ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Scientists alter developing fish brain to resemble that of another species
• Transgenic mouse mimics Parkinson's earliest symptoms
• Jumping elements can become incorporated in genome at different stages of development
• T cell protein boosts learning
• Scientists solve protein structure revealing secrets of cell membranes
• 'My kid wouldn't do that:' Study shows parents' difficulty with teen sexuality
• Magnetic stimulation scores modest success as antidepressant
• Human growth hormone significantly increases sprint capacity in healthy recreational athletes
• Imaging study discovers brain development differences in kids with fragile X syndrome
• New HIV model suggests killer T cell for vaccine
• Improving UAVs using holographic adaptive optics
• Risk of suicide, suicide attempt similar across types of antidepressant medication, study finds
• Elusive masses of up, down and strange quarks pinned down
• Chronic injury found in kidneys of healthy adults
• Rapid analysis of DNA damage now possible: Technology offers new way to test potential cancer drugs, see effects of environmental toxins
• Probiotics help extremely premature infants gain weight
• Limiting global warming: Variety of efforts needed ranging from 'Herculean' to the readily actionable, scientists say
• Mood and anxiety disorders affect many older adults
• Carbon dioxide's effects on plants increase global warming, study finds
• People with common heart defect also more likely to have brain aneurysms
• Envisat monitoring changes in oil spill
• Hormone mimic reduces liver damage caused by common genetic kidney disease
• 'Different forms of flowers' continues to fascinate: Darwin's influential study inspires research on breeding system called heterostyly
• Are obese adolescents too young for bariatric surgery?
• Purifying positronium could help develop gamma ray lasers and produce fusion power
• Obesity associated with increased risk of fibromyalgia
• Bald eagle diet shift enhances conservation, study finds
• Cancer risk the same for kidney transplant recipients, no matter the drug, study finds
• Understanding proteins: Molecular probe tracks changes in chemical bonds using spectroscopy
• Users believe electronic cigarettes can help you quit
• How cooperation is maintained in human societies: Punishment, study suggests
• Scientists ID potential protein trigger in lung disease sarcoidosis
• Treating battlefield injuries with light-activated technology
• European innovation tackles power cuts
• Rural to urban migration associated with increased obesity and diabetes risk in India
• Astronomers spot mega-star cradle
• Birth defect risk from insect bites received by mother during pregnancy
• Purple periwinkles battle inflammatory diseases, study suggests
• Cancer cells show rewired, fragmented microRNA networks
• Recipe for global warming-free industrial materials
• Being obese can attract bullies
• A shrunken giant: Island dino Magyarosaurus was a dwarf, after all
• Stress-response system in the ear protects against hearing loss
• AKARI produces two new infrared all-sky catalogues
• Survey reports latest honey bee losses
• Earlier, later puberty may trigger aggression in boys, researchers find

Scientists alter developing fish brain to resemble that of another species Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Biologists have been able to change the brain of a developing fish embryo to resemble that of another species.

Transgenic mouse mimics Parkinson's earliest symptoms Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have created the first transgenic mouse to display the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease using the genetic mutation that is known to accompany human forms of the disease.

Jumping elements can become incorporated in genome at different stages of development Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT A new study on sex chromosomes in primates may have important consequences for research on human genetic diseases. The study of the genomes of the human, chimpanzee, macaque, and orangutan concluded that there is a strong sex-chromosome bias in the distribution of transposable elements, and provided other insights about these important DNA elements during the early stages of embryo development.

T cell protein boosts learning Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Stress, sickness and depression can generate inflammation in the brain, which is detrimental to learning. According to a new study T cells level the learning curve by producing a protein that combats inflammation, establishing a more learning-conducive environment in the brain.

Scientists solve protein structure revealing secrets of cell membranes Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the structure of a protein that pinches off tiny pouches from cells' outer membranes. Cells use these pouches, or vesicles, to carry nutrients and other essential substances, but many medicines also hitch a ride inside them.

