ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Wireless power transfer technology for high capacity transit
• Chick magnet? Nest diet has big impact on attractiveness of hihi birds
• Animal bite force: Size of lunch dictates force of crunch
• Kids teach parents to respect the environment
• Lung cancer set to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths among European women
• Large scale production of Edge-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets (EFGnPs)
• Pinpointing protein locations
• Risk of cardiovascular death doubled in women with high calcium intake: High risk only in those taking supplements as well
• Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy
• Protein discovered that prevents light-induced retinal degeneration
• More evidence needed for scale up of mobile device technology in health
• Diclofenac used and recommended globally, despite cardiovascular risks
• Stopping cold: Scientists turn off the ability to feel cold
• Connection between narcissism and envy explained
• Newer, shorter-course antibiotic shows similar effectiveness for treating skin infection
• Eradicating bacteria linked to gastric cancer
• Platelet-rich plasma (prp) treatment shows potential for knee osteoarthritis
• In some dystonia cases, deep brain therapy benefits may linger after device turned off
• Some autism behaviors linked to altered gene
• Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition
• Reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty
• Picky eater fish clean up seaweeds from coral reefs
• Climate change affects the flight period of butterflies in Massachusetts
• NASA satellites find freshwater losses in Middle East
• Molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer identified, potential predictor of treatment outcome
• Building a biochemistry lab on a chip
• Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline
• Discovering cell surface proteins' behavior
• Ancient insects shed light on biodiversity
• 'Get off my lawn:' Song sparrows escalate territorial threats
• Precision of GPS in cities improved by 90 percent
• Identification of abnormal protein may help diagnose, treat ALS and frontotemporal dementia
• Cell shape changes during mitosis
• Using light to control cell clustering
• Scientists create automated 'time machine' to reconstruct ancient languages
• Cheap, strong lithium-ion battery developed
• Long-term success rates for eradication of Barrett's esophagus after endoluminal therapies
• Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself
• Early music lessons boost brain development
• Model aims to help companies make products we actually want
• New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells
• Scopolamine: An old drug with new psychiatric applications
• Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays, study finds
• Helicopter parenting can violate students' basic needs
• Nanotech'ed RNA drug reduces ovarian cancer tumors by 83 percent
• Modern growing methods may be culprit of 'coffee rust' fungal outbreak
• Carbon sponge could soak up coal emissions
• Synthetic circuit allows dialing gene expression up or down in human cells
• Teaching teens that people can change reduces aggression in school
• Differential parenting found to negatively affect whole family, even the favored child
• Negative stereotypes about boys hinder their academic achievement
• A new 'virtual moderator' helps reach consensus in troubled negotiations
• Low-arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits
• Ziziphora effective in the battle against gastric cancer, study suggests
• Biological connections in microelectronics
• Help for patients with tuberous sclerosis
• 'Near-miss' asteroid tracked
• New study examines victims and cyberstalking
• Alcohol abusers' depression often related to drinking
• Cognitive scientists advance the art of magic with a study of Penn & Teller’s 'cups and balls' illusion

Wireless power transfer technology for high capacity transit Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Scientists have developed a wireless power transfer technology that can be applied to high capacity transportation systems such as railways, harbor freight, and airport transportation and logistics. The technology supplies 60 kHz and 180 kW of power remotely to transport vehicles at a stable, constant rate.

Chick magnet? Nest diet has big impact on attractiveness of hihi birds Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Chicks that stock up on their five-a-day outshine their love rivals in later life, a new study shows.

Animal bite force: Size of lunch dictates force of crunch Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Even in the same animal, not all bites are the same. A new study finds that because the force in a muscle depends on how much it is stretched, an animal's bite force depends on the size of what it is biting. The finding has direct implications for ecology and evolution.

Kids teach parents to respect the environment Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST A child can directly influence the attitude and behavior of their parents towards the environment without them even knowing it. Researchers have, for the first time, provided quantitative support for the suggestion that environmental education can be transferred between generations and that it can actually affect behavior.

Lung cancer set to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths among European women Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST Lung cancer is likely to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer death among European women by the middle of this decade, according to new research. In the UK and Poland it has already overtaken breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths in women.

Large scale production of Edge-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets (EFGnPs) Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST Researchers have pioneered a simple, but efficient and eco-friendly way to produce Edge-selectively functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (EFGnPs) by dry ball milling graphite in the presence of various gases.

Pinpointing protein locations Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST An innovative technique which pinpoints protein locations and helps researchers unravel the protein's functions has just been developed.

