ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Breakthrough in treatment of hepatitis C
• Birds of a feather display only a fraction of possible colors
• Vitamin A deficiency does not affect onset of asthma, study suggests
• Scientists accurately predict age with saliva sample
• Birds' eye view is far more colorful than our own
• Stiff sediments made 2004 Sumatra earthquake deadliest in history
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual youth bullied, abused more often than peers
• Properties of 'confined' water within single-walled carbon nanotube pores clarified
• Discovery offers molecular insights into link between Parkinson's and pesticides
• Psychologists find link between ovulation and women's ability to identify heterosexual men
• New biomarker may help with early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
• Corporal punishment: Mothers' self-recorded audio gives unique real-time view of spanking
• Components of speech recognition pathway in humans identified
• Fungicides may not increase corn yields unless disease develops
• Speed of brain signals clocked: New studies illuminate brain's complex neurotransmission machinery
• TB trial highlights challenges with introducing new vaccine into childhood immunization schedule
• Next generation gene therapy
• Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions
• Artificial light quality affects herbivore preference for seedlings
• Strongest evidence yet indicates icy Saturn moon hiding saltwater ocean
• Stress in the city: Brain activity and biology behind mood disorders of urbanites
• Decade-long study of Pacific predators shows importance of biological 'hotspots'
• Teeming with life, Pacific's California current likened to Africa's Serengeti Plain
• Is Enceladus hiding saltwater ocean? Cassini captures ocean-like spray at Saturn's moon
• Pandora's cluster: A galactic crash investigation
• Radar for Mars gets flight tests at NASA Dryden
• Cassini captures Saturn's icy moon Helene
• Current strategy for medicating patients may be giving many drug-resistant diseases a big competitive advantage
• Optimal topdressing applications for athletic fields determined
• Plant growth rate, stem length unaffected by rice hull, peat substrate
• Angioplasty with stents may be safe in long-term for low-risk heart patients
• Six compounds found in cranberry leaves may naturally reduce insect feeding, growth
• Gold nanoparticles help earlier diagnosis of liver cancer
• Waste heat converted to electricity using new alloy
• Molecular glue sticks it to cancer
• Sharing wisdom, teacher to teacher
• Tracking down motion perception
• Out of sync: Neural activity is disrupted in autistic toddlers
• Source of mystery pain uncovered
• Sight requires exact pattern of neural activity to be wired in the womb
• Weaker brain 'sync' may be early sign of autism
• Positive results for unprotected left main coronary artery PCI with drug-eluting stents
• Nudging doctors in intensive care unit reduces deaths, study finds; Physicians for critically ill need 'copilots' to remind them of important details
• Economic cost of weather may total $485 billion in US
• It's not about the money for long-term care nurses
• New theory on origin of birds: Enlarged skeletal muscles
• Powerful, intoxicated, anonymous: The paradox of the disinhibited
• Wild Cuban crocodiles hybridize with American crocs
• Evolution to the rescue: Species may adapt quickly to rapid environmental change, yeast study shows
• Genetic finding offers hope for orphan disease
• Church congregations can be blind to mental illness, study suggests
• Cancer survivors have lower employment rates and work fewer hours, study suggests
• Prejudice linked to women's menstrual cycle
• 'Super sand' for better purification of drinking water
• New delivery system for Viagra ingredient
• China needs improved administrative system for nuclear power safety, experts say
• Brief exam diagnoses cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
• Reasons for dramatic rise in cesarean births identified
• Electrical water detection
• Compulsory cycle helmet legislation linked to 29% reduction in cyclist head injuries

Breakthrough in treatment of hepatitis C Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:45 PM PDT The drug telaprevir (Incivek) provides a dramatic improvement in the treatment of the most common form of hepatitis C infection, says an international team of investigators.

Birds of a feather display only a fraction of possible colors Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:45 PM PDT Contrary to our human perception of bird coloration as extraordinarily diverse, a new study reports that bird plumages exhibit only a small fraction (less than a third) of the possible colors birds can observe.

Vitamin A deficiency does not affect onset of asthma, study suggests Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:45 PM PDT Vitamin A deficiency does not increase the risk of asthma, according to new research.

