Brainy worms: Scientists uncover counterpart of cerebral cortex in marine worms
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
Unexpectedly, scientists have now discovered a true counterpart of the cerebral cortex in an invertebrate, a marine worm. Their findings give an idea of what the most ancient higher brain centers looked like, and what our distant ancestors used them for.
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Capsaicin can act as co-carcinogen, study finds; Chili pepper component linked to skin cancer
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
New research links capsaicin, a component of chili peppers, to skin cancer. While the molecular mechanisms of the cancer-promoting effects of capsaicin are not clear and remain controversial, the new research has shown a definite connection to formation of skin cancer through various laboratory studies.
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Cranberry juice shows promise blocking Staph infections
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus from beginning the process of infection.
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Cancer-causing gene crucial in stem cell development, study finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
A research team has shown for the first time that a gene called Myc, which is traditionally thought of as a cancer-causing gene, may be far more important in the development and persistence of stem cells than was known before.
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Computer technique could help partially sighted 'see' better
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
Thousands of people who are partially sighted following stroke or brain injury could gain greater independence from a simple, cheap and accessible training course which could eventually be delivered from their mobile phones or hand-held games consoles, according to a new study.
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Science's policy clout diminished, but oil risk looms large, study finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT
More people are likely to believe scientific studies claiming that oil drilling is riskier, not safer, than was previously thought, according to a new study of attitudes in California. What's more the findings show that scientists' efforts to influence public opinion have a limited effect.
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Miniature auto differential helps tiny aerial robots stay aloft
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
Engineers have created a millionth-scale automobile differential to govern the flight of minuscule aerial robots that could someday be used to probe environmental hazards, forest fires, and other places too perilous for people. Their new approach is the first to passively balance the aerodynamic forces encountered by these miniature flying devices, letting their wings flap asymmetrically in response to gusts of wind, wing damage, and other real-world impediments.
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Children who eat vended snack foods face chronic health problems, poor diet, study finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
School children who consume foods purchased in vending machines are more likely to develop poor diet quality -- and that may be associated with being overweight, obese or at risk for chronic health problems such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to new research.
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Experiment records ultrafast chemical reaction with vibrational echoes
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
To watch a magician transform a vase of flowers into a rabbit, it's best to have a front-row seat. Likewise, for chemical transformations in solution, the best view belongs to the molecular spectators closest to the action. Those special molecules comprise the "first solvation shell," and although it has been known for decades that they can sense and dictate the fate of nearly every chemical reaction, it has been virtually impossible to watch them respond -- until now.
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Increased risk for lupus in men with certain form of immune receptor
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
Humans -- males in particular -- with a variant form of the immune receptor gene "Toll Like Receptor 7" are at increased risk of developing the autoimmune disease lupus. This finding offers renewed hope for developing more targeted treatments.
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Laser-based missile defense for helicopters being developed
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
Protecting helicopters in combat from heat-seeking missiles is the goal of new laser technology.
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Social networks influence health behaviors
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT
Individuals are more likely to acquire new health practices while living in networks with dense clusters of connections -- that is, when in close contact with people they already know well.
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Chemists develop simple technique to visualize atomic-scale structures
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Researchers have devised a new technique -- using a sheet of carbon just one atom thick -- to visualize the structure of molecules. The technique, which was used to obtain the first direct images of how water coats surfaces at room temperature, can also be used to image a potentially unlimited number of other molecules, including antibodies and other biomolecules.
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Cigarette smoke may contribute to lung inflammation through a new chemical pathway
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Cigarette smoke shuts off a key enzyme in airways that regulates the body's response to inflammation, according to new findings. Researchers say smoke inhibits the enzyme, called Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase (LTA4H), causing it to fail in its job of shutting down white blood cells following a successful response to inflammation.
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Scientists listen to faint sounds inside insects using atomic force microscopy
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Scientists are using atomic force microscopy to record sounds emanating from inside living insects like flies, mosquitoes and ladybugs.
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Serendipity contributes to MRSA susceptibility findings
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Researchers have found two genes in mice which might help identify why some people are more susceptible than others to potentially deadly staph infections.
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Researchers discover proton diode: Water is an active element in proteins
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Biophysicists in Germany have discovered a diode for protons: just like the electronic component determines the direction of flow of electric current, the “proton diode” ensures that protons can only pass through a cell membrane in one direction. Water molecules play an important role here as active components of the diode. The researchers were able to observe this through a combination of molecular biology, X-ray crystallography, time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy and biomolecular simulations.
