Fwd: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Twisted light waves sent across Vienna
• Piecing together signaling pathway leading to obesity
• Key protein can reduce severity of disease equivalent to multiple sclerosis in mice
• First analysis of new human glucose disorder revealed
• Farmers, scientists divided over climate change
• Microtubes create cozy space for neurons to grow, and grow fast
• Study identifying cell of origin for large, disfiguring nerve tumors lays groundwork for development of new therapies
• Some plants regenerate by duplicating their DNA
• Novel molecular imaging drug offers better detection of prostate cancer
• Attitudes about knowledge, power drive Michigan's wolf debate
• Why 'I'm so happy I could cry' makes sense
• East coast, U.S. hurricanes can flood the Midwest
• Tracing the course of phosphorus pollution in Lake Pepin
• Mothers, babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact
• Groundwater warming up in sync
• Altered milk protein can deliver aids drug to infants
• Enriched environments hold promise for brain injury patients
• Tumor-analysis technology enables speedier treatment decisions for bowel cancer patients
• Tail discovered on long-known asteroid
• Eye diseases identified by how we watch TV
• Controlling genes with your thoughts
• Space: The final frontier in silicon chemistry
• Drunk driving: Helping reduce road fatalities in China
• Lung disease case finding in pharmacies could save £264 million
• The oceans' sensitive skin: Ocean acidification affects climate-relevant functions at the sea-surface microlayer
• Creating bright X-ray pulses in the laser lab
• Weeds yet to reach full potential as invaders in United Kingdom, after centuries of change
• Typhoid gene unravelled
• The Trojan horse burger: Do companies that 'do good' sell unhealthy food?
• HIV-infected adults diagnosed with age-related diseases at similar ages as uninfected adults
• Bizarre mapping error puts newly discovered species in jeopardy
• Mapping spread of diarrhea bacteria a major step toward new vaccine
• Promising prognostic biomarker candidates for ovarian cancer uncovered
• Controversial medication has benefits for breastfeeding, researchers find
• 'Landmark' results for curing hepatitis C in liver transplant patients
• The cave paintings of Valltorta-Gassulla could be dated in absolute terms thanks to new analyses
• Astronomers preparing for first-ever comet landing attempt
• Prosthetic, orthotic service in developing countries examined
• Toxic mix of fast-food outlets in inner city neighborhoods fuelling diabetes, obesity epidemic
• Legionella outbreaks of Alcoy may have multiple sources
• Beta-blockers have no mortality benefit in post-heart attack patients, say researchers
• All the electronics that's fit to print
• Multiple models reveal new genetic links in autism
• Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT could be cost effective
• ACE-inhibitors associated with lower risk for ALS above certain dose over time
• Overall risk of birth defects appears low for women taking antiretrovirals during early pregnancy
• Home health nurses integrated depression care management but limited benefit
• Second-hand smoke exposure of hospitalized nonsmoker cardiac patients
• The brain's 'inner GPS' gets dismantled
• Hospital workers wash hands less frequently toward end of shift, study finds
• Bending but not breaking: In search of new materials

Twisted light waves sent across Vienna Posted: 11 Nov 2014 04:22 PM PST A group of researchers from Austria have sent twisted beams of light across the rooftops of Vienna. It is the first time that twisted light has been transmitted over a large distance outdoors, and could enable researchers to take advantage of the significant data-carrying capacity of light in both classical and quantum communications.

Piecing together signaling pathway leading to obesity Posted: 11 Nov 2014 11:22 AM PST A team of researchers has now drawn connections between known regulators of body mass, pointing to possible treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders. As scientists probe the molecular underpinnings of why some people are prone to obesity and some to leanness, they are discovering that weight maintenance is more complicated than the old "calories in, calories out" adage.

Key protein can reduce severity of disease equivalent to multiple sclerosis in mice Posted: 11 Nov 2014 11:22 AM PST Researchers have identified a key protein that is able to reduce the severity of a disease equivalent to multiple sclerosis in mice. This molecule, Del-1, is the same regulatory protein that has been found to prevent inflammation and bone loss in a mouse model of gum disease.

