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Tue, 31 Aug 10
First clear evidence of organized feasting by early humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c9olVNk4aGo/100830152526.htm
Community feasting is one of the most universal and important social behaviors found among humans. Now, scientists have found the earliest clear evidence of organized feasting, from a burial site dated about 12,000 years ago. These remains represent the first archaeological verification that human feasting began before the advent of agriculture.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
People at 'intermediate risk' of heart disease with elevated hsCRP benefit from statin therapy, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ayhHB8xXicU/100824161503.htm
People at intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease who have high levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, a blood marker for inflammation, could benefit from cholesterol-lowering therapy even if their cholesterol is already at desirable levels. Data indicates that people with only a 5 percent to 20 percent risk of having heart disease in the next 10 years, but who have high levels of hsCRP could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by more than 40 percent.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Researchers develop new laboratory cell lines to study treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/18vkO4WtPP4/100825093251.htm
To their deep dismay, researchers discovered several years ago that laboratory samples of anaplastic thyroid cancer they were using to help them find new treatments for this lethal disease were probably some other kind of cancer. It quickly became evident that the situation in their lab was common throughout the world. Up to half of the cell lines that were supposed to originate from patients with this rare thyroid cancer were either colon or melanoma cancer. So, with the cooperation of many researchers nationwide, the researchers set out to create a new set of laboratory ATC cells, derived from tumors donated by patients.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Research produces tools to study stallions' subfertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BSW4oJYeS9c/100826162015.htm
Subfertility of breeding stallions -- meaning the horses are less able to sire foals -- is a well-recognized problem that has caused multi-million-dollar losses in the equine industry, experts say. Researchers believe they are making progress in solving the problem by using an approach that might provide tools and resources necessary to study subfertility without causing stallions the angst of providing testicular samples for testing.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Over 50? You probably prefer negative stories about young people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-qVWc_thQxQ/100830094930.htm
When given a choice, older people prefer to read negative news, rather than positive news, about young adults, a new study suggests. In fact, older readers who chose to read negative stories about young individuals actually get a small boost in their self-esteem, according to the results.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
'Stocky dragon' dinosaur, relative of Velociraptor, terrorized Late Cretaceous Europe
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JZxyi7XXnpY/100830152523.htm
Paleontologists have discovered that a close relative of Velociraptor hunted the dwarfed inhabitants of Late Cretaceous Europe, an island landscape largely isolated from nearby continents. While island animals tend to be smaller and more primitive than their continental cousins, the theropod Balaur bondoc was as large as its relatives on other parts of the globe and demonstrated advanced adaptations including fused bones and two terrifyingly large claws on each hind foot.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Hurts so good: Neural clues to the calming effects of self-harm
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4MBaOXm8bgE/100830114953.htm
The notion that cutting or burning oneself could provide relief from emotional distress is difficult to understand for most people, but it is an experience reported commonly among people who compulsively hurt themselves.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Decongestant use in pregnant women linked to lower risk of preterm birth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6SK-2Go54dg/100830131349.htm
A new study by epidemiologists has found that women who took over-the-counter decongestants during their pregnancies are less likely to give birth prematurely.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Mars's mysterious elongated crater
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sWUEtnEA-0g/100827082326.htm
Orcus Patera is an enigmatic elliptical depression near Mars's equator, in the eastern hemisphere of the planet. Located between the volcanoes of Elysium Mons and Olympus Mons, its formation remains a mystery.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Parenting style: Italians strict, French moderate, Canadians lenient
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l24scuL4ZDg/100830114946.htm
Canadian teenagers enjoy more freedom than French and Italian peers, according to a new study. The investigation examined how parents fashion emotional bonds and exert behavioral control with adolescents.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Stretched polymer snaps back smaller than it started
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8lsWbh7XxsE/100826162017.htm
Crazy bands are cool because no matter how long they've been stretched around a kid's wrist, they always return to their original shape, be it a lion or a kangaroo. Now chemists have found a polymer molecule that's so springy it snaps back from stretching much smaller than it was before.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Smoked medical cannabis may be beneficial as treatment for chronic neuropathic pain, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NsT-NbBZ8B8/100830094926.htm
The medicinal use of cannabis has been debated by clinicians, researchers, legislators and the public at large for many years as an alternative to standard pharmaceutical treatments for pain, which may not always be effective and may have unwanted side effects. A new study provides evidence that cannabis may offer relief to patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Scientists bring new species of turtle out of its shell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PJjNsutJzTw/100826210203.htm
When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations -- the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean. But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in the southeastern United States proves that even in a country considered to be well-explored, perhaps more awaits discovery.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Diagnostic blood test can identify rare lung disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yBbVyybQL2A/100706081543.htm
Researchers have found that a certain blood test can successfully identify lymphangioleiomyomatosis in some patients, eliminating the need for surgical lung biopsy to make a diagnosis.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Batteries for battery powered cars are more environmentally friendly than expected
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C1WIF6i0_0A/100830120945.htm
Battery powered cars will play a major role in future of mobility. What was not known so far, was how environmentally friendly the manufacture, operation and disposal of the batteries are. Researchers have now calculated the ecological footprint of the most commonly used type, the lithium-ion battery. A car with a petrol engine must consume less than 4 liters of fuel per 100km or about 70 mpg (miles per gallon) in order to be as environmentally friendly as modern electric cars.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Eye movements reveal readers' wandering minds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z4RDHtCHZgM/100830120943.htm
It's not just you -- everybody zones out when they're reading. Scientists recorded eye movements during reading and found that the eyes keep moving when the mind wanders -- but they don't move in the same way as they do when you're paying attention.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Octopus mimics flatfish and flaunts it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6HFSWzY3J6Y/100826093208.htm
The mimic octopus, which can imitate flatfish and sea snakes to dupe potential predators, may well be the king of impersonation. By creatively configuring its limbs, adopting characteristic undulating movements, and displaying conspicuous color patterns, the mimic octopus can successfully pass for a number of different creatures that share its habitat, several of which are toxic. Now, scientists have conducted DNA analysis to determine how this remarkable adaptation evolved.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
First genetic link to common migraine exposed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4OZtF3luXYo/100829201954.htm
Researchers have found the first ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine. The team found that patients with the DNA variant have a significantly greater risk for developing migraine and suggest that an accumulation of a chemical known as glutamate in nerve cell junctions in the brain may play a key role in the initiation of migraine attacks. The research opens the door for new studies into migraine in humans.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
System uses electrical trickery on the brain to induce realistic spaceflight effects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mg26Rv42R9o/100824132351.htm
Researchers have developed a system that can safely induce the sensory and mobility disturbances astronauts often experience when returning to Earth, making it an excellent operational training tool. The Galvanic vestibular stimulation system delivers small amounts of current to a person's vestibular nerve, mimicking sensorimotor disturbances that can affect an astronaut's ability to walk and stand and impact their ability to land a spacecraft.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Amphetamine use increases risk of aortic tears in young adults, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kJpPgjBoptk/100816114833.htm
Young adults who abuse amphetamines may be at greater risk of suffering a tear in the main artery leading from the heart.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Forest fire smoke in the stratosphere: New insights into pyrocumulonimbus clouds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/phsfcnH1Mwc/100826122612.htm
Meteorologists are now discovering that changes in the frequency of occurrence and intensity of wildfires has substantial consequences for a variety of important problems including atmospheric changes. Superimposed on this important topic is a relatively new discovery: forest fire smoke in the stratosphere, an area of the atmosphere that begins nearly 38 thousand feet above the Earth's surface. As a result, a poorly understood aspect of wildfire behavior -- pyrocumulonimbus firestorm dynamics and atmospheric impact -- is becoming the focus of increasing attention.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
How information is coded in the brain: New theory about signal propagation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eVGqUstfQNg/100827101917.htm
For more than fifty years, the neuroscience community has been engaged in an intensive debate on how information is coded in the brain and transmitted reliably from one brain region to the next. Mutually exclusive coding systems have been proposed and are being energetically supported. Scientists in Germany have now demonstrated that earlier studies were based on rather extreme propositions.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
New view of tectonic plates: Computer modeling of Earth's mantle flow, plate motions, and fault zones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0V7CClt9fZ0/100827092828.htm
Computational scientists and geophysicists have developed new computer algorithms that for the first time allow for the simultaneous modeling of Earth's mantle flow, large-scale tectonic plate motions, and the behavior of individual fault zones, to produce an unprecedented view of plate tectonics and the forces that drive it.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
New genetic risk factor for Lou Gehrig's disease identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nxpkZ1E8hHI/100825131441.htm
Biologists and neuroscientists have identified a new genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
'Biosensors' on four feet detect animals infected with bird flu
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/idLhWDoTfrA/100824231216.htm
Blood hounds, cadaver dogs, and other canines who serve humanity may soon have a new partner -- disease detector dogs -- thanks to an unusual experiment in which scientists trained mice to identify feces of ducks infected with bird influenza. The proof-of-concept study may pave the way for development of "biosensors on four feet" that warn of infection with influenza and other diseases.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
More than 20,000 sledding injuries each year, according to new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dHCyzsfuFL4/100823080622.htm
Although sledding is a popular winter pastime, it can unfortunately lead to serious injury. A new study found that from 1997-2007, an estimated 229,023 children and adolescents younger than 19 years were treated in US hospital emergency departments for sledding-related injuries -- an average of more than 20,000 cases each year.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet from a grounded electrode
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yD1DYV7bAhY/100824171630.htm
Because they are portable and easy to operate at ambient temperatures, cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) should find innovative applications in biomedicine, materials science and fabrication industries. New research investigates an APPJ that extends from the ground electrode of a circuit.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Cinnamon extracts may reduce risk of diabetes and heart disease, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3HyastXpjpI/100824103637.htm
A water soluble extract of cinnamon, which contains antioxidative compounds, could help reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and heart disease, a new study suggests.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Hyperspectral imaging speeds detection of Campylobacter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nNLbPC4Acro/100825161127.htm
A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms as quickly as 24 hours after a sample is placed on solid media in a Petri dish, according to a new study.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Study contradicts reports of problems with blood-thinner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TlgdsFUhsBY/100829202015.htm
New findings contradict earlier reports that people with a certain genetic make-up don't benefit from the blood-thinner clopidogrel, also known as Plavix.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Progress on vaccine for 'Ich,' bane of fish farms and home aquarium hobbyists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PgoGR4yli3I/100826162005.htm
Tests of the potential vaccine against "Ich" -- the dreaded "white-spot" disease that plagues fish in commercial fish farms, public aquariums, pet fish retail outlets and home aquariums -- are raising hopes for finally controlling the disease, scientists report.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Socioeconomic status predicts survival of Canadian cancer patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n7llTzJR-Og/100802073939.htm
A new analysis finds that cancer patients from poorer communities have a greater chance of dying prematurely than individuals from more affluent backgrounds even though cancer stage at time of diagnosis is similar across socioeconomic groups.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Core knowledge of tree fruit expands with apple genome sequencing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wq3A_LahCYY/100829201952.htm
An international team of scientists from Italy, France, New Zealand, Belgium and the US have published a draft sequence of the domestic apple genome. The sequence will allow scientists to more rapidly identify which genes provide desirable characteristics to the fruit and which genes and gene variants provide disease or drought resistance to the plant. This information can be used to rapidly improve the plants through more informed selective breeding.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Making an explosive double date with Russian volcanoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Jsevok4BDjU/100825093653.htm
Two French scientists are traveling to one of the remotest places on Earth, the Kamchatka peninsula, to piece together the complex life story of two volcanoes. Kamchatka is a unique site for studying how volcanic cycles shaped the landscape of the early Earth.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Tests to assess Down syndrome created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p3yS5ekGcx8/100826113302.htm
The Arizona Cognitive Test Battery can quickly assess the cognitive abilities of persons with Down syndrome. It gives clinicians and other researchers a tool to help determine the life trajectory of those with the genetic disorder as well as aid in the development of treatments.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding development of new medicines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r2NHkGtAZ8A/100823092643.htm
An unlikely effort is underway to lift the veil of nearly total secrecy that has surrounded the process of developing new prescription drugs for the last century. The upheaval in traditional practice would make key data available to college students, university professors, and others in an open, collective process.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Factors which predict alcohol use after liver transplantation identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l0EHOCfrwc8/100819074354.htm
Patients who receive a liver transplant due to alcoholic liver disease need to demonstrate periods of abstinence and often attend addiction treatment before transplantation. However, alcohol use disorders can recur, as can other diseases requiring transplantation, and thus alcohol use after liver transplantation is not uncommon.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Impact hypothesis loses its sparkle: Shock-synthesized diamonds said to prove catastrophic impact killed off N. American megafauna can't be found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hdAK6ZMnDCM/100830152530.htm
The warming that following the last Ice Age was interrupted by a cold snap that killed off megafauna such as the giant ground sloth and the woolly mammoth. Could this crisis have been caused by an asteroid impact or a comet breaking up in the atmosphere? Unfortunately the geological evidence for such a dramatic event has not stood up to scrutiny. In a new study, a group of scientists challenges the catastrophists last, best hope: shock-synthesized nanodiamonds.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
'Co-conspirator' cells could hold key to melanoma prediction, prevention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_zF6FE5vYds/100830193005.htm
New research on how skin cancer begins has identified adjacent cancer cells that scientists are calling "co-conspirators" in the genesis of melanoma, in findings that could someday hold the key to predicting, preventing and stopping this hard-to-treat cancer before it spreads.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Multiple sclerosis activity changes with the seasons, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aNSl9hvH_D0/100830192931.htm
New research shows that multiple sclerosis activity can increase during spring and summer months.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Workers rate safety most important workplace issue in new Labor Day study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E16HkZk1lc4/100830192958.htm
More than eight of ten workers -- 85 percent -- rate workplace safety first in importance among labor standards, even ahead of family and maternity leave, minimum wage, paid sick days, overtime pay and the right to join a union, according to a new study. Despite widespread public concern about workplace safety, the study also found that the media and the public tend to pay closest attention to safety issues when disastrous workplace accidents occur.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Why proper nutrition is so vital in fighting infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OAra68Sa1_g/100830192956.htm
Researchers in Canada may be able to explain why proper nutrition is so vital in fighting infection. They have discovered an amino acid, called arginine, is required to let the body know that it's being attacked by an infection.

Tue, 31 Aug 10
Devastating psychological effects of BP Gulf disaster explored
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/61R00UQGV_Y/100830192948.htm
Anger, depression and helplessness are the main psychological responses being seen in response to the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and they are likely to have long-lasting effects, according to experts.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Liver cells created from patients' skin cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aYOvoOTNKTc/100825131546.htm
By creating diseased liver cells from a small sample of human skin, scientists have now shown that stem cells can be used to model a diverse range of inherited disorders. The researchers' findings will hopefully lead to new treatments for those suffering from liver diseases.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Mumps vaccine coverage should be improved, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N_wkigDslzc/100824161509.htm
Although immunity to mumps is high in the United States, mumps vaccine coverage must be maintained and improved to prevent future outbreaks, according to a new study.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Tiny gulf sea creature could shed light on oil spill’s impact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vUoGQcLYRxY/100826205734.htm
A molecular biologist will soon bring dozens of tiny, transparent animals that live in Gulf Coast waters back to his campus laboratory as part of an effort to better understand the oil spill's long-term impact on the coastal environment and creatures living there.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Exposure to low doses of BPA alters gene expression in the fetal mouse ovary
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FJz49LzvaFw/100825093249.htm
A new study finds that exposure of pregnant female mice to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A may produce adverse reproductive consequences on gene expression in fetal ovaries as early as 12 hours after the mother has first been exposed to the chemical.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Tiny logo demonstrates advanced display technology using nano-thin metal sheets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rRkRDPmK-SM/100825093303.htm
In a step toward more efficient, smaller and higher-definition display screens, a researcher has developed a new type of color filter made of nano-thin sheets of metal with precisely spaced gratings.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Anguish of romantic rejection may be linked to stimulation of areas of brain related to motivation, reward and addiction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w_OjWCvS_LM/100722142201.htm
Breaking up really is hard to do, and a recent study found evidence that it may be partly due to the areas of the brain that are active during this difficult time.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pt7pwwKrn_w/100826104135.htm
The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. A mechanical engineer is using the new material, based on the structure of a gecko foot, to keep his robots climbing.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Medicine reaches the target with the help of magnets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IjlXyVFdZ-c/100826083801.htm
If a drug can be guided to the right place in the body, the treatment is more effective and there are fewer side-effects. Researchers in Sweden have now developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be directed to metallic implants such as artificial knee joints, hip joints and stents in the coronary arteries.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Bacteria make thrift a habit, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BzjwaxKmt00/100826122614.htm
In these lean times, smart consumers refuse to pay a lot for throwaway items, but will shell out a little more for products that can be used again and again. The same is true of bacteria and other microbes, researchers have learned.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Surgical robot could be used for long-distance regional anesthesia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I8uq9mNRfwY/100826205340.htm
An existing surgical robot could be used to perform complex regional anesthesia procedures -- in theory, allowing expert anesthesiologists to perform robot-assisted procedures from remote locations, according to a new study.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Ugly Betty forced to aim for Average Joe, house sparrow study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_iDpBGq7Zi8/100827082151.htm
Less-pretty female house sparrows tend to lower their aim when selecting a mate. Addressing the lack of studies on condition-dependency of female mate choice, evolutionary biologists found that female sparrows of a low quality prefer males of an equally low quality.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Scientists unveil structure of adenovirus, the largest high-resolution complex ever found
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WlKSfZtaQTg/100826141225.htm
After more than a decade of research, scientists have pieced together the structure of a human adenovirus -- the largest complex ever determined at atomic resolution.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Fluoride in water prevents adult tooth loss, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Hl-DHfgfWJ4/100826212037.htm
Children drinking water with added fluoride helps dental health in adulthood decades later, a new study finds.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Ant colonies shed light on metabolism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UOsl1d1Zi-k/100826141228.htm
Ants are usually regarded as the unwanted guests at a picnic. But a recent study of California seed harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex californicus) examining their metabolic rate in relation to colony size may lead to a better appreciation for the social, six-legged insects, whose colonies researchers say provide a theoretical framework for understanding cellular networks.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
Genetic test finds healthiest fish for breeding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oriUlhvuT-Q/100823100130.htm
A Norwegian company has developed a new genetic test that quickly determines which salmon have the highest resistance to the IPN virus. The recently launched commercial product could mean a breakthrough in the battle against this costly disease.

Sun, 29 Aug 10
How badly does it hurt? Research examines the biomedical diagnosis of pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CjxIvC-91vc/100816142116.htm
Sociology research investigates the challenges of patients experiencing pain symptoms that don't visibly turn up on any test.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Distant star's sound waves reveal cycle similar to the sun's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1dqcN20faLk/100826141219.htm
In a bid to unlock longstanding mysteries of the sun, including the impacts on Earth of its 11-year cycle, an international team of scientists has successfully probed a distant star. By monitoring the star's sound waves, the team has observed a magnetic cycle analogous to the sun's solar cycle.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Baby's first full diaper can reveal mother's smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mycMYUp8z6o/100827082153.htm
Meconium, the dark and tarry stools passed by a baby during the first few days after birth, can be used to determine how much the mother smoked, or if she was exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Researchers measured tobacco smoke metabolites in meconium samples from 337 babies, finding that they correlated well with reported smoke exposure and other markers of tobacco smoke exposure.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Black rice rivals pricey blueberries as source of healthful antioxidants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nmbIsm0TOiA/100826093202.htm
Health conscious consumers who hesitate at the price of fresh blueberries and blackberries, fruits renowned for high levels of healthful antioxidants, now have an economical alternative. It is black rice, one variety of which got the moniker "forbidden rice" in ancient China because nobles commandeered every grain for themselves and forbade the common people from eating it.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Rectal cancer rates are rising in young individuals, analysis finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GyBn0PI4-C0/100823080627.htm
A new analysis has found that while colon cancer rates have remained steady over the past several decades among people under the age of 40, rectal cancer rates are increasing in this population across races and in both sexes.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
New model to help organize, keep private 'vast ocean' of social network data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/obTgeRMwojs/100826215935.htm
Researchers have developed a new model to manage the "vast ocean" of user-generated content being generated by the ever-growing social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Autism and schizophrenia: Family history may not always be a good indicator
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oxdW_R2XW_o/100826122610.htm
Family history may not be a good predictor of the presence of mutations predisposing to autism or schizophrenia, a new study suggests. The findings show how new or de novo gene mutations -- alterations of the cell's DNA -- play a role in these devastating conditions.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Shrinking atmospheric layer linked to low levels of solar radiation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DkEbVtSIPbk/100826152217.htm
Scientists link a recent, temporary shrinking of a high atmospheric layer with a sharp drop in the sun's ultraviolet radiation levels.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Moms who don't breastfeed more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ls9r5UOsWlg/100827082144.htm
Mothers who did not breastfeed their children have significantly higher rates of type 2 diabetes later in life than moms who breastfed, a new study finds. Twenty-seven percent of mothers who did not breastfeed developed type 2 diabetes and were almost twice as likely to develop the disease as women who had breastfed or never given birth.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Grapefruit's bitter taste holds a sweet promise for diabetes therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PRM1Xye0tGA/100825174110.htm
A new study demonstrates the mechanism by which a single grapefruit compound controls fat and glucose metabolism, replacing multiple drugs.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Vaccine has cut child cases of bacterial pneumonia, says study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kWAuWdKWdZA/100827082149.htm
The number of children admitted to English hospitals with bacterial pneumonia decreased by a fifth in the two years following the introduction of a vaccine to combat the disease, according to a new study.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Lethal backfire: Green odor with fatal consequences for voracious caterpillars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sy7AFvk-33M/100826141217.htm
During field studies, scientists discovered that the oral secretions of tobacco hornworm larvae contain a particular substance that promptly alters a green leaf volatile in tobacco leaves into an odor attractant signal. With this signal, called (E)-2-hexenal, they unintentionally lure their own enemies: carnivorous bugs. These bugs start their piercing attacks not only against freshly hatched caterpillar babies; they also devour eggs laid by the female moths.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Experimental treatments for cocaine addiction may prevent relapse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bWc1T7lNhAI/100826141341.htm
The drug disulfiram, used for years to deter recovering alcoholics from drinking, also can treat cocaine addiction. Disulfiram prevents rats from seeking cocaine after a break, a model for addicts tempted to relapse. Disulfiram appears to work by inhibiting the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which is required for the production of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. A selective inhibitor of that enzyme, nepicastat, is also effective in the same model of cocaine relapse.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Wheat's genetic code cracked: Draft sequence coverage of genome to aid global food shortage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/95uieacoO2M/100827082155.htm
A team of UK researchers has publicly released the first sequence coverage of the wheat genome. The release is a step towards a fully annotated genome and makes a significant contribution to efforts to support global food security.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Frog skin may provide 'kiss of death' for antibiotic-resistant germs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LyAIGBpnsEs/100826113256.htm
Kissing a frog won't turn it into a prince -- except in fairy-tales -- but frogs may be hopping toward a real-world transformation into princely allies in humanity's battle with antibiotic-resistant infections that threaten millions of people. Scientists reported that frog skin contains substances that could be the basis for a new genre of antibiotics.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Mayan water reservoir in Mexican rainforest: Archaeologists find huge artificial lake with ceramic-lined floor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NzMUmnqjRmM/100826083803.htm
Archaeologists have found an almost seven-foot-deep water reservoir the size of a soccer field, whose floor is lined with ceramic shards, in the Mexican rainforest. It seems that in combination with the limestone on top, the shards were supposed to seal the artificial lake. The system was built about 1,500 years ago. It is the first example of this design found for the Maya. It is not yet known whether the reservoir's entire floor is tiled.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Neuron-damaging mechanism discovered in mouse model of inherited ALS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aoCEAVnkZrs/100825131538.htm
New research uncovers what may be a primary neuron-damaging insult that occurs in an inherited form of a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. The study describes a critical mechanistic link between a mutant protein and disease pathogenesis in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Sat, 28 Aug 10
On organic coffee farm, complex interactions keep pests under control
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WVKKgDOIzR0/100826122620.htm
Proponents of organic farming often speak of nature's balance in ways that sound almost spiritual, prompting criticism that their views are unscientific and naive. At the other end of the spectrum are those who see farms as battlefields where insect pests and plant diseases must be vanquished with the magic bullets of modern agriculture: pesticides, fungicides and the like.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Smoking can increase depressive symptoms in teens, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zgy0ub2HYaw/100827102551.htm
While some teenagers may puff on cigarettes to "self-medicate" against the blues, scientists have found that smoking may actually increase depressive symptoms in some adolescents.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Fertilizer chemicals linked to animal developmental woes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/noNZ0Dhts2I/100827192023.htm
Fertilizer chemicals may pose a bigger hazard to the environment -- specifically to creatures that live in water -- than originally foreseen, according to new research. Toxicologists show that water fleas take up nitrates and nitrites -- common chemicals used primarily in agriculture as fertilizers -- and convert those chemicals into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can be toxic to many organisms.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Tuning into cell signals that tell where sensory organs will form inside the ear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PR0ty4jJ6ps/100827134818.htm
Researchers have tracked a cell-to-cell pathway that designates the future location of the ear's sensory organs in embryonic mice. The scientists succeeded in activating this signal more widely across the embronic tissue that forms the inner ear. Patches of sensory structures began growing in spots where they don't normally appear. The results suggest an avenue for further investigation in restoring hearing loss and correcting balance problems from nerve damage in the inner ear.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Body mass index and thrombogenic factors in newly menopausal women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lxqqHm1AztY/100827134816.htm
A study of a subset of women in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study suggests that as BMI increases, so do platelet reactivity and thrombogenic microvesicles and activated protein C in the blood -- all of which contribute to the formation of atherothrombosis and associated cardiovascular events.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Sodium MRI gives new insights into detecting osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9wEmjJETIVg/100827112942.htm
Researchers have developed an innovative way to look at the development of osteoarthritis in the knee joint -- one that relies on the examination of sodium ions in cartilage.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Burning invasive juniper trees boosts perennial grass recovery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5gMTRAJVmcI/100827112940.htm
Controlling juniper trees by cutting them down and burning them where they fall keeps invasive cheatgrass at bay and allows native perennials to become re-established, according to new findings.

