ScienceDaily: Latest Science News |
| Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers at Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital have developed a technique that uses infrared light brain imaging to decode preference -- with the goal of ultimately opening the world of choice to children who can't speak or move. |
| An Infectious Hereditary Illness? Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Could a hereditary illness ever spread by contamination? Researchers studying Huntington's disease have shown that the normal form of huntingtin protein can acquire an abnormal form without any modification of its genetic code. These researchers observed that clumps of abnormal huntingtin protein, characteristic of Huntington's disease, could induce clumping in the normal form of the protein. |
| Don’t Go Changing: New Chemical Keeps Stem Cells Young Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have discovered a chemical that stops stem cells from turning into other cell types, allowing researchers to use these cells to develop new medical treatments more easily. |
| Visual Decline As We Age: Genetics Or Environment? Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Which has a larger impact on the "normal" decline of visual function as we age, genetic or environmental factors? This question is explored in the February issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. |
| Grass Strips Help Curb Erosion, Herbicide Transport Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST Grass filter strips placed in riparian zones not only curb soil erosion, but can help block and degrade the widely used herbicide atrazine, scientists report. |
| Are We Selling Personalized Medicine Before Its Time? Posted: 11 Feb 2009 08:00 AM PST We may be a long way off from using genetics to reliably gauge our risks for specific diseases, say researchers. Yet, many companies currently offer personalized genetic testing for diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tout the ability of DNA testing to predict future health risks. |
| NASA's Swift, Fermi Probe Fireworks From A Flaring Gamma-ray Star Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The high-energy fireworks arise from a rare type of neutron star known as a soft-gamma-ray repeater. Such objects unpredictably send out a series of X-ray and gamma-ray flares. |
| While Focusing On Heart Disease, Researchers Discover New Tactic Against Fatal Muscular Dystrophy Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST Based on a striking similarity between heart disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, researchers have discovered that a new class of experimental drugs for heart failure may also help treat the fatal muscular disorder. |
| New Technique Developed For Quick Detection Of Salmonella Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST A food science and human nutrition expert has developed a quick technique for testing for the presence of Salmonella. |
| Gene Variants Associated With Early Heart Attack Identified Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST The largest study ever completed of genetic factors associated with heart attacks has identified nine genetic regions -- three not previously described -- that appear to increase the risk for early-onset myocardial infarction. |
| Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST The drivers of Rice University's nanocars were surprised to find modified versions of their creation have the ability to roll at room temperature. While practical applications for the tiny machines may be years away, the breakthrough suggests they'll be easier to adapt to a wider range of uses than the originals, which had to be heated to 200 degrees Celsius before they could move across a surface. |
| Energy Drinks: Coffee Of A New Generation? Posted: 11 Feb 2009 05:00 AM PST "Energy drinks are the coffee of a new generation," according to one nutritionist. "These drinks are made up of sugar and caffeine and can have a negative impact on health," she said. |
| Scientists Deconstruct Cell Division Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST The last step of the cell cycle is the spectacularly dynamic and complicated mitosis phase, which leads to the duplication of one mother cell into two daughter cells. In mitosis, fibrous structures called spindles form. Scientists have tried for years to unravel the process of spindle assembly. Now, researchers have found that two proteins used in other functions -- dynein and Nudel -- are essential to regulate assembly of the spindle matrix. |
| First Genome-wide Expression Analysis Yields Better Understanding Of How Leukemia Develops Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have performed a genome-wide expression analysis comparing highly enriched normal blood stem cells and leukemic stem cells, and identified several new pathways that have a key role in cancer development. |
| PET/CT May Improve Prognosis For Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST In the largest study to date to evaluate fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography in the initial staging of inflammatory breast cancer, researchers were able to identify the precise location and extent of metastasis, offering the potential for a better prognosis for patients with this rare, but aggressive form of breast cancer. |
| Rhythm Abnormality Of Unknown Origin Strongly Predicts Sudden Death Risk In Heart Disease Patients Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Researchers conducting a large, ongoing study to improve detection and prevention of sudden cardiac death were surprised to discover that a specific heart rhythm abnormality -- idiopathic QT interval prolongation -- increased risk five-fold among patients with coronary artery disease. |
| Comparative Genomics Reveals Molecular Evolution Of Q Fever Pathogen Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have uncovered genetic clues about why some strains of the pathogen Coxiella burnetii are more virulent than others. |
