Wednesday, August 20, 2008

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Key Advance Toward 'Micro-spacecraft'

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Fleets of inexpensive, pint-sized spacecraft are one giant leap closer to lift off. Researchers describe a new, razor thin temperature-regulating film that brings this sci-fi vision of "micro-spacecraft" weighing barely 50 pounds and 10-pound "nano-spacecraft" closer to reality.

Critical Protein Complex In Formation Of Cell Cilia Identified

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Scientists have identified a protein complex that regulates the formation of cilia, which are found on virtually all mature human cells and are essential to normal cell function.

Researchers Uncover Attack Mechanism Of Illness-inducing Bacterium

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

An infectious ocean-dwelling bacterium found in oysters and other shellfish kills its host's cells by causing them to burst, providing the invader with a nutrient-rich meal, researchers have found.

Silver Is Key To Reducing Pneumonia Associated With Breathing Tubes

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

People have long prized silver as a precious metal. Now, silver-coated endotracheal tubes are giving critically ill patients another reason to value the lustrous metal. Researchers now report that the silver-coated tubes led to a 36 percent reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Can Biofuels Be Sustainable?

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

With oil prices skyrocketing, the search is on for efficient and sustainable biofuels. Research published this month in Agronomy Journal examines one biofuel crop contender: corn stover. Corn stover is made up of the leaves and stalks of corn plants that are left in the field after harvesting the edible corn grain. Corn stover could supply as much as 25 percent of the biofuel crop needed by 2030.

Calculators Okay In Math Class, If Students Know The Facts First, Study Finds

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Calculators are useful tools in elementary mathematics classes, if students already have some basic skills, new research has found. The findings shed light on the debate about whether and when calculators should be used in the classroom.

Greenland Ice Core Reveals History Of Pollution In The Arctic

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

New research, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that coal burning, primarily in North America and Europe, contaminated the Arctic and potentially affected human health and ecosystems in and around Earth's polar regions.

Bacterial Pneumonia Caused Most Deaths In 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

The majority of deaths during the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 were not caused by the influenza virus acting alone, report researchers. Instead, most victims succumbed to bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection. The pneumonia was caused when bacteria that normally inhabit the nose and throat invaded the lungs along a pathway created when the virus destroyed the cells that line the bronchial tubes and lungs.

Heads-up Study Of Hair Dynamics May Lead To Better Hair-care Products

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

From frizzy perms to over-bleached waves, "bad hair days" could soon become a less frequent occurrence. Chemists report the first detailed microscopic analysis of what happens to individual hair fibers when they interact with each other, an advance in knowledge key to the development of improved shampoos, conditioners and other products for repairing damaged hair, the researchers say. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia.

'Point Of Care Diagnostics' In The Starting Blocks

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Tracking down cancer at a very early stage, studying cell growth, developing new medicines: future lab-on-a-chip systems will use nanoscale electrical fields to enable the detection and manipulation of cells and biomolecules.

New Speed Record For Magnetic Memories

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

An experiment carried out at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has realized spin torque switching of a nanomagnet as fast as the fundamental speed limit allows. Using this so-called ballistic switching future non-volatile magnetic memories could operate as fast as the fastest non-volatile memories. The experiments are described in the next issue of Physical Review Letters (22 August, 2008).

Magician's Hand: How Humor And Misdirection Can Manipulate Levels Of Attention

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 10:00 AM CDT

Two neuroscientists have studied how magicians mix humor into their performances because a laughing audience is unable to pay attention to the magician's hand. The study also determined that there are various levels of misdirection that magicians use to trick an audience. These insights, which were previously unknown to scientists, suggest that humor and misdirection can help manipulate levels of attention.

Novel Method To Grow Human Embryonic Stem Cells Developed

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT

The majority of researchers working with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) use animal-based materials for culturing the cells. But these materials could transmit viruses and other pathogens to the hESCs, making the cells unsuitable for medical use. Now a biochemist has devised a method of growing hESCs in the lab that uses no animal-derived materials -- an important advance in the use of hESCs for future medical purposes.

Are Your Eyes A Window To Diabetes-related Health Issues?

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Scientists are carrying out a unique study using the eyes to detect early signs of health problems which could lead to diabetes, and they're looking for volunteers to help.

Alexander Technique Offers Long-term Relief For Back Pain

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Alexander technique lessons in combination with an exercise program offer long-term effective treatment for chronic back pain, according to a new study.

