ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• What we know and don't know about fungal meningitis outbreak
• Poetry in motion: Gemini Observatory releases image of rare polar ring galaxy
• NASA pursues atom optics to detect the imperceptible
• The hidden burden of bovine Tuberculosis
• Tissue-engineered kidneys: Researchers make important strides
• Damage to blood vessel lining may account for kidney failure patients' heart risks
• New way to save blood from ravages of chemo treatment
• Solar power is contagious
• First-of-its-kind self-assembled nanoparticle for targeted and triggered thermo-chemotherapy
• Bicycle infrastructure can reduce risk of cycling injuries by half, Canadian study finds
• Living in ethnically homogenous area boosts health of minority seniors, study finds
• Child's home address helps predict risk of readmission to hospital
• Study succeeds in cutting inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by pediatricians
• Hospital uses ‘lean’ manufacturing techniques to speed stroke care
• Stroke patients benefit from carmaker’s efficiency
• Salt power: Watt's next in rechargeable batteries?
• Mechanisms of action for green tea extract in breast cancer prevention identified
• Blood hormone levels predicted long-term breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women
• Team support for cessation in the workplace helped motivate cigarette smokers to quit
• High levels of estradiol, progesterone during pregnancy associated with increased risk for HR-negative breast cancer
• Depression, shortened telomeres increase mortality in bladder cancer patients
• Modeling feat sheds light on protein channel's function
• Elevated risk of blood clots in women taking birth control containing drospirenone, study shows
• Tropical collapse in Early Triassic caused by lethal heat: Extreme temperatures blamed for 'Dead Zone'
• New technique for nanostructure assembly pioneered
• Optical vortices on a chip: Integrated arrays of emitters of 'optical vortex beams' on a silicon chip
• Researchers unveil 3-D structure of 'molecular machine' that initiates DNA transcription
• 'Time-capsule' Japanese lake sediment advances radiocarbon dating for older objects
• No antibodies, no problem: Researchers identify how mosquito immune system attacks specific infections
• Rejection bolsters creativity: Independent individuals can benefit from exclusion
• Election 2012: Will voters follow their 'gut feelings' at polls?
• Technology has improved voting procedures
• Germs in space: Preventing infection on long flights
• Norovirus outbreaks in nursing homes associated with increase in hospitalizations, risk of death
• Ultraviolet light effective in hospital infection control, study suggests
• Prehistoric human populations prospered before the agricultural boom, research suggests
• NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement observatory completes first dry run
• Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells could treat vascular diseases
• Developed a technology that predicts metastasis in breast cancer
• Mutation that causes skin hyperproliferation identified
• Ozone affects forest watersheds
• Cancer diagnosis does not make young people religious, research suggests
• College students and credit card debt: Parents have a powerful influence on their children's financial behaviors
• Female Pulitzer Prize winners require higher qualifications, study finds
• Genes and immune system shaped by childhood poverty, stress
• Scientists harness immune system to prevent lymphoma relapse
• Researchers elucidate transport pathway of immune system substances
• Rethinking toxic proteins on the cellular level: Lipid droplets play an unexpected role in embryo development
• Treating vascular disorders with a cell-based strategy
• From the twitching whiskers of babes: Naptime behavior shapes the brain
• Super rats are immune to conventional poisons, UK experts find
• Value of combined approach to quitting smoking confirmed
• Breast-feeding reduced risk for ER/PR-negative breast cancer, results find
• Green tea reduced inflammation, may inhibit prostate cancer tumor growth, research finds
• Compound's dual action inhibited oral cancer, rat study finds
• Hay fever, asthma combination linked to lower risk for death from colorectal cancer, study finds
• Could a hurricane ever strike Southern California?
• Supersonic model points to fast future
• Space Launch System providing engine 'brains' with an upgrade
• Aggressive nature of meningitis cases calls for heightened awareness among clinicians

What we know and don't know about fungal meningitis outbreak Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT In a new perspective piece, a physician recalls lessons learned from treating patients affected by the 2002 outbreak of Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis meningitis or arthritis related to contaminated, injectable coticosteroids prepared from a compounding pharmacy.

