ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Genetic variation linked to individual empathy, stress levels
• Previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity
• Scientists put interactive flu tracking at public's fingertips
• Connections Between Circadian And Metabolic Systems Described
• Researchers find reliable, mess-free way to grow graphene
• Pet therapy: Recovering with four-legged friends requires less pain medication
• Nanoparticles used in common household items cause genetic damage in mice
• Targeting 'normal' cells in tumors slows growth, researchers show
• New combination therapy could deliver powerful punch to breast cancer
• Slowing evolution to stop drug resistance
• Oak Ridge 'Jaguar' supercomputer is world's fastest
• Transcendental Meditation helped heart disease patients lower cardiac disease risks by 50 percent
• Ancient weapons dug up by archaeologists in England
• How ticks transmit Lyme disease to humans: Imaging technique leads to better understanding
• Investigating muscle repair, scientists follow their noses
• Young athletes need dual screening tests for heart defects, study suggests
• Disease-matching software could save children
• Motor vehicle crashes more common among young drivers who engage in self-harm behaviors
• Bacterial 'ropes' tie down shifting Southwest
• Finding a protective mechanism for retinal cells could save sight
• How cells tolerate DNA damage: Start signal for cell survival program identified
• Are sterile mosquitoes the answer to malaria elimination?
• Tennessee's Kraken named world's third fastest computer, ORNL's Jaguar is No. 1
• New Polls, Reports Highlight The Need To Update The US Food Safety System
• Volatile gas could turn Rwandan lake into a freshwater time bomb
• No-entry zones for AIDS virus
• Early end to key study on benefits of niacin, a B vitamin, in keeping arteries open was premature
• Link between climate change and cattle nutritional stress examined
• Major schizophrenia study finds striking similarities across 37 countries in 6 regions
• Close-up movie shows hidden details in the birth of super-suns
• Why certain drug combinations backfire
• New insights into the physiology of cockroaches
• 'Cross-talk' mechanism contributes to colorectal cancer
• New climate treaty could put species at risk, scientists argue
• Viagra for women? Drug developed as antidepressant effective in treating low libido
• Right-handed chimpanzees provide clues to the origin of human language
• Migraine raises risk of most common form of stroke
• Scientists guide immune cells with light and microparticles
• Vaccine against chlamydia not far away
• Simple test could offer cheap solution to detecting landmines
• Don't be happy, be worried: Sports fans need dose of negative
• Phthalate exposure linked to less-masculine play by boys
• Inadequate levels of vitamin D may significantly increase risk of stroke, heart disease and death
• Dissolved arsenic in Bangladesh drinking water is from human alteration of landscape
• Tiny bubbles clean oil from water
• Brain-injured athletes may benefit from hypothermia research

Genetic variation linked to individual empathy, stress levels Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a genetic variation that may contribute to how empathetic a human is, and how that person reacts to stress. In the first study of its kind, a variation in the hormone/neurotransmitter oxytocin's receptor was linked to a person's ability to infer the mental state of others.

Previous seasonal flu infections may provide some level of H1N1 immunity Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have found that previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 "swine" flu.

Scientists put interactive flu tracking at public's fingertips Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say. The researchers linked many powerful computer systems together to analyze enormous amounts of genetic data collected from all publicly available isolated strains of the H5N1 virus -- the cause of avian flu.

Connections Between Circadian And Metabolic Systems Described Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Biologists offer new insights into a gene that plays a key role in modulating the body's circadian system and may also simultaneously modulate its metabolic system.

Researchers find reliable, mess-free way to grow graphene Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Single layers of carbon atoms, called graphene sheets, are lightweight, strong, electrically semi-conducting -- and notoriously difficult and expensive to make. Now, scientists have invented a simple way to make graphene electrical devices by growing the graphene directly onto a silicon wafer.

Pet therapy: Recovering with four-legged friends requires less pain medication Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not, according to new research.

