ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, August 3, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, August 3, 2011

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Engineers develop one-way transmission system for sound waves (August 3, 2011) -- While many hotel rooms, recording studios, and even some homes are built with materials to help absorb or reflect sound, mechanisms to truly control the direction of sound waves are still in their infancy. However, researchers have now created the first tunable acoustic diode -- a device that allows acoustic information to travel only in one direction, at controllable frequencies. ... > full story

Why diets don't work: Starved brain cells eat themselves, study finds (August 3, 2011) -- A new report might help to explain why it's so frustratingly difficult to stick to a diet. When we don't eat, hunger-inducing neurons in the brain start eating bits of themselves. That act of self-cannibalism turns up a hunger signal to prompt eating. ... > full story

Special software helps researchers identify individual animals when studying behavior in the wild (August 3, 2011) -- With the aim of better protecting endangered species, game wardens are studying the behavior of surviving great apes in the wild. This is often painstaking work because it is difficult to distinguish between different individuals. A new software system will make things easier by analyzing the animals' faces for individual identification. ... > full story

Even with regular exercise, people with inactive lifestyles more at risk for chronic diseases (August 3, 2011) -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of Americans have inactive lifestyles (they take fewer than 5,000 steps a day) and 75 percent do not meet the weekly exercise recommendations (150 minutes of moderate activity each week and muscle-strengthening activity twice a week) to maintain good health. After reviewing recent literature, researchers contend that physical inactivity is the primary cause of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease. ... > full story

A simple slice of energy storage (August 3, 2011) -- Turning graphite oxide (GO) into full-fledged supercapacitors turns out to be simple. But until a laboratory figured out how, it was anything but obvious. ... > full story

Persons displaced by war at increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety (August 3, 2011) -- Residents of Sri Lanka who were internally displaced during the civil conflict that occurred in their country from 1983 to 2009 have a higher prevalence of war-related mental health conditions that include depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, according to a new study. ... > full story

Some plants duplicate their DNA to overcome adversity (August 3, 2011) -- Whatever does not kill a plant may actually make it stronger. After being partially eaten by grazing animals, for example, some plants grow bigger and faster and reproduce more successfully than they otherwise would. In a new study, researchers report that one secret to these plants' post-traumatic triumph lies in their ability to duplicate their chromosomes -- again and again -- without undergoing cell division. ... > full story

How do you stop tasting? Protein inside taste cells turn off bitter taste (August 3, 2011) -- New findings may lend insight into why some people are especially sensitive to bitter tastes. Researchers have identified a protein inside of taste cells that acts to shorten bitter taste signals. Mice lacking the gene for this taste terminator protein are more sensitive to bitter taste and also find it more aversive. ... > full story

RIBA-II: The next generation care-giving robot (August 3, 2011) -- A new robot using high-precision tactile sensors and flexible motor control technology has taken Japan one step closer to its goal of providing high-quality care for its growing elderly population. The new robot can lift a patient up to 80 kilograms in weight off floor-level bedding and into a wheelchair, freeing care facility personnel of one of their most difficult and energy-consuming tasks. ... > full story

Aging: T cells that survive the longest may better protect against infections such as the flu (August 3, 2011) -- Aging brings about a selective decline in the numbers and function of T cells -- a type of white blood cell involved in the immune system's response to infection -- and T cells that survive the longest may better protect against infections such as the flu, according to a new study. The finding may lead to targeting these cells with vaccinations that increase their number and improve protection against disease in older adults. ... > full story

New freeze-dry method good for processing fish (August 3, 2011) -- A quicker freeze-dry technique used to process salmon cubes could potentially be applied to add value to meat components considered to be less appealing, according to a researcher. ... > full story

Academics 'guest authoring' ghostwritten medical journal articles should be charged with fraud, legal experts argue (August 3, 2011) -- Two law professors argue that academics who "lend" their names, and receive substantial credit, as guest authors of medical and scientific articles ghostwritten by industry writers, should be charged with professional and academic misconduct and fraud, even if they contain factually correct information. ... > full story