Sat, 28 Aug 10
Wonder of the Natural World: Key to Christmas Island's red crab migration discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9oZ1CQxznBc/100827102549.htm
One of the most spectacular migrations on Earth is that of the Christmas Island red crab. Acknowledged as one of the wonders of the natural world, every year millions of the crabs simultaneously embark on a five-kilometer breeding migration. Now, scientists have discovered the key to their remarkable athletic feat.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
NASA's Kepler mission discovers two planets transiting same star
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HcBcVOx59Gk/100826142952.htm
NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the first confirmed planetary system with more than one planet crossing in front of, or transiting, the same star.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Secondhand smoke may provoke inflammatory response in lungs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v0XXoO2lRnk/100826141230.htm
Secondhand smoke is associated with a number of diseases and conditions, including cancer, heart disease and emphysema. It is an irritant to lung tissue and blood vessels, but the processes through which the body reacts to second-hand smoke is a mystery scientists are beginning to unravel. Researchers are now studying how second-hand smoke affects the lungs of rats. So far it appears that second-hand smoke triggers a complex inflammatory response.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Artificial enzyme removes natural poison
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X_443xrpwK0/100826122624.htm
For the first time ever, a completely artificial chemical enzyme has been successfully used to neutralize a toxin found naturally in fruits and vegetables. This is the first evidence that it's possible to design artificial enzymes for this class of task, and might result in a completely new way of designing drug-targets.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Researchers closer to development of drug to prevent deadly immune response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3xVetXo-nI8/100826182508.htm
Researchers have isolated a molecule, small enough to be used as a drug, that can shut down a dysfunctional -- and at times, deadly -- immune response known as the complement system.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Prediction of intrinsic magnetism at silicon surfaces could lead to single-spin magnetoelectronics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8VYwdXBoki8/100826122622.htm
The integration of single-spin magnetoelectronics into standard silicon technology may soon be possible, if experiments confirm a new theoretical prediction made by physicists.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Our best and worst moments occur within social relationships, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VeGFQruorvg/100826182510.htm
In the first study of its kind, researchers have found compelling evidence that our best and worst experiences in life are likely to involve not individual accomplishments, but interaction with other people and the fulfillment of an urge for social connection.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Genomes of two ant species sequenced: Clues to their extraordinary social behavior
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qhfnfRnLRnI/100826141221.htm
Scientists have finally sequenced the entire genome of an ant, actually two very different species of ant, and the insights gleaned from their genetic blueprints are already yielding tantalizing clues to the extraordinary social behavior of ants.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Light, circadian rhythms affect vast range of physiological, behavioral functions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e16bNrOPtws/100826141329.htm
A new study of the genetic basis of circadian rhythms -- the biological responses related to daily light exposure -- has found that a few minutes of light exposure in a fungus directly affects a huge range of its biological functions, everything from reproduction to coloring and DNA repair.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
NASA's SOFIA will likely help solve mysteries about our galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JwPng6y6aDc/100825200140.htm
How were millions of young stars able to form at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in the presence of an enormous black hole with a mass 4 million times that of the sun? This and other important questions may be answered by the NASA mission SOFIA, which is scheduled to make its first scientific measurements in the next few months.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Vitamin A increases the presence of HIV in breast milk, studies suggest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k-ZxqFow02o/100826182506.htm
Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are unsafe for HIV-positive women who breastfeed because they may boost the excretion of HIV in breast milk -- thereby increasing the chances of transmitting the infection to the child, a pair of new studies suggest.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Scientists concerned about environmental impact of recycling of e-waste
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x2-chdbjTEM/100826141335.htm
Much of the world's electronic waste is being shipped to China for recycling and the cottage industry that has sprung up there to recover usable materials from computers, cell phones, televisions and other goods may be creating significant health and environmental hazards.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Attention, couch potatoes! Walking boosts brain connectivity, function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OPFnKq9Lsug/100826141327.htm
A group of "professional couch potatoes," as one researcher described them, has proven that even moderate exercise -- in this case walking at one's own pace for 40 minutes three times a week -- can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
El Niños are growing stronger, NASA/NOAA study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jn5h7Y892n4/100825200657.htm
A relatively new type of El Niño, which has its warmest waters in the central-equatorial Pacific Ocean, rather than in the eastern-equatorial Pacific, is becoming more common and progressively stronger, according to a new study by NASA and NOAA. The research may improve our understanding of the relationship between El Niños and climate change, and has potentially significant implications for long-term weather forecasting.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Analysis of Ashkenazi Jewish genomes reveals diversity, history
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lVbfEvwMdGY/100826141331.htm
Through genomic analysis, researchers have shown that the Ashkenazi Jewish population is genetically more diverse than people of European descent, despite previous assumptions that Ashkenazi Jews have been an isolated population. In addition, analyses of disease-related genes of higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population indicate that only a minority of traits show signs of positive selection, suggesting that most have arisen through random genetic drift.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Novel mechanism protects plants against freezing; Insights could add to understanding of drought tolerance also
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hzd5Ed4cYow/100826141213.htm
New nesearch helps explain how plants protect themselves from freezing temperatures and could lead to discoveries related to plant tolerance for drought and other extreme conditions.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Macrophages: The 'defense' cells that help throughout the body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8jvisNISNvA/100826141232.htm
The term "macrophage" conjures images of a hungry white blood cell gobbling invading bacteria. However, macrophages do much more than that: Not only do they act as antimicrobial warriors, they also play critical roles in immune regulation and wound-healing. They can respond to a variety of cellular signals and change their physiology in response to local cues.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Genetic rarity found: A mutation that restores health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ft2wmbSaOZk/100826141223.htm
Errors in the copying of genes during cell division can cause numerous diseases, including cancer. Scientists, however, have unraveled the secrets of a much more rare phenomenon with potential therapeutic implications -- disease-causing genes that show a high frequency of self-repair.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Two heads are better than one -- with the right partner
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hll9Urv-1tE/100826141215.htm
In the new age of coalition governments, the question of whether two heads are better than one is more relevant than ever. Neuroscientists now show that two heads can be better than one -- but only if you have the right partner.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
First 3-D atomic view of key genetic processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zoAXkSDpDrc/100825131453.htm
Scientists have created the first 3-D picture of genetic processes that happen inside every cell of our bodies. The picture is the first-ever image of a protein interacting with DNA in its tightly packed "nucleosome" form. The research, which reveals new information about genetic processes, is expected to aid future investigations into diseases such as cancer.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Fat serves as cells' built-in pH sensor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ugvwqdzTvro/100826141339.htm
A specific type of fat present in cell membranes also serves as a cellular pH sensor, researchers have discovered.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
'Greening' your flat screen TV: Engineers develop an organic LED light source for home electronics, medicine and clean energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QWb8HGOGndg/100825131554.htm
An estimated 70 percent of heavy metals in US landfills come from discarded electronics, and as big screen TVs get less expensive, environmental costs continue to mount. To remedy this, researchers are applying organic nano-technology to "green" the optics and electronics industry. Their technology could make flat screen TV production more environmentally friendly and can even make medical devices more sensitive.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Researchers urge reclassification of traumatic brain injury as chronic disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cC3zF2Cjtts/100826182504.htm
Traumatic brain injury, currently considered a singular event by the insurance industry and many health care providers, is instead the beginning of an ongoing process that impacts multiple organ systems and may cause or accelerate other diseases and disorders that can reduce life expectancy, according to new research.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Adulteration of milk products and pet food with melamine underscores weaknesses of traditional methods, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uAr_KO3X9_o/100826162007.htm
Recent incidents of adulteration involving infant formula, other milk products and pet food with the industrial chemical melamine revealed the weaknesses of current methods widely used across the domestic and global food industry for determining protein content in foods. The possible utility of alternative existing and emerging methods is the subject of a new paper.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Students need help to save money, but don't always know it, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ggZfRsAamC4/100825161131.htm
Students could use help saving more money, but they don't always know it. If they were offered a simple way to do so, would they take it? A new study suggests the answer is no. And the reason is that their very good intentions can give rise to a sense of optimism that leads them to undervalue opportunities that could make it easier to actually achieve a long-term savings goal.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
North American continent is a layer cake, scientists discover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ij2hGVHa7AI/100825131445.htm
The North American continent is not one thick, rigid slab, but a layer cake of ancient, 3-billion-year-old rock on top of much newer material probably less than 1 billion years old, according to a new study by seismologists. The new findings also indicate that the continent grew by addition of rock from subducting ocean floor, not by mantle plume upwelling from below.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Nerve cell production linked to memory in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uL77tBivFZ4/100826113258.htm
Production of new nerve cells in the human brain is linked to learning and memory, according to a new study. The research is the first to show such a link in humans. The findings provide clues about processes involved in age- and health-related memory loss and reveal potential cellular targets for drug therapy.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Healthy ears hear the first sound, ignoring the echoes, barn owl study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0_e86Lqw5dg/100826093204.htm
Voices carry, reflect off objects and create echoes. Most people rarely hear the echoes; instead they only process the first sound received. For the hard of hearing, though, being in an acoustically challenging room can be a problem. For them, echoes carry.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
More research needed on cardiovascular disease in Asian-Americans, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oULBIKPaTnk/100823162316.htm
There are marked differences in heart disease risk and occurrence among Asian-American subgroups, but data on these subgroups is limited, prompting the American Heart Association to call for more research on this fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the U.S., according to experts in a new statement.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Coral off Puerto Rico's coast 'ideal case study' for Gulf oil spill's impact
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/woB6J35GtQM/100825103826.htm
Coral living off the coast of Puerto Rico may provide researchers valuable information about the potential impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Child abuse declines nationally in U.S. in spite of economic deterioration, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nisWs0SCuz4/100824082331.htm
Child abuse declined nationally in the United States in 2008 compared to 2007, according to a new report. Sexual abuse declined 6 percent, physical abuse 3 percent and neglect 2 percent.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Some asteroids live in own little worlds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R6Jbp_7AiD8/100825131449.htm
While the common perception of asteroids is that they are giant rocks lumbering about in orbit, a new study shows they actually are constantly changing "little worlds" that can give birth to smaller asteroids that split off to start their own lives as they circle around the sun.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Toward safer foods for human consumption with anthrax protection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9EUuFBDHHls/100826104133.htm
An antibacterial enzyme found in human tears and other body fluids could be applied to certain foods for protection against intentional contamination with anthrax, scientists say.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Ants use multiple antibiotics as weed killers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/inUayi7Bl84/100826122629.htm
Fungus-farming ants are using multiple antibiotics as weed killers to maintain their fungus gardens, according to new research. This is reminiscent of the use of multi-drug therapy to treat infections in humans. The work has also identified a new antibiotic that could be used to treat fungal infections.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Fat distribution plays a role in weight loss success in patients at risk of diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BqZxH4KVw1Q/100824132355.htm
Why is it that some people lose weight and body fat when they exercise and eat less and others don't? Researchers say MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy can provide the answer -- and help predict who will benefit from lifestyle changes.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
'Soyscreen': Sunscreen for fungus to expand biological control of crop pests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HZCQ0K5cRCc/100825103822.htm
Scientists report the development and successful initial tests on a substance that acts as a sunscreen for the microscopic spores of a fungus, brightening prospects for wider use of the fungus as a means of wiping out insect pests that attack food crops.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
'Legacy of Katrina' report details impact of stalled recovery on mental health status of children
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j64LTj9L6zU/100823080629.htm
Five years after Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans caused the evacuation of 1.5 million Gulf Coast residents, substantial consequences from this prolonged displacement have resulted in widespread mental health issues in children living in the region, and 60 percent of children -- as many as 20,000 -- displaced by Katrina either have serious emotional disorders behavioral issues and/or are experiencing significant housing instability.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Use the common cold virus to target and disrupt cancer cells?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0T6VLsSIcUo/100825131447.htm
A novel mechanism used by adenovirus to sidestep the cell's suicide program could go a long way to explain how tumor suppressor genes are silenced in tumor cells and pave the way for a new type of targeted cancer therapy, researchers report.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
A moment on the lips, a year on the hips
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2tL3XUn0LjM/100824191602.htm
A short period of excess food consumption can have long term effects on your body weight and fat storage even after the initial weight is lost. A new study has found that a four-week episode of increased energy intake and decreased exercise can cause increased weight and fat mass more than two years later when compared to control individuals.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Supplement produces a 'striking' endurance boost
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5TcLaPZ2irI/100826104137.htm
Taking a dietary supplement to boost nitric oxide in the body can significantly boost stamina during high-intensity exercise. The study has important implications for athletes, as results suggest that taking the supplement can allow people to exercise up to 20 percent longer and could produce a 1-2 percent improvement in race times.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Early diagnosis of degenerative brain disorders: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can distinguish between neurological diseases in patients without clear symptoms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zwr22aiy9X0/100825093259.htm
A team of American scientists claims that a new method of testing for neurological diseases could provide doctors with a rapid and noninvasive method of diagnosing degenerative disorders. The research reveals that magnetic resonance spectroscopy can distinguish between different disorders in patients, allowing earlier diagnosis.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Tofu ingredient yields formaldehyde-free glue for plywood and other wood products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KfI9cKemywg/100825131455.htm
In a real-life "back to the future" story, scientists have reported that the sustainable, environmentally-friendly process that gave birth to plywood a century ago is re-emerging as a "green" alternative to wood adhesives made from petroleum. Researchers have described development of new soy-based glues that use a substance in soy milk and tofu and could mean a new generation of more eco-friendly furniture, cabinets, flooring and other wood products.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Federal school lunches -- but not breakfasts -- linked to childhood obesity, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CrzyC_Ra81U/100824141406.htm
Children who eat school lunches that are part of the U.S. federal government's National School Lunch Program are more likely to become overweight, according to new research. Yet children who eat both the breakfast and lunch sponsored by the federal government are less heavy than children who don't participate in either, and than children who eat only the lunch, says an economist.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
'Dry water' could make a big splash commercially, help fight global warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Kolx50uYc0k/100825174102.htm
An unusual substance known as "dry water," which resembles powdered sugar, could provide a new way to absorb and store carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, scientists report.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes linked to plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r1ezwxMMOhs/100825174104.htm
People with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes appear to be at an increased risk of developing plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to new research.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Cement, the glue that holds oyster families together
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jluTbtwf35g/100825174114.htm
Researchers have shown that oysters produce a unique adhesive material for affixing themselves to each other, a cement that differs from the glues used by other marine organisms.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
How the brain shifts between sleep/awake states under anesthesia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NYS2oi1-ack/100826104212.htm
An estimated 25 million patients per year in the U.S. undergo surgeries using general anesthesia, but scientists have only been able to hypothesize how anesthetics interact with the CNS. Now, researchers have established in animal models that the brain comes in and out of a state of induced unconsciousness through different processes.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
WISE space telescope captures the Unicorn's Rose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/71VXII6lizA/100825200522.htm
Unicorns and roses are usually the stuff of fairy tales, but a new cosmic image taken by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE) shows the Rosette nebula located within the constellation Monoceros, or the Unicorn. This flower-shaped nebula, also known by the less romantic name NGC 2237, is a huge star-forming cloud of dust and gas in our Milky Way galaxy. Estimates of the nebula's distance vary from 4,500 to 5,000 light-years away.

Fri, 27 Aug 10
Why do consumers disclose sensitive information to shady-looking websites?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ReJsTkQKiE/100824103635.htm
Many consumers need help recognizing when their privacy is compromised, according to a new study.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Freeze or run? Not that simple: Scientists discover neural switch that controls fear
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/urFyjP7TDGc/100825131548.htm
Scientists have identified the specific type of neurons that determine how mice react to a frightening stimulus, showing that deciding whether or not to freeze in fear is a more complex task for our brains than we realized.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Cold salt water reduces damage in heart attack patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SCuU8hFdrL8/100825093545.htm
Treating heart attack patients with hypothermia reduces the amount of heart damage by more than one third after balloon angioplasty. Researchers in Sweden have released the results of a study showing that the amount of heart damage in heart attack patients whose body temperature was lower than 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) was reduced by more than one third after they were treated with balloon angioplasty to open their clogged heart vessel.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Serengeti highway would disrupt world's greatest migration, conservationists warn
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YzdIV-O90p0/100825103824.htm
The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London are requesting that the Government of Tanzania reconsider the proposed construction of a commercial road through the world's best known wildlife sanctuary -- Serengeti National Park -- and recommend that alternative routes be used that can meet the transportation needs of the region without disrupting the greatest remaining migration of large land animals in the world.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
A dog's life: Physiotherapy for arthritic pets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JvPlvDV8qY8/100825093257.htm
Animals with osteoarthritis are generally offered the same types of physiotherapy as humans, although most of the methods have not been directly tested on animals. Recent work addresses this deficit and shows that relatively simple measures such as walking uphill or over low obstacles can significantly help the bending of dogs' joints and thus mitigate the suffering caused by arthritis.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Growing drought-tolerant crops inching forward
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JU9MHPhRwXw/100825151630.htm
A team of scientists has used the tools of structural biology to understand how a synthetic chemical mimics abscisic acid (ABA), a key stress hormone that helps plants cope with adverse environmental conditions such as drought.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
All may not be as it seems: College students, alcohol and sex
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9EOn3hS3lBo/100825093322.htm
College students are less likely to let their female friends engage in risky sexual behavior after a night of drinking alcohol, according to a recent study.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Solar System may be 2 million years older than we thought, meteorite analysis suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eqvoOa2-nZQ/100825112300.htm
Timescales of early Solar System processes rely on precise, accurate and consistent ages obtained with radiometric dating. However, recent advances in instrumentation now allow scientists to make more precise measurements, some of which are revealing inconsistencies in the ages of samples. Seeking better constraints on the age of the Solar System, researchers analyzed meteorite Northwest Africa (NWA) 2364 and found that the age of the Solar System predates previous estimates by up to 1.9 million years.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Antiviral gene helps suppress jumping of AIDS viruses between host species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rWmn_jaaS_8/100824171616.htm
The human AIDS viruses originated as viruses of apes and monkeys, respectively, yet little is known about whether or how these invaders adapted to the new genetic "environment" encountered in humans. One group of host genes, collectively known as restriction factors, is thought to influence the ability of such viruses to move between different primate species.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Strange case of solar flares and radioactive elements
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_BiA0ezuK4/100825093253.htm
When researchers found an unusual linkage between solar flares and the inner life of radioactive elements on Earth, it touched off a scientific detective investigation that could end up protecting the lives of space-walking astronauts and maybe even rewriting some of the assumptions of physics.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
New test allows individualized profiles of cigarette smoking
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vwyE1XHkW6Q/100825093245.htm
A test for one of the thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke has the potential for more accurately estimating smokers' mouth level exposure and may have applications for developing custom-tailored quitting approaches for the more than 43 million people in the United States who still smoke, and hundreds of millions elsewhere, scientists report.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Evolution writ small: Physical effects of evolution measured at molecular scale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/85s4SWOi-dA/100825154139.htm
A unique experiment that forces bacteria into a head-to-head competition for evolutionary dominance has yielded new insights about the way Darwinian selection plays out at the molecular level. An exacting new analysis reveals precisely how specific genetic mutations impart a physical edge in the competition for survival.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XuLR6XOnEyk/100825131614.htm
Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to new research.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Seeing the world with new eyes: Biosynthetic corneas restore vision in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sg3itfF_F_g/100825142357.htm
A new study from researchers in Canada and Sweden has shown that biosynthetic corneas can help regenerate and repair damaged eye tissue and improve vision in humans. The results are from an early phase clinical trial with 10 patients.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
New mechanism of memory formation discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XcxEXCpPuLY/100825131556.htm
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. The findings shed substantial new light on aspects of how memory is formed, and could lead to novel treatments for memory disorders.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Microneedle, quantum dot study opens door to new clinical cancer tools
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DZqQDIMNSXs/100825103828.htm
Researchers have developed extremely small microneedles that can be used to deliver medically-relevant nanoscale dyes called quantum dots into skin -- an advance that opens the door to new techniques for diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions, including skin cancer.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Up to one in four patients reports more physical problems a year after surgery than before
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dEceTRtXkq4/100825093301.htm
Fifteen percent of patients experience more pain, physical and emotional problems a year after surgery than before their operation and 24 percent have less vitality, according to a study of over 400 patients. Twelve months after their operation, 17 percent also reported greater pain, 14 percent said their functional abilities had reduced and 16 percent had poorer mental health.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Juicing up laptops and cell phones with soda pop or vegetable oil?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3LwLdWh8XhE/100825103820.htm
Scientists are reporting the development of a new battery-like device that opens the possibility that people one day could "recharge" cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronics in an unlikely way -- with a sugar fix from a shared sip of soda pop or even a dose of vegetable oil.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Major moral decisions use general-purpose brain circuits to manage uncertainty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0iQNn35kgME/100825131552.htm
Scientists have found that humans can make difficult moral decisions using the same brain circuits as those used in more mundane choices related to money and food. The results suggest that complex moral decisions need not rely on a specific "moral sense."

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Tiny, new, pea-sized frog is old world's smallest
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lh6o-6pwso4/100825094915.htm
The smallest frog in the Old World (Asia, Africa and Europe) and one of the world's tiniest was discovered inside and around pitcher plants in the heath forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. The pea-sized amphibian is a species of microhylid, which, as the name suggests, is composed of miniature frogs under 15 millimeters.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Migraine sufferers have higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DqgmrA73aAg/100824231218.htm
Individuals who suffer from migraines with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, according to new research.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Putting the squeeze on Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/inw2zPMFU_k/100820101408.htm
Brain cells exposed to a form of the amyloid beta protein, the molecule linked to Alzheimer's disease, become stiffer and bend less under pressure, researchers have found.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Cognitive behavior therapy improves symptom control in adult ADHD
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TQQAGwJeGBA/100824161434.htm
Adding cognitive behavioral therapy -- an approach that teaches skills for handling life challenges and revising negative thought patterns -- to pharmaceutical treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder significantly improved symptom control in a study of adult patients.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Glorious gadolinium gives flash memory a future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SvLMJZBa67w/100824171626.htm
Future flash memory could be faster and store more data without changing its basic design by using a clever nanocrystal material. Scientists propose a new logical element made with the rare earth material gadolinium.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Alcohol dependence damages both episodic memory and awareness of memory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MkR2Fani8BI/100824161430.htm
Metamemory refers to the subjective knowledge that people have of their own cognitive processing abilities. A first-of-its-kind study has found that not only were alcohol-dependent patients relatively unaware of their memory deficits, but that they also overestimated their memory capacities.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Deepwater oil plume in Gulf degraded by microbes, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X2TFwBoefOU/100824132349.htm
A new study of a deepwater dispersed oil plume formed in the aftermath of the damaged BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico shows that microbial activity, spearheaded by a new and unclassified species, degrades oil much faster than anticipated.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Painkilling system in brain: Too much of a good thing?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Sqtw-bDT0io/100824151036.htm
Repeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study that has important implications for drug development.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Nanobiotechnology-manipulated light particles used to accelerate algae growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mU4QKjUChRk/100824171624.htm
Scientists and engineers seek to meet three goals in the production of biofuels from nonedible sources such as microalgae: efficiency, economical production and ecological sustainability. Researchers have now discovered a method to make algae, which can be used in the production of biofuels, grow faster by manipulating light particles through the use of nanobiotechnology.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Waiting for the right moment: Bacterial pathogens delay their entry into cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gl5afDDbJF0/100824171618.htm
Certain pathogens make themselves at home in the human body by invading cells and living off the plentiful amenities on offer there. However, researchers have discovered a contrary strategy to ensure infection success: some pathogens can actually delay their entry into cells to ensure their survival.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Half-a-loaf method can improve magnetic memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C1eKZ6ayqlI/100824171628.htm
Scientists have shown that magnetic memory, logic and sensor cells can be made faster and more energy efficient by using an electric, not magnetic, field to flip the magnetization of the sensing layer only about halfway, rather than completely to the opposite direction.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Did ancient coffee houses lay the groundwork for modern consumerism?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FWE5kJhAWF4/100824103641.htm
If you think that your favorite coffee shop is a great gathering place for discussion, you should have been around in the Ottoman Empire starting in the 1550s. A new study examines the role of coffee houses in the evolution of the consumer.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
How giant tortoises, alligators thrived in High Arctic 50 million years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CXp5NKzoywA/100824132417.htm
A new study of the High Arctic climate roughly 50 million years ago helps to explain how ancient alligators and giant tortoises were able to thrive on Ellesmere Island well above the Arctic Circle, even as they endured six months of darkness each year.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Researchers zero in on protein that destroys HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O5bc1bUUZW0/100824121022.htm
Using a $225,000 microscope and the wisdom of Yogi Berra, researchers have identified the key components of a protein called TRIM5a that destroys HIV in rhesus monkeys. The finding could lead to new TRIM5a-based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Secrets of scents: Designing the smells that sell household products
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EFtJFdQ9fEE/100824132345.htm
Crafting a fragrance for detergents that leaves laundry smelling clean and fresh. Developing a room freshener, scented oil or scented candle that whispers "cool spring air." Giving toothpaste or mouthwash a refreshing aftertaste that lingers and lingers. The process for putting the smell that sells into thousands consumer products is much like composing a symphony, according to a leading fragrance designer.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Chronic drinking can disrupt circadian rhythms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bXivnLUF-cU/100824161428.htm
Circadian clock genes are key to regulating physiological and behavioral activities. Animal studies have shown that chronic drinking can disrupt expression in these genes. A human study has found an association between deregulation of circadian clock genes and chronic drinking.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Can the world be powered mainly by solar and wind energy?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u80krhW1HAg/100824161424.htm
Continuous research and development of alternative energy could soon lead to a new era in human history in which two renewable sources -- solar and wind -- will become Earth's dominant contributor of energy, a Nobel laureate said at a conference.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Oxytocin makes people trusting, but not gullible, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zRAGx0aidCo/100824103535.htm
Oxytocin (OT) is a hormone that plays an important role in social behavior -- it has even been nicknamed "the love hormone" and "liquid trust." Increased levels of OT have been associated with greater caring, generosity, and trust. But does OT increase people's trust in anybody or does it act more selectively? Recent findings suggest that OT fosters trust, but not gullibility: OT may make individuals more trusting, but only in certain situations.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
True causes for extinction of cave bear revealed: More human expansion than climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9LlcdmNDq8s/100824082230.htm
The cave bear started to become extinct in Europe 24,000 years ago, but until now the cause was unknown. An international team of scientists has analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequences from 17 new fossil samples, and compared these with the modern brown bear. The results show that the decline of the cave bear started 50,000 years ago, and was caused more by human expansion than by climate change.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Exercising restores sensitivity of neurons that make one feel full
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NOJsayIG28U/100824171614.htm
There is now another good reason to exercise. Besides burning calories, exercise restores the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (feeling full), which in turn contributes to reduced food intake and consequently weight loss. This is the conclusion of a study led by Brazilian researchers.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
New evidence on how cranberry juice fights bacteria that cause urinary tract infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JjuQYO80rQg/100823183807.htm
Scientists report new evidence on the effectiveness of that old folk remedy -- cranberry juice -- for urinary tract infections.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Minor kidney damage in people with type 1 diabetes leads to increased mortality
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EkMyZS4HnJY/100627093606.htm
People with type 1 diabetes who have early and asymptomatic kidney damage, as indicated by small amounts of protein in the urine, are six times more likely to die compared to the general population, according to a new study.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Cactus genes connect modern Mexico to its prehistoric past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a68GETiv3gI/100823113420.htm
In prehistoric times farmers across the world domesticated wild plants to create an agricultural revolution. As a result the ancestral plants have been lost, causing problems for anyone studying the domestication process of modern-day varieties, but that might change.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Disasters especially tough on people with disabilities, mental disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xPIMm4aEfzA/100823131741.htm
Psychologists have analyzed decades of research and found that disaster response strategies should address the needs of the population affected, specifically those with disabilities and mental disorders.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
High-born hyena sons benefit their entire life
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DoRGbjv9Kmc/100824110916.htm
High-ranking mothers provide their sons with a privileged upbringing and this increases their son's success after leaving home. This was now demonstrated for the first time in a social mammal, the spotted hyena.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
'TIMely' intervention for asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fj1PY_Vg5jY/100712121824.htm
TIM1 has been identified as a susceptibility gene for asthma. New research in mice now suggests that targeting TIM-1 protein might have therapeutic benefit in treating this increasingly prevalent condition.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Emerging questions about the mechanisms that control muscle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kbvf_43D-H0/100628124555.htm
There are major shifts underway in understanding the physiological mechanisms that control muscle contraction, a field that has been the focus of intense research for centuries. A new article presents key novel findings, unresolved questions, and clinical implications of essential muscle processes that are controlled by distinct and complex multiprotein macromolecular machines.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Hydrophobic proteins: Potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6WpsewRtBNA/100624104522.htm
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Hydrophobic proteins are a class of proteins that are involved in many cellular functions in the body. A group of researchers from Malaysia analyzed differentially expressed hydrophobic proteins in colorectal cancer and normal tissues. Four hydrophobic proteins were found to be highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues, these proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer that can be used for its detection and treatment.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
New mechanism behind cellular energy conversion discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PjfZpCQOKwc/100818131609.htm
Researchers have enhanced our understanding of the mechanism by which cells achieve energy conversion, the process in which food is converted into the energy required by cells.

Thu, 26 Aug 10
Who are you calling 'hipster'? Consumers defy labels and stereotypes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n2fqILopfEM/100824121018.htm
What happens when the products you love become labeled as "trendy" or "hipster"? Consumers who identify with these products find creative ways to remain loyal and elude derision, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
'Spintronics' breakthrough holds promise for next-generation computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WXdOhTQ8Le4/100824121026.htm
Using powerful lasers, physicists have discovered a new way to recognize currents of spinning electrons within a semiconductor. Their findings could lead the way to development of superior computers and electronics.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
New cardiac imaging device pioneered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E6ZM5Wl5-Gc/100816110459.htm
Researchers have for the first time developed a way to visualize coronary artery plaques vulnerable to rupture using multicolor computed tomography, an innovation that will lead to better and earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Salmon baby food? Babies need omega-3s and a taste for fish, scientist says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/23IZMPAmU7Y/100824132359.htm
Has your toddler eaten fish today? A food science professor has two important reasons for including seafood in your young child's diet, reasons that have motivated her work in helping to develop a tasty, nutritious salmon baby food for toddlers.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Study compares risk with two diabetes drugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2gRpM7hpdzw/100824161505.htm
A new analysis of data on patients covered by a single insurance company reports that risks of heart disease events and death were no different between patients who took the diabetes drugs rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. In this analysis, approximately 4 percent of patients taking either drug -- sold as Avandia and Actos -- suffered a heart attack, heart failure, both or died over a 33-month period.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
LEDs promise brighter future, not necessarily greener
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5gG-OyJVv_E/100824121028.htm
Solid-state lighting pioneers long have held that replacing the inefficient Edison light bulb with more efficient solid-state light-emitting devices (LEDs) would lower electrical usage worldwide, not only "greenly" decreasing the need for new power plants but even permitting some to be decommissioned. But, in a new paper, leading LED researchers argue for a shift in that view.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Moderate drinking: Health benefits or not?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/L9kvfdW8SwM/100824161432.htm
There is disagreement about the health benefits of moderate drinking. A new study has examined drinking and mortality during a 20-year period. Findings confirm an association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Fires and floods key to dinosaur island secrets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m68JP_djnPY/100824082308.htm
Fires and floods which raged across the Isle of Wight some 130 million years ago made the island the richest source of pick ’n’ mix dinosaur remains of this age anywhere in the world. A new study has revealed the Island’s once violent weather explains why thousands of tiny dinosaur teeth and bones lie buried alongside the huge bones of their gigantic relatives.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Human umbilical cord blood cells aid lab animal brain cell survival after simulated stroke
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_MKqq8lSqzo/100824103529.htm
When human umbilical cord blood cells were used to treat cultured rat brain cells deprived of oxygen, the cells appeared to protect astrocytes from cell death after stroke-like damage. Researchers found that cord blood cells stabilized the brain cell environment and aided astrocyte survival.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
A surfboard gets an onboard computer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ShBSLFJBQfU/100823193947.htm
Computers are everywhere these days -- even on surfboards. Mechanical engineering undergraduates outfitted a surfboard with a computer and accompanying sensors -- one step toward a structural engineering Ph.D. student's quest to develop the science of surfboards.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Genetic link discovered between immune system, Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-QCZERHdMQ0/100815162130.htm
Scientists have discovered new evidence that Parkinson's disease may have an infectious or autoimmune origin.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
RNA snippets control protein production by disabling mRNAs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DDGhKSz4AKM/100816110423.htm
Short pieces of RNA, called microRNAs, control protein production primarily by causing the proteins' RNA templates (known as messenger RNA or mRNA) to be disabled by the cell, according to scientists.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
No laughing matter: Laughter can play key role in group dynamics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/flhnKf7BCsU/100824103525.htm
Laughter can play key roles in group communication and group dynamics -- even when there's nothing funny going on. That's according to new research that examined the role of laughter in jury deliberations during a capital murder case.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Sea level to rise even with aggressive geo-engineering and greenhouse gas control, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bAXPY8S-Z7U/100824092408.htm
Sea level will likely be 30-70 centimeters higher by 2100 than at the start of the century, even if all but the most aggressive geo-engineering schemes are undertaken to mitigate the effects of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are stringently controlled, according to new findings by international research group of scientists from England, China and Denmark.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Widely used herbicide, atrazine, causes prostate inflammation in male rats and delays puberty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BpJi-St_eAE/100824110852.htm
A new study shows that male rats prenatally exposed to low doses of atrazine, a widely used herbicide, are more likely to develop prostate inflammation and to go through puberty later than non-exposed animals. The research adds to a growing body of literature on atrazine, an herbicide predominantly used to control weeds and grasses in crops such as corn and sugar cane. Atrazine and its byproducts are known to be relatively persistent in the environment, potentially finding their way into water supplies.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Gene responsible for neurodegenerative disease in dogs, possibly in humans, discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QYMmwoPt5sg/100824103533.htm
Researchers have located and identified a gene responsible for a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects American Staffordshire terriers. This same gene may be responsible for a similar rare, fatal disease in humans.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Radiologists call for national strategy to address medical imaging overuse
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZeOqmPfjzcM/100824082327.htm
Overutilization of medical imaging services exposes patients to unnecessary radiation and adds to health care costs, according to a special report that calls on radiologists to spearhead a collaborative effort to curb imaging overutilization.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
New generation of power: Hi-tech rechargeable batteries developed for military
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MXkQGUdnXW0/100823203328.htm
Scientists report progress in using a common virus to develop improved materials for high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that could be woven into clothing to power portable electronic devices.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Why making our own choices is more satisfying when pleasure is the goal
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r7w_I94ooNQ/100824110855.htm
When it comes to our own pleasure, we like having a choice, but when it comes to utilitarian goals, we're just as happy being told what to do, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Solar system similar to ours? Richest planetary system discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JQPKFI_G98o/100824082222.htm
Astronomers have discovered a planetary system containing at least five planets, orbiting the Sun-like star HD 10180. The researchers also have tantalizing evidence that two other planets may be present, one of which would have the lowest mass ever found. This would make the system similar to our Solar System in terms of the number of planets (seven as compared to the Solar System’s eight planets). Furthermore, the team also found evidence that the distances of the planets from their star follow a regular pattern, as also seen in our Solar System.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Reshaping the gut microbiome could herald new treatments for bowel diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CHWCoXN8ooQ/100823172331.htm
A healthy human body contains at least tenfold more bacteria cells than human cells. The most abundant and diverse microbial community resides in the intestine, and changes to the gut microbiota are linked with diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In a new study, researchers have analyzed the long-term effects of gut bacterial transplantation in rats, revealing crucial insight that will aid in the development of new treatments.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Understanding rider bahavior key to keeping amusement park rides safe and enjoyable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ld9_DZTBfQo/100823190337.htm
Plummeting down a steep hill on a giant roller coaster or whirling at high speeds are annual summer rituals for thrill-seeking amusement riders. While amusement ride injuries are a rare occurrence, most occur as a result of rider behavior.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
New nuclear breast imaging technologies associated with higher cancer risks, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bhSEhN7Hn_k/100824082325.htm
Some nuclear-based breast imaging exams may increase a woman's risk of developing radiation-induced cancer, according to new research. However, the radiation dose and risk from mammography are very low.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Americans using less energy, more renewables
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UJJ9bDwajfk/100824092412.htm
Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources. The United States used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power, according to the most recent energy flow charts.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Sign language speakers' hands, mouths operate separately
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/16vEJq4C4fM/100823142933.htm
When people are communicating in sign languages, they also move their mouths. But scientists have debated whether mouth movements resembling spoken language are part of the sign itself or are connected directly to English. In a new study on British Sign Language, signers made different mistakes in the sign and in the mouthing -- which means the hand and lip movements are separate in the signer's brain, not part of the same sign.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Pulverized planet dust may lie around double stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dK-GQZYQocE/100823144103.htm
Tight double-star systems might not be the best places for life to spring up, according to a new study using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The infrared observatory spotted a surprisingly large amount of dust around three mature, close-orbiting star pairs. Where did the dust come from? Astronomers say it might be the aftermath of tremendous planetary collisions.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Vitamin D found to influence over 200 genes, highlighting links to disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FXGlUyt_6wA/100823172327.htm
The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in newly published research. Scientists have mapped the points at which vitamin D interacts with our DNA -- and identified over two hundred genes that it directly influences.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Health diagnosis made simpler: Bioengineers design device to help detect diseases quickly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lKNPhKLkuO0/100823172333.htm
Researchers have developed and tested instrumentation they say will make disease diagnosis technically simpler, quicker and less costly. Using the shape of a drop biological fluid to focus a beam from a light-emitting diode, the device enables diagnosis of infectious diseases and unhealthy levels of protein.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Nicotine binding to receptor linked to breast cancer cell growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l5HwsspgTuk/100823162320.htm
When nicotine binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR), it is known to promote smoking addiction and may also directly promote the development of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Math from the heart: Simulating stent design and coating
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0CGTe4w_hyM/100823121937.htm
Using computer models to study the strengths and weaknesses of different stent structures could help manufacturers optimize stent design and help doctors choose the right stents for their patients.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Alcohol-based hand disinfectants improve business productivity, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rL0wG03GjA4/100823192442.htm
The placement of alcohol-based hand disinfectants in businesses can reduce illness and absenteeism amongst the work force. A new study has found that incidences of absenteeism in public administrations due to the common cold, fever and cough are significantly reduced when alcohol-based hand disinfectants are used by employees.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Bug with bifocals baffles biologists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_1_Xl02wCkM/100823121935.htm
Researchers have discovered a bug with bifocals -- such an amazing finding that it initially had the researchers questioning whether they could believe their own eyes.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Promising target for developing treatments against Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TTIfnBTVCMk/100823172335.htm
Researchers have shown that using specific drugs can protect nerve cells in mice from the lethal effects of Parkinson's disease.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Could the answer to cleaning up the Gulf Coast oil spill lie in geometry?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RqLhVfLnxoQ/100823193408.htm
Researchers are studying how naturally occurring microbes can best be used to eat away remaining crude oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico. Their choice of weapon: Geometry.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Autism and mental retardation connected with APC protein
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fm5KanPb270/100823113426.htm
A clue to the causes of autism and mental retardation lies in the synapse, the tiny intercellular junction that rapidly transfers information from one neuron to the next. Neuroscientists report that a protein called APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) plays a key role in synapse maturation, and APC dysfunction prevents the synapse function required for typical learning and memory.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Historic buildings may be better protected from climate change with new forecast method
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OWV2q16oszg/100823113422.htm
Some of the nation's most historic buildings and monuments may be better protected from decay in future, following a development by engineers. Researchers have devised a method of forecasting damage caused by the weather to stone buildings -- including statues, monuments and other historic sites, as well as modern masonry buildings.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Stress of freshman year can trigger eating disorders for some young people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WC6entKxndU/100823192311.htm
While the start of college is a positive, momentous event for many young people, it also can be an episode that pushes some into a dangerous battle with eating disorders, says a psychologist who fought her own battle against bulimia as a college student. Hear her story.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Eating berries may activate the brain's natural housekeeper for healthy aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_NTeSKA32h8/100823142927.htm
Scientists report the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study concludes that berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain's natural "housekeeper" mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Dogs may not be' man’s best friend' during hay fever season
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kMrJRWYZYHk/100823194055.htm
Ragweed allergy season can be even more miserable for those with dog, cat or dust mite allergies, according to new research. These year-round allergies appear to "pre-prime" the immune system so symptoms hit harder, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Scientists help explain graphene mystery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Iw0Zzb21_oA/100823142935.htm
Nanoscale simulations and theoretical research are bringing scientists closer to realizing graphene's potential in electronic applications.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Genetic variation linked to lupus in Asian men identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K-l4tCDNoRg/100823162324.htm
Researchers have found that a variation in a gene on the sex chromosome X may enhance an immune response that leads to lupus in men.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Plants give up some deep secrets of drought resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A-_tGEhxiLA/100823152305.htm
In a study that promises to fill in the fine details of the plant world's blueprint for surviving drought, a team of researchers has identified in living plants the set of proteins that help them withstand water stress.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Organizations learn more from failure than success, study finds; Knowledge gained from failure lasts longer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QGjTtX2gmBU/100823162322.htm
While success is surely sweeter than failure, it seems failure is a far better teacher, and organizations that fail spectacularly often flourish more in the long run, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Potential HIV drug keeps virus out of cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YeYBT_DDwNs/100818141553.htm
Following up a pioneering 2007 proof-of-concept study, biochemists have developed a promising new anti-HIV drug candidate, PIE12-trimer, that prevents HIV from attacking human cells.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Alcohol intake increases certain types of breast cancer, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y9uoxTEPs2g/100823162318.htm
Alcohol increases the risk of lobular and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but not necessarily invasive ductal carcinomas, according to a new study.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Tropically speaking, NASA investigates precipitation shapes, sizes for severity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/A2DqkviL2aE/100823113616.htm
Rain drops are fat and snowflakes are fluffy, but why does it matter in terms of predicting severe storms?

