The Science Daily

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 2, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Ancient glacial melting shows that small amount of subsurface warming can trigger rapid collapse of ice shelves (August 2, 2011) -- An analysis of prehistoric "Heinrich events" that happened many thousands of years ago, creating mass discharges of icebergs into the North Atlantic Ocean, make it clear that very small amounts of subsurface warming of water can trigger a rapid collapse of ice shelves. The results are important due to concerns that warmer water could cause a comparatively fast collapse of ice shelves in Antarctica or Greenland. ... > full story

US sets drought monitor's 'exceptional drought' record in July (August 2, 2011) -- The percent of contiguous US land area experiencing the worst form of drought reached the highest levels in the history of the US Drought Monitor in July, officials said. ... > full story

Researchers 'genetically fingerprinting' E. coli from watersheds (August 2, 2011) -- Researchers have been collecting water samples at 30 river sites -- 15 in the Lampasas River watershed and 15 in the Leon River watershed -- monthly since February. They've also been taking fecal samples from all over the watersheds of known possible sources: home septic systems, wildlife, livestock, pets and water-treatment plants. The samples are then "genetically fingerprinted" to determine exactly what the source of E. coli is. ... > full story

NASA satellite tracks severity of African drought (August 2, 2011) -- Northeast Africa continues to reel from the effects of the worst drought to strike the region in decades. ... > full story

The last great wilderness: Human impact on the deep sea (August 1, 2011) -- Over 20 deep-sea experts participating in the Census of Marine Life project SYNDEEP conducted a semi-quantitative analysis of the most important anthropogenic impacts that affect deep-sea habitats at the global scale in past, present and future scenarios. Which deep-sea habitats are at highest risk in the short and mid-term, as well as what will be the main anthropogenic impacts affecting these areas are identified in a new paper. ... > full story

Aerosols affect climate more than satellite estimates predict (August 1, 2011) -- Aerosol particles, including soot and sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels, essentially mask the effects of greenhouse gases and are at the heart of the biggest uncertainty in climate change prediction. New research shows that satellite-based projections of aerosols' effect on Earth's climate significantly underestimate their impacts. ... > full story

Microbes consumed oil in Gulf slick at unexpected rates, study finds (August 1, 2011) -- In the first published study to explain the role of microbes in breaking down the oil slick on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, researchers have found that bacterial microbes inside the slick degraded the oil at a rate five times faster than microbes outside the slick -- accounting in large part for the disappearance of the slick some three weeks after Deepwater Horizon's Macondo well was shut off. ... > full story

Nobel Prize winner’s unfinished symphony (August 1, 2011) -- When Robert Burns Woodward passed away in 1979 he left 699 pages of handwritten notes. Because R.B. Woodward was a Nobel Laureate (Chemistry, 1965) his family had carefully preserved his notes for posterity. An extensive study has now uncovered hidden treasures in these notes. ... > full story

Greenhouse gas impact of hydroelectric reservoirs downgraded (August 1, 2011) -- Scientists have amassed the largest data set to date on greenhouse gas emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs. Their analysis posits that these human-made systems emit about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide and methane previously attributed to them. ... > full story

Physics could be behind the secrets of crop-circle artists (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers takes a serious, objective look at a topic that critics might claim is beyond scientific understanding -- crop circles. ... > full story

Chemists transform acids into bases: Research offers vast family of new catalysts for use in drug discovery, biotechnology (August 1, 2011) -- Chemists have accomplished in the lab what until now was considered impossible: transform a family of compounds which are acids into bases. Their research shows it is possible to replace phosphorus ligands in catalysts with boron ligands. While phosphorus is toxic, boron is not. The research makes possible a vast array of chemical reactions -- such as those used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, manufacturing new materials and research academic institutions. ... > full story

Without competition, island frogs evolve rapidly (August 1, 2011) -- Scientists have documented the rapid evolution of new fanged frog species on the island of Sulawesi, near the Philippines. ... > full story

New duck-billed dinosaur gives scientists clues to evolution of head ornamentation and provinciality (August 1, 2011) -- A new genus and species of hadrosaur (duck-billed) dinosaur -- the oldest duck-billed dinosaur known from North America -- has been named by scientists who expect the discovery to shed new light on dinosaur evolution. ... > full story

Pathogens and insecticides: A lethal cocktail for honeybees (August 1, 2011) -- For over 15 years, bee colonies have been plagued by a strange disease that causes the disappearance of thousands of colonies every year and is poorly understood by beekeepers and scientists. Researchers have now found that infection by Nosema ceranae, a parasite that causes Nosema disease, results in higher mortality among honeybees when they are exposed to low doses of insecticides. ... > full story

