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Champagne is good for your heart, study suggests -- but only in moderation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LE2ZgvcP0VM/091215163537.htm
Research from the UK suggests that two glasses of champagne a day may be good for your heart and circulation. The researchers have found that drinking champagne wine daily in moderate amounts causes improvements in the way blood vessels function.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Putting limits on vitamin E
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g1afSCK0CTs/091230152424.htm
Scientists have done the most comprehensive and accurate study of clinical data on vitamin E use and heart disease to date, and it warns that indiscriminate use of high-dose vitamin E supplementation does more harm than good.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Looking back in time 12 billion years with new instruments on Herschel Space Observatory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MQgMbEyOwOk/091230154511.htm
Astronomers have made the most detailed views yet of space up to 12 billion years back in time.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Treating alcohol-use disorders and tuberculosis together
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U0GQpUlXU-k/091119193638.htm
Treatment for alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB) is rarely integrated, even though the two diseases have a high co-occurrence. American and Russian researchers have jointly designed and are monitoring an innovative program that will deliver alcohol treatment as part of routine TB care. The trial study is continuing.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Moving video to 'captcha' robot hackers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x-jaJXca-aA/091229105911.htm
Researchers have developed a synthesis technique that generates moving pictures of 3-D objects which will allow security developers to generate an infinite number of "emergence" images virtually impossible for any computer algorithm to decode.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Young hunters most likely to be injured using tree stands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZBq7sxlZG3Y/091230152428.htm
Young hunters between the ages of 15 and 34 are the most likely to suffer serious injuries in tree stand-related incidents, say researchers. The same researchers' findings, though, suggest that such injuries are preventable.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Lithium-air batteries could displace gasoline in future cars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9c9hfnHXgUs/091230024401.htm
In excess of seven million barrels of gasoline are consumed by vehicles in the United States every day. As scientists race to find environmentally sound solutions to fuel the world's ever-growing transportation needs, battery researchers are exploring the promise of lithium-air battery technology.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Children more likely to catch swine flu, says new research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A5oAG9z30PM/091230174126.htm
Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study. However, the research also shows that young people are no more likely than adults to infect others with the pandemic H1N1 virus.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Short-term school closures may worsen flu pandemics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8ckQOeLSiHw/091230152422.htm
Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic. The findings, developed from a series of computer simulations based on U.S. census data, indicate that schools may need to be closed for at least eight weeks in order to significantly decrease the spread of infection.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Chinese-American and Korean-American women at highest risk for diabetes in pregnancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ak9LqdTA66w/091211074429.htm
A new study found more than 10 percent of women of Chinese and Korean heritage may be at risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy. The first of its kind, the 10-year study of 16,757 women and 22,110 pregnancies in Hawaii found that Chinese-American and Korean-American women's gestational diabetes risk is one-third higher than average -- and more than double that of Caucasian and African-American women.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Engineered tobacco plants have more potential as a biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QZ3shnxm7GM/091230174128.htm
Researchers have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Scientists develop technique to determine ethnic origin of stem cell lines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DrB8Emo2sHc/091229181047.htm
Scientists have developed a straightforward technique to determine the ethnic origin of stem cells. The team's analysis of a variety of human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use in research laboratories around the world found that these cells originated largely from Caucasian and East Asian populations, with little representation from populations originating in Africa.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Marseillevirus -- a new member of the giant viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JF8RQf1LunY/091230113210.htm
After Mimivirus, Mamavirus and the virophage, the group of giant viruses now has a new member called Marseillevirus. The new virus was discovered in an amoeba by a team of French researchers. Their findings suggest the exchange of genes in amoebae that may lead to the constitution of different gene repertoires that could be a source of new pathogens.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Small molecules found to protect cells in multiple models of Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/369KSpRbrgU/091228152344.htm
Several structurally similar small molecules appear capable of protecting cells from alpha-synuclein toxicity, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowed movements. There is currently no cure for the disease, and current Parkinson's therapies only address disease symptoms, not the disease's cellular cause.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
New RNA interference technique can silence up to five genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o-D3z7Mm-Rs/091228152346.htm
Researchers report that they have successfully used RNA interference to turn off multiple genes in the livers of mice, an advance that could lead to new treatments for diseases of the liver and other organs.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Weakened Plasmodium generates protective immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h-CXnJVNcV0/091230193211.htm
Researchers have found that weakened Plasmodium elicits a protective immune response.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Permafrost thaw may accelerate Arctic groundwater runoff
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4v1n6HmGEGA/091230183536.htm
As the Arctic warms, permafrost will degrade, potentially resulting in increased groundwater runoff as frozen ground that had blocked the flow of water melts. To investigate how groundwater systems will evolve as surface temperatures rise, researchers have developed a model to simulate an idealized aquifer covered by a layer of permafrost.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Secrets of duck sex revealed: It's all screwed up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-5rkIBfZlts/091223074659.htm
Female ducks have evolved an intriguing way to avoid becoming impregnated by undesirable but aggressive males endowed with large corkscrew-shaped penises: vaginas with clockwise spirals that thwart oppositely spiraled males.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
No rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide fraction in past 160 years, new research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KkwBo3dT3uI/091230184221.htm
Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase. In contradiction to those studies, new research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
New tool in the fight against mosquito-borne disease: A microbial 'mosquito net'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V17UFJaDmsM/091227212327.htm
Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Body's own veins provide superior material for aortic grafts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tc_4e83-heM/091230113127.htm
A vascular surgical technique designed to replace infected aortic grafts with the body's own veins has proved more durable and less prone to new infection than similar procedures using synthetic and cadaver grafts.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Imaging tests identify role of allergies in chronic sinus disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJz0kXdUktY/091221212819.htm
Exposing patients with chronic sinus disease to allergens and then obtaining repeated images by X-ray or ultrasound reveals that nasal allergies may be involved in some cases of chronic sinus disease, according to a new study.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
How much ice needed to create Martian land formations?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m8tm6tFoZ6k/091230183350.htm
Some land formations on Mars suggest the presence of water ice. These features could have been created by viscous creep of ice below the surface in Martian permafrost. To determine how much ice would be needed to form the observed topography on Mars, researchers conducted laboratory experiments to simulate the frozen Martian sand.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Addictive effects of caffeine on kids being studied
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mD8grEvS1LQ/091230152426.htm
Caffeine is a stimulant drug, although legal, and adults use it widely to perk themselves up: Being "addicted" to caffeine is considered perfectly normal. But how strong is caffeine's appeal in young people who consume an abundance of soft drinks? What impact does acute and chronic caffeine consumption have on their blood pressure, heart rate and hand tremor? Furthermore, does consuming caffeinated drinks during adolescence contribute to later use of legal or illicit drugs?
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Natural variability led to extra-cold 2008, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rLy-1a7GcJc/091230183204.htm
An especially cold year in North America in 2008 led some members of the public and the media to question the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming. In addition, the cool global temperatures during the past decade may appear to contrast with the warming expected due to human influence. New research finds that the anthropogenic forcing in 2008 did contribute to temperatures warmer than would otherwise have occurred but that those human-induced effects were overwhelmed by a particularly strong bout of natural cooling.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F4sPW3D0d8c/091124103611.htm
The gene in question is a suicide gene, called "gene E," which leads to the death of tumor cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show "limited" results in advanced stages of cancer, so the kind of gene therapy proposed by the scientists of the UGR is a huge breakthrough in cancer treatment.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
New video reveals secrets of Webb Telescope's MIRI
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7cAhtcJR4Uo/091229164949.htm
It's going to take infrared eyes to see farther back in time than even the Hubble Space Telescope, and that's what the James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI or Mid-Infrared Instrument detectors will do.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Widely used device for pain therapy not recommended for chronic low back pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q4AwycImPGg/091230174120.htm
A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, a widely used pain therapy involving a portable device, is not recommended to treat chronic low-back pain -- pain that has persisted for three months or longer -- because research shows it is not effective.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Saturn's auroral hiss is asymmetrical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nFBJcsptAgI/091230183755.htm
Saturn emits "auroral hiss," a whistler-mode electromagnetic emission observed in the magnetosphere at high latitudes. This emission is similar to auroral hiss emitted by Earth. However, unlike Earth's auroral hiss, researchers have found that Saturn rotates in a beam-like matter around the planet.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/46iA7dPFE8Q/091123114811.htm
When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally grown apples than genetically modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire consumers preferred GMO apples -- that is, when they were described, not as GMO, but as having a Reduced Environmental Impact. The research demonstrated that product labeling makes a difference when it comes to consumer acceptance.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Severity of H1N1 influenza linked to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pwOrsDuu1LI/091230201419.htm
The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza. Reports that H1N1 pandemic influenza in Argentina was associated with higher morbidity and mortality than in other countries led investigators in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health to look for viral mutations indicative of increased virulence and for co-infections that could contribute to disease.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Discovery of new function of prion protein improves understanding of epilepsy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8iCy8rI2yuo/091127175422.htm
Cellular prion protein (PrPc) plays an essential role in maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis in the central nervous system. This discovery has been made possible by the observation that both a deficiency and an excess of the protein have a considerable effect on this homeostasis. Surprisingly, in both cases, the central nervous excitability threshold is altered to such an extent that an epileptic seizure may result. Thanks to this discovery, researchers now have more tools at our disposal that can help deepen our basic understanding of epilepsy.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Handful of iron beads offer clues to solve mystery of ancient iron forges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9-DM9KKbgto/091228124733.htm
When archaeologist Ruth Iren Øien noticed a cluster of tiny iron beads in the ground, she knew she was onto something. She did not know, however, that her team had stumbled upon Scandinavia’s oldest and most complex group of iron forges.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Why diseased heart muscle cells don't communicate properly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8g9kNaORZvw/091228171858.htm
The heartbeat is controlled by rapid conduction of an electrical current between heart muscle cells. Central to passage of the electrical current are structures known as gap junctions, low resistance conduits that link heart muscle cells and consist of proteins known as connexins.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Continental roots stress Earth's surface
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5MAK54sMRp4/091230183944.htm
The Earth's rigid lithosphere varies laterally in thickness and strength. Areas of thicker, older lithosphere known as continental roots penetrate deeper into the mantle in some places under continents. Because these continental roots are in contact with deeper, more viscous mantle, the shear traction at the base of the lithosphere in those areas is increased by up to a factor of 4 compared with a model lithosphere without continental roots.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Children who lack continuity with a regular health care provider miss needed services
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CYObPXpfPbg/091123171414.htm
Low-income children who don't access health care from the same place or provider over the long term are significantly more likely to have unmet health care needs compared with those do, according to a new study.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vF6eVxtS2f0/091207151234.htm
An ultra-high-resolution imaging technique using X-ray diffraction is a step closer to fulfilling its promise as a window on nanometer-scale structures in biological samples. Researchers report progress in applying an approach to "lensless" X-ray microscopy that they introduced one year ago, with the potential to yield insights for evolutionary biology and biotechnology. They have produced the first images, using this technique, of biological cells -- specifically the intriguing polyextremophile Deinococcus radiourans.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Rapid flu testing differentiates strains of influenza
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ru194s8Z484/091229164945.htm
Researchers have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
New acoustic tools may reduce ship strikes on whales
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lAQ1n9ib4y4/091229124930.htm
Over the past decade, researchers have developed a variety of reliable real-time and archival instruments to study sounds made or heard by marine mammals and fish. These new sensors are now being used in research, management and conservation projects around the world with some very important practical results. Among them is improved monitoring of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an effort to reduce ship strikes, a leading cause of their deaths.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Cardiovascular devices often approved by FDA without high-quality studies, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/anlP8KxgLws/091229164936.htm
Pre-market approval by the FDA of cardiovascular devices is often based on studies that lack adequate strength or may have been prone to bias, according to a new study. Researchers found that of nearly 80 high-risk devices, the majority received approval based on data from a single study.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
'Spaghetti' Scaffolding Could Help Grow Skin In Labs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2iyXcbj864s/091016093929.htm
Scientists are developing new scaffolding technology which could be used to grow tissues such as skin, nerves and cartilage using 3D spaghetti-like structures.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TXfnmP2OlXY/091229105906.htm
The past year has been marked by a series of moral transgressions by powerful figures in political, business and celebrity circles. New research explores why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Transcription factors guide differences in human and chimp brain function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w65iKKMGxN0/091207151220.htm
Humans share at least 97 percent of their genes with chimpanzees, but, as a new study of transcription factors makes clear, what you have in your genome may be less important than how you use it.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
New target for lymphoma therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uh8dFyk8ZM8/091209134635.htm
Researchers have discovered how an oncogene gets activated in mature B cells, suggesting a new target for therapy in B cell lymphomas. The study marks the first time researchers have understood how the over-activation of c-myc can lead to blood-related cancers.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Dominant Chemical That Attracts Mosquitoes To Humans Identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X3spDlMtqhw/091026172056.htm
Scientists have identified the dominant odor naturally produced in humans and birds that attracts the blood-feeding Culex mosquitoes, which transmits West Nile virus and other life-threatening diseases. The groundbreaking research explains why mosquitoes shifted hosts from birds to humans and paves the way for key developments in mosquito and disease control.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Obesity May Hinder Optimal Control Of Blood Pressure And Cholesterol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cvoIgjhkNqo/091025091134.htm
Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Heme channel found: shuttles vital but vulnerable heme molecule across biological membranes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ajGrvcsYpb0/091217183103.htm
Heme, a crucial component of the biomachinery that squeezes energy out of food and stores it for later use, must be transported across membranes but without exposing its central iron atom to oxidation. New research shows how it is done.
Thu, 31 Dec 09
Fish with attitude: Some like it hot
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ktYBB0dmEMg/091203091900.htm
Coral reef fish can undergo a personality change in warmer water, according to an intriguing new study suggesting that climate change may make some species more aggressive.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
First molars provide insight into evolution of great apes, humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eiaHKEE4I1A/091228152350.htm
Scientists have gained new insights into the timing of molar emergence and its relation to growth and reproduction in apes. "We can use the same techniques to calculate ages at first molar emergence from the fossils of early hominids that just happened to die while their first molars were erupting," researchers report.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Disinfectants may promote growth of superbugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HSGShe0Iy1U/091227212310.htm
Using disinfectants could cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics as well as the disinfectant itself, according to new research. The findings could have important implications for how the spread of infection is managed in hospital settings.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
How calorie-restricted diets fight obesity and extend life span
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XNzj2uQIX0E/091209134642.htm
Scientists searching for the secrets of how calorie-restricted diets increase longevity are reporting discovery of proteins in the fat cells of human volunteers that change as pounds drop off. The proteins could become markers for monitoring or boosting the effectiveness of calorie-restricted diets -- the only scientifically proven way of extending life span in animals.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood home associated with early emphysema in adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bTD1LFzW2X4/091228114732.htm
Children regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home were more likely to develop early emphysema in adulthood. The finding suggests that the lungs may not recover completely from the effects of early-life exposures to tobacco smoke.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Molecular chaperone keeps bacterial proteins from slow-dancing to destruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zf2aI0sQtVg/091228152342.htm
Just like teenagers at a prom, proteins are tended by chaperones whose job it is to prevent unwanted interactions among immature clients. And at the molecular level, just as at the high school gym level, it's a job that usually requires a lot of energy.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Lighting can influence how wine tastes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HPVfES0suhA/091215171510.htm
Researchers demonstrate that the color of ambient lighting can have an effect on how a wine is judged.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Superatoms mimic elements: Research gives new perspective on periodic table
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/21fpVkOf2y8/091228152348.htm
Researchers have shown that certain combinations of elemental atoms have electronic signatures that mimic the electronic signatures of other elements. The findings could lead to much cheaper materials for widespread applications such as new sources of energy, methods of pollution abatement, and catalysts on which industrial nations depend heavily for chemical processing.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
'Fountain of youth' for stem cells?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qtwUGz5tg48/091228120153.htm
Stems cells used for transplantation in the nervous system to provide neural regeneration are fragile, but can be kept "forever young" during implantation through the use of self-assembling nanofiber scaffolds (SAPNS), a nanotechnology application for implanting young cells. By manipulating cell density and SAPNS concentration, researchers used SAPNS as templates and guides to slow cell growth, differentiation and proliferation, thereby creating a protective nanoenvironment for a variety of neural cells destined for implantation.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Mystery solved: How fine particulates are formed in the air
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3bYwTmOlJqA/091215172327.htm
Particulates make us ill, and particulates affect the climate. The direct combustion of wood and other fuels is only partially responsible for producing fine particulates – the rest evolve from a variety of substances, within the atmosphere itself.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Enzyme necessary for development of healthy immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xZOGLvcfKfM/091222105447.htm
Mice without the deoxycytidine kinase enzyme have defects in their adaptive immune system, producing very low levels of both T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in immune response, according to a new study.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Divide and conquer: Splitting fluorescent protein helps image clusters in live cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X_C8-G9nrO0/091228163306.htm
Half a protein is better than none, and in this case, it's way better than a whole one. Researchers have discovered that dividing a particular fluorescent protein and using it as a tag is handy for analyzing the workings of live cells, particularly in the way they employ iron-sulfur clusters.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
There may be a 'party' in your genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m-i0x0pursc/091228152354.htm
Genetics play a pivotal role in shaping how individual's identify with political parties , according to new research.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Cockroaches offer inspiration for running robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pul2C1RROlc/091228163304.htm
The sight of a cockroach scurrying for cover may be nauseating, but the insect is also a biological and engineering marvel, and is providing researchers with what they call "bioinspiration" in a quest to build the world's first legged robot that is capable of running effortlessly over rough terrain.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Citrus surprise: Vitamin C boosts the reprogramming of adult cells into stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h5JQ394HelU/091227212321.htm
Famous for its antioxidant properties and role in tissue repair, vitamin C is touted as beneficial for illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer and perhaps even for slowing the aging process. Now, a new study uncovers an unexpected new role for this natural compound: facilitating the generation of embryonic-like stem cells from adult cells.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Schizophrenia mouse model should improve understanding and treatment of the disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fp_rvIKerJQ/091228163308.htm
Scientists have created what appears to be a schizophrenic mouse by reducing the inhibition of brain cells involved in complex reasoning and decisions about appropriate social behavior.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR best choice for possible cardiac arrest signs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aupjHHQFavk/091222105305.htm
Dispatchers should give CPR instructions to bystanders of all suspected cardiac arrest victims, researchers said. The benefit of CPR to those having a cardiac arrest far outweighs the risk of injury to those who aren't. During 9-1-1 calls, dispatchers help bystanders correctly identify patients in cardiac arrest about half the time. Of 1,700 patients studied, three who incorrectly received CPR had minor injuries linked to chest compressions.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Climate Wizard makes large databases of climate information visual, accessible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QlgAr-ljh6k/091215145050.htm
A Web tool that generates color maps of projected temperature and precipitation changes using 16 of the world's most prominent climate-change models is being demonstrated in Copenhagen, Denmark, in conjunction with the climate summit underway there. It also is the subject of a presentation Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Accurate taste perception relies on a properly functioning olfactory system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NNWj7rbQr34/091222104909.htm
As anyone suffering through a head cold knows, food tastes wrong when the nose is clogged, an experience that leads many to conclude that the sense of taste operates normally only when the olfactory system is also in good working order. Evidence that the taste system influences olfactory perception, however, has been vanishingly rare -- until now.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Seeing without looking: Brain structure crucial for moving the mind's spotlight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gAxPZAsA7yI/091228090545.htm
Like a spotlight that illuminates an otherwise dark scene, attention brings to mind specific details of our environment while shutting others out. A new study shows that the superior colliculus, a brain structure that primarily had been known for its role in the control of eye and head movements, is crucial for moving the mind's spotlight.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Alzheimer's Disease: Amyloid Precursor Protein -- Good, Bad Or Both?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4uuJrfrXiIE/091018171806.htm
New data about amyloid precursor protein, or APP, a protein implicated in development of Alzheimer's disease, suggests it also may have a positive role -- directly affecting learning and memory during brain development. So is APP good or bad? Researchers say both, and that a balance of APP is critical.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Researchers design a tool to induce controlled suicide in human cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t2hDkSkIP_I/091217094901.htm
Researchers in Spain have designed a new tool to study rescue signaling pathways and cell suicide in depth.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Relatives of boys with sexual birth defects not at risk for testicular germ cell cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n8QGNtRCxFs/091221212740.htm
Boys with the sexual birth defects known as hypospadias and cryptorchidism are at risk for developing testicular germ cell cancer, but their relatives are not, according to a new study.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Study links real-time data to flu vaccine strategies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p5zTOksMhlo/091203163144.htm
Adaptive vaccination strategies, based on age patterns of hospitalizations and deaths monitored in real-time during the early stages of a pandemic, outperform seasonal influenza vaccination allocation strategies, according to a new article.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Modernizing the treatment of sexual dysfunction in men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZmjNxOrWWyU/091223094742.htm
Modern, couple-oriented treatment for male sexual dysfunction takes the psychosocial aspects of sex into account, as well as focusing on the purely physical aspects of the problem.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3OLaqbpUf4k/091214131134.htm
Scientists have identified a novel antifreeze molecule in a freeze-tolerant Alaska beetle able to survive temperatures below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike all previously described biological antifreezes that contain protein, this new molecule, called xylomannan, has little or no protein. It is composed of a sugar and a fatty acid and may exist in new places within the cells of organisms.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Afib Triggered By A Cell That Resembles A Pigment-producing Skin Cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xF_P47Wa_Qo/091012225807.htm
The source and mechanisms underlying the abnormal heart beats that initiate atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most common type of abnormal heart beat, have not been well determined. Researchers have now identified a population of cells that are like pigment-producing cells in the skin in the atria of the heart and pulmonary veins of mice and humans, and uncovered evidence in mice that these cells contribute to Afib.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Deep sea anchors for offshore installations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NTNlNfeYn7s/091220174833.htm
A 13 meter-long, 80-ton anchor is currently being tested as a new mooring concept for offshore installations.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
RORalpha, the orchestrator of neuron protection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bW6esPmkYn8/091215164115.htm
How do the brain cells called astrocytes ensure the protection of neurons? By studying the protagonists in the protection and satisfactory functioning of neurons, scientists have found a mechanism that clarifies the role of astrocytes. Crucial to this mechanism, RORalpha protein is revealed as an essential regulator of inflammatory factors. This discovery constitutes a new path for research on novel drugs in the event of cerebral lesions (e.g. neurodegenerative diseases or trauma).
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Researchers develop drug information interface to save lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HltRgbvzprs/091210125926.htm
A new drug information interface system has been shown to help in dealing with visual and motor impairments, which can make sorting, holding and identifying pills a challenge as we age.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Football (soccer) fights depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0qxE4jW5Tew/091215172331.htm
Despite being a significant risk group, young men are amongst those least likely to seek professional help when mentally distressed or suicidal. The 'Back of the Net' program, a pilot initiative using football (called soccer in the U.S.) and cognitive behavioral based techniques was effective in decreasing symptoms of depression in young men.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Why some continue to eat when full: Researchers find clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t2uhUJpptJE/091228090539.htm
New research in mice suggest that ghrelin might also work in the brain to make some people keep eating "pleasurable" foods when they're already full.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
One step closer to closure: Neuroscientists discover key to spinal cord defects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ITrMFdg4hRc/091228090543.htm
Spinal cord disorders like spina bifida arise during early development when future spinal cord cells growing in a flat layer fail to roll up into a tube. Researchers now report a never-before known link between protein transport and mouse spinal cord development, a discovery that opens new doors for research on all spinal defects.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Seeing how evolutionary mechanisms yield biological diversity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4m1b7w-tDgA/091222174917.htm
A international team of scientists has discovered how changes in both gene expression and gene sequence led to the diversity of visual systems in African cichlid fish.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Genetic causes identified for disturbances in lipid metabolism; implications for diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pqdfs5vy1Us/091228090541.htm
Scientists have identified new gene variants associated with disturbances in the lipid metabolism. Some of these common human gene variants are already known to be risk factors for diabetes mellitus.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Adjusting acidity with impunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nqjcnKmQFnY/091223215155.htm
How do individual cells or proteins react to changing pH levels? Researchers have now developed a technique for ‘gently’ adjusting pH: in other words, without damaging biomolecules. This should soon allow them to measure the activity of a single enzyme as a function of pH.
Tue, 29 Dec 09
Couples are better able to cope with health shocks than singles, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4iPiCf5xEP0/091228090537.htm
Marital status plays a significant role in how individuals cope economically with disability and health shocks, according to new research.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Ladder-walking locusts use vision to climb, show big brains aren't always best
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NjY7-1aTATM/091227212400.htm
Scientists have shown for the first time that insects, like mammals, use vision rather than touch to find footholds. They made the discovery thanks to high-speed video cameras that they used to film desert locusts stepping along the rungs of a miniature ladder. The study sheds new light on insects' ability to perform complex tasks, such as visually guided limb control, usually associated with mammals.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Microbes help mothers protect kids from allergies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CWX30B4Ij3U/091207095459.htm
A pregnant woman's exposure to microbes may protect her child from developing allergies later in life. Researchers in Germany find that exposure to environmental bacteria triggers a mild inflammatory response in pregnant mice that renders their offspring resistant to allergies.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
As the world churns: Earth's liquid outer core is slowly 'stirred' in a series of decades-long waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_i837ZIzJDs/091223222743.htm
A new study confirms theories that Earth's liquid outer core is slowly "stirred" in a series of regularly occurring waves of motion that last for decades. Measurements of Earth's magnetic field from observatory stations on land and ships at sea were combined with satellite data to determine common patterns of movement within Earth's core. The findings give scientists new insights into Earth's internal structure, the mechanisms that generate its magnetic field, and its geology.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Miss whiplash with locking headrest, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MX4qGYD8_6Q/091215171516.htm
Whiplash neck injuries among drivers and their passengers who have been shunted from behind are a major cause of long-term health problems and, in extreme cases, death. A new type of vehicle headrest promises to improve both safety and comfort.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Protein that keeps stem cells poised for action identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kH3XFEzw_Gc/091227212317.htm
Researchers have now identified a critical component, called Jarid2, of this delicate balancing act -- one that both recruits other regulatory proteins to genes important in differentiation and also modulates their activity to keep them in a state of ongoing readiness.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Of girls and geeks: Environment may be why women don't like computer science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-SuTOQiBDzw/091214143728.htm
In real estate, it's location, location, location. And when it comes to why girls and women shy away from careers in computer science, a key reason is environment, environment, environment.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Neuroscientists store information in isolated brain tissue; possible basis of short-term memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9IiNYAgTCeI/091227212312.htm
For the first time, neuroscientists have created stimulus-specific sustained activity patterns in brain circuits maintained in vitro.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
'Self-seeding' of cancer cells may play a critical role in tumor progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VflUnLaLf20/091227212402.htm
Cancer progression is commonly thought of as a process involving the growth of a primary tumor followed by metastasis, in which cancer cells leave the primary tumor and spread to distant organs. A new study shows that circulating tumor cells -- cancer cells that break away from a primary tumor and disseminate to other areas of the body -- can also return to and grow in their tumor of origin, a newly discovered process called "self-seeding."
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Genetic predeterminants for diabetes in African-Americans identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oZnNin_nCKY/091208221236.htm
Researchers say a recent discovery suggests that inherited genetic variations exist between whites and blacks living in the US, leading to less efficient metabolism of glucose and predisposition to diabetes in blacks.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
A mechanical model of vocalization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vZUO5d1DLqs/091123171230.htm
When people speak, sing or shout, they produce sound by pushing air over their vocal folds -- bits of muscle and tissue that manipulate the air flow and vibrate within it. When someone has polyps or some other problem with their vocal folds, the airflow can be altered, affecting the sound production.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Whiteflies sabotage alarm system of plant in distress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Us0r2yyq0Mc/091127133220.htm
When spider mites attack a bean plant, the plant produces odors attracting predatory mites. These mites then exterminate the spider mite population, thus acting as a type of "bodyguard" for the plant. However, if the plant is simultaneously attacked by whiteflies, insects that are related to aphids, the plant becomes less attractive to the mites and therefore more vulnerable to spider mites, say entomologists.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Seeing family for the holidays? Scientists discover how the stress might kill you
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iG6Vu_oXEX8/091130112417.htm
If you ever thought the stress of seeing your extended family over the holidays was slowly killing you -- bad news: a new study shows that you might be right. Here's the good news: results from the same study might lead to entirely new treatments that help keep autoimmune diseases like lupus, arthritis, and eczema under control.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Giant planet set for cataclysmic show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BP4xEFf6xKE/091220175321.htm
A team of Chinese astronomers has discovered a giant planet close to the exotic binary star system QS Virginis. Although dormant now, in the future the two stars will one day erupt in a violent nova outburst.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
New agent for some drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DKgGUS7g2OQ/091223133345.htm
Scientists have discovered a compound capable of halting a common type of drug-resistant lung cancer. The researchers report that non-small cell lung cancers that had become invulnerable to the drugs Iressa and Tarceva were stymied by a new compound. The compound (WZ4002), whose basic chemical framework is different from that of other cancer drugs, acts against an epidermal growth factor receptor kinase that carries a specific structural defect.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Some birds listen, instead of look, for mates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m9yUYOmYVgA/091202114042.htm
Looks can be deceiving, but certain bird species have figured out that a voice can tell them most of what they need to know to find the right mate. Researchers found that the higher the pitch of a male bird's song, the more genetic diversity that bird has, making him a better mate for breeding.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Five exercises can reduce neck, shoulder pain of women office workers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X2RfqZ0AmyU/091118072056.htm
Strength training exercises using dumbbells can reduce pain and improve function in the trapezius muscle among women suffering trapezius myalgia, a tenderness and tightness in the upper trapezius muscle. The results are the latest findings from an ongoing Danish study aimed at reducing repetitive strain injury caused by office work.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Scientists argue for a new type of climate target
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ANdUOSwf_UY/091121093521.htm
In order to avoid dangerous consequences for the earth's ecosystems, global emissions must peak around 2015, and they need to be cut by half between the peak and 2030, according to new findings.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Aviation-based team training may influence clinicians' safety behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FFYAGU1mG74/091221212815.htm
Team training based on protocols originally developed for aviation crews may change safety-related behaviors and contribute to perceptions of empowerment among nurses and other surgical staff, according to a new study.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Women tend to have better sense of touch due to smaller finger size
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MTsTQ9EXsBY/091215173017.htm
People who have smaller fingers have a finer sense of touch, according to new research. This finding explains why women tend to have better tactile acuity than men, because women on average have smaller fingers.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
High-blood-pressure treatment for the over-80s too aggressive, warns expert
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bb0EUgAYcCI/091222203011.htm
People over 80 years are being treated too aggressively for high blood pressure, warns an expert.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Spider Mite Predators Serve As Biological Control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_lKfIG-t7mE/091102171613.htm
The control of spider mites, which damage tree leaves, reduce fruit quality and cost growers millions of dollars in the use of pesticide and oil spraying, is being biologically controlled in Pennsylvania apple orchards with two tiny insects known to be natural predators.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Drug for Alzheimer's disease does not appear to slow cognitive decline
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zjg25KswJ2g/091215173008.htm
Although there were promising results in a phase 2 trial, patients with mild Alzheimer disease who received the drug tarenflurbil as part of a phase 3 trial did not have better outcomes on measures of cognitive decline or loss of activities of daily living compared to patients who received placebo, according to a new study.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
How can evolutionary responses to climate change be measured?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eRuHXnYeEpI/091130103626.htm
As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are presented with the complex challenge of understanding how species respond and adapt.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Physician-assisted suicide: A perspective from advocates for people with disability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LxtSN4rNNcU/091223074701.htm
Although public opinion in the US on physician-assisted suicide is evenly divided, about half of states have either defeated bills to legalize assisted suicide or have passed laws explicitly banning it and only two states have legalized it. "A Disability Perspective on the Issue of Physician-Assisted Suicide," a special issue of Disability and Health Journal, examines the issues related to assisted suicide and disability, the legal considerations and the Oregon and Washington experiences.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Orchids' sexual trickery explained: Leads to more efficient pollinating system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGRm4gUIM5w/091217183442.htm
A new study reveals the reason why orchids use sexual trickery to lure insect pollinators. The study finds that sexual deception in orchids leads to a more efficient pollinating system.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Modifying Neural Stem Cells Improves Their Therapeutic Efficacy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AIOWb7B7S2Y/091102204425.htm
Stem cells isolated from the brain of adult mice (adult neural stem cells [aNSCs]) have shown very modest therapeutic effects in a mouse model of the chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease multiple sclerosis. But now, researchers have developed an approach to enhance the therapeutic effects of aNSCs in this model of multiple sclerosis, something that they hope might increase the chance that aNSC-based therapies might one day be developed for clinical use.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Phragmites partners with microbes to plot native plants' demise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NGTxEaYOqUY/091223125135.htm
Researchers have uncovered a novel means of conquest employed by the common reed, Phragmites australis, which ranks as one of the world's most invasive plants.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Antibiotic unsuccessful in preventing preterm labor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GNOvCtMivbo/091130212650.htm
Scientists have found that an antibiotic, currently used to treat infections linked to incidences of premature births, does not help reduce the risk of preterm labor.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
Wet Ethanol Production Process Yields More Ethanol And More Co-products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TD11Hwg_l8c/091109142135.htm
Using a wet ethanol production method that begins by soaking corn kernels rather than grinding them, results in more gallons of ethanol and more usable co-products, giving ethanol producers a bigger bang for their buck -- by about 20 percent.
