ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Dams impact carbon dynamics in U.S. rivers
• Physicist bends light waves on surfboards
• Poor mental health linked to reduced life expectancy
• Coral reef thriving in sediment-laden waters
• 100 years of cosmic rays mystery
• Clinicians overlook alcohol problems if patients are not intoxicated
• Friends help more promptly, at least in monkeys
• Identifying dolphins with technology
• Possible clue to progression of multiple sclerosis
• Atmospheric CO2 drove climate change during longest interglacial
• Protein involved in DNA replication, centrosome regulation linked to dwarfism, small brain size
• Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria
• Amazing deep diving by imperial cormorant bird
• Drug duo turns on cancer-fighting gene in kidney, breast cancers
• When we forget to remember: Failures in prospective memory range from annoying to lethal
• Eyes and attention of men and women meander in distinctly different ways
• Concussions and head impacts may accelerate brain aging
• Two viruses link to prostate cancer: High-risk human papilloma virus found with Epstein Barr virus
• Why people get cold feet
• Curiosity rover on track for early August landing on Mars
• Captive lion reintroduction programs in Africa operate under 'conservation myth'
• Being paranoid about office politics can make you a target
• Study of zebra fish mouth formation may speak to Fraser syndrome hearing loss
• Childhood obesity may affect timing of puberty, create problems with reproduction
• From microns to centimeters: Researchers invent new tissue engineering tool
• Low-cost carbon capture gets X-rayed
• Mathematicians solve decade-old debate on regulation of protein production by microRNAs in cells
• Immune responses can be generated locally within human melanoma skin metastases
• Camouflage of moths: Moths actively seek out best hiding places
• Protein-based coating could help rehabilitate long-term brain function
• Computational analysis identifies drugs to treat drug-resistant breast cancer
• New anesthesia drugs developed to be 'fast, clean, and soft'
• Critically endangered whales sing like birds; New recordings hint at rebound
• IL-10 from donor skin cells helps the body incorporate skin grafts
• Dementia: Autoantibodies damage blood vessels in the brain
• To know a tiger is at least to start tolerating them, study shows
• Olympics for the rest of us: How ping-pong can help your brain
• Opioid receptors as a drug target for stopping obesity
• Stress during pregnancy leads to abdominal obesity in mice offspring
• Sick from stress? Blame your mom… and epigenetics
• Allergies? Your sneeze is a biological response to the nose's 'blue screen of death'
• 'Flightless' molecule may prevent cancer from spreading from one tissue to another
• Ecosystems reveal radiation secrets: Transfer of radioactive compounds is not straightforward
• A good network is important for brain activity
• Adding a '3D print' button to animation software
• Scientists probe link between magnetic polarity reversal and mantle processes
• Domestic violence: New research focuses on treatment for perpetrator, not victim
• An avian flu that jumps from birds to mammals is killing New England's baby seals
• New influenza virus from seals highlights the risks of pandemic flu from animals
• Never again a flat battery: Early warning system for vehicle batteries developed
• Anxiety and depression increase risk of sick leave
• Adolescents in substance abuse treatment report using someone else's medical marijuana
• Micro-copier for genome analysis
• Men with large waists face an increased risk of frequent urination
• Asthma is the most common chronic disease among Olympic athletes
• Rejected Alzheimer's drug shows new potential in animal model
• New drug shows promise for long QT syndrome
• Is it a rock, or is it Jello? Defining the architecture of rhomboid enzymes
• Most with celiac disease unaware of it; others go gluten-free without diagnosis
• Temperature of Hong Kong is predicted to rise by two to three degrees Celsius in 30 years

Dams impact carbon dynamics in U.S. rivers Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:36 PM PDT Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) -- which leaches into freshwater systems from plants, soils, and sediments, and from other detritus present in the water itself -- is the major food supplement for microorganisms and plays an important role in several environmental processes and in the global carbon cycle. In some aquatic systems such as estuaries the optically measurable colored component of dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is often proportional to the concentration of DOC.

Physicist bends light waves on surfboards Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:28 PM PDT A scientist is bringing together his passions for physics and surfing with research that could inspire a host of new technologies. He is using foam from inside surfboards to make materials that can manipulate light.

Poor mental health linked to reduced life expectancy Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT People with mental health problems have a lower life expectancy, according to a large-scale population based study. The findings may prompt further research into the way doctors treat patients with even mild psychological problems.

Coral reef thriving in sediment-laden waters Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT Rapid rates of coral reef growth have been identified in sediment-laden marine environments, conditions previously believed to be detrimental to reef growth. A new study has established that Middle Reef – part of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef – has grown more rapidly than many other reefs in areas with lower levels of sediment stress.

100 years of cosmic rays mystery Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT Experts explain how physicists have gradually revealed the nature of cosmic rays and examines the progress being made in understanding where they come from.

