Why Fruits Ripen And Flowers Die: Scientists Discover How Key Plant Hormone Is Triggered

Why Fruits Ripen And Flowers Die: Scientists Discover How Key Plant Hormone Is Triggered
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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Best known for its effects on fruit ripening and flower fading, the gaseous plant hormone ethylene shortens the shelf life of many fruits and plants by putting their physiology on fast-forward. In recent years, scientists learned a lot about the different components that transmit ethylene signals inside cells. But a central regulator of ethylene responses, a protein known as EIN2, resisted all their efforts.
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Compounds Could Be New Class Of Cancer Drugs
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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Investigators have developed a group of chemical compounds -- the first selective inhibitors of the protein phospholipase D -- that could represent a new class of drugs for treating cancer. The new inhibitors block the invasive migration of breast cancer cells, supporting their further development as antimetastatic agents.
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Novel Benefits Of Fatty Acids In Arteries Shown
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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Scientists have found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart. The beneficial actions of fish oil that block cholesterol buildup in arteries are even found at high fat intakes.
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Stroma Genomic Signature Predicts Resistance To Anthracyclin-based Chemotherapy In Breast Cancer
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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Researchers have developed a new test to predict how breast cancer patients respond to chemotherapy, which could help change how treatment is delivered in the future.
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Improving Brain Processing Speed Helps Memory
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm
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Researchers found that healthy, older adults who participated in a computer-based training program to improve the speed and accuracy of brain processing showed twice the improvement in certain aspects of memory, compared to a control group.
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Y Chromosome And Surname Study Challenges Infidelity 'Myth'
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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Our surnames and genetic information are often strongly connected, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, may help genealogists create more accurate family trees even when records are missing. It also suggests that the often quoted "one in ten" figure for children born through infidelity is unlikely to be true.
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New Cause Of Ozone Wheezing And Potential Treatments Found
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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Researchers have discovered a cause of airway irritation and wheezing after exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant. Using an animal model, the researchers were also able to identify several ways to stop the airways from narrowing. These findings help identify potential new targets for drugs which may eventually help physicians better treat emergency room patients suffering from wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
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Jaguar Spotted In Central Mexico For First Time In 100 Years
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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The jaguar (Panthera onca) has become an animal in danger of extinction over recent decades, due to the fragmentation and deterioration of its habitat, as well as hunting and illegal animal smuggling. As a result of this vulnerability, no individuals have been seen in the centre of Mexico since the start of the 20th Century. However, Mexican and Spanish scientists have now managed to photograph a male jaguar in this region.
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Chronic Drinking Causes More Liver Injury Than Acute Or Binge Drinking
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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Alcohol consumption can cause liver damage. Recent rodent findings have shown that the pattern of drinking can determine the degree of liver damage. Chronic drinking causes more injury to the liver than acute or binge drinking.
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Long-term Recovery Of Reefs From Bleaching Requires Local Action To Increase Resilience
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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Scientists have assessed more than 25 years of data on reef ecosystems recovery from climate change-related episodes of coral bleaching. The new study represents the first comprehensive review of long-term global patterns in reef recovery following bleaching events.
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Slow Down: Those Lines On The Road Are Longer Than You Think
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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How long are the dashed lines that are painted down the middle of a road? Most people answer, "two feet." The real answer is 10 feet. That's the federal guideline for every street, highway, and rural road in the United States, where dashed lines separate traffic lanes or indicate where passing is allowed. A new study found that people grossly underestimate the length of these lines -- that implies we're all misjudging distances as we drive, and are driving too fast as a result.
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Cosmologists 'See' The Cosmic Dawn
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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Scientists have used a computer simulation to predict what the very early universe would have appeared like 500 million years after the "Big Bang."
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Discovery Fleshes Out Metabolism Of Key Environmental And Energy Bacteria
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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Researchers have discovered a new enzyme in a species of bacteria with potential environmental cleanup and energy roles. This is the first multi-protein enzyme of its kind, a lactate dehydrogenase. Although many microbes use a single-protein version, the results suggest that dozens of bacteria use only the multi-protein one instead to consume L-lactate. This advance in understanding the microbe's metabolism will help researchers use the bugs to clean up toxic or radioactive pollutants.
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Unexpected Discovery Could Impact On Future Climate Models
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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Astronomers have made an unexpected find using a polarimeter (an instrument used to measure the wave properties of light) that has the potential to affect future climate models.
