ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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New clues about aging: Genetic splicing mechanism triggers both premature aging syndrome and normal cellular aging (June 14, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new pathway that sets the clock for programmed aging in normal cells. The study provides insights about the interaction between a toxic protein called progerin and telomeres, which cap the ends of chromosomes like aglets, the plastic tips that bind the ends of shoelaces. ... > full story

New light shed on how blood clots form (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered new elements of the blood clot-formation process. The findings could lead to better drugs for preventing heart attacks and other clot-related conditions. ... > full story

Brain scan identifies patterns of plaques and tangles in adults with Down syndrome (June 14, 2011) -- In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers used a unique brain scan to assess the levels of plaques and tangles -- the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease -- in adults with Down syndrome. The finding may offer an additional clinical tool to help diagnose dementia in adults with Down syndrome. Adults with this disorder develop Alzheimer's-like plaque and tangle deposits early, often before the age of 40. ... > full story

Type 2 diabetes associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems, but metabolic syndrome is not (June 14, 2011) -- Among patients who have had an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke or cardiovascular events, but metabolic syndrome was not, according to a new study. ... > full story

NASA spacecraft captures video of asteroid approach (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists working with NASA's Dawn spacecraft have created a new video showing the giant asteroid Vesta as the spacecraft approaches this unexplored world in the main asteroid belt. ... > full story

Wives' sleep problems have negative impact on marital interactions, study finds (June 14, 2011) -- The quality of interactions among married couples is affected by wives' inability to fall asleep at night, but not by husbands' sleep problems, suggests new research. ... > full story

Life-history traits of extinct species may be discoverable, large-scale DNA sequencing data suggest (June 14, 2011) -- Large-scale DNA sequencing data have been used to investigate a long-standing evolutionary assumption -- that DNA mutation rates are influenced by such life-history traits as the time between an individual's birth and the birth of its offspring. One of the implications of this research is that life-history traits of extinct species now could be discoverable. ... > full story

Undernourishment in pregnant, lactating females found key to next generation's disease (June 14, 2011) -- A study in primates establishes the critical role that undernourishment in mothers-to-be and lactating females has in creating Type 2 diabetes in offspring. ... > full story

Controlling starch in sugar factories (June 14, 2011) -- Factory trials have led to recommendations for controlling or preventing starch buildup in processed raw sugars and products made with those sugars. ... > full story

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (June 14, 2011) -- Women with severe sleep apnea had the highest incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes according to the results of a new study. This increased prevalence was principally driven by a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and early preterm birth. The authors noted that sleep apnea has been associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome and mortality in non-pregnant populations. However, few studies have examined the relationship between sleep apnea in pregnancy and adverse obstetrical outcomes. The analysis involved 150 women. ... > full story

The energy debate: Coal vs. nuclear (June 14, 2011) -- A new study of consumers' attitudes toward coal and nuclear energy sources finds that factors other than global warming and the potential for nuclear power plant accidents figure into consumers' preferences. These factors include ecological degradation for coal and waste management, fuel transport and uranium mining for nuclear. ... > full story

Ten-fold increase in open access scientific publishing during the last decade (June 14, 2011) -- A new study reports on the rapid growth of open access scientific publishing since the start of the World Wide Web. ... > full story

Clever tool use in parrots and crows (June 13, 2011) -- The kea, a New Zealand parrot, and the New Caledonian crow are members of the two most intelligent avian families. Researchers have investigated their problem solving abilities as well as their innovative capacities. ... > full story

Heart attack death rates linked to ambulance diversion (June 13, 2011) -- Heart attack patients die at a higher rate when their nearest emergency room is so overtaxed that the ambulance transporting them is dispatched to another hospital, according to a new study. ... > full story

Under pressure, sodium, hydrogen could undergo a metamorphosis, emerging as superconductor (June 13, 2011) -- In the search for superconductors, finding ways to compress hydrogen into a metal has been a point of focus ever since scientists predicted many years ago that electricity would flow, uninhibited, through such a material. ... > full story

Simple analysis of breathing sounds while awake can detect obstructive sleep apnea (June 13, 2011) -- The analysis of breathing sounds while awake may be a fast, simple and accurate screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea, new research suggests. ... > full story

Entry, descent and surface science for 2016 Mars mission (June 13, 2011) -- The European Space Agency and NASA have announced the scientific investigations selected for their 2016 ExoMars lander demonstrator. They will probe the atmosphere during the descent, and return the first ever data on electrical fields at the surface of Mars. ... > full story

Preteens surrounded by smokers get hooked on nicotine, study suggests (June 13, 2011) -- Exposure to secondhand smoke can create symptoms of nicotine dependence in non-smoking preteens, according to a new study. The study also found that tweens who repeatedly observe a parent, sibling, friend or neighbor consuming cigarettes are more likely to light up themselves as adolescents. ... > full story

