ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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Amphibian Diversity Decreases Chances Of Parasitic Disease, Study Shows (October 22, 2008) -- A new study showing that American toads who pal around with gray tree frogs reduce their chances of parasitic infections known to cause limb malformations has strong implications for the benefits of biodiversity on emerging wildlife diseases. ... > full story
On The Trail Of A Targeted Therapy For Blood Cancers (October 22, 2008) -- Researchers are examining a family of blood proteins that they hope holds a key to decreasing the toxic effects of chemotherapy in children and adults. Their findings may one day help in the development of targeted therapies for leukemia, multiple myeloma and other cancers of the blood. ... > full story
Fitness In A Changing World: Genetics And Adaptations Of Alaskan Stickleback Fish (October 22, 2008) -- The stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is one of the most thoroughly studied organisms in the wild, and has been a particularly useful model for understanding variation in physiology, behavior, life history and morphology caused by different ecological situations in the wild. ... > full story
How Neuronal Activity Leads To Alzheimer's Protein Cleavage (October 22, 2008) -- Amyloid precursor protein, whose cleavage product, amyloid-b, builds up into fibrous plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, jumps from one specialized membrane microdomain to another to be cleaved, according to a new report in the Journal of Cell Biology. ... > full story
Out Of Mesopotamia: Evolutionary History Of Tuberculosis (October 22, 2008) -- The evolutionary timing and spread of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), one of the most successful groups of bacterial pathogens, remains largely unknown. Using mycobacterial tandem repeat sequences as genetic markers, scientists show that the MTBC consists of two independent clades, one composed exclusively of M. tuberculosis lineages from humans and the other composed of both animal and human isolates. ... > full story
Creating Unique Health ID Numbers Would Improve Health Care Quality, Efficiency, Study Claims (October 22, 2008) -- Creating a unique patient identification number for every person in the United States would facilitate a reduction in medical errors, simplify the use of electronic medical records, increase overall efficiency and help protect patient privacy, according to a new study. Although the cost of such a system could reach billion, the effort would likely return even more in benefits to the nation's health care system. ... > full story
Microscopic Structure Of Quantum Gases Made Visible: Bose-Einstein Condensate (October 22, 2008) -- Scientists have, for the first time, succeeded in rendering the spatial distribution of individual atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate visible. Bose-Einstein condensates are small, ultracold gas clouds which, due to their low temperatures, can no longer be described in terms of traditional physics but must be described using the laws of quantum mechanics. The first Bose-Einstein condensates were generated in 1995 by Eric A. Cornell, Carl E. Wieman and Wolfgang Ketterle, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work only six years later. Since then, these unique gas clouds, the coldest objects humans ever created, have become a global research object. ... > full story
Can Exercise Prevent A Severe Stroke? (October 22, 2008) -- A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in the journal Neurology. ... > full story
Pandemic Flu Models Help Determine Food Distribution And School Closing Strategies (October 22, 2008) -- Pandemic flu models can help organizations improve their food distribution and school closing strategies in the event of such an emergency. The models are flexible so that multiple scenarios can be investigated to see which options meet an organization's specific goal. ... > full story
Embolic Neuroprotection System Reduces Risk Of Cardiac Events, Study Reveals (October 22, 2008) -- New research shows a low number of strokes and cardiac events in patients who had stents implanted utilizing a new embolic neuroprotection system during carotid stenting with commercial stents. ... > full story
New Hope For The Red Squirrel (October 22, 2008) -- Study says free-living red squirrels are mounting an immune response to the squirrelpox viral disease. ... > full story
Baseball: Professor Sees 59 Percent Chance Of Rays Win Over Phillies In World Series (October 22, 2008) -- A mathematician who has applied mathematical modeling techniques to elucidate the dynamics of scoring in baseball, has computed the probability of the Rays and Phillies winning the World Series now that the Rays have defeated the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. ... > full story
Vast Stellar Nursery: Claret-colored Cloud With A Massive Heart (October 21, 2008) -- An image of the amazing intricacies of a vast stellar nursery, which goes by the name of Gum 29, is now available. In the center, a small cluster of stars -- called Westerlund 2 -- has been found to be the home of one of the most massive double star systems known to astronomers. ... > full story
Vaccine Type That Holds Promise In Protecting Against TB Identified (October 21, 2008) -- A recombinant vaccine against tuberculosis shows promise, researchers find. The investigational vaccine for TB appears likely to offer significantly better protection against the potentially fatal disease than the one in current use. ... > full story
Microwaves Could Extract Water From Moon And Mars (October 21, 2008) -- When astronauts land on the Moon in the not too distant future, it's possible they will be visiting an outpost where they can pick up some fuel and a refreshing container of liquid. ... > full story
Potential New Way To Make A Good Anti-leukemia Drug Even Better (October 21, 2008) -- A recently identified cancer-causing protein makes the anti-leukemia drug imatinib, less effective. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow the spread of leukemia cells in culture. The study, which will appear in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the most effective treatment for leukemia may rely on a combination of targeted drugs, rather than a single miracle drug. ... > full story
