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Tumors Feel The Deadly Sting Of Nanobees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RRu456WuLpU/090810174226.htm
When bees sting, they pump poison into their victims. Now the toxin in bee venom has been harnessed to kill tumor cells. Researchers attached the major component of bee venom to nano-sized spheres that they call nanobees.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Think Zinc: Molecular Sensor Could Reveal Zinc's Role In Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5JedBnbgQ2Y/090830192038.htm
Scientists have developed a new molecular sensor that can reveal the amount of zinc in cells, which could tell us more about a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The research opens the door to the hidden world of zinc biology by giving scientists an accurate way of measuring the concentration of zinc and its location in cells for the first time.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Sandfish Tucks Legs And 'Swims' Like A Snake Under Desert Sand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UX-IJdArp3k/090716141140.htm
A new study details how sandfish -- small lizards with smooth scales -- move rapidly underground through desert sand. In this first thorough examination of subsurface sandfish locomotion, researchers found that the animals place their limbs against their sides and create a wave motion like snakes to propel themselves through granular media.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
New Reagents Available For Genomic Engineering Of Mouse Models To Understand Human Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NV1Lgs-aYxM/090819064020.htm
New tools are now available for generating specifically targeted genetic mutations in bacteria, mammalian cells and mice. The new recombinase, Dre, is similar to its predecessor, Cre, but targets unique sites within DNA for recombination. It may be used in combination with currently available methods to produce more complex mouse models to understand disease.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Millionths Of A Second Can Cost Millions Of Dollars: A New Way To Track Network Delays
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R-61PH_Q6us/090820161329.htm
Computer scientists have developed an inexpensive solution for diagnosing networking delays in data center networks as short as tens of millionths of seconds -- delays that can lead to multi-million dollar losses for investment banks running automatic stock trading systems.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
The Science Of Longer Lasting Lager
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m6DxkfaAyU0/090803083912.htm
One of the long standing problems in the drinks industry is how to prevent chemical processes in the drinks compromising their taste, quality and shelf life. In particular, riboflavin (vitamin B2) is responsible for driving photooxidation reactions that affect the flavour of many drinks and so they often have to be packaged in light-shielded containers. Now scientists have developed a way of removing riboflavin.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
World's Smallest Semiconductor Laser Heralds New Era In Optical Science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dFSHftXYrIk/090830192030.htm
Researchers have reached a new milestone in laser physics by creating the world's smallest semiconductor laser, capable of generating visible light in a space smaller than a single protein molecule.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Scientists Identify Stomach’s Timekeepers Of Hunger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HI3xbeVGX04/090829092042.htm
Scientists have identified cells in the stomach that time the release of a hormone that makes animals anticipate food and eat even when they are not hungry. The finding, which has implications for the treatment of obesity, marks a landmark in the decades-long search for the timekeepers of hunger. The work reveals what the stomach "tells" the brain.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Light Shed On Cause Of Down Syndrome And Other Genetic Disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EtSSxZPOxUs/090720092029.htm
Scientists have a better understanding of what causes an abnormal number of chromosomes in offspring, a condition called aneuploidy that encompasses the most common genetic disorders in humans, such as Down syndrome, and is a leading cause of pregnancy loss.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
New Analysis Details Devastating Toll Of Neglected Tropical Diseases In Sub-Saharan Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e0LwyglqCQI/090824204118.htm
New light has been shed on the toll that neglected tropical diseases take on sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 500 million people suffering from these debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases. Helminth infections account for approximately 85 percent of the NTD burden. Overall, the NTD burden may be equivalent to more than double that caused by tuberculosis and up to one-half of SSA's malaria disease burden.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
International Greenland Ice Coring Effort Sets New Drilling Record In 2009
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i-6iDzRxr8k/090824115801.htm
A new international research effort on the Greenland ice sheet has set a record for single-season deep ice-core drilling this summer, recovering more than a mile of ice core that is expected to help scientists better assess the risks of abrupt climate change in the future.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Disease Threat May Change How Frogs Mate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E2BsmfZWAXk/090727080834.htm
A disease may be causing a behavioral change in frogs. The research has unearthed a surprising fact about our long-tongued friends: wild frogs in the UK may be changing their mating behavior.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Neuroscientists Find Brain Region Responsible For Our Sense Of Personal Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fUqJVw9hXZA/090830192041.htm
In a finding that sheds new light on the neural mechanisms involved in social behavior, neuroscientists have pinpointed the brain structure responsible for our sense of personal space. The discovery could offer insight into autism and other disorders where social distance is an issue.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Protein Involved In Causing Gum Disease, Osteoporosis, Arthritis Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8-JLZnWXVXU/090830192036.htm
Investigators have discovered that a gene called interferon regulator factor-8 is involved in the development of diseases such as periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The study could lead to new treatments in the future.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Tiny 'MEMS' Devices To Filter, Amplify Electronic Signals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GVAxZE3vdPI/090810162113.htm
Researchers are developing a new class of tiny mechanical devices containing vibrating, hair-thin structures that could be used to filter electronic signals in cell phones and for other more exotic applications.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Human Breast Cancer Hit For Six: Key Role For Six1 In Tumor Development And Metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d9Eskakxjr0/090825084948.htm
Researchers have provided new insight into breast cancer development using mouse models and analysis of human cells, implicating the protein Six1 as central to this process.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Safer, Denser Acetylene Storage In An Organic Framework
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/keEhu2JhJW4/090826152719.htm
The century-old challenge of storing and transporting acetylene safely may have been solved in principle by a team of scientists.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Dentists Urged To Take A Role In Identifying Children Suffering From Neglect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HIoOu5-cU2k/090819125321.htm
A new policy urging dentists to check for tell-tale signs of neglect when treating children with severe oral disease has been published.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Model Suggests How Life's Code Emerged From Primordial Soup
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hSvYP1DVzyo/090829091049.htm
In 1952, Stanley Miller filled two flasks with chemicals assumed to be present on the primitive Earth, connected the flasks with rubber tubes and introduced some electrical sparks as a stand-in for lightning. The now famous experiment showed what amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, could easily be generated from this primordial stew. But despite that seminal experiment, neither he nor others were able to take the next step: that of showing how life's code could come from such humble beginnings.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
New Prognostic Marker For Human Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N8DpYLkHfmE/090824204113.htm
Elevated levels of GLI1 (glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1) protein in human breast cancer are associated with unfavorable prognosis and progressive stages of disease. Researchers found increased expression of GLI1 in samples taken from more advanced and less survivable tumors.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Analysis Of Copernicus Putative Remains Support Identity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vQbV6BELTCI/090707093631.htm
Researchers have published results from the analysis of the putative remains of Copernicus. A DNA-analysis of shed hairs found in a book from Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala University, was one interesting piece in the project.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Collagen-deficient Mice Show Signs Of Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NA3BI-PsHig/090827072437.htm
Researchers conducted a study of mice to determine the effect of Type IX collagen (Col9a1) deficiency on functional ability. The authors found that mice with the Col9a1 gene inactivated prematurely develop OA and DDD.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Mysterious Charge Transport In Self-assembled Monolayer Transistors Unraveled
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CoBU-ez1kvs/090811080755.htm
Researchers have discovered that monolayer coverage and channel length set the mobility in self-assembled monolayer field-effect transistors (SAMFETs). This opens the door to extremely sensitive chemical sensors that can be produced in a cost-effective way.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Palliative Care Intervention For Patients With Advanced Cancer Provides Quality Of Life Benefits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yNXZ9As1Ksk/090818182022.htm
Patients with advanced cancer who received a palliative care intervention focused on addressing physical and psychosocial issues and care coordination that was provided at the same time as cancer treatment reported improved quality of life and mood but did not experience a significant change in the number of days in the hospital or the severity of their symptoms compared to patients who received usual care, according to a new study.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Virus Enzymes Could Promote Human, Animal Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/18MNsglkfzM/090830102451.htm
Could viruses be good for you? Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have shown that enzymes from bacteria-infecting viruses known as phages could have beneficial applications for human and animal health.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Project Zero Delay Accelerates Drug's Path To Clinical Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jSb6ZOBMSrg/090803173243.htm
A phase I clinical trial enrolled its first patient only two days after US Food and Drug Administration clearance of the experimental drug for a first-in-human cancer trial, a milestone that normally takes three to six months.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Unique Study Isolates DNA From Linnaeus' Botanical Collections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LEzzehcMmD4/090827123218.htm
Researchers have succeeded in extracting long DNA fragments from dried, pressed plant material collected in the 1700s by Linnaeus' apprentice Adam Afzelius. It is hoped that the study will shed light on whether plants growing today at Linnaeus' Hammarby estate outside Uppsala reflect the species cultivated by Linnaeus himself.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
New Study Suggests An Unidentified Source As Cause Of Residual Viremia In HIV-1 Patients On HAART
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zmyxw7xRHa4/090825082656.htm
A new study suggests that an unidentified cellular source may be responsible for residual viremia in HIV-1 patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This discovery disputes previous theories that attributed residual viremia to latent proviruses in resting CD4+ T cells and could significantly impact eradication efforts.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Coralline Algae In The Mediterranean Lost Their Tropical Element Between 5 And 7 Million Years Ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N5fm4sVLli4/090707093744.htm
Scientists have studied the coralline algae fossils that lived on the last coral reefs of the Mediterranean Sea between 7.24 and 5.3 million years ago. Mediterranean algae and coral reefs began to resemble present day reefs following the isolation of the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean and global cooling 15 and 20 million years ago respectively.
Mon, 31 Aug 09
Psychosocial Therapy With Antidepressants More Effective In Helping Depressed Stroke Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z_QB7UYUDfk/090806170715.htm
Depressed stroke patients who received medication and psychosocial therapy improved significantly in the short term and a year later, compared to those receiving medication alone. The psychosocial therapy focused on depression education, problem-solving and increasing pleasant experiences. Depression is common after stroke and can impede recovery.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Fishy Sixth Sense: Mathematical Keys To Fascinating Sense Organ
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b6IjCZRfU1E/090828103932.htm
Biophysicists in Germany are leading an effort to develop and apply models of the so-called lateral-line system found in fish and some amphibians. This sensory organ enables an animal, even in murky water, to map its surroundings and recognize other animals. In a new study, the researchers report mathematical models that capture essential elements of the system, agree with experimental data, and could be easy to implement technically, as in robots.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
'Fatostatin' Is A Turnoff For Fat Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rqDcIo4Z7Kg/090827123206.htm
A small molecule earlier found to have both anti-fat and anti-cancer abilities works as a literal turnoff for fat-making genes, according to a new report.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
First Close Look At Stimulated Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oQYu7WZjVp0/090826152559.htm
With the aid of optical imaging technology, researchers have for the first time been able to see how neurons react to electrical stimulation. The neural response to electrical currents isn't localized, as some had previously thought. Rather, electrical stimulation activates a scattered and widely distributed set of neurons.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Baby's MP3 Heart Monitor: New Safe Approach To Fetal Heart Monitoring Could Save Lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HKAAWi54Tr0/090828103920.htm
A new type of fetal heart monitor could save the lives of unborn infants in complicated pregnancies, according to researchers.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
How Cities Mimic Life: Megacities Breathe, Consume Energy, Excrete Wastes And Pollute
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J6Nr55rN6Ng/090818130414.htm
A scientific trend to view the world's biggest cities as analogous to living, breathing organisms is fostering a deep new understanding of how poor air quality in megacities can harm residents, people living far downwind and also play a major role in global climate change.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Depression And Anxiety Affect Up To 15 Percent Of Preschoolers, Canadian Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ec3E4l0nlT4/090828104134.htm
Almost 15 percent of preschoolers have atypically high levels of depression and anxiety, according to a new Canadian study. The five-year investigation also found that children with atypically high depression and anxiety levels are more likely to have mothers with a history of depression.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Star-birth Myth 'Busted'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EF5vgGh2U4k/090827101237.htm
Astronomers have debunked one of astronomy's long held beliefs about how stars are formed, using a set of galaxies found with CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope. When a cloud of interstellar gas collapses to form stars, the stars range from massive to minute. Since the 1950s astronomers have thought that in a family of new-born stars the ratio of massive stars to lighter ones was always pretty much the same — for instance, that for every star 20 times more massive than the Sun or larger, you’d get 500 stars the mass of the Sun or less.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Simple Test May Identify Stroke Survivors At Risk Of Another Cardiovascular Event
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pHE4OK9kYBs/090827180739.htm
Measuring blood flow in the ankle may identify stroke survivors at risk of subsequent events. This test, the ankle brachial index, compares blood flow in the ankle to blood flow in the arm to detect poor circulation caused by fatty plaque buildup in the lower body, a condition known as peripheral artery disease.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Who Are You? Mobile ID Devices Find Out Using NIST Guidelines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZKznfhqIDLY/090826152806.htm
A new publication that recommends best practices for the next generation of portable biometric acquisition devices -- Mobile ID -- has been published by NIST.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
More Accurate Interpretation Of Brain Imaging Data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/urKsIqhydtY/090828103926.htm
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique widely used in studying the human brain. However, it has long been unclear exactly how fMRI signals are generated at brain cell level. This information is crucially important to interpreting these imaging signals. Scientists in Finland have discovered that astrocytes, support cells in brain tissue, play a key role in the generation of fMRI signals.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
High Numbers Of Seed Scallops On Georges Bank, Low Numbers In Mid-Atlantic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Hh52u375WA/090817142841.htm
A NOAA Fisheries scallop survey off the northeastern coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts shows high numbers of juvenile "recruit" sea scallops and ocean quahogs on Georges Bank tempered with weak numbers for seed scallops in the Mid-Atlantic for 2009. This survey also shows the overall biomass for the Mid-Atlantic remains high.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
An Intelligent System Helps Elderly Or Memory-impaired To Remember Everyday Tasks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wvkmHWQzgB4/090827101219.htm
Researchers have created a system with artificial intelligence techniques which notifies elderly people or people with special needs who might otherwise forget certain everyday tasks. This system uses sensors distributed in the environment in order to detect their actions and mobile devices which remind them, for example, to take their keys before they leave home.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Tunnels Concentrate Air Pollution By Up To 1,000 Times
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HJ3AtVlu-Zc/090827101241.htm
A toxic cocktail of ultrafine particles is lurking inside road tunnels in concentration levels so high they have the potential to harm drivers and passengers, a new study has found.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Finnish Scientists Discover Nerve Growth Factor With Therapeutic Potential In Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7JrsxBIn4UE/090828103924.htm
Scientists Finland have reported promising new results with potential implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. They have been studying the impacts of nerve growth factors in the treatment of PD, and their latest results show that a certain growth factor can be used to halt the progress of damage brought on by a nerve poison and possibly even restore the function of damaged cells.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
'Curtain Twitching' Skylarks Keep Track Of Strangers Through Their Songs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TsghS2-5rfU/090826073542.htm
Skylarks can hear the difference between friendly neighbors and dangerous strangers, and deal with any threatening intruders, says new research.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Novel Genetic Region Identified For Childhood Asthma In Mexicans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EzEj9bOd3Ic/090828103922.htm
Genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9q may influence asthma development in Mexican children, according to new research. Researchers conducted a genome-wide association study in which they looked at over 500,000 variants across the genome in 492 Mexican children with asthma and their parents to identify novel genes that may influence asthma development. The work points to the chromosome 9q21.31 region as a novel candidate region for childhood asthma.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Scientists Hone Technique To Safeguard Water Supplies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eLqae_PliJI/090828143554.htm
A method to detect contaminants in municipal water supplies has undergone further refinements. The new work demonstrates that the technology that uses algae as sentinels has broader applications than previously reported.
Sun, 30 Aug 09
Familiar And Newly Learned Words Are Processed By The Same Neural Networks In The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CNorUIBjJos/090828103928.htm
Our vocabulary continues to grow and expand even in adulthood. Just 10 years ago, the word "blog" did not yet exist -- and now we no longer remember when we heard this word for the first time or when we learned its meaning. At some stage new words become just as familiar to us as words we have learned earlier.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Scientists First To Image 'Anatomy' Of A Molecule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/19xSk5dVxes/090828203759.htm
IBM scientists have been able to image the "anatomy" -- or chemical structure -- inside a molecule with unprecedented resolution, using a complex technique known as noncontact atomic force microscopy.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Scientists Construct 'Off Switch' For Parkinson Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xhOFw3KpLso/090828145707.htm
Addressing safety concerns related to potential gene therapies for Parkinson's disease, researchers at the have constructed a gene transfer therapy that can be inhibited with a common antibiotic. Experiments in rats show that the gene therapy product can be completely shut off, indicating for the first time that genes that have been irrevocably delivered to the brain to treat Parkinson's can be regulated.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Rheumatism Video Discloses Center Of Inflammation At An Early Stage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ge2zTJ2ETs/090824205742.htm
It can strike anyone: rheumatism occurs just as often as diabetes, arteriosclerosis and cancer combined. Approximately one percent of the population is stricken with the rheumatoid arthritis. Now scientists in Germany have developed such an early detection method.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
HIV Subtype Linked To Increased Likelihood For Dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_iVRdxIlr-I/090828164528.htm
Patients infected with a particular subtype of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are more likely to develop dementia than patients with other subtypes, a new study shows.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Parasites Ready To Jump: Even DNA Is Subject To Attack By Parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pcPDqOhRlfI/090731132919.htm
Even DNA is subject to attack by parasites -- so-called transposons. Transposons are mobile genetic elements that can insert into genomes at variable sites and disseminate to new locations. Researchers have discovered a mechanism that helps to repress their activity.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
It's Not All In Your Head: Descending Neural Mechanisms Of Placebo-induced Pain Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6x31anctC0s/090826152548.htm
A new study reveals that when it comes to pain control, the "placebo effect" involves evolutionarily old pain control pathways in the human brainstem, the part of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord. The research provides fascinating mechanistic insight into how and why simply expecting that a treatment will reduce pain can act as an effective analgesic.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Handwriting-based Tool Offers Alternate Lie Detection Method
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pXCocNV81hI/090828103916.htm
A handwriting lie detection tool may change the face of effective law enforcement. Researchers utilized a computerized tablet that measured the physical properties of the subject's handwriting, which are difficult to consciously control. They have found that these handwriting characteristics differ when an individual is in the process of writing deceptive sentences as opposed to truthful sentences.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
New Target For Treating Breast Cancer Metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_Ly7G9EgDQ/090826110116.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that the protein Brk plays a role in breast cancer progression and dissemination.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Seeing The Tree From The Forest: Predicting The Future Of Plant Communities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WJvG5ixYU1o/090821135026.htm
A recent paper presents an algorithm that may be used to predict the future dynamics of plant communities, an increasingly interesting area of study as significant environmental changes, such as global climate change and invasive species, are affecting current plant communities. A goal of plant ecology has been to find ways to predict plant behavior in communities based on observed properties of a few representative members.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Obesity Is A Poor Gauge For Detecting High Cholesterol Levels In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7L9ecRGLEp0/090803172946.htm
With the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States, there is concern that overweight and obese children need to be screened for chronic medical conditions, including high cholesterol levels. However, body fat is not an effective indicator of high cholesterol in children, according to new research.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Restoring A Natural Root Signal Helps To Fight A Major Corn Pest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PHMA8dhg0bo/090803172955.htm
Agricultural researchers have successfully manipulated a crop plant to emit a signal that attracts beneficial organisms. Genetic transformation of maize plants resulted in the release of the naturally active substance (E)-beta-caryophyllene from their roots. The substance attracts nematodes that kill larvae of the Western corn rootworm, a voracious root pest.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Study Shines Light On Night-time Alertness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6d7bd9GNVys/090826191845.htm
The circadian system is not the only pathway involved in determining alertness at night. New research shows that red light, which does not stimulate the circadian system, is just as effective at increasing night-time alertness as blue light, which does.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Mysterious Glaciers That Grew When Asia Heated Up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QwhBYPnmgMs/090827101207.htm
Long ago, a group of Himalayan glaciers grew by several kilometers even while Central Asia's climate warmed up to six degrees Celsius. New analysis attributes much of the glacial growth to increased cloudiness and wind. A project is now under way to forecast the Indus River system's water supply for the coming decades.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Researchers Identify New, Cancer-causing Role For Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1H2-cesAOto/090827141356.htm
The mainstay immune system protein TRAF6 plays an unexpected, key role activating a cell signaling molecule that in mutant form is associated with cancer growth, researchers report.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Device For On-The-Spot Blood Analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BK-Qt9YNss4/090825103225.htm
A hand-held device could offer point-of-care blood cell analysis in doctors' surgeries. The chip within the device uses microfluidics -- a set of technologies that control the flow of minute amounts of liquids -- to measure a number of different cells in the blood.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Continued Vigilance Against Drug-resistance Malaria Is Needed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yspbBaBUBGA/090707201209.htm
Current combination malaria therapies recommended by the World Health Organization provide adequate treatment for mild malaria, according to a review of the evidence. However, selected trials had high failure rates for some combinations and evidence for the effectiveness of anti-malarial therapies is lacking in some vulnerable groups.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
New Test For Safer Biomedical Research Results
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2IWd32JPgCc/090730103735.htm
In biomedical research with living cells in the culture dish, contamination with bacteria, viruses or other fast-growing cells is always a risk. Scientists have now developed a test system for fast and cost-effective detection of such contaminations. The new method will contribute to making biomedical research results safer and reproducible.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
New Study Suggests The Brain Predicts What Eyes In Motion Will See
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0nLZDEqiyUU/090825112834.htm
When the eyes move, objects in the line of sight suddenly jump to a different place on the retina, but the mind perceives the scene as stable and continuous. A new study reports that the brain predicts the consequences of eye movement even before the eyes take in a new scene.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Warped Debris Disks Around Stars Are 'Blowin' In The Wind'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bYrfRTBdNlw/090828104137.htm
The dust-filled disks where new planets may be forming around other stars occasionally take on some difficult-to-understand shapes. Now astronomers find that a star's motion through interstellar gas can account for many of them.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Blood Thinner Causes Stroke In Some Dialysis Patients, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FwZuLSdLgmg/090827180732.htm
The blood thinner warfarin can prevent strokes in most individuals with abnormal heart rhythms, but the drug may have the opposite effect in kidney disease patients on dialysis, according to a new study. The results suggest that warfarin should be prescribed with caution in patients with kidney failure.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Slowly Slip-sliding Faults Don't Cause Earthquakes, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tk62lY59iPE/090828103942.htm
Some slow-moving faults may help protect against destructive earthquakes, suggests new research. Until now, geologists thought when the crack between two pieces of the Earth's crust was at a very gentle slope, there was no movement along that particular fault line. Now geoscientists have found that such a low-angle normal fault in Italy is moving slowly and steadily.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
The Anti-diabetic Effects Of Sodium Tungstate Revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FNayoMnvcDk/090827192334.htm
The molecular mechanisms of tungstate activity in diabetes have been uncovered. Researchers have identified the pathways through which sodium tungstate improves pancreatic function and beta cell proliferation.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Asia Faces Food Shortage By 2050 Without Water Reform
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/djwHTALJ-dg/090817143558.htm
A comprehensive new study of irrigation in Asia warns that, without major reforms and innovations in the way water is used for agriculture, many developing nations face the politically risky prospect of having to import more than a quarter of the rice, wheat and maize they will need by 2050.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Feelings Of Hopelessness Linked To Stroke Risk In Healthy Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kJkHBOcKXqU/090827180811.htm
Healthy middle-aged women with feelings of hopelessness appear to experience thickening of the neck arteries, which can be a precursor to stroke, according to new research.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Nitrous Oxide Now Top Ozone-depleting Emission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JJ1r5gUXwlA/090827141344.htm
Nitrous oxide has now become the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted through human activities, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century, scientists report in a new study.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Immune Defect Is Key To Skin Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ClOGqSJ_kxM/090827192336.htm
Scientists have discovered why older people may be so vulnerable to cancer and infections in the skin. The team has shown in human volunteers that defective immunity in the skin is caused by an inability to mobilize essential defenses that would otherwise recognize threats and clear them before irreparable damage is done. This discovery could be important for preventing, managing or treating many age-related skin health problems.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Slow-motion Earthquake Testing Probes How Buildings Collapse In Quakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U030_k9dfwM/090825151002.htm
It takes just seconds for tall buildings to collapse during earthquakes. Knowing what's happening in those seconds can help engineers design buildings that are less prone to sustaining that kind of damage. But the nature of collapse is not well understood. That's why researchers are trying an innovative "hybrid" approach to testing that may provide a safer, less expensive way to learn about building collapses.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Abnormal Heartbeats Caused By Changes In Ion Channel Density
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/USKOm9KVYR4/090825085530.htm
Two independent studies have determined how changes in the density of different ion channels in the surface membrane of heart muscle cells can lead to life-threatening abnormal heartbeats.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Hankering For Molecular Electronics? Grab The New NIST Sandwich
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MpAK9ET4TIg/090826152812.htm
Scientists have found a simple method of sandwiching organic molecules between silicon and metal, two materials fundamental to electronic components. By doing so, they may have overcome one of the principal obstacles in creating switches made from individual molecules.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Job Insecurity Leads To Health Problems In US Workers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fZ-xjdqdYPI/090827180751.htm
Persistent job insecurity poses a major threat to worker health, according to a new study.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Scientists Find 'Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OmWavVvmPQI/090827180747.htm
Scientists have just completed an unprecedented journey into the vast and little-explored "Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch." The researchers encountered a large amount of debris including a large net entwined with plastic and various marine organisms.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Gene Associated With Language, Speech And Reading Disorders Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qV4wY7wgy6k/090827123319.htm
A new candidate gene for Specific Language Impairment has been identified. The results point toward the likelihood of multiple genes contributing to language impairment, some of which also contribute to reading or speech impairment.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Washing Away Painful Wounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pMx5NJLpqDo/090826152601.htm
A new device uses a solution to wash away necrotic tissue, bathing a chronic wound while keeping bacteria away.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Antidepressants: Selective Serotonin And Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor Drugs Show Benefits In German Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BTxkIA06flg/090825090747.htm
Patients with depression benefit from taking venlafaxine and duloxetine, two drugs belonging to the selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor drug class. This is the conclusion of a report published by German researchers. Clinical comparisons with a sham drug (placebo) show that patients respond better to the therapy, suffering less from the symptoms of depression.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Scientists Detect 'Fingerprint' Of High-temp Superconductivity Above Transition Temperature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CsRLEIhU3Rw/090827141338.htm
Scientists have shown for the first time that the spectroscopic "fingerprint" of high-temperature superconductivity remains intact well above the super chilly temperatures at which these materials carry current with no resistance. This confirms that certain conditions necessary for superconductivity exist at the warmer temperatures that would make these materials practical for energy-saving applications -- if scientists can figure out how to get the current flowing.
Sat, 29 Aug 09
Outcome Matters More Than Intention When Punishing Or Rewarding Accidents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m9Mq9FPuDDU/090827123214.htm
New research finds that when choosing to punish or reward accidental behavior, individuals tend to focus on outcome, rather than a person's intent.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Small Fluctuations In Solar Activity, Large Influence On Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oJSTwbRmewc/090827141349.htm
Subtle connections between the 11-year solar cycle, the stratosphere, and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according to research appearing this week in the journal Science.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Turning Back The Clock: Fasting Prolongs Reproductive Life Span
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qe_k_o0eY7M/090827141340.htm
Scientific dogma has long asserted that females are born with their entire lifetime's supply of eggs, and once they're gone, they're gone. New findings suggest that in nematode worms, at least, this does not hold true. The study suggests how fertility in humans may be regenerated later in life.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Fruit Is Even Better For You Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tky5vDt9GjU/090827073252.htm
Scientists have found that the polyphenol content of fruits has been underestimated. Polyphenol content in fruits usually refers to extractable polyphenols, but new research finds that nonextractable polyphenol content is up to five times higher than extractable compounds.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
How Safe Or Unsafe Are Medical Imaging Procedures?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/69UuPQxgI5o/090826191837.htm
In a new study of nearly one million adults between the ages of 18 and 64, nearly 70 percent of participants underwent at least one medical imaging procedure between July 2005 and December 2007, resulting in an average effective dose of radiation nearly double the amount they would otherwise be exposed to from natural sources.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Strictly Ballroom Analysis: Computers Get To Know Their Rumba From Their Cha-cha-cha
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jAa0pbltYNk/090826110108.htm
Computer scientists in Taiwan have devised a neural network program that can successfully classify a computerized music file based on its beat and tempo. The system could be a boon for music archivists with large numbers of untagged recordings and for users searching through mislabeled mp3 libraries.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Teetotalers More Likely To Be Depressed Than Moderate Drinkers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F_u9Ch2PNI4/090827123518.htm
When it comes to alcohol consumption and depression, a new study shows that heavy drinkers -- but also teetotalers -- have higher levels of depression and anxiety than those who drink moderately. The happiest people were those who averaged about two glasses of alcohol per week.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Huge New Planet Orbits 'Wrong' Way Around Star; Tells Of Game Of Planetary Billiards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NiLQ4UUqzIQ/090827134159.htm
A team of scientists has found a new planet which orbits the wrong way around its host star. The planet, named WASP-17, and orbiting a star 1000 light years away, was found by the UK's WASP project in collaboration with Geneva Observatory. The discovery casts new light on how planetary systems form and evolve.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Gene Variation Is 'Major Genetic Determinant Of Psoriasis'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qSUSVvyyhv4/090827131826.htm
A specific genetic region that has been increasingly identified as the strongest genetic link to psoriasis has an even more significant role in the chronic skin disease than has been suspected, medical researchers show in a new study.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Making Summer In The City More Bearable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vZZKj4AWs30/090827101217.htm
As temperatures soar, scientists have been collecting data amid the ancient ruins that symbolize the birthplace of western culture. These data, combined with measurements from aircraft and satellites, promise to improve "urban heat island" forecasts to make life in modern-day Athens easier during heat waves.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Predicting Cancer Prognosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mkVaYCrbCTc/090827123216.htm
Researchers have developed a novel methodology to extract microRNAs from cancer tissues. They optimized a new protocol for extracting miRNAs from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Bird Flu Leaves The Nest -- Adapting To A New Host
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xrIr6tZLzBQ/090826110114.htm
Current research suggests that viral polymerase may provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a strain of the influenza virus that has adapted to infect birds. Although bird-specific flu strains rarely cross species, further adaption can lead to lethal infection in humans.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Disclosing Financial Conflicts Of Interest To Research Participants May Not Be Enough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GQvEMM0Ms5U/090826191841.htm
Disclosure of financial conflicts of interests to potential participants in research is important, but may have a limited role in managing these conflicts, according to a new study.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Why Obama's Dog Has Curly Hair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PUbrql2-U_U/090827141336.htm
Researchers used data from Portuguese water dogs -- the breed of President Barack Obama's dog Bo -- to help find a gene that gives some dogs curly hair and others long, wavy hair. Variations in only three genes account for the seven major types of coat seen in purebred dogs.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
The Path To New Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BxcMTDawb80/090827131830.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that an enzyme that is essential to many bacteria can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens. In addition, investigators discovered chemical compounds that can inhibit this enzyme and suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria. These findings are essential to develop new broad-spectrum antibacterial agents to overcome multidrug resistance.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
New Temperature Reconstruction From Indo-Pacific Warm Pool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pD1S5xRwTNM/090827131832.htm
A new 2,000-year-long reconstruction of sea surface temperatures from the Indo-Pacific warm pool suggests that temperatures in the region may have been as warm during the Medieval Warm Period as they are today.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Beta-blockers And Stroke: New Insights Into Their Use For Older People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RyWXILVyjho/090827073254.htm
A new study may have uncovered the reason why beta-blockers are less effective at preventing stroke in older people with high blood pressure, when compared to other drugs for high blood pressure.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
New Ultrasensitive Electronic Sensor Array Speeds Up DNA Detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NQPtizrpNc0/090826113825.htm
A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has shown "excellent" sensitivity at detecting trace amounts of DNA.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
10- And 11-year-olds Feel Pressure To Have A Perfect Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V6g1KBN3sck/090826191843.htm
A study of 4,254 Canadian schoolchildren has shown a direct association between BMI and satisfaction with their body shape. The research shows a linear response for girls, who were happiest when thinnest, and a U-shaped response for boys, who were unhappy when they were too skinny or too fat.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Alternate Explanation For Dune Formation On Saturn's Largest Moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YShD014tSoQ/090825163726.htm
A controversial new research paper examines a possible new mechanism for the development of very large linear dunes formed on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Death Rate Decreases Following Hospitalization For Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dRFdO7xqr6o/090818182012.htm
From 1995 to 2006, hospital 30-day death rates decreased significantly for Medicare patients hospitalized for a heart attack, as did the variation in the rate between hospitals, according to a new study.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
US Crop Yields Could Wilt In Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dGFiMf-MjDA/090824182533.htm
Yields of three of the most important crops produced in the United States -- corn, soybeans and cotton -- are predicted to fall off a cliff if temperatures rise due to climate change.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Gene Assay To Help To Predict Lung Cancer Treatment Resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dRTA4k_PXJc/090826191847.htm
The genes that may contribute to drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer can be predicted. Researchers found good correlation between genes believed to be involved in drug sensitivity and resistance and actual in vitro chemosensitivity.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
European REACH Legislation For Chemicals May Require More Animals And Funds Than Estimated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WzJudPPLZyE/090826152544.htm
Implementation of REACH legislation may require 54 million research animals and €9.5 billion ($13.4 billion) over the next 10 years, which represents 20 times the number of animals and six times the cost anticipated in previous estimates, according to a new analysis. Currently, the EU uses approximately 900,000 animals at a cost of €600 million ($847 million) per year to evaluate new chemicals.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Working Too Much Can Be Dangerous For Teen's Sexual Health, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ZHXet9w31M/090826191852.htm
Allowing teens to work too many hours in the wrong environment can be dangerous for their sexual health by fostering conditions that lead them to older sex partners, a new study shows.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Gene Mutation Alone Causes Transmissible Prion Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HBmUZwgmztc/090826152550.htm
Researchers have shown definitively that mutations associated with prion diseases are sufficient to cause a transmissible neurodegenerative disease. Until now, two theories about the role mutations play in prion diseases have been at odds. Deciphering the origins of prion diseases could help farmers and policy-makers determine how best to control a prion disease outbreak in livestock and to prevent prion transmission to humans.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
When Is The Pineapple Ripe? New System Uses Metal Oxide Sensors To Detect Safety And Quality Of Foods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KrKE_UO5iy8/090803095658.htm
Customers want fresh food, which is neither unripe nor spoiled. A new system based on metal oxide sensors could check the safety and quality of foods reliably, quickly and economically -- such as how ripe that pineapple really is.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Neck Surgery For Cervical Spine Disorders Found To Alleviate Associated Headaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rtwuiMBlUg4/090803122721.htm
Two years after anterior cervical neck operations, patients who have arthroplasty or arthodesis can be expected to have significant improvement in their headache symptoms, new study suggests.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
It’s Semantic: Easier Solution To Annotate And Search Images
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_-9WNkwAte8/090827082533.htm
Innovative software developed in Europe that makes it easier to organise, search and navigate collections of digital images will soon be available to media agencies, photographers and, potentially, anyone trying to keep up with photo-happy Facebook or Flickr friends.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Employee’s Loyalty To Workplace Damaged By Unfair Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YOdQp7e9QPg/090826165241.htm
In organizational settings, managers as well as others in leadership roles should perhaps think twice before ridiculing subordinate employees on their choice of lunch, attire, or habits, or generally acting disrespectfully towards them. Recent research shows that when an employee believes that he or she has been treated unfairly, the employee is not likely to forgive and forget.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
'Plasmobot': Scientists To Design First Robot Using Mould
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sutatpACATY/090827073256.htm
Scientists in England are to design the first ever biological robot using mould. Researchers are developing the amorphous non-silicon biological robot, plasmobot, using plasmodium, the vegetative stage of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum, a commonly occurring mould which lives in forests, gardens and most damp places in the UK. The research project aims to design the first every fully biological (no silicon components) amorphous massively-parallel robot.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v0sdA9t_ehw/090824205522.htm
Research has shown that swimming aids asthma symptoms in children. The activity has been proven to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for children and adolescents, according to a new study.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Super-sized Tiny Proteins: Software Helps Biologists Visualize Molecules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E_9MgU6i8Cw/090824204830.htm
What are the causes of illness? How can the effect of medication be improved? Molecular biologists can now gain new insights by the virtual simulations generated with a new type of software.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Women With Strong Thigh Muscles Protected From Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DsNaJLeipoY/090827072432.htm
A new study has found that thigh muscle strength does not predict the occurrence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) uncovered in x-rays, but does predict incidence of painful or stiff knee OA. Women with the strongest quadriceps muscles appeared to be protected against the development of knee OA symptoms.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
New Technology Cuts Industrial Odors, Pollutants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2sxCTsEQ1Ug/090826110110.htm
Scientists have devised a new technology that could be the key to eliminating foul odors and air pollutants emitted by industrial chicken rendering facilities and -- ultimately -- large-scale swine feedlots.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Tool To Rank Death Rates Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qi_-8OyzLyI/090826164907.htm
Have you ever wondered what the chances are that you may die in the next year? Would it be from illness or an accident? Is it something you can control? Or is it completely out of your hands? A new Web site allows researchers and students to query and compare mortality rates globally.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Extrasolar Hot Jupiter: The Planet That 'Shouldn’t Exist'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4pfL0iPN1C4/090827132901.htm
A planet has been discovered with ten times the mass of Jupiter, but which orbits its star in less than one Earth-day.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
'Hedgehog' Pathway May Hold Key To Anti-cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BODl15ZgsLU/090826191839.htm
Scientists in Switzerland have discovered a way to block the growth of human colon cancer cells, preventing the disease from reaching advanced stages.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Nuisance Or Nutrient? Kudzu Shows Promise As A Dietary Supplement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mqeKs7KeQME/090826110122.htm
Kudzu, the nuisance vine that has overgrown almost 10 million acres in the southeastern United States, may sprout into a dietary supplement. Scientists are reporting the first evidence that root extracts from kudzu show promise as a dietary supplement for a high-risk condition -- the metabolic syndrome -- that affects almost 50 million people in the United States alone.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
New Treatment Option For Ruptured Brain Aneurysms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X6x5bMozCXw/090825081119.htm
Researchers in Finland have identified an effective new treatment option using stent-assisted coil embolization on patients who have suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, a potentially life-threatening event, according to a new study.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
'Metabolic Engineering' Could Herald The End Of Fossil Fuels In Industrial Chemical Production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xUr_Z1qOeQo/090826191849.htm
A team of South Korean scientists have succeeded in engineering the bacterium E. coli to produce the industrial chemical putrescine. The research provides a renewable alternative to the production of this important chemical which is traditionally created using fossil fuels.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Skin-disease Patients Show Brain Immunity To Faces Of Disgust
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ut3ElG58R6w/090827082535.htm
People with psoriasis -- an often distressing dermatological condition that causes lesions and scaly patches on the skin -- are less likely to react to looks of disgust by others than people without the condition, new research has found.
