ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Zebra's Stripes, Butterfly's Wings: How Do Biological Patterns Emerge? Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A zebra's stripes, a seashell's spirals, a butterfly's wings: these are all examples of patterns in nature. The formation of patterns is a puzzle for mathematicians and biologists alike. How does the delicate design of a butterfly's wings come from a single fertilized egg? How does pattern emerge out of no pattern? Using computer models and live cells, researchers have discovered a specific pattern that can direct cell movement and may help us understand how metastatic cancer cells move.

Legionnaire Microbe's Tricks Discovered Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Researchers have shed new light how bacteria like the ones that cause Legionnaires' disease and Q-fever raise such havoc in human patients. In order to survive, the gram-negative bacteria use genes that have evolved in tandem with ones in their hosts to essentially disarm immune system cells trying to kill them, the scientists report in the journal Science.

New System Helps Police Match Tattoos To Suspects Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT An automatic image retrieval system has been created, whereby law enforcement agencies will be able to match scars, marks and tattoos to identify suspects and victims.

Minimally-invasive Weight Loss Surgery Improves Health And Morbidly Obese Teens Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Teenagers' obesity-related medical complications improve just six months after laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, according to outcomes data. The study reports that the small group of extremely obese teenagers who received the minimally invasive surgery, also called the Lap-Band procedure, as part of a clinical trial lost an average of 20 pounds after six months and had significant improvements in abdominal fat, triglyceride measurements (levels of fat in the blood) and blood sugar levels as measured by hemoglobin A1c -- all risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Toxic To Aliens -- But Key To Health Of Planet Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Scientists are using an ingredient found in common shampoos to investigate how the oxygen content of the oceans has changed over geologically recent time.

Liter Of Fuel Would Last UK 1 Year If Cars Had Kept Pace With Computers Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT One liter of fuel would serve the UK for a year and oil reserves would last the expected lifetime of the solar system -- if efficiency in the car industry had improved at the same rate as in the computer world -- a leading computer scientist has said.

Surprisingly Rapid Changes In Earth’s Core Discovered Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The movements in the liquid part of the Earth's core are changing surprisingly quickly, and this affects the Earth's magnetic field, according to new research.

Radiation Therapy Prolongs Life In Men With Recurrent Prostate Cancer Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Men whose tumors recur after prostate cancer surgery are three times more likely to survive their disease long term if they undergo radiotherapy within two years of the recurrence. Surprisingly, survival benefits were best in men whose new tumors were growing fastest, according to results of a "look-back" study of 635 men by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions researchers reported June 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Space Radar To Improve Miners' Safety Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Advanced ground penetration radar, originally developed to investigate the soil structure on the moon and other planets on ESA planetary missions, is now being used in Canadian mines to spot hidden cracks and weaknesses in mine roofs.

Allergy Expert Has Advice For Flood Victims Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT As if the emotional and financial impact of flood damage isn't bad enough, floodwaters can also bring health problems. Scientists say after the water recedes, damp homes and businesses are fertile grounds for mold growth, which can cause allergic reactions and asthmatic symptoms in sensitive people.

'Man-made' Water Has Different Chemistry Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT As population growth, food production and the regional effects of climate change place greater stress on the Earth's natural water supply, "man-made" water -- created by removing salt from seawater and brackish groundwater through reverse osmosis desalination -- will become an increasingly important resource for millions of humans, especially those in arid regions such as the Middle East, the western United States, northern Africa and central Asia.

Should Doctors Be 'Selling' Drugs For The Pharmaceutical Industry? Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Are senior doctors who help drug companies sell their drugs independent experts or just drug representatives in disguise? According to the article, drug companies will pay influential doctors up to $400 an hour to act as key opinion leaders, and some doctors earn more than $25,000 a year in advisory fees.

Expect More Droughts, Heavy Downpours, Excessive Heat, And Intense Hurricanes Due To Global Warming, NOAA Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT The U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research has released a scientific assessment that provides the first comprehensive analysis of observed and projected changes in weather and climate extremes in North America and U.S. territories. Among the major findings reported in this assessment are that droughts, heavy downpours, excessive heat, and intense hurricanes are likely to become more commonplace as humans continue to increase the atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The report is based on scientific evidence that a warming world will be accompanied by changes in the intensity, duration, frequency, and geographic extent of weather and climate extremes.

