ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, October 11, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, October 11, 2011

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How the brain makes memories: Rhythmically (October 11, 2011) -- The brain learns through changes in the strength of synapses -- the connections between neurons -- in response to stimuli. Now, researchers have found there is an optimal brain rhythm, or timing, for changing synaptic strength, and hence learning. ... > full story

Crossing legs after severe stroke may be a good sign of recovery (October 11, 2011) -- People who are able to cross their legs soon after having a severe stroke appear to be more likely to have a good recovery compared to people who can't cross their legs. That's according to new research. ... > full story

Scientists discover three new gene faults which could increase melanoma risk by 30 percent (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered the first DNA faults linked to melanoma -- the deadliest skin cancer -- that are not related to hair, skin or eye color. ... > full story

New insight into the cellular defects in Huntington's disease (October 11, 2011) -- Huntington disease is a devastating neurogenerative disorder caused by a mutant HTT gene. Although this has been known for many years, the functions of normal Htt protein and the mechanisms by which mutant Htt protein causes disease are not well understood. But now, researchers have now uncovered a new function for normal Htt protein and determined that this function is disrupted in a mouse model of Huntington's disease and in patients with the disorder. ... > full story

'Non-invasive' cultivar? Buyer beware (October 11, 2011) -- Cultivars of popular woody ornamental plants that have reduced viable seed production and are being advertised as "non-invasive" in the horticultural and nursery industries are probably nonetheless quite capable of spawning invasions, according to researchers. More rigorous testing, or complete sterility, should be required to allow claims that a cultivar of a potentially invasive species is environmentally safe. ... > full story

Critical minerals ignite geopolitical storm (October 11, 2011) -- The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth minerals and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and the security of their supplies. ... > full story

Long-lost Lake Agassiz offers clues to climate change (October 11, 2011) -- What caused water levels to drop in immense yet long-vanished Lake Agassiz? New research suggests that conditions 12,000 years ago encouraged evaporation. Not long ago, geologically speaking, a now-vanished lake covered a huge expanse of today's Canadian prairie. Although Lake Agassiz is gone, questions about its origin and disappearance remain. Answers to those questions may provide clues to our future climate. ... > full story

Alzheimer disease: Medication gantenerumab associated with reduction in brain amyloid levels related to AD, small study finds (October 11, 2011) -- Although it is a small study and more clinical trials are needed, treatment with the medication gantenerumab appeared to result in a reduction in brain amyloid levels in patients with Alzheimer disease, according to a new report. ... > full story

Almahata Sitta meteorite could come from triple asteroid mash-up (October 11, 2011) -- Analysis of fragments of the Almahata Sitta meteorite, which landed in Sudan in 2008, has shown that the parent asteroid was probably formed through collisions of three different types of asteroids. The meteorites are of particular interest because they contain material both primitive and evolved types of asteroids. ... > full story

Combination therapies for drug-resistant cancers (October 11, 2011) -- Some cancers can be effectively treated with drugs inhibiting proteins known as receptor tyrosine kinases, but not those cancers caused by mutations in the KRAS gene. However, researchers have now identified a potential way to effectively use receptor tyrosine kinases inhibitors to treat individuals with KRAS mutant colorectal cancers -- combine them with inhibitors of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. ... > full story

Gene technology can help food crops must to withstand harsher weather (October 11, 2011) -- Rapid population growth and a swiftly changing climate compound the challenges of ensuring a secure global food supply. Genetically modified plants could help to solve the problem, believes Norwegian a crop researcher. By 2050, 70 per cent more food will need to be produced worldwide on roughly the same area of farmland to keep up with global population growth. At the same time, major changes in climate are expected to occur. Some agricultural researchers believe that in order to ensure a secure global food supply, we will have to use every existing means -- including genetically modified organisms (GMO). ... > full story

Behavioral and educational interventions appear to be effective for patients with poorly controlled diabetes (October 11, 2011) -- Three randomized controlled trials examine the effectiveness of behavioral and educational interventions for patients with poorly controlled diabetes. ... > full story

Giant 'kraken' lair discovered: Cunning sea monster that preyed on ichthyosaurs (October 10, 2011) -- Long before whales, the oceans of Earth were roamed by a very different kind of air-breathing leviathan. Snaggle-toothed ichthyosaurs larger than school buses swam at the top of the Triassic Period ocean food chain, or so it seemed before paleontologist Mark McMenamin took a look at some of their remains in Nevada. Now he thinks there was an even larger and more cunning sea monster that preyed on ichthyosaurs: a 'kraken' of such mythological proportions it would have sent Captain Nemo running for dry land. ... > full story

Small molecules can starve cancer cells (October 10, 2011) -- Researchers in Denmark have found that a small molecule in our cells can block autophagy in cancer cells making them more sensitive for treatment. ... > full story

Graphene's 'Big Mac' creates next generation of chips (October 10, 2011) -- Scientists in the UK have come one step closer to creating the next generation of computer chips using wonder material graphene. ... > full story

