ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Chinese culture encourages binge drinking in middle-aged men, study says
• Manual breast milk expression better than breast pump for poor feeders, study finds
• Conscientious objection to any procedure is doctor's right, say medical students
• It's simple: Increasing complexity of models does not necessarily increase their accuracy
• Screening new colon cancer patients for Lynch syndrome would be cost-effective, study shows
• HIV therapies provide near normal lifespan in Africa, study shows
• Bacteria use Batman-like grappling hooks to 'slingshot' on surfaces, study shows
• Hydrogen may be key to growth of high-quality graphene
• Scientists grow brain cells from skin: Cancer cells and stem cells share same origin, research shows
• Single traumatic brain injury may prompt long-term neurodegeneration
• Neural signature of 'mental time travel': Memories formed in the same context become linked, evidence shows
• Key metabolic pathway implicated in intractable form of breast cancer
• Decisions, decisions, decisions ...
• Juvenile diarrhea virus analyzed down to the atomic level
• Researchers describe outcomes of surgical procedure to treat neck muscle problems
• Melanoma screening by physicians associated with finding more cancers than patient self-detection
• Study examines relationship of acculturation with sun-safe behaviors of US Latinos
• Exposure to secondhand smoke associated with hearing loss in adolescents
• Report reviews incorrect surgical procedures at U.S. Veterans Health Administration facilities
• Study examines factors in pediatric kidney transplant rejection
• Another danger of secondhand smoke -- hearing loss
• Surgeons' civility in operating room benefits patients, reduces costs, expert finds
• Research in 'Westie' dogs may hold answers to similar human diseases
• Cadmium selenide quantum dots degrade in soil, releasing their toxic guts, study finds
• Esophageal cancer risk higher in medically treated GERD patients with fewest symptoms
• Soy/milk protein dietary supplements linked to lower blood pressure
• Experimental drug raises 'good' cholesterol, may help control diabetes
• Rapid venom evolution in pit vipers may be defensive; Marsupials that prey on venomous snakes also evolve rapidly
• Anti-malaria drug chloroquine finding may lead to treatments for arthritis, cancer and other diseases
• Eight-question survey can help predict post-traumatic stress disorder
• Antibiotic disrupts termite microflora, reducing fertility, longevity
• ID1 protein boosts lung cancer in smokers, non-smokers; Potential anti-oncogenic target
• Research illuminating long-term non-progression suggests novel vaccination strategy for HIV
• How flu virus spreads to college community: Major implications for control
• NASA's Dawn spacecraft returns close-up image of giant asteroid Vesta
• Using Twitter for public health surveillance of dental pain
• Solar panels keep buildings cool
• 'Simon says': Preschool-age kids in different countries improve academically using self-regulation game
• New anti-cancer agents show promise for treating aggressive breast cancers
• Scientists analyze, explain the chemical makeup of Gulf plume
• Deep below the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: New molecular model better explains diffusion of spill under water
• Be still my eyebrows: Liars under scrutiny can't completely suppress facial expressions, researchers say
• 'Smart' sunglasses block blinding glare
• Scientists connect gene to Alzheimer’s precondition
• 2011 Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' could be biggest ever
• Grand Cayman blue iguana: Back from the brink of extinction
• Genes vital to preventing childhood leukemia identified
• New therapy provides hope for millions of people suffering from bowel incontinence
• Cancer stem cells recruit normal stem cells to fuel ovarian cancer
• Click chemistry with copper: A biocompatible version
• Face value: Looks of political candidates are key factor influencing low-information voters
• The tallest tree in all the land
• How a gene linked to both Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes works
• Steps needed to ensure that home medical devices are easy-to-use and caregivers are well-trained
• Adult day care services provide much-needed break to family caregivers
• New contrast agents detect bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity
• Structure helps new employees adjust, study finds
• AMPK amplifies Huntington's disease
• Genetic basis for muscle endurance discovered in animal study
• Personalized medicine: How will it affect patients?

Chinese culture encourages binge drinking in middle-aged men, study says Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT A nationwide study confirms that binge drinking has reached epidemic proportions in China and argues that efforts to tackle the problem must address the country's unique drinking culture.