Mon, 28 Dec 09
How Differing Asian Cultures And Attitudes Impact Cancer Screening Rates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/smaBO9nMqzE/091030095509.htm
Asian-Americans have higher instances of certain types of cancer, yet screening rates remain dismal. A new study calls for culturally sensitive materials to stress the importance of early screening, to help close the disparity.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Synesthetic experiences, such as seeing a certain color associated with a number, are real and automatic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p5fkKDnT-2E/091217102250.htm
For as many as 1 in 20 people, everyday experiences can elicit extra-ordinary associated sensations. The condition is known as synesthesia and the most common form involves "seeing" colors when reading words and numbers.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Secrets of the Brain: Researchers decipher parts of the neuronal code
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Mm2d6d26ZU/091223215247.htm
The human brain works at a far higher level of complexity than previously thought. What has been given little attention up to now in the information processing of neuronal circuits has been the time factor. "Liquid computing" -- a new theory about how these complex networks of nerve cells actually work -- has just passed its first test.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Helping vegetable plants make a less stressful transition from the greenhouse to the field
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FLjDtnN8MH8/091204145657.htm
Plant physiologists have been investigating ways to help vegetable plants make a less stressful transition from the greenhouse to the field.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Targeted therapy prolongs life in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y-DlIhSGego/091211150324.htm
Lapatinib plus trastuzumab are significantly better than lapatinib alone in extending the lives of breast cancer patients whose tumors are HER2-positive, according to new research.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Microscopic gyroscopes, the key for motion sensing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9OERENhbizU/091215172009.htm
Tiny devices made possible by combining the latest advances in mechanical and electronics technology could be at the heart of next-generation personal navigation and vehicle stabilization tools.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Happy Flies Look For A Place Like Home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/96a3opCEoFs/091020162230.htm
A happy youth can influence where a fruit fly chooses to live as an adult, according to new research. The study provides new insight into how animals choose places to live and raise their young.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Glacier melt adds ancient edibles to marine buffet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yHIZX8Ayo5M/091223133331.htm
Glaciers along the Gulf of Alaska are enriching stream and near shore marine ecosystems from a surprising source -- ancient carbon contained in glacial runoff.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Rise in drug resistance of dangerous infection in US hospitals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UW-MSwKTMHQ/091223164211.htm
A new study reports a surge in drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter, a dangerous type of bacteria that is becoming increasingly common in US hospitals.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Milk thistle herb protects cancer patients from chemotherapy-associated liver toxicity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cT70UTkbmdc/091215172325.htm
A new study finds that the herb milk thistle may help treat liver inflammation in cancer patients who receive chemotherapy. The study indicates that the herb could allow patients to take potent doses of chemotherapy without damaging their liver.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
'Garbage disposal' role of VCP and implications for degenerative disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KtHpgwG-oAg/091214101353.htm
New research reveals how a mutant ATPase blocks autophagy partway through to cause a multi-tissue degenerative disease.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
An easy way to see the world's thinnest material
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fdXkAow9LLo/091223125131.htm
Scientists have used the dye fluorescein to create a new imaging technique to view graphene.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Structured reporting software creates less complete and accurate radiology reports than free text
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SaHgJZN709I/091116103529.htm
As many software companies work to create programs that will give uniform structure to the way radiological test results are reported, a new study shows that such a system does not improve, but rather decreases the completeness and accuracy of the reports.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Exposure to young triggers new neuron creation in females exhibiting maternal behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3irJQE2U5zg/091217115832.htm
Maternal behavior itself can trigger the development of new neurons in the maternal brain independent of whether the female was pregnant or has nursed, according to a new study. The study was performed in adult, virgin rats.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Physician urges changes in diagnosis for sore throat in young adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iPQBZEQrQ_k/091130192924.htm
New analysis suggests that physicians need to re-think their diagnosis and treatment of sore throat, or pharyngitis, in adolescents and young adults to consider a more newly identified and potentially dangerous culprit as the source of that infection.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
New clues emerge for understanding morphine addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DuxrtsVtH5k/091209134902.htm
Scientists are adding additional brush strokes to the revolutionary new image now emerging for star-shaped cells called astrocytes in the brain and spinal cord. Their report suggests a key role for astrocytes in morphine's ability to relieve pain and cause addiction.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Researchers find evidence of survival gains in bone marrow disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zWTNjQUmCig/091214121442.htm
Scientists demonstrate new survival data for the blood disorder myelofibrosis. This retrospective study is the largest ever conducted in young patients with primary myelofibrosis.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Flowering powers genetic understanding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/REWRcD4Yb1c/091215171357.htm
New research on how plants adapt their flowering to climate is also helping to unravel some of the mysteries of how genes are controlled. Studies on a gene in Arabidopsis that controls flowering time are providing potential roles for non-coding RNA.
Sun, 27 Dec 09
Iranian Scholars Share Avicenna's Medieval Medical Wisdom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eftV27lYrc8/091030095507.htm
For pulmonary ailments, certain medieval physicians had a useful medical textbook on hand offering detailed information remarkably similar to those a modern doctor might use today.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Vampires and collisions rejuvenate stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZlZRayZt_Nk/091223133339.htm
Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have uncovered two distinct kinds of "rejuvenated" stars in the globular cluster Messier 30. A new study shows that both stellar collisions and a process sometimes called vampirism are behind this cosmic "face lift." The scientists also uncover evidence that both sorts of blue stragglers were produced during a critical dynamical event (known as "core collapse") that occurred in Messier 30 a few billion years ago.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Further progress toward AIDS vaccine: Rabies-virus vaccine protects monkeys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O_5O4fCyOF8/091214121527.htm
Researchers are one step closer to developing a vaccine against the AIDS disease. They have found that a rabies virus-based vaccine administered to monkeys protected against the simian equivalent of the HIV virus (SIV).
Sat, 26 Dec 09
How the daisy got its spot: Insect mimicry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yGlyNko-BlU/091218163641.htm
Dark spots on flower petals are common across many angiosperm plant families and occur on flowers such as some lilies, orchids, and daisies. Much research has been done on the physiological and behavioral mechanisms for how these spots attract pollinators. But have you ever wondered what these spots are composed of, how they develop, or how they only appear on some but not all of the ray florets?
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Physical activity associated with lower risk of mortality in men with history of colon cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wQDquPCWrz4/091214162322.htm
Increased physical activity appears to be associated with a lower risk of cancer-specific and overall death in men with a history of colorectal cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, according to a new study.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Magnetic field measurements of the human heart at room temperature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YMOugbzgFG4/091211131520.htm
A new optical sensor was successfully tested in the "magnetically best shielded room on Earth." The sensor does not need advanced cooling and is very small. Its suitability was proven for biomagnetic measurements in the picotesla range. So, magnetocardiographic measurement devices -- to be used as a supplement or an alternative to the ECG -- could become simpler and less expensive.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Half of urban teen girls acquire STIs within two years of first sexual activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ROWS-AqHTXs/091214121436.htm
Half of urban teenage girls may acquire at least one of three common sexually transmitted infections within two years of becoming sexually active, according to a new study.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Calorie restriction: Scientists take important step toward 'fountain of youth'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/icISibE3qNg/091222105219.htm
Going back for a second dessert after your holiday meal might not be the best strategy for living a long, cancer-free life say researchers. That's because they've shown exactly how restricted calorie diets -- specifically in the form of restricted glucose -- help human cells live longer.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Genomic toggle switches divide autoimmune diseases into distinct clusters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F2QQp8QhDmQ/091223230700.htm
Genomic switches can predispose an individual to one set of autoimmune disorders but protect the same person against another set of them, scientists have found.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Tourists in Antarctica cause of major concern
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9GA9aXiFMcM/091221130220.htm
The 40,000 'eco-tourists' who visit the South Pole every year cause enormous greenhouse gas emissions. The visitors to the snow-covered landmass are endangering not just the Antarctic region by their actions, but also the rest of the world. Scientists have investigated the impacts of increased tourism on Antarctica and how this impact could be curbed.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Signaling decreases blood pressure, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9v6wN9L_fdg/091214220053.htm
Blood pressure is controlled in part by changes in the radius of blood vessels; when the smooth muscle cells in the wall of a blood vessel contract, the radius of the blood vessel decreases and blood pressure increases. Researchers have now identified in mice a new signaling pathway that contributes to relaxation of smooth muscle cells in blood vessel walls triggered by the molecule NO and thereby decreases blood pressure.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Certain genes boost chances for distributing variety of traits, drive evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IjhbOm6ZUgI/091214151937.htm
Genes that don't themselves directly affect the inherited characteristics of an organism but leave them increasingly open to variation may be a significant driving force of evolution, say scientists.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Do consumers always approach pleasure and avoid pain? New study suggests an alternative
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AqMRlesjWnw/091214143734.htm
Whether it's doing sit-ups or eating steamed veggies instead of fries, it's often difficult to get ourselves to do something we know is beneficial. A new study says we can trick ourselves into more favorable evaluations of certain products and behaviors.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
The past matters to plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PgvwOWjJ5-4/091222105439.htm
It's commonly known that plants interact with each other on an everyday basis: they shade each other out or take up nutrients from the soil before neighboring plants can get them. Now, researchers have learned that plants also respond to the past.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Antibody-guided drug shows encouraging activity in metastatic breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w4XRJn9mJmQ/091212141418.htm
A new antibody-drug compound shrank or halted the growth of metastatic breast tumors in almost half of a group of patients whose HER2-positive cancer had become resistant to standard therapies, according to early data.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
New warning system warns of driver drowsiness and distraction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_L0FGkMa2xw/091221130224.htm
Scientists have developed the latest version of a driving assistance system which controls the driver's attention level and helps to avoid accidents caused by drowsiness or distractions at the wheel.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Bone control of glucose levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pTunGcQli1I/091214220241.htm
Bone cells known as osteoblasts were recently shown to have a role in controlling the biochemical reactions that generate energy via secretion of the molecule osteocalcin. Researchers have now determined that the protein FoxO1 regulates this function of osteoblasts in mice.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Low-cost temperature sensors: Tennis balls to monitor mountain snowpack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QbmQxhpMbzg/091214101404.htm
Dime-sized temperature sensors, first built for the refrigerated food industry, have been adapted to sense mountain microclimates.
Sat, 26 Dec 09
Who gets expensive cancer drugs? A tale of two nations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/52n3TzdoQQY/091214173700.htm
The well-worn notion that patients in the United States have unfettered access to the most expensive cancer drugs while the United Kingdom's nationalized health care system regularly denies access to some high-cost treatments needs rethinking, a team of bioethicists and health policy experts says in a new report.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Sun and moon trigger deep tremors on San Andreas Fault
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DzPcHkVCoMc/091223133347.htm
When the sun and moon are aligned with the San Andreas Fault they tug on it enough to increase the tremor rate deep underground, according to a new study. While these tremors have not yet been linked to earthquakes, the tremors are associated with increased stress on the fault and may increase the risk of future quakes. The ease with which the deep rock slips indicates it is lubricated by high-pressure water.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
New inherited eye disease discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ag74FVbrLJc/091211131528.htm
Researchers have found the existence of a new, rare inherited retinal disease. Now the search is on to find the genetic cause, which investigators hope will increase understanding of more common retinal diseases.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Microscopic flower petal ridges flash to attract pollinating insects; scientists now know how ridges form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zv8xM_wMjJo/091222154738.htm
Microscopic ridges contouring the surface of flower petals might play a role in flashing that come-hither look pollinating insects can't resist. Scientists now have figured out how those form. The result could help researchers learn to enhance plants' pollination success and even could lead to high-grip nanomaterials and "green chemical" feedstocks.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Growing evidence suggests progesterone should be considered a treatment option for traumatic brain injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RRSyEH4HQi8/091222121759.htm
Researchers recommend that progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone found in both males and females that can protect damaged cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems, be considered a viable treatment option for traumatic brain injuries.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Weir in space and dimmed sun creates 200-million-mile-long lab bench for turbulence research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JZQz4cHZR-U/091211131524.htm
Physicists working in space plasmas have made clever use of the Ulysses spacecraft and the solar minimum to create a massive virtual lab bench to provide a unique test for the science underlying turbulent flows.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Do computers understand art?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dkFsrzNrhKI/091223094738.htm
Mathematical algorithms can provide clues about the artistic style of a painting. The composition of colors or certain aesthetic measurements can already be quantified by a computer, but machines are still far from being able to interpret art in the way that people do.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
How the brain encodes memories at a cellular level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mfNAZu2cIL8/091223125125.htm
Scientists have made a major discovery in how the brain encodes memories. The finding could eventually lead to the development of new drugs to aid memory.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Cause of nonallergic itch identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9br064Urwx0/091222105320.htm
Scratching below the surface of a troublesome sensation that's equal parts tingle-tickle-prickle, sensory scientists have discovered in mice a molecular basis for nonallergic itch.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Ski runs are not created equal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XZ_np5ofqV8/091222104918.htm
Building a new ski run by bulldozing a mountainside, rather than only cutting its shrubs and trees, is far more damaging ecologically, yet might offer only a week's earlier start to the downhill season, says a new study.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Sensitizing leukemic cells to death-inducing compounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G0VsxiiR9q4/091221215552.htm
Recent research has indicated that in the process of generating energy, leukemic cells use a cellular pathway known as fatty acid oxidation, rather than pyruvate oxidation, as had been previously thought. A team of researchers has now used this knowledge to develop a way to sensitize human leukemic cells to molecules that induce cell death by a process known as apoptosis.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Method makes refineries more efficient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/99fj7S9FD78/091222105229.htm
Refineries could trim millions of dollars in energy costs annually by using a new method developed to rearrange the distillation sequence needed to separate crude petroleum into products.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Could acetaminophen ease psychological pain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XggyZHnwzyI/091222154742.htm
Over-the-counter pain relieving drugs have long been used to alleviate physical pain, while a host of other medications have been employed in the treatment of depression and anxiety. But is it possible that a common painkiller could serve double duty, easing not just the physical pains of sore joints and headaches, but also the pain of social rejection?
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Keck telescopes gaze into young star's 'life zone'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2nyW37htByI/091223222226.htm
The inner regions of young planet-forming disks offer information about how worlds like Earth form, but not a single telescope in the world can see them. Yet, for the first time, astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii have measured the properties of a young solar system at distances closer to the star than Venus is from our sun.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Novel gene found for childhood-onset asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5PGBqvsesz0/091223185754.htm
Pediatric researchers have identified a novel gene involved in childhood asthma, in one of the largest gene studies to date of the common respiratory disease. Because the gene, called DENND1B, affects cells and signaling molecules thought to be instrumental in the immune system overreaction that occurs in asthma, the discovery may have singled out an important target for new treatments.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Hatchery-raised salmon too crowded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Juhxvzt6Omg/091222104905.htm
Every year, large numbers of hatchery-raised young salmonids are released into Swedish rivers and streams to compensate for losses in natural production. Butthese fish generally survive poorly in the wild. Researchers have discovered why: the young fish are too crowded at the hatchery.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Chicago Cancer Genome Project studies genetics of 1,000 tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ckBRoIuDkYI/091222105443.htm
A Chicago research team is one year into a three-year project to collect and analyze the genetic sequence and variations of every gene expressed by 1,000 tumors with a long-term goal of translating genomic discoveries into diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Fungal footage yields insight into plant, animal disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lQHqvfS6TTA/091222091554.htm
Mold and mildew may be doomed. Researchers are closer to understanding how these and other fungi grow. That's important because some 70 percent of the major disease-causing organisms are fungi. Understanding how fungi grow can help scientists find ways to stop them.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Wii Fit may not help families get fit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c-AvIxZMI9E/091218125110.htm
The Nintendo Wii Fit many people are considering as Christmas gifts may be great entertainment, but a new study indicates the console has little effect on family fitness.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Santa’s sleigh: Researcher explains science of Christmas magic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TqYtw6VUpi0/091205233544.htm
Santa skeptics have long considered St. Nick's ability to deliver toys to the world's good girls and boys on Christmas Eve a scientific impossibility. But new research shows that Santa is able to make his appointed rounds through the pioneering use of cutting-edge science and technology.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Genetic study reveals the origins of cavity-causing bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IAI0xZj749U/091223230703.htm
Researchers have uncovered the complete genetic make-up of the cavity-causing bacterium Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1, revealing the genetic adaptations that allow this microorganism to live and cause decay in the human oral cavity.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Cassini Holiday Movies Showcase Dance of Saturn's Moons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/psTvc7qU9aI/091223221937.htm
Like sugar plum fairies in "The Nutcracker," the moons of Saturn performed a celestial ballet before the eyes of NASA's Cassini spacecraft. New movies frame the moons' silent dance against the majestic sweep of the planet's rings and show as many as four moons gliding around one another.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Good cholesterol not as protective in people with type 2 diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j9VXt8RNXKo/091222105307.htm
HDL, known as "good cholesterol," helps protect blood vessels and the heart, but a small European study shows that HDL in men with type 2 diabetes lacks this protective capacity. However, preliminary results indicate that extended-release niacin may help the HDL work better in these patients.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Canopy giants and miniature fungi among 250 new species discovered in Kew's 250th anniversary year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VDT-3br9dY0/091222104903.htm
Kew botanists announce more than 250 new plant and fungi species discovered in 250th anniversary year.
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Psychologists show that future-minded people make better decisions for their health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HzMBetwHn4g/091223125129.htm
People who tend to think in the long term are more likely to make positive decisions about their health, whether it's how much they drink, what they eat, or their decision to wear sunscreen.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Herschel Space Telescope uncovers sources of cosmic infrared background
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0GuOiprbgk4/091220175052.htm
A weak cosmic infrared radiation field that reaches Earth from all directions contains not yet deciphered messages about the evolution of galaxies. Using first observations with the PACS Instrument on board ESA’s Herschel Space Telescope, scientists have for the first time resolved more than half of this radiation into its constituting sources. Observations with Herschel open the road towards understanding the properties of these galaxies, and trace the dusty side of galaxy evolution.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Alzheimer's disease may protect against cancer and vice versa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ecr9eqNXGtg/091223164207.htm
People who have Alzheimer's disease may be less likely to develop cancer, and people who have cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
New insights into mushroom-derived drug promising for cancer treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Or2pHaJve0/091223094729.htm
A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Fight infection by disturbing how bacteria communicate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mulDBSeplD8/091221130216.htm
Researchers have clarified the structure of an enzyme that disturbs the communication processes between bacteria. By doing so they have laid the foundations for a new method of tackling bacterial infections such as cystic fibrosis.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Soil studies reveal rise in antibiotic resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b-43IN7hdVs/091223125137.htm
An unexpected rise in environmental levels of antibiotic resistance poses a potential threat to people's health.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Santa Claus at risk? Unhealthy lifestyle, unreasonable working conditions, and stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vz6VZKZF9wg/091220175317.htm
An unhealthy lifestyle, unreasonable working conditions, and then the stress of having to deliver 152 million Christmas gifts in 24 hours. The extreme accomplishments of Santa Claus are making researchers in Sweden doubt his very existence.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
World's first molecular transistor created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b0G4rsajlEM/091223133343.htm
Scientists have succeeded in creating the first transistor made from a single molecule. They showed that a benzene molecule attached to gold contacts could behave just like a silicon transistor.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
How flu succeeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5kvtbI_xlKI/091222105227.htm
Investigators have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8tuCbn-q6-M/091222105233.htm
Some of the most common minerals in biology, including those in bones and shells, have a mysterious structure: Their crystals are positioned in the same orientation, making them behave as one giant crystal, even though they do not look like a faceted crystal.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Researchers find new patterns in H1N1 deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aRtUKwp10Nk/091223074653.htm
Brazilian researchers have performed the first-ever autopsy study to examine the precise causes of death in victims of the H1N1 swine flu. While previous data has shown that most patients with a non-fatal infection have fever, cough and achiness (myalgia), the study reveals that most patients with a fatal form of the disease presented with difficulty breathing (dyspnea), with fever and myalgia being less frequently present.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
How do you improve mammogram accuracy? Add noise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/InyQ7vy-hcc/091222141622.htm
Researchers have shown that an obscure phenomenon called stochastic resonance can improve the clarity of signals in systems such as radar, sonar and even radiography, used in medical clinics to detect signs of breast cancer.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Brain training can help improve specific abilities in older people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/87qqXE-J5Sw/091223125139.htm
Many brain training products claim to be able to keep us mentally fit. Some products even claim that brain training can prevent dementia in old age. But there is no scientific proof that games or other brain exercises can have this effect.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Youthful appearance of stars known as blue stragglers explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bztlq-Zbhtw/091223133459.htm
For almost 50 years, astronomers have puzzled over the youthful appearance of stars known as blue stragglers.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Two genes discovered that drive aggressive brain cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fOoudNJlKK4/091223133329.htm
Scientists have discovered two genes that, when simultaneously activated, are responsible for the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. This finding was made possible by the assembly of the first comprehensive network of molecular interactions that determine the behavior of these cancer cells, a map so complex and elusive that, until now, it could not be constructed. The discovery may lead to novel strategies to diagnose and treat these incurable tumors.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Chemical energy influences tiny vibrations of red blood cell membranes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3HFWFw6Qtbg/091222122025.htm
Much like a tightly wound drum, red blood cells are in perpetual vibration. Those vibrations help the cells maintain their characteristic flattened oval or disc shape, which is critical to their ability to deform as they traverse blood vessels in the body to deliver oxygen to tissues.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Is nicotinamide overload a trigger for type 2 diabetes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xPDhi9jxxcc/091222105449.htm
Type 2 diabetes is a major global health problem. Although the underlying mechanism of the pathogenesis is not clear, generally it is accepted that type 2 diabetes is a result of gene-environment interactions. A research group from China investigated the relationship between the metabolism of nicotinamide and diabetes and found that nicotinamide overload may be involved in the development of diabetes.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Conservation areas threatened nationally by housing developments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x7hvJr4Eh-4/091222174915.htm
Conservationists have long known that lines on a map are not sufficient to protect nature because what happens outside those boundaries can affect what happens within. Now, scientists have measured the threat of housing development around protected areas in the United States.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Fine-tuning Treatments For Depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ieD5FWlMc8Y/091018141554.htm
New research clarifies how neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, are regulated -- a finding that may help fine-tune therapies for depression.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Scientists map speed of climate change for different ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hLmD2SUDoac/091223133337.htm
From beetles to barnacles, pikas to pine warblers, many species are already on the move in response to shifting climate regimes. But how fast will they -- and their habitats -- have to move to keep pace with global climate change over the next century? Scientists have calculated that on average, ecosystems will need to shift about 0.42 kilometers per year to keep pace with changing temperatures across the globe.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Key protein helps control blood pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IRcZ4HAmVJQ/091223125127.htm
Researchers have shown that a protein channel helps nerve sensors in blood vessels keep blood pressure in check. Without the protein channel, known as ASIC2, the sensors are unable to send the brain the signals it needs to properly control blood pressure.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
New warbler discovered in Laos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3BeRu_Xo-DI/091222105318.htm
A diminutive, colorful bird living in the rocky forests of Laos and Vietnam has been discovered.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Heart transplant patients appear to have elevated risk for multiple skin cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fA0DQqUhpko/091221212750.htm
Many heart transplant patients develop multiple skin cancers, with increased risk for some skin cancers among patients with other cancers and with increasing age, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Consumers 'Key Part Of Solution' To Global Warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xkoDImN2Qxo/091016224151.htm
Consumers can have a major impact on the world's efforts to reduce global warming, a major report has concluded. The research estimates that if consumers are responsible for 75% of emissions and in the developed world reduce their emissions in line with government targets, their action could leverage major a 50% reductions in emissions within a few years by 2050.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Disproportionate effects of global warming and pollution on disadvantaged communities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eyJXQr70w_8/091222174919.htm
Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed. A provocative collection of articles on climate justice presents the global implications of climate change and its effects on human health and the environment in a special issue of Environmental Justice.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Opening new frontiers: First volume of microbial encyclopedia published
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n4DTHhF1Zwo/091223133341.htm
The Earth is estimated to have about a nonillion (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) microbes in, on, around, and under it, comprised of an unknown but very large number of distinct species. Despite the widespread availability of microbial genome data -- close to 2,000 microbes have been and are being decoded to date -- a vast unknown realm awaits scientists intent on exploring microorganisms that inhabit this "undiscovered country."
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Synergistic interaction enhances pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h860PbXdFFc/091223125121.htm
Scientists have identified a synergistic interaction that disrupts normal intracellular transport mechanisms and leads to the accumulation of neuron-damaging clumps of protein associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a specific loss of neurons in the midbrain and brainstem. The research identifies a new potential therapeutic option for preventing PD-associated neuropathology.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Genetic study clarifies African and African-American ancestry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fpzvr-R3evc/091221212823.htm
People who identify as African-American may be as little as 1 percent West African or as much as 99 percent -- just one finding of a large-scale, genome-wide study of ancestry. An international research team has collected and analyzed genotype data from 365 African-Americans, 203 people from 12 West African populations and 400 Europeans from 42 countries to provide a genome-wide perspective of African and African-American ancestry.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
IKK may act as both inhibitor and promoter of Huntington's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e19lbyxy88c/091221090522.htm
The kinase IKK phosphorylates the protein mutated in Huntington's disease to promote its removal and neuron survival, but IKK may be a double-edged sword that increases neurotoxicity in later stages of the disease.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Marine Research Is Key To 'Super Foods' Market
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ufRN5LwluQM/091014210604.htm
Milk drinks that lower blood pressure, meat products that reduce the risk of heart disease, chocolate that calms you down and a new range of foods that can fight obesity can be created from marine animals and plants. Japan already has several product ranges on the shelves and research programs are underway all over the world to create more. And now Ireland is well on the way to becoming a player in this worldwide multi-billion euro industry, according to recently presented research results.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Number of 85-year-olds in the UK will increase by a third by 2020
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cRGF02nDw2s/091222203009.htm
Health and social care provision needs to be put in place for a large increase in the 85-year-old population in the UK by 2020, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Broken genomes behind breast cancers, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g8VauohLQE0/091223133501.htm
A detailed search has revealed how the human genome is rearranged in 24 cases of breast cancer. Researchers were astounded by the number and complexity of genomic rearrangements found in some cases. While some breast cancers are relatively undisturbed, others are fractured extensively and then reassembled, with more than 200 rearrangements present. The research highlights that breast cancer is not one but several diseases and could help to make tumor classification and diagnosis more accurate.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Subtle change dramatically reduces pathogenic potential of Huntington's protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CWS5pytD83w/091223125123.htm
Scientists have identified a key molecular switch that may drive the onset of Huntington's disease (HD), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that leads to severe disruptions in muscle coordination and cognitive function. The research enhances the understanding of HD pathogenesis and may direct new strategies for treating this devastating brain disease.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Motility mechanism of malaria pathogens explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1bS8beuxWOQ/091223094736.htm
How do one-celled parasites move from the salivary gland of a mosquito through a person's skin into red blood cells? What molecular mechanisms form the basis for this very important movement of the protozoa? Researchers observed the initial stage of the malaria parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes with new microscope techniques.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
New pathway discovered that may prevent tissue damage resulting from inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tt860ZLX0ZA/091223094744.htm
Interferon gamma is a protein secreted by lymphocytes that is used to fight the bacteria in white blood cells that cause tuberculosis. Scientists have now discovered that in addition to white blood cells, other cells such as epithelial and endothelial cells, also respond to interferon gamma and also protect mice from uncontrolled tuberculosis infection.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Air pollution linked to hospitalizations for pneumonia in seniors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DSMaQNytAks/091223074703.htm
A study found that among older individuals, long-term exposure to traffic pollution independently increased their risk of hospitalization for pneumonia.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Role of addiction cannot be ignored in obesity epidemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mInsOB-tQjs/091222105231.htm
Researchers argue that food addiction in some individuals may be a reality and needs to be considered in the management of weight problems.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Wild chimps have near human understanding of fire
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sZT4BB1NYA8/091222105312.htm
The use and control of fire are behavioral characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals. Now anthropologists report that savanna chimpanzees in Senegal have a near human understanding of wildfires and change their behavior in anticipation of the fire's movement.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Altering malignant cells' structure said to possibly slow spread of cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HIfD3_VB0sY/091222105509.htm
Cancer may spread throughout the human body when malignant cells travel in the blood stream. But it may be possible to slow or even stop those cells from spreading by altering their structure, according to a recent investigation.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
SPARKy devices helps amputees return to normal lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y857TTkvctI/091222122027.htm
Researchers have developed a prosthetic device that literally puts the spring back into an amputee's step. The scientists have developed and refined SPARKy (for spring ankle with regenerative kinetics) into a smart, active and energy storing below-the-knee (transbitial) prosthesis.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Older adults may have a higher risk of complications and death after abdominal surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HSV5xus6oSI/091221212817.htm
The risk of complications and early death after commonly performed abdominal surgical procedures appears to be higher among older adults, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
System developed to detect plastic anti-personnel mines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PYvqdmR_4To/091222105057.htm
A team of European researchers has devised a method for locating plastic anti-personnel mines, which are manufactured to avoid detection by metal detectors. The technique involves analyzing the temperature of the ground in three dimensions using specific software and hardware.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Enhanced sweet taste: Endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DUl75uX5XvA/091222104920.htm
New findings show that endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors to specifically enhance sweet taste. The findings suggest that modulation of sweet taste responses may be an important component of the endocannabinoid system's role in regulating feeding behavior and may open doors to the development of novel therapeutic compounds to combat metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Endocannabinoids are substances similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Australian fossil unlocks secrets to the origin of whales
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X5Q6gSFXo6A/091222105055.htm
A palaeobiologist has made groundbreaking discoveries into the origin of baleen whales, based on a 25-million-year-old fossil found near Torquay in Victoria, Australia.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Brain controls formation of bone, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E6HUwwI9f7U/091222105451.htm
The brain acts as a profound regulatory center, controlling myriad processes throughout the body in ways we are only just beginning to understand. In new findings, Australian scientists have shown surprising connections between the brain and regulation of bone mass.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Turtles' Christmas journey tracked by scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/orTUX81c8gw/091223094734.htm
Noelle and Darwinia are two adult female leatherback turtles that nest in Gabon, Western Central Africa. A research team has fitted each turtle with a small satellite tracking device, which enables the scientists to monitor their precise movements and observe where and how deep they dive.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Adverse consequences of obesity may be greater than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KriA-trvmVc/091222203007.htm
The link between obesity and cardiovascular mortality may be substantially underestimated, while some of the adverse consequences of being underweight may be overstated, concludes a new study.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Bacteria make artificial blood vessels of the future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DS_fOnD7GdY/091222104907.htm
The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood vessels in the future as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic materials currently used for bypass operations, according to new research.
