SPAM: FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Warm ocean drives most Antarctic ice shelf loss

Ocean waters melting the undersides of Antarctic ice shelves, not icebergs calving into the sea, are responsible for most of the continent's ice loss, a new study has found.

How diving mammals evolved underwater endurance

Scientists have shed new light on how diving mammals, such as the sperm whale, have evolved to survive for long periods underwater without breathing.

Putting flesh on the bones of ancient fish

Scientists present for the first time miraculously preserved musculature of 380 million year old armored fish discovered in north-west Australia. This research will help scientists to better understand how neck and abdominal muscles evolved during the transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates.

Satellite data will be essential to future of groundwater, flood and drought management

New satellite imagery reveals that several areas across the US are all but certain to suffer water-related catastrophes, including extreme flooding, drought and groundwater depletion. A new report underscores the urgent need to address these current and rapidly emerging water issues at the national scale in the U.S.

Medieval leprosy genomes shed light on disease's history

Scientists have reconstructed a dozen medieval and modern leprosy genomes -- suggesting a European origin for the North American leprosy strains found in armadillos and humans, and a common ancestor of all leprosy bacteria within the last 4000 years.

Prefab houses that are glued, not nailed, together

With prefabricated houses, the dream of having one's own home can quickly become a reality. Until now, nails have been used to hold the individual components together. Now an adhesive tape has been developed to perform this task.

First evidence of a new phase in neutron stars

The nuclear 'pasta', called as such due its similarity to the Italian food, limits the period of rotation of pulsars, and astronomers have detected the first evidence of existence of a new phase of matter in the inner crust of neutron stars.

Building more sustainable aircrafts

Life Cycle Assessments of components can help make aircraft production more sustainable. The decisive factor is making the data available at an early stage. Thanks to a new eco design software, these data are now available even at the design stage.

Smart technology makes its way into lighting

The lighting systems of the future could be multi-purpose devices not dissimilar to smart phones. In the future, lighting will not just allow us to see but could also be used to survey surroundings, transmit information, reflect moods and make our lives more comfortable. Smart lighting could also save as much as 80 per cent of energy compared to traditional lighting solutions.

Lighter meals for fish in the northern Baltic Sea

The nutrition available for fish in the northern Baltic Sea has become lighter during the past 30 years.

Cutting post-surgical infection rate

Medical researchers are recommending clinical guidelines that will cut the post-surgical infection rate for staph bacteria (including MRSA) by 71 percent and 59 percent for a broader class of infectious agents known as gram-positive bacteria.

Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries

Graphene nanoribbons and tin oxide make an effective anode for lithium ion batteries, as discovered in early tests.

Autonomous energy-scavenging micro devices will test water quality, monitor bridges, more

Researchers are using photonics in their quest to "bring the lab to the sample," developing sophisticated micro instruments that scavenge power from sunlight, body heat, or other sources, for uses such as monitoring water quality or assessing bridge safety.

odors from human skin cells can be used to identify melanoma

Researchers identified odorants from human skin cells that can be used to identify melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In addition a nanotechnology-based sensor could reliably differentiate melanoma cells from normal skin cells. Non-invasive odor analysis may be a valuable technique in the detection and early diagnosis of human melanoma.

Deep brain stimulation trial in treatment-resistant obesity links weight loss trend to metabolism increase programmed in metabolic chamber

A deep brain stimulation trial in treatment-resistant obesity linked a weight loss trend to a metabolism increase programmed in a metabolic chamber, according to a pilot study.

Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment

Free bus travel for teens helps curb road traffic injuries and benefits the environment, reveal the results of an analysis of the free bus scheme in London.

Every 10 tobacco ad sightings boost teens' risk of starting to smoke by almost 40 percent

Tobacco ads really do persuade teens to take up smoking, with every 10 sightings boosting the risk by almost 40 percent, reveals new research.

