ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Champagne is good for your heart, study suggests -- but only in moderation
• Putting limits on vitamin E
• Looking back in time 12 billion years with new instruments on Herschel Space Observatory
• Treating alcohol-use disorders and tuberculosis together
• Moving video to 'captcha' robot hackers
• Young hunters most likely to be injured using tree stands
• Children more likely to catch swine flu, says new research
• Short-term school closures may worsen flu pandemics
• Chinese-American and Korean-American women at highest risk for diabetes in pregnancy
• Engineered tobacco plants have more potential as a biofuel
• Scientists develop technique to determine ethnic origin of stem cell lines
• Marseillevirus -- a new member of the giant viruses
• Small molecules found to protect cells in multiple models of Parkinson's disease
• New RNA interference technique can silence up to five genes
• Weakened Plasmodium generates protective immunity
• Permafrost thaw may accelerate Arctic groundwater runoff
• Secrets of duck sex revealed: It's all screwed up
• No rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide fraction in past 160 years, new research finds
• New tool in the fight against mosquito-borne disease: A microbial 'mosquito net'
• Body's own veins provide superior material for aortic grafts
• Imaging tests identify role of allergies in chronic sinus disease
• How much ice needed to create Martian land formations?
• Addictive effects of caffeine on kids being studied
• Natural variability led to extra-cold 2008, research finds
• Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage
• New video reveals secrets of Webb Telescope's MIRI
• Widely used device for pain therapy not recommended for chronic low back pain
• Saturn's auroral hiss is asymmetrical
• Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples
• Severity of H1N1 influenza linked to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Discovery of new function of prion protein improves understanding of epilepsy
• Handful of iron beads offer clues to solve mystery of ancient iron forges
• Why diseased heart muscle cells don't communicate properly
• Continental roots stress Earth's surface
• Children who lack continuity with a regular health care provider miss needed services

Champagne is good for your heart, study suggests -- but only in moderation Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Research from the UK suggests that two glasses of champagne a day may be good for your heart and circulation. The researchers have found that drinking champagne wine daily in moderate amounts causes improvements in the way blood vessels function.

Putting limits on vitamin E Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Scientists have done the most comprehensive and accurate study of clinical data on vitamin E use and heart disease to date, and it warns that indiscriminate use of high-dose vitamin E supplementation does more harm than good.

Looking back in time 12 billion years with new instruments on Herschel Space Observatory Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Astronomers have made the most detailed views yet of space up to 12 billion years back in time.

Treating alcohol-use disorders and tuberculosis together Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Treatment for alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB) is rarely integrated, even though the two diseases have a high co-occurrence. American and Russian researchers have jointly designed and are monitoring an innovative program that will deliver alcohol treatment as part of routine TB care. The trial study is continuing.

Moving video to 'captcha' robot hackers Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a synthesis technique that generates moving pictures of 3-D objects which will allow security developers to generate an infinite number of "emergence" images virtually impossible for any computer algorithm to decode.

Young hunters most likely to be injured using tree stands Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 PM PST Young hunters between the ages of 15 and 34 are the most likely to suffer serious injuries in tree stand-related incidents, say researchers. The same researchers' findings, though, suggest that such injuries are preventable.

Children more likely to catch swine flu, says new research Posted: 31 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study. However, the research also shows that young people are no more likely than adults to infect others with the pandemic H1N1 virus.

Short-term school closures may worsen flu pandemics Posted: 31 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic. The findings, developed from a series of computer simulations based on U.S. census data, indicate that schools may need to be closed for at least eight weeks in order to significantly decrease the spread of infection.

Chinese-American and Korean-American women at highest risk for diabetes in pregnancy Posted: 31 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST A new study found more than 10 percent of women of Chinese and Korean heritage may be at risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy. The first of its kind, the 10-year study of 16,757 women and 22,110 pregnancies in Hawaii found that Chinese-American and Korean-American women's gestational diabetes risk is one-third higher than average -- and more than double that of Caucasian and African-American women.

Engineered tobacco plants have more potential as a biofuel Posted: 31 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel.

