ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Adult obesity rates could exceed 60 percent in 13 U.S. states by 2030, according to new study
• Mathematicians show how shallow water may help explain tsunami power
• Music underlies language acquisition, theorists propose
• Statins are unlikely to prevent blood clots, large analysis finds
• Food supplements have little effect on the weight of malnourished children
• Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death
• Nanoparticles detect biochemistry of inflammation
• Compound found in purple corn may aid in developing future treatments for type 2 diabetes, kidney disease
• Erroneous link between prostate cancer and retrovirus from mice confirmed: Contamination of XMRV in cancer tissue sample
• Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine
• Jesus's wife? Scholar announces existence of a new early Christian gospel from Egypt
• How life arose on Earth: Researchers brew up organics on ice
• New tool gives structural strength to 3-D printed works
• Engineering a better hip implant
• Pacifiers may have emotional consequences for boys
• University students design unique marine-tracking device
• Aldo Leopold's field notes score a lost 'soundscape'
• New research could provide new insights into tuberculosis and other diseases
• Least aggressive form of breast cancer still poses risk for death years later
• Rating HPV biomarkers in head, neck cancers
• Like a spring in a toy car: Catalysis mechanism of cell growth protein Ras clarified
• Dictionary completed on language used everyday in ancient Egypt
• Surprising demographic shifts in endangered monkey population challenge conservation expectations
• Sea surface temperatures reach record highs on Northeast continental shelf
• Lack of sleep affects bone health and bone marrow activity
• Oral bacteria may signal pancreatic cancer risk
• Protection for humans on Mars
• Women speak less when they're outnumbered
• Quasars: Mileposts marking the universe's expansion
• High durability of nanotube transistors in harsh space environment demonstrated
• Neurodegenerative diseases: New findings on protein misfolding
• Obesity is major contributor to heart disease, impediment to diagnosis and treatment
• Longer exercise provides added benefit to children's health
• Body fat location may determine type 2 diabetes risk for obese patients
• Disability caused by traumatic brain injury in children may persist and stop improving after two years
• Brain neurons and diet influence onset of obesity and diabetes in mice
• App lets you monitor lung health using only a smartphone
• Comet may have exploded over Canada 12,900 years ago after all
• Early menopause associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, study suggests
• Higher levels of BPA in children and teens significantly associated with obesity
• Global warming: Evolutionary straitjacket means flies can't take the heat
• Alzheimer's breaks brain networks' coordination
• Tasered youth fare as well as adults, study finds
• Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to suspect viruses; Study puts to rest notion that XMRV or pMLV cause the mysterious ailment
• Crews uncover massive Roman mosaic in southern Turkey
• New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures
• University students put off-the-shelf helicopters to work
• Cancer and chronic disease causes almost half of gradual deaths in Europe
• Millions of Europeans still at risk from high trans fatty acid content in popular foods

Adult obesity rates could exceed 60 percent in 13 U.S. states by 2030, according to new study Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:09 PM PDT The number of obese adults, along with related disease rates and health care costs, are on course to increase dramatically in every state in the United States over the next 20 years, according to a new report.

Mathematicians show how shallow water may help explain tsunami power Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:57 PM PDT While wave watching is a favorite pastime of beach-goers, few notice what is happening in the shallowest water. A closer look by two applied mathematicians has led to the discovery of interacting X- and Y-shaped ocean waves that may help explain why some tsunamis are able to wreak so much havoc.

Music underlies language acquisition, theorists propose Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Contrary to the prevailing theories that music and language are cognitively separate or that music is a byproduct of language, theorists advocate that music underlies the ability to acquire language.

Statins are unlikely to prevent blood clots, large analysis finds Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Despite previous studies suggesting the contrary, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may not prevent blood clots (venous thrombo-embolism) in adults, according to a large analysis.

Food supplements have little effect on the weight of malnourished children Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:56 PM PDT Providing energy dense food supplements within a general household food distribution has little effect on the weight of children at risk of malnutrition, new research shows.

Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT Extreme temperatures during heat waves and cold spells may increase the risk of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) death, according to new research.

Nanoparticles detect biochemistry of inflammation Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:48 PM PDT Researchers have developed the first degradable polymer that is extremely sensitive to low but biologically relevant concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.

Compound found in purple corn may aid in developing future treatments for type 2 diabetes, kidney disease Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most serious complications related to diabetes, often leading to end-stage kidney disease. Purple corn grown in Peru and Chile is a relative of blue corn, which is readily available in the U.S. The maize is rich in anthocyanins (also known as flavonoids), which are reported to have anti-diabetic properties. Scientists investigated the cellular and molecular activity of purple corn anthocyanins (PCA) to determine whether and how it affects the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Their findings suggest that PCA inhibits multiple pathways involved in the development of DN, which may help in developing therapies aimed at type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Erroneous link between prostate cancer and retrovirus from mice confirmed: Contamination of XMRV in cancer tissue sample Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT A once-promising discovery linking prostate cancer to an obscure retrovirus derived from mice was the result of an inadvertent laboratory contamination, a forensic analysis of tissue samples and lab experiments -- some dating back nearly a decade -- has confirmed.

Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT Scientists have identified a unique molecular signature in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), "reprogrammed" cells that show great promise in regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to generate a range of body tissues.

Jesus's wife? Scholar announces existence of a new early Christian gospel from Egypt Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:36 PM PDT Four words on a previously unknown papyrus fragment provide the first evidence that some early Christians believed Jesus had been married, Harvard Professor Karen King told the 10th International Congress of Coptic Studies today.

How life arose on Earth: Researchers brew up organics on ice Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:22 PM PDT Would you like icy organics with that? Maybe not in your coffee, but researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are creating concoctions of organics, or carbon-bearing molecules, on ice in the lab, then zapping them with lasers. Their goal: to better understand how life arose on Earth.

New tool gives structural strength to 3-D printed works Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:44 PM PDT Objects created using 3-D printing have a common flaw: They are fragile and often fall apart or lose their shape. Now researchers have developed a program that automatically imparts strength to objects before they are printed.

Engineering a better hip implant Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Researchers have engineered a better design for hip implants for obese patients. The team learned that thigh size is a reason why hip implants fail, and why it contributes to an increased rate of failure for the morbidly obese.

Pacifiers may have emotional consequences for boys Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Pacifiers may stunt the emotional development of baby boys by robbing them of the opportunity to try on facial expressions during infancy.

University students design unique marine-tracking device Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Students from different disciplines came together to design a unique marine-tracking device. The device will collect data by being attached to a fish's tail. By using this technology, which can track up to 500 tail-movements per second, researchers hope to discover more about how a fish's movement relates to its behavior and growth rate.

Aldo Leopold's field notes score a lost 'soundscape' Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT Among his many qualities, the pioneering wildlife ecologist Aldo Leopold was a meticulous taker of field notes.

New research could provide new insights into tuberculosis and other diseases Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT Scientists have developed a method to directly detect bacterial protein secretion, which could provide new insights into a variety of diseases including tuberculosis.

Least aggressive form of breast cancer still poses risk for death years later Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT Women with the most common and least aggressive subtype of breast cancer were still at risk of death from the disease more than 10 years after diagnosis, according to a new study.

Rating HPV biomarkers in head, neck cancers Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:56 AM PDT A new study of head and neck cancers finds that combinations of biomarkers are better than DNA alone in determining whether the human papillomavirus is involved. That's important because people with HPV-caused cancers are likely to fare much better than people whose cancer came from causes like smoking. Reliably assessing HPV's presence could prevent overtreatment.

Like a spring in a toy car: Catalysis mechanism of cell growth protein Ras clarified Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT Proteins accelerate certain chemical reactions in cells by several orders of magnitude. The molecular mechanism by which the Ras protein accelerates the cleavage of the molecule GTP and thus slows cell growth is described by biophysicists. Using a combination of infrared spectroscopy and computer simulations, they showed that Ras puts a phosphate chain under tension to such an extent that a phosphate group can very easily detach -- the brake for cell growth. Mutated Ras is involved in tumor formation, because this reaction slows down and the brake for cell growth fails.

