ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, August 1, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, August 1, 2011

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Rainforest plant developed 'sonar dish' to attract pollinating bats (August 1, 2011) -- How plants sound as well as how they look helps them to attract pollinators, a new study has found. Researchers discovered that a rainforest vine, pollinated by bats, has evolved dish-shaped leaves with such conspicuous echoes that nectar-feeding bats can find its flowers twice as fast by echolocation. ... > full story

Engineering innovative hand-held lab-on-a-chip could streamline blood testing worldwide (August 1, 2011) -- Biomedical engineering professors have developed an innovative strategy for an integrated microfluidic-based diagnostic device that can perform complex laboratory assays, with such simplicity that these tests can be carried out in the most remote regions of the world. Successfully tested in Rwanda, the mChip diagnoses diseases like HIV and syphilis at patients' bedsides. ... > full story

Researchers map long-range migrations and habitats of leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean (August 1, 2011) -- Endangered leatherback sea turtles migrate and forage across vast areas of the Pacific Ocean and Indo-Pacific seas and require greater international collaboration for their protection, according to a recent study. The study is based on data from 126 leatherbacks tracked by satellite and supports continuing research to improve conservation efforts for this endangered species by better understanding how oceanographic features influence their migration and foraging behavior. ... > full story

Genome-wide study reveals three new susceptibility loci for adult asthma in Japanese population (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have identified three new loci associated with susceptibility to adult asthma in the Japanese population. ... > full story

New discoveries on gene regulation in the evolution of the vertebrate brain (August 1, 2011) -- Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts is a process leading to differential gene expression and the production of different proteins, which is the key to cell differentiation and a foundation of many diseases. Researchers have now described the generation of a gene network regulated by the splicing factor NOVA1 during the development of the central nervous system in vertebrates. ... > full story

The role of relaxation in consumer behavior (August 1, 2011) -- A study finds that states of relaxation consistently increase the monetary valuations of products, actually inflating these valuations by about 10 percent. ... > full story

Elliptical galaxies are not dead (August 1, 2011) -- Initial results from research carried out as part of the Atlas3D project on two elliptical galaxies could, if they are confirmed, call into question the current model of the formation of galaxies. ... > full story

Increasing potency of HIV-battling proteins (August 1, 2011) -- When it comes to a small HIV-fighting protein, called cyanovirin-N, researchers have found that two are better than one. ... > full story

Cows clock-in for monitored mealtimes (August 1, 2011) -- Electronic ear tags are being trialled by scientists in a bid to provide farmers with an extra line of defense against diseases such as foot and mouth and TB. ... > full story

A cellular protein can reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have found new hope for cancer survival. Their findings show that maspin, a cellular protein, can reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells from 75 percent-40 percent when localized in the nucleus. These findings show the location of maspin within the cell significantly influences cancer cells' behavior, determining how aggressive the disease will be and how positive patient outcomes will be. ... > full story

Electronic tongue identifies cava wines (August 1, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an electronic tongue which can identify different types of cava wines, thanks to a combination of sensor systems and advanced mathematical procedures. The device automatically produces classifications similar to those of a sommelier and can be useful in detecting defects during the elaboration of these wines. ... > full story

Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in methamphetamine users, study finds (August 1, 2011) -- People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who do not, according to a new study. ... > full story

Sun-free photovoltaics: Materials engineered to give off precisely tuned wavelengths of light when heated (July 31, 2011) -- A new photovoltaic energy-conversion system can be powered solely by heat, generating electricity with no sunlight at all. While the principle involved is not new, a novel way of engineering the surface of a material to convert heat into precisely tuned wavelengths of light -- selected to match the wavelengths that photovoltaic cells can best convert to electricity -- makes the new system much more efficient than previous versions. ... > full story

