ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New compound holds promise for treating Duchenne MD, other inherited diseases
• Palladium-gold nanoparticles clean TCE a billion times faster than iron filings
• Physics of going viral: Rate of DNA transfer from viruses to bacteria measured
• New planet-weighing technique found
• Successful transplant of patient-derived stem cells into mice with muscular dystrophy
• Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein
• New vaccine for nicotine addiction
• Regulation of telomerase in stem cells and cancer cells
• Immune response to heart attack worsens atherosclerosis, increases future risk
• New way of probing exoplanet atmospheres
• Scientists measure soot particles in flight
• Ancient human ancestors had unique diet
• Easier way to make new drug compounds
• Parkinson’s disease gene identified with help of Saskatchewan Mennonite families
• Dying trees in Southwest set stage for erosion, water loss in Colorado River
• Brain scans detect early signs of autism in infants
• Menopausal women could 'work out' their hot flashes
• Diabetes reversed in mice using stem cells
• ALMA reveals constituent of a galaxy at 12.4 billion light-years away
• New drug dramatically improves survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients
• Happy accident answers cell signal controversy
• Kids who cook are hungrier for healthy food choices
• A step toward minute factories that produce medicine inside the body
• One step closer to Parkinson's drug
• Ability to estimate quantity increases in first 30 years of life
• Most new pesticides have roots in natural substances
• New technique controls crystalline structure of titanium dioxide
• 'Broken heart syndrome' protects the heart from adrenaline overload
• First 3-D nanoscale optical cavities from metamaterials: Hold promise for nanolasers, LEDs, optical sensors
• Role of urban greenery in CO₂ exchange demonstrated
• Significant cardiovascular risk with low carbohydrate-high protein diets, experts warn
• Women with a fear of childbirth endure a longer labor, finds new research
• Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future
• Half of inhaled soot particles from diesel exhaust, fires gets stuck in the lungs
• Plasma fingers point to the taming of the edge localized modes
• Self-healing dynamic membrane
• New mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis discovered
• Progress in quest to reduce use of radiation in treatment of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma
• Post-anesthesia dementia, like Alzheimer's, looks micro-'tubular'
• DVDs and computer games rated for adult use may damage children's mental health
• Marine energy doubled by predicting wave power
• Alzheimer's spread through the brain mapped: Infects from neuron to neuron
• New mouse model helps explain gene discovery in congenital heart disease

New compound holds promise for treating Duchenne MD, other inherited diseases Posted: 27 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT Scientistshave identified a new compound that could treat certain types of genetic disorders in muscles. It is a first, big step in what they hope will lead to human clinical trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Palladium-gold nanoparticles clean TCE a billion times faster than iron filings Posted: 27 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT In the first side-by-side tests of a half-dozen palladium- and iron-based catalysts for cleaning up the carcinogen TCE, scientists have found that palladium destroys TCE far faster than iron -- up to a billion times faster in some cases.

Physics of going viral: Rate of DNA transfer from viruses to bacteria measured Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have been able, for the first time, to watch viruses infecting individual bacteria by transferring their DNA, and to measure the rate at which that transfer occurs. Shedding light on the early stages of infection by this type of virus -- a bacteriophage -- the scientists have determined that it is the cells targeted for infection, rather than the amount of genetic material within the viruses themselves, that dictate how quickly the bacteriophage's DNA is transferred.

New planet-weighing technique found Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:25 AM PDT Although there have been about 800 extra-solar planets discovered so far in our galaxy, the precise masses of the majority of them are still unknown, as the most-common planet-finding technique provides only a general idea of an object's mass. Previously, the only way to determine a planet's exact mass was if it transits. Astronomers have, for the first time, determined the mass of a non-transiting planet.

Successful transplant of patient-derived stem cells into mice with muscular dystrophy Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:25 AM PDT Stem cells from patients with a rare form of muscular dystrophy have been successfully transplanted into mice affected by the same form of dystrophy, according to a new study.

Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:25 AM PDT Patients unable to breathe because of acute lung failure or an obstructed airway need another way to get oxygen to their blood -- and fast -- to avoid cardiac arrest and brain injury. Medical researchers have designed tiny, gas-filled microparticles that can be injected directly into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate the blood.

New vaccine for nicotine addiction Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:24 AM PDT Researchers have developed and successfully tested in mice an innovative vaccine to treat nicotine addiction. A single dose of their novel vaccine protects mice, over their lifetime, against nicotine addiction. The vaccine is designed to use the animal's liver as a factory to continuously produce antibodies that gobble up nicotine the moment it enters the bloodstream, preventing the chemical from reaching the brain and even the heart.

Regulation of telomerase in stem cells and cancer cells Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:21 AM PDT Scientists have gained important insights for stem cell research which are also applicable to human tumors and could lead to the development of new treatments.

