ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, June 22, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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How dense is a cell? Combining ancient principle with new technology, researchers devise new way to answer question (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a way to measure the density of a single cell. The new method involves measuring the buoyant mass of each cell in two fluids of different densities. Measuring cell density could allow researchers to gain biophysical insight into fundamental cellular processes such as adaptations for survival, and might also be useful for identifying diseased cells. ... > full story

Stem cell model offers clues to cause of inherited ALS (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to reveal for the first time how reduced levels of a specific protein may play a central role in causing at least one inherited form of the disease. ... > full story

Strawberries boost red blood cells, study finds (June 22, 2011) -- A group of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries every day for two weeks to demonstrate that eating this fruit improves the antioxidant capacity of blood. The study, carried out by Italian and Spanish researchers, showed that strawberries boost red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, an imbalance that is associated with various diseases. ... > full story

Common rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medications are associated with reduced diabetes risk (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers sought to determine whether commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which are directed against inflammation, might reduce the risk for developing diabetes in patients with RA or psoriasis. They found that among patients with RA or psoriasis, the risk for developing diabetes was lower for those patients who started TNF inhibitor or hydroxychloroquine. ... > full story

Where will grizzly bears roam? Conservation value of roadless public land in Montana's Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (June 22, 2011) -- A new report highlights the critical importance of 1.3 million acres of roadless, public lands in Montana's spectacular Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The report recommends that most of these lands be preserved to protect wolverines, bighorn sheep, westslope cutthroat and bull trout, grizzly bears and other vulnerable species in the face of climate change and other threats. ... > full story

Anti-smoking policies for adults also reduce kids' smoking (June 22, 2011) -- In Australia adult-focused quit-smoking programs have produced an additional benefit: they have also reduced smoking among adolescents. ... > full story

Quantum leap: Magnetic properties of a single proton directly observed for the first time (June 22, 2011) -- An important milestone in the direct measurement of the magnetic moment of the proton and its anti-particle has been achieved. Researchers have observed spin quantum-jumps with a single trapped proton for the first time. The result is a pioneering step forward in the endeavor to directly measure the magnetic properties of the proton with high precision. ... > full story

Intensive-dose statin therapy associated with increased risk of diabetes (June 22, 2011) -- An analysis of data from previously published studies indicates that intensive-dose statin therapy is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to a study. ... > full story

'Lover's lane' for birds found in Arctic (June 22, 2011) -- A new study reveals the critical importance of western Arctic Alaska's Teshekpuk Lake region to tens of thousands of birds that breed in the area during the brief, but productive arctic summers, and makes clearer the case for permanent protection of the area. ... > full story

Most heart-attack patients needing procedure at another hospital not transferred in recommended time (June 22, 2011) -- Only about 10 percent of patients with a certain type of heart attack who need to be transferred to another hospital for a PCI (procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries) are transferred within the recommended time of 30 minutes. ... > full story

Yeast genomes: Genetic codes for species of yeasts identified and compared (June 22, 2011) -- A team of US researchers has identified and compared the genetic codes for all known species of yeasts closely related to bakers' and brewers' yeast (the former used in pizza dough, the latter in beer), which lays the foundation for future understanding of mutation and disease, as studies of yeasts often identify key genes and mechanisms of disease. ... > full story

Depression, age, other factors linked to dependence after stroke (June 22, 2011) -- People who have a stroke are more likely to be dependent if they are depressed, older or have other medical problems, according to a new study. ... > full story

Multiple ocean stresses threaten 'globally significant' marine extinction, experts warn (June 21, 2011) -- An international panel of marine experts warns in a new report that the world's ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history. The preliminary report arises from the first ever interdisciplinary international workshop to consider the cumulative impact of all stressors affecting the ocean. Considering the latest research across all areas of marine science, the workshop examined the combined effects of pollution, acidification, ocean warming, overfishing and hypoxia (deoxygenation). ... > full story

Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers in Australia have discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are causing developmental changes to their unborn babies that lead to them having lower levels of the type of cholesterol that is known to protect against heart disease in later life -- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. ... > full story

Forklift trucks that run on a green charge (June 21, 2011) -- The first forklift trucks in Europe that will run on fuel cells and with hydrogen in their tanks are on the way to the market. No fewer than 30 demonstration units are to be tested, and Norway is among the countries potentially involved in the trials. ... > full story

Decoding chronic lymphocytic leukemia (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have identified new gene mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia -- a disease often associated with lack of response to chemotherapy and poor overall survival. ... > full story