Dictionary completed on language used everyday in ancient Egypt Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT A dictionary of thousands of words chronicling the everyday lives of people in ancient Egypt -- including what taxes they paid, what they expected in a marriage and how much work they had to do for the government -- has been completed by scholars at the University of Chicago.

Surprising demographic shifts in endangered monkey population challenge conservation expectations Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:50 AM PDT At first glance, the northern muriqui monkey is a prime conservation success story. These Brazilian primates are critically endangered, but in the past 30 years a population on a private reserve has grown from just 60 individuals to some 300, now comprising almost a third of the total remaining animals. A recent analysis of the factors contributing to this population's tremendous growth reveals surprising trends that raise new questions about conservation, recovery and what constitutes a healthy population.

Sea surface temperatures reach record highs on Northeast continental shelf Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT During the first six months of 2012, sea surface temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem were the highest ever recorded. The annual 2012 spring plankton bloom was intense, started earlier and lasted longer than average. This has implications for marine life from the smallest creatures to the largest marine mammals like whales. Atlantic cod continued to shift northeastward from its historic distribution center.

Lack of sleep affects bone health and bone marrow activity Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT Scientists specializing in neurology, cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy have discovered abnormalities in bone and bone marrow in rats undergoing chronic lack of sleep. They discovered abnormalities in serum markers of bone metabolism in sleep-deprived rats, which led them to conduct direct measurements of bone parameters; this time in rats experiencing recurrent sleep restriction during a large portion of their young adulthood.

Oral bacteria may signal pancreatic cancer risk Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal and difficult to detect early. In a new study, researchers report that people who had high levels of antibodies for an infectious oral bacterium turned out to have double the risk for developing the cancer. High antibody levels for harmless oral bacteria, meanwhile, predicted a reduced pancreatic cancer risk.

Protection for humans on Mars Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT For six weeks NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been working on the Red Planet. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on Moon or Mars, the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer. Scientists are testing whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shieldings for ground stations.

Women speak less when they're outnumbered Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:12 AM PDT Scholars examined whether women speak less than men when a group collaborates to solve a problem. In most groups that they studied, the time that women spoke was significantly less than their proportional representation – amounting to less than 75 percent of the time that men spoke. The disparity vanished when groups followed a unanimous voting rule.

Quasars: Mileposts marking the universe's expansion Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:34 AM PDT Researchers have found a possible way to map the spread and structure of the universe, guided by the light of quasars. The technique, combined with the expected discovery of millions more far-away quasars over the next decade, could yield an unprecedented look back to a time shortly after the Big Bang, when the universe was a fraction the size it is today.

High durability of nanotube transistors in harsh space environment demonstrated Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:34 AM PDT Investigating the effects of prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation, researchers have demonstrated the ability of single walled carbon nanotube transistors to survive the harsh space environment.

Neurodegenerative diseases: New findings on protein misfolding Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT Misfolded proteins can cause various neurodegenerative diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxias or Huntington's disease, which are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Researchers have now identified 21 proteins that specifically bind to the protein ataxin-1. Twelve of these proteins enhance the misfolding of ataxin-1 and thus promote the formation of harmful protein aggregate structures.

Obesity is major contributor to heart disease, impediment to diagnosis and treatment Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Obesity is a major contributor to heart disease that substantially hinders the disease's proper diagnosis and treatment, says a cardiologist researching the impact of obesity and weight loss on the heart. With obese youth as the fastest-growing demographic group, the country's problem is only going to get worse, a preventive cardiologist says.

Longer exercise provides added benefit to children's health Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Twenty minutes of daily, vigorous physical activity over just three months can reduce a child's risk of diabetes as well as his total body fat -- including dangerous, deep abdominal fat -- but 40 minutes works even better, researchers report.