New Computerized System Estimates Geographic Location Of Photos Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have devised the first computerized method that can analyze a single photograph and determine where in the world the image likely was taken. It's a feat made possible by searching through millions of GPS-tagged images in the Flickr online photo collection.

Experimental Anti-cancer Synthetic Molecule Targets Tumor Cell Growth And Angiogenesis Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT A recent study describes a new candidate anti-cancer drug, HB-19. In contrast to conventional anti-cancer drugs, HB-19 has a dual mechanism of action by independently targeting tumor cell growth and tumor. The molecular target of HB-19 is nucleolin expressed on the surface of all activated cells, in particular rapidly growing tumor cells and endothelial cells that play a key role in angiogenesis.

New Way To Control Water Pollution? Mats Designed To Capture And Stabilize Pollution In Rivers Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT In a mud flat at the edge of the Cocheco River, just outside downtown Dover, New Hampshire, scientists are testing an innovative way to treat polluted sediment in coastal waterways. Rather than dredging up the problem, or burying it under several feet of sand, they've created a patch -- black geotextile mats designed to cap and stabilize pollution in place.

Failure To Bridle Inflammation Spurs Atherosclerosis Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT When a person develops a sore or a boil, it erupts, drawing to it immune system cells that fight the infection. Then it resolves and flattens into the skin, often leaving behind a mark or a scar. A similar scenario plays out in the blood vessels.

Jules Verne Refuels The International Space Station Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT ESA's Jules Verne ATV was used for the first time yesterday to transfer in one step 811 kg of refueling propellant to the International Space Station while the two vehicles orbited Earth at 28 000 km/h. With this premiere for Europe, Jules Verne becomes the first western spaceship to succeed in refueling another space infrastructure in orbit.

Global War Deaths Have Been Substantially Underestimated, Study Shows Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Globally, war has killed three times more people than previously estimated, and there is no evidence to support claims of a recent decline in war deaths, concludes a new study.

Chemical Clues Point To Dusty Origin For Earth-like Planets Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Higher than expected levels of sodium found in a 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite suggest that the dust clouds from which the building blocks of the Earth and neighboring planets formed were much denser than previously supposed.

Lou Gehrig's Protein Found Throughout Brain, Suggesting Effects Beyond Motor Neurons Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Two years ago researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that misfolded proteins called TDP-43 accumulated in the motor areas of the brains of patients with Lou Gehrig's disease. Now, the same group has shown that TDP-43 accumulates throughout the brain, suggesting the disease has broader neurological effects than previously appreciated and treatments need to take into account more than motor neuron areas.

Latrines And Out-houses Trounce Toilets In Global War Against Poor Sanitation Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT While Americans may consider flush-and-forget-it indoor plumbing to be the pinnacle of sanitary science, the lowly latrine could be a far better solution for many parts of the developing world. Installing water-guzzling appliances such as toilets can actually promote unsanitary conditions when the effluent is discharged untreated into once-clean rivers and streams. A properly built latrine, on the other hand, keeps sewage safely separate from drinking water.

Technique Used In Human Ankle Injuries Modified To Treat Dogs' Knees Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT A common sports injury in human knees is even more common in dogs. Each year, more than one million dogs suffer from cranial cruciate ligament deficiency, which is comparable to the anterior cruciate ligament injury in humans. The common method of treatment by many veterinary surgeons involves cutting the tibia bone to stabilize the CCL-deficient knee in these dogs. Now, a new minimally invasive technique with less severe complications than previous methods has been developed.

New Technique To Optimize Computer Speed Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Who doesn't dream of increasingly fast computers that consume less and less energy? To design these computers of the future, it is important to be able to control nanoscale strain in the processors. Until now, this strain remained difficult to observe.

Gallons Per Mile Would Help Car Shoppers Make Better Decisions Posted: 20 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Posting a vehicle's fuel efficiency in "gallons per mile" rather than "miles per gallon" would help consumers make better decisions about car purchases and environmental impact, researchers report in the journal Science.