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Big-time Financial Risk Taking: Blame It On Their Genes?
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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A new study provides provocative insights that relate to the question of the day: "How in the world did so many financial titans take such huge risks with out nation's well being?" The new research pinpoints the roles specific variants of the serotonin transporter gene and the dopamine receptor gene play in predicting whether people are more or less likely to take financial risks.
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Deducing Diet Of Prehistoric Hominid With Mathematical Models
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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In an unusual intersection of materials science and anthropology, researchers have applied materials-science-based mathematical models to help shed light on the dietary habits of some of mankind's prehistoric relatives.
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MRI Shows Brain Atrophy Pattern That Predicts Alzheimer's
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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Using special MRI methods, researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer's disease.
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Even Natural Perfumes May Cause Allergies
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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Hypersensitivity to perfumes is the most common contact allergy in adults. Research has demonstrated that even natural aromatic oils, which many deem harmless compared to synthetic perfumes, may cause allergic reactions.
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Drugs May Be 'Magic Bullet' For Infants Born With Rare Form Of Diabetes
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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Infants born with a rare form of inherited diabetes might avoid irreversible damage to their pancreases if they are treated immediately with sulfonylurea drugs rather than insulin, according to a new report.
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Electricity From Straw And Other Waste Materials
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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Researchers have developed the first-ever biogas plant to run purely on waste instead of edible raw materials -- transforming waste into valuable material. The plant generates 30 percent more biogas than its predecessors. A fuel cell efficiently converts the gas into electricity.
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Adolescents Involved With Music Do Better In School
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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Music participation, defined as music lessons taken in or out of school and parents attending concerts with their children, has a positive effect on reading and mathematics achievement in early childhood and adolescence.
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Scientists Read Minds With Infrared Scan: Optical Brain Imaging Decodes Preference With 80 Percent Accuracy
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 am
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Researchers at Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital have developed a technique that uses infrared light brain imaging to decode preference -- with the goal of ultimately opening the world of choice to children who can't speak or move.
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An Infectious Hereditary Illness?
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 am
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Could a hereditary illness ever spread by contamination? Researchers studying Huntington's disease have shown that the normal form of huntingtin protein can acquire an abnormal form without any modification of its genetic code. These researchers observed that clumps of abnormal huntingtin protein, characteristic of Huntington's disease, could induce clumping in the normal form of the protein.
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Don't Go Changing: New Chemical Keeps Stem Cells Young
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 am
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Scientists have discovered a chemical that stops stem cells from turning into other cell types, allowing researchers to use these cells to develop new medical treatments more easily.
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Are We Selling Personalized Medicine Before Its Time?
February 11, 2009 at 11:00 am
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We may be a long way off from using genetics to reliably gauge our risks for specific diseases, say researchers. Yet, many companies currently offer personalized genetic testing for diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tout the ability of DNA testing to predict future health risks.
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NASA's Swift, Fermi Probe Fireworks From A Flaring Gamma-ray Star
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 am
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Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The high-energy fireworks arise from a rare type of neutron star known as a soft-gamma-ray repeater. Such objects unpredictably send out a series of X-ray and gamma-ray flares.
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New Nanocars Roll Out
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 am
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The drivers of Rice University's nanocars were surprised to find modified versions of their creation have the ability to roll at room temperature. While practical applications for the tiny machines may be years away, the breakthrough suggests they'll be easier to adapt to a wider range of uses than the originals, which had to be heated to 200 degrees Celsius before they could move across a surface.
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Energy Drinks: Coffee Of A New Generation?
February 11, 2009 at 8:00 am
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"Energy drinks are the coffee of a new generation," according to one nutritionist. "These drinks are made up of sugar and caffeine and can have a negative impact on health," she said.
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First Genome-wide Expression Analysis Yields Better Understanding Of How Leukemia Develops
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
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Scientists have performed a genome-wide expression analysis comparing highly enriched normal blood stem cells and leukemic stem cells, and identified several new pathways that have a key role in cancer development.
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PET/CT May Improve Prognosis For Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
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In the largest study to date to evaluate fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography in the initial staging of inflammatory breast cancer, researchers were able to identify the precise location and extent of metastasis, offering the potential for a better prognosis for patients with this rare, but aggressive form of breast cancer.
