ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Global rise in type 1 diabetes may be linked to reduced exposure to pathogens in early life
• Hormone combination shows promise in the treatment of obesity and diabetes
• Scientists find origins of teamwork in our nearest relative the chimpanzee
• Experiments find strongest shapes with 3-D printing
• Hands-on treatment improves chronic low back pain, reduces medication use
• Tourist-fed stingrays change their ways
• Uncontrolled hypertension could bring increased risk for Alzheimer's disease
• Slabs of ancient tectonic plate still lodged under California
• Skulls of early humans carry telltale signs of inbreeding
• Pregnant women's likelihood of Cesarean delivery in Massachusetts linked to choice of hospitals
• Millions of people in Asia potentially exposed to health risks of popular herbal medicines
• Heart-healthy lifestyle also reduces cancer risk
• Human microbe study provides insight into health, disease
• Map of 'shortcuts' between all human genes
• Elite athletes also excel at some cognitive tasks
• Gone but not forgotten: Yearning for lost loved ones linked to altered thinking about the future
• Petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles could drop 80 percent by 2050: U.S. report
• Widespread 'test-and-treat' HIV policies could increase dangerous drug resistance
• Does Greek coffee hold the key to a longer life?
• Difficulty in recognizing faces in autism linked to performance in a group of neurons
• Oxygen-poor 'boring' ocean challenged evolution of early life
• Ten times more hurricane surges in future, new research predicts
• Computer models show how deep carbon could return to Earth's surface
• Updated sports concussion guideline: Athletes with suspected concussion should be removed from play
• Curiosity Mars rover sees trend in water presence
• Programmed destruction: Same signaling enzymes can trigger two different processes in the cell
• Food memories can help with weight loss
• Causing collapse: Can one affect an atom's spin just by adjusting the way it is measured?
• Cell on a chip reveals protein behavior: In the future, artifical cells may produce complex protein structures on demand
• Special sea slug poised to make a comeback off California
• Similar neuro outcomes in preterm infants with low-grade brain bleeding as infants with no bleeding
• Negative-charge carrying molecular structures created
• Nine new wasp species of the genus Paramblynotus described from Africa and Madagascar
• Only one-third of parents follow doctors' orders for kids all of the time
• Suggestions for a middle ground between unlogged forest and intensively managed lands
• Chemical trickery explored to help contain potato pest
• Tiny minotaurs and mini-Casanovas: Ancient pigmy moths reveal secrets of their diversity
• Earth's interior cycles contribute to long-term sea-level and climate change, researchers find
• Pneumonia patients nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression, impairments
• Male lions use ambush hunting strategy
• Transistor in the fly antenna: Insect odorant receptors regulate their own sensitivity
• Oral estrogen hormone therapy linked to increased risk of gallbladder surgery in menopausal women
• How some prostate tumors resist treatment, and how it might be fixed
• Putting the clock in 'cock-a-doodle-doo'
• Magnets are chaotic -- and fast -- at the very smallest scale
• Famous supernova reveals clues about crucial cosmic distance markers
• Depression stems from miscommunication between brain cells; Study challenges role of serotonin in depression
• Researchers trap light, improve laser potential of MEH-PPV polymer
• Self-assembled nanostructures enable a low-power phase-change memory for mobile electronic devices
• Breakthrough in electricity storage: New large and powerful redox flow battery
• Significant contribution of Greenland's peripheral glaciers to sea-level rise
• Antarctica's first whale skeleton found with nine new deep-sea species
• More parents say they won't vaccinate daughters against HPV
• Community approach effective in fight against diabetes
• It's in the cards: Human evolution influences gamblers' decisions
• Astrocyte signaling sheds light on stroke research
• Cigarette relighting tied to tough economy
• Model allows engineers to test fuel systems on computers
• Leaping lunar dust: Electrically charged dust near shadowed craters can get lofted above Moon's surface
• NASA's Webb Telescope gets its wings

Global rise in type 1 diabetes may be linked to reduced exposure to pathogens in early life Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:33 PM PDT Countries with lower mortality from infectious disease exhibit higher rates of type 1 diabetes, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the as yet unexplained global rise in type 1 diabetes may be linked to reduced exposure to pathogens in early life.

