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Engineers Create DNA Sensors That Could Identify Cancer Using Material Only One Atom Thick Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Scientists are combining biological materials with graphene, a recently developed carbon material that is only a single atom thick.

How PCBs May Alter In Utero, Neonatal Brain Development Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT In three new studies researchers provide compelling evidence of how low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alter the way brain cells develop. Researchers explain the relationship between PCB exposure, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Together, the studies make a compelling case for the mechanism behind PCBs' harmful effects on human neurological development.

Pavement Sealcoat A Source Of Toxins In Stormwater Runoff Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Driveways and parking lots may look better with a layer of sealcoat applied to the pavement, but the water running off the surface into nearby streams will be carrying more than just oxygen and hydrogen molecules. New research indicates that sealcoat may contribute to increasingly significant amounts of polyaromatic hydrocarbons entering waterways from stormwater runoff.

Circadian Clock: Scientists Model 3D Structures Of Proteins That Control Human Clock Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Researchers say they have taken a leap forward in their quest to understand the proteins that control the human circadian clock -- the 24-hour wake-sleep cycle that, when interrupted, can lead to jet lag and other sleep disturbances.

When Oceans Get Warmer, Carbon Dioxide Uptake By Marine Plankton May Be Reduced Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT Melting ice at the poles, rising sea-level, extreme weather conditions: the signs of climate change are ubiquitous. Biologists have now shown that the uptake of carbon dioxide by marine plankton organisms will be reduced in response to ocean warming, thereby potentially feeding back to climate change.

Can Twitter Make You Amoral? Rapid-fire Media May Confuse Your Moral Compass Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:00 AM PDT In one of the first brain studies of "higher" emotions like empathy and morality, neuroscientists find that such emotions are evoked slowly. The authors suggest that the speed of digital media culture may complicate the development of these emotions, which brain imaging shows to be deeply rooted in the body.

Gene Targeting Discovery Opens Door For Vaccines And Drugs Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT In a genetic leap that could help fast track vaccine and drug development to prevent or tame serious global diseases, researchers have discovered how to destroy a key DNA pathway in a wily and widespread human parasite. The feat surmounts a major hurdle for targeting genes in Toxoplasma gondii, an infection model whose close relatives are responsible for diseases that include malaria and severe diarrhea.

Key Gene That Protects Against Leukemia Identified Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that controls the rapid production and differentiation of the stem cells that produce all blood cell types -- a discovery that could eventually open the door to more streamlined treatments for leukemia and other blood cancers, in which blood cells proliferate out of control.

Young Adults At Future Risk Of Alzheimer's Have Different Brain Activity, Says Study Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Young adults with a genetic variant that raises their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease show changes in their brain activity decades before any symptoms might arise, according to a new brain imaging study by scientists. The results may support the idea that the brain's memory function may gradually wear itself out in those who go on to develop Alzheimer's.

Pinpointing Role Of Insulin On Glucagon Levels Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time that insulin plays a key role in suppressing levels of glucagon, a hormone involved in carbohydrate metabolism and regulating blood glucose levels.

New 'Near-field' Radiation Therapy Promises Relief For Overheating Laptops Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a way to release heat trapped inside billions of tiny semiconductor electronic circuits and channel it into the substrate, which is larger and can be more easily cooled. Their method exploits the electron scattering that occurs in non-suspended carbon nanotube transistors. This scattering causes a wave, or surface polariton, which is particularly strong in the near field zone above the substrate.

Facebook Use Linked To Lower Grades In College Posted: 14 Apr 2009 08:00 AM PDT College students who use Facebook spend less time studying and have lower grade point averages than students who have not signed up for the social networking website, according to a new study. However, more than three-quarters of Facebook users claimed that their use of the social networking site didn't interfere with their studies.

Baby's First Dreams: Sleep Cycles Of The Fetus Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT After about seven months growing in the womb, a human fetus spends most of its time asleep. Its brain cycles back and forth between the frenzied activity of rapid eye movement sleep and the quiet resting state of nonREM sleep. But whether the brains of younger, immature fetuses cycle with sleep or are simply inactive has remained a mystery, until now.

The New 'Epigenetics:' Poor Nutrition In The Womb Causes Permanent Genetic Changes In Offspring Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT New research explains how poor maternal nutrition passes health risk across generations. The new science of epigenetics explains how genes can be modified by the environment: You are what your mother did not eat during pregnancy.

Spring Fishing Season Arrives ... And With It, Amphibian Diseases Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Waterdogs, they're called, these larvae of tiger salamanders used as live bait for freshwater fishing. With tiger salamander larvae, anglers hope to catch largemouth bass, channel catfish and other freshwater fishes. They may be in for more than they bargained for: salamanders in bait shops in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico are infected with ranaviruses, and those in Arizona, with a chytrid fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).

