ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Six natural wonders declared World Heritage Sites
• See, feel, hear and control your environment, virtually
• Charting autism's neural circuitry: Deleting single gene results in autism-like behavior and immunosuppressant drug prevents symptoms
• Scientists create 'rubber-band electronics'
• Sounding rocket mission to observe magnetic fields on the sun
• DNA sequenced for parrot's ability to parrot
• Kids with behavior problems, disabilities bullied more, more likely to bully others
• Newly discovered dinosaur implies greater prevalence of feathers; Megalosaur fossil represents first feathered dinosaur not closely related to birds
• 'Next-generation digital Earth' charted
• Autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may share common underlying factors, family histories suggest
• Fast food intake increases risk of diabetes and heart disease in Singapore
• Women infected with common parasite have increased risk of attempting suicide, study finds
• Teen sexting prevalent: Nearly 30 percent send nude pictures despite being 'bothered' by requests
• Uncontrollable anger prevalent among U.S. youth: Almost two-thirds have history of anger attacks
• Botulinum toxin a shot in the arm for preventing multiple sclerosis tremor
• Tapping into genetic reservoir of heat-loving bacteria
• Success reported in treating autism spectrum disorder in mice
• New brain receptor for drug 'fantasy' identified
• Pinpointing history of droughts through exploration of tree rings: Unexpected complexity in U. S. West's patterns of drought
• How clouds are formed: Rate of condensation much slower than thought
• Breaking the skin barrier: Drugs topically deliver gene therapy via commercial moisturizers for skin disease treatment
• Scientists Unlock Some Key Secrets of Photosynthesis
• Day dreaming good for you? Reflection is critical for development and well-being
• New way to grow, isolate cancer cells may add weapon against disease
• War-related climate change would reduce substantially reduce crop yields
• Activity of rare genetic variant in glioma validated
• Higher energies for laser-accelerated particles possible
• Rare leukemia-causing protein discovered
• Genes may play role in educational achievement
• Why heart attacks cause so much more damage in late pregnancy
• Naked mole rat may hold the secret to long life
• Researchers block pathway to cancer cell replication
• In vitro study identifies potential combination therapy for breast cancer
• Hormone discovered that preserves insulin production and beta cell function in diabetes
• Cell biology: New insights into the life of microtubules
• Surprising culprit behind chemo resistance in rare cancer
• Physical activity needed to reap benefits of dietary restriction
• Mosquitoes: How we smell is why they bite
• 'Self-distancing' can help people calm aggressive reactions, study finds
• Electronic medical record improves physician compliance of reviewing portal images, study suggests
• Innate immune system protein provides a new target in war against bacterial infections
• Years before diagnosis, quality of life declines for Parkinson's disease patients
• Cutaneous human papillomavirus infection a risk factor for skin cancer
• Measuring the uncertainties of pandemic influenza
• Natural intestinal flora strengthen immune system
• You can't keep a good cell down: Vast majority of cells close to death after toxin exposure can survive and thrive
• Brain researchers start mapping the human 'connectome'
• Premature infants do feel pain from procedures: Physiological markers for neonate pain identified
• Got kids? Then you're less likely to catch a cold
• Tevatron scientists announce their final results on the Higgs particle
• Native plant restoration not enough to maintain tropical dry forests in Hawaii
• Mass extinctions reset the long-term pace of evolution
• Acid-wielding worms drill through bones at the bottom of the sea
• Chronic inflammation in the brain leads the way to Alzheimer's disease
• New light shed on explosive solar activity
• World's number of IVF and ICSI babies has now reached a calculated total of 5 million
• Diving seabirds: Working hard and living long
• Abuse during childhood may contribute to obesity in adulthood
• Seasonal changes in outpatient antibiotic use significantly alter seasonal patterns of drug resistance
• Why cancer rate increases with age (it's not what you think)

Six natural wonders declared World Heritage Sites Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:52 PM PDT Sangha Trinational -- shared between Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo; Lakes of Ounianga in Chad and Chengjiang fossil site in China have been inscribed on the World Heritage List, following the recommendations of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Lena Pillars Nature Park in Russia and Western Ghats in India were also added to the prestigious list by the World Heritage Committee.

