ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, June 4, 2010
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Common genetic threads link thousands of years of Jewish ancestry (June 4, 2010) -- Using sophisticated genomic analysis, scientists have probed the ancestry of several Jewish and non-Jewish populations and better defined the relatedness of contemporary Jewish people. The research may shed light on the question, first raised more than a century ago, of whether Jews are a race, a religious group or something else. ... > full story
Molecular explanation for the evolution of Tamiflu resistance (June 4, 2010) -- Biologists have pinpointed molecular changes that helped allow the global spread of resistance to the antiviral medication Tamiflu (oseltamivir) among strains of the seasonal H1N1 flu virus. ... > full story
Biosensors reveal how single bacterium gets the message to split into a swimming and a stay-put cell (June 4, 2010) -- When certain bacteria reproduce by splitting in two, one cell inherits a propeller for swimming and the other builds a stalk to cling to surfaces. Researchers have developed biosensors to observe what was going on biochemically. They found that a signaling chemical c-di-GMP was unevenly distributed during cell division, and that the swimming cell got less than the stalk cell. The biosensors enabled the researchers to measure these fluctuations in a single bacterium smaller than any animal or plant cell. ... > full story
Students develop device to help blind maneuver (June 4, 2010) -- The radar system incorporates a computer, two video cameras and a scanning light source to warn the blind of obstacles with audible alerts. The system detects obstacles -- even those overhead -- by scanning the depth of its surroundings, taken from two different angles -- similar to that of the human eye. ... > full story
Gates open on understanding potassium channel controls (June 4, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant advance in understanding how potassium channels, which permit the flow of electric currents central to many of the body's biological processes, control the flow of these currents. ... > full story
Lack of skilled birth care costs 2 million lives each year worldwide, study estimates (June 4, 2010) -- A lack of skilled attendants at birth accounts for two million preventable maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths each year, according to the newly released Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010). The report shows that nearly 50 percent of women in the 68 countries carefully tracked in the Countdown report -- most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia -- still give birth without the aid of a trained midwife, nurse, doctor, or other skilled birth attendant. ... > full story
Oasis near Death Valley fed by ancient aquifer under Nevada Test Site (June 4, 2010) -- A new study indicates that water arriving at Ash Meadows in Death Valley is completing a 15,000-year journey, flowing slowly underground from what is now the Nevada Test Site. ... > full story
Commonly used seizure drug could treat severe genetic liver disease (June 4, 2010) -- The liver scarring of ±1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency, the most common genetic cause for which children undergo liver transplantation, might be reversed or prevented with a medication long used to treat seizures, according to researchers. Because the anti-seizure drug is familiar to doctors and has a well-understood safety profile, clinical trials could begin immediately to see whether it can help affected patients. ... > full story
Ocean Acidification in the Arctic: What are the consequences of carbon dioxide increase on marine ecosystems? (June 4, 2010) -- Carbon dioxide emissions not only lead to global warming, but also cause another, less well-known but equally disconcerting environmental change: ocean acidification. Scientists have just started the first major CO2 perturbation experiment in the Arctic Ocean. Their goal is to determine the response of Arctic marine life to the rapid change in ocean chemistry. ... > full story
Epigenetic similarities between Wilms tumor cells and normal kidney stem cells found (June 4, 2010) -- A detailed analysis of the epigenetics -- factors controlling when and in what tissues genes are expressed -- of Wilms tumor reveals striking similarities to stem cells normally found in fetal kidneys. New cellular pathways that are critical for Wilms tumor development and may also apply to other pediatric cancers have been identified. ... > full story
NASA takes to the air with new 'Earth Venture' research projects (June 4, 2010) -- Hurricanes, air quality and Arctic ecosystems are among the research areas to be investigated during the next five years by new NASA airborne science missions announced recently. ... > full story
Online games new marketing tool for unhealthy foods (June 4, 2010) -- Public health researchers have found that children, who are already saturated with television messages about unhealthy food choices, are the targets of a new medium used to sell high-fat, high-sugar foods: advergames. ... > full story
First paper 'dipstick' test for determining blood type (June 3, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting development of the first "dipstick" test for instantly determining a person's blood type at a cost of just a few pennies. The test involves placing a drop of blood on a specially treated paper strip. ... > full story
Treating heart attack past recommended time may significantly increase risk of death (June 3, 2010) -- An examination of the treatment received by patients with myocardial infarction at 80 hospitals in Quebec indicates that those who received either primary percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolysis beyond the times recommended in international guidelines had a significantly increased risk of death within 30 days, along with an increased risk of the combined outcome of death or readmission for heart attack or heart failure at one year, according to a new study. ... > full story
How trekking-poles help hikers maintain muscle function while reducing soreness (June 3, 2010) -- A new study shows for the first time how trekking-poles help hikers maintain muscle function while significantly reducing soreness in the days following a hike. ... > full story