Manual breast milk expression better than breast pump for poor feeders, study finds Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT Expressing breast milk by hand in the first days after birth is better for boosting breastfeeding rates among poorly feeding newborns than the use of a breast pump, indicates a small study.

Conscientious objection to any procedure is doctor's right, say medical students Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT Doctors should be allowed to object to any procedure that conflicts with their personal, moral, or religious beliefs, reveals a survey of medical students.

It's simple: Increasing complexity of models does not necessarily increase their accuracy Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases is an important tool in the understanding and prediction of epidemics. Knowledge of social interactions is used to understand how infectious diseases spread through populations and how to control epidemics. New research shows that a model, which included dynamic information about the heterogeneity of contact length and rate of making new contacts, was as effective as a more complex model which included the order of contacts.

Screening new colon cancer patients for Lynch syndrome would be cost-effective, study shows Posted: 18 Jul 2011 03:28 PM PDT Screening every new colon cancer patient for a particular familial disorder extends lives at a reasonable cost, say researchers. The team hopes the results will encourage more medical centers to adopt widespread screening policies.

HIV therapies provide near normal lifespan in Africa, study shows Posted: 18 Jul 2011 03:28 PM PDT The first large-scale analysis of life expectancy outcomes in Africa for HIV patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) shows that such patients can expect to live a near normal lifespan. The study also shows significant variance between patient subgroups.

Bacteria use Batman-like grappling hooks to 'slingshot' on surfaces, study shows Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:14 PM PDT Researchers have diagnosed a complex sequence of movements that make-up the "twitching" motility in bacteria with type IV pili (TFP). TFP act like Batman's grappling hooks that extend and bind to a surface to retract and pull the cell along. Using a high-speed camera and a novel two-point tracking algorithm, researchers also noticed the bacteria had the additional capability to "slingshot" on surfaces.

Hydrogen may be key to growth of high-quality graphene Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:14 PM PDT A new approach to growing graphene greatly reduces problems that have plagued researchers in the past and clears a path to the crystalline form of graphite's use in sophisticated electronic devices of tomorrow.

Scientists grow brain cells from skin: Cancer cells and stem cells share same origin, research shows Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:14 PM PDT Oncogenes are generally thought to be genes that, when mutated, change healthy cells into cancerous tumor cells. Scientists have proven that those genes also can change normal cells into stem-like cells, paving the way to a safer and more practical approach to treating diseases like multiple sclerosis and cancer with stem cell therapy. Researchers successfully converted human skin cells into brain cells by suppressing the expression of p53, a protein encoded by a widely studied oncogene. This suggests that p53 mutation helps determine cell fate -- good or bad -- rather than only the outcome of cancer.

Single traumatic brain injury may prompt long-term neurodegeneration Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:14 PM PDT In a new study, researchers suggest that Alzheimer's disease-like neurodegeneration may be initiated or accelerated following a single traumatic brain injury, even in young adults.

Neural signature of 'mental time travel': Memories formed in the same context become linked, evidence shows Posted: 18 Jul 2011 02:13 PM PDT Almost everyone has experienced one memory triggering another, but explanations for that phenomenon have proved elusive. Now, researchers have provided the first neurobiological evidence that memories formed in the same context become linked, the foundation of the theory of episodic memory.

Key metabolic pathway implicated in intractable form of breast cancer Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:42 PM PDT Using a new in vivo screening system, researchers have identified a protein in a key metabolic pathway that is essential in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer. When the expression of the gene that codes for this protein -- phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase or PHGDH -- is suppressed in tumors and cell lines with an overabundance of the protein, the rate of cellular growth declines markedly. PHGDH is overexpressed in approximately 70 percent of ER-negative breast cancer patients.

Decisions, decisions, decisions ... Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:42 PM PDT We all make numerous decisions everyday; unconsciously or consciously, sometimes doing it automatically with little effort or thinking and yet, at other times, we agonize for hours over another. Why do we make these choices -- be it from deciding what to have for lunch or whether to say yes to that job offer halfway round the world. Sometimes we make choices on our own, and at other times, the choice is made for us.

