ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, April 27, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, April 27, 2011

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Can Siberian hot springs reveal ancient ecology? (April 27, 2011) -- Exotic bacteria that do not rely on oxygen may have played an important role in determining the composition of Earth's early atmosphere, according to a new theory that researchers are testing in the scalding hot springs of a volcanic crater in Siberia. ... > full story

Protein inhibitor may bring a topical treatment for HPV (April 27, 2011) -- Patients infected with cancer-causing HPV may someday have an alternative to surgical and harsh chemical treatments, thanks to new research. Researchers have developed a protein-based inhibitor that could provide a topical treatment for HPV. ... > full story

Prey-tell: Why right whales linger in the Gulf of Maine (April 27, 2011) -- As they might with most endangered animals, scientists consider the whereabouts and activities of right whales extremely important. New research finds that the location, the length of stay, and perhaps the very abundance of the whales may be dependent on an interesting vertical migration pattern by the copepods on which the whales feed. It seems to be a case of how the behavior of the prey influences the behavior of the whales. ... > full story

Antibiotic may prove beneficial to preterm infant lung health, study suggests (April 27, 2011) -- A new study shows promise for the use of azithromycin in treating Ureaplasma-colonized or infected premature infants to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). ... > full story

Collective conservation efforts boosted rhino population in Nepal, new data show (April 27, 2011) -- After three rigorous weeks of conducting the National Rhino Census in Nepal, new data on the population of greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) have been formally released. According to the census, there are 534 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 99 rhinos from the 435 recorded in the last census in 2008. ... > full story

Fitness and frailty in adults linked to health outcomes (April 27, 2011) -- The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood as people age and not just after age 65, found a new article. Relatively good fitness levels at all ages were predictive of lower mortality and less reliance on health care services. ... > full story

Advice vs. experience: Genes predict learning style (April 27, 2011) -- A new study finds a specific genetic association with adhering to advice that conflicts with experience. Variations in certain genes lead to a strong-willed prefrontal cortex that can bias the striatum, where experience is analyzed. ... > full story

Streptococci and E. coli continue to put newborns at risk for sepsis (April 27, 2011) -- Bloodstream infections in newborns can lead to serious complications with substantial morbidity and mortality. In recent years, antibiotic prophylaxis given to at-risk mothers has reduced the incidence of early-onset group B streptococcal infections among their babies. A new nationwide study shows the most frequent pathogens associated with sepsis are group B streptococci (GBS) in full-term infants and Escherichia coli in preterm infants. The study also found that infection rates in newborns increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight. ... > full story

Water molecules characterize the structure of DNA genetic material (April 27, 2011) -- Water molecules surround the genetic material DNA in a very specific way. Scientists have discovered that, on the one hand, the texture of this hydration shell depends on the water content and, on the other hand, actually influences the structure of the genetic substance itself. These findings are not only important in understanding the biological function of DNA; they could also be used for the construction of new DNA-based materials. ... > full story

Gynecologic cancer expert helps pinpoint best treatment for fast-growing gestational tumors (April 27, 2011) -- A clinical trial has sifted out the most effective single-drug chemotherapy regimen for quick-growing but highly curable cancers that arise from the placentas of pregnant women. ... > full story

Scientists focus on light ions for fast ignition of fusion fuels (April 27, 2011) -- Scientists have demonstrated significant progress in the efficiency and cost effectiveness of light ions in the fast ignition of fusion targets. Light ions such as lithium or carbon are easier to produce technologically and the ion beam properties can be manipulated and tailored best to suit the necessary requirements for fast ignition. ... > full story

New system increases reliability of opinion polls (April 27, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a fuzzy neural network that uses a numerical and categorical imputation method to reconstruct incomplete datasets. This network achieves substantially better results than the imputation methods now in use in opinion polling. ... > full story

Plankton fossils tell tale of evolution and extinction (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists studying the fossils of tiny ocean-dwelling plankton, called foraminifera, have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of why species evolve or become extinct. ... > full story

Key players identified in cancer cells' survival kit (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered new details of how cancer cells escape from tumor suppression mechanisms that normally prevent these damaged cells from multiplying. They also demonstrated a potential link between this cell proliferation control mechanism and the cognitive deficits caused by Down syndrome. ... > full story

Effect of cloud-scattered sunlight on Earth's energy balance depends on wavelength of light (April 26, 2011) -- Atmospheric scientists trying to pin down how clouds curb the amount of sunlight available to warm the earth have found that it depends on the wavelength of sunlight being measured. This unexpected result will help researchers improve how they portray clouds in climate models. ... > full story

