ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, August 25, 2008
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Generations Of Stars Pose For Family Portrait (August 25, 2008) -- A new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope tells a tale of life and death amidst a rich family history. The striking infrared picture shows a colorful cosmic cloud, called W5, studded with multiple generations of blazing stars. ... > full story
Uncertainties Prevail Over Human Health Benefits Of Polyphenols (August 25, 2008) -- Despite scores of studies documenting the effects of healthful plant nutrients called polyphenols in protecting nerves from damage, it would be "unwise" to assume that the same protective effects occur for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other human disorders, a new report concludes. ... > full story
How Cancer Cells Come Unstuck And Spread (August 25, 2008) -- Scientists have started a three-year study into the junctions that hold cells together, giving insight into how cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. ... > full story
LipidomicNet: New Lipidomics Project Promotes Translational Research Towards Human Disease (August 25, 2008) -- The enormous advances in biology and biomedical research during the last decade originate mainly from the fields of Genomics and Proteomics. The current revolution in lipid analysis, however, promises change. For the first time the methodological possibilities are available to map the entire spectrum of lipids in cells, tissues and whole organisms. ... > full story
Extinct In England For Nearly Three Decades: Could The Burbot Swim Again In UK Rivers? (August 25, 2008) -- Scientists are to carry out a feasibility study on the possibility of reintroducing burbot, a freshwater fish, to UK rivers, and are conducting an online survey to hear the views of members of the public. ... > full story
Part Of The In-group? A Surprising New Strategy Helps Reduce Unhealthy Behaviors (August 25, 2008) -- Public health campaigns intended to reduce unhealthy behaviors like binge drinking and eating junk food often focus on the risks of those behaviors. But a new study suggests a relatively simple but surprisingly effective strategy to improve consumer health. ... > full story
Picking Out Specific Sounds In A Complex Scene: Researchers Study 'Cocktail Party Effect', Measure Auditory Dynamics Of Selective Attention (August 25, 2008) -- In complex scenes such as noisy parties or crowded restaurants, it is more difficult to follow a conversation involving many people, than to focus on one talker at one location. This auditory ability to switch attention and, in the next instant, reset focus to a new speaker, is something about which little is known -- until now. ... > full story
Joint Trauma: Cartilage Repair Gel To Improve Quality Of Life (August 25, 2008) -- Scientists are developing a cartilage repair gel to improve the quality of life for people suffering with medical joint trouble such as osteoarthritis. ... > full story
79 Million US Adults Have Medical Bill Problems Or Are Paying Off Medical Debt (August 25, 2008) -- The proportion of working-age Americans who have medical bill problems or who are paying off medical debt climbed from 34 percent to 41 percent between 2005 and 2007, bringing the total to 72 million, according to recent survey findings from The Commonwealth Fund. In addition, 7 million adults age 65 and over also had problems paying medical bills, for a total of 79 million adults with medical bill problems or medical debt. ... > full story
Study Examines Testing Model To Predict And Diagnose New Cases Of Dementia (August 25, 2008) -- A preliminary report suggests that within-person variability on neuropsychological testing may be associated with development of dementia in older adults. ... > full story
Agile Approach Slashes Software Development Time (August 25, 2008) -- Results of the EUREKA ITEA software Cluster AGILE project make it possible for European manufacturers to develop high quality embedded software in markedly shorter times and at much lower costs than possible with traditional techniques. Applying the approach to 68 pilot case studies in industries from avionics and telecommunications to consumer electronics, the project demonstrated clearly that 'agile' methodology can lead to massive improvements in embedded software engineering. ... > full story
The Big Gulp: Consumers Avoid Extremes In Soda Sizes (August 25, 2008) -- As portion sizes have increased, Americans' waistlines have expanded. And as a new study demonstrates, consumers are tricked into drinking more soft drinks when retailers eliminate small drink sizes. ... > full story
