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Zapping Titan-like atmosphere with UV rays creates life precursors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J8TyXxX6FPw/100629170951.htm
The first experimental evidence showing how atmospheric nitrogen can be incorporated into organic macromolecules is being reported by researchers. The finding indicates what organic molecules might be found on Titan, the moon of Saturn that scientists think is a model for the chemistry of pre-life Earth. Earth and Titan are the only known planetary-sized bodies that have thick, predominantly nitrogen atmospheres.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Impulsive, weak-willed or just too much dopamine? Brain study highlights role of dopamine in impulsive behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qxvHqf1Is8c/100629170922.htm
It's a common scenario: you're on a diet, determined to give up eating cakes, but as you pass the cake counter, all resolve disappears. Now, scientists have shed light on the brain processes that affect our will-power and make us act impulsively.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Putting muscle into birdsong: Wide range of pitch is due to vocal muscles more than air pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aBwQJSjdv2A/100629170920.htm
Female zebra finches don't sing but make one-note, low-pitch calls. Males sing over a wide range of frequencies. Scientists discovered how: The males' stronger vocal muscles, not the pressure of air flowing through their lungs, lets them sing from the B note above middle C all the way to a whistle beyond the high end of a piano keyboard.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Nitrate in beetroot juice lowers blood pressure, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jrw-X84Lxwk/100628161123.htm
The nitrate content of beetroot juice is the underlying cause of its blood pressure lowering benefits, research reveals. A new study finds that blood pressure was lowered within 24 hours in people who took nitrate tablets, and people who drank beetroot juice.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oUhU34hdu7s/100629170945.htm
Most candidate systems for quantum computing work only at very low temperatures. Now a team of researchers from China may have a warmer solution. The team is exploring the capabilities of diamond nitrogen vacancy materials.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Olympic gold? A new effect of caffeine boosts performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tg_wxI7gT3E/100629193123.htm
UK scientists show for the first time that high doses of caffeine directly increase muscle power and endurance during sub-maximal activities, which in humans ranges from everyday activities to running a marathon. With no current regulations in place, the scientists believe their findings may have implications for the use of caffeine in sport to improve performance.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Hunting weapon 10,000 years old found in melting ice patch
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fgzNtFzg9dI/100629131322.htm
A researcher has discovered a 10,000-year-old atlatl dart that had melted out of an ice patch in the Rocky Mountains. Climate change has increased global temperatures and accelerated melting of permanent ice fields, exposing organic materials that have long been entombed in the ice.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
How dietary supplement may block cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dSrd8UkU6fo/100629131316.htm
A new study shows how a substance produced when eating broccoli and Brussels sprouts can block the proliferation of cancer cells. Earlier evidence indicates that the substance indole-3-carbinol may have anticancer effects and other health benefits. The new study discovered that I3C causes the destruction of another molecule, called Cdc25A, which is essential for cell division and proliferation, and in this way blocks breast cancer cell growth.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Desert bats reveal the secret of their survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EEeeMkkQ7Qo/100629193129.htm
Desert bats reduce water loss by changing the make-up of their skin, allowing them to thrive in some of the world's most inhospitable environments. This is surprising given the anatomy of bats and the energy they expend in flight and may provide significant insight into how bats might respond to a future changing climate.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Understanding how folic acid might help heal brain and spinal cord injuries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_R3WSTNsdw4/100426181708.htm
Babies born to women who do not consume enough folic acid are at high risk of developing neural tube defects. This is the reason underlying the recommendation that women who are pregnant take a folic acid supplement. New research using rodents now suggests how folic acid might also help promote healing in injured brain and spinal cord.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
NASA instrument will identify clues to Martian past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v4Yo1bZNANc/100629111913.htm
NASA's Curiosity rover, coming together for a late 2011 launch to Mars, has a newly installed component: a key onboard X-ray instrument for helping the mission achieve its goals. Researchers will use Curiosity in an intriguing area of Mars to search for modern or ancient habitable environments, including any that may have also been favorable for preserving clues about life and environment.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Venetian blinds can cause accidental strangulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NkbCajxrl5I/100629193133.htm
A pediatrician is calling for Venetian blinds to be redesigned to safeguard babies and toddlers from accidentally being strangled to death by the looped cords.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
'Galactic archaeologists' find origin of Milky Way's ancient stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/htAv2_mMj1Q/100629193135.htm
Many of the Milky Way's ancient stars are remnants of other smaller galaxies torn apart by violent galactic collisions around five billion years ago, according to researchers.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Mystery unraveled: How asbestos causes cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V5qKKsF8XYw/100629094153.htm
More than 20 million people in the US, and many more worldwide, who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the membranes that cover the lungs and abdomen that is resistant to current therapies. Moreover, asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer among smokers. For the past 40 years researchers have tried to understand why asbestos causes cancer.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Discovery of controlled swarm in bacteria: Could help design new strategies to increase sensitivity to antibiotics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n2ZE-g2hVS8/100622112602.htm
Researchers have described one of the mechanisms in which pathogenic bacteria populations control the way they spread over the surface of the organs they infect and stop when they detect the presence of an antibiotic, only to resume again when the effect wears off. The star of this process is the RecA protein, which significantly increases its concentration at the start of the bacteria DNA repair mechanism.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Treating depression with Omega-3: Encouraging results from largest clinical study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WfrZRgmgUw0/100621111238.htm
The use of Omega-3 supplements is effective among patients with major depression who do not have anxiety disorders, according to a recent clinical study -- the largest ever conducted assessing Omega-3's efficacy in treating major depression.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Returning farmland to wilderness in Tanzania
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CxKRG7-R-Hs/100504143527.htm
The Swiss wanted to rear cattle in Tanzania and in so doing completely disturbed the ecosystem: the example of the Mkwaja Ranch shows how dependent agriculture is on a functioning ecosystem. And what a serious effect its encroachment can have on a sensitive balance.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
IVF linked to autism, Israeli study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U-rSTCuIbPw/100614122026.htm
Scientists in Israel have reported a strong link between IVF and mild to moderate cases of autism. In their study, 10.5% of 461 children diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum were conceived using IVF, a significantly higher number than the 3.5% autism rate in the general Israeli population.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Depressed mice could aid research on drug-resistant depression in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QhmDmpel4ro/100629150924.htm
New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression. The mice -- which have a defect in a gene -- are expected to be useful as a new model organism in the effort to develop more effective medications for specific forms of depression.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Spinal cord stimulation may benefit Parkinson's patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CpttitRKroM/100614114532.htm
Spinal cord stimulation may be able to modulate Parkinson's disease symptoms, recent research suggests.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Viral protein structure study offers HIV therapy hope
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NxvKZjyzjmg/100622095100.htm
A new research project is helping further the understanding of HIV viral protein structure which could lead to new molecular medicines.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Near-normal blood sugar target did not delay risk of organ damage in people with diabetes, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FCAb5_rSk_Y/100629122946.htm
In people with longstanding type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not delay the combined risk of diabetic damage to kidneys, eyes, or nerves, but did delay several other signs of diabetic damage, a study has found. The intensive glucose treatment was compared with standard glucose control.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
When two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MB6WSeLJ42Y/100616133321.htm
New research reveals that when two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions. The study explains why some parts of the world saw massive volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and others did not.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Smarter lunchrooms lead kids to eat more salad
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a6pi57rWqdY/100427091728.htm
In a year-long study in an upstate New York middle school, researchers examined the effect of moving the salad bar to a more prominent location in the cafeteria. Results show that sales of certain salad bar items increased by 250-300 percent.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Arctic climate may be more sensitive to warming than thought, says new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P7P1QQLgUwY/100629131318.htm
A new study shows the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought, and that current levels of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide may be high enough to bring about significant, irreversible shifts in Arctic ecosystems.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Engineered antibodies directed against a promising therapeutic target on ovarian cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EyWAg6w8IX0/100419150824.htm
Stealthy and stubborn, ovarian cancer is a particularly vexing malignancy, difficult to diagnose in early stages and difficult to treat once it progresses further. However, research is now focusing on one of the most promising new approaches to dealing with the disease -- using engineered antibodies to target tumor cells while leaving healthy cells intact.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Defective signaling pathway leads to vascular malformations in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/81nm26JYbzY/100622112550.htm
A disrupted signaling pathway in endothelial cells, which line the insides of blood vessels, leads to cavernomas, vascular malformations in the brain which are often dangerous. Researchers have found the cause of one of the most common human malformations and point out that cavernomas might be treated by drugs which inhibit vascular growth.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Eye study finds two therapies slow diabetic eye disease progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aJEQ8K4TguA/100629122944.htm
In high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that two therapies may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Large medical center reduces cumulative radiation exposure and CT scans through imaging algorithm, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N3uL00MeqeY/100621111236.htm
A large, academic medical center implemented an imaging algorithm that allowed radiologists to successfully reduce the cumulative radiation exposure and number of computed tomography (CT) angiography and CT perfusion studies performed on patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (a form of stroke), according to a new study.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Scholar calls for a new legal, ethical framework for research with human tissue specimens
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Pp9PFM0Hz0/100621151127.htm
A bioethics expert says a new legal and ethical framework needs to be placed around the donation and banking of human biological material, one that would more clearly define the terms of the material's use -- and address donor expectations before research begins.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Combination MMRV vaccine linked with two-fold risk of seizures, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qk-pGlpc2-E/100628075411.htm
The combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox is associated with double the risk of febrile seizures for 1- to 2-year-old children compared with same-day administration of the separate vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella and the varicella vaccine for chicken pox. Funded by the US Centers for Disease Control, the study analyzed 459,000 children 1 to 2 years old from numerous health systems across the US receiving their first dose of measles-containing vaccine.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Is this the perfect prawn?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PXZ3ys9P2cA/100628092750.htm
After 10 years of careful breeding and research, scientists have developed what could be the world's most perfect prawn.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
No link between diabetes drug rosiglitazone and increased rate of heart attack, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QD4lC1iHp20/100629094138.htm
The diabetes drug rosiglitazone has been under intense scrutiny since a 2007 study linked the drug's use with increased risk of heart attack and death from heart disease. Now, in a post-trial analysis of results from an international clinical trial of diabetes patients with cardiovascular disease, researchers at several major centers across the country report no increased rate of heart attack or death in patients taking the drug.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Science uncovers the hidden secrets of world-famous paintings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dZFhxR6fA8c/100628101454.htm
The hidden secrets of some of the world's most famous paintings have been revealed, thanks to a partnership between the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the National Gallery.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Conscious choice of food can substantially mitigate climate change, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O3OATW0VNb8/100628075744.htm
Reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products and improving agricultural practices could decrease global greenhouse gas emissions substantially. By 2055 the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture could be cut by more than eighty percent, researchers have found in a new modeling study.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Birth of the Milky Way: Astronomers glimpse at earliest phases of our home galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fK3ycim8Hc8/100621091049.htm
For the first time, a team of astronomers has succeeded in investigating the earliest phases of the evolutionary history of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The scientists deduce that the early galaxy went from smooth to clumpy in just a few hundred million years.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Despite countless changes, original HIV infection lurks within
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cDThkeaRDiE/100629094149.htm
Scientists have been surprised to learn that, despite thousands of changes that viruses like HIV undergo in rapid fashion to evade the body's immune system, the original version that caused the infection is still present in the body months later.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Alzheimer's imaging study identifies changes in brain's white matter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nwFbBdFa9Ls/100628112119.htm
Researchers have used MRI to detect deterioration of white matter tracts in the brains of older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease. Data suggest that changes in white matter connections may be among the earliest brain changes in Alzheimer's disease, which may prove important for early detection by noninvasive imaging.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Weight and children with developmental coordination disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MllherVdMNw/100628124553.htm
Children with developmental coordination disorder are at greater risk of being overweight or obese, according to a new study.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Delta bulrush plant could help ease oil spill crisis, botanist says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l9AGqnI7OWM/100628112111.htm
A botanist who first profiled and named the delta bulrush says the plant has natural properties that could help reduce the impact of the Gulf oil spill on the Mississippi delta.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Age doesn't necessarily affect decision-making, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EfRzzQWJqT0/100629094147.htm
Many people believe that getting older means losing a mental edge, leading to poor decision-making. But a new study shows that when it comes to making intuitive decisions -- using your "gut instincts" -- older adults fare as well as their juniors. The study found that education plays a key role as well.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Embryonic cell and adult pig islet transplants cure diabetes in rats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hKVVHcb_qF0/100629094151.htm
In a step toward curing diabetes in humans, scientists have alleviated the disease in rats using transplants from both embryonic and adult pigs.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Surprising find may yield new avenue of treatment for painful herniated discs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/18AjI5kDxdU/100629081632.htm
An immune cell known to cause chronic inflammation in autoimmune disorders has been identified as a possible culprit in low back pain associated with herniated discs, according to doctors.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Bees help to beat MRSA bugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rONct7x4dWw/100628111840.htm
Bees could have a key role to play in urgently needed new treatments to fight the virulent MRSA bug, according new research from Scotland.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Can too much HDL be harmful to women with type 1 diabetes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tMjJza5dMak/100627093608.htm
Elevated blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol, typically thought to protect against heart disease, may do the opposite in women with type 1 diabetes, according to new research.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Earplug lets the message through
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vn5ZbjIguXM/100629081744.htm
An earplug with a built-in computer that allows speech to pass but shuts out unwanted and hazardous noise will make life easier in noisy environments.
Wed, 30 Jun 10
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may damage semen quality in sons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NC4emX8RlKI/100629081638.htm
Mothers who drink alcohol while they are pregnant may be damaging the fertility of their future sons, according to new research.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Physics of the 'bends': New study helps explain decompression sickness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ukgCFVtStMo/100622095054.htm
As you go about your day-to-day activities, tiny bubbles of nitrogen come and go inside your tissues. This is not a problem unless you happen to experience large changes in pressure, as scuba divers and astronauts may. During large, fast pressure drops, bubbles can grow, causing "the bends." A new study may provide a physical basis for the existence of these bubbles and help explain decompression sickness.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YAF-qrwwwqY/100628075746.htm
For people with hypertension, eating dark chocolate can significantly reduce blood pressure. Researchers combined the results of 15 studies into the effects of flavanols, the compounds in chocolate which cause dilation of blood vessels, on blood pressure.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
'Velcro' effect in Guianese ants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_kMn_lcqxM4/100628075754.htm
In Guiana, symbiosis between Azteca ants and the Cecropia tree (or trumpet tree) is frequent. However, a surprising discovery has been made: one species of ant (Azteca andreae) uses the 'Velcro' principle to cling on firmly to the leaves of Cecropia and thus capture very large prey.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Immune system important in fight against stomach cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B00a0ISsFO0/100628075752.htm
Researchers have identified cells in the immune system that react to the stomach ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori, one of the risk factors for the development of stomach cancer. This discovery could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment as well as a better prognosis for patients with stomach cancer.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Turning off the air conditioning helps save fuel, Swiss study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ZY1f7WZfGo/100622081359.htm
Automobile air conditioning systems do not run “free of charge”. In fact in the hot parts of the world they can account for up to thirty per cent of fuel consumption. Even in Switzerland, with its temperate climate, the use of air conditioning systems is responsible for about five per cent of total fuel usage, rising to around ten per cent in urban traffic, as shown by a new study. Furthermore, two thirds of the additional fuel usage could be saved if air conditioning systems were simply turned off when the air temperature falls below 18 degrees Celsius.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Battle of the sexes exists in the plant world, too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FNNtMCNcNTs/100622074828.htm
Researchers have shown for the first time that in plants, fathers, as well as mothers, can influence the size of seeds. Their findings could open new avenues to increase crop yields and improve food security for an ever-growing global human population.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Manipulating microbes in the gut may remedy disease and enhance health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wJGCJPxkPVM/100624121948.htm
We are what we eat, but who are "we?" New, high-powered genomic analytical techniques have established that as many as 1,000 different single-celled species coexist in relative harmony in every healthy human gut.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Bursting bubbles with sound offers new treatments for cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-Adek6cnGMU/100628124819.htm
A new way to deliver cancer drugs using gas bubbles and sound waves is being developed. The project will enable highly toxic drugs to be delivered in small doses directly to tumors, where their toxicity can safely be put to good use. If successful, the technique could easily be adapted for other diseases.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Enterprise PCs work while they sleep – saving energy and money – with new software
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W_2DzP1PpPA/100623165129.htm
Personal computers in enterprise environments save energy and money by "sleep-working," thanks to new software called SleepServer. Sleep-working enterprise PCs are accessible via remote connections and maintain their presence on voice over IP, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer networks even though the PCs are in low-power sleep mode. SleepServer can reduce energy consumption on enterprise PCs previously running 24/7 by an average of 60 percent.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
New measurement of telomere DNA could help identify most viable embryos for IVF
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3TQU_Bxxy6U/100628075748.htm
Scientists have directly measured a specific region of DNA in human embryos -- telomeres -- and discovered that the length of telomeres could be a quality marker for embryonic development.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Prepare for hotter and drier Southwestern US, climate experts urge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iz8T2Bejkq8/100625101145.htm
Prominent climate experts are calling for a "no-regrets" strategy for planning for a hotter and drier western North America. Their advice: use water conservatively and continue developing ways to harness energy from the sun, wind and Earth.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
High sugar content in packaged toddler and baby food products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lSXZOz4njsg/100628124653.htm
More than half of foods specifically targeted to babies and toddlers in Canada have excessive sugar content, says a new study.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Reseachers predict larger-than-average Gulf 'dead zone'; Impact of oil spill unclear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3US9vOhW7mE/100628124611.htm
Researchers say this year's Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" is expected to be larger than average, continuing a decades-long trend that threatens the health of a $659 million fishery. The 2010 forecast, released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), calls for a Gulf dead zone of between 6,500 and 7,800 square miles, an area roughly the size of Lake Ontario.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Agent Orange exposure linked to Graves' disease in Vietnam veterans, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2eaZMRfC0ms/100628112117.htm
Vietnam-War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange appear to have significantly more Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder, than veterans with no exposure, a new study by endocrinologists has shown.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Rocky mounds and a plateau on Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-XNXoru4OsM/100628112113.htm
When Mars Express set sail for the crater named after Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, it found a windblown plateau and mysterious rocky mounds nearby.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
BCG vaccination appears promising as a treatment for people with existing type 1 diabetes, Phase I trial results show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2ezndaSHnkg/100628112121.htm
Researchers in Massachusetts have announced the completion of the Phase I BCG clinical trial in type 1 diabetes. Plans for the Phase II clinical study, which will continue the investigation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination as a treatment type 1 diabetes, are actively underway.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Depth charge: Using atomic force microscopy to study subsurface structures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5vb5t3ZZko4/100624092530.htm
Researchers have shown that under the right circumstances, surface science instruments such as the atomic force microscope can deliver valuable data about sub-surface conditions.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Piglets open doors to study infant brain development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8EHcOGKY4BY/100628124709.htm
Events occurring during the development of an infant's brain can leave behind fingerprints. And researchers are interested in learning how these fingerprints can predict future behavioral problems such as cognitive deficits, anxiety disorders, depression and even autism. New research shows that the baby pig may provide some answers.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Whiter clouds could mean wetter land
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V81W9kRblJU/100628124609.htm
One proposed emergency fix for global warming is to seed clouds over the ocean to make them more reflective, reducing the solar radiation absorbed by the Earth. But the scheme could also change global rainfall patterns, raising concerns of water shortages on land. A new study suggests that the scheme could actually increase monsoonal rains and cause continents to become wetter, not drier, on average.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Biodiversity's 'holy grail' is in the soil : Soil-borne pathogens drive tree diversity in forests, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOgaoOap2VQ/100625185424.htm
What determines plant diversity in a forest? It's a question even Charles Darwin wanted to unravel. But most research into forest diversity demonstrates only patterns of species survival and abundance rather than the reason for them -- until now. Scientists have now shown that soil-borne pathogens are one important mechanism that can maintain species diversity and explain patterns of tree abundance in a forest.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
'Copy and paste DNA' more common than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PVvfVIbt810/100628075822.htm
Researchers have examined L1 (or LINE-1) retrotransposons: DNA sequences which can ‘copy and paste’ their genetic code around the genome. By breaking up genes, L1s can be responsible for some rare instances of genetic disease.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Hop, jump and stick; Robots designed with insect instincts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DOt8tzniYjM/100624091751.htm
A swarm of flying robots soars into a blazing forest fire. With insect-like precision and agility, the machines land on tree trunks and bound over rough terrain before deploying crucial sensors and tools to track the inferno and its effects. This is a scenario one researcher thinks may not be so far off.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Subchondral bone changes: Cartilage loss plays a role in development of osteoarthritis, study says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GMpLu8wroz4/100624092545.htm
A recent study determined that bone area predicted the development of medial (inner side) and lateral (outer side) knee cartilage damage and loss of medial cartilage volume. Subchondral bone mineral density was associated with medial defect development but not cartilage loss. Researchers believe subchondral bone changes and loss of cartilage contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Test of quantum field theory and Bose-Einstein statistics of photons: Bosons aren't fermions, not even a little bit
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8xfT6uUA7xE/100625101528.htm
Scientists have tested one of the major theoretical pillars of quantum field theory, the spin-statistics theorem. With a confidence level of 100 billion to one, they found that photons really are perfect bosons.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Parkinson's patients' 'risky behavior' explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3OGsKEcu3BY/100623085514.htm
Scientists have explained Parkinson's patients' risky behavior, a rare side effect of standard treatments for the disease. The finding has implications for future medication of patients.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Gene leads to longer shelf life for tomatoes, possibly other fruits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LzOhwT5de_g/100628152649.htm
A researcher has found a sort of fountain of youth for tomatoes that extends their shelf life by about a week. Adding a yeast gene increases production of a compound that slows aging and delays microbial decay in tomatoes, and the results likely would transfer to most fruits.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Memories are made of this: Uncovering the key to how we learn and remember
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YpKqtt-_6fs/100628101450.htm
Researchers in the UK have revealed new information on the mechanism by which memories are formed. Their study found one of the key proteins involved in the process of memory and learning -- a breakthrough that has potential to impact drug design to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
New meta-analysis demonstrates heart risks associated with rosiglitazone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RRZ7NqXI7eo/100628101444.htm
Eleven years after the introduction of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone, data from available clinical trials demonstrate an increased risk for heart attack associated with its use and suggest an unfavorable benefit-to-risk ratio, according to a new study.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Science historian cracks the 'Plato code'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zP81pLoIxaY/100628111846.htm
A science historian in the UK has cracked the "Plato Code" -- the long disputed secret messages hidden in the great philosopher's writings. The findings may revolutionize the history of the origins of Western thought.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
North America's first peoples more genetically diverse than thought, mitochondrial genome analysis reveals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rxr9Iy-H3Vc/100628170926.htm
The initial peopling of North America from Asia occurred approximately 15,000-18,000 years ago. However, estimations of the genetic diversity of the first settlers have remained inaccurate. In a new study, researchers have found that the diversity of the first Americans has been significantly underestimated, underscoring the importance of comprehensive sampling for accurate analysis of human migrations.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
12 new genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes identified in new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wmevL2FbVDs/100628101448.htm
An international consortium has identified 12 new gene variants which impact the individual's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study represents a major contribution towards elucidating the complex pathogenesis of this important widespread disease.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Type 2 diabetes medication rosiglitazone associated with increased cardiovascular risks and death, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nxPc7FPcApc/100628101442.htm
A new study shows that among patients age 65 years and older, rosiglitazone (a medication for treating Type 2 diabetes) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality (death) when compared with pioglitazone (another medication for diabetes).
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Competition matters: New study challenges long-held assumption about competition in disturbed ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u_9Ony4jRTY/100628152639.htm
Hurricanes, wildfires and influxes of pollutants create disturbances that can put ecological systems under extreme stress. Ecologists had believed that at times like these, competition between species becomes less important as all struggle to survive. But a new laboratory study of microscopic organisms subjected to varying degrees of acoustic disturbance now challenges that assumption -- and could lead ecologists to reconsider how organisms compete during challenging times.
Tue, 29 Jun 10
Statins associated with lower cancer recurrence following prostatectomy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tXBi__QOVg4/100628075413.htm
Men who use statins to lower their cholesterol are 30 percent less likely to see their prostate cancer come back after surgery compared to men who do not use the drugs, according to a new study. Researchers also found that higher doses of the drugs were associated with lower risk of recurrence.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Most efficient quantum memory for light developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6urOKwFJYMA/100627072458.htm
An Australian-led team has developed the most efficient quantum memory for light in the world, taking us closer to a future of super-fast computers and communication secured by the laws of physics.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Accurate way to predict the age when women will hit the menopause developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FKXxpGPpCcg/100627201251.htm
Researchers have developed a way of accurately predicting when women will hit the menopause using a simple blood test. The average difference between the predicted age and the actual age that the women in their study reached the menopause was only a third of a year, and the maximum margin of error was between three and four years.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Why mercury is more dangerous in oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pq26R1ckRyo/100627155107.htm
Even though freshwater concentrations of mercury are far greater than those found in seawater, it's the saltwater fish like tuna, mackerel and shark that end up posing a more serious health threat to humans who eat them.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Technique enables precise control of protein activity in living cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d2pIrtfe0Eg/100627155112.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique called engineered allosteric regulation, which provides a new tool for scientists who study the interactions of proteins within living cells.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Physicists explain why superconductors fail to produce super currents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ogF4_ubgHqY/100627155116.htm
When high-temperature superconductors were first announced in the late 1980s, it was thought that they would lead to ultra-efficient magnetic trains and other paradigm-shifting technologies. That didn't happen. Now, physicists are helping explain why.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Do spending cuts cost lives?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Whs-3X6tU70/100624214312.htm
Radical cuts to social welfare spending to reduce budget deficits could cause not just economic pain but cost lives, warn experts in a new study.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Scientists grow new lungs using 'skeletons' of old ones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mowqgal2Bp8/100624092522.htm
Tissue engineers' progress toward growing new lungs for transplantation or research has long been frustrated by the problem of coaxing stem cells to develop into the varied cell types that populate different locations in the lung. Now, researchers have found a possible solution by seeding mouse embryonic stem cells into "acellular" rat lungs -- organs whose original cells have been destroyed, leaving behind empty, lung-shaped scaffolds of structural proteins.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Gestational diabetes linked to serotonin and dietary protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9kLewJQ6Ork/100627155120.htm
The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy, according to new findings.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Sea ice in the Arctic not recovering: Another critical minimum forecast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lsM7Z9-8O9k/100624112306.htm
A critical minimum for Arctic sea ice can again be expected for late summer 2010, according to new projections by researchers in Germany.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Same types of cell respond differently to stimulus, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6nipMoxzE4s/100627155114.htm
Using new technology that allows scientists to monitor how individual cells react in the complex system of cell signaling, researchers have uncovered a much larger spectrum of differences between each cell than ever seen before.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Carbon sequestration: Boon or burden?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U_otZWrYbtc/100627155110.htm
The idea to sequester carbon is gaining support as a way to avoid global warming. For example, the European Union plans to invest billions of Euros to develop carbon capture and storage whereby carbon dioxide will be extracted and stored underground. But how effective is this procedure and what are the long-term consequences of leakage for the climate? Research has now cast light on these issues.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Healthier cafeteria food, more intense gym classes lower students' diabetes risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uAeg6nqbzoA/100627190037.htm
Healthier cafeteria choices, longer and more intense periods of physical activity and robust in-school education programs can lower rates of obesity and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, according to a national US study.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Improved telescope sees through atmosphere with pinpoint sharpness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aipul3fkd50/100624091749.htm
A sharp view of the starry sky is difficult, because the atmosphere constantly distorts the image. A Dutch researcher has developed a new type of telescope mirror, which quickly corrects the image. His prototypes are required for future large telescopes, but also gives old telescopes a sharper view.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Antioxidants may help prevent malaria complicaton that leads to learning impairment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/quCiK37nuro/100625131416.htm
Using an experimental mouse model for malaria, scientists have discovered that adding antioxidant therapy to traditional antimalarial treatment may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Tropical biodiversity is about the neighbors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/44229gV0wWk/100625101510.htm
Rare plant species are much more negatively affected by the presence of their own species as neighbors than are common species. This may explain how biodiversity arises and is maintained.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Traditional neurologic exams inadequate for predicting survival of cardiac arrest patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7sMQkyZmh0w/100623124308.htm
Traditional methods for assessing patients after cardiac arrest may be underestimating their chances for survival and good outcomes, according to a new study.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
Nanowires for future electronics: Process for manufacturing nanoelectronic 'mini-circuits' developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gA9FuHqKGNc/100623104434.htm
The tale begins with a feasibility study on the manufacture of colored fluorescing thin films for optical safety applications. A project on the development of novel gas sensors followed. In the meantime, researchers have successfully synthesized complex organic nanowires and managed to attach them together with electrically conducting links -- the first step towards the future production of electronic and optoelectronic components.
Mon, 28 Jun 10
High rates of sexually transmitted infections among older swingers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yj6jGUshnFk/100623212635.htm
Swingers -- straight couples who regularly swap sexual partners at organized gatherings and clubs and indulge in group sex -- have rates of sexually transmitted infections comparable with those of recognized high risk groups, reveals new research.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Psychotropic medications can cause birth defects, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZDcW3JJcmto/100625101512.htm
The use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy increases the probability of birth defects, according to a new study. Researchers have documented the serious side effects that can be associated with these types of medications.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Targeting flight-or-fight hormone response to combat heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EG5U42fesTc/100624183021.htm
Scientists found that two experimental drugs have the potential to restore pumping strength to failing hearts by ensuring adrenalin's ability to drive heartbeat strength is maintained, and not thwarted, as it typically is in heart failure patients. When tested in human-like mouse models of heart failure, the therapies were found to slow, and in some cases halt, the progression of the disease.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Scientific expertise lacking among 'doubters' of climate change, says new analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dK3R9_1UoTc/100625185428.htm
An analysis of the scientific prominence and expertise of climate researchers shows that the few who are unconvinced of human-caused climate change rank far below researchers who are convinced. Most news media accounts fail to include that context when reporting claims from the doubters.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Higher cancer rates found in liver transplant patients receiving cyclosporine for immunosuppression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rq9N7LDcjm0/100624112312.htm
Researchers have found that cyclosporine treatment is a significant risk factor for the development of de novo cancer in liver transplant patients.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Agriculture's next revolution -- perennial grain -- within sight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/50qzyx4L-TE/100624144111.htm
Earth-friendly perennial grain crops, which grow with less fertilizer, herbicide, fuel, and erosion than grains planted annually, could be available in two decades, according to researchers. Perennial grains would be one of the largest innovations in the 10,000 year history of agriculture, and could arrive even sooner with the right breeding programs.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Tool manipulation is represented similarly in the brains of the blind and the sighted
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T6zdkver8l4/100623124310.htm
Blind people think about manipulating tools in the same regions of the brain as do people who can see, according to a new study. The researchers say this adds to evidence that the brain has a fairly defined organization, while still being able to adapt to unusual conditions, such as not having any vision.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Global wind shifts may have ushered in warmer climate at end of last ice age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/48DBF7xwbcA/100625121921.htm
Scientists still puzzle over how Earth emerged from its last ice age, an event that ushered in a warmer climate and the birth of human civilization. Most scientists say that the trigger, at least initially, was an orbital shift that caused more sunlight to fall across Earth's northern half. But how did the south warm up so fast?
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Early and aggressive arthritis treatment recommended, based on results of 11-year trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vGi0VI1troI/100623212629.htm
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs should be used early and aggressively at the first sign of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of an 11-year trial demonstrate that active treatment from the very beginning pays off, even in the long run.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Quantifying human behavior one MoCap data point at a time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mvEtTsSY0SM/100625185426.htm
Two actors wrapped in motion sensors circle each other, as engineering researchers stand at the perimeter of a laboratory, taking note. It's an unusual partnership between artists and engineers, a union expected to provide researchers with more precise methods of modeling human behavior.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Profiling prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RvyFb3q5kBw/100624121944.htm
A large scale genetic analysis of multiple prostate cancer samples is providing exciting new insight into the disease and may lead to more effective treatment strategies. In addition, the freely available genetic and clinical outcome data obtained in the study represents a valuable public resource for the cancer research community.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Messenger RNAs are regulated in far more ways than previously appreciated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CFgMi2fCJWI/100625101508.htm
One way of regulating protein levels in cells is to shorten the lifespan of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), intermediary molecules that get translated into proteins. Researchers have now discovered that mRNAs can be targeted for destruction by several modes and molecules, highlighting a previously unanticipated complexity in the control and regulation of the cell's genetic messages.
