ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

New wound dressing, full of antibiotics, dissolves when wound has healed

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Scientists have developed a new wound dressing, based on innovative fibers that can be loaded with antibiotics, then dissolve when the healing process is completed.

Multiple sclerosis is more aggressive in children but slower to cause disability than in adults

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Magnetic resonance images of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in childhood show that pediatric onset multiple sclerosis is more aggressive, and causes more brain lesions, than MS diagnosed in adulthood, researchers have reported.

Analyzing structural brain changes in Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

In a study that promises to improve diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, scientists have developed a fast and accurate method for quantifying subtle, sub-regional brain volume loss using magnetic resonance imaging.

Imaging techniques may help predict response to head and neck cancer treatment

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

A combination of imaging tests conducted six to eight weeks after patients complete chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer may help identify patients who will respond to treatment and those who will require surgical follow-up, according to a new study.

Biologists discover bacterial defense mechanism against aggressive oxygen

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Bacteria possess an ingenious mechanism for preventing oxygen from harming the building blocks of the cell, according to new research.

Skin color gives clues to health

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Researchers have found that the color of a person's skin affects how healthy and therefore attractive they appear, and have found that diet may be crucial to achieving the most desirable complexion.

Common plastics chemicals -- phthalates -- linked to ADHD symptoms

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects.

Compound that boosts anti-inflammatory fat levels created

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Pharmacology researchers have discovered a way to boost levels of a natural body fat that helps decrease inflammation, pointing to possible new treatments for allergies, illnesses and injuries related to the immune system.

Small optical force can budge nanoscale objects

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

With a bit of leverage, researchers have used a very tiny beam of light with as little as 1 milliwatt of power to move a silicon structure up to 12 nanometers. That's enough to completely switch the optical properties of the structure from opaque to transparent.

How does embryo's pancreas 'know' which cells are to produce insulin?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

How does the developing pancreas in an embryo 'know' which cells are to produce insulin and which cells are to have other assignments? Researchers need to understand this if they want to be able to treat type-1 diabetes with stem cells developed into insulin-producing beta cells.

Climate modeling may have missed something: Aquatic creatures mix ocean water by swimming

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Understanding mixing in the ocean is of fundamental importance to modeling climate change or predicting the effects of an El Niño on our weather. Modern ocean models primarily incorporate the effects of winds and tides. However, they do not generally take into account the mixing generated by swimming animals.

How the brain filters out distracting thoughts to focus on a single bit of information

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Researchers in Norway have discovered a mechanism that the brain uses to filter out distracting thoughts to focus on a single bit of information.

Deep-sea world beyond sunlight: Explorers census 17,650 ocean species on edge of black abyss

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Scientists have inventoried an astonishing abundance, diversity and distribution of deep sea species that have never known sunlight -- creatures that somehow manage a living in a frigid black world down to 5000 meters (three miles) below the ocean waves.

Adult cell self-renewal without stem cells?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Is the indefinite self-renewal of adult cells possible without recourse to stem cell intermediates? Scientists have shown that it is possible, by achieving the ex vivo regeneration of macrophages, specialized cells in the immune system, over several months.

Sea stars bulk up to beat the heat

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

A new study finds that a species of sea star stays cool using a strategy never before seen in the animal kingdom. The sea stars soak up cold sea water into their bodies during high tide as buffer against potentially damaging temperatures brought about by direct sunlight at low tide.

Bladder cancer risks increase over time for smokers

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Risk of bladder cancer for smokers has increased since the mid-1990s, with a risk progressively increasing to a level five times higher among current smokers in New Hampshire than that among nonsmokers in 2001-2004, according to a new study.

Generating electricity from air flow

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

A group of researchers at the City College of New York is developing a new way to generate power for planes and automobiles based on materials known as piezoelectrics, which convert the kinetic energy of motion into electricity. They will present their concept later this month at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics will take place from Nov. 22-24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Children who suffer physical or emotional abuse may be faced with accelerated cellular aging as adults

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Researchers have determined that children who suffer physical or emotional abuse may be faced with accelerated cellular aging as adults.

