ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, December 31, 2009
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Natural variability led to extra-cold 2008, research finds (December 31, 2009) -- An especially cold year in North America in 2008 led some members of the public and the media to question the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming. In addition, the cool global temperatures during the past decade may appear to contrast with the warming expected due to human influence. New research finds that the anthropogenic forcing in 2008 did contribute to temperatures warmer than would otherwise have occurred but that those human-induced effects were overwhelmed by a particularly strong bout of natural cooling . ... > full story
Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage (December 31, 2009) -- The gene in question is a suicide gene, called "gene E," which leads to the death of tumor cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show "limited" results in advanced stages of cancer, so the kind of gene therapy proposed by the scientists of the UGR is a huge breakthrough in cancer treatment. ... > full story
New video reveals secrets of Webb Telescope's MIRI (December 31, 2009) -- It's going to take infrared eyes to see farther back in time than even the Hubble Space Telescope, and that's what the James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI or Mid-Infrared Instrument detectors will do. ... > full story
Widely used device for pain therapy not recommended for chronic low back pain (December 31, 2009) -- A new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, a widely used pain therapy involving a portable device, is not recommended to treat chronic low-back pain -- pain that has persisted for three months or longer -- because research shows it is not effective. ... > full story
Saturn's auroral hiss is asymmetrical (December 31, 2009) -- Saturn emits "auroral hiss," a whistler-mode electromagnetic emission observed in the magnetosphere at high latitudes. This emission is similar to auroral hiss emitted by Earth. However, unlike Earth's auroral hiss, researchers have found that Saturn rotates in a beam-like matter around the planet. ... > full story
Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples (December 31, 2009) -- When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally grown apples than genetically modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire consumers preferred GMO apples -- that is, when they were described, not as GMO, but as having a Reduced Environmental Impact. The research demonstrated that product labeling makes a difference when it comes to consumer acceptance. ... > full story
Severity of H1N1 influenza linked to presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (December 31, 2009) -- The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza. Reports that H1N1 pandemic influenza in Argentina was associated with higher morbidity and mortality than in other countries led investigators in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Mailman School of Public Health to look for viral mutations indicative of increased virulence and for co-infections that could contribute to disease. . .. > full story
Discovery of new function of prion protein improves understanding of epilepsy (December 31, 2009) -- Cellular prion protein (PrPc) plays an essential role in maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis in the central nervous system. This discovery has been made possible by the observation that both a deficiency and an excess of the protein have a considerable effect on this homeostasis. Surprisingly, in both cases, the central nervous excitability threshold is altered to such an extent that an epileptic seizure may result. Thanks to this discovery, researchers now have more tools at our disposal that can help deepen our basic understanding of epilepsy. ... > full story
Handful of iron beads offer clues to solve mystery of ancient iron forges (December 31, 2009) -- When archaeologist Ruth Iren Øien noticed a cluster of tiny iron beads in the ground, she knew she was onto something. She did not know, however, that her team had stumbled upon Scandinavia’s oldest and most complex group of iron forges. ... > full story
Why diseased heart muscle cells don't communicate properly (December 31, 2009) -- The heartbeat is controlled by rapid conduction of an electrical current between heart muscle cells. Central to passage of the electrical current are structures known as gap junctions, low resistance conduits that link heart muscle cells and consist of proteins known as connexins. ... > full story
Continental roots stress Earth's surface (December 31, 2009) -- The Earth's rigid lithosphere varies laterally in thickness and strength. Areas of thicker, older lithosphere known as continental roots penetrate deeper into the mantle in some places under continents. Because these continental roots are in contact with deeper, more viscous mantle, the shear traction at the base of the lithosphere in those areas is increased by up to a factor of 4 compared with a model lithosphere without continental roots. ... > full story
Children who lack continuity with a regular health care provider miss needed services (December 31, 2009) -- Low-income children who don't access health care from the same place or provider over the long term are significantly more likely to have unmet health care needs compared with those do, according to a new study. ... > full story
Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells (December 30, 2009) -- An ultra-high-resolution imaging technique using X-ray diffraction is a step closer to fulfilling its promise as a window on nanometer-scale structures in biological samples. Researchers report progress in applying an approach to "lensless" X-ray microscopy that they introduced one year ago, with the potential to yield insights for evolutionary biology and biotechnology. They have produced the first images, using this technique, of biological cells -- specifically the intriguing polyextremophile Deinococcus radiourans. .. . > full story
Rapid flu testing differentiates strains of influenza (December 30, 2009) -- Researchers have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza. ... > full story