Hormone combination shows promise in the treatment of obesity and diabetes Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:33 PM PDT A new treatment combining two hormones can reduce appetite, according to new research. This early study provides 'first in human' evidence that a combined therapy using the hormones glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) may form the basis for a new treatment for obesity and diabetes in the future.

Scientists find origins of teamwork in our nearest relative the chimpanzee Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:33 PM PDT Teamwork has been fundamental in humanity's greatest achievements but scientists have found that working together has its evolutionary roots in our nearest primate relatives – chimpanzees.

Experiments find strongest shapes with 3-D printing Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:29 PM PDT Physicists are using 3-D printing to test complex qualities of shapes made via the computer. They are studying"jamming" and the structural properties of shapes.

Hands-on treatment improves chronic low back pain, reduces medication use Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:29 PM PDT A new study used osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) and ultrasound therapy to treat chronic low back pain in 455 adults. Patients in the study who received ultrasound therapy did not see any improvement, but the patients who received OMT did see significant improvement in pain, used less prescription medication and were more satisfied with their care over the 12 weeks of the study than those patients who did not receive OMT.

Tourist-fed stingrays change their ways Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:29 PM PDT Study of world-famous Stingray City finds human interaction drastically alters stingray behavior.

Uncontrolled hypertension could bring increased risk for Alzheimer's disease Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT A new study suggests that controlling or preventing risk factors such as hypertension earlier in life may limit or delay the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurological deterioration.

Slabs of ancient tectonic plate still lodged under California Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT The Isabella anomaly -- the seismic signal of a large mass of cool, dehydrated material about 100 kilometers beneath central California -- is in fact a surviving slab of the Farallon oceanic plate, according to new research. Most of the Farallon plate was driven deep into the Earth's mantle as the Pacific and North American plates began converging around 100 million years, eventually coming together to form the San Andreas fault.

Skulls of early humans carry telltale signs of inbreeding Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT Buried for 100,000 years at Xujiayao in the Nihewan Basin of northern China, the recovered skull pieces of an early human exhibit a now-rare congenital deformation that indicates inbreeding might well have been common among our ancestors, new research suggests.

Pregnant women's likelihood of Cesarean delivery in Massachusetts linked to choice of hospitals Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT A new study provides the strongest evidence to date that it's not just medical need that determines who has a Cesarean section, but also something at the hospital level -- in other words, the same woman would have a different chance of undergoing a C-section based on the hospital she chooses.

Millions of people in Asia potentially exposed to health risks of popular herbal medicines Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT Scientists are warning that millions of people in Asia may be exposed to risk of developing kidney failure and bladder cancer by taking herbal medicines that are widely available in Asia. The medicines, used for a wide range of conditions including slimming, asthma and arthritis, are derived from a botanical compound containing aristolochic acids.

Heart-healthy lifestyle also reduces cancer risk Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:04 PM PDT Following the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 steps for a healthy heart also reduces cancer risk. Meeting six or seven of the health factors can cut cancer risk in half. The benefits are cumulative, with cancer risk decreasing for each additional factor met.

Human microbe study provides insight into health, disease Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT Microbes from the human mouth are telling scientists something about periodontitis and more after they cracked the genetic code of bacteria linked to the condition.

Map of 'shortcuts' between all human genes Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT Researchers have generated the full set of distances, routes and degrees of separation between any two human genes, creating a map of gene "shortcuts" that aims to simplify the hunt for disease-causing genes in monogenic diseases.

Elite athletes also excel at some cognitive tasks Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT New research suggests that elite athletes -- Olympic medalists in volleyball, for example -- perform better than the rest of us in yet another way. These athletes excel not only in their sport of choice but also in how fast their brains take in and respond to new information -- cognitive abilities that are important on and off the court.

Gone but not forgotten: Yearning for lost loved ones linked to altered thinking about the future Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT People suffering from complicated grief may have difficulty recalling specific events from their past or imagining specific events in the future, but not when those events involve the partner they lost, according to a new study.

Petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles could drop 80 percent by 2050: U.S. report Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT A new report finds that by the year 2050, the United States may be able to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light-duty vehicles -- cars and small trucks -- via a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels like biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.