Scientists accurately predict age with saliva sample Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:44 PM PDT Self-conscious about your age? Careful where you spit. Geneticists now can use saliva to reveal how old you are. The findings suggest a myriad of potential applications, including the development of a new forensic tool for pinpointing a suspect's age in crime-scene investigations.

Birds' eye view is far more colorful than our own Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:44 PM PDT The brilliant colors of birds have inspired poets and nature lovers, but researchers say these existing hues represent only a fraction of what birds are capable of seeing.

Stiff sediments made 2004 Sumatra earthquake deadliest in history Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT Geoscientists have discovered an unusual geological formation that helps explain how an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004 spawned the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual youth bullied, abused more often than peers Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT Young people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, experience same-sex attractions or engage in same-sex sexual behaviors are more likely to experience sexual abuse, parental physical abuse and bullying from peers than other youth, according to a new study. In addition, the meta-analysis found these adolescents were more likely to miss school due to fear.

Properties of 'confined' water within single-walled carbon nanotube pores clarified Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT Water and ice may not be among the first things that come to mind when you think about single-walled carbon nanotubes, but a Japan-based research team hoping to get a clearer understanding of the phase behavior of confined water in the cylindrical pores of carbon nanotubes zeroed in on confined water's properties and made some surprising discoveries.

Discovery offers molecular insights into link between Parkinson's and pesticides Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT Scientists have taken some of the first steps toward unraveling the molecular dysfunction that occurs when proteins are exposed to environmental toxins. Their discovery helps further explain recent findings that demonstrate the link between Parkinson's disease and two particular pesticides -- rotenone and paraquat.

Psychologists find link between ovulation and women's ability to identify heterosexual men Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT A woman can more accurately identify a man's sexual orientation when looking at his face, when she is closest to her time of peak ovulation, psychologists show. Further, having romantic thoughts or a mating goal heightens a woman's ability to discriminate between straight and gay men.

New biomarker may help with early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:23 PM PDT A new biomarker may help identify which people with mild memory deficits will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. The biomarker may be more accurate than the currently established biomarkers.

Corporal punishment: Mothers' self-recorded audio gives unique real-time view of spanking Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:59 AM PDT In a new corporal punishment study based on actual audio recordings, mothers spank, slap or hit their young children, sparking crying, tantrums and whimpering. Believed to be the first study of its kind, 37 mothers recorded up to 36 hours of interactions with their children, says the psychologist involved in the study. The data capture the moments before, during and after punishment, which ranged from spanking with a belt to admonishments while hitting.

Components of speech recognition pathway in humans identified Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:59 AM PDT Neuroscientists have defined, for the first time, three different processing stages that a human brain needs to identify sounds such as speech -- and discovered that they are the same as ones identified in non-human primates.

Fungicides may not increase corn yields unless disease develops Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:59 AM PDT Unless a corn crop is at risk of developing fungal diseases, a new study shows that farmers would be smart to skip fungicide treatments that promise increased yields.

Speed of brain signals clocked: New studies illuminate brain's complex neurotransmission machinery Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:59 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered surprising details about the complex process that leads to the flow of neurotransmitters between brain neurons -- a dance of chemical messages so delicate that missteps often lead to neurological dysfunction.

TB trial highlights challenges with introducing new vaccine into childhood immunization schedule Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:59 AM PDT A new vaccine to combat tuberculosis is less effective at stimulating an immune response when administered to Gambian infants in combination with the routine immunization schedule, according to new results.

Next generation gene therapy Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:58 AM PDT Inspired by earlier successes using gene therapy to correct an inherited type of blindness, investigators are poised to extend their approach to other types of blinding disorders. In a new study, researchers compared the safety and efficiency of delivery in an animal model of two different types of vectors. This preclinical work will guide dose-level formulation and type of vector to deliver genes to treat blindness caused by the loss of photoreceptors.

Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT Researchers investigated the use of high tunnels to lengthen the growing season for June-bearing strawberries. The study compared vertical and in-ground high tunnel strawberry production when planting dates were optimized for each system. Results indicated that high tunnels can provide an effective and economical system for extending the season for strawberries in the Intermountain West region in the United States. The study contains production and market data to help growers maximize strawberry yields.

