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Cognitive Computing: Building A Machine That Can Learn From Experience Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Suppose you want to build a computer that operates like the brain of a mammal. How hard could it be? After all, there are supercomputers that can decode the human genome, play chess and calculate prime numbers out to 13 million digits.

New Treatment For Diabetes? Leptin's Long-distance Call To The Pancreas Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST A new study boosts researchers' hopes of using osteocalcin to treat diabetes. Researchers show, the fat-derived hormone leptin enlists the sympathetic nervous system to prevent bone-making cells from releasing a molecule that prods the pancreas to discharge insulin.

Caffeine Has Greater Effect On Men, And Starts Only Ten Minutes After Consumption Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Caffeine has a greater effect on men than women, and that these effects start just 10 minutes after it is drunk. In addition, contrary to what was previously thought, it has also been shown that decaffeinated coffee also produces an increased state of alertness.

First Trimester Smoking Linked To Oral Clefts Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST Smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy is clearly linked with an increased risk of cleft lip in newborns. Genes that play a role in detoxification of cigarette smoke do not appear to be involved, according to a new study.

Quantum Computing Closer To Reality As Mathematicians Chase Key Breakthrough Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST The ability to exploit the extraordinary properties of quantum mechanics in novel applications, such as a new generation of super-fast computers, has come closer following recent progress with some of the remaining underlying mathematical problems.

Are Power And Compassion Mutually Exclusive? Posted: 23 Dec 2008 11:00 AM PST A new study reveals that individuals with a higher sense of power experience less compassion and distress when confronted with another's suffering, compared to low-power individuals. In addition, powerful people were not motivated to establish a relationship with distressed individuals. The authors suggest that powerful people's tendency to show less compassion and distress towards others reinforces their social power.

Origin Of Life On Earth: Simple Fusion To Jump-start Evolution Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST With the aid of a straightforward experiment, researchers have provided some clues to one of biology's most complex questions: how ancient organic molecules came together to form the basis of life.

MRI Brain Scans Accurate In Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST MRI brain scans should be included as a diagnostic test for early Alzheimer's disease, experts conclude.

Embryonic Development: First Look At How Groups Of Cells Coordinate Their Movements Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Using novel imaging, labeling and data-analysis techniques, scientists have been able to visualize, for the first time, large numbers of cells moving en masse during some of the earliest stages of embryonic development.

Selenium, Vitamin E Do Not Prevent Prostate Cancer, Study Concludes Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST Findings from one of the largest cancer chemoprevention trials ever conducted have concluded that selenium and vitamin E taken alone or in combination for an average of five and a half years did not prevent prostate cancer, according to a team of researchers coordinated by the Southwest Oncology Group and led by scientists at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic.

Fix For Global Warming? Scientists Propose Covering Deserts With Reflective Sheeting Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST A radical plan to curb global warming and so reverse the climate change caused by our rampant burning of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution would involve covering parts of the world's deserts with reflective sheeting, according to an article in the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues. The heat reflecting sheets could be used to cover arid areas and not only reflect the sun's heat back into space by increasing the Earth's overall reflectivity, or albedo, but also to act as an anti-desertification measure.

Eating At Buffets Plus Not Exercising Equals Obesity In Rural America Posted: 23 Dec 2008 08:00 AM PST In small towns in the Midwestern United States, people who eat out often at buffets and cafeterias and who perceive their community to be unpleasant for physical activity are more likely to be obese.

Young Active Star Resembles The Sun When It Was Young Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Astronomers recently observed a star analogous to the young Sun at an age of approximately 500 million years, named CoRoTExo-2a. This star is accompanied by a giant planet orbiting around it in only 1.7 days.

Blocking The Spread Of Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST It's as simple as A, T, G, C. Scientists have exploited the Watson-Crick base pairing of DNA to provide a defensive tool that could be used to fight the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. They discovered that a special DNA sequence found in certain bacteria can impede the spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic staphylococci. It blocks DNA molecules that move from one cell to another, spreading antibiotic resistance genes.

Not All Fats Are Created Equal Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Eating saturated fats from butter, cream and meat, as well as trans fats found in hydrogenated oils can boost our risk of cardiovascular disease, while consuming mono-unsaturated fat can be good for our heart. Yet what's the effect of all these fats on our weight? Are some better than others?

Overweight Siblings Of Children With Type 2 Diabetes Likely To Have Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Overweight siblings of children with type 2 diabetes are four times more likely to have abnormal glucose levels compared to other overweight children. Because abnormal glucose levels may indicate risk for diabetes or diabetes itself, these children could benefit from screening tests and diabetes prevention education.