Sun, 27 Jun 10
Friendships, family relationships get better with age thanks to forgiveness, stereotypes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nDuea-npihI/100625131412.htm
Part of what makes those relationships so golden during the golden years is that people of all ages are more likely to forgive and respect one's elders, according to new research.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
New clues suggest wet era on early Mars was global
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s1-mwdrOoDg/100624141343.htm
Minerals in northern Mars craters seen by two orbiters suggest that a phase in Mars' early history with conditions favorable to life occurred globally, not just in the south.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Mechanism that may trigger degenerative disease identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XvGX1WjhSos/100625185716.htm
A mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice testes suggests a similar process that may trigger degenerative disease in humans, according to a reproductive physiologist.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Chemists find an easier way to synthesize new drug candidates; New method could have a big impact on pharmaceutical business
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nwE6ls6neX4/100624144107.htm
Chemists have designed a new way to attach a trifluoromethyl group to certain compounds, which they believe could allow pharmaceutical companies to create and test new drugs much faster and potentially reduce the cost of drug discovery. The new synthesis could have an immediate impact.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Novel radiotracer shines new light on the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/koUs6qIP4TI/100624214318.htm
A trial of a novel radioactive compound readily and safely distinguished the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients from healthy volunteers on brain scans and opens the doors to making such imaging available beyond facilities that can manufacture their own radioactive compounds.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Climate change complicates plant diseases of the future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c82v5O8TJv0/100624122056.htm
Human-driven changes in the earth's atmospheric composition are likely to alter plant diseases of the future. Researchers are studying the impact of elevated carbon dioxide, elevated ozone and higher atmospheric temperatures on plant diseases that could challenge crops in these changing conditions.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Pleasing to the eye: Even brooding female birds are sensitive to visual stimulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0TKN6t6F0Hk/100624112318.htm
In a breeding experiment with Houbara bustards -- a North African bird species with a very distinctive courtship behavior -- scientists have concluded that visual stimulation from attractive males of the same species positively affects brooding females, improving offspring growth.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Scientists create 3-D models of whole mouse organs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D5svKGnZMCA/100624131439.htm
Engineers have for the first time created 3-D models of whole intact mouse organs, a feat they accomplished using fluorescence microscopy.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Ingredient in red wine may prevent some blinding diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hRU09ERFYLM/100625101106.htm
Resveratrol -- found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts and other plants -- stops out-of-control blood vessel growth in the eye, according to vision researchers. The discovery has implications for preserving vision in blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Gene therapy a step closer to mass production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B99xenaq9L0/100624122058.htm
Researchers in Latvia and Finland have synthesized and studied a range of organic compounds able to carry genetic material into individual cells where it can remedy the diseases caused by defective genes. Still under development, these compounds are much more readily produced than the viral carriers now in use and avoid their side-effects. Most importantly, they are much more effective than other organic carrier substances developed so far.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Detecting eye injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oeIpjd_hJNY/100625101100.htm
Scientists have developed a noninvasive imaging technique to detect early stages of eye disease.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Aggressive action to reduce soot emissions needed to meet climate change goals, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h4HLLJKrKBg/100625101110.htm
Without aggressive action to reduce soot emissions, the time table for carbon dioxide emission reductions may need to be significantly accelerated in order to achieve international climate policy goals such as those set forth in last December's Copenhagen Accord, according to a new study.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Study identifies couples’ underlying concerns during a fight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8EY4uvuJevs/100624141517.htm
A new study has found that there are two fundamental underlying concerns when partners in a committed relationship fight. Researchers have identified the first type of underlying concern as perceived threat, which involves a perception that one's partner is being hostile, critical, blaming or controlling. The second type of concern is called perceived neglect, which involves a perception that one's partner is failing to make a desired contribution or failing to demonstrate an ideal level of commitment or investment in the relationship.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Galaxy encounter fires up quasar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RN3_MXFMbU4/100624122444.htm
Using two of the world's largest telescopes, astronomers have found evidence of a collision between galaxies driving intense activity in a highly luminous quasar. The scientists used the Very Large Telescope in Chile and the Gran Telescopio Canarias on La Palma in the Canary Islands, to study activity from the quasar SDSS J0123+00.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Virus works with gene to cause Crohn's-like illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aHtKgBbSLTU/100624121958.htm
Scientists have shown that a specific virus can interact with a mutation in the host's genes to trigger disease. The observation may help explain why many people with disease risk genes do not actually develop disease.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Four-leaf clover gives up its secrets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n2uiwLpOmw4/100624141000.htm
Ending a period of "bad luck" for clover researchers, scientists report finding the gene that turns ordinary three-leaf clovers into the coveted four-leaf types. Masked by the three-leaf gene and strongly influenced by environmental condition, molecular markers now make it possible to detect the presence of the gene for four-leaves and for breeders to work with it.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Silencing hepatitis B virus prevents recurrence of liver cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SZ_XnyCgh10/100624122052.htm
Previous studies have shown that antiviral treatment reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But now, researchers are reporting that the antiviral therapy also prevents recurrence of HCC and extends patients' lives.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Ecological change in the abyss: The Amperima event
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RjnkiAwDGJk/100624104808.htm
Even in the dark abyss of the deep ocean animal communities can undergo rapid, widespread and radical changes. Scientists are monitoring these changes and understanding the mechanisms responsible.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Tactile sensations influence social judgments and decisions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pr3bXSAt4S4/100624140908.htm
Psychologists report that interpersonal interactions can be shaped, profoundly yet unconsciously, by the physical attributes of incidental objects: Resumes reviewed on a heavy clipboard are judged to be more substantive, while a negotiator seated in a soft chair is less likely to drive a hard bargain. The work suggests physical touch -- the first of our senses to develop -- may continue throughout life as a scaffold upon which we build our social judgments and decisions.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
More variation in human genome than expected: Surprisingly common transposons or 'jumping genes' are known to cause disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WO8IrJFYnOc/100624121956.htm
Scientists are finding more variation in the human genome than they had expected, according to new research. The study is one of the first to take an in-depth look at transposons, segments of DNA that can replicate themselves and move to new sites in each individual's genome. The researchers found that new occurrences of transposons were surprisingly prevalent in human and in lung cancer genomes.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Small amount of common preservative increases toxins from harmful bacteria in food, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NE8-KoT2n10/100624104934.htm
In response to consumer demand for more natural food, the food industry has reduced the amount of preservatives in food over recent years. A common preservative is acetic acid, which is used to stop bacterial growth in dressings, sauces, cheese and pickles. However, new research shows that a small amount of acetic acid does not have the intended effect, but rather the opposite -- it increases the amount of toxin from the harmful bacteria in the food.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
NASA radar images show how Mexico quake deformed Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kfOZdOt1EQA/100624141524.htm
Minerals in northern Mars craters seen by two orbiters suggest that a phase in Mars' early history with conditions favorable to life occurred globally, not just in the south.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Mysterious cilium functions as cellular communication hub, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cgNtwrkD-Sc/100624121950.htm
Researchers have pinpointed the molecular cause of a rare genetic disease in humans called Bardet-Biedl syndrome, or BBS. People with the disorder suffer from obesity, retinal degeneration, kidney cysts and polydactyly (having extra fingers or toes). Specifically, the researchers have discovered that genetic mutations associated with the disease affect a protein complex that ferries receptors and other proteins from the cell's membrane to the surface of the primary cilium.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Biomedical scientist concerned about effects of oil spill on human health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AeCrfdIHJkE/100624104806.htm
A biomedical researcher says that some of the same chemicals found in diesel fumes and cigarette smoke are also found in the tar balls produced as a result of the oil spill, and he is worried about the effect they will have on the health of clean-up workers and wildlife.
Sat, 26 Jun 10
Most concussions deliver 95 g's, neuropsychologist says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wi8mlB6ftFc/100624092526.htm
A head injury expert says that most concussions deliver 95 g's to the human body upon impact. G-force is a unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity. In addition, the average football player receives 103 g's when hit during a game. In comparison, the average g-force experienced by military fighter pilots is nine g's.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
New 'fix' for cosmic clocks could help uncover ripples in space-time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bz9AhFyeBmM/100624140910.htm
An international team of scientists have developed a promising new technique which could turn pulsars -- superb natural cosmic clocks -- into even more accurate time-keepers. This important advance could improve the search for gravitational waves and help studies into the origins of the universe.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Consumer-grade camera detects cancer cells in real time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D84hWyHVBMA/100624122100.htm
Using an off-the-shelf digital camera, biomedical engineers have created an inexpensive device that is powerful enough to let doctors easily distinguish cancerous cells from healthy cells simply by viewing the LCD monitor on the back of the camera.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Compound found in red wine neutralizes toxicity of proteins related to Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g6JxfveqwO4/100622112556.htm
An organic compound found in red wine -- resveratrol -- has the ability to neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. The findings are a step toward understanding the large-scale death of brain cells seen in certain neurodegenerative diseases.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher BPA blood levels, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UW9B9uFB6dM/100621143602.htm
Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common hormone imbalance in women of reproductive age, may be more vulnerable to exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), found in many plastic household items, according to a new study.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Freshwater fish eyes: Great home for parasites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c6W8VLkb684/100622074824.htm
The limited immune response in the eyes of freshwater fishes has created a great home for parasites, according to new research. The study provides a lens into the evolutionary world of the larval flukes that parasitize Canadian fish.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Teens and alcohol study: After a few drinks, parenting style kicks in
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ugSZ-VKxW24/100624085529.htm
The teens least prone to heavy drinking had parents who scored high on both accountability and warmth. So-called "indulgent" parents, those low on accountability and high on warmth, nearly tripled the risk of their teen participating in heavy drinking. "Strict" parents -- high on accountability and low on warmth -- more than doubled their teen's risk of heavy drinking.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Researchers develop living, breathing human lung-on-a-chip
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/emOdKems6fg/100624144059.htm
Researchers have combined microfabrication techniques from the computer industry with modern tissue engineering techniques, human cells and a plain old vacuum pump to create a living, breathing human lung-on-a-chip. The device mimics the most active part of the lung, the boundary between the air sac and the bloodstream.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Sight restored to mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lyEhAx6QuG0/100624144103.htm
Swiss researchers have just restored sight to mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa. The results have been confirmed ex-vivo, on human tissue cultures. Thanks to a complementary clinical approach, the team has now determined the types of patient who could benefit from this therapy.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Earth-like planets may be ready for their close-up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/09_1ybPt408/100624141700.htm
Many scientists speculate that our galaxy could be full of places like Pandora from the movie "Avatar" -- Earth-like worlds in solar systems besides our own.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Progesterone is effective for hot flash treatment and provides an alternative to estrogen, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yyXOBNrkPDM/100621173741.htm
Postmenopausal women who experience bothersome hot flashes or night sweats may have an alternative treatment to estrogen. According to a new study, oral micronized progesterone relieves those symptoms.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Adios El Niño, hello La Niña?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UZdWO658kd8/100624141820.htm
The latest image of Pacific Ocean sea surface heights from the NASA/European Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 oceanography satellite, dated June 11, 2010, shows that the tropical Pacific has switched from warm (red) to cold (blue) during the last few months.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Brain stimulation technique boosts language ability in Alzheimer's patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PfJophZGeb8/100623212633.htm
A brain stimulation technique, known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, boosts the language ability of patients with Alzheimer's disease, suggests preliminary research.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Behavior breakthrough: Like animals, plants demonstrate complex ability to integrate information
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5U9Bj_6-oKQ/100624144057.htm
Scientists have discovered that a plant's strategy to capture nutrients in the soil is the result of integration of different types of information. They found plants also have the ability to integrate information about the location of both food and competitors. As a result, plants demonstrate unique behavioral strategies to capture soil resources.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Addiction: a loss of plasticity of the brain?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I1Rgkrndnz0/100624140912.htm
Why is it that only some drug users become addicts?Researchers have just discovered that the transition to addiction could result from a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity in a key structure of the brain.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Seventh graders find a cave on Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AXtG1Adqf4A/100624141934.htm
Using the camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, 16 seventh-graders at Evergreen Middle School in Cottonwood, Calif., found lava tubes with one pit that appears to be a skylight to a cave. Mars Odyssey has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2001, returning data and images of the Martian surface and providing relay communications service for Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Popular heart drug may be unsafe for some kidney patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TDGv1bGRUx0/100624183009.htm
For patients with kidney disease on dialysis, the widely used heart medication digoxin may lead to an increased risk of premature death, according to a new study.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Life of plastic solar cell jumps from hours to 8 months
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kqwsQukuxwo/100621173920.htm
A team of researchers has extended the operating life of an unsealed plastic solar cell, from mere hours to eight months. The team developed a longer lasting, polymer coating for the electrode. Prior to the new coating the team's plastic solar cell could only operate at high capacity for about 10 hours.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Migraine sufferers who experienced childhood abuse have greater risk of cardiovascular disease, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-CFFIci-QTk/100623085522.htm
Migraine sufferers who experienced abuse and neglect as children have a greater risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease including stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) among others, say scientists.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Higher wetland methane emissions caused by climate warming 40,000 years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yy2zd_ESw0w/100624144105.htm
40,000 years ago rapid warming led to an increase in methane concentration. The culprit for this increase has now been identified. Mainly wetlands in high northern latitudes caused the methane increase. This result refutes an alternative theory dis-cussed amongst experts, the so-called "clathrate gun hypothesis."
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Novel approach developed to study neurological disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z-qhapZUogg/100624122102.htm
Researchers have developed a novel approach to efficiently identify disease relevant genes in human complex neurological disorders and demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by applying it to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Researcher develops green, bio-based process for producing fuel additive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VatfJQrX6Cg/100624112314.htm
A new green, bio-based method for producing a much-used fuel additive and industrial chemical that is currently made from petroleum products has been developed.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Possible role for Smurf1 in pulmonary arterial hypertension
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cCw6hEBrly4/100621121358.htm
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive disease, marked by shortness of breath and fatigue which can be fatal if untreated. Increased pressure in the pulmonary artery and its branches is associated with dysfunctional growth control of endothelial and smooth muscle cells leading to excessive thickening of the blood vessel wall, obliteration of the lumen and right heart failure.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Crack in the case for supersolids: Reports of supersolid helium may have been premature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tv8kJBcpHRw/100621121400.htm
New experiments are casting doubt on previously reported observations of supersolid helium. New research suggests that prior experiments that seemed to show signs of supersolidity were in fact the result of the plastic deformation of normal helium.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
How likely is misdiagnosis?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OqEQiFipO3M/100623085944.htm
Medical researchers have been evaluating the accuracy of patient diagnoses. Evaluating diagnostic strategy is crucial to clinical practice as it helps maximize the efficacy of the treatments which are offered to patients. Many lives are affected every day by the diagnoses made by hospitals and medical doctors, and it is vital that diagnoses are accurate.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Was Venus once a habitable planet?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k7uKlWp2-g4/100624091753.htm
The European Space Agency's Venus Express is helping planetary scientists investigate whether Venus once had oceans. If it did, it may even have begun its existence as a habitable planet similar to Earth.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Antihypertensive drugs may protect against Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dLltm7AF-c8/100624085533.htm
Researchers have found that the drug carvedilol, currently prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, may lessen the degenerative impact of Alzheimer's disease and promote healthy memory functions.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Breast milk transmits drugs and medicines to the baby
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T6FQjxxe474/100624092010.htm
Give up smoking, do not drink more than three cups of coffee per day, do not take any kind of drug, or if you do, take it as long as possible before feeding your baby. These are some of the recommendations contained in a study produced by researchers on methods for detecting medicines and drugs in breast milk. The study shows that the risk from substances such as alcohol is still not well understood.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
How embryos fight retroviral infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7oBJZt9r3tE/100624112308.htm
Some viruses insert themselves into the host's DNA during infection in a process called retroviral integration, causing several diseases, including AIDS and cancer, notes a researcher who specializes in fetal diseases. However, stem cells that give rise to the early embryo and yolk sac fight back, inhibiting further infection by aggressively silencing the invading viral DNA, he says.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Moldy homes a serious risk for severe asthma attacks in some
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MMxA8BHKPsM/100624085526.htm
Exposure to high levels of fungus may increase the risk of severe asthma attacks among people with certain chitinase gene variants, according to a new study.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Winning a soccer penalty shootout: cheering convincingly increases changes of success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-5C7DgspAUs/100624091745.htm
Behaviour is contagious. If you see someone yawn or smile, it’s often a matter of seconds before you do the same yourself. This copying behaviour also turns out to work on the soccer pitch. "The more convincingly someone celebrates their success with their teammates, the greater the chances that team will win," according to one sport scientist.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Widespread glacial meltwater valleys found on Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9-u1sbW0n3M/100624092518.htm
Scientists have documented dozens of channels carved by melted water from glaciers located in the midlatitude region of Mars. The glaciofluvial valleys were carved in Mars' most recent epoch, the team reports, supporting the idea that the Red Planet was home to diverse watery environments in its recent past.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Hallmark Alzheimer's disease changes found in retinas of humans and imaged in live animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rJpnomYyE5w/100624092520.htm
The nerve cell-damaging plaque that builds up in the brain with Alzheimer's disease also builds up in the retinas of the eyes -- and it shows up there earlier, leading to the prospect that noninvasive optical imaging of the eyes could lead to earlier diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of the disease, according to new research.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Left or right? Early clues to soccer penalty kicks revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nhItVzpUzBw/100624112310.htm
In the split second before foot meets ball, a soccer player's body betrays whether a penalty kick will go left or right, according to recent research in cognitive science. The findings could explain how some top goalkeepers are able to head off a penalty kick, diving in the correct direction in advance of the kick. It could also point the way to changes in how players kick, and goalies react.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Babies' first bacteria depend on birthing method, says new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D3y1NJNhQdY/100621151117.htm
A new study indicates different delivery methods of newborn babies has a big effect on the types of microbial communities they harbor as they emerge into the world, findings with potential implications for the heath of infants as they grow and develop.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Blast resistance standards keep the boom from the room
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LVCbQjXk9A4/100624092532.htm
Standards for blast resistance among trash receptacles have now been published by the standards development organization ASTM International.
Fri, 25 Jun 10
Ignoring stress leads recovering addicts to more cravings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mSDoVM-tm6Q/100623165127.htm
Recovering addicts who avoid coping with stress succumb easily to substance use cravings, making them more likely to relapse during recovery, according to behavioral researchers.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Analyzing food and beverages with magnetic levitation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iwoC32lZWOM/100623124256.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a new use for magnetic levitation, or "maglev," the futuristic technology best known for enabling high-speed passenger trains to float above the tracks. They describe putting maglev to use in an inexpensive sensor for analyzing food, water, and other beverages.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Drug mitigates toxic effects of radiation in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uy90dG16QQ4/100623123357.htm
Medical researchers have provided one of the first examples of successful radiomitigation in mammals. The investigators found that oral treatment of mice with a drug that inhibits enzymes involved in cell division caused certain groups of bone marrow cells to temporarily stop dividing (which they termed "pharmacological quiescence" or PQ).
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Gut bacteria could be key indicator of colon cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rRoUnzS-XBw/100622091738.htm
A new study suggests that a shift in the balance between the "good" bacteria and the "bad" bacteria that populate our gut could be a harbinger of colon cancer.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Language of RNA decoded: Study reveals new function for pseudogenes and noncoding RNAs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G1opWxBLZ64/100623132102.htm
The central dogma of molecular biology holds that genetic information is transferred from DNA to functional proteins by way of messenger RNA (mRNA). This suggests that mRNA has but a single role, that being to encode for proteins. Now, a cancer genetics team suggests there is much more to RNA than meets the eye.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Liquid crystals light way to better data storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TGSoVT_iN5E/100622095050.htm
Currently, most liquid crystal technologies rely on physical or chemical manipulation, such as rubbing in one direction, to align molecules in a preferred direction. In an important advance, scientists in Japan have created a stable, rewritable memory device that exploits a liquid crystal property called the "anchoring transition."
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Gay men's bilateral brains better at remembering faces, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ry0FgMtWjfo/100622074612.htm
A Canadian study finds that gay men can recall familiar faces faster and more accurately than their heterosexual counterparts.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
'Ghost particle' sized up by cosmologists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wE7UgSc9z0A/100623104432.htm
Cosmologists are a step closer to determining the mass of the elusive neutrino particle, not by using a giant particle detector, but by gazing up into space.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
How lead exposure damages the brain: New research fills in the picture
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sOVtrCaj2pI/100622091748.htm
Exposure to lead during early childhood and even later in life has long been known to affect the release of critical neurotransmitters. However, the precise mechanism by which lead ions (Pb2+) impair this process has remained unknown. The study demonstrates that during the formation of synapses -- synaptogenesis -- exposure to lead alters the levels of several key proteins involved in neurotransmitter release.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
New method of peptide synthesis makes it easier to create drugs based on natural compounds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kCd2IUZy5b4/100623132104.htm
A team of chemists has developed a novel method for chemically synthesizing peptides that promises to lower the cost and increase the availability of drugs based on natural compounds.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Obesity, weight gain in middle age associated with increased risk of diabetes among older adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X5Qq2aMk9ug/100622161247.htm
For individuals 65 years of age and older, obesity, excess body fat around the waist and gaining weight after the age of 50 are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
'BC5' material shows superhard, superconducting potential
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fso6ilJb3Fg/100622095048.htm
What could be better than diamond when it comes to a superhard material for electronics under extreme thermal and pressure conditions? Quite possibly BC5, a diamond-like material with an extremely high boron content that offers exceptional hardness and resistance to fracture, but unlike diamond, it is a superconductor rather than an insulator.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Pre-stored phrases make it easier to be part of a conversation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ciuVKagej3Y/100621101204.htm
Researchers in Sweden have now developed a system where pre-stored phrases are used in addition to writing, with a view to making communication faster and more easy-going for people with serious speech disorders.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Evolution of bird bills: Birds reduce their 'heating bills' in cold climates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/paeDSTBle8U/100623104428.htm
The evolution of bird bills is related to climate, according to latest research.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Jetting off without the jet lag
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NSwTkrp8DBU/100623123344.htm
Everyone hates the jet lag that accompanies travel to locations in different time zones. The symptoms of jet lag are caused by misalignment of a person's internal body clock and external time. New research provides insight into the molecular mechanisms responsible for resetting the internal body clock in the mouse, data that point to potential therapies to overcome jet lag.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Skins prone to sunburn may be capable of a normal tan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vhDHbOFcpwg/100622074826.htm
As the beaches of Southern Europe prepare for this summer’s influx of pale skinned British sun worshippers, new research from the UK has found that redheads are just as capable of making the melanin needed for a tan as the olive-skinned locals.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Mechanism explains complications associated with diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tApcd5s-UiA/100623123340.htm
New research uncovers a molecular mechanism that links diabetes with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems and sudden cardiac death. The study finds that high blood sugar prevents vital communication between the brain and the autonomic nervous system, which controls many involuntary activities in the body.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Studies confirm presence, severity of pollution in US national parks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QcgOMThx3fg/100623165123.htm
Toxic contamination from pesticides, the burning of fossil fuels, agriculture, industrial operations and other sources are a continuing concern in US national parks of the West, two new studies confirm.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Young children are skilled negotiators, Swedish research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HFlHT8G4Jdc/100621101206.htm
Young children are skilled negotiators when it comes to relationships and the content of play, reveals new research from Sweden.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Discovery of how coral reefs adapt to global warming could aid reef restoration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XN8GM0f3csM/100623190514.htm
Discoveries about tropical coral reefs are expected to be invaluable in efforts to restore the corals, which are succumbing to bleaching and other diseases at an unprecedented rate as ocean temperatures rise worldwide.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Polio research gives new insight into tackling vaccine-derived poliovirus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xBuoI8d2jw8/100623190726.htm
A vaccine-derived strain of poliovirus that has spread in recent years is serious but it can be tackled with an existing vaccine, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
New areas prone to moderate earthquakes identified in Iberian Peninsula
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sQD67BiCKTE/100622074822.htm
Some areas of the Iberian Peninsula, where earthquakes of moderate magnitude have never yet been recorded, such as certain parts of the Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range, the far west of the Cordilleras Béticas mountains and the north of Valencia, could have the potential to generate such quakes, according to a new study.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Can START stop cholesterol build-up?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-hJ5Tb7kiPs/100623085843.htm
A newly discovered group of proteins could help treat cholesterol build-up in arteries.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Asymetric nanostructures for early and more accurate prediction of cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lg2l1AoKOPI/100623085841.htm
Nanotechnology Researchers in Belgium have demonstrated biosensors based on novel nanostructure geometries that increase the sensitivity and allow to detect extremely low concentrations of specific disease markers. This paves the way to early diagnostics of for example cancer by detecting low densities of cancer markers in human blood samples.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Abusive mothering aggravates the impact of stress hormones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8gA_JMBCPcA/100621100955.htm
In a new study, researchers have dissected the behavior of mother rats and their infant pups, modeling nurturing by stroking and abuse with electric shock. In this animal model of infant abuse, they took into consideration the unique infant neurobehavioral learning attachment system that ensures infant rats’ attachment to their caregiver regardless of the quality of care received.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Brave brains: Neural mechanisms of courage uncovered in study of fear of snakes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xYAcbF1KSXg/100623123342.htm
A fascinating new study combines snakes with brain imaging in order to uncover neural mechanisms associated with "courage." The research provides new insight into what happens in the brain when an individual voluntarily performs an action opposite to that promoted by ongoing fear and may even lead to new treatment strategies for those who exhibit a failure to overcome their fear.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Structural basis for incidence of skin cancers in a genetic disorder discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hnqasgegxI4/100623132108.htm
Researchers have found why patients with a variant form of xeroderma pigmentosum (XPV), an inherited genetic disorder characterized by extreme sensitivity to the sun, are more susceptible to skin cancers than the general population. Their finding sets the stage for research into therapies that would help protect people with XPV from developing skin cancers.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Loneliness, poor health appear to be linked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/soQHJGSoug4/100622091746.htm
Two studies have found that hoarding friends doesn't necessarily diminish forlorn feelings and that loneliness is a matter of perception. Superficial relationships, researchers say, can not only result in feelings of detachment, but also contribute to certain health-related problems.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Lowering homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 does not appear to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JzTv0ZHx3Wg/100622161253.htm
Patients who had experienced a heart attack and lowered their blood homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation did not have an associated lower risk of heart attack, coronary death or stroke, according to a new study. However, the researchers did find that folic acid supplementation did not increase the risk of cancer, which has been speculated.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Early results from the world's brightest X-ray source
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vyyh-hbmyOM/100622165858.htm
The first published research to emerge from the SLAC linear collider since it was reconfigured as an ultra-bright, high-energy free electron laser offers a high speed closeup of ionizing nitrogen gas.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
US ranks last among 7 countries on health system performance, new report says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3Py_YnlhUTw/100623085530.htm
Despite having the most expensive health care system, the United States ranks last overall compared to six other industrialized countries -- Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom -- on measures of health system performance in five areas: quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and the ability to lead long, healthy, productive lives, according to a new report.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
'Quantum computer' a stage closer with silicon breakthrough
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mOHoWf61jFA/100623132110.htm
The remarkable ability of an electron to exist in two places at once has been controlled in the most common electronic material -- silicon -- for the first time. The research findings marks a significant step towards the making of an affordable "quantum computer."
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Genetically modified cell procedure may prove useful in treating kidney failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9R0P0MHgaR8/100622112600.htm
A protein whose primary role is in the embryonic development of kidneys may play a future role in treating kidney failure. Researchers have successfully treated acute kidney injury in laboratory experiments using cells that were genetically reprogrammed to produce the protein. The research suggests there could be a potential future treatment using such cells delivered intravenously instead of surgically.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Underwater gliders may change how scientists track fish
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Av-FUUjBhvE/100622095114.htm
Tracking fish across Alaska's vast continental shelves can present a challenge to any scientist studying Alaska's seas. Researchers have successfully tested a possible solution in the form of underwater gliders.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Exercise trumps creatine in cardiac rehabilitation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HLH0Br1kuis/100623085512.htm
Athletes have been enjoying the benefits of creatine supplements to gain stronger muscles since the 1990s, and the supplement has also proven beneficial among other groups. Could it help cardiac patients regain strength to help with their heart-training workouts as part of rehabilitation? The evidence at this stage suggests not -- exercise alone proved a far more powerful tonic for patients in a study out today.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
New medical weapons to protect against anthrax attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PNVv2PYMuBQ/100623124302.htm
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States are fostering development of a new generation of vaccines, antibiotics, and other medications to protect people against the potentially deadly bacteria in any future bioterrorist incident.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Computer program detects depression in bloggers' texts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MuZApIkkdbc/100622091744.htm
Researchers have developed a computer program capable of identifying language that can indicate a writer's psychological state, which could serve as a screening tool. The software was used to scan more than 300,000 English language blogs that were posted to mental health Web sites. The program identified what it perceived to be the 100 "most depressed" and 100 "least depressed" bloggers.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
First superstorm on exoplanet detected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t94WXiKEuDI/100623132100.htm
Astronomers have measured a superstorm for the first time in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, the well-studied "hot Jupiter" HD209458b. The very high-precision observations of carbon monoxide gas show that it is streaming at enormous speed from the extremely hot day side to the cooler night side of the planet. The observations also allow another exciting "first" -- measuring the orbital speed of the exoplanet itself, providing a direct determination of its mass.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Imaging reveals how brain fails to tune out phantom sounds of tinnitus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6qxB_n_6tTk/100623123338.htm
About 40 million people in the US today suffer from tinnitus, an irritating and sometimes debilitating auditory disorder in which a person "hears" sounds, such as ringing, that don't actually exist. There isn't a cure for what has long been a mysterious ailment, but new research suggests there may, someday, be a way to alleviate the sensation of this sound.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Separation between Neanderthal and Homo sapiens might have occurred 500,000 years earlier, DNA from teeth suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6-she_L8bws/100623104436.htm
The separation of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens might have occurred at least one million years ago, more than 500,000 years earlier than previously believed, according to recent research in Spain using DNA-based analyses of teeth and computer modeling.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
New vaccine strategies could safely control Rift Valley fever
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sp8zxhQWNTw/100622175508.htm
Two new approaches could form the basis for the first-ever human vaccine for Rift Valley fever, an infectious disease that threatens both farm animals and people, say researchers. Experimental vaccines developed with these approaches produced strong immune responses in mice and may be safer than the only available RVF vaccine, which is limited to animal use.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Chicken litter has advantages over conventional fertilizers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FSWs_gXW054/100623124254.htm
Chicken litter is much more valuable as a fertilizer than previously thought, according to an agricultural study showing its newfound advantages over conventional fertilizers.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
REM sleep deprivation plays a role in chronic migraine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BThXxmI2efo/100623085528.htm
New research shows that sleep deprivation leads to changes in the levels of key proteins that facilitate events involved in the underlying pathology of migraine.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Neuroscientists can predict your behavior better than you can
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LT-igezPCEQ/100623110114.htm
In a study with implications for the advertising industry and public health organizations, neuroscientists have shown they can use brain scanning to predict whether people will use sunscreen in the next week better than the people themselves can predict whether they will do so. This is the first persuasion study in neuroscience to predict behavior change.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Getting estrogen's benefits without cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RZyDeTesT-A/100623123353.htm
Researchers have pinpointed a set of biological mechanisms through which estrogen confers its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, independent of the hormone's actions on cancer.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Amniotic membrane used to repair human articular cartilage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nshnPuTiVew/100623104430.htm
Spanish scientists have proposed using human amniotic membrane as a new tool for repairing damaged human articular cartilage, which heals very poorly because of its low capacity for self-repair. Their research shows that the cellular density of the cartilage synthesized could be greater than that of the body's own natural cartilage.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Going barefoot in home may contribute to elderly falls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vj4URZuf510/100623085516.htm
Going barefoot in the home, wearing slippers, or socks with no shoes may contribute falls among the elderly.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Supercomputer provides new insights into the vibrations of water
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dBgUlqQMLIQ/100623085831.htm
Using Terahertz spectroscopy, chemists recently detected the surprisingly long-ranged influence of solvated biomolecules on the "dance" of surrounding water molecules. With extensive simulations on a supercomputer, they have now succeeded in describing this choreography in detail.
