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• Bigger not necessarily better, when it comes to brains
• Detonating tumor-killer drug in cancers on command
• Decline In Russian Tigers Renews Calls To End All Trade In Tiger Parts
• Prevalence of high LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol levels decreases in US
• Can playing active video games equal moderate intensity exercise?
• Some obese people perceive body size as OK, dismiss need to lose weight
• Exotic electric properties of graphene confirmed
• Could widely used rapid influenza tests pose a dangerous public health risk?
• Diatoms Reveal Climate Changes
• Treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 associated with increased risk of cancer, death
• Advanced nuclear fuel sets global performance record
• Text message reminders may encourage sunscreen use
• Dozen lesser-known chemicals have strong impact on climate change
• Your own stem cells can treat heart disease, study suggests
• Engineer discovers why particles disperse on liquids
• Promising Results For Rapid Viral Diagnosis Tests In Emergency Rooms
• When Glass Develops Into A Shell: New Findings In Diatoms
• Coed college housing connected to frequent binge drinking
• Major Advance In Organic Solar Cells
• Sight Gone, But Not Necessarily Lost?
• Orphan Army Ants Join Nearby Colonies
• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Effective At Preventing Child Deaths, Study Suggests
• US physics lab ties in race for atomic-scale breakthrough
• To eat or not to eat? Mental budgets help control consumption
• Depression as deadly as smoking, study finds
• Disrupting Male Fertility
• Monsoon Model Indicates Potential For Abrupt Transitions
• Mastectomy Not Being Overused For Breast Cancer Treatment, Study Suggests
• Tension On The Grapevine: Trellis Tension Monitoring Offers Accurate Solution For Grape Growers
• Stronger graduated driver's licensing program would save lives, prevent injuries
• Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions up by 29 percent since 2000
• For many, mammography every other year has benefits of annual screening, but less harm
• First Clear Idea Of How Rare Bone Disease Progresses
• Inhibition of GRK2 is protective against acute cardiac stress injuries
• New Water Management Tool May Help Ease Effects Of Drought
• Surgical errors remain a challenge in and out of the operating room
• Heart disease found in Egyptian mummies
• World's first delivery of intra-arterial Avastin directly into brain tumor
• Are female mountain goats sexually conflicted over size of mate?
• New neuroimaging analysis technique identifies impact of Alzheimer's disease gene in healthy brains
• How Much Water Does The Ocean Have?
• Monetary gain and high-risk tactics stimulate activity in the brain
• Ancient high-altitude trees grow faster as temperatures rise
• EKG can show false positive readings for diagnosing heart condition
• Use of fetus-harming prescription medications shockingly common, Canadian study finds
• Acute heart attack patients receiving high ionizing radiation dose
• Using Darwin in helping to define the biological essentiality of silicon and aluminium
• The straight dope: Studies link parental monitoring with decreased teen marijuana usage

Bigger not necessarily better, when it comes to brains Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists. Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent. This begs the important question: what are they for?

Detonating tumor-killer drug in cancers on command Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST A new delivery and trigger system has for the first time successfully placed TRAIL, a cancer-fighting protein, directly into solid tumors and on cue, turned it on. The treatment improved the 30-day survival time of mice with mammary tumors from 0 to 100 percent.

Decline In Russian Tigers Renews Calls To End All Trade In Tiger Parts Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST A shocking decline in the Russian Federation's wild tiger population highlights the importance of eliminating trade in and demand for tiger parts, the International Tiger Coalition has said.  Research shows that Siberian tigers may have suffered a serious drop in numbers over the past four years.

Prevalence of high LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol levels decreases in US Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Between 1999 and 2006, the prevalence of adults in the US with high levels of LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, decreased by about one-third, according to a new study. But a high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels.

Can playing active video games equal moderate intensity exercise? Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST One-third of Wii sport and Wii fit activities provide energy expenditures equal to moderate-intensity exercise. Active video games may help prevent or improve obesity and lifestyle-related diseases, researchers said. The study was funded by Nintendo.