Clinicians overlook alcohol problems if patients are not intoxicated Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT Medical staff struggle to spot problem drinking in their patients unless they are already intoxicated, according to new research.

Friends help more promptly, at least in monkeys Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:12 PM PDT Behavioral scientists have found out that crested macaques react faster if threatened by predators when a group member they share close social bonds with calls for help. In order to study this behavior, the scientists recorded recruiting calls of the monkeys. The macaques utter them, when predators like pythons are in sight.

Identifying dolphins with technology Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:11 PM PDT A student-developed computer program simplifies the process of manual photo identification of bottlenose dolphins and other species.

Possible clue to progression of multiple sclerosis Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:06 PM PDT Researchers have found that one or more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may play a role in the disease's progression. The finding could lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment.

Atmospheric CO2 drove climate change during longest interglacial Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:06 PM PDT Known as the marine isotope stage 11 (MIS 11), the interglacial period centered around 400,000 years ago was the longest and possibly the warmest interglacial in the past 0.5 million years. Because the orbital configurations, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, climate, and faunal characteristics during MIS 11 closely resemble those of the past 5,000 years, paleoclimatologists use MIS 11 as a geological analogue of the present and the near future.

Protein involved in DNA replication, centrosome regulation linked to dwarfism, small brain size Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:06 PM PDT New research links gene mutations found in some patients with Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGS) with specific cellular dysfunctions that are thought to give rise to a particularly extreme version of dwarfism, small brain size, and other manifestations of abnormal growth which generally characterize that rare condition.

Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:06 PM PDT Malaria parasites evolving in vaccinated laboratory mice become more virulent, according to research. The mice were injected with a critical component of several candidate human malaria vaccines that now are being evaluated in clinical trials.

Amazing deep diving by imperial cormorant bird Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:07 PM PDT Researchers recently fitted a South American sea bird called an imperial cormorant with a small camera, then watched stunned as it became 'superbird' -- diving 150 feet underwater in 40 seconds, feeding on the ocean floor for 80 seconds where it eventually caught a snakelike fish, before returning to the surface 40 seconds later.

Drug duo turns on cancer-fighting gene in kidney, breast cancers Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:07 PM PDT A potentially powerful new approach to treating two lethal metastatic cancers -- triple negative breast cancer and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer -- has been discovered.

When we forget to remember: Failures in prospective memory range from annoying to lethal Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:17 PM PDT Why would highly skilled professionals forget to perform a simple task they have executed without difficulty thousands of times before? These kinds of oversights occur in professions as diverse as aviation and computer programming, but research reveals that these lapses may not reflect carelessness or lack of skill but failures of prospective memory.

Eyes and attention of men and women meander in distinctly different ways Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:17 PM PDT Researchers show that the eyes and attention of men and women meander in distinctly different ways. Men park their eyes on the speaker's mouth. Women shift their focus between the speakers eyes and body.

Concussions and head impacts may accelerate brain aging Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:17 PM PDT Concussions and even lesser head impacts may speed up the brain's natural aging process by causing signaling pathways in the brain to break down more quickly than they would in someone who has never suffered a brain injury or concussion.

Two viruses link to prostate cancer: High-risk human papilloma virus found with Epstein Barr virus Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:17 PM PDT New research has revealed that both the human papilloma virus and Epstein Barr virus are present together in more than half of malignant prostate cancers found in Australian men.

Why people get cold feet Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:17 PM PDT Physiologists have identified the biological mechanism that could be responsible for cold feet, the bane of existence for singles and couples alike.

Curiosity rover on track for early August landing on Mars Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:14 PM PDT Eight days before reaching Mars, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft performed a flight-path adjustment scheduled more than nine months ago. The trajectory correction maneuver completed late Saturday may be the last one the mission needs before landing day, though two further opportunities remain on its schedule in case they are needed. The spacecraft is on course for delivering the mission's car-size rover, Curiosity, to a landing target beside a Martian mountain at about 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5. (1:31 a.m. on Aug. 6, EDT). After landing, the rover will spend a two-year prime mission studying whether the area has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for life.

Captive lion reintroduction programs in Africa operate under 'conservation myth' Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT Commercial 'wildlife encounter' operations across Africa promoting the reintroduction of captive lions do little to further the conservation of African lions in the wild, new research shows.

Being paranoid about office politics can make you a target Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT A new study reveals that paranoia about negative gossip or being snubbed leads people to seek out information to confirm their fears, ultimately annoying colleague and increasing the likelihood they will be rejected or subverted.

Study of zebra fish mouth formation may speak to Fraser syndrome hearing loss Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT Using mutant zebra fish, researchers studying the earliest formation of cartilage of the mouth believe they may have gotten a look at a mechanism involved in a genetic defect linked to Fraser syndrome deafness in humans.