Thu, 24 Dec 09
Teenagers use violence to boost their social standing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/59kqo4fw7Ew/091222104913.htm
A new study looks in depth at the social relationships between male and female teenagers, relational violence, and psycho-social adjustment factors such as loneliness, self-esteem and satisfaction with life. The results show that young people who want to be better appreciated and respected within their group are the most likely to be violent.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Brown dwarf pair mystifies astronomers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q4OfYqiMX-E/091222104915.htm
Two brown dwarf-sized objects orbiting a giant old star show that planets may assemble around stars more quickly and efficiently than anyone thought possible, according to an international team of astronomers.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New human reproductive hormone could lead to novel contraceptives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h_zc1KrcwXM/091222121947.htm
Nearly 10 years after the discovery that birds make a hormone that suppresses reproduction, neuroscientists have established that humans make it too, opening the door to development of a new class of contraceptive and possible treatments for cancer or other diseases. The hormone, gonadotropin inhibitory hormone, puts a brake on the reproductive system and on release of gonadotropin releasing hormone.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Chemistry makes the natural 'wonder fabric' -- wool -- more wonderful
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SgYsvRPS2d4/091222121817.htm
Scientists in China are reporting an advance that may improve the natural wonders of wool -- already regarded as the "wonder fabric" for its lightness, softness, warmth even when wet, and other qualities. They say the discovery could give wool a "brain," placing it among other "smart" fabrics that shake off wrinkles, shrinkage and "breathe" to release perspiration.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Deadly infection more common than realized
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7WwqNdAa-PE/091222104911.htm
Staphylococcus aureus causes far more serious infections than previously realized.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New-generation reactors help reduce nuclear waste
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UEdo0XuaZJQ/091221130029.htm
Advanced technologies offer ways of reducing the quantity of nuclear waste. “New types of nuclear power plants can switch to a closed fuel cycle. It means that nuclear waste wouldn’t be buried as such; instead, it would be chemically dissolved and the recyclable component re-processed into new fuel. As a result, many of the most long-lived radioactive substances could be used at new types of facilities,” says one of the researchers.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Drug and placebo: Study redefines placebo effect as part of effective treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rBw8iYGhOX0/091222121807.htm
Researchers used the placebo effect to successfully treat psoriasis patients with one quarter to one half of their usual dose of a widely used steroid medication, according to a new study. Early results in human patients suggest that the new technique could improve treatment for several chronic diseases that involve mental state or the immune system, including asthma, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Fossil shelved for a century reworks carnivore family tree: Limbs changes understanding of early carnivore locomotion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gKCtz6-a0xA/091222122021.htm
Now that an early carnivore fossil has been fully removed from its matrix (this after spending over a century on a shelf because of the associated crushed teeth), scientists are able to re-interpret the evolutionary tree of this group of mammals.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New, virulent strain of MRSA poses renewed antibiotic resistance concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rp2hkJgaQTw/091222141626.htm
The often feared and sometimes deadly infections caused by MRSA -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- are now moving out of hospitals and emerging as an even more virulent strain in community settings and on athletic teams, and raising new concerns about antibiotic resistance.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Bioengineered materials promote the growth of functional vasculature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/geZK_rhyYlQ/091221212628.htm
Scientists have induced significant functional vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue through the use of synthetic polymers called hydrogels.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections may help treat severe hip pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q9Ao3fcxRVQ/091222121801.htm
Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections may be an effective treatment method for gluteus medius tendinopathy, a common, painful condition caused by an injury to the tendons in the buttocks that typically affects middle-aged to elderly women and young active individuals, according to a new study.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
List helps computers understand expressions with more than one meaning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_CHlX-miSDo/091221130218.htm
List helps computers understand expressions with more than one meaning Computers might well be 'with it', but 'they haven't got a clue' about expressions. Dutch researcher Nicole has come up with a solution to this problem: she has prepared a list of unpredictable word combinations that might, for instance, have a literal as well as a metaphorical meaning. The structuring of this list is such that it can be used by many different computer systems.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Pot and pop: New research finds stronger link between music and marijuana use among teens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WD2ssKto4gA/091222121809.htm
Teens who frequently listen to music that contains references to marijuana are more likely to use the drug than their counterparts with less exposure to such lyrics, according to a new study.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Modern behavior of early humans found half-million years earlier than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hviGfHxSq_U/091222105051.htm
Evidence of sophisticated, human behavior has been discovered by researchers as early as 750,000 years ago -- some half a million years earlier than has previously been estimated by archaeologists.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Mystery solved: Scientists now know how smallpox kills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D6Q7Dvgnq1c/091222105217.htm
Researchers have solved a fundamental mystery about smallpox that has puzzled scientists long after the natural disease was eradicated by vaccination: they know how it kills us. Scientists can now describe how the virus cripples immune systems by attacking molecules made by our bodies to block viral replication.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Study finds that 77 percent of European pigs are castrated without anesthetic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XfgNt3eMUlE/091209114148.htm
The castration of pigs prevents the "boar taint" smell in the meat and allows them to contain more fat. However in practice this can be very different. Now, for the first time, a scientific team has collected information on the conditions of castration on European pigs. The main conclusion of the study is that these animals are castrated directly by the livestock farmers, without anesthetic and in some cases, without respecting the European legislation.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Role for immune cells known as mast cells in atrial fibrillation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3t6XS1Tz-64/091221215728.htm
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is the most common type of abnormal heart beat. It is characterized by scarring of the atrial region of the heart (a hallmark known as atrial fibrosis). Although atrial fibrosis is thought to perpetuate Afib, exactly how it develops has not been determined. Some research has suggested a role for inflammation in the process. Consistent with this, a team of researchers has now identified a role for immune cells known as mast cells in inducing atrial fibrosis and Afib in a mouse model of the condition.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Gravity in Potsdam and a dignified Christmas tree ball
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TF9RDje_Q_k/091221130031.htm
Exactly one hundred years ago the force of gravity was measured for the first time with such accuracy that this measured value was established as a reference value world-wide.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Poor face greater health burden than smokers or the obese
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p6dOe0xnbQI/091222141628.htm
The average low-income person loses 8.2 years of perfect health, the average high school dropout loses 5.1 years, and the obese lose 4.2 years, according to public health researchers. Tobacco control has long been one of the most important public health policies, but the nation's huge high school dropout rate and poverty rates are typically not seen as health problems.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Rise in human-made carbon dioxide affects ocean acoustics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QZX1dq8Frdg/091222105507.htm
Oceanographers have discovered that seawater sound absorption will drop by up to 70 percent this century, due to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide causing ocean acidification. As a result, underwater sound could travel farther, and this could lead to growing noise levels in the oceans. Increasing transparency of the oceans to low-frequency sounds could also enable marine mammals to communicate over longer distances.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New compounds may control deadly fungal infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rgx_ydtRdiY/091222141624.htm
An estimated 25,000 Americans develop severe fungal infections each year, leading to 10,000 deaths despite the use of anti-fungal drugs. The associated cost to the US health care system has been estimated at $1 billion a year. Now two scientists have developed new brominated furanones that exhibit powerful anti-fungal properties.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Formation of the Gulf of Corinth rift, Greece
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uFXPrGiWFeQ/091222105215.htm
A study of the structure and evolution of the Gulf of Corinth rift in central Greece will increase scientific understanding of rifted margin development and the tectonic mechanisms underlying seafloor spreading and deformation of the Earth's crust.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New Web tool may help predict risk of second stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lm8o8S1vo3g/091216162354.htm
Scientists have developed a new web-based tool that may better predict whether a person will suffer a second stroke within 90 days of a first stroke.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Improved recipe for catalysts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ep3BqJkJ5sQ/091221130222.htm
Baking the perfect soufflé depends on timing, good ingredients and the right proportions. Exactly the same thing applies to catalysts - the materials that make a chemical reaction work faster or better. Researchers now know how to make a perfect catalyst, thanks to new techniques.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Home-based child care meeting nutritional standards; widespread use of TV a concern
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QnX8cGAZF90/091215145044.htm
A large study of family child care providers shows that while nutrition standards are often met, most children ages 2 to 5 are not getting enough physical activity and are exposed to the television for most of the day.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Story of 4.5-million-year-old whale found in Spain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOg9zTBIg94/091215101716.htm
In 2006, researchers found the fossil remains of a whale, 4.5 million years old, in Spain. Now they have published, for the first time, the results of the decay and fossilization process that started with the death of the young cetacean, possibly a baleen whale from the Mysticeti group.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Gene for devastating kidney disease discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U15uwSs9gjs/091222121951.htm
A genetic discovery offers new hope for a better treatment for a mysterious, devastating kidney disease that's the second leading cause of kidney failure in children. The disease forces children and young adults onto dialysis and, all too often, kidney transplant -- only to see the disease recur in the transplanted kidney, sometimes within hours.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
New insight in nerve cell communication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/74SaV0c3KuM/091222105221.htm
New nano research gives important insights in nerve cell communication that will help the fight against nerve pain following amputation and diabetes. Researchers have studied, with nanotechnology techniques, the way proteins recognize the small membrane vesicles that transmit signaling molecules from one nerve cell to another.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Discovery of new gene called Brd2 that regulates obesity and diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/agzZz6v8rPQ/091214201007.htm
The chance discovery of a genetic mutation that makes mice enormously fat but protects them from diabetes has given researchers new insights into the cellular mechanisms that link obesity to type 2 diabetes.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Students reaffirm work of 1920s paleontologist, contrary to later revision
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gp_WQlxydxM/091214173654.htm
Three paleontology graduate students blew the dust off an 85-year-old dinosaur find to discover the original researcher had it right and a 1970s revision of his work was wrong.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Medical team's support of terminal cancer patients' spiritual needs improves quality of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ffx87zf9oM/091215145052.htm
In a new study of terminally ill cancer patients, researchers found support of patients' spiritual needs by the medical team is associated with greater use of hospice, less aggressive care, and greater quality of life near death.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Attention demands may explain why texting while driving is so dangerous
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bi59-QhUWwU/091222121949.htm
A timely new study suggests why texting while driving is riskier than talking on a cell phone or with another passenger.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Meddling in mosquitoes' sex lives could help stop the spread of malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ywxIpji0AX0/091221212620.htm
Stopping male mosquitoes from sealing their sperm inside females with a 'mating plug' could prevent mosquitoes from reproducing, and offer a potential new way to combat malaria.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Novel nanotechnology heals abscesses caused by resistant staph bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PEGg-IF23Yc/091222164735.htm
Researchers have developed a new approach for treating and healing skin abscesses caused by bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Obesity increases the risk for obstructive sleep apnea in adolescents, but not in younger children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y-exeaV-xt0/091215101657.htm
A new study shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea in adolescents but not in younger children.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Hypoxia tends to increase as climate warms, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uMyPtGhyiTM/091215102214.htm
A new study of Pacific Ocean sediments off the coast of Chile has found that offshore waters experienced systematic oxygen depletion during the rapid warming of the Antarctic following the last "glacial maximum" period 20,000 years ago.
Wed, 23 Dec 09
Electronic health records: Concerns about potential privacy breaches remain an issue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BRNCOIlzwp8/091215121047.htm
New research studies cite pervasive concern among US physicians about privacy issues related to electronic health records, despite recognized benefits of using them.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Among apes, teeth are made for the toughest times
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t35q8G8iYH4/091217102320.htm
The teeth of some apes are formed primarily to handle the most stressful times when food is scarce, according to new research. The findings imply that if humanity is serious about protecting its close evolutionary cousins, the food apes eat during these tough periods -- and where they find it -- must be included in conservation efforts.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Microcephaly genes associated with human brain size
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sJ3OOR46PYs/091221212732.htm
Scientists have shown that common variations in genes associated with microcephaly -- a neuro-developmental disorder in which brain size is dramatically reduced -- may explain differences in brain size in healthy individuals as well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Pomegranates: Latest weapon in the fight against MRSA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A99Qt9KddGk/091220175054.htm
Pomegranates have already been hailed as a super-food but a team of scientists has found a new use for the deep red fruit. The team has discovered that the rind can be turned into an ointment for treating MRSA and other common hospital infections.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Twin study identifies factors associated with skin aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jc9-8bl9iYY/091221212746.htm
Smoking, being heavier, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer appear to be associated with sun damage and aging of skin on the face, according to a report based on a study of twins.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Scientists shed light on a mysterious particle, the neutrino
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NHnsMYe3CPQ/091215141512.htm
Physicists have begun looking deep into the Earth to study some of nature's weirdest particles -- neutrinos.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Discrimination in the citations that scientists use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T_O4buvtc5M/091220175056.htm
Science does not have to be altruistic. In fact, most of the time it is egotistic, according to a study by researchers in Spain that analyzes the discrimination that exists in citations of scientific articles in articles where researchers publish their results.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Next-generation lens promises wider view, greater detail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZVkH74C8J6k/091220143915.htm
Engineers have created a new generation of lens that could greatly improve the capabilities of telecommunications or radar systems to provide a wide field of view and greater detail.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Compound found to safely counter deadly bird flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_UQcysnbhk/091221212738.htm
A study suggests that a new compound, one on the threshold of final testing in humans, may be more potent and safer for treating "bird flu" than the antiviral drug best known by the trade name Tamiflu.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Fisheries and aquaculture face multiple risks from climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_AwYzbL696E/091215170218.htm
Marine capture fisheries already facing multiple challenges due to overfishing, habitat loss and weak management are poorly positioned to cope with new problems stemming from climate change, a new study suggests.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Genomes of identical twins reveal epigenetic changes that may play role in lupus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DjOS7zBvAHA/091221212624.htm
Identical twins look the same and are nearly genetically identical, but environmental factors and the resulting cellular changes could cause disease in one sibling and not the other. Scientists have studied twins discordant for the autoimmune disease lupus, mapping DNA modifications across the genome and shedding light on epigenetic changes that may play a role in the disease.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Electronic nose can select produce with appealing aromas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ELwhMr0kbg/091221130402.htm
The use of an electronic smelling system capable of discriminating which tomatoes, melons or other products have a more attractive aroma is a particularly valuable aid for agro-food firms. However, existing electronic noses do not “smell” in the same way depending on the laboratory conditions, and these conditions change throughout the day and from one day to another.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Depression saps endurance of the brain's reward circuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dKk8Kmg9jxU/091221212736.htm
Depressed patients are unable to sustain activity in brain areas related to positive emotion, a new study suggests.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Poisonous prehistoric 'raptor' discovered in China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XYey3iCoNBM/091221212630.htm
Researchers have discovered a venomous, birdlike raptor that thrived some 128 million years ago in China. This is the first report of venom in the lineage that leads to modern birds.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Gene therapy makes mice breath easier: Preventing progression of emphysema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ERklvDcYgkY/091221212622.htm
Researchers have discovered a new gene therapy that may prevent the progression of emphysema. The study describes a method to express therapeutic genes in lung tissue for a lifetime after only a single treatment.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Sensor can detect single nanoparticle and take its measurement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zUJ3XH5-9Sg/091218133309.htm
A tiny sensor that exploits the same physics as the whispering gallery will help make nanotechnology safer.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Proline repeats help protein grow tooth enamel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pi4FAxe1LlY/091221212612.htm
A simple amino acid that is repeated in the center of proteins found in tooth enamel makes teeth stronger and more resilient, according to new research.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
What are the amounts of greenhouse gases released in your area and what are the sources?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eCqDtbpMSEs/091220175504.htm
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a high resolution digital view of artificial greenhouse gas emissions for any 10-by-10-kilometer area in the world. Using JRC's work on emissions and Google Earth, this new tool allows the visualization of the levels of emissions locally from 1970 to 2005 and the identification of the main sources.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
New research sheds light on our reactions to humanitarian crises
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0d9Jgje780w/091220174835.htm
Millions of lives are lost around the world each year to accidents, terrorist attacks, wars, epidemics and natural disasters. What’s more, the prediction is that climate change will increase the number and intensity of some of these events. Newly published research suggests that the way people -- whether members of the public or policy makers -- react when faced with human fatalities is highly dependent on the distribution of death tolls they are typically exposed to.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Modern behavior of early humans found half-million years earlier than thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4wRYX2vBizA/091221130025.htm
Evidence of sophisticated, human behavior has been discovered by researchers as early as 750,000 years ago -- some half a million years earlier than has previously been estimated by archaeologists.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Women at high risk of significant bone loss on injectable birth control identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ACfkMqyB-rI/091221212626.htm
Nearly half of women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, commonly known as the birth control shot, will experience high bone mineral density loss in the hip or lower spine within two years of beginning the contraceptive, according to new research.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Added sugar in raisin cereals increases acidity of dental plaque
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WAoWEe75tVM/091218133311.htm
Elevated dental plaque acid is a risk factor that contributes to cavities in children. But eating bran flakes with raisins containing no added sugar does not promote more acid in dental plaque than bran flakes alone, according to new research.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Study casts doubt on provocative tuberculosis theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gdy_22hIrrc/091221212742.htm
A new study is casting doubt on a provocative theory that explains why tuberculosis can lie dormant in some patients for many years.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Physicists propose quantum entanglement for motion of microscopic objects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KF2rwqyATNQ/091221212821.htm
Researchers have proposed a new paradigm that should allow scientists to observe quantum behavior in small mechanical systems. Their ideas offer a new means of addressing one of the most fascinating issues in quantum mechanics: the nature of quantum superposition and entanglement in progressively larger and more complex systems.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Elderly most at risk for major depression identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sgz-BttI4Dc/091217115828.htm
Researchers have pinpointed the prime factors identifying which elderly persons are at the highest risk for developing major depression.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Little stars from the early galaxy: Understanding the Milky Way's oldest stellar population
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dUkejvfq0pQ/091220173931.htm
A new object with an age of thousands of millions of years and a mass of one tenth of the Sun, placing it at the frontier between low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, has been discovered as the furthest of its class in Milky Way. Nicknamed ULAS1350, this subdwarf could become on of the key element to improve our knowledge on the first steps of the formation of our Galaxy.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Most plentiful cell type in the heart -- the fibroblast -- contributes to heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b4ozwyfO6-g/091221215810.htm
Fibroblasts are the most numerous cell type in the heart, but they are considered to have a less important role in heart failure than heart muscle cells. However, a team of researchers has now determined that fibroblasts are essential for the response of the mouse heart to conditions that mimic high blood pressure, a response that if sustained ultimately leads to heart failure.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
NASA Flight Tests Unique Jumbo Jet; Plane's Airborne Telescope Will Be Used to Unlock Secrets of the Cosmos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KVbXD7h_wJI/091221122211.htm
A NASA jumbo jet that will help scientists unlock the origins of the universe with infrared observations reached a milestone Dec. 18 when doors covering the plane's telescope were fully opened in flight.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Are patients losing sleep over blood pressure monitors?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X4ToX6hJ5hY/091217183048.htm
A widely used test for measuring nighttime blood pressure may interfere with patients' sleep, thus affecting the results of the test, a new study reports.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
France was once home to the Atlantic sturgeon, previously unknown on its territory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NuhwkYy0c1Q/091220173710.htm
Until now, only one species of sturgeon was known in France: the European sturgeon. Biologists have just shown, for the first time, that another species previously unknown in France used to be present in French waters: the Atlantic sturgeon. This species already existed in the French Atlantic region at the end of the Neolithic 5 000 years ago, and was still thriving 3 000 years later. Moreover, at that time European and Atlantic sturgeons co-existed at some sites. This discovery is of major importance for programs for the reintroduction of sturgeons into European rivers.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Orphanages are viable options for some children, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9-dh-ZO2NbU/091217201008.htm
A study of more than 3,000 orphaned and abandoned children in five Asian and African countries has found that children in institutional orphanages fare as well or better than those who live in the community.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Faster, cheaper DNA sequencing method devised
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IHFCcTTuv6Y/091220143923.htm
Biomedical engineers have devised a method for making future genome sequencing faster and cheaper by dramatically reducing the amount of DNA required, thus eliminating the expensive, time-consuming and error-prone step of DNA amplification.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Naturally occurring lipid blocks respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in lungs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K2v5hewglTQ/091221212744.htm
Researchers have discovered that a naturally occurring lipid in the lung can prevent RSV infection and inhibit spread of the virus after an infection is established. RSV is the major cause of hospitalization for children in the first two years of life. These are early studies, but several characteristics of POPG suggest that it has real potential as both an antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Forty years of farmed salmon ... and one genetic mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DY89dt9sggU/091220174039.htm
It’s known that escaped fish from Norwegian salmon farms can interbreed with wild salmon, and thus must have changed the genetic and physical makeup of the country's famed wild salmon stocks. But how much? Biologists are trying to answer this question by breeding special fish families to determine the exact genetic differences between farmed and wild salmon stocks.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Urinary tract cancer associated with Chinese herbal products containing aristolochic acid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ug12HKt3tko/091221212734.htm
The carcinogen aristolochic acid, which was found in many prescribed Chinese herbal products including Guan Mu Tong, is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Fertilizer use not always helpful in revegetation efforts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qOanBqNCYJs/091217115836.htm
Revegetation efforts in a subarctic Quebec community show that not all plants respond favorably to the use of fertilizers. Agricultural researchers used organic and mineral fertilizers on three different species of plants with mixed results. Vegetation in the community is damaged because of land development and the use of all terrain vehicles.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Cancer survival disparities for most minority populations increase as cancers become more treatable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/urcvbVvZLAI/091217133734.htm
Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival are greatest for cancers that can be detected early and treated successfully, including breast and prostate cancer. Disparities are small or nonexistent for cancers that have more limited early detection and treatment options, such as pancreatic and lung cancer.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Mystery of golden ratio explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fDHga5DDdZY/091221073723.htm
The golden ratio is a geometric proportion that has been theorized to be the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye and has been the root of countless mysteries over the centuries. Now, an engineer has found it to be a compelling springboard to unify vision, thought and movement under a single law of nature's design.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
New Aging Studies Improving Vaccine Efficacy For The Elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MJoI6Ed1lgM/091005161441.htm
A new study demonstrates that immune system cells important for both pathogen resistance and vaccine efficacy live longer in older animals but because of this longevity acquire functional defects. The work may provide new targets for boosting immune system function in older individuals.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
When it comes to fish families, the bigger and bossier the better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_6a1QxB1uVs/091214121438.htm
When given the choice between unfamiliar social groups, cichlid fish chose groups where the members are large and dominant.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Combination therapy with midostaurin improves survival of acute myeloid leukemia patients with FLT3 mutations, phase 1
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OIiii5InYDs/091207181420.htm
A targeted drug that is active against acute myeloid leukemia is particularly effective when teamed with chemotherapy in patients whose cancer cells harbor a key genetic mutation, according to new research.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Quantum information: Disentangling a billion-dollar opportunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HubazqYCS4Q/091220174037.htm
The field of quantum information processing has come a long way in the past five years, partly thanks to new funding which has helped focus activity in this potentially lucrative field. Experts recently gathered to highlight the most recent advances and discuss what is now needed to make the most of the opportunities of quantum information processing.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Alcohol outlets lead to specific problems among youth and young adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h3g1q7PFWMY/091219073003.htm
Alcohol research has clearly demonstrated a connection between alcohol outlets and alcohol-related problems. A new study focuses on the effects of alcohol outlets on underage youth and young adults. Findings show that alcohol-related injuries among underage youth and young adults are shaped by the density and types of alcohol outlets in neighborhoods.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
African leaf-eating primates 'likely to be wiped out' by climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pdxb378s4rM/091220174210.htm
Monkey species will become 'increasingly at risk of extinction' because of global warming, according to new research. The study reveals that populations of monkeys and apes in Africa that depend largely on a diet of leaves may be wiped out by a rise in annual temperatures of two degrees Celsius.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Inhibiting The Cellular Process Autophagy Makes Mice Leaner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eWKruMxJvrw/091012225803.htm
The more brown fat cells a person has, the lower their body mass. Therefore, manipulating the development of fat cells so that they become brown fat cells rather than white fat cells might be an approach to treat obesity. Researchers have now identified a cellular process that regulates the formation of the distinct fat cell types in mice. This process is known as autophagy.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Your Christmas tree has seven times more DNA than you do!
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FPdTNvfOsmk/091215171514.htm
Take a close look at your Christmas tree -- it has seven times more genetic material (DNA) than you do! Why this is so is still largely unknown, but now the DNA of the spruce is going to be mapped by Swedish researchers.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Physicians knowledge of childhood food allergies needs room for improvement, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tvpjlv3CqCY/091209134906.htm
A new study shows that pediatricians and family physicians are not confident in diagnosing or treating food allergies.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Headwater stream nutrient enrichment disrupts food web, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9NeMchiP9W0/091217183446.htm
Human activity is increasing the supply of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to stream systems all over the world. The conventional wisdom -- bolstered by earlier research -- has held that these additional nutrients cause an increase in production all along the food chain, from the tiniest organisms up to the largest predators. A long-term, ecosystem-scale study, however, has thrown this assumption into question.
Tue, 22 Dec 09
Postural sway among abstinent alcoholics can be improved up to a point
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nKwFFdFPwXs/091219073007.htm
Excessive sway during quiet standing is a common and significant consequence of chronic alcoholism, even after prolonged sobriety, and can lead to fall-related injury and even death. A new study of residual postural instability in alcohol-abstinent men and women shows that alcoholics improve with prolonged sobriety, but the improvement may not fully erase the problem of instability.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Sixty headless skeletons -- 3,000 years old -- discovered in Pacific Ocean archipelago Vanuatu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6_iqLQUuO04/091215164909.htm
A find of 60 headless skeletons summer 2009 may reveal the identity of the people who first inhabited the Pacific Ocean archipelago Vanuatu 3000 years ago.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Use and misuse of alcohol and marijuana can be traced to common set of genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H5Q1eywctrY/091219073005.htm
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Roughly eight to 12 percent of marijuana users are considered "dependent" and, just like alcohol, the severity of symptoms increases with heavier use. A new study has found that use and misuse of alcohol and marijuana are influenced by a common set of genes.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Physicist sees through the opaque with 'T-rays'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6knqjOPgdvM/091218094633.htm
"T-rays" may make X-rays obsolete as a means of detecting bombs on terrorists or illegal drugs on traffickers, among other uses, contends a physicist who is helping lay the theoretical groundwork to make the concept a reality. In addition to being more revealing than X-rays in some situations, T-rays do not have the cumulative possible harmful effects.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Cannabis hope for inflammatory bowel disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ggHtbnfW4rQ/091220175502.htm
Chemicals found in cannabis could prove an effective treatment for the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, say scientists. Laboratory tests have shown that two compounds found in the cannabis plant – the cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol – interact with the body’s system that controls gut function.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Computer algorithm identifies authentic Van Gogh
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ny0KiVw1UAc/091220174723.htm
A researcher in the Netherlands has developed computer algorithms to support art historians and other art experts in their visual assessment of paintings. His digital technology is capable of distinguishing a forgery from an authentic Van Gogh based on the painter's characteristic brush work and use of color.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Having children makes you more like your own parents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OUCPKPh6RGk/091220175058.htm
“I’ll never be like my parents.” Many youngsters must have said this at least once in their lives. The truth emerges as soon as you have your own children: you increasingly become more like your own parents.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Black holes in star clusters stir up time and space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6bdmGBCcRAQ/091220175323.htm
Within a decade scientists could be able to detect the merger of tens of pairs of black holes every year, according astronomers. By modeling the behavior of stars in clusters, the team finds that they are ideal environments for black holes to coalesce. These merger events produce ripples in time and space (gravitational waves) that could be detected by instruments from as early as 2015.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Daily Pot Smoking May Hasten Onset of Psychosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DklnMrwRwYA/091220144936.htm
Progression to daily marijuana use in adolescence may hasten the onset of symptoms leading up to psychosis, a new study finds.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Bioactive glass nanofibers produced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E7OMKPBtZBU/091218094646.htm
Researchers have developed "laser spinning," a novel method of producing glass nanofibres with materials. They have been able to manufacture bioglass nanofibres, the bioactive glass used in regenerating bone, for the first time.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Better understanding of the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ee6oPvvDi-w/091218083550.htm
Scientists studying the protein that, when defective or absent, causes cystic fibrosis has made an important discovery about how that protein is normally controlled and under what circumstances it might go awry.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Fewer migratory birds in Dutch woods due to climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jBN17lyDk5w/091220174725.htm
All insect-eating migratory birds who winter in Africa and breed in the Dutch woods have decreased in numbers since 1984, according to new research. This decline is dramatic for certain species: nightingales have declined by 37 percent, wood warblers by 73 percent and Ictarine warblers by 85 percent.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Happiest Americans live in states ranked highest for quality of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7qczvxxBX3k/091217141314.htm
New research in the US into the happiness levels of a million individual US citizens have revealed their personal happiness levels closely correlate with earlier research that ranked the quality of life available in the US's 50 states.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Ancient koalas may have been loud and lazy but they didn't chew gum
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pari8bmqkNc/091218122926.htm
Skull fragments of prehistoric koalas from the Riversleigh rainforests of millions of year ago suggest they shared the modern koala's "lazy" lifestyle and ability to produce loud "bellowing" calls to attract mates and provide warnings about predators. However, the new findings suggest that the two species of koalas from the Miocene did not share the uniquely specialized eucalyptus leaf diet of the modern koala.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Researchers prove key cancer theory: Animal study demonstrates how whole chromosome changes cause cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i8fTrdBsFMk/091207123107.htm
Researchers have proven the longstanding theory that changes in the number of whole chromosomes -- called aneuploidy -- can cause cancer by eliminating tumor suppressor genes.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Machine that visually inspects and sorts strawberry plants invented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5lyHfK2pIes/091217102318.htm
Researchers have developed a plant-sorting machine that uses computer vision and machine learning to inspect and grade harvested strawberry plants and then mechanically sort them by quality -- tasks that until now could only be done manually.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Movement comes with appetite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nWNwkTg4e78/091206184138.htm
A body that is provided with food too often gets caught up in the maelstrom of a lack of exercise, obesity and ultimately diabetes. The trigger is a molecular switch that is controlled by insulin, a new study has revealed.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
New filling, cooling and storage system may prevent bacterial growth and prolong shelf life of orange juice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ni3mWW165kM/091219080757.htm
Researchers in Brazil have estimated the growth timeline of a bacterium that causes orange juice spoilage during shelf life (approximately 6 months) and developed a safe and inexpensive filling, cooling, and storage protocol that inhibits bacterial growth and offers an alternative to other proposed treatments.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Doctors' bedside skills trump medical technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yCRuZav-v5U/091218102109.htm
Sometimes, a simple bedside exam performed by a skilled physician is superior to a high-tech CT scan. A study has found that physicians' bedside exams did a better job than CT scans in predicting which patients would need to return to the operating room to treat serious complications.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Global warming likely to be amplified by slow changes to Earth systems, geologists say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xaFtjfxQvTs/091220143921.htm
The kinds of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide taking place today could have a significantly larger effect on global temperatures than previously thought, according to a new study led by geologists. The team demonstrated that only a relatively small rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide was associated with a period of substantial warming in the mid- and early-Pliocene era, between 3 to 5 million years ago.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Metastasis formation revealed in detail in real time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y_FyShL3oa8/091220143919.htm
If metastases develop in the brain a patient's prognosis is poor. Researchers are now able to follow, in real time, the steps that lead some tumor cells to establish metastasis. These results could help to develop new cancer drugs and to optimize existing therapies.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
The buzz on fruit flies: New role in the search for addiction treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/btkIUs_hm7E/091202114048.htm
Fruit flies may seem like unlikely heroes in the battle against drug abuse, but new research suggests that these insects -- already used to study dozens of human disease -- could claim that role. Scientists are reporting that fruit flies can be used as a simpler and more convenient animal model for studying the effects of cocaine and other drugs of abuse on the brain.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Septic shock: Nitric oxide beneficial after all
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aMAUfzWP-i0/091215101703.htm
Scientists in Belgium have found an unexpected ally for the treatment of septic shock, the major cause of death in intensive care units. By inducing the release of nitric oxide gas in mice with septic shock, researchers discovered that the animal's organs showed much less damage, while their chances of survival increased significantly. That's contrary to all expectations.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Scientists take a step towards uncovering the histone code
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zut13T8OGqA/091220143925.htm
DNA's packaging can be just as important and intricate as the information in the DNA itself. A "histone code" is thought to lie behind the pattern of chemical modifications on histones, the spool-like proteins around which DNA is wound inside the cell. The structures of two enzymes that modify histones give clues towards an understanding of the histone code.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Adolescent boys seeking 'the norm' may take risks with their appearances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GhJMjKkjLw4/091218124844.htm
Teen-aged boys are more likely to use tanning booths, take diet pills and have their bodies waxed -- even if they think those activities are unhealthy -- if they are influenced by their peers, according to new research.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Deepest explosive eruption on sea floor: Underwater remotely operated vehicle Jason images discovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tz9iEYO-fVY/091217183101.htm
Oceanographers using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason discovered and recorded the first video and still images of a deep-sea volcano actively erupting molten lava on the seafloor.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Moderate fish consumption may lower risk in patients with a history of heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M_xdSaeYByM/091218125944.htm
Including fish in a balanced diet has long been associated with the prevention of heart disease, and scientists now believe that it can help preserve heart function in patients who have experienced heart failure. A new study reports that moderate fish consumption can help reduce the risk of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in post acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Programmed cell death: Pores finding reveals targets for cancer and degenerative disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xLe--Fx1X58/091218094700.htm
Scientists have identified a key step in the biological process of programmed cell death, also called apoptosis. The research is crucial to the development of drugs that can turn on apoptosis, thereby more effectively killing cancer cells. It could also be used in developing compounds that turn off the apoptosis that leads to degenerative disorders.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
New insight into selective binding properties of infectious HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p6zMY5g11YE/091215102101.htm
Free infectious HIV-1 is widely thought to be the major form of the virus in the blood of infected persons. However researchers have demonstrated that essentially all of the infectious virus particles can bind to the surface of red blood cells isolated from each of 30 normal (non-infected) human donors.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Conflict Over War Deaths: Researchers attack British Medical Journal review process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BZTNPMhqboY/091220162115.htm
Researchers from Canada, the UK and Sweden have slammed the influential British Medical Journal for publishing an error-filled study on global war deaths, refusing an equivalent rebuttal article and having a flawed peer-review process.
