ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Structured weight loss program helps kids from low-income families lower BMI
• Fertility after ectopic pregnancy: first randomised trial finds reassuring evidence on the effect of different treatments
• Cancer researchers discover new type of retinoblastoma in babies
• Marine diversity study proves value of citizen science
• Observing exoplanets like never before: New instrument reveals exotic nature of four planets orbiting same nearby star
• When hungry, Gulf of Mexico algae go toxic
• Using fat to fight brain cancer: Stem cells from human adipose tissue used to chase migrating cancer cells
• Preventing HIV infection with anti-HIV drugs in people at risk is cost-effective
• Weight gain after quitting smoking does not negate health benefits
• Duration of breastfeeding during infancy does not reduce a child's risk of being overweight, obese, study finds
• Regardless of possible weight gain, quitting smoking associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• Brain imaging after mild head injury/concussion can show lesions
• European invader outcompetes Canadian plants even outside its usual temperature range
• Potential early indicator of kidney injury identified
• Political strife undermines HIV treatment
• Promising new drug treats and protects against radiotherapy-associated oral mucositis
• Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts
• Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are more common than previously thought
• Stereotyping prime obstacle to women in commercial science: Cracking glass ceiling starts with academic leaders, tech transfer offices
• 'I don't want to pick!' Preschoolers know when they aren't sure
• New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury
• Hiding secret messages in email jokes
• Bitter melon juice prevents pancreatic cancer in mouse models
• Device may lead to quicker, more efficient diagnostics
• Canadian Arctic glacier melt accelerating, irreversible, projections suggest
• Four dinosaur egg species identified in Lleida, Spain
• Sri Lankan snake study reveals new species, rich biodiversity in island country
• Job burnout can severely compromise heart health
• Therapeutic targets to alter inflammation, type 2 diabetes
• Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes
• Nose's unheralded neighbor: Maxillary sinuses allow noses to change shapes
• Nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions for dialysis patients inappropriate, experts say
• Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection
• Heat-stressed cows spend more time standing
• New automated process simplifies alignment and splicing of multicore optical fibers
• Ultra-high-speed optical communications link sets new power efficiency record
• New distance record for 400 Gb/s data transmission
• Pre-clinical research shows promising treatment for diabetic wounds using stem cells
• Mystery of 'zombie worm' development unveiled
• Green food labels make nutrition-poor food seem healthy
• NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars
• Antarctic and Arctic insects use different genetic mechanisms to cope with lack of water
• Prediction of seasonal flu strains improves chances of universal vaccine
• Cryptic clams: Biologists find species hiding in plain view
• Repairing the nose after skin cancer in just one step
• Scientists identify why some fathers are left holding the baby
• Does expressing anger on online rant-sites make you feel better or worse?
• Eel migration study reveals porbeagle shark predation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
• Fungi may be able to replace plastics one day
• Financial incentives affect prostate cancer treatment patterns
• Brain spikes: Synchrony may be key to cracking brain's neural code
• High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients
• Drug reduces chest pain in patients with diabetes
• Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty, study suggests
• Drug may improve outcomes after heart attack
• Logging debris gives newly planted Douglas-fir forests a leg-up
• Exercise during gestation might affect future fertility
• Heart-lung machine? Off-pump bypass better for high-risk patients, study suggests
• Spiders, not birds, may drive evolution of some butterflies
• Hereditary neurodegeneration linked to ADP-ribose modification

Structured weight loss program helps kids from low-income families lower BMI Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:26 PM PDT Overweight and obese children in low-income households can meet or exceed the Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity when given access to a structured weight management program, according to a new study.

Fertility after ectopic pregnancy: first randomised trial finds reassuring evidence on the effect of different treatments Posted: 12 Mar 2013 08:12 PM PDT The first randomized trial to compare treatments for ectopic pregnancies has found no significant differences in subsequent fertility between medical treatment and conservative surgery on one hand, and conservative or radical surgery on the other.

Cancer researchers discover new type of retinoblastoma in babies Posted: 12 Mar 2013 08:10 PM PDT Cancer researchers have discovered a new type of retinoblastoma, a rapidly developing eye cancer that affects very young babies -– a finding that can immediately change clinical practice and optimize care for these children.

Marine diversity study proves value of citizen science Posted: 12 Mar 2013 04:46 PM PDT Citizen science surveys compare well with traditional scientific methods when it comes to monitoring species biodiversity, according to researchers. A new study shows that methods to record marine diversity used by amateurs returned results consistent with techniques favored by peer-reviewed science.