Fri, 28 Aug 09
Tiny Ancient Shells -- 80,000 Years Old -- Point To Earliest Fashion Trend
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tPmIwWj-9Dw/090827101204.htm
Shell beads unearthed from four sites in Morocco confirm early humans were consistently wearing and even trading symbolic jewelery as early as 80,000 years ago. These beads add to similar finds dating back as far as 110,000 in Algeria, Morocco, Israel and South Africa, confirming these as the oldest form of personal ornaments. Together these shells -- all from the Nassarius genus -- indicate a shared tradition passed along through cultures over thousands of years.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Discovery Of Natural Odors Could Help Develop Mosquito Repellents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4EhVSHMQLFA/090826152546.htm
Entomologists working on fruit flies have discovered a novel class of compounds that could pave the way for developing inexpensive and safe mosquito repellents for combating West Nile virus and other tropical diseases. Carbon dioxide emitted in human breath is the main attractant for the Culex mosquito to find people. The researchers identified odorants present in ripening fruit that prevent carbon dioxide-sensitive neurons in fruit fly antennae from functioning.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Discovery Could Open Door To Obesity, Diabetes Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a5NdpBM4SLc/090826110112.htm
Scientists have identified a new genetic mechanism that controls the body's fat-building process. The discovery could open the door to new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, and it has the potential to help hundreds of millions of people and dramatically cut health care costs.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Rejected Watermelons: The Newest Renewable Energy Source
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YjSzygI4C3s/090826073546.htm
Watermelon juice can be a valuable source of biofuel. Researchers have shown that the juice of reject watermelons can be efficiently fermented into ethanol.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Misfolded Proteins: The Fundamental Problem Is Aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PHSBtem15Ag/090824151251.htm
Proteins are essential for all biological activities and the cell's health. Misfolded and damaged proteins spell trouble and are common to all human neurodegenerative diseases and many other age-associated diseases. But when do proteins start to misbehave? Researchers report that protein damage can be detected much earlier than we had thought, long before individuals exhibit symptoms. But their study also suggests if we intervene early enough, the damage could be delayed.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Confined Electrons Live Longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d4K6aibZBHQ/090819083901.htm
Electrons that are trapped in very small structures of only a few nanometer, demonstrate fascinating features. These could be useful for novel computers or semiconductor lasers. Researchers have measured for the first time the exact lifetime of excited electrons.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Getting Wired: How The Brain Does It
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o0AUbSXBlQY/090826113821.htm
Scientists have found an important mechanism involved in setting up the vast communications network of connections in the brain.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Primates With Donor Eggs' Mitochondria: Breakthrough Could Help Prevent Some Maternally-based Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HgXg-OEJ2J8/090826152555.htm
Researchers believe they have developed one of the first forms of genetic therapy -- a therapy aimed at preventing serious diseases in unborn children. Specifically, the therapy would combat inherited diseases passed on from mothers to their children through mutated DNA in cell mitochondria.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Small Peptide Found To Stop Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OKkyQSriYXY/090826152816.htm
Scientists have discovered a treatment effective in mice at blocking the growth and shrinking the size of lung cancer tumors, one of the leading causes of cancer death in the world.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Short- And Long-term Memories Require Same Gene But In Different Circuits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8599PKCBElU/090817190748.htm
It is known that long-term and short-term memories are stored very differently in the brain. Now, researchers have found that both memory types depend on the activity of a gene called rutabaga, but each type forms its own unique signal or trace in different neuronal circuits.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Bicarbonate Linked To Sticky Mucus In Cystic Fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s5_IhvZ2RDU/090825085954.htm
A hallmark of cystic fibrosis, a disease caused by mutations in the CTFR gene, is the accumulation of abnormally thick and sticky mucus in the lung, intestine, and various other organs. Although the accumulation of this mucus is thought likely to play a central role in the development of disease, how mutations in the CTFR gene lead to mucus accumulation have not been determined. Scientists have now provided insight into this issue by studying mouse small intestine segments ex vivo.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Tropical Storms Endure Over Wet Land, Fizzle Over Dry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vRDFr4g9izE/090826152721.htm
If it has already rained, it's going to continue to pour, according to a study of how ocean-origin storms behave when they come ashore. More than 30 years of monsoon data from India showed that ground moisture where the storms make landfall is a major indicator of what the storm will do from there. If the ground is wet, the storm is likely to sustain, while dry conditions should calm the storm.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Taking Up Music So You Can Hear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YMgLrxLWPYg/090817142857.htm
Anyone with an MP3 device has a notion of the majesty of music, of the primal place it holds in the human imagination. But musical training should not be seen simply as stuff of the soul -- a frill that has to go when school budgets dry up, according to a new study. It is the first demonstration of musical training offsetting the deleterious effects of background noise, and the implications are provocative.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Blast Waves May Cause Human Brain Injury Even Without Direct Head Impacts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kbOz26VGRxk/090826152713.htm
New research on the effects of blast waves could lead to an enhanced understanding of head injuries and improved military helmet design.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Molecular Link Found Between Insulin Resistance And Inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qt4xNKMYkf0/090826113823.htm
An exploration of the molecular links between insulin resistance and inflammation may have revealed a novel target for diabetes treatment, say scientists.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
People Vary Widely In Ability To Eliminate Arsenic From The Body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SCLcXYBjvag/090826110159.htm
Large variations exist in peoples' ability to eliminate arsenic from the body, according to a new study that questions existing standards for evaluating the human health risks from the potentially toxic substance.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Short Stature: Both A Specific Gene, And Its Abnormal Regulation, Can Trigger The Condition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iomo_C5gbRA/090825100701.htm
A specific gene is particularly frequently involved in the development of short stature. Researchers in Germany have now discovered that sequences of genetic material on the X and Y chromosome that regulate this gene are also crucial for growth in children. These gene regulators determine how frequently a gene is copied, thus how effective it is. In many cases, the mutation of one regulatory sequence of the SHOX gene is sufficient to give rise to the full-blown syndrome.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
EPA Pesticide Exposure Test Too Short, Overlooks Long Term Effects, According To Expert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nQSULi0bjX8/090817143610.htm
The four-day testing period the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commonly uses to determine safe levels of pesticide exposure for humans and animals could fail to account for the toxins' long-term effects, researchers report.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Animal Sacrifice In Brazilian Folk Religion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PPaUVlsX5zk/090825203332.htm
Candomblé, a religion practiced primarily in South America and inspired by older African beliefs, makes much use of animal sacrifice. Researchers carried out interviews with priests, priestesses and adherents of the religion, documenting the role sacrifice plays in their beliefs.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Heat Forms Potentially Harmful Substance In High-fructose Corn Syrup, Bee Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j32U9gdyf0U/090826110118.htm
Researchers have established the conditions that foster formation of potentially dangerous levels of a toxic substance in the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that is often fed to honey bees. Their study may also have implications for soft drinks and dozens of other human foods that contain HFCS. The substance, hydroxymethylfurfural, forms mainly from heating fructose.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Changes In DNA Patterns Are Linked To Prenatal Smoke Exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dqK6IdXeQwk/090824182447.htm
A new study has found that the life-long effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur through specific changes in DNA patterns.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Water Quality Improves After Lawn Fertilizer Ban, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_xGVKqdh30c/090817190741.htm
In an effort to keep lakes and streams clean, municipalities around the country are banning or restricting the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers, which can kill fish and cause smelly algae blooms and other problems when the phosphorus washes out of the soil and into waterways.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Antimicrobial Antibodies In Celiac Disease: Trick Or Treat?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aq8nRTnHWb8/090826105933.htm
A new study found that anti-glycan antibodies were associated with celiac disease. Celiac patients with multiple anti-glycan antibodies of high titers had more frequently malabsorption than other symptoms. Contrary, presence of the anti-microbial antibodies did not show familial aggregation or association with mutations in NOD2/CARD15. Presence of anti-glycan antibodies in celiac disease is supposed secondary to the impaired gut barrier leading to sustained exposure to the gut microflora constituents via translocation.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Cooperative Cybercars: A Question Of Priorities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XryQqeXdsKY/090824204832.htm
European researchers have developed new control systems that let driverless vehicles communicate and cooperate with each other. Could fleets of high throughput rapid transit systems soon be cruising our cities?
Thu, 27 Aug 09
The Art Of Persuasion: Are Consumers Interested In Abstract Or Concrete Features?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dC9uGicuXzE/090824182451.htm
What types of messages are most persuasive? For example, would you be more likely to buy a TiVo if an ad described it as offering you freedom or if it explained how you could replay sports events? A new study says the key to an effective message is finding the fit between the consumers' goals and the level of abstraction.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Rats' Mental 'Instant Replay' Drives Next Moves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cxMSkJGa4co/090826152810.htm
Researchers have found that rats use a mental instant replay of their actions to help them decide what to do next, shedding new light on how animals and humans learn and remember.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
New Therapeutic Target Could Help Patients With Pulmonary Fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vRl75i-5QBU/090823184347.htm
Researchers have discovered that targeting of a novel gene utilizing genetic and pharmacologic strategies was successful in treating pulmonary fibrosis in mice and will be developed for future testing in humans.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Newly Discovered Mechanism In Cell Division Has Implications For Chromosome's Role In Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CNqgQAnOFOs/090817143608.htm
Errors in cell division can cause mutations that lead to cancer, and a new study could shed light on the role of chromosome abnormalities in uncontrolled cell replication. Researchers uncovered the molecular players and mechanism underlying a little-studied stage of cellular division called Anaphase B.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Common Blood Disorder May Not Be Linked To As Many Serious Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zEpBwEUFHfQ/090825171629.htm
A symptomless blood disorder, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, known as MGUS, is not linked to as many serious diseases as previously thought. This finding may save patients from undergoing unnecessary workup and treatment, according to a new study.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Home, James: Public Transport Gets Personal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t9U4gxwdHPA/090824205740.htm
A European research project has developed technologies that pave the way for highly efficient unmanned public transport systems. In congested cities, it is hard to imagine that private cars and taxis could ever be replaced by a public transport system that provides a personal, door-to-door service. But this is exactly the long-term vision of one researcher.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Why Weight Watchers Succeeds: Meetings Provide A Blend Of Spirituality And Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bl_hgdpxb9s/090824182537.htm
Weight Watchers is the world's largest support group, with more than 1.5 million members worldwide. What makes overweight consumers turn to this organization for help? A new study says dieters are attracted to its combination of spirituality and therapy.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Trifid Nebula: A Massive Star Factory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3YFw0TlMZd8/090826073442.htm
A new image of the Trifid Nebula, shows just why it is a firm favorite of astronomers, amateur and professional alike. This massive star factory is so named for the dark dust bands that trisect its glowing heart, and is a rare combination of three nebula types, revealing the fury of freshly formed stars and presaging more star birth.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Unlocking The Body's Defenses Against Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wax9XuUSZbg/090825100649.htm
Scientists have discovered a way of allowing healthy cells to take charge of cancerous cells and stop them developing into tumors in what could provide a new approach to treating early-stage cancers.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
New Technology Helps Parkinson's Patients Speak Louder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A6PXRRTCpc0/090825151006.htm
Researchers have developed a new technology that helps Parkinson's patients overcome the tendency to speak too quietly by playing a recording of ambient sound, which resembles the noisy chatter of a restaurant full of patrons.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Patients With Heart Conditions Linked To Increased Death Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7KxXBn3PvOc/090825163722.htm
Men with coronary artery disease-induced congestive heart failure or heart attack who receive hormone therapy before or along with radiation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer have an associated increased risk of death, according to a new study.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Has Northern-hemisphere Pollution Affected Australian Rainfall?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x67h2FTHNOs/090826073544.htm
New research implicates pollution from Asia, Europe and North America as a contributor to recent Australian rainfall changes.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Moral Machines? New Approach To Decision Making Based On Computational Logic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/erkpiIgZx6I/090825103229.htm
Researchers from Portugal and Indonesia describe an approach to decision making based on computational logic, which might one day give machines a sense of morality.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Surprising Results In Teen Study: Adolescent Risky Behavior May Signal Mature Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nf88EUxiwto/090825203341.htm
A long-standing theory of adolescent behavior has assumed that this delayed brain maturation is the cause of impulsive and dangerous decisions in adolescence. The new study, using a new form of brain imaging, calls into question this theory.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
New Link Between Pre-eclampsia And Diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LM3bS59-kUE/090825100647.htm
A chemical compound found in unpasteurized food has been detected in unusually high levels in the red blood cells of pregnant women with the condition pre-eclampsia.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Deadly Heat Waves Are Becoming More Frequent In California
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HvUWJpsoK-U/090825151008.htm
From mid July to early August 2006, a heat wave swept through the southwestern United States. Temperature records were broken at many locations and unusually high humidity levels for this typically arid region led to the deaths of more than 600 people, 25,000 cattle and 70,000 poultry in California alone.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Blood-flow Metabolism Mismatch Predicts Pancreatic Tumor Aggressiveness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HbPsWJWF5HE/090825150952.htm
Researchers from Finland have identified a blood-flow glucose consumption mismatch that predicted pancreatic tumor aggressiveness, according to results of a new study.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Organic And Natural Beef Cattle Production Systems Offer No Major Difference In Antibiotic Susceptibility Of E. Coli
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LYaRHJrpQZY/090825082546.htm
A new study suggests that when compared to conventionally raised beef cattle, organic and natural production systems do not impact antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli O157:H7. This discovery emphasizes that although popular for their suggested health benefit, little is actually known about the effects of organic and natural beef production on food-borne pathogens.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
New Research Examines How Career Dreams Die
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f-0naUZa9UQ/090825100705.htm
A new study shows just what it takes to convince a person that he isn't qualified to achieve the career of his dreams. Researchers found that it's not enough to tell people they don't have the skills or the grades to make their goal a reality. People will cling to their dreams until they're clearly shown not only why they're not qualified, but also what bad things can happen if they pursue their goals and fail.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Evidence Of Iridescence In 40 Million-year-old Feather Fossil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DMEi74QvMF0/090826072957.htm
Ppaleontologists and ornithologists have discovered evidence of vivid iridescent colors in feather fossils more than 40 million-years-old. The finding signifies the first evidence of a preserved color-producing nanostructure in a fossilized feather.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Biological Mechanism For Delivering Nanoparticles Into Tissue: Potential Drug Delivery System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UGkRGpXUXWY/090825090753.htm
Scientists have discovered a potential new drug delivery system. The finding is a biological mechanism for delivery of nanoparticles into tissue.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
LEGOs Help Researchers Learn What Happens Inside Lab-on-a-Chip Devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6AmnRm1pLEs/090825171631.htm
Engineers are using a popular children's toy to visualize the behavior of particles, cells and molecules in environments too small to see with the naked eye. These researchers are arranging little LEGO pieces shaped like pegs to recreate microscopic activity taking place inside lab-on-a-chip devices at a scale they can more easily observe.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Risk Of Death Following Acute Coronary Syndromes Different For Men, Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EI7vnYpGKxY/090825163724.htm
Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), but this difference appears attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS, clinical differences and angiographic severity according to a new study.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Marine Scientists Participate In Israeli-Jordanian Project To Protect Gulf Of Aqaba's Fragile Ecosystem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iED-d7uC0kc/090825171626.htm
Scientists from the U.S. have teamed up with Israeli and Jordanian researchers to protect the Gulf of Aqaba, a strategic waterway whose fragile marine ecosystem is vital to both Israel and Jordan. Participants in the NATO-funded project say they are bridging the Arab-Israeli political divide for the sake of science, peace and environmental conservation.
Thu, 27 Aug 09
Women Are Sort Of More Tentative Than Men, Aren't They?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vb-lg9yeRXw/090825090749.htm
Women hedge, issue disclaimers and ask questions when they communicate, language features that can suggest uncertainty, lack of confidence and low status. But men do the same.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Rewriting General Relativity? Putting A New Model Of Quantum Gravity Under The Microscope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A8VpHpWN3gI/090824115758.htm
Scientists are trying to figure out to what extent a new theory of quantum gravity will reproduce general relativity.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
The Ends Of MRNAs May Prevent The Beginnings Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PQI4aDY7ZSM/090820123935.htm
The tail end of a cell's protein templates may contain important cues that control protein creation. When this section is lopped off of a template, a cell can make too many copies of that protein and turn a normal cell cancerous.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Tools Let Public Contribute To Massive Interactive Online Biodiversity Encyclopedia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9yWTZh7109I/090824210040.htm
The Encyclopedia of Life's inventory of Earth's species -- now 150,000 pages of vetted information, en route to 1.8 million (one page for each known species) -- is shedding light on everything from conservation strategies for endangered species to climate change. It will also help slow the global spread of disease-bearing or invasive pests. Scientists are also outfitting EOL with tags to help scour the data for the secrets of long life. As detailed below, EOL may one day help advance human longevity -- explaining, for example, why certain species, even those within the same family, live longer than others, opening promising new avenues of aging research.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Typhoid Fever Cases In U.S. Linked To Foreign Travel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gdpW0nCHFn0/090825163720.htm
Infection with an antimicrobial-resistant strain of typhoid fever among patients in the United States is associated with international travel, especially to the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), according to a new study. The research also shows an increase in certain strains of typhoid fever that are resistant to the most commonly used medications for treatment.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
See No Weevil: Researcher Tracks Rice Bugs To Help Farmers, Consumers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tNpTIv_UYpk/090812163752.htm
When something's bugging rice farmers, a large segment of the world's population will know. That's because a big bite of the supply is taken by hungry insects every year. One of the worst is the rice water weevil. Its gray snout has chomped through the world making a sizable dent in rice supplies. A Texas researcher is splashing through rice paddies with his net to discover news ways of controlling the rice-craving insect.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Two Million Expected To Die Each Year From Tobacco-induced Cancers By 2015
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rJRAPP5s86w/090825151011.htm
The Tobacco Atlas, 3rd Edition, published by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation, estimates that tobacco use kills some six million people each year -- more than a third of whom will die from cancer -- and drains $500 billion annually from global economies.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Holy Romance! Bats Use Love Songs During Mating, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PUf4cVyiDFg/090825090751.htm
Love songs aren't only for soft rock FM stations -- they're also used by romantic bats, and researchers in Texas are believed to be the first to decode the mysterious love sounds made by the winged creatures.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
MicroRNA In Human Saliva May Help Diagnose Oral Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bqyNSAU_6-w/090825150958.htm
Researchers continue to add to the diagnostic alphabet of saliva by identifying the presence of at least 50 microRNAs that could aid in the detection of oral cancer, according to new research.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
After An Earthquake: Watching Over The Water System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8wOk03iPv-4/090818130607.htm
After a big earthquake, it's key to keep the water system afloat. Water is necessary for life, and it fights the fires that often accompany such disasters.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Some Brain Tumors May Be Mediated By Tiny Filament On Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8FSRK8qOWI4/090823184359.htm
Scientists have discovered that a tiny filament extending from cells, until recently regarded as a remnant of evolution, may play a role in the most common malignant brain tumor in children.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Bugs Pretending To Be Ants Are Protected Against Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ihNGZd9uKaY/090804081454.htm
A classic example of a mutualism, or a mutually beneficial relationship between two species, is that of warm-climate Acacia plants and their ant tenants. The plants provide the ants with shelter within their hollowed-out thorns and food in the form of nectar and protein. The ants, in return, defend the tree viciously, attacking anything that comes near – from other insects to birds and small mammals.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Primary Suicide Risk Factor For Veterans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SirALLuEHaI/090825151341.htm
Researchers working with Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have found that post-traumatic stress disorder, the current most common mental disorder among veterans returning from service in the Middle East, is associated with an increased risk for thoughts of suicide.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Scientists Propose Antarctic Location For 'Missing' Ice Sheet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/75uT8ehteK0/090825151004.htm
New research indicates a possible Antarctic location for ice that seemed to be missing at a key point in climate history 34 million years ago. The research has important implications for climate change.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Gene Variant Linked To Effectiveness Of Popular Anti-clotting Medication Plavix
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DtNUGlPv5c8/090825163715.htm
Researchers have identified a common gene variant carried by as many as a third of the general population that is believed to play a major role in determining why people do not respond to a popular anti-clotting medication, Plavix. If the medication doesn't work, patients are at increased risk for subsequent heart attacks, strokes and other serious cardiovascular problems.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Fly Eyes Help Researchers 'See' New Proteins Involved In Memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xEUfsmDA_xs/090824182441.htm
With more than 1,500 eyes, not much escapes the fruit fly's sight. Now, a new research report describes how researchers from the United States and Ireland used those eyes to "see" new proteins necessary for memory. In addition to shedding light on this critical neurological process, the study also provides information on the fragile X form of mental retardation in humans.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Long-term Tamoxifen Use Increases Risk Of An Aggressive, Hard To Treat Type Of Second Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o4_AN8E28pQ/090825150954.htm
While long-term tamoxifen use among breast cancer survivors decreases their risk of developing the most common, less aggressive type of second breast cancer, such use is associated with a more than four-fold increased risk of a more aggressive, difficult-to-treat type of cancer in the breast opposite, or contralateral, to the initial tumor.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
NASA's 'A-Train' Of Satellites On Track With Hurricane Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AJ17KS6GsIU/090824083606.htm
NASA has several satellites that orbit the Earth one behind the other on the same track. They're called the "A-Train" and one of the things they study is tropical cyclones. There are also other satellites outside the A-Train that are used to study different aspects of tropical cyclones. The satellites that form the A-Train provide unique information about tropical cyclones, the collective term for tropical depressions, tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Twitter And Health Care: Can A Tweet A Day Keep The Doctor Away?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n-4IxGqgmdU/090824141043.htm
Twitter, the increasingly popular social networking tool that was at first merely a convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family, is emerging as a potentially valuable means of real-time, on-the-go communication of health care information and medical alerts.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Media Multitaskers Pay Mental Price, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-q4_IpRC_w/090825113133.htm
Attention, multitaskers (if you can pay attention, that is): Your brain may be in trouble. People who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time, researchers have found.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
High Blood Pressure Linked To Memory Problems In Middle Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fFohgtaZaVU/090824182430.htm
High blood pressure is linked to memory problems in people over 45, according to new research. The study found that people with high diastolic blood pressure, which is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading, were more likely to have cognitive impairment, or problems with their memory and thinking skills, than people with normal diastolic readings.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Arbo-architects Succesful: First Tower Made Of Living Trees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cUD0ZpNPf_w/090825103227.htm
For several years, researchers in Germany have been focusing on the idea of living plant constructions. Recently the first “baubotanical” tower made of living trees has been completed. The prototypical building is located in the very south of Germany and offers the opportunity to carry out practical tests.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Evaluating More Lymph Nodes May Not Improve Identification Of Late-stage Colorectal Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JmdlPctEIxU/090720163546.htm
Surgically removing and evaluating an increasing number of lymph nodes does not appear to identify a greater number of patients with stage III colorectal cancer, according to a new report.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
New Method Developed To Detect Copy Number Variants Using DNA Sequencing Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QUJJvFI7U9U/090824141055.htm
Researchers have developed a sensitive and accurate way of identifying gene copy number variations. The method uses new DNA sequencing technologies to look for regions of the genome that vary in copy number between individuals in the population.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Majority Of Americans Believe 'Myths' About Health Care Reform, National Survey Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bRX01IOub8E/090824115809.htm
Findings from a national survey of Americans by researchers says that Americans do believe the "myths" about health care reform, confirming that the White House may indeed be losing this battle.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
First Gene-encoded Amphibian Toxin Isolated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lr23wU3FVgo/090817143554.htm
Researchers in China have discovered the first protein-based toxin in an amphibian -- a 60-amino-acid neurotoxin found in the skin of a Chinese tree frog. This finding may help shed more light into both the evolution of amphibians and the evolution of poison.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Immune System's Role In Bone Loss Uncovered; Finding Could Lead To New Therapies For Osteoporosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tbc2gVo6Bus/090824141053.htm
Got high cholesterol? You might want to consider a bone density test. A new study sheds light on the link between high cholesterol and osteoporosis and identifies a new way that the body's immune cells play a role in bone loss. The findings could lead to new immune-based approaches for treating osteoporosis.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Unique Acacia Tree's Promise To Revive African Soils
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RV5ok5RAOI0/090824182535.htm
A type of acacia tree with an unusual growth habit -- unlike virtually all other trees -- holds particular promise for farmers in Africa as a free source of nitrogen for their soils that could last generations.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Heat Stress In Older People And People With Chronic Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zzlIG77OTtU/090824141041.htm
People over the age of 60 are the most vulnerable to heat waves, with 82-92 percent more deaths than average occurring in this age group. Risks for heat-related illness or injury are also heightened in people with obesity, heart disease, diabetes and respiratory conditions.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Smart Clothes For Better Healthcare
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zdc4x-9Ab-I/090720083425.htm
Unlike many remote health monitoring systems that rely on sensors strapped to users’ arms or chests connected by wires to bulky equipment, a European team has embedded sensing devices directly into textiles, creating garments that are not only smart but also comfortable and practical to wear. Data from the biosignals collected by the clothes is then sent via a mobile connection to caregivers, allowing doctors to check up on their patients and warning if their health deteriorates.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Majority Of US Hospitals To Have Smoke-free Campuses By End Of Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vpvDeo6-0Es/090820082057.htm
While hospital buildings are often smoke-free, a new study finds that by February 2008, 45 percent of US hospitals had adopted "smoke-free campus" policies, meaning that all the property owned or leased by the hospital, both indoors and outdoors, was smoke-free and there were no designated smoking areas on those properties.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
World's Last Great Forest Under Threat: New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MSFYsbtQuQc/090825090755.htm
The world's last remaining "pristine" forest -- the boreal forest across large stretches of Russia, Canada and other northern countries -- is under increasing threat, a team of international researchers has found.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Low-carb Diets Linked To Atherosclerosis And Impaired Blood Vessel Growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WqvRONFu3Eg/090824151300.htm
Even as low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have proven successful at helping individuals to rapidly lose weight, little is known about the diets' long-term effects on vascular health. Now, a study finds a significant increase in atherosclerosis in mice that were fed a low-carb diet.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Gaping Gila Monsters, Buzzing Insects, Clambering Ungulates: New Finds From Germany's Messel Pit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CDbaULytV3Y/090814101831.htm
Today, anyone who looks into the Messel Pit, about 20 kilometres southeast of Frankfurt, Germany, will see scattered groups of trees, bushes and grasses. Underlying the vegetation, however, are richly fossiliferous shales. Some astonishingly well-preserved fossil finds were recently recovered by scientists from these deposits, laid down in the former volcanic lake, and add exotic colour and diversity to the Eocene “Messel world” of 47 million years ago. Some representative finds of animals discovered in 2007 and 2008 were recently exhibited.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Using Cranberry Juice To Combat Urinary Tract Infections 'Inconclusive'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8cXA8mr0DkU/090824141051.htm
Current clinical evidence for using cranberry juice to combat urinary tract infections is "unsatisfactory and inconclusive," according to one researcher.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Grid Computing, The New Commodity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZJ02m6Z_O_I/090824204828.htm
Researchers have created a platform for trading computing resources that allows the selling and buying of standardized computing resources. In the process, they could make computing a utility like electricity.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Acupuncture May Bring Relief For Common Condition In Women, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zOOhdxSvcU8/090820124044.htm
Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common condition among women, can be relieved by the use of acupuncture and exercise, a new study by researchers in Sweden suggests.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
What She Sees In You: Facial Attractiveness Explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TdE52WerB5g/090824115811.htm
When it comes to potential mates, women may be as complicated as men claim they are, according to psychologists.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Fat In The Liver -- Not The Belly -- May Be A Better Marker For Disease Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_b6VM4seURg/090824151304.htm
New findings from nutrition researchers suggest that it's not whether body fat is stored in the belly that affects metabolic risk factors for diabetes, high blood triglycerides and cardiovascular disease, but whether it collects in the liver.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Cancer's Break-in Tools Possibly Identified: Nematode Worm Provides Model Of Invasive Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p_lYPkuV9_M/090817142735.htm
A single cell in a one-millimeter nematode worm is providing valuable new clues into cancer's deadliest behavior -- its ability to put down roots in new tissues after spreading throughout the body.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Obesity Explored In Obesity And Weight Management
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ECe9zSGtACQ/090824182531.htm
Obese men are at increased risk for erectile dysfunction, likely caused by atherosclerosis-related hypertension and cardiovascular disease, as well as hormonal changes associated with obesity.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
New Study Finds Wild Pikas Are Natural Mammalian Hosts To H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XDG_ZPVw_jE/090825082615.htm
For the first time a new study suggests that when exposed in their natural ecosystem, wild pikas (a species closely related to rabbits) are mammalian hosts of H5N1 subtype avian influenza viruses and may also be a source of transmission to domestic mammals and humans.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Higher Level Of Testosterone In Women Linked To Choice Of Risky Careers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aDctMuiGfRU/090824151254.htm
Higher levels of testosterone are associated with a greater appetite for risk in women. The link between risk aversion and testosterone predicted career choice: individuals who were high in testosterone and low in risk aversion chose riskier careers in finance.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Daylight Could Help Control Our Weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2UXvMTtSY6Y/090821135024.htm
Exciting research into brown adipose tissue -- brown fat, which is found in abundance in hibernating animals and newborn babies -- could lead to new ways of preventing obesity.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
More Obesity Blues: Obese People Are At Greater Risk For Developing Alzheimer's, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uXM-KBzFmVM/090825090745.htm
Researchers have found that obese people had 8 percent less brain tissue than people with normal weight, while overweight people had 4 percent less tissue in their frontal lobes.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Newly Found DNA Catalysts Cleave DNA With Water Molecule
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hEPsqkXW-TM/090816170925.htm
Better tools for manipulating DNA in the laboratory may soon be possible with newly discovered deoxyribozymes (catalytic DNA) capable of cleaving single-stranded DNA, researchers say.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Combined Transplant-Vaccine Therapy For High-risk Leukemia Shows Promise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YSLAGREBtC4/090824151302.htm
Two of the most powerful approaches to cancer treatment -- a stem cell transplant and an immune system-stimulating vaccine -- appear to reinforce each other in patients with an aggressive, hard-to-control form of leukemia, scientists have found.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Eco-friendly Self-cleaning Material Tough On Stains, Light On Effort
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PzmtcVueYvo/090816170915.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a new coating for glass, plastics and a range of other materials that would enable consumers to wipe away oils with plain water. They note that the material can be added to common window cleaning sprays, and used to prevent bathroom mirrors, automobile windshields and other surfaces from fogging up.