Bright Chunks At Phoenix Lander's Mars Site Must Have Been Ice Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Dice-size crumbs of bright material have vanished from inside a trench where they were photographed by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander four days ago, convincing scientists that the material was frozen water that vaporized after digging exposed it.

Researchers Use A Patient's Own Bone To Accelerate Orthodontics Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry say they have improved upon a surgical procedure that rapidly straightens teeth, delivering a healthy bite and attractive smile in months instead of years.

Immune Molecule That Plays A Powerful Role In Avoiding Organ Rejection Identified Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT When a mouse's immune system is deciding whether to reject a skin graft, one powerful member of a molecular family designed to provoke such a response can effectively reduce the visibility of the mouse's own cells and help the graft survive, researchers say.

Complex Changes In The Brain's Vascular System Occur After Menopause Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Many women experience menopausal changes in their body including hot flashes, moodiness and fatigue, but the changes they don't notice can be more dangerous. Researchers have now discovered significant changes in the brain's vascular system when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. Scientists predict that currently used estrogen-based hormone therapies may complicate this process and may do more harm than good in postmenopausal women.

Researchers Witness Assembly Of Molecules Critical To Protein Function Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Iron-sulfur clusters are critical to life on earth. They are necessary for protein function in cellular processes, such as respiration in humans and other organisms and photosynthesis by plants. A research group has isolated proteins responsible for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly process and witnessed the necessary protein interactions in vivo -- within a cell.

Low Testosterone May Cause Health Problems That Lead To Erectile Dysfunction Posted: 20 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Men with erectile dysfunction should be examined for testosterone deficiency and the metabolic syndrome, because these conditions commonly occur together, a new study shows.

Active Submarine Volcanoes Found Near Fiji Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Several huge active submarine volcanoes, spreading ridges and rift zones have been discovered northeast of Fiji. The summits of two of the volcanoes, named 'Dugong', and 'Lobster', are dominated by large calderas at depths of 1100 and 1500 meters.

Vitamin D Linked To Colon Cancer Survival Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, according to a new study.

Coats Of Cellulose From Bacteria Yield Greener, Stronger Natural Composites Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers report the first use of bacteria to deposit sticky coatings of cellulose on the surfaces of plant fibers, a process that may expand the use of natural fibers in renewable plastic composites used as strong, lightweight materials for cars, airplanes, and other products.

Developing Unique Brain Maps To Assist Surgery And Research Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers are developing new technology to create individualized brain maps that will revolutionize diagnosis of disease and enhance the accuracy of brain surgery.

Toward Designing Medications To Enhance Innate Immunity: A Single VSOP Can Do 'Proton' Magic Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers found that a single protein of VSOP, Voltage Sensor Only Protein/Hv1, can carry protons even without making a multimeric complex. This finding may help to design new medications for enhancing the activities of innate immunity.

Pharmacology Of Crystal Meth Described Posted: 20 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT When smoked, crystal meth rapidly achieves high concentrations in the brain without the burdens of the intravenous route. Scientists review the actions of methamphetamine and explain the potential role of dopamine in methamphetamine craving.

Researchers Explain Nitrogen Paradox In Forests, Illuminating How Ecosystems Respond To Global Warming Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Nitrogen is essential to all life on Earth, and the processes by which it cycles through the environment may determine how ecosystems respond to global warming. But certain aspects of the nitrogen cycle in forests have puzzled scientists, defying, in a sense, the laws of supply and demand. Now scientists have explained the paradox by recognizing the role of two other factors: temperature and the abundance of another key element, phosphorous.

New Method Drastically Reduces Wait Time For New Teeth Implant Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new odontological technique manages to reduce from six months to two weeks the wait time to implant new teeth. It is possible thanks to the use of the growth hormone in oral implantology, which allows bone regeneration and the hastening of the integration between bone base and dental implant.

Lake Sediments Help Scientists Trace 7,000 Years Of Mining, Metal Use In China Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new geochemical study illuminates 7,000 years of mining and metal use in central China and links these trends to fluctuations in airborne pollution during the Bronze Age and other military and industrial periods in Chinese history. The study could help scientists better assess the accumulative environmental effects of human activity in the region since prehistory times.