Widespread 'test-and-treat' HIV policies could increase dangerous drug resistance Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT One of the most widely advocated strategies for dealing with HIV/AIDS could double the number of multi-drug-resistant HIV cases in the population of men who have sex with men in LA County over the next 10 years, cautions a new study.

Does Greek coffee hold the key to a longer life? Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:16 PM PDT The answer to longevity may be far simpler than we imagine; it may in fact be right under our noses in the form of a morning caffeine kick. The elderly inhabitants of Ikaria, the Greek island, boast the highest rates of longevity in the world, and many scientists turn to them when looking to discover the 'secrets of a longer life'.

Difficulty in recognizing faces in autism linked to performance in a group of neurons Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:15 PM PDT Neuroscientists have discovered a brain anomaly that explains why some people diagnosed with autism cannot easily recognize faces -- a deficit linked to the impairments in social interactions considered to be the hallmark of the disorder.

Oxygen-poor 'boring' ocean challenged evolution of early life Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:15 PM PDT Biogeochemists have filled in a billion-year gap in our understanding of conditions in the early ocean during a critical time in life's history on Earth. During the period 1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago, oxygen likely remained low in the atmosphere and ocean, with marine life dominated by bacteria. The ocean was oxygen-free and iron-rich in the deepest waters and hydrogen sulfide-containing over limited regions on the ocean margins.

Ten times more hurricane surges in future, new research predicts Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:15 PM PDT How much worse will the frequency of extreme storm surges get as temperatures rise in the future? How many extreme storm surges like that from Hurricane Katrina, which hit the U.S. coast in 2005, will there be as a result of global warming? New research shows that there will be a tenfold increase in frequency if the climate becomes two degrees Celsius warmer.

Computer models show how deep carbon could return to Earth's surface Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:15 PM PDT Computer simulations of water under extreme pressure are helping geochemists understand how carbon might be recycled from hundreds of miles below the Earth's surface.

Updated sports concussion guideline: Athletes with suspected concussion should be removed from play Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:14 PM PDT With more than one million athletes now experiencing a concussion each year in the United States, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has released an evidence-based guideline for evaluating and managing athletes with concussion. This new guideline replaces the 1997 AAN guideline on the same topic.

Curiosity Mars rover sees trend in water presence Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:33 AM PDT NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has seen evidence of water-bearing minerals in rocks near where it had already found clay minerals inside a drilled rock.

Programmed destruction: Same signaling enzymes can trigger two different processes in the cell Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT Lab results show the same signaling enzymes can trigger two different processes in the cell, sounding a warning to biomedical researchers.

Food memories can help with weight loss Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT Psychologists have found that using memories of recent meals reduces the amount of food eaten later on. It also found that being distracted when eating leads to increased consumption.

Causing collapse: Can one affect an atom's spin just by adjusting the way it is measured? Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT One of the most basic laws of quantum mechanics is that a system can be in more than one state -- it can exist in multiple realities -- at once. This phenomenon, known as the superposition principle, exists only so long as the system is not observed or measured in any way. As soon as such a system is measured, its superposition collapses into a single state. Thus, we, who are constantly observing and measuring, experience the world around us as existing in a single reality. Researchers now suggest one can affect an atom's spin just by adjusting the way it is measured.

Cell on a chip reveals protein behavior: In the future, artifical cells may produce complex protein structures on demand Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT For years, scientists around the world have dreamed of building a complete, functional, artificial cell. Though this vision is still a distant blur on the horizon, many are making progress on various fronts. Researchers in Israel recently took a significant step in this direction when they created a two-dimensional, cell-like system on a glass chip.

Special sea slug poised to make a comeback off California Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT After almost four decades of absence from local waters, a special sea slug appears to be making a comeback, and marine scientists are eagerly anticipating its return.

Similar neuro outcomes in preterm infants with low-grade brain bleeding as infants with no bleeding Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT A new study suggests that preterm infants with a low-grade bleeding in the brain may have similar neurodevelopmental outcomes as infants with no bleeding.

Negative-charge carrying molecular structures created Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:30 AM PDT Chemists have synthesized organic molecular structures that move both positive and negative electrical charges -- a highly desired but often difficult combination to achieve in current efforts to create highly flexible electronic devices and other new technologies.

