ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• New protein to treat damaged bones uncovered
• Particles of crystalline quartz wear away teeth
• Good managers fake it
• Advantages of imaginary friends
• Spin and bias in published studies of breast cancer trials
• Herschel spacecraft eyes asteroid Apophis
• Information required for short-term water management decisions outlined
• Mussels inspire innovative new adhesive for surgery
• Protective communities may reduce risk of drinking in teens
• Next-generation adaptive optics brings remarkable details to light in stellar nursery
• Variation found in foot strike patterns in predominantly barefoot runners
• Mapping the Milky Way: Radio telescopes give clues to structure, history
• Sickle cells show potential to attack aggressive cancer tumors
• Brown eyes appear more trustworthy than blue: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color
• Deal or no deal: Five year olds make smart decisions in games of risk
• Baby sharks stay still to avoid being detected by predators
• Measuring genomic response to infection leads to earlier, accurate diagnoses
• Crowdsourcing biodiversity watch
• Stem cells may hold promise for Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
• Study shows promise of molecular screening for gynecologic cancers, commentary writers state
• Machine perception lab shows robotic one year old on video
• NASA chases climate change clues into the stratosphere
• Dark energy alternatives to Einstein are running out of room
• High fiber diet prevents prostate cancer progression, study shows
• Invading species can extinguish native plants despite recent reports to the contrary
• Online message boards provide outlets for mothers' concerns, researcher says
• New research method to identify brain tumors could enhance neurosurgery
• Engineering alternative fuel with cyanobacteria
• Prior relationship experiences shape romantic partnerships, says psychologist
• Small price differences can make options seem more similar, easing our buying decisions
• Microscopic blood in urine unreliable indicator of urinary tract cancer
• Faulty behavior: New earthquake fault models show that 'stable' zones may contribute to the generation of massive earthquakes
• Flooding preparedness needs to include infection prevention and control strategies
• Unnecessary antimicrobial use increases risk of recurrent infectious diarrhea
• Study examines how news spreads on Twitter
• A history lesson from genes: Using DNA to tell us how populations change
• Farthest supernova yet for measuring cosmic history
• A rapid test for fungus that caused injection deaths
• Scientists use Pap test fluid to detect ovarian, endometrial cancers
• Researchers foresee new treatments and diagnostics for deadly fibrotic diseases of the lung, liver, and kidney
• Dimmer switch for regulating cell's read of DNA code
• Drug resistance in E. coli: 'Baby steps' can pay off big
• Magma in mantle has deep impact: Rocks melt at greater depth than once thought
• First image of insulin 'docking' could lead to better diabetes treatments
• Scientists unlock how insulin interacts with cells
• Drug-resistant melanoma tumors shrink when therapy is interrupted
• Scientists use marine robots to detect endangered whales
• Americans have worse health than people in other high-income countries
• Smaller radiation fields can spare brain when treating tumors, research finds
• Eliminating useless information important to learning, making new memories
• Tree seeds offer potential for sustainable biofuels
• Sensory hair cells regenerated, hearing restored in noise-damaged mammal ear
• Newly found 'volume control' in brain promotes learning, memory
• How does your garden glow?
• Scientists discover new gene that affects clearance of hepatitis C virus
• Bench to bedside: How to fast track targeted cancer drugs with radiation into the clinic
• Nursing gerbils unravel benefit of multiple mothers in collective mammals
• Networking ability a family trait in monkeys
• Whales' foraging strategies revealed by new technology
• Expert suggests tried-and-true strategies to strengthen your relationship

New protein to treat damaged bones uncovered Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:53 PM PST Researchers believe that the 'DJ-1 protein' can be used to promote the formation of new bone tissue in patients suffering from osteoporosis by improving communication between bone making cells (osteoblasts) and blood vessel (endothelial) cells.

Particles of crystalline quartz wear away teeth Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:52 PM PST Dental microwear, the pattern of tiny marks on worn tooth surfaces, is an important basis for understanding the diets of fossil mammals, including those of our own lineage. Now nanoscale research has unraveled some of its causes.

Good managers fake it Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:52 PM PST Managers recognize the need to feign their emotions at work, especially when interacting with staff. Researchers have established just how important it is that managers 'perform' or put on a public emotional show, even if they don't feel like it.

