Thursday, July 31, 2008

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

New Yeast Trick For Eating Favorite Food

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Bioengineers have identified a previously unknown mechanism that allows yeast to shut down the metabolism of another sugar, galactose, when they sense glucose in the environment.

Mechanism For Postpartum Depression Found In Mice

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Researchers have pinpointed a mechanism in the brains of mice that could explain why some human mothers become depressed following childbirth. The discovery could lead to improved treatment for postpartum depression. After giving birth, female mice bred to be deficient in a suspect protein showed depression-like behaviors and neglected their newborn pups. Giving a drug that restored the protein's function improved maternal behavior and reduced pup mortality.

Isthmus Of Panama Formed As Result Of Plate Tectonics, Study Finds

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Contrary to previous evidence, a new University of Florida study shows the Isthmus of Panama was most likely formed by a Central American Peninsula colliding slowly with the South American continent through tectonic plate movement over millions of years.

Cholesterol-lowering Drug Boosts Bone Repair

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Lovastatin, a drug used to lower cholesterol and help prevent cardiovascular disease, has been shown to improve bone healing in an animal model of neurofibromatosis type 1. The research, reported today in the open access journal BMC Medicine, will be of great interest to NF1 patients and their physicians.

Nanojewels Made Easy

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Researchers have developed a method that mimics nature's way of producing dazzling colors at the nanoscale level. Their work demonstrates how such a method can be used to produce new materials, and how different nanoparticles of various sizes can produce "nanojewels" that display different optical properties. The discovery opens potential for applications in photonics, drug delivery, special coatings, sensors and microfluidics.

Psychological Downside To Strike Action

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT

While industrial action is largely perceived as a legitimate means of encouraging organizational change in Australia, research has shown industrial action can adversely affect those involved.

First Indication For Embalming In Roman Greece

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Researchers have found indications of embalming in Roman Greek times. By means of physico-chemical and histological methods, it was possible to show that various resins, oils and spices were used during embalming of a ca. 55 year old female in Northern Greece. This is the first ever multidisciplinary-based indication for artificial mummification in Greece at 300 AD.

Fat Around The Heart May Increase Risk Of Heart Attacks

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

When it comes to risk for a heart attack, having excess fat around the heart may be worse than having a high body mass index or a thick waist, according to researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues reporting in the August issue of the journal Obesity.

Scientists Determine Strength Of 'Liquid Smoke'

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Researchers have created a 3-D image of a material referred to as "liquid smoke." Aerogel, also known as liquid smoke or "San Francisco fog," is an open-cell polymer with pores smaller than 50 nanometers in diameter. For the first time, Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley scientists have peered into this material and created three-dimensional images to determine its strength and potential new applications.

Drinking In Excess Associated With Increased Risk For Metabolic Syndrome

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Those who drink in excess of the US Dietary Guidelines (i.e., men who usually drink more than two drinks per day or women who usually drink more than one drink per day) or those who binge drink are at increased risk for the metabolic syndrome, according to a new study accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Summer Heat Too Hot For You? What Is Comfortable?

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Extreme heat or cold is not only uncomfortable, it can be deadly-causing proteins to unravel and malfunction. For many years now, scientists have understood the molecular mechanisms that enable animals to sense dangerous temperatures; such as extremely high temperatures that directly trigger heat sensor proteins known as TRP channels. However, much more poorly understood is how animals sense very small temperature differences in the comfortable range, and choose their favorite temperature. Johns Hopkins researchers now have discovered that the fruit fly uses TRPA1 to sense single degree changes in the comfortable range.

The Power Of Peter Piper: How Alliteration Enhances Poetry, Prose, And Memory

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

From nursery rhymes to Shakespearian sonnets, alliterations have always been an important aspect of poetry whether as an interesting aesthetic touch or just as something fun to read. But a new study suggests that this literary technique is useful not only for poetry but also for memory.

Life In A Bubble: Mathematicians Explain How Insects Breathe Underwater

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Hundreds of insect species spend much of their time underwater, where food may be more plentiful. MIT mathematicians have now figured out exactly how those insects breathe underwater.

