ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Monday, June 7, 2010
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Hold the salt: Engineers develop revolutionary new desalination membrane (June 7, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination that resist the clogging which typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste water are purified. The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into today's commercial production system, the researchers say, and could help to significantly reduce desalination operating costs. ... > full story
Do we clamp the umbilical cord too soon? Early clamping may interrupt humankind's first 'natural stem cell transplant' (June 7, 2010) -- The timing of umbilical cord clamping at birth remains controversial. The cord has been clamped early to facilitate resuscitation and stabilization of infants. Now, a new review paper suggests clamping should be delayed in normal births to tap the physiological benefits of "nature's first stem cell transplant." ... > full story
Silver nanoparticles mitigate the cell damage caused by ethanol, study suggests (June 7, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers in Spain describe how nanoparticles formed by very small numbers of silver atoms can protect against the cell damage caused by ethanol. ... > full story
Growth hormone safe for infants with chronic kidney failure, study finds (June 7, 2010) -- Infants with chronic renal failure (CRF) grow slowly, a problem that usually improves with aggressive nutritional therapy. When it doesn't, growth hormone is a safe and effective treatment to promote growth, according to a new study. ... > full story
New approach to finding and removing defects in graphene (June 7, 2010) -- Scientists have pinpointed the noncarbon atoms that create defects when graphene is produced through a technique called graphene-oxide reduction. The researchers have also proposed how to make that technique more efficient by precisely applying hydrogen -- rather than heat -- to remove the impurities. ... > full story
Strategy may help translate research findings about blood-pressure treatment into clinical practice (June 7, 2010) -- Academic detailing -- a method involving face-to-face education of clinicians by investigators trained to present trial findings and guidelines -- may have been associated with a small change in prescribing patterns for patients with high blood pressure, according to a new report. ... > full story
Cockroaches share 'recommendations' of best food sources, research finds (June 7, 2010) -- Ever wondered how cockroaches seem to know the best place to grab a meal? New research suggests that, just like humans, they share their local knowledge of the best food sources and follow 'recommendations' from others. ... > full story
New treatment regimen shown effective against advanced ovarian cancer, study suggests (June 7, 2010) -- Newly reported results from a major clinical trial show that adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard frontline chemotherapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer and then continuing a maintenance dose of the drug afterwards significantly extends progression-free survival. Women receiving the new treatment regimen saw no worsening of their disease for 14.1 months, compared to 10.3 months for women receiving standard therapy. ... > full story
Selenium shows no benefit in prevention of lung cancer, study suggests (June 7, 2010) -- Selenium, a supplement taken daily by millions in hopes of protection against cancer and a host of other diseases, has proven to be of no benefit in reducing a patient's risk of developing lung cancer -- either a recurrence or second primary malignancy, according to results of an international Phase III clinical trial. ... > full story
New standards for reliable fisheries: Preserving population diversity stabilizes fisheries, ecosystems, and economies (June 7, 2010) -- The many populations of sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska, act like a diversified portfolio of investments, buffering fisheries from the ups and downs of particular stocks. A new study quantifies, for the first time, how much depends on this "portfolio effect." Without its current population diversity, the Bristol Bay sockeye fishery would close ten times more frequently -- once every two to three years rather than once every 25 years. ... > full story
Adolescent brains biologically wired to engage in risky behavior, study finds (June 6, 2010) -- There are biological motivations behind the stereotypically poor decisions and risky behavior associated with adolescence, psychologists reveal. ... > full story
Body's own proteins may lead the way in global fight against tuberculosis (June 6, 2010) -- Scientists hope to counter the re-emerging threat of tuberculosis with help from proteins within our bodies. In new research, scientists show how the protein CCL5 plays a protective role in helping the body ward off TB in early stages of infection. CCL5 is a member of a large family of proteins responsible for immune cell migration toward infection sites. ... > full story
Lead in ammunition contaminates game meat (June 6, 2010) -- Eating the meat of animals hunted using lead ammunition can be more dangerous for health than was previously thought, especially for children and people who consume large quantities. ... > full story
Vigorous exercise strengthens hip bones in young children (June 6, 2010) -- Researchers in the UK have presented evidence that vigorous physical activity in young children results in stronger hip bones. ... > full story
Robots big and small showcase their skills (June 6, 2010) -- Two robotics events were designed to prove the viability of advanced technologies for robotic automation of manufacturing and microrobotics. ... > full story