Juvenile diarrhea virus analyzed down to the atomic level Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Scientists have used X-ray crystallography to define the structure -- down to the atomic level -- of a common virus that causes juvenile diarrhea. The new research could help direct efforts to develop medications that block the virus before it becomes infectious.

Researchers describe outcomes of surgical procedure to treat neck muscle problems Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Removing a portion of the platysma muscle may ease symptoms for patients experiencing chronic neck stiffness and involuntary movement, according to a new report.

Melanoma screening by physicians associated with finding more cancers than patient self-detection Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Physician-based screening for melanoma is associated with higher rates of physician-detected melanoma and detection of thinner melanoma, according to a new study.

Study examines relationship of acculturation with sun-safe behaviors of US Latinos Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Among Latinos living in the United States, acculturation is associated with sunscreen use, but not with use of sun-protective clothing, according to a new study.

Exposure to secondhand smoke associated with hearing loss in adolescents Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with increased risk of hearing loss among adolescents, according to a new report.

Report reviews incorrect surgical procedures at U.S. Veterans Health Administration facilities Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT The rate of adverse events and harm reported at U.S. Veterans Health Administration medical centers appears to have decreased, according to a new report.

Study examines factors in pediatric kidney transplant rejection Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Avoiding HLA-DR mismatching appears to be beneficial in pediatric kidney transplant patients, however the likelihood of finding a matching donor must be considered against the wait time for a possible donation, according to a new report.

Another danger of secondhand smoke -- hearing loss Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Researchers report in a new study that exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles the risk of hearing loss among adolescents.

Surgeons' civility in operating room benefits patients, reduces costs, expert finds Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT A surgeon's behavior in the operating room affects patient outcomes, health-care costs, medical errors and patient- and staff-satisfaction, an expert argues in a new commentary.

Research in 'Westie' dogs may hold answers to similar human diseases Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT Scientists have announced preliminary findings in two major studies involving the health of West Highland white terriers also known as westies. Findings in these and other studies of Westies and other dogs may hold answers for similar human conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.

Cadmium selenide quantum dots degrade in soil, releasing their toxic guts, study finds Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:13 PM PDT Quantum dots made from cadmium and selenium degrade in soil, unleashing toxic cadmium and selenium ions into their surroundings, a new study has found.

Esophageal cancer risk higher in medically treated GERD patients with fewest symptoms Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:13 PM PDT Medically treated patients with mild or no symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are at higher risk for developing esophageal cancer than those with severe GERD symptoms, according to a new study.

Soy/milk protein dietary supplements linked to lower blood pressure Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:13 PM PDT Soy and milk protein dietary supplements lowered systolic blood pressure compared to refined (simple) carbohydrate supplements, according to a new study. Researchers suggest that replacing dietary refined carbohydrates with foods or drinks high in soy or milk protein might help prevent or treat high blood pressure.

Experimental drug raises 'good' cholesterol, may help control diabetes Posted: 18 Jul 2011 01:13 PM PDT An experimental cholesterol drug improved blood sugar control in diabetic patients on statins, a new study shows. The drug raises levels of "good" cholesterol and may help lower cardiovascular disease risk in people with diabetes.

Rapid venom evolution in pit vipers may be defensive; Marsupials that prey on venomous snakes also evolve rapidly Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:56 PM PDT Research delivers new insight about rapid toxin evolution in venomous snakes. New molecular research on snake-eating opossums suggests that predators factor into the rapid evolution of snake venom.

Anti-malaria drug chloroquine finding may lead to treatments for arthritis, cancer and other diseases Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:56 PM PDT In a new study, scientists demonstrate on the molecular level how the anti-malaria drug chloroquine represses inflammation, which may provide a blueprint for new strategies for treating inflammation and a multitude of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers.

Eight-question survey can help predict post-traumatic stress disorder Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:56 PM PDT A simple eight-question survey administered soon after injury can help predict which of the 30 million Americans seeking hospital treatment for injuries each year may develop depression or post-traumatic stress, researchers report.

