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New technique helps biologists save the world's threatened seagrass meadows

Danish and Australian biologists have developed a technique to determine if seagrass contains sulfur. If the seagrass contains sulfur, it is an indication that the seabed is stressed and that the water environment is threatened. The technique will help biologists all over the world in their effort to save the world's seagrass meadows.

Researchers Gain Insight Into 'Lazy Ear'

Short-term hearing loss during childhood may lead to persistent hearing deficits, long after basic auditory sensitivity has returned to normal. Researchers have gained new insight into how this works.

Cocaine use may increase HIV vulnerability

Cocaine use may increase one's vulnerability to HIV infection, according to a new research. In the report, scientists show that cocaine alters immune cells, called "quiescent CD4 T cells," to render them more susceptible to the virus, and at the same time, to allow for increased proliferation of the virus.

Researchers ferret out function of autism gene

Researchers say it's clear that some cases of autism are hereditary, but have struggled to draw direct links between the condition and particular genes. Researchers have found that mutations in one autism-linked gene, dubbed NHE9, which is involved in transporting substances in and out of structures within the cell, causes communication problems among brain cells that likely contribute to autism.

Testosterone promotes reciprocity in the absence of competition

Boosting testosterone can promote generosity, but only when there is no threat of competition, according to new research. The findings show that testosterone is implicated in behaviors that help to foster and maintain social relationships, indicating that its effects are more nuanced than previously thought.

Cold, salty and promiscuous: Gene-shuffling microbes dominate Antarctica's Deep Lake

Antarctica's Deep Lake is a saltwater ecosystem that remains liquid in extreme cold. For the first time, researchers describe a complete ecological picture of the microbial community thriving in Deep Lake.

Small brain biopsies can be used to grow patient's own brain cells

Scientists have grown brain cells in the laboratory that may be re-integrated into patients' brains to treat neurological conditions. Research shows biopsied brain cells can be used to grow new healthy cells with powerful attributes to protect the brain from future injury. These cells may hopefully yield specific cell types needed for particular treatments, or cross the "blood-brain barrier" as specific therapeutic agents released directly into the brain.

Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate

Research has focused on the amount of global warming resulting from increased greenhouse gas concentrations. But there has been relatively little study of the pace of the change following these increases. A new study concludes that about half of the warming occurs within the first 10 years after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, but about one-quarter of the warming occurs more than a century after the step increase.

Biological link between diabetes and heart disease discovered

Researchers have identified for the first time a biological pathway that is activated when blood sugar levels are abnormally high and causes irregular heartbeats, a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia that is linked with heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens

In the first study of its kind, scientists have used synthetic biology to study how a popular soil amendment called biochar can interfere with the chemical signals that some plant pathogens use to coordinate their attacks. The new study is the first to examine how biochar affects the chemical signaling that's routinely used by soil microorganisms that interact with plants.

National screening strategy for hepatitis C urged for Canada

Canada should begin screening 'Baby Boomers' for the hepatitis C virus infection, since this age group is likely the largest group to have the illness, and most don't know they have it, say a group of liver specialists. Unlike many other chronic viral infections, early treatment makes hepatitis C curable.

First cloud map of a planet beyond our solar system

Astronomers using data from NASA's Kepler and Spitzer space telescopes have created the first cloud map of a planet beyond our solar system, a sizzling, Jupiter-like world known as Kepler-7b. The planet is marked by high clouds in the west and clear skies in the east. Previous studies from Spitzer have resulted in temperature maps of planets orbiting other stars, but this is the first look at cloud structures on a distant world.

Ingredient of household plastic found in space

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected propylene, a chemical used to make food-storage containers, car bumpers and other consumer products, on Saturn's moon Titan. This is the first definitive detection of the plastic ingredient on any moon or planet, other than Earth.

New metabolic pathway to more efficiently convert sugars into biofuels

Chemical engineering researchers have created a new synthetic metabolic pathway for breaking down glucose that could lead to a 50 percent increase in the production of biofuels.

Water vapor in stratosphere plays role in climate

Water vapor changes in the stratosphere contribute to warmer temperatures and likely play an important role in the evolution of Earth's climate, according to new research.

Finding the place where the brain creates illusory shapes and surfaces

Neuroscientists have identified the location in the brain's visual cortex responsible for generating a common perceptual illusion: Seeing shapes and surfaces that don't really exist when viewing a fragmented background.

When cells 'eat' their own power plants: Scientists solve mystery of basic cellular process

A team of scientists reports that they have solved the mystery of a basic biological function essential to cellular health. By discovering a mechanism by which mitochondria signal that they need to be eliminated, the team has opened the door to potential research into cures for disorders such as Parkinson's disease that are believed to be caused by dysfunctional mitochondria in neurons.

Unhappy with your hospital? You might still be getting great care

A new way to measure hospital quality has been developed - and patient satisfaction plays only a minor role. This research is relevant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which links patient satisfaction to hospital reimbursement.

Critical gaps discovered in breast cancer research

Critical gaps have been identified in breast cancer research. Scientists report on a gap analysis that critically assessed issues and new challenges emerging from recent breast cancer research, and propose strategies for translating solutions into practice.

