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Vaginal delivery ups risk of pelvic organ prolapse

Women who give birth vaginally are at increased risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse during the year after delivery, according to a new study.

Passing the ball may also pass disease

Researchers have demonstrated that basketballs and volleyballs can spread potentially dangerous germs among players. Their findings may bring a new awareness to athletes, coaches, trainers and parents regarding safe sanitation practices for athletes.

Invasive fly species continues to move northward

The local discovery of a species of fly not native to the Midwest could have significant implications on forensic investigations involving decomposing remains, according to a forensic biology researcher.

New catalyst could cut cost of making hydrogen fuel

A new discovery may represent a significant advance in the quest to create a "hydrogen economy" that would use this abundant element to store and transfer energy.

Simple math may solve longstanding problem of parasite energetics

Feeling faint from the flu? Is your cold causing you to collapse? Your infection is the most likely cause, and, according to a new study, it may be possible to know just how much energy your bugs are taking from you.

Scientists identify promising antiviral compounds

Scientists have identified two promising candidates for the development of drugs against human adenovirus, a cause of ailments ranging from colds to gastrointestinal disorders to pink eye. The researchers sifted through thousands of compounds to determine which might block the effects of a key viral enzyme they had previously studied in atomic-level detail.

How cancer spreads: Metastatic tumor a hybrid of cancer cell and white blood cell

Scientists have found evidence that a human metastatic tumor can arise when a leukocyte (white blood cell) and a cancer cell fuse to form a genetic hybrid.

Atmospheric CO2 has big consequences for the tiny bacteria that are foundation of most of life in the sea

Climate change may be weeding out the bacteria that form the base of the ocean's food chain.

Abiraterone: Hint of considerable added benefit for patients with metastatic prostate cancer

Abiraterone can prolong life and delay the occurrence of severe pain in patients with metastatic prostate cancer that is not responsive to hormone blockade, in whom chemotherapy is not yet indicated. However, greater harm in the form of side effects cannot be excluded with certainty, experts say.

Scientists discover molecular communication network in human stem cells

Scientists have discovered a molecular network in human embryonic stem cells that integrates cell communication signals to keep the cell in its stem cell state.

IVF for male infertility linked to increased risk of intellectual disability and autism in children

In the first study to compare all available IVF treatments and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, researchers find that IVF treatments for the most severe forms of male infertility are associated with an increased risk of intellectual disability and autism in children. Autism and intellectual disability remain a rare outcome of IVF, and whilst some of the risk is associated with the risk of multiple births, the study provides important evidence for parents and clinicians on the relative risks of modern IVF treatments.

Low levels of toxic proteins linked to brain diseases, study suggests

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's could be better understood thanks to insight into proteins linked to such conditions, a study suggests.

Breakthrough: Sensors monitor cells at work

Transport proteins are responsible for moving materials such as nutrients and metabolic products through a cell's outer membrane, which seals and protects all living cells, to the cell's interior. A team has now developed a groundbreaking new way to measure the activity of transporter proteins in living organisms.

Solving electron transfer

Scientists have shown how a solvent can interfere with electron transfer by using unprecedented time resolution in ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy.

Genomes of cholera bacteria from Haiti confirm epidemic originated from single source

The strain of cholera that has sickened thousands in Haiti came from a single source and was not repeatedly introduced to the island over the past three years as some have thought, according to a new study.

New study describes imaging findings in H7N9 influenza

H7N9 pneumonia is characterized by imaging findings that differentiate it from other types of pneumonia, including rapidly progressive changes in the lungs and pulmonary connective tissues, according to the first study to describe radiologic findings in the disease.

Poor planning skills found to contribute to income-achievement gap

A new study shows that poor planning skills are one reason for the income-achievement gap. Researchers examined data on the planning skills of 1,500 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse children across the US. They found that children's reading and math performance in fifth grade was related to the quality of their planning skills in the third grade, and replicated the finding that lower household income during infancy is related to fifth grade reading and math performance.

Irreversible tissue loss seen within 40 days of spinal cord injury

The rate and extent of damage to the spinal cord and brain following spinal cord injury have long been a mystery. Now, scientists have found evidence that patients already have irreversible tissue loss in the spinal cord within 40 days of injury. Using a new imaging measurement technique the impact of therapeutic treatments and rehabilitative interventions can be now determined more quickly and directly than before.

Solar dynamic loops reveal a simultaneous explosion and implosion, plus evidence for magnetic reconnection

Movies of giant loops projecting from the surface of the Sun are giving new insights into the complex mechanisms that drive solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These eruptions release vast energy and electrically charged particles that can affect the Earth through space weather. Imagery shows the dynamics of loops before, during and after eruptions.

