ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Some health insurance websites show improved efforts to support patient decision making
• NASA's LADEE spacecraft finds neon in lunar atmosphere
• Retinal changes may serve as measures of brain pathology in schizophrenia
• Aspirin reverses obesity cancer risk
• New approach could reduce human health impacts of electric power generation
• Vitamin D supplements could help reduce falls in homebound elderly
• Drinking coffee daily may improve survival in colon cancer patients
• Instantaneous motion for new soft robots
• Study identifies cause of disruption in brain linked to psychiatric disorder
• Self-directed, iterative learning dramatically improves critical thinking in STEM classes
• Where our brain stores the time and place of memories
• Paleobotanist identifies what could be the mythical 'first flower'
• Letting cities develop naturally
• Opiate addiction spreading, becoming more complex
• Smoking cessation drug not boosting number of smokers who quit
• Comprehending chemotaxis
• Exercise alone does not help in losing weight
• New AUV plankton sampling system deployed
• Scientists uncover nuclear process in the brain that may affect disease
• Poor sleep contributes to MS-related fatigue
• Discovery of a salamander in amber sheds light on evolution of Caribbean islands
• Woman’s health, education and marital status pre-pregnancy affect birth weight of her daughters, granddaughters
• The ALICE experiment at CERN makes precise comparison of light nuclei and antinuclei
• Nonagenarian athlete: Researchers study Olga Kotelko's brain
• Peripherally inserted central catheters can cause blood clots in lower limbs
• Two major US aquifers contaminated by natural uranium
• Dark Energy Survey finds more celestial neighbors
• Genomic testing triggers a diabetes diagnosis revolution
• Dancing droplets launch themselves from thin fibers
• Scientists visualize critical part of basal ganglia pathways
• Substantial glacier ice loss in Central Asia's largest mountain range
• New insight into tumor progression
• How traumatic memories hide in the brain, and how to retrieve them
• Major innovation in molecular imaging delivers spatial and spectral info simultaneously
• 1,800 years of global ocean cooling halted by global warming
• Effect of presymptomatic BMI, dietary intake, alcohol on ALS
• Imaging study looks at brain effects of early adversity, mental health disorders
• Scientists discover atomic-resolution details of brain signaling
• Children of military parents, caregivers at greater risk for adverse outcomes
• In first year, two Florida laws reduce amount of opioids prescribed, study suggests
• Engineers develop a wireless, implantable device to stimulate nerves in mice
• Whistled Turkish challenges notions about language and the brain
• Up to 30 percent less precipitation in the Central Andes in future
• Snake scales protect steel against friction
• On warmer Earth, most of Arctic may remove, not add, methane
• Frogs exposed to road salt appear to benefit then suffer
• Charge transport in hybrid silicon solar cells
• Bionic liver micro-organs explain off-target toxicity of acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• How others see our identity depends on moral traits, not memory
• Plant growth requires teamwork between two hormones
• Futuristic electronics one step nearer
• What clinicians need to know about bilingual development in children
• Quiet design: Hospital tests sound panels to reduce noise
• Mites might be mighty pest control method
• What's lurking in your lungs? Surprising findings emerge from microbiome research
• Flooding's impact on wetlands measurable via low-cost approach
• Celestial firework marks nearest galaxy collision
• Sensor mimics bats to detect dangerous structural cracks
• How cancer cells alter bone tissue
• New environmental risk assessment of veterinary antibiotics applications in livestock farming

Some health insurance websites show improved efforts to support patient decision making Posted: 17 Aug 2015 03:17 PM PDT Websites for national and state health insurance marketplaces show evidence of improved efforts to assist patients in choosing health insurance plans, such as providing decision support tools, experts have found. However, in a new article, researchers recommend taking more steps to better support consumers in making informed health plan decisions.

NASA's LADEE spacecraft finds neon in lunar atmosphere Posted: 17 Aug 2015 03:13 PM PDT The moon's thin atmosphere contains neon, a gas commonly used in electric signs on Earth because of its intense glow.

Retinal changes may serve as measures of brain pathology in schizophrenia Posted: 17 Aug 2015 03:13 PM PDT Schizophrenia is associated with structural and functional alterations of the visual system, including specific structural changes in the eye. Tracking such changes may provide new measures of risk for, and progression of the disease, according to a literature review.

