Nude-colored hospital gowns could help doctors better detect hard-to-see symptoms

ScienceDaily (2010-04-29) -- Changing the hue of hospital gowns and bed sheets to match a patient's skin color could greatly enhance a physician's ability to detect cyanosis and other health-related skin color changes, according to a new study.

Why cholesterol damages arteries: Cholesterol crystals lead to life-threatening inflammation in blood vessel walls

ScienceDaily (2010-04-29) -- The presence of crystalline cholesterol in the walls of our arteries is a major cause of life-threatening inflammation. This has been demonstrated in a new study.

Our genes can be set on pause: Embryonic stem cells reveal oncogene's secret growth formula

ScienceDaily (2010-04-29) -- New evidence in embryonic stem cells shows that mammalian genes may all have a layer of control that acts essentially like the pause button on your DVR. The researchers say the results show that the pausing phenomenon, previously thought to be a peculiarity of particular genes, is actually a much more general feature of the genome.

Mexico City air pollution adversely affects the hearts of young people

ScienceDaily (2010-04-28) -- A post-mortem study of the hearts of 21 young people in Mexico City has found that the heart begins to show the adverse effects of air pollution at a young age and that tiny bits of inactivated bacteria that hitch a ride on pollutants may make the problem worse.

Swedish scientists stop acorn barnacles

ScienceDaily (2010-03-15) -- Marine organisms that fasten to the bottoms of ships have always been a scourge to seafaring. By monitoring how the larvae of acorn barnacles go about finding suitable spots to attach themselves, researchers in Sweden have managed to design surfaces that prevent growths -- without using poisonous chemicals.

Fossil of newly discovered species found in Spain

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- A team of psychologists has found an intriguing possibility that personality and brain aging during the golden years may be linked. Researchers found lower volumes of gray matter in the frontal and medial temporal brain regions of volunteers who ranked high in neuroticism traits, compared with higher volumes of gray matter in those who ranked high in conscientious traits.

How chimps deal with death: Studies offer rare glimpses

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- Two studies offer rare glimpses into the ways that chimpanzees deal with the deaths of those closest to them. In one case, researchers describe the final hours and moment of death of an older female chimp living in a small group at a UK safari park as captured on video. In the other, researchers observed as two chimpanzee mothers in the wild carried their infants' mummified remains for a period of weeks after they were lost to a respiratory epidemic.

Cigarette smoking, fructose consumption exacerbates liver disease, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- Recent studies suggest that modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking and fructose consumption can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver of overweight individuals despite drinking little alcohol, causing in some cases liver scarring that can lead to liver failure. Identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disease severity and progression is essential in improving patient outcomes.

Major breakthrough in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases: Novel screening tool in the fight against Chagas disease

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- Chagas disease is one of the most deadly parasitic diseases in the world. It affects more than 10 million people, primarily in the Americas. A reliable and rapid diagnosis is the key in the battle against infection but until now, this has been next to impossible. Researchers have now developed a new diagnostic approach that will help in the fight against Chagas disease.

Early death by junk food? High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice

ScienceDaily (2010-04-26) -- High levels of phosphates may add more "pop" to sodas and processed foods than once thought. That's because researchers have found that the high levels of phosphates accelerate signs of aging. High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can also induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

Uncovering the truth about Viking Men

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- Vikings are associated with weapons and warfare, machismo and mayhem. But many of them had the same concerns about choosing their children’s names as we do, says a UK researcher.

Social networking helps hermit crabs find homes

ScienceDaily (2010-04-28) -- Biologists have discovered that, contrary to their name, hermit crabs may locate new and improved housing using previously unknown social networking skills. These behaviors may shed light on any animal that relies on discrete and reusable resources, from hole-nesting woodpeckers to urban apartment dwellers.

Tapping away desire for those favorite foods and snacks

ScienceDaily (2010-04-26) -- Psychological acupuncture has been shown to be successful in reducing food cravings for up to six months in people who are overweight or obese. The technique combines gentle tapping on pressure points while focusing on particular emotions and thoughts.

Keeping kids away from R-rated movies may prevent early drinking

ScienceDaily (2010-04-26) -- Middle-school children whose parents restrict access to R-rated movies are substantially less likely to start drinking than their peers who are allowed to see such films, a new study suggests.

86 percent of disadvantaged preschoolers lack basic motor skills

ScienceDaily (2010-04-26) -- Disadvantaged urban preschoolers aren't only at risk for failure in the classroom -- they are likely to struggle on playgrounds and athletic fields as well, research suggests. A new study found that more than eight out of every ten disadvantaged preschoolers from two urban areas showed significant developmental delays in basic motor skills such as running, jumping, throwing and catching.

