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Rocket Launches May Need Regulation To Prevent Ozone Depletion, Says Study Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT The global market for rocket launches may require more stringent regulation in order to prevent significant damage to Earth's stratospheric ozone layer in the decades to come, according to a new study. Future stratospheric ozone losses from unregulated launches will eventually exceed ozone losses from CFCs.

Numerous CT Scans Over Lifetime May Increase Cancer Risk Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Patients who undergo numerous CT scans over their lifetime may be at increased risk for cancer, according to a new study.

New Way To Produce Electronic Components Can Lead To Cheap And Flexible Electronics Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Flexible display screens and cheap solar cells can become a reality through research and development in organic electronics. Physicists in Sweden have now developed a new and simple method for producing cheap electronic components.

'Matchmaker' Protein Maintains Neuronal Balance Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT A newly identified protein helps maintain a critical balance between two types of neurons, preventing motor dysfunction in mammals.

A 'Bionic Nose' That Knows Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Chemist have developed device to detect microscopic signs of cancer, bombs and impure water. Both cancer cells and the chemicals used to make bombs can foil detection because they appear in trace amounts too small for conventional detection techniques. Scientists have developed the ultimate solution: a molecule that can magnify weak traces of "hidden" molecules into something we can detect and see.

Police With Higher Multitasking Abilities Less Likely To Shoot Unarmed Persons Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT In the midst of life-threatening situations requiring split-second decisions, police officers with a higher ability to multitask are less likely to shoot unarmed persons when feeling threatened during video simulations, a new study suggests.

Researchers Help Save Rare Venomous Mammal From Extinction Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists are studying the solenodon, an endangered large shrew-like mammal that kills its prey with a venomous bite. A new project aims to help conserve two types of endemic land mammal in the Dominican Republic.

Amniotic Fluid May Provide New Source Of Stem Cells For Future Therapies Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have shown that amniotic fluid (the protective liquid surrounding an embryo) may be a potential new source of stem cells for therapeutic applications.

Discovery Of Tuberculosis Bacterium Enzyme Paves Way For New TB Drugs Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have paved the way for the development of new drug therapies to combat active and asymptomatic (latent) tuberculosis infections by characterizing the unique structure and mechanism of an enzyme in M. tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease.

New Risk Factor For Melanoma In Younger Women Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers may have found a more potent risk factor for melanoma than blistering sunburns, freckling, or family history of the deadly skin disease. In a new study, scientists report that a genetic variation leads to a nearly four-fold increase of melanoma in women under the age of 50. A genetic test may help identify pre-menopausal women at higher risk.

Aussie Meat Ants May Be Invasive Cane Toad's Achilles' Heel Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Ecologists in Australia have discovered that cane toads are far more susceptible to being killed and eaten by meat ants than native frogs. Their research reveals a chink in the cane toad's armor that could help control the spread of this alien invasive species in tropical Australia.

Infant Weight Gain Linked To Childhood Obesity Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT An ongoing study of pregnant women and their babies has found that rapid weight gain during the first six months of life may place a child at risk for obesity by age three. Researchers studied 559 children, measuring both weight and body length at birth, six months, and three years. They found that sudden gains throughout early infancy influenced later obesity more so than weight at birth.

First Ever Video Of Dynamics Of Carbon Atoms Makes Spintronic-based Computing Look More Promising Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers working with TEAM 0.5, the world's most powerful transmission electron microscope, have made a movie that shows in real-time carbon atoms repositioning themselves around the edge of a hole that was punched into a graphene sheet. This is the first ever live recording of the dynamics of carbon atoms in graphene.

By Shutting Down Inflammation, Agent Reverses Damage From Spinal Cord Injury In Preclinical Studies Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have been able to speed recovery and substantially reduce damage resulting from spinal cord injury in preclinical studies.

New Test May Predict Spread Of Breast Cancer Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that the co-mingling of three cell types can predict whether localized breast cancer will spread throughout the body. Their collaboration with other scientists has led to a test with potential clinical application for precisely identifying which patients should receive aggressive therapy -- sparing many women at low risk for metastatic disease from undergoing unnecessary and potentially dangerous treatment.

Don't Rely On Jaundiced Eye For Assessing Newborns, New Research Says Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT For hundreds of years, doctors, nurses and midwives have visually examined newborn babies for the yellowish skin tones that signify jaundice, judging that more extensive jaundice carried a greater risk of illness. Usually jaundice is transitory, but when it persists at severe levels, the baby may have a potentially serious condition called hyperbilirubinemia. Now researchers say that this longstanding practice of visual inspection is unreliable in predicting the baby's risk of hyperbilirubinemia.

