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• It slices, it dices, and it protects the body from harm: 3-D structure of enzyme that helps defend against bacteria
• How Earth might have looked: How a failed Saharan Atlantic Ocean rift zone sculped Africa's margin
• Promising results with local hyperthermia of tumors
• Robotic-assisted prostate surgery offers better cancer control
• Great freeze over Great Lakes, as seen from satellite
• Poor sleep quality linked to reduced brain gray matter in Gulf War vets
• Frequent childhood nightmares may indicate an increased risk of psychotic traits
• Worm-like mite species discovered: A species from this 'extremophile' family hasn't been described for 40 years
• Brain differences linked to insomnia identified by researchers
• Ultra-fast laser spectroscopy lights way to understanding new materials
• The nature of color: New formula to calculate hue improves accuracy of color analysis
• Smoke in the water: Understanding effects of smoke compounds on seed germination
• Racial bias in pain perception appears among children as young as 7
• Education attenuates impact of TBI on cognition
• Burmese pythons pose little risk to people in Everglades, study suggests
• Asthma drug aids simultaneous desensitization to several food allergies, study finds
• Shaky hand, stable spoon: Device helps essential tremor patients
• The space double-whammy: Less gravity, more radiation
• NASA-JAXA launch mission to measure global rain, snow
• Drinking water linked to infections in many countries
• Unusual genetic mutation found linked to adolescent liver cancer
• A molecular ballet under the X-ray laser: taking images of free molecules
• Specific types of macrophages that affect Crohn's disease severity identified
• Food production in northeastern U.S. may need to change if climate does
• NASA scientists find evidence of water in meteorite, reviving debate over life on Mars
• Dangerous mistaken identity: Protein folding leads to some neurodegenerative diseases
• Twitter 'big data' can be used to monitor HIV, drug-related behavior
• Less snowpack will harm ecosystem, study shows
• Competition breeds new fish species, study finds
• Can an app help make life easier for children with ADHD?
• Mental health problems mistaken for physical illness in children
• Nobelist proposes unconventional view of type 2 diabetes causation
• Targeting metabolism to develop new prostate cancer treatments
• Novel therapeutic targets for Huntington's disease discovered
• Possible new target for future brain cancer drugs
• Color of passion: Orange underbellies of female lizards signal fertility
• Do obesity, birth control pills raise risk of multiple sclerosis?
• Bird's eye view of cellular RNAs could lead to earlier cancer diagnosis
• Livestock beating pandas to the bamboo buffet
• Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands

It slices, it dices, and it protects the body from harm: 3-D structure of enzyme that helps defend against bacteria Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:06 PM PST An essential weapon in the body's fight against infection has come into sharper view. Researchers have discovered the 3-D structure of an enzyme that cuts to ribbons the genetic material of viruses and helps defend against bacteria. The discovery of the structure of this enzyme, a first-responder in the body's "innate immune system," could enable new strategies for fighting infectious agents and possibly prostate cancer and obesity. "This work illustrates the wonderful usefulness of doing both crystallography and careful kinetic and enzymatic studies at the same time," said one scientist.

How Earth might have looked: How a failed Saharan Atlantic Ocean rift zone sculped Africa's margin Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:05 PM PST Break-up of the supercontinent Gondwana about 130 Million years ago could have led to a completely different shape of the African and South American continent with an ocean south of today's Sahara desert, as geoscientists have shown through the use of sophisticated plate tectonic and three-dimensional numerical modelling.

Promising results with local hyperthermia of tumors Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:05 PM PST Combined use of iron oxide nanoparticles and an alternating magnetic field can induce local hyperthermia in tumors in a controlled and uniform manner. The results Induced anti-tumor immune response that reduced the risk of recurrence and metastasis. Standard cancer care involves surgery, but surgeons have few tools to guarantee the removal of every cancer cell, especially when there is unrecognized metastases in other anatomic locations. An approach like local hyperthermia one day might be used to kick start the immune system to ward off any cancer cells not removed by surgery to increase the chances of treatment success.

Robotic-assisted prostate surgery offers better cancer control Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST An observational study has found that prostate cancer patients who undergo robotic-assisted prostate surgery have fewer instances of cancer cells at the edge of their surgical specimen and less need for additional cancer treatments like hormone or radiation therapy than patients who have traditional "open" surgery. While the robotic surgery method has higher upfront costs, these may systemically be offset by a reduction of additional cancer therapy costs after surgery due to better cancer control outcomes.

