ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Exercise does a body -- and a mind -- good
• Chronic kidney disease a warning sign independent of hypertension or diabetes
• Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity
• Understanding how salamanders grow new limbs provides insights into potential of human regenerative medicine
• Finding the statistical fingerprints of election thieves
• New tool for CSI? Geographic software maps distinctive features inside bones
• Lab encodes collagen: Program defines stable sequences for synthesis, could help fight disease, design drugs
• Isolating stem cells from brain tumors
• Language use is simpler than previously thought, study suggests
• Into the mind of the common fruit fly
• Scientists prevent heart failure in mice
• Making and breaking heterochromatin
• Species richness and genetic diversity do not go hand in hand in alpine plants
• Human brains develop wiring slowly, differing from chimpanzees
• Best constraint on mass of photons, using observations of super-massive black holes
• Mechanism that leads to sporadic Parkinson's disease identified
• Cannabinoid may treat brain cancer
• Farthest ever view of the universe assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs
• Starting to snore during pregnancy could indicate risk for high blood pressure
• Intuitive visual control provides faster robot operation
• Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy
• Making it easier to make stem cells: Kinase inhibitors lower barrier to producing stem cells in lab
• Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms
• High oxygen levels after surgery linked to increased long-term risk of death
• A healthy bond: By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans
• Long-term study of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking shows knowledge gap in perceived health risks
• Resveratrol may preserve pain-relieving effects of morphine
• Oscillating microscopic beads could be key to biolab on a chip
• New technique for identifying proteins secreted by cells
• Cutting through the genomic thicket in search of disease variants
• Microfluidic device: Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single chip
• Agriculture is the direct driver for worldwide deforestation
• Emotion detector enables design of tailor-made election campaigns
• Tumor cell growth does not follow a master plan
• Burying the hatchet in the laser lab
• Fast algorithm extracts and compares document meaning
• When the 'fire brigade' arrives too late: Impaired protein degradation causes muscle diseases
• Going viral to kill zits: Scientists uncover virus with potential to stop pimples in their tracks
• Novel materials become multifunctional at ultimate quantum limit

Exercise does a body -- and a mind -- good Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:14 PM PDT We've heard it time and time again: exercise is good for us. And it's not just good for physical health -- research shows that daily physical activity can also boost our mental health. But what actually explains the association between exercise and mental health? Is the link physiological? Psychological? Both? A new article explores whether certain psychosocial factors may help to explain the benefits of daily physical activity for adolescents' mental health.

Chronic kidney disease a warning sign independent of hypertension or diabetes Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT New research finds the presence of chronic kidney disease itself can be a strong indicator of the risk of death and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) even in patients without hypertension or diabetes.

Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT Biologists have uncovered one way that biological clocks control neuronal activity -- a discovery that sheds new light on sleep-wake cycles and offers potential new directions for research into therapies to address sleep disorders and jetlag.

Understanding how salamanders grow new limbs provides insights into potential of human regenerative medicine Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT By studying amphibians that can regenerate missing limbs, scientists have discovered that it isn't enough to activate genes that kick start the regenerative process. In fact, one of the first steps is to halt the activity of so-called jumping genes. In a new paper, researchers show that in the Mexican axolotl, jumping genes have to be shackled or they might move around in the genomes of cells in the tissue destined to become a new limb, and disrupt the process of regeneration.

Finding the statistical fingerprints of election thieves Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:21 PM PDT Scientists examined voter data from a dozen recent elections around the world and found statistical evidence for election fraud in two of them.

New tool for CSI? Geographic software maps distinctive features inside bones Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT A common type of geographic mapping software offers a new way to study human remains. In a new study, researchers describe how they used commercially available mapping software to identify features inside a human foot bone -- a new way to study human skeletal variation.

Lab encodes collagen: Program defines stable sequences for synthesis, could help fight disease, design drugs Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT In a discovery with implications for drug design, tissue engineering and the treatment of disease, researchers have created a program to encode self-assembling collagen proteins.

