ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• An inside look at carnivorous plants
• How a neurotransmitter acts to coordinate a compound movement through two different receptors in C. elegans
• Speaking a tonal language (such as Cantonese) primes the brain for musical training
• HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic
• Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better
• Pedestrians at serious risk when drivers are 'permitted' to turn left
• Can synthetic biology save wildlife? From re-creating extinct species to the risk of genetically modified super-species
• Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease
• New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders
• Old drug offers new hope against rare, deadly childhood disease​
• Interactive textbook offers new resource for chemists
• White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity
• Heart failure doesn't discriminate
• Rising temperature difference between hemispheres could dramatically shift rainfall patterns in tropics
• Investigational vaccine not effective in reducing post-operative staph infections
• Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• Mortality rates have increased at hospitals in rural communities for certain conditions
• Medication duloxetine helps reduce pain from chemotherapy
• Research examines ancient Puebloans and the myth of maize
• Total buzz kill: Metals in flowers may play role in bumblebee decline
• Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health
• Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds
• Craters on the moon: Pre-existing mineralogy may survive lunar impacts
• Sensitive sites: Research examines preservation of Southwest archaeology in time of tight budgets
• Tiny grazers play key role in marine ecosystem health
• College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes
• Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch
• Ozone masks plants volatiles, plant eating insects confused
• BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind
• Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks
• Solar village to house microgrid project
• Seismic hazards: Seismic simulation code speeds up
• Access to mental health care lacking for children, teens across the U.S.
• Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice
• How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus
• Stop 'bad guys with guns' by implementing good policies
• Survey shows many Republicans feel America should take steps to address climate change
• Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy
• New insights on how spiral galaxies get their arms
• Switching to a power stroke enables a tiny but important marine crustacean to survive
• Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use
• 3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer
• Putting larval cobia to the acid test: Potential resistance to increasingly acidic oceans by certain species of fish
• Fast track to mouse modeling
• Reviewing the work of one of the greatest beetle collectors: Napoleon's General Dejean
• Remaining unnoticed for 100 years, a Kyrgyz onion species strikes with its beauty
• New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection
• Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration
• Surprising findings in mitochondrial biology change long-standing ideas on the protein MTERF1
• Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection
• Organ donation shortfall at large general hospitals in Ontario
• Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people
• Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women
• Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma?
• Second source of potentially disruptive Icelandic volcanoes found
• Gynecomastia has psychological impact on adolescent boys, researchers report
• New Jersey prohibits indoor tanning for minors under 17
• Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology
• NASA's SORCE satellite marks a decade in the sun
• Hubble sees J 900 masquerading as a double star

An inside look at carnivorous plants Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A pitcher plant's work seems simple: Their tube-shaped leaves catch and hold rainwater, which drowns the ants, beetles, and flies that stumble in. But the rainwater inside a pitcher plant is not just a malevolent dunking pool. It also hosts a complex system of aquatic life, including wriggling mosquito, flesh fly, and midge larvae; mites; rotifers; copepods; nematodes; and multicellular algae.

How a neurotransmitter acts to coordinate a compound movement through two different receptors in C. elegans Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT New research show at the single cell level how an external stimulus sets off a molecular chain reaction in the transparent roundworm C. elegans, a process in which a single neurotransmitter coordinates and times two separate actions.

Speaking a tonal language (such as Cantonese) primes the brain for musical training Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT Non-musicians who speak tonal languages may have a better ear for learning musical notes, according to researchers.

HIV self-testing: The key to controlling the global epidemic Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A new international study has confirmed that self-testing for HIV is effective and could be the answer to controlling the global epidemic. This systematic review shows HIV self-testing removes much of the fear and stigma associated with being tested for the disease. This study could pave the way for early detection and treatment around the world, thereby reducing transmission.

Telerobotic system designed to treat bladder cancer better Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT Engineers and doctors have designed a robotic surgery system specifically designed to treat bladder cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in the US and the most expensive to treat.

Pedestrians at serious risk when drivers are 'permitted' to turn left Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT A study to examine driver behavior in permitted left turns has identified what researchers call an "alarming" level of risk to pedestrians crossing the street -- about 4-9 percent of the time, drivers don't even bother to look and see if there are people in the way. The danger to pedestrians, who have a false sense of security, is far higher than had been realized.

Can synthetic biology save wildlife? From re-creating extinct species to the risk of genetically modified super-species Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:25 PM PDT What effects will the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology have on the conservation of nature? The ecological and ethical challenges stemming from this question will require a new and continuing dialogue between members of the synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation communities, according to authors of a new paper.