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Problem of fake medicines in developing countries could be solved, experts say
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EDT
Counterfeiting of drugs is a huge industry. In Africa the situation is extremely serious. Half of the malaria medication sold there could be ineffective or even harmful. There is currently no good way to identify counterfeit drugs. However, researchers in Sweden and the UK have now developed a technique that could resolve the situation.
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Molecules involved in 'touch' identified: Could lead to new treatments for pain, deafness and cardiac function
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
Scientists have identified two proteins with potential to be important targets for research into a wide range of health problems, including pain, deafness, and cardiac and kidney dysfunction.
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Value of oxygen therapy in end-of-life care challenged in new study
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
Millions of patients with advanced disease in palliative care settings receive oxygen therapy to help them breathe more easily. But a new study says roughly half of them don't benefit from the intervention, and among those who do benefit, it doesn't make a bit of difference whether they get pure oxygen or just plain old room air -- both offer equal benefit.
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How do organisms make dietary choices?
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
When given a choice, organisms will choose a diet that maintains a nutritional balance in tune with their needs. That choice, studied in fruit flies for the first time, is regulated by activity in a molecular pathway involved in aging, cancer and diabetes. Humans share the same molecular pathway. The study, the first to be done in a genetically tractable lab animal, could lead to treatments that would "reboot" metabolic pathways in individuals who are obese or suffer from diabetes.
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New warning signs may predict kidney transplant failure
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
Kidney transplants that show a combination of fibrosis (scarring) and inflammation after one year are at higher risk of long-term transplant failure, according to a new study.
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The perfect nanocube: Precise control of size, shape and composition
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have developed a simple process for producing near-perfect nanocrystals that will enable studies of physical and chemical properties that affect how nanoparticles interact with the world around them.
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Safety cultures in emergency medical services agencies vary widely, study finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
A survey of emergency medical services agencies from across the country found wide variation in perceptions of workplace safety culture -- providing a tool that might point to potential patient safety threats, according to researchers.
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Model for implantable artificial kidney to replace dialysis unveiled
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
Researchers have unveiled a prototype model of the first implantable artificial kidney, in a development that one day could eliminate the need for dialysis.
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New type of anti-malarial compound discovered
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
Scientists have discovered a promising new drug candidate that represents a new class of drug to treat malaria. Clinical trials for the compound are planned for later this year.
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Cuckoo chicks in Zebra finches: Eggs from other females can be found in every fifth nest
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
Some female zebra finches foist a part of their eggs on their neighbors. Scientists in Germany have discovered that in every fifth nest there is one egg that is not produced by its social parents. The female birds act in a very well-targeted way: eggs are being placed in “foster-care” shortly before the hosts commence their own egg laying.
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Long term use of oral bisphosphonates may double risk of esophageal cancer, study finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
People who take oral bisphosphonates for bone disease over five years may be doubling their risk of developing esophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet), according to a new study.
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Scientists develop new method to identify glycosylated proteins
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
Various processes in our body are controlled by subsequent changes of proteins. Therefore, the identification of such modifications is essential for the further exploration of the human organism. Now, scientists in Germany have made a crucial contribution to this: Using a new method, they have been able to identify more than 6,000 glycosylated protein sites in different tissues and have thus established an important basis for the better understanding of all life processes.
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Head start for migraine sufferers
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EDT
Psychological migraine treatment gives sufferers a confidence boost in their ability to self-manage their symptoms. For severe migraine sufferers, psychological treatments build on the benefits of drug therapy, according to a new study. A comparison of the effects of various treatment combinations for severe migraine - drug therapy with or without behavioral management - shows that those patients receiving the behavioral management program alongside drug therapy are significantly more confident in their ability to use behavioral skills to effectively self-manage migraines.
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Edible nanostructures: Compounds made from renewable materials could be used for gas storage, food technologies
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
Sugar, salt, alcohol and a little serendipity led researchers to discover a new class of nanostructures that could be used for gas storage and food and medical technologies. And the compounds are edible. The porous crystals are the first known all-natural metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are simple to make. Most other MOFs are made from petroleum-based ingredients, but the new MOFs you can pop into your mouth and eat, and the researchers have.