Risk of cardiovascular death doubled in women with high calcium intake: High risk only in those taking supplements as well Posted: 12 Feb 2013 04:20 PM PST High intakes of calcium (corresponding to diet and supplements) in women are associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, but cardiovascular disease in particular, compared with women with lower calcium intake, a new study suggests.

Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk.

Protein discovered that prevents light-induced retinal degeneration Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST Scientists have found a protein that protects retinal photoreceptor cells from degeneration caused by light damage. This protein may provide a new therapeutic target for both an inherited retinal degenerative disease and age-related macular degeneration.

More evidence needed for scale up of mobile device technology in health Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST Despite the hundreds of pilot studies using mobile health -- also known as 'mHealth'', which describe medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices -- there is insufficient evidence to inform the widespread implementation and scale-up of this technology, according to researchers.

Diclofenac used and recommended globally, despite cardiovascular risks Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST A new study finds that the painkiller diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the same class as aspirin) is the most commonly used NSAID in the 15 countries studied and is included in the essential medicines lists of 74 low-, middle- and high-income countries, despite its known tendency to cause heart attacks and strokes in vulnerable patients.

Stopping cold: Scientists turn off the ability to feel cold Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST Neuroscientists have isolated chills at a cellular level, identifying the sensory network of neurons in the skin that relays the sensation of cold.

Connection between narcissism and envy explained Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST Narcissism has long been associated with envy in the field of psychology, but a new study provides new evidence about that connection.

Newer, shorter-course antibiotic shows similar effectiveness for treating skin infection Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST Treatment with a newer antibiotic, tedizolid phosphate, once daily for 6 days was statistically noninferior (no worse than) in efficacy to the antibiotic linezolid twice daily for 10 days for both early (at day 2 to 3) and sustained (at day 11) clinical responses in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, according to a new study.

Eradicating bacteria linked to gastric cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST In an analysis of the results of interventions to eradicate the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (a risk factor for gastric cancer) in seven diverse community populations in Latin America, researchers found that geographic site, demographic factors, adherence to initial therapy and infection recurrence may be as important as the choice of antibiotic regimen in H pylori eradication interventions, according to a new study.

Platelet-rich plasma (prp) treatment shows potential for knee osteoarthritis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST A new study has shown that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) holds great promise for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment improved pain and function, and in up to 73% of patients, appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.

In some dystonia cases, deep brain therapy benefits may linger after device turned off Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST Two patients freed from severe to disabling effects of dystonia through deep brain stimulation therapy continued to have symptom relief for months after their devices accidentally were fully or partly turned off, according to a new report.

Some autism behaviors linked to altered gene Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST Scientists have identified a genetic mutation that may underlie common behaviors seen in some people with autism, such as difficulty communicating and resistance to change.

Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST Ever wonder how sometimes people still get through security with explosives on their person? Research has revealed a new way to better detect molecules associated with explosive mixtures.

Reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST For the first time, scientists have measured how successfully a queen ant establishes new colonies. The work revealed that the queen was still reproducing several decades after mating.

Picky eater fish clean up seaweeds from coral reefs Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:44 PM PST Using underwater video cameras to record fish feeding on South Pacific coral reefs, scientists have found that herbivorous fish can be picky eaters – a trait that could spell trouble for endangered reef systems.

Climate change affects the flight period of butterflies in Massachusetts Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:44 PM PST Biologists have found that butterflies show signs of being affected by climate change in a way similar to plants and bees, but not birds, in the Northeast United States. The researchers focused on Massachusetts butterfly flight periods, comparing current flight periods with patterns going back more than 100 years using museum collections and the records of dedicated citizen scientists. Their findings indicate that butterflies are flying earlier in warmer years.

NASA satellites find freshwater losses in Middle East Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:11 AM PST A new study using data from a pair of gravity-measuring NASA satellites finds that large parts of the arid Middle East region lost freshwater reserves rapidly during the past decade.

Molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer identified, potential predictor of treatment outcome Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:10 AM PST A recently described master regulator protein may explain the development of aberrant cell growth in the pancreas spurred by inflammation. The team profiled gene expression of mouse pancreatic ductal and duct-like cells from different states -- embryonic development, acute pancreatitis and K-ras mutation-driven carcinogenesis -- to find the molecular regulation of these processes.

Building a biochemistry lab on a chip Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Miniaturized laboratory-on-chip systems promise rapid, sensitive, and multiplexed detection of biological samples for medical diagnostics, drug discovery, and high-throughput screening. Using micro-fabrication techniques and incorporating a unique design of transistor-based heating, researchers are further advancing the use of silicon transistor and electronics into chemistry and biology for point-of-care diagnostics.

Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Creeping climate change in the Southwest appears to be having a negative effect on pinyon pine reproduction, a finding with implications for wildlife species sharing the same woodland ecosystems, says a University of Colorado Boulder-led study.

Discovering cell surface proteins' behavior Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Chemists are advancing scientific understanding of the structure and function of glycoproteins, in particular the number and positioning of sugars on them. Glycoproteins are membrane proteins and are often involved in human diseases. They facilitate communication between cells.

Ancient insects shed light on biodiversity Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Evolutionary biologists have discovered that modern tropical mountains' diversity patterns extended up into Canada about 50 million years ago. Their findings confirm an influential theory about change in modern species diversity across mountains, and provide evidence that global biodiversity was greater in ancient times than now.

'Get off my lawn:' Song sparrows escalate territorial threats Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:19 AM PST Territorial song sparrows use increasingly threatening signals to ward off trespassing rivals. First an early warning that matches the intruder's song, then wing waving -- a bird's version of "flipping the bird" -- as the dispute heats up, and finally, if all other signals have failed, attack.

Precision of GPS in cities improved by 90 percent Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Researchers have developed a new system which improves the ability of a GPS to determine a vehicle's position as compared to that of conventional GPS devices by up to 90 percent, and which can be installed in any vehicle at a very low cost.

Identification of abnormal protein may help diagnose, treat ALS and frontotemporal dementia Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment. Researchers are beginning to recognize ALS and FTD as part of a spectrum disorder with overlapping symptoms. Now investigators have discovered an abnormal protein that first forms as a result of genetic abnormalities and later builds up in the brains of many patients with either disease.

Cell shape changes during mitosis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Scientists have gained new insight into the process of mitosis in mammalian cells. Researchers have succeeded in deciphering a heretofore unknown mechanism that plays a key role in cell shape changes during mitosis. They investigated the transient degradation of a protein that regulates specific structures of the mechanical scaffold of the cell, the actin cytoskeleton.

Using light to control cell clustering Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:17 AM PST A new study pairs light and genetics to give researchers a powerful new tool for manipulating cells. Results of the study show how blue light can be used as a switch to prompt targeted proteins to accumulate into large clusters.

Scientists create automated 'time machine' to reconstruct ancient languages Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Ancient languages hold a treasure trove of information about the culture, politics and commerce of millennia past. Yet, reconstructing them to reveal clues into human history can require decades of painstaking work. Now, scientists have created an automated "time machine," of sorts, that will greatly accelerate and improve the process of reconstructing hundreds of ancestral languages.

Cheap, strong lithium-ion battery developed Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Researchers have developed a new lithium-ion battery design that uses porous silicon nanoparticles in place of the traditional graphite anodes to provide superior performance.

Long-term success rates for eradication of Barrett's esophagus after endoluminal therapies Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST A new study reports that endoluminal (endoscopic) therapies, combining resection and ablation techniques, for patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or early mucosal cancer have a high success rate, with durable results and a low risk of complications. The researchers noted that endoscopic surveillance after successful eradication is required.

Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Notorious among athletes and trainers as career killers, Achilles tendon injuries are among the most devastating. Now, by carbon testing tissues exposed to nuclear fallout in post WWII tests, scientists have learned why: Like our teeth and the lenses in our eyes, the Achilles tendon is a tissue that does not repair itself.

Early music lessons boost brain development Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Musical training before the age of seven has a significant effect on the development of the brain, showing that those who began early had stronger connections between motor regions -- the parts of the brain that help you plan and carry out movements.

Model aims to help companies make products we actually want Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers have developed a model that will, hopefully, help companies develop innovative products that people actually want to use. The model is a first step towards capturing the behavior of both companies and consumers, so that we end up with more iPods and fewer Edsels.

New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers have reached a remarkable 10.7 percent efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1 percent held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. Such significant efficiency, independently certified, was achieved with less than two micrometers of photovoltaic active material – 100 times less than with standard techniques.

Scopolamine: An old drug with new psychiatric applications Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Scopolamine is an anticholinergic drug with many uses. For example, it prevents nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.

Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays, study finds Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers say that crew rotation and passengers connections systematically spread flight delays due to a domino effect. The work, that proposes a new methodology to assess the degree of air traffic congestion.

Helicopter parenting can violate students' basic needs Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:18 AM PST When is it time for parents to back away? A new study shows that college students with overcontroling parents are more likely to be depressed and less satisfied with their lives. This so-called helicopter parenting style negatively affects students' well-being by violating their need to feel both autonomous and competent. Parental overinvolvement may lead to negative outcomes in children, including higher levels of depression and anxiety. Studies also suggest that children of overinvolved or overcontroling parents may feel less competent and less able to manage life and its stressors. In contrast, evidence suggests that some parental involvement in children's lives facilitates healthy development, both emotionally and socially.