Major hurdle cleared to diabetes transplants

Researchers have identified a way to trigger reproduction in the laboratory of clusters of human cells that make insulin, potentially removing a significant obstacle to transplanting the cells as a treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes.

Universal paid sick leave reduces spread of flu

Allowing all employees access to paid sick days would reduce influenza infections in the workplace by nearly 6 percent, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis. The researchers simulated an influenza epidemic in Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County and estimated it to be more effective for small, compared to large, workplaces.

How underground rodent wards off cancer: Second mole rat species has different mechanism for resisting cancer

Biologists have determined how blind mole rats fight off cancer -- and the mechanism differs from what they discovered three years ago in another long-lived and cancer-resistant mole rat species, the naked mole rat.

Stirred not mixed: How seawater turbulence affects marine food webs

New research shows that ocean turbulence directly affects the ability of microscopic marine organisms to recycle organic material back into the food web.

Indian monsoon failure more frequent with global warming, research suggests

Global warming could cause frequent and severe failures of the Indian summer monsoon in the next two centuries, new research suggests.

Controlling vascular disease may be key to reducing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease

International Experts Review the Latest Thinking in a Special Issue of Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

Comedian's political humor affects potential voter's attitudes about candidates

Comedians publicly ridiculing a presidential candidate may cause audiences to have negative attitudes toward that individual, according to a new study.

Laser the size of a virus particle: Miniature laser operates at room temperature and defies the diffraction limit of light

A research team has found a way to manufacture single laser devices that are the size of a virus particle and that operate at room temperature. These plasmonic nanolasers could be readily integrated into silicon-based photonic devices, all-optical circuits and nanoscale biosensors.

Children's preexisting symptoms influence their reactions to disaster coverage on TV

After a natural disaster occurs, we often find ourselves glued to the TV, seeking out details about the extent of the damage and efforts at recovery. While research has shown that exposure to this kind of coverage is associated with symptoms of traumatic stress in youths, new research suggests that the relationship isn't so simple: the amount of exposure to disaster coverage matters but children's preexisting symptoms also play an important role.

Therapy with bone marrow-derived stem cells does not improve short-term recovery after heart attack

Administering to patients stem cells derived from their own bone marrow either three or seven days after a heart attack is safe but does not improve heart function six months later, according to a clinical trial.

PTSD linked to smaller brain area regulating fear response

Recent combat veterans who are diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder have significantly smaller volume in an area of the brain critical for regulating fear and anxiety responses, according to new research.

Healthy living adds fourteen years to your life, study suggests

If you have optimal heart health in middle age, you may live up to 14 years longer, free of cardiovascular disease, than your peers who have two or more cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a new study.

Physical exercise improves gait speed, muscle strength, fitness in patients with Parkinson's disease

Physical exercise, including treadmill, stretching and resistance exercises, appears to improve gait speed, muscle strength and fitness for patients with Parkinson's disease.

Study examines smoking by inpatients during hospital stay

A study of smokers admitted to a large urban teaching hospital in Massachusetts found that 18.4 percent reported smoking during their hospitalization.

Revolutionary type of gel discovered

Controlling and modifying at will the transparency, electrical properties, and stiffness of a gel are among the promises of new research by scientists in Switzerland. Their discovery marks an important step for materials used in healthcare, high-tech, and the cosmetics industry.

Kids consume more soda and calories when eating out

Children and adolescents consume more calories and soda and have poorer nutrient-intake on days they eat at either fast-food or full-service restaurants, according to a new study.

New DNA vaccine technology poised to deliver safe and cost-effective disease protection

Scientists have taken a dramatic step forward in vaccine research, revealing the design of a universal platform for delivering highly potent DNA vaccines, by employing a cleverly re-engineered bacterium to speed delivery to host cells in the vaccine recipient.

