Wednesday, April 07, 2010

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Student uses skin as input for mobile devices

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

A combination of simple bio-acoustic sensors and some sophisticated machine learning makes it possible for people to use their fingers or forearms -- potentially, any part of their bodies -- as touchpads to control smart phones or other mobile devices.

The skinny on brown fat

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Last year, researchers made a game-changing realization: brown fat, the energy-burning stuff that keeps babies warm, isn't just for the youngest among us. Adults have it, too (if they are lucky, anyway), and it is beginning to look like the heat-generating tissue might hold considerable metabolic importance for familiar and irritating trends, like our tendency to put on extra weight as we age.

Eating like a bird helps forests grow

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Lions, tigers and bears top the ecological pyramid -- the diagram of the food chain that every school child knows. A new study examines complex interactions in the middle of the pyramid, where birds, bats and lizards consume insects. These predators indirectly benefit plants, scientists report.

New test could identify smokers at risk of emphysema

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

CT scans that measure blood flow in the lungs of people who smoke may offer a way to identify which smokers are most at risk of emphysema before the disease damages and eventually destroys areas of the lungs. The discovery may also improve understanding of the underlying causes of emphysema; help distinguish it from other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and help test the effectiveness of emphysema therapies.

Quantum mechanics demonstrated in motion of objects large enough to see with naked eye

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Researchers have provided the first clear demonstration that the theory of quantum mechanics applies to the mechanical motion of an object large enough to be seen by the naked eye. Their work satisfies a longstanding goal among physicists.

Childhood sleep problems and alcohol/drug problems in young adulthood

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Childhood sleep problems are relatively common in the US. A new study has found that individuals with troubles sleeping during childhood and adolescence, as well as poor response inhibition during adolescence, have subsequent substance use and substance-related problems during young adulthood.

Our universe at home within a larger universe? So suggests physicist's wormhole research

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

Could our universe be located within the interior of a wormhole which itself is part of a black hole that lies within a much larger universe?

Electronic Nose Sniffs Out Asthma

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

New evidence shows that an "electronic nose" containing an array of gas sensors may have the ability to identify asthma in patients.

Computer program allows car to stay in its lane without human control

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

Researchers have created a computer program that allows a car to stay in its lane without human control, opening the door to the development of new automobile safety features and military applications that could save lives.

Poisoning by prescription drugs on the rise

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

On the rise for more than 15 years, poisoning is now the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. Unintentional poisoning has surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of unintentional injury death among people 35. In a new study, researchers found that hospitalizations for poisoning by prescription opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers in the US have increased by 65 percent from 1999 to 2006.

Far-flung pine pollen still potent miles from the tree: Long-lived pine pollen might hinder containing transgenic trees

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

A new study suggests that pollen from the loblolly pine -- the most commonly planted tree in the southern US -- can still germinate after drifting long distances. The answer could have profound implications if and when the USDA approves transgenic trees. Far-flung pollen makes it difficult to prevent traits developed in transgenic trees from spreading to their wild counterparts, researchers say.

Unconscious learning uses old parts of the brain

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT

A new study provides evidence that basic human learning systems use areas of the brain that also exist in the most primitive vertebrates, such as certain fish, reptiles and amphibians. The study involved an investigation into the limbic striatum, one of the evolutionarily oldest parts of the brain, and the ability to learn movements, consciously and unconsciously, through repetition.

Nuclear missing link created at last: Superheavy element 117

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

The lifetime of element 117, which has now been created in the lab for the first time, confirms that superheavy elements lie in an island of stability on the periodic table.

Breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations four times more likely to get cancer in opposite breast

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Women with breast cancer before age 55 who carry an inherited mutation in the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are four times more likely to develop cancer in the breast opposite, or contralateral, to their initial tumor as compared to breast cancer patients without these genetic defects.

Rising water temperatures found in US streams and rivers

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

New research by ecologists and hydrologists shows that water temperatures are increasing in many streams and rivers throughout the United States. The research documents that 20 major US streams and rivers -- including such prominent rivers as the Colorado, Potomac, Delaware, and Hudson -- have shown statistically significant long-term warming.

Genetic variants associated with a risk of Crohn's disease

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

The likelihood of three genetic variants being associated with a risk of Crohn's disease is lower than many previous studies indicated, according to a new research article.

Keeping cattle cool and stress-free

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Scientists are identifying the causes of heat stress in cattle and finding ways to manage it which is helping producers deal with this significant production problem.