Immune response to heart attack worsens atherosclerosis, increases future risk Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:20 AM PDT A heart attack doesn't just damage heart muscle tissue by cutting off its blood supply, it also sets off an inflammatory cascade that worsens underlying atherosclerosis, actively increasing the risk for a future heart attack. These findings suggest an important new therapeutic strategy for preventing heart attacks and strokes, both of which are caused when atherosclerotic plaques rupture and block important blood vessels.

New way of probing exoplanet atmospheres Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:20 AM PDT For the first time a new technique has allowed astronomers to study the atmosphere of an exoplanet in detail -- even though it does not pass in front of its parent star. Astronomers have used ESO's Very Large Telescope to directly catch the faint glow from the planet Tau Boötis b, solving a 15-year-old problem. The team also finds that the planet's atmosphere seems to be cooler higher up, differently from the expected.

Scientists measure soot particles in flight Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:20 AM PDT For the first time, air-polluting soot particles have been imaged in flight down to nanometer resolution. Pioneering a new technique scientists snapped the most detailed images yet of airborne aerosols.

Ancient human ancestors had unique diet Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:20 AM PDT When it came to eating, an upright, 2-million-year-old African hominid had a diet unlike virtually all other known human ancestors, says a new study.

Easier way to make new drug compounds Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:19 AM PDT Scientists have developed a powerful new technique for manipulating the building-block molecules of organic chemistry. The technique enables chemists to add new functional molecules to previously hard-to-reach positions on existing compounds—making it easier for them to generate new drugs and other organic chemicals.

Parkinson’s disease gene identified with help of Saskatchewan Mennonite families Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:19 AM PDT Scientists, with the help of Saskatchewan Mennonite families, have identified an abnormal gene which leads to Parkinson's disease.

Dying trees in Southwest set stage for erosion, water loss in Colorado River Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT New research concludes that a one-two punch of drought and mountain pine beetle attacks are the primary forces that have killed more than 2.5 million acres of pinyon pine and juniper trees in the American Southwest during the past 15 years, setting the stage for further ecological disruption -- including more water loss in the Colorado River basin.

Brain scans detect early signs of autism in infants Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT A new study shows significant differences in brain development in high-risk infants who develop autism starting as early as six months of age.

Menopausal women could 'work out' their hot flashes Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Menopausal women who exercise may experience fewer hot flashes in the 24 hours following physical activity, according to health researchers.

Diabetes reversed in mice using stem cells Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Scientists have reversed diabetes in mice using stem cells. Scientists have shown that human stem cell transplants can successfully restore insulin production and reverse diabetes in mice. Crucially, they re-created the "feedback loop" that enables insulin levels to automatically rise or fall based on blood glucose levels.

ALMA reveals constituent of a galaxy at 12.4 billion light-years away Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:21 AM PDT How and when did galaxies with hundreds of billions of stars form and evolve? The sun, which is the center of the solar system in which we live, is also only one of the countless stars contained within a galaxy. In brief, it can be said that we need to understand the evolution of galaxies to understand the world we live in.

New drug dramatically improves survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:20 AM PDT A new cancer drug with remarkably few side effects is dramatically improving survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients who fail other treatments and are nearly out of options.

Happy accident answers cell signal controversy Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:20 AM PDT Using a new tool allowing proteins in a living cell to be manipulated in real time, researchers have stumbled across the answer to a longstanding debate about where and how a certain protein is turned on in the cell. Scientists show that protein kinase A is also activated in the nucleus rather than inside the cell's body, a challenge to traditional beliefs.

Kids who cook are hungrier for healthy food choices Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT Children who help cook at home are more likely to enjoy fruits and veggies than kids who don't cook, according to a new study.

A step toward minute factories that produce medicine inside the body Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT Scientists are reporting an advance toward treating disease with minute capsules containing not drugs -- but the DNA and other biological machinery for making the drug. They describe engineering micro- and nano-sized capsules that contain the genetically coded instructions, plus the read-out gear and assembly line for protein synthesis that can be switched on with an external signal.

One step closer to Parkinson's drug Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT A new study details how Parkinson's disease spreads through the brain. Experiments in rat models uncover a process previously used to explain mad cow disease, in which misfolded proteins travel from sick to healthy cells. This model has never before been identified so clearly in a living organism, and the breakthrough brings researchers one step closer to a disease-modifying drug for Parkinson's.

Ability to estimate quantity increases in first 30 years of life Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT One of the basic elements of cognition -- the ability to estimate quantities -- grows more precise across the first 30 years or more of a person's life, according to researchers. This intuitive grasp of numbers, also called an approximate number sense, or ANS, is tied to concrete math skills at every stage of life, the researchers found.

Most new pesticides have roots in natural substances Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT Scientists who search for new pesticides for use in humanity's battle of the bugs and other threats to the food supply have been learning lessons from Mother Nature, according to a new analysis. It concludes that more than two out of every three new pesticide active ingredients approved in recent years had roots in natural substances produced in plants or animals.

