ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Stopping dengue fever with bacteria and math
• Giant claw helps fiddler crabs stay cool in more ways than one
• Geometry of sex: How body size could lead to new species
• Chickens eject sperm from males they don't fancy
• Friend and foe: Nitrogen pollution's little-known environmental and human health threats
• Tackling mysteries about carbon, possible oil formation and more deep inside Earth
• Filling the pantry for the first voyages to the Red Planet
• NASA satellite shows a mean Irene's fury
• In cell culture, like real estate, the neighborhood matters
• Controlling cells' environments: A step toward building much-needed tissues and organs
• Research from Everest: Can leucine help burn fat and spare muscle tissue during exercise?
• Nano-thermometers show first temperature response differences within living cells
• Hollywood screenwriters and scientists: More than an artistic collaboration
• Sutureless method for joining blood vessels invented
• New roles emerge for non-coding RNAs in directing embryonic development
• Clinical importance of leukemia stem cells validated by new study
• Genome of mesopolyploid crop Brassica rapa sheds new light on the study of genome evolution
• Arabidopsis: Thanks to its flexible genome, the plant can adapt to various environmental conditions
• New genome sequence could improve important agricultural crops
• Meiosis: Oocytes have intracellular stream to push chromosomes off center for cell division
• Genetic link to mesothelioma discovered
• Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes: New way to target shape-shifting proteins
• Six new genetic variants linked to type 2 diabetes discovered in South Asians
• Free radicals crucial to suppressing appetite
• First nuclear power plants for settlements on the moon and Mars
• New skin test determines age of wild animals to help control nuisance animals
• Remedies for science's shortage of superheroes
• Apixaban superior to warfarin for preventing stroke, reducing bleeding and saving lives, research suggests
• Patients are living longer with ICDs, but pacing impacts survival rates
• Statins reduce deaths from infection and respiratory illness, data eight years on from trial suggests
• Laughter has positive impact on vascular function
• Prevention gaps in 17 low, middle and high income countries involving over 150,000 people
• Prospective evaluation of post-prandial triglycerides and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease
• Efficacy and safety of apixaban compared to warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism
• Colchicine proves 'safe and effective' in the prevention of recurrent pericarditis, trial finds
• Mitraclip therapy demonstrates benefits for heart failure patients who do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Impact of clinical and echocardiographic response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on long-term survival
• Worse postoperative outcomes for critically ill patients bridged to urgent heart transplantation with VADs than with conventional therapy, study suggests
• Inhibition of microRNAs can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels

Stopping dengue fever with bacteria and math Posted: 28 Aug 2011 06:08 PM PDT It may be possible to eliminate the deadly dengue fever by infecting mosquitoes with a bacterium called Wolbachia that prevents the mosquitoes from transmitting the dengue virus to humans. A new mathematical model may be helpful in getting the bacteria established in mosquito populations.

Giant claw helps fiddler crabs stay cool in more ways than one Posted: 28 Aug 2011 06:07 PM PDT A male fiddler crab's oversized claw not only looks cool to the ladies, but new research suggests it literally helps crabs to stay cool. Researchers placed crabs under a hot light and took their temperatures. They found that the temperatures of crabs missing their large claw rose faster and reached a higher maximum than intact crabs.

Geometry of sex: How body size could lead to new species Posted: 28 Aug 2011 06:06 PM PDT Different species of scincid lizards, commonly known as skinks, rarely interbreed, but it's not for lack of trying. According to new research, different species of skinks in western North America will often try to mate with each other when given the opportunity, but mechanical difficulties caused by differing body sizes can cause these encounters to fail.

Chickens eject sperm from males they don't fancy Posted: 28 Aug 2011 06:05 PM PDT New research finds that even though hens aren't terribly picky about their mates, they are picky about whose sperm makes it to the egg. Female domestic chickens generally mate with multiple males and are known to sometimes eject sperm following mating encounters. It was unclear, however, whether the sperm ejection was a consequence of receiving a large amount of ejaculate, or because hens are actively trying to rid themselves of undesirable sperm.

Friend and foe: Nitrogen pollution's little-known environmental and human health threats Posted: 28 Aug 2011 05:55 PM PDT Billions of people owe their lives to nitrogen fertilizers -- a pillar of the fabled Green Revolution in agriculture that averted global famine in the 20th century -- but few are aware that nitrogen pollution from fertilizers and other sources has become a major environmental problem that threatens human health and welfare in multiple ways, a scientist reports.

Tackling mysteries about carbon, possible oil formation and more deep inside Earth Posted: 28 Aug 2011 04:26 PM PDT How do diamonds the size of potatoes shoot up at 40 miles per hour from their birthplace 100 miles below Earth's surface? Is there more oil and natural gas than anyone dreams from a source other than fossilized plants and animals?