Aspirin reverses obesity cancer risk Posted: 17 Aug 2015 03:13 PM PDT A regular dose of aspirin reduces the long-term risk of cancer in those who are overweight, shows an international study of people with a family history of the disease.

New approach could reduce human health impacts of electric power generation Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:12 PM PDT By combining information about power plant operation with real-time air quality predictions, researchers have created a new capability to minimize the human health effects of air pollution resulting from electric power generating facilities.

Vitamin D supplements could help reduce falls in homebound elderly Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:12 PM PDT Every year falls affect approximately one in three older adults living at home, with approximately one in 10 falls resulting in serious injury. Even if an injury does not occur, the fear of falling can lead to reduced activity and a loss of independence. Research has shown that vitamin D plays a key role in maintaining muscle integrity and strength and some studies suggest vitamin D may reduce the risk of falls.

Drinking coffee daily may improve survival in colon cancer patients Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:12 PM PDT Regular consumption of caffeinated coffee may help prevent the return of colon cancer after treatment and improve the chances of a cure, according to a new, large study that reported this striking association for the first time.

Instantaneous motion for new soft robots Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT Soft machines and robots are capable of moving, jumping and gripping objects thanks to soft, inflatable segments called fluidic actuators. These actuators require large amounts of air or water to change shape, making the machines slow, bulky and difficult to untether but researchers have engineered a new, soft actuator that harnesses the power of instability to trigger instantaneous movement.

Study identifies cause of disruption in brain linked to psychiatric disorder Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT New research has identified the mechanisms that trigger disruption in the brain's communication channels linked to symptoms in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. This research could have important implications for treating symptoms of brain disorders, say authors of a new report.

Self-directed, iterative learning dramatically improves critical thinking in STEM classes Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT A self-directed, iterative learning framework used in a first-year physics lab dramatically improved students' critical thinking skills, according to new research.

Where our brain stores the time and place of memories Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have seen evidence of where the brain records the time and place of real-life memories.

Paleobotanist identifies what could be the mythical 'first flower' Posted: 17 Aug 2015 01:06 PM PDT Paleobotanists in Europe have identified a 125 million- to 130 million-year-old freshwater plant as one of earliest flowering plants on Earth.

Letting cities develop naturally Posted: 17 Aug 2015 12:07 PM PDT Researchers use mathematical models to study urban landscapes and what makes big and small cities different.

Opiate addiction spreading, becoming more complex Posted: 17 Aug 2015 12:05 PM PDT The growing availability of heroin, combined with programs aimed at curbing prescription painkiller abuse, may be changing the face of opiate addiction in the US, according to sociologists.

Smoking cessation drug not boosting number of smokers who quit Posted: 17 Aug 2015 12:05 PM PDT The introduction of a new prescription smoking-cessation aid, varenicline, in 2006 has had no significant impact on the rate at which Americans age 18 and older successfully quit smoking, according to a study.

Comprehending chemotaxis Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:21 AM PDT The intricate mechanisms that allow certain cells to move have been uncovered by researchers, discoveries with implications for cancer metastasis, say authors of a new report.

Exercise alone does not help in losing weight Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:21 AM PDT Physical activity has many health benefits, ranging from reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer to improving mental health and mood. But contrary to common belief, exercise does not help you lose weight, public health scientists report.

New AUV plankton sampling system deployed Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:20 AM PDT Researchers and engineers have developed and tested an innovative new system for sampling small planktonic larvae in coastal ocean waters and understanding their distribution. Traditionally, pumps and nets are used for sampling plankton, requiring sampling at predetermined stations or towing nets behind a ship, followed by visually sorting organisms into taxonomic groups. The new system enables detection of small gradations and species-specific patterns in larval distribution.

Scientists uncover nuclear process in the brain that may affect disease Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:20 AM PDT Every brain cell has a nucleus, or a central command station. Scientists have shown that the passage of molecules through the nucleus of a star-shaped brain cell, called an astrocyte, may play a critical role in health and disease.

Poor sleep contributes to MS-related fatigue Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:20 AM PDT Sleep disturbances significantly contribute to MS-related fatigue, a common and often disabling symptom among individuals with MS, research shows. The authors recommend routine screening/treatment of sleep disturbances, which may reduce debilitating effects of fatigue.

