ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Drug use increasingly associated with microbial infections
• UK doctors consistently oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide
• New biomarker for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease identified
• 'Singing' mice: The ongoing debate of nature vs. Nurture
• New form of muscular dystrophy identified: Mutation in important muscle protein causes muscle disease and cognitive impairment
• Smoking may increase risk for lung disease
• Gene fusion mechanisms offer new clues to origin of pediatric brain tumors
• Passive smoking increases risk of stillbirth and birth defects, study suggests
• Cell component involved in triggering cat allergy identified
• Giving children the power to be scientists
• International collaboration between researchers results in greater recognition, study shows
• Synthetic compound may lead to drugs to fight pancreatic, lung cancer
• Brain has three layers of working memory, study shows
• New H1N1 mutation could allow virus to spread more easily
• International panel revises 'McDonald Criteria' for diagnosing multiple sclerosis
• Physicists measure current-induced torque in nonvolatile magnetic memory devices
• Gene that mediates response to key cancer drugs frequently mutated in young leukemia patients who relapse
• Tiny gems take big step toward battling cancer
• In the North Atlantic, oceanic currents play a greater role in the absorption of carbon than previously thought
• New microscope decodes complex eye circuitry
• Gene variant influences chronic kidney disease risk
• Materials identified that may deliver more 'bounce'
• More reasons to be nice: It's less work for everyone
• First international index developed to predict suicidal behavior
• Missing DNA helps make us human
• Scientists discover anti-anxiety circuit in brain region considered the seat of fear
• Web-crawling the brain: 3-D nanoscale model of neural circuit created
• Electromechanical circuit sets record beating microscopic 'drum'
• Newly identified spider toxin may help uncover novel ways of treating pain and human diseases
• Novel method could improve the performance of proteins used therapeutically
• Model organisms? Broadening the biological lexicon to bolster translational research
• How plants sort and eliminate genes over millennia
• Cerebral spinal fluid guides stem cell development in the brain
• 'GPS system' for protein synthesis in nerve cells gives clues for understanding brain disorders
• In adolescence, the power to resist blooms in the brain
• A-ha! The neural mechanisms of insight
• Learning to see consciously: Scientists show how flexibly the brain processes images
• 'Love song' of the fly shows how nervous system initiates, controls and utilized behavior
• Pinpointing air pollution's effects on the heart
• New molecular robot can be programmed to follow instructions
• An advance toward blood transfusions that require no typing
• Banana peels get a second life as water purifier
• How do people respond to being touched by a robotic nurse?
• Aspirin's ability to protect against colorectal cancer may depend on inflammatory pathways
• Toward real time observation of electron dynamics in atoms and molecules
• Baby stars born to 'napping' parents
• Melon growers: Combating cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus
• Alcohol abuse history influences quality of life following liver transplant
• Synthetic biology: Novel kind of fluorescent protein developed
• New mouse models generated for MYH9 genetic disorders
• Novel role found for calcium channels in pacemaker cell function
• New genetic deafness syndrome identified
• Viruses teach researchers how to protect corn from fungal infection
• Salmonella bacteria used to fight cancer
• High-volume portable music players may impair ability to clearly discriminate sounds
• Abnormal neural activity recorded from the deep brain of Parkinson's disease and dystonia patients
• How do we combine faces and voices?
• Blood pressure: 100 million Americans may be unnecessarily labeled abnormal
• Salmon breeding comes ashore
• Which side of the brain rotates a mental picture?

Drug use increasingly associated with microbial infections Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:10 PM PST Illicit drug users are at increased risk of being exposed to microbial pathogens and are more susceptible to serious infections, say physicians in a new report. The review, which aims to improve the microbiological diagnosis of drug use-related infections, assesses the role of drug-related practices in the spread of a range of bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoal infections.

UK doctors consistently oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:10 PM PST A review of research carried out over 20 years suggests that UK doctors appear to consistently oppose euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The findings highlight a gap between doctors' attitudes and those of the UK public.

New biomarker for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease identified Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:27 PM PST Researchers have identified the first disease-specific biomarker for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), a universally fatal, degenerative brain disease for which there is no cure. sCJD is one of the causes of dementia and typically leads to death within a year of disease onset.

