ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, June 2, 2010
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'Little brown balls' tie malaria and algae to common ancestor, researchers find (June 2, 2010) -- Inconspicuous "little brown balls" in the ocean have helped settle a long-standing debate about the origin of malaria and the algae responsible for toxic red tides, according to a new study. ... > full story
Patients who refuse prostate cancer surgery have worse long-term survival, study finds (June 2, 2010) -- Men who refuse surgery for prostate cancer and instead opt for "watchful waiting" have a significantly worse long-term survival rate than those patients that choose radiotherapy, according to researchers. The study found that patients who refused any treatment for their prostate cancer had a 10-year overall survival rate of 51 percent, compared to 68 percent for those who chose radiation treatment. ... > full story
UK research leads to blood test for early detection of cancer (June 2, 2010) -- A ground-breaking blood test promises to aid the detection of cancer as much as five years earlier than current testing methods such as mammography and CT scans. Physicians will know the result of their patient’s test within one week of sending in a blood sample, according to researchers. ... > full story
PET scanning probes reveal different cell function within the immune system (June 2, 2010) -- A commonly used probe for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and a new probe reveal different functions in diverse cells of the immune system, providing a noninvasive and much clearer picture of an immune response in action. ... > full story
PET and SPECT biomedical imaging techniques combined, increasing resolution (June 2, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have succeeded in combining two forms of medical imaging techniques (microPET and microSPECT) into one piece of equipment. These techniques can be performed simultaneously and give a higher resolution than traditional microSPECT and microPET. The new device is designed for use in fundamental research into the functioning of cells and organs. It can show functional details smaller than half a millimeter. ... > full story
Forget take-out: Families still big on home cooking (June 2, 2010) -- The home-cooked meal is alive and well, according to new research. It just doesn't look, taste or feel like a "Leave-it-to-Beaver" meal from the 1950s. ... > full story
Jumping genes provide extensive 'raw material' for evolution, study finds (June 2, 2010) -- Using high-throughput sequencing to map the locations of a common type of jumping gene within a person's entire genome, researchers found extensive variation in these locations among the individuals they studied, further underscoring the role of these errant genes in maintaining genetic diversity. The investigators determined that any two peoples' genomes differ at roughly 285 sites out of the 1139 sites studied. ... > full story
Sluggish cell division may help explain genital defects (June 2, 2010) -- Researchers say a gene memorably named Sonic hedgehog controls genital development by regulating a process known as the cell cycle -- a biological event that regulates when, and how fast, cells divide to form hearts, brains, limbs and all the other complex structures needed to build an individual. The findings in mice provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie growth of urinary and reproductive organs in both sexes. ... > full story
No relaxing for cancer cells (June 2, 2010) -- Many tumor cells would not be viable due to aberrant chromosome distribution if they had not developed a special trick. Scientists in Germany have investigated which genes are responsible for this survival strategy of cancer cells. The revealed that cancer cells rely on the tension of specific protein fibers to be able to multiply. Thus, proteins which maintain this tension are promising targets for new, target-specific anticancer drugs: if they are switched off, cancer cells die. ... > full story
ICU infection rates not a good measure of mortality risk, researchers find (June 2, 2010) -- ICU-acquired infection rates are not an indication of patients' mortality risk, according to researchers, undermining a central tenet of many pay-for-performance initiatives. ... > full story
Software developers tackle child grooming on the net (June 2, 2010) -- Four out of five children can't tell when they are talking to an adult posing as a child on the internet, according to researchers working on software to track pedophiles online. Computer scientists in the UK have been working on a tool which can work out a person's age and gender using language analysis techniques. They hope it will eventually be used to help police and law enforcement agencies spot when an adult in a chatroom is masquerading as a child as part of the victim "grooming" process. ... > full story
Cancer information on Wikipedia is accurate, but not very readable, study finds (June 2, 2010) -- It is a commonly held that information on Wikipedia should not be trusted, since it is written and edited by non-experts without professional oversight. But researchers have found differently, according to new data. ... > full story
Microbe power as a green means to hydrogen production (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists have been hard at work harnessing the power of microbes as an attractive source of clean energy. Now, researchers have investigated a means for enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production by using specialized bacteria. ... > full story
Calcium consumption may cause prostate cancer in Chinese, research suggests (June 1, 2010) -- Among Chinese men, calcium consumption -- even at relatively low levels and from non-dairy food sources such as soy, grains and green vegetables -- may increase prostate cancer risk, according to new research. ... > full story
New 'doubly magic' research reveals role of nuclear shell (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have performed an unprecedented nuclear reaction experiment that explores the unique properties of the "doubly magic" radioactive isotope of 132Sn, or tin-132. The research is part of a broad scientific effort to understand nucleosynthesis, or the process by which the higher elements (those in the periodic table above iron) are created in the supernova explosions of stars. This research focused on the so-called r-process, responsible for the creation of about half of those heavy elements. This process involves interactions at very high energies of highly unstable and rare isotopes that do not naturally occur on Earth, but that can be created in the laboratory. ... > full story