Artificial light quality affects herbivore preference for seedlings Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT Researchers evaluated the preference of adult sweet potato whitefly to cucumber seedlings grown under fluorescent lamps or metal-halide lamps that provided a spectrum similar to that of natural light. They observed significantly fewer whitefly adults on the fluorescent cucumber treated seedlings than on the metal-halide treated seedlings 24 hours after release. The scientists recommended that growers consider light quality when selecting light sources for transplant production.

Strongest evidence yet indicates icy Saturn moon hiding saltwater ocean Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT Samples of icy spray shooting from Saturn's moon Enceladus collected during Cassini spacecraft flybys show the strongest evidence yet for the existence of a large-scale, subterranean saltwater ocean, according to a new international study.

Stress in the city: Brain activity and biology behind mood disorders of urbanites Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT Being born and raised in a major urban area is associated with greater lifetime risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Until now, the biology for these associations had not been described. A new study shows that two distinct brain regions that regulate emotion and stress are affected by city living.

Decade-long study of Pacific predators shows importance of biological 'hotspots' Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT An unprecedented decade-long study of apex predators in the Pacific Ocean found a wider range of distribution among some species than previously thought, unknown relationships between other species, and the importance of biological "hotspots" to the survival of most of these sea creatures.

Teeming with life, Pacific's California current likened to Africa's Serengeti Plain Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:52 AM PDT Like the vast African plains, two huge expanses of the North Pacific Ocean are major corridors of life, attracting an array of marine predators in predictable seasonal patterns, according to final results from the Census of Marine Life Tagging of Pacific Predators.

Is Enceladus hiding saltwater ocean? Cassini captures ocean-like spray at Saturn's moon Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:36 AM PDT NASA's Cassini spacecraft has discovered the best evidence yet for a large-scale saltwater reservoir beneath the icy crust of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The data came from the spacecraft's direct analysis of salt-rich ice grains close to the jets ejected from the moon.

Pandora's cluster: A galactic crash investigation Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:35 AM PDT A team of scientists has studied the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, nicknamed Pandora's Cluster. They have pieced together the cluster's complex and violent history using telescopes in space and on the ground, including the Hubble Space Telescope and ESO's Very Large Telescope. Abell 2744 seems to be the result of a simultaneous pile-up of at least four separate galaxy clusters and this complex collision has produced strange effects that have never been seen together before.

Radar for Mars gets flight tests at NASA Dryden Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:33 AM PDT Southern California's high desert has been a stand-in for Mars for NASA technology testing many times over the years. And so it is again, in a series of flights by an F/A-18 aircraft to test the landing radar for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission.

Cassini captures Saturn's icy moon Helene Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:32 AM PDT NASA's Cassini spacecraft has successfully completed its second-closest encounter with Saturn's icy moon Helene, beaming down raw images of the small moon. At closest approach, on June 18, Cassini flew within 4,330 miles (6,968 kilometers) of Helene's surface. It was the second closest approach to Helene of the entire mission.

Current strategy for medicating patients may be giving many drug-resistant diseases a big competitive advantage Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:58 AM PDT In the war between drugs and drug-resistant diseases, the current strategy for medicating patients may be giving many drug-resistant diseases a big competitive advantage, according to a new article. The paper argues for new research efforts to discover effective ways for managing the evolution and slowing the spread of drug-resistant disease organisms.

Optimal topdressing applications for athletic fields determined Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:58 AM PDT Scientists evaluated the effects of cumulative sand topdressing rates on the fall wear tolerance and surface shear strength of simulated athletic fields. Experimental results suggested that a 0.5-inch topdressing depth applied over a 5-week period in summer will provide improved shoot density and surface shear strength in the subsequent fall. Results also indicated that topdressing rates as thick as 4.0 inches accumulated over a 2-year period provide increased shoot density but diminished surface shear strength.

Plant growth rate, stem length unaffected by rice hull, peat substrate Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Scientists identified the impact of a substrate containing parboiled rice hulls on plant growth retardant (PGR) applications for controlling plant height or stem length of containerized greenhouse crops. Results showed that PGR drench strategies can be effective for plants grown in substrate containing peat and rice hulls.