Observing exoplanets like never before: New instrument reveals exotic nature of four planets orbiting same nearby star Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT Thanks to a new high-tech gadget, astronomers have observed four planets orbiting a star relatively close to the sun in unprecedented detail, revealing the roughly ten-Jupiter-mass planets to be among the most exotic ones known.

When hungry, Gulf of Mexico algae go toxic Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT When Gulf of Mexico algae don't get enough nutrients, they focus their remaining energy on becoming more and more poisonous to ensure their survival, according to a new study.

Using fat to fight brain cancer: Stem cells from human adipose tissue used to chase migrating cancer cells Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT In laboratory studies, researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient's own fat may have the potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after the surgical removal of a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor.

Preventing HIV infection with anti-HIV drugs in people at risk is cost-effective Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT An HIV prevention strategy in which people at risk of becoming exposed to HIV take antiretroviral drugs to reduce their chance of becoming infected (often referred to as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP), may be a cost-effective method of preventing HIV in some settings, according to a new study.

Weight gain after quitting smoking does not negate health benefits Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:12 PM PDT A new study finds that the health effects of weight gained after quitting smoking do not counteract the known cardiovascular benefits of smoking cessation.

Duration of breastfeeding during infancy does not reduce a child's risk of being overweight, obese, study finds Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT In research that included nearly 14,000 healthy infants in Belarus, an intervention that succeeded in improving the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding during infancy did not result in a lower risk of overweight or obesity among the children at age 11.5 years, according to a new study.

Regardless of possible weight gain, quitting smoking associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT Among adults without diabetes, quitting smoking, compared with continuing smoking, was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease despite subsequent weight gain, according to a new study.

Brain imaging after mild head injury/concussion can show lesions Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:11 PM PDT Brain imaging soon after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild concussion can detect tiny lesions that may eventually provide a target for treating people with mTBI.

European invader outcompetes Canadian plants even outside its usual temperature range Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Vincetoxicum rossicum, commonly known as dog-strangling vine, is an alien invasive plant from the Ukraine and southwestern Russia that has now established itself in the northeastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada. This species successfully displaces local native plants, demonstrating high tolerance for environmental variables such as light and soil moisture.

Potential early indicator of kidney injury identified Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Acute kidney injury, a common and serious complication of hospitalization, is on the increase worldwide, affecting an estimated 6 percent of all hospitalized patients and 30-40 percent of adults and children having cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Political strife undermines HIV treatment Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Among other tragedies in countries with HIV epidemics, political violence can have the additional long-term consequence of an increase in viral resistance to treatment and HIV treatment failure, say experts. The researchers, who have studied post-strife treatment failure and resistance in Kenya, argue that officials and health care providers need to study and prepare for how violence disrupts antiretroviral treatment and complicates the epidemic.

Promising new drug treats and protects against radiotherapy-associated oral mucositis Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Mouse model studies show that administered genetically or topically, protein Smad7 protects against or heals mouth sores commonly associated with cancer treatment.

Autistic children may be at greater risk of suicide ideation and attempts Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Children with an autism spectrum disorder may be at greater risk for contemplating suicide or attempting suicide than children without autism, according to researchers.

Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are more common than previously thought Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT The number of potentially habitable planets is greater than previously thought, according to a new analysis by a Penn State researcher, and some of those planets are likely lurking around nearby stars.

Stereotyping prime obstacle to women in commercial science: Cracking glass ceiling starts with academic leaders, tech transfer offices Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Female professors are underrepresented on corporates science advisory boards, and the gender gap decreases when academic administrators work to raise the profile of their high-performing female scientists.

'I don't want to pick!' Preschoolers know when they aren't sure Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Children as young as 3 years old know when they are not sure about a decision, and can use that uncertainty to guide decision making, according to new research.

New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:19 PM PDT New hope for reversing the effects of spinal cord injury may be found in a combination of stem cell therapy and physical therapy according to new findings.

Hiding secret messages in email jokes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT It is possible to hide secret messages in simple jokes, according to new research.

Bitter melon juice prevents pancreatic cancer in mouse models Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT A new study shows that bitter melon juice restricts the ability of pancreatic cancer cells to metabolize glucose, thus cutting the cells' energy source and eventually killing them.

Device may lead to quicker, more efficient diagnostics Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT A twist on thin-film technology may provide a way to optically detect and analyze multiple substances simultaneously, leading to quicker diagnostics in such industries as health care and homeland security, according to researchers.

