ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Identifying thoughts through brain codes leads to deciphering the brain's dictionary
• 'Missing link' between heart failure and environment discovered
• Mosquito hunters invent better, cheaper, DIY disease weapon
• Obesity linked to common form of kidney cancer and each extra BMI point increases risk
• Scientists create super-strong collagen
• 'Weekend effect' makes people happier regardless of their job, study says
• 'Longevity gene' helps prevent memory decline and dementia
• Plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) linked to cardiovascular disease in adults, analysis confirms
• Green tea could modify the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk
• Melanoma stem cells' evasive talents
• Across the multiverse: Physicist considers the big picture
• Online poker study: The more hands you win, the more money you lose
• How galaxies came to be: Astronomers explain Hubble sequence
• Loss of smell function may predict early onset of Alzheimer's disease
• Tilapia feed on Fiji's native fish
• Women with breast cancer may benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation
• Genetic analyses of influenza in wild birds can improve avian flu surveillance programs
• People's racial biases can skew perceptions of how much help victims need
• New stroke therapy successful in rats: Protein completely restores motor function
• Dementia linked to high blood pressure years earlier
• Scientists find amazing new pondlife on nature reserve
• Having a family member under 50 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer increases risk
• Stable climate and plant domestication linked
• When work interferes with life
• As in humans, sleep solidifies a bird's memories
• New hope for therapy in heartburn-related cancer
• NASA to Check for Unlikely Winter Survival of Mars Lander
• Newer treatment for Achilles tendon disorder does not appear to be effective
• Reconstruction of the most intense avalanches of the last 40 years in the Catalonian Pyrenees
• College Admissions: Study quantifies minority enrollment losses if affirmative action is eliminated
• Microbe understudies await their turn in the limelight: Deep-sea 'Lost City' shows rare microbes can become dominant
• Reducing dosage of Parkinson's drugs can cause symptoms similar to those of cocaine withdrawal
• Wild Iberian horses contributed to origin of current Iberian domestic stock
• Cornea cell density predictive of graft failure at six months post-transplant
• The grid: A new way of doing science
• Can we trust the results of research done on children?
• First known instance of a cricket as an orchid pollinator captured on film
• Blocking nuclear receptor may cut off tumor blood supply
• Virtual reality tele-rehab improves hand function: Playing games for real recovery
• Study casts doubt on caffeine link to tinnitus
• Team wins global race to achieve landmark synthesis of perplexing natural product
• Monitoring of high-risk antipsychotic drugs unchanged despite FDA warnings
• Small amounts of lead may damage children's kidneys
• A role for calcium in taste perception
• Discovery provides new drug targets for malaria cure
• Faster and more efficient software for the US Air Force
• Got cognitive activity? It does a mind good

Identifying thoughts through brain codes leads to deciphering the brain's dictionary Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Two hundred years ago, archaeologists used the Rosetta Stone to understand the ancient Egyptian scrolls. Now, a team of scientists has discovered the beginnings of a neural Rosetta Stone. By combining brain imaging and machine learning techniques, neuroscientists and computer scientists determined how the brain arranges noun representations. Understanding how the brain codes nouns is important for treating psychiatric and neurological illnesses.

'Missing link' between heart failure and environment discovered Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Scientists have found what they believe is the "missing link" between heart failure, our genes and our environment. The study could open up completely new ways of managing and treating heart disease.

Mosquito hunters invent better, cheaper, DIY disease weapon Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Researchers believe they have come up with the cheapest, most efficient way yet to monitor adult mosquitoes and the deadly diseases they carry, from malaria to West Nile Virus.

Obesity linked to common form of kidney cancer and each extra BMI point increases risk Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Being obese could lead to a greater risk of developing the most common form of renal cell cancer, according to a study of 1,640 patients. Researchers discovered that obese patients with kidney tumors had 48 percent higher odds of developing a clear-cell renal cell cancer than patients with a body mass index of less than 30. And the odds increased by 4 percent for every extra BMI point.