Forensics: Lamps and spectrometers used to age bruises precisely (June 21, 2011) -- Forensic scientists have to rely on their own subjective experience when asked to ascertain the age of contusions. Now, however, researchers in Norway have found a far more objective and precise method, using lamps and spectrometers. From the assembled data the researchers created a model for bruise progression over time which enables them to determine the age of the bruises more reliably. Bruises on children develop differently from on adults. Knowledge within this area could be particularly important in cases of suspected child abuse. ... > full story

Hypnosis/local anesthesia combination during surgery helps patients, reduces hospital stays, study finds (June 21, 2011) -- Anaesthesiologists have found that using a combination of hypnosis and local anaesthesia (LA) in surgery where LA is feasible but, not on its own, sufficient to ensure patient comfort, can aid healing and reduce drug use and hospital stays. ... > full story

Survival of the weakest? Bacteria develop restraint for survival in a rock-paper-scissors community (June 21, 2011) -- New research shows that in some structured communities, organisms increase their chances of survival if they evolve some level of restraint that allows competitors to survive as well, a sort of "survival of the weakest." ... > full story

Exercise associated with longer survival after brain cancer diagnosis (June 21, 2011) -- Brain cancer patients who are able to exercise live significantly longer than sedentary patients, scientists report. ... > full story

Device could improve harvest of stem cells from umbilical cord blood (June 21, 2011) -- A graduate student team has invented a system to significantly boost the number of stem cells collected from a newborn's umbilical cord and placenta, so that many more patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders can be treated. ... > full story

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with different types of obesity in black and white children (June 21, 2011) -- A recent study found that while black and white children with vitamin D deficiency both had higher fat levels, black children were more likely to have higher levels of fat just under their skin and white children were more likely to have higher levels of fat between their internal organs. ... > full story

Acrobatics for anyons: New test for elusive fundamental particle proposed (June 21, 2011) -- Anyons are hypothetical particles that have been postulated to represent a third class of fundamental particles alongside the known bosons and fermions. Physicists in Germany have now proposed a novel experimental design that should make it possible to create and detect them for the first time. ... > full story

Do kids prefer playmates of same ethnicity? (June 21, 2011) -- Multicultural daycares don’t necessarily foster a desire for kids of visibly different ethnicities to play together. A study on Asian-Canadian and French-Canadian preschoolers has found these children may have a preference to interact with kids of their own ethnic group. ... > full story

Earliest art in the Americas: Ice Age image of mammoth or mastodon found in Florida (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a bone fragment, approximately 13,000 years old, in Florida with an incised image of a mammoth or mastodon. This engraving is the oldest and only known example of Ice Age art to depict a proboscidean (the order of animals with trunks) in the Americas. ... > full story

First genetic mutation linked to heart failure in pregnant women (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have identified the first genetic mutation ever associated with a mysterious and potentially devastating form of heart disease that affects women in the final weeks of pregnancy or the first few months after delivery. ... > full story

Blueberries help lab rats build strong bones (June 21, 2011) -- Compounds in blueberries might turn out to have a powerful effect on formation of strong, healthy bones, if results from studies with laboratory rats turn out to hold true for humans. ... > full story

Adulterated cocaine causing serious skin reactions; With up to 70 percent contaminated, doctors warn of potential public health epidemic (June 21, 2011) -- Doctors warn of a potential public health epidemic in a recent report on patients who developed serious skin reactions after smoking or snorting cocaine believed to be contaminated with a veterinary medication. ... > full story

Shipwrecks no more: Recycling old boats (June 21, 2011) -- Nearly 5,000 recreational boats are retired and disposed of every year in Norway -- either sunk to the bottom of the sea or burned in a bonfire. Now, researchers have developed a new method for recycling these vessels. ... > full story

What do we pay attention to? (June 21, 2011) -- Once we learn the relationship between a cue and its consequences -- say, the sound of a bell and the appearance of the white ice cream truck bearing our favorite chocolate cone -- do we turn our attention to that bell whenever we hear it? ... > full story

Can humans sense Earth's magnetism? Human retina protein can function as light-sensitive magnetic sensor (June 21, 2011) -- New research shows that a protein expressed in the human retina can sense magnetic fields when implanted into Drosophila, reopening an area of sensory biology in humans for further exploration. ... > full story

Resveratrol studies confirms potential health boost (June 21, 2011) -- A review of research finds the polyphenol compound known as resveratrol found in red wine, grapes and other fruits may not prevent old age, but it might make it more tolerable. ... > full story

