ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Fecal microbiota transplantation as effective treatment for C. difficile and other diseases
• Cells that line blood vessels created
• Toxic nanoparticles might be entering human food supply
• Go on, volunteer -- it could be good for you!
• Art preserves skills despite onset of vascular dementia in 'remarkable' case of a Canadian sculptor
• In mild strokes, ultra-early treatment may eliminate risk of disability
• Stroke risk similar among men and women smokers worldwide
• Single injection may revolutionize melanoma treatment
• The stress and cancer link: 'Master-switch’ stress gene enables cancer's spread
• Computer simulations indicate calcium carbonate has a dense liquid phase
• Drug delivery: Why gold nanoparticles can penetrate cell walls
• Morphing manganese: New discovery alters understanding of chemistry that moves elements through natural world
• Ytterbium atomic clocks set record for stability
• New risk model sheds light on arsenic risk in China's groundwater
• Restricting food and fluids during labor is unwarranted, study suggests
• BMI not accurate enough: Obesity/mortality paradox demonstrates urgent need for more refined metabolic measures
• The 'whole' problem with recycling
• Unraveling the mystery of Saharan dust migration
• How SARS virus hijacks host cells
• Wolves howl because they care: Social relationship can explain variation in vocal production
• How hormones and microbes drive the gender bias in autoimmune diseases
• Mending a broken heart? Scientists transform non-beating human cells into heart-muscle cells
• Space slinky: Jet of superheated gas -- 5,000 light-years long -- ejected from supermassive black hole
• Why people with red hair have a higher risk of developing melanoma
• Sticking power of plant polyphenols used in new coatings
• Better management of free time ensures happier retirement
• Potential for successful climate predictions: Hindcast experiments capture long-term climate fluctuations
• Engaging in a brief cultural activity can reduce implicit prejudice
• Old concrete can protect lakes and streams from phosphorus-laden run-off
• Relating animals to humans could help conservation projects
• Beetles modify emissions of greenhouse gases from cow pats
• Process devised for ultrathin carbon membranes
• Well-being not a priority for workaholics
• Brain size may signal risk of developing an eating disorder
• Simple mix of rock and organic waste is powerful fertilizer
• Food source for whales, seals and penguins at risk: Warming Antarctic seas likely to impact on krill habitats
• Breast is best: Good bacteria arrive from mum's gut via breast milk
• Family history of diabetes increases the risk of prediabetes by 26 percent, with effect most evident in non-obese
• Flu shot may halve heart attack risk in middle aged with narrowed arteries
• Half of all UK 7 year olds not exercising for recommended minimum
• A virus changes its stripes: Human outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis
• Red delicious or wolf apple? Brazilian savanna fruits high in antioxidants
• Depressed people have a more accurate perception of time
• Hunter-gatherers' taste for spice revealed
• Pre-war insect hunters help to save our pollinators
• Ecologists get first bumblebees' eye view of the landscape
• Quick test kit detects phenolic compounds in drinking water
• More efficient and economical capture of power plant carbon dioxide emissions
• Pop! Bursting the bubble on carbonation
• Human brains are hardwired for empathy, friendship
• New molecular mechanism tied to pancreatic cancer

Fecal microbiota transplantation as effective treatment for C. difficile and other diseases Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:45 PM PDT Fecal microbiota transplantation has emerged as a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, with very early experience suggesting that it may also play a role in treating other gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI diseases.

Cells that line blood vessels created Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:45 PM PDT In a scientific first, scientists have successfully grown the cells that line the blood vessels -- called vascular endothelial cells -- from human induced pluripotent stem cells, revealing new details about how these cells function.

Toxic nanoparticles might be entering human food supply Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:45 PM PDT Farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms. However, a growing concern is that these particles could pose a potential health risk to humans and the environment. In a new study, researchers have developed a reliable method for detecting silver nanoparticles in fresh produce and other food products.

Go on, volunteer -- it could be good for you! Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:44 PM PDT Volunteering can improve mental health and help you live longer, finds the study which pools and compares data from multiple experimental trials and longitudinal cohort studies. Some observational evidence points to around a 20 per cent reduction in mortality among volunteers compared to non-volunteers in cohort studies. Volunteers also reported lower levels of depression, increased life satisfaction and enhanced well-being, although the findings have yet to be confirmed in trials.

Art preserves skills despite onset of vascular dementia in 'remarkable' case of a Canadian sculptor Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:44 PM PDT The ability to draw spontaneously as well as from memory may be preserved in the brains of artists long after the deleterious effects of vascular dementia have diminished their capacity to complete simple, everyday tasks, according to a new study by physicians.

