ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, July 6, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, July 6, 2011

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Functioning small intestine created in laboratory experiments (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have successfully created a tissue-engineered small intestine in mice that replicates the intestinal structures of natural intestine -- a necessary first step toward someday applying this regenerative medicine technique to humans. ... > full story

'Gifted' natural vitamin E tocotrienol protects brain against stroke in three ways (July 6, 2011) -- A natural form of vitamin E called alpha-tocotrienol can trigger production of a protein in the brain that clears toxins from nerve cells, preventing those cells from dying after a stroke, new research shows. This process is one of three mechanisms identified so far that this form of vitamin E uses to protect brain cells after a stroke, meaning that this natural substance might be more potent than drugs targeting single mechanisms for preventing stroke damage. ... > full story

Gold nanoparticles bring scientists closer to a treatment for cancer (July 6, 2011) -- Scientists have developed smart nanomaterials, which can disrupt the blood supply to cancerous tumors. They have shown that a small dose of gold nanoparticles can activate or inhibit genes that are involved in angiogenesis -- a complex process responsible for the supply of oxygen and nutrients to most types of cancer. ... > full story

Test for chromosome abnormalities sheds light on genetic origins of faulty eggs (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers are developing a new way to test a woman's egg for chromosome abnormalities that avoids the need to manipulate and biopsy the egg itself. The research may also shed light on the crucial role played by certain genes in the development of chromosome abnormalities that are a major cause of miscarriages and conditions such as Down's syndrome. ... > full story

Fisher decline documented in California (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have reported a 73-percent decline in the density of fishers -- a house-cat sized member of the weasel family and candidate for endangered species listing -- on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in northwestern California between 1998 and 2005. ... > full story

Rose-colored beer goggles: Some drinkers believe social benefits of heavy drinking outweigh harms (July 6, 2011) -- Psychologists have shown that some people continue to drink heavily because of perceived positive effects, despite experiencing negative effects such as hangovers, fights and regrettable sexual situations. ... > full story

How hot did Earth get in the past? Team of scientists uncovers new information (July 6, 2011) -- The question seems simple enough: What happens to Earth's temperature when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase? The answer is elusive. However, clues are hidden in the fossil record. A new study provides a much clearer picture of Earth's temperature approximately 50 million years ago when CO2 concentrations were higher than today. The results may shed light on what to expect in the future if CO2 levels keep rising. ... > full story

Twin study shows lifestyle, diet can significantly influence course of macular degeneration (July 6, 2011) -- Eating a diet high in vitamin D, as well as the nutrients betaine and methionine, might help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, according to new research. A study of identical twins from the US World War II Twin Registry also found that the more a person smoked, the higher their risk of developing macular degeneration. ... > full story

Bone loss prevention experiment on the last space shuttle flight (July 6, 2011) -- An experiment aboard Atlantis -- the last space shuttle launch of the NASA program -- is aimed at revealing strategies to protect future astronauts from bone loss during extended exposure to micro-gravity. ... > full story

Dietary leucine may fight pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome: Study shows improvements in animals with amino acid in diet (July 6, 2011) -- A new study suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome. ... > full story

New method used to detect 20 drugs in cow, goat and human milk (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a method that makes it possible to simultaneously detect 20 pharmaceutical products in cow, goat and human milk. The samples of the three types of milk studied showed that they all contain anti-inflammatories, although the largest number of drugs was found in whole cows' milk. ... > full story

Voting in elections is stressful -- emotionally and physiologically (July 6, 2011) -- A new study has found that the level of cortisol -- the "stress hormone" -- in individuals immediately prior to casting a vote was significantly higher than in the same individuals in similar non-voting conditions. Researchers say this is a first step in understanding the link between biological stress and voting. ... > full story

Environs prompt advantageous gene mutations as plants grow; changes passed to progeny (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have found that the environment not only weeds out harmful and useless genetic mutations in plants through natural selection, but actually influences helpful mutations, and that these beneficial changes are passed on to the next generation. ... > full story

Genome analysis will reveal how bacteria in our guts make themselves at home (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have published the genome sequence of a gut bacterium to help understand how these organisms evolved their symbiotic relationships with their hosts. ... > full story

HIV disrupts blood-brain barrier: Cellular study suggests way virus may cause neurological deficits (July 5, 2011) -- HIV weakens the blood-brain barrier by overtaking a small group of supporting brain cells, according to a new study. The findings may help explain why some people living with HIV experience neurological complications, despite the benefits of modern drug regimens. ... > full story

Researchers invent new drug delivery device to treat diabetes-related vision loss (July 5, 2011) -- Engineers and scientists have developed a device that can be implanted behind the eye for controlled and on-demand release of drugs to treat retinal damage caused by diabetes. ... > full story

