ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Industry conflicts of interest are pervasive among medical guideline panel members, experts say
• 15-year increase in life expectancy for people with HIV in UK
• NASA sees large Tropical Storm Banyan stretched over southern Philippines
• NASA gets an icy cold wink from Hurricane Jova's eye
• Suspects in the quenching of star formation exonerated
• Melatonin delays onset, reduces deaths in mouse model of Huntington’s disease
• Eating your greens can change the effect of your genes on heart disease
• New discovery could change the face of cell-biology research
• Burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe
• Which direction are herbicides heading?
• Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense
• Vitamin E supplement may increase prostate cancer risk, national U.S. study finds
• Ovarian cancer patients survive longer with BRCA2 mutated in tumors, study finds
• Laser removal of heart device wires safe for older patients, study suggests
• Study shows increased prostate cancer risk from vitamin E supplements
• BRCA2 genetic mutation associated with improved survival and chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer
• Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children
• Use of vitamin E associated with increased risk of prostate cancer
• New research finds that homeowners and city planners should 'hit the trail'
• Research examines the economic value of on-premise signs
• Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list
• Medical safety net for undocumented patients
• Progress towards developing plants that accommodate climate change
• Astronomers find bounty of failed stars: One youngster only six times heftier than Jupiter
• New equation predicts molecular forces in hydrophobic interactions
• Molecular depth profiling modeled using buckyballs and low-energy argon
• Video documents three-year trek on Mars by NASA rover
• New view of Vesta mountain from NASA's Dawn mission
• Perils of polite misunderstandings
• New knowledge about 'flawed' diamonds could speed the development of diamond-based quantum computers
• Emerging pharmaceutical platform may pose risks to retinal health, study suggests
• More intersections mean less outdoor activity for children
• Crop improvement and human medicine: Using proteins to target and manipulate specific genes
• Computer vision experts develop 'questionable observer detector'
• Test helps reduce risk of death in advanced lung cancer
• Annual cost of violence pegged at $6.9 billion after women leave abusive partners
• Experts find continuous glucose monitoring beneficial in maintaining target blood glucose levels
• Evidence points to potential roles for cognitive rehabilitation therapy in treating traumatic brain injury, but further research needed
• Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, says study
• Ammonia air pollution from cars and trucks worse in winter
• Fall market jitters a SAD thing: Less daylight in fall may lead to depressed markets
• New computer program promises to save the whales
• Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs, study suggests
• Rangers and Brewers solid favorites for championships, math professor says
• Cyber threats forecast for 2012 released
• Link shown between environmental toxicants and atherosclerosis
• Common antibiotic can have serious adverse reactions, review finds
• Ginger root supplement reduced colon inflammation markers
• Stem cells, signaling pathways identified in lung repair
• Inhaler treatment for lung cancer
• Hispanic women have higher incidence of rare breast tumor
• Crowdsourcing democracy through social media
• 'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy
• New 'diamond?' New form of superhard carbon is as strong as a diamond
• Point defects in super-chilled diamonds may offer stable candidates for quantum computing bits
• X-ray camera makes A-grade particle detector
• New mathematical model explains patterns of human movement by considering the costs
• New testing program improves scores, knowledge retention for third-year internal medicine residents
• A safe vaccination for Alzheimer's disease?
• First monkey exome sequencing platform for biomedical developed

Industry conflicts of interest are pervasive among medical guideline panel members, experts say Posted: 11 Oct 2011 04:24 PM PDT Researchers have found that conflicts of interest are prevalent and potentially under-reported among individuals participating in the development of clinical practice guidelines, which inform standards of patient care. The findings provide further evidence of the potential influence of industry on medical practice recommendations.

15-year increase in life expectancy for people with HIV in UK Posted: 11 Oct 2011 04:24 PM PDT People with HIV have a 15 years longer life expectancy thanks to improved treatments over the past 13 years, according to a new study.

NASA sees large Tropical Storm Banyan stretched over southern Philippines Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:16 PM PDT Tropical Storm Banyan's center may still be at sea, but NASA satellite data today shows the western edge of the storm already over the southern Philippines.

NASA gets an icy cold wink from Hurricane Jova's eye Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:16 PM PDT Several NASA satellites have been following Hurricane Jova since birth and over the last day, Jova's eye has "winked" at them.

Suspects in the quenching of star formation exonerated Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT Some supermassive black holes power luminous, rapidly growing objects called active galactic nuclei (AGN) that gather and condense enormous quantities of matter. Because astronomers had seen these objects primarily in massive, old galaxies with aging stars, many thought AGN might help to end the formation of new stars, though the evidence was always circumstantial. Now, a new survey has found AGN in all kinds of galaxies, including young, star-making factories.

