The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 14, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, August 14, 2012

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NASA's 'Mighty Eagle' robotic prototype lander flies again at Marshall (August 13, 2012) -- The "Mighty Eagle," a NASA robotic prototype lander, is soaring high again for a series of tests being conducted at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. ... > full story

Second flight instrument delivered for James Webb Space Telescope (August 13, 2012) -- The second of four main instruments to fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has been delivered to NASA. The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) will enable the telescope to accurately and precisely point at the correct, intended objects for it to observe. The FGS is packaged together as a single unit with the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) science instrument. ... > full story

New technology delivers sustained release of drugs for up to six months (August 13, 2012) -- A new technology which delivers sustained release of therapeutics for up to six months could be used in conditions which require routine injections, including diabetes, certain forms of cancer and potentially HIV/AIDS. ... > full story

Deeply held religious beliefs prompting sick kids to be given 'futile' treatment (August 13, 2012) -- Parental hopes of a "miraculous intervention," prompted by deeply held religious beliefs, are leading to very sick children being subjected to futile care and needless suffering, suggests a small study. ... > full story

NASA STEREO observes one of the fastest CMEs on record (August 13, 2012) -- On July 23, 2012, a massive cloud of solar material erupted off the sun's right side, zooming out into space, passing one of NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft along the way. Using the STEREO data, scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. clocked this giant cloud, known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME, as traveling between 1,800 and 2,200 miles per second as it left the sun. ... > full story

Speedy ions could add zip to quantum computers (August 13, 2012) -- Take that, sports cars! Physicists can accelerate their beryllium ions from zero to 100 miles per hour and stop them in just a few microseconds. The researchers think their zippy ions may be useful in future quantum computers. ... > full story

Supercomputers solve riddle of congenital heart defects (August 13, 2012) -- With the aid of pioneering technology, Danish scientists have charted several of the complex biological processes behind congenital heart defects. In time, the research promises to provide better ways to prevent, diagnose and cure heart disease. ... > full story

Pay for performance may improve treatment implementation for adolescent substance use disorders (August 13, 2012) -- Pay for performance appears to be associated with improved implementation of an adolescent substance use treatment program, although no significant differences were found in remission status between the pay-for-performance and implementation-as-usual groups. ... > full story

Strategy appears to help rule-in, rule-out heart attack within one hour (August 13, 2012) -- A strategy using an algorithm that incorporates high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T values appears to be associated with ruling-out or ruling-in myocardial infarction (heart attack) within one hour in 77 percent of patients with acute chest pain who presented to an emergency department. ... > full story

Blood test could guide treatment for kidney cancer (August 13, 2012) -- A common enzyme that is easily detected in blood may predict how well patients with advanced kidney cancer will respond to a specific treatment, according to doctors. ... > full story

Consuming flavanol-rich cocoa may enhance brain function (August 13, 2012) -- Eating cocoa flavanols daily may improve mild cognitive impairment, according to new research. ... > full story

Middle-aged adults help their hearts with regular leisure-time physical activities (August 13, 2012) -- Middle-aged adults who regularly engage in leisure-time physical activity for more than a decade may enhance their heart health, according to new research. ... > full story

Double vision: Hybrid medical imaging technology may shed new light on cancer (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers combine two types of imaging methods to give doctors a clearer picture of the inside of living bodies. ... > full story

New system could predict solar flares, give advance warning (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers may have discovered a new method to predict solar flares more than a day before they occur, providing advance warning to help protect satellites, power grids and astronauts from potentially dangerous radiation. ... > full story

Modification of tumor suppressor affects sensitivity to potential GBM treatment (August 13, 2012) -- Biologists and oncologists have long understood that a protein called the epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR is altered in at least 50 percent of patients with glioblastoma. Yet patients with glioblastoma either have upfront resistance or quickly develop resistance to inhibitors aimed at stopping the protein's function, suggesting that there is another signalling pathway at play. ... > full story

Bringing style home: How tastes are shaped online (August 13, 2012) -- Does the ideal ratio of couch to rug size keep you up at night? Are the exposed wires of your stereo causing you angst? Is that crocheted toilet paper cover kitschy enough to be cool? If you wonder, then you are not alone. ... > full story

Nanoparticle solar panel coating helps maintain panel efficiency (August 13, 2012) -- A physics researcher has developed a nanoparticle coating for solar panels. This coating helps maintain the panels efficiency and reduces maintenance and operation costs. ... > full story

External stimulation impacts white matter development in the postnatal brain, study finds (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers have found that external stimulation has an impact on the postnatal development of a specific region of the brain. The study used sensory deprivation to look at the growth and collection of NG2-expressing oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG2 cells) in the sensory cortex of the brain. ... > full story

