ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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Social relationships in animals have a genetic basis, new research reveals (December 8, 2010) -- The ability to tolerate aggression is partly genetic, life scientists report in the first study to demonstrate a genetic component to a social network trait in a non-human population. ... > full story
Desensitization approaches effective against hayfever-like allergies, research suggests (December 8, 2010) -- Immunotherapy given as pills or drops under the tongue is a safe and effective way to treat hayfever-like allergies caused by pollen and dust mites, according to a new review. The researchers say the approach is an attractive alternative to immunotherapy injections in children. ... > full story
Melanopsin looks on the bright side of life (December 8, 2010) -- Better known as the light sensor that sets the body's biological clock, melanopsin also plays an important role in vision: Via its messengers-so-called melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells, or mRGCs-it forwards information about the brightness of incoming light directly to conventional visual centers in the brain, report scientists. ... > full story
New formulation of Leishmaniasis drug shown to be stable, effective in tropical temperatures (December 8, 2010) -- A new formulation of Amphotericin B (AmB) has been shown to be stable in tropical climates and effective in treating Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in mouse models. ... > full story
Creating 'Living' Buildings (December 8, 2010) -- Researchers are poised to use ethical synthetic biology to create 'living' materials that could be used to clad buildings and help combat the effects of climate change. ... > full story
Music relieves stress of assisted breathing (December 8, 2010) -- Patients who need assistance to breathe through mechanical ventilation may benefit from listening to music, a new review shows. The researchers found that music listening may relax patients, potentially resulting in fewer complications. ... > full story
Using chaos to model geophysical phenomena (December 8, 2010) -- Researchers have developed the first direct approach for identifying packets of air or water, called "coherent sets," that are transported in the atmosphere and ocean and have far-reaching effects on weather and climate. The new methodology has tested significantly better than existing technologies. ... > full story
Tobacco cessation medication may reduce hospitalization for heart attacks (December 8, 2010) -- The use of tobacco cessation medication in a population may lead to reduced hospital admissions for heart attacks and for coronary atherosclerosis within the two years after use according to a new study. ... > full story
Ginseng just got better -- not as bitter (December 8, 2010) -- Scientists have learned to mask the bitterness of ginseng, a common ingredient of energy drinks. While experimenting with five possible solutions to ginseng's bitterness problem, they discovered that cyclodextrins -- hydrophobic compounds made of glucose molecules that occur in a ring form -- were able to capture the bitter flavor compounds and reduce bitterness by more than half. ... > full story
Even with helicopter EMS, hospital transfer can delay treatment for heart attacks (December 8, 2010) -- Helicopter emergency medical services can be a life saver for patients needing immediate care. But, according to a new study, the process of activating them often delays treatment beyond recommended times. Researchers found that a majority of STEMI heart attack patients transferred by a hospital-based helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in 2007 did not receive treatment within the time period recommended by national physician groups. ... > full story
Soil needs decades to recover from a spill (December 8, 2010) -- Twelve years after the spillage at Aznalcóllar (Spain), scientists say that the soil affected has recovered "reasonably well". Their study of nematodes (microscopic soil worms that are indicators of the biological state of soil) confirmed the "enormous" impact of heavy metals and is useful for predicting the effect of the red mud spillage in Hungary. ... > full story
People in jobs traditionally held by the other sex are judged more harshly for mistakes (December 8, 2010) -- In these modern times, people can have jobs that weren't traditionally associated with their genders. Men are nurses; women are CEOs. A new study examines perceptions of people in high-powered jobs and finds that they're likely to be judged more harshly for mistakes if they're in a job that's not normally associated with their gender. ... > full story
Plants 'remember' winter to bloom in spring with help of special molecule (December 7, 2010) -- The role a key molecule plays in a plant's ability to remember winter, and therefore bloom in the spring, has been identified. ... > full story
Small molecule may disarm enemy of cancer-fighting p53 (December 7, 2010) -- A pioneering clinical trial is testing the effectiveness in leukemia of a small molecule that shuts down MDM2, a protein that can disable the well-known tumor suppressor p53. ... > full story
Metabolism models may explain why Alzheimer's disease kills some neuron types first (December 7, 2010) -- Bioengineers developed an explanation for why some types of neurons die sooner than others in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. These insights come from detailed models of brain energy metabolism. ... > full story
'Vast majority' of acoustic tumor patients benefit from surgery, study suggests (December 7, 2010) -- Surgery to remove tumors under the brain known as acoustic neuromas produces favorable outcomes in the "vast majority" of patients, according to one of the largest studies of its kind. ... > full story
