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• Leaving anger on the field: Statistics show that sports help ease aggression in boys
• Women less likely than men to fake soccer injuries
• Future labor shortfalls of medical professionals in U.S. predicted due to new demands of health-care reform
• Outcomes for cardiac valve procedure patients are affected by insurance status, study finds
• Using vital signs to predict severity of illness in children
• Lack of clarity about HPV vaccine and the need for cervical cancer screening
• Combination therapy as good as old regimen to prevent full-blown TB in people with/without HIV
• Beauty is in the medial orbito-frontal cortex of the beholder
• Gray whales likely survived the Ice Ages by changing their diets
• Cheap, common drug could dramatically reduce malaria transmission in Africa
• Breastfeeding does not protect against multiple sclerosis relapses, study suggests
• Chips hold the key to understanding the human brain
• Mushroom lights up the night in Brazil: Researcher finds bioluminescent fungus not seen since 1840
• Unhealthy lifestyle is associated with sexual dysfunction
• You are what you tweet: Tracking public health trends with Twitter
• Microalgae could be Texas' next big cash crop
• A look back: Scientists raced to estimate oil flow from Deepwater Horizon Macondo well
• Can in-hospital falls really be prevented? Study shows that current prevention strategies may not be very effective
• John Theurer Cancer Center BMT researchers highlight the importance of social support
• Nano detector for deadly anthrax
• Discovery of why sunburn hurts could lead to new pain relief for inflammatory conditions
• Mercury vapor released from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs can exceed safe exposure levels for humans, study finds
• Reported costs of drug R&D questioned
• Cassini captures images and sounds of Saturn storm
• A mother's salt intake could be key to prenatal kidney development
• Climate change forces early spring in Alberta, Canada
• NMR/MRI applied to microfluidic chromatography
• Final countdown: Atlantis to carry next-generation vaccine candidate on last space voyage
• New force driving Earth's tectonic plates
• Thinking globally to improve mental health
• Worldwide study identifies top global challenges in mental health
• Mechanical micro-drum cooled to quantum ground state
• Vertebrate jaw design locked early: Study on initial diversification of jaws sheds light on early vertebrate feeding ecology
• Socioeconomic status as child dictates response to stress as adult
• Teaching workshops fail to spur learner-centered teaching
• Molecular gastronomy: Science behind the art of cooking
• Can gulls smell out a good partner? Study suggests kittiwakes use body odor to assess genetically compatible mates
• Steps needed to reduce likelihood that pilot commuting practices could pose safety risk, report finds
• Chromosomes' big picture: Similarities found in genomes across multiple species; Platypus still out of place
• Best U.S. hospitals are run by physicians, study finds
• Coating boosts nanowire efficiency and sensitivity: Promise for photodetectors and solar cells
• Researchers identify early biomarker for future atopy in asymptomatic children
• Experiment aboard shuttle Atlantis will test novel therapy to build bone during space travel
• Transcription factor is potential target for liver cancer treatment
• Bigger than football: Study shows sports can help communities recover from disaster
• Eye of Gaia: billion-pixel camera to map Milky Way
• English for advanced learners: Linguists examine obstacles to native-like proficiency in foreign language acquisition
• Unique gel capsule structure enables co-delivery of different types of drugs
• The rise and rise of the flying reptiles: Pterosaurs not driven into extinction by birds, study reveals
• Natural iron fertilization influences deep-sea ecosystems off the Crozet Islands
• What causes brain cancer? Understanding glioblastoma at the genetic, molecular level
• Emergency departments need to do more to support older adults with cognitive impairment, study finds
• Food-process engineering: Environmentally friendly process to improve storage stability of probiotics
• Pixel perfect: Lens-free, pinhead-size camera developed
• New device helps the blind to move independently
• Red light from carbon nanotubes
• Dealing with pollution, James Bond style
• Sun's 'DNA' revealed
• New microsystem for better drug-testing
• Extremely rapid water: Scientists decipher a protein-bound water chain

Leaving anger on the field: Statistics show that sports help ease aggression in boys Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:59 PM PDT Researchers completed a study of 649 children from low socioeconomic backgrounds that showed that sports training lowers aggression through alleviating negative emotions. Her results indicate that children who exhibit higher levels of self-control through sports competition have a corresponding decline in aggressive behavior.