A prognostic and predictive biomarker for nonsmall cell lung cancer (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers in Brazil found a protein that can be used to indicate which patients in the early stages of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a good prognosis and which do not. High levels of this protein correlate with resistance to certain anticancer drugs, especially cisplatin and carboplatin. This new finding may help doctors decide on the best course of action for each NSCLC patient, which may greatly impact survival rates. ... > full story
Researchers offer solutions to poisonous well-water crisis in southern Asia (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers offer solutions to poisonous well-water crisis in southern Asia. They have reviewed what scientists understand about this groundwater contamination crisis and offer solutions for the region. ... > full story
What are the most effective strategies for secondary suicide prevention? (June 1, 2010) -- Attempts to reduce suicide in a population do not always focus enough on high-risk patients, argues an expert who discusses different interventions for "secondary suicide prevention." ... > full story
Backwards black holes might make bigger jets (June 1, 2010) -- Going against the grain may turn out to be a powerful move for black holes. New research suggests supermassive black holes that spin backwards might produce more ferocious jets of gas. The results have broad implications for how galaxies change over time. ... > full story
Targeted immunotherapy shows promise for metastatic breast, pancreatic cancers (June 1, 2010) -- Early trials using targeted monoclonal antibodies in combination with existing therapies show promise in treating pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, according to new research. ... > full story
Supplement may prevent alcohol-related brain, skull defects (June 1, 2010) -- The dietary supplement CDP-choline, sold as a brain-boosting agent and under study for stroke and traumatic brain injury, may block skull and brain damage that can result from alcohol consumption early in pregnancy, researchers report. Alcohol consumption in early pregnancy increases levels of a little-known lipid called ceramide, significantly increasing suicide among cells critical to skull and brain formation. ... > full story
Young children respond well to recommended swine flu vaccine, study suggests (June 1, 2010) -- The first head to head study of the two H1N1 vaccines used in the UK during the recent pandemic finds that the adjuvanted split virus vaccine induced higher immune response rates in young children, but was associated with more reactions than the whole virus vaccine. ... > full story
Liquid method: pure graphene production (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a new method for producing bulk quantities of pure, one-atom-thick sheets of carbon called graphene. The research could lead to novel, flexible electronics, carbon composites and touch-screen displays. ... > full story
ADHD linked to low maternal education, lone parents and welfare benefits, Swedish study finds (June 1, 2010) -- A major study of 1.16 million six to 19 year-olds has found strong links between receiving medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and limited maternal education, single parent families and welfare benefits. It is believed to be the first study of risk factors for ADHD in a national cohort of school children. Women who had only received the most basic education were 130% more likely to have a child on ADHD medication. Children were 54% more likely to be on ADHD medication if they came from a single parent family. Coming from a family on welfare benefits increased the risk of ADHD medication by 135%. ... > full story
Neanderthals walked into frozen Britain 40,000 years earlier than first thought, evidence shows (June 1, 2010) -- Archaeologists have found evidence that Neanderthals were living in Britain at the start of the last ice age, 40,000 years earlier than previously thought. ... > full story
Mannitol boosts effectiveness of potential cord blood treatment for cerebral palsy in lab animals, study finds (June 1, 2010) -- The sugar-alcohol compound mannitol improved the therapeutic effectiveness of human umbilical cord blood cells injected into neontal rat models of cerebral palsy, reports a new international study. The mannitol opened the blood-brain barrier, improving access of therapeutic substances from the periphery to the brain. ... > full story
Scientists gain new 'core' understanding of nanoparticles (June 1, 2010) -- A research team has uncovered a mystery in the magnetic response of iron-oxide nanoparticles, one that may be a key to controlling nanoparticle magnetism for future applications. ... > full story
Cerebral malaria: Scientists advance understanding of deadly form of malaria in children (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists are making strides against cerebral malaria, a fatal form of malaria in children that can ravage the brain and is extremely difficult to treat. New research points to platelets -- known for their role in blood clotting -- as playing an important role in the disease, stimulating the immune system and turning on molecules that increase inflammation. The inflammation leads to the obstruction of blood vessels in the brain, causing brain damage similar to that seen with a stroke. ... > full story
After the oil spill: New research sheds light on coral susceptibility to environmental stress (June 1, 2010) -- Much attention has been paid to the fate of wildlife living on and above the Gulf of Mexico's surface. Now, new research looks toward the seafloor to explain coral susceptibility to disease outbreaks when they encounter environmental stress and to set the stage for understanding what type of undersea environment is necessary to promote coral health and growth after the oil spill cleanup. ... > full story
Education helps against dementia, Swedish study finds (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that education not only delays the early symptoms of dementia, but can also slow down the development of the disease – a finding that could result in faster diagnosis and treatment of dementia, reveals new research from Sweden. ... > full story
Particle chameleon caught in the act of changing (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers on the OPERA experiment at the Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy have announced the first direct observation of a tau particle in a muon neutrino beam sent through the Earth from CERN, 730 kilometers away. This is a significant result, providing the final missing piece of a puzzle that has been challenging science since the 1960s, and giving tantalizing hints of new physics to come. ... > full story
