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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Gun violence prevention experts call for more physician involvement

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:20 PM PST

A new commentary calls for more physician engagement in the current gun policy dialogue.

TB infection rates set to 'turn clock back to 1930s'

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:20 PM PST

Tuberculosis looks set to defy concerted efforts to treat it successfully with powerful drugs, turning the clock back to the 1930s, warn experts.

Scientists confirm original tetrahedral model of molecular structure of water

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:20 PM PST

Researchers have confirmed the original model of the molecular structure of water and have thus made it possible to resolve a long-standing scientific controversy about the structure of liquid water. The tetrahedral model was first postulated nearly 100 years ago and it assumes that every water molecule forms a so-called hydrogen bond with four adjacent molecules. This concept was almost toppled in 2004 when an international research group announced that it had experimentally established that water molecules form bonds only with two other molecules.

Drinking may improve ability to detect changes

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:20 PM PST

Moderate intoxication may help a person notice minor changes in a visual scene, researchers have found.

Newly identified natural protein blocks HIV, other viruses

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:19 PM PST

Researchers have identified a protein with broad virus-fighting properties that could be used as a weapon against deadly human pathogenic viruses such as HIV, Ebola, and others designated "priority pathogens" for national biosecurity purposes.

Combining synthetic, natural toxins could disarm cancer, drug-resistant bacteria

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:24 PM PST

Scientists are suggesting a new "combinatorial approach" to fight both drug-resistant bacteria and cancer. Scientists propose using drug cocktails that contain both synthetic drug molecules and their nature-made counterparts. The synthetic drugs have a corkscrew-shaped "counterclockwise" twist not found in nature. The team suggests combining them with clockwise-shaped toxins for maximum effect.

Virtual vehicle vibrations: Predicting role of posture in traffic collision injuries

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:24 PM PST

A researcher has designed a computer program that allows engineers to accurately predict the role posture plays in transferring the stress of vehicle motion to bone and muscle in the head and neck.

Deep genomic analysis identifies a micro RNA opponent for ovarian cancer

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

Researchers employed an extensive analysis of genomic information to identify a new, high-risk cohort of ovarian cancer patients, characterize their tumors, find a potential treatment and test it in mouse models of the disease.

Vascular brain injury greater risk factor than amyloid plaques in cognitive aging

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

Vascular brain injury from conditions such as high blood pressure and stroke are greater risk factors for cognitive impairment among non-demented older people than is the deposition of the amyloid plaques in the brain that long have been implicated in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found.

Isotope patterns in ancient volcanic sulfur tell which global cooling episodes were caused by volcanic eruptions

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

Volcanoes are well known for cooling the climate. But just how much and when has been a bone of contention among historians, glaciologists and archeologists. Now a team of atmosphere chemists has come up with a way to say for sure which historic episodes of global cooling were caused by volcanic eruptions.

Stem cell discovery gives insight into motor neuron disease

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

A discovery using stem cells from a patient with motor neuron disease could help research into treatments for the condition. The study used a patient's skin cells to create motor neurons - nerve cells that control muscle activity - and the cells that support them called astrocytes.

New strategy for interfering with potent cancer-causing gene

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

About five-ten percent of cases of acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer that is currently incurable in 70 percent of patients, are characterized by the rearrangement of a gene called MLL (Mixed-Lineage Leukemia). Medical researchers have identified a protein, RNF20, involved in DNA packaging that is essential for MLL-rearranged leukemia and thus presents an attractive therapeutic target.

Online songwriters seek collaborators with complementary skills

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:23 PM PST

A musical collaboration, be it Rodgers and Hammerstein or Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, requires a mix of shared and complementary traits that is not always obvious. Researchers discovered elements of this unique chemistry by using an automated technique to analyze an online songwriting community.

Potential treatment prevents damage from prolonged seizures

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

Researchers have found a new anti-inflammatory compound that can reduce mortality when given to mice after drug-induced seizures. Researchers are hopeful the compound could be administered after acute status epilepticus to reduce damage to the brain.