Feeling hungry may protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A study in mice with genetic mutations seen in human Alzheimer's disease found that the feeling of hunger itself may protect against the disease.

New genetic evidence suggests a continuum among neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT A broad spectrum of developmental and psychiatric disorders, ranging from autism and intellectual disability to schizophrenia, should be conceptualized as different manifestations of a common underlying denominator, "developmental brain dysfunction," rather than completely independent conditions with distinct causes, new research suggests.

Old drug offers new hope against rare, deadly childhood disease​ Posted: 02 Apr 2013 02:11 PM PDT Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is playing a leading role in one of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) first clinical trials to improve treatments for rare and neglected diseases. In this case, the disease is Niemann-Pick Type C, a disorder that causes excess cholesterol to accumulate in the brain, liver and spleen. It affects about 500 children worldwide, leads to neurodegeneration, and usually causes death in the first two decades of life. The compound to be tested is called cyclodextrin, a cyclic sugar long used as an ingredient in other drugs.

Interactive textbook offers new resource for chemists Posted: 02 Apr 2013 02:11 PM PDT A trio of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has created the first-ever fully interactive advanced organic chemistry textbook, called "The Portable Chemist's Consultant: A Survival Guide for Discovery, Process, and Radiolabeling," for industrial chemists working toward new drugs and other goals, as well as organic chemistry students.

White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that an imbalance between the enzyme neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor, ±1-antitrypsin, causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

Heart failure doesn't discriminate Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT Lifetime risk for heart failure is similar for blacks and whites and higher than expected for both groups -- ranging from 20 to 45 percent -- according to a new study.

Rising temperature difference between hemispheres could dramatically shift rainfall patterns in tropics Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:25 PM PDT One often ignored consequence of global climate change is that the Northern Hemisphere is becoming warmer than the Southern Hemisphere, which could significantly alter tropical precipitation patterns, according to a new study by climatologists.

Investigational vaccine not effective in reducing post-operative staph infections Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT Use of a vaccine to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery did not reduce the rate of serious postoperative S aureus infections compared with placebo and was associated with increased mortality among patients who developed S aureus infections, according to a new study.

Decreased melatonin secretion associated with higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT With previous evidence suggesting that melatonin may have a role in glucose metabolism, researchers have found an independent association between decreased secretion of melatonin and an increased risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Mortality rates have increased at hospitals in rural communities for certain conditions Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT In an analysis that included data on more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries admitted to acute care hospitals with a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia between 2002 and 2010, 30-day mortality rates for those admitted to critical access hospitals (designated hospitals that provide inpatient care to individuals living in rural communities) increased during this time period compared with patients admitted to other acute care hospitals.

Medication duloxetine helps reduce pain from chemotherapy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:24 PM PDT Among patients with painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, use of the anti-depressant drug duloxetine for 5 weeks resulted in a greater reduction in pain compared with placebo.

Research examines ancient Puebloans and the myth of maize Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:24 PM PDT New research shows that perhaps the ancient Puebloans weren't as into the maize craze as once thought. Nikki Berkebile has been studying the subsistence habits of Puebloans, or Anasazi, who lived on the southern rim of the Grand Canyon in the late 11th century. Traditional ethnographic literature indicates these ancient American Indians were heavily dependent on maize as a food source, but Berkebile isn't so sure about that.

Total buzz kill: Metals in flowers may play role in bumblebee decline Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:24 PM PDT Beekeepers and researchers nationally are reporting growing evidence that a powerful new class of pesticides may be killing off bumblebees. Now, research points toward another potential cause: metal pollution from aluminum and nickel. A new study finds that bumblebees are at risk of ingesting toxic amounts of metals like aluminum and nickel found in flowers growing in soil that has been contaminated by exhaust from vehicles, industrial machinery, and farming equipment.

Negative emotions in response to daily stress take a toll on long-term mental health Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Our emotional responses to the stresses of daily life may predict our long-term mental health, according to a new study.

Few effective, evidence-based interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder, review finds Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT A new review summarizes the results of a systematic review of clinical interventions for adults exposed to at least one traumatic event such as war, a natural or human-made disaster, motor vehicle accidents, community violence, sexual assault or domestic violence.

Craters on the moon: Pre-existing mineralogy may survive lunar impacts Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Large impacts on the Moon can form wide craters and turn surface rock liquid. Geophysicists once assumed that liquid rock would be homogenous when it cooled. Now researchers have found evidence that pre-existing mineralogy can survive impact melt.