Advantages of imaginary friends Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:52 PM PST Most parents do not worry if their young child has an imaginary friend and even see advantages in such an invisible companion.

Spin and bias in published studies of breast cancer trials Posted: 09 Jan 2013 06:52 PM PST Spin and bias exist in a high proportion of published studies of the outcomes and adverse side-effects of phase III clinical trials of breast cancer treatments, according to new research.

Herschel spacecraft eyes asteroid Apophis Posted: 09 Jan 2013 05:06 PM PST Scientists using the Herschel Space Observatory made new observations of asteroid Apophis as it approached Earth this past weekend. The data show the asteroid to be bigger than first estimated, and less reflective.

Information required for short-term water management decisions outlined Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:59 PM PST Adapting to future climate change impacts requires capabilities in hydroclimate monitoring, short-term prediction and application of such information to support contemporary water management decisions. A new report provides details.

Mussels inspire innovative new adhesive for surgery Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:59 PM PST Mussels can be a mouthwatering meal, but the chemistry that lets mussels stick to underwater surfaces may also provide a highly adhesive wound closure and more effective healing from surgery.

Protective communities may reduce risk of drinking in teens Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:59 PM PST Living in a caring community may help curb teenage alcohol use, while hanging out with antisocial peers can have the opposite effect, according to researchers studying substance abuse patterns.

Next-generation adaptive optics brings remarkable details to light in stellar nursery Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST A new image reveals how Gemini Observatory's most advanced adaptive optics system will help astronomers study the universe with an unprecedented level of clarity and detail by removing distortions due to the Earth's atmosphere.

Variation found in foot strike patterns in predominantly barefoot runners Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST A recently paper shows that the running foot strike patterns vary among habitually barefoot people in Kenya due to speed and other factors such as running habits and the hardness of the ground. These results are counter to the belief that barefoot people prefer one specific style of running.

Mapping the Milky Way: Radio telescopes give clues to structure, history Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST Surveys of the Milky Way are vastly increasing the number of known sites of massive star formation, tracing the structure of the Galaxy and giving clues to its history, including evidence of possible past mergers with other galaxies.

Sickle cells show potential to attack aggressive cancer tumors Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST By harnessing the very qualities that make sickle cell disease a lethal blood disorder, a research team has developed a way to deploy the misshapen red blood cells to fight cancer tumors.

Brown eyes appear more trustworthy than blue: People judge men's trustworthiness based on face shape, eye color Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST People view brown-eyed faces as more trustworthy than those with blue eyes, except if the blue eyes belong to a broad-faced man, according to research published Jan. 9 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Karel Kleisner and colleagues from Charles University in the Czech Republic.

Deal or no deal: Five year olds make smart decisions in games of risk Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST You may have to be over a certain age to be a contestant on "Deal or No Deal", but children as young as five start to maximize their profits -- in cookies -- when making decisions similar to those on the show, according to new research.

Baby sharks stay still to avoid being detected by predators Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST Baby sharks still developing in their egg cases can sense when predators are near, and keep very still to avoid being detected, according to new research.

Measuring genomic response to infection leads to earlier, accurate diagnoses Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST Researchers are looking to genomic technologies -- not the isolation of bacteria or viruses -- to quickly detect and diagnose infectious diseases such as the flu and staph.

Crowdsourcing biodiversity watch Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:57 PM PST Following the 2006 ban on sturgeon fishing, the Romanian town of Sfantu Gheorghe, located at the mouth of the Danube river, turned to other income source to replace its fishing based economy. Thus, local children undertook to map out a plant called sea buckthorn, as a first step in forecasting its potential harvest value. Sea buckthorn is a coastal bush which produces yellow berries, typically used in food, beverages and traditional medicine. To achieve their goal, the children used mapping and GPS facilities made available from a crowdsourcing-based biodiversity monitoring initiative called Naturalliance.

Stem cells may hold promise for Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:56 PM PST Apparent stem cell transplant success in mice may hold promise for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to results of a new study.