Wed, 25 Aug 10
Decade-long trial confirms benefts of steroid withdrawal for transplant patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XnZQoNOa8sQ/100823121947.htm
An analysis of 10 years of data from local kidney transplant patients shows that patients removed from a corticosteroid regimen shortly after surgery have better graft survival rates, better survival rates and fewer cardiovascular events than patients kept on the traditional regimen of long-term steroids.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
New analysis weighs lost trade, costs to control invasive species against economic damages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-ML4lXIEG9s/100823121941.htm
Bugs, plants, animals and viruses travel the globe, invading new territory and wreaking havoc as they upset the balance of nature, destroy agriculture and damage human health. Biological alien invaders are often introduced via international trade, forcing policymakers to regulate the movement of goods to stop them. Economists now examine which trade measures make good economic sense -- from restrictions to full protection.

Wed, 25 Aug 10
'Media detective' tool empowers children to skirt alcohol and tobacco marketing messages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nW57smRgGSI/100823142937.htm
Playing "media detective" allows children to understand the intentions of marketers and the goals of advertising while empowering them to resist messages that encourage alcohol or tobacco use.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Fermi detects gamma-rays from exploding nova
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3k9VJ8KBpA8/100823121939.htm
Using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope satellite, astronomers have detected gamma rays from a nova for the first time.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Diabetes can cause a sugar coating that smothers body's immune defences, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sgpO4zJYEII/100823183809.htm
Researchers have found that unhealthy glucose levels in patients with diabetes can cause significantly more problems for the body than just the well-known symptoms of the disease. The raised glucose can also form what can be described as a sugar coating that can effectively smother the mechanisms our bodies use to detect and fight bacterial and fungal infections.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Polyphenol antioxidants inhibit iron absorption
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4Ge30COD0q0/100823152309.htm
Health benefits from polyphenol antioxidants -- substances found in many fruits and vegetables -- may come at a cost to some people. Nutritional scientists found that eating certain polyphenols decreased the amount of iron the body absorbs, which can increase the risk of developing an iron deficiency.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Function of proteins can enhance the progression of viruses and cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Aji1uztlm0M/100816095758.htm
In a discovery that has implications for developing treatments against cancer and potentially deadly viruses, researchers have discovered the function of proteins that can enhance the progression of certain viruses and cancer cells.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Drugging the undruggable: Advances toward next generation of disease fighters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M9La0NMiEbA/100823162314.htm
After decades of dreaming the drug developer's impossible dream, scientists finally are reporting progress in making drugs that target the "untouchables" among the body's key players in health and disease. They are the hundreds of thousands of proteins that many scientists considered to be "undruggable," meaning that previous efforts to develop a drug against them had failed.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
'Hookups' can turn into meaningful relationships, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SEiRWGZR4rc/100823185415.htm
Relationships that start with a spark and not much else aren't necessarily doomed from the get-go, new research suggests. Couples who became sexually involved as friends or acquaintances and were open to a serious relationship ended up just as happy as those who dated and waited.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Drink water to curb weight gain? Clinical trial confirms effectiveness of simple appetite control method
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xkaRbTMJTqc/100823142929.htm
Has the long-sought magic potion in society's "battle with the bulge" finally arrived? An appetite-control agent that requires no prescription, has no common side effects, and costs almost nothing? Scientists report results of a new clinical trial confirming that just two 8-ounce glasses of the stuff, taken before meals, enables people to shed pounds. The weight-loss elixir is ordinary water.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Body clock drugs could ease psychiatric disorders and jet lag
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tNZfQyt7qUQ/100823113428.htm
Researchers have successfully used a drug to reset and restart the natural 24 hour body clock of mice in the lab. The ability to do this in a mammal opens up the possibility of dealing with a range of human difficulties including some psychiatric disorders, jet lag and the health impacts of shift work.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
What the locals ate 10,000 years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VVS7fkHTO9k/100823131743.htm
Archaeologists have found a Utah site occupied by humans 11,000 years ago. The researchers documented a variety of dishes the people dined on back then. Grind stones for milling small seeds appeared 10,000 years ago.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Low bone mineral density common in children and teenagers with inflammatory bowel disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DY92wzrrYgo/100823080818.htm
New research from Sweden is the first in Scandinavia to study the occurrence of low bone mineral density in children and teenagers with inflammatory bowel disease. Half of the patients in the study showed signs of low bone mineral density. The results emphasise the importance of treating the underlying inflammatory bowel disease more effectively, and of measuring bone mineral density in this group of patients.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
New atom-scale products on horizon: Breakthrough discovery enables nanoscale manipulation of piezoelectric effect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CacaEDTVBLo/100823113432.htm
The generation of an electric field by the compression and expansion of solid materials is known as the piezoelectric effect, and it has a wide range of applications ranging from everyday items such as watches, motion sensors and precise positioning systems. Researchers have now discovered how to control this effect in nanoscale semiconductors called "quantum dots," enabling the development of incredibly tiny new products.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Maslow Updated: Reworking of the famous psychological pyramid of needs puts parenting at the top
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GFqRPlVWUqc/100819112118.htm
Caring for your children, feeding them, nurturing them, educating them and making sure they get off on the right foot in life -- all of the things that make parenting successful -- may actually be deep rooted psychological urges that we fulfill as part of being human.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
200-fold boost in fuel cell efficiency advances 'personalized energy systems'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nONGWZ0bkVw/100823142931.htm
The era of personalized energy systems -- in which individual homes and small businesses produce their own energy for heating, cooling and powering cars -- took another step toward reality as scientists reported discovery of a powerful new catalyst that is a key element in such a system. The advance could help free homes and businesses from dependence on the electric company and the corner gasoline station.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Cluster bomb for cancer care: Nano-vehicle delivers chemotherapy treatments on target
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/o-hgFgqVkaY/100823131739.htm
Researchers have developed a nano-sized vehicle that can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into cancer cells while avoiding interaction with healthy cells. The vehicle is very similar to a 'cluster bomb' and can be used to treat many different types of tumors, including lung, blood, colon and brain cancers.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
NASA images show anatomy of Pakistan flood disaster
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V0GhH7IngX0/100823113025.htm
In late July 2010, flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains began across several regions of Pakistan. Tens of thousands of villages have been flooded, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and millions have been left homeless. The floodwaters are not expected to recede fully before late August. NASA's CloudSat satellite captured the genesis of the flooding event as it flew over the region on July 28, 2010.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
New technology may prolong the life of implanted devices, from pacemakers to chemotherapy ports
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r7tSf_G4Npo/100823092645.htm
By creating a unique system of blood vessels that is engineered to interact with the tissue surrounding an implanted device, the longevity and function of these devices may be better preserved, according to a new study.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Powerful new way to control magnetism: Colossal magnetoelectricity points the way to ultra-dense data storage
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UJTLSSo-Wbw/100823121945.htm
A new way to manipulate magnetic fields with electrical signals could lead to microelectronic advances comparable to those that made high density disk drives possible.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Do-gooders get voted off island first: People don't really like unselfish colleagues, psychologists find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8sx2dIQiNY0/100823101110.htm
Psychologists have found that unselfish workers who are the first to throw their hat in the ring are also among those that coworkers most want to, in effect, vote off the island.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Ancient microbes responsible for breathing life into ocean 'deserts'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CyoWir9vSy0/100823113436.htm
Billions of years ago, Earth differed greatly from our modern environment -- the ancient atmosphere contained almost no oxygen. The life-supporting atmosphere we currently enjoy did not develop overnight. On the most basic level, biological activity in the ocean shaped the oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere. New research shows that "oxygen oases" in the surface ocean were sites of significant oxygen production long before the breathing gas began to accumulate in the atmosphere.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Rheumatoid arthritis signaling protein reverses Alzheimer's disease in mouse model
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0dWitjGW1MA/100822211549.htm
A new study looks at what effect innate immunity gone bad in rheumatoid arthritis may play in protecting against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found a signaling protein for RA reversed Alzheimer's in a mouse model.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Titanium coating with protein 'flower bouquet' nanoclusters strengthens implant attachment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U_HiWOwmfOs/100818141545.htm
Researchers have developed an improved coating technique that could strengthen the connection between titanium joint-replacement implants and a patients' own bone. Implants coated with "flower bouquet" clusters of an engineered protein made 50 percent more contact with the surrounding bone than implants coated with protein pairs or individual strands. The cluster-coated implants were fixed in place more than twice as securely as uncoated plugs.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
HIV virus hides in the brain, Swedish study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gxqy7wnkrOw/100823080816.htm
Studies of the spinal fluid of patients given anti-HIV drugs have resulted in new findings suggesting that the brain can act as a hiding place for the HIV virus. Around 10 percent of patients showed traces of the virus in their spinal fluid but not in their blood -- a larger proportion than previously realized, reveals new research from Sweden.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Making vehicles safer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HfQ28ml-B1M/100818090014.htm
A car's crash components can spell the difference between life and death. Their job is to absorb energy in a collision in order to protect the driver inside. Researchers have now found a way for the automotive industry to mass-produce a particularly safe class of materials known as thermoplastic fiber composite components.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Young people identify with an online community almost as strongly as with their own family
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/19Bt14DEgEs/100823080820.htm
Teenage online community users feel part of their online community almost as much as they feel part of their own family. An international study of the users of a teenage online community reveals that users identify more strongly with the online community than with their neighborhood or offline hobby group.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Ancient Chinese medicine may help chemotherapy patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_Ocw77uzl78/100818141543.htm
A centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine may reduce the intestinal side effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients by stimulating gut cell division and reducing inflammation, a new study in mice suggests.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
New study finds new connection between yoga and mood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r_AIKDSCLik/100819112124.htm
Researchers have found that yoga may be superior to other forms of exercise in its positive effect on mood and anxiety. The findings are the first to demonstrate an association between yoga postures, increased GABA levels and decreased anxiety.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Barbastelle bat uses a sneaky hunting strategy to catch its prey
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pQ40cochGBk/100819121210.htm
Like a stealth fighter plane, the barbastelle bat uses a sneaky hunting strategy to catch its prey. Biologists combined three cutting-edge techniques to uncover the secret of this rare bat's success.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Delaying fat digestion to curb appetite
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5buQpAh8MR4/100818205158.htm
Scientists have discovered an unexpected synergy that helps break down fat. The discovery provides a focus to find ways to slow down fat digestion, and ultimately to create food structures that induce satiety.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Language as a window into sociability
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y1_ZKUYJ0dw/100816095806.htm
People with Williams syndrome -- known for their indiscriminate friendliness and ease with strangers -- process spoken language differently from people with autism spectrum disorders -- characterized by social withdrawal and isolation -- researchers found.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
DNA puts chemists on scent of better artificial nose
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/17ItKwSZGEo/100820101506.htm
Chemists working on an "artificial nose" have developed new sensors that offer more information "per sniff" than most existing noses. The sensors, made by sticking fluorescent compounds onto a backbone of DNA, are easy and cheap to make and could help the devices become widely available.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Electrifying findings: New ways of boosting healthful antioxidant levels in potatoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/plRa_d-hcvs/100822150636.htm
Scientists in Japan are busy zapping potatoes and, as a result, the fifth most popular food consumed around the world may one day become an even more healthful vegetable.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
The future of the Web is a matter of semantics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HuAvsEyGk4M/100820072147.htm
The first incarnation of the web was composed of static websites that linked to each other and search engines to help you find sites of interest. Web 2.0 brought a social element to the web, with users sharing, commenting, and interacting through sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr. The future web, the "semantic web," or Web 3.0, will embed meaning within digital information so that any given page can be understood by computers as well as people.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Street outreach workers an important tool for violence prevention and intervention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QQFQ13nbZ_U/100820072033.htm
A new study describes how using street outreach workers is an effective strategy to reach and engage youth with the goal of violence prevention and intervention. Street outreach workers are typically members of the community who intervene to prevent conflict and retaliation. While violence prevention programs utilizing street outreach workers , including CeaseFire in Chicago and Safe Streets in Baltimore, this is the first peer-reviewed study on a program to be published.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Ancient galaxy cluster still producing stars
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kh4iZePmIbE/100818141549.htm
In ongoing observations of one of the universe's earliest, most distant cluster of galaxies using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that a significant fraction of those ancient galaxies are still actively forming stars.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Limiting ocean acidification under global change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZfDpSZSWyHw/100820101400.htm
Emissions of carbon dioxide are causing ocean acidification as well as global warming. Scientists have previously used computer simulations to quantify how curbing of carbon dioxide emissions would mitigate climate impacts. New computer simulations have now examined the likely effects of mitigation scenarios on ocean acidification trends. They show that both the peak year of emissions and post-peak reduction rates influence how much ocean acidity increases by 2100.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of asthma illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D_Osatj0tkA/100818131428.htm
Scientists have taken a further step towards improving our understanding of how asthma develops. New findings show that the gene-regulating molecule "IRF4" plays a key role in the development of T helper 9 lymphocytes (Th9 cells), which can play a major part in the development of this chronic, inflammatory illness of the respiratory tract.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Road signs and traffic signals on DNA: Physical model describes the distribution of nucleosome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rmwYBUTmJYM/100820084211.htm
The DNA in the cell nuclei of higher organisms is tightly coiled around protein complexes called nucleosomes, which repress gene expression. Researchers in Germany have now developed a model that explains how nucleosomes are distributed around sites that must remain accessible to transcribing polymerases.

Tue, 24 Aug 10
Use of decision-aid program increases safety for women experiencing abuse, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N-Sxpy1y-bU/100727135123.htm
Intimate partner violence results in two million injuries among women in the US each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Researchers are reducing these numbers with a new Web-based program that helps women experiencing abuse develop individualized safety plans and better assess the severity of their situations.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Gene scan finds link across array of childhood brain disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wwPkr1d7AwQ/100822150651.htm
Mutations in a single gene can cause several types of developmental brain abnormalities that experts have traditionally considered different disorders. Researchers have now found those mutations through whole exome sequencing -- a new gene scanning technology that cuts the cost and time of searching for rare mutations.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Protein made by breast cancer gene purified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0eynvl_t-WM/100822150649.htm
A key step in understanding the origins of familial breast cancer has been made. Researchers have purified, for the first time, the protein produced by the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 and used it to study the oncogene's role in DNA repair.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Study of cell division sheds light on special mechanism in egg cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7WiZ_WoWNfg/100822150647.htm
In a study of egg cells using time-lapse microscopy, researchers have discovered an unusual property of meiosis -- cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Novel 'antisense' therapies protect primates from lethal Ebola and Marburg viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pf8BqooVhVM/100822150645.htm
New studies show that treatments targeting specific viral genes protected monkeys infected with deadly Ebola or Marburg viruses. Furthermore, the animals were protected even when therapeutics were administered one hour after exposure -- suggesting the approach holds promise for treating accidental infections in laboratory or hospital settings.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Better way to grow stem cells developed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IxE-kbQ44Sg/100822150643.htm
Chemical engineers, materials scientists and biologists have devised a synthetic surface that includes no foreign animal material and allows stem cells to stay alive and continue reproducing themselves for at least three months. It's also the first synthetic material that allows single cells to form colonies of identical cells, which is necessary to identify cells with desired traits and has been difficult to achieve with existing materials.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust free
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bQFO_hw606I/100822150641.htm
Find dusting those tables and dressers a chore or a bore? Dread washing the windows? Imagine keeping dust and grime off objects spread out over an area of 25 to 50 football fields. That's the problem facing companies that deploy large-scale solar power installations, and scientists have now developed a possible solution -- self-dusting solar panels -- based on technology developed for space missions to Mars.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Bottled tea beverages may contain fewer polyphenols than brewed tea
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cW9e5TYXH5U/100822150639.htm
The first measurements of healthful antioxidant levels in commercial bottled tea beverages has concluded that health-conscious consumers may not be getting what they pay for: healthful doses of those antioxidants, or "poylphenols," that may ward off a range of diseases.

Mon, 23 Aug 10
Worldwide shortage of isotopes for medical imaging could threaten quality of patient care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/s3MdXfEuKko/100822104822.htm
Twenty million medical scans and treatments are done each year that require radioactive isotopes and scientists today described a global shortage of these life-saving materials that could jeopardize patient care and drive-up health-care costs.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Researchers take a look inside molecules
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8VxWmhEhxlY/100820072031.htm
Looking at individual molecules through a microscope is part of nanotechnologists' everyday lives. However, it has so far been difficult to observe atomic structures inside organic molecules. In a new study, researchers explain their novel method, which enables them to take an "X-ray view" inside molecules. The method may facilitate the analysis of organic semiconductors and proteins.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
'Rotten eggs' gas and inflammation in arthritic joints
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xYh5tBuCWS0/100820101358.htm
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas more commonly associated with the smell of "rotten eggs" and blocked drains. However, it has now been shown to be present naturally in our bodies and reside in knee joint synovial fluid, the protective fluid found in the cavities of joints that reduces friction between the cartilage of joints during movement. Synovial fluid H2S may play a role in reducing inflammation in joints.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2YceIsfYPzw/100820115052.htm
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) may persist on feathers fallen from the bodies of infected domestic ducks and contribute to environmental contamination.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Nanotech yields major advance in heat transfer, cooling technologies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/adkkNj4ZK3s/100609122844.htm
Researchers have discovered a new way to apply nanostructure coatings to make heat transfer far more efficient, with important potential applications to high-tech devices as well as the conventional heating and cooling industry.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Oxytocin: It’s a Mom and Pop Thing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oKBpKHR5dZI/100820101207.htm
The hormone oxytocin has come under intensive study in light of emerging evidence that its release contributes to the social bonding that occurs between lovers, friends, and colleagues. Oxytocin also plays an important role in birth and maternal behavior, but until now, research had never addressed the involvement of oxytocin in the transition to fatherhood.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Bar-tailed godwit sets record for long-distance flight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yIt5g2czv1Q/100609102052.htm
How is it possible to fly 11,000 kilometers without a single break? The record holder for long distance flight outdoes all human-made aircraft. The bar-tailed godwit has very low energy consumption, but this is not enough to explain its success.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
New understanding of the 'flight-or-fight' response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PoFQEyU5WAQ/100816122136.htm
New research helps explain how the body's "flight-or-fight" response is mediated. The study may provide new answers to the question of how the heart pacemaker -- the sinoatrial node -- is regulated.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Contrary to popular models, sugar is not burned by self-control tasks
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1GbyuX9LmPU/100611104213.htm
Contradicting a popular model of self-control, a psychologist says the data from a 2007 study argues against the idea that glucose is the resource used to manage self control and that humans rely on this energy source for will power.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
New twist on drug screening to treat common childhood cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j-ZoW3qHoUI/100818112709.htm
Scientists have developed a new method of identifying drugs to treat children suffering from fatal cancers for which an effective treatment has not been found. Rather than developing a new drug from scratch, which is a complicated and time-consuming process, they tried a different approach: in the lab, they tested existing drugs on cancer stem cells from young patients with neuroblastoma, one of the common cancers of infants and children.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
A tale of two atolls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uJdTSHV7Jgs/100609142255.htm
To gain new insights on the impact of fishing on coral reefs, marine biologists are taking advantage of an ongoing "natural experiment" at two isolated Pacific atolls -- one inhabited by people, the other off-limits to fishing.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Fear of falling linked to future falls in older people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UPpj-zrecgk/100819214609.htm
Fear of falling is likely to lead to future falls among older people, irrespective of their actual fall risk, a new study finds.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Nanoscale DNA sequencing could spur revolution in personal health care
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vbbOKaDGdmE/100816155002.htm
In experiments with potentially broad health care implications, researchers have devised a method that works at a very small scale to sequence DNA quickly and relatively inexpensively. That could open the door for more effective individualized medicine, for example providing blueprints of genetic predispositions for specific conditions and diseases such as cancer, diabetes or addiction.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Newly identified RNA sequence is key in microRNA processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fSF89G3aw_E/100816110413.htm
Researchers have uncovered a mechanism that regulates the processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), molecules that regulate cell growth, development, and stress response. The discovery helps researchers understand the links between miRNA expression and chronic disease.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Lowering Daisy's emissions: Battle against agricultural climate offenders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qiyVshjtW6M/100819074447.htm
Agriculture accounts for approximately nine per cent of Norway's total emissions of greenhouse gases. Now, researchers are acquiring actual gas measurements and new knowledge about what causes the emissions -- with the aim of mitigating Norwegian agriculture's impact on the climate and environment. In particular, it is emissions of the greenhouse gases methane (CH4, from cattle) and nitrous oxide (N2O, from the soil and fertilisers) that make agriculture such a major climate culprit. This summer Daisy has gone to pasture adorned with some advanced monitoring equipment to help out.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Today's superheroes send wrong image to boys, say researchers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hT2ybnolLrQ/100815162118.htm
Watching superheroes beat up villains may not be the best image for boys to see if society wants to promote kinder, less stereotypical male behaviors, according to psychologists.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Drought drives decade-long decline in plant growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oxSIOh7X0BM/100820101504.htm
Global plant productivity that once was on the rise with warming temperatures and a lengthened growing season is now on the decline because of regional drought, according to a new study of NASA satellite data.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
New targets for anti-angiogenesis drugs revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B6r0AKA_W9k/100816110417.htm
A new study describes a novel pathway of angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Targeting the new pathway, scientists identified two approaches that significantly reduced angiogenesis in mice. These discoveries may lead to novel treatments for diseases caused by excessive angiogenesis, including corneal graft rejection, age-related macular degeneration, cancer and diabetes.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Disturbances in certain genes play a role in autism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DOeDL3qDioM/100816095705.htm
Autism researchers have found that autism can be partially explained by abnormalities in certain genes. The group's results could, in the long run, pave the way for more appropriate treatments for autism.

Sun, 22 Aug 10
Hydrogen causes metal to break
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QwXjGJ3ewgw/100816114831.htm
Hydrogen is considered the fuel of the future. Yet this lightest of the chemical elements can embrittle the metals used in vehicle engineering. The result: components suddenly malfunction and break. A new special laboratory is aiding researchers' search for hydrogen-compatible metals.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Autism linked to multisensory integration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Zlsp3KDvJBg/100819173840.htm
A new study has provided concrete evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders process sensory information such as sound, touch and vision differently than typically developing children.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Frozen flies may yield secrets for human organ transplants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RGd648eBZTo/100819112122.htm
Frozen fruit fly cells may hold key to human organ transplant process, according to new research.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Smart fungus disarms plant, animal and human immunity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pjN-SpcplMY/100819141113.htm
Fungal and bacterial pathogens are well capable of infecting plants, animals and humans despite their immune systems. Fungi penetrate leafs, stalks and roots, or skin, intestines and lungs, to infect their hosts. Researchers have now discovered how this is possible. They found that the fungus secretes a protein that makes stray building blocks of the fungal cell wall invisible for the immune system of the plant. In this way infection remains unnoticed.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Innovative imaging system may boost speed and accuracy in treatment of heart rhythm disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1-x3TA_YS9E/100818121335.htm
Researchers have developed a novel 3-D imaging approach that may improve the accuracy of treatment for ventricular tachycardia, a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too fast. The new approach couples CT (computed tomography) images with conventional ablation techniques to eliminate erratic electrical circuits in the heart that produce arrhythmias.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Mapping out pathways to better soybeans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dnGYXW6riiE/100719142450.htm
Agricultural scientists are a step closer to unlocking genetic clues that may lead to packing more protein and oil into soybeans, a move that would boost their value and help US growers compete in international markets.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Male menopause affects more than five million men
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0ruENY3456A/100820115050.htm
While most frequently associated with women's health, age-related hormone changes, often dubbed menopause, can occur in men as well, causing symptoms of fatigue, mood swings, decreased desire for sex, hair loss, lack of concentration and weight gain. Experts estimate that more than 5 million men are affected, yet worry the number may be considerably higher since symptoms are frequently ignored.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Is the ice in the Arctic Ocean getting thinner?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rttZjPp_ja4/100820101356.htm
The extent of the sea ice in the Arctic will reach its annual minimum in September. Forecasts indicate that it will not be as low as in 2007, the year of the smallest area covered by sea ice since satellites started recording such data. Nevertheless, sea ice physicists are concerned about the long-term equilibrium in the Arctic Ocean.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Cigarette smoke causes harmful changes in the lungs even at the lowest levels, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IvccG-ML5I0/100820072028.htm
Casual smokers may think that smoking a few cigarettes a week is "no big deal." But according to new research, having an infrequent smoke, or being exposed to secondhand smoke, may be doing more harm than people may think. The findings may further support public smoking bans, say the authors.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Diabetes risk in children increases risk for weak bones
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4GjYou15Qhk/100816110415.htm
Children at risk for diabetes before they reach puberty also appear to be at risk for weak bones, researchers report. A study of 140 overweight children age 7-11 who got little regular exercise found that the 30 percent with signs of poor blood sugar regulation had 4-5 percent less bone mass, a measure of bone strength, said a bone biologist.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Blood pressure drugs could help fight frailty, experiments show
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_AYh2_XemEA/100820084929.htm
Researchers believe they've found a way to use widely available blood pressure drugs to fight the muscular weakness that normally accompanies aging.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Nanoscale inhomogeneities in superconductors explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nm9PSqBlJBQ/100809142046.htm
Superconducting materials, which transmit power resistance-free, are found to perform optimally when high- and low-charge density varies on the nanoscale level, according to new research.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Victims of bullying suffer academically as well, psychologists report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8ihILJbos0U/100820101502.htm
Students who are bullied repeatedly do substantially worse in school, psychologists report. A high level of bullying was consistently associated with lower grades across the three years of middle school.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Natural lung material is promising scaffold for engineering lung tissue using embryonic stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pKA97nhMn-c/100819162637.htm
Researchers report the first successful use of cell-depleted lung as a natural growth matrix for generating new rat lung from embryonic stem cells.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Geologists revisit Earth's Great Oxygenation Event: More like the 'Great Redox Evolution'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Lyf2dpdowis/100819162641.htm
Recent work with geochemical proxies for oxygen levels suggests that oxygen levels continued to fluctuate long after the Great Oxygenation Event 2.7 billion years ago, and that the oceans were many different flavors of anoxic right up until the Edicaran period, 600 million years ago. What happened in the intervening 2 billion years will be contested until scientists have more data, says a geochemist.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Blood stem cell, leukemia link illuminated in new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DtALK7eAl_Q/100816142122.htm
Scientists have discovered at least one key reason why blood stem cells are susceptible to developing the genetic mutations that can lead to adult leukemia. Their finding also may explain, they say, why some other age-related hematological disorders develop.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
How flies set their cruising altitude
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O5tH8d-KmwA/100819121204.htm
Insects in flight must somehow calculate and control their height above the ground, and researchers have new insight into how fruit flies do it. The answer is simpler than expected.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Italian youths who drink with meals are less often adult problem-drinkers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jGO81F-XCsI/100819112224.htm
Italian youths whose parents allowed them to have alcohol with meals while they were growing up are less likely to develop harmful drinking patterns in the future, according to a new study.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Earliest steps of common form of muscular dystrophy pinpointed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7WjumZGvq8w/100819141921.htm
Nearly two decades after they identified the specific genetic flaw that causes a common type of muscular dystrophy, scientists believe they have figured out how that flaw brings about the disease. The finding by an international team of researchers settles a longstanding question about the roots of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy or FSHD and points to a new therapeutic target.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
AIDS virus changes in semen make it different than in blood
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YFIPmkAi_m0/100819173842.htm
The virus that causes AIDS may undergo changes in the genital tract that make HIV-1 in semen different than what it is in the blood, according to a new study.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Old drug holds promise against opportunistic lung bug
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hd8HmF6MgfY/100819173844.htm
A drug to treat inflammation plays a surprising role reducing the level of infection caused by an opportunistic bug that is deadly for AIDS and cancer patients and others with weakened immune systems. The drug, sulfasalazine, spurs the body to get rid of the bug that causes Pneumocystis pneumonia by enhancing its ability to chew up the bug instead of leaving the debris to litter the lungs, where it would provoke more inflammation.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Input-output trade-offs found in human information processing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IM5z8EWhFVA/100816142112.htm
A new study examines information processing and finds that human behavior is systematic, not random, demonstrating a trade-off between input and out. The study also points to limitations to information processing. These exchanges are pretty much equal and opposite, much like the laws of the conservation of momentum and energy, according to the study.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Homework wars: How can parents improve the odds of winning?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f7dK8pYl4tw/100819173846.htm
Children are more likely to do their homework if they see it as an investment, not a chore, according to new research.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Stomach bacteria need vitamin to establish infection, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uFjY1bsyfnk/100819151058.htm
Scientists have determined that Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and some forms of stomach cancer, requires the vitamin B6 to establish and maintain chronic infection, according to new research. This finding, along with the identification of the enzyme the microbe requires to utilize the vitamin, could lead to the development of an entirely new class of antibiotics.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Secrets of 'magic' antidepressant revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aZD-BJSxtEY/100819141913.htm
Researchers have discovered how a novel antidepressant can take effect in hours, rather than the weeks or months usually required for most drugs currently on the market. The findings should speed development of a safe and easy-to-administer form of the antidepressant ketamine, which has already proven remarkably effective in treating severely depressed patients.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Green leafy vegetables reduce diabetes risk, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3X-ay_3BQpI/100819214607.htm
Eating more green leafy vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, new research finds.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Deep plumes of oil could cause dead zones in the Gulf
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Uoqx-Va_RC4/100819144438.htm
A new simulation of oil and methane leaked into the Gulf of Mexico suggests that deep hypoxic zones or "dead zones" could form near the source of the pollution. The research investigates five scenarios of oil and methane plumes at different depths and incorporates an estimated rate of flow from the Deepwater Horizon spill, which released oil and methane gas into the Gulf from April to mid July of this year.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Link between walking, cycling and health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fF6BJzt9u98/100819162633.htm
Want a slimmer, healthier community? Try building more sidewalks, crosswalks and bike paths. Communities with more walkers and cyclists are healthier than those where people must rely on cars to get around, according to new research.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Brain gene expression changes when honey bees go the distance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bHURJ7LiLS0/100818131611.htm
Tricking honey bees into thinking they have traveled long distance to find food alters gene expression in their brains, researchers report.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
How the storehouses of plant cells are formed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wwunyf1A0C4/100819121218.htm
Researchers have shown for the first time that a specific protein plays an indispensable role in the formation of vacuoles, by far the largest organelles in plant cells. Enveloped by a membrane, vacuoles store substances vital for the plant cell and in many cases important to humans as well. Until now, scientists have only vaguely understood how these vacuoles are formed or how the substances stored inside them get there.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Cervical cancer: Drug and radiotherapy treatment saves lives, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FD9IPSy81XI/100819214605.htm
Medical researchers in the UK have made a significant advance in the treatment of cervical cancer. They have demonstrated that the use of a particular drug in collaboration with radiotherapy gives significantly better results than radiotherapy alone.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Scientist IDs genes that promise to make biofuel production more efficient, economical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WZRnlzmi9Pw/100819112220.htm
Metabolic engineers have taken the first step toward the more efficient and economical production of biofuels by developing a strain of yeast with increased alcohol tolerance. Overexpression of a particular gene increased ethanol volume by more than 70 percent and ethanol tolerance by more than 340 percent compared to the control strain.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Male scientists regret parenthood decisions more than female counterparts, sociologist finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tqOGLa4gfmo/100819141948.htm
Many scientists in academia bemoan the fact that their lifestyles do not allow them to have as many children as they would like. Surprisingly, male scientists harbor more regrets than female scientists, according to a new sociology study.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Genetics underlie formation of body's back-up bypass vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/42WndXdZZnQ/100819162639.htm
Researchers have uncovered the genetic architecture controlling the growth of the collateral circulation -- the "back-up" blood vessels that can provide oxygen to starved tissues in the event of a heart attack or stroke.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Proof that a gut-wrenching complaint -- irritable bowel syndrome -- is not in your head
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7D2DzEYm7Tg/100819141950.htm
Irritable bowel syndrome makes life miserable for those affected, an estimated ten percent or more of the population. What further irritates many sufferers is that they often are labeled as hypochondriacs, since physical causes have never been identified -- until now. Biologists in Germany have discovered mini-inflammations in the mucosa of the gut, which upset the sensitive balance of the bowel and are accompanied by sensitization of the enteric nervous system.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
New biological find gives consequences for doping offence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/01rFUVvyLDY/100819074449.htm
Exercise induces the incorporation of nuclei in muscle fibers that may help the fibers regain size upon retraining after a period of atrophy brought on by muscle disuse, according to a study. Exercise enthusiasts know all too well that strength training of muscles leads to an increase in muscle size that is lost when the training is discontinued; the muscle fibers atrophy because of inactivity. But the mechanism by which previous episodes of training help atrophied fibers regain size relatively soon after retraining has long remained a mystery.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
New ways to chart our maritime past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9-YZQnBlRn8/100819074445.htm
By combining meteorology and archaeology, scientists may discover old sea routes and mooring sites, and boost our knowledge of ancient maritime culture.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Workplace wellness plan saves money over the long-term, new study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g0tRGH1emZo/100818151824.htm
A Midwest utility company learned firsthand that it pays to keep healthy employees fit, reaping a net savings of $4.8 million in employee health and lost work time costs over nine years.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Researchers identify two FDA approved drugs that may fight HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3TT1fJ6rnWQ/100820145305.htm
Researchers have identified two drugs that, when combined, may serve as an effective treatment for HIV. The two drugs, decitabine and gemcitabine -- both FDA approved and currently used in pre-cancer and cancer therapy -- were found to eliminate HIV infection in the mouse model by causing the virus to mutate itself to death -- an outcome researchers dubbed "lethal mutagenesis."

