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Thursday, November 29, 2012

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


Kerosene lamps identified as big source of black carbon

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:30 PM PST

Kerosene lamps, the primary source of light for more than a billion people in developing nations, churns out black carbon at levels previously overlooked in greenhouse gas estimates, according to a new study. The new findings result in a twenty-fold increase to previous estimates of black carbon emissions from kerosene-fueled lighting. The good news is that affordable, cleaner alternatives exist.

Human disturbances keep elk on high alert

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:30 PM PST

Researchers have discovered that elk are more frequently and more easily disturbed by human behavior such as ATV drivers than by their natural predators like bears and wolves.

Health-care providers can play critical role in reducing and preventing intimate partner violence

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST

Researchers report that health-care providers can play a critical role in helping to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence by screening and referring patients to appropriate resources.

HIV treatment reduces risk of malaria recurrence in children

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST

A combination of anti-HIV drugs has been found to also reduce the risk of recurrent malaria by nearly half among HIV-positive children, according to researchers.

Scientists identify depression and anxiety biomarker in youths

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST

Scientists have discovered a cognitive biomarker -- a biological indicator of a disease -- for young adolescents who are at high risk of developing depression and anxiety. Their findings were published Nov. 28 in the journal PLOS ONE.

More omnivore dilemmas: Seasonal diet changes can cause reproductive stress in primates

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST

When seasonal changes affect food availability, omnivores like blue monkeys adapt by changing their diets, but such nutritional changes may impact female reproduction, according to new research.

Skeletons in cave reveal Mediterranean secrets

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST

Skeletal remains in an island cave in Favignana, Italy, reveal that modern humans first settled in Sicily around the time of the last ice age and despite living on Mediterranean islands, ate little seafood.

Risk of childhood obesity can be predicted at birth

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST

A simple formula can predict at birth a baby's likelihood of becoming obese in childhood, according to a new study.

Moral evaluations of harm are instant and emotional

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST

People are able to detect, within a split second, if a hurtful action they are witnessing is intentional or accidental, new research on the brain shows. The study is the first to explain how the brain is hard-wired to recognize when another person is being intentionally harmed.

Mediation combined with art therapy can change your brain and lower anxiety

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST

Cancer and stress go hand-in-hand, and high stress levels can lead to poorer health outcomes in cancer patients. The combined creative art therapy with a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for women with breast cancer and showed changes in brain activity associated with lower stress and anxiety after the eight-week program.

Ponatinib acts against the most resistant types of chronic myeloid leukemia

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST

Phase I trial shows third-generation drug helps patients after other treatments fail.

Moral judgments quicker, more extreme than practical ones, but also flexible

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 03:27 PM PST

Judgments we make with a moral underpinning are made more quickly and are more extreme than those same judgments based on practical considerations, a new set of studies finds. However, the findings also show that judgments based on morality can be readily shifted and made with other considerations in mind.

Order of psychiatric diagnoses may influence how clinicians identify symptoms

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:22 PM PST

The diagnostic system used by many mental health practitioners in the United States assumes that symptoms of two disorders that occur at the same time are additive and that the order in which the disorders are presented doesn't matter. But new research suggests that order actually plays a significant role in determining how clinicians think about psychiatric disorders.

Archaeologists discover shipwrecks, ancient harbor on coast of Israel

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:22 PM PST

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a fleet of early-19th century ships and ancient harbor structures from the Hellenistic period at the city of Akko, one of the major ancient ports of the eastern Mediterranean. The findings shed light on a period of history that is little known and point to how and where additional remains may be found.

NSAID use linked to reduced hepatocellular carcinoma risk and mortality due to chronic liver disease

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:22 PM PST

Researchers found that aspirin use is associated with a decreased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and death from chronic liver disease, according to a new study.

Drug may offer new approach to treating insomnia

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:21 PM PST

A new drug may bring help for people with insomnia, according to a new study.

Researcher tests powerful new tool to advance ecology, conservation

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:20 PM PST

A new study shows ecologists may have been missing crucial information from animal bones for more than 150 years.

