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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Baby wash does not damage baby's skin barrier function, study finds

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST

New research has found washing newborn babies in a specific baby wash is just as safe as using water alone in terms of maintaining healthy skin.

Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST

Maternal nutrition is important to a developing embryo and to the health of the child later in life. Supplementing the diet with specific vitamins is known to increase health of the fetus for example folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida. However not everything an adult might consume is beneficial to a developing baby. New research shows that caffeine is linked to low birth weight babies and that caffeine from coffee in linked to increasing length of pregnancy.

A solution to sinusitis from the sea

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:33 PM PST

Scientists and surgeons are developing a new nasal spray from a marine microbe originally being investigated to clear the hulls of ships in order to help clear chronic sinusitis.

Meerkats use subordinate animals as guinea pigs when approaching novel threats

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:32 PM PST

In their environment, wild animals are exposed to countless threats, be they predators, diseases or natural obstacles to get over, such as gorges or rivers. In recent times, numerous human-made threats have been added to the naturally-existing ones, such as dangerous roads to cross. Scientists have worked to understand how animals cope with novel human-made threats by studying groups of wild meerkats, a species of socially-living mongooses.

Thigh fat may be to blame for older adults who slow down

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:32 PM PST

A new study shows that an increase in fat throughout the thigh is predictive of mobility loss in otherwise healthy older adults.

Could an old antidepressant treat sickle cell disease?

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:32 PM PST

An antidepressant drug used since the 1960s may also hold promise for treating sickle cell disease, according to a surprising new finding made in mice and human red blood cells by a team has spent more than three decades studying the basic biology of the condition.

Bone marrow cells used in bladder regeneration

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:42 PM PST

A new approach to bladder regeneration uses bone marrow cells to recreate the organ's smooth muscle, vasculature and nerve tissue.

Could a computer on the police beat prevent violence?

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

As cities work to reduce violence in tight budget times, new research shows how they might be able to target their efforts and police attention on areas prone to violence – with the help of high-powered computers and loads of data on crime, alcohol availability and drug markets.

Ancient fossilized sea creatures yield oldest biomolecules isolated directly from a fossil

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

Though scientists have long believed that complex organic molecules couldn't survive fossilization, some 350-million-year-old remains of aquatic sea creatures uncovered in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa have challenged that assumption.

New study on hepatitis C drug treatment in vivo and in vitro

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 4 million in the US and is the prirmary cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. New research shows that daclatasvir, an ant - HCV drug, has two modes of action and provides a more accurate estimate of the HCV half-life.

Shedding new light on infant brain development

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

A new study finds that the infant brain does not control its blood flow the same way as the adult brain, that the control of brain blood flow develops with age. These findings could change the way researchers study brain development in infants and children.

Pollution doesn't change the rate of droplet formation

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

When it comes to forming the droplets that make up clouds, a little oily and viscous organic material apparently doesn't matter that much. And that's good news for reducing the uncertainty of climate model predictions.

Reduced Lung Function in Infancy Associated with Wheeze Later

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

A study in Australia suggests that reduced lung function in infancy was associated with wheezing beyond childhood at 18 years of age, according to a new report.

Women have higher risk of hip implant failure

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

Women appear to have a higher risk of implant failure than men following total hip replacement after considering patient-, surgery-, surgeon-, volume- and implant-specific risk factors, according to a new report.

Office workers beware: Sitting time associated with increased risk of chronic diseases

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:23 AM PST

Those who sat for more than four hours per day were significantly more likely to report having a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Water on the moon: It's been there all along

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:23 AM PST

Traces of water have been detected within the crystalline structure of mineral samples from the lunar highland upper crust obtained during the Apollo missions, according to scientists.

Hunt for distant planets intensifies

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:23 AM PST

Armed with new tools, astronomers search for worlds like Earth.

Stem cell-based bioartificial tissues and organs

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:30 AM PST

Surgeons have successfully transplanting bioengineered stem cell-based trachea, composed of both artificial and biological material. Now they plan to use the technique to recreate more complex tissues, such as the esophagus and diaphragm or organs such as the heart and lungs. Researchers have also made an experimental attempt to regenerate brain tissue in mice and rats.