Thu, 24 Jun 10
Adverse childhood experiences linked to frequent headache in adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZgrXSHAWc2s/100623085518.htm
Children who experience maltreatment such as emotional, physical and sexual abuse are more likely to experience frequent headaches, including chronic migraine, as adults, say scientists.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Humans have a mighty bite, new research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Savr1E7Kq5o/100622095116.htm
The robust jaws and formidable teeth of some of our ancestors and ape cousins may suggest that humans are wimps when it comes to producing a powerful bite: but a new study has found the opposite is true. The surprise findings suggest that early modern humans did not necessarily need to use tools and cooking to process high-nutrient hard foods, such as nuts, but may have lost an ability to eat very tough items, such as tubers or leaves.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
High fructose, trans fats lead to significant liver disease, says study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aEiImF_UgNg/100622112548.htm
Scientists have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose -- levels equivalent to that in high fructose corn syrup -- and of trans fats not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Striped mice -- the neighbors from hell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FGxWB_FnnHI/100622191928.htm
Fighting, paternity tests and infidelity. No, not a daytime talk show, but the results of new research examining why the fur will fly if a four-striped grass mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) wanders into his neighbor's territory. Researchers investigated aggression in the mammalian species, finding that breeding males are much more concerned with repelling their neighbors than with defending their partners from complete strangers.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Decay of baby teeth may be linked to obesity, poor food choices, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SJS1SYhzDvc/100622142555.htm
Preschool children with tooth decay may be more likely to be overweight or obese than the general population and, regardless of weight, are more likely to consume too many calories, a new study indicates.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Chemical element 114: One of heaviest elements created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6NtaXunirsg/100622102347.htm
An international team of scientists in Germany has succeeded in the observation of the chemical element 114, one of the heaviest elements created until now. The production of element 114 is very difficult and requires dedicated particle accelerators. So far, this feat was achieved at only two other research centers, in the US and Russia.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Brain structure corresponds to personality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bSDbeGNV5I0/100622142601.htm
Personalities come in all kinds. Now psychological scientists have found that the size of different parts of people's brains correspond to their personalities.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Researchers create self-assembling nanodevices that move and change shape on demand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UZW4XcWeX4I/100622091740.htm
By emulating nature's design principles, researchers have created nanodevices made of DNA that self-assemble and can be programmed to move and change shape on demand. Double helices fold up into larger, rigid linear struts that connect by intervening single-stranded DNA. These single strands of DNA pull the struts up into a 3D form. The resulting nanodevices are light, flexible and strong "tensegrities," so-called because they balance tension and compression.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
New lung cancer drug shows dramatic results for shrinking tumors: Phase III clinical trial being offered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zqOsNZ1fXnI/100622142603.htm
Patients with a specific kind of lung cancer may benefit from a Phase III clinical trial being offered. The new drug, crizotinib, under development by Pfizer, showed dramatic results in reducing lung cancer tumors in some patients during Phase I and II clinical trials.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Organic pesticides not always 'greener' choice, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-qUteFNhUVY/100622175510.htm
A new study reveals some organic pesticides can have a higher environmental impact than conventional pesticides. Researchers investigated the effectiveness and environmental impact of organic pesticides to those of conventional and novel reduced-risk synthetic products on soybean crops. The researchers found the organic pesticides required larger doses and were more harmful to pests that help protect the crop compared to the synthetic pesticides.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Mothers' high blood sugar in pregnancy is linked to children's reduced insulin sensitivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vYw71Z7u6FE/100622142557.htm
Children of mothers whose blood glucose (sugar) was high during pregnancy are more likely to have low insulin sensitivity -- a risk factor for type 2 diabetes -- even after taking into consideration the children's body weight, a new study shows.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Impacts of Chilean salmon farms on coastal ecosystem discovered accidentally
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BjK_ESqji8k/100622112558.htm
Until recently, the disastrous scale of the threat posed by salmon farms to the fauna and National Park of the Aysén region of southern Chile was entirely unknown. The unexpected discovery was made by researchers who were studying acoustic communication among the native whales in the region. The researchers not only discovered that the salmon industry is rapidly spreading to the hitherto largely unspoiled south of the region; they also documented the previously unknown threat to the region's native sea lions.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Exercise may be an effective and nonpharmacologic treatment option for alcohol dependence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zjrWE-T6Kkw/100621173723.htm
Alcohol abuse is highly disruptive of circadian rhythms, which refers to the timing of daily rhythms. A new animal study has used hamsters to test for the influence of wheel-running on alcohol intake. Results indicate that exercise, perhaps through stimulation of brain reward pathways, may be able to reduce alcohol intake in humans.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Hubble captures bubbles and baby stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/riM9oKVLkvQ/100622074722.htm
A spectacular new Hubble Space Telescope image — one of the largest ever released of a star-forming region — highlights N11, part of a complex network of gas clouds and star clusters within our neighboring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud. This region of energetic star formation is one of the most active in the nearby universe.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Filtering donor blood reduces heart, lung complications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I0nl35WRR_c/100622142605.htm
Researchers have discovered yet another reason to filter the foreign white cells from donor blood: The resulting blood product is associated with dramatically fewer cardiopulmonary complications for patients who received a transfusion
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Coffee may protect against head and neck cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MY6e2HgWJNo/100622142551.htm
Data on the effects of coffee on cancer risk have been mixed. However, results of a recent study add to the brewing evidence that drinking coffee protects against cancer, this time against head and neck cancer.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
No link between early childhood cancers and living near mobile phone base station during pregnancy, says study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_k-2LR4ITL4/100622190851.htm
A new study looking at the patterns of early childhood cancers across Great Britain has found no association between a mother living near to a mobile phone base station during her pregnancy and the risk of that child developing cancer before reaching the age of five.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Peruvian moth could devastate California’s avocados, entomologist warns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g5elsOujhuE/100622165856.htm
Entomologist Mark Hoddle is in Peru to look for known avocado pests, in particular, the avocado seed moth, Stenoma catenifer, that could wreak havoc on California's avocados should the pest make its way to the state. This pest could also attack and survive on California bay laurel, a plant native to California that is closely related to the avocado. Peruvian avocados are already being imported into California.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Many clinicians maintain positive attitudes toward industry marketing activities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P--HI1Ll72U/100621173729.htm
Despite current policy trends, many clinicians continue to hold positive attitudes toward gifts from and marketing interactions with pharmaceutical and device companies, according to a new study.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Quantum gas in free fall: Bose-Einstein condensate at zero gravity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-KedotaX6q0/100622112700.htm
Physicists have produced a Bose-Einstein condensate at zero gravity -- a step towards extremely sensitive quantum sensors for gravitation.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Genetic septet in control of blood platelet clotting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kgV2qtIY5o8/100622161255.htm
In what is believed to be the largest review of the human genetic code to determine why some people's blood platelets are more likely to clump faster than others, scientists have found a septet of overactive genes, which they say likely control that bodily function.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Enzyme trio for biosynthesis of hydrocarbon fuels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YKmqym1TnoQ/100621174001.htm
Scientists have identified a trio of bacterial enzymes that can catalyze key steps in the conversion of plant sugars into hydrocarbon compounds for the production of green transportation fuels.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Implementing comparative effectiveness research: Lessons from the mammography screening controversy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZhUbWEpp5NE/100622165900.htm
The firestorm that followed the November 2009 release of guidelines that would have reduced use of screening mammograms in women aged 40 to 49 highlights challenges for implementing the findings of comparative effectiveness research (CER), according to a new analysis. Meeting such challenges -- which may become more common due to increased funding for CER -- requires better communication to the public and stakeholders about evidence and its connection to health care quality and efficiency, experts say.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
American scientists help protect Guatemala's Lake Atitlan from harmful algae blooms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_muAvvJit9w/100622165854.htm
A team of US scientists has returned from a two-week expedition to Guatemala's tropical high-mountain Lake Atitlan, where they are working to find solutions to the algae blooms that have assailed the ecosystem and the drinking water source for local residents.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Caring for an elderly, sick spouse sometimes has positive elements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ivIetb_EFNA/100622112702.htm
Although long-term care of sick or disabled loved ones is widely recognized as a threat to the caregiver's health and quality of life, a new study finds that in some contexts, helping valued loved ones may promote the well being of helpers.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Growing brain is particularly flexible: How the brain changes during growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NR5d_O0aTTE/100622124706.htm
Science has long puzzled over why a baby's brain is particularly flexible and why it easily changes. Is it because babies have to learn a lot? Scientists have now put forward a new explanation: Maybe it is because the brain still has to grow.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Insight into cells could lead to new approach to medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6soHxgvsSaM/100621215952.htm
A surprising discovery about the complex make-up of our cells could lead to the development of new types of medicines, a study suggests.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Unusual rhino beetle behavior discovered: Invasive species severely impact small islands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dav6ac9Ry-s/100621091159.htm
The coconut rhinoceros beetle continues to munch its way through the crowns of coconut trees on the northwest coast of Guam. Rhino hunters are ready to get tough with bio-control measures that will decrease the rhino beetle population.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Chlordecone exposure and risk of prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_8yxF4Hl5t4/100622102343.htm
In a new study, researchers in France show that exposure to chlordecone, an organochlorine chemical with well defined estrogenic properties, is associated with a significant increased risk of prostate cancer.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
New design for motorcycle engines powered by compressed air
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KKFUXI5HdnU/100622095056.htm
Two scientists in India have conceptually designed a new, cleaner motorcycle engine that uses compressed air to turn a small air turbine, generating enough power to run a motorcycle for up to 40 minutes. Their design could be combined with a compressed air cylinder as a replacement for traditional internal combustion engines.
Wed, 23 Jun 10
Can a Victoria's Secret shopping bag make you feel glamorous?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ON1uGUirWts/100621151129.htm
Certain brands have personalities that can actually change the way some people feel about themselves, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Scientists discover heavenly solar music
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BU02dUkxPeo/100621101420.htm
Musical sounds created by longitudinal vibrations within the Sun's atmosphere, have been recorded and accurately studied for the first time by researchers, shedding light on the Sun's magnetic atmosphere.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Lemurs lose weight with 'life-extending' supplement resveratrol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rwacTvuEPoE/100621215946.htm
The anti-obesity properties of resveratrol have been demonstrated for the first time in a primate. Researchers studied the compound, generated naturally by plants to ward off pathogens, which has received much interest as a dietary supplement for its supposed life-extending effects.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Competition puts the brakes on body evolution in island lizards
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B4lgHO7tuRs/100618103556.htm
Millions of years before humans began battling it out over beachfront property, a similar phenomenon was unfolding in a diverse group of island lizards. Often mistaken for chameleons or geckos, Anolis lizards fight fiercely for resources, responding to rivals by doing push-ups and puffing out their throat pouches. But anoles also compete in ways that shape their bodies over evolutionary time, says a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Ear tubes appear safe for children with cochlear implants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uPJLBuL-QEU/100621173735.htm
A history of ear tubes to treat infections does not appear to adversely affect children with cochlear implants, regardless of whether the tubes are left in place or removed before implantation, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Citizen science: Birders contribute valuable data on invasive plant species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bczGbCDqZno/100616102900.htm
In an effort to assess ties between birds' feeding habits and the spread of nonnative invasive plants, researchers provided ornithologists from four US states with questionnaires on daily bird-plant encounters. The 1,143 unique interactions reported by the birders laid the groundwork for a study on the role of native birds in the seed dispersal of invasive plants throughout the US.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
People who suppress anger are more likely to become violent when drunk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OadUO9xbWL0/100621121356.htm
A new study reveals that drunkenness increases the risk for violent behavior, but only for individuals with a strong inclination to suppress anger.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Brain signs of schizophrenia found in babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OnV6aM8FwvU/100621111240.htm
Researchers are the first to identify brain abnormalities in children at high risk for schizophrenia shortly after birth. The finding could lead to earlier detection of schizophrenia and enable better prevention and treatment.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Portable media players associated with short-term hearing effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_eqCfZdQ-qk/100621173731.htm
Temporary changes in hearing sensitivity are associated with potential harmful effects of listening to an MP3 player, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Jumbo jellyfish or massive star?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kDYS4oOlBVc/100621145207.htm
Some might see a blood-red jellyfish in a forest of seaweed, while others might see a big, red eye or a pair of lips. In fact, the red-colored object in this new infrared image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is a sphere of stellar innards, blown out from a humongous star.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Well-defined quantity of antioxidants in diet can improve insulin resistance, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K_XeeCVSbC0/100621091205.htm
A diet rich in natural antioxidants improves insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant obese adults and enhances the effect of the insulin-sensitizing drug metformin, a preliminary study from Italy finds.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Bioengineers create simulator to test blood platelets in virtual heart attacks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jetUtJOlUDE/100620155745.htm
Bioengineers have trained a computer neural network model to accurately predict how blood platelets would respond to complex conditions found during a heart attack or stroke.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Puberty and sleep regulation can influence alcohol use during early adolescence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WtWzGpUBzFg/100621173739.htm
Alcohol is known to disrupt sleep, but little is known about alcohol use and sleep problems during adolescence. A new study has found that puberty is related to sleep problems and later bedtimes, which were in turn associated with alcohol use.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
World's first plastic antibodies in live organisms: Stop spread of bee venom in mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/273oNjU2RDc/100621141026.htm
Researchers have developed the first "plastic antibodies" successfully employed in live organisms -- stopping the spread of bee venom through the bloodstream of mice.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Alcohol consumption lowers risk of developing several arthritic conditions, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gMkgweeADTs/100616102756.htm
Alcohol consumption is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing several arthritic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthropathy, according to results of a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Studying cells in 3-D could reveal new cancer targets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5nrMqBG3nso/100621173926.htm
Showing movies in 3-D has produced a box-office bonanza in recent months. Could viewing cell behavior in three dimensions lead to important advances in cancer research? A new study indicates it may happen. Looking at cells in 3-D, the research team concluded, yields more accurate information that could help develop drugs to prevent cancer's spread.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Bacteria in the nose and throat: Most comprehensive comparative analysis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EAfMtXPuK6I/100621173918.htm
Scientists have completed the most comprehensive comparative analysis to date of bacterial communities inhabiting the human nose and throat, which could provide new insights into why some individuals become colonized with pathogens while others do not.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Bone replacement from laser melting
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/98gsbb79DXI/100616090217.htm
In a medical emergency, a puncture of the cranium is commonly treated with an implant. While replacements made of titanium merely plug holes, a new kind of degradable implant stimulates the body to regenerate itself: It is custom-fit and disappears to the same extent that the bone regrows.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Some types of arousal can lead to unhealthy choices, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gf0ldSl6ahg/100621173928.htm
You might want to avoid food shopping right after a heavy workout or drinking after an intense day of high-powered negotiations, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Chimpanzee gangs kill for land, new study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VxrAC85XKh0/100621121348.htm
Bands of chimpanzees violently kill individuals from neighboring groups in order to expand their own territory, according to a 10-year study of a chimp community in Uganda that provides the first definitive evidence for this long-suspected function of this behavior.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Early-life exposure to BPA may affect testis function in adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Tk4jNhQX_R8/100621151123.htm
Exposure to environmental levels of the industrial chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, in the womb and early life may cause long-lasting harm to testicular function, according to a new study conducted in animals.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
More than skin deep, tanning product of sun's rays
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V5L0meofUEo/100621125137.htm
People who remain pale and never tan can blame their distant ancestors for choosing to live in the northern reaches of the globe and those who easily achieve a deep tan can thank their ancestors for living in the subtropical latitudes, according to new research.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Harmful bacteria carried by pigeons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rudpVNfBRxg/100621215944.htm
Sampling of pigeons captured on the streets of Madrid has revealed the bacterial pathogens they carry. Researchers found two bugs that were highly prevalent in the bird population, Chlamydophila psittaci and Campylobacter jejuni, both of which cause illness in humans.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
New method for producing graphene paves way for mass production of nanomaterial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/igw0t2gz2hc/100621122132.htm
Researchers have developed a simple new method for producing large quantities of the promising nanomaterial graphene. The new technique works at room temperature, needs little processing, and paves the way for cost-effective mass production of graphene.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Seasonality of child abuse a myth, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/94N5Hn8Y9Vg/100621121402.htm
A new study of homicides of 797 children younger than age five has found that these deaths occur uniformly throughout the year, dispelling the widely held anecdotal notion that the winter months, and especially winter holidays, are a time of increased child abuse.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Six new planets discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CxFYihSCB3k/100621133749.htm
Scientists have discovered six diverse new planets, from 'shrunken-Saturns' to 'bloated hot Jupiters', as well a rare brown dwarf with 60 times the mass of Jupiter.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Early menopause linked to higher risk of future cardiovascular disease, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dX6pSlbi3oE/100621133948.htm
Women who experience early menopause appear to have more than twice the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease event later in life than do women who do not go through early menopause, a new study indicates.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Gender-bending fish problem in Colorado creek mitigated by treatment plant upgrade
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zL3v7LU4mRc/100621125139.htm
Male fish are taking longer to be "feminized" by chemical contaminants that act as hormone disrupters in Colorado's Boulder Creek following the upgrade of a wastewater treatment plant in Boulder in 2008, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Children with special needs are at increased risk for oral disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ezxOxz-n-4/100621125141.htm
At the beginning of 2010, as many as 17 percent of children in the United States were reported as having special health care needs. Behavioral issues, developmental disorders, cognitive disorders, genetic disorders and systemic diseases may increase a child's risk of developing oral disease.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Agricultural scientists take a long look at livestock and locoweed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_pyOkPbCWvk/100621111242.htm
Keeping livestock away from poisonous locoweed during seasons when it's a forage favorite is one way ranchers can protect their animals and their profits, according to researchers.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Can multiple sclerosis attacks be minimized in a war zone?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/929epcVx-ac/100621101424.htm
An earlier study has shown that the stress of the Second Lebanon War in Israel increased the frequency of attacks in multiple sclerosis patients. The present study reveals that a potential way to minimize MS exacerbation is by directly coping with the situation.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Of lice and man: Researchers sequence human body louse genome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lBlShto3U8w/100621151115.htm
Like an unwelcome house guest or itinerant squatter, the human body louse shows up when times are bad and always makes them worse. Now scientists report that it has sequenced the body louse genome, an achievement that will yield new insights into louse -- and human -- biology and evolution.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Novel pathway may open doors for new blood pressure treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IcaRQDzYcO8/100621174005.htm
Researchers have found that increasing certain proteins in the blood vessels of mice, relaxed the vessels, lowering the animal's blood pressure. The study provides new avenues for research that may lead to new treatments for hypertension.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Ocean stirring and plankton patchiness revealed by computer simulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3vV09M-lQr4/100621101422.htm
Computer simulations show how oceanic stirring and mixing influence the formation and dynamics of plankton patches in the upper ocean. Researchers applied the methods of synchronization theory -- previously used to explain such phenomena as the coordinated flashing of fireflies along whole riverbanks. Initially they studied the balance between localized increases in phytoplankton populations and small-scale mixing, such as that due to breaking waves, in creating patches. Patchiness was found to persist despite the mixing which might be expected to smooth out the patches by blending them together.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Cardiac imaging breakthrough helps determine diminished blood flow to the heart
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WlwSZd1w9BE/100607141959.htm
Research is challenging the typical paradigm used to determine whether heart patients will benefit from invasive procedures like stent-placement or open-heart surgery.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Building to withstand hurricanes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lG7EBLicsDA/100607192725.htm
An expert in the design of low-rise buildings for extreme winds and hurricane hopes her phone won't ring much this hurricane season. It's already been busy with requests for information about best building design and construction practices to reduce wind pressures on building surfaces.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Electronic health records could give rise to more liability risk, experts argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VXayn9V3pyU/100621173924.htm
Electronic health record systems likely will soon become a fixture in medical settings. Although benefits of bringing information technology to health records can be substantial, EHR systems also give rise to increased liability risks for health care providers due to possible software or hardware problems or user errors, experts say.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
New air conditioning system has potential to slash energy usage by up to 90 percent
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bciMOD5rpBM/100621071943.htm
A soothing solution to hot, humid days may be on its way, thanks to a melding of technologies in filters, coolers and drying agents. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has invented a new air conditioning process with the potential of using 50 percent to 90 percent less energy than today's top-of-the-line units. It uses membranes, evaporative cooling and liquid desiccants in a way that has never been done before in the centuries-old science of removing heat from the air.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Cancers of sweat glands, other skin-related structures may be increasing in United States
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mT-5Wx8angI/100621173737.htm
Cutaneous appendageal carcinomas -- tumors of the skin appendages such as hair, nails, sweat glands and mammary glands -- are rare but rates appear to be increasing in the United States, according to a new study.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Could grasslands help fight global warming? Scientists dig deep for carbon solution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Haj4fsQxAZc/100621121256.htm
New research is being carried out to determine how much carbon is being stored in UK grasslands and find out if it could potentially store even more. Grasslands cover a vast area of the UK, forming the backbone of the livestock industry. However, they also play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, storing vast amounts of carbon beneath them in their soils.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Updated HIV therapy guidelines would reduce risk of transmission, save lives, billions in costs, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n4kRyz4bTfo/100607192843.htm
A new mathematical modeling study reveals that the 2008 International AIDS Society therapy guidelines for commencing HIV treatment would create significant benefits for individuals infected with HIV and society.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Greater religiosity during adolescence may protect against developing problem alcohol use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vkSobSrx6eA/100621173727.htm
Phenotypes are measurable and/or observable traits or behaviors. The heritability of an alcohol-related phenotype depends upon the social environment within which it is measured, such as urbanicity, marital status, or religiosity. A new study of the effects of religiosity on the genetic variance of problem alcohol use in males and females has found that religiosity can moderate genetic effects on problem alcohol use during adolescence but not during early adulthood.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
New link between pollution, temperature and sleep-disordered breathing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pTdiAHBawNE/100614141346.htm
Researchers have established the first link between air pollution and sleep-disordered breathing, a known cause of cardiovascular diseases.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Scientists call for a new strategy for polar ocean observation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X2uX95fM0j0/100617141006.htm
A team of oceanographers has outlined a polar ocean observation strategy they say will revolutionize scientists' understanding of marine ecosystem response to climate change. The approach, which calls for the use of a suite of automated technologies that complement traditional data collection, could serve as a model for marine ecosystems worldwide and help form the foundation for a comprehensive polar ocean observation system.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
1000 Genomes Project releases data from pilot projects on path to providing database for 2,500 human genomes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FA5-Zwa4r70/100621084644.htm
The completion of three pilot projects designed to determine how best to build an extremely detailed map of human genetic variation begins a new chapter in the international project called 1,000 Genomes.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Wearable sensors with diagnostic capabilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i8JMcDbpqW0/100621074416.htm
Researchers are developing intelligent medical sensors which can be worn by patients to monitor their symptoms and which will alert doctors if medical intervention is needed.
Tue, 22 Jun 10
Common Alzheimer's medication helps skills necessary for safe driving, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GHI4FN9OoJY/100609102026.htm
A promising study demonstrated that cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI), a type of medication often prescribed for Alzheimer's disease (AD), improved some cognitive skills in patients with mild AD -- skills that are necessary for driving. Findings from the study showed that after being treated with a ChEI, AD patients improved in some computerized tests of executive function and visual attention, including a simulated driving task.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Using carbon nanotubes in lithium batteries can dramatically improve energy capacity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V_6PddS0zWQ/100620200808.htm
Batteries might gain a boost in power capacity as a result of a new finding. Researchers found that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery's electrodes produced a significant increase -- up to tenfold -- in the amount of power it could deliver from a given weight of material, compared to a conventional lithium-ion battery. Such electrodes might find applications in small portable devices, and with further research might also lead to improved batteries for larger, more power-hungry applications.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Oral bacteria may offer probiotic potential against upper respiratory infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u3Q0M15Ptfs/100618142511.htm
Bacteria in the mouth may offer probiotic potential against upper respiratory tract infections, say researchers.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Polar oceans key to temperature in the tropics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bTaOGqZ4_zE/100617143934.htm
Scientists have found that the ocean temperature at Earth's polar extremes has a significant impact thousands of miles away at the equator.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Sequencing a single genome yields cause of inherited bone disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M4kk4jlcZGA/100617185125.htm
Combining new, whole-genome sequencing technology with classic genetic approaches to understanding inherited diseases, geneticists have discovered two gene mutations that cause metachondromatosis, a rare, heritable disorder that leads to bony growths, typically on hands and feet.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Secret life of water at very low temperatures
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KABRiDOTVzA/100616090128.htm
The secret life of water just got weirder. For years water has been known to exist in 15 phases -- not just the merry threesome of solid, liquid and gas from grade school science. Now, chemists have confirmed the coexistence of ice and liquid after water crystallizes at very low temperatures.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
When do newborns first feel cold?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6GXQi5DrH7w/100617141008.htm
Cold sensing neural circuits in newborn mice take around two weeks to become fully active, according to a new study. The finding adds to understanding of the cold sensing protein TRPM8.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
New research sheds light on Antarctica's melting Pine Island Glacier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b7m9K1dQmgg/100620200810.htm
Scientists are reporting new results from an investigation into Antarctica's potential contribution to sea level rise. Thinning ice in West Antarctica is currently contributing nearly 10 per cent of global sea level rise, and scientists have identified Pine Island Glacier as a major source.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Certain obese people are not at high risk of heart disease, diabetes, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ixoJJGxTDOo/100619173922.htm
Obese people without metabolic risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, do not have the elevated cardiovascular risk typical of obesity, but they represent only a small percentage of the obese population, according to a long-term study.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
VISTA views the Sculptor Galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kj30Oo9aMO4/100616102800.htm
A spectacular new image of the Sculptor Galaxy has been taken with the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile as part of one of its first major observational campaigns. By observing in infrared light VISTA's view is less affected by dust and reveals a myriad of cooler stars as well as a prominent bar of stars across the central region. The VISTA image provides much new information on the history and development of the galaxy.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pt03CQ2Rk5U/100618170924.htm
Scientists recently investigated the expression of key members of the Nodal embryonic signaling pathway, critical to maintaining pluripotency, in hiPSC and hESC cell lines. Nodal is an important morphogen -- a soluble molecule that can regulate cell fate -- in embryological systems that requires tight regulatory control of its biological function.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Physical model describes structures of viral capsids
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NN9PJRLKWbA/100616090221.htm
The genetic material of viruses is shielded by a protective protein covering called a capsid. Researchers in Spain have uncovered the strict selection rules that define capsid structure in spherical and bacilliform viruses.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Gabapentin opens window of communication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ip_Wzgg8NUI/100616171645.htm
For patients with quadriplegia, mutism and lower cranial nerve paralysis (locked-in syndrome), their only means of interacting with others is through vertical gaze and upper eyelid movements, using eye-coded communication strategies.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Battle of the bugs leaves humans as collateral damage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0kaoTaWnlEI/100617120714.htm
It's a tragedy of war that innocent bystanders often get caught in the crossfire. But now scientists have shown how a battle for survival at a microscopic level could leave humans as the unlikely victims. The researchers have found a possible explanation for why some bacteria turn nasty, even at great risk to their own survival.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Cutting carbs is more effective than low-fat diet for insulin-resistant women, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lhhZjANI5p8/100619173919.htm
Obese women with insulin resistance lose more weight after three months on a lower-carbohydrate diet than on a traditional low-fat diet with the same number of calories, according to a new study.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Comprehensive look at human impacts on ocean chemistry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0YNsCsgr4pY/100617185131.htm
Numerous studies are documenting the growing effects of climate change, carbon dioxide, pollution and other human-related phenomena on the world's oceans. But most of those have studied single, isolated sources of pollution and other influences. Now, a marine geochemist has published a report that evaluates the total impact of such factors on the ocean and considers what the future might hold.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Feared side effect of Alzheimer's drugs is unlikely, new model suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i_t5fIf3uBY/100617161613.htm
The first trial of a new model for testing Alzheimer's treatments has reassured researchers that a promising class of drugs does not exacerbate the disease if treatment is interrupted.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Ultra-simple method for creating nanoscale gold coatings developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cacw9HkkFbw/100616122154.htm
Researchers have developed a new, ultra-simple method for making layers of gold that measure only billionths of a meter thick. The process, which requires no sophisticated equipment and works on nearly any surface including silicon wafers, could have important implications for nanoelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Brain MRI in children: 'Incidental' findings yield disclosure dilemmas for doctors, patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K0je0K3hz_A/100614074824.htm
Pediatricians whose patients undergo "routine" brain MRIs need a plan to deal with findings that commonly reveal unexpected-but-benign anomalies that are unlikely to cause any problem, reports a research team.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Canyon carved in just three days in Texas flood: Insight into ancient flood events on Earth and Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BlB6_n7m7yE/100620155748.htm
In the summer of 2002, a week of heavy rains in Central Texas caused Canyon Lake -- the reservoir of the Canyon Dam -- to flood over its spillway and down the Guadalupe River Valley in a planned diversion to save the dam from catastrophic failure. The flood excavated a 2.2-kilometer-long, 7-meter-deep canyon in the bedrock. According to a new analysis, that canyon formed in just three days.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Women who consume large amounts of tea have increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dBoArrE9DHY/100618081323.htm
Women who drink tea have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with those who drink none (p=0.04), according to results of a new study. Further results from the same study showed no correlation between the amount of coffee consumption and RA incidence (p=0.16).
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Caribbean coral reef protection efforts miss the mark, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-sxyoTJbzas/100617185730.htm
Conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered Caribbean corals may be overlooking regions where corals are best equipped to evolve in response to global warming and other climate challenges.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Protein identified that modulates metabolic dysfunction in obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iomhG4-umcY/100617143940.htm
Researchers have discovered that Sfrp5, which refers to secreted frizzled-related protein 5, is an anti-inflammatory adipokine whose expression is disrupted in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The findings may provide a new way of targeting metabolic disease, specifically obesity.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
In pursuit of the energy of life: Researchers decipher makeup of generators in cellular power plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Ci2eXLIolQ/100618082215.htm
Scientists in Germany have discovered a new mechanism which plays an essential role in the assembly and growth of mitochondria, the "power plants" of the cell.
Mon, 21 Jun 10
Understanding genetic mixing through migration: A tool for clinicians as well as geneaologists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G0dUFXFM69g/100611204144.htm
Understanding the genetic ancestry of mixed populations, such as those found in North America, can not only help to detect their origins but also to understand the genetic basis of complex diseases, according to experts.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Hubble scrutinizes site of mysterious flash and missing cloud belt on Jupiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZCxz7UaDhPA/100616102856.htm
New and detailed observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have provided insights into two recent events on Jupiter: the mysterious flash of light seen on June 3 and the recent disappearance of the planet's dark Southern Equatorial Belt.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
New test may simply and rapidly detect Lyme disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8DYCxqyNk50/100618141631.htm
Researchers have developed a more sensitive test for Lyme disease that may offer earlier detection and lower cost.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Living fast and dangerously: Hormones influence the 'pace of life' of songbirds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MCLHGh6wbsA/100617075157.htm
Human beings, fish, reptiles and birds have the same hormones in their blood with very similar functions. But why does one find hormone values in some species that are ten times higher than in others? Scientists have now discovered that the differing concentrations in birds of the stress hormone, corticosterone, and the reproductive hormone, testosterone, are correlated with the "pace of life". They control whether energy is invested into reproduction, i.e. the number of eggs laid and the breeding attempts in a given season, or more into longevity, i.e. immune function or the flight response in times of danger.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Understanding robustness in organisms -- a potential weapon against infectious diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2QJW7ZfDne4/100616090122.htm
"Robust" is an adjective appreciatively applied to certain vintage wines, but when describing viruses and pathogens, robustness is a property that may be much less desirable. It evokes drug resistant microbes and other superbugs that can wreak havoc as researchers struggle to deal with new pandemics. How can we undercut this robustness? A new study examines the ability of organisms to survive in the face of various kinds of change.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
LCD television waste could help prevent bacterial infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GN1HGbqtbKA/100618141651.htm
The fastest growing waste in Europe could soon be helping to combat hospital infections, according to scientists in the UK. Researchers have discovered a way of transforming the chemical compound polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA), which is a key element of television sets with liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, into an anti-microbial substance that destroys infections such as Escherichia coli and some strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
More than just baby blues: How postpartum depression arises and how it could be prevented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rl107miLi9o/100616102854.htm
Within the first week after giving birth, up to 70 percent of all women experience symptoms of the baby blues. While most women recover quickly, up to 13 percent of all new mothers suffer from symptoms of a clinical-level postpartum depression.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Songbirds learn their songs during sleep
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E7EJt9_7E-8/100616090223.htm
When zebra finches learn their songs from their father early in life, their brain is active during sleep. These findings are a further demonstration that birdsong learning is very similar to the way that children learn how to speak.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Deadly effect of arsenic in drinking water measured in Bangladesh study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dhKfl_6Sf2A/100618205002.htm
More than 20 percent of deaths in a study of 12,000 Bangladeshis were attributable to arsenic exposure from contaminated drinking water, new research reports. The large 10-year study is the first to prospectively measure the relationship between individual exposure to arsenic and its associated mortality risk.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Retooling the ocean conveyor belt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3FDRth5rcDA/100618102646.htm
Oceanographer are reviewing the growing body of evidence that suggests it's time to rethink the ocean conveyor belt model.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Surveillance may be suitable treatment option for patients with low-risk prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Yb8Vi-pBBY/100618170918.htm
Active surveillance or watchful waiting might be sufficient treatment for patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of progression, according to a new study.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Physicists help biologists to understand protein folding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/84RrTI0uGDw/100617132222.htm
Physicists have created a microscopic device to assist biologists in making very fast molecular measurements that aid the understanding of protein folding. This development may help elucidate biological processes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since proteins in the body perform different functions according to their shape, the folding process is considered a key area of study.
