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Mammalian Clock Protein Responds Directly To Light Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT We know that light effects the growth and development of plants, but what about humans and animals? New research explores this question by examining cryptochromes in flies, mice, and humans. In plants, cryptochromes are related to functions such as growth and development. Cryptochromes are present in humans and animals as well and regulate the mechanisms of the circadian clock. But how they work in humans and animals remains a mystery.

Researchers Link Early Stem Cell Mutation To Autism Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT In a breakthrough scientific study, scientists have shown that neural stem cell development may be linked to Autism. The study demonstrated that mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C protein in neural stem cells had smaller brains, fewer nerve cells and showed behaviors similar to those seen in humans with a form of autism known as Rett syndrome.

Spray Reduces Pain In Children Undergoing Intravenous Procedures Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A topical spray reduced pain by 34 percent in children undergoing intravenous procedures, such as injections and tube insertions, compared with a placebo group. The findings from this double-blind, randomized controlled trial have clinical implications.

Elevated Carbon Dioxide Boosts Invasive Nutsedge Plants Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Elevated levels of carbon dioxide could promote the growth of purple and yellow nutsedge--quick-growing invasive weeds that plague farmers and gardeners in many states.

The Perils Of Overconfidence Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Overestimating one's abilities can have hazardous consequences. Research has backed up this notion but with one glaring problem: it relies on participants to give accurate reports of their own confidence.

Physicists Create Millimeter-sized 'Bohr Atom' Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Nearly a century after Danish physicist Niels Bohr offered his planet-like model of the hydrogen atom, physicists have created giant, millimeter-sized atoms that resemble it more closely than any other experimental realization yet achieved. The scientists used lasers and electric fields to coax potassium atoms into a precise configuration with one point-like, "localized" electron orbiting far from the nucleus.

Low Levels Of Good Cholesterol Linked To Memory Loss, Dementia Risk Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Low levels of good cholesterol are associated with diminished memory by age 60. Researchers encourage physicians to monitor levels of good cholesterol.

New Electrostatic-based DNA Microarray Technique Could Revolutionize Medical Diagnostics Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers have invented a technique in which DNA assays -- the key to personalized medicine -- can be read and evaluated with no need of elaborate chemical labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. Based on electrostatic repulsion that yields images visible to the naked eye, the technique could revolutionize the use of DNA microarrays for both research and diagnostics.

Migraine Mutations Reveal Clues To Biological Basis Of Disorder Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT By studying a rare, inherited form of migraine, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found clues to the biological basis of the painful, debilitating disorder.

SOHO Discovers Its 1,500th Comet Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT The ESA/NASA SOHO spacecraft has just discovered its 1,500th comet, making it more successful than all other comet discoverers throughout history put together. Not bad for a spacecraft that was designed as a solar physics mission.

Despite Frustrations, Americans Are Pretty Darned Happy Posted: 01 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT We're number 16 ... in world happiness. Feel the joy. The United States ranks ahead of more than 80 countries, but below 15 others in happiness levels, according to new World Values Survey data released in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science.

New Map IDs The Core Of The Human Brain Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have created the first complete high-resolution map of how millions of neural fibers in the human cerebral cortex connect and communicate. Their groundbreaking work identified a single network core, or hub, that may be key to the workings of both hemispheres of the brain.

Bacterial Resistance Is Futile Against Wound-cleaning Laser Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A laser-activated antimicrobial offers hope for new treatments of bacterial infections, even those that are resistant to current drugs. A new dye, indocyanine green, produces bacteria-killing chemicals when lit by a specific kind of laser light.

Watermelon May Have Viagra-effect Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine's Day. That's because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body's blood vessels and may even increase libido.

Fatty Liver Disease May Raise Heart Disease Risk In Overweight, Obese Kids Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) raises cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese children. More than 6 million children in the United States have the fatty liver disease. NAFLD is most prevalent in children and adolescents of Hispanic and Asian ethnicity. Researchers suggest all obese children and those with symptoms of metabolic syndrome be screened for NAFLD.

Nanotubes Could Help Study Retrovirus Transmission Between Human Cells Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Naturally occurring nanotubes may serve as tunnels that protect retroviruses and bacteria as they infect healthy cells. The unexpected shielding may explain why vaccines fare poorly against some invaders. Researchers now have formed similar nanotubes that could be used to duplicate the phenomenon.

United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use Posted: 01 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A survey of 17 countries has found that despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. Cannabis use was highest in the US (42.4%). Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say the authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has more liberal policies than the US, 19.8% reported cannabis use.

