ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Biofuel waste product recycled for electricity
• 'Fitness and fatness': Not all obese people have the same prognosis; second study sheds light on 'obesity paradox'
• NASA's SDO sees massive filament erupt on sun
• That giant tarantula is terrifying, but I'll touch it: Expressing your emotions can reduce fear
• Longer CPR attempts might benefit some patients, research finds
• Rare genetic disease offers insight into common cancers
• Scientists design molecule that reverses some fragile X syndrome defects
• 'Benign' malaria key driver of human evolution in Asia-Pacific
• Increased mortality in HIV-positive South African men versus women is unrelated to HIV/AIDS
• Violent video games not so bad when players cooperate
• Health-care costs hit the elderly hard, diminish financial wellbeing
• Healing cuts for Medicare
• Use of biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis not significantly associated with increased risk of malignancy
• Cardiac study evaluates prevalence of unrecognized heart attacks among older adults
• Stiffening of aortic wall linked with increased risk of high blood pressure
• Medicare kidney spending reaches crucial moment
• Introducing decision aids may lower surgery for arthritis
• Vitamin D supplement fails to lower cholesterol in short term
• Black women face more violence under 'prison nation', book says
• Quest for Higgs boson enters new phase
• Study points to new target for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin
• Preeclampsia poses a significant long-term health risk, study finds
• With no West Nile vaccine in sight, self-protection is key
• A blueprint for 'affective' aggression
• Repeated exposure to traumatic images may be harmful to health
• Showing the way to improved water-splitting catalysts: Chemists identify the mechanism by which such catalysts work
• Antimicrobials alter intestinal bacteria composition in swine, researchers find
• Human impact felt on Black Sea long before industrial era
• Watching quantum mechanics in action: Researchers create world record laser pulse
• Waste silicon gets new life in lithium-ion batteries
• Pretreatment PET/CT imaging of lymph nodes predicts recurrence in breast cancer patients
• Realizing the promise of RNA nanotechnology for new drug development
• Gardener's delight offers glimpse into the evolution of flowering plants
• Every atom counts in graphene formation: Nanoreactor theory could advance quality of material’s growth
• Syrian obsidian discovery opens new chapter in Middle Eastern studies
• Reduced brain connections seen in people with generalized anxiety disorder
• Experts propose 'cyber war' on cancer: Universities aim to break cancer's codes for social networking
• Simple tool may help inexperienced psychiatrists better predict violence risk in patients
• New Danish fungal species discovered
• Hormone therapy for fruit flies means better pest control
• Using magnetism to understand superconductivity
• Potential drug discovered for deadly brain cancer
• Ovarian cancer cells hijack surrounding tissues to enhance tumor growth
• Canada should remove section of Criminal Code that permits physical punishment of children, expert argues
• PharmaNet system dramatically reduced inappropriate prescriptions of potentially addictive drugs
• New gene variants raise risk of neuroblastoma, influence tumor progression
• New genetic clues to why most bone marrow transplant patients develop graft-versus-host disease
• Shark rules need teeth, groups tell IUCN
• Some evidence for 'chemo brain' in breast cancer survivors, large review finds
• Spinach power gets a big boost: Reseachers combine spinach protein with silicon to make biohybrid solar cell
• Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes
• Genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people
• Deadly witch hunts targeted by grassroots women's groups
• Reducing pressure on children to eat may help prevent obesity
• Bees, fruits and money: Decline of pollinators will have severe impact on nature and humankind
• Australian shipping emissions identified
• Increase in respiratory symptoms following volcanic eruption
• Smoking and natural disasters: Christchurch residents increase tobacco consumption post-earthquake
• Swallowed magnets in children need quick evaluation and treatment
• How language change sneaks in

Biofuel waste product recycled for electricity Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT A by-product of biofuel manufacture can power microbial fuel cells to generate electricity cheaply and efficiently, according to scientists. The work could help develop self-powered devices that would depollute waste water and be used to survey weather in extreme environments.

