Tuesday, March 29, 2011

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Negative attitudes toward fat bodies going global, study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:12 PM PDT

Stigma against overweight people is becoming a cultural norm around the world, even in places where larger bodies have traditionally been valued. That's according to a new cross-cultural study of attitudes toward obesity.

Rare hand transplant surgery successfully performed

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:12 PM PDT

Transplant and reconstructive surgeons from Emory University Hospital announced that they have successfully performed a rare complete hand transplant on a 21-year-old college student from Orlando, Fla.

Bones conjure Yellowstone's ecological ghosts

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:12 PM PDT

By taking a closer look at animal bones scattered across the wilderness landscape, a researcher has found a powerful tool for showing how species' populations have changed over decades or even a century.

Dark side of spring? Pollution in our melting snow

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:20 PM PDT

With birds chirping and temperatures warming, spring is finally in the air. But for environmental chemist Torsten Meyer, springtime has a dark side.

Wind can keep mountains from growing

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:20 PM PDT

Wind is a much more powerful force in the evolution of mountains than previously thought, according to a new report. The researchers figured out wind's rock-sculpting abilities by studying gigantic wind-formed ridges of rock called yardangs that are found in Central Asia. Bedrock in the area that would have formed mountains instead was sand-blasted into dust.

Butterflies that explore and colonize new habitats are genetically different from cautious cousins

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:20 PM PDT

Descendants of "exploratory" butterflies that colonize new habitats differ genetically from their more cautious cousins, discovered scientists. The research has revealed some of the genetic bases for traits that provide an advantage to butterflies that found new populations in previously unoccupied habitat patches. The results have potentially broad importance in understanding natural selection.

Cancer risk of backscatter airport scanners is low, analysis suggests

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

Calculations by researchers estimate that the cancer risk associated with one type of airport security scanners is low based on the amount of radiation these devices emit, as long as they are operated and function correctly.

Many elderly men are undergoing unnecessary PSA screenings, researchers find

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

A new study on the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based prostate cancer screening in the United States found that many elderly men may be undergoing unnecessary prostate cancer screenings. Using data from surveys conducted in 2000 and 2005, researchers report that nearly half of men in their seventies underwent PSA screening in the past year -- almost double the screening rate of men in their early fifties, who are more likely to benefit from early prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Further, men aged 85 and older were screened just as often as men in their early fifties.

Weight loss surgery can significantly improve migraines, study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

Obese migraine sufferers reported post-operative improvements in headache frequency, severity, and disability. Findings suggest weight loss may be an important part of a migraine treatment plan for obese patients.

Avoiding health risks could prevent more than half of all cases of atrial fibrillation

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

Reducing cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and being overweight could potentially reduce more than half of all cases of atrial fibrillation, according to new research.

Ambulatory monitoring reveals many patients have 'white coat' hypertension

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

A third of patients thought to have resistant hypertension had "white coat" hypertension during 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, a large study reports. In ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the patient's blood pressure is checked at regular intervals under normal living and working conditions.

Marijuana use may hurt intellectual skills in multiple sclerosis patients

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

Any possible pain relief that marijuana has for people with multiple sclerosis may be outweighed by the drug's apparent negative effect on thinking skills, according to new research.

When creating a new institute, the devil's in the details, experts argue

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

The decision to merge the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) into a single institution was made last year. But, many leading scientists (including the leading alcohol researchers who co-authored the paper) believe that since alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S., merging the two institutes could significantly hinder the scientific understanding about alcohol problems and alcoholism.

Potential new medicines show promise for treating colon cancer, asthma

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:18 PM PDT

In what they described as the opening of a new era in the development of potentially life-saving new drugs, scientists have discovered of a way to tone down an overactive gene involved in colon cancer and block a key protein involved in asthma attacks. Those targets long had ranked among hundreds of thousands that many scientists considered to be "undruggable," meaning that efforts to reach them with conventional medicines were doomed to fail.

How do plants fight disease? Breakthrough research offers a clue

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:43 PM PDT

How exactly bacterial pathogens cause diseases in plants remains a mystery and continues to frustrate scientists working to solve this problem. Now scientists have performed research on the soybean plant in the lab that makes major inroads into our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions, a rapidly developing area among the plant sciences.

