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Low Concentrations Of Pesticides Can Become Toxic Mixture For Amphibians Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Ten of the world's most popular pesticides can decimate amphibian populations when mixed together even if the concentration of the individual chemicals are within limits considered safe, according to new research. Such "cocktails of contaminants" are frequently detected in nature, a new article notes.

Novel Regulatory Step During HIV Replication Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST A previously unknown regulatory step during human immunodeficiency replication provides a potentially valuable new target for HIV/AIDS therapy, according to researchers.

Music As Noise: When The Fortissimo Causes One's Ears To Ring Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST "Music is always noise-related - and often not appreciated", the German poet and humorist Wilhelm Busch once mocked. Even though the subject involving beauty is a matter of taste, the sarcastic saying contains some bitter truth: Orchestra musicians jeopardize their ears with their own music.

Age, Race Are Among Factors That Influence Carotid-surgery Success Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Advanced age and race are among the factors that can affect whether a patient dies or suffers a stroke after carotid-artery surgery, a multicenter study has found.

Improving Carbon Measurements In Global Climate Studies Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Researchers have found a way to improve existing estimates of the amount of carbon absorbed by plants from the air, thereby improving the accuracy of global warming and land cover change estimates, according to a new article in Science.

Personality Shapes Perception Of Romance, But Doesn't Tell The Whole Story Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 PM PST Researchers have found that measuring the quality of romantic relationships is more complex than earlier studies suggest. While personality has been found to be predictive of perceived relationship satisfaction and success, other measures of relationship quality may offer additional insight into how a romantic relationship is functioning.

Fiddler Crabs Reveal Honesty Is Not Always The Best Policy Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Dishonesty may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought. A team of Australian ecologists has discovered that some male fiddler crabs "lie" about their fighting ability by growing claws that look strong and powerful but are in fact weak and puny.

Tiny Sacs Released By Brain Tumor Cells Carry Information That May Guide Treatment Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Microvesicles - tiny membrane-covered sacs - released from glioblastoma cells contain molecules that may provide data that can guide treatment of the deadly brain tumor. Researchers have found tumor-associated RNA and proteins in membrane microvesicles called exosomes in blood samples from glioblastoma patients. Detailed analysis of exosome contents identified factors that could facilitate a tumor's growth through delivery of genetic information or proteins, or signify its vulnerability to particular medications.

The Bonsai Effect: Wounded Plants Make Jasmonates, Inhibiting Cell Division, Stunting Growth Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Biologists found that when leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis are wounded, cell division in the apical meristem is reduced, growth of the plant is arrested within days, and the new leaves grow to only one-half of their normal size although the size of leaf cells is unaffected.

Exercise Improves Quality Of Life For Heart Failure Patients Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Heart failure patients who regularly exercise fare better and feel better about their lives than do similar patients who do not work out on a regular basis, say researchers.

Chemical From Medicinal Plants May Be Used To Fight HIV Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Immune cells lose the ability to divide as they age because a part of their chromosomes known as a telomere becomes progressively shorter with cell division. As a result, its disease fighting ability is compromised. A new study finds that a chemical from the Astragalus root, frequently used used in Chinese herbal therapy, can prevent or slow this progressive telomere shortening, which could make it a key weapon in the fight against HIV.

'Cascading Effect' Of Childhood Experiences May Explain Serious Teen Violence Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 PM PST Adverse experiences early in life can lead to minor childhood behavior problems, which can grow into serious acts of teen violence, according to new research. Children who had social and academic problems in elementary school often had parents who withdrew from supervision and monitoring during middle school. Children then made friends with deviant peers, and ultimately were more likely to engage violent acts.

Potential Sexual Partner? Brains Of Ovulating Women Respond Strongly To Male Masculine Faces Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Scientists have long known that women's preferences for masculine men change throughout their menstrual cycles. A new study is the first to demonstrate differences in brain activity as women considered masculinized and feminized male faces and whether the person was a potential sexual partner. Researchers identified regions that responded more strongly to masculine faces and demonstrated that differences between masculinized and feminized faces appeared strongest when the women were closer to ovulating.

No Protective Effect On Cancer From Long-term Vitamin E Or Vitamin C Supplementation, Trial Shows Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Data from a large-scale prevention trial has shown no protective effect from vitamin E on prostate cancer or vitamin C supplementation on total cancer.

Nanotechnology: Quantum Computer May Be Closer With Extended Quantum Lifetime Of Electrons Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Physicists have found a way to extend the quantum lifetime of electrons by more than 5,000 per cent. Electrons exhibit a property called 'spin' and work like tiny magnets which can point up, down or a quantum superposition of both. The state of the spin can be used to store information and so by extending their life the research provides a significant step towards building a usable quantum computer.

T Cell-based HIV Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates Positive Results Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST New findings show that a T cell-based strategy remains a viable course to follow in the development of an HIV-1 vaccine.

Watching The Wine With New Technology Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST Steeped in tradition, Europe's vintners have found themselves hard pressed to compete with the modern processes used to produce New World wines. Now European researchers are offering the continent's winemaking industry the opportunity to improve quality, save water and reduce pesticide use without giving up age-old practices.

