ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, February 15, 2010
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Cameras of the future: Heart researchers create revolutionary photographic technique (February 15, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a revolutionary way of capturing a high-resolution still image alongside very high-speed video -- a new technology that is attractive for science, industry and consumer sectors alike. ... > full story
Switch that turns on the spread of cancer discovered (February 15, 2010) -- Researchers describe the discovery of a specific protein called disabled-2 (Dab2) that switches on the process that releases cancer cells from the original tumor and allows the cells to spread and develop into new tumors in other parts of the body. ... > full story
Cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists investigate ion channels (February 15, 2010) -- Neurotoxins from cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists to investigate the function of ion channels in neurons. They have developed a system which for the first time allows the targeted, long-lasting investigation of ion channel function in mammals and also their blockade with neurotoxins. In transgenic mice they succeeded in blocking chronic pain by introducing a toxin gene into the organism. ... > full story
Less is more in cancer imaging (February 15, 2010) -- Scientists have developed an amplitude gating technique that gives physicians a clearer picture of how tumors are responding to treatment. ... > full story
Virtual museum guide (February 15, 2010) -- Archaeological treasures are being brought to life by new software. Real images are enriched with digital information on a virtual tour through ancient buildings, creating a more vivid experience for the museum visitor. ... > full story
Mexican-Americans come closest to meeting national physical activity goals (February 15, 2010) -- When it comes to meeting national health goals for physical activity, Mexican-Americans are the most active group in America and may benefit from exercise that researchers typically have not measured, according to a new study. The research, which used electronic devices to measure people's movement, challenges other studies based on self-reports that claimed non-Hispanic whites are most likely to be physically active. ... > full story
Built-in amps: How subtle head motions, quiet sounds are reported to the brain (February 15, 2010) -- Subtle head motions are amplified by inner-ear hair cells before the signal is reported to the brain, report scientists. In both the auditory and the vestibular systems, hair cell response is nonlinear: the lower the strength of the stimulus, the more the hair cell amplifies the signal. ... > full story
Vaccine possible: Hypothesis on the mystery of dengue virus infection confirmed (February 15, 2010) -- Scientists have now validated the long-held and controversial hypothesis that antibodies -- usually the "good guys" in the body's fight against viruses -- instead contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease. The finding has major implications for the development of a first-ever vaccine against dengue virus, a growing public health threat which annually infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide, causing a half million cases of the severest form. ... > full story
Urbanization, export crops drive deforestation (February 15, 2010) -- The drivers of tropical deforestation have shifted in the early 21st century to hinge on growth of cities and the globalized agricultural trade, a new large-scale study concludes. The observations starkly reverse assumptions by some scientists that fast-growing urbanization and the efficiencies of global trade might eventually slow or reverse tropical deforestation. ... > full story
Hospital uses device to revolutionize treatment of traumatic aortic injury (February 15, 2010) -- Vascular surgeons performed one of the nation's first implants of a Next Generation Conformable GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis device for the treatment of a traumatic aortic transection as part of a national clinical trial. The goal of the trial is to gain insight into using thoracic endografts for patients with traumatic aortic transection (tear) as a less invasive alternative to major surgery. ... > full story
Benefits of badger culling not long lasting for reducing cattle TB, says study (February 15, 2010) -- Badger culling is unlikely to be a cost-effective way of helping control cattle TB in Britain, according to new research. Study authors say their findings suggest that the benefits of repeated widespread badger culling, in terms of reducing the incidence of cattle TB, disappear within four years after the culling has ended. ... > full story
Quitting smoking especially difficult for select groups (February 15, 2010) -- With the national trend toward quitting smoking flat, psychologists are finding some success with treatments aimed at helping smokers from under-served groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and those with psychiatric disorders. ... > full story
Scientists turn light into electrical current using a golden nanoscale system (February 14, 2010) -- Material scientists have created a system, using nano-sized molecules of gold, that induces and projects electrical current across molecules, similar to that of photovoltaic solar cells. ... > full story
Drug created to keep tumor growth switched off (February 14, 2010) -- A novel -- and rapid -- anti-cancer drug development strategy has resulted in a new drug that stops kidney and pancreatic tumors from growing in mice. Researchers have found a drug that binds to a molecular "switch" found in cancer cells and cancer-associated blood vessels to keep it in the "off" position. ... > full story
Catching calcium waves could provide Alzheimer's insights (February 14, 2010) -- New insights on what causes Alzheimer's disease could arise from a recent discovery made by bioengineers. The finding concerns the infamous amyloid beta peptides (A²) -- fragments of which form plaques thought to play a role in Alzheimer's disease. The bioengineers found that amyloid beta peptides spontaneously trigger calcium waves in purified cultures of astrocyte cells extracted from the cortex region of rat brains and grown in the lab. ... > full story