Women less likely than men to fake soccer injuries Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:59 PM PDT Women don't fake them. Soccer injuries, that is. With the Women's World Cup in full swing in Germany, soccer fans can now rest assured that women are less likely than men to fake on-field injuries, according to a new study.

Future labor shortfalls of medical professionals in U.S. predicted due to new demands of health-care reform Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:59 PM PDT One consequence of the expanded access to health care facilitated by health care reform will be a shortfall in the necessary numbers of physicians and other advanced medical professionals. According to a new study, the U.S. will face serious shortages in the combined workforce of physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants over the next two decades.

Outcomes for cardiac valve procedure patients are affected by insurance status, study finds Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:59 PM PDT The type of primary insurance patients carry affects outcomes of cardiac valve operations in the U.S., according to a new study. As a result, the type of primary insurance should be considered as an independent risk factor during preoperative risk stratification and planning, the researchers reported. They found that uninsured and Medicaid patients incur worse unadjusted and risk-adjusted outcomes following cardiac valve operations compared with those who carry private insurance.

Using vital signs to predict severity of illness in children Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:58 PM PDT Combining three vital signs (heart rate, temperature and oxygen saturation) in a simple score can identify children at risk of serious illness, according to a new study. Although this type of score cannot easily be calculated by hand, it could be incorporated into existing smart phone apps.

Lack of clarity about HPV vaccine and the need for cervical cancer screening Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:58 PM PDT Some girls and their parents mistakenly believe the human papillomavirus vaccination makes future cervical cancer screening unnecessary, according to a new research.

Combination therapy as good as old regimen to prevent full-blown TB in people with/without HIV Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:58 PM PDT Scientists have further compelling evidence that new, simpler and shorter treatments with antibiotic drugs could dramatically help prevent tens of millions of people worldwide already infected with the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis, and especially those co-infected with HIV, from developing full-blown TB.

Beauty is in the medial orbito-frontal cortex of the beholder Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:58 PM PDT A region at the front of the brain 'lights up' when we experience beauty in a piece of art or a musical excerpt, according to new research. The study goes some way to supporting the views of David Hume and others that beauty lies in the beholder rather than in the object.

Gray whales likely survived the Ice Ages by changing their diets Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:57 PM PDT If ancient gray whale populations migrated and fed the same as today's whales, what happened during the Ice Ages, when their major feeding grounds disappeared? Paleontologists argue that gray whales utilized a range of food sources in the past, including herring and krill, in addition to the benthic organisms they consume today. As a result, pre-whaling populations were two to four times greater than today's population of around 22,000.

Cheap, common drug could dramatically reduce malaria transmission in Africa Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:57 PM PDT A cheap, common heartworm medication that is already being used to fight other parasites in Africa could also dramatically interrupt transmission of malaria, potentially providing an inexpensive tool to fight a disease that kills almost 800,000 people each year, according to a new study.

Breastfeeding does not protect against multiple sclerosis relapses, study suggests Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:57 PM PDT New research finds breastfeeding doesn't appear to protect against multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses, despite previous studies suggesting there may be a protective role.

Chips hold the key to understanding the human brain Posted: 06 Jul 2011 04:57 PM PDT Scientists have taken a key step towards producing a high-performance computer which aims to create working models of human brain functions.

Mushroom lights up the night in Brazil: Researcher finds bioluminescent fungus not seen since 1840 Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:42 PM PDT In 1840, renowned English botanist George Gardner reported a strange sight from the streets of Vila de Natividade in Brazil: A group of boys playing with a glowing object that turned out to be a luminescent mushroom. They called it "flor-de-coco," and showed Gardner where it grew on decaying fronds at the base of a dwarf palm. Gardner sent the mushroom to the Kew Herbarium in England where it was described and named Agaricus gardneri in honor of its discoverer. The species was not seen again until 2009. Researchers have now collected new specimens of a forgotten bioluminescent mushroom and reclassified it as, Neonothopanus gardneri.

Unhealthy lifestyle is associated with sexual dysfunction Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:16 PM PDT A new study reveals that several unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as weight problems, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and hard drugs are associated with sexual dysfunctions in men.

You are what you tweet: Tracking public health trends with Twitter Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT Computer scientists have sifted through two billion 'tweets' for information on where people are sick, what ails them, and what they're doing about it.