Mucous Breakthrough In Mice Holds Promise For Cystic Fibrosis

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A Canadian scientist studying cystic fibrosis has successfully corrected the defect which causes the overproduction of intestinal mucous in mice. The discovery has clear implications to understanding and treating this facet of the disease in humans. CF is a fatal, genetic disease characterized by an overproduction of mucous in the lungs and digestive system.

Digestive Specialists Freeze Out Esophagus Cancer With New Therapy

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Gastroenterologists are using a new method to freeze damaged cells in the esophagus, preventing them from turning cancerous.

How Antidepressants And Cocaine Interact With Brain Cell Targets

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Scientists have now described the specifics of how brain cells process antidepressant drugs, cocaine and amphetamines. These novel findings could prove useful in the development of more targeted medication therapies for a host of psychiatric diseases, most notably in the area of addiction.

Astronomers Describe The Bar Scene At The Beginning Of The Universe

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Bars abound in spiral galaxies today, but this was not always the case. Astronomers have found that bars tripled in number over the past seven billion years, indicating that spiral galaxies evolve in shape.

Obesity Predisposition Traced To The Brain's Reward System

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

New research links overeating and obesity with the brain system implicated in pleasure and addictive behaviors strengthening the argument that obesity could be approached as an addictive disorder. This is the first study to demonstrate that obesity predisposition is associated with impairments in all mid-brain dopamine systems that are in place early in postnatal life.

New Technique Reveals Van Gogh Portrait Of A Women Behind Another Painting

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

A new technique allows pictures which were later painted over to be revealed once more. A new technique allows pictures which were later painted over to be revealed once more. Researchers have successfully applied this technique for the first time to the painting entitled Patch of Grass by Vincent van Gogh. Behind this painting is a portrait of a woman.

Alzheimer's Disease Patients Show Improvement In Trial Of New Drug

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

A new drug has been shown to improve the brain function of people with early stage Alzheimer's disease and reduce a key protein associated with the disease in the spinal fluid, in a small study published in the journal Lancet Neurology.

Solar Eclipse On The Morning Of August 1st

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

On 1st August 2008 there will be a total eclipse of the Sun, visible from Canada, northern Greenland, Svalbard, the Barents Sea, Russia, Mongolia and China. From the whole of the British Isles observers will see a partial solar eclipse, with between 1/10th and 1/3rd of the Sun obscured by the Moon.

How Molecules Out Of Balance Lead To Human Multiple Myeloma And Other Cancers

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

An international team of scientists has identified processes that are heavily implicated in human multiple myeloma and other B cell cancers, moving us closer to developing quick tests and readouts that could help in the tailored treatment of patients.

Nanoparticles + Light = Dead Tumor Cells

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Medical physicists at the University of Virginia have created a novel way to kill tumor cells using nanoparticles and light. The technique, devised by Wensha Yang, an instructor in radiation oncology at the University of Virginia, and colleagues Ke Sheng, Paul W. Read, James M. Larner, and Brian P. Helmke, employs quantum dots. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanostructures, 25 billionths of a meter in diameter, which can confine electrons in three dimensions and emit light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Bee's Future As Queen Or Worker May Rest With Parasitic Fly

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Strange things are happening in the lowland tropical forests of Panama and Costa Rica. A tiny parasitic fly is affecting the social behavior of a nocturnal bee, helping to determine which individuals become queens and which become workers.

Vaccine To Protect Against Black Plague Bioterror Attack Being Developed

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

New research may have found a defense against the black plague, a disease that wiped out a third of Europe's population in the Middle Ages and which government agencies perceive as a terrorist threat today.

Frankincense Provides Relief To Arthritis Sufferers

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

An enriched extract of the 'Indian frankincense' herb Boswellia serrata has been proven to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Research published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy has shown that patients taking the herbal remedy showed significant improvement in as little as seven days.

Endangered European Wild Cat May Protected By Proposed Network Of Corridors

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Researchers have developed a model which identifies potential habitats and corridors for the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris). Using Rheinland-Pfalz as an example, it was demonstrated that almost half of this German federal state could be suitable for wildcats, enabling a maximum population of 1600 females. The model can also be adapted for other regions and could therefore prove to be of significant value in protecting this highly endangered species.

