
Which has a larger impact on the "normal" decline of visual function as we age, genetic or environmental factors? This question is explored in the February issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Are We Selling Personalized Medicine Before Its Time?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FLVydICzakA/090205214404.htm
We may be a long way off from using genetics to reliably gauge our risks for specific diseases, say researchers. Yet, many companies currently offer personalized genetic testing for diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tout the ability of DNA testing to predict future health risks.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
NASA's Swift, Fermi Probe Fireworks From A Flaring Gamma-ray Star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c0ukIofyTgw/090210125422.htm
Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The high-energy fireworks arise from a rare type of neutron star known as a soft-gamma-ray repeater. Such objects unpredictably send out a series of X-ray and gamma-ray flares.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
While Focusing On Heart Disease, Researchers Discover New Tactic Against Fatal Muscular Dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IkeVzLfVosk/090208133230.htm
Based on a striking similarity between heart disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, researchers have discovered that a new class of experimental drugs for heart failure may also help treat the fatal muscular disorder.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
New Technique Developed For Quick Detection Of Salmonella
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kfXKYeLSeGA/090202121040.htm
A food science and human nutrition expert has developed a quick technique for testing for the presence of Salmonella.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Gene Variants Associated With Early Heart Attack Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kt38Y6ik_7Q/090208133223.htm
The largest study ever completed of genetic factors associated with heart attacks has identified nine genetic regions -- three not previously described -- that appear to increase the risk for early-onset myocardial infarction.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
New Nanocars Roll Out
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/raJ-h2NIOlg/090202113556.htm
The drivers of Rice University's nanocars were surprised to find modified versions of their creation have the ability to roll at room temperature. While practical applications for the tiny machines may be years away, the breakthrough suggests they'll be easier to adapt to a wider range of uses than the originals, which had to be heated to 200 degrees Celsius before they could move across a surface.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Energy Drinks: Coffee Of A New Generation?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cIrGDQrgyks/090205174548.htm
"Energy drinks are the coffee of a new generation," according to one nutritionist. "These drinks are made up of sugar and caffeine and can have a negative impact on health," she said.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Scientists Deconstruct Cell Division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5le9uJ0OcU0/090208133145.htm
The last step of the cell cycle is the spectacularly dynamic and complicated mitosis phase, which leads to the duplication of one mother cell into two daughter cells. In mitosis, fibrous structures called spindles form. Scientists have tried for years to unravel the process of spindle assembly. Now, researchers have found that two proteins used in other functions -- dynein and Nudel -- are essential to regulate assembly of the spindle matrix.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
First Genome-wide Expression Analysis Yields Better Understanding Of How Leukemia Develops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tf3in16iWjo/090209205200.htm
Scientists have performed a genome-wide expression analysis comparing highly enriched normal blood stem cells and leukemic stem cells, and identified several new pathways that have a key role in cancer development.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
PET/CT May Improve Prognosis For Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LOByUSq4czs/090202102922.htm
In the largest study to date to evaluate fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography in the initial staging of inflammatory breast cancer, researchers were able to identify the precise location and extent of metastasis, offering the potential for a better prognosis for patients with this rare, but aggressive form of breast cancer.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Rhythm Abnormality Of Unknown Origin Strongly Predicts Sudden Death Risk In Heart Disease Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WZma1ccog9Q/090202175322.htm
Researchers conducting a large, ongoing study to improve detection and prevention of sudden cardiac death were surprised to discover that a specific heart rhythm abnormality -- idiopathic QT interval prolongation -- increased risk five-fold among patients with coronary artery disease.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Comparative Genomics Reveals Molecular Evolution Of Q Fever Pathogen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rDrI3TLwmpM/090202175157.htm
Scientists have uncovered genetic clues about why some strains of the pathogen Coxiella burnetii are more virulent than others.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Workforce Shortages In Mammography Could Threaten Early Detection Rates For Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HN_n7fkCNxs/090202175151.htm
At the current rate of production for new mammography professionals, there will be drastic reductions in the number of mammography professionals per woman age 40 years and older over the next 15-20 years, according to a new study.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Biofuels Can Provide Viable, Sustainable Solution To Reducing Petroleum Dependence, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kcXcc74AUZ8/090210133920.htm
An in-depth study has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
New Insights Into Growth Factor's Role In Brain Development; Could Lead To Better Understanding Of Memory Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kbmU5jas9aw/090202174947.htm
New research sheds light on a neural growth factor called proBDNF, finding that it is present and potentially active during the perinatal period when the brain's circuitry and memory-encoding regions are being refined.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
People Without Heart Disease Symptoms Urged To Use Caution In Obtaining Cardiac Imaging Exams
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WKXrMPT4Pf8/090202174940.htm
At the radiation dose levels used in cardiac imaging exams, such as cardiac CT or nuclear medicine scans, the risk of potentially harmful effects from ionizing radiation are low. However, since the exact level of risk is not known, people without symptoms of heart disease are being urged to think twice about seeking, or agreeing to, these types of cardiac studies.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
MR Spectroscopy May Help Avoid Invasive Procedures And Treatments For Recurrent Brain Lesions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ai8f1oKVTKM/090202175144.htm
A clinical decision model which uses MR spectroscopy to help physicians differentiate between recurrent tumors and changes in the brain tissue due to radiation treatments, may help patients avoid invasive procedures and treatments, according to a study performed at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Health Risks, Economic Burden Of Migraine Reviewed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RWUGUl1oNwk/090202175153.htm
A new study published in Value in Health reviews the economic burden of migraine in the US and recent clinical findings of the health risks of this neurological condition.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Salamander Decline Found In Central America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cp9f-123aUQ/090209205311.htm
Amphibian populations have dropped worldwide, but most studies have detailed only the effects on frogs. A new study documents that salamander populations also are plummeting. The study, which looked at tropical salamanders in Central America, found that the most common salamanders in the high-elevation cloud forests 40 years ago have all but disappeared. Global warming may be pushing salamanders that live in narrow elevational niches to inhospitable heights.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Possible Treatment For Neurological Disorder Rett Syndrome -- Most Common Basis Of Autism In Girls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TEF0f3uqoS0/090209205047.htm
Injecting the small protein insulin-like growth factor-1 into the bloodstream reduces Rett syndrome symptoms in mice, including lethargy, breathing and heart rhythm irregularities, reduced brain size, and stalled nerve cell development. Rett syndrome is an inherited neurological disease that affects one out of 10,000 girls born. Although some symptoms can be mediated with prescription drugs, the disease does not have a cure or treatment.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Help To Combat Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9VTvJugz1EY/090205113743.htm
Researchers have verified the bioactivity of the polyphenols present in extra virgin olive oil in breast cancer cell lines. This study confirms the potentiality of polyphenols to inhibit HER2 activity and to promote its degradation.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Inflammation In Colon May Get Doused Before Fueling Cancer Development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5759Ochr9vk/090202175316.htm
Repeated inflammation that leads to colon cancer may have met its match. A tiny molecule, quercetin, found in most plant-based foods douses the flames before damaging lesions can form in the colon, according to scientists. And the nice thing is that quercetin is readily available in common plant-based foods. So it's not an unachievable goal.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Nanoemulsion Potent Against Superbugs That Kill Cystic Fibrosis Patients, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lq2b4dk6kFE/090204112248.htm
Scientists report early evidence that a super-fine oil-and-water emulsion, already shown to kill many other microbes, may be able to quell the ravaging, often drug-resistant infections that cause nearly all cystic fibrosis deaths.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Good News: Teenagers Found Willing To Help Their Parents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k24M9kdOBII/090206081307.htm
New research examines teenagers' and parents' feelings when it comes to young people's obligations to help their parents in everyday situations when requests clash with personal desires. The study shows that teens don't always act out of personal desire or selfishness, but feel relatively obligated to help their parents, even when the requests are small. Surprisingly, parents think it's more acceptable for teens to say no when personal desires conflict than do the teens themselves.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Mathematical Models Reveal How Organisms Transcend The Sum Of Their Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rI0mi85U_x4/090205214412.htm
Molecular and cellular biologists have made tremendous scientific advances by dissecting apart the functions of individual genes, proteins, and pathways. Researchers are looking to expand that understanding by putting the pieces back together, mathematically.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Link Found Between Influenza, Absolute Humidity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GH7N1ZrTXmk/090209205148.htm
A new study has found a significant correlation between "absolute" humidity and influenza virus survival and transmission. When absolute humidity is low -- as in peak flu months of January and February -- the virus appears to survive longer and transmission rates increase.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Biochemists Discover New Biological Mechanism: Transport Factor Divides Protein Synthesis Between Mother And Daughter Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NzHLppyxeHY/090209094553.htm
Researchers have discovered a new biological mechanism, which ensures that new proteins are created exactly where they are needed in a cell. The research was conducted using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast). The mechanism takes effect when cells divide, a process that is asymmetrical in yeast.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Vitamin D Tied To Muscle Power In Adolescent Girls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vo5Ze-c2rN8/090203080730.htm
Vitamin D is significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls, according to a new study.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Antarctic Expedition Prepared Researchers For Mars Project
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vV9ijrLImZU/090205141509.htm
About half a year before the robotic arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander began digging into soil and subsurface ice of an arctic plain of Mars, six scientists traveled to one of the coldest, driest places on Earth for soil-and-ice studies that would end up aiding analysis of the Mars data.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Smokers Would Rather Give Up For Their Pooch's Health Rather Than Their Own
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NUicmzZTNZM/090209205156.htm
Smokers are more likely to quit smoking for the sake of their pets' health than they are for their own, suggests new research.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Mediterranean Diet Associated With Lower Risk Of Cognitive Impairment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zg8dVgNbKeY/090209163305.htm
Eating a Mediterranean diet appears to be associated with less risk of mild cognitive impairment -- a stage between normal aging and dementia -- or of transitioning from mild cognitive impairment into Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Multiple Genes Implicated In Autism; Discovery Could Lead To Drugs Targeting Gene Interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1JkpwcAZ6Mc/090209205049.htm
By pinpointing two genes that cause autism-like symptoms in mice, researchers have shown for the first time that multiple, interacting genetic risk factors may influence the severity of autistic symptoms.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Hummingbird 'Tag' Suggests Fragmentation May Be Part Of Pollination Crisis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vInkVP3pZw4/090209223515.htm
To find out the cause of what's being called a global "pollination crisis," researchers have successfully attached an electronic tracking device to a hummingbird for the first time -- and the darting travels of the tiny bird may be pointing the way to at least part of the problem.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Unexplained Chest Pain Can Be Due To Stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/02Xh9kOFZ0Y/090209094551.htm
Each year, many people seek emergency treatment for unexplained chest pains. A new thesis indicates several common factors among those affected, including stress at work, anxiety, depression and a sedentary lifestyle.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Scientists Control The Spin Of Semiconductor Quantum Dot Shell States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZsyrknC5p00/090205120403.htm
Scientists have recently demonstrated the ability to control the spin population of the individual quantum shell states of self-assembled indium arsenide quantum dots (QDs). These results are significant in the understanding of QD behavior and scientists' ability to utilize QDs in active devices or for information processing.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Tests May Predict Driving Safety In People With Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XPylpRxW4tE/090209163142.htm
Doctors may be able to use certain cognitive tests to help determine whether a person with Alzheimer's disease can safely get behind the wheel.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
High Carbon Dioxide Boosts Plant Respiration, Potentially Affecting Climate And Crops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b7YbqwsqOJs/090209205202.htm
The leaves of soybeans grown at the elevated carbon dioxide levels predicted for the year 2050 respire more than those grown under current atmospheric conditions, researchers report, a finding that will help fine-tune climate models and could point to increased crop yields as CO2 levels rise.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Scientists Identify Potential Key To Lyme Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GAnGVZBOXYU/090209205151.htm
Researchers have identified a protein that may help give Lyme disease its bite. Their findings suggest that the bacterial protein, which aids in transporting the metal manganese, is essential for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease to become virulent.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Researchers Learn Why Robots Get Stuck In The Sand -- And How To Keep Them Going
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K_qmNH_ZPyg/090209205058.htm
Today's advanced mobile robots explore complex terrains across the globe and even on Mars, but have difficulty traversing sand. A new study takes what may be the first detailed look at the problem of robot locomotion on granular surfaces. Among the study's recommendations: robots attempting to move across sandy terrain should move their legs more slowly, especially if the sand is loosely packed.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Pregnancy Has No Impact On Breast Cancer Survival, Delays Treatment, Diagnosis, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pzKHSi8z4qw/090209075643.htm
Young women who develop breast cancer during their pregnancy, or who are diagnosed within one year of their pregnancy, have no difference in rates of local recurrence, distant metastases and overall survival compared to other young women with the disease, according to researchers.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Nanoparticles In Dietary Supplements Cause Health Concerns, Regulatory Challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/omrscuZk5BY/090209075633.htm
An increase in the number of dietary supplements made with nanoparticles — so called "nanoceuticals" — is raising growing concerns about their potential for toxicity in the wake of little government oversight, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News.