Adult Stem Cells Reprogrammed In Their Natural Environment Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT In recent years, stem cell researchers have become very adept at manipulating the fate of adult stem cells cultured in the lab. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies achieved the same feat with adult neural stem cells still in place in the brain. They successfully coaxed mouse brain stem cells bound to join the neuronal network to differentiate into support cells instead.

Poor Diet During Pregnancy May Have Long Term Impact On Child's Health, Study Suggests Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Mothers who eat an unhealthy diet during pregnancy may be putting their children at risk of developing long term, irreversible health issues including obesity, raised levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, according to new research. The study, carried out in rats, suggests that the effect is even more pronounced in female offspring.

Prebiotic Potential Of Almonds Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have identified potential prebiotic properties in almonds that could help improve our digestive health by increasing levels of beneficial gut bacteria.

Multiple Vaccinations Have Not Caused Ill Health In UK Soldiers In Iraq Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Multiple vaccinations have not been a cause of ill health in UK service personnel deployed to Iraq, according to a new study. The report says "recall bias" is to blame, when people link a perception of ill health with their memory of having had multiple vaccinations.

ESA Satellite Assesses Damage Of Norway's Largest Fire Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Following the extremely hot weather conditions hitting Europe, Norway experienced its biggest forest fire in the last half century earlier this month. Envisat satellite images were used in the fire's aftermath to get an overview of the damaged area for authorities and insurance companies.

Achieving Top Grades In Science Subjects More Difficult, Research Shows Posted: 01 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Schoolchildren in the UK studying science and technology subjects like maths, physics and chemistry find it much harder to achieve the top exam grades than candidates of similar ability studying subjects like media studies and psychology, according to a new report.

Invisible Waves Shape Continental Slope Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A class of powerful, invisible waves hidden beneath the surface of the ocean can shape the underwater edges of continents and contribute to ocean mixing and climate, researchers have found.

Antiretroviral Therapy As HIV Prevention Strategy Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy may reduce the incidence of HIV in individuals and populations but has been overlooked by public health as a prevention strategy.

Standards Set For Energy-conserving LED Lighting Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed the first two standards for solid-state lighting in the United States. This new generation lighting technology uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of incandescent filaments or fluorescent tubes to produce illumination that cuts energy consumption significantly.

Neuronal Correlates Of The Set-size Effect In Monkey Lateral Intraparietal Area Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT It is well known that the brain is limited in the amount of sensory information it can process at any given time. During an everyday task such as finding an object in a cluttered environment (known as visual search), observers take longer to find a target as the number of distractors increases. Scientists now show how a higher-order parietal area relates to attention and eye movements.

Using A Grating With A Grade, Engineers Trap A Rainbow Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The THz plasmonic graded metallic grating structure can stop terahertz light waves at multiple points on its surface and also at different frequencies. Engineers say this greater control will help overcome the "mismatch" that poses an obstacle to the integration of nanoelectronics and nanophotonics.

Stillbirths, Infant Deaths Lead To Anxiety, Guilt And Stress Among Obstetricians Posted: 01 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Nearly one in 10 obstetricians in a new study has considered giving up obstetric practice because of the emotional toll of stillbirths and infant deaths. Three-quarters of the 804 obstetricians who responded to a survey reported that the experience took a large emotional toll on them personally.

Fortified Cassava Could Provide A Day's Nutrition In A Single Meal Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have determined how to fortify the cassava plant, a staple root crop in many developing countries, with enough vitamins, minerals and protein to provide the poor and malnourished with a day's worth of nutrition in a single meal. The researchers have further engineered the cassava plant so it can resist the crop's most damaging viral threats and are refining methods to reduce cyanogens, substances that yield poisonous cyanide if they are not properly removed from the food before consumption.

Zinc Finger Proteins Put Personalized HIV Therapy Within Reach Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Researchers are using minute, naturally occurring proteins called zinc fingers to engineer T-cells to one day treat AIDS in humans. Using the zinc fingers, scientists have shown that they could reduce the viral load of immune-deficient mice transplanted with engineered T cells.

Climate Change Causing Significant Shift In Composition Of Coastal Fish Communities Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT A detailed analysis of data from nearly 50 years of weekly fish-trawl surveys in Narragansett Bay and adjacent Rhode Island Sound has revealed a long-term shift in species composition, which scientists attribute primarily to the effects of global warming. Invertebrates and warm-water species increase while bottom feeders decrease.