Microalgae could be Texas' next big cash crop Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT Just as corn and peanuts stunned the world decades ago with their then-newly discovered multi-beneficial uses and applications, Texas scientists think microalgae holds even more promise.

A look back: Scientists raced to estimate oil flow from Deepwater Horizon Macondo well Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT The first two weeks of June 2010 were a blur for six Berkeley Lab scientists. As the world focused on the ongoing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico after the blowout of BP's Deepwater Horizon Macondo well, the scientists dropped everything to estimate how much oil was flowing from the mangled wellhead. Their research is recounted in a new article.

Can in-hospital falls really be prevented? Study shows that current prevention strategies may not be very effective Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT While falls are a common cause of injury, particularly in older, hospitalized patients, some may not be as preventable as once thought. According to a new literature review, many of the risks that frequently cause falls are not adequately addressed with the fall prevention initiatives used in health-care facilities.

John Theurer Cancer Center BMT researchers highlight the importance of social support Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT Researchers have published a study delineating the connection of social support to distress after stem cell transplants.

Nano detector for deadly anthrax Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT An automatic and portable detector that takes just fifteen minutes to analyze a sample suspected of contamination with anthrax is being developed by U.S. researchers. The technology amplifies any anthrax DNA present in the sample and can reveal the presence of just 40 microscopic cells of the deadly bacteria Bacillus anthracis.

Discovery of why sunburn hurts could lead to new pain relief for inflammatory conditions Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:46 AM PDT Researchers have found a molecule in the body which controls sensitivity to pain from UVB irradiation, identifying it as a new target for medicines to treat pain caused by other common inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. The molecule, called CXCL5, is part of a family of proteins called chemokines, which recruit inflammatory immune cells to the injured tissue, triggering pain and tenderness. This is the first study to reveal this molecule's role in mediating pain.

Mercury vapor released from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs can exceed safe exposure levels for humans, study finds Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:44 AM PDT Once broken, a compact fluorescent light bulb continuously releases mercury vapor into the air for weeks to months, and the total amount can exceed safe human exposure levels in a poorly ventilated room, according to a new study.

Reported costs of drug R&D questioned Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:44 AM PDT A policy specialist and a healthcare economist both say that the oft-quoted cost of $1.32 billion to bring a new drug to market does not hold up to close scrutiny, according to a new article.

Cassini captures images and sounds of Saturn storm Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:33 AM PDT Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft now have the first-ever, up-close details of a Saturn storm that is eight times the surface area of Earth.

A mother's salt intake could be key to prenatal kidney development Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT New animal study has drawn an association between pregnant mothers' sodium intake and their newborn's kidney development.

Climate change forces early spring in Alberta, Canada Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT A new study shows that climate change over the past 70 years has pushed some of the Alberta, Canada native wildflowers and trees into earlier blooming times, making them more vulnerable to damaging frosts, and ultimately, threatening reproduction.

NMR/MRI applied to microfluidic chromatography Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT By pairing a remote-detection version of NMR/MRI technology with a unique version of chromatography specifically designed for microfluidic chips, researchers have opened the door to a portable system for highly sensitive multi-dimensional chemical analysis that would be impractical if not impossible with conventional technologies.

Final countdown: Atlantis to carry next-generation vaccine candidate on last space voyage Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT The ability of spaceflight to enhance the efficacy of a recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccine, or RASV, will be the focus of experiments conducted by Cheryl Nickerson and Roy Curtiss, of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. The payload will be carried aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on its final mission to the International Space Station.

New force driving Earth's tectonic plates Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT Bringing fresh insight into long-standing debates about how powerful geological forces shape the planet, from earthquake ruptures to mountain formations, scientists have identified a new mechanism driving Earth's massive tectonic plates.

Thinking globally to improve mental health Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT The Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health Initiative, led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, has identified the top 40 barriers to better mental health around the world. This initiative seeks to build a community of funders dedicated to supporting research that will significantly improve the lives of people living with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders within the next 10 years.

Worldwide study identifies top global challenges in mental health Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT A Toronto-based researcher is at the helm of a massive, worldwide study that identifies the top global challenges in mental health.

Mechanical micro-drum cooled to quantum ground state Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated a flexible, broadly usable technique for steadily calming the vibrations of an engineered mechanical object down to the quantum "ground state," the lowest possible energy level.

