ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA's Opportunity tops 20 miles of Mars driving
• Vegetarian diet may protect against common bowel disorder
• Standard three-drug H. pylori therapy beats newer four-drug regimens in Latin America study
• Heavy metal hardens battle
• Arrays of long nanotubes may help measure terahertz laser power
• Time and numbers mix together in the brain
• Evolution of the evolutionarily minded
• Only one-third of HIV-positive patients remain in care before starting treatment
• HIV patient care by clinic nurses rather than hospital doctors clinically successful, cost effective
• Race matters when recruiting, retaining undergraduate women engineers
• Engineering excitable cells for studies of bioelectricity and cell therapy
• Falls may be early sign of Alzheimer's
• Testosterone deficiency and replacement therapy in men
• Therapy appears to reduce rate of chemotherapy-induced early menopause for women with breast cancer
• Cardiac disorder may affect broader range of patients than previously reported
• Stated calories on menus of certain restaurants appear to be accurate overall
• New lung-cancer gene found: Cancer biologists identify a driving force behind the spread of an aggressive type of lung cancer
• Kidney dopamine regulates blood pressure, life span
• Gene therapy delivered once to blood vessel wall protects against atherosclerosis in rabbit studies
• Heartburn treatment may extend survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients
• Report offers new framework to guide K-12 science education, calls for shift in the way science is taught in US
• Possible drug targets for common non-Hodgkin's lymphoma discovered
• Avian 'Axe effect' attracts attention of females and males
• Twisted tale of our galaxy's ring: Strange kink in Milky Way
• Hummingbirds catch flying bugs with the help of fast-closing beaks
• Patients who use anti-depressants are more likely to suffer relapse, researcher finds
• Does food act physiologically like a 'drug of choice' for some?
• New mouse model for testing cancer drugs
• How dairy farms contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
• E-health records should play bigger role in patient safety initiatives, researchers advocate
• Some desert birds less affected by wildfires and climate change
• Common test may be unnecessary for bariatric surgery candidates
• Soil samples reveal urban mercury footprints
• Mothers with breastfeeding difficulties more likely to suffer postpartum depression, study finds
• Painful legacy of teen sports
• Suicide and homicide rates in mental health patients in England and Wales
• Tortoise populations can withstand fires every 30 years
• Physical activity linked to lower rates of cognitive impairment
• Reinventing the toilet for safe and affordable sanitation
• Scientists identify molecular basis for DNA breakage, a hallmark of cancer cells
• Small hippocampus associated with depression in the elderly: Risk factor or shrinkage?
• New evidence of age-related decline in the brain's master circadian clock
• New graphene discovery boosts oil exploration efforts, could enable self-powered microsensors
• Gradual bone reduction seen in some birth control pill users
• Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia yield 18 new species of rare ferns and flowering plants
• How the early human embryo acquires its shape through 'organizer' cells
• Record long algal bloom in Disko Bay, Greenland
• No increase in most common preventable cause of intellectual disability over 20 years, Quebec study finds
• Over half of Alzheimer's cases may be preventable, say researchers
• Positive teens become healthier adults: Adolescents with a sunny outlook on life may have better health in their adult years
• Mysterious fossils provide new clues to insect evolution
• Decoding slowness: How sloths perfected energy saving
• New link between Parkinson’s disease and cellular sorting
• Personalized nutrition: New EU-funded project changing the way we eat
• New scientific milestone in optical communications: Revolutionary chip for optical routers
• New 'electronic tongue' system assesses the antioxidant power of juices and fruit
• Precise measurements of cholesterol transport rates give new hope for Alzheimer’s treatment
• Study shows small-scale fisheries' impact on marine life

NASA's Opportunity tops 20 miles of Mars driving Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:04 PM PDT More than seven years into what was planned as a three-month mission on Mars, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven more than 20 miles, which is more than 50 times the mission's original distance goal.