Mon, 21 Dec 09
Now you see it, now you know you see it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZD5By9p0YM0/091130131329.htm
Psychologists say that time lag between unconscious perception and conscious recognition of a visual stimulus can vary depending on the complexity of the stimulus.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Fog discovered on Saturn's largest moon, Titan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FUe5gTRh-fk/091218094637.htm
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, looks to be the only place in the solar system -- aside from our home planet, Earth -- with copious quantities of liquid (largely, liquid methane and ethane) sitting on its surface. According to a planetary astronomer Earth and Titan share yet another feature, which is inextricably linked with that surface liquid: common fog.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Antimicrobial peptide from ancient organism may be effective against multiresistant human pathogens including MRSA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AfzwUK5-lD8/091219080731.htm
Researchers in Germany have identified a new antimicrobial peptide that demonstrates significant activity against a variety of bacteria, including multiresistant human strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The discovery was made while investigating the ancient metazoan organism Hydra magnipapillata.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Cannabis damages young brains more than originally thought, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/smpbqDSJmGY/091217115834.htm
The damaging effects of the illicit drug Cannabis on young brains are worse than originally thought, according to a psychiatric researcher. A new study suggests that daily consumption of cannabis in teens can cause depression and anxiety, and have an irreversible long-term effect on the brain.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Intensive therapy for narrowed arteries linked to fewer heart events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p1sbZC3JumM/091214162326.htm
Intensive medical therapy, including aggressive control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, for patients with asymptomatic plaque buildup in their carotid arteries (which supply blood to the brain) appears to be associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular events and reduced risk of microemboli (microscopic-sized blood clots) in the brain arteries, according to a new study.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Warming climate chills Sonoran Desert's spring flowers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c_zwN_JOOLY/091216144145.htm
Global warming is giving a boost to Sonoran Desert plants that have an edge during cold weather, according to new research. Although overall numbers of winter annuals have declined since 1982, species that germinate and grow better at low temperatures are becoming more common. As a result, the composition of the desert's spring wildflower display is changing, according to new research.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Fear of lawsuits may prompt some doctors to overprescribe antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D_hS7PA4FcU/091218163643.htm
Investigators surveyed 162 health-care providers to determine whether medical liability concerns were as important as antibiotic cost and formulary restrictions in selecting treatment regimens. They found a strong correlation between the prevalence of methicillin resistance and density of attorneys in countries in Europe and North America.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Colliding auroras produce an explosion of light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gwGZSG6aJn8/091217141318.htm
A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic in support of NASA's THEMIS mission has made a startling discovery about the Northern Lights. Sometimes, vast curtains of aurora borealis collide, producing spectacular outbursts of light.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Skull bone may hold the key to tackling osteoporosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/stKH9jlv-dM/091219073009.htm
Scientists have uncovered fundamental differences between the bone which makes up the skull and the bones in our limbs, which they believe could hold the key to tackling bone weakness and fractures.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Tropical birds waited for land crossing between North and South America, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n1OjC9jT4Mw/091209143743.htm
Despite their ability to fly, tropical birds waited until the formation of the land bridge between North and South America to move northward, according to a new study.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
How cancer cells protect themselves from low levels of oxygen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jge10KJZ2Oc/091214220146.htm
Not all regions of a tumor are equal in terms of their oxygen levels. One clinically important implication of this is that tumors with large areas with low levels of oxygen (areas known as hypoxic regions) are associated with poor prognosis and treatment response. Researchers have determined that a cellular response pathway known as the unfolded protein response pathway helps protect human tumor cells from hypoxia and anticancer irradiation treatment.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Nocturnal wind maximum mapped for first time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/agT5Ra8AHNs/091215160853.htm
On beautiful, sunny days with quiet weather conditions a strong wind develops in the evening at a height of about 200 meters. Scientists have now mapped how such a powerful wind develops high in the air.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Alzheimer's detection: What's his name again? How celebrity monikers can help us remember
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FtsMPz07sTM/091218133303.htm
Famous mugs do more than prompt us into buying magazines, according to new research. Scientists explain how the ability to name famous faces or access biographical knowledge about celebrities holds clues that could help in early Alzheimer's detection.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Hubble's festive view of a grand star-forming region
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_gDIKLTRDKA/091218132035.htm
Just in time for the holidays: a Hubble Space Telescope picture postcard of hundreds of brilliant blue stars wreathed by warm, glowing clouds. The festive portrait is the most detailed view of the largest stellar nursery in our local galactic neighborhood.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
New nasal vaccine blocks parasite transmission to mosquitoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cPwT9MoiGDQ/091219080703.htm
An experimental nasally administered malaria vaccine prevented parasite transmission from infected mice to mosquitoes and could play an important role in the fight against human malaria.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Food-borne illness: Researchers redefine the invasion mechanism of Salmonella
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V2ru86V4XN0/091217102246.htm
Bacteria of the genus Salmonella cause most food-borne illnesses. The bacteria attach to cells of the intestinal wall and induce their own ingestion by cells of the intestinal epithelium. Up till now, researchers assumed that Salmonella have to induce the formation of distinctive membrane waves in order to invade these gut cells. Researchers in Germany have now refuted this common doctrine.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Further spread of Rhodesian sleeping sickness in Uganda likely due to livestock movements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ul2t9351D74/091215141514.htm
The northwards spread of human Rhodesian sleeping sickness in Uganda is likely due to the movement of infected livestock, according to new findings.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Type of cell proves to be highly significant in genetic studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nDAhyPO7n6s/091215160855.htm
Choosing the right cell type is particularly important in genetic studies. Researchers have now shown how variations in the genome can influence the activity of genes. This effect was found to be strongly dependent on the cell type in which these genes were active.
Sun, 20 Dec 09
Disordered eating may affect 10 to 15 percent of women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gcNuvx6cAlY/091218133307.htm
Several maladaptive eating behaviors, beyond anorexia, can affect women. Indeed, some 10 to 15 percent of women have maladaptive eating behaviors and attitudes according to new study.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Hubble finds smallest Kuiper Belt object ever seen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6oJzwrzfTL0/091218131604.htm
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered the smallest object ever seen in visible light in the Kuiper Belt, a vast ring of icy debris that is encircling the outer rim of the solar system just beyond Neptune.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Link between infertility, low egg reserve, and breast/ovarian cancer gene (BRCA1) suggested
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C4ZnBxDPS7Y/091218133317.htm
Scientists have concluded that mutations in the BRCA1 gene, which have been linked with early onset breast cancer, are also associated with some infertility indicators.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Dyslexia: Some very smart accomplished people cannot read well
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Z9PQO4muLE/091217150838.htm
Contrary to popular belief, some very smart, accomplished people cannot read well. This unexpected difficulty in reading in relation to intelligence, education and professional status is called dyslexia, and researchers have presented new data that explain how otherwise bright and intelligent people struggle to read.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
New study links DHA type of omega-3 to better nervous-system function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kzNxMV3S1lI/091216130718.htm
The omega-3 essential fatty acids commonly found in fatty fish and algae help animals avoid sensory overload, according to new research. The finding connects low omega-3s to the information-processing problems found in people with schizophrenia; bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders; Huntington's disease; and other afflictions of the nervous system.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Valuable, rare, raw earth materials extracted from industrial waste stream
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WmriBCw9fWo/091215101708.htm
Fierce competition over raw materials for new green technologies could become a thing of the past, thanks to a discovery by scientists in the UK.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Santa should get off his sleigh and walk, says public health doctor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-PuEwnXqecs/091216203447.htm
Santa should share Rudolf's snack of carrots and celery sticks rather than brandy and mince pies and swap his reindeer for a bike or walk, says a public health expert.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Why some insects can survive freezing: Huge X-ray microscope provides clues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jgzKLwDT0fw/091218094635.htm
Using a microscope the size of a football field, researchers are studying why some insects can survive freezing, while others cannot. Why is this important? Because the common fruit fly is one of the bugs that cannot survive freezing and the little creature just so happens to share much of the same genetic makeup as humans, therefore finding a way to freeze them for research purposes is a top priority for geneticists the world over.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
'Smart' nanocapsule delivery system created for use in protein therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nUB4oUaQA7s/091218094648.htm
Today protein therapy is considered the most direct and safe approach for treating diseases. However the effectiveness of this treatment has been limited by its low delivery efficiency and poor stability against proteases. Researchers have recently unveiled a new novel intracellular delivery platform based on nanocapsules consisting of a single-protein core and a thin permeable polymeric shell that can be engineered to either degrade or remain stable for different size substrates.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Within a cell, actin keeps things moving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kSDuyvE-INQ/091217133740.htm
Using new technology, chemists have captured what they describe as well-orchestrated, actin-driven, mitochondrial movement within a single cell.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Stem-cell activators switch function, repress mature cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c72B4EXS9Eg/091216131745.htm
New research shows how a crucial step in stem-cell growth and differentiation happens and how a reversal of that step contributes to cancer. It shows that three key proteins first stimulate stem cells to proliferate. Then, as the cells differentiate into their final cell type, these proteins switch function and stop the cells from dividing any more. Because of their central role, the proteins could offer a safe and novel therapeutic target in many cancers.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Missing piece of DNA replication puzzle identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/acOgCqdH3zE/091218130754.htm
DNA replication is a basic function of living organisms, allowing cells to divide and multiply, all while maintaining the genetic code and proper function of the original cell. The process, or mechanism, by which this is accomplished presents many challenges as the double helical (coil-shaped) DNA divides into two strands that are duplicated by different methods, yet both strands complete the replication at the same time. New research has addressed this fundamental problem.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Shift working aggravates metabolic syndrome development among middle-aged males
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HXAwz5YgNA8/091217094909.htm
Metabolic syndrome management is an important health issue in modern workplaces. In terms of workplace health management, both hazard exposures and the baseline health condition of workers should be evaluated. A five-year follow-up study for metabolic syndrome development was conducted in Taiwan for male workers. A significant association between shift work exposure and development of metabolic syndrome was found among male workers.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Why does a human baby need a full year before starting to walk?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T6lZLYmNaxg/091215160851.htm
Why does a human baby need a full year before it can start walking, while a newborn foal gets up on its legs almost directly after birth? Scientist have assumed that human motor development is unique because our brain is unusually complex and because it is particularly challenging to walk on two legs. But now a research group in Sweden has shown that human babies in fact start walking at the same stage in brain development as most other walking mammals, from small rodents to elephants.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Eat fruits and vegetables for better vision
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z0iTVtlQDZ0/091218125804.htm
Carotenoids, found in green leafy vegetables and colored fruits, have been found to increase visual performance and may prevent age-related eye diseases, according to a new study.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Researchers revise long-held theory of fruit-fly development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jXy8W8TpHu4/091217150840.htm
For decades, science texts have told a simple and straightforward story about a transcription factor that helps the embryo of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, pattern tissues in a manner that depends on the levels of this factor within individual cells. Now biologists have called that paradigm into question, revealing a tale that is both more complicated and potentially more interesting than the one previously described.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Immune cell activity linked to worsening COPD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h50aFOECmfc/091215131330.htm
A new study links chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with increased activity of cells that act as sentinels to activate the body's immune system. COPD affects more than 12 million Americans. Immune factors may be key if doctors are to find better ways to detect and treat the disease early when patients might benefit.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Large-scale sequencing: The future of genomic sciences?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F58vRvYS8x4/091217183450.htm
Scientists can gain insights into new ways to use microorganisms in medicine and manufacturing through a coordinated large-scale effort to sequence the genomes of not just individual microorganisms but entire ecosystems, according to a new report from the American Academy of Microbiology that outlines recommendations for this massive effort.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Negative emotions outweigh intent to exercise at health clubs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yEpyu180F6E/091217133738.htm
With only 30 percent of Americans trying to lose weight meeting the National Institutes of Health exercise guidelines of 300 minutes/week, a new study explores the paradox that exists -- an antidote for obesity and its comorbidities is exercise, but the majority of obese Americans do not exercise. Investigators explore and compare the barriers associated with regular exercise in health clubs between overweight and normal weight individuals.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Rate of autism disorders climbs to one percent among 8-year-olds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uWOxZJ7iVwk/091218133301.htm
One in 110 American 8-year-olds is classified as having an autism spectrum disorder, a 57 percent increase in ASD cases compared to four years earlier.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Genetic variant may control lung function and risk of COPD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/leOxxlWRXEg/091217122533.htm
Researchers have discovered evidence that suggests a genetic variant may be associated with better preserved lung function among children with asthma and adults who smoke.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Europe's flora is becoming impoverished
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SQwC1q4OgPA/091211131516.htm
With increasing species richness, due to more plant introductions than extinctions, plant communities of many European regions are becoming more homogeneous. The same species are occurring more frequently, whereas rare species are becoming extinct. It is not only the biological communities that are becoming increasingly similar, but also the phylogenetic relations between regions. These processes have led to a loss of uniqueness among European flora.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Gene linked to a rare form of progressive hearing loss in males identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XLZdnIiY6UM/091217133736.htm
A gene associated with a rare form of progressive deafness in males has been identified. The gene, PRPS1, appears to be crucial in inner ear development and maintenance.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Chicken or egg question looms over climate debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6bFZhyhX6qc/091218122631.htm
Which came first, the warmer temperatures or the clearer skies? Answers to that and similar "chicken or egg" type questions could have a significant impact on our understanding of both the climate system and manmade global warming.
Sat, 19 Dec 09
Bourbon versus vodka: Bourbon hurts more the next day, due to byproducts of fermenting process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rMCQlyhWfd0/091218083548.htm
Many alcoholic beverages contain byproducts of the materials used in the fermenting process. These byproducts are called "congeners," complex organic molecules with toxic effects including acetone, acetaldehyde, fusel oil, tannins, and furfural. Bourbon has 37 times the amount of congeners that vodka has. A new study has found that while drinking a lot of bourbon can cause a worse hangover than drinking a lot of vodka, impairment in people's next-day task performance is about the same for both beverages.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Avatar's moon Pandora could be real, planet-hunters say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ezz6YmBxhog/091217183444.htm
In the new blockbuster Avatar, humans visit the habitable -- and inhabited -- alien moon called Pandora. Life-bearing moons like Pandora or the Star Wars forest moon of Endor are a staple of science fiction. With NASA's Kepler mission showing the potential to detect Earth-sized objects, habitable moons may soon become science fact.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Scientists use light to map neurons' effects on one another
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mrpBd3b-vE8/091217102302.htm
Scientists have used light and genetic trickery to trace out neurons' ability to excite or inhibit one another, literally shedding new light on the question of how neurons interact with one another in live animals.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Calorie intake linked to cell lifespan, cancer development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jfzPVKt1tpk/091217183053.htm
Researchers have discovered that restricting consumption of glucose, the most common dietary sugar, can extend the life of healthy human-lung cells and speed the death of precancerous human-lung cells, reducing cancer's spread and growth rate.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Hundreds of leads generated in fight against H1N1 pandemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-7hq2oREFCM/091217122524.htm
Scientists have generated hundreds of new leads in the fight against the H1N1 flu pandemic, according to two new studies. Both research teams took comprehensive approaches to understanding the interaction of H1N1 strains with human cells, yielding results that point toward new targets for therapy and perhaps also new tools to speed vaccine production, the researchers say.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Water droplets shape graphene nanostructures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ts15iAiBtzg/091217065721.htm
A team of chemists reports the ability to bend and reshape graphene, opening up the possibility of forming new and novel devices in the nanoscale. They use an everyday household ingredient to perform the work -- a droplet of water.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Video games: Racing, shooting and zapping your way to better visual skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/skfKziWiQUE/091217183448.htm
Do your kids want a Wii, a PlayStation or an Xbox 360 this year? This holiday gift season is packed with popular gaming systems and adrenaline-pumping, sharpshooting games. What's a parent to do? Is there any redeeming value in the hours that teens spend transfixed by these video games?
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Synthetic red blood cells developed: Red-blood-cell-like particles carry oxygen, drugs, and more
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EBktV41VaXs/091217201827.htm
Scientists have developed synthetic particles that closely mimic the characteristics and key functions of natural red blood cells, including softness, flexibility, and the ability to carry oxygen.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Umbilical cord could be new source of plentiful stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DCYsV-03LIs/091217102258.htm
Stem cells that could one day provide therapeutic options for muscle and bone disorders can be easily harvested from the tissue of the umbilical cord, just as the blood that goes through it provides precursor cells to treat some blood disorders, say researchers.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Stellar Nursery: Inside the dark heart of the Eagle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2bLaDs77lDo/091216103607.htm
Herschel has peered inside an unseen stellar nursery and revealed surprising amounts of activity. Some 700 newly-forming stars are estimated to be crowded into filaments of dust stretching through the image.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Enzyme may create new approach to hypertension therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xe8CvJSew5c/091217094907.htm
New research has found that an alternative therapy may be possible for treating some types of hypertension using an enzyme called ACE2.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Everlasting quantum wave: Physicists predict new form of soliton in ultracold gases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSg9NSIgrcI/091217102256.htm
Solitary waves that run a long distance without losing shape or dying out are called solitons. Theoreticians now believe there may be a new kind of soliton that's expected to be found in certain types of ultracold gases. The new soliton may provide insights into other physical systems, including the early universe.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Proximity to convenience stores fosters child obesity, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m6RprfZgzkE/091217102300.htm
Childhood obesity is directly related to how close kids live to convenience stores, according to the preliminary findings of a major Canadian study.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Glint of sunlight confirms liquid in lake on Saturn's moon Titan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bjwJIsD2cG0/091217200441.htm
NASA's Cassini Spacecraft has captured the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn's moon Titan, confirming the presence of liquid on the part of the moon dotted with many large, lake-shaped basins.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Chemo's toxicity to brain revealed, possible treatment identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3YZONTAQIbE/091217115830.htm
Researchers have developed a novel animal model showing that four commonly used chemotherapy drugs disrupt the birth of new brain cells, and that the condition could be partially reversed with the growth factor IGF-1.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Human protein helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EzXIGYpbs4U/091217122528.htm
Researchers have identified a naturally occurring human protein that helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses, including West Nile and dengue virus. The new study shows that human cells respond to infection by the H1N1 influenza virus by ramping up production of proteins that have unexpectedly powerful antiviral effects.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Previously unknown gene is unique to placental mammals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n0zLWBIPKvY/091214201012.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown gene ZBED6 that is unique to placental mammals. The gene originates from a so called jumping gene that integrated in the genome of a primitive mammal at least 150 million years ago and has since then evolved an essential function.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Scientists demystify utility of power factor correction devices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HdJFcIjLkAQ/091217102304.htm
If you've seen an Internet ad for capacitor-type power factor correction devices, you might be led to believe that using one can save you money on your residential electricity bill. However, scientists have recently explained why the devices actually provide no savings by discussing the underlying physics.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Gender divide in children's use of cell phone features, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UXeyhzyERrs/091217183059.htm
A recent sociological study finds that the way the kids will use their new phones depends on their gender.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Ancient pygmy sea cow discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BZsjSi-jmoM/091217130549.htm
A near-complete skull of a primitive "dugong" has been discovered, illuminating a virtually unknown period in Madagascar fossil history.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
New MRI safety risk for patients with pacemakers identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1pGBOZnZVyc/091214201005.htm
Researchers have found that certain cardiac pacemakers may inadequately stimulate a patient's heart while undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan due to the magnetic pulses mixing with the electronic pulses from the pacemaker. This inadequate stimulation is potentially dangerous for the patient undergoing the MRI scan, according to new research.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Breathlessness eased in patients with rare, often fatal disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jw6hKJwUgZc/091217122531.htm
Patients with a rare, deadly disease that mostly affects young women felt a dramatic reduction in breathlessness using an approved drug, according to a new study.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Steroid injections may slow diabetes-related eye disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pb2SaZtS2tM/091214163032.htm
Injecting the corticosteroid triamcinolone into the eye may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can cause vision loss and blindness, according to a new study.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Antagonistic genes control rice growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sLcW9JxV0to/091215173025.htm
Scientists have found that a plant steroid prompts two genes to battle each other -- one suppresses the other to ensure that leaves grow normally in rice and the experimental plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a relative of mustard. The results have important implications for understanding how to manipulate crop growth and yield.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Antidepressants cut risk of hospital readmission for suicidal youth, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AbXVCmGLTII/091217141320.htm
Suicidal adolescents who were prescribed an antidepressant medication during inpatient psychiatric hospital treatment were 85 percent less likely than others to be readmitted within a month after discharge, a new study found. The results provide additional evidence that antidepressants may play a key role in helping improve the mental health of suicidal youth.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Mammals may be nearly half way toward mass extinction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/14qNQIVJknM/091217115838.htm
Many biologists warn that the planet's plants and animals are headed toward a mass extinction as a result of human-caused environmental damage, including global warming. Researchers have now analyzed the status of North American mammals, estimating that they may be one-fifth to one-half the way toward a mass extinction event like the "Big Five" the Earth has seen in the last 450 million years.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Breakthrough may pave the way for therapeutic vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j_VuEmB1aQk/091217094859.htm
It should be possible to use therapeutic vaccines to create both cheap and effective drugs for diseases like cancer and allergies. One problem in developing such vaccines has previously been the lack of adjuvants, substances that make vaccines more effective. However, there has now been a major breakthrough in this area.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Breakthrough on causes of inflammatory bowel disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9MG9wQqflgM/091217094905.htm
New research from Australia could help explain why some people are more prone to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune diseases.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
NSAIDs: Take 'em early and often when competing? Think again
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n6svrOVvkWs/091216104348.htm
Athletes' superstitions and rituals can help them get psyched up for contests, but when these rituals involve NSAIDs, which many athletes gobble down before and during events, they could be causing more harm than good. Such misuse can cause problems such as interfering with healing and inhibiting the body's ability to adapt to challenging workouts, to the development of stomach ulcers and possibly an increased risk for cardiovascular problems, says sports medicine expert.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Valley in Jordan inhabited and irrigated for 13,000 years
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D6GbBnGEISQ/091215155956.htm
You can make major discoveries by walking across a field and picking up every loose item you find. One researcher succeeded in discovering – based on 100,000 finds – that the Zerqa Valley in Jordan had been successively inhabited and irrigated for more than 13,000 years. But it was not just communities that built irrigation systems: the irrigation systems also built communities.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Privacy concerns could limit benefits from real-time data analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZYUBXO0O-sg/091217141306.htm
Society will be unable to take full advantage of real-time data analysis technologies that might improve health, reduce traffic congestion and give scientists new insights into human behavior until it resolves questions about how much of a person's life can be observed and by whom.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Stone age pantry: Archaeologist unearths earliest evidence of modern humans using wild grains and tubers for food
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/crjx0kzUENM/091217141312.htm
The consumption of wild cereals among prehistoric hunters and gatherers appears to be far more ancient than previously thought, according to an archaeologist who has found the oldest example of extensive reliance on cereal and root staples in the diet of early Homo sapiens more than 100,000 years ago.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Stratifying breast cancer without biopsy: Researchers identify possible imaging method
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QOvVcG6W120/091217150842.htm
Scientists have discovered a possible way for malignant breast tumors to be identified, without the need for a biopsy.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
New study turns up the heat on soot's role in Himalayan warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3WZT6g4iZLc/091214173646.htm
A new modeling study from NASA confirms that when tiny air pollution particles we commonly call soot -- also known as black carbon -- travel along wind currents from densely populated south Asian cities and accumulate over a climate hotspot called the Tibetan Plateau, the result may be anything but inconsequential.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Marking of tissue-specific crucial in embryonic stem cells to ensure proper function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AmzPwVsu4w0/091216103609.htm
Tissue-specific genes, thought to be dormant or not marked for activation in embryonic stem cells, are indeed marked by transcription factors, with proper marking potentially crucial for the function of tissues derived from stem cells.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Looking for the heartbeat of cellular networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gN8RpkbmhVY/091216103602.htm
Life in biological cells appears as an intricate network of molecular interactions. Today's methods to measure such reaction kinetics, however, cannot be applied to living cells. Researchers have now developed a technique to determine the speed of molecular reactions in living cells.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Nonverbal communication of race bias on TV influences viewers' own bias
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a0oBAmxeVac/091217141310.htm
Subtle patterns of nonverbal behavior that appear on popular television programs influence racial bias among viewers. Black characters elicit especially negative nonverbal responses, such as facial expressions and body language, from other characters, and viewers exhibit more racial bias after exposure to such negative responses.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
New weapon in battle of the bulge: Food releases anti-hunger aromas during chewing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kz5-mfG19XU/091216121502.htm
A real possibility does exist for developing a new generation of foods that make people feel full by releasing anti-hunger aromas during chewing, scientists in the Netherlands are reporting after a review of research on that topic. Such foods would fight the global epidemic of obesity with aromas that quench hunger and prevent people from overeating.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Strict blood sugar control in some diabetics does not lower heart attack, stroke risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a85fu0ikrPI/091214173523.htm
Strictly controlling blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics with long-term, serious coexisting health problems such as heart disease and hypertension does not lower their risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms: Wind shear strength determines whether pollution swells or saps storms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qwFMKI64ewU/091215145048.htm
New research reveals how wind shear -- the same atmospheric conditions that cause bumpy airplane rides -- affects how pollution contributes to isolated thunderstorm clouds. The work improves scientists' understanding of how aerosols -- tiny unseen particles that make up pollution -- contribute to isolated thunderstorms and the climate cycle. How aerosols and clouds interact is one of the least understood aspects of climate, and this work allows researchers to better model clouds and precipitation.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Carrier screening associated with decrease in incidence of cystic fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dgJ_iAig96w/091215173013.htm
An increase in the number of screened carriers for cystic fibrosis (CF) was associated with a decrease in the number of children born with CF in northeast Italy, according to a new study.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Vermicompost from pig manure grows healthy hibiscus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/alj2NJxun4I/091210153701.htm
Vermicomposting, using earthworms to turn waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer, can be an economical, organic waste management practice. The resulting product, called vermicompost, or worm castings, can be an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional substrate additives for producing container-grown plants. Researchers experimented with pine bark amended with vermicompost derived from pig manure to produce healthy hibiscus. The study suggests that dolomitic lime, sulfated micronutrients, and phosphorous can be eliminated as substrate additives.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Livestock lead to better health in developing nations, rising consumption poses challenge, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AQ730ydWY1c/091211074425.htm
In the face of reports about the ills livestock generate for the climate, environment and health, a new study emphasizes that livestock production in developing and developed countries are very different animals.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Ancient origins of modern opossum revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pZ7LTvOfLT8/091215202320.htm
Scientists have traced the evolution of the modern opossum back to the extinction of the dinosaurs and found evidence to support North America as the center of origin for all living marsupials.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Christmas cholesterol epiphany: 'Myrrh' may have cholesterol-lowering properties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KzNx8BuZCqI/091215160653.htm
Laboratory experiments suggest that the resin of certain trees of the Middle East, known commonly as the "myrrh" of the Christmas story, may have cholesterol-lowering properties.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Most people should not automatically opt for a swine flu shot, expert suggests based on bacterial decision-making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A8xwaj19qdg/091216104352.htm
A bacteria expert presents compelling evidence to suggest there may be good reasons why most people should not automatically opt for the swine flu H1N1 shot.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Human movement may have brought Chagas disease to urban Peru
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fhuo3ewlEhg/091215141516.htm
New research shows how the migration and settlement patterns associated with the rapid urbanization of Peru may link to Chagas disease transmission. The study, suggests that the practice of shantytown residents from Arequipa making frequent seasonal moves to rural valleys where Chagas vectors are present may have contributed to the growing presence of Chagas disease near urban Arequipa, Peru.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
NASA tech zooms in on water and land
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/55HdE3gY_qU/091215141520.htm
A pilot project could help better manage the planet's strained natural resources by using space-age technologies to help manage natural resources like land and water. In Sequim, Wash., the North Olympic Peninsula Solutions Network is using NASA satellites and sensors to provide the information needed to make more accurate, daily flow predictions for the Dungeness River. Now four other communities across the country are looking at similar technologies to help manage their unique water and land use needs.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Researchers find formula for selling 'but-it's-good-for-you' products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1E46JPM73t8/091215121051.htm
Providing consumers with a very small or even trivial immediate benefit encourages people to use products that may have more significant long-term health advantages, a new study shows. The research may offer the key to getting kids to wear their seat belts and encourage adults to use sunscreen.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Scientists film photons with electrons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i9iPbqlCLAk/091216131749.htm
Newly invented techniques which allow the real-time, real-space visualization of fleeting changes in the structure of nanoscale matter -- have been used to image the evanescent electrical fields produced by the interaction of electrons and photons, and to track changes in atomic-scale structures.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
DNA sequencing used to attack lung cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O4FDSclqOy0/091216131757.htm
Aided by next-generation DNA sequencing technology, researchers have gained insights into how more than 60 carcinogens associated with cigarette smoke bind to and chemically modify human DNA, ultimately leading to cancer-causing genetic mutations.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Pre-eruption earthquakes offer clues to volcano forecasters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JC1VRrbctXY/091216203436.htm
Like an angry dog, a volcano growls before it bites, shaking the ground and getting "noisy" before erupting. This activity gives scientists an opportunity to study the tumult beneath a volcano and may help them improve the accuracy of eruption forecasts, according to seismologists.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Lack of diversity in embryonic stem cell lines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tMv5eJA5Jrg/091216203453.htm
The most widely used human embryonic stem cell lines lack genetic diversity, a finding that raises social justice questions that must be addressed to ensure that all sectors of society benefit from stem cell advances, according to researchers.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Cell phone records used to predict spread of malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/js1j-jtViwo/091216130716.htm
Researchers at work on a malaria elimination study in Africa have become the first to predict the spread of the disease using cell phone records.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
New 'golden ratios' for female facial beauty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T3tpTFWeKBk/091216144141.htm
Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder but also in the relationship of the eyes and mouth of the beholden. The distance between a woman's eyes and the distance between her eyes and her mouth are key factors in determining how attractive she is to others, according to new psychology research.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Heart cells on lab chip display 'nanosense' that guides behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WSw7jKbBSP4/091215153632.htm
Biomedical engineers have produced a laboratory chip with nanoscopic grooves and ridges capable of growing cardiac tissue that more closely resembles natural heart muscle.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Lung cancer and melanoma laid bare
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4U-Nc9tN7Z4/091216131751.htm
Researchers have generated the first comprehensive analysis of a malignant melanoma and a lung cancer genome. The results, which reveal essentially all the mutations in the genomes, will provide powerful insights into the biology of cancer and lay the foundation for understanding causation and improving prevention, detection and treatment. The ultimate aim will be to generate catalogs for thousands of individual cancer genomes, so that treatments can be directed in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Complex life of marsh birds: Coots foil nest invaders, reject impostors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n8QHUt5Ewqw/091216131741.htm
The American coot is a drab, seemingly unremarkable marsh bird common throughout North America. But its reproductive life is full of deception and violence. According to biologists, coots have evolved a remarkable set of cognitive abilities to thwart other coots that lay eggs in their neighbors' nests.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Synthetic platelets halve clotting time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fhj1POrDJXQ/091216144139.htm
Researchers have developed synthetic platelets from biodegradable polymers. In animal models, the synthetics attach to natural platelets and stem bleeding faster than current treatments.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Climate change does not always lead to conflict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sTW-XpKSOlI/091215155954.htm
Bronze age farmers adapted to drought. The climate change that took place in Mesopotamia around 2000 BC did not lead to war, but in fact led to the development of a new shared identity. Although increasing drought often leads to competition and conflict, there seems to be no evidence of this in northern Mesopotamia according to new research.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Education: Learning styles debunked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wpu4QjC1ltI/091216162356.htm
Are you a verbal learner or a visual learner? Chances are, you've pegged yourself or your children as either one or the other and rely on study techniques that suit your individual learning needs. However, a new report finds no evidence for the learning styles hypothesis.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Bacteria used to power simple machines: Organisms turn microgears in suspended solution by swimming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pd3TkxS8G40/091216121500.htm
Scientists have discovered that common bacteria can turn microgears when suspended in a solution, providing insights for design of bio-inspired dynamically adaptive materials for energy.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Better education associated with improved asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ejFqcBHrCnY/091216203445.htm
Individuals with more education suffer less from asthma. Researchers have found that having less than 12 years of formal schooling is associated with worse asthma symptoms.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
World's rarest gorilla ready for its close-up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eK8Wm53MmYM/091216130712.htm
The world's rarest -- and most camera shy -- great ape has finally been captured on professional video on a forested mountain in Cameroon.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Aggressive infection control protects cancer patients from acquiring H1N1 influenza
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l9IIC4Ci2yc/091216153658.htm
Despite a 100-fold increase in H1N1 influenza cases in the Seattle area during spring 2009, an aggressive infection control program to protect immuno-compromised cancer patients and thorough screening measures resulted in no corresponding increase in H1N1 cases among the total patient population there.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Irrigation decreases, urbanization increases monsoon rains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aFJ66F1EJ0U/091215121049.htm
Scientists have shown man-made changes to the landscape have affected Indian monsoon rains, suggesting that land-use decisions play an important role in climate change.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Should flowers be banned in hospitals?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UDL-wiMBK4E/091216203449.htm
Does flower water harbor potentially deadly bacteria? Do bedside blooms compete with patients for oxygen? Do bouquets pose a health and safety risk around medical equipment? These are some of the reasons given by many hospital wards in the UK to ban, or at least discourage, bedside bouquets. But is this anxiety justified, and what do patients feel about flower policies?