New technique controls crystalline structure of titanium dioxide Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technique for controlling the crystalline structure of titanium dioxide at room temperature. The development should make titanium dioxide more efficient in a range of applications, including photovoltaic cells, hydrogen production, antimicrobial coatings, smart sensors and optical communication technologies.

'Broken heart syndrome' protects the heart from adrenaline overload Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:33 AM PDT A condition that temporarily causes heart failure in people who experience severe stress might actually protect the heart from very high levels of adrenaline, according to a new study.

First 3-D nanoscale optical cavities from metamaterials: Hold promise for nanolasers, LEDs, optical sensors Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:29 AM PDT Researchers have created the world's smallest three-dimensional optical cavities with the potential to generate the world's most intense nanolaser beams. In addition to nanolasers, these unique optical cavities should be applicable to a broad range of other technologies, including LEDs, optical sensing, nonlinear optics, quantum optics and photonic integrated circuits.

Role of urban greenery in CO<sub>2</sub> exchange demonstrated Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:28 AM PDT In what might be the first study to report continuous measurements of net CO2 exchange of urban vegetation and soils over a full year or more, scientists conclude that not only is vegetation important in the uptake of the greenhouse gas, but also that different types of vegetation play different roles.

Significant cardiovascular risk with low carbohydrate-high protein diets, experts warn Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:22 AM PDT Women who regularly eat a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke) than those who do not, a new study suggests.

Women with a fear of childbirth endure a longer labor, finds new research Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:22 AM PDT Women who have a fear of childbirth spend longer in labor than women who have no such fear, suggests new research.

Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:22 AM PDT "Green rust" played a key role in making the Earth habitable and may now have an equally important role to play in cleaning it up for the future. Green rust is a highly reactive iron mineral which experts hope could be used to clean up metal pollution and even radioactive waste.

Half of inhaled soot particles from diesel exhaust, fires gets stuck in the lungs Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:20 AM PDT The exhaust from diesel-fueled vehicles, wood fires and coal-driven power stations contains small particles of soot that flow out into the atmosphere. The soot is a scourge for the climate but also for human health. Now for the first time, researchers have studied in detail how diesel soot gets stuck in the lungs. The results show that more than half of all inhaled soot particles remain in the body.

Plasma fingers point to the taming of the edge localized modes Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:20 AM PDT New images from the MAST device at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy could find a solution to one of the biggest plasma physics problems standing in the way of the development of fusion power.

Self-healing dynamic membrane Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:20 AM PDT The market for membranes, porous materials used mainly to filter liquids, is booming. However, their design leaves room for improvement. Taking their inspiration from cellular membranes, researchers have developed the first dynamic membrane for water filtration which, depending on the water pressure, can adjust the size of its pores in an autonomous manner.

New mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis discovered Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:17 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis. Bacteria that cause chronic infections have an amazing but yet poorly known ability to subvert immune response, live and produce offspring, enter and wake up from a dormant phase to cause, in some instances, deadly complications.

Progress in quest to reduce use of radiation in treatment of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:17 AM PDT A multicenter trial showed that nearly half of young patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured without undergoing either irradiation or intensive chemotherapy that would leave them at risk for second cancers, infertility, heart and other problems later.

Post-anesthesia dementia, like Alzheimer's, looks micro-'tubular' Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:16 AM PDT Modern anesthesia is extremely safe. But as risks to heart, lungs and other organs have waned, another problem has emerged in the elderly: post-operative cognitive dysfunction. Mentally, some patients "just aren't the same" for months or longer after surgery. Other factors play a role, but a small number of patients deteriorate mentally due to anesthesia per se. Those with Alzheimer's disease suffer exacerbations, and those without the diagnosis may have it unmasked by anesthesia, suggesting some relationship.

DVDs and computer games rated for adult use may damage children's mental health Posted: 26 Jun 2012 05:08 PM PDT Media violence does have an effect on children's behavior and a concerted public health response involving parents, professionals, the media and policymakers is needed to reduce its effects, experts say.

Marine energy doubled by predicting wave power Posted: 26 Jun 2012 02:27 PM PDT The energy generated from our oceans could be doubled using new methods for predicting wave power. New research could pave the way for significant advancements in marine renewable energy, making it a more viable source of power. The researchers devised a means of accurately predicting the power of the next wave in order to make the technology far more efficient, extracting twice as much energy as is currently possible.

Alzheimer's spread through the brain mapped: Infects from neuron to neuron Posted: 26 Jun 2012 02:27 PM PDT The inexorable spread of Alzheimer's disease through the brain leaves dead neurons and forgotten thoughts in its wake. Researchers have now shown how toxic proteins are transferred from neuron to neuron.

New mouse model helps explain gene discovery in congenital heart disease Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT Scientists now have clues to how a gene mutation discovered in families affected with congenital heart disease leads to underdevelopment of the walls that separate the heart into four chambers. A new study suggests that abnormal development of heart cells during embryogenesis may be to blame.

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