ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, September 5, 2008
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Toxic Plastics: Bisphenol A Linked To Metabolic Syndrome In Human Tissue (September 5, 2008) -- New research implicates the primary chemical used to produce hard plastics -- bisphenol A (BPA) -- as a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome and its consequences. ... > full story
World Cancer Declaration Sets Ambitious Targets For 2020 (September 5, 2008) -- A summit of more than 60 high-level policymakers, leaders and health experts have adopted a global plan aimed at tackling the growing cancer crisis in developing countries. The plan, contained in the World Cancer Declaration, recommends a set of 11 cancer-busting targets for 2020 and outlines priority steps that need to be taken in order to meet them. It was presented Sunday at the close of the World Cancer Congress in Geneva. ... > full story
Mom's Mood, Baby's Sleep: What's The Connection? (September 5, 2008) -- If there's one thing that everyone knows about newborn babies, it's that they don't sleep through the night, and neither do their parents. But in fact, those first six months of life are crucial to developing the regular sleeping and waking patterns, known as circadian rhythms, that a child will need for a healthy future. Some children may start life with the sleep odds stacked against them, though, say sleep experts who study the issue. ... > full story
Gene Is Likely Cause Of Stroke-inducing Vascular Malformations (September 5, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered that a gene controlling whether blood vessels differentiate into arteries or veins during embryonic development is linked to a vascular disorder in the brain that causes stroke. ... > full story
Computerized Whiteboards Improve Classroom Learning, Study Suggests (September 5, 2008) -- The British government has invested more money in Interactive Whiteboards in its schools than any other government in the world. But is this huge investment worth it? Have the new data projection technologies allowed students to learn more effectively? This is the subject of recent research. ... > full story
College Freshmen: Pain Killers And Stimulants Less Risky Than Cocaine; More Risky Than Marijuana (September 5, 2008) -- A new study in Prevention Science, finds that college freshmen believe that nonmedical use of prescription drugs like pain killers and stimulants is less risky than cocaine, but more risky than marijuana. Study also describes types of students who are most likely to engage in nonmedical use of prescription drugs. ... > full story
Global Sea-rise Levels By 2100 May Be Lower Than Some Predict, Says New Study (September 5, 2008) -- Despite projections by some scientists of global seas rising by 20 feet or more by the end of this century as a result of warming, a new study concludes that global sea rise of much more than 6 feet is a near physical impossibility. ... > full story
New Stem Cell Tools To Aid Drug Development (September 5, 2008) -- Scientists have designed, developed and tested new molecular tools for stem cell research to direct the formation of certain tissue types for use in drug development programs. ... > full story
New Evidence On Folic Acid In Diet And Colon Cancer (September 5, 2008) -- Researchers are reporting a new, more detailed explanation for the link between low folate intake and an increased risk for colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. ... > full story
Previous Claims Of SiRNA Therapeutic Effects Called Into Question By Report In Human Gene Therapy (September 5, 2008) -- The many recent reports documenting the therapeutic efficacy of short interfering RNAs in animal models of human disease may actually be describing non-specific therapeutic effects related to the ability of siRNA to activate an immune response, according to a paper in Human Gene Therapy. ... > full story
25 Years Of Conventional Evaluation Of Data Analysis Proves Worthless In Practice (September 5, 2008) -- So-called ‘intelligent’ computer-based methods for classifying patient samples, for example, have been evaluated with the help of two methods that have completely dominated research for 25 years. Now Swedish researchers are revealing that this methodology is worthless when it comes to practical problems. ... > full story
Australian Over-50s Walk Away Memory Problems In World-first Trial (September 5, 2008) -- An Australian study has found that walking for two and a half hours a week can significantly improve memory problems in the over-50s. ... > full story
Molecular Evolution Is Echoed In Bat Ears (September 4, 2008) -- Echolocation may have evolved more than once in bats, according to new research from the University of Bristol. ... > full story
New Methods Identify And Manipulate 'Newborn' Cells In Animal Model Of Parkinson's Disease (September 4, 2008) -- Researchers in the United States and Sweden used an engineered virus to deliver a protein that glows green when exposed to blue light (green fluorescent protein) into newborn cells of the striatum in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. ... > full story
Natural Childbirth Makes Mothers More Responsive To Own Baby-cry (September 4, 2008) -- A new study has found that mothers who delivered vaginally compared to caesarean section delivery were significantly more responsive to the cry of their own baby, identified through MRI brain scans two to four weeks after delivery. ... > full story
Hospitalized Patients With CKD Are At Increased Risk Of Being Harmed By Medical Errors, Study Finds (September 4, 2008) -- Hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease are at higher risk for adverse consequences of medical care compared with those without the disease, according to a new study. The findings indicate that steps should be taken to reduce potentially preventable complications of medical care for CKD patients, a population that is frequently under-recognized in most health care settings. ... > full story