Angioplasty with stents may be safe in long-term for low-risk heart patients Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Heart bypass surgery is considered the gold standard for most patients with left main coronary artery disease, one of the most serious types of heart disease and one that affects thousands. But a new study reports favorable long-term outcomes for lower-risk patients with this condition who underwent angioplasty with medication-coated stents, rather than bypass surgery.

Six compounds found in cranberry leaves may naturally reduce insect feeding, growth Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT To determine whether insect herbivores have a feeding preference for certain cultivars of cranberry, researchers investigated the phenolic profiles in the foliage of two cranberry cultivars, then isolated and identified compounds that differed between the two cultivars. Gypsy moth larvae demonstrated a significant feeding preference for 'Howes' over 'Early Black' cranberry. Red-headed flea beetle adults demonstrated a similar, but not statistically significant, trend, and cranberry weevil preferred neither cultivar.

Gold nanoparticles help earlier diagnosis of liver cancer Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Medical researchers have devised a new technique to spot cancerous tumors in the liver as small as 5 millimeters. The technique, using gold nanoparticles, is the first to deploy metal nanoparticles as agents to enhance X-ray scattering of image tumor-like masses.

Waste heat converted to electricity using new alloy Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Engineering researchers have recently discovered a new alloy material that converts heat directly into electricity. This revolutionary energy conversion method is in the early stages of development, but it could have wide-sweeping impact on creating environmentally friendly electricity from waste heat sources.

Molecular glue sticks it to cancer Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Researchers have developed a "molecular glue" that sticks cancer-promoting proteins to a cell's membrane -- shutting off a cancer cell's growth.

Sharing wisdom, teacher to teacher Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT How do you teach math students to speak and write effectively about what they do? Crucially, how do you teach their teachers -- themselves mathematicians -- how to impart and evaluate these skills? A group of instructors has developed a tool to encourage teacher-to-teacher collaboration, bridging educators with similar challenges in different courses and from semester to semester.

Tracking down motion perception Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:57 AM PDT Neurobiologists have determined the number of circuits needed to see movements. Researchers are only beginning to grasp the complexity of the nerve cell circuits necessary to perceive motion.

Out of sync: Neural activity is disrupted in autistic toddlers Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:56 AM PDT A new study provides valuable insight into the neuropathology of early autism development by imaging the brains of naturally sleeping toddlers. The research identifies a brain abnormality observed at the very beginning stages of autism that may aid in early diagnosis of autism and shed light on its underlying biology.

Source of mystery pain uncovered Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:56 AM PDT Scientists have found that mutations of a single gene are linked to 30 percent of cases of unexplained neuropathy.

Sight requires exact pattern of neural activity to be wired in the womb Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:56 AM PDT The precise wiring of our visual system depends upon the pattern of spontaneous activity within the brain that occurs well before birth, a new study shows.

Weaker brain 'sync' may be early sign of autism Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:56 AM PDT In a novel imaging study of sleeping toddlers, scientists report that a diminished ability of a young brain's hemispheres to "sync" with one another could be a powerful, new biological marker of autism, one that might enable an autism diagnosis at a very young age.

Positive results for unprotected left main coronary artery PCI with drug-eluting stents Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:54 AM PDT Patients with normal left ventricular function who undergo elective unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) had favorable outcomes according to new research, according to results of a multicenter, retrospective study.

Nudging doctors in intensive care unit reduces deaths, study finds; Physicians for critically ill need 'copilots' to remind them of important details Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT A new study shows the mortality rate in a medical intensive care unit plummeted 50 percent when the attending physician had a checklist -- a fairly new concept in medicine -- and a trusted person prompting him to address key medical issues on the checklist if they were being overlooked. Simply using a checklist alone did not produce an improvement in mortality.

Economic cost of weather may total $485 billion in US Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT Routine weather events such as rain and cooler-than-average days can add up to an annual economic impact of as much as 3.4 percent of the nation's GDP. New research finds that every sector of the economy is sensitive to changes in the weather.

It's not about the money for long-term care nurses Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT Pay plays a relatively small role in a nurse's decision to stay at or leave a job in a nursing home, according to new research. In a comprehensive study of certified nursing assistants, researchers found that attitudinal factors such as job satisfaction and emotional well-being are better predictors of turnover in long-term care facilities.