Squeezing More Synthetic Fuel From Abundant Supplies Of Coal (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists in Italy are reporting that a new process could eliminate key obstacles to expanded use of coal gasification to transform that abundant domestic energy resource into synthetic liquid fuels for cars and trucks. ... > full story
Effect Of Gamma Waves On Cognitive And Language Skills In Children (October 21, 2008) -- Gamma wave activity in the brains of children provide a window into their cognitive development, and could open the way for more effective intervention for those likely to experience language problems. ... > full story
Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Governor's Palace In Turkey (October 21, 2008) -- Archaeologists have unearthed parts of a Neo-Assyrian governor's palace dating back to the 9th to 7th century BCE in an excavation program amongst the ruins on Ziyaret Tepe. The discoveries were extraordinary. The site in the south-east of Turkey (Diyarbakir province) is at risk from the construction of the Ilisu Dam. ... > full story
Beta-blocker Use Linked To Risks Of Death And Heart Attack After Surgery, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- Some patients who received beta-blockers before and around the time of undergoing non-cardiac surgery appear to have higher rates of heart attack and death within 30 days of their surgery, according to a new report. ... > full story
Cleaning Up Iraqi Nuclear Facilities, Radioactive Waste (October 21, 2008) -- Sandia scientists are helping train Iraqi scientists and technicians to clean up radioactively contaminated sites and safely dispose of the radioactive wastes as part of the Iraqi Nuclear Facility Dismantlement and Disposal Program. ... > full story
Non-AIDS Deaths In People With HIV Linked To Inflammation And Coagulation, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- In an analysis of deaths occurring during a large international trial of treatments for HIV-positive patients, researchers have found a strong association between markers of inflammation and coagulation and increased risk of death from non-AIDS diseases, including cardiovascular problems. ... > full story
Pesticide Concentrations Decreasing (October 21, 2008) -- The use of pesticides in the United States has been widespread for decades, and a new study shows the effects they have had as a contaminant in the nation's groundwater. The researchers took samples from over 300 wells and examined different contaminants that have been used over the years, with encouraging results as to the levels of concentration that the samples have measured. ... > full story
The Nose Knows: Two Fixation Points Needed For Face Recognition (October 21, 2008) -- Many of us are bad at remembering names but we are very quick to point out that at least we never forget a face. Never mind recognizing a familiar face -- how is it that we recognize faces at all? ... > full story
Man's Best Friend Recruited In Hunt For Disease Genes (October 21, 2008) -- For centuries man has had a uniquely close relationship with dogs -- as a working animal, for security and, perhaps most importantly, for companionship. Now, dogs are taking on a new role -- they are helping in the hunt for genetic mutations that lead to diseases in humans. ... > full story
Low-carb Diets Alter Glucose Formation By The Liver (October 21, 2008) -- A new study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet changes hepatic energy metabolism. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver relies more on substances like lactate and amino acids to form glucose, instead of glycerol. ... > full story
Blowing Bubbles On A Nanoscale (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists are puzzled by the nanobubbles that can develop on surfaces under water. It should be impossible for them to exist but nevertheless they remain intact for hours. They are something of a mystery, yet it is possible to manipulate the development of these bubbles, according to experts. The bubbles can then, for example, be used to reduce flow resistance in liquids. ... > full story
Respiratory Rhythms Can Help Predict Insomnia (October 21, 2008) -- The breathing and heart rates and cortisol levels of women with metastatic breast cancer can be used to predict if they'll suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disruptions, a common complaint from patients who want to maintain their quality of life, according to a new study. ... > full story
Alternative Fuels May Drain Dwindling Water Supplies (October 21, 2008) -- As the search for new fuels intensifies, researchers in Texas report that switching to certain alternative fuels to power cars, trucks, and SUVs may require the use of much more water than conventional petroleum-based gasoline and diesel. The findings suggest that producing alternative fuels could strain already limited water supplies in some regions of the country. ... > full story
Group Bragging Betrays Insecurity, Study Shows (October 21, 2008) -- Groups that boast, gloat and denigrate outsiders tend to be of low social status or vulnerable to threats from other groups, research shows. ... > full story
Cosmic Lens Reveals Distant Galactic Violence (October 21, 2008) -- Nature provides a magnifying glass that scientists cleverly decipher to gain a rare look at the violent processes at work in a young galaxy in the early universe. ... > full story
Do Cell Phones Increase Brain Cancer Risk? (October 21, 2008) -- Major research initiatives are needed immediately to assess the possibility that using cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors, according to an editorial the journal Surgical Neurology. ... > full story
