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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


NASA investigating the life of Comet ISON

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST

After several days of continued observations, scientists continue to work to determine and to understand the fate of Comet ISON: There's no doubt that the comet shrank in size considerably as it rounded the sun and there's no doubt that something made it out on the other side to shoot back into space.

'Designer sperm' inserts custom genes into offspring

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST

The "new genetics" promises to change faulty genes of future generations by introducing new, functioning genes using "designer sperm." Research shows that introducing genetic material via a viral vector into mouse sperm leads to the presence and activity of the genetic material in the embryos. These genes are inherited and functioning through three generations of the mice tested, and the discovery could break new ground in genetic medicine.

Scientists build a low-cost, open-source 3-D metal printer

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:19 PM PST

Using under $1,500 worth of materials, scientists have built a 3-D metal printer than can lay down thin layers of steel to form complex geometric objects.

Bothersome pain afflicts half of older Americans

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:18 PM PST

Findings from a unique study underscore need for public health action on pain and disability in the elderly.

Micromovements hold hidden information about severity of autism

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:18 PM PST

Movements so minute they cannot be detected by the human eye are being analyzed by researchers to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and determine its severity in children and young adults.

Ethnic identification helps Latina adolescents resist media barrage of body images

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:22 PM PST

A strong sense of ethnic identity can help Latina girls feel positive about their body and appearance, a new study concludes, even as this group slips further into dissatisfaction with themselves when compared to a media-filled world of unrealistic images of thin white women.

Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study that examines the impact of a growing trend among young adults.

Secrets to 'extreme adaptation' found in Burmese python genome

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST

The Burmese python's ability to ramp up its metabolism and enlarge its organs to swallow and digest prey whole can be traced to unusually rapid evolution and specialized adaptations of its genes and the way they work, an international team of biologists says.

Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST

A single dose of the hormone oxytocin, delivered via nasal spray, may improve the core social deficits in children with autism by making social interactions with other people more rewarding and more efficiently processed, researchers report.

Functional importance of dinosaur beaks illuminated

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:21 PM PST

Why beaks evolved in some theropod dinosaurs and what their function might have been is the subject of new research by an international team of palaeontologists.

Brain connectivity study reveals striking differences between men and women

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:19 PM PST

A new brain connectivity study has found striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women that's lending credence to some commonly-held beliefs about their behavior.

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes, depression

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 12:20 PM PST

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression, according to a recent study.

New drug cuts risk of deadly transplant side effect in half

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST

A new class of drugs reduced the risk of patients contracting a serious and often deadly side effect of lifesaving bone marrow transplant treatments, according to a study.

Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST

The beneficial effects of bronchial thermoplasty, a non-pharmacologic treatment for asthma, last at least five years, according to researchers. The therapy, in which heat is applied to a patient's airways during a bronchoscopy procedure, was approved by the FDA in 2010. The researchers report that reductions in severe asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, medication use and missed workdays continued out to five years after the procedure was performed.

Microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health: Plastic ingestion delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:27 AM PST

With global production of plastic exceeding 280 metric tons every year, a fair amount of it makes its way to the natural environment. However, until now researchers haven't known whether ingested plastic transfers chemical additives or pollutants to wildlife. A new study shows toxic concentrations of pollutants and additives enter the tissue of animals that have eaten microplastic.

Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Children who experience profound neglect have been found to be more prone to a behavior known as "indiscriminate friendliness," characterized by an inappropriate willingness to approach adults, including strangers. Now researchers are reporting some of the first evidence from human studies suggesting that this behavior is rooted in brain adaptations associated with early life experiences.

Study: It's not easy 'being green'

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Think you don't recycle enough? You're not alone. However, people's ability to overcome self-doubt plays a critical role in how successfully they act in support of environmental issues, according to a new study.

Difficult dance steps: Learning how membrane transporters move

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Researchers have tried for decades to understand the undulations and gyrations that allow transport proteins to shuttle molecules from one side of a cell membrane to the other. Now scientists report that they have found a way to penetrate the mystery. They have worked out every step in the molecular dance that enables one such transporter to do its job.

Process holds promise for production of synthetic gasoline from carbon dioxide

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

A chemical system can efficiently perform the first step in the process of creating syngas, gasoline and other energy-rich products out of carbon dioxide.

Molecular imaging tracers help determine treatment plans for brain metastases

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Imaging with the molecular imaging tracer 18F-FDOPA can help distinguish radiation-induced lesions from new tumor growth in patients who have been treated with radiation for brain metastases, according to new research. Using this amino acid tracer, researchers found that physicians could accurately differentiate the two types of lesions 83 percent of the time. Progression-free survival could also be predicted through evaluating the 18F-FDOPA imaging results.