Evolution in the back yard: Census of 750,000 banded snails leads to surprising results (August 1, 2011) -- Thousands of members of the public across Europe have taken part in one of the largest evolutionary studies ever, by observing banded snails in their gardens and open public spaces. ... > full story

Rainforest plant developed 'sonar dish' to attract pollinating bats (August 1, 2011) -- How plants sound as well as how they look helps them to attract pollinators, a new study has found. Researchers discovered that a rainforest vine, pollinated by bats, has evolved dish-shaped leaves with such conspicuous echoes that nectar-feeding bats can find its flowers twice as fast by echolocation. ... > full story

Researchers map long-range migrations and habitats of leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean (August 1, 2011) -- Endangered leatherback sea turtles migrate and forage across vast areas of the Pacific Ocean and Indo-Pacific seas and require greater international collaboration for their protection, according to a recent study. The study is based on data from 126 leatherbacks tracked by satellite and supports continuing research to improve conservation efforts for this endangered species by better understanding how oceanographic features influence their migration and foraging behavior. ... > full story

New discoveries on gene regulation in the evolution of the vertebrate brain (August 1, 2011) -- Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts is a process leading to differential gene expression and the production of different proteins, which is the key to cell differentiation and a foundation of many diseases. Researchers have now described the generation of a gene network regulated by the splicing factor NOVA1 during the development of the central nervous system in vertebrates. ... > full story

Cows clock-in for monitored mealtimes (August 1, 2011) -- Electronic ear tags are being trialled by scientists in a bid to provide farmers with an extra line of defense against diseases such as foot and mouth and TB. ... > full story

Electronic tongue identifies cava wines (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an electronic tongue which can identify different types of cava wines, thanks to a combination of sensor systems and advanced mathematical procedures. The device automatically produces classifications similar to those of a sommelier and can be useful in detecting defects during the elaboration of these wines. ... > full story

Possible association between maternal exposure to magnetic fields and development of asthma in children (August 1, 2011) -- Children whose mothers had high exposure to magnetic fields (MF) during pregnancy appear to have an increased risk of developing asthma, according to a new study. ... > full story

Researchers target, switch off serotonin-producing neurons in mice; New insights may be relevant to sudden infant death syndrome (July 31, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a toolkit that enables them to turn off targeted cell populations while leaving others unaffected. The group focused on serotonin-producing neurons, observing how mice behave in a normal environment when suddenly their serotonin neurons are turned down. ... > full story

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics: The more they resist, the more they divide (July 31, 2011) -- The number of multiresistant strains of bacteria in hospitals is increasing. Bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics through mutations in their chromosomes and by incorporating new genes, either from the surrounding environment or from other bacteria. Now, researchers in Portugal have shown that, surprisingly, when both mechanisms of resistance are playing out in the bacterium E. coli, its ability to survive and reproduce is increased. ... > full story

Using a 'systems biology' approach to look under the hood of an aggressive form of breast cancer (July 31, 2011) -- Using a "systems biology" approach -- which focuses on understanding the complex relationships between biological systems -- to look under the hood of an aggressive form of breast cancer, researchers for the first time have identified a set of proteins in the blood that change in abundance long before the cancer is clinically detectable. ... > full story

Soybean genetic treasure trove found in Swedish village (July 31, 2011) -- The first screening of the American ancestors of soybeans for tolerance to ozone and other stresses had an eye-opening result: The world superstars of stress resistance hailed from a little village in far northern Sweden, called Fiskeby. ... > full story

How bats stay on target despite the clutter (July 30, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have learned how bats can remain on target despite obstacles. The key lies in bats' neural response to echoes from their sonar pulses: Differences in delay as short as 3 microseconds between parts of an echo is enough to tell the bat the object may not be its target. The research could lead to more precise targeting by sonar-led vehicles. ... > full story

Warming climate could give exotic grasses edge over natives (July 30, 2011) -- With rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall, California's native grasses will likely suffer at the hands of exotic invasive grasses, which are more equipped to deal with warmer weather. That is the conclusion of researchers who analyzed all exotic and native grasses in the state and predicted their likely range changes with changing climate. ... > full story

Largest-ever map of plant protein interactions (July 30, 2011) -- Researchers have mapped and analyzed thousands of protein-to-protein interactions within the cells of Arabidopsis thaliana -- a variety of mustard plant that is to plant biology what the lab mouse is to human biology. The research promises to enable biologists to make agricultural plants more nutritious and more resistant to drought and diseases. ... > full story

Powerful fluorescence tool lights the way to new insights into RNA of living cells (July 30, 2011) -- The ability to tag proteins with a green fluorescent light to watch how they behave inside cells so revolutionized the understanding of protein biology that it earned the scientific teams who developed the technique Nobel Prizes in 2008. Now, researchers have developed a similar fluorescent tool that can track the mysterious workings of the various forms of cellular RNA. ... > full story