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Gene doping detectable with a simple blood test
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
German scientists have developed a blood test that can reliably detect gene doping even after 56 days. It was previously impossible to prove that an athlete had undergone gene doping.
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How the male common snipe 'flies the flag' to get the girl
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
A new study -- using high speed video and feathers bought on eBay -- shows that when the male snipe sticks out his outer tail feathers, they flutter like flags in the wind, producing a highly seductive drumming sound. The winged Lothario also dives to increase the speed and therefore raise the pitch of the call in a bid to impress the female of the species.
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Drugs used to treat osteoporosis not linked with higher risk of esophageal cancer
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
Although some reports have suggested a link between the use of oral bisphosphonates (drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass) and esophageal cancer, analysis of medical data from more than 80,000 patients in the United Kingdom found that use of these drugs was not significantly associated with new cases of esophageal or gastric cancer, according to a new study.
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‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
Only half the number of plant species that could blossom along the walls of the River Thames finds a suitable place to grow, yet this could potentially double with the introduction of ‘green wall’ technology, according to new research.
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Natural disasters do not necessarily create peace, research finds
ScienceDaily
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EDT
A devastating tsunami hit southern Asia in December 2004. After the tsunami, both politicians and journalists believed that the natural disaster could help to bring peace to Sri Lanka and the Aceh province of Indonesia. But did it?
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Water in Earth's mantle key to survival of oldest continents
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
Earth today is one of the most active planets in the Solar System, and was probably even more so during the early stages of its life. Thanks to the plate tectonics that continue to shape our planet's surface, remnants of crust from Earth's formative years are rare, but not impossible to find. A new paper examines how some ancient rocks have resisted being recycled into Earth's convecting interior.
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Antibacterial peptide could aid in treating soldiers' burn wound infections
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
An antibacterial peptide looks to be a highly effective therapy against infections in burn or blast wounds suffered by soldiers.
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Strain-gating piezotronics: New class of piezoelectric logic devices created using zinc oxide nanowires
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
Researchers have developed a new class of electronic logic device in which current is switched by an electric field generated by the application of mechanical strain to zinc oxide nanowires.
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Microsoft Excel-based algorithm predicts cancer prognosis
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
Using readily available computer programs, researchers have developed a system to identify genes that will be useful in the classification of breast cancer. The algorithm will enable researchers to quickly generate valuable gene signatures without specialized software or extensive bioinformatics training.
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New app shows 2-D structure of thousands of RNA molecules
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
For the first time, it's possible to experimentally capture a global snapshot of the conformation of thousands of RNA molecules in a cell. The finding is important because this scrappy little sister of DNA has recently been shown to be much more complex than previously thought.
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Link between everyday stress and obesity strenthened with study using an animal model
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EDT
A new study examined the effects of stress on the meal patterns and food intake of animals exposed to the equivalent of everyday stress on humans. The results suggest that, not only does stress have an impact on us in the short term, it can cause metabolic changes in the longer term that contribute to obesity.
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Hubble observations of supernova reveal composition of 'star guts' pouring out
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
Observations made with NASA's newly refurbished Hubble Space Telescope of a nearby supernova are allowing astronomers to measure the velocity and composition of "star guts" being ejected into space following the explosion, according to a new study.
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Protecting the lungs against 'collateral damage' from the immune system
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
A new study shows how our bodies try to minimize potential 'collateral damage' caused by our immune system when fighting infection. The research may also provide new clues to why cigarette smoke is a significant risk factor for developing diseases of the lung such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
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Ozone depletion: Paving the way for identification of rogue CFC release
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
A new discovery could make it possible in future to identify the source of banned CFCs that are probably still being released into the atmosphere. They have also discovered the largest chlorine isotope enrichment ever found in nature.
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Scientists unwrap DNA packaging to gain insight into cells
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
Scientists have built a clearer picture of how lengthy strands of DNA are concertinaed when our cells grow and divide, in a discovery could help explain how cell renewal can go wrong.
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Deepwater Horizon spill: New method successfully predicted how oil would spread
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
Prompted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a scientist has come up with a new way of predicting how contaminants like oil will spread. He was able to forecast several days in advance that oil from that spill would wash ashore in particular parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Insight offered into superstitious behavior
ScienceDaily
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EDT
People who believe that fate and chance control their lives are more likely to be superstitious -- but when faced with death they are likely to abandon superstition altogether, according to new research.
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