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Friday, May 10, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children

Posted: 09 May 2013 03:48 PM PDT

New research shows that growing up in areas where air pollution is increased raises the risk of insulin resistance (the prescursor to diabetes) in children.

Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease

Posted: 09 May 2013 01:39 PM PDT

Owning a pet, particularly a dog, could reduce your risk of heart disease. It is unclear whether owning a pet directly reduces risk. Despite the likely positive link, people shouldn't get a pet solely to reduce heart disease risk.

Sense of touch reproduced through prosthetic hand

Posted: 09 May 2013 01:38 PM PDT

Neurobiologists have shown how an organism can sense a tactile stimulus, in real time, through an artificial sensor for the first time.

Under-appreciated benefit of oyster restoration highlighted

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

A new study shows that healthy oyster reefs would help to buffer the increasing acidity of coastal waters.

Unleashing the watchdog protein: Research opens door to new drug therapies for Parkinson's disease

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT

Researchers have unlocked a new door to developing drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Biomaterial shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT

Researchers have made a significant first step with newly engineered biomaterials for cell transplantation that could help lead to a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes, which affects about 3 million Americans. Engineers and clinicians have successfully engrafted insulin-producing cells into a diabetic mouse model, reversing diabetic symptoms in the animal in as little as 10 days.

New technique to improve quality control of lithium-ion batteries

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT

Researchers have created a new tool to detect flaws in lithium-ion batteries as they are being manufactured, a step toward reducing defects and inconsistencies in the thickness of electrodes that affect battery life and reliability.

After the breakup in a digital world: Purging Facebook of painful memories

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT

The era is long gone when a romantic breakup meant ripped-up photos and burned love letters. Today, digital photos and emails can be quickly deleted but the proliferation of social media has made forgetting a bigger chore. What about the ubiquitous digital records of a once beloved that lurk on Facebook, Tumblr, and Flickr?

Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows

Posted: 09 May 2013 12:45 PM PDT

Women who engage in "fat talk" -- the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies -- are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.

How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers suggest that simple and innovative measures at the state and local level can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, scientists have found

Using bacteria to stop malaria

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

Mosquitoes are deadly efficient disease transmitters. New research however, demonstrates that they also can be part of the solution for preventing diseases such as malaria.

Dust in the clouds: Cirrus clouds form around mineral dust and metallic particles

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

Cirrus clouds influence global climate, cooling the planet by reflecting incoming solar radiation and warming it by trapping outgoing heat. Understanding the mechanisms by which these clouds form may help scientists better predict future climate patterns. Scientists have now identified the major seeds on which cirrus clouds form.

Heady mathematics: Describing popping bubbles in a foam

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:21 AM PDT

Two applied mathematicians have found a way to mathematically describe the evolution and disappearance of a foam. Using these equations, they were able to generate a movie that shows the complex draining, popping and rearrangement of these bubbles as the foam vanishes.

New tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a new tool to identify broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of preventing infection by the majority of HIV strains found around the globe, an advance that could help speed HIV vaccine research.

Moon and Earth have common water source

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT

New research finds that water inside the moon's mantle comes from the same source as water on Earth. The Moon is thought to have formed after a giant impact to a still-forming Earth 4.5 million years ago. These new findings suggest that Earth may have had water at the time of that impact, and some of that water may have been transferred to the moon.

How individuality develops: Experience leads to growth of new brain cells

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT

How do organisms evolve into individuals that are distinguished from others by their own personal brain structure and behavior? Scientists have now taken a decisive step towards clarifying this question. Using mice as an animal model, they were able to show that individual experiences influence the development of new neurons, leading to measurable changes in the brain.

Ice-free Arctic may be in our future, international researchers say

Posted: 09 May 2013 11:20 AM PDT

Analyses of the longest continental sediment core ever collected in the Arctic provide "absolutely new knowledge" of Arctic climate from 2.2 to 3.6 million years ago. The research has major implications for understanding how the Arctic transitioned from a forested landscape without ice sheets to the ice- and snow-covered land we know today.

Gene identified, responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue

Posted: 09 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a gene that when mutated is responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue. This finding opens new avenues for research into a diagnosis and treatment for these until now incurable diseases. 

Epigenomics of stem cells that mimic early human development charted

Posted: 09 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT

Scientists have long known that control mechanisms known collectively as "epigenetics" play a critical role in human development, but they did not know precisely how alterations in this extra layer of biochemical instructions in DNA contribute to development.

New advance in biofuel production

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:37 AM PDT

Researchers have developed an enzyme-free ionic liquid pretreatment of cellulosic biomass that makes it easier to recover fermentable sugars for biofuels and to recycle the ionic liquid.

Elevated cadmium levels linked to disease: Men especially affected

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

People with higher levels of cadmium in their urine -- evidence of chronic exposure to the heavy metal found in industrial emissions and tobacco smoke -- appear to be nearly 3.5 times more likely to die of liver disease than those with lower levels, according to a new study.

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area's hydrologic cycle, reports a new study.

Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

Despite previous scientific studies that suggest diabetes drug metformin has anti-cancer properties, a new, first-of-its-kind study has found the drug may not actually improve survival rates after breast cancer in certain patients.

Mapping the embryonic epigenome: How genes are turned on and off during early human development

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

A large, multi-institutional research team has published a sweeping analysis of how genes are turned on and off to direct early human development.

