ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Mechanism for the transformation of colon polyps
• Inflammation may be a cause of plaque buildup in heart vessels
• Master regulator of skin development discovered
• A better way to make chemicals? Technique for observing 'mechanochemical' synthesis could boost green chemistry
• Origin of intelligence and mental illness linked to ancient genetic accident
• Role of cellular entry point of anthrax identified
• Bismuth provides perfect dance partners for quantum computing qubits
• Scientists discover how two proteins help keep cells healthy: Implications for cancer drug development
• Record high for global carbon emissions
• Childhood trauma leaves mark on DNA of some victims: Gene-environment interaction causes lifelong dysregulation of stress hormones
• Glowing fish shed light on metabolism
• Cell surface transporters exploited for cancer drug delivery
• Scientists find 'bully' genes in common childhood tumor
• Genes linked to low birth weight, adult shortness and later diabetes risk
• Reaching 2009 international climate change goals will require aggressive measures
• Brain and nervous system damaged by low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides
• Brain cooling to treat epilepsy moves closer to human application
• Laser surgery for epilepsy less invasive, more precise in early reports
• Teens increasingly abuse prescription painkillers
• Less than 25 percent of Americans walk for more than ten minutes continuously in a typical week

Mechanism for the transformation of colon polyps Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:44 PM PST The causes underlying the development of certain types of common cancers have not yet been elucidated. In order to better determine the origin and the sequence of events responsible for the onset of colon cancer, scientists have sequenced the DNA of biopsied tissue from colon polyps. The results show that these precancerous lesions have a specific profile.

Inflammation may be a cause of plaque buildup in heart vessels Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:44 PM PST Fifteen new genetic regions associated with coronary artery disease have been identified by a large, international consortium of scientists -- taking a significant step forward in understanding the root causes of this deadly disease.

Master regulator of skin development discovered Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:44 PM PST The surface of your skin, called the epidermis, is a complex mixture of many different cell types -- each with a very specific job. The production, or differentiation, of such a sophisticated tissue requires an immense amount of coordination at the cellular level, and glitches in the process can have disastrous consequences. Now, researchers have identified a master regulator of this differentiation process.

A better way to make chemicals? Technique for observing 'mechanochemical' synthesis could boost green chemistry Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:44 PM PST For the first time, scientists have studied a mechanochemical milling reaction in real time, using highly penetrating X-rays to observe the surprisingly rapid transformations as the mill mixed, ground, and transformed simple ingredients into a complex product. This research promises to advance scientists' understanding of processes central to the pharmaceutical, metallurgical, cement and mineral industries – and could open new opportunities in "green chemistry" and environmentally friendly chemical synthesis.

Origin of intelligence and mental illness linked to ancient genetic accident Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:43 PM PST Scientists have discovered for the first time how humans -- and other mammals -- have evolved to have intelligence. Researchers have identified the moment in history when the genes that enabled us to think and reason evolved.

Role of cellular entry point of anthrax identified Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:43 PM PST Anthrax uses a receptor on the surface of cells to inject its lethal toxins. However, the physiological function of this receptor, named Anthrax Toxin Receptor 2a (Antxr2a), remained unknown until now. Medical researchers have now revealed that Antxr2a actually plays a role in embryonic development, orienting cell division along a specific plane.

Bismuth provides perfect dance partners for quantum computing qubits Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:43 PM PST New research has demonstrated a way to make bismuth electrons and nuclei work together as qubits in a quantum computer.

Scientists discover how two proteins help keep cells healthy: Implications for cancer drug development Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:41 PM PST Scientists have determined how two proteins help create organelles, or specialized subunits within a cell, that play a vital role in maintaining cell health. This discovery opens the door for research on substances that could interfere with the formation of these organelles and lead to new therapies for cancer.

Record high for global carbon emissions Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST Global carbon dioxide emissions are set to rise again in 2012, reaching a record high of 35.6 billion tonnes - according to new figures from the Global Carbon Project. The 2.6 per cent rise projected for 2012 means global emissions from burning fossil fuel are 58 per cent above 1990 levels, the baseline year for the Kyoto Protocol. This latest analysis shows the biggest contributors to global emissions in 2011 were China (28 per cent), the United States (16 per cent), the European Union (11 per cent), and India (7 per cent).

Childhood trauma leaves mark on DNA of some victims: Gene-environment interaction causes lifelong dysregulation of stress hormones Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST Abused children are at high risk of anxiety and mood disorders, as traumatic experience induces lasting changes to their gene regulation. Scientists have now documented for the first time that genetic variants of the FKBP5 gene can influence epigenetic alterations in this gene induced by early trauma.

Glowing fish shed light on metabolism Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST A tiny, translucent zebrafish that glows green when its liver makes glucose has helped researchers identify a compound that regulates whole-body metabolism and appears to protect obese mice from signs of metabolic disorders.

Cell surface transporters exploited for cancer drug delivery Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST A protein known as monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), which is highly expressed in a subset of metabolically altered cancer cells, is needed for the entry of the investigational cancer drug 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) into malignant cells.

Scientists find 'bully' genes in common childhood tumor Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST In a genome sequencing study of 74 neuroblastoma tumors in children, scientists have found that patients with changes in two genes, ARID1A and ARID1B, survive only a quarter as long as patients without the changes. The discovery could eventually lead to early identification of patients with aggressive neuroblastomas who may need additional treatments.

Genes linked to low birth weight, adult shortness and later diabetes risk Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST Researchers have discovered four new gene regions that contribute to low birth weight. Three of those regions influence adult metabolism, including outcomes such as adult height, risk of type 2 diabetes and adult blood pressure.

Reaching 2009 international climate change goals will require aggressive measures Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:40 PM PST Despite an international consensus reached in 2009 to limit climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, scientists say the likelihood of meeting that goal is diminishing. The Global Carbon Project's most recent analysis by scientists from the United States, Norway, Australia, France and the United Kingdom shows that a global economy fueled with coal, oil and natural gas is putting increasing pressure on the global climate system.

Brain and nervous system damaged by low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides Posted: 02 Dec 2012 08:37 AM PST Scientists have found that low-level exposure to organophosphates produces lasting decrements in neurological and cognitive function. Memory and information processing speed are affected to a greater degree than other cognitive functions such as language.

Brain cooling to treat epilepsy moves closer to human application Posted: 02 Dec 2012 08:36 AM PST Neuroscientists have reported that chronic focal brain cooling suppresses seizures during wakefulness and achieves the effect without significantly affecting brain function. Their research, and that of others in the field, provides critical evidence that this approach to seizure control has reached a stage where testing in humans will soon be possible.

Laser surgery for epilepsy less invasive, more precise in early reports Posted: 02 Dec 2012 08:36 AM PST A developing new laser surgical technique for epilepsy appears to be safe and effective and reduces hospital stays to one or two days, according to two new research reports. Both studies were conducted on pediatric patients with refractory focal seizures. Investigators reported the laser technique which requires only a small scalp incision and twist drill hole in the skull to be more precise and with fewer complications than conventional resective surgery. The laser system is already FDA cleared for neurosurgery.

Teens increasingly abuse prescription painkillers Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:11 PM PST Young people ages 15 to 24 are abusing prescription painkillers more than any other age group or any other youth in history. Availability of these drugs from their parents' medicine cabinets may be to blame, according to new research.

Less than 25 percent of Americans walk for more than ten minutes continuously in a typical week Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:11 PM PST Many people in the U.S. do not walk, bike or engage in other forms of active transportation, missing an important opportunity to improve their cardiovascular health, concludes a new study.

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