Sun, 20 Jun 10
Faster employees may indirectly motivate colleagues to increase production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UWOjA37V9qs/100615141749.htm
You wouldn't think that there would be much similarity between a hockey line and an automobile assembly line. However, management-science researchers say that both groups can learn something about line design and human behavior, which may help them perform better.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Ocean changes may have dire impact on people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/chN5RR9iBsc/100618103558.htm
The heart and lungs of the planet, the world's oceans, shows worrying signs of ill health, concludes the first comprehensive synthesis of recent research into the effects of climate change on oceans.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Circadian clock in pancreas directly linked to diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WiS-wqkBs9k/100618141627.htm
The pancreas has its own molecular clock. Now, for the first time, a new study has shown this ancient circadian clock regulates the production of insulin. If the clock is faulty, the result is diabetes. The researchers show that insulin-secreting islet cells in the pancreas, called beta-cells, have their own dedicated clock. The clock governs the rhythmic behavior of proteins and genes involved in insulin secretion, with oscillations over a 24-hour cycle.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Coffee or tea: Enjoy both in moderation for heart benefits, Dutch study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XmRNtEIU3s0/100618170916.htm
Both high and moderate amounts of tea are linked with reduced heart disease deaths. Moderate amounts of coffee are linked with reduced heart disease risk. Neither coffee nor tea consumption was associated with stroke risk in this Dutch study.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Vitamin D deficiency confirmed as common across a range of rheumatic conditions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qFQJMH11MFU/100618081333.htm
Two separate studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with a range of rheumatic diseases, with over half of all patients having below the "normal" healthy levels of vitamin D (48-145 nmol/L) in their bodies. A further study assessing response to vitamin D supplementation found that taking the recommended daily dose did not normalize vitamin D levels in rheumatic disease patients.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
How DNA is copied onto RNA revealed through three-dimensional transcription film
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b8497FBD6Pk/100617132220.htm
Research scientists have managed to sequence DNA transcription initiation "image by image" to show how DNA is copied onto RNA. Some of the mechanisms of this crucial stage have now been revealed.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Children with home computers likely to have lower test scores, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hpvioofO1DY/100618170920.htm
Around the country and throughout the world, politicians and education activists have sought to eliminate the "digital divide" by guaranteeing universal access to home computers, and in some cases to high-speed Internet service. However, according to a new study, these efforts would actually widen the achievement gap in math and reading scores.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Fly cells flock together, follow the light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FC0P1hrfZwo/100618171252.htm
Scientists report using a laser beam to activate a protein that makes a cluster of fruit fly cells act like a school of fish turning in social unison, following the lead of the one stimulated with light.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Awake sedation for brain surgery may shorten hospital stay
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r2_8zLTOtjc/100618171250.htm
The recovery time and cost of brain-tumor surgery might be reduced if surgery is performed while patients are awake during part of the procedure, according to a new study. Researchers examined the records of 39 patients treated for glioma to learn if surgeries using conscious sedation had outcomes different from those using general anesthesia. The data suggest that conscious sedation can result in shorter hospital stays and lower the direct cost of treatment.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Intelligent 3-D simulation robots to compete in the Robocup 2010
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b7N0hk4rWT4/100618141629.htm
Researchers have developed a multiagent system and motion capture techniques for graphical animation of soccer playing robots.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Rheumatoid arthritis patients face double the risk of suffering heart attack, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/99wsYwNgRdk/100618081331.htm
Rheumatoid arthritis patients face a two-fold increased risk of suffering a myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack) versus the general population, which is comparable to the increased risk of MI seen in diabetes patients, according to results of a new study.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Converting Brownian motion into work: Classical thought experiment brought to life in granular gas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5n3wPlLpR-s/100618103651.htm
Researchers have for the first time experimentally shown, almost a century later, an idea dating from 1912. In that year the physicist Smoluchowski devised a prototype for an engine at the molecular scale in which he thought he could ingeniously convert Brownian motion into work. The team of scientists have now successfully constructed this device at the much larger scale of a granular gas.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Anxiety/panic disorder most frequent disabling comorbid disorder in Tourette syndrome patients, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IZ5ETysx2vM/100617185129.htm
An assessment of patients with adult Tourette syndrome to identify clinical factors that contribute to psychosocial and occupational disabilities resulting from the vocal or motor tics that define TS found that anxiety/panic disorder may be the most disabling psychiatric condition associated with the disorder.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Constraining the reign of ancient Egypt: Radiocarbon dating helps to nail down the chronology of kings, researchers say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jdwCNE5exfQ/100617143926.htm
For several thousands of years, ancient Egypt dominated the Mediterranean world -- and scholars across the globe have spent more than a century trying to document the reigns of the various rulers of Egypt's Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. Now, a detailed radiocarbon analysis of short-lived plant remains from the region is providing scientists with a long and accurate chronology of ancient Egyptian dynasties that agrees with most previous estimates but also imposes some historic revisions.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Experts explore emerging evidence linking diabetes and cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KoSf-LkKigo/100616090023.htm
A new consensus statement of experts assembled by the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society reviews emerging evidence that suggests cancer incidence is associated with diabetes as well as certain diabetes risk factors and treatments.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Afghanistan's rich mineral deposits: Aerogeophysical survey provides promising prospects of economic development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z9-K3ZA8sT8/100618102640.htm
Data gathered and compiled by NRL and USGS scientists during geophysical survey flights over Afghanistan reveal potentially rich natural resource sediment basins and mineral deposits and provide hydrologic and geospatial referenced imagery to support infrastructure and economic development.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Low calcium intake linked with increased risk of osteoporosis and hypertension in postmenopausal women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DFSbcc2zNU8/100617102412.htm
Italian postmenopausal women who have a low calcium intake show a higher risk of developing both osteoporosis and hypertension (a chronic medical condition in which arterial blood pressure is elevated) than those who consume higher levels of calcium, according to new research.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Oceanographers call for more ocean observing in Antarctica
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bKwVXI15gpM/100618112135.htm
Scientists argue that ocean-observing systems are the way to understand climate change in Antarctica -- and sooner would be better than later.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Heavy metal glass helps light go the distance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XyFg8QSlBeo/100616090033.htm
The fiber optic cable networks linking the world are an essential part of modern life. To keep up with ever-increasing demands for more bandwidth, scientists are working to improve the optical amplifiers that boost fiber optic signals across long distances. Optical amplifier research is focused on glass fibers doped with rare earth elements. The elements, such as erbium and ytterbium, amplify light signals when excited by a laser.
Sat, 19 Jun 10
Love ballad leaves women more open to a date
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zTmxSNaOMys/100618112139.htm
If you're having trouble getting a date, French researchers suggest that picking the right soundtrack could improve the odds. Women were more prepared to give their number to an 'average' young man after listening to romantic background music, according to new research.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Shining light around corners: Scientists explore new method for curving 'Airy' light beams
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iyFkP83bSKQ/100616122120.htm
Researchers have demonstrated new ways to generate and control special beams of light called "Airy beams" in their laboratory, which may lead to the development of new technologies for drug manufacturers, the communications industry, the military and the police.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Gut-residing bacteria trigger arthritis in genetically susceptible individuals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gfkLleHQWKo/100617120716.htm
Using a mouse model, researchers demonstrated a link between normally occurring bacteria in the gut and arthritis. The bacteria spur immune cells to release arthritis-causing "autoantibodies" into the blood.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Experimental Marburg vaccine prevents disease two days after infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mLGdgbiyBC8/100616122114.htm
An experimental vaccine developed to prevent outbreaks of Marburg hemorrhagic fever continues to show promise in monkeys as an emergency treatment for accidental exposures to the virus that causes the disease. There is no licensed treatment for Marburg infection, which has a high fatality rate.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
New evidence that smokeless tobacco damages DNA and key enzymes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1ETdCGaSVb8/100616122122.htm
Far from having adverse effects limited to the mouth, smokeless tobacco affects the normal function of a key family of enzymes found in almost every organ in the body, according to a new study. The enzymes play important roles in production of hormones; production of cholesterol and vitamin D; and help the body breakdown prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances. Smokeless tobacco also damages genetic material in the liver, kidney and lungs.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Fuzzy logic predicts cell aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AdCsArmmjq0/100617185127.htm
The process of aging disturbs a broad range of cellular mechanisms in a complex fashion and is not well understood. Computer models using fuzzy logic might help to unravel these complexities and predict how aging progresses in cells and organisms, according to a new study.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Illegal bushmeat trade rife in Europe, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3uHBaot_Xko/100617210641.htm
More than five tonnes of illegal bushmeat is being smuggled in personal luggage each week through one of Europe's busiest airports, reveals new research.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Astronomers witness a star being born
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pg5Ma1GHSJU/100617132226.htm
Astronomers have glimpsed what could be the youngest known star at the very moment it is being born. Not yet fully developed into a true star, the object is in the earliest stages of star formation and has just begun pulling in matter from a surrounding envelope of gas and dust.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Why do certain diseases go into remission during pregnancy?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9BNnuutriC8/100617102406.htm
During pregnancy, many women experience remission of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and uveitis. Now, scientists have identified a biological mechanism responsible for changes in the immune system that helps to explain the phenomenon.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
New process is promising for hydrogen fuel cell cars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lucZFXBpwWU/100616102902.htm
A new process for storing and generating hydrogen to run fuel cells in cars has been invented by chemical engineers.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Probiotic therapy cuts risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in half for some in ICU, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8tyEEMzJ4Bo/100617102356.htm
Daily use of probiotics reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients by almost half, according to new research.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Scientists watch as bacteria evolve heat resistance under stress: New details of evolutionary mechanism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YmwAI7YyQFI/100617111247.htm
Scientists in Germany report that high concentrations of the molecular "chaperone" proteins GroEL and GroES, intracellular machines for protein folding, play a critical role in increasing the maximum temperature at which E. coli bacteria can grow. Massively and permanently elevated levels of the GroE proteins were found in bacteria adapted for growth at 48.5 degrees C. The findings have implications for both fundamental evolutionary studies and biotechnology applications.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Brain study shows that the opinions of others matters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F-_Tiu_vxJw/100617120712.htm
Simon Cowell may appear to relish arguing with his fellow judges when they disagree with him, but new research out today suggests that -- at least at a neuronal level -- he would find their agreement much more satisfying. Researchers have found that the 'reward' area of the brain is activated when people agree with our opinions.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Highly efficient solar cells could result from quantum dot research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nR_-Ko3sXI8/100617143930.htm
Conventional solar cell efficiency could be increased from the current limit of 30 percent to more than 60 percent, suggests new research on semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
New complication seen in stem cell therapy: Stem cell recipient developed mysterious masses at injection sites
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mTdUI0acX_U/100617185121.htm
Following stem cell therapy, an adult patient experienced a new and previously unrecognized complication, which required removal of one of the kidneys, according to a case report. The report suggests that stem cell therapy may cause patients to develop blood vessel and bone marrow masses, the long term effects of which are unknown.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Wild sharks, redfish harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8CqzZI570sY/100616161209.htm
Scientists have found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in seven species of sharks and redfish captured in waters off Belize, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts. Most of these wild, free-swimming fish harbored several drug-resistant bacterial strains.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E5ibSNW2dAI/100617102410.htm
Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for manic depression, clinically termed bipolar disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly why it is beneficial. Now, new research suggests a possible mechanism for why lithium works, opening the door for better understanding of the illness and potentially more effective treatments.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Action of modern drug demonstrates how two ancient human systems interact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TaxCO_x3odc/100616171647.htm
The interaction of the drug compstatin with two ancient, co-evolved human systems points to new ways for reducing clotting during dialysis for end-stage kidney disease and multiple organ failure due to sepsis, a dangerous whole-body inflammatory response to infection.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Body-image distortion predicts onset of unsafe weight-loss behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VXIBCbb2Tio/100617132218.htm
Normal weight and underweight teenage girls who falsely believe they are overweight are at significantly greater risk of succumbing to unnecessary and unsafe weight-loss behaviors than girls who can accurately assess their weight status, according to new research by an expert in eating disorders and body-image perception.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Gulf oil spill: Mississippi River hydrology may help reduce oil onshore
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vvUm8NHO0Do/100617120720.htm
The Gulf of Mexico: what role will the Mississippi River play in oil washing ashore and into delta wetlands? One of the spill's greatest environmental threats is to Louisiana's wetlands, scientists believe.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Connection elucidated between obesity, salt sensitivity and high blood pressure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uc8uc2bXUxU/100617102725.htm
One way obese people become salt sensitive and hypertensive has been identified. Researchers have documented a chain of events in which excess inflammatory factors resulting from excess fat cause the body to retain more sodium and, consequently, more fluid and higher blood pressure.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Astronomers study Kuiper Belt object during stellar occultation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7hg0ULKSSMk/100616133323.htm
Until now, astronomers have used telescopes to find Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs), moon-sized bodies, and obtain their spectra to determine what types of ices are on their surface. They have also used thermal-imaging techniques to get a rough idea of the size of KBOs, but other details have been difficult to glean. While astronomers think there are about 70,000 KBOs that are larger than 100 kilometers in diameter, the objects' relatively small size and location make it hard to study them in detail. One method that has been has been proposed for studying KBOs is to observe one as it passes briefly in front of a bright star; such events, known as stellar occultations, have yielded useful information about other planets in the solar system.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Serotonin system influences vulnerability and treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NMA720QsSK4/100617102712.htm
There is a great deal of interest in factors that contribute to the vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. One factor that appears to contribute to the heritable vulnerability to PTSD is a variation in the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter, also known as the serotonin uptake site.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
It's in the bones: Human bone as a biological material for environmental monitoring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h1wpmX2M0Jg/100616090229.htm
Exposure to chemical pollutants is of growing concern to regulators, health workers, and environmentalist groups alike. Now, researchers in the US and Russia have demonstrated that samples of human bone can act as a biological marker for dozens of metals and toxic elements across the periodic table. They describe details in a study published in the International Journal of Environment and Health.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
In predominantly African-American communities, people of all races miss out on kidney care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xFMLjGZ3Yp0/100617185119.htm
Regardless of race, fewer people see a kidney specialist before starting dialysis if they live in predominantly black communities, according to a new study. The results highlight the importance of understanding why patients in predominantly African-American areas are less likely to receive kidney-related care while their kidney function is clearly declining.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Malaria threat is as old as humanity, new research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yH5HpFyP4U0/100617120718.htm
New research shows that malaria is tens of thousands of years older than previously thought. This has the potential to inform new control strategies for the disease. Using DNA techniques scientists have found that the potentially deadly tropical disease evolved alongside anatomically modern humans and moved with our ancestors as they migrated out of Africa around 60-80,000 years ago.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Sleeping sickness study offers insight into human cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z74KHylv93w/100614171901.htm
Fresh discoveries about the parasite that causes sleeping sickness could lead to new avenues of research into treatments for the disease.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Climate change threatens food supply of 60 million people in Asia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f8DfeCPXm3Y/100616090225.htm
Climate change will drastically reduce the discharge of snow and ice meltwater in a region of the Himalayas, threatening the food security of more than 60 million people in Asia in the coming decades, according to new research in Science. The Indus and Brahmaputra basins are expected to be the most adversely affected, while in the Yellow River basin the availability of irrigation water will actually increase.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Blueberry ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m-cy8pH_y0U/100617102706.htm
A research team from China examined the effect of blueberry on hepatic fibrosis and detoxification enzyme systems in rats. The results demonstrated that blueberry has a therapeutic effect on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by reducing hepatocyte injury and lipid peroxidation.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Maintaining privacy in a cloud: More secure environment for cloud computing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lV6GfxhrEnM/100617102903.htm
Scientists are seeking solutions for maintaining privacy in a cloud, or an Internet-based computing environment where all resources are offered on demand.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Male desire to be strong and protect family key to preventing suicides, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wJYcNE4KG8w/100616151637.htm
Masculine ideals of strength coupled with strong family ties can help men combat depression and overcome thoughts of suicide, according to new research.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Carbon dioxide is the missing link to past global climate changes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v54abGsdbjQ/100617143936.htm
Carbon dioxide is the missing ingredient in explaining the advent of Ice Ages in the Northern Hemisphere and why those cold epochs have caused changes in the tropics for the past 2.7 million years. Scientists analyzed ocean sediment cores and found a definitive link between the Ice Ages and ocean surface temperatures in the tropics. They believe carbon dioxide explains the link.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Key enzyme in melanoma cell development identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f6uWMQU6hqw/100617161611.htm
Researchers have discovered a mechanism by which an enzyme regulates gene expression and growth in melanoma cells, a finding that could someday lead to more effective drugs to attack cancers and make them more treatable.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
110-foot concrete bridge withstands 8.0 earthquake simulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R6GaK1d0czc/100616171649.htm
After a succession of eight separate earthquake simulations, a 110-foot long, 200-ton concrete bridge model withstood a powerful jolting, three times the acceleration of the disastrous 1994 magnitude 6.9 Northridge, California earthquake, and survived in good condition.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
From head to toe: Deep insights from whole body MRI
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ozfQNDJANRs/100617102907.htm
Thanks to technical progress, there are now new areas in which whole body magnetic resonance imaging can be used. In a new study, researchers present a review of possible uses, together with the limits of this radiation-free diagnostic procedure.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Storing carbon dioxide deep underground in rock form
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-8uTjhlh6_M/100617102402.htm
As carbon dioxide continues to burgeon in the atmosphere causing the Earth's climate to warm, scientists are trying to find ways to remove the excess gas from the atmosphere and store it where it can cause no trouble. Researchers in Iceland have been studying the possibility of sequestration of CO2 in basalt.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Orphaned elderly serious casualty of African AIDS epidemic, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MbIBgNXioHM/100617143942.htm
The rise in AIDS death rates in sub-Saharan Africa has led to a burgeoning new category of neglected individuals -- nearly a million orphaned elderly, or older adults living alone without the benefit of any caregivers, researchers have found.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Brain comes hard-wired with working navigational neurons, rat study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iup12G5BewY/100617143928.htm
Are we born with an innate sense of direction, or is it learned? Research from Norway suggests that the brain comes hard-wired with working navigational neurons. While these neurons -- head direction cells, place cells and grid cells -- mature over time, they appear to function in rodents as soon as they make their first exploratory steps outside the nest.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Sense of direction in newborn rat brains is innate, scientists discover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/laZuoeeoMJ4/100617150932.htm
Sense of direction is represented in the brains of newborn rats before they have explored their environment, according to new research by scientists in the UK.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
As the Sun awakens, NASA keeps a wary eye on space weather
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jmaDAeYEWk4/100616144559.htm
Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that's new to human history. To make preparations, authorities in Washington, DC recently held a meeting on space weather with leading experts in the field.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Dental pulp cells for stem cell banking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/austsq2kN9Y/100617111243.htm
Defined sets of factors can reprogram human cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. However, many types of human cells are not easily accessible to minimally invasive procedures. Researchers have now report that dental pulp cells are an optimal source of iPS cells, since they are easily obtained from extracted teeth and can be expanded under simple culture conditions.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Research will help submariners breathe more easily
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-vqtGPMsNvg/100617102610.htm
Engineers in the UK and US are teaming up to develop a chemical-free way of removing carbon dioxide from the air inside deep sea human habitats.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Puffing in public housing poses serious health risks to tenants, report says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mYSMd6501Dg/100617132224.htm
In an effort to protect children from harmful tobacco smoke exposure, health and medical professionals are pushing for a ban on smoking in public housing.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Signal like you mean it: Orangutan gestures carry specific intentional meanings, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R7zgkW9Un7U/100617075201.htm
Great ape gestures have intentional meaning and are made with the expectation of specific behavioral responses, according to researchers. The study of meaning in animal communication takes a significant step forward with the authors' new systematic approach to assessing intentional meaning in the gestural communication of non-humans, applied here to a group of orangutan gestures.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Defects in immune system enzyme may increase risk of autoimmune disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KmVZwqWWM68/100616133315.htm
Scientists have found that rare variants in the gene coding an enzyme that controls the activity of a key immune cell occur more frequently in individuals with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Their report identifies a pathway that could be a therapeutic target and may present a model for future investigations of the role of rare gene variants in common disorders.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Astronomers focus on revealing hidden mysteries of the universe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/og5fNPeIIOQ/100617075159.htm
Secrets of the universe are to be revealed as a new telescope equipped with the world's most powerful digital camera begins its observations of the night sky. The Pan-STARRS sky survey telescope - known as PS1 - will enable scientists to better understand the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, the material that is thought to account for much of the mass of the universe but has never been proven to exist.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Biochemical pathway by which harmful molecule may raise Alzheimer's risk uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XAyokbhVknE/100614160207.htm
A molecule implicated in Alzheimer's disease interferes with brain cells by making them unable to "recycle" the surface receptors that respond to incoming signals, researchers have found.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson continues Deepwater Horizon spill study mission
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/482QE_1CxwU/100616133850.htm
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson departed Galveston, Texas, June 15 to continue research on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill's impact on the Gulf of Mexico. During the three-week mission, the research vessel will use sophisticated acoustic and water chemistry monitoring instruments to detect and map submerged oil in coastal areas and in the deep water surrounding the BP well head.
Fri, 18 Jun 10
Physical fitness may help reduce chronic disease risk in college students
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n2uMJXkZAss/100617102905.htm
Staying in shape may bolster the metabolic profiles of first-year college students, even in those with higher than desirable body fat percentages. In an epidemiological study, researchers found an association between physical fitness, body fat percentage and certain metabolic risk factors that are precursors to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Dinosaur-chewing mammals leave behind oldest known tooth marks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OEwU_c4fnbg/100616161207.htm
Paleontologists have discovered the oldest mammalian tooth marks yet on the bones of ancient animals, including several large dinosaurs.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Symptoms of 'male menopause' unzipped
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QVDPd2vNzso/100616171639.htm
Scientists have for the first time identified the symptoms associated with what has been termed late-onset hypogonadism or "male menopause" caused by a reduction in testosterone production in aging men.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Towards nanowire solar cells with a 65-percent efficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QJvhUlwN9FA/100616122320.htm
Researchers want to develop solar cells with an efficiency of over 65 percent by means of nanotechnology. In Southern Europe and North Africa these new solar cells can generate a substantial portion of the European demand for electricity.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
New world Helicobacter pylori genome sequenced, dynamics of inflammation-related genes revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U4ou5mOvIcU/100616102850.htm
An international team of researchers has sequenced the genome of an Amerindian strain of the gastric bug Helicobacter pylori, confirming the out-of-Africa migration of this bacterial stowaway to the New World. Experiments in animals have highlighted how specific genes in the bacterial strain may be crucial to the onset of inflammation and disease.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Questioning the effectiveness of oil dispersants in Gulf oil spill
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oYGXnMz41fI/100616122130.htm
The widespread belief that chemical dispersants will enhance the breakdown of oil from the Gulf of Mexico disaster is based on weak scientific data, according to a new article.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Little is understood about alcohol's effect on fetal development, researchers say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DAbCrAKhf9A/100616090025.htm
It's long been known that alcohol use in pregnancy can lead to children with mental retardation and birth defects, but researchers who study fetal alcohol syndrome have not made definitive progress on preventing the disorder, detecting it early, or effectively treating it, say researchers.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Volcanic emissions used to study Earth’s atmospheric past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4lPMirP1z5E/100616141657.htm
On March 20, Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano woke from its nearly 200-year slumber to change the way the world viewed volcanoes forever. Bringing almost all transatlantic air travel to a halt for the first time in modern history, this volcano reminded humanity of the powers these forces of nature contain -- and of our relative inability to understand them. Researchers have studied this event and other massive volcanic eruptions and their atmospheric consequences in the past in North America.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Insulin peptide may point to a solution for type 1 diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3uX23VN-2C0/100616133329.htm
Researchers have identified the precise peptide that can trigger diabetes in mice. The finding supports an emerging theory about the origins of autoimmunity, and may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in humans.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Incidence of malaria jumps when Amazon forests are cut, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wtLrTqEr6yA/100616133317.htm
Establishing a firm link between environmental change and human disease has always been an iffy proposition. Now, however, a team of scientists presents the most enumerated case to date linking increased incidence of malaria to land-use practices in the Amazon.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Blood relations: New study explores early detection of ovarian cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U7DptHC5Am8/100616141655.htm
Researchers have used a novel method for identifying biomarkers -- proteins in blood that can identify ovarian cancer before symptoms appear.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Physicists build inexpensive land mine detection system using off-the-shelf components
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ITPPknbPKXQ/100616122156.htm
Anyone who is an online shopper and humanitarian might find this research project appealing. Physics professor John Scales is working on a low-cost, human-focused, high technology effort to stop the devastation of unexploded buried land mines with a novel acoustical/microwave detection system.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ezL6RCtQop8/100614092525.htm
Although effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease has been slow to emerge, there has been substantial progress in identifying AD risk factors and developing treatments that might delay or prevent onset of the disease. In a special issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, researchers report on key findings that point towards possible significant interventions.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Computer intelligence predicts human visual attention for first time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xCKnR8PCTsc/100616171720.htm
Scientists have just come several steps closer to understanding change blindness -- the well studied failure of humans to detect seemingly obvious changes to scenes around them -- with new research that used a computer-based model to predict what types of changes people are more likely to notice.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
AIDS drugs given to pregnant women block 99 percent of HIV transmission to breastfed babies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E65dDRAvZ78/100616171635.htm
An international clinical trial has found that AIDS-fighting antiretroviral drug combinations given to pregnant and breastfeeding women in Botswana, Africa, prevented 99 percent of the mothers from transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus to their infants.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
May 2010 global temperature is warmest on record; Spring and January-May also post record breaking temps
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l0AkeeiRvoY/100616134641.htm
The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for May, March-May (Northern Hemisphere spring-Southern Hemisphere autumn), and the period January-May, 2010, according to NOAA. Worldwide average land surface temperature for May and March-May was the warmest on record while the global ocean surface temperatures for both May and March-May were second warmest on record, behind 1998.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Gene mutation increases thromboembolism risk in women taking tamoxifen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b4QW3ehujp4/100616161203.htm
Women taking tamoxifen for early-stage breast cancer who developed blood clots were more likely to carry a gene mutation for clotting than women taking tamoxifen who did not develop a clot, according to a new study.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Afghanistan’s Kabul Basin faces major water challenges
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6GawbRrac9s/100616142351.htm
In the next 50 years, it is estimated that drinking water needs in the Kabul Basin of Afghanistan may increase sixfold due to population increases resulting from returning refugees. It is also likely that future water resources in the Kabul Basin will be reduced as a result of increasing air temperatures associated with global climate change. These are the findings of a new study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Relying too much on e-mail bad for business, study says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2wBrVj4FBFc/100616122118.htm
A new study says high-tech communication strips away the personal interaction needed to breed trust, a key ingredient in getting workers to pull together and carry their share of the load.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Nanoparticles: Peering into the never-before-seen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c5jPO2Lw6w8/100616151635.htm
Scientists can now peer into the inner workings of catalyst nanoparticles 3,000 times smaller than a human hair within nanoseconds.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Maternal or infant antiretrovirals both effective in preventing HIV transmission through breast milk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TjRvZNYHcg4/100616171633.htm
The largest study to date to examine methods to prevent HIV infection among breastfeeding infants concludes that giving antiretroviral drugs to HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers in sub-Saharan Africa or giving an HIV-fighting syrup to their babies are both effective.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Understanding critical nucleus in haze formation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eOKddt71jNY/100616161211.htm
Haze -- scientifically known as atmospheric aerosols, microscopic particles suspended in the Earth's atmosphere -- represents a major environmental problem because it degrades visibility, affects human health and influences the climate. Despite its profound impacts, how the haze is formed is not fully understood.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Mechanism behind three cancer-causing genes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/50HhgB8eQ6M/100616122116.htm
Researchers have defined for the first time the mechanism behind three cancer-causing genes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The findings offer insight on the complex interaction between the genes and their contributions to leukemia, thereby providing the foundation for the design of targeted therapies.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
USGS science helps disaster-struck communities understand flash flooding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JYPczcKbR3E/100616135050.htm
The Little Missouri River in Southwest Arkansas experienced a flash flood June 11, with waters that rose over 20 feet in just 5 hours, killing 20 people. In response to this severe and unusual flooding, the USGS deployed a team of scientists to document and study the flow and height of the floodwater as it coursed down the Little Missouri River and its tributaries.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Sexual trauma may spark mental health problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y2qpSZ0Cr6g/100616122318.htm
Traumatic sexual incidents may cause serious mental health problems in the years after the events, new research has shown. Using a unique investigative method, researchers examined the mental health of women who had visited rape crisis centers -- and it showed that sexual trauma plays a role in the development of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Inbred sperm fertilize fewer eggs, beetle study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K31VNFRsfXY/100615191514.htm
Inbred male sperm have been found to fertilize fewer eggs when in competition with non-inbred males, according to a new study of beetles.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
New combination effective against pancreatic cancer: Substance in broccoli supports cancer therapy, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gS9ZZjozEfA/100615105243.htm
The new cancer medication sorafenib looks promising. Sorafenib is used for advanced liver and kidney cancer and also appears to be effective against cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer. Researchers in Germany recently tested the new substance in mice and pancreatic cancer cells.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
In deserts, which dunes are the most stable?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jOjCCjV8PyU/100528081817.htm
By modeling a desert where the wind blows in two directions, researchers have succeeded in observing and highlighting, for the very first time, the formation process and long-term evolution of two types of very large sand dunes: transverse dunes and longitudinal dunes. They have demonstrated that longitudinal dunes and barchans - croissant-shaped dunes formed in a unidirectional wind regime - are the most stable over time. Their results should provide a better understanding of how dunes and deserts evolve on Earth and also help to deduce important information concerning wind regimes on Titan or Mars, for example.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Association of genetic factors and brain imaging findings in Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AE1xVkRb39U/100614161436.htm
By investigating the association between genetic loci related to Alzheimer's disease and neuroimaging measures related to disease risk, researchers may have uncovered additional evidence that several previously studied genetic variants are associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease and also may have identified new genetic risk factors for further study, according to a new study.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Tequila and cheese offer lessons for rural economies in developing world
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pXpVSoX1n5s/100614092542.htm
Tequila and cheese may sound like the makings of an awkward cocktail party, but new research shows that they can tell us what works, and what doesn't, when it comes to geographic indications and efforts to boost rural economies around the world.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Use of testosterone for 'male menopause' questionable, experts argue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BNAbrwIG6FQ/100602193318.htm
The use of synthetic testosterone to combat symptoms of the so-called "male menopause" is questionable, given that it's not clear whether such a syndrome exists, and that the evidence of the hormone's effectiveness in these circumstances is inconclusive, says a new article.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Hand study reveals brain's distorted body model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hhWRCwcvP7E/100614160201.htm
Our brains contain a highly distorted model of our own bodies, according to researchers. A new study on the brain's representation of the hand found that our model of our bodies is out of sync with reality -- with a strong tendency to think that the hands are shorter and fatter than their true shape.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Women who choose boiled coffee run lower risk of breast cancer, Swedish study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jIUGnHf6oqY/100615151255.htm
Women who drink Scandinavian boiled coffee, which chemically resembles French press and Turkish/Greek coffee, more than four times a day run a lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who drink coffee less than once a day, according to research from Sweden.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Scientists create nano-patterned superconducting thin films
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mV47k8eMm84/100614092602.htm
Scientists have fabricated thin films patterned with large arrays of superconducting nanowires and loops with variable electrical resistance in an external magnetic field. Such superconducting nanowires and nano-loops might eventually be useful for new electronic devices.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Possible link between sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NEY6Tmk5TNM/100614160233.htm
Doctors have long known that snoring is hazardous to health for a number of reasons. In addition to restless nights and increased daytime sleepiness, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has a series of associated health problems, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Rosewood trees face extinction amid Madagascar's chaos
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t718xLeuojQ/100527141957.htm
Political and social chaos and a lack of international protections have put several species of rosewood trees in Madagascar in danger of becoming extinct from illegal logging, according to new research.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Mutations on three genes could predispose people to suicidal behaviour
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qNitBRKdzPM/100615105249.htm
Three genes that have barely been studied to date have now provided fresh knowledge about patients with suicidal backgrounds. Scientists found that several mutations are involved. This finding could help to develop future genetic tests to identify predisposition to suicide, without ignoring the importance of social and cultural factors.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Some people do not taste salt like others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vxPuJM76N3M/100616090027.htm
Low-salt foods may be harder for some people to like than others, according to a new study. The research indicates that genetics influence some of the difference in the levels of salt we like to eat.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Mediterranean-style diet improves heart function, twin study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hQrnOThM9Ro/100615163131.htm
Following a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce the risk of heart disease by maintaining heart rate variability, suggests results of a study of twins. The more a participant's eating pattern matched a Mediterranean-style diet, the greater his heart rate variability. Genes do not entirely control heart rate variability, indicating that a Mediterranean-style diet could help people with a family history of heart disease.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Two new frog species discovered in Panama's fungal war zone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z4YBuJ-3fss/100527013331.htm
While trying to understand a disease that is wiping out frogs worldwide, researchers discovered a new frog species.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Adding nucleic acid testing to HIV screening may help identify more people with HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FBcg8QzPHTI/100614171859.htm
Community-based HIV testing programs generally use only HIV antibody testing, but nucleic acid testing can detect the presence of HIV earlier. Researchers studied more than 3,000 patients who sought HIV testing in community-based clinics in or near San Diego to examine the yield of testing with a rapid test plus NAT and to see whether patients would be willing to access their results by phone or computer.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
New system using bacterial communities to solve complex problems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xxe8DU3q20s/100601072638.htm
A new system using bacterial communities to autonomously solve complex problems has been developed by researchers in Spain. The designed algorithms help to synchronize different bacteria according to the bacteria's natural capabilities and mechanisms of communication, such as bacterial conjugation and quorum sensing.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Damage to the frontal cortex of the brain affects ability to react quickly to a stimulus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A_j70bBVkEU/100615105253.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that patients who have damage to the right prefrontal cortex of the brain present a deficit in intentional anticipation (for example, when we put the vehicle in gear before the traffic light turns green).
Thu, 17 Jun 10
World's oldest fig wasp fossil proves that if it works, don't change it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z4IdSNchnDU/100615191649.htm
The world's oldest known example of a fig wasp has been found on the Isle of Wight. The fossil wasp is almost identical to the modern species, proving that this tiny but specialized insect has remained virtually unchanged for more than 34 million years.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Higher levels of vitamin B6, common amino acid associated with lower risk of lung cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OS3sz0J2ICw/100615163117.htm
An analysis that included nearly 400,000 participants finds that those with higher blood levels of vitamin B6 and the essential amino acid methionine (found in most protein) had an associated lower risk of lung cancer, including participants who were current or former smokers, according to a new study.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Putting teeth into forensic science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9W05pmAd3o4/100519143405.htm
In a large natural disaster, such as the Haitian earthquake earlier this year, or in an unsolved homicide case, knowing the birth date of an individual can guide forensic investigators to the correct identity among a large number of possible victims. Researchers are also looking at victim's teeth to determine how old they are at the time of death.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Many clinicians may be screening for cervical cancer too frequently
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yzNro-N97jA/100614161353.htm
Clinical guidelines recommend screening low-risk women for cervical cancer every three years after age 30, but most primary care clinicians report that they would advise testing for the disease more frequently, according to a new study. Adding a test for human papillomavirus to screening protocols does not increase clinicians' reported adherence to guidelines, but may make them less likely to extend screening intervals.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Gene discovery potential key to cost-competitive cellulosic ethanol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c7SJRgdCgmw/100520131449.htm
Scientists are improving strains of microorganisms used to convert cellulosic biomass into ethanol, including a recent modification that could improve the efficiency of the conversion process.
