الجمعة، 18 نوفمبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Legal and ethical factors that affect NFL players’ health

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:55 PM PST

A newly released on analysis performed over two years outlines key recommendations to improve structural, ethical and legal factors that affect the health of NFL players.

Cameroon's cholera outbreaks vary by climate region

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:28 PM PST

For more than four decades, cholera has recurred in Cameroon, affecting tens of thousands of people a year. Most recently, the West African country was one of four that had a death rate of more than five percent from the bacterial disease, exceeding the World Health Organization's target of less than one percent. Now, researchers have discovered one reason Cameroon has struggled to control the disease. Cholera follows different, distinct outbreak patterns in different climate subzones of the large country, researchers report.

Dengue strains differ in rates of viral replication

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:26 PM PST

Researchers test mechanisms explaining differences in dengue serotype and disease severity by statistically fitting mathematical models to viral load data from dengue-infected individuals. They find a role for viral replication in explaining serotype-specific differences in viral load -- according to a new study.

Neurons in the human eye are organized for error correction

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:25 PM PST

Missing links that connect human DNA variation with disease discovered

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:23 PM PST

Scientists have discovered the hidden connections in our genomes that contribute to common diseases. Using a pioneering technique, the results are beginning to make biological sense of the mountains of genetic data linking very small changes in our DNA sequence to our risk of disease. Discovering these missing links will inform the design of new drugs and future treatments for a range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and other types of autoimmune disease.

Scientists develop new mouse model to aid Zika virus research

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:17 PM PST

Sculpting how chemicals spread in fluid flows

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:15 PM PST

Solely adjusting the aspect ratio of a pipe -- regardless of its shape -- precisely controls how medicine, pollutants, nutrients and chemicals travel down it and hit their target, scientists have discovered.

Can facial plastic surgeons correctly estimate age from a photograph?

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:12 PM PST

The lack of scientific tools to translate perceptions - such as more beautiful or rejuvenated - into numbers that can be analyzed is a challenge in the field of facial plastic surgery and it can get in the way of producing high-quality scientific publications, say experts.

Discovery opens door to new Alzheimer's treatments

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:12 PM PST

Researchers have discovered the role of a key protein in the development of Alzheimer's disease, outlines a new report.

Nutty stimulant revealed as anticancer tool

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:11 PM PST

Arecoline, a component in areca nuts, is analogous to nicotine, say scientists. Areca nuts are chewed for their stimulant effects in many Asian countries, and evidence links the practice to the development of oral and esophageal cancer. Analogous to nicotine, arecoline was identified as an inhibitor of the enzyme ACAT1, which contributes to the metabolism-distorting Warburg effect in cancer cells.

Why wounds heal more slowly with age

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:10 PM PST

Older bodies need longer to mend. This reality of aging has been documented since World War I, with the observation that wounds heal slower in older soldiers. Yet until now, researchers have not been able to tease out what age-related changes hinder the body's ability to repair itself.

Beyond the DNA: Comprehensive map of the human epigenome completed

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:07 PM PST

Scientists have established comprehensive maps of the human epigenome, shedding light on how the body regulates which genes are active in which cells. Over the last five years, a worldwide consortium of scientists has established epigenetic maps of 2,100 cell types.

Solving the riddle of putrid camel urine could aid millions affected by sleeping sickness

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:06 PM PST

Biochemists have solved an old mystery as to the cause of especially smelly camel urine, with implications for the millions of people affected by African parasites called trypanosomes. These parasites frequently cause fatalities via sleeping sickness.

Discovering what keeps cellular cargo on track

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:03 PM PST

For the first time, scientists have identified how plants' largest cell factory moves to maintain vital functions, which could lead to advances in improving plant cells' critical functions and growing better crops.

Life in Earth's soils may be older than believed

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:02 PM PST

Advanced imaging and analyses techniques have opened a new window into microfossils of ancient landscapes in Australia, report scientists.

Women who have their last baby after 35 are mentally sharper in old age

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 12:00 PM PST

A new study has found that women have better brainpower after menopause if they had their last baby after age 35, used hormonal contraceptives for more than 10 years or began their menstrual cycle before turning 13.

Tracking the flow of quantum information

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:49 AM PST

If objects in motion are like rainwater flowing through a gutter and landing in a puddle, then quantum objects in motion are like rainwater that might end up in a bunch of puddles, all at once. Figuring out where quantum objects actually go has frustrated scientists for years. Now researchers have derived a formula for understanding where quantum objects land when they are transmitted. It's a development that offers insight for controlling open quantum systems in a variety of situations.

