ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, October 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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Liquid can turn into solid under high electric field, physicists show in simulations (October 12, 2011) -- Physicists have demonstrated in simulations that under the influence of sufficiently high electric fields, liquid droplets of certain materials will undergo solidification, forming crystallites at temperature and pressure conditions that correspond to liquid droplets at field-free conditions. ... > full story

Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children (October 12, 2011) -- Use of folic acid supplements by women in Norway in the period four weeks before to eight weeks after conception was associated with a reduced risk of the child having severe language delay at age three years, according to a new study. ... > full story

New knowledge about 'flawed' diamonds could speed the development of diamond-based quantum computers (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists have established the presence of a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in defective diamonds, a finding that will help advance the development of diamond-based systems in applications such as quantum information processing. ... > full story

Emerging pharmaceutical platform may pose risks to retinal health, study suggests (October 12, 2011) -- An emerging pharmaceutical platform used in treating a variety of diseases may produce unintended and undesirable effects on eye function, according to a new study. ... > full story

Cyber threats forecast for 2012 released (October 12, 2011) -- The year ahead will feature new and increasingly sophisticated means to capture and exploit user data, as well as escalating battles over the control of online information that threatens to compromise content and erode public trust and privacy, according to computer security experts. ... > full story

Greater support is needed to tackle the serious emotional consequences of whistleblowing, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- Whistleblowing incidents can have a serious, long-term impact on people’s emotional well-being and colleagues and employers have a responsibility to support those involved. Alcohol problems, nightmares, paranoid behaviour at work and overwhelming distress were just some of the problems reported by whistleblowers and those they reported. However, a new study also stresses the important role that whistleblowing has played in large-scale inquiries that have led to improvements in healthcare safety and quality. ... > full story

Why climate models underestimated Arctic sea ice retreat: No Arctic sea ice in summer by end of century? (October 12, 2011) -- In recent decades, Arctic sea ice has suffered a dramatic decline that exceeds climate model predictions. The unexpected rate of ice shrinkage has now been explained. Researchers argue that climate models underestimate the rate of ice thinning, which is actually about four times faster than calculations. This model bias is due to the poor representation of the sea ice southward drift out of the Arctic basin through the Fram Strait. When this mechanism was taken into account to correct the discrepancy between simulations and observations, results from the new model suggested that there will be no Arctic sea ice in summer by the end of the century. ... > full story

Stem cells, signaling pathways identified in lung repair (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have identified cells and signaling molecules that trigger the repair of injured lungs. The scientists report that destruction of lung tissue in mice induces smooth muscle cells surrounding the airways to secrete a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 10, which induces surviving epithelial cells in the airways to revert to a stem-cell state, proliferate, repair and repopulate the lining of the lungs. ... > full story

Why do cancer cells change their appearance? (October 12, 2011) -- Like snakes, tumor cells shed their skin. Cancer is not a static disease but during its development the disease accumulates changes to evade natural defenses adapting to new environmental circumstances, protecting against chemotherapy and radiotherapy and invading neighboring organs, eventually causing metastasis. Now researchers have identified a mechanism that explains this change. Tumors "shed their skin" because molecular switches called microRNAs -- responsible for maintaining epithelial appearance of cells -- turn off. ... > full story

Experts find continuous glucose monitoring beneficial in maintaining target blood glucose levels (October 12, 2011) -- Patients with diabetes face daily challenges in managing their blood glucose levels, and it has been postulated that patients could benefit from a system providing continuous real-time glucose readings. Experts have released a clinical practice guideline providing recommendations on settings where patients are most likely to benefit from continuous glucose monitoring. ... > full story

Mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region: Nearly forgotten, but not gone (October 12, 2011) -- The scope and intensity of mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region is much greater than previously reported, but additional mercury controls should bring needed improvement, according to a new summary of scientific research on the subject. ... > full story

Medical safety net for undocumented patients (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers are exploring the ethical challenges that clinicians and organizations face when providing medical care to undocumented immigrants in the United States. Most of the estimated 11 million undocumented residents of the US have no health insurance and are ineligible for public insurance programs. They are prohibited from obtaining insurance under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ... > full story

Early Celtic 'Stonehenge' discovered in Germany's Black Forest (October 11, 2011) -- A huge early Celtic calendar construction has been discovered in the royal tomb of Magdalenenberg, nearby Villingen-Schwenningen in Germany's Black Forest. This discovery was made by researchers when they evaluated old excavation plans. The order of the burials around the central royal tomb fits exactly with the sky constellations of the Northern hemisphere. ... > full story

Herbal supplements may cause dangerous drug interactions in orthopaedic surgery patients, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Complementary and alternative medical treatments such as herbal supplements have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially among older patients and those with chronic pain. However, many of these products can have serious and potentially harmful side effects when combined with medications prescribed during and after surgery, according to a review article. ... > full story

