ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Smoking cessation interventions appear to be effective for some current smokers
• Study looks at the nature of change in our aging, changing brains
• In the heart of Cygnus, NASA's Fermi reveals a cosmic-ray cocoon
• Antibiotics in swine feed encourage gene exchange
• Drug may slow spread of deadly eye cancer
• How the brain strings words into sentences
• Biopsy of recurrent breast cancer can alter treatment, new study shows
• Most hospitals miss critical window for heart attack transfer patients, study finds
• Babies embrace punishment earlier than previously thought, study suggests
• Aging stem cells may explain higher prevalence of leukemia, infections among elderly
• Boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than age-matched healthy counterparts, study finds
• Graphene foam detects explosives, emissions better than today's gas sensors
• Mid-morning snacking may sabotage weight-loss efforts
• Vaccine prototype stronger than traditional vaccines
• Cleft lip corrected genetically in mouse model
• New compound defeats drug-resistant bacteria
• Fungi: Another tool in bacteria's belt? Fungi and bacteria help one another stay mobile, say researchers
• Submarine springs offer preview of ocean acidification effects on coral reefs
• Depression can lead to heart disease, study suggests
• New technique puts chemistry breakthroughs on the fast track
• Herbicide atrazine spurs reproductive problems in many creatures, report finds
• Earth's past gives clues to future changes
• How bacteria can break down hazardous environmental pollutants
• How bats 'hear' objects in their path
• The immune system has protective memory cells, researchers discover
• 40 percent of youths attempting suicide make first attempt before high school, study finds
• Integrated 3-D imaging facilitates human face transplantation
• Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD
• Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes
• Key area that could sever communication between brain and heart in disease identified
• One promising puzzle piece for confirming dark matter now seems unlikely fit
• Marine biodiversity loss due to global warming and predation, study predicts
• 'Fool's gold' aids discovery of new options for cheap, benign solar energy
• The art of stabilizing entangled spaghetti-like materials
• Cell molecule identified as central player in the formation of new blood vessels
• An unexpected player in a cancer defense system
• Transplanted cells repair the brain in obese mice

Smoking cessation interventions appear to be effective for some current smokers Posted: 28 Nov 2011 03:24 PM PST Nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation intervention programs are associated with positive outcomes among current smokers, according to new studies.

Study looks at the nature of change in our aging, changing brains Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:45 PM PST As we get older, our cognitive abilities change, improving when we're younger and declining as we age. Scientists posit a hierarchical structure within which these abilities are organized. There's the "lowest" level -- measured by specific tests, such as story memory or word memory; the second level, which groups various skills involved in a category of cognitive ability, such as memory, perceptual speed, or reasoning; and finally, the "general," or G, factor, a sort of statistical aggregate of all the thinking abilities. What happens to this structure as we age?

In the heart of Cygnus, NASA's Fermi reveals a cosmic-ray cocoon Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:45 PM PST The constellation Cygnus, now visible in the western sky as twilight deepens after sunset, hosts one of our galaxy's richest-known stellar construction zones. Astronomers viewing the region at visible wavelengths see only hints of this spectacular activity thanks to a veil of nearby dust clouds forming the Great Rift, a dark lane that splits the Milky Way, a faint band of light marking our galaxy's central plane.

Antibiotics in swine feed encourage gene exchange Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:45 PM PST A new study shows that adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of these animals to start sharing genes that could spread antibiotic resistance.

Drug may slow spread of deadly eye cancer Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST A drug commonly used to treat seizures appears to make eye tumors less likely to grow if they spread to other parts of the body, according to researchers.

How the brain strings words into sentences Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST Distinct neural pathways are important for different aspects of language processing, researchers have discovered, studying patients with language impairments caused by neurodegenerative diseases.

Biopsy of recurrent breast cancer can alter treatment, new study shows Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST A recent clinical research study by breast cancer specialists has again proven that comparing a new biopsy of progressing or recurring cancer with that of the original cancer can dictate a change in treatment.

Most hospitals miss critical window for heart attack transfer patients, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST Most heart attack patients transferred between hospitals for the emergency artery-opening procedure called angioplasty are not transported as quickly as they should be, researchers report in the first national study of "door-in door-out" time for transfer patients.