Vertebrate jaw design locked early: Study on initial diversification of jaws sheds light on early vertebrate feeding ecology Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT With the evolution of jaws some 420 million years ago, jawed animals diversified rapidly into a range of niches that remained stable for the following 80 million years, despite extinctions, habitat loss and competition, say researchers.

Socioeconomic status as child dictates response to stress as adult Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:29 AM PDT When faced with threat, people who grew up poor are more likely to make risky financial choices in search of a quick windfall, according to new research.

Teaching workshops fail to spur learner-centered teaching Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:28 AM PDT Professional development workshops for college teachers, designed to encourage the use of active, "learner-centered" teaching methods, failed to bring about real increases in the use of such techniques, even though the participants reported on self-assessment forms that they had expanded their use of the favored methods.

Molecular gastronomy: Science behind the art of cooking Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:26 AM PDT Molecular gastronomy (a scientific discipline that studies what happens when we cook) has a lot of untapped potential in Ireland, researchers say.

Can gulls smell out a good partner? Study suggests kittiwakes use body odor to assess genetically compatible mates Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:26 AM PDT Male and female kittiwakes smell different from each other, according to new research. Their work also suggests that the birds' body odors might signal the genetic makeup of individual birds, and could be used in mate choice to assess the genetic compatibility of potential partners.

Steps needed to reduce likelihood that pilot commuting practices could pose safety risk, report finds Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:34 AM PDT Commuting practices among airline pilots could potentially contribute to their fatigue, and because fatigue can reduce performance, pilots, airlines, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration should take steps to reduce the likelihood that commuting will pose a safety risk, according to a new report.

Chromosomes' big picture: Similarities found in genomes across multiple species; Platypus still out of place Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:34 AM PDT By mapping various genomes onto an X-Y axis, a team of researchers has found that Charles Darwin and a fruit fly -- among other organisms -- have a lot in common genetically. The researchers found that the chromosome sizes within each eukaryotic species are actually similar rather than drastically different as previously believed. They also found that the chromosomes of these different organisms share a similar distribution pattern.

Best U.S. hospitals are run by physicians, study finds Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:48 AM PDT Top-performing hospitals are typically ones headed by an M.D. instead of a manager. That is the finding from a new study based on a detailed database on 300 of the most prominent hospitals in the United States. The conclusions run counter to a modern trend across the western world to put generally trained managers -- not those with a medical degree -- at the helm of hospitals.

Coating boosts nanowire efficiency and sensitivity: Promise for photodetectors and solar cells Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:48 AM PDT By applying a coating to individual silicon nanowires, researchers have significantly improved the materials' efficiency and sensitivity. The findings suggest that the coated wires hold promise for photodetectors and energy harvesting technologies like solar cells.

Researchers identify early biomarker for future atopy in asymptomatic children Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:48 AM PDT The signs of atopy may be present long before symptoms begin, even in month-old babies, according to a new research study from Denmark. The study found that the level of urinary eosinophil protein-X, a marker of inflammatory cells, in newborn babies was linked to higher risk of allergic sensitization, nasal eosinophilia and eczema at six years.

Experiment aboard shuttle Atlantis will test novel therapy to build bone during space travel Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:48 AM PDT When the final mission of NASA's 30-year Space Shuttle program is launched on July 8, an animal experiment to test a novel therapy to increase bone mass will be on board.

Transcription factor is potential target for liver cancer treatment Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:47 AM PDT Altering the body's metabolism could be an effective treatment for deadly liver cancer, researchers report. The finding that inhibiting heat shock transcription factor 1, or HSF1, prevents liver cancer in mice also is another wake-up call that a low-fat, healthy diet is an effective cancer deterrent. HSF1 and its target genes are important to metabolism regulation.

Bigger than football: Study shows sports can help communities recover from disaster Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:47 AM PDT A new study shows that organized sports can be a powerful tool for helping to rebuild communities in the wake of disasters. The research focused specifically on the role of professional football in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Eye of Gaia: billion-pixel camera to map Milky Way Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:46 AM PDT The largest digital camera ever built for a space mission has been painstakingly mosaicked together from 106 separate electronic detectors. The resulting "billion-pixel array" will serve as the super-sensitive 'eye' of the European Space Agency's Galaxy-mapping Gaia mission.