Eyeball Reflexes: Security and Biometrics That Cannot Be Spoofed (September 4, 2008) -- Electronic fingerprinting, iris scans, and signature recognition software are all becoming commonplace biometrics for user authentication and security. However, they all suffer from one major drawback -- they can be spoofed by a sufficiently sophisticated intruder. Researchers now describe a new approach based on a person's reflexes that could never be copied, forged, or spoofed. ... > full story
Racial Disparities Found In Radiation Therapy Rates For Breast Cancer (September 4, 2008) -- African-American women are less likely than white women to receive radiation therapy after a lumpectomy, the standard of care for early stage breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. ... > full story
Do 68 Molecules Hold The Key To Understanding Disease? (September 4, 2008) -- Why is it that the origins of many serious diseases remain a mystery? In considering that question, a scientist at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has come up with a unified molecular view of the indivisible unit of life, the cell, which may provide an answer. ... > full story
Cigarettes' Power May Not Be In Nicotine Itself, New Study Suggests (September 4, 2008) -- New research suggests that cigarettes' power may not be in nicotine itself but in how it enhances other experiences while smoking. ... > full story
Addicted To Tanning Beds? 'Tanorexia' Common Among University Students (September 4, 2008) -- A new study conducted at a large university finds more than 25 percent of those surveyed reported symptoms of tanning dependence, including symptoms similar to alcohol and drug-addicted individuals. Suggestively, the study also found those with a tanning dependence tend to be more likely to be thin and smoke cigarettes than others. ... > full story
Most Vaccine-allergic Children Can Still Be Safely Vaccinated, Experts Say (September 4, 2008) -- With close monitoring and a few standard precautions, nearly all children with known or suspected vaccine allergies can be safely immunized, according to a team of vaccine safety experts led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The scientists offer pediatricians a step-by-step tool for quickly identifying children with allergic reactions to vaccines, and a much-needed guide, they say, to safely immunize those who are allergic. ... > full story
Complex Ocean Behavior Studied With 'Artificial Upwelling' (September 4, 2008) -- A team of scientists is studying the complex ocean upwelling process by mimicking nature -- pumping cold, nutrient-rich water from deep within the Pacific Ocean and releasing it into surface waters near Hawaii that lack the nitrogen and phosphorous necessary to support high biological production. ... > full story
Participating In Religion May Make Adolescents From Certain Races More Depressed (September 4, 2008) -- One of the few studies to look at the effects of religious participation on the mental health of minorities suggests that for some of them, religion may actually be contributing to adolescent depression. Previous research has shown that teens who are active in religious services are depressed less often because it provides these adolescents with social support and a sense of belonging. ... > full story
Closest Look Ever At Edge Of A Black Hole (September 4, 2008) -- Astronomers have taken the closest look ever at the giant black hole in the center of the Milky Way. By combining telescopes in Hawaii, Arizona, and California, they detected structure at a tiny angular scale of 37 micro-arcseconds -- the equivalent of a baseball seen on the surface of the moon, 240,000 miles distant. These observations are among the highest resolution ever done in astronomy. ... > full story
Hearing Restoration May Be Possible With Cochlear Repair After Transplant Of Human Cord Blood Cells (September 4, 2008) -- Hearing loss due to cochlear damage may be repaired by transplanting human umbilical cord hematopoietic stem cells. This study, using animal models of chemical and auditory cochlear damage, found that when transplanted stem cells migrated to the damaged area, "surprisingly few" transplanted cells were necessary to help repair sensory hair cells and neurons. Researchers say transplanting umbilical cord stem cells provides hope for the repair of human hearing impairments rising from cochlear damage. ... > full story
Cinnamon-based Packaging To Prevent Mold In Bread And Other Baked Goods (September 4, 2008) -- Bread that goes moldy is the bane of consumers and bakers alike, ruining appetites and wasting food and money. Now, researchers have developed a new type of paper packaging made with cinnamon oil that appears to prolong the freshness of bread and other baked goods by up to 10 days. ... > full story
Second Site For Prostate Cancer Gene Found (September 4, 2008) -- Scientists studying a prostate cancer gene called HNF1B have found a second independent site within the HNF1B gene on chromosome 17 (17q12) -- increasing the number of genetic variants that may contribute to risk of developing the disease. ... > full story
Global Warming: Warmer Seas Linked To Strengthening Hurricanes, According to New Research (September 4, 2008) -- The theory that global warming may be contributing to stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic over the past 30 years is bolstered by a new study. ... > full story
African-Americans Twice As Likely As Caucasians To Die Following A Liver Operation, Study Finds (September 4, 2008) -- New research shows African-Americans are more than twice as likely as Caucasians to die in the hospital after surgical removal of part of the liver -- an increasingly used procedure for the treatment of liver cancer. ... > full story
Tutankhamen Fathered Twins, Mummified Fetuses Suggest (September 4, 2008) -- Two fetuses found in the tomb of Tutankhamen may have been twins and were very likely to have been the children of the teenage Pharaoh, according to the anatomist who first studied the mummified remains of the young King in the 1960s. ... > full story
Loss Of Sleep, Even For A Single Night, Increases Inflammation In The Body (September 4, 2008) -- Loss of sleep, even for a few short hours during the night, can prompt one’s immune system to turn against healthy tissue and organs. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation according to new research. The findings suggest a good night’s sleep can ease the risk of both heart disease and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. ... > full story
