ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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Nanotech medicine to rebuild damaged parts of human body (January 19, 2011) -- To rebuild damaged parts of a human body from scratch is a dream that has long fired human imagination, from Mary Shelley's Doctor Frankenstein to modern day surgeons. Now scientists have made a promising contribution to reconstructive surgery, thanks to an original multidisciplinary approach matching cutting-edge medicine to the latest developments in nanotechnology. ... > full story
Long-term, high-fat diet alters mice brains: Brain changes may contribute to cycles of weight gain (January 19, 2011) -- The brains of mice fed a high-fat diet for an extended period of time showed irreversible changes in areas associated with reward and pleasure, a new study has found. ... > full story
Cellular traffic: Factors beyond crowding affect how molecules interact within cells, modeling shows (January 19, 2011) -- Using large-scale computer simulations, researchers have identified the most important factors affecting how molecules move through the crowded environment inside living cells. The findings suggest that perturbations caused by hydrodynamic interactions -- similar to what happens when the wake from a large boat affects smaller boats on a lake -- may be the most important factor in this intracellular diffusion. ... > full story
Statins don't prove useful for general pediatric lupus population (January 19, 2011) -- Lupus puts children at higher risk for coronary artery disease when they become adults, but routinely using statins doesn't provide enough benefit to warrant their regular use in children and adolescents, according to the largest study of pediatric lupus patients to date. ... > full story
Oxidation mechanisms at gold nanoclusters unraveled (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers believe that the puzzle of catalytic gold is now partially solved. Gold can catalyze an oxidation reaction by first oxidizing itself. New research evidence on gold-oxide phase at room temperature and atmospheric pressure help us to finally understand the oxidation mechanisms of catalytic gold nanoclusters in these conditions. ... > full story
Color and shape of pills affects how patients feel about their medication (January 19, 2011) -- According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. Now, researchers have surveyed users of over-the-counter medication to find out just how much the color of a tablet influences patient choice. ... > full story
New molecule could save brain cells from neurodegeneration, stroke (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a molecule that can make brain cells resistant to programmed cell death or apoptosis. ... > full story
X-rays linked to increased childhood leukemia risk (January 19, 2011) -- Diagnostic X-rays may increase the risk of developing childhood leukemia, according to a new study. Specifically, the researchers found that children with acute lymphoid leukemia had almost twice the chance of having been exposed to three or more X-rays compared with children who did not have leukemia. ... > full story
Secrets of birds' sexual signals revealed (January 19, 2011) -- Patterned feathers, previously thought to be used only for camouflage in birds, can play an important role in attracting a mate and fending off rivals, an Australian study reveals. ... > full story
Vitamin D levels lower in African-Americans, research finds (January 19, 2011) -- African-American women had lower vitamin D levels than white women, and vitamin D deficiency was associated with a greater likelihood for aggressive breast cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Saving tropical forests and improving farming technology (January 19, 2011) -- In a warming 21st century, tropical forests will be at risk from a variety of threats, especially the conversion to cropland to sustain a growing population. A new report shows that crop productivity improvements and carbon emission limits together could prevent widespread tropical deforestation over the next 100 years -- but if relying on either one alone, the world is at risk of losing many of its tropical forests. ... > full story
Brain imaging identifies differences in childhood bipolar disorder, ADHD (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers are now using brain imaging to examine the effects of emotion on working memory function in children with pediatric bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ... > full story
In distant galaxies, new clues to century-old molecule mystery (January 18, 2011) -- In a study that pushes the limits of observations currently possible from Earth, a team of NASA and European scientists recorded the "fingerprints" of mystery molecules in two distant galaxies, Andromeda and the Triangulum. Astronomers can count on one hand the number of galaxies examined so far for such fingerprints, which are thought to belong to large organic molecules. ... > full story
Cardiologists uncover new heart attack warning sign (January 18, 2011) -- Cardiologist have identified a protein fragment that is a likely biomarker for heart attack. ... > full story
Scientific evidence supports effectiveness of Chinese drug for cataracts (January 18, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting a scientific basis for the long-standing belief that a widely used non-prescription drug in China and certain other countries can prevent and treat cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. ... > full story
