ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, September 3, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Model for implantable artificial kidney to replace dialysis unveiled (September 3, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a prototype model of the first implantable artificial kidney, in a development that one day could eliminate the need for dialysis. ... > full story
New type of anti-malarial compound discovered (September 3, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a promising new drug candidate that represents a new class of drug to treat malaria. Clinical trials for the compound are planned for later this year. ... > full story
Cuckoo chicks in Zebra finches: Eggs from other females can be found in every fifth nest (September 3, 2010) -- Some female zebra finches foist a part of their eggs on their neighbors. Scientists in Germany have discovered that in every fifth nest there is one egg that is not produced by its social parents. The female birds act in a very well-targeted way: eggs are being placed in “foster-care” shortly before the hosts commence their own egg laying. ... > full story
Long term use of oral bisphosphonates may double risk of esophageal cancer, study finds (September 3, 2010) -- People who take oral bisphosphonates for bone disease over five years may be doubling their risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet), according to a new study. ... > full story
Scientists develop new method to identify glycosylated proteins (September 3, 2010) -- Various processes in our body are controlled by subsequent changes of proteins. Therefore, the identification of such modifications is essential for the further exploration of the human organism. Now, scientists in Germany have made a crucial contribution to this: Using a new method, they have been able to identify more than 6,000 glycosylated protein sites in different tissues and have thus established an important basis for the better understanding of all life processes. ... > full story
Head start for migraine sufferers (September 3, 2010) -- Psychological migraine treatment gives sufferers a confidence boost in their ability to self-manage their symptoms. For severe migraine sufferers, psychological treatments build on the benefits of drug therapy, according to a new study. A comparison of the effects of various treatment combinations for severe migraine - drug therapy with or without behavioral management - shows that those patients receiving the behavioral management program alongside drug therapy are significantly more confident in their ability to use behavioral skills to effectively self-manage migraines. ... > full story
Edible nanostructures: Compounds made from renewable materials could be used for gas storage, food technologies (September 3, 2010) -- Sugar, salt, alcohol and a little serendipity led researchers to discover a new class of nanostructures that could be used for gas storage and food and medical technologies. And the compounds are edible. The porous crystals are the first known all-natural metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are simple to make. Most other MOFs are made from petroleum-based ingredients, but the new MOFs you can pop into your mouth and eat, and the researchers have. ... > full story
Gene doping detectable with a simple blood test (September 3, 2010) -- German scientists have developed a blood test that can reliably detect gene doping even after 56 days. It was previously impossible to prove that an athlete had undergone gene doping. ... > full story
How the male common snipe 'flies the flag' to get the girl (September 3, 2010) -- A new study -- using high speed video and feathers bought on eBay -- shows that when the male snipe sticks out his outer tail feathers, they flutter like flags in the wind, producing a highly seductive drumming sound. The winged Lothario also dives to increase the speed and therefore raise the pitch of the call in a bid to impress the female of the species. ... > full story
Drugs used to treat osteoporosis not linked with higher risk of esophageal cancer (September 3, 2010) -- Although some reports have suggested a link between the use of oral bisphosphonates (drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass) and esophageal cancer, analysis of medical data from more than 80,000 patients in the United Kingdom found that use of these drugs was not significantly associated with new cases of esophageal or gastric cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story
‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London (September 3, 2010) -- Only half the number of plant species that could blossom along the walls of the River Thames finds a suitable place to grow, yet this could potentially double with the introduction of ‘green wall’ technology, according to new research. ... > full story
Natural disasters do not necessarily create peace, research finds (September 3, 2010) -- A devastating tsunami hit southern Asia in December 2004. After the tsunami, both politicians and journalists believed that the natural disaster could help to bring peace to Sri Lanka and the Aceh province of Indonesia. But did it? ... > full story
Water in Earth's mantle key to survival of oldest continents (September 2, 2010) -- Earth today is one of the most active planets in the Solar System, and was probably even more so during the early stages of its life. Thanks to the plate tectonics that continue to shape our planet's surface, remnants of crust from Earth's formative years are rare, but not impossible to find. A new paper examines how some ancient rocks have resisted being recycled into Earth's convecting interior. ... > full story
Antibacterial peptide could aid in treating soldiers' burn wound infections (September 2, 2010) -- An antibacterial peptide looks to be a highly effective therapy against infections in burn or blast wounds suffered by soldiers. ... > full story
Strain-gating piezotronics: New class of piezoelectric logic devices created using zinc oxide nanowires (September 2, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new class of electronic logic device in which current is switched by an electric field generated by the application of mechanical strain to zinc oxide nanowires. ... > full story
Microsoft Excel-based algorithm predicts cancer prognosis (September 2, 2010) -- Using readily available computer programs, researchers have developed a system to identify genes that will be useful in the classification of breast cancer. The algorithm will enable researchers to quickly generate valuable gene signatures without specialized software or extensive bioinformatics training. ... > full story
