ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Marijuana shows potential in treating autoimmune disease
• Humans' tiny cellular machines: Spliceosomes in detail
• One in four children with leukemia not taking maintenance medication, study shows
• Physicists take quantum leap toward ultra-precise measurement
• Sperm-inspired robots controlled by magnetic fields may be useful for drug delivery, IVF, cell sorting and other applications
• Long-term results encouraging for combination immunotherapy for advanced melanoma
• Nano world: Where towers construct themselves
• Fishing vessels have big ecological footprint: Powerful seabird magnets
• Using computers to influence the law
• Surgeons report fewer postoperative blood clots using risk-based preventive measures
• CPAP rapidly improves blood pressure, arterial tone in adults with sleep apnea
• Transforming hydrogen into safer liquid fuel using atmospheric carbon dioxide
• Astronomers find a new type of planet: The 'mega-Earth'
• Because you can't eat just one: Star will swallow two planets
• 'Neapolitan' exoplanets come in three flavors
• Harsh space weather may doom potential life on red-dwarf planets
• Creating tabletop light sources in the lab: Physicist builds useful light source from harmonic generation
• How the 'long shadow' of an inner city childhood affects adult success
• Prenatal maternal stress predicts asthma and autism traits in 6 1/2-year-old children
• Blunting rice disease: Natural microbe inhibits rice blast fungus
• Even at infancy, humans can visually identify objects that stand out
• 'Healthy' component of red wine, resveratrol, causes pancreatic abnormalities in fetuses
• Why inflammation leads to a leaky blood-brain barrier: MicroRNA-155
• Marijuana use associated with impaired sleep quality
• Poor sleep equal to binge drinking, marijuana use in predicting academic problems
• Half of pregnant women who have hypertension and snore unknowingly have a sleep disorder
• Suicides far more likely to occur after midnight, study finds
• Breakthrough in energy storage: Electrical cables that can store energy
• Same face, many first impressions
• New species from the past: Baltic amber deposits reveal a new species of flat bug from the genus Aradus
• A master of disguise: A new stick insect species from China
• Common cholesterol drug greatly alters inflammatory response to common cold
• Early steps toward personalized fitness: Interval training may benefit men more than women
• Antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does affect babies, study shows
• Stronger than steel: Scientists spin ultra-strong cellulose fibers
• Electromobility as privacy hazard: Leaving information with every electric fill-up
• Cystic fibrosis, diabetes link explained
• Britain's urban rivers cleanest in 20 years
• Hypnosis extends restorative slow-wave sleep, research shows
• Speaking two languages benefits the aging brain
• World's best thermometer made from light
• E-cigarette TV ads targeting youth increased 256% in past two years
• Rare chemical phenomenon that could be harnessed to harvest solar energy demonstrated by researchers
• The 'Serpent' star-forming cloud hatches new stars
• Nano-platform ready: Scientists use DNA origami to create 2-D structures
• NASA's saucer-shaped craft preps for flight test
• Joint implants without an expiry date
• What finding out a child's sex before birth says about a mother
• Parental presence improves quality of child anesthesia, research shows
• Ovarian cancer subtypes may predict response to bevacizumab
• Revolutionizing diets, improving health with discovery of new genes involved in food preferences
• Uncovering deletions, duplications in the exome can help pinpoint cause of unexplained genetic diseases
• Leptin also influences brain cells that control appetite, researchers find
• Exciton detected in metal for first time: Microscopic quantum mechanical description of how light excites electrons in metals
• Graphene's multi-colored butterflies
• 'Quadrapeutics' works in preclinical study of hard-to-treat tumors: Animal tests show technology effective against aggressive cancer
• New genetic cause of male reproductive birth defects identified
• Smokers with gene defect have one in four chance of developing lung cancer
• Drug combination extends survival by more than a year in metastatic prostate cancer

Marijuana shows potential in treating autoimmune disease Posted: 02 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Researchers have discovered a novel pathway through which marijuana can suppress the body's immune functions. The recent findings show that marijuana THC can change critical molecules of epigenome called histones, leading to suppression of inflammation.

Humans' tiny cellular machines: Spliceosomes in detail Posted: 02 Jun 2014 12:07 PM PDT Like exploring the inner workings of a clock, researchers are digging into the inner workings of the tiny cellular machines called spliceosomes, which help make all of the proteins our bodies need to function. They have now captured images of this machine, revealing details never seen before.