Wed, 11 Feb 09
Study Questions Effectiveness Of $80 Million Per Year 'Brain Exercise' Products Industry For Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kYZqRG5bas8/090209110639.htm
A new study from Lifespan evaluated the research to date on the impact of cognitive training on the healthy elderly population. Their review of all relevant randomized, controlled trials shows no evidence that structured cognitive interventions or "brain exercise" programs delay or slow progression of cognitive changes in healthy elderly. Such programs are now an $80 million per year industry.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Biologists Find Gene Network That Gave Rise To First Tooth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cVDXe37D0h0/090209205101.htm
Scientists report that a common gene regulatory circuit controls the development of all dentitions, from the first teeth in the throats of jawless fishes that lived half a billion years ago, to the incisors and molars of modern vertebrates, including you and me.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Multivitamins Have No Impact On Risk Of Cancer Or Heart Disease In Postmenopausal Women, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/51I28Y0lDHk/090209163154.htm
The largest study of its kind concludes that long-term multivitamin use has no impact on the risk of common cancers, cardiovascular disease or overall mortality in postmenopausal women.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
New Technique Images Tumor Vessel Leakiness To Predict Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Outcome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ILR6XxZVUPs/090202074852.htm
Researchers have developed a technique for determining the "leakiness" of tumor blood vessels using a simple digital mammography unit. The quantification of "leakiness" is closely correlated to the ability of a chemotherapy agent to enter the tumor, allowing the researchers to predict the agent's therapeutic efficacy.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Constant Compressions Critical To CPR
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/79wUs_j7Mjg/090205214431.htm
Interrupting chest compressions during resuscitation reduces the chances of heartbeat return after defibrillation. New research shows that for every second of a pause in compressions there is a one percent reduction in the likelihood of success.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Nanotechnology Makes Supertelescopes Much More Sensitive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rFsnrHR8WfM/090202102940.htm
Nanotechnologists have succeeded in significantly increasing the sensitivity of the new supertelescopes in Chile.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Road Traffic Noise In Residential Areas Can Increase Risk Of Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n0t_5vs97hQ/090202135936.htm
People living in environments with high levels of road traffic noise might be more likely to suffer myocardial infarction than people in quieter areas.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Dramatic Rise In Sea Level And Its Broad Ramifications Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oJPQjtjWEkg/090209205314.htm
Scientists have found proof in Bermuda that the planet's sea level was once more than 70 feet higher about 400,000 years ago than it is now. This had grave ramifications for the biodiversity on the planets coastlines and small islands.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Genetic Change Prevents Cell Death In Mouse Model Of Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g9ylVXf0W7c/090202174644.htm
By shifting a normal protective mechanism into overdrive, scientists have completely shielded mice from a toxic chemical that would otherwise cause Parkinson's disease.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Newer Medication May Offer Advantages Over Agents Often Used For Sedation In ICU
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TI6_95mES9Y/090202121026.htm
Use of the sedative dexmedetomidine for critically ill patients resulted in less time on a ventilator and less delirium compared to patients administered a more commonly used drug, according to a new study.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Stemming Decay Of World's Art And Cultural Heritage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PPPK9nbyDUE/090208133133.htm
Many of the world's cultural treasures are creations made of organic materials such as paper, canvas, wood and leather which, in prolonged warmth and dampness, attract mold, micro-organisms and insects, causing decay and disintegration. New biotechnology techniques to protect art include the use of micro-organisms to remove fungus and other problems on artwork, photos, documents, masonry and more.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Researchers Investigate Prenatal Smoking Link With Antisocial Behavior In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wPBoRqhCiSY/090202174938.htm
Researchers have for the first time studied whether smoking during pregnancy can directly make children more likely to behave antisocially. The unique study examined the records of 779 children born by in-vitro fertilization whose prenatal environment was provided by either a related mother or an unrelated mother.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
How Magnetic Forces Shape Cosmic Jets Of Matter Streaming Out Of Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4eEIuIp8qFg/090209152422.htm
Some of the most breathtaking objects in the cosmos are the jets of matter streaming out of stars, but astrophysicists have long been at a loss to explain how these jets achieve their varied shapes. Now research shows how magnetic forces shape these stellar jets.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
New Hope For Immunocompromised Individuals With Drug-resistant Fungal Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wwN8OAy7DfQ/090209205317.htm
Even the most drug-resistant fungi can be eradicated in multiple in vitro and in vivo models using a lethal combination of an antifungal agent and inhibition of a specific heat shock protein (Hsp90). Such findings could point to a novel approach for the development of future antifungal therapies for patients with compromised immune systems. Immunocompromised individuals -- including HIV, chemotherapy, and organ transfer patients -- with drug-resistant fungal infections suffer mortality rates ranging from 50 to 90 percent.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Exercise Improves Leg Pain Caused By Arterial Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/beoVRF7-wzg/090202113613.htm
Patients with leg pain caused by arterial disease may be able to forgo treatment of the affected artery by participating in hospital-supervised exercise, according to a new study.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Cementless Cup Device Developed For Hip Replacements Shows Durability After More Than 20 Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WLUDQcnGIL4/090202121033.htm
When a first hip replacement fails, patients may be concerned that their options for a durable hip replacement are limited and that the prognosis is poor. However, a research study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery suggests that this may not be the case.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Neurobiological Mechanisms In Major Depressive Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeuOjF4xfHk/090202174506.htm
Genes, psychological adversity in childhood, and recent or ongoing psychological stress may combine to cause major depression, write Dr. Sanjay Mathew and colleagues from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York in a review published in CMAJ.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
How An Antarctic Worm Makes Antifreeze And What That Has To Do With Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZdY6CDru5G4/090209205321.htm
A new study reports a hardy Antarctic worm that withstands its cold climate by cranking out antifreeze and going into suspended animation when it dries out. Researchers are using it to establish a baseline for predictions about how ecosystems respond to climate change.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Inflammation Directly Linked To Colon Cancer; Potential New Drug Targets Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k6Etwtsu7kI/090202174454.htm
While chronic inflammation is believed to be a predisposing factor for colon cancer, exact mechanisms linking these conditions remain elusive. Scientists have now discovered a new piece of this puzzle by demonstrating how the Stat3 protein links inflammation to tumor development, a discovery that may well lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for colon cancer.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Drug Combinations Key In Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zs-TOI-jOWc/090130182920.htm
Combining the benefits of multiple drugs in a single pill may hold the key to treating neurodegenerative diseases, researchers say.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Even With Medication, Asthma Patients Show Chronic Airflow Changes In Lungs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lmFaiAh_uzI/090202113606.htm
Using a special MRI technique, researchers have determined that the location and degree of airway narrowing in the lungs of asthma sufferers can be markedly persistent over time.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Big Year For Darwin, But What Would He Make Of The Climate Change Ahead?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yHL6CqGOeTU/090202113611.htm
Charles Darwin may have been born 200 years ago come Feb. 12, but his theory of evolution remains an everyday touchstone for modern biologists. And while the Origin of Species author might not have known the term “global warming,” he wouldn’t have been surprised that the environment is changing. He would, however, be astonished by the speed at which it’s happening today, researchers believe.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
SSRIs May Reduce Suicide In Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2xzL3UiW1kI/090202174504.htm
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce the risk of suicide in depressed adults, according to a new study.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Long-sought Protein Structure May Help Reveal How 'Gene Switch' Works
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w44hpCV8Pso/090206221922.htm
The bacterium behind one of mankind's deadliest scourges, tuberculosis, is helping researchers at move closer to answering the decades-old question of what controls the switching on and off of genes that carry out all of life's functions.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
New Treatment Hope For Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wFLU1nWTMBo/090206101607.htm
Scientists have developed a potential new treatment for patients with prostate cancer. They have produced a monoclonal antibody to a unique tumor marker for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Mother Whales Teach Babies Where To Eat: Can Southern Right Whales Adapt If Food Becomes Scarce?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NmtlZ_Vy7Tg/090209075718.htm
Biologists have discovered that young right whales learn from their mothers where to eat, raising concern about their ability to find new places to feed if Earth's changing climate disrupts their traditional dining areas.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Fertility Drugs Do Not Increase Risk Of Ovarian Cancer, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zCXrv2qTFbk/090205214414.htm
The use of fertility drugs does not increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer, finds a large study.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Laser-sculpted Optical Devices For Future Giant Telescopes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZtB6bBGVWW0/090205161111.htm
Th emerging field of astrophotonics shows promise in analyzing light from the night sky. Future telescopes, with mirrors half the size of a football field, will need special components to deal with the light they collect. Astronomers are turning to photonic devices that guide and manipulate light inside specially-designed materials. The greatest potential may lie in a laser-based technique that carves out micron-sized light pathways in three dimensions.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Impact Of Narcotics Is Greater On Mentally Ill
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7-5dGfSSsJ0/090205174551.htm
Narcotics have an irreversible effect on the brains of people already suffering from mental illness, according to new research. According to this research, some 33 to 50 percent of psychiatric patients also suffer from drug addiction.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
How Many Dimensions In The Holographic Universe?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q5_t_5tmIgs/090203081609.htm
Scientists are trying to understand the mysteries of the holographic principle: How many dimensions are there in our universe? Some of the world's brightest minds are carrying out research in this area -- and still have not succeeded so far in creating a unified theory of quantum gravitation is often considered to be the "Holy Grail" of modern science.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Personalized Nano-Medicine? Scientists Can Predict Nano Drug Outcome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G3QmxiGFlHg/090205161107.htm
Scientists have successfully predicted the outcome of a nano drug on breast tumors in a pre-clinical study. Their research could help with personalize medicine by determining which patients will respond best to cancer-fighting nano drugs.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Predicting Diversity Within Hotspots To Enhance Conservation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cccochy5NcM/090205142130.htm
Hotspots of threatened biodiversity comprise a huge chunk of the Earth, presenting a daunting challenge to governments and scientists who want to study them, let alone protect them from development. A new strategy can help identify the hotspots within hotspots critical for study and conservation. The strategy employs climate models to assess past species distribution to identify climatically stable regions likely to harbor undocumented endemism.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Strategies To Overcome Blood-brain Barrier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gLz8dz5XRWQ/090205174546.htm
The blood-brain barrier remains a major obstacle to the successful delivery of drugs to treat central nervous system disorders, reports Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Inbreeding Insects Cast Light On Longer Female Lifespans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7dzFVirVje4/090205214410.htm
Inbreeding can unexpectedly extend male lifespan. Insect experiments have shown that, in seed beetles, inbreeding causes males to live longer, while shortening female lifespan.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Young Teens Really Are Shortsighted, But Don't Blame Impulsivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5Jgl16j3zvg/090206081312.htm
A study of 900 ethnically and socially diverse people ages 10-30 uses a questionnaire and experimental task called delay discounting to show that teens are shortsighted more due to immaturity in the brain systems that govern sensation seeking than to immaturity in the brain systems responsible for self-control. This research on adolescent decision-making may impact the way legal policies are shaped concerning teenagers' rights and responsibilities.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Global Warming Threatens Antarctic Sea Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h3-rXJFAVU0/090205083301.htm
Climate change is about to cause a major upheaval in the shallow marine waters of Antarctica. Predatory crabs are poised to return to warming Antarctic waters and disrupt the primeval marine communities.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Key Factor In Controlling Breakdown Of Bone Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z55nFPs303E/090208133139.htm
A new study demonstrates that a chemical mediator in the blood that influences immune cell migration also plays a key role in maintaining the balance between the build-up and breakdown of bones in the body. This mediator, which acts on cells that degrade bone, may provide a new target for scientists developing therapies and preventions for bone-degenerating diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Cognitive Training Can Alter Biochemistry Of The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/344wyvUxOWY/090206081507.htm
Researchers have shown for the first time that the active training of the working memory brings about visible changes in the number of dopamine receptors in the human brain. The study, published in Science, was conducted with the help of PET scanning and provides deeper insight into the complex interplay between cognition and the brain’s biological structure.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Source Of Cancer Stem Cells' Resistance To Radiation Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vPbt_PFjLIo/090204131612.htm
Much to the dismay of patients and physicians, cancer stem cells -- tiny powerhouses that generate and maintain tumor growth in many types of cancers -- are relatively resistant to the ionizing radiation often used as therapy for these conditions.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Accidental Discovery Has Potential To Keep Food And Drugs Safer And Fresher Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qdkJDllhgTo/090206120547.htm
A recent discovery may help keep food and drugs safer and fresher longer and electronic equipment dryer and more secure than ever before -- all at a lower cost.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Poor People Suffer Disproportionately From Chronic Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4-fy7E1fDh4/090205154037.htm
Kids from low-income families are much more likely to suffer from serious infections such as herpes or hepatitis A than their counterparts in wealthier households.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
New Species Of Prehistoric Creatures Discovered In Isle Of Wight Mud
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HtLDka1bC3k/090209075822.htm
In just four years one palaeontologist has discovered 48 new species from the age of the dinosaurs using a systematic search method. The new discoveries, found hidden in mud on the Isle of Wight, are around 130 million years old and shed valuable light on the poorly understood world in which well known dinosaurs roamed.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Effects Of Smoking Linked To Accelerated Aging Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VcY-poOPZ0c/090206081316.htm
A new study is apparently the first to make a connection between a rare, hereditary premature aging disease and cell damage that comes from smoking. The study results point to possible therapeutic targets for smoking-related diseases. The investigation found that a key protein that is lost in Werner's syndrome is decreased in smokers with emphysema, and this decrease harms lung cells that normally heal wounds.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
What's Killing The Coral Reefs?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a7Q0eJPK70o/090204174314.htm
A DNA microarray may help scientists learn how to preserve coral, one of the ocean's most important denizens. The technology tracks changes in microbial populations that indicate coral disease.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Hepatitis C Is Killing Liver Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XOsEKlbCKAA/090205214416.htm
It has long been thought that liver disease in hepatitis C patients is caused by the patient's immune system attacking the infected liver, ultimately killing the cells. Researchers have now discovered something different though.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Natural, Alternative Insect Repellent As Effective As DEET, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vxAKeneCEKI/090205154033.htm
A cheap, natural compound has been found to deter biting of mosquitoes and to repel ticks as effectively as DEET.

