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Early Warning System For Earthquakes: Seismic 'Stress Meter' Warned Of Earthquake 10 Hours In Advance Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Although measurement techniques surrounding earthquakes have improved enormously over the last few decades, it has remained very difficult to measure changes in the crust that could enable earthquake prediction. Now, scientists have measured interesting changes in the speed of seismic waves that preceded two small earthquakes by 10 and 2 hours. These measurements are an encouraging sign that hold promise for the field of earthquake prediction.

New Drug Reverses Alzheimer's Disease Within Days In Mouse Models Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Scientists report a remarkable improvement in Alzheimer's transgenic mice following treatment with a new drug. The study provides the first demonstration that an ionophore, a compound that transports metal ions across cell membranes, can elicit rapid and pronounced improvement in neuropathology and cognitive function in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease.

Popular Fish, Tilapia, Contains Potentially Dangerous Fatty Acid Combination Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Farm-raised tilapia, one of the most highly consumed fish in America, has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, according to new research. The researchers say the combination could be a potentially dangerous food source for some patients with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases that are particularly vulnerable to an "exaggerated inflammatory response."

Some Drugs Increase Risk Of Falling Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have created a list of prescription drugs that increase the risk of falling for patients aged 65 and older who take four or more medications on a regular basis.

Coffee Grounds Perk Up Compost Pile With Nitrogen Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Coffee grounds can be an excellent addition to a compost pile. The grounds are relatively rich in nitrogen, providing bacteria the energy they need to turn organic matter into compost. About 2 percent nitrogen by volume, used coffee grounds can be a safe substitute for nitrogen-rich manure in the compost pile.

Why Musicians Make Us Weep And Computers Don't Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 PM CDT Music can soothe the savage breast much better if played by musicians rather than clever computers, according to a new study. Neuroscientists looked at the brain's response to piano sonatas played either by a computer or a musician and found that, while the computerized music elicited an emotional response -- particularly to unexpected chord changes - it was not as strong as listening to the same piece played by a professional pianist.

Flatfish Fossils Fill In Evolutionary Missing Link Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Hidden away in museums for more that 100 years, some recently rediscovered flatfish fossils have filled a puzzling gap in the story of evolution and answered a question that initially stumped even Charles Darwin. Opponents of evolution have insisted that adult flatfishes, which have both eyes on one side of the head, could not have evolved gradually. A slightly asymmetrical skull offers no advantage. No such fish -- fossil or living -- had ever been discovered, until now.

Slowing Aging Is Way To Fight Diseases In 21st Century Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT A group of aging experts report that the best strategy for preventing and fighting a multitude of diseases is to focus on slowing the biological processes of aging.

Coping With ‘Chemo Brain’ Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT While Maria Lyzen was being treated for breast cancer, she found she couldn't concentrate or decipher information, and just functioning day-to-day at home was difficult. "I didn't know if it was a reaction to the trauma of being told that I had breast cancer. I was in my late 50's -- was it the beginning of an aging symptom? Or was it the drugs that I was getting in terms of my chemotherapy? My doctor ordered a brain scan, and there was nothing unusual there, and I said, 'But there is something wrong with me,'" Lyzen says.

Size Of A Woman's Uterus Can Predict Whether She Is At Risk Of Having Very Premature Twins After IVF Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Using ultrasound to measure the height of a woman's uterus is a good way to predict whether or not she is at risk of having babies born prematurely if she becomes pregnant with twins after IVF, according to new research presented at the 24th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona.

Spray Improves Plants’ Cold Tolerance By 2 To Over 9 Degrees Fahrenheit Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT A newly created spray-on formula increases plants' tolerance of cold temperatures by several degrees. The spray, which is not yet commercially available, can improve plants' cold tolerance between 2.2 and 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit, depending upon the species, according to a professor of botany who co-developed the spray.

Biofuels And Biodiversity Don't Mix, Ecologists Warn Posted: 10 Jul 2008 10:00 AM CDT Rising demand for palm oil will decimate biodiversity unless producers and politicians can work together to preserve as much remaining natural forest as possible, ecologists have warned. A new study of the potential ecological impact of various management strategies published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology found that very little can be done to make palm oil plantations more hospitable for local birds and butterflies.

Evidence Of Water Found Deep Within The Moon: Dampens Moon-formation Theory Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A Brown-led research team has for the first time found evidence of water deep within the moon. Researchers believe the water was contained in lunar magmas ejected more than 3 billion years ago. The discovery strongly suggests that water has been a part of the Moon since its early existence -- and perhaps since it was first created.

Protein Marker For Schizophrenia Risk Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A protein found in immune cells may be a reliable marker for schizophrenia risk, report researchers in a new proteomics study. Schizophrenia is a severe and complex psychiatric illness that affects about 1% of the population.

Laser Could Change The Face Of Corneal Transplant Surgery Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Faster recovery times and better visual outcomes are among the early results of a corneal transplant new pilot study. The study uses ultrafast or femtosecond laser to perform full thickness corneal transplants.

Embryo Biopsy Does Not Affect Early Growth And Risk Of Congenital Malformations In PGD/PGS Babies Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT A study of 70 singleton babies born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening has shown that the procedure does not adversely affect their early growth and risk of congenital malformations, according to new research.

