ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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ARkStorm: California’s other 'Big One' (January 18, 2011) -- For emergency planning purposes, scientists unveiled a hypothetical California scenario that describes a storm that could produce up to 10 feet of rain, cause extensive flooding (in many cases overwhelming the state's flood-protection system) and result in more than 0 billion in damage. ... > full story
Minimally invasive technique appears helpful to reanimate facial paralysis (January 18, 2011) -- A procedure involving only one small incision and no major modifications to bone can be used to transpose a tendon and appears helpful in reanimating the lower face after paralysis, according to a new study. ... > full story
New molecular imaging technologies for detecting cellular processes (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have designed and developed a biomedical scanner that detects cellular processes at the molecular level and indicates malfunctioning of an organ before said malfunction can produce an anatomical change. ... > full story
Sleep evaluation may help identify kids at risk for respiratory complications after tonsil surgery (January 18, 2011) -- Performing polysomnography (sleep study) prior to pediatric adenotonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids) may help identify children at a higher risk of developing postoperative respiratory complications, according to a new study. ... > full story
Mechanisms of juvenile hormone action in insects could help fine tune pesticides (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered an important step in the activation of juvenile hormone target genes. As butterflies, fruit flies and mosquitoes transform their body structures as they molt from larva to pupa and then adults, a group of juvenile hormones called isoprenoids, inhibit development of adult characteristics until the insects reach a proper stage. Juvenile hormones also play a prominent role in regulating reproductive maturation in adult insects and synthetic juvenile hormone mimics have been widely used as pesticides for mosquito controls. ... > full story
Secondary students should be required to receive CPR training, experts advise (January 18, 2011) -- CPR training and an overview of automated external defibrillators should be required for high school graduation, according to an American Heart Association advisory. Such mandatory training would rapidly increase the number of people ready to respond to sudden cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death in the United States. ... > full story
Scientists sequence gut microbes of premature infant (January 18, 2011) -- Scientists have for the first time sequenced and reconstructed the genomes of most of the microbes in the gut of a premature newborn and documented how the microbe populations changed over time. The researchers hope that characterizing gut microbes of normal and sick infants could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis in preemies. ... > full story
Link between chlamydia and ectopic pregnancy explained (January 18, 2011) -- Women who have had chlamydia are at greater risk of an ectopic pregnancy because of a lasting effect of the infection. A new study provides evidence for the first time of how chlamydia can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy -- which occurs when an embryo implants outside the womb, in the fallopian tube. ... > full story
Wild salmon decline was not caused by sea lice from farm salmon, new research suggests (January 18, 2011) -- A new study contradicts earlier reports that salmon farms were responsible for the 2002 population crash of wild pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago of western Canada. ... > full story
Heart failure patients twice as likely to die if admitted to general wards, UK study finds (January 18, 2011) -- Heart failure patients admitted to general wards are twice as likely to die as those admitted to cardiology wards, shows a UK audit of the treatment of the condition. ... > full story
Off-the-shelf electronics turn up gain on spectroscopy (January 18, 2011) -- A new twist on spectroscopy allows for an unprecedented level of such filtering, one that could transform everything from the search for extraterrestrial intelligence to super-sensitive spy gear to scan hotel rooms for hidden microphones or cameras. ... > full story
Nursing home closures clustered in poor, minority areas (January 18, 2011) -- Nursing home closures eliminated about 5 percent of available beds between 1998 and 2008, with closures concentrated in minority and poor communities, according to a new study. ... > full story
Physicists observe exotic state in an unconventional superconductor (January 17, 2011) -- A new fractional vortex state observed in an unconventional superconductor may offer the first glimpse of an exotic state of matter predicted theoretically for more than 30 years. Physicists observed a new fractional vortex state in strontium ruthenium oxide. Such states may provide the basis for a novel form of quantum computing in which quantum information is encoded in the topological properties of a physical system. ... > full story
Alzheimer's plaques lead to loss of nitric oxide in brain (January 17, 2011) -- A researcher has discovered that the deadly plaques of Alzheimer's disease interact with certain cellular proteins to inhibit normal signals that maintain blood flow to the brain. Their findings could lead to new approaches to treat the dementia. ... > full story
Indoor air pollution: Minerals reduce impact of formaldehyde in particle board on indoor air quality (January 17, 2011) -- One of the sources of emission for pollutants in living spaces are particle boards glued with adhesives that contain formaldehyde. There is a new method that will now provide another way to reduce these vapors. The trick can be found in special minerals that equip wood materials with properties for cleaning air in living spaces. ... > full story
Transforming skin cells into cartilage (January 17, 2011) -- In new research, scientists in Japan used fibroblasts isolated from adult mouse skin, and expressed proteins used to induce pluripotency along with a factor that promotes a chondrocyte fate. The resulting cells resembled chondrocytes and produced cartilage when injected into mice. This may be an important step toward a therapy that will allow the repair of cartilage injury using a patient's own skin cells. ... > full story