Study shows how bookmarking genes pre-cell division hastens their subsequent reactivation (October 10, 2011) -- By observing and measuring the kinetics of activation of a single gene locus in a cell before it divides and comparing it with the same gene's reactivation in newly formed daughter cells, scientists have discovered how how bookmarking a gene pre-division causes it to get reactivated post-division. ... > full story

New optical signal processing to satisfy power-hungry, high-speed networks (October 10, 2011) -- A new all-optical signal processing device to meet the demands of high capacity optical networks and with a wide range of applications including ultrafast optical measurements and sensing has been developed. ... > full story

Removal of restrictions can decrease music piracy, study suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Contrary to the traditional views of the music industry, removal of digital rights management restrictions can actually decrease piracy, according to new research. ... > full story

Series of bumps sent Uranus into its sideways spin, new research suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Uranus' highly tilted axis makes it something of an oddball in our solar system. The accepted wisdom is that Uranus was knocked on its side by a single large impact, but new research rewrites our theories of how Uranus became so tilted and also solves fresh mysteries about the position and orbits of its moons. ... > full story

Novel technique uses RNA interference to block inflammation (October 10, 2011) -- Researchers have found a way to block, in an animal model, the damaging inflammation that contributes to many disease conditions. ... > full story

Ancient climate change has left a strong imprint on modern ecosystems (October 10, 2011) -- As Earth’s climate cycles between warm and cool periods, species often must move to stay within suitable conditions. Scientists have now mapped how fast species have had to migrate in the past to keep up with changing climate. They found that small-ranged species – which constitute much of Earth’s biodiversity – are concentrated in regions where little migration has been required. Predicted climate change will drastically increase the required migration rates in many of these locations, putting their unique faunas at risk. ... > full story

Older cancer survivor population to increase substantially, report predicts (October 10, 2011) -- Over the next decade, the population of cancer survivors over 65 years of age will increase by approximately 42 percent, according to a new report. ... > full story

Abundance of tuna in the first days of life is influenced by cannibalism (October 10, 2011) -- Two new studies have shown that the coexistence of tuna larvae of different species and sizes in the spawning areas is essential for the survival of such early life stages, since cannibalism can constitute a significant fraction of natural mortality during this period. ... > full story

If you don't snooze, do you lose? Wake-sleep patterns affect brain synapses during adolescence (October 10, 2011) -- An ongoing lack of sleep during adolescence could lead to more than dragging, foggy teens, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Sniffing out the brain's predictive power: Human brain 'smells' what it expects rather than what it sniffs (October 10, 2011) -- In the moments before you "stop and smell the roses," it's likely your brain is already preparing your sensory system for that familiar floral smell. New research offers strong evidence that the brain uses predictive coding to generate "predictive templates" of specific smells -- setting up a mental expectation of a scent before it hits your nostrils. ... > full story

New membrane lipid measuring technique may help fight disease (October 10, 2011) -- Chemists have developed a technique which successfully quantifies signaling lipids on live cell membranes in real time, opening up possible new routes for treating diseases. ... > full story

Smarter toxins help crops fight resistant pests (October 10, 2011) -- An international collaboration has found that a small genetic manipulation restores the efficacy of crop-protecting toxins derived from bacteria against pest insects that have become resistant. ... > full story

Detecting glaucoma before it blinds (October 10, 2011) -- Early detection and diagnosis of open angle glaucoma important so that treatment can be used in the early stages of the disease developing to prevent or avoid further vision loss. Researchers in the US have analyzed and ranked the various risk factors for open angle glaucoma so that patients can be screened at an earlier stage if they are more likely to develop the condition. ... > full story

2011 Nobel Prize in Economics: Cause and effect in the macroeconomy (October 10, 2011) -- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is awarding The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for 2011 to Thomas J. Sargent New York University and Christopher A. Sims Princeton University for their empirical research on cause and effect in the macroeconomy. ... > full story

Blame 'faulty' frontal lobe function for undying optimism in face of reality (October 10, 2011) -- Why, in the face of clear evidence to suggest to the contrary, do some people remain so optimistic about the future? Researchers have shown that people who are very optimistic about the outcome of events tend to learn only from information that reinforces their rose-tinted view of the world. This is related to "faulty" function of their frontal lobes. ... > full story

Supersaturated water vapor in Martian atmosphere (October 10, 2011) -- Analysis of data collected by the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft leaves no room for doubt: the Martian atmosphere of contains water vapor in a supersaturated state. This surprising finding will enable scientists to better understand the water cycle on Mars, as well as the evolution of its atmosphere. ... > full story

Scientists determine alternative insecticide dramatically reduces malaria transmission (October 10, 2011) -- Indoor spraying with the insecticide bendiocarb has dramatically decreased malaria transmission in many parts of Benin, new evidence that insecticides remain a potent weapon for fighting malaria in Africa despite the rapid rise of resistance to an entire class of mosquito-killing compounds, according to a new study. ... > full story

