ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Hypoallergenic dogs don't have lower household allergen levels than other dogs, study finds
• Sex is not about promoting genetic variation, researchers argue
• Juno mission: Gas giant spacecraft all gassed up
• Herschel helps solve mystery of cosmic dust origins
• Ironic effects of anti-prejudice messages
• First successful transplantation of a synthetic tissue engineered windpipe
• Discovery of natural antibody brings a universal flu vaccine a step closer
• Stardust in our backyard provides new clues to galaxy evolution
• Unexpected cell repairs the injured spinal cord
• 'Pinkwashing' is a form of social injustice, experts assert
• Protective factors that help women recover from childhood violence identified
• Power from the air: Device captures ambient electromagnetic energy to drive small electronic devices
• New plant genus, species discovered in St. Johns River, Florida
• Why physicians are reluctant to share patient data: Fine line between protecting privacy and public health
• Detecting hearing defects in newborns
• Drug 'shield' helps target antibiotic resistant bacteria
• Organizational climate at universities drives commercialization of scientific and engineering discoveries
• Jewel beetles, obtained from local people, turn out to be four species unknown to science
• A drugstore within: Mesenchymal stem cells protect and heal
• Mutations in one gene cause craniosynostosis, delayed tooth eruption and supernumerary teeth
• Cellular origin of deadly brain cancer identified
• Stem cells know where they want to go: Pluripotent cells are not all equal
• Control of gene expression: Mediator MED26 shifts an idling polymerase into high gear
• Evolution and domestication of seed structure shown to use same genetic mutation
• With climate changes, polar bear and brown bear lineages intertwine
• To combat deadly brain cancer, target the stem cells
• Ancestry of polar bears traced to Ireland
• New strategy to prevent infertility, birth defects
• Promising fire retardant results when clay nanofiller has space
• Graphene: What can go wrong? New studies point to wrinkles, process contaminants
• California groundwater management trickles up from local sources
• Prototype 'optics table on a chip' places microwave photon in two colors at once
• Seven new mice species discovered
• New disparity in US nursing homes: Whites leave, minorities enter
• Chesapeake Bay pesticides: Some diminish, some persist
• Cortisol controls recycling of bile acids
• UK education: Special needs students and teachers are victims of 'muddled' approach to schooling
• Half-matched transplants widen pool of donors for leukemia and lymphoma
• Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to $211 billion
• Fire to become increasingly important driver of atmospheric change in warming world
• Fewer rain storms across southern Australia with global warming
• Brain co-opts the body to promote moral behavior, study finds
• Heavy exercise not too high a hurdle for bariatric surgery patients
• The biology behind alcohol-induced blackouts
• Low adherence to biopsy guidelines affects celiac disease diagnosis in the United States
• Scientists devise way to sort brain cells for potential transplants
• Big step forward for SKA radio telescope
• Oceanographic campaign for the study of the large submarine valleys of Catalonia
• Smart grids: New study highlights key challenges and trends in the European Union
• The turn of the corkscrew: Structural analysis uncovers mechanisms of gene expression
• Health Equity Funds make for healthier poor
• ‘Brake-override’ proteins that enable development of some cancers identified
• US Healthcare: Medicaid increases use of health care, decreases financial strain, improves health
• U.S. Health: Large state disparities in progress against colorectal cancer
• Previous cancer history increases chances of clotting disorders after knee surgery, study suggests
• Graft size and patient age may be predictor of need for future anterior cruciate ligament revisions
• Possible gender link in knee injuries
• Concussion baseline important for accurate future assessment in at-risk youth athletes
• Cancer patients with blood clots gain no benefit from adding IVCF to fondaparinux
• Endosonography followed by surgical staging improves quality of life, according to new study

Hypoallergenic dogs don't have lower household allergen levels than other dogs, study finds Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:17 PM PDT Contrary to popular belief, so-called hypoallergenic dogs do not have lower household allergen levels than other dogs. That's the conclusion of a study by researchers who sought to evaluate whether hypoallergenic dogs have a lower dog allergen in the home than other dogs. Hypoallergenic dogs are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur.

