Τρίτη 29 Ιανουαρίου 2013

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Cool, new views of Andromeda galaxy

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:41 PM PST

Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess known for her beauty.

Climate change projected to alter Indiana bat maternity range

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 04:12 PM PST

Scientists have forecast profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. Researchers now discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

Stable fisher population found in the Southern Sierra Nevada

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 04:12 PM PST

After experiencing years of population decline on the West Coast, a recent study examining fisher populations found that -- at least in the southern Sierra Nevada -- the animal's numbers appear to be stable.

Injecting botox into stomach does not promote weight loss

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST

Despite conflicting data in support of the practice, some overweight Americans looking for an easy fix have turned to gastric botox injections to help them lose weight. Medical researchers have published a definitive study finding that Botox doesn't promote weight loss.

Skin, soft tissue infections succumb to blue light

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST

Blue light can selectively eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the skin and soft tissues, while preserving the outermost layer of skin, according to a proof-of-principle study.

Heat Shock Proteins May Shed New Light on a Variety of Debilitating Diseases

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST

Researchers, in a finding that runs counter to conventional wisdom, have discovered for the first time that a gene thought to express a protein in all cells that come under stress is instead expressed only in specific cell types.

One-step test for mitochondrial diseases

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST

A scientific team has expanded next-generation sequencing to create an off-the-shelf tool that does simultaneous whole-exome analysis of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The test will aid genetic diagnosis of these complex disorders.

Cardiac disease linked to higher risk of mental impairment

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST

Cardiac disease is associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment such as problems with language, thinking and judgment -- particularly among women with heart disease, a new study shows.

Hospital patient loads often at unsafe levels, physician survey says

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:33 PM PST

In the United States, more than one-quarter of hospital-based general practitioners who take over for patients' primary care doctors to manage inpatient care say their average patient load exceeds safe levels multiple times per month, according to a new study. Moreover, the study found that one in five of these physicians, known as hospitalists, reports that their workload puts patients at risk for serious complications, or even death.

Bioinspired fibers change color when stretched

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Materials scientists have invented a new fiber that changes color when stretched. Based on the "bastard hogberry" plant, the new fiber could lend itself to the creation of smart fabrics that visibly react to heat or pressure.

Why are there redheads? Birds might hold the clues

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Biologists examined the survival rates and chestnut feather coloration of barn swallows and other species of birds, to unearth factors favoring the evolution of pheomelanin in spite of its costs. They found that under conditions of low stress, birds with larger amounts of pheomelanin survived better, suggesting the pigment may serve a beneficial role.

Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetes

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Researchers have conducted a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.

Tooth development and weaning in chimpanzees not as closely related as once thought

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Using a first-of-its-kind method, scientists have used digital photographs to show that, after the eruption of their first molar tooth, many juvenile chimps continue to nurse as much, if not more, than they had in the past. The research challenges earlier studies that linked juvenile chimps' tooth development with their weaning as a rough proxy for understanding similar developmental landmarks in the evolution of early humans.

New look at cell membrane reveals surprising organization

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

A look directly at the cell membrane is changing our understanding of its organization. Using a completely new approach to imaging cell membranes, a new study has revealed surprising relationships among membrane molecules. Sphingolipids are thought to form small microdomains in the membrane, but the new technique showed that they cluster together to form much larger patches, and are not as cholesterol dependent as expected.

Shedding light on role of Amazon forests in global carbon cycle

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Scientists have devised an analytical method that combines satellite images, simulation modeling and painstaking fieldwork to help researchers detect forest mortality patterns and trends. This new tool will enhance understanding of the role of forests in carbon sequestration and the impact of climate change on such disturbances.

Slow-release 'jelly' delivers drugs better

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Biomedical engineers have developed a new delivery system that overcomes the shortcomings of a promising class of peptide drugs -- very small proteins -- for treating diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Genes behind aggressive endometrial cancer

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

In a major breakthrough for uterine serous carcinoma (USC) -- a chemo-resistant, aggressive form of endometrial cancer, researchers have defined the genetic landscape of USC tumors, findings that point to new treatment opportunities.

Neural mechanism underlying drug cravings

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

Addiction may result from abnormal brain circuitry in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making. Researchers report that the lateral and orbital regions of the frontal cortex interact during the response to a drug-related cue and that aberrant interaction between the two frontal regions may underlie addiction.

Bugs in the atmosphere: Significant microorganism populations found in middle and upper troposphere

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 12:19 PM PST

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers used genomic techniques to document the presence of significant numbers of living microorganisms -- principally bacteria -- in the middle and upper troposphere, that section of the atmosphere approximately four to six miles above Earth's surface.

Power helps you live the good life by bringing you closer to your true self

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST

How does being in a position of power at work, with friends, or in a romantic relationship influence well-being? While we might like to believe the stereotype that power leads to unhappiness or loneliness, new research indicates that this stereotype is largely untrue: Being in a position of power may actually make people happier.