Vegetarian diet may protect against common bowel disorder Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:43 PM PDT Vegetarians are a third less likely to get a common bowel disorder (diverticular disease) than their meat eating counterparts, finds a new study.

Standard three-drug H. pylori therapy beats newer four-drug regimens in Latin America study Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:43 PM PDT Clinical trials in Europe and Asia were thought to have pinpointed the best treatment regimen to eradicate the H. pylori bug, an important cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. New results from a large study in Latin America turn those findings on their head, suggesting different populations need different therapies.

Heavy metal hardens battle Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:43 PM PDT The French may have had a better chance at the Battle of Agincourt had they not been weighed down by heavy body armor, say researchers.

Arrays of long nanotubes may help measure terahertz laser power Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT Terahertz radiation can penetrate numerous materials -- plastic, clothing, paper and some biological tissues -- making it an attractive candidate for applications such as concealed weapons detection, package inspection and imaging skin tumors. There is now no standard method for measuring the absolute output power of terahertz lasers, but researchers have found that dense arrays of extra-long carbon nanotubes are promising coatings for prototype terahertz laser power detectors.

Time and numbers mix together in the brain Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT Clocks tell time in numbers -- and so do our minds, according to a new study. In two experiments, scientists found that people associate small numbers with short time intervals and large numbers with longer intervals -- suggesting that these two systems are linked in the brain.

Evolution of the evolutionarily minded Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT Since Charles Darwin's publication of "The Origin of Species," evolutionary theory has become the bedrock of modern biology, yet its application to the understanding of the human mind remains controversial. For the past 30 years, evolutionary interpretation of human cognition has been dominated by the field of evolutionary psychology -- a field based on a set of widely held assumptions, which are now being questioned by new findings and approaches from genetics, neuroscience and evolutionary biology.

Only one-third of HIV-positive patients remain in care before starting treatment Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT In sub-Saharan Africa, only about one third of patients who test positive for HIV but are not yet eligible for antiretroviral treatment remain in care until they become eligible and start treatment. These findings from a study by Sydney Rosen and Matthew Fox, based at Boston University in the USA, highlight one of the challenges of improving outcomes for patients in HIV/AIDS programs in resource-limited settings.

HIV patient care by clinic nurses rather than hospital doctors clinically successful, cost effective Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:15 PM PDT Health outcomes for stable patients with HIV on antiretroviral therapy 12 months after their care was transferred to a primary health clinic (a community clinic) where they were managed by nurses were equivalent, or even better, than the outcomes of similar patients on antiretroviral therapy who remained at a hospital-based, doctor-managed outpatient clinic.

Race matters when recruiting, retaining undergraduate women engineers Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT A new study of female engineering students' perceived challenges finds significant differences between black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-American and white women. The findings could help institutions better attract and retain particular groups of underrepresented students.

Engineering excitable cells for studies of bioelectricity and cell therapy Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT By altering the genetic makeup of normally "unexcitable" cells, bioengineers have turned them into cells capable of generating and passing electrical current.

Falls may be early sign of Alzheimer's Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT Falls and balance problems may be early indicators of Alzheimer's disease, researchers have found.

Testosterone deficiency and replacement therapy in men Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT Testosterone deficiency (TD), often referred to as hypogonadism, is associated with aging and affects approximately 30 percent of men ages 40-79. To highlight some of the challenges and controversies encountered in diagnosis and treatment of men with TD, a new review article illustrates the implication of TD on men's overall health and analyzes a number of studies in men receiving testosterone replacement therapy to treat TD.

Therapy appears to reduce rate of chemotherapy-induced early menopause for women with breast cancer Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT Temporarily suppressing ovarian function with use of the hormone analogue triptorelin reduced the occurrence of early menopause induced by chemotherapy among women with breast cancer, according to a new study.

Cardiac disorder may affect broader range of patients than previously reported Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT Stress cardiomyopathy (a transient form of acute heart failure triggered by stressful events) appears to have clinical characteristics that are broader than reported previously, including younger patients, men, and patients without an identifiable stressful trigger, according to a new study.