Metabolite common among cancers (February 14, 2010) -- Several distinct mutations found in a subset of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia result in excess production of the same metabolite, according to new research. ... > full story
Computer simulations can be as effective as direct observation at teaching students (February 14, 2010) -- Students can learn some science concepts just as well from computers simulations as they do from direct observation, new research suggests. A study found that people who used computer simulations to learn about moon phases understood the concepts just as well -- and in some cases better -- than did those who learned from collecting data from viewing the moon. ... > full story
fMRIs reveal brain's handling of low-priority ideas (February 14, 2010) -- Brain networks that allow individuals to put social decisions on the back burner are impacted by genetics, a new study indicates. This capability has been shown to be abnormal in a number of psychiatric disorders. ... > full story
Are high speed elephants running or walking? (February 14, 2010) -- Elephants can move fast, but can they ever be said to be truly "running"? Researchers have measured the colossal forces generated by high-speed elephants and found that the animals do conserve energy like runners by recycling it like a pogo stick, however, they do not bounce like runners. What is more they are three times more economical than human runners. ... > full story
Compound shows promise against intractable heart failure (February 14, 2010) -- A chemical compound found normally in the blood shows promise in treating and preventing an intractable form of heart failure in a mouse model of the disease. ... > full story
Layers in a Mars crater record a history of changes (February 14, 2010) -- Near the center of a Martian crater about the size of Connecticut, hundreds of exposed rock layers form a mound as tall as the Rockies and reveal a record of major environmental changes on Mars billions of years ago. ... > full story
First blinded study of venous insufficiency prevalence in multiple sclerosis shows promising results (February 14, 2010) -- More than 55 percent of multiple sclerosis patients participating in the initial phase of the first randomized clinical study to determine if persons with MS exhibit narrowing of the extracranial veins, causing restriction of normal outflow of blood from the brain, were found to have the abnormality. ... > full story
Molecule with promising semiconductor properties created (February 14, 2010) -- Chemists have synthesized the first-ever stable derivative of nonacene, creating a compound that holds significant promise in the manufacture of flexible organic electronics such as large displays, solar cells and radio frequency identification tags. ... > full story
Six month old babies can understand our intentions (February 14, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered evidence that six-month-old babies can comprehend our intentions. This contradicts previous findings that infants develop this ability at nine months of age. ... > full story
Beyond the abyss: Deep sea creatures build their homes from materials that sink from near the ocean surface (February 14, 2010) -- Evidence from the Challenger Deep -- the deepest surveyed point in the world's oceans -- suggests that tiny single-celled creatures called foraminifera living at extreme depths of more than ten kilometers build their homes using material that sinks down from near the ocean surface. ... > full story
A potent suppressor of endometrial cancer is revealed (February 14, 2010) -- Treatment of endometrial cancer has not advanced significantly in 30 years and there are no screening tests to promote early detection. Researchers have developed a new approach to specifically target genetic changes to the endometrial cells in mice. Using this new technique, they show that loss of an emerging tumor suppressor causes abnormal growth and widespread malignancy of cells lining the uterus. ... > full story
Link between exploration well and Lusi mud volcano, strongest evidence to date shows (February 14, 2010) -- Nearly four years ago, a volcano of mud erupted in the middle of an Indonesian suburb, eventually inundating four villages, displacing 30,000 people and causing a gas line explosion that killed 13. The mud volcano continues to erupt today. A new report blames a drilling company that was drilling a gas exploration well, not a relatively mild and distant earthquake. ... > full story
Diabetes drug ups risk for bone fractures in older women, study suggests (February 14, 2010) -- A new study finds women with type 2 diabetes who take a commonly prescribed class of medications to treat insulin resistance may be at a higher risk for developing bone fractures. After taking a thiazolidinedione (TZD) for one year, women are 50 percent more likely to have a bone fracture than patients not taking TZDs, according to study results. And those at the greatest risk for fractures from TZD use are women older than 65. ... > full story
Breakthrough for mobile television (February 14, 2010) -- Long Term Evolution, a new mobile telecommunications standard, is poised to revolutionize mobile internet. High transmission rates will soon be possible on mobile devices. For this purpose, researchers in Germany developed the cross-layer design SVC over LTE -- a coding method that offers HD films in real-time in the appropriate format for cell phones or netbooks. ... > full story
Assistive technology helps dementia sufferers get through the day (February 14, 2010) -- Tens of millions of elderly people in the EU suffering from mild dementia may be able to look after themselves, and free up their carers, thanks to a new system. ... > full story
New fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing (February 13, 2010) -- In research that gives literal meaning to the term "power suit," engineers have created energy-scavenging nanofibers that could one day be woven into clothing and textiles. The technology could eventually lead to wearable "smart clothes" that can power hand-held electronics through ordinary body movements. ... > full story
Genetic secrets to jumping the species barrier (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have pinpointed specific mutations that allow a common plant virus to infect new species. Understanding the genetics of the key interactions between viruses and hosts could provide insight to how some viruses manage to jump the species barrier and even give us a better idea of how animal diseases are generated. ... > full story
