ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Major hurdle cleared to diabetes transplants
• Universal paid sick leave reduces spread of flu
• Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries
• Autonomous energy-scavenging micro devices will test water quality, monitor bridges, more
• Odors from human skin cells can be used to identify melanoma
• Nanoparticle opens the door to clean-energy alternatives
• Context crucial when it comes to mutations in genetic evolution
• Warm ocean drives most Antarctic ice shelf loss
• Putting flesh on the bones of ancient fish: Synchrotron X-rays reconstruct soft tissue on 380-million-year-old fish
• Satellite data will be essential to future of groundwater, flood and drought management
• How diving mammals evolved underwater endurance
• Medieval leprosy genomes shed light on disease's history
• Gustatory tug-of-war key to whether salty foods taste good
• Dangerous strains of E. coli may linger longer in water than benign counterparts, study finds
• Black locust tree shows promise for biomass potential
• Evidence for extrasolar planet under construction
• Genetics of dyslexia and language impairment unraveled
• Oysters could rebound more quickly with limited fishing and improved habitat
• Programming blood forming stem cells
• Culprit implicated in neurodegenerative diseases also critical for normal cells
• New fluorescent protein from eel improves key clinical assay
• Protein protects against breast cancer recurrence in animal model
• A peptide to protect brain function
• Greater convenience and safety for wheelchair users
• Study points to role of nervous system in arthritis
• World population could be nearly 11 billion by 2100
• DNA brings materials to life: DNA-coated colloids help create novel self-assembling materials
• New molecular-level understanding of the brain's recovery after stroke
• After an ACL tear: Research opens door to new treatments to improve recovery for athletes
• Light-carved 'nano-volcanoes' hold promise for drug delivery
• Helping to restore balance after inner ear disorder
• Repairing turbines with the help of robots
• Brain-imaging technique can help diagnose movement disorders
• Gene offers an athlete's heart without the exercise
• Gene variants may predict who will benefit from breast cancer prevention drugs
• Helmet crash tests: Don't hit the road without one
• 'Tailing' spiny lobster larvae to protect them
• 'Self-cleaning' pollution-control technology could do more harm than good, study suggests
• Volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older adults
• Austerity cuts to Spanish healthcare system are 'putting lives at risk', experts say
• Stacking up a clearer picture of the universe
• 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients discontinue medication within the first two years
• Prefab houses that are glued, not nailed, together
• Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom
• New catalyst neutralizes gases responsible for climate change
• First evidence of a new phase in neutron stars
• Smart technology makes its way into lighting
• Lighter meals for fish in the northern Baltic Sea
• Cutting post-surgical infection rate
• Deep brain stimulation trial in treatment-resistant obesity links weight loss trend to metabolism increase programmed in metabolic chamber
• Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment
• Every 10 tobacco ad sightings boost teens' risk of starting to smoke by almost 40 percent
• Doubling of deaths among sick moms-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy

Major hurdle cleared to diabetes transplants Posted: 13 Jun 2013 01:18 PM PDT Researchers have identified a way to trigger reproduction in the laboratory of clusters of human cells that make insulin, potentially removing a significant obstacle to transplanting the cells as a treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes.

Universal paid sick leave reduces spread of flu Posted: 13 Jun 2013 01:18 PM PDT Allowing all employees access to paid sick days would reduce influenza infections in the workplace by nearly 6 percent, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis. The researchers simulated an influenza epidemic in Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County and estimated it to be more effective for small, compared to large, workplaces.

Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Graphene nanoribbons and tin oxide make an effective anode for lithium ion batteries, as discovered in early tests.

Autonomous energy-scavenging micro devices will test water quality, monitor bridges, more Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Researchers are using photonics in their quest to "bring the lab to the sample," developing sophisticated micro instruments that scavenge power from sunlight, body heat, or other sources, for uses such as monitoring water quality or assessing bridge safety.

Odors from human skin cells can be used to identify melanoma Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Researchers identified odorants from human skin cells that can be used to identify melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In addition a nanotechnology-based sensor could reliably differentiate melanoma cells from normal skin cells. Non-invasive odor analysis may be a valuable technique in the detection and early diagnosis of human melanoma.

Nanoparticle opens the door to clean-energy alternatives Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Cheaper clean-energy technologies could be made possible thanks to a new discovery. An important chemical reaction that generates hydrogen from water is effectively triggered -- or catalyzed -- by a nanoparticle composed of nickel and phosphorus, two inexpensive elements that are abundant on Earth.