Chlamydia: New method to probe genes of most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (April 26, 2011) -- In a new study, scientists describe successfully mutating specific genes of Chlamydia bacteria, which cause the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States as well as a type of blindness common in developing nations. ... > full story

Diamonds shine in quantum networks: Researchers hitch precious stone's impurities onto nano-resonators (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have come up with a way to use impurities in diamonds as a method of creating a node in a quantum network. ... > full story

Medical evidence of torture neglected in Guantánamo Bay detainees, suggests review of records (April 26, 2011) -- Inspection of medical records, case files and legal affidavits provides compelling evidence that medical personnel who treated detainees at Guantanamo Bay failed to inquire and/or document causes of physical injuries and psychological symptoms they observed in the detainees, according to a new article. ... > full story

New sensor glove may help stroke patients recover mobility (April 26, 2011) -- People who have strokes are often left with moderate to severe physical impairments. Now, thanks to a glove, stroke patients may be able to recover hand motion by playing video games. ... > full story

Scientists identify a surprising new source of cancer stem cells (April 26, 2011) -- Certain differentiated cells in breast tissue can spontaneously convert to a stem-cell-like state, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Until now, scientific dogma has stated that differentiation is a one-way path; once cells specialize, they cannot return to the flexible stem-cell state on their own. These findings hold true for normal mammary cells as well as for breast cancer cells. ... > full story

Green environments essential for human health, research shows (April 26, 2011) -- Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to an environment and behavior researcher. ... > full story

Link between high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes clarified (April 26, 2011) -- New research adds clarity to the connection between a high fat diet and type 2 diabetes. The study finds that saturated fatty acids but not the unsaturated type can activate immune cells to produce an inflammatory protein, called interleukin-1beta. ... > full story

School students help astronomers study mysterious X-ray source (April 26, 2011) -- Astronomers from Wales and the Netherlands, in collaboration with five schools, have used eight telescopes simultaneously to study the strange behavior of an X-ray binary star system. ... > full story

How beliefs shape effort and learning (April 26, 2011) -- If it was easy to learn, it will be easy to remember -- right? Psychological scientists have maintained that nearly everyone uses this simple rule to assess their own learning. Now a new study suggests otherwise. ... > full story

King crabs invade Antarctica (April 26, 2011) -- It's like a scene out of a sci-fi movie -- thousands, possibly millions, of king crabs are marching through icy, deep-sea waters and up the Antarctic slope. Shell-crushing crabs haven't been in Antarctica, Earth's southernmost continent, for hundreds or thousands, if not millions, of years. But something has changed, and these crustaceans are poised to move by the droves up the slope and onto the shelf that surrounds Antarctica. ... > full story

A cancer marker and treatment in one? (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers say antibodies to a non-human sugar molecule commonly found in people may be useful as a future biomarker for predicting cancer risk, for diagnosing cancer cases early and, in sufficient concentration, used as a treatment for suppressing tumor growth. ... > full story

Flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- Scientists have found chemical flame retardants in the blood of pet dogs at concentrations five to 10 times higher than in humans, but lower than levels found in a previous study of cats. ... > full story

Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills, study suggests (April 26, 2011) -- Drospirenone, the top-selling oral contraceptive marketed as Yaz or Yasmin in the US and Canada, doesn't carry any more risk of gall bladder disease than the older generation of birth control pills, despite claims by some consumers and lawyers in both countries, according to a new study. ... > full story

Nanoscience may hold key to surgical recovery (April 26, 2011) -- New nano-systems developed in the UK may eventually help patients recover from surgery without the danger of allergic reactions to drugs. ... > full story

A screening test for cognitive therapy? (April 26, 2011) -- The most effective treatments for depression, including cognitive therapy, are successful for only about half the patients to whom they are given. The ability to predict those individuals who would be most likely to benefit from such treatment would reduce individuals' recovery times, eliminate the delivery of ineffective treatments, and reduce the high costs of care. ... > full story

Replacing batteries may become a thing of the past, thanks to 'soft generators' (April 26, 2011) -- Battery technology hasn't kept pace with advancements in portable electronics, but the race is on to fix this. One revolutionary concept being pursued involves creating "wearable energy harvesters" capable of converting movement from humans or found in nature into battery power. ... > full story

Gene that could hold the key to muscle repair identified (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have long questioned why patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) tend to manage well through childhood and adolescence, yet succumb to their disease in early adulthood, or why elderly people who lose muscle strength following bed rest find it difficult or impossible to regain. Now, researchers are beginning to find answers in a specialized population of cells called satellite cells. ... > full story

