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Sun, 31 Jan 10
Microbes produce fuels directly from biomass
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f2flyIP-a-4/100127144545.htm
Researchers have developed a microbe that can produce an advanced biofuel fuel directly from biomass. Deploying the tools of synthetic biology, the researchers engineered a strain of E. coli bacteria to produce biodiesel and other important chemicals derived from fatty acids.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Blocking key protein in mice helps them resist viral infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n12AM-nM8mY/100127144543.htm
Researchers have discovered a potential new way to stimulate the immune system to prevent or clear a viral infection. By blocking the action of a key protein in the mouse immune system, they were able to boost immune "memory" in those mice -- work that may one day help doctors increase the effectiveness of human vaccines designed to prevent viral infections.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
New insights into allergy-related disorders in children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SsQ5sJ3qlNI/100125150457.htm
Allergies and asthma are a continuing health problem in most developed countries, but just how do these ailments develop over the course of a childhood? In a population-based study designed to help answer this question, researchers in Norway found that 40 per cent -- or two of five -- of nearly 5,000 two-year-olds had at least one reported allergy-related disorder.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Insulin research points way to better diabetes treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ejtcfFboEpw/100125173246.htm
New research significantly improves our understanding of how insulin interacts with cells in the human body with implications for the treatments of diabetes.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Plasma experiments aboard International Space Station yielding better picture of liquids and solids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fhSn6BKjy3s/100127110419.htm
A series of experiments studying complex plasmas is taking place on board the international space station ISS. Physicists from Germany will use these experiments to study fundamental structure forming processes to better understand what happens in liquids and solids.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
His or hers jealousy? New explanation for sex differences in jealousy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7lDWtTcdNQ4/100126123210.htm
Research has documented that most men become much more jealous about sexual infidelity than they do about emotional infidelity. Women are the opposite, and this is true all over the world.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Gecko's lessons transfer well: Dry printing of nanotube patterns to any surface could revolutionize microelectronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/knW3RyFe2QM/100125123229.htm
Scientists have come up with a way to transfer forests of strongly aligned, single-walled carbon nanotubes from one surface to another -- any surface -- in a matter of minutes. The template used to grow the nanotubes, with its catalyst particles still intact, can be used repeatedly to grow more nanotubes, almost like inking a rubber stamp.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Scientists find survival factor for keeping nerve cells healthy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FJ9aQwsSuBU/100125202547.htm
Scientists have discovered a novel survival factor whose rapid transport along nerve cells is crucial for keeping them alive. The same factor seems likely to be needed to keep our nerves healthy as we age.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Could generating energy from waste be the answer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F2F0UtQTopc/100125150645.htm
Scientists are helping to find answers to one of the most difficult problems facing the world today: generating energy without accelerating climate change or harming food production. Researchers are investigating biofuels generated from wastes. These are seen by many as the 'green alternative' to using fossil fuels.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
New therapeutic approach identified for kidney disease associated with lupus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nM6TCjbFJQY/100125173242.htm
Researchers have identified a new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for a type of advanced kidney disease that is a common cause of complications in patients with lupus.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Ecologists outline necessary actions for mitigating and adapting to a changing climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kLn1MOWoAWA/100126123213.htm
Global warming may impair the ability of ecosystems to perform vital services -- such as providing food, clean water and carbon sequestration -- says the nation's largest organization of ecological scientists. In a statement released Jan. 26, the Ecological Society of America outlines strategies that focus on restoring and maintaining natural ecosystem functions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
New studies highlight needs of boys in K-12, higher education
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FCO0ogQ-IBU/100126091733.htm
Boys face high rates of a variety of mental health issues, in addition to lagging behind girls in academic performance and college attendance, according to two new studies. The studies note that boys have higher rates of suicide, conduct disorders, emotional disturbance, premature death and juvenile delinquency than their female peers, as well as lower grades, test scores and college attendance rates.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
New class of brain-protecting drugs emerging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ya2McwEXbPQ/100125173459.htm
The compound 7,8-dihydroxyflavone mimics BDNF, one of the brain's own growth factors, and can protect brain cells against damage in animal models of seizure, stroke and Parkinson's disease. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone is a member of a family of antioxidant compounds naturally found in foods ranging from cherries to soybeans.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
Rapamycin may be potential treatment for kidney disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q4VxGU88Bx0/100125144607.htm
New research points to the drug rapamycin as a potential treatment for kidney disease. The study builds on past research and shows that studies performed on mice are more likely to translate to humans than previously thought.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
New tools and systems may help patients, primary care clinicians manage obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C0OFmnLTwGs/100125172948.htm
Using combined and intensive treatments and restructuring care to treat obesity like other chronic diseases may help primary care clinicians and patients better address the condition, according to several new studies.

Sun, 31 Jan 10
How categories and environment create satisfied and well-informed consumers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XqbskCx62CU/100121154917.htm
Expert consumers like to be surprised by unusual product presentation, while novices crave familiarity, so claims a new study.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Spongiform brain diseases are caused by aberrant protein, new research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AJYxTLbnCbw/100128142137.htm
Scientists have determined how a normal protein can be converted into a prion, an infectious agent that causes fatal brain diseases in humans and mammals. The finding, in mice, is expected to advance the understanding of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or TSEs, a family of neurodegenerative diseases that include Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, kuru and fatal familial insomnia in humans, scrapie in sheep, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, also known as "mad cow disease."

Sat, 30 Jan 10
NASA's Mars Rover Spirit Starts a New Chapter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T3LzRqRviLk/100129221050.htm
After six years of unprecedented exploration of the Red Planet, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit no longer will be a fully mobile robot. NASA has designated the once-roving scientific explorer a stationary science platform after efforts during the past several months to free it from a sand trap have been unsuccessful.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Physical activity associated with healthier aging: Links between exercise and cognitive function, bone density and overall health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F77L_NLb0HQ/100125172946.htm
Physical activity appears to be associated with a reduced risk or slower progression of several age-related conditions as well as improvements in overall health in older age, according to several new studies.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Upper atmosphere influences weather near Earth's surface
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NiQZnjHQzVQ/100121164315.htm
To what extent does what's happening in the stratosphere, tens of kilometers above Earth, influence the weather in the troposphere, the layer of atmosphere that touches Earth? Researchers performed a series of forecast experiments using a general circulation model to study the role of the stratosphere in influencing tropospheric weather following sudden stratospheric warming events.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Doctors cut back hours when risk of malpractice suit rises, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uv-B3FvE4t4/100128165121.htm
A new study shows doctors work 1.7 hours less per week when medical liability risk increases by 10 percent. Such a decline in hours is the equivalent of one of every 35 physicians retiring without a replacement. Doctors age 55 and older and those with their own practice are more influenced by liability risk.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Black hole hunters set new distance record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LJL4KkJ9HcQ/100127095920.htm
Astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope have detected, in another galaxy, a stellar-mass black hole much farther away than any other previously known. With a mass above fifteen times that of the Sun, this is also the second most massive stellar-mass black hole ever found. It is entwined with a star that will soon become a black hole itself.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Making Old Stem Cells Act Young Again
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/havs1mCJcS4/100129173144.htm
In virtually every part of the body, stem cells stand ready to replenish mature cells lost to wounds, disease, and everyday wear and tear. But like other cells, stem cells eventually lose their normal functions as they age, leaving the body less able to repair itself.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Bill and Melinda Gates Pledge $10 Billion in Call for Decade of Vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qpkfptn8Eoo/100129222001.htm
Bill and Melinda Gates announced that their foundation will commit $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop and deliver vaccines for the world's poorest countries. The Gateses said that increased investment in vaccines by governments and the private sector could help developing countries dramatically reduce child mortality by the end of the decade, and they called for others to help fill critical financing gaps in both research funding and childhood immunization programs.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Doctors develop life-saving, low-cost ventilators for emergency, rural and military use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/otA0m4pc0y8/100125094643.htm
Anesthetists have designed three prototype low-cost ventilators that could provide vital support during major health care emergencies involving large numbers of patients, such as pandemics, and where resources are limited, such as in developing countries, remote locations or by the military. The team says it is possible to make simple ventilators that could be mass-produced for crises where there is an overwhelming demand for mechanical ventilation and a limited oxygen supply.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
First study to show that seismic imaging detects ocean's internal tides
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V42AeRmMUaQ/100121163915.htm
Internal tides, waves below the ocean's surface that propagate at tidal frequencies, play an important role in ocean mixing but can be difficult to detect and study. Researchers find they can detect these waves with seismic imaging.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Can blocking a frown keep bad feelings at bay?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t_nLjYtQDMA/100129151808.htm
Your facial expression may tell the world what you are thinking or feeling. But it also affects your ability to understand written language related to emotions, according to new research.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Smokers at risk from their own 'second-hand' smoke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZyoYzoIW3wY/100129082914.htm
It is well known that smokers damage their health by directly inhaling cigarette smoke. Now, research has shown that they are at additional risk from breathing environmental tobacco smoke, contrary to the prevailing assumption that such risks would be negligible in comparison to those incurred by actually smoking.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Promising new neuroimaging techniques for early detection of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pTccJIfkRkI/100129111801.htm
Researchers have discovered that two drugs, the benzimidazole derivatives lanzoprazole and astemizole, may be suitable for use as PET (positron emission tomography) radiotracers and enable imaging for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
NASA Airborne Radar Studies Haiti Earthquake Faults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fAPyIpOv-LY/100129221201.htm
After six years of unprecedented exploration of the Red Planet, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit no longer will be a fully mobile robot. NASA has designated the once-roving scientific explorer a stationary science platform after efforts during the past several months to free it from a sand trap have been unsuccessful.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Genital herpes virus reactivates widely throughout genital tract
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YZUokMQ9E7A/100122102435.htm
Genital herpes caused by a reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is generally treated as a lesion in one specific area of the genital region. A new study, however, finds that the virus can frequently reactivate throughout the genital tract, an important new concept that could help guide both HSV-2 treatment and prevention.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Phage Therapy May Reduce Salmonella Infection in Pigs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1kP1Wa90BtM/100121154341.htm
An anti-salmonella phage cocktail administered to healthy pigs may limit transmission of the bacteria from infected pigs during transport to processing facilities and ultimately minimize the cases of human salmonella food-borne illness.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Does slum tourism make us better people?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cUFWhwvlcNQ/100128142349.htm
Slum tourism is a growth industry with more and more wealthy travelers opting to visit the poorest parts of the world. What is it that is prompting slum tourism? Is it a new trend? What impact does slum tourism have on the people who opt for this kind of ‘holiday’? Do they become better people as a result and does the experience prompt a call to action for social change?

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Dinosaur discovery helps solve piece of evolutionary puzzle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P0fanM8Dyyc/100128142135.htm
An expedition to the Gobi Desert has enabled researchers to solve the puzzle of how one group of dinosaurs came to look like birds independent of birds. Until now, there was no direct evidence that dinosaurs of the Alvarezsauridae family lived during the Late Jurassic, approximately 160 million years ago. The newly discovered species of dinosaur was named Haplocheirus sollers (meaning simple, skillful hand).

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Grandpa's broken hip may mean weaker bones for his grandsons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7iaCy63Rn6k/100129111759.htm
If your grandfather has had a hip fracture, you too could be at risk. Researchers in Sweden, have been able to show, for the first time, a link between hip fractures in elderly men and impaired bone health in their grandsons.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Antibiotic found to protect hearing in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dT-q7XNg83Y/100128091840.htm
A type of antibiotic that can cause hearing loss in people has been found to paradoxically protect the ears when given in extended low doses in very young mice. The surprise finding came from researchers who looked to see if loud noise and the antibiotic kanamycin together would produce a bigger hearing loss than either factor by itself.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Scientists show how molecular switch helps pancreatic cancer beat drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dHcaJafnuyo/100128171818.htm
Researchers have found one reason that pancreatic cancer tumors are so difficult to treat with drugs. They have shown how a molecular switch steps up pancreatic cancer cell survival as well as resistance to a standard chemotherapy drug, and have identified alternate routes cancer cells take to avoid the effects of the therapy.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Signing contracts on the telephone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/340X6F8gay4/100127095918.htm
Researchers have developed a digital signature for Internet telephony that allows the legally binding archiving of calls.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Combined approach may be better way to treat autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QEdidNW0NtY/100128101907.htm
Children with autism would likely receive better treatment if supporters of the two major teaching methods stopped bickering over theory and focused on a combined approach, a psychologist argues in a new article.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Experiments meet requirements for fusion ignition; new physics effect achieves symmetrical target compression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bUfuIouq5JE/100129122442.htm
The first experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) have demonstrated a unique physics effect that bodes well for NIF's success in generating a self-sustaining nuclear fusion reaction. In inertial confinement fusion experiments on NIF, the energy of 192 powerful laser beams is fired into a pencil-eraser-sized cylinder called a hohlraum, which contains a tiny spherical target filled with deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen. Rocket-like compression of the fuel capsule forces the hydrogen nuclei to combine, or fuse, releasing many times more energy than the laser energy that was required to spark the reaction.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Alzheimer's disease imaged long before symptoms appear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/srZVjmtNCQ4/100128142226.htm
Researchers were able to predict a brain's progression to Alzheimer's by measuring subtle changes in brain structure over time, changes that occur long before the symptoms of AD can be seen. With an earlier diagnosis, earlier intervention would be possible.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Cancer researchers perform complete genomic sequencing of brain cancer cell line
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SrPrJ1EiUc4/100129082910.htm
Researchers have performed the first complete genomic sequencing of a brain cancer cell line, a discovery that may lead to personalized treatments based on the unique biological signature of an individual's cancer and a finding that may unveil new molecular targets for which more effective and less toxic drugs can be developed.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Breakthrough could lead to new treatment for malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jbt0i23mjoE/100128165850.htm
Malaria causes more than two million deaths each year, but an expert multinational team battling the global spread of drug-resistant parasites has made a breakthrough in the search for better treatment. Better understanding of the make-up of these parasites and the way they reproduce has enabled scientists to identify a plan of attack for the development of urgently needed new treatments.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Self-healing polymer 'starfish' prolong lifetime of automotive oils
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bkPrHz4QvZM/100129092012.htm
Researchers have created self-healing polymers that could extend the lifetime of automotive oils. These polymers are suitable to add to lubricants and could maintain the physical properties of engine oils for longer, they claim helping engine efficiency. Biological materials, such as skin, self heal following damage giving inspiration for these new materials.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Losing sleep, losing brain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b0R4PJ9HUk4/100127095914.htm
Chronic and severely stressful situations, like those connected to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, have been associated with smaller volumes in "stress sensitive" brain regions, such as the cingulate region of the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory formation.

Sat, 30 Jan 10
Astronomers discover cool stars in nearby space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DmPE7rBkZec/100129092631.htm
Astronomers have discovered what may be the coolest sub-stellar body ever found outside our own solar system.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Organic transistor paves way for new generations of neuro-inspired computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/llGM32MSAm8/100125122101.htm
For the first time, researchers have developed a transistor that can mimic the main functionalities of a synapse. This organic transistor, based on pentacene and gold nanoparticles and known as a NOMFET (Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field-Effect Transistor), has opened the way to new generations of neuro-inspired computers, capable of responding in a manner similar to the nervous system.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Stem cell breakthrough: Bone marrow cells are the answer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FB07az-FHOw/100128091752.htm
Using cells from mice, scientists discovered a new strategy for making embryonic stem cell transplants less likely to be rejected by a recipient's immune system. This strategy involves fusing bone marrow cells to embryonic stem cells. Once fused, hybrid cells have DNA from both donor and recipient, raising hopes that immune rejection of embryonic stem cell therapies can be avoided without drugs.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Breakthrough heart scanner will allow earlier diagnosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HfWJjN7rUiM/100128101859.htm
An innovative cardiac scanner will dramatically improve the process of diagnosing heart conditions.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Change in mammography guidelines questioned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F9jg855-41M/100128171820.htm
The methodology and evidence behind a widely publicized change in national mammography guidelines is questionable, according to a new review.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Better food makes high-latitude animals bigger
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HgpAKCJ9Krw/100128105708.htm
New research suggests that animals living at high latitudes grow better than their counterparts closer to the equator because higher-latitude vegetation is more nutritious. The study presents a novel explanation for Bergmann's Rule, the observation that animals tend to be bigger at higher latitudes.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Sweet future: Fluctuating blood glucose levels may affect decision making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0efenhSfC2c/100125173444.htm
People's preferences for current vs. later rewards may be influenced by blood glucose levels: Volunteers who drank a regular soda (and therefore had higher blood glucose levels) were more likely to select receiving more money at a later date while the volunteers who drank a diet soda (containing artificial sweetener) were likelier to opt for receiving smaller sums of money immediately.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Developmental delay may explain behavior of easygoing bonobo apes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1yyFv9Z8xvc/100128130217.htm
New research suggests that evolutionary changes in cognitive development underlie the extensive social and behavioral differences that exist between two closely related species of great apes. The study enhances our understanding of our two closest living relatives, chimpanzees and the lesser-known bonobos, and may provide key insight into human evolution.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
'Overweight' adults age 70 or older are less likely to die over a 10-year period
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/48xLtmAOCp0/100128091740.htm
Adults aged over 70 years who are classified as overweight are less likely to die over a 10-year period than adults who are in the "normal" weight range, according to a new study.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
What you eat after exercise matters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jtxWdZXUhtQ/100128122142.htm
Many of the health benefits of aerobic exercise are due to the most recent exercise session (rather than weeks, months and even years of exercise training), and the nature of these benefits can be greatly affected by the food we eat afterwards.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Technique for preserving pre-transplant livers improves outcomes and organ pool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2QbNKXyqO18/100125173250.htm
Preserving organs on ice prior to transplantation, an approach known as cold storage or CS, has been the standard practice in liver transplant for 20 years. Now there is new evidence that a technique called hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) may offer an improvement, according to the first-ever study comparing the impact of the two techniques on transplant outcomes.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
How many argon atoms can fit on the surface of a carbon nanotube?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOwRTsFlahU/100128142128.htm
Scientists have devised a way to explore how phase transitions -- changes of matter from one state to another without altering chemical makeup -- function in less than three dimensions and at the level of just a few atoms.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
A mind at rest strengthens memories, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ttYU7O0sGtE/100127121522.htm
Our memories are strengthened during periods of rest while we are awake, researchers have found. The findings expand our understanding of how memories are boosted -- previous studies had shown this process occurs during sleep, but not during times of awake rest.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Lead may be the culprit in ADHD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X85RreFeNPU/100128130227.htm
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is among the costliest of behavioral disorders. New research suggests that the culprit may be an old villain -- lead -- and what's more it explains the causal pathway from exposure to disability.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Disarming specialized stem cells might combat deadly ovarian cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0AaCQKvxdbA/100127152502.htm
Eliminating cancer stem cells within a tumor could hold the key to successful treatments for ovarian cancer, which has been notoriously difficult to detect and treat, according to new findings.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
With climate change, some birds are taking off for migration sooner; not reaching destinations earlier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sNOFNgTjAEk/100128130221.htm
Migrating birds can and do keep their travel dates flexible, a new study reveals. But in the case of pied flycatchers, at least, an earlier takeoff hasn't necessarily translated into an earlier arrival at their destination. It appears the problem is travel delays the birds are experiencing as a result of harsh weather conditions on the final leg of their journey through Europe.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Nutritional drink for Alzheimer's patients evaluated in clinical trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N6XIcyb13Ms/100125173446.htm
A nationwide clinical trial of a nutritional drink is under way to determine whether it can improve cognitive performance in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Solutions to climate change: Using trees and grasses to capture carbon and produce energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1SdES3AJwQ0/100127110421.htm
A unique research project in the UK is investigating how coppiced trees and grass crops can be used both to generate renewable energy and to trap carbon in the soil over the long term.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings may reduce depression symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3jsiTsUZQwc/100128142224.htm
One of many reasons that attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings helps people with alcohol use disorders stay sober appears to be alleviation of depression. Researchers found that study participants who attended AA meetings more frequently had fewer symptoms of depression -- along with less drinking -- than did those with less AA participation.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Stopping schizophrenia before it starts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1Udz_F-X6fs/100128142145.htm
Scientists have found that schizophrenia can be "prevented" with the early-life provision of anti-schizophrenic drugs in laboratory animals.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Blood test can predict rheumatoid arthritis before symptoms arise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZyGlRoU0wMY/100128091736.htm
Researchers have identified several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines that increase significantly prior to rheumatoid arthritis disease onset. These findings confirm those of earlier studies which suggest that the risk of developing RA can be predicted and disease progression may be prevented.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Potential new target for drugs to treat iron deficiency and overload discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xmSnKXXO-34/100128101903.htm
The discovery of a major player in the body's regulation of iron levels should provide a new target for drugs that prevent common iron deficiency as well as rare, potentially deadly iron overload, researchers said.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Major step towards low-power all-optical switching for optical communications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bH2cDF_N9C8/100125150643.htm
Researchers have developed an ultra-small and fast electrically pumped all-optical memory on a silicon chip with record low power consumption. This result paves the way for optical packet switching with drastically reduced overall power consumption in high-speed, high-data rate optical telecommunication systems.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Most parents don't realize their 4- or 5-year-olds are overweight or obese
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vKrMiHV-w6w/100128091748.htm
Half of the mothers who took part in a study thought that their obese four or five year-old was normal weight, as did 39 percent of the fathers. When it came to overweight children, 75 percent of mothers and 77 percent of fathers thought that their child was normal weight. Researchers also found that the parents of overweight and obese children were significantly heavier than the parents of normal weight children.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Atoms and Molecules: Using magnetic toys as inspiration, researchers tease out structures of self-assembled clusters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-bs6r80fmA/100128142133.htm
Scientists have discovered new clues to how and why groups of atoms and molecules may favor less symmetrical and more complex, flexible geometric patterns. The answer relates to a familiar concept in physics -- entropy. The researchers literally first caught sight of the link by using magnetic "stick and ball" construction toys.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
New compound could be alternative strategy for preventing HIV infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iYwatnzErKk/100125173448.htm
With the help of effective drug therapies, HIV patients are living longer, healthier lives. Now, researchers want to improve these drug therapies and develop alternative preventative strategies, such as vaginal gels and creams that contain the same or related compounds used in treatments for people infected with HIV. A new compound being developed is more potent and longer-lasting than current HIV therapies.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Can men be trusted to take male contraceptive pill?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MeNgfguXNtE/100128110227.htm
New research in the UK casts doubt on whether men can be trusted to take the male contraceptive pill, which is currently undergoing trials. The findings show that while men said they would welcome it, women thought their partners could not be trusted to take the contraceptive pill regularly, leading to unplanned pregnancy.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Mortality rates for pediatric rheumatology patients significantly lower than previously reported
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VMmLQ8IIoB0/100128091738.htm
A recent study found that the overall mortality rate in the US for all pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases was not worse than the age and sex-adjusted population. Furthermore, mortality rates were significantly lower than reported in previous studies of rheumatic diseases and conditions that are associated with increased mortality.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Rheumatoid arthritis doesn't hinder computing skills, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p0_GxpxuHpQ/100128091742.htm
Workers with rheumatoid arthritis were comparable to non-impaired individuals in keyboarding speed, according to a new study. Individuals who were trained in touch typing demonstrated faster typing speeds than those using a visually-guided ("hunt and peck") method, regardless of impairment.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Survey reveals ways to enhance teens' interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cjsiq89HiAc/100128091744.htm
The nation is hoping for a bright future. Many believe the key to strengthening the US economy and competing globally lies in fostering an innovative culture and educating America's youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). According to an annual survey that gauges Americans' perceptions about invention and innovation, teens are enthusiastic about these subjects, with 77 percent interested in pursuing a STEM career.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Language structure is partly determined by social structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nsa0h97hvqs/100121140347.htm
Psychologists argue that human languages may adapt more like biological organisms than previously thought and that the more common and popular the language, the simpler its construction to facilitate its survival.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Degree of obesity raises risk of stroke, regardless of gender, race
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6g86eOQrNtA/100121161236.htm
The higher a person's degree of obesity, the higher their risk of stroke -- regardless of sex or race. Stroke is more likely among obese blacks than obese whites. Effects of obesity on stroke incidence are likely related to the increased incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Female athletes injured more than male athletes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kQpa9S5WVwQ/100125123302.htm
Female athletes experience dramatically higher rates of specific musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions compared to male athletes. That's because many training programs developed for female athletes are built on research using young adult males and don't take the intrinsic biological differences between the sexes into account.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
New Vaccine Strategy May Protect Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WHa4fkRkpl4/100121154239.htm
A new vaccine strategy inducing antibodies capable of blocking interaction among disease-causing proteins may offer a safe and effective approach against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Proteins' dynamic motion important in body's immune response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VpctOn4gF3c/100121150750.htm
New research reveals the importance of dynamic motion by proteins involved in the body's immune response.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Go easy on the environment -- and our wallets, says Generation Y
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2k30e9e2k5g/100121140345.htm
When it comes to saving the environment, Generation Y is all for it -- as long as it comes with an economic benefit, according to new research.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
In sync: Squid, glowing companions march in genetic harmony
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YSjoe64vQc8/100127223616.htm
Most humans are blissfully unaware that we owe our healthful existence to trillions of microbes that make their home in the nooks and crannies of the human body, primarily the gut. During evolutionary history, humans and bacteria have forged a mutually beneficial coexistence that provides the microbes' room and board in exchange for an array of biochemical services that help support everything from the digestion of food to a robust immune system. But the intimate details of the relationship -- how the cells of the host and the cells of the bacteria coexist and interact -- are murky.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Prenatal exposure to phthalates affects childhood neurodevelopment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AAiaswx6Q08/100128091746.htm
A new study has found higher prenatal exposure to phthalates -- manmade chemicals that interfere with hormonal messaging -- to be connected with disruptive and problem behaviors in children between the ages of 4 and 9 years.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Engineered metamaterials enable remarkably small antennas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PwBVgFwHJEI/100126175915.htm
In an advance that might interest Q-Branch, the gadget makers for James Bond, researchers have designed and tested experimental antennas that are highly efficient and yet a fraction of the size of standard antenna systems with comparable properties.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Rotavirus vaccine offers new tool to combat severe diarrhea in developing world
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y38fBDkxpbI/100127182456.htm
Diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection could be significantly reduced in the developing world with the use of a vaccine to prevent the condition according to new research.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Student-built Rubik's Cube size satellite selected for flight by NASA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZDyGPhZO4E/100127182505.htm
A tiny communications satellite designed and built by undergraduates has been selected to be launched into orbit in November as part of a NASA space education initiative.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Prenatal alcohol exposure can alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VO9y4fZI758/100127164017.htm
Prenatal alcohol exposure is widely known to impair brain development in exposed offspring. Rodent studies have shown that developmental deficits in newborns related to altered levels of a brain chemical called serotonin, leading to subsequent alterations in patterns of neonatal acute pain responses and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress reactivity. New findings show a "blunted response" to an acutely painful event in alcohol-exposed human newborns, indicating that prenatal alcohol exposure may alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Mouse skin cells turned directly into neurons, skipping IPS stage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l0b8KrmBryw/100127134237.htm
Scientists have succeeded in transforming mouse skin cells in a laboratory dish directly into functional nerve cells with the application of just three genes. The cells make the change without first becoming a pluripotent type of stem cell -- a step long thought to be required for cells to acquire new identities.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Surgery helps chronic sinusitis sufferers get relief
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qCUOgPSZv_c/100127134609.htm
Up to 76 percent of patients with chronic rhionsinusitis reported improved quality of life following endoscopic surgery. Prior to surgery, adults with chronic rhinosinusitis typically have lower quality of life scores than patients with congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or back pain.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Deadly fish virus now found in all Great Lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vNdn2STHP_0/100127152453.htm
A deadly fish virus that was first discovered in the Northeast in 2005 has been found for the first time in fish from Lake Superior, report researchers. That means that the virus has now been documented in all of the Great Lakes.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Leukemia cells metabolize fat to avoid cell death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mjpU5DLjEEk/100127152458.htm
Leukemia cells, like most cancers, are addicted to glucose to generate their energy, but new research shows for the first time that these cells also rely on fatty acid metabolism to grow and to evade cell death.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Virus-like particle vaccine protects monkeys from chikungunya virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q95sLSiR_Wo/100128165846.htm
An experimental vaccine developed using noninfectious virus-like particles (VLP) has protected macaques and mice against chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen that has infected millions of people in Africa and Asia and causes debilitating pain, researchers have found.

Fri, 29 Jan 10
Brain scientists extend map of fear memory formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xSVZr8T1ssk/100127134253.htm
Draw a map of the brain when fear and anxiety are involved, and the amygdala looms large. But scientists have now extended the brain's fear map to include the prelimbic cortex. Researchers found that mice lacking a critical growth factor in the prelimbic cortex have trouble remembering to fear electric shocks. The discovery could help improve diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Star shoots out material at close to the speed of light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5apbef40j1E/100127134723.htm
Astronomers studying a stellar explosion (known as SN 2007gr) have found long-sought evidence that certain types of supernovae produce 'relativistic' jets of particles, traveling at more than half the speed of light.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Researchers develop new tool for gene delivery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XDLBH6rr4v8/100127095922.htm
Researchers have developed a new tool to deliver DNA in gene therapy. DNA delivered to the retina with a peptide called PEG-POD was expressed 215 times more efficiently than delivery of DNA alone. The finding highlights PEG-POD as a tool for non-viral gene therapy treatments for eye disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Birds follow their noses during migration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Va2LvVj1ZE/100127110423.htm
Birds largely rely on their sense of smell to navigate on their long migration routes. Indeed, the “third sense” has been shown to be a more important for them than orientation based on the sun and the earth’s magnetic field. Exactly how birds navigate on their migration routes has not yet been fully clarified. How does a bird develop an “internal map”? How does it find its way back to last year’s nest?