Baby Fish In Polluted San Francisco Estuary Waters Are Stunted And Deformed Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Striped bass in the San Francisco Estuary are contaminated before birth with a toxic mix of pesticides, industrial chemicals and flame retardants that their mothers acquire from estuary waters and food sources and pass on to their eggs, say researchers. The findings have implications far beyond fish, because the estuary is the water source for two-thirds of the people and most of the farms in California.

Racial Tension In A 'Split Second' Posted: 23 Dec 2008 05:00 AM PST Interracial and interethnic interactions can often be awkward and stressful for members of both majority and minority groups. A new study reveals just how fragile intergroup relations are when people are first getting acquainted. The results showed that a mere one second delay in conversation was sufficient to raise anxiety in intergroup but not intragroup interactions.

Earth Not Center Of The Universe, Surrounded By 'Dark Energy' Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Earth's location in the universe is utterly unremarkable, despite recent theories that propose toppling a foundation of modern cosmology, according to a team of University of British Columbia researchers.

Miscarriage And Infertility Treatment Increase Pre-eclampsia Risk Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Repeated miscarriages and hormone treatment for infertility give an increased risk of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women, according to a study of more than 20,000 first-time mothers in Norway.

Robotic Technology Improves Stroke Rehabilitation Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Research scientists using a novel, hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI have found that chronic stroke patients can be rehabilitated. This is the first study using fMRI to map the brain in order to track stroke rehabilitation.

Echocardiography Now Recommended As The 'First-line' Test In Cardiovascular Disease Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST The first-line test in patients with a suspicion of cardiovascular disease -- including arterial disease and heart failure -- should now be echocardiography, according to an expert.

Role Of Soil Patterns In Dam Restoration Examined Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST Looking at the site today, it's easy to forget that a dam and pond stood for 43 years on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Franbrook Farm Research Station in southwestern Wisconsin. All traces of the structure are gone and acres of plants, both native and weedy, now carpet the floor of the former basin.

Study: Prejudice Could Cost A Black Worker Thousands Posted: 23 Dec 2008 02:00 AM PST A recent study sheds light on the role racial prejudice plays in the wage gap between whites and blacks in the US. Prejudice accounts for approximately one-quarter of the racial wage gap, costing a black worker up to $115,000 over a lifetime depending upon where he or she lives, the authors say.

Artificial Human Bone Marrow Created In A Test Tube Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Artificial bone marrow that can continuously make red and white blood cells has been created in a lab. This development could lead to simpler pharmaceutical drug testing, closer study of immune system defects and a continuous supply of blood for transfusions.

Molecular Marker Identifies Normal Stem Cells As Intestinal Tumor Source Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Scientists have answered a central question in cancer biology: Whether normal stem cells can give rise to tumors. Stem cells are immature cells that can renew themselves and give rise to mature differentiated cells that compose the range of body tissues. In recent years, researchers have developed evidence that cancers may arise from mutant forms of stem cells.

A Price On Carbon Not Enough To Save Rainforests Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Including carbon emissions from tropical deforestation in a future international climate regime will not suffice to protect the world's remaining tropical forests from expanding palm oil plantations.

Nonhormonal Treatment Regimens Improve Survival In Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Nonhormonal treatment regimens, including anthracycline-based regimens and taxanes, have improved overall survival in women with advanced (metastatic or recurrent inoperable) breast cancer over the last 35 years, according to a systematic review in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Intestinal Health In Salmon Fed A Plant-based Diet Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST Access to marine raw materials for fish feed production is limited. Any future increase in the numbers of farmed salmon will therefore necessitate an increased use of feeds of plant origin. If salmon are to grow satisfactorily and remain healthy, it is important to obtain knowledge of just how plant-based feed affects the health of fish.

Women Prefer Prestige Over Dominance In Mates Posted: 22 Dec 2008 11:00 PM PST A new study reveals that women prefer mates who are recognized by their peers for their skills, abilities, and achievements, while not preferring men who use coercive tactics to subordinate their rivals. Indeed, women found dominance strategies of the latter type to be attractive primarily when men used them in the context of male-male athletic competitions.

Mechanism That Triggers Differentiation Of Embryo Cells Discovered Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST The mechanism whereby embryonic cells stop being flexible and turn into more mature cells that can develop into specific tissues has been discovered. The discovery has significant consequences towards furthering research that will eventually make possible medical cell replacement therapy based on the use of embryonic cells.

Common Infant Virus May Trigger Type 1 Diabetes Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Human parechovirus is a harmless virus which is encountered by most infants and displays few symptoms. Suspected of triggering type 1 diabetes in susceptible people, research methods need to take this 'silent' virus into consideration.

