ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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Single electron reader opens path for quantum computing (September 29, 2010) -- A team led by engineers and physicists in Australia has developed one of the key building blocks needed to make a quantum computer using silicon: a "single electron reader." ... > full story

Mechanism behind cleft palate development identified (September 29, 2010) -- Researchers have found a new mechanism that explains why a certain gene mutation causes craniofrontonasal syndrome, a disorder that causes cleft palate and other malformations in the face, brain and skeleton. Cleft palate affects one of every 1,000 newborns. ... > full story

Researchers find differences between Galapagos and mainland frigatebirds (September 29, 2010) -- The Galapagos population of the magnificent frigatebird may be its own genetically distinct species warranting a new conservation status, according to a new study. ... > full story

How to control massive bleeding from the hepatic artery (September 29, 2010) -- A research team from China investigated the minimal invasive techniques to stop the life-threatening hemorrhage from ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after pancreaticoduodenectomy. They found that placement of stent-grafts is an effective and safe procedure for acute life-threatening hemorrhage from ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. ... > full story

The precious commodity of water (September 29, 2010) -- Water is a valuable resource, which is why researchers are demonstrating how we can extract precious drinking water from air, discover a leak in pipeline systems and even effectively clean sewage water. ... > full story

Family, culture affect whether intelligence leads to education, study finds (September 29, 2010) -- Intelligence isn't the only thing that predicts how much education people get; family, culture, and other factors are important, too. A new study compares identical and fraternal twins in Minnesota and Sweden to explore how genetic and environmental factors involved in educational differ in countries with different educational systems. Family background can get an education even for people of low intelligence, the authors conclude -- but helps much more in Minnesota than in Sweden. ... > full story

19-million-year-old genomic fossils of hepatitis B-like viruses in songbirds (September 29, 2010) -- Biologists have uncovered virus fragments from the same family of the modern hepatitis B virus locked inside the genomes of songbirds such as the modern-day zebra finch. ... > full story

Scarless brain surgery is new option for patients (September 29, 2010) -- Surgeons now suggest that transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) is a safe and effective option for treating a variety of advanced brain diseases and traumatic injuries. This groundbreaking minimally invasive surgery is performed through the eye socket, thus eliminating the removal of the top of the skull to access the brain. ... > full story

Scientists obtain 'Unobtainium' for NASA's next space observatory (September 29, 2010) -- Imagine building a car chassis without a blueprint or even a list of recommended construction materials. In a sense, that's precisely what a team of engineers did when they designed a one-of-a-kind structure that is one of nine key new technology systems of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). ... > full story

JAK inhibitor provides rapid, durable relief for patients of myelofibrosis -- life-threatening bone marrow malignancy (September 29, 2010) -- An oral medication produces significant and lasting relief for patients with myelofibrosis, a debilitating and lethal bone marrow disorder, researchers report. ... > full story

Sustainable material for wine bottle stoppers being developed (September 29, 2010) -- Researchers are developing a new sustainable material to make stoppers for wine bottles. The aim of the project is to substitute the plastic stoppers used for wine bottles with stoppers that are made up of a composite material. ... > full story

Buyer backlash: Why do slogans about saving money increase spending? (September 29, 2010) -- A new study reveals a strange facet of consumer behavior: people behave differently when they encounter companies' brands than they do when they encounter their slogans. ... > full story

Sneaking spies into a cell's nucleus (September 28, 2010) -- Bioengineers have not only figured out a way to sneak molecular spies through the walls of individual cells, they can now slip them into the command center -- or nucleus -- of those cells, where they can report back important information or drop off payloads. ... > full story

Biomarker panel identifies prostate cancer with 90 percent accuracy (September 28, 2010) -- Researchers in England say they have discovered a set of biomarkers that can distinguish prostate cancer from benign prostate disease and healthy tissue with 90 percent accuracy. This preliminary data, if validated in larger ongoing studies, could be developed into a serum protein test that reduces the number of unnecessary biopsies and identifies men who need treatment before symptoms begin. ... > full story

Potential climate change side effect: More parasites on South American birds (September 28, 2010) -- A new study on nesting birds in Argentina finds that increasing temperatures and rainfall -- both side effects of climate change in some parts of the world -- could be bad for birds of South America, but great for some of their parasites which thrive in warmer and wetter conditions. ... > full story

Scientists consider fate of pandemic H1N1 flu virus (September 28, 2010) -- In a new commentary, scientists review the fates of previous pandemic influenza viruses in the years following a pandemic and speculate on possible future courses for the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus during the upcoming flu season and beyond. ... > full story

Structural Genomics Consortium releases 1,000th protein structure (September 28, 2010) -- The Structural Genomics Consortium, an international public-private partnership that aims to determine 3-D structures of medically important proteins, has announced the release into the public domain of its 1,000th high-resolution protein structure. ... > full story

