Τετάρτη 27 Φεβρουαρίου 2013

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Ship noise makes crabs get crabby

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 04:40 PM PST

A new study found that ship noise affects crab metabolism, with the largest crabs faring the worst, and found little evidence that crabs acclimatize to noise over time.

Self help books and websites can benefit severely depressed patients

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 04:40 PM PST

Patients with more severe depression show at least as good clinical benefit from 'low-intensity' interventions, such as self help books and websites, as less severely ill patients, suggests a new article.

Muscle, skin and gastrointestinal problems cause a quarter of patients with heart disease and strokes to stop treatment in HPS2-THRIVE trial

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 04:38 PM PST

The largest randomized study of the vitamin niacin in patients with occlusive arterial disease (narrowing of the arteries) has shown a significant increase in adverse side-effects when it is combined with statin treatment.

Libertarian paternalism and school lunches: Guiding healthier behavior while preserving choices

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:25 PM PST

New US Department of Agriculture regulations have altered what foods schools offer for lunch, but schools cannot require students to eat specific foods. Researchers have now implemented an intervention using the behavioral science principle known as "libertarian paternalism" which led junior-senior high school students to eat more fruits and vegetables by making these foods more convenient, attractive, and normative.

Linking insulin to learning: Insulin-like molecules play critical role in learning and memory

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:28 PM PST

Though it's most often associated with disorders like diabetes, scientists have shown how the pathway of insulin and insulin-like peptides plays another critical role in the body -- helping to regulate learning and memory.

Long-term use of medication does not improve symptoms for heart failure patients

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:27 PM PST

Among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, long-term treatment with the medication spironolactone improved left ventricular diastolic function but did not affect maximal exercise capacity, patient symptoms, or quality of life, according to a new study.

Police and firefighters at higher risk for mental disorders following traumatic events

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST

New research suggests that exposure to diverse types of traumatic events among protective services workers is a risk factor for new onset of psychopathology and alcohol use disorders.

Simple method devised for determining atrial fibrillation risk in women

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST

Researchers have devised and tested a simple atrial fibrillation risk prediction model, based on six easily obtained factors: A woman's age, height, weight, blood pressure, alcohol consumption and smoking history.

Texting Gloves Dangerous in Winter, Says expert

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST

Fingers are one of the first body parts to suffer from the cold and popular fingerless texting gloves can lead to frostbite and in worst cases, amputation, says an expert.

Leatherback sea turtle could be extinct within 20 years at last stronghold in the Pacific Ocean

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:12 AM PST

An international team led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has documented a 78 percent decline in the number of nests of the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) at the turtle's last stronghold in the Pacific Ocean.

Novel combination therapy shuts down escape route, killing glioblastoma tumor cells

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected, but important molecular mechanism of mTOR inhibitor resistance and a novel drug combination that reverses this resistance using low dose arsenic in mice. The mTOR pathway is hyperactivated in 90 percent of glioblastomas, the most lethal brain cancer in adults. The data suggest a new approach for treatment of glioblastoma.

Genetic variation behind acute myeloid leukemia treatment success identified

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST

Researchers are working to identify genetic variations that may help signal which acute myeloid leukemia patients will benefit or not benefit from one of the newest antileukemic agents.

Evolution and the ice age

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:52 AM PST

Scientists are discovering how the evolution of ecosystems has to be taken into account when speculating between different geological eras. Go back to the time of the dinosaurs or to the single-celled organisms at the origins of life, and it is obvious that ecosystems existing more than 65 million years ago and around four billion years ago cannot be simply surmised from those of today.

Persistent negative attitude can undo effectiveness of exposure therapy for phobias

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST

Because confronting fear won't always make it go away, researchers suggest that people with phobias must alter memory-driven negative attitudes about feared objects or events to achieve a more lasting recovery from what scares them the most.

Notion of using herceptin only for HER2-positive breast cancer challenged

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST

New research finds that the protein HER2 plays a role even in breast cancers that would traditionally be categorized as HER2-negative – and that the drug Herceptin, which targets HER2, may have an even greater role for treating breast cancer and preventing its spread.

New design could reduce complications in hip replacement

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST

Andrew Murtha, a second-year medical student, hopes to specialize in orthopedic medicine. A unique opportunity to collaborate with experienced researchers not only gave him a head start in his medical career, but also allowed him to develop a new design for an artificial hip that should help reduce post-operative complications.

Obesity, physical inactivity linked with risk for certain molecular subtype of colorectal cancer

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST

An increasing body mass index was associated with a higher risk for colorectal cancer with a specific molecular characteristic, and inversely, physical activity was linked to a decreased risk for that same cancer, according to new research.