Poetry in motion: Gemini Observatory releases image of rare polar ring galaxy Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT Polar-ring galaxies are peculiar objects. Astronomers have found only a handful of them, so not much is known about their origins. Most have an early-type spiral system, called a lenticular galaxy, as the central showpiece. But NGC 660, which lies about 40 million light-years distant toward the direction of Pisces the Fishes, is the only polar-ring galaxy known with what is called a late-type lenticular galaxy as its host. All, however, display a ring of stars, dust, and gas that extends tens of thousands of light-years across space along an orbit nearly perpendicular to the main disk.

NASA pursues atom optics to detect the imperceptible Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT A pioneering technology capable of atomic-level precision is now being developed to detect what so far has remained imperceptible: gravitational waves or ripples in space-time caused by cataclysmic events including even the Big Bang itself.

The hidden burden of bovine Tuberculosis Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:59 PM PDT Up to 21 percent of herds clearing restrictions for bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain may be harbouring infection, according to a new study.

Tissue-engineered kidneys: Researchers make important strides Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:48 PM PDT With a worldwide shortage of kidneys for patients who need kidney transplants, researchers are diligently working to find ways to engineer new kidney tissue from a patient's own cells or another source. They've come a step closer to realizing that goal with a breakthrough described in a new study. The advance could lead to more options for individuals with kidney failure, as well as better tools for understanding kidney diseases and how to treat them.

Damage to blood vessel lining may account for kidney failure patients' heart risks Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:48 PM PDT Individuals with kidney failure often develop heart problems, but it's not clear why. A new study provides evidence that their kidneys' inability to excrete waste products in the urine, which leads to build-up of these products in the blood, may damage the sugary lining of blood vessels and lead to heart troubles.

New way to save blood from ravages of chemo treatment Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT Chemotherapy kills blood cells as well as cancer cells, often with fatal results. Now stem cell researchers have identified a method they hope one day will help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy maintain a healthy blood supply, they report.

Solar power is contagious Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT People are more likely to install a solar panel on their home if their neighbors have one, according to a new study. The researchers studied clusters of solar installations throughout California from January 2001 to December 2011 and found that residents of a particular zip code are more likely to install solar panels if they already exist in that zip code and on their street.

First-of-its-kind self-assembled nanoparticle for targeted and triggered thermo-chemotherapy Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT Researchers describe the design and effectiveness of a first-of-its-kind, self assembled, multi-functional, NIR responsive gold nanorods that delivers a chemotherapy drug specifically targeted to cancer cells and selectively release the drug in response to an external beam of light while creating heat for synergistic thermo-chemo mediated anti-tumor efficacy.

Bicycle infrastructure can reduce risk of cycling injuries by half, Canadian study finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT Certain types of routes carry much lower risk of injury for cyclists, according to a new study. The study analyzed the cause of 690 cycling injuries in Vancouver and Toronto from 2008 to 2009 and various route types and infrastructure.

Living in ethnically homogenous area boosts health of minority seniors, study finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT An African-American or Mexican-American senior living in a community where many neighbors share their background is less likely to have cancer or heart disease than their counterpart in a more mixed neighborhood, according to a new study.

Child's home address helps predict risk of readmission to hospital Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT Simply knowing a child's home address and some socioeconomic data can serve as a vital sign -- helping hospitals predict which children admitted for asthma treatment are at greater risk for re-hospitalization or additional emergency room visits, according to new research.

Study succeeds in cutting inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by pediatricians Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:22 PM PDT A study involving one of the nation's largest networks of pediatric practices was able to nearly halve the inappropriate use of antibiotics through quarterly monitoring and feedback of the physicians' prescribing patterns. The research is one of the first to look at an antimicrobial stewardship intervention in the outpatient setting.

Hospital uses ‘lean’ manufacturing techniques to speed stroke care Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:20 PM PDT A hospital stroke team used auto industry "lean" manufacturing principles to accelerate treatment times, according to new research.

Stroke patients benefit from carmaker’s efficiency Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:20 PM PDT A process developed to increase efficiency and productivity in Japanese car factories has helped improve stroke treatment at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Salt power: Watt's next in rechargeable batteries? Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT Sodium could be an effective, inexpensive and virtually inexhaustible substitute for lithium, but it has a drawback that researchers hope to address.

