ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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Turkey genome sequenced more than 90 percent, including sex chromosomes 'Z' and 'W' (September 8, 2010) -- More than 90 percent of the domesticated turkey genome has been sequenced and assembled. Thousands of genes previously unknown to avian scientists have been described. Also of interest are the sequences of the sex chromosomes "Z" and "W," which were poorly covered in the past. ... > full story
Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease? (September 8, 2010) -- Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them, could increase the spread of bacteria and rubbing your hands whilst using a conventional electric hand dryer could be a contributing factor. Frequently people give up drying their hands and wipe them on their clothes instead, but hand-hygiene is a key part of infection control and drying hands after washing is a very important part of the process. A new study looks at different methods of hand drying, and their effect on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces. ... > full story
Chemical for keeping human pluripotent stem cells alive identified (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers have found that a chemically synthesized compound, blebbistatin, can help prevent cell death in human pluripotent stem cells. These cells are of interest to stem cell scientists working on finding therapies for spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, burns, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and other ailments. Another advantage of using blebbistatin, say the researchers, is that no human- or animal-derived materials is needed for coating the culture surfaces. ... > full story
Wrist splints in children as effective as casts, study finds (September 8, 2010) -- In children with wrist fractures, a splint is as effective as a cast and provides greater comfort and easier hygiene, a new study finds. ... > full story
GOCE gravity mission back in action (September 8, 2010) -- ESA’s GOCE gravity mission has recovered from a glitch that prevented the satellite from sending its flow of scientific data to the ground. News of the recovery comes earlier than expected, thanks to the fervent efforts of a team of experts. ... > full story
Parents at highest risk for depression in the first year after child's birth (September 8, 2010) -- More than one-third of mothers and about one-fifth of fathers in the United Kingdom appear to experience an episode of depression between their child's birth and 12th year of age, with the highest rates in the first year after birth, according to a new article. ... > full story
Irrigation's cooling effects may mask warming in some regions -- for now (September 8, 2010) -- Expanded irrigation has made it possible to feed the world's growing billions -- and it may also temporarily be counteracting the effects of climate change in some regions, say scientists. But some sources of irrigation water are projected to dry up in coming decades and when they do, people may face the double whammy of food shortages and higher temperatures. A new study pinpoints where the trouble spots may be. ... > full story
Smoking damages men's sperm and also the numbers of germ and somatic cells in developing embryos (September 8, 2010) -- Two new studies have shed more light on how smoking may damage fertility, and give further weight to advice that mothers and fathers-to-be should stop smoking before attempting to conceive. The first shows that a mother's smoking reduces the numbers of germ and somatic cells in the testes of developing embryos; the second study shows that men's smoking affects the levels of two proteins, protamines, that are crucial for the correct formation of their sperm. ... > full story
Satellite navigation steers unmanned micro-planes (September 8, 2010) -- An unmanned aircraft system guided by satnav has been developed within ESA's Business Incubation Centre to provide rapid monitoring of land areas and disaster zones. The planes have already helped Spanish farmers in Andalusia to fight land erosion. ... > full story
New light on the mechanism of Parkinson’s disease (September 8, 2010) -- A significant number of Parkinson’s disease patients have a mutation of the enzyme Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Kinase 2 (LRRK2, also known as dardarin). However, little is understood about how it is regulated or functions. In a new paper, researchers demonstrate that a family of proteins, the 14-3-3 proteins, interact with LRRK2. ... > full story
Potomac River: 10-fold increase in native submerged vegetation reflects improved water quality (September 8, 2010) -- The Potomac River is showing multiple benefits from restoration efforts. Reduced nutrients and improved water clarity have increased the abundance and diversity of submerged aquatic vegetation, according to an 18-year field study. ... > full story
Bipolar disorder does not increase risk of violent crime, Swedish study suggests (September 8, 2010) -- A new study from Sweden suggests that bipolar disorder -- or manic-depressive disorder -- does not increase the risk of committing violent crime. Instead, the over-representation of individuals with bipolar disorder in violent crime statistics is almost entirely attributable to concurrent substance abuse. ... > full story
Can we spot volcanoes on alien worlds? Astronomers say yes (September 7, 2010) -- Now that astronomers are finding rocky worlds orbiting distant stars, they're asking the next logical questions: do any of those worlds have volcanoes? And if so, could we detect them? Work by theorists suggests that the answer to the latter is a qualified "yes." ... > full story
Short sleepers at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, study finds (September 7, 2010) -- People who sleep less than six hours a night may be three times more likely to develop a condition which leads to diabetes and heart disease, according to researchers. ... > full story
