ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Oil and water: An icy interaction when oil chains are short, but steamy when chains are long
• Upper endoscopy is overused in patients with heartburn, study suggests
• Declining air pollution levels continue to improve life expectancy in U.S.
• Scientists develop indium-free organic light-emitting diodes
• Probiotics help fish grow up faster and healthier
• U.S. Medicare Advantage: Managing care and competition
• Plant organ development breakthrough
• Canopy structure more important to climate than leaf nitrogen levels, study claims
• Biophysicists unravel cellular 'traffic jams' in active transport
• Why some teenagers more prone to binge drinking
• Why older adults become fraud victims more often
• NASA Voyager 1 encounters new region in deep space
• New Jamaica butterfly species emphasizes need for biodiversity research
• Arthritis research: Mouse model of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis discovered
• New target for Alzheimer's drug development
• Baby's health is tied to mother's value for family
• Mercury released into air contaminates ocean fish
• Women with sleep apnea have higher degree of brain damage than men, study shows
• Listen up, doc: Empathy raises patients' pain tolerance
• Multitasking plasmonic nanobubbles kill diseased cells, modify others
• Alzheimer's researcher reveals a protein's dual destructiveness and therapeutic potential
• Search for life suggests planetary systems more habitable than ours
• How 'transparent' is graphene?
• Research shows iron's importance in infection, suggests new therapies
• Study shows BPA exposure in fetal livers
• Happy face tattoo does serious work
• Iron deficiency and cognitive development: New insights from piglets
• Squirrels and birds inspire researchers to create deceptive robots
• Research explores markers of depression from childhood to adulthood
• Risk of blood clots two-fold for women with polycystic ovary syndrome taking combined oral contraceptives, study finds
• Pygmy mole crickets don't just walk on water, they jump on it
• Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons rescue motor defects in Parkinsonian monkeys
• Lithium restores cognitive function in Down syndrome mice
• Steps towards filming atoms dancing
• Complex chemistry within the Martian soil: No definitive detection of organics yet
• Male chimpanzees choose their allies carefully
• How different nerve cells develop in the eye: Development in fish embryos with aid of 4D recordings
• Need for speed: High-speed measurements of molecular motion in the cell nucleus
• Research opens new pathway for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
• World's smallest wrench puts new twist on microscopic manipulation; Harnesses laser light's ability to gently push and pull
• Less wait for travel could reduce drinking and driving in people with 'urgency' personality trait
• 'Junk DNA' drives embryonic development
• Stopping the flow of cancer cells promotes the spread of tumours
• Physicist happens upon rain data breakthrough
• Hubble spots a peculiar compact blue dwarf galaxy
• Swirling storms on Saturn
• Promising new approach in therapy of pain
• Malaria parasite's 'masquerade ball' could come to an end
• Removing sea defenses may reduce impact of coastal flooding
• Key pathological mechanism found in plague bacterium
• Corn: Many active genes -- high yield
• Have Venusian volcanoes been caught in the act?
• Go with the flow in flood prediction
• 'Pinocchio effect' confirmed: When you lie, your nose temperature rises
• Surprising results from study of non-epileptic seizures
• Dichlorophenol-containing pesticides linked to food allergies, study finds; Chemical also used to chlorinate tap water
• Taking the buzz out of office lights: Flicker-free, shatterproof alternative for large-scale lighting
• Common diabetes drug may treat ovarian cancer

Oil and water: An icy interaction when oil chains are short, but steamy when chains are long Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:33 PM PST Water transforms into a previously unknown structure in between a liquid and a vapor when in contact with alcohol molecules containing long oily chains. However, around short oily chains water is more icelike. Water plays a huge role in biological processes, from protein folding to membrane formation, and it could be that this transformation is useful in a way not yet understood.

Upper endoscopy is overused in patients with heartburn, study suggests Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:33 PM PST Heartburn is one of the most common reasons for people to see a doctor, and some physicians often use upper endoscopy to diagnose and manage gastroesophageal reflux disease. But most patients do not require the procedure unless other serious symptoms are present, according to a new evidence-based clinical policy paper.