Stated calories on menus of certain restaurants appear to be accurate overall Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:15 PM PDT An examination of the calorie content of food from about 40 fast-food and sit-down restaurants in 3 states finds that overall the stated calories of items on the menus of the restaurants are accurate, although there was substantial inaccuracy for some individual foods, with understated calorie figures for those items with lower calorie contents, according to a new study.

New lung-cancer gene found: Cancer biologists identify a driving force behind the spread of an aggressive type of lung cancer Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT A major challenge for cancer biologists is figuring out which among the hundreds of genetic mutations found in a cancer cell are most important for driving the cancer's spread. Using a new technique called whole-genome profiling, scientists have now pinpointed a gene that appears to drive progression of small cell lung cancer, an aggressive form of lung cancer accounting for about 15 percent of lung cancer cases.

Kidney dopamine regulates blood pressure, life span Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT The neurotransmitter dopamine is best known for its roles in the brain -- in signaling pathways that control movement, motivation, reward, learning and memory. Now, researchers report that dopamine produced outside the brain -- in the kidneys -- is important for renal function, blood pressure regulation and life span. Their studies suggest that the kidney-specific dopamine system may be a therapeutic target for treating hypertension and kidney diseases.

Gene therapy delivered once to blood vessel wall protects against atherosclerosis in rabbit studies Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT A one-dose method for delivering gene therapy into an arterial wall effectively protects the artery from developing atherosclerosis despite ongoing high blood cholesterol, according to new research in rabbits.

Heartburn treatment may extend survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who report treatment for gastroespophageal reflux (GER) appear to have longer survival than IPF patients who are not treated for GERD, according to a new study.

Report offers new framework to guide K-12 science education, calls for shift in the way science is taught in US Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT A new report released by the U.S. National Research Council presents a new framework for K-12 science education that identifies the key scientific ideas and practices all students should learn by the end of high school.

Possible drug targets for common non-Hodgkin's lymphoma discovered Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a novel interaction between two proteins involved in regulating cell growth that could provide possible new drug targets for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to a new study. The scientists report that they have found a complex relationship between ERK, a protein that helps to regulate cell survival, and CHK2, a protein involved in the cellular DNA damage response.

Avian 'Axe effect' attracts attention of females and males Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT In a case of life imitating art, avian scents given off by male songbirds have the females (and males) flocking in. A researcher has revealed the process of how males draw attention to themselves through chemical communication in a new study. Scents are used in all organisms for many purposes, such as finding, attracting and evaluating mates. But this is the first study of its kind that demonstrates that it is happening among songbirds.

Twisted tale of our galaxy's ring: Strange kink in Milky Way Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:12 PM PDT New observations from the Herschel Space Observatory show a bizarre, twisted ring of dense gas at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Only a few portions of the ring, which stretches across more than 600 light-years, were known before. Herschel's view reveals the entire ring for the first time, and a strange kink that has astronomers scratching their heads.

Hummingbirds catch flying bugs with the help of fast-closing beaks Posted: 19 Jul 2011 09:13 AM PDT The shape of a hummingbird's beak allows for a "controlled elastic snap" that allows it to snatch up flying insects in a mere fraction of a second -- with greater speed and power than could be achieved by jaw muscles alone, says a new study.

Patients who use anti-depressants are more likely to suffer relapse, researcher finds Posted: 19 Jul 2011 09:13 AM PDT Patients who use anti-depressants are much more likely to suffer relapses of major depression than those who use no medication at all, according to new research. In an article that is likely to ignite new controversy in the hotly debated field of depression and medication, an evolutionary psychologist concludes that patients who have used anti-depressant medications can be nearly twice as susceptible to future episodes of major depression.

Does food act physiologically like a 'drug of choice' for some? Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:43 AM PDT Researchers say reducing variety in food choices may represent an important strategy for those trying to lose weight.

New mouse model for testing cancer drugs Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:43 AM PDT Only one in twenty cancer drugs makes its way from the laboratory to the market. The majority of new agents are only shown to be unsuitable in the later phases of clinical development which would explain the exorbitantly high development costs. A new mouse model could help researchers to recognize effects and side effects at an earlier stage.