Melatonin delays onset, reduces deaths in mouse model of Huntington’s disease Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT Melatonin, best known for its role in sleep regulation, delayed the onset of symptoms and reduced mortality in a mouse model of Huntington's disease, say researchers. Their findings show for the first time that certain receptors for the hormone reside in the mitochondria, and that there are fewer of them both in affected mice and human brains.

Eating your greens can change the effect of your genes on heart disease Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT A long-held mantra suggests that you can't change your family, the genes they pass on, or the effect of these genes. Now, scientists are attacking that belief. The researchers discovered the gene that is the strongest marker for heart disease can actually be modified by generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables.

New discovery could change the face of cell-biology research Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT Rewrite the textbooks and revisit old experiments, because there's a new cog in our cellular machinery that has been just been discovered.

Burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM PDT Hospital associated infections (HAI) are often in the headlines, but what is the burden of mortality, morbidity and costs due to HAIs? Researchers now report the results of a prospective clinical investigation into the societal burden of HAIs from 31 European countries.

Which direction are herbicides heading? Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:31 PM PDT 2,4-D is coming back. What many might consider a "dinosaur" may be the best solution for growers fighting weed resistance today, said a professor of weed physiology. Researchers now suggest that tank-mixing auxinic herbicides with glyphosate may be the best short-term option available to farmers interested in broad-spectrum, postemergence weed control.

Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT A new study that caps more than 25 years of work finds that the vast majority of vertebrates -- some 30,000 species of land animals (including humans) and a roughly equal number of ray-finned fishes -- descended from a common ancestor that had a well-developed electroreceptive system.

Vitamin E supplement may increase prostate cancer risk, national U.S. study finds Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Men who take a daily vitamin E supplement -- a regimen once thought to reduce cancer risk -- face an increased risk of prostate cancer, according to results of a large national study. The finding comes from a report summarizing the latest results of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT).

Ovarian cancer patients survive longer with BRCA2 mutated in tumors, study finds Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Women with high-grade ovarian cancer live longer and respond better to platinum-based chemotherapy when their tumors have BRCA2 genetic mutations, researchers report.

Laser removal of heart device wires safe for older patients, study suggests Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Using a laser to remove pacemaker and defibrillator wires implanted in heart muscle is as safe in people ages 80 and older as it is in younger people. Researchers found no important risk differences between the two age groups. This should reduce safety concerns and increase the procedure's use in octogenarians.

Study shows increased prostate cancer risk from vitamin E supplements Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Men who took 400 international units of vitamin E daily had more prostate cancers compared to men who took a placebo. The findings showed that, per 1,000 men, there were 76 prostate cancers in men who took only vitamin E supplements, vs. 65 in men on placebo over a seven-year period, or 11 more cases per 1,000 men. This represents a 17 percent increase in prostate cancers relative to those who took a placebo.

BRCA2 genetic mutation associated with improved survival and chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Among women with a certain type of high-grade ovarian cancer, having BRCA2 genetic mutations, but not BRCA1, was associated with improved overall survival and improved response to chemotherapy, compared to women with BRCA wild-type (genetic type used as a reference to compare genetic mutations), according to a new study.

Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT Use of folic acid supplements by women in Norway in the period four weeks before to eight weeks after conception was associated with a reduced risk of the child having severe language delay at age three years, according to a new study.

Use of vitamin E associated with increased risk of prostate cancer Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT In a trial that included about 35,000 men, those who were randomized to receive daily supplementation with vitamin E had a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer, according to a new study.

New research finds that homeowners and city planners should 'hit the trail' Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:45 PM PDT Location, location, location -- it is often touted as affecting the value of residential property. Now, new research suggests that location near nature trails could hold a financial benefit for homeowners and ultimately neighboring communities.

Research examines the economic value of on-premise signs Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT Good signage holds benefits for both businesses and their customers. But what qualifies as good signs?

Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating.

Medical safety net for undocumented patients Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT Researchers are exploring the ethical challenges that clinicians and organizations face when providing medical care to undocumented immigrants in the United States. Most of the estimated 11 million undocumented residents of the US have no health insurance and are ineligible for public insurance programs. They are prohibited from obtaining insurance under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Progress towards developing plants that accommodate climate change Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT The ability to promote agricultural and conservation successes in the face of rapid environmental change will partly hinge on scientists' understanding of how plants adapt to local climate.