Declining air pollution levels continue to improve life expectancy in U.S. Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST A new study has found an association between reductions in fine particulate matter and improved life expectancy in 545 counties in the US from 2000 to 2007.

Scientists develop indium-free organic light-emitting diodes Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Scientists have discovered new ways of using a well-known polymer in organic light emitting diodes, which could eliminate the need for an increasingly problematic and breakable metal-oxide used in screen displays in computers, televisions, and cell phones.

Probiotics help fish grow up faster and healthier Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Probiotics like those found in yogurt are not only good for people -- they are also good for fish. A new study found that feeding probiotics to baby zebrafish accelerated their development and increased their chances of survival into adulthood.

U.S. Medicare Advantage: Managing care and competition Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans show lower and likely more appropriate use of services than those in traditional Medicare, suggesting potential for more efficient care and significant cost savings. In addition, measures implemented in the mid 2000s have revamped payment in Medicare Advantage substantially by making it more difficult for health plans to compete by attracting favorable risks instead of managing medical risk successfully.

Plant organ development breakthrough Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Plants grow upward from a tip of undifferentiated tissue called the shoot apical meristem -- some cells eventually differentiating into leaves and flowers. Because each plant's form and shape is determined by organ formation and organ boundary creation, elucidating the underlying mechanisms that govern these functions could help scientists design the architecture of crop plants to better capture light and ultimately produce more crop yield with less input.

Canopy structure more important to climate than leaf nitrogen levels, study claims Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Claims that forest leaves rich in nitrogen may aid in reflecting infrared radiation -- thereby cooling the atmosphere -- have been challenged by new research that shows that the structure of forests' canopies is a more important factor in infrared reflection.

Biophysicists unravel cellular 'traffic jams' in active transport Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST Biophysicists have greatly advanced our understanding of how active transport proceeds smoothly, particularly in long cells such as neurons where it is vital to their survival.

Why some teenagers more prone to binge drinking Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:34 PM PST New research helps explain why some teenagers are more prone to drinking alcohol than others. The study provides the most detailed understanding yet of the brain processes involved in teenage alcohol abuse.

Why older adults become fraud victims more often Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:34 PM PST Why are older people especially vulnerable to becoming victims of fraud? A new study indicates an important brain region may influence the ability to discern who is honest and who is trying to deceive us.

NASA Voyager 1 encounters new region in deep space Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:45 PM PST NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered a new region at the far reaches of our solar system that scientists feel is the final area the spacecraft has to cross before reaching interstellar space.

New Jamaica butterfly species emphasizes need for biodiversity research Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST Scientists have described a new Lepidoptera species found in Jamaica's last remaining wilderness. Belonging to the family of skipper butterflies, the new genus and species is the first butterfly discovered in Jamaica since 1995. Scientists hope the native butterfly will encourage conservation of the country's last wilderness where it was discovered: the Cockpit Country. The study underscores the need for further biodiversity research and establishing a baseline of organisms as more tropical areas suffer habitat destruction.

Arthritis research: Mouse model of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis discovered Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST Researchers have made a breakthrough that could lead to a better understanding of the second most common form of arthritis that, until now, has eluded scientists. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis or DISH, is a form of degenerative arthritis characterized by the formation of excessive mineral deposits along the sides of the vertebrae in the neck and back, causing severe pain. The researchers have discovered the first-ever mouse model of this disease.

New target for Alzheimer's drug development Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST Researchers have developed a synthetic compound that, in a mouse model, successfully prevents the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Baby's health is tied to mother's value for family Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST The value that an expectant mother places on family -- regardless of the reality of her own family situation -- predicts the birthweight of her baby and whether the child will develop asthma symptoms three years later, according to new research.

Mercury released into air contaminates ocean fish Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST Mercury released into the air and then deposited into oceans contaminates seafood commonly eaten by people in the US and globally, new research shows.

Women with sleep apnea have higher degree of brain damage than men, study shows Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST Women suffering from sleep apnea have, on the whole, a higher degree of brain damage than that found in men with a similar sleep disorder, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

Listen up, doc: Empathy raises patients' pain tolerance Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:59 AM PST A doctor-patient relationship built on trust and empathy doesn't just put patients at ease -- it actually changes the brain's response to stress and increases pain tolerance, according to new findings.