Bone marrow plays critical role in enhancing immune response to viruses, researchers find (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers for the first time have determined that bone marrow cells play a critical role in fighting respiratory viruses, making the bone marrow a potential therapeutic target, especially in people with compromised immune systems. They have found that during infections of the respiratory tract, cells produced by the bone marrow are instructed by proteins to migrate to the lungs to help fight infection. ... > full story
Revealing the ancient Chinese secret of sticky rice mortar (June 1, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered the secret behind an ancient Chinese mortar made from sticky rice, that delicious "sweet rice" that is a modern mainstay in Asian dishes. They also concluded that the mortar -- a paste used to bind and fill gaps between bricks, stone blocks and other construction materials -- remains the best available material for restoring ancient buildings. ... > full story
Epilepsy surgery can have beneficial effect on memory, research suggests (June 1, 2010) -- Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy run the risk of gradual deterioration in their cognitive abilities. Surgical treatment generally puts an end to seizures but can have a negative effect on memory. However, there is no further deterioration in memory, and some patients may even recover some of their memory capacity, new research from Sweden reveals. ... > full story
Student uses pedal power to create novel machine (June 1, 2010) -- An innovative bicycle-powered water pump, created by a student in the UK, has proved a huge success and is now in regular production in Guatemala, transforming the lives of rural residents. ... > full story
Will we succeed? The science of self-motivation (June 1, 2010) -- Can you help you? Recent research has shown that those who ask themselves whether they will perform a task generally do better than those who tell themselves that they will. ... > full story
Powerful genome barcoding system reveals large-scale variation in human DNA (June 1, 2010) -- Genetic variation on the order of thousands to hundreds of thousands of DNA's smallest pieces -- large swaths varying in length or location or even showing up in reverse order -- appeared 4,205 times in a comparison of DNA from just four people, according to a new study. ... > full story
Animal study reveals new target for antidepressants (June 1, 2010) -- Antidepressants such as Prozac are not instant mood-lifters. But researchers have found clues to the delayed response and common return of depressive symptoms when taking serotonin-related antidepressants. Rather than activating all of the brain's serotonin receptors, as current drugs do, their study suggests there's just one critical serotonin receptor important to relieving depression and anxiety. It opens the door to more effective treatment for the 20.9 million Americans with depressive disorders. ... > full story
Natural selection for moderate testosterone surprises scientists (June 1, 2010) -- A field study of the relationship between testosterone and natural selection in an American songbird, the dark-eyed junco, has defied some expectations and confirmed others. Scientists report that extreme testosterone production -- high or low -- puts male dark-eyed junco at a disadvantage in both survival and reproduction outside their semi-monogamous breeding pairs. ... > full story
Inflammasome increases muscle damage in muscular dystrophy, study finds (June 1, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers demonstrate that affected muscle may directly contribute to inflammation in muscular dystrophy. ... > full story
Faster computers with nanotechnology (June 1, 2010) -- The silicon transistors in your computer may be replaced in ten years by transistors based on carbon nanotubes. This is what scientists in Sweden are hoping: they have developed a method to control the nanotubes during production. ... > full story
Alcohol-related traffic-risk behaviors among college students become worse at age 21 (June 1, 2010) -- Drinking and driving among college students continues to be a major public-health concern. A new study has examined how these behaviors may change as students move through their college years. Results showed that the prevalence and frequency of alcohol-related traffic-risk behaviors took a significant upturn when students turned 21 years old. ... > full story
New species of plant-eating dinosaur named for 'grinding mouth and wrinkle eye' (June 1, 2010) -- A team of paleontologists has described a new species of herbivore dinosaur based upon an incomplete skeleton found in western New Mexico. The new species, Jeyawati rugoculus, thrived near the shore of a vast inland sea 91 million years ago. ... > full story
New pathway to cheap insulin (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have now developed a new method to cheaply produce insulin for the treatment of diabetes. ... > full story
Scientists probe Earth's core (June 1, 2010) -- By observing distant earthquakes, researchers have revealed new clues about the top of the Earth's core. ... > full story
New target may inhibit metastatic breast cancer (June 1, 2010) -- New research implicate galectin-7 as a breast cancer differentiation marker. ... > full story
Breakthrough in nano-optics: Researchers develop plasmonic amplifier (June 1, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated net optical amplification in a plasmonic waveguide. The results represent an important breakthrough in the field of plasmonics. Optical amplification is the only feasible strategy to make light travel over sizable distances when it is bound in a plasmonic mode. Achieving such a macroscopic propagation of surface plasma waves is critical for many applications of the emerging plasmonics technology, which range from compact communication devices and optical computing to the detection and characterization of cells, virus particles or even single molecules. ... > full story
Impulsivity-related problem drinking decreases greatly for 18- to 25-year-olds (June 1, 2010) -- Impulsivity normally decreases during emerging and young adulthood and is associated with reduced substance abuse. Not all individuals, however, "mature out" of impulsive behavior. A new study has found that 18-to-25-year-olds exhibited the largest declines in impulsivity as well as the sharpest decreases in alcohol consumption. ... > full story
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