Dead stars 'polluted' with planetary debris: Signs of Earth-like planets found

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

Astronomers have found signs of Earth-like planets in an unlikely place: the atmospheres of a pair of burnt-out stars in a nearby star cluster. The white dwarf stars are being polluted by debris from asteroid-like objects falling onto them. This discovery suggests that rocky planet assembly is common in clusters, say researchers.

Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT

Low levels of social support and high levels of stress in the workplace accurately predict the development of diabetes over the long term -- even in employees who appear to be healthy otherwise.

Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT

People who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions may have better physical health because they make more social connections, according to a new study.

Research reveals cancer-suppressing protein 'multitasks'

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT

The understanding of how a powerful protein called p53 protects against cancer development has been upended by a new discovery.

How nerve wiring self-destructs

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT

Many medical issues affect nerves, from injuries and chemotherapy to glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The common theme in these scenarios is destruction of nerve axons, the long wires that transmit signals to other parts of the body. Researchers have now found a way the body can remove injured axons, identifying a potential target for new drugs that could prevent the inappropriate loss of axons.

Studies generate comprehensive list of genes required by innate system to defend sex cells

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT

Investigators have published studies revealing many previously unknown components of an innate system that defends sex cells -- the carriers of inheritance across generations -- from the ravages of transposable genetic elements.

Dad's genome more ready at fertilization than mom's is -- but hers catches up

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that while the genes provided by the father arrive at fertilization pre-programmed to the state needed by the embryo, the genes provided by the mother are in a different state and must be reprogrammed to match.

Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

By manipulating the timing of disease-causing mutations in the brains of developing mice, researchers have found that early genetic deletions in the thalamus may play an important role in course and severity of the developmental disease tuberous sclerosis complex.

Genes define the interaction of social amoeba and bacteria

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Researchers have used the model of the social amoeba -- Dictyostelium discoideum -- to identify the genetic controls on how the amoeba differentiate the different bacteria and respond to achieve their goal of destruction.

Rejuvenating hormone found to reverse symptoms of heart failure

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Heart failure is one of the most debilitating conditions linked to old age. A new study reveals that a blood hormone known as growth differentiation factor 11 declines with age, and old mice injected with this hormone experience a reversal in signs of cardiac aging. The findings shed light on the underlying causes of age-related heart failure and may offer a much-needed strategy for treating this condition in humans.

Coral reefs suffering, but collapse not inevitable

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Coral reefs are in decline, but their collapse can still be avoided with local and global action. That's according to findings based on an analysis that combines the latest science on reef dynamics with the latest climate models.

Patients should have right to control genomic health information, experts say

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.

Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT

The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study. Investigators have examined the association between parental addictions and adult depression in a representative sample of 6,268 adults, drawn from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT

New research looks at gene expression profiling in breast cancer.

Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD, study suggests

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT

The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new review.

Local health departments find Twitter effective in spreading diabetes information

Posted: 09 May 2013 09:33 AM PDT

The web-based social media site Twitter is proving to be an effective tool for local health departments in disseminating health information — especially in promoting specific health behaviors.

'Power plants': How to harvest electricity directly from plants

Posted: 09 May 2013 07:43 AM PDT

The sun provides the most abundant source of energy on the planet. However, only a tiny fraction of the solar radiation on Earth is converted into useful energy.

Sexual harassment linked to 'purging' -- in men

Posted: 09 May 2013 07:43 AM PDT

Men who experience high levels of sexual harassment are much more likely than women to induce vomiting and take laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to control their weight, according to a surprising finding.

Brain system for emotional self-control discovered

Posted: 09 May 2013 07:43 AM PDT

Different brain areas are activated when we choose to suppress an emotion, compared to when we are instructed to inhibit an emotion, according a new study.

Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT

Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new study.

Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT

New research reveals that Solanaceae -- a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine -- may provide a protective effect against Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that eating foods that contain even a small amount of nicotine, such as peppers and tomatoes, may reduce risk of developing Parkinson's.

Early infant growth rate linked to composition of gut microbiota

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:12 AM PDT

The composition of gut microbiota in a new-born baby's gut has been linked to the rate of early infant growth. The findings support the assertion that the early development of "microbiota" -- the body's microbial ecosystem -- in an infant can influence growth and thereby the likelihood of obesity.

Secret streets of Britain's 'Atlantis' are revealed

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:11 AM PDT

Archeologists have carried out the most detailed analysis ever of the archaeological remains of the lost medieval town of Dunwich, dubbed 'Britain's Atlantis'. Using advanced underwater imaging techniques, the project has produced the most accurate map to date of the town's streets, boundaries and major buildings, and revealed new ruins on the seabed.

Device for portable, ultra-precise clocks and quantum sensors developed

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:08 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a portable way to produce ultracold atoms for quantum technology and quantum information processing.

Geologists study mystery of 'eternal flames'

Posted: 09 May 2013 06:07 AM PDT

"Eternal flames" fueled by hydrocarbon gas could shine a light on the presence of natural gas in underground rock layers and conditions that let it seep to the surface, according to new research.

Scientists find key to gene-silencing activity

Posted: 08 May 2013 06:32 PM PDT

Scientists have found how to boost or inhibit a gene-silencing mechanism that normally serves as a major controller of cells' activities. The discovery could lead to a powerful new class of drugs against viral infections, cancers and other diseases.

Chronic pain sufferers likely to have anxiety

Posted: 08 May 2013 06:31 PM PDT

Patients coping with chronic pain should also be evaluated for anxiety disorders, according to new research.

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