Cellular basis for how anti-aging cosmetics work identified (August 13, 2012) -- A team of investigators have discovered a mechanism that may explain how alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) -- the key ingredient in cosmetic chemical peels and wrinkle-reducing creams -- work to enhance skin appearance. An understanding of the underlying process may lead to better cosmetic formulations as well as have medical applications. ... > full story

Nano, photonic research gets boost from new 3-D visualization technology (August 13, 2012) -- For the first time X-ray scientists have combined high-resolution imaging with 3-D viewing of the surface layer of material using X-ray vision in a way that does not damage the sample. This new technique expands the range of X-ray research possible for biology and many aspects of nanotechnology, particularly nanofilms, photonics, and micro- and nano-electronics. This new technique also reduces "guesswork" by eliminating the need for modeling-dependent structural simulation often used in X-ray analysis. ... > full story

Egg yolk consumption almost as bad as smoking when it comes to atherosclerosis, study suggests (August 13, 2012) -- Newly published research shows that eating egg yolks accelerates atherosclerosis in a manner similar to smoking cigarettes. Surveying more than 1,200 patients, Dr. Spence found regular consumption of egg yolks is about two-thirds as bad as smoking when it comes to increased build-up of carotid plaque, a risk factor for stroke and heart attack. ... > full story

Antisense approach promising for treatment of parasitic infections (August 13, 2012) -- A targeted approach to treating toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease, shows early promise in test-tube and animal studies, where it prevented the parasites from making selected proteins. When tested in newly infected mice, it reduced the number of viable parasites by more than 90 percent. ... > full story

Gamma rays from galactic center could be evidence of dark matter (August 13, 2012) -- Gamma-ray photons seen emanating from the center of the Milky Way galaxy are consistent with the intriguing possibility that dark-matter particles are annihilating each other in space, according to new research. ... > full story

New method may allow personalized clinical trial for cancer therapies (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a new tool to observe cell behavior, which has revealed surprising clues about how cancer cells respond to therapy. The new tool may offer ways to improve personalized cancer therapy by predicting tumor response and testing combinations of targeted therapies in an individual patient's tumor. ... > full story

A new energy source: Major advance made in generating electricity from wastewater (August 13, 2012) -- Engineers have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves while cleaning sewage, but will sell excess electricity. ... > full story

Florida state record 87 eggs in largest python from Everglades (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers curating a 17-foot-7-inch Burmese python, the largest found in Florida, discovered 87 eggs in the snake, also a state record. ... > full story

Research raises doubts about whether modern humans and Neanderthals interbred (August 13, 2012) -- New research raises questions about the theory that modern humans and Neanderthals at some point interbred, known as hybridization. The findings suggest that common ancestry, not hybridization, better explains the average 1-4 per cent DNA that those of European and Asian descent (Eurasians) share with Neanderthals. ... > full story

How computation can predict group conflict: Fighting among captive pigtailed macaques provides clues (August 13, 2012) -- When conflict breaks out in social groups, individuals make strategic decisions about how to behave based on their understanding of alliances and feuds in the group. But it's been challenging to quantify the underlying trends that dictate how individuals make predictions, given they may only have seen a small number of fights or have limited memory. In a new study of primates (pigtailed macaques), scientists have developed a computational approach to determine whether individuals behave predictably. ... > full story

Chemical widely used in antibacterial hand soaps may impair muscle function (August 13, 2012) -- Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps and other personal-care products, hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice, according to new research. Researchers call for regulatory agencies to reconsider its use. ... > full story

Bullies squelched when bystanders intervene (August 13, 2012) -- With new national anti-bullying ads urging parents to teach their kids to speak up if they witness bullying, one researcher has found that in humans' evolutionary past at least, helping the victim of a bully hastened our species' movement toward a more egalitarian society. ... > full story

Fresh water breathes fresh life into hurricanes (August 13, 2012) -- An analysis of a decade's worth of tropical cyclones shows that when hurricanes blow over ocean regions swamped by fresh water, the conditions can unexpectedly intensify the storm. Although the probability that hurricanes will hit such conditions is small, ranging from 10 to 23 percent, the effect is potentially large: Hurricanes can become 50 percent more intense, researchers report. ... > full story

Protected areas allow wildlife to spread in response to climate change, citizen scientists reveal (August 13, 2012) -- A new study has shown how birds, butterflies, other insects and spiders have colonized nature reserves and areas protected for wildlife, as they move north in response to climate change and other environmental changes. ... > full story

