The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, August 9, 2010

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, August 9, 2010

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Gain and loss in optimistic versus pessimistic brains (August 9, 2010) -- Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists. ... > full story

Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a specific chemical that may trigger remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. ... > full story

Spin ice used to examine exotic properties of magnetic systems (August 9, 2010) -- Spin ice can be used to examine exotic properties of magnetic systems. Surprising observations have been made by physicists using magnetic islands only micrometers in size that are placed on a periodic lattice with honeycomb symmetry. When a magnetic field is applied, the system selects an unexpectedly ordered state, hazarding the consequences of having the like poles of the magnets (all south or all north) close together which is energetically unfavorable. ... > full story

Popular diabetes drugs associated with fractures in type 2 diabetic patients, study finds (August 9, 2010) -- Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS), including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, may be at increased risk for fractures, according to a new study. Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures. ... > full story

NASA's hurricane quest set to begin (August 9, 2010) -- In less than two weeks, NASA scientists will begin their quest for the holy grail of hurricane research. The exact conditions required to kickstart a tropical depression into a hurricane largely remain a mystery. Though scientists know many of the ingredients needed, it is unclear what processes ultimately drive depressions to form into the intense, spinning storms that lash the U.S. coasts each summer. ... > full story

Mental health outcomes in children in foster care improved with mentoring, skills development (August 9, 2010) -- Incorporating mentoring and group skill-building intervention programs for children in foster care may help improve mental health outcomes in this population, according to a new report. ... > full story

Butterflies shed light on how some species respond to global warming (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have begun studying the genetic explanation for how two species of butterflies respond to warming. They are investigating what genes are responsible for the individualized responses, and will use genomic tools to learn which genes are involved when the species is experiencing climate change. ... > full story

New approach to Alzheimer’s therapy (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that the ADAM10 protein can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid, which is responsible for Alzheimer's disease. ADAM10 acts like a pair of molecular scissors to cut the protein from which beta-amyloid is formed, effectively preventing the formation of beta-amyloid. This makes ADAM10 a key molecule in Alzheimer's therapy. ... > full story

Scientists post lower speed limit for cell-signaling protein assembly (August 9, 2010) -- The apparently random self-assembly of molecular threads into the proteins that make the body work is far less frantic than previously thought, scientists say. That discovery could be a key to help unlock the nature of some diseases. How proteins spontaneously "fold" from wiggling chains of amino acids into a wide variety of functional -- or malfunctioning -- 3-D molecules is one of the biggest mysteries in biochemistry. ... > full story

Whole breast irradiation guidelines released (August 9, 2010) -- The American Society for Radiation Oncology has released evidence-based guidelines to define appropriate fractionation of whole breast irradiation (WBI), finding that hypofractionated WBI is effective for many patients with early-stage breast cancer. ... > full story

Is biochar the answer for agriculture? Long-term study digs up new information on biochar’s ability to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from soils (August 9, 2010) -- Scientists have found that over several months, biochar applied to soil can significantly reduce emissions of nitrous oxide and leaching of nitrates. ... > full story

'Path of mental illness' follows path of war, 20 years after conflict ends (August 9, 2010) -- Researchers assessed the geographical distribution of the long-term burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a region of Liberia and report that the prevalence of PTSD remains high nearly two decades after the principal conflict there and five years after war in Liberia ended entirely. Particularly interesting was the geographic distribution of PTSD. Investigators found that certain villages in the region had a much higher prevalence of PTSD than did others. ... > full story

Protein that shuttles RNA into cell mitochondria discovered (August 8, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a role for an essential cell protein in shuttling RNA into the mitochondria, the energy-producing "power plant" of the cell. ... > full story

Alzheimer's disease: Some cells more prone to death (August 8, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that hyperploid neurons, which have greater than the normal number of chromosomes, are more prone to cell death in Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

NOAA still expects active Atlantic hurricane season; La Niña develops (August 8, 2010) -- The Atlantic Basin remains on track for an active hurricane season, according to the scheduled seasonal outlook update issued Aug. 5, 2010 by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. With the season's peak just around the corner -- late August through October -- the need for preparedness plans is essential. ... > full story

Death dance reveals secrets of apoptosis in dissociated human embryonic stem cells (August 8, 2010) -- Researchers in Japan have unraveled the mystery of why human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) when cultured in isolation. By unlocking the potential of cell therapy techniques, the discovery promises new hope to sufferers of debilitating degenerative diseases. ... > full story

