Science

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-22T02:07:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Brown recluse spider: Range could expand in N. America with changing climate
Organic and conventional farming methods compete to eliminate weed seeds in soil
Jurassic spider from China is largest fossil specimen discovered
Scotland's first marine reserve already producing benefits
Why biggest stellar explosions often happen in tiniest galaxies: Ultraviolet probe sheds light on mystery
Huge dry ice deposit on Mars: NASA orbiter reveals big changes in Red Planet's atmosphere
New hope for treatment of painful adult shingles
Genes causing antimalarial drug resistance identified
Biologist illuminates how seedlings regulate growth
Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly
Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly
Drug effective in treating kidney disease in diabetic patients, study suggests
Fossil sirenians, related to today's manatees, give scientists new look at ancient climate
Are dietary supplements working against you?
Functioning synapse created using carbon nanotubes: Devices might be used in brain prostheses or synthetic brains
Earth recovered from prehistoric global warming faster than previously thought
'Time machine' made to visually explore space and time in videos: Time-lapse GigaPans provide new way to access big data
Scientists engineer nanoscale vaults to encapsulate 'nanodisks' for drug delivery
Study in roundworm chromosomes may offer new clues to tumor genome development
Data miners dig for corrosion resistance
Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease
Development in fog harvesting process may make water available to the world’s poor
Scientists observe single gene activity in living cells in detail for first time
A fracture in a person over 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet many lack knowledge of disease
Learning to tolerate our microbial self: Bacteria co-opt human immune cells for mutual benefit
Ozone hole linked to climate change all the way to the equator
Cheaper hydrogen fuel cells: Utility of non-precious-metal catalysts documented
Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens
Course to help curb violent incidents on mental health wards
Older workers are a unique resource
Historic church's subterranean secrets revealed
Photovoltaic systems boost the sales price of California homes
Acupuncture relieves hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment, study suggests
Simple fungus reveals clue to immune system protection
Phase III trial finds no benefit from atrasentan added to chemo for advanced prostate cancer
Meditation may help the brain 'turn down the volume' on distractions
Parasite strategy offers insight to help tackle sleeping sickness
Salmonella utilize multiple modes of infection: New mechanism that helps with invading host cells discovered
Giant tortoises show rewilding can work
Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression
Cancer cell proliferation: A new ending to an old 'tail'
Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes
Critical role of placenta in brain development demonstrated
Discovery identifies elaborate G-protein network in plants
Lawn of native grasses beats traditional lawn for lushness, weed resistance
New technique improves sensitivity of PCR pathogen detection
Athletes at risk: New, inexpensive test for 'sudden death syndrome'
EPO doping helps combat cerebral malaria
Fat turns into soap in sewers, contributes to overflows
Starting a new metabolic path: New technique will help metabolic engineering
Worm studies shed light on human cancers
RNA nanoparticles constructed to safely deliver long-lasting therapy to cells
School burnout can be turned into educational engagement
Evolution can cause a rapid reduction in genome size
Happiest places have highest suicide rates, new research finds
Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, researchers find
Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects, study finds
Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds

Brown recluse spider: Range could expand in N. America with changing climate

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:22 PM PDT

One of the most feared spiders in North America -- the brown recluse -- is the subject a new study that aims to predict its distribution and how that distribution may be affected by climate changes. Researchers believe that the range may expand northward, potentially invading previously unaffected regions. Newly influenced areas may include parts of Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Organic and conventional farming methods compete to eliminate weed seeds in soil

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:12 PM PDT

Weeds are hard to kill; they seem to come back no matter what steps people take to eradicate them. One reason is because of the persistence of weed seeds in the soil. Organic farming and conventional farming systems both have their methods of taking on weed seeds, but does one show better results than the other?

Jurassic spider from China is largest fossil specimen discovered

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:07 PM PDT

With a leg span of more than five inches, a recently named Jurassic period spider from China is the largest fossil specimen discovered, and one that has modern relatives in tropical climates today.

Scotland's first marine reserve already producing benefits

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:53 PM PDT

Scotland's first fully protected marine reserve, and only the second in the UK, is already providing commercial and conservation benefits, according to new research.

Why biggest stellar explosions often happen in tiniest galaxies: Ultraviolet probe sheds light on mystery

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:05 PM PDT

Astronomers using NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer may be closer to knowing why some of the most massive stellar explosions ever observed occur in the tiniest of galaxies.

Huge dry ice deposit on Mars: NASA orbiter reveals big changes in Red Planet's atmosphere

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:04 PM PDT

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has discovered the total amount of atmosphere on Mars changes dramatically as the tilt of the planet's axis varies. This process can affect the stability of liquid water, if it exists on the Martian surface, and increase the frequency and severity of Martian dust storms. Researchers using the orbiter's ground-penetrating radar identified a large, buried deposit of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, at the Red Planet's south pole. The scientists suspect that much of this carbon dioxide enters the planet's atmosphere and swells the atmosphere's mass when Mars' tilt increases.

New hope for treatment of painful adult shingles

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles -- a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists.

Genes causing antimalarial drug resistance identified

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Using a pair of powerful genome-search techniques, researchers have identified several genes that may be implicated in the malaria parasite's notorious ability to rapidly evade drug treatments.

Biologist illuminates how seedlings regulate growth

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

All kinds of organisms, from plants to people, regulate growth via networks of proteins that add on and lop off phosphate molecules. Scientists can now explain key steps that allow seedlings to make it past the surface of the soil.

Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Patients on peritoneal dialysis typically have a higher early survival rate than patients on hemodialysis (HD). New data suggest that this difference may be explained by a higher risk of early deaths among patients undergoing HD with central venous catheters, according to a new study.

Kidney disease coupled with heart disease common problem in elderly

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Chronic kidney disease is common and linked with heart disease in the very elderly, according to a new study.

Drug effective in treating kidney disease in diabetic patients, study suggests

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:17 PM PDT

Researchers have published promising results of a clinical study using an experimental anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory drug called pirfenidone to treat patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Fossil sirenians, related to today's manatees, give scientists new look at ancient climate

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

What tales they tell of their former lives, these old bones of sirenians, relatives of today's dugongs and manatees. And now, geologists have found, they tell of the waters in which they swam. While researching the evolutionary ecology of ancient sirenians -- commonly known as sea cows -- scientists unexpectedly stumbled across data that could change the view of climate during the Eocene Epoch, some 50 million years ago.

Are dietary supplements working against you?

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT

Do you belong to the one-half of the population that frequently uses dietary supplements with the hope that it might be good for you?

Functioning synapse created using carbon nanotubes: Devices might be used in brain prostheses or synthetic brains

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT

Engineering researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the use of nanotechnologies for the construction of a synthetic brain. They have built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit whose behavior in tests reproduces the function of a neuron, the building block of the brain.

Earth recovered from prehistoric global warming faster than previously thought

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT

Earth may be able to recover from rising carbon dioxide emissions faster than previously thought, according to evidence from a prehistoric event. When faced with high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and rising temperatures 56 million years ago, Earth increased its ability to pull carbon from the air. This led to a recovery that was quicker than anticipated by many models of the carbon cycle.

'Time machine' made to visually explore space and time in videos: Time-lapse GigaPans provide new way to access big data

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:19 PM PDT

Researchers have leveraged the latest browser technology to create GigaPan Time Machine, a system that enables viewers to explore gigapixel-scale, high-resolution videos and image sequences by panning or zooming in and out of the images while simultaneously moving back and forth through time.

Scientists engineer nanoscale vaults to encapsulate 'nanodisks' for drug delivery

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

The first steps toward the development of the vault nanoparticle into a versatile and effective DDS are reported in this paper. The ability to encapsulate therapeutic compounds into the vault is a critical and fundamental obstacle in their development for small-molecule drug delivery. Recombinant vaults are engineered to encapsulate the highly insoluble and toxic hydrophobic compound all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) using a vault-binding lipoprotein complex that forms a lipid bilayer nanodisk.

Study in roundworm chromosomes may offer new clues to tumor genome development

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

A "promiscuous DNA replication process" may be responsible for large-scale genome duplications in developing tumors, according to new research. These findings challenge the long-standing, currently accepted model.

Data miners dig for corrosion resistance

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

A better understanding of corrosion resistance may be possible using a data-mining tool. This tool may also aid research in other areas where massive amounts of information exist.

Early warning system for Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Scientists are developing a technique based on a new discovery which could pave the way towards detecting Alzheimer's disease in its earliest stages -- and could help to develop urgently-needed treatments. The technique uses the ratio of detected fluorescence signals to indicate that clusters of peptide associated with the disease are beginning to gather and to have an impact on the brain.

Development in fog harvesting process may make water available to the world’s poor

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

An engineer and aspiring entrepreneur works on fog harvesting, the deployment of devices that, like the beetle, attract water droplets and corral the runoff. This way, poor villagers could collect clean water near their homes, instead of spending hours carrying water from distant wells or streams.

Scientists observe single gene activity in living cells in detail for first time

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Researchers have for the first time observed the activity of a single gene in living cells. In an unprecedented study, scientists were able to follow, in real time, the process of gene transcription, which occurs when a gene converts its DNA information into molecules of messenger RNA that go on to make the protein coded by the gene.

A fracture in a person over 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet many lack knowledge of disease

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

A fracture in a person over the age of 50 can be a sign of osteoporosis, yet some patient populations have little knowledge of the disease.

Learning to tolerate our microbial self: Bacteria co-opt human immune cells for mutual benefit

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

The human gut is filled with 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria which we blissfully live with, although they have many features similar to infectious bacteria we react against. What decides whether we ignore -- or fight? In the case of a common "friendly" gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, researchers have discovered the surprising answer: The decision is not made by us, but by the bacteria, which co-opt cells of the immune system for our benefit ... and theirs.

Ozone hole linked to climate change all the way to the equator

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

The ozone hole, which is located over the South Pole, has affected the entire circulation of the Southern Hemisphere all the way to the equator, according to new research. This is the first time that ozone depletion, an upper atmospheric phenomenon confined to the polar regions, has been linked to climate change from the Pole to the equator.

Cheaper hydrogen fuel cells: Utility of non-precious-metal catalysts documented

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a way to avoid the use of expensive platinum in hydrogen fuel cells, the environmentally friendly devices that might replace current power sources in everything from personal data devices to automobiles. Scientists have developed a platinum-free catalyst for use in the cathode of a hydrogen fuel cell.

Severe obesity not seen to increase risk of depression in teens

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:23 AM PDT

According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity.

Course to help curb violent incidents on mental health wards

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT

A leading mental health specialist has developed a new course to help qualified nurses deal more effectively with people who are very distressed and disturbed.

Older workers are a unique resource

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT

New research has found that older workers are a valuable asset, but are increasingly being squeezed by family pressures.

Historic church's subterranean secrets revealed

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 10:03 AM PDT

Researchers have carried out a full scientific survey of an historic churchyard widely believed to be the site of the crowning of at least two Anglo-Saxon kings. The team used an earth resistance meter to survey a graveyard at the site where possibly as many as seven kings were crowned, during the 10th Century, including Athelstan, the first king of a unified England in 925, and Ethelred the Unready in 978-9.

Photovoltaic systems boost the sales price of California homes

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT

New research finds strong evidence that homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems. The research is the first to empirically explore the existence and magnitude of residential PV sales price impacts across a large number of homes and over a wide geographic area.

Acupuncture relieves hot flashes from prostate cancer treatment, study suggests

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:24 AM PDT

Acupuncture provides long-lasting relief to hot flashes, heart palpitations and anxiety due to side effects of the hormone given to counteract testosterone, the hormone that induces prostate cancer, according to a new study.

Simple fungus reveals clue to immune system protection

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

A discovery about how a single-celled fungus survives in low-oxygen settings may someday help humans whose immune systems are compromised by organ transplants or AIDS.

Phase III trial finds no benefit from atrasentan added to chemo for advanced prostate cancer

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

The SWOG trial S0421 closed early based on interim finding that atrasentan added to docetaxel and prednisone did not confer additional survival benefit to patients with advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Meditation may help the brain 'turn down the volume' on distractions

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

The positive effects of mindfulness meditation on pain and working memory may result from an improved ability to regulate a crucial brain wave called the alpha rhythm. This rhythm is thought to "turn down the volume" on distracting information, which suggests that a key value of meditation may be helping the brain deal with an often overstimulating world.

Parasite strategy offers insight to help tackle sleeping sickness

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Fresh insight into the survival strategy of the parasite that causes sleeping sickness could help inform new treatments for the disease.

Salmonella utilize multiple modes of infection: New mechanism that helps with invading host cells discovered

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered a new, hitherto unknown mechanism of Salmonella invasion into gut cells: In this entry mode, the bacteria exploit the muscle power of cells to be pulled into the host cell cytoplasm. Thus, the strategies Salmonella use to infect cells are more complex than previously thought.

Giant tortoises show rewilding can work

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Exotic species can be used to restore important functions in ecosystems that were lost following the extinction of key species, according to a new study of giant tortoises on a small island in the Indian Ocean.

Bacteria interrupted: Disabling coordinated behavior and virulence gene expression

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

New research reveals a strategy for disrupting the ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate the expression of virulence factors. The study may lead to the development of new antibacterial therapeutics.