Groundbreaking cyber espionage report released; Identifies Dalai Lama as target

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Information security experts have released a report documenting a complex ecosystem of cyber espionage that systematically targeted and compromised computer systems in India, the Offices of the Dalai Lama, the United Nations and several other countries.

Cancer protective effect of fruits and vegetables may be modest at best

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

An analysis of dietary data from more than 400,000 men and women found only a weak association between high fruit and vegetable intake and reduced overall cancer risk, according to a new study.

Obesity in infants can be diagnosed at 6 months, study shows

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

Obesity can be detected in infants as young as 6 months, according to a new study.

New tool developed for DNA research

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

Luminescent markers are an indispensable tool for researchers working with DNA. But the markers are troublesome. Some tend to destroy the function and structure of DNA when inserted. Others emit so little light, that they can barely be detected in the hereditary material. So researchers have been asking for alternative markers.

Common test for detecting liver problems in children is often interpreted incorrectly, study shows

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

New research shows that the test most commonly used to screen pediatric patients for chronic liver disease is often incorrectly interpreted in many children's hospitals throughout the United States.

Next-generation sequencing technology applied to commercial cattle in Canada

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

Scientists in Alberta have successfully sequenced the genome of two influential bulls, one beef and one dairy, the first animals to have been fully sequenced in Canada.

Scientific risk-taking by young students fades with age, research suggests

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT

A scientific theory may fail or succeed initially and be shot down later. Now put yourself in the shoes of elementary school students faced with stating an idea and then facing criticism. This summer, the nation's elementary school science teachers are being told to read about the issue.

Northwest lava flows could have altered Earth’s climate, wiped out species, new evidence suggests

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

New research suggests the volcanic birth of the Northwest's Columbia Plateau happened much more quickly than previously thought and with an intensity that may have changed the earth's climate and caused some plants and animals to go extinct.

Childhood cancer survivors may face shortened lifespan, study reveals

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

Although more children today are surviving cancer than ever before, young patients successfully treated in the 1970s and 80s may live a decade less, on average, than the general population, according to a new study. Depending on the type of cancer, the estimated loss of life expectancy ranges from four years to more than 17 years.

Savvy injection molding

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

With the help of neural networks, in which complex algorithms are used to monitor critical process steps, engineers are paving the way for zero-defect production in the area of metal powder injection molding. The gain for manufacturers is less waste combined with time savings.

Leber congenital amaurosis: Gene therapy for blindness works only when specific mutation present

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

Leber congenital amaurosis is a congenital retinal dystrophy present in approximately 1 of 80,000 births. Recently, there has been progress in gene therapy for this condition. In a recent study, researchers found that only a limited number of patients possess the exact genetic mutation necessary for a positive outcome.

From oil sector to wind power

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

Eying the vast potential for establishing wind farms at sea, companies along Norway's west coast are making the leap from offshore oil to offshore wind power.

Soccer improves health, fitness and social abilities

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT

Soccer is a pleasurable sport that provides an all-round fitness and can be used as treatment for lifestyle-related diseases. Men worry less when playing soccer than when running. Women's soccer creates we-stories and helps women stay active. The above statements are taken from the results from an extensive soccer research project involving more than 50 researchers from seven countries. The researchers studied physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of recreational soccer and compared it with running.

Geologist connects regular changes of Earth's orbital cycle to changes in climate

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

In an analysis of the past 1.2 million years, a geologist examining ocean sediment cores has discovered a pattern that connects the regular changes of Earth's orbital cycle to changes in the Earth's climate.

Ultrasensitive detector pinpoints big problem in tiny fetal heart

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

One of the most powerful magnetic detectors in the world is helping screen high-risk pregnant patients for rare but very serious fetal heart rhythm problems. The ultrasensitive detector measures magnetic signals coming from the tiny beating hearts of fetuses.

Brain tumors: Tissue stem cell turning into tumor stem cell

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

Scientists have shown for the first time that malignant brain tumors arise directly from brain stem cells. Overproduction of the protein Tlx in mice stimulates the development of malignant brain tumors from brain stem cells. Tlx also plays an important role in glioblastoma, the most malignant of human brain cancers. Therefore, the discovery of Tlx might provide the first target for a specific therapy against glioblastoma.

