ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Cranberry juice now unlikely to prevent cystitis, review finds
• No benefit from routine health checks, review finds
• What's baking on Saturn's moon Titan?
• Space station investigation to test fresh food experience
• Planet found in nearest star system to Earth: HARPS instrument finds Earth-mass exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri B
• Viral alliances overcoming plant defenses
• Ice sheet retreat controlled by the landscape
• Fruit fly's 'sweet tooth' short-lived, research finds
• Shape of urine can indicate prostate issues: Characteristic shape of a man's urine can help diagnose urinary problems
• Mother's touch could change effects of prenatal stress
• New blood-vessel-generating cell with therapeutic potential discovered
• Tree of life branches out online
• Long-term observations in the tropics linked to global climate change
• Jelly-like atmospheric particles resist chemical aging
• Immune response may link social rejection to later health outcomes
• New paper reveals fundamental chemistry of plasma/liquid interactions
• Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer
• Pluto's moons and possible rings may be hazards: New Horizons and the gauntlet it may encounter in 2015
• No benefit from high-dose multivitamins seen for HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
• Abnormal involuntary eye movements in 'lazy eye' disease amblyopia linked to changes in subcortical regions of the brain
• When leaving your wealth to your sister's sons makes sense
• Common medical screen predicts liver cancer risk in general population
• Cholesterol levels improving among U.S. adults
• Lower use of chloride in intravenous fluids for critically ill patients associated with decreased risk of kidney injury
• Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies
• Targeting cancers' 'addiction' to cell-cycle proteins shuts down tumors in mice
• Attack! Silent watchmen charge to defend the nervous system
• Scientists identify likely origins of vertebrate air breathing
• Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland: Discovery could lead to new treatments for Cushing's disease
• Exercise may lead to better school performance for kids with ADHD
• New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years
• Sickle cell disease: Physics explains how sickling cells make people sick
• New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise
• Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair
• Scale of volcanic eruptions appears to hinge on first 10 seconds of bubble growth in magma
• Boreal forest bends to development, but there is a breaking point
• Prion protein hints at role in aiding learning and memory
• Obese teen boys have up to 50 percent less testosterone than lean boys
• Green leaf volatiles increase plant fitness via biocontrol
• Two-gene test predicts which patients with heart failure respond best to beta-blocker drug
• Less-invasive method of brain stimulation helps patients with Parkinson's disease
• Starvation hormone markedly extends mouse life span, without need for calorie restriction
• Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse, study finds; Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent
• How 'cleaving' protein drives tumor growth in prostate, other cancers
• Dark matter filament studied in 3-D for the first time
• 'Physical Internet': Shared transportation system would increase profits, reduce carbon emissions
• Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment
• Physicists crack another piece of the glass puzzle
• Fathers matter when it comes to their teenager's sexual behavior
• Proteins in DNA damage response network targeted for new therapies, researchers say
• Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses
• Great apes, small numbers: Genetic study reveals recent decline in endangered orangutan population, but offers hope for the future
• Physicists explain how nonlinear dust acoustic waves arise in dusty plasmas
• Genetic protection against arsenic
• Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production
• Menopause does not cause weight gain, but increases belly fat, major review finds
• Ice age polarity reversal was global event: Extremely brief reversal of geomagnetic field, climate variability, and super volcano
• Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study
• Giant harvestman yet to be named: Arachnologist discovers another giant of the animal world in Laos
• Smoking in cars produces harmful pollutants at levels above WHO indoor air quality standards

Cranberry juice now unlikely to prevent cystitis, review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT Cranberry juice is unlikely to prevent bladder and kidney infections, according to an updated systematic review published in the Cochrane Library. The authors analysed the most up-to-date evidence and concluded that any benefit, if present at all, is likely to be small and only for women with recurrent UTI.