Sensitive sites: Research examines preservation of Southwest archaeology in time of tight budgets Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT New research finds mixed results when it comes to protection and preservation efforts in portions of the Grand Canyon National Park and in the Kaibab National Forest just outside the park.

Tiny grazers play key role in marine ecosystem health Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Tiny sea creatures no bigger than a thumbtack are being credited for playing a key role in helping provide healthy habitats for many kinds of seafood, according to a new study. The little crustacean "grazers," some resembling tiny shrimp, are critical in protecting seagrasses from overgrowth by algae, helping keep these aquatic havens healthy for native and economically important species. Crustaceans are tiny to very large shelled animals that include crab, shrimp, and lobster.

College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT A survey of current and former college athletes finds depression levels significantly higher in current athletes, a result that upended the researchers' hypothesis.

Landmark study describes prostate cancer metastasis switch Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT SPDEF acts as a switch, regulating production of E-Cadherin, the loss of which is a prerequisite of metastasis in many cancers.

Ozone masks plants volatiles, plant eating insects confused Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT Increases in ground-level ozone, especially in rural areas, may interfere not only with predator insects finding host plants, but also with pollinators finding flowers, according to new research.

BRAIN initiative launched to unlock mysteries of human mind Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:58 AM PDT Today at the White House, President Barak Obama unveiled the "BRAIN" Initiative -- a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Epileptic seizures can propagate using functional brain networks Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:46 AM PDT The seizures that affect people with temporal-lobe epilepsy usually start in a region of the brain called the hippocampus. But they are often able to involve other areas outside the temporal lobe, propagating via anatomically and functionally connected networks in the brain. New research findings that link decreased brain cell concentration to altered functional connectivity in temporal-lobe epilepsy are reported in a new article.

Solar village to house microgrid project Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT Four solar homes built by students will soon become home to an experimental microgrid to manage and store renewable energy.

Seismic hazards: Seismic simulation code speeds up Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT Scientists have developed a highly scalable computer code that promises to dramatically cut both research times and energy costs in simulating seismic hazards throughout California and elsewhere.

Access to mental health care lacking for children, teens across the U.S. Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT A new national U.S. survey shows adults who work and volunteer with children and teens do not believe youth have appropriate access to mental health care.

Fatty acid metabolite shows promise against cancer in mice Posted: 02 Apr 2013 11:39 AM PDT Scientists have found that a product resulting from a metabolized omega-3 fatty acid helps combat cancer by cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients that fuel tumor growth and spread of the disease.

How antibodies neutralize mosquito-borne virus Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have learned the precise structure of the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus pathogen while it is bound to antibodies, showing how the infection is likely neutralized.

Stop 'bad guys with guns' by implementing good policies Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT The National Rifle Association has put forward a National Shield School Proposal which supports the placement of armed security in all schools. A new review attempts to find a balanced and unbiased view of the facts within this heated and emotional debate.

Survey shows many Republicans feel America should take steps to address climate change Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT In a recent survey of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents, a majority of respondents (62 percent) said they feel America should take steps to address climate change. More than three out of four survey respondents (77 percent) said the United States should use more renewable energy sources, and of those, most believe that this change should begin immediately.

Stillbirth or pre-term birth outcomes linked to elevated risk of blood clots after pregnancy Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Newly identified pregnancy-related events, such as stillbirth or pre-term birth, may dramatically increase a woman's risk of developing a potentially deadly blood clot immediately after pregnancy, according to the results of a large, population-based study.

New insights on how spiral galaxies get their arms Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Spiral galaxies are some of the most beautiful and photogenic residents of the universe. Our own Milky Way is a spiral. Our solar system and Earth reside somewhere near one of its filamentous arms. And nearly 70 percent of the galaxies closest to the Milky Way are spirals. But despite their common shape, how galaxies like ours get and maintain their characteristic arms has proved to be an enduring puzzle in astrophysics.

Switching to a power stroke enables a tiny but important marine crustacean to survive Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT To escape from the jaws and claws of predators in cold, viscous water, marine copepods switch from a wave-like swimming stroke to big power strokes, a behavior that has now been revealed thanks to 3-D high-speed digital holography.

Mental illness linked to heavy cannabis use Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT People with mental illnesses are more than seven times more likely to use cannabis weekly compared to people without a mental illness, according to new research.

3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics. Researchers report that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing's sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop.

Putting larval cobia to the acid test: Potential resistance to increasingly acidic oceans by certain species of fish Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT Marine biologists have studied the potential effects of ocean acidification on the larvae of cobia (Rachycentron canandum).