One in four children with leukemia not taking maintenance medication, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT An estimated 25 percent of children in remission from acute lymphocytic leukemia are missing too many doses of an essential maintenance medication that minimizes their risk of relapse, according to a study. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells, is the most common form of childhood cancer. While more than 95 percent of children with ALL enter remission within a month of receiving initial cancer therapy, one in five will relapse. In order to remain cancer-free, children in remission must take a form of oral chemotherapy every day for two years.

Physicists take quantum leap toward ultra-precise measurement Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:17 AM PDT Physicists have overcome a major challenge in the science of measurement using quantum mechanics. The scientists developed a way to employ multiple detectors in order to measure photons in entangled states, with an experimental apparatus that uses a fiber ribbon to collect photons and send them to an array of 11 detectors. Their work paves the way for great advances in using quantum states to develop ultra-precise measurement technologies.

Sperm-inspired robots controlled by magnetic fields may be useful for drug delivery, IVF, cell sorting and other applications Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:16 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed sperm-inspired microrobots, which consist of a head coated in a thick cobalt-nickel layer and an uncoated tail. When the robot is subjected to an oscillating field of less than five millitesla, it experiences a magnetic torque on its head, which causes its flagellum to oscillate and propel it forward. The researchers are then able to steer the robot by directing the magnetic field lines towards a reference point.

Long-term results encouraging for combination immunotherapy for advanced melanoma Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT The first long-term follow-up results from a phase 1b immunotherapy trial combining drugs for advanced melanoma patients has shown encouraging results -- long-lasting with high survival rates -- researchers report. The trial evaluated the safety and activity of the combination regimen of nivolumab (anti-PD-1), an investigational PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, and ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4; Yervoy), given either concurrently or sequentially, to patients with advanced melanoma whose disease progressed after prior treatment.

Nano world: Where towers construct themselves Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT A tower which builds itself is absurd -- and however, in the nano world self-assembly is reality. Physicists have investigated how to control the ordering of such self-assembling structures at the nano-scale. Physicists investigated how they can control the ordering of such self-assembling structures and found out how to switch the assembly process on and off.

Fishing vessels have big ecological footprint: Powerful seabird magnets Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT Fishing vessels have a far bigger ecological footprint than previously thought, according to research which tracked the movement and behavior of seabirds using GPS devices. Scientists discovered that northern gannets change their behaviour in response to the presence of large vessels such as trawlers, suggesting each boat can significantly influence the distribution and foraging patterns of these and other marine predators.

Using computers to influence the law Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:21 AM PDT The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures and, ever since the Supreme Court's 1967 decision in Katz v. United States, the right to be free of unwanted government scrutiny has been tied to the concept of reasonable expectations of privacy. Researchers have examined how advances in machine learning technology may change the way courts treat searches, warrants, and privacy issues.

Surgeons report fewer postoperative blood clots using risk-based preventive measures Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Surgery patients are much less likely to get a blood clot in the lower extremities or lungs if they receive preventive treatment based on their individual clotting risk, in addition to walking soon after the operation. Researchers reported that they lowered the frequency of deep venous thromboses -- blood clots in a deep vein, usually in a lower extremity -- by 84 percent two years after the prevention efforts began, compared with the results two years before the program. The occurrence of pulmonary emboli, or blood clots that travel to the lungs, fell by 55 percent in the same period.

CPAP rapidly improves blood pressure, arterial tone in adults with sleep apnea Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Continuous positive airway pressure therapy rapidly improves blood pressure and arterial tone in adults with obstructive sleep apnea, research confirms. Results show that there was a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures among sleep apnea patients who were compliant with CPAP therapy for three months. Successful treatment of sleep apnea also was associated with decreased vascular tone and arterial stiffness.

Transforming hydrogen into safer liquid fuel using atmospheric carbon dioxide Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Scientists have completed their solution for transforming hydrogen gas into a less flammable liquid fuel that can be safely stored and transported. Another possible application of their technology would be to use atmospheric carbon dioxide to synthesize a number of useful chemical products.

Astronomers find a new type of planet: The 'mega-Earth' Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered a new type of planet -- a rocky world weighing 17 times as much as Earth. Theorists believed such a world couldn't form because anything so hefty would grab hydrogen gas as it grew and become a Jupiter-like gas giant. This planet, though, is all solids and much bigger than previously discovered 'super-Earths,' making it a 'mega-Earth.'

