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Plant molecular biologist are getting to the root of the matter

Plant molecular biologists go looking for the genetics of poplar root growth in low-nitrogen soil and wind up with a model for genetic interaction.

'Dead zone' impacts Chesapeake Bay fishes

A 10-year study provides the first quantitative evidence on a bay-wide scale that low-oxygen "dead zones" are impacting the distribution and abundance of "demersal" fishes -- those that live and feed near the Bay bottom.

Cosmochemist may have solved meteorite mystery

A normally staid scientist has stunned many of his colleagues with his radical solution to a 135-year-old mystery in cosmochemistry. At issue is how numerous small, glassy spherules had become embedded within specimens of the largest class of meteorites—the chondrites.

Corals cozy up with bacterial buddies

Corals may let certain bacteria get under its skin, according to a new study. The study offers the first direct evidence that Stylophora pistillata, a species of reef-building coral found throughout the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, harbors bacterial denizens deep within its tissues.

NASA's polar robotic ranger passes first Greenland test

Defying 30 mph gusts and temperatures down to minus 22 F, NASA's new polar rover recently demonstrated in Greenland that it could operate completely autonomously in one of Earth's harshest environments.

Inhibiting macrophage MerTK signaling creates an innate immune response against cancer

New evidence shows that MerTK macrophage action in the microenvironment that surrounds cancer cells blunts the immune response, allowing the tumor cell to grow and metastasize.

CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with PTSD and sleep apnea

A new study suggests that CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

Eavesdropping on lithium ions

It's a jungle down there at batteries' atomic level, with ions whacking into electrodes, eventually causing the battery to fail. Now, a scientist has developed a device that lets researchers spy on the actions of lithium ions inside a nanobattery -- and use that data to develop better, longer-lasting batteries to power everything from electric cars to cell phones.

Marine microbes change swimming direction via a high-speed mechanical instability

Bacteria swim by rotating the helical, hairlike flagella that extend from their unicellular bodies. Some bacteria, including the Escherichia coli (E. coli) living in the human gut, have multiple flagella that rotate as a bundle to move the cell forward. These cells turn somewhat acrobatically by unbundling their flagella, causing the cell to tumble, reorient and strike out in another direction.

Researchers identify 'switch' for long-term memory

Neurobiologists have identified calcium in the cell nucleus to be a cellular "switch" responsible for the formation of long-term memory. Using the fruit fly as a model, scientists investigate how the brain learns. The researchers wanted to know which signals in the brain were responsible for building long-term memory and for forming the special proteins involved.

Math game more effective than paper exercises

To measure the effectiveness of Monkey Tales, a study was carried out with 88 second grade pupils divided into three groups. One group was asked to play the game for a period of three weeks while the second group had to solve similar math exercises on paper and a third group received no assignment. The math performance of the children was measured using an electronic arithmetic test before and after the test period.

In baseball, bigger still better: Elite pitchers continue to be taller and thus throw faster

What unites golf, baseball and hockey is the "falling forward" motion involved, whether it is a pitcher's arm or golfer's swing. Basically, the larger and taller the athlete, the more force he or she can bring to bear as his or her mass falls forward. A new theory predicts that elite pitchers will continue to be taller and thus throw faster and seems also to apply to athletes who compete in golf, hockey and boxing.

Two blood pressure drugs linked to lower risk of heart disease in diabetics

Two drugs, telmisartan and valsartan, which are used to reduce blood pressure in people with diabetes, are associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for heart attack, stroke or heart failure, according to a new study.

Extent to which air pollution in China shortens human lives

A high level of air pollution, in the form of particulates produced by burning coal, significantly shortens the lives of people exposed to it, according to a unique new study of China.

What do rotten eggs and colon cancer have in common?

Researchers have discovered that hydrogen sulfide -- the pungent-smelling gas produced by rotten eggs -- is a key player in colon cancer metabolism, and a potential target for therapies for the disease.

Targeting errant immune system enzyme kills myelodysplastic cells

Scientists have successfully targeted a malfunctioning immune system enzyme to kill diseased cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome -- a blood disorder and precursor to leukemia. Researchers say their successful laboratory tests in human MDS cells and mouse models of MDS provide a molecular target for designing new drugs to battle a syndrome with few effective treatments.

Immune cells essential to establishing pregnancy

New research shows for the first time that immune cells known as macrophages are critical to fertility by creating a healthy hormone environment in the uterus.

