ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Monday, September 26, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Monday, September 26, 2011

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Nitrate levels rising in northwestern Pacific Ocean (September 26, 2011) -- Changes in the ratio of nitrate to phosphorus in the oceans off the coasts of Korea and Japan caused by atmospheric and riverine pollutants may influence the makeup of marine plants and influence marine ecology, according to researchers from Korea and the US. ... > full story

Discovery helps explain why chemo causes drop in platelet numbers (September 26, 2011) -- Scientists have identified a way that chemotherapy causes platelet numbers to drop, answering in the process a decade-old question about the formation of platelets, tiny cells that allow blood to clot. ... > full story

Hints of universal behavior seen in exotic three-atom states (September 26, 2011) -- A novel type of inter-particle binding predicted in 1970 and observed for the first time in 2006, is forming the basis for an intriguing kind of ultracold quantum chemistry. A new experiment observing the four 3-atom cesium states reports that the states' sizes are roughly the same. This has taken theorists by complete surprise. ... > full story

Another step toward resisting breast cancer (September 26, 2011) -- Medical researchers in the UK have come a step closer to understanding how to stop breast cancers from coming back. ... > full story

Hog waste producing electricity and carbon offsets (September 26, 2011) -- A pilot waste-to-energy system constructed by Duke University and Duke Energy this week garnered the endorsement of Google Inc., which invests in high-quality carbon offsets from across the nation to fulfill its own carbon neutrality goals. The system, on a hog finishing facility 25 miles west of Winston-Salem, converts hog waste into electricity and creates carbon offset credits. ... > full story

Countries worldwide are saving mothers' and children's lives at a faster pace (September 26, 2011) -- With four years left for countries to achieve international targets for saving the lives of mothers and children, more than half the countries around the world are lowering maternal mortality and child mortality at an accelerated rate, according to a new analysis. In 125 countries, maternal mortality has declined faster since 2000, and the progress has been particularly strong in the past five years. Over the same period, in 106 countries, child mortality rates have declined faster. ... > full story

Targeting HIV's sugar coating: New microbicide may block AIDS virus from infecting cells (September 26, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a new class of compounds that stick to the sugary coating of the AIDS virus and inhibit it from infecting cells -- an early step toward a new treatment to prevent sexual transmission of the virus. ... > full story

Rogue receptor opens door for rare kidney disease (September 26, 2011) -- Effects of a particularly devastating human kidney disease may be blunted by making a certain cellular protein receptor much less receptive, according to new research. ... > full story

Rotating magnetic moments: Spin pumping effect demonstrated for first time (September 26, 2011) -- Physicists have demonstrated the spin pumping effect in magnetic layers for the first time experimentally. The behavior of the spin pumping had previously only been predicted theoretically. Scientists have now succeeded in measuring the effect using ultrafast X-ray scattering with picosecond resolution. Through their rotation of the magnetic moments, the so-called magnetic precession, single electrons can mutually influence each other's rotation (spin) through a non-magnetic intermediate layer. ... > full story

Risk factors for complications after spine surgery identified in new study (September 26, 2011) -- A new study looks at the complications of spine surgery. While medical experts acknowledge the potential benefits of spine surgery, they also understand that complications can reduce the success in the short and long term. ... > full story

Ceramics researchers shed light on metal embrittlement (September 26, 2011) -- Liquid metal embrittlement, or LME, has baffled metallurgists for a century. Now, ceramics researchers have obtained atomic-scale images of unprecedented resolution of the grain boundaries, or internal interfaces, where LME occurs. ... > full story

Living alone is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related deaths, Finnish study finds (September 26, 2011) -- Living alone is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related mortality -- from alcohol-related diseases and accidents -- according to a Finnish study, suggesting that a lack of social relationships should be regarded as a potential risk factor for death from alcohol related causes. ... > full story

Edible carbon dioxide sponge: All-natural nanostructures could address pressing environmental problem (September 25, 2011) -- A year ago chemists published a recipe for a new class of nanostructures made of sugar, salt and alcohol. Now, the same team has discovered the edible compounds can efficiently detect, capture and store carbon dioxide. The porous crystals -- known as metal-organic frameworks -- are made from all-natural ingredients and simple to prepare, giving them a huge advantage over other MOFs, which are usually prepared from materials derived from crude oil. ... > full story

Ultrasonic instrument may be helpful for rhinoplasty, study finds (September 25, 2011) -- The ultrasonic bone aspirator, which uses sound waves to remove bone without damage to surrounding soft tissue or mucous membranes, may be a useful tool for surgeons performing cosmetic rhinoplasty (cosmetic surgery of the nose), according to a new study. ... > full story

Important step in sperm reprogramming identified (September 25, 2011) -- A new study gives stem cell researchers critical information as they try to reprogram adult cells to mimic the curative and self-renewing properties of stem cells. ... > full story