Immune system's guard against cancer: How immuno-messenger substances can inhibit tumour growth

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

The human body has developed various mechanisms, through which it can protect itself against newly-developing cancer cells. For instance, killer-cells recognize and destroy altered cells in our organs every day. Once tumors have developed, they may be inhibited in growth by messenger substances from the immune system. Scientists have now succeeded to reveal a completely unexpected function of such an immunological messenger substance in the suppression of tumors -- the molecule beta-interferon inhibits the tumor in its attempts to connect into the human blood circulatory system. Moreover, it hinders the production of growth factors that support the formation of new blood vessels. The conclusion: the tumor cannot grow.

Mushrooms grown on bay and eucalyptus leaves change flavor

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

Mushrooms grown on mulch made from bay and eucalyptus leaves experience changes in flavor and, to a small degree, in color, while those grown on bay leaves are better in quality, according to a study carried out by Argentinean researchers. The objective is to make use of waste generated by the essential oils industry.

Synergy between behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for ADHD

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:00 PM PDT

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting children and adolescents. Children with ADHD are excessively restless, impulsive, and distractible and experience difficulties at home and in school. Problems inhibiting behavior are a common theme for ADHD symptoms.

Archaeologists uncover land before wheel; site untouched for 6,000 years

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A team of archaeologists from the U.S. and Syria is uncovering new clues about a prehistoric society that formed the foundation of urban life in the Middle East prior to invention of the wheel.

Early steps in Parkinson's pathology revealed

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Although the cause of Parkinson's disease remains a mystery, scientists now have a better understanding of the earliest stages of abnormal aggregation of a key disease-associated protein. The research provides new insight into the first steps in the formation of neurotoxic structures called Lewy bodies that are the hallmark of the Parkinson's brain.

Researchers holding steady in an atomic-scale tug-of-war

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A research team has built an ultra-stable instrument for tugging on chains of atoms, an instrument that can maneuver and hold the position of an atomic probe to within 5 picometers.

Device to revolutionize preventive blood clot care after joint replacement surgery

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A mobile compression device is as effective as medication at preventing the formation of blood clots after hip replacement surgery but provides greater patient safety.

Coral disease in Hawaii: Rapid response team investigates coral disease outbreak in Kaneohe Bay, O'ahu

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

An outbreak of a disease called Montipora White syndrome was found in Kaneohe Bay, O'ahu within the last month prompting an interagency response team composed of scientists and students to document the extent, spread and potential causes of the disease.

Child sexual abuse: A risk factor for pregnancy, study finds

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A new study has found that women who were victims of sexual abuse in childhood reported higher levels of depression and symptoms of post-trauma during pregnancy.

Cold atoms and nanotubes come together in an atomic 'black hole'

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Carbon nanotubes, long touted for applications in materials and electronics, may also be the stuff of atomic-scale black holes. Physicists have found that a high-voltage nanotube can cause cold atoms to spiral inward under dramatic acceleration before disintegrating violently. Their experiments are the first to demonstrate something akin to a black hole at atomic scale.

Mouth breathing can cause major health problems

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

For some, the phrase "spring is in the air" is quite literal. When the winter snow melts and flowers bloom, pollen and other materials can wreak havoc on those suffering from seasonal allergies, usually causing a habit called "mouth breathing." The physical, medical and social problems associated with mouth breathing are not recognized by most health care professionals, according to a new study.

Commercial fishing estimated to kill millions of sea turtles

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

The number of sea turtles inadvertently snared by commercial fishing gear over the past 20 years may reach into the millions, according to the first peer-reviewed study to compile sea turtle bycatch data from gillnet, trawl and longline fisheries worldwide.

Cardiology: Protecting heart muscle cells from death

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

A team of researchers has identified a role for the protein connexin 43 in protecting mouse heart muscle cells from death. The team therefore suggest that it might be an attractive target for therapies that help protect cells from injuries that normally result in death, such as the injuries suffered by cells as a result of heart attack.

Electronic health record alone may have limited ability to improve quality, costs of care

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

The implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to significantly improve health quality and reduce costs. Researchers report that currently implemented systems have little effect on measures such as patient mortality, surgical complications, length of stay and costs.

Middle-aged Americans report more mobility-related disabilities

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 02:00 PM PDT

The proportion of older middle-aged Americans who report disabilities related to mobility increased significantly from 1997 to 2007, in contrast to the disability decline that has been found among Americans ages 65 and over, according to a new study.

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