New Role Of Inflammatory Protein In Polycycstic Kidney Disease Identified, Could Lead To Treatment Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists have discovered that a protein previously shown to have a role in inflammation may also have a role in the formation of cysts in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease -- one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases -- and has shown that a drug inhibiting the protein can slow the disease in mice.

Ultrasonic Instruments Associated With Improved Outcomes For Some Surgical Procedures Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Using ultrasonic surgical instruments is associated with more favorable outcomes when compared with conventional instruments for some procedures, according to a meta-analysis of 51 previously published studies.

Depression And Diabetes: Fellow Travelers, Researchers Say Posted: 20 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have long known that type 2 diabetes and depression often go hand in hand. However, it's been unclear which condition develops first in patients who end up with both. Now, a new study suggests that this chicken-and-egg problem has a dual answer: Patients with depression have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of developing depression.

Greenland Ice Core Analysis Shows Drastic Climate Change Near End Of Last Ice Age Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Information gleaned from a Greenland ice core by an international science team shows that two huge Northern Hemisphere temperature spikes prior to the close of the last ice age some 11,500 years ago were tied to fundamental shifts in atmospheric circulation.

Same Drug, Different Results: Researchers On The Path To Personalized Medicine Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Medicine has moved a closer to the era of treatments based on the genetic profiles of individual patients. A new study shows how minor genetic differences between individuals alter the way a common drug affects the body.

Eight-day Undersea Mission Begins Experiment To Improve Coral Reef Restoration Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have begun an eight-day mission, in which they are living and working at 60 feet below the sea surface in an underwater "space station," to determine why some species of coral colonies survive transplanting after a disturbance while other colonies die. The team of "aquanauts" is to improve the restoration of damaged reefs.

Mechanism Contributing To Appropriate Formation Of The Spine Discovered Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have shed light on the mechanism causing animals to develop the appropriate number of vertebrae. Vertebrae are formed from their embryonic precursors, called somites. The number of somites is consistent within a species, but varies significantly across species. By comparing the developing embryos of zebrafish, chicken, mice, and corn snakes, the team established an understanding of how an organism regulates the number of somites formed.

Identifying Canadian Freshwater Fish Through DNA Barcodes Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT New research by Canadian scientists brings some good news for those interested in the conservation of a number of highly endangered species of Canadian fish.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Great Apes Think Ahead: Conclusive Evidence Of Advanced Planning Capacities Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Apes can plan for their future needs just as we humans can -- by using self-control and imagining future events. Swedish researchers are the first to provide conclusive evidence of advanced planning capacities in nonhuman species.

First Gene Therapy For Heart Failure Offered In Clinical Trials Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Could injecting a gene into a patient with severe heart failure reverse their disabling and life-threatening condition? Physician-scientists are setting out to answer that question in a first-ever clinical trial of gene therapy to treat severe heart failure.

Test Of Bacteria Toxin Delivery System Could Pave Way For New Antibiotic Drugs Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in monitoring the toxin-delivery system of highly pathogenic bacteria -- an accomplishment that could help pave the way for new drugs that will be capable of neutralizing those germs.

PET Scans Reveal Hormone Replacement Therapy May Be Beneficial For Postmenopausal Women Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, yet recent research studies have sometimes resulted in conflicting data regarding how best to treat or minimize the effects of the disease.

IRobot Secures Licensing Agreement For Underwater Seagliders Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT University of Washington record-holding, ocean-observing robots that operate at sea for months at a time -- traveling thousands of miles at the behest of operators on land directing activities via a satellite phone network -- will be commercially produced by iRobot under a new licensing agreement.

Ordered Drinks Can Be Larger And Have Greater Alcohol Content Than You May Think Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 PM CDT Most alcohol research tends to assume that drinks contain the same amount of pure alcohol: 0.6 ounces or 18 milliliters. Why is this important? Researchers need accuracy to do their job well, and consumers need to know what they're drinking, especially if they are going to drive. New research has found that the average size of wine, mixed drinks and beer served in Northern California bars, restaurants and other drinking establishments is larger than the standard, and alcohol content can vary widely. Researchers visited 80 bars and restaurants in Northern California.