'Singing' mice: The ongoing debate of nature vs. Nurture Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:26 PM PST What happened to being "quiet as a mouse"? Researchers have recently shown that, rather than being the silent creatures of popular belief, mice emit ultrasonic calls in a variety of social contexts, and these calls have song-like characteristics. So if mice sing, where do they get their music?

New form of muscular dystrophy identified: Mutation in important muscle protein causes muscle disease and cognitive impairment Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:26 PM PST An international collaboration and a single patient with mild muscle disease and severe cognitive impairment have allowed researchers to identify a new gene mutation that causes muscular dystrophy. Furthermore, by engineering the human gene mutation into mice, the researchers have created a new mouse model that could help screen potential drugs to treat this type of muscular dystrophy.

Smoking may increase risk for lung disease Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:26 PM PST Researchers have found that approximately one out of every 12 adult smokers have abnormal lung densities present on chest computed tomography images suggestive of interstitial lung disease which is associated with substantial reductions in lung volumes. In addition, despite being positively associated with smoking, these lung densities were inversely not associated with emphysema.

Gene fusion mechanisms offer new clues to origin of pediatric brain tumors Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:26 PM PST A detailed analysis of gene fusions present at high frequency in the most common pediatric brain tumors has been performed for the first time in a study that sheds new light on how these genomic rearrangements form in the early stages of cancer.

Passive smoking increases risk of stillbirth and birth defects, study suggests Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:21 PM PST Pregnant non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke of other people are at an increased risk of delivering stillborn babies or babies with defects, a new study has found.

Cell component involved in triggering cat allergy identified Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:21 PM PST New research could provide hope for any allergy sufferers who have ever had to choose between their health and their household pet.

Giving children the power to be scientists Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:21 PM PST Children who are taught how to think and act like scientists develop a clearer understanding of the subject, a study has shown.

International collaboration between researchers results in greater recognition, study shows Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 PM PST US researchers who collaborate with international scientists are more likely to have their work cited than peers who do not utilize overseas expertise, according to a new study. US collaborators with international scientists are also more likely to receive greater recognition and produce work with greater impact.

Synthetic compound may lead to drugs to fight pancreatic, lung cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 PM PST Researchers have identified a chemical compound that may eventually lead to a drug that fights cancers that are dependent on a particular anti-viral enzyme for growth.

Brain has three layers of working memory, study shows Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 PM PST Researchers have found support for the theory that the brain has three concentric layers of working memory where it stores readily available items. Memory researchers have long debated whether there are two or three layers and what the capacity and function of each layer is.

New H1N1 mutation could allow virus to spread more easily Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 PM PST Researchers have identified a single mutation in the H1N1 genetic makeup that would allow it to be much more easily transmitted between people. The finding should give the World Health Organization, which tracks influenza evolution, something to watch out for, says the senior author of the paper.

International panel revises 'McDonald Criteria' for diagnosing multiple sclerosis Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 PM PST An international panel has revised and simplified the "McDonald Criteria" commonly used to diagnose MS, incorporating new data that should speed the diagnosis without compromising accuracy.

Physicists measure current-induced torque in nonvolatile magnetic memory devices Posted: 09 Mar 2011 11:17 AM PST Tomorrow's nonvolatile memory devices -- computer memory that can retain stored information even when not powered -- will profoundly change electronics, and researchers have discovered a new way of measuring and optimizing their performance.

Gene that mediates response to key cancer drugs frequently mutated in young leukemia patients who relapse Posted: 09 Mar 2011 11:17 AM PST Despite dramatically improved survival rates for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), relapse remains a leading cause of death from the disease. Researchers have now identified mutations in a gene named CREBBP that may help the cancer resist steroid treatment and fuel ALL's return.

Tiny gems take big step toward battling cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2011 11:17 AM PST Researchers have now demonstrated the significance and translational potential of nanodiamonds in the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant cancers. In studies of liver and breast cancer models in vivo, the team found that a normally lethal amount of a chemotherapy drug when bound to nanodiamonds significantly reduced the size of tumors in mice. Survival rates also increased and no toxic effects on tissues and organs were observed.

In the North Atlantic, oceanic currents play a greater role in the absorption of carbon than previously thought Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:20 AM PST The ocean traps carbon through two principal mechanisms: a biological pump and a physical pump linked to oceanic currents. Scientists have managed to quantify the role of these two pumps in an area of the North Atlantic. Contrary to expectations, the physical pump in this region could be nearly 100 times more powerful on average than the biological pump. By pulling down masses of water cooled and enriched with carbon, ocean circulation thus plays a crucial role in deep carbon sequestration in the North Atlantic.