English for advanced learners: Linguists examine obstacles to native-like proficiency in foreign language acquisition Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:46 AM PDT Aim is to improve academic writing skills in university teacher training / Additional contributors to help build a text corpus welcome

Unique gel capsule structure enables co-delivery of different types of drugs Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT Chemists have designed a multiple-compartment gel capsule that can simultaneously deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. The microcapsules could be used for the treatment of diseases like cancer, which is often treated using combination chemotherapy.

The rise and rise of the flying reptiles: Pterosaurs not driven into extinction by birds, study reveals Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT Pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the time of the dinosaurs, were not driven to extinction by the birds, but in fact they continued to diversify and innovate for millions of years afterward, according to new research.

Natural iron fertilization influences deep-sea ecosystems off the Crozet Islands Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT Geo-engineering schemes aimed at tackling global warming through artificial iron fertilization of the oceans would significantly affect deep-sea ecosystems, according to new research.

What causes brain cancer? Understanding glioblastoma at the genetic, molecular level Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT Glioblastoma is the most common and most lethal form of brain tumor in people. New research offers a novel way to determine what biological functions go awry when the tumor first begins to form. Understanding the problems at the molecular level might one day reveal the underlying mechanism of carcinogenesis in glioblastoma and ultimately lead to treatments or even preventative measures.

Emergency departments need to do more to support older adults with cognitive impairment, study finds Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT More needs to be done to improve the care that older adults with cognitive impairment -- including dementia and delirium -- receive when they visit hospital emergency departments. Researchers reviewed 15 studies covering 4,431 patients from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Israel. Forty percent of older ED patients have cognitive impairment, but the review exposes a lack of vital research. Without this, any quality improvements could prove an ineffectual use of vital resources.

Food-process engineering: Environmentally friendly process to improve storage stability of probiotics Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:15 AM PDT Probiotic bacteria are rapidly gaining ground as healthy food supplements. However, the production of this "functional food" has its pitfalls: only few probiotic bacterial strains are robust enough to survive conventional production processes. Researchers have now developed a particularly gentle method that allows the use of thus far unutilized probiotics. The outcome is beneficial for both manufacturers and consumers: it's energy and cost efficient -- and it makes probiotics less perishable.

Pixel perfect: Lens-free, pinhead-size camera developed Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:15 AM PDT It's like a Brownie camera for the digital age: The microscopic device fits on the head of a pin, contains no lenses or moving parts, costs pennies to make -- and this camera could revolutionize an array of science from surgery to robotics.

New device helps the blind to move independently Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:44 AM PDT Engineers have developed a new device that helps the blind to move independently.

Red light from carbon nanotubes Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:43 AM PDT To the human eye, carbon nanotubes usually appear as a black powder. They can hardly be forced to emit light, as they are excellent electrical conductors and capture the energy from other luminescent chemical species placed nearby. Researchers recently developed a relatively simple method allowing the nanotubes exposed to UV to emit red light.

Dealing with pollution, James Bond style Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:43 AM PDT A new safe soil tester, a portable lab with a satellite link, offers an efficient and cost-effective way to test for a safe environment. The high-tech tester uses micro-organisms to detect toxicity of soils within minutes and maps the toxic hotspots with high precisions using its link to EU's Galileo satellite system.

Sun's 'DNA' revealed Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:43 AM PDT Solar nitrogen is very different from that of meteorites or the Earth. Scientists reached this conclusion after analyzing samples of solar wind collected by the Genesis space mission launched by NASA in 2001. They succeeded in determining the isotopic composition of the Sun, its "DNA", which reflects the composition of the cloud of gas and dust that gave rise to the solar system. This work could help to elucidate the phenomena behind the origin of the solar system.

New microsystem for better drug-testing Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:43 AM PDT Nanoscientists are working on a new microsystem for more efficient testing of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis, MG (myasthenia gravis) and epilepsy.

Extremely rapid water: Scientists decipher a protein-bound water chain Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:43 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in providing evidence that a protein is capable of creating a water molecule chain for a few milliseconds for the directed proton transfer. The combination of vibrational spectroscopy and biomolecular simulations enabled the elucidation of the proton pump mechanism of a cell-membrane protein in atomic detail. The researchers demonstrated that protein-bound water molecules play a decisive role in the function.

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