Tuesday, October 06, 2009

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Cosmic Ray Decreases Affect Atmospheric Aerosols And Clouds

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Billions of tons of water droplets vanish from the atmosphere in events that reveal in detail how the Sun and the stars control our everyday clouds. Researchers have traced the consequences of eruptions on the Sun that screen the Earth from some of the cosmic rays -- the energetic particles raining down on our planet from exploded stars.

Air Pollution May Trigger Appendicitis

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

A new study suggests that air pollution may trigger appendicitis in adults.

How Will Future Sea-level Rise Linked To Climate Change Affect Coastal Areas?

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

The anticipated sea-level rise associated with climate change, including increased storminess, over the next 100 years and the impact on the nation's low-lying coastal infrastructure is the focus of a new, interdisciplinary study led by geologists.

High Mortality Rates May Explain Small Body Size

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

A new study suggests that high mortality rates in small-bodied people, commonly known as pygmies, may be part of the reason for their small stature. The study helps unravel the mystery of how small-bodied people got that way.

Ultra-cold Systems Of Atoms: Pushing The Cold Frontier In An Orderly Fashion

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Working toward ever lower temperatures is only part of the battle for physicists studying ultra-cold systems of atoms. A group of researchers has now found a way to deal with disorder as well, as they pump entropy away from an atomic gas.

Psychiatric Symptoms May Predict Internet Addiction In Adolescents

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:00 AM PDT

Adolescents with psychiatric symptoms such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, social phobia, hostility and depression may be more likely to develop an Internet addiction, according to a new report.

Acidic Clouds Nourish World's Oceans

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Acidic clouds are feeding bioavailable iron to the oceans -- a discovery which sheds light on the natural processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Antibiotic May Be New Stroke Treatment

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

The antibiotic minocycline may revolutionize the treatment of strokes. A new study describes the safety and therapeutic efficacy of the drug in animal models.

Alfalfa Sprouts Key To Discovering How Meandering Rivers Form And Maintain

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Restoring rivers to their natural state is now hit-and-miss, primarily because scientists don't really know what makes a river meander. A scale model using alfalfa sprouts to represent vegetation now shows that strong banks and fine sediment are key. With the help of this large flume model, researchers hope to explore effects of climate change and land use on Earth's meandering streams and rivers.

Higher Folates, Not Antioxidants, Can Reduce Hearing Loss Risk In Men

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

Increased intakes of antioxidant vitamins have no bearing on whether or not a man will develop hearing loss, but higher folate intake can decrease his risk by 20 percent, according to new research.

Drug Eliminates Parasite That Causes Babesiosis In Horses

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

A drug commonly used to treat cattle and sometimes dogs for a blood parasite can, at a relatively high dose, completely eliminate the parasite Babesia caballi from horses, scientists have discovered.

Study Links Electronic Health Records To Improved Quality In Primary Care Treatment

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

A new study finds that routine use of electronic health records may improve the quality of care provided in community-based primary care practices more than other common strategies intended to raise the quality of medical care. The study, which examined 305 primary care practices in Massachusetts, is one of the first to demonstrate a link between use of electronic health records in community-based medical practices and higher quality care.

Buried Coins May Hold Key To Solving Mystery Of Ancient Roman Population

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Using a mathematical model to predict population trends based on ancient coin hoards, a biologist and a historian have concluded that the population of ancient Rome was smaller than sometimes suggested. Although the first century BC in Italy has been extensively studied, and much is known about the great figures of the era, including Cicero, Caesar, Virgil, and Horace, some basic facts -- such as the approximate population size of the late Roman Republic -- remain the subject of intense debate.

Key Behavior Of Immune Response To Listeria Identified

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Microbiologists have identified a key defense mechanism used by the immune system against Listeria with strong implications for the future development of vaccines.

Ultra-fine Particles, Particularly Harmful To Health, Can Now Be Traced

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Limit values for fine dust emissions are based on total particle weight. It is the ultra-fine particles, however, that are particularly harmful to health. A new technique separates them by size and identifies their composition -- directly where they arise.

Multivisceral Transplant Survival Rates Improve With New Treatment, Study Finds

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Data from the largest single-center experience of adult and pediatric intestinal and multivisceral transplantation show that survival rates have improved with the advent of innovative surgical techniques, novel immunosuppressive protocols and better post-operative management, according to new study. Some of these patients are the longest surviving intestinal and multivisceral transplant recipients in the world, surviving more than 19 years post-transplant with excellent quality of life.

Black Rat Does Not Bother Mediterranean Seabirds

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Human activities have meant invasive species have been able to populate parts of the world to which they are not native and alter biodiversity there over thousands of years. Now, an international team of scientists has studied the impact of the black rat on bird populations on Mediterranean islands. Despite the rat's environmental impact, only the tiny European storm petrel has been affected over time by its enforced cohabitation with the rat.

Mediterranean Diet Associated With Reduced Risk Of Depression

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 02:00 AM PDT

Individuals who follow the Mediterranean dietary pattern -- rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish -- appear less likely to develop depression, according to a new report.

First Direct Information About Prion's Molecular Structure Reported

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered the first direct information about the molecular structure of prions. In addition, the study has revealed surprisingly large structural differences between natural prions and the closest synthetic analogs that scientists have created in the lab.

High-fat Diet Impairs Muscle Health Before Impacting Function

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Researchers report that the health of young adult muscle declines during the pre-diabetic state, which is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but lower than during type 2 diabetes.

Women's Soccer: Get Fit While Having Fun

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

New research shows that women benefit more from playing recreational soccer than from running when it comes to overall fitness. And that's not all: women playing soccer experience a higher degree of motivation when it comes to sticking to their sport, and they increase their ability to bridge and create new acquaintances.