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Earth's polar ice sheets vulnerable to even moderate global warming; New Orleans, much of southern Florida, expected to be permanently submerged
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7dyDMyCIXfk/091216131747.htm
A new analysis of the geological record of the Earth's sea level employs a novel statistical approach that reveals the planet's polar ice sheets are vulnerable to large-scale melting even under moderate global warming scenarios. Such melting would lead to a large and relatively rapid rise in global sea level. According to the analysis, an additional 2 degrees of global warming could commit the planet to 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet) of long-term sea level rise.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Leprosy susceptibility genes identified; largest genome-wide association study of an infectious disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QVWgkJZyNDo/091216203441.htm
In the first genome-wide association study of leprosy and the largest on an infectious disease, scientists in Singapore and China identified seven genes that increase an individual's susceptibility to leprosy.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Trough deposits on Mars point to complex hydrologic past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Na_e7q1E1IM/091216205910.htm
Variations in composition of light-toned deposits in troughs on Mars suggest a diversity of water-related processes, based on analysis of observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Molecular basis of colorectal cancer review points to key advances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0hOpYwroYY4/091216203443.htm
As researchers and clinicians fervently look for causes and cures for colorectal cancer, a review of the molecular basis of the disease points to key advances.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Zoning the ocean may help endangered whales to recover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zfKfzsXsvzI/091216203438.htm
Marine scientists have proposed a new method to identify priority areas for whale conservation, based on feeding behavior and human activity.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
More effort needed to crack down on 'secret remedies', expert argues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b4IZbAeK69k/091216203451.htm
The medical establishment and politicians must do more to crack down on alternative medicine, argues one leading scientist.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Close-up photos of dying star show our sun's fate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uTZp-1W9HMI/091215112047.htm
About 550 light-years from Earth, a star like our Sun is writhing in its death throes. Chi Cygni has swollen in size to become a red giant star so large that it would swallow every planet out to Mars in our solar system. Moreover, it has begun to pulse dramatically in and out, beating like a giant heart. New close-up photos of the surface of this distant star show its throbbing motions in unprecedented detail.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Drug kills cells through novel mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XonTyT501Hs/091210125920.htm
Researchers have discovered that the drug hydroxyurea kills bacteria by inducing them to produce molecules toxic to themselves -- a conclusion that raises the possibility of finding new antibiotics that use similar mechanisms.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Brain imaging shows kids' PTSD symptoms linked to poor hippocampus function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l4MWqqKJEOQ/091208132237.htm
Psychological trauma leaves a trail of damage in a child's brain, say scientists. Their new study gives the first direct evidence that children with symptoms of post-traumatic stress suffer poor function of the hippocampus, a brain structure that stores and retrieves memories. The research helps explain why traumatized children behave as they do and could improve treatments for these kids.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
The need for cardio-oncology: Treating cancer and protecting the heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JZrdCQ1kR4M/091210162220.htm
Cardiologists and oncologists must work together in an attempt to avoid or prevent adverse cardiovascular effects in patients from certain chemotherapies, especially for those who may be at a higher risk for such effects, according to a new review.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Even at sublethal levels, pesticides may slow the recovery of wild salmon populations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cqFWkUQrQAA/091216104350.htm
Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings suggest that exposure to commonly used pesticides may further inhibit the recovery of threatened or endangered populations.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Psychotherapy offers obesity prevention for 'at risk' teenage girls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RlRVMIo2KPY/091215121055.htm
Scientists have piloted psychotherapy treatment to prevent excessive weight gain in teenager girls deemed "at risk" of obesity.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Greenland glaciers: Water flowing beneath ice plays more complex role
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XjyDAGUYqro/091215173144.htm
Scientists who study the melting of Greenland's glaciers are discovering that water flowing beneath the ice plays a much more complex role than they previously imagined. Researchers previously thought that meltwater simply lubricated ice against the bedrock, speeding the flow of glaciers out to sea.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Enzyme behind effects of sleep deprivation discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rn7QQB1JRjM/091215160900.htm
Researchers have discovered the enzyme behind effects of sleep deprivation. There is hope for those who miss one night too many or whose children keep them up at night. The unwelcome effects of a bad night's sleep - forgetfulness, impaired mental performance - can be dealt with by reducing the concentration of an enzyme in the brain.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Nearly 100 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2009
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06fwgscTKuI/091214173525.htm
In 2009, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 94 new relatives to our family tree. The new species include 65 arthropods, 14 plants, eight fishes, five sea slugs, one coral and one fossil mammal.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Analysis identifies biomarkers for diabetic kidney failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZxjlDBDDLM/091216121504.htm
Researchers using a DNA analysis tool have identified genetic markers that could help treat chronic kidney disease among diabetics.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Thermochemical nanolithography now allows multiple chemicals on a chip
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xfj69zfAIZE/091216103556.htm
Scientists have developed a nanolithographic technique that can produce high-resolution patterns of at least three different chemicals on a single chip at writing speeds of up to one millimeter per second. The nanopatterns can be designed with any shape and are stable enough to be stored for weeks and used elsewhere.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
How do we understand written language?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YdfuxE03nfI/091216103600.htm
How do we know that certain combinations of letters have certain meanings? Reading and spelling are complex processes, involving several different areas of the brain, but researchers have now identified a specific part of the brain -- named the left fusiform gyrus -- which is necessary for normal, rapid understanding of the meaning of written text as well as correct word spelling.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
DNA of Jesus-era shrouded man in Jerusalem reveals earliest case of leprosy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MNvI3mLmmIE/091216103558.htm
The DNA of a first-century shrouded man found in a tomb on the edge of the Old City of Jerusalem has revealed the earliest proven case of leprosy.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Targeting brain cancer cell metabolism may provide new treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uGMuqx9aZQw/091215102216.htm
Inhibiting fatty acid synthesis in brain cancer cells may offer a new option to treat about 50 percent of deadly glioblastomas that are driven by amplified signaling of the epidermal growth factor receptor, according to a first-of-its-kind study.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
World champion in automatic image and video search
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7OdvgmcbQyY/091215160858.htm
How do you find an image or video on the Internet or YouTube without a text description? Researchers have developed software that can find objects and concepts automatically in images and video clips.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Toward a vaccine to improve immune system in newborns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1I7Cj4vI7J0/091215121053.htm
As soon as babies are born, they are susceptible to diseases and infections, such as jaundice and e-coli. For up to a month, their immune systems aren't adequately developed to fight diseases. Although these infections are often minor, they can lead to serious problems if left untreated. To help strengthen newborns' immune systems, researchers have pinpointed a group of depleted white blood cells, which might lead to an immune-strengthening vaccine.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Record-breaking ultrasensitive spectrometer created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5-m4KzejVBQ/091215164117.htm
A spectroscope with unrivaled performance, able to identify tiny amounts of trace gases in real time, has now been developed. Scientists designed an instrument based on two femtosecond laser frequency combs. This is a major step forward both for fundamental research and for many applied fields.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Men think their dance moves improve with age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EIWsR_O5_p8/091215155653.htm
Men may shuffle on to the dance floor this Christmas, but once there, they will be impressed by their moves, according to new research.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Heart drugs show promise for fighting colon cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ny14awdM0rA/091216121506.htm
Scientists in Sweden are reporting for the first time that a group of drugs used to treat heart failure shows promise for fighting colon cancer. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, with more than 150,000 cases diagnosed in the US each year.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
New technique detects proteins that make us age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qO3YXim1Q-E/091215155651.htm
Chemists and biologists have developed a new technique that could be used to diagnose and develop treatments for age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
‘Sat nav’ jamming could help tackle asthma, blindness and clogged arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Hen7MDRiXM/091215164647.htm
Researchers are aiming to tackle diseases that affect millions -- such as asthma, blindness and clogged arteries -- by jamming 'sat nav'-like signals that drive the body to damage itself.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
Scientists' 3-D view of genes-at-work is paradigm shift in genetics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xQehDQYfTTQ/091215160649.htm
New research has revealed for the first time that genes work together by huddling in clusters inside the nucleus -- the information center of a cell. These findings represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of how the genome is spatially organized in relation to gene expression. It marks the first step towards a 'virtual nucleus', a dynamic tool simulating interactions in the nucleus, which could revolutionize computer-based drug design.
Thu, 17 Dec 09
For older adults, participating in social service activities can improve brain functions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y7QXp2t_CUs/091215131334.htm
Volunteer service, such as tutoring children, can help older adults delay or reverse declining brain function, according to a new study. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers found that seniors participating in a youth mentoring program made gains in key brain regions that support cognitive abilities important to planning and organizing one's daily life.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
New bacterial behavior: Puzzling 'dance' of electricity-producing bacteria near energy sources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3J4Cd-kL340/091215141518.htm
Geobiologists have observed a new behavior of metal-metabolizing bacteria, with implications for design of microbial fuel cells. The bacterial 'dance' has been dubbed the electric slide, officially named electrokinesis.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Reproductive germ cells survive and thrive in transplants, even among species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/56aw4ORZjrQ/091214173703.htm
Reproductive researchers have succeeded in isolating and transplanting pure populations of the immature cells that enable male reproduction in two species -- humans and mice. The germline stem cells, taken from testis biopsies, demonstrated viability following transplantation to mouse testes, providing hope to prepubescent men risking infertility due to cancer treatment.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Sucker-footed bats don't use suction after all
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ZkESGzfndw/091214121955.htm
In first-time experiments in the wild, a researcher has discovered that a species of bat in Madagascar uses wet adhesion to attach itself to surfaces. The finding explains why the bat -- unlike almost all others -- roosts head-up. It also helps to explain how it differs from a similar head-up roosting species.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Biological catch-22 prevents induction of antibodies that block HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BKq9EqPL73c/091215102105.htm
Scientists seeking to understand how to make an AIDS vaccine have found the cause of a major roadblock. It turns out that the immune system can indeed produce cells with the potential to manufacture powerful HIV-blocking antibodies -- but at the same time, the immune system works equally hard to make sure these cells are eliminated before they have a chance to mature.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Research may lead to better UV/radiation blocking in eye glasses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8theTnresFA/091215112045.htm
Adding cerium oxide to phosphate glass rather than the commonly used silicate glass may make glasses that block ultraviolet light and have increased radiation damage resistance while remaining colorless, according to researchers. These cerium-containing phosphate glasses have many commercial applications for use in windows, sunglasses and solar cells.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
The importance of attractiveness depends on where you live
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KjsuK818ZQ4/091215112043.htm
Do good-looking people really benefit from their looks, and in what ways? Researchers found that yes, attractive people do tend to have more social relationships and therefore an increased sense of psychological well-being.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Secrets of mysterious 'night-shining' clouds unlocked by NASA's AIM satellite and models
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2hCMtxMRl9I/091215192216.htm
NASA's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite has captured five complete polar seasons of noctilucent or "night-shining" clouds with an unprecedented horizontal resolution of 3 miles by 3 miles. Results show that the cloud season turns on and off like a "geophysical light bulb" and they reveal evidence that high altitude mesospheric "weather" may follow similar patterns as our ever-changing weather near the Earth's surface.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Gene identified as cause of some forms of intellectual disability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VeHFNzuMvqE/091215112051.htm
A gene involved in some forms of intellectual disability has been identified. The gene is called TRAPPC9 and may be associated with hundreds of thousands of cases of intellectual disability world-wide.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Accelerated aging: Researchers identify traits of people with rare syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ce5HBd09fE/091215101701.htm
Researchers have provided the most extensive account to date of the unique observable characteristics seen in patients with an extremely rare premature aging syndrome.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Scientists uncover protective mechanism against liver cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cW2dtpbjqhk/091214151940.htm
Scientists have identified a protein switch that helps prevent liver damage, including inflammation, fibrosis and cancer. The findings suggest that a better understanding of how the protein, TAK1, works could lead to new insights into the development of liver disease and cancer.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
World's longest laser -- 270 km long -- created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KaddUMbw8yw/091215160000.htm
A 270-kilometer optical fiber has been transformed into the world's longest laser, a feat its inventors believe will lead to a radical new outlook on information transmission and secure communications.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Couples who do the dishes together stay happier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_93Qx7Gcjac/091215102103.htm
A new study reveals that couples who share the responsibility for paid and unpaid work report higher average measures of happiness and life satisfaction than those in other family models.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Scientists decode memory-forming brain cell conversations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xCQLuABXCgM/091215202322.htm
The conversations neurons have as they form and recall memories have been decoded by scientists. The breakthrough in recognizing in real time the formation and recollection of a memory opens the door to objective, thorough memory studies and eventually better therapies, say the researchers.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Why being a boy is a risk factor among premature births
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/heENiBvAlao/091215163533.htm
Among premature births -- children born before the 37th week of pregnancy -- newborn boys have a poorer prognosis than newborn girls. Physicians have explored why being male constitutes a risk factor for greater morbidity in these infants.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
From greenhouse to icehouse: Reconstructing the environment of the Voring Plateau
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ekSKQZdtsw/091215102057.htm
The analysis of microfossils found in ocean sediment cores is illuminating the environmental conditions that prevailed at high latitudes during a critical period of Earth history.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
More blood vessels in hormone-resistant prostate tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NxExLFzxf5c/091215101712.htm
Patients with advanced prostate cancer are often treated with hormones, but when the tumors start growing again they have more and different blood vessels, reveals research from Sweden. This discovery paves the way for new treatments for hormone-resistant prostate cancer.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Formula that can ID music industry payola developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SOctVtZilLg/091215102115.htm
Researchers have invented a statistical method that can detect payola-like corruption in the music industry, a system that gives law enforcement an inexpensive statistical guide to identify potential music corruption and to better target more traditional and much more costly hands-on evidence-gathering.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Killer cookies: To resist temptation, exaggerate the threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1oja9ZI0Lcw/091214152018.htm
Your ability to resist that tempting cookie depends on how a big a threat you perceive it to be, according to a new study.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Icy moons of Saturn and Jupiter may have conditions needed for life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BGqTx5oCIUE/091215141510.htm
Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo will outline the impact of ice dynamics on the habitability of the moons of Saturn and Jupiter on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Researchers find high leptin levels may protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/REj5T7_Ts0A/091215173006.htm
Researchers have found that higher leptin (a protein that controls weight and appetite) levels were associated with a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The study may open pathways for possible preventive and therapeutic interventions.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
More insight into radioactive salt marshes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xodsgusa9Ho/091215155952.htm
A researcher has analyzed gamma radiation in salt marshes. The development of salt marshes, vegetated areas periodically flooded by the sea, occurs differently than was previously thought. Knowledge of salt marshes is essential for the development of dynamic but safe coastal zone management.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Low cholesterol transfer protein activity associated with heart disease risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E1kiNmqkEWU/091215102111.htm
Although seen as a potential heart disease therapy, raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by inhibiting activity of a transfer protein may not be effective, a new study suggests. Scientists found an association between low plasma cholesterol ester transfer protein activity and increased risk of heart disease in the Framingham Heart Study population.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Latest results from lunar mission unveiled by NASA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GBpgvRrWB6o/091215192213.htm
NASA's current mission in orbit around the moon, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has been providing crucial insights about our nearest celestial neighbor since its launch in June. At a recent scientific meeting, researchers unveiled the latest findings from three instruments of the powerful suite of seven aboard the satellite. LRO is expected to return more data about the moon than all previous orbital missions combined.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Insomnia symptoms linked with medical complaints in young school-aged children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WGr8o2JiA30/091215101659.htm
Significant associations exist between parent-reported insomnia symptoms and medical complaints of gastrointestinal regurgitation and headaches in young school-aged children, a new study shows.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Tremors between slip events: More evidence of great quake danger to Seattle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r5OVmIyW6yo/091215131332.htm
Scientists have discovered more small seismic tremor events lasting one to 70 hours that occur in somewhat regular patterns in a megathrust earthquake zone in Washington state and British Columbia.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
First immunological clue to why some H1N1 patients get very ill or die
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/atRfIHkp1g0/091215102109.htm
Scientists have found the first potential immunological clue of why some people develop severe pneumonia when infected by the pandemic H1N1 virus.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
NASA outlines recent breakthroughs in greenhouse gas research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SHtjso6sXaA/091215194218.htm
Researchers studying carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas and a key driver of global climate change, now have a new tool at their disposal: daily global measurements of carbon dioxide in a key part of our atmosphere. The data are courtesy of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Study points way to development of drugs for deadly childhood leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2gI42CTMOPw/091214152016.htm
A new study could point the way to the development of better drugs to fight a deadly form of childhood leukemia called mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL).
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Species distribution models are of only limited value for predicting future mammal distributions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1KgbNwnzCyo/091215102113.htm
Species distribution models are of only limited use in predicting the future distribution of mammals. This is the finding of a study of the climate niches of 140 indigenous European mammals. The researchers analyzed data on species distribution, climate, land cover and topography, as well as the phylogenetic information of the species. Judging by the large differences in climate niches even for closely related species, mammals seem to adapt fast to changing climatic conditions.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Music and the arts fight depression, promote health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wzFpKnRhD2o/091215160651.htm
If you paint, dance or play a musical instrument – or just enjoy going to the theater or to concerts -- it’s likely that you feel healthier and are less depressed than people who don’t, a survey of nearly 50,000 individuals of all socio-economic backgrounds from a county in mid-Norway shows.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Prussian blue salt linked to origin of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hAn-MtS8SKI/091214121451.htm
Scientists have shown that hydrogen cyanide, urea and other substances considered essential to the formation of the most basic biological molecules can be obtained from the salt Prussian blue. In order to carry out this study the scientists recreated the chemical conditions of the early Earth.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
More than 90 percent of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qs_Gfupm74g/091214121440.htm
An overwhelming majority of people who have periodontal disease are also at high risk for diabetes and should be screened for diabetes, a nursing-dental research team has found. The researchers also determined that half of those at risk had seen a dentist in the previous year, concluded that dentists should consider offering diabetes screenings in their offices, and described practical approaches to conducting diabetes screenings in dental offices.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
From fruit fly wings to heart failure: Notch is key signalling pathway for heart development and healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1u_9BNH1tvE/091210092003.htm
Scientists are the first to prove that the Notch signaling pathway targets heart muscle cells and thus reveal its crucial role in heart development and repair.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Kidney disease patients benefit from surgery to prevent stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gWQcKrYJfIs/091210173603.htm
Physicians should be comfortable referring some patients with chronic kidney disease for effective stroke prevention surgery, according to a new study. The findings indicate that CKD patients gain a significant benefit from the procedures without an increased risk of dying from surgical complications.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
DNA needs a good editor: Researchers unravel the mysteries of DNA packaging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5EIb0Ss0uWs/091214143736.htm
Groundbreaking findings reveal a new mechanism to explain how splicing works. Researchers have discovered that the structure of DNA itself affects the ways RNA is spliced. The findings promise to bring scientists closer to understanding diseases like cystic fibrosis and certain forms of cancer that result from the failure of the human body to edit sequences properly.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Does scent enhance consumer product memories?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/okDEqaosAQs/091214143732.htm
It may seem odd to add scent to products like sewing thread, automobile tires, and tennis balls, as some companies have done. But a new study says scent helps consumers remember product information.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
How do salamanders grow a new leg? Protein mechanisms behind limb regeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uSTEZQRqm28/091214121434.htm
The most comprehensive study to date of the proteins in a species of salamander that can regrow appendages may provide important clues to how similar regeneration could be induced in humans.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Link between sirtuins and life extension strengthened
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e68XbkQ1zYA/091214173521.htm
New research strengthens the link between longevity proteins called sirtuins and the lifespan-extending effects of calorie restriction.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Gravestones Talking through Time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mZkwOEVwoWA/091209193159.htm
A visit to your local graveyard can provide not only a history lesson, but a science lesson as well. Historians have long scoured old burial sites to piece together the stories of those who rest there, but today scientists are learning much more from those letters carved in stone. Gravestones are telling the story of changes in Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and rainfall. Moreover, scientists are asking for your help to read the stones.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Master gene Math1 controls framework for perceiving external and internal body parts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4iW9K4NnZbE/091214151933.htm
Math1 is a master hub for the genes that control various parts of neural networks for hearing, balance, the unconscious sense of one's position in space called proprioception and in a new finding, interoception, which is associated with activities such as awakening because of a full bladder or a distended colon, according to new research.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
New discoveries could improve climate projections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KtmNftJTLik/091211131605.htm
New discoveries about the deep ocean's temperature variability and circulation system could help improve projections of future climate conditions.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Moral dilemma scenarios prone to biases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/npsjNyj3E30/091214121525.htm
Picture the following hypothetical scenario: A trolley is headed toward five helpless victims. The trolley can be redirected so that only one person's life is at stake. Psychologists and philosophers have been using moral dilemmas like this for years asking, would you redirect the train?
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Mammoths hung on longer? Late-surviving megafauna exposed by ancient DNA in frozen soil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ipzrOddbkVE/091214151946.htm
Woolly mammoths and ancient horses may have survived longer than scientists currently think, according to new research on ancient DNA fragments found in Alaskan soil samples.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Nanoprobes hit targets in tumors, could lessen chemo side effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/STilAsqV3uw/091214152020.htm
Tiny nanoprobes have shown to be effective in delivering cancer drugs more directly to tumor cells -- mitigating the damage to nearby healthy cells -- and new research has shown that the nanoprobes are getting the drugs to right cellular compartments.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Global warming could significantly impact US wine and corn production, scientists say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dZw4zRhCLC0/091214143730.htm
Environmental scientists have used a very high-resolution computer model to forecast the impact of climate change on US wine and corn production. The experiment focuses on the regional impact of climate change on agriculture in the United States over the next three decades, from wine grapes on the West Coast to maple syrup in the Northeast.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Tracking new cancer-killing particles with MRI
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qdpLIClO3qE/091214131130.htm
Researchers have created a single nanoparticle that can be tracked in real time with MRI as it homes in on cancer cells, tags them with a fluorescent dye and kills them with heat. The all-in-one particle is one of the first examples from a growing field called "theranostics" that develops technologies physicians can use to diagnose and treat diseases in a single procedure.
Wed, 16 Dec 09
Reducing TV time helps adults burn more calories, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6DAVlWUtPbk/091214162324.htm
Adults who used an electronic lock-out system to reduce their television time by half did not change their calorie intake but did expend more energy over a three-week period, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
'Rock-breathing' bacteria could generate electricity and clean up oil spills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TwVkGRdJ_HE/091214151931.htm
A new discovery could contribute to the development of systems that use domestic or agricultural waste to generate clean electricity.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Drinking coffee, decaf and tea regularly associated with a reduced risk of diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AvEHEt54xPA/091214163036.htm
Drinking more coffee (regular or decaffeinated) or tea appears to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new analysis.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Parents: Be mindful of hazardous holiday ornaments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VoJs-fp5BYY/091214173648.htm
A new study has found that holiday decorations, particularly glass ornaments, are one more safety hazard parents must consider during the season.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Gas improves blood flow and organ status during minimally invasive surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z74E1fb-pe8/091214075221.htm
As good as laparoscopy is in preventing some of the stresses of open surgery on the body, it does have drawbacks, including reduced blood flow and organ dysfunction. By adding another gas to the carbon dioxide used to inflate the surgical area during laparoscopy, researchers have found they can preserve more normal blood flow during noninvasive surgery. Laparoscopy is a type of surgery in the abdomen done through small incisions.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Going vertical: Fleeing tsunamis by moving up, not out
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vl2CD3pA_JY/091214101406.htm
When the next big earthquake strikes Indonesia, a tsunami could follow close behind, killing thousands of people stuck in traffic jams while attempting to evacuate. Researchers suggest lives can be saved if those residents take refuge instead in nearby tall buildings -- but only after those buildings are strengthened to withstand big waves.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Witnesses to bullying may face more mental health risks than bullies and victims
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ieMyuRtoTZ4/091214121449.htm
Students who watch as their peers endure the verbal or physical abuses of another student could become as psychologically distressed, if not more so, by the events than the victims themselves, new research suggests.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Coconut-carrying octopus: Tool use in an invertebrate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f0FRmkDwV1w/091214121953.htm
Scientists once thought of tool use as a defining feature of humans. That's until examples of tool use came in from other primates, along with birds and an array of other mammals. Now adds an octopus to the growing list of tool users.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Myopia appears to have become more common
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cGD6PIHpHQM/091214163030.htm
Myopia (nearsightedness) may have been more common in Americans from 1999 to 2004 than it was 30 years ago, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
New kind of micro-mobility: Microscopic system for moving tiny objects inside a microfluidic chip
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WgJs8Juxvu0/091214151935.htm
A new microscopic system could provide a novel method for moving tiny objects inside a microchip, and could also provide new insights into how cells and other objects are propelled around within the body.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Minimally invasive surgery removes sinus tumor without facial disfiguration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L0Ok0mMOaN0/091214101359.htm
With the advances in sinus endoscopy, many tumors can now be removed directly through the nose, avoiding the need for facial incisions or a craniotomy. Complications are decreased and recovery is faster.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Unveiling mysterious possible comet strikes on Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jDJNgNwyM9M/091214075217.htm
New research shows a potential signature of nitrate and ammonia that can be found in ice cores corresponding to suspected impacts. Although high nitrate levels previously have been tied to space impacts, scientists have never before seen atmospheric ammonia spikes as indicators of space impacts with our planet.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Significantly worse outcomes in cancer patients with cognitive impairment, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oJEyHrLONnE/091214101838.htm
A new study has found that cancer patients with dementia have a dramatically lower survival rate than patients with cancer alone, even after controlling for factors such as age, tumor type and tumor stage. But the study also argues that a diagnosis of dementia shouldn't discourage the use of cancer screenings and appropriate cancer treatments.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Portions of Arctic coastline eroding, no end in sight, says new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G8-K7WLTrMw/091214173652.htm
The northern coastline of Alaska midway between Point Barrow and Prudhoe Bay is eroding by up to one-third the length of a football field annually because of a "triple whammy" of declining sea ice, warming seawater and increased wave activity, according to new study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Controlling key enzyme in brain offers clue for future obesity treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7e7XRKiU-rA/091214201009.htm
Researchers have determined that inhibiting the Sirt1 enzyme in the brain appears to help control food intake. Activating Sirt1 elsewhere in the body -- by fasting or with red wine -- is thought by some to help people live longer.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Killer catfish? Venomous species surprisingly common, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hok-LUEjweA/091210173607.htm
Name all the venomous animals you can think of and you probably come up with snakes, spiders, bees, wasps and perhaps poisonous frogs. But catfish?
Tue, 15 Dec 09
New thrombosis treatments? Blood clots form through newly discovered mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rWpmnnfINOM/091210125932.htm
Polyphosphate from blood platelets plays a key role in inflammation and the formation of blood clots, scientists have shown. The study could lead to new treatments for thrombosis.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Physicists lay the groundwork for cooler, faster computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6-I5WnssTlY/091214173656.htm
Quantum optics researchers have discovered new behaviors of light within photonic crystals that could lead to faster optical information processing and compact computers that don't overheat.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Sand playground surfaces reduce risk of arm fractures from falls, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nDXmIpI33o8/091214200952.htm
School playgrounds fitted with granite sand surfacing significantly reduce the risk of children fracturing arms in comparison with wood fiber surfaces, according to a randomized trial.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Theorists propose a new way to shine -- and a new kind of star: 'electroweak'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OP_VvRf9_3c/091214131132.htm
Physicists propose there may be a new stage for some dying stars. Dubbed electroweak stars, they are fueled by the conversion of quarks to leptons, which prevents or staves off collapse into a black hole.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Variable doses of radiation raise safety concerns for CT procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ODATk6kswqU/091214163034.htm
Radiation doses from common CT procedures vary widely and are higher than generally thought, raising concerns about increased risk for cancer, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
California's troubled waters: Satellite-based findings reveal significant groundwater loss in Central Valley
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nCuoKb5fT-k/091214152022.htm
New space observations reveal that since October 2003, the aquifers for California's primary agricultural region -- the Central Valley -- and its major mountain water source -- the Sierra Nevada -- have lost nearly enough water combined to fill Lake Mead, America's largest reservoir. The findings, based on satellite data, reflect California's extended drought and increased pumping of groundwater for human uses such as irrigation.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Three anticoagulant studies may change current medical practice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7huPJzhWee0/091207095937.htm
New research reveals that the practice of using the anticoagulants aspirin and heparin with the hope of preventing clots in placental blood vessels is ineffective for preventing unexplained, recurrent miscarriages. Two other studies look at treatments for venous thromboembolism, a common and sometimes deadly clotting disorder.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Ancient Book of Mark Found Not So Ancient After All
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HBMcSgj1Prs/091211203717.htm
A biblical expert, together with experts in micro-chemical analysis and medieval bookmaking, has concluded that one of the University of Chicago Library's most enigmatic possessions is a forgery.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
High-sensation seeking youth drawn to sweet-tasting cigarettes, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hjrv1uhHzNM/091214173754.htm
New research showing that thrill-seeking teenagers are especially susceptible to fruit-flavored cigarettes is in line with the recent ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes by the US Food and Drug Administration in September 2009. According to the FDA, the ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking, which is the leading preventable cause of death in America.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Black carbon deposits on Himalayan ice threaten Earth's 'Third Pole'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zb25lmjL99A/091214173658.htm
Black soot deposited on Tibetan glaciers has contributed significantly to the retreat of the world's largest non-polar ice masses, according to new research by scientists from NASA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Soot absorbs incoming solar radiation and can speed glacial melting when deposited on snow in sufficient quantities.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Brain plaques in healthy individuals linked to increased Alzheimer's risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N5R-wc22RPk/091214162309.htm
Scientists have long assumed that amyloid brain plaques found in autopsies of Alzheimer's patients are harmful and cause Alzheimer's disease. But autopsies of people with no signs of mental impairment have also revealed brain plaques, challenging this theory. Now, for the first time, researchers have shown that brain plaques in apparently healthy individuals are associated with increased risk of diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease years later.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Mechanism discovered by which body's cells encourage tuberculosis infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E8WD6jH_cfQ/091210153536.htm
Tuberculosis bacteria use a signaling pathway to coerce disease fighting cells to switch allegiance and work on their behalf. Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism by which TB bacteria prod epithelial cells to help produce tubercles. Instead of protecting the body, the tubercles act as hubs for production and dissemination of TB bacteria. The same signal pathway may also occur in non-infectious inflammatory conditions like arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Potential genetic links to lung disease risk uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y2Lpj8OHuBE/091214101840.htm
A new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function. The research, an analysis that combined the results of several smaller studies, provides insight into the mechanisms involved in reaching full lung capacity. The findings may ultimately lead to better understanding of lung function and diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Geneticist reveals molecular view of key epigenetic regulator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sLN5-B1Pt7A/091209134910.htm
New research reveals the structure and function of a key player in regulating chromatin in yeast and humans.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Brainstorming works best in less specialized efforts, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TnyQlQeLy2c/091210125924.htm
Applying brainstorming techniques to new product development works best when the collaboration employs participants from varied specialties gathering to develop a less complex product, according to new research.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Hidden sensory system discovered in the skin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ndMfkGjA7o/091208083524.htm
Researchers report that the human body has an entirely unique and separate sensory system aside from the nerves that give most of us the ability to touch and feel. Surprisingly, this sensory network is located throughout our blood vessels and sweat glands, and is for most people, largely imperceptible. This discovery may shed light on the causes of unexplained chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
NASA's WISE Eye on the Universe Begins All-Sky Survey Mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/30a_UNLB4xs/091214174044.htm
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, lifted off over the Pacific Ocean Dec. 14 on its way to map the entire sky in infrared light. WISE will see the infrared colors of the whole sky with sensitivity and resolution far better than the last infrared sky survey, performed 26 years ago.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Cut out the (estrogen) middleman: Risky therapy for aging brain may be avoidable by focusing instead on hormone's target
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yy_xBIGVZ9c/091208132728.htm
Estrogen has a dual role in brain as a hormone and, indirectly, as a neurotransmitter, according to a new study which suggests a strategy for replacing hormone therapy.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Chemists Create Class Of Carbenes Used To Make Catalysts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eUDa-1INj8s/091022141119.htm
Researchers have successfully created in the laboratory a class of carbenes used to make catalysts. Until now, chemists believed these carbenes, called "abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes" or aNHCs, were impossible to make. The aNHCs are stable at room temperature both in the solid state and in solution, which means their application as metal-free catalysts is extremely wide, greatly benefiting industry by making possible scores of new chemical reactions.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Action on climate change compatible with long-term U.S. economic growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9RyEypnoRSc/091211203014.htm
Measures being proposed by the U.S. Climate Action Partnership to curb greenhouse gas emissions are unlikely to affect potential long-term economic growth in the United States, according to a study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Female fruit flies can be 'too attractive' to males, scientists show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mYoOUIip-Rs/091208132736.htm
Females can be too attractive to the opposite sex ---- too attractive for their own good ---- say biologists. They found that, among fruit flies, too much male attention directed toward attractive females leads to smaller families and, ultimately, to a reduced rate of population-wide adaptive evolution.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Tendons shape bones during embryonic development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6-FhLnZGxFs/091214121959.htm
In all vertebrates, including humans, bones, muscles and tendons work together to give the skeleton its characteristic balance of stability and movement. Now, new research uncovers a previously unrecognized interaction between tendons, which connect muscles to bones, and the developing embryonic skeleton. This study demonstrates that tendons drive the development of specific bone features that are needed for a strong skeletal system.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Absence of evidence for a meteorite impact event 13,000 years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dgf2kWrEQTQ/091208132734.htm
An international team of scientists has found no evidence supporting an extraterrestrial impact event at the onset of the Younger Dryas approximately 13,000 years ago.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Rapid cardiac biomarker testing system developed; cuts testing time from 6 hours to 45 minutes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0w5gr-PYUZk/091208153138.htm
A new rapid and sensitive integrated system tests simultaneously for specific cardiac biomarkers in finger prick amount of blood. It could help physicians quickly arrive at the right diagnosis for timely medical intervention in patients suspected of having heart attacks.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
New light vision goggles light up the night
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KCjG4wAQyM0/091211202212.htm
Vanderbilt LifeFlight is now using technology once reserved for military operations or secret spy missions. With the ability to enhance light 10,000 times, the air ambulance service's new night vision goggles essentially turn night into day.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Texting, tweeting ought to be viewed as GR8 teaching tools, scholar says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TMp-xDK1tyo/091210162224.htm
Carol L. Tilley, a professor of library and information science at Illinois, says that critics who equate texting with literary degradation are wrong, and that they also overlook the bigger role that texting and its distant cousin, "tweeting," could play in education and research.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Yellowstone's plumbing reveals plume of hot and molten rock 410 miles deep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IKqLJNbwXfk/091214075225.htm
The most detailed seismic images yet published of the Yellowstone supervolcano's plumbing shows a plume of hot and molten rock rising from the northwest at a depth of at least 410 miles, contradicting claims that there is no deep plume. A related study indicates the banana-shaped magma chamber a few miles beneath Yellowstone is 20 percent larger than believed, so a future cataclysmic eruption could be larger than thought.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Immune-boosting drugs could enhance cancer treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mqx2vmoYnHI/091209194439.htm
Stimulating the body’s own immune system to fight cancer offers new treatment opportunities for cancer patients, and scientists have made the first step towards finding existing drugs that could help.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
How Arctic food webs affect mercury in polar bears
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7SrtgTylzeo/091208170915.htm
With growing concerns about the effects of global warming on polar bears, it's increasingly important to understand how other environmental threats, such as mercury pollution, are affecting these magnificent Arctic animals. New research lays the groundwork for assessing current and future effects of mercury deposition and climate change on polar bears.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Screening method able to identify newborns with blood disorder that affects immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AkOwxlhiHZU/091208162648.htm
The testing of DNA from a statewide blood screening program for newborns in Wisconsin was able to identify infants with T-cell lymphopenia, a blood disorder that affects the child's immune system, a disease in which early identification is important, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Ethanol-powered vehicles generate more ozone than gas-powered ones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BSz07hujwTk/091214101408.htm
Vehicles running on ethanol will generate higher concentrations of ozone than those using gasoline, especially in the winter, researchers have found. That could create new health concerns in areas where ozone hasn't been a significant problem before.