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Pomegranate extract stimulates uterine contractions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hBlsTL2ufXo/100127095916.htm
Scientists have found that a naturally occurring steroid, present in pomegranate seed, could be used to stimulate uterine contractions.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Research on global 'sun block' needed now, experts argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dQaR5esAtXA/100127134243.htm
Internationally coordinated research and field-testing on "geoengineering" the planet's atmosphere to limit risk of climate change should begin soon along with building international governance, scientists argue.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Treating depression by stimulating brain's pleasure center
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9kAyicXEHQs/100126084057.htm
Even with the best of available treatments, over a third of patients with depression may not achieve a satisfactory antidepressant response. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a form of targeted electrical stimulation in the brain via implanted electrodes, is now undergoing careful testing to determine whether it could play a role in the treatment of patients who have not sufficiently improved during more traditional forms of treatment.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Color of dinosaur feathers identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Qu16D-5SgM/100127134245.htm
The color of some feathers on dinosaurs and early birds has been identified for the first time. The research found that the theropod dinosaur Sinosauropteryx had simple bristles -- precursors of feathers -- in alternate orange and white rings down its tail, and that the early bird Confuciusornis had patches of white, black and orange-brown colouring. Future work will allow precise mapping of colours and patterns across the whole bird.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Antioxidants aren't always good for you and can impair muscle function, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T55BHTliCFg/100126111957.htm
Antioxidants increasingly have been praised for their benefits against disease and aging, but recent studies show that they also can cause harm. Researchers have been studying how to improve oxygen delivery to the skeletal muscle during physical activity by using antioxidants. Their findings show that sometimes antioxidants can impair muscle function.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Lost Roman law code discovered in London
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VCospHKtyLc/100126220329.htm
Part of an ancient Roman law code previously thought to have been lost forever has been discovered. The breakthrough was made after piecing together 17 fragments of previously incomprehensible parchment.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Reduced fertility linked to flame retardant exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RIQheekx73k/100126123208.htm
A new study finds that women with higher blood levels of PBDEs, a common type of flame retardant, took longer to get pregnant. The flame retardants are used in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets, plastics and other common items in the home.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Wireless optical transmission key to secure, safe and rapid indoor communications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ThUeutMhss/100127211857.htm
Light is better than radio waves when it comes to some wireless communications, according to a group of engineers. Optical communications systems could provide faster, more secure communications with wider bandwidth and would be suitable for restricted areas like hospitals, aircraft and factories.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Music in speech equals empathy in heart?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CDnD2AhXrLc/100127085550.htm
Brain circuits involved in prosody seem to operate on a mirror neuron system, according to neuroscientists. A new study also finds correlation between empathy and prosodic ability.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Amplification of global warming by carbon-cycle feedback significantly less than thought, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZIWgI8NE2wc/100127134721.htm
A new estimate of the feedback between temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has been derived from a comprehensive comparison of temperature and CO₂ records spanning the past millennium. The result, which is based on more than 200,000 individual comparisons, implies that the amplification of current global warming by carbon-cycle feedback will be significantly less than recent work has suggested.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Antibiotics might team up to fight deadly staph infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U0wM-pjCoE8/100126175913.htm
Researchers have found that two antibiotics working together might be more effective in fighting pathogenic bacteria than either drug on its own.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Innovative technique can spot errors in key technological systems; early alerts for satellites, weather instruments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YE962nUe3aM/100127085544.htm
An innovative computational technique that draws on statistics, imaging and other disciplines has the capability to detect errors in sensitive technological systems ranging from satellites to weather instruments.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Nationwide outbreak of Salmonella
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5P5qQazvz0A/100127152451.htm
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo. Testing confirmed on Jan. 25, that this strain of salmonella is linked to the outbreak that has sickened 187 people in 39 states since July 1, 2009. No deaths have been reported. Thirty-five people have been hospitalized.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Proper vaccine refrigeration vital to putting disease on ice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6Bb6ihwMsDo/100126175828.htm
Researchers have completed the first of a series of tests to determine best practices for properly storing and monitoring the temperature of refrigerated vaccines.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Almost half of injured Haitians are likely to be children, pediatric emergency study indicates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c_RR9c01VXE/100127085542.htm
A new study indicates that the victims of the January 12 quake include an extraordinarily high number of children -- more than 110,000, nearly half of the estimated total.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Energy-harvesting rubber chips could power pacemakers, cell phones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KZcAshwk7iI/100127152504.htm
Power-generating rubber films developed by engineers could harness natural body movements such as breathing and walking to power pacemakers, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
New potential to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/17OePfOFciU/100127085538.htm
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes it difficult to breath and there is currently no cure. COPD is characterized by emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which usually stems from smoking, toxin or allergen exposure and certain genetic abnormalities. New research shows that inactivating a naturally occurring antioxidant protein in mice can block many of the debilitating side effects that are characteristic of COPD.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Wide variation in calorie content among 'low calorie' pet foods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KoTlMEO2H_0/100126153427.htm
Dog and cat owners buying weight-control diets for their overweight pets are faced with a confusing two-fold variation in calorie density, recommended intake, and wide range cost of low-calorie pet foods, according to a study.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Intensive insulin therapy for septic shock patients does not show survival benefit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iVEEOmy73g4/100126175813.htm
Treating adults with septic shock with intensive insulin therapy to counter elevated blood glucose levels associated with corticosteroid therapy did not result in a reduced risk of in-hospital death, compared to patients who received conventional insulin therapy, according to a study. The researchers also found that adding a 2nd corticosteroid to treatment did not significantly reduce the risk of death within the hospital.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
New formula helps gauge the winds of change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dr9bZJoI56Q/100126220327.htm
Researchers devise formula to examine just what types of change occur over time among complex and integrated structures.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Saving endangered languages from being forgotten
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rAEUYqCehnk/100126084059.htm
With only 3.000 speakers in Northwest Siberia the Ob-Ugrian language Mansi is on the verge of extinction. Predictions say it will be extinct in ten to twenty years at the latest. The same holds true for Khanti, a member of the same language family. It is for this reason that extensive documentation is so important.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Hungry immune guardians are snappier: Nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ZlM4eraVdc/100120131153.htm
Researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune functions in healthy people. In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body's cells, the body releases more antimicrobial peptides in order to protect itself.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Researchers continue 'extraordinary measures' to tackle Pompe disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QFiXCORPnLo/100126101409.htm
Researchers are hopeful that gene therapy will help patients in the late stages of Pompe disease breathe on their own. Efforts to find a treatment for Pompe disease are depicted in the film "Extraordinary Measures" starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, now playing in theaters.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Technology-testing Proba-2 opens new eye on the Sun
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6YYZ2HF1ZTw/100126101423.htm
Packed with novel devices and science instruments, Proba-2 is demonstrating technologies for future ESA missions while providing new views of our Sun.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Burning heart tissue with catheter works dramatically better than drug treatments for common heart rhythm disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X9bfitbeV0M/100126175809.htm
Treating a common heart rhythm disorder by burning heart tissue with a catheter works dramatically better than drug treatments, according to a new study.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Safety in numbers: A cloud-based immune system for computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zEvrknMUYJw/100127085540.htm
A new approach for managing bugs in computer software has been developed by researchers in Switzerland. The latest version of Dimmunix, available for free download, enables entire networks of computers to cooperate in order to collectively avoid the manifestations of bugs in software.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Do children need both a mother and a father?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SPWOXm3-Ue8/100121135904.htm
A recent study focused on the importance of gender-specific parents for child rearing.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Diamonds become stronger when squeezed rapidly under extreme conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/11FwwKaz28s/100126133356.htm
Most people know that diamond is one of the hardest solids on Earth, so strong that it can easily cut through glass and steel. Surprisingly, very little is known about the strength of diamond at extreme conditions. But new research shows that diamond becomes even stronger during rapid compression.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Vitamin D supplements could fight Crohn's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OxWhgkli6WY/100127104904.htm
A new study has found that Vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Design vs. Dyslexia: Innovation promises new hope for children with dyslexia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kAyUfCgCqtw/100126141638.htm
Researchers are designing a 21st century electronic toolkit to speed learning for children with dyslexia.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Lack of cellular enzyme triggers switch in glucose processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/54BL42AVXaU/100121140332.htm
A study investigating how a cellular enzyme affects blood glucose levels in mice provides clues to pathways that may be involved in processes including the regulation of longevity and the proliferation of tumor cells. Researchers have described the mechanism by which absence of the enzyme SIRT6 induces a fatal drop in blood sugar in mice by triggering a switch between two critical cellular processes.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Green plant transport mystery solved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mDMtoWonRNI/100126133358.htm
Contrary to prevailing wisdom, plant biologists have shown that proteins of the Hsp70 family do indeed chaperone proteins across the membranes of chloroplasts, just as they do for other cellular structures.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Taller football (soccer) players more likely to be accused of fouls, research indicates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2PGZ2TLf9pE/100126142300.htm
In this World Cup year, when football (soccer) passions are running high, supporters might be forgiven for objecting to every decision to award a foul against their team, made by referees. But they might also have a point. Researchers have researched all recorded fouls in three major football competitions over seven years. They discovered an ambiguous foul is more likely to be attributed to the taller of two players.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Universe Is 30 Times More Run Down Than Thought, Astronomers Find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3cyo29N4P64/100126104844.htm
Cars run out of petrol, stars run out of fuel and galaxies collapse into black holes. As they do, the universe and everything in it is gradually running down. But how run down is it? Researchers from Australia have found that the universe is 30 times more run down than previously thought.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Human growth hormone: Not a life extender after all?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/--Y-R1-Zz4E/100126175923.htm
People profoundly deficient in human growth hormone (HGH) due to a genetic mutation appear to live just as long as people who make normal amounts of the hormone, a new study shows. The findings suggest that HGH may not be the "fountain of youth" that some researchers have suggested.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Rejuvenating the old immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wCJjeuzHK1Q/100126101415.htm
Thanks to the progress in health care and improved living conditions, we live longer. The price we pay: Our immune system loses functionality as we age and and the susceptibility to infections increases. Researchers in Germany are now investigating this aspect of aging using a mouse model that mimics the susceptibility to infection observed in elderly humans.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Blood protein offers help against anemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6ziFZUCf9l4/100126175925.htm
A new study shows that a protein found in blood alleviates anemia, a condition in which the body's tissues don't get enough oxygen from the blood. In this animal study, injections of the protein, known as transferrin, also protected against potentially fatal iron overload in mice with thalassemia, a type of inherited anemia that affects millions of people worldwide.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
American opinion cools on global warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y-k2jv7EJfY/100127095932.htm
Public concern about global warming has dropped sharply since the fall of 2008, according to the results of a national survey. Only 50 percent of Americans now say they are "somewhat" or "very worried" about global warming, a 13-point decrease.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Transplant tourism poses ethical dilemma for US doctors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YwnNcF0e2Vg/100126133354.htm
Doctors have examined the ethical issues posed by transplant tourism, an offshoot of medical tourism, which focuses solely on transplantation surgery. These transplant tourists may be subject to sub-standard surgical techniques, poor organ matching, unhealthy donors, and post transplant infections, prompting US health care institutions to refuse treatment of these patients upon return to the US.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Monarch butterflies reveal a novel way in which animals sense Earth's magnetic field
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t3y0PhLxxkw/100125094645.htm
Building on prior investigation into the biological mechanisms through which monarch butterflies are able to migrate up to 2,000 miles from eastern North America to a particular forest in Mexico each year, neurobiologists have linked two related photoreceptor proteins found in butterflies to animal navigation using the Earth's magnetic field.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Early menopause can result in earlier onset dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lfXcjNZps1A/100127121534.htm
Women experiencing an early onset of menopause could develop dementia at a younger age. Researchers studied women with Down Syndrome, who are known to have an early onset of menopause. The results of her research can be translated to apply to the general population.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
New vaccine could be lethal weapon against malaria, cholera
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oPpIU4_ZBFc/100126101421.htm
Mankind may finally have a weapon to fight two of the world's deadliest diseases. A biomedical researcher has developed what promises to be the first low-cost dual vaccine against malaria and cholera.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Smooth and integrated movement patterns can help individuals with back pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uMR5r7zlCqk/100125094520.htm
Many people with back pain do not know what is causing it and they do not receive effective treatment, but learning to move in a more integrated way makes a big difference, reveals new research from Sweden.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Computers do better than humans at measuring some radiology images
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zEgVAgJKPd0/100125123235.htm
Scientists have automated the measurement of a vital part of the knee in images with a computer program that performs much faster and just as reliably as humans who interpret the same images. Having more precise information about wear and tear on this portion of the knee -- a blend of fibrous tissue and cartilage called the meniscus -- could lead to its use as a biomarker in predicting who is at risk for developing osteoarthritis.

Thu, 28 Jan 10
Babies' brains tuned to sharing attention with others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c-goyY1cCiQ/100126220331.htm
Children as young as five months old will follow the gaze of an adult towards an object and engage in joint attention, according to new research. The findings suggest that the human brain develops this important social skill surprisingly early in infancy.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Last Neanderthals in Europe died out 37,000 years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sz3zDXeKN9s/100126220321.htm
The last Neanderthals in Europe died out at least 37,000 years ago -- and both climate change and interaction with modern humans could be involved in their demise, according to new research.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Gimmick-free weight-loss pill in the works
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y5igvOFqHAI/100126111951.htm
A Canadian research team is developing a pill composed of leptin, the protein that tells our brain to stop eating.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Surprising discovery: X-rays drive formation of new crystals; crystals resemble some biological structures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EN0ZpFCI4qE/100125131456.htm
X-rays can do a lot of useful things, but who knew they could cause crystals to form? Researchers have discovered that X-rays can trigger the formation of a new type of crystal: charged cylindrical filaments ordered like a bundle of pencils experiencing repulsive forces, which is unknown in crystals. The results open the door to using X-rays to control the structure of materials or to develop novel biomedical therapies.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Arthritis: Environmental exposure to hairspray, lipstick, pollution, can trigger autoimmune diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RUQkWRiIJGU/100125123231.htm
Our immediate environment interacts with our genetic programming and can determine if we will succumb to an autoimmune disease, according to new research.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Computer mimics nature by watching TV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3aXiCVy64mc/100125150459.htm
Computer scientists in the UK have developed a new way of making life-like animations of trees using video footage of the real thing.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Mixed-handed children more likely to have mental health, language and scholastic problems, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HRxiKh7p6mc/100125094511.htm
Children who are mixed-handed, or ambidextrous, are more likely to have mental health, language and scholastic problems in childhood than right- or left-handed children, according to a new study. The researchers behind the study suggest that their findings may help teachers and health professionals to identify children who are particularly at risk of developing certain problems.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Venus flytrap for nuclear waste: New material finds 'needle in a haystack,' shows promise for clean-up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qw8F-TRsyPU/100126175823.htm
Like a Venus flytrap, a new material permanently traps only its desired prey, the radioactive ion cesium, and not harmless sodium ions. The material can remove 100 percent of the cesium -- found in nuclear waste but very difficult to clean up -- from a sodium-heavy solution. It is cesium itself that triggers a structural change in the material, causing it to snap shut its pores and trap the cesium ions.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Changes in body fluid odors indicate presence of lung cancer tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5_NsalH4sZQ/100126220319.htm
New animal research demonstrates that body fluid odors can be used to identify animals with lung cancer tumors. The findings set the stage for studies to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers in the urine of human lung cancer patients.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Scientists return to Haiti to assess possibility of another major quake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TlzIwR8e6Bg/100126175819.htm
A team funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) is returning to Haiti this week to investigate the cause of the Jan. 12, magnitude 7 earthquake there.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Scientists achieve first rewire of genetic switches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S7Z5mjb64sI/100125173244.htm
Researchers have successfully carried out the first rewire of genetic switches, creating what could be a vital tool for the development of new drugs and even future gene therapies.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
'Poop' dermatitis linked to fashionable toilet seats, harsh chemicals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/46WuCxbvGoI/100125094509.htm
Considered a dermatological nuisance that was long gone, skin irritations caused by toilet seats appear to be making a comeback in pediatricians' offices, according to new research.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Is the Hobbit's brain unfeasibly small?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G2OQwulzgCk/100126220325.htm
Homo floresiensis, a pygmy-sized small-brained hominin popularly known as 'the Hobbit' was discovered five years ago, but controversy continues over whether the small brain is actually due to a pathological condition. How can its tiny brain size be explained? Researchers have tackled this question in the context of a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of brain and body size throughout the larger primate family.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Groundbreaking research shows platelets can reproduce in circulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EGZlwNMIieM/100126133352.htm
Scientists have discovered that platelets are able to reproduce themselves in the circulation.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Caucasians and Asians don't examine faces in the same way
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3rQ66iyjHYw/100126111953.htm
Caucasians and Asians don't examine faces in the same way, according to new research.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Cancer protein: molecule long believed to need a partner in crime can, in fact, start chain of events on its own
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5YBp8O7MGDo/100125112209.htm
In a new study, a research team is challenging a prevailing belief about the behavior of a human protein linked to the formation of cancer, possibly breathing new life into the search for therapies that will inhibit that protein from "turning on" genes involved in abnormal cell proliferation.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Natural pest control saves coffee berry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HWLwDgHbXZk/100125110912.htm
A predator for the devastating coffee berry borer has just been discovered in Africa. Researchers have identified a previously unknown predatory thrips which feeds on the eggs and larvae of the coffee berry borer.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Psychodynamic psychotherapy brings lasting benefits, new study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nZG-QBIuAlc/100125094501.htm
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical ailments, and the benefits of the therapy grow after treatment has ended, according to new research.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Single photons observed at seemingly faster-than-light speeds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1CVJlDeWTTU/100126175921.htm
Researchers have managed to speed up photons to seemingly faster-than-light speeds through a stack of materials by adding a single, strategically placed layer.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Engineering a new way to study hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mCHLjpME4bc/100125172944.htm
Researchers have successfully grown hepatitis C virus in otherwise healthy liver cells in the laboratory, an advance that could allow scientists to develop and test new treatments for the disease.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Study documents reaction rates for three chemicals with high global warming potential
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EWCYU2nUYqI/100126101419.htm
A new study provides new information about the rates at which three of the most powerful greenhouse gases are destroyed by a chemical reaction that takes place in the upper atmosphere.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Discovery of epigenetic memory during breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/192QEonHmQM/100125110908.htm
Researchers have determined how the TGFB-Smad signaling pathway, which is over activated in late-stage cancers, is responsible for the "epigenetic memory" that maintains unique patterns of regulatory DNA hypermethylation causing silencing of critical genes that facilitate breast cancer progression.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Early detection of brain aneurysms is aim of advanced computing project
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WqOFo7-0G6E/100125110910.htm
Preventing deadly ruptures of the blood vessels in the brain is the aim of a new project to help radiologists detect aneurysms with far greater speed and accuracy.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Fast food menus with calorie information lead to lower calorie selections for young children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cBHjRhKhy_0/100125094513.htm
In a new study, the amount of calories selected by parents for their child's hypothetical meal at McDonald's restaurants were reduced by an average of 102 calories when the menus clearly showed the calories for each item. This is the first study to suggest that labeled menus may lead to significantly reduced calorie intake in fast food restaurant meals purchased for children.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
In bats and whales, convergence in echolocation ability runs deep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xN1eIWJUWs8/100125123219.htm
Only some bats and toothed whales rely on sophisticated echolocation, in which they emit sonar pulses and process returning echoes, to detect and track down small prey. Now, two new studies show that bats' and whales' remarkable ability and the high-frequency hearing it depends on are shared at a much deeper level than anyone would have anticipated -- all the way down to the molecular level.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Gastric ulcer bacteria turn immune defense inwards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4cVemWKd_KQ/100125094639.htm
Despite a strong response from our immune defence, the body is unable to rid itself of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. One reason for this is that this bacterium encourages elements of the immune response to remain in tissue, activating the wrong immune cells. New research results are paving the way for a future vaccine.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Advanced engine-control system reduces biodiesel fuel consumption and emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2hDllq2XurI/100125173248.htm
Researchers have developed an advanced "closed-loop control" approach for preventing diesel engines from emitting greater amounts of smog-causing nitrogen oxides when running on biodiesel fuels.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Disease severity in H1N1 patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D7Iak8nz0ok/100121140326.htm
A new study concerning the severity of H1N1 influenza has found that admissions to an intensive care unit were associated with a longer interval between symptom onset and treatment with antivirals and with presence of an underlying medical condition. People of First Nations ethnicity were also found to be at higher risk of severe H1N1 infection compared to people of other ethnic origins.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Sweet success for sustainable biofuel research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LRWwvmvuxoU/100125094641.htm
Scientists have found a way to increase fermentable sugar stores in plants which could lead to plant biomass being easier to convert into eco-friendly sustainable biofuels.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Reproductive coercion often is accompanied by physical or sexual violence, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3nzbgRx-a3I/100125094503.htm
Young women and teenage girls often face efforts by male partners to sabotage birth control or coerce pregnancy -- including damaging condoms and destroying contraceptives -- and these efforts, defined as "reproductive coercion," frequently are associated with physical or sexual violence, a study has found.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Men feel less guilt, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6FLt7BpxYcM/100125123305.htm
Although changing social and cultural contexts mean guilt has less power today than it once did, a new study has shown that in the West this emotion is "significantly higher" among women. The main problem, according to the experts, is not that women feel a lot of guilt (which they do), but rather that many males feel "too little".

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Overcoming taxane resistance in cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QM1az4dJq8Q/100126153421.htm
Taxanes have become front-line therapy for a variety of metastatic cancers, but resistance can develop, a frequent problem in breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancers. Now, researchers report a protein involved in taxane resistance that could potentially be targeted with drugs, making a cancer more susceptible to chemotherapy, and could potentially also serve as a biomarker in monitoring response to treatment.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Hacking into cells' communications system could lead to new drugs to tackle neurodegeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PQrSTUH4IjE/100126091727.htm
By determining the structure of DAPK bound to calmodulin, scientists in Germany have found a way to hack into a vital cellular communications system, raising the possibility of developing new drugs to tackle disorders like neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Oncology: Genetic variability in a tumor as an indicator of patient risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yv4X8F5DiCs/100125213312.htm
Every cell within a tumor is not genetically identical and this genetic heterogeneity is thought to underlie tumor progression and resistance to therapeutics. A team of researchers has now developed methods to quantitatively describe intratumor genetic heterogeneity in primary human tumors.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Monitoring peatland from Earth and space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N_jH1lbyhIg/100125173456.htm
Scientists have developed a technique for monitoring the condition of peatlands by capturing images from Earth and space to measure spatial patterning. This method could help monitor peatland damage. Such disruption is contributing to global warming, as peatlands can release the carbon they absorb and store if they are damaged by drainage or peat extraction processes.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Stress hormone key to alcohol dependence discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HkAwyY-_E3o/100125173452.htm
Scientists have found that a specific stress hormone, the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is key to the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence in animal models. Chemically blocking the stress factor also blocked the signs and symptoms of addiction, suggesting a potentially promising area for future drug development.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Dinosaur extinction grounded ancient birds, new research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OtBhzUUlxHQ/100126105429.htm
An abundance of food and lack of predators following the extinction of dinosaurs saw previously flighted birds fatten up and become flightless, according to new research from Australia.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
To restore vision, implant preps and seeds a damaged eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MeSqrs6aj9s/100126153429.htm
A tiny eye implant that clears scar tissue and delivers progenitor cells designed to replace photoreceptors damaged by disease passes early tests.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
New measurement technique will help in fight against cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7nFBbuVVmXw/100126091729.htm
A new technique to catch cancer early has taken an important step forward thanks to the UK's National Physical Laboratory. NPL's "phantoms" will ensure an exciting new screening technique can be relied upon by hospitals to identify early signs of cancer.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Childhood obesity alone may increase risk of later cardiovascular disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i_Xi7WUNio4/100126083126.htm
By as early as 7 years of age, being obese may raise a child's risk of future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, according to a new study.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Sodium contents of processed foods decoded
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I8ooMJ8nUDU/100125173502.htm
A new database provides descriptive data and the tools and information needed for continued monitoring of food sodium content.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Most adults misunderstand standard warnings on prescriptions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tKkC36oFLQM/100125112211.htm
Replacing confusing language and icons on standard warnings labels for prescription medicine and listing only the most important warnings could make a big difference in how well patients understand the instructions that are critical to their health, according to a new study. More than half of adults misunderstand common standard drug warnings. Researchers worked with patients and graphic designers to simplify and redesign the confusing language and icons of warning labels.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
How to measure attention span of a fly: Implications for ADHD, autism in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zcpzaQsCIvg/100126084127.htm
An Australian-German team of scientists has found a way to measure the attention span of a fly. The findings could lead to further advances in the understanding of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism in humans.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Blood pressure control abnormal in newborns of smoking mothers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KFK2YXk5gWM/100125172950.htm
Blood pressure control in infants of smoking mothers is abnormal compared to that of infants from non-smoking parents. The blood pressure response to postural changes -- tilting and changing from upright to lying down -- was opposite in babies of smokers than in babies of nonsmokers. Blood pressure "reprogramming" in infants of smokers persisted at least until age 1, and could be an early marker for susceptibility to high blood pressure later in life.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Scientists develop new CT scanner to image nuclear weapon components
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AmC7O0zvMGQ/100126084740.htm
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that it recently completed the installation and successful startup of a new surveillance diagnostic tool that is capable of detecting aging defects on critical components in the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Gene therapy study seeks to improve brain function in Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ocZR0fX__34/100125174922.htm
Alzheimer's disease (AD) researchers are testing the effectiveness of gene therapy for the first time to treat patients with this common brain disease. A total of 12 institutions are participating in a nationwide study to test the experimental medication, CERE-110.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Bigger corn plants bully smaller neighbors in no-till fields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nT1KtRPkRKA/100125173252.htm
It might not look like there's much going on in those roadside corn fields, but a researcher has shown that corn plants are in a fierce battle with each other for resources.

Wed, 27 Jan 10
Facebook or MySpace, youths' use reflect face-to-face interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I3Ozc8hpEWg/100125173450.htm
Though parents often have concerns about letting their teens use social media Web sites like Facebook and MySpace, a new study suggests that well-adapted youth with positive friendships will use these sites to further enhance the positive relationships they already have. However, teens who have behavioral problems and difficulty making friends, may be more inclined to use social media in negative and sometimes aggressive ways.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
NASA's WISE eye spies near-Earth asteroid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5OqClpsZgU/100125172816.htm
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has spotted its first never-before-seen near-Earth asteroid, the first of hundreds it is expected to find during its mission to map the whole sky in infrared light. There is no danger of the newly discovered asteroid hitting Earth.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Low-carb diet effective at lowering blood pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_JmAWWcLqa0/100125172938.htm
In a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat, according to researchers.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tv52AFQFjcc/100125123233.htm
A major increase in maximum ocean wave heights off the Pacific Northwest in recent decades has forced scientists to re-evaluate how high a "100-year event" might be, and the new findings raise special concerns for flooding, coastal erosion and structural damage.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Two-pronged immune response offers hope for effective Salmonella vaccine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hP_5FmKADTw/100125173236.htm
New research renewed hope that an effective vaccine could be developed against non-typhoidal strains of Salmonella. The work suggests that the body's immune system could be primed to tackle even the most resilient of strains.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Believing stereotype undermines girls' math performance: Elementary school women teachers transfer their fear of doing math to girls, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DIupxFjlwJ0/100125172940.htm
Female elementary school teachers who are anxious about math pass on to female students the stereotype that boys, not girls, are good at math. Girls who endorse this belief then do worse at math, research shows. The research found that boys' math performance was not related to their teacher's math anxiety while girls' math achievement was affected.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
'Microraptors' shed light on ancient origin of bird flight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fdjlS7bsvtg/100125173238.htm
Researchers in the United States and China say that they have settled the long-standing question of how bird flight began.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Vaccine approach extends life of metastatic prostate cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Jf5vhfkFzE/100125173240.htm
In a newly published clinical trial, patients with metastatic prostate cancer who received a vaccine of harmless poxviruses engineered to spur an immune system attack on prostate tumor cells lived substantially longer than patients who received a placebo vaccine, researchers report.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
New sensor could help treat, combat diabetes, other diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s0Y1xgcCxyg/100121140330.htm
A tiny new sensor could provide fresh, inexpensive diagnosis and treatment methods for people suffering from a variety of diseases.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
125 million pregnancies globally at risk from malaria every year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uTnCjbJIwhU/100125202553.htm
A new study estimates that more than 125 million pregnancies around the world are at risk from malaria every year. Until now, estimates have only been available for endemic areas in Africa.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Discovery of algae's toxic hunting habits could help curb fish kills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rvMn6j-eQE0/100121140342.htm
A microbe commonly found in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways emits a poison not just to protect itself but to stun and immobilize the prey it plans to eat.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Moving through time: Thinking of the past or future causes us to sway backward or forward
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JUK6QfogjVc/100121135859.htm
Thinking of the past or future causes us to sway backward or forward.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Ozone hole healing could cause further climate warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hi_rjJPaOP0/100125192016.htm
The hole in the ozone layer is now steadily closing, but its repair could actually increase warming in the southern hemisphere, according to scientists.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Inflammation 'on switch' also serves as 'off switch'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eenDWS6H000/100121140340.htm
In a surprising finding, researchers have discovered the critical importance of a protein previously believed to be a redundant "on switch" for certain immune-system responses.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Unwanted guests: How herpes simplex virus gets rid of the cell's security guards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lY0I9hDEElU/100121101126.htm
A viral infection is like an uninvited, tenacious houseguest in the cell, using a range of tricks to prevent its eviction. Researchers have identified one of the key proteins allowing herpes simplex virus DNA to fly under the radar of their hosts' involuntary hospitality.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Home is best for cardiac rehabilitation, new study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HUDuSxDjCxA/100119213142.htm
In a new study, researchers analyzed 12 studies relating to cardiac rehabilitation and found no difference in health outcomes for patients who receive cardiac rehabilitation in a clinical setting or at home.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Novel computational model: How Parkinson's medications affect learning and attention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oT9s9q51Dhw/100120211027.htm
A new brain-based computational model is helping to understand how Parkinson's disease and dopamine medications -- used to treat motor symptoms caused by the disease -- can affect learning and attention.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Slow breathing reduces pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2L3Xs09ti-k/100120163704.htm
Controlled breathing at a slowed rate can significantly reduce feelings of pain, according to new research. Chronic pain sufferers, specifically fibromyalgia (FM) patients, also reported less pain while breathing slowly, unless they were overwhelmed by negative feelings, sadness or depression.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Everybody laughs, everybody cries: Researchers identify universal emotions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qsRAOt4Ve-g/100125173234.htm
Here's a piece of research that might leave you tickled: laughter is a universal language, according to new research. The study, conducted with people from Britain and Namibia, suggests that basic emotions such as amusement, anger, fear and sadness are shared by all humans.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Face masks and hand hygiene can help limit influenza's spread, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hrvgMDgEWb4/100121135907.htm
Ordinary face masks and hand hygiene can effectively reduce the transmission of influenza-like illness during flu season, according to a new study. In an influenza pandemic, vaccination may not be initially available, and antiviral prescribing may be limited, which is why scientists need to understand how effective other measures are in preventing influenza.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Groovy hills rising from Titan's surface
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DKldG4ApEl0/100125173141.htm
Hills with a wrinkly radial pattern stand out in a new radar image of Saturn's moon Titan captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Dec. 28, 2009.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RGEkU7LVkxU/100120085354.htm
Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million to prevent tooth decay in their children, says a new report. Preventing tooth decay can help reduce the need for extensive and costly dental treatments, including extractions.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Gardeners must unite to save Britain's wildlife, experts urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LkknA-QBJzE/100120093527.htm
Householders in the UK should be looking beyond their own garden fence to protect vulnerable British wildlife, according to scientists.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Pregnant women who are overweight put their infants at risk, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O6UIE5MZCBE/100120121558.htm
Obesity in pregnant women is associated with pregnancy complications, birth defects, as well as a greater risk of childhood and adult obesity in infants born to obese mothers, new research shows.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Rare genetic variants create 'synthetic' genome-wide signals of disease risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IciGM_WrEEs/100125202602.htm
Scientists say they are now convinced that rare genetic variants -- as opposed to more common ones -- lie at the heart of the genetic component of most common diseases. The finding, stemming from a series of simulation studies, challenges common interpretations of a multitude of genome-wide association studies that have identified thousands of single-DNA letter changes associated with greater risk of common diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Little pill means big news in the treatment of multiple sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BU8cFjcZGz8/100120211016.htm
A new drug for multiple sclerosis promises to change the lives of the 100,000 people in the UK who have the condition, say researchers. A major trial of the oral drug Cladribine has shown that it significantly reduces relapse and deterioration of the disease, and goes a long way to eliminating the unpleasant side effects associated with existing therapies.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Biofuel crop diversity adds value, researchers say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0z8NLigMG-A/100125094647.htm
Diverse biofuel plantings such as native prairie attract more beneficial insects than do single crops such as corn, scientists find. Therefore, biofuel policies should take such added value into account, they urge, based on their pioneering studies of beneficial insects in biofuel crops.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Gene essential for neuron development and contextual memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LStzFYjMeHU/100121083400.htm
New research demonstrates the essential function of the gene PC3/Tis21/BTG2 in the maturation of the neuron, and how this plays an important role in the integration of the neuron into memory circuits.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
UK under snow as seen from space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9d6TZAqKxC4/100121083402.htm
Scientists have released images of the UK under snow and they are exploring the possible causes of this recent extreme weather.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Three key factors to help children avoid social rejection identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/79Qt1JxoWTA/100120121600.htm
Neurobehavioral researchers have found three key factors in a child's behavior that can lead to social rejection. The studies are a crucial step in developing scientifically sound screening tests and treatment planning for social-emotional learning difficulties.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Ultrasound plus proteomic blood analyses may help physicians diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JS-G40dXuUo/100121135706.htm
Noninvasive contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, combined with proteomic analyses of blood samples may help physicians identify early-stage ovarian cancer and save the lives of many women, according to a new article.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
New gene involved in autophagy -- the cellular recycling program
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zM0FT2RWeNI/100121083119.htm
All cells are equipped with a recycling program to collect and remove unnecessary cellular components. Autophagy sequesters and digests aged organelles, damaged proteins and other components, which, if not disintegrated and recycled, threaten cell viability. Researchers have identified a new gene that favours cell autophagy.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Hypertension: Beta-blockers effective in combination therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DmzQjlR01tg/100119213053.htm
Using beta-blockers as a second-line therapy in combination with certain anti-hypertensive drugs significantly lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension, according to a new review. This review also goes some way to explaining the differences in the way that patients respond to beta-blockers and other classes of blood pressure lowering drugs.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Easy-build wireless networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t7SBEEyeeYY/100120122645.htm
Networks that monitor life-threatening situations or improve environmental efficiencies will be easier and cheaper to develop and operate, following the creation of a single middleware solution for the entire spectrum of wireless standards.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Ask the non-experts about autism detection in infants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5h6tfknrlsc/100121150754.htm
In a research project about early autism detection in infants, psychologists are working with non-expert coders to observe and provide data during experiments. The project shows that non-experts can effectively gain similar outcomes to the coders who have gone through extensive training, thus simplifying the research process without compromising the results.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Human brain uses a grid to represent space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-zfvcLPznlg/100120131201.htm
"Grid cells" that act like a spatial map in the brain have been identified for the first time in humans, which may help to explain how we create internal maps of new environments.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Digital mammography delivers significantly less radiation than conventional mammography
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kkQ2U87DmzU/100121135704.htm
Data from one of the largest mammography trials in history demonstrates that overall the radiation dose associated with digital mammography is significantly lower (averaging 22 percent lower) than that of conventional film mammography and that the reduction could be greater in women with larger and denser breasts, according to a study.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Tobacco plant thwarts caterpillar onslaught by opening flowers in the morning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b878Pb8GQic/100121135659.htm
Plants attract insect pollinators to ensure reproduction. However, female moths are also threatening to the plant: attracted by the flower's scent, they lay eggs on the leaves, and voracious caterpillars hatch. Scientists have now discovered how tobacco plants solve this dilemma. They found that herbivory changed the opening time of the flower buds from dusk to dawn, attracting day-active hummingbirds which are also able to transfer pollen.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Herpes medication does not reduce risk of HIV transmission, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nf5w5F0Q3JI/100120211025.htm
A five-year international multi-center clinical trial has found that acyclovir, a drug widely used as a safe and effective treatment to suppress herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), the most common cause of genital herpes, does not reduce the risk of HIV transmission when taken by people infected with both HIV and HSV-2.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Engineers find significant environmental impacts with algae-based biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wBX_YKe5AKk/100121135856.htm
With many companies investing heavily in algae-based biofuels, researchers have found there are significant environmental hurdles to overcome before fuel production ramps up. They propose using wastewater as a solution to some of these challenges.