First analysis of new human glucose disorder revealed Posted: 11 Nov 2014 10:36 AM PST Glycogen storage disorders are metabolic conditions that manifest in the first years of life. This inability to process and store glucose can be difficult to diagnose. Now, researchers who have studied enzymes involved in metabolism of bacteria have cataloged the effects of abnormal enzymes responsible for one type of this disorder in humans. Their work could help with patient prognosis and in developing therapeutic options for this glycogen storage disease.

Farmers, scientists divided over climate change Posted: 11 Nov 2014 10:36 AM PST Crop producers and scientists hold deeply different views on climate change and its possible causes, a study shows. Researchers surveyed 6,795 people in the agricultural sector in 2011-2012 to determine their beliefs about climate change and whether variation in the climate is triggered by human activities, natural causes or an equal combination of both.

Microtubes create cozy space for neurons to grow, and grow fast Posted: 11 Nov 2014 10:36 AM PST Tiny, thin microtubes could provide a scaffold for neuron cultures to grow so that researchers can study neural networks, their growth and repair, yielding insights into treatment for degenerative neurological conditions or restoring nerve connections after injury, scientists report.

Study identifying cell of origin for large, disfiguring nerve tumors lays groundwork for development of new therapies Posted: 11 Nov 2014 10:34 AM PST Researchers have determined the specific type of cell that gives rise to large, disfiguring tumors called plexiform neurofibromas, a finding that could lead to new therapies for preventing growth of these tumors.

Some plants regenerate by duplicating their DNA Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:40 AM PST When munched by grazing animals -- or mauled by scientists in the lab -- some herbaceous plants overcompensate, producing more plant matter and becoming more fertile than they otherwise would. Scientists say they now know how these plants accomplish this feat of regeneration.

Novel molecular imaging drug offers better detection of prostate cancer Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:40 AM PST A novel study demonstrates the potential of a novel molecular imaging drug to detect and visualize early prostate cancer in soft tissue, lymph nodes and bone. The research compares the biodistribution and tumor uptake kinetics of two Tc-99m labeled ligands, MIP-1404 and MIP-1405, used with SPECT and planar imaging.

Attitudes about knowledge, power drive Michigan's wolf debate Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:40 AM PST With both wolf proposals shot down by Michigan voters on election day, the debate over managing and hunting wolves is far from over. A new study identifies the themes shaping the issue and offers some potential solutions as the debate moves forward.

Why 'I'm so happy I could cry' makes sense Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:40 AM PST The phrase 'tears of joy' never made much sense to one American psychologist. But after conducting a series of studies of such seemingly incongruous expressions, she now understands better why people cry when they are happy.

East coast, U.S. hurricanes can flood the Midwest Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:37 AM PST Located hundreds of miles inland from the nearest ocean, the Midwest is unaffected by North Atlantic hurricanes. Or is it? Scientists have found that North Atlantic tropical cyclones in fact have a significant effect on the Midwest.

Tracing the course of phosphorus pollution in Lake Pepin Posted: 11 Nov 2014 09:37 AM PST In recent years, many lakes in the upper Midwest have been experiencing unprecedented algae blooms. These blooms threaten fish and affect recreational activities. A key culprit implicated in overgrowth of algae in lakes is phosphorus (P). Lake Pepin, located on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, has seen increasing phosphorus concentrations over time. Researchers are now trying to identify upstream factors that could explain this increase.

Mothers, babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:17 AM PST Research during the past 30 years has found many benefits of skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns immediately after birth, particularly with aiding breastfeeding. However, in some hospitals, skin-to-skin contact following cesarean birth is not implemented, due to practices around the surgery. A recent quality improvement project demonstrated that women's birth experiences were improved by implementing skin-to-skin contact after cesarean surgery.

