ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• 'Fly paper' created to capture circulating cancer cells
• Common pain relief medication may encourage cancer growth
• Bees can learn differences in food's temperature, study finds
• Nutrigenomics researchers replicate gene interaction with saturated fat
• 'Fingerprinting' RFID tags: Researchers develop anti-counterfeiting technology
• Pig out more at Thanksgiving and you may shop less
• Cognitive dysfunction reversed in mouse model of Down syndrome
• How viruses destroy bacteria
• Accidental discovery produces durable new blue pigment for multiple applications
• Last-resort lower-body amputation effective in extreme cases of bone infection, 25-year review shows
• Is 80-year-old mistake leading to first species to be fished to extinction?
• Easing needle anxiety
• Oceans' uptake of human-made carbon may be slowing
• Study raises concerns about outdoor second-hand smoke
• Beyond genomics, biologists and engineers decode the next frontier
• Pushing the brain to find new pathways
• Novel connector uses magnets for leak-free microfluidic devices
• Avoiding panic in pandemics
• Harnessing waste heat from laptop computers, cell phones may double battery time
• New mechanism identified for beneficial effects of aspirin in cardiovascular disease
• Predator beetle to battle hemlock pest
• Increased obesity hindering success at reducing heart disease risk
• Engineering functional structures with single atoms and molecules
• People work harder when expecting a future challenging task
• Blindness causes structural brain changes, implying brain can re-organize itself to adapt
• Good news on multiple sclerosis and pregnancy
• Freezing: A phenomenon that 'jumps'
• Women suffering sudden cardiac arrest have lower prevalence of structural heart disease than men
• First aquarium in US to breed dwarf cuttlefish
• Adverse symptom reporting by patients vs. clinicians
• Extinct moa rewrites New Zealand's history
• Immune system activated in schizophrenia
• How plant stem cells guard against genetic damage
• Pre-eclampsia linked to thyroid problems
• Customizing electric cars for cost-effective urban commuting
• Uninsured more likely to die after trauma
• Drug for erectile dysfunction improves heart function in young heart-disease patients
• Walking hazard: Cell-phone use -- but not music -- reduces pedestrian safety
• Common herbal medicine may prevent acetaminophen-related liver damage, says researcher
• Oscar Pistorius' artificial limbs give him clear, major advantage for sprint running, new study suggests
• Immediate, aggressive spending on HIV/AIDS could end epidemic
• Cat brain-based computer: Scientists perform cat-scale cortical simulations and map the human brain
• Cancers' sweet tooth may be weakness
• Parkinson's disease: Findings could speed development of new drugs
• Secondhand smoke exposure worse for toddlers, obese children
• Entangled photons created from quantum dots
• Introverts experience more health problems, study suggests

'Fly paper' created to capture circulating cancer cells Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Just as fly paper captures insects, an innovative new device with nano-sized features is able to grab cancer cells in the blood that have broken off from a tumor. These cells, known as circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, can provide critical information for examining and diagnosing cancer metastasis, determining patient prognosis, and monitoring the effectiveness of therapies.

Common pain relief medication may encourage cancer growth Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Although morphine has been the gold-standard treatment for postoperative and chronic cancer pain for two centuries, a growing body of evidence is showing that opiate-based painkillers can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells. Two new studies advance that argument and demonstrate how shielding lung cancer cells from opiates reduces cell proliferation, invasion and migration in both cell-culture and mouse models.

Bees can learn differences in food's temperature, study finds Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Biologists have discovered that honeybees can discriminate between food at different temperatures, an ability that may assist bees in locating the warm, sugar-rich nectar or high-protein pollen produced by many flowers.

Nutrigenomics researchers replicate gene interaction with saturated fat Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Rsearchers have identified a gene-diet interaction that appears to influence body weight and have replicated their findings in three independent studies. Men and women carrying the CC genotype demonstrated higher body mass index scores and a higher incidence of obesity, but only if they consumed a diet high in saturated fat. These associations were seen in the apolipoprotein A-II gene promoter.