Unchecked antibiotic use in animals may affect global human health

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

The increasing production and use of antibiotics, about half of which is used in animal production, is mirrored by the growing number of antibiotic resistance genes, or ARGs, effectively reducing antibiotics' ability to fend off diseases -- in animals and humans.

Computerized 'Rosetta Stone' reconstructs ancient languages

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

Researchers have used a sophisticated new computer system to quickly reconstruct protolanguages -- the rudimentary ancient tongues from which modern languages evolved.

Vitamin D potency varies widely in dietary supplements, analysis finds

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

Vitamin D supplement potency varies widely, and the amount of vitamin D in over-the counter and compounded supplements does not necessarily match the amount listed on the label, according to a new research.

Mouse models fail to reproduce inflammatory genomic response to serious injuries

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

Existing mouse models do not appear to accurately reproduce the human genomic response to serious traumatic injury, including major burns, according to a new article. The report from a national consortium investigating the role of inflammation in the body's response to injury finds little correlation between the human response to burns, trauma or a bacterial toxin and that of currently used mouse models for those conditions.

Gene today, gone tomorrow: Genes for autism and schizophrenia only active in developing brains

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

Genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are only switched on during the early stages of brain development, according to a new study in mice. This new study adds to the evidence that autism and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders, a term describing conditions that originate during early brain development.

Sunlight stimulates release of climate-warming gas from melting Arctic permafrost

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST

Ancient carbon trapped in Arctic permafrost is extremely sensitive to sunlight and, if exposed to the surface when long-frozen soils melt and collapse, can release climate-warming carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere much faster than previously thought.

Making homemade guns on a 3-D printer becomes real, so engineering expert suggests stronger laws on gunpowder

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST

Making homemade guns on a 3-D printer becomes real, so engineering expert suggests stronger laws on gunpowder.

ADHD symptoms persist for most young children despite treatment

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST

Nine out of 10 young children with moderate to severe attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continue to experience serious, often severe symptoms and impairment long after their original diagnoses and, in many cases, despite treatment, according to a federally funded multi-center study.

NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission: New Earth observation satellite launched

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 01:08 PM PST

NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) roared into space at 1:02 p.m. EST (10:02 a.m. PST) Monday aboard an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The spacecraft carries two instruments, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS). The measurements will be compatible with data from past Landsat satellites, but the LDCM instruments use advanced technology to improve reliability, sensitivity, and data quality.

New details on molecular machinery of cancer

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:07 PM PST

New details into the activation of a cell surface protein that has been strongly linked to a large number of cancers and is a major target of cancer therapies have been reported by Berkeley Lab researchers.

Possible genetic clues to organ development, birth defects

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:07 PM PST

Using cutting-edge time-lapse photography, researchers have discovered clues to the development of the head at the cellular level, which could point scientists to a better understanding of how organs and birth defects form in humans.

Lack of energy an enemy to antibiotic-resistant microbes

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:07 PM PST

Researchers "cured" a strain of bacteria of its ability to resist an antibiotic in an experiment that has implications for a long-standing public health crisis.

Increase in dance-related injuries in children and adolescents

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:07 PM PST

A new study examined dance-related injuries among children and adolescents 3 to 19 years of age from 1991 to 2007.

Reducing sodium in U.S. may save hundreds of thousands of lives over 10 years

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 12:07 PM PST

Less sodium in the U.S. diet could save 280,000 to 500,000 lives over 10 years, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.

Large, ancient landslides delivered preferred upstream habitats for coho salmon

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

A study of the Umpqua River basin in the Oregon Coast Range helps explain natural processes behind the width of valleys and provides potentially useful details for river restoration efforts designed to improve habitats for coho salmon.

How you treat others may depend on whether you're single or attached

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

With Valentine's Day looming, many married couples will wish marital bliss for their single friends. At the same time, many singles will pity their coupled friends' loss of freedom. People like to believe that their way of life -- whether single or coupled -- is the best for everyone, especially if they think their relationship status is unlikely to change, according to a new study.