Why we fight: Men check out in stressful situations, while women show increased brain coordination when looking at angry faces (September 28, 2010) -- Turns out the silent and stoic response to stress might be a guy thing after all. A new study reveals that stressed men looking at angry faces had diminished activity in the brain regions responsible for understanding others' feelings. ... > full story

Solar cells thinner than wavelengths of light hold huge power potential (September 28, 2010) -- Ultra-thin solar cells can absorb sunlight more efficiently than the thicker, more expensive-to-make silicon cells used today, because light behaves differently at scales around a nanometer (a billionth of a meter), say engineers. They calculate that an organic polymer thin film could absorb as much as 10 times more energy from sunlight than was thought possible. ... > full story

Triple-negative breast cancers may have unique therapeutic target (September 28, 2010) -- Patients with triple-negative breast cancer, one of the hardest subtypes to treat, may have a unique biomarker that would enable them to receive more targeted therapy, according to new data. ... > full story

Genetic differences in sense of smell identified through asparagus urine odor (September 28, 2010) -- Scientists have identified one of only a few known genetic contributions to the sense of smell. Most, but not all, people detect a distinct sulfurous odor in their urine shortly after eating asparagus. Sensory testing demonstrated that some do not produce the odor while others do not smell it. DNA analyses revealed that the inability to smell the odor was linked to genetic variation within a family of olfactory receptors. ... > full story

Researchers use CT to predict heart disease (September 28, 2010) -- Using incidental findings from routine diagnostic CT, radiologists may be better able to identify people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Truthy' web site to search, identify smear tactics, Twitter-bombs through election runup (September 28, 2010) -- Astroturfers, Twitter-bombers and smear campaigners need beware this election season as a group of leading Indiana University information and computer scientists today unleashed Truthy.indiana.edu, a sophisticated new Twitter-based research tool that combines data mining, social network analysis and crowdsourcing to uncover deceptive tactics and misinformation leading up to the Nov. 2 elections. ... > full story

How reasonable it is to deceive yourself? (September 28, 2010) -- Anyone who simply denies the facts is most certainly behaving unreasonably -- aren't they? Philosophers explain that in some cases it may be useful to deceive yourself. The self-deception can be an important motivating factor and not entirely lacking reason. The reason may be locally restricted, however basic strategies of rational evaluation processes remain intact. ... > full story

'Firefly' stem cells may help repair damaged hearts (September 28, 2010) -- Stem cells that glow like fireflies could someday help doctors heal damaged hearts without cutting into patients' chests. Researchers engineered stem cells with the same enzyme that makes fireflies glow. The "firefly" stem cells glow brighter and brighter as they develop into healthy heart muscle, allowing doctors to track whether and where the stem cells are working. ... > full story

Scientists find more health benefits from starting HIV treatment early (September 28, 2010) -- HIV-infected individuals who begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) soon after acquiring the virus may have stronger immune responses to other pathogens than HIV-infected individuals who begin ART later, a new study has found. This finding suggests that early initiation of ART may prevent irreversible immune system damage and adds to the body of evidence showing significant health benefits from early ART. ... > full story

Pet allergies worsen hay fever symptoms, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Being allergic to dogs or cats may worsen your ragweed allergies, according to a new study. Researchers found that people with pet allergies often develop ragweed allergy symptoms more quickly than others. But the study also suggests that once allergy season is in full swing, those symptom differences subside. ... > full story

New biomarkers discovered for pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma (September 28, 2010) -- Using a novel aptamer-based proteomics array technology, researchers and collaborators have identified biomarkers and protein signatures that are hallmarks of cancer at an early stage for two of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer -- pancreatic and mesothelioma. ... > full story

Geologists find parts of Northwest Houston, Texas sinking rapidly (September 28, 2010) -- A large section of northwestern Harris County in the area of Houston, Texas is sinking rapidly, according to a geologist who has analyzed GPS data measuring ground elevation in the area. The researchers studied a decade's worth of detailed GPS data measuring the elevation of various points throughout the Houston area. ... > full story

The price of popularity: Drug and alcohol consumption (September 28, 2010) -- The consumption of drugs and alcohol by teenagers is not just about rebellion or emotional troubles. It's about being one of the cool kids, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Hobbit' was an iodine-deficient human, not another species, new study suggests (September 28, 2010) -- A new paper is set to re-ignite debate over the origins of so-called Homo floresiensis -- the 'hobbit' that some scientists have claimed as a new species of human. Researchers have reconfirmed their original finding on the skull that Homo floresiensis in fact bears the hallmarks of humans -- Homo sapiens -- affected by hypothyroid cretinism. ... > full story

Daycare puts children with lung disease at risk for serious illness, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Exposure to common viruses in daycare puts children with a chronic lung condition caused by premature birth at risk for serious respiratory infections, according to a new study. ... > full story

