ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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Gondwana supercontinent underwent massive shift during Cambrian explosion (August 11, 2010) -- The Gondwana supercontinent underwent a 60-degree rotation across Earth's surface during the Early Cambrian period, according to new evidence uncovered by a team of geologists. The study has implications for the environmental conditions that existed at a crucial period in Earth's evolutionary history called the Cambrian explosion, when most of the major groups of complex animals rapidly appeared. ... > full story
Dying of cold: More heart attacks in cooler weather (August 11, 2010) -- Lower outdoor temperatures are linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks, according to a new study by scientists in the UK. ... > full story
Electron transport: Study of electron orbits in multilayer graphene finds unexpected energy gaps (August 11, 2010) -- Researchers have taken one more step toward understanding the unique and often unexpected properties of graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material that has attracted interest because of its potential applications in future generations of electronic devices. ... > full story
Molecular imaging identifies high-risk patients with heart disease (August 11, 2010) -- A new study finds that molecular imaging -- a noninvasive imaging procedure -- can identify high-risk patients with potentially life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and help physicians determine which patients are best suited for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ... > full story
Deployment of buoys to measure air and sea interactions in typhoons launched from Taiwan (August 11, 2010) -- Scientists and technicians are deploying two buoys that will help us better understand interactions between the ocean and atmosphere during typhoons. ... > full story
Stereotyping has a lasting negative impact, new research finds (August 11, 2010) -- Aggression. Over-eating. Inability to focus. Difficulty making rational decisions. New research shows prejudice has a lasting negative impact on those who experience it. ... > full story
Evolutionary surprise: Freedom of neck played major role in human brain evolution, research suggests (August 11, 2010) -- By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck -- that little body part between your head and shoulders -- gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to neuroscientists. ... > full story
Heart's sounds can help diagnose heart failure, study finds (August 11, 2010) -- A new study concludes that acoustic cardiography, a new technology combining a 12-leed ECG with cardiac acoustic data, can aid physicians in detecting the abnormal third heart sound S3 in the emergency department -- ultimately increasing the accurate diagnosis of acute heart failure in certain subsets of patients. ... > full story
Optical imaging technique for angioplasty (August 11, 2010) -- A new optical imaging technique holds the potential to greatly improve angioplasty, a surgery commonly performed to treat patients with a partially or completely blocked coronary artery that restricts blood flow to the heart. ... > full story
Motion-tracking technology reduces injuries for older adults (August 11, 2010) -- Motion-tracking technology provides images and detailed data that helps patients, physicians and therapists better visualize movements as patients exercise. The visual feedback allows physicians and therapists to monitor recovery and adapt treatment plans, as well as give the patient a better picture of movements that can be dangerous, reducing the chance of future injuries and re-hospitalization. ... > full story
New sensor technology to make it easier and safer for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock to International Space Station (August 11, 2010) -- It was a perfect STORRM. On Tuesday, July 20, NASA and its industry partners, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., successfully demonstrated a new sensor technology that will make it easier and safer for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock to the International Space Station. ... > full story
Liability issues limiting recreational use of public school facilities (August 11, 2010) -- Although most public schools have some recreational facilities that could be used outside of regular school hours, concerns over liability have limited their use. In a new study, researchers reviewed the recreational use statues in all 50 states and found that liability protections could be improved, in some cases, with minor legislative changes, consequently opening up school facilities for increased recreational use benefiting the entire community. ... > full story
Common orchid gives scientists hope in face of climate change (August 10, 2010) -- A study that focuses on epigenetics in European common marsh orchids has revealed that some plants may be able to adapt more quickly to environmental change than previously thought. The research brings new hope to plant conservation. ... > full story
New insights into how antibodies are made suggests new approach for anti-cancer drug targets (August 10, 2010) -- While investigating how white blood cells known as B cells develop, researchers have discovered that genes from the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3Ks) family of enzymes are critical in enabling the B cells to produce antibodies in the spleen and lymph nodes. PI3Ks are involved in a diverse range of activities inside cells, generating signalling molecules to control cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking. Faults in these processes can lead to the development of cancer; consequently the PI3Ks are currently among the most hotly pursued drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry. ... > full story
Vitamin B3 as a novel approach to treat fungal infections (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists have identified vitamin B3 as a potential antifungal treatment. Infections by the yeast Candida albicans represent a significant public health problem and a common complication in immunodeficient individuals such as AIDS patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and recipients of organ transplants. ... > full story