Birds Communicate Reproductive Success In Song Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Some migratory songbirds figure out the best place to live by eavesdropping on the singing of others that successfully have had baby birds -- a communication and behavioral trait so strong that researchers playing recorded songs induced them to nest in places they otherwise would have avoided.

Stem Cell Researchers Give Old Muscle New Pep Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT When bioengineers tweaked how adult stem cells reacted to biochemical signals regulating cell division, they gave muscle in old mice a shot of youthful vigor. The research sets the path for research on new treatments for age-related degenerative conditions, including muscle atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.

Marine Biologists Investigate Aliens Beneath The Waves Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Marine biologists are appealing for help from the public in looking at ways to detect and stop the spread of marine aliens.

Molecular Imaging Sheds New Light On Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT In the past, physicians were able only to follow the progression of Alzheimer's disease through careful clinical histories, noting the often subtle changes associated with cognitive decline over a number of years. Recent research suggests that the use of molecular imaging in the management of neurodegenerative disease, particularly for early diagnosis of AD, will enable researchers to monitor the progression of the disease, identifying those at risk and assessing the effectiveness of new therapies.

Low Cost Quantum Dots For Biological Research Produced Through Microwave Synthesis Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT Materials researchers have developed a simplified, low-cost process for producing high-quality, water-soluble 'quantum dots' for biological research.

Steroids In Female Mouse Urine Light Up Nose Nerves Of Male Mice Posted: 19 Jun 2008 10:00 AM CDT A group of steroids found in female mouse urine goes straight to the male mouse's head. Researchers found the compounds activate nerve cells in the male mouse's nose with unprecedented effectiveness.

Worm-like Marine Animal Providing Fresh Clues About Human Evolution Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Research on the genome of a marine creature is shedding new light on a key area of the tree of life. Because amphioxus is evolving slowly -- its body plan remains similar to that of fossils from the Cambrian time -- the animal serves as an intriguing comparison point for tracing how vertebrates have evolved and adapted. This includes new information about how vertebrates have employed old genes for new functions.

Patient's Own Infection-fighting T Cells Put Late-stage Melanoma Into Long-term Remission Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers describe the first successful use of a human patient's cloned infection-fighting T cells as the sole therapy to put an advanced solid-tumor cancer into long-term remission.

Plants Can Make Golf Courses Greener By Filtering Pesticides Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have found several plants, including blue flag iris, that can reduce the amount of common pesticides used on gold courses in soils. Using these plants as a "living filter" on the edge of golf greens will help protect waterways from the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

New Possibilities For Breast Cancer Treatment On The Horizon Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT The first patient scans from a custom-built scanner combining positron emission tomography and computed tomography technologies indicate that these scans could significantly improve breast cancer imaging capabilities and lead to more targeted treatment options, according to researchers. The prototype scanner is designed to help physicians determine stages of breast cancer in patients already diagnosed with the disease, rather than as a mammography screening tool.

Grains And Liquids Demonstrate Similar Cohesion Effects Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT What if sand flowed like water? Researchers have just demonstrated that even without an attractive force between grains in flowing sand, they have a cohesion similar to that of liquids.

Claims Linking Health Problems And The Strength Of Cannabis May Be Exaggerated Posted: 19 Jun 2008 07:00 AM CDT Claims that a large increase in the strength of cannabis over the last decade is driving the occurrence of mental health and other problems for users are not borne out by a study of the worldwide literature, say researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and the National Drug Research Institute, both from Australia.

Thinking Ahead: Bacteria Anticipate Coming Changes In Their Environment Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Microbes may be smarter than we think. Bacteria don't just react to changes in their surroundings -- they anticipate and prepare for them. The findings, reported in Science, challenge the prevailing notion that only organisms with complex nervous systems have this ability.

New Cancer Treatment Targets Both Tumor Cells And Blood Vessels Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT It takes more than one punch to fight tumors. Often, tumors have more than one way of surviving, and attacking the tumor alone is not enough. Now, in a new study, University of Missouri researchers have developed a new non-toxic treatment that effectively reduces breast cancer cells, by combining a small molecular drug that targets tumor cells with an antibody that causes selective shutdown of tumor blood vessels.

