ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

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Targeted proton transfer within a molecule: Smallest conceivable switch (December 13, 2011) -- For a long time miniaturization has been the magic word in electronics. Physicists have now presented a novel molecular switch. Decisive for the functionality of the switch is the position of a single proton in a porphyrin ring with an inside diameter of less than half a nanometer. The physicists can set four distinct states on demand. ... > full story

Test for Alzheimer's disease predicts cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (December 13, 2011) -- A method of classifying brain atrophy patterns in Alzheimer's disease patients using MRIs can also detect cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease, according to a new study. Researchers also found that higher baseline Alzheimer's patterns of atrophy predicted long-term cognitive decline in cognitively normal Parkinson's patients. The study is published online in Brain. ... > full story

Catch the fever: It'll help you fight off infection, evidence shows (December 13, 2011) -- With cold and flu season almost here, the next time you're sick, you may want to think twice before taking something for your fever. That's because scientists have found more evidence that elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells to work better. ... > full story

Daily wheezing treatment no different from intermittent in toddlers, study suggests (December 13, 2011) -- Pediatricians often treat young children who have frequent bouts of wheezing with a daily dose of an inhaled steroid to keep asthma symptoms at bay. But results of a recent study are likely to change that. ... > full story

World record for one-loop calculations (December 13, 2011) -- Physicists have significantly improved the calculation method for scattering experiments in particle physics. This kind of calculation is used to predict the outcome of accelerator experiments in which high-energy particles collide with one another. However, the calculations become increasingly difficult the greater the number of orders the physicists wish to calculate. Scientists have now developed an algorithm which is far faster and requires less computing capacity than other algorithms. ... > full story

Sexism and gender inequality (December 13, 2011) -- Individual beliefs don't stay confined to the person who has them; they can affect how a society functions. A new study looks at 57 countries and finds that an individual's sexism leads to gender inequality in the society as a whole -- not surprising, but it is the largest study to find this relationship. ... > full story

World's smallest frogs discovered in New Guinea (December 13, 2011) -- Field research has uncovered the world's smallest frogs in southeastern New Guinea. The discovery also makes them the world's smallest tetrapods (non-fish vertebrates). The frogs belong to the genus Paedophryne, all of whose species are extremely small, with adults of the two new species -- named Paedophryne dekot and Paedophryne verrucosa -- only 8 to 9 millimeters in length. ... > full story

Decades-old treatment guidelines for anorexia challenged (December 13, 2011) -- Adolescents hospitalized with anorexia nervosa who receive treatment based on current recommendations for refeeding fail to gain significant weight during their first week in the hospital, according to a new study. ... > full story

First realistic 3-D reconstruction of a brain circuit (December 13, 2011) -- Researchers report that, using a conceptually new approach and state-of-the-art research tools, they have created the first realistic three-dimensional diagram of a thalamocortical column in the rodent brain. This is the first step toward creating a complete computer model of the brain, and may ultimately lead to an understanding of how the brain computes and how it goes awry in disease. ... > full story

NCAA mandatory sickle cell screening program not enough to save athletes' lives, study finds (December 13, 2011) -- In response to a lawsuit after a college football player died from complications due to sickle cell trait (SCT) during a workout, the NCAA implemented mandatory SCT screening of all Division I student-athletes. A new study evaluated the impact of that policy and found that testing alone will help identify more than 2,000 athletes with SCT, but warns that screening alone will not prevent death. ... > full story

Robotic telescope network with access via Internet to be built (December 13, 2011) -- Internauts will be able to connect to 17 telescopes on four continents to share observation time. A world network of robotic telescopes is to be developed as part of a European citizen science project that has just kicked off in Spain. The network, to which any citizen will be able to connect and share observation time, will offer free open access via the Internet. ... > full story

Fast, affordable ways for countries to better identify causes of death in populations (December 13, 2011) -- New research shows that innovative and improved methods for analyzing verbal autopsies -- a method of determining individuals' causes of death in countries without a complete vital registration system -- are fast, effective, and inexpensive, and could be invaluable for countries struggling to understand disease trends. ... > full story

Bigger, scarier weapons help spiders get the girl (December 12, 2011) -- If you're a red-headed guy with eight bulging eyes and a unibrow, size does indeed matter for getting the girl. More specifically, the bigger a male jumping spider's weapons appear to be, the more likely his rival will slink away without a fight, leaving the bigger guy a clear path to the waiting female. ... > full story

Study of two sisters sheds light on lymphoma evolution (December 12, 2011) -- A woman received a transplant from her sister to treat leukemia. Both sisters later developed lymphoma, suggesting transfer of a common ancestor. Finding gives scientists new insight into lymphoma development. ... > full story

People with DFNA2 hearing loss show increased touch sensitivity, study shows (December 12, 2011) -- People with a certain form of inherited hearing loss have increased sensitivity to low frequency vibration, according to a new study. The research findings reveal previously unknown relationships between hearing loss and touch sensitivity. ... > full story