Multitasking plasmonic nanobubbles kill diseased cells, modify others Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:59 AM PST Researchers have found a way to kill some diseased cells and treat others in the same sample at the same time. The process activated by a pulse of laser light leaves neighboring healthy cells untouched.

Alzheimer's researcher reveals a protein's dual destructiveness and therapeutic potential Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:59 AM PST A scientist has identified the molecule that controls a scissor-like protein responsible for the production of plaques – the telltale sign of Alzheimer's disease.

Search for life suggests planetary systems more habitable than ours Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:58 AM PST Scattered around the Milky Way are stars that resemble our own sun—but a new study is finding that any planets orbiting those stars may very well be hotter and more dynamic than Earth.

How 'transparent' is graphene? Posted: 03 Dec 2012 10:17 AM PST Researchers find that adding a coating of graphene has little effect on how a surface interacts with liquids -- except in extreme cases.

Research shows iron's importance in infection, suggests new therapies Posted: 03 Dec 2012 10:17 AM PST A research team has resolved a 40-year-old debate on the role of iron acquisition in bacterial invasion of animal tissues. The findings suggest new approaches against bacterial disease and new strategies for antibiotic development.

Study shows BPA exposure in fetal livers Posted: 03 Dec 2012 10:16 AM PST New research found BPA, or bisphenol A, in fetal liver tissue, demonstrating that there is considerable exposure to the chemical during pregnancy.

Happy face tattoo does serious work Posted: 03 Dec 2012 10:11 AM PST A medical sensor that attaches to the skin like a temporary tattoo could make it easier for doctors to detect metabolic problems in patients and for coaches to fine-tune athletes' training routines. And the entire sensor comes in a thin, flexible package shaped like a smiley face.

Iron deficiency and cognitive development: New insights from piglets Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:53 AM PST Researchers have developed a model that uses neonatal piglets for studying infant brain development and its effect on learning and memory. To determine if the model is nutrient-sensitive, they have looked at how pigs fed iron-deficient diets perform in a maze.

Squirrels and birds inspire researchers to create deceptive robots Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:52 AM PST Using deceptive behavioral patterns of squirrels and birds, researchers have developed robots that are able to deceive each other. The applications could be implemented by the military in the future.

Research explores markers of depression from childhood to adulthood Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Although several studies have followed the course of depression throughout the lifespan, the characteristics of depression at different developmental stages haven't been clearly identified. New research presents a unique longitudinal investigation of depression across four critical developmental periods from childhood to adulthood.

Risk of blood clots two-fold for women with polycystic ovary syndrome taking combined oral contraceptives, study finds Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are taking combined oral contraceptives have a two-fold risk of blood clots compared with women without the disorder who take contraceptives, according to a new study.

Pygmy mole crickets don't just walk on water, they jump on it Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Pygmy mole crickets are known to be prodigious jumpers on land. Now, researchers have found that the tiny insects have found an ingenious method to jump from the water, too. Their secret is a series of spring-loaded, oar-like paddles on their back legs.

Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons rescue motor defects in Parkinsonian monkeys Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Researchers have derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stem cells in monkeys.

Lithium restores cognitive function in Down syndrome mice Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:16 AM PST Researchers report that lithium, a drug commonly used for the treatment of mood disorders in humans, restores neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a part of the brain strongly associated with learning and memory.

Steps towards filming atoms dancing Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:15 AM PST With their ultra short X-ray flashes, free-electron lasers offer the opportunity to film atoms in motion in complicated molecules and in the course of chemical reactions. However, for monitoring this motion, the arrival time and the temporal profile of the pulses which periodically illuminate the system, must be precisely known. An international team of scientists has now developed a measurement technique that provides complete temporal characterization of individual FEL (free-electron laser) pulses at DESY's soft-X-ray free-electron laser, named FLASH.