Security risks of extreme weather and climate change

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

A new study, conducted specifically to explore the forces driving extreme weather events and their implications for national security planning over the next decade, finds that the early ramifications of climate extremes resulting from climate change are already upon us and will continue to be felt over the next decade, directly impacting US national security interests.

Visualizing biological networks in 4-D: Unique microscope captures motion of DNA structures

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

Every great structure depends on specific mechanical properties to remain strong and reliable. Rigidity is of particular importance for maintaining the robust functionality of everything from colossal edifices to the tiniest of nanoscale structures. In biological nanostructures, like DNA networks, it has been difficult to measure this stiffness, which is essential to their properties and functions. But scientists now have developed techniques for visualizing the behavior of biological nanostructures in both space and time.

'Achilles' heel' for lymphoid leukemia identified

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

Scientists have found a possible alternative treatment for lymphoid leukemia. They discovered a molecule that represents the disease's "Achilles' heel" and could be targeted to develop a new approach that would reduce the adverse effects of current treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Noisy classroom simulation aids comprehension in hearing-impaired children

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

Training the brain to filter out background noise and thus understand spoken words could help the academic performance and quality of life for children who struggle to hear, but there's been little evidence that such noise training works in youngsters. A new report showed about a 50 percent increase in speech comprehension in background noise when children with hearing impairments followed a three-week auditory training regimen.

Tree die-off triggered by hotter temperatures

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

Scientists have determined that the recent widespread die-off of Colorado trembling aspen trees is a direct result of decreased precipitation exacerbated by high summer temperatures. The die-off, triggered by the drought from 2000-2003, is estimated to have affected up to 17 percent of Colorado aspen forests.

Artificial atoms allow for magnetic resonance on individual cells: Technique for MRIs on molecular scale

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:50 AM PST

Researchers have developed a technique similar to the MRI but has higher resolution and sensitivity, which has the ability to scan individual cells.

Bisphenol A affects sex-specific reproductive behaviors in a monogamous animal species

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:49 AM PST

A series of experiments studied the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A on later reproductive-associated behaviors using a socially and genetically monogamous rodent, the California mouse, which may better mirror most human societies than other rodents.

Researchers strain to improve electrical material and it's worth it

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:49 AM PST

Like turning coal to diamond, adding pressure to an electrical material enhances its properties. Now researchers have devised a method of making ferroelectric thin films with twice the strain, resulting in exceptional performance. The researchers created graded films by gradually shifting the composition of PZT. The large strain gives the films a built-in electric field, opening the door for new applications.

High prevalence of drug-resistant MRSA found in nursing homes

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:49 AM PST

While most infection control measures are focused on hospitals, a new study points to the need for more targeted interventions to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bugs in nursing homes as community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are on the rise in these facilities.

Large study shows substance abuse rates higher in teenagers with ADHD

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST

A new study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse and cigarette use by adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) histories than in those without ADHD. Researchers also found that, contrary to previous findings, current medications for ADHD do not counter the risk for substance abuse or substance abuse disorder.

Is lead poisoning behind some juvenile crime?

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST

Six percent of all children ages one to two years and 11 percent of African-American (non-Hispanic) children ages one to five years have blood lead levels in the toxic range in the area a lead poisoning.

Infant gut microbiota influenced by cesarean section and breastfeeding practices; may impact long-term health

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST

Method of birth and feeding practices influence the development of gut bacteria in newborns and thus may affect lifelong health, according to a new study.

One disease, two mechanisms: genetic root to early-onset prostate cancer identified

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST

While prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly Western men it also, but more rarely, strikes patients aged between 35 and 50. Scientists have discovered that such early-onset prostate cancers are triggered by a different mechanism from that which causes the disease at a later age. Their findings might have important consequences for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in younger patients.

Underage youth drinking concentrated among small number of brands

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST

First national survey examining brand preferences among underage youth.