Body's response to repetitive laughter is similar to the effect of repetitive exercise, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-26) -- A new study looks at the effect that mirthful laughter and distress have on modulating the key hormones that control appetite.

Brown rice and cardiovascular protection

ScienceDaily (2010-04-27) -- New research suggests a component in a layer of tissue surrounding grains of brown rice may work against angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a protein and known culprit in the development of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

Beetles stand out using 'Avatar' tech

ScienceDaily (2010-04-20) -- Jewel scarab beetles find each other -- and hide from their enemies -- using the same technology that creates the 3-D effects for the blockbuster movie, "Avatar," research suggests.

Work from home. Save the planet.

Posted by David Gewirtz @ April 20, 2010 @ 9:22 AM in ZDNET

Working from home is a strategic opportunity for the U.S.

For most of 2009, I spent the bulk of my time writing the book How To Save Jobs (you can download it for free here). I did a tremendous amount of research into both how we got where we are as a nation, and also issues impacting our success into the future.

One area I looked at was working from home. Working from home isn’t just a convenience or a way for businesses to save a few bucks on office space. Working from home is a strategic opportunity for the United States.

I spent a few months developing data models to determine if working from home could be good for America. The results I came up with were astounding:

Americans spend 36.9 billion hours a year, commuting
Americans drive 1.9 trillion miles commuting each year
Americans spend $255 billion just for the gasoline to commute
Americans consume 60.5 billion gallons of gasoline (the capacity of 1,298 Exxon Valdez tankers, fully loaded) each year to commute
Americans release 1.16 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into the air while commuting.
By contrast, working from home can provide measurable strategic benefits:

We’d reduce our reliance on foreign oil
We’d reduce pollution
We’d reduce global warming
We’d regain billions of hours of productivity and family time
We’d save a ton of money
We’d reduce our costs for road construction and highway maintenance
We’d even probably reduce the number of latch-key kids
Working from home isn’t a new idea. Farmers, essentially, work from home. The settlers who traveled West in search of new opportunities put down roots and, in most cases, combined living and working into one holistic whole. Even the President of the United States works from home.

So, as you celebrate Earth Day, think about how a more formally supported national work-at-home policy could be transformative for America and Americans. It’s not just the money we’d save. It’s the time we’d get back and the fossil fuels we’d preserve.

When I tell you most people will breathe easier if we had a better work-from-home policy, it’s true — to the tune of 1.16 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere.

Now that’s Earth Day!

Brief meditative exercise helps cognition

ScienceDaily (2010-04-19) -- Psychologists studying the effects of a meditation technique known as "mindfulness " found that meditation-trained participants showed a significant improvement in their critical cognitive skills -- and performed significantly better in cognitive tests than a control group -- after only four days of training for only 20 minutes each day. The results resembled previously studied cognitive improvements connected to far more extensive training in meditation.

Potential benefit of dark chocolate for liver disease patients

ScienceDaily (2010-04-19) -- Doctors could soon be prescribing a dose of dark chocolate to help patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and from dangerously high blood pressure in their abdomen, according to new research.

Facial aging is more than skin deep

ScienceDaily (2010-04-19) -- Facelifts and other wrinkle-reducing procedures have long been sought by people wanting to ward off the signs of aging, but new research suggests that it takes more than tightening loose skin to restore a youthful look. A new study indicates that significant changes in facial bones -- particularly the jaw bone -- occur as people age and contribute to an aging appearance.

Consejos de Isela Palacios para ejercitarse

"...para bajar de peso lo más importante es una alimentación balanceada y hacer ejercicio cardiovascular de calidad. Para esto debes saber cuál es lafrecuencia cardiaca en la que según tu edad te garantiza que estás quemando realmente grasa y no solo calorías. Si eres una persona que frecuentemente hace ejercicio, tu FCR (Frecuencia cardiaca en reposo) será aproximadamente de 60 latidos por minuto; si tu condición física es regular, tu FCR será de 70, pero si de plano te fatiga hasta tener sexo tu FCR puede ser hasta de 80.

Ahora bien, cómo saber tu frecuencia o ritmo cardiaco ideal para quemar grasa? La fórmula de KARVONEN nos dice cómo, asi que saca el tuyo:

• 220-edad-FRCx%Intensidad+FCR
• FCR= Frecuencia cardia en reposo

De seguro dijiste WHAT?! Te daré un ejemplo y verás que sencillo es:

Supongamos que tienes 30 y una buena condición física, esto seria:

220-30=190-60=130x.60=78, esto +60 = a 138

Por lo tanto tu frecuencia cardiaca ideal sería entre 135 y 140 pulsaciones por minuto.