| Workforce Shortages In Mammography Could Threaten Early Detection Rates For Breast Cancer Posted: 11 Feb 2009 02:00 AM PST At the current rate of production for new mammography professionals, there will be drastic reductions in the number of mammography professionals per woman age 40 years and older over the next 15-20 years, according to a new study. |
| Biofuels Can Provide Viable, Sustainable Solution To Reducing Petroleum Dependence, Study Shows Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST An in-depth study has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030. |
| Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST New research sheds light on a neural growth factor called proBDNF, finding that it is present and potentially active during the perinatal period when the brain's circuitry and memory-encoding regions are being refined. |
| Neutralizing Acidosis And Bone Loss Among Mature Adults Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study suggests that neutralizing an acid-producing diet may be an important key to reducing bone breakdown, or "turnover," while aging. The study comes on the heels of several ARS-reported studies suggesting that consuming more-than-recommended amounts of calcium may not be the main answer to protecting bone. |
| People Without Heart Disease Symptoms Urged To Use Caution In Obtaining Cardiac Imaging Exams Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST At the radiation dose levels used in cardiac imaging exams, such as cardiac CT or nuclear medicine scans, the risk of potentially harmful effects from ionizing radiation are low. However, since the exact level of risk is not known, people without symptoms of heart disease are being urged to think twice about seeking, or agreeing to, these types of cardiac studies. |
| MR Spectroscopy May Help Avoid Invasive Procedures And Treatments For Recurrent Brain Lesions Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST A clinical decision model which uses MR spectroscopy to help physicians differentiate between recurrent tumors and changes in the brain tissue due to radiation treatments, may help patients avoid invasive procedures and treatments, according to a study performed at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Health Risks, Economic Burden Of Migraine Reviewed Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study published in Value in Health reviews the economic burden of migraine in the US and recent clinical findings of the health risks of this neurological condition. |
| Salamander Decline Found In Central America Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Amphibian populations have dropped worldwide, but most studies have detailed only the effects on frogs. A new study documents that salamander populations also are plummeting. The study, which looked at tropical salamanders in Central America, found that the most common salamanders in the high-elevation cloud forests 40 years ago have all but disappeared. Global warming may be pushing salamanders that live in narrow elevational niches to inhospitable heights. |
| Possible Treatment For Neurological Disorder Rett Syndrome -- Most Common Basis Of Autism In Girls Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Injecting the small protein insulin-like growth factor-1 into the bloodstream reduces Rett syndrome symptoms in mice, including lethargy, breathing and heart rhythm irregularities, reduced brain size, and stalled nerve cell development. Rett syndrome is an inherited neurological disease that affects one out of 10,000 girls born. Although some symptoms can be mediated with prescription drugs, the disease does not have a cure or treatment. |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Help To Combat Breast Cancer Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have verified the bioactivity of the polyphenols present in extra virgin olive oil in breast cancer cell lines. This study confirms the potentiality of polyphenols to inhibit HER2 activity and to promote its degradation. |
| Inflammation In Colon May Get Doused Before Fueling Cancer Development Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Repeated inflammation that leads to colon cancer may have met its match. A tiny molecule, quercetin, found in most plant-based foods douses the flames before damaging lesions can form in the colon, according to scientists. And the nice thing is that quercetin is readily available in common plant-based foods. So it's not an unachievable goal. |
| Nanoemulsion Potent Against Superbugs That Kill Cystic Fibrosis Patients, Study Suggests Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists report early evidence that a super-fine oil-and-water emulsion, already shown to kill many other microbes, may be able to quell the ravaging, often drug-resistant infections that cause nearly all cystic fibrosis deaths. |
| Good News: Teenagers Found Willing To Help Their Parents Posted: 10 Feb 2009 08:00 PM PST New research examines teenagers' and parents' feelings when it comes to young people's obligations to help their parents in everyday situations when requests clash with personal desires. The study shows that teens don't always act out of personal desire or selfishness, but feel relatively obligated to help their parents, even when the requests are small. Surprisingly, parents think it's more acceptable for teens to say no when personal desires conflict than do the teens themselves. |
| Mathematical Models Reveal How Organisms Transcend The Sum Of Their Genes Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Molecular and cellular biologists have made tremendous scientific advances by dissecting apart the functions of individual genes, proteins, and pathways. Researchers are looking to expand that understanding by putting the pieces back together, mathematically. |
| Link Found Between Influenza, Absolute Humidity Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST A new study has found a significant correlation between "absolute" humidity and influenza virus survival and transmission. When absolute humidity is low -- as in peak flu months of January and February -- the virus appears to survive longer and transmission rates increase. |
| Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered a new biological mechanism, which ensures that new proteins are created exactly where they are needed in a cell. The research was conducted using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast). The mechanism takes effect when cells divide, a process that is asymmetrical in yeast. |
| Vitamin D Tied To Muscle Power In Adolescent Girls Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Vitamin D is significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls, according to a new study. |
| Antarctic Expedition Prepared Researchers For Mars Project Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST About half a year before the robotic arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander began digging into soil and subsurface ice of an arctic plain of Mars, six scientists traveled to one of the coldest, driest places on Earth for soil-and-ice studies that would end up aiding analysis of the Mars data. |
| Smokers Would Rather Give Up For Their Pooch's Health Rather Than Their Own Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:00 PM PST Smokers are more likely to quit smoking for the sake of their pets' health than they are for their own, suggests new research. |
| Mediterranean Diet Associated With Lower Risk Of Cognitive Impairment Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Eating a Mediterranean diet appears to be associated with less risk of mild cognitive impairment -- a stage between normal aging and dementia -- or of transitioning from mild cognitive impairment into Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report. |
| Multiple Genes Implicated In Autism; Discovery Could Lead To Drugs Targeting Gene Interactions Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST By pinpointing two genes that cause autism-like symptoms in mice, researchers have shown for the first time that multiple, interacting genetic risk factors may influence the severity of autistic symptoms. |
| Hummingbird 'Tag' Suggests Fragmentation May Be Part Of Pollination Crisis Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST To find out the cause of what's being called a global "pollination crisis," researchers have successfully attached an electronic tracking device to a hummingbird for the first time -- and the darting travels of the tiny bird may be pointing the way to at least part of the problem. |
| Unexplained Chest Pain Can Be Due To Stress Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Each year, many people seek emergency treatment for unexplained chest pains. A new thesis indicates several common factors among those affected, including stress at work, anxiety, depression and a sedentary lifestyle. |
| Scientists Control The Spin Of Semiconductor Quantum Dot Shell States Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have recently demonstrated the ability to control the spin population of the individual quantum shell states of self-assembled indium arsenide quantum dots (QDs). These results are significant in the understanding of QD behavior and scientists' ability to utilize QDs in active devices or for information processing. |
| Tests May Predict Driving Safety In People With Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 10 Feb 2009 02:00 PM PST Doctors may be able to use certain cognitive tests to help determine whether a person with Alzheimer's disease can safely get behind the wheel. |
| High Carbon Dioxide Boosts Plant Respiration, Potentially Affecting Climate And Crops Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST The leaves of soybeans grown at the elevated carbon dioxide levels predicted for the year 2050 respire more than those grown under current atmospheric conditions, researchers report, a finding that will help fine-tune climate models and could point to increased crop yields as CO2 levels rise. |
| Scientists Identify Potential Key To Lyme Disease Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a protein that may help give Lyme disease its bite. Their findings suggest that the bacterial protein, which aids in transporting the metal manganese, is essential for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease to become virulent. |
| Researchers Learn Why Robots Get Stuck In The Sand -- And How To Keep Them Going Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Today's advanced mobile robots explore complex terrains across the globe and even on Mars, but have difficulty traversing sand. A new study takes what may be the first detailed look at the problem of robot locomotion on granular surfaces. Among the study's recommendations: robots attempting to move across sandy terrain should move their legs more slowly, especially if the sand is loosely packed. |
| Pregnancy Has No Impact On Breast Cancer Survival, Delays Treatment, Diagnosis, Study Finds Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST Young women who develop breast cancer during their pregnancy, or who are diagnosed within one year of their pregnancy, have no difference in rates of local recurrence, distant metastases and overall survival compared to other young women with the disease, according to researchers. |
| Nanoparticles In Dietary Supplements Cause Health Concerns, Regulatory Challenges Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST An increase in the number of dietary supplements made with nanoparticles — so called "nanoceuticals" — is raising growing concerns about their potential for toxicity in the wake of little government oversight, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News. |
| Study Questions Effectiveness Of $80 Million Per Year 'Brain Exercise' Products Industry For Elderly Posted: 10 Feb 2009 11:00 AM PST A new study from Lifespan evaluated the research to date on the impact of cognitive training on the healthy elderly population. Their review of all relevant randomized, controlled trials shows no evidence that structured cognitive interventions or "brain exercise" programs delay or slow progression of cognitive changes in healthy elderly. Such programs are now an $80 million per year industry. |
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