See, feel, hear and control your environment, virtually Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:30 PM PDT Scientists have transformed vast amounts of data into applications and systems that are able to analyze crowd behavior, allow remote energy management or even tell where some of the windiest spots in the city center are.

Charting autism's neural circuitry: Deleting single gene results in autism-like behavior and immunosuppressant drug prevents symptoms Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:03 PM PDT Deleting a single gene in the cerebellum of mice can cause key autistic-like symptoms, researchers have found. They also discovered that rapamycin, a commonly used immunosuppressant drug, prevented these symptoms.

Scientists create 'rubber-band electronics' Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new way to make highly stretchable electronics. The technology could pave the way for bendable laptops and medical devices that can be integrated into the human body.

Sounding rocket mission to observe magnetic fields on the sun Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT On July 5, NASA will launch a mission called the Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation or SUMI, to study the intricate, constantly changing magnetic fields on the sun in a hard-to-observe area of the sun's low atmosphere called the chromosphere.

DNA sequenced for parrot's ability to parrot Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT Scientists say they have assembled more completely the string of genetic letters that could control how well parrots learn to imitate their owners and other sounds.

Kids with behavior problems, disabilities bullied more, more likely to bully others Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT Students receiving special-education services for behavioral disorders and those with more obvious disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their general-education counterparts -- and are also more likely to bully other students, a new study shows.

Newly discovered dinosaur implies greater prevalence of feathers; Megalosaur fossil represents first feathered dinosaur not closely related to birds Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT A new species of feathered dinosaur discovered in southern Germany is further changing the perception of how predatory dinosaurs looked. The fossil of Sciurumimus albersdoerferi, which lived about 150 million years ago, provides the first evidence of feathered theropod dinosaurs that are not closely related to birds.

'Next-generation digital Earth' charted Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT The world has gotten smaller and more accessible since applications like Google Earth became mainstream, says an expert. However, there is still a long way to go, and there are important steps to take to get there.

Autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may share common underlying factors, family histories suggest Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT New research points to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders among individuals whose parents or siblings have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Fast food intake increases risk of diabetes and heart disease in Singapore Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:02 PM PDT Researchers have examined the eating habits of residents in Singapore and found new evidence that a diet heavy in fast food increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Women infected with common parasite have increased risk of attempting suicide, study finds Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:01 PM PDT Women infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which is spread through contact with cat feces or eating undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables, are at increased risk of attempting suicide, according to a new study of more than 45,000 women.

Teen sexting prevalent: Nearly 30 percent send nude pictures despite being 'bothered' by requests Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT A study of students at seven public high schools in Texas suggests that "sexting" was prevalent and may be linked to teens' sexual behaviors.

Uncontrollable anger prevalent among U.S. youth: Almost two-thirds have history of anger attacks Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adolescents have experienced an anger attack in their lives that involved threatening violence or violent behavior. These severe attacks of uncontrollable anger are much more common among adolescents than previously recognized. Nearly one in 12 adolescents -- close to six million young people -- meet criteria for a diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a syndrome characterized by persistent uncontrollable anger attacks not accounted for by other mental disorders.

Botulinum toxin a shot in the arm for preventing multiple sclerosis tremor Posted: 02 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Botulinum toxin may help prevent shaking or tremor in the arms and hands of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research.

Tapping into genetic reservoir of heat-loving bacteria Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT The identification of key proteins in a group of heat-loving bacteria could help light a fire under next-generation biofuel production.

Success reported in treating autism spectrum disorder in mice Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT Using a mouse model of autism, researchers have successfully treated an autism spectrum disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment.

New brain receptor for drug 'fantasy' identified Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT Researchers are closer to understanding the biology behind GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), a transmitter substance in the brain, best known in its synthetic form as the illegal drug fantasy.