Complex chemistry within the Martian soil: No definitive detection of organics yet Posted: 03 Dec 2012 09:07 AM PST NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has used its full array of instruments to analyze Martian soil for the first time, and found a complex chemistry within the Martian soil. Water and sulfur and chlorine-containing substances, among other ingredients, showed up in samples Curiosity's arm delivered to an analytical laboratory inside the rover. Researchers reported that they have no definitive detection of Martian organics at this point, but they will keep looking in the diverse environments of Gale Crater.

Male chimpanzees choose their allies carefully Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:28 AM PST The ability of male chimpanzees to form coalitions with one another in order to direct aggression at other male chimpanzees has certain benefits. A new study has further revealed that it may not just be the coalition that is important, but who the coalition is with that determines future success.

How different nerve cells develop in the eye: Development in fish embryos with aid of 4D recordings Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:24 AM PST Neurobiologists have gained new insights into how different types of nerve cells are formed in the developing animal. Through specialised microscopes, they were able to follow the development of the neural retina in the eye of living zebrafish embryos. Using high-resolution three-dimensional time-lapse images the researchers simultaneously observed the division of retinal nerve cells and changes in gene expression. This enabled them to gain insights into the way in which the two processes are linked during eye development and how the number and proportion of different cell types are regulated.

Need for speed: High-speed measurements of molecular motion in the cell nucleus Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:24 AM PST Using a new measurement technique, researchers have succeeded in tracking interactions between proteins and DNA in the cell nucleus at a resolution of 1/1000 of a second. They were able to measure the binding of highly specialized protein complexes that specifically change the spatial structure of the genetic information, thereby controlling the readout of the DNA information.

Research opens new pathway for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:24 AM PST Scientists in Belgium have discovered a new target molecule for the development of a treatment against Alzheimer's disease. There is currently no cure for this disease. Many candidate drugs fail because they also target proteins essential to life. This discovery could form a target for a treatment against Alzheimer's disease with fewer side effects and that suppresses the very first symptoms of the disease.

World's smallest wrench puts new twist on microscopic manipulation; Harnesses laser light's ability to gently push and pull Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:34 AM PST Harnessing laser light's ability to gently push and pull microscopic particles, researchers have created the fiber-optic equivalent of the world's smallest wrench. This virtual tool can precisely twist and turn the tiniest of particles, from living cells and DNA to microscopic motors and dynamos used in biological and physical research.

Less wait for travel could reduce drinking and driving in people with 'urgency' personality trait Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:16 AM PST Saving bar patrons' time on their commute home could save lives. Psychologists have found that people who reported drinking and driving also exhibited "urgency," or a lack of emotional self-control, especially while drinking. This suggests that some people when intoxicated may be more likely to choose the convenience of driving themselves home instead of waiting for a taxi.

'Junk DNA' drives embryonic development Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:15 AM PST Researchers have discovered that microRNAs play an important role in embryonic development. The study pinpoints two microRNA families that direct the allocation of cells into the three germ layers -- ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm -- that give rise to all tissues and organs in the body.

Stopping the flow of cancer cells promotes the spread of tumours Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:14 AM PST Researchers have discovered that the cellular component Prrx1 prevents cancer cells from lodging in other organs and, therefore, generating new focuses of cancer. Metastasis is the cause of more than 90% of cancer deaths. The cancer cells break away from the original tumor and spread through the body anchoring to other organs and forming new tumors called metastases. For a focus of cancer to spread to other organs, its cells undergo a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which makes them mobile and invasive, and they begin to travel through the bloodstream. However, to re-anchor to a new organ or tissue they must first recover their initial characteristics, i.e. lose mobility.

Physicist happens upon rain data breakthrough Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:04 AM PST A physicist and researcher who set out to develop a formula to protect Apollo sites on the moon from rocket exhaust may have happened upon a way to improve weather forecasting on Earth.

Hubble spots a peculiar compact blue dwarf galaxy Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:02 AM PST The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captured an impressive image of the irregular galaxy NGC 5253. NGC 5253 is one of the nearest of the known Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) galaxies, and is located at a distance of about 12 million light-years from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The most characteristic signature of these galaxies is that they harbor very active star-formation regions.