First gene therapy study in human salivary gland shows promise

This finding comes from the first-ever Phase I clinical study of gene therapy in a human salivary gland. Its results show that the transferred gene, Aquaporin-1, has great potential to help head and neck cancer survivors who battle with chronic dry mouth. Aquaporin-1 encodes a protein that naturally forms pore-like water channels in the membranes of cells to help move fluid, such as occurs when salivary gland cells secrete saliva into the mouth.

Superbug MRSA identified in US wastewater treatment plants

The "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent at several U.S. wastewater treatment plants, according to new research. MRSA is well known for causing difficult-to-treat and potentially fatal bacterial infections in hospital patients, but is also increasingly infecting otherwise healthy people in community settings. This study is the first to document an environmental source of MRSA in the United States.

Climate modeler identifies trigger for Earth's last big freeze

For more than 30 years, climate scientists have debated whether flood waters from melting of the enormous Laurentide Ice Sheet, which ushered in the last major cold episode on Earth about 12,900 years ago, flowed northwest into the Arctic first, or east via the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to weaken ocean thermohaline circulation and have a frigid effect on global climate. Now, using new, high-resolution global ocean circulation models, researchers report the first conclusive evidence that this flood must have flowed north into the Arctic first down the Mackenzie River valley.

Carbon buried in the soil rises again

A team of researchers estimated that roughly half of the carbon buried in soil by erosion will be re-released into the atmosphere within about 500 years, and possibly faster due to climate change.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators can reduce sudden death in young patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A multicenter registry has demonstrated that the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators to combat sudden cardiac death in high-risk pediatric patients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Warming temperatures cause aquatic animals to shrink the most

Warmer temperatures cause greater reduction in the adult sizes of aquatic animals than in land-dwellers in a new study.

We're more passive than we predict when sexually harassed, new study shows

Sexual harassment is devastating in and of itself for its victims, but new research shows there can be an even more insidious and troubling consequence that goes along with it.

Common math standards supported with new study

A new study analyzing the previous math standards of each U.S. state provides strong support for adoption of common standards, which US students desperately need to keep pace with their counterparts around the globe, a scholar argues.

Standardized booster seat laws could save lives of children

A nationwide standard on booster seat laws for children 4 feet 9 inches and shorter, or up to 8 years old, would save lives, a new study suggests.

2001-2002 drought helped propel mountain pine beetle epidemic

A new study shows for the first time that episodes of reduced precipitation in the southern Rocky Mountains, especially during the 2001-02 drought, greatly accelerated development of the mountain pine beetle epidemic.

Overweight patients hospitalized with pneumonia more apt to survive

Medical researchers studied the records of nearly 1000 patients who were admitted to hospital with pneumonia and noted those who were obese were more apt to survive compared to those who were of normal weight.

Unexpected bottleneck identified in spread of herpes simplex virus

New research suggests that just one or two individual herpes virus particles attack a skin cell in the first stage of an outbreak, resulting in a bottleneck in which the infection may be vulnerable to medical treatment.

Smell you later! Chemosignals communicate human emotions

Many animal species transmit information via chemical signals, but the extent to which these chemosignals play a role in human communication is unclear. Researchers have investigated whether we humans might actually be able to communicate our emotional states to each other through chemical signals.

Insect-repelling compounds discovered in folk remedy plant, Jatropha

A tip about a folk remedy plant used in India and Africa to ward off bugs has led to the discovery of insect-repelling compounds. Scientists have identified components of Jatropha curcas seed oil that are responsible for mosquito repellency.

Some heart patients may respond differently to anti-platelet drugs

The cause of heart attacks or strokes among some patients treated with anti-platelet drugs may be different than for patients who have undergone surgical procedures to restore blood flow, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

Recreational cocaine use linked to conditions that cause heart attack

Recreational cocaine users may have higher blood pressure, stiffer arteries and thicker heart muscle walls than non-users -- all of which can cause a heart attack. The Australian study is the first to document some of these cardiovascular abnormalities in seemingly healthy cocaine users long after the immediate effects of cocaine have worn off.

