ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, October 5, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, October 5, 2011

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Follow the odor and CO₂: Flight patterns reveal how mosquitoes find hosts to transmit deadly diseases (October 5, 2011) -- Experiments performed by entomologists to study how female Aedes aegypti -- mosquitoes that transmit yellow fever and dengue -- respond to plumes of carbon dioxide and human odor demonstrate that puffs of exhaled carbon dioxide first attract these mosquitoes, which then proceed to follow a broad skin odor plume, eventually landing on a human host. Results from the study could clue scientists on how odors can be used in traps for intercepting host-seeking mosquitoes. ... > full story

Circadian clock may impact organ transplant success (October 5, 2011) -- Health-care providers assess blood and tissue type as well as organ size and health to enhance transplant success. New research indicates that checklist might also need to include the circadian clock. While some human studies have shown the time of day transplant surgery is performed can influence the outcome, this study of mice with dysfunctional internal clocks is the first correlating circadian clocks with transplant success. ... > full story

'Back-up system' reduces heart disease deaths, research finds (October 5, 2011) -- Small bypass vessels which act as a "back-up system" for the heart's main arteries play a significant role in reducing the mortality of patients with coronary artery disease, according to new research. ... > full story

Smokers twice as likely to have strokes, study suggests (October 5, 2011) -- Not only are smokers twice as likely to have strokes, they are almost a decade younger than non-smokers when they have them, according to a study. ... > full story

Grazing zebras versus cattle: Not so black and white (October 5, 2011) -- African ranchers often prefer to keep wild grazers like zebra off the grass that fattens their cattle. But a new study shows that grazing by wild animals doesn't always harm -- and can sometimes benefit -- cattle. ... > full story

Fighting prejudice through imitation: Asking white people to mirror the movements of a black person lowers their levels of implicit prejudice (October 5, 2011) -- New research shows that you can reduce racial prejudice simply by having a person mimic the movements of a member of the race he or she is prejudiced against. The method may work by activating brain mechanisms that contribute to feelings of empathy. ... > full story

When water and air meet: New light shed on mysterious structure of world's most common liquid interface (October 5, 2011) -- New findings have resolved a long-standing debate over the structure of water molecules at the water surface. The research combines theoretical and experimental techniques to pinpoint, for the first time, the origin of water's unique surface properties in the interaction of water pairs at the air-water interface. ... > full story

Newly identified gene may be risk factor for osteoporosis (October 5, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a new gene that modulates bone mass and that could become a risk factor for developing osteoporosis. ... > full story

Cell transformation from one type of cell to another (October 5, 2011) -- Researchers have now described a mechanism by which one cell can be converted into another entirely different one. The research is vital for the future development of cell therapy treatments, a new method for replacing cells damaged by illness, trauma or aging. Transcription factor C/EBP± is responsible for regulating this transformation. The study was carried out on immune system cells. ... > full story

Scientists shut down pump action to break breast cancer cells' drug resistance (October 5, 2011) -- Breast cancer cells that mutate to resist drug treatment survive by establishing tiny pumps on their surface that reject the drugs as they penetrate the cell membrane -- making the cancer insensitive to chemotherapy drugs even after repeated use. Researchers have found a new way to break that resistance and shut off the pumps by genetically altering those breast cancer cells to forcibly activate a heat-shock protein called Hsp27. ... > full story

DNA sequences reveal the true identity of the softshell turtle Pelodiscus (October 5, 2011) -- A research team has identified many different genetic lineages in the softshell turtle genus Pelodiscus, representing different species. Traditionally it has been assumed that only the species Pelodiscus sinensis belonged to the genus examined. As a foodstuff, Chinese softshell turtles are the most economically important turtles in the world, with an annual trade volume of many hundreds of millions of specimens. ... > full story

Drunk behavior: A question of immunity (October 5, 2011) -- Researchers in Australia have found that immune cells in your brain may contribute to how you respond to alcohol. ... > full story

Climate change simulations show which animals can take the heat (October 4, 2011) -- As climate change continues to take hold this century, which species will be able to take the heat? In simulations examining species and their projected range, researchers show that animals' ability to withstand fluctuations in temperature during their climate-induced journeys will be a crucial determinant of their ultimate survival. ... > full story

Hysterectomy is associated with increased levels of iron in the brain; Study suggests reducing iron may lower age-related brain disease risk (October 4, 2011) -- Men have more iron in their bodies and brains than women. These higher levels may be part of the explanation for why men develop these age-related neurodegenerative diseases at a younger age. But why do women have less iron in their systems than men? One possible explanation for the gender difference is that during menstruation, iron is eliminated through the loss of blood. Now, a new study confirms this suspicion and suggests strategies to reduce excess iron levels in both men and women. ... > full story