Some germs are good for you: Surface bacteria maintain skin's healthy balance

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

On the skin's surface, bacteria are abundant, diverse and constant, but inflammation is undesirable. New research now shows that the normal bacteria living on the skin surface trigger a pathway that prevents excessive inflammation after injury.

New cancer target for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Physician-scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that may prove to be a powerful target for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells. By exploiting this mechanism, researchers have been able to powerfully suppress tumor formation in lab testing and in animal models.

Hard training may reduce fertility in women

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Are you a female athlete -- or just someone who likes challenging workouts -- who also wants to get pregnant? It may make sense to ease off a bit as you try to get pregnant. New research shows that the body may not have enough energy to support both hard workouts and getting pregnant.

Role of gene in tumor development, growth and progression identified

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Researchers have identified a gene that may play a pivotal role in two processes that are essential for tumor development, growth and progression to metastasis.

The search: Computers dig deeper for meaning

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Search engine technology is in a state of flux as it digs ever deeper for new meaning.

Funeral industry workers exposed to formaldehyde face higher risk of leukemia

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Long durations of exposure to formaldehyde used for embalming in the funeral industry were associated with an increased risk of death from myeloid leukemia, according to a new study.

Physicists move one step closer to quantum computing

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Physicists have made an important advance in electrically controlling quantum states of electrons, a step that could help in the development of quantum computing.

New understanding about mechanism for cell death after stroke leads to possible therapy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Scientists have uncovered new information about the mechanism by which brain cells die following a stroke, as well as a possible way to mitigate that damage.

DNA 'barcode' for tropical trees

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

In foods, soil samples or customs checks, plant fragments sometimes need to be quickly identified. The use of DNA "barcodes" to itemize plant biodiversity was proposed during the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Summit. Researchers have now tested this method in the tropical forest.

Genetic analysis helps dissect molecular basis of cardiovascular disease

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Using highly precise measurements of plasma lipoprotein concentrations determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, researchers performed genetic association analysis across the whole genome among 17,296 women of European ancestry. This large scale analysis of the effects of common genetic variation on plasma lipoprotein profile, a critical component of cardiovascular risk, identified 43 genetic loci contributing to lipoprotein metabolism.

Adding one single gene to yeast dramatically improves bioethanol production from agricultural waste

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

With the introduction of a single bacterial gene into yeast, researchers have achieved three improvements in bioethanol production from agricultural waste material: 'More ethanol, less acetate and elimination of the major by-product glycerol'

Autism: Parent training complements medication for treating behavioral problems in children with PDD

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST

Treatment that includes medication plus a structured training program for parents reduces serious behavioral problems in children with autism and related conditions, according to a new study.

Scientists find molecular trigger that helps prevent aging and disease

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

Researchers set out to address a question that has been challenging scientists for years: How does dietary restriction produce protective effects against aging and disease? And the reverse: how does overconsumption accelerate age-related disease? An answer lies in a worm study that examines how the two ends of the spectrum influence biochemical responses.

New research into the mechanisms of gene regulation

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

A team of scientists has taken a large step toward unraveling how regulatory proteins control the production of gene products during development and growth. They focused specifically on the complex process of producing red blood cells (erythrocytes). These cells contain large amounts of hemoglobin, a molecule essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body. The research results could help in the development of important new therapies to combat sickle-cell disease.

Low carbon straw house passes fire safety test

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

A newly designed straw house -- built of pre-fabricated straw-bale and hemp panels -- has fire resistance as good as houses built of conventional building materials, according to researchers in the UK.

Use of rib cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty results in patient satisfaction, few complications

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

Rib cartilage from human donors is well tolerated as a grafting material in nasal plastic surgery and yields positive functional, structural and cosmetic results, even in complex cases, according to a new study.

