Senin, 15 November 2010

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, November 15, 2010

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Extensive natural recovery after spinal cord injury uncovered in primate study (November 15, 2010) -- A new study shows unexpected and extensive natural recovery after spinal cord injury in primates. The findings may one day lead to the development of new treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries. ... > full story

Poor sleep quality increases inflammation, community study finds (November 15, 2010) -- People who sleep poorly or do not get enough sleep have higher levels of inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, researchers have found. ... > full story

Rare cold water coral ecosystem discovered off coast of Mauritania (November 15, 2010) -- A rare cold water coral reef with living animals has been discovered off the coast of Mauritania. In the middle of the enormous rock formation of the undersea canyon area, scientists also stumbled across the giant deep sea oyster, a Methuselah among sea creatures. ... > full story

New protocol reduces children's radiation exposure during cardiac procedures (November 15, 2010) -- Radiation exposure during cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat pediatric heart rhythm disturbances is not insignificant. Using a new safety protocol of continuous real-time radiation monitoring, physician awareness, and adjusting radiation dosing reduces children's radiation exposure as they undergo electrophysiology procedures. Unrelated research on radiation found women are more likely to develop cancer from ionizing radiation used in cardiac treatment and that medical imaging staff may need better protection from it. ... > full story

Updated software uses combination testing to catch bugs fast and easy (November 15, 2010) -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have released an updated version of a computer system testing tool that can cut costs by more efficiently finding flaws. A tutorial on using the tool accompanies the new release. ... > full story

Death of spouse, child may cause higher heart rate, other dangers (November 15, 2010) -- Immediately after the death of a loved one, bereaved spouses and parents can experience an increase in their heart rate and other heart rhythm abnormalities -- possibly increasing the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death. Although the abnormalities tend to dissipate within six months, greater awareness of the potential for increased risk of heart attack or sudden death among the recently bereaved may lead to better prevention measures, especially for those with underlying heart disease. ... > full story

Researchers develop light technology to combat hospital infections (November 15, 2010) -- A pioneering lighting system that can kill hospital superbugs -- including MRSA and C. difficile -- has been developed by researchers in Scotland. The technology decontaminates the air and exposed surfaces by bathing them in a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths, known as HINS-light. ... > full story

Vitamin D deficit doubles risk of stroke in whites, but not in blacks, study finds (November 15, 2010) -- Low levels of vitamin D, the essential nutrient obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, doubles the risk of stroke in whites, but not in blacks, according to a new study. ... > full story

Invasive species pose major threat to fish in Mediterranean basin, large-scale study finds (November 15, 2010) -- An international team has carried out the first large-scale study of the threats facing freshwater fish in the Mediterranean basin. Invasive species, along with over-exploitation of water resources, are the most important pressures, and those that expose fish to the greatest risk of extinction. ... > full story

Having first-degree relative with atrial fibrillation linked with increased risk (November 15, 2010) -- An examination of the heritability of atrial fibrillation (AF) among more than 4,000 participants in the Framingham Heart Study finds the occurrence of AF in first-degree relatives was associated with AF risk after adjustment for established AF risk factors and AF-related genetic variants, according to a new study. ... > full story

Proteins in motion: World’s largest video database of proteins for the pharmaceutical industry published (November 15, 2010) -- After four years of conducting intensive supercomputer calculations, scientists in Spain have presented the world’s largest database of protein motions. Called MoDEL, this new database holds more than 1,700 proteins and is partially accessible through the Internet to researchers worldwide. MoDEL has been developed to study the basic biology of proteins and to accelerate and facilitate the design of new pharmaceutical agents. ... > full story

Women with high job strain have 40 percent increased risk of heart disease, study finds (November 15, 2010) -- Women who report high job strain have increased risk of heart disease. Job strain is having high job demands and feeling underused or powerless to make decisions on the job. Previous job strain research found similar results in men. ... > full story

Coronal mass ejections: Scientists unlock the secrets of exploding plasma clouds on the Sun (November 14, 2010) -- The Sun sporadically expels trillions of tons of million-degree hydrogen gas in explosions called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Such clouds are enormous in size (spanning millions of miles) and are made up of magnetized plasma gases, so hot that hydrogen atoms are ionized. Now, using data from the twin-satellite STEREO mission, scientists have demonstrated for the first time that the observed motion of erupting plasma clouds driven by magnetic forces can be correctly explained by a theoretical model. ... > full story

Redeeming role for a common virus: Ability to kill cancer (November 14, 2010) -- A common virus that can cause coughing and mild diarrhea appears to have a major redemptive quality: the ability to kill cancer. Harnessing that power, researchers are conducting a clinical trial to see if the virus can target and kill certain tumor types. ... > full story

Seeing meat makes people significantly less aggressive (November 14, 2010) -- Seeing meat appears to make human beings significantly less aggressive, contrary to what researchers expected. ... > full story

Brain might be key to leptin's actions against type 1 diabetes, researchers find (November 14, 2010) -- New findings suggest a novel role for the brain in mediating beneficial actions of the hormone leptin in type 1 diabetes. ... > full story