Because you can't eat just one: Star will swallow two planets Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Two worlds orbiting a distant star are about to become a snack of cosmic proportions. Astronomers announced that the planets Kepler-56b and Kepler-56c will be swallowed by their star in a short time by astronomical standards. Their ends will come in 130 million and 155 million years, respectively.

'Neapolitan' exoplanets come in three flavors Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT The planets of our solar system come in two basic flavors, like vanilla and chocolate ice cream. We have small, rocky terrestrials like Earth and Mars, and large gas giants like Neptune and Jupiter. We're missing the astronomical equivalent of strawberry ice cream -- planets between about one and four times the size of Earth.

Harsh space weather may doom potential life on red-dwarf planets Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:58 AM PDT Life in the universe might be even rarer than we thought. Recently, astronomers looking for potentially habitable worlds have targeted red dwarf stars because they are the most common type of star, composing 80 percent of the stars in the universe. But a new study shows that harsh space weather might strip the atmosphere of any rocky planet orbiting in a red dwarf's habitable zone.

Creating tabletop light sources in the lab: Physicist builds useful light source from harmonic generation Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:56 AM PDT Scientists are developing a way to greatly enhance the generation of high-order harmonics to create powerful small tabletop light sources that are important to science and technology. The researchers are building theoretical framework and providing experimental guidance in the area of strong-field physics.

How the 'long shadow' of an inner city childhood affects adult success Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:55 AM PDT Nearly 800 Baltimore school children were followed in a ground-breaking study for a quarter of a century. The conclusion: their fates were substantially determined by the economic status of the family they were born into. Through repeated interviews with the children and their parents and teachers, the research team observed the group as its members made their way through elementary, middle and high school, joined the work force and started families.

Prenatal maternal stress predicts asthma and autism traits in 6 1/2-year-old children Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:48 AM PDT A new study finds a link between prenatal maternal stress and the development of symptoms of asthma and autism in children. Scientists have been studying women who were pregnant during the January 1998 Quebec ice storm since June of that year and observing effects of their stress on their children's development (Project Ice Storm). The team examined the degree to which the mothers' objective degree of hardship from the storm and their subjective degree of distress explained differences among the women's children in asthma-like symptoms and in autism-like traits.

Blunting rice disease: Natural microbe inhibits rice blast fungus Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:48 AM PDT A fungus that kills an estimated 30 percent of the world's rice crop may finally have met its match, thanks to a research discovery made by scientists. A naturally occurring microbe in soil that inhibits the rice blast fungus has been identified by a team of researchers. "Rice blast is a relentless killer, a force to be reckoned with, especially as rice is a staple in the daily diet of more than half the world's population -- that's over 3 billion people," says the study's leader.

Even at infancy, humans can visually identify objects that stand out Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:47 AM PDT Even by three months of age, babies are visually able to locate objects that stand out from a group, a study has found. "For example, an infant can pick a red umbrella in a sea of grey ones," says the leader of the research. "This indicates that babies at a very young age are able to selectively extract information from the environment, just like adults."

'Healthy' component of red wine, resveratrol, causes pancreatic abnormalities in fetuses Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:47 AM PDT Here's more evidence that pregnant women should be careful about what they eat and drink: A new research report shows that when taken during pregnancy, resveratrol supplements led to developmental abnormalities in the fetal pancreas. This study has direct relevance to human health--Resveratrol is widely used for its recognized health benefits, and is readily available over the counter.

Why inflammation leads to a leaky blood-brain barrier: MicroRNA-155 Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:47 AM PDT Until now, scientists have not known exactly how inflammation weakens the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins and other molecules access to the brain. A new research report solves this mystery by showing that a molecule, called 'microRNA-155,' is responsible for cleaving epithelial cells to create microscopic gaps that let material through.

Marijuana use associated with impaired sleep quality Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT Marijuana use is associated with impaired sleep quality, research suggests. Results show that any history of cannabis use was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting difficulty falling asleep, struggling to maintain sleep, experiencing non-restorative sleep, and feeling daytime sleepiness. The strongest association was found in adults who started marijuana use before age 15; they were about twice as likely to have severe problems falling asleep, experiencing non-restorative sleep and feeling overly sleepy during the day.