How dairy farms contribute to greenhouse gas emissions Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:17 AM PDT Scientists have produced the first detailed data on how large-scale dairy facilities contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases.

E-health records should play bigger role in patient safety initiatives, researchers advocate Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:17 AM PDT Patient safety researchers are calling for the expanded use of electronic health records to address the disquieting number of medical errors in the health care system that can lead to readmissions and even death.

Some desert birds less affected by wildfires and climate change Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:17 AM PDT A new study has found that some bird species in the desert southwest are less affected, and in some cases positively influenced, by widespread fire through their habitat. In fact, the researchers say that fire actually helps some bird species because of the habitat that is formed after a fire is positive for the bird's prey needs.

Common test may be unnecessary for bariatric surgery candidates Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:15 AM PDT A new study has found that stress testing with myocardial perfusion imaging as part of a pre-operative workup for bariatric surgery candidates may be unnecessary.

Soil samples reveal urban mercury footprints Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:15 AM PDT A new study has investigated mercury deposits in industrialized city soil near coal-fired power plants. While wind patterns vary by cities, the process in various urban areas is similar with mercury emitted from coal-fired power plants contaminating soil that is then transported downstream. Since cities have a high percentage of impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots, the mercury enters waterways rapidly.

Mothers with breastfeeding difficulties more likely to suffer postpartum depression, study finds Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:15 AM PDT Women who have breastfeeding difficulties in the first two weeks after giving birth are more likely to suffer postpartum depression two months later compared to women without such difficulties, according to a new study.

Painful legacy of teen sports Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:11 AM PDT A new study links high rates of osteoarthritis in athletes to femur damage during adolescence, as a result of participation in high-intensity sports.

Suicide and homicide rates in mental health patients in England and Wales Posted: 19 Jul 2011 07:18 AM PDT Suicide rates among people with mental illness in England and Wales have fallen over the last decade, latest figures show.

Tortoise populations can withstand fires every 30 years Posted: 19 Jul 2011 07:17 AM PDT Populations of spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca), a species classified as vulnerable and at risk of extinction, can withstand fires if outbreaks occur once every three decades or more. However, the youngest tortoises are more vulnerable, and disappear after each fire, new research suggests.

Physical activity linked to lower rates of cognitive impairment Posted: 19 Jul 2011 07:17 AM PDT Engaging in regular physical activity is associated with less decline in cognitive function in older adults, according to two new studies.

Reinventing the toilet for safe and affordable sanitation Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:40 AM PDT Scientists are working to develop new technology for processing human waste without links to water, energy, or sewer lines, and at costs affordable to the poor in developing countries.

Scientists identify molecular basis for DNA breakage, a hallmark of cancer cells Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:40 AM PDT Scientists have identified the molecular basis for DNA breakage, a hallmark of cancer cells.

Small hippocampus associated with depression in the elderly: Risk factor or shrinkage? Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:40 AM PDT Imaging studies have repeatedly found that people with depression have smaller hippocampal volumes than healthy individuals. The hippocampus is a brain region involved in learning and memory, spatial navigation, and the evaluation of complex life situations or "contexts". However, because in prior studies hippocampal volume was only measured in people once they became depressed, it has been unclear whether a small hippocampus renders a person vulnerable to developing depression, or whether it is a consequence of depression.

New evidence of age-related decline in the brain's master circadian clock Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:38 AM PDT A new study of the brain's master circadian clock reveals that a key pattern of rhythmic neural activity begins to decline by middle age. The study may have implications for the enormous number of older people who have difficulty sleeping and adjusting to time changes.

New graphene discovery boosts oil exploration efforts, could enable self-powered microsensors Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:38 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to harvest energy from flowing water. The research team demonstrated how the flow of water over surfaces coated with the nanomaterial graphene could generate small amounts of electricity.

