ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Micro Air Vehicle: Three Gram 'Dragonfly' Takes Flight Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Engineers have made a new tiny DelFly Micro air vehicle. This successor to the DelFly I and II weighs barely 3 grams, and with its flapping wings is very similar to a dragonfly. Ultra-small, remote-controlled micro aircraft with cameras, such as this DelFly, may well be used in the future for observation flights in difficult-to-reach or dangerous areas.

Viral Recombination: Another Way HIV Fools The Immune System Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT When individuals infected with HIV become infected with a second strain of the virus, the two viral strains can exchange genetic information, creating a third, recombinant strain of the virus that can evade immune system control. Now a study from the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital shows that how and where viral strains swap DNA may be determined by the immune response against the original infecting strain.

Super-Resolution X-ray Microscopy Unveils Buried Secrets Of The Nanoworld Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT A novel super-resolution X-ray microscope combines the high penetration power of x-rays with high spatial resolution, making it possible for the first time to shed light on the detailed interior composition of semiconductor devices and cellular structures.

How Gastric Reflux May Trigger Asthma Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers appear to have solved at least a piece of a puzzle that has mystified physicians for years: why so many patients with asthma also suffer from GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Molecular Hula Hoop Nanorotor Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Japanese researchers have observed the action of a nanorotor on the molecular scale. They were able to get "snapshots" of individual molecular rotors caught in motion.

Hormone Oxytocin May Inhibit Social Phobia Posted: 23 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Scientists have shown using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that the hormone oxytocin can inhibit feelings of anxiety in specific individuals. Their discovery might lead to a better understanding and the improved treatment of psychiatric affections in which people feel distressed when meeting others, such as in cases of autism and social phobia.

Unique Fossil Discovery Shows Antarctic Was Once Much Warmer Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A new fossil discovery -- the first of its kind from the whole of the Antarctic continent -- provides new evidence to support the theory that the polar region was once much warmer. Scientists made the new fossil discovery in the Dry Valleys of the East Antarctic region. The fossils (ostracods) come from an ancient lake -- 14 million years old -- and are exceptionally well preserved, with all of their soft anatomy in 3-dimensions. This rare find has implications for tracking the polar ice cap.

New Evidence Of Battle Between Humans And Ancient Virus Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Human ancestors fought back against an ancient retrovirus with a defense mechanism that our bodies still use today. Evidence of this battle has been preserved in our DNA for millions of years.

Heading Circulatory Disease Off At The Pass Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have devised an ultrasound imaging technique that picks up subtle early evidence of peripheral arterial disease that current conventional tests miss. The test, if approved for clinical use, could lead to early treatments that would head off the serious complications that can result from the disease.

Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing May Reduce Wrinkles Over Long Term Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing appears to be an effective long-term treatment for facial wrinkles, according to a report in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Fresh From The Grapevine To The Table With Sulfur Dioxide Preservative Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Table grapes are subject to serious water loss and decay while making the long trip from the vine to tables around the world. Pads placed over the fruit packed in boxes are one way of ensuring that consumers get fresh, appealing fruits. The pads release sulfur dioxide, a chemical used to prevent mold and decaying of table grapes.

Memory Impairment Associated With Sound Processing Disorder Posted: 23 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Mild memory impairment may be associated with central auditory processing dysfunction, or difficulty hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as hearing a single conversation amid several other conversations, according to a new article.

Potentially Serious Security Flaws Found In Most Bank Websites, Including Large Bank Sites, Study Shows Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT More than 75 percent of the bank Web sites surveyed had at least one design flaw that could make customers vulnerable to cyber thieves after their money or even their identity. These design flaws aren't bugs that can be fixed with a patch. They stem from the flow and the layout of these Web sites, according to the study. The flaws include placing log-in boxes and contact information on insecure web pages as well as failing to keep users on the site they initially visited.

Tuberculosis Presents Major Challenges To HIV Treatment In Developing Countries Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Human immunodeficiency virus care and treatment programs in resource-limited settings must aggressively address tuberculosis and the emerging multidrug-resistant TB epidemic to save patient lives and to curb the global TB burden, a major cause of death for persons with HIV, according to a new article.

Raptors Survival Can Be Threatened By Ingesting Lead And Cadmium Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Environmental pollutants accumulate in birds of prey, and in some cases, these can cause death. A comparative study of raptors in Galicia and Extremadura undertaken by Spanish researchers has confirmed their exposure to two potentially toxic agents, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The data obtained can be used to detect the toxicological effects in terrestrial ecosystems.