Tue, 10 Feb 09
Chaotic Households Contribute To Mothers' Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JmNA-5eyf7I/090206170631.htm
Putting food on the table, struggling with unemployment and meeting the relentless needs of young children all contribute to household stress. Now, a new study finds that these pressures also increase the possibility that a mother will be obese.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Census Of Modern Organisms Reveals Echo Of Ancient Mass Extinction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BtBqxJ3Q8QI/090205142139.htm
Paleontologists can still hear the echo of the death knell that drove the dinosaurs and many other organisms to extinction following an asteroid collision at the end of the Cretaceous Period 65 million years ago. "The evolutionary legacy of the end-Cretaceous extinction is very much with us. In fact, it can be seen in virtually every marine community, every lagoon, every continental shelf in the world," said University of Chicago paleontologist David Jablonski.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Zinc Supplements During Pregnancy May Counteract Damage From Early Alcohol Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ry-Ddr5N4Jw/090202174452.htm
Animal research has shown that binge drinking -- even just once -- during early pregnancy can cause numerous problems for the fetus, including early postnatal death. Fetal zinc deficiency may explain some of the birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with alcohol exposure. New rodent findings are the first to show that dietary zinc supplements throughout pregnancy can reduce some alcohol-related birth defects.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Microcoils Help Locate Small Lung Nodules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y5o5BEq4oWM/090202113609.htm
A new technique combining computed tomography with fiber-coated surgical microcoils allows physicians to successfully locate and remove small lung nodules without the need for a more invasive procedure, according to a new study.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Beach Vacations May Increase Future Skin Cancer Risk In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TbbunKXyca4/090203080721.htm
Vacationing at the shore led to a 5 percent increase in nevi (more commonly called "moles") among 7-year-old children, according to an article in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Gender Bias Found In Student Ratings Of High School Science Teachers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3OjNNPQzeoA/090202174953.htm
A study of 18,000 biology, chemistry and physics students has uncovered notable gender bias in student ratings of high school science teachers.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Breakthrough To Treat Malaria: Scientists Deactivate Malaria Parasite's Digestive Machinery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0mauEx3asV8/090203090708.htm
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in the international fight against malaria, which claims the life of a child across the world every 30 seconds. Scientists have been able to deactivate the final stage of the malaria parasite's digestive machinery, effectively starving the parasite of nutrients and disabling its survival mechanism. This process of starvation leads to the death of the parasite.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Targeted Nanospheres Find, Penetrate, Then Fuel Burning Of Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iIxuZhqSB2o/090202074856.htm
Hollow gold nanospheres equipped with a targeting peptide find melanoma cells, penetrate them deeply, and then cook the tumor when bathed with near-infrared light, scientists have reported in Clinical Cancer Research.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Mesh-like Network Of Arteries Adjusts To Restore Blood Flow To Stroke-injured Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/795TBkgVxSg/090130182930.htm
A grid of small arteries at the surface of the brain redirects flow and widens at critical points to restore blood supply to tissue starved of nutrients and oxygen following a stroke, a study published this week has found.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Potential 'Safe Period' For Hormone Replacement Use Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IQvblGhDWmY/090202102936.htm
A new study confirms that the use of estrogen plus progesterone increases the risk of both ductal and lobular breast cancer far more than estrogen only; suggests a two-year "safe" period for the use of estrogen and progesterone; and finds that the increased risk for ductal cancers observed in long-term past users of hormone replacement therapy drops off substantially two years after hormone use is stopped.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Advancement In Tissue Engineering Promotes Oral Wound Healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bHSfLT8G0uI/090203080725.htm
A Netherlands-based research team has successfully engineered a full-thickness gum tissue substitute from patient-donated biopsied tissue for use in reconstructing the oral cavity following surgery or trauma. Patient self-donated tissue was cultured and expanded in vitro for three weeks before transplantation. The advancement is a significant improvement over other skin substitutes as results demonstrate the importance of matching the donor site with the area to be transplanted.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Hormone Level During Pregnancy May Identify Women At Risk For Postpartum Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QBCLp3_0ZbE/090202174820.htm
Women who have higher levels of a hormone produced by the placenta midway through their pregnancy appear more likely to develop postpartum depression, according to a new report.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Super-resolution Microscopy Takes On Third Dimension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uQp7h4HYS0Y/090202174654.htm
The shapes of some of the tiniest cellular structures are coming into focus as scientists have developed an imaging technology that produces the best three-dimensional resolution ever seen with an optical microscope. The new tool allows scientists to pinpoint fluorescent labels in their images to within 10-20 nanometers -- about ten times the size of an average protein -- in all three dimensions.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Younger Men With Erectile Dysfunction At Double Risk Of Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LL27gFd9D4c/090202113601.htm
Men who experience erectile dysfunction between the ages of 40 and 49 are twice as likely to develop heart disease than men without dysfunction, according to a new Mayo Clinic study.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Turning Down Gene Expression Promotes Nerve Cell Maintenance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZjwD5-ApDXo/090202074844.htm
A new study of myelin, a protein key to efficient neuronal transmission, reveals that a microRNA signal fine-tunes myelination.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Landscape-scale Treatment Promising For Slowing Beetle Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/47Mjt-8NpyE/090202175109.htm
Mountain pine beetles devastating lodgepole pine stands across the West might best be kept in check with aerial application of flakes containing a natural substance used in herbal teas that the insects release to avoid overcrowding host trees, according to a team of scientists.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Combined Measures Of Maternal Drinking Can Predict Resulting Problems In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MDiYDFNGtgk/090202174449.htm
Drinking during pregnancy can lead to a range of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Researchers have designed a "metric" or combination of maternal-drinking measures that can predict prenatal neurobehavioral dysfunction and deficits in children.

Sun, 8 Feb 09
Buying Experiences, Not Possessions, Leads To Greater Happiness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/egRPa8VeyvQ/090207150518.htm
Can money make us happy if we spend it on the right purchases? A new psychology study suggests that buying life experiences rather than material possessions leads to greater happiness for both the consumer and those around them. The study demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased satisfaction and well-being.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Stars Form At Record Speeds In Infant Galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qrnyMbqa_j4/090205101119.htm
Galaxies, including our own Milky Way, consist of hundreds of billions of stars. How did such gigantic galactic systems come into being? When galaxies are born, do their stars form everywhere at once, or only within a small core region? Recent measurements provide the first concrete evidence that star-forming regions in infant galaxies are indeed small -- but also hyperactive, producing stars at astonishingly high rates.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Drug Found That Could Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7DuClvF19MA/090202102932.htm
A drug used to improve blood flow to the brain also could help improve learning and memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Flexible Electronics: Large-scale Graphene Films Created Based On Inspiration From Water Lilies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EE8SvpdLyKQ/090129113321.htm
An expert in materials science and engineering has found that graphite oxide sheets -- which are used to make graphene, a hotly studied material that scientists believe could be used to produce low-cost transparent and flexible electronics -- can be assembled into a continuous membrane that could be used as the basis for transparent conductors.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Heart Failure Linked To Cognitive Impairment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lo0WxuTFpWE/090205083524.htm
Nearly half of patients with heart failure have problems with memory and other aspects of cognitive functioning, reports a new study.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
New Open-source Software Permits Faster Desktop Computer Simulations Of Molecular Motion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n-pPHvRtIpo/090205093554.htm
A new open-source software package is making it possible to do complex simulations of molecular motion on desktop computers at much faster speeds than has been previously possible. "Simulations that used to take three years can now be completed in a few days," according to developers.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Gene's Role In Severity Of Drinking Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Owaq0ekWJ5k/090204121517.htm
New research could help explain why some alcoholics are more severe drinkers than others. Scientists have found strong evidence that the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, plays a significant role in influencing drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Rapidly Evolving Gene Contributes To Origin Of Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z1Vyeh6jkZY/090205142134.htm
A gene that helped one species split into two species shows evidence of adapting much faster than other genes in the genome, raising questions about what is driving its rapid evolution.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Scattered Light Rapidly Detects Tumor Response To Chemotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lg_MC5mJt_g/090202074847.htm
New technology developed by bioengineers can help clinicians more precisely detect whether specific cancer drugs are working, and should give basic researchers a powerful new tool to better understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer development.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Preparing For Climate Change: Analyzing Genome Of Heat And Drought Resistant Cereal Plant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I_AmLj0Xwqg/090130084122.htm
The global climate is changing, and this change is already impacting food supply and security. People living in regions already affected by aridity need plants that can thrive / grow under dry conditions.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Inflammation May Be Link Between Extreme Sleep Durations And Poor Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rIAenG6ux9c/090201094119.htm
Sleep duration is associated with changes in the levels of specific cytokines that are important in regulating inflammation. The results suggest that inflammation may be the pathway linking extreme sleep durations to an increased risk for disease.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Genetic Adaptations Are Key To Microbe's Survival In Challenging Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/giUpfX6zs-I/090205214402.htm
The genome of a marine bacterium living 2,500 meters below the ocean's surface is providing clues to how life adapts in extreme thermal and chemical gradients, according to an article in PLoS Genetics.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Pharmaceuticals Sold In Sweden Cause Serious Environmental Harm In India, Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oOjIyKC6mr8/090205083522.htm
Many of the substances in the most common medicines are manufactured in India and China. Some of these factories release large quantities of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical substances into the environment. There is an obvious risk of these releases leading to resistant bacteria. New research shows that Sweden is a major consumer of pharmaceutical substances from factories that fail to adequately treat their wastewater.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Inner Workings Of Photosynthesis Revealed By Powerful New Laser Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pK7zrzbppsg/090205083711.htm
Instant pictures showing how the sun's energy moves inside plants have been taken for the first time.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Gene Mutations Increase Risk For Aggressive Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/226xlx6VHy8/090129122525.htm
Genetic testing could shed light on tumor prognosis. Men who develop prostate cancer face an increased risk of having an aggressive tumor if they carry a so-called breast cancer gene mutation, scientists report.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Effectiveness Of Progesterone In Reducing Preterm Births May Be Altered By Genetic Predisposition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nZNb0IQMsRo/090130084153.htm
New research may explain why taking progesterone to prevent preterm birth is only effective for some women. The drug, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (or 17P), a synthetic form of the progesterone hormone naturally produced during pregnancy, has been demonstrated in clinical trials to prevent some recurrent preterm births -- but not all.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Nanoscopic Static Electricity Generates Chiral Patterns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CmqZxjjpmXo/090202103017.htm
Engineers have recently shown how electrostatic interactions -- commonly known as static electricity -- alone can give rise to helical shapes. The group has constructed a mathematical model that can capture all possible regular shapes chiral objects could have, and they computed the preferred arrangements induced by electrostatic interactions.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Methamphetamine Use Cost United States About $23 Billion In 2005, Study Estimates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nZNYGVW4fZ8/090204085131.htm
The first-ever comprehensive national assessment of the economic burden of methamphetamine use in the United States finds the drug cost the United States $23.4 billion in 2005, including the burden of addiction, premature death, drug treatment and many other aspects of the drug.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Wolf In Dog's Clothing? Black Wolves May Be First 'Genetically Modified' Predators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HyIwmD1vYnQ/090205142137.htm
Slipping through trees or across snow, the wolf has glided into legend on paws of white, gray or -- in North America -- even black. This last group owes an unexpected debt to the cousins of the domestic dog, say researchers.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Researchers Shed Light On Fat Burning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-ql4TW-Vaa4/090205133826.htm
Researchers have found that fat cells give feedback to the brain in order to regulate fat burning much the same way a thermostat regulates temperature inside a house.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Molecular Target For Treatment Of West Nile Encephalitis Identified Through Studies In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LtCUPMZg4Oc/090205133738.htm
In animal studies, researchers have identified molecular interactions that govern the immune system's ability to defend the brain against West Nile virus, offering the possibility that drug therapies could be developed to improve success in treating West Nile and other viral forms of encephalitis. Critical mechanism enables blood-borne immune cells to sense West Nile virus and to neutralize and clear the infection in the brain.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Fingerprints And Faces Can Be Faked, But Not Brain Patterns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U6tq5EQ75vc/090205101138.htm
Sensors able to identify individuals' brain patterns and heart rhythms could become part of security systems which also use more traditional forms of biometric recognition.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Interested Or Deceptively Flirting? Observers Of First Dates Can Predict Outcome, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kyCy4osPJDE/090130084155.htm
When it comes to assessing the romantic playing field, men and women were shown to be equally good at gauging men's interest during a study involving speed dating -- and equally bad at judging women's interest. The study, published in Psychological Science, focused on the ability of observers to judge romantic interest between others because of evolutionary benefits to finding one's own mate, such as knowing who might be available.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
'Nonsense' In Our Genes: One In 200 Human Genes Superfluous?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JMV72-d28Gk/090205133740.htm
A study of the genetic code of more than 1,000 people has found that at least one in 200 human genes can be inactivated in apparently healthy people. The findings suggest that, though these genetic mutations can be harmful, they generally have little effect on the individual and could occasionally even be beneficial in evolutionary terms. The study also found that individuals carry on average 46 of these inactivating mutations.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Hope For Preventative Treatment For Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YNsKwSW7QVA/090205102830.htm
Rsearchers have succeeded in preventing cystic fibrosis lung disease in an animal model by spraying amiloride into the lungs of young mice. This is the first therapy to successfully attack the root cause of the widespread hereditary disease in a living organism. When mice are given inhalation treatment with the drug in the first days of life, no thick mucus forms in the lungs and airway inflammation and chronic lung damage can be prevented.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Future For Electronics Opened Up With Domain Walls That Conduct Electricity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/92LBSKqDTzg/090129102334.htm
Domain walls that conduct electricity, mere billionths of a meter wide, could be the ultimate nanoscale feature for future electronics. Scientists have not only discovered conducting domain walls -- never seen before -- but learned how to write, erase, and manipulate them.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
'Sister' Factors Promote Survival Of Blood-system Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c2YDinoJo9Q/090205133753.htm
Stem cells of any kind are defined by their eternal nature, reproducing themselves and providing a pool of cells from which more differentiated tissues arise. Now researchers demonstrate that two specific "sister" genes that control transcription play often overlapping roles in maintaining this pool of hematopoietic or blood cell-forming stem cells.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Fighting Tomorrow's Hackers: Keeping Encryption Safe From Future Quantum Computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vy6rp8zGmnI/090205110609.htm
One of the themes of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is the need to keep vital and sensitive information secure. Today, we take it for granted that most of our information is safe because it's encrypted. Every time we use a credit card, transfer money from our checking accounts -- or even chat on a cell phone -- our personal information is protected by a cryptographic system. But the development of quantum computers threatens to shatter the security of current cryptographic systems used by businesses and banks around the world. Scientists are now developing a system aimed to keep encryption safe from quantum computers.