Swirling storms on Saturn Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:00 AM PST NASA's Cassini spacecraft has been traveling the Saturnian system in a set of inclined, or tilted, orbits that give mission scientists a vertigo-inducing view of Saturn's polar regions. This perspective has yielded images of roiling storm clouds and a swirling vortex at the center of Saturn's famed north polar hexagon.

Promising new approach in therapy of pain Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:20 AM PST The treatment of inflammatory pain can be improved by endogenous opioid peptides acting directly in injured tissue. Scientists have shown that pain can be successfully treated by targeting immune and nerve cells outside the brain or spinal cord.

Malaria parasite's 'masquerade ball' could come to an end Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:20 AM PST More than a million people die each year of malaria caused by different strains of the Plasmodiumparasite transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The medical world has yet to find an effective vaccine against the deadly parasite, which mainly affects pregnant women and children under the age of five. By figuring out how the most dangerous strain evades the watchful eye of the immune system, researchers have now paved the way for the development of new approaches to cure this acute infection.

Removing sea defenses may reduce impact of coastal flooding Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:20 AM PST Ensuring continued flood protection for low lying coastal areas may mean sacrificing cliff top communities to the sea. New research shows that the benefits of protecting the English coastline from erosion must be balanced against the impacts of coastal flooding.

Key pathological mechanism found in plague bacterium Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:20 AM PST A more than 50-year-old question has now been answered. Chemists and microbiologists are now able to describe in detail the role of calcium in the ability of the plague bacterium Yersinias to cause disease.

Corn: Many active genes -- high yield Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:18 AM PST Hybrid plants provide much higher yield than their homozygous parents. Plant breeders have known this for more than 100 years and used this effect called heterosis for richer harvests. Until now, science has puzzled over the molecular processes underlying this phenomenon. Researchers have now decoded one possible mechanism in corn roots. More genes are active in hybrid plants than in their homozygous parents. This might increase growth and yield of the corn plants.

Have Venusian volcanoes been caught in the act? Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:18 AM PST Six years of observations by the European Space Agency's Venus Express have shown large changes in the sulfur dioxide content of the planet's atmosphere, and one intriguing possible explanation is volcanic eruptions. The thick atmosphere of Venus contains over a million times as much sulfur dioxide as Earth's, where almost all of the pungent, toxic gas is generated by volcanic activity. Most of the sulfur dioxide on Venus is hidden below the planet's dense upper cloud deck, because the gas is readily destroyed by sunlight. That means any sulfur dioxide detected in Venus' upper atmosphere above the cloud deck must have been recently supplied from below.

Go with the flow in flood prediction Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:18 AM PST Floods have once again wreaked havoc across the country and climate scientists and meteorologists suggest that the problem is only going to get worse with wetter winters and rivers bursting their banks becoming the norm. Scientists have now developed a computer model that can work out how the flood flow will develop and where flooding will be worst based on an understanding of fluid dynamics and the underlying topology of a region.

'Pinocchio effect' confirmed: When you lie, your nose temperature rises Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:18 AM PST When a person lies, he or she experiences a "Pinocchio effect", which is an increase in the temperature around the nose and in the orbital muscle in the inner corner of the eye. In addition, when we perform a considerable mental effort our face temperature drops, and when we have an anxiety attack our face temperature rises, according to a pioneering study that has introduced new applications of thermography.

Surprising results from study of non-epileptic seizures Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:16 AM PST A neurologist is reporting surprising results of a study of patients who experience both epileptic and non-epileptic seizures.

Dichlorophenol-containing pesticides linked to food allergies, study finds; Chemical also used to chlorinate tap water Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:16 AM PST A new study finds that high levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.

Taking the buzz out of office lights: Flicker-free, shatterproof alternative for large-scale lighting Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:16 AM PST Say goodbye to that annoying buzz created by overhead fluorescent light bulbs in your office. Scientists have developed a flicker-free, shatterproof alternative for large-scale lighting. The research using FIPEL technology soon will have home applications as well.

Common diabetes drug may treat ovarian cancer Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:16 AM PST Diabetic patients with ovarian cancer who took the drug metformin for their diabetes had a better survival rate than patients who did not take it, a new shows. The findings may play an important role for researchers as they study the use of existing medications to treat different or new diseases.

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