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Rhythm Abnormality Of Unknown Origin Strongly Predicts Sudden Death Risk In Heart Disease Patients
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
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Researchers conducting a large, ongoing study to improve detection and prevention of sudden cardiac death were surprised to discover that a specific heart rhythm abnormality -- idiopathic QT interval prolongation -- increased risk five-fold among patients with coronary artery disease.
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Comparative Genomics Reveals Molecular Evolution Of Q Fever Pathogen
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
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Scientists have uncovered genetic clues about why some strains of the pathogen Coxiella burnetii are more virulent than others.
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Workforce Shortages In Mammography Could Threaten Early Detection Rates For Breast Cancer
February 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
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At the current rate of production for new mammography professionals, there will be drastic reductions in the number of mammography professionals per woman age 40 years and older over the next 15-20 years, according to a new study.
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Biofuels Can Provide Viable, Sustainable Solution To Reducing Petroleum Dependence, Study Shows
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 am
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An in-depth study has found that plant and forestry waste and dedicated energy crops could sustainably replace nearly a third of gasoline use by the year 2030.
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New Insights Into Growth Factor's Role In Brain Development; Could Lead To Better Understanding Of Memory Formation
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 am
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New research sheds light on a neural growth factor called proBDNF, finding that it is present and potentially active during the perinatal period when the brain's circuitry and memory-encoding regions are being refined.
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People Without Heart Disease Symptoms Urged To Use Caution In Obtaining Cardiac Imaging Exams
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 am
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At the radiation dose levels used in cardiac imaging exams, such as cardiac CT or nuclear medicine scans, the risk of potentially harmful effects from ionizing radiation are low. However, since the exact level of risk is not known, people without symptoms of heart disease are being urged to think twice about seeking, or agreeing to, these types of cardiac studies.
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MR Spectroscopy May Help Avoid Invasive Procedures And Treatments For Recurrent Brain Lesions
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 am
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A clinical decision model which uses MR spectroscopy to help physicians differentiate between recurrent tumors and changes in the brain tissue due to radiation treatments, may help patients avoid invasive procedures and treatments, according to a study performed at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Health Risks, Economic Burden Of Migraine Reviewed
February 11, 2009 at 2:00 am
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A new study published in Value in Health reviews the economic burden of migraine in the US and recent clinical findings of the health risks of this neurological condition.
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Higher Blood Sugar Levels Linked To Lower Brain Function In Diabetics, Study Shows
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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Cognitive functioning abilities drop as average blood sugar levels rise in people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
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New Approaches To Prevent Transplant Rejection
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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Researchers have discovered what seems to trigger the immune system to attack transplanted organs and cells. The finding could help chart a course to therapies that may prevent graft-versus-host disease.
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Parents 'Avoid Pregnancy' Rather Than Face Testing Choices
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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Parents of children with genetic conditions may avoid the need to choose whether to undergo pre-natal testing or to abort future pregnancies by simply avoiding subsequent pregnancy altogether, a study has found.
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Smokers Putting Their Loved Ones At Risk Of Heart Attacks
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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New research shows that people living with someone who smokes continue to be at risk of the harmful effects of passive smoking.
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Pubic Hair Provides Evolutionary Home For Gorilla Lice
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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There are two species of lice that infest humans: pubic lice, Pthirus pubis, and human head and body lice, Pediculus humanus. A new article suggests one explanation for the separation of the two species.
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New High Frequency Amplifier Harnesses Millimeter Waves In Silicon For Fast Wireless
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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A record breaking amplifier for high capacity wireless communications systems has been developed. New imaging and high capacity wireless communications systems are one step closer to reality, thanks to a new millimeter wave amplifier.
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Internal Choices Are Weaker Than Those Dictated By The Outside World
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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The underlying sense of being in control of our own actions is challenged by new research which demonstrates that the choices we make internally are weak and easily overridden compared to when we are told which choice to make.
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Biodiversity In Crops Decreases Fertilizer Damage To Rivers And Lakes
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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Researchers have identified a link between the diversity of crops grown in farmlands and the pollution they create in lakes and rivers. Ecologists show that when the biodiversity of crops is high, less dissolved nitrogen is found exiting the surrounding watersheds.
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Students Who Feel Connected To Peers, Teachers Are More Inclined To Warn Of Dangerous Fellow Student
February 11, 2009 at 12:00 am
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Students who feel connected to their peers and teachers are more inclined to alert a teacher or principal if they hear a fellow student "wants to do something dangerous," according to a new study. Zero tolerance policies can work against cohesion in schools.