Poor sleep equal to binge drinking, marijuana use in predicting academic problems Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT College students who are poor sleepers are much more likely to earn worse grades and withdraw from a course than healthy sleeping peers, new research shows. Results show that sleep timing and maintenance problems in college students are a strong predictor of academic problems. The study also found that sleep problems have about the same impact on grade point average (GPA) as binge drinking and marijuana use.

Half of pregnant women who have hypertension and snore unknowingly have a sleep disorder Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT A substantial proportion of hypertensive pregnant women have obstructive sleep apnea, and many may not be aware. We know that habitual snoring is linked with poor pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child, including increased risk of C-sections and smaller babies," says the lead author. "Our findings show that a substantial proportion of hypertensive pregnant women have obstructive sleep apnea and that habitual snoring may be one of the most telling signs to identify this risk early in order to improve health outcomes."

Suicides far more likely to occur after midnight, study finds Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:20 AM PDT Suicides are far more likely to occur between midnight and 4 a.m. than during the daytime or evening, evidence shows. Accounting for more than 38,000 deaths each year, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, about 16,000 deaths occur each year due to homicide.

Breakthrough in energy storage: Electrical cables that can store energy Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Nanotechnology scientists have developed a way to both transmit and store electricity in a single lightweight copper wire. Sounds like science fiction, but it may become a reality thanks to breakthrough technology. So far electrical cables are used only to transmit electricity. However, nanotechnology scientists have developed a way to both transmit and store electricity in a single lightweight copper wire.

Same face, many first impressions Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Slight variations in how an individual face is viewed can lead people to develop significantly different first impressions of that individual, according to research. "Our findings suggest that impressions from still photos of individuals could be deeply misleading," says one psychological scientist. "This research has important ramifications for how we think about these impressions and how we test whether they are accurate."

New species from the past: Baltic amber deposits reveal a new species of flat bug from the genus Aradus Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT A piece of Eocene Baltic Amber of about 45 million years age contains a well preserved extinct flat bug, which turned out to be a new species to science. This exciting discovery is one of the many secrets that deposits of Baltic amber have revealed in the last years and are yet to come in the future.

A master of disguise: A new stick insect species from China Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Many representatives of the fauna possess unique masking abilities but stick insects are among the masters of disguise within the animal world. During a field trip in Guangxi, China biologists discovered a new species from this enigmatic insect group, which he describes in a recent article.

Common cholesterol drug greatly alters inflammatory response to common cold Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT Cold season may be just behind us, but a new discovery may shed light on how this common condition triggers asthma attacks. In a new report, researchers show that in individuals with asthma, statins significantly reduce the in vitro inflammatory response of human monocytes to rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold.

Early steps toward personalized fitness: Interval training may benefit men more than women Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:17 AM PDT When it comes to reaping benefits of sprint interval training, it appears that men have won the battle of the sexes, if just barely. According to new research, men create more new proteins as a result of this exercise than women do. The good news, however, is that men and women experienced similar increases in aerobic capacity.

Antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does affect babies, study shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:16 AM PDT A seven-year study of women who take antipsychotic medication while pregnant, proves it can affect babies. The observational study reveals that while most women gave birth to healthy babies, the use of mood stabilizers or higher doses of antipsychotics during pregnancy increased the need for special care after birth with 43 per cent of babies placed in a Special Care Nursery or a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, almost three times the national rate in Australia.

Stronger than steel: Scientists spin ultra-strong cellulose fibers Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:16 AM PDT Scientists have successfully tested a new method for the production of ultra-strong cellulose fibers. The novel procedure spins extremely tough filaments from tiny cellulose fibrils by aligning them all in parallel during the production process.

Electromobility as privacy hazard: Leaving information with every electric fill-up Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:14 AM PDT Consumers who charge an electric vehicle on a regular basis may leave a data trail. With each charging process, the system saves when and where it took place and which customer paid for it – a privacy risk, says one expert, who presents a solution designed to ensure the privacy of users' data during the charging process.

Cystic fibrosis, diabetes link explained Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:13 AM PDT Many people with cystic fibrosis develop diabetes. The reasons for this have been largely unknown, but now researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that contributes to the raised diabetes risk. Cystic fibrosis is the result of a genetic mutation in an ion channel that normally regulates salt transport in cells, primarily in the lungs and pancreas.