Mechanism That Regulates Movement Of Blood-forming Stem Cells In The Body Revealed Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a signaling pathway that helps regulate the movement of blood-forming stem cells in the body -- a finding that provides important new insight into how stem cells move around the body and which may lead to improvements in the efficiency of bone marrow transplants.

Mother's Criticism Causes Distinctive Neural Activity Among Formerly Depressed Posted: 01 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Complete recovery from depression doesn't normalize how the brain processes criticism. A new study has found that when criticized by their mothers, formerly depressed women showed different patterns of brain activity compared to those who have never been depressed. Psychologists from Harvard found that participants' neural activity resembled that which has been observed in depressed individuals in other studies, although the women reported having no current symptoms of depression.

Stem Cell Breakthrough: 'Switch' Created That Turns Stem Cells Into Muscle Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT In a genetic engineering breakthrough that could help everyone from bed-ridden patients to elite athletes, a team of American researchers has created a "switch" that allows mutations to be turned on in muscle stem cells to monitor muscle regeneration in a living mammal.

New Insights Into How Brain Responds To Viral Infection Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that astrocytes, supportive cells in the brain that are not derived from an immune cell lineage, respond to a molecule that mimics a viral infection using cellular machinery similar to that used by classical immune cells in the blood. This work provides a new understanding of the complex mechanisms responsible for induction and regulation of inflammation in the brain and has significant implications for both the diagnosis and treatment of brain infections.

Imperial Eagle Numbers Have Increased Six-fold In Spain Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Despite being one of the most threatened species on the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN)'s red list, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) is recovering in Spain. The species has undergone an increase from 38 pairs in 1974 to 253 in 2008, data viewed as hopeful by the scientists who carried out the demographic study on the Iberian Peninsula.

Use Of Antibacterial Associated With Reduced Risk Of Catheter-related Infections Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT For critically ill patients in intensive care units, use of a sponge containing the antimicrobial agent chlorhexidine gluconate as part of the dressing for catheters reduced the risk of major catheter-related infections, according to a new study. The researchers also found that reducing the frequency of changing unsoiled dressings from every three days to seven days appears to be safe.

DNA Repair Mechanisms Relocate In Response To Stress Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Some DNA repair enzymes can relocate to the part of the cell that needs their help, a team of scientists has found. The signal that prompts relocation is oxidative stress, an imbalance of cellular metabolism connected with several human diseases. The study resulted in a new level of understanding of the cell's response to genetic damage ad could lead to new targets for anti-cancer drugs that interfere with DNA repair.

Higher Hospital Safety Rating Not Associated With Lower Risk Of In-hospital Death Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Hospitals that reported higher scores on measures of safe practices did not have a significantly lower rate of in-hospital deaths compared to hospitals that reported lower scores on these measures.

Are Men Are The 'Weaker' Sex? Pregnancy With Male Fetus Riskier, Study Claims Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Nurses in the maternity ward often say that a difficult labor is a sign of a baby boy. Now, researchers in Israel claim that a new study provides scientific evidence that a male baby comes with a bigger package of associated risks than his female counterparts.

Stopping Autoimmunity Before It Strikes Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Current research describes a new method to track the development of autoimmune diseases before the onset of symptoms.

Cause Of Mussel Poisoning Identified Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT The origin of the neurotoxin azaspiracid has finally been identified after a search for more than a decade. The azaspiracid toxin group can cause severe poisoning in human consumers of mussels after being enriched in the shellfish tissues. Scientists now report that a tiny algal species, the dinoflagellate Azadinium spinosum, is responsible.

Bariatric Surgery Minimizes Pregnancy Complications For Obese Women Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Women who undergo bariatric surgery to treat obesity will reduce the risk of medical and obstetric complications when they become pregnant, according to a study.

Nitrate Stimulates Greenhouse Gas Production In Small Streams Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, is frequently produced in the sediments of small streams and that production rates were best explained by stream water nitrate concentrations. These concentrations are often the result of runoff from agricultural soils, where it is well established that a high presence of nitrates can stimulate nitrous oxide production.

Sex Workers Prefer Remote Screening For Sexually Transmitted Diseases Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers used a simple and convenient method for screening female commercial sex workers for sexually transmitted infections without the need for them to attend clinics. The women were given tampons that they could use to collect their own samples and post them to the laboratory. The women found sample self-collection easy and preferred this method of screening. The testing methods used also proved to be more accurate than traditional tests.

Genetic Basis For Migration In Monarch Butterflies Uncovered Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Scientists studying Eastern North American monarch butterflies have uncovered a suite of genes that may be involved in driving the butterflies to migrate towards Mexico for the winter. Their research describes 40 genes that are linked to the butterflies' compulsion to orientate themselves by an internal "sun compass" and begin the 4,000 km journey southwards.