Thymoquinone-induced oxidative stress targets highly aggressive prostate cancers, researchers find (June 3, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated that thymoquinone (TQ) a major component of black seed oil (Nigella sativa) can suppress the growth of several aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, in vitro. Although previous studies have shown the anti-proliferative effects of TQ in different types of cancers, the molecular mechanism of this effect of TQ had not been delineated. ... > full story
Airplanes, ground instruments, and weather balloons to study effect of airborne particles on climate (June 3, 2010) -- More than 60 scientists from a dozen institutions have converged on the urban area of Sacramento, California to study how tiny particles called aerosols affect the climate. Sending airplanes and weather balloons outfitted with instruments up, the team will be sampling aerosols in June. ... > full story
Tobacco tax hike could curb smoking among those with alcohol, drug or mental disorders (June 3, 2010) -- A new study suggests that increasing cigarette taxes could be an effective way to reduce smoking among individuals with alcohol, drug or mental disorders. It found that a 10 percent increase in cigarette pricing resulted in an 18.2 percent decline in smoking among people in these groups. ... > full story
On a roll: Designing the next rover to explore Mars (June 3, 2010) -- The concept of a wind-powered vehicle that can be used to explore the surface of Mars -- a "tumbleweed rover" -- has been around for more than 10 years, but there has been no consensus on exactly what that vehicle should look like. Now researchers have developed a computer model that allows engineers to test the attributes of different vehicle designs before creating costly prototypes for testing in real-world conditions. ... > full story
Some antidepressants may bump up cataract risk (June 3, 2010) -- Seniors who take SSRI antidepressants may be more likely to develop cataracts, says the first major study to examine this interaction. The risk appears to increase by about 15 percent, which in the United States would translate to 22,000 cataract cases attributable to antidepressant use. ... > full story
Eyes of cattle may become new windows to detect mad cow disease (June 3, 2010) -- The eyes may or may not be windows to the soul, as the old adage goes, but scientists are reporting evidence that a peek into the eyes of cattle may become the basis for a long-sought test to detect infection with the agent that causes Mad Cow Disease. That test could help prevent the disease from spreading in the food supply. ... > full story
Calcium supplements: Too much of a good thing? (June 3, 2010) -- Negative health effects linked to taking too much supplemental calcium are on the rise, according to a new commentary. The incidence of the so-called milk-alkali or calcium-alkali syndrome is growing in large part because of widespread use of over-the-counter calcium and vitamin D supplements. ... > full story
Lasers help researchers predict birds' preferred habitat (June 3, 2010) -- A team of NASA-funded researchers has completed an experiment to remotely sense and predict where certain birds are most likely to live and breed. ... > full story
Mentor-protégé relationships: Age gap really does matter (June 3, 2010) -- A new study of mentor-protégé relationships has found that the generation gap is real and it matters. The researchers analyzed a "family tree" of mathematicians and the doctoral students they advised and found very successful academics do a good job mentoring students during the first third of their careers, but they do a bad job during the last third of their careers. The implications stretch beyond academia, including to business, government, sports and art. ... > full story
Arctic ice at low point compared to recent geologic history (June 3, 2010) -- Less ice covers the Arctic today than at any time in recent geologic history. That's the conclusion of an international group of researchers, who have compiled the first comprehensive history of Arctic ice. ... > full story
Excess oxygen in blood after cardiac resuscitation may increase risk of in-hospital death (June 3, 2010) -- Patients who have excessive oxygen levels in arterial blood (hyperoxia) following resuscitation from cardiac arrest have a higher rate of death in the hospital than similar patients without arterial hyperoxia, according to a new study. ... > full story
New evidence that chili pepper ingredient fights fat (June 3, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting new evidence that capsaicin, the stuff that gives chili peppers their kick, may cause weight loss and fight fat buildup by triggering certain beneficial protein changes in the body. Their study could lead to new treatments for obesity. ... > full story
Surgical means for improving kidney cancer survival identified (June 3, 2010) -- When kidney cancer spreads to other body parts, patients usually receive a poor prognosis. A new study examined the benefits of surgical treatment of kidney cancer, specifically renal cell carcinoma, and how patients saw improved prognosis of their cancer. ... > full story
Astronaut's eye view: Mars Express orbiting the Red Planet (June 3, 2010) -- A new video shows what future astronauts would see from their cockpit: Mars turning below as they sweep around the Red Planet. Last month, ESA's Mars Express snapped images every minute to create a unique video that loops through a complete orbit of Earth's neighbor. ... > full story
Schizophrenia drugs raise the volume of a key signaling system in the brain (June 3, 2010) -- All the major groups of medications for schizophrenia turn up the volume of a brain signal known to be muted in individuals with this psychiatric disorder -- a signal that also can be influenced by diet. "This is the first example of a common but specific molecular effect produced by all antipsychotic drugs in any biological system," scientists note. ... > full story
Nanosponge drug delivery system more effective than direct injection (June 3, 2010) -- When loaded with an anticancer drug, a delivery system based on a novel material called nanosponge is three to five times more effective at reducing tumor growth than direct injection. ... > full story
Too much weight in pregnancy may lead to future heart risks, study finds (June 3, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered evidence to show that piling on too many pounds in pregnancy may lead to future heart risks in the child. ... > full story
