ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, January 1, 2010
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Looking back in time 12 billion years with new instruments on Herschel Space Observatory (January 1, 2010) -- Astronomers have made the most detailed views yet of space up to 12 billion years back in time. ... > full story
Keeping hepatitis C virus at bay after a liver transplant (January 1, 2010) -- Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus who receive a liver transplant find that their new liver becomes infected with HCV almost immediately. However, researcher in Japan have developed an approach that transiently keeps HCV levels down in most treated HCV-infected patients receiving a new liver. ... > full story
Biofilms: Researchers discover new ways to treat chronic infections (January 1, 2010) -- Researchers have identified three key regulators required for the formation and development of biofilms. The discovery could lead to new ways of treating chronic infections. ... > full story
Genetic link to heart failure (January 1, 2010) -- New research has identified a group of 12 genetic variants in the HSPB7 gene that is associated with heart failure in humans. ... > full story
'Land Grabs' For Rice Production Due To Supply Threats (January 1, 2010) -- Recent interest in "land grabs" or the international acquisition of land to produce rice is sparked by a looming threat of inadequate rice supplies. ... > full story
Influenza in Africa should not be ignored, researchers urge (January 1, 2010) -- Influenza is circulating in Africa, but virtually no information or attention is evident, according to a new article. ... > full story
A facial expression is worth a thousand words (December 31, 2009) -- Moving pictures are more suitable to interpret the mood of a person than a static photograph. Communication is a central aspect of everyday life, a fact that is reflected in the wide variety of ways that people exchange information, not only with words, but also using their face and body. Scientists have now found out that we are able to recognize facial expressions in motion far better than in a static photograph. The video sequence needs to be at least as long as one tenth of a second to gain this dynamic advantage. ... > full story
NEDD9 Protein Supports Growth Of Aggressive Breast Cancer (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have demonstrated that a protein called NEDD9 may be required for some of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer to grow. According to the researchers, the protein could serve as a clinical biomarker to indicate the presence of aggressive forms of breast cancer. NEDD9 may also provide a target for some future therapeutic against metastatic cancer. ... > full story
Drunk walking makes New Year's the deadliest day of the year for pedestrians (December 31, 2009) -- This is the time of the holiday season when New Year's partiers are inundated with warnings about the risks of drinking and driving. Little is ever heard, though, about the risks of drinking and walking, which can be just as dangerous. ... > full story
New Function For The Protein Bcl-xL: It Prevents Bone Breakdown (December 31, 2009) -- In blood cells, the protein Bcl-xL has a well-characterized role in preventing cell death by a process known as apoptosis. New research has now identified its functions in osteoclasts, cells that slowly breakdown bone (a process known as resorption). Surprisingly, not only does Bcl-xL prevent osteoclast apoptosis in mice, it also negatively regulates the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. ... > full story
Springtime sheep grazing helps control leafy spurge (December 31, 2009) -- Using sheep to control leafy spurge works best if it's done in the spring every year, according to a new study. ... > full story
Partners sculpt each other to achieve their ideal selves: If successful, relationship goes well (December 31, 2009) -- Is that really Bob? You've seen him hundreds of mornings for the last 10 years at local coffee shops. Since he started dating Sara, he looks you in the eye -- and smiles. Sara takes every opportunity to let coffee shop cronies know that Bob is her guy and to gush about how funny he is. And he is. Who knew? Think of Sara like Michelangelo chipping away at a block of marble to release the ideal figure slumbering within. To the degree that the sculpting process has gone well, that she has helped mold Bob toward his ideal self, the relationship functions better and both partners are happier, according to new resea rch. Conversely, a relationship can run into trouble when an individual emphasizes attributes that are peripheral to the core elements of what a partner ideally wishes to become. ... > full story
Champagne is good for your heart, study suggests -- but only in moderation (December 31, 2009) -- Research from the UK suggests that two glasses of champagne a day may be good for your heart and circulation. The researchers have found that drinking champagne wine daily in moderate amounts causes improvements in the way blood vessels function. ... > full story
Putting limits on vitamin E (December 31, 2009) -- Scientists have done the most comprehensive and accurate study of clinical data on vitamin E use and heart disease to date, and it warns that indiscriminate use of high-dose vitamin E supplementation does more harm than good. ... > full story
Ophthalmologist calls for caution when popping bottles of bubbly this holiday season (December 31, 2009) -- For many, celebrating the holidays calls for a champagne toast. But for some people popping a bottle of bubbly can be dangerous to your health. ... > full story
Treating alcohol-use disorders and tuberculosis together (December 31, 2009) -- Treatment for alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB) is rarely integrated, even though the two diseases have a high co-occurrence. American and Russian researchers have jointly designed and are monitoring an innovative program that will deliver alcohol treatment as part of routine TB care. The trial study is continuing. ... > full story
Moving video to 'captcha' robot hackers (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have developed a synthesis technique that generates moving pictures of 3-D objects which will allow security developers to generate an infinite number of "emergence" images virtually impossible for any computer algorithm to decode. ... > full story
Young hunters most likely to be injured using tree stands (December 31, 2009) -- Young hunters between the ages of 15 and 34 are the most likely to suffer serious injuries in tree stand-related incidents, say researchers. The same researchers' findings, though, suggest that such injuries are preventable. ... > full story
