ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Damaged organs linked to change in biochemical wave patterns (November 17, 2010) -- By examining the distinct wave patterns formed from complex biochemical reactions within the human body, diseased organs may be more effectively identified, says a researcher who has developed a model that simulates how these wave patterns are generated. ... > full story
Protein with cardioprotective capabilities during heart attack discovered (November 17, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a new protein that could be cardioprotective during heart attack, potentially leading to more targeted treatments for patients at risk. ... > full story
Landing lights for bumblebees (November 17, 2010) -- Gardeners could help maintain bumblebee populations by growing plants with red flowers or flowers with stripes along the veins, according to field observations of the common snapdragon. Bees are important pollinators of crops as well as the plants in our gardens. ... > full story
Never-smokers fare far better than smokers after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer (November 17, 2010) -- Patients with head and neck cancer who have never smoked have much better survival rates after radiation therapy than patients with a history of smoking, new research has found. ... > full story
Species, rather than diet, has greatest effect on gut bacteria diversity (November 17, 2010) -- The types of gut bacteria that populate the guts of primates depend on the species of the host as well as where the host lives and what they eat. A new study examines the gut microbial communities in great apes, showing that a host's species, rather than their diet, has the greatest effect on gut bacteria diversity. ... > full story
Energy drink use may lead to alcohol dependence (November 17, 2010) -- Many adolescents and college students innocently ingest large amounts of energy drinks to stay awake. But, new research shows that energy drink over-use is strongly linked with increased risks of engaging in episodes of heavy drinking and developing alcohol dependence. ... > full story
Bioengineers provide adult stem cells with simultaneous chemical, electrical and mechanical cues (November 17, 2010) -- Bioengineers have achieved the "Triple Crown" of stem cell culture -- they created an artificial environment for stem cells that simultaneously provides the chemical, mechanical and electrical cues necessary for stem cell growth and differentiation. Building better microenvironments for nurturing stem cells is critical for realizing the promises of stem-cell-based regenerative medicine, including cartilage for joint repair, cardiac cells for damaged hearts, and healthy skeletal myoblasts for muscular dystrophy patients. ... > full story
Cancer drug target is promising lead for new TB treatments (November 17, 2010) -- A key enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that enables the microbe to reproduce rapidly could be a golden target for new drugs against tuberculosis, according to a new study. The human equivalent of this enzyme has been targeted in some cancer treatments as well as in immunosuppressive chemotherapies. Scientists have now shown that inhibiting the same enzyme in M. tuberculosis effectively kills the bacterial cells. ... > full story
New device detects insects in stored wheat (November 17, 2010) -- A laboratory milling device for improving stored grain management has been developed by agricultural scientists. The system, called the "insect-o-graph," can detect internal insects in wheat that are not visible to the eye or that cannot be detected by usual grading methods. ... > full story
Statin RX may be overprescribed in healthy people without evidence of diseased arteries, study suggests (November 17, 2010) -- Rolling back suggestions from previous studies, a new study of 950 healthy men and women has shown that taking daily doses of a cholesterol-lowering statin medication to protect coronary arteries and ward off heart attack or stroke may not be needed for everyone. ... > full story
Using plants against soils contaminated with arsenic (November 17, 2010) -- Two essential genes that control the accumulation and detoxification of arsenic in plant cells have been identified. The results presented are a promising basis for reducing the accumulation of arsenic in crops from regions in Asia that are polluted by this toxic metalloid, as well as for the cleanup of soils contaminated by heavy metals. ... > full story
US scientists significantly more likely to publish fake research, study finds (November 17, 2010) -- US scientists are significantly more likely to publish fake research than scientists from elsewhere, finds a trawl of officially withdrawn (retracted) studies. ... > full story
Heat stress to Caribbean corals in 2005 worst on record; Caribbean reef ecosystems may not survive repeated stress (November 16, 2010) -- Coral reefs suffered record losses as a consequence of high ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean in 2005 according to the most comprehensive documentation of basin-scale bleaching to date. Collaborators from 22 countries report that more than 80 percent of surveyed corals bleached and over 40 percent of the total surveyed died, making this the most severe bleaching event ever recorded in the basin. ... > full story
New treatment for lung cancer shows promise (November 16, 2010) -- A new inhalable dry powder treatment for lung cancer shows a significant increase in survival rates and is far less invasive than current treatment options, which frequently include radiation and surgery. ... > full story
One of France's largest dinosaur fossil deposits found in the Charente region (November 16, 2010) -- The first excavations at the Audoin quarries in the town of Angeac, in the Charente region of south-western France, have confirmed that the site is one of the richest dinosaur fossil deposits in the country. With more than 400 bones brought to light, this site is remarkable both for the quantity of discoveries and their state of preservation. ... > full story
Reducing blood transfusions improves patient safety and cuts costs, study finds (November 16, 2010) -- A study has demonstrated how hospitals can improve patient safety and cut costs by reducing the number of blood transfusions. ... > full story