'My kid wouldn't do that:' Study shows parents' difficulty with teen sexuality Posted: 04 May 2010 11:00 AM PDT It can be difficult for parents of teenagers to come to terms with the fact their kids may have sex, particularly given widespread concerns about the consequences of teen sexual activity. In fact, a new study shows that many parents think that their children aren't interested in sex -- but that everyone else's kids are.

Magnetic stimulation scores modest success as antidepressant Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Some depressed patients who don't respond to or tolerate antidepressant medications may benefit from a non-invasive treatment that stimulates the brain with a pulsing electromagnet, a study suggests. This first industry-independent, multi-site, randomized, tightly controlled trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation found that it produced significant antidepressant effects in a subgroup of patients, with few side effects. Active rTMS treatment accounted for remissions in 14 percent of antidepressant-resistant patients actively treated.

Human growth hormone significantly increases sprint capacity in healthy recreational athletes Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A newe study finds that human growth hormone (HGH) improves sprint capacity in healthy recreational athletes. This is the first trial to demonstrate that HGH improves athletic performance.

Imaging study discovers brain development differences in kids with fragile X syndrome Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Fragile X syndrome is the most common known cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism. Now, researchers using advanced, noninvasive imaging techniques have shown how the brains of very young boys with fragile X syndrome differ from those of young boys without it, providing critical information for the development of treatments for the condition.

New HIV model suggests killer T cell for vaccine Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new improved modeling system, developed by Chinese researchers, which attempts to incorporate more of the HIV virus' random behavioral dynamics, suggests that a particular type of T cell could be useful in the development of an AIDS vaccine.

Improving UAVs using holographic adaptive optics Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Holographic, adaptive, optics research may help transform software into computer-free, electronics for unmanned aerial vehicles, high energy lasers and free-space optical communications that will enable each to run faster and more efficiently than before.

Risk of suicide, suicide attempt similar across types of antidepressant medication, study finds Posted: 04 May 2010 08:00 AM PDT Among adults beginning antidepressant therapy, the risk of suicide or suicide attempts does not appear to vary by individual type or class of medication, according to a new study.

Elusive masses of up, down and strange quarks pinned down Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Quarks, the elementary particles that make up protons and neutrons, have been notoriously difficult to nail down -- much less weigh -- until now. A research group has calculated, with a razor-thin margin of error, the mass of the three lightest and, therefore, most elusive quarks: up, down and strange.

Chronic injury found in kidneys of healthy adults Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have found that the kidneys of healthy adults show signs of chronic mild injury that increase with age. This damage is present even though the adults showed no clinical signs of kidney disease.

Rapid analysis of DNA damage now possible: Technology offers new way to test potential cancer drugs, see effects of environmental toxins Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Our DNA is under constant siege from a variety of damaging agents. Damage to DNA and the ability of cells to repair that damage has broad health implications, from aging and heritable diseases to cancer. Unfortunately, the tools used to study DNA damage are quite limited, but researchers have developed a new tool for rapid DNA damage analysis that promises to make an impact on human health.

Probiotics help extremely premature infants gain weight Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Extremely low-birthweight infants who received feedings supplemented with probiotics had better weight gain than infants who were not given the supplements, according to a randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

Limiting global warming: Variety of efforts needed ranging from 'Herculean' to the readily actionable, scientists say Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Major greenhouse gas-emitting countries agreed in December climate talks held in Copenhagen that substantial action is required to limit the increase of global average temperature to less than 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F). Climate researchers have identified three avenues by which those countries can avoid reaching the warming threshold, a point beyond which many scientists believe climate change will present unmanageable negative consequences for society.

Mood and anxiety disorders affect many older adults Posted: 04 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT Rates of mood and anxiety disorders appear to decline with age but the conditions remain common in older adults, especially women, according to a new study.

Carbon dioxide's effects on plants increase global warming, study finds Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Trees and other plants help keep the planet cool, but rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are turning down this global air conditioner. According to a new study, in some regions more than a quarter of the warming from increased carbon dioxide is due to its direct impact on vegetation, in addition to its better-known effect as a heat-trapping greenhouse gas.

