ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Husband's employment status threatens marriage, but wife's does not, study finds
• Fastest sea-level rise in 2,000 years linked to increasing global temperatures
• Energy drinks linked to substance use in musicians, study shows
• Every second counts when performing CPR: Increase in survival when AED used less than 10 seconds after CPR pause
• Study compares two types of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use
• One skull + two brains = four objects in mind
• Genius of Einstein, Fourier key to new computer vision that mimics how humans perceive 3-D shapes
• Scientists find simple way to produce graphene
• Discoveries in mitochondria open new field of cancer research
• Survival of the weakest? Bacteria develop restraint for survival in a rock-paper-scissors community
• How the immune system responds to hepatitis A virus
• Nanoparticles disguised as red blood cells will deliver cancer-fighting drugs
• Salt marsh sediments help gauge climate-change-induced sea level rise
• Researchers link fastest sea-level rise in two millennia to increasing temperatures
• 'Smart materials' that make proteins form crystals to boost research into new drugs
• Intranasal corticosteroid treatment appears beneficial for children with obstructive sleep apnea
• Analysis of studies evaluates tonsillectomy techniques
• In general, hospitals deliver appropriate surgical care to cancer patients with Medicare, study finds
• In colorectal surgery, risk for blood clots appears higher with open method versus laparoscopy
• Millions with peripheral artery disease not getting vital medications, study finds
• Exercise training program improves outcomes in 'Grinch Syndrome' patients
• Acute Hepatitis A evades immune system more effectively than chronic cousin
• Shorter pause in CPR before defibrillator use improves cardiac arrest survival
• The myth of the 'queen bee': Work and sexism
• Fat substitutes linked to weight gain: Rats on high-fat diet gained more weight after eating low-calorie potato chips made with fat substitutes
• Signaling pathway is 'executive software' of airway stem cells
• Johannes Kepler ATV cargo ferry undocks from International Space Station
• Probing the secrets of the ryegrasses: Chemists design a route for synthesis of loline alkaloids
• Panic symptoms increase steadily, not acutely, after stressful event
• Discovery of parathyroid glow promises to reduce endocrine surgery risk
• 'My dishwasher is trying to kill me': New research finds harmful fungal pathogens living in dishwasher seals
• Informal daycare not as good for kids' cognitive development as formal daycare, study suggests
• Dangers of portable pools uncovered
• High prevalence and severity of childhood food allergy in the US
• Seven new species of mammals discovered on Luzon
• Device could improve harvest of stem cells from umbilical cord blood
• Need a nap? Find yourself a hammock
• No injury spike in Bantam bodychecking
• Reducing lifelong disability from sports injuries in children
• Bodychecking and the risk of injury in youth ice hockey
• Inducing labor is not associated with higher rates of cesarean sections, study finds
• Learning from mom boosts low-income kids' school readiness
• Improving LED lighting
• Parents prefer media content ratings system to age-based ratings in new U.S. national study
• Urinary incontinence doubles risk of postpartum depression
• Black heart attack patients wait longer for advanced treatment, study shows
• Diagnosed autism is more common in an IT-rich region, study finds
• CDT biomarker ineffective for identifying unhealthy alcohol use among HIV-infected adults
• Buzz kills: No amount of alcohol safe to drive
• Improving access to essential medicines through public-private partnerships
• Natural Alzheimer's weapon suggests better treatment
• Prescription for healthier hospital supply chains
• Lab-on-chip sensing: New compact microspectrometer design achieves high resolution and wide bandwidth
• Ancient Mycenaean fortress uncovered
• Poorly coordinated care doubled risk of drug and medical errors in seven countries, study finds
• Compass points to success
• Sexting and infidelity in cyberspace: Humans are still social creatures who need face-to-face contact, study finds
• Singing furniture to enhance quality of life
• First ever drug to treat ‘Celtic Gene’ in cystic fibrosis sufferers
• Careless behaviour of cloud users leads to crucial security threats, experts find

Husband's employment status threatens marriage, but wife's does not, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT A new study of employment and divorce suggest that while social pressure discouraging women from working outside the home has weakened, pressure on husbands to be breadwinners largely remains.