Sex is not about promoting genetic variation, researchers argue Posted: 07 Jul 2011 01:10 PM PDT Biology textbooks maintain that the main function of sex is to promote genetic diversity. But in a new article, two researchers say that's not the case. They propose that although diversity may result from a combination of genes, the primary function of sex is not about promoting diversity. Rather, it's about keeping the genome context -- an organism's complete collection of genes arranged by chromosome composition and topology -- as unchanged as possible, thereby maintaining a species' identity.

Juno mission: Gas giant spacecraft all gassed up Posted: 07 Jul 2011 12:45 PM PDT The Juno spacecraft completed hydrazine fuel loading, oxidizer loading and final tank pressurizations this week, and now the complete propulsion system is ready for the trip to Jupiter. The spacecraft is currently at the Astrotech processing facility in Titusville, Fla.

Herschel helps solve mystery of cosmic dust origins Posted: 07 Jul 2011 12:40 PM PDT New observations from the infrared Herschel Space Observatory reveal that an exploding star expelled the equivalent of between 160,000 and 230,000 Earth masses of fresh dust. This enormous quantity suggests that exploding stars, called supernovae, are the answer to the long-standing puzzle of what supplied our early universe with dust.

Ironic effects of anti-prejudice messages Posted: 07 Jul 2011 12:14 PM PDT Organizations and programs have been set up all over the globe in the hopes of urging people to end prejudice. According to a new research article, such programs may actually increase prejudices.

First successful transplantation of a synthetic tissue engineered windpipe Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:56 AM PDT For the first time in history, a patient has been given a new trachea made from a synthetic scaffold seeded with his own stem cells. The patient, a 36-year old man, is well on the way to full recovery from the recent operation in Sweden and is now being discharged from the hospital.

Discovery of natural antibody brings a universal flu vaccine a step closer Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:12 AM PDT Annually changing flu vaccines with their hit-and-miss effectiveness may soon give way to a single, near-universal flu vaccine, according to a new report. Researchers describe an antibody that, in animal tests, can prevent or cure infections with a broad variety of influenza viruses, including seasonal and potentially pandemic strains.

Stardust in our backyard provides new clues to galaxy evolution Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:12 AM PDT New data from Herschel Space Observatory reveal surprisingly large amounts of cold dust in the remnant of the famous supernova SN1987A, which exploded 24 years ago in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy of the Milky Way. With this discovery, astronomers confirm that supernovae are able to produce significant quantities of dust over very short time scales. This may help explain previous observations of abundant dust in the early Universe as seen in high-redshift galaxies.

Unexpected cell repairs the injured spinal cord Posted: 07 Jul 2011 11:11 AM PDT A new study has revealed how scar tissue is formed after damage to the central nervous system. For more than a century, scientists thought that glial cells were responsible for scar formation. Now, however, researchers have discovered that spinal cord scar tissue largely derives from a completely unexpected type of cell called a pericyte, opening new opportunities for the treatment of damaged nerve tissue.

'Pinkwashing' is a form of social injustice, experts assert Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:42 AM PDT Companies that try to increase sales of their products by adopting the color pink and pink ribbons to imply that they support breast cancer research -- a practice called pinkwashing -- but at the same time permit the use of chemicals shown to cause cancer are committing a form of social injustice against women, according to a new article.

Protective factors that help women recover from childhood violence identified Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:15 AM PDT Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to be in abusive intimate relationships and experience psychological problems such as post traumatic stress disorder in adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now researchers have found that certain protective factors foster resilience and increase the likelihood that the cycle of violence will end for women who, as children, were exposed to their mothers' battering.

Power from the air: Device captures ambient electromagnetic energy to drive small electronic devices Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:15 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to capture energy transmitted by such sources as radio and television transmitters and cell phone networks. By scavenging this ambient energy from the air around us, the technique could provide a new way to power networks of wireless sensors or other devices.

New plant genus, species discovered in St. Johns River, Florida Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:14 AM PDT Remarkable for their exquisite, glass-like cell walls in every imaginable 3-D shape and pattern -- and important for their role as bio-indicators of water quality -- diatoms are the predominant group of microscopic, single-celled algae at the base of the aquatic food chain. Biologists have now identified a new diatom genus and species.