Sat, 7 Feb 09
Education May Not Affect How Fast You Will Lose Your Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GCS967nSD7Q/090202174459.htm
While a higher level of education may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, new research shows that once educated people start to become forgetful, a higher level of education does not appear to protect against how fast they will lose their memory.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Origin Of Claws Seen In Fossil 390 Million Years Old
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eXVXduZvgOA/090205142145.htm
A missing link in the evolution of the front claw of living scorpions and horseshoe crabs was identified with the discovery of a 390-million-year-old fossil.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Seeing Sounds Or Hearing Colors: Scientists Narrow Search For Genes Associated With Synesthesia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ayqXH1PV1NI/090205133728.htm
A new study identifies specific chromosomal regions linked to auditory visual synesthesia, a neurological condition characterized by seeing colors in response to sounds. The research makes major strides towards identifying the genes that underlie synesthesia and may eventually lead to improved understanding of typical and atypical cognitive development.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Steep-Terrain Rover To Explore Other Planets, Help Back On Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xU6wpS1N6NY/090205141736.htm
Engineers have designed and tested a versatile, low-mass robot that can rappel off cliffs, travel nimbly over steep and rocky terrain, and explore deep craters. This prototype rover, called Axel, might help future robotic spacecraft better explore and investigate foreign worlds such as Mars. On Earth, Axel might assist in search-and-rescue operations.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Cancer Rejection: Scientists Discover Crucial Molecule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGUzRS283ro/090204121541.htm
Researchers have discovered a molecule on the surface of immune cells which plays a critical role in cancer rejection.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Wind Power Forecasting For The US
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DKbEEFMqT2g/090204085311.htm
In an attempt to minimize the potential risks -- such as blackouts -- of USA's growing dependence on renewable energies, scientists are developing a wind power forecasting model for the country. The platform for wind power prediction will be linked to a decision support methodology for network operators that will help reduce wind power production and system operation costs.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Despite Their Diversity, Pygmies Of Western Central Africa Share Recent Common Ancestors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/trZze0PAn_4/090205133751.htm
Despite the great cultural, physical, and genetic diversity found amongst the numerous West Central African human populations that are collectively designated as "Pygmies," a new report finds that they diverged from a single ancestral population just about 2,800 years ago.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Astronomers Spot Cosmic Dust Fountain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i4ImJSRStgw/090205180711.htm
Space dust annoys astronomers just as much as the household variety when it interferes with their observations of distant stars. And yet space dust also poses one of the great mysteries of astronomy.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Adult Stem Cells Convert Into Embryonic-like Stem Cells, With Single Factor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ySoHfnnaSz0/090205133744.htm
The simple recipe scientists earlier discovered for making adult stem cells behave like embryonic-like stem cells just got even simpler. A new report shows for the first time that neural stem cells taken from adult mice can take on the characteristics of embryonic stem cells with the addition of a single transcription factor. Transcription factors are genes that control the activity of other genes.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
New Biomass Charcoal Heater: A 'New Era' Of Efficiency And Sustainability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gMV3PBz3e9M/090205133828.htm
Millions of homes in rural areas of far Eastern countries are heated by charcoal burned on small, hibachi-style portable grills. Scientists in Japan are now reporting development of an improved "biomass charcoal combustion heater" that they say could open a new era in sustainable and ultra-high efficiency home heating.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Dialysis Patients Residing At Higher Altitude Have Lower Rate Of Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jksML4cwZUw/090203162324.htm
Compared to dialysis patients living near sea level, dialysis patients living at an altitude higher than 4,000 feet have a 12-15 percent lower rate of death, according to a new article.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Holy Guacamole: Invasive Beetle Threatens Florida's Avocados
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WP4yLTbfdyM/090204121537.htm
A researcher is tracking the movement of the Redbay Ambrosia beetle, an invasive insect that, if it spreads to southeast Florida, may severely affect the production of avocados, a $15 million to $30 million industry in the state.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Zen Meditation Alleviates Pain, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LLWsPJf8WOU/090203110514.htm
Zen meditation -- a centuries-old practice that can provide mental, physical and emotional balance -- may reduce pain. A new study in Psychosomatic Medicine reports that Zen meditators have lower pain sensitivity both in and out of a meditative state compared to non-meditators. The ultimate result? Zen meditators experienced an 18 percent reduction in pain intensity.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Key Insights Into How New Species Emerge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e37H2FSqGq0/090205161109.htm
Biologists are reporting the ongoing emergence of a new species of fruit fly -- and the sequential development of a new species of wasp -- in the journal Science.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Headway In Understanding Alzheimer's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cBP8HaP0HRo/090205133823.htm
Scientists have discovered that a protein called BAG2 is important for understanding Alzheimer's disease and may open up new targets for drug discovery. They are ready to move from studying these proteins in culture to finding out how they work with mice.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Human DNA Repair Process Recorded In Action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Of3a3h2mtOE/090129102340.htm
A key phase in the repair process of damaged human DNA has been observed and visually recorded. The recordings provide new information about the role played by a protein known as Rad51, which is linked to breast cancer, in this complex and critical process.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Researchers Suspect Novel Gene Is Causing Restless Legs Syndrome In A Large Family
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Oob604iiWxw/090203162336.htm
In 2005, a woman who had trouble sleeping asked for help from a sleep disorders specialist and was diagnosed with restless legs syndrome. This common neurologic disorder interrupts sleep because of unpleasant sensations in the legs at rest, especially in the evening, that are temporarily relieved by movement.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Bacteria Are Models Of Efficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q78paEOKJGY/090204101254.htm
A mathematical model has revealed how single celled organisms regulate their activities for maximum efficiency.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Nightmares Increase Risk Of Further Suicide Attempts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2MQt0K3h6Nk/090203110505.htm
People who have nightmares following a suicide attempt are five times more likely to attempt suicide again, compared with those who do not have nightmares.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Effect Of Colors: Blue Boosts Creativity, While Red Enhances Attention To Detail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4NYW8obgEr4/090205142143.htm
A new study reconciles a debate that has long raged among marketers and psychologists: What color most improves brain performance and receptivity to advertising, red or blue? It turns out they both can, it just depends on the nature of the task or message. The study, which could have major implications for advertising and interior design, finds that red is the most effective at enhancing our attention to detail, while blue is best at boosting our ability to think creatively.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Master Gene Behind Blood Vessel Development Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kqWo-ep_Q_s/090204140628.htm
In a first of its kind discovery, researchers have identified the "master gene" behind blood vessel development.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Birds' Strategic Mobbing Fends Off Parasitic Invaders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGVfSrN357A/090129122514.htm
Reed warblers use mobbing as a front line of nest defense against parasitic cuckoos, according to a new report. Cuckoos act as parasites by laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, reed warblers in particular, burdening their hosts with the trouble of raising young that don't belong to them.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Pathway And Enzyme Unique To Deadly Tularemia Organism Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-kXz6Dakizw/090203110551.htm
Researchers are closer to developing therapies to combat the deadly tularemia infection. Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious organism many fear could be used as a bio-weapon.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
'SnowMan' Software Helps Keep Snow Drifts Off The Road
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TKJqn9qYTq0/090129113327.htm
Snow that blows and drifts across roadways has long troubled road maintenance crews and commuters alike, creating treacherous driving conditions and requiring additional maintenance resources to mitigate the problem. Now, engineers have developed "SnowMan," a user-friendly, desktop software package that puts cost-effective solutions to the snow drift problem at the fingertips of highway designers and road maintenance personnel.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Less Child Mortality Among Taller Women In Developing Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KNjKD_U8zOI/090202140044.htm
Each centimeter/inch counts for women in developing countries. Data from 42 developing countries showed that babies and young children have better survival chances if their mothers are taller.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Sea-level Rise Around North America Upon Collapse Of Antarctic Ice Sheet To Be Higher Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zmcEsbh29hQ/090205142132.htm
Geophysicists have shown that should the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse and melt in a warming world -- as many scientists are concerned it will -- it is the coastlines of North America and of nations in the southern Indian Ocean that will face the greatest threats from rising sea levels.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Mental Deficiency: Gene Mutations That Affect Learning, Memory In Children Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yJPj5OngItE/090204174257.htm
Mental deficiency is the most frequently occurring, yet least understood handicap in children. Even a mild form can lead to social isolation, bullying and require assistance with simple tasks. The most common variety, non-syndromic mental deficiency (NSMD), is defined as affecting an otherwise normal looking child. With few physical clues in affected children to point researchers towards candidates to study, progress in identifying genetic causes of NSMD has been very slow. Yet that is beginning to change. Geneticists have now identified mutations in a novel gene in children with NSMD.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Antioxidants Help Prevent Some Forms Of Loss Of Visual Function In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KGJaV6PXAIA/090202214835.htm
In a mouse model of diseases such as macular telangiectasia and retinal angiomatous proliferation, researchers have managed to prevent photoreceptor loss caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels without correcting the blood vessel defect.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Understanding Phosphorus In Soils Is Vital To Proper Management
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eTle-PgO2qU/090204112235.htm
Phosphorus can have a significant effect on water quality, entering these water sources in a variety of ways, particularly due to runoff from phosphorus enriched soil. A new study examined the characteristics of phosphorus in soils as a way to understand how it behaves in soils and how it is transported in runoff.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Teen Smoking Could Lead To Adult Depression, Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tG8oPn0cJr4/090129113323.htm
Teenagers who smoke could be setting themselves up for depression later in life, according to a new study.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
More Extreme Weather In The Arctic Regions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jvA5MbQvY94/090205083526.htm
A study suggests that extreme weather events in the Arctic will become more common as the winter ice cover retreats, with potentially severe consequences for human activity.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Discovery Could Lead To A New Animal Model For Hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JoWLluzI1b8/090128183934.htm
The hepatitis C virus is interested in only one thing: human liver cells. That has been one of scientists' greatest frustrations in their efforts to study the virus, and has hampered the development of useful animal models for the disease. But now, in a major leap forward, scientists have identified a protein that allows this uniquely human pathogen to enter mouse cells, a finding that could lead to a vaccine or to new treatments.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Ancient Marble Figurine Of Bearded Man, Probably Roman Boxer, Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J54hnxMWLqY/090127160712.htm
A bust made of marble depicting a miniature image of a bearded man's head was discovered in excavations in the Walls around Jerusalem National Park. The figurine was used as a suspended weight together with a balance scale. This is probably the only find of its kind from excavations in the country.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
15-year-old Theory About The Nervous System Disproved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i_HdgAEan38/090203162353.htm
Researchers have uncovered clues identifying which proteins are involved in the development of the nervous system and found that the proteins previously thought to play a significant role, in fact, do not. Understanding how the nervous system develops will give researchers a better understanding of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorders.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Super Strong Nanometals: Ductile Copper Made Four Times Stronger Than Commercial Material
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YYuPJHlkNMU/090204085400.htm
Research shows that it is possible to produce copper about 4 times stronger than commercial material – and doing so while also having a ductile material. As the thermal and electrical conductivity are also good, the manufacturing of, for example, electrical conductors with improved mechanical properties looks promising.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Ecologists Report Quantifiable Measures Of Nature's Services To Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EEvb7xi1fNA/090202102930.htm
The idea of ecosystem services is a promising conservation concept but has been rarely put into practice. Researchers have now used novel tools to report some of the first quantifiable results that place values on nature's services to humans.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Exceptionally Deep View Of Strange Galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7xNFln10jWU/090205083709.htm
A spectacular new image of an unusual spiral galaxy in the Coma Galaxy Cluster has been created from data taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It reveals fine details of the galaxy, NGC 4921, as well as an extraordinary rich background of more remote galaxies stretching back to the early Universe.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
New Schizophrenia Gene Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3ROZF8pDx08/090203145504.htm
Researchers are one gene closer to understanding schizophrenia and related disorders. Scientists describe how a variation in the neuregulin 3 gene influences delusions associated with schizophrenia.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Readers Build Vivid Mental Simulations Of Narrative Situations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9KzvYfgtzHI/090128214820.htm