'Fingerprinting' RFID tags: Researchers develop anti-counterfeiting technology Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Engineering researchers have developed a unique and robust method to prevent cloning of passive radio frequency identification tags. The technology, based on one or more unique physical attributes of individual tags rather than information stored on them, will prevent the production of counterfeit tags and thus greatly enhance both security and privacy for government agencies, businesses and consumers.

Pig out more at Thanksgiving and you may shop less Posted: 19 Nov 2009 11:00 AM PST Eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and mashed potatoes makes consumers less likely to buy on impulse, which might affect the outcome of their shopping on Black Friday, historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year.

Cognitive dysfunction reversed in mouse model of Down syndrome Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST At birth, children with Down syndrome aren't developmentally delayed. But as they age, these kids fall behind. Memory deficits inherent in Down syndrome hinder learning, making it hard for the brain to collect experiences needed for normal cognitive development. Scientists have now demonstrated a possible new approach to slowing the inevitable progression of cognitive decline found in Down syndrome.

How viruses destroy bacteria Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Viruses are well known for attacking humans and animals, but some viruses instead attack bacteria. Researchers are exploring how hungry viruses, armed with transformer-like weapons, attack bacteria, which may aid in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Accidental discovery produces durable new blue pigment for multiple applications Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST An accidental discovery has apparently solved a quest that over thousands of years has absorbed the energies of ancient Egyptians, the Han dynasty in China, Mayan cultures and more -- the creation of a near-perfect blue pigment.

Last-resort lower-body amputation effective in extreme cases of bone infection, 25-year review shows Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST A landmark, 25-year review of cases in which surgeons had to remove the lower portion of the body from the waist down for severe pelvic bone infections shows the therapy can add years and quality of life to survivors.

Is 80-year-old mistake leading to first species to be fished to extinction? Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST A species of common skate is to become the first marine fish species to be driven to extinction by commercial fishing, due to an error of species classification 80 years ago.

Easing needle anxiety Posted: 19 Nov 2009 08:00 AM PST Needle! For some people, the word -- almost as much as the sight of one sliding into skin -- is enough for people to cringe, cry, even swoon if they're standing in line waiting for one.

Oceans' uptake of human-made carbon may be slowing Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST The oceans play a key role in regulating climate, absorbing more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans put into the air. Now, the first year-by-year accounting of this mechanism during the industrial era suggests the oceans are struggling to keep up with rising emissions -- a finding with potentially wide implications for future climate.

Study raises concerns about outdoor second-hand smoke Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new study suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard.

Beyond genomics, biologists and engineers decode the next frontier Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Biologists and engineers have dramatically improved the speed and accuracy of measuring an enigmatic set of proteins that influences almost every aspect of how cells and tissues function. The new method offers a long-sought tool for studying stem cells, cancer and other problems of fundamental importance to biology and medicine.

Pushing the brain to find new pathways Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Until recently, scientists believed that, following a stroke, a patient had about six months to regain any lost function. After that, patients would be forced to compensate for the lost function by focusing on their remaining abilities. Although this belief has been refuted, an occupational therapy professor believes that the current health system is still not giving patients enough time to recover.

Novel connector uses magnets for leak-free microfluidic devices Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a new, inexpensive, reusable and highly efficient microfluidic connector. The connector employs a ring magnet with a O-ring gasket on its bottom and a tube in its center set directly atop the inlet or outlet port of a microfluidic channel embedded in a glass chip. A disc magnet on the underside of the chip holds the first magnet -- and its tubing -- securely in place.

Avoiding panic in pandemics Posted: 19 Nov 2009 05:00 AM PST Public health officials walking a tightrope between massive demand for vaccines and intense public scrutiny of side effects now have a new standard for evaluating the safety of their vaccination programs.

Harnessing waste heat from laptop computers, cell phones may double battery time Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST New research points the way to a technology that might make it possible to harvest much of the wasted heat produced by everything from computer processor chips to car engines to electric power plants, and turn it into usable electricity.