Tue, 15 Dec 09
Food industry faulted for pushing high-calorie, low-nutrient products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wX-B9bR0G0c/091214101401.htm
A new report faults food and beverage producers for continuing to saturate television with ads for high-calorie, low-nutrient products.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Universal quantum mechanism: Physicists find reappearing quantum trios
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IMI2I1MZEF8/091211131526.htm
Using atoms at temperatures colder than deep space, physicists have delivered overwhelming proof for a 1970 theory that was largely scoffed at when it first appeared. They offers experimental proof of a universal quantum mechanism that causes trios of particles to appear and reappear at higher energy levels in an infinite progression. The triplets, or trimers, form in special cases where pairs cannot.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
How the autistic brain distinguishes oneself from others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UmCJRx7Hu3I/091213214104.htm
Scientists have discovered that the brains of individuals with autism are less active when engaged in self-reflective thought. The study provides new evidence for the neural correlates of self-awareness and a new window into understanding social difficulties in autism spectrum conditions.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
New biosensors reveal workings of anti-psychotic drugs in the living brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ClWPnixWUZA/091213164707.htm
Scientists have resolved a question about how a popular class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia works using biosensors that reveal previously hidden components of chemical communication in the brain.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Amount of gene surplus determines severity of mental retardation in males, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E8pAT40QicY/091210125922.htm
Researchers have discovered a new explanation for differences in the severity of mental illness in males. The more excess copies of a certain gene, the more serious the handicap. The genetic defect is situated on the X-chromosome; and it is suspected that it is the amount of copies of the GDI1 gene that is responsible.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
3-D microchips for more powerful and environmentally friendly computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OoCQoJTjOMY/091211131607.htm
Scientists are working on 3-D microprocessors cooled from the inside through channels with a liquid coolant. The method is expected to boost the performance of future computers.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Are angry women more like men?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gwm1Gu1KJME/091206110844.htm
"Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?" wrote author Lynn Hecht Schafran. The answer, according to a new article may lie in our interpretation of facial expressions.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Magnetic power revealed in gamma-ray burst jet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_l8l-qno23M/091209151442.htm
A specialized camera on a telescope operated by UK astronomers has made the first measurement of magnetic fields in the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
New genes for lung disease discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UXyt3zuXCOc/091213164711.htm
Scientists have discovered five genetic variants that are associated with the health of the human lung. The research by an international consortium of 96 scientists from 63 centers in Europe and Australia sheds new light on the molecular basis of lung diseases.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Understanding apples' ancestors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LvsTIoRgVv0/091211093645.htm
A species of wild apples that could be an ancestor of today's domesticated apples are native to the Middle East and Central Asia. A new study comparing the diversity of recently acquired wild apple varieties from Georgia and Armenia with previously collected varieties originating in Russia and Turkey narrows the large population and establishes a core collection.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Moderate weight loss in obese people improves heart function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZQMJ73Rkk7s/091211093628.htm
Obese patients who lost a moderate amount of weight by eating less and exercising more improved their cardiovascular health, says a new study.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Newly identified enzymes help plants sense elevated CO2 and could lead to water-wise crops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4dajRAUeTDQ/091213164705.htm
Plants take in the carbon dioxide they need for photosynthesis through microscopic breathing pores in the surface of leaves. But for each molecule of the gas gained, they lose hundreds of water molecules through these same openings. The pores can tighten to save water when carbon dioxide is abundant, but scientists didn't know how that worked. Now biologists have identified protein sensors that react with CO2 to close the pores.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Genetic ancestry highly correlated with ethnic and linguistic groups in Asia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nRTV1j9Pn7U/091210153546.htm
Several genome-wide studies of human genetic diversity have been conducted on European populations. Now, for the first time, these studies have been extended to 73 Southeast Asian (SEA) and East Asian (EA) populations. In a new paper, over 90 scientists from the Human Genome Organization's Pan-Asian SNP Consortium report that their study conducted within and between different populations in Asia continent showed that genetic ancestry was highly correlated with ethnic and linguistic groups.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Black hole found to be much closer to Earth than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jv1xlf752FY/091209193904.htm
Astronomers have accurately measured the distance from Earth to a black hole for the first time. Without needing to rely on mathematical models the astronomers came up with a distance of 7800 light years, much closer than had been assumed until now. The researchers achieved this breakthrough by measuring the radio emissions from the black hole and its associated dying star.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Anti-estrogens may offer protection against lung cancer mortality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kRb8_0ztB8k/091211131509.htm
Anti-estrogens as therapy for breast cancer may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer, according to a new study.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
List of 'unsung' wildlife affected by climate change released
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g77XZ6tHQfo/091207131605.htm
The Wildlife Conservation Society has released a list of animals facing new impacts by climate change, some in strange and unexpected ways.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Type 2 diabetes gene predisposes children to obesity, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eXAt6fJCbME/091207123801.htm
Pediatric researchers have found that a gene already implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes in adults also raises the risk of being overweight during childhood. The finding sheds light on the genetic origins of diabetes and may present an avenue for developing drugs to counteract the disease, which has been on the upswing in childhood and adolescence.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
New approach to emissions makes climate and air quality models more accurate, major study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D0KEAEt2AbI/091210153544.htm
It's no secret that the emissions leaving a car tailpipe or factory smokestack affect climate and air quality. Even trees release chemicals that influence the atmosphere. But until now, scientists have struggled to know where these organic molecules go and what happens to them once they leave their source, leading to models for predicting climate and air quality that are incomplete or less than accurate.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Several serious illnesses missing from US vaccination plan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Slk56VFQTSg/091211150326.htm
While vaccines help prevent many diseases in the United States, the nation lacks immunization protection against several serious illnesses, according to a new report.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Introns -- nonsense DNA -- may be more important to evolution of genomes than thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2J2EZC5o2Ic/091210111148.htm
The sequences of nonsense DNA that interrupt genes could be far more important to the evolution of genomes than previously thought, according to researchers. Their study of the model organism Daphnia pulex (water flea) is the first to demonstrate the colonization of a single lineage by "introns," as the interrupting sequences are known.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Novel detection method unmasks circulating breast cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q4Gw-bBz7BM/091211200339.htm
Circulating metastatic breast cancer cells can lose their epithelial receptors, a process that enables them to travel through the bloodstream undetected, according to new research.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Can Biodiversity Persist In The Face Of Climate Change?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8bWDreoBOjM/091106111214.htm
Predictions made over the last decade about the impacts of climate change on biodiversity may be exaggerated, according to new research.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Urine test for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PvLz-4OzIX4/091207095505.htm
Researchers have discovered a technique that is able to determine whether a child has obstructive sleep apnea or habitual snoring by screening their urine.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Scientists crack mystery of protein's dual function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1qZsJQm2El4/091213164713.htm
Researchers have solved a 10-year-old mystery of how a single protein from an ancient family of enzymes can have two completely distinct roles in the body. In addition to providing guidance for understanding other molecules in the family, the research supplies a theoretical underpinning for the protein's possible use for combating diseases including cancer and macular degeneration.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Deaths from opioid use have doubled; five-fold increase in oxycodone deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f468CBjSYto/091207123105.htm
Deaths from opioid use in Ontario, Canada, have doubled since 1991 and the addition of long-acting oxycodone to the drug formulary was associated with a 5-fold increase in oxycodone-related deaths, a new study finds. Most of these additional deaths were accidental.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Nanosensors used to measure cancer biomarkers in blood for first time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XEe8yE2f_jE/091213164709.htm
Researchers have used nanosensors to measure cancer biomarkers in whole blood for the first time. Their findings could dramatically simplify the way physicians test for biomarkers of cancer and other diseases.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
How gene action may lead to diabetes prevention, cure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jvFg8KTkFwE/091211200343.htm
A gene commonly studied by cancer researchers has been linked to the metabolic inflammation that leads to diabetes. Understanding how the gene works means scientists may be closer to finding ways to prevent or cure diabetes.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Innovative Plan To Save Rainforest, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3InAOOjkNrk/091105143823.htm
An innovative proposal by the Ecuadorian government to protect an untouched, oil rich region of Amazon rainforest is a precedent-setting and potentially economically viable approach, says a team of environmental researchers.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
New understanding of how to prevent destruction of a tumor suppressor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0k6qL5dSHSk/091201182612.htm
Researchers have determined how the protein Mdm2, which is elevated in late-stage cancers, disables genes that suppress the growth of tumors. The finding may lead to development of new drugs for late stage breast cancer and other difficult to treat malignancies.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
More 20 mph zones in London would prevent 100 killed or seriously injured casualties each year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uCphZcVm6ck/091210193202.htm
Traffic speed zones with a limit of 20 miles per hour reduce casualties by 41.9 percent with the greatest reduction in child casualties, according to new British research.
Mon, 14 Dec 09
Health effects of low-intensity warfare studied
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VUL4xECKByk/091211131613.htm
Anthropologists have established a conceptual framework for measuring the health as well as the social impacts of violence in northern Kenya. The study has worldwide implications, as violent conflict is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Syntax in our primate cousins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GXmAlDEmmzo/091212144710.htm
Monkeys of a certain forest-dwelling species called Campbell's monkeys emit six types of alert calls. The primates combine these calls into long vocal sequences which allow them to convey messages about social cohesion or various dangers, including predation.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Scientists identify natural anti-cancer defenses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IpxND8jbDQk/091211131514.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel molecular mechanism that prevents cancer. They have found that the SOCS1 molecule prevents the cancer-causing activity of cytokines, hormones that are culprits in cancer-prone chronic inflammation diseases such as Crohn's, in smokers and people exposed to asbestos.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
How can some athletes play on through intense pain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6-jvFMFAOEc/091212145909.htm
How can some sportsmen and women, in the heat of the moment, play on through pain that would floor anyone else? Bert Trautmann, the Manchester City goalkeeper, famously played on through to the end of the 1956 FA Cup final -- holding on for a 3-1 win -- despite suffering a broken neck from a collision in the second half.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Clinical trial advances new approach to re-sensitizing breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WTc1zNt2ElQ/091211200337.htm
A new drug cocktail might be the right mix to fight breast cancer after it becomes resistant to standard therapy. Details of a new study supporting this approach suggest it's possible to re-sensitize tumors thus allowing treatments to work again.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Glacial rebound: 10,000-year study of strata compaction and sea-level rise on English coast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/te9hlLwlPco/091210111150.htm
Glacial rebound -- the rise or fall of land masses that were depressed by the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period -- explains differences in relative sea levels along the English coast, according to a new study.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Flies offered unlimited alcohol behave a lot like human alcoholics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XSpqQAOjGoI/091210125536.htm
When given the chance to consume alcohol at will, fruit flies behave in ways that look an awful lot like human alcoholism. A new study considers alcohol self-administration in insects.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Bacteria provide new insights into human decision making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b7trol2lBc0/091211200341.htm
Scientists studying how bacteria under stress collectively weigh and initiate different survival strategies say they have gained new insights into how humans make strategic decisions that affect their health, wealth and the fate of others in society.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Alcohol consumption increases risk of breast cancer recurrence, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UO_59Sezhp8/091210125540.htm
Alcohol may raise the risk of breast cancer recurrence, according to a new study. Obese women who drink alcohol may be at greater risk of recurrence. Alcohol was not related to risk of overall death.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Understanding ocean climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/afg_5wokjAU/091210101410.htm
High-resolution computer simulations are helping to describe the inflow of North Atlantic water to the Arctic Ocean and how this influences ocean climate.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Researchers show 'trigger' to stem cell differentiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TZQDXA5oArg/091210101403.htm
A gene which is essential for stem cells' capabilities to become any cell type has been identified by researchers. The discovery represents a further step in the ever-expanding field of understanding the ways in which stem cells develop into specific cells, a necessary prelude towards the use of stem cell therapy as a means to reverse the consequences of disease and disability.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Absorbing hydrogen fluoride gas to enhance crystal growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NwJ07lUTEJg/091210101414.htm
Scientists have developed a method to control the buildup of hydrogen fluoride gas during the growth of precision crystals needed for applications such as superconductors, optical devices, and microelectronics. The invention could lead to more efficient production and improved performance of these materials.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Caffeine doesn't reverse the negative cognitive impact of alcohol, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FnQX5QGgY7g/091207143347.htm
People who drink may want to know that coffee won't sober them up, according to new laboratory research. Instead, a cup of coffee may make it harder for people to realize they're drunk.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
First known binary star is discovered to be a triplet, quadruplet, quintuplet, sextuplet system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J638TsVMqQA/091210092005.htm
Alcor and Mizar, were the first binary stars -- a pair of stars that orbit each other -- ever known. Now, astronomers have made the surprise discovery that Alcor is also actually two stars, and is apparently gravitationally bound to the Mizar system, making the whole group a sextuplet.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
New model of skin cancer provides insights on second-most common type of cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o0RGwNrR0ss/091210153651.htm
Researchers have developed a new model of skin cancer based on the knowledge that a common cancer-related molecule called Src kinase is activated in human skin-cancer samples.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
New research may lead to new ways to control honeybee parasite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DwwrL4cv54o/091209143749.htm
Ground-breaking discoveries could help protect honeybees from deadly parasites that have devastated commercial colonies.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Potential new heart attack biomarker uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B9yRlK_oaSo/091210111159.htm
Researchers have identified cardiac myosin-binding protein C as a potential new diagnostic biomarker for heart attacks, one that may be particularly valuable for mild attacks in which traditional diagnostic proteins may not be abundant enough.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Synthetic protein mimics structure, function of metalloprotein in nature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XEonk721_Vo/091210111152.htm
Scientists have designed a synthetic protein that is both a structural model and a functional model of a native protein, nitric-oxide reductase.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
New screening tool helps identify children at risk for developmental issues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7nKH_7LX_rw/091207123759.htm
When a baby is born, new parents often wonder, "Will he be the next President of the United States?" or "Could she be the one to find a cure for cancer?" But the underlying question for many specialists is, "Is this child 'at risk' for developmental issues?" An answer to this question has been elusive -- until now.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Brightest-ever 'blazar' flare from distant galaxy spotted by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xmPICEWJ7fw/091209151440.htm
A galaxy located billions of light-years away is commanding the attention of NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and astronomers around the globe. Thanks to a series of flares that began September 15, the galaxy is now the brightest source in the gamma-ray sky -- more than ten times brighter than it was in the summer.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
With amino acid diet, mice improve after brain injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lU60btKkQ94/091207151218.htm
Neurology researchers have shown that feeding amino acids to brain-injured mice restores their cognitive abilities and may set the stage for the first effective treatment for cognitive impairments suffered by people with traumatic brain injuries. If these animal results can be translated to human medicine, there would be a broad clinical benefit. Every 23 seconds, a man, woman or child in the US suffers a traumatic brain injury.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Older dental fillings contain form of mercury unlikely to be toxic, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Por1x506eg0/091209121206.htm
A new study on the surface chemistry of silver-colored, mercury-based dental fillings suggests that the surface forms of mercury may be less toxic than previously thought.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
West Nile virus infection may persist in kidneys years after initial infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HsijeB2_hM8/091207143355.htm
A new study shows that people who have been infected with West Nile virus may have persistent virus in their kidneys for years after initial infection, potentially leading to kidney problems.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Elusive 'hot' electrons captured in ultra-thin solar cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5PIHhMQwKQI/091211074427.htm
Harnessing the power of "hot" electrons for solar energy has been held as a theoretical possibility. Now researchers report observing the hot electron effect in an ultra-thin solar cell for the first time and collecting the elusive charges, which are typically lost in less than one-trillionth of a second in traditional solar cells.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Antidepressant may change personality while relieving symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/80O4xkYuE00/091207164846.htm
Individuals taking a medication to treat depression may experience changes in their personality separate from the alleviation of depressive symptoms, according to a new report.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Studying hair of ancient Peruvians answers questions about stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pofcF8vVmhU/091209114150.htm
A first-of-its-kind archaeological study has detected the stress hormone cortisol in the hair of ancient Peruvians, who lived between 550 and 1532 A.D.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Merkel cells revealed as secret behind sensation of light touch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qMHEswf7QJU/091208132231.htm
Scientists have proved experimentally what has been suspected since the discovery of Merkel cells in the skin over a century ago: the sense of light touch that is critical for hand dexterity would not be possible without these cells.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Lightning-produced radiation a potential health concern for air travelers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lXaOOe8c-zU/091207165033.htm
New information about lightning-emitted X-rays, gamma rays and high-energy electrons during thunderstorms is prompting scientists to raise concerns about the potential for airline passengers and crews to be exposed to harmful levels of radiation.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Higher risk for heart disease and diabetes associated with androgen deprivation therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/whRpt_WYLpw/091207164842.htm
Men of all ages treated for prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy, specifically with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, have an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
VISTA: Pioneering new survey telescope starts work
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BPUKKSQJXjc/091211074431.htm
A new telescope -- VISTA (the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) -- has just started work at ESO's Paranal Observatory and has made its first release of pictures. VISTA is a survey telescope working at infrared wavelengths and is the world's largest telescope dedicated to mapping the sky. Spectacular new images of the Flame Nebula, the center of our Milky Way galaxy and the Fornax Galaxy Cluster show that it is working extremely well.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Don't I know you? How cues and context kick-start memory recall
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/igSLyWiWBEI/091207151333.htm
We have all had the embarrassing experience of seeing an acquaintance in an unfamiliar setting. We know we know them but can't recall who they are. But with the correct cues from conversation or context, something seems to click and we can readily access very rich and vivid memories about the individual. Researchers have shed some light on this mysterious process, discovering that the hippocampus, a brain region in the temporal lobe, is only involved when cues enable us to recall these rich memories.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Suzaku catches retreat of a black hole's disk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BT56dCO300s/091210101416.htm
Studies of one of the galaxy's most active black-hole binaries reveal a dramatic change that will help scientists better understand how these systems expel fast-moving particle jets.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Hyperglycemia: New mechanism underlying cardiovascular disease described
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qTL-9J7kIaM/091207150438.htm
Hyperglycemia starts a complex chain of events that damages blood vessels and cause cardiovascular disease. Scientists have now been able to demonstrate why this happens, as well as how the destructive chain can be broken. This discovery represents a crucial step towards an efficient treatment of the vascular injuries that will be the cause of death for most diabetes patients.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Fast, accurate urine test for pneumonia possible, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JUKg4V6DZq8/091209093119.htm
Biochemists have developed a urine test that can rapidly and accurately diagnose the cause of pneumonia-like symptoms. The test should enable doctors to quickly provide appropriate treatments for patients with pneumonia, an illness that is often misdiagnosed using current tests.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Decline in breast cancer: Not just because of hormone therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1fd_L0mOsvE/091207200915.htm
Between 2002 and 2003, American women experienced a 7 percent decline in breast cancer incidence, which scientists attribute to the publicity surrounding results of the Women's Health Initiative.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Forest deal at Copenhagen must avoid creating 'carbon refugees,' scientists urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DgpavrW5TDo/091203101428.htm
Forest dwellers must be included in the design of the upcoming forest deal at Copenhagen in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis, according to a scientist.
Sun, 13 Dec 09
Women researchers less likely to receive major career funding grants, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qZ8NxX9LFp4/091130192913.htm
Women were less likely than men to receive major funding for scientific research, according to a new study.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Super-massive black holes observed at the center of galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UU3ohD7yby0/091210173609.htm
An international team of scientists has observed four super-massive black holes at the center of galaxies, which may provide new information on how these central black hole systems operate.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Cataloging all that goes wrong in a cancer cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f1PhpT8GfVk/091210162226.htm
A team of scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has "gone wrong," giving researchers a powerful tool that eventually could make possible new, more targeted therapies for patients.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Pathological gambling may be successfully treated with medications for substance addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5f9SOXHvACE/091210101412.htm
Pathological gambling can be successfully treated with medications that decrease urges and increase inhibitions, according to researchers. They found positive outcomes in gamblers treated with medications often used for substance addictions.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
RXR activation: Hope for new Parkinson's disease treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o7DtSotBsN0/091210193158.htm
Researchers have investigated the potential of RXR ligands for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In a new study, the scientists describe the use of two cellular models of Parkinsonian damage to explore the neuroprotective function of the two RXR ligands LG268 and XCT.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Astronaut balancing act: Training to help explorers adapt to a return to gravity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G1r666Y8UsM/091209134640.htm
Challenges associated with long-duration spaceflight do not end with landing. Astronauts often suffer from balance problems that lead to dizziness and difficulty standing, walking and turning corners when they return to normal gravity. Researchers are developing techniques, using a treadmill and simulated balance disturbances, to help astronauts adapt to a new gravity environment. The techniques could also have benefits for Earth-bound populations such as the elderly.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Old math reveals new thinking in children's cognitive development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i6bhCKCYpyM/091210203423.htm
Five-year-olds can reason about the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously, according to a new theory by researchers in Japan and Australia. Using an established branch of mathematics called Category Theory, the researchers explain why specific reasoning skills develop in children at certain ages, particularly at age five. The new theory shows that these reasoning skills have similar profiles of development because they involve related sorts of processes.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Nerve-cell transplants help brain-damaged rats fully recover lost ability to learn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZRZlotCX_Is/091209134900.htm
Nerve cells transplanted into brain-damaged rats helped them to fully recover their ability to learn and remember, probably by promoting nurturing, protective growth factors, according to a new study.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
MRI detects breast cancer at earlier stage, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/grQOGxf1gVY/091210173601.htm
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coupled with mammography detects almost all cancers at an early stage, thereby reducing the incidence of advanced stage breast cancer in high-risk women.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Unexpected weakness in H1N1's method for evading detection by the immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CVyJQaEz3MQ/091210111201.htm
The H1N1 influenza virus has been keeping a secret that may be the key to defeating it and other flu viruses as well. Researchers have found what they believe is a weakness in H1N1's method for evading detection by the immune system.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Genetic variations indicate risk of recurrence, secondary cancer among head and neck cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wDOHZ7IPD0I/091207143345.htm
Eighteen single-point genetic variations indicate risk of recurrence for early-stage head and neck cancer patients and their likelihood of developing a second type of cancer, researchers report.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Surgery on beating heart thanks to robotic helping hand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3q4tfiJfTzw/091211074423.htm
If you've been waiting for the day to arrive when computers actually start performing surgery, that moment might soon be upon us. Scientists have developed a computerized 3-D model that allows surgeons to use robotics to operate on a beating heart.
Sat, 12 Dec 09
Fit teenage boys are smarter -- but muscle strength isn't the secret, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P9zIB6zznjY/091207143351.htm
In the first study to demonstrate a clear positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance, researchers find that better aerobic health among teenage boys correlates to higher scores on a range of intelligence tests -- and more education and income later in life.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Earth's atmosphere came from outer space, scientists find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oWcjBUVfpMw/091210153538.htm
The gases which formed the Earth's atmosphere -- and probably its oceans -- did not come from inside the Earth but from outer space, according to a new study.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Delaying the aging process protects against Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6_heS-tFcX0/091210125542.htm
Aging is the single greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In a new study, researchers found that simply slowing the aging process in mice prone to develop Alzheimer's disease prevented their brains from turning into a neuronal wasteland.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Tiny molecule slows progression of Lou Gehrig's disease in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i_YXsw6yn4k/091210153527.htm
A substance released by muscles in response to nerve injury can reduce symptoms and prolong life in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), researchers have found. The finding has already prompted development of possible drugs to treat the disease.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Appetite, consumption controlled by clockwork genes at cross-purposes in flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UvnLHo1EQrU/091206162953.htm
One of the pioneers in research on sleep-wake circadian genes has discovered that fruit flies' appetite and consumption are controlled by two rival sets of clocks, one in neurons and the other in the fly fat body, which is analogous to the liver.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Real human bone grown in tissue culture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jUAqmA_kdXg/091209143753.htm
Researchers have created a process that grows real human bone in tissue culture, which can be used to investigate how bones form, grow and fracture.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Hourly employees happier than salaried
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gd_BXhUiuWI/091210133550.htm
People paid by the hour exhibit a stronger relationship between income and happiness, according to a new study.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Bacteria engineered to turn carbon dioxide into liquid fuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dhE-iADCLiQ/091210162222.htm
Global climate change has prompted efforts to drastically reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels. In a new approach, researchers have genetically modified a cyanobacterium to consume carbon dioxide and produce a liquid fuel precursor to isobutanol, which holds great potential as a gasoline alternative. The reaction is powered directly by energy from sunlight, or photosynthesis.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Stroke drug kills cancer cells and leaves normal cells intact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PPksa4EjrxU/091210153649.htm
Researchers have found that a stroke drug -- a member of a family of phenanthridine derivatives developed by an American drug company -- worked to kill cancer in mice which had been implanted with human breast cancer cells.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
'Fighting' IED attacks with SCARE technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xcCnM1luwMU/091210153655.htm
Researchers have developed and successfully tested new computer software and computational techniques to analyze patterns of improvised explosive device attacks in Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations and predict the locations of weapons caches that are used by insurgents to support those attacks.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
'Live' imaging reveals breast cancer cells' transition to metastasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RvD6aG4FhrU/091206162949.htm
The spread, or metastasis, of individual breast cancer cells from the main tumor into the blood circulation to the lungs and other body tissues and organs is under the control of a growth factor abbreviated TGFb, according to a new study.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
U.S. forests and soils store equivalent of 50 years of nation's CO2 emissions, new estimates find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/efEHPkFZF4o/091210173613.htm
The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that US forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Personalities accurately judged by physical appearance alone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eMhZFp3hx70/091210130000.htm
Observers were able to accurately judge some aspects of a stranger's personality from looking at photographs, according to a new study. Self-esteem, ratings of extroversion and religiosity were correctly judged from physical appearance.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Dark side of a Saturnian moon: Iapetus is coated with foreign dust
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cMQ9YD4y914/091210173611.htm
Iapetus is often called Saturn's most bizarre moon, due to its starkly contrasting hemispheres -- one black as coal, the other white as snow. Images taken by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, orbiting Saturn since 2004, offer the most compelling evidence to date of why and how the moon got its yin-yang appearance, as well as clues to how other such satellites might have formed in the early universe.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Successful stem cell therapy for treatment of eye disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K8xu-Dk4zyY/091210125930.htm
Newly published research reveals the first successful treatment of eight patients with "limbal stem cell deficiency" using the patients' own stem cells without the need of suppressing their immunity.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Swiss scientists measure glacial melting with light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZahT0yTxyNA/091206184749.htm
The glaciers in Switzerland have been melting for years. Researchers now want to know more precisely how much ice is being lost -- and they are using the aid of light.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Head and neck cancer survivors who use alcohol and cigarettes have increased death risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TqPwnWkgFAI/091203090105.htm
Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predicts the patient's future risk of death, according to published studies. Now, results of a new study show a similar effect among those who continued these habits after cancer diagnosis.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Fast method for preparing flu vaccine: Use bioreactors instead of chicken eggs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7pXaPHy7zgY/091209193506.htm
A shortage of flu vaccines may soon become a problem of the past. Researchers have developed an alternative process for producing large quantities of safe and effective vaccines at twice to four times the usual speed. The process is based on using cells in bioreactors instead of fertilized chicken eggs, which have a limited availability.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Student self-testing earns high marks as study tool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SnofnxYFer8/091210125928.htm
College students who pore over their notes again and again as they prep for finals could use their studying time more wisely, according to new learning research.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Sea level is rising along US Atlantic coast, say environmental scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gqxR2RPOd4o/091210111156.htm
An international team of environmental scientists has shown that sea-level rise along the Atlantic Coast of the United States was 2 millimeters faster in the 20th century than at any time in the past 4,000 years.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Fruit fly neuron can reprogram itself after injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeEf6jlUBEo/091206162951.htm
Studies with fruit flies have shown that the specialized nerve cells called neurons can rebuild themselves after injury. The results are potentially relevant to research efforts to improve the treatment of patients with traumatic nerve damage or neurodegenerative disease.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Breakthrough in monitoring tropical deforestation announced in Copenhagen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tIc__nXIz9s/091210101359.htm
New technology is revolutionizing forest monitoring by marrying free satellite imagery and powerful analytical methods in an easy-to-use, desktop software package called CLASlite. Thus far, 70 government, non-government and academic organizations in five countries have adopted the technology, with more on the horizon.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Many dialysis patients undergoing PCI receive improper medication, with higher risk of bleeding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/29-QKJAxiYo/091208162641.htm
Approximately 20 percent of dialysis patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedure such as angioplasty) are given an antithrombotic medication they should not receive, which may increase their risk for in-hospital bleeding, according to a new study.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
White marlin: Abundance of a look-alike species clouds population status of a million dollar fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zWiNq2zdqOY/091210085330.htm
The prized white marlin is among the most overexploited open-ocean fish. It's the subject of intense international recovery efforts. A new study now shows that a look-alike species, the roundscale spearfish, makes up a relatively high proportion of the fish identified as "white marlin". As such, current biological information on white marlin is likely contaminated by a second species, and past white marlin population size assessments are now uncertain.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Knowing goalkeeper’s movements in a penalty increases success rate and reduces kicker’s decision time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QS4oRfazhBc/091209193325.htm
A study shows that knowing the anticipatory movements of a goalkeeper before kicking the penalty reduces the decision time and increases the success rate when choosing the direction of the shot in football (soccer).
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Battle of the sexes: Ovaries must suppress their inner male
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NkZqxb0Nfu8/091210125546.htm
Scientists have discovered that if a specific gene located on a non-sex chromosome is turned off, cells in the ovaries of adult female mice turn into cells typically found in testes. Their study challenges the long-held assumption that the development of female traits is a default pathway and grants a valuable insight into how sex determination evolved.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
New hope for diagnosis and treatment of intractable pediatric brain tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h8MT9PxYJlo/091207123103.htm
Scientists have discovered oncogenes capable of driving growth of normal human brain stem cells in a highly malignant pediatric brain tumor. The research has significant implications for clinical management of aggressive pediatric brain tumors that are notorious for their dismal prognosis.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Scientists take theoretical research on 'nasty' molecule to next level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9sQ3XWwh7ok/091204172755.htm
Some atoms don't always follow the rules. Take the beryllium dimer, a seemingly simple molecule made up of two atoms. For decades, scientists believed the two atoms that compose the beryllium dimer repelled each other. Scientists have now confirmed a 12th and highest vibrational level for the beryllium molecule.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Patients can safely skip pre-surgery stress tests and beta blockers, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/td5745g4Hvk/091202153948.htm
Physicians should "throttle back" from routinely ordering stress tests and prescribing beta blockers to patients before noncardiac surgeries, according to a new report. Studies suggest such pre-operative tests and medications do not save lives and patients can skip them without suffering complications later.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Ubiquitous health: Enabling telemedicine to cut hospital visits, save money
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZXtRZkKgRow/091209134644.htm
A ubiquitous health monitoring system that automatically alerted the patient's family or physician to problematic changes in the person's vital signs could cut hospital visits and save lives, according to Japanese researchers.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
New ethical questions are being raised in stem cell research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hKO26MKUmJg/091210125555.htm
A groundbreaking discovery two years ago that turned ordinary skin cells back into an embryonic or "pluripotent" state was hailed as the solution to the controversial ethical question that has plagued stem-cell science for the past decade. What are the ethical and legal barriers facing new stem cell procedures?