Why physicians are reluctant to share patient data: Fine line between protecting privacy and public health Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:20 AM PDT The uncertainty surrounding a pandemic of a new strain of influenza has not changed the privacy concerns of physicians about disclosing patient data. It is important to address these concerns to ensure reliable reporting during future outbreaks.

Detecting hearing defects in newborns Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Hearing has a key role in the acquisition of speech, but 2 of every 1000 children are born with a hearing impairment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help these children learn to speak. New research explores whether screening of newborns reliably detects hearing defects, the benefits of early diagnosis, and the potential risks of newborn hearing screening.

Drug 'shield' helps target antibiotic resistant bacteria Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT A new technique which targets antibiotic-resistant bacteria and shields patients from the toxic parts of an antibiotic drug has now been developed.

Organizational climate at universities drives commercialization of scientific and engineering discoveries Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Research universities with an organizational climate that actively supports commercialization and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers are more likely to produce invention disclosures and patent applications, according to a new study.

Jewel beetles, obtained from local people, turn out to be four species unknown to science Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Biologists have discovered four new species of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) from South-eastern Asia. This family of beetles is named for their particularly beautiful body and fascinating, shiny colors.

A drugstore within: Mesenchymal stem cells protect and heal Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Mesenchymal stem cells were thought to be the key to growing new organs, but research has shown them to be potent protectors and healers in the body. Scientists now find the cells appear effective against a growing list of diseases and conditions.

Mutations in one gene cause craniosynostosis, delayed tooth eruption and supernumerary teeth Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have described a new, recessively inherited human syndrome featuring craniosynostosis, maxillary hyperplasia, delayed tooth eruption and extra teeth. The researchers also identified causative mutations in a gene IL11RA.

Cellular origin of deadly brain cancer identified Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Scientists have isolated the cellular origin for malignant glioma, a deadly human brain cancer.

Stem cells know where they want to go: Pluripotent cells are not all equal Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT A new study has shown that pluripotent cells are not all equal. The researchers discovered the fate -- or destination -- of human pluripotent stem cells is encoded by how their DNA is arranged, and this can be detected by specific proteins on the surface of the stem cells.

Control of gene expression: Mediator MED26 shifts an idling polymerase into high gear Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Scientists have identified a switch that allows RNA polymerase to shift gears from neutral into drive and start transcribing. This work sheds light on a process fundamental to all plant or animal cells and suggests how transcriptional anomalies could give rise to tumors.

Evolution and domestication of seed structure shown to use same genetic mutation Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have identified a mutation in plants that was selected twice -- during both natural evolution and domestication. The mutation has been identified as the source of variation in the evolution of fruit morphology in Brassica plants and it was also the source of key changes during the domestication of rice.

With climate changes, polar bear and brown bear lineages intertwine Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Polar bears' unique characteristics allow them to survive in one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that survival is now threatened as rising temperatures and melting ice reshape the Arctic landscape. Now it appears that the stress of climate change, occurring both long ago and today, may be responsible for surprising twists in the bears' history and future as well.

To combat deadly brain cancer, target the stem cells Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a new target that could stop the growth of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. A new study identifies an enzyme found in glioma stem cells that allows them to grow and seed tumors. Importantly, normal stem cells, including those in the brain, don't appear to share that same dependency.

Ancestry of polar bears traced to Ireland Posted: 07 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that the female ancestor of all living polar bears was a brown bear that lived in the vicinity of present-day Britain and Ireland just prior to the peak of the last ice age -- 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. The research is expected to help guide future conservation efforts for polar bears, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

New strategy to prevent infertility, birth defects Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT A strategy that has been shown to reduce age-related health problems in several animal studies may also combat a major cause of age-associated infertility and birth defects. Investigators have shown that restricting the caloric intake of adult female mice prevents a spectrum of abnormalities, such as extra or missing copies of chromosomes, that arise more frequently in egg cells of aging female mammals.

Promising fire retardant results when clay nanofiller has space Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT Materials scientists have demonstrated that the more widely and uniformly dispersed nanoscale plates of clay are in a polymer, the more fire protection the nanocomposite material provides.