Thu, 17 Jun 10
Can mental activity protect against memory problems in multiple sclerosis?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JUVn0QQcTrE/100614161345.htm
A new study shows that a mentally active lifestyle may protect against the memory and learning problems that often occur in multiple sclerosis.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Crayfish brain may offer rare insight into human decision making
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nF3p4Ep_RFM/100615191751.htm
Crayfish make surprisingly complex, cost-benefit calculations, finds a new study, opening the door to a new line of research a new line of research that may help unravel the cellular brain activity involved in human decisions. Researchers conclude that crayfish make an excellent, practical model for identifying the specific neural circuitry and neurochemistry of decision making. Currently, there's no direct way to do this in humans or other primates.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Tumor target suggests personalized treatment for melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/74CICfqQjwg/100615191753.htm
IKK-beta, a component of a pathway involved in melanoma development, may offer new leads for developing targeted melanoma therapies, researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center report.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
NASA Releases Kepler Data On Potential Extrasolar Planets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6tmQjV1SYls/100615192010.htm
NASA's Kepler Mission has released 43 days of science data on more than 156,000 stars. These stars are being monitored for subtle brightness changes as part of an ongoing search for Earth-like planets outside of our solar system.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Topical treatments provide effective local pain relief, review finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pzq_kYa6KDc/100615191655.htm
Gels, creams and sprays containing painkillers such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, ketoprofen and piroxicam are safe and effective treatments for local pain, according to researchers. A new systematic review they have conducted shows that topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more effective than placebos for treating short-term pain and have few side effects.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Patchwork-like image of developing zebrafish sensory organ
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OPuCJCx5pWo/100615093238.htm
Using an electron microscope, scientists in Europe have captured a snapshot of the beginnings of an organ which plays a central role in how zebrafish perceive the world around them -- the lateral line.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Insomniacs have different brains, researcher says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Iv0mE_YOsY/100615151713.htm
The brains of older adults with chronic sleep problems look different from those of adults who have enjoyed enough sleep. Yet the older adults function well despite their lack of sleep. They switch to a continuous form of mild stress, as a result of which they sometimes even perform better than contemporaries who enjoy a good night's sleep, according to a Dutch researcher.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Carnivorous mammals track fruit abundance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3WQF4CsuLNc/100614092923.htm
The scientific community already knew that many carnivores eat fruit, but had thought this was something purely anecdotal. Now researchers have shown that carnivorous animals such as foxes and martens play an important role in helping fruiting plants to reproduce and disperse their seeds.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Heart attack: Could giving oxygen be doing more harm than good?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hJZaCUOPIRI/100615191651.htm
There is no evidence that the common practice of giving patients oxygen to inhale during a heart attack is beneficial, according to a new review by researchers. Until further research is carried out, the researchers say the possibility that giving oxygen may actually increase a patient's risk of dying cannot be ruled out.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Scientists find hormone influences sensitivity to sweetness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bjac71zefsM/100615122532.htm
A hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar levels may also influence a person's sensitivity to sweet-tasting foods, according to a new study. Researchers found that blocking the tongue's ability to respond to the hormone known as glucagon decreases the taste system's sensitivity to sweetness. That is, changing the actions of the hormone glucagon could control how foods taste.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
IUDs reduce pregnancy rates compared to hormonal contraceptives, review finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/isfBOiAbVQ8/100615191653.htm
Women who have had intrauterine devices fitted as contraceptives are less likely to become pregnant than those who have hormone injections, a new review by researchers has found. The review, which focused on women in developing countries, also found a possible link between contraceptive method and disease progression in HIV.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Rosetta's blind date with asteroid Lutetia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SvWGQC6w6EM/100615112231.htm
The European Space Agency's comet-chaser Rosetta is heading for a blind date with asteroid Lutetia. Rosetta does not yet know what Lutetia looks like but beautiful or otherwise the two will meet on July 10.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Learning difficulties may be centred in the eye, not the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mxZYmQLT9p8/100614093133.htm
Problems with math? And perhaps with handwriting - and motor skills? Researchers believe that the explanation for your troubles may be that not all of the cells in your eyes work the way they should.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Experience shapes the brain's circuitry throughout adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QuUgbYwcy7c/100615191647.htm
The adult brain, long considered to be fixed in its wiring, is in fact remarkably dynamic. Neuroscientists once thought that the brain's wiring was fixed early in life, during a critical period beyond which changes were impossible. Recent discoveries have challenged that view, and now, research suggests that circuits in the adult brain are continually modified by experience.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Over-abundant protein prompts neurodegenerative cascade: Shuts down cell communications, helps cause dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w9UYrS-2L3U/100615191659.htm
In diverse neurodegenerative diseases ranging from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's, researchers have long noted accumulations of a little-understood neuronal protein called alpha-synuclein. Pathological and genetic evidence strongly suggested that excessive alpha-synuclein played a role in the evolution of these diseases, but it was unclear how too much alpha-synuclein culminated in synaptic damage and neurodegeneration.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
The Thunderstone mystery: What's a Stone Age axe doing in an Iron Age tomb?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jPD6Ult_SKA/100614101724.htm
What's a Stone Age axe doing in an Iron Age tomb? Archaeologists are now researching older objects in younger graves and they have found a pattern.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Protein's role in cell division uncovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xo3pg_IK2IE/100615163156.htm
A researcher has identified the important role that a key protein plays in cell division, and that discovery could lead to a greater understanding of stem cells.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Software system to predict the evolution of the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ovtrl7n-A3k/100614093621.htm
Researchers have developed a system to forecast the evolution of the ash cloud from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Apple juice improves behavior but not cognition in Alzheimer's patients, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6gFvcrJEG_k/100614160239.htm
Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Higher anxiety, depression among women may have basis in cell signals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3yWsWvaeTS0/100615105239.htm
There may be a biological reason why depression and other stress-related psychiatric disorders are more common among women compared to men. Studying stress signaling systems in rat brains, neuroscience researchers found that females are more sensitive to low levels of an important stress hormone and less able to adapt to high levels than males.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Altered virus becomes medicine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GklLl5pONV4/100615151711.htm
Dutch researchers have successfully converted a virus into a unique drug distributor. They removed all of the dangerous material from the virus so that empty, semipermeable particles remained. They subsequently joined these particles together, yet even more important: they also succeeded in separating them again.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Biomolecular modeling: Scientists discover 'breakwater' to help control electron transfer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cCrD7hkcoKg/100614160203.htm
In a new study, researchers explain the role of water in electron transfer -- the cornerstone of biological energy processes -- and amino acid barriers that make it possible.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Digestive disorder in infants may be genetic, findings indicate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tHuuhf4ry2k/100615163123.htm
In a study that includes nearly 2 million children born in Denmark, researchers have found that there is a higher rate of occurrence of the digestive tract disorder pyloric stenosis among twins and siblings, suggesting that this is a genetic and inherited disorder.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
GPS not just for driving: Tool for crowd management and medical follow-up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b4AA9YDVrAs/100614093345.htm
Drivers around the world use the global positioning system (GPS) to figure out how to get from point A to point B. But a researcher has shown that GPS can also be applied commercially to better deal with crowd or shopper management and even to evaluating patient recovery following surgery.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Obesity may harm your sexual health, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xnYGcsetQ54/100615191657.htm
Being obese impacts on sexual health, according to research. A new study reports that the rate of unplanned pregnancies is four times higher among single obese women than normal weight women, despite them being less likely to have been sexually active in the past year. Obese women are less likely to seek contraceptive advice or to use oral contraceptives. Obese men have fewer sexual partners in a 12 month period, but are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction and develop sexually transmitted infections than normal weight men.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Climate change increases hazard risk in alpine regions, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dUbrb05qjdg/100615105241.htm
Climate change could cause increasing and unpredictable hazard risks in mountainous regions, according to a new study. The study analyzes the effects of two extreme weather events -- the 2003 heatwave and the 2005 flood -- on the Eastern European Alps.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Cardiologists discover cancer risks in blood pressure medications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E72BJGtNiwg/100613212732.htm
Cardiologists have uncovered new research showing an increased risk of cancer with a group of blood pressure medications known as angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). This class of drugs is used by millions of patients not only for high blood pressure but also for heart failure, cardiovascular risk reduction and diabetic kidney disease.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
New properties of graphene, world's thinnest material, discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FNlMnSicSOw/100614132000.htm
Researchers have discovered that graphene oxide sheets behave like surfactants, the chemicals in soap and shampoo that make stains disperse in water.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Lung cancer research concludes that early diagnosis is key to improving survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KmUaYETtA24/100615112225.htm
A new study investigates the time trends of surgical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer between 1979 and 2008. The incidence of lung cancer continues to rise; therefore, countermeasures to decrease death rates have become an important public health issue.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Another step closer to fully sequencing the salmon genome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_U_ZsxqZaaw/100614171905.htm
The economically important, environmentally sensitive Atlantic salmon species is one step closer to having its genome fully sequenced, thanks to an international collaboration involving researchers, funding agencies and industry from Canada, Chile and Norway.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Specific PTSD symptoms related to anger and aggressiveness among Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yYMV7gjgh0s/100615093234.htm
Focusing on certain PTSD symptoms may be key to treating anger among Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, according to a new study.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Babies grasp number, space and time concepts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qMb2B-z4d9M/100615141751.htm
Even before they learn to speak, babies organize information about numbers, space and time in more complex ways than previously realized. "We've shown that 9-month-olds are sensitive to 'more than' or 'less than' relations across the number, size and duration of objects. What's really remarkable is they only need experience with one of these quantitative concepts to guess what the other quantities should look like," says a psychologist.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
How bacteria boost the immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mCVRUjkHV0U/100614171907.htm
Scientists have long known that certain types of bacteria boost the immune system. Now, a study is showing how bacteria perform this essential task.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
GOES-15 solar X-Ray Imager makes a miraculous first light
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cydNPlSwEBI/100614121604.htm
The Solar X-Ray Imager instrument aboard the GOES-15 satellite has just provided its first light image of the sun, but it required a lot of experts to make it happen.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Elderly patients in need of heart valve replacements have alternative to surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IcavDUUah3s/100615122526.htm
Doctors in Germany successfully used transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation in elderly patients with degenerated bioprostheses in aortic and mitral position. This minimally invasive procedure was used as an alternative treatment option for patients who were at high surgical risk.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Super-yeast generates ethanol from energy crops and agricultural residues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AQjCKRjXfI8/100614191441.htm
A new type of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been developed which can efficiently ferment pentose sugars, as found in agricultural waste and hardwoods. In a new study, researchers describe the creation of the new S. cerevisiae strain, TMB3130, which demonstrated significantly improved aerobic growth rate and final biomass concentration on sugar media composed of two pentoses, xylose and arabinose.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Guidance on cross-examination improves accuracy of witness testimony, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ro9GeMvNiEY/100615093240.htm
Researchers have found that witnesses who receive guidance on cross-examination techniques present more accurate court testimony than those who are unfamiliar with the style of questioning.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Orign of life: Adding UV light helps form 'Missing G' of RNA building blocks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cEQ2MjEIezs/100614101957.htm
For scientists attempting to understand how the building blocks of RNA originated on Earth, guanine has proven to be a particular challenge. By adding UV light to a model prebiotic reaction, researchers have discovered a route by which guanine could have been formed.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
2009 H1N1 vaccine protects against 1918 influenza virus; Cross-protection helps alleviate bioterrorism concerns
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ASrWkuY4uU/100615122530.htm
Researchers have determined people who were vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may also be protected against the lethal 1918 Spanish influenza virus, which killed more than 50 million people worldwide.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Neutrinos and antineutrinos differ in key property, experiment suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W5dqqUk1Tc4/100614121606.htm
Scientists have announced the world's most precise measurement of the parameters that govern antineutrino oscillations. This mass difference parameter, called "delta m squared", is smaller by approximately 40 percent for neutrinos than for antineutrinos. However, there is a still a five percent probability that delta m squared is actually the same for neutrinos and antineutrinos. Theorists expected the two values to be the same.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Inflammatory diseases: Scientists identify antiviral defense
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ehxkZ6nNDyg/100615105255.htm
Researchers have discovered a new way the body combats respiratory viral infections. They now explain how the NOX2 molecule, an enzyme that generates a burst of highly reactive oxygen derivatives (or free radicals), activates defense genes and molecules when viruses invade lung cells.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Leaded gasoline predominant source of lead exposure in latter 20th century
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hLLRXu4-ccg/100615141757.htm
Leaded gasoline was responsible for about two-thirds of toxic lead that African-American children in Cleveland ingested or inhaled during the latter two-thirds of the 20th century, according to a new study.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
On the face of it, voting's superficial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yD2Z60hkvSg/100615105330.htm
Voters make judgments about politicians' competence based on their facial appearance and these appearance-based competence judgments reliably predict both voting decisions and election outcomes.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Mysterious clouds produced when aircraft inadvertently cause rain or snow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0XySR2reH_U/100614141344.htm
As turboprop and jet aircraft climb or descend under certain atmospheric conditions, they can inadvertently seed mid-level clouds and cause narrow bands of snow or rain to develop and fall to the ground, new research finds. Through this seeding process, they leave behind unusual "hole-punch clouds."
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Simple injection could save the lives of thousands of accident victims worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qSxxMJ8xc0g/100614205419.htm
If recently injured patients with serious bleeding were to receive a cheap, widely available and easily administered drug to help their blood to clot, tens of thousands of lives could be saved every year, according to a new paper.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Hayabusa asteroid mission comes home
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cfvLodv9d1o/100615124151.htm
The Hayabusa capsule and bus entered the Earth's atmosphere over Woomera, Australia, on June 13 at 11:21 p.m. local time. From the perspective of NASA's DC-8 airborne observation team, the capsule moved below and slightly ahead of the bus and stayed clear of the spectacular breakup of the bus. After the bus had disintegrated, the capsule continued to create a wake, before reaching peak heating and then fading gradually.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Carotid artery ultrasound is an effective alternative to more invasive coronary angiography, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gXHHD60dPH8/100614171909.htm
New research shows that a simple, inexpensive and noninvasive carotid artery ultrasound of the neck can be used as a preliminary diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease (CAD). This may be an alternative to the standard, expensive and more invasive coronary angiography. The ultrasound test can also be used to rule out the diagnosis of CAD in patients presenting with reduced heart pump function.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Day 57: Updated figures show oil from spill could have powered 68,000 cars for year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wsAfD7K8mZQ/100615112223.htm
By day 57 (June 15), if all the oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico had been used for fuel, it could have powered 68,000 cars, 6,100 trucks, and 3,100 ships for a full year, according to a professor.
Wed, 16 Jun 10
Talking on your cell phone while driving may be hazardous to your close relationships
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WDQYbAqCeOA/100615105257.htm
Warnings about the dangers of distracted driving while using a cell phone are prevalent these days, but cell phone use while driving may also put family relationships in jeopardy, says a professor.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Healthy diet associated with lower risk of cataracts in women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zl9eGgT7ktA/100614161401.htm
Women who eat foods rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals may have a lower risk of developing the most common type of cataract that occurs in the United States, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Replacing white rice with brown rice or other whole grains may reduce diabetes risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ktba3g0A1GI/100614161349.htm
In a new study, researchers have found that eating five or more servings of white rice per week was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, eating two or more servings of brown rice per week was associated with a lower risk of the disease.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Biomarker finding could help treat patients with aggressive type of lung cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sD2kMsI2Nqw/100614161438.htm
Researchers have discovered a biomarker that could help in the treatment of patients with an aggressive type of lung cancer. Using a particular biomarker, researchers might better predict which patients with small cell lung cancer are resistant to existing drug therapies, and which ones could benefit from new therapies tailored to their specific needs.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Getting to the root of nutrient sensing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6FeAc7jdvhw/100614121600.htm
New research reveals how plants modify their root architecture based on nutrient availability in the soil.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Free clinics provide care for an estimated 2 million Americans annually
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5uC8eMtSdWA/100614161355.htm
Findings from a survey of free clinics suggest that an estimated 1.8 million individuals make approximately 3.5 million medical and dental visits to free clinics annually, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
High-yield agriculture slows pace of global warming, say researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cz3ZXX0Z-vg/100614160209.htm
Advances in high-yield agriculture achieved during the so-called Green Revolution have not only helped feed the planet, but also have helped slow the pace of global warming by cutting the amount of biomass burned -- and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions -- when forests or grasslands are cleared for farming. Stanford researchers estimate those emissions have been trimmed by over half a trillion tons of carbon dioxide.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Diabetic potential to create own insulin: Type 1 diabetes patients attempt to replenish beta cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vzGpqFoyvzc/100614102008.htm
Results of new research reveal that the insulin-producing beta cells can proliferate in patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and suggest that, in the future, an intervention might be devised which could allow such patients to renew their own capacity to produce insulin.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
How bacteria make syringes: Scientists reconstruct a bacterial transport channel in a test tube
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NzsHbTozJ5Q/100613181243.htm
For a successful infection, bacteria must outwit the immune system of the host. To this aim, they deliver so-called virulence factors through a transport channel located in the bacterial membrane. In some bacteria this transport channel is formed like a syringe, enabling them to inject virulence factors directly into the host cell.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Early stages of age-related macular degeneration associated with smoking, cholesterol levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sva0JDKhrOg/100614161403.htm
Early-stage age-related macular degeneration appears to be related to modifiable risk factors, including smoking and low levels of high-density lipoprotein, according to a new study. The condition appears uncommon before age 55 but the risk increases with age thereafter.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Flower power: Marking winners and losers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mt56D865kHA/100614121602.htm
A new study reveals how conflict resolution works on the microscopic scale -- a protein called Flower marks the weaker cells for elimination in favor of their fitter neighbors. The research furthers our understanding of a developmental process of "cell competition" and may provide some insight into pathological conditions that involve imbalances in cell fitness, such as cancer.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Children living in areas where homicides committed have lower reading, verbal test scores, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vh8JqHuBCsw/100614160157.htm
Children living in areas where homicides are committed have lower reading and verbal test scores, a new study shows.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Moon's interior has much higher water content than previously believed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7G_onQL9aqQ/100614160151.htm
Scientists have discovered a much higher water content in the moon's interior than previous studies. Their research suggests that the water was preserved from the hot magma that was present when the Moon began to form some 4.5 billion years ago, and that it is likely widespread in the moon's interior.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Genes and pesticide exposure interact to increase men's risk for Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ms6IxPyJLn8/100614161359.htm
Genetic mutations and workplace exposure to some insecticides together appear to be associated with an increased risk for Parkinson's disease among men, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
NASA demonstrates tsunami prediction system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6nBiJi0jHyo/100614161722.htm
A NASA-led research team has successfully demonstrated for the first time elements of a prototype tsunami prediction system that quickly and accurately assesses large earthquakes and estimates the size of resulting tsunamis.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Sun-sensitizing medications, sun exposure associated with common type of cataract
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WrElwhhfgLU/100614161434.htm
The use of medications that increase sensitivity to the sun, combined with exposure to sunlight, appears to be associated with the risk of age-related cataract, according to a new study.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Does pasture irrigation increase groundwater contamination? Research finds little to no transport of microbes from cow pastures into groundwater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/efGpet8mEkg/100614074830.htm
Concern about microbial contamination of groundwater from foraging dairy cows has increased as spray irrigation practices in New Zealand have increased over the years. Bacteria capable of living in both animals and humans are commonly found in cow manure. Addressing the lack of research on the topic, a team of New Zealand researchers studied the transport of microbes from two spray irrigated dairy pastures into groundwater supplies.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Online ads can get too close for comfort, says new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LcRwAzYQ0kc/100614074937.htm
Trying to have an impact in the brave new world of web advertising? You could match an ad to a web page's content -- such as putting a car ad on an auto consumer website. Or, you could make it stand out with eye-catching pop-up graphics and video. But don’t waste your marketing budget putting the two strategies together. The first large-scale study looking at thousands of online ad campaigns says that in combination, these approaches make viewers feel like their privacy is being invaded – and turns them off. But don't waste your marketing budget putting the two strategies together.
Tue, 15 Jun 10
Scientists locate 23-mile long oil plume off Florida's Gulf Coast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K-c5gaQND-M/100614092604.htm
Using a combination of ocean models and satellite images, along with shipboard observations, scientists heading back from the Gulf of Mexico were able to find a previously unidentified oil plume located off Florida's southwest coast headed toward the Florida Keys.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nHReks9ucto/100608183044.htm
Isolating a gene that allows a type of fern to tolerate high levels of arsenic, researchers hope to use the finding to create plants that can clean up soils and waters contaminated by the toxic metal.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Gene linked to hereditary incontinence identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BxdzNdxdvIs/100607111314.htm
Researchers have identified the culprit gene for a rare condition that turns smiles into grimaces and impedes bladder and bowel control. Their finding provides new insight into urofacial syndrome as well as incontinence in general which affects some 20 percent of the general population.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
First cloned horse using oocytes from a live mare
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dseYIs2kahs/100611204152.htm
Researchers have achieved another cloning first with the successful delivery of a foal using oocytes from a live mare, the first such clone in the world.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Molecular imaging allows individualized 'dose painting' for head and neck cancers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fjKAtuxfx5s/100607142055.htm
According to new research, a multi-tracer molecular imaging technique using positron emission tomography (PET) provides detailed information about the physiological processes of cancerous tumors -- and could one day help radiation oncologists treat head and neck cancers with precision external-beam radiation therapy and improve the outcomes of therapy.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
3-D models of BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico made using ranger supercomputer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vPdezJwtYl4/100603155723.htm
Researchers are using the Ranger supercomputer to produce 3-D simulations of the impact of BP's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill on coastal areas.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Brand preference may be in the drink, not in the head, vodka study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0n9ptjRQrNM/100607122545.htm
Scientists are reporting the first identification of a chemical basis for people's preference for certain brands of vodka, which outsells rum, gin, whiskey and tequila. They found that vodka differs from simple water-ethanol solutions in ways that could alter vodka's perceived taste.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Ancient ocean may have covered third of Mars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cStORQ33RlM/100613181245.htm
A vast ocean likely covered one-third of the surface of Mars some 3.5 billion years ago, according to a new study. While the notion of a large, ancient ocean on Mars has been repeatedly proposed and challenged over the past two decades, the research provides further support for the idea of a sustained sea on the Red Planet more than 3 billion years ago.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Links between hypertension, bipolar disorders identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HHXPkYMoFb0/100610171716.htm
Nearly half of patients hospitalized with bipolar disorder may suffer from hypertension, and the younger a person is diagnosed with the psychiatric condition the more likely they are to develop high blood pressure, according to a recent study. The research analyzed 99 patients hospitalized for bipolar disorder, a condition sometimes called manic-depressive disorder.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Virus infection may trigger unusual immune cells to attack nerves in multiple sclerosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/97Q_NvyM5MY/100611093613.htm
A virus infection can incite the body to attack its own nerve tissue by activating disease-fighting cells with receptors for both virus and nerve proteins. The dual-receptor finding suggests how nerve damage might be triggered in multiple sclerosis. MS causes blindness or paralysis, depending on the affected nerves. Different viruses could influence susceptibility to MS, depending on predisposing genes, exposure to environmental factors, and a random chance that white cells were formed to recognize both a nerve protein and a pathogen.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Link between depression, abdominal obesity confirmed by new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AJgJNjpYFs0/100609171853.htm
A new study confirms the relationship between depression and abdominal obesity, which has been linked to an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Self-defense strategies of moss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D-Qobiq_p9E/100610104551.htm
Snails don't like all plants in the same way -- they shun moss. Why is that so? "Moss is capable of building up chemical compounds that protect them from enemies," says a researcher. He has succeeded in identifying these compounds and in demonstrating their pest-repellent properties.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Young men more vulnerable to relationship ups and downs than women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cdWqHAzLEeE/100608135114.htm
Contrary to popular belief, the ups and downs of romantic relationships have a greater effect on the mental health of young men than women.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Tumor virus is best predictor of throat cancer survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xBGTvCPuVjI/100607165730.htm
A new study shows that the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in tumors is the most important predictor of survival for people with throat cancer. The study is the first to demonstrate that HPV in head and neck tumors accounts for better response to therapy, rather than other favorable factors that may be present. The findings suggest that tumor HPV status, smoking history and cancer stage might be used together to determine therapy.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Pathogens chase down migrating gypsy moths, making control efforts unnecessary, researcher reports
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d5VuuKpD7ng/100610162041.htm
If you live in a section of the country where gypsy moths are a relatively new menace, have no fear, help is not far behind. When the gypsy moth -- whose caterpillars have defoliated entire forests -- started spreading westward more than 100 years ago from New England to Wisconsin, its fungal and viral pathogens followed close behind.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Limiting blood flow interruption during kidney surgery avoids chronic kidney disease, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hzayM_dGQs0/100611141525.htm
Interrupting the blood flow for more than 20-25 minutes during kidney cancer surgery leads to a greater risk for patients developing chronic kidney disease, a research team has found.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Pumping up the heat for a climate-friendly future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kN5b7rpoTg8/100611085354.htm
Making ground-source heat a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels has long been a dream for countries that depend on energy imports and need to cut their carbon dioxide emissions. A team of businesses and researchers in Slovenia and Serbia set out to develop the heat pump technology that would make this dream a reality.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Uninsured more likely to die from trauma than patients with insurance, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xN9Ld1T_r8A/100611123844.htm
Trauma patients without insurance are more likely to die of their injuries from auto accidents and gunshot wounds than privately insured patients with similar injuries, according to findings of an analysis of 193,804 patients in the from 649 facilities in the U.S.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Astronomers' doubts about the dark side: Errors in Big Bang data larger than thought?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BirA7S3z_FE/100613212708.htm
New research by astronomers suggests that the conventional wisdom about the content of the universe may be wrong. Researchers looked at observations from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite to study the remnant heat from the Big Bang. The scientists found evidence that the errors in its data may be much larger than previously thought, which in turn makes the standard model of the universe open to question.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Molecular imaging 'probes' pinpoint prostate cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EcpiBZsvpjc/100607142011.htm
Molecular imaging has a powerful new weapon in the fight against prostate cancer. Research demonstrates how a novel peptide-targeted imaging agent could help clinicians detect a biological process that signals cancer in prostate cells. Information gathered about this process may even differentiate prostate tumor types and the progression of disease.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Rapid changes for Arctic flora and fauna
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iDhklpJPaCk/100609094134.htm
Unique Arctic habitats for flora and fauna, including sea ice, tundra, lakes, and peatlands have been disappearing over recent decades, and some characteristic Arctic species have shown a decline. The changes in Arctic Biodiversity have global repercussions and are further creating challenges for people living in the Arctic.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Genetic modifier in Usher syndrome will lead to better diagnosis, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IxBwSu7D9rM/100611204142.htm
Usher syndrome (USH), an inherited condition involving both hearing and vision loss, is not a simply recessively inherited disease. New research challenges the traditional view that USH was inherited as a single gene disorder, and shows that it may result from at least two different genetic mutations.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Liposome-hydrogel hybrids: No toil, no trouble for stronger bubbles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u2SSS6t-ygg/100609171847.htm
Researchers have developed a method to combine liposomes and particles of hydrogel in a hybrid nanoscale particle that may one day travel directly to specific cells such as tumors, pass easily though the target's cell membrane, and then slowly release a drug payload.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Childhood obesity linked to neighborhood social and economic status, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xIeh44rxvzY/100611141529.htm
Children in King County, Washington, are more likely to be obese if they live in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to research from Group Health Research Institute, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and the University of Washington (UW) that Social Science & Medicine e-published before printing. The team collected "de-identified" electronic medical record information on 8,616 children age 6-18 at Group Health Cooperative -- and correlated these data with the socio-economic characteristics of Seattle-area census tracts.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Scientists strive to replace silicon with graphene on nanocircuitry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n_A_KscehRE/100610141036.htm
Scientists have made a breakthrough toward creating nanocircuitry on graphene, widely regarded as the most promising candidate to replace silicon as the building block of transistors. They have devised a simple and quick one-step process for creating nanowires, tuning the electronic properties of reduced graphene oxide and thereby allowing it to switch from being an insulating material to a conducting material.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Molecular imaging detects first signs of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/atjebWoXu20/100607142051.htm
Research is furthering efforts to use molecular imaging as a means of early detection of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are striving to detect the disease as early as possible by imaging the formation of a naturally-occurring protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, which is thought to be closely linked to disease onset.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Cycad plant depends on insect for multiple services; Moth also triggers the plants into increased frequency of reproduction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CtXlKsCnaKA/100609092702.htm
When a plant endemic to several islands in the Western Pacific Ocean taps the services of a helpful insect, a double-dose of benefits comes its way. The plant is a member of a unique group of plants known as cycads, which produce their seeds in cones rather than within fruits. The insect is a tiny moth currently known to exist only on the islands of Guam and Rota.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Targeted molecules play only minor role in axon repair; Discovery underscores difficulties in developing regenerative spinal cord injury therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6BRR1H2fHnc/100609122826.htm
Neuroscientists have found that removing three key inhibitory molecules from myelin -- the insulating material that surrounds nerve cell fibers -- does not significantly boost the ability of injured spinal axons to regenerate and restore themselves to full function.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g6hGg61ZLM4/100610191052.htm
North America's nearly 2,000 marine protected areas represent an unprecedented effort to protect the continent's fragile marine environments and are found throughout the marine eco-regions that encircle our continent.
Mon, 14 Jun 10
Seasoned profs prepare students for advanced learning, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nHVwE1gVZmU/100610171718.htm
Highly credentialed and experienced professors are better at preparing students for long-term academic success than their less-experienced counterparts, but that ability isn't necessarily reflected in their students' teaching evaluations, according to new research.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Discovery in 'pop' science reveals the elegant, complex way bubbles burst
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P0yiwXeBusI/100609131633.htm
Scientists believe they have stumbled upon a universal behavior in how bubbles pop that holds as true for suds in a sink as it does for foam in the ocean. Rather than simply vanishing, ruptured bubbles create rings of smaller bubbles in a cascade effect.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Alzheimer’s brain protein may provide target for treating mental retardation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ug_ZoKLldcU/100611223124.htm
From the perspective of neuroscientists, Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome have at least one thing in common: patients with both diseases have an accumulation of ²-amyloid protein in their brains. Scientists now provide evidence that drugs which help reduce the level of ²-amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer's patients may also work to treat mental retardation in Down syndrome.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
New species of large blue butterfly discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dg47OHyg7no/100609102022.htm
Scientists have found a new butterfly species in the south of China. It is the first known species of the family of large blue butterflies that lives in mountain forests.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Two-drug phase I trial shows promise in treating late-stage ovarian cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MGnf1eCu_yU/100609171758.htm
The combination of decitabine and carboplatin appears to improve the outcome of women who have late-stage ovarian cancer, according to researchers.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
New microbial genetic system dissects biomass to biofuel conversion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iUMEkiAZCGM/100611204148.htm
A research team has developed a powerful new tool that promises to unlock the secrets of biomass degradation, a critical step in the development of cost-effective cellulosic biofuels.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Driving while distracted is a primary-care issue, physician says; Talking or texting behind the wheel is roughly equivalent to driving drunk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u_mEjkLVsZY/100609171748.htm
It's time for physicians to talk to patients about driving while distracted, a problem that has risen to the rough equivalence of drunken driving thanks to the proliferation of phones that allow drivers to talk and text, a primary-care physician suggests.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Harbor seals' whiskers as good at detecting fish as echolocating dolphins, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q0nQF0zan5o/100610191044.htm
Seals use their whiskers to track hydrodynamic trails left by passing fish, but how sensitive are the whiskers? Testing the responses of a seal to trails left by an artificial fin, researchers found that seals can detect trails up 35 seconds after a fin has passed. Fish can cover hundreds of meters in that time, so the whiskers compare well with the performance of echolocating whales and dolphins.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Sense of smell holds the key to diagnosis and treatment in early stage Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xn_I8ks6Z9k/100611204139.htm
A fast, simple and noninvasive test of the ability to smell may be an important tool to screen people who are likely to develop Parkinson's disease, in which motor symptoms only become evident at a later stage of the disease.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Obstacles to stem cell therapy cleared
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/grCIrLqDOqs/100608211604.htm
Researchers in Sweden have come up with a new technique to prevent tumors developing in connection with stem cell transplantations.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Asthma control? We've got an app for that
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wUzsaHePLT0/100609201302.htm
An online self-management tool for people with asthma has been shown to significantly improve their ability to reduce their symptoms. Researchers tested the system in 200 adults with asthma, finding significant effects in those whose asthma was either partly controlled or uncontrolled at the beginning of the trial.