Proton Channels Inhibit Release Of Histamine During Allergic Reactions, Novel Study Finds

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Inhibiting the proton currents in basophils, a rare type of white blood cell, can stop the release of histamine and could provide a new target for allergy and asthma drugs according to a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center in Baltimore.

Say Goodbye To Virtual Bureaucracy

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

When consumers make purchases on the Internet, they must systematically fill in forms asking for their name and address. Now researchers are developing a system that would memorize all that information and make it mobile so it could be accessed at any computer.

Right Place + Right Time Can Trigger Drinking

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Strong cravings for alcohol can be sparked by the mere sight, smell and taste of a person's favorite drink. Responses to such cues that are associated with the positive effects of drinking are a lead cause of relapse in abstinent alcoholics. Using a behavioral animal model, researchers of a new study have found that the physical surroundings where alcohol cues are experienced can greatly influence the ability of those cues to trigger relapse.

What Do Squid Hear? Scientists Learn How Sensitive The Translucent Animals Are To Noise

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

The ocean is a noisy place. Although we don't hear much when we stick our heads underwater, the right instruments can reveal a symphony of sound. The noisemakers range from the low-frequency bass tones of a fish mating ritual to the roar of a motorboat. The study of how underwater animals hear is a growing topic in marine science, especially with regards to naval sonar and whales.

Findings On Bladder-brain Link May Point To Better Treatments For Problems In Sleep, Attention

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Bladder problems may leave a mark on the brain, by changing patterns of brain activity, possibly contributing to disrupted sleep and problems with attention. For one in six Americans who have overactive bladder, the involuntary bladder contractions that often trigger more frequent urges to urinate, such mind-body connections may be of more than academic interest.

Ecological Status Of Spain's Mar Menor Lagoon Will Deteriorate As Waters Warm, Researchers Predict

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Researchers from the University of Murcia have demonstrated the vulnerability of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon to climate change. As a result of an up to 5°C increase in water temperatures over the next few years, this pioneering study shows an increase in the regression rate of benthic primary producers, a deterioration in ecological status and the appearance of eutrophication processes in many coastal lagoons. Notable effects include the proliferation of jellyfish.

Long-lasting Effects Of The Seveso Disaster On Thyroid Function In Babies

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Three decades after an accident at a chemical factory in Seveso, Italy in 1976, which resulted in exposure of a residential population to the most dangerous type of dioxin, newborn babies born to mothers living in the contaminated area at the time of the accident are over six times more likely to have altered thyroid function than those born to mothers in a non-contaminated area.

Fish With Temperature-dependent Sex Determination: How Common Are They?

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

In vertebrates with separate sexes, sex determination can be genotypic or temperature-dependent (TSD). TSD is very common in reptiles, where the ambient temperature during sensitive periods of early development irreversibly determines whether an individual will be male or female. But just how common is this phenomenon in fish?

Minorities Less Likely To Know About Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Posted: 31 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Nearly half of women treated for breast cancer did not know that their odds of being alive after five years are roughly the same whether they undergo mastectomy or breast conserving surgery. Minority women were even less likely to be aware of this important factor of their treatment decision, according to a study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

European Birds Flock To Warming Britain, While Some Northern Species Not Faring As Well

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Rare southern species of birds are on the increase in the British Isles as a result of climatic change, researchers report.

Cell's 'Quality Control' Mechanism Discovered

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Researchers have discovered a key component of the quality control mechanism that operates inside human cells -- sometimes too well. The breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new treatments for cystic fibrosis and some other hereditary diseases, the researchers say.

New Materials For Microwave Cookware That Heats Faster With Less Energy

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

You may soon be enjoying microwave popcorn and other 'nuked' foods and beverages faster than ever before, while saving on electricity. Researchers in Pennsylvania and Japan report development of new ceramic materials that heat up faster and retain heat longer than conventional microwave cookware while using less energy.

Testosterone Predominance Increases Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome During Menopause

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

As testosterone progressively dominates the hormonal milieu during the menopausal transition, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases according to a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center. The study suggests this may be a pathway by which cardiovascular disease increases during menopause.