Online tool creates catch-up immunization schedules

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 01:20 PM PST

A new online tool takes the guesswork out of developing individualized catch-up immunization schedules by allowing parents and health care providers to easily create a schedule that ensures missed vaccines and future vaccines are administered according to approved guidelines.

Women 16-49 at risk of multiple pollutants, which could harm brain development of fetuses and babies

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:39 AM PST

In a new analysis of thousands of US women of childbearing age, researchers found that most exceeded the median blood level for two or more of three environmental pollutants that could harm brain development of fetuses and babies: lead, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

New method of manufacturing smallest structures in electronics: Discovery could revolutionize semiconductors

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:39 AM PST

A completely new method of manufacturing the smallest structures in electronics could make their manufacture thousands of times quicker, allowing for cheaper semiconductors. Instead of starting from a silicon wafer or other substrate, as is usual today, researchers have made it possible for the structures to grow from freely suspended nanoparticles of gold in a flowing gas.

Implantable silk optics multi-task in body: Dissolvable micro-mirrors enhance imaging, administer heat, deliver and monitor drugs

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:39 AM PST

Researchers have demonstrated silk-based implantable optics that offer significant improvement in tissue imaging while simultaneously enabling photo thermal therapy, administering drugs and monitoring drug delivery. The devices also lend themselves to a variety of other biomedical functions. Biodegradable and biocompatible, these tiny mirror-like devices dissolve harmlessly at predetermined rates and require no surgery to remove them.

Experts recommend closer scrutiny of radiation exposure from CT scans

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

Amid increasing fear of overexposure to radiation from CT scans, a panel of experts has recommended more research on the health effects of medical imaging and ways to reduce unnecessary CT tests, as well as industry standardization of CT machines.

Double duty: Immune system regulator found to protect brain from effects of stroke

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

A small molecule known to regulate white blood cells has a surprising second role in protecting brain cells from the deleterious effects of stroke, researchers report. The molecule, microRNA-223, affects how cells respond to the temporary loss of blood supply brought on by stroke -- and thus the cells' likelihood of suffering permanent damage.

Analysis of conflicting fish oil studies finds that omega-3 fatty acids still matter

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

A new analysis helps to sort through conflicting findings from literally hundreds of studies on use of omega-3 fatty acids for heart disease. It concludes that they still matter; they do work; and that modern therapies for cardiovascular disease help to mask the benefits omega-3 consumption might otherwise provide.

Mathematics used to identify contamination in water distribution networks

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

New research considers the identification of contaminants in a water distribution network as an optimal control problem within a networked system.

New light shed on virus associated with developmental delays and deafness

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

A new study reveals that primitive human stem cells are resistant to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), one of the leading prenatal causes of congenital intellectual disability, deafness and deformities worldwide. Researchers found that as stem cells and other primitive cells mature into neurons, they become more susceptible to HCMV, which could allow them to find effective treatments for the virus and to prevent its potentially devastating consequences.

Common drug reverses common effect of becker muscular dystrophy

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:26 AM PST

Researchers have found in an initial clinical trial that a drug typically prescribed for erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension restores blood flow to oxygen-starved muscles in patients with a type of muscular dystrophy that affects males, typically starting in childhood or adolescence.

Scientists pair blood test and gene sequencing to detect cancer

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:26 AM PST

Scientists have combined the ability to detect cancer DNA in the blood with genome sequencing technology in a test that could be used to screen for cancers, monitor cancer patients for recurrence and find residual cancer left after surgery.

Major breakthrough in deciphering bread wheat's genetic code

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 11:21 AM PST

Scientists have unlocked key components of the genetic code of one of the world's most important crops. The first analysis of the complex and exceptionally large bread wheat genome is a major breakthrough in breeding wheat varieties that are more productive and better able to cope with disease, drought and other stresses that cause crop losses.

Researchers increase understanding of genetic risk factor for type 1 diabetes

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:23 AM PST

Researchers have demonstrated how a genetic variant associated with type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases influences susceptibility to autoimmunity.