Scientists create super-strong collagen Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST Scientists have created the strongest form of collagen known to science, a stable alternative to human collagen that could one day be used to treat arthritis and other conditions that result from collagen defects.

'Weekend effect' makes people happier regardless of their job, study says Posted: 13 Jan 2010 11:00 AM PST From construction laborers and secretaries to physicians and lawyers, people experience better moods, greater vitality and fewer aches and pains from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, concludes the first study of daily mood variation in employed adults. And that "weekend effect" is largely associated with the freedom to choose one's activities and the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, the research found.

'Longevity gene' helps prevent memory decline and dementia Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Scientists have found that a "longevity gene" helps to slow age-related decline in brain function in older adults. Drugs that mimic the gene's effect are now under development, the researchers note, and could help protect against Alzheimer's disease.

Plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) linked to cardiovascular disease in adults, analysis confirms Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Researchers in the UK have found more evidence for a link between bisphenol A exposure (BPA, a chemical commonly used in plastic food containers) and cardiovascular disease.

Green tea could modify the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Green tea can reduce the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Benefits were also seen in non-smokers.

Melanoma stem cells' evasive talents Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Melanoma, if not detected in its early stages, transforms into a highly deadly, treatment-resistant cancer. Although the immune system initially responds to melanoma and mounts anti-tumor attacks, these assaults are generally ineffective, allowing more advanced melanomas to win the battle and spread beyond the primary site. Now, researchers shed light on how melanomas stimulate, yet ultimately evade, a patient's immune system.

Across the multiverse: Physicist considers the big picture Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST Is there anybody out there? In one physicist's case, the question refers not to whether life exists elsewhere in the universe, but whether it exists in other universes outside of our own.

Online poker study: The more hands you win, the more money you lose Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:00 AM PST A new study of online poker seems counterintuitive: The more hands players win, the less money they're likely to collect -- especially when it comes to novice players.

How galaxies came to be: Astronomers explain Hubble sequence Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST For the first time, two astronomers have explained the diversity of galaxy shapes seen in the universe. The scientists tracked the evolution of galaxies over thirteen billion years from the early Universe to the present day.

Loss of smell function may predict early onset of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST A new study links a loss of smell function in Alzheimer's disease model animals with amyloid (protein) accumulation in the brain, a distinguishing hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. New research suggests that olfactory dysfunction, a common symptom of AD, may serve as an early diagnostic tool for the disease.

Tilapia feed on Fiji's native fish Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST The poster child for sustainable fish farming -- the tilapia -- is actually a problematic invasive species for the native fish of the islands of Fiji, according to a new study.

Women with breast cancer may benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Compared to conventional chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation can extend "event-free survival" for breast cancer patients. Clinical trials provide proof of this for breast cancer with and without distant metastases. However, there are indications that this type of stem cell transplantation can more frequently give rise to severe complications affecting almost all organ systems.

Genetic analyses of influenza in wild birds can improve avian flu surveillance programs Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Genetic analyses of avian influenza in wild birds can help pinpoint likely carrier species and geographic hot spots where Eurasian viruses would be most likely to enter North America, according to new research.

People's racial biases can skew perceptions of how much help victims need Posted: 13 Jan 2010 05:00 AM PST Researchers surveyed undergraduate students a year after Hurricane Katrina to examine their perceptions of the hurricane victims and the helping response. The findings showed that when recalling victims of Hurricane Katrina, participants who were less racist thought the victims did not receive adequate help from the government. Participants who were more racist thought the victims received adequate government assistance and were at fault for their situation.

New stroke therapy successful in rats: Protein completely restores motor function Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST People with impaired mobility after a stroke soon may have a therapy that restores limb function long after the injury, if a supplemental protein works as well in humans as it does in paralyzed rats.

Dementia linked to high blood pressure years earlier Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST High blood pressure may put women at greater risk for dementia later in life by increasing white matter abnormalities in the brain, researchers report.

