ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Friday, August 5, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Friday, August 5, 2011

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Engineers solve longstanding problem in photonic chip technology: Findings help pave way for next generation of computer chips (August 5, 2011) -- Stretching for thousands of miles beneath oceans, optical fibers now connect every continent except for Antarctica. But although optical fibers are increasingly replacing copper wires, carrying information via photons instead of electrons, today's computer technology still relies on electronic chips. Now, researchers are paving the way for the next generation of computer-chip technology: photonic chips. ... > full story

Scientists map genes for common form of brain cancer; Findings reveal cause of the tumors (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have completed a comprehensive map of genetic mutations occurring in the second-most common form of brain cancer, oligodendroglioma. The findings also appear to reveal the biological cause of the tumors, they say. ... > full story

Designing diamond circuits for extreme environments (August 5, 2011) -- There is a new way to design computer chips and electronic circuitry for extreme environments: make them out of diamond. ... > full story

Targeting innate immunity in malaria: Novel DNA sensing pathway linked to increased susceptibility to malaria (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered a novel DNA-sensing pathway important to the triggering of an innate immune response for malaria. Activation of this pathway appears to stimulate production of an overabundance of type-1 interferon by the immune system that may contribute to inflammation and fever in malaria patients and could play a part in susceptibility for the most common and lethal form of malaria known as plasmodium falciparum. ... > full story

Theft protection developed for virtual machines (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to promptly detect hacker attacks on virtual machines. Companies and government agencies that employ virtual machines can thus protect data stored on them against theft. ... > full story

Studies shed light on hand hygiene knowledge and infection risk in hospitals and elementary schools (August 5, 2011) -- Increased hand hygiene knowledge positively correlates with a decreased risk of transmitting infection among both healthcare workers and elementary school children, according to two studies. ... > full story

Taller women are at increased risk of a wide range of cancers, research suggests (August 5, 2011) -- Taller people are at increased risk of a wide range of cancers, according to new research. The study found that in women the risk of cancer rises by about 16% for every 10cm (4 inches) increase in height. Previous studies have shown a link between height and cancer risk, but this research extends the findings to more cancers and for women with differing lifestyles and economic backgrounds. ... > full story

Genetic 'signature' discovered in plaque, possible key to future treatment (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have found differences in artery plaque in people who had stroke and people who didn't. These differences -- found in the genetic profile of each plaque -- could allow researchers to target treatments to plaques that are most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack or stroke. ... > full story

Earliest image of Egyptian ruler wearing 'white crown' of royalty brought to light (August 5, 2011) -- The earliest known image of an Egyptian ruler wearing the "White Crown" associated with Egyptian dynastic power has been brought to light by archaeologists. ... > full story

Hormone reduces risk of heart failure from chemotherapy, study suggests (August 5, 2011) -- A new study utilizing a heart failure model is providing insight into one way to coax the cardiac stem cells into repairing the damaged heart. The research finds that low doses of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone best known for controlling the production of red blood cells, might reduce the risk of heart failure associated with some anticancer therapies. ... > full story

Tools to imagine the forest of the future (August 5, 2011) -- Can we predict the future regeneration of a forest given that at time T, a volume V of wood is extracted? What effects will the cut have on the competition between young and old trees in their efforts to gain access to light? Researchers are developing simulation models to anticipate the impact of future management decisions over different time scales in order to ensure the long-term balance between wood-production systems and other forest functions. ... > full story

Treatment intervention for former child soldiers in Uganda associated with reducing symptoms of PTSD (August 5, 2011) -- Former child soldiers from Northern Uganda who received a short-term trauma-focused intervention had a greater reduction of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder than soldiers who received other therapy, according to a new study. ... > full story

Large variations in Arctic sea ice: Polar ice much less stable than previously thought, study finds (August 4, 2011) -- For the last 10,000 years, summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has been far from constant. For several thousand years, there was much less sea ice in The Arctic Ocean -- probably less than half of current amounts, according to a new study. ... > full story

Surprising condition occurs in lungs after an invasion of mold, study shows (August 4, 2011) -- Researchers have found a surprising condition that occurs in the lungs after an invasion of a common, but potentially dangerous, mold. ... > full story

Soft spheres settle in somewhat surprising structure (August 4, 2011) -- Latex paints and drug suspensions such as insulin or amoxicillin that do not need to be shaken or stirred may be possible thanks to a new understanding of how particles separate in liquids, according to chemical engineers, who have developed a method for predicting the way colloidal components separate based on energy. ... > full story