Mountains and volcanoes in the Mediterranean rise due to pressure from mantle below (June 3, 2010) -- Some mountains in "mobile belts" -- regions of crustal fragments, such as in the Mediterranean, the Rockies, and the Himalayas -- can rise due to upward pressure from the semi-liquid mantle. The study proposes a model for predicting uplift and likely volcanic hotspots in such regions. ... > full story
One-third of young girls get HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer (June 3, 2010) -- Only about one in three young women has received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer, according to a new report. ... > full story
Going underground to monitor carbon dioxide (June 3, 2010) -- A technique originally, applied to monitor the flow of contaminants into shallow groundwater supplies, has been repurposed to monitor carbon dioxide pumped deep underground for storage. ... > full story
Second language learners recall native language when reading, brain research suggests (June 3, 2010) -- Adults fluent in English whose first language is Chinese retrieve their native language when reading in English, according to new research. The study suggests that people who learn a second language in adolescence or later recall the sounds of words from their native language. ... > full story
Scientists create artificial mini 'black hole' (June 3, 2010) -- Chinese researchers have successfully built an electromagnetic absorbing device for microwave frequencies. The device, made of a thin cylinder comprising 60 concentric rings of metamaterials, is capable of absorbing microwave radiation, and has been compared to an astrophysical black hole (which, in space, soaks up matter and light). ... > full story
New culture dish could advance human embryonic stem cell research (June 3, 2010) -- A new synthetic Petri dish coating could overcome a major challenge to the advancement of human embryonic stem cell research. ... > full story
Bone drug suppresses wandering tumor cells in breast cancer patients; May reduce metastatic disease (June 3, 2010) -- The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) can help fight metastatic breast cancer when given before surgery, new research suggests. When the drug was given along with chemotherapy for three months before breast cancer surgery, it reduced the number of women who had tumor cells in their bone marrow at the time of surgery. ... > full story
Sun-induced skin cancer: Discovery permits doctors to assess genetic risk (June 3, 2010) -- As people head to the beach this summer, very few if any, really know how likely they are to develop skin cancer from their outdoor fun. That's about to change, thanks to a new discovery that makes it possible for doctors to access people's personal risk for skin cancer. ... > full story
Pride, prejudice and the 'Darcin effect': Pheromone that attracts female mice to odor of particular male identified (June 3, 2010) -- The pheromone that attracts female mice to the odor of a particular male has been identified. Named "darcin" by researchers (after Darcy, the attractive hero in Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice"), this unusual protein in a male's urine attracts females and is responsible for learned preference for specific males. ... > full story
A quick fix for queues (June 3, 2010) -- Queuing, standing in line ... it's what we do well, but complain about the most. Thankfully, science is coming to the rescue as researchers in Taiwan have devised a formula that could revolutionize restaurants, post offices, customer service desks, and theater ticket sales everywhere. ... > full story
Structure of immune molecule that counteracts HIV strains determined (June 3, 2010) -- In findings that contribute to efforts to design an AIDS vaccine, a team of scientists has determined the structure of an immune system antibody molecule that effectively acts against most strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. ... > full story
Nanoparticle PSA test predicts if prostate cancer will return: Ultrasensitive test gives first accurate answer after prostate cancer surgery (June 3, 2010) -- Conventional PSA tests aren't sensitive enough to show if men are cured after having a cancerous prostate gland removed. New research shows an ultrasensitive PSA test using nanoparticle-based technology may be able to definitively predict after surgery if the cancer is cured or if it will recur. The new test is 300 times more sensitive than currently available and may pick up cancer recurrence at a much earlier stage. ... > full story
Probiotic found in breast milk helps alleviate symptoms of digestive disorders (June 3, 2010) -- Here's another reason to breast feed your baby: Researchers have discovered how a probiotic found in breast milk reduces or eliminates painful cramping in the gut. Scientists used mice to show that a specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri decreases the force of muscle contractions in the gut within minutes of exposure. ... > full story
Deep brain stimulation at two different targets gives similar motor benefits in Parkinson's (June 3, 2010) -- In a major study, investigators have compared how individuals with Parkinson's disease respond to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at two different sites in the brain. Contrary to current belief, patients who received DBS at either site in the brain experienced comparable benefits for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's. ... > full story
Physicists reveal how to cope with 'frustration': Quantum simulation can be scaled to large systems (June 3, 2010) -- "Frustrated" systems -- those in which the interactions among the components have no single minimum-energy state -- are of great interest for problems from neural networks and protein folding to social structures and magnetism. But they have been difficult to model. Now a team of physicists has created a scalable quantum-mechanical model. ... > full story
Surprising disparity in where chronically ill kids hospitalized, study finds (June 3, 2010) -- Chronically ill children with private insurance are much less likely than those with public insurance, such as Medi-Cal, to be admitted to a California hospital offering specialized pediatric care, according to a new study. ... > full story
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