Faster computer graphics: Digitally mimicking photographic blur caused by moving objects (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed new techniques for computing blur much more efficiently. The result could be more convincing video games and frames of digital video that take minutes rather than hours to render. ... > full story

Dengue virus circulating between monkeys and mosquitoes could emerge to cause human outbreaks (June 13, 2011) -- Sylvatic dengue continues to flourish in Southeast Asia and West Africa, cycling between non-human primates and the mosquitoes that feed on them. Since the 1970s, the virus has received little scientific attention -- a situation that badly needs to be remedied, according to experts. ... > full story

Birdsong independent of brain size: Sex difference in the brain varies according to social status (June 13, 2011) -- The brains of all vertebrates display gender-related differences. In songbirds, for example, the size of the brain areas that control their singing behaviour could be linked to the size of their song repertoires. In many songbird species, only the males sing and indeed, they do have larger song control areas in the brain than females. However, even species where both sexes sing identically, display the same sex differences in their brain structure. Researchers in Germany have now demonstrated for the first time in the white-browed sparrow weaver, an African songbird, that the extent of these sex differences in the brain varies according to social status, and cannot be explained by singing behaviour as previously thought. ... > full story

Key component in lethal lung cancer complication identified (June 13, 2011) -- A protein previously thought not to exist in adult human lungs not only is present in normal and cancerous lung tissue, scientists have found, but it also has a major role in the development of a lethal complication of some lung cancers. The protein, called the calcium-sensing receptor, sits on the surface of lung cancer cells that make up tumors known as squamous-cell carcinomas, according to new research. ... > full story

New study of storm generation could improve rainfall prediction in West Africa (June 13, 2011) -- A new study of how storms are generated could improve rainfall prediction in dry regions of Africa, where drought and short growing seasons are common. A team of scientists from the UK, France and Australia used satellite observations of the Sahel region of West Africa to demonstrate that brief changes in soil moisture over areas of just tens of kilometers can affect storm generation. ... > full story

Sleep type predicts day and night batting averages of Major League Baseball players (June 13, 2011) -- A Major League Baseball player's natural sleep preference might affect his batting average in day and night games, according to a new research. Players who are 'morning types' have a higher batting average in early games, but 'evening types' have the advantage in late games. ... > full story

Tiny marine animals found to share 'diver's weight belt' technique with whales (June 13, 2011) -- A deep-sea mystery has been solved with the discovery that copepods -- tiny 3-millimeter-long marine animals eaten by herring, cod and mackerel -- use the same buoyancy control as whales. ... > full story

Promising new target for stifling the growth and spread of cancer (June 13, 2011) -- Cancer and chronic inflammation are partners in peril, with the latter increasing the likelihood that malignant tumors will develop, grow and spread. Researchers say they've identified a tumor inflammation trigger that is common to most, if not all, cancers. And using existing inhibitory drugs, the scientists were able to dramatically decrease primary tumor growth in animal studies and, more importantly, halt tumor progression and metastasis. ... > full story

Sleepiness may impair the brain's inhibitory control when viewing high-calorie foods (June 13, 2011) -- Daytime sleepiness may affect inhibitory control in the brain when viewing tantalizing, high-calorie foods, suggests new research. ... > full story

One in five heart-attack deaths could be prevented with new drug, findings show (June 13, 2011) -- New findings from the UK show that one in five deaths in the year following a heart attack could be prevented if a new drug, ticagrelor, was used instead of the standard treatment, clopidogrel. ... > full story

Beam of X-ray laser light with shortest wavelength successfully produced (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers in Japan have successfully produced a beam of X-ray laser light with a wavelength of 1.2 Angstroms, the shortest ever measured. This record-breaking light opens a window into the structure of atoms and molecules at a level of detail never seen before. ... > full story

Income disparity makes people unhappy (June 13, 2011) -- Many economists and sociologists have warned of the social dangers of a wide gap between the richest and everyone else. ... > full story

Single GFP-expressing cell is basis of living laser device (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a device in which a single cell genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein is used to amplify the light particles called photons into nanosecond-long pulses of laser light. ... > full story

Cooling the brain during sleep may be a natural and effective treatment for insomnia (June 13, 2011) -- Participants received all-night frontal cerebral thermal transfer by wearing a soft plastic cap on their head. The cap contained tubes that were filled with circulating water. The time that it took 12 subjects with primary insomnia to fall asleep (13 minutes) and the percentage of time in bed that they slept (89 percent) during treatment at the maximal cooling intensity were similar to 12 healthy controls (16 minutes and 89 percent). ... > full story