New microscope decodes complex eye circuitry Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:20 AM PST The properties of optical stimuli need to be conveyed from the eye to the brain. To do this efficiently, the relevant information is extracted by pre-processing in the eye. Using a novel microscopy method researchers have now discovered that the distribution of the synapses between ganglion cells and interneurons follows highly specific rules.

Gene variant influences chronic kidney disease risk Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Scientists have identified a single genetic mutation in the CUBN gene that is associated with albuminuria both with and without diabetes. Albuminuria is a condition caused by the leaking of the protein albumin into the urine, which is an indication of kidney disease.

Materials identified that may deliver more 'bounce' Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Researchers have identified a class of high-strength metal alloys that show potential to make springs, sensors and switches smaller and more responsive. The alloys could be used in springier blood vessel stents, sensitive microphones, powerful loudspeakers, and components that boost the performance of medical imaging equipment, security systems and clean-burning gasoline and diesel engines.

More reasons to be nice: It's less work for everyone Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST A polite act shows respect. But a new study of a common etiquette -- holding a door for someone -- suggests that courtesy may have a more practical, though unconscious, shared motivation: to reduce the work for those involved. The new research is among the first to combine two fields of study ordinarily considered unrelated: altruism and motor control.

First international index developed to predict suicidal behavior Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Although thousands of people commit suicide worldwide each year, researchers and doctors do not have any method for evaluating a person's likelihood of thinking about or trying to commit suicide. An international group of scientists has now devised the first risk index in order to prevent suicides.

Missing DNA helps make us human Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Specific traits that distinguish humans from their closest living relatives -- chimpanzees, with whom we share 96 percent of our DNA -- can be attributed to the loss of chunks of DNA that control when and where certain genes are turned on.

Scientists discover anti-anxiety circuit in brain region considered the seat of fear Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Stimulation of a distinct brain circuit that lies within a brain structure typically associated with fearfulness produces the opposite effect: Its activity, instead of triggering or increasing anxiety, counters it.

Web-crawling the brain: 3-D nanoscale model of neural circuit created Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Researchers have created a three-dimensional nanoscale model of a neural circuit using electron microscopy. As a result, the researchers can crawl these vast neural networks much as Google crawls web links.

Electromechanical circuit sets record beating microscopic 'drum' Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Physicists have demonstrated an electromechanical circuit in which microwaves communicate with a vibrating mechanical component 1,000 times more vigorously than ever achieved before in similar experiments. The microscopic apparatus is a new tool for processing information and potentially could control the motion of a relatively large object at the smallest possible, or quantum, scale.

Newly identified spider toxin may help uncover novel ways of treating pain and human diseases Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PST Spider venom toxins are useful tools for exploring how ion channels operate in the body. These channels control the flow of ions across cell membranes, and are key components in a wide variety of biological processes and human diseases.

Novel method could improve the performance of proteins used therapeutically Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST Scientists have created a method that site-specifically modifies proteins to exert control over their properties when administered therapeutically. The technique should be useful to increase potency, slow metabolism, and improve thermal stability of therapeutically useful proteins, such as interferon alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2), which is used to treat variety of diseases, including leukemia, melanoma, and chronic hepatitis C.

Model organisms? Broadening the biological lexicon to bolster translational research Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST So-called model organisms have long been at the core of biomedical research, allowing scientists to study the ins and outs of human disorders in non-human subjects. In the ideal, such models accurately recapitulate a human disorder so that, for example, the Parkinson's disease observed in a rat model would be virtually indistinguishable from that in a human patient. The reality, of course, is that rats aren't human, and few models actually faithfully reflect the phenotype of the disease in question. Thus, in the strictest sense of the word, many "models" aren't truly models at all. To developmental biologist, this is no small matter.

How plants sort and eliminate genes over millennia Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST Hybrid plants with multiple genome copies show evidence of preferential treatment of the genes from one ancient parent over the genes of the other parent, even to the point where some of the unfavored genes eventually are deleted.

Cerebral spinal fluid guides stem cell development in the brain Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST New studies show that cerebral spinal fluid contains a potent mix of substances that nourishes and rejuvenates brain cells.