Childhood obesity may affect timing of puberty, create problems with reproduction Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT A dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades may have impacts that go beyond the usual health concerns – it could be disrupting the timing of puberty and ultimately lead to a diminished ability to reproduce, especially in females. A body of research suggests that obesity could be related to growing problems with infertility.

From microns to centimeters: Researchers invent new tissue engineering tool Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT Imagine a machine that makes layered, substantial patches of engineered tissue -- tissue that could be used as grafts for burn victims or vascular patches. Sounds like science fiction? According to engineers, it's a growing possibility. Scientists have invented a new device that may allow for the uniform, large-scale engineering of tissue.

Low-cost carbon capture gets X-rayed Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:49 AM PDT Diamond Light Source is being used to improve low cost methods for carbon capture. Scientists are using the UK's national synchrotron to investigate the efficiency of calcium oxide based materials as carbon dioxide sorbents. Their results provide an explanation for one of the key mechanisms involved. This new knowledge will inform efforts to improve the efficiency of this economically viable method of carbon capture and storage.

Mathematicians solve decade-old debate on regulation of protein production by microRNAs in cells Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:49 AM PDT Mathematicians have proposed a new solution to understanding a biological puzzle that has confounded molecular biologists. They have applied a mathematical model to work out the functioning of small molecules known as microRNAs -- components of the body akin to the electronics in modern airplanes.

Immune responses can be generated locally within human melanoma skin metastases Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT In many types of cancer, activated immune cells infiltrate the tumor and influence clinical outcome. It is not always clear where these cells are activated, but new results indicate that in a subset of patients with metastatic melanoma, they can be activated in the tumor micro-environment.

Camouflage of moths: Moths actively seek out best hiding places Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:35 AM PDT Moths are iconic examples of camouflage. Their wing coloration and patterns are shaped by natural selection to match the patterns of natural substrates, such as a tree bark or leaves, on which the moths rest. But, according to recent findings, moths actively seek out the best hiding places.

Protein-based coating could help rehabilitate long-term brain function Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:35 AM PDT Scientists have developed a bioactive coating which not only "camouflages" electrodes in the brain tissue but also suppresses the brain's immune response. With this method, researchers hope to turn the short-term effects of deep brain stimulation into a long-term solution.

Computational analysis identifies drugs to treat drug-resistant breast cancer Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:33 AM PDT Researchers have used computational analysis to identify a new Achilles heel for the treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer. The results reveal that the disruption of glucose metabolism is an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of tumors that have acquired resistance to front-line cancer drugs such as Lapatinib.

New anesthesia drugs developed to be 'fast, clean, and soft' Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:32 AM PDT Researchers are using sophisticated and powerful new tools to develop and evaluate new anesthetic agents with important advantages over current drugs, according to a several new articles.

Critically endangered whales sing like birds; New recordings hint at rebound Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:32 AM PDT The critically endangered bowhead whales sing like birds in the Fram Strait, off the east coast of Greenland, indicating that the whales might be more populous than previously thought or that they sing a wide repertoire of songs, unlike other whales, biologists have found.

IL-10 from donor skin cells helps the body incorporate skin grafts Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:14 AM PDT Scientists have found that the anti-inflammatory molecule, IL-10, may improve success rates of skin autografts (skin moved from one site of the body to another). This information provides a valuable drug target that may benefit burn and accident victims.

Dementia: Autoantibodies damage blood vessels in the brain Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:14 AM PDT The presence of specific autoantibodies of the immune system is associated with blood vessel damage in the brain. New results suggest that autoimmune mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

To know a tiger is at least to start tolerating them, study shows Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:14 AM PDT To protect a dangerous and endangered animal -- be it a tiger in Nepal or a wolf in Michigan - you have to ask people, "How do you FEEL about your predatory neighbor?" Effective conservation calls for not only figuring out what protected species need. It also requires understanding what it takes for humans to tolerate them. A study of tigers in Nepal finds those feelings provide critical information to protect species.

Olympics for the rest of us: How ping-pong can help your brain Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:13 AM PDT The physical benefits of the Olympic sports are pretty obvious: strength, endurance and agility, to name a few. But did you know they also can help the brain? New research shows that any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment -- and slow those conditions if they start. Aerobic exercise also can boost your mood.

Opioid receptors as a drug target for stopping obesity Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT Imagine eating all of the sugar and fat that you want without gaining a pound. Thanks to new research the day may come when this is not too far from reality.

Stress during pregnancy leads to abdominal obesity in mice offspring Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT A new report involving mice suggests that a relationship exists between maternal metabolic or psychological stress and the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in her offspring.

Sick from stress? Blame your mom… and epigenetics Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT If you're sick from stress, a new research report suggests that what your mother ate -- or didn't eat -- may be part of the cause.