Babies embrace punishment earlier than previously thought, study suggests Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST Babies as young as eight months want people who commit or condone antisocial acts to be punished, according to a new study. While previous research shows that babies uniformly prefer kind acts, the new study suggests that eight-month-old infants support negative behavior if it is directed at those with antisocial behavior -- and dislike those who are nice to bad guys.

Aging stem cells may explain higher prevalence of leukemia, infections among elderly Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST Human stem cells aren't immune to the aging process, according to scientists. Researchers studied hematopoietic stem cells, which create the cells that comprise the blood and immune system. Understanding when and how these stem cells begin to falter as the years pass may explain why some diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia, increase in prevalence with age, and also why elderly people tend to be more vulnerable to infections such as colds and the flu.

Boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than age-matched healthy counterparts, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 12:24 PM PST In the largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date, researchers have found that three-year-old boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than their healthy counterparts.

Graphene foam detects explosives, emissions better than today's gas sensors Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST A new study demonstrates how graphene foam can outperform leading commercial gas sensors in detecting potentially dangerous and explosive chemicals. The discovery opens the door for a new generation of gas sensors to be used by bomb squads, law enforcement officials, defense organizations, and in various industrial settings.

Mid-morning snacking may sabotage weight-loss efforts Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Women dieters who grab a snack between breakfast and lunch lose less weight compared to those who abstain from a mid-morning snack, according to a new study.

Vaccine prototype stronger than traditional vaccines Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Researchers have created a vaccine that is more potent than traditional vaccines available today. The glycoconjugate vaccine prototype is 100 times more effective than traditional glycoconjugate vaccines.

Cleft lip corrected genetically in mouse model Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Scientists have used genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos specially engineered for the study of cleft lip and cleft palate. The research breakthrough may show the way to prevent or treat the conditions in humans.

New compound defeats drug-resistant bacteria Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Chemists have synthesized a new compound that makes drug-resistant bacteria susceptible again to antibiotics. The compound -- BU-005 -- blocks pumps that a bacterium employs to expel an antibacterial agent called chloramphenicol. The team used a new and highly efficient method for the synthesis of BU-005 and other C-capped dipetptides.

Fungi: Another tool in bacteria's belt? Fungi and bacteria help one another stay mobile, say researchers Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Fungal spores can attach themselves to bacteria and "hitch a ride" to wherever the bacteria can travel, say researchers. This discovery will help scientists fight disease-causing bacteria or promote the spread of "good kinds" of bacteria and fungi, such as those that contribute to the health of plants.

Submarine springs offer preview of ocean acidification effects on coral reefs Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:27 AM PST Observations at submarine springs found along the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are giving scientists a preview of the possible fate of coral reef ecosystems in response to ocean acidification. The naturally low pH in the water around the springs creates conditions similar to those that will result from the widespread acidification of surface waters that scientists expect to occur as the oceans absorb increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Depression can lead to heart disease, study suggests Posted: 28 Nov 2011 10:26 AM PST Depression may have more far-reaching consequences than previously believed. Recent data suggests that individuals who suffer from a mood disorder could be twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to individuals who are not depressed.

New technique puts chemistry breakthroughs on the fast track Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:15 AM PST Scientists can now take that "a-ha" moment to go with a new method developed -- and successfully tested -- to accomplish "accelerated serendipity" and speed up the chances of an unexpected yet groundbreaking chemical discovery.

Herbicide atrazine spurs reproductive problems in many creatures, report finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:15 AM PST An international team of researchers has reviewed the evidence linking exposure to atrazine -- an herbicide widely used in the US and more than 60 other nations -- to reproductive problems in animals. The team found consistent patterns of reproductive dysfunction in amphibians, fish, reptiles and mammals exposed to the chemical.

Earth's past gives clues to future changes Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:11 AM PST Scientists are a step closer to predicting when and where earthquakes will occur after taking a fresh look at the formation of the Andes, which began 45 million years ago.