Fifty-year search for calcium channel ends: Cell's power generator depends on long-sought protein (July 5, 2011) -- After decades of failed efforts, researchers have discovered, through a combination of digital database mining and laboratory assays, the linchpin protein that drives mitochondria's calcium machinery. ... > full story

One skull + two brains = four objects in mind (July 5, 2011) -- A new study by neuroscientists could be put to immediate use in designing more effective cognitive therapy, smarter brain games, better "heads up displays," and much more. ... > full story

New laser technology could kill viruses and improve DVDs (July 5, 2011) -- Engineers have made a discovery in semiconductor nanowire laser technology that could potentially do everything from kill viruses to increase storage capacity of DVDs. ... > full story

Preventive use of one form of natural vitamin E may reduce stroke damage (July 5, 2011) -- Ten weeks of preventive supplementation with a natural form of vitamin E called tocotrienol in dogs that later had strokes reduced overall brain tissue damage, prevented loss of neural connections and helped sustain blood flow in the animals' brains, a new study shows. ... > full story

NASA's Hubble makes one millionth science observation (July 5, 2011) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope crossed another milestone in its space odyssey of exploration and discovery. On Monday, July 4, the Earth-orbiting observatory logged its one millionth science observation during a search for water in an exoplanet's atmosphere 1,000 light-years away. ... > full story

Moving beyond embryonic stem cells: Encouragement on the horizon (July 5, 2011) -- For nearly two decades, the medical world and the American public have grappled with the lightning-rod topic of stem cells, in particular the controversy surrounding cells from human embryos. But when researchers four years ago successfully "reprogrammed" adult body cells to become stem cells, some thought the ethical debate was nearly over. Those redirected cells, known as induced pluripotent cells, or iPS cells, show potential as therapy. ... > full story

Kinetochores prefer the 'silent' DNA sections of the chromosome (July 5, 2011) -- The protein complex responsible for the distribution of chromosomes during cell division is assembled in the transition regions between heterochromatin and euchromatin. The centromere is a specialized region of the chromosome, on which a protein complex known as the kinetochore is assembled. During cell division, the kinetochore provides a point of attachment for molecules of the cytoskeleton, thereby mediating the segregation of chromosomes to the two opposing cell poles. Scientists have investigated the factors that play an essential role in the development of the kinetochore. According to new findings, both the organization of the chromosomes and epigenetic marks determine the location where a kinetochore and, eventually, a centromere can form. ... > full story

New research shows that we control our forgetfulness (July 5, 2011) -- Have you heard the saying “You only remember what you want to remember”? Now there is evidence that it may well be correct. New research shows that we can train ourselves to forget things. ... > full story

Hot springs microbe yields record-breaking, heat-tolerant enzyme (July 5, 2011) -- Scientists looking for unusual cellulose-digesting enzymes, called cellulases, have found one that works at a higher temperature, 109 Celsius, than any others found to date. The cellulase comes from an Archaea found in a Nevada hot spring. Enzymes like this may prove useful in reaction chambers where plant fiber (lignocellulose) is digested to release cellulose. The cellulase could then convert this cellulose to sugar to be fermented into biofuel. ... > full story

Findings in mice have potential to curb obesity and Type 2 diabetes (July 5, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered a pathway in mice that allows white fat -- a contributor to obesity and Type 2 diabetes -- to burn calories in a way that's normally found in brown fat and muscle. ... > full story

Laser, electric fields combined for new 'lab-on-chip' technologies (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers are developing new technologies that combine a laser and electric fields to manipulate fluids and tiny particles such as bacteria, viruses and DNA for a range of potential applications, from drug manufacturing to food safety. ... > full story

New technology enables quick and scarless surgery for stomach tumors (July 5, 2011) -- Singapore scientists have pioneered a new surgery technology which enables quick and scar-less surgery for stomach tumors. The innovative operation can be done in a short day surgery which last a few minutes to an hour without the need for hospitalization. ... > full story

Australian volcano eruptions overdue, new study confirms (July 5, 2011) -- Latest research into the age of volcanos in parts of Australia has confirmed that certain regions are overdue for an eruption, potentially affecting thousands of local residents. ... > full story

Behavioral treatment for migraines a cost-effective alternative to meds, study finds (July 5, 2011) -- A cost analysis of migraine treatments comparing pharmaceuticals to well-documented behavioral approaches such as relaxation training, hypnosis and biofeedback found behavioral treatments often come out cheaper, particularly after a year or more. ... > full story

Nature uses screws and nuts: Previously unknown musculoskeletal system discovered in weevils (July 5, 2011) -- A musculoskeletal system so far unknown in the animal world was recently discovered in weevils. The hip of Trigonopterus oblongus does not consist of the usual hinges, but of joints based on a screw-and-nut system. This first biological screw thread is about half a millimeter in size and was studied in detail using synchrotron radiation. ... > full story