Sun, 13 Jun 10
Post-traumatic stress disorder associated with dementia among older veterans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iycHdWQF7vU/100607165623.htm
Older veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appear more likely to develop dementia over a seven-year period than those without PTSD, according to a new study.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Zooming in on an infant solar system: For the first time, astronomers have observed solar systems in the making in great detail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8o4cchqdLAI/100611093611.htm
Astronomers have observed in unprecedented detail the processes giving rise to stars and planets in nascent solar systems. The discoveries lay the groundwork for probing the formation of planets with the potential for life.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Botox eases nerve pain in certain patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/entdJNlQ9e0/100610104557.htm
Made popular for its ability to smooth wrinkles when injected into the face, Botox -- a toxin known to weaken or paralyze certain nerves and muscles -- may have another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
NASA helps in upcoming asteroid mission homecoming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PJvI6fDAgVk/100610140127.htm
The space and astronomy worlds have June 13 circled on the calendar. That's when the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) expects the sample return capsule of the agency's technology demonstrator spacecraft, Hayabusa, to boomerang back to Earth. The capsule, along with its mother ship, visited a near-Earth asteroid, Itokawa, five years ago and has logged about 2 billion kilometers (1.25 billion miles) since its launch in May 2003.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Monoclonal antibodies: Short-term therapy for long-term treatment of chronic viral infections?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-WctpdVJSjg/100611124651.htm
Monoclonal antibodies are the largest class of biotherapeutic drugs. When administered to infected organisms to blunt the propagation of pathogenic viruses, they may also induce a long-lasting and protective antiviral immune response similar to that achieved by vaccination. These results raise hopes for the treatment of certain severe and chronic viral infections.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Rapid genome sequencing process effectively identifies hereditary genetic diseases, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yEUyJpoqmj4/100610104559.htm
Scientists have shown for the first time that it is possible to identify any genetic disease in record time using a powerful and reliable exome sequencing method. The exome, a small part of the genome, is of crucial interest with regard to research on genetic diseases as it accounts for 85 percent of mutations.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Family carers share the illness experience of the dying patient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wxEclm_uaDE/100610191050.htm
Family carers need to be supported throughout the whole illness of their loved ones as they witness and share much of the experience of the dying person, according to new research.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Tiny insect brains capable of huge feats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uz8iYgohk1E/100611093615.htm
Insects may have tiny brains the size of a pinhead, but the latest research from Australia shows just how clever they really are.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Flu's evolution strategy strikes perfect balance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yauoGkisEmw/100610104621.htm
Scientists have uncovered how the flu virus effectively evolves within and between host species. These findings overturn long-held assumptions about how the virus spreads. Better understanding how the flu replicates and evolves to infect new hosts will help scientists find new ways to fight the flu. One option is the development of therapies that take advantage of the new findings by promoting mutagenesis -- treatments designed to generate increased mutations that will ultimately kill the virus.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Hot spots where heatwaves could pose greater health risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w4yzwExyJF8/100611145451.htm
Heatwaves could especially pose an increased health risk this century in Southern European river valleys and along the Mediterranean coast, a new study has revealed.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Popular cancer drug can cause kidney damage, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/H_ALJJeLUHM/100610171708.htm
The widely used cancer drug bevacizumab may cause severe loss of protein from the kidney into the urine that can lead to significant kidney damage and can compromise the efficacy of cancer treatment, according to a new study. The results suggest that physicians should monitor patients' kidney health when prescribing this angiogenesis inhibitor.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Nuclear pores call on different assembly mechanisms at different cell cycle stages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5P9XMfm-N60/100610125625.htm
Nuclear pores are the primary gatekeepers mediating communication between a cell's nucleus and its cytoplasm. Recently these large multiprotein transport channels have also been shown to play an essential role in developmental gene regulation. Despite the critical role in nuclear function, however, nuclear pore complexes remain somewhat shadowy figures, with many details about their formation shrouded in mystery.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Youth clubs strengthen kids' self image to keep them out of trouble
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8J-ajEhbc1c/100610131746.htm
When children belong to a youth club, they gain a stronger sense of who they are as a person, a new has revealed. The study suggests that even small improvements in self concept go a long way toward keeping children out of trouble.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
New strain of bacteria discovered that could aid in oil spill, other environmental cleanup
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6ewxAQqG-OU/100611141527.htm
Researchers have discovered a new strain of bacteria that can produce non-toxic, comparatively inexpensive "rhamnolipids," and effectively help degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs -- environmental pollutants that are one of the most harmful aspects of oil spills. Because of its unique characteristics, this new bacterial strain could be of considerable value in the long-term cleanup of the massive Gulf Coast oil spill, scientists say.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
How mutations in presenilin gene cause early onset Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/32rMRASfgg0/100610125621.htm
Researchers have discovered how mutations in the presenilin 1 gene cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The finding opens the door to developing novel treatments for this form of the mind-robbing disease and for the more common, late-onset form that develops later in life and affects millions of people worldwide.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Detailed Martian scenes in new images from Mars Orbiter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mU5tGJXngTk/100610140024.htm
Six hundred recent observations of the Mars landscape from an orbiting telescopic camera include scenes of sinuous gullies, geometrical ridges and steep cliffs.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Inexpensive drug to stop sight loss shown to be effective, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OXPx3K-spiE/100610191048.htm
An inexpensive, but unlicensed drug to help prevent severe sight loss in older people has been shown to be safe and effective, a new study finds.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
With fungi on their side, rice plants grow to be big
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KPJwZvPMdtM/100610125619.htm
By tinkering with a type of fungus that lives in association with plant roots, researchers have found a way to increase the growth of rice by an impressive margin.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
Scottish people 'living dangerously'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5BHEo-bEWi0/100610191046.htm
Almost the entire adult population of Scotland (97.5 percent) are likely to be either cigarette smokers, heavy drinkers, physically inactive, overweight or have a poor diet. Researchers also found a strong association between the presence of several of these risk factors and low income.
Sat, 12 Jun 10
How the wrong genes are repressed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y_mVlIeQFQU/100611123839.htm
The mechanism by which "polycomb" proteins critical for embyronic stem cell function and fate are targeted to DNA has been identified by scientists in the UK. The discovery has implications for the fields of stem cell and tissue engineering.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Plastic antibody works in first tests in living animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cXAmsMuS1Lk/100609111314.htm
Scientists are reporting the first evidence that a plastic antibody -- an artificial version of the proteins produced by the body's immune system to recognize and fight infections and foreign substances -- works in the bloodstream of a living animal. The discovery, they suggest, is an advance toward medical use of simple plastic particles custom tailored to fight an array of troublesome "antigens."
Fri, 11 Jun 10
New type of human stem cell may be easier to manipulate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X0T9GDLG9c4/100608182649.htm
Researchers have a developed a new type of human pluripotent stem cell that can be manipulated more readily than currently available stem cells.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
'Instant acid' method offers new insight into nanoparticle dispersal in the environment and the body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_L_8k7IyC5o/100609171845.htm
Using a chemical trick that allows them to change the acidity of a solution almost instantly, researchers have demonstrated a simple and effective technique for quantifying how the stability of nanoparticle solutions change when the acidity of their environment suddenly changes.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Helping hearts, spinal cords and tendons heal themselves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/07HXdOyeLqk/100608182651.htm
A Canadian researcher is hoping that in about 10 years a tendon, spinal cord or heart valve will be able to regenerate itself after an injury or disease. The chemical engineer is currently trying to develop microscopic polymer fibers to help rebuild human tissue and speed the healing process.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Bacteria converted into ‘mini-factories’ for biofuels and vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sqWJ9o9rv_0/100608211606.htm
Scientists have manipulated simple bacteria into constructing internal compartments where biofuels and vaccines can be produced. These micro-compartments eventually occupy almost 70 percent of the available space in a bacteria cell, enabling segregation of metabolic activities and, in the era of synthetic biology, representing an important tool by which defined micro-environments can be created for specific metabolic functions.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Sleep preference can predict performance of Major League Baseball pitchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KVhkfpACEbc/100609083223.htm
In early games that started before 7 p.m., the earned run average (ERA) of pitchers who were morning types (3.06) was lower than the average ERA of pitchers who were evening types (3.49); however, in games that started at 7 p.m. or later, pitchers who were evening types performed slightly better (4.07 ERA) than morning types (4.15 ERA). The study involved 18 pitchers from five MLB teams, using the players' statistics from the 2009 season.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Single-molecule devices can serve as powerful new science tools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JB1fp85i0T0/100610141040.htm
With controlled stretching of molecules, researchers have demonstrated that single-molecule devices can serve as powerful new tools for fundamental science experiments. Their work has resulted in detailed tests of long-existing theories on how electrons interact at the nanoscale.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Making cancer killers: Reprogramming immune system cells to produce natural killer cells for cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_wxws0rve9w/100610141042.htm
A team of researchers has developed a method to produce cells that kill tumor cells in the lab and prevent tumors forming in mouse models of cancer. Although the current work is in cells and mice, if the research transfers to human biology, the new type of cell could be a new source for cell-based anticancer therapies.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Polyphenols in red wine and green tea halt prostate cancer growth, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WcgOtPsJns0/100609171802.htm
In what could lead to a major advance in the treatment of prostate cancer, scientists now know exactly why polyphenols in red wine and green tea inhibit cancer growth. This new discovery explains how antioxidants in red wine and green tea produce a combined effect to disrupt an important cell signaling pathway necessary for prostate cancer growth.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Potential new target for schizophrenia drugs identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/thYPJlxb47E/100427113305.htm
Scientists have identified a protein that boosts the signaling power of a receptor involved in relaying messages between brain cells, a finding that suggests a new target for the development of treatments for schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. The protein, called Norbin, directly interacts with a receptor for the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is critical to the process by which individual brain cells send messages to one another and plays a key role in learning and memory.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Microbes reprogrammed to ooze oil for renewable biofuel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4QjMz791Uuo/100329152525.htm
Using genetic sleight of hand, researcher have coaxed photosynthetic microbes to secrete oil -- bypassing energy and cost barriers that have hampered green biofuel production.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
High-school seniors with excessive daytime sleepiness have an increased risk of depression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UQbqZb5CJAk/100609083221.htm
High school seniors were three times more likely to have strong depression symptoms (odds ratio = 3.04) if they had excessive daytime sleepiness. Fifty-two percent of participants had excessive daytime sleepiness, 30 percent had strong depression symptoms and 32 percent had some symptoms of depression. Students reported a mean total sleep time on school nights of only 6.1 hours. The study involved 262 high-school seniors.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Freezing 'to death' and living to tell about it: Study reveals how suspended animation protects against lethal hypothermia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ivC_4zJq6ik/100610171714.htm
How is it that some people who apparently freeze to death can be brought back to life with no long-term negative health consequences? New findings may help explain the mechanics behind this phenomenon.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Mechanism that limits scar formation discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/znWMpYWmBpo/100610154459.htm
Researchers have discovered that an unexpected cellular response plays an important role in breaking down and inhibiting the formation of excess scar tissue in wound healing.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
NASA's Dawn spacecraft fires past record for speed change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/01AJEd_XtJ4/100610140224.htm
Deep in the heart of the asteroid belt, on its way to the first of the belt's two most massive inhabitants, NASA's ion-propelled Dawn spacecraft has eclipsed the record for velocity change produced by a spacecraft's engines. The previous standard-bearer for velocity change, NASA's Deep Space 1, also impelled by ion propulsion, was the first interplanetary spacecraft to use this technology. The Deep Space 1 record fell on Saturday, June 5, when the Dawn spacecraft's accumulated acceleration over the mission exceeded 4.3 kilometers per second (9,600 miles per hour).
Fri, 11 Jun 10
CPAP therapy provides a memory boost for adults with sleep apnea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z7SAvg33_Zc/100609083229.htm
On an overnight picture memory consolidation task, OSA patients being treated with CPAP therapy outperformed both untreated OSA patients and a control group of people who did not have OSA, suggesting that CPAP is effective at recouping memory abilities that are impaired by OSA. CPAP patients correctly identified more photographs after one night of sleep. The study involved a preliminary sample of 135 adults between the ages of 33 and 65 years.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Fresh findings about chickenpox could lead to better blood tests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hBtX2RFQUpQ/100608211138.htm
Fresh understanding of the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles could lead to improved vaccines and diagnostic tests, a study suggests.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Childhood parasomnias such as sleepwalking and bedwetting may persist into adolescence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J8HqoO6gkSI/100607065712.htm
Although incident parasomnias are uncommon as children enter adolescence, parasomnias present in preadolescents may persist into the teen years, according to a new research.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Many famous comets originally formed in other solar systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/96ekk2S9wFQ/100610141038.htm
Many of the most well known comets, including Halley, Hale-Bopp and, most recently, McNaught, may have been born in orbit around other stars, according to a new theory by an international team of astronomers.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Gamma interferon a wake-up call for stem cell response to infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jv-83c18rIw/100609083231.htm
Most of the time, the body's blood-forming stem cells remain dormant, with just a few producing blood cells and maintaining a balance among the different types. However, invading bacteria can be a call-to-arms, awaking the sleeping stem cells and prompting them to produce immune system cells. The "bugler" that awakes them is gamma interferon, a front-line protein defender against bacterial infection, researchers have found.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Insight into structure of HIV protein could aid drug design
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7EUTfy1vwgA/100609131643.htm
Researchers have created a three-dimensional picture of an important protein that is involved in how HIV -- the virus responsible for AIDS -- is produced inside human cells. The picture may help researchers design drugs that can prevent HIV from reproducing.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
How to overcome resistance to one group of breast cancer drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hPjGOlho7uU/100607192716.htm
New research has identified a mechanism by which human breast cancer cells can develop resistance to one group of drugs used to treat breast cancer, suggesting new approaches to treating the disease.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Rare lady beetles prefer traditional diet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g3N9eTFqa7A/100322091907.htm
Experts watched helplessly as a colony of rare, captive lady beetles was lost in 2008, then teetered on the edge of disaster again in 2009.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Smoke-free air laws effective at protecting children from secondhand smoke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3cG9qkJyVlA/100607065714.htm
Researchers have found that children and adolescents living in non-smoking homes in counties with laws promoting smoke-free public places have significantly lower levels of a common biomarker of secondhand smoke exposure than those living in counties with no smoke-free laws.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
'Dark Pulse Laser' produces bursts of ... almost nothing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A7UMTbXZYfQ/100609171804.htm
In an advance that sounds almost Zen, researchers have demonstrated a new type of pulsed laser that excels at not producing light.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
New function discovered in cancer-prevention protein: p53 is activated to control the creation of ova and spermatozoa
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O_uBod-8swM/100607111322.htm
The protein p53 is very important in protecting against cancer, preventing cancer-causing mutations from accumulating. In a new study, researchers have discovered that this protein plays an unexpected physiological role: it also becomes activated during the formation process of ova and spermatozoids. The discovery could open the door to new approaches and ways of studying the disease.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Predicting amount of oil in contaminated soils: Scientists develop faster method for testing soils around oil spills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X5xExPovfuk/100609201310.htm
A team of scientists has demonstrated a new method for testing soils for oil contamination that is faster than traditional testing methods.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Propofol poses low risk in pediatric imaging studies, but risk increases with anesthesia duration, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m5BzpDAGb_8/100609083233.htm
A new study finds that propofol, a well-known anesthesia medication, has a low occurrence of adverse events for children undergoing research-driven imaging studies. The study showed a low incidence of adverse events and no long-term complications when propofol was used to sedate children for imaging studies that require them to be still for long periods of time.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
New boreal forest biomass maps produced from radar satellite data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OfvcKjW5C-U/100325102405.htm
Having a large-scale boreal forest biomass inventory would allow scientists to understand better the carbon cycle and to predict more accurately Earth's future climate. However, obtaining these maps has been wrought with difficulty -- until now.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
First-time parents' daily sleep duration predicts their relationship satisfaction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iESRPrvfpmk/100609083227.htm
Self-reported relationship satisfaction among new parents was strongly associated with objective total sleep time measured by actigraphy. This association was stronger than the association between subjectively reported sleep and relationship satisfaction. Mothers significantly underestimated fathers' self-reported relationship satisfaction; fathers underestimated mothers' subjective sleep quality. Participants were 22 couples who were first-time parents; their average age was 27.6 years. Data were collected from each couple an average of seven weeks after the birth of their child.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Sharks can really sniff out their prey, and this is how they do it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8XWwL4a0GxU/100610125617.htm
It's no secret that sharks have a keen sense of smell and a remarkable ability to follow their noses through the ocean, right to their next meal. Now, researchers have figured out how the sharks manage to keep themselves on course.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Common gene variants appear to increase risk of vitamin D deficiency
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pwKKjxERFN0/100609201304.htm
Scientists have identified four common gene variants that are associated with blood levels of vitamin D and with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Absence of organic compounds on surface of Mars explained by new theory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L6aL8-9UcPo/100610154457.htm
The ongoing search for evidence of past or present life on Mars includes efforts to identify organic compounds such as proteins in Martian soil, but their absence to date remains a mystery. A new theory to explain what happens to these carbon-based molecules is presented in a new article.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Gout drug benefits kidney disease patients, analysis finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V0RmJ83wT7w/100610171710.htm
A drug commonly used to treat gout may help maintain kidney disease patients' health, according to a new analysis. The research is the first to show that allopurinol treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease decreases inflammation, slows the progression of kidney disease, and reduces patients' risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event or being hospitalized.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Model explains rapid transition toward division of labor in biological evolution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yce-SosQ6MY/100610171712.htm
The transition from colonies of individual cells to multicellular organisms can be achieved relatively rapidly, within one million generations, according to a new mathematical model that simplifies our understanding of this process.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Children's testimony may be influenced by co-witnesses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qyXXivbVa94/100610093505.htm
When children report about an event they can be highly accurate. But if they talk to other witnesses, children's testimony may become tainted. Researchers have examined children's vulnerability to co-witness influence, and present a new method that can help child witnesses to provide more detailed witness reports.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Exoplanet caught on the move
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Mp0wEDuaSg/100610141034.htm
For the first time, astronomers have been able to directly follow the motion of an exoplanet as it moves from one side of its host star to the other. The planet has the smallest orbit so far of all directly imaged exoplanets, lying almost as close to its parent star as Saturn is to the Sun. Scientists believe that it may have formed in a similar way to the giant planets in the Solar System.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Diabetes may double cancer risk in women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HNzkGQ0Am48/100610125631.htm
A new study finds that type 2 adult-onset diabetes has a surprisingly positive effect on reducing the rate of prostate cancer in men, but may double the risk of female genital and other cancers. The new study is not the first to report such a risk, but it's one of the largest to confirm these findings, and it's the first to determine the statistical differences in cancer risks for men and women.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Collagen manufactured from transgenic tobacco plants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y4Yw1PpQqXs/100610104549.htm
A scientist has succeeded in producing a replica of human collagen from tobacco plants -- an achievement with tremendous commercial implications for use in a variety of human medical procedures.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Biologists isolate genes that regulate the sleep-feeding conflict: New insights into how brain chooses between critical survival behaviors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kHJgKncsV2I/100610125623.htm
A team of biologists has isolated genes that regulate the sleep-feeding conflict. The study offers new insights into how the brain chooses between behaviors that are critical for survival.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Waste steel in the Gulf of Mexico
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HA9u1BlNWJQ/100610125627.htm
The huge tonnages of waste steel from decommissioned offshore oil and gas structures represents a serious problem for operators looking to recoup losses and avoid environmental harm. A way to calculate the weight of the problem has been developed by US researchers.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Teen automobile crash rates are higher when school starts earlier
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0t-ZwG63edI/100609083225.htm
In 2008 the teen crash rate was about 41 percent higher in Virginia Beach, Va., where high school classes began at 7:20 a.m., than in adjacent Chesapeake, Va., where classes started more than an hour later at 8:40 a.m. There were 65.4 automobile crashes for every 1,000 teen drivers in Virginia Beach, and 46.2 crashes for every 1,000 teen drivers in Chesapeake. The two adjoining cities have similar demographics, including racial composition and per capita income.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Brain stimulation with ultrasound may enhance cognitive function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZhDnn4YDB7E/100609122832.htm
The ability to diagnose and treat brain dysfunction without surgery, may rely on a new method of noninvasive brain stimulation using pulsed ultrasound developed by a team of scientists. The approach shows that pulsed ultrasound stimulates action potentials in intact motor cortex in mice and elicits motor responses comparable to those only previously achieved with implanted electrodes.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Improving recovery from spinal cord injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y6dFcAhc3BA/100609201306.htm
Once damaged, nerves in the spinal cord normally cannot grow back and the only drug approved for treating these injuries does not enable nerve regrowth. Medical researchers now show that treating injured rat spinal cords with an enzyme, sialidase, improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Could string theory explain similarities between utracold gases and quark gluon plasma?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MghOjGEZLNs/100609204901.htm
For a few millionths of a second after the Big Bang, the universe consisted of a hot soup of elementary particles called quarks and gluons. A few microseconds later, those particles began cooling to form protons and neutrons, the building blocks of matter. Could string theory explain similarities between utracold gases and quark gluon plasma?
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Compound enhances cancer-killing properties of agent in trials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F380n_yCjyc/100609122838.htm
Adding a second agent may make a new, experimental anti-cancer drug effective against a wide range of cancers, researchers have found.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
New method manipulates particles for sensors, crime scene testing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qd5E3H9GFZs/100607165748.htm
Researchers have developed a potential new tool for medical diagnostics, testing food and water for contamination, and crime-scene forensics. The technique uses a combination of light and electric fields to position droplets and tiny particles, such as bacteria, viruses and DNA, which are contained inside the drops.
Fri, 11 Jun 10
Do toddlers pick up gender roles during play?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wj_BezL8xZ4/100610112022.htm
The differences in mothers' and fathers' interactions with their children, particularly in play situations, may influence toddlers' associations of specific behaviors with male and female genders. According to a new study, context, gender of the parent and gender of the child combine in a complex pattern to shape parent-child interaction.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
World's oldest leather shoe found in Armenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mychbtLEHqk/100609201426.htm
A perfectly preserved shoe -- 1,000 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and 400 years older than Stonehenge in the UK -- has been discovered in a cave in Armenia by an international team of archaeologists.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
New evidence that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TQzKGahAOB8/100609111316.htm
Scientists are reporting new evidence that drinking coffee may help prevent diabetes and that caffeine may be the ingredient largely responsible for this effect.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Oil from Gulf spill could have powered 38,000 cars (and more) for a year, researcher says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FhWcG-36BTY/100609171849.htm
As of June 9, 2010, if all the oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico had been used for fuel, it could have powered 38,000 cars, and 3,400 trucks, and 1,800 ships for a full year, according to a researcher who has launched a website that reports the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in terms of lost uses of the lost fuel on a daily basis.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Shortcut through eyelid gives surgeons less-invasive approach to fix brain fluid leaks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HYf0chNmLDk/100608183050.htm
Surgeons have safely and effectively operated inside the brains of a dozen patients by making a small entry incision through the natural creases of an eyelid to reach the skull and deep brain.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
A cooler Pacific may have severely affected medieval Europe, North America
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oYefVY5c2BU/100609122842.htm
A new study has found a connection between La Nina-like sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific and droughts in western Europe and in what later became the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Personality predicts political preferences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0aBNlIwVhTo/100609111312.htm
There is a strong relationship between a voter's politics and his personality, according to new research.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Crocodile and hippopotamus served as 'brain food' for early human ancestors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/28SjRhe_onw/100609122857.htm
Fish really is "brain food." And it seems that even pre-humans living as far back as 2 million years ago somehow knew it.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Mechanism links abnormal blood clots with Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R1O8sgPcGIY/100609122834.htm
New research suggests that abnormalities in the process of blood clot formation may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The study advances our understanding of the link between vascular pathology and AD and proposes a new therapeutic strategy aimed at slowing cognitive decline.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Two brain circuits involved with habitual learning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2domKtRmAOU/100609122830.htm
Driving to and from work is a habit for most commuters -- we do it without really thinking. But before our commutes became routine, we had to learn our way through trial-and-error exploration. A new study has found that there are two brain circuits involved with this kind of learning and that the patterns of activity in these circuits evolve as our behaviors become more habitual.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Long sleep duration linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in older adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LS4r57a8pZI/100608091846.htm
Participants reporting a daily sleep duration of eight hours or more including naps were 15 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome. This relationship remained unchanged after full adjustment for potential confounders. Participants who reported a short sleep duration of less than six hours initially were 14 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome; this association disappeared after controlling for potential confounders. Participants were 29,310 people 50 years of age or older in Guangzhou, China.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Protecting privacy: Make the data 'fade away' like footsteps in the sand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_SuuS9NSgc4/100609094659.htm
However well we protect our data, sooner or later we run the risk of information we want to keep private ending up in the public domain. So how can we see information fade away over time? If we could let details gradually disappear from view this would drastically reduce privacy-related problems while ensuring that the information still retains its usefulness to some extent.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Sleep colors your view of the world: Study suggests sleep may restore color perception
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dnAhVbWWzVs/100609083219.htm
Prior wakefulness caused the color gray to be classified as having a slightly but significantly greenish tint. Overnight sleep restored perception to achromatic equilibrium so that gray was perceived as gray. The study involved five people who viewed a full-field, homogenous stimulus of either slightly reddish or greenish hue. The observers had to judge whether the stimulus was greener or redder than their internal perception of neutral gray.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
World's largest DNA scan reveals rare variants that disrupt gene activity in autistic children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cZ0_B6sEexs/100609131637.htm
The largest DNA scan for familial autism found rare genetic changes occurring nearly 20 percent more in autistic children than healthy children. Not always found in autistic children's parents, these variants suggest that tiny genetic errors occur during formation of the parents' eggs and sperm, which are copied during creation of the child's DNA. The findings may reveal clues to where genes go awry and increase autism risk, offering hope for common treatments.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Drug that restricts blood supply to prostate tumors delays disease progression
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mSrgJXaLl_c/100608183052.htm
A blood vessel-blocking drug called tasquinimod slowed the rate of disease progression in a clinical trial of 200 prostate cancer patients, according to researchers.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Tracking coral larvae to understand Hawai'i reef health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QB8V8tFZmfQ/100609092658.htm
Scientists will use satellite-tracked drifters to track the coral larvae's dispersal along O'ahu's south shore in an effort to better understand why certain reefs in Maunalua Bay are doing well and others are doing poorly.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Reducing the toxicity of lithium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xte9vbw7xGQ/100607192718.htm
Lithium is the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder. However, its use is limited because of neurological side effects and a risk for overdose-induced toxicity. Researchers have now delineated a molecular pathway by which chronic administration of therapeutic doses of lithium has negative effects in mice and hope that these data might provide new ideas for combination therapies that diminish the toxicities of lithium.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
New software to measure emotional reactions to Web
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0YLoJpCp39U/100609102028.htm
A group of Canadian scientists is developing software that can actually measure emotional responses to the Web.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Sleep may help you become a 'Guitar Hero'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kpPaGIoVxMM/100609083217.htm
The improvement in performance accuracy on "Guitar Hero III" was greater after a night of sleep than after a similar length of daytime wakefulness. At acquisition participants played about 61 percent of the notes correctly. Performance accuracy improved to 63 percent in the wake condition and 68 percent in the sleep condition. The study involved 15 college students -- 13 women and two men -- with a mean age of 20 years.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Genetic 'parts' list now available for hypothalamus -- key part of the mammalian brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O0D5arglW6Q/100609160542.htm
Researchers in the U.S. and Japan have generated the first comprehensive genetic "parts" list of a mouse hypothalamus, an enigmatic region of the brain -- roughly cherry-sized, in humans -- that controls hunger, thirst, fatigue, body temperature, wake-sleep cycles and links the central nervous system to control of hormone levels.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Protein could heal erectile dysfunction after cancer surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z0rrGxvweAE/100608135119.htm
After men have surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland, up to 80 percent of them will lose the ability to have an erection because of damage to a critical nerve that runs along the prostate. New research shows the damaged nerve can be regenerated more quickly with a protein called sonic hedgehog delivered via a nanofiber gel. The finding may help preserve erectile function.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Allowing body checking in youth hockey may increase risk of injury, including severe concussions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9W1-6vXupV4/100608162238.htm
A comparison of hockey leagues in Canada for 11-12 year old players finds that compared with leagues that do not allow body checking, those that do have an associated three-fold increased risk of game-related injuries, including severe injuries and severe concussions, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
In India, one in 25 people have gene that causes heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w2nXvBJjOg0/100608092112.htm
One in 25 people from India and other south Asian countries carries a mutated gene that causes heart failure. Studying this gene, and the protein it encodes, could lead to new treatments for heart failure.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Molecular imaging prototype looks deep into soft tissues of the brain and other organs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WcssEwunGqI/100607142005.htm
Research points to the possibility of a new hybrid molecular imaging system that uses single photon emission tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance technology (MR). The new technology could provide a greater depth of information about an array of biological processes and anatomical information including soft-tissue contrast, which is important for many diagnoses.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Poor health? Easier for some to blame bad genes than change lifestyle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E_gVJLslBS0/100608101025.htm
Does knowing that genes are partly responsible for your health condition mean you are less likely to be motivated to find out about the benefits of behavioral changes? Those with the greatest need to change their behaviors are more likely to favor genetic explanations for diseases and the more behavioral risk factors they have, the less likely they are to be interested in behavior change information.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Individual brain cells can ID objects as dissimilar as cars and dogs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NvjEUk7zcXU/100609122828.htm
Researchers have found that single brain cells, if confronted with a difficult task, can identify objects as dissimilar as sports cars and dogs.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Mutation causes intense pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5I2pgasiWJE/100609122836.htm
A mutation that enhances the function of a specific ion channel has been identified as the cause of a rare inherited pain disorder. The research proposes a potential treatment for the disorder and may lead to a better understanding of chronic pain in humans.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Subsurface oil from Deepwater Horizon spill in Gulf of Mexico, say researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cdh2AOiDxRA/100609102703.htm
Researchers in Florida have confirmed the presence of distinct layers of degraded oil in the deep waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico many miles from the Deepwater Horizon explosion site.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Stem cells for first time used to create abnormal heart cells for study of cardiomyopathy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3PZfthLetxg/100609131641.htm
Researchers have for the first time differentiated human stem cells to become heart cells with cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle cells are abnormal. The discovery will allow scientists to learn how those heart cells become diseased and from there, they can begin developing drug therapies to stop the disease from occurring or progressing.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Walls falling faster for solid-state memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dcj2k_DWwh0/100609150935.htm
Researchers have found that flaws in the structure of magnetic nanoscale wires play an important role in determining the operating speed of novel devices using such nanowires to store and process information.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Do creative work activities create stress?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QGJ7AmDGko8/100609111515.htm
The demands associated with creative work activities pose key challenges for workers, according to new research that describes the stress associated with some aspects of work and its impact on the boundaries between work and family life.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Dolphins use diplomacy in their communication, biologists find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cSKYc16UTeQ/100609094355.htm
Marine biologists are studying the repertoire of sounds used by bottlenose dolphins to communicate. The study reveals stunning complexity in dolphin communication and our lack of understanding about the communication of these marine mammals.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Short people are more likely to develop heart disease than tall people, review finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5ctxrrBClJg/100608211134.htm
Short people are at greater risk of developing heart disease than tall people, according to the first systematic review and meta-analysis of all the available evidence.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
TRAPPIST telescope to scout the sky and uncover exoplanets and comets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GsIpoquMVWg/100608211819.htm
A new robotic telescope has had first light at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory, in Chile. TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) is devoted to the study of planetary systems through two approaches: the detection and characterization of planets located outside the Solar System (exoplanets) and the study of comets orbiting around the Sun.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Early consumption of soda indicator of unhealthy diet, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7avJY0r6P7Y/100608135040.htm
Young girls who drink soda have less healthy diets through adolescence than their peers who do not drink soda, according to a new study.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Understanding the mechanisms of liver regeneration through computer simulation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QQ7GdirS9fs/100607065856.htm
How does the liver manage to regenerate itself even after severe damage? Seeking to find an answer to this significant medical question, scientists in Germany have gained new insights into the underlying processes involved in the regeneration of liver lobules using computer simulation and laboratory experiments.