Discovery of a salamander in amber sheds light on evolution of Caribbean islands Posted: 17 Aug 2015 11:20 AM PDT A salamander found preserved in amber from the Dominican Republic is the first-ever fossil of its kind, and also shows that salamanders once lived in the Caribbean region, where they now are all extinct.

Woman’s health, education and marital status pre-pregnancy affect birth weight of her daughters, granddaughters Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:27 AM PDT A woman's weight at birth, education level and marital status pre-pregnancy can have repercussions for two generations, putting her children and grandchildren at higher risk of low birth weight, according to a new study . The findings are the first to tie social and biological factors together using population data in determining causes for low birth weight.

The ALICE experiment at CERN makes precise comparison of light nuclei and antinuclei Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT The ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has made a precise measurement of the difference between ratios of the mass and electric charge of light nuclei and antinuclei. The result confirms a fundamental symmetry of nature to an unprecedented precision for light nuclei. The measurements are based on the ALICE experiment's abilities to track and identify particles produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions at the LHC.

Nonagenarian athlete: Researchers study Olga Kotelko's brain Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT In the summer of 2012, Olga Kotelko, a 93-year-old Canadian track-and-field athlete with more than 30 world records in her age group, submitted to an in-depth analysis of her brain. The resulting study offers a surprising first glimpse of the potential effects of exercise on the brains and cognitive abilities of the 'oldest old.'

Peripherally inserted central catheters can cause blood clots in lower limbs Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are frequently used by healthcare professionals to obtain long-term central venous access in hospitalized patients. While there are numerous benefits associated with PICCs, a potential complication is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots, in upper limbs. A new study of more than 70,000 patients in hospitals indicates that PICC use is associated not only with upper-extremity DVT, but also with lower-extremity DVT.

Two major US aquifers contaminated by natural uranium Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT Nearly 2 million people throughout the Great Plains and California above aquifer sites contaminated with natural uranium that is mobilized by human-contributed nitrate, according to a new study. Data show that many Americans live less than two-thirds of a mile from wells that often far exceed the uranium guideline set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dark Energy Survey finds more celestial neighbors Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT Scientists on the Dark Energy Survey, using one of the world's most powerful digital cameras, have discovered eight more faint celestial objects hovering near our Milky Way galaxy.

Genomic testing triggers a diabetes diagnosis revolution Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:25 AM PDT Over a 10 year period, the time that babies receive genetic testing after being diagnosed with diabetes has fallen from over four years to under two months. Pinpointing the exact genetic causes of sometimes rare forms of diabetes is revolutionizing healthcare for these patients.

Dancing droplets launch themselves from thin fibers Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Researchers have observed droplets spontaneously fling themselves from thin fibers. The phenomenon occurs so long as the fibers are small enough relative to the coalescing droplets and moderately hydrophobic, and has applications ranging from water purification to oil refining.

Scientists visualize critical part of basal ganglia pathways Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Certain diseases, like Parkinson's and Huntingdon's disease, are associated with damage to the pathways between the brain's basal ganglia regions. For the first time, scientists have used a non-invasive brain-imaging tool to detect the pathways that connect the parts of the basal ganglia.

Substantial glacier ice loss in Central Asia's largest mountain range Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Along the Tien Shan, Central Asia's largest mountain range, glaciers have lost 27 percent of their mass and 18 percent of their area during the last 50 years. Glaciers play an important role in the water cycle of Central Asia. Snow and glacier melt from the Tien Shan is essential for the water supply of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and parts of China.

New insight into tumor progression Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Scientists know that activation of growth factor receptors like epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) promote tumor progression in many types of cancer. New study results provide further insight, and are focused on brain, breast, and prostate cancer.

How traumatic memories hide in the brain, and how to retrieve them Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Some stressful experiences -- such as chronic childhood abuse -- are so traumatic, the memories hide like a shadow in the brain and can't be consciously accessed. Eventually, suppressed memories can cause debilitating psychological problems. Scientists have discovered how and where the brain stores those stressful memories and how to retrieve them. The findings could lead to new treatment for patients with repressed traumatic memories.

Major innovation in molecular imaging delivers spatial and spectral info simultaneously Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:23 AM PDT Using physical chemistry methods to look at biology at the nanoscale, a researcher has invented a new technology to image single molecules with unprecedented spectral and spatial resolution, thus leading to the first 'true-color' super-resolution microscope.