New method for mapping the protein signals between healthy and diseased cells

Researchers are developing a way to trace detailed communication between cells.

New system to harness energy from ocean currents

Researchers have created and are testing a prototype of a device to harness energy from ocean currents.

Gene therapy cures a severe pediatric neurodegenerative disease in animal models

A single session of gene therapy cures Sanfilippo Syndrome A in animal models. This syndrome is a neurodegenerative disease that affects between 1 and 9 out of every 100,000 children, and causes the death of the child on reaching adolescence.

Rationale for the next-generation particle collider developed

A new theory provides the rationale for the next-generation particle accelerator -- the International Linear Collider. The discovery of the Higgs boson at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Geneva Switzerland this past year prompted particle physicists to look ahead to the development of the ILC, an electron-positron collider designed to measure in detail all the properties of the newly discovered Higgs particle.

Higher education may be protective against multiple sclerosis-associated cognitive deficits

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can lead to severe cognitive impairment as the disease progresses. Researchers in Italy have found that patients with high educational levels show less impairment on a neuropsychological evaluation compared with those with low educational levels.

Workers at industrial farms carry drug-resistant bacteria associated with livestock

A new study found drug-resistant bacteria associated with livestock in the noses of industrial livestock workers in North Carolina but not in the noses of antibiotic-free livestock workers. The drug-resistant bacteria examined were Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as "Staph," which include the well-known bug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Molecular analysis reveals a new species of white toothed shrew

Judging solely by the looks proves to be a wrong practice in biology too. A recent study of the white toothed shrew fauna of Vietnam reveals the importance of molecular analysis for the correct recognition of species. With the help of modern technologies, scientists describe an exciting and long-overlooked new species of white toothed shrew, representing a rare new addition to the group of the mammals.

Insecticide causes changes in honeybee genes, research finds

Exposure to a neonicotinoid insecticide causes changes to the genes of the honeybee.

Why do we gesticulate?

If you rely on hand gestures to get your point across, you can thank fish for that! Scientists have found that the evolution of the control of speech and hand movements can be traced back to the same place in the brain, which could explain why we use hand gestures when we are speaking.

Fluorescent fingerprint tag aims to increase IDs from 'hidden' prints on bullets and knives

Neutron scattering at ILL and ISIS delves inside a new crime scene forensics technique. The research is to address the fact that only 10 percent of fingerprints taken from crime scenes yield identifications that are usable in court.

Bat maps: The conservation crusade

Conservation efforts have taken an important step forward, thanks to observations of bats -- creatures that make up a quarter of all of the UK's native mammal species.

Surviving fasting in the cold

King penguin chicks survive harsh winters with almost no food by minimizing the cost of energy production. A new study shows that the efficiency of the mitochondria, the power house of the cell, is increased in fasted king penguin chicks.

A good night's sleep increases the cardiovascular benefits of a healthy lifestyle

A good night's sleep can increase the benefit of exercise, healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption and non-smoking in their protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to results of a large population follow-up study.

Revolutionary instrument delivers a sharper universe to astronomers

A unique new instrument at Gemini South in Chile takes the removal of atmospheric distortions (using adaptive optics technology) to a new level. Today's release of seven ultrasharp, large-field images from the instrument's first science observations demonstrate its remarkable discovery potential.

Curcumin may protect premature infants' lungs

Curry spice provides protective qualities for premature infants' lungs, study suggests.

Test can accurately and swiftly detect most leading causes of bacterial blood stream infections

A new automated diagnostic test can quickly and accurately identify most leading causes of Gram-positive bacterial blood stream infections and the presence of three antibiotic resistance genes, according to a new study. The findings from the study suggest that the new technology could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from sepsis.

Seeing cilia: Lighting the dark

Tagging a protein only found in cilia with a fluorescent protein (GFP) enables us to see the intricate working of cilia in live mice.

Ethicists find UK ban on embryo sex selection 'unjustifiable'

As Europe's leading fertility specialists gather at a conference in London this weekend, a major new publication from leading medical ethicists finds no justification to support the UK's legal ban on sex selection before pregnancy for 'social' reasons.

Brain sets prices with emotional value

You might be falling in love with that new car, but you probably wouldn't pay as much for it if you could resist the feeling. Researchers who study how the brain values things -- a field called neuroeconomics -- have found that your feelings about something and the value you put on it are calculated similarly in a specific area of the brain.

New clue to cause of human narcolepsy

Researchers have found that an excess number of brain cells that produce the chemical histamine may cause the loss of other cells that produce hypocretin, the neuropeptide that keeps us awake, elevates mood and alertness, and, by their absence, explains the sleepiness of narcolepsy.

