ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Insomnia is linked to increased risk of heart failure
• Putting HiFi into cochlear implants
• Stressed-out tadpoles grow larger tails to escape predators
• Key to heart failure: New therapies on horizon
• Spinal tap -- using cactus spines to isolate DNA
• Focal therapy offers middle ground for some prostate cancer patients
• Modeling Jupiter and Saturn's possible origins
• Assembling the transcriptome of a noxious weed: New resources for studying how plants invade
• New insight into double-protected dance of cell division
• New report confirms almost half of Africa's lions facing extinction
• Safe, long-term opioid therapy is possible
• New tool better estimates pandemic threats
• Scientists discover new mechanisms for relaxing airways using bitter tasting substances
• MRI saves heart muscle
• New clinical tool assesses health risks for older adults
• Scarring of heart muscle linked with increased risk of death in patients with type of cardiomyopathy
• Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles
• Is it a stroke or benign dizziness? A simple bedside test can tell
• Intrusive advising boosts student persistence, class performance
• The making of Antarctica's hidden fjords
• Science of sinkholes: 20 percent of U.S. lies in susceptible areas
• Why fish is better than supplements: Omega-3s from fish vs. fish oil pills better at maintaining blood pressure in mouse model
• Age-related dementia may begin with neurons' inability to rid themselves of unwanted proteins
• Human Y chromosome much older than previously thought
• Stressed proteins can cause blood clots for hours
• Biomass analysis tool is faster, more precise
• Statistical physics offers a new way to look at climate
• Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions
• Obesity makes fat cells act like they're infected
• Turf battle in retina helps internal clocks see the light
• Green tea extract interferes with the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease
• Connectome project releases brain data
• More storms like Sandy? Arctic ice loss amplified Superstorm Sandy violence
• New fossils of crocodilian, hippo-like species from Panama
• New evidence that comets could have seeded life on Earth
• First single gene mutation shown to result in type 1 diabetes
• Walking away from back pain
• Better understanding of peripheral neuropathy
• Analytical theory may bring improvements to lithium-ion batteries
• Gene identified that causes obesity in mice: Deleting gene eliminates obesity, could work for humans
• Survey of clinicians: User satisfaction with electronic health records has decreased since 2010
• Jupiter's icy moon: Window into Europa's ocean lies right at the surface
• Seniors who play video games report better sense of emotional well-being
• Genetically corrected stem cells spark muscle regeneration
• On the trail of mucus-eaters in the gut
• Amputee phantom pain linked to brain retaining picture of missing limb
• Remains of extinct giant camel discovered in High Arctic
• Ancient DNA solves 320-year-old mystery: Origins of now extinct Falkland Islands wolf
• For birds, red means 'go': Some flowers evolved red hues favored by birds
• New spectroscopy method could lead to better optical devices such as LEDs and solar cells
• 'Selfish' gene may undermine genome police
• Gravitational telescope creates space invader mirage
• Health benefits of marriage may not extend to all
• Iowa meteorite crater confirmed: USGS airborne surveys back up previous Decorah research
• Mental picture of others can be seen using fMRI, finds new study
• Mars rover Curiosity's recovery on track
• Viruses: More survival tricks than previously thought
• Single gene might explain dramatic differences among people with schizophrenia
• New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder
• Synthetic fuels from natural gas and biomass? New Fischer-Tropsch catalyst invented

Insomnia is linked to increased risk of heart failure Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:03 PM PST People who suffer from insomnia appear to have an increased risk of developing heart failure, according to the largest study to investigate the link.

Putting HiFi into cochlear implants Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:02 PM PST Scientists have developed a way to reprogram cochlear implants that dramatically improves the quality and clarity of users' hearing.

Stressed-out tadpoles grow larger tails to escape predators Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:02 PM PST When people or animals are thrust into threatening situations such as combat or attack by a predator, stress hormones are released to help prepare the organism to defend itself or to rapidly escape from danger —- the so-called fight-or-flight response. Now researchers have demonstrated for the first time that stress hormones are also responsible for altering the body shape of developing animals, in this case the humble tadpole, so they are better equipped to survive predator attacks.

Key to heart failure: New therapies on horizon Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it.

Spinal tap -- using cactus spines to isolate DNA Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST In the family Cactaceae, isolation of genetic material can be difficult due to the presence of polysaccharide-based mucilage content and other secondary compounds. Although important for water storage, these compounds necessitate the use of toxic chemicals and numerous modifications to DNA extraction protocols. Scientists have now developed a novel method for isolation of DNA using cactus spines.

