ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New form of brain plasticity: How social isolation disrupts myelin production
• Schizophrenia genetic networks identified; Connection to autism found
• Making a better invisibility cloak
• Cultural dimensions of climate change are underestimated, overlooked and misunderstood
• New method of gene identification discovered
• Why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change
• Recipe for 'supercharging' atoms with X-ray laser
• Mutations in genes that modify DNA packaging result in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)
• New way in which plants control flower production
• 'Groundwater inundation' doubles previous predictions of flooding with future sea level rise
• Touch-sensitive plastic skin heals itself
• Using rust and water to store solar energy as hydrogen
• Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women
• Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer
• Climate change threatens giant pandas' bamboo buffet -- and survival
• New research: Limiting carbs to dinner-time increases satiety, reduces risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Statins have potential to treat an autoimmune clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome
• Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you’d expect
• Expensive arthritis treatment no better than steroid therapy, study finds
• Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis, study finds
• Researchers identify impact of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus on joint replacement surgery outcomes
• Study overturns common assumption about knee replacements in morbidly obese individuals
• Decreasing medication does not equal more risks for people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission
• Lower-income patients fare better than wealthier after knee replacement
• Timing of rehabilitation after total knee replacement surgery may hurt patients’ ability to regain and improve function
• Physical activity in childhood may lead to stronger knee structure as an adult
• Weekly soft drink consumption bubbles up knee osteoarthritis; especially in men
• Extra weight linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women
• Autoantibodies could be a warning sign for cardiovascular disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis
• Race and gender: Key factors in lifetime knee osteoarthritis risk; African-American women most at risk
• Depression risk factor for mortality in rheumatoid arthritis; men most at risk
• Bone medication may save knees
• Biologics may prevent premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis, study suggests
• Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed
• Anti-TNF therapy fails to relieve pain caused by hand osteoarthritis, study suggests
• Age-related macular degeneration treatment works even with other eye problem, study finds
• Brain injury and stress disorder strong indicators of vision problems for veterans
• Digital tablets improve speed and ease of reading for people with moderate vision loss
• Glaucoma-related vision loss may increase risk for auto accidents
• Newborn neurons -- even in the adult aging brain -- are critical for memory
• Game changer for arthritis and anti-fibrosis drugs
• It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it: Link between fat cell and brain clock molecules shown
• Better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons
• Early stress may sensitize girls’ brains for later anxiety
• Van Allen Probes: NASA renames radiation belt mission to honor pioneering scientist

New form of brain plasticity: How social isolation disrupts myelin production Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Animals that are socially isolated for prolonged periods make less myelin in the region of the brain responsible for complex emotional and cognitive behavior, researchers report.

Schizophrenia genetic networks identified; Connection to autism found Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Although schizophrenia is highly genetic in origin, the genes involved in the disorder have been difficult to identify. In the past few years, researchers have implicated several genes, but it is unclear how they act to produce the disorder. A new study identifies affected gene networks and provides insight into the molecular causes of the disease.

Making a better invisibility cloak Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST The first functional "cloaking" device reported by electrical engineers in 2006 worked like a charm, but it wasn't perfect. Now a member of the same laboratory has developed a new design that ties up one of the major loose ends from the original device.

Cultural dimensions of climate change are underestimated, overlooked and misunderstood Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST The impact of climate change on many aspects of cultural life for people all over the world is not being sufficiently accounted for by scientists and policy-makers. Cultural factors are key to making climate change real to people and to motivating their responses, new research suggests.

New method of gene identification discovered Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:39 PM PST Scientists studying the genes and proteins of human cells infected with a common cold virus have identified a new gene identification technique that could increase the genetic information we hold on animals by around 70 to 80 per cent.

Why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST Scientists have the first direct evidence that marked changes to Antarctic sea ice drift have occurred over the last 20 years, in response to changing winds. They can now explain why, unlike the dramatic losses reported in the Arctic, the Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change.

Recipe for 'supercharging' atoms with X-ray laser Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST Researchers using a free-electron X-ray laser have found a way to strip most of the electrons from xenon atoms, creating a "supercharged," strongly positive state at energies previously thought too low.

