ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, May 18, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Roots of memory impairment resulting from sleep deprivation identified (May 18, 2011) -- From high-school students to surgeons, anyone who has pulled an all-nighter knows there is a price to be paid the next day: trouble focusing, a fuzzy memory and other cognitive impairments. Now, researchers have found the part of the brain and the neurochemical basis for sleep deprivation's effects on memory. ... > full story

Most common form of inherited intellectual disability may be treatable, review suggests (May 18, 2011) -- Advancements over the last 10 years in understanding intellectual disability have led to the once-unimaginable possibility that the condition may be treatable, a review of more than 100 studies on the topic has concluded. ... > full story

Coffee may reduce risk of lethal prostate cancer in men (May 18, 2011) -- Men who regularly drink coffee appear to have a lower risk of developing a lethal form of prostate cancer, according to a new study. ... > full story

Vitamin A, beta carotene pregnancy supplements do not appear to reduce maternal, infant death risk (May 18, 2011) -- Although some evidence suggests that prevention of vitamin A deficiency among women in developing countries may improve maternal and infant survival, pregnant women in rural Bangladesh who received vitamin A or beta carotene supplementation in a randomized trial did not have a lower rate of all-cause maternal, fetal, or infant death, compared to women who received placebo, according to a new study. ... > full story

Aquarius to illuminate links between salt, climate (May 18, 2011) -- When NASA's salt-seeking Aquarius instrument ascends to the heavens this June, the moon above its launch site at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base won't be in the seventh house, and Jupiter's latest alignment with Mars will be weeks in the past, in contrast to the lyrics of the song from the popular Broadway musical "Hair." Yet for the science team eagerly awaiting Aquarius' ocean surface salinity data, the dawning of NASA's "Age of Aquarius" promises revelations on how salinity is linked to Earth's water cycle, ocean circulation and climate. ... > full story

Smoking ban reduces emergency room admissions (May 18, 2011) -- Workplace smoking bans are gaining ground globally, and one study has shown that they may have significant health effects. The study, conducted by researchers in Dublin, found that emergency room admissions due to respiratory illness dropped significantly in Ireland after the implementation of a workplace smoking ban, compared to admissions that took place before the ban went into effect. ... > full story

Diamond aerogel: New form of diamond is lighter than ever (May 18, 2011) -- By combining high pressure with high temperature, researchers have created a nanocyrstalline diamond aerogel that could improve the optics something as big as a telescope or as small as the lenses in eyeglasses. ... > full story

Dynamics of crucial protein 'switch' revealed; Cell signaling networks tied to diabetes and cancer (May 18, 2011) -- Researchers offer new understanding of a protein critical to physiological processes involved in major diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The work could help scientists design drugs to battle these disorders. ... > full story

Landslides: How rainfall dried up Panama's drinking water (May 18, 2011) -- An aerial survey of landslides has helps scientists evaluate the effect of a prolonged tropical storm on the water supply in the Panama Canal watershed. ... > full story

Prenatal use of newer antiepileptic drugs not associated with increased risk of major birth defects, study finds (May 18, 2011) -- Use of newer-generation antiepileptic drugs, which are also prescribed for bipolar mood disorders and migraine headaches, during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects in the first year of life among infants in Denmark, according to a new study. Older-generation antiepileptic drugs are associated with an increased risk of birth defects. ... > full story

New strategy for drought tolerance in crops: Shutting down the plant's growth inhibition under mild stress (May 18, 2011) -- Researchers have unveiled a mechanism that can be used to develop crop varieties resistant to mild droughts. It turns out that under non-lethal stress conditions, plants inhibit growth more than necessary. Shutting down this response opens new opportunities for yield improvement. ... > full story

Mass extinction of marine life in oceans during prehistoric times offers warning for future (May 17, 2011) -- The mass extinction of marine life in our oceans during prehistoric times is a warning that the same could happen again due to high levels of greenhouse gases, according to new research. ... > full story

Obstructive sleep apnea linked to cancer growth in mice (May 17, 2011) -- A new study links the intermittent interruption of breathing that occurs in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to enhanced proliferation of melanoma cancer cells and increased tumor growth in mice, according to researchers in Spain. The study also found tumor cells of OSA mouse models tended to contain more dead cells, indicating a more aggressive type of cancer. ... > full story

Autonomous robots made to explore and map buildings (May 17, 2011) -- Researchers are giving autonomous robots the ability to work together to explore and map the interior of buildings. Beyond soldiers, the capability could also help firefighters and other first responders. ... > full story

Simple face masks could significantly prevent spread of TB to non-infected patients (May 17, 2011) -- Face masks worn by patients infected with tuberculosis (TB) may be able to significantly cut transmission rates to non-infected patients, according to a new study. The study was conducted in a specialized airborne infections research facility in South Africa, which was designed to allow study of methods to control the spread of TB. Transmission rates were measured using healthy guinea pigs exposed to infected patients. ... > full story