In mild strokes, ultra-early treatment may eliminate risk of disability Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:42 PM PDT In the case of mild or moderate strokes, getting treatment ultra-fast – within 90 minutes of experiencing symptoms – greatly reduces the risk of suffering disability, according to a new study.

Stroke risk similar among men and women smokers worldwide Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:42 PM PDT Smoking cigarettes may cause similar stroke risks for men and women, but women smokers may be at greater risk for a more deadly and uncommon type of stroke, according to new research.

Single injection may revolutionize melanoma treatment Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:41 PM PDT A new study could offer hope to people with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Researchers are investigating whether an injectable known as PV-10 can shrink tumors and reduce the spread of cancer. PV-10 is a solution developed from Rose Bengal, a water-soluble dye commonly used to stain damaged cells in the eye. Early clinical trials show PV-10 can boost immune response in melanoma tumors, as well as the blood stream.

The stress and cancer link: 'Master-switch’ stress gene enables cancer's spread Posted: 22 Aug 2013 04:41 PM PDT In an unexpected finding, scientists have linked the activation of a stress gene in immune-system cells to the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body.

Computer simulations indicate calcium carbonate has a dense liquid phase Posted: 22 Aug 2013 12:22 PM PDT Computer simulations could help scientists make sense of a recently observed and puzzling wrinkle in one of nature's most important chemical processes. It turns out that calcium carbonate -- the ubiquitous compound that is a major component of seashells, limestone, concrete, antacids and myriad other substances -- may momentarily exist in liquid form as it crystallizes from solution. Calcium carbonate is a huge player in the planet's carbon cycle, so any new insight into how it behaves is potentially big news.

Drug delivery: Why gold nanoparticles can penetrate cell walls Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:22 AM PDT Gold nanoparticles with special coatings can deliver drugs or biosensors to a cell's interior without damaging it.

Morphing manganese: New discovery alters understanding of chemistry that moves elements through natural world Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:22 AM PDT An often-overlooked form of manganese, an element critical to many life processes, is far more prevalent in ocean environments than previously known, according to a new study. The discovery alters understanding of the chemistry that moves manganese and other elements, like oxygen and carbon, through the natural world. Manganese is an essential nutrient for most organisms and helps plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis.

Ytterbium atomic clocks set record for stability Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:22 AM PDT A pair of experimental atomic clocks based on ytterbium atoms at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has set a new record for stability. The clocks act like 21st-century pendulums or metronomes that could swing back and forth with perfect timing for a period comparable to the age of the universe.

New risk model sheds light on arsenic risk in China's groundwater Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:20 AM PDT Arsenic-laden groundwater used for cooking and drinking could pose a risk to the health of almost 20 million people across China. The estimates are based on a risk model incorporating geological and hydrological data, as well as measurements of arsenic in wells.

Restricting food and fluids during labor is unwarranted, study suggests Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:19 AM PDT Despite the longstanding, widespread practice of restricting women's food and fluid intake during labor, a large-scale analysis finds it unwarranted and supports women eating and drinking as they please.

BMI not accurate enough: Obesity/mortality paradox demonstrates urgent need for more refined metabolic measures Posted: 22 Aug 2013 11:19 AM PDT Researchers point out that the body mass index (BMI), based on the weight and height, is not an accurate measure of body fat content and does not account for critical factors that contribute to health or mortality, such as fat distribution, proportion of muscle to fat, and the sex and racial differences in body composition.

The 'whole' problem with recycling Posted: 22 Aug 2013 10:39 AM PDT People are psychologically hard-wired to believe that products that are damaged or that aren't whole -- such as small or ripped paper or dented cans -- are useless, and this leads users to trash them rather than recycle them. To circumvent overcrowding landfills and environmental problems, researchers say consumers and manufacturers can take steps to override the urge to toss wholly recyclable items.

Unraveling the mystery of Saharan dust migration Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:28 AM PDT Scientists area studying the impact of Saharan dust on Houston's air quality, and how it might differ from other sources of pollution. The dust is carried across the Atlantic Ocean on trade winds most summers, and research has shown it can be differentiated from other sources of pollution.

How SARS virus hijacks host cells Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:28 AM PDT Infectious disease researchers have uncovered components of the SARS coronavirus -- which triggered a major outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2002-03 -- that allow it to take over host cells in order to replicate.