Happily married means a healthier ever after

New research finds that people in happy marriages live less "in sickness" but enjoy more of life "in health." In a 20-year longitudinal study tracking health and marriage quality, a family life researcher found that as the quality of marriage holds up over the years, physical health holds up too. "Happy marriages have a preventative component that keeps you in good health over the years," Miller said.

New evidence suggests impulsive adolescents more likely to drink heavily

Scientists have shown that young people who show impulsive tendencies are more prone to drinking heavily at an early age.

New method to generate Laughlin states with atomic systems

In 1998, the Nobel Prize in Physics was conferred to the discovery of a new type of quantum fluid with fractional charge excitations, known as Laughlin state. The production of this quantum state, which explains the behaviour of electrons in two-dimensional metallic plaques when they are exposed to intense magnetic fields, has been one of the most popular research topics on ultracold and Bose-Einstein condensed atoms for one decade. Now, new theoretical research proposes a method to generate this kind of states in two-dimensional systems of ultracold atoms, with possible applications in quantum computer.

Novel chemistry for new class of antibiotic

Research out of Australia has produced a potential new antibiotic which could help in the battle against bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Tiny tweezers allow precision control of enzymes

Scientists have developed a pair of tweezers shrunk down to an astonishingly tiny scale. The group demonstrated that the nanotweezers, fabricated by means of the base-pairing properties of DNA, could be used to keep biological molecules spatially separated or to bring them together as chemical reactants, depending on the open or closed state of the tweezers.

New catalyst replaces platinum for electric-automobiles

Scientists have developed a novel bio-inspired composite electrocatalyst outperforming platinum.

Older women who quit smoking can cut heart disease risk regardless of diabetes status

Postmenopausal women who quit smoking reduced their risk of heart disease, regardless of whether they had diabetes, according to a new study. Women without diabetes who gained more than five kilograms or 11 pounds after they quit smoking still saw their risk for cardiovascular disease drop. But their risk didn't drop as much as for those who gained less than 11 pounds, which was the majority of the women.

Moms often talk to children about the results of cancer genetic testing

Mothers commonly talk to their children about genetic test results even if they test positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, which sharply increases a woman's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. That is among the findings of a new study, which also suggests mothers who don't discuss their test results are dissatisfied with that decision.

Epigenetic changes to fat cells following exercise

Exercise, even in small doses, changes the expression of our innate DNA. New research has described for the first time what happens on an epigenetic level in fat cells when we undertake physical activity.

Sulphur from yeast helps to track animal protein pathways

Researchers have labelled sulfur in brewer's yeast with a non-radioactive method so that when feeding it to laboratory rats the course taken by the element can be tracked and the amino acids and proteins analyzed at the point of incorporation. The technique could be very useful for studying the metabolism of this micro-nutrient in vivo and verifying how sulfur-based drugs behave in the organism.

Gateway for metastases

Malignant tumours often spread to remote areas of the body. In the majority of cases, metastases formation develops via the blood vascular system. The blood platelets thereby provide invaluable help to the tumour cells in penetrating new organs. Scientists have now identified the receptor molecule on the cells of the blood platelet wall as the gateway that allows the cancer cells to enter the organs. They now aim to prevent the formation of metastases through the targeted blocking of this key molecule.

World record in silicon integrated nanophotonics: More energy efficiency in the data communication

Researchers have achieved a new world record in the energy efficient integration in silicon. This is an important step to decrease the energy consumption of data transfer in internet and telecommunication. The researchers optimized aperiodic grating couplers in the nanometer range with a new developed backside metal mirror. Through this new method a record coupling efficiency of 87 percent between optical fibers and photonic integrated waveguides on silicon wafers has been achieved.

Graphene provides efficient electronics cooling

A layer of graphene can reduce the working temperature in hotspots inside a processor by up to 25 percent – which can significantly extend the working life of computers and other electronics. Scientists have now shown that graphene has a heat dissipating effect on silicon based electronics.

Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior: Human-made noises cause ocean giants to move away from feeding spots

Some blue whales off the coast of California change their behavior when exposed to the sort of underwater sounds used during US military exercises. The whales may alter diving behavior or temporarily avoid important feeding areas, according to new research.

Remarkable 32 new wasp species from the distinctive Odontacolus and Cyphacolus genera

Scientists have described a remarkable 32 new Odontacolus and Cyphacolus wasp species, providing extensive morphological phylogenetic analysis of these previously understudied genera. The wasps from these groups are among the most distinctive species because of the peculiar hump-like formation on the rear part of their bodies.