Molecular technique advances soybean rust resistance research (May 17, 2011) -- A new tool is available to select for soybean rust resistance in breeding populations. Researchers successfully used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays to assess fungal DNA in soybean leaf tissue to quantify the level of resistance in individual plants with resistance to soybean rust. ... > full story

Clubbers can smell a good nightspot (May 17, 2011) -- Since the smoking ban in restaurants, bars and nightclubs, customers are more aware of unpleasant smells, such as body odors and the smell of old beer, that used to be masked by cigarette smoke. Now science is looking at how the introduction of pleasant ambient scents that hide unwanted odors might enhance the nightlife experience. ... > full story

Ancient Egyptian princess now known to be first person in human history with diagnosed coronary artery disease (May 17, 2011) -- Researchers have used whole body computerized tomography (CT) scanning to visualize the coronary arteries of the Egyptian princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, who lived in Thebes (Luxor) between 1580 and 1550 BC. Results show her to be the first person in human history known to have diagnosed coronary artery disease. Surprisingly, she lived on a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and a limited amount of meat from domesticated (but not fattened) animals. Wheat and barley were grown along the banks of the Nile, making bread and beer the dietary staples of this period of ancient Egypt. Tobacco and trans-fats were unknown, and lifestyle was likely to have been active. ... > full story

A 'brain wave' test for schizophrenia risk? (May 17, 2011) -- Researchers have followed a group of people clinically at high risk for developing psychosis. They found that the individuals who went on to develop schizophrenia had smaller MMN than the subgroup who did not. This finding suggests that MMN might be useful in predicting the later development of schizophrenia. ... > full story

Vaccine protects from deadly Hendra virus (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists in Australia have shown that a new experimental vaccine helps to protect horses against the deadly Hendra virus. ... > full story

Improved survival and treatment for chronic blood disorders (May 17, 2011) -- New research shows that hydroxyurea, one type of cytotoxic treatment for chronic myeloproliferative blood disorders, does not increase the risk of developing acute leukemia, as had previously been suspected. Rather, it is the disease itself that mainly increases this risk. Another new study by the same group of researchers shows that mortality from chronic myeloid leukaemia has decreased sharply since the approval of the drug Imatinib as a standard treatment in 2001. ... > full story

Physicist accelerates simulations of thin film growth (May 17, 2011) -- A researcher has implemented a new mathematical approach to accelerate complex calculations used to simulate micro-thin material formation. He studies the modeling and growth of materials at the atomic level. He leverages Ohio Supercomputer Center resources and Kinetic Monte Carlo methods to simulate the molecular beam epitaxy process, where metals are heated into a gaseous state and then reform as thin films. ... > full story

Anxiety and depression linked to risk-taking in young drivers, Australian study finds (May 17, 2011) -- Young drivers who experience anxiety and depression are more likely to take risks on the road, according to a new study by researchers in Australia. The results of the study led by Bridie Scott-Parker, from QUT's Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety -- Queensland, have been published in the international journal Injury Prevention today. ... > full story

Gut bacteria linked to behavior: That anxiety may be in your gut, not in your head (May 17, 2011) -- Working with healthy adult mice, researchers showed that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behavior. Working with healthy adult mice, the researchers showed that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behavior; the mice became less cautious or anxious. When oral antibiotics were discontinued, bacteria in the gut returned to normal. ... > full story

Stem cell study could pave the way to treatment for age-related muscle wasting (May 17, 2011) -- Biologists have nailed the mechanism that causes stem cells in the embryo to differentiate into specialized cells that form the skeletal muscles of animals' bodies. ... > full story

There's no magic number for saving endangered species (May 17, 2011) -- A new study offers hope for species such as the Siberian tiger that might be considered "too rare to save," so long as conservation efforts can target key threats. ... > full story

Hormone improves long-term recovery from stroke, study suggests (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered an explanation of how stroke patients can achieve better recovery. A hormone that is associated with the growth hormone system has proved to benefit recovery during the later phases of rehabilitation after a stroke. ... > full story

Reality of 'supersolid' in helium-4 challenged (May 17, 2011) -- The long-held, but unproven idea that helium-4 enters into an exotic phase of matter dubbed a "supersolid" when cooled to extremely low temperatures has been challenged in a new article. ... > full story

T'ai chi helps prevent falls and improve mental health in the elderly, review finds (May 17, 2011) -- T'ai chi has particular health benefits for older people, including helping to prevent falls and improving mental wellbeing, reveals a new review. ... > full story

Deprivation and neglect found to age children's chromosomes (May 17, 2011) -- Studies in institutionalized Romanian children have found that the length of time spent in conditions of social deprivation and neglect correlates with lower IQ and behavioral problems. A new study shows that early adversity even affects children's chromosomes -- prematurely shortening the chromosome tips, known as telomeres, and hastening how quickly their cells "age." ... > full story