Filling the pantry for the first voyages to the Red Planet Posted: 28 Aug 2011 04:26 PM PDT A green thumb and a little flair as a gourmet chef may be among the key skills for the first men and women who travel to the Red Planet later this century, according to one scientist.

NASA satellite shows a mean Irene's fury Posted: 28 Aug 2011 04:14 PM PDT After pounding North Carolina and Virginia on Aug. 27, Hurricane Irene made a second landfall near Little Egg Inlet, N.J., early Sunday morning, Aug. 28, still as a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kilometers per hour). It then weakened slightly before making a third landfall over Coney Island, N.Y. as a 65-mph (100-kilometer-per-hour) tropical storm. Irene's heavy rains, winds and storm surge are causing widespread problems throughout the U.S. mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

In cell culture, like real estate, the neighborhood matters Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:12 PM PDT Ever since scientists first began growing human cells in lab dishes in 1952, they have focused on improving the chemical soup that feeds the cells and helps regulate their growth. But surfaces also matter, research shows.

Controlling cells' environments: A step toward building much-needed tissues and organs Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:12 PM PDT With stem cells so fickle and indecisive that they make Shakespeare's Hamlet pale by comparison, scientists have described an advance in encouraging stem cells to make decisions about their fate. The technology for doing so is an advance toward using stem cells in "regenerative medicine" -- to grow from scratch organs for transplants and tissues for treating diseases.

Research from Everest: Can leucine help burn fat and spare muscle tissue during exercise? Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:12 PM PDT Research on Mt. Everest climbers is adding to the evidence that an amino acid called leucine -- found in foods, dietary supplements, energy bars and other products -- may help people burn fat during periods of food restriction, such as climbing at high altitude, while keeping their muscle tissue.

Nano-thermometers show first temperature response differences within living cells Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:12 PM PDT Using a modern version of open-wide-and-keep-this-under-your-tongue, scientists today reported taking the temperature of individual cells in the human body, and finding for the first time that temperatures inside do not adhere to the familiar 98.6 degree Fahrenheit norm.

Hollywood screenwriters and scientists: More than an artistic collaboration Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:12 PM PDT In this International Year of Chemistry (IYC), writers and producers for the most popular crime and science-related television shows and movies are putting out an all-points bulletin for scientists to advise them on the accuracy of their plots and to even give them story ideas.

Sutureless method for joining blood vessels invented Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:10 AM PDT Reconnecting severed blood vessels is mostly done the same way today -- with sutures -- as it was 100 years ago. Now, a team of researchers has developed a sutureless method that appears to be a faster, safer and easier alternative.

New roles emerge for non-coding RNAs in directing embryonic development Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:10 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a mysterious class of large RNAs plays a central role in embryonic development, contrary to the dogma that proteins alone are the master regulators of this process. The research reveals that these RNAs orchestrate the fate of embryonic stem cells by keeping them in their fledgling state or directing them along the path to cell specialization.

Clinical importance of leukemia stem cells validated by new study Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:10 AM PDT New research focuses on patients and shows that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) contains rare cells with stem cell properties, called leukemia stem cells (LSC), that are better at predicting clinical outcome than the majority of AML cells, showing for the first time that LSCs are significant not just in experimental models but also in patients.

Genome of mesopolyploid crop Brassica rapa sheds new light on the study of genome evolution Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:10 AM PDT An international team of researchers comprising the Brassica rapa Genome Sequencing Project Consortium has completed the genome sequence and analysis of the mesopolyploid crop B. rapa, a Chinese cabbage.

Arabidopsis: Thanks to its flexible genome, the plant can adapt to various environmental conditions Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT The plant Arabidopsis thaliana is found throughout the entire northern hemisphere. But how does this small, inconspicuous plant deal with all these different extremes of environmental conditions? In order to discover the whole-genome sequence variation, the 1001 Genomes Project was launched in 2008. Researchers have now found that the Arabidopsis plant can adapt to various environmental conditions because of a very flexible genome.

New genome sequence could improve important agricultural crops Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of a Chinese cabbage variety of a plant called Brassica rapa, a close relative of oilseed rape. The research could help improve the efficiency of oilseed rape breeding, as well as that of a host of other important food and oil crops.

Meiosis: Oocytes have intracellular stream to push chromosomes off center for cell division Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT Most cells rely on structural tethers to position chromosomes in preparation for cell division. Not so oocytes. Instead, a powerful intracellular stream pushes chromosomes far-off the center in preparation for the highly asymmetric cell division that completes oocyte maturation upon fertilization of the egg, report researchers.

Genetic link to mesothelioma discovered Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT Scientists have found that individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer -- mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Additionally, when these individuals are exposed to asbestos or similar mineral fibers, their risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen, is markedly increased.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes: New way to target shape-shifting proteins Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT A molecule which can stop the formation of long protein strands, known as amyloid fibrils, that cause joint pain in kidney dialysis patients has been identified. The discovery could lead to new methods to identify drugs to prevent, treat or halt the progression of other conditions in which amyloid fibrils play a part, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes.