Researchers target, switch off serotonin-producing neurons in mice; New insights may be relevant to sudden infant death syndrome (July 31, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a toolkit that enables them to turn off targeted cell populations while leaving others unaffected. The group focused on serotonin-producing neurons, observing how mice behave in a normal environment when suddenly their serotonin neurons are turned down. ... > full story

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics: The more they resist, the more they divide (July 31, 2011) -- The number of multiresistant strains of bacteria in hospitals is increasing. Bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics through mutations in their chromosomes and by incorporating new genes, either from the surrounding environment or from other bacteria. Now, researchers in Portugal have shown that, surprisingly, when both mechanisms of resistance are playing out in the bacterium E. coli, its ability to survive and reproduce is increased. ... > full story

Using a 'systems biology' approach to look under the hood of an aggressive form of breast cancer (July 31, 2011) -- Using a "systems biology" approach -- which focuses on understanding the complex relationships between biological systems -- to look under the hood of an aggressive form of breast cancer, researchers for the first time have identified a set of proteins in the blood that change in abundance long before the cancer is clinically detectable. ... > full story

Soybean genetic treasure trove found in Swedish village (July 31, 2011) -- The first screening of the American ancestors of soybeans for tolerance to ozone and other stresses had an eye-opening result: The world superstars of stress resistance hailed from a little village in far northern Sweden, called Fiskeby. ... > full story

Restoring happiness in people with depression (July 31, 2011) -- Practicing positive activities may serve as an effective, low-cost treatment for people suffering from depression, according to researchers. This new approach has the potential to benefit depressed individuals who don't respond to pharmacotherapy or are not able or willing to obtain treatment, and promises to yield rapid improvement of mood symptoms, holds little to no stigma, and carries no side effects. ... > full story

How bats stay on target despite the clutter (July 30, 2011) -- Neuroscientists have learned how bats can remain on target despite obstacles. The key lies in bats' neural response to echoes from their sonar pulses: Differences in delay as short as 3 microseconds between parts of an echo is enough to tell the bat the object may not be its target. The research could lead to more precise targeting by sonar-led vehicles. ... > full story

Mouse with 'off switch' in key brain cell population developed; Research may increase understanding of SIDS, depressive disorders (July 30, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a strain of mice with a built-in off switch that can selectively shut down the animals' serotonin-producing cells, which make up a brain network controlling breathing, temperature regulation and mood. The switch controls only the serotonin-producing cells, and does not affect any other cells in the animal's brains or bodies. ... > full story

Warming climate could give exotic grasses edge over natives (July 30, 2011) -- With rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall, California's native grasses will likely suffer at the hands of exotic invasive grasses, which are more equipped to deal with warmer weather. That is the conclusion of researchers who analyzed all exotic and native grasses in the state and predicted their likely range changes with changing climate. ... > full story

Fast ripples confirmed to be valuable biomarker of area responsible for seizure activity in children (July 30, 2011) -- New research focusing on high-frequency oscillations, termed ripples and fast ripples, recorded by intracranial electroencephalography, may provide an important marker for the localization of the brain region responsible for seizure activity. According to the study the resection of brain regions containing fast ripples, along with the visually-identified seizure-onset zone, may achieve a good seizure outcome in pediatric epilepsy. ... > full story

Warmed-up organic memory transistor has larger memory capacity (July 30, 2011) -- Scientists show that non-volatile memory made from a sandwich of silver nanoparticle-laced plastic retains its on/off state over a wider voltage range when operating at toasty temperatures. ... > full story

Dissecting dyslexia: Linking reading to voice recognition (July 30, 2011) -- When people recognize voices, part of what helps make voice recognition accurate is noticing how people pronounce words differently. But individuals with dyslexia don't experience this familiar language advantage, say researchers. ... > full story

Largest-ever map of plant protein interactions (July 30, 2011) -- Researchers have mapped and analyzed thousands of protein-to-protein interactions within the cells of Arabidopsis thaliana -- a variety of mustard plant that is to plant biology what the lab mouse is to human biology. The research promises to enable biologists to make agricultural plants more nutritious and more resistant to drought and diseases. ... > full story