Context crucial when it comes to mutations in genetic evolution Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Evolutionary biologists have found that whether a given mutation is good or bad is often determined by other mutations associated with it. In other words, genetic evolution is context-dependent.

Warm ocean drives most Antarctic ice shelf loss Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Ocean waters melting the undersides of Antarctic ice shelves, not icebergs calving into the sea, are responsible for most of the continent's ice loss, a new study has found.

Putting flesh on the bones of ancient fish: Synchrotron X-rays reconstruct soft tissue on 380-million-year-old fish Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Scientists present for the first time miraculously preserved musculature of 380 million year old armored fish discovered in north-west Australia. This research will help scientists to better understand how neck and abdominal muscles evolved during the transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates.

Satellite data will be essential to future of groundwater, flood and drought management Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT New satellite imagery reveals that several areas across the US are all but certain to suffer water-related catastrophes, including extreme flooding, drought and groundwater depletion. A new report underscores the urgent need to address these current and rapidly emerging water issues at the national scale in the U.S.

How diving mammals evolved underwater endurance Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT Scientists have shed new light on how diving mammals, such as the sperm whale, have evolved to survive for long periods underwater without breathing.

Medieval leprosy genomes shed light on disease's history Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:26 AM PDT Scientists have reconstructed a dozen medieval and modern leprosy genomes -- suggesting a European origin for the North American leprosy strains found in armadillos and humans, and a common ancestor of all leprosy bacteria within the last 4000 years.

Gustatory tug-of-war key to whether salty foods taste good Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:26 AM PDT As anyone who's ever mixed up the sugar and salt while baking knows, too much of a good thing can be inedible. What hasn't been clear, though, is how our tongues and brains can tell when the saltiness of our food has crossed the line from yummy to yucky -- or, worse, something dangerous. Now researchers report that in fruit flies, at least, that process is controlled by competing input from two different types of taste-sensing cells: one that attracts flies to salty foods, and one that repels them.

Dangerous strains of E. coli may linger longer in water than benign counterparts, study finds Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:36 AM PDT A toxin dangerous to humans may help E. coli fend off aquatic predators, enabling strains of E. coli that produce the toxin to survive longer in lake water than benign counterparts, a new study finds. The research may help explain why water quality tests don't always accurately capture health risks for swimmers.

Black locust tree shows promise for biomass potential Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:36 AM PDT Researchers evaluating the biomass potential of woody crops, are taking a closer look at the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), which showed a higher yield and a faster harvest time than other woody plant species that they evaluated, said a crop scientist.

Evidence for extrasolar planet under construction Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:35 AM PDT The keen vision of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has detected a mysterious gap in a vast protoplanetary disk of gas and dust swirling around the nearby star TW Hydrae, located 176 light-years away in the constellation Hydra (the Sea Serpent). The gap's presence is best explained as due to the effects of a growing, unseen planet that is gravitationally sweeping up material and carving out a lane in the disk, like a snow plow.

Genetics of dyslexia and language impairment unraveled Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT A new study of the genetic origins of dyslexia and other learning disabilities could allow for earlier diagnoses and more successful interventions, according to researchers. Many students now are not diagnosed until high school, at which point treatments are less effective.

Oysters could rebound more quickly with limited fishing and improved habitat Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT A new study shows that combining improved oyster restoration methods with limits on fishing in the upper Chesapeake could bring the oyster population back to the Bay in a much shorter period of time. The study assessed a range of management and restoration options to see which ones would have the most likelihood of success.

Programming blood forming stem cells Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT By transferring four genes into mouse fibroblast cells, researchers have produced cells that resemble hematopoietic stem cells, which produce millions of new blood cells in the human body every day. These findings provide a platform for future development of patient-specific stem/progenitor cells, and more differentiated blood products, for cell-replacement therapy.

Culprit implicated in neurodegenerative diseases also critical for normal cells Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT The propensity of proteins to stick together in large clumps -- termed "protein aggregation" -- is the culprit behind a variety of conditions including Huntington's and Alzheimer's. With this notoriety, protein aggregation is considered to be a bad accident of nature. But new research shows that, when kept in balance, protein aggregation has beneficial functions that allow cells to organize themselves. The findings will be valuable as researchers design treatments for diseases that involve this process.