Pinpointing history of droughts through exploration of tree rings: Unexpected complexity in U. S. West's patterns of drought Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT Through an exploration of tree rings and oxygen isotopes, researchers are now able to better pinpoint the history of droughts in the arid and semiarid areas of the American West.

How clouds are formed: Rate of condensation much slower than thought Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT Researchers have shown that the rate of condensation of water on organic aerosol particles in the atmosphere can be very slow, taking many hours for a particle to change in size. This could have significant consequences for understanding how clouds are formed, affecting climate.

Breaking the skin barrier: Drugs topically deliver gene therapy via commercial moisturizers for skin disease treatment Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT "Getting under your skin" takes on new meaning thanks to research that could transform gene therapy. A team from the fields of dermatology and nanotechnology is the first to demonstrate the use of commercial moisturizers to deliver gene therapy with great potential for life-saving therapies for skin cancers. The drug -- consisting of novel spherical arrangements of nucleic acids -- penetrates the skin's layers and can selectively target disease-causing genes while sparing normal genes.

Scientists Unlock Some Key Secrets of Photosynthesis Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:24 PM PDT New research is seeking to detail the individual steps of highly efficient reactions that convert sunlight into chemical energy within plants and bacteria.

Day dreaming good for you? Reflection is critical for development and well-being Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:40 PM PDT As each day passes, the pace of life seems to accelerate -- demands on productivity continue ever upward and there is hardly ever a moment when we aren't, in some way, in touch with our family, friends, or coworkers. While moments for reflection may be hard to come by, a new article suggests that the long-lost art of introspection --even daydreaming -- may be an increasingly valuable part of life.

New way to grow, isolate cancer cells may add weapon against disease Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:40 PM PDT A new method to isolate and grow the most dangerous cancer cells could enable new research into how cancer spreads and, ultimately, how to fight it. Researchers found that while a traditional culture of cancer cells has only a few capable of starting new tumors, a soft gel is capable of isolating tumor-repopulating cells and promoting the growth and multiplication of these cells in culture. The new culture technique could allow researchers to better study metastatic cancers.

War-related climate change would reduce substantially reduce crop yields Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:39 PM PDT Though worries about "nuclear winter" have faded since the end of the Cold War, existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons still hold the potential for devastating global impacts. Experts say that the climate effects of a hypothetical nuclear war between India and Pakistan would greatly reduce yields of staple crops, even in distant countries.

Activity of rare genetic variant in glioma validated Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:39 PM PDT Researchers have validated a link between a rare genetic variant and the risk of glioma, the most common and lethal type of brain tumor. The validation study also uncovered an association between the same rare genetic variant and improved rates of survival for patients with glioma.

Higher energies for laser-accelerated particles possible Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:28 PM PDT Physicists have demonstrated for the first time that laser-accelerated protons follow the direction of the laser light. By incorporating this new data into a conventional model describing the laser particle acceleration, high proton energies which have not been realized so far might become achievable. This is important for developing laser particle acceleration for cancer therapy.

Rare leukemia-causing protein discovered Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:28 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a new gene target for leukemia therapy. Researchers found that by inhibiting in animal models the protein Vav3, which controls cell signaling, the development of this leukemia -- known as BCR-ABL lymphoid leukemia -- is delayed.

Genes may play role in educational achievement Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:27 PM PDT Researchers have identified genetic markers that may influence whether a person finishes high school and goes on to college, according to a national longitudinal study of thousands of young Americans.

Why heart attacks cause so much more damage in late pregnancy Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:24 PM PDT While research has shown that the heart typically functions better during pregnancy due to a rise in cardiac pumping capacity to meet increased demands, a new study in rats and mice demonstrates that heart attacks occurring in the last trimester or late months of pregnancy result in worse heart function and more damaged heart tissue than heart attacks among non-pregnant females. This early study may help identify and better understand the mechanisms involved in the higher risks of heart disease during pregnancy.

Naked mole rat may hold the secret to long life Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:23 PM PDT The naked mole rat's brain contains unusually high levels of NRG-1, a neuroprotecting protein, which preserves high activity, bone health, and cognitive ability throughout its lifespan, new research shows. And because the rodent has an 85 percent genetic similarity to humans, continuing investigation could lead to a longer and healthier life for us.