Putting A Virtual Doctor In The Ambulance

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

A new ambulance communications system will enable doctors to diagnose and begin treating critically ill patients before they reach hospital.

Mapping Out Future Of Intelligent Robots

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

The field of robotics could be poised for a breakthrough, leading to a new generation of intelligent machines capable of taking on multiple tasks and moving out of the factory into the home and general workplace. The great success of robots so far has been in automating repetitive tasks in process control and assembly, yielding dramatic cuts in production, but the next step towards cognition and more human-like behaviour has proved elusive. It has been difficult to make robots that can truly learn and adapt to unexpected situations in the way humans can, while it has been equally challenging trying to develop a machine capable of moving smoothly like any animal. There is still no robot capable of walking properly without jerky slightly unbalanced movements.

New Class Of Glassy Material Discovered

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Scientists are dealing with an entirely new type of frustration, but it's not stressing them out. Dynamic frustration has been found to be the cause of glassy behavior in materials that previously had none of the features of a normal glass.

Healthy Children Of Alzheimer Patients Show Early Brain Changes

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Children of Alzheimer's patients who are carriers of a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease have neurological changes that are detectable long before clinical symptoms may appear.

Lightweight Urban Transit Bus Has Double The Fuel Efficiency Of Conventional Hybrid Buses

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Insight from ORNL, commitment from two Michigan companies and funding from DOE have led to the commercialization of a lightweight urban transit bus with double the fuel efficiency of conventional hybrid buses. This new green technology 40-foot bus features a high-strength stainless steel body and chassis and a hybrid power system that drives the bus primarily with stored electrical energy.

Fertility: Newly Discovered Proteins In Seminal Fluid Transferred During Mating May Affect Odds Of Producing Offspring

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

More than 80 new proteins, thought to play a role in reproductive success, have been discovered in the seminal fluid of fruit flies.

Intelligent Vehicles Systems To Be Tested Across Europe

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Road safety, energy efficiency, and traffic congestion are the main challenges currently faced by the European transport system. The use of new in-vehicle technologies has the potential to contribute to safer, cleaner and more efficient transport solutions throughout Europe.

Scientists Race To Stay One Step Ahead Of The Drug-taking And Genetic Manipulation That Threatens Sport

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

The race to ensure that scientists stop drug-taking athletes from damaging sport by using performance enhancing drugs or undergoing genetic manipulation is a constant challenge, according to a major four-decade review by three of the World's leading experts on doping in sport.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Diamonds May Have Been Life's Best Friend On Primordial Earth

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Diamonds may have been life's best friend. Billions of years ago, the surface of these gems may have provided just the right conditions to foster the chemical reactions believed to have given rise to life on Earth, researchers in Germany report.

New Therapy For HIV Treatment

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Millions of people world-wide who have contracted a highly resistant strain of the HIV virus could benefit from a new drug to treat the infection.

The Buzz Of The Chase: Scientists Test Technique Used To Catch Serial Killers ... On Bumblebees

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Geographic profiling is a technique used by police forces around the world to help them prioritize lists of suspects in investigations of serial crimes. Now researchers, along with the former detective who invented the technique, have used this criminology technique to look at patterns of foraging in bees.

Cerebral Malaria May Be A Major Cause Of Brain Injury In African Children

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Researchers have found that cerebral malaria is related to long-term cognitive impairment in one of four child survivors. The research is published in the journal Pediatrics.

Symbiotic Microbes Induce Profound Genetic Changes In Their Hosts

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Though bacteria are everywhere -- from the air we breathe and the food we eat to our guts and skin -- the vast majority are innocuous or even beneficial, and only a handful pose any threat to us. What distinguishes a welcome microbial guest from an unwanted intruder?

Women End Up Less Happy Than Men

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Less able to achieve their life goals, women end up unhappier than men later in life -- even though they start out happier, reveals new research.

Did Dinosaur Soft Tissues Still Survive? New Research Challenges Notion

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Paleontologists in 2005 hailed research apparently showing that soft tissues had been recovered from dissolved dinosaur bones, but new research suggests the supposed recovered tissue is really just biofilm -- or slime.