Study finds tungsten in aquifer groundwater controlled by pH, oxygen

Geologists found that the likelihood that tungsten will seep into an aquifer's groundwater depends on the groundwater's pH level, the amount of oxygen in the aquifer and the number of oxidized particles in the water and sediment.

Niacin, the fountain of youth

The vitamin niacin has a life-prolonging effect, as demonstrated in roundworms. This study also concludes that so-called reactive oxygen species are healthy, which disagrees with other research findings.

Scientists who share data publicly receive more citations

A new study finds that papers with data shared in public gene expression archives received increased numbers of citations for at least five years. The large size of the study allowed the researchers to exclude confounding factors that have plagued prior studies of the effect and to spot a trend of increasing dataset reuse over time. The findings will be important in persuading scientists that they can benefit directly from publicly sharing their data.

Vikings may have been more social than savage

Academics have uncovered complex social networks within age-old Icelandic sagas, which challenge the stereotypical image of Vikings as unworldly, violent savages.

More accurate estimate of amount of water on surface layer of Mars

NASA's rover Curiosity, which landed on the surface of Mars on 6 August 2012, has led to more detailed estimates of the amount of water on the Martian surface.

Egg growth induced in infertile women, one gives birth

Researchers have identified a way to induce the ovaries of some infertile women to produce eggs.

Clinician observations of preschoolers' behavior help to predict ADHD at school age

Don't rely on one source of information about your preschoolers' inattention or hyperactivity. Rather, consider how your child behaves at home as well as information from his or her teacher and a clinician. This advice comes from researchers who examined how well parent, teacher, and clinician ratings of preschoolers' behavior were able to predict severity and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age six.

'Waviness' explains why carbon nanotube forests have low stiffness

A new study has found that "waviness" in forests of carbon nanotubes dramatically reduces their stiffness. Instead of being a detriment, the waviness may make the nanotube arrays more useful as thermal interface material for conducting heat away from integrated circuits.

With increased age comes decreased risk-taking in decision-making

When faced with uncertain situations, people are less able to make decisions as they age, according to a new study. The study also found that older people are more risk-averse than their midlife counterparts when choosing between possible gains, but more risk-seeking when choosing between losses.

New research links individual animal behavior with social spacing

Certain animal species are capable of coordinating their spatial behavior to cover terrain by maintaining areas of exclusive use while sharing other regions of space with their neighbors, new research has found.

Putting a face on a robot

Older and younger people have varying preferences about what they would want a personal robot to look like. And they change their minds based on what the robot is supposed to do.

New insights into DNA repair process may spur better cancer therapies

By detailing a process required for repairing DNA breakage, scientists have gained a better understanding of how cells deal with the barrage of damage that can contribute to cancer and other diseases.

Better protein creation may be secret of longevity for the world's longest-living rodent

Biologists conclude that a better protein-making process helps naked mole rats live long, healthy lives.

Continual increase in bed sharing among black, hispanic infants

The proportion of infants bed sharing with caregivers increased between 1993 and 2010, especially among black and Hispanic families, according to a study.

What works for women doesn't work for men

Flushed face, sweating, a sudden rush of heat. The hot flash, the bane of menopausal women, also can affect men who are undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Two common estrogen drugs compared regarding cardiovascular safety

The oral hormone therapy conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), which is used by women to relieve menopause symptoms, appears to be associated with increased risk for venous thrombosis (VT, blood clots) and possibly myocardial infarction (heart attack), but not ischemic stroke risk, when compared with the hormone therapy oral estradiol.

Vaccination and the gentle art of persuasion

A new study demonstrates that nearly all pediatricians in Israel strongly support the vaccination of infants, but most do not believe that their role is to force the treatment on parents. The study recommends that communications experts could be of service in the discussion of the risks and virtues of vaccination.

How to stay sharp in retirement

The more you want to use your brain -- and the more you enjoy doing it -- the more likely you are to stay sharp as you age.

Compound may keep survivors of brain aneurysms from succumbing to stroke

Working with mice, researchers say they have identified a chemical compound that reduces the risk of dangerous, potentially stroke-causing blood vessel spasms that often occur after the rupture of a bulging vessel in the brain.

Discovery goes from the lab to the patient

A laboratory testing kit that estimates the risk of breast cancer relapse in spite of anti-hormone treatment has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This technology is based on a gene signature known as "PAM50".

Short sleepers most likely to be drowsy drivers

New research is revealing that short sleepers, those who sleep less than six hours per night on average, are the most likely to experience drowsy driving, even when they feel completely rested.

Leisure-time exercise could lower your risk of high blood pressure

People who exercised more than four hours per week in their leisure time had a 19 percent lower risk of high blood pressure than people who didn't exercise much. Physical activity at work was not linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure.

Less blood clot risk linked to estradiol than to Premarin pills

Women can choose among several types of estrogen pills, which are equally effective at relieving menopausal symptoms. But in a study, use of estradiol was associated with less risk of developing blood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis) and clots in the lungs (pulmonary emboli) than was use of conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin).