Cancer cell proliferation: A new ending to an old 'tail'

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

In stark contrast to normal cells, which only divide a finite number of times before they enter into a permanent state of growth arrest or simply die, cancer cells never cease to proliferate. Now, scientists have uncovered an important clue to one of the mechanisms underlying cancer cell immortality.

Subset of self-destructive immune cells may selectively drive diabetes

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

New research identifies a distinctive population of immune cells that may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. The research sheds new light on the pathogenesis of diabetes and may lead to the development of new more selective therapeutic strategies for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases of the accessory organs of the digestive system.

Critical role of placenta in brain development demonstrated

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

New research shows for the first time that the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, paving the way to new treatment strategies that could mitigate health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and mental illness.

Discovery identifies elaborate G-protein network in plants

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

The most elaborate heterotrimeric G-protein network known to date in the plant kingdom has just been identified.

Lawn of native grasses beats traditional lawn for lushness, weed resistance

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

A lawn of regionally native grasses would take less resources to maintain while providing as lush a carpet as a common turfgrass used in the South, according to a new study.

New technique improves sensitivity of PCR pathogen detection

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

A new procedure can improve polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods of detecting plant disease organisms.

Athletes at risk: New, inexpensive test for 'sudden death syndrome'

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

A cardiologist has developed a new, inexpensive test for "sudden death syndrome" that's already being used by doctors in America -- and it can be done at the patient's bedside.

EPO doping helps combat cerebral malaria

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Researchers have now discovered that EPO, the doping drug known from professional cycling, can significantly reduce cerebral malaria related deaths.

Fat turns into soap in sewers, contributes to overflows

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered how fat, oil and grease can create hardened deposits in sewer lines: it turns into soap! The hardened deposits, which can look like stalactites, contribute to sewer overflows.

Starting a new metabolic path: New technique will help metabolic engineering

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that speeds up and improves the identification and quantification of proteins within a cell or micoorganism. Called "targeted proteomics," the new technique is expected to be an important new tool for the fields of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.

Worm studies shed light on human cancers

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT

Research in the worm is shedding light on a protein associated with a number of different human cancers, and may point to a highly targeted way to treat them.

RNA nanoparticles constructed to safely deliver long-lasting therapy to cells

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:11 AM PDT

Though RNA is viewed as a promising tool in nanotherapy, the difficulties of producing stable and long-lasting therapeutic RNA have posed challenges to research. A biomedical engineering professor has detailed the successful production of large RNA nanoparticles from smaller RNA segments. The nanoparticles had a half life of between five and 10 hours in animal models and targeted cancer cells in vivo to release therapeutics.

School burnout can be turned into educational engagement

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT

One fourth of all young people experience a form of school engagement on a weekly basis. Vocational students experience engagement to a greater degree than upper secondary school students; upper secondary students have a rate of about 20 per cent, while the corresponding rate for vocational students was as much as one third. Girls are more enthusiastic about school than boys.

Evolution can cause a rapid reduction in genome size

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT

It would appear reasonable to assume that two closely related plant species would have similar genetic blueprints. However, scientists have now decoded, for the first time, the entire genome of the lyre-leaved rock cress (Arabidopsis lyrata), a close relative of the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), the model plant used by geneticists. They discovered that the genome of the lyre-leaved rock cress is fifty percent bigger than that of the thale cress. Moreover, these changes arose over a very short period in evolutionary terms.

Happiest places have highest suicide rates, new research finds

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:26 AM PDT

The happiest countries and happiest U.S. states tend to have the highest suicide rates, according to new research. The research confirmed a little known and seemingly puzzling fact: many happy countries have unusually high rates of suicide.

Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, researchers find

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT

Even people who show a clear treatment response with antidepressant medications continue to experience symptoms like insomnia, sadness and decreased concentration, researchers have found after analyzing data from the largest study on the treatment of depression.

Use of topical corticosteroids in children with eczema does not have negative side effects, study finds

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT

A new study reveals that routine, long-term use of topical corticosteroids for treating children with eczema does not cause any significant, negative side effects.

Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT

A new study has found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides -- widely used on food crops -- is related to lower intelligence scores in children. Every tenfold increase in measures of organophosphates detected during a mother's pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 point drop in overall IQ scores in children at age 7, the researchers found.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-21T02:13:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Antimalarial trees in East Africa threatened with extinction
UK: Immigrant screening misses majority of imported latent TB, finds study
Limit to nanotechnology mass-production?
Long-term poverty but not family instability affects children's cognitive development, study finds
Infants with persistent crying problems more likely to have behavior problems in childhood, study finds
Genetic discovery offers new hope in fight against deadly pulmonary fibrosis
Fruit flies on meth: Study explores whole-body effects of toxic drug
Low carbohydrate diet may reverse kidney failure in people with diabetes
Presenting cancer treatment options in small doses yields smarter choices, study finds
MicroRNA mediates gene-diet interaction related to obesity, researchers find
Does video game violence harm teens? New study weighs the evidence
Kids' 'screen time' linked to early markers for cardiovascular disease
Another universe tugging on ours? Maybe not: Data from exploding stars contradicts earlier study
Ring around the hurricanes: Satellites can predict storm intensity
Primordial weirdness: Did the early universe have one dimension? Scientists outline test for theory
Half of all children with autism wander and bolt from safe places, study shows
Protein-patterned fibers: Researchers combine active proteins with material derived from fruit fly
Adaptive trial designs could accelerate HIV vaccine development
Nanomedicine one step closer to reality
Mining data from electronic records: Faster way to get genetic clues to disease
How TRIM5 fights HIV: Scientists discover mechanism of protein that makes certain monkeys resistant
Beams of electrons link Saturn with its moon Enceladus
What's your gut type? Gut bacteria could help with diagnostics and influence treatments
Material that if scratched, you can quickly and easily fix yourself, with light not heat
Scientists prove new technology to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes
New 'chemical pathway' in the brain for stress: Breakthrough offers hope for targeted treatment of stress-related disorders
Melting ice on Arctic islands a major player in sea level rise
Evolution of human 'super-brain' tied to development of bipedalism, tool-making
Air pollution exposure affects chances of developing premenopausal breast cancer, study finds
Biological links found between childhood abuse and adolescent depression
Protein and calories can help lessen effects of severe traumatic brain injury, report says
Laser sparks revolution in internal combustion engines
Ends of chromosomes protected by stacked, coiled DNA caps
Detailed maps of forest canopy height and carbon stock for the conterminous US
Inappropriate psychotropics are more often used by elderly with low income, study suggests
ACE inhibitors may increase risk of recurrence in breast cancer survivors, study suggests
Researchers now one step closer to controlled engineering of nanocatalysts
Different views of God may influence academic cheating
Gravitational tug of war warps spiral shape of galaxy
Functional MRI shows how mindfulness meditation changes decision-making process
Nature's elegant solution to repairing DNA in cancer, other conditions
Toward new medications for chronic brain diseases
Using the energy in oil shale without releasing carbon dioxide in a greenhouse world
Childhood music lessons may provide lifelong boost in brain functioning
Molecule Nutlin-3a activates a signal inducing cell death and senescence in primary brain tumors
How molecules get to the right place at the right time
Agriculture: Growing threat of wheat rust epidemics worldwide
Repeated stress in pregnancy linked to children's behavior
Breakthrough in malaria treatment in the run up to World Malaria Day
New theory of evolution for spiral galaxy arms
Life in extreme environments paves the way for international collaboration: New roadmap for research launched
A galactic rose highlights Hubble's 21st anniversary
Breastfeeding tied to stronger maternal response to baby's cry
CAPTCHAs with chaos: Strong protection for weak passwords
Why are the Seychelles free of malaria?
American pikas: Contemporary climate change alters the pace and drivers of extinction
Lowering HIV transmission risk from breastfeeding with antiretroviral treatment
New Caledonia’s lagoon : Better understanding for better protection
Drug development speeds up with more advanced microarray technology
European experts set standards for cross border reproductive care

Antimalarial trees in East Africa threatened with extinction

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 06:17 PM PDT

Research released in anticipation of World Malaria Day finds that plants in East Africa with promising antimalarial qualities -- ones that have treated malaria symptoms in the region's communities for hundreds of years -- are at risk of extinction. Scientists fear that these natural remedial qualities, and thus their potential to become a widespread treatment for malaria, could be lost forever.

UK: Immigrant screening misses majority of imported latent TB, finds study

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 06:17 PM PDT

Current UK procedures to screen new immigrants for tuberculosis fail to detect more than 70 percent of cases of latent infection, according to a new study.

Limit to nanotechnology mass-production?

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 06:17 PM PDT

A leading nanotechnology scientist has raised questions over a billion dollar industry by boldly claiming that there is a limit to how small nanotechnology materials can be mass produced.

Long-term poverty but not family instability affects children's cognitive development, study finds

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Children from homes that experience persistent poverty are more likely to have their cognitive development affected than children in better off homes, reveals new research.

Infants with persistent crying problems more likely to have behavior problems in childhood, study finds

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Infants who have problems with persistent crying, sleeping and/or feeding -- known as regulatory problems -- are far more likely to become children with significant behavioral problems, reveals new research.

Genetic discovery offers new hope in fight against deadly pulmonary fibrosis

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered a genetic variant that increases the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis by 7 to 22 times. The discovery identifies a major risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis and points in an entirely new direction for research into the causes and potential treatments for this difficult and deadly disease. Nearly two-thirds of patients carry the genetic variation, which is associated with a gene that codes for a mucus-forming protein.

Fruit flies on meth: Study explores whole-body effects of toxic drug

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 PM PDT

A new study in fruit flies offers a broad view of the potent and sometimes devastating molecular events that occur throughout the body as a result of methamphetamine exposure. The study tracks changes in the expression of genes and proteins throughout the body in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) exposed to meth.

Low carbohydrate diet may reverse kidney failure in people with diabetes

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Researchers have for the first time determined that the ketogenic diet, a specialized high-fat, low carbohydrate diet, may reverse impaired kidney function in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Presenting cancer treatment options in small doses yields smarter choices, study finds

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:37 PM PDT

Women who choose among different breast cancer treatment options make smarter choices when getting the information and making decisions in small doses rather than all at once, as is customary, a new study found.

MicroRNA mediates gene-diet interaction related to obesity, researchers find

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 03:37 PM PDT

Researchers observed that a genetic variant on the perilipin 4 (PLIN4) locus was associated with an increased risk of obesity yet, carriers with higher omega-3 fatty acid intakes tended to weigh less than carriers who consumed little or no omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, the researchers identified a microRNA which may help elucidate the mechanism behind the gene-diet interaction.

Does video game violence harm teens? New study weighs the evidence

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 01:44 PM PDT

How much scientific evidence is there for and against the assertion that exposure to video game violence can harm teens? Three researchers have developed a novel method to consider that question: they analyzed the research output of experts who filed a brief in a US Supreme Court case involving violent video games and teens.

Kids' 'screen time' linked to early markers for cardiovascular disease

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 01:44 PM PDT

Children who had the most hours of screen time, particularly in front of the television, had narrower arteries in the eyes -- a possible indicator for future heart disease risk, according to a new study. Children with the highest levels of physical activity had wider retinal arterioles. The magnitude of vessel narrowing for each hour of screen time was similar to a 10 millimeter of mercury rise in systolic blood pressure.

Another universe tugging on ours? Maybe not: Data from exploding stars contradicts earlier study

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 12:37 PM PDT

In 2008, researchers announced a startling discovery: Clusters of galaxies far apart from one another appeared to be traveling in the same direction. Maybe another universe existed beyond the bounds of ours, dragging our stars ever closer through the pull of gravity. Then again, maybe not. A new study contradicts the dark flow theory, showing that exploding stars in different parts of the universe do not appear to be moving in sync.

Ring around the hurricanes: Satellites can predict storm intensity

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 12:21 PM PDT

Coastal residents may soon have longer warning when a storm headed in their direction is becoming a hurricane, thanks to a study demonstrating how to use existing satellites to monitor tropical storm dynamics and predict sudden surges in strength. Using passive microwave satellites, the researchers found that low-shear storm systems form a symmetrical ring of thunderstorms around the center of the system about six hours before rapidly intensifying into a hurricane.

Primordial weirdness: Did the early universe have one dimension? Scientists outline test for theory

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 12:20 PM PDT

Did the early universe have just one spatial dimension? That's the mind-boggling concept at the heart of a new theory. Researchers now describe a test that could prove or disprove the "vanishing dimensions" hypothesis.

Half of all children with autism wander and bolt from safe places, study shows

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:37 AM PDT

The Interactive Autism Network has revealed preliminary results of the first major survey on wandering and elopement among individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The wandering and elopement survey found that approximately half of parents of children with autism report that their child elopes, with the behavior peaking at age four.

Protein-patterned fibers: Researchers combine active proteins with material derived from fruit fly

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:37 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a way to pattern active proteins into bio-friendly fibers. The "eureka" moment came about because somebody forgot to clean up the lab one night. The new work simplifies the process of making materials with fully functional proteins. Such materials could find extensive use as chemical catalysts and biosensors and in tissue engineering, for starters.