Banned fountain of youth drug may be making a comeback

Despite it being more than 30 years since the "fountain of youth drug" Gerovital H3 was banned in the United States, it may be making a comeback.

Cell membranes: Synthetics save time and cut costs

An approach that directly inserts proteins into polymer-based cell membranes improves drug-screening platforms.

Smart anticancer 'nanofiber mesh'

Scientists have developed a new nanofiber mesh which is capable of simultaneously realizing thermotherapy (hyperthermia) and chemotherapy (treatment with anticancer drugs) of tumors. They succeeded in efficiently inducing natural death (apoptosis) of epithelial cancer cells.

Alternative energy: A cooler way to clean hydrogen

Converting bioethanol into hydrogen for fuel cells becomes significantly simpler with innovative metal catalysts.

Computer programs improve fingerprint grading

Subjectivity is problematic when evaluating fingerprints, and quality is in the eye of the examiner. But three computer programs used together can give fingerprint grading unprecedented consistency and objectivity, according to new research.

Knowing the end goal increases productivity

A new study provides insights about how science can help us to become more cooperative and productive -- in private life, administration, business and industrial production. The key is to set clear goals as well as knowing what to expect from one another.

Thin-film diamonds: Applying diamond coatings at lower temperatures expands options for electronic devices

Scientists report a new method for creating thin films of diamonds. This may allow manufacturers to enhance future electronics.

Long-held assumption of gene expression in embryonic stem cells challenged

Researchers have determined that the transcription factor Nanog, which plays a critical role in maintaining the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, is expressed in a manner similar to other pluripotency markers. This finding contradicts the field's presumptions about this important gene and its role in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

Gene that controls aggressiveness in breast cancer cells identified

Researchers have determined that in basal breast cancer cells a transcription factor known as ZEB1 is held in a poised state, ready to increase the cells' aggressiveness and enable them to transform into cancer stem cells capable of seeding new tumors throughout the body. Intriguingly, luminal breast cancer cells, which are associated with a much better clinical prognosis, carry this gene in a state in which it seems to be permanently shut down.

New mechanism for human gene expression discovered

Researchers have discovered the first human "bifunctional" gene -- a single gene that creates a single mRNA transcript that codes for two different proteins, simultaneously. Their finding elucidates a previously unknown mechanism in our basic biology, and has potential to guide therapy for at least one neurological disease.

Shape-shifting disease proteins may explain neurodegenerative variation

Researchers have shown one disease protein can morph into different strains and promote misfolding of other disease proteins commonly found in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other related neurodegenerative diseases.

New knowledge about early galaxies

The early galaxies of the universe were very different from today's galaxies. Using new detailed studies carried out with the ESO Very Large Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have studied an early galaxy in unprecedented detail and determined a number of important properties such as size, mass, content of elements and have determined how quickly the galaxy forms new stars.

Molecular switch that kick starts formation of arteries identified

Scientists have identified the molecular signals that direct the formation of arteries during embryonic development. In so doing, they illustrate how even the most complex of biological systems can be directed by the most subtle shifts in molecular signaling.

Great ape genetic diversity catalog frames primate evolution and future conservation

A catalog of great ape genetic diversity, the most comprehensive ever, elucidates the evolution and population histories of great apes from Africa and Indonesia. The resource will aid in conservation efforts to preserve natural genetic diversity in populations. Scientists and wildlife conservationists from around the world assisted the genetic analysis of 79 wild and captive-born great apes. They represent all six great ape species: chimpanzee, bonobo, Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, eastern gorilla, and western lowland gorilla, and seven subspecies, as well as 9 humans.

Declines in ecosystem productivity fueled by nitrogen-induced species loss

Humans have been affecting their environment since the ancestors of Homo sapiens first walked upright, but never has their impact been more detrimental than in the 21st century. Human-driven environmental disturbances, such as increasing levels of reactive nitrogen and carbon dioxide, have multiple effects, including changes in biodiversity, species composition, and ecosystem functioning. Pieces of this puzzle have been widely examined but this new study puts it all together by examining multiple elements.

Development of hands and feet may help unlock evolution's toolkit

Thousands of sequences that control genes are active in the developing human limb and may have driven the evolution of the human hand and foot, a comparative genomics study has found.

DNA markers in low-IQ autism suggest heredity

Researchers who compared the DNA of patients with autism and intellectual disability to that of their unaffected siblings found that the affected siblings had significantly more "runs of homozygosity," or blocks of DNA that are the same from both parents. The finding suggests a role for recessive inheritance in this autism subgroup and highlights homozygosity as a new approach to understanding genetic mechanisms in autism.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

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