ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Wednesday, October 19, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Wednesday, October 19, 2011

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Nano funnel used to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses (October 19, 2011) -- Scientists have successfully concentrated the energy of infrared laser pulses using a nano funnel enabling them to generate extreme ultraviolet light pulses, which repeated 75 million times per second. ... > full story

Protein that fuels lethal breast cancer growth emerges as potential new drug target (October 19, 2011) -- A protein in the nucleus of breast cancer cells that plays a role in fueling the growth of aggressive tumors may be a good target for new drugs, reports a research team. ... > full story

Two new bee species are mysterious pieces in the Panama puzzle (October 19, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered two new, closely related bee species: one from Coiba Island in Panama and another from northern Colombia. Both descended from of a group of stingless bees that originated in the Amazon and moved into Central America, the ancestors of Mayan honeybees. ... > full story

Why steroid treatment for COPD is ineffective (October 19, 2011) -- Corticosteroids do not improve survival nor alter the progression of COPD and may reduce lung symptoms as little as 20 percent. A new study found why corticosteroids do not work well for COPD patients and how additional treatment with sulforaphane -- an ingredient of broccoli and other vegetables -- can improve the effectiveness of corticosteroids. ... > full story

Step toward quantum computers: Using commercial photonic components (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have developed a model that provides the basis for the application of commercial photonic components to the field of quantum computers and quantum communications. ... > full story

Babies and toddlers should learn from play, not screens (October 19, 2011) -- A new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children under age two as "screen-free" as possible. ... > full story

Scientists reveal surprising picture of how powerful antibody neutralizes HIV (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered the surprising details of how a powerful anti-HIV antibody grabs hold of the virus. The findings highlight a major vulnerability of HIV and suggest a new target for vaccine development. ... > full story

New discovery in the fight against tuberculosis (October 19, 2011) -- New research may help in the ongoing fight against tuberculosis. Medical researchers have discovered a connection between the development of new lymphoid tissue within the lung and protection against the disease. ... > full story

Efficacy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma vaccine demonstrated in dogs (October 19, 2011) -- An experimental vaccine is the first veterinary cancer vaccine of its kind that shows an increase in survival time for dogs with spontaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The work shows for the first time the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of this alternative cell-based vaccine, which could be employed in the treatment of a number of different cancer types. ... > full story

Technology targets genetic disorders linked to X chromosome (October 19, 2011) -- Geneticists have demonstrated a method that enables the routine amplification of all the genes on the X chromosome. The technology allows the rapid and highly accurate sequencing and identification of novel genetic variants affecting X chromosome genes. ... > full story

Industrial by-products upgraded into fuel (October 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Finland have achieved good results in using waste and other excess products from industry to develop new and innovative fuels for transport. The researchers have studied the processing of both biobutanol and biogas into transport fuels. ... > full story

Can we share vampires' appetite for synthetic blood? (October 19, 2011) -- Vampires on the "True Blood" television series are already enjoying the advantages of synthetic blood. While this may seem to be only the imagination on the big screen, the true benefits of blood manufactured from embryonic stem cells may be less than a decade away. ... > full story

Seeing through walls: New radar technology provides real-time video of what’s going on behind solid walls (October 18, 2011) -- The ability to see through walls is no longer the stuff of science fiction, thanks to new radar technology. Researchers have built a system that can see through walls from some distance away, giving an instantaneous picture of the activity on the other side. ... > full story

Tricking resistant cancer cells into committing suicide (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to trick resistant cancer cells into committing suicide following oncolytic virus therapy. ... > full story

Premature babies at risk of ill health in later life, research suggests (October 18, 2011) -- Young adults who were born prematurely show multiple biological signs of risks to future health, new research has found. The scientists say that the research indicates that urgent work is now needed to monitor preterm babies into adulthood to improve the detection of early signs of disease. ... > full story

First-ever sequence and structure of biologically important carbohydrate (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists have been unable to determine the structure of a biologically important so-called GAG proteoglycan -- or even to agree whether these remarkably complex molecules have well-defined structures. Medical researchers have now, for the first time, determined the sequence and structure of a glycosaminoglycan, or GAG, proteoglycan. ... > full story