Mechanisms of action for green tea extract in breast cancer prevention identified Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT An oral green tea extract, Polyphenon E, appears to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, both of which promote tumor cell growth, migration and invasion.

Blood hormone levels predicted long-term breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT Blood hormone tests predicted a woman's risk for developing postmenopausal breast cancer for up to 20 years, according to new research.

Team support for cessation in the workplace helped motivate cigarette smokers to quit Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT When smoking co-workers in the same team are placed on a cessation program, providing financial incentives to the team collectively in return for success of the smokers in the cessation program helped the smokers to quit smoking and remain abstinent for 12 months, according to new research.

High levels of estradiol, progesterone during pregnancy associated with increased risk for HR-negative breast cancer Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT Increased concentrations of the pregnancy hormones estradiol and progesterone were associated with an increased risk for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, according to the results of a nested case-control study.

Depression, shortened telomeres increase mortality in bladder cancer patients Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT Low depressive symptoms and a longer telomere length are compelling factors that contribute to a prolonged life for bladder cancer patients, according to researchers.

Modeling feat sheds light on protein channel's function Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT Chemists have managed, for the first time, to simulate the biological function of a channel called the Sec translocon, which allows specific proteins to pass through membranes. The feat required bridging timescales from the realm of nanoseconds all the way up to full minutes, exceeding the scope of earlier simulation efforts by more than six orders of magnitude. The result is a detailed molecular understanding of how the translocon works.

Elevated risk of blood clots in women taking birth control containing drospirenone, study shows Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT New research has found an increased risk of arterial thrombotic events and venous thromboembolic events -- commonly referred to as blockage of arteries and blood clots, respectively -- associated with drospirenone-containing birth control pills compared to four low-dose estrogen combined hormonal contraceptives.

Tropical collapse in Early Triassic caused by lethal heat: Extreme temperatures blamed for 'Dead Zone' Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT Scientists have discovered why the 'broken world' following the worst extinction of all time lasted so long -- it was simply too hot to survive. The end-Permian mass extinction, which occurred around 250 million years ago in the pre-dinosaur era, wiped out nearly all the world's species. Typically, a mass extinction is followed by a 'dead zone' during which new species are not seen for tens of thousands of years. In this case, the dead zone, during the Early Triassic period which followed, lasted for a perplexingly long period: five million years.

New technique for nanostructure assembly pioneered Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a new technique for growing new materials from nanorods. Materials with enhanced properties engineered from nanostructures have the potential to revolutionize the marketplace in everything from data processing to human medicine. However, attempts to assemble nanoscale objects into sophisticated structures have been largely unsuccessful. This latest study represents a major breakthrough in the field, showing how thermodynamic forces can be used to manipulate growth of nanoparticles into superparticles with unprecedented precision.

Optical vortices on a chip: Integrated arrays of emitters of 'optical vortex beams' on a silicon chip Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated integrated arrays of emitters of 'optical vortex beams' on a silicon chip. Contradicting traditional conception, light in such beams does not propagate in straight rays. Instead, its energy travels in a spiral fashion in a hollow conical beam shape. The beams therefore look very much like a vortex or cyclone, with its light rays 'twisted' either left-handed or right-handed. In theory, there is no limit to how twisted the light rays can be.

Researchers unveil 3-D structure of 'molecular machine' that initiates DNA transcription Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of the transcription initiation complex, the key intermediate in the process by which cells read out genetic information in DNA. The "molecular machine" responsible for transcription initiation -- a protein complex that consists of the enzyme RNA polymerase and the initiation factor sigma -- recognizes a specific site on DNA preceding a gene, binds to DNA, unwinds the DNA helix, and pre-organizes the unwound DNA to enable subsequent reactions.

'Time-capsule' Japanese lake sediment advances radiocarbon dating for older objects Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:18 AM PDT A series of radiocarbon measurements from Japan's Lake Suigetsu will give scientists a more accurate benchmark for dating materials, especially for older objects. Researchers extracted cores containing organic material from the bottom of the Japanese lake where it had lain undisturbed for tens of thousands of years. They provide a more precise way to examine radiocarbon ages of organic material for the entire 11,000-53,000-year time range.