'Fitness and fatness': Not all obese people have the same prognosis; second study sheds light on 'obesity paradox' Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT People can be obese but metabolically healthy and fit, with no greater risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer than normal weight people, according to the largest study ever to have investigated this seeming paradox.

NASA's SDO sees massive filament erupt on sun Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:26 PM PDT On August 31, 2012 a long filament of solar material that had been hovering in the sun's atmosphere, the corona, erupted out into space at 4:36 p.m. EDT. The coronal mass ejection, or CME, traveled at over 900 miles per second. The CME did not travel directly toward Earth, but did connect with Earth's magnetic environment, or magnetosphere, with a glancing blow. causing aurora to appear on the night of Monday, September 3.

That giant tarantula is terrifying, but I'll touch it: Expressing your emotions can reduce fear Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:20 PM PDT Can simply describing your feelings at stressful times make you less afraid and less anxious? A new psychology study suggests that labeling your emotions at the precise moment you are confronting what you fear can indeed have that effect.

Longer CPR attempts might benefit some patients, research finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 03:39 PM PDT There isn't a hard and fast rule for how long doctors should perform CPR, but new research shows longer attempts might be beneficial for some patients.

Rare genetic disease offers insight into common cancers Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic condition in which cells lose the ability to repair DNA. Fanconi cells are super-sensitive to a common class of cancer drugs, nixing their use. A new study explores resveratrol as chemopreventive in Fanconi anemia patients.

Scientists design molecule that reverses some fragile X syndrome defects Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT Scientists have designed a compound that shows promise as a potential therapy for one of the diseases closely linked to fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes mental retardation, infertility, and memory impairment, and is the only known single-gene cause of autism.

'Benign' malaria key driver of human evolution in Asia-Pacific Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT The malaria species rampant in the Asia-Pacific region has been a significant driver of evolution of the human genome, a new study has shown. An international team of researchers has shown that Plasmodium vivax malaria, the most prevalent malaria species in the Asia-Pacific, is a significant cause of genetic evolution that provides protection against malaria.

Increased mortality in HIV-positive South African men versus women is unrelated to HIV/AIDS Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT In South Africa, HIV-infected men who are receiving treatment with anti-HIV drugs (antiretroviral therapy) are almost a third more likely to die than HIV-positive women who are receiving similar treatment: however, these differences are likely to be due to gender differences in death rates in the general population rather than related to HIV, according to a study by a team of international researchers.

Violent video games not so bad when players cooperate Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:07 PM PDT New research suggests that violent video games may not make players more aggressive -- if they play cooperatively with other people.

Health-care costs hit the elderly hard, diminish financial wellbeing Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:26 PM PDT The protection of the savings of the elderly -- one of the primary goals of Medicare -- is under threat from a combination of spiraling health-care costs and increased longevity. As the government attempts to reduce Medicare costs, one suggestion is that the elderly could pay a larger proportion of the costs of their health care. But exactly how much would this be and what impact would it have on their finances?

Healing cuts for Medicare Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT Medicare payment reforms mandated in the Affordable Care Act for post-acute care have great potential to lower costs without harming patients. Researchers caution that policymakers will need to be vigilant to ensure that these cuts don't result in one-time savings that revert to rising costs.

Use of biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis not significantly associated with increased risk of malignancy Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT Although there are concerns regarding the potential development of malignancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are receiving treatment with biologic response modifiers (BRMs), pooled results from more than 60 randomized controlled trials did not find a statistically significant increased risk of any type of cancer with use of BRMs for at least 6 months compared with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or with placebo.

Cardiac study evaluates prevalence of unrecognized heart attacks among older adults Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT Using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging among older adults in Iceland, researchers estimated the prevalence of unrecognized heart attacks, which was associated with an increased risk of death.

Stiffening of aortic wall linked with increased risk of high blood pressure Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT An analysis of the relationship between several vascular function measures and blood pressure levels finds that certain measures including higher aortic stiffness were associated with a higher risk of new hypertension; however, initial blood pressure was not independently associated with risk of progressive aortic stiffening, suggesting that vascular stiffness may be a precursor rather than the result of hypertension.

