ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, November 17, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, November 17, 2011

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Pristine reptile fossil holds new information about aquatic adaptations (November 17, 2011) -- Extinct animals hide their secrets well, but an exceptionally well-preserved fossil of an aquatic reptile, with traces of soft tissue present, is providing scientists a new window into the behavior of these ancient swimmers. ... > full story

Stem cell researchers uncover mechanism that regulates human pluripotent stem cell metabolism (November 17, 2011) -- Human pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into any cell type in the body, rely heavily on glycolysis, or sugar fermentation, to drive their metabolic activities. ... > full story

Acid pollution in rain decreased with emissions, long-term study shows (November 17, 2011) -- Emissions regulations do have an environmental impact, according to a long-term study of acidic rainfall. A report detailing trends in acidic rainfall frequency and concentration over 25 years found that as sulfur and nitrogen emissions have dropped in response to the Clean Air Act, acid ions in rainwater have dropped by similar magnitudes. ... > full story

Increasing dosage of clopidogrel for patients with genetic variation improves response to medication (November 17, 2011) -- Among patients with stable cardiovascular disease who have a genetic variation that diminishes the response to the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel, tripling the standard daily dosage of this medication resulted in improved platelet reactivity, according to a new study. ... > full story

Five rare wild cat species caught on camera in Sumatra (November 17, 2011) -- After an amazing five of the seven wild cat species found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra were recently caught on camera in tract of forest being rapidly lost to deforestation, the World Wildlife Fund in Indonesia is urging companies and authorities to take immediate steps to save the valuable area. ... > full story

Gene impedes recovery from alcoholism, Swedish research finds (November 17, 2011) -- People who are alcohol-dependent and who also carry a particular variant of a gene run an increased risk of premature death, according to research from Sweden. ... > full story

Deforestation causes cooling in Northern U.S., Canada, study finds (November 17, 2011) -- The impact of deforestation on global warming varies with latitude, according to new research from a team of scientists representing 20 institutions from around the world. The finding calls for new climate-monitoring strategies, researchers say. ... > full story

Researchers uncover steps in synapse building, pruning (November 17, 2011) -- The brain is constantly building networks of synapses, while pruning out redundant or unneeded synapses. Researchers have discovered a factor in synapse-building, also showing that the building and pruning processes occur independent of each other. ... > full story

Genome sequence sheds new light on how plants evolved nitrogen-fixing symbioses (November 17, 2011) -- The genome of Medicago, a close relative of alfalfa and a long-established model for the study of legume biology, has been sequenced by an international team of scientists, capturing around 94 percent of its genes. The research gives new insights into the evolution of nitrogen fixing symbioses. The scientists also found more resistance genes than in any other plant genome to date. ... > full story

Mycophenolate is superior to azathioprine as treatment for lupus nephritis, study finds (November 17, 2011) -- A new large, international study finds that the immunosuppressant drug mycophenolate mofetil is superior to azathioprine, an older immunosuppressant, as a maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis. ... > full story

NASA extends MESSENGER Mission orbiting Mercury (November 17, 2011) -- NASA has announced that it will extend the MESSENGER mission for an additional year of orbital operations at Mercury beyond the planned end of the primary mission on March 17, 2012. The MESSENGER probe became the first spacecraft to orbit the innermost planet on March 18, 2011. ... > full story

Telephone-based therapy and exercise appear effective for reducing chronic widespread pain (November 17, 2011) -- Telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy and an exercise program, both separately and combined, are associated with short-term positive outcomes for patients with chronic widespread pain, and may offer benefits for patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia, according to a new report. ... > full story

Even the cleanest wastewater contributes to more 'super bacteria', study finds (November 16, 2011) -- A new study reveals that the release of treated municipal wastewater -- even wastewater treated by the highest-quality treatment technology -- can have a significant effect on the quantities of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often referred to as "superbacteria," in surface waters. ... > full story