Scientists develop technique to determine ethnic origin of stem cell lines Posted: 31 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists have developed a straightforward technique to determine the ethnic origin of stem cells. The team's analysis of a variety of human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use in research laboratories around the world found that these cells originated largely from Caucasian and East Asian populations, with little representation from populations originating in Africa.

Marseillevirus -- a new member of the giant viruses Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST After Mimivirus, Mamavirus and the virophage, the group of giant viruses now has a new member called Marseillevirus. The new virus was discovered in an amoeba by a team of French researchers. Their findings suggest the exchange of genes in amoebae that may lead to the constitution of different gene repertoires that could be a source of new pathogens.

Small molecules found to protect cells in multiple models of Parkinson's disease Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Several structurally similar small molecules appear capable of protecting cells from alpha-synuclein toxicity, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowed movements. There is currently no cure for the disease, and current Parkinson's therapies only address disease symptoms, not the disease's cellular cause.

New RNA interference technique can silence up to five genes Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers report that they have successfully used RNA interference to turn off multiple genes in the livers of mice, an advance that could lead to new treatments for diseases of the liver and other organs.

Weakened Plasmodium generates protective immunity Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have found that weakened Plasmodium elicits a protective immune response.

Permafrost thaw may accelerate Arctic groundwater runoff Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST As the Arctic warms, permafrost will degrade, potentially resulting in increased groundwater runoff as frozen ground that had blocked the flow of water melts. To investigate how groundwater systems will evolve as surface temperatures rise, researchers have developed a model to simulate an idealized aquifer covered by a layer of permafrost.

Secrets of duck sex revealed: It's all screwed up Posted: 31 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Female ducks have evolved an intriguing way to avoid becoming impregnated by undesirable but aggressive males endowed with large corkscrew-shaped penises: vaginas with clockwise spirals that thwart oppositely spiraled males.

No rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide fraction in past 160 years, new research finds Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase. In contradiction to those studies, new research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades.

New tool in the fight against mosquito-borne disease: A microbial 'mosquito net' Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya.

Body's own veins provide superior material for aortic grafts Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST A vascular surgical technique designed to replace infected aortic grafts with the body's own veins has proved more durable and less prone to new infection than similar procedures using synthetic and cadaver grafts.

Imaging tests identify role of allergies in chronic sinus disease Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Exposing patients with chronic sinus disease to allergens and then obtaining repeated images by X-ray or ultrasound reveals that nasal allergies may be involved in some cases of chronic sinus disease, according to a new study.

How much ice needed to create Martian land formations? Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Some land formations on Mars suggest the presence of water ice. These features could have been created by viscous creep of ice below the surface in Martian permafrost. To determine how much ice would be needed to form the observed topography on Mars, researchers conducted laboratory experiments to simulate the frozen Martian sand.

Addictive effects of caffeine on kids being studied Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Caffeine is a stimulant drug, although legal, and adults use it widely to perk themselves up: Being "addicted" to caffeine is considered perfectly normal. But how strong is caffeine's appeal in young people who consume an abundance of soft drinks? What impact does acute and chronic caffeine consumption have on their blood pressure, heart rate and hand tremor? Furthermore, does consuming caffeinated drinks during adolescence contribute to later use of legal or illicit drugs?

Natural variability led to extra-cold 2008, research finds Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST An especially cold year in North America in 2008 led some members of the public and the media to question the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming. In addition, the cool global temperatures during the past decade may appear to contrast with the warming expected due to human influence. New research finds that the anthropogenic forcing in 2008 did contribute to temperatures warmer than would otherwise have occurred but that those human-induced effects were overwhelmed by a particularly strong bout of natural cooling.

Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST The gene in question is a suicide gene, called "gene E," which leads to the death of tumor cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show "limited" results in advanced stages of cancer, so the kind of gene therapy proposed by the scientists of the UGR is a huge breakthrough in cancer treatment.

New video reveals secrets of Webb Telescope's MIRI Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST It's going to take infrared eyes to see farther back in time than even the Hubble Space Telescope, and that's what the James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI or Mid-Infrared Instrument detectors will do.

Widely used device for pain therapy not recommended for chronic low back pain Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, a widely used pain therapy involving a portable device, is not recommended to treat chronic low-back pain -- pain that has persisted for three months or longer -- because research shows it is not effective.

