Saturday 8 September 2012

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Fathers biologically attuned to their children when sleeping nearby, research reveals

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:52 PM PDT

Mothers aren't the only ones who are biologically adapted to respond to children. New research shows that dads who sleep near their children experience a drop in testosterone. Previous research from humans and other species suggests this decrease might make men more responsive to their children's needs and help them focus on the demands of parenthood.

Turf study to monitor runoff, establish fertilizer management practices

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT

Improperly applied fertilizer to newly placed sod may result in nutrient runoff into the water supply, but just when is the best time to apply fertilizer and what kind is the best for new turf?

Subsidies change incentives for adoption of foster children, study finds

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT

The structure of a federal program that provides monthly subsidies to promote the adoptions of special needs children in foster care may actually be delaying some adoptions, according to a new study.

How sea otters can reduce CO2 in the atmosphere: Appetite for sea urchins allows kelp to thrive

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT

A new study suggest that a thriving sea otter population that keeps sea urchins in check will in turn allow kelp forests to prosper and help reverse a principal cause of global warming.

New approach to cosmic lithium in the early universe

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:14 PM PDT

Astrophysicists have explored a discrepancy between the amount of lithium predicted by the standard models of elemental production during the Big Bang and the amount of lithium observed in the gas of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy near to our own.

Coping skills, marital satisfaction help pregnant moms manage stress when fetus has heart defect

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 01:06 PM PDT

Expectant mothers who learn from prenatal diagnosis that they are carrying a fetus with a congenital heart defect (CHD) commonly suffer post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. However, a healthy relationship with one's partner and positive coping mechanisms can reduce this intense stress, according to new research.

Hubble resolves globular cluster M 4 into multitude of glowing orbs

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:51 AM PDT

A sparkling picture taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the center of globular cluster M 4. The power of Hubble has resolved the cluster into a multitude of glowing orbs, each a colossal nuclear furnace.

NASA's Global Hawk mission begins with flight to Hurricane Leslie

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:49 AM PDT

NASA has begun its latest hurricane science field campaign by flying an unmanned Global Hawk aircraft over Hurricane Leslie in the Atlantic Ocean during a day-long flight from California to Virginia. With the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission, NASA for the first time will be flying Global Hawks from the U.S. East Coast.

Clearer look at how iron reacts in the environment: New way to study electron transfer in semiconductors shines through rust

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:23 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a the first way to watch electrons hop in semiconductors. This opens research possibilities for premeditation, solar cells, batteries, hydrogen generation, catalysis.

Precautions for tick-borne disease extend 'beyond Lyme'

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:23 AM PDT

This year's mild winter and early spring were a bonanza for tick populations in the eastern United States. Reports of tick-borne disease rose fast. While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, new research results emphasize that it is not the greatest cause for concern in most Southeastern states.

First appropriate use criteria in dermatology released

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 11:20 AM PDT

A new manuscript co-published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery outlines Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Mohs surgery – the first AUC for any test or treatment within the field of dermatology.

First look at structure of vital molecule

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:16 AM PDT

Molybdenum is an essential metal required in all living beings from bacteria to plants to humans. But as vital as this metal is, no one understood the importance of the structure of a vital molecule that interacts with molybdenum until now.

Racial and ethnic diversity spreads across the United States

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:16 AM PDT

Increasing racial and ethnic diversity has long been apparent at the national level in the United States and in the nation's largest metropolitan gateways. Since 1980 over nine-tenths of all cities, suburbs and small towns have become more diverse. And rural communities are following the lead of their urban counterparts, according to a U.S. 2010 policy brief.

Bacteria are social microorganisms, new research suggests

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:16 AM PDT

New research reveals that some unlikely subjects -- bacteria -- can have social structures similar to plants and animals. The research shows that a few individuals in groups of closely related bacteria have the ability to produce chemical compounds that kill or slow the growth of other populations of bacteria in the environment, but not harm their own.

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) early in life results in high levels of anxiety; Soy mitigates effects, study shows

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:16 AM PDT

New research led by researchers at North Carolina State University shows that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A early in life results in high levels of anxiety by causing significant gene expression changes in a specific region of the brain called the amygdala. The researchers also found that a soy-rich diet can mitigate these effects.

Arizona's Sun Corridor: White roofs can combat urban heat islands, but not without impact on regional hydroclimate

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:16 AM PDT

A team of researchers in Arizona has found that warming resulting from megapolitan expansion is seasonally dependent, with greatest warming occurring during summer and least during winter. Among the most practical ways to combat urbanization-induced warming -- the painting of building's roofs white -- was found to disrupt regional hydroclimate, highlighting the need for evaluation of tradeoffs associated with combating urban heat islands.