Suspects in the quenching of star formation exonerated (October 11, 2011) -- Some supermassive black holes power luminous, rapidly growing objects called active galactic nuclei (AGN) that gather and condense enormous quantities of matter. Because astronomers had seen these objects primarily in massive, old galaxies with aging stars, many thought AGN might help to end the formation of new stars, though the evidence was always circumstantial. Now, a new survey has found AGN in all kinds of galaxies, including young, star-making factories. ... > full story

A safe vaccination for Alzheimer's disease? (October 11, 2011) -- Genetic factors influence the immune response to vaccinations for Alzheimer's disease, which are among the most promising avenues of treatment for the illness. Using a mice model, these factors were studied. ... > full story

Which direction are herbicides heading? (October 11, 2011) -- 2,4-D is coming back. What many might consider a "dinosaur" may be the best solution for growers fighting weed resistance today, said a professor of weed physiology. Researchers now suggest that tank-mixing auxinic herbicides with glyphosate may be the best short-term option available to farmers interested in broad-spectrum, postemergence weed control. ... > full story

More intersections mean less outdoor activity for children (October 11, 2011) -- High intersection density and well-connected streets in towns and cities may discourage children from being active and exercising outdoors, according to a new study. ... > full story

Astronomers find bounty of failed stars: One youngster only six times heftier than Jupiter (October 11, 2011) -- A team of astronomers has discovered over two dozen new free-floating brown dwarfs, including a lightweight youngster only about six times heftier than Jupiter, that reside in two young star clusters. What's more, one cluster contains a surprising surplus of them, harboring half as many of these astronomical oddballs as normal stars. ... > full story

New drug target for Alzheimer's, stroke discovered (October 11, 2011) -- A tiny piece of a critical receptor that fuels the brain and without which sentient beings cannot live has been discovered by scientists as a promising new drug target for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. ... > full story

New computer program promises to save the whales (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a computer program that enables regulators to evaluate the ecological and economic trade-offs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching and marine transportation activities in the Saint Lawrence Estuary. ... > full story

Water channels in the body help cells remain in balance (October 11, 2011) -- Water channels exist not only in nature – microscopical water channels are also present in the cells of the body, where they ensure that water can be transported through the protective surface of the cell. Scientists have discovered that one type of the body’s water channels can be modified such that it becomes more stable, which may be significant in the treatment of several diseases. ... > full story

Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list (October 11, 2011) -- It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating. ... > full story

Perils of polite misunderstandings (October 11, 2011) -- Your friend debuts a questionable haircut and asks what you think of it. Brutal honesty would definitely hurt his feelings, so what do you say? Most people in this situation would probably opt for a vague or evasive response, along the lines of "It's really unique!" or "It's so you!" Politeness helps us get through awkward social situations like these and makes it easier for us to maintain our relationships. ... > full story

Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense (October 11, 2011) -- A new study that caps more than 25 years of work finds that the vast majority of vertebrates -- some 30,000 species of land animals (including humans) and a roughly equal number of ray-finned fishes -- descended from a common ancestor that had a well-developed electroreceptive system. ... > full story

Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- A compound isolated from a wild, poisonous mushroom growing in a southwest China forest appears to help a cancer killing drug fulfill its promise, researchers report. ... > full story

New equation predicts molecular forces in hydrophobic interactions (October 11, 2011) -- The physical model to describe the hydrophobic interactions of molecules has been a mystery that has challenged scientists and engineers since the 19th century. Hydrophobic interactions are central to explaining why oil and water don't mix, how proteins are structured, and what holds biological membranes together. Chemical engineering researchers have developed a novel method to study these forces at the atomic level, and have for the first time defined a mathematical equation to measure a substance's hydrophobic character. ... > full story

Evidence points to potential roles for cognitive rehabilitation therapy in treating traumatic brain injury, but further research needed (October 11, 2011) -- There is some evidence about the potential value of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for treating traumatic brain injury. ... > full story

X-ray camera makes A-grade particle detector (October 11, 2011) -- Combining an off-the-shelf X-ray camera with a thin piece of carbon foil yields a device that can detect high-energy organic atoms and heavy molecules better than the typical devices used for these jobs, with potential benefits ranging from the science of cancer treatment to star chemistry. ... > full story

Fall market jitters a SAD thing: Less daylight in fall may lead to depressed markets (October 11, 2011) -- It's no surprise to researchers that financial market dips and crashes typically happen in the fall. Researchers now show that people who experience seasonal depression shun financial risk-taking during seasons with diminished daylight but are more willing to accept risk in spring and summer. Seasonal depression may be sufficiently powerful to move financial markets. ... > full story

New 'diamond?' New form of superhard carbon is as strong as a diamond (October 11, 2011) -- Carbon is the fourth-most-abundant element in the universe and takes on a wide variety of forms, called allotropes, including diamond and graphite. Scientists have now discovered a new form of carbon, which is capable of withstanding extreme pressure stresses that were previously observed only in diamond. ... > full story