First satellite measurement of water volume in Amazon floodplain (August 8, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain. The result -- 285 billion metric tons, or 285 cubic kilometers of water by volume -- sounds like a lot. That amount is over half the volume of Lake Erie, which is the world's 15th largest lake. ... > full story

Rushing too fast to online learning? Outcomes of Internet versus face-to-face instruction (August 8, 2010) -- A new study suggests simply putting traditional classes online may have negative consequences, especially for lower-performing and minority students. ... > full story

NASA's great observatories witness a galactic spectacle (August 8, 2010) -- A new image of two tangled galaxies has been released by NASA's Great Observatories. The Antennae galaxies, located about 62 million light-years from Earth, are shown in a new composite image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Antennae galaxies take their name from the long, antenna-like arms seen in wide-angle views of the system. These features were produced in the collision. ... > full story

Light shed on triglyceride metabolism (August 8, 2010) -- New findings are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said. ... > full story

NASA instrument tracks pollution from Russian fires (August 8, 2010) -- Drought and the worst heat wave Russia has seen in 130 years have sparked a devastating outbreak of wildfires across the nation this summer, primarily in the country's western and central regions. ... > full story

Surgery better than radiation, hormone treatments for some prostate cancer, study shows (August 8, 2010) -- Surgery for localized prostate cancer offers a significantly higher survival rate than either external-beam radiation or hormonal therapies, according to a new study. ... > full story

Federal science report details fate of oil from BP spill (August 8, 2010) -- The vast majority of the oil from the BP oil spill has either evaporated or been burned, skimmed, recovered from the wellhead or dispersed much of which is in the process of being degraded. A significant amount of this is the direct result of the robust federal response efforts, according to a new report. ... > full story

Tests help predict falls in Parkinson's disease (August 8, 2010) -- A group of tests may help predict which people with Parkinson's disease are more likely to fall, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mimicking the moon's surface in the basement (August 7, 2010) -- A team of scientists used an ion beam in a basement room at Los Alamos National Laboratory to simulate solar winds on the surface of the moon. The table-top simulation helped confirm that the moon is inherently dry. ... > full story

Key mechanism in brain's computation of sound location identified (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism the brain uses to help process sound localization. Their findings focus on how the brain computes the different arrival times of sound into each ear to estimate the location of its source. ... > full story

Looking for the coolest forms of life on Earth (August 7, 2010) -- Two UK scientists are traveling to one of the coldest places on Earth to help them understand how life could exist on other planets in our Solar System. During their trip to Ny-Ålesund on the island of Svalbard, they will investigate how the snow and ice there was first colonized by extremophiles – organisms that thrive in harsh conditions. ... > full story

Newly discovered mechanism controls levels and efficacy of a marijuana-like substance in the brain (August 7, 2010) -- A newly discovered molecular mechanism helps control the amount and effectiveness of a substance that mimics an active ingredient in marijuana, but that is produced by the body's own nerve cells. Cannabinoid signaling systems are common throughout the body and affect a variety of functions. Developing new therapies that modulate these molecular communications might help patients with autoimmune or neurological disorders, including brain inflammation following a viral infections. Specifically targeted treatments would have medicinal benefits without mind-altering side effects. ... > full story

Timely technology sees tiny transitions (August 7, 2010) -- Scientists can detect the movements of single molecules by using fluorescent tags or by pulling them in delicate force measurements, but only for a few minutes. A new technique will allow them to track single molecules without modifying them -- and it works over longer timescales. ... > full story

Beautiful women face discrimination in certain jobs, study finds (August 7, 2010) -- New research shows that beautiful women are discriminated against when applying for "masculine" jobs or when looks don't matter. ... > full story

Greenland glacier calves island four times the size of Manhattan (August 7, 2010) -- A researcher reports that an "ice island" four times the size of Manhattan has calved from Greenland's Petermann Glacier. The last time the Arctic lost such a large chunk of ice was in 1962. ... > full story

Human embryonic stem cells purified in new, rapid technique (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers are reporting the first success in very rapidly purifying one type of embryonic stem cell from a mix of many different types of embryonic stem cells in the culture dish. The technique, which avoids the need to genetically alter the cells to distinguish them, is a key advance, the researchers say, for obtaining the appropriate cells for repairing specific damaged tissues. ... > full story

Nuclear physicists study 'magic' nature of tin (August 7, 2010) -- The metal tin lacks the value and prestige of gold, silver and platinum, but to nuclear physicists, tin is magic. Physicists recently reported studies on the metal tin that add knowledge to a concept known as magic numbers while perhaps helping scientists to explain how heavy elements are made in exploding stars. ... > full story