La mayoría de los equipos modernos para hacer cardio cuentan con sensores que al sujetarte despliegan en la pantalla esa frecuencia, pero mi mejor consejo es que compren un reloj frecuenciador o polar (que es lo mismo ) es muy fácil de usar, lo encuentras en tiendas deportivas o departamentales, hay de varios precios, yo uso el más sencillo y económico xq es justo lo que se necesita, los demas tienen mucho mas funciones que en nuestro caso no son necesarias, ok?. Solo así estarán seguros de que están haciendo cardio de calidad.

Otra cosa muy importante es el tiempo, recuerda que para una quema de grasa efectiva hacer cardio entre los 45 y 60minutos es lo que hará la diferencia. Asi que, Que esperas? ¡¡Hazlo ya!!"

Tomado de su Blog personal:  http://isela-palacios.com/blog/?p=279

Urged on by urchins: How sea lilies got their get-up-and-go

ScienceDaily (2010-04-17) -- Nature abounds with examples of evolutionary arms races. Certain marine snails, for example, evolved thick shells and spines to avoid be eaten, but crabs and fish foiled the snails by developing shell-crushing claws and jaws. Now, a study finds that sea urchins have been preying on marine animals known as crinoids for more than 200 million years and suggests that such interactions drove one type of crinoid -- the sea lily -- to develop the ability to escape by creeping along the ocean floor.

Dry regions becoming drier: Ocean salinities show an intensified water cycle

ScienceDaily (2010-04-18) -- There is new evidence that the world's water cycle has already intensified. The stronger water cycle means arid regions have become drier and high rainfall regions wetter as atmospheric temperature increases.

First evidence that chitosan could repair spinal damage

ScienceDaily (2010-04-16) -- Spinal injuries are some of the most debilitating that anyone can suffer. However, a new study offers spinal cord damage sufferers some hope. Researchers have discovered that chitosan, a sugar, can target and repair damaged spinal cord nerve membranes and restore nerve function.

Blinded by jealousy?

ScienceDaily (2010-04-14) -- Jealousy really is "blinding," according to a new study by psychology professors. They found women who were made to feel jealous were so distracted, they could not spot targets in a computer test.

Wildlife still exposed to Exxon Valdez oil 20 years after disaster

ScienceDaily (2010-04-14) -- Scientists in Alaska have discovered that lingering oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill is still ingested by some wildlife more than 20 years after the disaster.

The onion, a natural alternative to artificial preservatives

ScienceDaily (2010-04-14) -- Some components of the onion have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it possible to use this bulb for food preservation, new research from Spain demonstrates.

The new T. rex: A leech with an affinity for noses

ScienceDaily (2010-04-15) -- A new leech species with ferociously large teeth -- recently discovered in noses of children that swam in Peruvian rivers -- is providing insight into the evolutionary relationships among all the leeches that have an affinity for mucus membranes and orifices. Tyrannobdella rex was discovered in the remote Upper Amazon; its regular host remains unknown.

Measuring global water vapor and formaldehyde

ScienceDaily (2010-04-14) -- Atmospheric water vapor is the most important natural greenhouse gas, accounting for about two-thirds of the natural greenhouse effect. Despite this importance, its role in climate and its reaction to climate change are still difficult to assess. Many details of the hydrological cycle are poorly understood, such as the process of cloud formation and the transport and release of latent heat contained in the water vapor. In contrast to other important greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, water vapor has a much higher temporal and spatial variability.

Undersea superhighway: Long-distance larvae speed to new undersea vent homes

ScienceDaily (2010-04-13) -- Working in a rare, "natural seafloor laboratory" of hydrothermal vents that had just been rocked by a volcanic eruption, scientists have discovered what they believe is an undersea superhighway carrying tiny life forms unprecedented distances to inhabit the post-eruption site.

Physicist sees terahertz imaging as ultimate defense against terrorism

ScienceDaily (2010-04-13) -- A physics professor sees the use of terahertz rays as a critical technology in the defense against suicide bombers and other terrorist activities. He recently described experimental results from a digital video camera invented in their laboratory that uses a terahertz imaging system. One day such a device could be used to scan airport passengers quickly and efficiently.

Social networking utilized by academic to improve student satisfaction

ScienceDaily (2010-04-12) -- Social media could provide a solution for dealing with dissatisfaction among students on the levels of academic feedback they receive at university. A researcher is trialling the use of social media to enhance feedback - through the provision of ‘feed forward’.