Gray jays' winter survival depends on food storage, study shows (October 10, 2011) -- A new study shows that gray jays hoping to survive and reproduce through Canada's harsh winters need to be able to store food in the right kinds of trees. ... > full story

New method to diagnose sinusitis could reduce use of antibiotics, Swedish research suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Research from Sweden suggests a new method of diagnosing sinusitis. The results offer the potential to reduce the use of antibiotics and the costs of the disease to society. ... > full story

Smart phones: Keeping business data secure while allowing installation of personal apps (October 10, 2011) -- More and more companies are providing their employees with smartphones. While companies seek the best security available for their data, employees would also like to install apps of their own. Security experts have now developed equipment software with two separate areas: the business area and the personal area. ... > full story

Place, not race, may be a larger determinant of health disparities (October 10, 2011) -- Where you live could play a larger role in health disparities than originally thought, according to a new study. Researchers examined a racially integrated, low-income neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland and found that, with the exception of smoking, nationally reported disparities in hypertension, diabetes, obesity among women and use of health services disappeared or narrowed. ... > full story

Babies show sense of fairness, altruism as early as 15 months (October 10, 2011) -- A new study presents the first evidence that a basic sense of fairness and altruism appears in infancy. Babies as young as 15 months perceived the difference between equal and unequal distribution of food, and their awareness of equal rations was linked to their willingness to share a toy. ... > full story

New potential therapeutic target for breast cancer (October 10, 2011) -- A possible new target for breast cancer therapy comes from the discovery that the Tyk2 protein helps suppress the growth and metastasis of breast tumors. ... > full story

Nanopores on a chip: Applications for analytical tasks in chemistry and biology (October 10, 2011) -- Biological nanopores are proteins of only a few nanometers in diameter that form tiny water-filled canals. They have proven to be promising tools in the field of nanobiotechnology. Researchers in Germany have succeeded in arranging nanopores on a tiny microchip and using it to determine the mass of chain-like molecules called polymers with a high degree of precision. ... > full story

Length of flanking repeat region and timing affect genetic material (October 10, 2011) -- Scientists studied the deletions of genetic material in 131 patients with a genomic disorder called Smith-Magenis syndrome and the duplication of genetic material in 79 patients with Potocki-Lupski syndrome. ... > full story

Secure updates for navigation systems (October 10, 2011) -- At the push of a button by the driver, control units download the car manufacturer's new software -- such as enhanced map material for the navigation system. To ensure that this data channel is protected from hacker attack, the system needs the right cryptographic key. To date, these keys have been stored in each one of a vehicle's electronic control units. Thanks to a new form of trust anchor, this will be simpler and more economical in the future. ... > full story

Children's food choices are affected by direct advertising and parental influence, study suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Directly advertising food items to children worries many parents and health care providers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have expressed concern about the negative impact of advertising on children's healthy food choices. A new study explores the relationship between fast food advertisements, parental influence, and the food choices made by children. ... > full story

Failure to thrive in childhood often result of an underlying organic disease (October 10, 2011) -- Failure to thrive in childhood is often the result of an underlying organic disease. Researchers now provide an overview of diagnoses and treatment options. ... > full story

CMOS integrated poly-SiGe piezoresistive pressure sensor demonstrated (October 10, 2011) -- A new integrated poly-SiGe-based piezoresistive pressure sensor has been directly fabricated above 0.13 µm copper (Cu) -backend CMOS technology. This represents not only the first integrated poly-SiGe pressure sensor directly fabricated above its readout circuit, but also the first time that a poly-SiGe MEMS device is processed on top of Cu-backend CMOS. ... > full story

Extremely high-speed heterojunction bipolar transistors demonstrated (October 10, 2011) -- Researchers have realized a fT/fMAX 245GHz/450GHz SiGe:C heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) device, a key enabler for future high-volume millimeter-wave low-power circuits to be used in automotive radar applications. These HBT devices also pave the way to silicon-based millimeter wave circuits penetrating the so-called THz gap, enabling enhanced imaging systems for security, medical and scientific applications. ... > full story

Almost half of cancer survivors have ill health in later years, Northern Ireland study finds (October 10, 2011) -- Forty-five per cent of cancer survivors in Northern Ireland suffer from physical and mental health problems years after their treatment has finished, according to new research. ... > full story

Venus has an ozone layer too, space probe discovers (October 9, 2011) -- The European Space Agency’s Venus Express spacecraft has discovered an ozone layer high in the atmosphere of Venus. Comparing its properties with those of the equivalent layers on Earth and Mars will help astronomers refine their searches for life on other planets. ... > full story

HIV: Ancient gene found to control potent antibody response to retroviruses (October 9, 2011) -- A researcher has identified a gene that controls the process by which antibodies gain their ability to combat retroviruses. He has shown that the gene TLR7 allows the antibody generating B cells to detect the presence of a retrovirus and promotes a process by which antibodies gain strength and potency, called a germinal center reaction. ... > full story