Adaptive trial designs could accelerate HIV vaccine development

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

In the past 12 years, four large-scale efficacy trials of HIV vaccines have been conducted in various populations. Results from the most recent trial have given scientists reason for cautious optimism. Yet building on these findings could take years, given that traditional HIV vaccine clinical trials are lengthy, and that it is still not known which immune system responses a vaccine needs to trigger to protect an individual from HIV infection.

Nanomedicine one step closer to reality

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

A class of engineered nanoparticles -- gold-centered spheres smaller than viruses -- has been shown safe when administered by two alternative routes in a new mouse study.

Mining data from electronic records: Faster way to get genetic clues to disease

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Recruiting thousands of patients to collect health data for genetic clues to disease is expensive and time consuming. But a study shows that process could be faster and cheaper by mining patient data that already exists in electronic medical records. Researchers were able to cull patient information in electronic medical records from routine doctors' visits at five national sites. This allowed researchers to accurately identify patients with five different diseases and reproduce previous genetic findings.

How TRIM5 fights HIV: Scientists discover mechanism of protein that makes certain monkeys resistant

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Thanks to a certain protein, rhesus monkeys are resistant to HIV. Known as TRIM5, the protein prevents the HI virus from multiplying once it has entered the cell. Researchers in Switzerland have now discovered the protein's mechanism. This also opens up new prospects for fighting HIV in humans.

Beams of electrons link Saturn with its moon Enceladus

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft have revealed that Enceladus, one of Saturn's diminutive moons, is linked to Saturn by powerful electrical currents -- beams of electrons that flow back and forth between the planet and moon.

What's your gut type? Gut bacteria could help with diagnostics and influence treatments

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Humans have three different gut types, scientists have found. The study also uncovers microbial genetic markers that are related to traits like age, gender and body-mass index. The findings could help diagnose and predict outcomes for diseases like colorectal cancer, and inform treatment.

Material that if scratched, you can quickly and easily fix yourself, with light not heat

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

A team of researchers in the United States and Switzerland has developed a polymer-based material that can heal itself with the help of a widely used type of lighting. Called "metallo-supramolecular polymers," the material is capable of becoming a supple liquid that fills crevasses and gaps left by scrapes and scuffs when placed under ultraviolet light for less than a minute and then resolidifying. The paper will publish this week in journal Nature.

Scientists prove new technology to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Scientists have taken an important step towards developing control measures for mosquitoes that transmit malaria. In a new study, researchers have demonstrated how some genetic changes can be introduced into large laboratory mosquito populations over the span of a few generations by just a small number of modified mosquitoes.

New 'chemical pathway' in the brain for stress: Breakthrough offers hope for targeted treatment of stress-related disorders

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

A team of neuroscientists has announced a breakthrough in the understanding of the 'brain chemistry' that triggers our response to highly stressful and traumatic events. The team has discovered a critical and previously unknown pathway in the brain that is linked to our response to stress. The advance offers new hope for targeted treatment, or even prevention, of stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Melting ice on Arctic islands a major player in sea level rise

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:36 AM PDT

Melting glaciers and ice caps on Canadian Arctic islands play a much greater role in sea level rise than scientists previously thought, according to a new study,

Evolution of human 'super-brain' tied to development of bipedalism, tool-making

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

Scientists seeking to understand the origin of the human mind may want to look to honeybees -- not ancestral apes -- for at least some of the answers, according to a University of Colorado Boulder archaeologist.

Air pollution exposure affects chances of developing premenopausal breast cancer, study finds

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

Exposure to air pollution early in life and when a woman gives birth to her first child may alter her DNA and may be associated with pre-menopausal breast cancer later in life, researchers have shown.

Biological links found between childhood abuse and adolescent depression

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

New research reveals that a history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse in childhood substantially increases the risk of depression in adolescence by altering a person's neuroendocrine response to stress.

Protein and calories can help lessen effects of severe traumatic brain injury, report says

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

To help alleviate the effects of severe traumatic brain injury, the US Department of Defense should ensure that all military personnel with this type of injury receive adequate protein and calories immediately after the trauma and through the first two weeks of treatment, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

Laser sparks revolution in internal combustion engines

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

For more than 150 years, spark plugs have powered internal combustion engines. Automakers are now one step closer to being able to replace this long-standing technology with laser igniters, which will enable cleaner, more efficient, and more economical vehicles. Researchers from Japan have developed the first multibeam laser system small enough to screw into an engine's cylinder head.

Ends of chromosomes protected by stacked, coiled DNA caps

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:55 AM PDT

Researchers are delving into the details of the complex structure at the ends of chromosomes. Recent work describes how these structures, called telomeres, can be protected by caps made up of specialized proteins and stacks of DNA called G-quadruplexes, or "G4 DNA."

Detailed maps of forest canopy height and carbon stock for the conterminous US

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:54 AM PDT

Scientists have released the first hectare-scale maps of canopy height, above-ground biomass, and associated carbon stock for the forests and woodlands of the conterminous United States. The multi-year project produced maps of these key forest attributes at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 30 meters.

Inappropriate psychotropics are more often used by elderly with low income, study suggests

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 09:50 AM PDT

Every fifth elderly person uses inappropriate psychotropic drugs with an increased risk for adverse events, despite that safer alternatives are available. Elderly with low income more often use such inappropriate drugs, according to new research.

ACE inhibitors may increase risk of recurrence in breast cancer survivors, study suggests

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

ACE inhibitors, commonly used to control high blood pressure and heart failure in women, may be associated with an increased risk of recurrence in women who have had breast cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers now one step closer to controlled engineering of nanocatalysts

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

Experts in material science and engineering have demonstrated a rational approach to producing nanocrystals with predictable shapes. The work could one day lead to the ability to rationally produce nanocatalysts with desired crystal surfaces and hence catalytic properties.

Different views of God may influence academic cheating

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

Belief in God doesn't deter a person from cheating on a test, unless that God is seen as a mean, punishing one, researchers say.

Gravitational tug of war warps spiral shape of galaxy

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

A pair of galaxies in a new image display some curious features, demonstrating that each member of the duo is close enough to feel the distorting gravitational influence of the other. The gravitational tug of war has warped the spiral shape of one galaxy, NGC 3169, and fragmented the dust lanes in its companion NGC 3166. Meanwhile, a third galaxy, NGC 3165, has a front-row seat to the gravitational twisting and pulling.

Functional MRI shows how mindfulness meditation changes decision-making process

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

Neuroimaging research shows that Buddhist meditators use different areas of the brain than other people when confronted with unfair choices, enabling them to make decisions rationally rather than emotionally.

Nature's elegant solution to repairing DNA in cancer, other conditions

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:23 AM PDT

A major discovery about an enzyme's structure has opened a window on understanding DNA repair. Scientists have determined the structure of a nuclease that will help scientists to understand several DNA repair pathways, a welcome development for cancer research.

Toward new medications for chronic brain diseases

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:21 AM PDT

A needle-in-the-haystack search through nearly 390,000 chemical compounds had led scientists to a substance that can sneak through the protective barrier surrounding the brain with effects promising for new drugs for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. The substance blocks the formation of cholesterol in the brain.

Using the energy in oil shale without releasing carbon dioxide in a greenhouse world

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:21 AM PDT

New technology that combines production of electricity with capture of carbon dioxide could make billions of barrels of oil shale -- now regarded as off-limits because of the huge amounts of carbon dioxide released in its production -- available as an energy source in a greenhouse world of the future, according to a new report.

Childhood music lessons may provide lifelong boost in brain functioning

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:20 AM PDT

Those childhood music lessons could pay off decades later -- even for those who no longer play an instrument -- by keeping the mind sharper as people age, according to a preliminary study.

Molecule Nutlin-3a activates a signal inducing cell death and senescence in primary brain tumors

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:20 AM PDT

Researchers have found that a small molecule, Nutlin-3a, an antagonist of MDM2 protein, stimulates the signaling pathway of another protein, p53. By this way, it induces cell death and senescence (loss of proliferative capacity) in brain cancer, a fact that slows its growth. These results open the door for MDM2 agonists as new treatments for glioblastomas.

How molecules get to the right place at the right time

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:19 AM PDT

Active transport processes in cells ensure that proteins with specialized local functions reach their intracellular destinations. Impaired transport causes cellular dysfunction or even cell death. Scientists have now revealed how such a transport complex recognizes its cargo and assembles.

Agriculture: Growing threat of wheat rust epidemics worldwide

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:19 AM PDT

Aggressive new strains of wheat rust diseases -- called stem rust and stripe rust -- have decimated up to 40 percent of farmers' wheat fields in recent harvests in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucuses, including Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Ethiopia and Kenya, according to new research.

Repeated stress in pregnancy linked to children's behavior

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:19 AM PDT

New research has found a link between the number of stressful events experienced during pregnancy and increased risk of behavioral problems in children.

Breakthrough in malaria treatment in the run up to World Malaria Day

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

Ahead of World Malaria Day (25 April), researchers have discovered that drugs originally designed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells can also kill the parasite that causes malaria. They believe this discovery could open up a new strategy for combating this deadly disease, which infected around 225 million and killed nearly 800,000 people worldwide in 2009.

New theory of evolution for spiral galaxy arms

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

A study of spiral patterns found in galaxies like our Milky Way could overturn the theory of how the spiral arm features form and evolve. Since 1960s, the most widely accepted explanation has been that the spiral arm features move like a Mexican wave in a crowd, passing through a population of stars that then return to their original position. Computer simulations now suggest that the stars actually rotate with the arms.

Life in extreme environments paves the way for international collaboration: New roadmap for research launched

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

Life thriving in deserts, the Polar Regions and the deep sea is the focus of a report released by the CAREX project, involving over 200 international scientists. The CAREX (Coordination Action for Research Activities on life in Extreme Environments) roadmap outlines priorities for future research into life in extreme environments, giving the basis for international collaboration.

A galactic rose highlights Hubble's 21st anniversary

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

In celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's deployment into space, astronomers pointed Hubble at an especially photogenic group of interacting galaxies called Arp 273.

Breastfeeding tied to stronger maternal response to baby's cry

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

A new study finds that mothers who feed their babies breast milk exclusively, as opposed to formula, are more likely to bond emotionally with their child during the first few months after delivery. The breastfeeding mothers surveyed for the study showed greater responses to their infant's cry in brain regions related to caregiving behavior and empathy than mothers who relied upon formula as the baby's main food source. This is the first paper to examine the underlying neurobiological mechanisms as a function of breastfeeding, and to connect brain activity with maternal behaviors among human mothers.

CAPTCHAs with chaos: Strong protection for weak passwords

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 08:13 AM PDT

The passwords of the future could become more secure and, at the same time, simpler to use. Researchers have been inspired by the physics of critical phenomena in their attempts to significantly improve password protection. The researchers split a password into two sections. With the first, easy-to-memorize section they encrypt a CAPTCHA -- an image that computer programs have difficulty in deciphering. The researchers also make it more difficult for computers, whose task it is to automatically crack passwords, to read the passwords without authorization. They use images of a simulated physical system, which they additionally make unrecognizable with a chaotic process.

Why are the Seychelles free of malaria?

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit the malaria parasite by their bite are present almost throughout the world. Only five areas are exceptions: Antarctic and Iceland, where there are no mosquitoes at all, New-Caledonia, the Central Pacific islands, like French Polynesia, and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. New research suggests that the Seychelles have been spared because anopheles mosquitoes require the blood of terrestrial mammals which, apart from bats, are lacking.

American pikas: Contemporary climate change alters the pace and drivers of extinction

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

Local extinction rates of American pikas have increased nearly five-fold in the last 10 years, and the rate at which the climate-sensitive species is moving up mountain slopes has increased 11-fold since the 20th century, according to a new study.

Lowering HIV transmission risk from breastfeeding with antiretroviral treatment

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

Every day, 1500 young infants in the world contract HIV from their mother. Ninety per cent of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Infection occurs in utero or during delivery, or later during breastfeeding. Now mothers can breastfeed with less risk. An international consortium of researchers recently showed that by taking an antiretroviral treatment up to the sixth month of breastfeeding, mothers can halve the probability of contaminating their child in comparison with standard treatment recommended in the previous WHO (World Health Organization) protocol guidelines.

New Caledonia’s lagoon : Better understanding for better protection

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

New Caledonia possesses the second largest coral reef lagoon on Earth and harbors an exceptional biodiversity. The island is also the world's third most important nickel producer. Ore extraction over the 20th Century has in places tripled the input of sediments and accompanying pollutants, such as metals, in the marine environment.

Drug development speeds up with more advanced microarray technology

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

RNA interference technology, which is used in cell biology, has revolutionized functional research of the gene products in the last ten years. Now researchers have developed a method which allows a single microchip to be used to screen the functions of tens of thousands of genes simultaneously by means of RNA interference. Traditional methods only allow a few hundred genes to be screened with each microplate.

