ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Breastfeeding linked to healthy infant gut: Bacterial colonization leads to changes in the infant’s expression of genes
• Orangutans harbor ancient primate Alu
• Bioluminescent technology for easy tracking of GMO
• Two drugs better than one to treat youth with type 2 diabetes, study suggests
• Pacific islands on equator may become refuge for corals in a warming climate due to changes in ocean currents
• Single nanomaterial yields many laser colors
• TV alcohol advertising may play role in underage drinking
• Familiarity with television fast-food ads linked to obesity
• Unruly kids may have a mental disorder
• Teen-led study highlights dangers of texting and driving
• Driven to distraction: Anticipating cell phone calls may increase risk of a crash
• Mom's stress during pregnancy can affect baby's iron status
• Being left out puts youths with special needs at risk for depression
• Apartment dwellers often subjected to neighbors' tobacco smoke
• Fight or flight: Violent teens may be following parents' lead
• Low-income moms under stress may overfeed infants
• Parents' poor math skills may lead to medication errors
• Fear of not having enough food may lead to obesity

Breastfeeding linked to healthy infant gut: Bacterial colonization leads to changes in the infant’s expression of genes Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:46 PM PDT Early colonization of the gut by microbes in infants is critical for development of their intestinal tract and in immune development. A new study shows that differences in bacterial colonization of formula-fed and breast-fed babies leads to changes in the infant's expression of genes involved in the immune system, and in defense against pathogens.

Orangutans harbor ancient primate Alu Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:46 PM PDT Alu elements infiltrated the ancestral primate genome about 65 million years ago. Once gained an Alu element is rarely lost so comparison of Alu between species can be used to map primate evolution and diversity. New research has found a single Alu, which appears to be an ancestral great ape Alu, that has uniquely multiplied within the orangutan genome.

Bioluminescent technology for easy tracking of GMO Posted: 29 Apr 2012 08:46 PM PDT It is important to be able to monitor genetically modified (GM) crops, not only in the field but also during the food processing chain. New research shows that products from genetically modified crops can be identified at low concentration, using bioluminescent real time reporter (BART) technology and loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The combination of these techniques was able to recognize 0.1% GM contamination of maize, far below the current EU limit of 0.9%.

Two drugs better than one to treat youth with type 2 diabetes, study suggests Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:22 PM PDT A combination of two diabetes drugs, metformin and rosiglitazone, was more effective in treating youth with recent-onset type 2 diabetes than metformin alone, a new study has found. Adding an intensive lifestyle intervention to metformin provided no more benefit than metformin therapy alone.

Pacific islands on equator may become refuge for corals in a warming climate due to changes in ocean currents Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:22 PM PDT Scientists have predicted that ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a surprising way and mitigate the warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. As a result these Pacific islands may become isolated refuges for corals and fish.

Single nanomaterial yields many laser colors Posted: 29 Apr 2012 12:22 PM PDT Engineers have created nanoscale single crystals that can produce the red, green, or blue laser light needed in digital displays. The size determines color, but all the pyramid-shaped quantum dots are made the same way of the same elements. In experiments, light amplification required much less power than previous attempts at the technology. The team's prototypes are the first lasers of their kind.

TV alcohol advertising may play role in underage drinking Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT Minors who were familiar with television alcohol advertisements were more likely to have tried alcoholic beverages and binge drink than those who could not recall seeing such ads, according to a new study.

Familiarity with television fast-food ads linked to obesity Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT There is a long-held concern that youths who eat a lot of fast food are at risk for becoming overweight. New research shows that greater familiarity with fast-food restaurant advertising on television is associated with obesity in young people.

Unruly kids may have a mental disorder Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT When children behave badly, it's easy to blame their parents. Sometimes, however, such behavior may be due to a mental disorder. Mental illnesses are the No. 1 cause of medical disability in youths ages 15 and older in the United States and Canada, according to the World Health Organization.

Teen-led study highlights dangers of texting and driving Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT Some people have questioned whether a ban on texting while driving will actually lead to more crashes because drivers will conceal their cell phones, making it more dangerous to read and type messages. New research led by high school students, however, shows that texting while driving is unsafe regardless of where the phone is positioned.

Driven to distraction: Anticipating cell phone calls may increase risk of a crash Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT It's well-known that using a cell phone while driving can lead to motor vehicle crashes. New research shows that even anticipating calls or messages may distract drivers may increase the risk of a crash.

Mom's stress during pregnancy can affect baby's iron status Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT Newborns whose mothers are under stress during the first trimester of pregnancy may be at risk for low iron status, which could lead to physical and mental delays down the road, according to a new study.

Being left out puts youths with special needs at risk for depression Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT The challenges that come with battling a chronic medical condition or developmental disability are enough to get a young person down. But being left out, ignored or bullied by their peers is the main reason youths with special health care needs report symptoms of anxiety or depression, according to a new study.

Apartment dwellers often subjected to neighbors' tobacco smoke Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:54 AM PDT Noisy neighbors and broken-down elevators are common downsides of apartment living. You also can add unwanted tobacco smoke to the list of hazards, according to research to be presented Sunday, April 29, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Boston.

Fight or flight: Violent teens may be following parents' lead Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:53 AM PDT While it may be cute when a 3-year-old imitates his parent's bad behavior, when adolescents do so, it's no longer a laughing matter. Teens who fight may be modeling what they see adult relatives do or have parents with pro-fighting attitudes, according to a new study.

Low-income moms under stress may overfeed infants Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:11 AM PDT Efforts to prevent obesity among low-income infants should focus not only on what babies are being fed but also the reasons behind unhealthy feeding practices, according to a new study.

Parents' poor math skills may lead to medication errors Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:11 AM PDT Many parents cringe when their child asks for help with math homework. New research shows that poor math skills can cause another difficulty for caregivers -- measuring the right amount of medicine.

Fear of not having enough food may lead to obesity Posted: 29 Apr 2012 05:11 AM PDT While eating too much food can cause obesity, the fear of not having enough food may lead to the same result, according to a new study.

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