Graphene: What can go wrong? New studies point to wrinkles, process contaminants Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT Using a combination of sophisticated computer modeling and advanced materials analysis techniques at synchrotron laboratories, a research team has demonstrated how some relatively simple processing flaws can seriously degrade the otherwise near-magical electronic properties of graphene.

California groundwater management trickles up from local sources Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT In a typical year, California gets about 30 percent of its water from groundwater wells. Yet when it comes to managing this precious resource, the state of California relies on a mixed bag of more than 2,000 local water agencies with varying degrees of authority. But some water districts have moved forward with innovative ideas on conservation -- even without state leadership.

Prototype 'optics table on a chip' places microwave photon in two colors at once Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT Researchers have created a tunable superconducting circuit on a chip that can place a single microwave photon in two frequencies, or colors, at the same time.

Seven new mice species discovered Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT After living incognito for millions of years in a remote area of a forested mountain range in the Philippines, seven new-found species of mice owe their recent discovery to DNA evidence and the biologist who deciphered it.

New disparity in US nursing homes: Whites leave, minorities enter Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT Nursing homes in the United States are shrinking and their residents are becoming proportionately more black, more Hispanic, more Asian, and less white, according to a new study. The nationwide trend, reflected in metropolitan areas from New York to Los Angeles, results from changing demographics and disparities in what people can afford.

Chesapeake Bay pesticides: Some diminish, some persist Posted: 07 Jul 2011 08:10 AM PDT Scientists are identifying factors that influence pesticide levels in the Chesapeake Bay airshed, including traces of "legacy" pesticides that still linger even though they are no longer being used.

Cortisol controls recycling of bile acids Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:20 AM PDT Cortisol is responsible for the recycling of bile acids from the blood, according to new research. If this recycling is disrupted, the animals develop gallstones and lose weight because they are no longer able to digest dietary fats. They also use more energy for heat production. The researchers assume that regulation of recycling serves the purpose of conserving energy efficiently in times of need.

UK education: Special needs students and teachers are victims of 'muddled' approach to schooling Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:19 AM PDT Pupils with special needs and teachers in mainstream schools in the UK are often the victims of a "one size fits all" approach to schooling and education, a leading academic has claimed.

Half-matched transplants widen pool of donors for leukemia and lymphoma Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:19 AM PDT Identifying a suitable donor for leukemia and lymphoma patients who need bone marrow transplants may be far easier now that results of two clinical trials show transplant results with half-matched bone marrow or umbilical cord blood are comparable to fully matched tissue, thanks in large part to the availability of effective antirejection drugs and special post-transplant chemotherapy. The finding means that nearly all patients in need of a transplant can find donors, according to scientists who participated in the trials.

Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to $211 billion Posted: 07 Jul 2011 07:19 AM PDT Wind farms in China and small-scale solar panels on rooftops in Europe were largely responsible for last year's 32 percent rise in green energy investments worldwide according to the latest annual report on renewable energy investment trends. Last year, investors pumped a record $211 billion into renewables -- about one-third more than the $160 billion invested in 2009, and a 540 percent rise since 2004.

Fire to become increasingly important driver of atmospheric change in warming world Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT Researchers say it is likely that fire will become an increasingly important driver of atmospheric change as the world warms.

Fewer rain storms across southern Australia with global warming Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT Decreasing autumn and winter rainfall over southern Australia has been attributed to a 50-year decrease in the average intensity of storms in the region -- a trend which is forecast to continue for another 50 years.

Brain co-opts the body to promote moral behavior, study finds Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT The human brain may simulate physical sensations to prompt introspection, capitalizing on moments of high emotion to promote moral behavior, according to a researcher.

Heavy exercise not too high a hurdle for bariatric surgery patients Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT Bariatric surgery patients can undertake a rigorous exercise program after the procedure, in order to continue to lose weight and avoid regaining weight, according to a new study.

The biology behind alcohol-induced blackouts Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT Neuroscientists have identified the brain cells involved in alcohol-related blackouts and the molecular mechanism that appears to underlie them. Alcohol interferes with key receptors in the brain, which in turn manufacture steroids that inhibit long-term potentiation, a process that strengthens the connections between neurons and is crucial to learning and memory.