Cockatoo 'can make its own tools'

A cockatoo from a species not known to use tools in the wild has been observed spontaneously making and using tools for reaching food and other objects.

High-strength material advancements may lead to new, life-saving steel

Engineers have been working to create advanced materials with high-yield strength, fracture toughness and ductility. Their efforts have led to the development of a new material consisting of bainitic steels and austempered ductile iron that has all these characteristics, ultimately resisting fatigue that can cause fractures in materials often with catastrophic consequences.

Computers 'taught' to ID regulating gene sequences

Researchers have succeeded in teaching computers how to identify commonalities in DNA sequences known to regulate gene activity, and to then use those commonalities to predict other regulatory regions throughout the genome. The tool is expected to help scientists better understand disease risk and cell development.

Superstorm animation shows Sandy's explosive development

A computer animation shows the explosive development of Hurricane Sandy, the superstorm and its unusual track.

New analysis of heart rate patterns on ECGs may predict death risk from all causes

Cardiologists suggest that electrocardiograms (ECGs), which are widely used tests to assess the heart's electrical activity, may have a greater and more profound future role in predicting the risk of death from any cause, not just heart problems.

Not so fast: Economic growth will be steady no matter who's the next president

There's no doubt that the economy is the deciding factor for many voters. Americans are looking to presidential candidates for a fast remedy, but the reality will be far less immediate, according to economists.

Gravitmetric sensors for the real world

Researchers have developed gravimetric sensors which are not affected by temperature.

Build your own home theater for full-blast entertainment with 'Virtual Sound Ball'

Scientists have developed audio rendering systems, "Virtual Sound Ball" and "Spatial Equalizer" that will considerably improve the current 3-D audio effects technology.

Daily multivitamin use among men does not reduce risk of major cardiovascular events, study suggests

In a randomized study that included nearly 15,000 male physicians who were middle-aged or older, daily multivitamin use for more than 10 years of treatment and follow-up did not result in a reduction of major cardiovascular events, heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.

Home blood pressure monitoring may not benefit patients with stroke and hypertension

Home blood pressure monitoring may help patients with hypertension and stroke but did not improve blood pressure control for patients who had normal blood pressure at the start or those with disabilities, according to a randomized controlled trial.

Low vitamin D levels linked to longevity, surprising study shows

Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with longevity, according to a study involving middle-aged children of people in their 90s.

World's rarest whale seen for the first time

A whale that is almost unknown to science has been seen for the first time after two individuals -- a mother and her male calf -- were stranded and died on a New Zealand beach. A new report offers the first complete description of the spade-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon traversii), a species previously known only from a few bones.

Crystals for efficient refrigeration: Can pump or extract heat, even on the nanoscale, for use on computer chips

Researchers have discovered a new efficient way to pump heat using crystals. The crystals can pump or extract heat, even on the nanoscale, so they could be used on computer chips to prevent overheating or even meltdown, which is currently a major limit to higher computer speeds.

Massive volcanic eruption puts past climate and people in perspective

The largest volcanic eruption on Earth in the past millions of years took place in Indonesia 74,000 years ago and researchers can now link the colossal eruption with the global climate and the effects on early humans.

Daily doses of a new probiotic reduces 'bad' and total cholesterol

A new probiotic lowered LDL "bad" cholesterol and total cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol. The probiotic reduced molecules known as cholesterol ester saturated fatty acids, which have been tied to dangerous plaque buildup in the arteries.

Genetically engineered tomatoes decrease plaque build-up in mice

For the first time, researchers have genetically engineered tomato plants to produce a peptide that mimics the actions of good cholesterol when eaten. Mice that ate the freeze-dried, ground tomatoes had less inflammation and reduced plaque build-up in their arteries.

Air exposure between blinks affects deposits on contact lenses

Modern contact lens materials are prone to drying when exposed to air, which contributes to the buildup of deposits on contact lenses, according to a new study.

