Rabu, 15 September 2010

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, September 15, 2010

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Selfishness can sometimes help the common good, yeast study finds (September 15, 2010) -- Scientists have overturned the conventional wisdom that cooperation is essential for the well-being of the whole population, finding proof that slackers can sometimes help the common good. The researchers studied populations of yeast and found that a mixture of 'co-operators' and 'cheats' grew faster than a more utopian one of only 'co-operators'. ... > full story

First US trial of bone-marrow stem cells for heart attack patients appears safe (September 15, 2010) -- The first randomized, placebo-controlled US clinical trial to assess the use of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells in patients after a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI; severe heart attack) demonstrated a strong safety profile for this cell therapy, based on phase 1 results. ... > full story

Ending the oceans' 'tragedy of the commons' (September 15, 2010) -- Leading international marine scientists are proposing radical changes in the governance of the world's oceans to rescue them from overfishing, pollution and other human impacts. Based on a successful experiment in Chile, the researchers say a new approach to marine tenure could help to reverse the maritime "tragedy of the commons" which has led to the depletion of fish stocks worldwide. ... > full story

Bone-anchored leg prostheses improve quality of life, Swedish study finds (September 15, 2010) -- A new study from Sweden shows the results of treatment using prostheses attached to titanium implants in the bones of patients with above-the-knee amputations. It reveals that the treatment improves function and quality of life in nine out of ten patients. ... > full story

Improving crisis prediction, disaster control and damage reduction (September 15, 2010) -- Earthquakes, homicide surges, magnetic storms, and the US economic recession are all kindred of a sort, according to a new theoretical framework. Researchers in the United States and Russia contend that these four types of events share a precursory development pattern that can be detected and tracked, possibly improving crisis prediction. ... > full story

Burnout associated with self-reported unprofessional conduct among medical students (September 15, 2010) -- Medical students with higher levels of distress (burnout) were more likely to self-report unprofessional conduct related to patient care and less altruistic professional values, according to a new study. ... > full story

Adapting to darkness: How behavioral and genetic changes helped cavefish survive extreme environment (September 15, 2010) -- Biologists have identified how changes in both behavior and genetics led to the evolution of the Mexican blind cavefish from its sighted, surface-dwelling ancestor. They identified a behavioral shift that was advantageous for feeding success in the dark, and linked it to its genetic basis in the fish's lateral line. This is the first time that a clear link has been identified between behavior, genetics, and evolution in Mexican blind cavefish. ... > full story

Benefits of healthy lifestyle factors stronger in combination (September 15, 2010) -- Individuals with a combination of healthy lifestyle factors are at significantly lower risk of total and disease-specific mortality, according to a new study. ... > full story

ARTEMIS: First Earth-Moon libration orbiter (September 15, 2010) -- In August 1960, NASA launched its first communications satellite, Echo 1. Fifty years later, NASA has achieved another first by placing the ARTEMIS-P1 spacecraft into a unique orbit behind the moon, but not actually orbiting the moon itself. This type of orbit, called an Earth-Moon libration orbit, relies on a precise balancing of the Sun, Earth, and Moon gravity so that a spacecraft can orbit about a virtual location rather than about a planet or moon. The diagrams below show the full ARTEMIS-P1 orbit as it flies in proximity to the moon. ... > full story

Underlying dysfunction of seemingly non-critical heart condition identified (September 15, 2010) -- Repairing small, seemingly benign holes in a child's heart may be more clinically important than previously thought, as dysfunction could be lurking out of sight. These are the findings from a new study examining a subset of the most common form of congenital heart disease, ventricular septal defect. ... > full story

How do your crystals grow? (September 15, 2010) -- New research uses fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate the processes at the surface of a growing crystal. This work may help to improve the crystallization of biomolecules -- an important tool in pharmaceutical research and other fields. ... > full story

Discrimination hurts, but how much? A lot, if you're a teen, study finds (September 15, 2010) -- Researchers have found that adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds experienced more discrimination than their peers from European backgrounds. The discrimination came not just from adolescents, but from adults as well. The level of discrimination also impacted grade point averages, and their health, including depression and distress, along with lower levels of self esteem. ... > full story

Human impacts on the deep seafloor (September 14, 2010) -- Scientists have for the first time estimated the physical footprint of human activities on the deep seafloor of the North East Atlantic. The findings reveal that the area disturbed by bottom trawling commercial fishing fleets exceeds the combined physical footprint of other major human activities considered. ... > full story

Lung cancer culprit could offer target for therapy, researchers report (September 14, 2010) -- A tiny molecule that spurs the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer could become a player in fighting the disease, say researchers who published a study on how the molecule behaves in mice. ... > full story