Researchers block pathway to cancer cell replication Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:23 PM PDT Research suggests that patients with leukemia sometimes relapse because standard chemotherapy fails to kill the self-renewing leukemia initiating cells, often referred to as cancer stem cells. In such cancers, the cells lie dormant for a time, only to later begin cloning, resulting in a return and metastasis of the disease. One such type of cancer is called pediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, often found in children, who have few treatment options beyond chemotherapy.

In vitro study identifies potential combination therapy for breast cancer Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:23 PM PDT A new study demonstrates an effective combination therapy for breast cancer cells in vitro. The findings raise the possibility of using this type of combination therapy for different forms of breast cancer, including those that develop resistance to chemotherapy and other treatments.

Hormone discovered that preserves insulin production and beta cell function in diabetes Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:23 PM PDT Researchers have found protective, anti-diabetic functions for a hormone that, like insulin, is produced by the islet cells of the pancreas. The new hormone was found to stimulate insulin secretion from rat and human islet cells and protect islet cells in the presence of toxic, cell-killing factors used in the study.

Cell biology: New insights into the life of microtubules Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:22 PM PDT Every second, around 25 million cell divisions take place in our bodies. This process is driven by microtubule filaments which continually grow and shrink. A new study shows how so-called motor proteins in the cytosol can control their dynamics.

Surprising culprit behind chemo resistance in rare cancer Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:21 PM PDT Researchers have shown how an aggressive form of multiple myeloma resists chemotherapy. Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Though the finding has no immediate benefit for patients, the scientists say it could help guide research into better treatments.

Physical activity needed to reap benefits of dietary restriction Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:21 PM PDT Dietary restriction alone does not extend lifespan – at least in fruit flies. Flies, which share many genetic similarities with humans, need physical activity in order to live longer on a Spartan diet. If the same axiom holds true in humans, those practicing caloric restriction in hopes of living longer need to make sure they eat enough to avoid fatigue.

Mosquitoes: How we smell is why they bite Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT A mosquito biologist is studying the olfactory behavior of mosquitoes as a means of developing more effective methods of disease control.

'Self-distancing' can help people calm aggressive reactions, study finds Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT A new study reveals a simple strategy that people can use to minimize how angry and aggressive they get when they are provoked by others.

Electronic medical record improves physician compliance of reviewing portal images, study suggests Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT The use of an electronic medical record for reviewing portal images dramatically improves compliance with timeliness and record keeping, according to a new study. Portal images are used to verify the positioning of patients during daily radiation treatments to improve the accuracy of the radiation field placement, to reduce exposure to normal tissue and to deliver accurate dose to tumor volumes.

Innate immune system protein provides a new target in war against bacterial infections Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT Scientists have identified a possible new approach to defeating bacterial infections by targeting an innate immune system component in a bid to invigorate the immune response.

Years before diagnosis, quality of life declines for Parkinson's disease patients Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT Growing evidence suggests that Parkinson's disease often starts with non-motor symptoms that precede diagnosis by several years. In the first study to examine patterns in the quality of life of Parkinson' disease patients prior to diagnosis, researchers have documented declines in physical and mental health, pain, and emotional health beginning several years before the onset of the disease and continuing thereafter.

Cutaneous human papillomavirus infection a risk factor for skin cancer Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:31 PM PDT Researchers conducted a case control study and found associations between having antibodies to certain types of cutaneous human papillomavirus and a kind of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. According to the researchers, evidence has been emerging that cutaneous human papillomavirus infection (not the mucosal HPV infection that is associated with cervical cancers) may be an additional risk factor for SCC.

Measuring the uncertainties of pandemic influenza Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:31 PM PDT A major collaboration between US research centers has highlighted three factors that could ultimately determine whether an outbreak of influenza becomes a serious epidemic that threatens national health. The research suggests that the numbers in current response plans could be out by a factor of two or more depending on the characteristics of the particular pandemic influenza.