New acoustic tools may reduce ship strikes on whales (December 30, 2009) -- Over the past decade, researchers have developed a variety of reliable real-time and archival instruments to study sounds made or heard by marine mammals and fish. These new sensors are now being used in research, management and conservation projects around the world with some very important practical results. Among them is improved monitoring of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an effort to reduce ship strikes, a leading cause of their deaths. ... > full story
Cardiovascular devices often approved by FDA without high-quality studies, study suggests (December 30, 2009) -- Pre-market approval by the FDA of cardiovascular devices is often based on studies that lack adequate strength or may have been prone to bias, according to a new study. Researchers found that of nearly 80 high-risk devices, the majority received approval based on data from a single study. ... > full story
'Spaghetti' Scaffolding Could Help Grow Skin In Labs (December 30, 2009) -- Scientists are developing new scaffolding technology which could be used to grow tissues such as skin, nerves and cartilage using 3D spaghetti-like structures. ... > full story
Why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach (December 30, 2009) -- The past year has been marked by a series of moral transgressions by powerful figures in political, business and celebrity circles. New research explores why powerful people -- many of whom take a moral high ground -- don't practice what they preach. ... > full story
Transcription factors guide differences in human and chimp brain function (December 30, 2009) -- Humans share at least 97 percent of their genes with chimpanzees, but, as a new study of transcription factors makes clear, what you have in your genome may be less important than how you use it. ... > full story
New target for lymphoma therapy (December 30, 2009) -- Researchers have discovered how an oncogene gets activated in mature B cells, suggesting a new target for therapy in B cell lymphomas. The study marks the first time researchers have understood how the over-activation of c-myc can lead to blood-related cancers. ... > full story
Dominant Chemical That Attracts Mosquitoes To Humans Identified (December 30, 2009) -- Scientists have identified the dominant odor naturally produced in humans and birds that attracts the blood-feeding Culex mosquitoes, which transmits West Nile virus and other life-threatening diseases. The groundbreaking research explains why mosquitoes shifted hosts from birds to humans and paves the way for key developments in mosquito and disease control. ... > full story
Obesity May Hinder Optimal Control Of Blood Pressure And Cholesterol (December 30, 2009) -- Obese patients taking medications to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are less likely to reach recommended targets for these cardiovascular disease risk factors than their normal weight counterparts, according to new research. ... > full story
Heme channel found: shuttles vital but vulnerable heme molecule across biological membranes (December 30, 2009) -- Heme, a crucial component of the biomachinery that squeezes energy out of food and stores it for later use, must be transported across membranes but without exposing its central iron atom to oxidation. New research shows how it is done. ... > full story
Fish with attitude: Some like it hot (December 30, 2009) -- Coral reef fish can undergo a personality change in warmer water, according to an intriguing new study suggesting that climate change may make some species more aggressive. ... > full story
Evolution experiments with flowers (December 30, 2009) -- Evolution uses every chance it gets to try something new. Researchers have now investigated how petunia flowers are formed and discovered that nature is even more varied than the naked eye can spot. The genes involved in flower formation can function differently in different species. Evolution has discovered a system that works, but within that system it continues to innovate. ... > full story
Scientists discover a controller of brain circuitry (December 30, 2009) -- By combining a research technique that dates back 136 years with modern molecular genetics, a neuroscientist has been able to see how a mammal's brain shrewdly revisits and reuses the same molecular cues to control the complex design of its circuits. ... > full story
Mobilizing the repair squad: Critical protein helps mend damaged DNA (December 30, 2009) -- In order to preserve our DNA, cells have developed an intricate system for monitoring and repairing DNA damage. Yet precisely how the initial damage signal is converted into a repair response remains unclear. Researchers have now solved a crucial piece of the complex puzzle. ... > full story
Aerobic Exercise No Big Stretch For Older Adults But Helps Elasticity Of Arteries (December 30, 2009) -- Just three months of physical activity reaps heart health benefits for older adults with type 2 diabetes by improving the elasticity in their arteries -- reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, researchers say. ... > full story
Learning From Insects: The Race Is On For New 'Bio-Resources' (December 30, 2009) -- Unseen and unheard, insects are all around us. And with more than a million different species, each one perfectly adapted to its environment, no other form of animal life comes close to matching insects for diversity. Scientists now want to exploit this diversity to develop and test new medicines, new methods of pest control, new industrial enzymes and even bionic systems. ... > full story
Born in beauty: Proplyds in the Orion Nebula (December 30, 2009) -- A collection of 30 never-before-released images of embryonic planetary systems in the Orion Nebula are the highlight of the longest single Hubble Space Telescope project ever dedicated to the topic of star and planet formation. Also known as proplyds, or protoplanetary discs, these modest blobs surrounding baby stars are shedding light on the mechanism behind planet formation. ... > full story
Ginkgo biloba does not appear to slow rate of cognitive decline (December 30, 2009) -- Older adults who used the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba for several years did not have a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to adults who received placebo, according to a new study. ... > full story
Nanoscale changes in collagen are a tipoff to bone health (December 30, 2009) -- Using a technique that provides detailed images of nanoscale structures, researchers have discovered changes in the collagen component of bone that directly relate to bone health. ... > full story