Annual childhood flu vaccines may interfere with development of crossresistance (November 16, 2011) -- Vaccinating children annually against influenza virus interferes with their development of cross-reactive killer T cells to flu viruses generally, according to a new study. The research points up potentially conflicting policy outcomes. Annual flu vaccines are effective against seasonal flu, but could leave people more vulnerable to novel pandemics. ... > full story

Perfect micro rings woven from muscle fibers: Biological model system that dead-ends in an 'absorbing state' (November 16, 2011) -- Supplied with sufficient energy, a freight train would ride the rails as far as they go. But nature also knows systems whose dynamics suddenly turn into a kind of endless loop. Like in a hamster wheel, a train caught up in such a system would continue running, but without moving forward. Scientists in Germany have now succeeded in building a simple model system consisting of only three components to study the laws of such so-called absorbing states. ... > full story

Niacin does not reduce heart attack, stroke risk in stable CV patients (November 16, 2011) -- In patients whose bad cholesterol is very well-controlled by statins for a long time period, the addition of high-dose, extended release niacin did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, according to new research. ... > full story

Large differences in the climate impact of biofuels, Swedish research finds (November 16, 2011) -- When biomass is combusted the carbon that once was bound in the growing tree is released into the atmosphere. For this reason, bioenergy is often considered carbon dioxide neutral. Research from Sweden, however, shows that this is a simplification. The use of bioenergy may affect ecosystem carbon stocks, and it can take anything from 2 to 100 years for different biofuels to achieve carbon dioxide neutrality. ... > full story

Illegal drug use is associated with abnormal weight in teens (November 16, 2011) -- A survey of more than 33,000 Italian high school students reveals that both underweight and overweight teens consume 20 to 40 percent more illegal drugs than their normal-weight peers. ... > full story

Origins of Antarctica's ice-covered mountains unraveled (November 16, 2011) -- Buried below more than a mile of ice, Antarctica's Gamburtsev Mountains have baffled scientists since their discovery in 1958. How did the mountains get there, and what role did they play in the spread of glaciers over the continent 30 million years ago? In the latest study on the mountains, scientists say they have pieced together the puzzle of the origins and evolution of this mysterious mountain chain. ... > full story

Probiotics appear to mitigate pancreatitis: Surprising hypothetical mechanism warrants further investigation (November 16, 2011) -- A probiotic treatment appears to mitigate pancreatitis in an animal model, leading to a new hypothesis of how probiotics may act, according to a new study. The bacterial species most closely associated with improvement in health was discovered for the first time in the course of this research. ... > full story

Creation of the largest human-designed protein boosts protein engineering efforts (November 16, 2011) -- Chemists have designed and successfully synthesized the largest artificial protein using a new approach that greatly expands scientists' ability to create proteins unknown in nature. ... > full story

Preliminary report on radiation levels in Fukushima reveals relative safety of residents (November 16, 2011) -- Researchers have released a preliminary report on the effects of the Fukushima nuclear disaster on the surrounding areas, following radiation levels for approximately three months following the event and surveying more than 5,000 people in the region. ... > full story

Fast new method for mapping blood vessels may aid cancer research (November 16, 2011) -- Computational neuroscientists have developed a new system, tested in mouse brain samples, that substantially reduces blood vessel mapping time. ... > full story

Today's teens will die younger of heart disease, study finds (November 16, 2011) -- A new study of adolescent cardiovascular health in the US reveals a bleak picture of teens likely to die of heart disease at a younger age than adults do today. The alarming health profiles of 5,547 children and adolescents, ages 12 to 19, reveal high blood sugar, obesity, lousy diets, little physical activity and smoking. ... > full story

Evidence for 'great lake' on Europa and potential new habitat for life (November 16, 2011) -- In a significant finding in the search for life beyond Earth, scientists from the University of Texas at Austin and elsewhere have discovered what appears to be a body of liquid water the volume of the North American Great Lakes locked inside the icy shell of Jupiter's moon Europa. The water could represent a potential habitat for life. The authors speculate many more such lakes might exist throughout the shallow regions of Europa's shell. ... > full story

