ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Plastic computer memory device that utilizes electron spin to read and write data: Alternative to traditional semiconductors
• Larger waist associated with greater risk of death
• Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night
• Computerized warning system alerts doctors to medications that could harm elderly patients
• Millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying
• 'Lap-band' weight loss surgery in very obese adults improves mental health, study finds
• New strategy to fix a broken heart: Scaffold supports stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells
• 'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors
• Hitchhiking bacteria can go against the flow
• Aggressive control of cardiac risk factors might not benefit all patients with diabetes
• Cold atoms image microwave fields
• Brain responds same to acute and chronic sleep loss, research finds
• Brain's wiring: More like the Internet than a pyramid?
• More cancer-fighting power: Mouse with highly effective components of the human immune system
• EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia
• Three biomarkers in spinal fluid appear helpful to classify patients with Alzheimer's disease
• More actions needed to help western Steller sea lion recover, fisheries experts say
• Pilot study supports adolescent diabetes patients through personalized text messages
• The salp: Nature's near-perfect little engine just got better
• Plasma beta-amyloid levels associated with cognitive decline
• New study examines effects of drought in the Amazon
• Proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for C. difficile reinfection, study finds
• Demographic disparities found among children with frequent ear infections
• Higher temperatures to slow Asian rice production
• Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone
• New 'dentist' test to detect oral cancer will save lives
• Factors associated with rate of visual field change in patients with glaucoma identified
• London Guildhall: Cradle of English literature
• Smaller hospitals can provide safe and high-quality surgical care comparable to larger counterparts, study finds
• Scientists map all mammalian gene interactions
• Brain pathways linking social stress and inflammation identified
• Electrical activity in developing brain influences choice of neurotransmitter
• Lubricating the knee cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament repair may prevent osteoarthritis
• Turning down the noise in graphene
• Corporal punishment of children remains common worldwide, studies find
• Insects sense danger on mammals' breath
• What makes a good egg and healthy embryo? Zinc discovery may help in future fertility treatments
• Fresh insight into the origins of Planet Earth
• New methods, new math speed detection of drug-resistant malaria
• Compact microscope a marvel: Matches performance of expensive lab gear in diagnosing TB
• Essential ingredients of supportive sibling relationships
• Prosthesis with information at its fingertips: Hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain
• Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake
• Engineers use rocket science to make wastewater treatment sustainable
• How blocking the 'Programmed Death 1' protein may treat or prevent sepsis and severe infection
• Forest fires help power the nitrogen cycle
• People think immoral behavior is funny -- but only if it also seems benign

Plastic computer memory device that utilizes electron spin to read and write data: Alternative to traditional semiconductors Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated the first plastic computer memory device that utilizes the spin of electrons to read and write data. An alternative to traditional microelectronics, so-called "spintronics" could store more data in less space, process data faster, and consume less power.

Larger waist associated with greater risk of death Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Individuals with a large waist circumference appear to have a greater risk of dying from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new report.

Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Ever wonder why some people can sleep through just about anything, while others get startled awake at each and every bump in the night? People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain.

Computerized warning system alerts doctors to medications that could harm elderly patients Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Adverse drug events occur in an estimated 40 percent of all hospital patients and can be the result of inappropriate medications being ordered. For elderly patients, this can pose a serious risk of complications. Now, a study shows that CPOE systems can help.

Millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT Every day, millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying. Louis Pasteur demonstrated back in 1861 that germs can move through the air, but it was only recently discovered that bacteria, fungi and viruses can travel thousands of kilometers stuck onto dust particles. Satellite images show clouds that come close to the size of the Iberian Peninsula.

'Lap-band' weight loss surgery in very obese adults improves mental health, study finds Posted: 10 Aug 2010 11:00 AM PDT One year after weight loss surgery with laparoscopic gastric banding, extremely obese adults demonstrate not only better physical health but also improved psychological health, a new study shows.

New strategy to fix a broken heart: Scaffold supports stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Engineers and physicians have built a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. The scaffold supports the growth of cardiac cells in the lab and encourages blood vessel growth in living animals.

'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Scientists are developing a new way to destroy tumors with fewer side effects and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The innovative method uses heat to kill the tumor cells but leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. Using specific biomarkers attached to individual tumors, the mixture of nano-particles and antibodies locates and binds to the tumor itself.

Hitchhiking bacteria can go against the flow Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Tiny aquatic organisms known as "water fleas" play an important role in carrying bacteria to lake and ocean habitats that are otherwise inaccessible due to stratified density boundaries. For animals as small as bacteria, the boundary between water masses of different temperature and salinity may as well be a brick wall. Hitching a ride on larger zooplankton helps them break through to greener pastures.

Aggressive control of cardiac risk factors might not benefit all patients with diabetes Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT A mathematical model suggests that aggressively pursuing low blood pressure and cholesterol levels may not benefit, and could even harm, some patients with diabetes, according to a new study.