Britain's urban rivers cleanest in 20 years Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT Scientists have found that Britain's urban rivers are the cleanest they've been in over two decades.The 21-year study of over 2,300 rivers measured the presence of clean-river invertebrates - a yardstick for river health – which during the days of heavy industry and poor sewage treatment had declined considerably, but now appear to be making a comeback.

Hypnosis extends restorative slow-wave sleep, research shows Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT Sleeping well is a crucial factor contributing to our physical and mental restoration. Slow-Wave sleep (SWS) in particular has a positive impact for instance on memory and the functioning of the immune system. During periods of SWS, growth hormones are secreted, cell repair is promoted and the defense system is stimulated. If you feel sick or have had a hard working day, you often simply want to get some good, deep sleep, a wish that you may not be able to influence through your own will.

Speaking two languages benefits the aging brain Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:12 AM PDT New research reveals that bilingualism has a positive effect on cognition later in life. Findings show that individuals who speak two or more languages, even those who acquired the second language in adulthood, may slow down cognitive decline from aging. Bilingualism is thought to improve cognition and delay dementia in older adults. While prior research has investigated the impact of learning more than one language, ruling out "reverse causality" has proven difficult. The crucial question is whether people improve their cognitive functions through learning new languages or whether those with better baseline cognitive functions are more likely to become bilingual.

World's best thermometer made from light Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT Physics researchers have produced the world's most sensitive thermometer – three times more precise than the best thermometers in existence. They report they have been able to measure temperature with a precision of 30 billionths of a degree.

E-cigarette TV ads targeting youth increased 256% in past two years Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT In the absence of the kind of federal regulations that apply to tobacco cigarettes, television advertising for e-cigarettes has increased two-fold for youth and three-fold for young adults in the U.S. in the past two years, according to a study. Researchers found that youth exposure to electronic cigarette advertisements increased by 256 percent from 2011 to 2013 and young adult exposure to e-cigarette ads jumped 321 percent in the same time period.

Rare chemical phenomenon that could be harnessed to harvest solar energy demonstrated by researchers Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT The chemical reaction responsible for propelling microscopic crystals to leap distances up to hundreds of times their own size when they are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light has been successfully unraveled by a team of international scientists. This popping effect, akin to the bursting of popcorn kernels at high temperatures, demonstrates the conversion of light into mechanical motion. It is the first instance of a "photosalient effect" driven by a photochemical reaction in solids to be reported.

The 'Serpent' star-forming cloud hatches new stars Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT Stars that are just beginning to coalesce out of cool swaths of dust and gas are showcased in a new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). Infrared light has been assigned colors we see with our eyes, revealing young stars in orange and yellow, and a central parcel of gas in blue. This area is hidden in visible-light views, but infrared light can travel through the dust, offering a peek inside the stellar hatchery.

Nano-platform ready: Scientists use DNA origami to create 2-D structures Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:01 AM PDT Scientists have developed a method using DNA origami to turn one-dimensional nano materials into two dimensions. Their breakthrough offers the potential to enhance fiber optics and electronic devices by reducing their size and increasing their speed. DNA origami employs approximately two hundred short DNA strands to direct longer strands in forming specific shapes.

NASA's saucer-shaped craft preps for flight test Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:53 AM PDT NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project, a rocket-powered, saucer-shaped test vehicle, has completed final assembly at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. This experimental flight test is designed to investigate breakthrough technologies that will benefit future Mars missions, including those involving human exploration. Three weeks of testing, simulations and rehearsals are planned before the first launch opportunity on the morning of June 3.

Joint implants without an expiry date Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:51 AM PDT Artificial joints have a limited lifespan. After a few years, many hip and knee joints have to be replaced. Much more complex are intervertebral disc implants, which cannot easily be replaced after their "expiry date" and which up to now have had to be reinforced in most cases. This restricts the patient's freedom of movement considerably. Researchers have now succeeded in coating mobile intervertebral disc implants so that they show no wear and will now last for a lifetime.

What finding out a child's sex before birth says about a mother Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:51 AM PDT An expectant mother who chooses to find out her child's sex before birth may be giving subtle clues about her views on proper gender roles, new research suggests. A new study found that women who choose not to learn their child's sex may be more open to new experiences, and combine egalitarian views about the roles of men and women in society with conscientiousness.