Thu, 10 Jun 10
Gestational age at delivery has relationship with the risk of special educational needs, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gUZBPKNbySg/100608182636.htm
There is an association between gestation of a baby at delivery and the risk of special educational needs in later life, according to new research.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
X-ray diffraction microscope reveals 3-D internal structure of whole cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a7_6SuMWcE4/100607101808.htm
Three-dimensional imaging is dramatically expanding our ability to examine biological specimens enabling a peek into internal structures. Recent advance in X-ray diffraction method has greatly extended the limit of this approach. Method can be applied to organelles, viruses and cells and could impact treatment of human diseases.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
CPAP therapy restores brain tissue in adults with sleep apnea, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JwkFr1oLv9k/100607065550.htm
Obstructive sleep apnea patients had reductions of grey-matter volume at baseline but showed significant grey-matter volume increase after three months of CPAP therapy, according to new research.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Scientists uncover protein that thwarts tumor invasion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7P4pdNaHDVE/100607101802.htm
Researchers have determined that cancer cells lacking a key protein are more invasive and more likely to metastasize, providing a possible drug target to combat certain tumor types.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Neuroscientists identify synaptic defect in brain area involved in Fragile X syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/54U2_mdN0j0/100607151318.htm
Researchers have identified novel synaptic defects in an area of the brain that is involved in the debilitating emotional symptoms of Fragile X syndrome.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Detecting tumors faster
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ANVqNCe08GQ/100607112044.htm
To diagnose cancer reliably, doctors usually conduct a biopsy including tissue analysis, which is a time-consuming process. A microscopic image sensor, fitted in an endoscope, is being developed for in vivo cancer diagnosis, to speed up the detection of tumors.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Alcohol use and smoking are associated with headaches in high schoolers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GAPiQdiMMPM/100607065710.htm
Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were associated with increased migraines and tension-type headaches in high school students, according to new research. Coffee drinking and physical inactivity were associated specifically with migraines.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Artificial aurora created to help predict space weather
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zxQOodaM9oU/100608092104.htm
For more than 25 years, our understanding of terrestrial space weather has been partly based on incorrect assumptions about how nitrogen, the most abundant gas in our atmosphere, reacts when it collides with electrons produced by energetic ultraviolet sunlight and solar wind. Now scientists have fired electrons of differing energies through a cloud of nitrogen gas to measure the ultraviolet light emitted by this collision.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Prismatic eyeglasses for headaches and dizziness caused by traumatic brain injury appears promising, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OgT7Ofq6kKg/100607111550.htm
A recent retrospective study shows strong evidence that symptoms of headache, dizziness and anxiety in some patients with traumatic brain injury potentially could be alleviated or even eliminated with specialized eyeglass lenses containing prisms. These lenses resulted in 71.8 percent reduction of symptoms.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
First images of sub-nano pore structures captured
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_SWrKkXBLMs/100608092106.htm
Moore's law marches on: In the quest for faster and cheaper computers, scientists have imaged pore structures in insulation material at sub-nanometer scale for the first time. Understanding these structures could substantially enhance computer performance and power usage of integrated circuits, say scientists.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
New myeloma drug shows promise in early testing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EMYG0PVv98w/100607151322.htm
A drug designed to target cancerous plasma cells appears promising in treating multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Self-healing air mattresses based on plant wound healing?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YOZWSTCXKsg/100607111940.htm
No living organism is better at healing wounds than plants. Researchers have now succeeded in using the healing process of the woody climbing plant liana as a model to create self-healing membranes.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Sleep problems are common in US soldiers returning from wartime deployment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fOyroq0F0UM/100608091842.htm
Study shows that 86 percent of participants had sleep disturbances upon return from deployment and 45 days later even though the majority of them had no signs of post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Soldiers were more likely to have sleep disturbances if they had a personal history of sleep problems, symptoms of physical illness or mild traumatic brain injury. The study involved 58 US soldiers between the ages of 23 and 58 years.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Computational model sheds light on how the brain recognizes objects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_nrY3j5MEh0/100608101029.htm
Researchers have developed a new mathematical model to describe how the human brain visually identifies objects. The model accurately predicts human performance on certain visual-perception tasks, which suggests that it's a good indication of what actually happens in the brain, and it could also help improve computer object-recognition systems.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Antibody therapy lengthens survival of metastatic melanoma patients in large clinical trial
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FfK74D1YPAw/100607101656.htm
A therapy that multiplies the effect of a natural disease-fighting antibody has extended the lives of patients with metastatic melanoma in a large, international clinical trial.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Genetic secrets that allow Tibetans to thrive in thin air discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EHp8GugMb-k/100607151316.htm
Scientists have identified a gene that enables Tibetans to thrive at altitudes where others get sick. A previous study published May 13 in Science reported that Tibetans are genetically adapted to high altitude. Now, a second study by a different team pinpoints a particular site within the human genome -- a genetic variant linked to hemoglobin -- that helps explain how Tibetans cope with low-oxygen conditions.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Acute toxicity predicts overall survival in high-grade gliomas
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KchDvmr18rk/100607101806.htm
Patients with high-grade gliomas who experience acute (early) neurological toxicity during their treatment were more likely to experience chronic (late) neurological toxicity and shortened overall survival, according to researchers in a new study.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
'Nanocoax' solves solar cell 'thick and thin' dilemma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/881Gc2nf7y0/100607165738.htm
Researchers report developing a "nanocoax" technology that can support a highly efficient thin film solar cells. The nanocoax structures prove to be thick enough to absorb a sufficient amount of light, yet thin enough to extract current with increased efficiency.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Getting extra sleep improves the athletic performance of collegiate football players
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YYcwDwqI_iE/100608091858.htm
Football players' sprint times improved significantly after seven to eight weeks of sleep extension. Average sprint time in the 20-yard shuttle improved from 4.71 seconds to 4.61 seconds, and average 40-yard dash time decreased from 4.99 seconds to 4.89 seconds. Daytime sleepiness and fatigue also decreased significantly, while vigor scores significantly improved. Participants were seven healthy students on the Stanford football team. Results support previous research involving students who compete in other sports.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Molecular link between diabetes and schizophrenia connects food and mood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L_c22FX5m0I/100608182645.htm
Defects in insulin function -- which occur in diabetes and obesity -- could directly contribute to psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. Researchers have discovered a molecular link between impaired insulin signaling in the brain and schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice. The findings offer a new perspective on the psychiatric and cognitive disorders that affect patients with diabetes and suggest new strategies for treating these conditions.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Side effects explained: Why common drugs can lead to broken bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BHMB-aIeprQ/100608135030.htm
New research helps to explain why some commonly used drugs come with a serious downside: They up your odds of breaking a bone. The drugs in question, glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisone and prednisone) and the insulin sensitizer rosiglitazone work through entirely different mechanisms as therapies for inflammatory diseases and diabetes respectively, and two new studies now show that they lead to bone loss in different ways too.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Follow the money: Wealth, population are key drivers of invasive species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FbSqQxvLccc/100607151314.htm
A new study of biological invasions in Europe found they were linked not so much to changes in climate or land cover, but to two dominant factors -- more money and more people.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Blood-sugar lowering medications may increase risk for false positive results in cancer screenings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FoSfRlpR1kY/100607142107.htm
A study suggests that medication ingested to control blood-sugar levels can skew the results of cancer screenings using positron emission tomography (PET), a molecular imaging technique, by increasing absorption in the gut of the PET imaging agent called fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which mimics sugar inside the body.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
'Baby Bubbler': Student invention helps infants with respiratory ailments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7P73gwovUC4/100607111316.htm
Undergraduates have developed a device that could save babies' lives. The Baby Bubbler -- or in its more technical guise, the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device -- helps children with acute respiratory infections breathe naturally as they recover.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
More adults report excessive sleepiness in the US than in Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WPl8a0DYkCE/100608091852.htm
Results indicate that 19.5 percent of US adults reported having moderate to excessive sleepiness, which was comparable between men and women. Furthermore, 11 percent of participants reported severe sleepiness, which was more prevalent in women (13 percent) than in men (8.6 percent). The cross-sectional study involved a representative sample of 8,937 adults. In a previous study the author reported that the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness in five European countries was 15 percent.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Climate change linked to major vegetation shifts worldwide
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G9mBmb7NFJI/100607092143.htm
Vegetation around the world is on the move, and climate change is the culprit, according to a new analysis of global vegetation shifts.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
New use for old drugs in treating hepatitis C
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cKEsQJ1eKR0/100607151312.htm
Common drugs used to treat conditions such as diabetes and obesity could be used to successfully treat hepatitis C virus infection.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Working toward the next battery breakthrough: Scientist brings fresh perspective to the nation's electrical grid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MxIofvpqa84/100607142225.htm
If battery-making is an art, then University at Buffalo scientist Esther Takeuchi is among its most prolific masters, with more than 140 US patents, all in energy storage. Takeuchi developed the battery that made possible the first implantable cardiac defibrillators, a feat that was recognized last fall with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama. Millions of heart patients worldwide have benefited from the implantable cardiac defibrillators powered by Takeuchi's silver vanadium oxide battery. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, she is developing new cathode materials for improved implantable cardiac defibrillator batteries.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Experimental targeted therapy shows early promise against medulloblastomas, type of childhood brain cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RQPVEGqLDp8/100607101650.htm
Researchers have presented findings of a pediatric brain tumor study using an experimental drug that targets the underlying genetic makeup of the tumor. The research focused on a new way to attack the tumors by blocking the Hedgehog pathway that is linked to approximately 20 percent of medulloblastomas.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Applying tomographics to the quantum world
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/01g_JtMCKDI/100607065904.htm
Scientists in Spain have demonstrated the validity of tomographic representation of quantum states, which can help quantum technologies transmit information more safely and efficiently.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Regular bedtimes linked to better language, reading and math skills in preschool children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/skcUnpwAFLs/100607065554.htm
Children in households with bedtime rules and children who get adequate sleep scored higher on a range of developmental assessments, according to new research.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Some like it hot: Site of human evolution was scorching
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K7lOOq4KAQc/100608135043.htm
If you think summer in your hometown is hot, consider the Turkana Basin of Kenya, where the average daily temperature has reached the mid-90s or higher, year-round, for the past 4 million years. Could the climate have influenced the way humans evolved in that region?
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Vacuum cleaner sucks up strokes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GUQd9dCB3Mo/100608162240.htm
A clot vacuum cleaner that sucks out stroke-producing blockages from blood vessels in the brain may sound like science fiction. But this potentially paradigm-shifting procedure may successfully salvage brain cells for more than just the first three hours following a major stroke, with fewer risks.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Will the new World Cup soccer ball bend?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a8zfFIjSrTc/100608101017.htm
Physics experts believe the new ball created for the 2010 World Cup, called the Jabulani, will play "harder and faster," bending more unpredictably than its predecessor.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Harnessing the immune system's diagnostic power
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wUzEFx1shEc/100608101015.htm
A new method has been pioneered to track an individual's state of health by profiling the immune system. The technique, known as immunosignaturing, could provide rapid, pre-symptomatic diagnosis for a broad range of ailments, from infectious diseases to chronic afflictions to varied forms of cancer, offering the best hope for successful treatment.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Radioactive optical imaging and 'quantum dot' nano-imaging at the forefront of molecular medicine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6owm3TYhyR8/100607142009.htm
Researchers have presented the results of a multidisciplinary study involving the capture of radiation luminescence and radioactive-excited nanoparticles to help detect subtle signs of disease. Currently, nuclear medicine agents and imaging technology image the behavior of particles at the cellular, molecular and atomic levels, but radioactive materials also emit barely visible light that can be detected with highly sensitive optical imaging technology. This discovery could lead to new, state-of-the-art imaging techniques.
Wed, 9 Jun 10
Personality can predict fertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6cb4p2Hy-hg/100608101023.htm
The reproductive success of both men and women is influenced by our personality traits, according to new research.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Gulf oil spill could widen, worsen 'dead zone'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4EPIfiDvEVI/100607092141.htm
While an out-of-control gusher deep in the Gulf of Mexico fouls beaches and chokes marshland habitat, another threat could be growing below the oil-slicked surface. The nation's worst oil spill could worsen and expand the oxygen-starved region of the Gulf labeled "the dead zone" for its inhospitality to marine life, suggest scientists.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
New way found to attack cancerous cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U2ByvrNtNsU/100607151324.htm
Scientists have discovered a new way to target and destroy a type of cancerous cell. The findings may lead to the development of new therapies to treat lymphomas, leukemias and related cancers.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Violent video games may increase aggression in some but not others, says new research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IzK4DnersX0/100607122547.htm
Playing violent video games can make some adolescents more hostile, particularly those who are less agreeable, less conscientious and easily angered. But for others, it may offer opportunities to learn new skills and improve social networking.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Molecular imaging reveals origin of acid reflux disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GQizkZF9VgM/100607142001.htm
Molecular imaging has uncovered what may be to blame for acid reflux disease, a painful and potentially dangerous illness that affects a sizeable percentage of the population. A new study provides further evidence that the disease of the digestive system is brought on by a lack of tone, or motility, in the esophageal muscles that clear and keep stomach acids and other gastric contents from backing up into the esophagus.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
No place to hide: New 360-degree video surveillance system uses image stitching technology that is perfectly detailed edge to edge
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2RPVcv8JDyA/100607192733.htm
The US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate new Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance is as detailed as 50 full-HDTV movies playing at once, with optical detail to spare.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
About one-tenth of soldiers returning from Iraq may be impaired by mental health problems, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Vi0jJMLNqzU/100607165621.htm
Between 8.5 percent and 14 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq report serious functional impairment due to either post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Crocodiles ride ocean currents for ocean travel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yI_2Ij98AxY/100607092136.htm
The mystery of how the world's largest living reptile -- the estuarine crocodile -- has come to occupy so many South Pacific islands separated by huge stretches of ocean despite being a poor swimmer has at last been solved by a group of Australian ecologists. They say that like a surfer catching a wave, the crocodiles ride ocean currents to cross large areas of open sea.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Protein lets brain repair damage from multiple sclerosis, other disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dz8bYD03YXQ/100607192727.htm
A protein that helps build the brain in infants and children may aid efforts to restore damage from multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, researchers have found.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Chemists report promising advance in fuel-cell technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QG3oh_On-4Y/100524161340.htm
Chemists have come up with a promising advance in fuel-cell technology. The team has demonstrated that a nanoparticle with a palladium core and an iron-platinum shell outperforms commercially available pure-platinum catalysts and lasts longer. The finding could move fuel cells a step closer to reality.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Epigenetic gene silencing may hold key to fatal lung vascular disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_mMpYypBM9k/100607165732.htm
A rare but fatal disease of blood vessels in the lung may be caused in part by aberrant silencing of genes rather than genetic mutation. Pulmonary arterial hypertension has been linked to genetic causes in a small percentage of patients. But researchers have now found that a form of epigenetics -- the modification of gene expression -- causes the disease in an animal model and could contribute to the disease in humans.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
New yeast can ferment more sugar, make more cellulosic ethanol
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XQGwvIFVm1Q/100607142227.htm
Scientists have improved a strain of yeast that can produce more biofuel from cellulosic plant material by fermenting all five types of the plant's sugars.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Genetic factors may be linked with development of disordered gambling among women and men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/59YhBBkntYk/100607165627.htm
Genetic influences appear important in the development of gambling disorders in both women and men, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Polymer-based filter successfully cleans water, recovers oil in Gulf of Mexico test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3-TxFuzOtN0/100607122446.htm
In response to the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, an engineering professor has developed a technique for separating oil from water via a cotton filter coated in a chemical polymer that blocks oil while allowing water to pass through. The researcher reports that the filter was successfully tested off the coast of Louisiana and shown to simultaneously clean water and preserve the oil.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
New molecular imaging agent may help visualize early stages of Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eqHv593TuWE/100607142053.htm
A multinational clinical trial presents a novel imaging agent that could be the next major breakthrough for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease -- a slow but fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
First radio tracking of tropical orchid bees
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uCfcJDsAjsk/100527013222.htm
For the first time, researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute track unique signals from tiny transmitters glued to individual orchid bees, yielding new insight into the role of bees in tropical forest ecosystems.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Higher oxygen levels improve preterm survival, increase risk for eye condition, studies find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ci-ppufMwMA/100516195550.htm
Two findings provide new information on how much oxygen very preterm infants should receive starting at birth and the most effective means to deliver it to them. One finding is that higher oxygen levels improve survival but increase the risk for a serious eye condition. The other is that a treatment typically used for adults with sleep apnea is as effective for preemies as a ventilator, but with fewer complications.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
'Psychedelic' maize may help increase crop and biofuel yields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lHgC3wNmFkk/100607142215.htm
Scientists have identified new genes in maize which promote carbohydrate export from leaves. These genes are called psychedelic because of the yellow and green streaks they cause in the plant's leaves. Manipulating these genes may increase crop yields and the amount of biofuel that can be derived from each plant.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Childhood hardships associated with pregnancy troubles in adulthood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G1dkrnvCLdM/100607165631.htm
Childhood hardships may be related to future pregnancy outcomes, in part through their association with smoking during pregnancy and adult socioeconomic position, according to a new report.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Secondhand smoke associated with psychiatric distress, illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VexrcqIq6zE/100607165625.htm
Exposure to secondhand smoke appears to be associated with psychological distress and the risk of future psychiatric hospitalization among healthy adults, according to a new report.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Simple eye test measures damage from multiple sclerosis, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ewfwYaR21ME/100607165742.htm
A quick, painless eye measurement shows promise as a way to diagnose multiple sclerosis in its very early stages, and to track the effectiveness of treatments, researchers have found in a multicenter study.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Florida ridges' mystery marine fossils tied to rising land, not seas, geologist says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PLto8Po7BTg/100601072524.htm
Sea level has not been as high as the distinctive ridges that run down the length of Florida for millions of years. Yet recently deposited marine fossils abound in the ridges' sands. Now, a geologist may have helped crack that mystery.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Gene loss can cause leukemia, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w16_bquyjo4/100517101720.htm
Researchers in Belgium have discovered a new factor in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a disease that mainly affects children. In the cells of the patients, the specific gene PTPN2 ceases to function, causing the cancer cells to survive longer and grow faster. The study provides genetic and functional evidence for a tumor suppressor role of PTPN2.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Even small patches of urban woods are valuable for migrating birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Z7zs-ky_9M/100518131722.htm
Even tiny patches of woods in urban areas seem to provide adequate food and protection for some species of migrating birds as they fly between wintering and breeding grounds, new research has found. The results are important because, with the expansion of cities worldwide, migrating land birds increasingly must pass through vast urban areas which offer very little of the forest habitats on which many species rely.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Intimate partner violence against mothers associated with children's obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SytyoKvez9Y/100607165629.htm
Children whose mothers report being abused by their partners appear more likely to be obese at age 5, according to a new report.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Bats are keeping an ear out for kin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/23ZTjtSzE58/100519112717.htm
Bats can distinguish between the calls of their own and different species with their echolocation calls, report scientists.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Genetic markers could predict prostate cancer in younger men, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z-XINK-fkG0/100607142217.htm
Prostate cancer has become more common in younger men, and it's often more aggressive in these men. A new study has found that a series of genetic mutations could help detect this early onset prostate cancer.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Ironing out inflammation: Substance in iron metabolism displays life-saving potential for inflammatory diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UzsGgYGSAB0/100607122434.htm
In a surprising discovery that someday may lead to new treatments for many inflammatory diseases, scientists found that a hormone involved in iron metabolism can save mice from deadly acute inflammation.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Vaginal gel with integrase inhibitor shows promise in monkeys
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gn95AAmnlEE/100523205814.htm
Researchers testing a vaginal microbicide based on a new type of anti-HIV drug found it provided monkeys significant protection against infection with a virus similar to HIV. The study is the first of a gel with an integrase inhibitor, one of the latest additions to the arsenal of drugs for the treatment of HIV but just one of the many compounds researchers hope will be a stronghold for HIV prevention.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Cyclotrons could alleviate medical isotope shortage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p7rogvh7B0k/100607142103.htm
The most widely used medical radioisotope, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is essential for an estimated 70,000 medical imaging procedures that take place daily around the world. Aging reactors, production intermittencies and threats of permanent reactor closures have researchers striving to develop alternative methods of supply. In a comparative study, researchers show that medical cyclotrons could be capable of producing this medical isotope.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Racial disparities in asthma exist even among children with equal access to health care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6sDGFomnUEY/100607165633.htm
Within a comprehensive health insurance system, black and Hispanic children appear more likely than white children to have asthma and their outcomes are often worse, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Earth and Moon formed later than previously thought, new research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xn2NFpbnId0/100607111310.htm
Astronomers have theorized that the planet Earth and the Moon were created as the result of a giant collision between two planets the size of Mars and Venus. Until now, the collision was thought to have happened when the solar system was 30 million years old, or approximately 4,537 million years ago. But new research shows that Earth and the Moon must have formed much later -- perhaps up to 150 million years after the formation of the solar system.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Monitoring cholesterol increases life expectancy, 25-year study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/St6AvArgOFQ/100607122444.htm
A new study definitively shows that those with decreased LDL cholesterol levels can count on an increased life expectancy.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
How mast cells set immune defense on the right track
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e2JpBgUz2Vo/100607111308.htm
Researchers in Germany have now been able to show that previously underrated immune cells, so-called mast cells, decide at a very early stage of an infection which way the defense has to go. They only produce the crucial messenger substance beta-interferon during a viral infection, not during a bacterial infection.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
New treatment method safe, effective for advanced melanoma patients, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oOldq_2t4OE/100606104823.htm
Patients undergoing treatment for melanoma that has spread to the liver may respond well to chemotherapy delivered directly to the liver's blood vessels, according to a new study.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
New 'microbead' radiotherapy more effective with molecular imaging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kFYY_HUJAs4/100607142109.htm
Research may change the way that a novel form of radiotherapy is set up and tested prior to treatment. This technique, known as radiomicrosphere therapy, involves the injection of tiny highly radioactive beads that "nestle up" with cancerous tumors and destroy them with precision.
Tue, 8 Jun 10
Strangers influence our dating preferences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L7_JSfUib2o/100607142221.htm
Many people think they have discriminating tastes when it comes to romance. A new study found that men and women are greatly influenced by what their friends and strangers think of their potential fling or partner.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
NASA rover finds clue to Mars' past and environment for life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/95AwU5dUQuc/100606213519.htm
Rocks examined by NASA's Spirit Mars Rover hold evidence of a wet, non-acidic ancient environment that may have been favorable for life. Confirming this mineral clue took four years of analysis by several scientists.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Blocking DNA repair protein could lead to targeted, safer cancer therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lZOE8w9Oq_0/100601151108.htm
Inhibiting a key molecule in a DNA repair pathway could provide the means to make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy while protecting healthy cells, according to new research. The findings provide new insights into mechanisms of how the body fixes environmentally induced DNA damage and into the deadly neurological disease ataxia-telangiectasia.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
NASA images show oil's invasion along Louisiana coast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gWpVZO02d1w/100606213749.htm
New images, acquired on May 24, 2010 by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument aboard NASA's Terra spacecraft, show the encroachment of oil from the former Deepwater Horizon rig into Louisiana's wildlife habitats.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Inspiratory muscle training and endurance sport performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yYNoTPijq-0/100603091628.htm
Strengthening inspiratory muscles by performing daily breathing exercises for six weeks significantly reduced the amount of oxygen these same breathing muscles required during exercise, possibly making more oxygen available for other muscles, new research suggests.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Genome of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis of olive tree sequenced
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dzjhuLyNxu0/100601072636.htm
Researchers have managed to sequence the genome of the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis in the olive tree. The study represents the first sequencing of the genome of a pathogenic bacteria undertaken in Spain, being the first genome known worldwide of a pathogenic Pseudomonas in woody plants.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Binge drinkers report sub-optimal health status more often than non-binge drinkers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vHIcQoCDPh0/100601091334.htm
Binge drinking accounts for more than half of 79,000 excessive-drinking deaths annually in the United States. A new study has looked at heavy and binge drinking in relation to drinkers' own perceptions of their overall health status. Results show binge drinkers have a 13 to 23 percent greater likelihood of self-reporting fair to poor health status.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Life on Titan? New clues to what's consuming hydrogen, acetylene on Saturn's moon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WL1k6GCxTNY/100606103125.htm
Two new papers based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft scrutinize the complex chemical activity on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan. While non-biological chemistry offers one possible explanation, some scientists believe these chemical signatures bolster the argument for a primitive, exotic form of life or precursor to life on Titan's surface. According to one theory put forth by astrobiologists, the signatures fulfill two important conditions necessary for a hypothesized "methane-based life."
Mon, 7 Jun 10
'Remote control' for cholesterol regulation discovered in brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mT0UwX860zU/100606162134.htm
Circulation of cholesterol is regulated in the brain by the hunger-signaling hormone ghrelin, researchers say. The finding points to a new potential target for the pharmacologic control of cholesterol levels.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Seal bulls in the service of science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cTKvwXFes_w/100602131434.htm
"Gustavo" is an imposing bull always in search of the best feeding grounds. At the beginning of the Antarctic winter the mighty elephant seal bull and others were tagged with state-of-the-art satellite transmitters. Researchers will learn where the animals migrate, where they find prey at what depth and under what oceanographic conditions the food supply is good in the Southern Ocean.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Hip exercises found effective at reducing, eliminating common knee pain in runners, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZNUi97h0VEs/100605112549.htm
A twice weekly hip strengthening regimen performed for six weeks proved surprisingly effective at reducing -- and in some cases eliminating -- knee pain referred to as patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Untangling the mystery of knotted flex: Mass experiment to investigate one of the banes of everyday life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/244h0QUreWc/100606202219.htm
A UK scientist believes his "Loop Conjecture" theory can prevent knots in everything from simple flex through to mountain and sailing ropes and potentially DNA structure.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Burger diet boosts kids' asthma and wheeze risk, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pP1af6KDb7w/100602193320.htm
Eating three or more burgers a week may boost a child's risk of asthma and wheeze -- at least in developed nations -- reveals a large international study.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
New technique turns proteins into glass: Could lead to new ways to deliver medication
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KkoOzNja9Rg/100317161954.htm
Researchers have devised a method to dry and preserve proteins in a glassified form that seems to retain the molecules' properties as workhorses of biology.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Artificial sweeteners, without the aftertaste: Scientists find bitter-blocking ingredient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WYklaBzLOkk/100527122143.htm
Researchers have discovered a chemical that specifically blocks people's ability to detect the bitter aftertaste that comes with artificial sweeteners such as saccharin. The key is a molecule known only as GIV3727 that specifically targets and inhibits a handful of human bitter taste receptors, according to a new report.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Next generation CT scanner views whole organs in a heartbeat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gMBLC34_sAU/100603091633.htm
A next generation CT scanner allows doctors to image an entire organ in less than a second or track blood flow through the brain or to a tumor -- all with less radiation exposure to patients.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Study of microRNA helps scientists unlock secrets of immune cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/06IgkZIeHNU/100605131811.htm
With the rapid and continuous advances in biotechnology, scientists are better able to see inside the nucleus of a cell to unlock the secrets of its genetic material. However, what happens outside of the nucleus has, in many ways, remained a mystery. Now, researchers are closer to understanding how activity outside of the nucleus determines a cell's behavior.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Sowing seeds with new agricultural carbon accounting tool
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xNx8YbsD0gk/100602131436.htm
Carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural activity in the United States can now be tracked with unprecedented resolution, thanks to a recently developed carbon accounting tool.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
New intervention to reduce self-stigma among persons with serious mental illness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/njMJDx7zjsA/100513093731.htm
A new intervention was found to reduce the self-stigma and improve the quality of life and self-esteem among persons with serious mental illness.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Hold the salt: Engineers develop revolutionary new desalination membrane
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r1hf8zrHl14/100406093636.htm
Researchers have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination that resist the clogging which typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste water are purified. The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into today's commercial production system, the researchers say, and could help to significantly reduce desalination operating costs.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Do we clamp the umbilical cord too soon? Early clamping may interrupt humankind's first 'natural stem cell transplant'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I1fzqioIEDE/100524111728.htm
The timing of umbilical cord clamping at birth remains controversial. The cord has been clamped early to facilitate resuscitation and stabilization of infants. Now, a new review paper suggests clamping should be delayed in normal births to tap the physiological benefits of "nature's first stem cell transplant."
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Silver nanoparticles mitigate the cell damage caused by ethanol, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LcNWxOjx_yg/100526093606.htm
In a new study, researchers in Spain describe how nanoparticles formed by very small numbers of silver atoms can protect against the cell damage caused by ethanol.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Growth hormone safe for infants with chronic kidney failure, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6GEp1j_PvXc/100603172117.htm
Infants with chronic renal failure (CRF) grow slowly, a problem that usually improves with aggressive nutritional therapy. When it doesn't, growth hormone is a safe and effective treatment to promote growth, according to a new study.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
New approach to finding and removing defects in graphene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0IHbf-r7AGQ/100606162131.htm
Scientists have pinpointed the noncarbon atoms that create defects when graphene is produced through a technique called graphene-oxide reduction. The researchers have also proposed how to make that technique more efficient by precisely applying hydrogen -- rather than heat -- to remove the impurities.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Strategy may help translate research findings about blood-pressure treatment into clinical practice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/snsIrg3Nvqc/100524161253.htm
Academic detailing -- a method involving face-to-face education of clinicians by investigators trained to present trial findings and guidelines -- may have been associated with a small change in prescribing patterns for patients with high blood pressure, according to a new report.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Cockroaches share 'recommendations' of best food sources, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NOUYl6z1wsE/100605131808.htm
Ever wondered how cockroaches seem to know the best place to grab a meal? New research suggests that, just like humans, they share their local knowledge of the best food sources and follow 'recommendations' from others.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
New treatment regimen shown effective against advanced ovarian cancer, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wCqeptERTLA/100606104821.htm
Newly reported results from a major clinical trial show that adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard frontline chemotherapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer and then continuing a maintenance dose of the drug afterwards significantly extends progression-free survival. Women receiving the new treatment regimen saw no worsening of their disease for 14.1 months, compared to 10.3 months for women receiving standard therapy.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
An organic approach to pest control: Releasing super-sexed (but sterile) male insects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/En_-fj-YyLc/100317101350.htm
An improved method for sustainable pest control using "super-sexed" but sterile male insects to copulate with female ones is being developed by agricultural researchers in Israel. The scientists thus hope to offer yet another efficient and promising avenue for supplying produce to the market by eliminating pests without damage to the environment.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Selenium shows no benefit in prevention of lung cancer, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bZjoPFeIrV8/100605112545.htm
Selenium, a supplement taken daily by millions in hopes of protection against cancer and a host of other diseases, has proven to be of no benefit in reducing a patient's risk of developing lung cancer -- either a recurrence or second primary malignancy, according to results of an international Phase III clinical trial.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
New standards for reliable fisheries: Preserving population diversity stabilizes fisheries, ecosystems, and economies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RKK0bPd0JxU/100602130817.htm
The many populations of sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska, act like a diversified portfolio of investments, buffering fisheries from the ups and downs of particular stocks. A new study quantifies, for the first time, how much depends on this "portfolio effect." Without its current population diversity, the Bristol Bay sockeye fishery would close ten times more frequently -- once every two to three years rather than once every 25 years.
Mon, 7 Jun 10
Hormonal contraceptives associated with higher risk of female sexual dysfunction, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZgpafgK3swM/100504074841.htm
Women taking non-oral and oral hormonal contraceptives were at highest risk of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), according to a study of female German medical student. Interestingly, women taking non-hormonal contraceptives were at lowest risk for FSD, more than women not using any contraceptive.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Adolescent brains biologically wired to engage in risky behavior, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jhUv6VdnYzo/100603132458.htm
There are biological motivations behind the stereotypically poor decisions and risky behavior associated with adolescence, psychologists reveal.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Body's own proteins may lead the way in global fight against tuberculosis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nqVE4k81Mv8/100601101546.htm
Scientists hope to counter the re-emerging threat of tuberculosis with help from proteins within our bodies. In new research, scientists show how the protein CCL5 plays a protective role in helping the body ward off TB in early stages of infection. CCL5 is a member of a large family of proteins responsible for immune cell migration toward infection sites.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Lead in ammunition contaminates game meat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6KAima5AVdY/100531082601.htm
Eating the meat of animals hunted using lead ammunition can be more dangerous for health than was previously thought, especially for children and people who consume large quantities.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Vigorous exercise strengthens hip bones in young children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uKdmuPYEol8/100510105029.htm
Researchers in the UK have presented evidence that vigorous physical activity in young children results in stronger hip bones.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Robots big and small showcase their skills
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WDamA2eAN4U/100528113916.htm
Two robotics events were designed to prove the viability of advanced technologies for robotic automation of manufacturing and microrobotics.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Most kidney dialysis patients not prepared for emergency evacuation, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f0k2yPbKQFA/100603193931.htm
A survey of kidney dialysis patients finds that most have not taken the emergency preparedness measures that would enable them to survive a hurricane or any other disaster that disrupts power and water services.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Oil spill puts commercially significant cold-water reefs in peril
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fnQK8mqDs6k/100606004815.htm
Thousands of barrels of oil are leaking out of the Deepwater Horizon site each day. The oil ascends from depths of approximately 1502 m. (4928 ft.), but not all of it reaches the sea surface. The stratified seawater of the Gulf of Mexico captures or slows the ascent of the oil, and the addition of dispersants near the oil source produces tiny droplets that float for a considerable time in the water column and may never reach the surface. According to a group of Florida researchers, the oil that remains in suspension in the water column and creates plumes poses a serious risk for the planktonic and benthic (sea floor) life throughout the region, including the deep-sea reefs they study.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Scientists break barrier to creating potential therapeutic molecules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cf01ZdlFQE0/100524151435.htm
Scientists have created a novel technique that for the first time will allow the efficient production of a molecular structure that is common to a vast array of natural molecules. This advance provides a means to explore the potential of this molecular substructure in the search for new therapies.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Making enough red blood cells: Scientists identify molecules that ensure red blood cell production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L4iBHe6lxQI/100601072632.htm
Scientists have identified two small RNA molecules which ensure that enough red blood cells are produced efficiently, by fine-tuning a number of different genes involved in this process.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Newborn and carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy now possible, say scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BjkIlpf9rWI/100506193513.htm
Scientists studying spinal muscular atrophy have concluded that the technology now exists to carry out nationwide screening of newborn children and pregnant mothers. The study reveals that effective screening may allow parents to find proactive treatments before the symptoms become irreversible.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
New antenna to aid rural emergency workers developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RuXyp5uI8xg/100528092023.htm
To overcome the challenges of rural communication, engineers have developed a sturdy lightweight antenna that provides a strong, clear, reliable channel even while moving.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Medicine's secret archives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xOF8LsGCLlE/100525094908.htm
Researchers have compiled over 60 examples illustrating how the dissemination of medical knowledge has been impeded. For this purpose, they assessed hundreds of citations. A wide range of interventions was affected: from drugs and vaccines to medical devices such as ultrasound or devices for wound care. The collection reads like the script for a crime series.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Yangtze River’s ancient origins revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/86DqO8EYZ2Q/100603091831.htm
The Yangtze River began to cut the Three Gorges area around 45 million years ago, making it much older than previously believed, according to new evidence from minerals.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Key regulator of fat cell development identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tEzUznYkxGU/100603091817.htm
New research has identified a key regulator of fat cell differentiation that may be a novel target for obesity drugs.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Distressed damsels stress coral reefs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GjdFnB9VVxo/100527013236.htm
Damselfish are killing head corals and adding stress to Caribbean coral reefs, which are already in desperately poor condition from global climate change, coral diseases, hurricanes, pollution, and overfishing. Restoring threatened staghorn coral, the damsels' favorite homestead, will take the pressure off the other corals, according to a new study.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Link established between erectile dysfunction and calcified coronary arteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y9Sj7qIBTus/100601142310.htm
In the largest study to date evaluating erectile dysfunction and coronary artery calcification, researchers have determined that men with ED are at a significantly increased risk of high coronary artery calcification scores (CACS), a known predictor of future cardiovascular events.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
Better way to calculate greenhouse gas value of ecosystems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S-Y8zKGutFo/100526134247.htm
Researchers have developed a new, more accurate method of calculating the change in greenhouse gas emissions that results from changes in land use. The new approach takes into account many factors not included in previous methods, such as the ecosystem's ability to take up or release greenhouse gases over time and all of the greenhouse gases absorbed and released in the process of introducing new crops. The researchers calculated the greenhouse gas value of a variety of ecosystem types.