Protein Plays Jekyll And Hyde Role In Lou Gehrig's Disease

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movements from walking and swallowing to breathing. Scientists now report key findings about the cause and occurrence of the familial form of ALS.

Could Metals Help Treat Cancer?

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A collaboration between chemists and biologists has made it possible to identify the effects of a new class of molecules, polyoxometalates, primarily composed of metals and oxygen. These molecules are very powerful inhibitors of a specific protein kinase, CK2, an enzyme that is overactive in a number of cancers. The enzyme's instrumental role in controlling cell proliferation and survival makes it an important target in the search for new medications.

Thyrotropin Levels Associated With Alzheimer's Disease Risk In Women

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Women with low or high levels of the hormone thyrotropin, which affects thyroid gland function and thyroid hormone levels, appear to have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Being A Control Freak Aids Dividing Cells

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A dividing cell tags more than 14,000 different sites on its proteins with phosphate, a molecule that typically serves as a signal for a variety of biological processes. This preponderance of signals -- more than twice the number identified by past studies -- suggests that the cell may become a control freak during the division process, regulating each of its parts, no matter how obscure. Understanding how cell division works is essential for understanding a host of diseases and conditions, from cancer to pediatric heart defects.

'Chicken And Chips' Theory Of Pacific Migration

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT

A new study of DNA from ancient and modern chickens has shed light on the controversy about the extent of prehistoric Polynesian contact with the Americas.

New Disease-fighting Nanoparticles Look Like Miniature Pastries

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Ultra-miniature bialy-shaped particles -- called nanobialys because they resemble tiny versions of the flat, onion-topped rolls popular in New York City -- could soon be carrying medicinal compounds through patients' bloodstreams to tumors or atherosclerotic plaques. The nanobialys answered a need for an alternative to the research group's gadolinium-containing nanoparticles. Recent studies have shown that gadolinium can be harmful to some patients with severe kidney disease.

Statins May Protect Against Memory Loss

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

People at high risk for dementia who took cholesterol-lowering statins are half as likely to develop dementia as those who do not take statins, a new study shows.

Compound That Helps Rice Grow Reduces Nerve, Vascular Damage From Diabetes

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Researchers have found that a compound that helps rice seed grow, springs back into action when brown rice is placed in water overnight before cooking, significantly reducing the nerve and vascular damage that often result from diabetes.

Scientists Announce Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation Breakthrough

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Scientists have figured out a simple, cost-effective process to freeze mouse sperm and get it to achieve high fertilization rates with mouse eggs. The breakthrough will greatly reduce the cost of developing and distributing new mouse models of human disease.

Bacteria Reveal Secret Of Adaptation At Evolution Canyon

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Bacteria living on opposite sides of a canyon have evolved to cope with different temperatures by altering the make-up of their 'skin,' or cell membranes. Scientists have found that bacteria change these complex and important structures to adapt to different temperatures by looking at the appearance of the bacteria as well as their genes. The researchers hope their study, published in the August issue of Microbiology, will start a new trend in research.

Preterm Birth Contributes To Growing Number Of Infant Deaths: More Than 28,000 Infants Died In 2005

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Babies born too soon and too small accounted for a growing proportion of infant deaths, 36.5 percent of infant deaths in 2005, up from 34.6 percent in 2000. The nation's infant mortality rate inched up slightly in 2005 to 6.9, from 6.8 percent in 2004, although the change is not statistically significant.

Searching For Shut Eye: Possible 'Sleep Gene' Identified

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

While scientists and physicians know what happens if you don't get six to eight hours of shut-eye a night, investigators have long been puzzled about what controls the actual need for sleep. Researchers might have an answer, at least in fruit flies. In a recent study of fruit flies, they identified a gene that controls sleep.

Modified Salmonella Slows Tumor Growth

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Attenuated Salmonella bacteria engineered to express the Fas ligand (FasL) accumulate in tumors and reduce their growth.

Defining DNA Differences To Track And Tackle Typhoid

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

For the first time, next-generation DNA sequencing technologies have been turned on typhoid fever -- a disease that kills 600,000 people each year. The study sets a new standard for analyzing the evolution and spread of a disease-causing bacterium: it is the first study of multiple samples of any bacterial pathogen at this level of detail. The results will help to improve diagnosis, tracking the disease and could help to design new strategies for vaccination.