Restless legs syndrome may raise high blood pressure risk in middle-aged women (October 11, 2011) -- Middle-aged women with restless legs syndrome have an increased risk of hypertension. As symptoms of restless legs syndrome increase, the prevalence of high blood pressure increases. ... > full story

Pendulums and floating film: Two seemingly unrelated phenomena share surprising link (October 11, 2011) -- A coupled line of swinging pendulums apparently has nothing in common with an elastic film that buckles and folds under compression while floating on a liquid, but scientists have discovered a deep connection between the two phenomena. ... > full story

Common antibiotic can have serious adverse reactions, review finds (October 11, 2011) -- A commonly prescribed antimicrobial -- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole -- that has been used since 1968 can cause serious adverse reactions and physicians need to be aware of these in prescribing, states a new review. ... > full story

Health benefits of broccoli require the whole food, not supplements (October 11, 2011) -- New research has found that if you want some of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you need to eat the real thing -- a key phytochemical in these vegetables is poorly absorbed and of far less value if taken as a supplement. ... > full story

Rangers and Brewers solid favorites for championships, math professor says (October 11, 2011) -- The Major League Baseball Division Series is underway and math professors have once again analyzed the probability of each team advancing to the World Series. ... > full story

Sexual selection by sugar molecule helped determine human origins, researchers say (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers say that losing the ability to make a particular kind of sugar molecule boosted disease protection in early hominids, and may have directed the evolutionary emergence of our ancestors, the genus Homo. ... > full story

Certain dietary supplements associated with increased risk of death in older women, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Consuming dietary supplements, including multivitamins, folic acid, iron and copper, among others, appears to be associated with an increased risk of death in older women, according to a new report. ... > full story

Seeking superior stem cells: 100-fold increase in efficiency in reprogramming human cells to induced stem cells (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers have announced a new technique to reprogram human cells into stem cells. Their process increases the efficiency of reprogramming by 100-fold and generates cells of a higher quality at a faster rate. By adding two protein factors to the current mix of four, scientists brought about dramatic improvement in the efficiency of reprogramming and the robustness of stem cell development. ... > full story

Experimental vaccine protects monkeys from blinding trachoma (October 11, 2011) -- An attenuated, or weakened, strain of Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria can be used as a vaccine to prevent or reduce the severity of trachoma, the world's leading cause of infectious blindness, suggest new findings from a study in monkeys. ... > full story

How to count nanoparticles (October 11, 2011) -- Nanoparticles of a substance can be counted and the size distribution can be determined by dispersing the nanoparticles into a gas. But some nanoparticles tend to aggregate when the surrounding conditions change. Scientists have now shown that it is possible to sort and count the particles, even when they have formed aggregates. ... > full story

Exercise just as good as drugs at preventing migraines, Swedish study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Although exercise is often prescribed as a treatment for migraine, there has not previously been sufficient scientific evidence that it really works. However, research from Sweden has now shown that exercise is just as good as drugs at preventing migraines. ... > full story

Measuring elusive solar neutrinos flowing through the Earth, physicists learn more about the sun (October 11, 2011) -- Using one of the most sensitive neutrino detectors on the planet, physicists are now measuring the flow of solar neutrinos reaching Earth more precisely than ever before. The detector probes matter at the most fundamental level and provides a powerful tool for directly observing the sun's composition. ... > full story

Family history may have more important role than previously thought in development of Alzheimer disease (October 11, 2011) -- Family history of Alzheimer disease is associated with several age-related changes that appear to influence Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker abnormalities beyond the increased risk of the APOE4 gene, according to a new report. ... > full story

Form follows family -- not function: Humans and chimpanzees have similar long bone shape (October 11, 2011) -- Although humans and chimpanzees move quite differently, muscle attachment sites at their thighbones are similar. This result has major consequences for the interpretation of fossil hominin finds. ... > full story

Gene signature predicts oral cancer recurrence (October 11, 2011) -- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is responsible for nearly a quarter of all head and neck cancers. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death -- largely due to the failure of current histological procedures in predicting the recurrence of the disease. New research shows that a four-gene signature may accurately predict which patients are at higher risk of OSCC recurrence. ... > full story

Baltic Sea contributes carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, study shows (October 11, 2011) -- The Baltic Sea emits more carbon dioxide than it can bind. Local variations have increased the exposure of the Bay of Bothnia. These are the results from a study of how carbon dioxide flows between the water of the Baltic Sea and the atmosphere, carried out by scientists in Sweden. ... > full story

College football players can cry (a little) if they want to (October 11, 2011) -- While there's no crying in baseball, as Tom Hanks' character famously proclaimed in "A League of Their Own," crying in college football might not be a bad thing, at least in the eyes of one's teammates. ... > full story