Low vitamin D levels may be associated with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord disease (November 16, 2011) -- Vitamin D levels are significantly lower in patients with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord disease, according to a new study. ... > full story

Probiotic protects intestine from radiation injury (November 16, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that taking a probiotic before radiation therapy can protect the intestine from damage -- at least in mice. Their study suggests that taking a probiotic also may help cancer patients avoid intestinal injury, a common problem in those receiving radiation therapy for abdominal cancers. ... > full story

New medication increases HDL cholesterol and decreases LDL cholesterol levels (November 16, 2011) -- Among patients with sub-optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, use of the drug evacetrapib alone or in combination with statin medications was associated with significant increases in HDL-C levels and decreases in LDL-C levels, according to a new study. ... > full story

A realistic look at the promises and perils of nanomedicine (November 16, 2011) -- Is the emerging field of nanomedicine a breathtaking technological revolution that promises remarkable new ways of diagnosing and treating diseases? Or does it portend the release of dangerous nanoparticles, nanorobots or nanoelectronic devices that will wreak havoc in the body? A new review of more than 500 studies on the topic concludes that neither scenario is likely. ... > full story

False confessions may lead to more errors in evidence, study shows (November 16, 2011) -- A man with a low IQ confesses to a gruesome crime. Confession in hand, the police send his blood to a lab to confirm that his blood type matches the semen found at the scene. It does not. The forensic examiner testifies later that one blood type can change to another with disintegration. This is untrue. The newspaper reports the story, including the time the man says the murder took place. Two witnesses tell the police they saw the woman alive after that. The police send them home, saying they "must have seen a ghost." After 16 years in prison, the falsely convicted man is exonerated by DNA evidence. How could this happen? A new study examines how false confessions can corrupt evidence. ... > full story

Cool clouds of Carina: APEX reveals new view of star formation in the Carina Nebula (November 16, 2011) -- Observations made with the APEX telescope in submillimeter-wavelength light reveal the cold dusty clouds from which stars form in the Carina Nebula. This site of violent star formation, which plays host to some of the highest-mass stars in our galaxy, is an ideal arena in which to study the interactions between these young stars and their parent molecular clouds. ... > full story

New mouthwash targeting harmful bacteria may render tooth decay a thing of the past (November 16, 2011) -- A new mouthwash developed by a microbiologist is highly successful in targeting the harmful Streptococcus mutans bacteria that is the principal cause tooth decay and cavities, research shows. ... > full story

Global warming’s impact may be detected in genes, suggests study of how seagrasses react to heat waves (November 16, 2011) -- Seagrass populations thrive in the shallow coastal regions and offer an ideal habitat for many fish, crustacean and microbes. The worldwide decline of seagrass populations in recent years is therefore of major concern. Researchers believe that climate change plays an important role as the increase in extreme events such as heat waves is a major challenge for the seagrass. How exactly the seagrass species are impacted by extreme events is examined in a new study. ... > full story

New molecular mechanism in breast cancer development (November 16, 2011) -- About 10 percent of breast cancers are due to mutations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, the molecular mechanism by which alteration of these genes greatly increases the risk of cancer is not fully understood. In a new study, an international team has made an important step towards revealing the underlying pathways. ... > full story

Terrestrial biodiversity recovered faster after Permo-Triassic extinction than previously believed (November 16, 2011) -- While the cause of the mass extinction that occurred between the Permian and Triassic periods is still uncertain, researchers collected data that show that terrestrial biodiversity recovered much faster than previously thought, potentially contradicting several theories for the cause of the extinction. ... > full story

Alcoholics' 'injured brains' work harder to complete simple tasks: Finger tapping study shows alcoholics may recruit other brain regions (November 16, 2011) -- Alcoholic brains can perform a simple finger-tapping exercise as well as their sober counterparts but their brain must work a lot harder to do it, according to a new study. ... > full story

New lightning-fast, efficient nanoscale data transmission (November 16, 2011) -- A new nanoscale light-emitting diode transmits data at ultrafast rates while using thousands of times less energy than current technologies. It is a major step forward for on-chip data transmission, the researchers say. ... > full story