Study shows promise of molecular screening for gynecologic cancers, commentary writers state Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:56 PM PST A new study that proposes a three-in-one test for gynecologic cancers underscores the promise of molecular screening for early detection of endometrial and ovarian cancers, but also suggests that such tests are not yet ready for clinical use. Andrea Myers, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a co-author of the commentary on the study, says the test is an important step in that direction.

Machine perception lab shows robotic one year old on video Posted: 09 Jan 2013 03:56 PM PST The world is getting a long-awaited first glimpse at a new humanoid robot in action mimicking the expressions of a one-year-old child. The robot will be used in studies on sensory-motor and social development – how babies "learn" to control their bodies and to interact with other people.

NASA chases climate change clues into the stratosphere Posted: 09 Jan 2013 02:54 PM PST Starting this month, NASA will send a remotely piloted research aircraft as high as 65,000 feet over the tropical Pacific Ocean to probe unexplored regions of the upper atmosphere for answers to how a warming climate is changing Earth.

Dark energy alternatives to Einstein are running out of room Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST Astronomers have found that a popular alternative to Albert Einstein's theory for the acceleration of the expansion of the universe does not fit newly obtained data on a fundamental constant, the proton to electron mass ratio.

High fiber diet prevents prostate cancer progression, study shows Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST The rate of prostate cancer occurrence in Asian cultures is similar to the rate in Western cultures, but in the West, prostate cancer tends to progress, whereas in Asian cultures it does not. Why? A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the January 2013 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research shows that the answer may be a high-fiber diet.

Invading species can extinguish native plants despite recent reports to the contrary Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST Evolutionary biologists have found that, given time, invading exotic plants will likely eliminate native plants growing in the wild despite recent reports to the contrary. A new study reports that recent statements that invasive plants are not problematic are often based on incomplete information, with insufficient time having passed to observe the full effect of invasions on native biodiversity.

Online message boards provide outlets for mothers' concerns, researcher says Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:20 PM PST Parenting infants and toddlers can be challenging, and for generations, mothers have turned to other moms for advice. Now, with the availability of the Internet, mothers are consulting each other using modern venues: online message boards. Research indicates online discussion boards provide safe environments for mothers to anonymously express child-rearing concerns and receive support from other moms.

New research method to identify brain tumors could enhance neurosurgery Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:09 PM PST The use of a new brain tumor-targeting contrast agent that differentiates between normal and cancer cells in conjunction with a high-powered microscopy system could potentially lead to a method of more precise neurosurgery for brain tumors, according to research paper. The contrast agent adheres to a molecular marker of medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer, and can be seen by the optical microscope system, also developed by the research team.

Engineering alternative fuel with cyanobacteria Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:09 PM PST Biologists have engineered two strains of cyanobacteria to produce free fatty acids, a precursor to liquid fuels. Micro-algal fuels might be one way to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign energy. Such fuels would be renewable since they are powered by sunlight. They also could reduce carbon dioxide emissions since they use photosynthesis, and they could create jobs in a new industry.

Prior relationship experiences shape romantic partnerships, says psychologist Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:09 PM PST Partners each bring a suitcase of prior experiences to a relationship, which may influence what happens in their current relationship, says a professor of psychology and education.

Small price differences can make options seem more similar, easing our buying decisions Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:12 PM PST Some retailers, such as Apple's iTunes, are known for using uniform pricing in an effort to simplify consumers' choices and perhaps increase their tendency to make impulse purchases. But other stores, like supermarkets, often have small price differences across product flavors and brands. As counterintuitive as it might seem, these small price differences may actually make the options seem more similar, easing our decision to buy, according to new research.

Microscopic blood in urine unreliable indicator of urinary tract cancer Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:12 PM PST Microscopic amounts of blood in urine have been considered a risk factor for urinary tract malignant tumors. However, only a small proportion of patients referred for investigation are subsequently found to have cancer. A new study reports on the development and testing of a Hematuria Risk Index to predict cancer risk. This could potentially lead to significant reductions in the number of unnecessary evaluations.

Faulty behavior: New earthquake fault models show that 'stable' zones may contribute to the generation of massive earthquakes Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:12 PM PST In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move rapidly past each other. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however -- some slip slowly and are considered to be "stable." One hypothesis suggests that creeping fault behavior is persistent over time, with stable segments acting as barriers to fast-slipping earthquakes. But a new study shows that this might not be true.