Tue, 26 Jan 10
Making family board games electronic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HmoJZHqzVB4/100122135417.htm
A groundbreaking technology may make traditional board games a thing of the past. The technology allows groups of friends or family members to play electronic games like they used to do board games: in a sociable and physical setting, placed together around a table. It also eases game controls by using affordances of regular cardboard pieces.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Value of sexual reproduction versus asexual reproduction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qv1vmhwlMxg/100121161238.htm
Living organisms have good reason for engaging in sexual, rather than asexual, reproduction according to scientists.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Cells critical to childhood leukemia discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tUYHoEbPr0Y/100121141059.htm
Scientists have discovered the cells that cause a common type of childhood leukemia -- T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Targeting of these cells may lead to improved treatments for this disease and help prevent relapse.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Cave reveals Southwest's abrupt climate swings during Ice Age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vRO3GdOAzQo/100120161243.htm
Ice Age climate records from an Arizona stalagmite link the Southwest's winter precipitation to temperatures in the North Atlantic, according to new research. The stalagmite yielded an almost continuous, century-by-century climate record spanning 55,000 to 11,000 years ago, a time the Southwest flip-flopped between wet and dry periods. The finding is the first to document that the abrupt changes in Ice Age climate known from Greenland also occurred in the southwestern US.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Genes found linked to breast cancer drug resistance could guide future treatment choices
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pSvjMvjf1yc/100124162147.htm
Researchers have discovered a gene activity signature that predicts a high risk of cancer recurrence in certain breast tumors that have been treated with commonly used chemotherapy drugs. The findings could lead to a genetic test of breast cancers to help physicians choose the best initial treatment for an individual patient.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Tree Shrew Offers Small-Animal Model of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3kURxX6Z890/100121154300.htm
Researchers from Japan suggest that the tree shrew may be a practical small-animal model for studying the progression of human hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This discovery would replace the need for rare and expensive studies using chimpanzees, currently the only validated animal model for HCV.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Driven to distraction: New study shows driving hinders talking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xiqLmZUsKJ8/100122222222.htm
It is well known that having a conversation (for example on a cell phone) impairs one's driving. A new study indicates the reverse is also true: Driving reduces one's ability to comprehend and use language.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Some mouse sperm can identify, and even cooperate with, its brethren
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a4TGKksU0x8/100120131151.htm
Some mouse sperm can discriminate between its brethren and competing sperm from other males, clustering with its closest relatives to swim faster in the race to the egg. But this sort of cooperation appears to be present only in certain promiscuous species, where it affords an individual's sperm a competitive advantage over that of other males.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Potential new class of drugs to combat hepatitis C identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e-M2uhOjym0/100120143958.htm
Scientists have discovered a novel class of compounds that, in experiments in vitro, inhibit replication of the virus responsible for hepatitis C.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Global warming: 'Cooling' forests can heat too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wF-FKyA2UI4/100121141112.htm
Forests can trap heat as well as carbon. Recent research shows that in one type of semi-arid forest, it may take years for the effects of carbon capture to override those of heat retention.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Cycling to better health, one leg at a time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dlGH8f069Ww/100120085502.htm
Improving fitness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) goes a long way in improving their physical and mental health. Now, a series of studies report several innovative ways to help improve the fitness in COPD patients. All it takes is a little extra oxygen, or cycling on a stationary bicycle, using just one leg at a time.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Zebrafish swim into drug development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fZAoVf5tHqQ/100121161240.htm
By combining the tools of medicinal chemistry and zebrafish biology, scientists have identified compounds that may offer therapeutic leads for bone-related diseases and cancer.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Trauma patients safe from mortality risks associated with so-called 'weekend effect'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-uhHeot6Tss/100122222226.htm
People who are in car crashes or suffer serious falls, gunshot or knife wounds and other injuries at nights or on weekends do not appear to be affected by the same medical care disparities -- the so-called "weekend effect" -- as patients who suffer heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests and other time-sensitive illnesses during those "off hours," according to new research.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
How organisms can tolerate mutations, yet adapt to environmental change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DHPMW_p7Ipc/100120131203.htm
Biologists studying the processes of evolution appear to have resolved a longstanding conundrum: how can organisms be robust against the effects of mutations yet simultaneously adaptable when the environment changes?

Mon, 25 Jan 10
PrEP treatment prevented HIV transmission in humanized mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tE0eNiBAQog/100120211006.htm
Systemic pre-exposure administration of antiretroviral drugs provides protection against intravenous and rectal transmission of HIV in mice with human immune systems, according to a new study.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Managing Pacific Northwest dams for a changing climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZD7MfO4PSvQ/100121154921.htm
Civil engineers have taken a first look at how dams in the Columbia River basin, the nation's largest hydropower system, could be managed for a different climate.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
How anticancer immune responses are suppressed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_QA_gnk4R2U/100119224803.htm
Immune cells known as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) keep other immune cells in check. They have been found to accumulate in individuals with cancer, where they are thought to contribute to tumor development. Researchers have now identified a molecular pathway that enhances the immunosuppressive functions of tumor-associated mouse and human MDSCs.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Chaperonins prompt proper protein folding -- but how?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C7BPzgB3t-k/100120131147.htm
In a new study in archaea (single-celled organisms without nuclei to enclose their genetic information), researchers have discovered how the Group II chaperonins close and open folding chambers to initiate the folding event and to release the functional protein to the cell.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Estrogen in the fight against schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dXvJoQ3IXEo/100120112212.htm
Restoring normal levels of estrogen may work as a protective agent in menopausal women vulnerable to schizophrenia.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Researchers synchronize blinking 'genetic clocks' -- genetically engineered bacteria that keep track of time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OCmCdEALmSw/100120131157.htm
Researchers who last year genetically engineered bacteria to keep track of time by turning on and off fluorescent proteins within their cells have taken another step toward the construction of a programmable genetic sensor. The scientists recently synchronized these bacterial "genetic clocks" to blink in unison and engineered the bacterial genes to alter their blinking rates when environmental conditions change.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Brain abnormalities in Parkinson's patients develop before symptoms occur
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hLjFK3E61gM/100120112210.htm
Scientists who have identified brain networks damaged in Parkinson's disease have new evidence that these systems become abnormal a few years before symptoms appear. And what's more, parts of the network appear to respond in a last ditch attempt to rescue the brain.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Watching crystals grow provides clues to making smoother, defect-free thin films
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Oim8CTc-ADE/100121141057.htm
To make thin films for semiconductors in electronic devices, layers of atoms must be grown in neat, crystalline sheets. But while some materials grow smooth crystals, others tend to develop bumps and defects -- a serious problem for thin-film manufacturing. Physicists shed new light on how atoms arrange themselves into thin films.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Nlp: all new tumor-forming protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ptzW0JQIKJU/100119224924.htm
Proteins that when expressed out of context cause a cell to become cancerous are known as oncogenic proteins. Researchers have now identified in mice a new oncogenic protein that is also expressed at elevated levels in human breast cancers and lung carcinomas.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Learning the art of creating computer games can boot student skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HlV0Mm1Dx-g/100121101124.htm
Computer games have a broad appeal that transcends gender, culture, age and socioeconomic status. Now, computer scientists think that creating computer games, rather than just playing them could boost students' critical and creative thinking skills as well as broaden their participation in computing.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Mind Reading, Brain Fingerprinting and the Law
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ni7-vgcmcN8/100120085459.htm
What if a jury could decide a man's guilt through mind reading? What if reading a defendant's memory could betray their guilt? And what constitutes 'intent' to commit murder?

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Stunning new image of Cat's Paw Nebula
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ElVogWI9Cw8/100120093529.htm
Astronomers have just released a stunning new image of the vast cloud known as the Cat's Paw Nebula or NGC 6334. This complex region of gas and dust, where numerous massive stars are born, lies near the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, and is heavily obscured by intervening dust clouds.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Fertility drugs contribute heavily to multiple births
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M4UpsOUd7ko/100120104002.htm
Drugs that stimulate a woman's ovaries to speed the maturity and multiply the production of eggs accounts for four times more live births than assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization. These drugs are responsible for 20 percent of multiple births. Multiple birth is a risk factor for preterm birth and infants born too soon face lifelong health problems such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and even death.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Scientists capture Haiti disaster with high-tech imaging system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EHYN7FXhikI/100122222220.htm
Scientists are surveying the damage in Haiti with high-tech sensors integrated into a small aircraft. They are using the data to produce information maps for relief and recovery agencies.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Vitamin D supplementation can reduce falls in nursing care facilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0T7RBXJZvwI/100119213051.htm
Giving people living in nursing facilities vitamin D can reduce the rate of falls, according to a new review. This finding comes from a study of many different interventions used in different situations. In hospitals, multifactorial interventions and supervised exercise programs also showed benefit.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Useless online student quizzes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RrALJZ5zV-c/100120144000.htm
Online quizzes are not helping students learn their subject, according to a new study.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Choice doesn't always mean well-being for everyone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/twk8XXTBEBA/100119121430.htm
American culture venerates choice, but choice may not be the key to happiness and health, according to a new study.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Neurons developed from stem cells successfully wired with other brain regions in animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dEOFfwZY_VM/100119172751.htm
Transplanted neurons grown from embryonic stem cells can fully integrate into the brains of young animals, according to new research. Healthy brains have stable and precise connections between cells that are necessary for normal behavior. This new finding is the first to show that stem cells can be directed not only to become specific brain cells, but to link correctly.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
By measuring magnetic fields in brain, researchers identify post-traumatic stress disorder biomarker
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_UrPFWB2B6w/100120083745.htm
Researchers have identified a biological marker in the brains of those exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder. A group of 74 United States veterans were involved in the study, which for the first time objectively diagnoses PTSD using magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain. It's something conventional brain scans such as an X-ray, CT, or MRI have failed to do.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Congo receives help from space after volcano eruption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R2bEGhCXxDw/100122102439.htm
On Jan. 2, Mount Nyamulagira in the Democratic Republic of Congo erupted, spewing lava from its southern flank and raising concerns that the 100,000 people in the town of Sake could be under threat. Fears were also triggered in Goma as rumors circulated that an eruption was imminent at the nearby Nyiragongo volcano, which devastated the city in 2002.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
NSAIDs may be more effective than paracetamol for period pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UUylEHBvxnw/100119213049.htm
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may be more effective for relieving period pain than paracetamol, according to a new review. However, it remains unclear whether any one NSAID is safer or more effective than others.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Scientists using X-ray vision to produce more nutritious flour
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JuQfm6lDfog/100121101122.htm
Pioneering research combining plant breeding and high-intensity x-rays is being used to explore the possibility of developing wheat which could be used to make potentially life-saving mineral enriched flour.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Rice responsible for Asians' alcohol flush reaction, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P7-lwGdMSAs/100119213140.htm
The mutation responsible for the alcohol flush reaction, an unpleasant response to alcohol that is relatively common in people of Asian descent, may have occurred following the domestication of rice. Researchers traced the history of the version of the gene responsible, finding that the ADH1B*47His allele appeared around the same time that rice was first cultivated in southern China.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Levitating magnet may yield new approach to clean energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GKv9mwzSSvY/100124162153.htm
A new experiment that reproduces the magnetic fields of the Earth and other planets has yielded its first significant results. The findings confirm that its unique approach has some potential to be developed as a new way of creating a power-producing plant based on nuclear fusion -- the process that generates the sun's prodigious output of energy.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Bat echolocation: 3-D imaging differentiates how various bats generate biosonar signals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zuuv_m5cC08/100124162138.htm
Researchers, using micro-computed tomography systems, have shed new light on the way bats echolocate. With echolocation, animals emit sounds and then listen to the reflected echoes of those sounds to form images of their surroundings in their brains.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Living the high life is risky business for toads under threat from fungus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BSDiDQk7gRU/100124235012.htm
Midwife toads that live in the mountains are highly likely to die from a serious fungal infection, called chytridiomycosis, whereas their infected relatives in the lowlands are not.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Jupiter's moons: Explanation for the differences between Ganymede and Callisto
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dVZE9D4OHw0/100124162151.htm
Differences in the number and speed of cometary impacts onto Jupiter's large moons Ganymede and Callisto some 3.8 billion years ago can explain their vastly different surfaces and interior states, according to new research.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Illuminating protein networks in one step
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y3rE2WjvTNg/100124162149.htm
A newly developed assay is capable of examining hundreds of proteins at once and enabling new experiments that could dramatically change our understanding of cancer and other diseases. The new micro-western arrays combine the specificity of the popular "Western blot" protein assay with the large scale of DNA microarrays.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Researchers trace effects of genetic defect in myotonic muscular dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y036dSDQZXk/100124162145.htm
Research on the genetic defect that causes myotonic muscular dystrophy has revealed that the mutation disrupts an array of metabolic pathways in muscle cells through its effects on two key proteins.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
How 'random' lasers work: Natural cavities act like mirrors in light-emitting plastics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AGXtLZ3Y0pE/100124162143.htm
When scientists discovered a new kind of laser that was generated by an electrically conducting plastic or polymer, no one could explain how it worked and some doubted it was real. Now, a decade later, researchers have found these "random lasers" occur because of natural, mirror-like cavities in the polymers, and they say such lasers may prove useful for diagnosing cancer.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Neuron connections seen in 3-D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8oapI7Nq9Kk/100122102427.htm
Scientists have managed to obtain 3-D images of the vesicles and filaments involved in communication between neurons. The method is based on a novel technique in electron microscopy, which cools cells so quickly that their biological structures can be frozen while fully active.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
HIV infection prematurely ages the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nGn8wZkyRvE/100122102441.htm
HIV infection or the treatments used to control it are prematurely aging the brain, researchers have found. Blood flow in the brains of HIV patients is reduced to levels normally seen in uninfected patients 15 to 20 years older.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Mussel-inspired 'glue' for fetal membrane repair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-4K5h_BrWNQ/100122102845.htm
A sealant inspired by mussels' ability to stick to surfaces under wet conditions has shown promise in the repair of defects in human fetal membranes, according to a new study. During a pregnancy, such defects -- ruptures or holes -- can lead to the leakage of amniotic fluid, resulting in premature labor or termination of the pregnancy. In tests, the new sealant was found to be biocompatible and effective at sealing the tiny holes.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Cervical cancer: Combined drug and radiotherapy improves survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/emrbW9zxWh4/100119213047.htm
Combining drugs and radiotherapy improves the survival chances of women receiving treatment for cervical cancer. These are the conclusions of researchers who carried out the most comprehensive study of the effects of combined drug and radiotherapy in cervical cancer treatment to date.

Mon, 25 Jan 10
Ice is 'rotten' in the Beaufort Sea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4DkKbeapOCU/100121164011.htm
Recent observations show that Beaufort Sea ice was not as it appeared in the summer of 2009. Sea ice cover serves as an indication of climate and has implications for marine and terrestrial ecosystems. In early September 2009, satellite measurements implied that most of the ice in the Beaufort Sea either was thick ice that had been there for multiple years or was thick, first-year ice. However, in situ observations made in September 2009 show that much of the ice was in fact "rotten" ice -- ice that is thinner, heavily decayed, and structurally weak due to a uniform temperature throughout.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Insect colonies operate as 'superorganisms', new research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0R9V37h8h1I/100119092832.htm
New research finds that insect colonies follow some of the same biological "rules" as individuals, a finding that suggests insect societies operate like a single "superorganism" in terms of their physiology and life cycle.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Switch turns on allergic disease in people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Giq7W-wDH74/100120144003.htm
A new study in human cells has singled out a molecule that specifically directs immune cells to develop the capability to produce an allergic response. The signaling molecule, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin, is key to the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema) and food allergy.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Tracking MRSA evolution and transmission: Revolutionary strategy for control and prevention of infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xeK5JTTBEQY/100121141054.htm
Researchers have developed a remarkable new method to precisely track transmission of MRSA from one person to another in a hospital setting. The method "zooms" from large-scale inter-continental transmission events to person-to-person infection of MRSA within a single hospital. The technique, which harnesses the latest high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, helps researchers understand how strains spread so rapidly, and should lead to novel infection control strategies, not only for MRSA but also for other emerging superbugs.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Scientists show how brain tumors outsmart drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dBje6Y9uC4k/100119172800.htm
Researchers have shown one way in which gliomas, a deadly type of brain tumor, can evade drugs aimed at blocking a key cell signaling protein, epidermal growth factor receptor, that is crucial for tumor growth.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Chemical analyses uncover secrets of an ancient amphora
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q9N2E9LkFow/100120085453.htm
Chemists have confirmed that the substance used to hermetically seal an amphora found among remains at Lixus, in Morocco, was pine resin. The scientists also studied the metallic fragments inside the 2,000-year-old vessel, which could be fragments of material used for iron-working.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
How does an outfielder know where to run for a fly ball?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/imTkj9MROFM/100121154919.htm
To test three theories that might explain an outfielder's ability to catch a fly ball, researchers had to produce realistic balls and simulate catches. Scientists then lobbed virtual fly balls to a dozen experienced ball players.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
New 'nanoburrs' could help fight heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8uvSoiRJlB8/100118153248.htm
Researchers have built targeted nanoparticles that can cling to artery walls and slowly release medicine, an advance that potentially provides an alternative to drug-releasing stents in some patients with cardiovascular disease.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
High vitamin D levels linked to lower risk of colon cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/URtKk61XgLM/100122002340.htm
High blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of colon cancer, finds a large European study. The risk was cut by as much as 40 percent in people with the highest levels compared with those in the lowest.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
San Andreas Fault study unearths new earthquake information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1i6uaZuNKjA/100121141104.htm
Recent studies of stream channel offsets along the San Andreas Fault reveal new information about fault behavior -- affecting how we understand the potential for damaging earthquakes.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Parkinson's: Treadmill training improves movement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0rxNmqUbrbg/100119213132.htm
Treadmill training can be used to help people with Parkinson's disease achieve better walking movements, say researchers. In a systematic review of the evidence, Cochrane researchers concluded treadmill training could be used to improve specific gait parameters in Parkinson's patients.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Genetics helps to crack down on chimpanzee smuggling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AGhNp-1Q2JY/100122002338.htm
The population of chimpanzees across western Africa has decreased by 75 percent in the past 30 years, due in part to widespread chimp hunting. New strategies are needed to curb this illegal activity, experts say. Now, new research suggests that genetics may provide valuable clues as to how to crack down on the animal smuggling trade, while also helping to safely reintroduce rescued apes into the wild.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Team finds childhood clues to adult schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KQE4O8umdNY/100121135901.htm
Years before adults develop schizophrenia, there is a pattern of cognitive difficulties they experience as children, including problems with verbal reasoning, working memory, attention and processing speed. Drawing on a long-term study of more than 1,000 New Zealanders born from 1972 to 1973, researchers have found a consistent pattern of developmental difficulties that first appeared when adult study subjects with schizophrenia were 7 years old.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Humans caused demise of Australia's megafauna, evidence shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JghBOEs3Jgw/100121141109.htm
Researchers report strong evidence that humans, not climate change, caused the demise of Australia's megafauna -- giant marsupials, huge reptiles and flightless birds -- at least 40,000 years ago.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Lung cancer patients who quit smoking double their survival chances
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7VS0fum1kbc/100122002342.htm
People diagnosed with early stage lung cancer can double their chances of survival over five years if they stop smoking compared with those who continue to smoke, finds a new study.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Rover gives NASA an 'Opportunity' to view interior of Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ygtr33xJVRk/100121170142.htm
NASA's Mars exploration rover Opportunity is allowing scientists to get a glimpse deep inside Mars. Perched on a rippled Martian plain, a dark rock not much bigger than a basketball was the target of interest for Opportunity during the past two months. Dubbed "Marquette Island," the rock is providing a better understanding of the mineral and chemical makeup of the Martian interior.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Doppler ultrasound in pregnancy reduces risk in high-risk groups
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4jmHh9z4qP8/100119213045.htm
Current evidence suggests that using Doppler ultrasound in high-risk pregnancies to monitor a fetus' health may reduce caesarean sections and the number of babies who die, according to a new review.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Global warming increases flood risk in mountain areas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/veydmokCV5I/100121164054.htm
The world's mountainous regions are home to about 800 million people and the source of some of the world's major rivers. In these regions, runoff is strongly affected by temperature. This suggests that flooding could be quite sensitive to global warming, but there has been some lack of scientific consensus on the effects of temperature variations on floods.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Want to convince? Use abstract rather than concrete language
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hBNf5NO02DQ/100119121427.htm
When consumers talk to each other about products, they generally respond more favorably to abstract language than concrete descriptions, according to a new study.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Last decade was warmest on record, 2009 one of warmest years, NASA research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I8vyFKWkt3M/100121170717.htm
A new analysis of global surface temperatures by NASA scientists finds the past year was tied for the second warmest since 1880. In the Southern Hemisphere, 2009 was the warmest year on record. Although 2008 was the coolest year of the decade because of a strong La Nina that cooled the tropical Pacific Ocean, 2009 saw a return to a near-record global temperatures as the La Nina diminished.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Double trouble: Bacterial super-infection after the flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_NJ9IOr9yFs/100122002334.htm
Current research suggests that the flu may predispose to secondary bacterial infections, which account for a significant proportion of mortality during flu pandemics.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Membrane-coat proteins: Bacteria have them too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uyi2POwBrGo/100120083747.htm
Scientists have discovered that a group of bacteria possess proteins thought to exist only in eukaryotes. The discovery could yield evolutionary insights and a new model organism.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Combination therapy may be effective against some non-small cell lung cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CssMLg8soYc/100119121211.htm
Even when their tumors are shrinking in response to therapy, some non-small cell lung cancer patients have a scattering of cancer cells that are undeterred by the drug, causing the tumor to resume its growth, scientists report. The findings suggest that identifying such patients and treating them with a combination of drugs from the very start of therapy can produce longer remissions.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Making Braille music universally accessible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4-BrLr4Alxo/100121155222.htm
Blind musicians have had restricted access to scores due to the scarcity and limitations of Braille transcriptions. A new European system makes music for the blind more available and far easier to use.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Minority teen boys smoke more when they perceive discrimination; girls do not
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T5bNkBVKrjs/100119121220.htm
Researchers in Indiana report that minority teen boys smoke more when they perceived discrimination, girls reacted differently. There does not appear to be an association between perceived discrimination and smoking in minority girls, ages 12-15. For minority girls ages 16-19, perceived discrimination is associated with lower, not higher, rates of smoking.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Slime design mimics Tokyo's rail system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CZ_pn8TMF0s/100121141051.htm
What could human engineers possibly learn from the lowly slime mold? Reliable, cost-efficient network construction, apparently: a recent experiment suggests that Physarum polycephalum, a gelatinous fungus-like mold, might actually lead the way to improved technological systems, such as more robust computer and mobile communication networks.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Identification of the gene responsible for a new form of adult muscular dystrophy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/81EuRyb_i1s/100121140338.htm
A new form of adult onset muscular dystrophy has been identified. The research demonstrated that recessive ANO5 mutations will lead to abnormal membrane repair of muscle fibers.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Consumers over age 50 should consider cutting copper and iron intake, report suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SgRRaibATIk/100120113553.htm
With scientific evidence linking high levels of copper and iron to Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and other age-related disorders, a new report suggests specific steps that older consumers can take to avoid build up of unhealthy amounts of these metals in their bodies.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Link examined between omega-3 fatty acid levels and biological aging marker in patients with coronary heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yj8vCoQ4_qM/100119161758.htm
Patients with coronary heart disease who had higher omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had an associated lower rate of shortening of telomere length, a chromosome marker of biological aging, raising the possibility that these fatty acids may protect against cellular aging, according to a new study.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Overseas Collections Play Important Role In Controlling Invasive Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SsbSv_lwvx0/100119094257.htm
When melaleuca began invading the Florida Everglades and surrounding areas, scientists knew of one place to look for a solution: the Australian Biological Control Laboratory.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Disclosing sexual abuse is critical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LOM5I_TSg5o/100119121422.htm
Half of sexual abuse survivors wait up to five years before disclosing they were victimized, according to a new study.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Urban 'green' spaces may contribute to global warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9M76_G-BULc/100119133515.htm
Dispelling the notion that urban "green" spaces help counteract greenhouse gas emissions, new research has found -- in Southern California at least -- that total emissions would be lower if lawns did not exist.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
New concoction reprograms differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UA31jogbMc8/100121135702.htm
Singapore scientists report surprising discovery that novel transcription factor Nr5a2 can replace classical reprogramming factor Oct4 to significantly increase efficiency of reprogramming differentiated stem cells into iPS cells.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Communication problems in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5EmvQDV7z0/100120104004.htm
For brain cells to communicate, the contacts to each other must function. The protein molecule neuroligin-1 plays an important role in this as it stimulates the necessary maturation processes at the contact sites (synapses) of the nerves. A synaptic maturation disorder is possibly involved in the development of autism.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Relationship between anti-merozoite antibodies and incidence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R6h6RT2yS5g/100119133504.htm
New research synthesizes information from many different studies that attempt to link specific antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum with protection from clinical malaria and comes to important conclusions about which antigens might be worth advancing as vaccine candidates.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Vaccination or culling best to prevent foot-and-mouth disease, computer models suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Th5Gh53b1Es/100119141412.htm
Researchers are finding that if a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is not in the epidemic stage, preemptive vaccination is a minimally expensive way to halt the disease's spread across a network of animals.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Eating and drinking during labor: Let women decide, review suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G6EwJ6rjkk0/100119213043.htm
Women should be allowed to eat and drink what they want during labor, say researchers. The researchers carried out a systematic review of studies examining the traditional practice of restricting food and fluid intake during labor and found no evidence for any risk or benefit for women at low risk of complications.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Wnt/β-catenin in Liver Injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8kz9E8_x6-I/100122003138.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays a key role in hepatic bile acid and cholesterol homeostasis as well as helps protect the adult liver against metabolic stress.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Small clusters of islet amyloid polypeptides may contribute to diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x4bMsJscNBk/100122003104.htm
Researchers have discovered that small clusters (oligomers) of islet amyloid polypeptides (IAPPs) may contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Chronic Morphine Use Delays Wound Healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XnGr-KWikkw/100122002914.htm
Researchers have found that chronic morphine use delays wound healing in the presence on an infection.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Wnt Signaling Key in Rare Skin Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B70MR7GFChU/100122002838.htm
Researchers have discovered that Wnt signaling is involved in the development of pachydermoperiostosis.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Environmental Cues Lead to Breast Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hm2TTLV-9sA/100122002800.htm
New research has demonstrated that tenascin-C affects proto-oncogene function in breast cancer.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Even small dietary reductions in salt could mean fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NfzUlcGhmws/100121092008.htm
Reducing salt in the American diet by as little as one-half teaspoon per day could prevent nearly 100,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths each year, according to researchers.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Stain repellent chemical linked to thyroid disease in adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0hlcpnvQTkU/100121082853.htm
For the first time, a study links thyroid disease with human exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) -- a persistent organic chemical used in industrial and consumer goods including nonstick cookware and stain- and water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Mountain plants unable to withstand onslaught from invasive species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9JYxVK4mhiU/100121083404.htm
Researchers have studied the distribution of plant species in mountainous environments. The study shows that mountain plant communities are not particularly resistant to invasion by exotic species. The scientists also warn that these may become more aggressive as global warming gets a grip.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Circumcising newborn males is a cost effective strategy for HIV prevention in Rwanda, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FbB8ne6UOCk/100119133502.htm
Circumcising newborn boys as a way to prevent HIV infection in later life is more cost-effective than circumcising adult males, finds a new Rwandan study.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Dynamic maps aid epidemiological investigations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xn_EFULmABw/100119111045.htm
Using data on Salmonella infections, researchers demonstrate how dynamic mapping can be used to visualize the relationships between disease and environmental factors. The animated maps allow researchers to better detect temporal trends, the origins of an outbreak, patterns of disease spread, timing of seasonal outbreaks and clustering of diseases.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Haiti faces long road to recovery, expert warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6mXF6HN31Qg/100121083117.htm
A senior British academic has warned that earthquake-ravaged Haiti faces a prolonged period of recovery and reconstruction. Dr Neil Thomas, an expert in earth sciences at Kingston University in London and a member of the UK Disaster Risk Reduction Forum, said the sheer scale of devastation meant the island nation would face years of reconstruction once the more immediate phases of the rescue and aid operation had wound up. Dr Thomas describes the earthquake as having the potential to become one of the worst natural disasters of its kind in the western hemisphere in recent times. He pointed out that, given Haiti’s location in a complex geological region, such severe earthquakes were not totally unexpected, adding that this made the lack of rigorous disaster planning and management strategies all the more surprising.

Fri, 22 Jan 10
Most modern European males descend from farmers who migrated from the Near East
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NRSFrnA8HEw/100119133508.htm
A new study has found that most men in Europe descend from the first farmers who migrated from the Near East 10,000 years ago.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
'Survival of the cutest' proves Darwin right
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TEw5L8g_mrQ/100120093525.htm
Domestic dogs have followed their own evolutionary path, twisting Darwin's directive "survival of the fittest" to their own needs -- and have proved him right in the process, according to a new study.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Promising probiotic treatment for inflammatory bowel disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kTOeNXAHTFw/100119213037.htm
Bacteria that produce compounds to reduce inflammation and strengthen host defenses could be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Such probiotic microbes could be the most successful treatment for IBD to date, as explained in a new review.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Red grouper to be 'Frank Lloyd Wrights of the sea'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6E7JWBh19Xw/100119172843.htm
To the casual observer in the Gulf of Mexico, the seemingly sluggish red grouper is more of a couch potato than a busy beaver. But a new study reveals the fish to be both architect and ecosystem engineer.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Specialized exercise regimen shown to relieve prolonged concussion symptoms, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-I0IUkVdEfY/100119172755.htm
Researchers have shown that a controlled individualized exercise training program can bring athletes and others suffering with post-concussion syndrome back to the playing field or to their daily activities.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Energy of attacking virus revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qIeb6adsuAM/100120085346.htm
For the first time the research world has managed to measure the energy that is used when a virus infects a cell. The aim is to find a way to reduce the amount of energy inside the virus and thereby ultimately find a medicine that can counteract infections.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Low socioeconomic status affects cortisol levels in children over time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T_2HiBsEpFg/100119161805.htm
Given the importance of identifying risk factors for such diseases early in life, a new study looked at the relationship between low SES and cortisol in children over a 2-year period. The researchers hypothesized that living in a low SES environment would increase cortisol trajectories over time.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Video gamers: Size of brain structures predicts success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eyela4TYnm8/100120093521.htm
Researchers can predict your performance on a video game simply by measuring the volume of specific structures in your brain.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Cholesterol-lowering drug shows promise against serious infections in sickle cell disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gmksEB6xxhI/100119172747.htm
New research suggests a family of widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs might help protect individuals from serious illness following bacterial infection, including the pneumococcal infections that pose a deadly threat to those with sickle cell disease.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Cosmology: Weak gravitational lensing improves measurements of distant galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P9N-Ec1DNKE/100119172846.htm
A cosmologist has extended the relationship between the x-ray luminosity and the mass of galaxy clusters as measured by gravitational lensing, improving the reliability of mass measurements of much older, more distant, and smaller galactic structures. These refined measurements will benefit both the understanding of dark matter and the nature of dark energy as well.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Calpain is important to memory processes after all
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2BEDp6TWNCg/100119172753.htm
Recent studies reestablish the importance to memory processes of calpain, a protease first hypothesized to play a crucial role in memory 25 years ago.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Counterfeit Internet drugs pose significant risks and discourage vital health checks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AuxWo_MSgHU/100120085348.htm
New research shows that taking counterfeit drugs purchased over the Internet can kill and bypassing health systems can leave life-threatening problems undiagnosed. It's estimated that 90% of counterfeit drugs are sold on the Internet and that the global sale of counterfeit drugs will reach $75 billion this year. Counterfeit drug deaths include men who took fake erectile dysfunction drugs, pregnant women injected with fake iron for anemia and children who took paracetamol syrup contaminated with antifreeze.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Those less motivated to achieve will excel on tasks seen as fun
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z1DRYS_NS7Q/100119133519.htm
Those who value excellence and hard work generally do better than others on specific tasks when they are reminded of those values. But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report, the same individuals often will do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Llama proteins could play a vital role in the war on terror
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K2G4-NnqvWM/100120211009.htm
Scientists have for the first time developed a highly sensitive means of detecting the seven types of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) simultaneously. The BoNT-detecting substances are antibodies -- proteins made by the body to fight diseases -- found in llamas. The finding may lead to improved techniques for testing water and food supplies should BoNTs be used as a bioterrorism weapon.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Compounds that help protect nerve cells discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KiYCl-JWBsI/100119161803.htm
Scientists have found some compounds that improve a cell's ability to properly "fold" proteins and could lead to promising drugs for degenerative nerve diseases, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
In vitro pregnancy rates improve with new device that mimics motions in the body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xDfsBm8OnY8/100119103737.htm
Gently rocking embryos while they grow during in vitro fertilization (IVF) improves pregnancy rates in mice by 22 percent, new research shows. The procedure could one day lead to significantly higher IVF success rates in humans.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Computer model estimates risks and benefits of bariatric surgery for severely obese
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KY5e5ASUW9I/100118161930.htm
A computerized model suggests that most morbidly obese individuals would likely live longer if they had gastric bypass surgery, according to a new report. However, the best decision for individual patients varies based on factors such as age, increasing body mass index and the effectiveness of surgery.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Mixed water portfolio helps thirsty cities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lnMBUvWDvlc/100119103733.htm
Computer simulations for drought-prone areas reveal that when urban water planners combine three approaches of buying water -- permanent rights, options and leases -- the city avoids surplus water and high costs, and reduces shortages, according to civil engineers.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Going to the gym shouldn't be a workout for your eardrums
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wiPEIA6luxk/100120131205.htm
Listening to an iPod while working out feels like second nature to many people, but one researcher says we need to consider the volume levels in our earphones while working up a sweat.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Springtime ozone increases above western North America linked to emissions from abroad
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WbrlSKINOBg/100120131252.htm
Springtime ozone levels above western North America are rising primarily due to air flowing eastward from the Pacific Ocean, a trend that is largest when the air originates in Asia.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Cell of origin identified for common type of breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WkxSLy44xeI/100119133513.htm
Breast cancer researchers have identified the progenitor cell that gives rise to the most common form of breast cancer. Using a mouse model, the researchers found that inhibiting a protein essential to these progenitor cells prevented mammary tumor formation. The discovery may provide a new target for breast cancer drugs.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Resumed Mars Orbiter Observations Yield Stunning Views
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wk-KlHN_2nQ/100119085221.htm
Dunes of sand-sized materials have been trapped on the floors of many Martian craters. A new view captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dunes inside a crater in Noachis Terra, west of the giant Hellas impact basin in Mars' southern hemisphere.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Cellular communication in the cancer microenvironment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eK7X4sY1khU/100115182625.htm
Scientists lend new insight into the mechanism by which tumor-associated macrophages promote malignant progression.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Jurassic 'burn-down' events and organic matter richness in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZAvAsvE8B0E/100119111055.htm
The sediments of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation were deposited during the Late Jurassic between around 160 and 145 million years ago, the age of the reptiles. They are the main oil source rock in the North Sea. However, within this unit beds rich in organic matter are interspersed with organic-poor sediments. New evidence demonstrates that organic-poor sediments were probably caused by post-depositional loss of organic matter during so-called "burn-down" events.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Small sounds, big deals: How do number sounds influence consumers?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fgJN8AGpEQ4/100119111051.htm
Consumers remember the sounds of numbers in prices and associate certain sounds with value, according to a new study.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Animals populated Madagascar by rafting there
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZomDDyq0SnM/100120131159.htm
How did the lemurs, flying foxes and narrow-striped mongooses get to the large, isolated island of Madagascar sometime after 65 million years ago? A pair of scientists say their research confirms the longstanding idea that the animals hitched rides on natural rafts blown out to sea.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
New gene discovered for recessive form of brittle bone disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LdGn7XRO3Do/100120211013.htm
Researchers have discovered the third in a sequence of genes that accounts for previously unexplained forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic condition that weakens bones, results in frequent fractures and is sometimes fatal.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Prototype for a new living concept: Living module makes its debut
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j0ajxjUTl0w/100118092018.htm
A novel, highly innovative module for working and living has been designed to be self-sufficient in energy and water consumption. It includes a bedroom, bathroom, toilet and kitchen and is being used as a test bed and demonstrator for new building concepts and energy technologies.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Significant decrease in postoperative delirium in elderly patients, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KuuPDH-tugg/100119103724.htm
A recent study demonstrates that in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair under spinal anesthesia with propofol sedation, the prevalence of delirium can be decreased by 50 percent with light sedation, compared to deep sedation.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Infrared Hunt Begins: WISE Starts All-Sky Survey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xuZhwrUjEek/100119085538.htm
NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) began its survey of the infrared sky Jan. 14, 2010. The mission will spend nine months scanning the sky one-and-a-half times in infrared light, revealing all sorts of cosmic characters -- everything from near-Earth asteroids to young galaxies more than ten billion light-years away.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Reasoning through the rationing of end-of-life care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_HJz3_dplSU/100119172802.htm
Acknowledging that the idea of rationing health care, particularly at the end of life, may incite too much vitriol to get much rational consideration, a professor of neurology called for the start of a discussion.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Prenatal exposure to flame-retardant compounds affects neurodevelopment of young children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UbDS1dW2yoI/100119121434.htm
Prenatal exposure to ambient levels of flame retardant compounds called polybrominated diphenyl ethers is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects in young children, according to new research.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Biophysicists manipulate 'zipper,' reveal protein folding dynamics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nxEl-HW7AtE/100119103730.htm
Biophysicists in Germany have published results of single-molecule experiments bringing a higher-resolution tool to the study of protein folding. They report taking hold of a single, zipper-like protein molecule with optical tweezers and mapping changes in its "energy landscape" during folding and unfolding, measuring thousands of transitions between states. This approach allows new insight into how proteins reach 3-D shapes that determine essential functions, or cause diseases when folding goes wrong.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Kidney abnormalities require more research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WZhShyh3rns/100114171533.htm
Abnormalities in the kidneys and their blood vessels occur in at least 25 percent of healthy individuals, according to a new study. While most of these conditions are not harmful enough to prevent someone from donating a kidney, future studies are needed to determine their impact on long-term health.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
How do free electrons originate?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L3nE5WXO44A/100120085352.htm
Scientists have discovered a new way in which high-energy radiation in water can release slow electrons. Free electrons play a major role in chemical processes. In particular, they might be responsible for causing radiation damage in organic tissue.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Use of mail-order pharmacies use could improve patients' medication adherence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GFALPAi9Zpw/100119092842.htm
Researchers find that patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol who ordered their medications by mail were more likely to take them as prescribed by their physicians than patients who obtained medications from a local pharmacy.

