ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, May 31, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, May 31, 2011

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Global warming may increase the capacity of trees to store carbon (May 31, 2011) -- One helpful action anyone can take in response to global warming is to plant trees and preserve forests. Trees and plants capture carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, thereby removing the most abundant greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and storing some of it in their woody tissue. New research shows that global warming may affect the capacity of trees to store carbon by altering the forest nitrogen cycling. A field experiment showed that warmer temperatures stimulated the gain of carbon stored in trees as woody tissue. ... > full story

Dietary inorganic nitrate may reduce heart dysfunction caused by powerful anti-cancer drug (May 31, 2011) -- Researchers have found that nutrient supplementation, like the kind that is found in leafy greens, spinach and lettuce, may reduce the damage to the heart caused by a powerful anti-cancer drug. ... > full story

Defect in graphene may present bouquet of possibilities (May 31, 2011) -- A class of decorative, flower-like defects in the nanomaterial graphene could have potentially important effects on the material's already unique electrical and mechanical properties, according to researchers. ... > full story

Study reveals need for personalized approach in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (May 31, 2011) -- A new discovery in mice may one day allow doctors to spare some patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from toxic treatments, while also opening the door for new therapeutic research. ... > full story

Exotic behavior when mechanical devices reach the nanoscale (May 31, 2011) -- Mechanical resonators are extensively used in high-tech industry, to mark time in electronic components, and to stabilize radio transmissions. Most mechanical resonators damp (slow down) in a well-understood linear manner, but ground-breaking work has now shown that resonators formed from nanoscale graphene and carbon nanotubes exhibit nonlinear damping, opening up exciting possibilities for super-sensitive detectors of force or mass. ... > full story

Acupuncture of benefit to those with unexplained symptoms, study suggests (May 31, 2011) -- Researchers have carried out a randomized control trial and a linked interview study regarding 80 such patients from GP practices across London, to investigate their experiences of having five-element acupuncture added to their usual care. This is the first trial of traditional acupuncture for people with unexplained symptoms. ... > full story

Scientists recreate brain cell networks providing view of activity behind memory formation (May 31, 2011) -- Researchers have reproduced the brain's complex electrical impulses onto models made of living brain cells that provide an unprecedented view of the neuron activity behind memory formation. ... > full story

Detecting lung cancer early: Researchers lay foundation for future blood test (May 31, 2011) -- A person's blood reveals whether he or she has lung cancer, according to researchers in Germany. The scientists are developing a blood test for smokers which could save human lives in the future, since the earlier a lung tumor is detected, the better the chances of survival are. ... > full story

Mating rivalry among furred and feathered: Variety is spice of life (May 31, 2011) -- Birds do it. Bees do it. Fish, lobsters, frogs and lizards do it, too. But when it comes to securing a mate in the animal world, variety is literally the spice of life. A group of scientists has found flexibility in mating rituals is the key to reproductive success when males outnumber females. ... > full story

Simple new bedside screening effectively identifies patients with acute aortic dissection (May 31, 2011) -- The most lethal and sudden heart event can be the toughest for doctors to diagnose. But a new study shows a simple, new bedside test is effective for determining who's most likely suffering from aortic dissection, a painful tearing in the lining of the body's largest blood vessel. Aortic dissection lead to the sudden death of award-winning TV actor John Ritter in 2003. ... > full story

Cover crop seeder pulls triple duty for small farms (May 31, 2011) -- Farmers using a cover crop seeder developed by agricultural scientists may eventually need only a single trip across the field to accomplish what takes most farmers three passes and several pieces of equipment to do. ... > full story

More focus needed on mental health triage in disaster preparedness, bioethicists urge (May 31, 2011) -- Bioethicists say disaster-response planning has overlooked the needs of people who suffer from pre-existing, serious mental conditions. Survivors already diagnosed with schizophrenia, dementia, addictions and bipolar disorder are vulnerable long before disaster strikes, they point out. ... > full story

Scientists discover the largest assembly of whale sharks ever recorded (May 30, 2011) -- Whale sharks are often thought to be solitary behemoths that live and feed in the open ocean. However, scientists have now found that this is not necessarily the case, finding that whale sharks can be gregarious and amass in the hundreds to feed in coastal waters. ... > full story

Mutated muscle protein can cause deafness: Gene mutations on X chromosome lead to progressive hearing impairment (May 30, 2011) -- Excessive noise is not the only thing that causes damage to hearing. In many cases, genetic factors are responsible for the loss of hearing at a young age. Researchers have discovered a previously unknown genetic cause of progressive hearing impairment: the disease is caused by mutations of the SMPX (small muscle protein) gene, which is located on the X chromosome. It was not previously known that this gene, which is active in the skeletal muscle and heart, also plays a role in hearing. The discovery will make it easier to diagnose progressive hearing impairment and may also provide a starting point for the development of new treatment methods. ... > full story