New picture of ancient ocean chemistry argues for chemically layered water (February 13, 2010) -- Biogeochemists have developed a dynamic three-dimensional model of Earth's early ocean chemistry that can significantly advance our understanding of how early animal life evolved on the planet. Working on rock samples from the Doushantuo Formation, South China, the research team is the first to show that Earth's early ocean chemistry during a large portion of the Ediacaran Period was far more complex than previously imagined. ... > full story
Restrictions on female plasma may not be warranted (February 13, 2010) -- Three years after the US blood banking industry issued recommendations that discourage transfusing plasma from female donors because of a potential antibody reaction, researchers discovered that female plasma actually may have advantages. ... > full story
Nanoscale structures with superior mechanical properties developed (February 13, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a way to make some notoriously brittle materials ductile -- yet stronger than ever -- simply by reducing their size. The work could eventually lead to the development of innovative, superstrong, yet light and damage-tolerant materials. These new materials could be used as components in structural applications, such as in lightweight aerospace vehicles that last longer under extreme environmental conditions and in naval vessels that are resistant to corrosion and wear. ... > full story
The biggest loser: Maternal obesity puts a load on her offspring that lasts a lifetime (February 13, 2010) -- As if there are not enough reasons for obese people to lose weight, a new research report adds several more. In a study involving rats, researchers found that obesity in mothers causes cellular programming in utero that predisposes offspring to inflammation-related disorders (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and more) from birth, regardless of whether or not the offspring are obese themselves. ... > full story
Long-distance migration shapes butterfly wings (February 13, 2010) -- Monarch butterflies that migrate long distances have evolved significantly larger and more elongated wings than their stationary cousins, differences that are consistent with traits known to enhance flight ability in other migratory species. ... > full story
Muscle loss finding may one day save physiques (February 13, 2010) -- Mice that lack a particular antioxidant enzyme show impairment of cell energy centers called mitochondria. This leads to smaller and weaker muscles, and may help scientists better understand age-related muscle atrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. ... > full story
Sustainable fisheries needed for global food security (February 13, 2010) -- Increased aid from developed countries, earmarked specifically for sustainable seafood infrastructure in developing countries, could improve global food security, according to a new policy paper. ... > full story
Epigenetic signals differ across alleles (February 13, 2010) -- Researchers have identified numerous novel regions of the genome where the chemical modifications involved in controlling gene expression are influenced by either genetic variation or the parental origin of that particular stretch of DNA. This contradicts previous assumptions that epigenetic signals are generally equal across both copies of a given region of the genome, except at a small number of known imprinted genes. ... > full story
New sensor exploits traditional weakness of nano devices (February 13, 2010) -- By taking advantage of a phenomenon that until now has been a virtual showstopper for electronics designers, scientists are developing a chemical and biological sensor with unprecedented sensitivity. ... > full story
Male college students also victims of violence at girlfriends' hands (February 13, 2010) -- Researchers are looking at the impact that being a victim of violence has on male versus female college students in heterosexual relationships. They that found the biggest predictor of whether male and female college students would use violence against a partner was whether the partner was violent toward them. ... > full story
Scientists synthesize unique family of anti-cancer compounds (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have streamlined the process for synthesizing a family of compounds with the potential to kill cancer and other diseased cells, and have found that they represent a unique category of anti-cancer agents. ... > full story
Low levels of natural antibodies behind stroke (February 13, 2010) -- The chances of suffering a stroke are linked to the presence of a certain type of antibody in the immune system, a new study from Sweden shows. The researchers hope to be able to develop a vaccine that can mobilize the body's own defense against arteriosclerosis and stroke. ... > full story
Single-step technique produces both p-type and n-type doping for future graphene devices (February 13, 2010) -- A simple one-step process that produces both n-type and p-type doping of large-area graphene surfaces could facilitate use of the promising material for future electronic devices. The doping technique can also be used to increase conductivity in graphene nanoribbons used for interconnects. ... > full story
Role of protein pair in obesity regulation (February 13, 2010) -- New research implicates a new protein in obesity development and highlights a protein pair's "team effort" in regulating obesity and insulin resistance. ... > full story
High-tech applications envisioned for 'multiferroic' crystals (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have had surprising results involving an unusual family of crystalline minerals. Their findings could lay the groundwork for future researchers seeking to develop a new generation of computer chips and other information-storage devices that can hold vast amounts of data and be strongly encrypted for security purposes. ... > full story
Hypnosis can relieve symptoms in children with respiratory diseases (February 13, 2010) -- Hypnosis has potential therapeutic value in children with respiratory disorders for alleviating symptoms such as habit cough or unexplained sensations of difficulty breathing and for lessening a child's discomfort during medical procedures. ... > full story
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