European experts set standards for cross border reproductive care

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 05:18 AM PDT

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) is setting the first ever standards in Cross Border Reproductive Care (CBRC). The safety of patients, gamete donors, surrogates and future children take centre stage in ESHRE's Good Practice Guide for Cross Border Reproductive Care.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-20T02:11:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Antibiotics cure anthrax in animal models
C. difficile colonization accompanied by changes in gut microbiota: Study hints at probiotics as treatment
Anti-HIV vaginal gel promising for protection in Africa, SE Asia
Antibiotics disrupt gut ecology, metabolism
Plankton fossils tell tale of evolution and extinction
e-MERLIN set to give wizard new view of Hubble Deep Field region
Culture shift needed to address sickness absence in police service in UK, expert says
Experts question whether preventive drugs are value for money
Study adds weight to link between calcium supplements and heart problems
Link between brain molecule and obesity and diabetes discovered
C. difficile increases risk of death six-fold in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Decoding human genes is goal of new open-source encyclopedia
Improved recovery of motor function after stroke
Advice vs. experience: Genes predict learning style
Satellite tracking of sea turtles reveals potential threat posed by human-made chemicals
Distribution of British soil bacteria mapped for the first time
Gold prices spur six-fold spike in Amazon deforestation
Routine rotavirus vaccination in Brazil has reduced diarrhea deaths in children
Satisfied people are more likely to vote
King crabs invade Antarctica
Study pinpoints common critical errors in teen crashes
Canola oil protects against colon cancer, study suggests
Gene necessary for successful repair of muscle damage identified
How do you get a fruit fly to exercise?
Nearly 3,000 new Walt Whitman papers discovered
Biophysicist targeting IL-6 to halt breast, prostate cancer
LED efficiency puzzle solved by theorists using quantum-mechanical calculations
Decoding cancer patients' genomes is powerful diagnostic tool
Study finds decrease in length of hospital stay after hip replacement, but increase in readmissions
Pronghorn tracked by satellite
Filters that reduce ‘brain clutter’ identified
Professor notices Abe Lincoln's signature on a picture hanging in his office
Using duck eggs to track climate change
One year later, oil spill’s impact on Gulf not fully understood
Researcher use trees to detect contaminants and health threats
Limitations of question about race can create inaccurate picture of health-care disparities
Exploiting the stress response to detonate mitochondria in cancer cells
How American consumers view debt: A case study
Biologically inspired catalysts being developed
Hundreds of barrier islands newly identified in global survey
Rational, emotional reasons guide genetic-testing choices, study finds
'3-D towers' of information double data storage areal density
Spring-cleaning the mind? Study shows a cluttered brain doesn't remember
Missing link in plant defense against fungal disease found
Breed-specific causes of death in dogs revealed in landmark study
Green environments essential for human health, research shows
Clumsy avatars: Perfection versus mortality in games and simulation
Right-handedness prevailed 500,000 years ago
Miniature invisibility 'carpet cloak' hides more than its small size implies
Minimizing side effects from chemoradiation could help brain cancer patients live longer
New biosensor microchip could speed up drug development, researchers say
New discovery may block amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease process
A cancer marker and treatment in one?
How can we measure infants' pain after an operation?
Scientists examine psychiatric disorders linked with epilepsy
Changes in land use favor the expansion of wild ungulates
Gulf oil spill similar to Exxon Valdez in initial social and mental impacts, study finds
Link between breast implants and rare form of cancer confirmed, but cause remains unclear
Study suggests another look at testosterone-prostate cancer link
Taking aim at tumors

Antibiotics cure anthrax in animal models

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:49 PM PDT

In the absence of early antibiotic treatment, respiratory anthrax is fatal. The 2001 bioterrorism attacks in the US killed four people, out of 22 infected (10 of them with respiratory anthrax), despite massive antibiotic administration, probably because therapy did not begin until the disease had reached the fulminant stage. But a multi-agent prophylaxis initiated within 24 hours post-infection prevented development of fatal anthrax respiratory disease, and treatment combining antibiotics with immunization with a protective antigen-based vaccine conferred long-term protective immunity against reestablishment of the disease, according to a new study.

C. difficile colonization accompanied by changes in gut microbiota: Study hints at probiotics as treatment

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:48 PM PDT

Asymptomatic colonization by Clostridium difficile, absent the use of antibiotics, is common in infants and when it happens changes occur in the composition of the gut microbiota, according to new research.

Anti-HIV vaginal gel promising for protection in Africa, SE Asia

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:48 PM PDT

A new vaginal microbicide gel and drug formulation looks promising for empowering women in developing countries to protect themselves from HIV during intercourse, without having to inform their partners, according to new research.

Antibiotics disrupt gut ecology, metabolism

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:47 PM PDT

Humans carry several pounds of microbes in our gastro-intestinal tracts. Recent research suggests that this microbial ecosystem plays a variety of critical roles in our health. Now, working in a mouse model, researchers from Canada describe many of the interactions between the intestinal microbiota and host, and show that antibiotics profoundly disrupt intestinal homeostasis.

Plankton fossils tell tale of evolution and extinction

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 06:23 PM PDT

Scientists studying the fossils of tiny ocean-dwelling plankton, called foraminifera, have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of why species evolve or become extinct.

e-MERLIN set to give wizard new view of Hubble Deep Field region

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:58 PM PDT

The Hubble Deep Field (HDF), taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in the 1990s, is one of the most iconic images in astronomy. Now, astronomers at Jodrell Bank Observatory have produced a high-resolution mosaic of the HDF region using observations from the MERLIN and VLA radio telescope arrays, as well as the new e-MERLIN array.

Culture shift needed to address sickness absence in police service in UK, expert says

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:57 PM PDT

A major culture shift is needed to address the problems of long term sickness absence in the police service in the UK, an expert argues in a new article.

Experts question whether preventive drugs are value for money

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:57 PM PDT

Writing in a new article, experts challenge the view that popular drugs to prevent disease -- like statins and anti-hypertensives to prevent heart disease and stroke, or bisphosphonates to prevent fractures -- represent value for money.

Study adds weight to link between calcium supplements and heart problems

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:57 PM PDT

New research adds to mounting evidence that calcium supplements increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks, in older women.

Link between brain molecule and obesity and diabetes discovered

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:57 PM PDT

The brain's hypothalamus plays a key role in obesity and one of its major complications -- Type 2 diabetes. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus detect nutrients and hormones circulating in the blood and then coordinate a complex series of behavioral and physiological responses to maintain a balance between calories eaten and calories burned. Obesity and diabetes can result when this regulatory mechanism goes awry. Now, research has revealed a molecule in the brain that may contribute to those health problems, both of which are reaching epidemic proportions.

C. difficile increases risk of death six-fold in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:57 PM PDT

Patients admitted to hospital with inflammatory bowel disease face a sixfold greater risk of death if they become infected with Clostridium difficile, a new study has found.

Decoding human genes is goal of new open-source encyclopedia

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

A massive database cataloging the functional components of the human genome is being made available as an open resource to scientists, classrooms, science writers, and the public, thanks to an international team of scientists.

Improved recovery of motor function after stroke

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

After the acute treatment window closes, the only effective treatment for stroke is physical/occupational therapy. Now scientists report a two-pronged molecular therapy that leads to significant recovery of skilled motor function in a rat model of stroke.

Advice vs. experience: Genes predict learning style

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

A new study finds a specific genetic association with adhering to advice that conflicts with experience. Variations in certain genes lead to a strong-willed prefrontal cortex that can bias the striatum, where experience is analyzed.

Satellite tracking of sea turtles reveals potential threat posed by human-made chemicals

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

The first research to actively analyze adult male sea turtles using satellite tracking to link geography with pollutants has revealed the potential risks posed to this threatened species by human-made chemicals. The research examines the different levels of chemicals in the blood of both migratory and residential turtles.

Distribution of British soil bacteria mapped for the first time

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

Britain's soil bacteria have been mapped for the first time in the most comprehensive study of a country's soil biodiversity to date. To complete the map the scientific team analyzed over 1,000 soil cores from England, Scotland and Wales, examining microbial DNA sequences in the laboratory to map bacterial biodiversity.

Gold prices spur six-fold spike in Amazon deforestation

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

Deforestation in parts of the Peruvian Amazon has increased six-fold in recent years as small-scale miners, driven by record gold prices, blast and clear more of the lowland rainforest, according to a study.

Routine rotavirus vaccination in Brazil has reduced diarrhea deaths in children

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 05:55 PM PDT

Rotavirus vaccination in all areas of Brazil is associated with reduced diarrhea-related deaths and hospital admissions in children aged under five years, a new study reports.

Satisfied people are more likely to vote

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 04:15 PM PDT

Contented people are more likely to vote than unhappy ones, according to a new study.

King crabs invade Antarctica

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 04:10 PM PDT

It's like a scene out of a sci-fi movie -- thousands, possibly millions, of king crabs are marching through icy, deep-sea waters and up the Antarctic slope.

Study pinpoints common critical errors in teen crashes

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 04:00 PM PDT

A recent study hones in on the most common errors teen drivers make that lead to a serious crash. Teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adults.

Canola oil protects against colon cancer, study suggests

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 03:51 PM PDT

A study of canola oil finds that it reduces the size and incidence of colon tumors in laboratory animals, a scientist says.

Gene necessary for successful repair of muscle damage identified

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:58 PM PDT

Scientists are a step closer to treating, and perhaps preventing, muscle damage caused by neurodegenerative disorders and other forms of disease. They have discovered that the gene polymerase I and transcript release factor, or PTRF, is an essential component of the cell process that repairs damaged muscle tissue. This discovery has the potential to lead to development of therapeutic treatment for patients who suffer from severe complications of diseases such as muscular dystrophy, cardiovascular disorders and other degenerative conditions.

How do you get a fruit fly to exercise?

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:53 PM PDT

A professor puts his fruit flies through a grueling daily workout in a quest to understand how their genes respond to exercise and to uncover clues that may one day help people stay healthier and more active into their advanced years.

Nearly 3,000 new Walt Whitman papers discovered

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:44 PM PDT

As a clerk in the U.S. Attorney General's Office in the 1860s and 1870s, Walt Whitman had a firsthand view of the legal, cultural and ideological challenges facing the nation after the Civil War. That experience, most believe, shaped his later works of poetry and prose. Now, a university researcher has discovered nearly 3,000 previously unknown Whitman documents from that era -- a trove of information that sheds new light on the legendary poet's post-war thinking, as well as on Whitman's published reflections on the state of the nation that soon followed.

Biophysicist targeting IL-6 to halt breast, prostate cancer

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:42 PM PDT

A biophysicist is using supercomputer resources to search thousands of molecular combinations for the best configuration to block a protein that can cause breast or prostate cancer.

LED efficiency puzzle solved by theorists using quantum-mechanical calculations

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:42 PM PDT

Researchers say they've figured out the cause of a problem that's made light-emitting diodes (LEDs) impractical for general lighting purposes. Their work will help engineers develop a new generation of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting that could replace incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

Decoding cancer patients' genomes is powerful diagnostic tool

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:42 PM PDT

Two new studies highlight the power of sequencing cancer patients' genomes as a diagnostic tool, helping doctors decide the best course of treatment and researchers identify new cancer susceptibility mutations that can be passed from parent to child.

Study finds decrease in length of hospital stay after hip replacement, but increase in readmissions

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:42 PM PDT

An analysis of data from Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hip replacement or subsequent follow-up corrective surgery between 1991 and 2008 indicates that the length of hospital stay after surgery declined during this time period, as did the proportion of patients discharged home, while there was an increase in the rate of hospital readmissions and discharge to a skilled care facility.

Pronghorn tracked by satellite

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:38 PM PDT

The pronghorn were captured in a helicopter netting operation on February 28, fitted with the collars, and released. The collars are scheduled to "drop off" of the animals at a future date through an automated release mechanism.

Filters that reduce ‘brain clutter’ identified

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:32 PM PDT

Until now, it has been assumed that people with conditions like ADHD, Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia -- all of whom characteristically report symptoms of "brain clutter" -- may suffer from anomalies in the brain's prefrontal cortex. But a researcher has brought new hope to these patients. He believes the key to the "brain clutter" and impulsivity shown by individuals with dysfunctional prefrontal cortices lies in a malfunction of a specific type of brain cell.

Professor notices Abe Lincoln's signature on a picture hanging in his office

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:26 PM PDT

When a professor looked a bit closer at a picture that had been hanging in his office for a few years, he noticed what looked like a signature belonging to the nation's 16th president. Curiosity got the better of him, so he contacted a Lincoln authority. The signature turned out to be authentic.

Using duck eggs to track climate change

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:19 PM PDT

Julie DeJong can't set foot on the ground of an Oregon marsh to gather duck eggs on a spring day in 1875. But Charles Bendire did. And thanks to a research project that is the next best thing to time travel, DeJong is measuring the duck eggs in several museum collections. When her project is done, DeJong will have assembled and analyzed a metrics database on perhaps 60,000 duck eggs representing at least 40 species and subspecies of ducks found in North America.

One year later, oil spill’s impact on Gulf not fully understood

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:14 PM PDT

One year after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began on April 20, 2010, two experts comment on the known and unknown impacts to wildlife -- in the air, on the land and in the sea.

Researcher use trees to detect contaminants and health threats

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 01:03 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a method to detect the presence of soil and groundwater contamination without turning a shovel or touching the water. Instead, they're using trees.

Limitations of question about race can create inaccurate picture of health-care disparities

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:18 PM PDT

What race best describes your background? That one question, which appears on most paperwork for health care, could leave entire groups of people underserved and contribute to racial health disparities, according to new research.