Making cookies that are good for your heart (September 14, 2010) -- Years of research has proven that saturated and trans fats clog arteries, make it tough for the heart to pump and are not valuable components of any diet. Unfortunately, they are contained in many foods. Now, a research team has developed a soybean which produces oil that is naturally low in saturated and trans fats. ... > full story

Androgen receptor may explain male dominance in liver cancer (September 14, 2010) -- A new study helps to explain why men get liver cancer more often than women and opens the door for a new treatment pathway, by showing a direct link between the androgen receptor, which is more active in men, and the hepatitis B virus as it relates to the deadly cancer. ... > full story

Many roads lead to superconductivity (September 14, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a magnetic signature that occurs universally among all iron-based superconductors, even if the parent compounds from which the superconductors are made possess different chemical properties. ... > full story

Measuring preference for multitasking (September 14, 2010) -- A new study may help employers identify employees who enjoy multitasking and are less inclined to quit jobs involving multitasking. The study presents a new tool developed to measure preference for multitasking. ... > full story

'Artificial ovary' develops oocytes into mature human eggs (September 14, 2010) -- Researchers have built an artificial human ovary that can grow oocytes into mature human eggs in the laboratory. That development could help preserve fertility for women facing chemotherapy or other treatments. ... > full story

Possible risk gene for schizophrenia uncovered (September 14, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a risk gene for schizophrenia, including a potentially causative mutation, using genome-wide association data-mining techniques and independent replications. ... > full story

Global fisheries research finds promise and peril: While industry contributes 0B annually, overfishing takes toll on people and revenue (September 14, 2010) -- Global fisheries, a vital source of food and revenue throughout the world, contribute between 5-0 billion per year to the worldwide economy, according to four new studies. Researchers also concluded that healthier fisheries could have prevented malnourishment in nearly 20 million people in poorer countries. ... > full story

How a normally defensive immune response can help HIV (September 14, 2010) -- The findings offer important opportunities for further research both for treatment of long-term persistence of HIV in those who are infected and for prevention of infection in those who are not, according to the researchers. ... > full story

Playing snooker with atoms (September 14, 2010) -- Scientists speak of sputtering when energy-rich ions hit a solid object and cause atoms to be released from its surface. The phenomenon can be exploited to apply microscopically thin coatings to glass surfaces. A research team has developed a special sputtering technique that greatly increases the efficiency of the coating process. ... > full story

Why 'scientific consensus' fails to persuade (September 14, 2010) -- A recent study sought to understand why members of the public are sharply and persistently divided on matters on which expert scientists largely agree. How would you determine whether or not a scientist seems like an "expert" on a particular matter? It is likely to depend on whether the position the scientist takes is consistent with the one believed by most people who share your cultural values. ... > full story

Chandra finds evidence for stellar cannibalism (September 14, 2010) -- Evidence that a star has recently engulfed a companion star or a giant planet has been found using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The likely existence of such a "cannibal" star provides new insight into how stars and the planets around them may interact as they age. ... > full story

Watercress may 'turn off' breast cancer signal (September 14, 2010) -- New research has revealed that a plant compound in watercress may have the ability to suppress breast cancer cell development by "turning off" a signal in the body and thereby starving the growing tumor of essential blood and oxygen. ... > full story

Research will help ID bodies left behind by Chilean earthquake, Pinochet regime (September 14, 2010) -- New research will help medical examiners and others identify human remains of those killed during the recent earthquake in Chile, as well as the bodies of the "disappeared" who were killed during the Pinochet administration. ... > full story

Gene therapy plus chemotherapy ups odds for success in treating 'bubble boy' disease (September 14, 2010) -- Gene therapy combined with chemotherapy may lead to immune system improvement in patients with 'bubble boy' disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

CRISPR critters: Scientists identify key enzyme in microbial immune system (September 14, 2010) -- Using protein crystallography beamlines at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, a team of researchers has resolved the atomic-scale crystal structure of an enzyme called "Csy4" that plays a key role in a microbial immune system. The research provides important new clues to the fundamental role of RNA in the evolution of life. ... > full story

False memories of self-performance result from watching others' actions (September 14, 2010) -- Did I turn off the stove, or did I just imagine it? Memory isn't always reliable. Psychological scientists have discovered all sorts of ways that false memories get created, and now there's another one for the list: watching someone else do an action can make you think you did it yourself. ... > full story

Chemicals in indoor swimming pools may increase cancer risk (September 14, 2010) -- Swimming in indoor chlorinated pools may induce genotoxicity (DNA damage that may lead to cancer) as well as respiratory effects, but the positive health effects of swimming can be maintained by reducing pool levels of the chemicals behind these potential health risks, according to a new study. ... > full story

B vitamins slow brain atrophy in people with memory problems (September 14, 2010) -- Daily tablets of certain B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage in elderly people who suffer from mild memory problems, a new study has shown. ... > full story