One in four stroke patients stop taking medication within three months (August 10, 2010) -- A quarter of stroke patients discontinue one or more of their prescribed secondary stroke prevention medications within three months of hospitalization for an acute stroke, according to a new report. ... > full story
Buried silver nanoparticles improve organic transistors (August 10, 2010) -- Out of sight is not out of mind for a group of Hong Kong researchers who have demonstrated that burying a layer of silver nanoparticles improves the performance of their organic electronic devices without requiring complex processing. ... > full story
Fasting 'feelgood' factor: Holy month of Ramadan reduces volatility in markets, research finds (August 10, 2010) -- A new international study investigating the correlation between the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and stock markets has discovered that the average stock market returns in predominantly Muslim countries were historically almost nine times higher during Ramadan compared to other months of the lunar calendar. ... > full story
Mosasaur fossil: Life of 85-million-year-old 'sea monster' illuminated (August 10, 2010) -- One of the ocean's most formidable marine predators, the mosasaur Platecarpus, lived in the Cretaceous Period some 85 million years ago and was thought to have swum like an eel. That theory is debunked in a new article. Scientists have reconceived the animal's morphology, or body plan, based on a spectacular specimen housed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. ... > full story
Neurochip technology developed: Advances to further brain research of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists who proved it is possible to cultivate a network of brain cells that reconnect on a silicon chip -- or the brain on a microchip -- have been involved in the development of new technology that monitors brain cell activity at a resolution never achieved before. ... > full story
Polar bears, glaucous gulls most at risk from contaminants (August 10, 2010) -- Although animals throughout the Arctic are exposed to an alphabet soup of pollutants and contaminants that are carried north from industrialized countries, only polar bears in East Greenland and Svalbard and glaucous gulls in Svalbard appear to be showing any deleterious effects, according to a new report. ... > full story
Improved drug coverage under Medicare associated with increases in antibiotic use (August 10, 2010) -- Antibiotic use appears to have increased among older adults whose prescription drug coverage improved as a result of enrolling in Medicare Part D, with the largest increases for broad-spectrum, newer and more expensive drugs, according to a new report. ... > full story
Human cells can copy not only DNA, but also RNA (August 10, 2010) -- Single-molecule sequencing technology has detected and quantified novel small RNAs in human cells that represent entirely new classes of the gene-translating molecules, confirming a long-held but unproven hypothesis that mammalian cells are capable of synthesizing RNA by copying RNA molecules directly. ... > full story
Distinguishing 'senior moments' from Alzheimer's (August 10, 2010) -- With the help of volunteers aged 18 to 89, researchers have identified for the first time in humans a long-hidden part of the brain called the perforant path. Scientists have struggled for decades to locate the tiny passage, which is believed to deteriorate gradually as part of normal aging and far more quickly due to Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Stone Age remains are Britain's earliest house (August 10, 2010) -- Archaeologists working on Stone Age remains at a site in North Yorkshire say it contains Britain's earliest surviving house. Archaeologists have revealed that the home dates to at least 8,500 BC -- when Britain was part of continental Europe. ... > full story
New approaches could help defeat HIV (August 10, 2010) -- Drug resistance remains a major problem in combating HIV infection, but a different approach to drug development could be the answer. Current viral inhibitors target the HIV-1 protease function with a competitive mechanism. New research suggests that pharmaceutical companies look at compounds that use an allosteric non-competitive mechanism of inhibition. ... > full story
Imaging study sheds light on neural origins of baby talk (August 10, 2010) -- Neural processing in the brains of parents talking to their babies may reveal secrets about early stages of language acquisition in infants, according to new research that shows for the first time that experience, gender and personality affect how parents process the speech they use when addressing infants. ... > full story
Brain fitness programs may help frail elderly walk faster, study suggests (August 10, 2010) -- Computerized brain fitness programs are known to help seniors improve their memory and focus. Now a new study has found preliminary evidence that such programs may help frail seniors walk faster, potentially preventing disability and improving quality of life. ... > full story
World's tiniest mirror (August 10, 2010) -- Just as the path of photons of light can be directed by a mirror, atoms possessing a magnetic moment can be controlled using a magnetic mirror. New research investigates the feasibility of using magnetic domain walls to direct and ultimately trap individual atoms in a cloud of ultracold atoms. ... > full story
College undergrads study ineffectively on computers, study finds: Students transfer bad study habits from paper to screen (August 10, 2010) -- Despite the prevalence of technology on college campuses, a new study indicates that computers alone can't keep students from falling into the same old weak study habits. ... > full story
Plastic computer memory device that utilizes electron spin to read and write data: Alternative to traditional semiconductors (August 10, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated the first plastic computer memory device that utilizes the spin of electrons to read and write data. An alternative to traditional microelectronics, so-called "spintronics" could store more data in less space, process data faster, and consume less power. ... > full story