Limit Sucrose As Painkiller For Newborns Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Using sucrose to reduce pain in newborns undergoing painful procedures should be limited to babies having blood taken for the newborn screening test but not for intramuscular injections, according to new research findings.

Drought Tolerance In Potatoes Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists are studying these varieties to identify the genes and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in order to engineer new drought-resistant crops of potato, as well as other Solanaceous vegetables.

How Does Language Exist In The Brain? Posted: 30 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Despite much research on acquisition of languages amongst monolingual persons, scientists still have to ask themselves basic questions about bilingual acquisition: How do babies realize that they are in a bilingual environment? What are the clues for them in discovering this? How is discrimination between languages produced in infants? The aim of new research is to find out how the brain acquires and manages languages and to discover in what way languages being similar or different is influential in this process.

Tongue Drive System Lets Persons With Disabilities Operate Powered Wheelchairs, Computers Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A new assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues. The Tongue Drive system, developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives.

Proteins Could Relate To Increased Longevity In Women Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists in Spain and Italy have identified a group of proteins in laboratory rats that could help explain two enduring medical mysteries -- why women live longer than men and why calorie restriction stands as the only proven method of extending longevity.

Unravelling The 'Inconvenient Truth' Of Glacier Movement Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Predicting climate change depends on many factors not properly included in current forecasting models, such as how the major polar ice caps will move in the event of melting around their edges. This in turn requires greater understanding of the processes at work when ice is under stress, influencing how it flows and moves.

Single Mechanism For Hypertension, Insulin Resistance And Immune Suppression Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT By counteracting the underlying molecular mechanism for high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, researchers found not only how that ailment and others arise in mammals, but also how the conditions may be treated simultaneously.

Hard X-ray Nanoprobe Provides New Capability To Study Nanoscale Materials Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT The Center for Nanoscale Materials' newly operational Hard X-ray Nanoprobe at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory is one of the world's most powerful X-ray microscopes. It has been designed to study novel nanoscale materials and devices aimed at, for example, harvesting solar energy more efficiently, providing more efficient lighting, or enabling next-generation computing.

Food Inspection Technology Could Kill Waiter Jokes Posted: 30 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT New inspection X-ray technology developed by European researchers is helping to ensure that the only thing in people's dinners is the food itself. Finding a snail in a salad, a fish bone in a supposedly boneless fillet or opening a soup packet to reveal moldy contents is an unpleasant -- and potentially unsafe -- experience.

If The Large Hadron Collider Produced A Microscopic Black Hole, It Probably Wouldn't Matter Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Particle colliders creating black holes that could devour the Earth. Sounds like a great Hollywood script. But, according to UC Santa Barbara Physics Professor Steve Giddings, it's pure fiction. Giddings has co-authored a paper documenting his study of the safety of microscopic black holes that might possibly be produced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which is nearing completion in Europe.

Silencing Of Molecular 'Conversation' May Help Curb Severe Allergies Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have identified a process, a synergistic encounter between two molecules, that may account for the extreme allergic reactions some people experience. By silencing at least one of these molecules, it may be possible to treat allergies.

Passports For Penguins: New Technology Lets Biologists ID Large Numbers Of Endangered Animals Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Groundbreaking technology that will enable biologists to identify and monitor large numbers of endangered animals, from butterflies to whales, without being captured, is now available.

Biologists Show How Eye's Neurons Switch Functions During Metamorphosis Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers report that the photoreceptors in an insect's eye can change their traditional functions during metamorphosis. The researchers found that when photoreceptors responsible for detecting the color green die off during metamorphosis a second class of photoreceptors -- those responsible for detecting the color blue -- then fill the role of detecting the color green. These rare switches, the authors speculate, are likely the result of changing life patterns.

Avalanche Photodiodes Target Bioterrorism Agents Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have shown that a new class of ultraviolet photodiode could help meet the U.S. military's pressing requirement for compact, reliable and cost-effective sensors to detect anthrax and other bioterrorism agents in the air.

Breaking The Pattern: How Motivation Plays A Role In Getting Healthy Posted: 30 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT People fall into a pattern. They start out with the best intentions and do well for a little while ... but then fall back into old habits. It's a classic health trap: two steps forward, three steps back. People end up feeling bad about themselves. Moreover, the two-steps-forward-three-steps-back dance ends up increasing the health problems the behavioral changes were supposed to address in the first place.

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