ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Brain-like computing on an organic molecular layer
• Targeting a microscopic pathogen lurking in water
• Australian researchers develop highest-yielding salt-tolerant wheat
• Exercise therapy for low back pain
• Molecular structure of key fluorescent proteins revealed
• To learn better, take a nap (and don't forget to dream)
• Ancient asphalt domes discovered off California coast
• Better vitamin D status could mean better quality of life for seniors
• Making its predators tremble: Multiple defenses act synergistically in aspen
• Ethnic differences in precursors of type 2 diabetes apparent at an early age
• Fundamental discovery about how gene expression functions in bacteria
• Tapping away desire for those favorite foods and snacks
• How we can sense temperatures: Discovery could lead to novel therapies for acute and chronic pain
• Studying altered brain cells sheds light on epilepsy
• Researchers model movement of radioactive materials in soil
• Breathe easy with the protein LPCAT1
• All three structures of single transporter protein revealed
• Poor quality teachers may prevent children from reaching reading potential, study finds
• Pressure-cooking algae into a better biofuel
• Strep steps up in urinary tract infections
• Bivalves alert us to oil pollution: Mussel power to protect the environment
• Nephrology: New insight into common kidney disease
• DNA barcoding reveals mislabeled cod and haddock in Dublin
• Electronic medical record technology aids marathon participants
• Scientists crack code of critical bacterial defense mechanism
• Research in Antarctica reveals non-organic mechanism for production of important greenhouse gas
• Lengthening time a drug remains bound to a target may lead to improving diagnostics, therapy
• Gene silencing may be responsible for induced pluripotent stem cells' limitations
• New technique shows unprecedented precision in measuring liquid-solid interaction
• Procedure for knocking out genes in nematode worms developed

Brain-like computing on an organic molecular layer Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT One big advantage a brain's circuitry has always had over a computer's is its ability to evolve as it tackles complex problems. Now, scientists have created a tiny computing device with a brain-like "evolutionary circuit."

Targeting a microscopic pathogen lurking in water Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT The microscopic pathogen cryptosporidium lurks worldwide in water, contaminating swimming pools, water parks, and drinking water supplies. A top researcher has made a critical breakthrough in eroding cryptosporidium's defenses.

Australian researchers develop highest-yielding salt-tolerant wheat Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT In a major breakthrough for wheat farmers in salt-affected areas, Australian researchers have developed a salt tolerant durum wheat that yields 25 percent more grain than the parent variety in saline soils.

Exercise therapy for low back pain Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Low back pain (or lumbago) is a common ailment often triggered by something as simple as lifting a suitcase. What is the best way to remedy the situation? An exercise machine designed specifically for back muscles could be the solution.

Molecular structure of key fluorescent proteins revealed Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists have determined the crystal structures of two key fluorescent proteins -- one blue, one red -- used to "light up" molecules in cells. The researchers now have the first roadmap for rationally designing new and differently colored fluorescent proteins to illuminate the structures and processes in living cells.

To learn better, take a nap (and don't forget to dream) Posted: 26 Apr 2010 08:00 AM PDT It is by now well established that sleep can be an important tool when it comes to enhancing memory and learning skills. And now, a new study sheds light on the role that dreams play in this important process.

Ancient asphalt domes discovered off California coast Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT They paved paradise and, it turns out, actually did put up a parking lot. A big one. Some 700 feet deep in the waters off California's jewel of a coastal resort, Santa Barbara, sits a group of football-field-sized asphalt domes unlike any other underwater features known to exist.

Better vitamin D status could mean better quality of life for seniors Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Paying attention to how much vitamin D we get is likely important at every age and can especially help enhance the quality component of life as we enter our senior years.

Making its predators tremble: Multiple defenses act synergistically in aspen Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT If plants did not defend themselves in some way, they would certainly be gobbled up by a whole suite of voracious predators ranging from little insects to large mammalian herbivores. Indeed, not only do plants defend themselves, they typically have more than one kind of defense. When a plant has several options, how does it choose? Does it allocate multiple defenses to the same tissues or defend different tissues in different ways?

Ethnic differences in precursors of type 2 diabetes apparent at an early age Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new study finds that precursors of higher risk of diabetes in South Asian and African-Caribbean adults in the UK are increased in healthy children from these ethnic groups.

Fundamental discovery about how gene expression functions in bacteria Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered and characterized a general mechanism that controls transcription elongation in bacteria. The mechanism relies on physical cooperation between a moving ribosome and RNA polymerase (RNAP) that allows for a precise adjustment of the transcriptional yield in response to translational needs. The study could lead to the development of new ways to interfere with bacterial gene expression and serve as a new target for antimicrobial therapy.

Tapping away desire for those favorite foods and snacks Posted: 26 Apr 2010 05:00 AM PDT Psychological acupuncture has been shown to be successful in reducing food cravings for up to six months in people who are overweight or obese. The technique combines gentle tapping on pressure points while focusing on particular emotions and thoughts.

How we can sense temperatures: Discovery could lead to novel therapies for acute and chronic pain Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have shed new light on the molecular mechanism that enables us to sense temperature, such as the heat from a sizzling stove. In addition to contributing to our knowledge of basic biology, the findings could one day lead to new therapies for conditions such as acute or chronic inflammatory pain.

