ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Childhood cancer drugs cure now, may cause problems later, research shows
• Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy
• Researchers urge caution when buying noisy toys
• Caterpillars mimic one another for survival
• Novel device removes heavy metals from water
• Traumatic experiences may make you tough
• Meteorite shockwaves trigger dust avalanches on Mars
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce mortality for influenza patients
• Protecting confidential data with math
• Barracuda babies: Novel study sheds light on early life of prolific predator
• First comprehensive DNA study of mast cell leukemia uncovers clues that could improve therapy
• Genomic sequences of two iconic falconry birds -- Peregrine and Saker Falcons -- successfully decoded
• Remote wilderness polluted by humans
• The onset of electrical resistance
• Rapid rise in wildfires in large parts of Canada? Ecologists find threshold values for natural wildfires
• Winter diets? The secret is to chill the extremities
• Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome
• Detecting the 'heartbeat' of smallest black hole candidate
• Let's do the twist: Spiral proteins are efficient gene delivery agents
• Penicillin doses for children should be reviewed, say experts
• Teens choose water when calorie count of sugary beverages is easier to understand
• Changes to the brain in patients with spinal cord compression identified
• Study of skates and sharks questions assumptions about 'essential' genes

Childhood cancer drugs cure now, may cause problems later, research shows Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:52 PM PST Will a drug used to treat childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other pediatric cancers cause heart problems later in life? A professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who sees his work as a bridge between research and clinical practice, has focused recent efforts on trying to answer this question.

Scientists may be able to double efficacy of radiation therapy Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:44 PM PST Scientists may have a way to double the efficacy and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy.

Researchers urge caution when buying noisy toys Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:44 PM PST While Road Rippers Lightning Rods, Let's Rock Elmo and the I Am T-Pain musical microphone might be sought-after gifts this holiday season, parents should ensure that their children don't risk permanent hearing damage by misusing them.

Caterpillars mimic one another for survival Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:44 PM PST In the world of insects, high risk of attack has led to the development of camouflage as a means for survival. Researchers have uncovered some of the most extensive evidence of caterpillars using another strategy previously best-known in adult butterflies: mimicry.

Novel device removes heavy metals from water Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:03 PM PST Engineers have developed a system that cleanly and efficiently removes trace heavy metals from water. In experiments, the researchers showed the system reduced cadmium, copper, and nickel concentrations, returning contaminated water to near or below federally acceptable standards. The technique is scalable and has viable commercial applications, especially in the environmental remediation and metal recovery fields.

Traumatic experiences may make you tough Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:02 PM PST Your parents were right: Hard experiences may indeed make you tough. Psychological scientists have found that, while going through many experiences like assault, hurricanes, and bereavement can be psychologically damaging, small amounts of trauma may help people develop resilience.

Meteorite shockwaves trigger dust avalanches on Mars Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:50 AM PST Dust avalanches around impact craters on Mars appear to be the result of the shock wave preceding the actual impact, according to a new study. Small impacts might therefore be more important in shaping the Martian surface than previously thought.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce mortality for influenza patients Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:29 AM PST Statins, traditionally known as cholesterol-lowering drugs, may reduce mortality among patients hospitalized with influenza, according to a new study.

Protecting confidential data with math Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:29 AM PST With the computerization of databases in healthcare, forensics, telecommunications, and other fields, ensuring security for such databases has become increasingly important. Researchers have now analyzed a new security-control model for statistical databases.

Barracuda babies: Novel study sheds light on early life of prolific predator Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:29 AM PST Marine biologists shed light on the larval stage of the barracuda, as well as several other closely related species.

First comprehensive DNA study of mast cell leukemia uncovers clues that could improve therapy Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:28 AM PST Cancer researchers have carried out the first comprehensive study of the changes seen in the DNA of a patient with mast cell leukemia, an extremely aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia with a very poor prognosis. Their genomic survey has helped identify two previously unknown mutations that could directly influence patient response to currently available therapeutic drugs.

Genomic sequences of two iconic falconry birds -- Peregrine and Saker Falcons -- successfully decoded Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:28 AM PST The genomic sequences of two iconic falconry birds -- peregrine and saker falcons -- have been successfully decoded.

Remote wilderness polluted by humans Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:25 AM PST Nitrogen from human activity has been polluting lakes in the northern hemisphere since the late 19th century. The clear signs of industrialization can be found even in very remote lakes, thousands of kilometers from the nearest city.

The onset of electrical resistance Posted: 16 Dec 2011 05:42 AM PST Researchers have observed the extremely fast onset of electrical resistance in a semiconductor by following electron motions in real-time.

Rapid rise in wildfires in large parts of Canada? Ecologists find threshold values for natural wildfires Posted: 16 Dec 2011 05:42 AM PST Large forest regions in Canada are apparently about to experience rapid change. Based on models, scientists can now show that there are threshold values for wildfires just like there are for epidemics. Large areas of Canada are apparently approaching this threshold value and may in future exceed it due to climate change. As a result both the area burnt down annually and the average size of the fires would increase, researchers say.

Winter diets? The secret is to chill the extremities Posted: 16 Dec 2011 05:42 AM PST Large mammals living in temperate climates frequently have difficulty finding food during winter. It is well known that they lower their metabolism at this time but does this represent a mechanism for coping with less food or is it merely a consequence of having less to eat? The puzzle has now been solved – at least for the red deer.

Gene discovered for Weaver syndrome Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST Scientists have found a gene that causes Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that typically causes large size at birth, tall stature, developmental delay during childhood, and intellectual disability. The discovery means that testing the EZH2 gene for mutations could help families who are seeking a diagnosis for their child.

Detecting the 'heartbeat' of smallest black hole candidate Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST Astronomers have identified a candidate for the smallest-known black hole using data from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The evidence comes from a specific type of X-ray pattern, nicknamed a "heartbeat" because of its resemblance to an electrocardiogram. The pattern until now has been recorded in only one other black hole system.

Let's do the twist: Spiral proteins are efficient gene delivery agents Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:26 PM PST Clinical gene therapy may be one step closer, thanks to a new twist on an old class of molecules. Researchers have demonstrated that short spiral-shaped proteins can efficiently deliver DNA segments to cells, with well-controlled toxicity. Their helical polypeptides far exceeded random-coil polypeptide and even outstripped commercial agents in efficiency, even on some of the hardest cells to transfect: stem cells and fibroblast cells.

Penicillin doses for children should be reviewed, say experts Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST A team of scientists and clinicians are calling for a review of penicillin dosing guidelines for children, as the current guidelines have remained unchanged for nearly 50 years. The research indicates some children may not be receiving effective doses, which could potentially lead to failed treatment and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Teens choose water when calorie count of sugary beverages is easier to understand Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST Providing easily understandable caloric information, specifically in the form of a physical activity equivalent, may reduce the likelihood of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases among adolescents by as much as half.

Changes to the brain in patients with spinal cord compression identified Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:24 PM PST Spinal degeneration is an unavoidable part of aging. For some, it leads to compression of the spinal cord which can cause problems with dexterity, numbness in the hands, and the ability to walk. New research looks beyond the spinal cord injury in these patients, and found they also experience changes in the motor cortex of the brain.

Study of skates and sharks questions assumptions about 'essential' genes Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:16 AM PST Biologists have long assumed that all jawed vertebrates possess a full complement of nearly identical genes for critical aspects of their development. But new research shows that elasmobranchs, a subclass of cartilaginous fishes, lack a cluster of genes, HoxC, formerly thought to be essential for proper development.

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