Potential New Target For Treatment Of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT A new study identifies a protein that modifies the androgen receptor and influences its ability to regulate target genes linked with the progression of prostate cancer. The research may also drive creation of new strategies for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to traditional anti-hormone therapies.

Why Earthquake Waves Spread Unevenly Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Propagation of earthquake waves within the Earth is not uniform. Experiments indicate that the velocity of shear waves in Earth's lower mantle between 660 and 2900 km depth is strongly dependent on the orientation of ferropericlase.

Orthopedic Experts Examine Overhead Throwing Injuries Posted: 14 Apr 2009 05:00 AM PDT Baseball season is underway. With the pros, college and high school teams taking to the baseball diamonds and Little Leaguers soon to follow, orthopedic specialists are cautioning players to be aware of and take precautions against throwing injuries.

Natural 'Barcodes' Help Us Recognize Faces Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Our faces contain 'barcodes' of information which help us recognize people and may have implications for improving face recognition software, according to a new study.

Cigarette Smoke May Alter Immune Response In COPD Exacerbations Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Smoking cigarettes is not only the principle cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but it may change the body's immune responses to bacteria that commonly cause exacerbations of the disease, according to new research in a mouse model.

Key Protein In Cellular Respiration Discovered Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Many diseases derive from problems with cellular respiration, the process through which cells extract energy from nutrients. Researchers have now discovered a new function for a protein in the mitochondrion – popularly called the cell's power station – that plays a key part in cell respiration.

Biomarker Associated With Poor Outcome In Aggressive Childhood Cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Results from a new study identify a biomarker that may be useful for predicting the outcome of treatment for neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children. The research also provides new information about the molecular signals that are involved in the progression of this often devastating pediatric cancer.

Heart And Skeletal Muscle Inflammation: A 'New' Infectious Disease Of Atlantic Salmon Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have established that a new disease called heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) is a serious infectious disease of farmed Atlantic salmon, with a high potential for transmission. The increasing number of outbreaks of this disease in recent years indicates that it poses a significant threat to Norwegian salmon farming.

How The Brain Processes Important Information Posted: 14 Apr 2009 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have shed light on how the neurotransmitter dopamine helps brain cells process important information.

Biochemical Buzz On Career Changes In Bees Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Adults facing unexpected career changes, take note. Scientists from Brazil and Cuba are reporting that honey bees -- a mainstay for behavioral research that cannot be done in other animals -- change their brains before transitioning to that new job. The research provides valuable insight into the biochemistry behind the behavior, feats of navigation, and social organization in these animals.

Vitamin D Deficiency Related To Increased Inflammation In Healthy Women Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT A nutritional sciences researcher found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with inflammation, a negative response of the immune system, in healthy women.

New Parasite Found In Black Green Lizards In Spain, Portugal Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT An international team of scientists has discovered a new acarine species (Ophionyssus schreibericolus) that lives off black green lizards from the Iberian Peninsula. This involves the first recording of the Ophionyssus genus that feeds off and lives on animals endemic to the peninsula. The researchers now think that these parasites could be found in other reptiles in the region.

Virus-Induced Myocarditis Prevented In Mice Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia can be a consequence of myocarditis -- an inflammation of the cardiac muscle that can be caused by the Coxsackievirus. In mice, researchers have now abolished the infection by blocking the receptor which is required for virus entry.

Researchers Increase Efficiency Of Photocatalysts Used In Cancer Treatments Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers in Spain have found porous polymeric materials that increase the efficiency of traditional photocatalysts in the treatment of cancer. Photodynamic therapy consists of introducing photocatalysts into tumour cells in such a way that when radiation (in the form of light) is applied, the photocatalysts destroy these cells as a result of the production of a reactive agent known as singlet oxygen.

Phasic Firing Of Dopamine Neurons Is Key To Brain's Prediction Of Rewards Posted: 13 Apr 2009 11:00 PM PDT Researchers are one step closer to understanding the neurobiology that allows people to successfully learn motivated behaviors by associating environmental cues with rewarding outcomes. Researchers studied the firing patterns of mid-brain dopamine neurons in mice during reward-based learning.

Deadly Parasite's Rare Sexual Dalliances May Help Scientists Neutralize It Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT For years, one microbiologist has tried to get the disease-causing parasite Leishmania in the mood for love. In a new study, he and colleagues report that they may have finally found the answer: cram enough Leishmania into the gut of an insect known as the sand fly, and the parasite will have sex.

