ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, May 27, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, May 27, 2011

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

NASA's Hubble finds rare 'blue straggler' stars in the Milky Way's hub (May 27, 2011) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found a rare class of oddball stars called blue stragglers in the hub of our Milky Way, the first detected within our galaxy's bulge. ... > full story

Omega-3 may cut risk of artery disease, heart attacks for patients with stents (May 27, 2011) -- New evidence indicates omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and other foods may work with two blood-thinners to reduce the risk of heart attack in stent patients. Patients who received omega-3 fatty acids combined with two blood-thinning drugs after stent implantation in affected arteries had weaker clots than those who got only blood thinners. ... > full story

Structure formed by strep protein can trigger toxic shock (May 27, 2011) -- Strep can turn deadly when a protein found on its surface triggers a widespread inflammatory reaction. The protein links with a host protein that is normally involved in blood clotting to form scaffolds. These assemble into dense superstructures that immune cells mistake for blood clots and overreact, leading to sepsis, shock, organ failure and death. ... > full story

Gestational diabetes can be predicted seven years before pregnancy with blood sugar and body weight, study suggests (May 27, 2011) -- A woman's risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy can be identified up to seven years before she becomes pregnant based on routinely assessed measures of blood sugar and body weight, according to new research. ... > full story

Superior sound for telephones, mobile and related devices (May 27, 2011) -- Telephone calls and video conferences with a sound quality that approaches that of direct communication are now possible with a new audio coding technology - it is almost as if the discussion participants are sitting across from one another. ... > full story

Inability to cry in patients with Sjogrens syndrome affect emotional and mental well-being (May 27, 2011) -- Patients with Sjogren's syndrome, a systemic immune disease which affects the production of tears and saliva, reported worse mental well-being and more difficulty in identifying feelings than the healthy population, according to new research. ... > full story

Autism changes molecular structure of the brain: Discovery points to a common cause for multifaceted disease (May 27, 2011) -- For decades, autism researchers have faced a baffling riddle: how to unravel a disorder that leaves no known physical trace as it develops in the brain. Now a new study is the first to reveal how the disorder makes its mark at the molecular level, resulting in an autistic brain that differs dramatically in structure from a healthy one. The findings provide new insight into how genes and proteins go awry in autism to alter the mind. ... > full story

Aging, obsolete cells prime the lungs for pneumonia (May 27, 2011) -- Why are older people vulnerable to community-acquired pneumonia? A new study gives an explanation: cells that are supposed to die, but don't. ... > full story

Orphan chimpanzees successfully released into the wild using advanced GPS technology (May 27, 2011) -- The 2008 release of 12 orphan chimpanzees into the wild using sophisticated GPS tracking technology has been deemed a success by the project team. The release was the first of its kind to use VHF-GPS store-on-board ARGOS tracking collars to monitor the progress of the chimpanzees. It is also only the second time that rehabilitated chimpanzees have been released back into the wild in an area where other wild chimpanzees live. ... > full story

Kidney transplants are faring better than previously reported, long-term study shows (May 27, 2011) -- The largest long-term study of kidney transplant recipients published to date demonstrates that progressive damage to kidney transplants may be less common and less severe than previously reported. ... > full story

Medicines from plants (May 27, 2011) -- Some people think of herbal teas, others of tobacco when they hear the buzzword 'medicines from plants'. One research team succeeded in producing biopharmaceuticals -- such as an antibody against HIV, for example -- in tobacco plants. ... > full story

World-wide assessment determines differences in cultures (May 27, 2011) -- Conflicts and misunderstandings frequently arise between individuals from different cultures. But what makes cultures different; what makes one more restrictive and another less so? A new study offers insights that may help explain such cultural differences and bridge the gaps between them. Researchers show that the more threats a society has been exposed to, the more likely they are to be a restrictive society. ... > full story