Answers for treating obesity-related diseases may reside in fat tissue, study shows (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that the quality -- not just the quantity -- of adipose, or fat, tissue is a significant contributing factor in the development of inflammation and vascular disease in obese individuals. ... > full story

Antarctic krill help to fertilize Southern Ocean with iron (July 5, 2011) -- A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role in fertilizing the Southern Ocean with iron -- stimulating the growth of phytoplankton (microscopic plant-like organisms). This process enhances the ocean's capacity for natural storage of carbon dioxide. ... > full story

How many embryos to transfer? Swedish researchers develop new method to avoid twins while maintaining high live birth rates (July 5, 2011) -- Swedish researchers have, for the first time, developed a reliable way of deciding whether one or two embryos should be transferred during fertility treatment; the method simultaneously maintains a high chance of women giving birth to a live baby, while reducing the risk of twins. ... > full story

Key ingredient: Change in material boosts prospects of ultrafast single-photon detector (July 5, 2011) -- By swapping one superconducting material for another, researchers have found a practical way to boost the efficiency of the world's fastest single-photon detector, while also extending light sensitivity to longer wavelengths. ... > full story

Taller women more likely to have twins after double embryo transfer (July 5, 2011) -- Taller women are more likely to have dizygotic (non-identical) twin pregnancies after double embryo transfer , researchers have found. ... > full story

Ultimate energy efficiency: Magnetic microprocessors could use million times less energy than today's silicon chips (July 5, 2011) -- Information theory and the second law of thermodynamics dictate that a logical operation in a computer must consume a minimum amount of energy. Today's computers consume a million times more energy per operation than this limit, but magnetic computers with no moving electrons could theoretically operate at the minimum energy, called the Landauer limit, according to electrical engineers. ... > full story

Prenatal exposure to certain antidepressants may modestly increase risk of autism spectrum disorders, study suggests (July 5, 2011) -- Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, especially during the first trimester, is associated with a modest increase the risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new study. ... > full story

Pigeons never forget a face (July 5, 2011) -- New research has shown that feral, untrained pigeons can recognize individual people and are not fooled by a change of clothes. Researchers have shown that pigeons in Paris city center, that have never been caught or handled, can recognize individuals, probably by using facial characteristics. ... > full story

Radiation protection in pediatric radiology (July 5, 2011) -- The risk to children’s health from X-ray radiation is easy to reduce without compromising diagnostic accuracy, according to new research. ... > full story

New technique advances bioprinting of cells (July 5, 2011) -- By extending pioneering acoustical work that applied sound waves to generate droplets from fluids, researchers have made encouraging preliminary findings at an early and crucial point in a stem cell's career known as embroid body formation. ... > full story

Dentists' role in painkiller abuse (July 5, 2011) -- Dentists, pharmacists and addiction experts provides new research and recommendations to help dentists combat, rather than contribute to, abuse of addictive painkillers. ... > full story

Gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects against asthma (July 5, 2011) -- Infection with the gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori provides reliable protection against allergy-induced asthma, immunologists have demonstrated in an animal model. Their results confirm the hypothesis recently put forward that the dramatic increase in allergic diseases in industrial societies is linked to the rapid disappearance of specific micro-organisms that populate the human body. ... > full story

Patients with eating disorders have an elevated rate of death (July 5, 2011) -- Individuals who have eating disorders have an elevated mortality rate, especially those with anorexia nervosa, according to a meta-analysis of previous studies. ... > full story

Study sheds light on tunicate evolution (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have filled an important gap in the study of tunicate evolution by genetically sequencing 40 new specimens of thaliaceans, gelatinous, free-swimming types of tunicates. ... > full story

Overlooked peptide reveals clues to causes of Alzheimer's disease (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have shed light on the function of a little-studied amyloid peptide in promoting Alzheimer's disease (AD). Their surprising findings reveal that the peptide is more abundant, more neurotoxic and exhibits a higher propensity to aggregate than amyloidogenic agents studied in earlier research, suggesting a potential role in new approaches for preventing AD-causing amyloidosis. ... > full story

Specialized seeds can really float your boat (July 5, 2011) -- A new artificial surface inspired by floating seeds could provide an alternative to the toxic paints currently used to prevent fouling on ship hulls. The artificial surface, developed by German scientists, is covered with fibers to prevent marine organisms from settling -- the same strategy used by the seeds. ... > full story

Massage eases low back pain in randomized controlled trial (July 5, 2011) -- Massage therapy helps ease chronic back pain and improve function, according to results of a randomized controlled trial. The first study to compare structural and relaxation (Swedish) massage, the trial found that both types of massage worked well, with few side effects. Massage helped people with back pain to function even after six months. They were more able to work, take care of themselves, and be active. ... > full story