Groundwater warming up in sync Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:17 AM PST Global warming stops at nothing -- not even the groundwater, as a new study reveals: the groundwater's temperature profiles echo those of the atmosphere, albeit damped and delayed.

Altered milk protein can deliver aids drug to infants Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST A novel method of altering a protein in milk to bind with an antiretroviral drug promises to greatly improve treatment for infants and young children suffering from HIV/AIDS, according to a researcher.

Enriched environments hold promise for brain injury patients Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST A violent blow to the head has the potential to cause mild to severe traumatic brain injury -- physical damage to the brain that can be debilitating, even fatal. But to date, there is no effective medical or cognitive treatment for patients with traumatic brain injuries. Now a new study points to an 'enriched environment' -- specially enhanced surroundings -- as a promising path for the rehabilitation of mild traumatic brain injury patients.

Tumor-analysis technology enables speedier treatment decisions for bowel cancer patients Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:16 AM PST Technology helps hospitals make earlier and more accurate treatment decisions and survival assessments for patients with bowel cancer. A novel medical imaging technology, TexRAD, which analyses the texture of tumors, has been shown in trials to enable early diagnosis of those bowel cancer patients not responding to the standard cancer therapy better than other available tumor markers.

Tail discovered on long-known asteroid Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST Astronomers have discovered a new active asteroid, called 62412, in the Solar System's main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is the first comet-like object seen in the Hygiea family of asteroids.

Eye diseases identified by how we watch TV Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST One of the leading causes of blindness worldwide could be detected by how our eyes respond to watching TV according to a new study. With millions of people living with undiagnosed glaucoma, the research could help speed up diagnosis, enabling clinicians to identify the disease earlier and allowing treatment to begin before the onset of permanent damage.

Controlling genes with your thoughts Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:13 AM PST Researchers have constructed the first gene network that can be controlled by our thoughts. Scientists have developed a novel gene regulation method that enables thought-specific brainwaves to control the conversion of genes into proteins (gene expression). The inspiration was a game that picks up brainwaves in order to guide a ball through an obstacle course.

Space: The final frontier in silicon chemistry Posted: 11 Nov 2014 08:11 AM PST Silicon, which is one of the most common elements in Earth's crust, is also sprinkled abundantly throughout interstellar space. The only way to identify silicon-containing molecules in the far corners of the cosmos – and to understand the chemistry that created them – is to observe through telescopes the electromagnetic radiation the molecules emit.

Drunk driving: Helping reduce road fatalities in China Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:52 AM PST Changes to China's drunk driving laws are catching the community off guard with more than 70 percent of people unaware of the blood alcohol limits that could see them face criminal charges, according to new research conducted in two Chinese cities.

Lung disease case finding in pharmacies could save £264 million Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:52 AM PST Using community pharmacies to identify undiagnosed cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at an early stage could save £264 million a year, English researchers report. The new research shows the value of pharmacies in addressing diseases at an early stage. It reveals that case-finding would provide 'significant NHS and societal benefits' and save the NHS more money than the service costs to deliver.

The oceans' sensitive skin: Ocean acidification affects climate-relevant functions at the sea-surface microlayer Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:52 AM PST Ocean acidification might alter climate-relevant functions of the oceans' uppermost layer, according to a study by a group of marine scientists. Researchers observed a close coupling between biological processes in the seawater and the chemistry of the sea surface microlayer.

Creating bright X-ray pulses in the laser lab Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:52 AM PST To create X-rays -- short wave radiation -- scientists have started out with very long wavelengths -- infrared laser. Long wavelength laser pulses rip atoms out of metal and accelerate them, which leads to emission of X-rays.

Weeds yet to reach full potential as invaders in United Kingdom, after centuries of change Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:52 AM PST Weeds in the UK are still evolving hundreds of years after their introduction and are unlikely to have yet reached their full potential as invaders, Australian scientists have discovered. The study is the first to have tracked the physical evolution of introduced plant species from the beginning of their invasion to the present day, and was made possible by the centuries-old British tradition of storing plant specimens in herbaria.