Canadian Arctic glacier melt accelerating, irreversible, projections suggest Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT Ongoing glacier loss in the Canadian high Arctic is accelerating and probably irreversible, new model projections suggest. The Canadian high Arctic is home to the largest clustering of glacier ice outside of Greenland and Antarctica -- 146,000 square kilometers (about 60,000 square miles) of glacier ice spread across 36,000 islands.

Four dinosaur egg species identified in Lleida, Spain Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT Scientists have for the first time documented detailed records of dinosaur egg fossils in the Coll de Nargó archaeological site in Lleida, Spain. Up until now, only one type of dinosaur egg had been documented in the region.

Sri Lankan snake study reveals new species, rich biodiversity in island country Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT Alex Pyron's expertise is in family trees. Who is related to whom, who begat whom, how did they get where they are now. But not for humans: reptiles.

Job burnout can severely compromise heart health Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:49 AM PDT Dr. Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University has found a link between job burnout and coronary heart disease (CHD), the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to angina and heart attacks. She says that her findings were more extreme than she expected and make burnout a stronger predictor of CHD than many other risk factors.

Therapeutic targets to alter inflammation, type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT New research reveals that B cells regulate obesity-associated inflammation and type 2 diabetes through two specific mechanisms. The study indicates the importance of continuing to explore B cells as a therapeutic target to treat these diseases.

Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities as settings in which this antibiotic-resistant strain is increasingly found.

Nose's unheralded neighbor: Maxillary sinuses allow noses to change shapes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT The maxillary sinuses, those pouches on either side of the human nose, have a purpose after all: They act as cushions to allow noses to assume different shapes. A new study explains the relationship for the first time.

Nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions for dialysis patients inappropriate, experts say Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Patients who receive hemodialysis are at a significant risk of developing infections, a leading cause of hospitalization and death in this patient population. A new study highlights the need to improve antibiotic use in outpatient dialysis facilities as data shows nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions are deemed inappropriate.

Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Half of the world's human population is infected with the stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, yet it causes disease in only about 10 percent of those infected. Other bacteria living in the stomach may be a key factor in whether or not H. pylori causes disease, according to a new study.

Heat-stressed cows spend more time standing Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT Animal scientists have found that cows stand for longer bouts of time on hot days. Standing allows cows to cool off, but standing also uses up more energy. If cows are encouraged to lie down, they may be more healthy and productive.

New automated process simplifies alignment and splicing of multicore optical fibers Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:46 AM PDT New multicore optical fibers have many times the signal-carrying capacity of traditional single-core fibers, but their use in telecommunications has been restricted because of the challenge in splicing them together. Now, a new technique offers an automated method for aligning and splicing multicore fibers, allowing engineers to take manual splicing out of the lab and into an automated production line.

Ultra-high-speed optical communications link sets new power efficiency record Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:46 AM PDT Ultrafast supercomputers that operate at speeds 100 times faster than current systems are now one step closer to reality. Researchers have found a way to transmit massive amounts of data with unprecedentedly low power consumption.

New distance record for 400 Gb/s data transmission Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:46 AM PDT Scientists have devised a new patent-pending technique enabling 400 Gb/s signals to be sent over today's 100 gigahertz-grid optical networks over ultra-long distances for the first time.

Pre-clinical research shows promising treatment for diabetic wounds using stem cells Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:45 AM PDT Pre-clinical research has generated some very promising findings using adult stem cells for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Mystery of 'zombie worm' development unveiled Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:45 AM PDT How do bone-eating worms reproduce? A new study sheds light on this question through a detailed observation of the postembryonic development and sexual maturation of Osedax worms, also known as "zombie worms." These worms typically inhabit vertebrate bones on the seafloor.

Green food labels make nutrition-poor food seem healthy Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:44 AM PDT Green calorie labels may lead people to see nutrition-poor foods in a healthier light. A researcher says consumers are more likely to perceive a candy bar as more healthful when it has a green calorie label compared with when it had a red one – even though the number of calories are the same.

NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars Posted: 12 Mar 2013 10:17 AM PDT An analysis of a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes. Scientists identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon -- some of the key chemical ingredients for life -- in the powder Curiosity drilled out of a sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater on the Red Planet last month.

Antarctic and Arctic insects use different genetic mechanisms to cope with lack of water Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT Although they live in similarly extreme ecosystems at opposite ends of the world, Antarctic insects appear to employ entirely different methods at the genetic level to cope with extremely dry conditions than their counterparts that live north of the Arctic Circle, according to a new study.

Prediction of seasonal flu strains improves chances of universal vaccine Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT Researchers have determined a way to predict and protect against new strains of the flu virus, in the hope of improving immunity against the disease.