Bad luck? Knocking on wood can undo perceived jinx, study suggests

A new study finds that certain superstitions actually do "reverse" perceived bad fortune.

My dishwasher is trying to kill me: Extreme conditions suit pathogenic fungus

A potentially pathogenic fungus has found a home living in extreme conditions in some of the most common household appliances, researchers have found. Scientists have shown that these sites make perfect habitats for extremotolerant fungi (which includes black yeasts). Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health.

What makes us left or right handed? New study rules out strong genetic factors

Around 10 per cent of the population is left handed. But why exactly someone is left or right handed remains unclear.

Role of brain stress in obesity, type 2 diabetes development

Researchers have gained new insights into how obesity and type 2 diabetes can create a stress response in the brain, especially in the hypothalamus (the brain region that regulates appetite and energy production), that may contribute to altering metabolism throughout the body.

Traffic cop for meiosis — with implications for fertility, birth defects

Researchers have identified the mechanism that plays "traffic cop" in meiosis. Their findings shed new light on fertility and may lead to greater understanding of the factors that lead to birth defects.

New kind of 'X-ray/CT vision' reveals objects' internal nanoscale structure, chemistry

Researchers have developed a new kind of "x-ray vision"—a way to peer inside real-world devices such as batteries and catalysts to map the internal nanostructures and properties of the various components, and even monitor how properties evolve as the devices operate.

New process to create artificial cell membranes

The membranes surrounding and inside cells are involved in every aspect of biological function. They separate the cell's various metabolic functions, compartmentalize the genetic material, and drive evolution by separating a cell's biochemical activities. They are also the largest and most complex structures that cells synthesize.

Breakthrough in photonics could allow for faster and faster electronics

A pair of breakthroughs in the field of silicon photonics could allow for the trajectory of exponential improvement in microprocessors that began nearly half a century ago -- known as Moore's Law -- to continue well into the future, allowing for increasingly faster electronics, from supercomputers to laptops to smartphones.

Solving ethanol's corrosion problem may help speed the biofuel to market

To meet a goal set by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuels Standard to use 36 billion gallons of biofuels each year -- mostly ethanol -- the nation must expand its infrastructure for transporting and storing ethanol. Ethanol, however, is known for triggering stress corrosion cracking of steel. Researchers investigated the mechanism of how ethanol triggers stress corrosion cracking, along with ways to circumvent this issue to prevent ethanol-related corrosion issues.

Caribou may be indirectly affected by sea-ice loss in the Arctic

Melting sea ice in the Arctic may be leading, indirectly, to lower birth and survival rates for caribou calves in Greenland, according to scientists. They have linked the melting of Arctic sea ice with changes in the timing of plant growth on land, which in turn is associated with population declines in caribou herds.

Zinc discovery may shed light on Parkinson's, Alzheimer's

Scientists have made a discovery that, if replicated in humans, suggests a shortage of zinc may contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have been linked to defective proteins clumping together in the brain.

Researchers apply regenerative medicine to battlefield injuries

A study has entered its second phase that focuses on developing innovative medical treatments for wounded veterans, including peripheral nerve regeneration, head and face trauma, burns, transplants and other conditions.

Drinking fluoridated water gives no additional risks for hip fractures

A team of researchers investigated possible adverse health effects on bone tissue from drinking fluoridated water. With nearly half a million individuals participating in this study, this is believed to be one of the largest studies of its kind.

Genes associated with unhealthy liver function

A groundbreaking study of nearly 2,300 extremely obese diabetes patients has identified genes associated with unhealthy liver function. This is believed to be the nation's first large-scale genome-wide association study in overweight patients with diabetes.

Product testing to foster care system

Ever since cruise lines first began building mock suites for passengers to try out before installing the rooms on ocean liners in the 1940s, businesses have been devising trial runs for a small number of consumers to test merchandise. Companies still make important changes based on this "usability testing" before taking their goods to the wider market, and researchers say that what works for cell phones and video games may work for human services.

Solar power's future brawl

Scientists have turned to computer modeling to help decide which of two competing materials should get its day in the sun as the nanoscale energy-harvesting technology of future solar panels -- quantum dots or nanowires.

Probing the secrets of the ryegrasses: A route for synthesis of loline alkaloids

Loline alkaloids protect plants from attack by insects and have other interesting features that have yet to be studied in detail. Chemists have developed a method for the effective synthesis of these compounds, which will facilitate further investigations in biology and medicine.

Understanding soil nitrogen management using synchrotron technology

Increasing the organic matter in soils is key to growing crops for numerous reasons, including increased water-holding capacity and improved tilth. Scientists have evaluated the effects of various sources of supplemental nitrogen fertilizer on the chemical composition of soil organic matter.

International 'war' on illegal drugs failing to curb supply

The international war on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply, despite the increasing amounts of resource being ploughed into law enforcement activities, finds research.

Medicare plans understate risky prescribing rates

An analysis of a quality measure that Medicare Advantage plans self-report to the government finds that the insurers almost always err in their own favor. More elderly receive high-risk medications than the plans acknowledge.

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

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