High risk of Parkinson's disease for people exposed to pesticides near workplace: Pesticide ziram implicated as possible cause for disease (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found that exposure to certain pesticides increased the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) by three-fold, for non-farm workers who simply lived near fields being sprayed. Further, the study also implicates the pesticide ziram in the pathology of PD. ... > full story

Master gene may shed new light on lysosomal and neurodegenerative disorders (May 26, 2011) -- Cells, like ordinary households, produce "garbage" – debris and dysfunctional elements - that need disposal. When the mechanism for taking out this garbage fails, rare genetic diseases called lysosomal storage disorders (including Tay-Sachs, Batten and Fabry disease) can disable and even kill the children they affect. Researchers have now discovered a master gene that controls not only the lysosomes, which destroy the debris, but also cellular compartments called autophagosomes that encapsulate the material and fuse with the lysosomes to achieve the ultimate clearance of the cell's "garbage." ... > full story

NASA's WISE mission offers a taste of galaxies to come (May 26, 2011) -- An assorted mix of colorful galaxies is being released by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission, or WISE. The nine galaxies are a taste of what's to come. The mission plans to release similar images for the 1,000 largest galaxies that appear in our sky, and possibly more. ... > full story

Multitasking meds: Scientists discover how drug for leukemia, psoriasis, may tackle vascular disease (May 26, 2011) -- A drug that has been on the market for decades to treat leukemia and skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis may be a possible therapy for vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. ... > full story

Testing material hardness and strength: Butter up the old 'scratch test' to make it tough (May 26, 2011) -- It might not seem like scraping the top of a cold stick of butter with a knife could be a scientific test, but engineers say the process is very similar to the "scratch test," which is perhaps the oldest known way to assess a material's hardness and strength. Using butter as a launching point, they found that the scratch test is actually measuring a material's toughness rather than its strength. ... > full story

U.S. health: Cognitive decline incidence higher in southern Stroke Belt (May 26, 2011) -- New research shows that residents of the Stroke Belt -- a southern portion of the U.S. with significantly elevated stroke morality rate -- also have a greater incidence of cognitive decline than other regions of the country. Researchers believe shared risk factors among members of this population are to blame. ... > full story

Fossil of giant ancient sea predator discovered (May 26, 2011) -- Paleontologists have discovered that a group of remarkable ancient sea creatures existed for much longer and grew to much larger sizes than previously thought, thanks to extraordinarily well-preserved fossils discovered in Morocco. The giant fossilized anomalocaridid measures one meter in length and dates back to the Ordovician period, suggesting these animals existed for 30 million years longer than previously realized. ... > full story

Folic acid given to mother rats protects offspring from colon cancer (May 26, 2011) -- Folic acid supplements given to pregnant and breastfeeding rats reduced the rate of colon cancer in their offspring by 64 percent, a new study has found. ... > full story

The quantum computer is growing up: Repetitive error correction in a quantum processor (May 26, 2011) -- Physicists have demonstrated a crucial element for a future functioning quantum computer: repetitive error correction. This allows scientists to correct errors occurring in a quantum computer efficiently. ... > full story

Two gene classes linked to new prion formation (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered two classes of yeast genes that may hold clues as to why proteins take on the misfolded prion form, a condition associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as "mad cow." ... > full story

Estimating landfill gas potential (May 26, 2011) -- Research suggests that landfill gas-recovery projects should be implemented quickly if the maximum amount of methane gas is to be retrieved from organic waste in as short as time as possible, according to a new study. ... > full story

Scans show it's not only sight that helps us get our bearings (May 26, 2011) -- Our brain's understanding of spatial awareness is not triggered by sight alone, scientists have found, in a development that could help design technology for the visually impaired. Researchers have found that our brain can use other senses -- such as touch -- to help us understand spatial awareness. ... > full story