Wed, 26 Aug 09
Share And Share Alike: How The Modern World Affects Our Tendency To Share
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kce0bf-aKPg/090824182443.htm
From giving directions to a stranger to cooking a meal for loved ones, sharing is an essential part of the human experience. A new study unravels the complexities of sharing, and examines how changes in our culture affect sharing.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Lower-cost Solar Cells To Be Printed Like Newspaper, Painted On Rooftops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/azCENs1ajlQ/090824115907.htm
Solar cells could soon be produced more cheaply using nanoparticle "inks" that allow them to be printed like newspaper or painted onto the sides of buildings or rooftops to absorb electricity-producing sunlight.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Unlocking The Secret Of The Bladder's Bouncers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CWBF64nPOpA/090820161331.htm
Researchers may have a new way to stop and even prevent the urinary tract infections that plague more than a third of all adults, some of them repeatedly.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Gene Discovery Reveals Critical Protein's Function In Hearing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P6iR5E71Pk8/090821135100.htm
Discovery of a deafness-causing gene defect in mice has helped identify a new protein that protects sensory cells in the ear, according to a new study. The mutated gene fails to produce normal claudin-9 protein, which, the scientists showed, is needed to maintain the proper distribution of potassium in the inner ear.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Why Low Vitamin D Raises Heart Disease Risks In Diabetics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xiW5bYUlsgA/090821211007.htm
Low levels of vitamin D are known to nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, and researchers now think they know why.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
First Measure Of Africa's Coastal Forests: Swampy Mangrove Destruction Threatens Shrimp Farming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SY5oGuLLmqs/090820161142.htm
Impoverished fishermen along the coast of tropical African countries like Mozambique and Madagascar may have only a few more years to eke out a profit from one of their nations' biggest agricultural exports. Within a few decades, they may no longer have a livelihood at all. That's because swampy mangrove forests – essential breeding grounds for fish and shellfish in these countries – are being destroyed by worsening pollution, encroaching real estate development, and deforestation necessary to sustain large-scale commercial shrimp farming.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Saying 'I'm Sorry' Influences Jurors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9_rAUzGqUOI/090824141049.htm
Apologizing for negative outcomes -- a practice common even with children -- may lead to more favorable verdicts for auditors in court, according to researchers.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Retina Cells Created From Skin-derived Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fsvt_7XRoTM/090824151258.htm
Scientists have successfully grown multiple types of retina cells from two types of stem cells -- suggesting a future in which damaged retinas could be repaired by cells grown from the patient's own skin.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Why 'Thick' Blood Protects From A Heart Attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fUmZjjRnPLo/090824115807.htm
"Thick" blood can cause heart attack and stroke, but also prevent them. Scientists have explained the mechanism of this clinical paradox for the first time on an animal model. Mice with a greater tendency to form blood clots have larger plaques in their vessels, but they are more stable. Thus, there is less risk that these plaques will rupture and obstruct circulation.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Scientists Shed New Light On Behavior Of Shark 'Tweens' And 'Teenagers'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zYOi3sS3Hx8/090824141047.htm
Marine biologists have shown that young lemon sharks born in Bimini, Bahamas, tend to stay near their coastal birthplace for many years. Knowledge about these intermediate-aged animals -- the breeders of tomorrow -- has been limited. Thus, tropical island-nations that sacrifice their nursery habitats to coastal development are therefore likely to lose both babies and much older sharks, with potentially dire effects on the surrounding ecosystem.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Still Holding Their Breath: Mortality On Lung Transplant Wait List Remains High For Some
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ooJ6YHIE4NE/090824081119.htm
Mortality remains high among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension awaiting lung transplant, despite changes to the allocation system that were designed to reduce mortality and increase the equitable distribution of donor organs, according to new research.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Many Online Social Networks Leak Personal Information To Tracking Sites, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DnY8qrZurXc/090824151307.htm
More than a half billion people use online social networks, posting vast amounts of information about themselves to share with online friends and colleagues. A new study has found that the practices of many popular social networking sites typically make that personal information available to companies that track Web users' browsing habits, and allow them to link anonymous browsing habits to specific people.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Employees Who Are Engaged In Their Work Have Happier Home Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xm9SzgmJ5P0/090824115911.htm
Psychology researchers studied how positive work experiences extend into family life and facilitate family interactions. They found that employees who are engaged in their work, which includes higher levels of vigor, more dedication and absorption in daily activities, have better moods and more satisfaction at home.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
New Species Of Crustacean Discovered Near Canary Islands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5UplKpM84oU/090824115813.htm
During a cave diving expedition to explore the Tunnel de la Atlantida, the world's longest submarine lava tube on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, a team of scientists and cave divers have discovered a previously unknown species of crustacean, belonging to the remipede genus Speleonectes.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Parkinson's Disease: When Cells Run Out Of Fuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gondiDC-gu4/090824115756.htm
Insights into the function of Parkinson's genes can help to understand the causes of this neurodegenerative disease -- and to develop new therapies. Researchers have now discovered that two Parkinson's genes ensure the energy supply of neurons involved in Parkinson's disease.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Blossoms Of Maturity: Newly Discovered Signaling Pathway Ensures That Plants Remember To Flower
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ooQN_tEp_dM/090820123931.htm
Plants normally flower in response to seasonal changes, such as those associated with the end of winter or beginning of spring. Scientists have now identified a signaling pathway that allows plants to blossom even without positive signals from the environment. The concentration of a small RNA snippet in plants cells operates like an hour glass: a decline in its level awakes the plant from its vegetative dormancy and allows it to enter the reproductive mode.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
New Technique Can Help Diagnose Mesothelioma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sZntTI-K2Hg/090824081121.htm
A new technique may help clinicians hone in on a diagnosis in patients presenting with a pleural effusion of unknown cause.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
New Supercomputer -- Cystorm -- Unleashes 28.16 Trillion Calculations Per Second
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fSAItYp2WwE/090821135030.htm
Cystorm, Iowa State University's second supercomputer, is capable of a peak performance of 28.16 trillion calculations per second. It will help researchers advance their work in materials science, power systems and systems biology.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Cancer Patients Who Are Separated When Diagnosed Have Worse Survival Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4TuJc481qlY/090824081113.htm
Among unmarried cancer patients, those who are separated at the time of diagnosis do not live as long as widowed, divorced, and never married patients.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Strong Link Found Between Concussions And Brain Tissue Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nZ4yi03AZr4/090824115905.htm
Concussions, whether from an accident, sporting event, or combat, can lead to permanent loss of higher level mental processes. Scientists have debated for centuries whether concussions involve structural damage to brain tissue or whether physiological changes that merely impair the way brain cells function, explain this loss. Now, for the first time, researchers have linked areas of brain injury to specific altered mental processes caused by concussions.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Key Circuits Control Cell's Ability To Adapt To Changes In Its Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cMWVxSwZq5I/090821211009.htm
Researchers have identified the two key circuits that control a cell's ability to adapt to changes in its environment, a finding that could have applications ranging from diabetes and autoimmune research to targeted drug development for complex diseases.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
How Diarrheal Bacteria Cause Some Colon Cancers Revealed In Mouse Studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bG0eH3u9ytc/090823184353.htm
Scientists say they have figured out how bacteria that cause diarrhea may also be the culprit in some colon cancers. The investigators say that strains of the common Bacteroides fragilis dupe immune system cells into permitting runaway colon tissue inflammation, a precursor for malignant growth.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Some Skin Cancer May Be Mediated By Primary Cilia Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uwWsNYYudQE/090823184401.htm
Tiny, solitary spikes that stick out of nearly every cell in the body play a central role in a type of skin cancer, new research has found. The discovery in mice shows that the microscopic structures known as primary cilia can either suppress or promote this skin cancer, depending on the mutation triggering the disease.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Messenger RNA Are Lost In Translation: Study Challenges Current View
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2v-ZhkTX3rE/090823184349.htm
Scientists have discovered that messenger RNA predominately degrade on ribosomes, fundamentally altering a common understanding of how gene expression is controlled within the cell.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Young Leukemia And Lymphoma Patients Live Longer Today Than In Years Past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rRHWH2eE-7c/090824081115.htm
A new analysis has found that adolescents and young adults who were recently diagnosed with blood-related cancers have better long-term survival rates than those who were diagnosed in the 1980s.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Genomic Study Yields Plausible Cause Of Colony Collapse Disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/83du25LuhEI/090824151256.htm
Researchers have found a surprising but reliable marker of colony collapse disorder, a baffling malady that in 2007-2008 killed off more than a third of commercial honey bees in the US. Their study is the first to identify a single, objective molecular marker of the disorder, and to propose a data-driven hypothesis to explain the mysterious disappearance of American honey bees.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Switching On The Power Of Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Gsv0F9RsRU/090820123933.htm
Scientists have uncovered a vital link in the chain of events that gives stem cells their remarkable properties.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Young Arctic Muskoxen Better At Keeping Warm Than Scientists Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zBHnAAECyWM/090820161146.htm
A new study finds that young muskoxen conserve heat almost as well as adults, a finding that runs contrary to a longstanding assumption among scientists that young animals should be more vulnerable in extreme cold.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Night Home Hemodialysis Shown To Be As Good As Transplant In Treating Kidney Failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RigNrnkoEO0/090820124125.htm
For the first time, it has been shown that patients who receive night home hemodialysis live just as long as those who receive kidney transplants from deceased donors.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Novel Temperature Calibration Improves Microhotplate Technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XSKbozdHW5M/090811191656.htm
Researchers have developed a new calibration technique that will improve the reliability and stability of the microhotplate -- a novel device being developed as the foundation for miniature yet highly accurate gas sensors that can detect chemical and biological agents, industrial leaks and even signs of extraterrestrial life from aboard a planetary probe.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Meal Replacements Aid Weight Loss, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RSMhLXEC-IY/090812104143.htm
Meal replacements in a medically supervised weight loss program are successful in facilitating weight loss, according to a new study.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Cell Reproduction Research May Point To 'Off Switch' For Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OWCweBErwZM/090812163756.htm
New insight into how human cells reproduce could help scientists move closer to finding an "off switch" for cancer. Cancer cells divide uncontrollably and can move from one part of the body to another. They undergo dramatic shifts in shape when they do so, says one researcher who is investigating how certain proteins trigger cell movement and division and how cancer hijacks the system to create genomic instability.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Single Host Gene May Hold Key To Treating Both Ebola And Anthrax Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t-xlEM8O0Ag/090820161340.htm
New research indicates that a minor reduction in levels of one particular gene, known as CD45, can provide protection against two divergent microbes: the virus that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever and the bacterium that causes anthrax. Taken together, the results suggest a common host restriction factor and a promising approach to drug development for treating two completely different infections.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Discovery To Aid Study Of Biological Structures, Molecules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h0096XNZ_Ak/090811191654.htm
Researchers in the United States and Spain have discovered that a tool widely used in nanoscale imaging works differently in watery environments, a step toward better using the instrument to study biological molecules and structures.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Naturally-occurring Protection Against Severe Malaria Demonstrated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/euwXkqa4auQ/090819084121.htm
Researchers in Portugal show that an anti-oxidant drug can protect against the development of deadly forms of malaria. These findings have direct implications for the treatment of this devastating disease, caused by the parasite Plasmodium, and still one of the main causes of death worldwide.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Plant Protein 'Doorkeepers' Block Invading Microbes, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AwjOTVKp8Vo/090628213147.htm
A group of plant proteins that "shut the door" on bacteria that would otherwise infect the plant's leaves has been identified for the first time.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Increasing The Number Of Kidney Transplants: Extending The Gift Of Life From Very Young Donors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S1z_fiHH1u8/090820175851.htm
In most transplant centers, the kidneys of very young deceased donors are transplanted together into one patient. According to a new study, a single kidney from a very young deceased donor maintains the health of an adult with kidney failure.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Perceptual Rivalry: Nostrils Alternate To Process Competing Odors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1OiTq1OQEz4/090820124050.htm
When the nose encounters two different scents simultaneously, the brain processes them separately through each nostril in an alternating fashion. This finding is the first demonstration of "perceptual rivalry" in the olfactory system.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Research Sheds Light On Sudden Death In People With High Cholesterol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T_JosEy_okM/090821135104.htm
Cholesterol can affect the flow of the electrical currents that generate the heart beat, according to a study by two cardiovascular researchers. The research team has just published the important discovery about the causes of cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats).
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Rare Sheep Could Be Key To Better Diagnostic Tests In Developing World
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VbFsvtsjMTk/090704064959.htm
The newest revolution in microbiology testing walks on four legs and says "baa". It's the hair sheep, a less-hirsute version of the familiar woolly barnyard resident. Not only are these ruminants low-maintenance and parasite-resistant, they're also perfect blood donors for the microbiology tests necessary to diagnose infectious disease in the developing world.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
New Biomarker Method Could Increase The Number Of Diagnostic Tests For Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ivNe3aeKHpk/090629132208.htm
A new method for detecting and quantifying protein biomarkers in body fluids may ultimately make it possible to screen multiple biomarkers in hundreds of patient samples, thus ensuring that only the strongest biomarker candidates will advance down the development pipeline.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Genetic Analysis Reveals Secrets Of Scorpion Venom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hODDd1CIC24/090630202119.htm
Transcriptomic tests have uncovered the protein composition of venom from the Scorpiops jendeki scorpion. Researchers have carried out the first ever venom analysis in this arachnid, and discovered nine novel poison molecules never before seen in any scorpion species.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Smoking May Worsen Malnutrition In Developing Nations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5jRQskxJOGI/090824081126.htm
A new study finds that smokers in rural Indonesia finance their habit by dipping into the family food budget -- which ultimately results in poorer nutrition for their children. The findings suggest that the costs of smoking in the developing world go well beyond the immediate health risks.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Tobacco Plants Yield First Vaccine For Dreaded 'Cruise Ship Virus'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J684CSfpiuk/090818130418.htm
Scientists have used a new vaccine production technology to develop a vaccine for norovirus, a dreaded cause of diarrhea and vomiting that may be the second most common viral infection in the United States after the flu. Sometimes called the "cruise ship virus," this microbe can spread like wildfire through passenger liners, schools, offices and military bases.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Fragile Period Of Childhood Brain Development Could Underlie Epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-ZSvu-9WQ4/090823184351.htm
A form of partial epilepsy associated with auditory and other sensory hallucinations has been linked to the disruption of brain development during early childhood, according to a new study.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Flies Avoid Plant's Poison Using Newly Identified Taste Mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HPEcyUsQy-Q/090629211813.htm
Many plants protect themselves from hungry animals by producing toxic chemicals. In turn, animals rely on detecting the presence of these harmful chemicals to avoid consuming dangerous plant material. A new article investigates the response of an insect to a common plant weapon -- the toxin L-canavanine.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Why Repair Of Brain's Wiring Fails
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UX125nu6jno/090701102908.htm
Scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that damage to nerve cells in people with multiple sclerosis accumulates because the body's natural mechanism for repair of the nerve coating called "myelin" stalls out.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Faults And Earthquakes In China Monitored From Space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1OHP5Bxwe0s/090703091808.htm
China is in a very seismically active area and has had many catastrophic earthquakes during its history. A joint European-Chinese team is using satellite radar data to monitor ground deformation across major continental faults in China to understand better the seismic cycle and how faults behave.
Tue, 25 Aug 09
Clinical Depression Causes Early Malfunctions In The Brain’s Pleasure Center, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/urVWpXZQ1B8/090819125516.htm
Clinically depressed individuals are less capable of finding pleasure in activities they previously enjoyed, a recent study has shown. Research shows reduced brain function in the reward center of the brain in depressed individuals, when compared to healthy subjects.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Lightning's Mirror Image ... Only Much Bigger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NQMG_aoQ2nw/090823184357.htm
With a very lucky shot, scientists have captured a one-second image and the electrical fingerprint of huge lightning that flowed 40 miles upward from the top of a storm.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
New Technique Prevents Major Cause For Heart-related Stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fmI6tz-BS4I/090821163521.htm
Physicians have performed a non-surgical procedure using sutures to tie off a left atrial appendage, which is the source of blood clots leading to stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. AFib is the most common sustained heart-rhythm disorder in the United States.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
At The Fungal Farmer's Market, Only The Best Cyanobacteria Are For Sale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HVu51L7BtV0/090821163523.htm
Lichens are the classic example of a symbiotic relationship. Both the fungal and photobiont components of the lichen benefit from the relationship and often are unable to survive without each other. Recent research has put a new spin on this relationship.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Robot's Gentle Touch Aids Delicate Cancer Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dob4LKA22II/090821135017.htm
Canadian researchers have created a touchy-feely robot that detects tougher tumor tissue for minimally invasive surgery with 40 percent more accuracy than a human.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
NASA, Air Force Test Environmentally-friendly Rocket Propellant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KxlIConLfqk/090821163515.htm
NASA and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have successfully launched a small rocket using an environmentally-friendly, safe propellant comprised of aluminum powder and water ice, called ALICE.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Recycling Efficiency: Sorting Trendy Bottles From Ordinary Ones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iTZfI5Bglhw/090819125323.htm
As companies create new bottles for brands of beer, they need to calculate the cost of sorting their trendy bottles from the rest on the market in the recycling process. One Dutch-German project found a way to keep the cost down.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
An Inner 'Fingerprint' For Personalizing Medical Care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yKylUQrITwk/090722110859.htm
Fingerprints, move over. Scientists are reporting evidence that people have another defining trait that may distinguish each of the 6.7 billion humans on Earth from one another almost as surely as the arches, loops, and whorls on their fingertips. Scientists now report evidence from studies in humans for the existence of unique patterns in metabolism.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
First Genetically-engineered Malaria Vaccine To Enter Human Trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nKoTSH8gTjM/090728184833.htm
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have created a weakened strain of the malaria parasite that will be used as a live vaccine against the disease. The vaccine, developed in collaboration with researchers from the US, Japan and Canada, will be trialled in humans from early next year.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Microbiologists Find Defense Molecule That Senses Respiratory Viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zftmIRt_Ig0/090823184355.htm
Research points toward potential immune therapies for individuals at high risk for RSV and flu, two common respiratory viruses. This could benefit infants, children, the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Impaired Transport In Neurons Triggers Prion Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jBcitgqi0f8/090821135102.htm
A new study shows that nervous system integrity and axonal properties may play a key role in prion diseases. The findings expand our understanding of the development of prion disease and suggest novel targets for therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in its early stages.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Nuclear Fusion Research Key To Advancing Computer Chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IXDsM9wUDNs/090818150036.htm
Researchers are adapting the same methods used in fusion-energy research to create extremely thin plasma beams for a new class of "nanolithography" required to make future computer chips.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Clues To Gigantism Provided By Family In Borneo Mountains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O6PrjYs49C4/090821163519.htm
An indigenous family living in a mountainous area of Malaysian Borneo helped researchers to discover information about genetic mutations associated with acromegaly, a form of gigantism that often results in enlarged hands, feet and facial features.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Naming Evolution's Winners And Losers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LyF4NxKfteY/090729092536.htm
Mammals and many species of birds and fish are among "evolution's winners," while crocodiles, alligators and a reptile cousin of snakes known as the tuatara are among its losers, according to a new study. The study also shows new species emerge nearly as often as they die off.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Smokeless Tobacco Increases Risk Of Heart Attack And Stroke, Research Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eMePdy1YNcI/090820124036.htm
People who use smokeless tobacco products like snus have a slightly higher risk of having a fatal heart attack or stroke, according to new research.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Hidden Treasure: Technique Reveals Buried Image In Famed Illustrator's Painting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p2LH481QCj0/090819153917.htm
Researchers are reporting the use of a new X-ray imaging technique to reveal unprecedented details of a painting hidden beneath another painting by famed American illustrator N.C. Wyeth. The nondestructive technique could reveal new insights into the artist's technique, and potentially reveal hidden images in hundreds of Old Master paintings, the researchers say.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Elevated Arginase Levels Contribute To Vascular Eye Disease Such As Diabetic Retinopathy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7FHq8lY4HwU/090818130431.htm
Elevated levels of the enzyme arginase contribute to vascular eye damage and researchers say therapies to normalize its levels could halt progression of potentially blinding diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
A Safe Approach To Nanotechnology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uON1SZ0I6sc/090819113451.htm
A nontoxic and environmentally friendly way to make tiny nanorods of zinc oxide has been developed for the first time. The approach could allow the nanorods to be used safely in medical and for other applications.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Universal Influenza Vaccination May Reduce Antibiotic Use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DTikqiNqqzs/090820161343.htm
We all know that influenza vaccination helps prevent disease, but a new study from Canada suggests it may also prevent another public health problem: inappropriate antibiotic use.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
New Microchip Technology Performs 1,000 Chemical Reactions At Once
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9J3Tz58IGdo/090803122730.htm
Researchers have developed technology to perform more than a thousand chemical reactions at once on a stamp-size, PC-controlled microchip, which could accelerate the identification of potential drug candidates for treating diseases like cancer.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Disrupting A Destructive Duo: Researchers Inhibit Cancer Proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c-2TyB_AwW8/090820124127.htm
Researchers have developed a new way to split up a dangerous pair of cancer proteins, a finding that could ultimately lead to chemotherapy that is more effective and has fewer side effects.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Asian Clam Invasion Is Growing Fast, Lake Tahoe Report Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lFr_XV0dHOw/090819110042.htm
An annual Lake Tahoe health report describes a spreading Asian clam population that could put sharp shells and rotting algae on the spectacular mountain lake's popular beaches, possibly aid an invasion of quagga and zebra mussels, and even affect lake clarity and ecology.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Babies With Mild Facial Paralysis From Forceps Typically Do Not Need Treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Br2LqU-o3q0/090720163548.htm
Mild facial nerve paralysis caused by the use of forceps during birth generally resolves on its own and does not require treatment, according to a new report.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Tiny Robots Get A Grip On Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v7CJBjn1zsE/090819083905.htm
How do you handle the tiny components needed for constructing nanoscale devices? A European consortium has built two microrobotic demonstrators that can automatically pick up and install carbon nanotubes thousands of times thinner than a human hair.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Researcher Questions Federal Guidelines For Seasonal And Swine Flu Vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v05pXuQIYP0/090820161140.htm
A researcher has developed a mathematical model that calls into question whether current federal guidelines on seasonal and swine flu vaccines are targeting the correct populations and preventing both the spread of and complications from the viruses.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Let There Be Light: Teaching Magnets To Do More Than Just Stick Around
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PDgfgAP5Otc/090820161127.htm
Chemists have found a way to train tiny semiconductor crystals, called nanocrystals or quantum dots, to display new magnetic functions at room temperature using light as a trigger.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Diabetes Drug Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Failure, Study Concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hk0s7ZuS2sg/090820123939.htm
Rosiglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death among older patients compared to a similar drug, a new study concludes.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Tension In Axons Is Essential For Synaptic Signaling, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_0Kq2KDoWSQ/090720190556.htm
Every time a neuron sends a signal -- to move a muscle or form a memory, for example -- tiny membrane-bound compartments, called vesicles, dump neurotransmitters into the synapse between the cells. Researchers report that this process, which is fundamental to the workings of the nervous system, relies on a simple mechanical reality: Tension in the axon of the presynaptic neuron is required.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
In Vitro Fertilization Less Successful With Alternative Fertility Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gx87tFiDozg/090818130556.htm
The common belief is that it won't hurt to try alternative fertility treatments before reverting to in vitro fertilization (IVF). But a new study finds that the success of IVF treatment is 30 percent lower among women who have used alternative medicine. The researchers included over 700 IVF users over a 12-month period. Women who had first tried a combination of alternative treatments, such as reflexology, acupuncture, or herbal and aromatherapy, had significantly lower pregnancy rates after IVF treatment.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Intrinsic Changes In Protein Shape Influence Drug Binding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SRefFs5UiqE/090819135438.htm
Computational biologists have shown that proteins have an intrinsic ability to change shape, and this is required for their biological activity. Shape-changing also allows the small molecules that are attracted to a given protein to select the structure that permits the best binding. That premise could help in the discovery and design of drugs that will have the most impact on protein function to better treat disease.
Mon, 24 Aug 09
Chinese Culture At The Crossroads: Prehistoric Archaeological Findings Highlighted In New Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_cWuVkJlDdI/090820161131.htm
Recent archaeological discoveries from far-flung corners of China are forcing scientists to reconsider the origins of ancient Chinese civilization -- and a new crop of young archaeologists are delving into the modern nation's roots.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Why Sleep? Snoozing May Be Strategy To Increase Efficiency, Minimize Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ICU9VnO7OFg/090820161333.htm
A sleep researcher argues that sleep's primary function is to increase the efficiency of behavior when animals are awake by regulating behavior's timing and duration.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
High Serum Insulin Levels And Risk Of Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lQdKFDYkXsk/090821163511.htm
Elevated insulin levels in the normal range appear to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Friendly Gut Bacteria Lend A Hand To Fight Infection, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5Gh12orUqLU/090819123937.htm
Immunology researchers have found that bacteria present in the human gut help initiate the body's defense mechanisms against Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Fecal DNA Methylation Detects Gastric And Colorectal Cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sRDl9tpM7eI/090821163509.htm
A preliminary evaluation of methylation of two gene promoters in fecal DNA showed promise as a noninvasive method to detect colorectal and gastric cancers, according to a new study.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Nano-bio Material Kills Cancer Cells, Leaves Healthy Cells In Unharmed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3scT03xDJzE/090819123943.htm
Scientists have developed a way to target brain cancer cells using inorganic titanium dioxide nanoparticles bonded to soft biological material.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Young Women Consistently Exercise Less Than Young Men, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w07hd1S6jG4/090821135022.htm
Despite mounting public health concerns about obesity and persistent social pressures dictating that slim is beautiful, young women in their 20s consistently exercise less than young men.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Ultrathin LEDs Create New Classes Of Lighting And Display Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pcxWAHYrEVM/090820161129.htm
A new process for creating ultrathin, ultrasmall inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and assembling them into large arrays offers new classes of lighting and display systems with interesting properties, such as see-through construction and mechanical flexibility, that would be impossible to achieve with existing technologies.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Chronic Kidney Disease Linked To Malfunctioning Mitochondria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-3aG5ORu5Vw/090820204452.htm
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been linked to oxidative stress caused by dysregulation of the genes that control mitochondria. A study has revealed alterations in respiration gene expression in the white blood cells of CKD patients.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Parasites Persuade Immune Cells To Invite Them In For Dinner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gnQG5oVsZuc/090820204501.htm
The parasites that cause leishmaniasis use a quirky trick to convince the immune system to effectively invite them into cells for dinner, according to a new study. The researchers say their findings improve understanding of the way Leishmania parasites establish an infection and could aid the search for a vaccine against this neglected tropical disease.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
'Housekeeping' Genes Play Important Role In Developmental Pathways Of Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lLNP8WK_fnQ/090820124130.htm
A gene called HPRT plays an important role in setting the program by which primitive or precursor cells decide to become normal nerve cells in the human brain. This unconventional view of metabolic genes known as "housekeeping" genes is now reported in a new study.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Epigenetics: Evolutionarily Preserved Mechanism Governs Use Of Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-avnt1Onceg/090818130420.htm
Researchers have found that the protein coding parts of a gene are packed in special nucleosomes. The same type of packaging is found in the roundworm C. elegans, which is a primeval relative of humans. The mechanism can thereby be traced back a billion years in time.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
How We Support Our False Beliefs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QGEGh0xwt3M/090821135020.htm
In a new study, sociologists from four major research institutions focus on one of the most curious aspects of the 2004 presidential election: the strength and resilience of the belief among many Americans that Saddam Hussein was linked to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Little Known Type Of Cholesterol -- Oxycholesterol -- May Pose The Greatest Heart Disease Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pBWzRp7O9qQ/090820123923.htm
Researchers are reporting that a little known type of cholesterol, oxycholesterol, may be a bigger heart disease threat than other forms of cholesterol. The study could lead to new targets and treatments to prevent or reduce heart disease, the number one cause of death in the US.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Towards Malaria 'Vaccine': Discovery Opens The Door To Malaria-prevention Therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Kwy8rtJn2Y/090820204458.htm
Malaria kills anywhere from one to three million people around the world annually and affects the lives of up to 500 million more. Yet until now, scientists did not fully understand exactly how the process that caused the disease's severe hallmark fevers began. Now researchers believe they may have solved this mystery.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
New Images Capture Cell's Ribosomes At Work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v6uuC3xpnVk/090821135106.htm
Researchers have captured elusive nanoscale movements of ribosomes at work, shedding light on how these cellular factories take in genetic instructions and amino acids to churn out proteins. The achievement could eventually lead to significant advances in the fight against infectious diseases.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
New Robot-assisted Surgical Method Found Successful For Treatment Of Thyroid Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GYNs2rfxZf8/090819164323.htm
Using a novel robot-assisted endoscopic technique, a team of surgeons in Korea has successfully treated 200 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer. The minimally invasive operation, which has several technical and cosmetic benefits that the traditional open operation does not offer, is described in a new study.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Water Desalination Using Novel Method Of Reverse Osmosis Promises High Recovery Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sRAl_INlKrU/090819135931.htm
Researchers are developing technology to scale up a novel method for achieving very high recoveries in desalination by reverse osmosis to be used in a Jordanian desalinization plant.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Off-label Use Often Not Evidence-Based: Physicians Lack Knowledge Of Off-label Drug Use And FDA Approval Status, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QRQxlfE8gEM/090821135011.htm
In a recent national survey, a substantial minority of physicians erroneously believed that certain off-label uses of prescription drugs were FDA approved. This mistaken belief encourages them to prescribe these drugs, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting such use. Overall, physicians were able to correctly identify the FDA-approval status of just over half of the 22 drug-indication pairs (i.e., a particular drug prescribed for a particular condition) included in the survey.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
New Way To Reproduce A Black Hole?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DKa3oEnyvsg/090821163513.htm
Despite their popularity in the science fiction genre, there is much to be learned about black holes. Researchers have proposed a new way of creating a reproduction black hole in the laboratory on a much-tinier scale than their celestial counterparts.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Key Feature Of Immune System Survived In Humans, Other Primates For 60 Million Years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HJ5cgUHbnIY/090818182053.htm
A new study has concluded that one key part of the immune system, the ability of vitamin D to regulate anti-bactericidal proteins, is so important that is has been conserved through almost 60 million years of evolution and is shared only by primates, including humans -- but no other known animal species.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Orchids And Fungi -- Partners For Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xF0JcuLByQI/090813190936.htm
Three Thai orchids have been found to rely on a wide range of fungi to help them take carbon out of the soil instead of producing their own organic carbon.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Iterative Reconstruction Technique Significantly Reduces Patient Radiation Dose During CT Scans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Y0DeBRlm0c/090819064022.htm
Computed tomography (CT) scans are responsible for more than two thirds of the total radiation dose associated with medical imaging exams. However, a newly adapted low-dose technique called adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction may enable radiologists to reduce patient radiation resulting from CT up to 65 percent, according to a new study.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Math Model Accurately Mimics Cell Division In Carbon-cycling Bacterium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7neej5n9Twk/090813202124.htm
Scientists have developed a quantitative, mathematical model of DNA replication and cell division for the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Unleashing The Power In Beer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZGdSNwv8er4/090709110546.htm
Brewing beer creates tons of leftover used grains. But that waste can be turned into fuel, as developers have shown.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Artificial Life One Step Closer: Scientists Clone And Engineer Bacterial Genomes In Yeast And Transplant Genomes Back Into Bacterial Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bB95SbNshnA/090821205730.htm
Scientists have developed new methods in which an entire bacterial genome was cloned in a yeast cell by adding yeast centromeric plasmid sequence to the bacterial chromosome and modified it in yeast using yeast genetic systems. This modified bacterial chromosome was then isolated from yeast and transplanted into a related species of bacteria to create a new type of cell.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Open Wide And Say 'Zap': New Way To Clinically Assess Condition Of Tooth Enamel Using Lasers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/799ae0mQAoo/090818130554.htm
A group of researchers in Australia and Taiwan has developed a new way to analyze the health of human teeth using lasers. By measuring how the surface of a tooth responds to laser-generated ultrasound, they can evaluate the mineral content of tooth enamel -- the semi-translucent outer layer of a tooth that protects the underlying dentin.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Higher Pathogen Loads In Collapsed Honeybee Colonies, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LwvnCdTlWqM/090813163152.htm
Honeybees in colonies affected by colony collapse disorder (CCD) have higher levels of pathogens and are co-infected with a greater number of pathogens than their non-CCD counterparts, but no individual pathogen can be singled out as the cause of CCD, according to a study by an international team of researchers.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Computer System Improves Pain Therapy For Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ds43PgWBhZY/090811143544.htm
Pain therapy for cancer patients -- whether inpatient or outpatient -- is often inadequate. At Heidelberg University Hospital, the use of an innovative electronic system -- combined with guidance by an experienced clinical pharmacist -- has been successfully tested. The treatment of the patients showed little variance from international guidelines on pain therapy. In addition, patients reported having less pain.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Raising The Alarm When DNA Goes Bad: 'Rapid Response Team' Monitors And Quickly Responds To DNA Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xtH4CV01kRE/090813170854.htm
Scientists have known for a long time that when DNA is damaged, a key enzyme sets off a cellular "alarm bell" to alert the cell to start the repair process, but until recently little was known about how the cell detects and responds to this alarm. In a new study, researchers have identified a whole family of proteins capable of a direct response to the alarm signal.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
New Pheromone Helps Female Flies Tell Suitors To 'Buzz Off'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q7KUPOXWw_4/090716123311.htm
Using a new form of high-resolution laser mass spectrometry, researchers scanning the surface of fruit flies discovered a previously unidentified pheromone -- CH503 -- that contributes to the anti-aphrodisiac effects observed in female fruit flies after copulation.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Aphids Saved From Gruesome Death By Virus-infected Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A1Gu8EI_gqo/090820161138.htm
The term "beneficial virus" sounds like an oxymoron. But pea aphids whose symbiotic bacteria have viral infections gain protection against parasitic wasps. Aphids without the infected bacteria were eaten alive from the inside out by wasp larvae. The research is the first demonstration that a virus that infects bacteria can help rather than harm the bacteria's animal host.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
New Metabolic Safeguards Against Tumor Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s78-mgSvO_0/090819135428.htm
Researchers have found a new mechanism by which the body kills potential tumor cells. When cells separate from their normal environment -- a common event during tumor formation -- they develop certain metabolic disabilities that prevent them from becoming cancerous. While some tumor genes can help these cells escape such defects, the researchers also found that antioxidant treatment can restore normal metabolic activity in these detached, homeless cells, giving them a second chance to survive and potentially become cancerous.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Niche Differences In Biodiversity: Species' Differences Are Responsible For Their Coexistence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tfgpur0b7mo/090812163802.htm
Scientists have found strong evidence that niche differences are critical to biodiversity. The new study provides the first strong evidence that species' differences are responsible for their coexistence.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Britain's First Swine-flu Trials Under Way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R8362J4Qsi4/090811143952.htm
Britain’s first swine flu vaccine trials are taking place at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Energy-Efficient Sewage Plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aqKvYH3yla4/090813142345.htm
High-rate digestion with microfiltration is state-of-the-art in large sewage plants. It effectively removes accumulated sludge and produces biogas to generate energy. A study now reveals that even small plants can benefit from this process.
Sun, 23 Aug 09
Negligible Impact On Public Safety From Shark Cage Diving Operations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6h1_5OMz_AM/090715090637.htm
A study by five university researchers concludes that existing shark cage diving enterprises in Hawaii have a negligible effect on public safety.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Evolution Of The Human Appendix: A Biological 'Remnant' No More
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TYDuOBYYxo4/090820175901.htm
The lowly appendix, long-regarded as a useless evolutionary artifact, won newfound respect two years ago when researchers proposed that it actually serves a critical function. The appendix, they said, is a safe haven where good bacteria could hang out until they were needed to repopulate the gut after a nasty case of diarrhea, for example.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Neural Networks Mapped In Dementia Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fh0EFHVFWPw/090820204454.htm
Different types of dementia show dissimilar changes in brain activity. A network mapping technique has been applied to EEG data obtained from patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Homes Pollute: Linked To 50 Percent More Water Pollution Than Previously Believed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dX-Gln_It-I/090819110008.htm
Scientists are reporting some unsettling news about homes in the residential areas of California. The typical home there -- and probably elsewhere in the country -- is an alarming and probably underestimated source of water pollution, according to a new study.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Overall Antibiotic Prescription Rates For Respiratory Tract Infections Decreasing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8poPFslmY10/090818182010.htm
From 1995 to 2006 the rate of antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections decreased significantly, attributable in part to a decline in ambulatory visits for ear infections in young children, according to a new study. But prescription rates for broad spectrum antibiotics, namely azithromycin and quinolones, increased substantially during the study period.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Vanquishing Infinity: Old Methods Lead To New Approach To Finding Quantum Theory Of Gravity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/avgT3DWlGEY/090817143556.htm
Quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of general relativity are both extremely accurate theories of how the universe works, but all attempts to combine the two into a unified theory have ended in failure. Now physicists have found a way to carry out a new set of gravity calculations with the help of an older theory that has been around since the 1980s.