Flooding preparedness needs to include infection prevention and control strategies Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:12 PM PST Clinical investigators report key findings and recommendations related to the closure and re-opening of hospitals impacted by black-water floods. The guidance builds on lessons learned from Thailand and the United States. The findings come as many flood-damaged healthcare facilities in New York and New Jersey look to reopen in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Unnecessary antimicrobial use increases risk of recurrent infectious diarrhea Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:12 PM PST A new study found that many patients with Clostridium difficile infection are prescribed unnecessary antibiotics, increasing their risk of recurrence of the deadly infection. The retrospective report shows that unnecessary antibiotics use is alarmingly common in this vulnerable patient population.

Study examines how news spreads on Twitter Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST A study of the Twitter activity of 12 major news agencies shows varying levels of success for the social network as a news-sharing tool, based on factors like article lifespan and number of retweets.

A history lesson from genes: Using DNA to tell us how populations change Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST Researchers have developed a software model that can infer population history from modern DNA.

Farthest supernova yet for measuring cosmic history Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST In 2004 the Supernova Cosmology Project based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used the Hubble Space Telescope to find a tantalizing supernova that appeared to be almost 10 billion light-years distant. But researchers had to wait years until a new camera was installed on the Hubble before they could confirm the spectrum and light curve of supernova SCP-0401 -- the supernova furthest back in time useful for precise measures of the expansion history of the universe.

A rapid test for fungus that caused injection deaths Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST A rapid detection assay has been developed to Exserhilum rostratum, the fungus primarily responsible for 39 deaths among patients injected last year with a contaminated steroid medication. The test can be used both for patient samples and for detection of contamination in lots of medication.

Scientists use Pap test fluid to detect ovarian, endometrial cancers Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST Using cervical fluid obtained during routine Pap tests, scientists have developed a test to detect ovarian and endometrial cancers. In a pilot study, the "PapGene" test, which relies on genomic sequencing of cancer-specific mutations, accurately detected all 24 (100 percent) endometrial cancers and nine of 22 (41 percent) ovarian cancers.

Researchers foresee new treatments and diagnostics for deadly fibrotic diseases of the lung, liver, and kidney Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST A team of scientists has developed a playbook for ending the devastating impact of fibrotic diseases of the liver, lung, kidney, and other organs, which are responsible for as many as 45 percent of all deaths in the industrialized world.

Dimmer switch for regulating cell's read of DNA code Posted: 09 Jan 2013 12:11 PM PST Researchers have been studying the epigenetics enzyme HDAC3 for several years. They discovered that its activity requires interaction with a specific region on another protein called the Deacetylase Activating Domain. This "nuts and bolts" discovery on the epigenetic control of a person's genome has implications for cancer and neurological treatments.

Drug resistance in E. coli: 'Baby steps' can pay off big Posted: 09 Jan 2013 10:15 AM PST Scientists have found that mutations of seemingly small consequence can turn out to be game changers in the bacterial fight against antibiotic drugs. The discovery came during an exhaustive, three-year effort to create a mathematical model that could accurately predict how specific mutations would allow E. coli to ward off attacks by the antibiotic minocycline.

Magma in mantle has deep impact: Rocks melt at greater depth than once thought Posted: 09 Jan 2013 10:15 AM PST Magma forms far deeper in the Earth's interior than previously thought, and may solve several puzzles for geologists.

First image of insulin 'docking' could lead to better diabetes treatments Posted: 09 Jan 2013 10:15 AM PST A landmark discovery about how insulin docks on cells could help in the development of improved types of insulin for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. For the first time, researchers have captured the intricate way in which insulin uses the insulin receptor to bind to the surface of cells. This binding is necessary for the cells to take up sugar from the blood as energy.

Scientists unlock how insulin interacts with cells Posted: 09 Jan 2013 10:15 AM PST An international research group has described how insulin binds to the cell to allow the cell to transform sugar into energy —- and also how the insulin itself changes shape as a result of this connection. This discovery could lead to dramatic improvements in the lives of people managing diabetes.