Nanoparticles used in common household items cause genetic damage in mice Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, found in everything from cosmetics to sunscreen to paint to vitamins, cause systemic genetic damage in mice, according to a comprehensive study.

Targeting 'normal' cells in tumors slows growth, researchers show Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Targeting the normal cells that surround cancer cells within and around a tumor is a strategy that could greatly increase the effectiveness of traditional anti-cancer treatments, say researchers.

New combination therapy could deliver powerful punch to breast cancer Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST A powerful new breast cancer treatment could result from packaging one of the newer drugs that inhibits cancer's hallmark wild growth with another that blocks a primordial survival technique in which the cancer cell eats part of itself, researchers say.

Slowing evolution to stop drug resistance Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Infectious organisms that become resistant to antibiotics are a serious threat to human society. They are also a natural part of evolution. In a new project, researchers in Sweden are attempting to find substances that can slow the pace of evolution, in order to ensure that the drugs of today remain effective into the future.

Oak Ridge 'Jaguar' supercomputer is world's fastest Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST An upgrade to a Cray XT5 high-performance computing system deployed by the Department of Energy has made the "Jaguar" supercomputer the world's fastest. Located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Jaguar is the scientific research community's most powerful computational tool for exploring solutions to some of today's most difficult problems. The upgrade, funded with $19.9 million under the Recovery Act, will enable scientific simulations for exploring solutions to climate change and the development of new energy technologies.

Transcendental Meditation helped heart disease patients lower cardiac disease risks by 50 percent Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Patients with coronary heart disease who practiced the stress-reducing transcendental meditation technique had nearly 50 percent lower rates of heart attack, stroke, and death compared to nonmeditating controls, according to the results of a first-ever study.

Ancient weapons dug up by archaeologists in England Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST A Mesolithic site may date from as early as 9000 BC, by which time hunter-gatherers had reoccupied an area near Asfordby, England, after the last ice age. These hunters crossed the land bridge from the continental mainland -- 'Britain' was only to become an island several thousand years later.

How ticks transmit Lyme disease to humans: Imaging technique leads to better understanding Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Using a powerful microscopic live imaging technique, researchers have discovered the way ticks transmit Lyme disease to humans is different than previously thought.

Investigating muscle repair, scientists follow their noses Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Inside the nose, odorant receptors bind and respond to substances wafting through the air. Unexpectedly, one particular odorant receptor gene, MOR23, is also important for the process of muscle repair. The finding could lead to new ways to treat muscular dystrophies and suggests that odorant receptors may have additional unexpected functions.

Young athletes need dual screening tests for heart defects, study suggests Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST To best detect early signs of life-threatening heart defects in young athletes, screening programs should include both popular diagnostic tests, not just one of them, according to new research from heart experts.

Disease-matching software could save children Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Software tools are being developed that can search and compare patient data at hospitals across Europe to find children with closely matched conditions. The doctors can then study how the matched patients at other hospitals were treated and whether that treatment was successful. The information will greatly improve doctors' ability to choose the right path for their own patient.

Motor vehicle crashes more common among young drivers who engage in self-harm behaviors Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Drivers who engaged in self-harm were at increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, even after controlling for psychological distress and substance abuse, found a study of 18,871 Australian drivers.

Bacterial 'ropes' tie down shifting Southwest Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that several species of microbes, at least one found prominently in the deserts of the Southwest, have evolved the trait of rope-building to lasso shifting soil substrates.

Finding a protective mechanism for retinal cells could save sight Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Determining what triggers the death of retinal cells, called photoreceptors, could hold the key to stopping blinding disorders caused by a wide range of eye diseases, researchers report.

How cells tolerate DNA damage: Start signal for cell survival program identified Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Cancer researchers in Germany have gained new insights into how cells react to DNA damage. They have shown that the protein PARP-1, which detects DNA damage within seconds, activates the transcription factor NF-kappaB. NF-kappaB triggers a survival program, which blocks programmed cell death. The activation of NF-kappaB is thought to be one of the potential causes for tumor cell resistance to chemo and radiation therapy.