Fastest sea-level rise in 2,000 years linked to increasing global temperatures Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT The rate of sea level rise along the U.S. Atlantic coast is greater now than at any time in the past 2,000 years -- and has shown a consistent link between changes in global mean surface temperature and sea level.

Energy drinks linked to substance use in musicians, study shows Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT Frequent use of energy drinks is associated with binge drinking, alcohol-related social problems and misuse of prescription drugs among musicians, according to new research.

Every second counts when performing CPR: Increase in survival when AED used less than 10 seconds after CPR pause Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT A new study has found the number of people who survive after suffering a cardiac arrest outside a hospital drops significantly if the pause between stopping CPR and using a defibrillator to administer an electric shock is longer than 20 seconds.

Study compares two types of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use Posted: 20 Jun 2011 03:32 PM PDT Not all varieties of botulinum toxin seem to be equally effective in reducing crow's feet wrinkles, according to a new study.

One skull + two brains = four objects in mind Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT A new study by neuroscientists could be put to immediate use in designing more effective cognitive therapy, smarter brain games, better "heads up displays," and much more.

Genius of Einstein, Fourier key to new computer vision that mimics how humans perceive 3-D shapes Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT Two new techniques for computer-vision technology mimic how humans perceive three-dimensional shapes by instantly recognizing objects no matter how they are twisted or bent, an advance that could help machines see more like people.

Scientists find simple way to produce graphene Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT Scientists say they have discovered a simple method for producing high yields of graphene, a highly touted carbon nanostructure that some believe could replace silicon as the technological fabric of the future. The researchers report on a new method that converts carbon dioxide directly into few-layer graphene (less than 10 atoms in thickness) by burning pure magnesium metal in dry ice.

Discoveries in mitochondria open new field of cancer research Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have revealed novel mechanisms in mitochondria that have implications for cancer as well as many other age-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease, heart disease and hypertension. This discovery has pioneered the formation of a whole new field within epigenetics research ripe with possibilities of developing future gene therapies to treat cancer and age-associated diseases.

Survival of the weakest? Bacteria develop restraint for survival in a rock-paper-scissors community Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT New research shows that in some structured communities, organisms increase their chances of survival if they evolve some level of restraint that allows competitors to survive as well, a sort of "survival of the weakest."

How the immune system responds to hepatitis A virus Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT A surprising finding in a study comparing hepatitis C virus (HCV) with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections in chimpanzees sheds new light on the nature of the body's immune response to these viruses.

Nanoparticles disguised as red blood cells will deliver cancer-fighting drugs Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel method of disguising nanoparticles as red blood cells, which will enable them to evade the body's immune system and deliver cancer-fighting drugs straight to a tumor.

Salt marsh sediments help gauge climate-change-induced sea level rise Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT A newly constructed, 2,000-year history of sea level elevations will help scientists refine the models used to predict climate-change-induced sea level rise, according to an international team of climate researchers. The record also shows that the past century had the fastest recorded rate of sea level rise.

Researchers link fastest sea-level rise in two millennia to increasing temperatures Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT An international research team has shown that the rate of sea-level rise along the US Atlantic coast is greater now than at any time in the past 2,000 years and that there is a consistent link between changes in global mean surface temperature and sea level.

'Smart materials' that make proteins form crystals to boost research into new drugs Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new method to make proteins form crystals using "smart materials" that remember the shape and characteristics of the molecule.

Intranasal corticosteroid treatment appears beneficial for children with obstructive sleep apnea Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT Using a fluticasone furoate nasal spray for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children appears to reduce production of certain inflammatory cell proteins that may play a role in development of obstructive sleep apnea, according to a new study.