Great freeze over Great Lakes, as seen from satellite Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST The true-color image above, from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA's Aqua satellite, shows the mostly frozen state of the Great Lakes on Feb. 19. On that date, ice spanned 80.3 percent of the lakes. The ice reached an even greater extent on Feb. 13, when it covered about 88 percent of the Great Lakes -- coverage not achieved since 1994, when ice spanned over 90 percent. In addition to this year, ice has covered more than 80 percent of the lakes in only five other years since 1973.

Poor sleep quality linked to reduced brain gray matter in Gulf War vets Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST A new study of Gulf War veterans found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain's frontal lobe, which helps control important processes such as working memory and executive function. "This study emphasizes the importance of seeking medical help if you are troubled by the poor quality of your sleep," said American Academy of Sleep Medicine President. "A board certified sleep medicine physician can identify the cause of your sleep problem and develop an effective treatment plan for you."

Frequent childhood nightmares may indicate an increased risk of psychotic traits Posted: 28 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST Children who suffer from frequent nightmares or bouts of night terrors may be at an increased risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence, according to new research that shows that children reporting frequent nightmares before the age of 12 were three and a half times more likely to suffer from psychotic experiences in early adolescence. Similarly, experiencing night terrors doubled the risk of such problems, including hallucinations, interrupted thoughts or delusions. Younger children, between two and nine years old, who had persistent nightmares reported by parents had up to one and a half times increased risk of developing psychotic experiences.

Worm-like mite species discovered: A species from this 'extremophile' family hasn't been described for 40 years Posted: 28 Feb 2014 12:58 PM PST It looks like a worm and moves like a worm -- sort of. But it is a previously unidentified microscopic species of mite that was discovered by a graduate student on The Ohio State University campus. Affectionately dubbed the "Buckeye Dragon Mite," the mite is officially named Osperalycus tenerphagus, Latin for "mouth purse" and "tender feeding," in a nod to its complex and highly unusual oral structure.

Brain differences linked to insomnia identified by researchers Posted: 28 Feb 2014 12:57 PM PST Researchers report that people with chronic insomnia show more plasticity and activity than good sleepers in the part of the brain that controls movement. "Insomnia is not a nighttime disorder," says study leader. "It's a 24-hour brain condition, like a light switch that is always on. Our research adds information about differences in the brain associated with it." The researchers say they hope their study opens the door to better diagnosis and treatment of the most common and often intractable sleep disorder that affects an estimated 15 percent of the United States population.

Ultra-fast laser spectroscopy lights way to understanding new materials Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:01 AM PST Scientists are revealing the mysteries of new materials using ultra-fast laser spectroscopy, similar to high-speed photography where many quick images reveal subtle movements and changes inside the materials. Seeing these dynamics is one emerging strategy to better understanding how new materials work, so that we can use them to enable new energy technologies.

The nature of color: New formula to calculate hue improves accuracy of color analysis Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:01 AM PST Color is crucial in ecological studies, playing an important role in studies of flower and fruit development, responses to heat/drought stress, and plant–pollinator communication. But, measuring color variation is difficult, and available formulas sometimes give misleading results. An improved formula to calculate hue (one of three variables characterizing color) has now been developed.

Smoke in the water: Understanding effects of smoke compounds on seed germination Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:01 AM PST Wildfires, although seemingly destructive, play an important role in plant ecosystems. In ecosystems where it occurs regularly, exposure to fire may initiate seed germination or enhance plant growth. Compounds released as plant tissue burns can break seed dormancy and stimulate germination. In a new article, an efficient system to produce smoke solutions is described to aid investigation of the role of smoke compounds in seed germination and seedling growth.

Racial bias in pain perception appears among children as young as 7 Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST A new psychology study has found that a sample of mostly white American children -- as young as seven, and particularly by age 10 -- report that black children feel less pain than white children. The author noted that this finding is important because many kinds of explicit biases emerge in early childhood, but those types of biases often decline in later childhood. However, the racial bias in children's perceptions of others' pain appears to strengthen from early to late childhood.