Nine new wasp species of the genus Paramblynotus described from Africa and Madagascar Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT A detailed revision of the Afrotropical liopterid wasp subfamily Mayrellinae reveals nine new species in the genus Paramblynotus coming from Africa and a first time record in Madagascar.

Only one-third of parents follow doctors' orders for kids all of the time Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT One in 10 say they follow pediatricians' advice 'only occasionally;' most likely to ignore guidance on discipline, sleep, watching TV.

Suggestions for a middle ground between unlogged forest and intensively managed lands Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT In the world's forested regions, two management systems -- retention forestry and agroforestry -- are being used to alleviate conflicts between preserving biodiversity and addressing human needs in production landscapes. A new article draws a parallel between the ecological effects of the two systems.

Chemical trickery explored to help contain potato pest Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT If left unchecked, the pale cyst nematode burrows into potato roots to feed, obstructing nutrients and causing stunted growth, wilted leaves and other symptoms that can eventually kill the plant. Now scientists are evaluating new ways to control the pest using naturally occurring chemicals called egg-hatching factors.

Tiny minotaurs and mini-Casanovas: Ancient pigmy moths reveal secrets of their diversity Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT Strange thickened antennae like bulls' horns and mustache-like scent scales are amongst the romantic armory of males of Australia's tiniest moths, as revealed in a new study of their diversity and evolution. The arid continent has provided an ideal home for the ancient pigmy moths, which have taken to Eucalyptus and related plants as hosts for their leaf-mining caterpillars, and diversified into at least 140 species.

Earth's interior cycles contribute to long-term sea-level and climate change, researchers find Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:28 AM PDT Ancient rises in sea levels and global warming are partially attributable to cyclical activity below Earth's surface, researchers have concluded in an analysis of geological studies. However, changes spurred by Earth's interior are gradual, taking place in periods ranging from 60 million to 140 million years -- far less rapidly than those brought on by human activity.

Pneumonia patients nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression, impairments Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT Long-term cognitive and functional impairments that follow pneumonia hospitalization are comparable to the negative health effects of heart disease.

Male lions use ambush hunting strategy Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT It has long been believed that male lions are dependent on females when it comes to hunting. But new evidence suggests that male lions are, in fact, very successful hunters in their own right. A new report shows that male lions use dense savanna vegetation for ambush-style hunting in Africa.

Transistor in the fly antenna: Insect odorant receptors regulate their own sensitivity Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT Highly developed antennae containing different types of olfactory receptors allow insects to use minute amounts of odors for orientation. Scientists have now provided experimental proof that the extremely sensitive olfactory system of fruit flies is based on self-regulation of odorant receptors. Even a below threshold odor stimulation increases the sensitivity of the receptor, and if a second odor pulse arrives, a neural response will be elicited.

Oral estrogen hormone therapy linked to increased risk of gallbladder surgery in menopausal women Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT Oral estrogen therapy for menopausal women is associated with an increased risk of gallbladder surgery, according to a large-scale study of more than 70 000 women in France).

How some prostate tumors resist treatment, and how it might be fixed Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that the protein Siah2 keeps a portion of androgen receptors constantly active, allowing prostate cancer cells to resist treatment. Based on this new information, Siah2 could make a promising biomarker for tracking a prostate cancer patient's response to therapy. Inhibiting Siah2's interaction with the androgen receptor complex might also provide a new method for re-sensitizing castration-resistant prostate tumors to hormone therapy.

Putting the clock in 'cock-a-doodle-doo' Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT Of course, roosters crow with the dawn. But are they simply reacting to the environment, or do they really know what time of day it is? Researchers have evidence that puts the clock in "cock-a-doodle-doo.

Magnets are chaotic -- and fast -- at the very smallest scale Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:24 AM PDT Using a new type of camera that makes extremely fast snapshots with an extremely high resolution, it is now possible to observe the behavior of magnetic materials at the nanoscale. This behavior is more chaotic than previously thought. The observed behavior changes our understanding of data storage, researchers say.

Famous supernova reveals clues about crucial cosmic distance markers Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:11 AM PDT A new study using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory points to the origin of a famous supernova. This supernova, discovered in 1604 by Johannes Kepler, belongs to an important class of objects that are used to measure the rate of expansion of the Universe.