What can a New Zealand reptile tell us about false teeth? (September 7, 2010) -- Using a moving 3-D computer model based on the skull and teeth of a New Zealand reptile called tuatara, researchers have revealed how damage to dental implants and jaw joints may be prevented by sophisticated interplay between our jaws, muscles and brain. ... > full story
Multivitamin use doesn't impact colon cancer outcomes, study finds (September 7, 2010) -- Patients with colon cancer who used multivitamins during and after being treated with post-surgical chemotherapy did not reduce the risk of the cancer returning or their dying from it, according to researchers. In a study of 1,038 patients with stage III colon cancer, the researchers found that while multivitamin use had no beneficial effect on patients' outcomes, it also did not have a detrimental effect. ... > full story
Gambling on breast scans: Monte Carlo analysis could help reduce number of cancers missed by mammography (September 7, 2010) -- A mathematical tool known as a Monte Carlo analysis could help improve the way X-rays are used for mammography and reduce the number of breast cancers missed by the technique as well as avoiding false positives, according to new research. ... > full story
Having a male co-twin improves mental rotation performance in females (September 7, 2010) -- Having a sibling, especially a twin, impacts your life. Your twin may be your best friend or your biggest rival, but throughout life you influence each other. However, a recent study shows that having an opposite-sex twin may impact you even before you are born: females with a male co-twin score higher on mental rotation task than females with a female co-twin. ... > full story
The brain speaks: Scientists decode words from brain signals (September 7, 2010) -- In an early step toward letting severely paralyzed people speak with their thoughts, researchers translated brain signals into words using two grids of 16 microelectrodes implanted beneath the skull but atop the brain. ... > full story
Short nighttime sleep duration among infants, young children associated with obesity in later life (September 7, 2010) -- Insufficient amounts of nighttime sleep among infants and preschool-aged children may be a significant risk factor for developing childhood obesity, according to a new article. Additionally, napping does not appear to be an adequate substitute for nighttime sleep in terms of preventing obesity. ... > full story
Imaging reveals key metabolic factors of cannibalistic bacteria (September 7, 2010) -- Researchers have revealed new details about how cannibalistic bacteria identify peers suitable for consumption. The work, which employed imaging mass spectrometry, is a first step toward a broader effort to map all signaling molecules between organisms. ... > full story
First Irish genome sequenced (September 7, 2010) -- The first entire genome of an Irish individual has been sequenced. The sequence provides insight into the evolutionary history of this distinct lineage. ... > full story
Critically endangered whales may be fleeing Russian oil and gas boom, observers fear (September 7, 2010) -- Russian oil and gas company Rosneft is conducting oil and gas exploration work that may have caused the critically endangered western gray whale to flee its main feeding ground. Tests and offshore installment of equipment by Rosneft for a major seismic survey began in late August, despite repeated calls from 12 governments, NGOs, scientists and the public to postpone the survey because of potential risks to the whales. ... > full story
Radiologists identify and treat teenage self-injury (September 7, 2010) -- Using ultrasound and a minimally invasive procedure, radiologists can identify and treat patients who engage in a disturbing self-injury behavior known as self-embedding, according to a new study. ... > full story
Colorful mix of asteroids discovered, may aid future space travel (September 7, 2010) -- New research from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals that asteroids somewhat near Earth, termed near-Earth objects, are a mixed bunch, with a surprisingly wide array of compositions. ... > full story
Compounds in non-stick cookware may be associated with elevated cholesterol in children and teens (September 7, 2010) -- Children and teens with higher blood levels of chemicals used in the production of non-stick cookware and waterproof fabrics appear more likely to have elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels, according to a new article. ... > full story
Insect brains are rich stores of new antibiotics (September 7, 2010) -- Cockroaches could be more of a health benefit than a health hazard, according to scientists who have discovered powerful antibiotic properties in the brains of cockroaches and locusts. ... > full story
Discovery of mixer cells: Mixer cells relax tissue tension during embryogenesis (September 7, 2010) -- Researchers have recently identified cells that surprisingly change identity during embryogenesis in the Drosophila. By studying these "mixer cells" in a healing model, the scientists demonstrated that they helped to relax tissue tension, allowing perfect intercalation of the epidermis. ... > full story
Six times more insect species in tropical mountains than predicted (September 7, 2010) -- How many species of insects exist? Researchers found that in tropical mountains there are six times more insects than shown in global calculations. The insects in these areas are also highly specialized in their choice of food. ... > full story
Less is more: Teens who sleep less eat more fatty foods and snacks, study shows (September 7, 2010) -- Teens who slept less than eight hours on weeknights consumed 2.2 percent more calories from fats and 3 percent fewer calories from carbs than teens who slept eight hours or more, according to new research. In secondary analyses stratified by sex, the results were significant among girls but not boys. Also, for each one-hour increase in sleep duration, the odds of consuming a high amount of calories from snacks decreased by an average of 21 percent. ... > full story
