ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, June 16, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, June 16, 2011

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Scientists override errant form of genetic signaling for first time: Changing genetic 'red light' to green holds promise for treating disease (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers found a new way to surpass a common mutation that is estimated to cause a third of genetic disorders. The mutation causes the body to create shortened, disabled proteins, which lead to disease like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer. The newly discovered approach directs the body to create normal, full-length proteins and could aid the development of treatment strategies to change the course of these, and other debilitating genetic conditions. ... > full story

'Glowing hands' in the waiting room improves kids' handwashing (June 16, 2011) -- Hand-hygiene in children was improved with the use of a glowing gel that, when black lit, illustrates bacteria on hands, even after washing. ... > full story

Dating an ancient episode of severe global warming (June 16, 2011) -- Using sophisticated methods of dating rocks, scientists have pinned down the timing of the start of an episode of an ancient global warming known as the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, with implications for the triggering mechanism. ... > full story

Oral appliance therapy improves craniofacial growth direction and snoring, research finds (June 16, 2011) -- Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids who wore an oral appliance for six months experienced more favorable craniofacial growth, enlargement of pharyngeal dimensions, and improved breathing and snoring during sleep, according to new research. ... > full story

Red-light cameras critical to public safety, traffic researcher finds (June 16, 2011) -- As automated traffic monitoring systems such as red light cameras keep a law enforcement "eye" on the streets across the country, many drivers accuse city governments of installing the monitors as a way to generate revenue. New research says the safety benefits of automated traffic monitoring systems far outweigh the potential for abuse. ... > full story

When singing mice choose a mate, a skillful song gets the gal (June 16, 2011) -- Like rock stars of the rodent world, the flashiest performers of a Central American mouse species get the most attention from the ladies, a new study shows. ... > full story

Leaky genes put evolution on the fast track, researchers find (June 16, 2011) -- Small genetic mutations that add up over time could create an evolutionary express lane that leads to the rapid development of new traits, researchers report. ... > full story

Using olive oil in your diet may prevent a stroke (June 16, 2011) -- A new study suggests that consuming olive oil may help prevent a stroke in older people. ... > full story

Several methods for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease developed (June 16, 2011) -- Scientists have taken several significant steps to enable earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. They have developed new approaches for measuring biomarkers for diagnostics and a novel system for integrating the information systematically. ... > full story

Sugar-binding protein may play a role in HIV infection (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers report that a sugar-binding protein called galectin-9 traps PDI on T-cells' surface, making them more susceptible to HIV infection. ... > full story

The mushroom with no name (June 16, 2011) -- A rare species of fungus discovered growing in Scotland has been chosen to feature in a nationwide competition to give it a name. ... > full story

Sexy doesn't always sell: When do beautiful models help? (June 16, 2011) -- Having an attractive model shill for a product only helps influence sales in certain situations, according to a new study. It seems it all depends on the set-up for the advertising. ... > full story

Recalculating the distance to interstellar space (June 15, 2011) -- Scientists analyzing recent data from NASA's Voyager and Cassini spacecraft have calculated that Voyager 1 could cross over into the frontier of interstellar space at any time and much earlier than previously thought. ... > full story

Potential cause of severe sleep disorder discovered, implications for Parkinson's disease (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a potential cause for a severe sleep disorder that has been closely linked to Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story

NASA satellite gallery shows Chilean volcano plume moving around the world (June 15, 2011) -- Since its eruption in early June, several NASA satellites have captured images of the ash plume from the eruption of the Chilean Volcano called Puyehue-Cordón Caulle and have tracked it around the world. NASA has collected them in an image gallery that shows the progression of the plume around the southern hemisphere. ... > full story

Immune response to tumour cells could aid cancer battle (June 15, 2011) -- New research in the UK has yielded a novel immunotherapeutic approach with potential for cancer treatment. ... > full story

When size matters: Nanotechnology for energy efficiency (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers are using nanotechnology to create new energy efficient materials. With the increasing worldwide demand for energy, there is a pressure to use the finite energy resources wisely while reducing one of the major areas of energy consumption -- transportation, which accounts for more than 20% of the world’s total primary energy and produces much of the world’s pollution. ... > full story

White adolescent girls may be losing sleep from the pressure to be thin (June 15, 2011) -- Pressures to be thin from girlfriends and the media significantly predict sleep duration, accounting for 4.5 percent of the variance in hours of sleep for adolescent girls, according to a new study. These pressures to be skinny were significantly predictive of sleep duration for white girls, but not for blacks or Hispanics. Together, the two predictors shared 6 percent of the variance in hours of sleep among white girls, with the strongest predictor being pressure to be skinny from girlfriends. ... > full story