Typhoid gene unravelled Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:51 AM PST People who carry a particular type of gene have natural resistance against typhoid fever according to new research. Enteric fever, or typhoid fever as it more commonly known, is a considerable health burden to lower-income countries. This finding is important because this natural resistance represents one of the largest human gene effects on an infectious disease.

The Trojan horse burger: Do companies that 'do good' sell unhealthy food? Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:49 AM PST When consumers see a company performing good deeds, they often assume that the company's products are healthy. According to a new study this may be far from true, and the company's socially responsible behavior may be creating a "health halo" over unhealthy foods.

HIV-infected adults diagnosed with age-related diseases at similar ages as uninfected adults Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:48 AM PST HIV-infected adults are at a higher risk for developing heart attacks, kidney failure and cancer. But, contrary to what many had believed, the researchers say these illnesses are occurring at similar ages as adults who are not infected with HIV.

Bizarre mapping error puts newly discovered species in jeopardy Posted: 11 Nov 2014 07:48 AM PST Scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have discovered a new species of plant living in a remote rift valley escarpment that's supposed to be inside of a protected area. But an administrative mapping error puts the reserve's borders some 50 kilometers west of the actual location.

Mapping spread of diarrhea bacteria a major step toward new vaccine Posted: 11 Nov 2014 06:28 AM PST Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) bacteria are responsible each year for around 400 million cases of diarrhea and 400,000 deaths in the world's low- and middle-income countries. Children under the age of five are most affected. ETEC bacteria also cause diarrhea in nearly one in two travelers to these areas. In a major breakthrough, researchers used comprehensive DNA analyses to reveal the ETEC bacteria's genetic composition – an analysis that also makes it possible to map how the bacteria spread.

Promising prognostic biomarker candidates for ovarian cancer uncovered Posted: 11 Nov 2014 06:27 AM PST Through separate studies, researchers have clarified the role of cancer testis antigen in ovarian cancer, and report new evidence that certain ligand/receptor interactions influence ovarian cancer prognosis.

Controversial medication has benefits for breastfeeding, researchers find Posted: 11 Nov 2014 06:27 AM PST A controversial medication used by breastfeeding women should not be restricted because of the benefits it offers mothers and their babies, according to researchers. The medication domperidone has recently been the subject of warnings based on research that there is a link between the medication and fatal heart conditions.

'Landmark' results for curing hepatitis C in liver transplant patients Posted: 11 Nov 2014 06:27 AM PST A new treatment regimen for hepatitis C, the most common cause of liver cancer and transplantation, has produced results that will transform treatment protocols for transplant patients, according to research.

The cave paintings of Valltorta-Gassulla could be dated in absolute terms thanks to new analyses Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:43 AM PST Researchers have presented the first characterization of the black pigments used in the shelters of the Remígia cave, in the Valltorta-Gassulla area, between the Valencian regions of L'Alt Maestrat and La Plana (Castelló). The objective of this study was to identify the raw material of the black pigments and the techniques used to prepare them, and to make an approach to the cultural patterns associated with the use of pigments.

Astronomers preparing for first-ever comet landing attempt Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:43 AM PST Astronomers are preparing for the first ever landing by a spacecraft on an icy comet tomorrow. The Rosetta spacecraft was launched in 2004, and has spent a decade manoeuvring to rendezvous with the comet.

Prosthetic, orthotic service in developing countries examined Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:38 AM PST How well do prosthetic and orthotic services work in countries characterized by poverty and civil war? A new study focuses on this issue, revealing current the state of the matter.

Toxic mix of fast-food outlets in inner city neighborhoods fuelling diabetes, obesity epidemic Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:38 AM PST There is twice the number of fast-food outlets in inner city neighborhoods with high density non-white ethnic minority groups and in socially deprived areas, a study shows. "The results are quite alarming and have major implications for public health interventions to limit the number of fast food outlets in more deprived areas," notes one researcher.