No benefit from routine health checks, review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:41 PM PDT Carrying out general health checks does not reduce deaths overall or from serious diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to Cochrane researchers. The researchers, who carried out a systematic review on the subject for the Cochrane Library, warn against offering general health checks as part of a public health program.

What's baking on Saturn's moon Titan? Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:04 PM PDT Radar images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal some new curiosities on the surface of Saturn's mysterious moon Titan, including a nearly circular feature that resembles a giant hot cross bun and shorelines of ancient seas.

Space station investigation to test fresh food experience Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:02 PM PDT With all the prepackaged gardening kits on the market, an exceptionally green thumb isn't necessary to grow your own tasty fresh vegetables here on Earth. The same may hold true for U.S. astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station when they receive a newly developed Vegetable Production System, called VEGGIE for short, set to launch aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule on NASA's third Commercial Resupply Services mission next year.

Planet found in nearest star system to Earth: HARPS instrument finds Earth-mass exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri B Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:44 PM PDT European astronomers have discovered a planet with about the mass of Earth orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri system -- the nearest to Earth. It is also the lightest exoplanet ever discovered around a star like the Sun. The planet was detected using the HARPS instrument on the 3.6-metre telescope at the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Viral alliances overcoming plant defenses Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Researchers have found that viruses will join forces to overcome a plant's defenses and cause more severe infections.

Ice sheet retreat controlled by the landscape Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Ice-sheet retreat can halt temporarily during long phases of climate warming, according to scientists.

Fruit fly's 'sweet tooth' short-lived, research finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT While flies initially prefer food with a sweet flavor, they quickly learn to opt for less sweet food sources that offer more calories and nutritional value, according to new research by zoologists. The findings are the first to measure the shift in food preference over time, and the first to find that flies opt for nutritious food more quickly when they're hungry.

Shape of urine can indicate prostate issues: Characteristic shape of a man's urine can help diagnose urinary problems Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a simple test which uses the biomechanics of the shape of urine to help diagnose urinary problems.

Mother's touch could change effects of prenatal stress Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Scientists have found that mothers who stroke their baby's body in the first few weeks after birth may change the effects that stress during pregnancy can have on an infant's early-life development.

New blood-vessel-generating cell with therapeutic potential discovered Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Researchers in Finland believe they have discovered stem cells that play a decisive role in new blood vessel growth. These stem cells found in blood vessel walls may offer new opportunities in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and many other diseases.

Tree of life branches out online Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:31 PM PDT Exploring the evolutionary tree of life is now as easy as navigating an online map, thanks to a new interactive website called OneZoom.

Long-term observations in the tropics linked to global climate change Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:30 PM PDT Reports of declining ice coverage and drowning polar bears in the Arctic illustrate dramatic ecosystem responses to global climate change in Earth's polar regions. But in a first-ever account of a long-term project in the southern Caribbean, researchers report that tropical ecosystems are also affected by global climatic trends -- and with accompanying economic impacts.

Jelly-like atmospheric particles resist chemical aging Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT Atmospheric chemists have found that when it comes to secondary organic material in the atmosphere, there are two distinct breeds: liquids and jellies.

Immune response may link social rejection to later health outcomes Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT No matter how you look at it, rejection hurts. Experiencing rejection from a boss, a friend, or a partner is difficult for many adults to handle. But adolescents, who are dealing with the one-two punch of biological and social change, may be most vulnerable to its negative effects. A new study examines the immune response as a potential link between social stressors like rejection and later mental and physical health outcomes.

New paper reveals fundamental chemistry of plasma/liquid interactions Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT New research has revealed a critical interaction that is occurring at this plasma-liquid interface in that the electrons in plasma actually serve to separate water, producing hydrogen gas.

Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:32 PM PDT An intrauterine device is effective in treating early-stage endometrial cancer in morbidly obese and high-risk surgery patients, according to researchers, and could lead to a cost-effective treatment for all women with this cancer type.