Work with germ-killing copper could save thousands of lives

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:15 AM PDT

When Adam Estelle graduated from the University of Arizona's materials science and engineering program four years ago, he had no idea he would be involved in saving thousands of lives. Now, Estelle is working with technology based on copper alloys that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. The metals can be fashioned into everything from IV poles to sinks to bed rails -- just about anything that is frequently touched in hospitals.

Child abuse and discipline: What’s the difference?

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:15 AM PDT

A researcher is attempting to differentiate child abuse from physical discipline through an examination of Chinese-American mothers and pediatric nurses.

Hockey and football concussions: Time for big changes, expert argues

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Imagine ice hockey without body checking and football with less hitting. What might sound blasphemous to hockey and football fans and players could protect youngsters from potentially deadly concussions, an expert argues.

Scientists cast doubt on Heisenberg's uncertainty principle

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT

Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, formulated by the theoretical physicist in 1927, is one of the cornerstones of quantum mechanics. The principle has bedeviled quantum physicists for nearly a century, until recently, when researchers demonstrated the ability to directly measure the disturbance caused by measuring a property of something, and confirm that Heisenberg was too pessimistic.

Next generation of advanced climate models needed, says new report

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT

The United States' collection of climate models should advance substantially to deliver more detailed, smaller scale climate projections, according to a new report.

Novel surgery removes rare tumor, rebuilds face and jaw

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT

Using a novel surgical approach, it's possible to rebuild a functional lower jaw and mouth, and preserve a patient's ability to eat and speak after removing an invasive facial tumor, according to a new report.

World record set for highest surface area material

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT

The internal surface area of just one gram of the synthetic material NU-110 could cover one-and-a-half football fields. That extremely high surface area could make the material especially promising for natural gas storage applications.

Analysis finds benefits to racial quotas in Brazilian higher education

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:50 AM PDT

A racial quota system at one of the leading universities in Brazil raised the proportion of black students from low-income families, without decreasing their efforts to succeed in school, finds a major new study of the university's affirmative action policies.

Stress prompts some to retain as much salt as eating fries, study finds

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:50 AM PDT

When stressed, about 30 percent of blacks hold onto too much sodium, the equivalent of eating a small order of fast food French fries or a small bag of potato chips, according to new research.

Allegedly useless parts of the human genome fulfil regulatory tasks

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:47 AM PDT

Heidelberg scientists contribute to the encyclopedia of all functional DNA elements in the human genome.

Antibiotics improve exacerbations of mild-to-moderate COPD

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:47 AM PDT

Antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate improves moderate exacerbations in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and significantly prolongs the time between exacerbations, according to a new study.

Who’s the most influential in a social graph? New software recognizes key influencers faster than ever

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 09:47 AM PDT

Determining the most influential person on a social media network is complex. Thousands of users are interacting about a single subject at the same time. New people are constantly joining the streaming conversation. Researchers have developed a new algorithm that quickly determines betweenness centrality for streaming graphs. The algorithm can identify influencers as information changes within a network.

Ancient, humble critter proves: Newer isn’t always better

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT

Tiny sea creatures called rhabdopleurids reside on the ocean floor, building homes of collagen on the shells of dead clams. Rhabdopleurid colonies are small, and the critters are by no means the dominant animals in their ecosystem. But they have lived this way -- and survived -- for more than 500 million years. And in doing so, they have outlasted more elaborate species that also descended from a common ancestor, according to a new study.

Rust never sleeps: Observations of electron hopping in iron oxide hold consequences for environment and energy

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:58 AM PDT

A multi-institutional team has directly observed electron hopping in iron oxide particles, a phenomenon that holds huge significance for a broad range of environment- and energy-related applications.

Exploration drilling to monitor earthquakes in the Istanbul area

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:57 AM PDT

Today the drilling starts for a seismic monitoring network on the Marmara Sea near Istanbul. Specially designed seismic sensors in eight boreholes on the outskirts of Istanbul and around the eastern Marmara Sea will monitor the seismic activity of the region with high precision. In each of the respective 300 meter deep holes several borehole seismometers will be permanently installed at various depths. These detect even barely perceptible earthquakes with very small magnitudes at a high resolution and can thus provide information about the earthquake rupture processes associated with these.

Biomarine-based value creation could increase six-fold by 2050

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:57 AM PDT

According to a newly published report, value creation within the Norwegian biomarine industry has the potential to grow 600 per cent -- from NOK 90 billion today to NOK 550 billion -- in 2050.

Strategy developed to improve delivery of medicines to the brain

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:55 AM PDT

New research offers a possible strategy for treating central nervous system diseases, such as brain and spinal cord injury, brain cancer, epilepsy, and neurological complications of HIV. The experimental treatment method allows small therapeutic agents to safely cross the blood-brain barrier in laboratory rats by turning off P-glycoprotein, one of the main gatekeepers preventing medicinal drugs from reaching their intended targets in the brain.