Scientists find amazing new pondlife on nature reserve Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST One year in to a project to save one of the UK's top sites for pondlife, amazing new species are being revealed for the first time. Scientists have discovered an astonishing variety of minute aquatic organisms, so small as to be invisible to the naked eye.

Having a family member under 50 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer increases risk Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST A person who has multiple family members with pancreatic cancer ("familial pancreatic cancer") is six times as likely to develop that cancer. This risk is even higher, nine times that of the general population, if one of their relatives developed their cancer under the age of 50, according to a new study.

Stable climate and plant domestication linked Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST Sustainable farming and the introduction of new crops relies on a relatively stable climate, not dramatic conditions attributable to climate change. Basing their argument on evolutionary, ecological, genetic and agronomic considerations, researchers demonstrate why climate change is not the likely cause of plant domestication in the Near East.

When work interferes with life Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST As many as 50 percent of people bring their work home with them regularly, according to new research that describes the stress associated with work-life balance and the factors that predict it.

As in humans, sleep solidifies a bird's memories Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Sleeping is known to help humans stabilize information and tasks learned during the preceding day. Now, researchers have found that sleep has similar effects upon learning in starlings, a discovery that will open up future research into how the brain learns and preserves information. The research fills an important gap between human behavioral findings and animal experiments of how the brain changes after learning and sleep.

New hope for therapy in heartburn-related cancer Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST A new study shows that DBZ, a drug currently in clinical trials for use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, is able in rats to stop the growth of Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition which if unchecked can lead to esophageal (gullet) cancer. This may be a powerful new weapon in the fight against a common cancer which is hard to treat and usually fatal.

NASA to Check for Unlikely Winter Survival of Mars Lander Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Beginning Jan. 18, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter will listen for possible, though improbable, radio transmissions from the Phoenix Mars Lander, which completed five months of studying an arctic Martian site in November 2008.

Newer treatment for Achilles tendon disorder does not appear to be effective Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST An apparently increasingly used treatment method for a type of Achilles tendon disorder that includes injection of platelet-rich plasma into the tendon does not appear to result in greater improvement in pain or activity compared to placebo, according to results of a preliminary study.

Reconstruction of the most intense avalanches of the last 40 years in the Catalonian Pyrenees Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST Researchers have studied the dynamics of avalanches in the Catalonian Pyrenees using dendrochronology (exact dating from tree-ring growth). The results show that the periods 1971-72, 1995-96 and 2002-03 have been the most intense of the last 40 years. Avalanches in the 90s affected the entire Pyrenees and since then there have been none more intense.

College Admissions: Study quantifies minority enrollment losses if affirmative action is eliminated Posted: 12 Jan 2010 11:00 PM PST A nationwide ban on affirmative action in college admissions would cause a 10 percent drop in black and Hispanic enrollment at the nation's most selective colleges and universities, according to a new study.

Microbe understudies await their turn in the limelight: Deep-sea 'Lost City' shows rare microbes can become dominant Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST On the marine microbial stage, there appears to be a vast, varied group of understudies only too ready to step in when "star" microbes falter. New research provides the first evidence that microorganisms can be rare for long periods before completely turning the tables to become dominant when ecosystems change.

Reducing dosage of Parkinson's drugs can cause symptoms similar to those of cocaine withdrawal Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST New research has shown that reducing the dosage of dopamine agonist drugs, a mainstay treatment for Parkinson's disease, sometimes causes acute withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by cocaine addicts, including anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sweating, nausea, generalized pain, fatigue, dizziness and drug cravings. These symptoms can be severe, and are not alleviated by other PD medications. For the first time, researchers have defined this phenomenon, which they call dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome, or DAWS.

Wild Iberian horses contributed to origin of current Iberian domestic stock Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST Some modern horses of Iberian origin are descendants from wild horses from the Early Iberian Neolithic, dated around 6,200 years ago. Ancient lineages are mainly represented in the Lusitano group C, constituted by some modern Lusitano and American horses.