Tropical Forest Sustainability: A Climate Change Boon Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Improved management of the world's tropical forests has major implications for humanity's ability to reduce its contribution to climate change, according to a new article in Science.

Unexpected Link Between Coronavirus Replication And Protein Secretion In Infected Cells Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Coronavirus replication is critically linked to two factors within the early secretory pathway, according to new findings in PLoS Pathogens. The SARS virus is within the coronavirus group.

Computer Predicts Anti-cancer Molecules Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new computer-based method of analyzing cellular activity has correctly predicted the anti-tumor activity of several molecules. New research in Molecular Cancer describes 'CoMet' -- a tool that studies the integrated machinery of the cell and predicts those components that will have an effect on cancer.

Group Therapy May Help Memory Posted: 19 Jun 2008 04:00 AM CDT Investigators are reporting a new method of improving memory disturbances in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Patients with memory complaints, but without objective cognitive impairment, suffer considerably in their daily lives, as they experience frequent lapses of memory and attention leading to embarrassment, anxiety, reported occupational shortcomings and often the fear of dementia.

Chimps Not So Selfish: Comforting Behavior May Well Be Expression Of Empathy Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Compared to their sex-mad, peace-loving bonobo counterparts, chimpanzees are often seen as a scheming, war-mongering, and selfish species. As both apes are allegedly our closest relatives, together they are often depicted as representing the two extremes of human behavior.

Gene Variants Linked To Metabolic Syndrome And HDL Cholesterol Levels Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Nutrition researchers have identified five common genetic variations that increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. Another variant they found appeared to protect against the condition.

NASA Aircraft Examine Impact Of Forest Fires On Arctic Climate Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT As the summer fire season heats up, NASA aircraft are set to follow the trail of smoke plumes from some of Earth's northernmost forest fires, examining their contribution to arctic pollution and implications for climate change.

The APCs Of Nerve Cell Function Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Best known for its role in colorectal cancer, the protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) has recently been found to play an essential role in the nervous system. This new study provides novel insights into the molecular basis of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.

Computers As Safe As Medical Experts In Prescribing Blood Thinning Drugs Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT The largest ever study into the administration of blood thinning drugs, principally warfarin, has concluded that dosages calculated by computer are at least as safe and reliable as those provided by expert medical professionals.

People With Lower Incomes, Lower Education Levels Have Higher Death Rates After Heart Attacks Posted: 19 Jun 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have long suspected that socioeconomic factors like education level and income also might affect survival rates following heart attack. Researchers present new data suggesting that people with lower incomes and education levels are more likely to die after heart attack than more affluent, educated people.

Flies Found To Have Internal Thermosensors To Monitor Environmental Temperatures Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Flies, unlike humans, can't manipulate the temperature of their surroundings so they need to pick the best spot for flourishing. New research in Nature reveals that they have internal thermosensors to help them. As global warming leads hundreds of species, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals to seek out different environments in which temperature is more optimal, understanding the molecules and the internal neural cues that drive these behaviors will shed light on the strategies animals use to cope with changes in their environments.

New Cellular Mechanism That Will Significantly Advance Vaccine Development Discovered Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have discovered a new, previously unknown mechanism in how the body fights a virus. The finding runs counter to traditional scientific understanding of this process and will provide scientists a more effective method for developing vaccines.

Plan To Conserve Forests May Be Detrimental To Other Ecosystems Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Conserving biodiversity must be considered in plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, researchers warn in Science. The UNFCCC is currently discussing ways of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. REDD has potential to deliver benefits for biodiversity and people, as well as for the climate. These benefits will be concentrated in forests with high carbon stocks. Land use may shift to low-carbon forests and other ecosystems important for biodiversity.

HIV Screening Found Cost-effective In Older Adults Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Recent studies suggest that large numbers of Americans remain sexually active well into their 60's, 70's and even 80's. But researchers say seniors may be overlooked as possible carriers of the AIDS virus, and based on a new study, they are recommending screening for most adults ages 55 to 75 as a sensible, cost-effective way to prolong life, and decrease the spread of the disease.