Are sterile mosquitoes the answer to malaria elimination? Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The Sterile Insect Technique, the release of sexually sterile male insects to wipe out a pest population, is one suggested solution to the problem of malaria in Africa. A new article reviews the history of the technique, and features details about aspects of its application in the elimination of malaria.

Tennessee's Kraken named world's third fastest computer, ORNL's Jaguar is No. 1 Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST East Tennessee is now home to two of the world's three fastest computers, according to new rankings. The Top 500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers places University of Tennessee supercomputer Kraken in third place, where it also holds the title of world's fastest academic supercomputer, while Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Jaguar computer took first place overall.

New Polls, Reports Highlight The Need To Update The US Food Safety System Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The US Senate currently has an historic opportunity to take a major step toward improving food safety for all Americans. That is why a coalition of public health professionals, consumer organizations and groups representing victims of food-borne illness is sending the message that it is time to "make our food safe for the holidays."

Volatile gas could turn Rwandan lake into a freshwater time bomb Posted: 16 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST A dangerous level of carbon dioxide and methane gas haunts Lake Kivu, the freshwater lake bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The volatile mixture at the bottom of the lake could remain still for another 1,000 years or explode without warning. In a region prone to volcanic and seismic activity, the fragility of the lake is a serious matter. Scientists will meet in January in Gisenyi, Rwanda, to grapple with the problem.

No-entry zones for AIDS virus Posted: 16 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST The AIDS virus inserts its genetic material into the genome of the infected cell. Scientists have now shown for the first time that the virus almost entirely spares particular sites in the human genetic material in this process. This finding may be useful for developing new, specific AIDS drugs.

Early end to key study on benefits of niacin, a B vitamin, in keeping arteries open was premature Posted: 16 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Heart experts are calling premature the early halt of a study on the benefits of combining extended-release niacin, a B vitamin, with cholesterol-lowering statin medications to prevent blood vessel narrowing. Cardiovascular atherosclerosis, as it is also known, is believed responsible for one in three deaths in the United States each year.

Link between climate change and cattle nutritional stress examined Posted: 16 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST A group of researchers has found that any future increases in precipitation would be unlikely to compensate for the declines in forage quality that accompany projected temperature increases.

Major schizophrenia study finds striking similarities across 37 countries in 6 regions Posted: 16 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST An international study of schizophrenia has found striking similarities in symptoms, medication, employment and sexual problems, despite the fact that it covered a diverse range of patients and health care systems. It is estimated that schizophrenia will affect as many as one in every 250 people at some point in their lives.

Close-up movie shows hidden details in the birth of super-suns Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST A new high-resolution time-lapse movie reveals the process of massive star formation with radio images a thousand times sharper and more detailed than any previously obtained. The movie shows that massive stars form like their smaller siblings, with disk accretion and magnetic fields playing crucial roles.

Why certain drug combinations backfire Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered why certain combinations of drugs are actually less effective together than one of the drugs alone. Specifically, antibiotic drugs that block DNA replication work poorly with drugs that block protein synthesis. This is because the latter group corrects one of the weaknesses that the first group exploits.

New insights into the physiology of cockroaches Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Scientists have shed new light on how the cockroach organism works. They have shown why the German cockroach (Blatella germanica) eliminates excess nitrogen by excreting ammonia, in contrast to most terrestrial insects that commonly produce uric acid as a waste compound.

'Cross-talk' mechanism contributes to colorectal cancer Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that allows two powerful signaling pathways to interact and begin a process leading to colorectal tumors.

New climate treaty could put species at risk, scientists argue Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Plans to be discussed at the forthcoming UN climate conference in Copenhagen to cut deforestation in developing countries could save some species from extinction but inadvertently increase the risk to others, scientists believe.