Cornea cell density predictive of graft failure at six months post-transplant Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST A new predictor of cornea transplant success has been identified by the Cornea Donor Study (CDS) Investigator Group. New analysis of data from the 2008 Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study, a subset of the CDS, found that the preoperative donor cell count of endothelial cells, previously considered to be an important predictor of a successful transplant, did not correlate with graft success.

The grid: A new way of doing science Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST A European consortium has brought the power of grid computing to bear on problems ranging from the genetic origins of heart disease to the management of fish stocks and the reconstruction of ancient musical instruments.

Can we trust the results of research done on children? Posted: 12 Jan 2010 08:00 PM PST New research finds that flawed medical research could lead to children receiving treatment that either doesn't work or is harmful.

First known instance of a cricket as an orchid pollinator captured on film Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST A researcher studying how the orchid genus Angraecum has adapted to different pollinators on Reunion Island has used motion sensitive night cameras to capture the first known occurrence of a cricket functioning as a pollinator of flowering plants.

Blocking nuclear receptor may cut off tumor blood supply Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST A new method of blocking the genesis of blood vessels that feed tumors may start with the nuclear receptor COUP-TFII, said researchers who have studied the factor for more than 20 years.

Virtual reality tele-rehab improves hand function: Playing games for real recovery Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living for which two hands are needed. Researchers suspect using these games could similarly benefit individuals with other illness that affect movement, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, arthritis and even those with orthopedic injuries affecting the arm or hand.

Study casts doubt on caffeine link to tinnitus Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST New research has found giving up caffeine does not relieve tinnitus and acute caffeine withdrawal might add to the problem. This is the first study of its kind to look at the effect of caffeine consumption on tinnitus.

Team wins global race to achieve landmark synthesis of perplexing natural product Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST In 1993 researchers discovered a chemical compound in a sponge off Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, that has shown anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal pharmaceutical promise. This compound, called Palau'amine, is so chemically complex that finding a way to produce it in the laboratory became the most hotly pursued synthetic chemistry goal in modern history. Groups around the globe dedicated millions to the challenge, and now one team of scientists has finally completed the quest.

Monitoring of high-risk antipsychotic drugs unchanged despite FDA warnings Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:00 PM PST A new study concludes that many doctors appear to have largely ignored a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning to screen users of new antipsychotic drugs for high blood sugar and cholesterol, which poses risks to their health and raises questions about the efficacy of warning protocols in general.

Small amounts of lead may damage children's kidneys Posted: 12 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Small amounts of lead in the bodies of healthy children and teens -- amounts well below the levels defined as "concerning" by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- may worsen kidney function, according to a new study.

A role for calcium in taste perception Posted: 12 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Calcium may not come to mind when you think of tasty foods, but Japanese researchers have provided the first demonstration that calcium channels on the tongue are the targets of compounds that can enhance taste.

Discovery provides new drug targets for malaria cure Posted: 12 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers are a step closer to developing new antimalarial drugs after discovering the normal function of a set of proteins related to the malaria parasite protein, which causes resistance to the front-line drug chloroquine. The findings also provide a novel tool for studying the malarial chloroquine-resistance factor.

Faster and more efficient software for the US Air Force Posted: 12 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST Researchers have addressed the issue of faulty software by developing an algorithm and open source tool that is 300 times faster at generating tests and also reduces current software testing time.

Got cognitive activity? It does a mind good Posted: 12 Jan 2010 02:00 PM PST If you don't have a college degree, you're at greater risk of developing memory problems or even Alzheimer's. Education influences lifelong memory performance and risk for dementia, and those with a college degree possess a cognitive advantage over their less educated counterparts in middle and old age. A new study shows that those with less schooling can compensate by doing mental exercises such as word games, puzzles, reading and lectures.

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