Climate change impacts to U.S. coasts threaten public health, safety and economy, report finds

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST

According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of US coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.

One in, two out: Simulating more efficient solar cells

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:29 AM PST

Using an exotic form of silicon could substantially improve the efficiency of solar cells, according to computer simulations.

Eating deep-fried food linked to increased risk of prostate cancer

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:28 AM PST

Regular consumption of deep-fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, and the effect appears to be slightly stronger with regard to more aggressive forms of the disease, according to a new study.

More severe flu seasons predicted due to climate change

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:28 AM PST

The American public can expect to add earlier and more severe flu seasons to the fallout from climate change, according to a new research.

Islet transplant may slow progression of atherosclerosis

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST

Minimally invasive islet transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes achieves insulin independence and reverses the progression of atherosclerosis in the first few years after transplant, according to a new study.

Irrigation in California's Central Valley intensifies rainfall, storms across the Southwest

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST

Agricultural irrigation in California's Central Valley doubles the amount of water vapor pumped into the atmosphere, ratcheting up rainfall and powerful monsoons across the interior Southwest, according to a new study.

Majority of Americans support dozens of policies to strengthen U.S. gun laws

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST

The majority of Americans support a broad array of policies to reduce gun violence, according to a new national public opinion survey.

Potential therapeutic target to treat autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST

Synapse development is promoted by a variety of cell adhesion molecules that connect neurons and organize synaptic proteins. Many of these adhesion molecules are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; mutations in neuroligin and neurexin proteins, for example, are associated with autism and schizophrenia. A new study reveals that another family of proteins linked to these disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses.

Clinical trials with nonblinded outcome assessors have high observer bias

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:38 AM PST

A new study of randomized clinical trials found significant observer bias toward a more beneficial treatment effect in nonblinded trials when the researcher knew the treatment being given to the participant.

Glial cells assist in the repair of injured nerves

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:38 AM PST

Unlike the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system has an astonishing capacity for regeneration following injury. Researchers have discovered that, following nerve damage, peripheral glial cells produce the growth factor neuregulin1, which makes an important contribution to the regeneration of damaged nerves.

Best friends influence when teenagers have first drink

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:31 AM PST

Researchers have found that teenagers who exhibit problem drinking likely got their first drink from a friend. The reason, the researchers explain, is that friends who drink are more likely to have access to alcohol and are more likely to influence when their buddies first drink. The finding is part of a formula that may help specialists intervene before problem drinking arises in at-risk adolescents.

Discovering the missing 'LINC' to deafness

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:39 AM PST

50 percent of hearing loss is linked to genetic mutations. Now a researcher has discovered a significant mutation in a family of proteins that could lead to new treatments for hearing disorders.

Safer way to vaccinate? Polymer film that gradually releases DNA coding for viral proteins may beat traditional vaccines

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:39 AM PST

Researchers have described a new type of vaccine-delivery film that holds promise for improving the effectiveness of DNA vaccines.

Berries may be healthful, but some health benefits of berries may not make it past your mouth

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 08:38 AM PST

For the first time, scientists have exposed extracts from numerous berries high in healthy pigments to human saliva to see just what kinds of health-promoting substances are likely to survive and be produced in the mouth.

Groundwater depletion linked to climate change

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

Climate change may be exacerbating many countries' experience of water stress, according to new research. Experts explain how several human-driven factors, if not rectified, will combine with climate change to significantly reduce useable groundwater availability for agriculture globally.

Scientists identify four mechanisms that contribute to gastric cancers

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

Scientists have discovered four processes by which gastric cancer is formed. This is extremely important since gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide, claiming almost 750,000 lives annually, 60 percent of which are Asians.

Mysteries of spider silk strength unraveled

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

Scientists are celebrating their recent success on the path to understanding what makes the fiber that spiders spin -- weight for weight -- at least five times as strong as piano wire. They have found a way to obtain a wide variety of elastic properties of the silk of several intact spiders' webs using a sophisticated but non–invasive laser light scattering technique.

Neuroscientists pinpoint location of fear memory in amygdala

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

Neuroscientists have shed new light on the brain circuit that is involved in fear learning, memory, responses. They show that fear memory is encoded in a subdivision of the central amygdala. In addition, a particular class of neurons, somatostatin-positive neurons, is required to translate that memory into fear responses.

Progressive optics for side mirrors ends automobile blind spots without distorting view, experts say

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

A new optical prescription for automobile side-view mirrors may eliminate the dreaded "blind spot" in traffic without distorting the perceived distance of cars approaching from behind. Objects viewed in a mirror using the new design appear larger than in traditional side-view mirrors, so it's easier to judge their following distance and speed.

'First time' may predict lifelong sexual satisfaction

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:47 AM PST

The first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one's sexual life, according to new research.

New technique sheds light on RNA

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST

Researchers have developed a technique to better understand why RNA may be different in cancer cells than in normal cells. The technique will bring new depth of understanding to tests that sequence a tumor's entire genome.