Sydney's urban areas to be hit hardest by global warming

Green spaces, trees and bodies of water are must-have design features for future development in Sydney's suburbs after researchers found that by 2050 global warming combined with Sydney's urban heat island effect could increase temperatures by up to 3.7°C.

Second door discovered in war against mosquito-borne diseases

In the global war against disease-carrying mosquitoes, scientists have long believed that a single molecular door was the key target for insecticide. This door, however, is closing, giving mosquitoes the upper hand.

Scientists solve titanic puzzle of popular photocatalyst

A breakthrough in our understanding of the properties of titania (titanium dioxide) -- the basis of self-cleaning window technology -- has been made by scientists, uncovering a decades old misunderstanding that has clouded our knowledge of how mixed phase titania catalysts operate.

Glimpse into the future of acidic oceans shows ecosystems transformed

In the waters surrounding Castello Aragonese, a 14th century castle off the coast of Italy, volcanic vents naturally release bubbles of carbon dioxide gas, creating different levels of acidity among the marine-animal and plant communities there. These gradients of acidity gave scientists a glimpse of what a future marked by increasingly acidic ocean waters could look like, and how the creatures and plants living in those environments may react to it.

Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber

Scientists have created carbon fiber from graphene oxide flakes. The surprising strength of knots in the fiber should make it suitable for advanced fabrics.

Finding the Goldilocks sites to store carbon dioxide underground

To implement carbon capture and storage successfully, each underground repository will need careful appraisal based on its unique history and setting, according to a new study.

Consuming soy peptide may reduce colon cancer metastasis

After a recent study showed that injection of the soy peptide lunasin dramatically reduced colon cancer metastasis in mice, researchers were eager to see how making lunasin part of the animals' daily diet would affect the spread of the disease.

Denormalizing smoking: Making the case for banning cigarettes in parks and on beaches

Many state and local governments banned smoking in parks and on beaches on the basis that passive smoke is a risk for non-smokers, cigarette butts pollute the environment, and seeing people smoke poses a long-term risk to children. Researchers say the evidence for these claims is far from definitive and policymakers pushing for smoking bans will need to make a stronger argument to overcome the opposition and gain the public trust.

People with depression tend to pursue generalized goals

Researchers have found that people with depression have more generalized personal goals than non-depressed people.

Does marital breakdown have an effect on male offending?

Criminologists have long known that men tend to offend less after they marry. But with almost half of all marriages now ending in divorce, what effect does separation have?

Research points to biomarker that could track Huntington's disease progression

Scientists have demonstrated that measurements of electrical activity in the brains of mouse models of Huntington's disease could indicate the presence of disease before the onset of major symptoms.

Brain and eye combined monitoring breakthrough could lead to fewer road accidents

Latest advances in capturing data on brain activity and eye movement are being combined to open up a host of 'mindreading' possibilities for the future. These include the potential development of a system that can detect when drivers are in danger of falling asleep at the wheel.

Moths talk about sex in many ways

Originally moths developed ears so that they could hear their worst enemy, the bat, but now moths also use their ears to communicate about sex in a great number of different ways.

Melody modulates choir members' heart rate

When people sing in a choir their heart beats are synchronized, so that the pulse of choir members tends to increase and decrease in unison.

Potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis identified

Findings of disrupted micronuclei may prove to be a valuable tool for detecting cancer.

Nearly half of sarcoma surgeries done by nonsurgical oncology specialists

Orthopedic oncologists and surgical oncologists, who have been trained in the complex procedures required to remove sarcomas located deep in the muscles and other soft tissues of the limbs, conducted only 52 percent of these operations at 85 academic medical centers during a three-year period, according to an analysis of national data.

Ethical quandary about vaccinations sparked by tension between parental rights and protecting public health

Increased concerns about the perceived risk of vaccination, inconvenience, or religious tenets are leading more U.S. parents to opt-out of vaccinating their children. Parents are increasingly able to do so in states that have relatively simple procedures for immunization exemption, report researchers. Some states, fearing a public health crisis, have responded by putting in place more burdensome procedures for parents of school-aged children to opt-out.

Sleepless nights can turn lovers into fighters

Relationship problems can keep us awake at night. But new research suggests that sleepless nights also can worsen lovers' fights.

The origin of the turtle shell: Mystery solved

Biologists have finally solved the riddle of the origin of the turtle shell. By observing the development of different animal species and confirming their results with fossil analysis and genomic data, researchers show that the shell on the turtle's back derives only from its ancestors' ribcage and not from a combination of internal and external bone structures as is often thought.