Silicon microdevices show promise for detecting metastatic breast cancer cells (January 17, 2011) -- Research by engineers and cancer biologists indicates that using specific silicon microdevices might provide a new way to screen breast cancer cells' ability to metastasize. ... > full story
Neuronal migration errors: Right cells, wrong place (January 17, 2011) -- Normally, cortical nerve cells or neurons reside in the brain’s gray matter with only a few scattered neurons in the white matter, but some people with schizophrenia have a higher number of neurons in the white matter. Neuronal migration errors may arise in schizophrenia as a consequence of both genetic and environmental factors. ... > full story
Chandra images torrent of star formation (January 17, 2011) -- A new Chandra X-ray Observatory image of Messier 82, or M82, shows the result of star formation on overdrive. At a distance of only 12 million light years, M82 provides a unique cosmic laboratory for studying conditions similar to those that existed billions of years ago when stars were forming at a furious rate in most galaxies. ... > full story
First genetic test for predicting IVF success (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers have developed the first genetic blood test for predicting the chances that in vitro fertilization will lead to a successful pregnancy. The test is based on the finding that different subtypes of the FMR1 gene (also known as the fragile X mental retardation gene) in potential mothers are associated with significantly different chances of conceiving with IVF. ... > full story
Winter temperatures play complex role in triggering spring budburst (January 17, 2011) -- The opening of buds on Douglas-fir trees each spring is the result of a complex interplay between cold and warm temperatures during the winter, scientists have found. ... > full story
Fruit and vegetable concentrate decreases number of days with severe cold symptoms (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that a specific food supplement made from fruit and vegetable juice concentrates significantly reduced the number of days with severe cold symptoms. The report sees the potential benefits of the product in a reduced number of sick days and correspondingly lower expenditure on cold medicines. ... > full story
CT helps identify bullet trajectories (January 17, 2011) -- Multidetector computed tomography provides an efficient, effective way to analyze wounds from bullets and explosive devices, according to a new study. ... > full story
Targeting nicotine receptors to treat cognitive impairments in schizophrenia (January 17, 2011) -- Smoking is a common problem for patients with schizophrenia. The increased tendency of patients diagnosed with this disorder is to not only smoke, but to do so more heavily than the general public. This raises the possibility that nicotine may be acting as a treatment for some symptoms of schizophrenia. ... > full story
LCD projector used to control brain and muscles of tiny organisms such as worms (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers are using inexpensive LCD projectors to control the brain and muscles of tiny organisms, including freely moving worms. This technology advances the field of optogenetics, which has given researchers unparalleled control over brain circuits in laboratory animals. ... > full story
'Master switch' for key immune cells in inflammatory diseases discovered (January 17, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a "master switch" in certain white blood cells, determining whether they promote or inhibit inflammation. The study could help researchers look for new treatments for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis that involve excessive inflammation. ... > full story
New technique to see neurons of the deep brain for months at a time (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new technique that allows them to monitor the tiny branches of neurons in a live brain for months at a time. Neuroscientists will now be able to monitor the microscopic changes that occur over the course of progressive brain disease. ... > full story
Researchers unzip MRSA and discover route for vaccine (January 17, 2011) -- Orthopedic scientists are a step closer to developing a vaccine to prevent life-threatening methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections following bone and joint surgery. ... > full story
The 'Spaser' heats up laser technology (January 17, 2011) -- While lasers have revolutionized medicine and telecommunications, their size limits their use in many industries. The "Spaser" is now being tested in prototype as a practical tool by research teams around the world and may overcome these limitations. ... > full story
'Yo-yo' effect of slimming diets explained (January 17, 2011) -- If you want to lose the kilos you've put on over Christmas, you may be interested in knowing that the hormones related to appetite play an important role in your likelihood of regaining weight after dieting. A new study confirms that people with the highest levels of leptin and lowest levels of ghrelin are more likely to put the centimeters they lost back on again. ... > full story
Smoking causes genetic damage within minutes after inhaling (January 17, 2011) -- In research described as "a stark warning" to those tempted to start smoking, scientists are reporting that cigarette smoke begins to cause genetic damage within minutes -- not years -- after inhalation into the lungs. Their report is the first human study to detail the way certain substances in tobacco cause DNA damage linked to cancer. ... > full story
MicroRNA suppresses prostate cancer stem cells and metastasis (January 17, 2011) -- A small slice of RNA inhibits prostate cancer metastasis by suppressing a surface protein commonly found on prostate cancer stem cells. miR-34a targets a surface protein common to cancer stem cells and associated with tumor development and metastasis. When the micro RNA stifles CD44, it inhibits formation of prostate stem cells. Researchers blocked tumor formation, shrunk tumors and inhibited metastasis in mouse models. ... > full story
