SPAM: Both a Mediterranean diet and diets low in available carbohydrates protect against type 2 diabetes, study suggests

Both a Mediterranean diet and diets low in available carbohydrates protect against type 2 diabetes, study suggests

New research shows that a Mediterranean-style diet and diets low in available carbohydrates can offer protection against type 2 diabetes.

Obesity kills more Americans than previously thought: One in five Americans, Black and White, die from obesity

Obesity is a lot more deadly than previously thought. Across recent decades, obesity accounted for 18 percent of deaths among Black and White Americans between the ages of 40 and 85, according to a new study. This finding challenges the prevailing wisdom among scientists, which puts that portion at around 5 percent.

Celery, artichokes contain flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cells

Celery, artichokes, and herbs, especially Mexican oregano, all contain apigenin and luteolin, flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cells in the lab by inhibiting an important enzyme, according to two new studies.

Sexual health for postmenopausal women improved by hypnotic relaxation therapy

Hypnotic relaxation therapy improves sexual health in women who have hot flashes, according new research.

High debt could be hazardous to your health

If young people are drowning in debt, their blood pressure may be on the rise and their health could suffer. A new study has found that high financial debt is associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and poorer self-reported general and mental health in young adults.

The secret of male beauty (in turkeys)

The essence of male beauty is down to the way males use their genes rather than what genes they have, according to a new study into the sexual attractiveness of turkeys.

Stressed bacteria stop growing: Mechanism discovered

Man, a mouse or a microbe, stress is bad. Experiments in bacteria by molecular biologists have uncovered the mechanism that translates stress, such as exposure to extreme temperature, into temporarily blocked cell growth. Bacteria deal with stress by destroying proteins needed for replication.

Answering critical questions to respond to anthrax attack

Researchers have developed a mathematical model to help answer critical questions and guide the response to an anthrax exposure.

Cell memory mechanism discovered

DNA binding proteins called transcription factors are required for maintaining cell identity. They ensure that daughter cells have the same function as their mother cell. However, each time a cell divides the specific binding pattern of the transcription factors is erased and has to be restored in both mother and daughter cells. Previously it was unknown how this process works, but now scientists have discovered the importance of particular protein rings encircling the DNA and how these function as the cell's memory.

New approach to reveal function of Greenland's ice sheet

Findings from a large-scale ice drilling study on the Greenland ice sheet may revise the models used to predict how ice sheets move.

Finasteride: Long-term survival of participants in prostate cancer prevention trial detailed

Initial findings from a decade ago showed that the drug finasteride significantly reduced the risk of prostate cancer, but among those who did develop prostate cancer, paradoxically, the drug was associated with an increased risk of high-grade disease. Long term results show the small excess of higher grade tumors in the men in the finasteride arm of the study did not translate into an increased risk of death.

A new wrinkle in Parkinson's disease research: Skin cream ingredient may stop effects of Parkinson's on brain cells

Scientists have discovered that an active ingredient in an over-the-counter skin cream slows or stops the effects of Parkinson's disease on brain cells. Scientists identified the link through biochemical and cellular studies, and the research team is now testing the drug in animal models of Parkinson's.

New approach assembles big structures from small interlocking pieces

Researchers invent a new approach to assembling big structures -- even airplanes and bridges -- out of small interlocking composite components.

Slow earthquakes may foretell larger events

Monitoring slow earthquakes may provide a basis for reliable prediction in areas where slow quakes trigger normal earthquakes, according to geoscientists.

Heart's own stem cells offer hope for new treatment of heart failure

Researchers have for the first time highlighted the natural regenerative capacity of a group of stem cells that reside in the heart.

New possibilities for efficient biofuel production

Limited availability of fossil fuels stimulates the search for different energy resources. The use of biofuels is one of the alternatives. Sugars derived from the grain of agricultural crops can be used to produce biofuel but these crops occupy fertile soils needed for food and feed production.

Sugar helps scientists find and assess prostate tumors

A natural form of sugar could offer a new, noninvasive way to precisely image tumors and potentially see whether cancer medication is effective, by means of a new imaging technology.