Drug-resistant melanoma tumors shrink when therapy is interrupted Posted: 09 Jan 2013 10:14 AM PST Researchers have discovered that melanomas that develop resistance to the anti-cancer drug vemurafenib (marketed as Zelboraf), also develop addiction to the drug, an observation that may have important implications for the lives of patients with late-stage disease. Surprisingly, intermittent dosing with vemurafenib prolonged the lives of mice with drug-resistant melanoma tumors, researchers said.

Scientists use marine robots to detect endangered whales Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST Two robots equipped with instruments designed to "listen" for the calls of baleen whales detected nine endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of Maine last month. The robots reported the detections to shore-based researchers within hours of hearing the whales, demonstrating a new and powerful tool for managing interactions between whales and human activities.

Americans have worse health than people in other high-income countries Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries.

Smaller radiation fields can spare brain when treating tumors, research finds Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST New research shows that patients suffering from aggressive brain tumors can be effectively treated with smaller radiation fields to spare the rest of the brain and preserve cognition.

Eliminating useless information important to learning, making new memories Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST As we age, it just may be the ability to filter and eliminate old information -- rather than take in the new stuff -- that makes it harder to learn, scientists report.

Tree seeds offer potential for sustainable biofuels Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST Tree seeds, rather than biomass or fuel crop plants, could represent an abundant source of renewable energy, according to new research. The study suggests that seeds from the Indian mahua and sal trees have almost as good a thermal efficiency as biodiesel but would produce lower emissions of carbon monoxide, waste hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

Sensory hair cells regenerated, hearing restored in noise-damaged mammal ear Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:42 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug to stimulate resident cells to become new hair cells, resulting in partial recovery of hearing in mouse ears damaged by noise trauma. This finding holds great potential for future therapeutic application that may someday reverse deafness in humans.

Newly found 'volume control' in brain promotes learning, memory Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:41 AM PST Researchers report synapses that act as "volume control" for nerve cell activity in the brain's hippocampus, the epicenter for learning and memory. Too much synaptic communication between neurons can trigger a seizure, and too little impairs information processing, promoting neurodegeneration. The finding describes how synapses that link two different groups of nerve cells in the hippocampus keep neuronal activity throughout that region at a steady, optimal level.

How does your garden glow? Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:41 AM PST Nature's ability to create iridescent flowers has been recreated by mathematicians. They have created a mathematical model of a plant's petals to help us learn more about iridescence in flowering plants and the role it may play in attracting pollinators.

Scientists discover new gene that affects clearance of hepatitis C virus Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:41 AM PST Scientists have discovered a gene that interferes with the clearance of hepatitis C virus infection. They also identified an inherited variant within this gene, Interferon Lambda 4 (IFNL4), that predicts how people respond to treatment for hepatitis C infection.

Bench to bedside: How to fast track targeted cancer drugs with radiation into the clinic Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:40 AM PST Researchers from the translational research program of the National Cancer Institute and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Therapy Group have developed new guidelines to help fast track the clinical development of targeted cancer drugs in combination with radiation therapy.

Nursing gerbils unravel benefit of multiple mothers in collective mammals Posted: 09 Jan 2013 08:06 AM PST In mammals such as rodents that raise their young as a group, infants will nurse from their mother as well as other females. Ecologists have long thought this lets newborns stockpile antibodies to various diseases, but experimental proof has been lacking until now.

Networking ability a family trait in monkeys Posted: 09 Jan 2013 08:06 AM PST Two years of painstaking observation on the social interactions of a troop of free-ranging monkeys and an analysis of their family trees has found signs of natural selection affecting the behavior of the descendants.

Whales' foraging strategies revealed by new technology Posted: 09 Jan 2013 08:06 AM PST Despite the many logistical difficulties of studying large whales, multisensor tags attached to the animals with suction cups are revealing their varied foraging techniques in unprecedented detail. These can be related to the animals' anatomy and to the distribution and behavior of their prey.

Expert suggests tried-and-true strategies to strengthen your relationship Posted: 09 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST What are you doing to keep your relationship alive? A new study highlights the importance of five relationship maintenance strategies that couples can use to preserve or improve the quality of an intimate relationship.

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