Analysis of studies evaluates tonsillectomy techniques Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT A review of tonsillectomy-technique studies found that some new methods have advantages over traditional methods, but others are equivalent, according to a new study.

In general, hospitals deliver appropriate surgical care to cancer patients with Medicare, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT Most hospitals follow established practice guidelines for surgery involving Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, but in some cases their practice patterns diverge from the guidelines, according to a new report.

In colorectal surgery, risk for blood clots appears higher with open method versus laparoscopy Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT The risk of developing venous thromboembolism may be nearly twice as high for patients undergoing open surgery for colorectal problems, versus those undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resections, according to a new report.

Millions with peripheral artery disease not getting vital medications, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:12 PM PDT Millions of adults with peripheral artery disease are not receiving the medications needed to reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke and death, according to new research.

Exercise training program improves outcomes in 'Grinch Syndrome' patients Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:11 PM PDT An exercise training program worked better than a commonly used beta blocker, significantly improving -- even curing -- patients with a debilitating heart syndrome, according to new research.

Acute Hepatitis A evades immune system more effectively than chronic cousin Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:11 PM PDT Researchers thought that Hepatitis C might become chronic by disrupting the host's interferon response -- part of the innate immune system that protects the body against any kind of "foreign" invader. However, in comparing data from experiments with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis C, scientists found that Hepatitis A virus, which causes only acute, self-limited disease, is more efficient at inhibiting the host's interferon response, and that the virus can actually linger in the body for almost a year.

Shorter pause in CPR before defibrillator use improves cardiac arrest survival Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:11 PM PDT A shorter pause in CPR just before a defibrillator delivered an electric shock to a cardiac arrest victim's heart significantly increased survival, according to a new study.

The myth of the 'queen bee': Work and sexism Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:10 PM PDT Female bosses sometimes have a reputation for not being very nice. Some display what's called "queen bee" behavior, distancing themselves from other women and refusing to help other women as they rise through the ranks. Now, a new study concludes that it's wrong to blame the woman for this behavior; instead, blame the sexist environment.

Fat substitutes linked to weight gain: Rats on high-fat diet gained more weight after eating low-calorie potato chips made with fat substitutes Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:10 PM PDT Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, a new study suggests.

Signaling pathway is 'executive software' of airway stem cells Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:10 PM PDT Researchers have found out how mouse basal cells that line airways "decide" to become one of two types of cells that assist in airway-clearing duties. The findings could help provide new therapies for either blocked or thinned airways.

Johannes Kepler ATV cargo ferry undocks from International Space Station Posted: 20 Jun 2011 11:13 AM PDT Europe's Johannes Kepler ATV cargo ferry undocked from the International Space Station today at 14:46:30 GMT (16:46:30 CEST). The craft is now leaving the orbital outpost far behind and will end its mission on Tuesday evening as a shooting star over the Pacific Ocean.

Probing the secrets of the ryegrasses: Chemists design a route for synthesis of loline alkaloids Posted: 20 Jun 2011 11:13 AM PDT Loline alkaloids protect plants from attack by insects and have other interesting features that have yet to be studied in detail. Chemists in Germany have developed a method for the effective synthesis of these compounds, which will facilitate further investigations in biology and medicine.

Panic symptoms increase steadily, not acutely, after stressful event Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT When stressful life events, such as a layoff, happen to people with panic disorder, the result is often not an immediate and acute attack. Instead, the stress leads to a gradual but steady increase in symptoms for weeks afterward. Patients, family members and therapists should remain vigilant for the long term, researchers say.

Discovery of parathyroid glow promises to reduce endocrine surgery risk Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that parathyroid glands have a natural fluorescence that can be used during surgery to identify these tiny organs, which are hard to find with the naked eye.

