ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land
• Gene linked to hereditary incontinence identified
• First cloned horse using oocytes from a live mare
• Molecular imaging allows individualized 'dose painting' for head and neck cancers
• 3-D models of BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico made using ranger supercomputer
• Brand preference may be in the drink, not in the head, vodka study shows
• Ancient ocean may have covered third of Mars
• Links between hypertension, bipolar disorders identified
• Virus infection may trigger unusual immune cells to attack nerves in multiple sclerosis
• Link between depression, abdominal obesity confirmed by new study
• Self-defense strategies of moss
• Young men more vulnerable to relationship ups and downs than women
• Tumor virus is best predictor of throat cancer survival
• Pathogens chase down migrating gypsy moths, making control efforts unnecessary, researcher reports
• Limiting blood flow interruption during kidney surgery avoids chronic kidney disease, study finds
• Pumping up the heat for a climate-friendly future
• Astronomers' doubts about the dark side: Errors in Big Bang data larger than thought?
• Molecular imaging 'probes' pinpoint prostate cancer
• Rapid changes for Arctic flora and fauna
• Genetic modifier in Usher syndrome will lead to better diagnosis, experts say
• Liposome-hydrogel hybrids: No toil, no trouble for stronger bubbles
• Childhood obesity linked to neighborhood social and economic status, study finds
• Scientists strive to replace silicon with graphene on nanocircuitry
• Molecular imaging detects first signs of Alzheimer's disease
• Cycad plant depends on insect for multiple services; Moth also triggers the plants into increased frequency of reproduction
• Targeted molecules play only minor role in axon repair; Discovery underscores difficulties in developing regenerative spinal cord injury therapies
• New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems
• Seasoned profs prepare students for advanced learning, study finds

Fern's evolution gives arsenic tolerance that may clean toxic land Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Isolating a gene that allows a type of fern to tolerate high levels of arsenic, researchers hope to use the finding to create plants that can clean up soils and waters contaminated by the toxic metal.

Gene linked to hereditary incontinence identified Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have identified the culprit gene for a rare condition that turns smiles into grimaces and impedes bladder and bowel control. Their finding provides new insight into urofacial syndrome as well as incontinence in general which affects some 20 percent of the general population.

First cloned horse using oocytes from a live mare Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have achieved another cloning first with the successful delivery of a foal using oocytes from a live mare, the first such clone in the world.

Molecular imaging allows individualized 'dose painting' for head and neck cancers Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT According to new research, a multi-tracer molecular imaging technique using positron emission tomography (PET) provides detailed information about the physiological processes of cancerous tumors -- and could one day help radiation oncologists treat head and neck cancers with precision external-beam radiation therapy and improve the outcomes of therapy.

3-D models of BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico made using ranger supercomputer Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers are using the Ranger supercomputer to produce 3-D simulations of the impact of BP's massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill on coastal areas.

Brand preference may be in the drink, not in the head, vodka study shows Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:00 AM PDT Scientists are reporting the first identification of a chemical basis for people's preference for certain brands of vodka, which outsells rum, gin, whiskey and tequila. They found that vodka differs from simple water-ethanol solutions in ways that could alter vodka's perceived taste.

Ancient ocean may have covered third of Mars Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A vast ocean likely covered one-third of the surface of Mars some 3.5 billion years ago, according to a new study. While the notion of a large, ancient ocean on Mars has been repeatedly proposed and challenged over the past two decades, the research provides further support for the idea of a sustained sea on the Red Planet more than 3 billion years ago.

Links between hypertension, bipolar disorders identified Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Nearly half of patients hospitalized with bipolar disorder may suffer from hypertension, and the younger a person is diagnosed with the psychiatric condition the more likely they are to develop high blood pressure, according to a recent study. The research analyzed 99 patients hospitalized for bipolar disorder, a condition sometimes called manic-depressive disorder.

Virus infection may trigger unusual immune cells to attack nerves in multiple sclerosis Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A virus infection can incite the body to attack its own nerve tissue by activating disease-fighting cells with receptors for both virus and nerve proteins. The dual-receptor finding suggests how nerve damage might be triggered in multiple sclerosis. MS causes blindness or paralysis, depending on the affected nerves. Different viruses could influence susceptibility to MS, depending on predisposing genes, exposure to environmental factors, and a random chance that white cells were formed to recognize both a nerve protein and a pathogen.

Link between depression, abdominal obesity confirmed by new study Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new study confirms the relationship between depression and abdominal obesity, which has been linked to an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Self-defense strategies of moss Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Snails don't like all plants in the same way -- they shun moss. Why is that so? "Moss is capable of building up chemical compounds that protect them from enemies," says a researcher. He has succeeded in identifying these compounds and in demonstrating their pest-repellent properties.

Young men more vulnerable to relationship ups and downs than women Posted: 14 Jun 2010 08:00 AM PDT Contrary to popular belief, the ups and downs of romantic relationships have a greater effect on the mental health of young men than women.