Predicting spinal disc degeneration (August 4, 2011) -- About 80 percent of the active population suffers from low back pain at some point in their lives. Researchers now show that overloading on already degenerated discs is less damaging than on discs which are still healthy -- and that changes in cell density in discs are fundamental to the process of disc degeneration. ... > full story

Physicists show that quantum ignorance is hard to expose (August 4, 2011) -- No one likes a know-it-all but it turns out that a quantum know-it-all is the worst. New research has shown that the quantum world allows you to answer questions correctly when you don't even have all the information you should need. ... > full story

Are pet owners healthier and happier? Maybe not (August 4, 2011) -- For many people, Fido and Fluffy are more than just pets, they're true and equal members of the family. And it's not hard to see why. Our pets greet us at the door after a long day of work, settle in our laps while we're watching TV, or 'sing' along when we hum a tune. They provide companionship and even a sense of comfort. Yet according to new research there simply isn't strong evidence for the general claim that living with a pet makes for a happier, healthier or longer life. ... > full story

Fossils of forest rodents found in highland desert (August 4, 2011) -- Two new rodent fossils were discovered in the arid highlands of southern Bolivia. An online article describes the new species, a possible third, and two known species that are new inhabitants to that location. ... > full story

Researchers find way to help donor adult blood stem cells overcome transplant rejection (August 4, 2011) -- Findings may suggest new strategies for successful donor adult stem cell transplants in patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. ... > full story

La Nina's distant effects in East Africa: Droughts and floods are remote-controlled climate effects (August 4, 2011) -- For 20,000 years, climate variability in East Africa has been following a pattern that is evidently a remote effect of the ENSO phenomenon (El Nino Southern Oscillation) known as El Nino/La Nina. During the cold phase of La Nina, there is marginal rainfall and stronger winds in East Africa, while the El Nino warm phase leads to weak wind conditions with frequent rain. ... > full story

Artificial lung device: Feasibility of lung transplants demonstrated (August 4, 2011) -- Surgeons in the U.S. report using recently developed artificial lung technology to demonstrate the feasibility of a lung transplant. ... > full story

One box of Girl Scout Cookies worth billion: Lab shows troop how any carbon source can become valuable graphene (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists can make graphene out of just about anything with carbon -- even Girl Scout Cookies. Graduate students in the Rice University lab of chemist James Tour proved it when they invited a troop of Houston Girl Scouts to their lab to show them how it's done. ... > full story

Harnessing the power of positive thoughts and emotions to treat depression (August 4, 2011) -- Positive activity interventions (PAIs) offer a safe, low-cost, and self-administered approach to managing depression and may offer hope to individuals with depressive disorders who do not respond or have access to adequate medical therapy, according to a comprehensive review article. ... > full story

First opal-like crystals discovered in meteorite (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists have found opal-like crystals in the Tagish Lake meteorite, which fell to Earth in Canada in 2000. This is the first extraterrestrial discovery of these unusual crystals, which may have formed in the primordial cloud of dust that produced the sun and planets of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. ... > full story

Cells die so defensive organs can live (August 4, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates the trade-off between the development of defensive organs and the regression of mouth parts during termite evolution. Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that programmed cell death - a process by which cells deliberately destroy themselves - is involved in mandibular regression in termites. And it appears this regression may be the price to pay for the formation of termites' defensive organs. ... > full story

Making runways safer (August 4, 2011) -- Airplanes undergo significant stresses during take-off and landing, and parts often become detached, putting subsequent runway users at risk. Until now, airport staff have had to monitor runways without technical assistance -- an activity that is prone to errors. A new radar system is set to increase safety at airports. ... > full story

Bellybutton microbiomes: Ecological research on the human biome (August 4, 2011) -- Human skin is teeming with microbes -- communities of bacteria, many of which are harmless, live alongside the more infamous microbes sometimes found on the skin. Researchers recently set out to dispel the myth that all bacteria on the skin are disease-causing germs. ... > full story

Scientists invent heat-regulating building material (August 4, 2011) -- A new material that can retain and release heat according to specific temperature requirements could make a significant difference to the cost of heating and cooling buildings, scientists say. ... > full story

U.S. physicians spend nearly four times more on health insurance costs than Canadian counterparts (August 4, 2011) -- U.S. physicians spend nearly ,000 more than their Canadian counterparts each year on administrative expenses related to health insurance, according to a new study. ... > full story

Water flowing on Mars, NASA spacecraft data suggest (August 4, 2011) -- Observations from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars. ... > full story