Medicare kidney spending reaches crucial moment Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT Medicare has covered treatment for anyone with end-stage renal disease since 1972. The coverage is very expensive and the program has struggled since for 40 years to contain costs without compromising quality. In a new paper that chronicles that history, the authors argue that Medicare's latest attempt -- bundled payments and pay-for-performance -- could become a broader model for the program if it succeeds.

Introducing decision aids may lower surgery for arthritis Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT After Group Health introduced video "decision aids" for people with knee and hip arthritis, rates of knee and hip replacement surgeries dropped sharply: By 38 and 26 percent, respectively, over six months. Costs of caring for those patients also declined: By 12 percent to 21 percent, according to a new article. Decision aids are balanced sources of information, used in shared decision making, which present evidence-based pros and cons of treatment options.

Vitamin D supplement fails to lower cholesterol in short term Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:21 PM PDT Taking vitamin D supplements to compensate for vitamin D deficiency didn't improve cholesterol — at least in the short term, according to new research.

Black women face more violence under 'prison nation', book says Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT Black women in poor neighborhoods have faced increasing violence because public policy has focused on unconditional punishment, not prevention, according to a new book by a public policy expert.

Quest for Higgs boson enters new phase Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT This summer, physicists at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva announced the discovery of a new particle with a mass somewhere between 125 and 126 giga-electron volts, or 134 times the mass of the proton. This figure falls within the predicted range for the Higgs boson. So what's next? "This is the beginning. We still don't know what this thing is," says one researcher.

Study points to new target for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT A more-sensitive method to analyze protein interactions has uncovered a new way that cancer cells may use the cell-surface molecule HER3 to drive tumor progression following treatment with HER1 and HER2 inhibitors. This study shows that HER3 could be up to 10 times more effective than HER2 in recruiting the proteins that drive the spread of cancer.

Preeclampsia poses a significant long-term health risk, study finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:16 PM PDT In a new study, researchers found patients with preeclampsia had significantly higher rates of chronic hypertension diagnosed after pregnancy. Patients with preeclampsia were also more likely to be hospitalized at least once. Exposed women had .28 hospitalization per patient rate, while the non-exposed patients had a lower .23 hospitalization per patient rate.

With no West Nile vaccine in sight, self-protection is key Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:16 PM PDT As this year's threat from the West Nile virus continues, one infectious diseases expert says a vaccine is not in our near future, so people need to protect themselves.

A blueprint for 'affective' aggression Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Researchers have created a roadmap to areas of the brain associated with affective aggression in mice. This roadmap may be the first step toward finding therapies for humans suffering from affective aggression disorders that lead to impulsive violent acts.

Repeated exposure to traumatic images may be harmful to health Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Repeated exposure to violent images from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Iraq War led to an increase in physical and psychological ailments in a nationally representative sample of US adults, according to a new study.

Showing the way to improved water-splitting catalysts: Chemists identify the mechanism by which such catalysts work Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Scientists and engineers around the world are working to find a way to power the planet using solar-powered fuel cells. Such green systems would split water during daylight hours, generating hydrogen that could be stored and used later to produce water and electricity. But robust catalysts are needed to drive the water-splitting reaction. Now chemists have determined the mechanism by which some highly effective cobalt catalysts work.

Antimicrobials alter intestinal bacteria composition in swine, researchers find Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Researchers, concerned about the use of antibiotics in animal production, have found that antimicrobial growth promoters administered to swine can alter the kind of bacteria present in the animal's intestinal track, resulting in an accelerated rate of growth and development in the animals.

Human impact felt on Black Sea long before industrial era Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT Researchers have pieced together a unique history of the Danube River delta and watershed that ultimately provides evidence for a transformative impact of humans on the Black Sea over hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Watching quantum mechanics in action: Researchers create world record laser pulse Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:01 PM PDT A research team has created the world's shortest laser pulse and in the process may have given scientists a new tool to watch quantum mechanics in action -- something that has been hidden from view until now.