Thu, 21 Jan 10
Near-Earth encounters can 'shake' asteroids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_5x8qnkhfg4/100120131149.htm
For decades, astronomers have analyzed the impact that asteroids could have on Earth. New research examines the opposite scenario: that Earth has considerable influence on asteroids -- and from a distance much larger than previously thought. The finding helps answer an elusive, decades-long question about where most meteorites come from before they fall to Earth and also opens the door to a new field study of asteroid seismology.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Unusual snail shell could be a model for better armor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dksudqhu-_E/100118153250.htm
Deep within the Kairei Indian hydrothermal vent field, two-and-one-half miles below the central Indian Ocean, scientists have discovered a gastropod mollusk, whose armor could improve load-bearing and protective materials in everything from aircraft hulls to sports equipment.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Researchers find a treatment for deadly brain tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/12enqb2cGS4/100119154713.htm
New research has identified a treatment in animal models for glioblastomas -- deadly brain tumors which, once diagnosed, offer a poor prognosis and relatively short life expectancy. Using a synthetic form of a naturally-occurring hormone combined with chemotherapy, researchers were able to inhibit tumor growth and achieve a 25 percent cure rate.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Copper-free click chemistry used in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/okt0Y17oCg4/100119154719.htm
Researchers have developed a unique, copper-free version of the molecular synthesis technique known as click chemistry to create biomolecular probes for in vivo studies of live mice.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
African sleeping sickness: Loosely coiled DNA helps trypanosomes make their escape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sn53YM2Ashw/100114225651.htm
To escape the grip of the human immune system, Trypanosoma brucei, which causes African sleeping sickness, performs its acclaimed disappearing act. Every time the host's immune cells get close to eliminating the infection, a small number of trypanosomes avoid detection by changing their surface 'coat.' Now, after 30 years of contradictory and inconclusive findings, researchers reveal that trypanosomes' ability to strategically coil their DNA is part of the mechanism by which they make their stealthy escape.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Friendly bacteria love the humble apple
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2yRMoVzzKA0/100119213138.htm
Why does an apple a day keep the doctor away? New research contributes to our understanding of why eating apples is good for you.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Our memory of time is shortened when we believe products and events are related
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GFYf5WmZYyo/100119111053.htm
When we believe two events are connected -- such as drinking caffeine and getting a burst of energy -- we tend to compress time, according to a new study.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
New theory on the origin of primates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/czSnoVKxPLY/100119154710.htm
New biogeographic evidence supports the origin of primates in the Jurassic and the evolution of the modern primate groups -- prosimians, tarsiers, and anthropoids -- by the early Cretaceous.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
1918 and 2009 H1N1 flu probably not spread by birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B_Rd2IlodUo/100119213039.htm
The two strains of the H1N1 influenza virus responsible for the 1918 and 2009 global flu pandemics do not cause disease in birds. It is unlikely that birds played a role in the spread of the H1N1 virus in these pandemics, according to new research.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Exotic symmetry seen in ultracold electrons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a36HO5xvyzg/100118232345.htm
An exotic type of symmetry -- suggested by string theory and theories of high-energy particle physics, and also conjectured for electrons in solids under certain conditions -- has been observed experimentally for the first time.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Novel mouse model of demyelinating disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pQLS_H8GMuk/100114171531.htm
In a new study, researchers describe how mutation of a gene called ZFP191 leads to disordered central nervous system myelination in mice -- reminiscent of what is seen in human multiple sclerosis patients.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Painless plasma jets could replace dentist's drill
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I6y-fYgN-Ic/100119213041.htm
Plasma jets capable of obliterating tooth decay-causing bacteria could be an effective and less painful alternative to the dentist's drill, according to a new study.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Treating panic disorder on the web
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zoxohl9sVec/100119103726.htm
An online treatment system for patients suffering with panic disorder and anxiety problems combine biofeedback therapy with web technologies, and allows patients and medical professionals to communicate effectively, according to new research.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Gene linked to schizophrenia may reduce cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S5dOWleiPQM/100119121442.htm
A specific form of a gene that puts people on the road to schizophrenia may protect against some forms of cancer.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
When the smoke clears: Molecular link between tobacco carcinogen and cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OyOD421LO_M/100119172745.htm
New research has uncovered a potential mechanism by which the tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK promotes lung tumor formation and development.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
New superconductivity mechanism found in iron compound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8saZ3dyh88Q/100118231646.htm
A surprising discovery by researchers of electronic liquid crystal states in an iron-based, high-temperature superconductor is another step toward understanding superconductivity and using it in such applications as power transmission.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Informative method to identify biomarkers for guiding therapy decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C-FFR6h_SRg/100114162245.htm
A randomized biomarker-stratified design, which uses the biomarker to guide analysis but not treatment assignment, provides a rigorous assessment of the utility of a potential biomarker for guiding therapy, according to a new article.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Today's threat: Computer network terrorism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/493p4f_xvic/100119092836.htm
"Carry out all my demands or the entire country's electricity will be cut off." Is this another line from a suspense film, or is it a palpable threat made possible with a computer keyboard? "Today, there is a growing trend amongst hackers around the world to threaten national infrastructures for ransom," says an expert in information war.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Sweating out the cravings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m_NeJHky5Ow/100119141410.htm
Supervised exercise in addition to pharmacological agents like nicotine replacement therapy helps smoking cessation, improves physical fitness, and delays weight gain in women smokers, new research shows.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
New visible light photocatalyst kills bacteria, even after light turned off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Bp-kc5FVEM/100119121539.htm
In the battle against bacteria, researchers have developed a powerful new weapon -- an enhanced photocatalytic disinfection process that uses visible light to destroy harmful bacteria and viruses, even in the dark.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Cardiologists discover 'pouch' in heart that may raise stroke risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9uUemKLTEJw/100119154715.htm
Cardiologists have found a pouchlike structure inside the heart's left atrial chamber that may be a potent source of stroke-causing blood clots.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Big plant-eating birds that dwell with others on islands live longest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i26yxIbxb0I/100118231148.htm
Large, social, vegetarian, island-dwelling birds live longer than other birds, reports a new study that examined the relationships between evolution and life spans in birds.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Three esophageal cancer cell lines commonly used in research prove to be from other cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HtHMYbsyhGM/100114162243.htm
Three frequently used human esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines used for research were confirmed as being from other tumor types. Two of the cell lines have been used in 11 US patents and more than 100 published studies.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
How clean is your knife?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/98z-K2CRr8U/100119213035.htm
A new fast-acting disinfectant that is effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi and prions could help to reduce the spread of deadly infections in hospitals, according to new research.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Eating habits of female soccer players and consequences for sporting activity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g9c7Fpt4FKw/100118091917.htm
To be a good sportsperson, apart from having talent and being fit and in-training, eating habits are also important. Researchers concluded that just by changing one or two bad habits sportswomen could achieve a body that suffers less during matches, thus increasing the possibility of enhancing sporting performance.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Gorillas carry malignant malaria parasite, study reports
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-yKqTv1LEA/100119133517.htm
The parasite that causes malignant malaria in humans has been detected in gorillas, along with two new species of malaria parasites, researchers report.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
FDA says bisphenol A (BPA) exposure is of 'some concern' for infants and children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FdoX20qJ2Co/100119092840.htm
The FDA has shifted its stance on bisphenol A (BPA) and said that exposure to the chemical is of "some concern" for infants and children. Previously, the agency's stance was the chemical posed no risk to humans; this stance was consistent with the chemical industry's stance.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Novel zoom objective with deformable mirrors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lParpYF7qwI/100118091911.htm
Unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs deployed on landscape analysis missions carry optical measuring equipment that is required to operate free of chromatic aberration. Researchers have now designed an all-reflective zoom objective with deformable mirrors.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Does electro-acupuncture prevent prolonged postoperative ileus?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X3FS6XkPFds/100114091217.htm
Postoperative ileus is a common problem in patients who have major abdominal surgery. The duration is usually short, but prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) may lead to increased hospital stay and costs. Acupuncture is often used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in China, but it is still not known whether it is effective for preventing or treating PPOI. Information from a study group may help surgeons choose appropriate therapy for PPOI after abdominal surgery.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Researcher discovers Ebola's deadly secret
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QcsdPSJianQ/100119154721.htm
Iowa State University researcher Gaya Amarasinghe has led scientists to uncover how the deadly Zaire Ebola virus decoys cells and eventually kills them. He had previously solved the structure of a critical part of an Ebola protein known as VP35, which is involved in host immune suppression. Now he knows how VP35 is able to do it.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Siblings play formative, influential role as 'agents of socialization'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZRHqdxQDNno/100115112104.htm
What we learn from our siblings when we grow up has -- for better or for worse -- a considerable influence on our social and emotional development as adults.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Face recognition ability inherited separately from IQ
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JOmPSavAUMc/100119172758.htm
Recognizing faces is an important social skill, but not all of us are equally good at it. Some people are unable to recognize even their closest friends (a condition called prosopagnosia), while others have a near-photographic memory for large numbers of faces. Now a twin study shows that face recognition is heritable, and that it is inherited separately from general intelligence or IQ.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
'Jekyll and Hyde' cell may hold key to muscular dystrophy, fibrosis treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HjHx7YsYuAI/100118091051.htm
Researchers have identified fat-producing cells that possess "dual-personalities" and may further the development of treatments for muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy and fibrosis.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Measuring carbon dioxide over the ocean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7qAauJsnlWY/100119103555.htm
Reliable measurements of the air-sea flux of carbon dioxide -- an important greenhouse gas -- are needed for a better understanding of the impact of ocean-atmosphere interactions on climate. A new method promises to make this task considerably easier.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Novel and simple formula to predict treatment success in chronic hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/69rbwtsvRJw/100114091214.htm
A study group from Japan used only simple clinical data to predict the treatment success of peg-interferon plus ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C with a formula using a logistic regression model. The results suggested that a novel formula combined with viral kinetics provides a clear direction of therapy for each patient and enables the best tailored treatment.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Open access drug discovery database launches with half a million compounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8GIuttFa6R4/100118132136.htm
ChEMBLdb, a vast online database of information on the properties and activities of drugs and drug-like small molecules and their targets, has just launched with information on over half a million compounds. The data lie at the heart of translating information from the human genome into successful new drugs in the clinic.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Reasons explored for making child repeat first grade
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q9FaOQd3JAs/100113191449.htm
Reasons for requiring a child to repeat the first grade may go far beyond the basic "three R's," reveals a study by two education psychologists. They say parents must often shoulder at least part of the blame or credit.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Common stomach pathogen may protect against tuberculosis, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8fC_y6QSHcA/100119213136.htm
It's been implicated as the bacterium that causes ulcers and the majority of stomach cancers, but new studies have found that Helicobacter pylori also may play a protective role -- against the worldwide killer, tuberculosis.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
New findings may shed light on brain and spinal cord birth defects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2rb515hhoRw/100119121202.htm
New research provides intriguing insight into how the nervous system forms during very early embryonic development. The study sheds light on a process called neural tube closure which, when disrupted, causes congenital birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, including anencephaly and spina bifida.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Celebrating the fifth anniversary of Huygens' Titan touchdown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pvBZYtXoQYI/100115204423.htm
On 14 January 2005, ESA's Huygens probe descended to the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Planetary scientists from around the world have gathered in Barcelona to discuss the legacy of Huygens and to consider future Titan exploration missions.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Etiological role for H. pylori in autoimmune gastritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DYkyEd0ZPvU/100114091212.htm
Autoimmune type atrophic gastritis is a severe gastric atrophy associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. The reason for the disappearance of acid secreting cells from gastric mucosa is not fully understood, but the role of Helicobacter pylori in initiating the mucosal damage is suspected in animal studies. A study found signs of previous H. pylori infection in patients with autoimmune type atrophic gastritis.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Making it easier to save energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PLDziLRgtuM/100115204702.htm
Scientists in Germany are developing programs that help show at a glance how much energy devices -- such as cell phones -- are consuming.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Healthcare professionals failing to tell patients they are not fit to drive, UK study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vYznEp85Axo/100115204658.htm
Many healthcare professionals are failing to advise people with medical conditions that could affect their ability to drive whether they should get behind the wheel, according to research from the UK.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Scientists identify Ecuador's Yasuni National Park as one of most biodiverse places on Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iOGxBF_XxUE/100119133510.htm
A team of scientists has documented that Yasuni National Park, in the core of the Ecuadorian Amazon, shatters world records for a wide array of plant and animal groups, from amphibians to trees to insects. The authors also conclude that proposed oil development projects represent the greatest threat to Yasuni and its biodiversity.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Cancer Genome Atlas identifies distinct subtypes of deadly brain cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k1p_l4Jnu68/100119121213.htm
The most common form of malignant brain cancer in adults, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is not a single disease but appears to be four distinct molecular subtypes, according to a study by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Volcanic hazard map produced for island of Gran Canaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2wP4UHq6gzs/100119121437.htm
Researchers have defined the age, location, size and geochemistry of the volcanoes of Gran Canaria during the Holocene, 11,000 years ago, in order to draw up a map of volcanic hazards for the island. The research shows that the area of greatest volcanic activity is one of the most heavily populated areas in the north east of the island, which has suffered 24 eruptions over the period studied.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
New target for central nervous system drug development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PLKSUbAJU7g/100115112102.htm
Scientists have discovered that the small molecule withaferin-A simultaneously targets two intermediate filaments, GFAP and vimentin, which are implicated in reactive gliosis, a damaging biological process common to a variety of diseases of the central nervous system and eye.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
More reliable forecasts for water flows can reduce price of electricity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PWCZWDffLkY/100119074756.htm
Brazil, Canada, China, the US, Russia, Norway, Japan, and Sweden are among the largest producers of hydroelectric power in the world. One problem for hydroelectric power companies is that the great variations in the river flow and the lack of long-term forecasts make it difficult for power companies to determine how much water in their dams should be saved or released.

Wed, 20 Jan 10
Social TV viewing is disappearing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X-Cb9cr8YT8/100118111734.htm
We are watching television together less and less often. "We are becoming more and more individualistic also in our choice of TV programs," according to new research.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Physicists tie light in knots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bGjycHAmGXo/100117150835.htm
The remarkable feat of tying light in knots has been achieved. Understanding how to control light in this way has important implications for laser technology used in wide a range of industries.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Concussions not taken seriously enough, researcher finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0BNo0b4BkSw/100118001721.htm
Despite growing public interest in concussions because of serious hockey injuries or skiing deaths, a researcher in Canada has found that we may not be taking the common head injury seriously enough.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Low concentrations of oxygen and nutrients slowing biodegradation of Exxon Valdez oil
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yC_VjFxT5vs/100117150822.htm
The combination of low concentrations of oxygen and nutrients in the lower layers of the beaches of Alaska's Prince William Sound is slowing the aerobic biodegradation of oil remaining from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, according to researchers.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New biomarkers for predicting the spread of colon cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IzVG7EAlYbU/100113172258.htm
Scientists in China are reporting discovery of two proteins present in the blood of people with colon cancer that may serve as the potential biomarkers for accurately predicting whether the disease will spread.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Best way to reduce emissions is to make cars smaller
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pPzMSG7_dQ0/100116102818.htm
A new study says the best way to reduce emissions in the short term is a 'drastic downscaling of both size and weight' of conventional gasoline and diesel cars.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Self-control, and lack of self-control, is contagious
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5P8rtihu9IA/100113172359.htm
A new study has revealed that self-control -- or the lack thereof -- is contagious.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Walking robot switches gaits autonomously and flexibly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/guR7-41nvec/100117150824.htm
Even simple insects can generate quite different movement patterns with their six legs. The animal uses various gaits depending on whether it crawls uphill or downhill, slowly or fast. Scientists have now developed a walking robot, which can flexibly and autonomously switch between different gaits. The success of their solution lies in its simplicity: a small and simple network with just a few connections can create very diverse movement patterns. To this end, the robot uses a mechanism for "chaos control."

Mon, 18 Jan 10
First successful use of expanded umbilical-cord blood units to treat leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/15A23k0yyDY/100117150820.htm
Scientists have cleared a major technical hurdle to making umbilical-cord-blood transplants a more widely-used method for treating leukemia and other blood cancers.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New genetic map will speed up plant breeding of the world's most important medicinal crop
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e8dhByIJKaE/100114143023.htm
Plant scientists at the University of York have published the first genetic map of the medicinal herb Artemisia annua. The map is being used to accelerate plant breeding of Artemisia and rapidly develop the species into a high-yielding crop. This development is urgently needed to help meet escalating demand for effective malaria treatments.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Psoriasis drugs put to the test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/noPLFMkRhLI/100113172138.htm
Clinical trials to test the effectiveness of two prescription drugs for the debilitating skin condition psoriasis have revealed significant differences that should help inform physicians treating patients with the condition.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Making microscopic worms into a more deadly insecticide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TyxTkiQx_NE/100115112119.htm
Microscopic nematode worms can be a potent organic insecticide, killing crop-raiding bugs without without environmental side effects of chemicals. But when the worms are mass-bred for agriculture, they tend to "wimp out," and are not as deadly as their cousins that grow in the wild. A new study identified the genetic changes in lab-raised worms that make them less deadly to insects. These insights also provide a map for weakening worms that target humans.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Migraine and depression may share genetic component
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6n-idsPNmWg/100113172134.htm
New research shows that migraine and depression may share a strong genetic component. The study involved 2,652 people who took part in the larger Erasmus Rucphen Family study. All of the participants are descendants of 22 couples who lived in Rucphen in the 1850s to 1900s.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Punishment important in plant-pollinator relationship
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P4oWfvlkEaU/100114143513.htm
Figs and the wasps that pollinate them present one of biologists' favorite examples of a beneficial relationship between two different species. In exchange for the pollination service provided by the wasp, the fig fruit provides room and board for the wasp's developing young. However, wasps do not always pollinate the fig. Fig trees "punish" these "cheaters" by dropping unpollinated fruit, killing the wasp's offspring inside, report researchers.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New gene variants associated with glucose, insulin levels, some with diabetes risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g1F5-lRt-1Y/100117150831.htm
Scientists have found 13 new genetic variants that influence blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and the function of insulin-secreting beta cells in populations of European descent. Five of the newly discovered variants increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Protein complex possibly crucial for triggering embryo development identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aNcF1n6Gun4/100106193211.htm
Researchers have discovered a protein complex that appears to play a significant role in erasing epigenetic instructions on sperm DNA, essentially creating a blank slate for the different cell types of a new embryo to develop.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Drug that modifies gene activity could help some older leukemia patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/00T1UBku7Po/100112165246.htm
Older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) might benefit from a drug that reactivates genes that cancer cells turn off, according to new research. Researchers say the findings support further investigation of the drug, decitabine, as a first-line treatment for these patients, who have limited treatment options.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Fleet of high-tech robot 'gliders' to explore oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/154bN7yNxkU/100114162345.htm
Researchers in Germany recently obtained the biggest fleet of so-called gliders in Europe. These instruments can explore the oceans like sailplanes up to a depth of 1000 meters. In doing so they only consume as much energy as a bike light. In the next years, up to ten of these high-tech instruments will take measurements to better understand many processes in the oceans. Currently scientists and technicians are preparing the devices for their first mission as a 'swarm' in the tropical Atlantic.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Burst of neural activity marks transition between not seeing and seeing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zgmF27fy9vQ/100114103130.htm
Scientists find a burst of neural activity at the transition between not seeing and seeing, revealing a clear threshold that must be crossed for perception to occur.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Tipping Point? West Antarctic Ice Sheet could become unstable as world warms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yzNljBvYM3M/100116103350.htm
A new study examines how ice sheets, such as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, could become unstable as the world warms.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New insights into inherited retinal disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IV6SWwj2ZFY/100117150833.htm
Scientists have discovered new links between a common form of inherited blindness affecting children and a gene known as Abelson helper integration site-1 (AHI1). Their findings may lead to new therapies and improved diagnostics for retinal disease.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Being pear shaped protects against heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ibVWiXUK4Sw/100116104535.htm
If you're prone to worrying whether your 'bum looks big in this', particularly after the Christmas period, you can take comfort that there may be health benefits.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Novel growth pattern classification predictive of outcome in non-small cell lung cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o2snHRtTfj4/100112165112.htm
Researchers have classified tumors into three growth patterns: destructive, alveolar and papillary. This is useful in patients undergoing operations.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
MechanoBiology: New protein function discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_0K0ehhdnsw/100112121944.htm
Scientists have discovered a new function of a protein that could save lives.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Table saw-related injuries have remained consistently high, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IktBjWf9VLY/100113172150.htm
A recent study found that from 1990-2007, an estimated 565,670 non-occupational table saw-related injuries were treated in US hospital emergency departments, averaging 31,500 injuries per year.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Scent of a woman: Men's testosterone responses to olfactory ovulation cues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/94TdOB6025A/100113122514.htm
Women around the world spend billions of dollars each year on exotic smelling perfumes and lotions in the hopes of attracting a mate. However, going "au natural" may be the best way to capture a potential mate's attention: Men who smelled shirts of ovulating women subsequently had higher levels of testosterone than men who smelled shirts worn by non-ovulating women, suggesting that testosterone levels may be responsive to smells indicating when a woman is fertile.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Scientists hope to end sleeping sickness by making parasite that causes it to self-destruct
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rz_ijuiixJc/100115112056.htm
Scientists are developing new drug therapies that they hope will kill the family of parasites that causes a deadly trio of insect-borne diseases and has afflicted inhabitants of underdeveloped and developing nations for centuries.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
More evidence on benefits of high blood pressure drugs in diabetic eye disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RF4o7_cbu4M/100106193322.htm
Scientists are reporting new evidence that certain high blood pressure drugs may be useful in preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. The study, the largest to date on proteins in the retina, could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the sight-threatening disease, they say.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Lung cancer: Drug with unique disruption of tumor blood flow shows promise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TDZat8IRWs0/100112165110.htm
Phase II study results of the agent ASA404 showed promise in patients with either squamous or non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New iPhone app to measure carbon intensity of UK electricity grid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p75Urd3wr5Q/100107083902.htm
As temperatures drop below freezing and demand for energy soars, engineers have launched a new iPhone application to monitor the UK electricity grid.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
New method to measure childhood stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KarjxGzOyFQ/100113131626.htm
Researchers in Spain have created the 'Inventory of Daily Stressors' -- a method aimed at schoolchildren. According to experts, worrying about physical appearance, taking part in numerous extracurricular activities and being alone a lot are some of the factors that increase the risk of suffering from childhood stress.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Wilder weather exerts a stronger influence on biodiversity than steadily changing conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u__LYiyDaRw/100115182629.htm
An increase in the variability of local conditions could do more to harm biodiversity than slower shifts in climate, a new study has found.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
How sunlight causes skin cells to turn cancerous
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O9FGRgj_u5E/100115123051.htm
A new study by could lead to new drug treatments for skin cancer. The drugs would work by turning on a gene that prevents skin cells from becoming cancerous.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
'Noisiest' neurons persist in the adult brain, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fwnQDyh6xaI/100113122257.htm
Neuroscientists have discovered that when it comes to new neurons in the adult brain, the squeakiest wheels get the grease.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Paradigm changing mechanism is revealed for the control of gene expression in bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n4nsGjWGmAE/100113131501.htm
A new study is shedding new light on the action of Rho, a key regulatory protein in E. coli and many other bacteria. The study reveals a new paradigm to understand the molecular principles of gene transcription. This work could potentially lead to the development of new types of antibiotics that could target Rho and its crucial functions.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Game-changing nanodiamond discovery for MRI
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UP-TEtPPV1o/100114143327.htm
A new study shows that coupling a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent to a nanodiamond results in dramatically enhanced signal intensity and thus vivid image contrast. The researchers say it is a game-changing event for sensitivity and the first published report of nanodiamonds being imaged by MRI technology.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Parks and recreation programs declining as obesity, health concerns rise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vu0S2BAyS4k/100115112121.htm
One way to help address the epidemic of obesity in the United States is improved access to pleasant hiking trails and an ambitious parks and recreation program, a recent study suggests, but programs such as this are increasingly being reduced in many states due to budget shortfalls.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Wild crows reveal tool skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bCydtFSnlE4/100116105504.htm
A new study using motion sensitive video cameras has revealed how New Caledonian crows use tools in the wild.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Proteins that might contribute to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uRpyd8wSDAU/100115093841.htm
Scientists have identified three kinases, or proteins, that dismantle connections within brain cells, which may lead to memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Haiti earthquake: Converting shipping containers into emergency housing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WWmadco-KO4/100115182633.htm
Resources to solve the housing crisis in Haiti may already be on hand. Some researchers have been experimenting with ways to convert shipping containers into emergency housing in the hurricane-prone Caribbean, where a surplus of the sturdy boxes often sits in port yards.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Cancer stem cells suppress immune response against brain tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KaRHO7ybE9A/100115123054.htm
Cancer-initiating cells that launch glioblastoma multiforme, the most lethal type of brain tumor, also suppress an immune system attack on the disease, scientists have found.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Chemical composition of red giant star with more carbon than oxygen in its atmosphere
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TADlIRrOCPM/100114081712.htm
Researchers of the University of Granada have conducted the most complete analysis of the chemical composition and evolutionary state of a spectral type R carbon star. The presence of carbon is essential for the possible development of life in the universe, and therefore explaining its origin is of vital importance.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Disadvantaged neighborhoods set children's reading skills on negative course
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S05CS1H93No/100114143330.htm
A landmark study from the University of British Columbia finds that the neighborhoods in which children reside at kindergarten predict their reading comprehension skills seven years later. The study, published this week in the journal Health & Place, finds children who live in neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty show reduced scores on standardized tests seven years later -- regardless of the child's place of residence in seventh grade.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Search for an artificial blood substitute
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MzaBFy0tRpQ/100115204727.htm
Among those around the globe seeking a viable blood alternative are scientists in the UK who have just submitted a worldwide patent for their engineered hemoglobin.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Genetic risk factor identified for Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MK7P17i3eeM/100115182627.htm
Doctors and human geneticists have identified a new genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
HIFI resumes quest for water in Universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uibm9uvQi8Q/100115204418.htm
The back up system of HIFI, the state of the art Dutch space instrument on ESA's Herschel space telescope, has been switched on successfully. Due to an unexpected voltage peak in the electronic system HIFI has been inactive for more than 160 days, but on Thursday evening 14 January Mission Control in Darmstadt confirmed that HIFI is now fully capable of performing groundbreaking observations in space again.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Prevalence of high body mass index among children and teens remains steady
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tA6YhFgkYt8/100113111909.htm
The prevalence of high weight among children and teens in the US (i.e., at or above the 95th percentile), ranges from approximately 10 percent to 18 percent, although these rates appear to have remained relatively stable over the past 10 years, except for an increase for 6- to 19-year-old boys who are at the very heaviest weight levels, according to a new study.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Much of early methane rise can be attributed to spreading of northern peatlands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aOd3IX9SqL8/100114081543.htm
The surprising increase in methane concentrations millennia ago, identified in continental glacier studies, has puzzled researchers for a long time. According to a strong theory, this would have resulted from the commencement of rice cultivation in East Asia. However, a study by researchers in Finland shows that the massive expanse of the northern peatlands occurred around 5000 years ago, coincident with rising atmospheric methane levels.