Most kidney dialysis patients not prepared for emergency evacuation, study finds (June 6, 2010) -- A survey of kidney dialysis patients finds that most have not taken the emergency preparedness measures that would enable them to survive a hurricane or any other disaster that disrupts power and water services. ... > full story
Oil spill puts commercially significant cold-water reefs in peril (June 6, 2010) -- Thousands of barrels of oil are leaking out of the Deepwater Horizon site each day. The oil ascends from depths of approximately 1502 m. (4928 ft.), but not all of it reaches the sea surface. The stratified seawater of the Gulf of Mexico captures or slows the ascent of the oil, and the addition of dispersants near the oil source produces tiny droplets that float for a considerable time in the water column and may never reach the surface. According to a group of Florida researchers, the oil that remains in suspension in the water column and creates plumes poses a serious risk for the planktonic and benthic (sea floor) life throughout the region, including the deep-sea reefs they study. ... > full story
Scientists break barrier to creating potential therapeutic molecules (June 6, 2010) -- Scientists have created a novel technique that for the first time will allow the efficient production of a molecular structure that is common to a vast array of natural molecules. This advance provides a means to explore the potential of this molecular substructure in the search for new therapies. ... > full story
Making enough red blood cells: Scientists identify molecules that ensure red blood cell production (June 6, 2010) -- Scientists have identified two small RNA molecules which ensure that enough red blood cells are produced efficiently, by fine-tuning a number of different genes involved in this process. ... > full story
Newborn and carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy now possible, say scientists (June 6, 2010) -- Scientists studying spinal muscular atrophy have concluded that the technology now exists to carry out nationwide screening of newborn children and pregnant mothers. The study reveals that effective screening may allow parents to find proactive treatments before the symptoms become irreversible. ... > full story
New antenna to aid rural emergency workers developed (June 6, 2010) -- To overcome the challenges of rural communication, engineers have developed a sturdy lightweight antenna that provides a strong, clear, reliable channel even while moving. ... > full story
Medicine's secret archives (June 6, 2010) -- Researchers have compiled over 60 examples illustrating how the dissemination of medical knowledge has been impeded. For this purpose, they assessed hundreds of citations. A wide range of interventions was affected: from drugs and vaccines to medical devices such as ultrasound or devices for wound care. The collection reads like the script for a crime series. ... > full story
Yangtze River’s ancient origins revealed (June 6, 2010) -- The Yangtze River began to cut the Three Gorges area around 45 million years ago, making it much older than previously believed, according to new evidence from minerals. ... > full story
Key regulator of fat cell development identified (June 6, 2010) -- New research has identified a key regulator of fat cell differentiation that may be a novel target for obesity drugs. ... > full story
Distressed damsels stress coral reefs (June 6, 2010) -- Damselfish are killing head corals and adding stress to Caribbean coral reefs, which are already in desperately poor condition from global climate change, coral diseases, hurricanes, pollution, and overfishing. Restoring threatened staghorn coral, the damsels' favorite homestead, will take the pressure off the other corals, according to a new study. ... > full story
Better way to calculate greenhouse gas value of ecosystems (June 6, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new, more accurate method of calculating the change in greenhouse gas emissions that results from changes in land use. The new approach takes into account many factors not included in previous methods, such as the ecosystem's ability to take up or release greenhouse gases over time and all of the greenhouse gases absorbed and released in the process of introducing new crops. The researchers calculated the greenhouse gas value of a variety of ecosystem types. ... > full story
New criteria proposed for diagnosing fibromyalgia (June 6, 2010) -- The American College of Rheumatology is proposing a new set of diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia that replaces the tender point test with a rating system that includes common symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive problems, as well as pain. ... > full story
Could life survive on Mars? Yes, expert says (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that methane-eating bacteria survive in a highly unique spring located on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada's extreme North. Microbiologists explain that the Lost Hammer spring supports microbial life, that the spring is similar to possible past or present springs on Mars, and that therefore they too could support life. ... > full story
Scientists capture very moment blood flow begins (June 5, 2010) -- By capturing movies of both the blood and vasculature of zebrafish embryos, each less than two millimeters long, researchers have been able for the first time to see the very moment that blood begins to flow. ... > full story
Autism finding could lead to simple urine test for the condition (June 5, 2010) -- Children with autism have a different chemical fingerprint in their urine than non-autistic children, according to new research. The researchers suggest that their findings could ultimately lead to a simple urine test to determine whether or not a young child has autism. ... > full story
Gene related to aging plays role in stem cell differentiation (June 5, 2010) -- A gene shown to play a role in the aging process appears to play a role in the regulation of the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, according to new research. ... > full story