New Intrusion Tolerance Software Fortifies Server Security Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT In spite of increased focus and large investments in computer security, critical infrastructure systems remain vulnerable to attacks. The increasing sophistication and incessant morphing of cyber-attacks lend importance to the concept of intrusion tolerance: a system must fend off, or at least limit, the damage caused by unknown and/or undetected attacks.

It's The Way You Say It: How Using The Right Words Can Cut Environmental Conflicts Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:00 PM CDT Ecologists have developed a new "tool" that could in future help prevent costly and acrimonious environmental conflicts such as campaigns against culling problem populations of charismatic animals and arguments over genetically modified organisms. The tool, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, involves a novel use of computer-aided content analysis and is based on the recent environmental conflict surrounding hedgehog culling on the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.

Stress During Childhood Increases Risk Of Allergies Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Moving house or the separation of parents can significantly increase the risk of children developing allergies later on. These are the results from a long-term study correlating lifestyle, immune system development and allergies.

Inflammatory Disease Causes Blindness, Study Suggests Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT New research shows a link between blindness and temporal arteritis, a problem that restricts blood flow to the brain. The research finds that giant cells play a key role in the disease, as well as another inflammatory problem that causes aches and stiffness in the arms, thighs and neck.

Dingo Urine Offers Humane Solution To Kangaroo Cull Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Tasmania's marsupials have been offered a life-line by researchers utilizing cutting edge science involving fresh dingo urine. Historically, Tasmania's logging industry has used 1080 poison, shooting and more recently cyanide to control kangaroos and wallabies in areas marked for reforestation, however this method is unselective and kills all wildlife.

Blood Pressure Levels In Childhood Track Into Adulthood Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT High blood pressure in childhood is associated with higher blood pressure or hypertension in adulthood, according to a new study.

Rising Diesel Prices Renew Interest In Fuel-saving Technologies For Heavy Trucks Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT Diesel fuel prices approaching $5 a gallon -- and the resulting economic impact on products transported by truck -- have created renewed interest in fuel-saving technologies developed during the past decade.

Patterns Of Normal Brain Activity May Predispose Individuals To Different Symptoms Of Psychosis Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:00 PM CDT A new study offers a potential predictive technique to anticipate how individuals might behave during a psychotic episode. The study related the brain activity of healthy participants to how they behaved after exposure to ketamine (a psychosis-inducing drug that mimics schizophrenia symptoms). The findings help explain why schizophrenia symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may ultimately help personalize diagnosis and intervention.

Black Holes Have Simple Feeding Habits Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The biggest black holes may feed just like the smallest ones, according to data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based telescopes. This discovery supports the implication of Einstein's relativity theory that black holes of all sizes have similar properties, and will be useful for predicting the properties of a conjectured new class of black holes.

Olfactory Bulb Size May Change As Sense Of Smell Changes Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT The olfactory bulb in the brain appears to change in size in a way that corresponds to individual alterations in sense of smell, according to a report in the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

Key Mechanism Of DDT Resistance Found In Malarial Mosquitoes Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers have identified a key detoxifying protein in Anopheles mosquitoes that metabolizes DDT, a synthetic insecticide used since World War II to control the mosquitoes that spread malaria.

Gene Variation May Be Why Some Don't Respond To Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT A variation in the way a gene is processed may explain varied individual responses to cholesterol-lowering drugs. This is the first study to show that a biological process substantially influences the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. The discovery could lead to better treatment for high cholesterol and other ailments.

New Soft Safety Helmet Lining Turns Into Rock Hard Shock Absorber When Hit Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT If something hits you on the head while you are wearing this safety helmet, its soft flexible inner layer will instantly turn into a rock-hard shock-absorbent material. The helmet is lined on the inside with a material that is soft and flexible under normal conditions, but which "locks" instantaneously, becoming hard and shock-absorbent, if the helmet is subjected to impact or blows.

Male Homosexuality Can Be Explained Through A Specific Model Of Darwinian Evolution, Study Shows Posted: 18 Jun 2008 04:00 PM CDT An Italian research team found that the evolutionary origin and maintenance of male homosexuality in human populations could be explained by a model based around the idea of sexually antagonistic selection, in which genetic factors spread in the population by giving a reproductive advantage to one sex while disadvantaging the other.

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