Lab-on-a-chip can carry out complex analyses on the spot

ScienceDaily (2010-04-08) -- Many illnesses can be reliably diagnosed through laboratory tests, but these in vitro analyses often use up valuable time. A new system, which can carry out complex analyses on the spot, will soon be ready for the market.

Groundbreaking cyber espionage report released; Identifies Dalai Lama as target

ScienceDaily (2010-04-07) -- Information security experts have released a report documenting a complex ecosystem of cyber espionage that systematically targeted and compromised computer systems in India, the Offices of the Dalai Lama, the United Nations and several other countries.

Rising water temperatures found in US streams and rivers

ScienceDaily (2010-04-07) -- New research by ecologists and hydrologists shows that water temperatures are increasing in many streams and rivers throughout the United States. The research documents that 20 major US streams and rivers -- including such prominent rivers as the Colorado, Potomac, Delaware, and Hudson -- have shown statistically significant long-term warming.

Eating like a bird helps forests grow

ScienceDaily (2010-04-07) -- Lions, tigers and bears top the ecological pyramid -- the diagram of the food chain that every school child knows. A new study examines complex interactions in the middle of the pyramid, where birds, bats and lizards consume insects. These predators indirectly benefit plants, scientists report.

Folic acid in dietary supplements could increase risk of breast cancer, Swedish research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-04-07) -- In most women folate, a type of B vitamin, reduces the risk of breast cancer. However, in women with a certain genetic make-up it has shown to be the opposite: folate raises the risk of breast cancer, according to a Swedish nutrition researcher.

New software design technique allows programs to run faster

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- Researchers have developed a new approach to software development that will allow common computer programs to run up to 20 percent faster and possibly incorporate new security measures.

Form or function? Evolution takes different paths, genetic study shows

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- Biologists long have known that both the appearance of organisms and their inner workings are shaped by evolution. But do the same genetic mechanisms underlie changes in form and function? A new study suggests not.

Endocrine disruptors: Babies absorb the most bisphenol A

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- The hormonally active substance bisphenol A is contained in many synthetic and packaging materials. As a result, the substance can find its way into the food chain and the human organism. Just who is exposed and to what extent is shown in a new study: babies who are fed with polycarbonate bottles are especially at risk.

Commercial fishing estimated to kill millions of sea turtles

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- The number of sea turtles inadvertently snared by commercial fishing gear over the past 20 years may reach into the millions, according to the first peer-reviewed study to compile sea turtle bycatch data from gillnet, trawl and longline fisheries worldwide.

Scientific risk-taking by young students fades with age, research suggests

ScienceDaily (2010-04-07) -- A scientific theory may fail or succeed initially and be shot down later. Now put yourself in the shoes of elementary school students faced with stating an idea and then facing criticism. This summer, the nation's elementary school science teachers are being told to read about the issue.

Energy crops impact environmental quality, review finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- A new review of scientific literature finds that removal of crop residue for biofuels can adversely impact soil and environmental quality. Conversely, dedicated energy crops can increase soil organic carbon concentration while providing biofuel feedstock.

Researchers design self-test for memory disorders

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- A self-administered test to screen for early dementia could help speed the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. It could also provide health care providers and caregivers an earlier indication of life-changing events that could lie ahead. The handwritten self-assessment, which can take less than 15 minutes to complete, is a reliable tool for evaluating cognitive abilities.

Looking into the future of data-routing with IRIS

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- The Internet is on the verge of overheating, as big network routers are forced to sort through more and more data packets. One solution is to install photonic routers that leave data in the form of light, thereby avoiding unnecessary electronic processing. Researchers have built an operational photonic router prototype that could conceivably manage hundreds of terabits of data per second.

Longer-lasting flowers: Fresh Ideas from new research

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- Tomorrow's fragrant bouquets and colorful potted plants might last longer, thanks to new research.

For better romantic relationships, be true to yourself

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- Be true to yourself, and better romantic relationships will follow, research suggests. A new study examined how dating relationships were affected by the ability of people to see themselves clearly and objectively, act in ways consistent with their beliefs, and interact honestly and truthfully with others.

Bringing dehydrated plants 'back to life': Possible key to desiccation-tolerant plants

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- Drought can take a toll on plants and animals alike. When cells are deprived of water, they shrink, collapsing in upon themselves and, without water as a medium, chemicals and enzymes inside the cells may malfunction. However, some plants, like the aptly named "resurrection fern," can survive extreme measures of water loss, even as much as 95 percent of their water content. How do the cells in these desiccation-tolerant plants remain viable?