Exploiting the stress response to detonate mitochondria in cancer cells

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:18 PM PDT

Researchers have found a new way to force cancer cells to self-destruct. Low doses of a drug that disrupts mitochondria allows a second drug to push the cell toward apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Their findings show how this combination approach synergistically kills tumor cells in both mouse models of glioblastoma and human glioblastoma cells.

How American consumers view debt: A case study

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

A new study suggests that while younger Americans are more smitten with credit cards and debt than older Americans, the older generation helps enable their children by encouraging use of credit as a "safety mechanism."

Biologically inspired catalysts being developed

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

A research team is developing biologically-inspired catalysts. The work is based on organic catalytic framework made sturdy by the replacement of carbon-hydrogen bonds with a combination of aromatic and aliphatic carbon-fluorine bonds.

Hundreds of barrier islands newly identified in global survey

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Earth has 657 more barrier islands than previously thought, according to a new global survey by researchers.

Rational, emotional reasons guide genetic-testing choices, study finds

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Consumers decide whether to use mail-in genetic tests based on both rational and emotional reasons, a finding that adds to a growing body of health-care behavior research on information seeking and avoidance, according to researchers.

'3-D towers' of information double data storage areal density

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Using well-known patterned media, a team of researchers in France has figured out a way to double the areal density of information by essentially cutting the magnetic media into small pieces and building a "3-D tower" out of it.

Spring-cleaning the mind? Study shows a cluttered brain doesn't remember

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Lapses in memory occur more frequently with age, yet the reasons for this increasing forgetfulness have not always been clear. According to new research, older individuals have reduced learning and memory because their minds tend to be cluttered with irrelevant information when performing tasks. The findings offer new insights into why aging is associated with a decline in memory and may lead to practical solutions.

Missing link in plant defense against fungal disease found

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Scientists report on a discovery in a key component in the signaling pathway that regulates the production of phytoalexins to kill the disease-causing fungus Botrytis cinerea.

Breed-specific causes of death in dogs revealed in landmark study

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Dog owners and veterinarians have long relied on a mix of limited data and anecdotal evidence to assess which breeds are at risk of dying from various conditions, but a new study provides a rare and comprehensive look at causes of death in more than 80 breeds.

Green environments essential for human health, research shows

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to an environment and behavior researcher.

Clumsy avatars: Perfection versus mortality in games and simulation

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 12:10 PM PDT

Willy Nilly's Surf Shack offers a cure for the idealized virtual world of Second Life. The online shop endows otherwise flawless avatars with real-world foils like clumsiness. A project allowing avatars to visibly age over time is in the works.

Right-handedness prevailed 500,000 years ago

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

Markings on fossilized front teeth show that right-handedness goes back a half-million years in the human family.

Miniature invisibility 'carpet cloak' hides more than its small size implies

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

Invisibility cloaking techniques have come with a significant limitation -- they need to be orders of magnitude larger than the object being cloaked. A team of physicists may have overcome this size limitation by using a technology known as a "carpet cloaks," which can conceal a much larger area than other cloaking techniques of comparable size.

Minimizing side effects from chemoradiation could help brain cancer patients live longer

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

Minimizing neurological side effects in patients with high-grade glioma from chemoradiation may result in improved patient survival, a new study suggests.

New biosensor microchip could speed up drug development, researchers say

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

A new biosensor microchip that could hold more than 100,000 magnetically sensitive nanosensors could speed up drug development markedly, researchers say. The nanosensors analyze how proteins bond -- a critical step in drug development. The ultrasensitive sensors can simultaneously monitor thousands of times more proteins than existing technology, deliver results faster and assess the strength of the bonds.

New discovery may block amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease process

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

In the first animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, scientists have found in fruit flies that blocking the abnormal movement of a protein made by a mutated gene called FUS also blocks the disease process.

A cancer marker and treatment in one?

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

Researchers say antibodies to a non-human sugar molecule commonly found in people may be useful as a future biomarker for predicting cancer risk, for diagnosing cancer cases early and, in sufficient concentration, used as a treatment for suppressing tumor growth.

How can we measure infants' pain after an operation?

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 10:15 AM PDT

It turns out to be difficult to find out exactly how much a child who cannot yet speak suffers after a surgical operation. Researchers in Spain have validated the 'Llanto' scale, the first, and only, tool in Spanish which measures infant pain rapidly and simply.

Scientists examine psychiatric disorders linked with epilepsy

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:14 AM PDT

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, have conducted the first study of its kind to examine in detail, the basis of psychiatric disorders which occur in people with epilepsy. The findings of this study showed similarities with the brain cell patterns in people with schizophrenia. The research gives greater insights into both conditions which may potentially lead to new treatments in the future.

Changes in land use favor the expansion of wild ungulates

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:14 AM PDT

Mediterranean landscapes have undergone great change in recent decades, but species have adapted to this, at least in the case of roe deer, Spanish ibex, red deer and wild boar. This has been shown by Spanish researchers who have analyzed the effects of changes in land use on the past, present and future distribution of these species.

Gulf oil spill similar to Exxon Valdez in initial social and mental impacts, study finds

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused social disruption and psychological stress among Gulf residents that is similar to the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill and the impacts are likely to persist for years, a new study finds.

Link between breast implants and rare form of cancer confirmed, but cause remains unclear

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT

Breast implants appear to be associated with a rare form of lymphoma, but there is not yet evidence to show that the cancer is caused by implants or to suggest an underlying mechanism for how the disease might develop, according to a new study.

Study suggests another look at testosterone-prostate cancer link

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT

The long-standing prohibition against testosterone therapy in men with untreated or low-risk prostate cancer merits reevaluation, according to a new study.

Taking aim at tumors

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT

Many of the newest weapons in the war on cancer come in the form of personalized therapies that can target specific changes in an individual's tumor. By disrupting molecular processes in tumor cells, these drugs can keep the tumor from growing and spreading. Researchers are now deploying a new tool in their study of an enzyme called tubulin tyrosine ligase, or TTL.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-19T02:06:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Sugar helping map new ground against deadly bug
Alzheimer's diagnostic guidelines updated for first time in decades
Limiting carbs, not calories, reduces liver fat faster, researchers find
Treatment-resistant epilepsy common in idiopathic autism; Associated with early seizure onset and cognitive impairment
CD image import reduces unnecessary imaging exams in emergency rooms
Mood swings of bipolar patients can be predicted, study shows
Electric cars need night time charging, evidence suggests
Healthy distance for physicians online: Researchers recommend 'dual citizenship' on social media
Widespread, risky use clotting drug on non-hemophilia patients documented in new studies
Learn to run a biorefinery in a virtual control room
Virtual surgery shows promise in personalized treatment of nasal obstruction
Airway abnormalities appear uncommon in well-appearing babies with apparent life-threatening events
Patients appear to adjust and learn to cope with loss or reduced sense of smell
Previous-day alcohol consumption appears to affect surgical skills on virtual reality simulator
Do-not-resuscitate orders associated with poor surgical outcomes even for non-emergency procedures
Dietary, lifestyle changes can significantly reduce triglycerides
New biomarker allows early detection of adverse prognosis after acute kidney injury
Common virus plus low sunlight exposure may increase risk of multiple sclerosis
Gym gone but not forgotten? Parents want more physical activity at school for kids
Research turns the world upside down: New study examines brain processes behind facial recognition
Immediate treatment can alleviate future back problems, research suggests
Using leaves' characteristics improves accuracy measuring past climates
Students develop thought-controlled, hands-free computer for the disabled
How the bilingual brain copes with aging: As brain power decreases, older adults find new ways to compute language
Active efforts required to save 'ordinary species' that form basis of marine ecosystems
Simple injection could limit damage from heart attacks and stroke
New scientific model tracks form of ovarian cancer to origins in fallopian tube
Oxygenation at a depth of 120 meters could save the Baltic Sea, researchers demonstrate
Super-small transistor created: Artificial atom powered by single electrons
'Liquefaction' key to much of Japanese earthquake damage
Habitat restoration could help species to cope with climate change
Predicting premature birth possible through markers in mother's blood
Zoom-up star photos poke holes in century-old astronomical theory
Move over Prozac: New drug offers hope for depression
Overdose deaths down 35 percent after opening of Vancouver's supervised injection site
Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills, study suggests
Professional hockey: Days lost per concussion in NHL increasing
Oldest known toothache? Infection in jaw of ancient reptilian fossil revealed
Gene that could hold the key to muscle repair identified
Compound effectively halts progression of multiple sclerosis in animal model
Breast cancer: Tumor marker same in dogs and humans
New pollutants: Flame retardants detected in peregrine falcon eggs
School students help astronomers study mysterious X-ray source
Shocking environment of hot Jupiters
Watching the birth of a sunspot
Did a supernova mark the birth of the Merry Monarch?
Plasmoids and sheaths mean success or failure for solar eruptions
Astronomers can tune in to radio auroras to find exoplanets
Large galaxies stopped growing seven billion years ago
Missing the gorilla: People prone to 'inattention blindness' have a lower working memory capacity

Sugar helping map new ground against deadly bug

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT

A potential vaccine against bacteria that cause serious gastric disorders including stomach cancer may be a step closer following a pioneering study.

Alzheimer's diagnostic guidelines updated for first time in decades

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT

For the first time in 27 years, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease dementia have been revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages of the disease characterized. They mark a major change in how experts think about and study Alzheimer's.

Limiting carbs, not calories, reduces liver fat faster, researchers find

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Curbing carbohydrates is more effective than cutting calories for individuals who want to quickly reduce the amount of fat in their liver, researchers report.

Treatment-resistant epilepsy common in idiopathic autism; Associated with early seizure onset and cognitive impairment

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT

A new study found that treatment-resistant epilepsy is common in idiopathic autism. Early age at the onset of seizures and delayed global development were associated with a higher frequency of resistance to antiepileptic drugs.

CD image import reduces unnecessary imaging exams in emergency rooms

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:36 PM PDT

Each year, more than two million critically ill patients are transferred from one hospital emergency department to another for appropriate care. With the ability to successfully import data from a CD-ROM containing the patient's diagnostic medical images, hospitals may be able to significantly reduce unnecessary medical imaging tests, some of which expose patients to radiation. These findings are reported in a new study.

Mood swings of bipolar patients can be predicted, study shows

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:17 PM PDT

The future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder can be predicted by their current thoughts and behavior, a study has found.

Electric cars need night time charging, evidence suggests

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:17 PM PDT

Researchers in America have shown that ozone -- a known pollutant at low levels in Earth's atmosphere, causing harmful effects on the respiratory system and sensitive plants -- can be reduced, on average, when electric vehicle charging is done at night time.

Healthy distance for physicians online: Researchers recommend 'dual citizenship' on social media

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 02:13 PM PDT

With ubiquitous social media sites like Facebook and Twitter blurring private and professional lines, there is an increasing need for physicians to create a healthy distance between their work and home online identities, two physicians assert.

Widespread, risky use clotting drug on non-hemophilia patients documented in new studies

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 02:13 PM PDT

An expensive blood-clotting drug that is intended only for hemophilia patients is being used in hospitals predominantly to treat patients without this disorder, despite evidence suggesting that it could harm them, according to a pair of studies.

Learn to run a biorefinery in a virtual control room

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a virtual biorefinery control room based on ethanol and biodiesel plants in Iowa. The system is designed to teach students and workers to efficiently run a biorefinery. The simulations take into account more than 20 production attributes including moisture, starch content, contaminants, temperature and particle size. The virtual control room can be modified to offer training and experience when new feedstocks and technologies are developed.

Virtual surgery shows promise in personalized treatment of nasal obstruction

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

A preliminary report suggests that virtual nasal surgery has the potential to be a productive tool that may enable surgeons to perform personalized nasal surgery using computer simulation techniques.

Airway abnormalities appear uncommon in well-appearing babies with apparent life-threatening events

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Airway abnormalities were uncommon among well-appearing infants hospitalized with apparent life-threatening events, and pediatric otolaryngology service was involved in their care only a small proportion of the time during five years after the episode, according to a new report.

Patients appear to adjust and learn to cope with loss or reduced sense of smell

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Most patients who have a reduced ability to smell or detect odors seem to attach less importance to the sense of smell in their daily lives than people with a normal olfactory function, according to a new study.

Previous-day alcohol consumption appears to affect surgical skills on virtual reality simulator

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Excessive alcohol consumption appears to be associated with changes in some surgical skills performed on virtual reality simulator testing the following day, according to a new study.

Do-not-resuscitate orders associated with poor surgical outcomes even for non-emergency procedures

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Surgical patients with do-not-resuscitate orders appear to be at higher risk for poor surgical outcomes, according to a new study.

Dietary, lifestyle changes can significantly reduce triglycerides

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

Diet and lifestyle changes that include substituting healthy fats for unhealthy saturated and trans fats, engaging in regular physical activity and losing excess weight can reduce triglycerides -- a blood fat -- by 20 percent to 50 percent. New clinical recommendations include reducing the optimal triglyceride level from <150 mg/dL to <100 mg/dL, and performing non-fasting triglyceride testing as an initial screen.