For some, surgical site infections are in the genes

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST

An estimated 300,000 U.S. patients get surgical site infections every year, and while the causes are varied, a new study suggests that some who get an infection can blame it partly on their genes.

Researchers test holographic technique for restoring vision

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Researchers are testing the power of holography to artificially stimulate cells in the eye, with hopes of developing a new strategy for bionic vision restoration. Computer-generated holography, they say, could be used in conjunction with a technique called optogenetics, which uses gene therapy to deliver light-sensitive proteins to damaged retinal nerve cells. In conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), these light-sensing cells degenerate and lead to blindness.

Eating well could help spread disease, water flea study suggests

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST

Plentiful food can accelerate the spread of infections, scientists have shown in a study of water fleas. Scientists studying bacterial infections in tiny water fleas have discovered that increasing their supply of food can speed up the spread of infection.

Non-brittle glass possible: In probing mysteries of glass, researchers find a key to toughness

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST

Glass doesn't have to be brittle. Scientists propose a way of predicting whether a given glass will be brittle or ductile -- a property typically associated with metals like steel or aluminum -- and assert that any glass could have either quality.

Connecting the (quantum) dots: First viable high-speed quantum computer moves closer

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:40 AM PST

Scientists have developed a new method that better preserves the units necessary to power lightning-fast electronics, known as qubits. Hole spins, rather than electron spins, can keep quantum bits in the same physical state up to 10 times longer than before, the report finds.

Cell discovery could hold key to causes of inherited diseases

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST

Fresh insights into the protective seal that surrounds the DNA of our cells could help develop treatments for inherited muscle, brain, bone and skin disorders. Researchers have discovered that the proteins within this coating -- known as the nuclear envelope -- vary greatly between cells in different organs of the body.

Clever battery completes stretchable electronics package: Can stretch, twist and bend -- and return to normal shape

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST

Researchers have demonstrated a stretchable lithium-ion battery -- a flexible device capable of powering their innovative stretchable electronics. The battery can stretch up to 300 percent of its original size and still function -- even when stretched, folded, twisted and mounted on a human elbow. The battery enables true integration of electronics and power into a small, stretchable package that is wirelessly rechargeable.

Controlling element of Huntington's disease discovered: Molecular troika regulates production of harmful protein

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST

A three molecule complex may be a target for treating Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder affecting the brain.

Eat too much? Maybe it's in the blood

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:38 AM PST

Bone marrow cells that produce brain-derived eurotrophic factor, known to affect regulation of food intake, travel to part of the hypothalamus in the brain where they "fine-tune" appetite, said researchers in a new article.

New tool for measuring frozen gas in ocean floor sediments

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:34 AM PST

Scientists have developed an instrument capable of simulating the high pressures and low temperatures needed to create hydrate in sediment samples.

Blood vessels 'sniff' gut microbes to regulate blood pressure

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:34 AM PST

Researchers have discovered that a specialized receptor, normally found in the nose, is also in blood vessels throughout the body, sensing small molecules created by microbes that line mammalian intestines, and responding to these molecules by increasing blood pressure.

Infrared digital holography allows firefighters to see through flames, image moving people

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:14 AM PST

Firefighters now have a new tool that could help save lives. A team of researchers have developed a new technique using digital holography that can "see" people through intense flames -- the first time a holographic recording of a live person has been achieved while the body is moving. The new technique allows imaging through both.

Women's iron intake may help to protect against PMS

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:14 AM PST

In one of the first studies to evaluate whether dietary mineral intake is associated with PMS development, medical researchers assessed mineral intake in approximately 3,000 women in a case-control study.

Blueprint for an artificial brain: Scientists experiment with memristors that imitate natural nerves

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:14 AM PST

Scientists have long been dreaming about building a computer that would work like a brain. This is because a brain is far more energy-saving than a computer, it can learn by itself, and it doesn't need any programming. Scientists are experimenting with memristors -- electronic microcomponents that imitate natural nerves.

First study to analyze 25 yrs of data after radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:13 AM PST

A new study has analyzed 25 years of follow-up data after radiation therapy treatment for prostate cancer patients.

Texting becoming a pain in the neck

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:12 AM PST

Orthopedic surgeon, spine specialist says excessive leaning head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call "text neck."

Unlimited source of human kidney cells created

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

Researchers have successfully generated human kidney cells from human embryonic stem cells in vitro1. Specifically, they produced the renal cells under artificial conditions in the lab without using animals or organs. This has not been possible until now.