Unexpected effect of climate change on body size for many different species (October 18, 2011) -- A new study by researchers in Singapore shows that organisms from primary producers to top predators are shrinking in size in response to climate change. Decreasing organism size could have adverse effect on society, for example crop harvests getting smaller or ecosystem services being compromised. ... > full story

National health care scorecard: United States scores 64 out of 100 (October 18, 2011) -- The US health-care system scored 64 out of 100 on key measures of performance, according to the third national scorecard report. The scorecard finds that -- despite pockets of improvement -- the US overall failed to improve when compared to best performers. There was significant erosion in access to care and affordability of care, as health care costs rose far faster than family incomes. ... > full story

Robotic bug gets wings, sheds light on evolution of flight (October 18, 2011) -- When engineers outfitted a six-legged robotic bug with wings in an effort to improve its mobility, they unexpectedly shed some light on the evolution of flight. The wings nearly doubled the running speed of the 25-gram robot, but was that good enough for takeoff? ... > full story

Protein family key to aging, cancer (October 18, 2011) -- A protein linked to aging may act as a tumor suppressor, and loss of this protein leads to gender-specific tumor development in mice, according to new research. The findings suggest the existence of a rare "family" of tumor suppressors and may have implications for a common form of breast cancer. ... > full story

Chemical warfare on the reef: Molecules used by certain seaweed to harm corals (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists for the first time have identified and mapped the chemical structure of molecules used by certain species of marine seaweed to kill or inhibit the growth of reef-building coral. ... > full story

Omega-3 fatty acids shown to prevent or slow progression of osteoarthritis (October 18, 2011) -- New research has shown for the first time that omega-3 in fish oil could "substantially and significantly" reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. ... > full story

Food without preservatives -- thanks to self-cleaning equipment (October 18, 2011) -- Éclairs and other pastries should taste light and fluffy. If the pastry dough contains too many microorganisms, though, it will not rise in the oven. Now, researchers have devised a system that cleans itself automatically after every batch of dough. This means the dough is sterile -- and for the first time, it can be made in large quantities off-site for delivery to bakeries. ... > full story

Goats could increase the risk of a rare lung cancer, researchers find (October 18, 2011) -- Exposure to goats could increase the risk of a certain type of lung cancer, according to French researchers. ... > full story

Dark matter mystery deepens (October 18, 2011) -- Like all galaxies, our Milky Way is home to a strange substance called dark matter. Dark matter is invisible, betraying its presence only through its gravitational pull. Without dark matter holding them together, our galaxy's speedy stars would fly off in all directions. The nature of dark matter is a mystery -- a mystery that a new study has only deepened. ... > full story

Protecting the brain when energy runs low (October 18, 2011) -- Researchers have shed new light on the way that the brain protects itself from harm when 'running on empty.' ... > full story

Testing micro-electronic stimulators for spinal cord injuries (October 18, 2011) -- A new wireless device may help victims of spinal cord injury. Researchers are developing micro-electrical stimulators for individuals with spinal cord injuries. ... > full story

Biomarker-guided heart failure treatment significantly reduces complications (October 18, 2011) -- Adding regular testing for blood levels of a biomarker of cardiac distress to standard care for the most common form of heart failure may significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications, a new study finds. ... > full story

Lithium-ion batteries made faster with new process (October 18, 2011) -- Engineers have been inspired by nature. To fill the porous electrodes of lithium-ion batteries more rapidly with liquid electrolyte, they are using a physico-chemical effect that also provides for transport in trees. The new process increases the throughput of battery production and reduces investment costs. ... > full story

Profanity in TV and video games linked to teen aggression (October 18, 2011) -- A total of 223 middle school students completed surveys on their aggression, preferred media, time spent viewing media, perceived aggression in their favorite shows and games, beliefs about profanity and profanity use. The results showed a direct link in the viewing of media with high profanity, profanity use and subsequent aggression. ... > full story

Future forests may soak up more carbon dioxide than previously believed (October 18, 2011) -- North American forests appear to have a greater capacity to soak up heat-trapping carbon dioxide gas than researchers had previously anticipated. ... > full story

Halo effect: Family members of gastric-bypass patients also lose weight, study finds (October 18, 2011) -- Family members of patients who have undergone surgery for weight loss may also shed several pounds themselves, as well as eat healthier and exercise more, according to a new study. ... > full story