Autumn sets in rapidly on Saturn's giant moon

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:23 AM PST

As leaves fall and winter approaches in Earth's Northern Hemisphere, a change of seasons is also rapidly becoming noticeable in the southern hemisphere of Saturn's giant moon, Titan.

Human genetic variation recent, varies among populations

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:22 AM PST

Nearly three-quarters of mutations in genes that code for proteins -- the workhorses of the cell -- occurred within the past 5,000 to 10,000 years, fairly recently in evolutionary terms, said genomic and genetic experts.

Chemists invent powerful toolkit, accelerating creation of potential new drugs

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:22 AM PST

Scientists have invented a set of chemical tools that is radically simplifying the creation of potential new drug compounds.

Tiny algae shed light on photosynthesis as a dynamic property

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:22 AM PST

Many of the world's most important photosynthetic eukaryotes such as plants got their light-harnessing organelles (chloroplasts) indirectly from other organisms through endosymbiosis. In some instances, this resulted in algae with multiple, distinct genomes, some in residual organelles (nucleomorphs). To better understand why nucleomorphs persist after endosymbiosis, scientists sequenced and analyzed two tiny algae.

Giant black hole could upset galaxy evolution models

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:21 AM PST

Astronomers have discovered a black hole that could shake the foundations of current models of galaxy evolution. At 17 billion times the mass of the Sun, its mass is much greater than current models predict – in particular since the surrounding galaxy is comparatively small. This could be the most massive black hole found to date.

New approach to support future climate projections

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 10:21 AM PST

Scientists have developed a new approach for evaluating past climate sensitivity data to help improve comparison with estimates of long-term climate projections developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The sensitivity of global temperature to changes in the Earth's radiation balance (climate sensitivity) is a key factor for understanding past natural climate changes as well as potential future climate change.

'Chill-coma' recovery: Cold cricket case could defrost mysteries of changing climate

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:25 AM PST

Biologists have discovered that insects recover from chill-coma by getting water and salt back where it belongs. These findings not only identify the very mechanisms that drive insect movement at low temperatures but will lead to a better understanding of agriculture management, biodiversity and climate change.

College students more eager for marriage than their parents are

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:21 AM PST

A national study found that U.S. college students think 25 years old is the "right age" to get married, while a majority of parents feel 25 is still a little too soon. So it's no coincidence that when Justin Bieber said he'd like to wed by 25, Oprah Winfrey urged him to wait longer in an interview aired Sunday.

Cell phone addiction similar to compulsive buying and credit card misuse, experts say

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST

Cell phone and instant messaging addictions are driven by materialism and impulsiveness and can be compared to consumption pathologies like compulsive buying and credit card misuse, according to a new study.

Scientists uncover a novel cooperative effort to stop cancer spread

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST

Scientists have uncovered a group of what have been considered relatively minor regulators in the body that band together to suppress the spread of cancer from its primary site.

How climate change could affect entire forest ecosystems

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST

The fog comes in, and a drop of water forms on a pine needle, rolls down the needle, and falls to the forest floor. The process is repeated over and over, on each pine needle of every tree in a forest of Bishop pines on Santa Cruz Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara. That fog drip helps the entire forest ecosystem stay alive.

Changes in nerve cells may contribute to the development of mental illness

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST

Reduced production of myelin, a type of protective nerve fiber that is lost in diseases like multiple sclerosis, may also play a role in the development of mental illness, according to new research.

Tight times may influence how we perceive others

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:20 AM PST

From the playground to the office, a key aspect of our social lives involves figuring out who "belongs" and who doesn't. Scientists theorize that these prevalent in-group biases may give us a competitive advantage against others, especially when important resources are limited. New research explores whether resource scarcity might actually lead us to change our definition of who belongs to our social group, influencing how we perceive others' race.

Record-setting X-ray jet: X-rays from supermassive black hole 12.4 billion light years from Earth

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:15 AM PST

A jet of X-rays from a supermassive black hole 12.4 billion light years from Earth has been detected. This is the most distant X-ray jet ever observed and gives astronomers a glimpse into the explosive activity associated with the growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe.