Diet of contaminated insects harms endangered carnivorous plants

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- Consumption of insects contaminated with a toxic metal may be a factor in the mysterious global decline of carnivorous plants. New research reveals how meals of contaminated insects have adverse effects on the plants.

Aging motorcyclists hit the road, but at greater risk of injury, death, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- A study of 61,689 motorcyclists between 1996 and 2005 found that the average age of motorcyclists involved in crashes is increasing. Study also found that aging riders are more likely to be injured or die as a result of a motorcycle mishap compared to their younger counterparts.

Exposure to three classes of common chemicals may affect female development, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- Researchers have found that exposure to three common chemical classes -- phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens -- in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development, and put girls at risk for health complications later in life. The study is the first to examine the effects of these chemicals on pubertal development.

Private drinking water supplies pose challenges to public health

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- An estimated three to four million people -- about one in every eight Canadians -- drink water from private supplies. Infrequent testing and maintenance puts consumers of these water supplies at greater risk of contamination than public systems, states a recent article.

Only some like it hot: How birds from different populations react to infections in their natural environment

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- With the help of new radiotelemetry technology, researchers have now succeeded, for the first time, in studying fever in a vertebrate species living in the wild, the North American song sparrow.

Some cells in pancreas can spontaneously change into insulin-producing cells, diabetes researchers show

ScienceDaily (2010-04-06) -- Alpha cells in the pancreas, which do not produce insulin, can convert into insulin-producing beta cells, advancing the prospect of regenerating beta cells as a cure for type 1 diabetes, according to new findings.

Significant step toward lightweight batteries

ScienceDaily (2010-04-04) -- Researchers have made significant progress on a technology that could lead to batteries with up to three times the energy density of any battery that currently exists.

Energy crops impact environmental quality, review finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-05) -- A new review of scientific literature finds that removal of crop residue for biofuels can adversely impact soil and environmental quality. Conversely, dedicated energy crops can increase soil organic carbon concentration while providing biofuel feedstock.

Drug that extends life span prevents Alzheimer's deficits

ScienceDaily (2010-04-02) -- A new report provides more evidence that rapamycin, which has been shown to extend life span in mice, also can improve learning and memory in mice engineered to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Children use space to think about time

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- Space and time are intertwined in our thoughts, as they are in the physical world. For centuries, philosophers have debated exactly how these dimensions are related in the human mind. According to a new paper, children's ability to understand time is inseparable from their understanding of space.

Psychologists search for secret of happiness at work

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- People who are unhappy in life are unlikely to find satisfaction at work, according to a new study.

'Third gender' identified in close relative of olive tree

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- A hitherto unknown reproductive system in a species closely related to the olive tree, Phillyrea angustifolia L., has been discovered. This new reproductive mode explains the mystery of the high frequencies (up to 50%) of male individuals co-occurring with hermaphrodite individuals in this species.

Leonardo Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' reveals more secrets

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- "The Last Supper" -- relentlessly studied, scrutinized, satirized and one the world's most famous paintings -- is still revealing secrets. Researchers have now found new meaning to the food depicted by Leonardo Da Vinci's famous artwork.

What if all software was open source? A code to unlock the desktop

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- A new system makes it possible to add custom features to Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Apple iTunes or any other program. Custom computing would particularly benefit people with disabilities.

Bacon or bagels? Higher fat at breakfast may be healthier than you think

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- According to a new study mice fed a meal higher in fat after waking had normal metabolic profiles. In contrast, mice that ate a more carbohydrate-rich diet in the morning and consumed a high-fat meal at the end of the day saw increased weight gain, adiposity, glucose intolerance and other markers of the metabolic syndrome.

Ocean acidification: 'Evil twin' threatens world's oceans, scientists warn

ScienceDaily (2010-04-01) -- The rise in human emissions of carbon dioxide is driving fundamental and dangerous changes in the chemistry and ecosystems of the world's oceans, marine scientists warn. "Ocean conditions are already more extreme than those experienced by marine organisms and ecosystems for millions of years," the researchers say.

Many factors contribute to adolescents' decision-making autonomy

ScienceDaily (2010-04-02) -- Decision-making within families is an important way for young people to gain independence and responsibility, and adolescence is a time of increasing autonomy. A longitudinal study concludes that teens have more say in certain areas than in others, and that some teens have more autonomy than others.

Smoking is dumb: Young men who smoke have lower IQs, study finds

ScienceDaily (2010-04-02) -- A new study has determined that young men who smoke are likely to have lower IQs than their nonsmoking peers.