ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Mindfulness-based therapy could offer an alternative to antidepressants for preventing depression relapse
• Listen to your heart: Why your brain may give away how well you know yourself
• Where humans and nature collide: Roadkill hot spots identified in California
• A bad buzz: Men with HIV need fewer drinks to feel effects
• New technology may improve management of leading causes of blindness
• Soil nutrients may limit ability of plants to slow climate change
• Middle-aged congenital heart disease survivors may need special care
• Long non-coding RNA modulates colorectal cancer metabolism
• New guideline advises when to treat a first seizure
• 'MyEarth' energy-tracking app encourages sustainable behaviors
• Better battery imaging paves way for renewable energy future
• Earlier ovarian cancer detection
• Potential new lung cancer therapy
• Excessive use of dietary supplements linked to increase cancer risk
• Oldest fossils controversy resolved
• Cancer-inflammation 'vicious cycle' detailed in new study
• Electron transfer challenges a common fluorescence technique
• Frequent indoor tanning among teens shows correlation with smoking, social media use
• PTSD common in ICU Survivors
• Nondestructive micron resolution 3-D imaging of biological cells with sound
• Interventions reduce bloodstream infections
• Importance of 'self-DNA' for maintaining diversity among species
• Extending natalizumab up to 8 weeks shown safe and effective in patients with multiple sclerosis, report says
• Black hole hunters tackle a cosmic conundrum
• Getting a better grasp of primate grip
• Two different carotid artery stenting procedures show little difference in effectiveness
• Oral milk thistle extract stops colorectal cancer stem cells from growing tumors
• Changes in cancer epigenome implicated in chemotherapy resistance, lymphoma relapse
• Let it snow: Intricacies of marine snow formation in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
• Innovation boosts Wi-Fi bandwidth tenfold
• Chemists create modular system for placing proteins on membranes
• New drug combination shows promise for breaking breast cancer resistance
• Protein pumps that allow bacteria to resist drugs
• Down to three wolves on Isle Royale
• As US assumes Arctic Council chairmanship, new report emphasizes cooperation over conflict
• New tactic targets brain tumors
• Putting the 'education' in 'educational' apps
• Childhood syndrome combining lung disease, arthritis identified
• New pathway reveals how immune system is regulated, gives hope for chronic diseases
• Global pandemic of fake medicines poses urgent risk, scientists say
• Pancreatic cancer loses viral defenses when talking with supporting cells
• Two tested approaches to treating childhood obesity appear effective
• Fake malaria drugs not as common as previously reported
• A new path to English language learning
• Genetic code of Upland cotton cracked
• Happily ever after: Scientists arrange protein-nanoparticle marriage
• Reducing global tobacco use
• Vampire squid discovery shows how little we know of the deep sea
• Construction of the LSST telescope begins in Chile
• Video games in care homes: connecting older adults, or exposing age-related vulnerability?
• Strong currents promote release of Arctic greenhouse gas
• Giant magnetic effects induced in hybrid materials
• Ways to avoid catching diseases from pets
• Pancreatic cancer breakthrough: Scientists turn cancer cells into normal cells
• Quantum model reveals surface structure of water
• Use of radiotherapy after prostate cancer surgery declining, despite evidence of benefit
• Acoustically driven controls created for smartphones
• Adjuvant Ipilimumab effects survival after high risk lymph node and melanoma resection
• Higher-than-expected pediatric cancer rates identified in two Florida areas
• Clues to why older people get more tendon injuries

Mindfulness-based therapy could offer an alternative to antidepressants for preventing depression relapse Posted: 20 Apr 2015 06:39 PM PDT The results come from the first ever large study to compare mindfulness-based therapy – structured training for the mind and body which aims to change the way people think and feel about their experiences – with maintenance antidepressant medication for reducing the risk of relapse in depression, researchers say.

Listen to your heart: Why your brain may give away how well you know yourself Posted: 20 Apr 2015 06:39 PM PDT "Listen to your heart," sang Swedish pop group Roxette in the late Eighties. But not everyone is able to tune into their heartbeat, according to an international team of researchers -- and half of us under- or over-estimate our ability.

Where humans and nature collide: Roadkill hot spots identified in California Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:33 PM PDT A map shows how California's state highway system is strewn with roadkill "hot spots," which are identified in a newly released report. The data could help state highway planners take measures to protect both drivers and wildlife.