Studying altered brain cells sheds light on epilepsy Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Neuroscience researchers have zeroed in on a novel mechanism that helps control the firing of electrical signals among neurons. By isolating the molecular and electrical events that occur when this control is disrupted, the new research sheds light on epileptic seizures and potentially on other prominent diseases involving poorly regulated brain activity.

Researchers model movement of radioactive materials in soil Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT Agricultural scientists are helping US Nuclear Regulatory Commission experts model the movement of radioactive materials in the soil. Their findings can be used to fine-tune the risk assessment studies that are an essential component in the development of commercial nuclear facilities.

Breathe easy with the protein LPCAT1 Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT The leading cause of death in infants born prematurely is respiratory distress syndrome. It is caused by deficiency in a fat-protein complex known as lung surfactant, which is critical for optimal gas exchange in the lung. New research indicates that the protein LPCAT1 has a crucial role in surfactant generation in vivo in mice and that LPCAT1 activity must be maximal for the transition from the womb to air breathing.

All three structures of single transporter protein revealed Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT A team of UK researchers have captured the 3-D atomic models of a single transporter protein in each of its three main structural states, a goal of researchers from around the world for over 25 years.

Poor quality teachers may prevent children from reaching reading potential, study finds Posted: 26 Apr 2010 02:00 AM PDT When it comes to early reading, a bad teacher can prevent children from reaching their full potential. That's the finding of a new study that may put an end to a longstanding scholarly debate about the amount of influence teachers have on students' reading achievement.

Pressure-cooking algae into a better biofuel Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Heating and squishing microalgae in a pressure-cooker can fast-forward the crude-oil-making process from millennia to minutes.

Strep steps up in urinary tract infections Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Research suggests pathogenic strains of Group B Streptococcus are an under-recognized cause of urinary tract infections. The bacteria are better known as a cause of infection in pregnant women with subsequent risks of preterm delivery and transmission to newborn infants often with devastating consequences.

Bivalves alert us to oil pollution: Mussel power to protect the environment Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT The biological sciences are edging their way into many different areas of society – including the petroleum industry. Petroleum activities on the Norwegian continental shelf can pose a major threat to the environment unless operators keep vigilant watch for any accidental emissions. The right people must be notified immediately so they can take decisive action to contain any contamination. A new "biological instrument" senses environmental conditions better than anything else – the common blue mussel.

Nephrology: New insight into common kidney disease Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT The kidney disease crescentic glomerulonephritis rapidly progresses to acute kidney failure and death within months if it is not treated. Even with treatment, many patients progress to end-stage kidney disease and require dialysis and sometimes a kidney transplant. New research in mice has identified a potential new drug target for the treatment of crescentic glomerulonephritis.

DNA barcoding reveals mislabeled cod and haddock in Dublin Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Ecological scientists in Ireland recently used DNA barcoding to identify species of fish labeled as either "cod" or "haddock" in fish and chip shops, fresh fish counters and supermarkets in 10 postal districts in Dublin. They found that 39 out of 156 randomly sampled "cod" and "haddock" were genetically entirely different species and, therefore, mislabeled under European Union regulations.

Electronic medical record technology aids marathon participants Posted: 25 Apr 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have brought the use of electronic medical records out of the hospital setting and into the streets by using the technology for a marathon. Volunteer medical providers at the 2009 Detroit Free Press Marathon were able to coordinate care for the 19,372 participants via laptops and a website, showing that the technology can help facilitate the care of runners.

Scientists crack code of critical bacterial defense mechanism Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT Scientists have combined chemistry and biology research techniques to explain how certain bacteria grow structures on their surfaces that allow them to simultaneously cause illness and protect themselves from the body's defenses. The researchers are the first to reproduce a specific component of this natural process in a test tube -- an essential step to fully understanding how these structures grow.

Research in Antarctica reveals non-organic mechanism for production of important greenhouse gas Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT A research team has discovered in Antarctica's Don Juan Pond a previously unreported chemical mechanism for the production of nitrous oxide, an important greenhouse gas. The discovery could help space scientists understand the meaning of similar brine pools in a place whose ecosystem most closely resembles that of Don Juan Pond: Mars.

Lengthening time a drug remains bound to a target may lead to improving diagnostics, therapy Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT Studies indicate that modifications that enhance the time a drug remains bound to its target, or residence time, may lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Gene silencing may be responsible for induced pluripotent stem cells' limitations Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT Scientists may be one step closer to being able to generate any type of cells and tissues from a patient's own cells. Investigators have found that an important cluster of genes is inactivated in those induced pluripotent stem cells lacking the full development potential of embryonic stem cells.

New technique shows unprecedented precision in measuring liquid-solid interaction Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT Scientists have found a way to obtain images that improves the resolution of such measurements by a factor of 10,000 or more, allowing for unprecedented precision in determining the details of the interactions between liquids and solid surfaces. In addition, the new method can be used to study curved, textured or complex solid surfaces, something that could not be done previously.

Procedure for knocking out genes in nematode worms developed Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:00 PM PDT Knocking genes out of action allows researchers to learn what genes do by seeing what goes wrong without them. Scientists have now devised a procedure for knocking out genes in nematode worms.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610