Changes In Gene May Stunt Lung Development In Children Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Mutations in a gene may cause poor lung development in children, making them more vulnerable to diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease later in life, say researchers. The new study measured expression levels of the gene and its variants in both mouse lungs and children ages 9 to 11.

Connectivity In Marine Fish Populations: Larvae Spawned In Marine Reserves Can Travel Long Distances Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Children of baby boomers aren't the only ones who have taken to setting up home far from where their parents live. A new study documents how larval dispersal connects marine fish populations in a network of marine protected areas -- information that is critical for fisheries managers.

Herbal Medicines For Treatment Of Gastrointestinal Disease Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Herbal medicines could benefit patients suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders that cannot be treated using conventional drug therapy. In a new study, researchers reviewed data on Japanese herbal medicines and found them to be effective in reducing the symptoms of GI disorders such as functional dyspepsia, constipation and postoperative ileus.

Transforming Medical Diagnosis With New Scanning Technology Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new technology dramatically improves the sensitivity of magnetic resonance techniques including those used in hospital scanners and chemistry laboratories. Ultimately, the technique, based on manipulating parahydrogen, the fuel of the space shuttle, is expected to allow doctors to learn far more about a patient's condition from an MRI scan at lower cost while increasing the range of medical conditions that can be examined.

Half Of Group Free Of Phobia After A Single Treatment Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:00 PM PDT Fifty-five percent of children who underwent an intensive so-called one-session treatment of three hours were freed from their phobia. The treatment is carried out on a single occasion, is quick and cost-effective, with no side effects. The treatment form is also culture-neutral and does not need to be adapted to the country or the place it is to be used.

Cracking The Crusts Of Neutron Stars Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT New research is helping shed light on neutron stars, city-sized globs of ultra-dense matter that occasionally collapse into black holes.

New Discovery Raises Doubts About Current Bladder Treatment Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have found that one of the genes commonly thought to promote the growth and spread of some types of cancers is in fact beneficial in bladder cancer -- a major discovery that could significantly alter the way bladder cancers are treated in the future.

Palm Oil Development May Threaten Amazon Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Oil palm cultivation drives forest destruction across Southeast Asia. Proposed change in Brazil's legislation, new infrastructure and the influence of foreign agro-industrial firms in the region, may create a similar situation in the Amazon.

Diabetics On High-fiber Diets Might Need Extra Calcium Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT The amount of calcium your body absorbs might depend, in part, on the amount of dietary fiber you consume.

Predicting Mosquito Outbreaks For Disease Control Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers in Australia have shown they can predict the biggest population peaks of disease-carrying mosquitoes up to two months ahead.

Mothers Of Multiple Births At Increased Odds Of Postpartum Depression Posted: 31 Mar 2009 05:00 PM PDT Mothers of multiples have 43 percent increased odds of having moderate to severe depressive symptoms nine months after giving birth compared to mothers of single-born children, according to new research.

Atlantic Snails Are Increasing Dramatically In Size Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Biologists have discovered that the shell lengths of snails in the northwest Atlantic Ocean -- an important member of the Atlantic food chain -- have increased by 22.6 percent over the past century.

Schizophrenia Linked To Diabetes, Study Suggests Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT People with schizophrenia are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, researchers have found.

Tornado-like Rotation Is Key To Understanding Volcanic Plumes Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT A 200-year-old report by a sea captain and a stunning photograph of the 2008 eruption of Mount Chaiten are helping scientists better understand strong volcanic plumes.

South Asians With Diabetes More Likely To Lose Their Eyesight Earlier Than White Europeans Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT South Asians with type 2 diabetes are significantly more at risk of losing their eyesight and losing it at an earlier age, compared to White Europeans with the same condition.

Superhydrophobic: Self-cleaning, Low-reflectivity Treatment Boosts Efficiency For Photovoltaic Cells Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Using two different types of chemical etching to create features at both the micron and nanometer size scales, researchers have developed a surface treatment that boosts the light absorption of silicon photovoltaic cells in two complementary ways.

Combating Weight Gain Caused By Antipsychotic Treatments Posted: 31 Mar 2009 02:00 PM PDT Antipsychotic drugs, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal) and quetiapine (Seroquel), are commonly used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, but also bipolar disorder and even behavioral problems related to dementia. Unfortunately, the weight gain commonly experienced with antipsychotic treatment is an important side effect for many patients, and causes many patients to discontinue their use leading to even further problems. A new add-on treatment has the potential to reduce treatment-associated weight gain.

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