Sat, 22 Aug 09
Living Longer And Happier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Cbj6-msUtM/090819164321.htm
A new study may shed light on how to increase the level and quality of activity in the elderly. Researchers found that gene therapy with a proven "longevity" gene energized mice during exercise, and might be applicable to humans in the future.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Scientists Discover Bioluminescent 'Green Bombers' From The Deep Sea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RaXFY_Ycu20/090820161133.htm
In the latest proof that the oceans continue to offer remarkable findings and much of their vastness remains to be explored, scientists have discovered a unique group of worms that live in the depths of the ocean. Orbs lobbed by the mysterious worms burst into brilliant light, thought to be a defensive measure.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Genetically Engineered Bacteria Are Sweet Success Against Inflammatory Bowel Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6rpy8B8EpdI/090820204456.htm
For the first time, scientists have used a genetically engineered "friendly" bacterium to deliver a therapy. The treatment is for bowel disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease for which there is no cure. The bacterium Bacteroides ovatus activates a protein when exposed to a specific sugar, xylan. The therapy has been proven to work in animals with colitis, one of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Blood Test Can Detect Brain Damage In Amateur Boxers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SlVL_tUxil8/090820124046.htm
A blood test can now be used to detect brain damage in amateur boxers. Deterioration of nerve cells seems to occur even after a two-month break from boxing.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Progesterone Leads To Inflammation, Scientists Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ouv7WKSil1w/090819135440.htm
Scientists have found exposure to the hormone progesterone activates genes that trigger inflammation in the mammary gland. This progesterone-induced inflammation may be a key factor in increasing the risk of breast cancer.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Scrubbing Sulfur: New Process Removes Sulfur Components, Carbon Dioxide From Power Plant Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rmlW_Sd4Bh8/090818083226.htm
Researchers have developed a reusable organic liquid that can pull harmful gases such as carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide out of industrial emissions from power plants. The process could directly replace current methods and allow power plants to capture double the amount of harmful gases in a way that uses no water, less energy and saves money.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Family Quarrels Can Promote Headaches In Children, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xst5-kH-bnY/090817142737.htm
Family quarrels and a lack of free time can promote headaches in children, according to researchers in Germany.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Earliest Complex Organisms Fed By Absorbing Ocean Buffet, Geobiologists Propose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/acrUXGa49eg/090819113447.htm
The oldest complex life forms -- living in nutrient-rich oceans more than 540 million years ago -- likely fed by osmosis, new research shows.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Hello Wearable Kidney, Goodbye Dialysis Machine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/32vh_TGjQGQ/090820175853.htm
Researchers are developing a Wearable Artificial Kidney for dialysis patients.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Research Supports Calls To Study Health Benefits Of Nitrate, Nitrite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kRc54x541fQ/090820175859.htm
Researchers are challenging health standards that consider nitrates and nitrites in food to be harmful. New research suggests that although there are negative health effects associated with the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers and excessive nitrates in groundwater, nitrates and nitrites -- as they occur in plants -- may actually provide health benefits.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Warning Over Codeine Use After Tonsillectomy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h5-_rk8RdT4/090819170956.htm
A report warns the use of codeine to treat pain following a tonsillectomy could prove fatal for some children. A Canadian doctor zeroed in on the danger after investigating the death of a two-year-old boy following a relatively easy operation to remove his tonsils.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Holes Poked In Hubbard Model, Could Help Solve Enigma Of High-Temperature Superconductors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/odxm4ne11SE/090819164329.htm
New research has literally and figuratively poked holes in single-band Hubbard physics -- a model that has been used to predict and calculate the behavior of high-temperature superconductors for 20 years.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Romantic, Candle-lit Dinners: An Unrecognized Source Of Indoor Air Pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aXLBWMYNTkY/090819153913.htm
Burning candles made from paraffin wax -- the most common kind used to infuse rooms with romantic ambiance, warmth, light and fragrance -- is an unrecognized source of exposure to indoor air pollution, including the known human carcinogens, scientists are reporting.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Painless 'Microneedle' Patch May Take Sting Out Of Shots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nb37kVR2EZI/090819110010.htm
Scientists report the design of a painless patch that may someday render hypodermic needles -- as well as annual flu shots -- a thing of the past. Lined with tiny "microneedles," these patches could make treatment of diabetes and a wide range of other diseases safer, more effective and less painful. Used as tiny hypodermic needles, they could improve treatment of macular degeneration and other diseases of the eye.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
New Approach To Wound Healing May Be Easy On Skin, But Hard On Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wv8z59cCt0s/090819083145.htm
Researchers describe an experimental approach to wound healing that could take advantage of silver's anti-bacterial properties, while sidestepping the damage silver can cause to cells needed for healing.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Why Some Antibiotic Drugs Pack Such A Punch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i4PXyZudTWw/090820124052.htm
By studying the intricate mechanisms at work in protein production, scientists have discovered why certain kinds of antibiotics are so effective. In doing so, they also have discovered how one protein protects against cell death, shedding light on a natural cancer-fighting process.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Moms-to-be Warned Over Use Of Fetal Heart Rate Monitors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/15uhkHrUmm8/090820123941.htm
Moms-to-be are being advised not to use personal monitors to listen to their baby's heartbeat at home over fears that they may lead to delays in seeking help for reduced fetal movements.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Novel Polymer Could Improve Protein-based Drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ET-nro6zO24/090819164327.htm
A new method for attaching a large protective polymer molecule to a protein appears to improve protein drugs significantly.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
'Rich Interaction' May Make Computers A Partner, Not A Product
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AbHSurocc9w/090819153922.htm
Researchers are pioneering the concept of "rich interaction" -- computers that want to communicate with, learn from and get to know you better as a person.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Genetic Link Between Physical Pain And Social Rejection Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z4_K81RgiSo/090817142859.htm
Psychologists have determined for the first time that a gene linked with physical pain sensitivity is associated with social pain sensitivity as well. The research gives weight to the common notion that rejection "hurts" by showing that a gene that regulates the body's most potent painkillers are involved in socially painful experiences too.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Increase In Visceral Fat During Menopause Linked With Testosterone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tGXpe6wBxiw/090820161144.htm
In middle-aged women, visceral fat, more commonly called belly fat, is known to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but what causes visceral fat to accumulate? The culprit is likely not age, as is commonly believed, but levels of active testosterone during the menopausal transition, according to new research.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Climate Change Could Deepen Poverty In Developing Countries, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EcWIVNMLhfU/090820082101.htm
Urban workers could suffer most from climate change as the cost of food drives them into poverty, according to a new study that quantifies the effects of climate on the world's poor populations. Researchers examined the potential economic influence of adverse climate events, such as heat waves, drought and heavy rains, on those in 16 developing countries. Urban workers in Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia were found to be the most at risk.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Post-treatment Pain In Head And Neck Cancer Patients Linked To Recurrence, Lower Survival Rate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tFRDSsPX7UU/090817190631.htm
Patients with head and neck cancer who experience a higher level of post-treatment pain appear to have a lower survival rate than those who experience little or no post-treatment pain, according to a new report.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Controlling Red Imported Fire Ants Two Ways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z8Os8EXzAgg/090719193246.htm
Two separate strategies for reducing the spread of red imported fire ants (RIFA) are being combined by scientists as part of a strategy that could potentially add to the arsenal against this spreading pest.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Alcohol Advertising Reaching Too Many Teens On Cable TV, Researchers Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Snvju32L6es/090820175857.htm
A new study has found a striking correlation between teenage viewership and the frequency of alcohol advertising on cable television. The findings show that ads for beer, spirits and "alcopop" aired much more frequently when more teens were watching.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
With Nothing To Guide Their Way, People Really Do Walk In Circles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9b4aP8HXjAE/090820123927.htm
With nothing to guide their way, people attempting to walk a straight course through unfamiliar territory really do end up walking in circles, according to a new report. Although that belief has pervaded popular culture, there has been no scientific evidence to back it up until now, according to the researchers.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Watching Stem Cells Repair The Human Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C8QxvSXP3GM/090819153931.htm
Researchers have been able to track mesenchymal stem cells through the human brain using in-vivo MRI, which gives new information on the viability of these cells and their benefits to damaged tissue.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Ocean-drilling Expedition Cites New Evidence Related To Origin And Evolution Of Seismogenic Faults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SYMv542FOIo/090817142743.htm
New research about what triggers earthquakes shows that splay fault activity varies through time.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Corticosteroid Injections May Be Helpful To Manage Vocal Fold Polyps Without Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o_N39AWoDCA/090817184552.htm
Corticosteroid injections appear to offer an alternative to surgery for treating polyps on the vocal cords, according to a new study.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Nanophysics: Serving Up Buckyballs On A Silver Platter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d48w5yToMXw/090727102133.htm
New measurements conducted on C60 molecules (carbon Buckyballs) adhered to silver substrates push the limits of surface science.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Need For Improved Toy Safety, New Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PDCfbDK5Bic/090819125313.htm
Toy makers need to urgently review their safety tests, say scientists, after showing that children as young as three can have the bite force of the average dog. Findings from research in the United Kingdom could be used to improve toy safety and prevent injury and even deaths from choking among the under fives.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Plastics In Oceans Decompose, Release Hazardous Chemicals, Surprising New Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XnCu5dA6XS8/090819234651.htm
In the first study to look at what happens over the years to the billions of pounds of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans, scientists are reporting that plastics -- reputed to be virtually indestructible -- decompose with surprising speed and release potentially toxic substances into the water.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Study Supports DNA Repair-blocker Research In Cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jMHLXzxsNVs/090817142843.htm
Scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind a promising new approach to cancer treatment: damaging cancer cells' DNA with potent drugs while simultaneously preventing the cells from repairing themselves. The findings help explain the promising results being seen in clinical trials of compounds that force cancer cells with genetic damage to self-destruct instead of "resting" while their DNA undergoes repairs.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Dark Energy From The Ground Up: Make Way For BigBOSS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_REyBZdJyf8/090807091028.htm
Several ways have been proposed to examine dark energy, in hopes of finding out just what it is. One of them, “supernovae” for short, certainly works: it’s how dark energy was discovered in the first place. Other independent techniques, such as weak gravitational lensing and baryon acoustic oscillation, also promise great power but are as yet unproven. To measure the expansion history of the universe, the design chosen for the Joint Dark Energy mission will use three techniques -- supernovae, weak lensing, and baryon acoustic oscillation -- but it will emphasize baryon acoustic oscillation. Good science, but many scientists think it can be done better, cheaper, and more dependably from the ground -- by BigBOSS.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Labor Induction Need Not Increase Cesarean Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OeT3gvGFr4Y/090817184541.htm
Contrary to a belief widely held by obstetricians, inducing labor need not increase a woman's risk for cesarean section delivery in childbirth, scientists have found.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Researchers Boost Production Of Biofuel That Could Replace Gasoline
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1nr8jzry_0A/090819110012.htm
Engineers have found a way to double the production of the biofuel butanol, which might someday replace gasoline in automobiles. The process improves on the conventional method for brewing butanol in a bacterial fermentation tank.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Detecting Bias In The Reporting Of Clinical Trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ry04qP_lJGs/090819110014.htm
Researchers in the United Kingdom are developing new methods for detecting distorted medical statistics.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
A Look Into The Hellish Cradles Of Suns And Solar Systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mwdcb5yhVl4/090819110018.htm
New images delve into the heart of a cosmic cloud, called RCW 38, crowded with budding stars and planetary systems. There, young, titanic stars bombard fledgling suns and planets with powerful winds and blazing light, helped in their devastating task by short-lived, massive stars that explode as supernovae. In some cases, this energetic onslaught cooks away the matter that may eventually form new solar systems. Scientists think that our own solar system emerged from such a dramatic environment.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Genetic Variations Linked To Brain Size
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pv79QZUOItM/090818130559.htm
Using advanced brain imaging and genomics technologies, researchers show for the first time that natural variations in a specific gene influence brain structure. By establishing this link, the researchers have opened the door to a range of potential research efforts that could reveal gene variations responsible for a number of neurological conditions such as autism.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Life And Death In The Living Brain: Recruitment Of New Neurons Slows When Old Brain Cells Kept From Dying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G_cFEWsvrCU/090810162017.htm
Like clockwork, brain regions in many songbird species expand and shrink seasonally in response to hormones. Now, for the first time, neurobiologists have interrupted this natural "annual remodeling" of the brain and have shown that there is a direct link between the death of old neurons and their replacement by newly born ones in a living vertebrate.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Fatigue Related To Radiotherapy May Be Caused By Inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oRsy4d2V3No/090818150016.htm
Patients who experience fatigue during radiotherapy for breast or prostate cancer may be reacting to activation of the proinflammatory cytokine network, a known inflammatory pathway, according to new research.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Highest Ever Winter Water Temperatures Recorded Off Tasmania
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1EAJafJ_bqc/090807103907.htm
Tasmania's east coast is recording its highest-ever winter water temperatures of more than 13 C -- up to 1.5 C above normal -- due to a strengthening of an ocean current originating north of Australia.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Student's 'Green' Use For Online Social Networking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DN86AxFvXFw/090819084119.htm
A computer science student has created a new Facebook application that uses the social networking website for monitoring home energy consumption. The WattsUp application will also allow people to assess their carbon dioxide emissions.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Breakthrough Uses Light To Manipulate Cell Movement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3xrPC5KIrAQ/090819135434.htm
Scientists have developed a technique that uses light to control protein behavior in cells and animals simply by shining light on the cells where they want the protein to be active.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
New Targets For Treatment Of Invasive Breast Cancer Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OaGyxnXqZU8/090819153929.htm
Scientists have shown for the first time that a tiny piece of RNA appears to play a major role in the development of invasive breast cancer and identified a gene that appears to inhibit invasive breast cancer.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Seeing The Cosmos Through 'Warm' Infrared Eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5LOu7I8dMQU/090805164917.htm
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has taken its first shots of the cosmos since warming up and starting its second career. The infrared telescope ran out of coolant on May 15, 2009, more than five-and-half-years after launch, and has since warmed to a still-frosty 30 Kelvin (about minus 406 Fahrenheit). New images demonstrate that the observatory remains a powerful tool for probing the dusty universe.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Dermatologist Skin Examinations Detect More, Thinner Skin Cancers Than Patients Identify Themselves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f1inlkBZFMY/090817184545.htm
Most melanomas detected in a general-practice dermatology clinic were found by dermatologists during full-body skin examinations of patients who had come to the clinic for different complaints, according to a new study. In addition, cancers detected by dermatologists were thinner and more likely to be in situ (only on the outer layer of skin) than were cancers detected by patients.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Toward Limitless Energy: National Ignition Facility Focus Of Symposium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NvKlF_pjol0/090820083442.htm
Chemists are preparing to play an important but often unheralded role in determining the success of one of the largest and most important scientific experiments in history — next year's initial attempts at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to produce the world's first controlled nuclear fusion reaction. If successful in taming the energy source of the sun, stars, and of the hydrogen bomb, scientists could develop a limitless new source of producing electricity for homes, factories, and businesses.
Fri, 21 Aug 09
Mind Control Can Make You A Better Surgeon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V9SXvOHhhW0/090819125319.htm
Researchers have found that trainee eye surgeons can significantly improve their surgical skills by regulating their own brainwave activity, using a process called neurofeedback.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Self-assembled DNA Scaffolding Used To Build Tiny Circuit Boards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/puHJUQvqZ_4/090818130626.htm
Scientists have developed a new technique to orient and position self-assembled DNA shapes and patterns -- or "DNA origami" -- on surfaces that are compatible with today's semiconductor manufacturing equipment. These precisely positioned DNA nanostructures, each no more than one one-thousandth the width of a human hair, can serve as scaffolds or miniature circuit boards for the precise assembly of computer-chip components.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
DNA-coated Nanotubes Help Kill Tumors Without Harm To Surrounding Tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7IPVxgBm-vQ/090819123939.htm
Researchers have destroyed prostate cancer tumors in mice by injecting them with specially-coated, minuscule carbon tubes and then superheating the tubes with a brief zap of a laser.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Capping Two-faced 'Janus' Nanoparticle Gives Engineers Complete Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eG8_FPjd--g/090811143719.htm
Engineers say they can for the first time control all the degrees of a nanoparticle's motion, opening up broad possibilities for nanotechnology and device applications.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Altered Micriobiome Prevalent In Diseased Esophagus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5ZjMP_B7KpE/090801092710.htm
Gastroesophageal reflux diseases, or GERD, affects about 10 million people in the United States, yet the cause and an unexpected increase in its prevalence over the last three decades remains unexplainable.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
New Light-emitting Biomaterial Could Improve Tumor Imaging, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HwxdFvAzEEY/090810162107.htm
A new material -- an oxygen nanosensor that couples a light-emitting dye with a biopolymer -- simplifies the imaging of oxygen-deficient regions of tumors. Such tumors are associated with increased cancer aggressiveness and are particularly difficult to treat.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Smokers' Tongues Fail Taste Test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2mYnamxcS4E/090819234654.htm
Smokers have fewer and flatter taste buds. A study of the tongues of 62 Greek soldiers, has demonstrated how cigarettes deaden the ability to taste.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Research Reveals Major Insight Into Evolution Of Life On Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fpTCB8TTnXc/090819135436.htm
Humans might not be walking on Earth today if not for the ancient fusing of two microscopic, single-celled organisms called prokaryotes, new research has found. By comparing proteins present in more than 3000 different prokaryotes, a molecular biologist shows that two major classes of relatively simple microbes fused together more than 2.5 billion years ago. The research reveals a new pathway for the evolution of life on Earth.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Anti-aging Gene Linked To High Blood Pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-WUHyRl91lo/090819164331.htm
Researchers have shown the first link between a newly discovered anti-aging gene and high blood pressure. The results offer new clues on how we age and how we might live longer.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Pinhead-size Worms + Robot = New Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fLH9wZE6NsE/090805110739.htm
In an advance that could help ease the antibiotic drought, scientists are describing successful use of a test that enlists pinhead-sized worms in efforts to discover badly needed new antibiotics.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Variation In Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Gene Raises Bladder Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UrFVbZ94CPY/090802155233.htm
Researchers have pinpointed a specific gene variation that causes increased risk of urinary bladder cancer, according to new research.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
New Zealand's Subduction Zones: To Shake The Earth Just Add Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MMDmknweCos/090805133007.htm
New Zealand is the site of one of the world's youngest subduction zones, where the Pacific Plate of Earth's crust dives beneath the Australian Plate. Now, a study shows how water deep underground helps the subduction zone mature and paves the way for it to generate powerful earthquakes.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Nonprofit Nursing Homes Provide Better Care, Major Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Ikn6W6PRCo/090819135442.htm
A major new statistical review of 82 individual research studies has revealed that nonprofit nursing homes deliver, on average, higher quality care than for-profit nursing homes. The authors' meta-analysis shows that nonprofit facilities delivered higher quality care than for-profit facilities for two of the four most frequently reported quality measures: more or higher quality staffing and less prevalence of pressure ulcers, sometimes called bedsores.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Echoes Of The Birth Of The Universe: New Limits On Big Bang's Gravitational Waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fVbiNZ0egRo/090819135426.htm
An investigation by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration has significantly advanced our understanding the early evolution of the universe. Analysis of data taken from 2005 to 2007 has set the most stringent limits yet on the amount of gravitational waves that could have come from the Big Bang in the gravitational wave frequency band where LIGO can observe. The data put new constraints on the details of how the universe looked in its earliest moments.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Severe Sleep Apnea Tied To Increased Risk Of Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_kH2nnaBa4U/090817190646.htm
Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of death from any cause in middle-aged adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study. The new findings provide the strongest evidence to date of a link between increased risk of death and sleep apnea, a common disorder in which the upper airway is intermittently narrowed during sleep, causing breathing to be difficult or completely blocked.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Ultimate Long Distance Communication: Talking To Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E49e_0vT3Qc/090819150521.htm
Anyone who's vacationed in the mountains or lived on a farm knows that it's hard to get good internet access or a strong cell phone signal in a remote area. Communicating across great distances has always been a challenge. So when NASA engineers designed the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), they knew it would need an extraordinary communications system.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
HIV Integrase Inhibitor Effective For Patients Beginning Antiretroviral Treatment, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XLAm9y33ARI/090802193917.htm
A member of a new class of antiretroviral drugs is safe and effective for patients beginning treatment against HIV, according to researchers who have completed a two-year multisite phase III clinical trial comparing it with standard antiretroviral drugs.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Specialists Are Better At Avoiding Predators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F7BCSUj6Hns/090804071402.htm
Insect herbivore species often specialize on the host plants that they eat, evolving adaptations to use a plant's unique set of resources. However, specialization doesn't come without costs.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
No Comfort In Comfort Foods During Tough Economic Times, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dq0TJRY4OIE/090818130550.htm
When times are tough and people are in a state of upheaval, it is expected that they might take refuge in "comfort foods" such as Grandma's fried chicken or a Sonic milkshake? Not so, says one marketing expert.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Galaxies Demand A Stellar Recount
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jHUNKiR5s6k/090819145846.htm
For decades, astronomers have gone about their business of studying the cosmos with the assumption that stars of certain sizes form in certain quantities. Like grocery stores selling melons alone, and blueberries in bags of dozens or more, the universe was thought to create stars in specific bundles. In other words, the proportion of small to big stars was thought to be fixed. This belief, based on years of research, has been tipped on its side with new data from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Key Factor That Stimulates Brain Cancer Cells To Spread Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k7T-tB2Djb8/090818150025.htm
Researchers have found that the activity of a protein in brain cells helps stimulate the spread of an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In a move toward therapy, the researchers showed that a small designer protein can block this activity and reduce the spreading of GBM cells grown in the laboratory.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Scientists Help Explain Effects Of Ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas On Heart Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tDjBPxIKmb8/090818182055.htm
New research suggests that ancient Chinese herbal formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications including heart disease may produce large amounts of artery-widening nitric oxide.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
PET Can Help Guide Treatment Decisions For A Common Pediatric Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hWpL9f4CcNk/090803083630.htm
A new study shows that positron emission tomography is an important tool for depicting the extent of neuroblastoma in some patients, particularly for those in the early stages of the disease.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Computer Scientists Scale 'Layer 2' Data Center Networks To 100,000 Ports And Beyond
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aB4sT_It72s/090817190754.htm
Computer scientists have created software that they hope will lead to data centers that logically function as single, plug-and-play networks that will scale to the massive scale of modern data center networks. The software system -- PortLand -- is a fault-tolerant, layer 2 data center network fabric capable of scaling to 100,000 nodes and beyond.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
New National Study Finds Increase In Physical Education Class-related Injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cAkdFckaTWU/090803083640.htm
The number of physical education-related injuries to elementary, middle and high school students in the United States increased 150 percent between 1997 and 2007.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Scientists Create First Three-dimensional Global Map Of Electrical Conductivity In Earth's Mantle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SHMbt6t3TYk/090819153342.htm
As tags on household appliances warn, water conducts electricity extremely well. Now, scientists have found that enhanced electrical conductivity in parts of Earth's mantle may signal the presence of water far below our planet's surface.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Mutation In Renin Gene Linked To Inherited Kidney Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h3hShyd4ru8/090818150029.htm
A mutation in a gene that helps regulate high blood pressure is a cause of inherited kidney disease, according to a new study.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Pitcher Plants' Red Colors Don't Attract Prey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IsTp-pULcoQ/090804081545.htm
Pitcher plants have distinctive adaptations for living in nutrient-poor soils: These carnivorous plants produce a pitcher-shaped structure with a pool of water in it. When insects investigate, they slide into the pitcher and meet a watery demise. The plant then dissolves the insect and uses it for food.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Benefits From Upper Airway Surgery For Sleep Apnea Found To Equal CPAP
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BLVYj4Mh7R8/090801092708.htm
Adults who struggle with CPAP treatment for obstructive sleep apnea should be considered candidates for reconstructive surgery on the upper airway, because it holds the same quality-of-life benefits but with more permanence.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Disease Risks When Moving Wildlife To New Areas: Endangered Laysan Duck Cautionary Tale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FneG4RbaM4U/090803210148.htm
Laysan ducks, one of the world's most endangered waterfowl, are native to only the Hawaiian archipelago. For 150 years, Laysan ducks were restricted to an estimated 4 square kilometers of land on Laysan Island in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2004 and 2005, in an effort to rebuild the population, biologists released 42 Laysan ducks on Midway Atoll, located one day's boat ride from Laysan.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Long-term Health And Social Outcomes For Neuroblastoma Survivors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZBn7JBguq8c/090731191140.htm
Survivors of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma are eight times more likely to have chronic health conditions, less likely to be married, and more likely to have lower incomes than their siblings, according to a new study.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Satellites Unlock Secret To Northern India's Vanishing Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cP47KQ9wq_c/090812143938.htm
Using satellite data, hydrologists have found that groundwater beneath northern India has been receding by as much as 1 foot per year over the past decade -- and they believe human consumption is almost entirely to blame.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Low-dose Estrogen Shown Safe And Effective For Metastatic Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FuGkf8eRInY/090818182016.htm
When estrogen-lowering drugs no longer control metastatic breast cancer, the opposite strategy might work. Raising estrogen levels benefited 30 percent of women whose metastatic breast cancer no longer responded to standard antiestrogen treatment, according to new research.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
First Ever Use In Europe Of An Insect To Fight Invasive Plant Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eQAsPXuy8H0/090730073926.htm
Researchers have paved the way for the first ever use in Europe of an insect (biocontrol) to combat an invasive plant species in Britain. Biologists have established that the Japanese Knotweed in Britain was one the biggest females in the world -- a clone of cuttings brought into Britain in the 1850s. Costs of controlling it in Britain have been put at £1.5 billion.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Race Has Role In Incidence, Survival Of Rare Brain Tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Djp3pwItsdg/090730180225.htm
The incidence of a rare and deadly tumor called primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is two times higher in black Americans, ages 20 to 49, than in white Americans, according to a new study.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Sun, Sea And Sickness: Better Technology Aims To Improve Healthcare On Travel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hVXnCt33WmI/090814101953.htm
Europeans love to travel, but hate getting sick while away. Help is at hand with better technology and cross-border administration that make the 'sun, sea and sickness' formula sound less dreadful.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
A Dog's Life: Relationships Between Dogs, Owners Fall Into Three Categories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_IRuTvgZ_Jw/090810025813.htm
Some dogs are revered or pampered, with fancy clothes and loads of affection; others work for a living. An Indiana researcher reports that relationships between dogs and their owners generally fall into three distinct categories, with some bestowing more canine benefits than others.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Migratory Birds Not Picky About Their Rest Stops, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ryj9OQajyOc/090812145030.htm
If a lush, protected forest with a winding stream is considered luxury accommodation for a migratory bird, a new study shows that those birds would be just as happy with the equivalent of a cheap roadside motel.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
How Meningitis Bacteria Attack The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Sq9-pdLMrw/090818150047.htm
A specific protein on the surface of a common bacterial pathogen allows the bacteria to leave the bloodstream and enter the brain, initiating the deadly infection known as meningitis. The new finding may guide development of improved vaccines to protect those most vulnerable, including young infants and the elderly.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Whole Grain Cereals, Popcorn Rich In Antioxidants, Not Just Fiber, New Research Concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Yq83755Jco/090818150011.htm
In a first-of-its kind study, scientists reported that snack foods like popcorn and many popular breakfast cereals contain surprisingly large amounts of healthful antioxidant substances called polyphenols.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Scientists Decoding Genomic Sequences Of H1N1 Using Isolates From Outbreak In Argentina
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HkKAoJoMnLk/090731162138.htm
Researchers are working to decode the complete genomic sequences of influenza pandemic 2009 virus from patients with severe respiratory disease.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Nitrogen Fixation And Phytoplankton Blooms In The Southwest Indian Ocean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mhVPG8R5MDs/090814103233.htm
New observations help understand the massive blooms of microscopic marine algae -- phytoplankton -- in the seas around Madagascar and its effect on the biogeochemistry of the southwest Indian Ocean.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Renewable Energies Will Benefit US Workers' Health, Expert Predicts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tSPLWJ4X_Ig/090818182004.htm
Expansion of renewable energies should appreciably improve the health status of the 700,000 US workers employed in the energy sector, according to one expert.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Secrets Of Ulcer-causing Bacteria: Clever Biochemical Strategy Enables Bacteria To Move Freely And Colonize Host
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ElXh8rdGHd4/090812163805.htm
A team of researchers recently made a discovery that changes a long held paradigm about how bacteria move through soft gels. They showed that the bacterium that causes human stomach ulcers uses a clever biochemical strategy to alter the physical properties of its environment, allowing it to move and survive and further colonize its host.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Quick And Accurate Way Of Diagnosing Endometriosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/leQFl4tPieY/090819064031.htm
A quick and accurate test for endometriosis that does not require surgery has been developed by researchers from Australia, Jordan and Belgium, according to new research. The test involves testing a biopsy sample taken from the endometrium for the presence of nerve fibers. It is nearly 100 percent accurate.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
How Mercury Becomes Toxic In The Environment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e6vOwCrOeNU/090818150020.htm
Naturally occurring organic matter in water and sediment appears to play a key role in helping microbes convert tiny particles of mercury in the environment into a form that is dangerous to most living creatures.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Study Examines Adverse Events Associated With Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tkov2Pseylc/090818182014.htm
An analysis of the adverse events reported following distribution of quadrivalent human papillomavirus recombinant vaccine since 2006 indicates that adverse event rates were consistent with pre-licensing data and expected background rates of other vaccines, with the exception of a higher proportion of reports of fainting and blood clots, according to a new study.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Scientists' Strategic Reading Of Research Enhanced By Digital Tools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lZqaUcxTkFY/090818182058.htm
The revolution in scientific publishing that has been promised since the 1980s is finally about to take place, according to two University of Illinois experts in information science. As techniques originally designed to organize and share scientific data are integrated into scientific publishing, scientists' long-standing practice of reading "strategically" will be dramatically enhanced, they say.
Thu, 20 Aug 09
Low-income Kids Report First Sexual Intercourse At 12 Years Of Age In New National Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C4Bo1l31Vs8/090817142855.htm
A new study of nearly 1,000 low-income families in three major cities found that one in four children between the ages of 11 and 16 reported having sex, with their first sexual intercourse occurring at the average age of 12.77.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
New DNA Test Uses Nanotechnology To Find Early Signs Of Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a6Q0AoJQZJ0/090817142847.htm
Using tiny crystals called quantum dots, researchers have developed a highly sensitive test to look for DNA attachments that often are early warning signs of cancer.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Inexpensive Hypertension Drug Could Be Multiple Sclerosis Treatment, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5Y8Hw3gTSb8/090817184437.htm
Turning serendipity into science, researchers have found a link, in mice and in human brain tissue, between high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis. Their findings suggest that a safe, inexpensive drug already in wide use for high blood pressure may have therapeutic value in multiple sclerosis, as well.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Stressed Crops Emit More Methane Than Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mIrTB9HGPj8/090817142851.htm
Scientists have found that methane emission by plants could be a bigger problem in global warming than previously thought. They say an uncounted-for source of greenhouse gas could promote global warming.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
More Sensitive Assay Detects DNA Methylation In Colon Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QlXxAgHJW9s/090816171010.htm
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive method for detecting methylated DNA. Chemical modification of DNA via the addition or deletion of methyl groups has been established as a common biological means of activating or silencing genes. Abnormal levels of DNA methylation, which effectively disrupt the genes responsible for normal cell cycle regulation, has been implicated in a number of different cancers, and has led to the development of novel cancer biomarkers.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Icy Exposure Creates Armored Polymer High-Tech Foams
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SCBF2Qvr-m8/090728083712.htm
Chemists and engineers have found that exposing particular mixtures of polymer particles and other materials to sudden freeze-drying can create a high-tech armored foam that could be used for a number of purposes, including a new range of low power room temperature gas sensors.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Neural Pathway Missing In Tone-deaf People
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t1DlUbRgbhs/090818182020.htm
Nerve fibers that link perception and motor regions of the brain are disconnected in tone-deaf people, according to new research. Experts estimate that at least 10 percent of the population may be tone deaf -- unable to sing in tune. The new finding identifies a particular brain circuit that appears to be absent in these individuals.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Stone Tools, Rare Animal Bones: Clues To Caribbean's Earliest Inhabitants Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P_7SrBVyCHo/090818083228.htm
A prehistoric water-filled cave in the Dominican Republic has become a "treasure trove" with the announcement by archaeologists of the discovery of stone tools, a primate skull, and the claws, jawbone and other bones of several species of sloths. This rare find is expected to offer insight into both the earliest inhabitants of the Greater Antilles and an issue of worldwide concern -- the extinction of native birds and animals when humans arrive.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Gene Vital To Brain's Stem Cells Implicated In Deadly Brain Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/52cSkpRZIKA/090817142726.htm
Researchers have identified a protein that activates brain stem cells to make new neurons -- but that may be hijacked later in life to cause brain cancer in humans. The protein called Huwe1 normally functions to eliminate other unnecessary proteins and was found to act as a tumor suppressor in brain cancer.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Non-invasive Brain Surgery Moves A Step Closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y9UDL_dioHI/090807165836.htm
Medical researchers have completed a pilot study using transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound to treat 10 patients with neuropathic pain.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
New Strategy For Inhibiting Virus Replication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jneurJBdmV0/090814103239.htm
Viruses need living cells for replication and production of virus progeny. Thus far, antiviral therapy primarily targets viral factors but often induces therapy resistance. New improved therapies attempt to targets cellular factors that are essential for viral replication.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Jade Sheds Light On Guatemala's Geologic History
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/52FABdgeFes/090727191921.htm
The shifting of tectonic plates in Central America has been poorly understood -- until now. New research on jade found along fault lines in Guatemala is helping geologists piece the puzzle of the past 130 million years.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Intelligent Harvesting Robot To Cut Costs For UK Farms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0OnGlyuTLgE/090811143540.htm
Researchers have developed imaging technology to be used in an intelligent harvesting machine that could minimize wastage and solve an impending labor shortage for UK farmers.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Personality Traits Associated With Stress And Worry Can Be Hazardous To Your Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qe6HB6ra4uM/090818130552.htm
Personality traits associated with chronic worrying can lead to earlier death, at least in part because these people are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Inherited Risk Factors Increase Odds Of Developing Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hhiUKHbHXWQ/090816171005.htm
Scientists have identified inherited variations in two genes that account for 37 percent of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including a gene that may help predict drug response.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Molecules Wrestle For Supremacy In Creation Of Superstructures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pXjWq-fL20g/090813142351.htm
Researchers have found how mirror-image molecules gain control over each other and dictate the physical state of superstructures.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Delays In Defibrillation Not Explained By Traditional Hospital Factors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DHof_JcJI74/090727191718.htm
Traditional hospital factors -- such as case volume and academic status -- do not appear to predict whether patients with cardiac arrest at that facility are likely to experience delays in receiving defibrillation, according to a new report.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Biolubricants Made With Sunflower Oil Just As Efficient As Traditional Ones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D3ndj90EHFU/090728133356.htm
Researchers have shown in a lab trial that the efficiency of high-oleic sunflower oil as a base ingredient for industrial lubricants measures up to traditional materials, while being more environmentally friendly.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Coordination Needed To Support Green-fingered Youths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n5XqVnMH_vA/090813083333.htm
Young people working on conservation projects are often coerced into "grunt" activities like digging holes or picking up litter and gain little from environmental volunteering, according to research at the University of Exeter.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
'Killer Spices' Provide Eco-friendly Pesticides For Organic Fruits And Veggies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fd1vjA0rQ7Q/090816170910.htm
Researchers are reporting that well-known spices such as rosemary, thyme, clove and mint are becoming organic agriculture's key weapons against insect pests as the industry tries to satisfy demands for fruits and veggies among the growing portion of consumers who want food produced in more natural ways.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
'Regulatory' Genetic Sequences May Predict Risk For Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wviPLBTJmMs/090814165259.htm
Researchers have identified a novel genetic mechanism that may govern an individual's risk of developing prostate cancer.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Immersive Dome Replaces Flat Movie Screen: Don’t Just Watch, Join The Action!