Families, Friends, Schools And Neighborhoods Contribute To Adolescent Alcohol Misuse Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 PM PST A new longitudinal study examined how the four social environments of families, peers, schools, and neighborhoods have positive and negative effects on teen alcohol misuse. The study used periodic interviews with 6,544 teens ages 11-17 across three years, as well as parental information and census data. Characteristics in all four social environments played a role in whether teens misused alcohol. The findings underscore the important role that families play in teens' use of alcohol.

Stem Cells With Potential To Regenerate Injured Liver Tissue Identified Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST A novel protein marker has been found that identifies rare adult liver stem cells, whose ability to regenerate injured liver tissue has the potential for cell-replacement therapy. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that cells expressing the marker can differentiate into both liver cells and cells that line the bile duct.

Men Who Take Aspirin Have Significantly Lower PSA Levels Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST The use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is significantly associated with lower PSA levels, especially among men with prostate cancer, say researchers at Vanderbilt University.

Anthropologist Assembles And Copies Skeleton Of Extinct Lemur Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Scientists have nearly complete a skeleton of a rare species of extinct lemur. Collecting and casting of the lemur bones and assembling them into a near complete skeleton capped off a process that began in 1899 in the Andrahomana Cave in southeastern Madagascar.

Potential New Biomarker Of Age-related Macular Degeneration Found Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST In its advanced stages, AMD destroys the detailed, central vision we need to read, drive, recognize faces, and enjoy daily life, and is a major cause of vision loss in the U.S. Ophthalmic researchers are making rapid progress in understanding how genetics, immune system factors, nutrition choices, and other variables interact to produce or prevent AMD.

Keeping Bridges Safe: New Imaging Program Automatically Detects Irregularities in Bridges Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST In order for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to cross bridges safely, bridges must be regularly inspected for damage. An new image processing program automatically detects irregularities in the bridge material.

Complex Systems And Mars Missions Help Understand How Life Began Posted: 17 Nov 2008 11:00 AM PST Understanding how life started remains a major challenge for science. At a recent European Science Foundation and COST 'Frontiers of Science' conference scientists discussed two new approaches to the problem. The first applies complex systems theory to the chemistry that preceded early life. The second involves studying Mars, which may yield ample evidence about what Earth was like when life evolved.

Super-tough Sunshield To Fly On The James Webb Space Telescope Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Imagine sunglasses that can withstand the severe cold and heat of space, a barrage of radiation and high-speed impacts from small space debris. They don't exist, but Northrop Grumman engineers have created a sunshield for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope that can withstand all of those elements. The space telescope needs a sunshield to block heat from the sun so its cameras and instruments can operate properly a million miles from the Earth when it launches in 2013.

Tackling A Hard-to-treat Childhood Cancer By Targeting Epigenetic Changes Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST A very difficult-to-treat child leukemia turns out to be launched by a small but potent epigenetic change that could potentially be reversed relatively easily with drugs: modification of the histones that help package DNA. Blocking this modification could potentially prevent a variety of cancer-promoting genes from being turned on, say researchers at Children's Hospital Boston.

Parasite-resistant Peppers Green Alternatives To Chemical Pesticides Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Root-knot nematodes are microscopic, omnipresent worms that cause major damage to horticultural and field crops in sub-tropical regions, resulting in significant financial losses to growers and gardeners. To combat these parasites without the use of chemical pesticides, scientists are focusing more research on developing new, parasite-resistant varieties of vegetables.

People Who Develop Kidney Stones Are At Increased Risk For Chronic Kidney Disease Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Kidney stones may damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new article. In extreme cases, individuals with CKD caused by kidney stones may even need dialysis or kidney transplants.

Cold Atoms Could Replace Hot Gallium In Focused Ion Beams Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Scientists at NIST have developed a radical new method of focusing a stream of ions into a point as small as one nanometer, a versatile ion source that is expected to have broad application in nanotechnology both for carving smaller features on semiconductors than now are possible and for nondestructive imaging of nanoscale structures with finer resolution than currently possible with electron microscopes.

Traffic Pollution Worsens Symptoms In Asthmatic Children Posted: 17 Nov 2008 08:00 AM PST Traffic pollution, especially in cities, adversely affects respiratory health in children with asthma. In this vulnerable group, worsening of respiratory symptoms requiring recurrent additional treatment.

Female Embryonic Sexual Development Driven By Universal Factor Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST A gene essential to the growth and development of most organ systems in the body also is vital to female, but not male, embryonic sexual development, scientists report.

'Super' Aged Brains Reveal First Secrets Of Sharp Memory In Old Age Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers have wondered if the brains of the elderly with still laser sharp memory were different than everyone else's. So, they took a novel approach and investigated what goes right in an aging brain that stays nimble. Scientists examined the brains of deceased people called "super aged" because they had high performance on memory tests when they were over 80. They found their brains had many fewer fiber-like tangles than the brains of elderly, non-demented individuals.

