ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, May 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, May 12, 2011

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Animal-like urea cycle in ocean's tiny diatoms enables marine phytoplankton to use carbon and nitrogen from their environment (May 12, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that marine diatoms, tiny phytoplankton abundant in the sea, have an animal-like urea cycle, and that this cycle enables the diatoms to efficiently use carbon and nitrogen from their environment. The research team believes that the cycle could be a reason for the domination of diatoms in marine environments, especially after upwelling events -- the upward movement of nutrient rich waters from the deep ocean to the surface. ... > full story

Scientists use genetically altered virus to get tumors to tattle on themselves (May 12, 2011) -- Scientists have used a genetically re-engineered herpes virus that selectively hunts down and infects cancerous tumors and then delivers genetic material that prompts cancers to secrete a biomarker and reveal their presence. The novel technology has the potential to vastly improve cancer diagnosis by allowing the disease to be caught at much earlier stages and to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. ... > full story

2,300-year climate record suggests severe tropical droughts as northern temperatures rise (May 12, 2011) -- A 2,300-year climate record that researchers recovered from an Andes Mountains lake reveals that as temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere rise, the planet's densely populated tropical regions will most likely experience severe water shortages as the crucial summer monsoons become drier. The research team found that equatorial regions of South America already are receiving less rainfall than at any point in the past millennium. ... > full story

Botox injected in head ‘trigger point’ shown to reduce migraine crises (May 12, 2011) -- Scientists in Spain have identified the location of the so-called trigger points that, when activated, cause migraine crises. The common location of these points are the anterior temporal and the suboccipital regions of the head –both at bilateral level. ... > full story

New technology fuses MRI, ultrasound to achieve targeted biopsy of prostate cancer (May 12, 2011) -- A new prostate-imaging technology that fuses MRI with real-time, three-dimensional ultrasound may offer a more exacting method to obtain biopsy specimens from suspicious areas within the organ. ... > full story

Musical experience offsets some aging effects: Older musicians excel in memory and hearing speech in noise compared to non-musicians (May 12, 2011) -- A growing body of research finds musical training gives students learning advantages in the classroom. Now a study finds musical training can benefit Grandma, too, by offsetting some of the deleterious effects of aging. ... > full story

Antarctic icebergs help ocean take up carbon dioxide (May 12, 2011) -- The first comprehensive study of the biological effects of Antarctic icebergs shows that they fertilize the Southern Ocean, enhancing the growth of algae that take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then, through marine food chains, transfer carbon into the deep sea. ... > full story

Monkey studies reveal promising vaccine approach for HIV (May 12, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a vaccine candidate in rhesus macaque monkeys that may eventually lead to a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). ... > full story

Secret behind new gas detector? Chirp before sniffing (May 12, 2011) -- Trace gas detection, the ability to detect a scant handful of a particular molecule in a vast sea of others, underlies many important applications, from medical tests to breathalyzers to bomb sniffers. Now, a recently developed sensor recently that is hundreds of times faster and more sensitive than others may make such detectors portable, economical and fast enough to be used everywhere. ... > full story

New therapeutic target for lung cancer (May 12, 2011) -- A new therapeutic target for lung cancer has been discovered. It was found that a variant of the protein AIMP2 is highly expressed in lung cancer cells and also that patients demonstrating high expression of this variant show lower survival. ... > full story

University pond reveals hidden history of fungi (May 12, 2011) -- A study of DNA in a campus pond at the University of Exeter has led to the discovery of a whole new type of fungi. Named Cryptomycota by the researchers, the discovery redefines understanding of fungi and gives an insight into a hitherto undiscovered diversity. ... > full story

Teens who feel responsible to their parents are more engaged in school (May 12, 2011) -- Researchers surveying 835 youths in suburban Chicago and Beijing have found that youths who feel more responsible to their parents stay engaged in school and perform better. The study was conducted over two years and began when the youths were in 7th grade. The findings suggest that parents need to communicate to teenagers the importance of acting responsibly as they enter middle school; middle school is often a time when students' school engagement declines. ... > full story

It's not easy flying green: Large variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels (May 11, 2011) -- In an effort to combat soaring fuel prices and cut greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation industry is racing toward the use of biofuels. However, researchers the industry should make sure it has examined biofuels' complete carbon footprint before making an all-out push. They say that when a biofuel's origins are factored in, conventional fossil fuels may sometimes be the "greener" choice. ... > full story

Mild obesity appears to improve survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (May 11, 2011) -- Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, may be an exception to the rule that being overweight is a health hazard. In a retrospective study of over 400 ALS patients, researchers found that those who were mildly obese survived longer than patients who were normal weight, underweight or even overweight. ... > full story