Fall of the Neanderthals: Volume of modern humans infiltrating Europe cited as critical factor (July 29, 2011) -- New research sheds light on why, after 300,000 years of domination, European Neanderthals abruptly disappeared. Researchers have discovered that modern humans coming from Africa swarmed the region, arriving with over ten times the population as the Neanderthal inhabitants. ... > full story

Oral interferon may prevent and control avian influenza virus infection (July 29, 2011) -- Avian influenza virus is a threat to the commercial chicken industry and, with its recent rapid spread across China, has also shown the ability for transmission from chickens to humans and other mammals. ... > full story

Doggedly tracking badgers (July 29, 2011) -- How far would you drive in the Badger State to find a badger -- or even a burrow? One graduate student has traveled more than 300 miles -- more than once -- only to find her research subject had moved on to a new address. ... > full story

Gene discovery in truffle dogs sheds new light on mechanisms of childhood epilepsy (July 29, 2011) -- A new epilepsy gene, LGI2, has been found in the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, known from their gift for truffle hunting. ... > full story

Genetic evidence clears Ben Franklin: Invasive tree afflicting Gulf Coast was not brought to U.S. by famed statesman (July 29, 2011) -- The DNA evidence is in, and Ben Franklin didn't do it. Genetic tests on more than 1,000 Chinese tallow trees from the United States and China show that Franklin did not import the tallow trees that are overrunning thousands of acres of U.S. coastal prairie from Florida to East Texas. The study found that the invasive strain of the tree was likely imported by federal biologists around 1905. ... > full story

NASA measures wildfire pollution pour over Niagara Falls (July 29, 2011) -- Water isn't the only thing pouring over Niagara Falls. Pollution from fires in Ontario, Canada is also making the one thousand mile trip, while being measured by NASA's Aqua satellite. ... > full story

Aging brains are different in humans and chimpanzees; Evolution of human longevity led to both a large brain and brain shrinkage (July 29, 2011) -- Brains shrink in humans, potentially causing a number of health problems and mental illnesses as people age, but do they shrink to the same extent in the closest living relatives to humans -- the chimpanzees? ... > full story

Emulating nature for better engineering (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers in the UK describe a novel approach to making porous materials, solid foams, more like their counterparts in the natural world, including bone and wood. ... > full story

Common Korean surname tells tale of nationhood (July 29, 2011) -- The most common surname in Korea -- Kim -- has been traced back 1,500 years using a statistical model, providing evidence of a strong, stable culture that has remained intact to this day. ... > full story

Sea level rise less from Greenland, more from Antarctica, than expected during last interglacial (July 29, 2011) -- New research results are revealing surprising patterns of melting during the last interglacial period that suggest that Greenland's ice may be more stable -- and Antarctica's less stable -- than many thought. ... > full story

Ongoing global biodiversity loss unstoppable with protected areas alone (July 29, 2011) -- Continued reliance on a strategy of setting aside land and marine territories as "protected areas" is insufficient to stem global biodiversity loss, according to a new comprehensive assessment. ... > full story

Earth's atmosphere may be more efficient at releasing energy to space than climate models indicate, satellite data suggest (July 29, 2011) -- Data from NASA's Terra satellite suggests that when the climate warms, Earth's atmosphere is apparently more efficient at releasing energy to space than models used to forecast climate change may indicate, according to a new study. ... > full story

World population to surpass 7 billion in 2011; Explosive population growth means challenges for developing nations (July 28, 2011) -- Global population is expected to hit 7 billion later this year, up from 6 billion in 1999. Between now and 2050, an estimated 2.3 billion more people will be added -- nearly as many as inhabited the planet as recently as 1950. New estimates from the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations also project that the population will reach 10.1 billion in 2100. ... > full story

Unexpected discovery on hormone secretion (July 28, 2011) -- Geneticists have made an unexpected discovery on hormone secretion. Contrary to common belief, the researchers found that pituitary cells are organized in structured networks. ... > full story

Geographic analysis offers new insight into coral disease spread (July 28, 2011) -- In the last 30 years, more than 90 percent of the reef-building coral responsible for maintaining major marine habitats and providing a natural barrier against hurricanes in the Caribbean has disappeared because of a disease of unknown origin. ... > full story

Toucans wearing GPS backpacks help Smithsonian scientists study seed dispersal (July 28, 2011) -- Nutmeg-loving toucans wearing GPS transmitters recently helped scientists in Panama address an age-old problem in plant ecology: accurately estimating seed dispersal. The tracking data revealed what scientists have long suspected, that toucans are excellent seed dispersers, particularly in the morning; also, for the first time, the data enabled researchers to create a map of the relative patterns and distances that toucans distribute the seeds of a nutmeg tree. ... > full story

