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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Study: No-fat, low-fat dressings don't get most nutrients out of salads

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:02 PM PDT

The vegetables in salads are chock-full of important vitamins and nutrients, but you won't get much benefit without the right type and amount of salad dressing, a new study shows.

Paddle vs. propeller: Which competitive swimming stroke is superior?

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:02 PM PDT

In time for the US Olympic Trials, engineers settle the argument over which swim stroke technique -- deep catch or sculling -- is faster.

Specific bacteria linked to indoor water-damage and mold identified

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:02 PM PDT

Bacterial contamination in water-damaged buildings has been identified as a potential cause of health problems, including infection and respiratory conditions like asthma. An environmental health research team found evidence linking two specific strains of bacteria -- Stenotrophomonas and Mycobacterium -- to indoor mold from water damage.

Hulk smash? Maybe not anymore: Scientists block excess aggression in mice

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:01 PM PDT

Pathological rage can be blocked in mice, researchers have found, suggesting potential new treatments for severe aggression, a widespread trait characterized by sudden violence, explosive outbursts and hostile overreactions to stress.

Should consumers trust their feelings as information?

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:59 PM PDT

Consumers who trust their feelings are more likely to make choices based on what "feels right" even when feelings are irrelevant to their decision, according to a new study.

Most quasars live on snacks, not large meals

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:56 PM PDT

A census of 30 quasar host galaxies, conducted with the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope, has found that black holes in the early universe may have only needed a few snacks, such as a batch of gas or the occasional small satellite galaxy, rather than one giant meal to fuel their quasars and help them grow.

Adaptable decision making in the brain

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:52 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered how a part of the brain helps predict future events from past experiences. The work sheds light on the function of the front-most part of the frontal lobe, known as the frontopolar cortex, an area of the cortex uniquely well developed in humans in comparison with apes and other primates.

Infants can't distinguish between large and small groups

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 09:37 AM PDT

Human brains process large and small numbers of objects using two different mechanisms, but infants have not yet developed the ability to make those two processes work together, according to new research.

Mars weather report: Size of particles in Martian clouds of carbon dioxide snow calculated

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 09:01 AM PDT

New research shows that, much like Earth, the polar caps of Mars change with the seasons. In the dead of a Martian winter, clouds of snow blanket the Red Planet's poles -- but unlike our water-based snow, the particles on Mars are frozen crystals of carbon dioxide. Most of the Martian atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide, and in the winter, the poles get so cold -- cold enough to freeze alcohol -- that the gas condenses, forming tiny particles of snow.

Inhibitors of shuttle molecule show promise in acute leukemia

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:29 AM PDT

A novel family of experimental agents that blocks a molecule from shuttling proteins out of the cell nucleus might offer a new treatment for people with acute leukemia. The agents, called KPT-SINEs (selective inhibitors of nuclear export), target a transport protein called CRM1. The study shows that these agents inhibit leukemia-cell proliferation, arrest cell division, and induce cell death and differentiation. In an animal model, KPT-SINEs extended survival by 46 percent.

Night work may put women's health at risk

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:29 AM PDT

The risk of developing breast cancer is higher among women who have worked at night, according to new research. The study compared the careers of 1,200 women who had developed breast cancer between 2005 and 2008 with the careers of 1,300 other women.

Detector of DNA damage: Structure of a repair factor revealed

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 08:28 AM PDT

Double-stranded breaks in cellular DNA can trigger tumorigenesis. Researchers have now determined the structure of a protein involved in the repair and signaling of DNA double-strand breaks. The work throws new light on the origins of neurodegenerative diseases and certain tumor types.

Compact blue dwarf can’t hide from Hubble

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:51 AM PDT

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new view of the dwarf galaxy UGC 5497, which looks a bit like salt sprinkled on black velvet in the image.

From pomegranate peel to nanoparticles

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:39 AM PDT

Food waste is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but discarded fruit peel, in the case of pomegranates, could be put to good use in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology according to new research.