'My dishwasher is trying to kill me': New research finds harmful fungal pathogens living in dishwasher seals Posted: 20 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT A potentially pathogenic fungus has found a home living in extreme conditions in some of the most common household appliances, researchers have found. A new paper shows that these sites make perfect habitats for extremotolerant fungi (which includes black yeasts). Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health.

Informal daycare not as good for kids' cognitive development as formal daycare, study suggests Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT Formal daycare may be better for a child's cognitive development than informal care by a grandparent, sibling, or family friend, according to a study of single mothers and their childcare choices.

Dangers of portable pools uncovered Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT As the weather gets warmer, many parents will turn to pools to keep their family cool. Due to their low cost and ease of use, portable pools -- which include wading pools, inflatable pools and soft-sided, self-rising pools -- have become an increasingly popular alternative to expensive in-ground pools or water park visits. A new study has found that these pools may be more dangerous than many parents realize.

High prevalence and severity of childhood food allergy in the US Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT A national study of food allergies in the US, the largest of its kind, finds that more children have food allergies than previously reported.

Seven new species of mammals discovered on Luzon Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT Biologists have discovered seven previously unknown species of mammals in the Philippines, increasing the number of native mammals known from Luzon Island (excluding bats) from 42 to 49 (17 percent).

Device could improve harvest of stem cells from umbilical cord blood Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT A graduate student team has invented a system to significantly boost the number of stem cells collected from a newborn's umbilical cord and placenta, so that many more patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders can be treated.

Need a nap? Find yourself a hammock Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT For grownups, drifting off for an afternoon snooze is often easier said than done. But many of us have probably experienced just how simple it can be to catch those zzz's in a gently rocking hammock. By examining brain waves in sleeping adults, researchers now have evidence to explain why that is.

No injury spike in Bantam bodychecking Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT A new study shows that when bodychecking is introduced into Bantam ice hockey there is no difference between overall injury rates or concussion, regardless of whether players have prior bodychecking experience in Pee Wee.

Reducing lifelong disability from sports injuries in children Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT To protect children from lifelong injuries in sports, we need a public health approach similar to that mounted against smoking and drunk driving, according to experts.

Bodychecking and the risk of injury in youth ice hockey Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:20 AM PDT The age at which bodychecking is introduced in youth ice hockey does not appear to affect overall risk of injury and concussion, although introducing it at the Pee Wee level (ages 11-12) reduces the risk of injury resulting in more than seven days loss from playing time for Bantam ice hockey players (ages 13-14), found new research.

Inducing labor is not associated with higher rates of cesarean sections, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:21 AM PDT Inducing labor in the weeks around term, or from week 39 to week 41, is not connected with higher rates of cesarean section compared with waiting for a later spontaneous or induced labor.

Learning from mom boosts low-income kids' school readiness Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:21 AM PDT Previous research says on average, children living in poverty are less well prepared to start school than children from middle-income homes. Now, new research says home learning experiences may help low-income children's school readiness.

Improving LED lighting Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:21 AM PDT A new light-emitting diode (LED) light uses an array of LEDs 100 times smaller than conventional LEDs. The new device has flexibility, maintains lower temperature and has an increased life-span over existing LEDs.

Parents prefer media content ratings system to age-based ratings in new U.S. national study Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:20 AM PDT Although parents appreciate having media ratings systems to help protect their kids from questionable content in movies, video games and television, the current age-based system doesn't meet their needs, according to a new study. The study found that parents would prefer media ratings that focus on detailed content information.

Urinary incontinence doubles risk of postpartum depression Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT Women with urinary incontinence after giving birth are almost twice as likely to develop postpartum depression as those without incontinence. Health professionals should be proactive and ask women about any bladder problems as part of their postpartum assessments.

Black heart attack patients wait longer for advanced treatment, study shows Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT A new study reveals why black heart attack patients wait longer for advanced treatment after arriving at some hospital emergency rooms. The differences in care may be explained by hospital quality, rather than the race of individual patients. Black patients were much more likely to go to slow hospitals than were whites, and as a result waited six hours longer to get life-saving procedures.