Mon, 18 Jan 10
Health care professionals failing to tell patients they are not fit to drive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eFdnlRInpq4/100114143515.htm
Many health care professionals are failing to advise people with medical conditions that could affect their ability to drive whether they should get behind the wheel, according to new research.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
'Nanodragster' races toward the future of molecular machines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W9hftNGjE40/100106193320.htm
Scientists in Texas are reporting the development of a "nanodragster" that may speed the course toward development of a new generation of futuristic molecular machines. The vehicle -- only 1/50,000th the width of a human hair -- resembles a hot-rod in shape and can outperform previous nano-sized vehicles.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
New method fixes broken proteins to treat genetic diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8iW7ufE3bRQ/100115094105.htm
Researchers have demonstrated how it could be possible to treat genetic diseases by enhancing the natural ability of cells to restore their own mutant proteins. In particular, they found that drugs called proteosome inhibitors could provide one way of manipulating cells into producing more of a so-called chaperone protein, named Hsp70, which helps amino acid chains fold into their proper protein form.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Gender-biased heart damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZSY5J3SdzEQ/100113172304.htm
A man's male hormones may ward off heart damage by helping vessels around the heart regenerate, suggest Australian researchers.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Gastroenterologists study mind-body techniques for treating celiac disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w-bhK755yac/100111171857.htm
For adults and children diagnosed with celiac disease, the only treatment is a gluten-free diet, which can be very challenging. Gastroenterologists are conducting a new study to see if mind/body techniques could help patients with celiac disease adhere to the very strict diet.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
New computer vision system for the analysis of human behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZeMYXahEEc8/100113104300.htm
Scientists have developed a cognitive computational system consisting of video cameras and software able to recognize and predict human behavior, as well as describe it in natural language. The applications of this project, called the Hermes project, are numerous and can be used in the fields of intelligent surveillance, protection of accidents, marketing, psychology, etc.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Scientists map brain pathway for vocal learning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_okkVXAhGGo/100113122259.htm
Scientists have identified neurons in the songbird brain that convey the auditory feedback needed to learn a song. Their research lays the foundation for improving human speech, for example, in people whose auditory nerves are damaged and who must learn to speak without the benefit of hearing their own voices. This work is the first study to identify an auditory feedback pathway in the brain that is harnessed for learned vocal control.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Higher temperatures can worsen climate change, methane measurements from space reveal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-a3JSzDsrLo/100115204416.htm
Higher temperatures on the earth's surface at higher latitudes cause an increase in the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas that plays an important role in global warming. Therefore, higher temperatures are not just a consequence of climate change but can also worsen it, conclude climate researchers in a new study. During their research, the researchers determined methane concentration measurements from the Dutch-German space instrument SCIAMACHY, on board the European Space Agency's environmental satellite Envisat.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Effectiveness of asthma relief inhalers: Discovery opens new avenues for treatment of poorly controlled asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZYuzoQJruqM/100112213104.htm
A new study is probing why asthma relief inhalers might actually make asthma worse -- and what can be done about it.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Dual role for immune cells in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IvBj5EKV_ec/100113122301.htm
We all have at one time or another experienced the typical signs of an infection: the fever, the listlessness, the lack of appetite. They are orchestrated by the brain in response to circulating cytokines, the signaling molecules of the immune system. But just how cytokines' reach extends beyond the almost impenetrable blood-brain barrier has been the topic of much dispute.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Program may prevent knee injuries in young female soccer players
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ShBV1K-lktg/100111161939.htm
A soccer-specific exercise program that includes individual instruction of athletes appears to reduce the risk of knee injuries in young female players, according to a new study.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Faster, easier way to access audiovisual assets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I7Pqxq7RiQc/100115204729.htm
Millions of hours of old shows sit collecting dust in the basements of TV and radio broadcasters. Digging through these audiovisual treasure troves is becoming faster and easier thanks to software developed by European researchers.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Parkinson's patients shed light on role of reward bias in compulsive behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ijRwqPW7Ojs/100113122251.htm
New research unravels the brain mechanisms that underlie the ability of a standard drug treatment for Parkinson's to elicit compulsive behaviors in some patients with the disease. The study provides fascinating new insight into the brain mechanisms that underlie a predisposition to behavioral addictions, such as pathological gambling and shopping.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
How music 'moves' us: Listeners' brains second-guess the composer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UPkj_HSumw4/100115204704.htm
Have you ever accidentally pulled your headphone socket out while listening to music? What happens when the music stops? Psychologists believe that our brains continuously predict what is going to happen next in a piece of music. So, when the music stops, your brain may still have expectations about what should happen next. A new paper predicts that these expectations should be different for people with different musical experience and sheds light on the brain mechanisms involved.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Early immune response needed for hit-and-hide cancer viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OqGe5C0LXQM/100114174219.htm
Human retroviral infections might be more manageable if the immune system could respond strongly to the virus early, say cancer researchers in a new study. The research examined the retrovirus HTLV-1, which causes adult T-cell leukemia. It indicates that if the immune system could kill virus-infected cells within days of infection, it may inhibit the virus's ability to establish reservoirs of infected cells and make the infection more treatable later.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Excess DNA damage found in cells of patients with Friedreich's ataxia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jHLo0QVzw0Q/100115094107.htm
Elevated levels of DNA damage have been found in the mitochondria and nuclei of patients with the inherited, progressive nervous system disease called Friedreich's ataxia. The findings shed light on the molecular abnormalities that lead to the disease, as well as point the way to new therapeutic approaches and the development of biomarker blood tests to track its progression.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Pink tomato gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s_FdPZcUqIg/100114103132.htm
What makes a particular variety of tomato pink? The gene responsible may help researchers develop new exotic tomatoes.

Sun, 17 Jan 10
Objects we want are seen as closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C_CsSYfhZHA/100114143027.htm
If we really want something, that desire may influence how we view our surroundings.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Sequencing wasp genome sheds new light on sexual parasite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kqqWud5xlFs/100114143021.htm
Sequencing the complete genomes of three species of wasp provides new insights into the methods that the bacterial parasite Wolbachia uses to manipulate the sex lives of its hosts.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Polar bear droppings advance superbug debate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Ww9StzfBdI/100113192011.htm
Scientists investigating the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs have gone the extra mile for their research -- all the way to the Arctic. Researchers found little sign of the microbes in the droppings of polar bears that have had limited or no contact with humans, suggesting that the spread of antibiotic resistance genes seen in other animals may be the result of human influence.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Studies demonstrate link among Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome and atherosclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tcuD7092veI/100115182639.htm
Neuroscientists have demonstrated an association among Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome and atherosclerosis. Their research implicates damage inflicted by the amyloid protein as a shared disease mechanism.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
New satellite maps of Haiti coming in
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mPEi2recBU4/100115204700.htm
As rescue workers scramble to provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of people following Haiti's earthquake, Earth observation satellite data continues to provide updated views of the situation on the ground.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Trial of new osteoporosis drug beginning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mLTV_6M0pZ0/100114143517.htm
Endocrinologists are launching a human trial of a new drug that their research indicates holds great promise for building bones weakened by osteoporosis. An experimental drug called parathyroid hormone-related protein is an anabolic agent that appears to be unique in its ability to stimulate bone formation without simultaneously increasing bone breakdown.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
ESA’s ice mission arrives safely at launch site
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ba2WNkSdjqM/100114081708.htm
In what might seem rather appropriate weather conditions, the CryoSat-2 Earth Explorer satellite has completed its journey to the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, where it will be prepared for launch on 25 February. The CryoSat mission is dedicated to precise monitoring of the changes in the thickness of marine ice floating in the polar oceans and variations in the thickness of the vast ice sheets that overlay Greenland and Antarctica.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Why we can't always find what we're looking for (and sometimes find what isn't there)
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9zQwyoRq7qY/100114143010.htm
When people look for things that are rare, they aren't all that good at finding them. And it turns out that the reverse is also true: When people look for something common, they will often think they see it even when it isn't there.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
As the crust turns: Cassini data show Enceladus in motion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7oSqGLND6js/100112141400.htm
Blobs of warm ice that periodically rise to the surface and churn the icy crust on Saturn's moon Enceladus explain the quirky heat behavior and intriguing surface of the moon's south polar region, according to a new paper using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
New technique uses zebrafish behavior to screen for useful compounds: Pathways affecting sleep and wakefulness discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bv78um0kknA/100114143018.htm
A robust new technique for screening drugs' effects on zebrafish behavior is pointing scientists toward unexpected compounds and pathways that may govern sleep and wakefulness in humans. Among their more intriguing findings: Various anti-inflammatory agents in the immune system, long known to induce sleep during infection, may also shape normal sleep/wake cycles.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Do fish feel pain? Norwegian research suggests they can
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6MUpj7T5PJ4/100112090126.htm
A Norwegian researcher studying nociception and pain in teleost fish concludes that is that it is very likely the fish can indeed feel pain.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
In early heart development, genes work in tandem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o3AOXXYyON0/100112122423.htm
Studying genes that regulate early heart development in animals, scientists have solved a puzzle about one gene's role, finding that it acts in concert with a related gene. Their finding contributes to understanding how the earliest stages of heart development may go awry, resulting in congenital heart defects in humans. Occurring in approximately 1 in 200 children, congenital heart defects represent the most common human birth defect.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
Regulatory network balances stem cell maintenance, differentiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Rt0zBJtIpyM/100111172007.htm
While much of the promise of stem cells springs from their ability to develop into any cell type in the body, the biological workings that control that maturation process are still largely unknown.

Sat, 16 Jan 10
One-third of NFL players with Achilles tendon injuries sidelined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ve87LaZCWj4/100112123648.htm
More than a third of National Football League players who sustained an Achilles tendon injury were never able to return to professional play, according to a new study. The injured players who did return to active play averaged a 50 percent reduction in their power ratings.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Chimp and human Y chromosomes evolving faster than expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tAFCXUxO1cM/100113131505.htm
The first comprehensive comparison of Y chromosomes from two species sheds new light on Y chromosome evolution. Contrary to a widely held scientific theory that the mammalian Y chromosome is slowly decaying or stagnating, new evidence suggests that in fact the Y is actually reinventing itself through continuous, wholesale renovation.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
New finding in cell migration may be key to preventing clots, cancer spread
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7aS-SXI_SNE/100114143319.htm
Researchers have discovered how cells in the body flatten out as they adhere to internal bodily surfaces, the first step in a wide range of important processes including clot formation, immune defense, wound healing, and the spread of cancer cells.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Contaminated House Dust Linked to Parking Lots with Coal Tar Sealant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hrsax47cqo0/100113112056.htm
Coal-tar-based sealcoat -- the black, shiny substance sprayed or painted on many parking lots, driveways, and playgrounds -- has been linked to elevated concentrations of the contaminants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in house dust. Apartments with adjacent parking lots treated with the coal-tar based sealcoat contained house dust with much higher concentrations of PAHs than apartments next to other types of parking lots according to new research.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Spinal cement may provide real support for cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qZ7O6mayT7A/100112090036.htm
New technologies used to repair spinal fractures could soon be helping patients suffering from the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Sniffing out terrorists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j5jLCqnF48U/100113104251.htm
A new intelligent system has been developed to help identify terrorists carrying explosives. Sensitive electronic noses capture the smell of the explosives; the system processes the acquired data, correlates it with individuals' movements ... and ultimately tracks down the suspects.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Captured by true crime: Why women are drawn to tales of rape, murder and serial killers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n91xJPII9t8/100112123650.htm
Women are more drawn to true crime books than are men, according to new research.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Alligators breathe like birds, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DHaZrB_xC3A/100114143014.htm
Scientists discovered that air flows in one direction as it loops through the lungs of alligators, just as it does in birds. The study suggests this breathing method may have helped the dinosaurs' ancestors dominate Earth after the planet's worst mass extinction 251 million years ago.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Seeing a diagnosis: How an eye test could aid Alzheimer's detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NQ_0lc3MUqY/100114081158.htm
A simple and inexpensive eye test could aid detection and diagnosis of major neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's at an earlier stage than is currently possible, according to new research.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Sky Map: Solar scientists use 'magnetic mirror effect' to reproduce IBEX observation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UoZh3WbTw_o/100112171811.htm
Ever since NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, mission scientists released the first comprehensive sky map of our solar system's edge in particles, solar physicists have been busy revising their models to account for the discovery of a narrow "ribbon" of bright emission that was completely unexpected and not predicted by any model at the time.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Blood test may aid in lung cancer diagnosis and reduce unnecessary invasive procedures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yl3Y5g1izm8/100112165106.htm
Of the nearly 150,000 abnormal chest X-rays performed each year in the United States, 25 percent of patients will display only benign lung pathologies on further surgical examination.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
'World's least known bird' discovered breeding in Afghanistan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3gAdhWa65II/100113131630.htm
Researchers have discovered for the first time the breeding area of the large-billed reed warbler -- dubbed in 2007 as "the world's least known bird species" -- in the remote and rugged Wakhan Corridor of the Pamir Mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Parkinson’s patients who are pathological gamblers also display abnormal social behaviour
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jzo5dxbqlFU/100114081545.htm
People with Parkinson’s Disease are more likely to display abnormal social behaviour and make poor decisions in ambiguous circumstances if they are pathological gamblers. A number of studies have already associated pathological gambling with Parkinson’s, suggesting that it is a frequent impulse control disorder associated mainly with dopamine replacement therapy. The findings of this new research suggest that this particular drug therapy can induce dysfunction in the areas of the brain that control 'affective decision making'.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Unlocking the mystery of the duck-billed platypus' venom
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OcU1vctxZOU/100113172254.htm
Abandon any notion that the duck-billed platypus is a soft and cuddly creature -- maybe like Perry the Platypus in the Phineas and Ferb cartoon. The males can deliver a mega-sting that causes immediate, excruciating pain, like hundreds of hornet stings, leaving victims incapacitated for weeks. Now scientists are reporting an advance toward deciphering the chemical composition of the venom, with the first identification of a dozen protein building blocks.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Benefits of calcium and vitamin D in preventing fractures confirmed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zvyVr0yEFHA/100114143325.htm
Taking both calcium and vitamin D supplements on a daily basis reduces the risk of bone fractures, regardless of whether a person is young or old, male or female, or has had fractures in the past, a large study of nearly 70,000 patients from throughout the United States and Europe has found.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
No-sweat pressure sensors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XCP_Sxcz34M/100113104249.htm
Microelectronic chips used to take pressure readings are very delicate. A new technology has been developed that makes pressure sensors more robust, enabling them to continue operating normally at temperatures up to 250 degrees Celsius.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Graves' eye disease: Immune cell linked to inflammation and scarring identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dQJq_xsEYJw/100109002318.htm
A cell type that causes significant scarring in lung disease appears to have a similar effect in Graves' disease, researchers have found. The cells, called fibrocytes, are present at a higher than normal frequency in patients with Graves' disease, according to a new study, the first to associate fibrocytes with this autoimmune disease.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Chromosomes make a rapid retreat from nuclear territories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OIqTx7RkUdQ/100112191618.htm
Chromosomes move faster than we first thought. New findings show the way chromosomes move around the nucleus when leaving the proliferative stage of the cell cycle and entering quiescence -- and the unexpected speed at which they move.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Weekend strokes may receive more aggressive treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UZ5DEQ3jDQY/100111161931.htm
Stroke patients admitted to the hospital on the weekend appear more likely to receive the clot-dissolving medication tissue plasminogen activator than patients admitted during the week, according to a new study. However, stroke death rates appear similar among weekend and weekday admissions.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Biologists wake dormant viruses and uncover mechanism for survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PZ0WdRndfUk/100113131512.htm
It is known that viral "squatters" comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our ancestors. But just how we keep them quiet and prevent them from attack was more of a mystery until researchers revived them.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Cancer cells co-opt fat metabolism pathway to become more malignant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9PFiHbS-KQ8/100112122437.htm
An enzyme that normally helps break down stored fats goes into overdrive in some cancer cells, making them more malignant, according to new findings.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Saving gorillas, elephants starts with understanding their human neighbors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/flwqSFhtbDk/100113172140.htm
Understanding local human cultures is key to preserving gorillas, elephants and other wildlife in African parks and reserves, according to new research.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
EGFR gene signature predicts non-small cell lung cancer prognosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9kVXk1tBhU/100112165117.htm
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a validated therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers have now discovered a 93-gene signature that is associated with the presence of EGFR mutations in tumors from lung cancer patients and is a favorable prognostic marker in patients with early stage lung cancer.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Appliance rebates waste government money
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QDZEgIUN9x4/100111121710.htm
For every $100 of taxpayer money spent on refrigerators under the U.S. federal appliance rebate program, $6 is entirely lost, say two economists.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Words used to describe substance-use patients can alter attitudes, contribute to stigma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P74HSDt-UdA/100113122310.htm
Changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals, even those who specialize in addiction treatment.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Neural thermostat keeps brain running efficiently
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/phGaVqsknr8/100113122255.htm
Our energy-hungry brains operate reliably and efficiently while processing a flood of sensory information, thanks to a sort of neuronal thermostat that regulates activity in the visual cortex, researchers have found.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Role of key protein in ALS and frontotemporal dementia identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I87QUiWvOWI/100112171809.htm
Scientists have identified the reason a key protein plays a major role in two neurodegenerative diseases. They have found how the protein TDP-43 may cause the neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies (FTLDu).

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Key mechanism for the proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BYFsmj8pl2w/100114081547.htm
Scientists in Germany have elucidated a crucial mechanism in the lytic cycle of Epstein-Barr virus. Researchers have identified the function of a protein which plays a critical role in the proliferation of the virus. The Epstein-Barr virus can induce cancer. The findings represent a major step forward in understanding tumor development.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
A paracrine pathway regulates pancreatic cancer cell invasion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HVOFSV2cJQU/100112165242.htm
Pancreatic cancer cell invasion along nerves is regulated by a paracrine pathway that involves glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, which may be a possible target for preventing the invasion, according to a new study.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
New system helps explain salmon migration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DNrpC5jAty0/100109002312.htm
The new Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System is better suited to track the migration of juvenile salmon in deep, fast-moving rivers than comparable methods, suggests new research.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Sticking to diets is about more than willpower -- complexity matters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/chcnCTzogVo/100112085516.htm
Cognitive scientists compared the dieting behavior of women following two radically different diets. The more complicated people found their diet plans, the sooner they were likely to bail. "For people on a more complex diet that involves keeping track of quantities and items eaten, their subjective impression of the difficulty of the diet can lead them to give up on it," said one researcher.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Parasitic wasps' genomes provides new insights into pest control, genetics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-waCVL6wkiM/100114143016.htm
Parasitic wasps kill pest insects, but their existence is largely unknown to the public. Now, scientists have sequenced the genomes of three parasitoid wasp species, revealing many features that could be useful to pest control and medicine, and to enhance our understanding of genetics and evolution.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Angiotensin receptor blockers associated with lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eSnn2OWfjNo/100112201345.htm
Researchers have found that angiotensin receptor blockers -- a particular class of anti-hypertensive medicines -- are associated with a striking decrease in the occurrence and progression of dementia.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Climate conditions in 2050 crucial to avoid harmful impacts in 2100
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b9bb6Vq655w/100111154912.htm
While governments around the world continue to explore strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a new study suggests policymakers should focus on what needs to be achieved in the next 40 years in order to keep long-term options viable for avoiding dangerous levels of warming. The study is the first of its kind to use a detailed energy system model to analyze the relationship between mid-century targets and the likelihood of achieving long-term outcomes.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Next-generation sequencing used to rapidly discover genetic cause of devastating disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_YK18yR-m-I/100113104253.htm
Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation that causes Joubert Syndrome, a devastating inherited neurological disorder. They identified this mutation using whole exome sequencing -- a rapid "next-gen" sequencing approach that minimizes time and cost. The mutation, which causes a single nucleotide change in the TMEM216 gene, has a high carrier rate of 1:92 among Ashkenazi Jews.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Heat and moisture from Himalayas could be a key cause of the South Asian monsoon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qtjfnTfid-U/100113131509.htm
Climate scientists suggest that the Tibetan Plateau -- thought to be the primary source of heat that drives the South Asian monsoon -- may have far less of an effect than the Himalayas and other surrounding mountains. As the monsoon brings needed rainfall and water to billions of people each year, understanding its proper origin, especially in the context of global climate change, is crucial for the future sustainability of the region.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Most (56 percent) of young adults in new sexual relationship infected with HPV, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ew3Pn-cEZy0/100114081200.htm
A groundbreaking study of couples by researchers in Canada found more than half (56 percent) of young adults in a new sexual relationship were infected with human papillomavirus. Of those, nearly half (44 percent) were infected with an HPV type that causes cancer.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Protein needed to develop auditory neurons identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dcu3imObRCo/100112171807.htm
Loss of spiral ganglion neurons or hair cells in the inner ear is the leading cause of congenital and acquired hearing impairment. Researchers have found that Sox2, a protein that regulates stem cell formation, is involved in spiral ganglion neuron development.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
New insight on how trees have evolved to obtain light and photosynthesize at the greatest rate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ezUvV4IKMI/100113131628.htm
Although scientists understand core processes such as photosynthesis, they do not have a full understanding of issues such as how plants maximize their photosynthetic capacity. Mathematical models for the distribution of light within the canopy predict that the photosynthetic rate of the entire canopy is maximized when the specific leaf area is lowest for leaves at the top of the canopy. This research provides new insight into the mechanism by which trees have evolved to obtain light and photosynthesize at the greatest rate.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Raising kids may lower blood pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p6NjUJzEdwI/100114091206.htm
A new study has found a link between parenthood and lower blood pressure. The effect was more pronounced among women. The findings were not related to factors like employment status, number of kids and the age of children.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Haiti earthquake occurred in complex, active seismic region
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gJun_Aqs_fQ/100114143321.htm
The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that triggered disastrous destruction and mounting death tolls in Haiti this week occurred in a highly complex tangle of tectonic faults near the intersection of the Caribbean and North American crustal plates, according to a quake expert.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
First satellite map of Haiti earthquake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lX1ua4i1c5Q/100114143323.htm
A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on 12 January, causing major casualties and damage. The quake was followed by several aftershocks with magnitudes over 5.0.

Fri, 15 Jan 10
Industry corruption, shoddy construction likely contributed to Haiti quake devastation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OS7U9RtHWCA/100114171539.htm
The death toll in the massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12 is expected to continue to rise in the coming days, likely in large part because of corruption and resulting shoddy construction practices in the poor Caribbean nation, according to a seismologist.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Second smallest exoplanet spotted: Discovery highlights new potential for eventually finding Earth-mass planets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TAOOZA-3kxY/100113122349.htm
Astronomers using the highly sensitive 10-meter Keck I telescope atop Hawaii's Mauna Kea have detected an extrasolar planet with a mass just four times that of Earth. The planet, which orbits its parent star HD156668 about once every four days, is the second-smallest world among the more than 400 exoplanets (planets located outside our solar system) that have been found to date.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Surplus of serotonin receptors may explain failure of antidepressants in some patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3od-cwkoNaw/100113122303.htm
An excess of one type of serotonin receptor in the center of the brain may explain why antidepressants fail to relieve symptoms of depression for 50 percent of patients, a new study shows. The study is the first to find a causal link between receptor number and antidepressant treatment and may lead to more personalized treatment.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Yoga reduces cytokine levels known to promote inflammation, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sY028d5ombs/100111122643.htm
Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and stress, a new study has shown. The study showed that women who routinely practiced yoga had lower amounts of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Toward a less expensive version of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iEbO_q2Dg0A/100113172256.htm
Scientists have developed an alternative method for producing the active ingredient in Tamiflu, the mainstay for fighting H1N1 and other forms of influenza. The new process could expand availability of the drug by reducing its cost, which now retails for as about $8 per dose.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Arctic could face warmer and ice-free conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_KVzkU_SO4U/091229105913.htm
There is increased evidence that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future. Scientists documented evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene warm period (3.3 to 3 million years ago). This period is characterized by warm temperatures similar to those projected for the end of this century, and is used as an analog to understand future conditions.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
U.S. adult obesity still high, but recent data suggest rates may have stabilized
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PU_nQINbW5M/100113111907.htm
The prevalence of adults in the US who are obese is still high, with about one-third of adults obese in 2007-2008, although new data suggest that the rate of increase for obesity in the US in recent decades may be slowing, according to a new study.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
From the ancient Amazonian Indians: 'Biochar' as a modern weapon against global warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Oa44Fk2xMUw/100113172252.htm
Scientists are reporting that "biochar" -- a material that the Amazonian Indians used to enhance soil fertility centuries ago -- has potential in the modern world to help slow global climate change. Mass production of biochar could capture and sock away carbon that otherwise would wind up in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Some antiviral drugs could make diseases worse, new study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iFz8ttQHT9g/100113172306.htm
New research raises concerns about an emerging strategy for stopping viral infections. According to the study, medications that cause viruses to die off by forcing their nucleic acid to mutate rapidly might actually, in some instances, cause them to emerge from the process even more virulent than before drug treatment.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Environment plays key role in developing reading skills, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Q3kMnR7dt8/100111122647.htm
While genetics play a key role in children's initial reading skills, a new study of twins is the first to demonstrate that environment plays an important role in reading growth over time. The results give further evidence that children can make gains in reading during their early school years, above and beyond the important genetic factors that influence differences in reading.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Drug shows promise as new treatment for gut tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u-CwbJfCIbY/100111154928.htm
Bortezomib, a drug that already is an approved therapy for some cancers, also might be an effective secondary treatment for a rare tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, say researchers.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Quantum computer calculates exact energy of molecular hydrogen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5hrXC1sx8y8/100110151331.htm
In an important first for a promising new technology, scientists have used a quantum computer to calculate the precise energy of molecular hydrogen. This groundbreaking approach to molecular simulations could have profound implications not just for quantum chemistry, but also for a range of fields from cryptography to materials science.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Friendship may help stem rise of obesity in children, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uRyScIkFKLg/100111155106.htm
Parents are acutely aware of the influence of friends on their children's behavior -- how they dress, how they wear their hair, whether they drink or smoke. A new laboratory-based study has shown that friends also may influence how much adolescents eat.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Giant magnetic loop sweeps through space between stellar pair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gcSKhG3SCVU/100113131507.htm
An intercontinental radio-telescope system has revealed a giant magnetic loop sweeping through the space between a pair of stars in the famous naked-eye system Algol.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Mutations in different cells cooperate to set the stage for cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EPVYLFUIcU4/100113131514.htm
Cancer biologists have long known that it takes the cooperation of multiple cancer-causing genes to cause cancer. Now researchers have shown that the cooperating mutations can occur in neighboring cells. Stress induces signals that cause cells to develop into tumors, researchers have discovered.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Raft or bridge: How did iguanas reach tiny Pacific islands?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HkQv3KBVZOU/100111155112.htm
Scientists have long puzzled over how iguanas, a group of lizards mostly found in the Americas, came to inhabit the isolated Pacific islands of Fiji and Tonga. For years, the leading explanation has been that progenitors of the island species must have rafted there, riding across the Pacific on a mat of vegetation or floating debris. But new research suggests a more grounded explanation.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Race, obesity affect outcomes among diabetics following prostatectomy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VwwWaLFKocE/100111121708.htm
Obese white men who have both diabetes and prostate cancer have significantly worse outcomes following radical prostatectomy than do men without diabetes who undergo the same procedure, according to new research.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Large changes in climate likely over next century, daily carbon dioxide measurements suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iQvMGC0W6Fk/091215173146.htm
Researchers studying climate now have a new tool at their disposal: daily global measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor in a key part of Earth's atmosphere. The data confirm the mainstream scientific view that large changes in the climate are likely over the next century.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Who's afraid of the HPV vaccine?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fcec7t18vG4/100113172401.htm
New research shows that people tend to match their risk perceptions about policy issues with their cultural values, which may explain the intense disagreement about proposals to vaccinate elementary-school girls against human-papillomavirus (HPV). The study also says people's values shape their perceptions of expert opinion on the vaccine.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Understanding why leopards can't change their spots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DoMhCauzKec/100113172308.htm
New research reveals something about how cats end up with spots and stripes. It demonstrates for the first time that at least three different genes are involved in the emergence of stripes, spots and other markings on domestic cats. Researchers have also determined the genomic location of two of these genes, which will allow for further studies that could shine scientific light on various human skin disorders.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
New compound improves cognitive decline, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in rodents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AhzyQ0s0Vrk/100112122429.htm
A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer's disease has been identified by scientists. Researchers hope to one day replicate the result in humans.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Thyme oil can inhibit COX2 and suppress inflammation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_Q_eOiKAR8/100113122306.htm
Researchers have found that six essential oils -- from thyme, clove, rose, eucalyptus, fennel and bergamot -- can suppress the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme, in a manner similar to resveratrol, the chemical linked with the health benefits of red wine. They also identified that the chemical carvacrol was primarily responsible for this suppressive activity.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
New ALS drug slips through telling Phase II clinical trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z8WRY_FJg30/100104181531.htm
A drug already used to treat symptoms of epilepsy has potential to slow the muscle weakening that comes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scientists report after completing a Phase II clinical trial -- an early, small-scale test to show if the drug works and continues to be safe.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
The Plant Cell's Corset
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C17Nnw8ATD8/090902122443.htm
We still have a lot to discover about the mechanism in plants that ensures cell growth in a specific direction. However it is clear that a structure of parallel protein tubes plays an important role. According to researchers, small 'catastrophic collisions' are a crucial part of the process leading to its creation.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Significant urban-rural disparities in injury mortality seen in China
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BblIdKK3cu0/100112122425.htm
The death rate from injuries in rural areas of China is higher than in urban areas, according to a new study. Rural males of all ages were 47 percent more likely to die from injuries than urban males, and the overall rate in rural females was 33 percent higher than in urban females.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Soybean genome sequenced: Analysis reveals pathways for improving biodiesel, disease resistance, and reducing waste runoff
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bnmNjE6j44o/100113131457.htm
Soybean, one of the most important global sources of protein and oil, is now the first legume species with a published complete draft genome sequence.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Molecular security system that protects cells from potentially harmful DNA discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k46NMd_uI14/100110151321.htm
Researchers have discovered a molecular security system in human cells that deactivates and degrades foreign DNA. This discovery could open the door to major improvements in genetic engineering and gene therapy technologies.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Sunflower genome holds the promise of sustainable agriculture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y0WpRlOhEzc/100112121930.htm
The sunflower family includes a number of valuable food crops. Yet the sunflower family is the only one of a handful of economically important plant families where a reference genome is not available to enable the breeding of crops better suited to their growing environment or consumers tastes. A new research project will create a reference genome for the sunflower family.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Report recommends steps to tackle hepatitis B and C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pHaPUowTjtA/100111112847.htm
Stepped-up vaccination requirements, a boost in resources for prevention and treatment, and a public awareness campaign similar to the effort that dispelled the stigma of HIV/AIDS are needed to curb the health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Global Warming: Is making carbon 'SAFE' the answer?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/slCUYQFc6Ig/091231170224.htm
Mandating fossil fuel producers to sequester (bury) a steadily increasing fraction of the carbon they extract would be a simple, effective, and fair way of sharing out the pain of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a leading group of climate researchers.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Exercise associated with preventing, improving mild cognitive impairment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HtIgqLxtL1k/100111161929.htm
Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, whereas a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise program may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition, according to two reports.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
How galaxies form: New research resolves conflict in theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pg3-tFHbfNQ/100113131454.htm
The cold dark matter theory has been used for more than 20 years to explain how the smooth universe from the big bang evolved into the galaxy-rich cosmos we see today. But there was a problem: the theory suggested most galaxies should have far more stars and dark matter at their cores than they actually do. New research solves the problem.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Neuroimaging may shed light on how Alzheimer's disease develops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JpGv-v2aZns/100111102523.htm
Current Alzheimer's disease research indicates that accumulation of amyloid-beta (AB) protein plaques in the brain is central to the development of AD. While previously presence of these plaques could only be confirmed at autopsy. Positron emission tomography provides researchers with an opportunity to test the amyloid hypothesis as it occurs in living patients. A new study summarizes the results of experiments using the AB tracer Pittsburgh Compound-B.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Missing 500-Years of Loggias, Porticos Described
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nuCYqXF-RDs/100112155230.htm
Using texts and images, a researcher has for the first time reconstructed the time when the use of porticos -- roof-covered structures supported by columns -- gave way to loggias, or recessed porticos.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Assessing Eyesight and Ethnic Group Norms in Young Children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5XWleZBzvmw/100104091126.htm
How common are vision disorders in infants and young children, and do rates differ by ethnic group?

Thu, 14 Jan 10
New models allow proper assessment of IT risks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-oFl39NCMqU/100104114832.htm
IT projects often go off the rails unnecessarily. Budgets are exceeded or projects come thundering to a halt. A Dutch researcher argues that the risks for projects can be calculated much more accurately, and that businesses must intervene much faster at the point when a project goes off the rails.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Study examines prescribing of antipsychotic medications for nursing home residents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-fTXsR0WL7M/100111161935.htm
Older adults newly admitted to nursing homes with high rates of antipsychotic prescribing in the previous year are more likely to receive antipsychotic agents, according to a new study. Of these treated patients, some had no identified clinical indication for this therapy.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Northern forests do not benefit from lengthening growing season, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5V-tls3Z-k/100112121940.htm
Forests in northern areas are stunted, verging on the edge of survival. It has been anticipated that climate change improves their growth conditions. A new study shows that due to their genetic characteristics trees are unable to properly benefit from the lengthening growing season. Furthermore, the researchers were surprised to find that the mortality of established trees considerably promotes the adaptation of forests to the changing environment.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Small-cell lung cancer breakthrough: MicroRNAs key to identifying patients resistant to 'first-line' chemotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LAAfp3od_ro/100112165121.htm
Researchers have identified a way to predict which patients with small-cell lung cancer may be resistant to first-line chemotherapy.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
How one form of natural vitamin E protects brain after stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KWQkSGuDUPM/100111122645.htm
Blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke, new research suggests. In a study using mouse brain cells, scientists found that the tocotrienol form of vitamin E, an alternative to the popular drugstore supplement, stopped the enzyme from releasing fatty acids that eventually kill neurons.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Few breast cancer surgeons follow quality of care standards, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4k77JI-vxYs/100105125840.htm
Most breast cancer surgeons' practices do not follow standards associated with the best quality of care, according to a new study. These standards include consulting with other specialists and providing resources and education to help patients make treatment decisions.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Sweet corn study provides large-scale picture of better fields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e790-IL0kA4/100105112257.htm
In what amounted to a kind of census of sweet corn grown for processing, three years of data from 175 fields in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota shed light on what works and what doesn't. Along with identifying the most troublesome weeds, the results also revealed some of the more complicated relationships among factors influencing both weed control and sweet corn yield in the Midwest.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Environmentally-friendly policies: You say offset, I say tax? Labels and political affiliation may affect preferences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/04yzd8lDdRU/100112135036.htm
New findings suggest a strong link between our political affiliation and how we react to certain labels. When choosing among two items, Democratic, Republican, and Independent volunteers tended to select a more expensive, albeit environmentally-friendly, product if the surcharge was labeled as a "carbon offset." When the surcharge was labeled as a "carbon tax," Democratic volunteers still opted for the costlier item, but Republican and Independent participants were more likely to choose the cheaper item.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Why do people 'play the longshot' but buy insurance? It's in our genes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0TlFmDL6r04/100111102532.htm
Why do some people like to take risks by playing "longshot" payoffs while, on the other hand, taking the opposite tack by buying insurance to reduce risks? A team of economists and molecular geneticists says the answer can be found in our genetic makeup.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Why light worsens migraine headaches
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q1KqZbXGBvg/100110151323.htm
Scientists have identified a new visual pathway that underlies sensitivity to light during migraine in both blind individuals and in individuals with normal eyesight.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
For this microbe, cousins not particularly welcome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZPm0Byam3dc/100107132553.htm
A bacterial species that depends on cooperation to survive is discriminating when it comes to the company it keeps. Scientists have learned Myxococcus xanthus cells are able to recognize genetic differences in one another that are so subtle, even the scientists studying them must go to great lengths to tell them apart.