Researchers tap yeasts as source of 'green' surfactants (July 28, 2011) -- Surfactants, which are wetting agents that lower a liquid's surface tension, have a long list of uses, from detergents and cosmetics to paints and pesticides. Most surfactants are petroleum-based. But one group of scientists has now focused its attention on sophorolipids, surfactant-like molecules produced by naturally occurring yeasts. ... > full story

Reservoirs of ancient lava shaped Earth (July 28, 2011) -- Geological history has periodically featured giant lava eruptions that coat large swaths of land or ocean floor with basaltic lava, which hardens into rock formations called flood basalt. New research proposes that the remnants of six of the largest volcanic events of the past 250 million years contain traces of the ancient Earth's primitive mantle -- which existed before the largely differentiated mantle of today -- offering clues to the geochemical history of the planet. ... > full story

Organized crime is wiping out wildlife, report finds (July 28, 2011) -- An immense and increasingly sophisticated illegal trade in wildlife parts conducted by organized crime, coupled with antiquated enforcement methods, are decimating the world's most beloved species including rhinos, tigers and elephants on a scale never before seen. ... > full story

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ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 2, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Colon cleansing has no benefit but many side effects including vomiting and death, doctors say (August 2, 2011) -- Colon cleansing -- it's been described as a natural way to enhance well-being, but doctors say there's no evidence to back that claim. In fact, their review of scientific literature demonstrates that colon cleansing can cause side effects ranging from cramping and to renal failure and death. ... > full story

Artificial nanoparticles influence heart rate and rhythm, study finds (August 2, 2011) -- Artificial nanoparticles are becoming increasingly pervasive in modern life. However, their influences on our health remain largely shrouded in mystery. Using a so-called Langendorff heart, a team of scientists in Germany has now for the first time shown that selected artificial nanoparticles have a direct effect on heart rate and heart rhythm. ... > full story

Mechanism of sculpting the plasma membrane of intestinal cells identified (August 2, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism which modifies the structure of plasma membranes in intestinal epithelial cells. Unlike other proteins with a similar function, the new protein -- named 'Pinkbar' by the researchers - creates planar membrane sheets. Further research investigates the potential connection of this protein with various intestinal disorders. ... > full story

New research might help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (August 2, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a mechanism in the brain that explains for the first time why people make particularly strong, long-lasting memories of stressful events in their lives. ... > full story

Sugar doesn't melt -- it decomposes, scientists demonstrate (August 2, 2011) -- Flying in the face of years of scientific belief, researchers have demonstrated that sugar doesn't melt, it decomposes. This discovery is important to food scientists and candy lovers because it will give them yummier caramel flavors and more tantalizing textures. It even gives the pharmaceutical industry a way to improve excipients, the proverbial spoonful of sugar that helps your medicine go down. ... > full story

High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity in middle age may shrink brain, damage thinking (August 2, 2011) -- A new study suggests smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight in middle age may cause brain shrinkage and lead to cognitive problems up to a decade later. ... > full story

Researchers use improved imaging technique and discover a better approach to diagnosing epilepsy (August 2, 2011) -- Using state-of-the-art, 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, researchers may have uncovered a better approach to diagnosing epilepsy. ... > full story

NASA satellite tracks severity of African drought (August 2, 2011) -- Northeast Africa continues to reel from the effects of the worst drought to strike the region in decades. ... > full story

Childhood adversities and early-onset mental disorders associated with higher rates of chronic physical problems in adulthood (August 2, 2011) -- Children who experience psychosocial adversities and early-onset mental disorders appear to be at increased risk of developing chronic physical conditions later in life, according to a new study. ... > full story

In the battle to relieve back aches, researchers create bioengineered spinal disc implants (August 1, 2011) -- Engineers and doctors have created a biologically based spinal implant that could someday spell relief for these countless back and neck pain sufferers. ... > full story

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may help prevent recurrent strokes in younger people (August 1, 2011) -- New research indicates cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins may help prevent future strokes among young people who have already had a stroke. ... > full story

Why long-term antibiotic use increases infection with a mycobacterium (August 1, 2011) -- The clinical outcome is improved if patients with chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis are treated long-term with the antibiotic azithromycin. However, azithromycin treatment in patients with cystic fibrosis as recently associated with increased infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria. Now, researchers have confirmed that long-term use of azithromycin by adults with cystic fibrosis is associated with infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria and identified an underlying mechanism. ... > full story

Majority of adolescents with prescriptions for pain, stimulant, sleeping and antianxiety medications take them appropriately, study finds (August 1, 2011) -- Adolescents who misuse controlled medications (e.g., pain, stimulant, sleeping and antianxiety medications) for which they have a legitimate prescription may be more likely to abuse other substances and to sell, give or trade their controlled medications to other individuals, according to a new study. ... > full story