Tumor virus is best predictor of throat cancer survival Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT A new study shows that the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in tumors is the most important predictor of survival for people with throat cancer. The study is the first to demonstrate that HPV in head and neck tumors accounts for better response to therapy, rather than other favorable factors that may be present. The findings suggest that tumor HPV status, smoking history and cancer stage might be used together to determine therapy.

Pathogens chase down migrating gypsy moths, making control efforts unnecessary, researcher reports Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT If you live in a section of the country where gypsy moths are a relatively new menace, have no fear, help is not far behind. When the gypsy moth -- whose caterpillars have defoliated entire forests -- started spreading westward more than 100 years ago from New England to Wisconsin, its fungal and viral pathogens followed close behind.

Limiting blood flow interruption during kidney surgery avoids chronic kidney disease, study finds Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Interrupting the blood flow for more than 20-25 minutes during kidney cancer surgery leads to a greater risk for patients developing chronic kidney disease, a research team has found.

Pumping up the heat for a climate-friendly future Posted: 14 Jun 2010 05:00 AM PDT Making ground-source heat a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels has long been a dream for countries that depend on energy imports and need to cut their carbon dioxide emissions. A team of businesses and researchers in Slovenia and Serbia set out to develop the heat pump technology that would make this dream a reality.

Astronomers' doubts about the dark side: Errors in Big Bang data larger than thought? Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT New research by astronomers suggests that the conventional wisdom about the content of the universe may be wrong. Researchers looked at observations from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite to study the remnant heat from the Big Bang. The scientists found evidence that the errors in its data may be much larger than previously thought, which in turn makes the standard model of the universe open to question.

Molecular imaging 'probes' pinpoint prostate cancer Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Molecular imaging has a powerful new weapon in the fight against prostate cancer. Research demonstrates how a novel peptide-targeted imaging agent could help clinicians detect a biological process that signals cancer in prostate cells. Information gathered about this process may even differentiate prostate tumor types and the progression of disease.

Rapid changes for Arctic flora and fauna Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Unique Arctic habitats for flora and fauna, including sea ice, tundra, lakes, and peatlands have been disappearing over recent decades, and some characteristic Arctic species have shown a decline. The changes in Arctic Biodiversity have global repercussions and are further creating challenges for people living in the Arctic.

Genetic modifier in Usher syndrome will lead to better diagnosis, experts say Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Usher syndrome (USH), an inherited condition involving both hearing and vision loss, is not a simply recessively inherited disease. New research challenges the traditional view that USH was inherited as a single gene disorder, and shows that it may result from at least two different genetic mutations.

Liposome-hydrogel hybrids: No toil, no trouble for stronger bubbles Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method to combine liposomes and particles of hydrogel in a hybrid nanoscale particle that may one day travel directly to specific cells such as tumors, pass easily though the target's cell membrane, and then slowly release a drug payload.

Childhood obesity linked to neighborhood social and economic status, study finds Posted: 14 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT Children in King County, Washington, are more likely to be obese if they live in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods, according to research from Group Health Research Institute, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and the University of Washington (UW) that Social Science & Medicine e-published before printing. The team collected "de-identified" electronic medical record information on 8,616 children age 6-18 at Group Health Cooperative -- and correlated these data with the socio-economic characteristics of Seattle-area census tracts.

Scientists strive to replace silicon with graphene on nanocircuitry Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Scientists have made a breakthrough toward creating nanocircuitry on graphene, widely regarded as the most promising candidate to replace silicon as the building block of transistors. They have devised a simple and quick one-step process for creating nanowires, tuning the electronic properties of reduced graphene oxide and thereby allowing it to switch from being an insulating material to a conducting material.

Molecular imaging detects first signs of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Research is furthering efforts to use molecular imaging as a means of early detection of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are striving to detect the disease as early as possible by imaging the formation of a naturally-occurring protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, which is thought to be closely linked to disease onset.

Cycad plant depends on insect for multiple services; Moth also triggers the plants into increased frequency of reproduction Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT When a plant endemic to several islands in the Western Pacific Ocean taps the services of a helpful insect, a double-dose of benefits comes its way. The plant is a member of a unique group of plants known as cycads, which produce their seeds in cones rather than within fruits. The insect is a tiny moth currently known to exist only on the islands of Guam and Rota.

Targeted molecules play only minor role in axon repair; Discovery underscores difficulties in developing regenerative spinal cord injury therapies Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Neuroscientists have found that removing three key inhibitory molecules from myelin -- the insulating material that surrounds nerve cell fibers -- does not significantly boost the ability of injured spinal axons to regenerate and restore themselves to full function.

New online map shows network of protection for North America's marine ecosystems Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT North America's nearly 2,000 marine protected areas represent an unprecedented effort to protect the continent's fragile marine environments and are found throughout the marine eco-regions that encircle our continent.

Seasoned profs prepare students for advanced learning, study finds Posted: 13 Jun 2010 11:00 PM PDT Highly credentialed and experienced professors are better at preparing students for long-term academic success than their less-experienced counterparts, but that ability isn't necessarily reflected in their students' teaching evaluations, according to new research.

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