Lithium-air batteries could displace gasoline in future cars (December 31, 2009) -- In excess of seven million barrels of gasoline are consumed by vehicles in the United States every day. As scientists race to find environmentally sound solutions to fuel the world's ever-growing transportation needs, battery researchers are exploring the promise of lithium-air battery technology. ... > full story
Children more likely to catch swine flu, says new research (December 31, 2009) -- Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study. However, the research also shows that young people are no more likely than adults to infect others with the pandemic H1N1 virus. ... > full story
Short-term school closures may worsen flu pandemics (December 31, 2009) -- Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic. The findings, developed from a series of computer simulations based on U.S. census data, indicate that schools may need to be closed for at least eight weeks in order to significantly decrease the spread of infection. ... > full story
Chinese-American and Korean-American women at highest risk for diabetes in pregnancy (December 31, 2009) -- A new study found more than 10 percent of women of Chinese and Korean heritage may be at risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy. The first of its kind, the 10-year study of 16,757 women and 22,110 pregnancies in Hawaii found that Chinese-American and Korean-American women's gestational diabetes risk is one-third higher than average -- and more than double that of Caucasian and African-American women. ... > full story
Engineered tobacco plants have more potential as a biofuel (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel. ... > full story
Scientists develop technique to determine ethnic origin of stem cell lines (December 31, 2009) -- Scientists have developed a straightforward technique to determine the ethnic origin of stem cells. The team's analysis of a variety of human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use in research laboratories around the world found that these cells originated largely from Caucasian and East Asian populations, with little representation from populations originating in Africa. ... > full story
Marseillevirus -- a new member of the giant viruses (December 31, 2009) -- After Mimivirus, Mamavirus and the virophage, the group of giant viruses now has a new member called Marseillevirus. The new virus was discovered in an amoeba by a team of French researchers. Their findings suggest the exchange of genes in amoebae that may lead to the constitution of different gene repertoires that could be a source of new pathogens. ... > full story
Small molecules found to protect cells in multiple models of Parkinson's disease (December 31, 2009) -- Several structurally similar small molecules appear capable of protecting cells from alpha-synuclein toxicity, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowed movements. There is currently no cure for the disease, and current Parkinson's therapies only address disease symptoms, not the disease's cellular cause. ... > full story
New RNA interference technique can silence up to five genes (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers report that they have successfully used RNA interference to turn off multiple genes in the livers of mice, an advance that could lead to new treatments for diseases of the liver and other organs. ... > full story
Weakened Plasmodium generates protective immunity (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have found that weakened Plasmodium elicits a protective immune response. ... > full story
Permafrost thaw may accelerate Arctic groundwater runoff (December 31, 2009) -- As the Arctic warms, permafrost will degrade, potentially resulting in increased groundwater runoff as frozen ground that had blocked the flow of water melts. To investigate how groundwater systems will evolve as surface temperatures rise, researchers have developed a model to simulate an idealized aquifer covered by a layer of permafrost. ... > full story
No rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide fraction in past 160 years, new research finds (December 31, 2009) -- Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase. In contradiction to those studies, new research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not incr eased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades. ... > full story
New tool in the fight against mosquito-borne disease: A microbial 'mosquito net' (December 31, 2009) -- Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya. ... > full story
Body's own veins provide superior material for aortic grafts (December 31, 2009) -- A vascular surgical technique designed to replace infected aortic grafts with the body's own veins has proved more durable and less prone to new infection than similar procedures using synthetic and cadaver grafts. ... > full story
Imaging tests identify role of allergies in chronic sinus disease (December 31, 2009) -- Exposing patients with chronic sinus disease to allergens and then obtaining repeated images by X-ray or ultrasound reveals that nasal allergies may be involved in some cases of chronic sinus disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
How much ice needed to create Martian land formations? (December 31, 2009) -- Some land formations on Mars suggest the presence of water ice. These features could have been created by viscous creep of ice below the surface in Martian permafrost. To determine how much ice would be needed to form the observed topography on Mars, researchers conducted laboratory experiments to simulate the frozen Martian sand. ... > full story
Addictive effects of caffeine on kids being studied (December 31, 2009) -- Caffeine is a stimulant drug, although legal, and adults use it widely to perk themselves up: Being "addicted" to caffeine is considered perfectly normal. But how strong is caffeine's appeal in young people who consume an abundance of soft drinks? What impact does acute and chronic caffeine consumption have on their blood pressure, heart rate and hand tremor? Furthermore, does consuming caffeinated drinks during adolescence contribute to later use of legal or illicit drugs? ... > full story
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
Safe, effective, minimally invasive mitral valve repair, suggested by study (December 31, 2009) -- Minimally invasive, patient-friendly surgical techniques are widespread, but there is little data to prompt the routine use of these techniques in mitral valve surgery, especially in cases where the valve can be repaired. After a six-year study, surgeons conclude that minimally invasive mitral valve repair techniques, through only a two-inch incision in the right side of the chest, are safe, durable and 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
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