Causes of melting tropical glaciers over past 10,000 years identified (June 21, 2011) -- The causes of melting of tropical glaciers over the past 10,000 years have at last been revealed. Researchers have shown that the retreat of the Telata glacier in Bolivia over that period is mainly linked to a 3°C rise in air temperature and to the warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean. ... > full story

Millions with peripheral artery disease not getting vital medications, study finds (June 21, 2011) -- Millions of adults with peripheral artery disease are not receiving the medications needed to reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke and death, according to new research. ... > full story

'Smart materials' that make proteins form crystals to boost research into new drugs (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new method to make proteins form crystals using "smart materials" that remember the shape and characteristics of the molecule. ... > full story

Marriage improves odds of surviving colon cancer (June 21, 2011) -- Married patients had a 14 percent lower risk of death according to researchers. That estimate is based on analysis of 127,753 patient records. Similar to studies of other types of cancers, the researchers did find that married people were diagnosed at earlier stages of colon cancer and sought more aggressive treatment. The researchers took those and other factors into account before calculating the benefit of marriage on survival odds. ... > full story

Seven new species of mammals discovered in Philippines (June 21, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered seven previously unknown species of mammals in the Philippines, increasing the number of native mammals known from Luzon Island (excluding bats) from 42 to 49 (17 percent). All of the species are forest mice, and each species lives only in a small part of Luzon. ... > full story

Breakthrough in the search for new treatments for multiple sclerosis (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism which could bring about the development of new treatments for multiple sclerosis -- a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. ... > full story

Natural Alzheimer's weapon suggests better treatment (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists have shown a molecular chaperone is working like a waste management company to collect and detoxify high levels of toxic amyloid beta peptide found in Alzheimer's disease. It was known that the molecular chaperone, HspB1, was present in the hallmark plaque of Alzheimer's patients but its role remained a mystery. ... > full story

Link between low birth weights and obesity later in life: Altering hormone levels changes cellular development in the brain (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers found altering the levels of two common hormones, insulin and leptin, in utero changes the cellular development in the region of the brain that regulates appetite. ... > full story

Keeping bugs out of software for self-driving cars: Analysis verifies safety of distributed car control system (June 21, 2011) -- Driver assistance technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, promise to someday ease traffic on crowded routes and prevent accidents. Proving that these automated systems will work as intended is a daunting task, but computer scientists have now demonstrated it is possible to verify the safety of these highly complex systems. ... > full story

Husband's employment status threatens marriage, but wife's does not, study finds (June 21, 2011) -- A new study of employment and divorce suggest that while social pressure discouraging women from working outside the home has weakened, pressure on husbands to be breadwinners largely remains. ... > full story

Fastest sea-level rise in 2,000 years linked to increasing global temperatures (June 21, 2011) -- The rate of sea level rise along the U.S. Atlantic coast is greater now than at any time in the past 2,000 years -- and has shown a consistent link between changes in global mean surface temperature and sea level. ... > full story

Heart disease: Stabalizing vulnerable plaques could wipe out half of coronary events, report suggests (June 21, 2011) -- Introducing stabilization of vulnerable plaques as part of secondary prevention would offer the opportunity to wipe out half of coronary events, report suggests. ... > full story

Scientists find simple way to produce graphene (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists say they have discovered a simple method for producing high yields of graphene, a highly touted carbon nanostructure that some believe could replace silicon as the technological fabric of the future. The researchers report on a new method that converts carbon dioxide directly into few-layer graphene (less than 10 atoms in thickness) by burning pure magnesium metal in dry ice. ... > full story

Study compares two types of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use (June 21, 2011) -- Not all varieties of botulinum toxin seem to be equally effective in reducing crow's feet wrinkles, according to a new study. ... > full story

Quantum cryptography: Perfect eavesdropper illustrates overlooked loophole in secure communications technology (June 21, 2011) -- Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a tool to provide confidential communication between two remote parties. QKD is perfectly secure in principle, but researchers have long been aware that loopholes may arise when QKD is put into practice. Now, for the first time, researchers have implemented a "perfect eavesdropper" that exploits just such a loophole. The results highlight the importance of identifying imperfections in the implementation of QKD as a step towards fixing them. ... > full story

Energy drinks linked to substance use in musicians, study shows (June 21, 2011) -- Frequent use of energy drinks is associated with binge drinking, alcohol-related social problems and misuse of prescription drugs among musicians, according to new research. ... > full story

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