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Researchers advance understanding of enzyme that regulates DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RVlOSRSgS7c/100820145309.htm
Thanks to a single-molecule imaging technique, researchers have revealed the mechanisms of PcrA helicase, an important DNA-regulating enzyme. To prevent unwanted recombination of a damaged or degraded section of DNA, the enzyme binds at the point of the break, where the double- and single-stranded regions meet. Then, it uses its motor function to "reel in" the tail, like a fisherman pulling in a rope, knocking off recombination proteins along the way.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Drug addicts get hooked via prescriptions, keep using 'to feel like a better person,' research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/52AJG2waVjU/100820145307.htm
If you want to know how people become addicted and why they keep using drugs, ask the people who are addicted. Thirty-one of 75 patients hospitalized for opioid detoxification told physicians they first got hooked on drugs legitimately prescribed for pain.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Big quakes more frequent than thought on San Andreas fault, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QufNQfBw98k/100820145303.htm
Earthquakes have rocked the powerful San Andreas fault that splits California far more often than previously thought, according to researchers who have charted temblors there stretching back 700 years.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
Virus May Act as 'Evolution-Proof' Biopesticide Against Malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nS-j0v6ht90/100820133238.htm
A naturally occurring virus in mosquitoes may serve as a "late-life-acting" insecticide by killing older adult mosquitoes that are responsible for the bulk of malaria transmission.

Sat, 21 Aug 10
New Compound May be Effective Against Chagas' Disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aCeHVp9nEz4/100820133156.htm
A new compound may offer an effective drug candidate against the deadly tropical infection, Chagas' disease say researchers from Brazil.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Scientists map and confirm origin of large, underwater hydrocarbon plume in Gulf
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oPR33_91X50/100819141919.htm
Scientists have detected a plume of hydrocarbons that is at least 22 miles long and more than 3,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a residue of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Astronomers use galactic magnifying lens to probe elusive dark energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UQNh1X8w9FE/100819141917.htm
An international team of astronomers using gravitational lensing observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken an important step forward in the quest to solve the riddle of dark energy, a phenomenon which mysteriously appears to power the universe's accelerating expansion.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
With muscle-building treatment, mice live longer even as tumors grow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0Zg9Ex-oYGk/100819121206.htm
In the vast majority of patients with advanced cancer, their muscles will gradually waste away for reasons that have never been well understood. Now, researchers have found some new clues and a way to reverse that process in mice. What's more, animals with cancer that received the experimental treatment lived significantly longer, even as their tumors continued to grow.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Paper wasps punish peers for misrepresenting their might
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dU-csnpiefY/100819121208.htm
Falsely advertising one's fighting ability might seem like a good strategy for a wimp who wants to come off as a toughie, but in paper wasp societies, such deception is discouraged through punishment, experiments suggest.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Breast cancer survivors don't need to be afraid of air travel, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/p6q5ym1ODq0/100819112216.htm
A new study indicates certain precautions about the risk of lymphedema for breast cancer survivors are outdated.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Slowing urban sprawl, adding forests curb floods and help rivers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N284sYmNDuc/100819121214.htm
Controlling urban growth and increasing forested land are the most effective ways to decrease future water runoff and flooding, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Brain network links cognition, motivation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a78BQS4wk88/100819131001.htm
Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table. Now, for the first time, psychology researchers are unraveling the workings of a novel brain network that may explain how these "money players" manage to keep their heads in the game.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
How much mass makes a black hole? Astronomers challenge current theories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/70DfLTwvtE8/100818085938.htm
Astronomers have for the first time demonstrated that a magnetar -- an unusual type of neutron star -- was formed from a star with at least 40 times as much mass as the Sun. The result presents great challenges to current theories of how stars evolve, as a star as massive as this was expected to become a black hole, not a magnetar. This now raises a fundamental question: just how massive does a star really have to be to become a black hole?

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Targeting hit-and-run cancer viruses
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oL1IT8aMuVQ/100818205304.htm
Viruses that can invade host cells, initiate cancer and then flee from their own trail of destruction could be stopped in their tracks, say researchers.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Bees warm up with a drink, too!
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tyAbjiciutk/100818110043.htm
When we venture out on a cool morning, nothing energizes our body like a nice warm drink and new research reveals that bees also use the same idea when they're feeling cold. A new study shows that bees also like to keep winter at bay with a warm drink.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Gender bender: Do gender knee implants provide better outcomes?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DMS8_5_4974/100818141547.htm
A recent study found that 85 women who received a gender-specific implant in one knee and a standard prosthesis in the other knee found no clinical benefits of the gender-specific knee.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Brightness on fluorescent probes used to monitor biological activities of individual proteins increased
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OcUV87diidw/100809111228.htm
Researchers are turning up the brightness on a group of fluorescent probes that are used to monitor biological activities of individual proteins in real-time. This latest advance enhances their fluormodule technology causing it to glow an order of magnitude brighter than typical fluorescent proteins and five- to seven-times brighter than enhanced green fluorescent protein.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Six-year-olds with squint less likely to be invited to birthday parties, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ts3rq2VNPio/100818205308.htm
Six-year-olds with a squint are significantly less likely to be invited to birthday parties than their peers with normally aligned eyes, suggests new research.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Ancient 'terror bird' used powerful beak to jab like an agile boxer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oqFVNj7Qa9w/100818171916.htm
The ancient "terror bird" Andalgalornis couldn't fly, but it used its unusually large, rigid skull -- coupled with a hawk-like hooked beak -- for a fighting strategy reminiscent of boxer Muhammad Ali. The agile creature repeatedly attacked and retreated, landing well-targeted, hatchet-like jabs to take down its prey, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
A cure for HIV could be all in the 'mix'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-JCwBpxGk28/100818205306.htm
Current HIV treatments do not eradicate HIV from host cells but rather inhibit virus replication and delay the onset of AIDS. However, new research has yielded an innovative approach to eliminate HIV in host by targeted killing of only HIV infected cells. This approach if successful could lead into an anti-HIV therapy that will eradicate the virus.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Moderate drinking, especially wine, associated with better cognitive function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LPr4n4kHNUw/100818085651.htm
A large prospective study of 5,033 men and women has reported that moderate wine consumption is independently associated with better performance on cognitive tests.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Overweight American children and adolescents becoming fatter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FMbOb5dNb8g/100818112713.htm
Overweight American children and adolescents have become fatter over the last decade, according to a new study that found adiposity shifts across sociodemographic groups over time and found US children and adolescents had significantly increased adiposity measures such as body mass index, waist circumference and triceps skinfold thickness. The increases in adiposity were more pronounced in some sex-ethnic groups such as black girls.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Too hot to handle: Impacts of climate change on mussels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yl2f69mkJWc/100816110404.htm
Climate change is causing higher air and water temperatures along the east coast of the United States. These changes have shrunk the geographic region where blue mussels are able to survive, according to new findings.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Internet access at home increases the likelihood that adults will be in relationships, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cZyqPZwsk7c/100816095615.htm
Adults who have Internet access at home are much more likely to be in romantic relationships than adults without Internet access, according to new research.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Extreme darkness: Carbon nanotube forest covers ultra-dark detector
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NZFWPPPWcC8/100818135501.htm
Harnessing darkness for practical use, researchers have developed a laser power detector coated with the world's darkest material -- a forest of carbon nanotubes that reflects almost no light across the visible and part of the infrared spectrum.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Discovery may aid search for anti-aging drugs: Gene's action may help explain why restricting diet lengthens life in animals
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ae2na4xJdS0/100818161447.htm
Scientists have found that suppressing a newly discovered gene lengthens the lifespan of roundworms. The results offer promising early evidence that scientists may succeed at finding targets for anti-aging drugs.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Creation of the first frozen repository for Hawaiian coral
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_azfvXhHSbc/100818110041.htm
Scientists have created the first frozen bank for Hawaiian corals in an attempt to protect them from extinction and to preserve their diversity in Hawaii.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Surprise in genome structure linked to developmental diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AdGeP09EgwI/100818131603.htm
The genes that are responsible for maintaining each cell type form DNA loops that link control elements for these genes. The DNA loop structure is essential for regulating the activity of cell-type-specific genes and thus maintaining cell state. Problems with the loop structure can cause multiple syndromes and diseases, including Opitz-Kaveggia syndrome, Lujan syndrome, schizophrenia and Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
New computer model advances climate change research
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nik5Y94tpCc/100818154730.htm
Scientists can now study climate change in far more detail with powerful new computer software released by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The Community Earth System Model will be one of the primary climate models used for the next assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Stress in middle age could contribute to late-life dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ByRy14j9dJ8/100816095756.htm
Psychological stress in middle age could lead to the development of dementia later in life, especially Alzheimer's disease, reveals research from Sweden. Based on data from a study which followed women for 35 years, this is the first research in Sweden to indicate a link between stress and dementia.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Thymus cells transform into skin cells in Swiss laboratory
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/51n3ksH7Yr4/100818131605.htm
Taking one type of cell and transforming it into another type is now possible. Cells taken from the thymus have been transformed into skin cells -- a discovery that may have important ramifications for the field of organ regeneration. The findings show that these stem cells change their genetic make-up according to their environment to contribute to the long-term functioning of the skin, even producing hair for up to a year after implantation.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Even modest weight gain can harm blood vessels, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Yw1R68XVMU/100818112703.htm
Researchers have found that healthy young people who put on as little as nine pounds of fat, specifically in the abdomen, are at risk for developing endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and control the ability of the vessels to expand and contract.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
New satellite data reveals true decline of world's mangrove forests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/McKbYG6ccPg/100818085932.htm
New satellite imagery has given scientists the most comprehensive and exact data on the distribution and decline of mangrove forests from across the world. The research reveals forest distribution is 12.3% smaller than earlier estimates.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Drug-eluting stents confirmed safe, effective for long-term use, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Mcwx2_RbXxc/100818112707.htm
Researchers have determined that the use of drug-eluting stents improves the long-term clinical outcome for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, commonly known as angioplasty.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
HVAC ducts can be used for wireless monitoring technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ymjGz1XXtWs/100818105732.htm
Scientists have found a way to implement wireless monitoring technology -- with uses ranging from climate control to health and safety applications -- by tapping into a building's heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts. The finding could lead to significant time and cost savings for builders and building managers.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exercise
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v2zraTPz7Pg/100818161445.htm
Teens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Deadly Samoa-Tonga earthquake concealed two other quakes, seismic sleuths discover
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mCG8VxUQUlo/100818131555.htm
A magnitude-8.1 earthquake and tsunami that killed 192 people last year in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga was more complicated than initially thought: The 8.1 "great earthquake" concealed and triggered two major quakes of magnitude 7.8, seismologists report.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Study shows gene's role in developing and maintaining cells key for a lifetime of memories
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qxuuQopUnXM/100818085653.htm
Researchers have shown that a gene named Prox1 is a key player in normal development of a brain structure crucial for learning and memory and remains active throughout life, nurturing the cells vital for making new memories.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Why implant coatings detach: Nanocorrosion causes implants to fail
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Bf3LF2Hv9GA/100817143816.htm
Extra-hard coatings made from diamond-like carbon (DLC) extend the operating lifetime of tools and components. In artificial joints, however, these coatings often fail because they detach. Swiss researchers found out why – and developed methods to both make the interface between the DLC layer and the metal underneath corrosion-resistant and to predict the lifetime of the implants.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
How genes hide their function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SnbA8MQMlDQ/100818090018.htm
Researchers in Japan have illuminated mechanisms underlying the genetic robustness of metabolic effects in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Their findings reveal a key balance between the roles played by duplicate genes and metabolic network connectivity in functional compensation.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Forecasting the fate of fertilizer in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IAIMhIYAAZs/100818112701.htm
Reducing the runoff from plant nutrients that can eventually wash into the Chesapeake Bay could someday be as easy as checking the weather forecast.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
For teens, early sex and media exposure not linked, analysis finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0MgnTGDsgy0/100818161449.htm
In a reanalysis of a widely publicized 2006 study that suggested the amount of sexualized media a teen is exposed to affects their age at onset of sexual activity, a psychologist finds no link between the two.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Brain connections break down as we age, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LcCfvRFYUIs/100818151822.htm
It's unavoidable: breakdowns in brain connections slow down our physical response times as we age, a new study suggests.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Study explains why Alzheimer's drug is both safe and effective
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pdgAHPGE2fo/100818141551.htm
The drug memantine improves Alzheimer's disease symptoms by blocking abnormal activity of glutamate, a chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells. In a new study, scientists unravel exactly how memantine helps Alzheimer's patients without causing serious side effects.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Kihansi spray toads make historic return to Tanzania
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hi5xzA78-lg/100817111833.htm
In a bold effort to save one of the world's rarest amphibians from extinction, one hundred Kihansi spray toads have been flown home to Tanzania after being painstakingly reared at the Bronx Zoo and the Toledo Zoo.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Long-term entecavir therapy reverses fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jwII-07SC2Y/100817143630.htm
Researchers have found that patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who received at least 3 years of cumulative entecavir (antiviral) therapy achieved substantial histologic improvement and regression of fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Smart materials: Fully reversible functionalization of inorganic nanotubes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/toPk4K7Wmx0/100818085934.htm
Scientists in Germany have devised a tool which allows fully reversible binding of metal oxides to inorganic nanotubes.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Antidepressant can help treat major depression during perimenopause, menopause, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3DIDBdjj70w/100816155004.htm
An antidepressant can alleviate symptoms of major depression in women experiencing or about to experience menopause, according to a new study.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Human neural stem cells restore motor function in mice with chronic spinal cord injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/v_Rx5mx3jVE/100819144440.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that human neural stem cells can restore mobility in cases of chronic spinal cord injury, suggesting the prospect of treating a much broader population of patients.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Widespread floating plastic debris found in the western North Atlantic Ocean
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9_gHJyuqV98/100819141915.htm
Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, little solid scientific information existed to illustrate the nature and scope of the issue. Now, a team of researchers has published a study of plastic marine debris based on data collected over 22 years by undergraduate students.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveals 'incredible shrinking moon'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0VuIPq6Yel0/100819141911.htm
Newly discovered cliffs in the lunar crust indicate the moon shrank globally in the geologically recent past and might still be shrinking today, according to a team analyzing new images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. The results provide important clues to the moon's recent geologic and tectonic evolution.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Galactic 'super-volcano' in action
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k64R76UIOFc/100819112218.htm
A galactic "super-volcano" in the massive galaxy M87 is erupting and blasting gas outwards. The cosmic volcano is being driven by a giant black hole in the galaxy's center and preventing hundreds of millions of new stars from forming.

Fri, 20 Aug 10
Scientists pry new information from disease-causing, shellfish-borne bacterium
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/K2TgMWOlGLg/100819141927.htm
Researchers have uncovered a key weapon in the molecular arsenal the infectious bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. para) uses to kill cells and cause food poisoning in its human host.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Choosing healthier protein-rich foods instead of red and processed meats may reduce heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a5QeGWh1cK0/100816162631.htm
American women who ate more protein-rich foods instead of red meat had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease, according to a new study. Eating more fresh red meat, processed red meat and high-fat dairy carried an increased risk of heart disease in the study. Women who had two servings per day of red meat compared to those who had half a serving per day had a 30 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
How corals fight back
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_wlUFojn0xU/100818105728.htm
Researchers are a step closer to understanding the rapid decline of our coral reefs, thanks to a breakthrough study linking coral immunity with its susceptibility to bleaching and disease.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Meningitis research breakthrough could save children’s lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zsTgrA6klKk/100818085930.htm
Scientists have developed a rapid diagnostic test for meningococcal bacteria that can produce results within an hour. The speed of this new test is a vital factor in the treatment of young children with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia who become very ill over a short period.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Screening crop plants for toxins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iYRLy_bV1ck/100514075153.htm
Scientists are working on a way to screen crop plants for toxic accumulation. Many plants, in response to predators or herbivores, release hydrogen cyanide to defend themselves. The new genetic screen for plants lacking this ability will be particularly useful for crops grown in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Can anthropology solve an economic crisis?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ST_EmrGWD6c/100818140149.htm
The field of anthropology is often associated with finding lost tribes, understanding ancient civilizations, and the study of indigenous peoples. However, researchers in Norway argue that anthropology has much more to offer than insights into small-scale societies, traditional cultures or arcane customs. They now argue that anthropology is an indispensable tool to complement others research fields, such as psychology and economics, in solving many diverse problems.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Roller coaster superconductivity discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iK7CqpPGSUw/100818131557.htm
Superconductors are more than 150 times more efficient at carrying electricity than copper wires. But these materials have to be cooled below an extremely low, so-called transition temperature for electrical resistance to disappear. Researchers have unexpectedly found that the transition temperature can be induced under two different intense pressures in a three-layered bismuth oxide crystal. They believe this unusual two-step phenomena comes from competition of electronic behavior in different layers.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Scientists closer to finding what causes the birth of a fat cell
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C091NyPAiV4/100816114835.htm
Just what causes the birth of a human fat cell is a mystery, but scientists using mathematics to tackle the question have come up with a few predictions about the proteins that influence this process. The research is intended to increase understanding of how and why preadipocytes, or pre-fat cells, either lie dormant, copy themselves or turn into fat.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Paving 'slabs' that clean the air
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IuQJtNXDBak/100818090016.htm
The concentrations of toxic nitrogen oxide that are present in German cities regularly exceed the maximum permitted levels. That's now about to change, as innovative paving slabs that will help protect the environment are being introduced. Coated in titanium dioxide nanoparticles, they reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide in the air.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Women with osteoporosis suffer more if they have previously broken a bone, say scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0aQfmYfoL7g/100818085936.htm
An international study of more than 60,000 women has drawn new light on the relationship between osteoporosis and fractures. Scientists call for more to be done to identify and treat patients at the highest risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in women who have fractured bones when they were younger - and they experience a similar loss in health-related quality of life as those with arthritis, lung disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Future air travel: Quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GgYyYEirnTc/100510092513.htm
Less noise, less exhaust, less refuse - air travel of the future is expected to be quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly. To achieve this goal, new structural concepts and aerodynamic profiles have to be engineered, along with better drive concepts as well as adapted logistical designs, and then put to use. In the European project Clean Sky, researchers want to make their contribution to solving this Herculean task.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Early life influences risk for psychiatric disorders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YgyIxhtBAb4/100818090012.htm
For more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Fossil reveals 48-million-year history of zombie ants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IAALLW8mQE4/100818105730.htm
A 48-million-year-old fossilized leaf has revealed the oldest known evidence of a macabre part of nature -- parasites taking control of their hosts to turn them into zombies.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Vitamin D may treat or prevent allergy to common mold
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h9t68nlrJ7c/100816122122.htm
Vitamin D may be an effective therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergy to a common mold that can complicate asthma and frequently affects patients with cystic fibrosis.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Breakthrough gene therapy prevents retinal degeneration
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4btY2P4UTvw/100816110411.htm
In one of only two studies of its kind, scientists demonstrate that non-viral gene therapy can delay the onset of some forms of eye disease and preserve vision. The team developed nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic genes to the retina and found that treated mice temporarily retained more eyesight than controls. The study brings researchers closer to a non-viral gene therapy treatment for degenerative eye disorders.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
New probe technology illuminates the activation of light-sensing cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gv3RQf9_HbQ/100427115553.htm
Ultimately, Charles Darwin's "endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful" can be boiled down to a scant 20 or so amino acids, the basic building blocks of life. From this parsimonious palette, nature paints the proteins that make up the wild diversity of life on earth, from the simplest bacteria to the most complicated structure in the known universe -- the human brain. Now, research reveals a new technique for tagging proteins with non-natural amino acids to scrutinize details about how they function.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Men more likely to cheat if they are economically dependent on their female partners, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SdTJFtMr95Q/100816095617.htm
The more economically dependent a man is on his female partner, the more likely he is to cheat on her, according to new research.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Smokers trying to give up: Don't stop thinking about cigarettes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Gfo_hCwr0ws/100817143812.htm
Blocking thoughts of cigarettes helps reduce smokers' intake at first, but means they smoke more than usual when they stop suppressing, according to new research.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
High definition diagnostic ultrasonics on the nanoscale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z4YeGQT1slI/100816110419.htm
Scientists have built the world's smallest ultrasonic transducers capable of generating and detecting ultrasound.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Dwindling green pastures, not hunting, may have killed off the mammoth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DA6EgbjejAw/100817211052.htm
A massive reduction in grasslands and the spread of forests may have been the primary cause of the decline of mammals such as the woolly mammoth, woolly rhino and cave lion, according to scientists.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Novel diabetes hope comes from Chinese herbs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vGWud5r0Fs8/100817211054.htm
Emodin, a natural product that can be extracted from various Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonum cuspidatum, shows promise as an agent that could reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes. New findings show that giving emodin to mice with diet-induced obesity lowered blood glucose and serum insulin, improved insulin resistance and lead to more healthy levels of lipid in the blood. It also decreased body weight and reduced central fat mass.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Clothing to power personal computers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sXpYmAH_KhI/100817143810.htm
Scientists in the UK are developing technology that may enable people to power MP3 players and other devices through their clothes and the carpets they walk on.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
People who cannot escape a system are likely to defend the status quo, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2Bm6adrDJAQ/100816142129.htm
The freedom of emigration at will is internationally recognized as a human right. But, in practice, emigration is often restricted, whether by policy or by poverty. A new study finds that people who are told that their right to emigrate will be restricted have what could be considered a strange reaction: they respond by defending their country's system.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Astronaut muscles waste in space: Safety for future Mars missions questioned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eafpkrwNwdQ/100817212011.htm
Astronaut muscles waste away on long space flights, reducing their capacity for physical work by more than 40 percent, according to new research. This is the equivalent of a 30- to 50-year-old crew member's muscles deteriorating to that of an 80-year-old. The destructive effects of extended weightlessness to skeletal muscle -- despite in-flight exercise -- pose a significant safety risk for future human missions to Mars and elsewhere in the universe.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Integrative body-mind training (IBMT) meditation found to boost brain connectivity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fibu5qlMrP4/100816155000.htm
Just 11 hours of learning a meditation technique induces positive structural changes in brain connectivity by boosting efficiency in a part of the brain that helps a person regulate behavior in accordance with their goals, researchers report. The technique -- integrative body-mind training (IBMT) -- has been the focus of intense scrutiny by a team of Chinese researchers.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Cause of immune system avoidance of certain pathogens discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7FtXGg5ej5o/100817171605.htm
Researchers have discovered that a special set of sugars found on some disease-causing pathogens helps those pathogens fight the body's natural defenses as well as vaccines. This discovery may be a first step in understanding a disease family that includes tuberculosis for which there are currently no good vaccines or cures.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Human activity eclipses Brazos River's native carbon cycle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/znRPEpSoWBM/100816110501.htm
Geochemists have found that damming and other human activity has completely obscured the natural carbon dioxide cycling process in Texas' longest river, the Brazos. The study is the first to document such an overwhelming influence of human activity on carbon dioxide in a major river.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Antagonistic people may increase heart attack, stroke risk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uX_FMYA1QP8/100816162633.htm
Antagonistic people have greater thickening of neck artery walls than agreeable people, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Those deemed the least agreeable had a 40 percent increased risk of artery narrowing compared to those who were the most agreeable, according to a new study.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Can cloned plants live forever?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bCD1LRlVCPc/100817171601.htm
Despite the many cosmetic products, surgical treatments, food supplements, and drugs designed specifically to reverse the biological effects of aging in humans, long-lived aspen clones aren't so lucky. Researchers have shown that as long-lived male aspen clones age, their sexual performance declines.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Elementary particles star in new 'dance movie'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6RgQZBppYRA/100817143814.htm
Scientists in Germany have directly measured the spatial positions of electrons and protons during a chemical reaction using ultrashort X-ray flashes.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Studying yeast to better understand male infertility
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HPeqaeZBNIs/100817143710.htm
Men and yeast have something in common: they use the same molecular process to ensure the integrity of their gene pool during reproduction, according to researchers in France. The scientists are studying yeast in order to shed light on the numerous cases of male infertility related to the malfunction of this process during spermatogenesis

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Powering Australia with waves
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vATxC3Uraso/100817090758.htm
Researchers have provide new estimates of the wave-energy potential of Australia's near-shore regions. They also calculate how much of Australia's energy needs could be obtained from wave energy alone.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Evolution may have pushed humans toward greater risk for type 1 diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oTcbN8LCkEQ/100817171603.htm
Gene variants associated with an increased risk for type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis may confer previously unknown benefits to their human carriers, say researchers. As a result, the human race may have been evolving in the recent past to be more susceptible, rather than less, to some complex diseases, they conclude.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
B vitamins and the aging brain examined
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZegpKdn_fR8/100817134302.htm
Nutritionist are taking a closer look at the role the B vitamins may play in preventing decline in brain function.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Secrets of a vanished English landscape: Geologists examine 5,000-year-old 'fossilized' landscape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dZMydbT9AgQ/100817143818.htm
A team of scientists in the UK has published new research on a fossilized landscape, providing insights into how an ancient environment functioned.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Genetic link to advanced fatty liver disease confirmed by new studies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d0tckHGW3Uo/100817143632.htm
Researchers have found that patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who carry an allele of the PNPLA3 gene have an increased risk of developing advanced disease, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Another study validates these findings and further concludes that in pediatric patients, the same allele is associated with earlier disease presentation.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
How to reduce UK transport carbon emissions by 76 per cent by 2050
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8g6r7DrbO5Q/100817143916.htm
Researchers in the UK have achieved a significant breakthrough in climate change policy by showing how to make drastic cuts in carbon dioxide emissions from transport. The study goes beyond the science and paints a picture of what a low carbon transport future would look like. What emerges is vision of a less stressful, quieter, healthier, more resilient and confident society.

Thu, 19 Aug 10
Postnatal depression can be prevented by health visitors, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n-jcjboQwLE/100817212009.htm
Training health visitors to assess and psychologically support mothers after childbirth can prevent the development of depression over the following year, shows a new analysis of data from a full scale clinical trial in adults.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Warmest year-to-date global temperature on record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/791GabCCZ3k/100817133158.htm
The combined global land and ocean surface temperature made this July the second warmest on record, behind 1998, and the warmest averaged January-July on record. The global average land surface temperature for July and January-July was warmest on record. The global ocean surface temperature for July was the fifth warmest, and for January-July 2010 was the second warmest on record, behind 1998.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Sports brain trauma may cause disease mimicking ALS, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nLnEPJZEh6Y/100817134304.htm
New research provides the first pathological evidence that repetitive head trauma experienced in collision sports is associated with motor neuron disease, a neurological condition that affects voluntary muscle movements. The most common form of motor neuron disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Two types of bone marrow stem cells could work together to advance regenerative medicine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ShRR2IFKMV0/100817090808.htm
A unique "partnership" between two types of bone marrow stem cells could lead to advances in regenerative medicine.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Data storage: World record data density for ferroelectric recording
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XEb0eUYF7Sc/100817090753.htm
Scientists in Japan have recorded data at a density of 4 trillion bits per square inch, a world record for the experimental "ferroelectric" data storage method. This density is about eight times the density of today's most advanced magnetic hard-disk drives.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Marriage and committed romance reduce stress-related hormone production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dR0Sjcp6uUc/100817111827.htm
Being married has often been associated with improving people's health, but a new study suggests that having that long-term bond also alters hormones in a way that reduces stress. Unmarried people in a committed, romantic relationship show the same reduced responses to stress as do married people.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Possible discovery of earliest animal life pushes back fossil record
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/W2PcOreiCw0/100817144641.htm
In findings that push back the clock on the scientific world's thinking about when animal life appeared on Earth, scientists may have discovered the oldest fossils of animal bodies, suggesting that primitive sponge-like creatures were living in ocean reefs about 650 million years ago. The shelly fossils, found beneath a 635 million-year-old glacial deposit in South Australia, represent the earliest evidence of animal body forms in the current fossil record by at least 70 million years.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
New drugs to treat chronic pain without numbing may be possible
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kGNNc-1QvSI/100817103340.htm
Researchers have made a discovery that could lead to a brand new class of drugs to treat chronic pain caused by inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and back pain without numbing the whole body.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
New system developed to test and evaluate high-energy laser weapons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZtjNJkL2K5o/100817103350.htm
Researchers can now measure a laser's power and spatial energy distribution at once by directing the beam onto a reusable glass target board. The new system will accelerate high-energy laser development and reduce the time required to make them operational for national security purposes.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Lung stem cells vital to lung repair associated with poor cancer prognosis when found in tumor
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UBC-CIlsp2A/100817090810.htm
Adult stem cells that are vital for airway repair in the lung but that persist in areas where pre-cancerous lesions are found are associated with a poor prognosis in patients who develop cancer, even those with early stage disease, researchers have found.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Major hurdle cleared for organic solar cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wCDyUPLFFU0/100817090756.htm
The basis for solar energy is absorbing light and then effectively disassociating electrical charges. Researchers report that conjugated polymers are excellent materials for such a system, thanks to their light absorption and conduction properties.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Heavy drug-use among bad boys curbed by parental monitoring and peers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z14MLkKzaVo/100817103354.htm
Aggressive and hyperactive boys with low parental monitoring are more likely to befriend deviant peers and become heavy drug users as teens, according to a new study. Yet the investigation found that 'bad boys' can be protected from heavy substance use as teenagers if they are highly monitored and befriend 'good boys' as children.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
'Mitochondrial Eve': Mother of all humans lived 200,000 years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O7yz2g3SzSw/100817122405.htm
The most robust statistical examination to date of our species' genetic links to "mitochondrial Eve" -- the maternal ancestor of all living humans -- confirms that she lived about 200,000 years ago. The study was based on a side-by-side comparison of 10 human genetic models that each aim to determine when Eve lived using a very different set of assumptions about the way humans migrated, expanded and spread across Earth.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Nearly one million children in U.S. potentially misdiagnosed with ADHD, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iVDy3PxhrTo/100817103342.htm
Nearly one million children in the United States are potentially misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder simply because they are the youngest -- and most immature -- in their kindergarten class, according to new research.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Sundews just want to be loved
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YP1I1-ZfEUM/100817103348.htm
Why do some insect-eating plants like sundews keep their flowers so far away from their traps? New research suggests that it isn't a clever trick to keep pollinators safe, it's about getting pollinated.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
New screen offers hope for copper deficiency sufferers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tU9Bp7ghkaQ/100817090751.htm
Copper deficiency diseases can be crippling, with symptoms ranging from neurodegeneration to skin pigmentation disorders, but virtually nothing is known about how our bodies use this essential nutrient. Scientists have developed a ground-breaking new screening technique to identify key genes in copper deficiency diseases. They identified mutations in a major cellular mechanism that could explain why some people are more vulnerable to copper deficiency than others.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Many Americans are still clueless on how to save energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OOLUyGrS5KI/100817103352.htm
Many Americans believe they can save energy with small behavior changes that actually achieve very little, and severely underestimate the major effects of switching to efficient, currently available technologies, says a new survey of Americans in 34 states. The study quizzed people on what they perceived as the most effective way to save energy.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Preschoolers use statistics to understand others
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fq-PRIjvmOE/100817111829.htm
Children are natural psychologists. By the time they're in preschool, they understand that other people have desires, preferences, beliefs and emotions. But how they learn this isn't clear. A new study finds that children figure out another person's preferences by using a topic you'd think they don't encounter until college: statistics.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Bacteria can have a 'sense of smell'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KHuPr9AhHG4/100816095719.htm
Bacteria are well-known to be the cause of some of the most repugnant smells on earth, but now scientists have revealed this lowest of life forms actually has a sense of smell of its own. A team of marine microbiologists has discovered that bacteria have a molecular "nose".