Predicting Acute GVHD By Gene Expression Could Improve Liver Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Acute graft-versus-host disease occurs when an immune response is elicited by the grafted cells against a recipient, resulting in tissue damage for the treated individual. There are no definitive markers for predicting the development or progression of GVHD following the transplant of allogenic stem cells as therapy for liver cancer. This study offers a preliminary "molecular signature" for the development of acute GVHD based on altered gene expression.

Pollination Habits Of Endangered Texas Rice Revealed To Help Preservation Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT A type of wild rice that only grows in a small stretch of the San Marcos River is likely so rare because it plays the sexual reproduction game poorly.

Transit Systems Are Not Well-integrated Into Local Emergency Plans Posted: 23 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Millions of people each day rely on transit, yet few urban area emergency plans have focused on its role in an emergency evacuation. Transit systems could play a significant role in transporting car-less and special needs populations in times of emergency, but these groups are inadequately addressed in most local emergency plans and evacuating them could easily exceed limited transit resources.

New Population Of Highly Threatened Greater Bamboo Lemur Found In Madagascar Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers in Madagascar have confirmed the existence of a population of greater bamboo lemurs more than 400 km from the only other place where the critically endangered species is known to live, raising hopes for its survival.

Combating Age-related Immune-response Decline: Protein Found To Stimulate Production Of T-cells Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have identified a protein that stimulates the production of T-cells, the white blood cells involved in the recognition and the elimination of infectious agents. The discovery could help to combat age-related declines in immune response.

Predicting Coral Health By Identifying Nearby Microscopic Algae Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new indicator of coral health has been discovered in a community of microscopic single-celled algae called dinoflagellates. The study reveals that a particular type of these algae renders corals more susceptible to disease.

Prenatal Drinking, Environmental Enrichment: Effects On Neurotrophins Are Independent Of Each Other Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Prenatal alcohol exposure may be particularly destructive for neurotrophins, a family of peptides that influence the growth, development and functional plasticity of the fetal brain. A new rodent study of alcohol's effects on three key neurotrophins has found that, even though environmental enrichment may be able to improve some fetal-alcohol effects, those benefits do not appear to be mediated by neurotrophins.

Management Practices Key To Watershed Condition Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Animals thrive on the banks of waterways. And those same tree-covered, green grassy areas are keys to maintaining healthy watersheds for creeks and rivers. Landowners must learn how to manage these properties to strike an ecological balance that benefits wildlife and livestock and still protects watersheds, scientists say.

Reflecting On Values Promotes Love, Acceptance Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT No one enjoys being told that their behavior is harmful to themselves or others. In fact, most people respond defensively when confronted with evidence that their behavior is irrational, irresponsible, or unhealthy. Fortunately, research has shown that just a few minutes of writing about an important value can reduce defensiveness.

Air Pollution Causing Widespread And Serious Impacts To Ecosystems In Eastern United States Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT If you are living in the eastern United States, the environment around you is being harmed by air pollution. From Adirondack forests and Shenandoah streams to Appalachian wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay, a new report has found that air pollution is degrading every major ecosystem type in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States.

How The Immune System And Brain Communicate To Control Disease Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT In a major step in understanding how the nervous system and the immune system interact, scientists have identified a new anatomical path through which the brain and the spleen communicate. The spleen, once thought to be an unnecessary bit of tissue, is now regarded as an organ where important information from the nervous reaches the immune system. Understanding this process could ultimately lead to treatments that target the spleen to send the right message when fighting human disease.

People Only Eat One, When The Chips Are Brown Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Dr. Don Henne isn't wasting his degree when he's standing by the deep fryer waiting for potato slices to turn brown. He's conducting research that will help the potato industry and consumers. Henne, an assistant research scientist in the Texas AgriLife Research plant pathology program in Amarillo, is one of many who are trying to find answers about zebra chip. Zebra chip is the latest disease to plague the potato industry, especially those in the chipping business.

Still Puzzling: Best Care For The Frail And Elderly With Coronary Artery Disease Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Patients treated solely with medications after suffering from chest pain, heart attack or coronary artery disease are more likely to die during the first year following their initial hospitalization. Researchers found that with all else being equal, the risk of death was highest for the medically managed group and lowest for patients who underwent stenting.

Outbreak Of Plague In South Dakota Leads To Vaccines For Black-footed Ferrets Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Endangered black-footed ferrets aren't exactly lining up to be stuck with a vaccine, but in an effort to help control an extensive outbreak of plague in South Dakota, some of the ferrets are getting dosed with a vaccine given by biologists. Black-footed ferrets are one of the rarest mammals in North America. The plague is transmitted from animals to humans by bites of infected fleas, but it can be cured with antibiotics if treatment is prompt.

