ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, April 19, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, April 19, 2011

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Biological arms races in birds result in sophisticated defenses against cuckoos (April 19, 2011) -- New research reveals how biological arms races between cuckoos and host birds can escalate into a competition between the host evolving new, unique egg patterns (or "signatures") and the parasite new forgeries. ... > full story

Simple injection could limit damage from heart attacks and stroke (April 19, 2011) -- New research offers promise of a simple injection that could be developed to limit the devastating consequences of heart attacks and strokes. Scientists have identified an enzyme, Mannan Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-2 (MASP-2), that is found in blood and is a key component of the lectin pathway of complement activation, a component of the innate immune system. ... > full story

Genetic study offers insight into the social lives of bees (April 19, 2011) -- Most people have trouble telling them apart, but bumble bees, honey bees, stingless bees and solitary bees have home lives that are as different from one another as a monarch's palace is from a hippie commune or a hermit's cabin in the woods. A new study of these bees offers a first look at the genetic underpinnings of their differences in lifestyle. ... > full story

Virtual surgery shows promise in personalized treatment of nasal obstruction (April 19, 2011) -- A preliminary report suggests that virtual nasal surgery has the potential to be a productive tool that may enable surgeons to perform personalized nasal surgery using computer simulation techniques. ... > full story

Using leaves' characteristics improves accuracy measuring past climates (April 19, 2011) -- Geologists have shown that a new method that uses different size and shape traits of leaves to reconstruct past climates over the last 120 million years is more accurate than other current methods. ... > full story

Do-not-resuscitate orders associated with poor surgical outcomes even for non-emergency procedures (April 19, 2011) -- Surgical patients with do-not-resuscitate orders appear to be at higher risk for poor surgical outcomes, according to a new study. ... > full story

Did a supernova mark the birth of the Merry Monarch? (April 19, 2011) -- The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is the relic of the explosion of a massive star that took place around 11,000 years ago and is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky. Oddly, although the light from the explosion should have reached the Earth in the seventeenth century and been easily visible in the sky, it appears to have gone unnoticed. Now astronomers and historians argue that the supernova was seen -- as a 'new' star visible during the day at the birth of the future King Charles II of Great Britain. ... > full story

Common virus plus low sunlight exposure may increase risk of multiple sclerosis (April 19, 2011) -- New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis than those without the virus. ... > full story

Small molecules inhibit growth of human tumor cells (April 19, 2011) -- Researchers have identified three novel small molecules that interrupt a crucial cellular communication pathway that regulates many aspects of development and cancer. The finding could provide the basis for innovative therapies for colorectal cancer and other diseases associated with aberrations in this pathway. ... > full story

Treatment-resistant epilepsy common in idiopathic autism; Associated with early seizure onset and cognitive impairment (April 19, 2011) -- A new study found that treatment-resistant epilepsy is common in idiopathic autism. Early age at the onset of seizures and delayed global development were associated with a higher frequency of resistance to antiepileptic drugs. ... > full story

Learn to run a biorefinery in a virtual control room (April 19, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a virtual biorefinery control room based on ethanol and biodiesel plants in Iowa. The system is designed to teach students and workers to efficiently run a biorefinery. The simulations take into account more than 20 production attributes including moisture, starch content, contaminants, temperature and particle size. The virtual control room can be modified to offer training and experience when new feedstocks and technologies are developed. ... > full story

Students develop thought-controlled, hands-free computer for the disabled (April 19, 2011) -- Software engineering students have developed innovative technology that could enable people to operate a computer without using a keyboard or mouse -- only their brainwaves. ... > full story

'Liquefaction' key to much of Japanese earthquake damage (April 18, 2011) -- The massive subduction zone earthquake in Japan caused a significant level of soil "liquefaction" that has surprised researchers with its widespread severity, a new analysis shows. The findings also raise questions about whether existing building codes and engineering technologies are adequately accounting for this phenomenon in other vulnerable locations. ... > full story

Predicting premature birth possible through markers in mother's blood (April 18, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a group of proteins and peptides that signal risk of premature birth. Their research shows that more than 80 percent of preterm births can be spotted in advance with a blood test taken during the second trimester. ... > full story

New pollutants: Flame retardants detected in peregrine falcon eggs (April 18, 2011) -- Flame retardants are chemical compounds added to fabrics and plastics to keep them from burning easily, but these can be toxic. Now a team of researchers from Spain and Canada has detected some of these emerging pollutants for the first time in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both countries. ... > full story