Natural intestinal flora strengthen immune system Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:29 PM PDT Signals from natural intestinal bacteria are necessary for an effective immune response to various viral or bacterial germs, new research suggests.

You can't keep a good cell down: Vast majority of cells close to death after toxin exposure can survive and thrive Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:26 PM PDT The vast majority of cells that appear to be on a one-way track to death after exposure to toxins can bounce back completely after those toxins are removed, scientists report in a new study. The finding is not only a testament to the indomitable cellular spirit, but could also offer some practical insight on how to save dying tissues after heart attacks or strokes as well as prevent cancer in cells transiently exposed to toxins.

Brain researchers start mapping the human 'connectome' Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:26 PM PDT A research effort called the Human Connectome Project is seeking to explore, define, and map the functional connections of the human brain.

Premature infants do feel pain from procedures: Physiological markers for neonate pain identified Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:26 PM PDT There was a time when a belief was widely held that premature neonates did not perceive pain. That, of course, has been refuted but measurements of neonate pain tend to rely on inexact measures, such as alertness and ability to react expressively to pain sensations. Researchers reported that there is a significant relationship between procedural pain and detectable oxidative stress in neonates.

Got kids? Then you're less likely to catch a cold Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:26 PM PDT Being a parent reduces your risk of catching a cold—possibly because of unknown "psychological or behavioral differences between parents and nonparents," according to a new study.

Tevatron scientists announce their final results on the Higgs particle Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:17 AM PDT After more than 10 years of gathering and analyzing data produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's Tevatron collider, scientists from the CDF and DZero collaborations have found their strongest indication to date for the long-sought Higgs particle. Squeezing the last bit of information out of 500 trillion collisions produced by the Tevatron for each experiment since March 2001, the final analysis of the data does not settle the question of whether the Higgs particle exists, but gets closer to an answer.

Native plant restoration not enough to maintain tropical dry forests in Hawaii Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT Protecting Hawaiian dry forests from invasive species and the risk of wildfire is an ongoing challenge for land managers and scientists conducting research on the Island of Hawaii. It is commonly thought that removing the invasive species and planting native species will restore the land to its original state. However, a recent article found that it is not quite that simple.

Mass extinctions reset the long-term pace of evolution Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT A new study indicates that mass extinctions affect the pace of evolution, not just in the immediate aftermath of catastrophe, but for millions of years to follow.

Acid-wielding worms drill through bones at the bottom of the sea Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT Tiny "bone-devouring worms," known to both eat and inhabit dead whale skeletons and other bones on the sea floor, have a unique ability to release bone-melting acid, scientists at have recently discovered.

Chronic inflammation in the brain leads the way to Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT A new article suggests that chronic inflammation can predispose the brain to develop Alzheimer's disease.

New light shed on explosive solar activity Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT The first images of an upward surge of the sun's gases into quiescent coronal loops have been identified by an international team of scientists. The discovery is one more step towards understanding the origins of extreme space storms, which can destroy satellite communications and damage power grids on Earth.

World's number of IVF and ICSI babies has now reached a calculated total of 5 million Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT The number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated total of 5 million since the world's first, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978.

Diving seabirds: Working hard and living long Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT Scientists have found that diving birds reach their 30s and then die quickly and suddenly, showing few signs of aging prior to death. Their findings could help us understand the aging process, providing critical insights for our aging population.

Abuse during childhood may contribute to obesity in adulthood Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT Investigators report research findings that may shed light on influences on obesity during adulthood. The study found an association of severity of sexual and physical abuse during childhood and adolescence with obesity during adulthood.

Seasonal changes in outpatient antibiotic use significantly alter seasonal patterns of drug resistance Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT A new study shows how seasonal changes in outpatient antibiotic use -- retail sales of antibiotics typically get a boost during the winter -- can significantly alter seasonal patterns of drug resistance. The findings suggest that hospital campaigns to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use should be coordinated with efforts in the broader community if they are to be most effective.

Why cancer rate increases with age (it's not what you think) Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT A new review presents compelling evidence against conventional wisdom's opinion that the accumulation of oncogenic mutations drives higher cancer rates in the elderly.

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