Antibiotic disrupts termite microflora, reducing fertility, longevity Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:49 PM PDT The microbial flora of the termite gut are necessary both for cellulose digestion and normal reproduction, and feeding the insects antibiotics can interfere in these processes, according to a new study.

ID1 protein boosts lung cancer in smokers, non-smokers; Potential anti-oncogenic target Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:48 PM PDT Lung cancer is strongly correlated with smoking, and most lung cancer patients are current or former smokers. But it is not rare in nonsmokers. Now, a team of researchers shows that a protein called ID1 is a key player in lung cancer in both smokers and nonsmokers.

Research illuminating long-term non-progression suggests novel vaccination strategy for HIV Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:48 PM PDT A major problem researchers have faced in attempting to develop a vaccine for HIV is that the virus mutates incredibly quickly, which means that its antigens -- the target molecules of a vaccine -- are moving targets. A comparison of individuals who are able to control HIV without antiretroviral medication with those who are unable to do so suggests that a novel approach to vaccination might work around this problem.

How flu virus spreads to college community: Major implications for control Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:47 PM PDT Many different strains of the H1N1 influenza virus were represented among 57 students at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) who were infected during the epidemic in the fall of 2009, according to a new study. The findings have major implications in the controversy over how best to reduce the virus' spread.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft returns close-up image of giant asteroid Vesta Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:17 PM PDT NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned the first close-up image after beginning its orbit around the giant asteroid Vesta. On July 15, Dawn became the first probe to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Using Twitter for public health surveillance of dental pain Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:16 PM PDT In a new study, researchers have demonstrated that Twitter users are extensively sharing their experiences of toothache and seeking advice from other users. The microblogging service Twitter is a new means for the public to communicate health concerns and could afford health care professionals new ways to communicate with patients, the study's authors say.

Solar panels keep buildings cool Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:15 PM PDT Those solar panels on top of your roof aren't just providing clean power; they are cooling your house, or your workplace, too, according to a team of environmental engineering researchers.

'Simon says': Preschool-age kids in different countries improve academically using self-regulation game Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:15 PM PDT Children who regularly participated in a Simon Says-type game designed to improve self-regulation -- called the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task -- may have better math and early literacy scores. A new study found that the higher academic outcomes associated with the game, which emphasizes careful listening and following instructions, does not just benefit students in the United States, but also benefits children tested in Taiwan, China and South Korea.

New anti-cancer agents show promise for treating aggressive breast cancers Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:15 PM PDT Some of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer are more vulnerable to chemotherapy when it is combined with a new class of anti-cancer agent, researchers have shown.

Scientists analyze, explain the chemical makeup of Gulf plume Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:15 PM PDT Taking another major step in sleuthing the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a research team has determined what chemicals were contained in a deep, hydrocarbon-containing plume at least 22 miles long that WHOI scientists mapped and sampled last summer in the Gulf of Mexico, a residue of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Moreover, they have taken a big step in explaining why some chemicals, but not others, made their way into the plume.

Deep below the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: New molecular model better explains diffusion of spill under water Posted: 18 Jul 2011 12:15 PM PDT For the first time, scientists gathered oil and gas directly as it escaped from a deep ocean wellhead -- that of the damaged Deepwater Horizon oil rig. What they found allows a better understanding of how pollution is partitioned and transported in the depths of the Gulf of Mexico and permits superior estimation of the environmental impact of escaping oil, allowing for a more precise evaluation of previously estimated repercussions on seafloor life in the future.

Be still my eyebrows: Liars under scrutiny can't completely suppress facial expressions, researchers say Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:35 AM PDT Researchers studying the faces of people lying when in high-stakes situations have good news for security experts. A new study reports that although liars can reduce facial actions when under scrutiny, they can't suppress them all.

'Smart' sunglasses block blinding glare Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:28 AM PDT The days of being blinded by glare from the sun, despite the $300 sunglasses straddling your face, may soon be over.

Scientists connect gene to Alzheimer’s precondition Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:25 AM PDT Connecting a human gene to the risk of developing the Alzheimer's precondition known as mild cognitive impairment has been somewhat of a holy grail for scientists, but now a team of scientists has ended the quest.