A gene that fights cancer, but causes it too (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists say a human gene implicated in the development of leukemia also acts to prevent cancer of the liver. ... > full story

Which technologies get better faster? (May 17, 2011) -- A new analysis helps predict which new systems will be on a fast track to improvements in performance. ... > full story

New cell that attacks dengue virus identified (May 17, 2011) -- Mast cells, which help the body respond to bacteria and pathogens, also apparently sound the alarm around viruses delivered by mosquitoes, according to researchers. ... > full story

Of moose and men: Removal of roadside salt pools can protect salt-toothed moose from crossing roads (May 17, 2011) -- Country roadways can be hazardous for moose and men. According to estimates, millions of vehicles collide with moose, elk and caribou each year. Moose, in particular, venture to roadsides to lick the salt pools after pavement deicing. Because moose are the largest animal in the deer family, with males weighing up to 720 kilograms, their salt cravings pose significant risks to human and vehicle safety. That's why a group of Canadian researchers has investigated ways to encourage moose off roads. ... > full story

Memory problems often not present in middle-aged people with Alzheimer's disease (May 17, 2011) -- A new study suggests more than half of people who develop Alzheimer's disease before the age of 60 are initially misdiagnosed as having other kinds of brain disease when they do not have memory problems. ... > full story

Anthropologist discovers new fossil primate species in West Texas (May 17, 2011) -- A physical anthropologist has announced the discovery of a previously unknown species of fossil primate, Mescalerolemur horneri, in the Devil's Graveyard badlands of West Texas. ... > full story

Sporadic mutations identified in children with autism spectrum disorders (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists have identified several newly occurring mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder by sequencing their and their parents' protein coding sections of the genome. In four of the families, they identified new mutations that alter proteins involved in nerve or brain function and are potentially causative for autism. ... > full story

New imaging technology 'sees' camouflaged marine animals in the eyes of their predators (May 17, 2011) -- Despite being colorblind, the cuttlefish can change its skin color to blend into the background with great skill. In a new study, a team of researchers used hyperspectral imaging tools to model what the cuttlefish predator "sees" before and after cuttlefish camouflage. ... > full story

Researchers identify new dental cavity-causing species (May 17, 2011) -- A team of scientists from Boston has confirmed that the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is a primary culprit in early childhood caries (EEC) cavities on the first set of teeth, and has identified a new species of bacterium, Scardovia wiggsiae, which they suspect is also a major contributor. ... > full story

New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy (May 17, 2011) -- A chemical engineering researcher is developing a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light. Today's solar panels only collect 20 percent of available light. ... > full story

Happiness has a dark side (May 17, 2011) -- It seems like everyone wants to be happier and the pursuit of happiness is one of the foundations of American life. But even happiness can have a dark side, according to a new article. ... > full story

Tarantulas shoot silk from their feet (May 17, 2011) -- Most spiders have no problem holding onto vertical surfaces, but not tarantulas; they are always on the verge of falling. So what helps tarantulas hold tight? Researchers have found that slipping tarantulas shoot silk safety threads from their feet to reattach themselves when they lose hold. ... > full story

New prostate cancer test more specific, sensitive than PSA test (May 17, 2011) -- A new test for prostate cancer that measures levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as six specific antibodies found in the blood of men with the disease was more sensitive and more specific than the conventional PSA test used today, according to a new study. ... > full story

Graduation contamination through handshaking? (May 17, 2011) -- Graduations are a celebration of achievement and growth, but could all the pomp and circumstance increase your risk of exposure to harmful bacteria? ... > full story

Genomic archeology reveals early evolution of sex chromosomes (May 17, 2011) -- A team from Sweden is using genomics to shed light on the early evolutionary history of sex chromosomes. Among other things, the genome is a place where the distant past can be investigated. Researchers have used it most notably to trace the relationships among species far more accurately than can be done with conventional methods. ... > full story

Looking inside nanomaterials in 3-D (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists have developed new method for revealing a 3-D picture of the structure inside a material. Most solid materials are composed of millions of small crystals, packed together to form a fully dense solid. The orientations, shapes, sizes and relative arrangement of these crystals are important in determining many material properties. A new method allows 3-D mapping of the crystal structure inside a material down to nanometer resolution. ... > full story

Binge drinkers have a decreased ability to learn new verbal information (May 17, 2011) -- Binge drinking by young adults is prevalent in the United States and increasing in Europe. The brain's hippocampus is particularly sensitive to alcohol's neurotoxicity. New findings show a clear link between binge drinking and a reduced ability to learn new verbal information. ... > full story

Smoke-related chemical discovered in the atmosphere could have health implications (May 17, 2011) -- Cigarette smoking, forest fires and woodburning can release a chemical that may be at least partly responsible for human health problems related to smoke exposure, according to a new study. "We found isocyanic acid in a number of places, from air in downtown Los Angeles and air downwind of a Colorado wildfire, to cigarette smoke," said the lead author. ... > full story