Scientists detect Earth-equivalent amount of water within the moon (May 26, 2011) -- The moon has much more water than previously thought, a scientific team has discovered. First-time measurements of lunar melt inclusions show that some parts of the lunar mantle have as much water as the Earth's upper mantle. The results may change the prevailing theory about the Moon's origin as well as shed new light on the origin of water at the lunar poles. Results appear in Science Express. ... > full story

Immune system release valve: Scientists reveal a new mechanism for keeping inflammation in check (May 26, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a mechanism that controls inflammation similarly to a steam-engine valve: just when the inflammatory mechanism that protects cells against viruses reaches its peak of activity, the molecular "steam-release valve" interferes, restoring this mechanism to its resting state, ready for re-activation. ... > full story

'I can hear a building over there:' Blind echolocation experts use 'visual' part of their brain to process the clicks and echoes (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers have recently shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the "visual" part of their brain to process the clicks and echoes. The study is the first to investigate the neural basis of natural human echolocation. ... > full story

Antibiotics overused for children with asthma and urinary tract infections, studies suggest (May 26, 2011) -- Some antibiotics may be overused for children with asthma and urinary tract infections, new research suggests. The findings raise concerns around breeding drug resistance in children and underscore the need for pediatricians to take a more prudent approach when prescribing antibiotic medications. In the case of asthma, the findings have led to a new trial, in which the value of targeted antibiotics is being tested. ... > full story

Fungi reduce need for fertilizer in agriculture (May 26, 2011) -- The next agricultural revolution may be sparked by fungi, helping to greatly increase food-production for the growing needs of the planet without the need for massive amounts of fertilizers according to new research. ... > full story

Children experience wrist and finger pain when using gaming devices and mobile phones over time, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- For the first time, results on the impact of gaming devices on finger and wrist pain in children were presented. Data comparing two schools in the USA demonstrate that young children experience high levels of pain following long term use of gaming devices and mobile phones indicating that excessive gaming may negatively impact on joint health. ... > full story

Scientists debunk theory on end of 'Snowball Earth' ice age (May 26, 2011) -- Scientists report that the rocks on which much of a theory on how the "Snowball Earth" ice age ended was based were formed millions of years after the ice age ended, and were formed at temperatures so high there could have been no living creatures associated with them. ... > full story

Healthy gut flora could prevent obesity, rat study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- Poor gut flora is believed to trigger obesity. In the same way, healthy gut flora could reduce the risk. This has shown to be the case in tests on rats. ... > full story

'Guide vests': Robotic navigation aids for the visually impaired (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers are developing a robot vision-based mobility aid for the visually impaired that uses head-carried cameras linked to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) software to build maps of the environment and identify a safe path through obstacles. The information is conveyed to the user through a guide vest that includes four micro motors located on an individual's shoulder and waist that vibrate like cell phones. ... > full story

Diabetics at higher risk of tuberculosis infection, researchers find (May 26, 2011) -- People with diabetes have a three to five times higher risk of contracting tuberculosis than non-diabetics, according to researchers. ... > full story

Feuding helium dwarf stars exposed by eclipse (May 26, 2011) -- Researchers have found a unique feuding double white dwarf star system where each star appears to have been stripped down to just its helium. ... > full story

Monkeys can play Monday morning quarterback, too (May 26, 2011) -- Regret has long been viewed as an exclusively human thought, one which helps prevent us from repeating bad choices but becomes debilitating when it triggers obsessive thoughts about past actions. Now a new study shows that monkeys also can be Monday morning quarterbacks and visualize alternative, hypothetical outcomes. ... > full story

Unique canine tooth from 'Peking man' found in Swedish museum collection (May 26, 2011) -- Fossils from so-called Peking man are extremely rare, as most of the finds disappeared during World War II. A unique discovery has been made at the Museum of Evolution at Uppsala University -- a canine tooth from Peking Man, untouched since it was dug up in the 1920s in China. ... > full story