Why women quit breast cancer drugs early: Side effects are so bad women end treatment and risk return of cancer, study finds (December 12, 2011) -- Why do so many postmenopausal women who are treated for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer quit using drugs that help prevent the disease from recurring? The first study to ask the women themselves reports 36 percent of women quit early because of the medications' side effects, which are more severe and widespread than previously known. The research also reveals a big gap between what women tell their doctors about side effects and what they actually experience. ... > full story

New biometric data standard adds DNA, footmarks and enhanced fingerprint descriptions (December 12, 2011) -- The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a revised biometric standard that vastly expands the type and amount of information that forensic scientists can share across their international networks to identify victims or solve crimes. ... > full story

Women are best at being social on social media (December 12, 2011) -- Results of extensive study reveals gender divide in use of social media -- and how celebrities exploit social media to connect with their fans. Young women are leaders of change in styles of storytelling in the new digital economy, a social media expert has found. ... > full story

Study debunks myths about gender and math performance (December 12, 2011) -- A major study of recent international data on school mathematics performance casts doubt on some common assumptions about gender and math achievement -- in particular, the idea that girls and women have less ability due to a difference in biology. ... > full story

Improved medication use could reduce severe asthma attacks (December 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that one-quarter of severe asthma attacks could be prevented if only patients consistently took their medication as prescribed. Moreover, an asthma attack was only significantly reduced when patients used at least 75 percent of their prescribed dose, according to the study. ... > full story

As climate change sets in, plants and bees keep pace (December 12, 2011) -- An analysis of bee collection data over the past 130 years shows that spring arrives about 10 days earlier than in the 1880s, and bees and flowering plants have kept pace by arriving earlier in lock-step. ... > full story

Breast cancer survivors struggle with cognitive problems several years after treatment (December 12, 2011) -- A new analysis has found that breast cancer survivors may experience problems with certain mental abilities several years after treatment, regardless of whether they were treated with chemotherapy plus radiation or radiation only. ... > full story

Powerful detectors on Hawaiian telescope to probe origins of stars, planets and galaxies (December 12, 2011) -- The world's largest submillimeter camera -- based on superconducting technology -- is now ready to scan the universe, including faint and faraway parts never seen before. ... > full story

A dash of physics thrown into the cocktail mix (December 12, 2011) -- Top-end bartenders are ditching trial and error for a more measured, controlled and scientific approach to the art of cocktail making, according to experts. ... > full story

Disappearance of the elephant caused rise of modern humans: Dietary change led to modern humans in Middle East 400,000 years ago (December 12, 2011) -- Scientists have connected evidence about diet with other cultural and anatomical clues to conclude that the disappearance of the elephants led to the emergence of Homo sapiens in the Middle East much earlier than first suspected. The findings set the stage for a new, revolutionary understanding of human history. ... > full story

Massive DNA search uncovers new mutations driving blood cancer (December 12, 2011) -- The most comprehensive search to date of DNA abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia has unearthed several new altered genes that drive this common blood cancer, a finding that could potentially help doctors predict whether an individual patient's disease will progress rapidly or remain indolent for years, say scientists. ... > full story

Diamonds and dust for better cement (December 12, 2011) -- Scientists are seeking ways to use cement more efficiently and reduce the carbon emissions associated with its manufacture have revealed new properties of the mineral tobermorite. Using X-ray-diffraction to probe its crystalline structure, which corresponds to Portland cement's most important component, they squeezed the mineral in a diamond anvil cell to pressures equivalent to 100 miles deep in the Earth. ... > full story

Gene mutation signals a high risk of recurrence in some older acute-leukemia patients (December 12, 2011) -- Older people with acute myeloid leukemia and normal looking chromosomes in their cancer cells have a higher risk of recurrence if they have mutations in the ASXL1gene, according to a new study. The study is the first to investigate the influence of these gene mutations on prognosis in these patients and in conjunction with other prognostic gene mutations. The findings could lead to more effective targeted therapies and improved cure rates for these patients. ... > full story

Evolution reveals missing link between DNA and protein shape (December 12, 2011) -- Using evolutionary genetic information, an international team of researchers has taken major steps toward solving a classic problem of molecular biology: Predicting how a protein will fold in three dimensions. ... > full story

Working moms feel better than stay-at-home moms, study finds (December 12, 2011) -- Mothers with jobs tend to be healthier and happier than moms who stay at home during their children's infancy and preschool years, according to a new study. ... > full story

Researchers design Alzheimer’s antibodies: Surprisingly simple method to target harmful proteins (December 12, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new method to design antibodies aimed at combating disease. The surprisingly simple process was used to make antibodies that neutralize the harmful protein particles that are believed to lead to Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story

Ecstasy drug produces lasting toxicity in the brain (December 12, 2011) -- Recreational use of Ecstasy -- the illegal "rave" drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth -- is associated with chronic changes in the human brain, researchers have discovered. The findings add to the growing evidence that Ecstasy produces long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity in humans. ... > full story