New mechanism identified for beneficial effects of aspirin in cardiovascular disease Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST New data in humans shows that all doses of aspirin used in clinical practice increase nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is released from the blood vessel wall and may decrease the development and progression of plaques leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Predator beetle to battle hemlock pest Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Hemlock woolly adelgids (HWA) -- aphidlike insects that have destroyed stands of hemlocks throughout the East Coast -- were first identified in hemlocks in the central Finger Lakes in summer 2008. To battle the hemlock-killing insects, a team of entomologists has released one of the adelgids' natural predators as a case study.

Increased obesity hindering success at reducing heart disease risk Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The percentage of overweight and obese adults in the United States has increased over the past two decades -- undermining efforts to reduce heart disease risk factors. Rising obesity is associated with the lower likelihood of having optimal blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Another study indicates that weight loss may correct structural heart damage in obese patients.

Engineering functional structures with single atoms and molecules Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST The performance of modern electronics increases steadily on a fast pace thanks to the ongoing miniaturization of the utilized components. However, severe problems arise due to quantum-mechanical phenomena when conventional structures are simply made smaller and reach the nanometer scale. Therefore current research focuses on the so-called bottom-up approach: the engineering of functional structures with the smallest possible building blocks -- single atoms and molecules.

People work harder when expecting a future challenging task Posted: 19 Nov 2009 02:00 AM PST Consumers will work harder on a task if they're expecting to have to do something difficult at a later time, according to a new study.

Blindness causes structural brain changes, implying brain can re-organize itself to adapt Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have confirmed that blindness causes structural changes in the brain, implying that the brain may re-organize itself functionally in order to adapt to a loss in sensory inputs.

Good news on multiple sclerosis and pregnancy Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST There is good news for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. A new study shows that pregnant women with multiple sclerosis are only slightly more likely to have cesarean deliveries and babies with a poor prenatal growth rate than women who do not have MS.

Freezing: A phenomenon that 'jumps' Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST The freezing of suspensions of particles is not always a uniform phenomenon; in certain conditions it leads to a modification of the redistribution of particles and the growth of crystals. These results have been obtained by observing, through X-ray imaging, the movement of particles while they are being frozen.

Women suffering sudden cardiac arrest have lower prevalence of structural heart disease than men Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST A woman who suffers sudden cardiac arrest is significantly less likely than a man to exhibit the decrease in the heart's pumping ability that is widely recognized as a precursor, says a new study.

First aquarium in US to breed dwarf cuttlefish Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have established a successful captive breeding program for dwarf cuttlefish, Sepia bandensis. The program is the first of its kind in a US aquarium, and offers the academy and other institutions the opportunity to study a species that is both captivating and little known.

Adverse symptom reporting by patients vs. clinicians Posted: 18 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST Clinician's and patient's adverse symptom reports may be discrepant from each other, but provide complementary, clinically meaningful information, according to a new study.

Extinct moa rewrites New Zealand's history Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST The evolutionary history of New Zealand's many extinct flightless moa has been re-written in the first comprehensive study of more than 260 sub-fossil specimens to combine all known genetic, anatomical, geological and ecological information about the unique bird lineage.

Immune system activated in schizophrenia Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Patients with recent-onset schizophrenia have higher levels of inflammatory substances in their brains, according to new research. This findings offer hope of being able to treat schizophrenia with drugs that affect the immune system.

How plant stem cells guard against genetic damage Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Scientists have shown how plants can protect themselves against genetic damage caused by environmental stresses. The growing tips of plant roots and shoots have an in-built mechanism that, if it detects damage to the DNA, causes the cell to "commit suicide" rather than pass on its defective DNA.

Pre-eclampsia linked to thyroid problems Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Women who experience preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy, may have an increased risk for reduced thyroid functioning later in life, report researchers.