Radar shows promise for detecting concussions in athletes and soldiers (April 26, 2011) -- By asking an individual to walk a short distance in front of a radar system while saying the months of the year in reverse order, researchers can determine if that person is impaired and possibly suffering from a concussion. This simple test, which could be performed at sporting events or on battlefields, has the potential to help coaches and commanders decide if athletes and soldiers are ready to engage in activity again. ... > full story

Innovative screening method identifies possible new treatment for fatal childhood disease (April 26, 2011) -- Many genes that cause human diseases have parallel genes in other organisms, including yeast. Now researchers have used an innovative yeast-based screening method to identify a possible treatment for the fatal childhood disease Niemann-Pick C. This "exacerbate-reverse" approach can potentially be used to study any disease. ... > full story

Safeguarding genome integrity through extraordinary DNA repair (April 26, 2011) -- Once called "junk DNA" because it contains numerous repeated short sequences that don't code for proteins, heterochromatin is in fact vital for normal growth and function. Yet it poses special challenges to accurate DNA repair. Scientists have discovered an unsuspected and dramatic process by which double-strand breaks in heterochromatin are repaired in dynamic stages. ... > full story

Men tend to leap to judgement where women see more shades of grey, research shows (April 26, 2011) -- An experiment by researchers in the UK has found the first real evidence that men tend to make black-or-white judgements when women are more prone to see shades of grey in choices and decisions. ... > full story

Solar power goes viral: Researchers use virus to improve solar-cell efficiency (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found a way to make significant improvements to the power-conversion efficiency of solar cells by enlisting the services of tiny viruses to perform detailed assembly work at the microscopic level. ... > full story

Protein levels could signal that a child will develop diabetes, researchers believe (April 26, 2011) -- Decreasing blood levels of a protein that helps control inflammation may be a red flag that could help children avoid type 1 diabetes, researchers say. ... > full story

Chernobyl's radioactivity reduced populations of birds of orange plumage, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- On April 26, 1986, history's greatest nuclear accident took place northwest of the Ukrainian city of Chernobyl. Despite the scale of the disaster, 25 years later, we still do not know its real effects. An international team of investigators has shown for the first time that the color of birds' plumage may make them more vulnerable to radioactivity. ... > full story

Pioneering animal diabetes treatment: Researchers adapt human continuous glucose monitors for pets (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers have changed the way veterinarians treat diabetes in animals by adapting a device used to monitor glucose in humans. ... > full story

Conducting ferroelectrics may be key to new electronic memory (April 26, 2011) -- Novel properties of ferroelectric materials are moving scientists one step closer to realizing a new paradigm of electronic memory storage. ... > full story

Narcotic pain relief drug overdose deaths a national epidemic (April 26, 2011) -- Unintentional overdose deaths in teens and adults have reached epidemic proportions in the US. In some 20 states in 2007 the number of unintentional drug poisoning deaths exceeded either motor vehicle crashes or suicides, two of the leading causes of injury death. In a new commentary article, physicians cite data noting that in 2007 unintentional deaths due to prescription opioid pain killers were involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. ... > full story

Scientists create stable, self-renewing neural stem cells (April 26, 2011) -- Researchers report a game-changing advance in stem cell science: the creation of long-term, self-renewing, primitive neural precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that can be directed to become many types of neuron without increased risk of tumor formation. ... > full story

Reasonable quantities of red pepper may help curb appetite, study suggests (April 26, 2011) -- Spicing up your daily diet with some red pepper can curb appetite, especially for those who don't normally eat the popular spice, according to research from Purdue University. ... > full story

Tai chi appears to benefit quality of life for patients with chronic heart failure, study finds (April 26, 2011) -- Tai chi exercise appears to be associated with improved quality of life, mood and exercise self-efficacy in patients with chronic heart failure, according to a new study. ... > full story

HIV infection may be a risk factor for heart failure (April 26, 2011) -- Patients with HIV infection without a prior history of coronary heart disease may be at a higher risk of developing heart failure, according to a new study. ... > full story

New tools to tackle a solar data storm (April 26, 2011) -- So great is the wealth of data about the Sun now being sent back by space missions such as SOHO, STEREO and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) that scientists back on Earth can struggle to keep pace. To combat this data overload, scientists are developing advanced imaging tools to help scientists visualise what's happening at the Sun, make sense of the data and predict the extreme solar activities that could affect our life here on Earth. ... > full story

Higher levels of social activity decrease the risk of cognitive decline (April 26, 2011) -- If you want to keep your brain healthy, it turns out that visiting friends, attending parties, and even going to church might be just as good for you as crossword puzzles. According to new research, frequent social activity may help to prevent or delay cognitive decline in old age. ... > full story

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