Mutations in genes that modify DNA packaging result in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST A worldwide group of collaborators has found that the way DNA is packaged in people with this form of muscular dystrophy may be responsible for their disease. A genetic error allows the DNA wrapping to relax and thereby allow a muscle-toxic substance to be produced. The mutation occurs in a gene know for its silencing effects.

New way in which plants control flower production Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST The timing of flowering in plants is critical. It can have profound effects on flower, fruit, and seed production, and consequently agricultural yields. This process is known to depend on daylight and temperature cues. However, biologists now reveal there is a second, previously unknown, mechanism that controls flowering.

'Groundwater inundation' doubles previous predictions of flooding with future sea level rise Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:38 PM PST A new study by researchers in Hawaii shows that besides marine inundation (flooding), low-lying coastal areas may also be vulnerable to "groundwater inundation," a factor largely unrecognized in earlier predictions on the effects of sea level rise.

Touch-sensitive plastic skin heals itself Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST Chemists and engineers have created the first synthetic material that is both sensitive to touch and capable of healing itself quickly and repeatedly at room temperature. The advance could lead to smarter prosthetics or more resilient personal electronics that repair themselves.

Using rust and water to store solar energy as hydrogen Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST How can solar energy be stored so that it can be available any time, day or night, when the sun shining or not? Scientists are developing a technology that can transform light energy into a clean fuel that has a neutral carbon footprint: hydrogen. The basic ingredients of the recipe are water and metal oxides, such as iron oxide, better known as rust.

Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST An international group of scientists has identified three genetic regions that predispose Asian women who have never smoked to lung cancer. The finding provides further evidence that risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, especially Asian women, may be associated with certain unique inherited genetic characteristics that distinguishes it from lung cancer in smokers.

Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST A novel miniature diagnostic platform using nuclear magnetic resonance technology is capable of detecting minuscule cell particles known as microvesicles in a drop of blood. Microvesicles shed by cancer cells are even more numerous than those released by normal cells, so detecting them could prove a simple means for diagnosing cancer.

Climate change threatens giant pandas' bamboo buffet -- and survival Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:37 PM PST China's endangered wild pandas may need new dinner reservations – and quickly – based on models that indicate climate change may kill off swaths of bamboo that pandas need to survive.

New research: Limiting carbs to dinner-time increases satiety, reduces risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST An experimental diet with carbohydrates eaten mostly at dinner could benefit people suffering from severe and morbid obesity, according to a new study by researchers in Israel.

Statins have potential to treat an autoimmune clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST New research suggests that statins, traditionally used for cholesterol lowering, could be used in the management of individuals who are at risk for developing clotting because they have autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL).

Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you’d expect Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A new study provides the first estimates of the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients suffering from pregnancy loss, stroke, myocardial infarction and deep vein thrombosis.

Expensive arthritis treatment no better than steroid therapy, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A randomized, double-blind clinical trial has revealed that corticosteroids are more effective than the more expensive treatment in providing pain relief to patients with thumb arthritis.

Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST A low-cost exercise program run by Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City has significantly improved pain, function and quality of life in participants with osteoarthritis, according to new research.

Researchers identify impact of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus on joint replacement surgery outcomes Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Two new studies have overturned common beliefs about joint replacement in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Study overturns common assumption about knee replacements in morbidly obese individuals Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST After total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, patients who are morbidly obese have similar pain and function outcomes as patients who do not fall into this weight category, according to a new study.

Decreasing medication does not equal more risks for people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Extending the time between doses, or tapering, TNF-inhibitor drugs in people with rheumatoid arthritis in remission can be done in some patients without significantly increasing disease activity or impairing joint function, according to new research findings.

Lower-income patients fare better than wealthier after knee replacement Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST Patients who make $35,000 a year or less report better outcomes after knee replacement surgery than people who earn more, research shows.

Timing of rehabilitation after total knee replacement surgery may hurt patients’ ability to regain and improve function Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST While more than 900,000 total knee replacement surgeries were performed in the U.S. in 2011 to treat debilitating knee osteoarthritis, the success rate of post-operative functional gains vary widely, according to new research findings.

Physical activity in childhood may lead to stronger knee structure as an adult Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Being more physically active in childhood is linked to greater knee cartilage and tibial bone area in adulthood, according to new research findings.