Schooling fish: Wild zebrafish assess risk through social learning

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:38 AM PDT

Scientists have investigated whether zebrafish use social learning to assess risk. They found that wild zebrafish, which are more timid than their domesticated counterparts, became emboldened after interacting with domesticated zebrafish. The opposite did not occur, however.

Sun exposure and sun-sensitive skin type decreased risk for pancreatic cancer

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:38 AM PDT

High levels of ultraviolet radiation at an individual's birth location, sun-sensitive skin type and a history of skin cancer each decreased risk for pancreatic cancer, according to new study results.

Power of playtime: Single mothers can reduce stress by playing, engaging with children

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:36 AM PDT

A group of researchers is studying ways to help single mothers improve their relationship with their children.

Fishing for answers to autism puzzle

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 07:36 AM PDT

Fish cannot display symptoms of autism, schizophrenia, or other human brain disorders. However, scientists have shown that zebrafish can be a useful tool for studying the genes that contribute to such disorders.

Scientists discover how key enzyme involved in aging, cancer assembles

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:32 AM PDT

Biochemists have mapped the structure of a key protein-RNA complex that is required for the assembly of telomerase, an enzyme important for both cancer and aging.

Belief in hell, according to international data, is associated with reduced crime

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:32 AM PDT

Religions are thought to serve as bulwarks against unethical behaviors. However, when it comes to predicting criminal behavior, the specific religious beliefs one holds is the determining factor, says a psychologist.

New method generates cardiac muscle patches from stem cells

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:32 AM PDT

A cutting-edge method uses stems cells to create heart cells that display activity similar to most people's resting heart rate.

Oxygen 'sensor' may shut down DNA transcription

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:29 AM PDT

A key component found in an ancient anaerobic microorganism may serve as a sensor to detect potentially fatal oxygen, researchers have found. This helps researchers learn more about the function of these components, called iron-sulfur clusters, which occur in different parts of cells in all living creatures.

Antibacterials in personal-care products linked to allergy risk in children

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:29 AM PDT

Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research.

Is TV becoming a regular babysitter for busy parents?

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:29 AM PDT

A new survey indicates that parents believe TV and other screen media hold educational value. But are they using it for that purpose?

Link between vitamin C and twin seedlings can increase seed production in crops

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 04:49 PM PDT

Biochemists have found that increasing the level of dehydroascorbate reductase, a naturally occurring enzyme that recycles vitamin C in plants and animals, increases the vitamin's level and results in the production of twin and triplet seedlings in a single seed. The discovery's value lies in the potential to produce genetically identical seedlings and increase production of high-value crops. The extra seedlings per seed may also enhance per-seed survival chances for some species.

Study indicates promise in Huntington's treatment

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 04:49 PM PDT

A new study shows that the compound Coenzyme Q10 reduces oxidative damage, a key finding that hints at its potential to slow the progression of Huntington disease. The discovery also points to a new biomarker that could be used to screen experimental treatments for this and other neurological disorders.

Psoriasis increases risk of diabetes, study shows

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 01:18 PM PDT

Psoriasis is an independent risk for Type 2 Diabetes, according to a new study, with the greatest risk seen in patients with severe psoriasis. Researchers estimate that an additional 115,500 people will develop diabetes each year due to the risk posed by psoriasis above and beyond conventional risk factors.

Too much salt may damage blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Eating a high-salt diet for several years is associated with markers of blood vessel damage. People who have markers of blood vessel damage and eat a high-salt diet are more likely to develop high blood pressure; Therefore, the impact of a high-salt diet is greater on this group of people.

On the origin of music by means of natural selection

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 12:37 PM PDT

Do away with the DJ and scrap the composer. A computer program powered by Darwinian natural selection and the musical tastes of 7,000 website users may be on the way to creating a perfect pop tune, according to new research.

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