Assessing the influence of Alaska glaciers is slippery work (May 30, 2011) -- With an estimated 34,000 square miles of ice, an area about the size of Maine, Alaska's multitude of glaciers have a global impact. Scientists have now outlined the complexity and influence of Alaska glaciers in the journal Science. ... > full story

Risk of blood clots in veins: Hereditary factors studied in Swedish study (May 30, 2011) -- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common type of cardiovascular disease after coronary heart disease and stroke. Researchers recently mapped the significance of hereditary factors for venous thromboembolism in the entire Swedish population by studying the risk of VTE in children of parents with VTE compared with the children of parents who have not had VTE. ... > full story

Graphene can polarize light: Researchers demonstrate world's thinnest polarizer (May 30, 2011) -- Graphene, an ultra-flat monolayer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal crystal lattice, has attracted a strong wave of research interest due to its unique electrical and photonic properties. Now, researchers have demonstrated the world's thinnest polarizer, which relies on the coupling, guiding and polarizing of electromagnetic waves by graphene. They claim that this breakthrough will someday allow the integration on all-photonic circuits for high-speed optical communications. ... > full story

Break up of New Orleans households after Katrina (May 30, 2011) -- How well a family recovers from a natural catastrophe may be tied to the household's pre-disaster make up and socio-economic status. Researchers compared the number of households in New Orleans, LA that broke up following Hurricane Katrina to the national rate of household break-ups over an equivalent period. An estimated 1.3 million people fled the Gulf Coast during that emergency in 2005 -- the largest urban evacuation America has ever seen. Overall, the rate at which extended-family households broke up after the storm exceeded comparable national figures. ... > full story

Making complex composite materials to order (May 30, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to make complex composite materials whose attributes can be fine-tuned to give various desirable combinations of properties such as stiffness, strength, resistance to impacts and energy dissipation. ... > full story

Obesity greater risk for fatty liver than moderate amounts of alcohol, study suggests (May 30, 2011) -- Being overweight and resistant to insulin constitute a greater risk for fatty liver than was previously thought, according to a new study from Sweden. ... > full story

Can you hear me now? Songbirds tweak their tunes in different ways to cope with clamor (May 30, 2011) -- Some birds that live near noisy sites can alter their songs to deal with din. But closely related species with similar songs may tweak their tunes in different ways, says a new study. ... > full story

Aging: Peroxisomes have two independent proliferation mechanisms (May 30, 2011) -- Peroxisomes are cell organelles that can cause disease and aging processes if they do not function properly. Researchers have now demonstrated that peroxisomes can be created by two independent processes, one of which serves as a kind of ‘backup’. ... > full story

Flexible films for photovoltaics (May 30, 2011) -- Displays that can be rolled up and flexible solar cells -- both are potential future markets. Barrier layers that protect thin-film solar cells from oxygen and water vapor and thus increase their useful life are an essential component. ... > full story

Disparities in stroke care prevail among US racial/ethnic groups, experts say (May 30, 2011) -- Disparities based on race and ethnic origin exist in every aspect of stroke care, according to experts. Minority groups represent at least 28 percent of the US population, and the percent is expected to nearly double by the year 2050 -- increasing the need to close health care gaps. Education can significantly improve stroke care for minority groups. Programs to reach young minorities can help raise awareness that stroke is preventable and treatable. ... > full story

Mars: Red planet's rapid formation explains its small size relative to Earth (May 30, 2011) -- Mars developed in as little as two to four million years after the birth of the solar system, far more quickly than Earth, according to a new study. The red planet's rapid formation helps explain why it is so small, say researchers. ... > full story

Researchers show aging brain's reduced ability to respond to experience (May 30, 2011) -- Researchers have published new data on why the aging brain is less resilient and less capable of learning from life experiences. The findings provide further insight into the cognitive decline associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. ... > full story

New synchrotron technique could see hidden building blocks of life (May 30, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new synchrotron X-ray technique that may revolutionize the chemical analysis of rare materials like meteoric rock samples or fossils. ... > full story

Eight hours of resistance: Why do cancer cells easily give in to the temptation to divide? (May 30, 2011) -- New research reveals how the tumor suppressor p53 keeps the brakes on normal cell division. ... > full story

Sewage-derived nitrogen increasingly polluting Caribbean ecosystems (May 30, 2011) -- A new study finds that while fertilizer has been the dominant source of nitrogen pollution in Caribbean coastal ecosystems for the past 50 years, such pollution is on the decline. But now, sewage-derived nitrogen is increasingly becoming the top source of such pollution in those areas. ... > full story

People with body-image disorders process 'big picture' visual information abnormally (May 30, 2011) -- People suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD -- a severe mental illness characterized by debilitating misperceptions that they appear disfigured and ugly -- process visual information abnormally, even when looking at inanimate objects. The findings are an important step in developing treatments to change their self-perceptions. ... > full story

Ocean acidification will likely reduce diversity, resiliency in coral reef ecosystems (May 30, 2011) -- Ocean acidification, along with increased ocean temperatures, will likely severely reduce the diversity and resilience of coral reef ecosystems within this century, new research suggests. ... > full story