Advance offers new opportunities in chemistry education, research (October 4, 2011) -- Researchers have created a new, unifying method to describe a basic chemical concept called "electronegativity," first described almost 80 years ago by Linus Pauling and part of the work that led to his receiving the Nobel Prize. The new system offers simplicity of understanding that should rewrite high school and college chemistry textbooks around the world, even as it opens important new avenues in materials and chemical research. ... > full story

Combination therapy beneficial for head and neck skin carcinomas, study suggests (October 4, 2011) -- Patients who have high-risk non-melanoma skin carcinomas of the head and neck may benefit from concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, according to a new study. Their study is the first to report on multiple patients with these skin carcinomas treated simultaneously with radio- and chemotherapy. ... > full story

Researchers identifiy more accurate treatment delivery for robotic radiosurgery system (October 4, 2011) -- A new study now reports that there is an alternative to the conventional CyberKnife treatment delivery system. This new technique uses a multileaf collimator (MLC) and can flexibly sculpt a single radiation beam to match the exact contour of a tumor -- significantly reducing the treatment time and minimizing the amount of radiation to the neighboring tissues. ... > full story

Intensive training helps children with reading and writing difficulties (October 4, 2011) -- Intensive daily training for a limited period is better for children with reading and writing difficulties than the traditional remedial tuition offered by schools, reveals new research. ... > full story

'Mirage-effect' helps researchers hide objects (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists have created a working cloaking device that not only takes advantage of one of nature's most bizarre phenomenon, but also boasts unique features; it has an "on and off" switch and is best used underwater. ... > full story

A shot of cortisone stops traumatic stress, study suggests (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists say that a single extra dose of cortisone -- which the body naturally produces just after a traumatic event -- reduces the chance that an individual will develop PTSD by 60 percent. ... > full story

Green tea helps mice keep off extra pounds (October 4, 2011) -- Green tea may slow down weight gain and serve as another tool in the fight against obesity, according to food scientists. ... > full story

Experiments suggest research avenues for treating excess fat storage and obesity (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists have begun to unravel the complex process by which cells take in and store microscopic fat molecules, suggesting new directions for further research into solutions for obesity and its related conditions, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. ... > full story

A hitchhiker's guide to the Galápagos: Co-evolution of Galápagos mockingbirds and their parasites (October 4, 2011) -- Along with the famous finches the Galápagos mockingbirds had a great influence on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Now, 176 years later, three of the four mockingbird species are among the rarest birds in the world. New research untangles the evolutionary relationships between Galápagos mockingbirds and provides information about their parasites to help ensure the birds survival. ... > full story

Young children show improved verbal IQ after 20 days of exposure to music-based, cognitive training 'cartoons' (October 4, 2011) -- Canadian scientists who specialize in learning, memory and language in children have found exciting evidence that preschoolers can improve their verbal intelligence after only 20 days of classroom instruction using interactive, music-based cognitive training cartoons. ... > full story

Alzheimer's might be transmissible in similar way as infectious prion diseases, research suggests (October 4, 2011) -- The brain damage that characterizes Alzheimer's disease may originate in a form similar to that of infectious prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob, according to newly published research. ... > full story

Vitamin D could lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, study suggests (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that people with a good vitamin D supply are at lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus. ... > full story

Researchers transform iPhone into high-quality medical imaging device (October 4, 2011) -- In a feat of technology tweaking that would rival MacGyver, a team of researchers has transformed everyday iPhones into medical-quality imaging and chemical detection devices. With materials that cost about as much as a typical app, the decked-out smartphones are able to use their heightened senses to perform detailed microscopy and spectroscopy. ... > full story

Cell movement provides clues to aggressive breast cancer (October 4, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a specific molecule that alters how breast cancer cells move. This affects the cells' ability to spread or metastasize to distant parts of the body, the hallmark of deadly, aggressive cancer. ... > full story

NASA's Dawn spacecraft begins new Vesta mapping orbit (October 4, 2011) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has completed a gentle spiral into its new science orbit for an even closer view of the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn began sending science data on Sept. 29 from this new orbit, known as the high altitude mapping orbit (HAMO). ... > full story

We discount the pain of people we don't like (October 4, 2011) -- If a patient is not likeable, will he or she be taken less seriously when exhibiting or complaining about pain? Researchers have found that observers of patients estimate lower pain intensity and are perceptually less sympathetic to the patients' pain when the patients are not liked. ... > full story

Engineers build smart petri dish: Device can be used for medical diagnostics, imaging cell growth continuously (October 4, 2011) -- The cameras in our cell phones have dramatically changed the way we share the special moments in our lives, making photographs instantly available to friends and family. Now, the imaging sensor chips that form the heart of these built-in cameras are helping engineers transform the way cell cultures are imaged by serving as the platform for a "smart" petri dish. ... > full story