Parental presence improves quality of child anesthesia, research shows Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:20 PM PDT Having parents present during the induction of their child's anaesthesia improves the quality of that anesthesia, research shows. The effect of parental presence at anaesthesia induction on children anxiety and children anaesthesia compliance has been previously investigated but the few studies to date have produced contradictory results; and nobody has investigated issues around parental experience and total perceived quality.

Ovarian cancer subtypes may predict response to bevacizumab Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT Molecular sequencing could identify ovarian cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin), a study has found. The U.S. spends about $3 billion a year on bevacizumab for cancer treatment. "Unfortunately, two-thirds of those patients don't respond to the drug, which means we are just giving them toxicity with no benefit. This expression data will help us choose which patients should receive this drug," a researcher notes.

Revolutionizing diets, improving health with discovery of new genes involved in food preferences Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT New understanding of the genes involved in taste perception and food preferences can lead to personalized nutrition plans effective not just in weight loss but in avoiding diseases such as cancer, depression, and hypertension. The ability to devise diets based on individual genetic profiles can lead to significantly better results – for example, a weight loss 33% greater than with a control group who had a similar calorie count but a non-personalized diet plan, researchers say.

Uncovering deletions, duplications in the exome can help pinpoint cause of unexplained genetic diseases Posted: 01 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT Analysis of genetic variation in the exome, the DNA sequence of genes that are translated into protein, can aid in uncovering the cause of conditions for which no genetic cause could previously be found, and that this can directly impact clinical management, researchers say. Copy number variants, major genomic deletions or duplications, can contribute to a number of diseases including blindness, deafness, a congenital form of muscular dystrophy, a neonatal-onset metabolic disorder, and an inherited disorder of the immune system, they say.

Leptin also influences brain cells that control appetite, researchers find Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Twenty years after the hormone leptin was found to regulate metabolism, appetite, and weight through brain cells called neurons, researchers have found that the hormone also acts on other types of cells to control appetite. Leptin, a naturally occurring hormone, is known for its hunger-blocking effect on the hypothalamus, a region in the brain. Food intake is influenced by signals that travel from the body to the brain. Leptin is one of the molecules that signal the brain to modulate food intake.

Exciton detected in metal for first time: Microscopic quantum mechanical description of how light excites electrons in metals Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Scientists have detected a fundamental particle of light-matter interaction in metals, the exciton for the first time. Humankind has used reflection of light from a metal mirror on a daily basis for millennia, but the quantum mechanical magic behind this familiar phenomenon is only now being uncovered.

Graphene's multi-colored butterflies Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:09 PM PDT Combining black and white graphene can change the electronic properties of the one-atom thick materials, researchers have found. One of the major challenges for using graphene in electronics applications is the absence of a band gap, which basically means that graphene's electrical conductivity cannot be switched off completely. Whatever researchers tried to do with the material so far, it remained highly electrically conductive.

'Quadrapeutics' works in preclinical study of hard-to-treat tumors: Animal tests show technology effective against aggressive cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT The first preclinical tests for a novel anti-cancer technology called 'quadrapeutics' that converts current clinical treatments to instantaneously detect and kill only cancer cells have been successful. Quadrapeutics combines clinically available drugs, colloidal gold, pulsed lasers and radiation in a novel and safe micro-treatment that improved standard therapy by 17-fold against aggressive, drug-resistant tumors.

New genetic cause of male reproductive birth defects identified Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT A previously unrecognized genetic cause for two types of birth defects found in newborn boys has described in a report. Cryptorchidism is characterized by the failure of descent of one or both testes into the scrotum during fetal development. In the adult man, the testes produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. Hypospadias is the abnormal placement of the opening of the urethra on the penis. Both birth defects are usually surgically repaired during infancy.

Smokers with gene defect have one in four chance of developing lung cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT Around a quarter of smokers who carry a defect in the BRCA2 gene will develop lung cancer at some point in their lifetime, a large-scale, international study reveals. Scientists announce a previously unknown link between lung cancer and a particular BRCA2 defect, occurring in around 2 per cent of the population.

Drug combination extends survival by more than a year in metastatic prostate cancer Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT Men with newly diagnosed metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer lived more than a year longer when they received a chemotherapy drug as initial treatment instead of waiting to for the disease to become resistant to hormone-blockers, report scientists. The dramatic results in a multi-center phase III trial should change the way physicians have routinely treated such patients since the 1950s, they said.

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