A new brain-imaging study is shedding light on what it means to "get lost" in a good book -- suggesting that readers create vivid mental simulations of the sounds, sights, tastes and movements described in a textual narrative while simultaneously activating brain regions used to process similar experiences in real life.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Buying Local Isn't Always Better For The Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6EYGcsRFRcw/090202113553.htm
Shopping locally may not be as good for the environment as having food delivered, according to new research. The study shows that, on average, lower carbon emissions result from delivering a vegetable box than making a trip to a local farm shop.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Brain Goes Into 'Screen Saver' Mode In Absence of Stimulus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/os5Y6NpDquQ/090204101252.htm
New research shows our brain's sense centers are continuously active. In the absence of a stimulus, however, their electrical activity remains in "screen saver" mode.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Beaming New Light On Life: From Beetles To Aircraft, Nanoparticles Aid Microscope Views
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/spn16ppByhc/090205083304.htm
Physicists and chemists developed a new method that uses a mirror of tiny silver "nanoparticles" so microscopes can reveal the internal structure of nearly opaque biological materials like bone, tumor cells and the iridescent green scales of the so-called "photonic beetle." The method also might be used for detecting fatigue in materials used to build the latest generation of aircraft fuselages, tails and wings.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
New Evidence Of Hormone Therapy Causing Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pDPoi93B7yU/090204174255.htm
Post-menopausal women who take combined estrogen plus progestin menopausal hormone therapy for at least five years double their risk of breast cancer every year, according to new analyses from a major study that clearly establishes a link between hormone use and breast cancer, researchers say. The study also found that women on hormones can quickly reduce their risks of cancer simply by stopping the therapy.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Mars Rover Device Gets New Mission On Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-JNSoobEOts/090204171040.htm
Developed to sniff out extraterrestrial life on other planets, a portable device known as the Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA) is taking on a new role in detecting air pollutants on Earth. Researchers now report the development of a modified MOA able to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potentially carcinogenic molecules from cigarette smoke and wood smoke, volcanic ash, and other sources.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Resting Heart Rate Can Predict Heart Attacks In Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IqsQvXF5zFY/090203192429.htm
A simple measurement of resting pulse predicts coronary events in women independently of physical activity and common risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, finds a new study.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Fighting Malaria By Changing The Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-_aVbP6nQAU/090128183932.htm
Modifying the environment by using everything from shovels and plows to plant-derived pesticides may be as important as mosquito nets and vaccinations in the fight against malaria, according to a computerized analysis.

Fri, 6 Feb 09
Effects Of Brain Exercise Depend On Opponent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uMI6nviogc4/090203192425.htm
Playing games against a computer activates different brain areas from those activated when playing against a human opponent. New research has shown that the belief that one is playing against a virtual opponent has significant effects on activation patterns in the brain.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Earliest Evidence For Animal Life Discovered: Fossil Animal Steroids Date Back More Than 635 Million Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UAgn0yiB4nA/090204135731.htm
Scientists have found the oldest evidence for animals in the fossil record. The researchers examined sedimentary rocks in south Oman, and found an anomalously high amount of steroids that date back to 635 million years ago, to around the end of the last ice age. The steroids are produced by sponges -- one of the simplest forms of multicellular animals.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Ritalin May Cause Changes In Brain’s Reward Areas; Effects May Overlap With Those Of Cocaine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k2Fcoug6sN0/090204193314.htm
A common treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, prescribed millions of times a year, may change the brain in the same ways that cocaine does, a new study in mice suggests. Research shows that methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, causes physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains. In some cases, the effects overlapped with those of cocaine.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Chocolate Drink Used In Rituals In New Mexico 1,000 Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xQYa86iuRYo/090203173331.htm
Inhabitants of Chaco Canyon apparently drank chocolate from cylinders about a thousand years ago. Archaeologists generally agree the vessels were used for some ritual, but there has been great disagreement about the specific use of the vessels. Crown was thinking about how the Maya drank chocolate from ceramic cylinders, and wondered whether the cylinders found at Chaco might have been used in the same way. It was clear that the Maya used the cylinders for chocolate. Experts could read the glyphs on the vessels that made it clear they were chocolate containers.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Toward 'Invisible Electronics' And Transparent Displays
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_63f-V5rnls/090204170129.htm
Researchers in California are reporting an advance toward the long-sought goal of "invisible electronics" and transparent displays, which can be highly desirable for heads-up displays, wind-shield displays, and electronic paper.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Rich Man, Poor Man: Body Language Can Indicate Socioeconomic Status, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ClDd4GGbBrM/090204121515.htm
A new study in Psychological Science reveals that nonverbal cues can give away a person's socioeconomic status (SES). Volunteers whose parents were from upper SES backgrounds displayed more disengagement-related behaviors compared to participants from lower SES backgrounds. In addition, when a separate group of observers were shown 60 second clips of the videos, they were able to correctly guess the participants' SES background, based on their body language.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Global Warming May Delay Recovery Of Stratospheric Ozone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pS3kXfUMk7Q/090204131625.htm
Increasing greenhouse gases could delay, or even postpone indefinitely the recovery of stratospheric ozone in some regions of the Earth, a new study suggests. This change might take a toll on public health.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Discovery Could Lead To New Autism Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sumdewBx3e4/090204174304.htm
Scientists have discovered a structure in the brain called the Fragile X granule, which offers a potential target for treating autism and mental retardation.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Katrina-flooded Homes May Contain Harmful Levels Of Contaminants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d-dEVVLt3xQ/090204112229.htm
Katrina-flooded homes may contain harmful levels of contaminants, particularly aerosols and gases, which could expose first-responders, residents and any others entering such homes to serious and lasting health risks. The results could also be applied to similar flooding events that might occur in the future.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
In Vitro Fertilization Plancentation May Differ From Normal Plancentation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Zs_F8JCCLE/090130154852.htm
Researchers found distinct differences in protein detection between IVF and spontaneous pregnancies in the first half of gestation.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Nanotubes Trigger Biochemical 'Cross Talk' For Consumer Protection Tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/upBt36rpf5s/090204170322.htm
Researchers in West Virginia and Japan are reporting an advance toward a blood test that could help protect consumers from new products containing potentially harmful kinds of nanotubes. These ultra small wisps of carbon -- 1/5,000th the width a single human hair -- may become the basis for multibillion-dollar medical, consumer electronics, and other industries in the future.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Xenophobia, For Men Only
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l6YMU-qAn7U/090204121504.htm
We have an evolved mental readiness to be fearful of certain things in our world. It's known that people are more fearful of "out-groups" -- people who are different from them. A new study reveals that volunteers' most persistent fears were reserved for men -- that is, male members of the out-group. So white men and women feared black men, and black men and women feared white men; all the other lab-induced fears diminished.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Surgeons Use Microwave Technology To Destroy Tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uO6oqFzCGM8/090204173038.htm
A new minimally-invasive option for treating liver tumors, called microwave ablation, is now becoming available at more hospitals in the U.S. The method, simply put, involves zapping and destroying liver tumors with heat derived from microwave energy.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Vitamin D Found To Stimulate A Protein That Inhibits The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/igLNf1I2SWM/090204172437.htm
Calcitrol, the active form of vitamin D, has been found to induce a tumor suppressing protein that can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, according to a new study.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Process Found To Play Role In Rheumatoid Arthritis Could Lead To New Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oSv_dbtxtGk/090129131833.htm
Although the origin of rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear, bioactive proteins known as cytokines, particularly TNF± and IL-6, which are involved in inflammation, play a major role in the disease by contributing to joint and tissue destruction.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Connectivity Illuminates Risk Of Spread Of Crop Pests, Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kt55sR1b1Vo/090202074854.htm
Graphical analysis of the distribution of crops in the United States identifies crops and regions that might be particularly vulnerable to pathogens. The work could help formulate preventive measures and emergency response strategies for dealing with pest outbreaks.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Divorce, Antidepressants, Or Weight Gain/loss Can Add Years To Your Face
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W6Rvop1R9IE/090203110511.htm
Your mother's wrinkles -- or lack there of, may not be the best predictor of how you'll age. In fact, a new study claims just the opposite. The study, involving identical twins, suggests that despite genetic make-up, certain environmental factors can add years to a person's perceived age.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Powerful New Technique Measures Asteroids' Sizes And Shapes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IbIL2dqfrOc/090204085309.htm
Astronomers have devised a new method for measuring the size and shape of asteroids that are too small or too far away for traditional techniques, increasing the number of asteroids that can be measured by a factor of several hundred. This method takes advantage of the unique capabilities of ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Chondroitin Slows Progression And Relieves Symptoms Of Knee Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0EpPKTNGAag/090129131835.htm
Osteoarthritis causes disability and is a major public health problem. A new study examined the effect of chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate on osteoarthritis progression and symptoms.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
March Launch Planned For ESA's Gravity Mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/By_ip_VTwQg/090204094951.htm
ESA is now gearing up to return to Russia to oversee preparations for the launch of its GOCE satellite – now envisaged for launch on 16 March 2009. This follows implementation of the corrective measures after the anomaly with the Rockot launcher that delayed the launch of GOCE by Eurockot Launch Services last October.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Sudden Cardiac Death Without Recognizable Cause
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/39zdaU7O53Q/090129131659.htm
In about 10% of cases, sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people is due to a cardiac gene defect. Sudden cardiac death is defined as unexpected death occurring rapidly--usually within 1 h of the onset of symptoms--in persons who had previously seemed to be healthy.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Plant Soybeans Early To Increase Yield
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/knfZhVAz9fY/090202102942.htm
Planting date is probably one of the most important yet least expensive management decisions that significantly affects soybean yield, yet few scientists have studies the effect of early planting.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
'Inoculating' Elderly Against Slip-related Falls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/91oVZBw84GU/090204101304.htm
Training people to avoid falls by repeatedly exposing them to unstable situations in the laboratory helped them to later maintain their balance on a slippery floor. The study furthered the understanding of how the brain develops fall prevention strategies that can be generalized to a variety of conditions and could eventually help people, including the elderly, for whom falling is an important health issue.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Natural Predispositions Determine The Social Roles Of Bees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4LtQOIbmY_w/090128211438.htm
Bees have an innate tendency to form social connections. What is the origin of this social behavior? Researchers have discovered that distribution of labor, which is a feature of the social organization of bee colonies, is a result of the existence of insects specialized in aversive and appetitive responses to stimuli.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Cardiac Imaging Method May Expose Patients To High Radiation Dose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/py9tfwRpIso/090203162320.htm
Use of the imaging technique known as cardiac computed tomography angiography has the potential to expose patients to high doses of radiation, and methods available to reduce radiation dose are not frequently used, according to a new study.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Arctic Region Underprepared For Maritime Accidents, Report Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M3YNra3TYQY/090202175331.htm
The existing infrastructure for responding to maritime accidents in the Arctic is limited and more needs to be done to enhance emergency response capacity as Arctic sea ice declines and ship traffic in the region increases, according to new report.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Exercise Plays Large Role In Recovery From Knee Replacement And Occurrence Of Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4oknSN8s498/090129122551.htm
Two new studies found that exercise may be a factor in recovering from a total knee replacement and knee osteoarthritis.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Researchers Help Unlock The Secrets Of Gene Regulatory Networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PSQnbdqAFUU/090203142521.htm
Gene regulatory networks are the complex networks of gene interactions that direct the development of any given species. In four new articles researchers consider new developments in the field.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Happy Employees Are Critical For An Organization's Success, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3ZC6-JKDZbI/090203142512.htm
When employees have high levels of psychological well-being and job satisfaction, they perform better and are less likely to leave their job -- making happiness a valuable tool for maximizing organizational outcomes.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Potential New Herpes Therapy Studied
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-mXJyPEtLsM/090203130706.htm
Researchers are trying to employ a specially designed RNA enzyme to inhibit strains of the herpes simplex virus. The enzyme disables a gene responsible for producing a protein involved in the maturation and release of viral particles in an infected cell. The technique appears to be effective in experiments with mice and rabbits.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