Low adherence to biopsy guidelines affects celiac disease diagnosis in the United States Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT A new study has found that most patients undergoing biopsy of the small intestine do not have the recommended number of samples to diagnose celiac disease.

Scientists devise way to sort brain cells for potential transplants Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT As neural stem cell therapies move closer to clinical use, doctors will need to know that the brain cells they are providing really are what they think they are. Researchers have adapted a relatively common laboratory technique to address the problem, devising a way to get a "purified" supply of neurons. The technique may prove valuable for cell transplant therapies.

Big step forward for SKA radio telescope Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:24 AM PDT The discovery potential of the future international SKA radio telescope has been glimpsed following the commissioning of a working optical fiber link between CSIRO's Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope in Western Australia, and other radio telescopes across Australia and New Zealand.

Oceanographic campaign for the study of the large submarine valleys of Catalonia Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:21 AM PDT The unmanned deepwater research vehicle Liropus 2000 will be used for the first time in a study of sea floor relief and the dynamic processes that take place along the continental margin of the Catalan coast, in particular in the submarine canyons of Cap de Creus, Palamós and Blanes.

Smart grids: New study highlights key challenges and trends in the European Union Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:21 AM PDT Intelligent electricity networks – smart grids – are a key component in the EU energy strategy, but substantial investments are needed to make them a reality. A new study presents a review of 219 smart grid projects Europe-wide.

The turn of the corkscrew: Structural analysis uncovers mechanisms of gene expression Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:21 AM PDT Scientists have clarified the structure and function of the remodeler Mot1 (Modifier of Transcription 1), which binds directly to DNA. Acting as a molecular corkscrew, Mot1 brings about a redistribution of a crucial transcription factor by removing it from specific locations on the DNA and facilitating its binding to other sequences.

Health Equity Funds make for healthier poor Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:21 AM PDT In developing countries, the poor often are confronted with insurmountable barriers to accessing health care, because they can't pay the treatment out of their own pocket, and even public hospitals are too costly. Well developed aid programs can remediate that situation, as is proved in Cambodia, say scientists.

‘Brake-override’ proteins that enable development of some cancers identified Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:21 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a basic mechanism that can enable developing cancer cells to sustain abnormal growth. The finding is expected to lead to the targeting of this mechanism with drugs and diagnostic techniques.

US Healthcare: Medicaid increases use of health care, decreases financial strain, improves health Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:20 AM PDT Researchers have found that expanding low income adults' access to Medicaid substantially increases health care use, reduces financial strain on covered individuals, and improves their self-reported health and well-being.

U.S. Health: Large state disparities in progress against colorectal cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:20 AM PDT Progress in reducing colorectal cancer mortality rates varies significantly across states, with rates in the Northeast showing the most progress and those in the South showing the least progress, according to a new study.

Previous cancer history increases chances of clotting disorders after knee surgery, study suggests Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:20 AM PDT A history of cancer was a significant risk factor for developing blood clotting issues following knee arthroscopy, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed the records of more than 12,000 patients who had undergone the common knee procedure.

Graft size and patient age may be predictor of need for future anterior cruciate ligament revisions Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT A smaller sized hamstring graft in an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patient less than 20 years old may increase revision rates, according to new research.

Possible gender link in knee injuries Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT Gender may be associated with an increased risk of cartilage lesions in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured knees, according to new research.

Concussion baseline important for accurate future assessment in at-risk youth athletes Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT Creating a baseline for each youth athlete is a critical part of accurate future concussion assessment, according to new research. Differences in how females and males scored on a standardized concussion assessment tool were also investigated.

Cancer patients with blood clots gain no benefit from adding IVCF to fondaparinux Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT Cancer patients with blood clots -- which occur in one of every 200 cancer patients and are the second most common cause of death among cancer patients -- gain no benefit from the insertion of an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) to the anticoagulant medication fondaparinux (Arixtra), according to new research.

Endosonography followed by surgical staging improves quality of life, according to new study Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT Patients who underwent endoscopic testing prior to surgery for lung cancer had significantly better quality of life at the end of the staging process, with no significant difference in costs between the two strategies, according to new data.

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