Understanding hearing

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Children learning to speak depend on functional hearing. So-called cochlear implants allow deaf people to hear again by stimulating the auditory nerve directly. Researchers are working to overcome current limits of the technology. They are investigating the implementation of signals in the auditory nerve and the subsequent neuronal processing in the brain.

When aluminum outshines gold: Aluminum's valuable plasmonic properties detailed

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:48 AM PST

Aluminum's plasmonic properties may make it far more valuable than gold and silver for certain applications. Researchers provide experimental and theoretical proof of the metal's potential.

Reforestation in Lower Mississippi Valley reduces sediment

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:46 AM PST

A modeling study shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and the amount of sediment entering the area's rivers and streams -- and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.

Division of labor in the test tube

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:46 AM PST

The division of labor is more efficient than a struggle through life without help from others -- this also applies to microorganisms. Researchers came to this conclusion when they performed experiments with bacteria that were deficient in the production of certain amino acids and depended on a partner to provide the missing nutrient. Bacterial strains that complemented each other's need showed a fitness increase of 20 percent relative to a non-deficient strain without partner.

Forget the needle; consider the haystack

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST

Computer scientists have developed a method to uncover hidden patterns in huge data collections. Using a mathematical method that calculates the likelihood of a pattern repeating throughout a subset of data, the researchers have been able to cut dramatically the time needed to find patterns in large collections of information such as social networks.

Mice can inherit learned sensitivity to a smell

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST

A surprising example of apparent inheritance of an experience: Researchers found that when a mouse is trained to become afraid of a certain odor, his or her pups will be more sensitive to that odor, even though the pups have never encountered it.

New means of growing intestinal stem cells

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST

Researchers have shown that they can grow unlimited quantities of intestinal stem cells, then stimulate them to develop into nearly pure populations of different types of mature intestinal cells.

Nanorobot for transporting drugs in the body

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:15 AM PST

The first step has been taken towards developing a nanorobot that -- in the long run -- will enable the targeted transport of medications in the body.

Driver's eye movements key to controlled curve driving

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:14 AM PST

All drivers know from personal experience that they must keep their eyes on the road when driving through curves. But how exactly does looking at the road guide the car through the curve? Research reveals new crucial aspects of eye movements in curve driving.

Microplastics make marine worms sick

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:14 AM PST

Tiny bits of plastic trash could spell big trouble for marine life, starting with the worms. Marine worms play a key ecological role as an important source of food for other animals.

Koalas' low-pitched voice explained by unique organ

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:14 AM PST

The pitch of male koalas' mating calls is about 20 times lower than it should be, given the Australian marsupial's relatively small size. Now, researchers have discovered their secret: koalas have a specialized sound-producing organ that has never before been seen in any other land-dwelling mammal. The key feature of this newly described organ is its location outside the voice box, what scientists call the larynx.

Increased risk for cardiac ischemia in patients with PTSD

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:13 AM PST

There is growing concern that long-term untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase the risk of developing a number of medical problems, particularly compromised cardiovascular health. Considering that up to 30% of veterans suffer from PTSD, this is an important goal.

Can big cats co-exist? Study challenges lion threat to cheetah cubs

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:13 AM PST

New research into cheetah cub survival has refuted the theory that lions are a cub's main predator and that big cats cannot coexist in conservation areas. The study found that cubs in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park were seven times more likely to survive then on the Serengeti Plains and that lions were not found to be the cubs' main predatory threat.

New algorithm finds you, even in untagged photos

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:12 AM PST

A new algorithm has the power to profoundly change the way we find photos among the billions on social media sites such as Facebook and Flickr. The search tool uses tag locations to quantify relationships between individuals, even those not tagged in any given photo.

New study suggests low vitamin D causes damage to brain

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:11 AM PST

A new study suggests that a diet low in vitamin D causes damage to the brain.

Sports bras don't hold up, says researcher developing more supportive undergarment

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST

A professor in apparel, textiles and interior design is researching the movement of breast tissue to develop a better supportive sports bra.

Amplifying our vision of the infinitely small

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST

Scientists have discovered a method to improve detection of the infinitely small.

Birds with bigger 'badges' rule the roost

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST

A New Zealand bird that conspicuously displays its status on the top of its head can provide valuable insight into the social conventions of all creatures, including humans, scientists have found.

Appearing to be chronically ill may not be good indication of poor health

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:22 AM PST

New research says how sick a patient appears to be may have limited value in diagnosing their actual state of health.

New light shed on solar water-splitting process

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST

Scientists have provided new insight into how solar water-splitting cells work. An important and overlooked parameter, they report, is the ion-permeability of electrocatalysts used in water-splitting devices.