Rigorous Earthquake Simulations Aim To Make Buildings Safer (August 24, 2008) -- Engineering researchers have concluded months of rigorous earthquake simulation tests on a half-scale three-story structure, and will now begin sifting through their results so they can be used in the future designs of buildings across the nation. ... > full story
How Well Do Antimicrobial Products Kill Biofilms? (August 24, 2008) -- Scientist Darla Goeres knows that there is more than one way to grow a biofilm, a fact that she uses to make sure that when a product claims it kills "99 percent" of bacteria, it really does the job. Biofilms are the extremely common communities of bacteria that form on most wet surfaces. They range from the plaque on teeth to the slime on streamside rocks to the sludge that clogs pipes. ... > full story
Foul Owls Use Feces To Show They Are In Fine Feather (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers now provide descriptive and experimental evidence that suggests that owl feces and prey remains could act as previously unrecognized visual signals for eagle owls. ... > full story
Seeing Through Tooth Decay (August 24, 2008) -- Dental caries afflict at least 90 percent of the world's population at some time in their lives. Detecting the first signs of this disease, which can be lethal in extreme cases, just got easier thanks to work discussed in the latest issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. ... > full story
Candy-coating Keeps Proteins Sweet (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a fast, inexpensive and effective method for evaluating the sugars pharmaceutical companies use to stabilize protein-based drugs for storage at room temperature. ... > full story
Ventriloquism In Motion: How Sound Can Move Light (August 24, 2008) -- New research confirms that what we see can sometimes depend as much on our ears as on our eyes. ... > full story
'Cutting By Color': New Imaging Technique For More Precise Cancer Surgery (August 24, 2008) -- Instead of "paint by number," you might call it "cutting by color": Researchers in Massachusetts now report development and early clinical trials of a new imaging system that highlights cancerous tissue in the body so that surgeons can more easily see and remove diseased tissue with less damage to normal tissue near the tumor. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia. ... > full story
Going From Ulcers To Cancer (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have uncovered a big clue as to why some of the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers pose a greater risk for serious problems like stomach cancer than others; it turns out these bacteria can exploit the surrounding stomach cells to protect them from the immune system. ... > full story
Addiction Treatment Proves Successful In Animal Weight Loss Study (August 24, 2008) -- Vigabatrin, a medication proposed as a potential treatment for drug addiction, also leads to rapid weight loss and reduced food intake according to a new animal study from the same research group. Genetically bred 'fat rats' experience dramatic weight loss, reduced food intake after being given vigabatrin. Vigabatrin is currently undergoing US Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase II clinical trials against cocaine and methamphetamine addiction across the US. ... > full story
Insight Into Physiologic Role Of Blood Protein Factor XII Finally Revealed (August 24, 2008) -- The formation of a blood clot is the culmination of a series of events that involve a number of proteins in the bloodstream, including Factor XI, which is one of the proteins activated early on in this cascade of events. ... > full story
Light Touch: Controlling The Behavior Of Quantum Dots (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers from NIST and the Joint Quantum Institute have reported a new way to fine-tune the light coming from quantum dots by manipulating them with pairs of lasers. Their technique could significantly improve quantum dots as a source of pairs of entangled photons for applications in quantum information technologies. ... > full story
Snacks In Small Packages May Lead To Overeating (August 24, 2008) -- Tempting treats are being offered in small package sizes these days, presumably to help consumers reduce portion sizes. Yet new research found that people actually consume more high-calorie snacks when they are in small packages than large ones. And smaller packages make people more likely to give in to temptation in the first place. ... > full story
Exploding Chromosomes Fuel Research About Evolution Of Genetic Storage (August 24, 2008) -- Research into single-celled, aquatic algae called dinoflagellates is showing that these and related organisms may have evolved more than one way to tightly pack their DNA into chromsomes. Even so, the evolution of chromosomes in dinoflagellates, humans and other mammals seem to share a common biochemical basis. ... > full story