2011 Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' could be biggest ever Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:16 AM PDT Researchers have examined the scope and size of this year's "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and have measured it currently to be about 3,300 square miles, or roughly the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined, but some researchers anticipate it becoming much larger.

Grand Cayman blue iguana: Back from the brink of extinction Posted: 18 Jul 2011 11:10 AM PDT While thousands of species are threatened with extinction around the globe, efforts to save the Grand Cayman blue iguana represent a rarity in conservation: a chance for complete recovery, according to experts.

Genes vital to preventing childhood leukemia identified Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:21 AM PDT Researchers have identified genes that may be important for preventing childhood leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the blood that occurs primarily in young children. Working with mice, researchers have identified two key genes called PU.1 and Spi-B that appear essential in the prevention of B cell ALL, the most common form of ALL in children.

New therapy provides hope for millions of people suffering from bowel incontinence Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:21 AM PDT A new procedure is now available for the treatment of chronic bowel incontinence, a disorder impacting the lives of more than 18 million Americans.

Cancer stem cells recruit normal stem cells to fuel ovarian cancer Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:21 AM PDT Researchers have found that a type of normal stem cell fuels ovarian cancer by encouraging cancer stem cells to grow.

Click chemistry with copper: A biocompatible version Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:21 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to make copper-catalyzed click chemistry biocompatible. By adding a ligand that minimizes the toxicity of copper but still allows it to catalyze the click chemistry reaction, the researchers can safely use their reaction in living cells.

Face value: Looks of political candidates are key factor influencing low-information voters Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:17 AM PDT The looks of political candidates are a key factor influencing voters, a phenomenon identified by a number of scholars in recent years. Now, a new study adds to this body of research by detailing which types of citizens are most influenced by candidate appearances, and why: The tendency is most prevalent among low-information voters who watch a lot of television.

The tallest tree in all the land Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:17 AM PDT Knowing how tall trees can grow in any given region can give ecologists a wealth of information, from the potential density of a forest and size of its tree canopy to the amount of carbon stored in woodlands and the overall health of an ecosystem. Now scientists have come up with a simple model to predict the maximum tree height in different environments across the United States.

How a gene linked to both Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes works Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:17 AM PDT Researchers have identified how a gene for a protein that can cause type 2 diabetes, also possibly kills nerve cells in the brain, thereby contributing to Alzheimer's disease.

Steps needed to ensure that home medical devices are easy-to-use and caregivers are well-trained Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:17 AM PDT A new report recommends steps the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies and professional associations can take to ensure that the medical devices and health information technology used in home health care are easy and safe for laypeople to use and that caregivers, whether formal or informal, are well-trained.

Adult day care services provide much-needed break to family caregivers Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:16 AM PDT Adult day care services significantly reduce the stress levels of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, according to researchers.

New contrast agents detect bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:16 AM PDT Novel contrast agents that sneak into bacteria disguised as glucose food can detect bacterial infections in animals with high sensitivity and specificity. These agents -- called maltodextrin-based imaging probes -- can also distinguish a bacterial infection from other inflammatory conditions.

Structure helps new employees adjust, study finds Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:16 AM PDT With people often changing jobs and careers, organizations need to know how to help integrate and engage newcomers in order to retain them. A new study shows that new employees adjust better to their workplace with structured processes, such as orientation training and mentorship programs.

AMPK amplifies Huntington's disease Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT A new study describes how hyperactivation of AMP-activated protein kinase promotes neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease.

Genetic basis for muscle endurance discovered in animal study Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene for endurance, or more precisely, its negative regulator. Not having the gene relates to greater endurance in the knockout mice that were studied. The investigators also showed that the gene is linked to Olympic-level athletes in endurance sports such as swimming compared to athletes in sprint sports such as the 100-meter dash. The work has implications for improving muscle performance in disease states including metabolic disorders, obesity, and aging.

Personalized medicine: How will it affect patients? Posted: 18 Jul 2011 09:15 AM PDT Although personalized medicine is a term used in science and medicine that holds significant promise of improved treatment, it may set up unrealistic expectations in patients, according to a new editorial.

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