Pluto's moons and possible rings may be hazards: New Horizons and the gauntlet it may encounter in 2015 Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is now almost seven years into its 9.5-year journey across the solar system to explore Pluto and its system of moons. Just over two years from now, in January 2015, New Horizons will begin encounter operations, which will culminate in a close approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, and the first-ever exploration of a planet in the Kuiper Belt.

No benefit from high-dose multivitamins seen for HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 PM PDT A new study suggests that for HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, there is no benefit from high- vs. standard-dose micronutrient supplementation -- and that, in fact, high-dose supplements may cause harm. The study is the first large randomized trial to look at how high-dose multivitamin supplementation affects clinical outcomes among people on HAART.

Abnormal involuntary eye movements in 'lazy eye' disease amblyopia linked to changes in subcortical regions of the brain Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT The neural mechanism underlying amblyopia, also called "lazy eye" is still not completely clear. A new study now reports abnormal eye movements of the lazy eye, which suggests that disturbed functioning of eye movement coordination between both eyes and not primarily the dysfunction of the visual cortex may be a cause of amblyopia.

When leaving your wealth to your sister's sons makes sense Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT In some human societies, men transfer their wealth to their sister's sons, a practice that puzzles evolutionary biologists. A new study has produced insights into "matrilineal inheritance."

Common medical screen predicts liver cancer risk in general population Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT Enzyme levels in the blood routinely monitored by physicians as liver function indicators are also the best predictor of liver cancer risk for the general population, a team of scientists report.

Cholesterol levels improving among U.S. adults Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT An analysis of nationally-representative data indicates that between 1988 and 2010 there has been a trend of declining average levels of total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for U.S. adults overall.

Lower use of chloride in intravenous fluids for critically ill patients associated with decreased risk of kidney injury Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT In a pilot study assessing the effect of different levels of chloride in intravenous fluids administered to critically ill patients in an intensive care unit, restricting the amount of chloride administration was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of acute kidney injury and the use of renal replacement therapy.

Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:28 PM PDT Cold viruses generally get a bad rap -- which they've certainly earned -- but new findings by a team of scientists suggest that these viruses might also be a valuable ally in the fight against cancer.

Targeting cancers' 'addiction' to cell-cycle proteins shuts down tumors in mice Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have safely shut down breast cancer and a form of leukemia in mice by targeting abnormal proteins that control cells' growth cycles, and to which the cancers are "addicted."

Attack! Silent watchmen charge to defend the nervous system Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT In many pathologies of the nervous system, there is a common event -- cells called microglia are activated from surveillant watchmen into fighters. Now new research provides the first evidence that mechanisms regulated by the Runx1 gene control the balance between the surveillant versus activated microglia states.

Scientists identify likely origins of vertebrate air breathing Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:17 AM PDT Scientists have identified what they think is the ancestral trait that allowed for the evolution of air breathing in vertebrates.

Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland: Discovery could lead to new treatments for Cushing's disease Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:16 AM PDT A team of researchers reprogrammed the identity of cells in the pituitary gland and identified critical mechanisms of epigenetic cell programming. The discovery could eventually lead to new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Cushing's disease.

Exercise may lead to better school performance for kids with ADHD Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT A few minutes of exercise can help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder perform better academically, according to a new study.

New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Using the European X-ray astronomy satellite XMM-Newton, researchers have discovered a new source of cosmic rays. In the vicinity of the remarkable Arches cluster, near the center of the Milky Way, these particles are accelerated in the shock wave generated by tens of thousands of young stars moving at a speed of around 700,000 km/h. These cosmic rays produce a characteristic X-ray emission by interacting with the atoms in the surrounding gas. Their origin differs from that of the cosmic rays discovered exactly a hundred years ago by Victor Hess, which originate in the explosions of supernovae.

Sickle cell disease: Physics explains how sickling cells make people sick Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Researchers have identified the physical forces in red blood cells and blood vessels underlying the painful symptoms of sickle cell disease. Their experiment, the first to answer a scientific question about sickle cell disease using microfluidics engineering methods, may help future researchers better determine who is at greatest risk of harm from the disease.