'GPS system' for protein synthesis in nerve cells gives clues for understanding brain disorders Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST Scientists can now explain how a class of RNA molecules is able to target the genetic building blocks that guide the functioning of a specific part of the nerve cell. Abnormalities at this site are in involved in epilepsy, neurodegenerative disease, and cognitive disorders.

In adolescence, the power to resist blooms in the brain Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST Just when children are faced with intensifying peer pressure to misbehave, regions of the brain are actually blossoming in a way that heighten the ability to resist risky behavior, report researchers.

A-ha! The neural mechanisms of insight Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:51 AM PST Although it is quite common for a brief, unique experience to become part of our long-term memory, the underlying brain mechanisms associated with this type of learning are not well understood. Now, a new brain-imaging study looks at the neural activity associated with a specific type of rapid learning, insight.

Learning to see consciously: Scientists show how flexibly the brain processes images Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:50 AM PST Our brains process many more stimuli than we become aware of. Often images enter our brain without being noticed: visual information is being processed, but does not reach consciousness, that is, we do not have an impression of it. Then, what is the difference between conscious and unconscious perception, and can both forms of perception be changed through practice?

'Love song' of the fly shows how nervous system initiates, controls and utilized behavior Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:50 AM PST Neurobiologists used the mating ritual of the fruit fly to study how the nervous system initiates, controls and utilizes behavior. Using newly developed thermogenetic methods, the researchers were able to initiate the courtship song of the male fly by "remote control", and study the involved neural networks.

Pinpointing air pollution's effects on the heart Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST Scientists are untangling how the tiniest pollution particles -- which we take in with every breath we breathe -- affect our health, making people more vulnerable to cardiovascular and respiratory problems. While scientists know that air pollution can aggravate heart problems, showing exactly how it does so has been challenging. Scientists have now shown that in people with diabetes, breathing ultrafine particles can activate platelets, cells in the blood that normally reduce bleeding from a wound, but can contribute to cardiovascular disease.

New molecular robot can be programmed to follow instructions Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST Scientists have developed a programmable "molecular robot" -- a sub-microscopic molecular machine made of synthetic DNA that moves between track locations separated by 6nm. The robot, a short strand of DNA, follows instructions programmed into a set of fuel molecules determining its destination, for example, to turn left or right at a junction in the track. The report represents a step toward futuristic nanomachines and nanofactories.

An advance toward blood transfusions that require no typing Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST Scientists are reporting an "important step" toward development of a universal blood product that would eliminate the need to "type" blood to match donor and recipient before transfusions. The "immunocamouflage" technique hides blood cells from antibodies that could trigger a potentially fatal immune reaction that occurs when blood types do not match.

Banana peels get a second life as water purifier Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST To the surprisingly inventive uses for banana peels -- which include polishing silverware, leather shoes, and the leaves of house plants -- scientists have added purification of drinking water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. Minced banana peel performs better than an array of other purification materials, according to a new study.

How do people respond to being touched by a robotic nurse? Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST Researchers have found people generally had a positive response toward being touched by a robotic nurse, but that their perception of the robot's intent made a significant difference.

Aspirin's ability to protect against colorectal cancer may depend on inflammatory pathways Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PST The reduced risk of colorectal cancer associated with taking aspirin or other NSAIDs may be confined to individuals already at risk because of elevations in a particular inflammatory factor in the blood. Researchers report finding that higher baseline levels of a novel inflammatory marker indicated increased risk of developing colorectal tumors and predicted who might benefit from taking aspirin or NSAIDs.

Toward real time observation of electron dynamics in atoms and molecules Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PST Another step has been taken in matter imaging. By using very short flashes of light, researchers have obtained groundbreaking information on the electronic structure of atoms and molecules by observing for the first time ever electronic correlations using the method of high harmonic generation.

Baby stars born to 'napping' parents Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PST Astronomers believe that a young star's long "napping" could trigger the formation of a second generation of smaller stars and planets orbiting around it. It has long been suspected that the build up of material onto young stars is not continuous but happens in episodic events, resulting in short outbursts of energy from these stars. However, this has been largely ignored in models of star formation.

Melon growers: Combating cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PST Scientists are working to give melon growers some relief from cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus, or CYSDV.