Sun, 6 Jun 10
New criteria proposed for diagnosing fibromyalgia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Tr2-FuxaAE/100524143427.htm
The American College of Rheumatology is proposing a new set of diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia that replaces the tender point test with a rating system that includes common symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive problems, as well as pain.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Could life survive on Mars? Yes, expert says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/icTsC1EDdTw/100604132041.htm
Researchers have discovered that methane-eating bacteria survive in a highly unique spring located on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada's extreme North. Microbiologists explain that the Lost Hammer spring supports microbial life, that the spring is similar to possible past or present springs on Mars, and that therefore they too could support life.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Scientists capture very moment blood flow begins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mJkJ-0fR9c8/100603123711.htm
By capturing movies of both the blood and vasculature of zebrafish embryos, each less than two millimeters long, researchers have been able for the first time to see the very moment that blood begins to flow.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Autism finding could lead to simple urine test for the condition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7la1oqMGFxI/100603091641.htm
Children with autism have a different chemical fingerprint in their urine than non-autistic children, according to new research. The researchers suggest that their findings could ultimately lead to a simple urine test to determine whether or not a young child has autism.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Gene related to aging plays role in stem cell differentiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7-w6OARkQYk/100604132038.htm
A gene shown to play a role in the aging process appears to play a role in the regulation of the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, according to new research.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Video game research project to help blind children exercise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DdTuy-wNXqE/100528131037.htm
Researchers have developed a motion-sensing-based tennis and bowling "exergame" that will help the visually impaired, especially children become more physically active.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
A sense of humor helps keep you healthy until retirement age
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9m6kl_8wNAE/100604073717.htm
A sense of humor helps to keep people healthy and increases their chances of reaching retirement age. But after the age of 70, the health benefits of humor decrease, researchers have found.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Mongooses pass traditions on to their young, too
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7U_9t0-fUqg/100603123709.htm
For the passing on of traditions, it appears that an especially big brain isn't required. Even mongooses in the wild carry out traditions that are passed down from one generation to the next, according to new research.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
New gene therapy proves effective in treating severe heart failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5VhoWG8OLRQ/100603172211.htm
Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that is safe and effective in reversing advanced heart failure. SERCA2a is a gene therapy designed to stimulate production of an enzyme that enables the failing heart to pump more effectively. In a Phase II study, SERCA2a injection through a routine minimally invasive cardiac catheterization was safe and showed clinical benefit in treating this patient population and decreasing the severity of heart failure.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Glaciers in Tibet were never really large
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t520aSxX5CY/100603091823.htm
The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest mountain region on Earth with glaciers whose meltwater provides the water supply for more than 1.3 billion people through several of the largest rivers in Asia. Glaciers in Tibet have remained relatively small and have not been much larger than today for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years back in time, according to new research.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Stroke prevention study in children with sickle cell anemia, iron overload stopped early
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xnW5vO2QZ94/100604132047.htm
Researchers have stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
An extra driver behind the wheel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Okw0Ky2jJfg/100603091945.htm
When the steering wheel starts vibrating strongly, your car is too close to the edge of the road. WayPilot, a new Norwegian product, helps to keep it where it should be in the driving lane.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Biomechanics of information: Going more miles per gallon with your brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lqUNUYkXdio/100603193938.htm
The hunting strategy of a slender fish from the Amazon is giving researchers more insight into how to balance the metabolic cost of information with the metabolic cost of moving around to get that information.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Drug induces a memory of safety in rat brains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SeC5DKls9-Y/100603141005.htm
Researchers have found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats, mimicking the effect of training. The finding suggests possibilities for new treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Oncologists fight leukemia with two-pronged therapy, clinical trials planned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vjFb1FpTVjY/100603172217.htm
Researchers have used an agent, called Oxi4503, to poison leukemia cells and destroy the blood vessels that supply the cells in mouse models of acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. The researchers plan human tests of the drug later this year.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Cysts hold clues to pancreatic cancer; Detection and removal may lower cancer risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jp-pakqJc4g/100603194005.htm
Researchers have developed a method that could be used to predict whether pancreatic cysts are benign or are precursors to invasive cancer.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
New cancer treatment? MM-111 antibody uses HER2 target to reach and block HER3
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i-dQVKKcb7I/100604132049.htm
Patients with HER2-positive cancers can have dramatic responses to HER2-targeted drugs but eventually develop resistance to the agents. With that problem in mind, researchers are testing a novel type of antibody called MM-111 in patients with HER2-positive disease who have progressed on standard therapy.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Making lake and stream conservation more effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w5UOoxOABzw/100602193421.htm
Scientists have developed a pioneering, comprehensive approach that makes conserving and managing freshwater lakes, streams and wetlands more integrated and effective.
Sat, 5 Jun 10
Special care plan does not slow decline in patients with Alzheimer's, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KbTLTRIXwCM/100603193935.htm
A special dementia care plan, involving regular assessments of patients with Alzheimer's disease in specialist memory clinics, does not slow functional decline compared with usual care, a new study finds.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Drilling into the unknown: First exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iI9mZIz1AVE/100603091825.htm
Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration of an Antarctic sub-glacial lake. Scientists have revealed the optimal drill site for exploring Lake Ellsworth, a sub-glacial lake comparable in size to England's Lake Windermere which is covered by three kilometers of ice. This development is likely to facilitate a revolution in climate-change research and may lead to the discovery of life-forms cut off from the main line of evolution for millions of years.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Lifestyle and genes pose separate risks for breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dbkx-Dznls0/100603160619.htm
The increased risk of breast cancer associated with a range of common genes is not affected by lifestyle factors -- including use of hormone replacement therapy, age at birth of first child, obesity, and alcohol consumption -- a new study has found.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Marmots can teach us about obesity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-U_IWcN4Ono/100602193419.htm
A professor has discovered that a common nutrient can help stimulate appetite in hibernating marmots, which can help scientists understand more about human metabolism and obesity.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Tiny blood vessels in brain spit to survive
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FWKYG395nyg/100526134144.htm
Scientists have discovered capillaries have a unique method of expelling debris, such as blood clots, cholesterol or calcium plaque, that blocks the flow of essential nutrients to brain cells. The capillaries spit out the blockage by growing a membrane that envelopes the obstruction and then shoves it out of the blood vessel. Scientists also found this critical process is up to 50 percent slower in an aging brain and likely results in the death of more capillaries.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Aquatic life declines at early stages of urban development, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4FGwHKptpro/100603172215.htm
The number of native fish and aquatic insects, especially those that are pollution sensitive, declines in urban and suburban streams at low levels of development -- levels often considered protective for stream communities, according to a new study.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Spending time in nature makes people feel more alive, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dsm-nInHWzY/100603172219.htm
Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies. And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are often associated with our forays into the natural world.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
More choline for pregnant, nursing women could reduce Down syndrome dysfunction, guard against dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9GsosAjq_pU/100603132456.htm
More choline during pregnancy and nursing could provide lasting cognitive and emotional benefits to people with Down syndrome. The work indicated greater maternal levels of the essential nutrient also could protect against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Mutations that cause Parkinson's disease prevent cells from destroying defective mitochondria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f96b7tRK_bg/100510121215.htm
Mutations that cause Parkinson's disease prevent cells from destroying defective mitochondria, according to a new study.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Outcrop of long-sought rare rock on Mars found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zfieT3uOhS8/100603140959.htm
A mineral-scouting instrument has found an outcrop of rock rich in carbonate minerals in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater on Mars.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Color-coded tracking method helps scientists analyze outcomes of newly transplanted tissue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IpSEkjEy7yI/100527101504.htm
A group of "color-coded" laboratory mice are providing researchers with a novel way of tracking T-cells, enabling them to visualize and monitor the cellular responses of transplanted tissue in real time.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Electric fields make ceramic production quicker, cheaper, better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CSdGKBpEc1s/100601101544.htm
Researchers have found that applying a small electric field results in faster formation of ceramic products during manufacture at lower temperatures, and enhances the strength of the ceramic itself.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Flooring can affect how consumers make purchase decisions, researcher finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8DjQwDOdBwc/100603172115.htm
Can the difference between carpet and hard tile flooring affect how you make decisions? New research suggests that the way people judge products may be influenced by the ground beneath them.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Early Earth haze likely provided ultraviolet shield for planet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jREKKq6UrgI/100603141001.htm
A thick organic haze that enshrouded early Earth several billion years ago may have been similar to the haze now hovering above Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and would have protected primordial life on the planet from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Reducing Alzheimer's-related protein in young brains improves learning in Down syndrome animal model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PVi-9L3m-sw/100603172119.htm
Reducing a protein called beta-amyloid in young mice with a condition resembling Down syndrome improves their ability to learn, researchers have found.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Soccer-playing robots get creative with physics-based planning
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O-6KfjwKg8I/100603091635.htm
Robot soccer players are warming up to compete in this month's RoboCup 2010 world championship in Singapore. A new algorithm will help newly created robots to predict the ball's behavior based on physics principles.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Azithromycin pills equal to penicillin shots for treating early syphilis, clinical trial finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vNyeED2oqlI/100601101412.htm
In a clinical trial involving HIV-negative volunteers with early-stage syphilis, researchers have found that antibiotic pills (azithromycin) are as effective as penicillin injections in curing early-stage syphilis.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Fires in Amazon challenge emission reduction program
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/t3wzzWwbcgs/100603141003.htm
Fire occurrence rates in the Amazon have increased in 59 percent of areas with reduced deforestation and risks canceling part of the carbon savings achieved by UN measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation. Researchers analyzed satellite deforestation and fire data to understand the influence of UN's REDD policy on fire patterns in Amazonia. Research shows that fire incidences may increase even with a decrease in deforestation rates.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Moving repeatedly in childhood linked with poorer quality-of-life years later, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nN84KJ86UzI/100603172213.htm
Moving to a new town or even a new neighborhood is stressful at any age, but a new study shows that frequent relocations in childhood are related to poorer well-being in adulthood, especially among people who are more introverted or neurotic.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
How did higher life evolve? Brown algal genome opens new door to understanding multicellularity and photosynthesis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gkQX_LYDduM/100603172209.htm
With the world's first complete sequencing of a brown algal genome, an international research team has made a big leap towards understanding the evolution of two key prerequisites for higher life on Earth -- multicellularity and photosynthesis. About 100 scientists and technicians, during a five-year research project, successfully decoded all hereditary information on the brown seaweed Ectocarpus siliculosus.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Blood flows differently through the brains of schizophrenic patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k73_mJcdXUk/100526091040.htm
Researchers in Germany have used a magnetic resonance imaging technique called continuous arterial spin labeling to map cerebral blood flow patterns in schizophrenic patients quickly and without using radiation or contrast agents.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Beethoven unlikely to have died from lead exposure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ibwnx-MJ_lM/100603155929.htm
A researcher has measured the amount of lead in two skull fragments of Ludwig van Beethoven and found that it was unlikely for lead poisoning to have caused the renal failure that was partly responsible for Beethoven's death, eliminating one of the many suggested causes of death for the famed composer.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
New cancer guidelines: Exercise during and after treatment is now encouraged
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/94C77sMelcs/100601124131.htm
Cancer patients who've been told to rest and avoid exercise can -- and should -- find ways to be physically active both during and after treatment, according to new national guidelines. The guidelines are aimed at making cancer exercise rehabilitation programs as common as those offered to people who have had heart attacks or undergone cardiac surgery.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Compression clothing has little impact on athletic performance, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F4LK7ElX-Bw/100603140955.htm
Researchers have examined whether compression garments for the lower legs and upper thighs influenced athletic performance and found little effect.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Good grades? It's all in who you know: Having friends who attend the same school is key, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qPHcBtCq4Sc/100603172221.htm
Adolescents who have more friends who attend the same school had higher GPAs than those who had friends from out-of-school they met elsewhere. Further, these associations were similar for boys and girls, and cut across all ethnic groups.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Superbug's 'CPU' revealed: Researchers discover chemical clue directing Staphylococcus aureus
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JqgpRaKHsGc/100603172223.htm
Researchers have revealed that a small chemical, made by the superbug Staphylococcus aureus and its drug-resistant forms, determines this disease's strength and ability to infect.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Universal treatment for all strains of influenza within sight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/goFxldPXstY/100603132502.htm
Researchers have discovered a novel component of the influenza virus that may be the key to disabling the virus's ability to replicate itself and to developing a universal anti-viral treatment.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Mutant gene link to West Nile virus in horses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YchJeb9BNC4/100602094505.htm
The same mutated gene that makes humans more susceptible to the potentially fatal West Nile virus is also responsible for the virus affecting horses, according to scientists in Australia.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Long-term use of Parkinson's drug may impact vision
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qQE0qurbz30/100601114629.htm
Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's, is often treated with amantadine. The drug helps alleviate patients' motor problems and may be taken for years. Doctors have long known that amantadine treatment causes abnormal changes in the cornea in some Parkinson's patients. The cornea is the eye's clear outer surface that provides most of the visual power. Usually corneal reactions occur soon after starting the drug and disappear a few weeks after it is withdrawn. But sometimes corneal disorders appear only after years of treatment, and the corneas of these patients often do not recover when amantadine is stopped.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Mining in Africa is spreading TB, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4aborgXVSuM/100603160319.htm
Mining for gold, diamonds, and precious minerals is dangerous work, but in sub-Saharan Africa the activity could be driving an entire continent's tuberculosis epidemic, a new study has found.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Link identified between lower IQ scores and attempted suicide in men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UufZARFnSFw/100603193927.htm
Low IQ scores in early adulthood are associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide in men, according to new research. In the largest study of its kind, a team of researchers studied the medical records of over one million men in Sweden dating back over a period of twenty four years and compared rates of hospital admission for attempted suicide against IQ scores.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Common genetic threads link thousands of years of Jewish ancestry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/01TD8ebHLLE/100603123707.htm
Using sophisticated genomic analysis, scientists have probed the ancestry of several Jewish and non-Jewish populations and better defined the relatedness of contemporary Jewish people. The research may shed light on the question, first raised more than a century ago, of whether Jews are a race, a religious group or something else.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Molecular explanation for the evolution of Tamiflu resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QkBt8EvbhYQ/100603140951.htm
Biologists have pinpointed molecular changes that helped allow the global spread of resistance to the antiviral medication Tamiflu (oseltamivir) among strains of the seasonal H1N1 flu virus.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Biosensors reveal how single bacterium gets the message to split into a swimming and a stay-put cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/81UG_pLIpI0/100603140957.htm
When certain bacteria reproduce by splitting in two, one cell inherits a propeller for swimming and the other builds a stalk to cling to surfaces. Researchers have developed biosensors to observe what was going on biochemically. They found that a signaling chemical c-di-GMP was unevenly distributed during cell division, and that the swimming cell got less than the stalk cell. The biosensors enabled the researchers to measure these fluctuations in a single bacterium smaller than any animal or plant cell.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Students develop device to help blind maneuver
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oZmZ0ru4kQY/100603172252.htm
The radar system incorporates a computer, two video cameras and a scanning light source to warn the blind of obstacles with audible alerts. The system detects obstacles -- even those overhead -- by scanning the depth of its surroundings, taken from two different angles -- similar to that of the human eye.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Gates open on understanding potassium channel controls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bd8qlFdsDXA/100603123717.htm
Scientists have made a significant advance in understanding how potassium channels, which permit the flow of electric currents central to many of the body's biological processes, control the flow of these currents.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Lack of skilled birth care costs 2 million lives each year worldwide, study estimates
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oPxuf5dKYdI/100603193929.htm
A lack of skilled attendants at birth accounts for two million preventable maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths each year, according to the newly released Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010). The report shows that nearly 50 percent of women in the 68 countries carefully tracked in the Countdown report -- most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia -- still give birth without the aid of a trained midwife, nurse, doctor, or other skilled birth attendant.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Oasis near Death Valley fed by ancient aquifer under Nevada Test Site
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wwRFFtSV7M4/100603172256.htm
A new study indicates that water arriving at Ash Meadows in Death Valley is completing a 15,000-year journey, flowing slowly underground from what is now the Nevada Test Site.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Commonly used seizure drug could treat severe genetic liver disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oCnXPm41HT0/100603140953.htm
The liver scarring of ±1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency, the most common genetic cause for which children undergo liver transplantation, might be reversed or prevented with a medication long used to treat seizures, according to researchers. Because the anti-seizure drug is familiar to doctors and has a well-understood safety profile, clinical trials could begin immediately to see whether it can help affected patients.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Ocean Acidification in the Arctic: What are the consequences of carbon dioxide increase on marine ecosystems?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_eGshFrky2M/100603092018.htm
Carbon dioxide emissions not only lead to global warming, but also cause another, less well-known but equally disconcerting environmental change: ocean acidification. Scientists have just started the first major CO2 perturbation experiment in the Arctic Ocean. Their goal is to determine the response of Arctic marine life to the rapid change in ocean chemistry.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Epigenetic similarities between Wilms tumor cells and normal kidney stem cells found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v6-vBnlW_0w/100603123720.htm
A detailed analysis of the epigenetics -- factors controlling when and in what tissues genes are expressed -- of Wilms tumor reveals striking similarities to stem cells normally found in fetal kidneys. New cellular pathways that are critical for Wilms tumor development and may also apply to other pediatric cancers have been identified.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
NASA takes to the air with new 'Earth Venture' research projects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eHgHjZimcZw/100602103158.htm
Hurricanes, air quality and Arctic ecosystems are among the research areas to be investigated during the next five years by new NASA airborne science missions announced recently.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Online games new marketing tool for unhealthy foods
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I42j_BkYy18/100603132454.htm
Public health researchers have found that children, who are already saturated with television messages about unhealthy food choices, are the targets of a new medium used to sell high-fat, high-sugar foods: advergames.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Treating heart attack past recommended time may significantly increase risk of death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hMjoh4RGQDs/100601162242.htm
An examination of the treatment received by patients with myocardial infarction at 80 hospitals in Quebec indicates that those who received either primary percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolysis beyond the times recommended in international guidelines had a significantly increased risk of death within 30 days, along with an increased risk of the combined outcome of death or readmission for heart attack or heart failure at one year, according to a new study.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
How trekking-poles help hikers maintain muscle function while reducing soreness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DWDGhDWckRg/100602121000.htm
A new study shows for the first time how trekking-poles help hikers maintain muscle function while significantly reducing soreness in the days following a hike.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Thymoquinone-induced oxidative stress targets highly aggressive prostate cancers, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K-GrqTInUqg/100601162256.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that thymoquinone (TQ) a major component of black seed oil (Nigella sativa) can suppress the growth of several aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, in vitro. Although previous studies have shown the anti-proliferative effects of TQ in different types of cancers, the molecular mechanism of this effect of TQ had not been delineated.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Airplanes, ground instruments, and weather balloons to study effect of airborne particles on climate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pk31OWEQnDo/100602121056.htm
More than 60 scientists from a dozen institutions have converged on the urban area of Sacramento, California to study how tiny particles called aerosols affect the climate. Sending airplanes and weather balloons outfitted with instruments up, the team will be sampling aerosols in June.
Fri, 4 Jun 10
Tobacco tax hike could curb smoking among those with alcohol, drug or mental disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_bNgNYUcFto/100602193427.htm
A new study suggests that increasing cigarette taxes could be an effective way to reduce smoking among individuals with alcohol, drug or mental disorders. It found that a 10 percent increase in cigarette pricing resulted in an 18.2 percent decline in smoking among people in these groups.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
First paper 'dipstick' test for determining blood type
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AtIu1YO879Y/100602121200.htm
Scientists are reporting development of the first "dipstick" test for instantly determining a person's blood type at a cost of just a few pennies. The test involves placing a drop of blood on a specially treated paper strip.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
New culture dish could advance human embryonic stem cell research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/seVtigAxP8I/100602193425.htm
A new synthetic Petri dish coating could overcome a major challenge to the advancement of human embryonic stem cell research.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Bone drug suppresses wandering tumor cells in breast cancer patients; May reduce metastatic disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/glybnaoiZf8/100602152418.htm
The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) can help fight metastatic breast cancer when given before surgery, new research suggests. When the drug was given along with chemotherapy for three months before breast cancer surgery, it reduced the number of women who had tumor cells in their bone marrow at the time of surgery.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Sun-induced skin cancer: Discovery permits doctors to assess genetic risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/inl2of-i1NY/100602193329.htm
As people head to the beach this summer, very few if any, really know how likely they are to develop skin cancer from their outdoor fun. That's about to change, thanks to a new discovery that makes it possible for doctors to access people's personal risk for skin cancer.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Pride, prejudice and the 'Darcin effect': Pheromone that attracts female mice to odor of particular male identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/76FmBriL1IY/100602193316.htm
The pheromone that attracts female mice to the odor of a particular male has been identified. Named "darcin" by researchers (after Darcy, the attractive hero in Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice"), this unusual protein in a male's urine attracts females and is responsible for learned preference for specific males.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
A quick fix for queues
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PlatPcevJhc/100601101552.htm
Queuing, standing in line ... it's what we do well, but complain about the most. Thankfully, science is coming to the rescue as researchers in Taiwan have devised a formula that could revolutionize restaurants, post offices, customer service desks, and theater ticket sales everywhere.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Structure of immune molecule that counteracts HIV strains determined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EsoJsuTgVxo/100601171846.htm
In findings that contribute to efforts to design an AIDS vaccine, a team of scientists has determined the structure of an immune system antibody molecule that effectively acts against most strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Nanoparticle PSA test predicts if prostate cancer will return: Ultrasensitive test gives first accurate answer after prostate cancer surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1goK4aPzAcU/100602131336.htm
Conventional PSA tests aren't sensitive enough to show if men are cured after having a cancerous prostate gland removed. New research shows an ultrasensitive PSA test using nanoparticle-based technology may be able to definitively predict after surgery if the cancer is cured or if it will recur. The new test is 300 times more sensitive than currently available and may pick up cancer recurrence at a much earlier stage.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Probiotic found in breast milk helps alleviate symptoms of digestive disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hYX744zeYyA/100602193326.htm
Here's another reason to breast feed your baby: Researchers have discovered how a probiotic found in breast milk reduces or eliminates painful cramping in the gut. Scientists used mice to show that a specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri decreases the force of muscle contractions in the gut within minutes of exposure.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Deep brain stimulation at two different targets gives similar motor benefits in Parkinson's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mKAo1_laEgs/100602193312.htm
In a major study, investigators have compared how individuals with Parkinson's disease respond to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at two different sites in the brain. Contrary to current belief, patients who received DBS at either site in the brain experienced comparable benefits for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Physicists reveal how to cope with 'frustration': Quantum simulation can be scaled to large systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OXV79_nVugk/100602131340.htm
"Frustrated" systems -- those in which the interactions among the components have no single minimum-energy state -- are of great interest for problems from neural networks and protein folding to social structures and magnetism. But they have been difficult to model. Now a team of physicists has created a scalable quantum-mechanical model.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Surprising disparity in where chronically ill kids hospitalized, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VcZX8en_-EY/100602152414.htm
Chronically ill children with private insurance are much less likely than those with public insurance, such as Medi-Cal, to be admitted to a California hospital offering specialized pediatric care, according to a new study.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Coffee consumption unrelated to alertness: Stimulating effects may be illusion, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iF-tZCYw1hU/100602211940.htm
The stimulatory effects of caffeine may be nothing more than an illusion, according to new research that shows there is no real benefit to be gained from the habitual morning cup of coffee.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Why certain diseases affect specific organs: Neural tissue contains imbalanced levels of proteins, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3l7poRJFmEs/100602121210.htm
Why do some diseases affect only specific organs, leaving others invulnerable? Researchers have found neural tissue contains imbalanced levels of proteins, which may explain the brain's susceptibility to a debilitating childhood movement disorder. Compared to nonneuronal cells, neurons have dramatically lower levels of torsinB, a sister protein that can work similarly to torsinA. When the DYT1 gene mutation causes a defect in torsinA, torsinB can take over its role in all other cells except for neuronal cells.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Using nature's design principles to create specialized nanofabrics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nYDnlTl_XeE/100602152411.htm
Bioengineers have developed a new technology based on nature's design principles for self assembly and self organization. The technology can be used to regenerate heart and other tissues and to make nanometer-thick fabrics that are strong and elastic. The key breakthrough came in the development of a matrix that can assemble itself through interaction with a thermosensitive surface. The protein composition of that matrix can be customized to generate specific properties.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Prostate cancer patients' weight linked to tumor size, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Obl9LuRV90k/100602141648.htm
The size of tumors in prostate cancer patients is directly linked to their weight, according to a new six-year study. They found heavier patients, or those with the highest body mass index, also had the largest tumors. They discovered the connection after studying 3,327 patients who had undergone robotic removal of their cancerous prostate glands and surrounding tissue.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Revised seismotectonic model for California Central Coast: More complex than previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_yP5d822XSI/100602215239.htm
A new catalog of earthquake locations and focal mechanisms for the California Central Coast underscores the fault complexity of the region and identifies newly observed features offshore near San Luis Obispo.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Tidy house, fitter body?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bOU2cW7L4oM/100602121059.htm
A study that examined the relationship between physical activity and a range of variables involving urban residents' homes and neighborhoods found that the inside of their homes had more to do with higher physical activity levels than sidewalks, lighting and other elements.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
First images of heavy electrons in action: Characteristics of 'hidden order' in unusual uranium compound
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FX5IGX-DU4I/100602131342.htm
Using a microscope designed to image the arrangement and interactions of electrons in crystals, scientists have captured the first images of electrons that appear to take on extraordinary mass under certain extreme conditions. The technique reveals the origin of an unusual electronic phase transition in one particular material, and opens the door to further explorations of the properties and functions of so-called heavy fermions.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Ablation proved as effective as traditional surgery in treating kidney cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iyZSnXy-Dlc/100602121212.htm
A minimally invasive technique used to destroy kidney tumors with an electrically controlled heating probe showed similar effectiveness as surgical removal of tumors in curbing cancer recurrence rates for up to five years after treatment.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Bacterioplankton responses to desert dust in the (sub)tropical northeast Atlantic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q4PDPmwF_04/100602111143.htm
Inputs of dust from the Sahara desert could change the composition of microbial communities in the (sub)tropical eastern North Atlantic, say researchers.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Testing methylphenidate for cancer-related fatigue
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Xs3IbafJ12U/100602121103.htm
Cancer-related fatigue is often a major problem for cancer patients, beginning at diagnosis, during treatment and after completing therapy.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Large earthquake triggering, clustering and the synchronization of faults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kOU3PJRPlSQ/100602193429.htm
The "signature of synchronicity" of large earthquakes -- clusters of ruptures of several faults followed by periods of quiescence -- found in the paleoseismic record also reflects the common observation that large earthquakes can trigger other large earthquakes on nearby faults. Researchers are examining the mechanism by which the seismic cycles of nearby faults become synchronized.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Apologies may fuel settlement of legal disputes, study says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9nAnbf0VLb4/100602121158.htm
Apologies can potentially help resolve legal disputes ranging from injury cases to wrongful firings, giving wounded parties a sense of justice and satisfaction that promotes settlements and trims demands for damages, a new study finds.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Hubble catches stars on the move: Surprising signs of unrest in massive star cluster
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uzesIX6BwAw/100602111137.htm
By exploiting the exquisite image quality of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and comparing two observations made 10 years apart astronomers have, for the first time, managed to measure the tiny motions of several hundred young stars within the central cluster of the star-forming region NGC 3603. The team was surprised to find that the stars are moving in ways that are at odds with the current understanding of how such clusters evolve.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Stem cell researchers uncover previously unknown patterns in DNA methylation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/opxwEuQiSPw/100602090327.htm
A previously unknown pattern in DNA methylation -- an event that affects cell function by altering gene expression -- has been uncovered for the first time by stem cell researchers, a finding that could have implications in preventing some cancers and correcting defects in human stem cell lines.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Enzyme detector: New technique reliably detects and quantifies enzyme implicated in cancer, atherosclerosis and other diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rHqt9AMTNzg/100601171844.htm
Researchers have developed a new technique that reliably detects and quantifies an enzyme implicated in osteoporosis, arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer metastasis and other disease processes.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Aspirin recommendations changed for many younger diabetic patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wCmr56PacV4/100601162251.htm
Experts are now recommending that low-dose aspirin therapy to prevent heart attacks be used somewhat more conservatively -- that men younger than 50 and women younger than 60, who have diabetes but no other major risk factors, probably not use aspirin.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Visual system interprets sign languages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/To74DPNzzaA/100602091317.htm
Spanish sign language is used by over 100,000 people with hearing impairments and is made up of hundreds of signs. Researchers selected over 20 of these signs to develop a new visual interpretation system which allows deaf people to carry out consultations in the language they commonly use.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Meditation reduces the emotional impact of pain, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dXVg_HcIvp8/100602091315.htm
People who meditate regularly find pain less unpleasant because their brains anticipate the pain less, a new study has found.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Squirrels show softer side by adopting orphans, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WzNDQSAZQJg/100601114631.htm
Squirrels will take in orphaned pups if the babies are closely related to the adoptive mother, according to new research. Although adoptions occur among species that live in extended family groups, it's much less common among asocial animals, such as squirrels, who are territorial, live alone and rarely interact with one another. The study also shows squirrels are able to asses which pups they are related to before determining whether to adopt.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Immune system helps transplanted stem cells navigate in central nervous system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WnfEAsZlDto/100601162300.htm
By discovering how adult neural stem cells navigate to injury sites in the central nervous system, researchers have helped solve a puzzle in the creation of stem cell-based treatments: How do these cells know where to go?
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Count your chickens (and robins and pigeons ...), urge researchers working to protect birds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nkr4QM17OAA/100601171719.htm
People could help to prevent species of birds from becoming extinct by recording sightings of all kinds of birds online, including common species, according to a new study.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Immune cell's role in lupus nephritis: Discovery paves way for safety testing of potential new use for asthma drug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Bu-NcRI-Hc/100601091336.htm
Scientists have discovered that the activation of immune cells called basophils causes kidney damage in a mouse model of lupus nephritis. These findings and the team's associated research in humans may lead to new treatments for this serious disease, a severe form of systemic lupus erythematosus that affects the kidneys and is difficult to treat.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Plants spice up their sex life with defensins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pclqlsi5Xd4/100601171711.htm
Since the beginning, plants and animals have deployed various mechanisms to fight pathogens. Proteins have always played an important part in this armoury, and a broad variety of defensin proteins have become part of the immune system of plants, insects and other animals except mammals. Now scientists from Regensburg discovered that those proteins also play a role in the "sex life" during the fertilization process of plants.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Study finds poker players using drugs to enhance performance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3_EkhMD8vw0/100601171840.htm
A new study found that 80 percent of poker players around the world reported using drugs and other substances to enhance their performance in poker.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Who are we sharing the planet with? Millions less species than previously thought, new calculations suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nH5vvca3aTQ/100602142045.htm
New calculations reveal that the number of species on Earth is likely to be in the order of several million rather than tens of millions. The findings, from an Australian-led study, are based on a new method of estimating tropical insect species -- the largest and one of the most difficult groups on the planet to study -- having significant implications for conservation efforts.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Visually guided laser may be viable treatment for abnormal heartbeat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oeEwgYyOu4k/100525171329.htm
A new treatment known as a visually guided balloon-laser catheter stopped abnormal electrical pulses in people and pigs with irregular heartbeats. The intervention prevented abnormal impulses for three months. Additional long-term studies are needed to assess ongoing safety and effectiveness.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Cosmic Zoo in the Large Magellanic Cloud
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KsTS-_N78FE/100601114803.htm
Astronomers often turn their telescopes to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the closest galaxies to our own Milky Way, in their quest to understand the Universe. In a spectacular new image from the Wide Field Imager (WFI) at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, a celestial menagerie of different objects and phenomena in part of the LMC is on display, ranging from vast globular clusters to the remains left by brilliant supernovae explosions. This fascinating observation provides data for a wide variety of research projects unraveling the life and death of stars and the evolution of galaxies.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Genetic differences may influence joint pain among women taking lifesaving breast cancer drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IQwtyhbv1Uo/100601124129.htm
Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia is a major side effect in breast cancer survivors, producing joint pain so severe that as many as ten percent of women discontinue their therapy prematurely while undergoing treatment with these lifesaving drugs. New research reveals a possible genetic basis for why these side effects occur.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Uncovering the mystery of a major threat to wheat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LuZE5Kv_P2k/100601151112.htm
Agricultural scientists have solved a longstanding mystery as to why a pathogen that threatens the world's wheat supply can be so adaptable, diverse and virulent.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
New medics in death spike? Study suggests inexperienced medical staff make fatal medication errors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AJwr4ZaWF7A/100602091319.htm
Are new medical residents a threat to patients? According to a new study, fatal medication errors peak in July in teaching hospitals in particular, which coincides with the yearly influx of new medical residents who are given increased responsibility for patient care.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Copper nanowires enable bendable displays and solar cells; Pin-like copper structures self-assemble in solution
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FZl-gw_Ms88/100601114722.htm
A team of chemists has perfected a simple way to make tiny copper nanowires in quantity. The cheap conductors are small enough to be transparent, making them ideal for thin-film solar cells, flat-screen TVs and computers, and flexible displays.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Synthetic peptide may regenerate brain tissue in stroke victims
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qHUJMf8yeZ4/100601101410.htm
A synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide promoted the creation of new blood vessels and repaired damaged nerve cells in lab animals, according to researchers.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Peaches, plums induce deliciously promising death of breast cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IH3OWHoVDIg/100602111145.htm
Breast cancer cells -- even the most aggressive type -- died after treatments with peach and plum extracts in lab tests in Texas recently, and scientists say the results are deliciously promising. Not only did the cancerous cells keel over, but the normal cells were not harmed in the process.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
Genetic causes of canine mammary tumors investigated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wRF-PQknaVQ/100601114805.htm
Various forms of cancer are one of the most common causes of death in dogs today. But both diagnosis and methods of treatment for cancer in dogs and cats have developed dramatically in recent years.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
New automated tool 'debugs' nuclear weapon simulations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rKS78DWab60/100601171725.htm
Researchers have created an automated program to "debug" simulations used to more efficiently certify the nation's nuclear weapons.
Thu, 3 Jun 10
How does the human brain memorize a sound?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jv8hj5mP7cM/100601072644.htm
Sound repetition allows us to memorize complex sounds in a very quick, effective and durable way. According to new research, this form of auditory learning is believed to occur in daily li