Wed, 18 Aug 10
SPF on your plate: Researcher connects the Mediterranean diet with skin cancer prevention
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wvqYPh6PgBw/100816122206.htm
New research shows that a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like the diet eaten in Mediterranean regions where melanoma rates are extremely low, can help protect us from skin cancer. A researcher in Israel has a simple prescription: "go Greek" with foods such as olive oil, fish, yogurt and colorful fruits and vegetables to fight the oxidizing effect of the sun.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Tantalizing clues as to why matter prevails in the universe: Surprisingly large matter/antimatter asymmetry discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4p4vWvUpwVA/100816095717.htm
Decays of B mesons in recent experiments at Fermilab result in excess matter over antimatter that exceeds expectations, based on the Standard Model of particle physics.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Presidential election outcomes directly influence suicide rates, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1sZ_aBTT8fk/100816114825.htm
Change and hope were central themes to the November 2008 US presidential election. A new longitudinal study published in the September issue of Social Science Quarterly analyzes suicide rates at a state level from 1981-2005 and determines that presidential election outcomes directly influence suicide rates among voters.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
MRSA-killing paint created
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qtHg4fY90p8/100816142114.htm
Building on an enzyme found in nature, researchers have created a nanoscale coating for surgical equipment, hospital walls, and other surfaces which safely eradicates methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria responsible for antibiotic resistant infections.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Gallbladder cancer may be linked to estrogens, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ROPPqdVrQyM/100816114827.htm
A very aggressive disease with a poor prognosis, gallbladder cancer may be connected to higher exposure to estrogens, according to researchers. They show, for the first time, that the absence of liver X beta receptors in a complex interplay with estrogens, induces gallbladder cancer exclusively in female mice and that the elimination of estrogens prevents the development of tumors in this animal model.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Reminding health-care staff to remove catheters reduces infections by half
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nbyfxRPfBWc/100816122208.htm
Urinary catheters are often left in place longer than needed, and new research shows that reminder systems that encourage hospital staff to remove catheters promptly can reduce the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 52 percent.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Measuring salt shine to improve climate understanding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/N-9tRr0HpiA/100816095711.htm
From Aug. 14-25, 2010, scientists from around the world will gather in Southern Turkey to measure the spectral reflectance of a few square kilometers of salt. These measurements will have a major impact on the future of satellite based Earth observation, and will ultimately improve our understanding of the Earth's climate.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Growing up without sibs doesn't hurt social skills, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YaqiBJ0gLcc/100816095621.htm
Growing up without siblings doesn't seem to be a disadvantage for teenagers when it comes to social skills, new research suggests. A study of more than 13,000 middle and high school students across the country found that "only children" were selected as friends by their schoolmates just as often as were peers who grew up with brothers and sisters.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Studies pinpoint key targets for MRSA vaccine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i4sCaxvNavQ/100816095627.htm
Two studies point to a new way to a vaccinate against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- also known as MRSA -- the leading US cause of skin, soft tissue, bloodstream and lung infections, as well as deaths from infectious disease. One counteracts the bacteria's tools for evading the immune system; the other disrupts the germ's tissue-damaging mechanism. Each approach reduced the microbe's virulence in mice. The combination may protect people from MRSA and provide lasting immunity.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Health impact of Gulf Coast oil spill hazardous but improving
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XPq6zXNuq5g/100816122204.htm
The oil spill along the United States Gulf Coast poses health risks to volunteers, fishermen, clean-up workers and members of coastal communities, according to a new commentary by researchers who spent time in the region and are among the first to look into health problems caused by the oil spill.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Scientists map epigenetic changes during blood cell differentiation; Potential application for stem cell therapies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MgxuNFZyxh0/100816122200.htm
Having charted the occurrence of a common chemical change that takes place while stem cells decide their fates and progress from precursor to progeny, scientists have produced the first-ever epigenetic landscape map for tissue differentiation.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Gene that causes barnacles to avoid ship hulls identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hgIBar3CC58/100816095822.htm
The substance medetomidine has proved effective in preventing fouling of ship bottoms. Researchers have now identified the gene that causes the barnacle to react to the substance, opening up the possibility of an anti-fouling paint that is gentle both on barnacles and on the environment.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Obesity rates decline for many adolescents, but disparities worsen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7Qunj3hn_sg/100816095625.htm
Obesity rates have started to decline and level off for many adolescents, but continue to increase for certain racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new study.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Genes associated with aggressive breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6z3qHcxenwQ/100816095703.htm
Researchers in Sweden have identified 12 genes that could be associated with aggressive breast tumors. The discovery could result in more reliable prognoses and better treatment strategies for patients.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Novel role: EZH2 boosts creation of ovarian cancer blood vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F2ZrfiApqfM/100816122140.htm
A protein associated with cancer progression when abundant inside of tumors also unexpectedly regulates the creation of new blood vessels that feed the tumor outside, a research team reports.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Arsenic in field runoff linked to poultry litter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q22DLGI0JQA/100816095623.htm
Fields amended with poultry litter can accumulate significant levels of arsenic, according to new studies. These findings provide key information about the agricultural pollutants that can build up in agricultural soils over time -- and possibly migrate into nearby streams and rivers.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Disadvantaged adolescents prone to adult crime and substance abuse problems, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7uFfgMi2OaM/100816110503.htm
Early intervention among young adolescents with delinquency problems may help prevent the development of long-term crime and substance abuse problems, a new article suggests.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Eclipsing pulsar promises clues to crushed matter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CZoYsvclqiY/100817151447.htm
Astronomers have found the first fast X-ray pulsar to be eclipsed by its companion star. Further studies of this unique stellar system will shed light on some of the most compressed matter in the universe and test a key prediction of Einstein's relativity theory.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Accomplice in breast cancer discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O5NAra_4siA/100817161108.htm
Scientists have discovered an accomplice in breast cancer -- a master control switch with the power to set off a cascade of reactions orchestrated by a cancer-causing gene (or oncogene) named Wnt1.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Acupuncture not superior to sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SiGSqwaBQ9w/100817143628.htm
Researchers have determined that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who are treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) do not experience any more benefit than those receiving sham acupuncture (placebo). The team did find that the communication style of the acupuncturist could have a significant effect on pain reduction and satisfaction in patients.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Why drunk drivers may get behind the wheel
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JKvAguubiF0/100817171607.htm
A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking. The research is the first to explore how cognitive abilities are impacted during both rising and declining blood alcohol concentrations, and how self-evaluation of recovery differs from actual recovery from impairment.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Moderate chocolate consumption linked to lower risks of heart failure, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kJ-yzLyQNfw/100817161110.htm
Middle-aged and elderly Swedish women who regularly ate a small amount of chocolate had lower risks of heart failure risks, according to a new study.

Wed, 18 Aug 10
Cosmic accelerators discovered in our galaxy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/At6ysTeZESs/100817151451.htm
Physicists have discovered evidence of "natural nuclear accelerators" at work in our Milky Way galaxy, based on an analysis of data from the world's largest cosmic ray detector.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Resolving the paradox of the Antarctic sea ice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YvtAKYqp5F0/100816154958.htm
While Arctic sea ice has been diminishing in recent decades, the Antarctic sea ice extent has been increasing slightly. Researchers provide an explanation for the seeming paradox of increasing Antarctic sea ice in a warming climate.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Scientists successfully use human induced pluripotent stem cells to treat Parkinson's in rodents
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FqGWHbWBzbI/100816142127.htm
Researchers have successfully used human induced pluripotent stem cells to treat rodents afflicted with Parkinson's disease. The research validates a scalable protocol that can be used to manufacture the type of neurons needed to treat the disease and paves the way for the use of iPSC's in various biomedical applications.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/srWhk6zJetc/100816142118.htm
Solitary snails in search of a mate put off parenthood as long as possible in the hopes that a partner will appear. But when Physa acuta snails smell predators, they don't wait as long for a mate. Scared snails settle for single parenthood much sooner than their calm counterparts, says a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Birth control pill equally effective for women regardless of their weight
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BbPdVgto1hU/100816155006.htm
The first study to compare the effectiveness of the birth control pill in women with marked weight differences has found that the pill works equally well in women with obesity and thinner women. This new finding by physician-scientists refutes a long-held conviction among many doctors that the pill may not reliably prevent pregnancy in women who are overweight or obese.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
New microneedle antimicrobial techniques may foster medical tech innovation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/stkXG95jirI/100519112620.htm
Researchers have developed two new approaches for incorporating antimicrobial properties into microneedles -- vanishingly thin needles that hold great promise for use in portable medical devices. Researchers expect the findings to spur development of new medical applications using microneedles.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Boys and girls not as different as previously thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aKKcmYwN2gw/100816114823.htm
Although girls tend to hang out in smaller, more intimate groups than boys, this difference vanishes by the time children reach the eighth grade, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
15,000 beams of light: Pens that write with light offer low-cost, rapid nanofabrication capabilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/foHKg7vPnDI/100801190253.htm
One city skyline is dazzling enough. Now imagine 15,000 of them. Researchers have done just that -- drawing 15,000 identical skylines with tiny beams of light using an innovative nanofabrication technology called beam-pen lithography. BPL uses an array of pens made of a polymer to print patterns over large areas with nanoscopic through macroscopic resolution. The method could do for nanofabrication what the desktop printer has done for printing and information transfer.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Embryonic heart paced with laser
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aUhk-98nOtc/100815162132.htm
Scientists have found that pulsed infrared light can pace contractions in an avian embryonic heart, with no apparent damage to the tissue.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Memory researchers explain latest findings on improving the mind, stopping memory loss
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QZGCHSOBaTs/100815111456.htm
The ability to remember is not just to glimpse into the past; a sharp memory can help with creativity, productivity and even the ability to imagine the future, according to several psychologists.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Solution to beading-saliva mystery has practical purposes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FGU2_dZF50I/100609171851.htm
Researchers have discovered precisely why strands of some fluids containing long molecules called polymers form beads when stretched, findings that could be used to improve industrial processes and for administering drugs in "personalized medicine."

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Promising results of gene therapy to treat diseases of the eye
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xUjnYqxvwiM/100815111559.htm
The easy accessibility of the eye and the established link between specific genetic defects and ocular disorders offer hope for using gene therapy to provide long-term therapeutic benefit. Two new reports describe the effective replacement of a human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in a mouse model of severe retinal degeneration.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Making sense of space dust: Researchers explore solar system's origins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q1zBloZd-_8/100811093011.htm
The chemical breakdown of minerals that may be lurking in space dust soon will be available to scientists around the world.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Trojan Horse attack on native lupine: Tiny mice advance under of invasive beachgrass to feast on seeds of endangered plant
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f5mLbnGZ74c/100815111553.htm
At Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, Calif., a fierce battle is taking place between an invasive plant and a native plant, but one with a new twist. European beachgrass provides cover that allows a timid deer mouse to get close enough to the lupine to snip off stalks of lupine fruits without being nabbed by overflying birds. The two plants aren't in direct competition, but the beachgrass in this indirect way threatens the lupine's ability to survive.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Adversity in childhood can increase risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qXd-TQpcn54/100815111448.htm
Early life adversity through poverty, social isolation or abuse in childhood is linked to heightened reactivity, which can lead to heart disease later on, a leading expert on stress and disease said Saturday.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Shape matters: The corkscrew twist of H. pylori enables it to 'set up shop' in the stomach
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ef4sN0KcKlU/100527122147.htm
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which lives in the human stomach and is associated with ulcers and gastric cancer, is shaped like a corkscrew, or helix. For years researchers have hypothesized that the bacterium's twisty shape is what enables it to survive -- and thrive -- within the stomach's acid-drenched environment, but until now they have had no proof.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Researchers assess severity of prostate cancers using magnetic resonance imaging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/R42MRiTutpY/100810163458.htm
Researchers are developing methods that can accurately assess the severity of prostate cancer by analyzing magnetic resonance images and spectra of a patient's prostate gland. This may help physicians decide more confidently which patients need aggressive treatment and which are better served by "watchful waiting," and could even postpone or eliminate invasive biopsies in patients with low-grade tumors.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Technique to preserve fertility in young women may be unsafe for patients with leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DCYU9wwMpog/100815111601.htm
Although the use of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation has lead to 13 live births in women with lymphoma or solid tumors, this method of fertility preservation may be unsafe for patients with leukemia, according to a recent study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Childhood abuse, adversity may shorten life, weaken immune response among the elderly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4I93FsW5A88/100815111450.htm
The emotional pains we suffer in childhood can lead to weakened immune systems later in life, according to a new study. Based on this new research, the amount of this immune impairment even enhances that caused by the stress of caregiving later in life.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Evidence of new solar activity from observations of aurora in New Zealand
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YK6gnpP6v_c/100815111555.htm
Scientists have obtained sub-visual evidence of the onset of a new cycle of solar-terrestrial activity. The key results being reported deal with the fact that recent auroral displays at high latitudes (ones visible to the naked eye) were accompanied by far less luminous glows in the atmosphere at lower latitudes.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Lethal brain tumor's strength may be a weakness as well
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cD_652LrQcM/100815111452.htm
Malignant gliomas are the most common subtype of primary brain tumor – and one of the deadliest. Even as doctors make steady progress treating other types of solid tumor cancers, from breast to prostate, the most aggressive form of malignant glioma, called a glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, has steadfastly defied advances in neurosurgery, radiation therapy and various conventional or novel drugs. But scientists have discovered a new signaling pathway between GBM cells – one that, if ultimately blocked or disrupted, could significantly slow or reduce tumor growth and malignancy.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Green tea extract appears to keep cancer in check in majority of CLL patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c19JW9FsySc/100607101702.htm
An extract of green tea appears to have clinical activity with low toxicity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who used it in a Phase II clinical trial.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Daughters caring for a parent recovering from stroke more prone to depression than sons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7UPo8OcN0cw/100607065603.htm
Daughters caring for a parent recovering from stroke are more prone to depression than sons, according to new research. Strained relationships before or following the stroke increases depression in daughters.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
IBEX spacecraft reveals surprising details of solar system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hPu_iqLVU_E/100816151047.htm
It wasn't until the advent of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer or IBEX, a NASA spacecraft launched in October 2008, that scientists have been able to see what the human eye cannot: the first-ever images of an electromagnetic crash scene in space. They can now witness how some of the solar wind's charged particles are being neutralized by gas escaping from Earth's atmosphere.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
'Smart' adult stem cells repair hearts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OQ-eEERec2s/100816204208.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that rationally "guided" human adult stem cells can effectively heal, repair and regenerate damaged heart tissue.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
UV-B treatment may improve psoriasis and vitamin D levels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eNK0twrHj00/100816162641.htm
Treatment with narrow-band UV-B rays may increase serum levels of vitamin D in the wintertime while clearing psoriasis, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Ozone and nicotine a bad combination for asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0iONCv3DF34/100816142124.htm
Researchers have demonstrated that ozone can react with the nicotine in secondhand tobacco smoke to form ultrafine particles that may become a bigger threat to asthma sufferers than nicotine itself.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Repairing spinal cord injury with manipulated neural stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RkOAt2FfxR8/100816122130.htm
One of the most common causes of disability in young adults is spinal cord injury. Currently, there is no proven reparative treatment. However, hope that neural stem cells might be of benefit to individuals with severe spinal cord injury has now been provided new research using a mouse model of this devastating condition.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Efforts to encourage disclosure of medical errors decreased claims
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QJ_yeTjxuYc/100816204210.htm
The University of Michigan's program of full disclosure and compensation for medical errors resulted in a decrease in new claims for compensation (including lawsuits), time to claim resolution and lower liability costs, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Cassini bags Enceladus 'Tigers'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NQsee6Hfi4w/100816175128.htm
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has successfully completed its flyby over the "tiger stripes" in the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus and has sent back images of its passage. The spacecraft also targeted the moon Tethys.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Raising mountains on Saturn's moon Titan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tTUo0np7yhc/100816175021.htm
Saturn's moon Titan ripples with mountains, and scientists have been trying to figure out how they form. The best explanation, it turns out, is that Titan is shrinking as it cools, wrinkling up the moon's surface like a raisin.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Massive coral mortality following bleaching in Indonesia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bxL4QNFapBc/100816170839.htm
Initial field observations indicate that a dramatic rise in the surface temperature in Indonesian waters has resulted in a large-scale bleaching event that has devastated coral populations.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
New link found between inflammation and cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D_EgMoPrUXw/100816170837.htm
Researchers have uncovered a new link between chronic inflammation and cancer. Although cancers do not always cause inflammation, chronic inflammation is known to help tumor cells grow.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
SSRIs may pack more punch at the cellular level than believed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hZh5Wl3zTCE/100816162704.htm
A new discovery about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors suggests that these drugs, used to treat mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, have multiple effects on our cells. Researchers used yeast cells to identify secondary drug targets or pathways affected by SSRIs. Such secondary pathways could help explain why different people taking the same drug can experience different effects, and could also lead to new types of drugs altogether.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Deaf, hard-of-hearing students perform first test of sign language by cell phone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/V4geQi7w3pE/100816162649.htm
Engineers are developing the first device able to transmit American Sign Language over US cellular networks. The tool is just completing its initial field test by participants in a summer program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Difficulty swallowing a sign of poor prognosis among hospitalized patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cePdMqLddIk/100816162647.htm
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is associated with longer hospital stays among patients with any diagnosis, is increasingly prevalent with older age and is an indicator of a poor prognosis, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Women who drink beer more likely to develop psoriasis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E-dxjevgLqE/100816162645.htm
Regular beer -- but not light beer or other types of alcohol -- appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Skin condition associated with depression, anxiety and suicidal feelings
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SbM2m3wOIps/100816162643.htm
Individuals with psoriasis appear to have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Hair color, socioeconomic status among risk factors for recurring basal cell carcinoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/meM_3WQfT8c/100816162639.htm
Patients who receive a diagnosis of the skin cancer basal cell carcinoma at a younger age -- along with those who have red hair, a higher socioeconomic status and a cancerous lesion on their upper extremities -- appear to be at higher risk of developing multiple cancers and require closer follow-up, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Surgery can be safely performed in settings with limited resources
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JcTQH5TcMfc/100816162637.htm
The humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières performed close to 20,000 procedures in resource-limited settings between 2001 and 2008 with an operative death rate of only 0.2 percent, suggesting surgical care can be provided safely in these circumstances with appropriate minimum standards and protocols, according to a new study.

Tue, 17 Aug 10
Patients with diabetes may need fewer medications after bariatric surgery
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2bgPpq1L34o/100816162635.htm
Bariatric surgery appears to be associated with reduced use of medications and lower health care costs among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Dangerous bacterium hosts genetic remnant of life's distant past
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J2nXKy2SE2k/100812151630.htm
Within a dangerous stomach bacterium, researchers have discovered an ancient but functioning genetic remnant from a time before DNA existed.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Carbon nanotubes form ultrasensitive biosensor to detect proteins
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xd0dBnEatbk/100627155118.htm
A cluster of carbon nanotubes coated with a thin layer of protein-recognizing polymer form a biosensor capable of using electrochemical signals to detect minute amounts of proteins, which could provide a crucial new diagnostic tool for the detection of a range of illnesses, researchers report.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
NGC 4696: A cosmic question mark
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cz-ix4Dx7K8/100812065911.htm
Curling around itself like a question mark, the unusual looking galaxy NGC 4696 itself begs many questions. Why is it such a strange shape? What are the odd, capillary-like filaments that stretch out of it? And what is the role of a large black hole in explaining its decidedly odd appearance?

Mon, 16 Aug 10
SUMO works with replication protein A complex to repair DNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TuKCbLElj1E/100812122611.htm
Researchers have shown for the first time that the small protein SUMO can team up with the replication protein A complex to facilitate DNA repair.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Gene discovery could help to boost crop yields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qdCs9oYy-Bw/100812171941.htm
A discovery of a vital feature of a plant's temperature sensing and growth mechanism could help to increase yields from crops. Researchers have found a gene that plays a significant role in the growth rate of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Parents' mental health more likely to suffer when a grown child struggles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KSGLDldKUXw/100812161926.htm
Even into adulthood, problem children continue to give their parents heartache, and it doesn't matter if other children in the family grow up to be successful, according to a new study of middle-aged parents.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Discovered gene causes Kabuki syndrome: Researchers streamline DNA sequencing strategies to find rare disease genes quickly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gGY-MsU4yqY/100815162147.htm
Using a new, rapid and less expensive DNA sequencing strategy, scientists have discovered genetic alterations that account for most cases of Kabuki syndrome, a rare disorder that causes multiple birth defects and mental retardation. Instead of sequencing the entire human genome, the new approach sequences just the exome, the 1-2 percent of the human genome that contains protein-coding genes.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Probing the nanoparticle: Predicting how nanoparticles will react in the human body
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aaoAsB495jU/100815162136.htm
Researchers have developed a method for predicting the ways nanoparticles will interact with biological systems -- including the human body. Their work could have implications for improved human and environmental safety in the handling of nanomaterials, as well as applications for drug delivery.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Preclinical inquiry into one mutation sheds light on addiction and a birth defect
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dh8Z_1ZL5Ac/100815162134.htm
When a certain protein is mutated or missing, symptoms of the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome arise, causing a gradual loss of brain function during early development. This fact led researchers to test a theory that the protein might also contribute to nerve-cell connection (synapse) changes in a fully formed adult mouse brain when exposed to psychostimulant use.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Drugs encased in nanoparticles travel to tumors on the surface of immune-system cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SOcYlpx10-I/100815162126.htm
Clinical trials using patients' own immune cells to target tumors have yielded promising results. However, this approach usually works only if the patients also receive large doses of drugs designed to help immune cells multiply rapidly, and those drugs have life-threatening side effects. Now engineers have devised a way to deliver the necessary drugs by smuggling them on the backs of the cells sent in to fight the tumor. That way, the drugs reach only their intended targets, greatly reducing the risk to the patient.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Possible cocaine addiction trigger uncovered: Protein linked to mental retardation may be controlling factor in drug's effect in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d4ZdpsSmtHw/100815162122.htm
Scientists from the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute have identified a protein that may act as the trigger controlling the addictive impact of cocaine in the brain. The findings may one day lead to new therapies to treat addiction.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Climate change affects geographical range of plants, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/77VyvYl2-AE/100815111610.htm
Researches in Sweden have shown how climate change many million years ago has influenced the geographical range of plants by modeling climate preferences for extinct species. The method can also be used to predict what effects climate change of today and tomorrow will have on future distributions of plants and animals.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Home foreclosure is symptom -- not cause -- for increased crime rates, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/X6soz29VHq8/100815111444.htm
High levels of foreclosures in a community do not independently lead to increased crime rates, as previously believed, according to new research.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Primary care doctors get little information about chronic sinusitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/icP1hzKsXSE/100815111442.htm
Facial pain. Nasal congestion. Postnasal drip. Fatigue. These are hallmark signs of chronic sinusitis, a swelling of tissue in the nasal and sinus cavity. The illness strikes millions of Americans each year and is one of the top five reasons patients visit their primary care doctor. Unfortunately little information on the subject is available to internists says a new study.

Mon, 16 Aug 10
Cultural capital is key to preparing for college and getting into a good school
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JCL9pn27ypw/100815111439.htm
A new study has found that students with low-income or minority status do not prepare for college in the same way as their more privileged counterparts, regardless of their academic ability or plans to attend college. The less privileged students are over-represented in community colleges while their counterparts are more likely to attend more selected schools.

Sun, 15 Aug 10
Expensive new blood pressure meds no better than generics, according to long-term data
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xBO-arus-kc/100813082715.htm
Expensive brand-name medications to lower blood pressure are no better at preventing cardiovascular disease than older, generic diuretics, according to new long-term data from the landmark ALLHAT study.

Sun, 15 Aug 10
Scientists clarify structural basis for biosynthesis of mysterious 21st amino acid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0xPaNuCyV8w/100812171939.htm
Researchers in Japan have clarified the structural basis for the biosynthesis of selenocysteine (Sec), an amino acid whose encoding mechanism offers clues about the origins of the genetic alphabet. The findings deepen our understanding of protein synthesis and lay the groundwork for advances in protein design.

Sun, 15 Aug 10
New approach which can help to predict neurodegenerative diseases
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SiFtntOpnNQ/100726085453.htm
New research by scientists in Spain offers hope for predicting neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Researchers have described, for the first time, the structure of a protein known as Vps54, one of the four making up the GARP complex of proteins.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Human noise pollution in ocean can lead fish away from good habitats and off to their death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9ocFHJcrR0I/100803212015.htm
The growing amount of human noise pollution in the ocean could lead fish away from good habitat and off to their death.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
New sporadic prion protein disease: Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy shares genotype characteristics with Creutzfeldt-Jakob
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-hPMg3DO5Qo/100813110225.htm
A new sporadic prion protein disease has been discovered. Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy, as it has been named, is the second type of complete sporadic disease to be identified since Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was reported in the 1920s.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Implantable silk metamaterials could advance biomedicine, biosensing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_LsEib8DaGs/100812135938.htm
Researchers have fabricated and characterized the first large-area metamaterial structures patterned on implantable, bio-compatible silk substrates. The antenna-like devices can monitor the "fingerprints" of chemical and biological agents and might be implanted to signal changes in the body. Metamaterials are artificial electromagnetic composites whose structures respond to electromagnetic waves in ways that atoms in natural materials do not.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Chronic myeloid leukemia: New lab test could identify imatinib resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OQUVK52P7eo/100729074903.htm
Scientists in Japan may have developed a way to accurately predict those patients who will resist treatment with imatinib, which is the standard of care for chronic myeloid leukemia.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
New nanoscale transistors allow sensitive probing inside cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I-b_mXP0iBo/100812151626.htm
Chemists and engineers have fashioned nanowires into a new type of V-shaped transistor small enough to be used for sensitive probing of the interior of cells. The new device is smaller than many viruses and about one-hundredth the width of the probes now used to take cellular measurements, which can be nearly as large as the cells themselves.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
'Fused' people eager to die and kill for their group, research shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Pjg_YWvAMqc/100812111059.htm
People with extremely strong ties to their countries or groups are not only willing, but eager, to sacrifice themselves to save their compatriots, according to new psychology research.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Extended solar minimum linked to changes in sun's conveyor belt
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/DGHAR3imAoc/100812151647.htm
A new analysis of the unusually long solar cycle that ended in 2008 suggests that one reason for the long cycle could be a stretching of the sun's conveyor belt, a current of plasma that circulates between the sun's equator and its poles. The results should help scientists better understand the factors controlling the timing of solar cycles and could lead to better predictions.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Acetaminophen use in adolescents linked to doubled risk of asthma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nMLPV9qoLSY/100813082713.htm
New evidence linking the use of acetaminophen to development of asthma and eczema suggests that even monthly use of the drug in adolescents may more than double risk of asthma in adolescents compared to those who used none at all; yearly use was associated with a 50 percent increase in the risk of asthma.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Magnetic molecular machines deliver drugs to unhealthy cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lzn6LGNLXFA/100810094621.htm
Researchers have developed a completely novel and noninvasive method of releasing drugs remotely into the cells. The method involves a novel material using porous silica nanoparticles, and molecular machines which can be attached to contain drug molecules in the pores until a magnetic field stimulus allows the molecules to be delivered into cells.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Selected cells from blood or bone marrow may provide a route to healing blood vessels
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QIfk2xITJ9U/100813090453.htm
When envisioning cell therapy for cardiovascular disease, a team of scientists is focusing on cells that nourish blood vessels, rather than on rare stem cells. In experiments with mice, CD31 positive cells from the blood or bone marrow can effectively treat hindlimb ischemia -- a model of peripheral artery disease. This approach has the potential to be safer and less arduous than experimental therapies involving the isolation of stem cells from bone marrow.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Fires around Moscow: Satellite perspective reveals startling images of massive smoke clouds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eymYtZ6hB1E/100813082649.htm
Space scientists in the UK have released satellite images of vast plumes of smoke emanating from the peat bog fires which are currently sweeping across central and western Russia.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Trusting people make better lie detectors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cvwbgwxHLSk/100813090457.htm
Trusting others may not make you necessarily a fool or a Pollyanna, according to a new study. Instead, it can be a sign that you're smart.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Scientists identify DNA that may contribute to each person's uniqueness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Wg1FBlRjVns/100811085416.htm
Building on a tool that they developed in yeast four years ago, researchers scanned the human genome and discovered what they believe is the reason people have such a variety of physical traits and disease risks.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Painters at significantly increased risk of bladder cancer, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mezK-btx3ds/100719205634.htm
Painters are at significantly increased risk of developing bladder cancer, concludes a comprehensive analysis of published evidence.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
College students exhibiting more severe mental illness, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j3qQweJBqYE/100812111053.htm
Severe mental illness is more common among college students than it was a decade ago, with more young people arriving on campus with pre-existing conditions and a willingness to seek help for emotional distress, according to a new study. The data support what college mental health professionals have noted for some time.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Industrial production of biodiesel feasible within 15 years, researchers predict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-OzQQ0PycI0/100812171943.htm
Within 10 to 15 years, it will be technically possible to produce sustainable and economically viable biodiesel from micro-algae on a large scale. Technological innovations during this period should extend the scale of production by a factor of three, while at the same time reducing production costs by 90%. Two researchers from the Netherlands believe this to be possible.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Specific oncogene plays a role in lung squamous cell carcinoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ty6ieYC7egA/100727174901.htm
The identification of an oncogene specific to lung squamous cell carcinoma suggests that genetic activation of this oncogene could be used as an identification marker for this type of lung cancer.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Wireless tire pressure monitoring systems in cars may compromise privacy, pose security threat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d8Z5A_mSDfY/100812093422.htm
New wireless technologies in cars may compromise a driver's privacy and pose a security threat, warn researchers. Modern automobiles are increasingly equipped with wireless sensors and devices, such as systems that monitor air pressure inside tires and trigger dashboard warnings if a tire's pressure drops. These wireless signals can be intercepted 120 feet away from the car using a simple receiver despite the shielding provided by the metal car body.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Childhood memories of father have lasting impact on men's ability to handle stress
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Q3V37SbtJsA/100812161928.htm
Sons who have fond childhood memories of their fathers are more likely to be emotionally stable in the face of day-to-day stresses, according to psychologists who studied hundreds of adults of all ages.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Single neurons can detect sequences
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cnSVVeJWvdo/100812151632.htm
Single neurons in the brain are surprisingly good at distinguishing different sequences of incoming information according to new research. The study shows that single neurons, and indeed even single dendrites, the tiny receiving elements of neurons, can very effectively distinguish between different temporal sequences of incoming information.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Mutant mouse reveals potential genetic pathway for alcoholism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GxRHn9kvRNk/100812172044.htm
A mutation found in a mouse gene that also appears in humans might provide new insights into the genetic roots of alcoholism, according to a new study.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Antibiotics for the prevention of malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EOd8bGkwEiY/100720101347.htm
If mice are administered an antibiotic for three days and are simultaneously infected with malaria, no parasites appear in the blood and life-threatening disease is averted. In addition, the animals treated in this manner also develop robust, long-term immunity against subsequent infections, according to new research.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Vascular multiple sclerosis hypothesis and treatment questioned
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9Hm6Pfnsm4o/100802080155.htm
Two important new studies challenge the controversial hypothesis that venous congestion--chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI)--contributes to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). This theory has resulted in many MS patients receiving experimental endovascular angioplasty, a treatment for MS unproven by clinical trials.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Shared phosphoproteome links remote plant species
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XynpjIhJ1pI/100727065641.htm
Researchers have shown that even the most widely-varying species of plants share remarkable similarities in the composition of proteins in them that undergo phosphorylation, a regulatory mechanism involved in various cellular phenomena. A database released by the group, with information on over three thousand phosphorylated proteins and phosphorylation sites in rice, opens new doors in the study and engineering of plants.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Federal nuclear waste panel overlooks public mistrust, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aE3FsQW03Hs/100812161934.htm
According to 16 social science researchers from across the country, a renewed federal effort to fix the nation's stalled nuclear waste program is focusing so much on technological issues that it fails to address the public mistrust hampering storage and disposal efforts.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Asteroid found in gravitational 'dead zone' near Neptune
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FQM9NJ-gE50/100812151628.htm
There are places in space where the gravitational tug between a planet and the Sun balance out, allowing other smaller bodies to remain stable, called Lagrangian points. Trojan asteroids have been found in some of these stable spots near Jupiter and Neptune. Now astronomers have discovered the first Trojan asteroid in a difficult-to-detect stability region at Neptune -- the Lagrangian L5 point.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
New drug reduces tumor size in women with advanced hereditary ovarian or breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vhFS68ed9PE/100812093424.htm
Understanding the underlying genetic weakness of certain types of cancer may lead to targeted therapy and provide the key to effective treatment, a new study suggests.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Scientists test Australia's Moreton Bay as coral 'lifeboat'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QWk_o8IvMqM/100726094911.htm
An international team of scientists has been exploring Australia's Moreton Bay, close to Brisbane, as a possible 'lifeboat' to save corals from the Great Barrier Reef at risk of extermination under climate change. In a new research paper, they say that corals have been able to survive and flourish in the Bay, which lies well to the south of the main GBR coral zones, during about half of the past 7000 years.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Poor kidney function common among HIV-infected injection drug users
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bbrSl7XN6Ag/100812172042.htm
Poor kidney function is common among injection drug users, particularly those with HIV, according to a new study. The results suggest that clinicians should monitor the kidney function of HIV-infected injection drug users and consider them candidates for medical treatments to protect their kidneys when appropriate.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Hexagonal boron nitride sheets may help graphene supplant silicon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yM1jUnUJkyg/100729122340.htm
What researchers might call "white graphene" may be the perfect sidekick for the real thing as a new era unfolds in nanoscale electronics. Researchers have figured out how to make sheets of h-BN, which could turn out to be the complementary apple to graphene's orange.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Culture matters in suicidal behavior patterns and prevention, psychologist says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M9vE6kV0hSc/100812172040.htm
Women and girls in the United States consider and engage in suicidal behavior more often than men and boys, but die of suicide at a lower rate -- a gender paradox enabled by US cultural norms of gender and suicidal behavior, according to a psychologist.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Happy employees may be the key to success for organizations
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tlpQ4ZdZtXM/100813121920.htm
When a JetBlue flight attendant creatively deplaned earlier this week, many questions arose as to why someone would be willing to give up a steady paycheck during these tough economic times. While this "working man's hero" will most likely be questioning his motives as he hands over his lawyer's fees, a new report in Perspectives on Psychological Science, suggests that his action may be a sign of trouble for JetBlue and other large companies.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Nano world of Shrinky Dinks: Low-cost nanopatterning method utilizes popular shrinkable plastic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n1dQYJoZ5S8/100813121918.htm
The magical world of Shrinky Dinks -- an arts and crafts material used by children since the 1970s -- has taken up residence in a Northwestern University laboratory. A team of nanoscientists is using the flexible plastic sheets as the backbone of a new inexpensive way to create, test and mass-produce large-area patterns on the nanoscale. Anyone needing access to these patterns on the cheap could benefit from this method, known as solvent-assisted nanoscale embossing.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Ocean's color affects hurricane paths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VN5lLXLAW_E/100813121916.htm
A change in the color of ocean waters could have a drastic effect on the prevalence of hurricanes, new research indicates. In a simulation of such a change in one region of the North Pacific, the study finds that hurricane formation decreases by 70 percent.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Speed electronic medical record adoption via key medical centers, experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xB8i51rSYZs/100813121914.htm
Persuading influential medical centers to adopt electronic medical records helps speed adoption by their neighboring hospitals, according to a new article.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Decadal survey of astronomy and astrophysics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U6NtcebDMFc/100813111005.htm
A new report by the National Research Council identifies the highest priority research activities for astronomy and astrophysics in the next decade that will "set the nation firmly on the path to answering profound questions about the cosmos."