Statin risks may outweigh benefits for patients with a history of brain hemorrhage (January 18, 2011) -- A computer decision model suggests that for patients with a history of bleeding within the brain, the risk of recurrence associated with statin treatment may outweigh the benefit of the drug in preventing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Kittiwakes' trans-Atlantic winter odyssey linked to breeding success (January 18, 2011) -- One of Britain's best known seabirds winters on opposite sides of the Atlantic depending on whether its breeding attempt has been successful, according to new research. The findings highlight previously unsuspected links between summer breeding performance and wintering distributions of kittiwakes. ... > full story
The importance of making a good first impression in the classroom (January 18, 2011) -- A study of how medical students evaluate their professors is illustrating the critical importance of making a good first impression. ... > full story
Loss of reflectivity in the Arctic doubles estimate of climate models (January 18, 2011) -- A new analysis of the Northern Hemisphere's "albedo feedback" over a 30-year period concludes that the region's loss of reflectivity due to snow and sea ice decline is more than double what state-of-the-art climate models estimate. ... > full story
How progesterone increases breast cancer risk (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have identified how the hormones progesterone and estrogen interact to increase cell growth in normal mammary cells and mammary cancers, a novel finding that may explain why postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy with estrogen plus progestin are at increased risk of breast cancer. ... > full story
Scientists bring cancer cells back under control (January 18, 2011) -- Scientists have brought cancer cells back under normal control -- by reactivating their cancer suppressor genes. The discovery could form a powerful new technology platform for the treatment of cancer of the breast and other cancers. ... > full story
Vitamin D absorption is diminished in patients with Crohn's disease, researchers find (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have for the first time shown that reduced vitamin D absorption in patients with quiescent Crohn's disease may be the cause for their increased risk for vitamin D deficiency. The findings also showed that the only way to determine absorption efficiency is to perform a vitamin D bioavailability test. ... > full story
Keeping your digital secrets safe: Researchers develop security application to keep private data private (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a GPS application, Locacino, based on better security design. It provides users with a higher degree of control over their privacy settings, as well as a glimpse into how people really share information between friends over the Internet. ... > full story
Young couples can't agree on whether they have agreed to be monogamous (January 18, 2011) -- While monogamy is often touted as a way to protect against disease, young couples who say they have discussed monogamy can't seem to agree on what they decided. And a significant percentage of those couples who at least agreed that they would be monogamous weren't. ... > full story
Breakthrough in converting heat waste to electricity: Automotive, chemical, brick and glass industries could benefit from discovery (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have placed nanocrystals of rock salt into lead telluride, creating a material that can harness electricity from heat-generating items such as vehicle exhaust systems, industrial processes and equipment and sun light more efficiently than scientists have seen in the past. ... > full story
New synthetic compound created with HIV-fighting promise (January 18, 2011) -- Using chemical compounds found in a Japanese plant as a lead and the clever application of ultraviolet light, a research team has created a unique library of dozens of synthetic compounds to test for biomedical potential. Already, one of the compounds has shown great promise in inhibiting replication of HIV particles and fighting inflammation. ... > full story
Obesity in horses could be as high as in humans (January 18, 2011) -- At least one in five horses used for leisure are overweight or obese. It's a condition which can lead to laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome. ... > full story
Healthy gums, healthy lungs: Maintaining healthy teeth and gums may reduce risk for pneumonia, chronic obstructive pumonary disease (January 18, 2011) -- A new study suggests that periodontal disease may be related to respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and COPD. ... > full story
Scientists develop 3-D model of the ionosphere F-region (January 18, 2011) -- The first global simulation study of equatorial spread F (ESF) bubble evolution using a comprehensive 3-D ionosphere model, SAMI3, has been demonstrated. The model self-consistently solves for the neutral wind driven dynamo electric field and the gravity driven electric field associated with plasma bubbles. ... > full story
Why do the Abbotts wait, while the Zimmermans rush to buy? (January 18, 2011) -- The first letter of our childhood surname determines much about our consumer behavior as grownups, according to a new study. ... > full story
Pulsating star that hosts a giant planet discovered (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered, for the first time, a delta Scuti pulsating star that hosts a hot giant transiting planet. WASP-33 (also known as HD15082) is hotter, more massive than the Sun (1.5 Msun) and is located at a distance of 378 light years away, in the constellation of Andromeda. It has the peculiarity of being a star that pulsates radially, like a balloon that inflates and deflates continuously, and non-radially, like the tides in Earth's oceans caused by the presence of the moon, which deforms the bodies of water between the poles and the equator. ... > full story
Reducing diet early in pregnancy stunts fetal brain development, study finds (January 18, 2011) -- The fetal brain is vulnerable to even moderate decreases in nutrition during the first half of pregnancy, a new study indicates. ... > full story