A bad buzz: Men with HIV need fewer drinks to feel effects Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:28 PM PDT Researchers compared the number of drinks that men with HIV infection, versus those without it, needed to get a buzz. They found that HIV-infected men were more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than uninfected men.

New technology may improve management of leading causes of blindness Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:27 PM PDT New technology can improve the clinical management of the leading causes of blindness, researchers say. Optical coherence tomography angiography could largely replace current dye-based angiography in the management of these diseases.

Soil nutrients may limit ability of plants to slow climate change Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:27 PM PDT Many scientists assume that the growing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will accelerate plant growth. However, a new study suggests much of this growth will be curtailed by limited soil nutrients.

Middle-aged congenital heart disease survivors may need special care Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:26 PM PDT For the first time, the American Heart Association has made recommendations for treating people older than 40 with congenital heart disease. "People born with congenital heart disease are living longer and fuller lives than ever before, and there are now more adults than children with congenital heart disease," said the lead author of the new scientific statement.

Long non-coding RNA modulates colorectal cancer metabolism Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:25 PM PDT Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are unusual in that they don't encode proteins like normal RNA. Yet they do play a role in regulating cellular functions and interest cancer researchers.

New guideline advises when to treat a first seizure Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:25 PM PDT A new guideline found that administering an antiepileptic medication immediately after a first seizure reduces the risk of having another seizure within two years.

'MyEarth' energy-tracking app encourages sustainable behaviors Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT For a generation motivated by technology and fast-moving information, a professor has created an energy-tracking app to make reducing day-to-day energy usage more accessible.

Better battery imaging paves way for renewable energy future Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT In a move that could improve the energy storage of everything from portable electronics to electric microgrids, researchers have developed a novel X-ray imaging technique to visualize and study the electrochemical reactions in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries containing a new type of material, iron fluoride.

Earlier ovarian cancer detection Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT Successful ovarian cancer treatment often relies on catching it early. A study may help point to a new method for women at risk.

Potential new lung cancer therapy Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT New findings about regulation of PD-L1, a protein that allows cancer to evade the immune system, has shown therapeutic promise for several cancers, including the most common form of lung cancer.

Excessive use of dietary supplements linked to increase cancer risk Posted: 20 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT While dietary supplements may be advertised to promote health, new research shows a link between consumption of over-the-counter supplements and increased cancer risk, if the supplements are taken in excess of the recommended dietary amount.

Oldest fossils controversy resolved Posted: 20 Apr 2015 12:48 PM PDT New analysis of world-famous 3.46-billion-year-old rocks is set to finally resolve a long running evolutionary controversy. The new research shows that structures once thought to be Earth's oldest microfossils do not compare with younger fossil candidates but have, instead, the character of peculiarly shaped minerals.

Cancer-inflammation 'vicious cycle' detailed in new study Posted: 20 Apr 2015 12:48 PM PDT New findings hidden within the complex machinery behind the chronic inflammation-cancer feedback loop have been discerned.

Electron transfer challenges a common fluorescence technique Posted: 20 Apr 2015 12:48 PM PDT Using advanced technology, scientists have uncovered evidence that challenges one of the most widespread techniques in biology.

Frequent indoor tanning among teens shows correlation with smoking, social media use Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:47 AM PDT More than a third of New Jersey high school students who engage in indoor tanning do so frequently and many would find it hard to stop the practice. Investigators also found that frequent indoor tanners were more likely to smoke and to engage in social media activities related to indoor tanning.

PTSD common in ICU Survivors Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:47 AM PDT Nearly one-quarter of ICU survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research has found. They also identified possible triggers for PTSD and indicated a potential preventive strategy: having patients keep ICU diaries.

Nondestructive micron resolution 3-D imaging of biological cells with sound Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:47 AM PDT Researchers have described the first known demonstration of 3-D cell imaging using picosecond ultrasonics, and show that picosecond ultrasonics can achieve micron resolution of single cells, imaging their interiors in slices separated by 150 nanometers. This work is a proof-of-principle that may open the door to new ways of studying the physical properties of living cells by imaging them in vivo.

Interventions reduce bloodstream infections Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:45 AM PDT A bundled intervention focused on evidence-based infection prevention practices, safety culture and teamwork, and scheduled measurement of infection rates considerably reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections across intensive care units in seven Abu Dhabi hospitals, researchers report.