Alcohol abuse history influences quality of life following liver transplant Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PST A history of alcohol abuse significantly impacts quality of life for patients after liver transplant, according to researchers.

Synthetic biology: Novel kind of fluorescent protein developed Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PST Since the 1990s a green fluorescent protein known as GFP has been used in research labs worldwide. Protein designers have now taken it a step further: They have managed to incorporate a synthetic amino acid into the natural GFP and thus to create a new kind of chimeric fluorescent bio-molecule by means of synthetic biology. By exploiting a special physical effect, the fluorescent protein glows in turquoise and displays unmatched properties.

New mouse models generated for MYH9 genetic disorders Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:28 AM PST Researchers have created the first mouse models of human MYH9 genetic disorders, which cause several problems -- including enlarged platelets and sometimes fatal kidney disease.

Novel role found for calcium channels in pacemaker cell function Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:28 AM PST Pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node control heart rate, but what controls the ticking of these pacemaker cells? New research reveals, for the first time, a critical functional interaction between Cav1.3 calcium ion (Ca2+) channels and ryanodine-receptor (RyR) mediated Ca2+ signaling.

New genetic deafness syndrome identified Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:28 AM PST Ten years ago, scientists seeking to understand how a certain type of feature on a cell called an L-type calcium channel worked created a knockout mouse missing both copies of the CACNA1D gene. The CACNA1D gene makes a protein that lets calcium flow into a cell, transmitting important instructions from other cells. The knockout mice lived a normal life span, but their hearts beat slowly and arrhythmically. They were also completely deaf. Researchers have now identified a mutation on the CACNA1D gene affecting two families in Pakistan.

Viruses teach researchers how to protect corn from fungal infection Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:21 AM PST Smut fungi are agents of disease responsible for significant crop losses worldwide. Researchers recently collaborated on a project to develop a variety of corn that is highly resistant to corn smut caused by the fungus, Ustilago maydis.

Salmonella bacteria used to fight cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:21 AM PST Researchers are using salmonella -- the bacteria commonly transmitted through food that sickens thousands of US residents each year -- to do what was once unthinkable: help people. Researchers believe salmonella may be a valuable tool in the fight against cancer in organs surrounding the gut -- such as the liver, spleen, and colon -- since that's where salmonella naturally infects the body.

High-volume portable music players may impair ability to clearly discriminate sounds Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:21 AM PST Listening to loud music through earphones for extended periods in noisy surroundings can cause neurophysiological changes related to clear discrimination of sounds, even if the hearing threshold is normal, new research shows.

Abnormal neural activity recorded from the deep brain of Parkinson's disease and dystonia patients Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:21 AM PST Scientists have succeeded, for the first time, in recording cortically induced neural activity of the basal ganglia in patients with Parkinson's disease and dystonia during stereotaxic neurosurgery for the deep brain stimulation.

How do we combine faces and voices? Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PST Faces and voices are known to be some of the key features that enable us to identify individual people, and they are rich in information such as gender, age, and body size, that lead to a unique identity for a person. A large body of neuropsychological and neuroimaging research has already determined the various brain regions responsible for face recognition and voice recognition separately, but exactly how our brain goes about combining the two different types of information (visual and auditory) is still unknown. Now a new study has revealed the brain networks involved in this "cross-modal" person recognition.

Blood pressure: 100 million Americans may be unnecessarily labeled abnormal Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PST Current US definition of 'normal' blood pressure may unnecessarily label 100 million Americans as 'abnormal.'

Salmon breeding comes ashore Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:18 AM PST The environmentally friendly Danish model fish farms are to be expanded from the current freshwater farms to also include saltwater fish farms. This requires new technological solutions, which in itself could become something of an export bonanza.

Which side of the brain rotates a mental picture? Posted: 09 Mar 2011 06:14 AM PST Consider the simple situation in which you are walking around the kitchen and decide to pick up your own cup of tea, which is identical to others lying on the table. Your brain chooses the correct cup of tea by using different types of information that you have stored about the position of the cup in relation to the kitchen table. The information can be represented in qualitative terms (left, right, above, below) or quantitative terms (distances and angles). Previous studies have claimed that the brain's left hemisphere is critical for processing qualitative (technically 'categorical'), information and the right for quantitative ('metric') processing. However, new neuropsychological findings show that this is not the case.

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