Extreme survival: 'Conan the Bacterium' reveals its recipe for success (September 7, 2010) -- The discovery of long-sought chemical antioxidants in the world's toughest microbe is reported in a breakthrough study. First studied nearly 50 years ago, this bacterium can survive massive exposures to gamma-radiation, ultraviolet radiation, desiccation, and other agents which kill cells by generating reactive oxygen species. ... > full story
Hallucinogen can safely ease anxiety in advanced-stage cancer patients, study suggests (September 7, 2010) -- In the first human study of its kind to be published in more than 35 years, researchers found psilocybin, an hallucinogen which occurs naturally in "magic mushrooms," can safely improve the moods of patients with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety. ... > full story
Visual pattern preference may be indicator of autism in toddlers (September 7, 2010) -- Using eye-tracking methods, researchers have shown that toddlers with autism spend significantly more time visually examining dynamic geometric patterns than they do looking at social images -- a viewing pattern not found in either typical or developmentally delayed toddlers. ... > full story
More infants should receive iron supplements, researchers urge (September 7, 2010) -- Giving iron supplements to children with marginally low birth weights (2000-2500 grams) dramatically reduces the risk of developing iron deficiency and anemia. ... > full story
'Slow light' on a chip holds promise for optical communications (September 7, 2010) -- A tiny optical device built into a silicon chip has achieved the slowest light propagation on a chip to date, reducing the speed of light by a factor of 1,200. ... > full story
Memory problems more common in men? (September 7, 2010) -- A new study shows that mild cognitive impairment may affect more men than women. ... > full story
Melting rate of icecaps in Greenland and Western Antarctica lower than expected (September 7, 2010) -- The Greenland and West Antarctic ice caps are melting at half the speed previously predicted, according to analysis of recent satellite data. ... > full story
What are babies made of? Research shows for some it is sugar, salt and not all things nice (September 7, 2010) -- Children as young as four weeks old are being fed a poor diet of biscuits, ice-cream and soft drinks, according to new research. A new study found some month-old babies had been introduced to high fat, salt and sugar foods, despite health authorities recommending exclusive breastfeeding to six months of age. ... > full story
Cells can eat parts of themselves, with help from one protein (September 7, 2010) -- Like some people, cells eat when they are under pressure -- but they consume parts of themselves. A multi-function protein helps control this form of cannibalism, according to a new article. ... > full story
What's causing life-threatening blood clots in brain surgery patients? (September 7, 2010) -- One of the most severe complications of brain surgery is a pulmonary embolism. But a new study suggests that screening methods used to access the risk of pulmonary embolisms may fall short. ... > full story
Synthetic eye prosthesis: Plastic artificial cornea implants may offer hope for blind patients (September 7, 2010) -- Donor corneas are a rarity, but a newly developed implant made of plastic may soon offer patients the chance to see again. ... > full story
Study examines association between urban living and psychotic disorders (September 7, 2010) -- The association between psychotic disorders and living in urban areas appears to be a reflection of increased social fragmentation present within cities, according to a new article. ... > full story
Fears of a decline in bee pollination confirmed (September 7, 2010) -- Widespread reports of a decline in the population of bees and other flower-visiting animals have aroused fear and speculation that pollination is also likely on the decline. A recent study provides the first long-term evidence of a downward trend in pollination, while also pointing to climate change as a possible contributor. ... > full story
Scientists begin to unravel causes of mysterious skin disease (September 7, 2010) -- Vitiligo -- a complex disease that typically causes patches of white skin on the face, neck and extremities, which pop star Michael Jackson may have experienced -- is associated with slight variations in genes that play a role in the body's natural defenses. Multiple cellular pathways may contribute to the onset and progression of vitiligo, which makes fully understanding the disease complicated, but it also gives scientists a variety of starting points to begin developing therapies. ... > full story
Blue breed: Rare hibiscus color is achieved thanks to flower breeding project (September 7, 2010) -- Scientists working on a winter-hardy hibiscus breeding project have achieved a rare color for the plant: blue. ... > full story
Chronic Lyme disease: How often is it diagnosed and treated? (September 7, 2010) -- The existence of chronic Lyme disease is an issue of sharp debate within the medical community. Many doctors are concerned with the potential dangers associated with the prolonged and intensive use of oral and intravenous antibiotics (the recommended treatment for chronic Lyme disease), such as blood clots and life threatening infections. A new study attempts to determine how often chronic Lyme disease is actually being diagnosed and treated. ... > full story
Fashion student designs edible clothes (September 7, 2010) -- Emily Crane's research into growing edible materials has enabled her to bring a touch of haute cuisine to her haute couture. ... > full story
More Americans bypassing their personal physician when immediate treatment required, study finds (September 7, 2010) -- Only 45 percent of the 354 million annual visits for acute care in the United States are made to patients' personal physicians, as Americans increasingly make busy emergency departments, specialists or outpatient care departments their first point of contact for treatment of new health problems or a flare up of a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes. ... > full story
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