Some obese people perceive body size as OK, dismiss need to lose weight Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Eight percent of obese people misperceived their body size, believing they did not need to lose weight or that they could afford to gain weight. While those who misperceived their need for weight loss thought they were healthier than others their age, they had the same risk factors for heart disease as other obese patients. Those who misperceived their body size were less likely to exercise and see a physician than their counterparts who accurately perceived their body size.

Exotic electric properties of graphene confirmed Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST First, it was the soccer-ball-shaped molecules dubbed buckyballs. Then it was the cylindrically shaped nanotubes. Now, the hottest new material in physics and nanotechnology is graphene: a remarkably flat molecule made of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal rings much like molecular chicken wire.

Could widely used rapid influenza tests pose a dangerous public health risk? Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Rapid influenza diagnostic tests used in doctors' offices, hospitals and medical laboratories to detect H1N1 are virtually useless and could pose a significant danger to public health, according to a researcher.

Diatoms Reveal Climate Changes Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Some 500 years ago there was a change in the circulation in the atmosphere over Scandinavia. This probably led to increased amounts of winter precipitation in northern Sweden for a period.

Treatment with folic acid, vitamin B12 associated with increased risk of cancer, death Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Patients with heart disease in Norway, a country with no fortification of foods with folic acid, had an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if they had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12, according to a new study.

Advanced nuclear fuel sets global performance record Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have set a new world record with next-generation particle fuel for use in high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs).

Text message reminders may encourage sunscreen use Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Daily text message reminders appear to increase sunscreen use over a six-week period, according to a new study.

Dozen lesser-known chemicals have strong impact on climate change Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST A new study indicates that major chemicals most often cited as leading causes of climate change, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are outclassed in their warming potential by compounds receiving less attention.

Your own stem cells can treat heart disease, study suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST The largest national stem cell study for heart disease showed the first evidence that transplanting a potent form of adult stem cells into the heart muscle of patients with severe angina results in less pain and an improved ability to walk. They also experienced fewer deaths than those who didn't receive stem cells. The stem cells were injected in an effort to spur the growth of small blood vessels in the heart muscle.

Engineer discovers why particles disperse on liquids Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Even if you are not a cook, you might have wondered why a pinch of flour (or any small particles) thrown into a bowl of water will disperse in a dramatic fashion, radiating outward as if it was exploding. A mechanical engineering professor can now explain why.

Promising Results For Rapid Viral Diagnosis Tests In Emergency Rooms Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Rapid viral diagnosis tests for respiratory diseases in children who arrive in emergency departments have the potential to reduce pressures on health systems by enabling doctors to reach a quicker diagnosis, according to researchers. However, they say larger trials are needed to confirm this finding.

When Glass Develops Into A Shell: New Findings In Diatoms Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Diatoms are microalgae that are responsible for nearly a quarter of the oxygen we breathe, but how does their glass-like skeleton develop? Researchers have solved part of the mystery concerning these organisms, so abundant in our oceans, by discovering several genes that are involved in the storage and transport of silica, the principal constituent of glass.

Coed college housing connected to frequent binge drinking Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Students placed by their universities in coed housing are 2.5 times more likely to binge drink each week than students placed in all-male or all-female housing.

Major Advance In Organic Solar Cells Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Scientists have announced a major advance in the synthesis of organic polymers for plastic solar cells. Gains in speed, quality and current over conventional production techniques hold promise for both research and commercial production.

Sight Gone, But Not Necessarily Lost? Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Like all tissues in the body, the eye needs a healthy blood supply to function properly. Poorly developed blood vessels can lead to visual impairment or even blindness. While many of the molecules involved in guiding the development of the intricate blood vessel architecture are known, only now are we learning how these molecules work and how they might affect sight. Researchers have now found that when some cells in the mouse retina are not properly fed by blood vessels, they can remain alive for many months and can later recover some or all of their normal function, suggesting that similar conditions in people may also be reversible.