Study Links Soft Drinks And Fruit Drinks With Risk For Diabetes In African-American Women

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center have found that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in African-American women. These findings appear in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Soil's Carbon Storage Capacity Investigated

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Three new studies explore the potential roles of soils as a carbon sink in different regions in the Western Hemisphere. Scientists have investigated soil carbon balance in distinct agroecosystems under different management practices including soil tillage, nitrogen fertilization, elimination of fallow and establishment of grass.

China's Export Trade Impacts Climate

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Researchers argue that China's new title as the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter is at least partly due to consumption of Chinese good in the West.

Lost An Appendage? Grow Another

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Cut off one finger from a salamander and one will grow back. Cut off two and two will grow back. It sounds logical, but how the salamander always regenerates the right number of fingers is still a biological mystery.

New Treatment For Advanced Prostate Cancer

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a novel approach to treating advanced prostate cancer that could be more effective with fewer side effects.

New Species Of Predatory Bagworm From Panama's Tropical Forest

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

University of Panama and Smithsonian researchers report the discovery of a new bagworm moth species, in the Annals of the Entomology Society of America. Unlike nearly all other bagworms, Perisceptis carnivora have predatory larvae. Strangest of all, according to Annette Aiello, staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the adult moths wrap their eggs individually in beautiful cases fashioned from golden abdominal hairs called setae, a behavior unique among insects.

Accelerated Bone Turnover Remains After Weight Loss

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

When a person is losing a significant amount of weight, they expect to notice changes in their body. However, they may overlook changes happening in their bones. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher and collaborators at the University of Kansas found that the potentially harmful effects of weight loss on bone persist during weight maintenance following moderate weight loss.

Local Officials in U.S. Move Toward Monitoring Nanotechnologies

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

State and local officials have taken steps to begin monitoring the manufacture and storage of nanomaterials, a major step for a cutting-edge technology that has yet to be regulated by the federal government.

Gaining Advantages From Childhood Experience

Posted: 30 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT

It often seems that certain aspects of our personalities are influenced by events that occurred in our childhoods. A recent study examined how early life experience influences social skills and ability to handle stressful situations using a rat model.

New Biomarker For Early Cancer Detection? Research Reveals That 'MicroRNA' May Fit The Bill

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have discovered that microRNAs -- molecular workhorses that regulate gene expression -- are released by cancer cells and circulate in the blood, which gives them the potential to become a new class of biomarkers to detect cancer at its earliest stages.

Climate Change: Secret Life Cycles Of Atmospheric Aerosols Can Be Illuminated With New Technology

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

For scientists looking at climate change, a large area of uncertainty has to do with the effects of airborne particles -- such as carbon-laden soot -- but new technology is now helping researchers unveil secrets about the life cycles of atmospheric aerosols.

Women With Gestational Diabetes At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Women with gestational diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with almost 20 percent of women developing the condition within 9 years of pregnancy, found a large, population-based study of 659,000 women published in CMAJ.

Researchers Demonstrate A Flexible, One-step Assembly Of Nanoscale Structures

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

Scientists have created a one-step, repeatable method for the production of functional nanoscale patterns or motifs with adjustable features, size and shape using a single master "plate."

This Old Healthy House: Obesity Linked To Newer, Less Walkable Neighborhoods

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT

The age of your neighborhood may influence your risk of obesity, according to a new study. Residents were at less risk of being obese or overweight if they lived in older, walkable neighborhoods -- those that are more densely populated, designed to be pedestrian friendly and have a range of destinations.

Electrical Activity On Saturn's Moon Titan Confirmed By Spanish Scientists

Posted: 29 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Physicists from the University of Granada and University of Valencia have developed a procedure for analysing specific data sent by the Huygens probe from Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons, "unequivocally" proving that there is natural electrical activity in its atmosphere. The scientific community believe that the probability of organic molecules, precursors of life, being formed is higher on planets or moons which have an atmosphere with electrical storms.