International space station plays host to innovative infectious disease research

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:30 AM PST

A microbiologist is using the ISS platform to pursue new research into the effects of microgravity on disease-causing organisms.

Memory appears susceptible to eradication of fear responses

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:29 AM PST

Fear responses can only be erased when people learn something new while retrieving the fear memory. This is the conclusion of a new study.

Pathway controlling cell growth revealed

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:27 AM PST

Scientists have discovered a genetic defect that can halt cell growth and force cells into a death-evading survival state.

Excessive TV in childhood linked to long-term antisocial behavior, New Zealand study shows

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:27 AM PST

Children and adolescents who watch a lot of television are more likely to manifest antisocial and criminal behavior when they become adults, according to a new study.

Gut bacteria linked to cholesterol metabolism

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

Researchers have shown that cholesterol metabolism is regulated by bacteria in the small intestine. These findings may be important for the development of new drugs for cardiovascular disease.

Molecules generated that can halt metastasis of colon cancer

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

Medical researchers have managed to halt the progress of colon cancer and its metastasis in the liver in an experimental model with mice. This advance, that may open a new path for the future treatment of such pathologies, has been achieved by creating molecules which interfere with the adhesion of tumor cells to other cells of the organism. In this way, the molecules halt both the growth of the tumor and the dissemination of the tumor to and its proliferation in other organs.

Reduced sea ice disturbs balance of greenhouse gases

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

The widespread reduction in Arctic sea ice is causing significant changes to the balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Genetic key to preventing spine tumors

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

Genetic medicine experts have identified a new gene responsible for causing an inherited form of tumor, known as spinal meningioma. Meningiomas are the commonest form of tumor affecting the brain and spine.

Blood is thicker than water – and blood plasma is, too

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

Blood flows differently than water. Anyone who has ever cut themselves knows that blood flows viscously and rather erratically. The similarity between blood and ketchup is something not only filmmakers are aware of. Experts refer to these materials as "non-Newtonian fluids," of which ketchup and blood are prime examples. These fluids have flow properties that change depending on conditions, with some becoming more viscous, while others become less viscous.

Living organisms need antifreeze to survive in the cold

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

If you thought antifreeze was only something that was necessary to keep your car from freezing up in the winter, think again.  Plants and animals living in cold climates have natural antifreeze proteins (AFPs) which prevent ice growth and crystallization of organic fluid matter. Without such antifreeze, living matter would suffer from frost damage and even death.

Microbes team up to boost plants' stress tolerance

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:43 AM PST

While most farmers consider viruses and fungi potential threats to their crops, these microbes can help wild plants adapt to extreme conditions, according to a virologist.

Dopants dramatically alter electronic structure of superconductor

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Doping dramatically alters the atomic-scale electronic structure of the parent of a high-temperature superconductor, with important consequences for the behavior of the current-carrying electrons, according to new research. The findings could potentially point to new ways to design superconductors with improved properties.

Forging a new periodic table using nanostructures: Artificial atoms and bonds provide a new set of building blocks for future materials

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Scientists have developed a new set of building blocks based on nanoparticles and DNA. Using these tools, scientists will be able to build -- from the bottom up, just as nature does -- new and useful structures. The research team has already built more than 200 different crystal structures with 17 different particle arrangements. Some of the lattice types can be found in nature, but many are new structures that have no naturally occurring mineral counterpart.

'Snooze button' on biological clocks improves cell adaptability

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

The circadian clocks that control and influence dozens of basic biological processes have an unexpected 'snooze button' that helps cells adapt to changes in their environment.

Organic electronics: How to make contact between carbon compounds and metal

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Organic electronics has already hit the market in smart-phone displays and holds great promise for future applications like flexible electroluminescent foils (a potential replacement for conventional light bulbs) or solar cells that convert sunlight to electricity. A reoccurring problem in this technology is to establish good electrical contact between the active organic layer and metal electrodes. Organic molecules are frequently used also for this purpose.

