ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Vaccine-delivery patch with dissolving microneedles eliminates 'sharps,' boosts protection
• New principle discovered for how muscle pain is signaled
• Old males rule the roost even as sex drive fades
• Obesity is associated with reduced sensitivity to fat
• 'Business as usual' crop development won't satisfy future demand, research finds
• Major league pitchers 34 percent more likely to be injured than fielders, new study finds
• Unusual electrons go with the flow
• Greater obesity in offspring of nursing mothers consuming a high-fat diet
• How cranberry juice fights bacteria at the molecular level
• HIV/AIDS treatment curbs spread of HIV among drug users, study finds
• Refining a cosmic clock: Particle accelerator research helps narrow down the age of our galaxy
• Nectar reduction in Petunia: it doesn't pay to cheat
• Part of the brain that tracks limbs in space discovered
• A high-fat diet alters crucial aspects of brain dopamine signaling
• NASA's WISE mission completes extensive sky survey
• No heart benefit from Omega-3 in women with type 1 diabetes
• Role of RNA polymerase in gene transcription demonstrated
• Peer drug use may increase a genetically susceptible individual's tendency to use drugs
• Bright stars of the brain regulate breathing
• More than half the world's population gets insufficient vitamin D, says biochemist
• See beautiful Ontario Lacus: Cassini's guided tour
• Gene responsible for population disparity in kidney failure, study finds
• Knowledge gaps for 20 suspected carcinogens outlined
• Media coverage responsible for growth in vaccination rates
• Rising carbon dioxide and 'acidified' waters found in Puget Sound, off Seattle US
• June was the fourth consecutive month that was warmest on record
• Cash rewards with counseling could help prevent STIs
• Discovery suggests possible treatment strategy for aggressive leukemias
• Routine emergency department HIV screenings find only small increase in newly diagnosed HIV patients
• Many HIV-exposed infants in African countries not receiving medication to help prevent HIV

Vaccine-delivery patch with dissolving microneedles eliminates 'sharps,' boosts protection Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT A new vaccine-delivery patch based on hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve into the skin could allow persons without medical training to painlessly administer vaccines -- while providing improved immunization against diseases such as influenza.

New principle discovered for how muscle pain is signaled Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Chronic muscular pain may be linked to a previously unknown principle for how pain signals are transmitted in the human body, according to new research from Sweden.

Old males rule the roost even as sex drive fades Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Old roosters can still dominate the sexual pecking order even when their ability to fertilize eggs drastically declines, new research has shown.

Obesity is associated with reduced sensitivity to fat Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT New research found marked differences between obese and lean men in how they respond to the taste of fat. Fat also is less effective in obese men in stimulating certain gut hormones that are released into the bloodstream and normally suppress appetite.

'Business as usual' crop development won't satisfy future demand, research finds Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Although global grain production must double by 2050 to address rising population and demand, new data suggests crop yields will suffer unless new approaches to adapt crop plants to climate change are adopted. Improved agronomic traits responsible for the remarkable increases in yield accomplished during the past 50 years have reached their ceiling for some of the world's most important crops.

Major league pitchers 34 percent more likely to be injured than fielders, new study finds Posted: 19 Jul 2010 08:00 AM PDT Watch out if you are a Major League Baseball pitcher prior to the All-Star break. Pitchers are 34 percent more likely to be injured than fielders, according to new research. The study looked into the epidemiology of MLB players' injuries from 2002-2008. It also found that 77 percent of all injuries to pitchers happen before the All-Star game.

Unusual electrons go with the flow Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT On a quest to discover new states of matter, a team of scientists has found that electrons on the surface of specific materials act like miniature superheroes, relentlessly dodging the cliff-like obstacles of imperfect microsurfaces, sometimes moving straight through barriers.

Greater obesity in offspring of nursing mothers consuming a high-fat diet Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT The future health of offspring is more negatively impacted when their mothers consume a high fat diet while nursing compared with high-fat diet consumption during pregnancy, according to animal research.

How cranberry juice fights bacteria at the molecular level Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Revealing the science behind the homespun advice, researchers have identified and measured the molecular forces that enable cranberry juice to fight off urinary tract infections. The research illuminates the basic mechanics of E. coli infections, which has implications for developing new antibiotic drugs and infection-resistant materials for invasive medical devices.

HIV/AIDS treatment curbs spread of HIV among drug users, study finds Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), currently known for its therapeutic benefits against HIV, also reduced the spread of the virus among people with a history of injection drug use, according to new research.

Refining a cosmic clock: Particle accelerator research helps narrow down the age of our galaxy Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT A study of processes that affect the abundance of osmium will reduce the uncertainty that has plagued measurements of the age of the Milky Way.

Nectar reduction in Petunia: it doesn't pay to cheat Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 AM PDT A researcher in Switzerland has bred a new line of petunia that produces significantly more seeds and less nectar than normal petunia. The downside of these positive changes is that pollinators spend less time visiting petunias that offer less nectar, which results in a lower seed production. The work shows that the cost-benefit ratio for the plant remains neutral.