Geologists Discover Magma And Carbon Dioxide Combine To Make ‘Soda-Pop’ Eruption Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Through an autopsy of an ancient Scandinavian mountain chain, a team geologists found that carbon dioxide can create explosive eruptions when magma encounters calcium carbonate-based rocks. This discovery overturns a longtime belief by geologists, who thought that carbon dioxide was incapable of dissolving in magma.

Breast Asymmetry After Cancer Treatment Affects Quality Of Life, Study Finds Posted: 10 Jul 2008 07:00 AM CDT Nearly one-third of women reported pronounced asymmetry between their breasts after breast cancer surgery, and that perceived disfigurement greatly affects a woman's quality of life after treatment, according to a new study by researchers. A poor aesthetic outcome after lumpectomy is linked to depression and fear.

Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Possible Wind Energy Sources Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Efforts to harness the energy potential of Earth's ocean winds could soon gain an important new tool: global satellite maps from NASA. Scientists have been creating maps using nearly a decade of data from NASA's QuikSCAT satellite that reveal ocean areas where winds could produce wind energy. The new maps have many potential uses including planning the location of offshore wind farms to convert wind energy into electric energy.

Lowering Blood Cholesterol With Fish Oil And Red Yeast Rice Instead Of Statins Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have examined whether an alternative approach to treating high blood cholesterol may provide an effective treatment option for patients who are unable or unwilling to take statins. The researchers noted that there was a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in both the statin group and the fish oil alternative treatment group. Members of the alternative therapy group also had a substantial reduction in triglycerides, another form of fat found in the blood, and lost more weight.

Smithsonian Coral Biodiversity Survey Of Panama's Pearl Islands Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT A comprehensive survey of coral biodiversity in Panama's Las Perlas Archipelago has resulted in clear conservation recommendations for a new coastal management plan.

How Can We Overcome The Barriers To Treating Drug-resistant TB? Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Almost 1 in 20 cases of tuberculosis worldwide is resistant to multiple drugs (known as multidrug-resistant TB or MDR-TB) and the World Health Organization has called for a massive scale up in public health efforts to tackle these cases. Now a group of MDR-TB experts outlines its recommendations on conducting research that would help in the scale up.

Avatars As Communicators Of Emotions Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT Current interactive systems enable users to communicate with computers in many ways, but not taking into account emotional communication. A Ph.D. thesis puts forward the use of avatars or virtual Internet personages as an efficient form of non-verbal communication, principally focusing on emotional aspects.

Long-term Care Fraught With Uncertainties For Elderly Baby Boomers Posted: 10 Jul 2008 04:00 AM CDT The continued decline of the nursing home -- once the mainstay care for the frail elderly -- and an upsurge in popularity of assisted living will lead to many dramatic changes in long-term care.

Swerve Left To Avoid That Satellite: The Growing Issue Of Space Debris Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Think you have trouble getting rid of the clutter in your living room? After more than 50 years of launching rockets and satellites into space, the human race now has to deal with the clutter left behind -- or is it "above"? Dead satellites, spent rocket stages, paint flakes, and coolant from nuclear-powered satellites continue to orbit the Earth at ultrahigh velocities.

Liver Protein Associated With Type 2 Diabetes In Older Adults Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT The presence of a protein expressed by the liver which inhibits insulin action may identify individuals more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Carbon Dioxide Increase In Atmosphere Augments Tolerance Of Barley To Salinity Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT In future, climate change will bring an increase in salty surfaces on the Earth and in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, this higher carbon dioxide has some positive effects on the physiology of barley plants and increases its tolerance to salinity.

Birth Attendant And Maternal Hand-washing Associated With Reduced Newborn Death Rate Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Washing hands with soap and water before delivering a newborn infant is associated with a lower rate of neonatal deaths in developing countries, according to a report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

College Students Design Future Aircraft In NASA Competition Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Sixty-one students from 14 colleges and universities around the globe have imagined what the next generation of airliners and cargo planes may look like.

Low Back Pain Recovery Slow; And Worse For Those On Compensation Posted: 10 Jul 2008 01:00 AM CDT Contrary to current guidelines and common belief, new research has shown that recovery from low back pain is much slower than previously thought and even slower again for those with a compensable injury.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells Developed From Four-cell Embryo; World First May Lessen Ethical Concerns Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT For the first time in the world scientists have succeeded in developing human embryonic stem cells from a single cell, or blastomere, of a 4-cell stage embryo. The scientists said that their research meant that it might be possible in the future to produce hESC lines at an earlier stage without destroying the embryo.

Protein On 'Speed' Linked To ADHD Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT A genetic change in the dopamine transporter, discovered in two brothers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, makes it behave as if amphetamine is present and "run backward," Vanderbilt Medical Center investigators report. The researchers propose that because the altered transporter pushes dopamine out into the synapse, it alters dopamine signaling and contributes to the symptoms of ADHD. They further find that both Ritalin and Adderall, two ADHD medications, block the backward-running transporter.