Aggressive drug therapy aids superbug evolution, research finds (August 4, 2011) -- New research raises troubling concerns about the use of aggressive drug therapies to treat a wide range of diseases such as MRSA, C. difficile, malaria and even cancer. ... > full story

Accident protection device for small cars (August 4, 2011) -- Driver-assistance systems help prevent accidents. Quite simply, the more a car knows about its surroundings, the more intelligently it can respond to them. Researchers have now developed an optical sensor for the windshield that can even tell the difference between fog and darkness. ... > full story

Text message reminders improve healthcare practice in rural Africa, study finds (August 4, 2011) -- New research has shown that sending text message reminders to health-care workers in rural Africa can improve the implementation of national guidelines for treating malaria. The intervention led to more patients receiving accurate antimalarial treatment. ... > full story

Researchers develop fully cooked food-aid product (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a fully cooked food-aid product called Instant Corn Soy Blend that supplements meals, particularly for young children. ... > full story

Have we met before? Scientists show why the brain has the answer (August 4, 2011) -- Have you ever been approached by someone whose face you recognize but whose name you can't remember? Neuroscientists have identified the reasons behind why we are, at times, unable to link a face to a name. ... > full story

DNA strands that select nanotubes are first step to a practical 'quantum wire' (August 4, 2011) -- DNA, a molecule famous for storing the genetic blueprints for all living things, can do other things as well. In a new paper, researchers describe how tailored single strands of DNA can be used to purify the highly desired "armchair" form of carbon nanotubes. Armchair-form single wall carbon nanotubes are needed to make "quantum wires" for low-loss, long distance electricity transmission and wiring. ... > full story

Potential anti-cancer therapy that starves cancer cells of glucose identified (August 4, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a compound that attacks the Achilles' heel of certain cancer cells by depriving them of their energy source, the sugar glucose. ... > full story

Mold exposure during infancy increases asthma risk, study finds (August 4, 2011) -- Infants who live in "moldy" homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7 -- an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition, according to a new study. ... > full story

Drinking just one measure of spirits increases the risk of acute pancreatitis, study finds; But wine and beer do not appear to have the same effect (August 4, 2011) -- Drinking just one 4 cl measure of spirits can increase the risk of an acute attack of pancreatitis, but wine or beer does not appear to have the same effect. Researchers in Sweden followed 84,601 people from 46 to 84 years of age. The study suggests there are constituents in spirits that are not present in wine and beer and that they can cause acute pancreatitis, either on their own or with alcohol. ... > full story

An advance toward an 'electronic nose' urine test for TB (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting an advance toward a fast, inexpensive urine test to detect and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for tuberculosis, which is on a rampage in the developing world. ... > full story

A wise man's treatment for arthritis: Frankincense? (August 4, 2011) -- The answer to treating painful arthritis could lie in an age old herbal remedy -- frankincense, according to scientists. They have been examining the potential benefits of frankincense to help relieve and alleviate the symptoms of the condition. ... > full story

What steers vampire bats to blood: Heat-detecting molecules on noses discovered (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists have known for years that when vampire bats tear through an animal's skin with their razor-sharp teeth, their noses guide them to the best spots -- where a precise bite will strike a vein and spill forth nourishing blood. But nobody knew exactly how bats knew where to bite. ... > full story

Gold nanoparticles used to diagnose flu in minutes (August 4, 2011) -- Arriving at a rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical during flu outbreaks, but until now, physicians and public health officials have had to choose between a highly accurate yet time-consuming test or a rapid but error-prone test. A new detection method however, offers the best of both worlds. ... > full story

Human hearts respond differently than mouse hearts to two cardiovascular drugs (August 4, 2011) -- Two recent research studies have found differences between the distribution of potassium-ion-channel variants in the mouse heart and in the human heart. In the mouse, the ion channels in the atria are different from those in the ventricles. In people there is no such chamber specificity. The difference is crucially important for the development of safe and effective cardiovascular drugs. ... > full story

Leukemia drug reverses tamoxifen-resistance in breast cancer cells (August 4, 2011) -- Taking a leukemia chemotherapy drug may help breast cancer patients who don't respond to tamoxifen overcome resistance to the widely-used drug, new research suggests. ... > full story

'Watermark ink' device identifies unknown liquids instantly (August 4, 2011) -- Materials scientists and applied physicists have invented a new device that can instantly identify an unknown liquid. ... > full story

Mindful eating: Researchers are making every bite count (August 4, 2011) -- Two researchers seek to make diners mindful of mindless eating. A psychology professor and an electrical and computer engineering professor have created the Bite Counter, a measurement device that will make it easier for people to monitor how much they eat. ... > full story