People with common heart defect also more likely to have brain aneurysms Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT People with a common heart defect may also be more likely to have brain aneurysms.

Envisat monitoring changes in oil spill Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT The European Space Agency's Envisat has captured the changes in direction of the rapidly-growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as strong winds over the weekend pushed it around and hampered clean-up efforts.

Hormone mimic reduces liver damage caused by common genetic kidney disease Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT A hormone mimic called Octreotide may be effective for treating polycystic liver disease (PLD) caused by ADPKD, according to new research. The study is the first clinical trial performed in the United States to test the effects of this agent in PLD.

'Different forms of flowers' continues to fascinate: Darwin's influential study inspires research on breeding system called heterostyly Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Research on the subject of heterostyly is often traced back to 1877 when Charles Darwin published "The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species." Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, researchers have continued to learn more about the function, evolution, and development of heterostyly. Even after 150 years, we have a great deal to learn concerning the breeding system, and new technologies and techniques are allowing for advances in heterostyly research.

Are obese adolescents too young for bariatric surgery? Posted: 04 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT Severely obese adolescents may desire or potentially benefit from bariatric surgery. However, half of primary care physicians say they would not recommend the procedure to a patient under the age of 18, according to new research.

Purifying positronium could help develop gamma ray lasers and produce fusion power Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Physicists have succeeded in isolating for the first time a sample of spin polarized positronium atoms, needed to make the Bose-Einstein condensate. The researchers say they have effectively purified the positronium sample, which could lead to the development of a gamma ray laser and fusion power production. The research also could help scientists understand why the universe is made up of matter and not antimatter or just pure energy.

Obesity associated with increased risk of fibromyalgia Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers in Norway have found an association between the level of leisure time physical exercise and a future risk of developing fibromyalgia. The research team also identified BMI as an independent risk factor for fibromyalgia.

Bald eagle diet shift enhances conservation, study finds Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT An unprecedented study of bald eagle diet, from about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago to the present, will provide wildlife managers with unique information for reintroducing Bald Eagles to the Channel Islands off California. Eagles fed mainly on seabirds from about 20,000 to 30,000 years ago to the 1840s and 50s, when humans introduced sheep. The seabirds provided carrion for the local eagle population until the pesticide DDT wiped out the eagles in the 1960s.

Cancer risk the same for kidney transplant recipients, no matter the drug, study finds Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Drugs taken by kidney transplant recipients to prevent organ rejection carry similar risks of cancer, according to a new study. The results suggest that no single medication is to blame for the higher incidence of cancer seen among patients who have undergone transplantation.

Understanding proteins: Molecular probe tracks changes in chemical bonds using spectroscopy Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Proteins are the molecular machines of our cells. In order to understand how they function, it is necessary to follow the changes they bring about at a molecular level. This may be done by way of infrared spectroscopy, or more specifically so-called Fourier transform (FTIR) spectroscopy, which can measure the vibrations of the individual chemical bonds in a protein and the changes that take place in them while the protein works. However, an FTIR spectrum of a typical protein consists of several thousand vibrations which overlap and interfere with one another, making it extremely difficult to isolate the series of vibrations responsible for effecting the changes.

Users believe electronic cigarettes can help you quit Posted: 03 May 2010 11:00 PM PDT Electronic cigarettes, or "E-cigarettes," are used mainly to quit smoking, and may be useful for this purpose. Researchers polled 81 users and former users of the devices, finding that although the majority was happy with them, several concerns remain unaddressed.

How cooperation is maintained in human societies: Punishment, study suggests Posted: 03 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Humans are incredibly cooperative, but why do people cooperate and how is cooperation maintained? A new research study by anthropologists suggests cooperation in large groups is maintained by punishment.