Gradual bone reduction seen in some birth control pill users Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:38 AM PDT Birth control pills may reduce a woman's bone density, according to a new study. Impacts on bone were small, depended on the woman's age and the pill's hormone dose, and did not appear until about two years of use. The researchers also reported how on bone density levels when a woman stops using the pill.

Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia yield 18 new species of rare ferns and flowering plants Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:37 AM PDT Recent botanical exploration efforts in the rugged Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) have increased the known flora of the archipelago by an impressive 20 percent. Field research projects have yielded 62 new species of ferns and flowering plants bringing the total native species to 360.

How the early human embryo acquires its shape through 'organizer' cells Posted: 19 Jul 2011 05:28 AM PDT How is it that a disc-like cluster of cells transforms within the first month of pregnancy into an elongated embryo? This mechanism is a mystery that people have tried to unravel for millennia.

Record long algal bloom in Disko Bay, Greenland Posted: 19 Jul 2011 05:28 AM PDT Often, the algal bloom in Disko Bay in Greenland has a short burst of just two weeks, this year Disko Bay was filled with plankton alga for more than six weeks. The duration of algal blooms depends on ice conditions, wind, and how much the sun shines.

No increase in most common preventable cause of intellectual disability over 20 years, Quebec study finds Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:28 AM PDT A new study that was prompted by recent reports of an increase in cases of congenital hypothyroidism in the United States, and aimed at assessing the incidence of this condition among Quebec newborns, suggests that the increase is entirely artifactual.

Over half of Alzheimer's cases may be preventable, say researchers Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:28 AM PDT Over half of all Alzheimer's disease cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes and treatment or prevention of chronic medical conditions, according to a new study.

Positive teens become healthier adults: Adolescents with a sunny outlook on life may have better health in their adult years Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:28 AM PDT Teenagers are known for their angst-ridden ways, but those who remain happy and positive during the tumultuous teenage years report better general health when they are adults, according to a new study.

Mysterious fossils provide new clues to insect evolution Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:28 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new insect order from the Lower Cretaceous of South America. The spectacular fossils were named Coxoplectoptera by their discoverers and represent extinct relatives of modern mayflies.

Decoding slowness: How sloths perfected energy saving Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT Zoologists have discovered how sloths move and how their locomotive system adapted to their unhurried lifestyle in the course of evolution.

New link between Parkinson’s disease and cellular sorting Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT Scientists have identified a mutation associated with a inherited form of late-onset Parkinson's disease. The mutation occurs in a gene that plays a role in intracellular protein sorting.

Personalized nutrition: New EU-funded project changing the way we eat Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT When the human genome sequence was launched in 2000, it introduced the possibility of personalization in health care. Such personalization can be applied to nutrition, a key health determinant, to create a diet tailored specifically for an individual, according to their individual physical and genetic make-up. Food4Me is a new, EU (FP7) funded project investigating the potential of this personalized nutrition.

New scientific milestone in optical communications: Revolutionary chip for optical routers Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT Researchers in Spain, the Netherlands, and Canada have achieved a scientific milestone in the field of optical communications. After many months of research, they have succeeded in developing a revolutionary chip for optical routers, capable of operating up to 100 times faster than currently available chips. This is the first monolithic integrated optical circuit for optical routers.

New 'electronic tongue' system assesses the antioxidant power of juices and fruit Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT Researchers in Spain have developed a new electronic tongue system that can be applied to the analysis of the antioxidant power and other quality parameters of juices, fruit and fruit purées.

Precise measurements of cholesterol transport rates give new hope for Alzheimer’s treatment Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:27 AM PDT Neutron scattering has shown the movement of cholesterol between and within cells takes far longer than previously thought. The findings could impact the treatment of a range of diseases linked to abnormal rates of cholesterol transfer.

Study shows small-scale fisheries' impact on marine life Posted: 18 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT Small-scale fisheries could pose a more serious threat to marine life than previously thought. Research shows that tens of thousands of turtles from across the Pacific are being captured through the activities of small-scale fisheries.

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