Why does flu trigger asthma? (May 30, 2011) -- When children with asthma get the flu, they often land in the hospital gasping for air. Researchers have found a previously unknown biological pathway explaining why influenza induces asthma attacks. Studies in a mouse model reveal that influenza activates a newly recognized group of immune cells called natural helper cells -- presenting a completely new set of drug targets for asthma. ... > full story

What is a laboratory mouse? (May 30, 2011) -- Scientists have created a genome-wide, high-resolution map of most of the inbred mouse strains used today. Their conclusion: Most of the mice in use today represent only limited genetic diversity, which could be significantly expanded with the addition of more wild mouse populations. ... > full story

Translating stem cell research into therapies (May 30, 2011) -- A new article provides comprehensive insight into the current status of neural stem cell research and the sometimes labyrinthine pathways leading to stem cell-based therapies. ... > full story

Method for detecting toxic substances in leather and footwear developed (May 30, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new analytical method that improves detection of the allergen dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) in leather and footwear. ... > full story

Social life and mobility are keys to quality of life in old age (May 30, 2011) -- Resourcefulness, staying active and a busy social life play vital roles in helping people cope with the challenges of old age, researchers have found. Maintaining social relationships and mobility in old age are so important for general well-being that some elderly people will go to extreme lengths to keep active, according to the study. The research has led to a new method of measuring quality of life in older age being unvelied, replacing previous questionnaires which relied on expert or top down opinions and measures such as income rather than the views of older people themselves. ... > full story

Biological circuits for synthetic biology (May 29, 2011) -- Using the tools of synthetic biology, researchers have engineered the first RNA-based regulatory system that can independently control the transcription activities of multiple targets in a single cell. This is a significant advance for the design and construction of programmable genetic networks. ... > full story

Iron-ferrying protein may be 'universal Achilles heel' for parasitic worms (May 29, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a tiny protein without which the soil and lab-dwelling worm C. elegans can't deliver iron-rich heme taken in from their diets to the rest of their bodies or to their developing embryos. The finding offers important insight into the transport of the essential ingredient in worms and other animals, including humans. ... > full story

Reindeer see a weird and wonderful world of ultraviolet light (May 29, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that the ultraviolet (UV) light that causes the temporary but painful condition of snow blindness in humans is life-saving for reindeer in the Arctic. ... > full story

Combo method reveals cells' signal systems (May 29, 2011) -- Our understanding of what differentiates cancer cells from normal cells is limited by a lack of methods for studying the complex signal systems of individual cells. By combing two different methods, researchers have now provided the research world with a tool for studying signal paths on several levels at the same time. ... > full story

New software tool helps evaluate natural cooling options for buildings (May 29, 2011) -- A new, free software tool could prove to be a breath of fresh air for architects and designers of ventilation systems for "green" commercial buildings. ... > full story

Does liposuction get rid of that forever? More like a year, study suggests (May 29, 2011) -- Liposuction has become one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the United States. It has been around since 1974 and there are now more than 450,000 operations a year. But does the fat come back? A recent study has found that the fat eventually returns within one year, and is redistributed to other areas of the body, especially the upper abdomen. ... > full story

Teasing apart galaxy collisions: Spitzer photo atlas of galactic 'train wrecks' (May 29, 2011) -- Five billion years from now, our Milky Way galaxy will collide with the Andromeda galaxy. This will mark a moment of both destruction and creation. The galaxies will lose their separate identities as they merge into one. At the same time, cosmic clouds of gas and dust will smash together, triggering the birth of new stars. To understand our past and imagine our future, we must understand what happens when galaxies collide. ... > full story

Common test could help predict early death in diabetes, study shows (May 29, 2011) -- A common test may be useful in predicting early death in individuals with diabetes. ... > full story

Stars help researchers track space junk (May 29, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a method to track the movement of geostationary objects using the position of the stars, which could help to monitor space debris. The technique can be used with small telescopes and in places that are not very dark. ... > full story

Dangerous side effect of common drug combination -- Paxil and Pravachol -- discovered by data mining (May 29, 2011) -- A widely used combination of two common medications may cause unexpected increases in blood glucose levels, according to a new study. Researchers were surprised at the finding because neither of the two drugs -- one, an antidepressant marketed as Paxil, and the other, a cholesterol-lowering medication called Pravachol -- has a similar effect alone. ... > full story

Mapping ocean surface currents: West coast radar network is world's largest (May 29, 2011) -- A network of high-frequency radar systems designed for mapping ocean surface currents now provides detail of coastal ocean dynamics along the US West Coast never before available. ... > full story

All in your head? Substantial recovery rate with placebo effect in headache treatment, analysis finds (May 29, 2011) -- Headache is a very common complaint, with over 90% of all persons experiencing a headache at some time in their lives. In an analysis by Dutch researchers of 119 clinical trials, the "no treatment" and placebo groups had a high overall recovery rate of 36%. Control groups in pharmacological trials showed a higher response rate than the behavioral (non-pharmacological) trials (38.5% vs. 15.0%). ... > full story

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