New fluorescent protein from eel improves key clinical assay Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:42 AM PDT Unagi, the sea-going Japanese freshwater eel, harbors a fluorescent protein that could serve as the basis for a new clinical test for bilirubin, a critical indicator of human liver function, hemolysis, and jaundice, according to researchers. The discovery also sheds light on the mysterious and endangered Unagi that could contribute to its conservation.

Protein protects against breast cancer recurrence in animal model Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:42 AM PDT Precisely what causes breast cancer recurrence has been poorly understood. But now a piece of the puzzle has fallen into place: Researchers have identified a key molecular player in recurrent breast cancer – a finding that suggests potential new therapeutic strategies.

A peptide to protect brain function Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:22 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed a new peptide, called NAP or Davunetide, that has the capacity to both protect and restore critical cell functions in the brain. Her findings indicate that NAP could be an effective tool in combating effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's.

Greater convenience and safety for wheelchair users Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:20 AM PDT With modern communication aids, users of electric powered wheelchairs can operate a PC and cellphone without human assistance. A new module is set to transform electric powered wheelchairs into communication hubs.

Study points to role of nervous system in arthritis Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:19 AM PDT Reducing levels of nerve-growth factor may be a key to developing better pain treatments.

World population could be nearly 11 billion by 2100 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:19 AM PDT A new United Nations analysis shows the world population could reach nearly 11 billion by the end of the century, about 800 million more people than the previous projection issued in 2011.

DNA brings materials to life: DNA-coated colloids help create novel self-assembling materials Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:44 AM PDT A colloid is a substance spread out evenly inside another substance. Everyday examples include milk, styrofoam, hair sprays, paints, shaving foam, gels and even dust, mud and fog. One of the most interesting properties of colloids is their ability to self-assemble -- to aggregate spontaneously into well-defined structures, driven by nothing but local interactions between the colloid's particles. Self-assembly has been of major interest in industry, since controlling it would open up a whole host of new technologies, such as smart drug-delivery patches or novel paints that change with light. Scientists have now discovered a technique to control and direct the self-assembly of two different colloids.

New molecular-level understanding of the brain's recovery after stroke Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:44 AM PDT A specific MicroRNA, a short set of RNA (ribonuclease) sequences, naturally packaged into minute (50 nanometers) lipid containers called exosomes, are released by stem cells after a stroke and contribute to better neurological recovery according to a new animal study. The research provides fundamental new insight into how stem cells affect injured tissue and also offers hope for developing novel treatments for stroke and neurological diseases, the leading cause of long-term disability in adult humans.

After an ACL tear: Research opens door to new treatments to improve recovery for athletes Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:44 AM PDT Striking the likes of Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez, tears in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are one of the most rampant and serious knee injuries among athletes. Now, researchers have identified a new drug target that may prevent one of the most dreaded consequences of an ACL tear -- the weakening or loss of muscle tissue (muscle atrophy) that can be a career-killer in sports and ultimately develop into osteoarthritis.

Light-carved 'nano-volcanoes' hold promise for drug delivery Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:44 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method for creating "nano-volcanoes" by shining various colors of light through a nanoscale "crystal ball" made of a synthetic polymer. These nano-volcanoes can store precise amounts of other materials and hold promise for new drug-delivery technologies.

Helping to restore balance after inner ear disorder Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT A new study makes the first attempts to design and test a vestibular prosthesis to help restore balance for those with Meniere's disease. Many disorders of the inner hear which affect both hearing and balance can be hugely debilitating and are currently largely incurable. Cochlear implants have been used for many years to replace lost hearing resulting from inner ear damage. However, to date, there has not been an analogous treatment for balance disorders resulting from inner ear disease.

Repairing turbines with the help of robots Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT Compressor and turbine blades are important components in aircraft engines and gas turbines. When they become damaged, it is often cheaper to repair them than to buy replacements. Now there is a new robotassisted technique that is boosting efficiency.

Brain-imaging technique can help diagnose movement disorders Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT A new study suggests a promising brain-imaging technique has the potential to improve diagnoses for the millions of people with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Gene offers an athlete's heart without the exercise Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT Researchers have found that a single gene poses a double threat to disease: Not only does it inhibit the growth and spread of breast tumors, but it also makes hearts healthier.

Gene variants may predict who will benefit from breast cancer prevention drugs Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT In women at high risk for breast cancer, a long-term drug treatment can cut the risk of developing the disease in half. Researchers have identified two gene variants that may predict which women are most likely to benefit from this therapy.

Helmet crash tests: Don't hit the road without one Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:24 AM PDT A new laboratory study shows bicycle helmets significantly reduce the causes of head, skull and brain injury -- linear and angular head accelerations, and the impact force of a crash. The biomechanical research with crash test dummies found that crashing without a helmet exposes the head to loads up to 9.5 times greater than with a helmet.

'Tailing' spiny lobster larvae to protect them Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT In a new study of spiny lobsters scientists studied the larval dispersal of this species in the Caribbean. The goal of the study was to describe the sources, sinks, and routes connecting the Caribbean spiny lobster metapopulation. The results led the team to propose marine resource management strategies that incorporate larval connectivity and "larval lobster credits" to sustain and rebuild exploited marine populations.

'Self-cleaning' pollution-control technology could do more harm than good, study suggests Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT Environmental scientists shows that air-pollution-removal technology used in "self-cleaning" paints and building surfaces may actually cause more problems than they solve. The study finds that titanium dioxide coatings, seen as promising for their role in breaking down airborne pollutants on contact, are likely in real-world conditions to convert abundant ammonia to nitrogen oxide, the key precursor of harmful ozone pollution.

Volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older adults Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT It turns out that helping others can also help you protect yourself from high blood pressure. New shows that older adults who volunteer for at least 200 hours per year decrease their risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure, by 40 percent. The study suggests that volunteer work may be an effective non-pharmaceutical option to help prevent the condition. Hypertension affects an estimated 65 million Americans and is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease.

Austerity cuts to Spanish healthcare system are 'putting lives at risk', experts say Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT A series of austerity reforms made by the Spanish government could lead to the effective dismantling of large parts of the country's healthcare system, with potentially detrimental effects on the health of the Spanish people, according to new research.

Stacking up a clearer picture of the universe Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT Researchers have proven a new technique that will provide a clearer picture of the Universe's history and be used with the next generation of radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array.

50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients discontinue medication within the first two years Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:23 AM PDT Up to one-third of rheumatoid arthritis patients discontinue or change therapy within the first year of treatment.

Prefab houses that are glued, not nailed, together Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT With prefabricated houses, the dream of having one's own home can quickly become a reality. Until now, nails have been used to hold the individual components together. Now an adhesive tape has been developed to perform this task.

Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT Scientists have created single atom contacts between gold and graphene nanoribbons.

New catalyst neutralizes gases responsible for climate change Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT New technology prevents nitrous oxide decomposing it into nontoxic products. The catalytic system is active, efficient and stable over time and can purify gases emitted by industries related to the production of fertilizers, plastics and coal burning plants to produce electricity or vehicles.

First evidence of a new phase in neutron stars Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT The nuclear 'pasta', called as such due its similarity to the Italian food, limits the period of rotation of pulsars, and astronomers have detected the first evidence of existence of a new phase of matter in the inner crust of neutron stars.

Smart technology makes its way into lighting Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT The lighting systems of the future could be multi-purpose devices not dissimilar to smart phones. In the future, lighting will not just allow us to see but could also be used to survey surroundings, transmit information, reflect moods and make our lives more comfortable. Smart lighting could also save as much as 80 per cent of energy compared to traditional lighting solutions.

Lighter meals for fish in the northern Baltic Sea Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:22 AM PDT The nutrition available for fish in the northern Baltic Sea has become lighter during the past 30 years.

Cutting post-surgical infection rate Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:20 AM PDT Medical researchers are recommending clinical guidelines that will cut the post-surgical infection rate for staph bacteria (including MRSA) by 71 percent and 59 percent for a broader class of infectious agents known as gram-positive bacteria.

Deep brain stimulation trial in treatment-resistant obesity links weight loss trend to metabolism increase programmed in metabolic chamber Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:20 AM PDT A deep brain stimulation trial in treatment-resistant obesity linked a weight loss trend to a metabolism increase programmed in a metabolic chamber, according to a pilot study.

Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:42 PM PDT Free bus travel for teens helps curb road traffic injuries and benefits the environment, reveal the results of an analysis of the free bus scheme in London.

Every 10 tobacco ad sightings boost teens' risk of starting to smoke by almost 40 percent Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:42 PM PDT Tobacco ads really do persuade teens to take up smoking, with every 10 sightings boosting the risk by almost 40 percent, reveals new research.

Doubling of deaths among sick moms-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:42 PM PDT The lack of hard data on the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs in pregnancy has hindered the treatment of pregnant women, contributing to a doubling of deaths amongst mums-to-be with an underlying health problem over the past 20 years, argues a new editorial.

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