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Sensors more accurately map the Chesapeake Bay's forested wetlands
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Fu0fWUN_94E/100813110227.htm
Scientists have created new maps of Chesapeake Bay forested wetlands that are about 30 percent more accurate than existing maps. Wetlands are critical to the health of bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Combination of biological and chemical pesticides more effective than expected on malaria mosquitoes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1oSnxg-PXUw/100813082647.htm
A combination of fungal spores and chemical insecticides are effective in combating insecticide-resistant malaria mosquitoes. Researchers have shown that the effect of using a combination of both is greater than the sum of using the two methods separately.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Pushing the limits of 3D TV technology
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Entc5bD6DLo/100813082644.htm
Some of the thrills of 3D cinema have reached the living room of the average family this year, but the result is still far from perfect. That could change thanks to a technology developed by a German-Swiss partnership.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
An ancient Earth like ours: Geologists reconstruct Earth's climate belts between 460 and 445 million years ago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FAiU1o_0cKA/100809161228.htm
An international team of scientists has reconstructed the Earth's climate belts of the late Ordovician Period, between 460 and 445 million years ago. The findings show that these ancient climate belts were surprisingly like those of the present.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Merlin protein found to control liver stem cells, prevent tumor development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QMe1r-7GG60/100812161936.htm
A protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer. In a new study, a research team describes finding that the protein called merlin, encoded by the NF2 gene, controls the activity of adult stem cells that give rise to the two major types of liver cells.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Neurological process for the recognition of letters and numbers explained
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WA_f0HKQdcY/100726085428.htm
How does the brain link the visual basic traits of letters and numbers to abstract representations and to words? Scientists have analyzed the influence of context on the visual recognition of a written word regardless of the format in which these letters may be displayed.

Sat, 14 Aug 10
Certain vena cava filters may fracture, causing potentially life-threatening complications
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k65Icbga39g/100809161124.htm
Two specific types of vena cava filters, devices used to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs, appear to have evidence of fracturing inside the body, with some fractured fragments traveling to the heart and causing potentially life-threatening complications, according to a new report.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Citizen scientists discover rotating pulsar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u0LCUzFOxrs/100812172059.htm
Idle computers are the astronomers' playground: three citizen scientists -- an American couple and a German -- have discovered a new radio pulsar hidden in data gathered by the Arecibo Observatory. This is the first deep-space discovery by Einstein@Home, which uses donated time from the home and office computers of 250,000 volunteers from 192 different countries. This is the first genuine astronomical discovery by a public volunteer distributed computing project.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Immune responses during pregnancy linked to schizophrenia among offspring
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QihQK6J0Afc/100812135940.htm
Psychologists have found that exposure during pregnancy to certain immune proteins, such as those produced in response to the flu, leads to increased risk for brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia in offspring.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Scientists outline a 20-year master plan for the global renaissance of nuclear energy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HBvpOcSpbh4/100812151634.htm
Scientists outline a 20-year master plan for the global renaissance of nuclear energy that could see nuclear reactors with replaceable parts, portable mini-reactors, and ship-borne reactors supplying countries with clean energy, in new research.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
One type of stem cell creates a niche for another type in bone marrow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QNq_XUvLRlo/100812101020.htm
Researchers have discovered the precise source of hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and regulation within the bone marrow. In a new study, they report that the HSCs retain their unique features of multipotency and self-renewal in response to signals from another stem cell population, the mesenchymal stem cells, which create a supportive niche for the HSCs.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
How algae 'enslavement' threatens freshwater bodies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l2vzNekhoUc/100812122613.htm
How toxic, blue-green algae out-compete other organisms through a form of selfish "enslavement" -- and by so doing proliferate dangerously in freshwater bodies -- has been described by a researcher.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Video quality less important when you're enjoying what you're watching
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dCVefhjbkPA/100812122615.htm
If you like what you're watching, you're less likely to notice the difference in video quality of the TV show, Internet video or mobile movie clip, new research shows.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Charcoal takes some heat off global warming: Biochar can offset 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon emissions annually
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/GwKtzwWhID8/100810122030.htm
As much as 12 percent of the world's human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be sustainably offset by producing biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from plants and other organic materials. That's more than what could be offset if the same plants and materials were burned to generate energy, concludes a new study.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Key step in body's ability to make red blood cells discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WAUn-VMqQs4/100731210232.htm
Researchers have uncovered a key step in the creation of new red blood cells in an animal study. They found that a tiny fragment of ribonucleic acid (RNA), a chemical cousin of DNA, prompts stem cells to mature into red blood cells. The researchers also created an artificial RNA inhibitor to block this process.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Clues to gut immunity evolution: Research reveals similarities between fish and humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CpVrouxIo6g/100810094613.htm
New research has identified the function of one of the earliest antibodies in the animal kingdom, an ancient immunoglobulin that helps explain the evolution of human intestinal immune responses. It was discovered to play a predominant role in the guts of fish and paves the way for a better understanding of human gut immunity as well as for safer, healthier approaches to keeping fish from pathogen infections.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
New findings further clarify breast cancer risk with hormone therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qyDBO6tHrcw/100810131622.htm
A new analysis of the California Teachers Study, which analyzed hormone replacement therapy use among 2,857 women for almost 10 years, underscores the need for personalized risk-benefit discussions before women begin hormone therapy.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Switchgrass lessens soil nitrate loss into waterways, researchers find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fZDSU5riLRI/100810122208.htm
Researchers have found that by planting switchgrass and using certain agronomic practices, farmers can significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen and nitrates that leach into the soil.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Athletes undergoing tissue transplant surgery for knee damage have bright future
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/a0HLlTp-qX4/100719091007.htm
Athletes with bone and cartilage knee damage who are treated with transplanted tissue can return to sports after surgery, according to a new study that overturns the widely held belief that patients who undergo this surgery do not return to athletics.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Free statins with fast food could neutralize heart risk, scientists say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c5AXwm_K0oU/100812083608.htm
Fast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of charge so that customers can neutralize the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers suggest in a new study.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Heat shock protein can restore nerve damage in diabetic mice
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/smOuotEDSEM/100812070040.htm
Researchers have been able to use a common chaperone protein, Hsp70, to reverse the loss of function in the nerves of mice with diabetes.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Ambitious survey spots stellar nurseries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/30Gunco1i6U/100811085230.htm
Astronomers scanning the skies as part of ESO's VISTA Magellanic Cloud survey have now obtained a spectacular picture of the Tarantula Nebula in our neighbouring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud. This panoramic near-infrared view captures the nebula itself in great detail as well as the rich surrounding area of sky. The image was obtained at the start of a very ambitious survey of our neighbouring galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, and their environment.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Breast cancer risk varies among different progestins used in hormone replacement therapy, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7XHC2T5STMU/100810163506.htm
New research has found that progestins used in hormone replacement therapies to counteract the negative effects of estrogen on the uterus and reduce the risk of uterine cancer may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Popping cells surprise living circuits creators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iG0vAVqn2yE/100809111236.htm
Under the microscope, researchers found that bacteria start dividing normally, two cells become four and then eight and so on. But then individual cells begin "popping," like circus balloons being struck by darts. Researchers believe the accidental finding of a circuit they call "ePop" can help increase the efficiency and power of future synthetic biology circuits.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
For infant sleep, receptiveness more important than routine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cKY9oq0cWlA/100810101726.htm
Parents understand the challenge of getting infants to sleep through the night, and now researchers show that being emotionally receptive can reduce sleep disruptions and help infants and toddlers sleep better.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Inherited brain activity predicts childhood risk for anxiety, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Dxk8WeOmVcE/100811135037.htm
A new study focused on anxiety and brain activity pinpoints the brain regions that are relevant to developing childhood anxiety. The findings may lead to new strategies for early detection and treatment of at-risk children.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Stem cells used to treat children with life-threatening, blistering skin disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/E6Rq3XR8qVs/100811174528.htm
Physician-researchers have demonstrated that a lethal skin disease can be successfully treated with stem cell therapy.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Delay in surgery not likely to worsen tumors in men with low-risk prostate cancer, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4qXM7cbOy54/100608183054.htm
Researchers have found that men enrolled in an active surveillance program for prostate cancer that eventually needed surgery to remove their prostates fared just as well as men who opted to remove the gland immediately, except if a follow-up biopsy during surveillance showed high-grade cancer.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
'Linc-ing' a noncoding RNA to a central cellular pathway
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M1oRWED9dk0/100729122326.htm
The recent discovery of more than a thousand genes known as large intergenic noncoding RNAs (or "lincRNAs") opened up a new approach to understanding the function and organization of the genome. That surprising breakthrough is now made even more compelling with the finding that dozens of these lincRNAs are induced by p53, the most commonly mutated gene in cancer.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Learn more in kindergarten, earn more as an adult
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VCMvyOgPs5k/100811085412.htm
There isn't a lot of research that links early childhood test scores to earnings as an adult. But new research reveals a surprising finding: Students who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults. They are also more successful overall.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Using bone marrow stem cells to treat critically ill patients on verge of respiratory failure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VTiHhh2JZBI/100811162352.htm
Researchers are reporting new study results they say provide further evidence of the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from bone marrow for patients suffering from acute lung injury, one of the most common causes of respiratory failure in intensive care units.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Faster DNA analysis at room temperature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BwTJOZtO3JE/100803175017.htm
Researchers in Canada have combined DNA microarrays with microfluidic devices, which are used for the precise control of liquids at the nanoscale.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Lithium shows no benefit for people with ALS
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k0le0Pk84N4/100811162348.htm
A new study has found that the drug lithium is not effective in treating people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Biodiversity hot spots more vulnerable to global warming than thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y_ugi96Oxs4/100607165746.htm
Global warming may present a threat to animal and plant life even in biodiversity hot spots once thought less likely to suffer from climate change, according to a new study.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Video study finds risky food-safety behavior more common than thought
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cS8A1k_nI6Y/100608101027.htm
How safe is the food we get from restaurants, cafeterias and other food-service providers? A new study involved placing video cameras in commercial kitchens to see how precisely food handlers followed food-safety guidelines -- discovered that risky practices happen more often than previously thought.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Building muscle doesn't require lifting heavy weights, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nOJx364h-d4/100811125943.htm
A new study shows that building muscle depends on achieving muscle fatigue not on pumping heavy weights as previously believed.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Red blood cells have a tiny but effective protector -- microRNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yMBI4DymGD4/100731210234.htm
Pediatric researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in which small segments of RNA, called microRNA, help protect red blood cells from injury caused by chemicals called free radicals. The microRNA seems to have only a modest role when red blood cells experience normal conditions, but steps into action when the cells are threatened by oxidant stress. The study illustrates how microRNA fine-tunes gene activity.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Texas petrochemical emissions down, but still underestimated, says study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q3vwwbvOf9I/100811135043.htm
A thick blanket of yellow haze hovering over Houston as a result of chemical pollution from petroleum products may be getting a little bit thinner, according to a new study. But the new findings -- which have implications for petrochemical-producing cities around the world -- come with a catch, says a team of scientists who participated in the research.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
High malaria transmission areas remain a problem for elimination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vh_ogbYYpR8/100810203453.htm
Current tools for combating malaria, such as artemisinin-combination therapy and increasing coverage of long-lasting insecticide bednets can result in major reductions in Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission and the associated disease burden in Africa.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Key mechanisms of cell division in plants identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h4p72-QQQ7Y/100811101426.htm
Scientists have developed new technology that may contribute to the increase of crop yields in agriculture. The technology platform based on "tandem affinity purification" was developed to map the basic machinery of cell division in plants much faster than the existing techniques.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Study finds similar personality types in male and female domestic violence perpetrators
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2D54R7u2AOY/100810203507.htm
New research is providing a better picture of the roles played by gender, personality and mental illness in domestic violence.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Potential treatment for pulmonary hypertension discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/61DU6e4qCww/100811141106.htm
Researchers are one step closer to a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, a potentially deadly disease.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Constant overlap: Scientists identify molecular machinery that maintains important feature of cell's spindle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7qgVG_mfHCQ/100806080215.htm
Scientists in Germany have uncovered the molecular mechanism that determines the size of anti-parallel microtubule overlaps in a cell's spindle. In a new study, they were able to reconstruct such overlaps in vitro, and identify two proteins which are sufficient to control the formation and size of this important spindle feature.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Rate of health care associated MRSA infections decreasing, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S0Giph2GSWs/100810163447.htm
An analysis of data from 2005 through 2008 of nine metropolitan areas in the US indicates that health care-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections decreased among patients with infections that began in the community or in the hospital, according to a new study.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Micromachines for a safer world
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pEC4-05Vb4k/100810151030.htm
Scientists are improving the sensitivity of MEMS accelerometers by using an efficient yet simple and manufacturable design, which can be applied in sport, communication, transportation and defense. Amplification techniques developed at his lab can be used for improving the performance of these devices.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Focusing on immediate health effects may improve weight loss success
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PY81ubnrmNQ/100811101420.htm
Most weight loss programs try to motivate individuals with warnings of the long-term health consequences of obesity: increased risk for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma. New research suggests the immediate health benefits -- such as reduced pain -- may be the most effective motivator for helping obese individuals shed extra weight and commit to keeping it off.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Immune system overreaction may enable recurrent urinary tract infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3e-4sh3PELU/100812172050.htm
The immune system may open the door to recurrent urinary tract infections by overdoing its response to an initial infection, researchers have found.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Elevated heart rate over time linked to significant risk of death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/y9nDbBiF3rU/100812151640.htm
An elevated resting heart rate that develops or persists during follow-up is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, whether from heart disease or other causes, researchers from the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center found studying outcomes in more than 9,000 patients.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
New rheumatoid arthritis criteria to stave off disabling disease for thousands of people
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/n5imwXjjm2E/100812192101.htm
New criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could prevent thousands of people from developing disabling late stage disease, by redefining how RA should be classified.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Teaching robot helps children to use wheelchair
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/e5qm5tCrnLg/100812192059.htm
A robotic wheelchair is being developed that will help children learn to 'drive'. In a new article, researchers describe the testing of ROLY -- robot-assisted learning for young drivers -- in a group of children without disabilities and one child with cerebral palsy.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Wax, soap clean up obstacles to better batteries
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CrIqy2CSuCY/100812172056.htm
A little wax and soap can help build electrodes for cheaper lithium ion batteries, according to a new study. The one-step method will allow battery developers to explore lower-priced alternatives to the lithium ion-metal oxide batteries currently on the market.

Fri, 13 Aug 10
Fermi detects 'shocking' surprise from supernova's little cousin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kOzGZBHT2-8/100812172054.htm
Astronomers using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected gamma-rays from a nova for the first time, a finding that stunned observers and theorists alike. The discovery overturns the notion that novae explosions lack the power to emit such high-energy radiation.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Scientists achieve highest-resolution MRI of the inside of a magnet
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1vPlgUHOGP4/100811135041.htm
In a development that holds potential for both data storage and biomedical imaging, researchers have used a new technique to obtain the highest-ever resolution MRI scan of the inside of a magnet.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Proteins linked with Alzheimer's, other neurodegenerative diseases found to clump in normal aging
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O5giwaTfPDQ/100810203551.htm
In neurodegenerative diseases, clumps of insoluble proteins appear in patients' brains. These aggregates contain proteins that are unique to each disease, such as amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease, but they are intertwined with small amounts of many other insoluble proteins that are normally present in a soluble form in healthy young individuals. For years, these other proteins were thought to be accidental inclusions in the aggregates, much as a sea turtle might be caught in a net of fish. Now, in a surprising new finding, researchers report that many of the proteins present as minor components of disease aggregates actually clump together as a normal part of aging in healthy individuals.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Best way to pour champagne? 'Down the side' wins first scientific test
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/I9oTSH5s648/100811125945.htm
In a study that may settle a long-standing disagreement over the best way to pour a glass of champagne, scientists in France are reporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving its taste and fizz. The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Spinal muscular atrophy may also affect the heart, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pViPjVu-zj8/100811085410.htm
Along with skeletal muscles, it may be important to monitor heart function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a new study.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Energy storage system deals with sudden draws on the grid
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2xUT1-TclZ8/100811130017.htm
Researchers have found a way to manage short-lived draws on the electricity grid.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Perceived intentions influence brain response
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bpSZxUz5cyk/100811125937.htm
People generally like to see generous people rewarded and selfish people punished. Now, new research reveals a critical link between how we perceive another's intentions and our evaluation of their behavior. The study makes some intriguing observations about how a description of the impact of an individual's actions on a group can alter the neural representation of their observed behavior.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Rain contributes to cycling patterns of clouds: Researchers demonstrate how honeycomb clouds exhibit self-organization
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mJ2YdMTnFDE/100811135035.htm
Like shifting sand dunes, some clouds disappear in one place and reappear in another. New research shows why: Air movement due to rain forms patterns in low clouds that remain cohesive structures even while appearing to shift about the sky, due to a principle called self-organization. These clouds cover much of the open ocean. Understanding how their patterns evolve will eventually help scientists build better models for predicting climate change.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Menstrual cramps may alter brain structure
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5VelFLC6KXg/100811085408.htm
Primary dysmenorrheal, or menstrual cramps, is the most common gynecological disorder in women of childbearing age. Lower abdominal pain starts with the onset of menstrual flow and this ongoing pain stimulus can cause alterations throughout the nervous system. In a new study, researchers report abnormal changes in the structure of the brain in PDM patients, whether or not they are in fact experiencing pain.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Advance toward earlier detection of melanoma
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ASLu9tGt5mA/100811125949.htm
Scientists are reporting development of a substance to enhance the visibility of skin cancer cells during scans with an advanced medical imaging system that combines ultrasound and light. The hybrid scanner could enable doctors to detect melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in its earliest and most curable stages, the report indicates.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Initial trials on new ovarian cancer tests exhibit extremely high accuracy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bPJobR0qYNE/100811101422.htm
Scientists have attained very promising results on their initial investigations of a new test for ovarian cancer. Using a new technique involving mass spectrometry of a single drop of blood serum, the test correctly identified women with ovarian cancer in 100 percent of the patients tested.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
When chimpanzees attack humans: Loss of habitat may lead to increased conflict
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bffPzlQRJeY/100811085228.htm
Scientists from Japan, studying chimpanzees in Guinea, have published research revealing why nonhuman primates attack humans and what preventive measures can be taken. The study suggests that while rare, attacks by primates on humans may increase as wild habitat is increasingly converted for agriculture.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Fixing technical problems for a good night's sleep as kids start a new school year
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/pMWCaYvaNcI/100811125953.htm
Getting a good night's sleep often comes down to technique. Avoiding late-night technology use and keeping a regular sleep schedule are two important techniques to heed as kids head back to school.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Oldest evidence of stone tool use and meat-eating among human ancestors discovered: Lucy's species butchered meat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OUNFI2gHCr4/100811135039.htm
Scientists have discovered evidence that human ancestors were using stone tools and consuming meat from large mammals nearly a million years earlier than previously documented. Two fossilized bones with cut marks and percussion marks were unearthed in Ethiopia. The bones are about 3.4 million years old and provide the first evidence that Australopithecus afarensis used stone tools and consumed meat.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Deathstalker scorpion venom could improve gene therapy for brain cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iUYTi-AHVK8/100811125947.htm
An ingredient in the venom of the "deathstalker" scorpion could help gene therapy become an effective treatment for brain cancer, scientists are reporting. The substance allows therapeutic genes -- genes that treat disease -- to reach more brain cancer cells than current approaches, according to a new study.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Innovation could bring super-accurate sensors, crime forensics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hJwsuuk1sjg/100810122158.htm
A new technology enabling tiny machines called micro electromechanical systems to "self-calibrate" could make possible super-accurate and precise sensors for crime-scene forensics, environmental testing and medical diagnostics.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
'New' human adenovirus may not make for good vaccines, after all
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6mRQeBxmg-Y/100811130019.htm
In a new study of four adenovirus vectors, researchers show that a reportedly rare human adenovirus, AdHu26, is not so rare, after all, and would not be optimal as a vaccine carrier. As previous research has shown, a viral vector may be ineffective if the virus it is based on is common. The study supports the use of chimpanzee adenoviruses as vaccine vectors, since humans have little exposure to these viruses.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Send in the clouds: NASA's CloudSat sees clouds' effect on climate by studying them from space
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IXE_1neM9Pk/100810083053.htm
Gaze up at a cloud-filled sky, and you may spot the white, fluffy shape of a dragon, fish or elephant. Looking at the same sky, Graeme Stephens sees a different vision -- a possible future for Earth's climate.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
People who are angry pay more attention to rewards than threats
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zUfxHLj_ZPE/100811125941.htm
Anger is a negative emotion. But, like being happy or excited, feeling angry makes people want to seek rewards, according to a new study of emotion and visual attention. The researchers found that people who are angry pay more attention to rewards than to threats -- the opposite of people feeling other negative emotions like fear.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Dogs' physical traits controlled by small number of genetic regions, researcher finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IYSOgLoza98/100810203503.htm
Next time you gaze soulfully into a dog's eyes or scratch behind its ears, take note of the length of his nose or the size of his body. Although such attributes can vary wildly among different breeds, a team of researchers has found that they are determined by only a few genetic regions.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Scientists identify new drug strategy against fragile X syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fg-qDZ11H4g/100810203501.htm
Researchers have identified a potential new strategy for treating fragile X syndrome -- the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. They have found that a class of drugs called phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitors can correct defects in the anatomy of neurons seen in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. In experiments with cultured neurons from the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory, the drugs could restore normal appearance and levels of protein production at synapses.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Scientists show there's nothing boring about watching paint dry
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/97Hl_swVlxs/100810122212.htm
It turns out that watching paint dry might not be as boring as the old adage claims. Researchers have come up with a new technique to study the mechanics of coatings as they dry and peel, and has discovered that the process is far from mundane.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Better understanding of mapmaking in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/eXUi2NPpF1Y/100809111519.htm
"Grid cells," which help the brain map locations, have been found for the first time outside of the hippocampus in the rat brain, according to new research.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Bacteria from hot springs reveal clues to evolution of early life and to unlock biofuels' potential
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6hsv54e4GVg/100608182643.htm
Bacteria that lives in hot springs in Japan may help solve one of the mysteries of the early evolution of complex organisms, according to a new study. It may also be the key to 21st century biofuel production.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Students' understanding of the equal sign not equal, professor says
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3gXw3-4i_Wc/100810122200.htm
Taken very literally, not all students are created equal -- especially in their math learning skills, say researchers who have found that not fully understanding the "equal sign" in a math problem could be a key to why US students underperform their peers from other countries in math.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Indonesian ice field may be gone in a few years, core may contain secrets of Pacific El Nino events
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EUW-oSfARoU/100810101728.htm
Glaciologists who drilled through an ice cap perched precariously on the edge of a 16,000-foot-high Indonesian mountain ridge say that the ice field could vanish within in the next few years, another victim of global climate change.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Adult autism diagnosis by brain scan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nVjktBVHk_8/100810203505.htm
Scientists in the UK have developed a pioneering new method of diagnosing autism in adults. For the first time, a quick brain scan that takes just 15 minutes can identify adults with autism with over 90 per cent accuracy. The method could lead to the screening for autism spectrum disorders in children in the future.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Better displays ahead
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FZtGI74QjRI/100810122033.htm
Researchers are actively pursuing an alternative approach for low-power displays and hope to provide details about what's ahead for display technology.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Walking to school could reduce stress reactivity in children, may curb risk of heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tAD9jxuQxKI/100810131628.htm
A simple morning walk to school could reduce stress reactivity in children during the school day, curbing increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new study.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Deep ocean floor research yields promising results for microbiologists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NQhFfZSX4-o/100614074818.htm
Research by microbiologists is revealing how marine microbes live in a mysterious area of the Earth: the realm just beneath the deep ocean floor. The ocean crust may be the largest biological reservoir on our planet.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Drugs to treat cocaine abuse? Effectiveness may depend on how one uses cocaine
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bNydk0BAtRc/100810122414.htm
A new study explores pharmacological strategies for reducing cocaine self-administration in animals that may have implications for treating cocaine dependence in humans.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Gondwana supercontinent underwent massive shift during Cambrian explosion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BUWQFsvdq34/100810163456.htm
The Gondwana supercontinent underwent a 60-degree rotation across Earth's surface during the Early Cambrian period, according to new evidence uncovered by a team of geologists. The study has implications for the environmental conditions that existed at a crucial period in Earth's evolutionary history called the Cambrian explosion, when most of the major groups of complex animals rapidly appeared.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Dying of cold: More heart attacks in cooler weather
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j8BPHKCwaQo/100810203059.htm
Lower outdoor temperatures are linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks, according to a new study by scientists in the UK.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Electron transport: Study of electron orbits in multilayer graphene finds unexpected energy gaps
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NNGAuqyxaZY/100810094623.htm
Researchers have taken one more step toward understanding the unique and often unexpected properties of graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material that has attracted interest because of its potential applications in future generations of electronic devices.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Molecular imaging identifies high-risk patients with heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/u6VdtlsqReA/100810163608.htm
A new study finds that molecular imaging -- a noninvasive imaging procedure -- can identify high-risk patients with potentially life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and help physicians determine which patients are best suited for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Deployment of buoys to measure air and sea interactions in typhoons launched from Taiwan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YPWJlV36f_M/100810131624.htm
Scientists and technicians are deploying two buoys that will help us better understand interactions between the ocean and atmosphere during typhoons.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Stereotyping has a lasting negative impact, new research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NP6fz1SL4MI/100810122210.htm
Aggression. Over-eating. Inability to focus. Difficulty making rational decisions. New research shows prejudice has a lasting negative impact on those who experience it.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Evolutionary surprise: Freedom of neck played major role in human brain evolution, research suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/36ln-nXZruM/100727112833.htm
By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck -- that little body part between your head and shoulders -- gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to neuroscientists.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Heart's sounds can help diagnose heart failure, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-1BoAd-xNLE/100810163500.htm
A new study concludes that acoustic cardiography, a new technology combining a 12-leed ECG with cardiac acoustic data, can aid physicians in detecting the abnormal third heart sound S3 in the emergency department -- ultimately increasing the accurate diagnosis of acute heart failure in certain subsets of patients.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Optical imaging technique for angioplasty
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wAq1IsfUXKk/100810122049.htm
A new optical imaging technique holds the potential to greatly improve angioplasty, a surgery commonly performed to treat patients with a partially or completely blocked coronary artery that restricts blood flow to the heart.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Motion-tracking technology reduces injuries for older adults
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aUrsfYP92d0/100810131626.htm
Motion-tracking technology provides images and detailed data that helps patients, physicians and therapists better visualize movements as patients exercise. The visual feedback allows physicians and therapists to monitor recovery and adapt treatment plans, as well as give the patient a better picture of movements that can be dangerous, reducing the chance of future injuries and re-hospitalization.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
New sensor technology to make it easier and safer for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock to International Space Station
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/x6claQ7xeuo/100810083437.htm
It was a perfect STORRM. On Tuesday, July 20, NASA and its industry partners, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., successfully demonstrated a new sensor technology that will make it easier and safer for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock to the International Space Station.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Liability issues limiting recreational use of public school facilities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y_pgUnK9trI/100607203528.htm
Although most public schools have some recreational facilities that could be used outside of regular school hours, concerns over liability have limited their use. In a new study, researchers reviewed the recreational use statues in all 50 states and found that liability protections could be improved, in some cases, with minor legislative changes, consequently opening up school facilities for increased recreational use benefiting the entire community.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Giant ultraviolet rings found in resurrected galaxies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HgzA_DV_y3M/100811170136.htm
Astronomers have found mysterious, giant loops of ultraviolet light in aged, massive galaxies, which seem to have a second lease on life. Somehow these "over-the-hill galaxies" have been infused with fresh gas to form new stars that power these truly gargantuan rings, some of which could encircle several Milky Way galaxies.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Arctic rocks offer new glimpse of primitive Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QNZLIB8BAdA/100811135033.htm
Scientists have discovered a new window into the Earth's violent past. Geochemical evidence from volcanic rocks collected on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic suggests that beneath it lies a region of the Earth's mantle that has largely escaped the billions of years of melting and geological churning that has affected the rest of the planet. Researchers believe the discovery offers clues to the early chemical evolution of the Earth.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Dark-matter search plunges physicists to new depths
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d0X8ZwVpS_U/100811105246.htm
Physicists are taking their attempt to unmask the secret identity of dark matter into a Canadian mine more than a mile underground. They are deploying a 4-kilogram bubble chamber at SNOLab, which is part of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory in Ontario, Canada. A second 60-kilogram chamber will follow later this year.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
UK breast cancer mortality rates have fallen faster than in other European countries, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YFytOEEcUNg/100811193425.htm
Population-based breast cancer mortality rates in the UK have fallen steeply in the last two decades -- more than in any other major European country, a new study finds. These results challenge claims that survival after breast cancer is worse in the UK than elsewhere in western Europe.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
WISE spacecraft warming up
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/w428YuLXuO4/100811170328.htm
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, is warming up. Team members say the spacecraft is running out of the frozen coolant needed to keep its heat-sensitive instrument chilled.