Cold atoms image microwave fields Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Microwaves are an essential part of modern communication technology. Mobile phones and laptops, for example, are equipped with integrated microwave circuits for wireless communication. Sophisticated techniques for measurement and characterization of microwave fields are an essential tool for the development of such circuits. A novel technique allows for the direct and complete imaging of microwave magnetic fields with high spatial resolution.

Brain responds same to acute and chronic sleep loss, research finds Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT Burning the candle at both ends for a week may take an even bigger toll than you thought.

Brain's wiring: More like the Internet than a pyramid? Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Neuroscientists have traced circuits in part of the rat brain and find no sign of a top-down hierarchy. The distributed network of the Internet may be a better model, they say.

More cancer-fighting power: Mouse with highly effective components of the human immune system Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Researchers have modified T cell receptors, the antenna-like structures of T cells, to make them more potent against cancer. This modification is the precondition for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. The researchers developed a mouse with a whole repertoire of human T cell receptors with the aim of utilizing them in the future for targeted immunotherapy in patients.

EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT Engineering and health sciences researchers have applied machine learning to EEG patterns and successfully predicted how patients with schizophrenia would respond to clozapine therapy.

Three biomarkers in spinal fluid appear helpful to classify patients with Alzheimer's disease Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT A "signature" consisting of three biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid was present in 90 percent of patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but also was found in more than one-third of cognitively normal older adults, according to a new report.

More actions needed to help western Steller sea lion recover, fisheries experts say Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT NOAA's Fisheries Service says changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

Pilot study supports adolescent diabetes patients through personalized text messages Posted: 10 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT A recent study examined weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities. An increase in overall treatment adherence and improved blood glucose levels was found.

The salp: Nature's near-perfect little engine just got better Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT What if trains, planes, and automobiles all were powered simply by the air through which they move? Moreover, what if their exhaust and byproducts helped the environment? Well, such an energy-efficient, self-propelling mechanism already exists in nature. The salp, a smallish, barrel-shaped organism that resembles a kind of streamlined jellyfish, gets everything it needs from the ocean waters to feed and propel itself.

Plasma beta-amyloid levels associated with cognitive decline Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT High plasma levels of beta-amyloid -- protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's disease when they accumulate in the brain -- appear to be associated with faster cognitive decline even in those who do not develop dementia, according to a new report.

New study examines effects of drought in the Amazon Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT Recent research surrounding the impact of drought in the Amazon has provided contradictory findings as to how tropical forests react to a drier and warmer climate. A new study examines the response of Amazon forests to variations in climate conditions, specifically considering how those changes may influence forest productivity. These findings provide possible context for why previous studies have offered varying conclusions.

Proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for C. difficile reinfection, study finds Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT Clostridium-difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Although initial response rates to specific antibiotic therapy exceed 90 percent, 10-30 percent of patients experience disease recurrence. Risk factors influence CDAD recurrence are not yet fully understood. A research group in Korea investigated the risk factors for CDAD recurrence. Advanced age, serum albumin levels less than 2.5g/dL and use of PPIs were found to be significant risk factors for CDAD recurrence.

Demographic disparities found among children with frequent ear infections Posted: 10 Aug 2010 02:00 AM PDT Research has documented that ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist among patients with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Now, a new study has found disparities among children suffering from repeated ear infections.

Higher temperatures to slow Asian rice production Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Production of rice, the world's most important crop for ensuring food security, will be thwarted as temperatures increase in rice-growing areas with continued climate change, according to a new study. Researchers found evidence that the net impact of projected temperature increases will be to slow the growth of rice production in Asia. Rising temperatures during the past 25 years have already cut the yield growth rate by 10-20 percent in several locations.

Respiratory symptoms more reliable indicator of H1N1, not fever alone Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT New research shows that individuals with mild H1N1 infection may go undetected using standard diagnostic criteria, according to a new study. The study concludes that coughing or other respiratory symptoms are more accurate in determining influenza infection than presence of a fever.

New 'dentist' test to detect oral cancer will save lives Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT A new test for oral cancer, which a dentist could perform by simply using a brush to collect cells from a patient's mouth, is set to be developed by researchers.

Factors associated with rate of visual field change in patients with glaucoma identified Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Patients with glaucoma appear to have more rapid visual field change if they are older or if they have abnormal levels of anticardiolipin antibody (an antibody directed against a certain protein in the body), according to a new report. Reducing intraocular pressure -- the pressure within the eyeball -- modestly in these patients appears to ameliorate the rate at which they experience declines in visual field.

London Guildhall: Cradle of English literature Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Researchers have found evidence that the London Guildhall served as the cradle of English Literature in the late Middle Ages. It was the home to scribes who copied the first manuscripts of works by fourteenth-century authors Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower, as well as early copies of other Middle English authors including William Langland and John Trevisa.

