ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Are Hands-free Cellphones Really Safer? Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Since April 1 when Nova Scotia outlawed the use of hand-held cellphones while driving, sales of hands-free devices have gone through the roof. It seems everyone's driving--even walking--with tiny electronic devices tucked into their ears. Conventional wisdom says they're safer. With wireless technology such as Bluetooth becoming commonplace, you can still conduct business, order pizza or talk to mom while keeping both hands on the wheel. But is the mind on the road? A PhD student in experimental psychology says hands-free cellphones are not safer and indeed may even be more dangerous than hand-held.

Combination Drug Taken Early Relieves Migraine Symptoms Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT A combination drug taken within an hour after the start of a migraine is effective in relieving symptoms, according to research published in Neurology.

Giving Nature A Helping Hand Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Dutch ecologist Marijke van Kuijk has studied the regeneration of the tropical forest in Vietnam. Abandoned agricultural land does regenerate to tropical forest, but only slowly. Two procedures are used to help nature along: pruning of foliage to free up space for trees and planting the desired tree species. Van Kuijk used the PHOLIAGE model to calculate the appropriate measures.

Super Strong Antimicrobial Coatings For Medicine, Defense Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT One of the world' strongest materials meets one of nature's most powerful germ killers in a new research project that produced incredibly tough anti-bacterial surfaces with multiple applications in home appliances, medicine, aerospace, and national defense.

Schizophrenia Linked To Dysfunction In Molecular Brain Pathway Activated By Marijuana Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers report that alterations in a molecular brain pathway activated by marijuana, called cannabinoid 1 receptor, may contribute to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, suggesting possible new drug targets that could help to improve functioning and memory in people with the mental illness. Expression of CB1R, the site of action of the main chemical ingredient of marijuana, is significantly reduced in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia.

Simple Life Form May Have Existed 700 Million Years Earlier Than Previously Thought Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT The accepted timeframe for the beginnings of life on Earth is now being questioned, after scientists found a key indicator to the earliest life forms in diamonds from Jack Hills in Western Australia. The 4.2 billion-year-old diamonds found trapped inside the Jack Hills zircon crystals are the oldest-known samples of Earth's carbon. The team's discovery of very high concentrations of carbon 12, or "light carbon" within these crystals is remarkable as it is a feature usually associated with organic life.

Herbal Remedy Reduces Obesity And Heart Disease? Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Scientists from Germany have recently discovered that extracts of a traditional herbal remedy derived from Tabebuia impetiginosa can act to delay the absorption of dietary fat in animal models. They believe that the extract could be incorporated into a food supplement which may not only reduce obesity, but also lessen the risk of development of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Ethanol Byproduct Can Help Control Weeds For Flower And Plant Growers Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Commercial flower and plant growers know all too well that invasive, ubiquitous weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. To control weeds, many commercial nursery owners apply herbicides or pay workers to hand-weed containers. A new study investigated using "dried distillers grains with solubles" or DDGS as a weed deterrent on potted ornamentals.

Treatment Delays Result In Poor Outcomes For Men With Breast Cancer Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Men who develop breast cancer are often not treated until the disease has spread to the point that treatment becomes difficult, new results show. Although most breast cancer patients are women, men make up roughly 1 percent of cases.

Green Solution To Biofuel Production: Enzymes From Plants Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT With the current drive towards production of alternative fuels from plant material, enzymes which can break down this material into useable compounds are required in industrial quantities and at a low cost. One group of scientists have come up with a solution: using plants to make the enzymes.

Parents Of Twins Report More Mental Health Symptoms Than Parents Of Singletons Posted: 08 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Mothers and fathers of twins conceived either spontaneously or with assisted reproductive technology suffer more mental health symptoms after delivery and one year later than do parents of singleton babies, according to new research.

Good Golf Players See The Hole As Larger Than Poor Players Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Golfers who play well are more likely to see the hole as larger than their poor-playing counterparts, according to new research. "Golfers have said that when they play well the hole looks as big as a bucket or basketball hoop, and when they do not play well they've been quoted as saying the hole looks like a dime or the inside of a donut," according to the researcher.

Newborn Vitamin A Reduces Infant Mortality Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT A single, oral dose of vitamin A, given to infants shortly after birth in the developing world can reduce their risk of death by 15 percent, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics.

MRI Technique To ID Microstructural Changes In Asthma Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that -- for the first time ever -- identified microscopic structural damages deep in the lungs of patients with asthma.

New Treatment Approach Promising For Lymphoma Patients In Developing World Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Preliminary results suggest that patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the developing world might benefit from a modified chemotherapy regimen, researchers say.