For neurons to work as a team, it helps to have a beat (September 28, 2010) -- When it comes to conducting complex tasks, it turns out that the brain needs rhythm, according to researchers. Neuroscientists have found that cortical rhythms, or oscillations, can effectively rally groups of neurons in widely dispersed regions of the brain to engage in coordinated activity, much like a conductor will summon up various sections of an orchestra in a symphony. ... > full story

Medical imaging may detect unrelated diseases in research participants (September 28, 2010) -- In about 40 percent of research participants undergoing medical imaging, radiologists may detect a tumor or infection unrelated to the study but that may be meaningful to the individual's health, according to a new study. ... > full story

Software downloaded during office visits could cut risk of ICD shocks (September 28, 2010) -- In a study of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), downloadable software updates cut the risk of unnecessary shocks in half. In the future, software upgrades may offer patients other ICD improvements without implanting new devices. ... > full story

Baby boomers raise midlife suicide rate, study suggests (September 28, 2010) -- Baby boomers appear to be driving a dramatic rise in suicide rates among middle-aged people. The suicide rate for middle-aged people -- a group considered relatively protected from suicide and with historically stable suicide rates -- increased between 1999 and 2005, according to a new study. Researchers found significant increases of more than 2 percent per year for men, and more than 3 percent for women, from 1999 to 2005. ... > full story

Right or left? Brain stimulation can change which hand you favor (September 28, 2010) -- Each time we perform a simple task, like pushing an elevator button or reaching for a cup of coffee, the brain races to decide whether the left or right hand will do the job. But the left hand is more likely to win if a certain region of the brain receives magnetic stimulation, according to new research. ... > full story

People also have antiviral 'plant defences', research suggests (September 28, 2010) -- In addition to known antiviral agents such as antibodies and interferons, people also seem to have a similar immune system to that previously identified in plants, according to researchers in the Netherlands. They discovered that a protein used by plant viruses to bypass plant resistance can also impair the defence against HIV viruses in people. The findings may open up new opportunities for improving health. ... > full story

'Gold' fish thrive, cancers die (September 28, 2010) -- Physicists have demonstrated that plasmonic nanobubbles, generated around gold nanoparticles with a laser pulse, can detect and destroy cancer cells in vivo by creating tiny, shiny vapor bubbles that reveal the cells and selectively explode them. ... > full story

Scientists freeze virus fragment in shape recognized by immune system; Development has implications for vaccine design (September 28, 2010) -- One strategy for designing an HIV vaccine involves identifying the key viral surface structures, snipping them off and developing a method to present these fragments to the immune system. When some parts of the surface of HIV are removed, they change shape such that antibodies no longer recognize and bind to them. A research team has developed a strategy to overcome this. ... > full story

Semiconductor could turn heat into computing power (September 28, 2010) -- Computers might one day recycle part of their own waste heat, using a semiconductor called gallium manganese arsenide. Researchers describe the detection of an effect that converts heat into a quantum mechanical phenomenon -- known as spin -- in a semiconductor. ... > full story

Friends, family detect early Alzheimer's signs better than traditional tests, researchers find (September 28, 2010) -- Family members and close friends are more sensitive to early signs of Alzheimer's dementia than traditional screening tests, according to researchers. ... > full story

First potentially hazardous asteroid discovered by Pan-STARRS telescope (September 28, 2010) -- The Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) PS1 telescope has discovered an asteroid that will come within 4 million miles of Earth in mid-October. The object is about 150 feet in diameter and was discovered in images acquired on Sept. 16, when it was about 20 million miles away. It is the first "potentially hazardous object" to be discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey and has been given the designation "2010 ST3." ... > full story

Wider statin use could be cost-effective preventive measure, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- A new analysis suggests that broader statin use among adult patients may be a cost-effective way to prevent heart attack and stroke. Using a popular test -- a screening for high sensitivity C-reactive protein, or CRP -- to identify patients who may benefit from statin therapy would be cost-effective, but only under certain scenarios. ... > full story

Urban gardeners beware: There may be lead in your soil and food (September 28, 2010) -- Researchers are studying the lead level in urban soil and found it raises concern for urban gardeners. Care needs to be taken to ensure that lead does not adhere to food crops. ... > full story

No link between genetic ancestry, asthma response in African-Americans, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Genetic ancestry has no discernible influence on how African American patients with asthma respond to medication, according to a new study. Researchers found that improved lung function in patients after taking inhaled steroids was related to a series of baseline breathing function measures, not genetic ancestry. ... > full story

Nanocatalyst is a gas (September 28, 2010) -- A new nanoparticle-based, tungsten oxide catalyst should help oil refineries make higher-octane gasoline through a production process that is more efficient and better for the environment. ... > full story

Sugary sports drinks mistakenly associated with being healthy, say researchers (September 28, 2010) -- Children who practice healthy lifestyle habits such as eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in physical activity may be negatively impacting their health because they tend to consume large amounts of flavored and sports beverages containing sugar, according to new research. ... > full story

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