'SpongeBob' mushroom discovered in the forests of Borneo (June 15, 2011) -- A researcher has discovered Spongiforma squarepantsii, a new species of mushroom almost as strange as its cartoon namesake. ... > full story

Non-invasive brain stimulation helps curb impulsivity (June 15, 2011) -- Inhibitory control can be boosted with a mild form of brain stimulation, according to a new study. The study's findings indicate that non-invasive intervention can greatly improve patients' inhibitory control. ... > full story

Evidence of a natural origin for banned drug that plumps up livestock (June 15, 2011) -- There may be a natural solution to the mystery of how small amounts of a banned drug that disrupts thyroid function and plumps up livestock gets into their bodies -- and the bodies of humans, scientists are reporting. Their study reports the first evidence that the substance can form naturally in feed and food. ... > full story

Study hints at antibiotic overuse in home-care patients (June 15, 2011) -- A study of Canadian home-care patients looks at the prescribing practices for receiving ongoing medical care at home. Younger home-care patients are more likely to receive antibiotics than older patients. ... > full story

Researchers break light-matter coupling strength limit in nanoscale semiconductors (June 15, 2011) -- New engineering research demonstrates that polaritons have increased coupling strength when confined to nanoscale semiconductors. This represents a promising advance in the field of photonics: smaller and faster circuits that use light rather than electricity. ... > full story

'Magical thinking' helps dieters cope with unrealistic expectations (June 15, 2011) -- 'Magical thinking', usually dismissed as naive and irrational, can actually help consumers cope with stressful situations like trying to lose weight, according to a new study. ... > full story

NASA's Chandra finds massive black holes common in early universe (June 15, 2011) -- Using the deepest X-ray image ever taken, astronomers found the first direct evidence that massive black holes were common in the early universe. This discovery from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows that very young black holes grew more aggressively than previously thought, in tandem with the growth of their host galaxies. ... > full story

Drug significantly improves glycemic control in type 1 diabetics on insulin, study suggests (June 15, 2011) -- Results of a new study suggest that liraglutide, an injectable medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, also helps type 1 diabetics on insulin achieve optimal control of their blood glucose levels. If the findings are confirmed in a larger, prospective, randomized study now being planned, they could mean the first significant, new treatment for type 1 diabetes since insulin was discovered and made available in the 1920s. ... > full story

Learning to count not as easy as 1, 2, 3: Working with larger numbers matters (June 15, 2011) -- Preschool children seem to grasp the true concept of counting only if they are taught to understand the number value of groups of objects greater than three, research shows. Seeing that there are three objects doesn't have to involve counting. It's only when children go beyond three that counting is necessary to determine how many objects there are, researchers have found. ... > full story

Malaria vaccination strategy provides model for superior protection (June 15, 2011) -- A new study uncovers a powerful strategy for eliciting an immune response that can combat the parasite during multiple stages of its complex life cycle and describes what may be the most effective next-generation vaccination approach for malaria. ... > full story

European experts propose method to harmonize nuclear emergency plans (June 15, 2011) -- A team of European radiological protection specialists has developed a method to calculate benchmark values to help establish whether the local population should be required to take shelter or be evacuated or relocated following a nuclear accident. The study shows that these levels are more restrictive in wet environments than in dry ones. ... > full story

Anxious searchers miss multiple objects (June 15, 2011) -- A person scanning baggage or X-rays stands a better chance of seeing everything they're searching for if they aren't feeling anxious, according to a new laboratory experiment. ... > full story

Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets may reduce both tumor growth rates and cancer risk (June 15, 2011) -- Eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet may reduce the risk of cancer and slow the growth of tumors already present, according to a new study. ... > full story

Sleep loss in early childhood may contribute to the development of ADHD symptoms (June 15, 2011) -- Less sleep in preschool-age children significantly predicted worse parent-reported hyperactivity and inattention at kindergarten. In contrast, hyperactivity and inattention at preschool did not predict sleep duration at kindergarten. The sample consisted of approximately 6,860 children, and analyses controlled for gender, ethnicity and family income. According to the authors, sleep problems, particularly difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, are frequently reported in children and adolescents with ADHD. Longitudinal studies may reveal the direction of causation. ... > full story

Wild winds: Changes in weather patterns creating more severe storms (June 15, 2011) -- A climate expert attributes the increase in the number and severity of tornadoes and severe storms in 2011 to a change in weather patterns. ... > full story

Molecular mechanism for some anti-arrhythmia drugs discovered (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers -- using an innovative, atom-by-atom substitution method -- have uncovered the mechanism by which a particular class of drugs controls irregular heartbeats. ... > full story