Tattooing linked to higher risk of hepatitis C, study finds (August 7, 2010) -- Youth, prison inmates and individuals with multiple tattoos that cover large parts of their bodies are at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases, according to a new study. ... > full story

Insular evolution: Large and big-footed voles in an outer archipelago (August 7, 2010) -- According to evolutionary theory, natural selection favors traits that enhance dispersal of populations to new habitats. The empirical evidence supporting this theory, however, is relatively scarce. Scientists now report on the rapid evolution of traits facilitating dispersal in an outer archipelago. ... > full story

Economic status, genetics together influence psychopathic traits (August 7, 2010) -- Researchers studying the genetic roots of antisocial behavior report that children with one variant of a serotonin transporter gene are more likely to exhibit psychopathic traits if they also grow up poor. Children were more likely to score high on tests for psychopathic traits if they had both low socioeconomic status and the variant gene. ... > full story

Secret of life on Earth may be as simple as what happens between the sheets -- mica sheets, that is (August 6, 2010) -- That age-old question, "where did life on Earth start?" now has a new answer. If the life between the mica sheets hypothesis is correct, life would have originated between sheets of mica that were layered like the pages in a book. ... > full story

Encouraging data on preventing Crohn's disease recurrence (August 6, 2010) -- Biological agents may play an important role in maintaining remission in Crohn's disease, according to two new studies. ... > full story

Selenium makes more efficient solar cells (August 6, 2010) -- By embedding the element selenium in zinc oxide, researchers have made a relatively inexpensive material that could be promising for solar power conversion by making more efficient use of the sun's energy. ... > full story

How cells make specific interactions during development (August 6, 2010) -- Researchers have shed new light on how cells make specific interactions during development -- in the hope of one day learning more about human developmental disorders. ... > full story

Image of new antibiotic in action opens up new opportunities to combat antibacterial resistance (August 6, 2010) -- Detailed pictures reveal how a new type of experimental antibiotic can kill bacteria that are already resistant to existing treatments. The findings could ultimately help scientists to develop new antibiotics to tackle the bacteria responsible for many hospital and community-acquired infections. ... > full story

Worst impact of climate change may be how humanity reacts to it (August 6, 2010) -- The way that humanity reacts to climate change may do more damage to many areas of the planet than climate change itself unless we plan properly, an important new study by a group of leading scientists has concluded. ... > full story

Newts' ability to regenerate tissue replicated in mouse cells (August 6, 2010) -- Scientists have taken a big step toward being able to confer a regenerative capacity on mammalian muscle cells; they accomplished this feat in experiments with laboratory mice in which they blocked the expression of just two tumor-suppressing proteins. The finding may move us closer to future regenerative therapies in humans -- surprisingly, by sending us shimmying back down the evolutionary tree. ... > full story

Novel bee venom derivative forms a nanoparticle 'smart bomb' to target cancer cells (August 6, 2010) -- The next time you are stung by a bee, here's some consolation: a toxic protein in bee venom, when altered, significantly improves the effectiveness liposome-encapsulated drugs or dyes, such as those already used to treat or diagnose cancer. This research shows how modified melittin may revolutionize treatments for cancer and perhaps other conditions, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and serious infections. ... > full story

Reading zip codes of 3,500-year-old letters: Non-destructive X-ray scanning of archaeological finds (August 6, 2010) -- A researcher in Israel uses a hand-held device based on x-ray fluorescence, a device that can be found in many chemistry labs, to non-destructively ascertain the chemical composition of ancient tablets. Using an index that he's developed, he can determine the geographical origin of coins, ancient plasters, glass and tablets to investigate the secrets of ancient history. ... > full story

Non-human primate study generates information relevant to HIV-1 vaccine strategies (August 6, 2010) -- Monkeys repeatedly immunized with a particular form the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein generated antibodies capable of neutralizing diverse strains of HIV-1, according to a paper published online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on August 2. ... > full story

A 'crystal ball' for predicting the effects of global climate change (August 6, 2010) -- In trying to predict how species will respond to climate change caused by global warming, researchers and scientists are turning to comparative physiology, a sub-discipline of physiology that studies how different organisms function and adapt to diverse and changing environments. Overall, the comparative approach gives researchers insights into the effects of global warming that they wouldn't otherwise have. ... > full story

Children's vegetable intake linked to Popeye cartoons (August 6, 2010) -- Popeye cartoons, tasting parties and junior cooking classes can help increase vegetable intake in kindergarten children, according to new research. Researchers in Thailand found the type and amount of vegetables children ate improved after they took part in a program using multimedia and role models to promote healthy food. ... > full story

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