Thu, 14 Jan 10
Sudden death in cocaine abusers: Study reveals role played by illegal drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c4uC3ebJwwE/100112191616.htm
Forensic pathologists have shown that over three per cent of all sudden deaths in south-west Spain are related to the use of cocaine. They believe their findings can be extrapolated to much of the rest of Europe, indicating that cocaine use is a growing public health problem in Europe and that there is no such thing as "safe" recreational use of small amounts of the drug.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Identifying thoughts through brain codes leads to deciphering the brain's dictionary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Z-QJoIgMyE/100112201347.htm
Two hundred years ago, archaeologists used the Rosetta Stone to understand the ancient Egyptian scrolls. Now, a team of scientists has discovered the beginnings of a neural Rosetta Stone. By combining brain imaging and machine learning techniques, neuroscientists and computer scientists determined how the brain arranges noun representations. Understanding how the brain codes nouns is important for treating psychiatric and neurological illnesses.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
'Missing link' between heart failure and environment discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s0fwXHDoDyk/100112201343.htm
Scientists have found what they believe is the "missing link" between heart failure, our genes and our environment. The study could open up completely new ways of managing and treating heart disease.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Mosquito hunters invent better, cheaper, DIY disease weapon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Kwry6EsPaE/100112152402.htm
Researchers believe they have come up with the cheapest, most efficient way yet to monitor adult mosquitoes and the deadly diseases they carry, from malaria to West Nile Virus.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Obesity linked to common form of kidney cancer and each extra BMI point increases risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XVJb8a9mizo/100112121932.htm
Being obese could lead to a greater risk of developing the most common form of renal cell cancer, according to a study of 1,640 patients. Researchers discovered that obese patients with kidney tumors had 48 percent higher odds of developing a clear-cell renal cell cancer than patients with a body mass index of less than 30. And the odds increased by 4 percent for every extra BMI point.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Scientists create super-strong collagen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LR6QUjl7GMI/100112135040.htm
Scientists have created the strongest form of collagen known to science, a stable alternative to human collagen that could one day be used to treat arthritis and other conditions that result from collagen defects.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
'Weekend effect' makes people happier regardless of their job, study says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xpZyz4_uPic/100112085518.htm
From construction laborers and secretaries to physicians and lawyers, people experience better moods, greater vitality and fewer aches and pains from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, concludes the first study of daily mood variation in employed adults. And that "weekend effect" is largely associated with the freedom to choose one's activities and the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, the research found.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
'Longevity gene' helps prevent memory decline and dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ySJvvhOTFjQ/100112165234.htm
Scientists have found that a "longevity gene" helps to slow age-related decline in brain function in older adults. Drugs that mimic the gene's effect are now under development, the researchers note, and could help protect against Alzheimer's disease.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) linked to cardiovascular disease in adults, analysis confirms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Asyy1YPb84/100112201341.htm
Researchers in the UK have found more evidence for a link between bisphenol A exposure (BPA, a chemical commonly used in plastic food containers) and cardiovascular disease.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Green tea could modify the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LsceB1ukClA/100112165108.htm
Green tea can reduce the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Benefits were also seen in non-smokers.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Melanoma stem cells' evasive talents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k9npzD6j9XQ/100112144220.htm
Melanoma, if not detected in its early stages, transforms into a highly deadly, treatment-resistant cancer. Although the immune system initially responds to melanoma and mounts anti-tumor attacks, these assaults are generally ineffective, allowing more advanced melanomas to win the battle and spread beyond the primary site. Now, researchers shed light on how melanomas stimulate, yet ultimately evade, a patient's immune system.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Across the multiverse: Physicist considers the big picture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LwfBCm0IeHY/100112165249.htm
Is there anybody out there? In one physicist's case, the question refers not to whether life exists elsewhere in the universe, but whether it exists in other universes outside of our own.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Online poker study: The more hands you win, the more money you lose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0usZefuw-T4/100112152410.htm
A new study of online poker seems counterintuitive: The more hands players win, the less money they're likely to collect -- especially when it comes to novice players.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
How galaxies came to be: Astronomers explain Hubble sequence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gNFgXE6vNpg/100112152400.htm
For the first time, two astronomers have explained the diversity of galaxy shapes seen in the universe. The scientists tracked the evolution of galaxies over thirteen billion years from the early Universe to the present day.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Loss of smell function may predict early onset of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zkVl_SImOsY/100112171803.htm
A new study links a loss of smell function in Alzheimer's disease model animals with amyloid (protein) accumulation in the brain, a distinguishing hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. New research suggests that olfactory dysfunction, a common symptom of AD, may serve as an early diagnostic tool for the disease.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Tilapia feed on Fiji's native fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kVTuPgenvtU/100112135044.htm
The poster child for sustainable fish farming -- the tilapia -- is actually a problematic invasive species for the native fish of the islands of Fiji, according to a new study.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Women with breast cancer may benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yNDlZNWGhE4/100112122427.htm
Compared to conventional chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation can extend "event-free survival" for breast cancer patients. Clinical trials provide proof of this for breast cancer with and without distant metastases. However, there are indications that this type of stem cell transplantation can more frequently give rise to severe complications affecting almost all organ systems.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Genetic analyses of influenza in wild birds can improve avian flu surveillance programs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4w-vFgkxzYo/100112123644.htm
Genetic analyses of avian influenza in wild birds can help pinpoint likely carrier species and geographic hot spots where Eurasian viruses would be most likely to enter North America, according to new research.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
People's racial biases can skew perceptions of how much help victims need
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V0slWTp7d5Y/100112121948.htm
Researchers surveyed undergraduate students a year after Hurricane Katrina to examine their perceptions of the hurricane victims and the helping response. The findings showed that when recalling victims of Hurricane Katrina, participants who were less racist thought the victims did not receive adequate help from the government. Participants who were more racist thought the victims received adequate government assistance and were at fault for their situation.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
New stroke therapy successful in rats: Protein completely restores motor function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c-gpAq21pZs/100112135034.htm
People with impaired mobility after a stroke soon may have a therapy that restores limb function long after the injury, if a supplemental protein works as well in humans as it does in paralyzed rats.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Dementia linked to high blood pressure years earlier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GMNVvqM6Zo0/100112121942.htm
High blood pressure may put women at greater risk for dementia later in life by increasing white matter abnormalities in the brain, researchers report.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Scientists find amazing new pondlife on nature reserve
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kf3LbOWxT94/100112121934.htm
One year in to a project to save one of the UK's top sites for pondlife, amazing new species are being revealed for the first time. Scientists have discovered an astonishing variety of minute aquatic organisms, so small as to be invisible to the naked eye.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Having a family member under 50 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer increases risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qIlm4zVyzN8/100112165244.htm
A person who has multiple family members with pancreatic cancer ("familial pancreatic cancer") is six times as likely to develop that cancer. This risk is even higher, nine times that of the general population, if one of their relatives developed their cancer under the age of 50, according to a new study.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Stable climate and plant domestication linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i8aZzVvbdUs/100112123642.htm
Sustainable farming and the introduction of new crops relies on a relatively stable climate, not dramatic conditions attributable to climate change. Basing their argument on evolutionary, ecological, genetic and agronomic considerations, researchers demonstrate why climate change is not the likely cause of plant domestication in the Near East.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
When work interferes with life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0W5SULivsec/100112135038.htm
As many as 50 percent of people bring their work home with them regularly, according to new research that describes the stress associated with work-life balance and the factors that predict it.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
As in humans, sleep solidifies a bird's memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F0aOjU1g8Xo/100112171805.htm
Sleeping is known to help humans stabilize information and tasks learned during the preceding day. Now, researchers have found that sleep has similar effects upon learning in starlings, a discovery that will open up future research into how the brain learns and preserves information. The research fills an important gap between human behavioral findings and animal experiments of how the brain changes after learning and sleep.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
New hope for therapy in heartburn-related cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jl0zZwHhEkY/100112085509.htm
A new study shows that DBZ, a drug currently in clinical trials for use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, is able in rats to stop the growth of Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition which if unchecked can lead to esophageal (gullet) cancer. This may be a powerful new weapon in the fight against a common cancer which is hard to treat and usually fatal.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
NASA to Check for Unlikely Winter Survival of Mars Lander
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U66KL45snts/100112141155.htm
Beginning Jan. 18, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter will listen for possible, though improbable, radio transmissions from the Phoenix Mars Lander, which completed five months of studying an arctic Martian site in November 2008.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Newer treatment for Achilles tendon disorder does not appear to be effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/otcnpcgNFm4/100112165240.htm
An apparently increasingly used treatment method for a type of Achilles tendon disorder that includes injection of platelet-rich plasma into the tendon does not appear to result in greater improvement in pain or activity compared to placebo, according to results of a preliminary study.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Reconstruction of the most intense avalanches of the last 40 years in the Catalonian Pyrenees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/isX49YlF8Hc/100112124231.htm
Researchers have studied the dynamics of avalanches in the Catalonian Pyrenees using dendrochronology (exact dating from tree-ring growth). The results show that the periods 1971-72, 1995-96 and 2002-03 have been the most intense of the last 40 years. Avalanches in the 90s affected the entire Pyrenees and since then there have been none more intense.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
College Admissions: Study quantifies minority enrollment losses if affirmative action is eliminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eL0yJsY3ujk/100112152408.htm
A nationwide ban on affirmative action in college admissions would cause a 10 percent drop in black and Hispanic enrollment at the nation's most selective colleges and universities, according to a new study.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Microbe understudies await their turn in the limelight: Deep-sea 'Lost City' shows rare microbes can become dominant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UE40f8YWhdE/100111155108.htm
On the marine microbial stage, there appears to be a vast, varied group of understudies only too ready to step in when "star" microbes falter. New research provides the first evidence that microorganisms can be rare for long periods before completely turning the tables to become dominant when ecosystems change.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Reducing dosage of Parkinson's drugs can cause symptoms similar to those of cocaine withdrawal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tI_hi_yP29I/100111162028.htm
New research has shown that reducing the dosage of dopamine agonist drugs, a mainstay treatment for Parkinson's disease, sometimes causes acute withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by cocaine addicts, including anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sweating, nausea, generalized pain, fatigue, dizziness and drug cravings. These symptoms can be severe, and are not alleviated by other PD medications. For the first time, researchers have defined this phenomenon, which they call dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome, or DAWS.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Wild Iberian horses contributed to origin of current Iberian domestic stock
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8EVNSMYnLpY/100107114431.htm
Some modern horses of Iberian origin are descendants from wild horses from the Early Iberian Neolithic, dated around 6,200 years ago. Ancient lineages are mainly represented in the Lusitano group C, constituted by some modern Lusitano and American horses.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Cornea cell density predictive of graft failure at six months post-transplant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5b19oOysf6k/100111162030.htm
A new predictor of cornea transplant success has been identified by the Cornea Donor Study (CDS) Investigator Group. New analysis of data from the 2008 Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study, a subset of the CDS, found that the preoperative donor cell count of endothelial cells, previously considered to be an important predictor of a successful transplant, did not correlate with graft success.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
The grid: A new way of doing science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_7JzozGg3Pw/100112124233.htm
A European consortium has brought the power of grid computing to bear on problems ranging from the genetic origins of heart disease to the management of fish stocks and the reconstruction of ancient musical instruments.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Can we trust the results of research done on children?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zKwDyS3vIrQ/100111155110.htm
New research finds that flawed medical research could lead to children receiving treatment that either doesn't work or is harmful.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
First known instance of a cricket as an orchid pollinator captured on film
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rxDBwXOaG6A/100112085514.htm
A researcher studying how the orchid genus Angraecum has adapted to different pollinators on Reunion Island has used motion sensitive night cameras to capture the first known occurrence of a cricket functioning as a pollinator of flowering plants.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Blocking nuclear receptor may cut off tumor blood supply
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IdUJGt9JMmM/100111154916.htm
A new method of blocking the genesis of blood vessels that feed tumors may start with the nuclear receptor COUP-TFII, said researchers who have studied the factor for more than 20 years.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Virtual reality tele-rehab improves hand function: Playing games for real recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-DC6I5ZAXrI/100112135042.htm
Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living for which two hands are needed. Researchers suspect using these games could similarly benefit individuals with other illness that affect movement, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, arthritis and even those with orthopedic injuries affecting the arm or hand.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Study casts doubt on caffeine link to tinnitus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jsb_FQc036E/100112121936.htm
New research has found giving up caffeine does not relieve tinnitus and acute caffeine withdrawal might add to the problem. This is the first study of its kind to look at the effect of caffeine consumption on tinnitus.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Team wins global race to achieve landmark synthesis of perplexing natural product
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZKKxGJhdF4Y/100112122434.htm
In 1993 researchers discovered a chemical compound in a sponge off Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, that has shown anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal pharmaceutical promise. This compound, called Palau'amine, is so chemically complex that finding a way to produce it in the laboratory became the most hotly pursued synthetic chemistry goal in modern history. Groups around the globe dedicated millions to the challenge, and now one team of scientists has finally completed the quest.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Monitoring of high-risk antipsychotic drugs unchanged despite FDA warnings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/doQx49pd6Qk/100104161750.htm
A new study concludes that many doctors appear to have largely ignored a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning to screen users of new antipsychotic drugs for high blood sugar and cholesterol, which poses risks to their health and raises questions about the efficacy of warning protocols in general.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Small amounts of lead may damage children's kidneys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lww85HhWW-Y/100111161921.htm
Small amounts of lead in the bodies of healthy children and teens -- amounts well below the levels defined as "concerning" by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- may worsen kidney function, according to a new study.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
A role for calcium in taste perception
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rCeBZkMr2gY/100108114725.htm
Calcium may not come to mind when you think of tasty foods, but Japanese researchers have provided the first demonstration that calcium channels on the tongue are the targets of compounds that can enhance taste.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Discovery provides new drug targets for malaria cure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HrY2WIIuY34/100111154920.htm
Researchers are a step closer to developing new antimalarial drugs after discovering the normal function of a set of proteins related to the malaria parasite protein, which causes resistance to the front-line drug chloroquine. The findings also provide a novel tool for studying the malarial chloroquine-resistance factor.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Faster and more efficient software for the US Air Force
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AGHVhOU0ecs/100111162032.htm
Researchers have addressed the issue of faulty software by developing an algorithm and open source tool that is 300 times faster at generating tests and also reduces current software testing time.

Wed, 13 Jan 10
Got cognitive activity? It does a mind good
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGZmRNFdS58/100111155114.htm
If you don't have a college degree, you're at greater risk of developing memory problems or even Alzheimer's. Education influences lifelong memory performance and risk for dementia, and those with a college degree possess a cognitive advantage over their less educated counterparts in middle and old age. A new study shows that those with less schooling can compensate by doing mental exercises such as word games, puzzles, reading and lectures.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Use of body ornamentation shows Neanderthal mind capable of advanced thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_irSWQaIg8s/100111154914.htm
The widespread view of Neanderthals as cognitively inferior to early modern humans is challenged by new research. Scientists examined pigment-stained and perforated marine shells, most certainly used as neck pendants, from two Neanderthal-associated sites in the Murcia province of south-east Spain. The analysis of lumps of red and yellow pigments found alongside suggest they were used in cosmetics.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Bifocals may slow progression of nearsightedness in children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qUj7ixvn_-Y/100111162025.htm
Bifocal glasses may be effective in slowing the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children with high rates of progression, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Mango effective in preventing, stopping certain colon, breast cancer cells, food scientists find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XCP0Hqs3AWU/100111154926.htm
Mango fruit has been found to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the lab, according to a new study by food scientists.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Breast cancer multigene test helping patients avoid chemotherapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TZViocEJ7kU/100111161925.htm
A 21-gene test that predicts whether early stage breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy is having a big impact on treatment decisions by patients and doctors alike, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
New quantum cascade lasers emit more light than heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PkQ8RjfnN4c/100111171853.htm
Researchers have developed compact, mid-infrared laser diodes that generate more light than heat -- a breakthroughs in quantum cascade laser efficiency.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Reluctant hero? Cleaner fish show it pays to be selfless
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fd_VVZpPQFw/100107143907.htm
Putting yourself in the line of fire is shown to reap huge rewards, in a new study. Researchers have discovered that male cleaner wrasse are quick to play the hero when their dinner is at stake.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Sedentary TV time may cut life short
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tAxNn_rs5Js/100111161927.htm
A study found that every hour spent in front of the television per day brings with it an 11 percent greater risk of premature death from all causes, and an 18 percent greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The findings apply to both obese and overweight people as well as people with a healthy weight because prolonged periods of sitting have an unhealthy influence on blood sugar and blood fat levels.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Genetic variant associated with aggressive form of prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ho7QmUrh5CA/100111154910.htm
Researchers have identified the first genetic variant associated with aggressive prostate cancer, proving the concept that genetic information may one day be used in combination with other factors to guide treatment decisions.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Delivering stem cells improves repair of major bone injuries in rats, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VhWLRlkTE94/100111154924.htm
A new study shows that delivering stem cells on a polymer scaffold to treat large areas of missing bone leads to improved bone formation and better mechanical properties compared to treatment with scaffold alone.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Diabetic eye disease more severe in African-Americans who consume more calories, sodium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KKqFBTRpqK8/100111162022.htm
High intakes of calories and sodium appear to be associated with the progression of retinal disease among African-American patients with diabetes, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Quantum entanglement achieved in solid-state circuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mUZrR8VMS1w/100111091222.htm
Physicists have finally managed to demonstrate quantum entanglement of spatially separated electrons in solid state circuitry.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
For gunshot and stab victims, on-scene spine immobilization may do more harm than good
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tXUhkVMJDSY/100111171848.htm
Immobilizing the spines of shooting and stabbing victims before they are taken to the hospital -- standard procedure in Maryland and some other parts of the country -- appears to double the risk of death compared to transporting patients to a trauma center without this time-consuming, on-scene medical intervention, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Ancient Egyptian cosmetics: 'Magical' makeup may have been medicine for eye disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4KRF0Dm7Ao4/100111112845.htm
There's more to the eye makeup that gave Queen Nefertiti and other ancient Egyptians royals those stupendous gazes and legendary beauty than meets the eye. Scientists in France are reporting that the alluring eye makeup also may have been used to help prevent or treat eye disease by doubling as an infection-fighter. Their findings are scheduled for the Jan. 15 issue of ACS' Analytical Chemistry, a semi-monthly journal.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Disconnect between brain regions in ADHD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UzmAx_VPyqo/100111155116.htm
Two brain areas fail to connect when children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder attempt a task that measures attention, according to researchers.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Researchers trace HIV mutations that lead to drug resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WXUSGTeweyg/100111154918.htm
Researchers have developed a novel way to trace mutations in HIV that lead to drug resistance. Their findings, once expanded to the full range of drugs available to treat the infection, would allow doctors to tailor drug cocktails to the particular strains of the virus found in individual patients.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Imaging studies help detect underlying cancers in patients with neurologic symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LLzlsOHwi4Y/100111161933.htm
A combined positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan of the whole body appears to detect cancer in individuals with related neurologic complications more accurately than some other commonly used tests, according to new report.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Mirror testing at NASA breaks superstitious myths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cBZDJ2v5wYw/100107183039.htm
In ancient mythological times reflective surfaces like shiny metals and mirrors were thought to be magical and credited with the ability to look into the future. NASA is using mirrors to do just the opposite -- look into the past.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Workers' comp research provides insight into curbing health-care costs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N5z0N0pllQI/100111171855.htm
Analyzing physicians' practice patterns may hold valuable clues about how to curb the nation's rising health care costs, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Butterflies reeling from impacts of climate and development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qrfJj3tbuX0/100111171859.htm
California butterflies are reeling from a one-two punch of climate change and land development, says an unprecedented analysis. The new analysis gives insights on how a major and much-studied group of organisms is reacting to the Earth's warming climate.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Why certain anticancer drugs can cause heart failure in some patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z8oG3ZQCZ7Y/100111171850.htm
A growth factor that is a common target of cancer drugs also plays an important role in the heart's response to stress, researchers report.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Melting tundra creating vast river of waste into Arctic Ocean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2QPRYeWHdW0/100111102536.htm
The increase in temperature in the Arctic has already caused the sea-ice there to melt. According to new research from Sweden, if the Arctic tundra also melts, vast amounts of organic material will be carried by the rivers straight into the Arctic Ocean, resulting in additional emissions of carbon dioxide.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Excess protein in urine is indicator of heart disease risk in whites, but not blacks, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oS1k7GmGeEg/100111155104.htm
The cardiovascular risk that is associated with proteinuria, or high levels of protein in the urine, a common test used by doctors as an indicator of increased risk for progressive kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, has race-dependent effects, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
MicroRNA targets identified in C. elegans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/49wRB5FKx4s/100110151327.htm
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that impact almost every aspect of biology. In recent years, they have been strongly implicated in stem cell biology, tissue and organism development, as well as human conditions ranging from mental disorders to cancer. Now, researchers have identified the binding sites of these miRNAs in one of the foremost model organisms, C. elegans, using biochemical means to capture targeted mRNA sequences in vivo.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Tobacco company helped shape European policy system favoring corporate profits over public health, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nfysQhudH6k/100111211255.htm
British American Tobacco, the world's second largest tobacco transnational, strategically influenced the European Union's framework for evaluating policy options, leading to the acceptance of an agenda which emphasizes business interests over public health, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Insect cells provide the key to alternative swine flu vaccination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C13wVMCxK9g/100104191928.htm
Scientists in Vienna have developed a new technique for producing vaccines for H1N1 -- so-called swine flu -- based on insect cells. The research reveals how influenza vaccines can be produced faster than through the traditional method of egg-based production, revealing a new strategy for the fight against influenza pandemics.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Alzheimer's: Immune system alterations in mouse brain reduces two characteristic features of disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w4zE1mRWZQY/100107114726.htm
Using laboratory mice that had been bred to have brain changes similar to Alzheimer's disease, scientists were able to reduce two characteristic features of the disease by modifying the mice's immune systems with a special peptide related to the myelin sheath that insulates nerve cells and nerve fibers. As a result, anti-inflammatory cells were recruited from the blood into the brain, dampening the local inflammatory response.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Genome of woodland strawberry, a model system for rosaceae plants, sequenced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B1ZmxilbOIo/100111172010.htm
The genome of a model plant related to peach, cherry and cultivated strawberry has been sequenced.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Segregating out UbcH10's role in tumor formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ugkaDuRAWCs/100111091218.htm
A ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that regulates the cell cycle promotes chromosome missegregation and tumor formation, according to researchers.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Biologists merge methods, results from different disciplines to find new meaning in old data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6CaF3NhhtsY/100111154922.htm
A growing number of scientists are merging methods and results from different disciplines to extract new meaning from old data, say researchers. As science becomes increasingly focused on new data, however, researchers who want to analyze previous findings may have a hard time getting funding and institutional support, the authors say. The authors argue for removing cultural and technological barriers to this process.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Clustering MRSA in Europe indicates diffusion through regional health-care networks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yhJ9FdT8U8w/100111211257.htm
A new study finds that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) -- responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections including blood poisoning and pneumonia and a particular problem in hospitals -- occurs in distinct geographical clusters across Europe.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Can a drop of water cause sunburn or fire? Leaves of certain plants are susceptible to leaf burn from too much sun
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aMEQOJHQIYo/100111091226.htm
Why do gardeners say you shouldn't water your plants in the midday sun? Does it really lead to burnt plants or worse? A team of scientists found that water droplets on a smooth surface, such as maple or ginkgo leaves, cannot cause leaf burn. However in contrast the they found that floating fern leaves, which have small wax hairs, are susceptible to leaf burn.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
New target discovered for treatment of cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FpqShXJ9xGI/100111112843.htm
Researchers in Sweden have discovered a new way of blocking the formation of blood vessels and halting the growth of tumors in mice. A substance that exploits this mechanism could be developed into a new treatment for cancer.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
How high can a rock climber go?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I3ouquYa3cE/100108101427.htm
The maximum time an athlete is able to continue climbing to exhaustion may be the only determinant of his/her performance. Until now, performance indicators for climbing have been low body fat percentage and grip strength. Now, a new study carried out with 16 high-level climbers breaks with this approach and reveals that the time it takes for an athlete to become exhausted is the only indicator of his/her performance.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Similar effectiveness among options for managing low-risk prostate cancer, report suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FUckkQR6x9Y/100105112113.htm
A comprehensive appraisal of the management and treatment options for low-risk prostate cancer found that the rates of survival and tumor recurrence are similar among the most common treatment approaches, although costs can vary considerably.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Minor faults in catalyst impose an obstacle to the chemical industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rT90huq6aj8/100104114830.htm
One of the most important catalysts in the modern chemical industry is a troublemaker. The building blocks of zeolite ZSM-5 crystals, which are a sort of Swiss cheese with molecular size holes, are not joined together perfectly. The materials that have to pass through the crystals therefore often get stuck and don't react well. A Dutch researcher has discovered the deviations in the miniscule but indispensable particles.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Charles Darwin: More than the origin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cl9IeWGG7iw/091209143755.htm
Charles Darwin greatly contributed to many specific fields within biology. As the bicentennial anniversary of Darwin's birth comes to a close, two papers explores botanical history before the time of Darwin, Darwin's contributions to botany, and what scientists have discovered in the subsequent years following Darwin's first presentation of his many provocative ideas to the scientific community.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
New spider species is largest of its type in Middle East
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yJY_akSJd4M/100111102534.htm
A new and previously unknown species of spider has been discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region of Israel. Unfortunately, however, its habitat is endangered.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
How common type of children's brain cancer can arise from stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fjWggqtTZjM/100111091224.htm
New research shows how the most common type of children's brain cancer can arise from stem cells. Scientists know relatively little about medulloblastomas or why some cases respond better to treatments than others. A new study reveals that medulloblastomas can grow from a type of brain stem cell and that these cancers are a distinct form of the disease which may require a completely different approach to treatment.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Ski Sports: Simulating gliding effects to develop super fast skis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iinRalRZ2cw/100108114721.htm
In ski sports, it's often only a second that separates the winners from the losers. Using equipment made of the right materials can therefore make all the difference. Researchers are simulating the gliding effects that occur when skis travel over snow -- and creating super fast skis.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Weight is a prickly problem: Key role found for hedgehog signaling in controlling fat storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ICFw2W89M_w/100109231710.htm
Obesity is a widespread condition in humans and has many serious consequences. Not only are overweight people faced with surcharges on airplanes but they also have a much higher risk of contracting a number of potentially fatal diseases. A considerable amount of research effort is currently focussed on the problem of weight control but to date genetic screens for factors that cause obesity have been hampered by the lack of an appropriate system.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Fisheries: Catch shares improve consistency, not health, of fisheries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XY-4jlm5aiM/091222105314.htm
Catch share programs result in more consistent and predictable fisheries but do not necessarily improve ecological conditions, according to a new study.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Solving the problem of school timetabling
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zldFzbVWl1k/100106093631.htm
A new approach to solving the problem of school timetabling, known as a GRASP, has been developing by researchers in Brazil.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Discovery of enzyme activation process could lead to new heart attack treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cCJS7g0GMTE/100110151329.htm
Medical researchers have determined how a "chemical chaperone" does its job in the body, which could lead to a new class of drugs to help reduce the muscle damage caused by heart attacks.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Best time to toilet train children pinpointed through research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mq8eT70ISK0/100109230611.htm
Researchers have completed a study that pinpoints the period between 24 and 32 months of age as most effective time frame for parents to begin toilet training lessons with their children. Additionally, the study indicates that the timing appeared to matter more than the specific training method used.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
New ways to pressure HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mHfWSolZAzM/100111091220.htm
Two new studies show that protein bits produced by unusual "reading" of the HIV genome can induce immune responses. The information provided by these findings may prove useful during future HIV vaccine design efforts.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
New species of lichen discovered in Iberian Peninsula
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q2qpeF55uLE/100111102527.htm
Spanish scientists have described the lichen Phylloblastia fortuita, new to the Iberian Peninsula and to science. Another species from the same family, Phylloblastia dispersa, is also a new entry for Europe and is the first time it has been found outside the tropics.

Tue, 12 Jan 10
Physicians' moods affect quality of care, according new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GPI5wpLWlO4/100111102521.htm
Findings of a new study show that a good or bad mood affected all five physician behaviors. On days the doctors felt positive moods, they spoke more to patients, wrote fewer prescriptions, ordered fewer tests and issued fewer referrals. However, when doctors were in a bad mood, they did the opposite. Additionally, if the physicians' burnout level was higher, their moods more strongly impacted their behaviors.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
More evidence that autism is a brain 'connectivity' disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HDoFxLONLOo/100110151333.htm
Studying a rare disorder that also causes autism in 25-50 percent of affected patients, new research supports the emerging idea that autism results from disrupted brain "connectivity" causing improper information flow. These abnormalities might be reversible with rapamycin or rapamycin-like drugs, which the studies researchers will be bringing to clinical trial later this year.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
New method of measuring ocean carbon dioxide uptake could lead to climate change 'early warning system'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O1-ErfWvKo4/091203141854.htm
Scientists have developed a new method of measuring the absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans and mapped for the first time carbon dioxide uptake for the entire North Atlantic.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
How to divide and conquer 'social network' of cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bmGEi_rBxrQ/091109121211.htm
On Noah's Ark animals came in twos: male and female. In human bodies trillions of cells are coupled, too, and so are the molecules from which they are composed. Yet these don't come in twos, they are regrouped into indistinguishable clusters. Because these complex cell networks are the backbone of life -- and illness -- scientists have long searched for ways to splice cell clusters down to their original pairs.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Nanoscience goes 'big': Discovery could lead to enhanced electronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/luor60OWVMc/100107183043.htm
Nanoscience has the potential to play an enormous role in enhancing a range of products, including sensors, photovoltaics and consumer electronics. Scientists in this field have created a multitude of nano scale materials, such as metal nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes and semiconducting nanowires.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Brain activity levels affect self-perception: 'Rose-colored glasses' correlate with less frontal lobe use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MPHvm_flyXI/100109232919.htm
The less you use your brain's frontal lobes, the more you see yourself through rose-colored glasses, researchers have found.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Bering Strait influenced ice age climate patterns worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gnq3MffpNxQ/100110151325.htm
In a vivid example of how a small geographic feature can have far-reaching impacts on climate, new research shows that water levels in the Bering Strait helped drive global climate patterns during ice age episodes dating back more than 100,000 years.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Single atom controls motility required for bacterial infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_hiuFMcy-e4/100104122308.htm
Researchers have discovered that a single atom -- a calcium, in fact -- can control how bacteria walk. The finding identifies a key step in the process by which bacteria infect their hosts, and could one day lead to new drug targets to prevent infection.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Molecule repairs alcohol metabolism enzyme
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5bFg_5K0Giw/100110151335.htm
About 1 billion people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that produces an inactive form of ALDH2, an important alcohol metabolism enzyme. When individuals with the ALDH2 mutation drink alcohol, the toxic compound acetaldehyde accumulates in the body. The inactive form of ALDH2 is linked to increased risk for cancer. Researchers found that an experimental compound restores the structure and function of the inactive enzyme, which suggests the possibility of a treatment for the enzyme defect.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
New test may help address costly parasite in sheep industry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5O9s2QbQhaE/100109002314.htm
Researchers have developed an improved, more efficient method to test for the most serious of the parasitic worms in sheep, a problem that causes hundreds of millions of dollars in losses every year to the global sheep and wool industry.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Liver stiffness measurements identify patients with rapid or slow fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/324XW6xwaTk/100105100025.htm
A recent study finds that repeated liver stiffness measurements in the first year following liver transplant could discriminate between slow and rapid "fibrosers." Determining those at risk for a recurrence of hepatitis C virus allows for early-stage administration of therapies that could prevent LT or graft failure.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Hunting oscillation of muon to electron: Neutrino data to flow in 2010; NOvA scientists tune design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zQWBn6T_0E8/100109002326.htm
Physicists may see data by late summer from a prototype for a $278 million NOvA neutrino experiment that can yield clues to the universe's mysteries. Construction is underway on a 220-ton "integration prototype" detector and a larger 14,000-ton detector, a project of Fermilab and University of Minnesota. About 40 scientists will fine-tune design Jan. 8-10 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, their first meeting since the US Department of Energy's October approval of "full construction start."