Length Of Root Hairs On Plants Made To Grow Longer: Potential Broad Implications For Agriculture Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST A new article in Nature Cell Biology has shown how to increase the length of root hairs on plants, potentially improving crop yields, as plants with longer root hairs take up minerals and water more efficiently.

Alternating Mammography And MRI May Be Best For High-risk Women Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST Magnetic resonance imaging alternated with mammography at six-month intervals can detect breast cancers not identified by mammography alone, according to new research.

Arctic Greening Linked To Retreating Sea Ice Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST An interdisciplinary group of scientists has strongly linked sea ice changes to changes in Arctic land-surface temperatures and increased tundra greenness.

The Language Of Emotion: Ad Slogans In Native Tongues Connect To Consumers' Emotions Posted: 22 Dec 2008 08:00 PM PST In our globalized world, consumers are exposed to marketing messages in many languages. But a new study says messages expressed in people's native languages are most effective at triggering emotional reactions.

Groundbreaking, Inexpensive, Pocket-sized Ultrasound Device Can Help Treat Cancer, Relieve Arthritis Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST A prototype of a therapeutic ultrasound device fits in the palm of a hand, is battery-powered and packs enough punch to stabilize a gunshot wound or deliver drugs to brain cancer patients. It is wired to a ceramic probe, called a transducer, and it creates sound waves so strong they instantly cause water to bubble, spray and turn into steam.

Faulty Brain Wiring May Be Bypassed With Carbon Nanotubes Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Research done by scientists in Italy and Switzerland has shown that carbon nanotubes may be the ideal 'smart' brain material. Their results are a promising step forward in the search to find ways to 'bypass' faulty brain wiring.

Solar Activity Between 1250-1850 Linked To Temperature Changes In Siberia Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered a strong link between regional temperatures and the solar activity in the period 1250-1850, concluding that the sun was an important driver of preindustrial temperature changes in the Siberian Altai. Interestingly, the regional temperatures followed the solar forcing with a time lag of 10 to 30 years.

Breast Cancer Risk Varies In Young Women With Benign Breast Disease, Researchers Say Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST A type of benign breast disease known as atypical hyperplasia substantially increases a young woman's risk of developing breast cancer, even if there is no history of breast cancer in her family, say researchers.

Heart Attack Calculator Created Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Greek researchers describe a quick and easy artificial intelligence approach to working out heart attack risk. Physicians could use their system to provide patients with a personal risk factor and so advise on lifestyle changes or medication to lower their risk.

Storybooks On Paper Better For Children Than Reading Fiction On Computer Screen, According to Expert Posted: 22 Dec 2008 05:00 PM PST Clicking and scrolling interrupt our attentional focus. Turning and touching the pages instead of clicking on the screen influence our ability for experience and attention. The physical manipulations we have to do with a computer, not related to the reading itself, disturb our mental appreciation, according to a professor. She has investigated the pros and cons of new reading devices, especially for children.

Genes May Influence Popularity, Study Of College Students Finds Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST A groundbreaking study of popularity has found that genes elicit not only specific behaviors but also the social consequences of those behaviors.

Two Cardiovascular Proteins Pose A Double Whammy In Alzheimer's Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Researchers have found that two proteins which work in tandem in the brain's blood vessels present a double whammy in Alzheimer's disease. Not only do the proteins lessen blood flow in the brain, but they also reduce the rate at which the brain is able to remove amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in toxic quantities in the brains of patients with the disease.

Stronger Coastal Winds Due To Climate Change May Have Far-reaching Effects Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Future increases in wind strength along the California coast may have far-reaching effects, including more intense upwelling of cold water along the coast early in the season and increased fire danger in Southern California, according to researchers.

Natural Immune Response to HIV Not Sufficient to Prevent Secondary Superinfection Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Researchers studying the phenomenon known as HIV superinfection have determined that the immune system's initial antibody response may not be sufficient to provide protection against later infection with a different HIV virus, a finding that may have significant implications for HIV vaccine development.

Potentially Disruptive Antibody Sequencing Technology Developed Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Bioinformatics researchers have developed a new, quicker way to sequence monoclonal antibodies -- a process that is many times faster than the sequencing technology typically used by academic and industry researchers today.

Most People Will Administer Shocks When Prodded By 'Authority Figure' Posted: 22 Dec 2008 02:00 PM PST Nearly 50 years after one of the most controversial behavioral experiments in history, a social psychologist has found that people are still just as willing to administer what they believe are painful electric shocks to others when urged on by an authority figure.

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