What Part Do Relapses Play In Severe Disability For People With MS? (December 30, 2009) -- People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have relapses within the first five years of onset appear to have more severe disability in the short term compared to people who do not have an early relapse, according to a new study. The study is one of the first to examine how MS relapses affect people during different time periods of the disease. ... > full story
Mapping Nutrient Distributions Over The Atlantic Ocean (December 30, 2009) -- Large-scale distributions of two important nutrient pools -- dissolved organic nitrogen and dissolved organic phosphorus have been systematically mapped for the first time over the Atlantic Ocean in a new study. The findings have important implications for understanding nitrogen and phosphorus biogeochemical cycles and the biological carbon pump in the Atlantic Ocean. ... > full story
Energy Gap Useful Tool For Successful Weight Loss Maintenance Strategy (December 30, 2009) -- The term energy gap was coined to estimate the change in energy balance (intake and expenditure) behaviors required to achieve and sustain reduced body weight outcomes in individuals and populations. In a new commentary, researchers more precisely clarify the concept of the energy gap (or energy gaps) and discuss how the concept can be properly used as a tool to help understand and address obesity. ... > full story
Brain scans show distinctive patterns in people with generalized anxiety disorder (December 30, 2009) -- Scrambled connections between the part of the brain that processes fear and emotion and other brain regions could be the hallmark of a common anxiety disorder, according to a new study. The findings could help researchers identify biological differences between types of anxiety disorders as well as such disorders as depression. ... > full story
Common mechanism underlies many diseases of excitability (December 30, 2009) -- Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels are associated with many different human diseases, including genetic forms of epilepsy and chronic pain. New research has now determined the functional consequence of three such mutations. These results suggest that there might be a common mechanism underlying diseases caused by mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels. ... > full story
Drought Resistance Explained: Protein Structure Reveals How Plants Respond To Water Shortages (December 30, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered that the key to plants' responses to drought lies in the structure of a protein called PYR1 and how it interacts with the plant hormone abscisic acid. Their study could open up new approaches to increasing crops' resistance to water shortage. ... > full story
New Genetic Cause Of A Fatal Immune Disorder (December 30, 2009) -- Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is an inherited, fatal, immune disorder. Disease-causing mutations have been identified in several genes. Now, researchers have added a new gene to this list by determining that two distinct mutations in the gene that generates syntaxin-binding protein 2 cause disease in a subset of patients with FHL. ... > full story
Perfectly Proportioned: Evenly Distributed Powder Density For Manufacturing Parts (December 30, 2009) -- The manufacture of parts by compaction and sintering involves filling a die with metal powder. Research scientists have simulated this process for the first time to achieve an evenly distributed powder density. This improves the cost-efficiency of sintering. ... > full story
Couples Say Relationships Damaged By Stroke (December 30, 2009) -- Suffering a stroke can lead to significant changes in how couples relate to each other on both a physical and emotional level, according to new University of Ulster research. ... > full story
First molars provide insight into evolution of great apes, humans (December 29, 2009) -- Scientists have gained new insights into the timing of molar emergence and its relation to growth and reproduction in apes. "We can use the same techniques to calculate ages at first molar emergence from the fossils of early hominids that just happened to die while their first molars were erupting," researchers report. ... > full story
Disinfectants may promote growth of superbugs (December 29, 2009) -- Using disinfectants could cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics as well as the disinfectant itself, according to new research. The findings could have important implications for how the spread of infection is managed in hospital settings. ... > full story
How calorie-restricted diets fight obesity and extend life span (December 29, 2009) -- Scientists searching for the secrets of how calorie-restricted diets increase longevity are reporting discovery of proteins in the fat cells of human volunteers that change as pounds drop off. The proteins could become markers for monitoring or boosting the effectiveness of calorie-restricted diets -- the only scientifically proven way of extending life span in animals. ... > full story
Exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood home associated with early emphysema in adulthood (December 29, 2009) -- Children regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home were more likely to develop early emphysema in adulthood. The finding suggests that the lungs may not recover completely from the effects of early-life exposures to tobacco smoke. ... > full story
Molecular chaperone keeps bacterial proteins from slow-dancing to destruction (December 29, 2009) -- Just like teenagers at a prom, proteins are tended by chaperones whose job it is to prevent unwanted interactions among immature clients. And at the molecular level, just as at the high school gym level, it's a job that usually requires a lot of energy. ... > full story
Lighting can influence how wine tastes (December 29, 2009) -- Researchers demonstrate that the color of ambient lighting can have an effect on how a wine is judged. ... > full story
Superatoms mimic elements: Research gives new perspective on periodic table (December 29, 2009) -- Researchers have shown that certain combinations of elemental atoms have electronic signatures that mimic the electronic signatures of other elements. The findings could lead to much cheaper materials for widespread applications such as new sources of energy, methods of pollution abatement, and catalysts on which industrial nations depend heavily for chemical processing. ... > full story
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