Some exercise is better than none: More is better to reduce heart disease risk (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers found that 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week can lower the overall risk of heart disease by 14 percent. This is the first review to quantify the amount of physical activity that is required to lower the risk of heart disease; others suggest only qualitative estimates. ... > full story

NASA's Dawn spacecraft begins science orbits of Vesta (August 1, 2011) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft, the first ever to orbit an object in the main asteroid belt, is spiraling towards its first of four intensive science orbits. That initial orbit of the rocky world Vesta begins Aug. 11, at an altitude of nearly 1,700 miles (2,700 kilometers) and will provide in-depth analysis of the asteroid. Vesta is the brightest object in the asteroid belt as seen from Earth and is thought to be the source of a large number of meteorites that fall to Earth. ... > full story

Indoor air cleaners ease asthma symptoms in children living with smokers, study suggests (August 1, 2011) -- Children who have asthma and live with smokers shows that indoor air cleaners can greatly reduce household air pollution and lower the rates of daytime asthma symptoms to those achieved with certain anti-inflammatory asthma drugs. Although the air cleaners improved the overall air quality in homes, they did not reduce air nicotine levels and did not counter all ill effects of secondhand smoke, the researchers warn. ... > full story

New brain imaging research reveals why autistic individuals confuse pronouns (August 1, 2011) -- A new brain imaging study provides an explanation as to why autistic individuals' use of the wrong pronoun is more than simply a word choice problem. Researchers found that errors in choosing a self-referring pronoun reflect a disordered neural representation of the self, a function processed by at least two brain areas -- one frontal and one posterior. ... > full story

Oxygen molecules found in nearby star-forming cloud (August 1, 2011) -- The European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory has found molecules of oxygen in a nearby star-forming cloud. This is the first undisputed detection of oxygen molecules in space. It concludes a long search but also leaves questions unanswered. ... > full story

New composite material may restore damaged soft tissue (August 1, 2011) -- Biomedical engineers have developed a new liquid material that in early experiments in rats and humans shows promise in restoring damaged soft tissue relatively safely and durably. The material, a composite of biological and synthetic molecules, is injected under the skin, then "set" using light to form a more solid structure, like using cold to set gelatin in a mold. The researchers say the product one day could be used to reconstruct soldier's faces marred by blast injuries. ... > full story

Novel analysis sheds new light on the mechanisms of brain development (August 1, 2011) -- Scientists have taken an important step in identifying how the brain organizes itself during development. The findings describe -- in more detail than ever before -- the consequences of the loss of a key molecule involved in establishing proper brain architecture during brain development. ... > full story

Cold electrons to aid better design of drugs and materials (August 1, 2011) -- A new source of very cold electrons will improve the quality and speed of nanoimaging for drug and materials development, to a trillionth of a second. ... > full story

Helping children learn to understand numbers: It's all in the way we speak to them (August 1, 2011) -- Most people know how to count, but the way we master this ability remains something of a puzzle. Now a formal model of the cognitive basis of counting has been developed. ... > full story

Manipulating light at will: Research could help replace electronic components with optical technology (August 1, 2011) -- Electrical engineers have developed a material that allows them to manipulate light in much the same way that electronics manipulate flowing electrons. The researchers say the results of their latest proof-of-concept experiments could lead to the replacement of electrical components with those based on optical technologies. Light-based devices would enable faster and more efficient transmission of information, much in the same way that replacing wires with optical fibers revolutionized the telecommunications industry. ... > full story

Nicotine can protect the brain from Parkinson's disease, research suggests (August 1, 2011) -- If you've ever wondered if nicotine offered society any benefit, a new study offers a surprising answer. Nicotine can protect the brain against Parkinson's disease, the research suggests, and the discovery of how nicotine does this may lead to entirely new types of treatments for the disease. ... > full story

In the pursuit of dangerous clumps: Customized surfaces help reveal the causes of diseases (August 1, 2011) -- When normal proteins form protein clumps in the body, then alarm bells start ringing. Such clumps, called "amyloids," are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes. If doctors knew how these proteins form clumps, then they might be able to treat such diseases more efficiently. Researchers in Germany and Denmark have now succeeded in taking a major step in that direction. ... > full story

Scientists reveal mechanism behind 'oncogene addiction' in acute leukemia (August 1, 2011) -- Scientists have laid bare the mechanism behind oncogene addiction, in mice suffering from a form of leukemia that mimics acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in humans. The team was able to target "addiction" pathways in the model mice, resulting in rapid and complete eradication of the cancer, which is usually fatal and resistant to conventional chemotherapy. ... > full story

'Wonder material' graphene tapped for electronic memory devices (August 1, 2011) -- Hailed as the new "wonder material," graphene is being tapped to help overcome issues associated with increasing the storage density and speed of electronic memory devices. ... > full story