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9rPD_lOW6o/090814101949.htm
A new dome projection developed in Europe offers a compelling replacement for the flat movie screen. The 'Immersive Dome' puts viewers at the heart of the action, and lets them actively participate. And instead of the conventional surround sound, a three-dimensional aural experience awaits visitors.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Seed Implants A Suitable Prostate Cancer Treatment Option For Men Of All Ages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m-OZkX8ygt4/090803185716.htm
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a number of treatments to choose from, but it's a daunting task to figure out the right mix of therapies for an individual patient. Trends among medical professionals have tipped the scales in favor of some treatments for younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Scientists have now found that age doesn't make a difference in the long-term therapeutic outcome.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Optimum Scheduling Of Soccer Games: Planning English Football Fixtures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jkAf4eq81a0/090807103913.htm
Can computers solve the logistical nightmare of planning English football fixtures (soccer game schedules) over the holidays?
Wed, 19 Aug 09
How To Make Negative Services Less Unpleasant For Consumers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVNHQFkNcPY/090807120944.htm
Service quality beliefs are usually positively related to customer satisfaction -- the higher the perceived service quality, the higher the customer's satisfaction. However, researchers find this relationship may be more complicated in "negative service environments" (i.e., services that consumers would prefer not to have to use), such as health screening, diagnostic tests, or even auto repair.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Early Human Hunters Had Fewer Meat-sharing Rituals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MSf09taUcNk/090813142506.htm
An anthropologist has discovered that humans living at a Paleolithic cave site in central Israel between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago were as successful at big-game hunting as were later stone-age hunters at the site, but that the earlier humans shared meat differently.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Prion Protein Identified As Novel Early Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qf7BhLiO_MA/090817184439.htm
Mad cow disease is caused by the accumulation of an abnormal protein, the prion, in the brain of an affected patient. Outside of the brain, very little is known about prions. Researchers have, for the first time, identified the prion as a biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers in humans; the five year survival rate is less than 10 percent.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Freshwater Fish At The Top Of The Food Chain Evolve More Slowly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ORlS1V_3Cf4/090728125824.htm
For avid fishermen and anglers, the largemouth bass is a favorite freshwater fish with an appetite for minnows. Once fish evolve the size and speed needed to become top predators, natural selection keeps them in an evolutionary holding pattern, a new study finds. A new study finds that once they evolved to eat other fish, largemouth bass and fellow fish-feeders have remained relatively unchanged compared with their insect- and snail-eating cousins. As these fishes became top predators in aquatic ecosystems, natural selection put the breaks on evolution, say researchers.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Model Explains Disorders Caused By Improper Transmission Of Chromosomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06t0wh20yPo/090816170929.htm
Scientists have developed a model system for plants and animals that shows the loss of a key structural protein can lead to the premature separation of one DNA copy called a chromatid. The new model shows for the first time that the loss of this protein can lead to aneuploidy -- the name given to birth disorders caused by extra or too few chromosomes.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
To Understand The Universe, Science Calls On The Ultrasmall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ucza2nnCPE/090816170917.htm
A special three-day symposium focusing on the neutrino, a strange subatomic particle that could help answer some of the universe's most compelling questions, is scheduled for Aug. 16-18 at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
US-born Asian-American Women More Likely To Think About, Attempt Suicide, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dPyuv_2rwC4/090817190650.htm
Although Asian-Americans as a group have lower rates of thinking about and attempting suicide than the national average, US-born Asian-American women seem to be particularly at risk for suicidal behavior, according to new research.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Speciation Through Genome Duplication More Common In Plant Evolution Than Previously Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/391KncbaVrc/090812145019.htm
Extra genomes appear, on average, to offer no benefit or disadvantage to plants, but still play a key role in the origin of new species, say scientists. Plant biologists have long suspected polyploidy -- the heritable acquisition of extra chromosome sets -- was a gateway to speciation. But the consensus was that polyploidy is a minor force. The first direct, comprehensive survey of polyploid speciation in plant evolution severely challenges that notion.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Does Sugar Feed Cancer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O1Huom5xw98/090817184539.htm
Researchers have uncovered new information on the notion that sugar "feeds" tumors. The findings may also have implications for other diseases such as diabetes.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Climate Change Could Harm Lake Fish: Light Determines Growth Of Fish In Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pPMRubrROmo/090723201452.htm
Light is what determines the growth of fish in lakes. Climate change is expected to lead to browner lakes with less light penetration, which will lead to reduced growth of fish.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
MS Patients Who Smoke Show More Brain Atrophy, More Lesions, Than MS Nonsmokers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FbVpmhw-QqE/090817190636.htm
Persons with multiple sclerosis who smoked for a little as six months during their lifetime had more destruction of brain tissue and more brain atrophy than MS patients who never smoked, a study by neuroimaging specialists has shown.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Self-healing Surfaces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jOVRnVtK5Ro/090803084008.htm
The engineers' dream of self-healing surfaces has taken another step towards becoming reality -- researchers have produced a electroplated layer that contains tiny nanometer-sized capsules. If the layer is damaged, the capsules release fluid and repair the scratch.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Personality Type Linked To Risk Of Death Among Individuals With Peripheral Artery Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cdr2hy55dtM/090817184547.htm
A preliminary study suggests that a negative, inhibited personality type (type D personality) appears to predict an increased risk of death over four years among patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to a new report.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
The Mind's Eye Scans Like A Spotlight: New Role Discovered For Brain Waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GPupwQStO2Q/090812143928.htm
Researchers say you are more likely to scan the room, jumping from face to face as you search for your friend. In addition, the timing of these jumps appears to be determined by waves of activity in the brain that act as a clock.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Folic Acid: Mandatory Fortification May Be Unnecessary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K53AJ7EzMAk/090817201946.htm
Persistently present levels of unmetabolized folic acid found in the population indicate that introducing mandatory food fortification may result in an "overdosing" effect. A study of blood donors, new mothers and babies, has found that most already get enough folic acid from voluntarily fortified foods.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Links Between Video-game Playing And Health Risks In Adults Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KN3iz44ZB5s/090818083224.htm
While video gaming is perceived as a pastime for children and young adults, the average age of US players is 35. Investigators analyzed survey data from 500+ adults (19 to 90) on health risks; media use behaviors and perceptions, including those related to video-game playing; and demographic factors. They found measurable correlations between video-game playing and health risks, including a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
New Biomarker Predicts Response To Hepatitis C Treatment; May Explain Differing Racial Response Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bIDATlko5Oc/090816170927.htm
Researchers have identified the first genetic marker that predicts response to hepatitis C treatments, and a single letter of DNA code appears to make a huge difference. Scientists says the biomarker not only predicts who is most likely to respond to treatment and who isn't, but also may explain why there are such different rates of response among racial and ethnic groups, a phenomenon that has puzzled physicians for years.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Computer Game Taps Creativity Of Scientists To Solve Energy Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VvUtw4UaOOQ/090817143638.htm
A rare "thought experiment" -- using a computer game format -- is being carried out in order to focus the creative genius of hundreds of scientists on solutions to one of the 21st century's most daunting problems: Finding sustainable new sources of energy.
Wed, 19 Aug 09
Excessive Exercise Can Be Addicting, New Study Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6XN4-gGRXjs/090817143600.htm
Although exercise is good for your health, extreme exercise may be physically addicting. Rats given a drug that produces withdrawal in heroin addicts went into withdrawal after running excessively in exercise wheels, according to new research. Rats that ran the hardest had the most severe withdrawal symptoms.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
First Discovery Of Life's Building Block In Comet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/agw-j8exBZ8/090817143602.htm
NASA scientists have discovered glycine, a fundamental building block of life, in samples of comet Wild 2 returned by NASA's Stardust spacecraft.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Engineered Protein-like Molecule Protects Cells Against HIV Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ww5GT0Wt7Kg/090817184441.htm
With the help of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and molecular engineering, researchers have designed synthetic protein-like mimics convincing enough to interrupt unwanted biological conversations between cells.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New 'Biofactories' Produce Rare Healing Substances In Endangered Devil's Claw Plant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v7gHO1iTwnU/090816170921.htm
Deep in Africa's Kalahari Desert lies the "Devil's claw," a plant that may hold the key to effective treatments for arthritis, tendinitis and other illnesses that affect millions each year. Unfortunately, years of drought have pushed the Devil's claw toward extinction, so scientists are scrambling to devise new ways to produce the valuable medicinal chemicals of the Devil's claw and other rare plants.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New, Faster Way To Diagnose, Fight Flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MB0zbXdW394/090802194524.htm
Researchers are using a new and faster method of rapidly producing highly targeted monoclonal antibodies for use in diagnostic tests as well as a temporary therapy to stave off infectious diseases such as the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New Devices Harness Carbon Nanomaterials For Drug Delivery Systems, Oxygen Sensors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fXaJtWDkUg4/090817190745.htm
Two nanoscale devices recently reported in two separate journals harness the potential of carbon nanomaterials to enhance technologies for drug or imaging agent delivery and energy storage systems, in one case, and, in the other, bolster the sensitivity of oxygen sensors essential in confined settings, from mines to spacecrafts.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Arabic Chemists From The 'Golden Age' Given Long Overdue Credit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tvJhMnX6BQo/090816211841.htm
It is a little known fact that Arabic scientists made important contributions to the fields of astronomy, geography, engineering and mathematics, and chemistry that last to this day, a researcher reports.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Honey-bee Aggression Study Suggests Nurture Alters Nature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u3DfEF2CNWQ/090817184535.htm
A new study of honey bees lends support to the idea that nurture (an organism's environment) may ultimately influence nature (it's genetic inheritance).
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Common Variation In Gene Linked To Structural Changes In The Brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_hOZUfPanAs/090817190752.htm
Common variations in a gene -- previously shown to be associated with Retts Syndrome, autism, and mental retardation -- are associated with differences in brain structure in both healthy individuals and patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
List Of Hazardous Chemicals In Smokeless Tobacco Is Expanded In New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RJlADwbRSf8/090816170923.htm
Attention all smokeless tobacco users: It's time to banish the comforting notion that snuff and chewing tobacco are safe because they don't burn and produce inhalable smoke like cigarettes. A study that looked beyond the well-researched tobacco hazards, nitrosamines and nicotine, has discovered a single pinch -- the amount in a portion -- of smokeless tobacco exposes the user to the same amount of another group of dangerous chemicals as the smoke of five cigarettes.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New Method To Selectively Kill Metastatic Melanoma Cells Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nj6uTiuuTxg/090803132742.htm
Scientists have identified a new method for selectively killing metastatic melanoma cells, which may lead to new areas for drug development in melanoma -- a cancer that is highly resistant to current treatment strategies.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Microchannels Could Advance Tissue Engineering Methods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlDR4T8J_Q8/090817190737.htm
Utilizing fractal patterns similar to those created by lightning strikes, researchers have created a network of microchannels that could advance the field of tissue engineering by serving as a three-dimensional vasculature for the support of larger tissue constructs, such as human organs.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Future Angst? Brain Scans Show Uncertainty Fuels Anxiety
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PHtWXA4JKYs/090817210207.htm
Anyone who has spent a sleepless night anguishing over a possible job loss has experienced the central finding of a new brain scan study: Uncertainty makes a bad event feel even worse.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Advance Toward An 'Electronic Tongue' With A Taste For Sweets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Btf4uJ6WFU/090817184431.htm
In an advance toward an "electronic tongue," scientists are reporting development of a disposable, low-cost sensor that is capable of quickly and accurately identifying 14 common sweeteners based on easy-to-read color changes. The sensor could be used as a quality control device for use in the food and beverage industry, they say.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Hepatitis C Virus Channels Efforts Into Cell Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2rEAr_i-ERs/090817190642.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows the hepatitis C virus to remain in the body for decades.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Needle-free, Inhalant Powder Measles Vaccine Could Save Thousands Of Lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h5_wGQyvBks/090816170913.htm
The first inhalable vaccine for measles is moving toward clinical trials next year in India, where the disease still sickens millions of infants and children and kills almost 200,000 annually, according to researchers. The dry-powder vaccine is a perfect fit for use in back-roads areas of developing countries that may lack access to electricity and needles, the scientists say.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Cardiovascular Diseases: Researchers Have Found A Way To Treat Ischemic Pathologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OD-tcYbrwZI/090805075753.htm
Scientists have developed a new area of research which looks extremely promising regarding the development of new therapeutic responses to ischemic pathologies and cardiovascular diseases in general.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Semantics-based Software Boosts Company Performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HTetEZEXSis/090807091202.htm
New semantics-based software tools that accelerate the speed companies can develop or adjust their processes – while slashing costs – have resulted from a major research project.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Public Overestimates Benefits Of Cancer Screening, Survey Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oFUQ9-j4KB4/090811143535.htm
A public survey conducted in Europe found that the vast majority of people overestimate the life-saving benefits of breast and prostate cancer screening, according to a new study.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Agricultural Methods Of Early Civilizations May Have Altered Global Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GjIUXBfKC88/090817073502.htm
Massive burning of forests for agriculture thousands of years ago may have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide enough to alter global climate and usher in a warming trend that continues today, according to a new study in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Novel Treatment Reduces Swollen Livers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/In3Oyjl6pVo/090814101835.htm
A novel treatment strategy for patients with many cysts in their liver led to a surprising result. A six month treatment with a synthetic gastrointestinal hormone lanreotide significantly decreased swollen cystic livers by approximately five percent, compared to a 'wait and see' policy.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Bio-Nanomachines: Proteins As Resistance Fighters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XXOx-jY18Ds/090814100101.htm
Friction limits the speed and efficiency of macroscopic engines. Is this also true for nanomachines? Researchers recently used laser tweezers to measure the friction between a single motor protein molecule and its track. The team found that also within our cells, motors work against the resistance of friction and are restrained in its operation—usually by far not as much though as their macroscopic counterparts.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Enzyme That Causes Genetic Diseases Investigated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nI2sn0doakE/090805075755.htm
Researchers have conducted a research project to gain in-depth knowledge of the structure of pyruvate carboxylase when it is in solution (in the "natural" state). Pyruvate carboxylase is a metabolic enzyme that plays a fundamental role in the metabolism of fatty acids (the components of fats) and sugars. When its function is not adequately performed (for example, when mutations in the gene arise) diverse metabolic diseases of genetic origin are triggered, amongst them lactic acidaemia, hypoglycaemia, and psycho-motor retardation.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Revised Understanding Of San Andreas Fault Geometry Near Desert Hot Springs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WSLFnHFYgaI/090806204846.htm
The Mission Creek and Banning faults are two principal strands of the San Andreas fault zone in the northern Coachella Valley of southern California. The two faults merge at depth to form one fault zone, according to a new analysis of the fault geometry near Desert Hot Springs. The refined understanding of the fault zone has implications for regional earthquake hazards and local groundwater resources, according to a new article.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Officials And Public Urged To Use Latest Evidence As Guide In H1N1 Prevention And Protection Procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ELD4zBiHhzg/090812092134.htm
As flu season draws nearer along with the potential for resurgence in H1N1, leading infectious diseases doctors, hospital epidemiologists, and infection preventionists urge officials to base recommendations for the public and healthcare workers on scientific knowledge and frontline experience gained from the outbreak this summer.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Children With Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy At Risk For Cognitive Problems, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mX9Vfo6BEY4/090812163746.htm
Children who have normal IQs before they experience a first seizure may also have problems with language, memory, learning and other cognitive skills, according to a new study.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
'Green' Energy From Algae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yaLHRcQbaGc/090806080337.htm
In view of the shortage of petrochemical resources and climate change, development of CO2-neutral sustainable fuels is one of the most urgent challenges of our times. Energy plants like rape or oil palm are being discussed fervently, as they may also be used for food production. Hence, cultivation of microalgae may contribute decisively to tomorrow's energy supply. For energy production from microalgae, KIT scientists are developing closed photo-bioreactors and novel cell disruption methods.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Interventional Radiology Treatment For Uterine Fibroids: Safe, Nonsurgical Option
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fsmRex_bWNE/090813142353.htm
Uterine fibroid embolization -- a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment for women that cuts off blood flow to painful fibroids to kill the tumors -- is highlighted as an appropriate treatment for women in a new research article.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
GPS Helps Locate Soil Erosion Pathways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ogZyC4PvyCs/090813142504.htm
A new study that examines whether reliable prediction models could be created to identify eroded waterways from digital terrain information, in order to help farmers and conservation professionals do a better job of designing and locating grassed waterways to reduce soil erosion.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Magazines For Women Depict Babies In Unsafe Sleep Environments, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6rSUm9r-jk4/090817073504.htm
More than one third of photos in women's magazines depicted babies in unsafe sleep positions, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Additionally, the study found that two-thirds of sleep environments depicted in these magazines were also unsafe.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Tiny Flares Responsible For Outsized Heat Of Sun's Atmosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vQVLNDVt6Js/090814165309.htm
Solar physicists have confirmed that small, sudden bursts of heat and energy, called nanoflares, cause temperatures in the thin, translucent gas of the sun's atmosphere to reach millions of degrees.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Window Into The Brain: Diffusion Imaging MRI Tracks Memories And May Detect Alzheimer's At Early Stage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TtFOHBAABEM/090812145022.htm
When we absorb new information, the human brain reshapes itself to store this newfound knowledge. But where exactly is the new knowledge kept, and how does that capacity to adapt reflect our risk for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of senile dementia later in our lives? A researcher in Israel has pioneered a new way to track the effect of memory on brain structure.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
A Plant's Arsenal Of Crystalline Darts And Sand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4yAK88G_5h0/090806170727.htm
Crystals are found in hundreds of plant families. Despite this, their purpose is not well-understood. Hypotheses include acting as a deterrent to herbivory, serving as a long-term storage depot for calcium, or providing extra support to various plant tissues. To help elucidate the role of crystals in plants and determine whether this role may actually be to prevent animals from munching on the plant, botanists studied the variety and locations of crystals found in the houseplant Dieffenbachia seguine.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Lifting Weights Reduces Lymphedema Symptoms Following Breast Cancer Surgery, Research Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CnvtQuoHv1w/090812181429.htm
Breast cancer survivors who lift weights are less likely to experience worsening symptoms of lymphedema, the arm- and hand-swelling condition that plagues many women following surgery for their disease, according to new research. The findings challenge the advice commonly given to lymphedema sufferers, who may worry that weight training or even carrying children or bags of groceries will exacerbate their symptoms.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Ground Beetles Produce Aromas of Lemons, Oranges As Predator Repellents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/12MY1UEbrHs/090813163154.htm
Researchers report for the first time that some ground beetles produce the natural repellent limonene as their major defensive chemical.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Football Injuries In US High School Athletes More Severe During Kickoff, Punting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fw-DMjOCHpM/090812163754.htm
Injuries can occur during a sporting competition at any time. However, new research finds that during football, injuries sustained at the beginning or middle of a game are more severe compared to injuries sustained during the end or in overtime. This finding suggests that the changes of intensity throughout competition influence risk of severe injury.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Gene Makes Water Striders Glide Across Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CahEALJVRRI/090813142424.htm
Water striders, the familiar semi-aquatic bugs gliding across the lake at the cottage, have a novel body form that allows them to walk on water. Achieving the gliding ability required the evolution of a unique arrangement of the legs, with the mid-legs greatly elongated. Scientists have discovered the gene behind this evolutionary change.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New Method Takes Aim At Aggressive Cancer Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GjtDqKnlRsI/090813142135.htm
Researchers have discovered a chemical that works in mice to kill the rare, aggressive cells within breast cancers that can seed new tumors. These cells, known as cancer stem cells, are thought to enable cancers to spread -- and to reemerge after seemingly successful treatment. Although work is needed to determine whether this chemical holds promise for humans, the study shows that it is possible to find chemicals that selectively kill cancer stem cells.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Researchers Find Key To Keeping Cells In Shape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qy1L61ZiRG0/090806121752.htm
Researchers have discovered how a protein within most cell membranes helps maintain normal cell size, a breakthrough in basic biology that has implications for a variety of diseases such as sickle cell anemia and disorders of the nervous system.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New Insights Into Limb Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pMb98owwIms/090812145024.htm
Researchers have gained new understanding of the role hyaluronic acid plays in skeletal growth, chondrocyte maturation and joint formation in developing limbs.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Biologists Demystify Elusive War Zone Bacterium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YYRnG_kbRdA/090817073506.htm
New research has made important insights into the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, which causes mortality rates as high as 75 percent in the Middle East. The bacterium is a significant threat to San Antonio military families, which can become infected if a family member brings the bacterium home after battle.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
Public Relations Pros Are Good Ethical Thinkers, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t04aCM851ro/090812163901.htm
For years journalists and others have questioned the ethics of public relations practitioners and firms. People in PR, however, appear to be getting a bad rap. That's what a new study funded by the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication at Penn State University has found.
Tue, 18 Aug 09
New Cloaking Method Could Shield Submarines From Sonar, Planes From Radar, Buildings From Earthquakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W2rhAeQ6ncY/090817073508.htm
Mathematicians developed a new cloaking method, and it's unlikely to lead to invisibility cloaks like those used by Harry Potter or Romulan spaceships in "Star Trek." Instead, the new method someday might shield submarines from sonar, planes from radar, buildings from earthquakes, and oil rigs and coastal structures from tsunamis.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
New Nanolaser Key To Future Optical Computers And Technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BxvPgzPtKWI/090816171003.htm
Researchers have created the tiniest laser since its invention nearly 50 years ago, paving the way for a host of innovations, including superfast computers that use light instead of electrons to process information, advanced sensors and imaging.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Carnitine Supplements Reverse Glucose Intolerance In Animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DaNQCalp3eA/090812143948.htm
Supplementing obese rats with the nutrient carnitine helps the animals to clear the extra sugar in their blood, something they had trouble doing on their own, researchers report.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Why More Autumn Leaves Are Red In America And Yellow In Europe: New Theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pYQrwgH2ClI/090813142150.htm
Walking outdoors in the fall, the splendidly colorful leaves adorning the trees are a delight to the eye. In Europe these autumn leaves are mostly yellow, while the United States and East Asia boast lustrous red foliage. But why is it that there are such differences in autumnal hues around the world? A new theory proposes taking a step 35 million years back to solve the color mystery.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Obesity Increases Risk Of Prostate Cancer Recurrence For Both Blacks And Whites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-zlsd2jq7nk/090813142357.htm
A new look at a large database of prostate cancer patients shows that obesity plays no favorites when it comes to increasing the risk of recurrence after surgery. Being way overweight is equally bad for blacks and whites, say researchers.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Carbon Nanoparticles Toxic To Adult Fruit Flies But Benign To Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qeMhuPAj2wE/090807103921.htm
Researchers have discovered that certain types of carbon nanoparticles can be environmentally toxic to adult fruit flies, although they were found to be benign when added to food for larvae. The findings may further reveal the environmental and health dangers of carbon nanoparticles.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Drug Labels Should Disclose Lack Of Comparison With Existing Medications, Experts Urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RGwmckznCLQ/090812181433.htm
The labeling information that comes with prescription drugs tells you what's known about the medication, but several researchers think it's high time that the labeling tell you what isn't known.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
'Smell Of Death' Research Could Help Recover Bodies In Disasters And Solve Crimes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TY3FicY97l4/090816211837.htm
In an advance toward the first portable device for detecting human bodies buried in disasters and at crime scenes, scientists are reporting early results from a project to establish the chemical fingerprint of death. The study could also lead to an electronic device that could determine the time elapsed since death quickly, accurately and onsite.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Bone's Material Flaws Lead To Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XTj7aGK65zQ/090804145616.htm
The weak tendons and fragile bones characteristic of osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, stem from a genetic mutation that causes the incorrect substitution of a single amino acid in the chain of thousands of amino acids making up a collagen molecule, the basic building block of bone and tendon.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Braille Displays Get New Life With Artificial Muscles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vxI6ZvrnCXU/090814202711.htm
Research with tiny artificial muscles may yield a full-page active Braille system that can refresh automatically and come to life right beneath your fingertips.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Scientists Take Early Steps Toward Mapping Epigenetic Variability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TD0vgTd-IyM/090814165307.htm
Scientists have taken the first steps toward mapping epigenetic variability in cells and tissues. Mapping the human epigenome, similar to the human genome project in the 1990s, could someday allow for quicker and more precise disease diagnoses and more targeted treatments of many chronic ailments.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Changes In Net Flow Of Ocean Heat Correlate With Past Climate Anomalies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CNibucsRZIc/090814103237.htm
Physicists have combed through data from satellites and ocean buoys and found evidence that in the last 50 years, the net flow of heat into and out of the oceans has changed direction three times. These shifts in the balance of heat absorbed from the sun and radiated from the oceans correlate well with past anomalies that have been associated with abrupt shifts in the Earth's climate, say the researchers.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Scientists Find A Common Link Of Bird Flocks, Breast Milk And Trust
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uqYzmu7QOkE/090813142144.htm
What do flocks of birds have in common with trust, monogamy, and even breast milk? According to a new report in the journal Science, they are regulated by virtually identical neurochemicals in the brain, known as oxytocin in mammals and mesotocin in birds.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Up To 90 Percent Of US Paper Money Contains Traces Of Cocaine, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KkDZZ6bdLq0/090816211843.htm
You probably have cocaine in your wallet, purse, or pocket. Sound unlikely or outrageous? Think again! In what researchers describe as the largest, most comprehensive analysis to date of cocaine contamination in banknotes, scientists are reporting that cocaine is present in up to 90 percent of paper money in the United States, particularly in large cities such as Baltimore, Boston and Detroit. The scientists found traces of cocaine in 95 percent of the banknotes analyzed from Washington, D.C., alone.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Researchers Sequence 'Exomes' Of 12 People; New Strategy For Finding Disease Genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u5P4jzZhr2k/090816171012.htm
In a pioneering effort that generated massive amounts of DNA sequence data from 12 people, a team of researchers has demonstrated the feasibility and value of a new strategy for identifying relatively rare genetic variants that may cause or contribute to disease.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Climate Models Confirm More Moisture In Atmosphere Attributed To Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wf4_ygpyl1Q/090811091832.htm
When it comes to using climate models to assess the causes of the increased amount of moisture in the atmosphere, it doesn't much matter if one model is better than the other. They all come to the same conclusion: Humans are warming the planet, and this warming is increasing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Scientists now have found that model quality does not affect the ability to identify human effects on atmospheric water vapor.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
No Evidence Of 'Unhealthful' Relation Between Animal Foods And Breast Cancer, New Studies Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/daH3MPlS8E8/090814103235.htm
Although genetic factors are important, there is considerable evidence that breast cancer risk is related to modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, body weight, alcohol intake, and dietary choices. Researchers are now reporting results from three recent human studies designed to better delineate the relation between animal foods and breast cancer risk. The studies provide no evidence that animal-food consumption increases, or decreases, risk of breast cancer.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
The Sky Is Not Falling: Pollution In Eastern China Cuts Light, Useful Rainfall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tq_ZWmUkDlM/090814165303.htm
New research shows that air pollution in eastern China over the past 50 years has decreased the yearly number of days of light rainfall by 23 percent. The study links for the first time high levels of pollutants in the air with conditions that prevent the kind of rainfall critical for agriculture. The results suggest that bad air quality might be affecting the country's ability to raise crops as well as health and the environment.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Study: 18- To 24-year-old Group More Politically Active, But Not More Knowledgeable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/diSyYeu8e74/090813142420.htm
A new study finds that the 18- to 24-year-old demographic became more politically active during the 2008 U.S. election season through the use of new media, but that the young adults were not necessarily more knowledgeable about politics.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Metastatic Cancer And Macrophages: Cells Thought To Protect Against Cancer May Actually Promote It
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/whggz6QYVv0/090810174303.htm
The deadliest part of the cancer process, metastasis, appears to rely on help from macrophages, potent immune system cells that usually defend vigorously against disease, researchers report.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Low Choline Levels In Pregnant Women Raise Babies' Risk For Brain And Spinal-cord Defects, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4cMS6_5rY0c/090816220424.htm
A newborn's risk for brain and spinal-cord defects rises if the mother has low blood levels of the nutrient choline during pregnancy, researchers have discovered.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Visual Time Machine Offers Tourists A Glimpse Of The Past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S5AWoEMuNtY/090812104219.htm
A ruined temple, ancient frescos and even a long-dead king have been brought to life by a “visual time machine” developed by European researchers.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Prevalent In Adults With Down Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u9coj2ntW6M/090815100837.htm
A new study shows that adults with Down syndrome also frequently suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
New Computer Techniques Developed To Analyze Historic Hebrew And Arabic Documents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3wVwWImltGE/090814165305.htm
Researchers in Israel will combine the scientific and scholarly expertise of their humanities and computer science experts in a new project to analyze degraded Hebrew documents. The effort to develop new computer algorithms combines scientific expertise in computer vision, computer graphics, image processing and computational geometry with the scholarly expertise of historians and liturgy scholars to provide valuable answers regarding Jewish liturgical texts and Arabic historical texts that advance scholarship in these fields.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Neurological Complications Of Heart Surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CnewdYZUGPQ/090813142455.htm
Possible neurological complications of heart surgery, ranging from headaches to strokes, are detailed in a new report. For example, complications from bypass surgery can include vision problems, paralysis, hoarseness, movement disorders and disturbances in learning, memory, attention, concentration and mental agility.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Physicists Make Crystal-Liquid Interface Visible For First Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QLY4ypjUJac/090811091828.htm
Researchers have captured the first images of what's actually happening in the fuzzy area of the crystal-liquid interface. Their lab's data make the waves between the two states of matter, solid and liquid, visible for the first time.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Important Step In Neutralizing Toxic Cause Of Muscle Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hq63ly34GIM/090811080747.htm
Cell biologists describe a new approach to remove the toxic agent that causes the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Discovery Could Help Stem Infections Of Parasitic Roundworms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4RlqspaKNqk/090810221413.htm
Biologists have discovered how a Chinese drug effective in killing parasitic roundworms works. Their discovery of the drug's biological mechanism provides important new information about how to combat parasitic roundworms, which infect more than a billion people in tropical regions and are one of the leading causes of debilitation in underdeveloped countries.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Research Team Responds To Concerns About International Insulin Drug Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CgncNnp7xPk/090811091838.htm
Accumulating safety data from the large, international ORIGIN trial have been reviewed by its independent data monitoring committee, who have concluded that there is no cause for concern.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Legislation Is Restricting Internet Access, Expert Warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sBNC-vDNSbE/090814192853.htm
Laws aimed at tackling illegal use of wireless internet connections are restricting attempts to increase broadband access, according to new research.
Mon, 17 Aug 09
Why GPs Won't Take Part In Research: Bureaucracy Stifling Studies, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jrahZPORVIE/090813190934.htm
A group of researchers whose planned leg ulceration study was hamstrung by a physician recruitment rate of 2 percent have published the reasons why so many doctors turned them down. The qualitative information should be of use to those designing trials of their own.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Facial Expressions Show Language Barriers, Too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/afhl2xJHqas/090813142131.htm
People from East Asia tend to have a tougher time than those from European countries telling the difference between a face that looks fearful versus surprised, disgusted versus angry, and now a new report explains why. Rather than scanning evenly across a face as Westerners do, Easterners fixate their attention on the eyes.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Scarring Is Key To Link Between Obesity And Diabetes, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k7r6z09-jqs/090813142349.htm
Scientists have found that a protein that can cause scarring of fat tissue could be key to understanding the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Fungus Found In Humans Shown To Be Nimble In Mating Game
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8CXvik8nO4I/090812163750.htm
Researchers have determined that Candida albicans, a human fungal pathogen, pursues both same-sex and the more conventional opposite-sex mating.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Impact Of Cannabis On Bones Changes With Age, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hnH3ZRlBVhE/090813142341.htm
Scientists investigating the effects of cannabis on bone health have found that its impact varies dramatically with age.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Biological Clocks Of Insects Could Lead To More Effective Pest Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zFCaZ_snUvY/090812145026.htm
Researchers have discovered that the circadian rhythms or biological "clocks" in some insects can make them far more susceptible to pesticides at some times of the day instead of others.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
The Peopling Of The Americas: Genetic Ancestry Influences Health, Anthropologist Says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cwiH0HQJVh0/090814111455.htm
At one time or another most of us wonder where we came from, where our parents or grandparents and their parents came from. Did our ancestors come from Europe or Asia? As curious as we are about our ancestors, for practical purposes, we need to think about the ancestry of our genes, according to one anthropologist, who says our genetic ancestry influences the genetic traits that predispose us to risk or resistance to disease.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
New Class Of Astronomical Object: Super Planetary Nebulae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0wk7Nn2RWsU/090814101833.htm
A team of astronomers has discovered a new class of object which they call "Super Planetary Nebulae." The new objects are unusually strong radio sources. Whereas the existing population of planetary nebulae is found around small stars comparable in size to our Sun, the new population may be the long predicted class of similar shells around heavier stars.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Groundbreaking Treatment For Oxygen-deprived Newborns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hGdiohWOpAA/090811144000.htm
Until now immediate cooling of the newborn infant was the only treatment that could possibly prevent brain damage following oxygen deprivation during delivery. New research findings from Sweden and China open up the possibility of a new and effective treatment that can be started as late as two days after birth.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Scientists Conduct Shark Survey Off U.S. East Coast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZN0wFgSxMCg/090813142453.htm
Sandbar, dusky and tiger sharks are among dozens of shark species living in the coastal waters off the U.S. East Coast. Little is known about many of the species, but a survey begun nearly 25 years ago is helping scientists and fishery resource managers to monitor shark populations and their role in marine ecosystems
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Scientists Advance Understanding Of Cell Death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3zwD_b7pizI/090813142347.htm
Scientists have made an important advance in understanding the biological processes involved when cells are prompted to die. The work may help scientists to eventually develop new treatments for the many common diseases and conditions which occur when cell death goes wrong.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
How Computers Learn To Listen: Scientists Develop Model To Improve Computer Language Recognition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jzZbYfjVUUc/090814100103.htm
We see, hear and feel, and make sense of countless diverse, quickly changing stimuli in our environment seemingly without effort. However, doing what our brains do with ease is often an impossible task for computers.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Worth The Effort? Not If You're Depressed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a6nCbiqS1YE/090812181437.htm
New research indicates that decreased cravings for pleasure may be at the root of a core symptom of major depressive disorder. The research is in contrast to the long-held notion that those suffering from depression lack the ability to enjoy rewards, rather than the desire to seek them.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Warming Of Arctic Current Over 30 Years Triggers Release Of Methane Gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/24Wnw4W71Ro/090814103231.htm
The warming of an Arctic current over the last 30 years has triggered the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from methane hydrate stored in the sediment beneath the seabed. Scientists have found that more than 250 plumes of bubbles of methane gas are rising from the seabed of the West Spitsbergen continental margin in the Arctic.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
'Swiss Army Knife' Protein Plays Unexpected Role Protecting Chromosome Tips; Possible Tie To Metastatic Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x1-WjPCLJ00/090813142440.htm
A protein specialist that opens the genomic door for DNA repair and gene expression also turns out to be a multi-tasking workhorse that protects the tips of chromosomes and dabbles in a protein-destruction complex, researchers report.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Planck Sees Light Billions Of Years Old
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LbOmWbN4itw/090814202536.htm
The Planck space telescope has begun to collect light left over from the Big Bang explosion that created our universe.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Bone-cell Control Of Energy Generation Is Regulated By The Protein Atf4
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h_AXJjrQvbs/090810174219.htm
Bone cells known as osteoblasts were recently shown to have a role in controlling the biochemical reactions that generate energy. Researchers have now identified Atf4 as the regulatory gene that controls this osteoblast function in mice.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
New Chemical Synthesis Could Streamline Drug Design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cnF0xwy2Yt0/090813142140.htm
A team of chemists has devised a new way to add fluorine to a variety of compounds used in many drugs and agricultural chemicals, an advance that could offer more flexibility and potential cost-savings in designing new drugs.