Heart drug offers possible treatment for patients facing respiratory failure (September 25, 2011) -- Treatment with the calcium-sensitizing drug levosimendan may be effective in improving muscle function in patients with respiratory muscle weakness, which often accompanies chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure, according to researchers who studied the effects of the drug on healthy volunteers. The drug, which is normally prescribed in patients with acute heart failure, increases the sensitivity of muscle tissue to calcium, improving the muscle's ability to contract. ... > full story

Racing against time: New tool available for rapidly rescuing those trapped beneath concrete (September 25, 2011) -- When the World Trade Center's Twin Towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2011, one of the most critical challenges that first responders faced was cutting through concrete to get to victims trapped. A new tool has been developed to help rescue those trapped beneath concrete. ... > full story

Dietary supplements could make athletes unwitting drugs cheats (September 25, 2011) -- Minute levels of banned substances in some dietary supplements are leaving athletes susceptible to failed drugs tests according to new research. ... > full story

From the comfort of home, web users may have found new planets (September 25, 2011) -- Since the online citizen science project Planet Hunters launched last December, 40,000 web users from around the world have been helping professional astronomers analyze the light from 150,000 stars in the hopes of discovering Earth-like planets orbiting around them. ... > full story

A micro-RNA as a key regulator of learning and Alzheimer's disease (September 25, 2011) -- Scientists have identified an RNA molecule as a potential target for new Alzheimer's therapies. ... > full story

How key genes cooperate to make healthy skin (September 25, 2011) -- An essential relationship among leading genes and proteins that control the health of the skin has been revealed by a multinational research team. The protein p63 is the "master regulator" for skin's uppermost layers, the epidermis. It does much of its work by directly controlling the chromatin-remodeling protein Satb1, discovered over a decade ago and already known for critical roles in the immune system and aggressive breast cancer. ... > full story

Melanoma: Infusing chemotherapy into the liver gives extra months of disease-free life in melanoma patients (September 25, 2011) -- Final results from a Phase III trial of a new treatment called percutaneous hepatic perfusion in patients with melanoma of the eye (ocular or uveal melanoma) have demonstrated that it significantly extends the time patients can live without the disease progressing. ... > full story

Amazing electrical properties in polymers discovered (September 25, 2011) -- Crystals and ceramics pale when compared to a material researchers discovered that has 10 times their piezoelectric effect, making it suitable for perhaps hundreds of everyday uses. ... > full story

Reports of mental health disability increase in United States (September 25, 2011) -- The prevalence of self-reported mental health disabilities increased in the U.S. among non-elderly adults during the last decade, according to a new study. At the same time, the study found the prevalence of disability attributed to other chronic conditions decreased, while the prevalence of significant mental distress remained unchanged. ... > full story

Monkeys also reason through analogy, study shows (September 24, 2011) -- Recognizing relations between relations is what analogy is all about. What lies behind this ability? Is it uniquely human? A new study has shown that monkeys are capable of making analogies. ... > full story

Protein 'switches' could turn cancer cells into tiny chemotherapy factories (September 24, 2011) -- Researchers have devised a protein "switch" that instructs cancer cells to produce their own anti-cancer medication. ... > full story

Nature shows the way: Self-healing membranes (September 24, 2011) -- The plant liana, whose stabilization rings of woody cells heal spontaneously after suffering damage, serves as a natural example to bionic experts of self-repairing membranes. Such membranes could find use, for example, in rubber dinghies. Researchers have borrowed this trick from nature and developed a polymer foam surface coating with a closed cell construction which not only reduces the pressure loss after the membrane is damaged but also makes the inflatable structure more resistant and giving it a longer operational life. ... > full story

Infant mortality linked to subsequent risk of stillbirth, new U.S. study finds (September 24, 2011) -- Women whose first pregnancy ended in infant death are significantly more likely to have a subsequent stillbirth, according to a new study by U.S. researchers. ... > full story

NASA's UARS satellite re-enters Earth's atmosphere (September 24, 2011) -- NASA's decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23 and 1:09 a.m. Sept. 24, 20 years and nine days after its launch on a 14-year mission that produced some of the first long-term records of chemicals in the atmosphere. The precise re-entry time and location of debris impacts have not been determined. During the re-entry period, the satellite passed from the east coast of Africa over the Indian Ocean, then the Pacific Ocean, then across northern Canada, then across the northern Atlantic Ocean, to a point over West Africa. The vast majority of the orbital transit was over water, with some flight over northern Canada and West Africa. ... > full story

How devoted moms buffer kids in poverty (September 24, 2011) -- Children raised in poverty often grow up to have poor health in adulthood, from frequent colds to heart disease. But there's one thing that might buffer them from that fate: a good mom, according to a new study. ... > full story

Nature offers key lessons on harvesting solar power, say chemists (September 24, 2011) -- Clean solutions to human energy demands are essential to our future. While sunlight is the most abundant source of energy at our disposal, we have yet to learn how to capture, transfer and store solar energy efficiently. According to a new study, the answers can be found in the complex systems at work in nature. ... > full story