New research shows obesity is inflammatory disease

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST

A new "obesity drug" may block the effects of high sugar and fat diets. Scientists reports on how an abnormal amount of the inflammatory protein, PAR2, appears in abdominal fat tissue of overweight humans and rats, and is increased on human immune cell surfaces. When obese rats on this diet were given a drug that binds to PAR2, its inflammation-causing properties were blocked, as were other effects -- including obesity itself.

Evolution, Civil War history entwine in plant fossil with a tragic past

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST

A fossil leaf collected on a Virginia canal bank is one of North America's oldest flowering plants, a 120-million-year-old species new to science. The find raises questions about whether pollen evolved along with flowering plants or came later. It also unearths a forgotten Civil War episode reminiscent of "Twelve Years a Slave": Union troops forced a group of freedmen to dig the canal that exposed the fossil.

Predict Alzheimer's disease within two years of screening

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST

In a new study, scientists accurately predicted (at a rate of 90%) which of their research subjects with mild cognitive impairment would receive a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease within the following two years, and which subjects would not develop this disease.

Most detailed catalog of galaxies traces evolution of the universe during last 10,000 million years

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 08:20 AM PST

Astronomers have now identified and classified more than half a million galaxies, after seven years of close observation of the universe.

How legless, leaping fish living on land avoids predators

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:53 AM PST

One of the world's strangest animals -- a legless, leaping fish that lives on land -- uses camouflage to avoid attacks by predators such as birds, lizards and crabs, new research shows. Researchers studied the unique fish -- Pacific leaping blennies -- in their natural habitat on the tropical island of Guam. These terrestrial fish spend all of their adult lives living on the rocks in the splash zone.

Junk food, poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:53 AM PST

The association between poor oral health and increased risk of cardiovascular disease should make the reduction of sugars such as those contained in junk food, particularly fizzy drinks, an important health policy target, say experts.

Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST

Researchers have recently identified a resistance protein that allows a "superbug" to survive a disinfectant used in hospitals.

New family of proteins linked to major role in cancer

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:52 AM PST

Scientists have described a new family of proteins that appear to play a key role in cancer and might be targets for future cancer drugs. A major new study sets out the structure of the new family, called glutamate intramembrane proteases -- the founding member of which plays a critical role in transforming healthy cells into cancer cells.

New evidence that gout strongly runs in family

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:50 AM PST

It's historically known as 'the king of diseases and the disease of kings' and was long thought to be caused by an overindulgent lifestyle, but now scientists have confirmed that gout strongly runs in families.

Sorting good germs from bad, in bacterial world

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST

There are good E. coli and bad E. coli. Some live in your gut and help you keep healthy, others can cause serious disease -- even death. For pathologists, telling them apart has been a long and laborious task sometimes taking days. New technology using microscale electric field gradients now can tell the difference between good and bad bacteria in minutes from extremely small samples.

Study of young parents highlights links among stress, poverty, ethnicity

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST

An avalanche of chronic stress affecting poor mothers and fathers is revealed in new data from a comprehensive national, federally funded American study.

Why tumors become resistant to chemotherapy

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST

Researchers describe one of the causes that make a patient with colon cancer that responds well to initial chemotherapy, becomes resistant when the tumor reappears.

Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools: the real picture

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:41 AM PST

Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges.

Head out to the ski slopes, for happiness' sake

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:41 AM PST

Are you contemplating a skiing holiday? The all-out pleasure and enjoyment you experience on a pair of skis or a snowboard is positively priceless to enhance your overall happiness. This is true even if you only get to go out on the slopes once in a blue moon, say researchers.

Air pollution, genetics combine to increase risk for autism

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Exposure to air pollution appears to increase the risk for autism among people who carry a genetic disposition for the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to newly published research.

To boost concern for environment, emphasize a long future, not impending doom

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Looking back on a nation's past can prompt action that leads to a greener future, according to new research. The research suggests that one strong way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior is to emphasize the long life expectancy of a nation, and not necessarily its imminent downfall.

Novel rehabilitation device improves motor skills after stroke

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Using a novel stroke rehabilitation device that converts an individual's thoughts to electrical impulses to move upper extremities, stroke patients reported improvements in their motor function and ability to perform activities of daily living.

MRI technique reveals low brain iron in ADHD patients

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive way to measure iron levels in the brains of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study. Researchers said the method could help physicians and parents make better informed decisions about medication.

PRP therapy improves degenerative tendon disease in athletes

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Ultrasound-guided delivery of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improves functionality and reduces recovery time in athletes with degenerative disease in their tendons, according to a new study.

Cardiac MRI reveals energy drinks alter heart function

Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:26 AM PST

Healthy adults who consumed energy drinks high in caffeine and taurine had significantly increased heart contraction rates one hour later, according to a new study.

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