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Sex Life May Hold Key To Honeybee Survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RT2yIpymUxc/090914111305.htm
The number and diversity of male partners a queen honeybee has could help to protect her children from disease, say scientists, who are investigating possible causes of the widespread increase in bee deaths seen around the world.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Galaxy exposes its dusty inner workings in new Spitzer image
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xY3ONNyXr5U/100105111626.htm
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured an action-packed picture of the nearby Small Magellanic Cloud, a small galaxy that looks like a wispy cloud when seen from Earth.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Rheumatologists advance genetic research related to disabling form of arthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BfL49wwxNtA/100110151338.htm
Scientists have discovered two new genes that are implicated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory and potentially disabling disease. In addition, they pinpointed two areas along stretches of DNA that play an important role in regulating gene activity associated with the arthritic condition.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
MyoD helps stem cells proliferate in response to muscle injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zRgO474Srj8/100104091130.htm
The master regulator of muscle differentiation, MyoD, functions early in myogenesis to help stem cells proliferate in response to muscle injury, according to researchers.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Tiotropium associated with reduced mortality in patients with COPD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PhiEbZgh_0k/100105183723.htm
New research suggests that tiotropium, a long-acting anticholinergic used in patients with COPD, may be associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Scientists uncover role of protein critical for activating DNA replication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HNc0f5ODAxY/100107114426.htm
Scientists have discovered how a protein long known to be an essential activator of DNA replication actually triggers this process in cells. The protein, called DDK (for Ddf4-dependent protein kinase), is one of two cell-cycle-regulated protein kinases that facilitate coordination with other processes during cell division. DDK is now shown to block the inhibitory activity of a domain within the DNA unwinding enzyme Mcm4, thereby promoting DNA replication.

Mon, 11 Jan 10
Well-traveled Wasps Provide Hope For Vanishing Species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hToIPszWBiY/091109173728.htm
They may only be 1.5mm in size, but the tiny wasps that pollinate fig trees can travel over 160km in less than 48 hours, according to new research. The fig wasps are transporting pollen ten times further than previously recorded for any insect. The fig wasps travel these distances in search of trees to lay their eggs, which offers hope that trees pollinated by similar creatures have a good chance of surviving if they become isolated through deforestation.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Primates' social intelligence overestimated: Primates groom others if afraid they'd lose fight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lri3PeVeDH4/100107083909.htm
The grooming behavior displayed by primates is due to less rational behavior than often thought. According to a computer model, one basic rule explains all possible grooming patterns: individuals will groom others if they're afraid they'll lose from them in a fight.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Paper strips can quickly detect toxin in drinking water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MESGjI3rQWM/100109002324.htm
A strip of paper infused with carbon nanotubes can quickly and inexpensively detect a toxin produced by algae in drinking water.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Camera traps yield first-time film of tigress and cubs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IU7mMUy3RnY/100107114728.htm
Camera traps deep in the Sumatran jungle have captured first-time images of a rare female tiger and her cubs, giving researchers unique insight into the elusive tiger's behavior. Specially designed video cameras installed by WWF-Indonesia's researchers caught the mother tiger and her cubs on film as they stopped to sniff and check out the camera trap.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Predicting survival for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p820byPnUI0/100105143732.htm
Setting out to determine the survival of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), researchers have discovered that an equation used for more than 20 years to predict survival is outdated. Accordingly, they developed a new survival prediction equation that will impact clinical practice and the drug development process.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Growing nanowires: European research paves way for faster, smaller microchips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m3gg7ZbldGM/100105131725.htm
European researchers have developed state-of-the-art nanowire 'growing' technology, opening the way for faster, smaller microchips and creating a promising new avenue of research and industrial development in Europe.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Early lessons from the H1N1 pandemic: Critical illness in children unpredictable but survivable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tIdw_n0_7xQ/100107114733.htm
Lessons learned from the first 13 children at Johns Hopkins Children's Center to become critically ill from the H1N1 virus show that although all patients survived, serious complications developed quickly, unpredictably, with great variations from patient to patient and with serious need for vigilant monitoring and quick treatment adjustments.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Deep brain stimulation successful for treatment of severely depressive patient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6sX9y8mgoQM/100108101435.htm
Neurosurgeons and psychiatrists have for the first time successfully treated a patient suffering from severe depression by stimulating the habenula, a tiny nerve structure in the brain.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Coal from mass extinction era linked to lung cancer mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Jz6emXC75g/100106193223.htm
The volcanic eruptions thought responsible for Earth's largest mass extinction -- which killed more than 70 percent of plants and animals 250 million years ago -- is still taking lives today. That's the conclusion of a new study showing, for the first time, that the high silica content of coal in one region of China may be interacting with volatile substances in the coal to cause unusually high rates of lung cancer.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
A virtual liver, a better chance of life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BzHWBu_5yM4/100108101429.htm
Surgeons can now use 3-D, accurate images of the liver to rehearse keyhole tumor removal before real surgery -- reducing the risk to the patient and enabling them to take expert advice.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Quantum fluctuations are key in superconductors, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3RWrAEG_Q-E/100109002316.htm
New experiments on a recently discovered class of iron-based superconductors suggest that the ability of their electrons to conduct electricity without resistance is directly connected with the magnetic properties of those electrons. The results by U.S. and Chinese physicists bolster theories that high-temperature superconductivity in materials called "iron pnictides" arises from quantum magnetic fluctuations.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
New treatment for hyperactivity in children: Thought-operated computer system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bBmLtg_oSfA/100107083904.htm
A new thought-operated computer system which can reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children is being be rolled out across the UK.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
'Fossil' fireballs from supernovae discovered by Suzaku observatory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QpNMcFHnh48/100109002322.htm
Studies of two supernova remnants using the Japan-US Suzaku observatory have revealed never-before-seen embers of the high-temperature fireballs that immediately followed the explosions. Even after thousands of years, gas within these stellar wrecks retain the imprint of temperatures 10,000 times hotter than the sun's surface.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Coral can recover from climate change damage, new research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HZXlzNr0wlI/100109002310.htm
A new study by scientists in the UK provides the first evidence that coral reefs can recover from the devastating effects of climate change. The research shows for the first time that coral reefs located in marine reserves can recover from the impacts of global warming.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Brain imaging may help diagnose autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fzNFtTKngLw/100108101421.htm
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) process sound and language a fraction of a second slower than children without ASDs, and measuring magnetic signals that mark this delay may become a standardized way to diagnose autism. While more work remains to be done, this pattern of delayed brain response may be refined into the first imaging biomarker for autism.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Vitamin bombs for baby fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YVYpuvPmwGg/100107083911.htm
Scientists have set themselves the goal of exploiting the advantages of a special type of zooplankton on a large scale called Copepods.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Vaccine appears to 'mop up' leukemia cells Gleevec leaves behind
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M2-FmQ18Xzk/100107114737.htm
Preliminary studies show that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Researchers study microbes in cattle to unlock metabolic disease mysteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5C9csUvnXVI/100105131202.htm
Switching from warm-season grasses to cool-season forages can give livestock a belly ache, in some cases a deadly one, according to scientists. Scientists are using state-of-the-art technology -- metagenomics -- to determine how changes in diet affect microbial communities in the digestive tract of cattle and how these changes may increase risk of disease.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Second-hand pollution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RB8S8ZES-VU/100105131922.htm
Everything from simple tools to complete factories is available for export from the US and Europe to the developing world. At first site, such "recycling" of equipment sounds laudable, but a European research team argues that such exports are slowing the adoption of more environmentally friendly and non-polluting technology across the globe.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
How plants 'feel' the temperature rise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2_NzdjIwMdA/100107132543.htm
Plants are incredibly temperature sensitive and can perceive changes of as little as one degree Celsius. Now, new research shows how they not only 'feel' the temperature rise, but also coordinate an appropriate response -- activating hundreds of genes and deactivating others; it turns out it's all about the way that their DNA is packaged.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Most Earth-like exoplanet ever found started out as a gas giant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M3Uns4gBKoU/100106193444.htm
The most Earth-like planet yet found around another star may be the rocky remains of a Saturn-sized gas giant.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Micro RNAs can turn genes off
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M9W5e6jveRs/100108093815.htm
RNA molecules are the mobile messengers of genes. They carry information on the production of proteins from the DNA to the ribosomes. In addition to these messenger RNAs all living beings have micro RNAs that can hinder the messenger RNAs and thus the production of proteins. Biologists have now discovered that such micro RNAs also come into direct contact with genes, effectively turning off the genes in the process.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Pediatric cancer survivors at risk for diseases that predispose them to heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bu_h8gQDIdg/100107003957.htm
Survivors of pediatric cancer are at greater risk for high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, all of which predispose them to heart disease. These risk factors for heart disease are being found at an earlier age than in the general population, according to new research.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Targeting cancerous vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/14uClr8ZsHs/100104091128.htm
By lowering the level of a neuronal protein, researchers halted the growth of blood vessels that tumors rely on for survival.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
SNPs in C-reactive protein are not associated with increased risk of cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IDyLMuVMkJs/100107183035.htm
Gene variants associated with increased circulating levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, are not associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to a new study.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Ipratropium bromide may increase risk for cardiovascular events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iw81mlI2hxw/100105183800.htm
Patients taking ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic used in the treatment of COPD, may be at an increased risk for cardiovascular events (CVE), including heart failure.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
New record in the area of prime number decomposition of cryptographically important numbers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fQRTd1meWHg/100108090949.htm
An international team of scientists has obtained the prime factors of the RSA challenge number RSA-768, using the Number Field Sieve.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
What connects the elderly and sports people? Smart sensor technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZKwPV0Aw2Dw/100107084316.htm
Innovative smart sensing devices promise to boost mobility and quality of life for the elderly, reduce healthcare costs and even give sports people an edge through more effective training.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
All sustainable transportation subsidies shouldn't be created equal, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yq2wmLvms6Y/100107114730.htm
When it comes to pumping up the appeal of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, some regions are more ripe for the cars than others, and some consumers' buttons need more pushing than others -- an important policy distinction when shaping subsidies, two energy policy experts say.

Sun, 10 Jan 10
Hispanic elderly more likely than whites to live in inferior nursing homes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p7AClBqQLVg/100105095848.htm
Researchers have determined that Hispanic residents are more likely than whites to live in nursing homes of poor quality.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Ant Has Given Up Sex Completely, Researchers Confirm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yW_5tH2JE4w/090825203339.htm
The complete asexuality of a widespread fungus-gardening ant, the only ant species in the world known to have dispensed with males entirely, has recently been confirmed.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Sleeping Beauty hooks up with herpes to fight brain disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PJ3FFEbOM8E/100108101431.htm
Neuroscientists have forged an unlikely molecular union as part of their fight against diseases of the brain and nervous system, bringing together the herpes virus and a molecule known as Sleeping Beauty to improve gene therapy. The work has allowed scientists to reach a long-sought goal: shuttling into brain cells a relatively large gene that can remain on for an extended period of time.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Remote Triggering System For Avalanche Airbags developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D8K7FMyG7VI/100108114723.htm
Many people dream of skiing off piste in deep virgin snow. But their dream would rapidly turn into a nightmare if they were to set off a slab avalanche. Researchers have now developed a remote triggering system for avalanche airbags.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
New molecular mechanism discovered that guides visual nerves towards brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s7QJepm5Fcg/100107114436.htm
Scientists have discovered a new molecular mechanism that permits the guidance of visual nerves towards the brain.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Argumentative agents for online deal-making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qzq3-ShbK58/100108093819.htm
Software agents that play devil’s advocate and quarrel with each other may not sound like something you would want in your computer. But, say a team of researchers, argumentative agents promise faster, cheaper and more efficient online transactions.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Study examines calorie information from restaurants, packaged foods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6onGSR5r5gU/100106095051.htm
A new study analyzes the calorie content of 18 side dishes and entrees from national sit-down chain restaurants, 11 side dishes and entrees from national fast food restaurants and 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets. Researchers compared their results to the calorie content information provided to the public by the restaurants and food companies.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Echinoderms contribute to global carbon sink; impact of marine creatures underestimated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SJbBfoLIylQ/100108101425.htm
The impact on levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere by the decaying remains of a group of marine creatures that includes starfish and sea urchin has been significantly underestimated.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Chloride increases response to pheromones and odors in mouse sensory neurons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r7XpZ6ms1rk/091228105911.htm
How an individual vomeronasal sensory neuron (VSN) transduces chemical signals into electrical signals has been a mystery. Researchers now show that chloride acts as a major amplifier for signal transduction in mouse VSNs, increasing the responsiveness to pheromones or odorants.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
When hooking up with opposite sex, genital complexities do matter, fruit fly research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-c3v_MoS2qM/100107132555.htm
Charles Darwin spent eight years studying barnacles and their genitalia. In much less time than that, modern-day evolutionary biologists have confirmed one of Darwin's theories: that genitalia complexities in some male species have developed because they assist the male in "holding her securely."

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Periodic paralysis study reveals gene causing disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T_zy3D83bg8/100107132545.htm
Scientists have identified a gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle. The finding, they say, illustrates how investigations of rare genetic diseases can drive insights into more common ones.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Mobile bushfire monitoring: Modern wireless technologies could save bushfire lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ECJgCHsVABw/100107114422.htm
Mobile technologies, including the global system for mobile communication and the ZigBee short-range wireless data connection technology could be used to monitor and detect bushfires, according to new research.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Healthy older adults with subjective memory loss may be at increased risk for MCI and dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aSUJFaOooew/100108101423.htm
Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), the earliest sign of cognitive decline, is marked by situations such as when a person recognizes they can't remember a name like they used to or where they recently placed important objects the way they used to. A new study finds that healthy older adults reporting SCI are 4.5 times more likely to progress to the more advanced memory-loss stages of mild cognitive impairment or dementia than those free of SCI.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
What came first in the origin of life? New study contradicts the 'metabolism first' hypothesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2HJejHliHN0/100108101433.htm
New research rejects the theory that the origin of life stems from a system of self-catalytic molecules capable of experiencing Darwinian evolution without the need of RNA or DNA and their replication.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
New brain scan better detects earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease in healthy people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TeCc9Ln0G0k/100106193204.htm
A new type of brain scan, called diffusion tensor imaging, appears to be better at detecting whether a person with memory loss might have brain changes of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Where do puffins go in the winter?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FZWnEYdu8OI/100108111229.htm
A recent increase in winter mortality in Atlantic puffins could be due to worsening conditions within the North Sea, according to new findings. The study used geolocation technology to track puffins from the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, home to the largest colony of puffins in the North Sea. The puffin population on the Isle of May has declined by 30 percent in recent years.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Metformin is safe for patients with advanced heart failure and diabetes mellitus, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vIKZAaBBM5c/100107132558.htm
A new study has shown that metformin, a drug often used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, is safe for use in treating patients who have both diabetes and advanced heart failure.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Technological safety net for fall-prone elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fvqpRc7U53Y/100107084314.htm
Falls are the main cause of injuries among elderly people, but until now doctors have had few ways of effectively monitoring and counteracting mobility problems among patients. Work by European researchers is set to change that.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Quitline messages that stress benefits of quitting may improve smoking cessation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gE_bihAy0qU/100107183032.htm
Smokers who received gain-framed messaging from quitline specialists (i.e., stressing the benefits of quitting) had slightly better cessation outcomes than those who received standard-care messaging (i.e., potential losses from smoking and benefits of quitting), according to a new study. Researchers also established that quitline specialists can be trained to provide gain-framed messaging with good fidelity.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Evolution's footprints in human genome precisely tracked using new approach
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xQK_CN1t-14/100107143905.htm
Fossils may provide tantalizing clues to human history but they also lack some vital information, such as revealing which pieces of human DNA have been favored by evolution because they confer beneficial traits -- resistance to infection or the ability to digest milk, for example. Now, researchers describe a method for pinpointing these preferred regions that offers greater precision and resolution than ever before, and the possibility of deeply understanding both our genetic past and present.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Sharing a hospital room increases risk of 'super bugs'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U4_vvqOVmts/100105112115.htm
Staying in a multi-bed hospital room dramatically increases the risk of acquiring a serious infectious disease, researchers in Canada have discovered.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Most ancient Hebrew biblical inscription deciphered, scholar says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dV7kcpIad2s/100107183037.htm
An inscription dating from the 10th century BCE (the period of King David's reign) has been deciphered, showing that it is a Hebrew inscription. The discovery makes this the earliest known Hebrew writing, according to one scholar.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Abnormal blood calcium levels deadly for kidney disease patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/umXWz7SEkik/100107183030.htm
Abnormally high or low blood calcium levels are linked to an increased chance of premature death in non-dialysis kidney disease patients, according to a new study. The findings indicate the potential importance of finding drugs or other treatments that maintain normal blood calcium levels in non-dialysis patients.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Rules governing RNA's anatomy revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PjP98ZsxYIg/100107143911.htm
Researchers have discovered the rules that dictate the 3-D shapes of RNA molecules, rules that are based not on complex chemical interactions but simply on geometry.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Volunteering may prevent the elderly from becoming frail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WNMFi0qhkH0/100108090955.htm
A study suggests that participating in volunteer activities may prevent frailty in older adults.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
30,000-year-old child's teeth shed new light on human evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kXSJMQ9O2E8/100107114418.htm
The teeth of a 30,000-year-old child are shedding new light on the evolution of modern humans, thanks to new research.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Alzheimer's discovery could lead to long-sought preventive treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mk9Pv8xi63A/100108090951.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that may drive the early brain function deterioration of Alzheimer's victims, thus opening a new exploratory path in the quest for an Alzheimer's cure. The research also demonstrates how the unique application of an existing cell research technique could accelerate the discovery of treatments to exploit the new findings.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Cold War offered odd benefit -- it limited species invasions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w1_AzAvPQT0/100107183047.htm
A recent study about movement of bird species during the Cold War outlines one of the perils facing an expanding global economy -- along with international trade comes the potential for a significant increase in invasive species that can disrupt ecosystems.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Blood test could improve graft-versus-host disease treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t0nfWTrDl7U/100108090953.htm
Researchers have identified the first biomarker of graft-versus-host disease of the skin. The discovery makes possible a simple blood test that should solve a treatment dilemma facing doctors with patients who frequently develop rashes after bone marrow transplants.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
New solvent technologies to replace use of harmful toxic acids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h_8rQLtcRag/100107083906.htm
Scientists are developing new ways to replace harmful, carcinogenic, toxic acids and electrolytes which are currently used in many commercial metal finishing and energy storage processes.

Sat, 9 Jan 10
Screening and treating girls doesn't reduce prevalence of chlamydia in teens, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bo-QceL0LxM/100107132547.htm
Frequent testing and treatment of infection does not reduce the prevalence of chlamydia in urban teenage girls, according to a long term study.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Evolutionary surprise: Eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S13_o7crn3w/100107103621.htm
About eight percent of human genetic material comes from a virus and not from our ancestors, according to a new study. The research shows that the genomes of humans and other mammals contain DNA derived from the insertion of bornaviruses, RNA viruses whose replication and transcription takes place in the nucleus.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Old antidepressant offers promise in treating heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x_Qlp1kfY5c/100107114735.htm
Researchers have found in animal experiments that an antidepressant developed over 40 years ago can blunt and even reverse the muscle enlargement and weakened pumping function associated with heart failure.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
H1N1 virus spreads easily by plane
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KED0VfsHzAA/100107114724.htm
Researchers have developed a novel mathematical model that predicts the spread of the H1N1 virus on long airplane flights could be significant, particularly if the infected individual travels in economy class.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
'Lorenzo's Oil' breakthrough: Newfound mechanism could prevent or treat deadly peroxisome diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r7W6sFfixGk/100107132549.htm
Medical researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding a group of deadly disorders that includes the disease made famous in the movie "Lorenzo's Oil."

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Airport full-body scanners expose passengers to less harmful radiation than most flights, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uLUo65pvdx0/100106193436.htm
Amid concerns regarding terrorists targeting airliners using weapons less detectable by traditional means, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is ramping up deployment of whole body scanners at security checkpoints in US airports. These systems produce anatomically accurate images of the body and can detect objects and substances concealed by clothing.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Mozart therapy: A sonata a day keeps the doctor away
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qtzognXc0MY/100107132551.htm
Researchers have found that pre-term infants exposed to thirty minutes of Mozart's music in one session, once per day expend less energy -- and therefore need fewer calories to grow rapidly -- than when they are not "listening" to the music.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Fossil footprints give land vertebrates a much longer history
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HjJ7ctB7NjI/100107114420.htm
The discovery of fossil footprints from early backboned land animals in Poland leads to the sensational conclusion that our ancestors left the water at least 18 million years earlier than previously thought.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Discovery opens door to new treatments for prostate, brain and skin cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fI8vuKzntAg/100107133401.htm
Researchers have discovered a previously unsuspected link between two different genetic pathways which suppress the growth of cancer tumors. This breakthrough, they say, could lead to new treatments for some of the deadliest and most intractable forms of cancer; including prostate cancer, brain cancer and melanoma.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Biologists develop efficient genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7EDanwQwG1g/100107132541.htm
Biologists have developed an efficient way to genetically modify human embryonic stem cells. Their approach, which uses bacterial artificial chromosomes to swap in defective copies of genes, will make possible the rapid development of stem cell lines that can both serve as models for human genetic diseases and as testbeds on which to screen potential treatments, they say.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Research on rarely studied cell-receptor regions opens door to eliminating drugs' side effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DQDRv2PnAdc/100106193213.htm
Researchers have taken an early step toward identifying a new approach to drug discovery that may eventually yield drugs with fewer side effects.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Urologists use robot to shave time off vasectomy reversal, raise sperm counts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eUtgOW4dHdc/100107183140.htm
In a comparison of robot-assisted vasectomy reversal and the microscope procedure that is widely used, scientists found robot-assisted surgery could reduce average surgery time by about 20 minutes. Despite the study's small sample size -- 27 patients -- physicians say it is promising, and requires more evaluation and longer follow-up of patients to yield more widely applicable results.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Before or after birth, gene linked to mental health has different effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K6I7GGgH4QE/100105095853.htm
Scientists have long eyed mutations in a gene known as DISC1 as a possible contributor to schizophrenia and mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. Now, new research suggests that perturbing this gene during prenatal periods, postnatal periods or both may have different effects in mice, leading to separate types of brain alterations and behaviors with resemblance to schizophrenia or mood disorders.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
How Earth survived its birth: New simulation reveals planet migration prevents plunge into Sun
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KCAqwrP6roU/100107114433.htm
New simulations show how planets form and maintain an orbit around a developing solar system. Until now, models plunged Earth-like objects into the stars they orbit.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Observation about how nervous system learns and encodes motion could improve stroke recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/845DHmGblTc/100107132600.htm
Bioengineers have taken a small step toward improving physical recovery in stroke patients by showing that a key feature of how limb motion is encoded in the nervous system plays a crucial role in how new motor skills are learned. The study about the neural learning elements responsible for motor learning may help scientists design rehabilitation protocols in which motor adaptation occurs more readily, potentially allowing for a more rapid recovery.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S5TzfchgHZ4/100106193314.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a first-of-its-kind cloth that releases nitric oxide gas -- an advance toward making therapeutic socks for people with diabetes and a wrap to help preserve organs harvested for transplantation.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Childhood vaccine schedule updated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ev9xH5sBocI/100107183138.htm
Updated guidelines for childhood and teen immunizations to include formal recommendations that children older than 6 months get the H1N1 influenza vaccine to guard against swine flu, and that combination vaccines are generally preferred over separate injections, says an pediatric infectious disease expert serving on the panel which drafted the updated schedule.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Zircons and their message from the Earth’s mantle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i8dxaSQ60Lo/091127133919.htm
Zircon is a mineral that exists in nature from colorless to reddish-brown, yellow, green or blue. Zircon may also be transparent making its visual appearance similar to a diamond. Zircon is a common accessory mineral in many rocks of the continental crust. Their chemical and physical durability allow this mineral to survive even under the pressure and temperature conditions of the Earth’s upper mantle. These characteristics challenged a group of scientists to take a closer look on zircons from basaltic fields in north-eastern Bavaria. Their results show that these zircons were formed in the Earth mantle and were stored in this environment many million of years before they were delivered to the surface by basalt lava flows with which they are associated.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Scientists call for moratorium on issuance of mountaintop mining permits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2LgQK_a7dTs/100107143903.htm
Based on a comprehensive analysis of the latest scientific findings, a group of the nation's leading environmental scientists are calling on the US EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers to stay all new mountaintop mining permits. They argue that peer-reviewed research unequivocally documents irreversible environmental impacts from this form of mining which also exposes local residents to a higher risk of serious health problems.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Warmer climate could stifle carbon uptake by trees, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JsEbGtppLcQ/100107183136.htm
Contrary to conventional belief, as the climate warms and growing seasons lengthen subalpine forests are likely to soak up less carbon dioxide, according to a new study.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Researcher links diabetic complication to nerve damage in bone marrow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4pc9GxN-dWA/100106193326.htm
Scientists have discovered a link between diabetes and bone marrow nerve damage that may help treat one of the disease's most common and potentially blindness-causing complications.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Eclipses yield first images of elusive iron line in the solar corona
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_8MVz_meXDY/100104161803.htm
Solar physicists attempting to unlock the mysteries of the solar corona have found another piece of the puzzle by observing the sun's outer atmosphere during eclipses.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Increased presence, severity of coronary artery plaques in HIV-infected men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7SRotRS-wEE/100107151659.htm
A new study has found that relatively young men with longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more coronary atherosclerotic plaques -- some involving serious arterial blockage -- than did uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Protein dynamics: Hidden, transient life of a protein between active states illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qQuAVj2eUrA/091210125918.htm
Understanding the incredibly speedy atomic mechanisms at work when a protein transitions from one shape to another has been an elusive scientific goal for years, but an essential one for elucidating the full panoply of protein function. How do proteins transition, or interconvert, between distinct shapes without unfolding in the process? Until now, this question has been a hypothetical one, approached by computation only rather than experimentation.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Liver donations from living donors increase 42 percent after educational intervention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QGA5NHIc4sE/100107114424.htm
A recent study found that living donation increased 42 percent and the number of individuals who presented for donation evaluation increased 74 percent at centers in New York. The surge in live donation and donor evaluation occurred after additional education was provided to liver transplant candidates.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Quantum simulation of a relativistic particle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zco4jdhi9Kw/100106193221.htm
Researchers have used a calcium ion to simulate a relativistic quantum particle, demonstrating a phenomenon that has not been directly observable so far: the Zitterbewegung.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Each pound at birth lowers risk of developing tuberculosis, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fx1LC1aaZV4/100107183050.htm
Just one more pound may help a newborn avoid tuberculosis later in life. Researchers looked at how much protection additional birth weight added against developing the disease years later. They found that every 1.1 pounds of birth weight decreases the risk of developing tuberculosis later by 46 percent among identical twins.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Unraveling kidney cancer: Mutations in the genome regulation machinery identified in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nGsB1dUqMnQ/100106193215.htm
Scientists have searched for mutations in more than 100 kidney cancer samples, the largest number of samples from a single tumor type to be sequenced to date. They looked for mutations in 3,544 genes to investigate the complexity within this cancer type, which is typically associated with mutations in a gene called VHL. Despite this prevalent genetic signature, the team revealed substantial genetic heterogeneity, suggesting that a complex machinery contributes to the development of cancer.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Sickle Cell Study Boosts Call For Improved Childhood Immunization Programs In Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EwCBQn5B8G0/090909203154.htm
Children in Africa with sickle cell anemia are dying unnecessarily from bacterial infections, suggests the largest study of its kind. The study has prompted calls for all children in Africa to receive vaccinations against the most common bacterial infections.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Interactive animations give science students a boost
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z05HXJkskQ8/091214121432.htm
For a generation of students raised and nurtured at the computer keyboard, it seems like a no-brainer that computer-assisted learning would have a prominent role in the college science classroom. But many difficult scientific concepts are still conveyed through dry lectures or ponderous texts. But that could change if science professors take a cue from a new study on the use of interactive animations in the college science classroom.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Race-based misdiagnosis still remains a health care problem
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x4YFHBsLuu4/100106193432.htm
Black men are over-diagnosed with schizophrenia at least five times higher than any other group -- a trend that dates back to the 1960s, according to new research.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Golden ratio discovered in quantum world: Hidden symmetry observed for the first time in solid state matter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MQTYzfdwy5Q/100107143909.htm
Researchers have for the first time observed a nanoscale symmetry hidden in solid state matter. They have measured the signatures of a symmetry showing the same attributes as the golden ratio famous from art and architecture.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Genetic differences between lethal and treatable forms of leukemia discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N9rC3YtjETU/100107133405.htm
A tumor's genetic profile is often useful when diagnosing and deciding on treatment for certain cancers, but inexplicably, genetically similar leukemias in different patients do not always respond well to the same therapy. Researchers believe they may have discovered what distinguishes these patients by evaluating the "epigenetic" differences between patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Iron Controls Patterns Of Nitrogen Fixation In The Atlantic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aIAsdSDKsBY/091102121628.htm
Scientists have discovered that interactions between iron supply, transported through the atmosphere from deserts, and large-scale oceanic circulation control the availability of a crucial nutrient, nitrogen, in the Atlantic. Their findings have potentially important implications for understanding global climate, both past and future.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Efficacy of flu vaccine drastically reduced for RA patients treated with rituximab
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tsRGz4FvVtE/100106095044.htm
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are partially protected by the influenza vaccine 6-10 months after treatment with rituximab. Researchers determined that while the flu vaccine is safe, it is ineffective for RA patients in the first six months following rituximab treatment.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Environmentalists and fishing community can both win, say experts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XAxcpk0Uxa0/100107133403.htm
You can conserve fish and eat them too, according to a fisheries economist.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
No evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools, experts argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rRjEtgYXdOA/100105170936.htm
There is no evidence to support psychological debriefing in schools after traumatic events such as violence, suicides and accidental death, which runs counter to current practice in some Canadian school jurisdictions, according to a group of experts.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Polar bears changing habitat in response to sea ice conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xl9SBMSGqxg/100107151657.htm
An analysis of 27 years of data shows that polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea region are occurring more frequently on land and in open water than on ice during the fall.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
New mechanism underlying cocaine addiction discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7iX39FPtyf0/100107143900.htm
Researchers have identified a key epigenetic mechanism in the brain that helps explain cocaine's addictiveness.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
WISE Eye Spies First Glimpse of the Starry Sky
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q_RVolkpOik/100107083100.htm
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has captured its first look at the starry sky that it will soon begin surveying in infrared light.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Epigenetics: Protein linked to leukemia 'bookmarks' highly active genes during cell division
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XP0WRWMCMbw/100105150652.htm
Scientists have discovered how some epigenetic instructions get stably transferred from one generation of cells to the next. They report that newly formed cells learn which genes need to become highly active right away thanks to a helpful protein that "bookmarks" these genes during the division of their parent cell.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Scientists' breakthrough in production of biofuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EAptDnYNR4c/100107114428.htm
Scientists have developed an innovative device which will make the production of alternative biofuels more energy efficient.