Thu, 12 Aug 10
Breakthrough in blinking molecules phenomenon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LtFhw50aeuQ/100811162356.htm
A new paper offers an important new understanding of an enduring mystery in chemical physics. More than a century ago, at the dawn of modern quantum mechanics, the Noble Prize-winning physicist Neils Bohr predicted so-called "quantum jumps." He predicted that these jumps would be due to electrons making transitions between discrete energy levels of individual atoms and molecules. Although controversial in Bohr's time, such quantum jumps were experimentally observed, and his prediction verified, in the 1980s. More recently, with the development of single molecule imaging techniques in the early 1990s, it has been possible to observe similar jumps in individual molecules.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Common orchid gives scientists hope in face of climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B7-W3hhP0xM/100810094615.htm
A study that focuses on epigenetics in European common marsh orchids has revealed that some plants may be able to adapt more quickly to environmental change than previously thought. The research brings new hope to plant conservation.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
New insights into how antibodies are made suggests new approach for anti-cancer drug targets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fxuhH12N-3I/100810082644.htm
While investigating how white blood cells known as B cells develop, researchers have discovered that genes from the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3Ks) family of enzymes are critical in enabling the B cells to produce antibodies in the spleen and lymph nodes. PI3Ks are involved in a diverse range of activities inside cells, generating signalling molecules to control cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking. Faults in these processes can lead to the development of cancer; consequently the PI3Ks are currently among the most hotly pursued drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Vitamin B3 as a novel approach to treat fungal infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qoAa2_XkJdg/100708141617.htm
Scientists have identified vitamin B3 as a potential antifungal treatment. Infections by the yeast Candida albicans represent a significant public health problem and a common complication in immunodeficient individuals such as AIDS patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and recipients of organ transplants.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
One in four stroke patients stop taking medication within three months
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mLjVV1zdXtE/100809161130.htm
A quarter of stroke patients discontinue one or more of their prescribed secondary stroke prevention medications within three months of hospitalization for an acute stroke, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Buried silver nanoparticles improve organic transistors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bO2SRZqOZqE/100810101730.htm
Out of sight is not out of mind for a group of Hong Kong researchers who have demonstrated that burying a layer of silver nanoparticles improves the performance of their organic electronic devices without requiring complex processing.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Fasting 'feelgood' factor: Holy month of Ramadan reduces volatility in markets, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ggn5GuEnqQo/100810082642.htm
A new international study investigating the correlation between the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and stock markets has discovered that the average stock market returns in predominantly Muslim countries were historically almost nine times higher during Ramadan compared to other months of the lunar calendar.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Mosasaur fossil: Life of 85-million-year-old 'sea monster' illuminated
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kZRQVEd8Fh0/100810101732.htm
One of the ocean's most formidable marine predators, the mosasaur Platecarpus, lived in the Cretaceous Period some 85 million years ago and was thought to have swum like an eel. That theory is debunked in a new article. Scientists have reconceived the animal's morphology, or body plan, based on a spectacular specimen housed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Neurochip technology developed: Advances to further brain research of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Yr2NRsCs3K0/100810094619.htm
Scientists who proved it is possible to cultivate a network of brain cells that reconnect on a silicon chip -- or the brain on a microchip -- have been involved in the development of new technology that monitors brain cell activity at a resolution never achieved before.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Polar bears, glaucous gulls most at risk from contaminants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FXoAPF5cViQ/100809133241.htm
Although animals throughout the Arctic are exposed to an alphabet soup of pollutants and contaminants that are carried north from industrialized countries, only polar bears in East Greenland and Svalbard and glaucous gulls in Svalbard appear to be showing any deleterious effects, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Improved drug coverage under Medicare associated with increases in antibiotic use
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ufVq2GOY4fM/100809161128.htm
Antibiotic use appears to have increased among older adults whose prescription drug coverage improved as a result of enrolling in Medicare Part D, with the largest increases for broad-spectrum, newer and more expensive drugs, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Human cells can copy not only DNA, but also RNA
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Nblzy6Di5Lk/100810122035.htm
Single-molecule sequencing technology has detected and quantified novel small RNAs in human cells that represent entirely new classes of the gene-translating molecules, confirming a long-held but unproven hypothesis that mammalian cells are capable of synthesizing RNA by copying RNA molecules directly.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Distinguishing 'senior moments' from Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D5GTD4-EsZg/100810131630.htm
With the help of volunteers aged 18 to 89, researchers have identified for the first time in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the perforant path. Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far more quickly due to Alzheimer's disease.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Stone Age remains are Britain's earliest house
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z1gWOEY-NaY/100810101724.htm
Archaeologists working on Stone Age remains at a site in North Yorkshire say it contains Britain's earliest surviving house. Archaeologists have revealed that the home dates to at least 8,500 BC -- when Britain was part of continental Europe.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
New approaches could help defeat HIV
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7DKOGxbpt6c/100810082640.htm
Drug resistance remains a major problem in combating HIV infection, but a different approach to drug development could be the answer. Current viral inhibitors target the HIV-1 protease function with a competitive mechanism. New research suggests that pharmaceutical companies look at compounds that use an allosteric non-competitive mechanism of inhibition.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Imaging study sheds light on neural origins of baby talk
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Flp39xWXO6I/100810082646.htm
Neural processing in the brains of parents talking to their babies may reveal secrets about early stages of language acquisition in infants, according to new research that shows for the first time that experience, gender and personality affect how parents process the speech they use when addressing infants.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Brain fitness programs may help frail elderly walk faster, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_LNwkVnOoVM/100810151028.htm
Computerized brain fitness programs are known to help seniors improve their memory and focus. Now a new study has found preliminary evidence that such programs may help frail seniors walk faster, potentially preventing disability and improving quality of life.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
World's tiniest mirror
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TdpjizslVmY/100810122039.htm
Just as the path of photons of light can be directed by a mirror, atoms possessing a magnetic moment can be controlled using a magnetic mirror. New research investigates the feasibility of using magnetic domain walls to direct and ultimately trap individual atoms in a cloud of ultracold atoms.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
College undergrads study ineffectively on computers, study finds: Students transfer bad study habits from paper to screen
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SY0RXAmfZoc/100810094617.htm
Despite the prevalence of technology on college campuses, a new study indicates that computers alone can't keep students from falling into the same old weak study habits.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Plastic computer memory device that utilizes electron spin to read and write data: Alternative to traditional semiconductors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KJfED5pdD8k/100809171533.htm
Researchers have demonstrated the first plastic computer memory device that utilizes the spin of electrons to read and write data. An alternative to traditional microelectronics, so-called "spintronics" could store more data in less space, process data faster, and consume less power.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Larger waist associated with greater risk of death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/C4Ly2h5289Q/100809161126.htm
Individuals with a large waist circumference appear to have a greater risk of dying from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rG3B6eVKx-I/100809123538.htm
Ever wonder why some people can sleep through just about anything, while others get startled awake at each and every bump in the night? People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Computerized warning system alerts doctors to medications that could harm elderly patients
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/z084_S0JuYs/100809161120.htm
Adverse drug events occur in an estimated 40 percent of all hospital patients and can be the result of inappropriate medications being ordered. For elderly patients, this can pose a serious risk of complications. Now, a study shows that CPOE systems can help.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/tCNSacycwyg/100726094751.htm
Every day, millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying. Louis Pasteur demonstrated back in 1861 that germs can move through the air, but it was only recently discovered that bacteria, fungi and viruses can travel thousands of kilometers stuck onto dust particles. Satellite images show clouds that come close to the size of the Iberian Peninsula.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
'Lap-band' weight loss surgery in very obese adults improves mental health, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/spUS1nwqS1M/100621091217.htm
One year after weight loss surgery with laparoscopic gastric banding, extremely obese adults demonstrate not only better physical health but also improved psychological health, a new study shows.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
New strategy to fix a broken heart: Scaffold supports stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HaLzh2WUSK0/100809171531.htm
Engineers and physicians have built a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. The scaffold supports the growth of cardiac cells in the lab and encourages blood vessel growth in living animals.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NMq4Qg5a5kU/100809142048.htm
Scientists are developing a new way to destroy tumors with fewer side effects and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The innovative method uses heat to kill the tumor cells but leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. Using specific biomarkers attached to individual tumors, the mixture of nano-particles and antibodies locates and binds to the tumor itself.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Hitchhiking bacteria can go against the flow
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TdOY3g9r8Oo/100809111238.htm
Tiny aquatic organisms known as "water fleas" play an important role in carrying bacteria to lake and ocean habitats that are otherwise inaccessible due to stratified density boundaries. For animals as small as bacteria, the boundary between water masses of different temperature and salinity may as well be a brick wall. Hitching a ride on larger zooplankton helps them break through to greener pastures.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Aggressive control of cardiac risk factors might not benefit all patients with diabetes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Cdu-frqE2QA/100628161119.htm
A mathematical model suggests that aggressively pursuing low blood pressure and cholesterol levels may not benefit, and could even harm, some patients with diabetes, according to a new study.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Cold atoms image microwave fields
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VOVB-GnfxBQ/100803072714.htm
Microwaves are an essential part of modern communication technology. Mobile phones and laptops, for example, are equipped with integrated microwave circuits for wireless communication. Sophisticated techniques for measurement and characterization of microwave fields are an essential tool for the development of such circuits. A novel technique allows for the direct and complete imaging of microwave magnetic fields with high spatial resolution.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Brain responds same to acute and chronic sleep loss, research finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2_EjmSZsJ1c/100809161230.htm
Burning the candle at both ends for a week may take an even bigger toll than you thought.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Brain's wiring: More like the Internet than a pyramid?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YD8pLeDognE/100809161234.htm
Neuroscientists have traced circuits in part of the rat brain and find no sign of a top-down hierarchy. The distributed network of the Internet may be a better model, they say.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
More cancer-fighting power: Mouse with highly effective components of the human immune system
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/44N9-OKg3ps/100809133329.htm
Researchers have modified T cell receptors, the antenna-like structures of T cells, to make them more potent against cancer. This modification is the precondition for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. The researchers developed a mouse with a whole repertoire of human T cell receptors with the aim of utilizing them in the future for targeted immunotherapy in patients.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bUWaEvcu_K4/100804151402.htm
Engineering and health sciences researchers have applied machine learning to EEG patterns and successfully predicted how patients with schizophrenia would respond to clozapine therapy.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Three biomarkers in spinal fluid appear helpful to classify patients with Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mhb9fS3gBuA/100809161132.htm
A "signature" consisting of three biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid was present in 90 percent of patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but also was found in more than one-third of cognitively normal older adults, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Pilot study supports adolescent diabetes patients through personalized text messages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ii6ZloF7DaI/100730191628.htm
A recent study examined weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities. An increase in overall treatment adherence and improved blood glucose levels was found.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
The salp: Nature's near-perfect little engine just got better
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1es3HnJ_9qM/100809161226.htm
What if trains, planes, and automobiles all were powered simply by the air through which they move? Moreover, what if their exhaust and byproducts helped the environment? Well, such an energy-efficient, self-propelling mechanism already exists in nature. The salp, a smallish, barrel-shaped organism that resembles a kind of streamlined jellyfish, gets everything it needs from the ocean waters to feed and propel itself.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Plasma beta-amyloid levels associated with cognitive decline
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/l6p7cHGnkyM/100809161134.htm
High plasma levels of beta-amyloid -- protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's disease when they accumulate in the brain -- appear to be associated with faster cognitive decline even in those who do not develop dementia, according to a new report.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
New study examines effects of drought in the Amazon
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YhzdGnjZCjU/100802151311.htm
Recent research surrounding the impact of drought in the Amazon has provided contradictory findings as to how tropical forests react to a drier and warmer climate. A new study examines the response of Amazon forests to variations in climate conditions, specifically considering how those changes may influence forest productivity. These findings provide possible context for why previous studies have offered varying conclusions.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for C. difficile reinfection, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LyooJWY8hTU/100802091211.htm
Clostridium-difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Although initial response rates to specific antibiotic therapy exceed 90 percent, 10-30 percent of patients experience disease recurrence. Risk factors influence CDAD recurrence are not yet fully understood. A research group in Korea investigated the risk factors for CDAD recurrence. Advanced age, serum albumin levels less than 2.5g/dL and use of PPIs were found to be significant risk factors for CDAD recurrence.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Help from the dark side: Using 'dark channel' fluorescence, scientists can explain how biochemical substances carry out their function
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NLJuKRYUwKc/100808212758.htm
By using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, researchers in Germany have observed the moving of electric charges from solute to solvent (electron transfer). They can even make assertions on the temporal sequence of this process. As one example, they can find out how solute biochemical substances carry out their microscopic functions in their natural environment at room temperature and normal pressure. Until recently, studying such systems by soft X-ray radiation has not been possible.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Demographic disparities found among children with frequent ear infections
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kcoweRpRgpk/100809161232.htm
Research has documented that ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist among patients with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Now, a new study has found disparities among children suffering from repeated ear infections.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Higher temperatures to slow Asian rice production
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/O3VhGIbzbZc/100809161138.htm
Production of rice, the world's most important crop for ensuring food security, will be thwarted as temperatures increase in rice-growing areas with continued climate change, according to a new study. Researchers found evidence that the net impact of projected temperature increases will be to slow the growth of rice production in Asia. Rising temperatures during the past 25 years have already cut the yield growth rate by 10-20 percent in several locations.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lToFc3je88U/100729122334.htm
New research shows that individuals with mild H1N1 infection may go undetected using standard diagnostic criteria, according to a new study. The study concludes that coughing or other respiratory symptoms are more accurate in determining influenza infection than presence of a fever.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
New 'dentist' test to detect oral cancer will save lives
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AN-EP8ukJi8/100809093647.htm
A new test for oral cancer, which a dentist could perform by simply using a brush to collect cells from a patient's mouth, is set to be developed by researchers.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Factors associated with rate of visual field change in patients with glaucoma identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SuddXXOW8Z8/100809161136.htm
Patients with glaucoma appear to have more rapid visual field change if they are older or if they have abnormal levels of anticardiolipin antibody (an antibody directed against a certain protein in the body), according to a new report. Reducing intraocular pressure -- the pressure within the eyeball -- modestly in these patients appears to ameliorate the rate at which they experience declines in visual field.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
London Guildhall: Cradle of English literature
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0HWqskBYuQk/100809094533.htm
Researchers have found evidence that the London Guildhall served as the cradle of English Literature in the late Middle Ages. It was the home to scribes who copied the first manuscripts of works by fourteenth-century authors Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower, as well as early copies of other Middle English authors including William Langland and John Trevisa.

Wed, 11 Aug 10
Smaller hospitals can provide safe and high-quality surgical care comparable to larger counterparts, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/1IhfEJJji3s/100727154800.htm
Smaller, rural hospitals may be quicker and more efficient at implementing surgical safety initiatives than their larger, urban counterparts, and are capable of providing a standard of surgical care that is at par with major hospitals that provide a comprehensive array of care services, according to an 18-month series of studies.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Scientists map all mammalian gene interactions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Mp0gAznd2U/100809142044.htm
In one of the first efforts of its kind, researchers have taken mammalian genome maps, including human maps, one step further by showing not just the order in which genes fall in the genome but which genes actually interact. The findings will help researchers better understand which genes work together and shed light on how they collaborate to help cells thrive or die.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Brain pathways linking social stress and inflammation identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xaWrm7thHng/100809133323.htm
Researchers have discovered that how your brain responds to social stressors can influence the body's immune system in ways that may negatively affect health.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Electrical activity in developing brain influences choice of neurotransmitter
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/umR7ILrx8vw/100728121327.htm
Cascades of genetic signals determine which neurotransmitter a brain cell will ultimately use to communicate with other cells. Now a pair of reports have shown for the first time that electrical activity in these developing neurons can alter their chemical fate -- and change an animal's behavior -- by tweaking this genetic program.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Lubricating the knee cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament repair may prevent osteoarthritis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OI_ONprmtuI/100805103920.htm
While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can often be corrected through surgery, they can lead to increased risk of developing degenerative joint diseases, including osteoarthritis. The fluid in the knee joint, which lubricates the cartilage, is impacted by the trauma of the injury and begins to deteriorate. A new study identifies options for restoring that lubrication to potentially prevent development of OA.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Turning down the noise in graphene
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BvQmB9TxXYU/100806125514.htm
Researchers have developed the first model of signal-to-noise-ratios for low frequency noises in graphene on silica. Their results show noise patterns that run just the opposite of noise patterns in other electronic materials.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Corporal punishment of children remains common worldwide, studies find
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/evZr-olwdnw/100809111232.htm
Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment of children are still common in the US and worldwide, despite bans in 24 countries.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Insects sense danger on mammals' breath
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iORk9xBZU0E/100809123532.htm
When plant-eating mammals such as goats chomp on a sprig of alfalfa, they could easily gobble up some extra protein in the form of insects that happen to get in their way. But a new report shows that plant-dwelling pea aphids have a strategy designed to help them avoid that dismal fate: The insects sense mammalian breath and simply drop to the ground.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
What makes a good egg and healthy embryo? Zinc discovery may help in future fertility treatments
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LMozLvemAeY/100809133327.htm
Scientists and fertility doctors have long tried to figure out what makes a good egg that will produce a healthy embryo. It's a critical to know which eggs isolated from a woman will produce the best embryos and ultimately babies. New research reveals eggs need a tremendous dose of zinc to reach maturity and be ready for fertilization -- a finding that may ultimately help physicians assess the best eggs for fertility treatment.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Fresh insight into the origins of Planet Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rMzEOn-maGs/100611221305.htm
For the first time, an international team of researchers has incorporated extensive geochemical data on the formation of Earth into a model -- with surprising results: more models can be used for the process of Earth's accretion than previously assumed.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
New methods, new math speed detection of drug-resistant malaria
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rCUw0Ark07U/100802101819.htm
Researchers developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Compact microscope a marvel: Matches performance of expensive lab gear in diagnosing TB
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jWUyShAuEoM/100804205147.htm
New research shows that a portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs $240, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as $40,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Essential ingredients of supportive sibling relationships
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NvUFzbp2D_w/100719111953.htm
Many moms and dads say the toughest part of parenting is keeping the peace when their kids squabble and bicker. But making an end to conflict your primary focus is a mistake, according to experts.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Prosthesis with information at its fingertips: Hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c7mi5WsYJpU/100806125508.htm
The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime. Now scientists in Germany have modified conventional hand prostheses in order to reduce phantom pain after an underarm amputation.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fmHNhPDV7K4/100809133325.htm
An expert in vitamin D proposes worldwide policy changes regarding people's vitamin D daily intake amount in order to maximize the vitamin's contribution to reducing the frequency of many diseases, including childhood rickets, adult osteomalacia, cancer, autoimmune type-1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and muscle weakness.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Engineers use rocket science to make wastewater treatment sustainable
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/mFe_cBbvUD4/100727151821.htm
Engineers are developing a new sewage treatment process that would increase the production of two greenhouse gases -- nitrous oxide and methane -- and use those gases to power the treatment plant. Applying rocket technology, they hope to make the process energy neutral and emissions free.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
How blocking the 'Programmed Death 1' protein may treat or prevent sepsis and severe infection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z7XbeWCWFfo/100802101815.htm
Scientists have made an important discovery that could lead to new drugs that reduce the severity of blood infections leading to sepsis. New research shows how interfering with the function of the cell membrane protein called "Programmed Death 1" improves survival in a clinically relevant model of severe infection.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Forest fires help power the nitrogen cycle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yzaGPUX4Xpo/100809093645.htm
Years after a forest fire, soil bacteria communities have changed and convert more ammonia to nitrates, increasing soil fertility.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
People think immoral behavior is funny -- but only if it also seems benign
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k11smk11eW8/100809142042.htm
What makes something funny? Philosophers have been tossing that question around since Plato. Now two psychological scientists think they've come up with the formula: humor comes from a violation or threat to the way the world ought to be that is, at the same time, benign.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Robots created that develop emotions in interaction with humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fpSPKs49aWk/100809094527.htm
The first prototype robots capable of developing emotions as they interact with their human caregivers and expressing a whole range of emotions have been finalized by researchers.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Inhibiting prostate cancer without disturbing regular body processes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_A27Yowdrlo/100809123540.htm
A kinase is a type of enzyme the body uses to regulate the functions of the proteins required for cell growth and maintenance, and researchers have discovered that one in particular plays a key role in developing prostate cancer.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Tiny fish evolved to tolerate colder temperature in three years, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/oRuCPWNUgMk/100804133446.htm
Researchers have observed one of the fastest evolutionary responses ever recorded in wild populations. In as little as three years, stickleback fish developed tolerance for water temperature 2.5 degrees Celsius lower than their ancestors.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Familial link found in rare childhood leukemia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/edn0B5mAP38/100809093651.htm
Researchers have discovered a direct link between an inherited genetic mutation, a set of developmental abnormalities and a rare form of childhood leukemia called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, or JMML. The study demonstrates a new familial link in JMML and has significant implications, the researchers say, for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
NASA images show continuing Mexico quake deformation
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FMaeShZKwsg/100807214122.htm
New NASA airborne radar images of Southern California near the U.S.-Mexico border show Earth's surface is continuing to deform following the April 4 magnitude, 7.2 temblor and its many aftershocks that have rocked Mexico's state of Baja California and parts of the American Southwest.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Competing for a mate can shorten lifespan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/UjRB_AjovUM/100809111521.htm
Men who reach sexual maturity in a context where males outnumber females don't live as long as men whose numbers roughly equaled females' and faced less competition for a mate.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
In breakthrough, nerve connections are regenerated after spinal cord injury
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vkYanmLKuJU/100808212800.htm
Researchers for the first time have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury, showing the potential for new therapeutic approaches to paralysis and other motor function impairments.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Bariatric surgery in diabetic adults improves insulin sensitivity better than diet, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/of50oJqRCgU/100621091215.htm
Gastric bypass surgery improves type 2 diabetes by other mechanisms in addition to weight loss and does so better than a low-calorie diet despite achieving equal weight loss, a new study finds.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Genetic differences that make some people susceptible to meningitis revealed in major new study
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WzJcNLTkLyE/100808212802.htm
Genetic differences that make some people susceptible to developing meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, and others naturally immune, are revealed in a new study of over 6,000 people. The research is the largest ever genetic study of meningitis and septicaemia caused by meningococcal bacteria.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Kinked nanopores slow DNA passage for easier sequencing
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ucmwWHfNGYk/100730191658.htm
In an innovation critical to improved DNA sequencing, a markedly slower transmission of DNA through nanopores has been achieved.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Doctors not strongly encouraging HPV vaccine to girls of certain age; National guidelines not closely followed, survey finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vnLJWMm7zFw/100802125827.htm
The vast majority of pediatricians and family physicians nationally are offering the human papillomavirus (also called HPV) vaccine, though fewer physicians are strongly encouraging it for 11- to 12-year-old girls as recommended by national guidelines, according to a survey.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Highly directional terahertz laser rays created: Semiconductor laser suitable for security screening, chemical sensing and astronomy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U3Pr_DoDd3Y/100808212756.htm
Scientists have demonstrated a new terahertz (THz) semiconductor laser that emits beams with a much smaller divergence than conventional THz laser sources. The advance opens the door to a wide range of applications in terahertz science and technology. Harvard has filed a broad patent on the invention.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
New anti-viral drug shows promise for dramatic improvement in hepatitis C treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TSQi5K0EGnU/100808212804.htm
Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients, according to a new study.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
'Fearless' aphids ignore warnings, get eaten by ladybugs
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/M_pPsuMMB-w/100806125510.htm
'Fearless' aphids -- which become accustomed to ignoring genetically engineered chemical alarms in plants and alarms sent by fellow aphids -- become easy prey for ladybugs. That's good news for farmers, according to researchers.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Genome study identifies genetic variant linked to TB susceptibility in Africans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fe3IQw5u758/100808212754.htm
Scientists have identified a genetic variant which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis in African populations using a technique known as a genome-wide association study. This is the first novel disease variant to be identified using this technique in Africans and demonstrates that such studies are viable in African populations, which have a high degree of genetic diversity.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
As crops wither in Russia's severe drought, vital plant field bank faces demolition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OXCwEwlGSV4/100808212810.htm
As the fate of Europe's largest collection of fruit and berries hangs in the balance of a Russian court decision, the Global Crop Diversity Trust issued an urgent appeal for the Russian government to embrace its heroic tradition as protector of the world's crop diversity and halt the planned destruction of an incredibly valuable crop collection near St. Petersburg.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Autism: Lack of evidence for antidepressants, study concludes
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hAjDxujeqDU/100808212808.htm
Antidepressants commonly prescribed to people with autistic spectrum disorders cannot be recommended based on current evidence, a new study concludes. Despite some evidence of benefits in adults diagnosed with autism, they say there is no evidence for any benefits associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children, who may suffer serious adverse effects as a result of taking the drugs.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Gain and loss in optimistic versus pessimistic brains
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LubXpPmzH-E/100804151500.htm
Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aB1axLF5FxY/100614160155.htm
Researchers have identified a specific chemical that may trigger remission in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Spin ice used to examine exotic properties of magnetic systems
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZEVSVsBYK9U/100804110759.htm
Spin ice can be used to examine exotic properties of magnetic systems. Surprising observations have been made by physicists using magnetic islands only micrometers in size that are placed on a periodic lattice with honeycomb symmetry. When a magnetic field is applied, the system selects an unexpectedly ordered state, hazarding the consequences of having the like poles of the magnets (all south or all north) close together which is energetically unfavorable.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Popular diabetes drugs associated with fractures in type 2 diabetic patients, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wVWewtfQEao/100729074907.htm
Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS), including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, may be at increased risk for fractures, according to a new study. Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
NASA's hurricane quest set to begin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c52hqltTMoA/100807214624.htm
In less than two weeks, NASA scientists will begin their quest for the holy grail of hurricane research. The exact conditions required to kickstart a tropical depression into a hurricane largely remain a mystery. Though scientists know many of the ingredients needed, it is unclear what processes ultimately drive depressions to form into the intense, spinning storms that lash the U.S. coasts each summer.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Mental health outcomes in children in foster care improved with mentoring, skills development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xeTXdk1dsWI/100802165439.htm
Incorporating mentoring and group skill-building intervention programs for children in foster care may help improve mental health outcomes in this population, according to a new report.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Butterflies shed light on how some species respond to global warming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CJbw1SsOUR0/100805143049.htm
Researchers have begun studying the genetic explanation for how two species of butterflies respond to warming. They are investigating what genes are responsible for the individualized responses, and will use genomic tools to learn which genes are involved when the species is experiencing climate change.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
New approach to Alzheimer’s therapy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Smy0g1IpU_M/100730191501.htm
Researchers have shown that the ADAM10 protein can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease. ADAM10 acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut the protein from which beta-amyloid is formed, effectively preventing the formation of beta-amyloid. This makes ADAM10 a key molecule in Alzheimer's therapy.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Scientists post lower speed limit for cell-signaling protein assembly
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7F6LFAJRH1E/100729172429.htm
The apparently random self-assembly of molecular threads into the proteins that make the body work is far less frantic than previously thought, scientists say. That discovery could be a key to help unlock the nature of some diseases. How proteins spontaneously "fold" from wiggling chains of amino acids into a wide variety of functional -- or malfunctioning -- 3-D molecules is one of the biggest mysteries in biochemistry.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Whole breast irradiation guidelines released
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8hsSCxwLSlY/100804133450.htm
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has released evidence-based guidelines to define appropriate fractionation of whole breast irradiation (WBI), finding that hypofractionated WBI is effective for many patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
Is biochar the answer for agriculture? Long-term study digs up new information on biochar’s ability to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from soils
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aV2Iiypl3_8/100802073945.htm
Scientists have found that over several months, biochar applied to soil can significantly reduce emissions of nitrous oxide and leaching of nitrates.

Tue, 10 Aug 10
'Path of mental illness' follows path of war, 20 years after conflict ends
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HIK1lXTW6FY/100730191626.htm
Researchers assessed the geographical distribution of the long-term burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a region of Liberia and report that the prevalence of PTSD remains high nearly two decades after the principal conflict there and five years after war in Liberia ended entirely. Particularly interesting was the geographic distribution of PTSD. Investigators found that certain villages in the region had a much higher prevalence of PTSD than did others.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Protein that shuttles RNA into cell mitochondria discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HLP8FL5GuQY/100806093108.htm
Researchers have uncovered a role for an essential cell protein in shuttling RNA into the mitochondria, the energy-producing "power plant" of the cell.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Alzheimer's disease: Some cells more prone to death
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/G_qlwk3bk6E/100625124544.htm
Scientists have discovered that hyperploid neurons, which have greater than the normal number of chromosomes, are more prone to cell death in Alzheimer's disease.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Death dance reveals secrets of apoptosis in dissociated human embryonic stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EIyBAFfcLXM/100806125558.htm
Researchers in Japan have unraveled the mystery of why human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) when cultured in isolation. By unlocking the potential of cell therapy techniques, the discovery promises new hope to sufferers of debilitating degenerative diseases.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
First satellite measurement of water volume in Amazon floodplain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xceQ_tsEl3s/100805172955.htm
For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain. The result -- 285 billion metric tons, or 285 cubic kilometers of water by volume -- sounds like a lot. That amount is over half the volume of Lake Erie, which is the world's 15th largest lake.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Rushing too fast to online learning? Outcomes of Internet versus face-to-face instruction
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bng4T748MzI/100628092756.htm
A new study suggests simply putting traditional classes online may have negative consequences, especially for lower-performing and minority students.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
NASA's great observatories witness a galactic spectacle
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/c0hcAt-MEO0/100807214437.htm
A new image of two tangled galaxies has been released by NASA's Great Observatories. The Antennae galaxies, located about 62 million light-years from Earth, are shown in a new composite image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Antennae galaxies take their name from the long, antenna-like arms seen in wide-angle views of the system. These features were produced in the collision.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Light shed on triglyceride metabolism
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Si3S4OcJ-J4/100707112427.htm
New findings are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
NASA instrument tracks pollution from Russian fires
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/yvGqT0olYog/100807213919.htm
Drought and the worst heat wave Russia has seen in 130 years have sparked a devastating outbreak of wildfires across the nation this summer, primarily in the country's western and central regions.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Surgery better than radiation, hormone treatments for some prostate cancer, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_zx0T0G2iSg/100806125518.htm
Surgery for localized prostate cancer offers a significantly higher survival rate than either external-beam radiation or hormonal therapies, according to a new study.

Mon, 9 Aug 10
Tests help predict falls in Parkinson's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/nfnsQK3-mUE/100623165118.htm
A group of tests may help predict which people with Parkinson's disease are more likely to fall, according to a new study.

Sun, 8 Aug 10
Federal science report details fate of oil from BP spill
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3bUFfRn6Okg/100807205655.htm
The vast majority of the oil from the BP oil spill has either evaporated or been burned, skimmed, recovered from the wellhead or dispersed much of which is in the process of being degraded. A significant amount of this is the direct result of the robust federal response efforts, according to a new report.

Sun, 8 Aug 10
NOAA still expects active Atlantic hurricane season; La Niña develops
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-zvcyi77K5I/100807205434.htm
The Atlantic Basin remains on track for an active hurricane season, according to the scheduled seasonal outlook update issued Aug. 5, 2010 by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. With the season's peak just around the corner -- late August through October -- the need for preparedness plans is essential.

Sun, 8 Aug 10
More actions needed to help western Steller sea lion recover, fisheries experts say
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4eH9NJvSP_I/100807205313.htm
NOAA's Fisheries Service says changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

Sun, 8 Aug 10
'Delicious' invader: More fishing, higher consumption might help reverse lionfish invasion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/-XpHRoaooPU/100807205021.htm
A new study looking at how to curb the rapid growth of lionfish, an invasive species not native to the Atlantic Ocean, suggests that approximately 27 percent of mature lionfish will have to be removed monthly for one year to reduce its population growth rate to zero.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Mimicking the moon's surface in the basement
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9P_LymiMehM/100806093110.htm
A team of scientists used an ion beam in a basement room at Los Alamos National Laboratory to simulate solar winds on the surface of the moon. The table-top simulation helped confirm that the moon is inherently dry.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Key mechanism in brain's computation of sound location identified
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3rmf-8oFzW8/100629170916.htm
Researchers have identified a mechanism the brain uses to help process sound localization. Their findings focus on how the brain computes the different arrival times of sound into each ear to estimate the location of its source.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Looking for the coolest forms of life on Earth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IQ2C-EVurk4/100806125556.htm
Two UK scientists are traveling to one of the coldest places on Earth to help them understand how life could exist on other planets in our Solar System. During their trip to Ny-Ålesund on the island of Svalbard, they will investigate how the snow and ice there was first colonized by extremophiles – organisms that thrive in harsh conditions.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Newly discovered mechanism controls levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vAx11oNmzW4/100806161857.htm
A newly discovered molecular mechanism helps control the amount and effectiveness of a substance that mimics an active ingredient in marijuana, but that is produced by the body's own nerve cells. Cannabinoid signaling systems are common throughout the body and affect a variety of functions. Developing new therapies that modulate these molecular communications might help patients with autoimmune or neurological disorders, including brain inflammation following a viral infections. Specifically targeted treatments would have medicinal benefits without mind-altering side effects.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Timely technology sees tiny transitions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/d0W67Q6cuSA/100623165131.htm
Scientists can detect the movements of single molecules by using fluorescent tags or by pulling them in delicate force measurements, but only for a few minutes. A new technique will allow them to track single molecules without modifying them -- and it works over longer timescales.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Beautiful women face discrimination in certain jobs, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/P-Nl7tg2nuU/100806132218.htm
New research shows that beautiful women are discriminated against when applying for "masculine" jobs or when looks don't matter.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Greenland glacier calves island four times the size of Manhattan
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fEvBatF8gbo/100806161859.htm
A researcher reports that an "ice island" four times the size of Manhattan has calved from Greenland's Petermann Glacier. The last time the Arctic lost such a large chunk of ice was in 1962.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Human embryonic stem cells purified in new, rapid technique
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sTAaddXvzsg/100806125516.htm
Researchers are reporting the first success in very rapidly purifying one type of embryonic stem cell from a mix of many different types of embryonic stem cells in the culture dish. The technique, which avoids the need to genetically alter the cells to distinguish them, is a key advance, the researchers say, for obtaining the appropriate cells for repairing specific damaged tissues.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Nuclear physicists study 'magic' nature of tin
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wIuk20ZKWAc/100806161855.htm
The metal tin lacks the value and prestige of gold, silver and platinum, but to nuclear physicists, tin is magic. Physicists recently reported studies on the metal tin that add knowledge to a concept known as magic numbers while perhaps helping scientists to explain how heavy elements are made in exploding stars.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Tattooing linked to higher risk of hepatitis C, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/IQtENd2xGr4/100806125506.htm
Youth, prison inmates and individuals with multiple tattoos that cover large parts of their bodies are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases, according to a new study.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Insular evolution: Large and big-footed voles in an outer archipelago
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EDMrb92ibs0/100804080622.htm
According to evolutionary theory, natural selection favors traits that enhance dispersal of populations to new habitats. The empirical evidence supporting this theory, however, is relatively scarce. Scientists now report on the rapid evolution of traits facilitating dispersal in an outer archipelago.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Economic status, genetics together influence psychopathic traits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ZJE0tEUjlr8/100805143055.htm
Researchers studying the genetic roots of antisocial behavior report that children with one variant of a serotonin transporter gene are more likely to exhibit psychopathic traits if they also grow up poor. Children were more likely to score high on tests for psychopathic traits if they had both low socioeconomic status and the variant gene.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Secret of life on Earth may be as simple as what happens between the sheets -- mica sheets, that is
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PXfTaJQESUk/100806093104.htm
That age-old question, "where did life on Earth start?" now has a new answer. If the life between the mica sheets hypothesis is correct, life would have originated between sheets of mica that were layered like the pages in a book.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Encouraging data on preventing Crohn's disease recurrence
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_ssWs4-L7Rc/100805143053.htm
Biological agents may play an important role in maintaining remission in Crohn's disease, according to two new studies.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Selenium makes more efficient solar cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WVpEzH0_Xlw/100803175015.htm
By embedding the element selenium in zinc oxide, researchers have made a relatively inexpensive material that could be promising for solar power conversion by making more efficient use of the sun's energy.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
How cells make specific interactions during development
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/j_Oeeh_toac/100803152813.htm
Researchers have shed new light on how cells make specific interactions during development -- in the hope of one day learning more about human developmental disorders.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Image of new antibiotic in action opens up new opportunities to combat antibacterial resistance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/BbrGyOwDxoM/100804133442.htm
Detailed pictures reveal how a new type of experimental antibiotic can kill bacteria that are already resistant to existing treatments. The findings could ultimately help scientists to develop new antibiotics to tackle the bacteria responsible for many hospital and community-acquired infections.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Worst impact of climate change may be how humanity reacts to it
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/b65DyZ17AQ8/100806080220.htm
The way that humanity reacts to climate change may do more damage to many areas of the planet than climate change itself unless we plan properly, an important new study by a group of leading scientists has concluded.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Newts' ability to regenerate tissue replicated in mouse cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dhvfCYdKhFM/100805142949.htm
Scientists have taken a big step toward being able to confer a regenerative capacity on mammalian muscle cells; they accomplished this feat in experiments with laboratory mice in which they blocked the expression of just two tumor-suppressing proteins. The finding may move us closer to future regenerative therapies in humans -- surprisingly, by sending us shimmying back down the evolutionary tree.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Novel bee venom derivative forms a nanoparticle 'smart bomb' to target cancer cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Qm-deWqk178/100802101817.htm
The next time you are stung by a bee, here's some consolation: a toxic protein in bee venom, when altered, significantly improves the effectiveness liposome-encapsulated drugs or dyes, such as those already used to treat or diagnose cancer. This research shows how modified melittin may revolutionize treatments for cancer and perhaps other conditions, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and serious infections.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Reading zip codes of 3,500-year-old letters: Non-destructive X-ray scanning of archaeological finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/iFpQbKcWK0k/100805143059.htm
A researcher in Israel uses a hand-held device based on x-ray fluorescence, a device that can be found in many chemistry labs, to non-destructively ascertain the chemical composition of ancient tablets. Using an index that he's developed, he can determine the geographical origin of coins, ancient plasters, glass and tablets to investigate the secrets of ancient history.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Non-human primate study generates information relevant to HIV-1 vaccine strategies
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EDNvM_q3hlM/100802125813.htm
Monkeys repeatedly immunized with a particular form the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein generated antibodies capable of neutralizing diverse strains of HIV-1, according to a paper published online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on August 2.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
A 'crystal ball' for predicting the effects of global climate change
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/g-1SSxS8OTY/100805111234.htm
In trying to predict how species will respond to climate change caused by global warming, researchers and scientists are turning to comparative physiology, a sub-discipline of physiology that studies how different organisms function and adapt to diverse and changing environments. Overall, the comparative approach gives researchers insights into the effects of global warming that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Children's vegetable intake linked to Popeye cartoons
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fBCQ2IpVsn4/100806080218.htm
Popeye cartoons, tasting parties and junior cooking classes can help increase vegetable intake in kindergarten children, according to new research. Researchers in Thailand found the type and amount of vegetables children ate improved after they took part in a program using multimedia and role models to promote healthy food.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Bats facing regional extinction in Northeastern US from rapidly spreading white-nose syndrome
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/D8ehIekXEbM/100805142945.htm
A new infectious disease spreading rapidly across the northeastern United States has killed millions of bats and is predicted to cause regional extinction of a once-common bat species, according to new findings. Estimates show over 99 percent of Northeast's little brown bat population may become extirpated in 20 years due to white-nose syndrome.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Deep Brain Stimulation shows promise for patients with Alzheimer's
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HhReP546lKk/100804122707.htm
Using deep brain stimulation on patients with early signs of Alzheimer's disease is safe and may help improve memory, medical researchers say.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Robot climbs walls
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/h7SikDLRyHg/100805095603.htm
Wielding two claws, a motor and a tail that swings like a grandfather clock's pendulum, a small robot named ROCR ("rocker") scrambles up a carpeted, 8-foot wall in just over 15 seconds -- the first such robot designed to climb efficiently and move like human rock climbers or apes swinging through trees.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
Diabetes or not, dietary habits of Aftrican-Americans are similar
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/OwIDBjtljk4/100805143057.htm
Researchers looking for differences in eating habits of African Americans based on whether or not they had Type 2 diabetes uncovered an unexpected result: no matter what the blood sugar level was, the dietary intakes were pretty much the same. African-Americans are 1.8 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes and 1.4 times more likely to be obese than are non-Hispanic whites, according to federal health agencies.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
First evidence of genetically modified plants in the wild, scientists report
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/10aE_xDGJCw/100806080321.htm
Scientists currently performing field research in North Dakota have discovered the first evidence of established populations of genetically modified plants -- canola -- in the wild.