Faulty intellectual disability genes linked to older dads at conception, research finds (October 4, 2011) -- Chromosomal abnormalities linked to intellectual disability can be traced back to the father, particularly those who are older when the child is conceived, new research finds. ... > full story

From compost to sustainable fuels: Heat-loving fungi sequenced (October 4, 2011) -- Two heat-loving fungi, often found in composts that self-ignite without flame or spark, could soon have new vocations. The complete genetic makeup of Myceliophthora thermophila and Thielavia terrestris has now been decoded. The findings may lead to the faster and greener development of biomass-based fuels, chemicals and other industrial materials. ... > full story

Study of COX-2 inhibitors could lead to new class of stroke drugs (October 4, 2011) -- A new study in mice points toward potential new therapies for stroke, a leading cause of death and foremost single cause of severe neurological disability. The study also may reveal why a much-heralded class of blockbuster drugs failed to live up to their promise. ... > full story

Robot brain implanted in a rodent: Researcher implants robotic cerebellum to repair motor function (October 4, 2011) -- With new cutting-edge technology aimed at providing amputees with robotic limbs, a researcher has successfully implanted a robotic cerebellum into the skull of a rodent with brain damage, restoring its capacity for movement. ... > full story

.7 billion spent on unnecessary tests and treatments in U.S. in one year (October 4, 2011) -- Researchers have found that .7 billion was spent in one year performing unnecessary tests or prescribing unnecessary medications in primary care, with 86 percent of that cost attributed to the prescription of brand-name statins to treat high cholesterol. ... > full story

2011 Nobel Prize in Physics: Discovery of expanding universe by observing distant supernovae (October 4, 2011) -- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2011 to Saul Perlmutter, Brian P. Schmidt and Adam G. Riess, for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe through observations of distant supernovae. ... > full story

Pale people may need vitamin D supplements (October 4, 2011) -- Fair-skinned people who burn quickly in the sun may need to take supplements to ensure they get the right amount of vitamin D, new research finds. ... > full story

Saturn's geyser moon Enceladus shows off for NASA's Cassini (October 4, 2011) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft successfully completed its Oct. 1 flyby of Saturn's moon Enceladus and its jets of water vapor and ice. At its closest approach, the spacecraft flew approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the moon's surface. The close approach was designed to give some of Cassini's instruments, including the ion and neutral mass spectrometer, the chance to "taste" the jets themselves. ... > full story

MRI tests can be safe for people with implanted cardiac devices, study suggests (October 4, 2011) -- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an important diagnostic test, has traditionally been off limits to more than 2 million people in the United States who have an implanted pacemaker to regulate heart rhythms or an implanted defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death. Now, cardiologists report that a protocol they developed has proved effective in enabling patients with implanted cardiac devices to safely undergo an MRI scan. ... > full story

Virtual reality worm-tracking challenge leads to new tool for brain research (October 4, 2011) -- Using new optical equipment, researchers put roundworms into a world of virtual reality, monitored both their behavior and brain activity and gained unexpected information on how the organism's brain operates as it moves. ... > full story

Parental weight strongly influences thinness in children (October 4, 2011) -- Children with thinner parents are three times more likely to be thin than children whose parents are overweight, according to a new study. ... > full story

First images from ALMA telescope: Hidden star-formation in Antennae Galaxies revealed (October 4, 2011) -- First visualizations of ALMA test data are made public with unprecedented views of once-hidden star-formation in the colliding galaxy pair, the Antennae. ... > full story

Hormonal contraception doubles HIV risk, study suggests (October 4, 2011) -- Researchers have found that women using hormonal contraception -- such as a birth control pill or a shot like Depo-Provera -- are at double the risk of acquiring HIV, and HIV-infected women who use hormonal contraception have twice the risk of transmitting the virus to their HIV-uninfected male partners, according to a new study. ... > full story

How gas and temperature controlled bacterial response to Deepwater Horizon spill (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists used DNA to identify microbes present in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and then identified the microbes responsible for consuming the large amount of natural gas present immediately after the spill. They have also explained how water temperature played a key role in the way bacteria reacted to the spill. ... > full story

Studies on vein blockages and multiple sclerosis reviewed (October 4, 2011) -- Studies that examined the possible link between vein blockages and multiple sclerosis are so inconsistent that it's impossible to reach a firm conclusion about the controversial theory, a new review has found. ... > full story

Location matters: For invasive aquatic species, it's better to start upstream (October 4, 2011) -- Scientists have studied populations of European green crab, Carcinus maenas. The species was introduced to the East Coast of North America twice, at both the upper and lower edges of its range. Their findings may help inform the control of invasive species and conservation of imperiled native species. ... > full story

Certain therapies appear beneficial in reducing PTSD symptoms in some trauma survivors (October 4, 2011) -- Prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, and delayed prolonged exposure therapy, appear to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in patients who have experienced a recent traumatic event, according to a new report. ... > full story