Importance of 'self-DNA' for maintaining diversity among species Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:45 AM PDT In natural plant communities, diversity is maintained by limits set on each plant by itself. This involves a detrimental effect of self-DNA -- DNA from the same species released during decomposition -- on the plant's and its offspring's growth. New research finds that this process not only regulates plant populations but may also be generalized to a range of additional organisms including algae, protozoa, fungi, and animals.

Extending natalizumab up to 8 weeks shown safe and effective in patients with multiple sclerosis, report says Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:44 AM PDT Extending the dose of natalizumab from four weeks up to eight weeks was shown to be well-tolerated and effective in patients, and resulted in no cases of the potentially fatal side effect progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, researchers report.

Black hole hunters tackle a cosmic conundrum Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:44 AM PDT Astrophysicists have not only proven that a supermassive black hole exists in a place where it isn't supposed to be, but in doing so have opened a new door to what things were like in the early universe.

Getting a better grasp of primate grip Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:44 AM PDT Scientists are coming to grips with the superior grasping ability of humans and other primates throughout history. In a new study, a research team found that even the oldest known human ancestors may have had precision grip capabilities comparable to modern humans. This includes Australopithecus afarensis, which appears in the fossil record a million years before the first evidence of stone tools.

Two different carotid artery stenting procedures show little difference in effectiveness Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:44 AM PDT Use of either proximal embolic protection devices (P-EPDs) or distal filter embolic protection devices (F-EPDs) during elective carotid artery stenting results in low rates of in-hospital stroke and death, according to a new study. The study found that although P-EPDs have been theorized to be more effective than F-EPDs at preventing stroke during carotid artery stenting, this first comparative effectiveness study revealed no statistically significant difference between the two devices.

Oral milk thistle extract stops colorectal cancer stem cells from growing tumors Posted: 20 Apr 2015 11:43 AM PDT A new study shows that orally administering the chemical silibinin, purified from milk thistle, slows the ability of colorectal cancer stem cells to grow the disease. When stem cells from tumors grown in silibinin-fed conditions were re-injected into new models, the cells failed to develop equally aggressive tumors even in the absence of silibinin.

Changes in cancer epigenome implicated in chemotherapy resistance, lymphoma relapse Posted: 20 Apr 2015 10:07 AM PDT Genomic studies have illuminated the ways in which malfunctioning genes can drive cancer growth while stunting the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy and other treatments. But new findings indicate that these genes are only partly to blame for why treatment that was at one point effective ultimately fails for about 40 percent of patients diagnosed with the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Let it snow: Intricacies of marine snow formation in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Posted: 20 Apr 2015 10:07 AM PDT Before Deepwater Horizon, scientists didn't know that oil and marine snow had anything to do with each other. "Marine snow is like dust bunnies in the house," explained a research scientist who has studied the phenomenon for a long time. "All the gunk and little pieces in the ocean stick together, and underwater it looks like a snow-storm. The little particles aren't heavy enough to sink, but marine snow is big enough to sink very fast, 100 meters or more per day. It's the only way in which material that grows on the surface, where there is light, goes to depth.

Innovation boosts Wi-Fi bandwidth tenfold Posted: 20 Apr 2015 10:07 AM PDT Researchers have invented a new technology that can increase the bandwidth of Wi-Fi systems by 10 times, using LED lights to transmit information. It could be integrated with existing Wi-Fi systems to reduce bandwidth problems in crowded locations, such as airport terminals or coffee shops, and in homes where several people have multiple Wi-Fi devices.

Chemists create modular system for placing proteins on membranes Posted: 20 Apr 2015 10:07 AM PDT With a tag, an anchor and a cage that can be unlocked with light, chemists have devised a simple, modular system that can locate proteins at the membrane of a cell.

New drug combination shows promise for breaking breast cancer resistance Posted: 20 Apr 2015 10:06 AM PDT A new combination of drugs has been developed that may overcome treatment resistance and relapse in breast cancer. While most women initially respond well to hormonal treatment with drugs such as tamoxifen, many go on to develop resistance and relapse. There is evidence that this is often due to activation of the Wnt signalling pathway, a gene involved in development which fuels the growth of the tumor.

Protein pumps that allow bacteria to resist drugs Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT The structure of two closely related protein pumps that allow bacteria to resist certain medications has been described by scientists in new articles. The studies reveal that when the bacteria detect the antibiotic sulfonamide, "they turn on these transporters and pump it out, assuring survival of the cell," an author said.