Genomes of lyme disease bacteria sequenced (November 14, 2010) -- Scientists have determined the complete genetic blueprints for 13 different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The achievement should lead to a better understanding of how genetic variations among strains may result in different courses of illness in people with Lyme disease, the most common tickborne disease in North America. The wealth of new genetic data will also help scientists develop improved ways to diagnose, treat and prevent Lyme disease. ... > full story

More than half of stroke survivors suffer added burden of little known neurologic condition, survey finds (November 14, 2010) -- A new survey shows that 53 percent of stroke survivor respondents suffer from symptoms of another neurologic condition called pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition thought to be caused by structural damage in the brain due to injury or disease. PBA causes involuntary and unpredictable outbursts of laughing or crying, often in socially inappropriate situations. ... > full story

Mathematical equation calculates cost of walking for first time (November 14, 2010) -- Why do tall people burn less energy per kilogram when walking than shorter ones do, and how much energy does walking require? These are basic questions that doctors, trainers, fitness buffs and weight-watchers would all like to have answered, and now researchers from Texas have derived a fundamental equation to calculate how much energy walkers use, based simply on height and weight, which has direct applications across all walks of life. ... > full story

Specialized blood vessels jumpstart and sustain liver regeneration (November 14, 2010) -- The liver's unique ability among organs to regenerate itself has been little understood. Now scientists have shed light on how the liver restores itself by demonstrating that endothelial cells -- the cells that form the lining of blood vessels -- play a key role. ... > full story

Catastrophic drought looms for capital city of Bolivia (November 14, 2010) -- Catastrophic drought is on the near-term horizon for the capital city of Bolivia, according to new research into the historical ecology of the Andes. If temperatures rise more than 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius (3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit) above those of modern times, parts of Peru and Bolivia will become a desert-like setting. ... > full story

Synapses recycle proteins for the release of neurotransmitters (November 14, 2010) -- Neurons communicate via chemical transmitters which they store in the bubble-like synaptic vesicles and release as required. To be able to react reliably to stimulation, neurons must have a certain number of "acutely releasable" vesicles. With the help of a new method, neuroscientists have now discovered that neurons systematically recycle the protein components necessary for transmitter release and in this way guarantee the reliability of signal transmission in the brain. ... > full story

Natural selection on not-so-natural plants (November 14, 2010) -- New research shows that while a genetically modified squash plant may be resistant to common virus transmitted by aphids, it's no match for bacteria transmitted by beetles. ... > full story

Having severe acne may increase suicide risk, study suggests (November 14, 2010) -- Individuals who suffer from severe acne are at an increased risk of attempting suicide, a new study suggests. ... > full story

New explanation for the origin of high species diversity in Amazon (November 14, 2010) -- An international team of scientists has reset the agenda for future research in the highly diverse Amazon region by showing that the extraordinary diversity found there is much older than generally thought. ... > full story

Mathematical model of the life cycle of red blood cells may predict risk of anemia (November 14, 2010) -- Mathematicians have developed a mathematical model reflecting how red blood cells change in size and hemoglobin content during their four-month lifespan. The model, which uses data from routinely performed blood tests, may be able to predict the development of anemia up to two months before it can be detected by standard measurements. ... > full story

Nanostructured materials repel water droplets before they have a chance to freeze (November 14, 2010) -- Engineers have designed and demonstrated ice-free nanostructured materials that literally repel water droplets before they even have the chance to freeze. The finding could lead to a new way to help keep airplane wings, buildings, powerlines, and even entire highways free and clear of ice during the worst winter weather. ... > full story

Forceps and other instruments can assist birth, but with risks to mother, child (November 14, 2010) -- Forceps might be a better instrument than a vacuum cup for assisting a successful birth, but new mothers might experience more trauma and complications after a forceps delivery, according to a new review of studies. ... > full story

X-ray imaging advances efforts to harness nuclear fusion: More accurate simulations could lead to 'break-even' fusion (November 14, 2010) -- A new X-ray imaging capability has taken pictures of a critical instability at the heart of Sandia's huge Z accelerator. The effort may help remove a major impediment in the worldwide, multi-decade, multi-billion dollar effort to harness nuclear fusion to generate electrical power from sea water. ... > full story

Sleep apnea linked to cognitive difficulties and deficits in gray matter (November 14, 2010) -- Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may blame their daytime difficulties on simple sleepiness, but new research suggests that their brains may be to blame. Specifically, their cognitive challenges may be caused by structural deficits in gray matter, brought on by the intermittent oxygen deprivation that comes with OSA. The good news is that these deficits may be partially or fully reversible with early detection and treatment, according to Italian researchers. ... > full story

Discovery could reveal secrets of ancient Martian and terrestrial atmospheres (November 13, 2010) -- Chemists have uncovered a new chemical reaction on tiny particulates in the atmosphere that could allow scientists to gain a glimpse from ancient rocks of what the atmospheres of the Earth and Mars were like hundreds of millions years ago. ... > full story