Focal therapy offers middle ground for some prostate cancer patients Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST For men with low-risk prostate cancer, focal laser ablation treats just the diseased portion of the prostate rather than the entire gland. A phase 1 trial found it was safe. None of the nine men in the study had a significant side effect. Seven of the nine patients had no evidence of disease six months later.

Modeling Jupiter and Saturn's possible origins Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST New theoretical modeling provides clues to how the gas giant planets in our solar system -- Jupiter and Saturn -- might have formed and evolved.

Assembling the transcriptome of a noxious weed: New resources for studying how plants invade Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST Scientists have assembled transcriptomes of a noxious weed, Brachypodium sylvaticum, or slender false brome. The transcriptome provides an extensive genetic tool for studying how invasive species, like slender false brome, successfully spread into novel ranges. In addition, the genome is available for a closely related species, Brachypodium distachyon. Together, the transcriptome and genome can be used as a reference for pinpointing differences in slender false brome genes and gene activity that may contribute to its invasive capabilities.

New insight into double-protected dance of cell division Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST Biochemists recently gained new insight into how protein synthesis and degradation help to regulate the delicate ballet of cell division. In particular, they reveal how two proteins shelter each other in "mutually assured cleanup" to insure that division goes smoothly and safely.

New report confirms almost half of Africa's lions facing extinction Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:46 PM PST A new report concludes that nearly half of Africa's wild lion populations may decline to near extinction over the next 20-40 years without urgent conservation measures. The plight of many lion populations is so bleak, the report concludes that fencing them in -- and fencing humans out -- may be their only hope for survival.

Safe, long-term opioid therapy is possible Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST Medical researchers say that prescription opioid abuse can be minimized by monitoring patients closely for harm by using urine drug testing, pill counts, and reviewing prescription drug monitoring program data when available.

New tool better estimates pandemic threats Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST A simple new method better assesses the risks posed by emerging zoonotic viruses (those transmissible from animals to humans), according to a new study. Scientists have shown that the new tool can produce transmissibility estimates for swine flu (the H3N2v-M virus), allowing researchers to better evaluate the possible pandemic threat posed by this virus.

Scientists discover new mechanisms for relaxing airways using bitter tasting substances Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:45 PM PST An interdisciplinary team of scientists have taken a step forward in understanding how the substances that give some foods their bitter flavor also act to reverse the contraction of airway cells, a process known as bronchodilation. This effect may one day be harnessed to provide improved treatments for airway obstructive diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

MRI saves heart muscle Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:44 PM PST Researchers using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) discovered that thinned non-contracting heart muscle caused by a heart attack can potentially improve in function and be reversed after cardiac bypass surgery. This was found to be true in a small number of patients who had limited scarring of the heart, as detected by MRI.

New clinical tool assesses health risks for older adults Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:44 PM PST Medical researchers have developed a tool that can help determine – and perhaps influence – senior citizens' 10-year survivability rates.

Scarring of heart muscle linked with increased risk of death in patients with type of cardiomyopathy Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST Detection of midwall fibrosis (the presence of scar tissue in the middle of the heart muscle wall) via magnetic resonance imaging among patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (a condition affecting the heart muscle) was associated with an increased likelihood of death, according to a new study.

Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens, according to a new study.

Is it a stroke or benign dizziness? A simple bedside test can tell Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST A bedside electronic device that measures eye movements can successfully determine whether the cause of severe, continuous, disabling dizziness is a stroke or something benign, according to new results.

Intrusive advising boosts student persistence, class performance Posted: 05 Mar 2013 02:40 PM PST Researcher found that getting intrusive could increase student support at universities. The researcher examined intrusive advising -- working with at-risk students to identify challenges and solutions to overcome them -- in residence halls.

The making of Antarctica's hidden fjords Posted: 05 Mar 2013 01:03 PM PST Antarctica's topography began changing from flat to fjord-filled starting about 34 million years ago, according to a new report from a team of geoscientists.

Science of sinkholes: 20 percent of U.S. lies in susceptible areas Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:57 PM PST A devastating sinkhole occurred in Florida on Feb. 28, 2013, raising questions and concerns about this incredible phenomenon. Around 20 percent of the United States lies in areas susceptible to sinkhole events, highlighting the need for research and to be informed about this hazard.

Why fish is better than supplements: Omega-3s from fish vs. fish oil pills better at maintaining blood pressure in mouse model Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:45 PM PST Researchers show how fish oils help lower blood pressure via vasodilation at ion channels. In vascular smooth muscle cells, such as those that line blood vessels, ion channels that span the outer membrane of a cell to let such ions as sodium, calcium, and potassium in and out, are critical to maintaining proper vessel pressure.