New biomarker allows early detection of adverse prognosis after acute kidney injury

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT

A new biomarker-based diagnostic test is more effective than current best practice for early detection of adverse outcomes after acute kidney injury, which can be fatal for 50 percent of the critically ill patients who get the condition. A multi-center study reports the kidney injury biomarker NGAL in urine or blood detects early subclinical AKI and its adverse outcomes in critically ill patients.

Common virus plus low sunlight exposure may increase risk of multiple sclerosis

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:16 PM PDT

New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis than those without the virus.

Gym gone but not forgotten? Parents want more physical activity at school for kids

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:25 PM PDT

Childhood obesity affects 1 of every 6 kids in the United States, in part due to a lack of physical activity. Schools can play a key part in offering elementary-age kids lots of chances to be active -- on the playground during recess and when they're in gym.

Research turns the world upside down: New study examines brain processes behind facial recognition

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:25 PM PDT

Using tests of visual perception and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers recently measured activity in two regions of the brain well known for facial recognition and found they were highly sensitive to the orientation of people's faces.

Immediate treatment can alleviate future back problems, research suggests

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

Immediate treatment by a physiotherapist, bypassing a waiting list, can reduce problems with recurring low back pain, new research suggests.

Using leaves' characteristics improves accuracy measuring past climates

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

Geologists have shown that a new method that uses different size and shape traits of leaves to reconstruct past climates over the last 120 million years is more accurate than other current methods.

Students develop thought-controlled, hands-free computer for the disabled

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

Software engineering students have developed innovative technology that could enable people to operate a computer without using a keyboard or mouse -- only their brainwaves.

How the bilingual brain copes with aging: As brain power decreases, older adults find new ways to compute language

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

Older bilingual adults compensate for age-related declines in brainpower by developing new strategies to process language, according to a recent study.

Active efforts required to save 'ordinary species' that form basis of marine ecosystems

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

Active efforts are required to preserve biodiversity in the seas, most agree. But in our enthusiasm to save uncommon species, we sometimes miss the common species that form the basis of marine ecosystems.

Simple injection could limit damage from heart attacks and stroke

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

New research offers promise of a simple injection that could be developed to limit the devastating consequences of heart attacks and strokes. Scientists have identified an enzyme, Mannan Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-2 (MASP-2), that is found in blood and is a key component of the lectin pathway of complement activation, a component of the innate immune system.

New scientific model tracks form of ovarian cancer to origins in fallopian tube

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:23 PM PDT

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is thought by many scientists to often be a fallopian tube malignancy masquerading as an ovarian one. While most of the evidence linking the cancer to the fallopian tubes has so far been only circumstantial, a new study suggests there is a direct connection, a finding that could aid in the development of better treatments.

Oxygenation at a depth of 120 meters could save the Baltic Sea, researchers demonstrate

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Oxygenation brings dead sea bottoms to life. This creates the necessary conditions for the establishment of new ecosystems that enable nature itself to deal with eutrophication. By conducting pilot studies in two fjords in Sweden, researchers have demonstrated that pumping oxygen-rich surface water down to sea bottoms is effective. A large wind-driven pump is now to be tested in open water in the Baltic.

Super-small transistor created: Artificial atom powered by single electrons

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:55 AM PDT

A single-electron transistor with a central component -- an island only 1.5 nanometers in diameter -- that operates with the addition of only one or two electrons has been developed. The transistor, named SketchSET, provides a building block for new, more powerful computer memories, advanced electronic materials, and the basic components of quantum computers that could solve problems so complex that all of the world's computers working together for billions of years could not crack them.

'Liquefaction' key to much of Japanese earthquake damage

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:55 AM PDT

The massive subduction zone earthquake in Japan caused a significant level of soil "liquefaction" that has surprised researchers with its widespread severity, a new analysis shows. The findings also raise questions about whether existing building codes and engineering technologies are adequately accounting for this phenomenon in other vulnerable locations.

Habitat restoration could help species to cope with climate change

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Animals and plants may need extra habitats to survive the challenge of climate change, according to new research. Human activities have reduced natural habitats to isolated "islands", making it more difficult for some species to re-locate to cooler regions in response to their existing locations growing warmer.

Predicting premature birth possible through markers in mother's blood

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a group of proteins and peptides that signal risk of premature birth. Their research shows that more than 80 percent of preterm births can be spotted in advance with a blood test taken during the second trimester.

Zoom-up star photos poke holes in century-old astronomical theory

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

The hottest stars in the universe spin so fast that they get a bit squished at their poles and dimmer around their middle. The 90-year-old theory that predicts the extent of this "gravity darkening" phenomenon has major flaws, according to a new study.

Move over Prozac: New drug offers hope for depression

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

The brain chemistry that underlies depression is incompletely understood, but research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression. Here, researchers describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. They identified one they dubbed ANA-12, which had potent behavioral effects when administered to mice that suggest it will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans.

Overdose deaths down 35 percent after opening of Vancouver's supervised injection site

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Illicit drug overdose deaths in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside dropped by 35 percent after the establishment of Insite, North America's first supervised injection facility, according a new study.

Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills, study suggests

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

Drospirenone, the top-selling oral contraceptive marketed as Yaz or Yasmin in the US and Canada, doesn't carry any more risk of gall bladder disease than the older generation of birth control pills, despite claims by some consumers and lawyers in both countries, according to a new study.

Professional hockey: Days lost per concussion in NHL increasing

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 09:23 AM PDT

A major study of concussions, conducted over seven National Hockey League seasons indicates that while the rate of injuries leveled out over the study period, the number of days lost per concussion has increased.

Oldest known toothache? Infection in jaw of ancient reptilian fossil revealed

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 08:42 AM PDT

A reptile that lived 275-million years ago in what is now Oklahoma is giving paleontologists a glimpse of the oldest known toothache.

Gene that could hold the key to muscle repair identified

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 06:38 AM PDT

Researchers have long questioned why patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) tend to manage well through childhood and adolescence, yet succumb to their disease in early adulthood, or why elderly people who lose muscle strength following bed rest find it difficult or impossible to regain. Now, researchers are beginning to find answers in a specialized population of cells called satellite cells.

Compound effectively halts progression of multiple sclerosis in animal model

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 06:38 AM PDT

Scientists have developed the first of a new class of highly selective compounds that effectively suppresses the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models. The new compound could provide new and potentially more effective therapeutic approaches to multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases that affect patients worldwide.

Breast cancer: Tumor marker same in dogs and humans

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 06:38 AM PDT

Researchers were surprised to find that dogs and humans share a common tumor marker. The researchers uncovered a molecule, the CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) receptor, that is almost identical in the two species. The result could lead to the rapid development of new therapies for dogs and humans.

New pollutants: Flame retardants detected in peregrine falcon eggs

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 06:37 AM PDT

Flame retardants are chemical compounds added to fabrics and plastics to keep them from burning easily, but these can be toxic. Now a team of researchers from Spain and Canada has detected some of these emerging pollutants for the first time in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both countries.

School students help astronomers study mysterious X-ray source

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Astronomers from Wales and the Netherlands, in collaboration with five schools, have used eight telescopes simultaneously to study the strange behavior of an X-ray binary star system.

Shocking environment of hot Jupiters

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Jupiter-like worlds around other stars push shock waves ahead of them, according to astronomers. Just as Earth's magnetic "bow-shock" protects us from the high-energy solar wind, these planetary shocks protect their atmospheres from their star's damaging emissions, according to new research.

Watching the birth of a sunspot

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Researchers have monitored the birth of a sunspot over a period of eight hours using observations from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).

Did a supernova mark the birth of the Merry Monarch?

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is the relic of the explosion of a massive star that took place around 11,000 years ago and is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky. Oddly, although the light from the explosion should have reached the Earth in the seventeenth century and been easily visible in the sky, it appears to have gone unnoticed. Now astronomers and historians argue that the supernova was seen -- as a 'new' star visible during the day at the birth of the future King Charles II of Great Britain.

Plasmoids and sheaths mean success or failure for solar eruptions

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Our Sun experiences regular eruptions of material into space, but solar physicists still have difficulty in explaining why these dramatic events take place. Now scientists think they have the answer: clouds of ionized gas (plasma) constrained by magnetic fields and known as 'plasmoids' that struggle to break free of the Sun's magnetic field.

Astronomers can tune in to radio auroras to find exoplanets

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Detecting exoplanets that orbit at large distances from their star remains a challenge for planet hunters. Now, scientists have shown that emissions from the radio aurora of planets like Jupiter should be detectable by radio telescopes such as LOFAR, which will be completed later this year.

Large galaxies stopped growing seven billion years ago

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:40 AM PDT

Galaxies are thought to develop by the gravitational attraction between and merger of smaller 'sub-galaxies', a process that standard cosmological ideas suggest should be ongoing. But new data directly challenges this idea, suggesting that the growth of some of the most massive objects stopped 7 billion years ago when the universe was half its present age.

Missing the gorilla: People prone to 'inattention blindness' have a lower working memory capacity

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 05:32 AM PDT

Psychologists have learned why many people experience "inattention blindness" -- the phenomenon that leaves drivers on cell phones prone to traffic accidents and makes a gorilla invisible to viewers of a famous video. The answer: People who fail to see something right in front of them while they are focusing on something else have lower "working memory capacity" -- a measure of the ability to focus attention when and where needed, and on more than one thing at a time.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-18T02:03:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Ancestors of land plants revealed
L-lysine may help schizophrenia sufferers cope
New therapeutic target for asthma, COPD and other lung disorders identified
Polarized microscopy technique shows new details of how proteins are arranged
Nanofiber spheres carrying cells injected into wounds to grow tissue
Researchers get a first look at the mechanics of membrane proteins
Successful strategy developed to regenerate blood vessels
Sugarcane cools climate, study finds
Arctic coasts on the retreat

Ancestors of land plants revealed

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 06:42 PM PDT

It was previously thought that land plants evolved from stonewort-like algae. However, new research shows that the closest relatives to land plants are actually conjugating green algae such as Spirogyra.

L-lysine may help schizophrenia sufferers cope

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 06:41 PM PDT

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that currently affects about one in every 200 people. Most patients find some relief from their symptoms by treatment with antipsychotics, however they may still suffer from cognitive and negative symptoms. Preliminary research shows that patients who received L-lysine alongside their normal medication found some reduction in the severity of their symptoms.

New therapeutic target for asthma, COPD and other lung disorders identified

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered a molecule's previously unknown role as a major trigger for airway remodeling, which impairs lung function, making the molecule a promising therapeutic target for chronic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and several other lung conditions.

Polarized microscopy technique shows new details of how proteins are arranged

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

By harnessing the unique properties of polarized light, scientists have developed a new technique that can help deduce the orientation of specific proteins within a cell.

Nanofiber spheres carrying cells injected into wounds to grow tissue

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

For the first time, scientists have made star-shaped, biodegradable polymers that can self-assemble into hollow, nanofiber spheres, and when the spheres are injected with cells into wounds, these spheres biodegrade, but the cells live on to form new tissue.

Researchers get a first look at the mechanics of membrane proteins

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

In two new studies, researchers provide the first detailed view of the elaborate chemical and mechanical interactions that allow the ribosome -- the cell's protein-building machinery -- to insert a growing protein into the cellular membrane. The first study gives an atom-by-atom snapshot the moment just after the ribosome docks to a channel in the membrane and the newly forming protein winds its way into the membrane. The second study found that proteins get inserted into the membrane in two stages.

Successful strategy developed to regenerate blood vessels

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered a way to stimulate the formation of highly functional new blood vessels. Scientists have developed a strategy in which a biological factor, called fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), is delivered at the same time that the body is making its own effort at forming new blood vessels in vulnerable or damaged tissue.

Sugarcane cools climate, study finds

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

Brazilians are world leaders in using biofuels. About a quarter of their automobile fuel consumption comes from sugarcane, which significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Now scientists have found that sugarcane has a double benefit. Expansion of the crop in areas previously occupied by other crops cools the local climate by reflecting sunlight back into space and by lowering the air temperature as the plants "exhale" cooler water.

Arctic coasts on the retreat

Posted: 17 Apr 2011 03:53 PM PDT

The coastline in Arctic regions reacts to climate change with increased erosion and retreats by half a meter per year on average. This means substantial changes for Arctic ecosystems near the coast and the population living there.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-17T02:06:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

New patient guidelines for heart devices
Twitter and natural disasters: Crisis communication lessons from the Japan tsunami
Non-cardiac surgery: Safe for patients with heart device, study finds
Inhaled corticosteroid therapy reduces pneumonia mortality, large study finds
How beliefs shape effort and learning
Introducing the world's first intubation robot
Key to personalized cancer medicine unlocked using tumor metabolism
Experimental drug inhibits cell signaling pathway and slows ovarian cancer growth
Mothers who breastfeed often viewed as less competent than other women, study finds
People know when first impressions are accurate
GPS data used to model effects of tidal loads on Earth's surface
Hydrocarbons deep within Earth: New computational study reveals how
Recipe for radioactive compounds aids nuclear waste and fuel storage pools studies
Inability to detect sarcasm, lies may be early sign of dementia, study shows
Acid levels control formic acid metabolism in bacterium
Vanilla: Preserving a world favorite flavor
Successful blueprints are recycled by evolution, study suggests
Earth's dust and plankton from space: New views from Envisat satellite
Miniature sensors to measure the ocean
Molecular messages from moth antennae: Scientists assemble genes involved in regulating olfaction
Can nudging help fight the obesity epidemic? UK experts debate
Artificial pancreas may improve overnight control of diabetes in adults
Mortality rate is increased in persons with autism who also have epilepsy, study finds
Probiotic may reduce rate of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, study suggests
Blood test could predict metastasis risk in melanoma, study finds
Safer treatment for millions suffering from trypanosome parasite infection
Crash rates may be higher for teen drivers who start school earlier in the morning
Genital herpes more virulent in Africa than in US, report finds
Safety of stored blood among chief concerns for transfusion medicine community

New patient guidelines for heart devices

Posted: 16 Apr 2011 07:39 AM PDT

A series of new guidelines for cardiac specialists has been developed to determine when heart failure patients should receive a mechanical heart-pumping device.