Researchers unlock a secret of bacteria's immune system (November 13, 2010) -- Researchers have unlocked a secret of bacteria's immune system. The discovery may eventually make it possible to prevent certain bacteria from developing resistance to antibiotics. The scientists showed that this mechanism, called CRISPR/Cas, works by selecting foreign DNA segments and inserting them into very specific locations in a bacterium's genome. ... > full story

New ocean acidification study shows added danger to already struggling coral reefs (November 13, 2010) -- Over the next century recruitment of new corals could drop by 73 percent, as rising carbon dioxide levels turn the oceans more acidic. New research findings reveal a new danger to the already threatened Caribbean and Florida reef Elkhorn corals. ... > full story

Creams used to treat eczema could make it worse, study suggests (November 13, 2010) -- New research from the UK suggests that using emollient creams to relieve the symptoms of eczema could actually make the condition worse. The researchers have published a study showing that aqueous cream BP reduces the thickness of healthy skin over a period of four weeks, calling into question whether the cream should be used for treating eczema, particularly for children and babies who have more sensitive skin. ... > full story

Keeping the daily clock ticking in a fluctuating environment: Hints from a green alga (November 13, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a mechanism which explains how biological clocks accurately synchronize to the day/night cycle despite large fluctuations in light intensity during the day and from day to day. ... > full story

Better student performance with peer learning (November 13, 2010) -- Engineering students with average grades from upper secondary school can manage difficult courses just as well as students with high grades. At least, if a group of them meet an older student once a week during the first semester to discuss and solve maths problems and other difficult exercises from their courses, according to new research. ... > full story

Oceanography researchers discover toxic algae in open water (November 13, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered toxic algae in vast, remote regions of the open ocean for the first time. Harmful algal blooms are reported as increasing both geographically and in frequency along populated coastlines. This latest research shows that the ubiquitous diatom Pseudo-nitzschia -- an alga that produces the neurotoxin, domoic acid, or DA, in coastal regions -- actually also produces DA at many locations in the open Pacific. ... > full story

New DNA repair pathway (November 13, 2010) -- Researchers have found a new, inducible pathway for repairing DNA damaged by oxygen radicals. ... > full story

Decisions made by communities of bacteria trump game theory (November 13, 2010) -- A scientist has outlined how decisions made by communities of bacteria trump game theory. "When human beings make a decision," he says, "they think they're being rational." Bacteria, he explains, are both simpler and more sophisticated -- they can more effectively control the superfluous noise around decision making and make group decisions that contribute to the well-being of the entire bacterial colony. ... > full story

Anti-gout drug may decrease risk for colorectal adenoma progression (November 13, 2010) -- Allopurinol, a relatively inexpensive anti-gout medication that has been on the market for more than 20 years, may have some activity against colorectal adenomas, according to new research. ... > full story

Selected hens give new genetic insights (November 13, 2010) -- Studies of heavy, fast-growing hens and small, slow-growing hens provide important new knowledge on the origin of the genetic variation that has enabled them to adapt rapidly to new extreme environments. ... > full story

Fearless children show less empathy, more aggression, research finds (November 13, 2010) -- Preschool-aged children who demonstrate fearless behavior also reveal less empathy and more aggression towards their peers, new research shows. ... > full story

Quantum computers easier to build: Can tolerate faulty or missing components, researchers say (November 13, 2010) -- Quantum computers should be much easier to build than previously thought, because they can still work with a large number of faulty or even missing components, according to researchers. This surprising discovery brings scientists one step closer to designing and building real-life quantum computing systems -- devices that could have enormous potential across a wide range of fields, from drug design, electronics, and even code-breaking. ... > full story

New risk factor for developing breast cancer: DNA methylation modification to BRCA1 gene (November 13, 2010) -- Medical researchers have identified a new risk factor for developing breast cancer. The risk factor involves a modification (DNA methylation) to the BRCA1 gene. BRCA1 is known for its involvement in breast and ovarian cancer. Women with mutations in this gene, which inactivates its function, are predisposed to these diseases. ... > full story

Common diabetes drug may halt growth of cysts in polycystic kidney disease (November 13, 2010) -- A drug commonly used to treat diabetes may also retard the growth of fluid-filled cysts of the most common genetic disorder, polycystic kidney disease. Researchers report that pioglitazone appears to control the growth of PKD cysts. ... > full story

Study sheds light on aromatase inhibitor joint pain syndrome (November 13, 2010) -- Breast cancer patients are more likely to have joint pain from taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) if they have advanced stage cancer, according to new research. The study is one of the first to identify factors that increase the likelihood that a patient will suffer joint pain from AI therapy. ... > full story

Overcoming the 'tragedy of the commons': Conditonal cooperation helps in forest preservation (November 13, 2010) -- According to the standard prediction large-scale cooperation in the management of commons is impossible, mainly because of free-riders. Yet, extensive field evidence indicates that many communities are able to manage their commons. Now an analysis of a major forest commons management program in Ethiopia provides first-time evidence that conditional cooperation which has been identified in many laboratory experiments before plays a key role. ... > full story

Are patient surveys a reliable way to assess the performance of doctors and practices? (November 13, 2010) -- To assess the performance of general practices, it is better to ask patients about their actual experiences of care rather than ask for satisfaction ratings, according to new research. ... > full story


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