Age-related dementia may begin with neurons' inability to rid themselves of unwanted proteins Posted: 05 Mar 2013 12:45 PM PST New research explains a novel interaction between aging and how neurons dispose of unwanted proteins and why this impacts the rising prevalence of dementia with advancing age.

Human Y chromosome much older than previously thought Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST The discovery and analysis of an extremely rare African American Y chromosome push back the time of the most recent common ancestor for the Y chromosome lineage tree to 338,000 years ago. This time predates the age of the oldest known anatomically modern human fossils.

Stressed proteins can cause blood clots for hours Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST New research has revealed how stresses of flow in the small blood vessels of the heart and brain could cause a common protein to change shape and form dangerous blood clots. The scientists report that the proteins can remain in the clot-initiating shape for up to five hours before settling back into their normal, healthy shape.

Biomass analysis tool is faster, more precise Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST A screening tool eases and greatly quickens one of the thorniest tasks in the biofuels industry: determining cell wall chemistry to find plants with ideal genes.

Statistical physics offers a new way to look at climate Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PST New research suggests that statistical simulations rooted in basic physics could make for new climate models that are more useful and require less brute-force computing power. A new article shows how statistical simulations can be applied to fluid jets like the ones in Earth's atmosphere and oceans.

Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PST Concussions can occur in sports and in combat, but health experts do not know precisely which jolts, collisions and awkward head movements during these activities pose the greatest risks to the brain. To find out, engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries. This approach could lead to new medical treatment options and some sports rule changes to reduce brain trauma among players.

Obesity makes fat cells act like they're infected Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Scientists report that a high calorie diet causes fat cells to act as if under pathogenic attack. The researchers have identified a root cause of the diet-caused fat tissue inflammation that has baffled medical researchers for decades.

Turf battle in retina helps internal clocks see the light Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST With every sunrise and sunset, our eyes make note of the light as it waxes and wanes, a process that is critical to aligning our circadian rhythms to match the solar day so we are alert during the day and restful at night. Watching the sun come and go sounds like a peaceful process, but scientists have discovered that behind the scenes, millions of specialized cells in our eyes are fighting for their lives to help the retina set the stage to keep our internal clocks ticking.

Green tea extract interferes with the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Researchers have found a new potential benefit of a molecule in green tea: preventing the misfolding of specific proteins in the brain.

Connectome project releases brain data Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST The Human Connectome Project, a five-year endeavor to link brain connectivity to human behavior, has released a set of high-quality imaging and behavioral data to the scientific community.

More storms like Sandy? Arctic ice loss amplified Superstorm Sandy violence Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Researchers have shown that the severe loss of summertime Arctic sea ice – attributed to greenhouse warming – appears to increase the frequency of atmospheric blocking events like the one that steered Hurricane Sandy into the US Northeast.

New fossils of crocodilian, hippo-like species from Panama Posted: 05 Mar 2013 11:51 AM PST Paleontologists have discovered remarkably well-preserved fossils of two crocodilians and a mammal previously unknown to science during recent Panama Canal excavations that began in 2009.

New evidence that comets could have seeded life on Earth Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST Scientists have shown that complex molecules can form on icy dust in space, suggesting that comets may have brought these molecules to Earth and seeded the growth of more complex building blocks of life. The team zapped icy snowballs of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, producing complex molecules, such as dipeptides, that are capable of catalyzing the formation of more complex structures.

First single gene mutation shown to result in type 1 diabetes Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST A new study has shown that a single gene called SIRT1 may be involved in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. The study represents the first demonstration of a monogenetic defect leading to the onset of T1D.

Walking away from back pain Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST A new study says a low-cost program of aerobic walking is just as effective as expensive clinical therapy in the treatment of lower back pain.

Better understanding of peripheral neuropathy Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST Researchers have unlocked the key to a mechanism for peripheral neuropathy in people with multiple brain tumors.

Analytical theory may bring improvements to lithium-ion batteries Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:14 AM PST Researchers have shown theoretically how to control or eliminate the formation of "dendrites" that cause lithium-ion batteries to fail, an advance that if realized would improve safety and might enable the batteries to be charged within a matter of minutes instead of hours.

Gene identified that causes obesity in mice: Deleting gene eliminates obesity, could work for humans Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:13 AM PST Researchers have discovered that deleting a gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet, a finding they believe could be replicated in humans.

Survey of clinicians: User satisfaction with electronic health records has decreased since 2010 Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:12 AM PST Survey results indicate that satisfaction and usability ratings for certified electronic health records (EHRs) have decreased since 2010 among clinicians across a range of indicators. Overall, user satisfaction fell 12 percent from 2010 to 2012. Users who are "very dissatisfied" increased 10 percent during the same time period.