Larger waist associated with greater risk of death (August 10, 2010) -- Individuals with a large waist circumference appear to have a greater risk of dying from any cause over a nine-year period, according to a new report. ... > full story
Brain rhythm predicts ability to sleep through a noisy night (August 10, 2010) -- Ever wonder why some people can sleep through just about anything, while others get startled awake at each and every bump in the night? People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain. ... > full story
Computerized warning system alerts doctors to medications that could harm elderly patients (August 10, 2010) -- Adverse drug events occur in an estimated 40 percent of all hospital patients and can be the result of inappropriate medications being ordered. For elderly patients, this can pose a serious risk of complications. Now, a study shows that CPOE systems can help. ... > full story
Millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying (August 10, 2010) -- Every day, millions of microorganisms reach Spain from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel region -- by flying. Louis Pasteur demonstrated back in 1861 that germs can move through the air, but it was only recently discovered that bacteria, fungi and viruses can travel thousands of kilometers stuck onto dust particles. Satellite images show clouds that come close to the size of the Iberian Peninsula. ... > full story
'Lap-band' weight loss surgery in very obese adults improves mental health, study finds (August 10, 2010) -- One year after weight loss surgery with laparoscopic gastric banding, extremely obese adults demonstrate not only better physical health but also improved psychological health, a new study shows. ... > full story
New strategy to fix a broken heart: Scaffold supports stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells (August 10, 2010) -- Engineers and physicians have built a scaffold that supports the growth and integration of stem cell-derived cardiac muscle cells. The scaffold supports the growth of cardiac cells in the lab and encourages blood vessel growth in living animals. ... > full story
'Magnetic' solution to identify and kill tumors (August 10, 2010) -- Scientists are developing a new way to destroy tumors with fewer side effects and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The innovative method uses heat to kill the tumor cells but leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. Using specific biomarkers attached to individual tumors, the mixture of nano-particles and antibodies locates and binds to the tumor itself. ... > full story
Hitchhiking bacteria can go against the flow (August 10, 2010) -- Tiny aquatic organisms known as "water fleas" play an important role in carrying bacteria to lake and ocean habitats that are otherwise inaccessible due to stratified density boundaries. For animals as small as bacteria, the boundary between water masses of different temperature and salinity may as well be a brick wall. Hitching a ride on larger zooplankton helps them break through to greener pastures. ... > full story
Aggressive control of cardiac risk factors might not benefit all patients with diabetes (August 10, 2010) -- A mathematical model suggests that aggressively pursuing low blood pressure and cholesterol levels may not benefit, and could even harm, some patients with diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cold atoms image microwave fields (August 10, 2010) -- Microwaves are an essential part of modern communication technology. Mobile phones and laptops, for example, are equipped with integrated microwave circuits for wireless communication. Sophisticated techniques for measurement and characterization of microwave fields are an essential tool for the development of such circuits. A novel technique allows for the direct and complete imaging of microwave magnetic fields with high spatial resolution. ... > full story
Brain responds same to acute and chronic sleep loss, research finds (August 10, 2010) -- Burning the candle at both ends for a week may take an even bigger toll than you thought. ... > full story
Brain's wiring: More like the Internet than a pyramid? (August 10, 2010) -- Neuroscientists have traced circuits in part of the rat brain and find no sign of a top-down hierarchy. The distributed network of the Internet may be a better model, they say. ... > full story
More cancer-fighting power: Mouse with highly effective components of the human immune system (August 10, 2010) -- Researchers have modified T cell receptors, the antenna-like structures of T cells, to make them more potent against cancer. This modification is the precondition for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. The researchers developed a mouse with a whole repertoire of human T cell receptors with the aim of utilizing them in the future for targeted immunotherapy in patients. ... > full story
EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia (August 10, 2010) -- Engineering and health sciences researchers have applied machine learning to EEG patterns and successfully predicted how patients with schizophrenia would respond to clozapine therapy. ... > full story
Three biomarkers in spinal fluid appear helpful to classify patients with Alzheimer's disease (August 10, 2010) -- A "signature" consisting of three biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid was present in 90 percent of patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but also was found in more than one-third of cognitively normal older adults, according to a new report. ... > full story
More actions needed to help western Steller sea lion recover, fisheries experts say (August 10, 2010) -- NOAA's Fisheries Service says changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. ... > full story
Pilot study supports adolescent diabetes patients through personalized text messages (August 10, 2010) -- A recent study examined weekly, customized text messages to remind adolescent diabetes patients about their personal treatment activities. An increase in overall treatment adherence and improved blood glucose levels was found. ... > full story
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