'Lab On A Chip' Improves Success Of In Vitro Fertilization (September 4, 2008) -- In a finding that could boost the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF), researchers report development of a tiny "lab on a chip" to evaluate the fitness of embryos harvested for transfer. ... > full story
PET Scans Help Identify Mechanism Underlying Seasonal Mood Changes (September 4, 2008) -- Brain scans taken at different times of year suggest that the actions of the serotonin transporter -- involved in regulating the mood-altering neurotransmitter serotonin -- vary by season, according to a new report. These fluctuations may potentially explain seasonal affective disorder and related mood changes. ... > full story
Invisibility Undone: Chinese Scientists Demonstrate How To Uncloak An Invisible Object (September 4, 2008) -- Harry Potter beware! A team of Chinese scientists has developed a way to unmask your invisibility cloak. According to a new paper in Optics Express certain materials underneath an invisibility cloak would allow invisible objects be seen again. ... > full story
True Extent Of Self-harm Amongst Teenagers Revealed (September 4, 2008) -- New research reveals that one in four cases of self-harm go unreported and one in five occur under the influence of alcohol. Also, six in ten ‘self-harmers’ mention suicidal wishes. The new study also shows that self-cutting is not confined to young girls, but is the most common form of self-harm amongst young boys too. ... > full story
Researchers Create Animal Model Of Chronic Stress (September 4, 2008) -- In an effort to better understand how chronic stress affects the human body, researchers have created an animal model that shows how chronic stress affects behavior, physiology and reproduction. Developing the animal model better positions the researchers to understand the neurohormonal causes of such stress and the body reaction in order to develop more effective treatment options for humans. ... > full story
Children Of Older Fathers More Likely To Have Bipolar Disorder, New Report Finds (September 4, 2008) -- Older age among fathers may be associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder in their offspring, according to a new report. ... > full story
Wolves Would Rather Eat Salmon (September 4, 2008) -- Although most people imagine wolves chasing deer and other hoofed animals, new research suggests that, when they can, wolves actually prefer fishing to hunting. The study shows that when salmon is available, wolves will reduce deer hunting activity and instead focus on seafood. ... > full story
Is There Hope For The Prevention Of Dementia? (September 4, 2008) -- Scientists reviewed the latest findings about the effect of antihypertensive treatment on cognitive function and dementia at a recent conference. As a risk factor for stroke, ischemic brain lesions and silent brain infarcts, general atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular morbidity, hypertension may also be a risk factor for dementia related to cerebrovascular disease. ... > full story
Verifying Wireless Hackers For Homeland Security (September 4, 2008) -- Wireless sensor networks used to detect and report events including hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires and for military surveillance and anti-terrorist activities are prone to subterfuge. In the International Journal of Security and Networks, computer scientists at Florida Atlantic University describe a new anti-hacking system to protect WSNs. ... > full story
Multitasking Can Be Efficient At Certain Optimal Times (September 4, 2008) -- In today's fast-paced world, multitasking has become an increasingly necessary part of our daily routine. Unfortunately, multitasking also is notoriously inefficient. However, a new brain imaging study led by a cognitive neuroscientist finds that there are optimal times when we are better suited to multitask. ... > full story
Physicists Discover 'Doubly Strange' Particle (September 4, 2008) -- Physicists of the DZero experiment at the US Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have discovered a new particle made of three quarks, the Omega-sub-b. The particle contains two strange quarks and a bottom quark. It is an exotic relative of the much more common proton and weighs about six times the proton mass. ... > full story
Early Onset Gene For Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Identified (September 4, 2008) -- Two new genetic markers that influence the likelihood of getting Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis during childhood have been identified. One marker sits next to a gene that regulates inflammatory responses, suggesting a target for therapy. ... > full story
Improving Piglet Survival (September 4, 2008) -- Neonatal mortality in pigs is a major welfare and economic concern. It is one of the issues being tackled by Welfare Quality®, an EU-funded project designed to integrate farm animal welfare into the food chain. ... > full story
How Often Do Hip And Knee Replacements Need Revision? (September 4, 2008) -- A comprehensive study using nationwide data on hip and knee replacements in England has found that one in 75 patients require a revision of their joint replacement after three years. Although this compares favorably with the rest of the world, the study reinforces concerns about the new surgical techniques of hip resurfacing and unicondylar knee replacement. ... > full story
A Little Nitrogen Can Go A Long Way (September 4, 2008) -- With significant increases in the price of fertilizer and grain, site-specific management -- especially in variable rate nitrogen application -- can have a significant impact on yield and profitability, as reported in the latest issue of Agronomy Journal. ... > full story
Post-marketing Studies Finding Adverse Events In Drugs Used In Children (September 4, 2008) -- The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act, designed to stimulate more drug safety studies in children, has resulted in more than 130 label changes since its inception nearly six years ago, according to researchers. ... > full story
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