Safety of stored blood among chief concerns for transfusion medicine community (April 18, 2011) -- In light of recent studies that suggest the use of stored blood during transfusions may cause adverse effects in patients, a number of research projects were funded to examine the safety of transfusing older red cells and the impact of stored blood on respiratory gases. These papers discussing potential adverse effects of stored blood and related concerns for oxygen delivery by transfusion are now available online. ... > full story

Closer look at cell membrane shows cholesterol 'keeping order' (April 18, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a way to magnify cell membranes dramatically and watch them move, revealing a surprising dependence on cholesterol within this boundary between the cell and the outside world. ... > full story

Primary care targeted for suicide prevention efforts (April 18, 2011) -- Forty-five percent of the 32,000 Americans who take their own lives each year visit their primary care provider within one month of their death. Yet only in the last decade has suicide been considered a preventable public health problem. ... > full story

Missing the gorilla: People prone to 'inattention blindness' have a lower working memory capacity (April 18, 2011) -- Psychologists have learned why many people experience "inattention blindness" -- the phenomenon that leaves drivers on cell phones prone to traffic accidents and makes a gorilla invisible to viewers of a famous video. The answer: People who fail to see something right in front of them while they are focusing on something else have lower "working memory capacity" -- a measure of the ability to focus attention when and where needed, and on more than one thing at a time. ... > full story

MRI may predict which adults will develop Alzheimer's (April 18, 2011) -- Using MRI, researchers may be able to predict which adults with mild cognitive impairment are more likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

Watching the birth of a sunspot (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers have monitored the birth of a sunspot over a period of eight hours using observations from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). ... > full story

Immediate treatment can alleviate future back problems, research suggests (April 18, 2011) -- Immediate treatment by a physiotherapist, bypassing a waiting list, can reduce problems with recurring low back pain, new research suggests. ... > full story

Neutral atoms made to act like electrically charged particles (April 18, 2011) -- Completing the circuit they started by creating synthetic magnetic fields, scientists have made atoms act as if they were charged particles in electric fields. ... > full story

Many restaurant staff are undertrained and misinformed about food allergies, study finds (April 18, 2011) -- A new study reveals that there is no association between a restaurant worker's knowledge of food allergy and his or her confidence in being able to provide a safe meal to a food allergic customer. ... > full story

Shocking environment of hot Jupiters (April 18, 2011) -- Jupiter-like worlds around other stars push shock waves ahead of them, according to astronomers. Just as Earth's magnetic "bow-shock" protects us from the high-energy solar wind, these planetary shocks protect their atmospheres from their star's damaging emissions, according to new research. ... > full story

Compound effectively halts progression of multiple sclerosis in animal model (April 18, 2011) -- Scientists have developed the first of a new class of highly selective compounds that effectively suppresses the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models. The new compound could provide new and potentially more effective therapeutic approaches to multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases that affect patients worldwide. ... > full story

Oxygenation at a depth of 120 meters could save the Baltic Sea, researchers demonstrate (April 18, 2011) -- Oxygenation brings dead sea bottoms to life. This creates the necessary conditions for the establishment of new ecosystems that enable nature itself to deal with eutrophication. By conducting pilot studies in two fjords in Sweden, researchers have demonstrated that pumping oxygen-rich surface water down to sea bottoms is effective. A large wind-driven pump is now to be tested in open water in the Baltic. ... > full story

Temporary memory loss strikes hospitalized seniors (April 18, 2011) -- Battling an illness, lack of sleep and strange surroundings can make any hospital patient feel out of sorts. For seniors, hospitalizations actually may cause temporary memory loss and difficulty in understanding discharge instructions, according to a new study. ... > full story

Scientists finely control methane combustion to get different products (April 18, 2011) -- Scientists find that combustion of methane using two gold atoms at room temperature yields ethylene, while at lower temperatures it yields formaldehyde. ... > full story

How the bilingual brain copes with aging: As brain power decreases, older adults find new ways to compute language (April 18, 2011) -- Older bilingual adults compensate for age-related declines in brainpower by developing new strategies to process language, according to a recent study. ... > full story

Oldest known toothache? Infection in jaw of ancient reptilian fossil revealed (April 18, 2011) -- A reptile that lived 275-million years ago in what is now Oklahoma is giving paleontologists a glimpse of the oldest known toothache. ... > full story

Botox eases painful spinal headaches, study finds (April 18, 2011) -- A new case study finds Botox may offer new hope to patients suffering disabling low cerebrospinal fluid headaches. The successful treatment also offers new insight into Botox and headache treatment generally. ... > full story

New way to control magnetic properties of graphene discovered (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way to control magnetic properties of graphene that could lead to powerful new applications in magnetic storage and magnetic random access memory. ... > full story