Bright radio bursts probe universe's hidden matter

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:48 AM PST

Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are mysterious flashes of radio waves originating outside our Milky Way galaxy. A team of scientists has now observed the most luminous FRB to date, called FRB 150807.

Corals survived caribbean climate change

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

Half of all coral species in the Caribbean went extinct between 1 and 2 million years ago, probably due to drastic environmental changes. Which ones survived? Scientists working at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) think one group of survivors, corals in the genus Orbicella, will continue to adapt to future climate changes because of their high genetic diversity.

Understanding cell membrane properties

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

Arginine – one of 20 common amino acids – does not change its positive charge when inserted into the lipid environment of the cell membrane, researchers have discovered.

Low blood glucose levels in hospitalized patients linked to increased mortality risk

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

In hospitalized patients, low blood sugar—also known as hypoglycemia—is associated with increased short- and long-term mortality risk, according to a new study.

Engineering a more efficient system for harnessing carbon dioxide

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

Scientists have reverse engineered a biosynthetic pathway for more effective carbon fixation that is based on a new CO2-fixing enzyme that is nearly 20 times faster than the most prevalent enzyme in nature responsible for capturing CO2 in plants by using sunlight as energy.

Crop yield gets big boost with modified genes in photosynthesis

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

Researchers have bumped up crop productivity by as much as 20 percent by increasing the expression of genes that result in more efficient use of light in photosynthesis. Their work could potentially be used to help address the world's future food needs.

Menopausal hormone therapy improves bone health

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:12 AM PST

Women who undergo hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes can not only increase bone mass, but also can improve bone structure, according to a new study.

Asteroid impacts could create niches for early life, suggests Chicxulub crater study

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 11:09 AM PST

Scientists studying the Chicxulub crater have shown how large asteroid impacts deform rocks in a way that may produce habitats for early life.

Finally, a type of face that men recognize better than women

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

A study using Barbies and Transformers finds that men are better at recognizing Transformer faces while women are better at recognizing Barbie faces, supporting the theory that experience plays an important role in facial recognition.

Insurers use high drug costs to deter some Obamacare patients, economist says

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

An economist will brief members of Congress on how insurers are using high out-of-pocket prescription drug costs to deter certain chronically ill patients from joining their plans in the individual markets.

Poverty should be measured by more than income

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

New research reveals there are multiple dimensions of deprivation, and those dimensions can impact a person's sense of financial security. She specifically cites six measures as being a more accurate assessment of a person's financial condition than income alone.

Liquid silicon: Multi-duty computer chips could bridge the gap between computation and storage

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

Computer chips in development could make future computers more efficient and powerful by combining tasks usually kept separate by design, report investigators.

Tasting light: New type of photoreceptor is 50 times more efficient than the human eye

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

A new type of photoreceptor has now been discovered -- only the third to be found in animals -- that is about 50 times more efficient at capturing light than the rhodopsin in the human eye.

High-fiber diet keeps gut microbes from eating the colon's lining, protects against infection, animal study shows

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:46 AM PST

When microbes inside the digestive system don't get the natural fiber that they rely on for food, they begin to munch on the natural layer of mucus that lines the gut, eroding it to the point where dangerous invading bacteria can infect the colon wall, new research in mice shows.

New information on how brain cancer spreads

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:43 AM PST

Glioblastoma multiforme remains the most common and highly lethal brain cancer and is known for its ability to relapse. Researchers have identified a pathway by which cancer cells aggressively spread and grow in the brain, opening up new possibilities for treatment.

Scientists advance a novel urine test to predict high-risk cervical cancer

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:43 AM PST

Specialists report they have developed a urine test for the likely emergence of cervical cancer that is highly accurate compared to other tests based on genetic markers derived directly from cervical tissue.

Supercomputer simulations help develop new approach to fight antibiotic resistance

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:43 AM PST

Supercomputer simulations have played a key role in discovering a new class of drug candidates that hold promise to combat antibiotic resistance. In a new study, lab experiments were combined with supercomputer modeling to identify molecules that boost antibiotics' effect on disease-causing bacteria.

Large-scale cancer gene profiling is feasible but faces barriers

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:43 AM PST

Researchers leading the largest genomic tumor profiling effort of its kind say such studies are technically feasible in a broad population of adult and pediatric patients with many different types of cancer.

Compromised immune system can be re-activated

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 10:40 AM PST

Failure of the immune system during blood poisoning (sepsis) can be reversed by a specific sugar. This restores the ability of immune cells to respond effectively to infections, report researchers.

Malaria parasite evades rapid test detection in children

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 08:53 AM PST

A malaria parasite in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is able to avoid rapid test detection through a gene deletion. In the first nationwide study, researchers showed how the deletion prevents a positive test result in asymptomatic children.