Fri, 8 Jan 10
Setting the record straight on weight loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hCJ7cbWoSTY/100106093634.htm
It's time to set the record straight. The only reliable way to lose weight is to eat less or exercise more. Preferably both. So why bother to state the obvious? Because a body of scientific literature has arisen over recent years, suggesting that fat oxidation -- burning the fats we eat as opposed to the carbohydrates -- is enough to promote fat loss. It isn't, according to new research.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Milky Way's magnetic attraction ten times stronger than rest of galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ocU6f_t5Lnc/100106193219.htm
The magnetic field in the center of the Milky Way is at least 10 times stronger than the rest of the galaxy, according to new research.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
A solution to obesity? Muscles that act as an energy drain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SkZ3OY5PWBg/100105125834.htm
Many people have traded in their gas-guzzling old "clunkers" for newer and more efficient models or cut back on energy use at home by opting for Energy Star appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs. But, when it comes to our muscles, a little less efficiency might be just what the doctor ordered, suggests new research.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Birds fight alien parasites: Darwin's finches develop antibodies to flies, pox virus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pm_fFBwwvZc/100106003613.htm
Unlike Hawaii and other island groups, no native bird has gone extinct in the Galapagos Islands, although some are in danger. Biologists have found that finches -- the birds Darwin studied -- develop antibodies against two parasites that moved to the Galapagos, suggesting the birds can fight the alien invaders.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Researchers pin down long-elusive protein that's essential to 'life as we know it'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z1b9ib59YLw/100104114551.htm
A team of researchers is being recognized for devising a new way to study a human protein that long has evaded close scrutiny by scientists investigating its role in the communication of important genetic messages inside a cell's nucleus to workhorse molecules found elsewhere.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Astronomers get new tools for gravitational-wave detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TToPIMH4t-Y/100105143728.htm
A breakthrough in discovering new millisecond pulsars is providing astronomers a greatly improved capability to use those natural cosmic tools to make the first direct detections of gravitational waves.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
How people work ... and the fingerprint mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pco-zpgeI-Q/100106082527.htm
Why do we chew our food? Research has shown that it is not, as has long been presumed, to make chunks of food small enough to swallow without choking. Biomechanics, who have modelled the cohesive strength of food after a certain amount of chewing, have shown that we actually chew our food to ensure it is in a firm blob and, therefore, safe to swallow.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Cell phone exposure may protect against and reverse Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qYVZ-xkPspk/100106193217.htm
The millions of people who spend hours every day on a cell phone may have a new excuse for yakking. A new indicates long-term exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones may protect against and reverse Alzheimer's disease.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Stomach-cancer bug linked to cancer-promoting factor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NZrFrKIgcGo/100106193330.htm
Researchers report that Helicobacter pylori, the only bacterium known to survive in the harsh environment of the human stomach, directly activates an enzyme in host cells that has been associated with several types of cancer, including gastric cancer.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Sun glints seen from space signal oceans and lakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5oWHKzQ9HSw/100105170930.htm
In two new videos from NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft, bright flashes of light known as sun glints act as beacons signaling large bodies of water on Earth. These observations give scientists a way to pick out planets beyond our solar system (extrasolar planets) that are likely to have expanses of liquid, and so stand a better chance of having life.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
It's good to talk: Changing how nerves communicate in congestive heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ADyu0kZmoIc/100104210709.htm
A team of researchers has now determined in rodents how congestive heart failure triggers substantive changes to the nerves that control heart function.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Researchers discover a way to strengthen proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/laDl1qgV1OI/091210125544.htm
Proteins, which perform such vital roles in our bodies as building and maintaining tissues and regulating cellular processes, are a finicky lot. In order to work properly, they must be folded just so, yet many proteins readily collapse into useless tangles when exposed to temperatures just a few degrees above normal body temperature.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Seeing with your hands? Hand amputation may result in altered perception around the hands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/neiCUtmhOyo/100106193434.htm
The space within reach of our hands -- where actions such as grasping and touching occur -- is known as the "action space." New research indicates that amputation of the hand results in distorted visuospatial perception (i.e., figuring out where in space objects are located) of the action space. These findings suggest that losing a hand may shrink the action space on the amputated side, leading to permanent distortions in spatial perception.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Astronomers unveil images of 12-billion-year-old space nursery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EFUoDEwSllk/100106193430.htm
Astronomers have produced the most detailed images of deep space from 12 billion years ago, using data from the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Discovery may help baby boomers get buff: Free radicals damage mitochondria in muscle cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hIkNDekIluc/100104131307.htm
If you're an aging baby boomer hoping for a buffer physique, there's hope. A team of scientists has made a significant discovery about the cause of age-related muscle atrophy that could lead to new drugs to halt this natural process.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Behavioral identification can help stop terrorists, researcher says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pcj4UTRyouQ/100106193440.htm
The effective use of multiple layers of intelligence gathering, including existing behavioral identification programs, could have excluded Farouk Abdul Mutallab from travel before he got anywhere near Northwest Flight 253, a researcher says.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Study links vitamin D, race and cardiac deaths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A3pYK0TDeMY/100105170924.htm
Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a higher number of heart and stroke-related deaths among black Americans compared to whites, according to a new study.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Scientists probe mystery of loop current in eastern Gulf of Mexico
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bAdLHPiQPi8/100106193318.htm
A new study examines the circulation in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and sheds new light on the behavior of the Loop Current and Loop Current Eddies, the relation between the upper- and lower-layer currents, and the variability of water mass characteristics in deep water.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Negative phys ed teacher can cause a lifetime of inactivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cdTqtb6Hm5U/100106193328.htm
A negative physical education teacher can turn people off fitness for good, according to new research.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Silencing brain cells with yellow and blue light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8ltIYegKdK0/100106193438.htm
Neuroscientists have developed a powerful new class of tools to reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. When targeted to specific neurons, they could potentially lead to new treatments for abnormal brain activity associated with disorders including chronic pain, epilepsy, brain injury and Parkinson's disease.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
UV LED therapy shows promising results in preventing focal seizures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4AsIest4uQE/100106095049.htm
Researchers have discovered that light from an ultraviolet diode (UV LED) reduced "seizure-like" activity in a rat epilepsy model. Results of this study have considerable potential in treating focal epilepsy in humans.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
New panchromatic capabilities of Hubble reveal unprecedented view of universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tjsiTiQp9gs/100105161542.htm
More than 12 billion years of cosmic history are shown in an unprecedented, panoramic, full-color view of thousands of galaxies in various stages of assembly. The image was assembled from mosaics taken with the newly installed Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in fall 2009 and with Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys taken in 2004.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Obese pregnant women should gain less weight than currently recommended, researcher suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OKB44pAMMaI/100106093640.htm
An obstetrician who specializes in obesity disputes current recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Canine compulsive disorder gene identified in dogs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jciy7lIfklA/100106193316.htm
A canine chromosome 7 locus that confers a high risk of compulsive disorder susceptibility has been identified.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Fewer headaches on the horizon, thanks to latest guidelines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UcX9uTHhRXY/100106082529.htm
If you're one of the millions of headache sufferers around the world, more effective relief might be on the way in years to come. That's because the International Headache Society has just published new research guidelines intended to stimulate more research into headache treatment, and to provide researchers with guidelines to cut health risks associated with treatment.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
First Earth-like planet spotted outside solar system likely a volcanic wasteland
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AMJ3mTpifnc/100106093642.htm
When scientists confirmed in October that they had detected the first rocky planet outside our solar system, it advanced the longtime quest to find an Earth-like planet hospitable to life. The rocky planet CoRoT-7 b is, however, a forbidding place. If its orbit is not almost perfectly circular, then the planet might be undergoing continuous, fierce volcanic eruptions.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Experimental drug reduces tumor resistance to breast cancer therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeomijMrEpg/100106003611.htm
Researchers have found a way to cleverly override signals that tell breast cancer cells to keep surviving in the face of anticancer treatment. The investigational agent they used renews the sensitivity of these breast cancer cells to treatment by fulvestrant which had stopped working.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Impact of unsettled summer weather on UK marine life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/axgsVcBczzE/100105100019.htm
A recent scientific conference has provided new evidence for the effects of unseasonal summer storms on a variety of spectacular marine life, including deadly jellyfish, basking sharks and oceanic seabirds.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
HIV-infected postmenopausal women at high risk for bone fractures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LXzbfiBip-w/100105095846.htm
A new study finds that postmenopausal HIV-infected women have a high prevalence of low bone mineral density and high bone turnover, placing them at high risk for future bone fractures.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Resistance to antibiotics can be drawback for bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1M_A23oq-jE/100105131727.htm
Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a bacterium that can cause diseases with high fatality rates, and there has therefore been considerable concern that, like other bacteria, it might become resistant to antibiotics. But now a study shows that there has not been any increase in resistant meningococci in Sweden over the last 15 years. The reason for this may be that it is not especially advantageous for bacteria to develop resistance.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Music therapy can assist toddlers' communication rehabilitation process
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jCK_YCj5ZuY/100106093636.htm
Music therapy can assist in the speech acquisition process in toddlers who have undergone cochlear implantation, as revealed in a new study.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Physicists beginning to see data from the Large Hadron Collider
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5jABgxoCCkc/100106193446.htm
Physicists are starting to see real data from the Large Hadron Collider, the planet's biggest science experiment. But it will still take years of study before the collider produces new, Nobel-winning physics.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Fat mass helps build bone mass in girls, study suggests; excessive fat reduction may increase osteoporosis risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ft4Piy588Hw/100105095844.htm
According to a new study, fat mass is important in increasing bone size and thickness, but this effect appears to be stronger in girls than boys.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Miscanthus, a biofuels crop, can host western corn rootworm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fvLHZn425Gc/100105125844.htm
The western corn rootworm beetle, a pest that feasts on corn roots and corn silk and costs growers more than $1 billion annually in the US, also can survive on the perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus, a potential biofuels crop that would likely be grown alongside corn, researchers report.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Strength training, self-management improve outcomes for knee osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n8Aas5oJ-8g/100105100027.htm
Researchers have determined that physically inactive, middle-aged people with symptomatic osteoarthritis benefited equally from strength training regimens, self-management programs, or a combination of the two.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Smarter cars are gaining traction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HhsyNlqmZ0s/100105131723.htm
Lives can depend on a vehicle’s moment-by-moment traction. New European technology promises to make cars as good as experienced, alert drivers at sensing and adjusting to wet, snowy or icy roads.

Thu, 7 Jan 10
Benefit of antidepressant medications appears to vary with severity of depression symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0LQpwzqLbgg/100105161538.htm
An analysis of randomized trials indicates that compared with placebo, the magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medications varies with the severity of depressive symptoms, and may provide little benefit for patients with mild or moderate depression, but appear to provide substantial benefit for patients with very severe depression, according to a new study.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Few gender differences in math abilities, worldwide study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/17P3Xfo2h6U/100105112303.htm
Girls around the world are not worse at math than boys, even though boys are more confident in their math abilities, and girls from countries where gender equity is more prevalent are more likely to perform better on mathematics assessment tests, according to a new analysis of international research.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Research unlocks secrets of protein linked to spread of viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EUy74IqC-b8/100105112301.htm
Researchers have unlocked some of the secrets of a viral protein, known as Rev, which plays an essential role in the propagation mechanism of certain types of viruses within an organism.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Tipping elements in the Earth System: How stable is the contemporary environment?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/320VR-wTbWY/091209193728.htm
New research presents the latest scientific insights on so-called tipping elements in the planetary environment. These elements have been identified as the most vulnerable large-scale components of the Earth System that may be profoundly altered by human interference. If one or more of those components is tipped -- especially in the course of global warming -- then the age of remarkably stable environmental conditions on Earth throughout the Holocene may end quickly and irreversibly.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New virus is not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, suggests new research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DgBYf3DUXRQ/100106003615.htm
New research has not reproduced previous findings that suggested chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to a recently discovered virus. The authors of the study say this means that anti-retroviral drugs may not be an effective treatment for people with the illness.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Early-warning system defends rare Jersey cows from disease spreading through Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IC4QDhVhO0E/100105100017.htm
Scientists from the Channel Islands are working on an early-warning system to help defend cattle against "bluetongue" disease, which can be carried from France by the wind.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Sexual function does not continuously decline after radiation therapy treatments for prostate cancer, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H3sJnjV-kaw/100105100029.htm
Sexual function in prostate cancer patients receiving external beam radiation therapy decreases within the first two years after treatment but then stabilizes and does not continuously decline as was previously thought, according to a new study.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Earliest Tyrannosauroid rediscovered in museum collection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PBKwhulyj_o/091104122538.htm
A long forgotten fossil skull in the collections of the Natural History Museum in London has now provided crucial clues to the early stages of the lengthy evolutionary history of Tyrannosaurus rex and related large carnivorous dinosaurs.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
'Junk DNA' could spotlight breast and bowel cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06Ryb5lhskg/100105112259.htm
Scientists have found that a group of genetic rogue elements, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as "junk DNA," could help diagnose breast and bowel cancer.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Restaurant and packaged foods can have more calories than nutrition labeling indicates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p3Us_l4aaoU/100105100021.htm
Since people who are trying to reduce their weight are encouraged to choose meals labeled as "lower in calories" or "reduced energy" in restaurants and supermarkets, it is essential that the listed data are accurate. In a new study, researchers found that some commercially prepared foods contained more calories than indicated in nutritional labeling.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4kbLz6qoNvE/091129210539.htm
New figures on deaths from cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality between the periods 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Deaths from all cancers in the European Union between these two periods fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women, with a large drop among the middle-aged population.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Earth Science: Turbulence around heat transport in Earth's mantle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cQ7AyB2CxlE/091203101418.htm
Heat transport in the Earth's mantle and in the atmosphere is probably not as effective as previously thought.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Serious emotional disturbances found among children after Katrina
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ALbfjLsw8O4/100105100031.htm
Mental health professionals have shown that there are serious emotional disturbances (SED) among children as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The Category 3 storm ravaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Characteristics of SED include inappropriate behavior, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, fears and phobias, and learning difficulties.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Electric field propels worms to test new drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FCGtePvrysU/100105150650.htm
Researchers have developed a way to view the effects of a proposed drug treatment in real time using a mild electrical field to stimulate C. elegans nematodes. The discovery opens up significant possibilities for developing high-throughput micro-screening devices for drug discovery and other applications for treating diseases such as Huntington's, Parkinson's and muscular dystrophy.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles, new study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IFNbqwRG1jo/100104122310.htm
Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a new study, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New mathematical model aids Big Bang supercomputer research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jgxjI0mpyBY/100105170938.htm
Astrophysicists using supercomputers to simulate the Big Bang have a new mathematical tool to model the early universe. Researchers have built a computer model of the "Dark Ages." The model -- successfully tested on two supercomputers -- tightly couples physical processes present during cosmic reionization. Resulting simulations when scientists model various scenarios are highly accurate, numerically stable and computationally scalable to the largest supercomputers.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Caffeine consumption associated with less severe liver fibrosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WckRYC8bbow/100105100023.htm
Researchers have discovered that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New solar pond distillation system devised
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x4IwmXqKF88/100105170942.htm
Ecosystems of terminus lakes around the world could benefit from a new system being developed to desalinate water using a specialized low-cost solar pond and patented membrane distillation system powered by renewable energy.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Two sides of the same coin: Speech and gesture mutually interact to enhance comprehension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pe44trtlH9k/100105143730.htm
Your mother may have taught you that it's rude to point, but according to new research, gesturing may actually help improve communication. These findings suggest that when gesture and speech convey the same information, they are easier to understand than when they convey different information. In addition, these results indicate that gesture and speech form an integrated system that helps us in language comprehension.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
In all the universe, just 10 percent of solar systems are like ours
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OeVzvfRFkYY/100105161540.htm
In their quest to find solar systems analogous to ours, astronomers have determined how common our solar system is. They've concluded that about 10 percent of stars in the universe host systems of planets like our own, with several gas giant planets in the outer part of the solar system.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Biodegradable particles can bypass mucus, release drugs over time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nxJGUJkWl9Y/100104114547.htm
Researchers have created biodegradable nanosized particles that can easily slip through the body's sticky and viscous mucus secretions to deliver a sustained-release medication cargo.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Rebirth Of An Island After Volcanic Eruption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ZFFMhcmur8/090806170721.htm
When Alaska's Kasatochi Volcano erupted on Aug. 7, 2008, it virtually sterilized Kasatochi Island, covering the small Aleutian island with a layer of ash and other volcanic material several meters thick. The eruption also provided a rare research opportunity: the chance to see how an ecosystem develops from the very first species to colonize the island.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Small, thin children may have poorer lung function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ws7ebgcuKDI/100105183649.htm
A new study shows that poor lung function during adolescence and through midlife may be influenced by several factors, including birth weight, height, and gender.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Worm's eye view: Molecular worm algorithm navigates inside chemical labyrinth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wLPjDm_rHmM/100105131157.htm
Researchers have developed a "molecular worm" algorithm that makes it easier and faster to simulate the passage of a molecule through the labyrinth of a chemical system, a progression that is critical to catalysis and other important chemical processes.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Abuse in childhood linked to migraine and other pain disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WkekJ3u9jMc/100106003608.htm
Researchers have found that incidence of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and neglect, are prevalent in migraine patients.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
'Ferropaper' is new technology for small motors, robots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vN1_MsVsJLI/100105170926.htm
Researchers have created a magnetic "ferropaper" that might be used to make low-cost "micromotors" for surgical instruments, tiny tweezers to study cells and miniature speakers.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Celebrex inhibits burden of skin cancer in high-risk patients, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wXyJgulPxBk/100105095840.htm
People with the heritable disorder of the skin called Gorlin syndrome who are genetically predisposed to develop basal cell carcinoma of the skin may have a new chemoprevention therapy on the horizon.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Natural compounds in pomegranates may prevent growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JFMadXpEdoI/100105095838.htm
Eating fruit, such as pomegranates, that contain anti-aromatase phytochemicals reduces the incidence of hormone-dependent breast cancer, according to results of a new study.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New eating device retrains dietary habits and helps children lose weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N1kNyQjecMA/100105195244.htm
A new computerized device that tracks portion size and how fast people eat is more successful in helping obese children and adolescents lose weight than standard treatments, according to new research.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
FDA clears TransOral robotic surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3VkWflQbW74/100104114553.htm
A minimally invasive surgical approach developed by head and neck surgeons has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration. The da Vinci Surgical System has been cleared for TransOral otolaryngologic surgical procedures to treat benign tumors and select malignant tumors in adults.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Technology new gateway into treatment for problem alcohol users
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rC5uZXEaV6s/100105125842.htm
Interventions for problem alcohol use can be effective in changing drinking behaviors and offers a significant public health benefit, according to new research. The study found that problem drinkers provided access to an online screener reduced their alcohol consumption by 30 percent -- or six to seven drinks weekly -- rates that are comparable to face-to-face interventions.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Nature's most precise clocks may make 'galactic GPS' possible: Pulsars help in search for gravitational waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yl3JdxuAiTY/100105150654.htm
Radio astronomers have uncovered 17 millisecond pulsars in our galaxy by studying unknown high-energy sources detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The astronomers made the discovery in less than three months. Such a jump in the pace of locating these hard-to-find objects holds the promise of using them as a kind of "galactic GPS" to detect gravitational waves passing near Earth.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/StTX9CKyQgM/100105100033.htm
Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Scientist's breakthrough given ticket to Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p_xsK2k-ho0/100105170934.htm
The quest to discover whether Mars ever hosted an environment friendly to microscopic forms of life has just gotten a shot in the arm. An experiment -- added to the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on a mobile NASA laboratory that will land on Mars in 2012 -- will enhance SAM's ability to analyze large carbon molecules if the mission is fortunate enough to find any.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Discovery may help stop age-related macular degeneration at the molecular level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V7ax_v-v_JQ/100104114549.htm
Researchers have gleaned a key insight into the molecular beginnings of age-related macular degeneration, the No. 1 cause of vision loss in the elderly, by determining how two key proteins interact to naturally prevent the onset of the condition.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Major Australian droughts traced to different causes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ljGNriueP1s/091230183625.htm
Southeastern Australia has been subject to several severe, long-term droughts during the past century, including the "Federation" drought (1895-1900), the "World War II" drought (1937-1945), and the "Big Dry" (1997 to present). All three droughts were widespread and devastating, but until now the causes and nature of these three droughts had not been compared. New research highlights the differences in the nature and causes of these three droughts.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Why England's soccer team keeps losing on penalty shots
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZOxiafBQmrs/091211093637.htm
A new study may explain why the England soccer team keeps losing in penalty shootouts -- and could help the team address the problem in time for the World Cup 2010. New research shows for the first time the effect of anxiety on a footballer's eye movements while taking a penalty.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
From crickets to whales, animal calls have something in common
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PBKLtkeoZfU/100105195246.htm
Animals produce a tremendous diversity of sounds for communication to perform life's basic functions, from courtship and parental care to defense and foraging. Explaining this diversity in sound production is important for understanding the ecology, evolution and behavior of species. Scientists have presented a theory of acoustic communication that shows that much of the diversity in animal vocal signals can be explained based on the energetic constraints of sound production.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
New Combination Therapy Looks Promising Against Ulcer Bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fUG5K_-hqkU/091026125138.htm
Results of a new study reveal that a seven-day course of LOAD therapy is superior to LAC at eliminating the H. pylori bacterium in patients with gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Researchers discover antibody receptor identity, propose renaming immune-system gene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Afs7kGUWxpk/091118161639.htm
Researchers have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that the researchers are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Alternative To Pap Test Does Not Appear To Be Better For Detecting Cervical Cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T9CLtK_7XiE/091027161528.htm
A Dutch study that included nearly 90,000 women finds that liquid-based cytology, a commonly used alternative to conventional Pap tests, is not superior to Pap tests for the detection of cervical cancer precursors or cancer, according to a new study.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
As the refrigerator said to the hi-fi ...
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RYbjc8R9q7A/100104092456.htm
Networked sensors and devices have huge potential but how can we ensure that they can all talk to each other? The answer, according to a European consortium, is to link them seamlessly through a common ‘middleware’.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Rural America more prosperous than expected, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gAwVdtZxXj4/091202131631.htm
For many people "rural" is synonymous with low incomes, limited economic opportunity, and poor schools. However, a recent study found that much of rural America is actually prosperous, particularly in the Midwest and Plains.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Growing new body parts: Master mechanism for regeneration?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dvvREfvql7E/091019122654.htm
Biologists long have marveled at the ability of some animals to re-grow lost body parts. Using zebrafish as a model, researchers have found that some of the same genes underlie the process in different types of tissues. Genes involved in fin regeneration and heart repair are also required for rebuilding damaged light receptors in the eye, they found, suggesting that a common molecular mechanism guides the process, no matter what body part is damaged.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Why circumcised men are less likely to become infected with HIV: Changes in bacteria within penis microbiome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BW-zUJ1Gc5k/100106003617.htm
Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a new study.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Cost Effectiveness Of Blood Pressure Device Evaluated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nE9huTH0wo4/091015133113.htm
For certain patient populations, an experimental device that lowers blood pressure may be a cost effective treatment. The implantable device, called Rheos, is in advanced stages of testing for individuals with drug resistant hypertension.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Benefit Of Memantine In The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease Not Proven
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1On5J3c_a_E/091028112617.htm
There is no scientific proof that patients with moderate or severe Alzheimer's disease benefit from drugs containing the agent memantine, according to a new report.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
Scientists Create NICE Solution To Pneumonia Vaccine Testing Problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CaNzua_fADc/091022134452.htm
Medical clinics the world over could benefit from new software created by a team of scientists has found a way to improve the efficiency of a pneumonia vaccine testing method.

Wed, 6 Jan 10
For low-income families with special needs kids, where you live matters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DQNV7eIgizY/091204145707.htm
Caring for a child with special health care needs usually means higher medical expenses for a family, particularly for low-income families, who spend a large share of their income on their child's care. Yet, for individual families, the impact of out-of-pocket expenses is often a function of their state of residence.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Runaway anti-matter production makes for a spectacular stellar explosion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_iZxY0PymG8/100104151933.htm
Astronomers have discovered a distant star that exploded when its center became so hot that matter and anti-matter particle pairs were created.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Eavesdropping on bacterial conversations may improve chronic wound healing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pNi8wtDGhgI/100104151927.htm
Listening in on bacterial conversations could be the solution for improving chronic wound care, say researchers.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Scientists target East Coast U.S. rocks for carbon dioxide storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ClDE1frvik/100104151919.htm
Scientists say buried volcanic rocks along the heavily populated coasts of New York, New Jersey and New England, as well as further south, might be ideal reservoirs to lock away carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and other industrial sources. A new study outlines formations on land as well as offshore where the best potential sites may lie. Power plants might pipe emissions under the seabed. The idea is controversial because of fears that CO2 might leak.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Breast cancer screening should begin at age 40, new recommendations suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tfzS3YUmBwA/100104114555.htm
The new recommendations from the Society of Breast Imaging and the American College of Radiology on breast cancer screening state that breast cancer screening should begin at age 40 and earlier in high-risk patients. The recommendations also suggest appropriate utilization of medical imaging modalities such as mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound for breast cancer screening.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Reducing some water flow rates may bring environmental gains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nPpGVBdZU8Q/100104122306.htm
Although conservationists have often concentrated on increasing water flow through ecosystems to bring about more natural conditions in altered landscapes, increasing flows can have unfavorable consequences in some situations, notably those where invasive species or pollution are problematic.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Adding technology to geometry class improves opportunities to learn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/plsF0YdryCc/091215121057.htm
A new study suggests the students who used dynamic geometry software were more successful in discovering new mathematical ideas than when they used static, paper-based diagrams.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Smoking cessation may actually increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8chsNX3NYrM/100104181519.htm
Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but new research suggests that quitting the habit may actually raise diabetes risk in the short term.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
New key factor identified in the development of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h-FrVdgP8KE/100104143503.htm
A small protein found in the gene- ß -amyloid precursor protein, APP, has been identified as a novel factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease related endosome abnormalities, which have also been tied previously to the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer's disease.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Can kitchen spoons be dangerous spoons? Too little or too much medicine, depending on spoon size
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MBpm4KBfKds/100104181614.htm
A new study illustrates the dangers of using kitchen spoons to measure liquid medicine.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Radiofrequency ablation safe and effective for reducing pain from bone metastases, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-f_tDkaUd8c/100104151931.htm
Image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a minimally invasive cancer treatment which can be performed in the outpatient setting, significantly reduced the level of pain experienced by cancer patients with bone (osseous) metastases, limiting the need for strong narcotic pain management, and supporting improved patient frame of mind, according to new results.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Solar-powered irrigation significantly improves diet and income in rural sub-Saharan Africa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r8MopCowqYM/100104151923.htm
Solar-powered drip irrigation systems significantly enhance household incomes and nutritional intake of villagers in arid sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new study.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
More U.S. patients receive multiple psychotropic medications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8KJ9q9wFTbM/100104161748.htm
An increasing number of US adults are being prescribed combinations of antidepressants and antipsychotic medications, according to a new study.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Obesity now poses as great a threat to quality of life as smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b2sBXBObZN4/100104192029.htm
As the US population becomes increasingly obese while smoking rates continue to decline, obesity has become an equal, if not greater, contributor to the burden of disease and shortening of healthy life in comparison to smoking. In a new study, researchers calculate that the Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) lost due to obesity is now equal to, if not greater than, those lost due to smoking, both modifiable risk factors.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Refusing chickenpox vaccine associated with increased risk of disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZqSkt92qdPQ/100104161752.htm
Children whose parents refuse the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine appear more likely to develop the disease, according to a new study.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Winter, Nighttime Tornadoes Pose Greatest Risk, National Weather Service Warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W_5JjJH6STw/100104135143.htm
Shrouded in darkness, nighttime tornadoes can be deadly, especially during the winter season when people are not accustomed to such severe weather. Given the dangers, forecasters with NOAA's National Weather Service are increasing efforts to alert people of a potential threat in their area before they go to sleep.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Can Supplements Help People with Diabetes Avoid Retinopathy?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/avNPiIAbrLQ/100104104823.htm
In theory, Vitamins C and E and magnesium could help prevent or limit diabetic retinopathy (DR), a potentially blinding disease, since each nutrient causes the body to respond in ways that alter retinopathy mechanisms.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Researchers identify scaffold regulating protein disposal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JYByFw_MREc/091211131611.htm
How does a cell manage to identify and degrade the diverse types of defective proteins and thus protect the body against serious diseases? Researchers have found a crucial piece in this puzzle. In an enzyme complex that plays a critical role in the quality control of proteins, they discovered a scaffold regulating the identification and disposal of various defectively produced proteins.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Nurse home visitation program reduces girls' potential criminality later in life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7H3bJZgCy94/100104161756.htm
Girls whose mothers were visited at home by nurses during pregnancy and the children's infancy appear less likely to enter the criminal justice system by age 19, according to a new study.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Scans Show Learning 'Sculpts' The Brain's Connections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mxEqHkrUVWE/091009092351.htm
Spontaneous brain activity formerly thought to be "white noise" measurably changes after a person learns a new task, researchers have shown. Scientists also report that the degree of change reflects how well subjects have learned to perform the task.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Exercise helps patients with peripheral artery disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tGZcMNxG8KE/091202101757.htm
Peripheral artery disease affects 5 million individuals in the US and is the leading cause of limb amputations. Doctors have long considered exercise to be the single best therapy for PAD, and now a new study helps explain why.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Highway Barriers Stifle Sound, Sight, and Soot
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vjOVV250l54/100104134643.htm
Highway barriers erected along roadways to block the sound and sight of traffic for the adjoining neighborhoods may also be reducing the amount of pollutants, such as soot from diesel exhaust, reaching area residents.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
How precursors of gene-regulating small RNAs are sorted by cellular machinery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D1ui1tQ0oik/100104101408.htm
A team of scientists has determined a hierarchical set of criteria that explain how the molecular precursors of gene-regulating small RNAs are sorted by the cellular machinery.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Ecosystem, vegetation affect intensity of urban heat island effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PjJpDqvH0u4/091215173021.htm
Researchers studying urban landscapes have found that the intensity of the "heat island" created by a city depends on the ecosystem it replaced and on the regional climate. Urban areas developed in arid and semi-arid regions show far less heating compared with the surrounding countryside than cities built amid forested and temperate climates.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Pain management failing as fears of prescription drug abuse rise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3w1Jbg9QJ-0/100104151929.htm
Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive pain treatment -- either due to inadequate training, personal biases or fear of prescription drug abuse.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
New Evidence Of Culture In Wild Chimpanzees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NFtD3K2bfbc/091022122321.htm
A new study of chimpanzees living in the wild adds to evidence that our closest primate relatives have cultural differences, too. The study shows that neighboring chimpanzee populations in Uganda use different tools to solve a novel problem: extracting honey trapped within a fallen log.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Discovery aims to correct cellular defects leading to diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FSSB_4iyxyc/100104101208.htm
A recent discovery may change the perception and treatment of diabetes. That's because scientists have moved closer toward correcting the root cause of the disease rather than managing its symptoms. Specifically researchers identified a protein and its antioxidant product that both prevent the death and promote the growth of cells which produce and release insulin in the pancreas.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Protection of organic products taken to next level
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/asqTPioHPso/091118162009.htm
Ready-to-eat, organic processed pork products look similar to conventionally cured meats. The organic versions have become popular among consumers as processors work to meet the demand. Although the natural and organic processed meat products are manufactured to simulate traditionally cured meat products as closely as possible, they're not exactly alike.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins shown to run an export business that protects cilia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wt72td40-tA/091228105909.htm
A protein complex mutated in human disease removes excess signaling molecules to prevent them from damaging cilia, say researchers.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
ALMA test sharpens vision of new observatory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YCKq6kFZHl0/100104101202.htm
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array passed a key milestone crucial to producing the high-quality images that will be this revolutionary new observatory's trademark. A team of astronomers and engineers successfully linked three of the observatory's advanced antennas at the 16,500-foot-elevation observing site in northern Chile. Linking three antennas to work in unison for the first time allowed the ALMA team to correct errors that can arise when only two antennas are used, thus paving the way for precise, high-resolution imaging.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Overexposure to credit default swaps contributed to financial meltdown
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UhLFBISdbT4/100104114632.htm
Overexposure to credit default swaps (CDS) -- a market-traded form of investment insurance -- are believed to have contributed to last year's financial meltdown. Trying to understand how CDS prices are determined, a team of researchers concludes that earnings have a major impact and in turn, CDS prices can seriously affect the economy. When earnings drop, CDS spreads rise.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Five New Exoplanets Discovered By NASA's Kepler Space Telescope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UV8lUSOHozM/100104131643.htm
NASA's Kepler space telescope, designed to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of sun-like stars, has discovered its first five new exoplanets, or planets beyond our solar system.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Scientists identify target that may inhibit HIV infectivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i1epiI7i4d8/100104101200.htm
Scientists have discovered a new agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection. Surfen might be used to supplement current HIV microbicides to greatly reduce HIV transmission during sexual contact.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Licorice root: Trip to the candy store might help ward off rare, but deadly infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zc3dZMBoFDE/100104101215.htm
As it turns out, children were not the only ones with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads over this past holiday season. In a new study, scientists show how a compound from licorice root might be an effective tool in battling life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections resulting from severe burns.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Angina In The Legs? Time To Alert Patients And Physicians
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vEdqJANox0A/091026093223.htm
Researchers recommend that people over age 40 be screened for peripheral artery disease (PAD), which puts people at high risk for serious medical complications including heart disease, stroke and possible lower limb amputation.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Pandemic toolkit offers flu with a view
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W29A9gvAIBA/091214152025.htm
As communities brace for rising wintertime influenza cases, scientists are developing a mathematical and visual analytic toolkit to help health officials quickly analyze pandemics and craft better response strategies.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Women's bodies and minds agree less than men's on what's sexy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l_VVzUA7O9Y/100104114601.htm
Women's minds and genitals respond differently to sexual arousal, whereas in men, the responses of the body and mind are more in tune with each other, according to researchers.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Massive black hole implicated in stellar destruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MQ0A_ApiGuc/100104120148.htm
New results from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Magellan telescopes suggest that a dense stellar remnant has been ripped apart by a black hole a thousand times as massive as the Sun. If confirmed, this discovery would be a cosmic double play: it would be strong evidence for an intermediate mass black hole, which has been a hotly debated topic, and would mark the first time such a black hole has been caught tearing a star apart.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Vitamin C 'cures' mice with accelerated aging disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fnsl-ytt0OU/100104101210.htm
New research suggests that treatments for disorders that cause accelerated aging, particularly Werner's syndrome, might come straight from the family medicine chest. In their study, a team of Canadian scientists shows that vitamin C stops and even reverses accelerated aging in a mouse model of Werner's syndrome, but the discovery may also be applicable to other progeroid syndromes.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Finally, an excuse for pregnant women to eat bacon and eggs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jzzwmuG6r_o/100104101213.htm
If you're pregnant and looking for an excuse to eat bacon and eggs, now you've got one: new research shows that choline plays a critical role in helping fetal brains develop regions associated with memory. Choline is found in meats, including pork, as well as chicken eggs.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
PSA value at 2 years post-treatment can predict long-term survival in prostate cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jC1NJcaSmrE/091202122050.htm
Prostate cancer patients who have a prostate-specific antigen value of less than or equal to 1.5 at two years after external beam radiation therapy are less likely to have a cancer recurrence and cancer-related death, according to a new study.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
Light-generating transistors to power labs on chips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ptVM3cGjEW4/100104092458.htm
What started out as ‘blue-sky’ thinking by a group of researchers could ultimately lead to the commercial mass production of a new generation of optoelectronic components for devices ranging from mobile laboratories to mobile phones.

Tue, 5 Jan 10
GDP is misleading measure of wealth, says top economist
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eTGlOGHWvnc/100104092500.htm
The most commonly used measure of overall economic output is misleading and inaccurate, according to one of the world's leading economists, who says Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ignores the value of natural ecosystems -- an essential component of wealth. Aquifers, ocean fisheries, tropical forests, estuaries and the atmosphere, should but are not used to estimate nations’ wealth, he argues.