Diagnosed autism is more common in an IT-rich region, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT A new study has for the first time found that autism diagnoses are more common in an information technology-rich region. The researchers predicted that autism spectrum conditions (ASC) would be more common in populations enriched for 'systemizing', which is the drive to analyze how systems work, and to predict, control and build systems. These skills are required in disciplines such as engineering, physics, computing and mathematics.

CDT biomarker ineffective for identifying unhealthy alcohol use among HIV-infected adults Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT Researchers have found that among HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems, measuring their carbohydrate-deficient transferrin biomarker was a poor and inaccurate method for detecting unhealthy drinking.

Buzz kills: No amount of alcohol safe to drive Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT In the United States, the blood-alcohol limit may be 0.08 percent, but no amount of alcohol seems to be safe for driving, according to new research. A study finds that blood-alcohol levels well below the U.S. legal limit are associated with incapacitating injury and death.

Improving access to essential medicines through public-private partnerships Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT A new report asks why products like Coca-Cola can reach remote villages in developing nations while essential medicines like antibiotics cannot always be found. The report documents the poor availability of essential health products (EHPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa and explores how to improve EHP distribution via collaborations with the private sector.

Natural Alzheimer's weapon suggests better treatment Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Scientists have shown a molecular chaperone is working like a waste management company to collect and detoxify high levels of toxic amyloid beta peptide found in Alzheimer's disease. It was known that the molecular chaperone, HspB1, was present in the hallmark plaque of Alzheimer's patients but its role remained a mystery.

Prescription for healthier hospital supply chains Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT An analysis of hospital supply chains holds promise for labor (and economic) savings related to stocking the supplies used by health care providers.

Lab-on-chip sensing: New compact microspectrometer design achieves high resolution and wide bandwidth Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Engineers have designed a new microspectrometer architecture using compact doughnut-shaped resonators. An 81-channel instrument achieved 0.6-nanometer resolution over a spectral range of more than 50 nanometers with a footprint less than one square millimeter.

Ancient Mycenaean fortress uncovered Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT New research in Cyprus reveals the remnants of a Late Bronze Age (1500-750 B.C.) fortress that may have functioned to protect an important urban economic center in the ancient world.

Poorly coordinated care doubled risk of drug and medical errors in seven countries, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Poorly coordinated care increases the likelihood of medication and medical errors by up to 200% and cost-related barriers increase the likelihood by up to 160 percent, according to a new study. Being hospitalized, having multiple chronic conditions and making greater use of health care services were also associated with the risk of errors. Research covered nearly 12,000 patients from seven countries.

Compass points to success Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:55 AM PDT Psychologists in the UK have launched a commercial software tool to measure brain performance that will aid researchers in higher education and pharmaceutical companies.

Sexting and infidelity in cyberspace: Humans are still social creatures who need face-to-face contact, study finds Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:55 AM PDT Although sex and infidelity are now only a keyboard away, at the end of the day, there is no substitute for physical, face-to-face contact in our sexual relationships, according to a new study.

Singing furniture to enhance quality of life Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:52 AM PDT Researchers will explore how a cross between intelligent furniture and toys can encourage children with disabilities to become more active.

First ever drug to treat ‘Celtic Gene’ in cystic fibrosis sufferers Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:52 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new treatment for cystic fibrosis. The new drug will benefit sufferers who have the 'Celtic Gene', a genetic mutation which is particularly common in Ireland.

Careless behaviour of cloud users leads to crucial security threats, experts find Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:52 AM PDT Scientists in Germany have discovered major security vulnerabilities in numerous virtual machines published by customers of Amazon's cloud. Among 1100 public Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), which are used to provide cloud services, about 30 percent are vulnerable, allowing attackers to manipulate or compromise web services or virtual infrastructures, the researchers say.