Fast track to mouse modeling Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:48 AM PDT What genes are responsible for the development of breast cancer? What are the brain cell mutations that lead to the onset of Alzheimer's? To find new therapies, scientists have to understand how diseases are triggered at cell level. Experiments on genetically modified mice are an indispensable part of basic medical research. Now a method has been found to help laboratories carry out their work with fewer test animals.

Reviewing the work of one of the greatest beetle collectors: Napoleon's General Dejean Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT A soldier, general and politician, Pierre Dejean found his place in history for a different reason -- as one of the greatest beetle collectors. His figure represents a romantic reading of a fearless insect enthusiast who was not afraid to stop on the battlefield to collect a small insect.

Remaining unnoticed for 100 years, a Kyrgyz onion species strikes with its beauty Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT The mountainous regions of Central Asia are particularly rich in the onion genus Allium. Kyrgyzstan has a great plant diversity, with nearly 3800 native vascular plants, including 85 onion species. Among them is a tiny group of minute species that had gone unnoticed for 100 years of botanical studies in the region but was recently discovered in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve.

New light shed on common sexually transmitted infection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Medical researchers have found that a common sexually transmitted infection-causing parasite "cultivates" bacteria beneficial to it, changing thinking about which comes first -- infection or bacteria. The researchers also discovered a previously unknown species of these bacteria.

Cholesterol buildup links atherosclerosis and macular degeneration Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT A new study raises the intriguing possibility that drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol may be effective against macular degeneration, a blinding eye disease.

Surprising findings in mitochondrial biology change long-standing ideas on the protein MTERF1 Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT New findings in mitochondrial biology thoroughly change the idea scientists had for 20 years on the role and importance of the protein MTERF1. For the first time, scientists now have investigated in vivo what was up to now only explored in cell culture.

Cartilage damaged from exercise may aid in early osteoarthritis detection Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder and currently there is no cure. A new study reveals how the nanoscale biomechanical properties of cartilage at joints change at the earliest stages of osteoarthritis, making the tissue more prone to damage during fast physical activities. The findings could improve early detection of the disease as well as tissue engineering strategies to repair damaged cartilage in patients.

Organ donation shortfall at large general hospitals in Ontario Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Organ donation in Ontario is significantly less common at large general hospitals than at hospitals with clinical programs for transplant recipients, which points to missed opportunities to optimize organ donation, according to a new study.

Tonsillectomy in adults with severe recurrent sore throats may benefit some people Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT Tonsillectomy may result in fewer severe sore throats and could benefit some adult patients, according to a randomized trial.

Study reveals risk factors for blood clots in pregnant and postnatal women Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Women who have suffered a still birth or have medical conditions including varicose veins, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or heart disease are at greater risk of developing dangerous blood clots after giving birth, a study has revealed.

Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma? Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT Researchers have reprogrammed lymphoma and leukemia cells to halt their malignancy. Resulting cells remained benign even when no longer subjected to treatment and patients were less likely to develop new tumors.

Second source of potentially disruptive Icelandic volcanoes found Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:45 AM PDT New research has discovered another type of Icelandic volcanic eruption that could cause disruption. The team found magma that is twice as 'fizzy' as previously believed, which increases the likelihood of disruptive ash clouds from future eruptions.

Gynecomastia has psychological impact on adolescent boys, researchers report Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Persistent breast enlargement (gynecomastia) negatively affects self-esteem and other areas of mental and emotional health in adolescent males, researchers report.

New Jersey prohibits indoor tanning for minors under 17 Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT New Jersey sent a strong message to young people that indoor tanning salons can be dangerous to their health. New Jersey has passed a law that bans minors under the age of 17 years old from using indoor tanning devices. The law is based on significant scientific evidence that links indoor tanning to increased risk of developing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.

Fighting listeria and other food-borne illnesses with nanobiotechnology Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Engineering researchers have developed a new method to kill deadly pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, in food handling and packaging. This innovation represents an alternative to the use of antibiotics or chemical decontamination in food supply systems.

NASA's SORCE satellite marks a decade in the sun Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:22 AM PDT NASA's Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite has been providing data on the sun's irradiance for 10 years. SORCE measures electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun and the power per unit area of that energy on Earth's surface.

Hubble sees J 900 masquerading as a double star Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:19 AM PDT A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows Jonckheere 900 or J 900, a planetary nebula -- glowing shells of ionized gas pushed out by a dying star. Discovered in the early 1900s by astronomer Robert Jonckheere, the dusty nebula is small but fairly bright, with a relatively evenly spread central region surrounded by soft wispy edges.

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