Superconducting wire yields unprecedented performance

The ability to control nanoscale imperfections in superconducting wires results in materials with unparalleled and customized performance, according to a new study.

New species of carnivore looks like a cross between a house cat and a teddy bear

Observed in the wild, tucked away in museum collections, and even exhibited in zoos around the world -- there is one mysterious creature that has been a victim of mistaken identity for more than 100 years. A team of Smithsonian scientists, however, uncovered overlooked museum specimens of this remarkable animal, which took them on a journey from museum cabinets in Chicago to cloud forests in South America to genetics labs in Washington, D.C. The result: the olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina) -- the first carnivore species to be discovered in the American continents in 35 years.

Mountaintop mining pollution has distinct chemical signatures

Three elements commonly found at elevated levels in an Appalachian river polluted by runoff from mountaintop coal mining have distinctive chemistries that can be traced back to their source, according to a new study.

Shining stem cells reveals how our skin is maintained

All organs in our body rely on stem cells in order to maintain their function. The skin is our largest organ and forms a shield against the environment. New research challenge current stem cell models and explains how the skin is maintained throughout life.

More than 28 cups of coffee a week may endanger health in under 55s

Drinking large amounts of coffee may be bad for under 55 year olds. A study of more than 40,000 individuals found a statistically significant 21 percent increased mortality in those drinking more than 28 cups of coffee a week and death from all causes, with a greater than 50 percent increased mortality risk in both men and women younger than 55 years of age. Investigators warn that younger people in particular may need to avoid heavy coffee consumption.

Evolution of hyperswarming bacteria could develop anti-biofilm therapies

Hyperswarming, pathogenic bacteria have repeatedly evolved in a lab, and the good news is that they should be less of a problem to us than their less mobile kin. That's because those hyperswarmers, adorned with multiple whipping flagella, are also much worse at sticking together on surfaces in hard-to-treat biofilms. They might even help us figure out a way to develop anti-biofilm therapies for use in people with cystic fibrosis or other conditions.

Human eye movements for vision are remarkably adaptable

When something gets in the way of our ability to see, we quickly pick up a new way to look according to a new study. Our eyes are constantly on the move, darting this way and that. Now researchers have found that the precise manner of those eye movements can change within a matter of hours. This discovery might suggest a way to help those with macular degeneration better cope with vision loss.

Viral infection and specialized lung cells linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Investigators have described another link in the chain of events that connect acute viral infections to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In regenerating planarians, muscle cells provide more than heavy lifting

By studying the planarian flatworm, a master of regenerating missing tissue and repairing wounds, scientists have identified an unexpected source of position instruction: the muscle cells in the planarian body wall. This is the first time that such a positional control system has been identified in adult regenerative animals.

Mountain high: Genetic adaptation for high altitudes identified

Scientists have decoded the genetic basis of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) or Monge's disease. Their study provides important information that validates the genetic basis of adaptation to high altitudes, and provides potential targets for CMS treatment.

Scientists reveal how deadly ebola virus assembles

Scientists have discovered the molecular mechanism by which the deadly Ebola virus assembles, providing potential new drug targets. Surprisingly, the study showed that the same molecule that assembles and releases new viruses also rearranges itself into different shapes, with each shape controlling a different step of the virus's life cycle.

Worms may shed light on human ability to handle chronic stress

Researchers hope a new study will shed light on how our nervous system responds to stress and why some people suffer and others are better able to cope.

Remembering to remember supported by two distinct brain processes

Remembering to remember -- whether it's appointments or taking medications -- is essential to our everyday lives. New research reveals two distinct brain mechanisms that underlie prospective memory.

Dynamics of liquid metal particles examined at nanoscale

Two researchers have demonstrated that using a continuum-based approach, they can explain the dynamics of liquid metal particles on a substrate of a nanoscale.

Options for molecular imaging expanded

Scientists have demonstrated a new technique for determining the structure of molecules that challenges long-used standards like X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Beating blindness with vegetable oil

New findings suggest that incubating retinal cells with vegetable oils induces biochemical and biophysical changes in the cell membrane, which may have a beneficial effect in preventing or slowing the development of retinopathy.