Astronomers find bounty of failed stars: One youngster only six times heftier than Jupiter Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT A team of astronomers has discovered over two dozen new free-floating brown dwarfs, including a lightweight youngster only about six times heftier than Jupiter, that reside in two young star clusters. What's more, one cluster contains a surprising surplus of them, harboring half as many of these astronomical oddballs as normal stars.

New equation predicts molecular forces in hydrophobic interactions Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT The physical model to describe the hydrophobic interactions of molecules has been a mystery that has challenged scientists and engineers since the 19th century. Hydrophobic interactions are central to explaining why oil and water don't mix, how proteins are structured, and what holds biological membranes together. Chemical engineering researchers have developed a novel method to study these forces at the atomic level, and have for the first time defined a mathematical equation to measure a substance's hydrophobic character.

Molecular depth profiling modeled using buckyballs and low-energy argon Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT The strengths and weaknesses of a new method of molecular depth profiling -- a technique used to analyze the surface of ultra-thin materials such as human tissue, nanoparticles, and other substances -- have been revealed by a new computer-simulation study, which may help future researchers to choose when to use the new method of probing ultra-thin materials.

Video documents three-year trek on Mars by NASA rover Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:59 AM PDT While NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity was traveling from Victoria crater to Endeavour crater, between September 2008 and August 2011, the rover team took an end-of-drive image on each Martian day that included a drive. A new video compiles these 309 images, providing an historic record of the three-year trek that totaled about 13 miles (21 kilometers) across a Martian plain pocked with smaller craters.

New view of Vesta mountain from NASA's Dawn mission Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:58 AM PDT A new image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a mountain three times as high as Mt. Everest, amidst the topography in the south polar region of the giant asteroid Vesta.

Perils of polite misunderstandings Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT Your friend debuts a questionable haircut and asks what you think of it. Brutal honesty would definitely hurt his feelings, so what do you say? Most people in this situation would probably opt for a vague or evasive response, along the lines of "It's really unique!" or "It's so you!" Politeness helps us get through awkward social situations like these and makes it easier for us to maintain our relationships.

New knowledge about 'flawed' diamonds could speed the development of diamond-based quantum computers Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT Scientists have established the presence of a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in defective diamonds, a finding that will help advance the development of diamond-based systems in applications such as quantum information processing.

Emerging pharmaceutical platform may pose risks to retinal health, study suggests Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT An emerging pharmaceutical platform used in treating a variety of diseases may produce unintended and undesirable effects on eye function, according to a new study.

More intersections mean less outdoor activity for children Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT High intersection density and well-connected streets in towns and cities may discourage children from being active and exercising outdoors, according to a new study.

Crop improvement and human medicine: Using proteins to target and manipulate specific genes Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT Scientists are using certain proteins to target and manipulate specific genes. That could lead to breakthroughs in understanding gene function and improving traits in livestock and plants, and even treating human genetic disorders.

Computer vision experts develop 'questionable observer detector' Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT Biometrics experts are developing a tool that can help law enforcement and military officials identify suspicious individuals at crime scenes.

Test helps reduce risk of death in advanced lung cancer Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT A new test has helped reduce the risk of death in lung cancer patients in a recent clinical trial.

Annual cost of violence pegged at $6.9 billion after women leave abusive partners Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:21 AM PDT Even after women have separated from an abusive partner, the violence still costs Canadians an estimated $6.9 billion a year, according to new research.

Experts find continuous glucose monitoring beneficial in maintaining target blood glucose levels Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:21 AM PDT Patients with diabetes face daily challenges in managing their blood glucose levels, and it has been postulated that patients could benefit from a system providing continuous real-time glucose readings. Experts have released a clinical practice guideline providing recommendations on settings where patients are most likely to benefit from continuous glucose monitoring.

Evidence points to potential roles for cognitive rehabilitation therapy in treating traumatic brain injury, but further research needed Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:21 AM PDT There is some evidence about the potential value of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for treating traumatic brain injury.

Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, says study Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:21 AM PDT A new study shows that deep sediments can grab naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater and take it out of circulation -- a finding that may help to keep wells safe elsewhere, including in the United States.

Ammonia air pollution from cars and trucks worse in winter Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:21 AM PDT Motor vehicles and industry are primary producers of ammonia in Houston's atmosphere, and cars and trucks appear to boost their output during the winter, according to a new study.

Fall market jitters a SAD thing: Less daylight in fall may lead to depressed markets Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT It's no surprise to researchers that financial market dips and crashes typically happen in the fall. Researchers now show that people who experience seasonal depression shun financial risk-taking during seasons with diminished daylight but are more willing to accept risk in spring and summer. Seasonal depression may be sufficiently powerful to move financial markets.