First success of targeted therapy in most common genetic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 09:15 AM PST

Chemotherapy and a new, targeted therapy work better in combination than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with the most common genetic subtype of lung cancer, new research suggests.

Scientists sniff out the substances behind the aroma in the 'king of fruits'

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:22 AM PST

The latest effort to decipher the unique aroma signature of the durian -- revered as the "king of fruits" in southeast Asia but reviled elsewhere as the world's foulest smelling food -- has uncovered several new substances that contribute to the fragrance.

Hagfish slime as a model for tomorrow's natural fabrics

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:22 AM PST

Nylon, Kevlar and other synthetic fabrics: Step aside. If new scientific research pans out, people may be sporting shirts, blouses and other garments made from fibers modeled after those in the icky, super-strong slime from a creature called the hagfish.

Mix masters: Scientists image the molecular structure of polymer blends

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:21 AM PST

Using an enhanced form of 'chemical microscopy', researchers have shown that they can peer into the structure of blended polymers, resolving details of the molecular arrangement at sub-micrometer levels. The capability has important implications for the design of industrially important polymers like the polyethylene blends used to repair aging waterlines.

Researchers synthesize new kind of silk fiber, and use music to fine-tune material's properties

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:21 AM PST

Researchers have synthesized a new kind of silk fiber -- and find that music can help fine-tune the material's properties.

Outside a vacuum: Model predicts movement of charged particles in complex media

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:21 AM PST

It's a problem that has stumped scientists for years. Now researchers have developed a model that can predict the movements of charged particles, even in heterogeneous environments like cells, blood, or colloids.

Experiments challenge fundamental understanding of electromagnetism

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:21 AM PST

A cornerstone of physics, quantum electrodynamics, may require some updates if the findings of recent experiments on highly charged ions are confirmed.

Young adults more likely to smoke cannabis than drink before driving, survey of Canadians shows

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 08:21 AM PST

Most adults are drinking responsibly, and fewer are smoking or using illicit substances -- but several areas of concern were found in a 2011 recent survey.

Researchers identify ways to exploit 'cloud browsers' for large-scale, anonymous computing

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 07:39 AM PST

Researchers have found a way to exploit cloud-based Web browsers, using them to perform large-scale computing tasks anonymously. The finding has potential ramifications for the security of 'cloud browser' services.

Family's economic situation influences brain function in children

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 07:39 AM PST

Children of low socioeconomic status work harder to filter out irrelevant environmental information than those from a high-income background because of learned differences in what they pay attention to, according to new research.

Four is the 'magic' number

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

According to psychological lore, when it comes to items of information the mind can cope with before confusion sets in, the "magic" number is seven. But a new analysis challenges this long-held view, suggesting the number might actually be four.

Fish ear bones point to climate impacts

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

Scientists believe that fish ear bones and their distinctive growth rings can offer clues to the likely impacts of climate change in aquatic environments.

Immune system could play a central role in age-related macular degeneration

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

Changes in how genes in the immune system function may result in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of visual impairment in older adults. The findings are epigenetic in nature, meaning that the underlying DNA is normal but gene expression has been modified, likely by environmental factors, in an adverse way. Environmental factors associated with AMD include smoking, diet, and aging. This is the first epigenetic study revealing the molecular mechanisms for any eye disease.

Malaria study suggests drugs should target female parasites

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

Fresh insight into the parasite that causes malaria suggests a new way to develop drugs and vaccines to tackle the disease.

Sea levels rising faster than IPCC projections

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

Sea levels are rising 60 per cent faster than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's central projections, new research suggests. While temperature rises appear to be consistent with the projections made in the IPCC's fourth assessment report (AR4), satellite measurements show that sea levels are actually rising at a rate of 3.2 mm a year compared to the best estimate of 2 mm a year in the report.

Could astronauts use a 3-D printer to make parts from moon rocks?

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PST

Imagine landing on the moon or Mars, putting rocks through a 3-D printer and making something useful – like a needed wrench or replacement part. "It sounds like science fiction, but now it's really possible,'' scientists say.

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