Isolating stem cells from brain tumors Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:37 AM PDT A new video protocol details an assay to identify brain tumor initiating stem cells from primary brain tumors. Through flow cytometry, scientists separate stem cells from the rest of the tumor, allowing quick and efficient analysis of target cells. This approach has been effectively used to identify similar stem cells in leukemia patients.

Language use is simpler than previously thought, study suggests Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:35 AM PDT For more than 50 years, language scientists have assumed that sentence structure is fundamentally hierarchical, made up of small parts in turn made of smaller parts, like Russian nesting dolls. But a new study suggests language use is simpler than they had thought.

Into the mind of the common fruit fly Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:35 AM PDT Although a nuisance in every home, fruit flies have made surprising contributions to medical science. Now a researcher says that they may also hold the key to the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists prevent heart failure in mice Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT Cardiac stress -- for example, a heart attack or high blood pressure -- frequently leads to pathological heart growth and subsequently to heart failure. Two tiny RNA molecules play a key role in this detrimental development in mice, as researchers have now discovered. When they inhibited one of those two specific molecules, they were able to protect the rodent against pathological heart growth and failure. With these findings, the scientists hope to be able to develop therapeutic approaches that can protect humans against heart failure.

Making and breaking heterochromatin Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT To fit the two-meter long DNA molecule into a cell nucleus that is only a few thousandths of a millimetre in size, long sections of the DNA must be strongly compacted. Epigenetic marks maintain these sections, known as heterochromatin. Scientists have now discovered two further mechanisms necessary for the formation of heterochromatin.

Species richness and genetic diversity do not go hand in hand in alpine plants Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:32 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a high level of species diversity in alpine plants does not necessarily go hand in hand with a high level of genetic diversity. This finding suggests that new future strategies are needed to protect biodiversity in the Alpine region.

Human brains develop wiring slowly, differing from chimpanzees Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT Research comparing brain development in humans and our closest nonhuman primate relatives, chimpanzees, reveals how quickly myelin in the cerebral cortex grows, shedding light on the evolution of human cognitive development and the vulnerability of humans to psychiatric disorders. Myelin is the fatty insulation surrounding axon connections of the brain.

Best constraint on mass of photons, using observations of super-massive black holes Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT A global team of scientists has determined the best constraint on the mass of photons so far, using observations of super-massive black holes. The researchers found a way to use astrophysical observations to test a fundamental aspect of the Standard Model -- namely, that photons have no mass -- better than anyone before.

Mechanism that leads to sporadic Parkinson's disease identified Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a mechanism that appears to underlie the common sporadic (non-familial) form of Parkinson's disease, the progressive movement disorder. The discovery highlights potential new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's and could lead to a blood test for the disease. The study was based mainly on analysis of human brain tissue.

Cannabinoid may treat brain cancer Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers are evaluating the safety and tolerability of a synthetic cannabinoid called dexanabinol. Delivered as a weekly intravenous infusion, the drug is being tested in patients with all forms of brain cancer, both primary and metastatic.

Farthest ever view of the universe assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Like photographers assembling a portfolio of best shots, astronomers have assembled a new, improved portrait of humankind's deepest-ever view of the universe. Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken of a patch of sky at the center of the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The XDF is a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full Moon.

Starting to snore during pregnancy could indicate risk for high blood pressure Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT A sleep-related breathing problem is associated with serious, expensive conditions like preeclampsia, gestational hypertension.

Intuitive visual control provides faster robot operation Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Using a novel method of integrating video technology and familiar control devices, a research team is developing a technique to simplify remote control of robotic devices.

Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Coyotes living in cities don't ever stray from their mates, according to a new study. The finding sheds light on why the North American cousin of the dog and wolf, which is originally native to deserts and plains, is thriving today in urban areas.

Making it easier to make stem cells: Kinase inhibitors lower barrier to producing stem cells in lab Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:13 AM PDT Researchers have discovered several kinase inhibitors that, when added to skin cells, help generate many more induced pluripotent stem cells than the standard method. Kinase inhibitors are chemicals that hinder enzymes responsible for many aspects of cellular communication and survival. This new capability will likely speed up research in many fields, better enabling scientists to study human disease and develop new treatments.

Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:13 AM PDT Scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.

High oxygen levels after surgery linked to increased long-term risk of death Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Patients given high concentrations of inhaled oxygen during and after cancer surgery may be at higher long-term risk of death, according to a new report.

A healthy bond: By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT From the use of hot and cold packs to new forms of narcotics, a professor is studying ways to improve post-surgery pain treatment and osteoarthritis therapy in dogs. His research may help develop better ways to treat humans for various medical conditions.

Long-term study of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking shows knowledge gap in perceived health risks Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT People who smoke both cigarettes and waterpipes -- dual users -- lack sufficient knowledge about the risks of tobacco smoking and are at considerable risk for dependence and tobacco-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke later in life, according to findings of a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University.

Resveratrol may preserve pain-relieving effects of morphine Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Resveratrol —- the same natural polyphenol found in red wine -— preserves the potent pain-relieving effect of morphine in rats that have developed morphine tolerance, suggests a new study.

Oscillating microscopic beads could be key to biolab on a chip Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to manipulate and measure magnetic particles without contact, potentially enabling multiple medical tests on a tiny device.

New technique for identifying proteins secreted by cells Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technique to identify the proteins secreted by a cell. The new approach should help researchers collect precise data on cell biology, which is critical in fields ranging from zoology to cancer research.

Cutting through the genomic thicket in search of disease variants Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT Scientists and clinicians have turned to computer tools that sift meaningful genomic variants from the glut of mutations they face. Using a new tool researchers can now improve the accuracy of their analysis.

Microfluidic device: Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single chip Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT Thanks to an innovative microfluidic device, 768 biochemical interactions (e.g., between DNA and transcription factors) can be monitored at the same time.

Agriculture is the direct driver for worldwide deforestation Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:16 AM PDT A new synthesis on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation was published during the Bangkok climate change negotiations. The report stresses the importance of knowing what drives deforestation and forest degradation, in order to be able to design and monitor effective REDD+ policies to halt it.

Emotion detector enables design of tailor-made election campaigns Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:16 AM PDT Messages, attires, gestures, themes or melodies that are liked by the public are some of the aspects that guarantee the success of a political party. Researchers are now helping to define such feelings thanks to Sentient, a "feelings detector". This device issues reports on the positive or negative perception of some people to the stimuli of their environment.  Thus, Sentient provide campaign managers with the necessary information to determine, adjust or even enhance the elements influencing voters' intentions.

Tumor cell growth does not follow a master plan Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Scientists may have explained a yet unknown regulatory network that controls the growth of tumor cells. Understanding such networks is an important task in molecular tumor biology in order to decode the relationships between the determinants defining which molecules are produced and in what quantities, in both normal and tumor cells.

Burying the hatchet in the laser lab Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT Experts have been heavily discussing why exactly electrically insulating materials insulate as they do. Based on different mechanisms, a classification scheme for insulators has been in use since the 1960s -- a theoretical one. However, it has been yet impossible to distinctly classify all insulators due to a lack of suitable experimental approaches. A team of physicists has now developed a new method to distinguish different insulators unambiguously.

Fast algorithm extracts and compares document meaning Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT A computer program could compare two documents and work spot the differences in their meaning using a fast semantic algorithm developed by information scientists in Poland.

When the 'fire brigade' arrives too late: Impaired protein degradation causes muscle diseases Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:15 AM PDT New insights into certain muscle diseases, the filaminopathies have just been reported.

Going viral to kill zits: Scientists uncover virus with potential to stop pimples in their tracks Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT Watch out, acne. Doctors soon may have a new weapon against zits: a harmless virus living on our skin that naturally seeks out and kills the bacteria that cause pimples.

Novel materials become multifunctional at ultimate quantum limit Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT Physicists have examined the lower limits of novel materials called complex oxides and discovered that unlike conventional semiconductors the materials not only conduct electricity, but also develop unusual magnetic properties.

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