Fri, 11 Dec 09
DNA sheds new light on horse evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tCIo-84Pim0/091210092001.htm
Ancient DNA retrieved from extinct horse species from around the world has challenged one of the textbook examples of evolution -- the fossil record of the horse family Equidae over the past 55 million years.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Fatty food can weaken the immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OMwBkQ6H_Ww/091208132526.htm
Fresh evidence that fatty food is bad for our health has come to light: mice fed a lard-based diet over a long period got worse at fighting bacteria in the blood, according to new research.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
XMM-Newton celebrates decade of discovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VQf_e9Ee_F8/091208132351.htm
ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray observatory is celebrating its 10th anniversary. During its decade of operation, this remarkable space observatory has supplied new data for every aspect of astronomy. From our cosmic backyard to the further reaches of the Universe, XMM-Newton has changed the way we think of space.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Low-density lipoprotein receptor reduces damage in Alzheimer's brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0yikGlc9SW8/091209121148.htm
The low-density lipoprotein receptor has received a lot of attention because of its connection with coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, but now it appears as if it may have a beneficial influence in degenerative brain diseases.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Safer space vehicles thanks to optic fiber sensors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lfX8jbdbCrY/091209113834.htm
A research team has developed a new protection system for the European Space Agency that is designed to enhance the safety of space vehicles.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Antiepileptic drugs not linked to suicide among those with bipolar disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CaQE3dwdSyo/091207164852.htm
Despite government warnings about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions while taking antiepileptic drugs, these medications do not appear to be associated with increased risk of suicide attempts in individuals with bipolar disorder, and may have a possible protective effect, according to a new report.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Brain activity exposes those who break promises
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mwYJQ4C_VjQ/091209121156.htm
Scientists in Switzerland have discovered the physiological mechanisms in the brain that underlie broken promises. Patterns of brain activity even enable predicting whether someone will break a promise.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Why cancer cells just won't die: Researcher identifies protein which regulates cell suicide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FRruUi-TBQ8/091209114158.htm
When cells experience DNA damage, they'll try to repair it. But if that fails, the damaged cells are supposed to self-destruct, a process called apoptosis. A cancer researcher has identified a protein that regulates apoptosis, a new discovery which has implications for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Measuring impact of climate change from space: Gravity measurements shed light on key questions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7nT5DEF2Y4A/091209194242.htm
What is the impact of climate change on the ice-covered regions of Earth? How does deglaciation affect global sea level changes? These questions are being addressed by scientists from Germany and Australia, who are investigating space-borne gravity measurements provided by the GRACE satellite mission. As a result, they found out that the Greenland glaciers shrunk continuously in the last few years; above all, they estimated the changes not to be linear in time but accelerating. On average, recent Greenland ice-mass decline caused an annual sea-level rise of about 0.5 millimeters.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
New mouse could help understand how some lung cancer cells evade drug treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/My1RFuOQTXI/091209093113.htm
A new study describes the development of drug resistance in mice with lung cancer. The lung tumors in mice result from changes similar to those seen in human patients. Also like humans, these tumors initially respond to drug treatment but eventually become resistant to therapy. Studying lung cancer cells in this model should provide insight into the mechanisms that make lung cancer cells resistant to current treatment methods and uncover new therapeutic targets.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Supportive materials to help regenerate heart tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pF3DBfmVcqc/091208162659.htm
Bioengineers are developing new regenerative therapies for heart disease. The work could influence the way in which regenerative therapies for cardiovascular and other diseases are treated in the future.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Formula to detect an author’s literary ‘fingerprint’
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7DVB3BbawtA/091209194437.htm
Using literature written by Thomas Hardy, DH Lawrence and Herman Melville, physicists in Sweden have developed a formula to detect different authors’ literary ‘fingerprints’.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Early carnivorous dinosaur crossed continents, alters evolutionary tree
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/45z7I3AfBjs/091210153532.htm
Discovery of a new species of 213-million-year-old meat-eating dinosaur in New Mexico suggests the first dinosaurs wandered between parts of the Pangea supercontinent that later became North and South America, according to a team of researchers.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Irregular arm swing may point to Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bcc9lMlQQiI/091210101408.htm
Irregular arm swings while walking could be an early sign of Parkinson's disease, according to neurologists who believe early detection may help physicians apply treatments to slow further brain cell damage until strategies to slow disease progression are available.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
First submersible robot glider to cross Atlantic makes landfall in Spain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sw_aNRunZxc/091210100745.htm
The Scarlet Knight, the first submersible robot glider to cross the Atlantic, made its formal entrance into the port of Baiona Dec. 9, received by Spanish and American government officials, school children and the people of the town.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Dermatologic infections in cancer patients treated with EGFRI therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yh96H9GajKg/091209163714.htm
Patients who experience dermatologic toxic effects from epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) have a high prevalence of skin and nail infections, according to a new study.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
New imaging technique reveals different heart motions by age, gender
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H8W1Dnf04jc/091208162652.htm
New, precise imaging of the heart's motions showed important differences between men and women and different age groups. The gender differences in heart motion were not all explained by anatomical differences. The new imaging technique could lead to earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Study confirms association between tobacco smoke and behavioral problems in children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pcIrqgCYUjg/091209114146.htm
Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke during their early development can develop abnormal behavioral symptoms by the age of 10 years, according to a new study.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Faint star orbiting the Big Dipper's Alcor discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/inynt5Quajg/091210000851.htm
New observations of Alcor, one of the stars that makes the constellation known as the Big Dipper's, have uncovered a smaller companion star named Alcor B. Project 1640 was able to show that the two stars moved together using "common parallactic motion."
Thu, 10 Dec 09
'Mini' transplant may reverse severe sickle cell disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LeSCWkuu_Gg/091209171450.htm
Results of a preliminary study show that "mini" stem cell transplantation may safely reverse severe sickle cell disease in adults.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Newly discovered mechanism allows cells to change state
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KC2j9pqYvxM/091209134908.htm
By looking at yeast cells, a biologist has figured out one way in which cells can transform themselves: a cellular "machine" removes a regulatory "lid."
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Hops compound may prevent prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SbQjR09zwUo/091208191954.htm
The natural compound xanthohumol blocks the effects of the male hormone testosterone, therefore aiding in the prevention of prostate cancer.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Electromagnetic fields as cutting tools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8MSPDcaB4tM/091209113836.htm
The bodywork on motor vehicles must be sufficiently stable, but processing the high-strength steels involved -- for example punching holes in them -- can prove something of a challenge. A new steel-cutting process will save time, energy and money in the future.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Are holiday and weekend eating patterns affecting obesity rates?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9eM_6cTRqlI/091209163716.htm
The holidays can be challenging for even the most diligent dieters. But are weekends just as detrimental? Researchers found that weekend eating patterns change significantly.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Noninvasive technique to rewrite fear memories developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SyK854xMgGQ/091209134629.htm
Researchers have developed a noninvasive technique to block the return of fear memories in humans. The technique may change how we view the storage processes of memory and could lead to new ways to treat anxiety disorders.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Coaxing injured nerve fibers to regenerate by disabling 'brakes' in the system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9BpUP2Otg8g/091209121152.htm
Expanding on prior research, scientists provide further evidence that regeneration of nerve fibers after brain or spinal cord injury is limited by a lack of response to growth factors induced by the injury. They show in mice that axons can regenerate vigorously when responsiveness is restored genetically -- a finding that could lead to ways of helping people recover from brain or spinal cord injury.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Chopper drop tests new technology: Expandable honeycomb cushion could make helicopters safer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/niQhrFSd3gc/091209185654.htm
How do you make a helicopter safer to fly? You crash one. NASA aeronautics researchers recently dropped a small helicopter from a height of 35 feet (10.7 m) to see whether an expandable honeycomb cushion called a deployable energy absorber could lessen the destructive force of a crash.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Treating cluster headaches with high-flow oxygen appears effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GZ3t76mlhr4/091208162644.htm
Patients with a cluster headache, which is characterized by bouts of excruciating pain usually near the eye or temple, were more likely to report being pain-free within 15 minutes of treatment with high-flow oxygen than patients who received a placebo treatment, according to a new study.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Digital avalanche rescue dog: Geolocation system can locate victims to within centimeters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/368YFNRxhlA/091209113838.htm
A novel geolocation system makes use of signals from Galileo, the future European satellite navigation system, to locate avalanche victims carrying an avalanche transceiver or a cell phone, to the precision of a few centimeters.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Patients lack knowledge of medications they were given in hospital, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PyTRlLYKxu0/091210000845.htm
In a new study to asses patient awareness of medications prescribed during a hospital visit, 44 percent of patients believed they were receiving a medication they were not, and 96 percent were unable to recall the name of at least one medication that they had been prescribed during hospitalization.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
First evidence of brain rewiring in children: Reading remediation positively alters brain tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3QDkF9D-1wQ/091209121200.htm
Scientists have uncovered the first evidence that intensive instruction to improve reading skills in young children causes the brain to physically rewire itself, creating new white matter that improves communication within the brain.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
New skin stem cells surprisingly similar to those found in embryos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f9NLvyxfcm4/091209121202.htm
Scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell in the skin that acts surprisingly like certain stem cells found in embryos: both can generate fat, bone, cartilage and even nerve cells.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Nature's solution to age-old chemical paradox: Chemical basis for extra 'quality control' in protein production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VY3lN13sKVk/091209171452.htm
Even small errors made by cells during protein production can have profound disease effects, and nature has developed ways to uncover these mistakes and correct them. Though in the case of one essential protein building block -- the amino acid alanine -- nature has been extra careful, developing not one, but two checkpoints in her effort to make sure that this component is used correctly.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Children who survive cancer more likely to suffer from heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fy3RaND9z64/091208192003.htm
Children and adolescents who survive cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease as young adults, according to a new large study.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Dow Jones Index for Climate Change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KEaC3sA6gb0/091209193902.htm
The IGBP Climate Change Index exposes the rapid and profound changes the planet is undergoing as a result of human activity.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Bullying at school linked to bullying at home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KGv6QUjwVfs/091206185410.htm
Children who bully at school are likely to also bully their siblings at home. This is the finding of a new study. Researchers investigated whether the age and gender of a child’s siblings predicted whether children were likely to bully, or to become victims of bullying.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Saturn's mysterious hexagon emerges from winter darkness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_-3Iu1g2WAY/091209151244.htm
After waiting years for the sun to illuminate Saturn's north pole again, cameras aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft have captured the most detailed images yet of the intriguing hexagon shape crowning the planet.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Potential cancer drug may offer new hope for asthma patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ncn0CndpE_o/091209113846.htm
A drug being tested to treat cancer could also help patients suffering from asthma, research has suggested. Scientists found that the drug -- R-roscovitine -- helps to kill certain immune cells which can exacerbate symptoms associated with asthma.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
New approach to treat lower back pain unveiled
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I5cfZChrhu8/091208153147.htm
Using a branch of science that crosses disciplines to study complex problems, a researcher is introducing a new way to understand and treat lower back pain, a condition affecting more than 40 million Americans and costing billions of dollars each year.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Possible ovarian cancer treatment target identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3ilBJhhqr50/091208181128.htm
A multi-institutional study has identified a potential personalized treatment target for the most common form of ovarian cancer. The research team discovered that a gene called MAGP2 -- not previously associated with any type of cancer -- was overexpressed in papillary serous ovarian tumors of patients who died more quickly. They also found evidence suggesting possible mechanisms by which MAGP2 may promote tumor growth.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Robotic Perception, On Purpose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NKXvgmU0SbQ/091111120724.htm
Researchers have developed technology that enables a robot to combine data from both sound and vision to create combined, purposeful perception. In the process, they have taken the field to a new level.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
People affected by autism believe increase is 'real,' not diagnostic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/biopsXZ6RH4/091209114154.htm
There has been a major increase in the number of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders over the last two decades -- the question is why? Researchers have found a sharp difference between the beliefs of ordinary people and medical experts about the reasons for the increased incidence of autism.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Entropy alone can create complex crystals from simple shapes; tetrahedra packing record broken
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CtIfyWlSoHk/091209134633.htm
In a study that elevates the role of entropy in creating order, new research shows that certain pyramid shapes can spontaneously organize into complex quasicrystals.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Bone marrow cells may significantly reduce risk of second heart attack
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PIWF7xsl4bc/091208162650.htm
After heart attack patients' arteries were cleared by reperfusion, progenitor cells, derived from the patients' own bone marrow, were infused into that artery. This reduced the risk of death or another heart attack. The finding also holds promise that bone marrow progenitor cells can reduce debilitating or fatal heart failure in heart attack survivors. Larger trials are needed to confirm the therapy before it becomes medical practice.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Tropical forests affected by habitat fragmentation store less biomass and carbon dioxide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qcy21QpdUBM/091209113840.htm
Deforestation in tropical rain forests could have an even greater impact on climate change than has previously been thought. The combined biomass of a large number of small forest fragments left over after habitat fragmentation can be up to 40 percent less than in a continuous natural forest of the same overall size. This is the conclusion reached by German and Brazilian researchers who used a simulation model.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Sonic Hedgehog variations linked to recurrence, survival and response to therapy of bladder cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GYT6TPK2_Q4/091209114144.htm
Genetic variations in the Sonic Hedgehog pathway increase the likelihood of recurrence, reduce survival time and limit response to therapy for people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, scientists report.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Danish Eco City proves waste management can reverse greenhouse trend
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x-QMTDbCTX0/091130103634.htm
Cities can progress from consuming energy and emitting greenhouse gases to actually producing energy while saving on GHG emissions, due to substitution of fossil fuels elsewhere. These findings are based on research in the city of Aalborg in Northern Denmark.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Gender gap persists in cardiac care, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7AAqqKNv-pA/091209114152.htm
Gender differences persist in the quality of cardiac care across Ontario, according to new study. Ontario women who had heart attacks were less likely to receive care from a cardiologist, be referred for angiography, or be prescribed statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Old hay and Alpine ibex horns reveal how grasslands respond to climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3bHmZ0vEWPE/091210000849.htm
To better understand how grassland ecosystems respond to a warming climate and rising levels of carbon dioxide -- particularly with respect to the plants' water use -- resourceful scientists have captured telling time series from the proverbially fleeting grass. Grassland researchers analyzed specimens of hay from the British lowlands dating back as far as 150 years, together with nearly 70 years of grazing as recorded in the horns of Alpine ibex, correlating these data with climate records.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Pitch of blue whale songs is declining around the world, scientists discover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a3gNmA3FhuQ/091209183116.htm
The sound level of songs blue whales sing across the vast expanses of the ocean to attract potential mates has been steadily creeping downward for the past few decades, and scientists believe the trend may be good news for the population of the endangered marine mammal.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Worms unlock secrets to new epilepsy treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MXM_kzow25U/091209134912.htm
Scientists have used worms to reel in information they hope will lead to a greater understanding of cellular mechanisms that may be exploited to treat epilepsy. In a new study, the researchers explain how the transparent roundworm, C. elegans, helped them identify key "molecular switches" that control the transport of a molecule (gamma-aminobutyric acid or "GABA") that if manipulated within our cells, might prevent the onset of seizures.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
World-Record Energy Collisions Achieved at Large Hadron Collider
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/45c1Xgo-pQQ/091209171152.htm
On December 8th, thousands of physicists around the world cheered as CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) smashed together subatomic particles at the highest energies ever reached by a human-made accelerator and the giant ATLAS detector observed the products of the record-breaking reactions whizzing through its sophisticated tracking devices.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Stem cell derived neurons for research relevant to Alzheimer's and Niemann-Pick type C diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d06WdBpP884/091209134627.htm
Stem cell derived neurons may allow scientists to determine whether breakdowns in the transport of proteins, lipids and other materials within cells trigger the neuronal death and neurodegeneration that characterize Alzheimer's disease and the rarer but always fatal neurological disorder, Niemann-Pick Type C, according to a recent presentation. Early defects in the intracellular physical transport system may be the driving force behind severe neuronal dysfunction.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Energy efficiency technologies offer major savings, report finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RmcNU-Qu2Yc/091209121204.htm
Energy efficiency technologies that exist today or that are likely to be developed in the near future could save considerable money as well as energy, says a new report from the National Research Council. Fully adopting these technologies could lower projected US energy use 17 percent to 20 percent by 2020, and 25-31 percent by 2030.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Money changes what we think is fair, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q-az-Sy7XUw/091209121225.htm
Thinking of rewarding your sales department for a job well done? You might not want to make cash part of the payoff.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Why King Kong failed to impress: Humans, apes use odor-detecting receptors differently
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dYw1yot0KN0/091208153153.htm
Humans have the same receptors for detecting odors related to sex as do other primates. But each species uses them in different ways, stemming from the way the genes for these receptors have evolved over time, according to researchers.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Delivering medicine directly into a tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0XlrLHpv424/091207123920.htm
Researchers have identified a peptide (a chain of amino acids) that specifically recognizes and penetrates cancerous tumors but not normal tissues. The peptide was also shown to deliver diagnostic particles and medicines into the tumor.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Fine-tuned laser: Step toward airport scanners that can identify explosives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HZ-tW0VBbik/091207123803.htm
Engineers have developed the first practical method for tuning terahertz quantum cascade lasers. What's more, the method is a fundamentally new approach to laser tuning that could have implications for other emerging technologies.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
H1N1 influenza adopted novel strategy to move from birds to humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XEGdVzwc1-4/091208153445.htm
The 2009 H1N1 virus, which ignited a worldwide "swine flu" panic earlier this year, used a novel strategy to cross from birds into people, scientists have found. The finding could help those surveilling the world for new flu variants and those developing antiviral drugs.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Hunt for Higgs boson: Mass of top quark narrows search
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ICkCtJddAKA/091207123922.htm
New high-energy particle research by a team working with data from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory heightens uncertainty about the exact nature of a key theoretical component of modern physics -- the massive fundamental particle, the Higgs boson. Particle collision data resulting in two leptons helped improve measurements of the mass of the heavy subatomic top quark, which bears on the Higgs, says a physicist who led the team.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Playing favorites: Parents still involved after children are grown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jjr6JOen4_w/091207143349.htm
Middle-aged parents are more involved in their grown children's lives than ever, according to new research.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Everyday germs in childhood may prevent diseases in adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TaM-bZsYtwI/091208192005.htm
A new study suggests that American parents should ease up on the antibacterial soap. Exposure to infectious microbes early in life may actually protect children from cardiovascular diseases that can lead to death as an adult. The study is the first to look at how microbial exposures early in life affect inflammatory processes related to diseases associated with aging in adulthood. Ultra-clean environments may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV, scientists show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HTKZ6CV5Za8/091208132732.htm
Researchers have for the first time demonstrated that human blood stem cells can be engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells -- a process that potentially could be used against a range of chronic viral diseases. The study provides proof-of-principle -- that is, a demonstration of feasibility -- that human stem cells can be engineered into the equivalent of a genetic vaccine.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
How to read brain activity with an EEG
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-fzvRBzynyc/091204103751.htm
The electroencephalogram is widely used by physicians and scientists to study brain function and to diagnose neurological disorders. However, it has remained largely unknown whether the electrodes on the head give an exact view of what is happening inside the brain. Scientists have now found a crucial link between the activity generated within the brain to that measured with EEG.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Women with breast cancer who consume soy food have lower risk of cancer recurrence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J80gRcQlM8o/091208162639.htm
Although there is a concern regarding the safety of soy food consumption among breast cancer survivors, researchers have found that women in China who had breast cancer and a higher intake of soy food had an associated lower risk of death and breast cancer recurrence, according to a new study.
Thu, 10 Dec 09
Scientists reveal key structure from Ebola virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GDM7GGLYr1w/091208170913.htm
Scientists have determined the structure of a critical protein from the Ebola virus, which, though rare, is one of the deadliest viruses on the planet killing between 50 and 90 percent of those infected.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Star power: Astronomers recreate stellar jet with laser blast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pcHyXS3sBlQ/091208162305.htm
With the trillions of watts contained in one brief pop of a powerful laser, the universe became a bit less mysterious. Scientists recently used powerful laser beams to recreate, on a small scale, the highly supersonic velocities at work in newborn stars and simulated the fiery jets that burst from their poles.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Human umbilical stem cells cleared mice's cloudy eyes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/17_dqQGCbac/091208132239.htm
New research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) may help in the recovery of lost vision for patients with corneal scarring.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Precision breeding creates super potato
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cX35-iMjjSI/091208132530.htm
The skin is light brown, the meat luscious and yellow: from the outside alone, this new potato looks like any other. But on the inside, it is different. Its cells produce pure amylopectin, a starch used in the paper, textile and food industries. The new potatoes -- recently harvested and processed for the first time -- were developed with the aid of a new, especially rapid breeding process.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Nearly one third of human genome is involved in gingivitis, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L2jmW12md90/091207123115.htm
Gingivitis, which may affect more than one-half of the US adult population, is a condition commonly attributed to lapses in simple oral hygiene habits. However, a new study shows that development and reversal of gingivitis at the molecular level is apparently much more complicated than its causes might indicate.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Facebook (and systems biologists) take note: Network analysis reveals true connections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0eRVHbyU_bQ/091207151232.htm
Two researchers have developed a universal method that can accurately analyze a range of complex networks -- including social networks, protein-protein interactions and air transportation networks. Their technique exploits the fact that all networks have groups in them and those groups are connected in many different ways. The researchers demonstrated the great potential of the method using five different networks, including predicting friendships in a social network and protein-protein interactions within a cell.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Most antidepressants miss key target of clinical depression, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZG_IqaO7rhc/091208132724.htm
Most current antidepressants do not address a key brain chemical, monoamine oxidase-A, according to a new study.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Snowflake chemistry could give clues about ozone depletion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mbmgEhQAbrc/091207143353.htm
Ice chemists are studying the surface structure of snow crystals and why sharp transitions in shape occur at different temperatures. The differences they see not only explain why no two snowflakes are identical, but also hold implications for their ozone research in the Arctic Ocean region.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Testosterone does not induce aggression, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lmFB1aAgalI/091208132241.htm
New scientific evidence refutes the preconception that testosterone causes aggressive, egocentric, and risky behavior. A study with more than 120 experimental subjects has shown that the sexual hormone with the poor reputation can encourage fair behaviors if this serves to ensure one's own status.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Pistachios may reduce lung cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YYrXVMLEdc4/091208191956.htm
A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to new research.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
H1N1 more risky than seasonal flu in children with sickle cell disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EXjdvM0f-T8/091207095509.htm
Infection with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, causes more life-threatening complications than seasonal flu in children with sickle cell disease, according to new research. The findings warn parents and caregivers that such children are more likely to need emergency treatment and stays in an intensive-care unit.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Nanoparticle protects oil in foods from oxidation, spoilage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BU88XwBBHCY/091208132726.htm
Using a nanoparticle from corn, a scientist has found a way to lengthen the shelf life of many food products and sustain their health benefits.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
College football linemen take one for the team in terms of health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RnEe8T8gb9I/091207123808.htm
The high-intensity exercise performed by college football linemen does not protect them from obesity, related health problems and the potential for cardiovascular disease later in life, new research suggests. In an assessment of 90 collegiate football players from a single Division I team, only offensive and defensive linemen were deemed obese because they had 25 percent or more body fat.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
See-through surprise: Lab makes solid material transparent to terahertz waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kalpGRTqarQ/091207123805.htm
Very often in science, the unexpected discovery turns out to be the most significant. Researchers weren't looking for a breakthrough in the transmission of terahertz signals, but there it was: a plasmonic material that would, with adjustments to its temperature and/or magnetic field, either stop a terahertz beam cold or let it pass completely.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
New approach to sickle-cell disease shows promise in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p3RQs3Fm078/091207151340.htm
Researchers report being able to get mice with sickle-cell disease to start producing fetal hemoglobin again -- potentially compensating for damaged adult hemoglobin and making symptoms of sickle-cell disease much milder.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Effort to regenerate damaged spinal cords turns to new model: Mexican axolotl salamander
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YewhEQKgVYk/091208214636.htm
For more than 400 years, scientists have studied the amazing regenerative power of salamanders, trying to understand how these creatures routinely repair injuries that would usually leave humans and other mammals paralyzed -- or worse. Now, researchers have begun creating genomic tools necessary to compare the extraordinary regenerative capacity of the Mexican axolotl salamander with established mouse models of human disease and injury.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Vitamin D levels associated with survival in lymphoma patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PmEWcon3f_k/091206112517.htm
A new study has found that the amount of vitamin D in patients being treated for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was strongly associated with cancer progression and overall survival.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Engineers on course to make super-efficient solar-electric powered boat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xDpyib1F9o0/091206184628.htm
A team of academics and students has begun work on a solar-electric powered boat which they claim will be one of the most sophisticated to enter the annual prestigious Solar Splash competition so far.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Low rate of injuries at overnight summer camp, new study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KHE4wmhpYWY/091208162829.htm
Although a trip to summer camp is highly anticipated by over 11 million children and adults each year, sending a child off to summer camp can be a source of anxiety for parents. However, findings from a new study should ease their concerns.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yMuDkblqcds/091208155309.htm
Researchers are challenging long-held beliefs that human beings are wired to be selfish. In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Severity of H1N1 flu in US during current flu season may be less than feared
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K19QOMp8cr8/091207173622.htm
A new study projects that the severity of the H1N1 flu during the autumn-winter flu season in the United States will likely be less than previously feared.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
How dinoflagellates protect themselves during photosynthesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kKdSqxFeC5U/091206185315.htm
During photosynthesis at high light intensities dangerous oxygen radicals can form inside cells. Dinoflagellates have a unique light-harvesting complex (antenna) which can divert superfluous energy extremely efficiently to avoid this cell damage. Biophysicists have now been able to determine which molecules in the antenna are of significance.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Blood cancers: New research demonstrates advances in optimizing treatments and quality of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S4kIwSwjgBo/091207095945.htm
New research explores optimal induction therapies for managing multiple myeloma, the importance of advance care planning for improved quality of life, and a potential new first-line therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Logging effects vary based on a forest's history, climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aSHpD-4wg40/091202114046.htm
A Smoky Mountain forest's woodland herb population has shown that climate may play a role in how forest understories recover from logging, according to new research.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Food attitudes affect obesity risk in middle-aged women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E0MzVNVKLg0/091205232812.htm
A small study of middle-aged women finds that "guilt-ridden dieters," impulsive eaters and those too busy to focus on food are the most likely to show signs of obesity.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Brightness variations of sun-like stars: The mystery deepens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tgrjZVYRoOw/091207150440.htm
An extensive study made with ESO’s Very Large Telescope deepens a long-standing mystery in the study of stars similar to the Sun. Unusual year-long variations in the brightness of about one third of all Sun-like stars during the latter stages of their lives still remain unexplained. Over the past few decades, astronomers have offered many possible explanations, but the new, painstaking observations contradict them all and only deepen the mystery. The search for a suitable interpretation is on.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
The thalamus, middleman of the brain, becomes a sensory conductor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eBsIeEbcBAo/091207151224.htm
Two new studies show that the thalamus -- the small central brain structure often characterized as a mere pit-stop for sensory information on its way to the cortex -- is heavily involved in sensory processing, and is an important conductor of the brain's complex orchestra. Published in Nature Neuroscience and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the two studies demonstrate the important role of the thalamus in shaping what humans see, hear and feel.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Deep space maintenance deep in Australia's bush
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R9O4-d5JnQw/091206185115.htm
The European Space Agency's giant 35m ground stations require regular maintenance and periodic mid-life upgrades to keep them working in tip-top condition, communicating with the Agency's growing fleet of spacecraft millions of kilometres from home.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Advances in diagnosing and treating leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Q_xDIw-yv4/091207095943.htm
Leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders are serious and often deadly blood cancers. Recent research introduces potential new treatment options and improved diagnostic methods for patients suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelofibrosis that are based on a better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of these conditions.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Milling and drilling in cyberspace
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nP9YXahjoK0/091207123753.htm
Machinists, numerical control programmers or mechatronics engineers -- trainees in engineering jobs often have to master complex equipment. In the future, trainees will practice and learn milling, turning, drilling and programming routines on a virtual model.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Psychological impacts not found for casual sex among young adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PTrXSM7zwhs/091208132730.htm
Researchers have found that young adults engaging in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes as compared to sexually active young adults in more committed relationships. While this study focused on the psychological impact, researchers caution that the physical risks of casual sex should not be overlooked.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Maize was passed from group to group of Southwestern hunter-gatherers, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CKvhJ6Z3agE/091208162656.htm
An international group of anthropologists offers a new theory about the diffusion of maize to the Southwestern United States and the impact it had. The study suggests that maize was passed from group to group of Southwestern hunter-gatherers.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
HIV-related memory loss linked to Alzheimer's protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-3iQaI3QsfU/091207164840.htm
More than half of HIV patients experience memory problems and other cognitive impairments as they age, and doctors know little about the underlying causes. New research suggests HIV-related cognitive deficits share a common link with Alzheimer's-related dementia: low levels of the protein amyloid beta in the spinal fluid.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Parasite evades death by promoting host cell survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OQY3Iimwxts/091208132528.htm
Researchers have discovered how the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas' disease, prolongs its survival in infected cells. A protein on the parasite activates the enzyme Akt, which blocks cell death signals, preventing cell destruction and parasite elimination. Chagas' disease affects some 8 to 11 million people throughout Latin America and even the United States.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Small addition to cancer drug may make big difference
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pLa-uacf2WQ/091208153144.htm
The addition of a small molecule to the cancer drug Temozolomide disrupts repair mechanisms in a type of tumor cells that is highly resistant to treatment.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
New software to simulate future financial crises
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0QXG3q0RiLU/091206183404.htm
Can economics better predict how banks will react to future credit crunches and their impact on the wider economy? Breakthrough simulation software by European researchers could hold the answers to this question and more.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
People living in poorer neighborhoods at increased risk for death, worse health risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zcaACnjCLDM/091208153136.htm
Regardless of an individual's dietary and lifestyle risk factors, living in a poorer or more socioeconomically deprived neighborhood may increase a person's risk for death, according to new evidence.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Life on Mars theory boosted by new methane study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CiZ2rJGmThc/091208132349.htm
Scientists have ruled out the possibility that methane is delivered to Mars by meteorites, raising fresh hopes that the gas might be generated by life on the red planet, in new research.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Gene therapy and stem cells save limb
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c6tp6ecqSHc/091208162654.htm
Blood vessel blockage, a common condition in old age or diabetes, leads to low blood flow and results in low oxygen, which can kill cells and tissues. Such blockages can require amputation resulting in loss of limbs. Now, using mice as their model, researchers have developed therapies that increase blood flow, improve movement and decrease tissue death and the need for amputation.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Tiny RNA has big impact on lung cancer tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Faqzjz0GOo/091207095516.htm
Researchers reversed the growth of lung tumors in mice using a naturally occurring tumor suppressor microRNA. The study reveals that a tiny bit of RNA may one day play a big role in cancer treatment, and provides hope for future patients battling one of the most prevalent and difficult to treat cancers.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce risk of colon cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-RzuF8oCTeQ/091207200913.htm
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, primarily found in fish and seafood, may have a role in colorectal cancer prevention, according to new results.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Turning metal black more than just a novelty: Laser technique could have important medical implications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HVIu5iLwaSw/091208153140.htm
Researchers made headlines recently when they changed the color of everyday metals by scouring their surfaces with precise, high-intensity laser bursts. A recent discovery has shown that beyond the aesthetic opportunities in the finding lie some very powerful potential uses, such as diagnosing some diseases with unprecedented ease and precision.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Rodent smoke screen: Rat model shows tobacco smoke exposure induces brain changes indicative of nicotine dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/baDa-efydTg/091208132536.htm
Rats passively exposed to tobacco smoke become dependent on nicotine, according to a new study. The findings of how rats' brains respond to exposure to tobacco smoke have implications for the study of the effects of tobacco smoke on the human brain and for future studies testing new treatments for tobacco addiction.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Just after the Big Bang: Hubble's deepest view of universe unveils never-before-seen galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wmCkVo_rw_Y/091208132532.htm
Astronomers have taken the deepest image yet of the Universe in near-infrared light. The faintest and reddest objects in the image are likely the oldest galaxies ever identified, having formed between only 600-900 million years after the Big Bang.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Coffee consumption associated with reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8WQ7z54iMlA/091207200917.htm
While it is too early for physicians to start advising their male patients to take up the habit of regular coffee drinking, new data revealed a strong inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancers.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Scientists detect PCBs on South America’s highest peak
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3lBF1ikW4H0/091207150739.htm
Even the snow on Aconcagua Mountain in the Andes is polluted with PCBs. Scientists detected low concentrations of these toxic, carcinogenic chlorine compounds in samples taken from America’s highest mountain. The snow samples taken at an altitude of 6200 meters are among the highest traces found anywhere in the world of these substances, which have been banned since 2001.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
'Rational drug design' identifies fragments of FDA-approved drugs relevant to emerging viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fqTjyClk53I/091206162946.htm
A massive, data-crunching computer search program that matches fragments of potential drug molecules to the known shapes of viral surface proteins has identified several FDA-approved drugs that could be the basis for new medicines -- if emerging viruses such as the H5N1 (avian flu) or H1N1/09 (swine flu) develop resistance to current antiviral therapies.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
New relationship between gene duplication and alternative splicing in plants discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_A81usBquw/091207151216.htm
Scientists looking to understand the genetic mechanisms of plant defense and growth have found for the first time in plants an inverse relationship between gene duplication and alternative splicing. The finding has implications for diversity not only in plants, but in animals and humans.