No two of us are alike -- even identical twins: Pinpointing genetic determinants of schizophrenia

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Just like snowflakes, no two people are alike, even if they're identical twins according to new genetic research. Scientists have been working to determine the genetic sequencing of schizophrenia using identical or monozygotic twins.

Human virus linked to deaths of endangered mountain gorillas; Finding confirms that serious diseases can pass to gorillas from people

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

For the first time, a virus that causes respiratory disease in humans has been linked to the deaths of wild mountain gorillas, reports a team of researchers in the United States and Africa.

International Diabetes Federation supports surgery to treat diabetes

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Bariatric surgery should be considered earlier in the treatment of eligible patients to help stem the serious complications that can result from diabetes, according to an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) position statement presented by leading experts at the 2nd World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes in New York.

Deep-sea volcanoes don't just produce lava flows, they also explode

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Most deep-sea volcanoes produce effusive lava flows rather than explosive eruptions, both because the levels of magmatic gas tend to be low, and because the volcanoes are under a lot of pressure from the surrounding water. But by using an ion microprobe, researchers have now proved that explosive eruptions can also occur.

New insight into how 'tidying up' enzymes work

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

New research sheds light on how molecules are broken down by the body -- a finding that promises to help pharmaceutical chemists design better drugs.

Mothers' hard work pays off with big brains for their babies

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Brain growth in babies is linked to the amount of time and energy mothers "invest," according to new research. The study of 128 mammal species, including humans, shows that brain growth in babies is determined by the duration of pregnancy and how long they suckle. The research concludes that the longer the pregnancy and breastfeeding period in mammals, the bigger the baby's brain grows.

To better detect heart transplant rejections, scientists test for traces of donor's genome

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Heart transplant recipients and their physicians are likely more concerned with the function of the donated organ than with the donor's DNA sequences that tag along in the new, healthy tissue. However, researchers have shown that an increase in the amount of the donor's DNA in the recipient's blood is one of the earliest detectable signs of organ rejection.

Study illuminates the 'pain' of social rejection

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Physical pain and intense feelings of social rejection "hurt" in the same way, a new study shows.

Childhood psychological problems have long-term economic and social impact, study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Analyzing information from a group of British residents followed for 50 years, researchers have found that psychological problems experienced during childhood can have a long-lasting impact on an individual's life course, reducing people's earnings and decreasing the chances of establishing long-lasting relationships.

To meet, greet or retreat during influenza outbreaks?

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:17 PM PDT

When influenza pandemics arrive, the specter of disease spread through person-to-person contact can mean that schools close, hand sanitizer sales rise, and travelers stay home. But is severing social and business interactions with our neighbors really better than taking a chance on getting sick?

Twinkle, twinkle, quantum dot: New particles can change colors and tag molecules

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Engineers have invented a new kind of nano-particle that shines in different colors to tag molecules in biomedical tests. These tiny plastic nano-particles are stuffed with even tinier bits of electronics called quantum dots. Like little traffic lights, the particles glow brightly in red, yellow, or green, so researchers can easily track molecules under a microscope.

Tiger numbers increase in India

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

The Indian Government has released new tiger population numbers for the first time since 2007, indicating that numbers have increased in the country that has half of the world's remaining wild tigers.

Ocean circulation plays important role in transporting heat to Greenland glaciers

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Warmer air is only part of the story when it comes to Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheet. New research highlights the role ocean circulation plays in transporting heat to glaciers.

GPS study shows wolves more reliant on a cattle diet

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Cattle ranchers in southwestern Alberta have suspected it for a long time, and now GPS tracking equipment confirms it: wolf packs in the area are making cow meat a substantial part of their diets.

Deciphering hidden code reveals brain activity

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

By combining sophisticated mathematical techniques more commonly used by spies instead of scientists with the power and versatility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a neurologist has developed a new approach for studying the inner workings of the brain. A hidden pattern is encoded in the seemingly random order of things presented to a human subject, which the brain reveals when observed with fMRI.

Most U.S. states unclear about storage, use of babies' blood samples, new study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:13 AM PDT

State laws and policies governing the storage and use of surplus blood samples taken from newborns for routine health screenings range from explicit to non-existent, leaving many parents ill-informed about how their babies' left over blood might be used, according to a new article.