Cryptic clams: Biologists find species hiding in plain view Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT Cryptic comments seem to have an ambiguous, obscure or hidden meaning. In biology, cryptic species are outwardly indistinguishable groups whose differences are hidden inside their genes.

Repairing the nose after skin cancer in just one step Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT A new reconstruction technique allows surgeons to recreate a functioning nostril after removing skin cancer from the nose. The technique takes only one step, unlike the current practice that requires a return trip the operating room.

Scientists identify why some fathers are left holding the baby Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:18 AM PDT A century old mystery as to why, for some animals, it's the father rather than the mother that takes care of their young has been cracked by scientists.

Does expressing anger on online rant-sites make you feel better or worse? Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:17 AM PDT Little is known about the value and emotional consequences of expressing anger on the Internet. Rant-sites provide an outlet for anonymous, angry outbursts. How people feel after reading and writing rants and the effects of this behavior is explored in a new article.

Eel migration study reveals porbeagle shark predation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:11 AM PDT Satellite tracking tags used to elucidate the migratory path of American eels from the St. Lawrence River to the Sargasso Sea prematurely detached from the specimens leading investigators to suspect significant predation during the eels' journey. Data from the tags revealed stomach temperatures and dive patterns consistent with porbeagle sharks. In addition to data collected by the satellite tags, only 4% of acoustically tagged eels were detected migrating into the Atlantic Ocean via the Cabot Strait (a major migratory pathway between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland). The study precedes the recent vote by CITES to more strictly enforce protection of five shark species including porbeagle sharks as well as recent international studies on the worldwide decline of sharks.

Fungi may be able to replace plastics one day Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT Fungi, with the exception of shitake and certain other mushrooms, tend to be something we associate with moldy bread or dank-smelling mildew. But they really deserve more respect, say researchers. Fungi have fantastic capabilities and can be grown, under certain circumstances, in almost any shape and be totally biodegradable. And, if this weren't enough, they might have the potential to replace plastics one day. The secret is in the mycelia.

Financial incentives affect prostate cancer treatment patterns Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT According to a new study, prostate cancer patients of urologists who own expensive radiation equipment are more likely to receive radiation treatment in lieu of surgery than patients treated by urologists without an ownership stake in the equipment.

Brain spikes: Synchrony may be key to cracking brain's neural code Posted: 12 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT Biomedical engineers have detailed research progress toward "reading and writing the neural code." The neural code details how the brain's roughly 100 billion neurons turn raw sensory inputs into information we can use to see, hear and feel things in our environment.

High-dose oral vitamins, minerals do not reduce recurrent cardiac events in heart attack patients Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT Heart attack patients given a combination of high-dose oral vitamins and minerals do not exhibit a significant reduction in recurrent cardiac events, according to new research. However, the study shows that when combined with active chelation therapy, high-dose vitamins and minerals may provide some additional benefit.

Drug reduces chest pain in patients with diabetes Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT A commonly used anti-anginal drug reduces chest pain in patients with type 2 diabetes and appears to have a more pronounced effect in those with poorer glucose control, according to new research.

Clot-busting drug as effective as angioplasty, study suggests Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT A clot-busting therapy may benefit some heart attack patients who cannot have immediate angioplasty, according to new research.

Drug may improve outcomes after heart attack Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT The prescription drug eplerenone appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure after a heart attack by more than one-third, according to new research.

Logging debris gives newly planted Douglas-fir forests a leg-up Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT The downed limbs and other woody debris that are inevitable byproducts of timber harvest could be among the most important components of post-harvest landscapes, according to a new study.

Exercise during gestation might affect future fertility Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have found that exercising pregnant sows could affect ovarian development in their fetuses. Fetuses from exercised sows had greater cell proliferation in their ovaries.

Heart-lung machine? Off-pump bypass better for high-risk patients, study suggests Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Bypass surgery done without a heart-lung machine, known as off-pump, may provide better post-operative outcomes than on-pump bypass surgery for high-risk patients, according to new research.

Spiders, not birds, may drive evolution of some butterflies Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Butterflies are among the most vibrant insects, with colorations sometimes designed to deflect predators. New research shows some of these defenses may be driven by enemies one-tenth their size.

Hereditary neurodegeneration linked to ADP-ribose modification Posted: 12 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers have identified a much sought after enzyme that removes ADP-ribose modifications from proteins by studying a genetic mutation that causes neurodegenerative disease in humans. The findings suggest that not only addition but also removal of ADP-ribose from proteins is essential for normal cell function.

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