No antibodies, no problem: Researchers identify how mosquito immune system attacks specific infections Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:40 AM PDT Researchers have determined a new mechanism by which the mosquitoes' immune system can respond with specificity to infections with various pathogens, including the parasite that causes malaria in humans, using one single gene. Unlike humans and other animals, insects do not make antibodies to target specific infections.

Rejection bolsters creativity: Independent individuals can benefit from exclusion Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:39 AM PDT Social rejects can be tomorrow's innovators because being an outcast can lead to heightened creativity and even commercial success, according to researchers.

Election 2012: Will voters follow their 'gut feelings' at polls? Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:39 AM PDT Americans going to the polls generally pull the lever based on one thing: their gut feelings, says a presidential politics expert.

Technology has improved voting procedures Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:09 AM PDT Thanks to better voting technology over the last decade, the country's election process has seen much improvement, according to a new report. However, the report notes, despite this progress, some problems remain.

Germs in space: Preventing infection on long flights Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:09 AM PDT On a long spaceflight unique conditions including microgravity could give microbes the upper hand, but not if astronauts and their spacecrafts are properly prepared. Infectious disease experts have come up with specific recommendations for keeping astronauts safe in deeper space.

Norovirus outbreaks in nursing homes associated with increase in hospitalizations, risk of death Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:09 AM PDT In a study that included more than 300 Medicare-certified nursing homes, rates of hospitalization and death were substantially increased during outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis vs. non-outbreak periods.

Ultraviolet light effective in hospital infection control, study suggests Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:09 AM PDT A specific spectrum of ultraviolet light killed certain drug-resistant bacteria on the door handles, bedside tables and other surfaces of hospital rooms, suggesting a possible future weapon in the battle to reduce hospital-associated infections.

Prehistoric human populations prospered before the agricultural boom, research suggests Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:08 AM PDT Researchers have found major prehistoric human population expansions may have begun before the Neolithic period, which probably led to the introduction of agriculture.

NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement observatory completes first dry run Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:48 AM PDT NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory satellite went through its first complete comprehensive performance test (CPT), beginning on Oct. 4, 2012 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The testing ran twenty-four hours, seven days a week and lasted ten days as the entire spacecraft was put through its paces.

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells could treat vascular diseases Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a way to utilize diagnostic prenatal amniocentesis cells, reprogramming them into abundant and stable endothelial cells capable of regenerating damaged blood vessels and repairing injured organs.

Developed a technology that predicts metastasis in breast cancer Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT Researchers have developed a diagnostic tool that identifies the metastatic ability of breast cancer cells. The analysis is based on the characterization of the lipid component of the cells, which is indicative of malignancy.

Mutation that causes skin hyperproliferation identified Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes patches of very thick skin to appear on the palms and soles of affected people. This skin disorder is related, albeit in a much milder form, to that of the Indonesian "Tree Man", Dede Koswara.

Ozone affects forest watersheds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have found that rising levels of ozone, a greenhouse gas, may amplify the impacts of higher temperatures and reduce streamflow from forests to rivers, streams, and other water bodies. Such effects could potentially reduce water supplies available to support forest ecosystems and people in the southeastern United States.

Cancer diagnosis does not make young people religious, research suggests Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT A sociologist of religion has interviewed 21 young patients diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer about their religious beliefs. She concludes that a cancer diagnosis will not make young people, who are not religious already, turn to religion. But it can confirm already existing beliefs.

College students and credit card debt: Parents have a powerful influence on their children's financial behaviors Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT Parents need to be good role models to help their children make sensible financial decisions, according to researchers whose work highlights that parents who argue about finances contribute to increasing credit card debt among their children during their student years.

Female Pulitzer Prize winners require higher qualifications, study finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT A researcher has found that female Pulitzer Prize winners are more likely to have greater qualifications their male counterparts in order to win the coveted award.

Genes and immune system shaped by childhood poverty, stress Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT New research has revealed that childhood poverty, stress as an adult, and demographics such as age, sex and ethnicity, all leave an imprint on a person's genes. And, that this imprint could play a role in our immune response.

Scientists harness immune system to prevent lymphoma relapse Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT Scientists hope that lymphoma patients could benefit from a new drug that triggers the cancer-fighting properties of the body's own immune system, after highly promising early laboratory results.