Weekly soft drink consumption bubbles up knee osteoarthritis; especially in men Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Sugary soft drink consumption contributes not only to weight gain, but also may play a role in the progression of knee osteoarthritis, especially in men, according to new research findings.

Extra weight linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women, according to new research findings.

Autoantibodies could be a warning sign for cardiovascular disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST The presence of autoantibodies in the blood may be connected to a higher risk of the development of cardiovascular disease, not just in individuals with diagnosed autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, but in the general population, according to new research findings.

Race and gender: Key factors in lifetime knee osteoarthritis risk; African-American women most at risk Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Race and ethnicity, along with gender, are important factors in determining both short-term and lifetime risk of developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, according to new research findings.

Depression risk factor for mortality in rheumatoid arthritis; men most at risk Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST Depression is higher in men and women with rheumatoid arthritis, and may increase mortality in this population, according to new research findings.

Bone medication may save knees Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, a daily dose of strontium ranelate -- a medication prescribed for osteoporosis -- may delay knee osteoarthritis progression. The study also revealed that taking strontium ranelate may improve knee pain, reduce joint damage and the need for surgery.

Biologics may prevent premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis, study suggests Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, treatment with biologic medications may reduce the risk of premature death in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST According to new research, pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the way pain stimuli are processed in the brain. Abnormal pain signal processing may also be related to a lack of responsiveness to opioids, a common class of pain relievers.

Anti-TNF therapy fails to relieve pain caused by hand osteoarthritis, study suggests Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST A new study suggests that anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs (also called anti-TNF) offer no relief to patients with chronic pain caused from hand osteoarthritis.

Age-related macular degeneration treatment works even with other eye problem, study finds Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST The primary treatment for wet macular degeneration, a chronic eye condition that causes vision loss, is effective even if patients have macular traction problems, a new study shows.

Brain injury and stress disorder strong indicators of vision problems for veterans Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST Many veterans of the United States armed forces who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder also have undiagnosed, chronic vision problems, according to two studies.

Digital tablets improve speed and ease of reading for people with moderate vision loss Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST People who have eye diseases that damage their central vision can regain the ability to read quickly and comfortably by using digital tablets, according to a recent study. The research found that people with moderate vision loss could increase their reading speed by 15 words-per-minute, on average. Using a tablet with a back-lit screen resulted in the fastest reading speeds for all study participants, no matter what their level of visual acuity

Glaucoma-related vision loss may increase risk for auto accidents Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST The first study to compare accident rates for drivers who have advanced glaucoma − an eye disease that affects peripheral vision -- with normal-vision drivers, found that the glaucoma group had about twice as many accidents. This study, which was conducted in Japan using a driving simulator, suggests that potential drivers should pass a visual field test to ensure adequate peripheral vision before a license is granted or renewed.

Newborn neurons -- even in the adult aging brain -- are critical for memory Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus are critical for memory retrieval, according to a new study.

Game changer for arthritis and anti-fibrosis drugs Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Medical researchers have identified a way to treat inflammation while potentially minimizing a serious side effect of current medications: the increased risk for infection.

It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it: Link between fat cell and brain clock molecules shown Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST Fat cells store excess energy and signal these levels to the brain. Deletion of the clock gene Arntl, also known as Bmal1, in fat cells, causes mice to become obese, with a shift in the timing of when this nocturnal species normally eats. These findings shed light on the complex causes of obesity in humans.

Better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST A thin, flexible electrode is 10 times smaller than the nearest competition and could make long-term measurements of neural activity practical at last.

Early stress may sensitize girls’ brains for later anxiety Posted: 11 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST High levels of family stress in infancy are linked to differences in everyday brain function and anxiety in teenage girls, according to new results of a long-running population study.

Van Allen Probes: NASA renames radiation belt mission to honor pioneering scientist Posted: 11 Nov 2012 07:17 AM PST NASA has renamed a recently launched mission that studies Earth's radiation belts as the Van Allen Probes in honor of the late James Van Allen. Van Allen was the head of the physics department at the University of Iowa who discovered the radiation belts encircling Earth in 1958.

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