Rate of aging may be determined in the womb and linked to birthweight, study reveals

Scientists have found that key metabolites in blood -- chemical 'fingerprints' left behind as a result of early molecular changes before birth or in infancy -- could provide clues to a person's long-term overall health and rate of aging in later life.

Bird vaccine for West Nile Virus

Researchers have developed a vaccine to halt the spread of West Nile Virus among common and endangered bird species.

Scientists image vast subglacial water system under West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier

In a development that will help predict sea level rise, scientists have used an innovation in radar analysis to accurately image the vast subglacial water system under West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, detecting a swamp-like canal system several times as large as Florida's Everglades. The new observations suggest dynamics of the subglacial water system may be as important as ocean influences in predicting the fate of Thwaites, which holds substantial potential for triggering sea-level rise.

What warring couples want: Power, not apologies, study shows

The most common thing that couples want from each other during a conflict is not an apology, but a willingness to relinquish power, according to a new Baylor University study.

H7N9 influenza: History of similar viruses gives cause for concern

The H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China earlier this year has subsided for now, but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic, according to scientists.

Women who give birth to multiple babies after IVF are at higher risk of breast cancer

Women who give birth to multiple babies following IVF treatment are at a higher risk of breast cancer than those giving birth to singletons or who remain childless. Investigators said the explanation may not be the multiple pregnancy per se but a maternal trait related to a higher implantation potential and to breast cancer itself.

Women working shifts are at greater risk of miscarriage, menstrual disruption and subfertility

Shift work, which encourages sleep deprivation and patterns of activity outside the circadian rhythm, has been associated with a greater risk of ill health and loss of well-being in some studies. However, little is known about the effects of shift work on reproductive health and fertility. A new study indicates that working shift patterns is associated with an increased risk of menstrual disruption and subfertility.

Avoidance strategies can be valuable stress reliever, says study on work/life/school balance

If achieving a work/life balance wasn't hard enough, researchers say many of us are juggling a third factor: school. That creates conflicts, often resulting in dissatisfaction in the area that caused that conflict. But avoidance techniques can help, their most recent study shows.

3-D structures built out of liquid metal

Researchers have developed three-dimensional printing technology and techniques to create free-standing structures made of liquid metal at room temperature.

Did Neandertals have language?

Fast-accumulating data seem to indicate that our close cousins, the Neandertals, were much more similar to us than imagined even a decade ago. But did they have anything like modern speech and language? And if so, what are the implications for understanding present-day linguistic diversity? Modern language and speech can be traced back to the last common ancestor we shared with the Neandertals roughly half a million years ago, according to new resaerch.

Study helps understand how nature maintains diversity

By studying rapidly evolving bacteria as they diversify and compete under varying environmental conditions, researchers have shown that temporal niches are important to maintaining biodiversity in natural systems.

Parasites in cat feces: Potential public health problem?

Each year in the United States, cats deposit about 1.2 million metric tons of feces into the environment, and that poop is carrying with it what may be a vast and underappreciated public health problem, say scientists.

5-D optical memory in glass could record the last evidence of civilization

Using nanostructured glass, scientists have, for the first time, experimentally demonstrated the recording and retrieval processes of five dimensional digital data by femtosecond laser writing. The storage allows unprecedented parameters including 360 TB/disc data capacity, thermal stability up to 1000 degrees C and practically unlimited lifetime.

Graphene on its way to conquer Silicon Valley

The remarkable material graphene promises a wide range of applications in future electronics that could complement or replace traditional silicon technology. Researchers have now paved the way for the integration of graphene into the current silicide based technology.

Breakthrough study reveals biological basis for sensory processing disorders in kids

In a groundbreaking new study, researchers have found that children affected with sensory processing disorders have quantifiable differences in brain structure, showing a biological basis for the disease that sets it apart from other neurodevelopmental disorders.

New class of highly potent antimalarial compounds discovered

Despite renewed global efforts for eradication, malaria continues to exert devastating effects on human health. An estimated 220 million people are infected each year by malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. This enormous infection burden leads to some 660,000 lives lost to malaria each year, the majority of these young children in sub-Saharan Africa. While a vaccine to prevent malaria remains elusive, we depend on antimalarial compounds both to treat infections and prevent disease.

Flash memory: Silicon oxide memories transcend a hurdle

A laboratory working on next-generation "flash" memory technology has demonstrated a 1-kilobit silicon oxide memory chip with embedded diodes that keep voltage from leaking and corrupting data.

Early, late first exposure to solid food appears associated with development of Type 1 diabetes

Both an early and late first exposure to solid food for infants appears to be associated with the development of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, according to a new study.

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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

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