ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Few gender differences in math abilities, worldwide study finds
• Research unlocks secrets of protein linked to spread of viruses
• Tipping elements in the Earth System: How stable is the contemporary environment?
• New virus is not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, suggests new research
• Early-warning system defends rare Jersey cows from disease spreading through Europe
• Sexual function does not continuously decline after radiation therapy treatments for prostate cancer, study finds
• Earliest Tyrannosauroid rediscovered in museum collection
• 'Junk DNA' could spotlight breast and bowel cancer
• Restaurant and packaged foods can have more calories than nutrition labeling indicates
• New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations
• Earth Science: Turbulence around heat transport in Earth's mantle
• Serious emotional disturbances found among children after Katrina
• Electric field propels worms to test new drugs
• Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles, new study suggests
• New mathematical model aids Big Bang supercomputer research
• Caffeine consumption associated with less severe liver fibrosis
• New solar pond distillation system devised
• Two sides of the same coin: Speech and gesture mutually interact to enhance comprehension
• In all the universe, just 10 percent of solar systems are like ours
• Biodegradable particles can bypass mucus, release drugs over time
• Rebirth Of An Island After Volcanic Eruption
• Small, thin children may have poorer lung function
• Worm's eye view: Molecular worm algorithm navigates inside chemical labyrinth
• Abuse in childhood linked to migraine and other pain disorders
• 'Ferropaper' is new technology for small motors, robots
• Celebrex inhibits burden of skin cancer in high-risk patients, research finds
• Natural compounds in pomegranates may prevent growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer
• New eating device retrains dietary habits and helps children lose weight
• FDA clears TransOral robotic surgery
• Technology new gateway into treatment for problem alcohol users
• Nature's most precise clocks may make 'galactic GPS' possible: Pulsars help in search for gravitational waves
• Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection
• Scientist's breakthrough given ticket to Mars
• Discovery may help stop age-related macular degeneration at the molecular level
• Major Australian droughts traced to different causes
• Why England's soccer team keeps losing on penalty shots
• From crickets to whales, animal calls have something in common
• New Combination Therapy Looks Promising Against Ulcer Bacteria
• Researchers discover antibody receptor identity, propose renaming immune-system gene
• Alternative To Pap Test Does Not Appear To Be Better For Detecting Cervical Cancer
• As the refrigerator said to the hi-fi ...
• Rural America more prosperous than expected, study finds
• Growing new body parts: Master mechanism for regeneration?
• Why circumcised men are less likely to become infected with HIV: Changes in bacteria within penis microbiome
• Cost Effectiveness Of Blood Pressure Device Evaluated
• Benefit Of Memantine In The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease Not Proven
• Scientists Create NICE Solution To Pneumonia Vaccine Testing Problems
• For low-income families with special needs kids, where you live matters

Few gender differences in math abilities, worldwide study finds Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Girls around the world are not worse at math than boys, even though boys are more confident in their math abilities, and girls from countries where gender equity is more prevalent are more likely to perform better on mathematics assessment tests, according to a new analysis of international research.

Research unlocks secrets of protein linked to spread of viruses Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Researchers have unlocked some of the secrets of a viral protein, known as Rev, which plays an essential role in the propagation mechanism of certain types of viruses within an organism.

Tipping elements in the Earth System: How stable is the contemporary environment? Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST New research presents the latest scientific insights on so-called tipping elements in the planetary environment. These elements have been identified as the most vulnerable large-scale components of the Earth System that may be profoundly altered by human interference. If one or more of those components is tipped -- especially in the course of global warming -- then the age of remarkably stable environmental conditions on Earth throughout the Holocene may end quickly and irreversibly.

New virus is not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, suggests new research Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST New research has not reproduced previous findings that suggested chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to a recently discovered virus. The authors of the study say this means that anti-retroviral drugs may not be an effective treatment for people with the illness.

Early-warning system defends rare Jersey cows from disease spreading through Europe Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Scientists from the Channel Islands are working on an early-warning system to help defend cattle against "bluetongue" disease, which can be carried from France by the wind.

Sexual function does not continuously decline after radiation therapy treatments for prostate cancer, study finds Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Sexual function in prostate cancer patients receiving external beam radiation therapy decreases within the first two years after treatment but then stabilizes and does not continuously decline as was previously thought, according to a new study.

Earliest Tyrannosauroid rediscovered in museum collection Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST A long forgotten fossil skull in the collections of the Natural History Museum in London has now provided crucial clues to the early stages of the lengthy evolutionary history of Tyrannosaurus rex and related large carnivorous dinosaurs.

'Junk DNA' could spotlight breast and bowel cancer Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Scientists have found that a group of genetic rogue elements, produced by DNA sequences commonly known as "junk DNA," could help diagnose breast and bowel cancer.