Scientists map changes in genetic networks caused by DNA damage (December 7, 2010) -- Using a new technology called "differential epistasis maps," scientists have documented for the first time how a cellular genetic network completely rewires itself in response to stress by DNA-damaging agents. ... > full story
Including smoking cessation program with treatment for PTSD shows higher rate of quitting (December 7, 2010) -- Among smokers with military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), integrating smoking cessation treatment with mental health care for PTSD resulted in higher rates of prolonged smoking abstinence, compared to referral for assistance with quitting smoking, according to a new study. ... > full story
Doctor Who's trusty invention is anything but sci-fi: Sonic screwdriver to solve future DIY woes (December 7, 2010) -- Ultrasonic engineers have uncovered how a real life version of the fictional screwdriver -- which uses sonic technology to open locks and undo screws -- could be created. ... > full story
Bioactive peptides found to promote wound healing (December 7, 2010) -- Newly identified bioactive peptides promote wound healing through the growth of new blood vessels and epithelial tissue. These wound-healing peptides increased angiogenesis in vitro by 200 percent. The discovery may lead to new therapies for acute and chronic wound healing. ... > full story
Pacific sperm whales exposed to PAHs, pesticides, other pollutants (December 7, 2010) -- Whale researchers found evidence of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and persistent organic pollutants, including the pesticide DDT, in Pacific Ocean-dwelling sperm whales. ... > full story
IV drug could be major advance in halting acute seizures in newborns (December 7, 2010) -- Seizures that occur in the first few weeks of life are a major predictor of future adverse neurological outcomes. Currently approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are effective in stopping seizures in less than 50% of these neonatal cases. The approved therapies can also have undesirable side effects. ... > full story
Milestone in fight against deadly disease: 500 protein structures mapped and solved (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have reached a major milestone in the effort to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases on the planet. They've experimentally determined 500 three-dimensional protein structures from a number of bacterial and protozoan pathogens, which could potentially lead to new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to combat deadly infectious diseases. ... > full story
Teens get more ear infections when someone smokes at home (December 7, 2010) -- Family members who smoke are more apt to feel it is OK to smoke indoors as their children get older. But in households with secondhand smoke, children between 12 and 17 are 1.67 times more prone to have recurrent ear infections compared to adolescents who live in a smoke-free environment, a large new study reveals. ... > full story
Life found thriving in porous rock deep beneath the seafloor (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have found compelling evidence for an extensive biological community living in porous rock deep beneath the seafloor. The microbes in this hidden world appear to be an important source of dissolved organic matter in deep ocean water, a finding that could dramatically change ideas about the ocean carbon cycle. ... > full story
Novel compounds show early promise in treatment of Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's (December 7, 2010) -- Investigators have discovered a family of small molecules that shows promise in protecting brain cells against nerve-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's, which afflict millions. ... > full story
Butter contaminated by PBDE flame retardant (December 7, 2010) -- A new study reports what scientists believe is the worst documented U.S. case of food contamination with polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. The incident also marks the first time food contamination has been thought to result from PBDEs in a food's packaging. ... > full story
Mechanism that controls cell movement linked to tumors becoming more aggressive (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a central switch that controls whether cells move or remain stationary. The misregulation of this switch may play a role in the increased movement of tumor cells and in the aggressiveness of tumors themselves. ... > full story
Double vision: New instrument casts its eyes to the sky (December 7, 2010) -- The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer has taken its first images of the star Beta Peg in the constellation Pictor -- an encouraging start for an instrument designed to probe the cosmic neighborhoods where Earth-like planets could exist. ... > full story
Sensitive testosterone detector linked to less aggression (December 7, 2010) -- New research suggests a link between fetal testosterone and social behaviour, like aggression, in adults. ... > full story
Drugs can pass through human body almost intact: New concerns for antibiotic resistance, pollution identified (December 7, 2010) -- When an antibiotic is consumed, researchers have learned that up to 90 percent passes through a body without metabolizing. This means the drugs can leave the body almost intact through normal bodily functions. ... > full story
Stroke damage reversed by jumpstarting nerve fibers (December 7, 2010) -- A new technique that jumpstarts the growth of nerve fibers could reverse much of the damage caused by strokes, researchers report. ... > full story
Ultraviolet light helps skin cancer cells thrive, researchers report (December 7, 2010) -- The sun's ultraviolet light activates an enzyme that helps skin cancer cells survive and proliferate, researchers report. ... > full story