1,800 years of global ocean cooling halted by global warming Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Prior to the advent of human-caused global warming in the 19th century, the surface layer of Earth's oceans had undergone 1,800 years of a steady cooling trend, according to a new study. The results also indicate that the coolest temperatures occurred during the Little Ice Age -- a period that spanned the 16th through 18th centuries and was known for cooler average temperatures over land.

Effect of presymptomatic BMI, dietary intake, alcohol on ALS Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Presymptomatic patients with the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consumed more daily calories but had lower body-mass index (BMI) than those individuals without ALS in a study that also looked at risk for the disease and associations with food and alcohol intake.

Imaging study looks at brain effects of early adversity, mental health disorders Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Adversity during the first six years of life was associated with higher levels of childhood internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, in a group of boys, as well as altered brain structure in late adolescence between the ages of 18 and 21, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.

Scientists discover atomic-resolution details of brain signaling Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Scientists have revealed never-before-seen details of how our brain sends rapid-fire messages between its cells. They mapped the 3-D atomic structure of a two-part protein complex that controls the release of signaling chemicals, called neurotransmitters, from brain cells. Understanding how cells release those signals in less than one-thousandth of a second could help launch a new wave of research on drugs for treating brain disorders.

Children of military parents, caregivers at greater risk for adverse outcomes Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Children with parents or caregivers currently serving in the military had a higher prevalence of substance use, violence, harassment and weapon-carrying than their nonmilitary peers in a study of California school children, according to an article.

In first year, two Florida laws reduce amount of opioids prescribed, study suggests Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:20 AM PDT Two Florida laws, enacted to combat prescription drug abuse and misuse in that state, led to a small but significant decrease in the amount of opioids prescribed the first year the laws were in place, a new study.

Engineers develop a wireless, implantable device to stimulate nerves in mice Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:19 AM PDT A blue glowing device the size of a peppercorn can activate neurons of the brain, spinal cord or limbs in mice and is powered wirelessly using the mouse's own body to transfer energy. The device is the first to deliver optogenetic nerve stimulation in a fully implantable format.

Whistled Turkish challenges notions about language and the brain Posted: 17 Aug 2015 10:19 AM PDT Generally speaking, language processing is a job for the brain's left hemisphere. That's true whether that language is spoken, written, or signed. But researchers have discovered an exception to this rule in a most remarkable form: whistled Turkish.

Up to 30 percent less precipitation in the Central Andes in future Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT Seasonal water shortages already occur in the Central Andes of Peru and Bolivia. By the end of the century, precipitation could fall by up to 30% according to an international team of researchers. In a first for this region, the team compared current climate data with future climate scenarios and data extending back to pre-Inca times.

Snake scales protect steel against friction Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT A snake moves without legs by the scales on its belly gripping the ground. It generates friction at the points needed to move forwards only and prevents its scales from being worn off by too much friction. Researchers of KIT have found a way to transfer this feature to components of movable systems. In this way, durability of hip prostheses, computer hard disks or smartphones might be enhanced.

On warmer Earth, most of Arctic may remove, not add, methane Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:08 AM PDT The majority of Arctic soil, thanks to methane-hungry bacteria, may actually be able to absorb methane from the atmosphere as temperatures rise, new research suggests.

Frogs exposed to road salt appear to benefit then suffer Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:08 AM PDT Exposure to road salt, as it runs off into ponds and wetlands where it can concentrate -- especially during March and early April, when frogs are breeding -- may increase the size of wood frogs, but also shorten their lives, a study by biologists concludes.

Charge transport in hybrid silicon solar cells Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT A surprising discovery has been made about hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells. Contrary to expectations, a diode composed of the conductive organic PEDOT:PSS and an n-type silicon absorber material behaves more like a pn junction between two semiconductors than like a metal-semiconductor contact (Schottky diode).

Bionic liver micro-organs explain off-target toxicity of acetaminophen (Tylenol) Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT Safety evaluation is a critical part of drug and cosmetic development, but experimental considerations and tighter regulations require alternatives to animal testing. Now scientists have partnered to create a liver-on-chip device mimicking human physiology, with liver organs less than a millimeter in diameter that survive for more than a month. By adding nano-based optoelectronic sensors, the group identified a new mechanism of acetaminophen (Tylenol) toxicity using this human-on-a-chip technology.