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought (December 12, 2011) -- As parts of Central America and the US Southwest endure some of the worst droughts to hit those areas in decades, scientists have unearthed new evidence about ancient dry spells that suggest the future could bring even more serious water shortages. Three researchers have presented new findings about the past and future of drought. ... > full story

Novel way to improve outcomes from umbilical cord blood transplants (December 12, 2011) -- A new method to boost the number of immune cells in umbilical cord blood prior to cord blood transplants for cancer patients appears to lead to a quicker rebuilding of a new immune system in the patient's body than with a conventional cord blood transplant procedure, according to new research. ... > full story

Expanding dead zones are shrinking tropical blue marlin habitat (December 12, 2011) -- Scientists sound an alarm that expanding ocean dead zones are shrinking the habitat for high value fish such as marlins, other billfish and tunas in the tropical northeast Atlantic Ocean. Without taking this phenomena into account, scientific fish stock assessments could provide false signals that stocks are healthy, when in fact they are not, thus allowing overfishing that further depletes these fish stocks. ... > full story

Neuroscientists find greater complexity in how we perceive motion (December 12, 2011) -- How we perceive motion is a significantly more complex process than previously thought, researchers have found. Their results show that the relationship between the brain and visual perception varies, depending on the type of motion we are viewing. ... > full story

Tropical sea temperatures influence melting in Antarctica (December 12, 2011) -- New research shows that accelerated melting of two fast-moving glaciers that drain Antarctic ice into the Amundsen Sea Embayment is likely in part the result of an increase in sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. ... > full story

Immune system in leukemia patients repaired following chemotherapy (December 12, 2011) -- A new treatment using leukemia patients' own infection-fighting cells appears to protect them from infections and cancer recurrence following treatment with fludarabine-based chemotherapy, according to new research. ... > full story

Star explosion leaves behind a rose (December 12, 2011) -- About 3,700 years ago, people on Earth would have seen a brand-new bright star in the sky. It slowly dimmed out of sight and was eventually forgotten, until modern astronomers later found its remains, called Puppis A. In this new image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), Puppis A looks less like the remains of a supernova explosion and more like a red rose. ... > full story

Novel therapeutic approach for liver cancer identified (December 12, 2011) -- Cancer of the liver – rare in the United States but the third-leading cause of cancer death worldwide – can result from environmental exposures or infections like chronic hepatitis, but the link is poorly understood. Now, researchers have identified a mechanism in mice that triggers inflammation in the liver and transforms normal cells into cancerous ones. ... > full story

Study finds failure points in firefighter protective equipment (December 12, 2011) -- In fire experiments conducted in uniformly furnished, but vacant Chicago-area townhouses, researchers uncovered temperature and heat-flow conditions that can seriously damage facepiece lenses on standard firefighter breathing equipment, a potential contributing factor for first-responder fatalities and injuries. ... > full story

Ten years after the attacks on the World Trade Center, human health cost is still being counted (December 12, 2011) -- The World Trade Center disaster exposed nearly half a million people to hazardous chemicals, environmental toxins, and traumatic events. According to recent research, this has resulted in increased risk of developing physical and mental health conditions after 9/11. ... > full story

World's smallest steam engine: Heat engine measuring only a few micrometers works as well as its larger counterpart, although it sputters (December 12, 2011) -- What would be a case for the repair shop for a car engine is completely normal for a micro engine. If it sputters, this is caused by the thermal motions of the smallest particles, which interfere with its running. Researchers have now observed this with a heat engine on the micrometer scale. They have also determined that the machine does actually perform work, all things considered. Although this cannot be used as yet, the experiment shows that an engine does basically work, even if it is on the microscale. This means that there is nothing, in principle, to prevent the construction of highly efficient, small heat engines. ... > full story

Gene therapy achieves early success against hereditary bleeding disorder, study suggests (December 12, 2011) -- Symptoms improved significantly in adults with the bleeding disorder hemophilia B following a single treatment with gene therapy. ... > full story

Scientists assess radioactivity in the ocean from Japan nuclear power facility (December 12, 2011) -- With current news of additional radioactive leaks from the Fukushima nuclear power plants, the impact on the ocean of releases of radioactivity from the plants remains unclear. ... > full story

B cell receptor inhibitor causes chronic lymphocytic leukemia remission (December 12, 2011) -- A new, targeted approach to treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia has produced durable remissions in a Phase I/II clinical trial for patients with relapsed or resistant disease, researchers report. ... > full story

Shampoo formulation puzzle solved (December 12, 2011) -- A research team has demonstrated quantitatively the science behind an anomaly in the surface tension of polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures. Their findings show that the dramatic increase in surface tension that affects the production of various pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations is caused by the comprehensive aggregation of active ingredients. They have outlined a way to reload interfaces with functional components simply by tuning the way the materials are handled. ... > full story

Brain's cortex plays an essential part in emotional learning (December 12, 2011) -- The cortex, which is the largest zone of the brain and which is generally associated with high cognitive functions, is also a key zone for emotional learning, according to new research. ... > full story