Spaceflight alters bacterial social networks

In two studies biofilms grown aboard the International Space Station bound space shuttle were compared with those grown on the ground. The study results show for the first time that spaceflight changes the behavior of bacterial communities.

Researchers report a critical role for the complement system in early macular degeneration

Researchers report the unexpected finding that in mice genetically engineered to have an inherited form of macular degeneration, turning off the animals' complement system, a part of the immune system, prevented the disease.

Malware bites and how to stop it

Researchers have devised an approach to virus detection that acts as a third layer on top of scanning for known viruses and heuristic scanning.

Growth of disorder of electrons measured in dual temperature system

Researchers have succeeded for the first time in experimentally measuring a probability distribution for entropy production of electrons. Entropy production means an increase in disorder when electrons are moved individually between two microscopic conductors of differing temperatures.

New early warning system for cholera epidemics

Researchers have established new techniques for predicting the severity of seasonal cholera epidemics months before they occur and with a greater degree of accuracy than other methods based on remote satellite imaging. Taken together, findings from these two papers may provide the essential lead time to strengthen intervention efforts before the outbreak of cholera in endemic regions.

Study examines risk of severe blood sugar swings among diabetics taking fluoroquinolones

Diabetic patients taking oral fluoroquinolones, a frequently prescribed class of antibiotics, were found to have a higher risk of severe blood sugar-related problems than diabetic patients taking other kinds of antibiotics, according to a recent study. The increased risk was low, but clinicians should consider the higher risk when treating diabetic patients with fluoroquinolones, especially moxifloxacin, and prescribe them cautiously, the study's authors concluded.

The first animal model for sexual transmission of HIV

Despite the availability of many animal models of HIV infection, none reproduce the physiological conditions of vaginal intercourse, which is the most common route of HIV transmission. Researchers describe an approach for transmission of HIV during mouse mating. Their system provides a platform for investigating how the physiological environment during intercourse influences the rate of HIV transmission, and for testing potential therapies.

Nervous system disease: A new outlet for an old drug?

A sixty-year old drug designed to treat vitamin B1 deficiency helps ease the symptoms of a chronic, progress nervous system disease, a clinical trial reveals. A large-scale, randomized controlled trial is now needed to help reveal the drugs true potential.

Millions of tracks at the fingertips of music researchers

Online digital music services, such as Last.fm and Spotify, contain semantic information produced by users worldwide about millions of music tracks. A new method now enables exploiting this vast source of information in order to understand the processes behind expressions of musical moods.

Graphene nanoscrolls are formed by decoration of magnetic nanoparticles

Researchers show how nitrogen doped graphene can be rolled into perfect Archimedean nano scrolls by adhering magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on the surface of the graphene sheets. The new material may have very good properties for application as electrodes in for example Li-ion batteries.

Making the brain take notice of faces in autism

Difficulty in registering and responding to the facial expressions of other people is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Relatedly, functional imaging studies have shown that individuals with ASD display altered brain activations when processing facial images.

In nonsmoking women, breastfeeding for more than six months may protect against breast cancer

A new analysis has found that breastfeeding for more than six months may safeguard nonsmoking mothers against breast cancer. The same does not seem to hold true for smoking mothers, though. The findings add to the list of benefits of breastfeeding for women and their babies.

How females choose the 'right' sperm

Scientists have revealed how females select the 'right' sperm to fertilize their eggs when faced with the risk of being fertilized by wrong sperm from a different species. Researchers investigated salmon and trout. They found that when eggs from each species are presented with either salmon or trout, they allow fertilization by either species' sperm. But if eggs are given a choice of both species' sperm, they favor their own species'.

New rechargeable flow battery could enable cheaper, more efficient energy storage

Researchers have engineered a new rechargeable flow battery that doesn't rely on expensive membranes to generate and store electricity. The design may support the widespread use of solar and wind energy.