Twitter and natural disasters: Crisis communication lessons from the Japan tsunami

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 12:47 PM PDT

Researchers in Japan surveyed and questioned Twitter users and tracked updates from people in the disaster-struck area on the social media site two weeks after the Tohoku earthquake and devastating tsunami of March 11. They hoped to determine what benefits such a system can bring to people involved in a disaster and to those hoping to hear news.

Non-cardiac surgery: Safe for patients with heart device, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 12:47 PM PDT

Non-cardiac surgery can be performed safely in patients with a heart device typically implanted into patients waiting for a transplant, according to a new study.

Inhaled corticosteroid therapy reduces pneumonia mortality, large study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 09:40 AM PDT

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are hospitalized for pneumonia and treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have decreased mortality when compared to those who are not treated with ICS, according to a retrospective analysis of almost 16,000 COPD patients admitted to VA hospitals.

How beliefs shape effort and learning

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:40 AM PDT

If it was easy to learn, it will be easy to remember -- right? Psychological scientists have maintained that nearly everyone uses this simple rule to assess their own learning. Now a new study suggests otherwise.

Introducing the world's first intubation robot

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Researchers have introduced the first intubation robot operated by remote control. The robotic system may facilitate the intubation procedure and reduce some complications associated with airway management.

Key to personalized cancer medicine unlocked using tumor metabolism

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:39 AM PDT

Identifying gene mutations in cancer patients to predict clinical outcome has been the cornerstone of cancer research for nearly three decades, but now researchers have invented a new approach that instead links cancer cell metabolism with poor clinical outcome. This approach can now be applied to virtually any type of human cancer cell.

Experimental drug inhibits cell signaling pathway and slows ovarian cancer growth

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

An experimental drug that blocks two points of a crucial cancer cell signaling pathway inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells and significantly increases survival in an ovarian cancer mouse model, a study has found.

Mothers who breastfeed often viewed as less competent than other women, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

While breastfeeding babies has numerous health advantages to both mother and child, mothers who breastfeed may find that other people look down on them and do not want to work with them. A recent study found that mothers who breastfeed are viewed as less competent than other women.

People know when first impressions are accurate

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

First impressions are important, and they usually contain a healthy dose both of accuracy and misperception. But do people know when their first impressions are correct? They do reasonably well, according to a new study.

GPS data used to model effects of tidal loads on Earth's surface

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology is helping researchers find their way to a more complete understanding of Earth's interior structure.

Hydrocarbons deep within Earth: New computational study reveals how

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

A new computational study reveals how hydrocarbons may be formed from methane in deep Earth at extreme pressures and temperatures. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of hydrocarbons at high pressures and temperature are important for understanding carbon reservoirs and fluxes in Earth.

Recipe for radioactive compounds aids nuclear waste and fuel storage pools studies

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Easy-to-follow recipes for radioactive compounds like those found in nuclear fuel storage pools, liquid waste containment areas and other contaminated aqueous environments have been developed by researchers.

Inability to detect sarcasm, lies may be early sign of dementia, study shows

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

By asking a group of older adults to analyze videos of other people conversing -- some talking truthfully, some insincerely -- a group of scientists has determined which areas of the brain govern a person's ability to detect sarcasm and lies.

Acid levels control formic acid metabolism in bacterium

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:49 AM PDT

Formate, the salt of formic acid, is an important product of metabolism in bacteria and -- in contrast to human metabolism -- a preliminary stage of the gas carbon dioxide, which is released in the combustion of sugar. Enterobacteriaceae, a large family of bacteria, possess the formate channel FocA, a specialized transport protein that transports the negatively charged ion of the formic acid over the cell membrane of the bacteria. Now researchers have succeeded in isolating and crystallizing FocA from the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium at a low pH value.

Vanilla: Preserving a world favorite flavor

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

Vanilla is one of the world's best-loved flavors, and demand for it is increasing all the time. But now its future in the global food industry could be more secure, thanks to new research in Malaysia.

Successful blueprints are recycled by evolution, study suggests

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

A new study finds evidence that the different cell types that make up organs have arisen only once during the course of evolution. The programs to develop these cells have been passed on ever since.

Earth's dust and plankton from space: New views from Envisat satellite

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

Europe's Envisat satellite has captured a new view of dust and sand from the Algerian Sahara Desert, located in northern Africa, blowing west across the Atlantic Ocean.

Miniature sensors to measure the ocean

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

The first miniature sensors designed to measure saltiness and temperature across the world's oceans are being put in use on an ambitious expedition.

Molecular messages from moth antennae: Scientists assemble genes involved in regulating olfaction

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

Insects use their antennae for smelling and thus for locating resources in their environment. In a new study, researchers present the first complete analysis of genes involved in antennal olfaction of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Approximately 70 different receptors expressed in some 100,000 neurons allow these moths to detect a large number of odours and to perform relevant door-guided behaviours. This is the first more or less complete antennal transcriptome characterized in a non-model insect.

Can nudging help fight the obesity epidemic? UK experts debate

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:32 AM PDT

With obesity rates soaring, the UK government has been promoting nudge -- a strategy that does not tell people how to live but encourages them to make healthy choices in respect of diet and exercise. Experts debate whether nudge is an effective way to tackle obesity.

Artificial pancreas may improve overnight control of diabetes in adults

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:32 AM PDT

Two small randomized trials suggest that closed loop insulin delivery (also known as an artificial pancreas) may improve overnight blood glucose control and reduce the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia (a sudden drop in blood glucose levels during the night) in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Mortality rate is increased in persons with autism who also have epilepsy, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

A comprehensive investigation of postmortem brain tissue has determined that one-third of the brain donors with autism also had epilepsy, and co-morbidity data revealed a higher than expected rate of mortality in individuals with both autism and epilepsy than for individuals with autism alone.

Probiotic may reduce rate of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, study suggests

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Urinary tract infections are common in women and occur frequently, affecting 2 to 3 percent of all women. A depletion of vaginal lactobacilli, a type of bacteria, is associated with urinary tract infection risk, which suggests that replenishing these bacteria may be beneficial. Researchers conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate this theory. Their results suggest that a probiotic may reduce the rate of recurrent urinary tract infections in women prone to these infections.

Blood test could predict metastasis risk in melanoma, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Scientists have identified a set of plasma biomarkers that could reasonably predict the risk of metastasis among patients with melanoma, according to new findings.

Safer treatment for millions suffering from trypanosome parasite infection

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

A safer and more effective treatment for 10 million people in developing countries who suffer from infections caused by trypanosome parasites could become a reality, thanks to new research.

Crash rates may be higher for teen drivers who start school earlier in the morning

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

A new study shows increased automobile crash rates among teen drivers who start school earlier in the morning.

Genital herpes more virulent in Africa than in US, report finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Strains of genital herpes in Africa are far more virulent than those in the United States, researchers report -- a striking insight into a common disease with important implications for preventing HIV transmission in a region staggered by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Safety of stored blood among chief concerns for transfusion medicine community

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

In light of recent studies that suggest the use of stored blood during transfusions may cause adverse effects in patients, a number of research projects were funded to examine the safety of transfusing older red cells and the impact of stored blood on respiratory gases. These papers discussing potential adverse effects of stored blood and related concerns for oxygen delivery by transfusion are now available online.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-16T02:10:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Africa the birthplace of human language, analysis suggests
Online calculator allows households to track carbon footprint
Drinking energy beverages mixed with alcohol may be riskier than drinking alcohol alone
Health care-associated infections are exacerbated by alcohol use disorders, study finds
Researchers link alcohol-dependence impulsivity to brain anomalies
Population-based study confirms parental alcoholism carries risk for offspring to develop the same
Path to potential therapy for NF2, a rare tumor disorder
Human rules may determine environmental 'tipping points'
Solar activity heats up: Sunspots finally return
Neurosurgeon pushes brain bypass to new heights
Novel ionic liquid batteries
Whole-exome sequencing of skin cancer completed: Most comprehensive view of melanoma's genetic landscape
Childhood eczema and hay fever leads to adult allergic asthma, study finds
Mega wind turbines of 20 MW
Neurological basis for embarrassment described
US meat and poultry is widely contaminated with drug-resistant Staph bacteria, study finds

Africa the birthplace of human language, analysis suggests

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:55 PM PDT

A new study by a New Zealand researcher provides strong evidence for Africa as the birthplace of human language. An analysis of languages from around the world suggests that, like our genes, human speech originated -- just once -- in sub-Saharan Africa. The research studied the phonemes, or the perceptually distinct units of sound that differentiate words, used in 504 human languages today and found that the number of phonemes is highest in Africa and decreases with increasing distance from Africa.

Online calculator allows households to track carbon footprint

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

A new analysis of the carbon footprints of households around the U.S. shows that consumers need different strategies in different cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. An online "carbon calculator" helps consumers decide how to change their lifestyles for the maximum reduction in their footprints.

Drinking energy beverages mixed with alcohol may be riskier than drinking alcohol alone

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

A new laboratory study compares the effects of alcohol alone versus alcohol mixed with an energy drink on a cognitive task, as well as participants' reports of feelings of intoxication. Results show that energy drinks can enhance the feeling of stimulation that occurs when drinking alcohol.

Health care-associated infections are exacerbated by alcohol use disorders, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire during their hospitalization and that were not present at the time of admission to the hospital. A new study has found that people with alcohol use disorders who develop HAIs have longer hospital stays, thousands of dollars of higher hospital costs, and much greater odds of dying.

Researchers link alcohol-dependence impulsivity to brain anomalies

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

Alcohol dependence (AD) is strongly associated with impaired impulse control. A new study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine impulsive choices among people with a range of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Findings suggest that impulsive choice in AD may be the result of functional anomalies in widely distributed but interconnected brain regions that are involved in cognitive and emotional control.

Population-based study confirms parental alcoholism carries risk for offspring to develop the same

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 01:35 PM PDT

Researchers know that there is a strong link between parental alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and the risk for developing an AUD among their offspring. This study looked at the risk of AUDs in the offspring of a large population-based sample of Danish parents. Findings confirmed that parental AUDs were associated with an increased risk of AUDs among the offspring.

Path to potential therapy for NF2, a rare tumor disorder

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 12:47 PM PDT

The proteins that provide cells with a sense of personal space could lead to a therapeutic target for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), an inherited cancer disorder, according to researchers. Their findings could have profound implications for NF2 and related cancers, such as mesothelioma.

Human rules may determine environmental 'tipping points'

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 12:47 PM PDT

A new paper suggests that people, governments, and institutions that shape the way people interact may be just as important for determining environmental conditions as the environmental processes themselves.

Solar activity heats up: Sunspots finally return

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 09:40 AM PDT

As 2011 unfolds, sunspots have returned and they are crackling with activity. On February 15 and again on March 9, Earth orbiting satellites detected a pair of "X-class" solar flares -- the most powerful kind of X-ray flare.

Neurosurgeon pushes brain bypass to new heights

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 09:40 AM PDT

A new high-flow procedure means improved outcomes for patients. The technique is less invasive and keeps more blood flowing in the brain than previous surgeries.

Novel ionic liquid batteries

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:39 AM PDT

Limits imposed by using corrosive electrolytes often result in severe restrictions to battery geometry and the need for special corrosive-resistant battery containers. The use of reactive ionic liquids in non-aqueous cells replace the more hazardous highly alkaline electrolytes.

Whole-exome sequencing of skin cancer completed: Most comprehensive view of melanoma's genetic landscape

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 08:39 AM PDT

Researchers have made the first systematic survey of the landscape of the melanoma genome, the DNA code of the deadliest form of skin cancer. The researchers have made surprising new discoveries using whole-exome sequencing, an approach that decodes the 1-2 percent of the genome that contains protein-coding genes.

Childhood eczema and hay fever leads to adult allergic asthma, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Children who have eczema, particularly when occurring with hay fever, are nine times more likely to develop allergic asthma in their 40s, a new study reveals.

Mega wind turbines of 20 MW

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:33 AM PDT

The present largest wind turbines have a capacity of 5-6 MW. Scientists have now presented the first design basis for developing mega wind turbines of 20 MW. One single wind turbine of this type in the North Sea would provide electricity for 15,000 to 20,000 dwellings.