2012 U. S. Shark attacks highest since 2000

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST

Shark attacks in the U.S. reached a decade high in 2012, while worldwide fatalities remained average, according to a new report.

Dark chocolate and red wine the food of love and health

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST

Valentine's Day staples of dark chocolate and red wine fuel the heart with love and health year 'round, says a dietitian. Catechins and resveratrol are just a few of the nutritional properties that make chocolate and red wine "diet foods" within moderation.

Mouse model improves understanding of clear cell sarcoma

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST

Geneticists have engineered mice that develop clear cell sarcoma (CCS), a significant step in better understanding how this rare and deadly soft tissue cancer arises.

Studying bed bug actions for new management tactics

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:10 AM PST

Learning more about the behavior of bed bugs is one approach being used by scientists to identify compounds to help control these pests. The resurgence of bed bugs over the last decade has caused problems in major US cities where they infest homes, apartments, hotels, shelters and even places of work.

Invisible tool enables new quantum experiments

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 08:10 AM PST

Physicists have now succeeded in constructing a novel matter wave interferometer which enables new quantum studies with a broad class of particles, including atoms, molecules and nanoparticles. These lumps of matter are exposed to three pulsed laser light gratings which are invisible to the human eye, exist only for a billionth of a second and never simultaneously.

Humans and robots work better together following cross-training; Swapping of roles improves efficiency

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:45 AM PST

Spending a day in someone else's shoes can help us to learn what makes them tick. Now the same approach is being used to develop a better understanding between humans and robots, to enable them to work together as a team.

Cell circuits remember their history: Engineers design new synthetic biology circuits that combine memory and logic

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:40 AM PST

Engineers have created genetic circuits in bacterial cells that not only perform logic functions, but also remember the results, which are encoded in the cell's DNA and passed on for dozens of generations.

Can simple measures of labile soil organic matter predict corn performance?

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Researchers are characterizing simple, cheap measurements of labile soil organic matter that could predict the performance of corn crops and help farmers optimize their cropping systems.

How blood vessels regroup after stroke

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Scientists have simulated "robot" cells to study the development of the microvascular systems in the brain. The goal is to find a way to direct the development of vessels that feed oxygen-starved cells in stroke and neurodegenerative disease patients.

Community health workers help type 2 diabetes care

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Researchers who conducted a clinical trial in American Samoa to test whether community health workers could help adults with type 2 diabetes found that the patients who received the intervention were twice as likely to make a clinically meaningful improvement as those who remained with care only in the clinic.

Online or off, bullying proves harmful

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Children who are bullied online or by mobile phone are just as likely to skip school or consider suicide as kids who are physically bullied, according to a study led by a criminologist.

Asian needle ants displacing other aggressive invaders

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Researchers have found that one of the most aggressive invasive ant species in the United States -- the Argentine ant -- appears to have met its match in the Asian needle ant. Specifically, the researchers have found that the Asian needle ant is successfully displacing Argentine ants in an urban environment, indicating that the Asian needle ant -- with its venomous sting -- may be the next invasive species to see a population boom.

'Laborist' obstetrical care improves pregnancy outcomes

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Shifting from traditional model of obstetrical care to laborist model improves pregnancy outcomes.

Caloric restriction, exercise help prevent weight gain, other complications in obese women

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST

Exercise, lifestyle changes can prevent excessive weight gain in obese pregnant women, help avoid preterm delivery, hypertension, gestational diabetes.

Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac symptoms have 31 percent incidence of cardiac dysfunction

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:22 AM PST

Women with obstructive sleep apnea and cardiac symptoms have a 31 percent incidence of cardiac dysfunction.

Abnormal brain development in fetuses of obese women

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:22 AM PST

Researchers have found that fetuses of obese women had differences in gene expression as early as the second trimester, compared to fetuses of women who were a healthy weight.. Of particular note were patterns of gene expression suggestive of abnormal brain development in fetuses of obese women.

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