Saturn's auroral hiss is asymmetrical Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Saturn emits "auroral hiss," a whistler-mode electromagnetic emission observed in the magnetosphere at high latitudes. This emission is similar to auroral hiss emitted by Earth. However, unlike Earth's auroral hiss, researchers have found that Saturn rotates in a beam-like matter around the planet.

Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples Posted: 31 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally grown apples than genetically modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire consumers preferred GMO apples -- that is, when they were described, not as GMO, but as having a Reduced Environmental Impact. The research demonstrated that product labeling makes a difference when it comes to consumer acceptance.

Severity of H1N1 influenza linked to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza. Reports that H1N1 pandemic influenza in Argentina was associated with higher morbidity and mortality than in other countries led investigators in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health to look for viral mutations indicative of increased virulence and for co-infections that could contribute to disease.

Discovery of new function of prion protein improves understanding of epilepsy Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Cellular prion protein (PrPc) plays an essential role in maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis in the central nervous system. This discovery has been made possible by the observation that both a deficiency and an excess of the protein have a considerable effect on this homeostasis. Surprisingly, in both cases, the central nervous excitability threshold is altered to such an extent that an epileptic seizure may result. Thanks to this discovery, researchers now have more tools at our disposal that can help deepen our basic understanding of epilepsy.

Handful of iron beads offer clues to solve mystery of ancient iron forges Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST When archaeologist Ruth Iren Øien noticed a cluster of tiny iron beads in the ground, she knew she was onto something. She did not know, however, that her team had stumbled upon Scandinavia's oldest and most complex group of iron forges.

Why diseased heart muscle cells don't communicate properly Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST The heartbeat is controlled by rapid conduction of an electrical current between heart muscle cells. Central to passage of the electrical current are structures known as gap junctions, low resistance conduits that link heart muscle cells and consist of proteins known as connexins.

Continental roots stress Earth's surface Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST The Earth's rigid lithosphere varies laterally in thickness and strength. Areas of thicker, older lithosphere known as continental roots penetrate deeper into the mantle in some places under continents. Because these continental roots are in contact with deeper, more viscous mantle, the shear traction at the base of the lithosphere in those areas is increased by up to a factor of 4 compared with a model lithosphere without continental roots.

Children who lack continuity with a regular health care provider miss needed services Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Low-income children who don't access health care from the same place or provider over the long term are significantly more likely to have unmet health care needs compared with those do, according to a new study.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells
• Rapid flu testing
• New acoustic tools may reduce ship strikes on whales
• Cardiovascular devices often approved by FDA without high-quality studies, study suggests
• 'Spaghetti' Scaffolding Could Help Grow Skin In Labs
• Why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach
• Transcription factors guide differences in human and chimp brain function
• New target for lymphoma therapy
• Dominant Chemical That Attracts Mosquitoes To Humans Identified
• Obesity May Hinder Optimal Control Of Blood Pressure And Cholesterol
• Heme channel found: shuttles vital but vulnerable heme molecule across biological membranes
• Fish with attitude: Some like it hot
• Evolution experiments with flowers
• Scientists discover a controller of brain circuitry
• Mobilizing the repair squad: Critical protein helps mend damaged DNA
• Aerobic Exercise No Big Stretch For Older Adults But Helps Elasticity Of Arteries
• Learning From Insects: The Race Is On For New 'Bio-Resources'
• Acupuncture reduces hot flashes, improves sex drive for breast cancer patients
• Born in beauty: Proplyds in the Orion Nebula
• Ginkgo biloba does not appear to slow rate of cognitive decline
• Nanoscale changes in collagen are a tipoff to bone health
• What Part Do Relapses Play In Severe Disability For People With MS?
• Mapping Nutrient Distributions Over The Atlantic Ocean
• Energy Gap Useful Tool For Successful Weight Loss Maintenance Strategy
• Brain scans show distinctive patterns in people with generalized anxiety disorder
• Common mechanism underlies many diseases of excitability
• Drought Resistance Explained: Protein Structure Reveals How Plants Respond To Water Shortages
• New Genetic Cause Of A Fatal Immune Disorder
• Perfectly Proportioned: Evenly Distributed Powder Density For Manufacturing Parts
• Couples Say Relationships Damaged By Stroke
• Lithium-air batteries could displace gasoline in future cars

Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST An ultra-high-resolution imaging technique using X-ray diffraction is a step closer to fulfilling its promise as a window on nanometer-scale structures in biological samples. Researchers report progress in applying an approach to "lensless" X-ray microscopy that they introduced one year ago, with the potential to yield insights for evolutionary biology and biotechnology. They have produced the first images, using this technique, of biological cells -- specifically the intriguing polyextremophile Deinococcus radiourans.