First true view of global erosion (August 2, 2011) -- Two Vermont geologists have created the first-ever standardized view of pre-human erosion rates for the whole planet. Their study is part of an effort to create a model that can predict global patterns of erosion -- and how these patterns will respond to climate change. ... > full story

Long periods of estrogen deprivation jeopardizes brain receptors, stroke protection (August 2, 2011) -- Prolonged estrogen deprivation in aging rats dramatically reduces the number of brain receptors for the hormone as well as its ability to prevent strokes, researchers report. However the damage is forestalled if estrogen replacement begins shortly after hormone levels drop, according to a new study. ... > full story

The origin of comet material formed at high temperatures (August 2, 2011) -- Comets are icy bodies, yet they are made of materials formed at very high temperatures. Where do these materials come from? Researchers have now provided the physical explanation behind this phenomenon. They have demonstrated how these materials migrated from the hottest parts of the solar system to its outer regions before entering the composition of comets. ... > full story

Mice point to a therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (August 2, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a mouse model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy, a hereditary disease of the peripheral nervous system. They also found a potential therapy for this incurable disease. The treatment not only halted the damage to the nerves and the atrophy of the muscles, it even succeeded in reversing the symptoms. ... > full story

A bit of boron, a pinch of palladium: One-stop shop for the Suzuki reaction (August 2, 2011) -- Thanks to chemists in Munich, a crucial type of intermediate in the so-called Suzuki reaction can now be synthesized using an economical "one-pot" strategy. These compounds are used on an industrial scale to make the carbon scaffolds that form the basis of useful drugs and innovative materials. ... > full story

Satisfaction in body function, body appearance differs in older men and women (August 2, 2011) -- When it comes to satisfaction with body function and body appearance, older men and women have different opinions, although physical activity does improve satisfaction in both sexes, according to new study. ... > full story

Scientist converts human skin cells into functional brain cells (August 2, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a novel way to convert human skin cells into brain cells, advancing medicine and human health by offering new hope for regenerative medicine and personalized drug discovery and development. ... > full story

Regrowing blood vessels with a potent molecule (August 2, 2011) -- Medical researchers have developed a minimally invasive method of delivering growth factor to regrow blood vessels. This research could be used to treat heart disease, the most common cause of death in the Western world. ... > full story

Avoiding Nemesis: Does impact rate for asteroids and comets vary periodically with time? (August 2, 2011) -- Is Earth more likely or less likely to be hit by an asteroid or comet now as compared to, say, 20 million years ago? Several studies have claimed to have found periodic variations, with the probability of giant impacts increasing and decreasing in a regular pattern. Now a new analysis shows those simple periodic patterns to be statistical artifacts. The results indicate either that Earth is as likely to suffer a major impact now as it was in the past, or that there has been a slight increase impact rate events over the past 250 million years. ... > full story

Researchers help find natural products potential of frankia bacteria (August 2, 2011) -- Soil-dwelling bacteria of the genus Frankia have the potential to produce a multitude of natural products, including antibiotics, herbicides, pigments, anticancer agents, and other useful products, according to a new article. ... > full story

Solar cells get a boost from bouncing light (August 2, 2011) -- A new twist on an old solar cell design sends light ricocheting through layers of microscopic spheres, increasing its electricity-generating potential by 26 percent. ... > full story

Brain chemical may explain why heavy smokers feel sad after quitting (August 2, 2011) -- Heavy smokers may experience sadness after quitting because early withdrawal leads to an increase in the mood-related brain protein monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), a new study has shown. This finding may also explain why heavy smokers are at high risk for clinical depression. ... > full story