Omega-3 reduces anxiety and inflammation in healthy students, study suggests (August 1, 2011) -- A new study gauging the impact of consuming more fish oil showed a marked reduction both in inflammation and, surprisingly, in anxiety among a cohort of healthy young people. The findings suggest that if young participants can get such improvements from specific dietary supplements, then the elderly and people at high risk for certain diseases might benefit even more. ... > full story

Novel gene associated with asthma in African-Americans confirmed (August 1, 2011) -- A new US national collaboration of asthma genetics researchers has revealed a novel gene associated with the disease in African-Americans, and confirmed the significance of four gene associations reported by a European asthma genetics study. ... > full story

Evolution of human generosity (August 1, 2011) -- Imagine you're dining at a restaurant in a city you're visiting for the first -- and, most likely the last -- time. Chances are slim to none that you'll ever see your server again, so if you wanted to shave a few dollars off your tab by not leaving a tip, you could do so. And yet, if you're like most people, you will leave the tip anyway, and not give it another thought. ... > full story

Scientists build battery in a nanowire: Hybrid energy storage device is as small as it can possibly get (August 1, 2011) -- Scientists have packed an entire lithium ion energy storage device into a single nanowire. The researchers believe their creation is as small as such devices can possibly get, and could be valuable as a rechargeable power source for new generations of nanoelectronics. ... > full story

Gum disease can increase the time it takes to become pregnant (August 1, 2011) -- Women who are trying to become pregnant should make sure they visit their dentist and brush their teeth regularly, after preliminary research revealed that gum disease potentially can lengthen the time it takes for a woman to become pregnant by an average of an extra two months. For the first time, fertility experts have shown that, from the time that a woman starts trying to conceive, poor oral health can have a significant effect on the time to pregnancy. ... > full story

Seventy percent of 8-month-olds consume too much salt, UK study shows (August 1, 2011) -- Seventy per cent of eight-month-old babies have a salt intake higher than the recommended UK maximum level, due to being fed salty and processed foods like yeast extract, gravy, baked beans and tinned spaghetti. High levels of salt can damage developing kidneys, give children a taste for salty foods and establish poor eating practices that continue into adulthood and can result in health problems later in life. ... > full story

Treating obesity via brain glucose sensing (August 1, 2011) -- The past two decades have witnessed an epidemic spread of obesity-related diseases in Western countries. Elucidating the biological mechanism that links overnutrition to obesity could prove crucial in reducing obesity levels. A new study finds that a defect in the brain's glucose-sensing process contributes to the development of obesity and related disease. Importantly, correction of this defect can normalize the whole-body energy balance and treat obesity. ... > full story

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Monday, August 1, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines -- for Monday, August 1, 2011

ScienceDaily Health Headlines

for Monday, August 1, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Engineering innovative hand-held lab-on-a-chip could streamline blood testing worldwide (August 1, 2011) -- Biomedical engineering professors have developed an innovative strategy for an integrated microfluidic-based diagnostic device that can perform complex laboratory assays, with such simplicity that these tests can be carried out in the most remote regions of the world. Successfully tested in Rwanda, the mChip diagnoses diseases like HIV and syphilis at patients' bedsides. ... > full story

Genome-wide study reveals three new susceptibility loci for adult asthma in Japanese population (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have identified three new loci associated with susceptibility to adult asthma in the Japanese population. ... > full story

The role of relaxation in consumer behavior (August 1, 2011) -- A study finds that states of relaxation consistently increase the monetary valuations of products, actually inflating these valuations by about 10 percent. ... > full story

Increasing potency of HIV-battling proteins (August 1, 2011) -- When it comes to a small HIV-fighting protein, called cyanovirin-N, researchers have found that two are better than one. ... > full story

A cellular protein can reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have found new hope for cancer survival. Their findings show that maspin, a cellular protein, can reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells from 75 percent-40 percent when localized in the nucleus. These findings show the location of maspin within the cell significantly influences cancer cells' behavior, determining how aggressive the disease will be and how positive patient outcomes will be. ... > full story

Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in methamphetamine users, study finds (August 1, 2011) -- People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who do not, according to a new study. ... > full story

Restoring happiness in people with depression (July 31, 2011) -- Practicing positive activities may serve as an effective, low-cost treatment for people suffering from depression, according to researchers. This new approach has the potential to benefit depressed individuals who don't respond to pharmacotherapy or are not able or willing to obtain treatment, and promises to yield rapid improvement of mood symptoms, holds little to no stigma, and carries no side effects. ... > full story

Mouse with 'off switch' in key brain cell population developed; Research may increase understanding of SIDS, depressive disorders (July 30, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a strain of mice with a built-in off switch that can selectively shut down the animals' serotonin-producing cells, which make up a brain network controlling breathing, temperature regulation and mood. The switch controls only the serotonin-producing cells, and does not affect any other cells in the animal's brains or bodies. ... > full story