Restaurant and packaged foods can have more calories than nutrition labeling indicates Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Since people who are trying to reduce their weight are encouraged to choose meals labeled as "lower in calories" or "reduced energy" in restaurants and supermarkets, it is essential that the listed data are accurate. In a new study, researchers found that some commercially prepared foods contained more calories than indicated in nutritional labeling.

New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST New figures on deaths from cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality between the periods 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Deaths from all cancers in the European Union between these two periods fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women, with a large drop among the middle-aged population.

Earth Science: Turbulence around heat transport in Earth's mantle Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Heat transport in the Earth's mantle and in the atmosphere is probably not as effective as previously thought.

Serious emotional disturbances found among children after Katrina Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Mental health professionals have shown that there are serious emotional disturbances (SED) among children as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The Category 3 storm ravaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Characteristics of SED include inappropriate behavior, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, fears and phobias, and learning difficulties.

Electric field propels worms to test new drugs Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a way to view the effects of a proposed drug treatment in real time using a mild electrical field to stimulate C. elegans nematodes. The discovery opens up significant possibilities for developing high-throughput micro-screening devices for drug discovery and other applications for treating diseases such as Huntington's, Parkinson's and muscular dystrophy.

Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles, new study suggests Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a new study, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes.

New mathematical model aids Big Bang supercomputer research Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Astrophysicists using supercomputers to simulate the Big Bang have a new mathematical tool to model the early universe. Researchers have built a computer model of the "Dark Ages." The model -- successfully tested on two supercomputers -- tightly couples physical processes present during cosmic reionization. Resulting simulations when scientists model various scenarios are highly accurate, numerically stable and computationally scalable to the largest supercomputers.

Caffeine consumption associated with less severe liver fibrosis Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus who consumed more than 308 mg of caffeine daily had milder liver fibrosis. The daily amount of caffeine intake found to be beneficial is equivalent to 2.25 cups of regular coffee.

New solar pond distillation system devised Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Ecosystems of terminus lakes around the world could benefit from a new system being developed to desalinate water using a specialized low-cost solar pond and patented membrane distillation system powered by renewable energy.

Two sides of the same coin: Speech and gesture mutually interact to enhance comprehension Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Your mother may have taught you that it's rude to point, but according to new research, gesturing may actually help improve communication. These findings suggest that when gesture and speech convey the same information, they are easier to understand than when they convey different information. In addition, these results indicate that gesture and speech form an integrated system that helps us in language comprehension.

In all the universe, just 10 percent of solar systems are like ours Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST In their quest to find solar systems analogous to ours, astronomers have determined how common our solar system is. They've concluded that about 10 percent of stars in the universe host systems of planets like our own, with several gas giant planets in the outer part of the solar system.

Biodegradable particles can bypass mucus, release drugs over time Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have created biodegradable nanosized particles that can easily slip through the body's sticky and viscous mucus secretions to deliver a sustained-release medication cargo.

Rebirth Of An Island After Volcanic Eruption Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST When Alaska's Kasatochi Volcano erupted on Aug. 7, 2008, it virtually sterilized Kasatochi Island, covering the small Aleutian island with a layer of ash and other volcanic material several meters thick. The eruption also provided a rare research opportunity: the chance to see how an ecosystem develops from the very first species to colonize the island.

Small, thin children may have poorer lung function Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST A new study shows that poor lung function during adolescence and through midlife may be influenced by several factors, including birth weight, height, and gender.

Worm's eye view: Molecular worm algorithm navigates inside chemical labyrinth Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a "molecular worm" algorithm that makes it easier and faster to simulate the passage of a molecule through the labyrinth of a chemical system, a progression that is critical to catalysis and other important chemical processes.

Abuse in childhood linked to migraine and other pain disorders Posted: 06 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers have found that incidence of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and neglect, are prevalent in migraine patients.

'Ferropaper' is new technology for small motors, robots Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers have created a magnetic "ferropaper" that might be used to make low-cost "micromotors" for surgical instruments, tiny tweezers to study cells and miniature speakers.

Celebrex inhibits burden of skin cancer in high-risk patients, research finds Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST People with the heritable disorder of the skin called Gorlin syndrome who are genetically predisposed to develop basal cell carcinoma of the skin may have a new chemoprevention therapy on the horizon.

Natural compounds in pomegranates may prevent growth of hormone-dependent breast cancer Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Eating fruit, such as pomegranates, that contain anti-aromatase phytochemicals reduces the incidence of hormone-dependent breast cancer, according to results of a new study.

New eating device retrains dietary habits and helps children lose weight Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST A new computerized device that tracks portion size and how fast people eat is more successful in helping obese children and adolescents lose weight than standard treatments, according to new research.

FDA clears TransOral robotic surgery Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST A minimally invasive surgical approach developed by head and neck surgeons has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration. The da Vinci Surgical System has been cleared for TransOral otolaryngologic surgical procedures to treat benign tumors and select malignant tumors in adults.