Jupiter's icy moon: Window into Europa's ocean lies right at the surface Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:12 AM PST If you could lick the surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa, you would actually be sampling a bit of the ocean beneath, according to astronomers. Astronomers have found the strongest evidence yet that salty water from the vast liquid ocean beneath Europa's frozen exterior actually makes its way to the surface.

Seniors who play video games report better sense of emotional well-being Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:12 AM PST New research finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being.

Genetically corrected stem cells spark muscle regeneration Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:11 AM PST Researchers have combined genetic repair with cellular reprogramming to generate stem cells capable of muscle regeneration in a mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

On the trail of mucus-eaters in the gut Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PST Microbiologists have for the first time succeeded in directly observing microorganisms feeding on the intestinal mucosa.

Amputee phantom pain linked to brain retaining picture of missing limb Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PST Changes in the brain following amputation have been linked to pain arising from the missing limb, called "phantom pain," in a brain imaging study. Arm amputees experiencing the most phantom limb pain were found to maintain stronger representation of the missing hand in the brain -- to the point where it was indistinguishable from people with both hands.

Remains of extinct giant camel discovered in High Arctic Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PST Remains of an extinct giant camel have been discovered on Ellesmere Island in Canada's High Arctic. The evidence collected is from 30 fragments of a leg bone, dating to about three-and-a-half million years ago from the mid-Pliocene Epoch, when the planet was undergoing a global warm phase.

Ancient DNA solves 320-year-old mystery: Origins of now extinct Falkland Islands wolf Posted: 05 Mar 2013 10:04 AM PST Researchers have found the answer to one of natural history's most intriguing puzzles -- the origins of the now extinct Falkland Islands wolf and how it came to be the only land-based mammal on the isolated islands -- 460 kilometers from the nearest land, Argentina.

For birds, red means 'go': Some flowers evolved red hues favored by birds Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST New research has shown that certain Australian native flowers have shifted away from using insects as pollinators and evolved their flower color to the red hues favored by birds.

New spectroscopy method could lead to better optical devices such as LEDs and solar cells Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST A new spectroscopy method helps distinguish the orientations of light-emitters in layered nanomaterials and other thin films. The method could lead to better thin-film optical devices like LEDs and solar cells.

'Selfish' gene may undermine genome police Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST Biologists have been observing the "selfish" genetic entity segregation distorter (SD) in fruit flies for decades. Its story is a thriller among molecules, in which the SD gene destroys maturing sperm that have a rival chromosome. A new study reveals a tactic that gives SD's villainy an extra edge.

Gravitational telescope creates space invader mirage Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most powerful available to astronomers, but sometimes it too needs a helping hand. This comes in the form of Einstein's general theory of relativity, which makes galaxy clusters act as natural lenses, amplifying the light coming from very distant galaxies.

Health benefits of marriage may not extend to all Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:09 AM PST Marriage may not always be as beneficial to health as experts have led us to believe, according to a new study.

Iowa meteorite crater confirmed: USGS airborne surveys back up previous Decorah research Posted: 05 Mar 2013 07:02 AM PST Recent airborne geophysical surveys near Decorah, Iowa are providing an unprecedented look at a 470-million-year-old meteorite crater concealed beneath bedrock and sediments. The aerial surveys, a collaboration of the U.S. Geological Survey with the Iowa and Minnesota Geological Surveys, were conducted in the last 60 days to map geologic structures and assess the mineral and water resources of the region.

Mental picture of others can be seen using fMRI, finds new study Posted: 05 Mar 2013 06:10 AM PST It is possible to tell who a person is thinking about by analyzing images of his or her brain. Our mental models of people produce unique patterns of brain activation, which can be detected using advanced imaging techniques according to a new study.

Mars rover Curiosity's recovery on track Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:40 AM PST NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has transitioned from precautionary "safe mode" to active status on the path of recovery from a memory glitch last week. Resumption of full operations is anticipated by next week.

Viruses: More survival tricks than previously thought Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Among eukaryotes with modified nuclear genetic codes, viruses are unknown. Until now it had been believed that the modifications to the genetic code effectively prevented new viral infections. However, researchers have now reported the first example of a virus that can be shown to have crossed the boundary from organisms using the standard genetic code to those with an alternate genetic code.

Single gene might explain dramatic differences among people with schizophrenia Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Some of the dramatic differences seen among patients with schizophrenia may be explained by a single gene that regulates a group of other schizophrenia risk genes.

New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Researchers have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

Synthetic fuels from natural gas and biomass? New Fischer-Tropsch catalyst invented Posted: 05 Mar 2013 05:07 AM PST Inspired by patents from the 1960s audio cassette recording industry, chemists now developed a new Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. It can be used for the making of synthetic fuels from natural gas and biomass.

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