How our brains get tripped up when we're anxious (September 14, 2010) -- A new study sheds light on the brain mechanisms that allow us to make choices and ultimately could be helpful in improving treatments for the millions of people who suffer from the effects of anxiety disorders. ... > full story

Smokeless tobacco products not a safe option, won't help smokers quit, analysis finds (September 14, 2010) -- The American Heart Association advises against smokeless tobacco products for smoking cessation -- they are not a "safe" alternative to smoking. Long-term use of smokeless tobacco products increases the odds of suffering a fatal heart attack or fatal stroke, according to analysis of several studies. ... > full story

Sorghum bran has more antioxidants than blueberries, pomegranates, study finds (September 14, 2010) -- A new study has found that select varieties of sorghum bran have greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than well-known foods such as blueberries and pomegranates. ... > full story

Children and adults see the world differently, research finds (September 14, 2010) -- Unlike adults, children are able to keep information from their senses separate and may therefore perceive the visual world differently, according to new research. ... > full story

Supernova shrapnel found in meteorite (September 14, 2010) -- Scientists have identified the microscopic shrapnel of a nearby star that exploded just before or during the birth of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. ... > full story

Asthma medication may benefit patients with multiple sclerosis (September 14, 2010) -- Adding albuterol, a compound commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory diseases, to an existing treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis appears to improve clinical outcomes, according to a new report. ... > full story

Wildflower ‘armors’ itself against disease (September 14, 2010) -- An unusual wildflower that accumulates metals in its leaves has been found to use them as a kind of 'armor' against bacterial infection. Alpine pennycress is a small plant in the mustard family that grows on metal-rich soils scattered around Britain and Europe, such as the sites of former mine workings. The plant is known to accumulate zinc, nickel and cadmium to very high concentrations in its leaves, but why it should do this has remained a mystery. ... > full story

New pathway identified in Parkinson's through brain imaging (September 14, 2010) -- A new study has identified a novel molecular pathway underlying Parkinson's disease and points to existing drugs which may be able to slow progression of the disease. The pathway involved proteins -- known as polyamines -- that were found to be responsible for the increase in build-up of other toxic proteins in neurons, which causes the neurons to malfunction and, eventually, die. ... > full story

Would a molecular horse trot, pace or glide across a surface? Chemists study quadrupedal molecular machines (September 14, 2010) -- To determine how a quadrupedal molecular machine would move across a flat metal surface, chemists studied a class of molecular machines that "walk." Molecular machines can be found everywhere in nature, for example, transporting proteins through cells and aiding metabolism. To develop artificial molecular machines, however, scientists first need to understand the rules that govern mechanics at the molecular or nanometer scale. ... > full story

Success of IVF varies with season of the year, study suggests (September 14, 2010) -- The success of an assisted reproduction procedure may depend on the season, a new study suggests. ... > full story

New artificial skin could make prosthetic limbs and robots more sensitive (September 14, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an ultrasensitive, highly flexible, electronic sensor that can feel a touch as light as an alighting fly. Manufactured in large sheets, the sensors could be used in artificial electronic skin for prosthetic limbs, robots, touch-screen displays, automobile safety and a range of medical applications. ... > full story

Pilot study demonstrates safety of diabetes medication for patients with Alzheimer's disease (September 14, 2010) -- A pilot study suggests the diabetes medication pioglitazone is generally well tolerated and may warrant further study as a treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report. ... > full story

If the water looks and smells bad, it may be toxic (September 14, 2010) -- Earthy or musty odors, along with visual evidence of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, may serve as a warning that harmful cyanotoxins are present in lakes or reservoirs. In a new study of cyanobacterial blooms in Midwest lakes, taste-and-odor compounds were found almost every time cyanotoxins were found, indicating odor may serve as a warning that harmful toxins are present. ... > full story

Antiviral therapy associated with fewer recurring eye problems from herpes simplex virus (September 14, 2010) -- Taking oral antiviral medications following infection with the herpes simplex virus may be associated with a reduced risk of recurring eye-related manifestations of the disease, according a new report. ... > full story

Expanding threat of hypoxia in U.S. coastal waters (September 14, 2010) -- A new report assesses the increasing prevalence of low-oxygen "dead zones" in U.S. coastal waters and outlines a series of research and policy steps that could help reverse the decades-long trend. ... > full story

There is more to motor imagery than mental simulation (September 14, 2010) -- The human brain is a powerful simulation machine. Sports professionals and amateurs alike are well aware of the advantages of mentally rehearsing a movement prior to its execution and it is not surprising that the phenomenon, known as motor imagery, has already been extensively investigated. However, a new study suggests that there may be more to motor imagery than previously thought. A group of neuroscientists in Italy have shown that the brain is able to invent creative new solutions in order to perform impossible actions. ... > full story


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