Combining exenatide with insulin may be 'best result ever' for diabetes patients, study suggests (December 7, 2010) -- A new study finds that combining the newer diabetes drug exenatide with insulin provides better blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes than insulin alone and helps promote weight loss. ... > full story
Using new materials to make more reliable nanoelectromechanical systems (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to dramatically improve the reliability of carbon nanotube-based nanoelectromechanical systems. ... > full story
Sleep deprivation eliminates fear generalization: New way to treat PTSD? (December 7, 2010) -- We commonly think of sleep as a healing process that melts away the stresses of the day, preparing us to deal with new challenges. Research has also shown that sleep plays a crucial role in the development of memories. Now, a new study reveals that sleep deprivation can eliminate fear-associated memories, suggesting new approaches to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ... > full story
Self-healing autonomous material comes to life (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers have created a material that may be able to sense and heal damage, such as cracking in a fiber reinforced composite. The aim of developing "autonomous adaptive structures" is to mimic the ability of biological systems such as bone to sense the presence of damage, halt its progression and regenerate itself. ... > full story
Flu vaccine grown in bacteria works like vaccine grown in chicken eggs (December 7, 2010) -- Only the fragile chicken egg stands between Americans and a flu pandemic that would claim tens of thousands more lives than are usually lost to the flu each year. Now scientists have taken an important step toward ending the dominance of the oval, showing that an experimental flu vaccine grown entirely in bacteria triggers in people an immune response that would protect them against the flu. ... > full story
Exposure to mobile phones before and after birth linked to kids' behavioral problems (December 7, 2010) -- Pregnant mums who regularly use mobile phones may be more likely to have kids with behavioral problems, particularly if those children start using mobile phones early themselves, suggests new research. ... > full story
Mammogram sensitivity depends on menstrual cycle, experts recommend (December 7, 2010) -- Try to schedule your screening mammogram during the first week of your menstrual cycle. It might make breast cancer screening more accurate for pre-menopausal women who choose to have regular mammograms, a new recommendation states. ... > full story
Warring Greeks found peace in ancient Egypt: Researcher uncovers origins of Greek trade city in Egypt's Nile delta region (December 7, 2010) -- Naukrtis, a Greek trade city in Egypt's Nile Delta region, has long fascinated archaeologists and historians. Now, archaeologists have found that instead of settling in Naukrtis of their own free will as previously believed, the community consisted of a select group of Greeks commissioned by the empire of Lydia to set up a trade emporium. ... > full story
Exposure to more diverse objects speeds word learning in tots (December 7, 2010) -- Two toddlers are learning the word "cup." One sees three nearly identical cups; the other sees a tea cup, a sippy cup and a Styrofoam cup. Chances are, the second child will have a better sense of what a cup is and -- according to a new study -- may even have an advantage as he learns new words. ... > full story
Daily aspirin at low doses reduces cancer deaths, study finds -- but caution urged (December 7, 2010) -- A daily low dose of aspirin significantly reduces the number of deaths from a whole range of common cancers, a new study has found. The 20 percent drop in all cancer deaths seen in the study adds new evidence to the debate about whether otherwise healthy people in their 40s and 50s should consider taking a low dose of aspirin each day. ... > full story
Decoding the disease that perplexes: Scientists discover new target for multiple sclerosis (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists are closer to solving one of the many mysteries of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. New research revealed a previously unknown connection between two ion channels, which, when misaligned, can cause the many bizarre symptoms that characterize the condition. ... > full story
Shy trout size it up (December 7, 2010) -- Personality is not just a feature unique to humans and pets. Scientists have revealed that also brown trout have individual characters and show different personalities. ... > full story
Breaching the breech protocol: Researcher advocates returning to old-school methods for delivering breech babies (December 7, 2010) -- Most babies are delivered head-first, but in about 4% of all deliveries babies are "born breech" -- with their buttocks or feet first. Doctors usually exercise caution and use caesarean sections (C-sections) as the delivery method of choice for such births, believing it safer for the baby. After a large-scale international study in 2000, C-sections became the near-universal choice for such births. But now a group of researchers is saying that, under certain circumstances, traditional vaginal delivery for breech babies is not only safe for baby, but even safer for mommy. ... > full story
Power grid of the future saves energy (December 7, 2010) -- Green energy too comes out of the electricity socket, but to get there it has to travel a long journey -- from wind turbines in the North Sea or regional solar, wind and biogas power plants. On the way to the consumer lots of energy is lost. New electronic components will change things in future. ... > full story
Why married men tend to behave better (December 7, 2010) -- Researchers found that less antisocial men were more likely to get married. Once they were wed, however, the marriage itself appeared to further inhibit antisocial behavior. ... > full story
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