Customizing electric cars for cost-effective urban commuting Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Researchers have launched a new community-based approach to electric vehicle design, conversion and operations. The new research project, ChargeCar, will explore how electric vehicles can be customized for an individual's commuting needs and how an electric vehicle's efficiency can be boosted and its battery life extended by using artificial intelligence to manage power.

Uninsured more likely to die after trauma Posted: 18 Nov 2009 08:00 PM PST Americans without health insurance appear more likely to die following admission to the hospital for trauma than those with health care coverage, according to a report.

Drug for erectile dysfunction improves heart function in young heart-disease patients Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST After treatment with sildenafil, heart function significantly improved in children and young adults with single-ventricle congenital heart disease who have had the Fontan operation. Sildenafil is a drug commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.

Walking hazard: Cell-phone use -- but not music -- reduces pedestrian safety Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Two new studies of pedestrian safety found that using a cell phone while hoofing it can endanger one's health.

Common herbal medicine may prevent acetaminophen-related liver damage, says researcher Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST A well-known Eastern medicine supplement may help avoid the most common cause of liver transplantation, according to a new study. The finding came as a surprise to the scientists, who used a number of advanced genetic and genomic techniques in mice to identify a molecular pathway that counters acetaminophen toxicity, which leads to liver failure.

Oscar Pistorius' artificial limbs give him clear, major advantage for sprint running, new study suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST The artificial lower limbs of double-amputee Olympic hopeful Oscar Pistorius give him a clear and major advantage over his competition, taking 10 seconds or more off what his 400-meter race time would be if his prosthesis behaved like intact limbs. That's the conclusion of human performance experts.

Immediate, aggressive spending on HIV/AIDS could end epidemic Posted: 18 Nov 2009 05:00 PM PST Money available to treat HIV/AIDS is sufficient to end the epidemic globally, but only if we act immediately to control the spread of the disease, according to new research. This approach defies conventional thinking, which recommends gradual spending over 15-20 years. The study was based on a mathematical model developed by mathematicians and biologists, who recently earned acclaim for a study on how best to handle a planetary invasion by zombies.

Cat brain-based computer: Scientists perform cat-scale cortical simulations and map the human brain Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST IBM has announced significant progress toward creating a computer system that simulates and emulates the brain's abilities for sensation, perception, action, interaction and cognition, while rivaling the brain's low power and energy consumption and compact size. Scientists have performed the first near real-time cortical simulation of the brain that exceeds the scale of a cat cortex and contains 1 billion spiking neurons and 10 trillion individual learning synapses.

Cancers' sweet tooth may be weakness Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Cancer cells tend to take up more glucose than healthy cells and metabolize it in a process called glycolysis. An enzyme called PKM2 that governs cancer cells' preference for glucose may be a valuable anti-cancer drug target.

Parkinson's disease: Findings could speed development of new drugs Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have significantly advanced our understanding of dopamine release from nerve cells, findings that should speed the development of more effective drugs for treating Parkinson's disease. People with Parkinson's disease suffer from muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. These primary symptoms are caused by the loss of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain.

Secondhand smoke exposure worse for toddlers, obese children Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST Some children may suffer greater consequences of secondhand smoke exposure. In both toddlers and adolescents, obesity enhances the cardiovascular toxicities of secondhand smoke exposure. Toddlers had a four times greater risk of secondhand smoke exposure when compared to adolescents, despite having similar reported home exposures.

Entangled photons created from quantum dots Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST To exploit the quantum world to the fullest, a key commodity is entanglement -- the spooky, distance-defying link that can form between objects such as atoms even when they are completely shielded from one another. Now, physicists have developed a promising new source of entangled photons using quantum dots tweaked with a laser.

Introverts experience more health problems, study suggests Posted: 18 Nov 2009 02:00 PM PST People who experience a lot of negative emotions and do not express these experience more health problems, according to new research. Researchers discovered that heart failure patients with a negative outlook reported their complaints to a physician or nurse far less often. The personality of the partner can also exert a considerable influence on these patients.

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