New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT A new noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer, in particular precancers that are most likely to develop into cancer, according to new data.

Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:59 AM PDT Research shows that the IAP-targeting drugs that promote the death of cancer cells also induce the growth and repair of muscle.

Scale of volcanic eruptions appears to hinge on first 10 seconds of bubble growth in magma Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT New research suggests the difference between a small or large volcanic eruption depends on the first 10 seconds of bubble growth in molten rocks. The findings point to a need to develop volcanic monitoring systems that can measure rapid changes in gas flux and composition during those brief, crucial moments.

Boreal forest bends to development, but there is a breaking point Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT Northern Alberta's boreal forest shows a surprising resiliency to human intrusion, but University of Alberta researchers warn the landscape has a definite breaking point.

Prion protein hints at role in aiding learning and memory Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT Scientists have found that the protein called prion helps our brains to absorb zinc, which is believed to be crucial to our ability to learn and the well-being of our memory.

Obese teen boys have up to 50 percent less testosterone than lean boys Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT A new study shows for the first time that obese males ages 14 to 20 have up to 50 percent less total testosterone than do normal males of the same age, significantly increasing their potential to be impotent and infertile as adults.

Green leaf volatiles increase plant fitness via biocontrol Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:39 AM PDT To secure food resources, sustainability of agriculture must be increased. Such efforts also depend on insights from plant ecology. Based on field studies on tobacco plants, researchers demonstrated that the release of volatiles which attract enemies of herbivores not only controls insect pests, but also increases the reproduction of infested plants. Transferred to the goals of biocontrol, this means that natural plant defenses can improve agricultural yields in an environmentally friendly manner.

Two-gene test predicts which patients with heart failure respond best to beta-blocker drug Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:39 AM PDT A landmark paper identifying genetic signatures that predict which patients respond to a life-saving drug for congestive heart failure has just been published. Medical researchers discovered and characterized the two genetic variations that determine how patients are likely to respond to the beta-blocker bucindolol.

Less-invasive method of brain stimulation helps patients with Parkinson's disease Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:34 AM PDT Electrical stimulation using extradural electrodes—placed underneath the skull but not implanted in the brain—is a safe approach with meaningful benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease, according to new research.

Starvation hormone markedly extends mouse life span, without need for calorie restriction Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:34 AM PDT A starvation hormone markedly extends life span in mice without the need for calorie restriction.

Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse, study finds; Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:28 AM PDT A new study reveals that today's adolescents are abusing prescription drugs at a rate 40 percent higher than previous generations. That makes it the second most common form of illegal drug use in the U.S. after marijuana.

How 'cleaving' protein drives tumor growth in prostate, other cancers Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:28 AM PDT Researchers have determined how a protein known as Trop2 drives the growth of tumor cells in prostate and other epithelial cancers. This discovery is important because it may prove essential for creating new therapies that stop the growth of cancer, the researchers said.

Dark matter filament studied in 3-D for the first time Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:22 AM PDT Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have studied a giant filament of dark matter in 3D for the first time. Extending 60 million light-years from one of the most massive galaxy clusters known, the filament is part of the cosmic web that constitutes the large-scale structure of the Universe, and is a leftover of the very first moments after the Big Bang. If the high mass measured for the filament is representative of the rest of the Universe, then these structures may contain more than half of all the mass in the Universe.

'Physical Internet': Shared transportation system would increase profits, reduce carbon emissions Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:21 AM PDT The Physical Internet – a concept in which goods are handled, stored and transported in a shared network of manufacturers, retailers and the transportation industry – would benefit the U.S. economy and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study.

Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:21 AM PDT People 70 and older who eat food high in carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, and the danger also rises with a diet heavy in sugar, researchers have found. Those who consume a lot of protein and fat relative to carbohydrates are less likely to become cognitively impaired, the study found.