Diatom Genome Helps Explain Success In Trapping Excess Carbon In Oceans (October 21, 2008) -- Diatoms have profound influence on climate, producing 20 percent of the oxygen we breathe by capturing atmospheric carbon and countering the greenhouse effect. These photosynthetic wonders have come to acquire advantageous genes from bacterial, animal and plant ancestors enabling them to thrive in today's oceans. ... > full story
Innovations Improve Accuracy Of MRI As Internal 'Thermometer'; Technique Can Enhance Cancer Therapy (October 21, 2008) -- Chemists say they have developed a new way to measure temperature changes inside the body with unprecedented precision by correcting a subtle error in the original theory underlying magnetic resonance imaging. ... > full story
Producing New U.S. Energy Crops By The Barrel (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists have produced oils of camelina, canola, Cuphea, lesquerella, milkweed and pennycress by the barrelful in a commercial-scale pilot plant. ... > full story
Voters In Battleground States More Ambivalent About Presidential Candidates (October 21, 2008) -- Heavy advertising by both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates may actually make voters in battleground states more confused about which candidate to vote for, a new study suggests. A nationwide study found that voters in heavily contested states like Florida and Ohio become more ambivalent when they are exposed to a lot of opposing messages from the two candidates. ... > full story
Earth In Midst Of Sixth Mass Extinction: 50% Of All Species Disappearing (October 21, 2008) -- The Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of both plants and animals, with nearly 50 percent of all species disappearing, scientists say. Which plants should be a top priority to conserve? Researchers say the most genetically unique species are the ones that have the greatest importance in an ecosystem. ... > full story
Drug-embedded Microparticles Bolster Heart Function In Animal Studies (October 21, 2008) -- Tiny polymer beads embedded with anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce damage to the heart when injected into rats' hearts after a simulated heart attack. The beads (average size: 1/50 of a millimeter wide) are made of a "polyketal" material that breaks down over a few weeks in the body. Because polyketals are less inherently inflammatory than other biodegradable polymers, they could be used to treat several inflammatory diseases. ... > full story
Ripening Bananas Glow An Intense Blue Under Black Light (October 21, 2008) -- Under UV light, ripening bananas appear in a bright blue color, which is is connected to the degradation of chlorophyll. ... > full story
New Study Claims Acne Is Not Associated With Yet-Uncultured Bacteria (October 21, 2008) -- In a new study researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark found bacteria in the follicles of acne patients and healthy individuals to be those of previously known species, disputing the theory that acne is caused by some yet-to-be-identified bacteria. ... > full story
Searching For Rare Ladybugs, With Unusual Spots (October 21, 2008) -- Agricultural Research Service scientists and cooperators are seeking the public's help in surveying for once-common ladybug species that are now hard to find. ... > full story
Designing Wildlife Corridors: Wildlife Need More Complex Travel Plans (October 21, 2008) -- A new study says that people trying to help nature by designing corridors for wildlife need to think more naturally. "Human beings tend to think in terms of regular, symmetrical structures, but nature can be much more irregular," said the lead researcher. ... > full story
'Filament' Of Dark Matter Supports 'Bubbly' Universe Theory (October 21, 2008) -- Despite thousands of years of research, astronomers know next to nothing about how the universe is structured. One strong and accepted theory is that large galaxies are clustered together on structures similar to giant soap bubbles, with tinier galaxies sprinkled on the surface of this "soapy" layer. Astronomers have uncovered what they believe are visible traces of a "filament" of dark matter -- an entity on which galaxies meet, cluster and form. A filament can originate at the junction of two "soap bubbles," where the thin membrane is thicker. ... > full story
Role Of Fatty Acids In Alzheimer's Disease Identified (October 21, 2008) -- Scientists have found that complete or partial removal of an enzyme that regulates fatty acid levels improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. A large-scale analysis of brain lipids identifies a potential therapeutic strategy. ... > full story
Revealing The Evolutionary History Of Threatened Sea Turtles (October 21, 2008) -- New genetic research carried out at the American Museum of Natural History clarifies our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among all seven sea turtle species and shows that specialized diets arose independently. The refined phylogeny has important implications for conservation of these threatened, highly migratory animals. ... > full story
Best Treatment Determined For Childhood Eye Problem, Study Suggests (October 21, 2008) -- A nine-site study has helped determine the best of three currently-used treatments for convergence insufficiency in children. Convergence refers to the natural ability of the eyes to focus and align while viewing objects up close. ... > full story
New Tools That Model 3D Structure Of Amorphous Materials To Transform Technology Driven R&D (October 21, 2008) -- Researchers have accurately identified tools that model the atomic and void structures of a network-forming elemental material. These tools may revolutionize the process of creating new solar panels, flat-panel displays, optical storage media and myriad other technological devices. ... > full story
Hypertension Disparity Linked To Environment (October 21, 2008) -- Social environment may play a greater role in the disparity between the numbers of African-Americans living with hypertension compared to non-Hispanic whites with the disease. A new study found that the disparity was substantially reduced when comparing groups of African Americans and non-Hispanic whites living in similar social environments. ... > full story
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