Tiny Changes At Nanometer Scale Can Have A Colossal Effect On Properties Of A Material: Now Researchers Can Predict Changes Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Tiny changes at the nanometer scale can have a colossal effect on the properties of a material, and for the first time researchers may have a method to see and even predict those changes.

Political Borders, Health-care Issues Complicate Pandemic Planning Posted: 08 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Panic, staffing issues and geographic boundaries are some of the challenges that public health experts need to address as they plan for a possible influenza pandemic, according to a new report.

Baby's Smile Is A Natural High Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The baby's smile that gladdens a mother's heart also lights up the reward centers of her brain, researchers report in the journal Pediatrics.

PTSD Causes Early Death From Heart Disease, Study Suggests Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new study sheds light on the link between PTSD and heart disease. Vietnam veterans with PTSD suffered higher rates of heart disease death than veterans without PTSD. The more severe the PTSD diagnosis, the greater the likelihood of death from heart disease, the study showed.

Dividing Cells Find Their Middle By Following A Protein 'Contour Map' Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Self-organization keeps schools of fish, flocks of birds and colonies of termites in sync. It's also, according to new research, the way cells regulate the final stage of cell division. Scientists have shown that a protein-chemistry-based contour map, which helps individual proteins locate the center of their cell without direction from a "master organizer," is key to ensuring accurate division during mitosis.

Innovative Program Focuses On Improved Care For Children With ADHD Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT An innovative program is helping busy primary care physicians improve the care they provide for school-aged children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study. The study is the first to intervene with an entire community of primary care physicians and help them more accurately diagnose and effectively monitor treatment response of their patients with ADHD, researchers said.

Bacterial Peptide Provides New Insight Into Common Tumor Suppressor Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have identified a new anti-tumor drug that might prove useful in developing treatments for a multiple human cancers. The research advances the understanding of one of the most frequently disrupted tumor suppressor proteins in human cancer and provides new insight into the regulation of the complex process of cellular protein degradation under normal and pathological conditions.

Relationship Violence Appears Common Among College Students Posted: 08 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Violence between partners, friends and acquaintances appears prevalent both during and before college, according to results of a survey of students at three urban college campuses.

Birds Migrate Together At Night In Dispersed Flocks, New Study Indicates Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT A new analysis indicates that birds don't fly alone when migrating at night. Some birds, at least, keep together on their migratory journeys, flying in tandem even when they are 200 meters or more apart.

Molecule That Kills Kidney Cancer Cells Discovered Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Kidney cancer patients generally have one option for beating their disease: surgery to remove the organ. But that could change, thanks to a new molecule found by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers that kills kidney cancer cells.

Best Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis May Depend On Disease Subtype Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT In animal studies, scientists discover different inflammatory pathways at work. Relatively new drugs now help some patients, but not others, with the most common form of multiple sclerosis. That may be because patients with the same symptoms experience different types of inflammation, suggests a new study in animals. If the differences are found in people, future treatments may be tailored to specific subtypes of the disease.

Counting Tumor Cells In Blood Predicts Treatment Benefit In Prostate Cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Counting the number of tumor cells circulating in the bloodstream of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer can accurately predict how well they are responding to treatment, new results show. Researchers showed that changes in the number of circulating tumor cells predicted the outcome after chemotherapy in this hard to treat cancer.

Special Horseshoes Measure Acceleration In Horses, Evaluate Methods of Rehabilitation Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have carried out studies both into the advantages of different rider techniques in reducing injury risk to horses, and into the benefits of a method of equine rehabilitation. By using computer modelling and specialist horseshoes to measure acceleration, these investigations suggest that aqua-training rehabilitation methods are beneficial whereas rising trot may not be as advantageous as previously thought.

Families With Children Without A Genetic Or Gestational Link To Their Parents Are Functioning Well Posted: 07 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT The emotional well-being of families where children lack a genetic or gestational link to one or both of their parents -- where the children have been conceived through surrogacy, egg donation or donor insemination -- has long been a subject of debate. Now, scientists have shown that relationships within such families appear to be functioning well, and that there are few differences between them and families in whom children were conceived naturally.

Computers Used To Hone Cancer-fighting Strategies Posted: 07 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Medical researchers are using high-powered computers to determine how substances known as recombinant immunotoxins can best be modified in order to attack and kill malignant tumors while doing minimal harm to a patient's healthy cells.