Sun, 16 Aug 09
Regular Yoga Practice Is Associated With Mindful Eating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kYKvp5Uf7so/090803185712.htm
Regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese, according to a new study.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Imitation Promotes Social Bonding In Primates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7VKeAA_P-hc/090813142133.htm
Imitation, the old saying goes, is the sincerest form of flattery. It also appears to be an ancient interpersonal mechanism that promotes social bonding and, presumably, sets the stage for relative strangers to coalesce into groups of friends, according to a new study.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
MRI May Cause More Harm Than Good In Newly Diagnosed Early Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bzwbSAkWcV8/090813083331.htm
A new review says using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery to assess the extent of early breast cancer has not been shown to improve surgical planning, reduce follow-up surgery, or reduce the risk of local recurrences.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Biologists ID Molecular Basis Of High-altitude Adaptation In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ijXB4qs9Z_Y/090811091830.htm
A group of scientists have discovered the specific mutations involved in evolutionary adaptation to different environments.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation: Passive Oxygen Flow Better Than Assisted Ventilation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yx-jRYVanH0/090812092132.htm
Arizona researchers compared the survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated with positive-pressure ventilation (bag-valve mask) vs. passive oxygen flow. Survival was higher (38.2 percent) with passive oxygen flow than with assisted ventilation (25.8 percent). This study reinforces the notion that survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest might have more to do with circulating the blood through uninterrupted chest compressions than with ventilation.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Graphene Has High Current Capacity, Thermal Conductivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s-IHAkcZjqk/090729210454.htm
Recent research into the properties of graphene nanoribbons provides two new reasons for using the material as interconnects in future computer chips. In widths as narrow as 16 nanometers, graphene has a current carrying capacity approximately a thousand times greater than copper -- while providing improved thermal conductivity.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Smile As You Read This: Language That Puts You In Touch With Your Bodily Feelings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XDpNo1SJnek/090807103923.htm
Louis Armstrong sang, "When you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you." Romantics everywhere may be surprised to learn that psychological research has proven this sentiment to be true -- merely seeing a smile (or a frown, for that matter) will activate the muscles in our face that make that expression, even if we are unaware of it. Now, according to a new study, simply reading emotion verbs may also have the same effect.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Antarctic Glacier Thinning At Alarming Rate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wXR9yt9IHtk/090814100105.htm
The thinning of a gigantic glacier in Antarctica is accelerating, scientists report. The Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica, which is around twice the size of Scotland, is losing ice four times as fast as it was a decade years ago. The research also reveals that ice thinning is now occurring much further inland.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Bypassing Bypass Surgery: New Blood Vessels Grown To Combat Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dxm-nneYs-w/090813142438.htm
Although open-heart surgery is a frequent treatment for heart disease, it remains extremely dangerous. Now groundbreaking research has shown the potential for an injected protein to regrow blood vessels in the human heart -- eliminating the need for risky surgery altogether.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Chemists Discover Twisted Molecules That Pick Their Targets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C5j7UNoKR5s/090810162003.htm
Chemists have discovered how to make molecules with a twist -- the molecules fold in to twisted helical shapes that can accelerate selected chemical reactions. The research could yield valuable methods for making pharmaceuticals and other chemicals that require precise assembly of complex structures.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Finding May Explain Anti-cancer Activity Of Thiazole Antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/COTGJG13_48/090812035448.htm
Researchers have discovered how some recently approved drugs act against cancer cells. The finding may lead to a more effectively targeted anti-cancer strategy.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Scientists Develop 'Gas Gauge' For Placenta Aimed To Prevent Pregnancy Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DmdfPb7rgAk/090802155226.htm
To combat the many fetal deaths that occur annually because the placenta is too small, researchers have developed a method to measure the volume of the placenta, which provides nourishment to the fetus.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
'Cash For Clunkers' Program Is Expensive Way To Cut Carbon Emissions, Expert Argues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-caOYzk5Gh4/090814100109.htm
New estimates say the federal government's "Cash for Clunkers" program is paying at least 10 times the "sticker price" to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
World Record In Packing Puzzle Set In Tetrahedra Jam: Better Understanding Of Matter Itself?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-eYGp3tTMIo/090812143943.htm
Two researchers have made a major advance in addressing a twist in the packing problem, jamming more tetrahedra -- solid figures with four triangular faces -- and other polyhedral solid objects than ever before into a space. The work could result in better ways to store data on compact discs as well as a better understanding of matter itself.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
How Pathogens Have Shaped Genes Involved In Our Immune System
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VftCy5d7z7w/090730233519.htm
A recent study on human genetics on various populations across the world has shown how pathogens can shape the patterns of genetic diversity of our immune system over time. Results show that bacteria, fungi and parasites, unlike viruses, appear to have allowed the introduction of mutations in the genes of some proteins of the innate immunity system, thus enabling greater genetic variability. In some cases, these mutations may even constitute an advantage, giving the human host improved resistance to infectious diseases such as leprosy or tuberculosis.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Manganese Damages Immune Response In Marine Animals, Research Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ebc5Iawye_4/090811143956.htm
Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, in bottom waters is a well known environmental problem. New research in Sweden adds to the list of ill effects: hypoxia leads to increased levels of manganese, which damages the immune response in marine animals.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Discovery Of Genetic Mutation In Leigh Syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a17fyJFDeiE/090811143708.htm
Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation underlying late-onset Leigh syndrome, a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by the degeneration of the central nervous system. The study provides vital insights into the cell biology of this neurological disorder and will lead to the development of diagnostic and predictive tests allowing for family and genetic counseling.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Mars Orbiter Shows Angled View Of Martian Crater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nq1iOjxu7mE/090814202826.htm
The high-resolution camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned a dramatic oblique view of the Martian crater that a rover explored for two years.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Parents Can Help Stop The Obesity Epidemic, Says Psychologist; Healthy Body Image Is First Step
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GsYh5bGIcRI/090810025239.htm
Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 40 years, which may mean today's children become the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, a leading obesity expert says.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Trigger-happy Star Formation: Radiation From Massive Stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0mVHB8EVURg/090812163800.htm
A new study from two of NASA's Great Observatories provides fresh insight into how some stars are born, along with a beautiful new image of a stellar nursery in our Galaxy. The research shows that radiation from massive stars may trigger the formation of many more stars than previously thought.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Active Ingredients In Marijuana Found To Spread And Prolong Pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-7qvxTx1z48/090813170848.htm
Experiments with rodents and humans have shown that cannabinoids, the active ingredients of marijuana, can actually amplify and prolong pain rather than damping it down. This discovery has implications both for the use of marijuana in pain relief and for basic understanding of the connection between transient and chronic pain.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
London's Earliest Timber Structure Found During Belmarsh Prison Dig
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X8KONis292w/090812104141.htm
London's oldest timber structure has been unearthed by archaeologists. It was found during the excavation of a prehistoric peat bog adjacent to Belmarsh Prison in Plumstead, Greenwich, in advance of the construction of a new prison building. Radiocarbon dating has shown the structure to be nearly 6,000 years old and it predates Stonehenge by more than 500 years.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Light Shed On Brain's Mechanism Responsible For Processing Of Speech
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LFQ_81Wads4/090812081944.htm
Researchers have succeeded for the first time in devising a model that describes and identifies a basic cellular mechanism that enables networks of neurons to efficiently decode speech in changing conditions. The research may lead to the upgrading of computer algorithms for faster and more precise speech recognition as well as to the development of innovative treatments for auditory problems among adults and young people.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Baltic Sea: Rapid Changes In Winter Climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A6SuPz5-wIs/090812092817.htm
The Baltic Sea winter climate has changed more in the last 500 years than previously thought. Research in Sweden shows that our part of the world has experienced periods of both milder and colder winters, and the transitions between these climate types seem to have been abrupt.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Cultural Evolution Continues Throughout Life, Mathematical Models Suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U_SZOIzJO9A/090811143958.htm
By successively acquiring culture in the form of values, ideas, and actions throughout their lives, humans influence future learning and the capacity for cultural evolution. The number of learning opportunities a person is exposed to is of great importance to that individual’s cultural evolution during his/her lifetime, according to researchers in Sweden. With the aid of mathematical models, these scientists show that there are differences between cultural and biological evolution.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Brain Innately Separates Living And Non-living Objects For Processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1u1t4FfgB60/090813142430.htm
For unknown reasons, the human brain distinctly separates the handling of images of living things from images of non-living things, processing each image type in a different area of the brain. For years, many scientists have assumed the brain segregated visual information in this manner to optimize processing the images themselves, but new research shows that even in people who have been blind since birth the brain still separates the concepts of living and non-living objects.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
An Apple A Day Keeps Kidney Stones Away: More Fruits And Veggies, Less Salt Prevents Stones From Forming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X9ufM9nvCsU/090813170845.htm
Researchers have found another reason to eat well: a healthy diet helps prevent kidney stones. Loading up on fruits, vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, while limiting salt, red and processed meats and sweetened beverages is an effective way to ward off kidney stones, according to a new study.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Bad News For Coffee Drinkers Who Get Headaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OFApiA-WTFA/090813083455.htm
People who consume high amounts of caffeine each day are more likely to suffer occasional headaches than those with low caffeine consumption, researchers in Norway have found. But, oddly enough, low caffeine consumption was associated with a greater likelihood of chronic headaches.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Cancer Mortality Rates Experience Steady Decline: Conventional Method May Underreport Declining Death Rate For All Age Groups
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aUgfKdT77I4/090813142359.htm
The number of cancer deaths has declined steadily in the last three decades. Although younger people have experienced the steepest declines, all age groups have shown some improvement, according to a new report.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
GOES-11 Sees Tropical Cyclones Fizzling And Forming In Eastern Pacific
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0iYBx1J0p24/090813142428.htm
There are a lot of ups and downs in tropical cyclone formation in the Pacific Ocean this week, and that's keeping NOAA's GOES-11 satellite busy. There are remnants of Maka and Tropical Depression 9E, a fizzled Felicia, and a new Tropical Storm named Guillermo.
Sat, 15 Aug 09
Nurses Open To Idea Of Robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eaqSpnFueA4/090730140437.htm
Front-line staff in the nursing and care sector would welcome sensor and robot technology in nursing homes and the homes of elderly people.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
'Hidden Portal' Concept Described: First Tunable Electromagnetic Gateway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tdNuP3VvK5I/090813083329.htm
While the researchers can't promise delivery to a parallel universe or a school for wizards, books like Pullman's Dark Materials and JK Rowling's Harry Potter are steps closer to reality now that researchers in China have created the first tunable electromagnetic gateway.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Brain Damage Seen On Brain Scans May Predict Memory Loss In Old Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1BCiCIFEyvY/090810161856.htm
Areas of brain damage seen on brain scans and originally thought to be related to stroke may help doctors predict a person's risk of memory problems in old age, according to new research.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Mango Seeds May Protect Against Deadly Food Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a8WnGRCzPfM/090813163200.htm
Life in the fruit bowl is no longer the pits, thanks to a Canadian researcher who has found a way to turn the throwaway kernels in mangos into a natural food preservative that could help prevent Listeriosis outbreaks.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Possible Genetic Links Between Environmental Toxins And Multiple Myeloma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pCZt0Bk_FEM/090813142148.htm
Several SNPs associated with bone disease in myeloma have been identified. Several of these SNPs are believed to be associated with toxin metabolism and/or DNA repair. Although these findings are still preliminary, they could explain an increasing incidence of myeloma, including the unexpected findings of myeloma among younger (under 45 years of age) responders to the 9/11 World Trade Center site.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
One Nano-step Closer To Weighing A Single Atom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gd9LMnfgSSU/090727102135.htm
By studying gold nanoparticles with highly uniform sizes and shapes, scientists now understand how they lose energy, a key step towards producing nanoscale detectors for weighing any single atom.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Sleep Patterns In Children And Teenagers Could Indicate Risk For Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vDATr2tgg-w/090813083335.htm
Sleep patterns can help predict which adolescents might be at greatest risk for developing depression, a researcher has found in a five-year study.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Early Modern Humans Used Fire To Engineer Tools From Stone; Complex Cognition Older Than 72,000 Years?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dXgBBcEyOwc/090813142137.htm
New evidence has been found showing that early modern humans living on the southern coast of Africa 72,000 years ago employed pyrotechnology -- the controlled use of fire -- to increase the quality and efficiency of their stone tool manufacturing process. This technology required a novel association between fire, its heat, and a structural change in stone with consequent flaking benefits; findings ignite notion of complex cognition in these early engineers.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Mighty Mice: Treatment Targeted To Muscle Improves Motor Neuron Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/20GprYiYQf8/090812143930.htm
New research with transgenic mice reveals that a therapy directed at the muscle significantly improves disease symptoms of a genetic disorder characterized by destruction of the neurons that control movement. The study highlights a promising new treatment for this currently incurable and non-treatable neurodegenerative disorder.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
White Tea Could Keep You Healthy And Looking Young
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JbryhCBtlOE/090810085312.htm
Next time you're making a cup of tea, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers tested the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Camera Flash Turns An Insulating Material Into A Conductor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SHsvnyTmr3c/090812163748.htm
An insulator can now be transformed to conduct electricity by an ordinary camera flash. Researchers have found a new way of turning graphite oxide -- a low-cost insulator made by oxidizing graphite powder -- into graphene, a hotly studied material that conducts electricity. Scientists believe graphene could be used to produce low-cost carbon-based transparent and flexible electronics.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Muscular Protein Bond -- Strongest Yet Found In Nature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-KUbNL-j948/090720190611.htm
Scientists have shed new light on the roots of mechanical strength in muscle tissue by probing -- through single-molecule experiments -- a super-stable protein bond, the titin-telethonin complex.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Binge Drinking Affects Attention And Working Memory In Young University Students
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lIAoiPDaYKU/090811161259.htm
A new study looks at binge drinking's impact on attention and visual working memory processes in young Spanish university students. Results indicate that binge drinkers expend more attentional effort to complete a given task, and also have problems differentiating between relevant and irrelevant information
Fri, 14 Aug 09
First Human Gene Implicated In Regulating Length Of Human Sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5fZuKVAn6FE/090813142459.htm
Scientists have discovered the first gene involved in regulating the optimal length of human sleep, offering a window into a key aspect of slumber, an enigmatic phenomenon that is critical to human physical and mental health.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Vision Researchers See Unexpected Gain One Year Into Blindness Trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kZ6F7dIewLw/090812181427.htm
Three young adults who received gene therapy for a blinding eye condition remained healthy and maintained previous visual gains one year later, according to a new report. One patient also noticed a visual improvement that helped her perform daily tasks.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Discovery Brings Hope To Treatment Of Lymphatic Diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z1O9vuHj5cw/090810122141.htm
Researchers have discovered the first naturally occurring molecule that selectively blocks lymphatic vessel growth.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Potential Risk Identified In Transfusions Of Platelets Before Bone Marrow Transplant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eG4al6rD6PM/090811143542.htm
A larger number of platelet transfusions given before a bone marrow transplant to treat bone marrow failure syndromes correlates with a greater risk of transplant rejection. A model system in mice shows that platelet transfusions can increase the risk of later bone marrow transplant rejection, even when donor and recipient are MHC "matched." More research is necessary to determine if the same mechanisms occur in humans. Modification of transfused platelets or matching for "minor antigens" on donated platelets may be potential remedies.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Climate Change Could Have Negative Effects On Stream And Forest Ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yq2d-h53EyE/090723142116.htm
A rare April freeze in 2007 provided researchers with further evidence that climate change could have negative effects on stream and forest ecosystems.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Link Between Over-indebtedness And Obesity Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hNrsgy_agnw/090811080751.htm
Scientists in Germany have discovered a close correlation between over-indebtedness and obesity. According to a new study, over-indebted Germans are more likely to be overweight or obese than the population in general. The authors attribute this to the high cost of a healthy diet, lack of awareness of the availability of cheaper but nonetheless wholesome foods, but most particularly to the psychological and social stress experienced by over-indebted individuals.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Increased Ocean Acidification In Alaska Waters, New Findings Show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FEe40snsB9k/090813163158.htm
The same things that make Alaska's marine waters among the most productive in the world may also make them the most vulnerable to ocean acidification. According to new findings, Alaska's oceans are becoming increasingly acidic, which could damage Alaska's king crab and salmon fisheries.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Technique Enables Efficient Gene Splicing In Human Embryonic Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AtlW-KFE5Xs/090813142146.htm
A novel technique allows for precise, efficient gene editing into the genomes of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. For years, scientists have easily swapped genes in and out of mouse ESC or iPS cell genomes, but have had a notoriously difficult time disrupting or inserting genes into their human equivalents. This hurdle has hampered efforts to create specific cell types for modeling genetic diseases, like Parkinson's.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
New Life Histories Emerge For Invasive Wasps, Magnify Ecological Harm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QS_cMPf3kGg/090720190609.htm
A switch from annual to multiyear colonies and a willingness to feed just about any prey to their young have allowed invasive yellowjacket wasps to disrupt native populations of insects and spiders on two Hawaiian islands, a new study has found.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
How Mice And Humans Differ Immunologically
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mUN9Kw3rtQ0/090810174217.htm
New research indicates the reason that humans and rodents respond differently to a molecule that is being developed to treat allergic diseases. Specifically, the molecule, which triggers the protein TLR9, induces production of the soluble factor TNF-alpha only in rodents.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Middle Miocene Oxygen Minimum Zone Expansion Offshore West Africa: Evidence For Global Cooling Precursor Events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ADAPcJpHWn0/090801095806.htm
The Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (16 to 14 million years ago), considered generally to be the warmest period in Earth's history within the past 25 million years, saw a major shift in climate from global warming to cooling. This reversal of climatic warming has proven difficult to understand because of the limited range of available records.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Certain Behavioral Traits And Feeding Practices May Increase Risk For Weight Gain In Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GMSo1ioZ4yk/090810162144.htm
It's important for parents to use the right approach when trying to combat childhood obesity. Restrictive feeding practices, or forbidding certain foods, may not always be the best solution. A child's inhibitory control, a behavior similar to self-control, may be more important than parental restrictions. An article and related editorial explore the relationship between a child's low inhibitory control, parental restrictive feeding practices and childhood weight gain.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Unexpected Relationship Between Climate Warming And Advancing Treelines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eJZmvdo6Zug/090812202047.htm
A new study reveals that treelines are not responding to climate warming as expected. The research, the first global quantitative assessment of the relationship between climate warming and treeline advance, is published in Ecology Letters and tests the premise that treelines are globally advancing in response to climate warming since 1900.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Novel, Orally Inhaled Migraine Therapy Is Effective, Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/40hDzoDszv4/090811143546.htm
A new study shows an investigational, orally-inhaled therapy is effective in treating migraines. The multi-center, phase three FREEDOM-301 trial for the orally-inhaled migraine therapy, LEVADEX, shows study participants had significant relief from symptoms such as pain, nausea and light and sound sensitivity when compared to placebo treatment.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
To Manage A Fishery, You Must Know How The Fish Die
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ub9WOS-VwwM/090810073941.htm
Fishermen know you need good fishery management to ensure healthy fish populations for future generations. And good decisions rely on understanding fish mortality -- how many fish die each year as a result of natural causes and recreational and commercial fishing. Scientists have utilized new research to give fishery managers better data on how fish are dying, so they can make informed decisions on how to ensure a healthy fish population.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Guided Care Reduces Cost Of Health Care For Older Persons With Chronic Conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9OJbDYnoP1A/090807091017.htm
The nation's sickest and most expensive patients need fewer health care resources and cost insurers less when they are closely supported by a nurse-physician primary care team that tracks their health and offers regular support, according to new research. A randomized controlled trial found patients in a primary care enhancement program called "Guided Care" cost health insurers 11 percent less than patients in the control groups.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Novel Mechanism Revealed For Increasing Recombinant Protein Yield In Tobacco
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mO6DZh_eVBM/090806191936.htm
Elastin-like polypeptides cause plants to store GM proteins in special "protein bodies," insulating them from normal cellular degradation processes and increasing the overall protein yield. Researchers have visualized the mechanism by which the synthetic biopolymer increases the accumulation of recombinant proteins.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Scientists Warn Restoration-based Environmental Markets May Not Improve Ecosystem Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EV6Q2uimbFE/090730141600.htm
While policymakers across of the globe are relying on environmental restoration projects to fuel emerging market-based environmental programs, a new article in Science by two noted ecologists warns that these programs still lack the scientific certainty needed to ensure that restoration projects deliver the environmental improvements being marketed.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Experiments Push Quantum Mechanics To Higher Levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OpQp7gGS1AE/090811143844.htm
Scientists have devised a new type of superconducting circuit that behaves quantum mechanically -- but has up to five levels of energy instead of the usual two. These circuits act like artificial atoms in that they can only gain or lose energy in packets, or quanta, by jumping between discrete energy levels.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Toxic Levels Of Alzheimer's Clusters In Brain Determined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9YdpPICWLBI/090811143840.htm
Scientists know that small, grape-like clusters of a protein called the amyloid beta-protein are toxic, causing Alzheimer's (AD). By creating various sizes of clusters in the lab that exactly match what forms in AD brains, neurologists have determined the toxicity of these clusters, and suggest a target for future drugs.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Black Tea May Fight Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/35hIfztPxlg/090728172604.htm
Long known for its antioxidants, immune boosting and, most recently, antihypertensive properties, black tea could have another health benefit. Black tea may be used to control diabetes, according to a new study.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Still Searching For Predictors Of Asthma Attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/drJP0ZDQdLg/090810122143.htm
A new study of persistent asthma in inner-city adolescents and young adults finds that an extensive set of clinical tests cannot successfully predict the future risk of asthma attacks in participants who both receive care based on current guidelines and adhere to treatment recommendations.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Carbon Nanotubes Sprout Without Metal Catalyst: Oxides Work, Too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hqDtNrdKtFU/090810162117.htm
Researchers have for the first time shown that nanotubes can grow without a metal catalyst. The researchers demonstrate that zirconium oxide, the same compound found in cubic zirconia "fake diamonds," can also grow nanotubes, but without the unwanted side effects of metal.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Parental Influences Differ In Determing Child's Later Academic Success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KfcYnbVAJrg/090812111443.htm
Mothers and fathers play different roles and make different contributions to a child's upbringing, but a father's influence upon a child's academic success later in life is felt the most when he's involved from the very beginning, according to a new study.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Parasite Causes Zombie Ants To Die In An Ideal Spot
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-lAAh64Wz_M/090811161345.htm
Scientists describe new details about a fungal parasite that coerces ants into dying in just the right spot -- one that is ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce. Their study shows just how precisely the fungus manipulates the behavior of its hapless hosts.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Mediterranean Diet, Physical Activity Linked With Lower Risk Of Alzheimer Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HLq8b73CjVw/090811161306.htm
Elderly individuals who had a diet that included higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereal and fish, and was low in red meat and poultry and who were physically active had an associated lower risk of Alzheimer disease, according to a new study. In a separate study, higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with slower cognitive decline, but was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Conserving Big Cats Works: South African Leopard Field Study Yields Encouraging Results
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u8HUr3hFIr4/090811143838.htm
In 2002, leopards in were legally -- but unsustainably -- hunted by trophy hunters, and illegally hunted by farmers because of the threat they pose to livestock. In order to reduce leopard killings, scientists have worked with local policy makers to create sustainable conservation solutions. In 2006, recommendations were successfully implemented and by 2008 data showed that the plans were working.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Scientists Open Doors To Diagnosis Of Emphysema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VxO9XsR46yk/090803083910.htm
A new development may provide powerful new test for inflammatory lung diseases. Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema are a major global health problem, and the fourth leading cause of death and disability in developed countries, with smoking accounting for 90% of the risk for developing them. New work has shed light on the underlying disease process of emphysema using a technique which could in future be adapted for use in diagnosis.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Nanocrystal Growth Spurts: First Real-Time Direct Observations Of Nanocrystal Growth In Solution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NdGaZeQXgYw/090807135056.htm
Experts in nanocrystal growth and electron microscopy combined their skills to record the first ever direct observations in real-time of the growth of single nanocrystals in solution. Their findings revealed that there are two distinct trajectories by which nanocrystals can grow but in the end the crystals come out roughly the same size and shape.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Substance Abuse, Schizophrenia And Risk Of Violence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6d4qczNkRp4/090810221407.htm
A new study demonstrates that there is an association between schizophrenia and violence, but shows that this association is greatly increased by drug and alcohol abuse. Importantly, the study also finds that the risk of violence from patients with psychoses who also have substance use disorder is no greater than those who have a substance use disorder but who do not have a psychotic illness.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Harbingers Of Increased Atlantic Hurricane Activity Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eWLMpdPbioE/090812143936.htm
Reconstructions of past hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean indicate that the most active hurricane period in the past was during the "Medieval Climate Anomaly" about a thousand years ago when climate conditions created a "perfect storm" of La Nina-like conditions combined with warm tropical Atlantic waters.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Antibodies To Strep Throat Bacteria Linked To Obsessive Compulsive Disorder In Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Nj6Z-C251M/090811143538.htm
A new study indicates that pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome and/or tic disorder may develop from an inappropriate immune response to the bacteria causing common throat infections. The mouse model findings support the view that this condition is a distinct disorder, and represent a key advance in tracing the path leading from an ordinary infection in childhood to the surfacing of a psychiatric syndrome.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Synthetic Derivative Of Kudzu Vine Can Reduce Drinking And Prevent Relapse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/igyXjAYxMA0/090811161255.htm
Kudzu extracts have been used in Chinese folk medicine to treat alcoholism for about 1,000 years. Daidzin is an anti-drinking substance in kudzu. A synthetic form of daidzin, called CVT-10216, can successfully reduce drinking and prevent relapse in preclinical rodent models.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Dysport Deemed Safe, Effective Anti-wrinkle Treatment, Plastic Surgeons Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NNc_HdnQsv8/090803083638.htm
The new anti-wrinkle facial filler Dysport, which could be used as an alternative to Botox, noticeably reduced frown lines between the eyes, according to users and independent reviewers in a study involving plastic surgeons.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Improving Air Force Situational Awareness With Smart Satellite Imagery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NFkcqhJCiBk/090729155819.htm
Researchers are improving US Air Force situational awareness with software that presents vast amounts of map data in a more manageable format for its commanders in theater.
Fri, 14 Aug 09
Wide Range Of Mental Disorders Increase The Chance Of Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3-tMGFmCS7s/090810221409.htm
Although depression is the mental disorder that most people associate with suicidal behavior, a new study reveals that a wide range of mental disorders increase the odds of thinking about suicide and making suicide attempts.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Mars, Methane And Mysteries: Red Planet May Not Be As Dormant As Once Thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fX14bt4Hzdw/090810085308.htm
Mars may not be as dormant as scientists once thought. The 2004 discovery of methane means that either there is life on Mars, or that volcanic activity continues to generate heat below the martian surface. ESA plans to find out which it is. Either outcome is big news for a planet once thought to be biologically and geologically inactive.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
New No-needle Approach To Prevent Blood Clots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4TDWMkdqeAY/090811191705.htm
Scientists have found a better way to prevent deadly blood clots after joint replacement surgery -- a major problem that results in thousands of unnecessary deaths each year.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Jet-propelled Imaging For An Ultrafast Light Source
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EjbSRjrqP1Y/090729132111.htm
A new particle gun fires liquid droplets less than a millionth of a meter in diameter, hundreds of thousands of times a second or faster. The sample jet sends the droplets across a tightly focused X-ray beam in single file, each droplet so small it contains only a single protein or virus.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Cognitive Testing, Gender And Brain Lesions May Predict Multiple Sclerosis Disease Progression Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CxQstDS6NmE/090729170637.htm
Cognitive testing may help people with inactive or benign multiple sclerosis better predict their future with the disease, according to a new study. Gender and brain lesions may also determine the risk of progression of MS years after diagnosis.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
45-nanometer Chips For Ultra-fast WiFi
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JNqcz1f50jY/090729140243.htm
Powerful new radio technologies that promise blisteringly fast WiFi have been given a boost by a team of researchers’ cutting-edge work on miniscule microchips.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Older Drivers Unaware Of Risks From Medications And Driving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3au8FkSXuCs/090811191651.htm
Most older drivers are unaware of the potential impact on driving performance associated with taking medications, according to new research. The findings indicate that 95 percent of those age 55 and older have one or more medical conditions, 78 percent take one or more medications, and only 28 percent have an awareness of the risks those medications might have on driving ability.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Violent Youth Of Solar Proxies Steers Course Of Genesis Of Life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SQseX64K2mw/090810162109.htm
One of the hottest topics in astronomy involves the study of the conditions favorable for the development and survival of primordial life. New research shows that compared to middle-aged stars like the Sun, newly formed stars spin faster generating strong magnetic fields that result in emission of more intense levels of radiation -- all of which could wreak havoc on budding atmospheres and have a dramatic effect on the development of life forms.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Oxygen Treatment Hastens Memory Loss In Alzheimer's Mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/si1aY2azrts/090811191700.htm
Researchers suspect the culprit precipitating Alzheimer's disease in some elderly patients may be high concentrations of oxygen administered during or after major surgery -- a hypothesis borne out in a recent animal model study.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Surveying Ships Sunk Off North Carolina In World War II
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uU0nkDo9STA/090807154406.htm
NOAA will lead a three-week research expedition in August to study World War II shipwrecks sunk in 1942 off the coast of North Carolina during the Battle of the Atlantic. The shipwrecks are located in an area known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," which includes sunken vessels from US and British naval fleets, merchant ships and German U-boats.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Estrogen-dependent Switch Tempers Killing Activity Of Immune Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G0JCkcsGbUI/090810104805.htm
The sex hormone estrogen tempers the killing activity of a specific group of immune cells, the cytotoxic T cells, which are known to attack tumor cells and cells infected by viruses. The key player in this process is a cytotoxic T cell molecule which has been known for a long time and which scientists have named EBAG9. Cancer researchers in Berlin, Germany, have now unraveled the function of EBAG9.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Police Woman Fights Quantum Hacking And Cracking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6kN23ZQVJOM/090730121212.htm
Computer scientists are working to prevent quantum computers from compromising today's online security.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Americans Remain Divided On Government Involvement In Health Insurance, Survey Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dywDFyWJdsM/090810122131.htm
Researchers have found that support for government-sponsored health insurance for individuals under age 65 remains virtually the same regardless of how the plan is described or how involved the government would be.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Strong Effect Of The Weak Interaction: Exploring The Standard Model Of Physics Without The High-energy Collider
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JwawIXbp6aA/090810122137.htm
Scientists have measured the largest effect of the "weak interaction" -- one of the four fundamental forces of nature -- ever observed in an atom.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Past Flu Pandemics Studied For Clues To Future Course Of 2009 H1N1 Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q4KEkZ8-5D0/090811161316.htm
A commonly held belief that severe influenza pandemics are preceded by a milder wave of illness arose because some accounts of the flu pandemic of 1918-19 suggested that it may have followed such a pattern. But two scientists say the existing data are insufficient to conclude decisively that the 1918-19 pandemic was presaged by a milder spring wave, or that the responsible virus had increased in lethality between the beginning and end of 1918.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Discovery Of A Mechanism Controlling The Fate Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/unmBaQlAmX0/090730233126.htm
Hematopoietic stem cells are capable of manufacturing all types of blood cells. But which factors influence the production of a specific type of cell? Until now, it was thought that this was a random process. Scientists have now discovered the factors that determine the type of cells produced. The mechanism they have demonstrated in the mouse involves one factor intrinsic to the cell and one extrinsic factor.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Mutations In Gene Linked To Ciliopathies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ryr9kjtLbMU/090810025237.htm
Researchers have discovered a connection between mutations in the INPP5E gene and ciliopathies. Their findings may lead to new therapies for these diseases.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
'Chemical Genetics' Approach Used To Regulate The Activity Of Plant Hormones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p5MBBNAr9_g/090810044822.htm
A plant researcher in Austria is working on signal transduction of hormones called strigolactones. Within his search for chemical substances to influence the activity of this pathway, he is establishing a high-throughput approach to test thousands of different chemical compounds.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Female Supervisors More Susceptible To Workplace Sexual Harassment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VgkrFzOq9vg/090810025247.htm
Women who hold supervisory positions are more likely to be sexually harassed at work, according to the first-ever, large-scale longitudinal study to examine workplace power, gender and sexual harassment.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
New Drug-resistant TB Strains Could Become Widespread, Says New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pQr20ew_HtY/090810161957.htm
The emergence of new forms of tuberculosis could swell the proportion of drug-resistant cases globally, a new study has found. The finding raises concern that although TB incidence is falling in many regions, the emergence of antibiotic resistance could see virtually untreatable strains of the disease become widespread.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Misuse Of Common Antibiotic Is Creating Resistant TB
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Ksi2WGi3-c/090810104929.htm
Use of a common antibiotic may be undercutting its utility as a first-line defense against drug-resistant tuberculosis. Fluoroquinolones are the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics in the US and are used to fight a number of different infections such as sinusitis and pneumonia. They are also an effective first line of defense against TB infections that show drug resistance. New research shows, however, that widespread general use of fluoroquinolones may be creating a strain of fluoroquinolone-resistant TB.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Avalanche! The Incredible Data Stream Of Solar Dynamics Observatory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VkPicD3lzGI/090811081637.htm
When NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) leaves Earth in November 2009 onboard an Atlas V rocket, the thunderous launch will trigger an avalanche. Mission planners are bracing themselves -- not for rocks or snow, but an avalanche of data.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Exercise Is Healthy For Mom And Child During Pregnancy, Report States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z7DbvX7Eor4/090803122728.htm
Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, states a new article.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Potato Blight Plight Looks Promising For Food Security
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tv6ZEAbTxZk/090810074236.htm
Over 160 years since potato blight wreaked havoc in Ireland and other northern European countries, scientists finally have the blight-causing pathogen in their sights and are working to accelerate breeding of more durable, disease resistant potato varieties.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Doctors' Opinions Not Always Welcome In Life Support Decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AwGUHSkf3_A/090810104927.htm
Some caregivers of critical care patients prefer doctors to keep their opinions on life support decisions to themselves, according to new research that challenges long-held beliefs in the critical care community.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Disease-carrying Mosquitoes From Tourist Aircraft Threaten Galapagos Islands Wildlife
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n5PY7upM740/090812035443.htm
Mosquitoes with the potential to carry diseases lethal to many unique species of Galapagos wildlife are being regularly introduced to the islands via aircraft, according to new research published today.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Formal Education Lessens Impact Of Alzheimer’s Disease -- Even If Brain Volume Is Already Reduced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g52FSmt-0-k/090811161339.htm
Researchers in Europe investigated the effects of formal education on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. They were able to show that education diminishes the impact of Alzheimer's disease on cognition even if a manifest brain volume loss has already occurred.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
What Science Says About Beach Sand And Stomach Aches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8S4kRjACdK8/090811091836.htm
By washing your hands after digging in beach sand, you could greatly reduce your risk of ingesting bacteria that could make you sick. In new research, scientists have determined that, although beach sand is a potential source of bacteria and viruses, hand rinsing may effectively reduce exposure to microbes that cause gastrointestinal illnesses.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Novel Tumor Suppressor Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KElxdQXhmSU/090803122719.htm
Researchers studying an enzyme believed to play a role in allergy onset, instead have discovered its previously unknown role as a tumor suppressor that may be important in myeloproliferative diseases and some types of lymphoma and leukemia. Myeloproliferative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by an overproduction of blood cells by the bone marrow and include chronic myeloid leukemia. Lymphoma and leukemia are cancers of the blood.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
New Laser Technique May Help Find Supernova
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dKqtS3XOqek/090811144002.htm
One single atom of a certain isotope of hafnium found on Earth would prove that a supernova once exploded near our solar system. The problem is how to find such an atom 00 among billions of others. Researchers in Sweden have developed a laser technique that, in combination with standard techniques, may be able to do the job.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Ugly Truth About One Night Stands: Men Less Choosy Than Women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yKEkdVt5eyY/090811080749.htm
Men are far more interested in casual sex than women. While men need to be exceptionally attractive to tempt women to consider casual sex, men are far less choosy. New research shows that men are more likely than women to report having had casual sex and they express a greater desire for it than do women. It is also thought that women but not men raise their standards of attractiveness for a casual sex partner.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Researchers Unravel Mystery Behind Long-lasting Memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ka6wL7ZwS1A/090811161343.htm
A new study may reveal how long-lasting memories form in the brain. Researchers hope that the findings may one day help scientists develop treatments to prevent and treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Aspirin Use After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Associated With Improved Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BwQEP2eqqzk/090811161308.htm
Men and women who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and began regular use of aspirin had a lower risk of overall and colorectal cancer death compared to patients not using aspirin, according to a new study.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Climbing To New Heights In The Forest Canopy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NDZZnRdcJP8/090806112603.htm
With summer in full swing, many plants are at their peak bloom and climbing plants, like clematis, morning glories, and sweet peas, are especially remarkable. Not only are these plants beautiful, but their ability to climb walls and trellises is an impressive feat of biological engineering that has taken millions of years to accomplish. New research explores the logistics of this incredible ability.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Viral Mimic Induces Melanoma Cells To Digest Themselves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UUa1PrV3bl8/090803122717.htm
Recent research has uncovered an unexpected vulnerability in deadly melanoma cells that, when exploited, can cause the cancer cells to turn against themselves. The study identifies a new target for development of future therapeutics aimed at selectively eliminating this aggressive skin cancer which is characterized by a notoriously high rate of metastasis and treatment-resistance.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Ytterbium Gains Ground In Quest For Next-generation Atomic Clocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bzBkoZ8l58Y/090811161349.htm
Physicists have improved an experimental atomic clock based on ytterbium atoms, which now about four times more accurate than it was several years ago, giving it a precision comparable to that of the NIST-F1 cesium fountain clock.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Food Stamp Use Linked To Weight Gain, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HKu3Lc30GMI/090810122139.htm
The U.S. Food Stamp Program may help contribute to obesity among its users, according to a new nationwide study that followed participants for 14 years. Researchers found that the average user of food stamps had a body mass index 1.15 points higher than non-users.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Scientists Control Living Cells With Light; Advances Could Enhance Stem Cells' Power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uTrXLzLoAh4/090811161347.htm
Researchers have shown for the first time that light energy can gently guide and change the orientation of living cells within lab cultures. That ability to optically steer cells could be a major step in harnessing the healing power of stem cells and guiding them to areas of the body that need help.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Excessive Drinking Can Damage Brain Regions Used For Processing Facial Emotions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fIZgFxsqFEg/090811161257.htm
Heavy, constant drinking damages the brain in many different ways, including difficulties in perception of emotional expressions. Brain-imaging findings show that abstinent alcoholics have decreased activation in the amygdala and hippocampus regions of the brain when viewing faces with emotional expressions. Misreading facial cues can escalate conflict and difficulties, impaired social interaction and continued drinking.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
NASA Goes Inside A Volcano, Monitors Activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/phSlRqRCqCg/090810033921.htm
Scientists have placed high-tech "spiders" inside and around the mouth of Mount St. Helens, one of the most active volcanoes in the United States. Networks such as these could one day be used to respond rapidly to an impending eruption.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Seizures During Pregnancy Associated With Risk Of Pre-term And Small Babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fx_ni_Ds-cg/090810161913.htm
Women with epilepsy who have seizures during pregnancy appear more likely to give birth to pre-term, small or low-birth-weight babies than women without epilepsy, according to a new report.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
High Levels Of Estrogens Discovered In Some Industrial Wastewater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CwFj9xxw_6I/090810162105.htm
In a groundbreaking study, civil engineering researchers have discovered that certain industries may be a significant source of plant-based estrogens, called phytoestrogens, in surface water.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
A Real Eye-opener: Researchers Uncover Which Gender Is Losing Sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hjPd-sfo3FI/090810162111.htm
Despite the strides in gender equality at work and at home, sociologists reveal the social factors that are causing multitasking women to lose sleep.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Planet Smash-Up Sends Vaporized Rock, Hot Lava Flying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wp2GaDPGzOw/090810161208.htm
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found evidence of a high-speed collision between two burgeoning planets around a young star. Astronomers say that two rocky bodies, one as least as big as our moon and the other at least as big as Mercury, slammed into each other within the last few thousand years or so -- not long ago by cosmic standards. The impact destroyed the smaller body, vaporizing huge amounts of rock and flinging massive plumes of hot lava into space.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Discovery May Lead To Powerful New Therapy For Asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YeARFaN9w_w/090811191703.htm
Researchers have found that a single enzyme is apparently critical to most allergen-provoked asthma attacks -- and that activity of the enzyme, known as aldose reductase, can be significantly reduced by compounds that have already undergone clinical trials as treatments for complications of diabetes.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
When Did Humans Return After Last Ice Age?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9jn1H-kDTyg/090727130600.htm
The Cheddar Gorge in Somerset was one of the first sites to be inhabited by humans when they returned to Britain near the end of the last Ice Age. According to new radio carbon dating humans were living in Gough's Cave 14,700 years ago.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Study Identifies Risk Factors For Transformation Of Eye Growths Into Melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xfZzvUAryyw/090810161915.htm
Eight factors may predict whether a choroidal nevus -- a benign, flat, pigmented growth inside the eye and beneath the retina -- may develop into melanoma, according to a new report.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Combustion Simulation: Digital Fireworks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O47OhrwHdDc/090725203431.htm
Researchers have simulated autoignition in a turbulent flow using a supercomputer with up to 65,000 processors in one of the largest reactive flow simulations to date. The results could help to develop better models and reduce the high cost of real experiments.