How presidential candidates' actions speak louder than their words

Scientists have released a comprehensive computerized study of the body language of the major-party U.S. presidential candidates, using expertise of computer scientists and body language experts at both universities.

Hydro-fracking: Fact vs. fiction

In communities across the US, people are hearing more and more about a controversial oil and gas extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing – aka, hydro-fracking. Controversies pivot on some basic questions: Can hydro-fracking contaminate domestic wells? Does it cause earthquakes? How can we know? What can be done about these things if they are true?

Field geologists (finally) going digital

Not very long ago a professional geologist's field kit consisted of a Brunton compass, rock hammer, magnifying glass, and field notebook. No longer. In the field and in the labs and classrooms, studying Earth has undergone an explosive change in recent years, fueled by technological leaps in handheld digital devices, especially tablet computers and cameras.

People can learn to sense with 'rat's whiskers' on fingers; May improve aids for the blind

A new experiment in which volunteers learned to sense objects' locations using just "rat whiskers" may help improve aids for the blind.

Taking the 'pulse' of volcanoes using satellite images

A new study uses satellite data to investigate deformation prior to the eruption of active volcanoes in Indonesia's west Sunda arc.

Heart attack packs a wallop to wallet of survivors, their employers

Heart attack and other forms of acute coronary syndrome are costly to patients and their employers. The economic burden to workers and their employers mounts from lost time, income and productivity.

Electron microscopes with a twist: Vortex beams, rotating like a tornado, offer new possibilities for electron microscopy

Vortex beams, rotating like a tornado, offer completely new possibilities for electron microscopy. A method of producing extremely intense vortex beams has been discovered.

Vehicles, roadways 'talk' in efforts to improve traffic safety

One day, your auto and the roadway will be in constant communication and able to suggest route changes to avoid accidents, construction, and congestion; coordinate your vehicle with signal lights, other vehicles, and lane markers; and let you know where you can park. Right now, a fleet of instrumented vehicles are testing these systems on two instrumented test beds -- one in Northern Virginia and one in Southwestern Virginia.

The evolution of creationism

Throughout history, people have sought to understand how the world came to be and how it has changed over time. This curiosity has produced a rich legacy of science and philosophy and impacted and influenced religion and theology. Researchers have now examined both the history of geology and of biblical views regarding Earth's origins.

Women's body talk: Perception stronger than reality?

How women think their friends feel about their bodies influences their own body concerns, according to a new study. Their work examines the role of friends in young women's body concerns.

Therapy for stroke patients improved: More mobility due to deafferentation

Painkilling drugs that make many therapies possible are a blessing for patients. Thanks to modern anesthetics, not only can surgical operations be conducted without causing pain, they are also used for various diagnostic procedures. Anesthetics can be very useful in therapies for stroke patients, as psychologists and physicians in Germany are now able to demonstrate.

Prenatal testosterone levels influence later response to reward

Testosterone levels early in fetal development influence later sensitivity of brain regions related to reward processing and affect an individual's susceptibility to engage in behavior, that in extremes, are related to several neuropsychiatric conditions that asymmetrically affect one sex more than the other. Although present at low levels in females, testosterone is one of the primary sex hormones that exerts substantial influence over the emergence of differences between males and females. In adults and adolescents, heightened testosterone has been shown to reduce fear, lower sensitivity to punishment, increase risk-tasking, and enhance attention to threat. These effects interact substantially with context to affect social behavior.

Wild cheetah accelerate fast and reach speeds of up to 58 mph during a hunt

Researchers have captured the first detailed information on the hunting dynamics of the wild cheetah in its natural habitat. Using an innovative GPS and motion sensing collar that they designed, biologists were able to record remarkable speeds of up to 58mph.

Scientists conclude that what causes menopause is -- wait for it -- men

After decades of laboring under other theories that never seemed to add up, biologists have concluded that menopause is actually an unintended outcome of natural selection generated by men's historical preference for younger mates.