Mississippi flooding captured by NASA satellites (May 11, 2011) -- The Mississippi River reached nearly 48 feet in Memphis, Tenn., on May 10, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. It was the highest water level for Memphis since 1937. ... > full story

First signs of progress in saving Indian vultures from killer drug (May 11, 2011) -- The ban on a veterinary drug which caused an unprecedented decline in Asian vulture populations has shown the first signs of progress, according to scientists. However, the recovery of the wild vulture populations requires efforts to see the drug completely removed from the birds' food supply. ... > full story

Surge in obesity correlates with increased automobile usage, study finds (May 11, 2011) -- The surge in passenger vehicle usage in the U.S. between the 1950s and today may be associated with surging levels of obesity, says a researcher who specializes in statistics and data analysis. ... > full story

NASA's Fermi spots 'superflares' in the Crab Nebula (May 11, 2011) -- The famous Crab Nebula supernova remnant has erupted in an enormous flare five times more powerful than any flare previously seen from the object. On April 12, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope first detected the outburst, which lasted six days. ... > full story

Highest reported BPA level in pregnant woman and associated abnormalities in infant (May 11, 2011) -- A new case study examining an infant's transient neurobehavioral abnormalities and extremely high bisphenol A (BPA) concentration of the baby's mother suggests a link between the two. ... > full story

Beware of predatory male American black bears: Attack rates are rising with human population growth (May 11, 2011) -- A new study of fatal black bear attacks in North America shows that predatory male bears are responsible for most historical attacks. ... > full story

For puzzling childhood immune disorder, gene research opens door to first diagnostic test (May 11, 2011) -- A new genomics study sets the stage for the first predictive diagnostic test in a serious immunodeficiency disease in children. If the disorder, common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID), can be diagnosed early, children may receive life-saving treatments before the disease can progress. ... > full story

Build safety into the very beginning of the computer system (May 11, 2011) -- A new publication provides guidelines to secure the earliest stages of the computer boot process, the so-called BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that initializes the computer hardware when you switch on the machine. ... > full story

Infantile amnesia: Gauging children's earliest memories (May 11, 2011) -- Previous research has established that adults experience infantile amnesia -- an inability to recall the earliest years of their lives. Now a new longitudinal study of 140 children ages 4 to 13 explores infantile amnesia in children. In the study, children were asked to recall their earliest memories. Younger children showed more change in recalling earliest memories over time; older children showed more consistency in recalling earliest memories over time. ... > full story

Wine yeasts reveal prehistoric microbial world (May 11, 2011) -- When having a glass of wine or beer, have you ever wondered why and how yeast "learned" to produce these superb food products? Yeasts are unicellular fungi and so far over 1,500 different species have been described. Among them are important industrial organisms, pathogens and model organisms which help us to understand how eukaryotic cells work. ... > full story

Brain development goes off track as vulnerable individuals develop schizophrenia (May 11, 2011) -- Two new research studies point to progressive abnormalities in brain development that emerge as vulnerable individuals develop schizophrenia. ... > full story

Beneficial bacteria help repair intestinal injury by inducing reactive oxygen species (May 11, 2011) -- Probiotic bacteria promote healing of the intestinal lining in mice by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species, researchers have shown. ... > full story

Serendipity leads to lifesaving discovery: Team finds disease-causing mutations and saves a baby girl (May 11, 2011) -- Recent findings pointing to a critical role for IRF8 in the development and function of monocytes and dendritic cells and in protecting against mycobacterial infections like TB in humans. ... > full story

Following your steak's history from pasture to plate (May 11, 2011) -- The package on a supermarket steak may say "grass-fed" or "grass-finished," but how can a consumer know whether the cow spent its days grazing peacefully on meadow grass or actually gorged on feedlot corn? Scientists are now reporting the development of a method that can reconstruct the dietary history of cattle and authenticate the origins of beef. ... > full story

Does Cupid play politics? That 'something special' might be your mate's political ideology (May 11, 2011) -- Though "variety is the spice of life" and "opposites attract," most people marry only those whose political views align with their own, according to new research. Political scientists found that political attitudes were among the strongest shared traits and even stronger than qualities like personality or looks. ... > full story

NASA's Dawn spacecraft captures first image of nearing asteroid (May 11, 2011) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has obtained its first image of the giant asteroid Vesta, which will help fine-tune navigation during its approach. Dawn is expected to achieve orbit around Vesta on July 16, when the asteroid is about 188 million kilometers (117 million miles) from Earth. ... > full story

Microbubble-delivered combination therapy eradicates prostate cancer in vivo (May 11, 2011) -- Cancer researchers are a step closer to finding a cure for advanced prostate cancer after effectively combining an anti-cancer drug with a viral gene therapy in vivo using novel ultrasound-targeted microbubble-destruction (UTMD) technology. ... > full story