Breast cancer: Tumor marker same in dogs and humans (April 18, 2011) -- Researchers were surprised to find that dogs and humans share a common tumor marker. The researchers uncovered a molecule, the CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) receptor, that is almost identical in the two species. The result could lead to the rapid development of new therapies for dogs and humans. ... > full story

Carbon sequestration estimate in US increased, barring a drought (April 18, 2011) -- Forests and other terrestrial ecosystems in the lower 48 states can sequester up to 40 percent of the nation's fossil fuel carbon emissions, a larger amount than previously estimated -- unless a drought or other major disturbance occurs, new research shows. ... > full story

It’s not over when it's over: Storing sounds in the inner ear (April 18, 2011) -- Research shows that vibrations in the inner ear continue even after a sound has ended, perhaps serving as a kind of mechanical memory of recent sounds. In addition to contributing to the understanding of the complex process of sound perception, the results may shed light on other fascinating aspects of the auditory system, such as why some gaps between sounds are too brief to be perceived by the human ear. ... > full story

Nanofiber spheres carrying cells injected into wounds to grow tissue (April 18, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have made star-shaped, biodegradable polymers that can self-assemble into hollow, nanofiber spheres, and when the spheres are injected with cells into wounds, these spheres biodegrade, but the cells live on to form new tissue. ... > full story

New therapeutic target for asthma, COPD and other lung disorders identified (April 18, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a molecule's previously unknown role as a major trigger for airway remodeling, which impairs lung function, making the molecule a promising therapeutic target for chronic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and several other lung conditions. ... > full story

Sugarcane cools climate, study finds (April 18, 2011) -- Brazilians are world leaders in using biofuels. About a quarter of their automobile fuel consumption comes from sugarcane, which significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Now scientists have found that sugarcane has a double benefit. Expansion of the crop in areas previously occupied by other crops cools the local climate by reflecting sunlight back into space and by lowering the air temperature as the plants "exhale" cooler water. ... > full story

Probiotic may reduce rate of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, study suggests (April 18, 2011) -- Urinary tract infections are common in women and occur frequently, affecting 2 to 3 percent of all women. A depletion of vaginal lactobacilli, a type of bacteria, is associated with urinary tract infection risk, which suggests that replenishing these bacteria may be beneficial. Researchers conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to investigate this theory. Their results suggest that a probiotic may reduce the rate of recurrent urinary tract infections in women prone to these infections. ... > full story

Why ancient Mayan communities were 'living on the edge' of what is now a massive wetland (April 18, 2011) -- Archeologists are investigating why a highly sophisticated civilization decided to build large, bustling cities next to what is essentially swampland. The research zeroes in on why larger and successful Maya communities were located along the edges of the massive wetlands of Tikal. ... > full story

Crash rates may be higher for teen drivers who start school earlier in the morning (April 18, 2011) -- A new study shows increased automobile crash rates among teen drivers who start school earlier in the morning. ... > full story

Bone-munching worms from the deep sea thrive on fish bones (April 18, 2011) -- A new study is painting a more complete picture of an extraordinary sea worm that makes its living in the depths of the ocean on the bones of dead animals. ... > full story

Artificial pancreas may improve overnight control of diabetes in adults (April 18, 2011) -- Two small randomized trials suggest that closed loop insulin delivery (also known as an artificial pancreas) may improve overnight blood glucose control and reduce the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia (a sudden drop in blood glucose levels during the night) in adults with type 1 diabetes. ... > full story

Vanilla: Preserving a world favorite flavor (April 18, 2011) -- Vanilla is one of the world's best-loved flavors, and demand for it is increasing all the time. But now its future in the global food industry could be more secure, thanks to new research in Malaysia. ... > full story

Mortality rate is increased in persons with autism who also have epilepsy, study finds (April 18, 2011) -- A comprehensive investigation of postmortem brain tissue has determined that one-third of the brain donors with autism also had epilepsy, and co-morbidity data revealed a higher than expected rate of mortality in individuals with both autism and epilepsy than for individuals with autism alone. ... > full story

Paleontologists audition modern examples of ancient behavior (April 18, 2011) -- A video of a modern shellfish by paleontologists suggests a way to test theories about the behavior of fossilized specimens. ... > full story

L-lysine may help schizophrenia sufferers cope (April 18, 2011) -- Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that currently affects about one in every 200 people. Most patients find some relief from their symptoms by treatment with antipsychotics, however they may still suffer from cognitive and negative symptoms. Preliminary research shows that patients who received L-lysine alongside their normal medication found some reduction in the severity of their symptoms. ... > full story

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