Wed, 9 Dec 09
Young adults' blood lead levels linked to depression, panic disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nAf4egAu9ng/091207164848.htm
Young adults with higher blood lead levels appear more likely to have major depression and panic disorders, even if they have exposure to lead levels generally considered safe, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Sea level could rise from 0.75 to 1.9 meters this century
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ps3z2_MAm4o/091207165252.htm
A new scientific study warns that sea level could rise much faster than previously expected. By the year 2100, global sea level could rise between 0.75 to 1.9 meters, according to a new paper.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Quitting smoking can reverse asthma-inducing changes in lungs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZncB62_sY04/091207095507.htm
Asthmatic smokers may be able to reverse some of the damage to their lungs that exacerbates asthmatic symptoms just by putting down their cigarettes, according to new research.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
New technology could boost disease detection tests' speed and sensitivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oKZLJToteZ8/091207151228.htm
Scientists have developed a way to rapidly manipulate and sort different cells in the blood using magnetizable liquids. The findings could dramatically improve the speed and sensitivity of tests used to detect cancer biomarkers, blood disorders, viruses and other diseases.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Gene positions may aid cancer diagnosis, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EaOb0z4t8vQ/091207095501.htm
Certain genes switch their nuclear position in tumor cells, offering a potential new method of diagnosing cancer, say researchers.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
A greener way to get electricity from natural gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bN2Xb6IaoSA/091203101422.htm
A new type of natural-gas electric power plant could provide electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, at costs comparable to or less than conventional natural-gas plants, and even to coal-burning plants. But that can only come about if and when a price is set on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases -- a step the US Congress and other governments are considering as a way to halt climate change.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Craving hinders comprehension without you realizing it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i7ZIEAOMQhE/091207165039.htm
A new study reveals that craving a cigarette while performing a cognitive task not only increases the chances of a person's mind wandering, but also makes that person less likely to notice when his or her mind has wandered.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Dip ordinary paper into ink infused with nanotubes and nanowires to create an instant battery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/razvb9HE9e0/091207165035.htm
Dip an ordinary piece of paper into ink infused with carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires, and it turns into a battery or supercapacitor. Crumple the piece of paper, and it still works. Researchers see many uses for this new way of storing electricity.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
New platinum compound shows promise in tumor cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CZ68hUuFdJI/091207151226.htm
Chemists have developed a new platinum compound that is as powerful as the commonly used anticancer drug cisplatin but better able to destroy tumor cells.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
World's smallest semiconductor laser to have big impact in computing, bio-hazard detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O5_J7s6jZt8/091207173628.htm
Researchers have demonstrated the world's smallest semiconductor laser, which may have applications to the Air Force in communications, computing and bio-hazard detection.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Exercise reduces death rate in prostate cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_M10Y9-rnPc/091207200911.htm
As little as 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce overall mortality rates in patients with prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Metamaterials could reduce friction in nanomachines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qzZ4qk4QhgI/091207131607.htm
Nanoscale machines expected to have wide application in industry, energy, medicine and other fields may someday operate far more efficiently, thanks to important theoretical discoveries concerning the manipulation of famous Casimir forces.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
In cancer-ridden rats, loneliness can kill: Isolation and stress identified as contributing to breast cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5GEoUj4C558/091207151222.htm
Social isolation and related stress could contribute to human breast cancer susceptibility, research from a rat model to identify environmental mechanisms contributing to cancer risk shows. The researchers found that isolation and stress result in a 3.3-fold increase in the risk of developing cancer among rats with naturally occurring mammary tumors. The research establishes, for the first time, that isolation and stress could be a factor in human breast cancer risk.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Super cool atom thermometer: New, reliable ways of measuring extreme low temperatures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OCHEOqzctxk/091207173626.htm
Physicists have devised a thermometer that can potentially measure temperatures as low as tens of trillionths of a degree above absolute zero.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
New York autopsies show 2009 H1N1 influenza virus damages entire airway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zzj93SLEVWY/091207165031.htm
In fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus can damage cells throughout the respiratory airway, much like the viruses that caused the 1918 and 1957 influenza pandemics, report researchers.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Mathematical model of simple circuit in chicken brain raises fundamental questions about neural circuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Po8X5hV6_XQ/091207095941.htm
Neural microcircuits consisting of a few neurons and their interconnections are small enough to be understood more completely than larger neural structures, whose complexity quickly becomes overwhelming. Researchers recently tackled a simple circuit in the visual processing area of a chicken's brain that detects motion in its field of view -- with surprising results.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Association of tight glycemic control with road crashes in diabetic patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FF8l5lGR4yc/091207210958.htm
A study from Canada suggests an association between tighter glycemic control and an increased risk of a motor vehicle crash in diabetic adults.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Method to detect chocolate fraud becomes an international standard
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/28mFmFmLDqA/091206183709.htm
European countries are the biggest consumers of chocolate confectioneries in the world. A newly developed method to measure vegetable fats in milk chocolate has become the first such method to be adopted as an international standard by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It has been developed to enable the enforcement of the so-called Chocolate Directive, which stipulates that European chocolate must not contain more than 5% vegetable fats, other than cocoa butter.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Difficult childhood may increase disease risk in adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rKdwCwoM6rQ/091207164856.htm
Individuals who experience psychological or social adversity in childhood may have lasting emotional, immune and metabolic abnormalities that help explain why they develop more age-related diseases in adulthood, according to a new report.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Spices halt growth of breast stem cells, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JPYv7qB0x3M/091207181422.htm
A new study finds that compounds derived from the spices turmeric and pepper could help prevent breast cancer by limiting the growth of stem cells, the small number of cells that fuel a tumor's growth.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Not all parents place their babies 'back to sleep,' researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ki3K-zvmJZ0/091207165025.htm
Placing infants on their backs for sleep can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. But a new study shows that while the practice helped reduce the incidence of SIDS, it has reached a plateau since guidelines were released by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
New clues into how invasive parasite spreads
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B7B7mTseZS8/091205133633.htm
Researchers have discovered a possible strategy against Toxoplasma gondii, an invasive parasite that infects more than a quarter of the world's population, including 50 million Americans.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Strategies to protect new brain cells against Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bv-FulEjfbg/091203132148.htm
Scientists have discovered that two main causes of AD amyloid-beta (A²) peptides and apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) impair the growth of new neurons born in adult brains. What is more, they have identified drug treatments that can normalize the development of these cells even in the presence of A² or apoE4.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Scientists at climate talks say major changes to the nitrogen cycle cannot be ignored
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v4qHhRhog1E/091206183705.htm
An international group of scientists say there is an immediate need for a global assessment of the nitrogen cycle and its impact on climate.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Recreational drug use is related to impulsive behavior, Spanish research reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_xqT31YqGq0/091206184626.htm
Psychologists in Spain have just concluded a study regarding the use of addictive substances by young university students and the manifestation of impulsive behavior in the same group of people, on a cognitive and psychomotor level. The findings suggest that regular consumers of cannabis and alcohol are more impulsive than non-users. However, there is no evidence of the differences between both of these consumer groups, which makes these experts believe that "consuming these substances, whatever their nature, is related to impulsivity."
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Self-destructing bacteria improve renewable biofuel production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/seP77z7LYEk/091207173624.htm
An Arizona State University research team has developed a process that removes a key obstacle to producing lower-cost, renewable biofuels. The team has programmed a photosynthetic microbe to self-destruct, making the recovery of high-energy fats -- and their biofuel byproducts -- easier and potentially less costly.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
BMI and waist circumference can predict risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hKv-OeSIEvE/091207164844.htm
Body mass index and waist circumference are well known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but a new study now concludes that these risk factors, when accurately measured by trained staff, can actually predict the risk of fatal and non-fatal disease.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Solving the mysteries of enigmatic binary star system Cygnus X-3
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yTLPi3KGncc/091206184436.htm
Deep in our Galaxy, approximately 30,000 light-years from Earth, a small gravitational monster is sucking matter from a companion star, causing the infalling matter to violently radiate X-rays and occasionally be launched to form radio-wave-emitting jets that emanate close to the speed of light. This enigmatic binary star system, known as Cygnus X-3, has fascinated astronomers over four decades. It is thought to be either a small black hole or a neutron star and an ordinary, albeit massive star orbiting each other. Now, researchers have made the first definitive detection of high-energy gamma rays from this system. The findings may provide a new window on how Cygnus X-3 accelerates charged particles to enormous energies.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Poor outcomes for chronically critically ill patients leaving hospitals on ventilators, researchers report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2WfFwP4g9Gg/091203091908.htm
Patients discharged from hospitals on ventilator support and with cognitive impairments fare poorly four months later, researchers report.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Untold levels of oil sands pollution on Athabasca River confirmed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JV_OoFsd_D8/091207151335.htm
After an exhaustive study of air and water pollution along the Athabasca River and its tributaries from Fort McMurray to Lake Athabasca, researchers say pollution levels have increased as a direct result of nearby oil sands operations.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
First multilingual overview of 'Spice' drugs raises new concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hv5_RcM7aFc/091206184438.htm
Recent research into the availability of 'Spice' drugs online raises new concerns about its mood altering effects.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Lizard changes its diet to avoid predators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-SZJG8z28PU/091202101745.htm
Scientists have shown that the presence of predators affects the behavior of Acanthodactylus beershebensis, a lizard species from the Negev Desert in Israel. According to the study, these reptiles move less and catch less mobile and different prey if they are under pressure from predators.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Treatments for asthma and pre-term labor may increase risk of autism in developing fetus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yukutYua9UQ/091202091024.htm
Commonly prescribed beta 2 adrenergic agonist drugs for the treatment of asthma in pregnant women as well as pre-term labor may increase the incidence of autism-spectrum disorders, psychiatric pathology, cognitive problems and poor school performance in their children, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
A cell's 'cap' of bundled fibers could yield clues to disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hoVtRWbKBOQ/091202101755.htm
Research engineers have discovered that in healthy cells, a bundled "cap" of thread-like fibers holds the cell's nucleus in its proper place.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Outpatient disc treatment gives long-term back pain relief
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rVDrQB7aNig/091202081633.htm
A randomized, controlled study comparing standard conservative therapy to a minimally invasive treatment called percutaneous disc decompression for painful herniated disc revealed that while both treatments help patients in the short run, only disc decompression kept patients pain free up to two years later.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
The end of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tILglPNKTv8/091203163148.htm
A new article addresses how the combined efforts of government commitments and market transition could save forest and reduce carbon emissions in Brazil.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Many parents encourage underage drinking, Australian study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3pXMwaeImfQ/091202091022.htm
Half of Australian adults and 63 percent of Australians on a higher income believe 15- to 17-year-olds should be allowed to consume alcohol under parental supervision at home, according to a new survey.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Ventriloquist birds call to warn friends and enemies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PeUW_xl-i6c/091203171714.htm
Birds' alarm calls serve both to alert other birds to danger and to warn off predators. And some birds can pull a ventriloquist's trick, singing from the side of their mouths, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Controversial kidney transplant technique could provide lifeline for very ill patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uK50i4ec0Q4/091207095935.htm
Surgeons have developed a controversial technique that could offer a vital lifeline to patients with end-stage renal disease, as well as increasing the supply of viable organs. They have successfully performed kidney transplants after removing small cancerous and benign masses from the donated organs. Patient follow-ups are very promising, say the US team.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Breakthrough in 'spintronics' could lead to energy efficient chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sP-tUAjuXoE/091127124519.htm
Scientists have succeeded in transferring magnetic information directly into a semiconductor. For the first time, this is achieved at room temperature. This breakthrough brings the development of a more energy efficient form of electronics, so-called 'spintronics' within reach.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Innovative strategies improve outcomes and prevent complications of stem cell transplants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jBchqmf0_j0/091207100015.htm
The methods and outcomes for stem cell transplants are constantly improving as leading experts continue to investigate new approaches for reducing the serious adverse events associated with the procedure. New research takes a closer look at complications of stem cell transplants, including veno-occlusive disease and graft-versus-host disease.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
New computer model could lead to safer stents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CqDD81Ou15I/091202153758.htm
Researchers have developed a computer model that explains why those drugs (which include rapamycin and its analogs as well as paclitaxel) can accumulate in the arteries and cause blood clots.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Delinquent boys at increased risk of premature death and disability by middle age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UxaVaEwWpsg/091207095933.htm
Men who have a history of delinquency in childhood are more likely to die or become disabled by the time they are 48, and not just from the obvious consequences of antisocial behavior, new research indicates. The UK study is the first to examine how a wide range of early antisocial behaviours, as well as parental factors, affect various health outcomes 40 years later.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Undocumented volcano contributed to extremely cold decade from 1810-1819
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IPKXsbYhQhk/091205105844.htm
Researchers have found compelling evidence of a previously undocumented large volcanic eruption that occurred exactly 200 years ago, in 1809. The discovery helps explain the record cold decade from 1810-1819.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Papillomavirus silences innate immune response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hikxvLAegSM/091203112155.htm
Human papillomavirus type 16, the most common cause of cervical cancer, silences a key signaling molecule of immune response in its host cells. Once the body's own immune defense is missing, the pathogens are able to infect the cells of the cervical mucosa even more successfully. Scientists have found out that the viral E6 oncogene is responsible for this mechanism.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Cosmic rays hunted down: Physicists closing in on origin of mysterious particles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vfgh0ivZfEo/091207123810.htm
Nearly 100 years after the discovery of cosmic rays, a new type of gamma ray telescope is finally allowing physicists to make images of sites of cosmic ray acceleration.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Studies investigate new trends and treatment options for sickle cell disease patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SsAMIhacZeg/091207095939.htm
New research highlights intriguing studies on the acute danger that the H1N1 pandemic presents for children with this blood disorder, evaluations of both new and standard treatments for common complications of sickle cell disease, and an expansion of the current understanding of hemoglobin expression in red blood cells that may lead to new treatments.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Diesel truck engine made with barely measurable emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YMvtWvvi94M/091207095514.htm
Scientists are pushing to see how clean and green a diesel truck engine can be. Researchers have simultaneously cut nitrogen oxide and soot production, reducing pollutants in exhaust emissions to barely measurable levels. Their experimental engine nearly meets stringent requirements set to go into effect in 2014. They've also developed a probe for studying the growth of soot during combustion.
Tue, 8 Dec 09
Military children face more emotional challenges as parental deployments grow longer, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8ioLWX_TBTM/091207095503.htm
A new study finds that children in military families suffer from more emotional and behavioral problems as the length of their parents' deployments grow. Researchers found that military children may suffer from more emotional and behavioral difficulties when compared to other American youths, with older children and girls struggling the most when a parent is deployed overseas.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Brain waves can 'write' on a computer in early tests, researchers show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3gxJGw_xwlI/091206181911.htm
Neuroscientists have demonstrated how brain waves can be used to type alphanumerical characters on a computer screen. By merely focusing on the "q" in a matrix of letters, for example, that "q" appears on the monitor.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Scientists restore some function to cells from cystic fibrosis patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zYhYnexDm88/091206162959.htm
In an encouraging new development, scientists have restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is still much work to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, the discovery opens the door to a new class of therapies for this and a host of other chronic diseases.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Newly explored bacteria reveal some huge RNA surprises
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uZZbFG6DlL0/091202131618.htm
Researchers have found very large RNA structures within previously unstudied bacteria that appear crucial to basic biological functions such as helping viruses infect cells or allowing genes to "jump" to different parts of the chromosome.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Weight-loss proves effective cure for sleep apnea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zf_Fm276Ttk/091203222145.htm
For obese men, a dramatic weight loss can be an effective way to improve moderate to severe sleep apnea, scientists. Those with severe sleep apnea when the study began benefited most from weight loss.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Students discover Thomas Jefferson letter among thousands of items donated to library
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Oshzq0fEQU0/091205110758.htm
Two students recently stumbled upon a letter written by President Thomas Jefferson while sifting through thousands of documents and other items donated to the university's library.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Human guinea pigs wary of high-paying medical trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-EBIXaINxRY/091206112521.htm
New research shows that people equate large payments for participation in medical research with increased levels of risk. And when they perceive studies to be risky, they spend more time learning about the risks and nature of the study. Paper published this month in Social Science and Medicine suggests there is a "mismatch" between current research guidelines for setting compensation levels and the assumptions participants make about the levels of pay and risk.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Aggression-promoting pheromone discovered in flies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e6EkMlm0IlI/091206163003.htm
Scientists say they have identified an aggression-promoting pheromone that controls such behavior in Drosophila, and have pinpointed the neurons in the fly's antenna that detect this pheromone and relay the information to the brain to elicit aggression. Their results provide an important first step toward unraveling the mystery of how aggression -- an innate (unlearned) behavior -- is hardwired into the brain by an animal's genes.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Multiple myeloma patients experience high response rate with new 3-drug combination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AfMd-0gmIdw/091206112519.htm
A new three-drug combination has shown in a phase 1/2 clinical trial that it is a "highly effective regimen" in the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of white blood cells in bone marrow.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Stopping MRSA before it becomes dangerous is possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QxJAaFxlUpQ/091203132201.htm
Most scientists believe that staph infections are caused by many bacterial cells that signal each other to emit toxins. The signaling process is called quorum sensing because many bacteria must be present to start the process. But scientists have now determined that the very first stage of staph infection, when bacteria switch from a harmless to a virulent form, occurs in a single cell and that this individual process can be stopped by the application of a simple protein.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Gene module underlying atherosclerosis development discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8EIzDNikp_o/091204092451.htm
By measuring the total gene activity in organs relevant for coronary artery disease, scientists have identified a module of genes that is important for the recruitment of white blood cells into the atherosclerotic plaque. The findings suggest that targeting the migration of white blood cells in the development of atherosclerosis may help to reduce the risk for adverse clinical effects such as ischemia and myocardial infarction.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Remains Of Minoan-style Painting Discovered During Excavations Of Canaanite Palace
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/txv4-75HYGY/091109121119.htm
The remains of a Minoan-style wall painting, recognizable by a blue background, the first of its kind to be found in Israel, was discovered in the course of the recent excavation season at Tel Kabri. This fresco joins others of Aegean style that have been uncovered during earlier seasons at the Canaanite palace in Kabri.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
More than 1,000 patients in US admitted annually for aviation-related injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-JMgOaJn0A/091201084210.htm
The first ever published study of aviation-related injuries and deaths in the US finds that more than 1,013 patients are admitted to US hospitals with aviation-related injuries annually, and that 753 aviation-deaths occur each year. The study also reports that the largest categories of patients were occupants of civilian, noncommercial powered aircraft (32 percent) and parachutists (29 percent).
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Earth more sensitive to carbon dioxide than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vIsk1GzK1JM/091206162955.htm
In the long term, the Earth's temperature may be 30-50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than has previously been estimated, reports a new study. The results show that components of the Earth's climate system that vary over long timescales -- such as land-ice and vegetation -- have an important effect on this temperature sensitivity, but these factors are often neglected in current climate models.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
New drug shows promise for those with clotting disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ADJJGD6cRs/091206112513.htm
An oral drug called dabigatran etexilate, is as safe and effective as warfarin for combating VTE, according to a new study.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Better way for computers to 'see' combines molecular biology and gaming hardware
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-mh5VXtaFQc/091202172209.htm
Combining screening techniques from molecular biology with high-performance gaming hardware advances the building and understanding of visual systems.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Cardiovascular risk in youth with type 1 diabetes linked primarily to insulin resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1lFjZ0MmGI8/091201084207.htm
Youth with type 1 diabetes have now been found to have abnormal insulin resistance. Having abnormal insulin resistance appears to negatively affect heart, blood vessel and exercise function in this population.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
New study cites lower rate of earthquakes along some subduction zones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ay-YZPZhh6I/091204092447.htm
As the relative speed of the plates around a fault increases, is there a corresponding increase in the number of earthquakes produced along the fault? According to a new study, the answer depends upon the type of tectonic boundary. On certain types of boundary, the efficiency of earthquake production actually depends on the fault slip rate.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Major impacts of climate change expected on mental health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MngyJdAJOU8/091203101424.htm
Leading mental health researchers are warning that some of the most important health consequences of climate change will be on mental health. The researchers say that climate change has the potential to have significant negative effects on those with pre-existing serious mental illness, but that there is also likely to be an increase in the overall burden of mental disorder worldwide.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Single-atom transistor discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wcxz5YbJEe8/091206085833.htm
Researchers have succeeded in building a working transistor, whose active region composes only of a single phosphorus atom in silicon.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
New gene findings will help guide treatment in infant leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p7QSrrf5eYA/091206112515.htm
Pediatric oncologists have identified specific genes, dubbed partner genes, that fuse with another gene to drive an often-fatal form of leukemia in infants. By more accurately defining specific partner genes, researchers expect to better predict which infants may benefit from particular treatments. Oncologists also aim to use this latest knowledge to develop new and more effective therapies for this difficult-to-treat type of blood cancer, called acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Marine Reserves Can Be An Effective Tool For Managing Fisheries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-sczhgMPxMg/091109142129.htm
Studies conducted in California and elsewhere provide support for the use of marine reserves as a tool for managing fisheries and protecting marine habitats.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Light shed on mechanism of action of 'date rape drug'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zkWa6NsIxOA/091204172757.htm
Scientists have discovered two new metabolic pathways by which products of lipid peroxidation and some drugs of abuse, known as 4-hydroxyacids, are metabolized. The pathways were identified by a combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis. The findings shed new light on the mechanism of action of the drug of abuse gamma-hydroxybutyrate, also known as "the date rape drug."
Mon, 7 Dec 09
Microorganism may provide key to combating giant salvinia throughout Louisiana
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u5YfF54k2Os/091119193813.htm
A team of researchers in Louisiana has found that a naturally occurring microorganism acts as a natural herbicide against giant salvinia.
Mon, 7 Dec 09
New mental treatment improves anxiety and depression in secondary education teachers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q6rv192ZhAQ/091203091906.htm
Research in Spain supports the effectiveness of mindfulness, an emotional self-regulating tool that consists in focusing on what we are doing, thinking about or feeling at every moment. This psychological technique, more and more popular in the U.S., contributed to fight against psychological diseases such as anxiety, depression, concern or complaints about health, and improves emotional regulation.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Why some monkeys don't get AIDS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iz35TcW60mY/091205110306.htm
Two new studies provide a significant advance in understanding how some species of monkeys such as sooty mangabeys and African green monkeys avoid AIDS when infected with SIV, the simian equivalent of HIV.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Understanding DNA repair and cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SuKoOWfXJxY/091203171716.htm
A protein that plays a key role in copying DNA also plays a vital role in repairing breaks in it, scientists have found. The work is helping researchers understand how cancer cells can resist radiation and chemotherapy, as well as how cells become cancerous in the first place.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Dessert on your mind? Your muscles may be getting the message
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z0xaVRTDLsY/091201131740.htm
Even the anticipation of sweets may cause our muscles to start taking up more blood sugar, say researchers. That message is delivered via neurons in the brain's hypothalamus containing the chemical known as orexin and the sympathetic nervous system, the studies in mice and rats suggest.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Green tea chemical combined with another may hold promise for treatment of brain disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1En_vYOCCbs/091203091856.htm
Scientists have found that combining two chemicals, one of which is the green tea component EGCG, can prevent and destroy a variety of protein structures known as amyloids. Amyloids are the primary culprits in fatal brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Biodiversity loss can increase infectious diseases in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g_Gyi93k9XI/091203132157.htm
Biodiversity loss can increase infectious diseases in humans, scientists show in a first-of-its-kind global study.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Wrap rage: A holiday injury waiting to happen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V42qprAX-Qg/091205175658.htm
Here's a holiday news nugget for those who will experience "wrap rage" this season ... According to a poll of Pennsylvania adults, about 17 percent of Pennsylvanians experienced an injury or knows someone who was injured while opening gifts during past seasons.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Balancing protein intake, not cutting calories, may be key to long life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W4k89-QxQH8/091202131622.htm
Getting the correct balance of proteins in our diet may be more important for healthy aging than reducing calories, new research suggests.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Potential new 'twist' in breast cancer detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JuylSQ7H5Ko/091204172751.htm
Working with mice, scientists have shown that a protein made by a gene called "Twist" may be the proverbial red flag that can accurately distinguish stem cells that drive aggressive, metastatic breast cancer from other breast cancer cells.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Diabetic flies: Fruit fly model helps unravel genetics of human diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kIP7iw0j2Qc/091102172257.htm
Researchers are using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system to unravel what genes and gene pathways are involved in the metabolic changes that lead to insulin resistance and full-blown diabetes in humans.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Stem cells battle for space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hvaTHFpwIlM/091204172753.htm
The body is a battle zone. Cells constantly compete with one another for space and dominance. Though the manner in which some cells win this competition is well known to be the survival of the fittest, how stem cells duke it out for space and survival is not as clear. A new study on fruit flies describes how stem cells win this battle by literally sticking around.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Nervy research: Researchers take initial look at ion channels in a model system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5SI_aFNh8Y/091202091026.htm
New research has allowed scientists to observe nerve ion channels within the cell surface membrane for the first time, potentially offering insights for future drug development.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Americans born in the South may have a higher risk of dying from stroke as adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/agMt9tMJ4EE/091130161804.htm
The "stroke belt" has a tight hold. People born in the Southern stroke belt have a higher risk of dying from stroke as adults, even if they later move away, compared to people who were born in other parts of the country, according to new research.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
King crab family bigger than ever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z9FqCchBTuM/091202101747.htm
Scientists have formally described four new species of king crab, all from the deep sea.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Pancreatic tumors are marked for immunotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KVdY-ITnUWc/091130192928.htm
Pancreatic tumors can be identified by a readily detectable marker that shows promise as a basis for immune therapy against the disease, according to new research.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Key seed size gene identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ir36wR_mmgI/091111120640.htm
Scientists have identified a plant gene that determines overall seed size, and are now investigating how it could be used to for the improvement of crops.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
New colorectal cancer screening combination increases detection by 10 percent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JfyvUXSWUS8/091202153754.htm
The combination of sigmoidoscopy and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects advanced proximal (right-sided) tumors better than either test alone, according to a new study. African Americans, the elderly and women have a higher incidence of proximal colon tumors.
Sun, 6 Dec 09
For African violets, 'hands off' means healthier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QboWSfFOlPM/091103171915.htm
African violets are enjoyed for their delicate, colorful flowers and furry, soft leaves but many people want to touch the leaves and flowers. Oklahoma researchers wanted to know how does all this attention affect the plants. Plants received five brushing treatments during the study. Results "suggests that repeated brushing reduces plant size and quality of African violets, particularly when done with a bare hand to which lotion has been applied."
Sun, 6 Dec 09
Kids eat less junk food when middle schools stop providing it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YuWtnw1tJ-A/091205233015.htm
It seems like a no-brainer, and it is: Take the junk food out of school vending machines and cafeterias, and kids will eat less junk food, according to a new study that took place in Connecticut.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Superbright supernova is first of its kind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zaq-cpZXHZI/091202153939.htm
A superbright supernova found in a dwarf galaxy by a robotic search is the first confirmed example of a pair-instability supernova, the result of the partial core collapse and thermonuclear detonation of an enormously massive star, like the earliest stars in the universe.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
FDA-approved drug may slow beta cell destruction in type 1 diabetes patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_W4jsTXR5VA/091204145659.htm
Researchers suggest that a drug already used to treat autoimmune disorders might also help slow the destruction of insulin-producing cells in patients recently diagnosed with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Marine life collected to inventory DNA sequence of all Pacific island's living species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WSb0K3xJFxg/091202153800.htm
Researchers are collecting marine invertebrates on the French Polynesian island of Moorea as part of a massive effort to inventory the DNA sequence of every living species there.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Soy peptide lunasin has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory properties
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3p5ZfR-six0/091202153946.htm
Two new studies report that lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such chronic health conditions as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Novel carbon-trading scheme could stop large-scale extinctions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/biHdd1ALkho/091203141930.htm
Spatial distribution of biodiversity should be taken into account when calculating carbon credits in order to achieve conservation goals as well as greenhouse gas mitigation, argue researchers.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Hyperactivity associated with shorter nights for young boys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3fUdb3YNayw/091130103731.htm
Hyperactive boys don't get enough sleep, which can worsen their condition according to new research. The study is the first to examine a large sample of children and to study the link between lack of sleep and hyperactivity.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
'Killer petunias' should join the ranks of carnivorous plants, scientists propose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9jxxrmZOt2M/091204103747.htm
Scientists believe that carnivorous behavior in plants is far more widespread than previously thought, with many commonly grown plants -- such as petunias -- at least part way to being "meat eaters."
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Chicken pox vaccine reduces shingles risk in kids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nV5w9gUiBwg/091204092443.htm
A new study found the chicken pox vaccine also reduces the risk of shingles among children. The study used electronic health records to identify and follow 172,000 vaccinated children for two-plus years and found that herpes zoster, known as shingles in adults, is very rare among children who have been vaccinated for chicken pox. This is the largest study of its kind.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
'Smell of old books' offers clues to help preserve them
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_gk_dB2mzW4/091202122041.htm
Scientists may not be able to tell a good book by its cover, but they now can tell the condition of an old book by its smell. In a new report, they describe development of a new test that can measure the degradation of old books and precious historical documents based on their smell.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Nicotine levels higher in children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OzR89A_Dt64/091203090051.htm
New research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, supports the World Health Initiative's efforts for a home smoking ban, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Earthquake prediction model developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OL2X3efTzDE/091203171712.htm
Scientists lay a framework for a new approach to earthquake prediction. Testing of new forecasting model is in progress but results are not expected for approximately another two years.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Most runaway teens return home with help of family ties, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0oxWexwTLUM/091204145705.htm
Despite the stereotypes about runaway teens, more than two-thirds of newly homeless youth leave the streets, resolve their family differences, and go home. The key appears to be interaction with the family, that no matter how brief, can improve the chances that new runaways will go home and stay home.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Popular herbicide affects sexual development in frogs, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9E8B1bwBrtg/091203225038.htm
The controversy surrounding the unintended effects of herbicide and pesticide use has intensified as researchers have identified that atrazine, a heavily-used herbicide, alters the sexual development in frogs.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Risk of blood clot after surgery higher and lasts longer than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nppIJh2bovk/091203222141.htm
The risk of having a potentially fatal blood clot after surgery is higher and lasts for longer than had previously been thought, concludes new research.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Combining nanotubes and antibodies for breast cancer 'search and destroy' missions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-GzgkbVJ2W0/091202091030.htm
Researchers have demonstrated how single-walled nanotubes can be used to detect and destroy an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke over a lifetime increased breast cancer risk later in life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z8XOPcOCSFI/091203090221.htm
Exposure to secondhand smoke for a prolonged period of time and in high quantity may increase the risk of breast cancer, even in women who never smoked cigarettes themselves.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Breaking carbon-hydrogen bonds: Cheap, easy 'kitchen chemistry' developed to perform formerly complex synthesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rI1-HPqVLJI/091204092521.htm
Scientists have made major strides in solving a problem that has been plaguing chemists for many years: how best to break carbon-hydrogen bonds and then to create new bonds to join molecules together. This problem is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry, which currently relies on a method to accomplish this feat that is relatively inefficient and sometimes difficult to perform.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Dream-enacting behavior is common in healthy young adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Mz-y9EpwgQ/091201084049.htm
Dream-enacting behaviors are common in healthy young adults, and the prevalence of specific behaviors differs between men and women.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Learning by imagining: How mental imagery training aids perceptual learning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Rq3IT4MRRQ/091203132153.htm
Practice makes perfect. But imaginary practice? Scientists show that perceptual learning -- learning by repeated exposure to a stimulus -- can occur by mental imagery as much as by the real thing. The results suggest that thinking about something over and over again could actually be as good as doing it.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Muscle cell infusion shown to strengthen sphincters in animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DDIlXUAo8S0/091204145709.htm
A new study shows that muscle cells grown in the lab can restore an intestine's ability to squeeze shut properly. The work, performed in dogs and rats, might ultimately help treat patients with conditions such as gastric reflux and fecal incontinence.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Orphaned mountain gorilla babies return home to Congo National Park
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MtUjwxa7WsQ/091203163146.htm
More than two years after being evacuated following the 2007 killings of their mothers, mountain gorilla babies Ndakasi and Ndeze have returned home to the Democratic Republic of Congo, moving into a new custom-built forest sanctuary.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Secondhand smoke exposure in childhood increases lung cancer risk later in life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wb5yxBEeE24/091203090059.htm
Children exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke have an increased risk of developing lung cancer in adulthood, even if they never smoked.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Researchers put a new spin on atomic musical chairs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lzS2cuhgVe0/091202091028.htm
Researchers have developed a new way to introduce magnetic impurities in a semiconductor crystal, a technique that will enable researchers to selectively implant atoms in a crystal one at a time to learn about its electrical and magnetic properties on the atomic scale.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Apathy common in dementia patients with brain changes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-_MU6AAs6BE/091202101749.htm
Dementia patients with a certain type of changes in their brain's white matter are more likely to be apathetic than those who do not have these changes, reveals a patient study.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Greenhouse gas carbon dioxide ramps up aspen growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QjzCBn8gzPo/091204092445.htm
The rising level of atmospheric carbon dioxide may be fueling more than climate change. It could also be making some trees grow like crazy. That is the finding of a new study of natural stands of quaking aspen, one of North America's most important and widespread deciduous trees.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Study confirms that cannabis is beneficial for multiple sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h7yUGj0N_eQ/091203222136.htm
Cannabis can reduce spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. A systematic review found that five out six randomized controlled trials reported a reduction in spasticity and an improvement in mobility.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
New therapy targets for amyloid disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nY054B4GToc/091204092441.htm
A major discovery is challenging accepted thinking about amyloids -- the fibrous protein deposits associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's -- and may open up a potential new area for therapeutics.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Popular diabetes drugs linked to increased risk of heart failure and death, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uRtbDxvYjfQ/091203222143.htm
Sulphonylureas, a type of drug widely used to treat type 2 diabetes, carries a greater risk of heart failure and death compared with metformin, another popular anti-diabetes drug.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Safe journey for works of art
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l_GZ9kDohzM/091204092455.htm
Valuable paintings travel long distances when they are shipped from one place to another. To minimize damage, they are packed in special picture cases. In future, these will be equipped with sensors to detect the buildup of pollutant gases, emanating from adhesives for example.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Widowed facing higher mortality risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k1tPPZKjgzM/091202153810.htm
Married people in the United States are living longer these days, but the widowed are experiencing a higher mortality rate, according to new research.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Scientists rescue visual function in rats using induced pluripotent stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/30McHCl7vrU/091203163142.htm
Scientists have rescued visual function in laboratory rats with eye disease by using cells similar to stem cells. The research shows the potential for stem cell-based therapies to treat age-related macular degeneration in humans.
Sat, 5 Dec 09
Swine flu has major implications for solid organ transplants: Transplant infectious disease experts provide pandemic guidance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dd7OtWZ793k/091203091902.htm
The global swine flu pandemic has major implications for solid organ transplants, including donor selection and transplant management and care. There are also significant concerns that swine flu could combine with seasonal or bird flu to create a strain with unpredictable virulence. American and Canadian experts have teamed up to provide expe