Fast ripples confirmed to be valuable biomarker of area responsible for seizure activity in children (July 30, 2011) -- New research focusing on high-frequency oscillations, termed ripples and fast ripples, recorded by intracranial electroencephalography, may provide an important marker for the localization of the brain region responsible for seizure activity. According to the study the resection of brain regions containing fast ripples, along with the visually-identified seizure-onset zone, may achieve a good seizure outcome in pediatric epilepsy. ... > full story

Dissecting dyslexia: Linking reading to voice recognition (July 30, 2011) -- When people recognize voices, part of what helps make voice recognition accurate is noticing how people pronounce words differently. But individuals with dyslexia don't experience this familiar language advantage, say researchers. ... > full story

Motorcycle helmets hard on hearing (July 30, 2011) -- Motorcycle helmets, while protecting bikers' brains, may also be contributing to hearing loss. Scientists mapped the airflow and noise patterns to find out why. ... > full story

Breast screening has had little to do with falling breast cancer deaths, European study finds (July 30, 2011) -- Breast cancer screening has not played a direct part in the reductions of breast cancer mortality in recent years, according to a new European study. ... > full story

Cellular power plant genome mutates when reprogrammed: Genetic changes in mitochondrial genome of human induced pluripotent stem cells (July 29, 2011) -- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are truly talented multi-taskers. They can reproduce almost all cell types and thus offer great hope in the fight against diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, it would appear that their use is not entirely without risk: during the reprogramming of body cells into iPS cells, disease-causing mutations can creep into the genetic material. The genome of the mitochondria -- the cell's protein factories -- is particularly vulnerable to such changes, according to new research. Scientists encountered mutations in the mitochondrial genome of iPS cells. Because such genetic mutations can cause diseases, the cells should be tested for such mutations before being used for clinical applications. ... > full story

Packing on pounds riskier for South Asians, say researchers (July 29, 2011) -- A new study has found that some ethnic groups are more likely to be adding dangerous fat onto their internal organs like their liver when they gain weight, while others just add it to their waistline. ... > full story

Fair play -- a question of self-image? Researchers explain conditions under which people are prepared to behave fairly (July 29, 2011) -- Why do people behave selfishly and accept that their behavior may have negative consequences for others? Researchers in Germany investigated this question in a laboratory experiment. They found that such behavior often depends on whether information about the consequences for others can be ignored. Based on their findings, the researchers believe that conclusions can be drawn on, for instance, how the marketing of fair trade products could be improved. ... > full story

'Brain cap' technology turns thought into motion; Mind-machine interface could lead to new life-changing technologies for millions of people (July 29, 2011) -- "Brain cap" technology now being developed allows users to turn their thoughts into motion. Researchers have created a noninvasive, sensor-lined cap with neural interface software that soon could be used to control computers, robotic prosthetic limbs, motorized wheelchairs and even digital avatars. ... > full story

Traumatic brain injury linked with tenfold increase in stroke risk (July 29, 2011) -- Suffering a trauma to the brain may increase the risk of stroke tenfold within three months, according to new research. This is the first study to show a direct correlation between traumatic brain injury and stroke. Researchers suggest neuroimaging, intensive monitoring and stroke education for anyone incurring a traumatic brain injury. ... > full story

Out-of-the-blue panic attacks aren't without warning: Body sends signals for hour before (July 29, 2011) -- Panic attacks that seem to strike out-of-the-blue are not without warning after all, says psychologists. A new study found significant physiological instability one hour before patients reported feeling a panic attack. The patients wore portable recorders around-the-clock that monitored bodily functions like respiration and heart rate. The findings suggest potentially new treatments for panic, and re-examination of other "unexpected" medical problems, including seizures, strokes and manic episodes. ... > full story

Scary driving? Put the brakes on using your brain power (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers have used drivers' brain signals, for the first time, to assist in braking, providing much quicker reaction times and a potential solution to the thousands of car accidents that are caused by human error. ... > full story

Next generation gene therapy (July 29, 2011) -- Inspired by earlier successes using gene therapy to correct an inherited type of blindness, investigators are poised to extend their approach to other types of blinding disorders. In a new study, researchers compared the safety and efficiency of delivery in an animal model of two different types of vectors. This preclinical work will guide dose-level formulation and type of vector to deliver genes to treat blindness caused by the loss of photoreceptors. ... > full story

Salt appetite is linked to drug addiction, research finds (July 29, 2011) -- A team of U.S. and Australian scientists has found that addictive drugs may have hijacked the same nerve cells and connections in the brain that serve a powerful, ancient instinct: the appetite for salt. ... > full story