Modification Of Mutant Huntingtin Protein Increases Its Clearance From Brain Cells Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A new study has identified a potential strategy for removing the abnormal protein that causes Huntington's disease from brain cells, which could slow the progression of the devastating neurological disorder. Scientists describe how an alteration to the mutated form of the huntingtin protein appears to accelerate its breakdown and removal through normal cellular processes.

Tiny Super-plant Can Clean Up Animal Waste And Be Used For Ethanol Production Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT A tiny aquatic plant can clean up animal waste at industrial farms and be part of the answer for the global energy crisis. New research shows that growing duckweed on wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per acre than corn.

Boosting Levels Of Molecule Enables Acute Leukemia Cells To Mature Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Boosting the level of a molecule called miR-29b in acute myeloid leukemia cells can reverse gene changes that trap the cells in an immature, fast growing state of development. The study shows how the miR reactivates silenced genes, enabling the leukemic cells to mature, an important step that precedes their death. The findings suggest that miR-29 could be a potent treatment for AML.

Cloud Computing Brings Cost Of Protein Research Down To Earth Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a set of free tools called ViPDAC (virtual proteomics data analysis cluster), for use in combination with Amazon's inexpensive "cloud computing" service, providing the option to rent processing time on its powerful servers; and free software, to put this very expensive and promising field within reach of scientists everywhere.

Racial Disparities Persist In The Treatment Of Lung Cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2009 08:00 PM PDT Black patients suffering from lung cancer are less likely to receive recommended chemotherapy and surgery than white lung cancer patients, a disparity that shows no signs of lessening.

It's The Metal In The Mussel That Gives Mussels Their Muscle Power Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Researchers in California are reporting for the first time that metals are key ingredients that give the coatings of anchoring byssal threads of marine mussels their amazing durability. The study could lead to the design of next-generation coatings for medical and industrial applications, including surgical coatings that protect underlying tissues from abrasion and also life-threatening bacterial infections, the researchers say.

Harnessing Immune Cells To Target Skin Cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT One subset of immune cells known to contribute to the immune response that targets tumors is the NK cell subset. Although this suggests that NK cell--based therapeutics have anticancer potential, more information is needed about the interactions between NK cells and human tumor cells if this promise is to be realized.

Male Flower Parts Responsible For Potent Grapevine Perfume Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Scientists have traced the fragrant scent of grapevine flowers to pollen grains stored in the anthers, contrary to common perception that petals alone produce perfume.

Computer-based Model Helps Radiologists Diagnose Breast Cancer Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT Radiologists have developed a computer-based model that aids them in discriminating between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Mathematics And Climate Change: Gaining Insights Into The Nature Of Sea Ice Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT How mathematical models of percolation, a physical process in which a fluid moves and filters through a porous solid, apply to the study of sea ice.

Study Finds Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Bacteria High In Long-term Care Posted: 13 Apr 2009 05:00 PM PDT The prevalence of a certain form of drug-resistant bacteria, called multidrug-resistant gram-negative organisms, far surpassed that of two other common antimicrobial-resistant infections in long-term care facilities, according to a new study.

Bioethanol's Impact On Water Supply Three Times Higher Than Once Thought Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT At a time when water supplies are scarce in many areas of the United States, scientists are reporting that production of bioethanol -- often regarded as the clean-burning energy source of the future -- may consume up to three times more water than previously thought.

Scientists Closer To Creating Safe Embryonic-like Stem Cells Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers have for the first time used tiny molecules called microRNAs to help turn adult mouse cells back to their embryonic state. These reprogrammed cells are pluripotent, meaning that, like embryonic stem cells, they have the capacity to become any cell type in the body.

'Magic Potion' In Fly Spit May Shoo Away Blinding Eye Disease Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT Researchers are reporting the first identification of a "magic potion" of proteins in the saliva of the black fly that help this blood-sucking pest spread parasites that cause "river blindness," a devastating eye-disease.

Long-acting Insulin Analogues In Type 2 Diabetes: Advantage Over Human Insulin Not Proven Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT It has not been proven that long-acting insulin analogues have an advantage over human insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers in Germany conclude that even though one of two long-acting insulin analogues investigated has been on the market for 9 years, its benefits and harms have still not been investigated sufficiently.

Renewable Furniture Finish Made From Sugars and Vegetable Oils Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT How do you make a scratch-resistant varnish using sugars and vegetable oils? Researchers can show how it's done: They have developed a furniture varnish containing roughly 50% renewable raw materials that offers the same hard-wearing quality as conventional varnishes.

Study Of Neighborhoods Points To Modifiable Factors, Not Race, In Cancer Disparities Posted: 13 Apr 2009 02:00 PM PDT While cities have shown considerable racial disparities in cancer survival, those racial disparities virtually disappear among smaller populations, such as neighborhoods within that city, according to a new analysis.

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