Video game research project to help blind children exercise (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a motion-sensing-based tennis and bowling "exergame" that will help the visually impaired, especially children become more physically active. ... > full story
A sense of humor helps keep you healthy until retirement age (June 5, 2010) -- A sense of humor helps to keep people healthy and increases their chances of reaching retirement age. But after the age of 70, the health benefits of humor decrease, researchers have found. ... > full story
Mongooses pass traditions on to their young, too (June 5, 2010) -- For the passing on of traditions, it appears that an especially big brain isn't required. Even mongooses in the wild carry out traditions that are passed down from one generation to the next, according to new research. ... > full story
New gene therapy proves effective in treating severe heart failure (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that is safe and effective in reversing advanced heart failure. SERCA2a is a gene therapy designed to stimulate production of an enzyme that enables the failing heart to pump more effectively. In a Phase II study, SERCA2a injection through a routine minimally invasive cardiac catheterization was safe and showed clinical benefit in treating this patient population and decreasing the severity of heart failure. ... > full story
Glaciers in Tibet were never really large (June 5, 2010) -- The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest mountain region on Earth with glaciers whose meltwater provides the water supply for more than 1.3 billion people through several of the largest rivers in Asia. Glaciers in Tibet have remained relatively small and have not been much larger than today for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years back in time, according to new research. ... > full story
Stroke prevention study in children with sickle cell anemia, iron overload stopped early (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment. ... > full story
An extra driver behind the wheel (June 5, 2010) -- When the steering wheel starts vibrating strongly, your car is too close to the edge of the road. WayPilot, a new Norwegian product, helps to keep it where it should be in the driving lane. ... > full story
Biomechanics of information: Going more miles per gallon with your brain (June 5, 2010) -- The hunting strategy of a slender fish from the Amazon is giving researchers more insight into how to balance the metabolic cost of information with the metabolic cost of moving around to get that information. ... > full story
Drug induces a memory of safety in rat brains (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats, mimicking the effect of training. The finding suggests possibilities for new treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders. ... > full story
Oncologists fight leukemia with two-pronged therapy, clinical trials planned (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have used an agent, called Oxi4503, to poison leukemia cells and destroy the blood vessels that supply the cells in mouse models of acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. The researchers plan human tests of the drug later this year. ... > full story
Cysts hold clues to pancreatic cancer; Detection and removal may lower cancer risk (June 5, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a method that could be used to predict whether pancreatic cysts are benign or are precursors to invasive cancer. ... > full story
New cancer treatment? MM-111 antibody uses HER2 target to reach and block HER3 (June 5, 2010) -- Patients with HER2-positive cancers can have dramatic responses to HER2-targeted drugs but eventually develop resistance to the agents. With that problem in mind, researchers are testing a novel type of antibody called MM-111 in patients with HER2-positive disease who have progressed on standard therapy. ... > full story
Making lake and stream conservation more effective (June 5, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a pioneering, comprehensive approach that makes conserving and managing freshwater lakes, streams and wetlands more integrated and effective. ... > full story
Special care plan does not slow decline in patients with Alzheimer's, study finds (June 5, 2010) -- A special dementia care plan, involving regular assessments of patients with Alzheimer's disease in specialist memory clinics, does not slow functional decline compared with usual care, a new study finds. ... > full story
Combination treatment regimen not effective against advanced melanoma (June 5, 2010) -- The combination of two different chemotherapies and a molecular inhibitor previously approved to treat kidney and liver cancers is not effective against advanced melanoma, according to new results. ... > full story
Drilling into the unknown: First exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer (June 4, 2010) -- Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration of an Antarctic sub-glacial lake. Scientists have revealed the optimal drill site for exploring Lake Ellsworth, a sub-glacial lake comparable in size to England's Lake Windermere which is covered by three kilometers of ice. This development is likely to facilitate a revolution in climate-change research and may lead to the discovery of life-forms cut off from the main line of evolution for millions of years. ... > full story
Lifestyle and genes pose separate risks for breast cancer (June 4, 2010) -- The increased risk of breast cancer associated with a range of common genes is not affected by lifestyle factors -- including use of hormone replacement therapy, age at birth of first child, obesity, and alcohol consumption -- a new study has found. ... > full story
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