Scientists Integrate Data In Three Dimensions To Study Climate Effects On Young Fish Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT From the surface, the two areas of ocean off the coasts of northern New Jersey and Long Island, New York look the same. But to scientists, the four-square-mile patches could not be more different as they view real-time underwater images and environmental data to try to figure out what lives there and how climate change is affecting marine life, especially very young fish.

In Spain, 6 Of Every 100 Patients Die In Hospital Due To Adverse Drug Reaction, Study Suggests Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT A new study in Spain determined that six of every 100 patients who die in hospital do so as a consequence of an adverse drug reaction or, in other words, a fatal reaction to medicines. A adverse drug reaction to medicines (ADR) has been defined as any harmful and unwanted effect of a drug, at doses used for prophylaxis, diagnose or treatment.

Crop Management: How Many On-the-go Crop And Soil Sensors Do Growers Need? Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT The use of on-the-go crop and soil sensors has greatly increased the precision with which farmers can manage their crops. Recent research in Agronomy Journal questions whether more precise management is necessarily more efficient. The researchers found that sensor grid size can be increased from the current smallest size of .5 square meters to 5.1 square meters. This tenfold increase in grid size could have significant cost savings for farmers using precision management techniques.

Higher Education Associated With Greater Gains In Mortality Reduction From Common Cancers Posted: 09 Jul 2008 10:00 PM CDT Deaths due to the four most common cancers have dropped substantially in the US from 1993 to 2001 in working-aged individuals. However, not all Americans are equally likely to benefit from those gains. More educated individuals had mortality reductions in nearly all four cancers, while less educated individuals had a mortality reduction in only one cancer type.

Obese Men Have Less Semen, More Sperm Abnormalities Posted: 09 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Obese men should consider losing weight if they want to have children. New research has shown that men with a higher body mass index had lower volumes of seminal fluid and a higher proportion of abnormal sperm.

Better Technology For Developing Plastic Solar Cells And Plastic Electronic Devices Created Posted: 09 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT A new way to help technologists develop efficient and inexpensive plastic electronic devices, such as plastic solar cells and a new type of transistor has been developed. As the probe bobs up and down the force required to keep it oscillating at a steady rate changes measurably, which tells the scientists about the nature of the scanned surface. By using different vibration frequencies, it is possible obtain nanoscale measurements on materials.

Vaginal Microbicides May Prevent More Infections In Men Than Women Posted: 09 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT Vaginal microbicides currently in clinical trials may be the only weapon that will protect women against infection from HIV. Yet, under likely circumstances, these microbicides may be of more benefit to men than women, according to a new UCLA AIDS Institute study.

Surveying German Subs Sunk Off North Carolina During World War II Posted: 09 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT NOAA will lead a research expedition July 7-26 to study the wrecks of three German submarines sunk by US forces in 1942 off the coast of North Carolina during the Battle of the Atlantic. During the expedition, researchers will survey and photograph visible sections of the three submarines, U-352, U-85 and U-701 using non-invasive methods. The survey team will also study marine life found at the sites.

Brain Chemical Shown To Induce Both Desire And Dread Posted: 09 Jul 2008 07:00 PM CDT The chemical dopamine induces both desire and dread, according to new animal research in the Journal of Neuroscience. Although dopamine is well known to motivate animals and people to seek positive rewards, the study indicates that it also can promote negative feelings like fear. The finding may help explain why dopamine dysfunction is implicated not only in drug addiction, which involves excessive desire, but in schizophrenia and some phobias, which involve excessive fear.

Aerosol Toxins From Red Tides May Cause Long-term Health Threat Posted: 09 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT An algal toxin commonly inhaled in sea spray, attacks and damages DNA in the lungs of laboratory rats. The findings document how the body's way of disposing the toxin inadvertently converts it to a molecule that damages DNA. Human inhalation of brevetoxins produced by the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, is an increasing public health concern.

Trans-fatty Acids Do Not Appear To Increase The Risk Of Diabetes Posted: 09 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Dietary research in rats suggests that trans-fats do not increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes, which may ease at least one area of health concern for these compounds.

Disruption Of Blood Sugar Levels After Heart Surgery Is Common Posted: 09 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Inadequate blood sugar control in patients having heart surgery is associated with a four fold increase in post-surgery death and major complications -- and the blood sugar disturbances occur in patients with and without diabetes.

Half Of US Coral Reefs In 'Poor' Or 'Fair' Condition, NOAA Report States Posted: 09 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Nearly half of U.S. coral reef ecosystems are considered to be in "poor" or "fair" condition according to a new NOAA analysis of the health of coral reefs under US jurisdiction. The NOAA report says that the nation's coral reef ecosystems, particularly those adjacent to populated areas, continue to face intense human-derived threats and while remote reefs are subject to threats such as marine debris, illegal fishing and climate change.

Ending Moderate Drinking Tied To Depression Posted: 09 Jul 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientific evidence has long suggested that moderate drinking offers some protection against heart disease, certain types of stroke and some forms of cancer. But new research shows that stopping drinking -- including at moderate levels -- may lead to health problems including depression and a reduced capacity of the brain to produce new neurons, a process called neurogenesis.

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