New app shows 2-D structure of thousands of RNA molecules (September 2, 2010) -- For the first time, it's possible to experimentally capture a global snapshot of the conformation of thousands of RNA molecules in a cell. The finding is important because this scrappy little sister of DNA has recently been shown to be much more complex than previously thought. ... > full story
Link between everyday stress and obesity strenthened with study using an animal model (September 2, 2010) -- A new study examined the effects of stress on the meal patterns and food intake of animals exposed to the equivalent of everyday stress on humans. The results suggest that, not only does stress have an impact on us in the short term, it can cause metabolic changes in the longer term that contribute to obesity. ... > full story
Hubble observations of supernova reveal composition of 'star guts' pouring out (September 2, 2010) -- Observations made with NASA's newly refurbished Hubble Space Telescope of a nearby supernova are allowing astronomers to measure the velocity and composition of "star guts" being ejected into space following the explosion, according to a new study. ... > full story
Protecting the lungs against 'collateral damage' from the immune system (September 2, 2010) -- A new study shows how our bodies try to minimize potential 'collateral damage' caused by our immune system when fighting infection. The research may also provide new clues to why cigarette smoke is a significant risk factor for developing diseases of the lung such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. ... > full story
Ozone depletion: Paving the way for identification of rogue CFC release (September 2, 2010) -- A new discovery could make it possible in future to identify the source of banned CFCs that are probably still being released into the atmosphere. They have also discovered the largest chlorine isotope enrichment ever found in nature. ... > full story
Scientists unwrap DNA packaging to gain insight into cells (September 2, 2010) -- Scientists have built a clearer picture of how lengthy strands of DNA are concertinaed when our cells grow and divide, in a discovery could help explain how cell renewal can go wrong. ... > full story
Deepwater Horizon spill: New method successfully predicted how oil would spread (September 2, 2010) -- Prompted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a scientist has come up with a new way of predicting how contaminants like oil will spread. He was able to forecast several days in advance that oil from that spill would wash ashore in particular parts of the Gulf of Mexico. ... > full story
Insight offered into superstitious behavior (September 2, 2010) -- People who believe that fate and chance control their lives are more likely to be superstitious -- but when faced with death they are likely to abandon superstition altogether, according to new research. ... > full story
Ancient brew masters tapped antibiotic secrets (September 2, 2010) -- A chemical analysis of the bones of ancient Nubians shows that they were regularly consuming tetracycline, most likely in their beer. The finding is the strongest evidence yet that the art of making antibiotics, which officially dates to the discovery of penicillin in 1928, was common practice nearly 2,000 years ago. The study finds that it's likely this prehistoric population was using empirical evidence to develop therapeutic agents. ... > full story
New evidence that fat cells are not just dormant storage depots for calories (September 2, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting new evidence that the fat tissue in those lower belly pooches -- far from being a dormant storage depot for surplus calories -- is an active organ that sends chemical signals to other parts of the body, perhaps increasing the risk of heart attacks, cancer, and other diseases. They are reporting discovery of 20 new hormones and other substances not previously known to be secreted into the blood by human fat cells and verification that fat secretes dozens of hormones and other chemical messengers. ... > full story
Computer scientists leverage dark silicon to improve smartphone battery life (September 2, 2010) -- A new smartphone chip prototype under development will improve smartphone efficiency by making use of "dark silicon" -- the underused transistors in modern microprocessors. ... > full story
Success stops drug trial: Apixaban prevents stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for warfarin (September 2, 2010) -- The data monitoring committee of the AVERROES study, seeing overwhelming evidence of the success of apixaban in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for the conventional treatment of warfarin, has recommended early termination of this study. The decision came after repeated review and careful consideration of all efficacy and safety data. ... > full story
Mineral physicists find new scenery at Earth's core-mantle boundary (September 2, 2010) -- Using a diamond-anvil cell to recreate the high pressures deep within the earth, researchers have found unusual properties in an iron-rich magnesium- and iron-oxide mineral that may explain the existence of several ultra-low velocity zones at the core--mantle boundary. ... > full story
Risk of marijuana's 'gateway effect' overblown, new research shows (September 2, 2010) -- New research shows that the "gateway effect" of marijuana -- that teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to move on to harder illicit drugs as young adults -- may be overblown. ... > full story
Recipe for water: Just add starlight (September 2, 2010) -- The European Space Agency's Herschel infrared space observatory has discovered that ultraviolet starlight is the key ingredient for making water in space. It is the only explanation for why a dying star is surrounded by a gigantic cloud of hot water vapor. ... > full story
New infrared light may open new frontier in fighting cancer, Tay Sachs (September 2, 2010) -- A "game-changing" technique using near infrared light enables scientists to look deeper into the guts of cells, potentially opening up a new frontier in the fights against cancer and many other diseases. ... > full story
Getting a tail up on conservation? New method for measuring lizard weight from size (September 2, 2010) -- A researcher in Israel has developed an improved tool for translating lizard body lengths to weights. The new equations calculate this valuable morphological feature to estimate the weight of a lizard species in a variety of different ecosystems. ... > full story