Nanotech'ed RNA drug reduces ovarian cancer tumors by 83 percent Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:17 AM PST By loading fragile RNA into silicon nanoparticles, researchers have found a new drug delivery system can reduce the size of ovarian tumors by as much as 83 percent -- and stop tumor growth in chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer tissue.

Modern growing methods may be culprit of 'coffee rust' fungal outbreak Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:17 AM PST A shift away from traditional coffee-growing techniques may be increasing the severity of an outbreak of 'coffee rust' fungus that has swept through plantations in Central America and Mexico, according to an ecologist who studies the disease.

Carbon sponge could soak up coal emissions Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:06 AM PST Emissions from coal power stations could be drastically reduced by a new, energy-efficient material that adsorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide, then releases it when exposed to sunlight.

Synthetic circuit allows dialing gene expression up or down in human cells Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:06 AM PST Scientists who built a synthetic gene circuit that allowed for the precise tuning of a gene's expression in yeast have now refined this new research tool to work in human cells, according to new research.

Teaching teens that people can change reduces aggression in school Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST In eight studies involving more than 1,600 diverse 8th-10th grade students, researchers show that teenagers who believe people can't change react more aggressively to a peer conflict than those who think people can change. Following these studies, researchers developed a brief intervention that taught teens that people have the potential to change. The intervention reduced the teens' tendency to see the offense as having been done on purpose, and reduced their desire for aggressive revenge.

Differential parenting found to negatively affect whole family, even the favored child Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST Parents act differently with different children -- for example, being more positive with one child and more negative with another. A new longitudinal study looking at almost 400 Canadian families has found that this behavior negatively affects not only the child who receives more negative feedback, but all the children in the family. The study also found that the more risks experienced by parents, the more likely they will treat their children differentially.

Negative stereotypes about boys hinder their academic achievement Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST Researchers investigated the role of gender stereotypes. They found that from a very young age, children think boys are academically inferior to girls, and they believe that adults think so, too. Each of the three studies (two of which were experimental) included 150+ participants. Findings suggest that negative academic stereotypes about boys are acquired in children's earliest years of primary education and have self-fulfilling consequences.

A new 'virtual moderator' helps reach consensus in troubled negotiations Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST Researchers have designed a new fuzzy ontology-based system to help making decisions in our daily lives.

Low-arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST Scientists have identified aromatic rice with very low arsenic content and higher concentrations of essential nutrients, selenium and zinc.

Ziziphora effective in the battle against gastric cancer, study suggests Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:05 AM PST A recent publication investigating the effects of aloe vera, ginger, saffron and ziziphora extracts as herbal remedies for gastric cancer suggests that the latter may be effective in the treatment of the fourth most common form of the disease.

Biological connections in microelectronics Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:04 AM PST Miniaturization of electronic components is reaching a physical limit. While the solution of three dimensional assembly has the advantage of reducing bulk, the manufacture of electrical connections in these new products remains a technological challenge. Biologists and physicists have developed a system of self-assembled connections using actin filaments for 3-D microelectronic structures. Once the actin filaments become conductors, they join the various components of a system together.

Help for patients with tuberous sclerosis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:04 AM PST Scientists have developed a new therapy for patients suffering from renal tumors associated with the rare genetic disease tuberous sclerosis (TSC). The researchers have succeeded in markedly reducing the tumor volume in TSC patients by using the drug Everolimus.

'Near-miss' asteroid tracked Posted: 12 Feb 2013 07:04 AM PST An asteroid the size of a small office block is due to pass by Earth on Friday 15 February in one of the closest 'near-misses' in recent history. Although there is no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth, the huge rock is being closely monitored by astronomers, as part of an on-going program to monitor 'Near Earth Objects' (NEO).

New study examines victims and cyberstalking Posted: 12 Feb 2013 04:54 AM PST Victims of cyberstalking take more self-protective measures, pay higher out-of-pocket costs to combat the problem and experience greater fear over time than traditional stalking victims, said a researcher.

Alcohol abusers' depression often related to drinking Posted: 12 Feb 2013 04:54 AM PST For problem drinkers, bouts of depressive symptoms are often the direct result of their heavy alcohol intake, according to a new study.

Cognitive scientists advance the art of magic with a study of Penn & Teller’s 'cups and balls' illusion Posted: 12 Feb 2013 04:54 AM PST Cognitive brain researchers have studied a magic trick filmed in magician duo Penn & Teller's theater in Las Vegas, to illuminate the neuroscience of illusion. Their results advance our understanding of how observers can be misdirected and will aid magicians as they work to improve their art.

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