High prevalence of NSAID prescription in those at risk of heart attack/death in primary care

A new study demonstrates a high prevalence of NSAID prescriptions in patients at risk of ischaemic heart disease.

Can you feel me now? New array measures vibrations across skin, may help engineers design tactile displays

A new array measures vibrations across skin may help engineers design tactile displays.

Flare star WX UMa becomes 15 times brighter in less than 3 minutes

Astrophysicists have detected a star of low luminosity which within a matter of moments gave off a flare so strong that it became almost 15 times brighter. The star in question is the flare star WX UMa.

From the mouths of babes: The truth about toddler talk

The sound of small children chattering away as they learn to talk has always been considered cute – but not particularly sophisticated. However, research by a Newcastle University expert has shown that toddlers' speech is far more advanced than previously understood.

Study of oceans' past raises worries about their future

Scientists have now completed the first global study of changes that occurred in a crucial component of ocean chemistry, the nitrogen cycle, at the end of the last ice age. The results of their study confirm that oceans are good at balancing the nitrogen cycle on a global scale. But the data also shows that it is a slow process that may take many centuries, or even millennia, raising worries about the effects of the scale and speed of current changes in the ocean.

Scientists explode the myth about running injuries

Ordinary running shoes function perfectly well for new runners regardless of how they pronate, according to new research. Healthy newcomers to running who overpronate/underpronate do not actually suffer more running injuries than other runners if their first pair of running shoes do not have any special support.

Predicting collective online behavior

Scientists are evaluating the impact of a website based on the interaction between its users with the entire Web.

Detecting homemade explosives, not toothpaste

Researchers want airports, border checkpoints and others to detect homemade explosives made with hydrogen peroxide without nabbing people whose toothpaste happens to contain peroxide.

Mystery of X-ray light from black holes solved

Astrophysicists using high-powered computer simulartions demonstrate that gas spiraling toward a black hole inevitably results in X-ray emissions.

Dramatic loss in snowfall for Los Angeles-area mountains predicted

By midcentury, snowfall on Los Angeles–area mountains will be 30 to 40 percent less than it was at the end of the 20th century, according to a new study.

Bioenergy potential unearthed in leaf-cutter ant communities

As spring warms up Wisconsin, humans aren't the only ones tending their gardens. Colonies of leaf-cutter ants cultivate thriving communities of fungi and bacteria using freshly cut plant material.

Scientists identify neurons that control feeding behavior in Drosophila

Scientists have developed a novel transgenic system which allows them to remotely activate individual brain cells in the model organism Drosophila using ambient temperature. This powerful new tool for identifying and characterizing neural circuitry has lead to the identification of a pair of neurons-– now called Fdg neurons-- in the fruit fly that decide when to eat and initiate the subsequent feeding action.

Secrets of biological soil crusts uncovered

Biologists have performed a molecular level analysis of desert biological soil crusts -- living ground cover formed by microbial communities -- to reveal how long-dormant cyanobacteria become activated by rainfall then resume dormancy when the precipitation stops.

New findings regarding DNA damage checkpoint mechanism in oxidative stress

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown surveillance mechanism, known as a DNA damage checkpoint, used by cells to monitor oxidatively damaged DNA. DNA repair takes place approximately 10,000 times per cell, per day, through processes that are still only partially understood because of their complexity, speed, and the difficulty of studying complex interactions within living cells.

Automated 'coach' could help with social interactions

A new software system could help people improve their conversational and interview skills.

Discovery of how a gene that regulates factors involved in bacteria pathogenicity acts

A discovery has been made of the way in which the glgS gene (now renamed as the "surface composition regulator", scoR) acts in bacteria and how the mechanisms involved in bacterial infection can be altered by manipulating this gene, which indirectly affects glycogen production. The finding has been protected through the application for a patent and the exploiting of it is now pending a response from institutions or companies prepared to develop it.

Delievered to you by Feedamail.
Unsubscribe

SPAM

Friday, June 14, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

No comments:

Post a Comment