Genetic link to attempted suicide identified

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:12 AM PDT

A study of thousands of people with bipolar disorder suggests that genetic risk factors may influence the decision to attempt suicide. Researchers have identified a small region on chromosome 2 that is associated with increased risk for attempted suicide. This small region contains four genes, including the ACP1 gene, and the researchers found more than normal levels of the ACP1 protein in the brains of people who had committed suicide. This protein is thought to influence the same biological pathway as lithium, a medication known to reduce the rate of suicidal behavior.

Other mental health medications no safer than atypical antipsychotics in nursing home residents, study suggests

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:12 AM PDT

Conventional antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines often administered to nursing home residents are no safer than atypical antipsychotics and may carry increased risks, according to a new article.

Researchers in Taiwan to use volunteer computing to visualise earthquakes

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:58 AM PDT

Researchers in Taiwan are planning to use volunteer computing to visualise the motion of earthquakes after they occur. They hope this will cut the time of creating 'shake movies' from a few hours to just minutes, providing valuable information to rescuers once an earthquake has occurred.

Babies who sleep with smoker parents exhibit high nicotine levels

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:58 AM PDT

"Third-hand smoke" stuck to skin or clothing is responsible for the high nicotine levels seen in babies who share a bedroom with their smoker parents, according to a new study in Spain. The study also shows that ventilating bedrooms is not effective in reducing the levels of toxins from passive smoking.

Managing grazing lands with fire improves profitability, agricultural experts say

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:54 AM PDT

Recent fire and brush control studies in the Rolling Plains of Texas on a working ranch-scale showed the benefits and limitations of managed fires for reducing mesquite encroachment while sustaining livestock production.

New key to plant disease resistance discovered

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:16 AM PDT

Plant pathologists recently discovered a metabolite that plays a critical role early on in the ability of plants, animals, humans and one-celled microorganisms to fend off a wide range of pathogens at the cellular level.

Demographics cloud optimism on African-American violent crime decrease

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:16 AM PDT

Optimism about studies that show a drop in the African-American percentage of crime may be dampened by demographic trends and statistical aberrations, according to a group of criminologists.

Why ancient Mayan communities were 'living on the edge' of what is now a massive wetland

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

Archeologists are investigating why a highly sophisticated civilization decided to build large, bustling cities next to what is essentially swampland. The research zeroes in on why larger and successful Maya communities were located along the edges of the massive wetlands of Tikal.

Heavy metals open path to high temperature nanomagnets

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

A chemistry student has discovered a path to making molecular magnets work at exceptionally high temperatures. The solution? Build magnets using just a few atoms of heavy non-iron metals.

Smarter memory device holds key to greener gadgets

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

Fast, low-energy memory for MP3s, smartphones and cameras could become a reality thanks to a new development.

Major advance in understanding how nanowires form

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

New insights into why and how nanowires take the form they do promise to have profound implications for the development of future electronic components.

Predicting serious drug side effects before they occur

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

All medications have side-effects from common aspirin to herbal remedies and from standard anticancer drugs to experimental immunosuppressants. However, predicting important side effects, serious adverse drug reactions, ADRs, is with current understanding almost impossible. However, a neural network technology trained with past data could give drug companies and healthcare workers a new tool to spot the potential for ADRs with any given medication.

Improving science education using video skills

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

Making a video about a scientific experiment rather than writing up a presentation poster leads to better learning and clearer understanding of the concepts underpinning the experiment, according to science educators in Australia. The researchers explain how preparation and rehearsals for video production also helped with learning.

Observation of rare particles may shed light on why the universe has more matter than antimatter

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

Physicists have now observed the decays of a rare particle that was present right after the Big Bang. Scientists hope this will help to solve the mystery of why the universe evolved with more matter than antimatter.

Scientists trace violent death of Iron Age man

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:11 AM PDT

An Iron Age man whose skull and brain was unearthed during excavations at the University of York was the victim of a gruesome ritual killing, according to new research.