Improved measurements of sun to advance understanding of climate change (January 17, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a major step toward accurately determining the amount of energy that the sun provides to Earth, and how variations in that energy may contribute to climate change. ... > full story
More intensive methods needed to identify TB in HIV-prone populations (January 17, 2011) -- Identifying tuberculosis patients in Africa using passive methods is leaving many cases undiagnosed, according to researchers who studied case detection methods in HIV-prone western Kenya. Tuberculosis (TB) occurs commonly in men and women with HIV, but in these patients TB can be more difficult to detect. ... > full story
Interactive window shopping: Just wave your hands (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers want to make shopping trips a special experience in future by enabling passers-by to operate window displays with hand and facial gestures. Four cameras record the 3-D positions of people's hands, face and eyes and transform them into commands for selecting and purchase goods -- even after the shop has closed. ... > full story
Enhanced early childhood education pays long-term dividends in better health (January 17, 2011) -- Intensive early education programs for low-income children have been shown to yield numerous educational benefits, but few studies have looked more broadly at their impact on health and health behaviors. A new study has found that individuals who had received the intensive education intervention starting in infancy had significantly better health and better health behaviors as young adults. ... > full story
Researchers can predict your video game aptitude by imaging your brain (January 16, 2011) -- Researchers report that they can predict "with unprecedented accuracy" how well you will do on a complex task such as a strategic video game simply by analyzing activity in a specific region of your brain. ... > full story
Measles virus plays role in Paget's disease of bone, researchers say (January 16, 2011) -- A gene from the measles virus plays a key role in the development of Paget's disease of bone, according to new research. These findings confirm a long-held speculation that the childhood infection is an environmental trigger for the disease and reveal how the viral gene contributes to the development of its characteristic bone lesions. ... > full story
100-year-old specimens at California museum help determine when avian pox hit Galapagos (January 16, 2011) -- A research team from across the United States and Ecuador has pinpointed 1898 as the year the avipoxvirus, or avian pox, hit the Galapagos Islands and started infecting its birds. This estimation is vital to understanding avian diseases that affect today's Galapagos birds. ... > full story
99% of pregnant women in US test positive for multiple chemicals including banned ones, study suggests (January 16, 2011) -- The bodies of virtually all US pregnant women carry multiple chemicals, including some banned since the 1970s and others used in common products such as non-stick cookware, processed foods and personal care products, according to a new study. ... > full story
Warming climate means red deer rutting season arrives early (January 16, 2011) -- Wild red deer on the Isle of Rum are rutting earlier in the year, a study shows. Scientists believe the annual rutting season on the Isle of Rum could be changing because of warming spring and summer temperatures. The study shows that the rutting and calving seasons are now up to two weeks earlier on average compared with 30 years ago. ... > full story
Inverse benefits due to drug marketing undermine patient safety and public health, study finds (January 16, 2011) -- Drugs that pharmaceutical companies market most aggressively to physicians and patients tend to offer less benefit and more harm to most patients -- a phenomenon described as the "inverse benefit law," according to new research. ... > full story
Quantum quirk contained: Discovery moves quantum networks closer to reality (January 16, 2011) -- Researchers are working on a way to make quantum networks a reality. They have demonstrated, for the first time, that a crystal can store information encoded into entangled quantum states of photons. ... > full story
Researchers discover way to halt lung inflammation in animal models (January 16, 2011) -- Acute inflammation of the lung is a poorly recognized human disease that develops in surprising and unexpected ways. However, an answer to halting lung inflammation may have been discovered, thanks to new research. ... > full story
Flipper bands hinder king penguins (January 16, 2011) -- Over a ten year period, flipper-banded penguins have a 16% lower survival rate and produce 39% fewer chicks than non-banded birds, new research shows. ... > full story
Molecular rationale for combining targeted agents to treat breast cancer (January 16, 2011) -- A new study provides a rational for treating breast cancer by combining two kinds of targeted agents, one that inhibits an overactive, cancer-causing signaling pathway in cancer cells and one that reverses changes that silence genes that normally prevent cancer. Both types of agents are currently available and being evaluated individually in clinical trials. ... > full story
Extent of corruption in countries around the world tied to earthquake fatalities (January 16, 2011) -- A new assessment of global earthquake fatalities over the past three decades indicates that 83 percent of all deaths caused by the collapse of buildings during earthquakes occurred in countries considered to be unusually corrupt. ... > full story
Next-generation hospital design can improve health -- and save money (January 16, 2011) -- Larger hospital rooms with plenty of natural light and artwork may seem like luxuries, but new research shows that these and other design features can improve patient care and reduce health care expenses. They are among the elements of the "Fable hospital," an ideal health care facility conceived by leaders in health care and design. Elements of the Fable hospital are being adopted on the ground today, with the imperative to improve quality and value. ... > full story
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