Rapid flu testing Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Researchers have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza.

New acoustic tools may reduce ship strikes on whales Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Over the past decade, researchers have developed a variety of reliable real-time and archival instruments to study sounds made or heard by marine mammals and fish. These new sensors are now being used in research, management and conservation projects around the world with some very important practical results. Among them is improved monitoring of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an effort to reduce ship strikes, a leading cause of their deaths.

Cardiovascular devices often approved by FDA without high-quality studies, study suggests Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Pre-market approval by the FDA of cardiovascular devices is often based on studies that lack adequate strength or may have been prone to bias, according to a new study. Researchers found that of nearly 80 high-risk devices, the majority received approval based on data from a single study.

'Spaghetti' Scaffolding Could Help Grow Skin In Labs Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST Scientists are developing new scaffolding technology which could be used to grow tissues such as skin, nerves and cartilage using 3D spaghetti-like structures.

Why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach Posted: 30 Dec 2009 11:00 AM PST The past year has been marked by a series of moral transgressions by powerful figures in political, business and celebrity circles. New research explores why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach.

Transcription factors guide differences in human and chimp brain function Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Humans share at least 97 percent of their genes with chimpanzees, but, as a new study of transcription factors makes clear, what you have in your genome may be less important than how you use it.

New target for lymphoma therapy Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered how an oncogene gets activated in mature B cells, suggesting a new target for therapy in B cell lymphomas. The study marks the first time researchers have understood how the over-activation of c-myc can lead to blood-related cancers.

Dominant Chemical That Attracts Mosquitoes To Humans Identified Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Scientists have identified the dominant odor naturally produced in humans and birds that attracts the blood-feeding Culex mosquitoes, which transmits West Nile virus and other life-threatening diseases. The groundbreaking research explains why mosquitoes shifted hosts from birds to humans and paves the way for key developments in mosquito and disease control.

Obesity May Hinder Optimal Control Of Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research.

Heme channel found: shuttles vital but vulnerable heme molecule across biological membranes Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Heme, a crucial component of the biomachinery that squeezes energy out of food and stores it for later use, must be transported across membranes but without exposing its central iron atom to oxidation. New research shows how it is done.

Fish with attitude: Some like it hot Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:00 AM PST Coral reef fish can undergo a personality change in warmer water, according to an intriguing new study suggesting that climate change may make some species more aggressive.

Evolution experiments with flowers Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Evolution uses every chance it gets to try something new. Researchers have now investigated how petunia flowers are formed and discovered that nature is even more varied than the naked eye can spot. The genes involved in flower formation can function differently in different species. Evolution has discovered a system that works, but within that system it continues to innovate.

Scientists discover a controller of brain circuitry Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST By combining a research technique that dates back 136 years with modern molecular genetics, a neuroscientist has been able to see how a mammal's brain shrewdly revisits and reuses the same molecular cues to control the complex design of its circuits.

Mobilizing the repair squad: Critical protein helps mend damaged DNA Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST In order to preserve our DNA, cells have developed an intricate system for monitoring and repairing DNA damage. Yet precisely how the initial damage signal is converted into a repair response remains unclear. Researchers have now solved a crucial piece of the complex puzzle.

Aerobic Exercise No Big Stretch For Older Adults But Helps Elasticity Of Arteries Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Just three months of physical activity reaps heart health benefits for older adults with type 2 diabetes by improving the elasticity in their arteries -- reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, researchers say.

Learning From Insects: The Race Is On For New 'Bio-Resources' Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Unseen and unheard, insects are all around us. And with more than a million different species, each one perfectly adapted to its environment, no other form of animal life comes close to matching insects for diversity. Scientists now want to exploit this diversity to develop and test new medicines, new methods of pest control, new industrial enzymes and even bionic systems.