Bioengineering to generate healthy skin (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists are participating in research to study how to make use of the potential for auto regeneration of stem skills from skin, in order to create, in the laboratory, a patient's entire cutaneous surface by means of a combination of biological engineering and tissue engineering techniques. ... > full story

High rate of false-positives with annual mammogram (October 18, 2011) -- During a decade of receiving mammograms, more than half of cancer-free women will be among those summoned back for more testing because of false-positive results, and about one in 12 will be referred for a biopsy. ... > full story

Clustered hurricanes reduce impact on ecosystems, researchers find (October 18, 2011) -- New research has found that hurricane activity is "clustered" rather than random, which has important long-term implications for coastal ecosystems and human population. Tropical cyclones and hurricanes have a massive economic, social and ecological impact, and models of their occurrence influence many planning activities from setting insurance premiums to conservation planning. ... > full story

One in four children exposed to some form of family violence, study finds (October 18, 2011) -- More than one in four children have been exposed to physical violence between their parents at some time, one in nine of them during the past year, according to new research. ... > full story

100,000-year-old ochre toolkit and workshop discovered in South Africa (October 18, 2011) -- An ochre-rich mixture, possibly used for decoration, painting and skin protection 100,000 years ago, and stored in two abalone shells, was discovered at Blombos Cave in Cape Town, South Africa. ... > full story

New research links common RNA modification to obesity (October 18, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that a pervasive human RNA modification provides the physiological underpinning of the genetic regulatory process that contributes to obesity and type II diabetes. ... > full story

Norwegian prawns to spice up Chinese noodles (October 18, 2011) -- Bioprospecting is opening up international markets for Norwegian seafood companies. Essences extracted from a prawn or octopus off the west coast of Norway could end up as flavoring in noodle packages in China. ... > full story

Lung cancer patients with diabetes show prolonged survival (October 18, 2011) -- Lung cancer patients with diabetes tend to live longer than patients without diabetes, according to a Norwegian study. ... > full story

Google Earth typhoid maps reveal secrets of disease outbreaks (October 18, 2011) -- In the mid-nineteenth century, John Snow mapped cases of cholera in Soho, London, and traced the source of the outbreak to a contaminated water pump. Now, in a twenty-first century equivalent, scientists working in Kathmandu, Nepal, have combined the latest in gene sequencing technology and global positioning system case localization to map the spread of typhoid and trace its source. ... > full story

Pediatric emergency department visits for psychiatric care on the rise (October 18, 2011) -- Pediatric patients, primarily those who are underinsured (either without insurance or receiving Medicaid), are increasingly receiving psychiatric care in hospital emergency departments, according to new research. ... > full story

Relationships more important than genetic ties when deciding who cares for aging family, study finds (October 18, 2011) -- Researchers have found that relationship quality trumps genetic ties when determining caregiving obligations. Researchers studied how divorce and remarriage affect beliefs about who should care for aging relatives and found that relationship quality, a history of mutual help, and resource availability influence decisions about who cares for parents and stepparents. ... > full story

Cough may warn of danger for patients with lung-scarring disease (October 18, 2011) -- A new analysis has found that coughing may signal trouble for patients with the lung-scarring disease known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The study found that patients with the condition who also cough are more likely to develop advanced forms of the disease that may be life threatening. ... > full story

Nearly half of US physician practices do not meet national standards for 'medical homes' (October 18, 2011) -- Nearly half (46 percent) of physician practices do not meet national standards to qualify as a medical home, study finds. ... > full story

More poor kids in more poor places, US study finds (October 18, 2011) -- Persistent high poverty is most prevalent among children, with those living in rural America disproportionally impacted, according to new research. ... > full story

Can taking calcium with other minerals help prevent Bowel Cancer? (October 18, 2011) -- A team of scientists in the US is investigating the role of calcium with other trace minerals in preventing bowel cancer. ... > full story

Severe drought, other changes can cause permanent ecosystem disruption (October 17, 2011) -- An eight-year study has concluded that increasingly frequent and severe drought, dropping water tables and dried-up springs have pushed some aquatic desert ecosystems into "catastrophic regime change," from which many species will not recover. ... > full story