'Activating' RNA takes DNA on a loop through time and space

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Long segments of RNA -- encoded in our DNA but not translated into protein -- are key to physically manipulating DNA in order to activate certain genes, say researchers. These non-coding RNA-activator molecules help create a loop of DNA to open up genes for transcription. They have a crucial role in turning genes on and off during early embryonic development, and have also been connected with genetic diseases, such as FG syndrome, and cancer.

Genetically modified crops are overregulated, food science expert says

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Scientists argue that genetically modified foods are safe for consumption and overregulated.

Heart condition: Arrhythmia culprit caught in action

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Using powerful X-rays, researchers have reconstructed a crime scene too small for any microscope to observe -- and caught the culprit of arrhythmia in action.

The quest for a better bionic hand: Implantable interfaces connect a hand prosthesis to the nerves

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

New implantable interfaces connect a hand prosthesis to the nerves, making for smarter prosthetics that feel and function more like the real thing.

Links between ozone levels and cardiac arrest analyzed

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:42 AM PST

Researchers working with a massive data set unique to Houston, have found a direct correlation between out-of-hospital heart attacks and levels of air pollution and ozone.

Ancient teeth bacteria record disease evolution

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 10:41 AM PST

DNA preserved in calcified bacteria on the teeth of ancient human skeletons has shed light on the health consequences of the evolving diet and behavior from the Stone Age to the modern day.

Decoys could blunt spread of ash-killing beetles

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST

As the emerald ash borer ravages North American ash trees, threatening the trees' very survival, a team of entomologists and engineers may have found a way to prevent the spread of the pests.

Losing hope of a good night's sleep is risk factor for suicide

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST

When people lose hope that they will ever get another good night's sleep, they become at high risk for suicide, researchers report.

Slithering towards extinction: Reptiles in trouble

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST

Nineteen percent of the world's reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction, according to new research. The study is the first of its kind summarising the global conservation status of reptiles. More than 200 world renowned experts assessed the extinction risk of 1,500 randomly selected reptiles from across the globe.

Novel herbal compound offers potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:53 AM PST

Administration of the active compound tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside derived from the Chinese herbal medicine Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, reversed both overexpression of ±-synuclein, a small protein found in the brain, and its accumulation using a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. These results may shed light on the neuropathology of AD and open up new avenues of treatment.

Possible link between diabetes and increased risk of heart attack death

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:52 AM PST

Having diabetes doubles a person's risk of dying after a heart attack, but the reason for the increased risk is not clear. A new study suggests the link may lie in the over-activation of an important heart enzyme, which leads to death of pacemaker cells, abnormal heart rhythm, and increased risk of sudden death in diabetic mice following a heart attack.

New enzyme that acts as innate immunity sensor discovered

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST

Two studies could lead to new treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases and strengthen current therapies for viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.

Neuronal activity induces tau release from healthy neurons

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST

Researchers have discovered that neuronal activity can stimulate tau release from healthy neurons in the absence of cell death. The results show that treatment of neurons with known biological signaling molecules increases the release of tau into the culture medium. The release of tau from cortical neurons is therefore a physiological process that can be regulated by neuronal activity.

New findings on genetic risks of Behçet's disease

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:50 AM PST

Researchers don't know the exact cause of Behçet's disease, a condition that leads to serious complications such as blindness, but new research brings better understanding to what makes some people more susceptible to being affected.

Chemists develop single molecule sieves to separate complex molecular mixtures

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:49 AM PST

Chemists have created a new technique that could be used in industry to separate complex organic chemical mixtures.

Wild plants are infected with many viruses and still thrive

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST

Researchers have studied viruses as agents of disease in humans, domestic animals and plants, but a study of plant viruses in the wild may point to a more cooperative, benevolent role of the microbe, according to a virologist.

Statistics help clear fog for better climate change picture

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 05:47 AM PST

Statistics is an important tool in sorting through information on how human activities are affecting the climate system, as well as how climate change affects natural and human systems, according to statisticians.

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