Ancient tides quite different from today -- some dramatically higher, some lower (August 2, 2011) -- The ebb and flow of the ocean tides, generally thought to be one of the most predictable forces on Earth, are actually quite variable over long time periods, in ways that have not been adequately accounted for in most evaluations of prehistoric sea level changes. Due to phenomena such as ice ages, plate tectonics, land uplift, erosion and sedimentation, tides have changed dramatically over thousands of years and may change again in the future, a new study concludes. ... > full story

New study identifies emergence of multidrug-resistant strain of salmonella (August 2, 2011) -- A new study has identified the recent emergence of a multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella that has a high level resistance to ciprofloxacin, a common treatment for severe Salmonella infections. ... > full story

Minority microbes in the colon mapped (August 2, 2011) -- They make up less than one-hundredth of 1 percent of the microbes that live in the colon, but the bacteria and archaea that sop up hydrogen in the gut are fundamental to colon health. In a new study, researchers take a first look at these "hydrogenotrophic" microbes, mapping where they live and how abundant they are in different parts of the lower intestine. ... > full story

Inexpensive method detects ALK rearrangement in lung cancer patients (August 2, 2011) -- A relatively simple and inexpensive method may be used to determine whether a lung cancer patient is a candidate for crizotinib therapy, according to new research. ... > full story

Digital photos can animate a face so it ages and moves before your eyes (August 2, 2011) -- Computer scientists have created a way to take images from the web or personal photos collections and in seconds create an animation of a person's face. The tool can make a face appear to age over time, or gradually change the expression from a smile to a frown. ... > full story

COPD patients with sense of humor feel better, but laughter may be bad for lungs (August 2, 2011) -- Having a sense of humor is associated with improved emotional functioning and an enhanced quality of life among patients with a chronic lung illness, but the actual act of laughing out loud can reduce lung function, at least in the short term, research suggests. The study evaluated humor and laughter in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. ... > full story

Dream screens from graphene: Indium-free transparent, flexible electrodes developed (August 2, 2011) -- Flexible, transparent electronics are closer to reality with the creation of graphene-based electrodes. Researchers have created thin films that could revolutionize touch-screen displays, solar panels and LED lighting. ... > full story

'Swamp gas' protects blood vessels from complications of diabetes (August 2, 2011) -- Hydrogen sulfide is a foul-smelling gas with an odor resembling that of rotten eggs. Sometimes called "swamp gas," this toxic substance is generally associated with decaying vegetation, sewers and noxious industrial emissions. And -- as odd as it may seem -- it also plays a critical role in protecting blood vessels from the complications of diabetes. ... > full story

Monkey see, monkey do? The role of mirror neurons in human behavior (August 2, 2011) -- We are all familiar with the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" -- but have we actually thought about what it means? Over the last two decades, neuroscience research has been investigating whether this popular saying has a real basis in human behavior. ... > full story

Pilot study suggests new approach to treat preeclampsia (August 2, 2011) -- A novel therapy that reduces elevated blood levels of a potentially toxic protein in women with preeclampsia, a dangerous complication of pregnancy, may someday address the therapeutic dilemma posed by the condition -- balancing life-threatening risks to the mother with the dangers that early delivery poses to an immature fetus. ... > full story

A hot topic: Radioactive decay is key ingredient behind Earth's heat, research shows (August 2, 2011) -- Nearly half of the Earth's heat comes from the radioactive decay of materials inside, according to physicists. ... > full story

Parents' conflicts affect adopted infants' sleep (August 2, 2011) -- When parents fight, infants are likely to lose sleep, researchers report. New parents often report sleep as being the most problematic of their child's behavior. Researchers found that poor sleep patterns in children from ages 9 to 18 months are likely influenced by conflict in their parents' marriage. ... > full story

Engineers fly world's first 'printed' aircraft (August 2, 2011) -- Engineers have designed and flown the world's first 'printed' aircraft, which could revolutionize the economics of aircraft design. ... > full story