Living in damp river valleys leads to lung problems, study suggests (September 24, 2011) -- A new study has shown that living in a river valley at low altitude can increase the risk of developing lung problems. ... > full story

NASA to demonstrate communications via laser beam (September 24, 2011) -- It currently takes 90 minutes to transmit high-resolution images from Mars, but NASA would like to dramatically reduce that time to just minutes. A new optical communications system that NASA plans to demonstrate in 2016 will lead the way and even allow the streaming of high-definition video from distances beyond the moon. ... > full story

Two new cost-effective ways to predict prostate cancer (September 24, 2011) -- Two related studies reveal new risk indicators for prostate cancer. The first study shows that men diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement have an increased risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer. The second study shows that monitoring prostate-specific antigen levels can be used to predict the long-term risk of healthy men developing and dying from prostate cancer. Both could lead to more efficient and cost-effective screening for prostate cancer, with reductions in over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. ... > full story

Fluid equilibrium in prehistoric organisms sheds light on a turning point in evolution (September 24, 2011) -- Maintaining fluid balance in the body is essential to survival. By researching recent genomic data, researchers have found genetic evidence that links this intricate process to a turning point in evolution. ... > full story

Stress drives alcoholics' children to drink, study suggests (September 24, 2011) -- If either of your parents has a drink problem, there is a greater risk that you will consume more alcohol after stressful situations, new research from Sweden suggests. ... > full story

Treatment of rectal cancer varies enormously between different European countries (September 24, 2011) -- First results from an international comparison of the care of patients with rectal cancer have shown there are substantial differences in the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy between European countries. The European Registration of Cancer Care study compared the treatment of 6,597 patients in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands who were diagnosed with rectal cancer between 2008 and 2009. ... > full story

Aboriginal Australians: The first explorers (September 23, 2011) -- In an exciting development, researchers have, for the first time, pieced together the human genome from an Aboriginal Australian. The results re-interpret the prehistory of our species. ... > full story

Cancer protein's surprising role as memory regulator (September 23, 2011) -- Scientists have found that a common cancer protein leads a second, totally different life in normal adult brain cells: It helps regulates memory formation and may be implicated in Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

No harm to mice testes from BPA in utero: Data on female mice less encouraging (September 23, 2011) -- Male mice whose mothers were exposed to either moderate or high levels of bisphenol A while pregnant did not grow up to show any adverse effects to their reproductive systems by several measures, according to a new study. Data on female mice is still forthcoming but less encouraging. ... > full story

Researchers pinpoint the cause of MRI vertigo: Machine's magnetic field pushes fluid in the inner ear's balance organ (September 23, 2011) -- A team of researchers says it has discovered why so many people undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially in newer high-strength machines, get vertigo, or the dizzy sensation of free-falling, while inside or when coming out of the tunnel-like machine. ... > full story

New source of super-chilled neutrons provides tools for understanding fundamental physics concepts (September 23, 2011) -- Research into fundamental constants of nature and the search for new particles will benefit from new production method for ultra-cold neutrons. ... > full story

Humor as effective as medication in treating agitation in dementia (September 23, 2011) -- Humor therapy is as effective as widely used antipsychotic drugs in managing agitation in patients with dementia -- and avoids serious drug side effects, a new study shows. ... > full story

Some brain wiring continues to develop well into our 20s (September 23, 2011) -- The human brain doesn't stop developing at adolescence, but continues well into our 20s, demonstrates recent research. It has been a long-held belief in medical communities that the human brain stopped developing in adolescence. But now there is evidence that this is in fact not the case. ... > full story

Combating obesity and diabetes: Researchers identify pathways leading to activation of 'good' fat (September 23, 2011) -- Researchers have identified for the first time two molecular pathways that are critical to activating a type of "good" fat found in the body, called brown fat, which actually burns energy rather than storing it, which the more common white fat does. The discovery could play an important role in the fight against obesity and diabetes. ... > full story

Ecologists use power of network science to challenge long-held theory (September 23, 2011) -- For decades, ecologists have toiled to nail down principles explaining why some habitats have many more plant and animal species than others. Much of this debate is focused on the idea that the number of species is determined by the productivity of the habitat. Shouldn't a patch of prairie contain a different number of species than an arid steppe or an alpine tundra? Maybe not, says an international team of scientists that pooled its resources to re-evaluate the relationship between species numbers and habitat productivity. ... > full story

Mother’s occupation while pregnant can increase risk of asthma in children (September 23, 2011) -- Mothers who are exposed to particular agents during pregnancy could give birth to children with a higher risk of asthma, according to new research. ... > full story

Unprecedented role reversal: Ground beetle larvae lure amphibians and prey upon them (September 23, 2011) -- Usually it's the frog that catches the unsuspecting bug for a tasty snack, but in an unprecedented predator-prey role reversal, a certain group of ground beetle larvae are able to lure their amphibious would-be predators and consume them with almost 100% success. In a new study, researchers begin to describe how these larvae are able to pull off this feat. ... > full story