Depression stems from miscommunication between brain cells; Study challenges role of serotonin in depression Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:53 AM PDT A new study suggests that depression results from a disturbance in the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. The study indicates a major shift in our understanding of how depression is caused and how it should be treated. Instead of focusing on the levels of hormone-like brain chemicals, such as serotonin, the scientists found that the transmission of excitatory signals between cells becomes abnormal in depression.

Researchers trap light, improve laser potential of MEH-PPV polymer Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:53 AM PDT Researchers have come up with a low-cost way to enhance a polymer called MEH-PPV's ability to confine light, advancing efforts to use the material to convert electricity into laser light for use in photonic devices.

Self-assembled nanostructures enable a low-power phase-change memory for mobile electronic devices Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:53 AM PDT Nonvolatile memory that can store data even when not powered is currently used for portable electronics such as smart phones, tablets, and laptop computers. Flash memory is a dominant technology in this field, but its slow writing and erasing speed has led to extensive research into a next-generation nonvolatile memory called Phase-Change Random Access Memory (PRAM), as PRAM's operating speed is 1,000 times faster than that of flash memory. Scientists have now developed a phase-change memory with low power consumption (below 1/20th of its present level) by employing self-assembled block copolymer silica nanostructures.

Breakthrough in electricity storage: New large and powerful redox flow battery Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:50 AM PDT More and more electricity is being generated from intermittent sources of power, such as solar and wind energy. Powerful electric energy storage devices are necessary to level out corresponding irregularities in the power supply. Scientists have recently made an important breakthrough with the development of a redox flow battery that reaches stack power up to 25 kW, with a cell size of 0.5 square meters. This is eight times larger than the previous A4-sized systems.

Significant contribution of Greenland's peripheral glaciers to sea-level rise Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:49 AM PDT Glaciers at the edge of Greenland which are not connected to its huge ice sheet, or can be clearly separated from it, are contributing to sea-level rise much more than previously thought. Scientists have found that, though these peripheral glaciers make up just 5 to 7 percent of total ice coverage on the land mass, they account for up to 20 percent of the rise in sea level created by the region's melting.

Antarctica's first whale skeleton found with nine new deep-sea species Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:49 AM PDT Marine biologists have, for the first time, found a whale skeleton on the ocean floor near Antarctica, giving new insights into life in the sea depths. The discovery was made almost a mile below the surface in an undersea crater and includes the find of at least nine new species of deep-sea organisms thriving on the bones.

More parents say they won't vaccinate daughters against HPV Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT Parents are increasingly concerned about potential side effects, a new study shows.

Community approach effective in fight against diabetes Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT New research shows that a diabetes prevention program led by community health workers is effective at reducing blood glucose and potentially reducing diabetes over the long term.

It's in the cards: Human evolution influences gamblers' decisions Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT New research suggests evolution, or basic survival techniques adapted by early humans, influences the decisions gamblers make when placing bets. The findings may help to explain why some treatment options for problem gamblers often don't work, the researchers say.

Astrocyte signaling sheds light on stroke research Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT New research suggests that modifying signals sent by astrocytes, our star-shaped brain cells, may help to limit the spread of damage after an ischemic brain stroke. The study in mice determined that astrocytes play a critical role in the spread of damage following stroke.

Cigarette relighting tied to tough economy Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT In what is believed to be a first of its kind study, researchers have found that a trend of smokers relighting cigarettes is related to economic factors, and the practice has implications for tobacco dependence treatment and policy.

Model allows engineers to test fuel systems on computers Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT Engineers will be able to design better fuel systems for everything from motorcycles to rockets faster and more inexpensively because of a new mathematical fuels model.

Leaping lunar dust: Electrically charged dust near shadowed craters can get lofted above Moon's surface Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:43 AM PDT Electrically charged lunar dust near shadowed craters can get lofted above the surface and jump over the shadowed region, bouncing back and forth between sunlit areas on opposite sides, according to new calculations by NASA scientists.

NASA's Webb Telescope gets its wings Posted: 18 Mar 2013 07:38 AM PDT A massive backplane that will hold the primary mirror of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope nearly motionless while it peers into space is another step closer to completion with the recent assembly of the support structure's wings.

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