Internet could be 10 times faster than it currently is, researchers say (June 15, 2011) -- Could the Internet just stop working one day? With bandwidth requirement increasing annually as the web becomes an ever larger part of the everyday life, keeping up is a challenge for Internet service providers. A European telecommunications cluster CELTIC-Plus project is pushing capacity upwards. ... > full story

What gamers want: Researchers develop tool to predict player behavior (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new method that can accurately predict the behavior of players in online role-playing games. The tool could be used by the game industry to develop new game content, or to help steer players to the parts of a game they will enjoy most. ... > full story

Neutrinos change flavors while crossing Japan: Findings shed light on why universe is made of matter instead of anti-matter (June 15, 2011) -- By shooting a beam of neutrinos through a small slice of the Earth under Japan, physicists say they've caught the particles changing their stripes in new ways. These observations may one day help explain why the universe is made of matter rather than anti-matter. ... > full story

Potential therapeutic target for controlling obesity discovered (June 15, 2011) -- A new study has found that a cellular signaling pathway governs the differentiation of cells into fat tissue or smooth muscle, which lines the vascular system. Engaging this signaling pathway and its capacity to govern cell differentiation has important implications in preventing obesity and cardiovascular disease. ... > full story

'Casanova gene' in female songbirds: Females inherit 'infidelity gene' from their fathers (June 15, 2011) -- It is assumed that many bird species are monogamous, yet infidelity is a widespread phenomenon. The advantage for the male seems obvious as in this way he can increase the number of his offspring. A female, however, mostly faces costs. The cuckolded partners often reduce their parental care. In addition, the extra lovers also may transmit diseases. Nevertheless, some females actively seek such contacts. Researchers investigated a large number of zebra finches and found a possible explanation for this behaviour. In a genetic long-term study they found that females inherit the disposition for their infidelity from their fathers. ... > full story

Study estimates potential for ranibizumab to prevent blindness from age-related macular degeneration (June 15, 2011) -- A computer modeling study suggests that administering the drug ranibizumab is associated with reducing the magnitude of legal blindness and visual impairment caused by age-related macular degeneration in non-Hispanic white individuals, according to a new study. ... > full story

Using recycled cardboard in food packaging risks contaminating food with mineral oils, study finds (June 15, 2011) -- Harmful mineral oils from the printing inks used on cardboard can migrate into food if recycled cardboard is used for food packaging. It may contaminate food even if the recycled cardboard is used for the corrugated card transport box that holds individual packs. In tests on experimental packs of fine noodles, researchers in Zurich, Switzerland, found that food rapidly absorbed 10 times the recommended limit for concentration of these contaminating oils from the transport box. ... > full story

The good life: Good sleepers have better quality of life and less depression (June 15, 2011) -- People with a "normal" sleep duration of six to nine hours per night had higher self-reported scores for quality of life and lower scores for depression severity compared to short and long sleepers. Among patients who reported having perfect health, there were a higher percentage of normal sleepers, who also had significantly lower scores for depression severity compared to short and long sleepers with perfect health. Data were analyzed from 10,654 patient records. ... > full story

Prolonged TV viewing linked to increased risk of type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease (June 15, 2011) -- Prolonged TV viewing is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Safety concern with mist inhalers for delivering common drug for chronic lung disease (June 15, 2011) -- People who use a mist inhaler to deliver a drug widely prescribed in more than 55 countries to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be 52 percent more likely to die, new research suggests. ... > full story

Protecting medical implants from attack (June 15, 2011) -- A new system would jam wireless signals sent to medical implants by unauthorized users. ... > full story

Sleep can boost classroom performance of college students (June 15, 2011) -- Performance by university undergraduates on a microeconomics test after completing an introductory, virtual lecture was preserved after a 12-hour period that included sleep, especially for cognitively-taxing integration problems. In contrast, performance declined after 12 hours of wakefulness and after a longer delay of one week. The study uniquely extends sleep research to a realistic task that students would encounter in a university classroom. The study involved 102 undergraduates who had never taken an economics course. ... > full story

Wired for sound: A small fish's brain illustrates how people and other vertebrates produce sounds (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers have identified regions of a fish brain that reveal the basic circuitry for how humans and other vertebrates generate sound used for social communication. ... > full story

Fluent English speakers translate into Chinese automatically (June 15, 2011) -- Over half the world's population speaks more than one language. But it's not clear how these languages interact in the brain. A new study finds that Chinese people who are fluent in English translate English words into Chinese automatically and quickly, without thinking about it. ... > full story