What Your Mother Did When She Was A Child May Have An Effect On Your Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kGMnAUC8H48/090203175335.htm
A study of brain function in young, memory-deficient mice reveals that a stimulating environment improves not only their memory but also the memory of their memory-deficient offspring. If this improvement also occurs in humans, a mother's youthful experiences may help shape her children's ability to learn.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Tobacco Smoke And Alcohol Harm Liver Worse As Combo
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WOibjfy_BHw/090203120721.htm
Mice exposed to secondhand smoke and who drank ethanol had 110 percent more liver fibrosis proteins than mice who breathed filtered air, according to the findings of a new study. Elevated risk of liver disease is now added to mounting evidence that tobacco smoke and alcohol are worse for health as a combination, beyond the individual exposure risks, researchers said.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
How A Cell’s Mitotic Motors Direct Key Life Processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DPXH21SEX8U/090203141212.htm
In a cleverly designed experiment, cell biologists have discovered how dyneins organize chromosome placement to prepare for cell division. The surprise finding suggests it's the motor domain of the nanoscale chemical engine, not the cargo domain as once believed, that directs pre-mitotic action.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
How Your Body Clock Avoids Hitting The Snooze Button
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ua4Vw3dDQsU/090129122527.htm
Scientists have discovered a new part of the mechanism which allows our body clocks to reset themselves on a molecular level.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Early Whales Gave Birth On Land, Fossil Find Reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nyi-2AKHh0g/090204085133.htm
Two newly described fossil whales -- a pregnant female and a male of the same species -- reveal how primitive whales gave birth and provide new insights into how whales made the transition from land to sea.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Tinkering With Circadian Clock Can Suppress Cancer Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RsaTwEAk0T8/090203120723.htm
Researchers have shown that disruption of the circadian clock -- the internal time-keeping mechanism that keeps the body running on a 24-hour cycle -- can slow the progression of cancer.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Can Cannibalism Fight Infections?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlPblTwMBv0/090202174945.htm
Whenever humans create a new antibiotic, deadly bacteria can counter it by turning into new, indestructible super-bugs. That’s why bacterial infection is the number one killer in hospitals today. But new research may give drug developers the upper hand in outsmarting bacteria once and for all. The secret weapon against a colony of bacteria may be to stress it with its own protection system, which forces it to reduce its population through cannibalism.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Small Device Helps Sleep Apnea Sufferers In A Big Way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ELIXAesqrNw/090203140147.htm
A new device helps pull the lower jaw forward, creating an open airway in the throat to benefit those with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is more appealing, affordable and easier to use than standard therapies.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Genetic Marker For Insecticide Resistance In Mosquitoes Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uz39rwlaWQE/090204085518.htm
The genetic basis for resistance to commonly-used insecticides in Anopheles funestus, one of the major malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa has been identified.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
Neurobiologist Proposes ‘The End Of Sex As We Once Knew It’
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fyf1HDzhbtQ/090203134455.htm
Women are not from Venus any more than men are from Mars. But even though both sexes are perfectly terrestrial beings, they are not lacking in other differences. And not only in their reproductive organs and behavior, either, but in such unsexy characteristics as the propensity for drug abuse, fine motor control, reaction to stress, moods and many brain structures.

Thu, 5 Feb 09
At 2,500 Pounds And 43 Feet, Prehistoric Snake Is Largest On Record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FKQbvYDG7c4/090204112217.htm
The largest snake the world has ever known -- as long as a school bus and as heavy as a small car -- ruled tropical ecosystems only 6 million years after the demise of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, according to a new discovery published in the journal Nature.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Holographic Universe: Discovery Could Herald New Era In Fundamental Physics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fGqNwh6v1uY/090203130708.htm
Scientists searching the depths of space to study gravitational wave may have stumbled on one of the most important discoveries in physics. At least one physicist is convinced that he has found proof in the data of the gravitational wave detector GEO600 of a holographic universe.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Artificial Light At Night: Higher Risk Of Prostate Cancer, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PuY4KdaGAEo/090203135015.htm
Worldwide, countries with the highest levels of artificial light at night also have the highest rates of prostate cancer.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Improving Oil Extraction With New Mapping Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TZ7J0SRlDKE/090128183930.htm
Picture this: an accurate map of a large underground oil reservoir that can guide engineers' efforts to coax the oil from the vast rocky subsurface into wells where it can be pumped out for storage or transport. Researchers have developed technology that can generate such a map, which has the potential to significantly increase the amount of oil extracted from reservoirs.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Healthy Kidney Removed Through Donor's Vagina
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BMoWTn_fAZ0/090202175325.htm
In what is believed to be a first-ever procedure, surgeons have successfully removed a healthy donor kidney through a small incision in the back of the donor's vagina.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Differences In Recovered Memories Of Childhood Sexual Abuse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V8mLNYXxoaE/090202175057.htm
When a child experiences a traumatic event it may not be until well into adulthood that they remember the incident. It's unknown how adults are able to retrieve long-forgotten memories of abuse and there has been some controversy as to the authenticity of these reports. A new study suggests that there are important differences between people who gradually recover memories of abuse during suggestive therapy sessions and those who recover memories of abuse more spontaneously.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
COROT Discovers Smallest Transiting Exoplanet Ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0sCskNmFI5k/090203110324.htm
COROT has found the smallest terrestrial planet ever detected outside the Solar System. The amazing planet is less than twice the size of Earth and orbits a Sun-like star. Its temperature is so high that it is possibly covered in lava or water vapor.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Multiple Sclerosis Therapy? Leprosy Medicine Holds Promise As Therapy For Autoimmune Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7hOTD1uMYIU/090130182928.htm
A century-old drug that failed in its original intent to treat tuberculosis but has worked well as an anti-leprosy medicine now holds new promise as a potential therapy for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Personal Touch In Farming: Giving A Cow A Name Boosts Her Milk Production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5E815N0hyJI/090128074933.htm
Giving a cow a name helps to boost her milk production, scientists have found. Cows may feel happier and more relaxed if they are given a bit more one-to-one attention rather than treated as just a part of the herd, according to researchers.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Biochemical System Involved In Cancer And Degenerative Disease Disrupted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QtT_xflpa08/090130154858.htm
Screening a chemical library of 200,000 compounds, researchers have identified two new classes that can be used to study and possibly manipulate a cellular pathway involved in many types of cancer and degenerative diseases.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
High Pressure Yields Novel Single-element Boron 'Compound'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ukJhFU-vKQ/090128215130.htm
Scientists have found the first case of an ionic crystal consisting of just one chemical element -- boron. This is the densest and hardest known phase of this element. The new phase turned out to be a key to understanding the phase diagram of boron -- the only element for which the phase diagram was unknown since its discovery 200 years ago.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Sociability Traced To Particular Region Of Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WHldLeqKCME/090127190430.htm
People with a genetic condition called Williams syndrome are famously gregarious. Scientists, looking carefully at brain function in individuals with Williams syndrome, think they may know why this is so.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Removing Some Cloud Seeds Of Doubt: Long-term Cloud Seeding In Tasmania Shows Promising Increase In Rainfall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uZLkDmsnV2I/090202103012.htm
A team of researchers at Monash University has released a new analysis of precipitation records from the long-term cloud seeding operation in Tasmania that shows a promising increase in rainfall during periods of seeding.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Animal Eggs Not Suitable Substitutes To Produce Stem Cells, Study Demonstrates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rg7fKHZu_Cc/090202175055.htm
Since the cloning of Dolly the Sheep over a decade ago, somatic cell nuclear transfer has been considered a promising way to generate human, patient-specific stem cells for therapeutic applications. The shortage of human donor eggs has led to efforts to substitute animal oocytes. However, a new study demonstrates that animal oocytes lack the capacity to fully reprogram adult human cells.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Plums Poised To Give Blueberries Run For The Money
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MXWqxUVbLs8/090128160926.htm
There’s an emerging star in the super-food world. Plums are rolling down the food fashion runway sporting newly discovered high levels of healthy nutrients, say scientists at Texas AgriLife Research. Far from fruit snobbery, the plum is being ushered in after more than 100 varieties of plums, peaches and nectarines were found to match or exceed blueberries in antioxidants and phytonutrients associated with disease prevention.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Exercise Underutilized For Chronic Back And Neck Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JDbUQtZGLYk/090129122534.htm
Exercise is commonly used to improve physical function, decrease symptoms and minimize disability caused by chronic low back or neck pain. Numerous randomized trials and clinical practice guidelines have supported this practice, and studies suggest that individually tailored, supervised exercise programs are associated with the best outcomes.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
UV Light-enhanced Tooth Bleaching Dangerous To Eyes And Skin, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0cPgVAadslI/090129090214.htm
UV light-enhanced tooth bleaching is not only a con, but is dangerous to your eyes and skin, according to new research. The light treatment gives absolutely no benefit over bleaching without UV, and damages skin and eyes up to four times as much as sunbathing.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Ötzi’s Last Days: Glacier Man May Have Been Attacked Twice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eUyFN8rGGCk/090128074826.htm
Another chapter in a murder case over 5000 years old. Scientists reconstructed the chronology of the injuries that Ötzi, the glacier man preserved as a frozen mummy, received in his last days. It turns out, for example, that he did in fact only survive the arrow wound in his back for a very short time -- a few minutes to a number of hours, but no more -- and also definitely received a blow to the back with a blunt object only shortly before his death. In contrast, the cut wound on his hand is some days older.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Why Don't More Animals Change Their Sex?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LrO6Pjd0kH4/090203110326.htm
Most animals, like humans, have separate sexes -- they are born, live out their lives and reproduce as one sex or the other. However, some animals live as one sex in part of their lifetime and then switch to the other sex, a phenomenon called sequential hermaphroditism. What remains a puzzle is why the phenomenon is so rare, since a detailed analysis shows the biological "costs" of changing sexes rarely outweigh the advantages.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Genes May Predict Vascular Malformation In Common Birthmarks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_jg3wuOIouQ/090129155410.htm
A pair of studies may translate into rapid molecular tests to distinguish between hemangiomas and congenital blood or lymph vessel malformations in infants. Hemangiomas are common birthmarks consisting of benign tumors of blood vessels.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Glaciers Around The Globe Continue To Melt At High Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vrZ51_vkoxQ/090129090002.htm
Glaciers around the globe continue to melt at high rates. Tentative figures for the year 2007, of the World Glacier Monitoring Service indicate a further loss of average ice thickness of roughly 0.67 meter water equivalent (m w.e.). Some glaciers in the European Alps lost up to 2.5 m w.e.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Oncogene Inhibits Tumor Suppressor To Promote Cancer: Study Links B-RAF And LKB1
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WFT0Kzig3sM/090129122518.htm
Scientists have uncovered an interesting connection between two important protein kinase signaling pathways that are associated with cancer. The research may direct new therapeutic strategies for multiple types of cancer.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Open Source Research Platform: Wireless At WARP Speed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EvxrDv5QGEo/090129113318.htm
In less than two years, WARP -- a new open-source wireless research platform -- has found its way into laboratories at Nokia, MIT, Toyota, NASA, Ericsson and dozens of other organizations. WARP is already being used to test everything from "cognitive" wireless networks and low-cost wireless Internet in rural India to futuristic "unwired" spacecraft.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Bipolar Disorder Linked To Risk Of Early Death From Natural Causes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YgWsQMBJyv4/090202103023.htm
People with bipolar disorder have a higher death rate from natural causes compared to people in the general population of the same age and gender but without mental illness.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
'Longevity Gene' Common Among People Living To 100 Years Old And Beyond
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_4zz2az-JZs/090203081624.htm
Kiel scientists show that 100-year-old Europeans carry a special sequence variation of the FOXO3A gene. A variation in the gene FOXO3A has a positive effect on the life expectancy of humans, and is found much more often in people living to 100 and beyond -- moreover, this appears to be true worldwide. Scientist have now confirmed this assumption by comparing DNA samples taken from 388 German centenarians with those from 731 younger people.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Novel Method Of Immunization Completely Eliminates Malaria Parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E7gbu_oSmxM/090202103021.htm
A novel method of immunization completely eliminates the malaria parasites in both stages of the parasite's development, according to new research.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Wild Boar Given Plenty Of Food And Shelter Do Not Live As Long As Struggling Wild Boar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zO_e9Pk34J4/090127140402.htm
Lack of shelter and the large amount of food available from crops in the mid-valley of the Ebro reflect primarily how human beings influence the landscape, and the demography and reproduction of wild boar. Wild boar living in the Ebro Valley with plenty of food and shelter do not survive for as long as those struggling to live in the Pyrenees.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Assessing The Real Risk Of Heart Disease In Young People With Low Short-term Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ClZqgGaozLE/090202140654.htm