Motorcycle helmets hard on hearing (July 30, 2011) -- Motorcycle helmets, while protecting bikers' brains, may also be contributing to hearing loss. Scientists mapped the airflow and noise patterns to find out why. ... > full story

Averting bridge disasters: New technology could save hundreds of lives (July 30, 2011) -- Millions of US drivers cross faulty or obsolete bridges every day, highway statistics show, but it's too costly to fix these spans or adequately monitor their safety, says a researcher who's developed a new, affordable early warning system. This wireless technology could avert the kind of fatal disaster along Minneapolis' I-35W on Aug. 1, 2007, he says -- and do so at one-one-hundredth the cost of current wired systems. ... > full story

Breast screening has had little to do with falling breast cancer deaths, European study finds (July 30, 2011) -- Breast cancer screening has not played a direct part in the reductions of breast cancer mortality in recent years, according to a new European study. ... > full story

Powerful fluorescence tool lights the way to new insights into RNA of living cells (July 30, 2011) -- The ability to tag proteins with a green fluorescent light to watch how they behave inside cells so revolutionized the understanding of protein biology that it earned the scientific teams who developed the technique Nobel Prizes in 2008. Now, researchers have developed a similar fluorescent tool that can track the mysterious workings of the various forms of cellular RNA. ... > full story

Study of golf swings pinpoints biomechanical differences between pros and amateurs (July 30, 2011) -- When it comes to hitting a golf ball hard, researchers have identified several biomechanical factors that appear to separate the duffers from the pros. ... > full story

Fall of the Neanderthals: Volume of modern humans infiltrating Europe cited as critical factor (July 29, 2011) -- New research sheds light on why, after 300,000 years of domination, European Neanderthals abruptly disappeared. Researchers have discovered that modern humans coming from Africa swarmed the region, arriving with over ten times the population as the Neanderthal inhabitants. ... > full story

Oral interferon may prevent and control avian influenza virus infection (July 29, 2011) -- Avian influenza virus is a threat to the commercial chicken industry and, with its recent rapid spread across China, has also shown the ability for transmission from chickens to humans and other mammals. ... > full story

Cellular power plant genome mutates when reprogrammed: Genetic changes in mitochondrial genome of human induced pluripotent stem cells (July 29, 2011) -- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are truly talented multi-taskers. They can reproduce almost all cell types and thus offer great hope in the fight against diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, it would appear that their use is not entirely without risk: during the reprogramming of body cells into iPS cells, disease-causing mutations can creep into the genetic material. The genome of the mitochondria -- the cell's protein factories -- is particularly vulnerable to such changes, according to new research. Scientists encountered mutations in the mitochondrial genome of iPS cells. Because such genetic mutations can cause diseases, the cells should be tested for such mutations before being used for clinical applications. ... > full story

Packing on pounds riskier for South Asians, say researchers (July 29, 2011) -- A new study has found that some ethnic groups are more likely to be adding dangerous fat onto their internal organs like their liver when they gain weight, while others just add it to their waistline. ... > full story

Doggedly tracking badgers (July 29, 2011) -- How far would you drive in the Badger State to find a badger -- or even a burrow? One graduate student has traveled more than 300 miles -- more than once -- only to find her research subject had moved on to a new address. ... > full story

Fair play -- a question of self-image? Researchers explain conditions under which people are prepared to behave fairly (July 29, 2011) -- Why do people behave selfishly and accept that their behavior may have negative consequences for others? Researchers in Germany investigated this question in a laboratory experiment. They found that such behavior often depends on whether information about the consequences for others can be ignored. Based on their findings, the researchers believe that conclusions can be drawn on, for instance, how the marketing of fair trade products could be improved. ... > full story