Enzyme New Potential Target In Treating Blood Cancer (August 24, 2008) -- A discovery by researchers in Sweden may lead to new treatments for blood cancer and other diseases. By stopping the production of a specific enzyme, ICMT, researchers were able to alleviate disease symptoms in mice with blood cancer. ... > full story
Biodegradable Polymers Show Promise For Improving Treatment Of Acute Inflammatory Diseases (August 24, 2008) -- A family of biodegradable polymers called polyketals and their derivatives may improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute lung injury, acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and snips of ribonucleic acid to disease locations in the body. ... > full story
Characteristics, Treatment Options For XXYY Syndrome (August 24, 2008) -- Researchers have described the medical and psychological characteristics of a rare genetic disorder in which males have two "X" and two "Y" chromosomes, rather than the normal one of each. ... > full story
Getting To The Root Of The Matter (August 24, 2008) -- A number of current issues related to water availability and climate change are giving impetus to new research aimed at roots and their functioning. The research is producing new experimental methods, data acquisition and theoretical understanding. Recently, scientists from the US Salinity Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, assembled a collection of new research in the form of 13 papers that are published as a special section of the August issue of Vadose Zone Journal. ... > full story
The Older The Fatter: Longitudinal Study About Overweight Children (August 24, 2008) -- Fast food and soda instead of fruits and vegetables: the consequences can already be seen in children – more and more of them suffer from overweight and adiposity. But what are the reasons? In what way are they connected, for example, with social status and body weight of the parents? ... > full story
How Daughter Is Different From Mother ... In Yeast Cells (August 23, 2008) -- Scientists know how mother and daughter can be so different. Mother and daughter yeast cells, that is. The researchers have discovered a new mechanism for cell fate determination -- how one cell, the daughter, becomes dramatically different from the mother, even though they have the same genetic material. The study shows why mothers and daughters differ in how they express their genes: a certain gene regulator gets trapped in the daughter cell's nucleus. ... > full story
Rapid Test For Pathogens: Could Be Used To Detect Diseases Used By Bioterrorists (August 23, 2008) -- Dangerous disease often spreads faster than it takes to diagnose it in the lab. To remedy that, researchers at Kansas State University have developed a test to bring that time from days down to hours. ... > full story
Drier, Warmer Springs In US Southwest Stem From Human-caused Changes In Winds (August 23, 2008) -- Human-driven changes in the westerly winds are bringing hotter and drier springs to the American Southwest, according to new research from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Since the 1970s the winter storm track in the western US has been shifting north, particularly in the late winter. As a result, fewer winter storms bring rain and snow to Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, western Colorado and western New Mexico. ... > full story
Stroke Incidence Declines Among Swedish Diabetics (August 23, 2008) -- The incidence of strokes among both diabetics and nondiabetics in Northern Sweden declined between 1985 and 2003. The overall decline in strokes among diabetics may be partly due to more intensive treatment of hypertension, smoking cessation and cholesterol-lowering efforts. More recurrent strokes occurred among diabetic than nondiabetic patients, so more intensive secondary prevention for diabetic patients is needed. ... > full story
Pangea Conundrum (August 23, 2008) -- The existence of the supercontinent Pangea, which formed about 300 million years ago and broke up about 200 million years ago, is a cornerstone of plate tectonics, and processes resulting in its assembly and fragmentation have governed the evolution of Earth's crust for 500 million years. Over the past 20 years, evidence has been amassing that Pangea is just the latest in a series of supercontinents that formed repeatedly since the Archean, only to break up and reform again. ... > full story
Insomnia: Changing Your Bedtime Habits Could Help (August 23, 2008) -- Many people sleep better when they are on holiday, and wish that they could sleep as well all the time. But according to the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, it is not only being free of daily worries that can make a difference to sleep. Good bedtime habits can help people to sleep well all year-round. Medication provides short-term relief at best. ... > full story