Orphan Army Ants Join Nearby Colonies Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Colonies of army ants, whose long columns and marauding habits are the stuff of natural-history legend, are usually antagonistic to each other, attacking soldiers from rival colonies in border disputes that keep the colonies separate. But new work shows that in some cases the colonies can be cooperative instead of combative.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Effective At Preventing Child Deaths, Study Suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST A new study concludes that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), already known to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and X-ray defined pneumonia, were also effective against child deaths. According to the review, 80 percent of children were less likely to develop vaccine-type IPD, 58 percent all-serotype IPD, and 27 percent x-ray defined pneumonia than children who did not receive the vaccine. Eleven percent of child deaths were also prevented.

US physics lab ties in race for atomic-scale breakthrough Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Everybody loves a race to the wire, even when the result is a tie. The great irony is the ultraprecise clocks that could result from this competition could probably break any tie. A second lab of physicists has now demonstrated the long-sought creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate of strontium atoms.

To eat or not to eat? Mental budgets help control consumption Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST If you feel like you're in a losing battle with a triple-chocolate cake, a "mental budget" can help, according to a new study.

Depression as deadly as smoking, study finds Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study has found that depression is as much of a risk factor for mortality as smoking. The study also shows that patients with depression face an overall increased risk of mortality, while a combination of depression and anxiety in patients lowers mortality compared with depression alone.

Disrupting Male Fertility Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The sexual function of male rodents can be impaired by in utero and/or neonatal exposure to external molecules such as DES that disrupt normal hormone functioning, giving rise to concerns that low-level exposure to such molecules might cause similar effects in humans. New research, to be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, has determined the molecular mechanism underlying many of the harmful effects of DES on the mouse testis.

Monsoon Model Indicates Potential For Abrupt Transitions Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A self-amplifying effect presently sustains monsoon winds, but it could also disrupt the circulation over land and sea. The periodical rainfall could stop from one season to another or for months within seasons. High air pollution could lead to the disruption. Global warming increases the risk of abrupt monsoon transitions from high-precipitation to dry periods.

Mastectomy Not Being Overused For Breast Cancer Treatment, Study Suggests Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST With there being a concern that mastectomy is excessively used as a treatment for breast cancer, a survey of nearly 2,000 women indicates that breast-conserving surgery was attempted as the initial therapy for about 75 percent of those surveyed, according to a new study.

Tension On The Grapevine: Trellis Tension Monitoring Offers Accurate Solution For Grape Growers Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Predictions of grape yields are extremely important to juice processors and wineries but until recently, forecasting yields has relied on expensive and labor-intensive hand-sampling methods. However, a new approach, Trellis Tension Monitor has been developed that works by detecting weight change on trellised grapevines as the vine and grapes grow. Using 10 commercial vineyards, researchers found that TTM produced more-accurate estimates of yield than previous methods.

Stronger graduated driver's licensing program would save lives, prevent injuries Posted: 17 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A new study shows that three-stage graduated driver's licensing (GDL) policies save lives and prevents injuries throughout the Midwest. The research also shows how states could save more teen lives and avoid thousands of teen motor vehicle injuries by modifying their GDL policies to include new, proven components.

Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions up by 29 percent since 2000 Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST The strongest evidence yet that the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions continues to outstrip the ability of the world's natural "sinks" to absorb carbon has just been published.

For many, mammography every other year has benefits of annual screening, but less harm Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST A comprehensive analysis of various mammography screening schedules suggests that biennial (every two years) screening of average risk women between the ages of 50 and 74 achieves most of the benefits of annual screening, but with less harm.

First Clear Idea Of How Rare Bone Disease Progresses Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists are taking the first step in developing a treatment for a rare genetic disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), in which the body's skeletal muscles and soft connective tissue turns to bone, immobilizing patients over a lifetime with a second skeleton.

Inhibition of GRK2 is protective against acute cardiac stress injuries Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Inhibition of a protein known to contribute to heart failure also appears to be protective of the heart in more acute cardiac stress injury, namely ischemia reperfusion, according to two new studies.