Winemaking enhanced by DNA technology

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

In winemaking, grape juice is turned to wine during the fermentation process by the action of a number of essential beneficial microorganisms -- namely, bacteria. Sometimes, though, harmful bacteria also populate the fermentation vat, spoiling the wine in the process. A researcher in Finland has developed new methods based on DNA identification for rapidly and accurately identifying detrimental lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria during the earliest stages of the wine fermentation process.

Brief intervention works for drivers who persist in driving while intoxicated

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

Researchers comparing the effectiveness of two interventions on driving-while-impaired re-offenders with alcohol problems found that one -- Brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) -- was more effective. While both interventions led to significant declines in risky drinking, BMI produced significantly more pronounced and longer-lasting reductions in risking drinking compared to the control intervention.

Termites create sustainable monoculture fungus farming

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Food production of modern human societies is mostly based on large-scale monoculture crops, but it now appears that advanced insect societies have the same practice. Our societies took just ten thousand years of (mainly cultural) evolution to adopt this habit and we are far from convinced that it is sustainable. Farming ants and termites had tens of millions of years to evolve their fungus farming systems and here monocultures are apparently evolutionary stable.

Sugar-coated polymer is new weapon against allergies and asthma

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Scientists have developed sugar-coated polymer strands that selectively kill off cells involved in triggering aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Their advance is a significant step toward crafting pharmaceuticals to fight these often life-endangering conditions in a new way.

Toward home-brewed electricity with 'personalized solar energy'

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

New scientific discoveries are moving society toward the era of "personalized solar energy," in which the focus of electricity production shifts from huge central generating stations to individuals in their own homes and communities.

Researchers find new piece of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) puzzle

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

A new treatment route for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and its human form Creutzfeldt Jakob disease could be a step closer based on new results from scientists in the UK. The team has found that a protein called Glypican-1 plays a key role in the development of BSE.

Sweet as can be: How E. coli gets ahead

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Scientists have discovered how certain bacteria such as Escherichia coli have evolved to capture rare sugars from their environment giving them an evolutionary advantage in naturally competitive environments like the human gut.

Shifting blame is socially contagious

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Merely observing someone publicly blame an individual in an organization for a problem -- even when the target is innocent -- greatly increases the odds that the practice of blaming others will spread with the tenacity of the H1N1 flu.

Solar winds triggered by magnetic fields

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Solar wind generated by the sun is probably driven by a process involving powerful magnetic fields, according to a new study led by researchers based on the latest observations from the Hinode satellite.

'Slimming gene' discovered that regulates body fat

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown fruit fly gene that controls the metabolism of fat. Larvae in which this gene is defective lose their entire fat reserves. Mammals carry a group of genes that are structurally very similar. The scientists therefore hope this research could lead to new medicines to fight obesity.

DNA molecules in moss open door to new biotechnology

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Plasmids, which are DNA molecules capable of independent replication in cells, have played an important role in gene technology. Researchers have now demonstrated that plasmid-based methods, which had been limited to single-cell organisms such as bacteria and yeasts, can be extended to mosses, opening the door to applications of a number of powerful techniques in plant research.

Tooth-binding micelles containing antimicrobials may provide long-term cavity protection

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

A new study suggests that tooth-binding micelles (or particles) may provide long-term cavity protection by adhering to tooth surfaces and gradually releasing encapsulated antimicrobials. Formulation of a mouthwash-based delivery system is anticipated, ultimately simplifying application and increasing at-home patient compliance.

Energy-saving powder may allow exploitation of unused reserves of natural gas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Chemists are using a simple method to convert methane to methanol -- something that has the potential to exploit previously unused reserves of natural gas.

Health-care debate linked to risk of dying in US and Europe

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

A new Web site allows users to explore differences in the probability of dying across European countries and the US states for men and women of different ages and races.