Coffee reduces breast cancer risk, study suggests (May 11, 2011) -- Coffee drinkers enjoy not only the taste of their coffee but also a reduced risk of cancer with their cuppa. New research shows that drinking coffee specifically reduces the risk of antiestrogen-resistant estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer. ... > full story

Lessening the dangers of radiation: Ultrasound as effective as CT scans for most diagnoses, research finds (May 11, 2011) -- A new study exploring the efficacy of expensive and invasive CT scans has found that, in many cases, they don't offer a clinical advantage over a simple, inexpensive ultrasound procedure. ... > full story

'Liquid smoke' from rice shows potential health benefits (May 11, 2011) -- Liquid smoke flavoring made from hickory and other wood -- a mainstay flavoring and anti-bacterial agent for the prepared food industry and home kitchens -- may get a competitor that seems to be packed with antioxidant, antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory substances, according to a new study. It is the first analysis of liquid smoke produced from rice hulls, the hard, inedible coverings of rice grains. ... > full story

Prolonged breastfeeding may be linked to fewer behavior problems (May 11, 2011) -- Breastfeeding for four months or more is associated with fewer behavioral problems in children at age 5, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Neanderthals died out earlier than previously thought, new evidence suggests (May 11, 2011) -- Direct dating of a fossil of a Neanderthal infant suggests that Neanderthals probably died out earlier than previously thought. ... > full story

Adrenaline given before snakebite anti-venom treatment reduces allergic reactions, study finds (May 11, 2011) -- Giving low-dose adrenaline to patients who have been bitten by a poisonous snake before treatment with the appropriate anti-venom is safe and reduces the risk of acute severe reactions to the treatment, but giving promethazine has no such effect and giving hydrocortisone may actually be harmful, new research finds. ... > full story

The skinny on how shed skin reduces indoor air pollution (May 11, 2011) -- The flakes of skin that people shed at the rate of 500 million cells every day are not just a nuisance -- the source of dandruff, for instance, and a major contributor to house dust. A new study concludes that oil in those skin cells makes a small contribution to reducing indoor air pollution. ... > full story

Obesity in pregnancy hinders women's ability to fight infection (May 11, 2011) -- Pregnant women who are obese are less able to fight infections than lean women, which could affect their baby's health after birth and later in life. ... > full story

Doppler effect found even at molecular level -- 169 years after its discovery (May 11, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have experimentally shown a different version of the Doppler effect at a much, much smaller level -- the rotation of an individual molecule. Prior to this such an effect had been theorized, but it took a complex experiment with a synchrotron to prove it's for real. ... > full story

Twinning is winning: Moms of twins live longer, study finds (May 11, 2011) -- Compared with other mothers, women who deliver twins live longer, have more children than expected, bear babies at shorter intervals over a longer time, and are older at their last birth, according to a new study. The findings do not mean having twins is healthy for women, but instead that healthier women have an increased chance of delivering twins, researchers say. ... > full story

Mitochondria: Body’s power stations can affect aging (May 11, 2011) -- Mitochondria are the body's energy producers, the power stations inside our cells. Researchers in Sweden have now identified a group of mitochondrial proteins, the absence of which allows other protein groups to stabilize the genome. This could delay the onset of age-related diseases and increase lifespan. ... > full story

Scientists discover way to amp up power of killer T cells to fight melanoma (May 11, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a way to amp up the power of killer T-cells, called CD8 cells, making them more functional for longer periods of time and boosting their ability to multiply and expand within the body to fight melanoma, a new study has found. ... > full story

Genomes of fungi that threaten wheat, poplars sequenced (May 11, 2011) -- Scientists have sequenced the genomes of two fungal pathogens -- one that threatens global wheat supplies and another that limits production of a tree crop valued as a future source for biofuel. ... > full story

Low vitamin D in kids may play a role in anemia (May 11, 2011) -- Pediatricians have discovered a link between low levels of vitamin D and anemia in children. ... > full story

Harnessing the energy of the Sun: New technique improves artificial photosynthesis (May 11, 2011) -- Transforming solar energy into a usable form is a real challenge. One technique is to use semiconductors to store the energy as hydrogen. Unfortunately, the most efficient semiconductors are not the most stable. Scientists have just discovered that it is possible to protect the semiconductor with a uniform layer just a few nanometers thick. ... > full story

Health-care providers are prescribing nontraditional medicine: Use of mind-body therapies on the rise (May 11, 2011) -- Prior research suggests that mind-body therapies, while used by millions of patients, is still on the fringe of mainstream medical care in America. New research suggests that attitudes are changing. ... > full story

Proton dripping tests a fundamental force in nature (May 11, 2011) -- A recent discovery of an extremely exotic, short-lived nucleus called fluorine-14 in laboratory experiments may indicate that scientists are gaining a better grasp of the rules of strong interaction. ... > full story