Viagra for women? Drug developed as antidepressant effective in treating low libido Posted: 16 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Pooled results from three separate clinical trials of flibanserin, a drug originally created as an antidepressant, show it is effective in treating women with acquired hypoactive sexual desire disorder. These trials were the first ever to test a therapy that works at the level of the brain to enhance libido in women reporting low sexual desire.

Right-handed chimpanzees provide clues to the origin of human language Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Most of the linguistic functions in humans are controlled by the left cerebral hemisphere. A new study of captive chimpanzees suggests that this "hemispheric lateralization" for language may have its evolutionary roots in the gestural communication of our common ancestors. A large majority of the chimpanzees in the study showed a significant bias towards right-handed gestures when communicating, which may reflect a similar dominance of the left hemisphere for communication in chimpanzees as that seen for language functions in humans.

Migraine raises risk of most common form of stroke Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Pooling results from 21 studies, involving 622,381 men and women, researchers have affirmed that migraine headaches are associated with more than twofold higher chances of the most common kind of stroke: those occurring when blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off by the buildup of plaque or a blood clot.

Scientists guide immune cells with light and microparticles Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have developed a new approach to studying how immune cells chase down bacteria in our bodies. They used holographic optical tweezers to guide "artificial bacteria" -- microparticles that mimic bacteria by giving off a chemical "scent," stimulating immune cells to respond. By controlling the chemical patterns produced, they were able to study how immune cells respond to and interact with these chemical signals.

Vaccine against chlamydia not far away Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST When a woman becomes infected with chlamydia, the first white blood cells that arrive at the scene to fight the infection are not the most effective. This discovery could pave the way for the relatively rapid development of a vaccine against chlamydia.

Simple test could offer cheap solution to detecting landmines Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have developed a simple, cheap, accurate test to find undetected landmines.

Don't be happy, be worried: Sports fans need dose of negative Posted: 16 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST For sports fans watching their favorite team play, the greatest enjoyment comes only with a strong dollop of fear and maybe even near-despair, a new study suggests. Researchers studied fans of two college football teams as they watched the teams' annual rivalry game on television. They found that fans of the winning team who, at some point during the game, were almost certain their team would lose, ended up thinking the game was the most thrilling and suspenseful.

Phthalate exposure linked to less-masculine play by boys Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST A study of 145 preschool children reports, for the first time, that when the concentrations of two common phthalates in mothers' prenatal urine are elevated their sons are less likely to play with male-typical toys and games, such as trucks and play fighting.

Inadequate levels of vitamin D may significantly increase risk of stroke, heart disease and death Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers found that patients with very low levels of Vitamin D were 77 percent more likely to die, 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease, and 78 percent were more likely to have a stroke than patients with normal levels. Patients with very low levels of Vitamin D were also twice as likely to develop heart failure than those with normal Vitamin D levels.

Dissolved arsenic in Bangladesh drinking water is from human alteration of landscape Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers believe they have pinpointed a pathway by which arsenic may be contaminating the drinking water in Bangladesh, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists, world health agencies and the Bangladeshi government for nearly 30 years. The research suggests that human alteration to the landscape, the construction of villages with ponds, and the adoption of irrigated agriculture are responsible for the current pattern of arsenic concentration underground.

Tiny bubbles clean oil from water Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Small amounts of oil leave a fluorescent sheen on polluted water. Oil sheen is hard to remove, even when the water is aerated with ozone or filtered through sand. Now, an engineer has developed an inexpensive new method to remove oil sheen by repeatedly pressurizing and depressurizing ozone gas, creating microscopic bubbles that attack the oil so it can be removed by sand filters.

Brain-injured athletes may benefit from hypothermia research Posted: 16 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST NFL players and other athletes who suffer serious or multiple concussions may benefit from ground-breaking new research. Scientists are developing a surgical technique that involves hypothermia in specific regions of the brain.

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