Part of the brain that tracks limbs in space discovered Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the part of the brain that tracks the position of our limbs as we move through space. When a mosquito lands on your hand, you can rapidly and effortlessly make a movement of the other hand to brush it away, even in darkness. But performing this seemingly simple action involves a surprisingly complex coordination of different types of sensory information in order for your brain to construct a constantly updated 'map' of the body in space.

A high-fat diet alters crucial aspects of brain dopamine signaling Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Prolonged exposure to a high fat diet is correlated with changes in the brain chemical dopamine within the striatum, a critical component of the brain's reward system according to new research.

NASA's WISE mission completes extensive sky survey Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, completed its first survey of the entire sky on July 17, 2010. The mission has generated more than one million images so far, of everything from asteroids to distant galaxies.

No heart benefit from Omega-3 in women with type 1 diabetes Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Consuming higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids does not appear to lower heart disease risk for women with type 1 diabetes, according to new research.

Role of RNA polymerase in gene transcription demonstrated Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT Biophysicists have provided new insight into the mechanisms of gene transcription. They developed a computer model to simulate how the transcription of RNA from DNA is initiated and demonstrate the active role that RNA polymerase plays. Understanding the mechanisms of gene transcription is an important step in deciphering the role of genetics in disease.

Peer drug use may increase a genetically susceptible individual's tendency to use drugs Posted: 19 Jul 2010 02:00 AM PDT The nature-nurture debate is usually about how much of something is due to our genes and how much is caused by our environment. New research shows that the case is more complicated for young women who smoke, drink, or use drugs, for two related reasons.

Bright stars of the brain regulate breathing Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Astrocytes -- brain cells named after their characteristic star-shape and previously thought to act only as the 'glue' between neurons -- have a central role in the regulation of breathing, according to scientists. The finding provides a new dimension for research into fundamental principles of brain organization and function and may be relevant for understanding causes of devastating conditions associated with respiratory failure such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

More than half the world's population gets insufficient vitamin D, says biochemist Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Vitamin D surfaces as a news topic every few months. How much daily vitamin D should a person get? According to an international expert on vitamin D, half the people in North America and Western Europe get insufficient amounts of the vitamin. Elsewhere, the situation is worse.

See beautiful Ontario Lacus: Cassini's guided tour Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Ontario Lacus, the largest lake in the southern hemisphere of Saturn's moon Titan, turns out to be a perfect exotic vacation spot, provided you can handle the frosty, subzero temperatures and enjoy soaking in liquid hydrocarbon.

Gene responsible for population disparity in kidney failure, study finds Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Chronic kidney disease affects millions in North America, with persons of African heritage being at a four-fold higher risk and those of Hispanic heritage having a two-fold higher risk compared to the rest of the population. An international study points to the APOL1 gene as involved in the increased risk of kidney disease in this high-risk population.

Knowledge gaps for 20 suspected carcinogens outlined Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT A new report identifies gaps in research for 20 suspected carcinogens whose potential to cause cancer is as yet unresolved. The report is designed to prioritize agents for additional research, and to lead to well-planned epidemiologic or mechanistic studies leading to more definitive classification of these agents.

Media coverage responsible for growth in vaccination rates Posted: 18 Jul 2010 11:00 PM PDT Mass media coverage of flu-related topics such as vaccine shortages and delays appears to boost overall vaccination rates and prompt people to get their shots earlier in the flu season. On average, national news reports involving the flu are estimated to increase annual vaccination rates by as many an 8 percentage points.

Rising carbon dioxide and 'acidified' waters found in Puget Sound, off Seattle US Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Scientists have discovered that the water chemistry in the Hood Canal and the Puget Sound main basin is becoming more "acidified," or corrosive, as the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These changes could have considerable impacts on the region's shellfish industry over the next several decades.

June was the fourth consecutive month that was warmest on record Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT June was the fourth consecutive month that was the warmest on record for the combined global land and surface temperatures (March, April, and May were also the warmest). This was the 304th consecutive month with a combined global land and surface temperature above the 20th century average. The last month with below average temperatures was February 1985.

Cash rewards with counseling could help prevent STIs Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Giving out cash can be an effective tool in combating sexually transmitted infections in rural Africa, according to a new study.

Discovery suggests possible treatment strategy for aggressive leukemias Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Researchers have identified a mechanism that could explain how patients move into the worst phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Their findings implicate a protein called Mushashi that prevents cells from maturing, creating a large population of immature cells, which is one of the hallmarks of CML.

Routine emergency department HIV screenings find only small increase in newly diagnosed HIV patients Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT The use of routine HIV screening in a hospital emergency department, which patients had the option to decline, was associated with only a modest increase in the number of patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection, compared to physician-directed diagnostic rapid HIV testing, according to a new study.

Many HIV-exposed infants in African countries not receiving medication to help prevent HIV Posted: 17 Jul 2010 09:00 PM PDT Only about half of infants born to HIV-infected mothers in some African countries receive a minimum preventive dose of the drug nevirapine to help reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission, according to a new study.

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