How bacteria can break down hazardous environmental pollutants Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:11 AM PST Researchers now understand how bacteria can break down phosphonic acids, persistent and potentially hazardous environmental pollutants found in many common medicinal products, detergents and herbicides.

How bats 'hear' objects in their path Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:09 AM PST By placing real and virtual objects in the flight paths of bats, scientists have shed new light on how echolocation works. The researchers found that it is not the intensity of the echoes that tells the bats the size of an object but the 'sonar aperture', that is the spread of angles from which echoes impinge on their ears.

The immune system has protective memory cells, researchers discover Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:05 AM PST The immune system possesses a type of cell that can be activated by tissues within the body to remind the immune system not to attack our own molecules, cells and organs, researchers have discovered.

40 percent of youths attempting suicide make first attempt before high school, study finds Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST Thoughts about killing oneself and engaging in suicidal behavior may begin much younger than previously thought. While about one of nine youths attempt suicide by the time they graduate from high school, new findings reveal that a significant proportion make their first suicide attempt in elementary or middle school.

Integrated 3-D imaging facilitates human face transplantation Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST By combining conventional medical imaging with some of the same 3-D modeling techniques used in Hollywood blockbusters, researchers are offering new hope to victims of serious facial injuries who may be candidates for human facial transplants.

Functional brain pathways disrupted in children with ADHD Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have identified abnormalities in the brains of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder that may serve as a biomarker for the disorder, according to a new study.

Restricted calorie diet improves heart function in obese patients with diabetes Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:01 AM PST A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Key area that could sever communication between brain and heart in disease identified Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:59 AM PST A team of neuroscientists and anesthetists, who have been using pioneering techniques to study how the brain regulates the heart, has identified a crucial part of the nervous system whose malfunction may account for an increased risk of death from heart failure. The findings could lead to more targeted therapies to help reduce serious illness and death in cardiovascular disease.

One promising puzzle piece for confirming dark matter now seems unlikely fit Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:59 AM PST In 2008, the Italian satellite PAMELA detected a curious excess of antimatter positrons -- a startling discovery that could have been a sign of the existence of dark matter. With assistance from the Earth's magnetic field, the Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope confirms a cosmic excess of antimatter positrons, but not the spike expected if evidence of dark matter.

Marine biodiversity loss due to global warming and predation, study predicts Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:56 AM PST The biodiversity loss caused by climate change will result from a combination of rising temperatures and predation -- and may be more severe than currently predicted, according to a new study.

'Fool's gold' aids discovery of new options for cheap, benign solar energy Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:56 AM PST Pyrite, better known as "fool's gold," was familiar to the ancient Romans and has fooled prospectors for centuries -- but has now helped researchers discover related compounds that offer new, cheap and promising options for solar energy. These new compounds, unlike some solar cell materials made from rare, expensive or toxic elements, would be benign and could be processed from some of the most abundant elements on Earth.

The art of stabilizing entangled spaghetti-like materials Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:56 AM PST Gene therapy can only be effective if delivered by a stable complex molecule. Now, scientists have determined the conditions that would stabilize complex molecular structures that are subject to inherent attractions and repulsions triggered by electric charges at the surfaces of the molecules.

Cell molecule identified as central player in the formation of new blood vessels Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:56 AM PST Scientists have identified a cellular protein that plays a central role in the formation of new blood vessels. The molecule is the protein Shc, and new blood vessel formation, or angiogenesis, is seriously impaired without it.

An unexpected player in a cancer defense system Posted: 28 Nov 2011 08:52 AM PST Researchers have identified a new protein involved in a defense mechanism against cancer. The VCP/p97 complex is best known for its role in protein destruction and is involved in a type of familial dementia and ALS. In a novel study the researchers now describe how this complex also plays an important role in regulating the recruitment of the tumor suppressor protein 53BP1 to damaged DNA -- suggesting an important role for VCP/p97 in our body's defense against cancer.

Transplanted cells repair the brain in obese mice Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:10 PM PST Small numbers of properly selected neurons, transplanted into damaged brain areas in mice, are capable of restoring lost functions. Experiments on mice with a defect resulting in obesity and a series of measurements documenting efficiency of the neuron transplant method has now been carried out.

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