Mental illness: Early-life depression and anxiety changes structure of developing brain (November 16, 2011) -- New research identifies the brain chemicals and circuits involved in mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, giving potential new directions to their treatment. In addition, research with children shows that early-life depression and anxiety changes the structure of the developing brain. ... > full story

Good preparation is key, even for plant cells and symbiotic fungi (November 16, 2011) -- Laser capture microdissection provides an insight into the symbiotic program of root cells. The most prevalent plant symbiosis is that between root cells and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, called AM fungi. AM fungi make sure that plants can grow on nutrient-depleted soil -- unnoticed by most people. ... > full story

Contrasting patterns of malaria drug resistance found between humans and mosquitoes (November 16, 2011) -- A study detected contrasting patterns of drug resistance in malaria-causing parasites taken from both humans and mosquitoes. Parasites found in human blood samples showed a high prevalence for pyrimethamine-resistance, which was consistent with the class of drugs widely used to treat malaria. However, parasites taken from mosquitoes themselves had very low prevalence of pyrimethamine-resistance and a high prevalence of cycloguanil-resistant mutants indicating resistance to a newer class of antimalaria drug not widely used in Zambia. ... > full story

No extraordinary effects from microwave and mobile phone heating: Study quantifies effects of electric field-induced versus conventional heating (November 16, 2011) -- The effect of microwave heating and cell phone radiation on sample material is no different than a temperature increase, according to scientists in a new study. ... > full story

Surgery on toy animals lessens anxiety of veterinary students (November 16, 2011) -- Training basic surgical techniques on toy animals before having to perform operations on living animals makes veterinary students much less anxious. At the same time, the use of laboratory animals is minimized, according to recent research in Denmark. ... > full story

Fossil moths show their true colors (November 16, 2011) -- The brightest hues in nature are produced by tiny patterns in, say, feathers or scales rather than pigments. These so-called "structural colors" are widespread, giving opals their fire, people their blue eyes, and peacocks their brilliant feathers. Now, a new study brings us closer to the origins of structural colors by reconstructing them in fossil moths that are 47 million years old. ... > full story

Engineered, drug-secreting blood vessels reverse anemia in mice (November 16, 2011) -- Patients who rely on recombinant, protein-based drugs must often endure frequent injections, often several times a week, or intravenous therapy. Researchers have demonstrated the possibility that blood vessels, made from genetically engineered cells, could secrete the drug on demand directly into the bloodstream. In a new study, they provide proof-of-concept, reversing anemia in mice with engineered vessels secreting erythropoietin (EPO). ... > full story

Converting waste heat into electricity (November 16, 2011) -- More than half of today's energy consumption is squandered in useless waste heat, such as the heat from refrigerators and all sorts of gadgets and the heat from factories and power plants. The energy losses are even greater in cars. Automobile motors only manage to utilize 30 per cent of the energy they generate. Scientists in Norway are developing a new environmentally friendly technology called thermoelectricity, which can convert waste heat into electricity. To put it briefly, the technology involves making use of temperature differences. ... > full story

The leading edge of stress: New genomic, optogenetic and epigenetic findings (November 16, 2011) -- New research uses the latest genetic tools to explore how stress alters brain function, leading to anxiety, depression, and other stress-related mood disorders. ... > full story

New system of intelligent management of street lighting enables 80% savings in energy (November 16, 2011) -- Until recently there did not exist any kind of system of illumination that had more than 30% energy saving. A new intelligent system for public lighting achieves between 70% and 80% savings in the energy previously consumed. ... > full story

Erratic, extreme day-to-day weather puts climate change in new light (November 16, 2011) -- Researchers report the first climate study to focus on variations in daily weather conditions, which found that day-to-day weather has grown increasingly erratic and extreme, with significant fluctuations in sunshine and rainfall affecting more than a third of the planet. These swings could have consequences for ecosystem stability and the control of pests and diseases; industries such as agriculture and solar-energy production; and could affect what scientists can expect to see as the Earth's climate changes. ... > full story