How others see our identity depends on moral traits, not memory Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT We may view our memory as being essential to who we are, but new findings suggest that others consider our moral traits to be the core component of our identity. Data collected from family members of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease showed that it was changes in moral behavior, not memory loss, that caused loved ones to say that the patient wasn't 'the same person' anymore.

Plant growth requires teamwork between two hormones Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT Two growth-promoting groups of substances, or phytohormones, the gibberellins and the brassinosteroids, are used independently of each other for the breeding and production of crop plants. A team of scientists has now discovered that the two act in concert -- without brassinosteroids, a plant is unable to produce gibberellins.

Futuristic electronics one step nearer Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT When researchers dream about electronics of the future, they more or less dream of pouring liquids into a beaker, stirring them together and decanting a computer out onto the table. This field of research is known as self-assembling molecular electronics. But, getting chemical substances to self-assemble into electronic components is just as complicated as it sounds. The secret behind the breakthrough is... Soap.

What clinicians need to know about bilingual development in children Posted: 17 Aug 2015 08:06 AM PDT Bilingual children pose unique challenges for clinicians, and, until recently, there was little research on young bilinguals to guide clinical practice. In the past decade, however, research on bilingual development has burgeoned, and the scientific literature now supports several conclusions that should help clinicians as they assess bilingual children and advise their parents.

Quiet design: Hospital tests sound panels to reduce noise Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:33 AM PDT Monitors. Alarms. Pagers. People. Hospital noise can keep patients from getting a good night's sleep. Sound panels tested in the hallways of a hospital system helped reduce noise around patient rooms.

Mites might be mighty pest control method Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:33 AM PDT Biological control of pests, weeds, plants and animals gives "the best hope to providing lasting, environmentally sound and socially acceptable pest management," according to a new book.

What's lurking in your lungs? Surprising findings emerge from microbiome research Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:32 AM PDT With every breath you take, microbes have a chance of making it into your lungs. But what happens when they get there? And why do dangerous lung infections like pneumonia happen in some people, but not others? Researchers have started to answer these questions by studying the microbiome of the lungs -- the community of microscopic organisms are in constant contact with our respiratory system.

Flooding's impact on wetlands measurable via low-cost approach Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:01 AM PDT Scientists designed a new, on-site method for studying potential impacts rising sea levels can have on vital wetlands, said a researcher who led a study describing the modifiable apparatuses.

Celestial firework marks nearest galaxy collision Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:00 AM PDT A spectacular galaxy collision has been discovered lurking behind the Milky Way. The closest such system ever found, the galaxy is only 30 million light years away. It has been dubbed "Kathryn's Wheel" both after the famous firework that it resembles. Such systems are very rare and arise from "bulls-eye" collisions between two galaxies of similar mass. Shockwaves from the collision compress reservoirs of gas in each galaxy and trigger the formation of new stars. This creates a spectacular ring of intense emission, and lights up the system like a Catherine wheel firework on bonfire night.

Sensor mimics bats to detect dangerous structural cracks Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:00 AM PDT An ultrasound sensor for detecting dangerous cracks in structures such as aircraft engines, oil and gas pipelines and nuclear plants has been developed – with inspiration from the natural world.

How cancer cells alter bone tissue Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:00 AM PDT Migrating tumor cells produce a protein that aids them to set up home in bones, researchers show. If a tumor develops metastases, the chances of the patient's survival will be severely diminished. Cancer cells that leave the primary tumor, travel through the body, and set up home in distal organs such as lungs and bones start to express cathepsin K. Cathepsin K is primarily found only in the bone and is secreted by osteoclasts.

New environmental risk assessment of veterinary antibiotics applications in livestock farming Posted: 17 Aug 2015 06:00 AM PDT A simple screening-based predicting procedure has been developed for region-specific environmental risks caused by veterinary antibiotics (VA). This procedure, called Usage Pattern-based Exposure Screening (UPES), makes use of utilization patterns of antibiotics in animal husbandry.  By improving targeting, it enables the identification of particularly problematic antibiotic substances. It also enables the implementation of more advanced risk prediction tests, for example with the help of soil and water analyses.

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