Green Catalysts Provide Promise For Cleaning Toxins And Pollutants

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT

Tetra-Amido Macrocyclic Ligands are environmentally friendly catalysts with a host of applications for reducing and cleaning up pollutants, and a prime example of "green chemistry." Carnegie Mellon University's Terry Collins, the catalyst's inventor, believes that the small-molecule catalysts have the potential to be even more effective than previously proven.

More Than 10 Percent Of Older Americans Suffer Mistreatment, Study Finds

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 07:00 AM CDT

About 13 percent of elderly Americans are mistreated, most commonly by someone who verbally mistreats or financially takes advantage of them, according to a University of Chicago study that is the first comprehensive look at elder mistreatment in the country.

New Reasons To Avoid Grapefruit And Other Juices When Taking Certain Drugs

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of some drugs, causing potentially toxic effects. Now, researchers in Canada report new evidence that drinking grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, also can substantially decrease the absorption of some drugs, wiping out their potential beneficial effects. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia.

Obesity Raises Risks Of Serious Digestive Health Concerns: Incidence Of GERD, Colorectal Cancer Increase With Body Mass

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in the United States coupled by the increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases related to obesity raises serious implications for the health of Americans. Several scientific studies in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology examine the association between obesity and the risk of colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

Discovery Of Plant Protein Holds Promise For Biofuel Production

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Scientists have identified a new protein necessary for chloroplast development. The discovery could ultimately lead to plant varieties tailored specifically for biofuel production.

Obese Prostate Cancer Patients May Benefit More From Brachytherapy

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Brachytherapy, also called seed implants, may be a more beneficial treatment than surgery or external beam radiation therapy for overweight or obese prostate cancer patients, according to a study published in the August issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Federally Managed Dams Need Better Security, Report Finds

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates and manages dams that provide water and power to millions of people, has invested significant resources in security and is better able to protect its facilities and personnel, says a new report from the National Research Council.

'Chilling' Hardship Rates Among Families Raising Disabled Children

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 04:00 AM CDT

Families with disabled children are struggling to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and to pay for needed health and dental care. But according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these challenges are now falling on middle-income households and not just on poor families as previous research has found.

Many US Public Schools In 'Air Pollution Danger Zone'

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT

One in three US public schools are in the "air pollution danger zone," according to new research. Researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes.

Chronic Lead Poisoning From Urban Soils

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry. Could treating contaminated soil with water prevent this public health scourge?

Chemists Make Beds With Soft Landings: Researchers Create Stable, Highly Pure Helical Peptide Arrays

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Bedsprings aren't often found in biology. Now, chemists have secured a layer of tiny protein coils onto a thin surface, much like miniature bedsprings in a frame. This thin film made of stable and very pure helices can help researchers develop molecular electronics or solar cells, or to divine the biology of proteins. The physical chemists pulled off this design trick using a "soft-landing" technique with a specially designed mass-selected ion deposition instrument.

Rheb's Role In Cancer

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Two independent papers identify the Rheb GTPase as a novel oncogene and a promising new chemotherapeutic target.

Suicide In Asian Americans: Family Conflict Increases Risk Of Suicide Attempts

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 01:00 AM CDT

Asian Americans whose families experience a high degree of interpersonal conflict have a three-fold greater risk of attempting suicide when compared with Asian Americans overall, according to a new study by University of California, Davis, researchers. The risk is tripled even among those who have never had a diagnosis of depression.

Algae: Biofuel Of The Future?

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Researchers have a plan to greatly increase algae oil yields by feeding the algae extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage, meaning the algae could simultaneously produce biofuel and clean up environmental problems.

Ultrasound Used To Predict Heart Attack Risk

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Repeat exams using widely available and inexpensive ultrasound imaging could help identify patients at high risk for a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular events, according to a new study.

Sweets Make Young Horses Harder To Train, Study Finds

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Young horses may be easier to train if they temporarily lay off the sweets, says a Montana State University study.

Scientists Discover What Drives The Development Of A Fatal Form Of Malaria

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

In a study described in Cell Host and Microbe, researchers reveal that when red blood cells are infected with the malaria parasite, they activate platelets to secrete the PF4 protein, which triggers the immune system to inflame blood vessels and obstruct capillaries in the brain; both are hallmarks of cerebral malaria.