Thu, 13 Aug 09
Research Reveals How Science Changed Methods Of Execution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zVoen7CQkhc/090810104809.htm
A sociologist has combed through newspaper accounts of 19th and 20th century Ohio executions to understand how executions became more "professional and scientific" in character.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Archaeologists Find Cache Of Tablets In 2,700-year Old Turkish Temple
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/88zCKys60o8/090810122133.htm
Archaeological excavations at the site of a recently discovered temple in southeastern Turkey have uncovered a cache of cuneiform tablets dating back to the Iron Age period between 1200 and 600 BCE. Found in the temple's cella, or "holy of holies," the tablets are part of a possible archive that may provide insights into Assyrian imperial aspirations.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Gene Therapy Trial Succeeds In Boosting Protective Protein In Patients With Hereditary Lung Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i4M-j_4lDH0/090810174259.htm
Gene therapy researchers have safely given new, functional genes to patients with a hereditary defect that can lead to fatal lung and liver diseases, according to clinical trial findings. Three patients, apparently for the first time in their lives, produced trace amounts of the protective form of a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin for up to one year, a potential step toward a gene therapy for about 100,000 Americans with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Car Horns Warn Against Natural Disasters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9vFJ6ZBTs3A/090720083423.htm
In the past, sirens howled to warn the population against floods, large fires or chemical accidents. Today, however, there is no extensive warning system in Germany, as most sirens were dismantled after the Cold War.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Limb-sparing Surgery May Not Provide Better Quality Of Life Than Amputation For Bone Cancer Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tTVkTP9ApZQ/090810024821.htm
Limb-sparing surgery, which has been taking the place of amputation for bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the lower limb in recent years, may not provide much or even any additional benefit to patients according to a new review.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
New Study Sheds Light On The Growing U.S. Wind Power Market
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AS-_GhvP9qU/090717150256.htm
For the fourth consecutive year, the United States was home to the fastest-growing wind power market in the world in 2008, according to a new report. Specifically, US wind power capacity additions increased by 60 percent in 2008, representing a $16 billion investment in new wind projects.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Growth In Number Of Americans Citing No Religion May Be Slower Than Previously Reported
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5koEsjZyyBA/090810024831.htm
Americans continue to pull away from organized religion, but the rate of departure previously reported may not have been as abrupt as originally thought, according to new research.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
First Black Holes Born Starving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CEwA6Mdnb0s/090810122135.htm
The first black holes in the universe had dramatic effects on their surroundings, according to new supercomputer simulations carried out by physicists. Several popular theories posit that the first black holes gorged themselves on gas clouds and dust, growing into the supersized black holes that lurk in the centers of galaxies today. However, the new results point to a much more complex role for the first black holes.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Taking The Needle's Sting Out Of Diabetes: First Tablet-based Treatment?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/57U3hjwOJ2Y/090810162013.htm
A new anti-Ras compound may lead to the first tablet-based treatment for children and adults with Type 1 diabetes.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Engineers Provide Insights To Decades-old DNA Squabble
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJjkXMpykdw/090731162136.htm
A group of nanoengineers, biologists and physicists have used innovative approaches to deduce the internal structure of chromatin, a key player in DNA regulation, to reconcile a longstanding controversy in this field. This new finding could unlock the mystery behind the origin of many diseases such as cancer.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Genetic Circuit That Regulates Behavior Of Stem Cells Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/37d2Yg2JO3U/090720083208.htm
This circuit explains the fact that stem cells are always prepared to change into any type of cell. The discovery will greatly increase the ability of researchers to maintain embryonic stem cells in a pluripotent state in vitro and induce their transformation into cellular tissues of all types.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Software Development: Speeding From Sketchpad To Smooth Code
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i1Ti_X_LoyY/090730140441.htm
Creating error-free software remains time consuming and labor intensive. A major research effort has developed a system that speeds software development from the drawing board to high-quality, platform-independent code.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
What Makes An Accent In A Foreign Language Lighter? More Empathy And Political Identification With Native Speakers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hJNcCkyLDSc/090810104931.htm
The more empathy one has for another, the lighter the accent will be when speaking in a second language, according to new research. "In addition to personal-affective factors, it has been found that the 'language ego' is also influenced by the sociopolitical position of the speaker towards the majority group," the researchers stated.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Chinese Acupuncture Affects Brain's Ability To Regulate Pain, UM Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cMiMxFO5_O0/090810104935.htm
Acupuncture has been used for over two millennia in East-Asian medicine to treat pain. Using brain imaging, researchers have provided novel evidence that traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain. Their findings show acupuncture acts as more than a placebo, and can activate receptors in the brain that process and dampen pain signals.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Avian Influenza Strain Primes Brain For Parkinson's Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jxkSLoOGuWU/090810162146.htm
At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors at significantly increased risk for Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurological problems later in life, according to new research.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Tweeting Shooting Stars: World's First Mass Participation Meteor Star Party
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3PxNzzi30Tk/090810085310.htm
Amateur astronomers across the UK are preparing to tweet the world's first mass participation meteor star party, as part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). Led by Newbury Astronomical Society, the Twitter Meteorwatch will take place from the evening of Tuesday August 11th until the morning of August 13th, 2009, covering the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
The Right Messenger For A Healthy Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aV0YXowe-9Q/090720102016.htm
Cells of the immune system communicate using molecular messengers. One group of these substances are interferons. During a virus infection, the immune system increases the production of interferons such as Beta-Interferon, thus alerting immune cells to combat the infection. Furthermore, Beta-interferon also has tumor-fighting qualities and -- used as a therapeutic against multiple sclerosis -- is of major importance for medicine.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Role Of Solar Radiation In Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yeh1CaRvsvM/090719195200.htm
A growing research field is "global dimming" and "global brightening" of solar radiation. These phenomena, supposedly human-induced, control solar radiation incident at the Earth's surface and thus influence climate.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Temp Work Strains Employee Mental Health, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BaAvCMFOcdc/090810104933.htm
Workers hired for temporary, contract, casual or fixed-term positions are at risk for increased mental health problems, according to new research.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Bipedal Humans Came Down From The Trees, Not Up From The Ground
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XMHrmwk0JhY/090810162005.htm
An analysis of wrist anatomy in humans, chimps, bonobos and gorillas indicates our own bipedalism probably did not evolve from a knuckle-walking ancestor. "Our data support the opposite notion, that features of the hand and wrist found in the human fossil record that have traditionally been treated as indicators of knuckle-walking behavior in general are in fact evidence of arboreality," researchers report.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Insufficient Sleep May Be Linked To Increased Diabetes Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VzeM44iyzAg/090810174301.htm
Short sleep times, experienced by many individuals in Westernized societies, may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance, which in turn may increase the long-term risk of diabetes, according to a new study.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Professor Sequences His Entire Genome At Low Cost, With Small Team
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5GdCGZCjxjI/090810162007.htm
The first few times that scientists mapped out all the DNA in a human being in 2001, each effort cost hundreds of millions of dollars and involved more than 250 people. Even last year, when the lowest reported cost was $250,000, genome sequencing still required almost 200 people. In a new paper, a professor reports sequencing his entire genome for less than $50,000 and with a team of just two other people.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Amazonian Tribe Sheds Light On Causes Of Heart Disease In Developed Countries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ShzVsOZwfUs/090810221411.htm
Heart attacks and strokes -- the leading causes of death in the United States and other developed countries -- may have been rare for the vast majority of human history, suggests a new study.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
New Fireproof Coatings Can Really Take The Heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IF6BCvtMKkw/090720102010.htm
Tough new fire-resistant coating materials called HIPS ("hybrid inorganic polymer system") are showing they can take the heat. HIPS coatings can withstand temperatures of over 1000°C compared to current commercial coatings used on building materials and structures which break down at between 150-250°C.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Middle-aged 'Macho Men' Are Less Likely To Obtain Preventative Care, Sociologists Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3409eZhqKvU/090810174209.htm
Middle-aged men who strongly idealize masculinity are almost 50 percent less likely than other men to seek preventative health care services, according to a study -- the first population-based analysis of men's masculinity beliefs and preventative health care compliance.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Traffic Jam In Brain Causes Schizophrenia Symptoms; First Mouse To Develop Disease As Teenager, Just Like Humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Y4dBuL0anY/090810174305.htm
Northwestern researchers have discovered that schizophrenia symptoms -- which begin to develop in adolescents -- are caused by a low level of a brain protein necessary to build pathways between neurons. Without enough of the protein, there are too few roads for information to flow between neurons -- causing a traffic jam in the brain. This discovery provides a fresh target for treatment.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Potential Alzheimer's Disease Drug: New Class Of Compounds Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rx7MDnpAuiI/090810162015.htm
A new class of molecules capable of blocking the formation of specific protein clumps that are believed to contribute to Alzheimer's disease pathology has been discovered. By assaying close to 300,000 compounds, they have identified drug-like inhibitors of AD tau protein clumping.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Revelations In Saturn's Rings Continue As Equinox Approaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fOqoJVqF3Xo/090810034048.htm
Thanks to a special play of sunlight and shadow as Saturn continues its march towards its August 11 equinox, recent images captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft are revealing new three-dimensional objects and structures in the planet's otherwise flat rings.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Radiation Therapy May Increase Diabetes Risk In Childhood Cancer Survivors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7qU-MlJAZM0/090810161911.htm
Childhood cancer survivors treated with total body or abdominal radiation may have an increased risk of diabetes, according to a new report. This correlation does not appear to be related to patients' body mass index or physical inactivity.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Computer Scientists Take Over Electronic Voting Machine With New Programming Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y7LuL61vU0g/090810161902.htm
Computer scientists hacked an electronic voting machine and stole votes using a malicious programming approach that had not been invented when the voting machine was designed. The scientists employed "return-oriented programming" to force a Sequoia AVC Advantage electronic voting machine to turn against itself and steal votes.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Optimism Appears To Lower Women's Risk Of Death, Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hubpDki15fA/090810161900.htm
Optimistic women have a lower risk of developing heart disease and dying than pessimistic women. Pessimistic African-American women, in particular, had a higher risk of dying in the study. Researchers say it is unclear if interventions to change attitudes can alter risk.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Hundreds Of New Species Discovered In Eastern Himalayas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3sL5WlLWI9o/090810162148.htm
Over 350 new species including the world's smallest deer, a "flying frog" and a 100-million-year old gecko have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas, a biological treasure trove now threatened by climate change. A decade of research carried out by scientists in remote mountain areas endangered by rising global temperatures brought exciting discoveries such as a bright green frog that uses its red and long webbed feet to glide in the air.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Found: A Gene That May Play A Role In Type 1 Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jRlVoKkcO7Y/090810122129.htm
Scientists have identified a gene that may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's insulin-producing cells. Insulin, a hormone produced by cells of the pancreas, helps the body to absorb sugars found in food and to maintain blood sugar at appropriate levels.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Triple Asteroid System Triples Observers' Interest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zlk2T2hZ070/090810034345.htm
Radar imaging at NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar on June 12 and 14, 2009, revealed that near-Earth asteroid 1994 CC is a triple system. Asteroid 1994 CC encountered Earth within 2.52 million kilometers (1.56 million miles) on June 10. Prior to the flyby, very little was known about this celestial body.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Low Prevalence Of HPV Infection May Be Tied To Poor Prognosis For Blacks With Head And Neck Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S2qUduYk3YA/090729121555.htm
Researchers at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer have found that head and neck cancer patients who test positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) have much better survival rates than patients who don't have the virus, according to a new study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. The researchers also discovered that blacks in the study had a very low rate of HPV infection, and consequently worse survival.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Navigating In The Ocean Of Molecules: Computer Program Points The Way To New Disease Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o3mfdrgT80w/090807103911.htm
Tracking down new active agents for cancer or malaria treatment could soon become easier. A new computer program acts as a tool for navigating chemical space. It generates maps of chemically-related structures and links them to biological activity, that is, to their potential to bind to proteins, in particular medically relevant proteins.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Smoking, Binge Drinking: Double-threat To Teen Health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0q-4HZ5yFow/090810025253.htm
Researchers have found that teens who are smokers are also more likely to binge drink. They say both these behaviors need to be addressed together as one health risk.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Meteorite Found On Mars Yields Clues About Planet's Past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JpUCggfP8Eo/090810175658.htm
NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity is investigating a metallic meteorite the size of a large watermelon that is providing researchers more details about the Red Planet's environmental history. The rock, dubbed "Block Island," is larger than any other known meteorite on Mars.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Resistance To Antibiotics: When 1+1 Is Not 2- Genetic Interactions Underlie Multi-resistant Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pveuUrbyYbs/090724091346.htm
The evolution of multiple antibiotic resistances is a global and difficult problem to eradicate. Scientists report that the deleterious effect associated with the acquisition of resistance by a bacteria can be suppressed by the acquisition of a new resistance to another antibiotic. These findings have direct implications for the approaches taken to tackle the problem of multi-resistance to antibiotics and in the choice of antibiotics to be administrated to patients.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Ocean Health Plays Vital Role In Coral Reef Recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kwux-b0Jmrg/090721214633.htm
A new study shows that bleached corals bounce back to normal growth rates more quickly when they have clean water and plentiful sea life at their side.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Prehypertension, Obesity And Kidney Disease Risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x_2tpmxxiNo/090721112205.htm
People with prehypertension are not at increased risk of kidney disease if their body mass index (BMI) is under 30.0 kg/m2, a first-ever examination of the combined effect of blood pressure and body weight on the risk of kidney disease shows.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Understanding How Weeds Are Resistant To Herbicides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-QfqQeh5-TY/090805120433.htm
In a little over seven hours, one weed scientist got more genetic information about waterhemp than in two years time in a lab. The genetic information was obtained using pyrosequencing technology. The genetic sequence will allow scientists to study herbicide resistance in waterhemp.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Parents Fear Errors During Children's Hospitalization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lQEMym7V-fI/090803185720.htm
Nearly two-thirds of parents reported they felt the need to watch over their child's care to ensure that medical errors are not made during their hospital stay, according to a new study. Parents whose first language is not English were more likely to report the need to be vigilant about their child's care.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Humans 'Damaging The Oceans' In Profound Ways
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WlR2uyg8nEo/090729092538.htm
There is mounting evidence that human activity is changing the world's oceans in profound and damaging ways. Man-made carbon emissions "are affecting marine biological processes from genes to ecosystems over scales from rock pools to ocean basins, impacting ecosystem services and threatening human food security," warn experts.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Advanced Targeted Therapies Effective As First-line Treatment For Lung Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YPahDO-o_wQ/090801133135.htm
Several new studies show that targeted therapies, as first-line treatment, have the potential to slow cancer growth and improve patient outcomes.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Woodlands Suffer Large-scale Biodiversity Loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kl1EU0iVw6Q/090722083727.htm
21st century British woodlands are less distinctive than those of the early 20th century due to environmental change. Native woodland plants have re-organized over the last 70 years in response to increased soil fertility and loss of light related to increased canopy shading.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Physician Trust, Early Screening Reduces Disparities For Prostate Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kl8V5ST8JkQ/090729081453.htm
Men who have a regular, ongoing relationship with a health-care provider are more likely to receive prostate cancer screening and less likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, regardless of their race, according to a new study.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
New Computer Simulation Helps Explain Folding In Important Cellular Protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VSGg6NkszuY/090729121706.htm
Scientists have created a two-step computer simulation (using an important process called the Wang-Landau algorithm) that sheds light on how a crucial protein -- glycophorin A -- becomes an active part of living cells. The new use of Wang-Landau could lead to a better understanding of the controlling mechanisms behind protein folding.
Wed, 12 Aug 09
Northern Ireland: One In Ten 16 Year Olds Have Self-harmed In Past Year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-GZSwquktIY/090730073921.htm
One in ten 16 year olds in Northern Ireland have self-harmed in the past year, according to new research. Of the 941 young people who were questioned during the 2008 Young Life and Times Survey, a further 14 per cent had thought about harming themselves in the past year but had not done so. This is the first time a representative sample of young people in Northern Ireland has been asked about their attitudes to and experiences of self-harm.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Looking Different 'Helps Animals To Survive'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3K24rMUvWB4/090723113514.htm
In the animal kingdom, everything is not as it seems. Individuals of the same species can look very different from each other -- what biologists term "polymorphism." Sometimes the number of distinct visible forms -- "exuberant polymorphisms" -- in a single animal population can reach double figures. But why? Scientists have now developed computer models that may help to explain how this level of variation arises and persists.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Scientists Find Cells Responsible For Bladder Cancer's Spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wTN8G7Z4988/090806141722.htm
Scientists have tracked down a powerful set of cells in bladder tumors that seem to be primarily responsible for the cancer's growth and spread using a technique that takes advantage of similarities between tumor and organ growth. The findings could help scientists develop new ways of finding and attacking similar cells in other types of cancer.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
'Motion Picture' Of Past Warming Paves Way For Snapshots Of Future Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y6qOLz6HC8g/090716141138.htm
By accurately modeling Earth's last major global warming -- and answering pressing questions about its causes -- climatologist are unraveling the intricacies of the kind of abrupt climate shifts that may occur in the future.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
What Makes Stem Cells Tick?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FxdtD00TXHc/090806141739.htm
Investigators have made the first comparative, large-scale phosphoproteomic analysis of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and their differentiated derivatives.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Innovative Method To Detect Genetic Causes Of Complex Diseases Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/narUL9sK0Lk/090806201914.htm
Computational biologists have developed an analytical technique to detect the multiple genetic variations that contribute to complex disease syndromes such as diabetes, asthma and cancer, which are characterized by multiple clinical and molecular traits.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Children With Positive Outlooks Are Better Learners
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T-tjG_CRoNs/090807135054.htm
Teaching children how to be more resilient along with regular classroom instruction can improve children's outlook on life, curb depression and boost grades, according to a new research.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Chemists Discover Ozone-boosting Reaction: Newfound Chemistry Should Be Added To Atmospheric Models, Experts Say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t3DXqibn4J0/090720190728.htm
Burning of fossil fuels pumps chemicals into the air that react on surfaces such as buildings and roads to create photochemical smog-forming chlorine atoms, scientists report in a new study. The newfound chemistry should be added to atmospheric models, researchers say.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Ambitious New Strategies Proposed For AIDS Vaccine Research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_hcAHla1X5I/090807120942.htm
Researchers believe conventional vaccine strategies should not be the only avenue explored in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. Based on studying simian immunodeficiency viruses in African nonhuman primates, they propose an additional new approach to the AIDS vaccine research agenda. Unraveling how African nonhuman primates adapt to HIV-like viruses may lead to vaccine.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Primate Archaeology Sheds Light On Human Origins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UkQ6TjLNOIk/090715131437.htm
Archaeologists are now establishing a discipline devoted to the history of tool use in non-human primate species in order to better understand human evolution.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Unraveling How Cells Respond To Low Oxygen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-yCLnPEN8qU/090805164915.htm
Scientists have elucidated how the stability of the REDD1 protein is regulated. The REDD1 protein is a critical inhibitor of the mTOR signaling pathway, which controls cell growth and proliferation.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Ozone Depletion Reduces Ocean Carbon Uptake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YOL1pzArLwc/090806141716.htm
The Southern Ocean plays an important role in mitigating climate change because it acts as a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Most current models predict that the strength of the Southern Ocean carbon dioxide sink should increase as atmospheric carbon dioxide rises, but observations show that this has not been the case.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Distinctive Gene Expression In Brains Of Relapsing Heroin-addicted Rats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GK_pWVIokXs/090806191932.htm
A group of genes whose expression is significantly altered following exposure to drug paraphernalia after an enforced "cold-turkey" period have been identified. Researchers studied gene expression in the brains of heroin-addicted rats, identifying those genes that may be involved in precipitating a relapse.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Earth's Most Prominent Rainfall Feature Creeping Northward
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pUPoIANJoRQ/090701135535.htm
The rain band near the equator that determines the supply of freshwater to nearly a billion people throughout the tropics and subtropics has been creeping north for more than 300 years. If the band continues to migrate at just less than a mile a year, which is the average for all the years it has been moving north, then some Pacific islands near the equator may be starved of freshwater by midcentury or sooner.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Colon Cancer May Yield To Cellular Sugar Starvation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-gzTTOkYM7Y/090806170725.htm
Scientists have discovered how two cancer-promoting genes enhance a tumor's capacity to grow and survive under conditions where normal cells die. The knowledge, they say, may offer new treatments that starve cancer cells of a key nutrient -- sugar. However, the scientists caution that research does not suggest that altering dietary sugar will make any difference in the growth and development of cancer.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Gene Transcribing Machine Takes Halting, Backsliding Trip Along The DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m8XX-1e3gFQ/090730141603.htm
Cells have nanoscale protein machines that perform the first step in gene expression, gliding smoothly along the DNA and translating it into RNA. Or so scientists thought. Scientists now show that the real process is replete with long pauses and backsliding as the machine -- RNA polymerase II -- tries to negotiate the nucleosomes that tightly wrap DNA in the nucleus.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Stroke Doubles Patients' Risk Of Hip Or Thigh Fracture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qFdRwBPAvbg/090806170713.htm
Stroke survivors have about twice the risk of breaking a hip or thigh bone as people who haven't had a stroke. Risk of hip/femur fracture is even higher in younger patients, women and within three months of a stroke.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
No Daily Or Weekly Pattern To Earthquakes In Western U.S.
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lLs5SM2uF2M/090806184052.htm
Daily traffic and noisy machines mask the vibrations caused by earthquakes, making seismic stations unable to detect many M >1 earthquakes. As a result, more earthquakes appear to happen on Sundays and late at night when people and machines are at rest, according to a new study of the apparent daily and weekly periodicity of seismic activity.
Sun, 9 Aug 09
Cognitive Decline Not Linked To Socioeconomic Status In Elderly, According To New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rdEvU7G-zI4/090807154408.htm
New research suggests that for seniors age 70 and older, socioeconomic status does not play a major role in the brain's continued ability to function. However, seniors who have never been married and widowers seem to perform more poorly as they age.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Itch-specific Neurons Identified In Mice Offers Hope For Better Treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kr9SdqiBN2M/090806141514.htm
Researchers have discovered that itch-specific neurons exist in mice, and their studies suggest that itch and pain signals are transmitted along different pathways in the spinal cord. The researchers say they can knock out an animal's itch response without affecting its ability to sense pain.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Crystal Ball For Brain Cancer? New Method Predicts Which Brain Tumors Will Respond To Drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T6pgDE_d9FE/090730073609.htm
Researchers have uncovered a new way to scan brain tumors and predict which ones will be shrunk by the drug Avastin -- before the patient ever starts treatment. By linking high water movement in tumors to positive drug response, the scientists predicted with 70 percent accuracy which patients' tumors were the least likely to grow six months after therapy.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
How To Manage Dental Erosion Caused By Everyday Beverages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tqQu5nPcZG0/090717150252.htm
Researchers have outlined the acidic content of beverages, such as soda; lemon, grapefruit and orange juice; green and black tea; and revealed three steps to rehabilitate teeth that suffer from dental erosion as a result of the excessive consumption of these products.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Tumor Mutations Can Predict Chemo Success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n4cswYIETz8/090806170723.htm
Cancer biologists show that the interplay between two key genes that are often defective in tumors determines how cancer cells respond to chemotherapy. The findings should have an immediate impact on cancer treatment, according to researchers. The work could help doctors predict what types of chemotherapy will be effective in a particular tumor, which would help tailor treatments to each patient.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Marine Microbes Creating Green Waves In Industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x6T4BS-tSQQ/090807091210.htm
New technology designed to analyze large numbers of novel marine microbes could lead to more efficient and greener ways to manufacture new drugs for conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, flu and other viruses, as well as improving the manufacture of other products such as agrochemicals.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Males Of High Genetic Quality Are Not Very Successful At Fertilizing Eggs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bj2DR7sPfDA/090625141458.htm
Contrary to predictions, males of high genetic quality are not very successful when it comes to fertilizing eggs. A new study on seed beetles shows that when a female mates with several males, the males of low genetic quality are the most successful in fertilizing eggs.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Surface Features On Titan Form Like Earth's, But With A Frigid Twist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8j3CRs4ql1g/090806141526.htm
Saturn's haze-enshrouded moon Titan turns out to have much in common with Earth in the way that weather and geology shape its terrain, according to two new pieces of research. Wind, rain, volcanoes, tectonics and other Earth-like processes all sculpt features on Titan's complex and varied surface in an environment more than 100 °C colder on average than Antarctica.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Bladder Cells Feel Stretch: Molecular Mechanism Of Sensing Fullness Of Urine Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ja7b9zENWMk/090807091022.htm
Scientists have found that bladder urothelial cells have a sensor for stretch stimulation.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Douglas-fir, Geoducks Make Strange Bedfellows In Studying Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Uk6nyW-1AQ/090730103746.htm
Scientists are comparing annual growth rings of the Pacific Northwest's largest bivalve and its most iconic tree for clues to how living organisms may have responded to changes in climate.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Antibody Linked To Chemotherapy Drug Inhibits Ovarian Cancer In Lab
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/isSVTxmJ93k/090729170642.htm
A novel anticancer agent, consisting of a monoclonal antibody linked to a chemotherapy drug, showed substantial anti-tumor activity in ovarian cancer cell lines and in mice, according to a new study.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Chemical Separations: Membrane Breaks Through Performance Barrier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QyMKn9Wa1wo/090730160932.htm
Engineers have developed a new method for creating high-performance membranes from crystal sieves called zeolites; the method could increase the energy efficiency of chemical separations up to 50 times over conventional methods and enable higher production rates.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Menopause: Botanicals Have No Effect On Hot Flashes Or Cognition, Study Suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nqm7E0cHrbQ/090807091026.htm
Two studies have found that commonly used botanicals, while safe, do not have an effect on hot flashes or on cognitive function in menopausal women.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
People With Lots Of Working Memory Are Not Easily Distracted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LmfALiOBSTI/090806141712.htm
"That blasted siren. I can't focus." That reaction to undesired distraction may signal a person's low working-memory capacity, according to a new study. Based on a study of 84 students divided into four separate experiments, researchers found that students with high memory storage capacity were clearly better able to ignore distractions and stay focused on their assigned tasks.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Immune Responses To Flu Vaccine Are Diminished In Lupus Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CpB5tXPt52o/090730073618.htm
Because morbidity and mortality related to influenza are increased in immunocompromised patients, such as patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus, it is recommended that patients with SLE get annual flu shots, which are safe and do not increase disease activity. Both antibody and cell-mediated responses are involved in the immune response to influenza; in SLE, antibody responses to the vaccine are diminished, but it is not known if the same effect is seen in cell-mediated responses.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Heat Shock Proteins Provide Protection Against Cataracts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n1T1LA_7j2U/090731103328.htm
Scientists have succeeded in explaining the 3-D molecular architecture of "chaperone" proteins that prevent aggregation and clumping of other proteins in the human eye lens, thus protecting against cataracts. Their findings shed new light on the work of these proteins and may be able to help in the development of new treatments.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Older Cancer Patients Have More Frailty Than Other Seniors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/shOPLacDCxk/090729170640.htm
Older people with a history of cancer are more likely to have disabilities and be frail and vulnerable than older adults who have not had cancer, according to a new study.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Taking The Hard Work Out Of Software
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GmEpLh5DSNE/090729140241.htm
Developing software is a complicated and laborious process. A new European platform automates much of the tricky building and testing phases of programming.