Alzheimer's experts provide strategic roadmap

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:55 AM PDT

This week, a strategic roadmap to help to the United States' health care system cope with the impending public health crisis caused Alzheimer's disease and related dementia will be published. The plan aims to link the latest scientific findings with clinical care and bring together patients, families, scientists, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and advocacy organizations behind a common set of prioritized goals.

Experts recommend screening adults for hypertriglyceridemia every five years

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 06:55 AM PDT

The Endocrine Society has issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood and are associated with cardiovascular risk.

Towards computing with water droplets: Superhydrophobic droplet logic

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 05:20 AM PDT

Researchers in Finland have developed a new concept for computing, using water droplets as bits of digital information. This was enabled by the discovery that upon collision with each other on a highly water-repellent surface, two water droplets rebound like billiard balls.

Archaeologists uncover 'lost garden' in quest for Richard III

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 05:20 AM PDT

Archaeologists from the UK who are leading the search for the lost grave of King Richard III announced that they have made a new advance in their quest. They have uncovered evidence of the lost garden of Robert Herrick -- where, historically, it is recorded there was a memorial to Richard III. Now the "time tomb team" as they have become to be known has discovered paving stones which they believe belong to the garden.

Measuring glucose without needle pricks

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 05:20 AM PDT

Pricking a finger everyday is just part of everyday life for many diabetes patients. A non-invasive measurement approach could release them from the constant pain of pin pricks. The linchpin is a biosensor engineered by researchers in Germany: A tiny chip combines measurement and digital analysis -- and can be radioed to a mobile device.

Can dynamic mapping reveal clues about flu seasonality?

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 05:16 AM PDT

Influenza outbreaks in the United States typically begin with the arrival of cold weather and then spread in seasonal waves across geographic zones. But the question of why epidemics can vary from one season to the next has baffled scientists. A new study suggests that the search for answers has been thwarted, in part, by the lack of standardized research methods.

Melanoma manifests differently in children than in adults, study finds

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:24 AM PDT

Physicians studying melanoma and related conditions occurring in childhood recently published results of their experience with cases of pathologically confirmed childhood melanoma. They found evidence that the disease manifests differently in children than in adults, particularly with regard to the likelihood and significance of lymph node metastases.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease increases maternal stress, depression, and anxiety

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:24 AM PDT

Infants who were prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) are more stable and have better outcomes than infants who were diagnosed after birth. Diagnosing CHD in a fetus also allows mothers to educate themselves on heart malformations, consider their options, and potentially plan for intervention or surgery after birth. However, a new study finds that, along with these benefits, maternal post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common after prenatal diagnosis of CHD.

'Hidden’ alcohol abuse among older people revealed

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:23 AM PDT

A study has uncovered a growing drink problem among older people. Researchers have been assessing the extent of alcohol abuse among the older generation which often results from big changes such as retirement, bereavement, feelings of boredom, loneliness and depression.

The birdy smell of a compatible partner

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:23 AM PDT

New evidence shows that birds may choose their mate with the help of smell. They prefer a dissimilar mate because this gives their young a more efficient immune system.

The pocket radar: Thumbtack-sized distance and motion sensor developed

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:23 AM PDT

Today's parking assistant systems enable drivers to safely park their cars even in the narrowest of gaps. Such sophisticated parking aids require millimeter precision control and rely on precise all-around radar distance measurement. Researchers have now succeeded in integrating the necessary radar technology into millimeter-sized chip housings.

Revolutionized production of titanium components may revamp industry

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:23 AM PDT

Norwegian titanium companies have been granted funding to develop a brand-new production technology, which may mark the beginning of a revolution in industry worth billions.

Needle beam could eliminate signal loss in on-chip optics

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:23 AM PDT

An international team of researchers has demonstrated a new type of light beam that propagates without spreading outwards, remaining very narrow and controlled along an unprecedented distance. This "needle beam," as the team calls it, could greatly reduce signal loss for on-chip optical systems and may eventually assist the development of a more powerful class of microprocessors.

Red flag raised on offbeat hearts

Posted: 07 Sep 2012 04:18 AM PDT

An estimated 2.5 million Americans suffer from irregular heartbeats -- also known as atrial fibrillation. The incidence of this potentially life changing cardiovascular condition is on the rise and expected to more than double by 2050.

Raised antibody levels linked to greater long term risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 04:08 PM PDT

Men and women with raised levels of an antibody known as rheumatoid factor in their blood have up to a 26-fold greater long term risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study finds.

Diagnostic chest radiation before age 30 may increase breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 04:08 PM PDT

Women carrying a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes (which control the suppression of breast and ovarian cancer) who have undergone diagnostic radiation to the chest before the age of 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who carry the gene mutation but who have not been exposed, a new study reveals.