Researchers break million-core supercomputer barrier

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST

A new record in computational science has been set by using a supercomputer with more than one million computing cores to solve a complex fluid dynamics problem -- the prediction of noise generated by a supersonic jet engine.

DNA-repairing protein may be key to preventing recurrence of some cancers

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST

Just as the body can become resistant to antibiotics, certain methods of killing cancer tumors can end up creating resistant tumor cells. But a professor has found a protein present in several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer, which could be helpful in preventing tumors from coming back.

Genome sequence of 90 chickpea lines decoded

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST

Decoded genome of chickpea, a leading grain legume for many poor smallholder farmers, promises improved livelihoods in marginal environments.

Blood pressure, cholesterol most important indicators of heart disease risk in diabetics

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:46 AM PST

For people with diabetes, meeting the recommended guidelines for blood pressure and cholesterol is even more important than meeting the guidelines for blood sugar control in reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

Dementia sufferers benefit from GPS

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:45 AM PST

As part of the norwegian research project "Trygge Spor", more than fifty dementia sufferers have been using GPS for periods varying from several weeks to up to a year. The results show that localization technology helps achieve an increased sense of security, freedom and quality of life, both for sufferers and their next of kin.

Altering eye cells may one day restore vision

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST

Doctors may one day treat some forms of blindness by altering the genetic program of the light-sensing cells of the eye, new research suggests.

Less invasive treatment is associated with improved survival in early stage breast cancer

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST

Patients with early stage breast cancer who were treated with lumpectomy plus radiation may have a better chance of survival compared with those who underwent mastectomy, according to new research.

Scientists discover process that turns normal liver cells to cancer cells

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST

Researchers have identified a useful biomarker to detect early disorders leading to liver cancer and as a potential therapeutic target.

Nanophotonics enables new kind of optical spectrometer

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:44 AM PST

By bringing nanophotonics technology to traditional optical spectroscopy, a new kind of optical spectrometer with functions of sensing and spectral measurement has been recently demonstrated.

Misconceptions about a popular pet treat

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST

A popular dog treat, the "bully stick," could be adding more calories than pet owners realize, and possibly be contaminated by bacteria, according to a new study.

Penicillin, not the pill, may have launched the sexual revolution

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:29 AM PST

The rise in risky, non-traditional sexual relations that marked the swinging '60s and advent of readily available contraception actually began as much as a decade earlier, during the conformist '50s, suggests a new analysis. The analysis strongly indicates that the widespread use of penicillin, leading to a rapid decline in syphilis during the 1950s, is what launched the modern sexual era.

Primates, too, can move in unison

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST

Primates modify their body movements to be in tune with others, just like humans do. Humans unconsciously modify their movements to be in synchrony with their peers. For example, we adapt our pace to walk in step or clap in unison at the end of a concert. This phenomenon is thought to reflect bonding and facilitate human interaction. Researchers report that pairs of macaque monkeys also spontaneously coordinate their movements to reach synchrony.

Feeling flirty? Wait for the sun to shine

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST

We all know how casual flirtation can lift one's mood, which can be important at this time of year when the winter blues are at their peak. But if you are more serious about your flirting and hope to get that all important phone number, you're better off waiting until it's sunny, according to new French research.

Male dancers signal their strength to men and women

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST

Heterosexual men pick up clues about other men's physical qualities from their dance moves just as heterosexual women do.

Novel materials: Smart and magnetic

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:19 AM PST

Varying magnetic fields and temperature conditions help to elucidate smart materials' transitory magnetic disorder.

Lane-swapping helps autonomous vehicles avoid collisions

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:15 AM PST

Autonomous, driverless vehicles look set to hit the streets in the near future and become increasingly common, so UK researchers have investigated algorithms that could help developers include escape maneuvers to allow such vehicles to quickly and safely switch lanes to avoid collisions with other road users.

What holds chromosomes together? Structure of DNA-packaging proteins described

Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:15 AM PST

To ensure that the genetic material is equally and accurately distributed to the two daughter cells during cell division, the DNA fibers must have an ordered structure and be closely packed. Scientists have now elucidated the structure of a ring-shaped protein complex (SMC-kleisin), which ensures order in this packaging process.

Stem cells aid recovery from stroke, study suggests

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 07:58 PM PST

Stem cells from bone marrow or fat improve recovery after stroke in rats, finds a new study. Treatment with stem cells improved the amount of brain and nerve repair and the ability of the animals to complete behavioral tasks. Stem cell therapy holds promise for patients but there are many questions which need to be answered, regarding treatment protocols and which cell types to use.

Measuring the consequence of forest fires on public health

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 07:58 PM PST

Pollution from forest fires is impacting the health of people with asthma and other chronic obstructive lung diseases, finds a new study. This study uses data from pharmacies and dispensaries to measure the increase in drugs needed to alleviate symptoms associated with pollution.

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