Wolves howl because they care: Social relationship can explain variation in vocal production Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:28 AM PDT When a member of the wolf pack leaves the group, the howling by those left behind isn't a reflection of stress but of the quality of their relationships. So say researchers based on a study of nine wolves from two packs living at Austria's Wolf Science Center.

How hormones and microbes drive the gender bias in autoimmune diseases Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:28 AM PDT Females can mount more powerful immune responses than males, but the flip side of this enhanced protection against infections is a greater risk for autoimmune disorders. A new study reveals that certain gut microbes prevalent in males can help protect them against type 1 diabetes. The study demonstrates that these microbes cooperate with sex hormones to cause this gender bias and provides an important framework that could lead to better treatments.

Mending a broken heart? Scientists transform non-beating human cells into heart-muscle cells Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:27 AM PDT In the aftermath of a heart attack, cells within the region most affected shut down. They stop beating. And they become entombed in scar tissue. But now, scientists have demonstrated that this damage need not be permanent -- by finding a way to transform the class of cells that form human scar tissue into those that closely resemble beating heart cells.

Space slinky: Jet of superheated gas -- 5,000 light-years long -- ejected from supermassive black hole Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:25 AM PDT Astronomers have assembled, from more than 13 years of observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a series of time-lapse movies showing a jet of superheated gas — 5,000 light-years long — as it is ejected from a supermassive black hole in the giant elliptical galaxy M87.

Why people with red hair have a higher risk of developing melanoma Posted: 22 Aug 2013 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have found that the same genetic mutation responsible for red hair also promotes a well-known cancer-causing pathway.

Sticking power of plant polyphenols used in new coatings Posted: 22 Aug 2013 08:21 AM PDT Researchers have exploited the powerful and healthful polyphenols found in green tea, red wine and dark chocolate in a new way. Polyphenols are also sticky, and the researchers have used this property to make new multifunctional coatings based on inexpensive compounds that can stick to virtually anything, including Teflon. Simply dissolving polyphenol powders in water with the proper dash of salt quickly produces colorless coatings that have antioxidant properties, are non-toxic and can kill bacteria on contact.

Better management of free time ensures happier retirement Posted: 22 Aug 2013 08:21 AM PDT How well retirees plan their free time is more important than the amount of free time on hand, study reveals. Retirees should be masters of their own destiny, and actively manage and plan their free time to ensure a happy and fulfilling retirement. A new study found that the effective management of free time has a far greater impact on a retiree's quality of life than the amount of time the person actually has available for leisure activities.

Potential for successful climate predictions: Hindcast experiments capture long-term climate fluctuations Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:50 AM PDT Marine scientists recently managed to successfully hindcast climate shifts in the Pacific. These shifts also have a profound effect on the average global surface air temperature of the Earth.

Engaging in a brief cultural activity can reduce implicit prejudice Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:50 AM PDT A small cue of social connection to someone from another group -- such as a shared interest -- can help reduce prejudice immediately and up to six months later, according to new research.

Old concrete can protect lakes and streams from phosphorus-laden run-off Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:50 AM PDT Lakes and streams are often receiving so much phosphorus that it could pose a threat to the local aquatic environment. Now, research shows that there is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent phosphorus from being discharged to aquatic environments. The solution is crushed concrete from demolition sites.

Relating animals to humans could help conservation projects Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:50 AM PDT New research suggests that people's tendency to relate more to animals that bear a resemblance to humans (anthropomorphism) could help improve public engagement with conservation projects.

Beetles modify emissions of greenhouse gases from cow pats Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:50 AM PDT Cattle contribute to global warming by burping and farting large amounts of greenhouse gases. Some of the same gases are also emitted from cow pats on pastures. But now researchers have found that beetles living in cow pats may reduce emissions of the key greenhouse gas -- methane.

Process devised for ultrathin carbon membranes Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:35 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in developing a new path to produce carbon nanomembranes. In the future, such membranes are expected to be able to filter out very fine materials. The advantage of the new method of fabrication is that it allows a variety of different carbon nanomembranes to be generated which are much thinner than conventional membranes.

Well-being not a priority for workaholics Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:35 AM PDT Researchers found a preliminary link between workaholics and reduced physical and mental well-being.

Brain size may signal risk of developing an eating disorder Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:11 AM PDT New research indicates that teens with anorexia nervosa have bigger brains than teens that do not have the eating disorder. That is according to a study that examined a group of adolescents with anorexia nervosa and a group without.