Marine research in the Brazilian rain forest: Slash and burn practice for centuries as source of stable carbon compounds in the oceans (August 13, 2012) -- Until recent decades the Atlantic Rainforest covered a large area of today’s Brazil from Amazonas to present-day Argentina. In the 1970s, after years of deforestation, this rain forest was almost completely destroyed, mainly replaced by cattle pastures. This study reveals an unexpected aspect of deforestation. ... > full story

Should doctors treat lack of exercise as a medical condition? Expert says 'yes' (August 13, 2012) -- A sedentary lifestyle is a common cause of obesity, and excessive body weight and fat in turn are considered catalysts for diabetes, high blood pressure, joint damage and other serious health problems. ... > full story

For young adults, appearance matters more than health, study suggests (August 13, 2012) -- When it comes to college-age individuals taking care of their bodies, appearance is more important than health. Researchers studied how college-age women view their bodies and how they feel about media messages aimed at women. Based their findings, the team developed an interactive play about body image. ... > full story

Poor oral health can mean missed school, lower grades (August 13, 2012) -- Poor oral health, dental disease, and tooth pain can put kids at a serious disadvantage in school, upping the risk of low grades and more absences. ... > full story

New oncogene identified for breast cancer (August 13, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a novel method to identify genes that, when overexpressed, make normal cells behave like cancer cells. Using this method, scientists have identified a new oncogene, which is a gene that contributes to the development of cancer, named FAM83B. ... > full story

Protective bacteria in the infant gut have resourceful way of helping babies break down breast milk (August 13, 2012) -- Scientists have found that important and resourceful bacteria in the baby microbiome can ferret out nourishment from a previously unknown source, possibly helping at-risk infants break down components of breast milk. ... > full story

Why are people overconfident so often? It's all about social status (August 13, 2012) -- Researchers have long known that people are very frequently overconfident -- that they tend to believe they are more physically talented, socially adept, and skilled at their job than they actually are. For example, 94 percent of college professors think they do above average work (which is nearly impossible, statistically speaking). But this overconfidence can also have detrimental effects on their performance and decision-making. So why, in light of these negative consequences, is overconfidence still so pervasive? The lure of social status. ... > full story

Chromosomal translocations point the way toward personalized cancer care (August 13, 2012) -- A recent review shows the role of chromosomal translocations in causing a range of cancers. Emerging, personalized therapies target these translocations. ... > full story

Gene discovery could improve treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (August 13, 2012) -- Scientists have made a discovery involving mice and humans that could mean that people with acute myeloid leukemia, a usually fatal cancer, are a step closer to new treatment options. ... > full story

New key element discovered in pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma (August 13, 2012) -- Burkitt lymphoma is a malignant, fast-growing tumor that originates from a subtype of white blood cells of the immune system and often affects internal organs and the central nervous system. Now researchers of the Max Delbrück Center have identified a key element that transforms the immune cells into malignant lymphoma cells. They developed a mouse model that closely resembles Burkitt lymphoma in humans that may help to test new treatment strategies. ... > full story

New therapy prevents lung cancer growth in mice (August 13, 2012) -- Scientists have recently deciphered one of the molecular pathways behind lung cancer. Using this information, the authors have identified an experimental drug, which blocks lung cancer growth in mice. ... > full story

Protein that helps tumor blood vessels mature could make cancer drugs more effective (August 13, 2012) -- Since anti-cancer drugs are carried to tumors by the bloodstream, abnormal blood vessel development can hamper delivery. Medical researchers have found a molecule that promotes tumor vessel maturation. This discovery could be used to help tumor-killing therapies more effectively reach their targets. ... > full story

Common antibiotics pose a rare risk of severe liver injury in older patients (August 13, 2012) -- The commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotics moxifloxacin and levofloxacin are associated with an increased risk of severe liver injury in older people, according to a new study. ... > full story

New class of proteins allows breast cancer cells to evade tyrosine kinase inhibitors (August 13, 2012) -- Aberrant regulation of cell growth pathways is required for normal cells to become cancerous, and in many types of cancer, cell growth is driven by a group of enzymes known as receptor tyrosine kinases. Two groups identify a pair of related oncogenes, FAM83A and B, which allow breast cancer cells to survive TKI treatment. ... > full story

Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft? (August 13, 2012) -- Airfields for ultra-light aircraft are typically constructed on level ground -- and so are wind farms. However, do wind power plants generate turbulence that could endanger lightweight planes? A simulation can compute how these power plants influence aircraft at various wind speeds and wind directions. ... > full story

Existing drugs offer new treatment options for high-risk childhood leukemia subtype (August 13, 2012) -- Discovery of the genetic basis of a high-risk subtype of leukemia shows some patients might benefit from existing targeted therapies, advancing the goal of curing all children with the most common childhood cancer ... > full story

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