How do folded structures form? (November 16, 2010) -- What do the convolutions of the brain, the emergence of wrinkles, the formation of mountain chains, and fingerprints have in common? All these structures, albeit very different, result from the same process: the compression of a 'rigid membrane'. Scientists have now shed light on one of the mysteries underlying the formation of such folded structures. This work will make it possible to better understand and thus predict their emergence. ... > full story
Binge drinking in adolescence changes stress response in adulthood (November 16, 2010) -- Alcohol exposure during adolescence alters the body's ability to respond to stress in adulthood, according to new animal research. Because problems regulating stress are associated with behavioral and mood disorders, the findings may indicate that binge drinking in adolescence leads to increased risk of anxiety or depression in adulthood. ... > full story
Sunburnt whales: Three species show signs of sun damage to skin (November 16, 2010) -- Whales exhibit skin damage consistent with acute sunburn in humans, and it seems to be getting worse over time, reveals new research. ... > full story
Size of hippocampus may indicate early dementia (November 16, 2010) -- The size of the part of the brain known as the hippocampus may be linked to future dementia, reveals new research from Sweden. ... > full story
Major fusion advance: Breakthrough could help reduce heating of plasma container walls (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have taken steps toward practical fusion energy through better understanding of the physics that governs the interaction between plasmas and the material walls of the vessels that contain them. ... > full story
Risk factors that lead to bicycling injuries in city traffic (November 16, 2010) -- The streets of New York City can be dangerous for bicyclists, but they can be especially risky for young adult male bicyclists who don't wear helmets, have too much to drink, or are listening to music through earphones, a group of investigators report. ... > full story
New safety switch prevents explosions due to electrical sparks (November 16, 2010) -- In most cases, a spectacular accident must first occur in order to make the public aware of a problem that lurks continually in many areas of industry: the danger of explosions due to electrical sparks. The simplest method to prevent such explosions is called "Intrinsic Safety". The intention is to prevent ignitable sparks from even being created. Up to now, this has only been possible with small devices having a power of up to approx. 2 Watts - thus, above all, in process measuring and control technique. A new concept increases this limit now up to 50 Watts and thus makes application possible in many more technical fields. ... > full story
Teenage amphetamine abuse affects adult brain cell function (November 16, 2010) -- Amphetamine abuse during adolescence permanently changes brain cells, according to new animal research. The study shows drug exposure during adolescence, but not young adulthood, altered electrical properties of brain cells in the cortex. ... > full story
Astronomers discover merging star systems that might explode (November 16, 2010) -- Sometimes when you're looking for one thing, you find something completely different and unexpected. In the scientific endeavor, such serendipity can lead to new discoveries. Today, researchers who found the first hypervelocity stars escaping the Milky Way announced that their search also turned up a dozen double-star systems. Half of those are merging and might explode as supernovae in the astronomically near future. ... > full story
Treating heart attack with fat-derived stem cells may be safe in humans (November 16, 2010) -- Treating heart attack patients with regenerative stem cells obtained from their own fat deposits may be feasible and safe, according to a small, first-of-its-kind study. Heart muscle damage in stem cell-treated patients decreased more than half after six months; placebo-treated patients showed no change. Stem cell recipients had a greater increase in heart function, but the difference was not considered significant. ... > full story
How the songbird's brain controls timing during singing (November 16, 2010) -- New research that reveals the activity of nerve cells in a songbird's brain as the bird sings a specific song is helping scientists to understand how birds string together sets of syllables -- and it also may provide insight into how the human brain learns language and produces speech. ... > full story
New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time (November 16, 2010) -- Scientists have developed an inhalable dry powder antibiotic that when used alone or with current treatments may significantly reduce treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB. ... > full story
Newly discovered drumlin field provides answers about glaciation and climate (November 16, 2010) -- The landform known as a drumlin, created when the ice advanced during the Ice Age, can also be produced by today's glaciers, researchers in Sweden have discovered. ... > full story
Adolescent rats more vulnerable to drug addiction than adults; younger animals consumed more cocaine and worked harder for it than did adults (November 16, 2010) -- Adolescent rats take cocaine more readily than adults, are sensitive to lower doses, and work harder for access to the drug, according to new research. The findings suggest that adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction. ... > full story
Earth's lower atmosphere is warming, review of four decades of scientific literature concludes (November 16, 2010) -- The troposphere, the lower part of the atmosphere closest to the Earth, is warming and this warming is broadly consistent with both theoretical expectations and climate models, according to a new scientific study that reviews the history of understanding of temperature changes and their causes in this key atmospheric layer. ... > full story