Developmental on-switch: Substances that convert body cells back into stem cells initially activate all genes in the embryo

Researchers have demonstrated for the first time why the molecular cocktail responsible for generating stem cells works. Sox2 and Oct4 are proteins whose effect on cells resembles that of an eraser: They remove all of the cell's previous experiences and transform it into a so-called pluripotent stem cell. Like cells in the embryo, this stem cell can then develop into all forms of tissue.

Molecular explanation for degenerative disease proposed

Scientists have shed new light on the origins and molecular causes of age related degenerative conditions including motor neuron disease. The new perspective provided by this work may lead the way to new treatments and early diagnoses.

Global pliocene cooling digs deep canyons into the Andean plateau

Incision of canyons into mountains is often interpreted by geoscientists as a proxy for surface uplift of the surroundings by geodynamic and tectonic processes. However, another possible cause for incision is climate change. Scientists have analyzed the developmental history of a series of 1.5 to 2.5 kilometer deep canyons along a 1250 kilometer portion of the Eastern margin of the Andean Plateau, South America (Peru and Bolivia). They found that Miocene faulting and mountain building of the Northeastern Plateau margin initiated at or before 20 million years ago at the Rio San Gaban catchment, Peru, and was then followed by Pliocene incision of the canyons 4 to 3 million years before present. At the same time as this incision, early global Pliocene warmth shifted to a late Pliocene cooling.

Aggressive lymphoma: Low doses of approved drug switches on pathway that allows chemotherapy to kill cancer

Patients with an aggressive lymphoma that often relapses and kills within two years experienced a remission of their cancer and stayed disease-free as long as 28 months after taking a commercially-available drug that made chemotherapy more effective.

Autistic kids who best peers at math show different brain organization

Children with autism and average IQs consistently demonstrated superior math skills compared with nonautistic children in the same IQ range, according to a new study.

Nanosensors could aid drug manufacturing

Chemical engineers have discovered that arrays of billions of nanoscale sensors have unique properties that could help pharmaceutical companies produce drugs -- especially those based on antibodies -- more safely and efficiently.

Female frogs prefer males who can multitask

In a study of gray tree frogs, researchers discovered that females prefer males whose calls reflect the ability to multitask effectively.

How DNA repair helps prevent cancer

DNA damage is a natural biological occurrence that happens every time cells divide and multiply; thus, DNA repair is important for preserving the composition of the genome. Researchers are using supercomputers to study the molecular-level dynamics involved in this process.

Fossil of history's most successful mammal: Prehistoric 'rodent' may have set the stage for life in trees, herbivorous diets

The 160-million-year-old fossil of an extinct rodent-like creature from China is helping to explain how multituberculates -- the most evolutionarily successful and long-lived mammalian lineage in the fossil record -- achieved their dominance.

A personalised robot companion for older people

A highly customizable robot companion offers support to older people. It could find its way into people's homes within two or three years, potentially greatly enhancing quality of life for older citizens and people with memory or mobility problems.

Cell biology: A protein provides stress relief

Astrin prevents cells from overreacting to stress and averts their premature death, new research shows. Researchers have shown a new mechanism via which cells defend themselves against stress.

Drug dosing for older heart patients should differ

Older heart patients present unique challenges for determining the optimal dosages of medications, so a new study offers some rare clarity about the use of drugs that are used to treat patients with heart attacks.

Tumors form advance teams to ready lungs for spread of cancer

An advance team of molecules produced by the primary tumor sets off a series of events that create a network of nurturing blood vessels for arriving primary tumor cells to set up shop.

Preferred play for children with autism

Play preferences of children with autism spectrum disorder were observed in a community-based museum designed to enable children to choose their preferred play activity. In this naturalistic setting, children with ASD preferred play options with a strong sensory component.

First driverless vehicle to hit the roads

Singapore's first clean and green driverless shuttle transportation system will soon see passengers shuttling between Nanyang Technological University and JTC Corporation's CleanTech Park.

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Friday, August 16, 2013

Both a Mediterranean diet and diets low in available carbohydrates protect against type 2 diabetes, study suggests

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