Acupuncture reduces hot flashes, improves sex drive for breast cancer patients Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:00 AM PST Not only is acupuncture as effective as drug therapy at reducing hot flashes in breast cancer patients, it has the added benefit of potentially increasing a woman's sex drive and improving her sense of well-being, according to a new study.

Born in beauty: Proplyds in the Orion Nebula Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST A collection of 30 never-before-released images of embryonic planetary systems in the Orion Nebula are the highlight of the longest single Hubble Space Telescope project ever dedicated to the topic of star and planet formation. Also known as proplyds, or protoplanetary discs, these modest blobs surrounding baby stars are shedding light on the mechanism behind planet formation.

Ginkgo biloba does not appear to slow rate of cognitive decline Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Older adults who used the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba for several years did not have a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to adults who received placebo, according to a new study.

Nanoscale changes in collagen are a tipoff to bone health Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Using a technique that provides detailed images of nanoscale structures, researchers have discovered changes in the collagen component of bone that directly relate to bone health.

What Part Do Relapses Play In Severe Disability For People With MS? Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have relapses within the first five years of onset appear to have more severe disability in the short term compared to people who do not have an early relapse, according to a new study. The study is one of the first to examine how MS relapses affect people during different time periods of the disease.

Mapping Nutrient Distributions Over The Atlantic Ocean Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST Large-scale distributions of two important nutrient pools -- dissolved organic nitrogen and dissolved organic phosphorus have been systematically mapped for the first time over the Atlantic Ocean in a new study. The findings have important implications for understanding nitrogen and phosphorus biogeochemical cycles and the biological carbon pump in the Atlantic Ocean.

Energy Gap Useful Tool For Successful Weight Loss Maintenance Strategy Posted: 30 Dec 2009 02:00 AM PST The term energy gap was coined to estimate the change in energy balance (intake and expenditure) behaviors required to achieve and sustain reduced body weight outcomes in individuals and populations. In a new commentary, researchers more precisely clarify the concept of the energy gap (or energy gaps) and discuss how the concept can be properly used as a tool to help understand and address obesity.

Brain scans show distinctive patterns in people with generalized anxiety disorder Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Scrambled connections between the part of the brain that processes fear and emotion and other brain regions could be the hallmark of a common anxiety disorder, according to a new study. The findings could help researchers identify biological differences between types of anxiety disorders as well as such disorders as depression.

Common mechanism underlies many diseases of excitability Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels are associated with many different human diseases, including genetic forms of epilepsy and chronic pain. New research has now determined the functional consequence of three such mutations. These results suggest that there might be a common mechanism underlying diseases caused by mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels.

Drought Resistance Explained: Protein Structure Reveals How Plants Respond To Water Shortages Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Scientists have discovered that the key to plants' responses to drought lies in the structure of a protein called PYR1 and how it interacts with the plant hormone abscisic acid. Their study could open up new approaches to increasing crops' resistance to water shortage.

New Genetic Cause Of A Fatal Immune Disorder Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is an inherited, fatal, immune disorder. Disease-causing mutations have been identified in several genes. Now, researchers have added a new gene to this list by determining that two distinct mutations in the gene that generates syntaxin-binding protein 2 cause disease in a subset of patients with FHL.

Perfectly Proportioned: Evenly Distributed Powder Density For Manufacturing Parts Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST The manufacture of parts by compaction and sintering involves filling a die with metal powder. Research scientists have simulated this process for the first time to achieve an evenly distributed powder density. This improves the cost-efficiency of sintering.

Couples Say Relationships Damaged By Stroke Posted: 29 Dec 2009 11:00 PM PST Suffering a stroke can lead to significant changes in how couples relate to each other on both a physical and emotional level, according to new University of Ulster research.

Lithium-air batteries could displace gasoline in future cars Posted: 29 Dec 2009 09:00 PM PST In excess of seven million barrels of gasoline are consumed by vehicles in the United States every day. As scientists race to find environmentally sound solutions to fuel the world's ever-growing transportation needs, battery researchers are exploring the promise of lithium-air battery technology.

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