Artificial retina more capable of restoring normal vision; animal study shows including retina’s neural 'code' improved prosthetic (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have developed an artificial retina that has the capacity to reproduce normal vision in mice. While other prosthetic strategies mainly increase the number of electrodes in an eye to capture more information, this study concentrated on incorporating the eye's neural "code" that converts pictures into signals the brain can understand. ... > full story
New bandages change color if infections arise (November 16, 2010) -- Wounds have to be regularly checked, to make sure any complications in the healing process are detected at an early stage. A new material will make it possible to check wounds without changing the dressing: If an infection arises, the material changes its color. ... > full story
Fat outside of the arteries may be linked to future cardiovascular disease (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have found that fat around the outside of arteries may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and could be linked to its onset in individuals with diabetes. ... > full story
Engineers test effects of fire on steel structures (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers are studying the effects of fire on steel structures, such as buildings and bridges, using a one-of-a-kind heating system and a specialized laboratory for testing large beams and other components. ... > full story
Musicians less likely to experience age-related changes in the auditory cortex (November 16, 2010) -- The old adage "use it or lose it" applies to hearing, suggests a new study. Older musicians do not experience certain changes in the auditory cortex -- the part of the brain involved with hearing -- that are associated with aging, according to new research. ... > full story
'Space-time cloak' to conceal events (November 16, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a recipe for manipulating the speed of light as it passes over an object, making it theoretically possible to "cloak" the object's movement so that an observer doesn't notice, according to a new article. ... > full story
Stem cell patch may result in improved function following heart attack (November 16, 2010) -- Researchers have found that applying a stem cell-infused patch together with overexpression of a specific cell instruction molecule promoted cell migration to damaged cardiac tissue following heart attack and resulted in improved function in animal models. ... > full story
New species of carnivorous plant discovered in Cambodia (November 16, 2010) -- A new species of carnivorous pitcher plant has been found in Cambodia's remote Cardamom Mountains. The discovery of Nepenthes holdenii is an indicator of both the stunning diversity and lack of research in the forests of the Cardamom Mountains. ... > full story
Surgical instruments left in children rarely fatal, but dangerous, study finds (November 16, 2010) -- Surgical items, such as sponges and small instruments, left in the bodies of children who undergo surgery are quite uncommon and rarely fatal but decidedly dangerous and expensive mistakes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Cilantro ingredient can remove foul odor of 'chitlins' (November 16, 2010) -- With chitlins about to make their annual appearance on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day menus, scientists have good news for millions of people who love that delicacy of down-home southern cooking, but hate the smell. They are reporting the first identification of an ingredient in cilantro that quashes the notoriously foul odor of chitlins. ... > full story
Oxytocin increases advertising’s influence: Hormone heightened sensitivity to public service announcements (November 16, 2010) -- The hormone oxytocin makes people more susceptible to advertising, according to new research. The findings suggest that advertisements may exploit the biological system for trust and empathy. ... > full story
T. rex's big tail was its key to speed and hunting prowess (November 16, 2010) -- Tyrannosaurus rex was far from a plodding Cretaceous era scavenger whose long tail only served to counterbalance the up-front weight of its freakishly big head. T. rex's athleticism (and its rear end) has now been given a makeover. New research shows that powerful tail muscles made the giant carnivore one of the fastest moving hunters of its time. ... > full story
Spleen might be source of damaging cells at spinal cord injury site (November 16, 2010) -- The spleen, an organ that helps the body fight infections, might also be a source of the cells that end up doing more harm than good at the site of a spinal cord injury, new research suggests. Considering the spleen's role in the after-effects of spinal cord injury could change the way researchers pursue potential treatments for these devastating injuries. ... > full story
Ancient African dust caused red soil in Southern Europe, new research reveals (November 16, 2010) -- Spanish and American researchers have conducted a mineralogical and chemical analysis to ascertain the origin of "terra rossa" soil in the Mediterranean. The results of the study reveal that mineral dust from the African regions of the Sahara and Sahel, which emit between 600 and 700 tonnes of dust a year, brought about the reddish soil in Mediterranean regions such as Majorca (Mallorca) and Sardinia between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago. ... > full story
More fat around internal organs may mean more complications after liver surgery (November 16, 2010) -- The amount of intra-abdominal fat appears to be associated with the risk of complications following major liver surgery, according to a new report. However, appearing overweight or having a high body mass index were not associated with increased post-surgical risks. ... > full story
Gene discovery suggests way to engineer fast-growing plants (November 16, 2010) -- Tinkering with a single gene may give perennial grasses more robust roots and speed up the timeline for creating biofuels, according to researchers. ... > full story
Mental introspection increases as brain areas begin to act in sync (November 16, 2010) -- Neuroscientists can now show, using functional MRI images, why it is that behavior in children and young adolescents veers toward the egocentric rather than the introspective. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