Genome Of Simplest Animal Reveals Ancient Lineage, Confounding Array Of Complex Capabilities (August 23, 2008) -- The genome of the simple and primitive animal, Trichoplax adhaerens, appears to harbor a far more complex suite of capabilities than meets the eye. The findings establish a group of organisms as a branching point of animal evolution and identify sets of genes, or a "parts list," employed by organisms that have evolved along particular branches. ... > full story
Drugs To Inhibit Blood Vessel Growth Show Promise In Rat Model Of Deadly Brain Tumor (August 23, 2008) -- Drugs used to inhibit a specific fatty acid in rat brains with glioblastoma-like tumors not only reduced new blood vessel growth and tumor size dramatically, but also prolonged survival. ... > full story
Fish Cancer Gene Linked To Pigment Pattern That Attracts Mates (August 23, 2008) -- Though skin cancer is deadly to male fish, it also has one perk: The black melanoma splotches arise from attractive natural markings that lure female mates. A new study shows that the melanoma gene can be conserved in swordtail fish because of its beneficial role in sexual selection. ... > full story
Compression Stockings Incorrectly Used In 29 Percent Of Patients (August 23, 2008) -- Graduated compression stockings were used incorrectly in 29 percent of the patients and sized incorrectly in 26 percent of the patients according to new research. These stockings play an important role in preventing the formation of deep vein clots that can result in pulmonary complications and death. ... > full story
Biological Chips For Disease Detection, Drug Discovery, Now Easy To Make With New Method (August 23, 2008) -- Scientists have developed a new and fast method for making biological ‘chips’ – technology that could lead to quick testing for serious diseases, fast detection of MRSA infections and rapid discovery of new drugs. Protein chips – or ‘protein arrays’ as they are more commonly known – are objects such as slides that have proteins attached to them and allow important scientific data about the behavior of proteins to be gathered. ... > full story
Hormone Replacement Therapy Improves Sleep, Sexuality And Joint Pain In Older Women (August 23, 2008) -- One of the world's longest and largest trials of hormone replacement therapy has found that post-menopausal women on HRT gain significant improvements in quality of life. ... > full story
New Climate Record Shows Century-long Droughts In Eastern North America (August 23, 2008) -- A stalagmite in a West Virginia cave has yielded the most detailed geological record to date on climate cycles in eastern North America over the past 7,000 years. The new study confirms that during periods when Earth received less solar radiation, the Atlantic Ocean cooled, icebergs increased and precipitation fell, creating a series of century-long droughts. ... > full story
Dense Tissue Promotes Aggressive Cancers (August 23, 2008) -- New research may explain why breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in women with denser breast tissue. Breast cancer cells grown in dense, rigid surroundings step up their invasive activities, according to a new article in Current Biology. ... > full story
Genes And Nutrition Influence Caste In Unusual Species Of Harvester Ant (August 23, 2008) -- Researchers trying to determine whether nature or nurture determines an ant's status in the colony have found a surprising answer. Both. Nature (that is, the ant’s genetic makeup) and nurture (what it eats, for example) play a role in determining the fate of the Florida harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex badius, a resilient creature found in many parts of the southeastern United States. ... > full story
New Insights Into The Regulation Of PTEN Tumor Suppression Function (August 23, 2008) -- New findings define a pathway that maintains PTEN in the nucleus and offer a novel target for enhancing this gene's tumor suppressive function. ... > full story
The 160-mile Download Diet: Local File-sharing Drastically Cuts Network Load (August 23, 2008) -- New research shows that sharing digital files locally relieves pressure on the Internet service provider by as much as five times, while actually speeding up the transfer. ... > full story
Is It Possible To Teach Experience? European Researchers Say Yes (August 23, 2008) -- Business veterans claim you cannot teach ‘experience’, but European researchers say you can. The team developed software that helps players acquire real-life skills and realistic experiences through game playing. But this game is no executive toy. ... > full story
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