Cell of origin in childhood brain tumors affects susceptibility to therapy

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 08:51 AM PST

Children that are diagnosed with the severe the brain tumor malignant glioma often have a very poor prognosis. Knowledge about how pediatric malignant glioma arises and develops is still limited. New findings show that in mice glioma development and glioma cell properties are affected by both age and the cell type from which the tumor has arisen. The tumor cell of origin was also important for the susceptibility of the tumor cells towards cancer drugs.

Tech would use drones and insect biobots to map disaster areas

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:44 AM PST

Researchers have developed a combination of software and hardware that will allow them to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and insect cyborgs, or biobots, to map large, unfamiliar areas -- such as collapsed buildings after a disaster.

Chemical origami yields new plant compounds with therapeutic and economic potential

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:38 AM PST

Plants produce countless kinds of compounds, also known as natural products, that the plants manufacture using the enzymes predetermined by their genetic code. Many of these natural products are very useful as antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs or vitamins, among myriad other applications. Many of these compounds are far too complex to synthesize in the laboratory, but they can be purified from the plants in which they are found.

Studies point to gene-based brain glitches in ill Gulf War vets

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:37 AM PST

Certain forms, or alleles, of a gene known to play a key role in the immune system appear to offer protection from Gulf War illness (GWI), Veterans Affairs researchers have found. Further, they discovered how such protection is manifested in the brain.

Unraveling how a brain works, block by high-tech block

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:37 AM PST

Psychologists have long used building blocks to assess cognitive skills. But researchers are imbedding the blocks with technology that may provide a clearer view of problems a child or adult may suffer due to developmental disabilities, brain trauma or dementia.

Another species of Varroa mite threatens European honeybees

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 07:36 AM PST

A sister species of the Varroa destructor mite is developing the ability to parasitize European honeybees, threatening pollinators already hard pressed by pesticides, nutritional deficiencies and disease, a study says.

How a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce heart failure in the aged

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:27 AM PST

In mouse experiments, researchers have shown how aging and excess dietary fat create signals that lead to heart failure after a heart attack. Clarifying the mechanism of this harmful pathway is important because nearly 5 million people in the United States suffer heart failure as an age-related disease following heart attacks.

Arthritis drug significantly effective in treating Crohn's disease, study finds

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:27 AM PST

Ustekinumab, a human antibody used to treat arthritis, significantly induces response and remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease, researchers have shown that.

Walking uses more than just feet

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:27 AM PST

We humans walk with our feet. This is true, but not entirely. Walking, as part of locomotion, is a coordinated whole-body movement that involves both the arms and legs. Researchers have identified different subpopulations of neurons in the spinal cord with long projections. These results show that these neurons coordinate movement of arms and legs and ensure a stable body posture during locomotion.

Good news for kids recovering from complex pneumonia

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:26 AM PST

In some good news for families of children recovering from complex pneumonia, doctors recommend that it's better to send kids home from the hospital with oral instead of intravenous antibiotics. The retrospective study of 2,123 children at 36 hospitals found oral antibiotics are as effective as intravenous in managing residual disease.

Targeting brain chemistry to beat disease

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:25 AM PST

Thanks to advances in big data and medicinal chemistry, scientists can screen thousands of molecules in the search for protein structures leading to new drugs for brain diseases.  

Uncombable hair gene discovered

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:25 AM PST

Some children suffer from completely tangled hair, which cannot be combed at all. In German, the phenomenon bears the apt name "uncombable hair syndrome" or even "Struwwelpeter syndrome". Researchers have identified mutations in three genes that are responsible for this.

Local grid solution for global energy transition

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:24 AM PST

What will intelligent, decentralized energy management look like in the future? A research team is exploring how to efficiently coordinate energy producers, storage systems, and consumers as well as how to test the innovative technologies required. The research parking garage houses 30 charging spots for electric vehicles, Europe's fastest high-speed charging station, as well as Europe's first hydrogen storage system based on LOHC technology.

Protein feed and bioplastic from farm biogas

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 05:24 AM PST

A new solution has been developed for converting even small sources of methane-rich biogas into raw materials for animal feed or bioplastic on farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. This emission-reducing solution is based on the ability of methanotrophic bacteria to grow on methane in gas fermentors. Methane-rich biogas is generated on farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants in anaerobic digestion of biological material. Until now, the processing of such gas into biomethane has only been viable on large biogas-producing sites; small biogas sources such as farms have remained largely unexploited.

Charter schools enroll more girls, with boys more likely to leave

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 04:07 PM PST

Charter schools – particularly middle and high schools – enroll a larger share of girls than do traditional public schools, in part because boys are more likely to exit charter schools, finds a new study.

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