Six new genetic variants linked to type 2 diabetes discovered in South Asians Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT Scientists have identified six new genetic variants associated with type-2 diabetes in South Asians.

Free radicals crucial to suppressing appetite Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT Obesity is growing at alarming rates worldwide, and the biggest culprit is overeating. In a study of brain circuits that control hunger and satiety, researchers have found that molecular mechanisms controlling free radicals -- molecules tied to aging and tissue damage -- are at the heart of increased appetite in diet-induced obesity.

First nuclear power plants for settlements on the moon and Mars Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT The first nuclear power plant being considered for production of electricity for manned or unmanned bases on the Moon, Mars and other planets may really look like it came from outer space, according to a leader of the project in a recent presentation.

New skin test determines age of wild animals to help control nuisance animals Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT A new skin test can determine the age of wild animals while they are still alive, providing information needed to control population explosions among nuisance animals, according to a new report.

Remedies for science's shortage of superheroes Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:09 AM PDT One of the most serious personnel shortages in the global science and engineering workforce -- numbering more than 20 million in the United States alone -- involves a scarcity of real-life versions of Superman, Superwoman and other superheroes and superheroines with charm, charisma, people skills and communication skills.

Apixaban superior to warfarin for preventing stroke, reducing bleeding and saving lives, research suggests Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:19 AM PDT A large-scale trial finds that apixaban, a new anticoagulant drug, is superior to the standard drug warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Moreover, apixaban results in substantially less bleeding and also results in lower mortality.

Patients are living longer with ICDs, but pacing impacts survival rates Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:19 AM PDT The adverse effect of right ventricular pacing on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patient survival is sustained long-term; however, the impact appears to be mitigated by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), based on new research.

Statins reduce deaths from infection and respiratory illness, data eight years on from trial suggests Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:19 AM PDT The death rate among patients prescribed a statin in a major trial that ended in 2003 is still lower than those given a placebo, even though most participants in both groups have been taking statins ever since.

Laughter has positive impact on vascular function Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT Watching a funny movie or sitcom that produces laughter has a positive effect on vascular function and is opposite to that observed after watching a movie that causes mental stress.

Prevention gaps in 17 low, middle and high income countries involving over 150,000 people Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT There is great under-use of proven therapies for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, according to results presented from the PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological) study.

Prospective evaluation of post-prandial triglycerides and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT The Homburg Cream and Sugar (HCS) study was designed to determine whether the measurement of postprandial triglyceride in addition to the assessment of glucose tolerance and traditional risk factors might improve the prediction of cardiovascular events.

Efficacy and safety of apixaban compared to warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:18 AM PDT A large-scale trial finds that apixaban, a new anticoagulant drug, is superior to the standard drug warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Moreover, apixaban results in substantially less bleeding, and also results in lower mortality. The benefits of apixaban are consistent irrespective of how well warfarin is used at different centers, as measure by "time in therapeutic range."

Colchicine proves 'safe and effective' in the prevention of recurrent pericarditis, trial finds Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:17 AM PDT Colchicine, when given in addition to conventional therapy, was more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of recurrence and the persistence of symptoms of pericarditis in a randomised controlled trial. This is the first time that the efficacy of colchicine in preventing recurrent episodes of pericarditis has been demonstrated in a double-blind multicentre randomised trial.

Mitraclip therapy demonstrates benefits for heart failure patients who do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:17 AM PDT Medical researchers demonstrate that the percutaneous catheter-based MitraClip treatment improves symptoms and promotes reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), who do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Impact of clinical and echocardiographic response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on long-term survival Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:17 AM PDT The echocardiographic response (reduction of left ventricular end-systolic volume) evaluated at 6 months follow-up, demonstrated to be a better predictor of long-term mortality than improvement in clinical status in a large population of CRT patients. Therefore, assessment of occurrence of left ventricular reverse remodeling at mid-term follow-up may be an adequate surrogate end point in heart failure patients treated with CRT.

Worse postoperative outcomes for critically ill patients bridged to urgent heart transplantation with VADs than with conventional therapy, study suggests Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:17 AM PDT Postoperative outcomes of severe heart failure patients bridged with short-term VADs to urgent (~ status UNOS 1A) heart transplantation are significantly worse than those of patients bridged with conventional support, recent data suggest.

Inhibition of microRNAs can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels Posted: 28 Aug 2011 07:17 AM PDT A specific inhibitor of the small regulatory RNA-molecule "microRNA-100" can be used to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, if a major artery is chronically occluded. In an animal model of peripheral artery disease, blood flow to the lower leg was significantly improved after treatment with the so-called "antagomir"-inhibitor.

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