Technology new gateway into treatment for problem alcohol users Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Interventions for problem alcohol use can be effective in changing drinking behaviors and offers a significant public health benefit, according to new research. The study found that problem drinkers provided access to an online screener reduced their alcohol consumption by 30 percent -- or six to seven drinks weekly -- rates that are comparable to face-to-face interventions.

Nature's most precise clocks may make 'galactic GPS' possible: Pulsars help in search for gravitational waves Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Radio astronomers have uncovered 17 millisecond pulsars in our galaxy by studying unknown high-energy sources detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The astronomers made the discovery in less than three months. Such a jump in the pace of locating these hard-to-find objects holds the promise of using them as a kind of "galactic GPS" to detect gravitational waves passing near Earth.

Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Scientist's breakthrough given ticket to Mars Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST The quest to discover whether Mars ever hosted an environment friendly to microscopic forms of life has just gotten a shot in the arm. An experiment -- added to the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on a mobile NASA laboratory that will land on Mars in 2012 -- will enhance SAM's ability to analyze large carbon molecules if the mission is fortunate enough to find any.

Discovery may help stop age-related macular degeneration at the molecular level Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers have gleaned a key insight into the molecular beginnings of age-related macular degeneration, the No. 1 cause of vision loss in the elderly, by determining how two key proteins interact to naturally prevent the onset of the condition.

Major Australian droughts traced to different causes Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Southeastern Australia has been subject to several severe, long-term droughts during the past century, including the "Federation" drought (1895-1900), the "World War II" drought (1937-1945), and the "Big Dry" (1997 to present). All three droughts were widespread and devastating, but until now the causes and nature of these three droughts had not been compared. New research highlights the differences in the nature and causes of these three droughts.

Why England's soccer team keeps losing on penalty shots Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST A new study may explain why the England soccer team keeps losing in penalty shootouts -- and could help the team address the problem in time for the World Cup 2010. New research shows for the first time the effect of anxiety on a footballer's eye movements while taking a penalty.

From crickets to whales, animal calls have something in common Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Animals produce a tremendous diversity of sounds for communication to perform life's basic functions, from courtship and parental care to defense and foraging. Explaining this diversity in sound production is important for understanding the ecology, evolution and behavior of species. Scientists have presented a theory of acoustic communication that shows that much of the diversity in animal vocal signals can be explained based on the energetic constraints of sound production.

New Combination Therapy Looks Promising Against Ulcer Bacteria Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Results of a new study reveal that a seven-day course of LOAD therapy is superior to LAC at eliminating the H. pylori bacterium in patients with gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Researchers discover antibody receptor identity, propose renaming immune-system gene Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Researchers have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that the researchers are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

Alternative To Pap Test Does Not Appear To Be Better For Detecting Cervical Cancer Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A Dutch study that included nearly 90,000 women finds that liquid-based cytology, a commonly used alternative to conventional Pap tests, is not superior to Pap tests for the detection of cervical cancer precursors or cancer, according to a new study.

As the refrigerator said to the hi-fi ... Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Networked sensors and devices have huge potential but how can we ensure that they can all talk to each other? The answer, according to a European consortium, is to link them seamlessly through a common 'middleware'.

Rural America more prosperous than expected, study finds Posted: 06 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST For many people "rural" is synonymous with low incomes, limited economic opportunity, and poor schools. However, a recent study found that much of rural America is actually prosperous, particularly in the Midwest and Plains.

Growing new body parts: Master mechanism for regeneration? Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Biologists long have marveled at the ability of some animals to re-grow lost body parts. Using zebrafish as a model, researchers have found that some of the same genes underlie the process in different types of tissues. Genes involved in fin regeneration and heart repair are also required for rebuilding damaged light receptors in the eye, they found, suggesting that a common molecular mechanism guides the process, no matter what body part is damaged.

Why circumcised men are less likely to become infected with HIV: Changes in bacteria within penis microbiome Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a new study.

Cost Effectiveness Of Blood Pressure Device Evaluated Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST For certain patient populations, an experimental device that lowers blood pressure may be a cost effective treatment. The implantable device, called Rheos, is in advanced stages of testing for individuals with drug resistant hypertension.

Benefit Of Memantine In The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease Not Proven Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST There is no scientific proof that patients with moderate or severe Alzheimer's disease benefit from drugs containing the agent memantine, according to a new report.

Scientists Create NICE Solution To Pneumonia Vaccine Testing Problems Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Medical clinics the world over could benefit from new software created by a team of scientists has found a way to improve the efficiency of a pneumonia vaccine testing method.

For low-income families with special needs kids, where you live matters Posted: 05 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Caring for a child with special health care needs usually means higher medical expenses for a family, particularly for low-income families, who spend a large share of their income on their child's care. Yet, for individual families, the impact of out-of-pocket expenses is often a function of their state of residence.

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