Sat, 7 Aug 10
'Asynchronous telepsychiatry' found effective for assessing patients' mental health
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/k0RaEOsUd9A/100806093106.htm
A new study has found that psychiatrists can accurately assess a patient's mental health by viewing videotaped interviews that are sent to them for consultation and treatment recommendations.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Global tropical forests threatened by 2100
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hG7pZ9zUy9w/100805172957.htm
By 2100 only 18-45 percent of the plants and animals making up ecosystems in global, humid tropical forests may remain as we know them today, according to new research. This is one of the first studies to combine effects from new deforestation and selective logging data with climate-change projections for all humid tropical forest ecosystems. The work will help conservationists be more effective.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
New method for regenerating heart muscle by direct reprogramming
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S8WCQgcEs8g/100805142951.htm
In heart disease, cardiac muscle gradually dies off and, with little or no way to regenerate those cells, that can ultimately lead the heart to fail. But scientists might have found a way to fix those losses. They've devised a three-ingredient molecular cocktail that transforms fibroblasts -- structural cells that the heart is chock full of -- directly into beating heart cells.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Potential cure discovered for degenerative vision diseases leading to terminal blindness
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/2gBaQ8oMxPo/100804122719.htm
Neurobiologists have discovered a potential cure for degenerative vision diseases leading to terminal blindness. Scientists may have discovered a cure to degenerative vision diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. By manipulating proteins that cause blindness in mice the scientists have successfully restored vision in the light-sensing cells of the retina.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Women don't need to delay getting pregnant after miscarriage, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/m5vurJS2-0o/100805204001.htm
Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy with the lowest complication rates, according to new research.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
When flowers turn up the heat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wrTZz0qu0q0/100728092631.htm
Could a "hot" flower attract pollinators by serving as a reward in a plant-pollinator mutualism? Many flowering plants produce nectar and pollen as rewards in exchange for pollination services by insects and other animals. Interestingly, however, a few plants have flowers that also produce heat metabolically -- so what is the adaptive function of this flower heating?

Fri, 6 Aug 10
A little adversity bodes well for those with chronic back pain, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zn7Nw1C2T6g/100805172947.htm
For people with chronic back pain, having a little adversity in your life can be protective and beneficial, according to a new study.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Artificial bee eye gives insight into insects’ visual world
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0s3DFoz_Rak/100805203343.htm
Despite their tiny brains, bees have remarkable navigation capabilities based on their vision. Now scientists have recreated a light-weight imaging system mimicking a honeybee's field of view, which could change the way we build mobile robots and small flying vehicles.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Large risk schizophrenia marker revealed
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/i0-X8BOMKIA/100805172951.htm
Scientists have identified a genetic variant that substantially increases the risk for developing schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jewish and other populations. The study associates a deletion on chromosome 3 with increased incidence of schizophrenia.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
High levels of carbon dioxide threaten oyster survival
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fBUkOMIvBpY/100805143051.htm
It has been widely reported that the build up of carbon dioxide in the air, which is caused by human behavior, will likely lead to climate change and have major implications for life on earth. But less focus has been given to global warming's evil twin, ocean acidification, which occurs when CO2 lowers the pH of water bodies, making them more acidic. This lesser known phenomenon may have catastrophic effects on all sea life.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Solving the mystery of bone loss from drug for epilepsy and bipolar disorder
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/evvS1SWVJPY/100804122713.htm
Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the bone loss that may occur following long-term use of a medicine widely used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. The drug, valproate, appears to reduce the formation of two key proteins important for bone strength.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Nanofluidic 'multi-tool' separates and sizes nanoparticles
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YvBEngVo2bQ/100804110214.htm
Researchers have engineered a nanoscale fluidic device that functions as a miniature "multi-tool" for working with nanoparticles-objects whose dimensions are measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Eliminating diabetes and depression, and boosting education, most likely to ward off dementia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/giYdbNSNYAo/100805204003.htm
Eliminating diabetes and depression, as well as increasing education and fruit and vegetable consumption, are likely to have the biggest impact on reducing levels of dementia in the coming years, should no effective treatment be found, concludes a new study.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Frogs evolution tracks rise of Himalayas and rearrangement of Southeast Asia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/WHedhEVklHc/100805173008.htm
Asian spiny frogs are named for the nubby spines on their chests and arms, which they use to grasp females during mating in swift streams. Biologists have conducted a genetic analysis of 24 species of spiny frogs and correlated their diversification with the rise of the Himalayas and Tibet. The findings support a theory that India not only uplifted the mountains, but shoved Southeast Asia toward the Pacific.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
H1N1 flu virus used new biochemical trick to cause pandemic
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/U9AFQtf6ZPg/100805172941.htm
In a report in the August 5 PLoS Pathogens, an international team of scientists shows that the recent pandemic-causing H1N1 flu virus used a new biochemical trick to spread efficiently in humans.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Potential prostate cancer marker discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TFGG7KyD8kM/100802165447.htm
Studies have revealed a potential marker for prostate cancer. A new analysis technique to create a profile of the lipids, or fats, found in prostate tissue and revealed a molecular compound that appears to be useful in identifying cancerous and precancerous tissue. The profile revealed that cholesterol sulfate is a compound that is absent in healthy prostate tissue, but is a major fat found in prostate cancer tumors.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Obesity prevention begins before birth: Excess maternal weight gain increases birth weight after controlling for genetic factors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Ezsn5KhPJAc/100804205145.htm
A large population-based study looks at two or more pregnancies in the same mother and provides evidence that excess maternal weight gain is a strong, independent predictor of high birth weight.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Cutting Japanese carbon dioxide emissions
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/T8hvDU_m4Cw/100803072719.htm
Last year, heat-pump technology cut Japan’s CO2 emissions by 1.1 million tons. The savings are about the same as we would gain by permanently parking around half a million modern private cars. The source of these "green" savings is climate-friendly heating of ordinary tapwater.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
'Glass ceiling' may exist for highly cited researchers at research universities
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/teZ75m5snDU/100805103916.htm
At a time when great jobs are hard to find, here's good news for the under-qualified: a new article shows that being a highly cited researcher may not be a primary qualification for taking on leading management positions at research institutions.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
How viruses jump from hosts: Secrets of rabies transmission in bats discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3T88rptKGj4/100805143101.htm
HIV-AIDS. SARS. Ebola. Bird flu. Swine flu. Rabies. These are emerging infectious diseases where the viruses have jumped from one animal species into another and now infect humans. This is a phenomenon known as cross-species transmission and scientists are working to determine what drives it.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Novel cause for genetic tooth decay
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YfLXSrEu7ho/100728120952.htm
New research implicates a novel peptide in impaired dentin mineralization in rickets. Rickets, the softening of bones in children, is often caused by vitamin D deficiency due to severe malnutrition. Rickets is one of the most frequent childhood diseases in developing countries and is associated with severe bone deformities, including dental ailments due to impaired dentin mineralization.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Gene brings teeth in shape
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xUs_Lyr-Nsc/100805091442.htm
No healthy teeth will form without this gene: if during tooth formation (odontogenesis) the so-called Jagged2 gene is inactivated, and hence the Notch signaling pathway interrupted, tooth crowns will be malformed and enamel will be lacking. This signaling pathway is involved in the formation of all tissues and organs.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
New drug shown safe, effective in treating hereditary angioedema
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/S2mP_RLWCwU/100804205143.htm
Clinical trials from two international research teams have shown that icatibant, a new drug that blocks the action of an inflammatory protein known as bradykinin, is safe and effective in treating acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Supply and demand: Scientists identify proteins that ensure iron balance
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7clq6NFWidc/100804093203.htm
Scientists have discovered that a group of proteins called IRPs ensure that iron balance is kept and as such are essential for cell survival. More specifically, they found that IRPs are required for the functioning of mitochondria, the cell's energy factories.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Social ecology: Lost and found in psychological science
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CX3LD1prW3w/100805111231.htm
Various aspects of our environment -- including political systems, economic systems and even climate and geography -- can affect our thinking and behavior, a field of study known as socioecological psychology.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Quantum networks advance with entanglement of photons, solid-state qubits
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fJa-cMV5fkQ/100804133358.htm
A team of physicists has achieved the first-ever quantum entanglement of photons and solid-state materials. The work marks a key advance toward practical quantum networks, as the first experimental demonstration of a means by which solid-state quantum bits, or "qubits," can communicate with one another over long distances.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Iron-regulating protein is strong predictor of breast cancer prognosis, study shows
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AaIwiAmvibA/100804151351.htm
A new study may soon help to spare some women with breast cancer from having to undergo invasive and toxic treatments for their disease. Investigators found that low levels of ferroportin, the only known protein to eliminate iron from cells, are associated with the most aggressive and recurring cancers. The finding suggests that testing for ferroportin levels in women with breast cancer may one day help doctors to more accurately predict whether their patients' cancer will return.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Computer scientists build 'pedestrian remover'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uDSslVoLcmg/100805143107.htm
Imagine encountering leashed dogs without dog walkers, or shoes filled just with ankles -- when scoping out potential apartments using Google Street View. These are the sorts of visual hiccups that an experimental computer vision system occasionally generates when it automatically removes individual pedestrians from images that populate Google Street View.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
New way to boost vaccines
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/jyz2UJamErY/100804161632.htm
As the medical community searches for better vaccines and ways to deliver them, one scientist believes he has discovered a new approach to boosting the body's response to vaccinations. He found that the same molecules used in drugs that treat diabetes also stimulate B cells in the immune system, pushing them to make antibodies for protection against invading microorganisms.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Coastal creatures may have reduced ability to fight off infections in acidified oceans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/52FGm0_jypk/100805142959.htm
The ocean is filled with a soup of bacteria and viruses. Animals living in these environments are constantly under assault by pathogens and need to be able to mount an immune response to protect themselves from infection, especially if they have an injury or wound that is openly exposed to the water. Researchers are studying the effects of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide on these organisms' immune systems.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Do we see things at face value? Research looks at how we recognize people's faces
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fzhsp-KAk0w/100805172341.htm
Most people find it much harder to recognise faces of people from other races than their own. Why is this? And does it matter? These questions are being tackled in a new research project.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Ancient Hawaiian glaciers reveal clues to global climate impacts
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/lj2VRHneRUg/100805111236.htm
Boulders deposited by an ancient glacier that once covered the summit of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii have provided more evidence of the extraordinary power and reach of global change, particularly the slowdown of a North Atlantic Ocean current system that could happen again and continues to be a concern to climate scientists.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Research breakthrough on the question of life expectancy
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3cOBv9UbbJ8/100805103910.htm
Why do we grow old and what can we do to stop it? This is the question asked by many, but it appears that we are now closer to an answer thanks to the discovery of a small set of genes in mitochondria (a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells), passed only from mothers to offspring.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Unprecedented look at oxide interfaces reveals unexpected structures on atomic scale
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kPQQMY1ij6M/100804151502.htm
Thin layers of oxide materials and their interfaces have been observed in atomic resolution during growth for the first time by researchers, providing new insight into the complicated link between their structure and properties.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Chew on this: Six dental myths debunked
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rm42Y8GgVz4/100805103926.htm
Your teeth need more than daily brushing and flossing. Researchers debunk six dental myths and discuss the role nutrition plays in oral health.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Physicists use offshoot of string theory to describe puzzling behavior of superconductors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/rqyBuKrQoao/100805142955.htm
Physicists have now used the connection between quantum and gravitational mechanics, known as gauge/gravity duality to describe a specific physical phenomenon -- the behavior of a type of high-temperature superconductor, or a material that conducts electricity with no resistance.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Redefining sexual discrimination
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9tprYtLLDKY/100805103912.htm
Gender harassment -- verbal and nonverbal behaviors that convey insulting, hostile and degrading attitudes to women -- is just as distressing for women victims as sexual advances in the workplace. Gender harassment leads to negative personal and professional outcomes too and, as such, is a serious form of sex discrimination, according to experts.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Seeing a stellar explosion in 3D
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qlPLzmY_Ofw/100804080626.htm
Astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope have for the first time obtained a three-dimensional view of the distribution of the innermost material expelled by a recently exploded star. The original blast was not only powerful, according to the new results. It was also more concentrated in one particular direction. This is a strong indication that the supernova must have been very turbulent, supporting the most recent computer models.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Human embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed cells virtually identical
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3DceE5JND-8/100805142957.htm
Human embryonic stem cells and adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state -- so-called induced pluripotent stem or iPS cells -- exhibit very few differences in their gene expression signatures and are nearly indistinguishable in their chromatin state, according to researchers. Contrary to some recent research, the current findings rekindling hopes that, under the proper circumstances, iPS cells may hold the clinical promise ascribed to them earlier.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Stress hormones help lizards escape from fire ants
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MZCr9FPQW94/100802165356.htm
When some fence lizards are attacked by fire ants they "stress out" with elevated levels of stress hormones -- a response that helps the species to flee quickly and survive. The discovery is helping scientists to understand the impact of invasive species on native populations.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Scientists develop the first model for investigating the origins of testicular cancer in humans
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/8Sr_UIK1HxI/100803200443.htm
Scientists have developed a model that will enable them to investigate, for the first time, how human testes develop in baby boys while they are in the womb. Until now it has been impossible to study testicular development during pregnancy in humans and this discovery will enable researchers to understand the processes that can lead to the onset of testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC) in young adult life, and how factors, such as common environmental chemicals, might play a role. The research is published in Human Reproduction journal on Wednesday 4 August.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Travelling by car increases global temperatures more than travelling by plane, but only in the long term
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/bXWElN4doHI/100804103648.htm
Driving alone in a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air according to a new study. However, in the short run traveling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes.

Fri, 6 Aug 10
Humans imitate aspects of speech we see
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AqiI11CLXWA/100805103907.htm
New research shows that unintentional speech imitation can make us sound like people whose voices we never hear.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Invisibility cloak advance: New findings promising for 'transformation optics'
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5CmdU53Cwkg/100804133344.htm
Researchers have overcome a fundamental obstacle in using new "metamaterials" for radical advances in optical technologies, including ultra-powerful microscopes and computers and a possible invisibility cloak.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
One high-fat diet, two different outcomes: The path to obesity becomes clearer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wor5aRmeQGI/100802151315.htm
Why is it that two people can consume the same high fat, high-calorie Western diet and one becomes obese and prone to diabetes while the other maintains a slim frame? This question has long baffled scientists, but a new study provides a simple explanation: weight is set before birth in the developing brain.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
A hop from South America: Tracking Australian marsupials
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/kzVEK763fLY/100727174911.htm
Debates have raged for decades about how to arrange the Australian and South American branches of the marsupial family tree. While marsupials like the Australian tammar wallaby and the South American opossum seem to be quite different, new research shows otherwise.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
'Guardian of the genome': Protein helps prevent damaged DNA in yeast
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9SDWBH1ZfF8/100801101914.htm
Like a scout that runs ahead to spot signs of damage or danger, a protein in yeast safeguards the yeast cells' genome during replication -- a process vulnerable to errors when DNA is copied, according to new research.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Homes of the poor and the affluent both have high levels of endocrine disruptors
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/fG8AmmjaY-M/100804122717.htm
Homes in low-income and affluent communities in California both had similarly high levels of endocrine disruptors, and the levels were higher in indoor air than outdoor air, according to a new study believed to be the first that paired indoor and outdoor air samples for such wide range of these substances.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothing to outdo attractive women
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/F0Ub_GgGSjw/100804122711.htm
Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothes, says new research. The study finds that ovulating women unconsciously dress to impress -- doing so not to impress men, but to outdo rival women during the handful of days each month when they are ovulating.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Taking the twinkle out of the night sky: Breakthrough in adaptive optics
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/PWupcNV0Ttg/100804133354.htm
A team of astronomers has developed a technique that allows them to switch off star twinkling over a wide field of view, enabling Earth-based telescopes to obtain images as crisp as those taken with the Hubble Space Telescope -- and much more quickly.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Malfunction of a protein has been linked to form of mental retardation that affects one in 500 males
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ylrTS7ZRvHQ/100803152815.htm
Malfunction of a protein has been linked to a form of mental retardation that affects up to one out of every 500 males, according to new research.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
New light on speciation and biodiversity of marine microorganisms
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ns1h9Olexc8/100729075013.htm
The world’s oceans are host to an enormous diversity of drifting, microscopic organisms, known as plankton. How this biodiversity has arisen has puzzled biologists for decades. An international team of researchers has now succeeded in elucidating how new planktonic species are formed, providing an explanation for the large biodiversity seen today.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
New imaging technique could help physicians ease the aftermath of breast cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6PYhWHw_YOc/100803152819.htm
A new study of breast cancer survivors may help physicians ease a common side effect of cancer treatments. The research could bring relief to millions.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Fast forensic test can match suspects' DNA with crime samples in four hours
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hjyPEAd7p-s/100804122715.htm
A newly developed test could make checking DNA from people arrested for crimes with DNA samples from crime scenes stored in forensic databases almost as easy as matching fingerprints. With the test, police could check on whether a person's DNA matches that found at past crime scenes while suspects are still being processed and before a decision on whether to release them on bail.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Childhood personality traits predict adult behavior: We remain recognizably the same person, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4VdrPbWoQMI/100804151456.htm
Personality traits observed in childhood are a strong predictor of adult behavior, new research suggests.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Genome of ancient sponge reveals origins of first animals, cancer
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/XbK_jM5Wsh8/100804151408.htm
A team of researchers has published a draft genome sequence of the sea sponge, an organism that wasn't recognized as an animal until the 19th century. The genome gives insight into the origins of multicellular animals and of cancer.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Pancreatic cancers use fructose, common in the Western diet, to fuel their growth
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/53RulTdaNjU/100803092150.htm
Pancreatic cancers use the sugar fructose, very common in the Western diet, to activate a key cellular pathway that drives cell division, helping the cancer to grow more quickly, a study has found.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Gaming for a cure: Computer gamers tackle protein folding
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/MP-nAM66vl8/100804151406.htm
Computer scientists and biochemists two years ago launched an ambitious project harnessing the brainpower of computer gamers to solve medical problems. Results now show more than 55,000 players have played protein-folding Tetris, and beat the world's most powerful computers on problems that required radical moves, risks and long-term vision.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Oral contraceptive use associated with increased risk of breast cancer in African-American women, study finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/__px-t5_2qE/100803112815.htm
Researchers have reported that African-American women who use oral contraceptives have a greater likelihood of developing breast cancer than nonusers. The study results were based on data from the Black Women's Health Study, a large follow-up study of 59,000 African-American women from across the US conducted by investigators at the Slone Epidemiology Center since 1995.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
First nearshore survey of Antarctic krill reveals high density, stable population in shallow waters
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VGZedYiKqSk/100804151410.htm
Using smaller vessels that allow access to shallow, nearshore waters, researchers conducted the first multi-year survey of the population of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in coastal waters and discovered that nearshore waters had significantly higher krill biomass density than offshore waters. They also found that the nearshore waters had less interannual variation than offshore waters.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Quality-adjusted life years lost to US adults due to obesity more than doubles from 1993-2008
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FywJ07gcYl0/100803072934.htm
Although the prevalence of obesity and obesity-attributable deaths has steadily increased, the resultant burden of disease associated with obesity has not been well understood. A new study indicates that quality-adjusted life years lost to US adults due to morbidity and mortality from obesity have more than doubled from 1993-2008 and the prevalence of obesity has increased 89.9 percent during the same period.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
For the first time ever, scientists watch an atom's electrons moving in real time
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/4YdSoJe8TL4/100804151355.htm
Scientists have used pulses of laser light measuring mere quintillionths of a second long to probe the motion of an atom's outermost electrons in real time. Their methods promises a broad new way to examine how atoms in physical, biological, and chemical systems bond with other atoms to form molecules or crystal structures, and how these bonds break and reform during chemical reactions.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Genetic clue to chronic pain could lead to new treatments for the condition
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NZw_3H-ZYKk/100804205141.htm
Chronic pain is a serious medical problem, afflicting approximately 20 percent of adults. Some individuals are more susceptible than others, and the basis for this remains largely unknown. In a new study, researchers have identified a gene associated with susceptibility to chronic pain in humans, signaling a significant step toward better understanding and treating the condition.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Missing Puma gene reveals cancer conundrum
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ohrhBEHZPEs/100731210229.htm
Researchers in Australia have made a discovery that has upended scientists' understanding of programmed cell death and its role in tumor formation. The research team's discovery has implications for the understanding of how cancers develop and will inform the ongoing development of a new class of anti-cancer drugs called BH3 mimetics.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
First step to new therapy for chronic bowel disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/uJ9HntXmFXE/100705081202.htm
Scientists have discovered that A20 protein plays an important protective role in diseases associated with chronic bowel inflammation. This makes A20 into a promising therapeutic target for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Habitat of elusive Northern squid documented
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/HhTvDhCMbN8/100407121221.htm
Squid and octopus play an important but often overlooked role as key prey in the Arctic marine food web. Large species such as narwhal, beluga and seals rely heavily on energy-rich squid. Until recently little was known about where these animals prefer to live, but a new study aims to shed light on the habitat preferences of these elusive creatures.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Overcoming reading-comprehension difficulties in children: Training program can help
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/7ZMO3JVw2co/100802125846.htm
Effective reading requires recognizing words and also understanding what they mean. Between 7-10 percent of children have specific reading-comprehension difficulties. These children can read text aloud accurately but do not understand what they have just read. A new study identifies a training program which may help children overcome reading-comprehension difficulties.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Genomic mapping study finds largest set of genes related to major risk factor for heart disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/wOj3oW5iP2U/100804133348.htm
Scanning the genomes of more than 100,000 people from all over the world, scientists report the largest set of genes discovered underlying high cholesterol and high triglycerides -- the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, the nation's number one killer. Taken together, the gene variants explain between a quarter and a third of the inherited portions of cholesterol and triglyceride measured in the blood.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Metabolic pathway found in malaria parasites; possible drug targets
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AeNs1aFalOQ/100804133356.htm
A newly described metabolic pathway used by malaria-causing parasites may help them survive inside human blood cells. The finding clarifies the picture of parasite metabolism and provides clues to potential weak points in the pathway that might be attacked with drugs.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Biologists discover microRNAs that control function of blood stem cells
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/FeV9GA2UGMs/100804133452.htm
One key to fighting diseases such as leukemia and anemia is gaining an understanding of the genes and molecules that control the function of hematopoietic -- or blood -- stem cells, which provide the body with a constant supply of red and white blood cells and platelets. Biologists have taken a large step toward that end, with the discovery of a novel group of molecules that are found in high concentrations within hematopoietic stem cells and appear to regulate their production.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Link between estrogen metabolism pathway and breast cancer risk discovered
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/q08zshbp9WI/100706093239.htm
Scientists have discovered that DNA polymorphisms related to the production of estrogen play an important role in the development of hormone-sensitive breast and endometrial cancer. The knowledge gained may help develop better measures for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Coccolithophore growth and calcification -- a possible role for iron
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xrvolUhSyZg/100630101024.htm
Lack of sufficient iron may be a significant factor in controlling massive blooms of Emiliania huxleyi, a globally important species of marine algae or phytoplankton, according to researchers.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Depression is a risk factor and not an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, study suggests
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/vZ60ZuQ6sb4/100705190530.htm
Researchers have found that depressive symptoms show little change during the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that depression is truly a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and not just an early sign of the disease.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Discovery of Saturn’s auroral heartbeat
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/qlFUDiS73F8/100804080620.htm
Scientists have discovered that Saturn's aurora, an ethereal ultraviolet glow which illuminates Saturn's upper atmosphere near the poles, pulses roughly once per Saturnian day.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
MicroRNA molecule increases number of blood stem cells, may help improve cancer treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LM1XfeKDcEw/100804151357.htm
Researchers have identified a new mechanism that controls the number of hematopoietic stem cells -- cells that give rise to all blood and immune system cells. The team identified a tiny RNA molecule that increases the number of these blood stem cells, an advance that may improve treatment of blood system cancers.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Researchers drill through mile and a half of Greenland ice sheet in search of climate change insights
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Du5LV-eXEi4/100804133448.htm
After years of concentrated effort, scientists from the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling project hit bedrock more than 8,300 feet below the surface of the Greenland ice sheet last week. The project has yielded ice core samples that may offer valuable insights into how the world can change during periods of abrupt warming.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Marfan, a 'look-alike' disorder, or neither? Researchers offer simple list of signs for early detection
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RiwDtWX3xbk/100804151353.htm
Researchers have compiled what they believe are reliable lists of tell-tale physical signs to help doctors recognize children with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes. Timely and early diagnosis of both genetic disorders can mean the difference between life and death, but some of the most common physical features are also found in people with neither of the syndromes, which can cause confusion.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Genes from sweet pepper arm banana against deadly wilt disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/3viGmh-gIns/100804080624.htm
In a major breakthrough, crop scientists have successfully transferred genes from green pepper to bananas that enable the crop to resist the Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), one of the most devastating disease of banana in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The researchers are now about to start confined field trials in Uganda.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Combat veterans face more lifelong socioeconomic challenges, sociologist finds
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/hUdEoKN3mno/100802141909.htm
From the many images sent home from foreign battlefields over the last several decades, Americans have viewed the plight of their country's combat-weary veterans as stark and often iconic scenes that seem somehow frozen in time. But recent research suggests that, for many US veterans, combat is a defining experience that often sets the trajectory of the balance of their lives.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Ancient blob-like creature of the deep revealed by scientists
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TAoDAmHmzkk/100804080618.htm
A unique blob-like creature that lived in the ocean approximately 425 million years ago is revealed in a 3D computer model. The model is helping researchers to understand what primitive species on early Earth looked like and how they might have evolved into the types of creatures that are on Earth today.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
More detailed picture of asthma may yield dramatically improved treatment
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aAZYuHR8Ta8/100804093205.htm
Using highly parallel proteomic scans and advanced bioinformatics, researchers have identified distinct asthma subtypes -- information that could lead to far more effective treatments.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Preserving sperm vital to saving 'snot otter' salamanders
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TB55zOVxlu8/100804110210.htm
The hellbender salamander -- known affectionately as a snot otter or devil dog -- is one of America's unique giant salamander species. For unexplained reasons, most hellbender populations have rapidly declined as very little reproduction has occurred in recent decades. Working with researchers from the Nashville Zoo and Antwerp Zoo in Belgium, veterinarians are helping develop conservation techniques to sample and freeze the sperm from some of the last surviving salamanders.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Does higher body weight protect women from one type of glaucoma?
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/xDedhKJ6_B0/100802150024.htm
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important for avoiding many diseases, but a new study finds that for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), one of the most common age-related eye diseases, the picture may be more complex.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Cells use water in nano-rotors to power energy conversion
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Y6bU2De0rj4/100803174900.htm
Researchers have provided the first atomic-level glimpse of the proton-driven motor from a major group of ATP synthases, enzymes that are central to cellular energy conversion.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Study details autism's heavy toll beyond childhood on marriages
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/cSC9HzuGkJQ/100803112827.htm
The parents of grown children with autism are more likely to divorce than couples with typically developing children, according to new data from a large longitudinal study of families of adolescents and adults with autism.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Thought-controlled prosthetic limb system to be tested on human subjects
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/aNF9YdtW0As/100804081227.htm
Researchers will soon be testing the Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) system on human subjects, using a brain-controlled interface. Scientists and engineers developed the underlying technology under an ambitious four-year U.S. government-funded effort to create a prosthetic arm that would by far eclipse the World War II era hook-and-cable device used by most amputees. The program has already produced two complex prototypes, each advancing the art of upper-arm prosthetics.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Gum inflammation linked to Alzheimer's disease
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/EGnkhw5E1HY/100803112811.htm
Dental researchers have found the first long-term evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's disease in healthy individuals as well as in those who already are cognitively impaired. The study offers fresh evidence that gum inflammation may contribute to brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer's disease.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Green laser pointer hazard: High infrared power levels found in some green lasers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/dWvOoiM4eqo/100804110207.htm
Green laser pointers have become a popular consumer item, delivering light that's brighter to the eye than red lasers, but stories have circulated on the Web about the potential hazards of inexpensive models. Now, scientists have found that in some cases green laser pointers emit high levels of invisible and potentially dangerous infrared light.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Study may improve screening and treatment of people with severe myopia
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/J7c1T3t-JoI/100802150114.htm
Severe myopia (nearsightedness) can lead to other, more serious eye disorders in some people. Ophthalmologists are interested in understanding the factors that make some patients more susceptible to these disorders and related vision loss. Researchers in Japan studied severely myopic patients over time, and found that in 40 percent of them a condition known as myopic maculopathy became significantly worse.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Physicists develop model that pushes limits of quantum theory, relativity
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RwScV0vacWY/100803132742.htm
Physicists recently developed a new theoretical model to explain how the Pauli exclusion principle can be violated and how, under certain rare conditions, more than one electron can simultaneously occupy the same quantum state. Their model may help explain how matter behaves at the edges of black holes and contribute to the ongoing scientific quest for a unified theory of quantum gravity.

Thu, 5 Aug 10
Brain study shows that thinking about God reduces distress -- but only for believers
http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/YU38YWGQ3hU/100804110337.htm
Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study.