Freshwater Pollution Costs US At Least $4.3 Billion A Year Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Researchers found that freshwater pollution by phosphorous and nitrogen costs government agencies, drinking water facilities and individual Americans costs the US at least $4.3 billion annually.

Visualizing Asthma-causing Immune Cells At Work Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Immune cells known as eosinophils have a central role in causing asthma. Researchers have now developed new approaches to noninvasively visualize in real-time eosinophil responses in the lungs and airways of mice with a disease that mimics asthma. It is hoped that these approaches might be exploited to improve our ability to diagnose asthma and assess the efficacy of treatments for the disease.

One Dozen At A Blow: Main Principle For Alloys Discovered Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST Molecular metallurgists galvanize and gild atoms and discover main principle for alloys. In the neverland between molecule and metal they discovered a new family of compounds.

Patients With Anxiety Disorders Think They Have More Physiological Problems Than They Really Have, According To Study Posted: 17 Nov 2008 05:00 AM PST New research shows that patients with serious anxiety disorders (panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder) think they suffer more physiological (palpitations, sweating, irregular breathing, shaking of the hands and muscular tension, etc.) than they really have. In other words, although many patients with anxiety disorders have orally reported very intense physiological symptoms in surveys and questionaires, they are hyporeactive when real measures of such symptoms are taken through physiological tests.

'Femtomolar Optical Tweezers' May Enable Sensitive Blood Tests Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Cutting-edge "tweezers" are so sensitive that they can feel the tell-tale tug of tiny concentrations of pathogens in blood samples, yet don't ever need to be sterilized--or even held--as they are ephemeral and weightless.

Cancer Treatment May Result In Bone Loss, Study Finds Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST A new cross-Canada study has found that breast and prostate cancer treatment can foster bone loss. Scientists explain how loss of bone mass might affect 46,000 people diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer each year and place them at increased risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

Shifts In Soil Bacterial Populations Linked To Wetland Restoration Success Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST Researchers have found that restoring degraded wetlands -- especially those that had been converted into farm fields -- actually decreases soil bacterial diversity. More than half of original wetland acreage in the U.S. has been destroyed or degraded, but some has been restored in recent decades under the federal government's "no net loss" policy.

Early Development Of Antibodies To Cockroach And Mouse Proteins Associated With Greater Risk For Asthma And Allergies In Preschool Children Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST A new study shows that developing antibodies to cockroach and mouse proteins is associated with a greater risk for wheeze, hay fever, and eczema in preschool urban children as young as three years of age. The study is the first to focus on the links between antibody responses to cockroach and mouse proteins and respiratory and allergic symptoms in such a young age group.

Forecasting Rain: Radars For Estimating Rainfall Rates Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST To be effective, flood warning systems use rainfall data available in real time. These data come from the ground observation network and estimations made based on the national network of climate radars operated by Météo France. Today, mountain zones are only partially covered by this rain detection technology. Within the INTERREG project, a new generation of radars is being tested by Cemagref in the Var department, a mountainous region with a high flood risk. The radar is currently located in the countryside immediately inland from Nice.

Radical Changes Needed To Increase Number Of Sperm Donors In The UK, Fertility Experts Urge Posted: 17 Nov 2008 02:00 AM PST A radical overhaul of sperm donation services is needed to address the critical shortage of sperm donors in the UK, say two fertility experts.

Nanowires Ideal For Electronics Manufacturing, Findings Suggest Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Researchers have discovered that tiny structures called silicon nanowires might be ideal for manufacturing in future computers and consumer electronics because they form the same way every time.

Using Adult, Embryonic Stem Cells For Tissue Regeneration: New Advances Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST A major issue in the development of regenerative medicine is the cell sources used to rebuild damaged tissues. In a review of the issue published in Developmental Dynamics, researchers state that inducing regeneration in humans from the body's own tissues by chemical means is feasible, though many questions must be answered before the process can reach clinical status.

Telemedicine: Researchers Broadcast Live Surgery Using Internet2 Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Imagine a scenario where doctors from different hospitals can collaborate on a surgery without having to actually be in the operating room. What if doctors in remote locations could receive immediate expert support from top specialists in hospitals around the world? Rochester Institute of Technology is collaborating with a team led by the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine that recently tested technology, which allows for the transmission of high quality, real time video to multiple locations.

Damage To Optic Nerve In Glaucoma Patients May Indicate Significant Carotid Artery Narrowing Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Glaucoma is often associated with elevated pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure, or IOP) which can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and even blindness. Medication and/or surgery allow patients to control their IOP, thus preventing the development of vision loss.

Wildfires Result In Loss Of Forests Reserved By Northwest Forest Plan Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST Scientists recently completed a study and analysis of large-diameter forests and discovered that elevated fire levels in the Pacific Northwest outweighed harvest reductions in the loss of older forests.

Vision Screening Law For Older Floridians Associated With Lower Fatality Rates In Car Crashes Posted: 16 Nov 2008 11:00 PM PST A vision screening law targeting Florida drivers age 80 and older appears to be associated with lower death rates from motor vehicle collisions in this age group, despite little evidence of an association between vision and car crashes, according to a new article.

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