Allergies? Your sneeze is a biological response to the nose's 'blue screen of death' Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT Who would have thought that our noses and Microsoft Windows' infamous blue screen of death could have something in common? New research suggests that sneezing is the body's natural reboot and that patients with disorders of the nose such as sinusitis can't reboot, explaining why they sneeze more often than others.

'Flightless' molecule may prevent cancer from spreading from one tissue to another Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT Thanks to the "flightless" molecule, the spread of cancer from one tissue to another may one day be grounded. Laboratory experiments show that "flightless" (named after its effects on fruit flies) increases the "stickiness" that causes cells, including cancer cells, to attach to underlying tissue, which in turn, slows their movement throughout the body.

Ecosystems reveal radiation secrets: Transfer of radioactive compounds is not straightforward Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:30 AM PDT A new study casts doubt over the validity of models used to assess the impact of radiation on human health.

A good network is important for brain activity Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT Speech, sensory perception, thought formation, decision-making processes and movement are complex tasks that the brain only masters when individual nerve cells (neurons) are well connected. Neuroscientists have now discovered a molecular switch that regulates this networking of nerve cells.

Adding a '3D print' button to animation software Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT Watch out, Barbie: omnivorous beasts are assembling in a 3D printer near you. A new tool turns animated characters into fully articulated action figures. Computer scientists have created an add-on software tool that translates video game characters —- or any other three-dimensional animations —- into fully articulated action figures, with the help of a 3D printer.

Scientists probe link between magnetic polarity reversal and mantle processes Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that variations in the long-term reversal rate of the Earth's magnetic field may be caused by changes in heat flow from the Earth's core into the base of the overlying mantle.

Domestic violence: New research focuses on treatment for perpetrator, not victim Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT A new experiment takes an unconventional look at the treatment for domestic violence, otherwise known as intimate partner violence (IPV), by focusing on changing the perpetrators' psychological abuse during arguments rather than addressing his sexist beliefs.

An avian flu that jumps from birds to mammals is killing New England's baby seals Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT A novel avian influenza virus has acquired the ability to infect aquatic mammals and was responsible for an outbreak of fatal pneumonia that recently struck harbor seals in New England, according to scientists.

New influenza virus from seals highlights the risks of pandemic flu from animals Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT A new strain of influenza virus found in harbor seals could represent a threat to wildlife and human health, according to scientists.

Never again a flat battery: Early warning system for vehicle batteries developed Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT A new battery management system frequently checks the age, state of charge and operational reliability of the battery.

Anxiety and depression increase risk of sick leave Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT Long-term sick leave is a burden for individuals and society at large, yet very little is known about the underlying reasons for it. Researchers have identified anxiety as a more important risk factor than previously thought.

Adolescents in substance abuse treatment report using someone else's medical marijuana Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT Diverted medical marijuana use among adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse is very common, according to new research. Study participants from two adolescent substance abuse treatment programs in the Denver metropolitan area were asked questions about their medical marijuana use. 121 of 164 adolescents (73.8%) reported using medical marijuana that had been recommended for someone else, also known as diverted medical marijuana, a median of 50 times.

Micro-copier for genome analysis Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT A new method holds promise to advance personalized medicine. Scientists can now copy 100,000 different DNA sequences simultaneously in a so called picowell array the size of a one cent coin.

Men with large waists face an increased risk of frequent urination Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT Men with large waists urinate more frequently than their slimmer counterparts, according to new research.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among Olympic athletes Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:46 AM PDT Based on data from the last five Olympic games, a study has identified those athletes with asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness. With a prevalence of around 8% they are the most common chronic conditions among Olympic athletes, and could be related to intense training.

Rejected Alzheimer's drug shows new potential in animal model Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:41 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a drug that had previously yielded conflicting results in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease effectively stopped the progression of memory deterioration and brain pathology in mouse models of early stage Alzheimer's disease.

New drug shows promise for long QT syndrome Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:41 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new drug that may be useful in treating a heart rhythm condition called long QT syndrome.

Is it a rock, or is it Jello? Defining the architecture of rhomboid enzymes Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:41 AM PDT Scientists have decoded for the first time the "stability blueprint" of an enzyme that resides in a cell's membrane, mapping which parts of the enzyme are important for its shape and function. These studies could eventually lead to the development of drugs to treat malaria and other parasitic diseases.

Most with celiac disease unaware of it; others go gluten-free without diagnosis Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:41 AM PDT Roughly 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, but around 1.4 million of them are unaware that they have it, a new analysis of the condition's prevalence has found.

Temperature of Hong Kong is predicted to rise by two to three degrees Celsius in 30 years Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:38 AM PDT The temperature in the inner urban areas of Hong Kong is predicted to rise by two to three Celsius degrees in 30 years' time, according to a recent scientific study.

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