Protein that may control the spread of cancer discovered

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

Researchers have uncovered a novel mechanism that may lead to more selective ways to stop cancer cells from spreading. Cancer biologists have identified the role of the protein RSK2 in cancer cell migration, part of the process of cancer metastasis.

Key component of China's pollution problem: Scale of nitrogen's effect on people and ecosystems revealed

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

It's no secret that China is faced with some of the world's worst pollution. Until now, however, information on the magnitude, scope and impacts of a major contributor to that pollution -- human-caused nitrogen emissions -- was lacking.

Microscopy technique could be key to improving cancer treatments with targeted therapeutic drugs

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

For scientists to improve cancer treatments with targeted therapeutic drugs, they need to be able to see proteins prevalent in the cancer cells. This has been impossible, until now. Thanks to a new microscopy technique, medical researchers have now observed how clusters of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -- a protein abundant in lung and colon cancers, glioblastoma and others -- malfunctions in cancer cells.

Superbugs may have a soft spot, after all

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

The overuse of antibiotics has created strains of bacteria resistant to medication, making the diseases they cause difficult to treat, or even deadly. But now a research team has identified a weakness in at least one superbug that scientists may be able to medically exploit.

Newly observed properties of vacuums: Light particles illuminate the vacuum

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

Researchers have succeeded in showing experimentally that vacuums have properties not previously observed. According to the laws of quantum mechanics, it is a state with abundant potentials. Vacuums contain momentarily appearing and disappearing virtual pairs, which can be converted into detectable light particles.

'Fat worms' inch scientists toward better biofuel production

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:21 AM PST

Fat worms confirm that researchers have successfully engineered a plant with oily leaves -- a feat that could enhance biofuel production as well as lead to improved animal feeds.

Fungal cleaning crew: Chemists determine the structure of an enzyme that breaks down dyes

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:20 AM PST

Fungi serve as a kind of natural cleaning crew for the ecosystem. They form enzymes that can degrade hazardous substances, converting natural as well as human-made toxins into harmless compounds. For instance, they can help to break down synthetic dyes, which accumulate in great amounts during the production of textiles.

Taking omega-3 supplements may help prevent skin cancer, new study finds

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:20 AM PST

Taking omega-3 fish oils could help to protect against skin cancer, according to new research. Scientists just carried out the first clinical trial to examine the impact of the fish oils on the skin immunity of volunteers.

PTSD symptoms common among ICU survivors

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:12 AM PST

One in three people who survived stays in an intensive care unit and required use of a mechanical ventilator showed substantial post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms that lasted for up to two years, according to a new study of patients with acute lung injury.

Bariatric surgery restores pancreatic function by targeting belly fat

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:12 AM PST

Researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function in moderately obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Now hear this: Forerunners of inner-ear cells that enable hearing identified

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:12 AM PST

Researchers have identified a group of progenitor cells in the inner ear that can become the sensory hair cells and adjacent supporting cells that enable hearing.

Protecting fish from antidepressants by using new wastewater treatment technique

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:11 AM PST

Researchers have developed a new technique to prevent pharmaceutical residues from entering waterways and harming wildlife.

Sleep reinforces learning

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:11 AM PST

During sleep, our brains store what we have learned during the day a process even more effective in children than in adults.

When morning sickness lasts all day

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Severe nausea during pregnancy can be fatal, yet very little is known about this condition. Hormonal, genetic and socio-economic factors may all play a role.

Pain can be a relief

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

When something causes less pain than expected it is even possible for it to feel pleasant, a new study reveals. These findings may one day play a key role in treating pain and substance abuse.

Two new species of mushroom found in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Biologists have documented two new species of Hydnum, commonly known as ox tongue mushrooms, as part of a new study. The two mushroom species belong to the Hydnum genus, a type of fungus commonly used in cooking.

Sweet news for stem cell's 'Holy Grail'

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Scientists have used sugar-coated scaffolding to move a step closer to the routine use of stem cells in the clinic and unlock their huge potential to cure diseases from Alzheimer's to diabetes.

Unsolved puzzle in hepatology on the brink of resolution

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a currently incurable liver disease that mostly affects younger people aged between 30 and 40. There are now justified hopes that this disease could be cured using synthetically manufactured bile acids, a process under development.

3-D atlas of the human heart drawn using statistics

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Researchers in Spain have created a high resolution atlas of the heart with 3-D images taken from 138 people. The study demonstrates that an average image of an organ along with its variations can be obtained for the purposes of comparing individual cases and differentiating healthy forms from pathologies.

Windmills at sea can break like matches

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:10 AM PST

Medium-sized waves can break wind turbines at sea like matches. These waves occur even in small storms, which are quite common in the Norwegian Sea.

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