Physicists crack another piece of the glass puzzle Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT When it comes to physics, glass lacks transparency. No one has been able to see what's happening at the molecular level as a super-cooled liquid approaches the glass state -- until now. Physicists have made a movie of particle motion during this mysterious transition. Their findings show how the rotation of the particles becomes decoupled from their movement through space.

Fathers matter when it comes to their teenager's sexual behavior Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT A new study suggests that fathers' parenting behavior influences the sexual behavior of their adolescent children, but most parent-based research has neglected to examine the specific role of fathers.

Proteins in DNA damage response network targeted for new therapies, researchers say Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT An intricate system to repair DNA damage called the "DNA damage response" (DDR) contains previously unknown components, including proteins that could be targeted as sensitizers for chemotherapy. Some of these targets may already have drugs available that have unrecognized uses in cancer therapy, said the researchers.

Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT The genomes of birds are riddled with DNA sequences from viruses, according to a new study. Analysis of these viral sequences, known as endogenous retroviruses, can provide insights into how both hosts and viruses have evolved over the eons.

Great apes, small numbers: Genetic study reveals recent decline in endangered orangutan population, but offers hope for the future Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT Sumatran orangutans have undergone a substantial recent population decline, according to a new genetic study, but the same research revealed the existence of critical corridors for dispersal migrations that, if protected, can help maintain genetic diversity and aid in the species' conservation.

Physicists explain how nonlinear dust acoustic waves arise in dusty plasmas Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:50 AM PDT Dusty plasmas can be found in many places both in space and in the laboratory. Due to their special properties, dust acoustic waves can propagate inside these plasmas like sound waves in air, and can be studied with the naked eye or with standard video cameras. Physicists have published a model with which they describe how large amplitude dust acoustic waves in dusty plasmas behave.

Genetic protection against arsenic Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:50 AM PDT Evolution has not only controlled human development over millions of years, it also has an impact on modern humans. This is one of the conclusions of a study of Argentinian villagers in the Andes, where the water contains high levels of arsenic. A gene variant that produces efficient and less toxic metabolism of arsenic in the body was much more common among the villagers than among other indigenous groups in South or Central America.

Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT While studying Parkinson's disease, an international research group made a discovery which can improve industrial protein synthesis for therapeutic use. They managed to understand a novel function of non-protein coding RNA: the protein synthesis activity of coding genes can be enhanced by the activity of the non-coding one called "antisense."

Menopause does not cause weight gain, but increases belly fat, major review finds Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT A comprehensive review by the International Menopause Society has found that going through the menopause does not cause a woman to gain weight. However, the hormonal changes at the menopause are associated with a change in the the way that fat is distributed, leading to more belly (abdominal) fat.

Ice age polarity reversal was global event: Extremely brief reversal of geomagnetic field, climate variability, and super volcano Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT Some 41,000 years ago, a complete and rapid reversal of the geomagnetic field occured. Magnetic studies on sediment cores from the Black Sea show that during this period, during the last ice age, a compass at the Black Sea would have pointed to the south instead of north. Moreover, data obtained by the research team, together with additional data from other studies in the North Atlantic, the South Pacific and Hawaii, prove that this polarity reversal was a global event.

Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT People in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, there being a particularly salient connection between writing and schizophrenia, according to researchers whose large-scale Swedish registry study is the most comprehensive ever in its field.

Giant harvestman yet to be named: Arachnologist discovers another giant of the animal world in Laos Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT A scientist has discovered a harvestman with a leg span of more than 33 centimetres. The creature found during a research trip to Laos is one of the largest representatives of the entire order worldwide. Experts have so far failed to properly identify it to species level.

Smoking in cars produces harmful pollutants at levels above WHO indoor air quality standards Posted: 15 Oct 2012 04:36 PM PDT Smoking during car journeys pumps harmful particulate matter into the indoor air space at levels that far exceed World Health Organization guidance -- even when the windows are open or air conditioning is switched on -- finds the largest study of its kind.

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