Combining resistance and endurance training best for heart health, triathlon study finds (September 2, 2010) -- A study of triathletes reveals that the heart adapts to triathlon training by working more efficiently. ... > full story
'Smart materials' process promises to revolutionize manufacturing of medical devices, other products (September 2, 2010) -- A new "smart materials" process -- Multiple Memory Material Technology -- promises to revolutionize the manufacture of diverse products such as medical devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), printers, hard drives, automotive components, valves and actuators. The breakthrough technology will provide engineers with much more freedom and creativity by enabling far greater functionality to be incorporated into medical devices such as stents, braces and hearing aids than is currently possible. ... > full story
Shorter sleep durations linked to greater risks of mental distress in young adults (September 2, 2010) -- Results of a new study show a linear association between sleep durations of less than eight hours and psychological distress in young adults between 17 and 24 years of age. The risk of psychological distress increased by 14 percent for each hour of nightly sleep loss. Those sleeping less than six hours a night were twice as likely to be experiencing distress as average sleepers. Long sleep durations of more than nine hours showed no association with distress. ... > full story
Researchers create 'quantum cats' made of light (September 2, 2010) -- Researchers have created "quantum cats" made of photons, boosting prospects for manipulating light in new ways to enhance precision measurements as well as computing and communications based on quantum physics. ... > full story
Scientists identify protein that spurs formation of Alzheimer's plaques (September 2, 2010) -- In Alzheimer's disease, the problem is beta-amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain and causes nerve cells to weaken and die. Drugs designed to eliminate plaques made of beta-amyloid have a fatal problem: they need to enter the brain and remove the plaques without attacking healthy brain cells. New research, however, suggests that treatments modeled on the blockbuster cancer drug Gleevec could be the solution. ... > full story
'You kick like a girl': Men and women use different leg and hip muscles during soccer kick (September 2, 2010) -- Significant differences in knee alignment and muscle activation exist between men and women while kicking a soccer ball, according to a new study. Data reveal that males activate certain hip and leg muscles more than females during the motion of the instep and side-foot kicks -- the most common soccer kicks -- which may help explain why female players are more than twice as likely as males to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury. ... > full story
Too much aluminum in infant formulas, UK researchers find (September 2, 2010) -- The aluminum content of a range of the most popular brands of infant formulas remains high, researchers in the UK have found. ... > full story
Decrease in global carbon dioxide emissions; CO<sub>2</sub> from China, India on the rise (September 2, 2010) -- Global carbon dioxide emissions decreased in 2009, the first decrease recorded this decade. However, in China and India the emissions increased by 9 and 6 percent. ... > full story
Sensitivity to alcohol odors may indicate a genetic predisposition to alcohol dependence (September 2, 2010) -- Prior research had found an association between DNA sequence variations in a gene that encodes parts of the brain's gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-A receptors (the GABRA2 gene) and alcohol dependence. New research has found that the GABRA2 genotype can also affect the brain's reward responses to cues such as alcohol odors. ... > full story
Commercial organic farms have better fruit and soil, lower environmental impact, study finds (September 2, 2010) -- Side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional strawberry farms and their fruit found the organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while leaving the soil healthier and more genetically diverse. The study is among the most comprehensive of its kind, analyzing 31 chemical and biological soil properties, soil DNA, and the taste, nutrition and quality of three strawberry varieties on more than two dozen commercial fields -- 13 conventional and 13 organic. ... > full story
Biochemical pathway may link addiction, compulsive eating (September 2, 2010) -- Ezlopitant, a compound known to suppress craving for alcohol in humans, was shown to decrease consumption of sweetened water by rodents in a new study. ... > full story
Probing for principles underlying animal flock patterns: A model system for group behavior of nanomachines (September 2, 2010) -- A team of physicists from Germany has developed a versatile biophysical model system that opens the door to studying phenomena such as the seemingly choreographed motion of hundreds or thousands of fish, birds, or insects, and probing their underlying principles. Using a combination of an experimental platform and theoretical models, more complex systems can now be described and their properties investigated. ... > full story
New TB diagnostic proves effective, expedient, study finds (September 2, 2010) -- A molecular test designed to easily diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and detect a drug-resistant form of the bacterium that causes TB can provide much more specific, sensitive and rapid results than currently available TB diagnostics, according to a new study. ... > full story
Researchers discover how to conduct first test of 'untestable' string theory (September 2, 2010) -- Researchers have planned how to carry out the first experimental test of string theory. String theory was originally developed to describe the fundamental particles and forces that make up our universe. The new research describes the unexpected discovery that string theory also seems to predict the behavior of entangled quantum particles. As this prediction can be tested in the laboratory, researchers can now test string theory. ... > full story
Text messages reveal the emotional timeline of September 11, 2001 (September 2, 2010) -- The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have been called the defining moment of our time. Thousands of people died and the attacks had huge individual and collective consequences. But less is known about the immediate emotional reactions to the attacks. For a new study, researchers analyzed text messages sent on September 11, 2001 for emotional words. They found spiking anxiety and steadily increasing anger through that fateful day. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