Down to three wolves on Isle Royale Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT Only three wolves seem to remain in Isle Royale National Park. Researchers observed the wolves during their annual Winter Study, and the lone group, at an unprecedented low, is a sharp decline from nine wolves observed last winter.

As US assumes Arctic Council chairmanship, new report emphasizes cooperation over conflict Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT Although the media often portray the Arctic as a new 'Great Game' ripe for conflict, a group of international Arctic experts has released recommendations aimed at preserving the polar north as an area for political and military cooperation, sustainable development and scientific research.

New tactic targets brain tumors Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT Patients who are obese, diabetic or both have the highest incidence of brain tumors, and they offer a clue that insulin is a factor for some glioblastoma patients. But a new study suggests drugs tested on such tumors targeted the wrong molecules.

Putting the 'education' in 'educational' apps Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT New apps developed for children come online every day and many of them are marketed or labeled as 'educational' -- but how can we tell which of these thousands of apps will actually help children learn? In a comprehensive new report, a team of researchers integrates research from scientific disciplines like psychological science, linguistics, and neuroscience to provide an evidence-based guide that parents, educators, and app designers alike can use to evaluate the quality of so-called 'educational' apps.

Childhood syndrome combining lung disease, arthritis identified Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:30 AM PDT Using the latest genome sequencing techniques, a research team has identified a new autoimmune syndrome characterized by a combination of severe lung disease and arthritis. The hereditary disorder, which appears in early childhood, had never been diagnosed as a single syndrome. The new research revealed that it is caused by mutations in a single gene that disrupt how proteins are shuttled around within cells. Patients with the newly discovered syndrome have a poor prognosis, and at present can only be treated with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drugs. Many have lung disease so severe that they must receive lung transplants.

New pathway reveals how immune system is regulated, gives hope for chronic diseases Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:29 AM PDT An important new way in which our immune systems are regulated has been uncovered by researchers, giving hope that understanding it will help tackle the debilitating effects of type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other serious diseases.

Global pandemic of fake medicines poses urgent risk, scientists say Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:29 AM PDT Poor quality medicines are an urgent threat that could undermine decades of successful efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB, according to experts. Scientists report up to 41 percent of specimens failed to meet quality standards in global studies of about 17,000 drug samples.

Pancreatic cancer loses viral defenses when talking with supporting cells Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:29 AM PDT Researchers have unlocked a way to make pancreatic cancer cells more vulnerable to cancer-killing viruses, known as oncolytic viruses. The scientists have discovered how they can exploit the communication, or cross-talk, between pancreatic cancer and a specific cell type that supports the tumor. They found that this cross-talk weakens the ability of both cell types to fight off cancer-fighting viruses.

Two tested approaches to treating childhood obesity appear effective Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:29 AM PDT A study of two protocols for the treatment of childhood obesity finds that both were successful in limiting one-year weight gain in obese children. Both interventions use information technology to provide clinicians with up-to-date obesity management guidelines and tools to help families manage behaviors related to obesity and fitness.

Fake malaria drugs not as common as previously reported Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT A rigorous analysis of antimalarial drug quality conducted in Cambodia and Tanzania found no evidence of fake medicines, according to new research. Previous reports had suggested that up to one third of antimalarials could be fake. Researchers analysed 2,028 antimalarials from Tanzania and Cambodia. Samples were selected in a rigorous and representative way making this one of the most recent comprehensive data sets on antimalarial quality.

A new path to English language learning Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT The growth in the number of English language learners in US schools is placing new burdens on teachers who may not have the training to help these students. A new writing curriculum shows it helps teachers improve literacy skill building in elementary students.

Genetic code of Upland cotton cracked Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have decoded the intricately woven genetic makeup of Upland cotton for the first time in the ancient plant's history. Upland cotton, which accounts for more than 90 percent of cultivated cotton worldwide and has a global economic impact of $500 billion, is the main source of renewable textile fibers.

Happily ever after: Scientists arrange protein-nanoparticle marriage Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to easily and effectively fasten proteins to nanoparticles -- essentially an arranged marriage -- by simply mixing them together. The biotechnology is in its infancy. But it already has shown promise for developing an HIV vaccine and as a way to target cancer cells.

Reducing global tobacco use Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT Although global efforts to cut tobacco use have had some success, more can be done to reduce the number of deaths from smoking, according to a new commentary. More than 170 countries have signed the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control agreement since it was adopted in 2005. However, smoking rates are still high in many low- and middle-income countries compared with Canada and other high-income countries where efforts to curb smoking have been more successful.