Can Recycling Be Used To Treat Cancer? Posted: 07 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT We already know that recycling benefits our planet; and now new research suggests that the cellular version might be useful for battling cancer. Scientists have identified a molecule that uses this unexpected pathway to selectively kill cancer cells. The research may drive treatment strategies for cancer in an entirely new direction.

Simian Foamy Virus Found To Be Widespread Among Chimpanzees Posted: 07 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Simian foamy virus is widespread among wild chimpanzees throughout equatorial Africa. Recent studies have shown that humans who hunt wild primates, including chimpanzees, can acquire SFV infections. Since the long-term consequences of these cross-species infections are not known, it is important to determine to what extent wild primates are infected with simian foamy viruses.

Researchers Clarify Function Of Glucose Transport Molecule, May Lead To New Diabetes, Cancer Drugs Posted: 07 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists have solved the structure of a class of proteins known as sodium glucose co-transporters, which pump glucose into cells. The solution of the SGLT structure will accelerate development of new drugs designed to treat patients with diabetes and cancer. The journal Science publishes the findings.

Amorphous Materials: How Some Solids Flow Like Liquids Posted: 07 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have provided the first proof that amorphous materials, also known as soft glasses, deform and flow through a collective movement of their particles. These materials (which include chocolate mousse, shaving cream, mayonnaise, metallic glasses, granular materials and mud) are amorphous solids, in other words, they are resistant like solids but, like liquids, lack a crystalline structure.

Visualizing Atomic-scale Acoustic Waves In Nanostructures Posted: 07 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Acoustic waves play many everyday roles -- from communication between people to ultrasound imaging. Now the highest frequency acoustic waves in materials, with nearly atomic-scale wavelengths, promise to be useful probes of nanostructures such as LED lights.

Potential Treatment For TB Solves Puzzle Posted: 07 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have uncovered a new target for the potential treatment of TB, finally resolving a long-running debate about how the bacterial cell wall is built. The research, published in Microbiology reveals several molecules that could be developed into drugs to treat tuberculosis. Multi drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, sparked concern but the recent emergence of extensively drug-resistant strains means the search for new treatments is imperative.

Cancer Therapies From The Ocean? Posted: 07 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have studied the properties of natural products derived from animals found in Fijian waters, and shown that not only may certain compounds have potential use in anti-cancer therapies, but others may also be useful for improving drug delivery, currently one of the most significant problems faced by medical researchers.

Children Born After Donor Insemination Should Be Told As Soon As Possible About Their Conception Posted: 07 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT It is better for children conceived by donor insemination to be told of their origins at an early age, according to the first large-scale study of people who are aware of their donor conception. If the children are not told until they are 18 or older, they are more likely to have feelings of shock and anger.

First DNA Molecule Made Almost Entirely Of Artificial Parts Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Chemists in Japan report development of the world's first DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts. The finding could lead to improvements in gene therapy, futuristic nano-sized computers, and other high-tech advances, they say.

Mimic Molecules To Protect Against Plague Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Bacteria that cause pneumonic plague can evade our first-line defenses, making it difficult for the body to fight infection. In fact, a signature of the plague is the lack of an inflammatory response. Now, scientists have discovered a way to protect against death following infection with plague bacteria, by using molecules that can mimic the pathogens. According to research published in Microbiology, these molecules make antibiotics more effective and can even be used to protect against other diseases.

Artichoke Leaf Extract Lowers Cholesterol Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have found that an over-the-counter Artichoke Leaf Extract (ALE) from the globe artichoke plant can lower cholesterol in otherwise healthy individuals with moderately raised levels. Cardiovascular diseases are the chief causes of death in the UK, and are associated with raised circulating levels of total cholesterol in the plasma. Once plasma cholesterol reaches a certain level, drugs such as statins are often prescribed to help reduce it. Intervention before concentrations reaches these levels may help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases without the need for drugs.

Tumor Suppressor That Manages Cellular Cleaning And Recycling Proceses Identified Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified a specific tumor suppressor that manages membrane traffic routes for cellular cleaning and recycling.

Understanding And Controlling Optical Damage Caused By Lasers On Crystals Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new study has advanced current understanding as well as the control of optical damage in crystals, offering new ways to increase light-power output of future optical integrated circuits. Many of the lasers used today, both in scientific or technological applications have such a high light output power that the light itself damages or even destroys the crystals used to control, guide or manipulate it inside photonic devices (devices that only work with light).

Screening For Heart Disorders In Competitive Athletes Would Save Lives Posted: 07 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Athletes who take part in competitive sport should be screened for potentially fatal heart problems before they compete, according to a study.

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