Many Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Uncomplicated Pregnancies, Healthy Babies

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Women who survived cancer in childhood or adolescence or women whose male partner is a childhood cancer survivor do not appear to have an increased risk of major complications during pregnancy, having babies with birth defects or infant deaths, according to two reports.

Livestock Can Help Rangelands Recover From Fires

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

Scientists in Oregon found that rangelands that have been grazed by cattle recover from fires more effectively than rangelands that have been protected from livestock. These surprising findings could impact management strategies for native plant communities where ecological dynamics are shifting because of climate change, invasive weeds and other challenges.

Men Nearly Three Times As Likely To Develop Noise-induced Hearing Loss

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 PM PDT

A comprehensive study of the prevalence and risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss show that men, especially those who are white and married, are significantly more at risk than women, according to new research.

Light Shed On The Secret Behind Probiotic Bacteria Promoting Health

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Functional food is the food industry's fastest-growing product group, its leading products including dairy products which contain probiotics, that is, bacteria promoting health. Valio's Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®) is the most frequently studied and used probiotic. Scientists have now determined the genome sequences of LGG and a bacterium closely related to it.

Amazing Maze Of Maize Evolution: Study On Maize Domestication May Help Improve Crop Yields

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Understanding the evolution and domestication of maize is important for many researchers. As one of the most important crops worldwide and one that appears very different from its wild relatives because of domestication, understanding exactly how maize has evolved has many practical benefits and may help improve crop yields. Researchers recently compared corn kernel development to its closest wild relative and have overturned some commonly held beliefs on the domestication of maize.

Many Patients With Sleep Apnea Also Suffer From GI Tract Conditions

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea also tend to have additional gastrointestinal tract conditions, such as gastric reflux and hiatal hernia, which form at the opening in your diaphragm where your food pipe joins your stomach.

African Cattle To Be Protected From Killer Disease

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT

Millions of African families could be saved from destitution, thanks to a much-needed vaccine that is being mass-produced in a drive to protect cattle against a deadly parasite.

Alternative Medicine Use Increasing For Patients Suffering With Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 08:00 PM PDT

A new study suggests that a growing segment of patients are turning to complementary and alternative medical therapies to help treat the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Researchers Discover Novel Circulation In Human Eye, New Glaucoma Treatment Target

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Researchers in Canada have discovered a previously unidentified form of circulation within the human eye which may provide important new insights into glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.

Laser Scans To Confirm Nero's Return: 21st Century Scan Could Reveal Rare Sculpture Of 1st Century Roman Emperor

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Experts working at the Fishbourne Roman Palace in the UK are preparing to scan the damaged statue of a boy's head to reveal if it is a rare depiction of Roman Emperor Nero as a youngster. They will run 3D scans on the head to recreate the damaged parts of the face. If their theories are correct, the marble head would be the third surviving piece of its kind in the world and particularly rare in Britain where all images of Nero were believed to have been completely destroyed following his suicide in AD68.

Prompt Diagnosis Of Ear Infections Can Improve Outcome For Organ Transplant Recipients

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Organ transplant recipients benefit significantly when they are monitored and receive prompt diagnosis and treatment for otitis media, a common inner ear infection.

Boll Weevils: No Mistaking This Bug With New Insect ID Technique

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Misidentifying boll weevils caught in pheromone traps could be easier to avoid, thanks to a new DNA fingerprinting method.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Can Boost Quality Of Life For Patients

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT

Cosmetic surgery that repairs droopy eyelids, also known as blepharoplasty, has an overall positive impact on patients' quality of life.

Bizarre New Horned Tyrannosaur From Asia: Carnivorous But Smaller T. Rex Relative 'Like Ballerina'

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Just a few weeks after tiny, early Raptorex kriegsteini was unveiled, a new wrench has been thrown into the family tree of the tyrannosaurs. The new Alioramus altai -- a horned, long-snouted, gracile cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex -- shared the same environment with larger, predatory relatives.

Asthmatic Children: Did Mom Use Her Pump During Pregnancy?

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Expectant mothers who eschew asthma treatment during pregnancy heighten the risk transmitting the condition to their offspring, according to one of the largest studies of its kind. Researchers found that 32.6 percent of children born to mothers who neglected to treat their asthma during pregnancy developed the respiratory illness themselves.

A Better Way To Watch Bacteria Swim

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a new method for studying bacterial swimming, one that allows them to trap Escherichia coli bacteria and modify the microbes' environment without hindering the way they move. The new approach uses optical traps, microfluidic chambers and fluorescence to get an improved picture of how E. coli get around.

Curcumin May Inhibit Nicotine-induced Activation Of Head And Neck Cancers

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Curcumin, the compound that gives curry powder its yellow/orange color, may inhibit the adverse effects of nicotine in patients with head and neck cancer who continue to smoke.

New Plywood Glue Made With Corn

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

After the oil is extracted from corn germ meal, the corn germ is typically fed to poultry and other livestock animals. But a new, value-added use could be on tap for this "leftover." Researchers have determined that corn germ can be used as a protein extender for plywood glues.

Body Posture Affects Confidence In Your Own Thoughts, Study Finds

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Sitting up straight in your chair isn't just good for your posture -- it also gives you more confidence in your own thoughts, according to a new study. Researchers found that people who were told to sit up straight were more likely to believe thoughts they wrote down while in that posture concerning whether they were qualified for a job.

Seven New Luminescent Mushroom Species Discovered

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Seven new glow-in-the-dark mushroom species have been discovered, increasing the number of known luminescent fungi species from 64 to 71. The new finds include two new species named after movements in Mozart's Requiem. The discoveries also shed light on the evolution of luminescence, adding to the number of known lineages in the fungi "family tree" where luminescence has been reported.

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