Rate of stroke increasing among women during, soon after pregnancy (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers report a large increase in the number of women having strokes while pregnant and in the three months after childbirth. The overall rate of pregnancy-related stroke went up 54 percent between 1994-95 and 2006-07. The increase is due to women having more risk factors, including high blood pressure and obesity. ... > full story

How the brain keeps track of what we're doing (July 29, 2011) -- "Working memory" is what we have to keep track of things moment to moment: driving on a highway and focusing on the vehicles around us, then forgetting them as we move on; remembering all the names at the dinner party while conversing with one person about her job. ... > full story

New gene for intellectual disability discovered (July 29, 2011) -- A new gene linked to intellectual disability was just discovered. To date, MAN1B1 is the eighth known gene connected with recessive intellectual disability, but there are likely many more involved. ... > full story

Study finds new points of attack on breast cancers not fueled by estrogen (July 29, 2011) -- Although it sounds like a case of gender confusion on a molecular scale, the male hormone androgen spurs the growth of some breast tumors in women. In a new study, scientists provide the first details of the cancer cell machinery that carries out the hormone's relentless growth orders. ... > full story

Discovery throws light on blood pressure regulation (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that a protein found in the walls of blood vessels plays a key role in maintaining healthy blood pressure -- a discovery that could one day lead to new treatments for people with high blood pressure. ... > full story

Vessel-damaging activation of the 'intracellular waste disposal' mechanism found in smokers (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers have found that substances found in cigarette smoke lead to blood vessels’ endothelial cells constantly digesting themselves. This permanent damage to the interior surface of the blood vessels leads, amongst others, to calcification of the arteries, as the recently published study confirms. ... > full story

Progressive telomere shortening characterizes familial breast cancer patients (July 29, 2011) -- Telomeres of peripheral blood cells are significantly shorter in patients with familial breast cancer than in the general population. Results of the study carried out by a Human Genetics Group, to be published in open-access journal PLoS Genetics on July 28, reflect that familial, but not sporadic, breast cancer cases are characterized by shorter telomeres. Importantly, they also provide evidence for telomere shortening as a mechanism of the successively earlier onset of cancer down generations. ... > full story

Teacher influence persists in early grades (July 29, 2011) -- Having consistently good teachers in elementary school appears to be as important for student achievement as small class sizes, according to new research. ... > full story

Home is where the healthy meal is (July 28, 2011) -- Can a cozy dining table and nice music prompt people to reach for the greens and go light on dessert? So suggests a new study probing why people tend to eat more-nutritious meals at home than away from home. ... > full story

New therapy may help people with unexplained symptoms of pain, weakness and fatigue (July 28, 2011) -- A new type of therapy may help people with symptoms such as pain, weakness, or dizziness that can't be explained by an underlying disease, according to a new study. These symptoms, which can also include fatigue, tingling and numbness, are also known as functional or psychogenic symptoms. ... > full story

The brain's connectome -- from branch to branch (July 28, 2011) -- Scientists have developed new analytical tools for fast and accurate reconstruction of neural networks. ... > full story

A heart-rate-reducing medication reduces the risk of heart failure and cardiac fibrosis (July 28, 2011) -- A new study suggest that ivabradine, a heart rate reduction medication, is also effective in reducing the risk of diastolic heart failure (left ventricular insufficiency) and cardiac fibrosis. ... > full story

'Mirroring' might reflect badly on you (July 28, 2011) -- The benefits of body-language mimicry have been confirmed by numerous psychological studies. And in popular culture, mirroring is frequently urged on people as a strategy -- for flirting or having a successful date, for closing a sale or acing a job interview. But new research suggests that mirroring may not always lead to positive social outcomes. In fact, sometimes the smarter thing to do is to refrain. ... > full story

How a gene linked to both Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes works (July 28, 2011) -- Researchers have identified how a gene for a protein that can cause type 2 diabetes, also possibly kills nerve cells in the brain, thereby contributing to Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

Gout prevalence swells in U.S. over last two decades; Increase in obesity and hypertension are likely contributors (July 28, 2011) -- A new study shows the prevalence of gout in the United States has risen over the last twenty years and now affects 8.3 million Americans. Prevalence of increased uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) also rose, affecting 43.3 million adults in the U.S. Greater frequency of obesity and hypertension may be associated with the jump in prevalence rates, according to the findings. ... > full story

Increased muscle mass may lower risk of pre-diabetes: Study shows building muscle can lower person's risk of insulin resistance (July 28, 2011) -- A recent study has found that the greater an individual's total muscle mass, the lower the person's risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes. ... > full story

Researchers look to dogs to better understand intricacies of bone cancer (July 28, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a gene pattern that distinguishes the more severe form of bone cancer from a less aggressive form in dogs. ... > full story

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