Waste silicon gets new life in lithium-ion batteries Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a way to make flexible components for rechargeable lithium-ion (LI) batteries from discarded silicon.

Pretreatment PET/CT imaging of lymph nodes predicts recurrence in breast cancer patients Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT Disease-free survival for invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) patients may be easier to predict with the help of F-18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans, according to researchers. New data show that high maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of F-18-FDG in the lymph nodes prior to treatment could be an independent indicator of disease recurrence.

Realizing the promise of RNA nanotechnology for new drug development Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:48 AM PDT The use of RNA in nanotechnology applications is highly promising for many applications, including the development of new therapeutic compounds. Key technical challenges remain, though, and the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of RNA molecules in nanotechnology approaches are presented in a review article.

Gardener's delight offers glimpse into the evolution of flowering plants Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:48 AM PDT Double flowers -- though beautiful -- are mutants. Biologists have found the class of genes responsible in a plant lineage more ancient than the one previously studied, offering a glimpse even further back into the evolutionary development of flowers.

Every atom counts in graphene formation: Nanoreactor theory could advance quality of material’s growth Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT Researchers detail the atom-by-atom energies at play in the chemical vapor deposition process of creating graphene.

Syrian obsidian discovery opens new chapter in Middle Eastern studies Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:53 AM PDT An archaeologist has revealed the origin and trading routes of razor-sharp stone tools 4,200 years ago in Syria.

Reduced brain connections seen in people with generalized anxiety disorder Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:48 AM PDT A new imaging study shows the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have weaker connections between a brain structure that controls emotional response and the amygdala, which suggests the brain's "panic button" may stay on due to lack of regulation.

Experts propose 'cyber war' on cancer: Universities aim to break cancer's codes for social networking Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Mounting evidence of intricate social cooperation among cancer cells has led researchers to suggest a new strategy for outsmarting cancer through its own social intelligence. The researchers call for a "cyber war" to co-opt the communications systems that allow cancer cells to work together to sense danger and avoid attacks by the immune system and chemotherapy drugs.

Simple tool may help inexperienced psychiatrists better predict violence risk in patients Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Inexperienced psychiatrists are less likely than their veteran peers to accurately predict violence by their patients, but a simple assessment checklist might help bridge that accuracy gap, according to new research.

New Danish fungal species discovered Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT A new fungal species, called "Hebelomagriseopruinatum," has now officially been included in the list of species. The fungus, whose name can be translated into "the gray-dewy tear leaf," was discovered on Zealand in Denmark during a mushroom-hunting tour.

Hormone therapy for fruit flies means better pest control Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Released en masse, sterile Mexican fruit flies can undermine a wild population of the fruit-damaging pests so that fewer applications of insecticide are needed. But the irradiation used to sterilize the flies weakens them, hindering their ability to outcompete wild-type males for female mates. Now, scientists have devised a hormone therapy for making sterile flies "more macho," improving their chances of mating with female flies before their wild rivals do.

Using magnetism to understand superconductivity Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:17 AM PDT Research in atomic scale magnetism could play a role in the development of new materials that could permit lossless electricity transmission.

Potential drug discovered for deadly brain cancer Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT Scientists in Singapore have identified a biomarker of the most lethal form of brain tumors in adults -- glioblastoma multiforme. The scientists found that by targeting this biomarker and depleting it with a potential drug, they were able to prevent the progression and relapse of the brain tumor.

Ovarian cancer cells hijack surrounding tissues to enhance tumor growth Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that ovarian cancer cells activate the HOXA9 gene to compel stromal cells to create an environment that supports tumor growth.

Canada should remove section of Criminal Code that permits physical punishment of children, expert argues Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT To promote good parenting, Canada should remove section 43 of its Criminal Code because it sends the wrong message that using physical punishment to discipline children is acceptable, argues Dr. John Fletcher, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Medical Association Journal, in an editorial.

PharmaNet system dramatically reduced inappropriate prescriptions of potentially addictive drugs Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:14 AM PDT A centralized prescription network providing real-time information to pharmacists in British Columbia, Canada, resulted in dramatic reductions in inappropriate prescriptions for opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines, widely used and potentially addictive drugs.