New theory on origin of birds: Enlarged skeletal muscles Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT A new theory of the origin of birds, traditionally believed to be driven by the evolution of flight, is now being credited to the emergence of enlarged skeletal muscles in birds. Their upright two-leggedness, he says, led to the opportunity for other adaptive changes like flying or swimming.

Powerful, intoxicated, anonymous: The paradox of the disinhibited Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT Power can lead to great acts of altruism, but also corruptive, unethical behavior. Being intoxicated can lead to a first date, or a bar brawl. And the mask of anonymity can encourage one individual to let a stranger know they have toilet paper stuck to their shoe, whereas another may post salacious photos online. What is the common thread between these three disparate states?

Wild Cuban crocodiles hybridize with American crocs Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT A new genetic study confirms that American crocodiles are hybridizing with wild populations of critically endangered Cuban crocodiles, which may cause a population decline of this species found only in the Cuban Archipelago.

Evolution to the rescue: Species may adapt quickly to rapid environmental change, yeast study shows Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT Evolution is usually thought to be a slow process, something that happens over generations, thanks to adaptive mutations. But environmental change is happening very fast. So, according to a biology professor, the question arises, "Can evolution happen quickly enough to help a species survive?" The answer, according to his most recent study, is a resounding yes.

Genetic finding offers hope for orphan disease Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT New research offers hope for people with a rare disorder called Chuvash polycythemia.

Church congregations can be blind to mental illness, study suggests Posted: 22 Jun 2011 08:53 AM PDT Mental illness of a family member can destroy the family's connection with the religious community, a new study by psychologists has found, leading many affected families to leave the church and their faith behind.

Cancer survivors have lower employment rates and work fewer hours, study suggests Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT Cancer survivors are less likely to be employed, and they work fewer hours, than similarly aged adults without a history of cancer, even two to six years after diagnosis, according to a new study.

Prejudice linked to women's menstrual cycle Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT Women's bias against male strangers increases when women are fertile, suggesting prejudice may be partly fueled by genetics, according to a new study.

'Super sand' for better purification of drinking water Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to transform ordinary sand -- a mainstay filter material used to purify drinking water throughout the world -- into a "super sand" with five times the filtering capacity of regular sand. The new material could be a low-cost boon for developing countries, where more than a billion people lack clean drinking water, according to a new article.

New delivery system for Viagra ingredient Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT Scientists are reporting development and successful initial tests of a potential new delivery system for the biological signaling agent responsible for the effects of Viagra. It could be used to deliver the substance, called nitric oxide or NO, to treatment conditions ranging from heart disease to skin ulcers and other wounds that fail to heal, according to a new report.

China needs improved administrative system for nuclear power safety, experts say Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT The People's Republic of China should improve its system for ensuring the safety of its rapidly expanding nuclear power program, experts say. Despite having 40 percent of the world's proposed nuclear power plants, the country lacks an independent regulatory agency and sufficient staff to keep pace with nuclear power development, they say.

Brief exam diagnoses cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could lose brain function earlier than is noticeably detectable, affecting their ability to make decisions about their care. Physicians need a method to assess these sensitive changes in brain function, without the need for extensive neuropsychological tests.

Reasons for dramatic rise in cesarean births identified Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:28 AM PDT In one of the first studies to examine the reasons for the rising number of women delivering their babies by cesarean section, researchers found that while half of the increase was attributable to a rise in repeat cesarean delivery in women with a prior cesarean birth, an equal proportion was due to a rise in first time cesarean delivery. Among these deliveries, factors such as slowly progressing labor and fetal heart rate concerns were the largest contributors.

Electrical water detection Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:27 AM PDT A quick and easy way to detect groundwater in semi-arid hard rock areas that is also economical could improve the siting of borewells to improve clean water supply in the developing world.

Compulsory cycle helmet legislation linked to 29% reduction in cyclist head injuries Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:26 AM PDT Bicycle-related head injuries fell significantly in the months after mandatory helmet legislation came into effect in New South Wales, and recent calls for a repeal of the laws should be rejected, new research based on hospital admissions data shows. The injuries fell by up to 29 percent after the laws were introduced in 1991, according to the study.

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