New Water Management Tool May Help Ease Effects Of Drought Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Continued improvement of climate forecasts is resulting in better information about what rainfall may look like months in advance. A researcher has now developed an innovative water management framework that would take advantage of these forecasts to plan for droughts or excess rain in order to make the most efficient use of an area's water resources.

Surgical errors remain a challenge in and out of the operating room Posted: 17 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Despite a national focus on reducing surgical errors, surgery-related adverse events continue to occur both inside and outside the operating room, according to an analysis of events at Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers.

Heart disease found in Egyptian mummies Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Hardening of the arteries has been detected in Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, suggesting that the factors causing heart attack and stroke are not only modern ones; they afflicted ancient people, too.

World's first delivery of intra-arterial Avastin directly into brain tumor Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Neurosurgeons have performed the world's first intra-arterial cerebral infusion of Avastin (bevacizumab) directly into a patient's malignant brain tumor. This novel technique may expose the cancer to higher doses of the drug therapy, while possibly sparing the patient common side effects of receiving the drug intravenously or throughout their body.

Are female mountain goats sexually conflicted over size of mate? Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Mountain goats are no exception to the general rule among mammals that larger males sire more and healthier offspring. But researchers have found a genetic quirk that might make female mountain goats think twice about their romantic partners.

New neuroimaging analysis technique identifies impact of Alzheimer's disease gene in healthy brains Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Brain imaging can offer a window into risk for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. A new study has demonstrated that genetic risk is expressed in the brains of even those who are healthy, but carry some risk for AD.

How Much Water Does The Ocean Have? Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST The calculation of variations in the sea level is relatively simple. It is by far more complicated to then determine the change in the water mass. A team of geodesists and oceanographers have now, for the first time succeeded in doing this. The researchers were able to observe short-term fluctuations in the spatial distribution of the ocean water masses. Their results are, amongst others, important for improved climate models.

Monetary gain and high-risk tactics stimulate activity in the brain Posted: 17 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Monetary gain stimulates activity in the brain, Japanese researchers report. Even the mere possibility of receiving a reward is known to activate an area of the brain called the striatum.

Ancient high-altitude trees grow faster as temperatures rise Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Increasing temperatures at high altitudes are fueling the post-1950 growth spurt seen in bristlecone pines, the world's oldest trees, according to new research. The pines near treeline have wider annual growth rings for the period from 1951 to 2000 than for the previous 3,700 years. Regional temperatures, particularly at high elevations, have increased during the same 50-year time period. The finding is another example of changes in high-elevation ecosystems that are linked to warming temperatures.

EKG can show false positive readings for diagnosing heart condition Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST The electrical measurements on the electrocardiogram can often mislead physicians in diagnosing the heart condition left ventricular hypertrophy, causing other screening tests to be ordered before a definitive conclusion can be made, according to a new study.

Use of fetus-harming prescription medications shockingly common, Canadian study finds Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST More than six percent of expectant mothers in Quebec, Canada, consume prescription drugs that are known to be harmful to their fetuses, according to a new study. Half these women will voluntarily terminate their pregnancy fearing congenital malformations, which means the abortion rate among these women is 11 percent higher than in the rest of the population.

Acute heart attack patients receiving high ionizing radiation dose Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST During a single hospitalization, acute heart attack patients averaged a total ionizing radiation dose equal to 725 chest X-rays. Researchers need to better determine which and when ionizing radiation tests are best used in heart attack patients.

Using Darwin in helping to define the biological essentiality of silicon and aluminium Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST In this year, 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species' a UK scientist has used Darwin's seminal work on Natural Selection in helping to define the biological essentiality of the second (silicon) and third (aluminium) most abundant elements of the Earth's crust.

The straight dope: Studies link parental monitoring with decreased teen marijuana usage Posted: 17 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug by adolescents, with almost 42 percent of high school seniors admitting to having experimented with it. Many studies have focused on parents as being the best avenue for preventing adolescent marijuana use; however, the strength of the relationship between monitoring and marijuana usage has been unclear. According to a meta-analysis, there is in a fact a strong, reliable link between parental monitoring and decreased marijuana usage in adolescents.

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