Scientists ID potential protein trigger in lung disease sarcoidosis Posted: 03 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Lung researchers have identified a possible protein trigger responsible for sarcoidosis, a potentially fatal inflammatory disease marked by tiny clumps of inflammatory cells that each year leave deep, grainy scars on the lungs, lymph nodes, skin and almost all major organs in hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Treating battlefield injuries with light-activated technology Posted: 03 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Airmen's traumatic battlefield injuries may be more effectively treated by using a new light-activated technology. This new treatment for war injuries includes using a process or technology called Photochemical Tissue Bonding, which can replace conventional sutures, staples and glues in repairing skin wounds, reconnecting severed peripheral nerves, blood vessels, tendons and incisions in the cornea.

European innovation tackles power cuts Posted: 03 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT The new generation of automated fault-fixing technology developed by researchers in Europe remotely locates and isolates an electrical fault wherever it occurs in a power distribution network and restores the current in seconds, making lengthy and inconvenient power cuts potentially a thing of the past.

Rural to urban migration associated with increased obesity and diabetes risk in India Posted: 03 May 2010 08:00 PM PDT Migration from rural to urban areas is associated with increasing levels of obesity and is a factor driving the diabetes epidemic in India, according to a new study.

Astronomers spot mega-star cradle Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Using an Australian radio telescope, an international team of researchers has caught an enormous cloud of cosmic gas and dust in the process of collapsing in on itself -- a discovery which could help solve one of astronomy's enduring conundrums: "How do massive stars form?"

Birth defect risk from insect bites received by mother during pregnancy Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas -- and potentially ticks -- can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects.

Purple periwinkles battle inflammatory diseases, study suggests Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT A widely and safely used plant extract acts as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as other inflammatory conditions. There is an urgent need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as COPD, otitis media, and atherosclerosis, because the most effective and commonly used agents -- steroids -- often cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, which prevent long-term use.

Cancer cells show rewired, fragmented microRNA networks Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study shows that in healthy cells molecules of microRNA work together in single, well-connected networks that resemble a family tree with dozens to hundreds of members. In cancer cells, however, the networks are rewired and fragmented, with small detached clusters. The research introduces a new way of discovering cancer genes and identifies new microRNAs that can be used as targets for drug development and pinpoints possible new cancer-related proteins.

Recipe for global warming-free industrial materials Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT A new study offers at least a partial recipe that industrial chemists could use in developing alternatives with less global warming potential than materials commonly used today.

Being obese can attract bullies Posted: 03 May 2010 05:00 PM PDT New research shows obese children are more likely to be bullied regardless of gender, race, academic achievement, social skills or economic status.

A shrunken giant: Island dino Magyarosaurus was a dwarf, after all Posted: 03 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Sauropod dinosaurs, like the famous Brachiosaurus or Argentinosaurus, are known above all for their enormous size. Yet some of these giants evolved into dwarfs. An international research team has now confirmed that the sauropod dinosaur Magyarosaurus dacus, a close relative of the Argentinosaurus, never grew any larger than a horse.

Stress-response system in the ear protects against hearing loss Posted: 03 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT An in vivo study shows for the first time that there is a local stress-response system within the cochlea that mirrors the signaling pathways of the body's fight or flight response. This hormone-like signaling system of the inner ear sets baseline hearing sensitivity and helps protect against noise-induced hearing loss.

AKARI produces two new infrared all-sky catalogues Posted: 03 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Two new infrared catalogues, containing more than 1.3 million celestial sources, have been made public. The AKARI All-Sky Catalogues, based on the first all-sky infrared survey in more than a quarter of a century, will provide important new data for a wide range of studies that cover topics ranging from the properties of nearby stars, to the formation of planetary systems, and the star formation history of the distant Universe.

Survey reports latest honey bee losses Posted: 03 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Losses of managed honey bee colonies nationwide totaled 33.8 percent from all causes from October 2009 to April 2010, according to a new survey.

Earlier, later puberty may trigger aggression in boys, researchers find Posted: 03 May 2010 02:00 PM PDT Puberty that arrives earlier or later in adolescent boys relative to their peers can trigger chemicals that are related to antisocial behavior, according to researchers, whose findings have key implications for parents with aggressive boys.

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