New direction for epilepsy treatment: Study in mice highlights alternative anti-inflammatory approach to epilepsy management

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:31 AM PDT

If common anticonvulsant drugs fail to manage epileptic seizures, then perhaps the anti-inflammatory route is the way to go. That's according to researchers in Italy who found that giving mice repeated doses of a specific enzyme inhibitor significantly reduced both chronic epileptic activity and acute seizures.

First applications of Europe's Galileo satellite nagivation system showcased

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:31 AM PDT

The first satellites of the the European navigation system Galileo are to be in position in the year 2012 and start their work. Fraunhofer Galileo Labs are showcasing the first applications that use new, improved possibilities provided by satellite navigation.

New system for live subtitles debuts in Spanish theater

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:31 AM PDT

For the first time, a theater performance from Spain's Centro Dramático Nacional (The National Center for Drama) has featured live subtitles, enabling hearing impaired individuals to also enjoy the play. The key is a new subtitling system.

Huge potential of nanocrystals to raise efficiency in fuel cells

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:30 AM PDT

The addition of extremely small crystals to solid electrolyte material has the potential to considerably raise the efficiency of fuel cells.

Blocking ship-borne bioinvaders before they dock

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:25 AM PDT

The global economy depends on marine transportation. But in addition to cargo, the world's 50,000-plus commercial ships carry tiny stowaways that can cause huge problems for the environment and economy. A new model will facilitate accurate screening of vessels for dangerous species before they unload.

Will we hear the light? Surprising discovery that infrared can activate heart and ear cells

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:25 AM PDT

Scientists have used invisible infrared light to make rat heart cells contract and toadfish inner-ear cells send signals to the brain. The discovery someday might improve cochlear implants for deafness and lead to devices to restore vision, maintain balance and treat movement disorders like Parkinson's.

Viral replicase points to potential cancer therapy

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:25 AM PDT

Alpha viruses, such as Sindbis virus, carry their genetic information on a single strand of RNA. They use a protein, replicase, to produce double stranded RNA (dsRNA) inside infected cells, which initiates the host's immune response. New research demonstrates that an artificial plasmid coding for the replicase genes of Sindbis virus causes regression and destruction of lung cancer, or melanoma, cells in mice.

Chemists play important roles as advisers for science-based television shows, movies

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:25 AM PDT

Producers and writers for several popular medical and science fiction television shows like House, Breaking Bad, and Zula Patrol -- major sources of information about science and technology for millions of people -- say they do strive for scientific accuracy.

New trash-to-treasure process turns landfill nuisance into plastic

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:25 AM PDT

With billions of pounds of meat and bone meal going to waste in landfills after a government ban on its use in cattle feed, scientists have described development of a process for using that so-called meat and bone meal to make partially biodegradable plastic that does not require raw materials made from oil or natural gas.

'Green' cars could be made from pineapples and bananas

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

Your next new car hopefully won't be a lemon. But it could be a pineapple or a banana. Scientists in Brazil have developed a more effective way to use fibers from these and other plants in a new generation of automotive plastics that are stronger, lighter, and more eco-friendly than plastics now in use. Their work could lead to stronger and more sustainable materials for cars and other products.

Cancer drug shows promise for treating scleroderma

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

A drug approved to treat certain types of cancer has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with scleroderma, according to results from an open-label Phase II trial. While the drug's efficacy must be demonstrated in a Phase III trial, the gold standard for testing a drug, researchers are optimistic that Gleevec could potentially be a weapon against the chronic connective tissue disease for which a treatment has remained elusive.

Even Canadian rocks are different: Sedimentary differences on either side of border date back 120 million years

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

Canadians have always seen themselves as separate and distinct from their American neighbors to the south, and now they have geological proof. New research shows that rock formations roughly along the same political boundary as the two North American countries formed as early as 120 million years ago.

Natural aphrodisiacs: 'Spicing' up your love life possible, finds study of ginseng and saffron

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

Looking to spice up your sex life? Try adding ginseng and saffron to your diet. Both are proven performance boosters, according to a new scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs conducted by University of Guelph researchers.

Some women worry too much about breast cancer returning, study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT

Most women face only a small risk of breast cancer coming back after they complete their treatment. Yet a new study finds that nearly half of Latinas who speak little English expressed a great deal of worry about recurrence.

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