Education attenuates impact of TBI on cognition Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST Higher educational attainment (a proxy of intellectual enrichment) attenuates the negative impact of traumatic brain injury on cognitive status, new research indicates. Said one researcher of the results: "Although cognitive status was worse in the TBI group, higher education attenuated the negative effect of TBI on cognitive status, such that persons with higher education were protected against TBI-related cognitive impairment."

Burmese pythons pose little risk to people in Everglades, study suggests Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST The estimated tens of thousands of Burmese pythons now populating the Everglades present a low risk to people in the park, according to a new study. The human risk assessment looked at five incidents that involved humans and Burmese pythons over a 10-year period in Everglades National Park. All five incidents involved pythons striking at biologists who were conducting research in flooded wetlands.

Asthma drug aids simultaneous desensitization to several food allergies, study finds Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST An asthma drug accelerates the process of desensitizing patients with food allergies to several foods at the same time, a new study shows. The findings come on the heels of a recent study by the same team showing that people with multiple food allergies can be desensitized to several foods at once. The two studies, both phase-1 safety trials, provide the first scientific evidence that a promising new method for treating people for multiple food allergies works.

Shaky hand, stable spoon: Device helps essential tremor patients Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:11 AM PST For people whose hands shake uncontrollably due to a medical condition, just eating can be a frustrating and embarrassing ordeal -- enough to keep them from sharing a meal with others. But a small new study suggests that a new handheld electronic device can help such patients overcome the hand shakes caused by essential tremor.

The space double-whammy: Less gravity, more radiation Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:49 AM PST Astronauts floating weightlessly in the International Space Station may appear carefree, but years of research have shown that microgravity causes changes to the human body. Spaceflight also means exposure to more radiation. Together, microgravity and radiation exposure add up to pose serious health risks. But research is not only making space safer for astronauts, it's helping to improve health care for the Earth-bound as well.

NASA-JAXA launch mission to measure global rain, snow Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:41 AM PST The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), thundered into space at 10:37 a.m. PST Thursday, Feb. 27 (3:37 a.m. JST Friday, Feb. 28) from Japan. The four-ton spacecraft launched aboard a Japanese H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan. The GPM spacecraft separated from the rocket 16 minutes after launch, at an altitude of 247 miles (398 kilometers). The solar arrays deployed 10 minutes after spacecraft separation, to power the spacecraft.

Drinking water linked to infections in many countries Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST Brisbane's water supply has been found to contain disease carrying bugs which can be directly linked to infections in some patients, according to a new study. Four specific species of mycobacteria were found in Brisbane water that have been linked to human disease -- and the author notes that this is not a situation unique to Brisbane. Water supplies in many countries are at risk, the researcher warns, and lower temperature of home hot water systems can contribute to increased household exposure to these mycobacteria.

Unusual genetic mutation found linked to adolescent liver cancer Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST In the race for better treatments and possible cures, rare diseases are often left behind. Through a collaboration of researchers, an unusual mutation has been found that is strongly linked to one such disease: a rare liver cancer that affects teens and young adults. The research suggests that the mutation plays a key role in the development of the disease, called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, and may also underlie more common cancers as well.

A molecular ballet under the X-ray laser: taking images of free molecules Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:34 AM PST An international team of researchers has used the world's most powerful X-ray laser to take snapshots of free molecules. The research team choreographed a kind of molecular ballet in the X-ray beam. The conventional way to determine the atomic structure of molecules is to "freeze" them in a crystal and illuminate them with bright X-rays. However, many molecules are extremely difficult to crystallize. In particular, this is a problem with many biomolecules. There are existing techniques to image single molecules, but none of these is fast enough to catch the ultra-fast motion of molecules. With their new work, the researchers have cleared important hurdles on the way to X-ray images of individual molecules.

Specific types of macrophages that affect Crohn's disease severity identified Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:34 AM PST For those coping with Crohn's disease, a new research report offers hope for the development of new and more effective drugs. Scientists have shown for the first time, precisely what type of immune cells are involved in driving the inflammation process in the disease. With this knowledge, new compounds can be identified which reduce the activity of these cells or lessen their inflammatory effects.