New computer program promises to save the whales Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT Researchers have developed a computer program that enables regulators to evaluate the ecological and economic trade-offs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching and marine transportation activities in the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs, study suggests Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT A compound isolated from a wild, poisonous mushroom growing in a southwest China forest appears to help a cancer killing drug fulfill its promise, researchers report.

Rangers and Brewers solid favorites for championships, math professor says Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT The Major League Baseball Division Series is underway and math professors have once again analyzed the probability of each team advancing to the World Series.

Cyber threats forecast for 2012 released Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT The year ahead will feature new and increasingly sophisticated means to capture and exploit user data, as well as escalating battles over the control of online information that threatens to compromise content and erode public trust and privacy, according to computer security experts.

Link shown between environmental toxicants and atherosclerosis Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT Environmental toxicants such as dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides can pose a risk for cardiovascular disease. For the first time a link has been demonstrated between atherosclerosis and levels of long-lived organic environmental toxicants in the blood.

Common antibiotic can have serious adverse reactions, review finds Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT A commonly prescribed antimicrobial -- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole -- that has been used since 1968 can cause serious adverse reactions and physicians need to be aware of these in prescribing, states a new review.

Ginger root supplement reduced colon inflammation markers Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:20 AM PDT Ginger supplements reduced markers of colon inflammation in a select group of patients, suggesting that this supplement may have potential as a colon cancer prevention agent, according to a new study.

Stem cells, signaling pathways identified in lung repair Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT Researchers have identified cells and signaling molecules that trigger the repair of injured lungs. The scientists report that destruction of lung tissue in mice induces smooth muscle cells surrounding the airways to secrete a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 10, which induces surviving epithelial cells in the airways to revert to a stem-cell state, proliferate, repair and repopulate the lining of the lungs.

Inhaler treatment for lung cancer Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT Lung cancer patients could receive safer and more efficient treatment through a new system.

Hispanic women have higher incidence of rare breast tumor Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT According to a new study, phyllodes tumors -- rare breast malignancies accounting for 0.5 to 1 percent of all breast tumors -- tend to be more prevalent in Hispanic patients. Population-based estimates indicate that the incidence of malignant phyllodes tumors is 2.1 cases per million women, with the highest frequencies in Hispanic women.

Crowdsourcing democracy through social media Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT Today the citizens of Liberia will participate in just their second presidential election since the country emerged from a brutal civil war in 2003, and in such an environment the specter of violence or other unrest is never far away. But what if social media, a professor is asking, could identify and even help prevent dangerous situations from occurring?

'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT A professor has developed a new computer algorithm to help unravel the different sources that contributed to the authorship of the scriptures. Sidestepping the problems of content-based analysis, his algorithm searches for patterns in writing style to give deeper insight into ancient writings such as the Bible.

New 'diamond?' New form of superhard carbon is as strong as a diamond Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT Carbon is the fourth-most-abundant element in the universe and takes on a wide variety of forms, called allotropes, including diamond and graphite. Scientists have now discovered a new form of carbon, which is capable of withstanding extreme pressure stresses that were previously observed only in diamond.

Point defects in super-chilled diamonds may offer stable candidates for quantum computing bits Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:14 AM PDT Scientists test how the energy levels of electrons trapped in a defect in the diamond matrix shift with changing temperatures.

X-ray camera makes A-grade particle detector Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT Combining an off-the-shelf X-ray camera with a thin piece of carbon foil yields a device that can detect high-energy organic atoms and heavy molecules better than the typical devices used for these jobs, with potential benefits ranging from the science of cancer treatment to star chemistry.

New mathematical model explains patterns of human movement by considering the costs Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT People decide to take trips for a dauntingly complex mix of reasons, but out of the individual chaos of dry-cleaning pick-ups, pizza dinners, and European vacations, a new mathematical model has emerged. It finds hidden patterns in human beings' collective excursions near, not-so-near, and far from home.

New testing program improves scores, knowledge retention for third-year internal medicine residents Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT A new analysis shows that a multiple-choice testing program coupled with a novel year-long clinical experience helps internal medicine residents improve their scores on the Internal Medicine In-Training Exam.

A safe vaccination for Alzheimer's disease? Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT Genetic factors influence the immune response to vaccinations for Alzheimer's disease, which are among the most promising avenues of treatment for the illness. Using a mice model, these factors were studied.

First monkey exome sequencing platform for biomedical developed Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:12 AM PDT The first exome sequencing platform for the monkey, based on next-generation sequencing technology and monkey exome capturing array, has been developed.

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