New gene variants raise risk of neuroblastoma, influence tumor progression Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT Researchers have discovered two gene variants that raise the risk of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma, as well as contributing to a tumor's progression. The findings may suggest future targets for new therapies.

New genetic clues to why most bone marrow transplant patients develop graft-versus-host disease Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A team of scientists has shed new light on why most bone marrow transplant patients who receive tissue-matched cells from unrelated donors still suffer acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The answer appears to lie in the discovery of previously undetected genetic differences in the DNA of patients and unrelated marrow donors.

Shark rules need teeth, groups tell IUCN Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT The Wildlife Conservation Society and over 35 government agency and NGO partners participating in IUCN's World Conservation Congress this week are urging the world's governments to take urgent steps to save the world's sharks and rays from the relentless pressure of over-fishing for international trade.

Some evidence for 'chemo brain' in breast cancer survivors, large review finds Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A large meta-analysis has concluded that breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for mild cognitive deficits after treatment. The meta-analysis found that study participants on average had mild impairments in verbal abilities (such as difficulty choosing words) and visuospatial abilities (such as getting lost more easily). The study noted that cognitive functioning varies across survivors, with some reporting no impairments and others reporting more severe or pervasive deficits.

Spinach power gets a big boost: Reseachers combine spinach protein with silicon to make biohybrid solar cell Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT Spinach power has just gotten a big boost. Researchers have combined the photosynthetic protein that converts light into electrochemical energy in spinach with silicon, the material used in solar cells, in a fashion that produces substantially more electrical current than has been reported by previous "biohybrid" solar cells.

Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT A new study looks at an important RNA binding protein called LIN28, which is implicated in pluripotency and reprogramming as well as in cancer and other diseases.

Genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:18 AM PDT Singapore scientists have identified three new genes associated with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), a leading cause of blindness in Chinese people. PACG affects 15 million people worldwide, 80 percent of whom live in Asia.

Deadly witch hunts targeted by grassroots women's groups Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:18 AM PDT Witch hunts are common and sometimes deadly in the tea plantations of Jalpaiguri, India. But a surprising source -- small groups of women who meet through a government loan program -- has achieved some success in preventing the longstanding practice, a sociologist found.

Reducing pressure on children to eat may help prevent obesity Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:06 AM PDT An educational program for parents helps to reduce pressure on children to eat—which may reduce the child's risk of obesity, according to a new study.

Bees, fruits and money: Decline of pollinators will have severe impact on nature and humankind Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:11 AM PDT Globally we are witnessing a decline in pollinators, such as wild bees, honeybees and hover flies, caused by the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, agricultural intensification and use of pesticides, introduction of novel diseases and competing alien species, and climate change. The combined impacts of these drivers will accelerate the loss of pollinator diversity and potentially disrupt plant-pollinator interactions.

Australian shipping emissions identified Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:11 AM PDT Ship engine exhaust emissions make up more than a quarter of nitrogen oxide emissions generated in the Australian region according to a recently published study. Nitrogen oxide is a non-greenhouse gas, unlike similarly named nitrous oxide.

Increase in respiratory symptoms following volcanic eruption Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:08 AM PDT Exposure to volcanic ash can increase respiratory symptoms such as an extreme cough, or phlegm, according to a new study.

Smoking and natural disasters: Christchurch residents increase tobacco consumption post-earthquake Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:08 AM PDT The prevalence of smoking in Christchurch, New Zealand, increased following the 2010 earthquake, according to a new study.

Swallowed magnets in children need quick evaluation and treatment Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:08 AM PDT Children who swallow powerful neodymium magnets are at risk of serious complications, requiring emergency evaluation and possible treatment. That's the message of a new clinical algorithm published in the September issue of The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

How language change sneaks in Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:04 AM PDT Languages are continually changing, not just words but also grammar. A recent study examines how such changes happen and what the changes can tell us about how speakers' grammars work.

You are subscribed to email updates from ScienceDaily: Latest Science News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610