Food production in northeastern U.S. may need to change if climate does Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:33 AM PST If significant climate change occurs in the United States it may be necessary to change where certain foods are produced in order to meet consumer demand. Researchers have provided an overview of current farmland use and food production in the Northeastern U.S., identifying potential vulnerabilities of the 12-state region.

NASA scientists find evidence of water in meteorite, reviving debate over life on Mars Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:32 AM PST A team of scientists has found evidence of past water movement throughout a Martian meteorite, reviving debate in the scientific community over life on Mars. In 1996, a group of scientists reported biogenic evidence in the Allan Hills 84001(ALH84001) meteorite. In this new study, researchers focused on structures deep within a 30-pound (13.7-kilogram) Martian meteorite known as Yamato 000593 (Y000593). The team reports that newly discovered different structures and compositional features within the larger Yamato meteorite suggest biological processes might have been at work on Mars hundreds of millions of years ago.

Dangerous mistaken identity: Protein folding leads to some neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:31 AM PST Tau proteins, which are responsible for Alzheimer's disease, bind to the folding protein HSP90. The molecular recognition mechanisms that play a role here have been unveiled by an international team of scientists, and may open the door for new approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and further neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by protein aggregation. These scientific insights provide an important basis for better understanding these disease mechanisms.

Twitter 'big data' can be used to monitor HIV, drug-related behavior Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:31 AM PST Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks. The study suggests it may be possible to predict sexual risk and drug use behaviors by monitoring tweets, mapping where those messages come from and linking them with data on the geographical distribution of HIV cases. The use of various drugs had been associated in previous studies with HIV sexual risk behaviors and transmission of infectious disease.

Less snowpack will harm ecosystem, study shows Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:31 AM PST A new study shows that the consequences of milder winters – a smaller snowpack leaving the ground to freeze harder and longer – can have a negative impact on trees and water quality of nearby aquatic ecosystems far into the warmer growing season. The research shows that soil freezing due to diminishing snowpack damages the roots of sugar maple trees and limits their ability to absorb essential nitrogen and other nutrients in the spring. This leads to greater run off of nitrogen into ground water and nearby streams, which could deteriorate water quality and trigger widespread harmful consequences to humans and the environment.

Competition breeds new fish species, study finds Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:07 AM PST Size differences among fish and competition for breeding space lead to the formation of new species, according to a new study, but empirical evidence for this is scarce, despite being implicit in Charles Darwin's work and support from theoretical studies. Speciation occurs when genetic differences between groups of individuals accumulate over time. In the case of Telmatochromis fish in Africa, subject of a new study, there are no obvious obstacles to the movement and interaction of individuals. But, the non-random mating between large- and small-bodied fish sets the stage for the evolutionary play.

Can an app help make life easier for children with ADHD? Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST We have tended to associate welfare technology with support for the elderly. Now researchers are looking at whether technology such as digital calendars and smartwatches can also provide support for children with autism and ADHD. Being able to function well in the morning is a challenge for parents of children with cognitive problems. Small details such as putting their leggings on inside out, or an adult saying something 'the wrong way' can trigger a temper tantrum and ruin the entire day. Children can become unruly, and some even become aggressive when something prevents them from following their routines and habits. Technology, research shows, can help this.

Mental health problems mistaken for physical illness in children Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:06 AM PST Many children are admitted to general acute wards with mental health problems mistaken for physical disease. Somatic symptoms, such as abdominal pain, headaches, limb pain and tiredness, often mask underlying problems and result in the NHS spending money on investigations to eliminate wrongly diagnosed disease. A literature review examines how children's nurses can recognize such complaints and help to address them.

Nobelist proposes unconventional view of type 2 diabetes causation Posted: 27 Feb 2014 06:34 PM PST At 85, Nobel laureate James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, continues to advance intriguing scientific ideas. His latest, a hypothesis on the causation of type 2 diabetes, suggests that diabetes, dementias, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers are linked to a failure to generate sufficient biological oxidants, called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Watson also argues the case for a better understanding of the role of exercise in helping to remedy this deficiency.

Targeting metabolism to develop new prostate cancer treatments Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:12 PM PST The next generation of prostate cancer therapies is targeted at metabolism. A cascade of biochemical reactions inside the cell is being observed and reviewed by scientists, with a focus on an enzyme considered a master regulator of metabolism. By doing so, scientists hope that new research will unlock more effective and less harmful treatments. With approximately one out of six American men being diagnosed and nearly a quarter of a million new cases expected this year, prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men in the U.S.