In very narrow spaces, liquids behave more like gels (June 13, 2011) -- Three molecules thick, or two, or one: how does an extremely thin layer of trapped liquid behave when we make it even thinner? Measurements made using the atomic force microscope show that the forces of friction increase with each step. Liquids begin to behave more like a gel, according to new research. ... > full story

High-impact radiopeptide therapy halts neuroendocrine cancer (June 13, 2011) -- New research could be a sign of hope for patients with neuroendocrine cancer not responding well to standard therapies. Most radiotherapies use medical isotopes that emit beta radiation. The therapy in this study employs alpha particles, which have potential for higher potency. In fact, one single atom could be enough to kill an entire cancer cell. ... > full story

New computer algorithm improves method for finding genetic mistakes that fuel cancer (June 13, 2011) -- A dramatically better computer tool for finding the genetic missteps that fuel cancer has been developed . Researchers are using the new algorithm to help identify the chromosomal rearrangements and DNA insertions or deletions unique to cancer. ... > full story

Teen brain data may predict pop song success, study finds (June 13, 2011) -- A new study suggests that the brain activity of teens, recorded while they are listening to new songs, may help predict the popularity of the songs. The researchers scientifically demonstrated that you can, to some extent, use neuroimaging in a group of people to predict cultural popularity. ... > full story

How spiders breathe under water: Spider's diving bell performs like gill extracting oxygen from water (June 13, 2011) -- Water spiders spend their entire lives under water, only venturing to the surface to replenish their diving bell air supply. Yet no one knew how long the spiders could remain submerged until Roger Seymour and Stefan Hetz measured the bubble's oxygen level. They found that the diving bell behaves like a gill sucking oxygen from the water and the spiders only need to dash to the surface once a day to supplement their air supply. ... > full story

Stem cell treatment may become option to treat nonhealing bone fractures (June 13, 2011) -- Stem cell therapy enriched with a bone-regenerating hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), can help mend broken bones in fractures that are not healing normally, a new animal study finds. ... > full story

First wood-digesting enzyme found in bacteria could boost biofuel production (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers have identified an enzyme in bacteria which could be used to make biofuel production more efficient. ... > full story

New 3-D tumor model: Step toward speeding cancer drug research (June 13, 2011) -- A team of scientists has developed a way to coax tumor cells in the lab to grow into 3-D spheres. Their discovery takes advantage of an earlier technique of producing spherical cavities in a common polymer and promises more accurate tests of new cancer therapies. ... > full story

Engineering new weapons in the fight against juvenile diabetes (June 13, 2011) -- Engineering researchers are combining automation techniques from oil refining and other diverse areas to help create a closed-loop artificial pancreas. The device will automatically monitor blood sugar levels and administer insulin to patients with type 1 diabetes, and aims to remove much of the guesswork for those living with the chronic disease. ... > full story

Deciding to stay or go is a deep-seated brain function, monkey-watching researchers find (June 13, 2011) -- Foraging creatures decide at some point that the food source they're working on is no richer than the rest of the patch and that it's time to move on and find something better. Researchers have now found an area of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that seems to be integral to this decision, firing with increasing activity until a threshold is reached, whereupon the animal decides it's time to move on. ... > full story

We are all mutants: First direct whole-genome measure of human mutation predicts 60 new mutations in each of us (June 13, 2011) -- How many new mutations does a child have and did most of them come from mum or dad? The first answer is that each of us typically receives 60 new mutations from our parents. Remarkably, the number of mutations passed on from a parent to a child varies between parents by as much as tenfold. These striking answers come from the first-ever direct measure of new mutations using whole human genomes. ... > full story

Routine screening for autism not needed, researchers say (June 13, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers say there is "not enough sound evidence to support the implementation of a routine population-based screening program for autism." Contrary to the researchers' findings, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended that screening for autism be incorporated into routine practice, such as a child's regular physician check-up, regardless of whether a concern has been raised by the parents. ... > full story

New evidence of genetic 'arms race' against malaria (June 13, 2011) -- For tens of thousands of years, the genomes of malaria parasites and humans have been at war with one another. Now, geneticists have developed a new picture of one way that the human genome has fought back. ... > full story

New molecular imaging agent targets cornerstone of cancerous tumors (June 13, 2011) -- A new study may lead to the next wave of cancer imaging by helping to develop a molecular imaging agent that detects many malignant cancers' incessant development of blood vessels -- a process called angiogenesis. ... > full story

Widespread stream biodiversity declines at low levels of urban development (June 13, 2011) -- Biology researchers have found that there are consistent and widespread declines in stream biodiversity at lower levels of urban development more damaging than what was previously believed. ... > full story

Digital democracy? Study finds elite viewpoints dominate online content (June 13, 2011) -- Anyone with Internet access can generate online content and influence public opinion, according to popular belief. But a new study suggests that the social Web is becoming more of a playground for the affluent than a digital democracy. ... > full story