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Sunday, June 22, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Gene critical for development of brain motor center found

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 01:33 PM PDT

A research team describes a gene called Snf2h, which is found in our brain's neural stem cells and functions as a master regulator. When they removed this gene early on in a mouse's development, its cerebellum only grew to one-third the normal size. It also had difficulty walking, balancing and coordinating its movements, something called cerebellar ataxia that is a component of many neurodegenerative diseases.

Effectiveness of PTSD treatments provided by DOD, VA unknown

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 11:39 AM PDT

The US Department of Defense and US Department of Veterans Affairs should track the outcomes of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) provided to service members and veterans and develop a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to do so, says a new congressionally mandated report.

NASA selects studies for the asteroid redirect mission

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 11:37 AM PDT

NASA has selected 18 proposals for studies under the Asteroid Redirect Mission Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). These six-month studies will mature system concepts and key technologies and assess the feasibility of potential commercial partnerships to support the agency's Asteroid Redirect Mission, a key part of the agency's stepping stone path to send humans to Mars.

Super-stretchable yarn is made of graphene

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 11:37 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a simple, scalable method of making graphene oxide fibers that are strong, stretchable and can be easily scrolled into yarns with strengths approaching that of Kevlar.

Materials for the building industry: A shape-conscious alloy

Posted: 20 Jun 2014 07:21 AM PDT

When the frame of a pair of glasses is bent out of shape, it's not that easy to return it to its original form. If, however, your spectacles are made of a shape memory alloy then you don't have a problem. Just place the frame in hot water and bingo! – they're as good as new again. Empa researchers have now shown that these materials can also find applications in the building industry. For example in the reinforcement of bridges.

Emerging HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:22 AM PDT

HIV epidemics are emerging among people who inject drugs in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Though HIV infection levels were historically very low in the Middle East and North Africa, substantial levels of HIV transmission and emerging HIV epidemics have been documented among people who inject drugs in at least one-third of the countries of this region, according to research findings.

In hairless man, arthritis drug spurs hair growth -- lots

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 09:53 AM PDT

A man with almost no hair on his body has grown a full head of it after a novel treatment. There is currently no cure or long-term treatment for alopecia universalis, the disease that left the 25-year-old patient bare of hair. This is the first reported case of a successful targeted treatment for the rare, highly visible disease.

Tiny molecule could help diagnose, treat mental disorders

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 09:53 AM PDT

According to the World Health Organization, such mood disorders as depression affect some 10% of the world's population and are associated with a heavy burden of disease. Now, scientists report that they have 'fingerprinted' a culprit in depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.

Feel-good hormones could cause UV addiction

Posted: 19 Jun 2014 09:52 AM PDT

Sun lovers eagerly flock to the beach every summer, despite widespread awareness of the risk of skin cancer. A new study reveals that chronic exposure to UV radiation causes the release of feel-good hormones called endorphins, which act through the same pathway as heroin, leading to physical dependence, tolerance, and addiction-like behavior in rodents. The findings could explain why people have an instinctive desire to be in the sun, despite its known health risks.

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