Mangroves Key To Saving Lives Posted: 22 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT The replanting of mangroves on the coasts of the Philippines could help save many of the lives lost in the 20-30 typhoons that hit the islands annually. The mangrove forests along the Philippines' 36,300 km of coastline play an important role in fisheries, forestry and wildlife as well as providing protection from typhoons and storm surges, erosion and floods. In the last century, they have declined from 450,000 ha to 120,000 ha, mostly due to their development into culture ponds.

Ultrasonic Frogs Can Tune Their Ears To Different Frequencies Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have discovered that a frog that lives near noisy springs in central China can tune its ears to different sound frequencies, much like the tuner on a radio can shift from one frequency to another.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Improves Male Fertility Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT A minimally invasive treatment for a common cause of male infertility can significantly improve a couple's chances for pregnancy, according to a new study. The study also found that the level of sperm motility prior to treatment is a key predictor of success.

Did A Significant Climate Change Event, Known As Younger Dryas, Impact Climate Around The Globe? Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT New research evaluates whether the significant climate change event about 12,900 years ago known as Younger Dryas impacted the climate all around the globe. The Younger Dryas event refers to an unexpected rapid cooling of the earth that is known to have lasted about 1,300 years. It coincided with widespread extinctions of species, but, although the event itself is well-documented, scientists are still unclear of whether its impact was felt equally all across the globe.

Stenting To Prop Open Blocked Arteries: Will That Be Through An Arm Or A Leg? Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT When it comes to stenting -- using metal tubes to prop open blocked arteries -- physicians are continuing to choose to gain entry to the circulatory system through an opening in the leg instead of the arm, even though the latter option appears to be safer, with fewer side effects.

First Full 3-D View Of Cracks Growing In Steel Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have revealed how a growing crack interacts with the 3-D structure of stainless steel. By using a new technique, they could determine the internal 3-D structure of the sample without destroying it. Afterwards, they initiated a crack and studied how it grew between the grains. The results could be useful to make more performing materials for, for example, safer power plants.

Nano-modified Food: How Much Are Consumers Willing To Accept The Associated Risks? Posted: 22 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Consumers have largely grown to accept nanotechnology in nutrition for packaging and, to a lesser extent, even the food itself, according to a new study. In recent years, nanotechnology has joined gene and information technology in becoming a pinnacle of hope for research and industry. The latest uses for nanotechnology include food products and their packaging.

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Could Be Basis Of Nonsurgical Treatment For Spinal-cord Injuries Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT A researcher at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has pinpointed stem cells within the spinal cord that, if persuaded to differentiate into more healing cells and fewer scarring cells following an injury, may lead to a new, nonsurgical treatment for debilitating spinal-cord injuries.

Blood-related Genetic Mechanisms Found Important In Parkinson's Disease Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT What does the genetics of blood cells have to do with brain cells related to Parkinson's disease? From an unusual collaboration of neurologists and a pharmacologist comes the surprising answer: genetic mechanisms at play in blood cells also control a gene and protein that cause Parkinson's disease.

Wild Orchids In Borneo: Is There Time To Save Thousands Of Species From Extinction? Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Borneo (Kalimantan) is the third largest island in the world. Borneo's rain forests are also home to some extremely rare species of orchids, all highly valued for their exotic aromas and aesthetic beauty. Borneo's orchids are also endangered, a result of the loss of natural habitat from fire, forest damage, and illegal logging. Increased exploitation of the forests of West Borneo, including gold mining and illegal burning, has led to the certain extinction of hundreds of orchid species.

Water-diffusion Technology Identifies Brain Regions Damaged By Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often have structural brain damage. Recent findings show that several specific white matter regions, as well as deep gray matter areas, of the brain are particularly sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. These abnormalities likely underlie the cognitive, motor, behavioral and emotional difficulties that are associated with FASD.

Healthy Olives Can Now Be Grown In Salty Water Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT News that olives are sources of "good fat" has increased demand for the luscious fruits. To keep the world's olive lovers satisfied, an intensive wave of olive planting has occurred. Traditionally, olives have been cultivated in the Mediterranean region. But fresh water is becoming increasingly hard to come by in semiarid areas, and irrigation of most new olive plantations is often accomplished with low-quality sources of water that contain relatively high levels of salt.

New Findings On Mother Earth's Earthy Scent Posted: 22 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT That evocative "earthy" scent of the soil returning to life in spring -- and nasty earthy tastes and odors in fish and drinking water -- actually results from two substances released by soil bacteria. Researchers now report identifying how one of these substances forms, an understanding that could lead to improvements in the quality of water and food products.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner
Inbox too full? Subscribe to the feed version of ScienceDaily: Latest Science News in a feed reader.
If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610