Vampire squid discovery shows how little we know of the deep sea Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:28 AM PDT Among soft-bodied cephalopods, vampire squid live life at a slower pace. At ocean depths from 500 to 3,000 meters, they don't swim so much as float, and they get by with little oxygen while consuming a low-calorie diet of zooplankton and detritus. Now, researchers have found that vampire squid differ from all other living coleoid cephalopods in their reproductive strategy as well.

Construction of the LSST telescope begins in Chile Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:26 AM PDT The first stone of the future LSST telescope was laid on 14 April 2015 by the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, at the Cerro Pachón site in the Chilean Andes. The LSST will be equipped with the most powerful digital camera ever built. The 8.4-meter-diameter telescope will shed light on the nature of dark energy, which accelerates the expansion of the Universe.< The LSST will achieve first light in 2019 and will be fully operational in 2022. The 8.4-meter-diameter telescope will image the sky systematically for ten years, providing a three-dimensional film of the entire visible Universe.

Video games in care homes: connecting older adults, or exposing age-related vulnerability? Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:26 AM PDT Introducing video games as a means of bringing older adults in long-term care together may not always be an easy task, according to new research. Offering stimulating and accessible leisure activities such as this can be difficult for care providers as the impact of age-related changes and impairments on residents grows, authors of a new study warn.

Strong currents promote release of Arctic greenhouse gas Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:26 AM PDT Ocean and Earth Science researchers reveal how the interplay between ocean currents and marine microbiology serve to regulate potentially damaging emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane, created beneath the Arctic Ocean.

Giant magnetic effects induced in hybrid materials Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:25 AM PDT For a magnetic thin film deposited onto a transition metal oxide film, the magnetic properties change dramatically as the oxide undergoes a structural phase transition. The hybrid between a simple magnetic material and a transition-metal oxide provides a "window" to understand the metal-to-insulator transition and offers dramatic tunability of magnetic properties. Potential applications are envisioned in the fields of information storage and power transmission.

Ways to avoid catching diseases from pets Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:25 AM PDT Pets can pass diseases to humans, especially when a pet owner's immune system is compromised. Here, veterinarians outline ways for families to avoid disease transmission by choosing the right type of pet--or making small changes in the ways they enjoy the pets they already have.

Pancreatic cancer breakthrough: Scientists turn cancer cells into normal cells Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:25 AM PDT Scientists have found a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention of the "silent cancer." A new research study has shown that pancreatic cancer cells can be coaxed to revert back toward normal cells by introducing a protein called E47. E47 binds to specific DNA sequences and controls genes involved in growth and differentiation. The research provides hope for a new treatment approach for the more than 40,000 people who die from the disease each year in the United States.

Quantum model reveals surface structure of water Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT Physicists have used a new quantum model to reveal the molecular structure of water's liquid surface.

Use of radiotherapy after prostate cancer surgery declining, despite evidence of benefit Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT Despite strong evidence and guidelines supporting its use, post-surgical radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients at risk of recurrence is declining in the United States. This study finds fewer than 10 percent of patients at risk of recurrence received postoperative radiotherapy within six months of surgery in the U.S.

Acoustically driven controls created for smartphones Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT Researchershave developed an inexpensive alternative to a smartphone's touchscreen -- a toolbox of physical knobs, sliders and other acoustically driven mechanisms that can be readily added to any device.

Adjuvant Ipilimumab effects survival after high risk lymph node and melanoma resection Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT Adjuvant Ipilimumab significantly improves recurrence-free survival in patients with completely resected stage III melanoma at high risk of disease recurrence, research indicates, but that this treatment was also associated with a high rate of immune-related adverse events.

Higher-than-expected pediatric cancer rates identified in two Florida areas Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT Higher-than-expected rates of pediatric cancers have been identified in the Miami metro area and an area west of the Everglades in a series of five statistical analyses. Comparisons across analyses reveal characteristics of the detected patterns, including the number of cases (two), types of cancer (leukemia or brain/central nervous system cancer) and the racial composition and timing of the cluster west of the Everglades.

Clues to why older people get more tendon injuries Posted: 20 Apr 2015 09:03 AM PDT New research into how tendons age has found that the material between tendon fiber bundles stiffens as it gets older and that this is responsible for older people being more susceptible to tendon injuries.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States