Risk stratification has become central to strategies for the prevention of coronary heart disease. However, stratification using the conventional risk estimation models may not be accurately achieved in individuals without symptoms. A new study suggests that many younger individuals defined as low risk by conventional risk stratification methods may not remain at low risk throughout their lives.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Improved Test To Detect Steroid Abuse In Cattle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1eFQM3pdwEM/090202140211.htm
Innovative new tests which can identify the illegal use of steroids in the European beef industry have been devised. The tests are cheaper, more accurate and more convenient in tracing the illegal drugs than conventional doping tests.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Intervention Method Reduces Binge Drinking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-HLG2F6iE-o/090130182913.htm
Brief but personal intervention reduces drinking among risky college drinkers, according to new research. Motivational interviewing with feedback (MIF) significantly reduced drinking among a group of heavy-drinking college students.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Not Just Your Imagination: Brain Perceives Optical Illusions As Real Motion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OmSoF0GG0u8/090202175202.htm
Ever get a little motion sick from an illusion graphic designed to look like it's moving? A new study suggests that these illusions do more than trick the eye; they may also convince the brain that the graphic is actually moving.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Worm Provides Clues About Preventing Damage Caused By Low-oxygen During Stroke, Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/afN3dS2aMpw/090129140849.htm
Neurobiologists have identified pathways that allow microscopic worms to survive in a low-oxygen, or hypoxic, environment. They believe the finding could have implications for conditions such as stroke, heart attack and cancer. Sensitivity to low oxygen helps determine how damaging those medical conditions can be.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Phytoplankton Cell Membranes Challenge Fundamentals Of Biochemistry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o76TyiFhCzI/090202121028.htm
Microscopic plants growing in the Sargasso Sea have come up with a completely unexpected way of building their cells.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Stat3 Signaling Tips The Balance Of Immunity In Favor Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YicR9k0Fbhg/090202174457.htm
New research reveals how a cancer-associated protein enables tumor cells to evade the immune system by both suppressing anti-tumor influences and promoting tumor-enhancing conditions, in essence turning the immune system to the dark side of the force. The study is published by Cell Press in the Feb. 3 issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Data Mining Promises To Dig Up New Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/deADB9pcbw8/090202140042.htm
A robot scientist that can make informed guesses about how effective different chemical compounds will be at fighting different diseases could revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry by developing more effective treatments more cheaply and quickly than current methods.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Mental Illness By Itself Does Not Predict Future Violent Behavior, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ah0ePKlPuuc/090202174814.htm
People with mental illness alone are no more likely than anyone else to commit acts of violence, a new study concludes. But mental illness combined with substance abuse or dependence elevates the risk for future violence.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Early Humans Had 'Jaws Of Steel'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zlfVr0-Be1I/090203093125.htm
New research reveals nut-cracking abilities in our 2.5-million-year-old relatives that enabled them to alter their diet to adapt to changes in food sources in their environment. Computer simulation shows early humans had jaws to eat diet of hard seeds and nuts.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
New Vaccine Developed For Preventing 'Uncommon Cold' Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pHle1fIBR04/090202175103.htm
Common colds typically cause a week of sneezing, aches and pains and then fade away leaving only a sore nose and a few used sick days behind. But what if that cold turned out to be something more?

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Mystery Of Twin Quasar Brightness Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BDaZyx_o-0k/090129090216.htm
Variations in the brightness of the Q0957+561 quasar, also known as the "twin quasar" due to its duplicated image on Earth, are intrinsic to the entity itself and not caused by the gravitational effects of possible planets or stars from a far away galaxy. This is the conclusion of a new study resolving a mystery that has intrigued astronomers for the past 30 years.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Controversial Medication May Decrease Spasms For Infants With Epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/szn6JbDC-Y0/090202175155.htm
The antiepileptic drug vigabatrin has been shown to be one of the best treatments against a special form of epilepsy in infants, called infantile spasm. However, its use has been limited in many countries because it has been shown to cause a permanent narrowing of visual fields in approximately 40 percent of adults who have been exposed at school age or later.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Cassini Thruster Swap Planned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wQbtJmksz4E/090202161457.htm
The Cassini spacecraft will swap to a backup set of propulsion thrusters in mid-March due to degradation in the performance of the current set of thrusters.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
The Irony Of Harmony: Why Positive Interactions May Sometimes Be Negative
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XLppfQkSsEs/090202175047.htm
By recognizing their inequalities, members of disadvantaged groups can mobilize and attempt to bring about social change. However, the results of a new study suggests that positive contact with majority groups may result in disadvantaged groups being less likely to support social change- with improved attitudes towards the advantaged groups and reduced attention to social inequality, the disadvantaged groups may become less motivated to promote change.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Insulin Is A Possible New Treatment For Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m7UrMdWDyzQ/090202174818.htm
Researchers report that insulin may slow or prevent the damage and memory loss caused by toxic proteins (called ADDLs) in Alzheimer's disease. Scientists treated hippocampal cells with insulin and an insulin-sensitizing drug. They discovered that damage to neurons exposed to ADDLs was blocked by insulin, which kept ADDLs from attaching to the cells. The findings provide additional evidence that Alzheimer's could be due to a novel third form of diabetes.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Stem Cell Transplant Reverses Early-stage Multiple Sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lcj-V5sGNLE/090129213441.htm
Researchers appear to have reversed the neurological dysfunction of early-stage multiple sclerosis patients by transplanting their own immune stem cells into their bodies and thereby "resetting" their immune systems. This is the first time neurological disability has been reversed in MS. The patients' disease also stabilized.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Resumes Driving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-AgK1Gy1cZQ/090203093226.htm
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit resumed driving Saturday after engineers gained confidence from diagnostic activities earlier in the week evaluating how well the rover senses its orientation.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Gene Expression Signature Associated With Survival In Advanced Ovarian Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_qROH-gWk7g/090202213317.htm
A new study identifies molecular pathways associated with outcomes in ovarian cancer. Currently, outcomes following diagnosis of ovarian cancer are very poor, with up to 65-70 percent of women dying within five years of diagnosis.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Newly Described Contaminant Sources In Katrina-flooded Homes Pose Health Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xT3UABOpPds/090202175142.htm
Post-Katrina flooded homes may contain harmful levels of contaminants in addition to sediment deposits. Indoor gases, mold films, and aerosols may also have exposed residents, first responders and demolition crews to dangerous contaminant levels without the need for direct skin contact.

Wed, 4 Feb 09
Driving Under The Influence (Of Stress): Regional Effects Of 9/11 Attacks On Driving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p-JGpSAHZio/090202175045.htm
A new study reveals that there was an increase in the rate of traffic fatalities in the three months following the 9/11 attacks, but only in the Northeast, the region closest to the terrorist attacks. The findings suggest that being close to the location of a traumatic event may increase psychological stress, which may, in turn, impair one's driving ability and thus lead to an increase in fatal traffic accidents.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Heavy Marijuana Use May Damage Developing Brain In Teens, Young Adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wLB2RB_WEiw/090202175105.htm
Adolescents and young adults who are heavy users of marijuana are more likely than non-users to have disrupted brain development, according to a new study. Pediatric researchers found abnormalities in areas of the brain that interconnect brain regions involved in memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills. The findings are of particular concern because adolescence is a crucial period for brain development and maturation.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Scientists Develop 'Crystal Ball' For Personalized Cancer Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q70_sLGmLVk/090202174936.htm
Scientists have tested a non-invasive approach that may one day allow doctors to evaluate a tumor's response to a drug before prescribing therapy, enabling physicians to quickly pinpoint the most effective treatment and personalize it to the patient's unique biochemistry.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
New Evidence From Excavations In Arcadia, Greece, Supports Theory Of 'Birth Of Zeus'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hzyO7n5m0nc/090202175200.htm
New excavation evidence indicates that Zeus' worship was established on Mt. Lykaion as early as the Late Helladic period, if not before, more than 3,200 years ago.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Automated Screening Process May Eventually Reduce Additional Breast Cancer Surgeries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KRLw3PMmGBk/090130154903.htm
Scientists have developed a rapid, automated image screening process to distinguish breast cancer cells from normal cells. The technique may eventually lead to better ways for surgeons to determine if they have removed all of the cancer during breast-conserving cancer surgery and cut down on the number of needed second operations.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Novel Approach To Create High-density Magnetic Data Storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OYMOkf5sYAs/090129090000.htm
In order to achieve higher storage densities on computer disks, the last decades were dominated by optimization of magnetic materials, i.e. the magnetic particles (grains) were gradually shrunk while, at the same time, the magnetic stability (magnetic anisotropy) was increased. Usually, about 100 to 600 grains form one bit, i.e. currently the smallest storage unit.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Of Mice And Men: Cognitive Scientists Find Both Species Equally Adept At Assessing Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PakNMVqbpNw/090202174652.htm
Mice and humans are about equally good at assessing risk in everyday tasks. Perhaps this activity is very primitive -- a basic, cognitive mechanism.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Vitamin Use Is Highest In Kids Who Don't Need Them, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Eh-dyMW-pYY/090202174657.htm
A study has found that most of the healthy children and teenagers in the United States who are taking daily vitamin and mineral supplements probably don't need them.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
New Discovery May Lead To New Class Of Allergy Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Jc5YERzSkk/090129131844.htm
If you've ever wondered why some allergic reactions progress quickly and may even become fatal, a new report provides an important part of the answer. In the report, scientists show for the first time that eotaxin, a chemical that helps immune cells locate the site of infection, blocks basic "fighter" cells from transforming into "seeker" dendritic cells, resulting in a heightened allergic response.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Fracture Putty Being Developed For Traumatic Leg Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jidMxF8VwJg/090127212101.htm
Biomedical engineers are developing a bio-compatible compound designed to mend serious leg fractures. The "fracture putty" could be used to regenerate bones shattered by roadside bombs or other explosive devices.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Two Immune-system Proteins Linked To Colitis-associated Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oxJgjnPjebM/090202174646.htm
Recent research from the first researcher to demonstrate a molecular link between inflammation and cancer has identified two potential targets for the prevention and treatment of colitis-associated cancer, the most serious complication of inflammatory bowel disease.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Airport Security: Researcher Proposes Statistical Method To Enhance Secondary Security Screenings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZvGvqBr3eUs/090202174811.htm
A researcher has found that secondary security screening at airports is mathematically flawed, and has identified a way to select people for screenings more efficiently and fairly.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Teens Who Frequently Go Out With Friends More Likely To Use Marijuana
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-jNuGkRJqpw/090202174834.htm
Marijuana use appears to have decreased among most European and North American adolescents between 2002 and 2006, and those who went out with friends on fewer evenings of the week were less likely to report using the drug, according to a new report.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Astronomers Discover Link Between Supermassive Black Holes And Galaxy Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-d57A1rH9-U/090202175320.htm
Astronomers have used many telescopes around the world to uncover new evidence that the largest, most massive galaxies in the universe and the supermassive black holes at their hearts grew together over time.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Newly Discovered Drug Reduces Heart Enlargement, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZaOXUDfmyS0/090129102247.htm
Researchers have discovered that a prototype drug reduces heart enlargement, one of the most common causes of heart failure. Heart failure, which occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body, affects 5 million people in the United States. The condition contributes to 300,000 deaths each year.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Dozen New Tree Frogs Discovered In Rapidly Vanishing Habitat In India
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SrxLO19qZzU/090202183805.htm
A dozen frogs new to science were discovered in the forests of Western Ghats, India. This study has also rediscovered a 'lost species'. Travancore bushfrog was considered extinct since it was last reported more than a 100 years back.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Shortened DATE Gene Region Linked To Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PK7JFvtxT1g/090202174659.htm
New research indicates that genetic variation in a piece of DNA (which has been named DATE) that regulates activity of the HGF gene might be a useful marker to identify individuals with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Cellulosic Ethanol May Benefit Human Health And Help Slow Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VAZIlJXo8DI/090202174934.htm
Filling our fuel tanks with cellulosic ethanol instead of gasoline or corn-based ethanol may be even better for our health and the environment than previously recognized, according to new research.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Teen Media Exposure Associated With Depression Symptoms In Young Adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gdQtEJerVAE/090202174816.htm