Smaller hospitals can provide safe and high-quality surgical care comparable to larger counterparts, study finds Posted: 09 Aug 2010 11:00 PM PDT Smaller, rural hospitals may be quicker and more efficient at implementing surgical safety initiatives than their larger, urban counterparts, and are capable of providing a standard of surgical care that is at par with major hospitals that provide a comprehensive array of care services, according to an 18-month series of studies.

Scientists map all mammalian gene interactions Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT In one of the first efforts of its kind, researchers have taken mammalian genome maps, including human maps, one step further by showing not just the order in which genes fall in the genome but which genes actually interact. The findings will help researchers better understand which genes work together and shed light on how they collaborate to help cells thrive or die.

Brain pathways linking social stress and inflammation identified Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that how your brain responds to social stressors can influence the body's immune system in ways that may negatively affect health.

Electrical activity in developing brain influences choice of neurotransmitter Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Cascades of genetic signals determine which neurotransmitter a brain cell will ultimately use to communicate with other cells. Now a pair of reports have shown for the first time that electrical activity in these developing neurons can alter their chemical fate -- and change an animal's behavior -- by tweaking this genetic program.

Lubricating the knee cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament repair may prevent osteoarthritis Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can often be corrected through surgery, they can lead to increased risk of developing degenerative joint diseases, including osteoarthritis. The fluid in the knee joint, which lubricates the cartilage, is impacted by the trauma of the injury and begins to deteriorate. A new study identifies options for restoring that lubrication to potentially prevent development of OA.

Turning down the noise in graphene Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed the first model of signal-to-noise-ratios for low frequency noises in graphene on silica. Their results show noise patterns that run just the opposite of noise patterns in other electronic materials.

Corporal punishment of children remains common worldwide, studies find Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:00 PM PDT Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment of children are still common in the US and worldwide, despite bans in 24 countries.

Insects sense danger on mammals' breath Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT When plant-eating mammals such as goats chomp on a sprig of alfalfa, they could easily gobble up some extra protein in the form of insects that happen to get in their way. But a new report shows that plant-dwelling pea aphids have a strategy designed to help them avoid that dismal fate: The insects sense mammalian breath and simply drop to the ground.

What makes a good egg and healthy embryo? Zinc discovery may help in future fertility treatments Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Scientists and fertility doctors have long tried to figure out what makes a good egg that will produce a healthy embryo. It's a critical to know which eggs isolated from a woman will produce the best embryos and ultimately babies. New research reveals eggs need a tremendous dose of zinc to reach maturity and be ready for fertilization -- a finding that may ultimately help physicians assess the best eggs for fertility treatment.

Fresh insight into the origins of Planet Earth Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT For the first time, an international team of researchers has incorporated extensive geochemical data on the formation of Earth into a model -- with surprising results: more models can be used for the process of Earth's accretion than previously assumed.

New methods, new math speed detection of drug-resistant malaria Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Researchers developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease.

Compact microscope a marvel: Matches performance of expensive lab gear in diagnosing TB Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT New research shows that a portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs $240, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as $40,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis.

Essential ingredients of supportive sibling relationships Posted: 09 Aug 2010 05:00 PM PDT Many moms and dads say the toughest part of parenting is keeping the peace when their kids squabble and bicker. But making an end to conflict your primary focus is a mistake, according to experts.

Prosthesis with information at its fingertips: Hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime. Now scientists in Germany have modified conventional hand prostheses in order to reduce phantom pain after an underarm amputation.

Biochemist proposes worldwide policy change to step up daily vitamin D intake Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT An expert in vitamin D proposes worldwide policy changes regarding people's vitamin D daily intake amount in order to maximize the vitamin's contribution to reducing the frequency of many diseases, including childhood rickets, adult osteomalacia, cancer, autoimmune type-1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and muscle weakness.

Engineers use rocket science to make wastewater treatment sustainable Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Engineers are developing a new sewage treatment process that would increase the production of two greenhouse gases -- nitrous oxide and methane -- and use those gases to power the treatment plant. Applying rocket technology, they hope to make the process energy neutral and emissions free.

How blocking the 'Programmed Death 1' protein may treat or prevent sepsis and severe infection Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Scientists have made an important discovery that could lead to new drugs that reduce the severity of blood infections leading to sepsis. New research shows how interfering with the function of the cell membrane protein called "Programmed Death 1" improves survival in a clinically relevant model of severe infection.

Forest fires help power the nitrogen cycle Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT Years after a forest fire, soil bacteria communities have changed and convert more ammonia to nitrates, increasing soil fertility.

People think immoral behavior is funny -- but only if it also seems benign Posted: 09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT What makes something funny? Philosophers have been tossing that question around since Plato. Now two psychological scientists think they've come up with the formula: humor comes from a violation or threat to the way the world ought to be that is, at the same time, benign.

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