Sat, 8 Aug 09
Overly Emotional Language May Be Counter-productive When Issuing Warnings About Pandemics And Hospital Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xzH-cv5XnTg/090807091019.htm
Giving people a sense of being in control is an important element in health messages, according to researchers. The research looked at how language used in policy messages and media coverage affects the public perception of health threats. The report warns that lyrical and over-emotional language may be counter-productive when issuing warnings and advice about pandemics and hospital infections.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Chicken-hearted Tyrants: Predatory Dinosaurs As Baby Killers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7YtRs_QE59c/090806112357.htm
Tyrannosaurus rex and other predatory dinosaurs might not have been fearless hunters after all. Using new fossil evidence, researchers in Germany propose that the large carnivores hunted mainly juvenile dinosaurs instead of giant herbivorous adults.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Gene Shut-down May Offer Early Warning Of Chronic Leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h_6HYnDc6fM/090805164919.htm
A new study shows that certain genes are turned off early in the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), before clinical signs of the disease appear. The study examined cancer cells from CLL patients and from a new strain of mice that develops a very similar disease. The findings suggest that epigenetic alterations might serve as markers for detecting CLL early and for monitoring progression, and that their reversal might delay or prevent progression.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
ER Physician Tells You How To Avoid A Lightning Strike And What To Do If One Occurs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P8VI_-2shR0/090805193601.htm
An estimated 200 people die each year in the U.S. after being struck by lightning. An extremely brief but intense hit delivers more than 10 million volts and is fatal in about 30 percent of cases. Recent lightning strikes in Newark resulted in one death and three injuries.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Why Even Treated Genital Herpes Sores Boost The Risk Of HIV Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QyBg2HflW_I/090802155237.htm
New research helps explain why infection with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes, increases the risk for HIV infection even after successful treatment heals the genital skin sores and breaks that often result from HSV-2.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Great Diversity Of Marine Plankton Drive Oceanic Photosynthesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ElfccKjFq4k/090804071826.htm
Marine biologists have demonstrated that there is considerable diversity amongst the smallest microalgae belonging to the group of so-called haptophytes. Scientists have shown that these photosynthetic microorganisms, highly diversified and extremely abundant, are some of the most important producers of oceanic organic matter.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Fat Hormone Influences Baseline Dopamine Levels And Our Motivation To Eat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1K-TFRXtnyA/090805133009.htm
As we all know from experience, people eat not only because they are hungry, but also because the food just simply tastes too good to pass up. Now, a new study helps to explain how leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue, influences that motivation to eat.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Long Debate Ended Over Cause, Demise Of Ice Ages? Research Into Earth's Wobble
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/__RnIVuPWgg/090806141512.htm
Researchers have largely put to rest a long debate on the underlying mechanism that has caused periodic ice ages on Earth for the past 2.5 million years -- they are ultimately linked to slight shifts in solar radiation caused by predictable changes in Earth's rotation and axis.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Common Trigger In Cancer And Normal Stem Cell Reproduction Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a4IAYvz67Sc/090806121722.htm
Researchers have discovered, for the first time, a common molecular pathway that is used by both normal stem cells and cancer stem cells when they reproduce themselves.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Fuel Cell Powered Unmanned Aerial System Achieves Flight Endurance Milestone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tFxUeBcJ1hg/090806141720.htm
Researchers have completed a successful flight test of the fuel cell powered XFC (eXperimental Fuel Cell) unmanned aerial system. During the June 2 flight test, the XFC UAS was airborne for more than six hours.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Sensitizing Tumor Response To Cancer Therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BgknPNFUjWk/090805150528.htm
Researchers are working to find natural, biologically active compounds that will sensitize cancerous tumors to therapy without damaging normal tissue.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Geoengineering To Mitigate Global Warming May Cause Other Environmental Harm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4UobuVFIArI/090806080142.htm
Geoengineering techniques aim to slow global warming through the use of human-made changes to the Earth's land, seas or atmosphere. But new research shows that the use of geoengineering to do environmental good may cause other environmental harm.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
No Need To Tighten Your Belt: Credit Crunch Will Worsen Obesity Epidemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a8EQt9ujEv8/090806191934.htm
Levels of debt have been associated with an increased risk of being fat. Researchers blame the trend on the high price of healthy food, and a tendency for people worried by debt to comfort eat.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Scientists Find Universal Rules For Food-web Stability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XVKx6Hle_TU/090806141708.htm
Food-web stability is enhanced when many diverse predator-prey links connect high and intermediate trophic levels. The computations also reveal that small ecosystems follow other rules than large ecosystems: differences in the strength of predator-prey links increase the stability of small webs, but destabilize larger webs.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
New Alzheimer's Gene Discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SjxhM1Ejk7U/090806201916.htm
A new study has found that a gene called TOMM40 appears twice as often in people with Alzheimer's disease than in those without it. Alzheimer's, for which there is no cure, is the leading cause of elderly dementia.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Wastewater Produces Electricity And Desalinates Water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VA6YkF2Xqco/090806112601.htm
A process that cleans wastewater and generates electricity can also remove 90 percent of salt from brackish water or seawater, according to an international team of researchers from China and the US.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Women Often Opt To Surgically Remove Their Breasts, Ovaries To Reduce Cancer Risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dmKyL5JPKog/090806080153.htm
Many women at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo surgery as a precautionary measure to decrease their cancer risk, according to a new report.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Technology To Support Deepwater Crustal Drilling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qb9ylRZZ8Ug/090804090942.htm
Scientists have engineered an ultra-deepwater drilling technology for use by drilling vessels in scientific research. Originally developed for shallow-water oil and gas exploration, the "riserless mud recovery" technology holds great promise for scientists striving to reach the long-held goal of Project Mohole in the 1950s: drilling through ocean crust into the Earth's mantle; a frontier not yet explored today.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Moving To The US Increases Cancer Risk For Hispanics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oOxM06Zu3ms/090806080144.htm
Results of a new study confirm trends that different Hispanic population groups have higher incidence rates of certain cancers and worse cancer outcomes if they live in the United States, than they do if they live in their homelands.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
New Planet-finder Shows Its Power: Kepler Orbiting Telescope Should Soon Find Alien Earths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVyb_DaNAL4/090806184434.htm
The first results are in from the Kepler orbiting observatory, the world's most powerful planet-searching telescope, and they show that the instrument should have no trouble detecting "alien Earths" -- planets that are about the size of our own.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Stem Cells Made From Developing Sperm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DZHM1HwDKcs/090806121716.htm
The promise of stem cell therapy may lie in uncovering how adult cells revert back into a primordial, stem cell state, whose fate is yet to be determined. Now, cell scientists have identified key molecular players responsible for this reversion in fruit fly sperm cells. Researchers have shown that two proteins are responsible redirecting cells on the way to becoming sperm back to stem cells.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Beetroot Juice Boosts Stamina, New Study Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1itKewv22VI/090806141520.htm
Drinking beetroot juice boosts your stamina and could help you exercise for up to 16 percent longer. A new study shows for the first time how the nitrate contained in beetroot juice leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring. The study reveals that drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to an extent that cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Higher Drug Doses Needed To Defeat Tuberculosis, Researchers Report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b5FOsddtyhw/090730073624.htm
The typical dose of a medication considered pivotal in treating tuberculosis effectively is much too low to account for modern-day physiques, researchers said.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Scientists Find Early Evolution Maximized The 'Spellchecking' Of Protein Sequences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ba3tqQzA1BI/090806141706.htm
As letters of the alphabet spell out words, when amino acids are linked to one another in a particular order they "spell out" proteins. But sometimes the cell machinery for building proteins in our bodies makes a mistake and the wrong amino acid is inserted. The consequences can be devastating, resulting in a garbled protein that no longer has the correct function, possibly leading to cancers and other diseases.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
100-meter Sprint Can Be Run In 9.51 Seconds, Extreme-value Theory Shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c81U-aySfUo/090806080343.htm
Just how much faster can an athlete run the hundred meters? The current world record, which belongs to Usain Bolt, stands at 9.69 seconds. Two econometricians have calculated the ultimate records possible for the 100-meter sprint. There is room for improvement in both the men's and women's times in the near future.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Nanoscale Origami From DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hcav2n_DLa8/090806141524.htm
Scientists have thrown the lid off a new toolbox for building nanoscale structures out of DNA, with complex twisting and curving shapes. They report a series of experiments in which they folded DNA, origami-like, into 3-D objects including a beach ball-shaped wireframe capsule just 50 nanometers in diameter.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
More Insulin-producing Cells, At The Flip Of A 'Switch'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yXvZDgHfaTE/090806184054.htm
Researchers have found a way in mice to convert another type of pancreas cell into the critical insulin-producing beta cells that are lost in those with type I diabetes. The secret ingredient is a single transcription factor, according to the report.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Protein Unfolding Is Key For Understanding Blood Clot Mechanics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dlcvuODKFFo/090806141516.htm
Fibrin, the chief ingredient of blood clots, is a remarkably versatile polymer. On one hand, it forms a network of fibers -- a blood clot -- that stems the loss of blood at an injury site while remaining pliable and flexible. On the other hand, fibrin provides a scaffold for thrombi, clots that block blood vessels and cause tissue damage, leading to cardiovascular disease. The answer is a process known as protein unfolding.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Finding Key To Cancer Drug Gleevec's Limitations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OLNh0fUkYRo/090805084953.htm
Researchers have learned why imatinib, marketed as Gleevec, helps patients with chronic myeloid leukemia survive longer, but does not keep the disease from returning if treatment ends. The team is now combining imatinib with other drugs in mouse studies to find ways to sensitize resistant leukemia-initiating cells to imatinib and enhance its power.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Large Hadron Collider To Run At 3.5 TeV For Early Part Of 2009-2010 Run, Rising Later
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cmP_DrZFD_I/090806141714.htm
CERN 's Large Hadron Collider will initially run at an energy of 3.5 TeV per beam when it starts up in November this year. This news comes after all tests on the machine's high-current electrical connections were completed last week, indicating that no further repairs are necessary for safe running.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Does Facebook Usage Contribute To Jealousy In Relationships?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y3nIzdtb0rE/090806112558.htm
The more time college students spend on Facebook, the more likely they are to feel jealous toward their romantic partners, leading to more time on Facebook searching for additional information that will further fuel their jealousy, in an escalating cycle that may become addictive, according to a new study.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Organic Carbon Compounds Emitted By Trees Affect Air Quality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JSSWKHRZv60/090806141518.htm
A previously unrecognized player in the process by which gases produced by trees and other plants become aerosols -- microscopically small particles in the atmosphere -- has been discovered by researchers.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Key To Strengthening Immune Response To Chronic Infection Found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uNfzh4x5vTw/090806121718.htm
A team of researchers has identified a protein that could serve as a target for reprogramming immune system cells exhausted by exposure to chronic viral infection into more effective "soldiers" against certain viruses like HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B, as well as some cancers, such as melanoma.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Researchers Reveal Ocean Acidification At Station ALOHA In Hawaii
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tlsm75hQmfc/090806112609.htm
Despite the global environmental importance of ocean acidification, there are few studies of sufficient duration, accuracy and sampling intensity to document the rate of change of ocean pH and shed light on the factors controlling its variability. Researchers in Hawaii have recently addressed this issue.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Protein Level May Serve As Predictor Of Severe Osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bfY79Wu3J4E/090730073616.htm
Osteoarthritis, is the most common joint disorder throughout the world and a leading cause of disability. Unlike most other common diseases, little is known about its origins, and factors predicting a severe disease course have not been identified. A new study, the first to establish a laboratory marker for the risk of severe OA, found that vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, was a strong predictor of hip and knee joint replacement due to severe OA.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
NASA Eyes Category 4 Hurricane Felicia And A Stubborn Enrique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kPuB53AmoWQ/090806170717.htm
Felicia is the storm that rules the Eastern Pacific Ocean this week, but Enrique refuses to give up. Felicia is a major hurricane with sustained winds near 140 mph, and Enrique is still hanging onto tropical storm status with 50 mph sustained winds. Both cyclones are close to each other and NASA satellites captured them together.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Looking At Language: Eye Movements Of Parkinson’s Disease Patients During Sentence Comprehension Support Subcortical Role In Processing Syntax
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v-xPRRcMtPM/090804071818.htm
The study of the neural basis of language has largely focused on regions in the cortex -- the outer brain layers thought by many researchers to have expanded during human evolution. New research adds to evidence that deeper, subcortical regions are also critical by pinpointing when Parkinson's disease patients have difficulty while processing grammatically complex sentences.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
More Accurate Weather Forecasts Coming Soon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fbXz5XaJBgU/090806191938.htm
More accurate global weather forecasts and a better understanding of climate change are in the works. Scientists developed a high performance electronic device -- known as a dual polarized Frequency Selective Surface filter -- that is to be used in future European Space Agency (ESA) missions. The data measures temperature, humidity profiles, and gas composition, which are in turn entered into operational systems and used to forecast weather and pollution.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Study Links Selection For Pathogen-resistance With Increased Risk For Inflammatory Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cBO0gOaKGak/090806121708.htm
New research reveals that a simple laboratory assay detects a genetic variation in host response to bacterial infection that is associated with an increased susceptibility for inflammatory disease. The study also provides fascinating insight into the link between evolution and the ability to ward off pathogens.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
New Seedless Tangerine-Like Citrus Plant Developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YdEvkwg9uxQ/090804174729.htm
Citrus researchers have developed a new mandarin (or tangerine) for commercial production. Named "DaisySL" for Daisy seedless, the new fruit is finely textured and juicy, with a rich, sweet and distinctive flavor when mature. Its rind is smooth and thin, and bears a deep orange color. In September 2009 "DaisySL" will be released for propagation by California citrus nurseries that have purchased licenses to propagate and sell the variety in the state.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Higher Muscle Density Reduced Risk Of Hospitalization In The Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vBSYU_8ofWk/090730073614.htm
Older adults who have less strength, poor physical function and low muscle density are at higher risk of being hospitalized compared to adults with more strength and better function.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Typhoon Morakot's Cloud Top Extent Doubled In Size In 1 Day
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FHyWaWY29ws/090806141718.htm
Satellite imagery over the last two days has shown Typhoon Morakot to be a monster, and over the last two days, NASA satellites have confirmed the typhoon doubled its size!
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Depression And Inflammation Linked To Pain In Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bVbpZotDmfU/090804145612.htm
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. More than 1.3 million adults in the US suffer from RA with 75 percent of those afflicted being women.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Fossil Tooth Remains Of Extinct Rodent Species Discovered: Oldest Find Within This Genus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TgMqve1n760/090728083707.htm
Scientists have discovered an extinct rodent species, based on fossil tooth remains found in Alborache, Valencia. Eomyops noeliae, from the Eomyidae family, represents the oldest find within this genus in the world.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
High Cholesterol In Midlife Raises Risk Of Late-life Dementia, Study Finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bPW1Uc_lrdM/090804071408.htm
Elevated cholesterol levels in midlife -- even levels considered only borderline elevated -- significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia later in life, according to a new study by researchers in Finland.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Marine Pest Species Costing Billions In Damage To Fisheries, Coastal Communities And Infrastructure Are Spreading
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XdWSvJz4kcw/090726092331.htm
Marine pest species costing billions in damage to fisheries, coastal communities and infrastructure are spreading as the world's shipping nations continue to largely neglect bringing into effect an international treaty setting out requirements for consistent handling and treatment of ships' ballast water, according to new report.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
New Insight Into Human Ciliopathy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X2r3GlorA1o/090804090948.htm
Medical researchers have identified the molecular basis of the lethal developmental disorder, hydrolethalus syndrome, and reveal that hydrolethalus syndrome actually belongs to the emerging class of human ciliopathy diseases.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Sustainable Agriculture: Perennial Plants Produce More; Landscape Diversity Creates Habitat For Pest Enemies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WU4a7Pfp650/090804071358.htm
Advances in ecology increasingly reveal that conventional agricultural practices have detrimental effects on the landscape ecology, creating problems for long-term sustainability of crops. Ecologists are exploring how our agricultural practices can take lessons from natural environments.
Fri, 7 Aug 09
Older Adults Subjected To Abuse Or Self-neglect At Greater Risk Of Mortality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZB5bJcONwE/090804165153.htm
Older adults who are subjected to abuse or self-neglect face a greater risk of premature death than other seniors, according to a study published in the Aug. 5 issue of JAMA.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
All-in-One Nanoparticle: A 'Swiss Army Knife' For Nanomedicine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p7ptk4zoo0U/090727191923.htm
Nanoparticles are being developed to perform a wide range of medical uses -- imaging tumors, carrying drugs, delivering pulses of heat. Rather than settling for just one of these, researchers have combined two nanoparticles in one tiny package. The result is the first structure that creates a multipurpose nanotechnology tool for medical imaging and therapy.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Protein That May Be 'Boon' To Medicine Isolated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XPR4Il369v0/090805084955.htm
Scientists have isolated a unique protein that appears to have a dual function and could lead to a "boon in medicine."
Thu, 6 Aug 09
African Village Dogs Are Genetically Much More Diverse Than Modern Breeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sdb5VBeL9yE/090804165210.htm
African village dogs are not a mixture of modern breeds but have directly descended from an ancestral pool of indigenous dogs, according to a new genetic analysis of hundreds of semi-feral African village dogs.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Popular Insect Repellent Deet Is Neurotoxic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p_R4s_xcM4E/090804193230.htm
The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system. Researchers say that more investigations are urgently needed to confirm or dismiss any potential neurotoxicity to humans, especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Shedding Light On Freak Wave Hot Spots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OnhycsUj7bE/090805150526.htm
Instances of "freak" or extreme waves have long been part of maritime lore, known for suddenly sending ships to the ocean floor. Using mathematical simulations, researchers have shown that changes in water depth and currents, which are common in coastal areas, may significantly increase the likelihood of extreme waves. These findings could allow for identification of extreme wave hotspots, which would greatly benefit the shipping industry and design of offshore structures.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Men Who Do The Housework Are More Likely To Get The Girl
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LhAJiVlgTvQ/090805142905.htm
Marriage and cohabiting rates in developed countries can be linked to attitudes towards the roles of men and women, and views on who is responsible for doing the housework and looking after the children. Both men and women have shown they are more likely to want a live-in relationship with the opposite sex if they think their partner will do a share of the housework and childcare duties.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Astronomers Find Hyperactive Galaxies In Early Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KEW9cDIB66w/090805193113.htm
Looking almost 11 billion years into the past, astronomers have measured the motions of stars for the first time in a very distant galaxy and clocked speeds upwards of one million miles per hour, about twice the speed of our Sun through the Milky Way.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Decoding Leukemia Patient Genome Leads Scientists To Mutations In Other Patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LM5-oNi-VGw/090805171107.htm
Scientists have sequenced the complete genome of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia, discovering a suite of genetic changes in the cancer cells. Their research has revealed that one of these mutations also is common in certain brain tumors called gliomas and that another occurred in a second patient with the same type of leukemia. Neither mutation had been previously linked to leukemia.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Do Chicago’s Suburbs Hold The Key To Understanding West Nile Virus?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_oj-cUgDpW8/090730155551.htm
When Tony Goldberg is not whacking through the brush of central Africa, one of the world's great cauldrons of emerging human and animal disease, he is scouring another disease hot spot: the southwestern suburbs of Chicago. The goal of Goldberg's study is to ferret out the reasons why one neighborhood might be in the eye of the West Nile storm while another neighboring area is not.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Sex Hormones Associated With Broken Bones In Older Men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tZEm7MTyLWg/090803222708.htm
Low levels of estradiol or high levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture in older men, according to a new study. The study also finds that men with low levels of testosterone combined with high levels of SHBG are also at higher risk for bone fracture.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
NASA To Provide Web Updates On Objects Approaching Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GVURyyCIJ0E/090804094917.htm
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is introducing a new Web site that will provide a centralized resource for information on near-Earth objects -- those asteroids and comets that can approach Earth. The "Asteroid Watch" site also contains links for the interested public to sign up for NASA's new asteroid widget and Twitter account.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
The Way You Eat May Affect Your Risk For Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NzUGa7qVbVA/090804071404.htm
How you eat may be just as important as how much you eat, if mice studies are any clue. Cancer researchers have long studied the role of diet on breast cancer risk, but results to date have been mixed. New findings suggest the method by which calories are restricted may be more important for cancer protection than the actual overall degree of calorie restriction.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Venomous Sea Snakes Play Heads Or Tails With Their Predators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WRPOP3a4nV4/090805201539.htm
A new discovery reveals how venomous sea snakes deceive their predators into believing they have two heads.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Gut Hormone Has 'Remote Control' On Blood Sugar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lWmzkQKp4BY/090805133011.htm
A gut hormone first described in 1928 plays an unanticipated and important role in the remote control of blood sugar production in the liver, according to a new report. What's more, the researchers show that rats fed a high-fat diet for a few days become resistant to the glucose-lowering hormone known as cholecystokinin.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
New Insights Into Health And Environmental Effects Of Carbon Nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZKW_RFjYRPM/090805110735.htm
A new study raises the possibility that flies and other insects that encounter nanomaterial "hot spots," or spills, near manufacturing facilities in the future could pick up and transport nanoparticles on their bodies, transferring the particles to other flies or habitats in the environment.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Protein Complex Key In Avoiding DNA Repair Mistakes, Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xxSfpWc0ehY/090730182705.htm
Lymphoma and other cancers may occur when a delicate gene recombination process in antibody-making cells goes awry, according to preliminary studies in mice at the University of Michigan.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Possible Meteorite On Mars Imaged By Opportunity Rover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-E7AvM4H83U/090804094442.htm
NASA's Opportunity rover has eyed an odd-shaped, dark rock, about 0.6 meters (2 feet) across on the surface of Mars, which may be a meteorite.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Intense, Prolonged Exposure To World Trade Center Attack Linked To New Health Problems Years Later
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LwtrVG_Yg0M/090804165155.htm
Large number of individuals, such as recovery and rescue workers, nearby residents and office workers, who experienced intense or prolonged exposure to the World Trade Center attack have reported new diagnoses of asthma or post-traumatic stress 5-6 years after the attack.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Crows Can Use 'Up To Three Tools' In Correct Sequence Without Training
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XTKeJghaAhc/090805144114.htm
Crows can spontaneously use up to three tools in the correct sequence to achieve a goal, something never before observed in non-human animals without explicit training. Sequential tool use has often been interpreted as evidence for advanced cognitive abilities, such as planning and analogical reasoning, but this has never been explicitly examined.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
MRI May Help Physicians Diagnose, Stage And Treat Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_0uN_c1LT_s/090805110732.htm
Noninvasive imaging may aid physicians in the early diagnosis, staging and treatment of diabetes, according to a new study. This is the first study of its kind to apply noninvasive imaging techniques to diabetes research.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Scientists In Northern Alaska Spot A Shorebird Tagged 8,000 Miles Away
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Di7uamwa4Qc/090804215021.htm
Wildlife Conservation Society scientists studying shorebirds in western Arctic Alaska recently made a serendipitous discovery when they spotted a bar-tailed godwit with a small orange flag and aluminum band harmlessly attached to its legs. Further research revealed that scientists in Australia had banded the bird and attached the flag near Victoria -- more than 8,000 miles away.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Is There Long-term Brain Damage After Bypass Surgery? More Evidence Puts The Blame On Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TzUbTsTmgFg/090803132750.htm
Brain scientists and cardiac surgeons have evidence from 227 heart bypass surgery patients that long-term memory losses and cognitive problems they experience are due to the underlying coronary artery disease itself and not ill after-effects from having used a heart-lung machine.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Hybrid Vehicle Rebates Produce Scant Environmental Benefits, High Cost
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/58QhFRBgNAE/090804090944.htm
Despite major costs to taxpayers in the US and Canada, government programs that offer rebates to hybrid vehicle buyers are failing to produce environmental benefits, a new study says. The study finds that hybrid sales have come largely at the expense of small, relatively fuel-efficient, conventional cars, rather than large SUVs, trucks and vans, which produce substantially greater carbon emissions. The study also finds that the majority of consumers who purchase hybrids were not motivated to do so by government rebates.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Myth Of High Engineering Dropout Rate Refuted By New Study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QjAja0_4NGc/090804114104.htm
Research findings suggest that, contrary to popular belief, engineering does not have a higher dropout rate than other majors and women do just as well as men, information that could lead to a strategy for boosting the number of US engineering graduates.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
'Jumping Genes' Create Diversity In Human Brain Cells, Offering Clues To Evolutionary And Neurological Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fEEasOKnEL4/090805133013.htm
Rather than sticking to a single DNA script, human brain cells harbor an astonishing genomic variability, according to scientists. The findings could help explain brain development and individuality, as well as lead to a better understanding of neurological disease.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Cardiovascular Risk After Ischemic Attack Predicted By Ultrasound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v3G23C3UovU/090729203652.htm
Ultrasound can be used to determine a patient's heart risk after a transient ischemic attack. An evaluation of transcranial and extracranial Doppler ultrasonography has shown that both future stroke and future cardiovascular ischemic events can be predicted by abnormal findings.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Dioxin Decomposition In The Yushchenko Case: Elimination Rate Faster Than Expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z5bDWhjiflw/090805075638.htm
In 2004 the current Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenko, suffered a severe case of dioxin poisoning. In order to understand how the human body reacts to remove the poison, researchers have analyzed over a hundred samples taken from the politician. They succeeded for the first time in identifying decomposition products which are created, and they also observed that when the dioxin dose is very high -- as was the case with Viktor Yushchenko -- the excretion rate is higher than expected.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
IgM In Urine Acts As Prognostic Indicator In Diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SYiIjj_-has/090803193647.htm
A marker of the likely course of diabetic nephropathy has been found. An 18-year study has shown that Immunoglobulin M is a reliable predictor of cardiovascular complications in DN patients.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Shipwrecks Wrecking Coral Reefs? A Case Study At Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gaJpjwz8P4Q/090803205933.htm
For the first time, researchers have definitively shown that shipwrecks and other man-made structures increase the potential for large invasions of unwanted species into coral reefs, even comparatively pristine ones. These unwanted species can completely overtake a reef and eliminate native corals, dramatically decreasing the diversity of marine organisms on the reef. Coral reefs can undergo fast changes in their dominant life forms, a phenomenon referred to as phase shift.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Hormone Levels Contribute To Stress Resilience
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GoBV4D0y3Bk/090805075640.htm
It is important to understand what biological mechanisms contribute to an individual's capacity to be resilient under conditions of extreme stress, such as those regularly experienced by soldiers, police, and firefighters. Researchers have now studied special operations soldiers enrolled in the military Combat Diver Qualification Course to discover how people fare under extreme stress.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Double Engine Fuels Star's Remarkable Nebula
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KE80iVBJXjk/090805095646.htm
ESO has just released a stunning new image of a field of stars towards the constellation of Carina (the Keel). This striking view is ablaze with a flurry of stars of all colors and brightnesses, some of which are seen against a backdrop of clouds of dust and gas. One unusual star in the middle, HD 87643, has been extensively studied with several ESO telescopes, including the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Surrounded by a complex, extended nebula that is the result of previous violent ejections, the star has been shown to have a companion. Interactions in this double system, surrounded by a dusty disc, may be the engine fueling the star's remarkable nebula.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Silenced Genes As Warning Sign Of Blood Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6okA5irXN6g/090804132745.htm
In the genetic material of cancer cells, important growth inhibitors are often switched off by chemical labels in the DNA. How this happens has now been investigated. Scientists discovered in mice that cancer-typical DNA labeling occurs long before the first symptoms of leukemia appear. A test for the genetic label might therefore help to detect a developing cancer at an early point.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Poaching Crisis As Rhino Horn Demand Booms In Asia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X9T9W39efEo/090726092605.htm
Rhino poaching worldwide is poised to hit a 15-year-high driven by Asian demand for horns, according to new research.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Protein 'Tweek' Rare But Critical In Synaptic Process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WKyfyEJ9yvE/090729121551.htm
Recycling is a critical component in the process of transmitting information from one neuron to the next, and a large protein called Tweek plays a critical role, according to new research.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Improved Air Quality During Beijing Olympics Could Inform Pollution-curbing Policies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EoGvQ6mNUy0/090724113548.htm
The air in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics was cleaner than the previous year's, due to aggressive efforts by the Chinese government to curtail traffic, increase emissions standards and halt construction in preparation for the games, according to a new study.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Workplace Yoga And Meditation Can Lower Feelings Of Stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/11j8QOG4mdM/090804114102.htm
Twenty minutes per day of guided workplace meditation and yoga combined with six weekly group sessions can lower feelings of stress by more than 10 percent and improve sleep quality in sedentary office employees, a pilot study suggests.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
First-ever 'Wanderlust Gene' Found In Tiny Bony Fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yzlYq0nODYU/090804193236.htm
A gene previously associated with physical traits is also dictating behavior in a tiny fish widely regarded as a living model of Darwin's natural selection theory, according to a new study.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Social Stress Linked To Harmful Fat Deposits, Heart Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vBpMSxvwnNc/090805080752.htm
A new study shows that social stress could be an important precursor to heart disease by causing the body to deposit more fat in the abdominal cavity, speeding the harmful buildup of plaque in blood vessels, a stepping stone to the No. 1 cause of death in the world.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Nanoscale Lasers May Open Door To Faster Computers, More Reliable Internet Access
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0lnS9vORcAo/090728132238.htm
Engineers have found ways to make nanolasers smaller, opening up possibilities of integrating lasers more effectively with electronics components. Among results would be computers that operate more rapidly and efficiently, and quicker, more reliable Internet access.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
One Force Behind The MYC Oncogene In Many Cancers Uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WBRQwd609iM/090728102308.htm
DLX5, a gene crucial for embryonic development, promotes cancer by activating the expression of the known oncogene, MYC, according to researchers. Since the DLX5 gene is inactive in normal adults, it may be an ideal target for future anti-cancer drugs, they reason.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Tires Made From Trees: Better, Cheaper, More Fuel Efficient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xdrLpFmCPmU/090721122846.htm
Automobile owners around the world may some day soon be driving on tires that are partly made out of trees -- which could cost less, perform better and save on fuel and energy.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Neuropathic Pain: The Sea Provides A New Hope Of Relief
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i5r_bSoJyqw/090804193234.htm
A compound initially isolated from a soft coral collected at Green Island off Taiwan, could lead scientists to develop a new set of treatments for neuropathic pain -- chronic pain that sometimes follows damage to the nervous system. Currently this form of pain is very poorly controlled by the usual analgesics and novel treatments are urgently required.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Growing Evidence Of Marijuana Smoke's Potential Dangers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QWTccwjVvUs/090805110741.htm
In a finding that challenges the increasingly popular belief that smoking marijuana is less harmful to health than smoking tobacco, researchers in Canada are reporting that smoking marijuana, like smoking tobacco, has toxic effects on cells.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Holding Breath For Several Minutes Elevates Marker For Brain Damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ln2c1i2Xci4/090804071410.htm
Divers who held their breath for several minutes had elevated levels of a protein that can signal brain damage. However, the appearance of the protein, S100B, was transient and leaves open the question of whether lengthy apnea (breath-holding) can damage the brain over the long term.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Saturnian Moon Shows Evidence Of Ammonia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wISsUnnWsOQ/090804125030.htm
Data collected during two close flybys of Saturn's moon Enceladus by NASA's Cassini spacecraft add more fuel to the fire about the Saturnian ice world containing sub-surface liquid water.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Link Uncovered Between Viral RNA And Human Immune Response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sarMYiGaaHc/090804165208.htm
In its fight against an intruding virus, an enzyme in our immune system may sense certain types of viral RNA pairs, according to scientists.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Eating 'Ouch-less' Vaccines Protects Prairie Dogs In The Lab Against Plague
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/No8qv6virT0/090803205828.htm
A new oral vaccine against sylvatic plague is showing significant promise in the laboratory as a way to protect prairie dogs and may eventually protect endangered black-footed ferrets who now get the disease by eating infected prairie dogs, according to new results. Sylvatic plague is an infectious bacterial disease usually transmitted from animal to animal by fleas.
Thu, 6 Aug 09
Autism Study Finds Visual Processing 'Hinders Ability' To Read Body Language
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qn7I9y5hNOk/090804193232.htm
The way people with autism see and process the body language of others could be preventing them from gaging people's feelings, according to new research.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Brain Difference In Psychopaths Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JauIdXzFtC4/090804090946.htm
Scientists have found differences in the brain which may provide a biological explanation for psychopathy.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Tumors Effectively Treated With Use Of Nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i2iTURK441E/090803104809.htm
By injecting man-made, microscopic tubes into tumors and heating them with a quick, 30-second zap of a laser, scientists have discovered a way to effectively kill kidney tumors in nearly 80 percent of mice. Researchers say that the finding suggests a potential future cancer treatment for humans.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Mars Dust Devil Has Colorful Effect In Image Series
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K4ITMXTwKkY/090804123242.htm
Scientists have combined a trio of shots taken seconds apart through different colored filters to create a special-effects portrait of a moving dust devil on Mars.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Maternal Immunity Not All Good For A Fetus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5s-5mEBC3Dc/090803173108.htm
New research has determined an immune mechanism responsible for graft failure in a mouse model of in utero blood cell transplantation, a procedure that could be used to treat human congenital blood disorders. As fetal immune cells were triggered to eliminate the transplanted blood cells by immune molecules obtained from the mother's breast milk, the authors suggest that it should be possible to develop approaches to insure this approach is successful in the clinic.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Does This Avatar Make Me Look Fat?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JOtFXlf6qls/090803222448.htm
Creating a Second Life avatar, or virtual representation of oneself, that is thin and physically fit may encourage individuals to become healthier and more physically fit in their real lives, according to a new study.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Thinking Crickets: 'Cognitive' Processes Underlie Memory Recall In Crickets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TT9bnja_sq8/090803193645.htm
Activation of two different kinds of neurons is necessary for appetitive and aversive memory recall in crickets. Researchers blocked octopaminergic (OA-ergic) and dopaminergic (DA-ergic) transmission and found that this resulted in the inability to recall pleasant and unpleasant memories, respectively.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Plastics That Convert Light To Electricity Could Have A Big Impact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eUdkCNG61Cc/090804114106.htm
Researchers have found a way to measure exactly how much electrical current is carried by tiny bubbles and channels that form inside nanoscale solar cells, paving the way for development of more efficient materials.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Promising Candidate Protein For Cancer Prevention Vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0asRBadq9bw/090804111730.htm
Researchers have learned that some healthy people naturally developed an immune response against a protein that is made in excess levels in many cancers, including breast, lung, and head and neck cancers. The finding suggests that a vaccine against the protein might prevent malignancies in high-risk individuals.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Lead-based Consumer Paint Remains A Global Public Health Threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Exju1UHfmAo/090804094641.htm
Although lead content in paint has been restricted in the United States since 1978, environmental health researchers say in major countries from three continents there is still widespread failure to acknowledge its danger and companies continue to sell consumer paints that contain dangerous levels of lead.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Heart Disease Patients With Previous Blockages More Likely To Die
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IPWrpcZoSYs/090803172958.htm
Compared to patients without prior heart disease, those who previously had blocked arteries were more likely to die in the hospital. Patients with previous heart disease also received three guideline-recommended treatments -- cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-smoking counseling and ACE inhibitors -- less frequently than patients who had not had heart disease. Two treatments -- aspirin and beta blockers -- were prescribed the same across the board.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Sick Fish May Get Sicker Due To Climate Change And Other Stresses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xbCdfNYrLYc/090803185830.htm
Entire populations of North American fish already are being affected by several emerging diseases, a problem that threatens to increase in the future with climate change and other stresses on aquatic ecosystems, according to biologists.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Friendship Influences Eating Behavior, Particularly When Friends Are Overweight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cOD7jYpPa6M/090803185718.htm
A new study of childhood obesity in the United States has found that some social factors, such as the presence of friends, may put overweight youths at greater risk of overeating.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Scary Ancient 'Spiders' Revealed In 3D Models, With New Imaging Technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uFmMLSPyuC8/090804211128.htm
Early relatives of spiders that lived around 300 million years ago are revealed in new three-dimensional models. Previous studies of the fossilized remains of Cryptomartus hindi allowed scientists to see some features of the creature, which had four pairs of legs and looked similar to a spider.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Cannibalistic Cells May Help Prevent Infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FAATAgUGlQY/090803173248.htm
Infectious-disease specialists have demonstrated that a cannibalistic process in cells plays a key role in limiting Salmonella infection.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Chemists Explain The Switchboards In Our Cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZdZAA9eVTVw/090803185838.htm
Our cells are controlled by billions of molecular "switches" and chemists have developed a theory that explains how these molecules work. Their findings may significantly help efforts to build biologically based sensors for the detection of chemicals ranging from drugs to explosives to disease markers.
Wed, 5 Aug 09
Structure Of Antibiotic Ramoplanin Reveals Promising Mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mhBoLZFxv4Y/090803185828.htm
With the "last resort" antibiotic Vancomycin now plagued by the first signs of bacterial resistance, scientists have identified how a candidate successor antibiotic known as Ramoplanin A2 can kill pathogenic bacteria by interrupting how they form their cell membranes.