Exposure to more television and other electronic media during the teenage years appears to be associated with developing depression symptoms in young adulthood, especially among men, according to a new report.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Cell-building Discovery Could Reduce Need For Some Animal Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e3iw5NK33TY/090202175327.htm
Biomedical engineers, using a 3-D Petri dish they invented, have successfully built complex-shaped microtissues by assembling small building blocks of living cell clusters. The finding helps advance the field of tissue engineering and could reduce the need for some animal research.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Key Component In Cell Replication Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tRqtMwGYQgc/090129140847.htm
Scientists have now identified a protein that does much the same for the telomerase enzyme -- ferrying the critically important clump of proteins around to repair the ends of chromosomes that are lost during normal replication. Without such ongoing maintenance, stem cells would soon cease dividing and embryos would fail to develop.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Mountain Caribou's Ancient Ancestry Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wLwfg8bPtOQ/090128113242.htm
The declining mountain caribou populations of Canada's southern Rockies are a more distinct breed than scientists previously believed, according to a new study that discovered the mountain herbivores are a unique blend of woodland and tundra subspecies.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Resistin Arrest: New Approach Shows Human Resistin Contributes To Insulin Resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pkDItu6cjRk/090202174701.htm
Individuals who are obese have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, in part because they often become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin. Resistin is a soluble factor produced by fat cells (adipocytes) that is linked to the development of insulin resistance in mice. However, studies have thus far failed to determine such a clear association in humans. But now, researchers have determined that human resistin contributes to the development of insulin resistance in mice.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Electronics Industry: Supercharged Metal-ion Generator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/35JlBFBPXvM/090129102336.htm
Scientists have developed a powerful new kind of sputter process for the electronics industry -- and for other, more exotic applications, including use in outer space -- which deposits high-quality metal films in complex, three-dimensional nanoscale patterns at a rate that by one important measure is orders of magnitude greater than most existing systems.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
African-American Parents More Likely To Report Distrust Of Medical Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ZvMNm9J5z8/090202174829.htm
Distrust of medical research appears more common among African American parents than white parents and may present a barrier to enrollment of minority children in research studies, according to a new report.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Small Male Chimps Use Politics, Rather Than Aggression, To Lead The Pack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cKaoJ4dynRg/090202174958.htm
With most mammals, the biggest and most aggressive male claims the alpha male role and gets his choice of food and females. But a new study suggests that at least among chimpanzees, smaller, more mild-mannered males can also use political behavior to secure the top position.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Premature Babies: 'Rescue Course' Of Antenatal Steroids Improves Outcome, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lY9lqk-XT-I/090129085834.htm
A new study shows that premature babies born before 34 weeks have a 31 percent reduction in serious complications when given a "rescue course" of antenatal corticosteroids steroids with no adverse side effects noted.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Farmer's Market Launched To Combat Obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nxoj-S1mdtI/090127211323.htm
To fight an epidemic of obesity and its life-threatening complications in the Brownsville area, faculty and students at The University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus have come up with a strong weapon: a farmer’s market loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Women With High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Face Future Of Complications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-CbcfRAOUXY/090129180311.htm
Chronic hypertension, diabetes and blood clots are more likely in otherwise healthy women who experienced complications due to hypertension such as pre-eclampsia in their first pregnancies, according to new research.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
New Speed Record For Reliable Reading Of Optical Data With Compact Ultra-fast Component May Help Improve Circuit Design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Ap7cDgRi2M/090202121038.htm
Sliced light is how we communicate now. This slicing and dicing is generally done with an electro-optic modulator. Reading that fast data stream with a compact and reliable receiver is another matter. A new error-free speed-reading record using a compact ultra-fast component -- 640 Gbits/second (Gbps, or billion bits per second) -- has now been established.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Peru Study Shows Restrictive Law Fails To Limit Number Of Abortions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3KDU7jcZ6V4/090202174508.htm
Despite abortion being severely legally restricted -- and potentially unsafe -- in Peru, the incidence of abortion is as high as or higher than the incidence in many countries where it is legal and safe, a new study finds.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Ten New Amphibian Species Discovered In Colombia; Secluded Safe Haven For Frogs As Global Extinctions Rise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4j1-w5yi2B8/090202175052.htm
Scientists have announced the discovery of 10 amphibians believed to be new to science, including a spiky-skinned, orange-legged rain frog, three poison dart frogs and three glass frogs, so called because their transparent skin can reveal internal organs.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Missing Genes Link To Psoriasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ySswhwCi8xs/090202141230.htm
A new genetics finding is helping to explain why some people may be more likely to suffer from the chronic skin condition, psoriasis.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Why Women Have An Edge On Salt-sensitive Hypertension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WD8Fv0Y18cE/090128104709.htm
Researchers may have found why women have an edge in keeping a healthier balance between the amount of salt they eat and excrete -- at least before reaching menopause.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Scientists Make Malaria Parasite Work To Reveal Its Own Vulnerabilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h681x5Wr69E/090129102245.htm
Researchers seeking ways to defeat malaria have found a way to get help from the parasite that causes the disease. Scientists stepped aside and let Plasmodium falciparum, one of the deadliest strains of malaria, do a significant portion of the genetic engineering work in their new study.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Mathematical Distribution Links Open Source Software And Literature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YE1AfeO1HVA/090127215432.htm
The frequency of words in texts, the size of companies and the linking together of components in Linux software distributions show approximately the same mathematical distribution: they obey Zipf’s law. Researchers have tested how this happens in Linux programs.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Paradox Of Temptation: Should Dieters Watch The Dessert Cart Go By?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VZAhtQTRtzA/090130154916.htm
Does the mere availability of something tempting weaken the will to resist? The answer is of more than theoretical interest to public health experts, and the problem goes far beyond serious addictive disorders. As our national obesity crisis shows, difficulties with discipline and self-control are widespread and harmful. A new study in Psychological Science suggests that self-control does in fact operate paradoxically, by actually diminishing desire for what's tempting and accessible.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Orphan Chimpanzees Cleverer Than Humans, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pD9YrD5ghow/090202140437.htm
Orphaned chimpanzee infants given special ‘mothering’ by humans are more advanced than the average child at nine months of age. In the first study to examine the effect of different types of care for infant chimpanzees on cognition, researchers found chimpanzees who were given extra emotionally-based care were more cognitively advanced than human infants. Humans overtake chimpanzees in development terms as they grow older but the study sends stark warnings that looking after just an infant’s physical needs is likely to result in a child who is maladjusted, unhappy and under-achieving.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Molecular Mechanism Of Anaphylactic Shock Decoded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ftYN9cmF2nM/090128104631.htm
Researchers have found a molecular mechanism for anaphylactic shock. The activation of specific proteins in the cell walls of small blood vessels plays an important role. Suppressing the respective genes protects mice from the potentially fatal reactions of the immune and circulatory systems (anaphylactic shock) without disrupting circulatory regulation.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
What Happens When A Stone Impacts Water? Amazing Close-up View
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2sez582H5q4/090128074620.htm
Researchers have explained the formation and behavior of the very fast water jet that is formed when an object impacts on a water surface. They have observed precisely what happens using a super-fast camera and have made a computer simulation of the process. This shows how the jet is forced upwards, layer by layer, by the surrounding water pressure. These results are not only of academic significance as jets on the impact of an object on a liquid are frequent occurrences in nature and industry.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Motor Control Exercises Reduce Persistent Low-back Pain, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8_RptkH0ea0/090128160837.htm
Motor control exercises, when performed in conjunction with other forms of therapy, can significantly reduce pain and disability in patients with persistent low back pain, according to a new systematic review published in Physical Therapy.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Mammals That Hibernate Or Burrow Less Likely To Go Extinct
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kOj0jPuZ8cM/090128160935.htm
Mammals that hibernate or that hide in burrows are less likely to turn up on an endangered species list, according to new research. The study's authors believe that the ability of such "sleep-or-hide" animals to buffer themselves from changing environments may help them avoid extinction.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Biodiversity Hotspot Enabled Neanderthals To Survive Longer In South East Of Spain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVSha4hpavI/090202140046.htm
Over 14,000 years ago during the last Pleistocene Ice Age, when a large part of the European continent was covered in ice and snow, Neanderthals in the region of Gibraltar in the south of the Iberian peninsula were able to survive because of the refugium of plant and animal biodiversity. Today, plant fossil remains discovered in Gorham's Cave confirm this unique diversity and wealth of resources available in this area of the planet.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
New Drug To Fight Pneumonia And Meningitis? Scientists Cripple Critical Pneumococcal Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WY_iUF823g4/090128104629.htm
Researchers have introduced a highly promising new approach for the development of drugs to treat pneumococci, which cause pneumonia and meningitis. They copied the choline architecture of the pneumococcal cell wall. They were then able to trap the choline-binding proteins that have a critical effect on the infectiousness of pneumococcal bacteria.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Researchers 'Unzip' Molecules To Measure Interactions Keeping DNA Packed In Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZoC5EaH5x8k/090128160937.htm
Anyone who has ever battled a stuck zipper knows it's a good idea to see what's stuck, where and how badly -- and then to pull hard. New experiments involve the "unzipping" of single DNA molecules. By mapping the hiccups, stoppages and forces along the way, scientists have gained new insight into how genes are packed and expressed within cells.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Weight Loss Reduces Incontinence In Obese Women, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2H2kLdPVHoQ/090128183944.htm
Behavioral weight-loss programs can be an effective way to reduce urinary incontinence in women who are overweight or obese, according to a new study.

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Mega-earthquake Risk For West Coast, US And Canada? Seismic Slip Linked To Tremor, With Implications For Subduction Zone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BYcr-NvoLb8/090129140843.htm
New evidence suggests that tectonic plate slippage and nonvolcanic tremor near the Cascadia subduction zone both are signs of processes taking place 25 miles deep at the interface of the Juan de Fuca and North American plates. "We are quite confident that each episodic tremor and slip event will increase the stress on the megathrust fault," one of the researchers said. "If a megathrust earthquake were to begin off the Washington coast, one might expect it to occur during one of these slow slip events."

Tue, 3 Feb 09
Research Will Help To Revive 'Dead' Manx Language
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-rh8_aTbNrg/090202140656.htm
A researcher at the University of Liverpool has produced the first modern, comprehensive handbook on Manx Gaelic – a language thought to have died out in the mid 19th Century.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Single Gene Lets Bacteria Jump From Host To Host
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ySB2A7_eJJU/090201141551.htm
All life -- plants, animals, people -- depends on peaceful coexistence with a swarm of microbial life that performs vital services from helping to convert food to energy to protection from disease. Now, with the help of a squid that uses a luminescent bacterium to create a predator-fooling light organ and a fish that uses a different strain of the same species of bacteria like a flashlight to illuminate the dark nooks of the reefs where it lives, scientists have found that gaining a single gene is enough for the microbe to switch host animals.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Link Found Between Parkinson's Disease Genes And Manganese Poisoning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/il_FqW1Jzyc/090201141559.htm
A connection between genetic and environmental causes of Parkinson's disease has been discovered by a research team. They found a genetic interaction between two Parkinson's disease genes (alpha-synuclein and PARK9) and determined that the PARK9 protein can protect cells from manganese poisoning, which is an environmental risk factor for a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
DNA Component Can Stimulate And Suppress Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSBLuEYQ-bg/090127131657.htm
A component of DNA that can both stimulate and suppress the immune system, depending on the dosage, may hold hope for treating cancer and infection.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Support Cells, Not Neurons, Lull The Brain To Sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6CnAfeJqKT0/090128122814.htm
Brain cells called astrocytes help to cause the urge to sleep that comes with prolonged wakefulness, according to a new study in mice. The cells release adenosine, a chemical known to have sleep-inducing effects that are inhibited by caffeine.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Robot Mine Sweeper Gets Help From Clue Game Strategies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p52LJwQaXx8/090127112050.htm
A newly developed mathematical model that figures out the best strategy to win the popular board game CLUE could some day help robot mine sweepers navigate strange surroundings to find hidden explosives. At the simplest level, both activities are governed by the same principles. A player, or robot, must move through an unknown space searching for clues.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Sometimes 100 Cents Feels Like It's Worth More Than A Dollar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MH4qjZszc9Y/090121155320.htm
We all know that $1 is equal to 100 cents. But a new study suggests that, in some situations, people may behave as if 100 cents actually has more value. That's because people may pay more attention to the size of the numbers involved than the actual economic value, according to the research.

Mon, 2 Feb 09
Tigers 'Took The Silk Road' To