Exposure to magnetic fields in pregnancy increases asthma risk, study suggests (August 2, 2011) -- Women with high exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy may have a higher risk of asthma in their children, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mission to Jupiter: Gas giant may hold keys to understanding solar system formation, evolution (August 2, 2011) -- NASA's Juno Mission to Jupiter is slated for launch Aug. 5 from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The primary goal of the mission is to understand the origin and evolution of the massive gas planet. The data should reveal not only the conditions of the early solar system, but also help scientists to better understand the hundreds of planetary systems recently discovered around other stars, she said. ... > full story

Bear bile chemical could help keep hearts in rhythm (August 2, 2011) -- A synthesized compound which is also found in bear bile could help prevent disturbances in the heart's normal rhythm, according to new research. ... > full story

Computers: The art of magnetic writing (August 2, 2011) -- Miniaturization in computer hard drives allows us to store vast amounts of digital data in a very small space, but it has created numerous problems that physicists and engineers are struggling to solve. The process of writing information on tiny magnetic bits one by one, as fast as possible, and with little energy consumption, represents one of the biggest hurdles in this field. Now, scientists in Europe have discovered a new method to write magnetic data that fulfills all of these requirements. ... > full story

Withdrawal from heavy cigarette smoking associated with brain imaging changes in regions related to mood regulation (August 2, 2011) -- Findings from a brain imaging study may provide clues for why some individuals with heavy cigarette-smoking habits experience depressed mood upon withdrawal from smoking, according to a new study., ... > full story

Bionic microrobot mimics the 'water strider' and walks on water (August 2, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development of a new aquatic microrobot that mimics the amazing water-walking abilities of the water strider -- the long-legged insect that scoots across the surface of ponds, lakes and other waterways. The bionic microrobot incorporates improvements over previous devices of this kind that position it as a prime candidate for military spy missions, water pollution monitoring, and other applications, the scientists say. ... > full story

Restoring blood flow after a heart attack: Nanostructure promotes growth of new blood vessels, mimics natural protein (August 2, 2011) -- Tissue deprived of oxygen (ischemia) is a serious health condition that can lead to damaged heart tissue following a heart attack and, in the case of peripheral arterial disease in limbs, amputation, particularly in diabetic patients. Now researchers have developed a novel nanostructure that promotes the growth of new blood vessels and shows promise as a therapy for conditions where increased blood flow is needed to supply oxygen to tissue. ... > full story

Microbial study reveals sophisticated sensory response (August 2, 2011) -- All biological sensory systems, including the five human senses, have something in common: when exposed to a sustained change in sensory input, the sense eventually acclimates and notices subsequent changes without comparing them with the initial condition. This autonomous tuning of perceptions, known as sensory adaptation, has been recognized for more than a century. A new study demonstrates that even microbes have sensory adaptation so precise that their behavior remains identical in ever-changing background conditions. ... > full story

New sensor promises rapid detection of dangerous heavy metal levels in humans (August 2, 2011) -- Researchers have developed the first lab-on-a-chip sensor to provide fast feedback regarding levels of the heavy metal manganese in humans. The sensor is both environmentally and child friendly, and will first be field tested in Marietta, Ohio, where researchers arae leading a long-term health study on the potential health effects of heavy metals. ... > full story

A new catalyst for ethanol made from biomass: Potential renewable path to fuel additives, rubber and solvents (August 2, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new catalyst material that could replace chemicals currently derived from petroleum and be the basis for more environmentally friendly products including octane-boosting gas and fuel additives, bio-based rubber for tires and a safer solvent for the chemicals industry. ... > full story

The dark side of oxytocin (August 2, 2011) -- For a hormone, oxytocin is pretty famous. It's the "cuddle chemical" -- the hormone that helps mothers bond with their babies. Salespeople can buy oxytocin spray on the internet, to make their clients trust them. It's known for promoting positive feelings, but more recent research has found that oxytocin can promote negative emotions, too. ... > full story

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