Body fat location may determine type 2 diabetes risk for obese patients Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Obese individuals with excess visceral fat (abdominal fat that surrounds the body's internal organs) have an increased risk for the development of Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Disability caused by traumatic brain injury in children may persist and stop improving after two years Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT A child who suffers a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may still have substantial functional disabilities and reduced quality of life 2 years after the injury. After those first 2 years, further improvement may be minimal.

Brain neurons and diet influence onset of obesity and diabetes in mice Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT The absence of a specific type of neuron in the brain can lead to obesity and diabetes in mice report researchers. The outcome, however, depends on the type of diet that the animals are fed.

App lets you monitor lung health using only a smartphone Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT Feeling wheezy? You could call the doctor. Or soon you could use your smartphone to diagnose your lung health, with a new app that uses the frequencies in the breath to determine how much and how fast you can exhale.

Comet may have exploded over Canada 12,900 years ago after all Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT New evidence and support for a theory introduced in 2007 suggested a comet may have exploded over Canada 12,900 years ago (the Younger Dryas Boundary), killing off the Clovis people and large animals and sending the earth back into an ice age. It refutes a study in 2009 that failed to replicate the findings of the 2007 study. The key findings in this new study resulted from sampling done at an archaeological site known as Topper.

Early menopause associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, study suggests Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT Women who go into early menopause are twice as likely to suffer from coronary heart disease and stroke, new Jresearch suggests. The association holds true in patients from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds, the study found, and is independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, the scientists say.

Higher levels of BPA in children and teens significantly associated with obesity Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have revealed a significant association between obesity and children and adolescents with higher concentrations of urinary bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from sippy cups and baby bottles. Still, the chemical continues to be used in aluminum cans, such as those containing soda.

Global warming: Evolutionary straitjacket means flies can't take the heat Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:08 AM PDT Many species of fruit fly lack the ability to adapt effectively to predicted increases in global temperatures and may face extinction in the near future, according to new research.

Alzheimer's breaks brain networks' coordination Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:08 AM PDT Scientists have taken one of the first detailed looks into how Alzheimer's disease disrupts coordination among several of the brain's networks. The results include some of the earliest assessments of Alzheimer's effects on networks that are active when the brain is at rest.

Tasered youth fare as well as adults, study finds Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:53 AM PDT Adolescents who are tasered by law enforcement officers do not appear to be at higher risk for serious injury than adults, according to new a new study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to suspect viruses; Study puts to rest notion that XMRV or pMLV cause the mysterious ailment Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT The causes of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have long eluded scientists. Since investigations by several laboratories have been unable to detect XMRV or pMLV in CFS patients, researchers collaborated on a study to resolve this issue. Findings show no evidence of the xenotropic murine leukemia virus (XMRV) or polytropic MLV in samples from the recruited CFS control subjects.

Crews uncover massive Roman mosaic in southern Turkey Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:39 AM PDT An archaeological team has uncovered a massive Roman mosaic in southern Turkey -- a meticulously crafted, 1,600-square-foot work of decorative handiwork built during the region's imperial zenith. It's believed to be the largest mosaic of its type in the region and demonstrates the reach and cultural influence of the Roman Empire in the area in the third and fourth centuries A.D.

New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:34 AM PDT An international study has identified a special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength. The gene can be used as a risk marker for fractures and opens up opportunities for preventive medicine against fractures.

University students put off-the-shelf helicopters to work Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:56 AM PDT Students are working to develop micro-UAVs that could provide low-cost surveillance while enhancing the variety of uses for these UAVs.

Cancer and chronic disease causes almost half of gradual deaths in Europe Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:28 PM PDT Cancer and chronic disease account for almost half of gradual deaths in European Union countries, suggests new research.

Millions of Europeans still at risk from high trans fatty acid content in popular foods Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:28 PM PDT The heart health of millions of Europeans is still at risk because of the persistently high trans fatty acid content of certain fast and convenience foods, indicates new research.

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