Researchers elucidate transport pathway of immune system substances Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT To transport substances from the site of their production to their destination, the body needs a sophisticated transport and sorting system. Various receptors in and on the cells recognize certain molecules, pack them and ensure that they are transported to the right place. One of these receptors is Sortilin. It is present in the cells of the nervous system, the liver, and the immune system. Studies have now shown that the receptor Sortilin plays an important role in the function of the immune system.

Rethinking toxic proteins on the cellular level: Lipid droplets play an unexpected role in embryo development Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT Histones are proteins needed to assemble DNA molecules into chromosomes. They have long represented a classic balancing act in biology; too few histone molecules result in DNA damage, while too many histones are toxic to the cell. New research is causing a fundamental shift in the concept of histone balance and the mechanism behind it.

Treating vascular disorders with a cell-based strategy Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT A new approach for generating large numbers of circulatory system cells, known as vascular endothelial cells (VECs), from human amniotic-fluid-derived cells is reported in a new study. The strategy, which shows promise in mice, opens the door to establishing a vast inventory of VECs for promoting organ regeneration and treating diverse vascular disorders.

From the twitching whiskers of babes: Naptime behavior shapes the brain Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT The whiskers of newborn rats twitch as they sleep, in a whisker equivalent of rapid-eye-movements, and that could open the door to new understandings about the intimate connections between brain and body. The discovery reinforces the notion that such involuntary movements are a vital contributor to the development of sensorimotor systems, say researchers.

Super rats are immune to conventional poisons, UK experts find Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT Scientists in the United Kingdom have noticed a mounting problem of destructive "super rats" immune to conventional poison.

Value of combined approach to quitting smoking confirmed Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:20 AM PDT Smokers who try to quit would be more successful if they combined medication or nicotine-replacement therapy with behavioral counseling, finds a new review.

Breast-feeding reduced risk for ER/PR-negative breast cancer, results find Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT Breast-feeding reduced the risk for estrogen receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer, according to new results.

Green tea reduced inflammation, may inhibit prostate cancer tumor growth, research finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to new data

Compound's dual action inhibited oral cancer, rat study finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT The compound licofelone inhibited oral cancer growth by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways, with no observable side effects, according to a recent rat study.

Hay fever, asthma combination linked to lower risk for death from colorectal cancer, study finds Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT People with both hay fever and asthma -- but not people with only one of these two conditions -- experienced an approximately 17 percent lower risk for dying from colorectal cancer, according to new research.

Could a hurricane ever strike Southern California? Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:57 AM PDT There's an old adage (with several variations) that California has four seasons: earthquake, fire, flood and drought. While Californians happily cede the title of Hurricane Capital of America to U.S. East and Gulf coasters, every once in a while, Mother Nature sends a reminder to Southern Californians that they are not completely immune to the whims of tropical cyclones. Typically, this takes the form of rainfall from the remnants of a tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific, as happened recently when the remnants of Hurricane John brought rain and thunderstorms to parts of Southern California. But could a hurricane ever make landfall in Southern California?

Supersonic model points to fast future Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:53 AM PDT If human beings are ever to fly faster than the speed of sound from one side of the country to another, we first have to figure out how to reduce the level of sonic boom generated by supersonic flight. Earlier this fall, a subscale model of a potential future low-boom supersonic aircraft designed by The Boeing Company was installed for testing in the supersonic wind tunnel at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

Space Launch System providing engine 'brains' with an upgrade Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:50 AM PDT America's next heavy-lift rocket needs a strong and reliable engine to launch humans beyond low Earth orbit. That's why engineers with NASA's Space Launch System program, managed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will use the proven RS-25, the space shuttle's main engine during its 30-year history, to power the massive rocket's core stage. The RS-25, which was designed and developed with NASA by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif., is a crucial part to the core stage design, but a few enhancements are planned.

Aggressive nature of meningitis cases calls for heightened awareness among clinicians Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:32 AM PDT More than 200 patients have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis following spinal epidural injections with contaminated methylprednisolone from a compounding pharmacy. In a new article, researchers provide details about the clinical care, deterioration, and ultimately the death of one of the index cases in this outbreak.

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