Polypill halves predicted heart disease and stroke risk, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- The world's first international polypill trial has shown that a four-in-one combination pill can halve the predicted risk of heart disease and stroke. The once-a-day polypill contains aspirin and agents to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. These drugs are currently prescribed separately to millions of patients and are known individually to cut the risk of disease, but many experts believe that combining them into a single pill will encourage people to take the medications more reliably. ... > full story

Quantum sensor tracked in human cells could aid drug discovery (May 26, 2011) -- Groundbreaking research has shown a quantum atom has been tracked inside a living human cell and may lead to improvements in the testing and development of new drugs. ... > full story

Losing more than 15 percent of body weight significantly boosts vitamin D levels in overweight women (May 26, 2011) -- Overweight or obese women with less-than-optimal levels of vitamin D who lose more than 15 percent of their body weight experience significant increases in circulating levels of this fat-soluble nutrient, according to a new study. ... > full story

Teaching algae to make fuel: New process could lead to production of hydrogen using bioengineered microorganisms (May 26, 2011) -- Many kinds of algae and cyanobacteria, common water-dwelling microorganisms, are capable of using energy from sunlight to split water molecules and release hydrogen, which holds promise as a clean and carbon-free fuel for the future. One reason this approach hasn't yet been harnessed for fuel production is that under ordinary circumstances, hydrogen production takes a back seat to the production of compounds that the organisms use to support their own growth. ... > full story

Moderate sleep and less stress may help with weight loss (May 26, 2011) -- If you want to increase your chances of losing weight, reduce your stress level and get adequate sleep. A new study found that people trying to lose at least 10 pounds were more likely to reach that goal if they had lower stress levels and slept more than six hours but not more than eight hours a night. ... > full story

Intuitions regarding geometry are universal, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- All human beings may have the ability to understand elementary geometry, independently of their culture or their level of education. In a spherical universe, researchers found that Amazonian Indians gave better answers than French or North American participants who, by virtue of learning geometry at school, acquire greater familiarity with planar geometry than with spherical geometry. ... > full story

Protein drinks after exercise help older people build stronger muscles than those who drink carbohydrate beverages, study suggests (May 26, 2011) -- A new research report shows that what someone drinks after exercise plays a critical role in maximizing the effects of exercise. Specifically, the report shows that protein drinks after aerobic activity increases the training effect after six weeks, when compared to carbohydrate drinks. Additionally, this study suggests that this effect can be seen using as little as 20 grams of protein. ... > full story

Northern abalone: Endangered gourmet sea snail could be doomed by increasing ocean acidity (May 26, 2011) -- Increasing levels of ocean acidity could spell doom for British Columbia's already beleaguered northern abalone, according to the first study to provide direct experimental evidence that changing sea water chemistry is negatively affecting an endangered species. ... > full story

Long-term use of antibiotic to treat acne not associated with increased bacterial resistance, study finds (May 26, 2011) -- The prolonged use of tetracycline antibiotics commonly used to treat acne was associated with a reduced prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and was not associated with increased resistance to the tetracycline antibiotics, according to a new study. ... > full story

Biomedical imaging: Ultrasound guide star and time-reversal mirror can focus light deep under the skin (May 26, 2011) -- Focusing light into a scattering medium such as tissue has been a dream since the beginning of biomedical optics. Previous techniques allowed light to be focused only within a millimeter of the skin. Now a scientist has invented a technique called TRUE that uses an ultrasound guide star to allow scattered optical light be focused deep within tissue. ... > full story

Young adults' beliefs about their health clash with risky behaviors (May 26, 2011) -- Nine out of 10 Americans between ages 18-24 believe they're living healthy lifestyles -- yet most eat too much fast food, drink too many alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages and engage in other behaviors that could put them at risk of stroke, according to a new study. ... > full story

This message was sent to ranggomas.techdeck@blogger.com from:

ScienceDaily | 1 Research Court, Suite 450 | Rockville, MD 20850

Email Marketing by