Neurological basis for embarrassment described

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Recording people belting out an old Motown tune and then asking them to listen to their own singing without the accompanying music seems like an unusually cruel form of punishment. But for a team of scientists, this exact Karaoke experiment has revealed what part of the brain is essential for embarrassment.

US meat and poultry is widely contaminated with drug-resistant Staph bacteria, study finds

Posted: 15 Apr 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from US grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according to a new study.

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

2011-04-15T02:03:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Genes that control 'aging' steroid identified
Antibody response may lead to narrowed arteries and organ rejection
Evolution points to genes involved in birth timing: New gene may increase risk for preterm birth
Novel therapy improves immune function in teen with rare disease
Older workers benefit from high-tech, high-touch health promotion
Studies of marine animals aim to help prevent rejection of transplanted organs
Targeting top 911 callers can trim cost, improve patient care
Stroke survival among seniors better in sociable neighborhoods
NASA announces new homes for shuttle orbiters after retirement
NASA's next generation space telescope marks key milestone
WISE delivers millions of galaxies, stars, asteroids
Fast-rotating asteroid winks for astronomer's camera
Solar power without solar cells: A hidden magnetic effect of light could make it possible
Tansy may be used to treat herpes, study suggests
People who overuse credit believe products have unrealistic properties
Highest percentage of Americans in four decades say financial situation has gotten worse
Aggressive glycemic control in diabetic CABG patients does not improve survival, study suggests
Lights and flat-panel displays: Researchers 'brighten' the future of organic light-emitting diode technology
Too much information? Risk-benefit data does not always lead to informed decision-making
Most substance–dependent individuals report poor oral health
Human factors/ergonomics research leads to improved bunk bed safety standards
Possible cause of salt-induced hypertension identified
Diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone
Integrative medicine, spirituality improves outcomes in urban adolescents with asthma, study suggests
Enzyme crucial to DNA replication may provide potent anti-cancer drug target
Recent census in war-torn DR Congo finds gorillas have survived, even increased
Temporary memory loss strikes hospitalized seniors
New clues about how to prevent aortic aneurysm in patients with Marfan syndrome
New spin on graphene makes it magnetic
Ocean front is energetic contributor to mixing, data shows
A bicycle built for none: Riderless bike helps researchers learn how balance rolls along
The eyes have it: Dinosaurs hunted by night
DNA nanoforms: Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- constructed through DNA origami
Sleep strategy commonly used by night nurses throws off their circadian clocks
Wikipedia deemed a reliable source for political information, according to study
Compassion, not sanctions, is best response to workplace anger
Carbon sequestration estimate in US increased, barring a drought
Rising star of brain found to regulate circadian rhythms
Crystal 'eyes' let simple mollusks called chitons see predators
Heart needs work after heart attack: New study challenges the notion that the heart must rest
Toward a more efficient use of solar energy
Many restaurant staff are undertrained and misinformed about food allergies
Carbon fiber used to reinforce buildings; protect from explosion
Polluted air leads to disease by promoting widespread inflammation
Better HIV prevention interventions needed for juvenile offenders
Precipitation, predators may be key in ecological regulation of infectious disease
Training future doctors to enlist patients as partners in care
The heat is on: Zeroing in on energy consumption of ice makers
Following cancer prevention guidelines lowers risk of death from cancer, heart disease, all causes
Sharpened focus: Improving the numbers, utility of medical imaging
Scientists finely control methane combustion to get different products
Dietary yeast extracts tested as alternative to antibiotics in poultry
How DNA changes: Newly revealed process has implications for understanding cancers, psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases
Humpback whale songs spread eastward like the latest pop tune
Parents' 'um's' and 'uh's' help toddlers learn new words, cognitive scientists find
New elastic material changes color in UV light
Climate change from black carbon depends on altitude
Search for dark matter moves one step closer to detecting elusive particle
Filtering out pesticides with genetically modified bacteria
Domestic violence and pregnancy

Genes that control 'aging' steroid identified

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 03:30 PM PDT

Eight genes which control levels of the main steroid produced by the adrenal gland, believed to play a role in aging and longevity, have now been uncovered.

Antibody response may lead to narrowed arteries and organ rejection

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 03:30 PM PDT

Kidney transplant recipients who develop antibodies in response to receiving new organs can develop accelerated arteriosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidney, according to a new study. The results indicate that arteriosclerosis resulting from such donor-specific antibodies may play an important role in organ rejection following transplantation.

Evolution points to genes involved in birth timing: New gene may increase risk for preterm birth

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 03:30 PM PDT

Evolutionary changes that make us uniquely human -- such as our large heads and narrow pelvises -- may have "pushed" human birth timing earlier and can be used to identify genes associated with preterm birth, a new study suggests. Variations in the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene may increase a woman's risk for delivering her infant prematurely, researchers say.

Novel therapy improves immune function in teen with rare disease

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:10 PM PDT

In a novel approach that works around the gene defect in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an inherited immune deficiency disorder, researchers used an alternative cell signaling pathway to significantly improve immune function in a 13-year-old boy with the disease. The study provides a proof-of-principle that immunotherapy, which harnesses elements of the body's immune system, may be used to treat this rare but often deadly disorder.

Older workers benefit from high-tech, high-touch health promotion

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:10 PM PDT

Older workers benefit most from a modest health behavior program when it combines a web-based risk assessment with personal coaching, according to new research.

Studies of marine animals aim to help prevent rejection of transplanted organs

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:10 PM PDT

Studies of the small sea squirt may ultimately help solve the problem of rejection of organ and bone marrow transplants in humans, according to scientists.

Targeting top 911 callers can trim cost, improve patient care

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:10 PM PDT

Repeated unnecessary 911 calls are a common drain on the personnel and finances of emergency medical services, but a pilot program that identified Baltimore City's top 911 callers and coupled them with a case worker has succeeded in drastically cutting the number of such calls while helping callers get proper care.

Stroke survival among seniors better in sociable neighborhoods

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 02:10 PM PDT

Seniors living in closely-knit, supportive neighborhoods have significantly better stroke survival rates than others, regardless of other health or socioeconomic factors. For each single point increase in a neighborhood "cohesion" scoring system, survival increased 53 percent. Researchers found no differences in the incidence of strokes -- only in death rates -- and the benefits were not observed among African-Americans for reasons that remain unclear.

NASA announces new homes for shuttle orbiters after retirement

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:57 PM PDT

After 30 years of spaceflight, more than 130 missions, and numerous science and technology firsts, NASA's space shuttle fleet will retire and be on display at institutions across the country to inspire the next generation of explorers and engineers.

NASA's next generation space telescope marks key milestone

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:54 PM PDT

The first six of 18 segments that will form NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror for space observations will begin final round-the-clock cryogenic testing this week. These tests will confirm the mirrors will respond as expected to the extreme temperatures of space prior to integration into the telescope's permanent housing structure.

WISE delivers millions of galaxies, stars, asteroids

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:51 PM PDT

Astronomers across the globe can now sift through hundreds of millions of galaxies, stars and asteroids collected in the first bundle of data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission.

Fast-rotating asteroid winks for astronomer's camera

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:49 PM PDT

Video imaging of newly discovered asteroid 2011 GP59 shows the object appearing to blink on and off about once every four minutes.

Solar power without solar cells: A hidden magnetic effect of light could make it possible

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:14 PM PDT

A dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells. The researchers found a way to make an "optical battery." In the process, they overturned a century-old tenet of physics.

Tansy may be used to treat herpes, study suggests

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:09 PM PDT

A folk remedy may be an effective treatment for the sexually transmitted disease herpes according to new research.

People who overuse credit believe products have unrealistic properties

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:07 PM PDT

Researchers say people who overuse credit have very different beliefs about products than people who spend within their means. Following a new study, researchers said that many people buy products thinking that the items will make them happier and transform their lives.

Highest percentage of Americans in four decades say financial situation has gotten worse

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:07 PM PDT

A new report shows that for the first time since 1972, more Americans say that their financial situation has gotten worse in recent years rather than better. Understandably, also for the first time since 1972, the percentage of Americans saying that they are "not at all" satisfied with their financial situation (31.5 percent) notably exceeds those saying they are "pretty well" satisfied (23.4 percent).

Aggressive glycemic control in diabetic CABG patients does not improve survival, study suggests

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 01:07 PM PDT

Surgeons have found that in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, aggressive glycemic control does not result in any significant improvement of clinical outcomes as compared with moderate control. The findings also found the incidence of hypoglycemic events increased with aggressive glycemic control.

Lights and flat-panel displays: Researchers 'brighten' the future of organic light-emitting diode technology

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:15 PM PDT

A one-atom thick sheet of the element chlorine is set to revolutionize the next generation of flat-panel displays and lighting technology. Scientists have found a simple method of using chlorine to drastically reduce traditional organic light-emitting diode (OLED) device complexity and dramatically improve its efficiency all at the same time.

Too much information? Risk-benefit data does not always lead to informed decision-making

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:15 PM PDT

Giving patients data about the risks and benefits of a medical intervention is not always helpful and may even lead them to irrational decisions, according to a new article. That finding calls into question whether it is essential to disclose quantitative data to patients to help them make informed decisions. An accompanying commentary calls for experimental evidence to determine the best way to provide information to patients.

Most substance–dependent individuals report poor oral health

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:15 PM PDT

Researchers have found that the majority of individuals with substance dependence problems report having poor oral health. They also found that opioid users, in particular, showed a decline in oral health over the period of one year.

Human factors/ergonomics research leads to improved bunk bed safety standards

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:15 PM PDT

Ryan was just four years old when he went to sleep on his bunk bed one night and never woke up. His mother found him strangled to death the next morning with his neck caught between the vertical post of his side ladder and mattress.

Possible cause of salt-induced hypertension identified

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 12:15 PM PDT

New research shows that salt intake raises blood pressure because it makes it harder for the cardiovascular system to simultaneously juggle the regulation of blood pressure and body temperature.

Diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

When it comes to losing weight and body fat, diet and exercise are most effective when done together as compared to either strategy alone, according to new research.

Integrative medicine, spirituality improves outcomes in urban adolescents with asthma, study suggests

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

A new study shows that urban adolescents with asthma may experience worse outcomes when not using spiritual coping and often use complementary and alternative medicine, or integrative medicine, like prayer or relaxation, to manage symptoms.

Enzyme crucial to DNA replication may provide potent anti-cancer drug target

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

An enzyme essential for DNA replication and repair in humans works in a way that might be exploited as anti-cancer therapy, say researchers.

Recent census in war-torn DR Congo finds gorillas have survived, even increased

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

A census team has announced some encouraging news from a region plagued by warfare and insecurity: a small population of Grauer's gorillas has not only survived, but also increased since the last census.

Temporary memory loss strikes hospitalized seniors

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

Battling an illness, lack of sleep and strange surroundings can make any hospital patient feel out of sorts. For seniors, hospitalizations actually may cause temporary memory loss and difficulty in understanding discharge instructions, according to a new study.

New clues about how to prevent aortic aneurysm in patients with Marfan syndrome

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

Scientists whose laboratory studies first suggested that an FDA-approved drug, losartan, might prevent the potentially deadly enlargement of the aorta caused by Marfan syndrome now have an even clearer picture of the cellular signals that contribute to the disease. While a clinical trial testing losartan's ability to slow progression of aneurysm in people with Marfan syndrome continues, ongoing research is generating data that will help guide treatment decisions and inform efforts to develop alternate therapies.

New spin on graphene makes it magnetic

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

Scientists have found a way to make wonder material graphene magnetic, opening up a new range of opportunities for the world's thinnest material in the area of spintronics.

Ocean front is energetic contributor to mixing, data shows

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:13 AM PDT

Wind blowing on the ocean is a crucial factor mixing carbon dioxide into the ocean depths and keeping it from going back into the atmosphere. For more than two decades scientists have suspected there's another -- possibly substantial -- source of energy for mixing that's generated where cold, heavy water collides with warm, light water. However, there's never been a way to get enough measurements of such a "front" to prove this -- until now.

A bicycle built for none: Riderless bike helps researchers learn how balance rolls along

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:13 AM PDT

In a discovery that could lead to better and safer bicycle design, researchers have shown that long-accepted "gyro" and "caster" effects are not needed to make a bike balance itself. In fact, it's a mixture of complicated physical effects -- linked to the distribution of mass -- that allows a bicycle to remain up when moving.

The eyes have it: Dinosaurs hunted by night

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:13 AM PDT

The movie Jurassic Park got one thing right: those velociraptors hunted by night while the big plant-eaters browsed around the clock, according to a new study of the eyes of fossil animals.

DNA nanoforms: Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- constructed through DNA origami

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 11:13 AM PDT

Miniature architectural forms -- some no larger than viruses -- have been constructed through a revolutionary technique known as DNA origami. Now, scientists have expanded the capability of this method to construct arbitrary, two and three-dimensional shapes, mimicking those commonly found in nature.

Sleep strategy commonly used by night nurses throws off their circadian clocks

Posted: 14 Apr 2011 10:19 AM PDT

As many as 25 percent of hospital nurses go without sleep for at least 24 hours in order to adjust to working on the night shift, which is the least effective strategy for adapting their internal, circadian clocks to a night-time schedule.

Wikipedia deemed a reliable source for political information, according to study