Novel therapeutic targets for Huntington's disease discovered Posted: 27 Feb 2014 04:12 PM PST The impact that genes may have on Huntington's disease have been illuminated by a new, novel study. The study identified specific small segments of RNA (called micro RNA or miRNA) encoded in DNA in the human genome that are highly expressed in Huntington's disease. Micro RNAs are important because they regulate the expression of genes. The researchers showed that these miRNAs are present in higher quantities in patients with HD and may act as a mitigating factor in the neurologic decline associated with the disease, making them a possible therapeutic target.

Possible new target for future brain cancer drugs Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST A molecule in cells that shuts down the expression of genes might be a promising target for new drugs designed to treat glioblastoma, the most frequent and lethal form of brain cancer. The findings suggest that the protein PRMT5 is a possible prognostic factor and therapeutic target for glioblastoma, and they provide a rationale for developing agents that target PRMT5 in this deadly disease.

Color of passion: Orange underbellies of female lizards signal fertility Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST Australian lizards are attracted to females with the brightest orange patches -- but preferably not too large -- on their underbelly, according to research. Lake Eyre dragon lizards are found exclusively in salt deserts in southern Australia, where they feed on dead insects. When females become fertile they develop bright orange patches on their normally pale underbelly and change their behavior towards males: instead of "waving them away" with their forelegs or fleeing, they let the males court them with showy behavior like push-ups and head bobs. Males were most attracted to females with small, bright orange patches and tended to avoid those with larger, paler ones. It is thought that bright color is attractive as it indicates peak female fertility. Pregnant females retain their coloration until laying and very large orange spots suggest the female is swollen with eggs and no longer interested in mating.

Do obesity, birth control pills raise risk of multiple sclerosis? Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:38 PM PST The role of the so-called "obesity hormone" leptin and hormones used for birth control in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) is examined in two new studies. For the obesity study, BMI was calculated for 210 people with MS and 210 people of the same age and sex who did not have MS at ages 15 and 20 and at the time of the study. The study found that people who are obese at age 20 are twice as likely to later develop MS as people who are not obese. For the birth control hormone study, researchers identified 305 women who had been diagnosed with MS or its precursor, clinically isolated syndrome, during a three-year period. Women who had used hormonal contraceptives were 35 percent more likely to develop MS than those who did not use them.

Bird's eye view of cellular RNAs could lead to earlier cancer diagnosis Posted: 27 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST A new method has been developed that allows scientists to pinpoint the location of thousands of working copies of genes called mRNAs at once in intact cells -- while simultaneously determining the sequence of letters, or bases, that identify them and reveal their cellular function. Healthy human cells typically turn on nearly half of their 20,000 genes at any given time, and they choose those genes carefully to produce the desired cellular responses. Pinpointing the cellular location of all those mRNAs is a tall order. To do so, researchers used a new method, called fluorescent in situ RNA sequencing. Their findings could lead to earlier cancer diagnosis by revealing molecular changes that drive cancer in seemingly healthy tissue.

Livestock beating pandas to the bamboo buffet Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Pandas, it turns out, aren't celebrating the Year of the Horse. Livestock, particularly horses, have been identified as a significant threat to panda survival. The reason: they're beating the pandas to the bamboo buffet. A paper by panda habitat experts explores an oft-hidden yet significant conflict in conservation. "Livestock affect most of the world's biodiversity hotspots," an author said. "They make up 20 percent of all of the earth's land mammals and therefore monopolize key resources needed to maintain the earth's fragile ecosystems."

Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Although healthcare workers' hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospitals, physicians' stethoscopes appear to play a role. To explore this question, investigators assessed the level of bacterial contamination on physicians' hands and stethoscopes following a single physical examination. Two parts of the stethoscope (the tube and diaphragm) and four regions of the physician's hands (back, fingertips, and thenar and hypothenar eminences) were measured for the total number of bacteria present in a new study. The stethoscope's diaphragm was more contaminated than all regions of the physician's hand except the fingertips. Further, the tube of the stethoscope was more heavily contaminated than the back of the physician's hand.

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