Legionella outbreaks of Alcoy may have multiple sources Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:38 AM PST A genomic analysis has been carried out of Legionella pneumophila strains of 13 legionellosis outbreaks produced in Alcoy during the period from 1999 to 2010. Legionella pneumophila is a strictly environmental pathogen, an opportunistic bacterium that inhabits aquatic and soil environments, spreading through the air and that can infect humans with certain susceptibility characteristics, such as being over 65 years, with breathing problems or smokers, among others. L. pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaire's disease.

Beta-blockers have no mortality benefit in post-heart attack patients, say researchers Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:38 AM PST Beta-blockers have been a cornerstone in the treatment of heart attack survivors for more than a quarter of a century. However, many of the data predate contemporary medical therapy such as reperfusion, statins, and antiplatelet agents, and recent data have called the role of beta-blockers into question. Two new studies evaluated the traditional management of these patients after their discharge from the hospital and in the light of changing medical treatment, as well as the impact of the discharge heart rate and conventional treatment with beta-blockers.

All the electronics that's fit to print Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:33 AM PST New technology allows you to print electronic devices in the same way your inkjet printer prints a document or photo. Now researchers have used this technique to build a portable X-ray imager and small mechanical devices.

Multiple models reveal new genetic links in autism Posted: 11 Nov 2014 05:33 AM PST With the help of mouse models, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the "tooth fairy," researchers have implicated a new gene in idiopathic or non-syndromic autism.

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT could be cost effective Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:10 PM PST Lung cancer screening in the National Lung Screening Trial meets a commonly accepted standard for cost effectiveness, researchers report. This relatively new screening test uses annual low-dose CT scans to spot lung tumors early in individuals facing the highest risks of lung cancer due to age and smoking history.

ACE-inhibitors associated with lower risk for ALS above certain dose over time Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:10 PM PST ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and most patients die within three to five years after symptoms appear. Studies have suggested antihypertensive medications angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) may decrease the risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases. "The findings in this total population-based case-control study revealed that long-term exposure to ACEIs was inversely associated with the risk for developing ALS. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to screen the association between ACEIs and ALS risk in a population-based study," note the authors.

Overall risk of birth defects appears low for women taking antiretrovirals during early pregnancy Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:10 PM PST Among pregnant women infected with HIV, the use of antiretroviral medications early in pregnancy to treat their HIV or to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects in their infants, according to a new study.

Home health nurses integrated depression care management but limited benefit Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:09 PM PST Medicare home health care nurses effectively integrated a depression care management program into routine practice but the benefit appeared limited to patients with moderate to severe depression, according to a report.

Second-hand smoke exposure of hospitalized nonsmoker cardiac patients Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:09 PM PST While nonsmoking patients hospitalized with coronary heart disease reported secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in the days before their hospital admission, only 17.3 percent of patients recalled a physician or nurse asking them about their SHS exposure despite evidence that SHS increases nonsmokers' risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a report.

The brain's 'inner GPS' gets dismantled Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:06 PM PST Imagine being able to recognize your car as your own but never being able to remember where you parked it. Researchers have induced this all-too-common human experience -- or a close version of it -- permanently in rats and from what is observed perhaps derive clues about why strokes and Alzheimer's disease can destroy a person's sense of direction.

Hospital workers wash hands less frequently toward end of shift, study finds Posted: 10 Nov 2014 06:06 PM PST Hospital workers who deal directly with patients wash their hands less frequently as their workday progresses, probably because the demands of the job deplete the mental reserves they need to follow rules, according to new research.

Bending but not breaking: In search of new materials Posted: 10 Nov 2014 01:10 PM PST Researchers have chemically engineered a new, electrically conductive nanomaterial that is flexible enough to fold, but strong enough to support many times its own weight. They believe it can be used to improve electrical energy storage, water filtration and radiofrequency shielding in technology from portable electronics to coaxial cables.

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