'Brain cap' technology turns thought into motion; Mind-machine interface could lead to new life-changing technologies for millions of people (July 29, 2011) -- "Brain cap" technology now being developed allows users to turn their thoughts into motion. Researchers have created a noninvasive, sensor-lined cap with neural interface software that soon could be used to control computers, robotic prosthetic limbs, motorized wheelchairs and even digital avatars. ... > full story

Traumatic brain injury linked with tenfold increase in stroke risk (July 29, 2011) -- Suffering a trauma to the brain may increase the risk of stroke tenfold within three months, according to new research. This is the first study to show a direct correlation between traumatic brain injury and stroke. Researchers suggest neuroimaging, intensive monitoring and stroke education for anyone incurring a traumatic brain injury. ... > full story

Out-of-the-blue panic attacks aren't without warning: Body sends signals for hour before (July 29, 2011) -- Panic attacks that seem to strike out-of-the-blue are not without warning after all, says psychologists. A new study found significant physiological instability one hour before patients reported feeling a panic attack. The patients wore portable recorders around-the-clock that monitored bodily functions like respiration and heart rate. The findings suggest potentially new treatments for panic, and re-examination of other "unexpected" medical problems, including seizures, strokes and manic episodes. ... > full story

Gene discovery in truffle dogs sheds new light on mechanisms of childhood epilepsy (July 29, 2011) -- A new epilepsy gene, LGI2, has been found in the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, known from their gift for truffle hunting. ... > full story

Genetic evidence clears Ben Franklin: Invasive tree afflicting Gulf Coast was not brought to U.S. by famed statesman (July 29, 2011) -- The DNA evidence is in, and Ben Franklin didn't do it. Genetic tests on more than 1,000 Chinese tallow trees from the United States and China show that Franklin did not import the tallow trees that are overrunning thousands of acres of U.S. coastal prairie from Florida to East Texas. The study found that the invasive strain of the tree was likely imported by federal biologists around 1905. ... > full story

Scary driving? Put the brakes on using your brain power (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers have used drivers' brain signals, for the first time, to assist in braking, providing much quicker reaction times and a potential solution to the thousands of car accidents that are caused by human error. ... > full story

Chandra X-ray Observatory images gas flowing toward black hole (July 29, 2011) -- The flow of hot gas toward a black hole has been clearly imaged for the first time in X-rays. The observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory will help tackle two of the most fundamental problems in modern astrophysics: understanding how black holes grow and how matter behaves in their intense gravity. ... > full story

Next generation gene therapy (July 29, 2011) -- Inspired by earlier successes using gene therapy to correct an inherited type of blindness, investigators are poised to extend their approach to other types of blinding disorders. In a new study, researchers compared the safety and efficiency of delivery in an animal model of two different types of vectors. This preclinical work will guide dose-level formulation and type of vector to deliver genes to treat blindness caused by the loss of photoreceptors. ... > full story

Salt appetite is linked to drug addiction, research finds (July 29, 2011) -- A team of U.S. and Australian scientists has found that addictive drugs may have hijacked the same nerve cells and connections in the brain that serve a powerful, ancient instinct: the appetite for salt. ... > full story

Rate of stroke increasing among women during, soon after pregnancy (July 29, 2011) -- Researchers report a large increase in the number of women having strokes while pregnant and in the three months after childbirth. The overall rate of pregnancy-related stroke went up 54 percent between 1994-95 and 2006-07. The increase is due to women having more risk factors, including high blood pressure and obesity. ... > full story

NASA measures wildfire pollution pour over Niagara Falls (July 29, 2011) -- Water isn't the only thing pouring over Niagara Falls. Pollution from fires in Ontario, Canada is also making the one thousand mile trip, while being measured by NASA's Aqua satellite. ... > full story

How the brain keeps track of what we're doing (July 29, 2011) -- "Working memory" is what we have to keep track of things moment to moment: driving on a highway and focusing on the vehicles around us, then forgetting them as we move on; remembering all the names at the dinner party while conversing with one person about her job. ... > full story

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