Simple mix of rock and organic waste is powerful fertilizer Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:10 AM PDT A simple mixture of organic waste, such as chicken manure, and zeolite, a porous volcanic rock, has been developed into a powerful fertilizer which can also reclaim desert or contaminated land.

Food source for whales, seals and penguins at risk: Warming Antarctic seas likely to impact on krill habitats Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:10 AM PDT Antarctic krill are usually less than 6 cm in length but their size belies the major role they play in sustaining much of the life in the Southern Ocean. They are the primary food source for many species of whales, seals, penguins and fish.

Breast is best: Good bacteria arrive from mum's gut via breast milk Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:10 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that important 'good' bacteria arrive in babies' digestive systems from their mother's gut via breast milk.

Family history of diabetes increases the risk of prediabetes by 26 percent, with effect most evident in non-obese Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:10 AM PDT A study involving more than 8,000 participants has shown that people with a family history of diabetes see their risk of prediabetes increase by 26 percent.

Flu shot may halve heart attack risk in middle aged with narrowed arteries Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:10 AM PDT The flu shot seems to almost halve the risk of heart attacks in middle aged people with narrowed arteries, finds new research.

Half of all UK 7 year olds not exercising for recommended minimum Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:05 AM PDT Half of all UK seven year olds are sedentary for six to seven hours every day, and only half clock up the recommended daily minimum of moderate to vigorous physical activity, indicates new research.

A virus changes its stripes: Human outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:05 AM PDT In the summer of 2010, the eastern Panamanian province of Darien experienced a phenomenon that had never been seen before in Latin America: a human outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis. Scientists have now investigated the outbreak, testing samples from 174 patients and many horses.

Red delicious or wolf apple? Brazilian savanna fruits high in antioxidants Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:05 AM PDT Native Brazilian fruits grown in arid climates and poor soil have similar antioxidant activity to conventionally grown red delicious apples, according to new research.

Depressed people have a more accurate perception of time Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:03 AM PDT People with mild depression underestimate their talents.  However, new research shows that depressed people are more accurate when it comes to time estimation than their happier peers.

Hunter-gatherers' taste for spice revealed Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:03 AM PDT Our early ancestors had a taste for spicy food, new research has revealed. Archeologists have found evidence of the use of spices in cuisine at the transition to agriculture. The researchers discovered traces of garlic mustard on the charred remains of pottery dating back nearly 7,000 years.

Pre-war insect hunters help to save our pollinators Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Maps made more than seventy years ago and records collected by amateur naturalists between the World Wars are providing new clues about declining pollinator numbers, ecologists have found. By showing which land use changes have driven pollinator declines over the past 100 years, the research reveals how we could ensure future land use benefits these vital insects.

Ecologists get first bumblebees' eye view of the landscape Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Ecologists have produced the most detailed picture yet of how bumblebees use the landscape thanks to DNA technology and remote sensing. The results – which come from the largest ever study of wild bumblebee nests – could help farmers and policy makers ensure the countryside is better suited to the needs of these vital but declining pollinators.

Quick test kit detects phenolic compounds in drinking water Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Phenolic compounds a problem in industrialised countries. Clean drinking water is a diminishing natural resource in developing nations and in many industrialized countries. Scientists have now developed a simple and inexpensive test kit that detects phenolic compounds in water. Sources of phenolic compounds found in drinking water include industrial wastewaters, drug residues and pipes.

More efficient and economical capture of power plant carbon dioxide emissions Posted: 22 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new technology that captures the carbon dioxide emissions of power plants more economically and ecologically. The new technology is based on a combination of traditional circulating fluidized bed combustion and oxyfuel combustion, enabling more extensive use of cheaper fuels and even biomass.

Pop! Bursting the bubble on carbonation Posted: 22 Aug 2013 05:58 AM PDT New research reveals that bubbles are not necessary to experience the unique 'bite' of carbonated beverages, which actually comes from carbonic acid. Bubbles do, however, enhance carbonation's bite through the light physical feel of the bubbles picked up by our sense of touch.

Human brains are hardwired for empathy, friendship Posted: 22 Aug 2013 05:58 AM PDT Perhaps one of the most defining features of humanity is our capacity for empathy -- the ability to put ourselves in others' shoes. A new study strongly suggests that we are hardwired to empathize because we closely associate people who are close to us -- friends, spouses, lovers -- with our very selves.

New molecular mechanism tied to pancreatic cancer Posted: 21 Aug 2013 02:01 PM PDT New research could aid efforts to diagnose and treat one of the most lethal and hard-to-treat types of cancer.

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