New hope in fight against Huntington's Disease (January 18, 2011) -- There is new hope for new ways of treating devastating neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease. ... > full story
How protein aggregation can lead to neurodegenerative diseases (January 18, 2011) -- Protein aggregation underlies several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s chorea or Parkinson’s. Scientists in Germany have now discovered a fundamental mechanism which explains how toxic protein aggregation occurs and why it leads to a widespread impairment of essential cellular functions. ... > full story
Two new species of 'leaping' beetles discovered in New Caledonia (January 18, 2011) -- Only five species of these so-called 'flea' beetles, out of a global total of 60, had been found to date in New Caledonia, in the western Pacific. A three-year study has now enabled researchers to discover two new herbivorous beetles -- Arsipoda geographica and Arsipoda rostrata. These new beetles hold a secret -- they feed on plants that the scientists have still not found on the archipelago. ... > full story
Youth adapt faster than seniors to unexpected events, study finds (January 18, 2011) -- Does experience give seniors an edge in reacting to sudden change or are younger people quicker to respond? A new study shows that when a routine task is interrupted by an unexpected event, younger adults are faster at responding. The findings have implications for educators and for older adults in situations where performance is crucial. ... > full story
Magnetically controlled pill could boost body's absorption of drugs (January 18, 2011) -- Many drugs can only be absorbed in very specific parts of the intestine. Scientists have now developed a new system that can safely hold a magnetic gelatin capsule in place anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract of a rat. In humans, the system could improve drug delivery and pharmacological research. ... > full story
Big breakfast generally doesn't help weight loss (January 18, 2011) -- Does eating a big breakfast help weight loss or is it better to skip breakfast altogether? Available information is confusing but new research clears a path through these apparently contradictory reports. ... > full story
Gene helps plants use less water without biomass loss (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have found a genetic mutation that allows a plant to better endure drought without losing biomass, a discovery that could reduce the amount of water required for growing plants and help plants survive and thrive in adverse conditions. ... > full story
Common antibiotics and blood pressure medication may result in hospitalization (January 18, 2011) -- Mixing commonly used antibiotics with common blood pressure medications may cause hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) and induce shock in older patients, requiring hospitalization, according to a new study. ... > full story
Ginger is key ingredient in recipe for conserving stag beetles (January 18, 2011) -- The humble ginger root could be the key to conserving the UK's largest and most spectacular terrestrial beetle -- the stag beetle. Ecologists have developed a series of new methods to monitor stag beetle numbers -- including ginger lures to trap adult beetles and tiny microphones to detect sounds made by the larvae in their underground nests. ... > full story
Infants not exempt from obesity epidemic (January 18, 2011) -- Most people understand that children are part of the obesity epidemic. However, a revealing new study finds that obesity might begin in babies as young as nine months old. ... > full story
Australian birds attract mates with 'scary movie effect' (January 18, 2011) -- Using a horror film to bring your date closer is a classic move in the teenage playbook. Now, a study of Australian birds finds that other animals use the same "scary movie effect" to attract female attention, by hitchhiking mating signals onto the calls of predators. Male splendid fairy-wrens, a sexually promiscuous small bird native to Australia, are known to sing a special song each time they hear the call of one of their predators, the butcherbirds. New research finds that this seemingly dangerous behavior actually serves as a call to potential mates -- a flirtation using fear. ... > full story
Smoking accounts for up to 60 percent of gender gap in deaths across Europe, research finds (January 18, 2011) -- Smoking accounts for up to 60 percent of the gender gap in death rates across Europe, and kills twice as many men as alcohol, new research reveals. ... > full story
Environmental changes may affect vital cooperate bird behaviors (January 18, 2011) -- While scientists believe that climate change and related extreme weather events will likely affect the earth's flora and fauna, just how much is not known. A new study however shows an important link between the natural variation in climate conditions and complex behaviors among birds. ... > full story
Patients using warfarin have higher risk of death after trauma, study finds (January 18, 2011) -- Warfarin use may be associated with a significant increase in the risk of death after traumatic injuries, according to a new study. ... > full story
Radiometer finds sources of fire (January 18, 2011) -- Forest fires usually spread out of control very quickly. Fires that produce a lot of smoke are particularly challenging for the emergency services, because the source of the fire is then especially hard to find. A new radiometric sensor can pinpoint the heart of the flames, even when visibility is limited. ... > full story
Few surgeons seek help for suicidal thoughts, study finds (January 18, 2011) -- As many as one in 16 surgeons reported having suicidal thoughts in the previous year, but few sought help from a mental health clinician, according to a new study. ... > full story
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