The premier website for science news since 1996. A service of AAAS. http://chinese.eurekalert.org en-us Copyright 2007 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:21:01 EST EurekAlert! http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/images/E_AAAS_logo_small.jpg http://chinese.eurekalert.org The premier online source for science news, a service of AAAS 20 webmaster@eurekalert.org A new study reveals that a previously undiscovered mouse gene reduces the two major pathological perturbations commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The research, published by Cell Press in the Nov. 12 issue of the journal Neuron, finds that the novel gene interacts with a key cellular enzyme previously linked with AD pathology, thereby uncovering a new strategy for treating this devastating disorder. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/cp-nmg111909.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The genome of the B73 inbred maize line, which has been sequenced by Patrick Schnable and colleagues, should help answer a number of long-standing questions, including the impact of mobile DNA sequences called transposable elements and how the modern maize genome evolved after two ancestral genomes fused together, researchers report in the Nov. 20 issue of Science. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/aaft-tso111609.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The Nov. 20 issue of Science reports that scientists have sequenced the extremely complex genome of the maize plant, one of our oldest and most important crops. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/aaft-tam111609.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Trying to keep something in mind? The Nov. 20 issue of Science reports that it seems that human beings may have the opportunity to strengthen their memories each and every time they take a nap, according to a recent sleep study. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/aaft-lww111609.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The question of how large animals like the mammoth, mastodon, and ground sloth went extinct -- and how their disappearance from North America affected ecosystems -- has finally been answered with dung, researchers report in the Nov. 20 issue of Science. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/aaft-tdo111609.php Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Patients with heart disease in Norway, a country with no fortification of foods with folic acid, had an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if they had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/jaaj-twf111309.php Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Between 1999 and 2006, the prevalence of adults in the US with high levels of LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, decreased by about one-third, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA. But a high percentage of adults still are not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/jaaj-poh111309.php Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The formation and evolution of the Chinese zoogeographical regions has received much attention and has been widely debated in the academic community. In the edition of Chinese Science Bulletin, paleontologist from Northwest University have published new paleozoology details to suggest that the three zoogeographical faunas of Northeast, North and Mengxin, may have begun to appear during the Middle Pleistocene at the Chinese Palaearctic realm. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/sicp-mpm111709.php Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The highlights of the PNAS tipsheet for November 16-20: Pre-existing immunity against H1N1 flu; Vaccine vector may have increased vulnerability to HIV infection; Tale told by the bristlecone pine; Retaining muscle at advanced age; A mammal like no other. http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-11/potn-111309.php Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST