ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Shorter height is directly associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease
• Investigators discover mechanism responsible for tumor invasion in brain cancer
• Can arts, crafts and computer use preserve your memory?
• Autism's early neuronal 'neighborhood'
• Alternating antibiotics could make resistant bacteria beatable
• Distance running may be an evolutionary 'signal' for desirable male genes
• Bacteria inhibit bat-killing fungus, could combat white-nose syndrome
• Allergy drug inhibits hepatitis C in mice
• Worms, germs lead to better immune function
• Butterflies deceive ants using chemical strategies
• Chinese giant salamander strikes prey in front, approaching from the side
• Game played in sync increases children's perceived similarity, closeness
• California's solar incentive program has had only modest impact on adoption rates
• Biologists identify brain tumor weakness
• Don’t make me into a farmer: Northern Europeans to Neolithic interlopers
• Muscles matter in baseball
• Tumor cells that mimic blood vessels could help breast cancer spread to other sites
• Ebola vaccine effective in a single dose
• Scientists predict gradual, prolonged permafrost greenhouse gas emissions, allowing us more time to adapt
• Violent formation of the moon: New view
• First look at 'wasabi receptor' brings insights for pain drug development
• In first human study, new antibody therapy shows promise in suppressing HIV infection
• Obesity-related receptors have a unique structure
• Complex organic molecules discovered in infant star system: Hints that building blocks of chemistry of life are universal
• Recipe for saving coral reefs: Add more fish
• Pesticide exposure contributes to heightened risk of heart disease
• Improved understanding of protein complex offers insight into DNA replication initiation mechanism basics
• Rats fed a dietary fiber supplement had better weight control
• Fountain of youth uncovered in mammary glands of mice, by breast cancer researchers
• What can brain-controlled prosthetics tell us about the brain?
• A digital field guide to cancer cells
• Unraveling the origin of the pseudogap in a charge density wave compound
• Inkjet-printed liquid metal could bring wearable tech, soft robotics
• Could a dose of nature be just what the doctor ordered?
• Increase in inflammation linked to high traffic pollution for people on insulin
• Making natural gas easier to transport and store: Cagey material acts as alcohol factory
• Small-scale cloud processes characterized: Will improve climate projections
• Hidden quota for women in top management, report suggests
• No association between lung cancer risk in women, reproductive history or hormone use
• Enriched broccoli reduces cholesterol
• Harmless artificial virus developed for gene therapy
• Don't blame kids if they do not enjoy school, study of twins suggests
• Researchers shed light on link between diet, Epstein-Barr
• How science, storytelling influence debate over vaccines
• When health risks go down, worker productivity goes up
• Gene study helps explain Legionnaires' probe complications
• Osteoporosis-related fractures in China expected to double by 2035
• Ice on Mars: Mars has belts of glaciers consisting of frozen water
• A glass fiber that brings light to a standstill
• Women, regardless of their backgrounds, seek help for the 'got to go' feeling
• Inventing a 2-D liquid
• Overconfidence in new technologies can influence decision-making
• Swimming algae offer researchers insights into living fluid dynamics
• Two ancient human fossils from Laos reveal early human diversity
• Emotional processing deficits linked with white matter damage
• Gay, lesbian job seekers face discrimination
• Plotting the elimination of dengue
• Brain scans reveal how people 'justify' killing
• Older people can learn to spend less time sitting down
• Hidden burden: Most people carry recessive disease mutations

Shorter height is directly associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease Posted: 08 Apr 2015 02:12 PM PDT A genetic approach has been used by researchers to show link between height and disease. "We have shown that the association between shorter height and higher risk of coronary heart disease is a primary relationship and is not due to confounding factors such as nutrition or poor socioeconomic conditions," a researcher notes. Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. Nearly one in six men and one in ten women die from coronary heart disease.

Investigators discover mechanism responsible for tumor invasion in brain cancer Posted: 08 Apr 2015 01:06 PM PDT A neuro-oncology research team recently identified the transcription factor Id4 as a suppressor of tumor cell invasion in glioblastoma. "This finding suggests a novel therapeutic target to decrease invasion of tumor cells in patients and may also provide a novel biomarker that could help predict survival of patients with glioblastoma," explained a researcher.

Can arts, crafts and computer use preserve your memory? Posted: 08 Apr 2015 01:06 PM PDT People who participate in arts and craft activities and who socialize in middle and old age may delay the development in very old age of the thinking and memory problems that often lead to dementia, according to a new study.

Autism's early neuronal 'neighborhood' Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT The first ever systematic look at connections between the entire cerebral cortex and the cerebellum have been gained by researchers using fMRI brain imaging, and its findings provide another piece in the puzzle that could one day lead researchers to develop a reliable brain-based test for identifying autism.

Alternating antibiotics could make resistant bacteria beatable Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT Pioneering new research has unlocked a new technique to help combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, that cause debilitating and often life-threatening human illness.

Distance running may be an evolutionary 'signal' for desirable male genes Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT New research shows that males with higher 'reproductive potential' are better distance runners. This may have been used by females as a reliable signal of high male genetic quality during our hunter-gatherer past, as good runners are more likely to have other traits of good hunters and providers, such as intelligence and generosity.

Bacteria inhibit bat-killing fungus, could combat white-nose syndrome Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT Bacteria found naturally on some bats may prove useful in controlling the deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome, which has devastated bat populations throughout eastern North America and continues to spread across the continent. Scientists isolated bacteria that strongly inhibited the growth of the white-nose syndrome fungus in laboratory tests.

Allergy drug inhibits hepatitis C in mice Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT An over-the-counter drug indicated to treat allergy symptoms limited hepatitis C virus activity in infected mice, according to a study. The results suggest that the drug, chlorcyclizine HCl, potentially could be used to treat the virus in people.

Worms, germs lead to better immune function Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT Researches hypothesize that enhancing biodiversity in laboratory rats, including treating the rats with worms, would suppress their immune systems. Because worms have been shown to subdue inflammatory diseases such as asthma and allergies, the thinking was, the treated immune system would not fight infections as effectively.

Butterflies deceive ants using chemical strategies Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT Oakblue butterflies may use a variety of chemical strategies to deceive ants and avoid their attack.

Chinese giant salamander strikes prey in front, approaching from the side Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT A model of the world's largest living amphibian's bite, the Chinese giant salamander, reveals that it feeds on prey located in front of it, but can also perform quick strikes to the side on approaching animals.

Game played in sync increases children's perceived similarity, closeness Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:52 AM PDT Children who played a simple computer game together in sync felt a greater sense of similarity and closeness -- suggesting that time-based synchronized activities, including in music, dance and sports, could help bring children closer together.

California's solar incentive program has had only modest impact on adoption rates Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:16 AM PDT According to a new analysis, California's aggressive incentive program for installing rooftop solar-electric systems has not been as effective as generally believed.

Biologists identify brain tumor weakness Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:16 AM PDT A new discovery could offer more effective drugs to combat brain tumors, scientists report. The study found that a subset of glioblastoma tumor cells is dependent on a particular enzyme that breaks down the amino acid glycine. Without this enzyme, toxic metabolic byproducts build up inside the tumor cells, and they die.

Don’t make me into a farmer: Northern Europeans to Neolithic interlopers Posted: 08 Apr 2015 11:16 AM PDT Northern Europeans in the Neolithic period initially rejected the practice of farming, which was otherwise spreading throughout the continent, a team of researchers has found. Their findings offer a new wrinkle in the history of a major economic revolution that moved civilizations away from foraging and hunting as a means for survival.

Muscles matter in baseball Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:53 AM PDT A new approach to analyzing baseball-pitching biomechanics may one day give players more personalized feedback and help prevent elbow injuries. In a computer simulation study of baseball pitching, biomedical engineers found that the strength of the elbow muscles of a baseball pitcher likely play a bigger role in injury risk and prevention than previously thought.

Tumor cells that mimic blood vessels could help breast cancer spread to other sites Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT The ability of tumor cells to form tubular networks that mimic blood vessels can help drive metastasis, the spread of breast cancer to different sites in the body, a mouse model study has demonstrated. The researchers are now examining what it takes for tumor cells that have exited from a primary tumor into the bloodstream to then get out of the bloodstream and colonize a new site in the body. "We've identified some interesting targets that we think seem to be key for this step," researcher says.

Ebola vaccine effective in a single dose Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed a quick-acting vaccine that is both safe and effective with a single dose against the Ebola strain that killed thousands of people in West Africa last year. During 2014, the outbreak of the West African Makona strain of Ebola Zaire virus killed nearly 10,000 and caused worldwide concern. With increasing population growth in West Africa, the frequency of contact between humans and natural Ebola virus hosts such as bats will likely rise, potentially leading to more catastrophic outbreaks.

Scientists predict gradual, prolonged permafrost greenhouse gas emissions, allowing us more time to adapt Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT A new scientific synthesis suggests a gradual, prolonged release of greenhouse gases from permafrost soils in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, which may afford society more time to adapt to environmental changes, say scientists.

Violent formation of the moon: New view Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT Scientists have reconciled the accepted model of the moon's formation with the unexpectedly similar isotopic fingerprints of both bodies. The results suggest that the impact that formed the moon was so violent, the resulting debris cloud mixed thoroughly before settling down and forming the moon.

First look at 'wasabi receptor' brings insights for pain drug development Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT In a feat that would have been unachievable only a few years ago, researchers have pulled aside the curtain on a protein informally known as the 'wasabi receptor,' revealing at near-atomic resolution structures that could be targeted with anti-inflammatory pain drugs.

In first human study, new antibody therapy shows promise in suppressing HIV infection Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT In the first results to emerge from HIV patient trials of a new generation of so-called broadly neutralizing antibodies, researchers have found the experimental therapy can dramatically reduce the amount of virus present in a patient's blood.

Obesity-related receptors have a unique structure Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT Researchers have used the SPring-8 synchrotron facility in Harima, Japan to elucidate the structure of two receptors of adiponectin, a protein that is associated with obesity and diabetes. The researchers hope that in the future this work will pave the way toward designing drugs that target these two receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, to reduce the early mortality associated with diabetes.

Complex organic molecules discovered in infant star system: Hints that building blocks of chemistry of life are universal Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:14 AM PDT For the first time, astronomers have detected the presence of complex organic molecules, the building blocks of life, in a protoplanetary disc surrounding a young star. The discovery reaffirms that the conditions that spawned the Earth and Sun are not unique in the Universe.

Recipe for saving coral reefs: Add more fish Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:13 AM PDT Fish are the key ingredients in a new recipe to diagnose and restore degraded coral reef ecosystems, according to scientists.

Pesticide exposure contributes to heightened risk of heart disease Posted: 08 Apr 2015 10:13 AM PDT Pesticide exposure, not obesity alone, can contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk and inflammation in premenopausal women, according to a new study.

Improved understanding of protein complex offers insight into DNA replication initiation mechanism basics Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT A clearer understanding of the origin recognition complex -- a protein complex that directs DNA replication -- through its crystal structure offers new insight into fundamental mechanisms of DNA replication initiation. This will also provide insight into how ORC may be compromised in a subset of patients with Meier-Gorlin syndrome, a form of dwarfism in humans.

Rats fed a dietary fiber supplement had better weight control Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT Rats fed a fiber supplement while on a high fat and high sugar diet show a much lower weight gain than those who did not eat the fiber, a study shows. A team of researchers says the study helps scientists better understand the mechanisms of weight control and energy balance.

Fountain of youth uncovered in mammary glands of mice, by breast cancer researchers Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT The Fountain of Youth has been discovered and it's not in Florida as Ponce de Leon claimed. Instead, it was found in the mammary glands of genetically modified mice. A research team has found that when two factors that control tissue development are removed, you can avoid the impact of aging.

What can brain-controlled prosthetics tell us about the brain? Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT The field of neuroprosthetics has grown significantly over the past two decades thanks to advancements in technology. A biomedical engineer working at the leading edge of the field contends that these devices are also opening a new portal for researchers to understand how the brain functions.

A digital field guide to cancer cells Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT Scientists are mapping the habits of cancer cells, turn by microscopic turn. Using advanced technology and an approach that merges engineering and medicine, a team has compiled some of the most sophisticated data yet on the elaborate signaling networks directing highly invasive cancer cells. Think of it as a digital field guide for a deadly scourge.

Unraveling the origin of the pseudogap in a charge density wave compound Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT By combining a variety of different experimental techniques and theory, researchers obtained unique insights into the nature of the pseudogap state in a canonical charge density wave material.

Inkjet-printed liquid metal could bring wearable tech, soft robotics Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT New research shows how inkjet-printing technology can be used to mass-produce electronic circuits made of liquid-metal alloys for 'soft robots' and flexible electronics.

Could a dose of nature be just what the doctor ordered? Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:46 AM PDT There is a well-established link between time spent in nature and better human health. However, the precise mechanism underlying this connection has been unclear, which has meant limited guidance for planners and policymakers. To address the lack of clarity, the authors posit a dose-response model for examining nature's health effects. Such a model would allow for more finely honed public health recommendations.

Increase in inflammation linked to high traffic pollution for people on insulin Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:45 AM PDT People on insulin living next to roads with heavy traffic had markedly increased concentration of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, compared to those living in lower traffic areas, a two-year epidemiological study has found. Individuals taking oral diabetes medications did not experience increases in CRP concentration.

Making natural gas easier to transport and store: Cagey material acts as alcohol factory Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:45 AM PDT Refining natural gas into an easy-to-transport, easy-to-store liquid so far has been a challenge. But now, a new material is making this process a little easier.

Small-scale cloud processes characterized: Will improve climate projections Posted: 08 Apr 2015 09:45 AM PDT Predicting the types of clouds over the ocean is critical for climate projections. However, current climate models lack the spatial resolution necessary for accurate characterization of certain processes.

Hidden quota for women in top management, report suggests Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:36 AM PDT Companies work fairly hard to place one woman -- but only one -- in a top management position, according to research. A new article found evidence of a 'quota' effect: Once a company had appointed one woman to a top-tier job, the chances of a second woman landing an elite position at the same firm drop substantially -- by about 50 percent, in fact.

No association between lung cancer risk in women, reproductive history or hormone use Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:36 AM PDT A large prospective study of lung cancer found no strong associations between lung cancer risk and a wide range of reproductive history variables and only revealed weak support for a role of hormone use in the incidence of lung cancer.

Enriched broccoli reduces cholesterol Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:36 AM PDT Including a new broccoli variety in the diet reduces blood LDL-cholesterol levels by around 6 percent, according to the results of human trials. The broccoli variety was bred to contain two to three times more of a naturally occurring compound glucoraphanin. It is now available in supermarkets in England, under the name Beneforte.

Harmless artificial virus developed for gene therapy Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:34 AM PDT A team of scientists has produced an alternative to the use of viruses in gene therapy. The researchers synthesized nanoparticles that act as artificial viruses, capable of surrounding DNA fragments and releasing them as therapeutic agents, with no biological risk, into the interior of the cells.

Don't blame kids if they do not enjoy school, study of twins suggests Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:33 AM PDT When children are unmotivated at school, new research suggests their genes may be part of the equation. A study of more than 13,000 twins from six countries found that 40 to 50 percent of the differences in children's motivation to learn could be explained by their genetic inheritance from their parents.

Researchers shed light on link between diet, Epstein-Barr Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:33 AM PDT A new study is shedding light on the connection between diet and a common childhood disease. Using national health data, the researchers determined children who ate certain types of food or dealt with food insecurity may be more likely to contract the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a common virus that often causes no symptoms on its own; it's better known as a cause of infectious mononucleosis and having a connection to some cancers.

How science, storytelling influence debate over vaccines Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:33 AM PDT If there is a silver lining to the measles outbreaks, it's that the risk of getting sick might lessen opposition to vaccines. Moving that pendulum will depend in part on how the public responds to news reports and personal stories about the illness, authors report in a new article.

When health risks go down, worker productivity goes up Posted: 08 Apr 2015 08:32 AM PDT Changes in employee health risk factors have a significant impact on work productivity, reports a new study. The productivity benefits of improved health are "cumulative over time," highlighting the need for companies to make "continuous investments in the culture of health," according to the study.

Gene study helps explain Legionnaires' probe complications Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:27 AM PDT Genetic research helps to explain why tracing the source of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that claimed four lives has proven to be more complicated than scientists hoped. A DNA study of bacteria samples taken from patients infected during the 2012 outbreak in Edinburgh shows that it was caused by several subtypes of the bacteria.

Osteoporosis-related fractures in China expected to double by 2035 Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:27 AM PDT The results of the first study using a health economics model to project osteoporosis-related fractures and costs for the Chinese population, shows that the country's healthcare system will face a dramatic rise in costs over the next few decades. The study forecasts that the incidence and costs of osteoporotic fractures in China will double by 2035, with costs rising to approximately USD 25.58 billion by 2050.

Ice on Mars: Mars has belts of glaciers consisting of frozen water Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:27 AM PDT Mars has distinct polar ice caps, but Mars also has belts of glaciers at its central latitudes in both the southern and northern hemispheres. A thick layer of dust covers the glaciers, so they appear as surface of the ground, but radar measurements show that underneath the dust there are glaciers composed of frozen water. New studies have now calculated the size of the glaciers and thus the amount of water in the glaciers.

A glass fiber that brings light to a standstill Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:26 AM PDT Light has been slowed down by coupling atoms to glass fibers. This technology is an important prerequisite for a future worldwide quantum internet.

Women, regardless of their backgrounds, seek help for the 'got to go' feeling Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:07 AM PDT Regardless of their racial, ethnic, educational or socioeconomic background, women seek help for a frustrating -- and ubiquitous -- feature of becoming 'a woman of a certain age:' the need be close to the women's room.

Inventing a 2-D liquid Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:07 AM PDT Scientists have now shown how to make nanoparticles that are attracted to an oil-water interface but not to each other, creating a system that acts as a two-dimensional liquid.

Overconfidence in new technologies can influence decision-making Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:07 AM PDT Technological advances in recent decades have transformed most aspects of daily life, and technology now plays a major role in business and society. However, little is known about how perceptions of technology might influence decision-making. Now researchers have shown that people tend to overestimate the likelihood of new technologies' success; this overconfidence can influence important decisions, such as investment choices.

Swimming algae offer researchers insights into living fluid dynamics Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:07 AM PDT None of us would be alive if sperm cells didn't know how to swim, or if the cilia in our lungs couldn't prevent fluid buildup. But we know very little about the dynamics of so-called 'living fluids,' those containing cells, microorganisms or other biological structures.

Two ancient human fossils from Laos reveal early human diversity Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:07 AM PDT An ancient human skull and a jawbone found a few meters apart in a cave in northern Laos add to the evidence that early modern humans were physically quite diverse, researchers report. The skull has fully modern features while the jaw is a mix of modern and archaic traits.

Emotional processing deficits linked with white matter damage Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:06 AM PDT Researchers have linked inability to recognize facial affect (emotion) with white matter damage after traumatic brain injury, an important first step toward understanding this emotional processing deficit. Findings indicate a pattern of white matter damage/gray matter atrophy associated with this specific impairment of social cognition after TBI.

Gay, lesbian job seekers face discrimination Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:06 AM PDT Discrimination of gay and lesbian job seekers is commonplace within both private firms and the public sector in the UK, new research finds.

Plotting the elimination of dengue Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:06 AM PDT Researchers are using a novel way to block the dengue virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes using the insect bacterium, Wolbachia and have for the first time provided projections of its public health benefit.

Brain scans reveal how people 'justify' killing Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:06 AM PDT A new study has thrown light on how people can become killers in certain situations, showing how brain activity varies according to whether or not killing is seen as justified.

Older people can learn to spend less time sitting down Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:06 AM PDT Older adults spend 8.5 waking hours a day sitting or lying down -- time linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death -- even if they're physically active at other times. A new study showed it was feasible to coach older people to spend less time sitting: an average of a half hour less per day. They reported feeling more able to accomplish everyday tasks -- and they walked faster and had fewer depression symptoms.

Hidden burden: Most people carry recessive disease mutations Posted: 08 Apr 2015 07:05 AM PDT Humans carry an average of one to two mutations per person that can cause severe genetic disorders or prenatal death when two copies of the same mutation are inherited, according to new estimates. The new numbers were made possible by a long-term collaboration between medical researchers and a unique community that has maintained detailed family histories for many generations.

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