Experts Urge Industry To Broaden Carbon Footprint Calculations

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

Carnegie Mellon University researchers are urging companies to embrace new methods for following trail of dangerous carbon emissions.

You've Got To Have Hope: Studies Show 'Hope Therapy' Fights Depression

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT

A growing body of research suggests that there is a potent way to fight symptoms of depression that doesn't involve getting a prescription. This potent weapon? Hope. "We're finding that hope is consistently associated with fewer symptoms of depression. And the good news is that hope is something that can be taught, and can be developed in many of the people who need it," said Jennifer Cheavens at Ohio State University.

Can Facial Structures, Brain Abnormalities Reveal Formula For Detection Of Autism?

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Recently, Harvard researchers reported that children with autism have a wide range of genetic defects, making it nearly impossible to develop a simple genetic test to identify the disorder. Now, University of Missouri researchers are studying 3-D imaging to reveal correlations in the facial features and brain structures of children with autism spectrum disorder, which will enable them to develop a formula for earlier detection of the disorder. The researchers anticipate their work also will reveal genetic clues that can direct additional research.

Oral Contraceptives May Ease Suffering Of Women With Severe PMS

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

A new clinical trial using a popular low-dose contraceptive could uncover a more effective treatment for the 5 to 10 percent of women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Novel Fungus Helps Beetles To Digest Hard Wood

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

A little known fungus tucked away in the gut of Asian longhorned beetles helps the insect munch through the hardest of woods according to a team of entomologists and biochemists. Researchers say the discovery could lead to innovative methods of controlling the invasive pest, and potentially offer more efficient ways of breaking down plant biomass for generating biofuels.

Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Men with signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia can be helped with a daily dose of erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil (marketed as Cialis) to relieve associated lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Northwestern University and Lilly Research Laboratories report on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of over 1,000 men in 10 countries.

2007 Hurricane Forecasts Took Blow From Winds And Dry, Dusty Air From Sahara Desert

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

A new analysis of environmental conditions over the Atlantic Ocean shows that hot, dry air associated with dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert was a likely contributor to the quieter-than-expected 2007 hurricane season.

Poor Teen Sleep Habits May Raise Blood Pressure, Lead To CVD

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 04:00 PM CDT

Poor sleep quality and shorter sleep periods in teens may increase the odds of elevated blood pressure. Researchers found poor sleep quality in teens may be more likely than shorter sleep periods to lead to pre-hypertension. Researchers say technology in bedrooms (i.e., music, phones, computers) may be part of the problem.

Why Symmetry Predicts Bodily Attractiveness

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

The first ever 3D study identifies 'masculinity' traits associated with the attractiveness and symmetry of male and female bodies. High masculinity correlated with fewer departures from perfect bodily symmetry in males but with more asymmetry in females, suggesting that those with good development and health may have bodies that exaggerate sex-typical bodily features.

New Technology Silences Genes: Suppressing Disease-causing Genes Is Now Within Reach

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Researchers have developed a new gene silencing technology that could be used to target genes that can lead to the development of certain diseases. This technology could pave the way for preventing diseases where gene dysfunction plays a role.

DEET's Not Sweet To Mosquitoes, Groundbreaking Research Shows

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Spray yourself with a DEET-based insect repellent and the mosquitoes will leave you alone. But why? They flee because of their intense dislike for the smell of the chemical repellent and not because DEET jams their sense of smell, report researchers at the University of California, Davis.

Urologists Report Success Using Robot-assisted Surgery For Urinary Abnormality

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Urologic surgeon have reported success using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to repair abnormal openings between the bladder and vagina known as fistulas. This type of fistula can result in frequent urinary tract infections and the leakage of urine from the vagina and can be mistaken for continence.

Computer Users Are Digitizing Books Quickly And Accurately With New Method

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

Millions of computer users collectively transcribe the equivalent of 160 books each day with better than 99 percent accuracy, despite the fact that few spend more than a few seconds on the task and that most do not realize they are doing valuable work, Carnegie Mellon University researchers report.

Epilepsy Linked To Higher Risk Of Drowning

Posted: 19 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT

People with epilepsy appear to have a much higher risk of drowning compared to people without epilepsy, according to a study published in the Aug. 19, 2008, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Previous studies have shown a higher risk most likely due to seizures but this study is one of the first to show exactly how high the risk may be.

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