ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Seeing the action: Novel device images minute forces, actions involved in cell membrane hemifusion
• A chip placed under the skin for more precise medicine
• Cocaine addiction, craving and relapse
• Study links better 'good cholesterol' function with lower risk of later heart disease
• Investigational immunotherapy treatment shows durable response in patients with metastatic melanoma
• Changing diagnosis codes will challenge emergency medicine
• Future vaccine may help lower blood pressure long-term
• Moderate drinking in later years may damage heart
• Study identifies possible role for carbon monoxide in treating hemorrhagic stroke
• Breakthrough measures Parkinson's progression in brain
• Supernovas help 'clean' galaxies
• Study connects credit default swaps to mortgage delinquencies
• How racial stereotypes impact the way we communicate
• On-demand X-rays at synchrotron light sources
• Study suggests using excess stress to kill therapy resistant breast cancer
• Astrophysicist provides new fluid dynamics insights
• New foam technology to lead advances in medical devices and protective equipment
• New chip makes testing for antibiotic-resistant bacteria faster, easier
• Fertilization regimen reduces environmental impact of landscape palms
• Advance in quantum error correction
• Babies can think before they can speak
• Historian mapping out a new view of the Medieval world
• Labor analgesia in low-income countries: Experience from Ghana
• Clinical trial reduces stress of cancer caregivers
• Honesty can keep companies' stock prices up during hard times
• Infusions of donor bone marrow cells help children with inherited skin blistering
• New findings about mechanisms underlying chronic pain reveal novel therapeutic strategies
• A push to open doors to care for the homebound
• 'Squeezed quantum cats' and 'stable cats' for quantum computers
• New urine test could reduce need for blood samples
• Changes in forest structure affect bees, other pollinators
• ER doctors stress need for good communications with police
• Co-operative tools: Intelligent handheld robots
• Genomic data reveals emergence in Africa of drug resistant strain of typhoid
• Neuroscientists reveals autism's 'noisy' secret: 3-D simulator reveals inner workings of the autistic brain
• Severe ozone depletion avoided
• Soy supplements don't improve asthma, study concludes
• Better fine motor skills with delayed cord clamping
• New technique speeds nanoMRI imaging
• Where there's a will … well, there's another way
• Hospice use linked to fewer depressive symptoms for surviving spouses
• Study finds association between exposure to aflatoxin and gallbladder cancer
• Study examines association of genetic variants with cognitive impairment
• Subclinical hyperthyroidism associated with an increased risk of hip and other fractures
• New kind of wood chip: Biodegradable computer chips made from wood
• Starved for fire, Wisconsin's pine barrens disappear
• Who needs water to assemble DNA? Non-aqueous solvent supports DNA nanotechnology
• Tiny heart, big promise: Understanding how cells become coronary vessels may lead to advances in repairing heart damage
• Monitoring magnetospheres: Debunking theory behind massive stars
• Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types through MRI 'virtual biopsy' in animal studies
• How DNA is organized in our cells
• Researchers solve another piece of the puzzle how forests can effect our climate
• What is the most humane way to kill a cane toad?
• Therapy-resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed
• Nearly indestructible virus yields tool to treat diseases
• Evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet
• How will Congressmen vote? Just look at their social circles, study finds
• Smartphone app predicts GPA
• Climate change debate fueled by 'echo chambers,' new study finds
• Study identifies Ebola virus's Achilles' heel

Seeing the action: Novel device images minute forces, actions involved in cell membrane hemifusion Posted: 26 May 2015 06:50 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel device to image the minute forces and actions involved in cell membrane hemifusion. To capture real time data on the behavior of cell membranes during hemifusion, the researchers pressed together two supported lipid bilayers on the opposing surfaces of the SFA. These bilayers consisted of lipid domains -- collections of lipids that in non-fusion circumstances are organized in more or less regularly occurring or mixed arrangements within the cell membrane.

A chip placed under the skin for more precise medicine Posted: 26 May 2015 06:50 PM PDT It's only a centimeter long, it's placed under your skin, it's powered by a patch on the surface of your skin and it communicates with your mobile phone. The new biosensor chip is capable of simultaneously monitoring the concentration of a number of molecules, such as glucose and cholesterol, and certain drugs.

Cocaine addiction, craving and relapse Posted: 26 May 2015 06:50 PM PDT One of the major challenges of cocaine addiction is the high rate of relapse after periods of withdrawal and abstinence. But new research reveals that changes in our DNA during drug withdrawal may offer promising ways of developing more effective treatments for addiction. Withdrawal from drug use results in reprogramming of the genes in the brain that lead to addictive personality, say researchers.

Study links better 'good cholesterol' function with lower risk of later heart disease Posted: 26 May 2015 06:50 PM PDT HDL, the 'good cholesterol' helps remove fat from artery walls, reversing the process that leads to heart disease. Yet recent drug trials and genetic studies suggest that pushing HDL levels higher doesn't reduce the risk of heart disease. Now, an epidemiological study shows that a person's HDL function -- the efficiency of HDL molecules at removing cholesterol -- may be a better measure of coronary heart disease risk and target for heart-protecting drugs.

Investigational immunotherapy treatment shows durable response in patients with metastatic melanoma Posted: 26 May 2015 02:19 PM PDT Advanced-stage melanoma patients have significant improvement in durable response rate when treated with a genetically-modified form of a herpes virus, whose native form causes the common cold sore, new research shows.

Changing diagnosis codes will challenge emergency medicine Posted: 26 May 2015 02:19 PM PDT Emergency medicine faces special challenges during this fall's changeover in how medical diagnoses are coded. Nearly a quarter of all ER clinical encounters could pose difficulties, authors of a new report state.

Future vaccine may help lower blood pressure long-term Posted: 26 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT A DNA vaccine helped lower blood pressure for up to six months, reduced tissue damage to the heart and blood vessels associated with hypertension in rats, investigators report. If future research shows the vaccine is a viable treatment option in humans, it could improve high blood pressure levels.

Moderate drinking in later years may damage heart Posted: 26 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT Moderate to heavy alcohol intake later in life may be associated with subtle changes in the structure and efficiency of the heart. Women may be particularly vulnerable to negative cardiac effects of alcohol at moderate to higher levels of consumption.

Study identifies possible role for carbon monoxide in treating hemorrhagic stroke Posted: 26 May 2015 01:41 PM PDT Carbon monoxide is typically associated with brain injury and neurological symptoms. But a new study suggests that when administered in small, carefully controlled amounts, CO may actually protect the brain from damage following hemorrhagic stroke.

Breakthrough measures Parkinson's progression in brain Posted: 26 May 2015 12:57 PM PDT A biomarker that shows the progression of Parkinson's disease in the brain has been identified by researchers, opening the door to better diagnosis and treatment of the degenerative disease.

Supernovas help 'clean' galaxies Posted: 26 May 2015 12:57 PM PDT Astronomers have found that the black holes located at the cores of galaxies launch fountains of charged particles, which can stir up gas throughout the galaxy and temporarily interrupt star formation. But unless something intervenes, the gas will eventually cool and start forming stars again.

Study connects credit default swaps to mortgage delinquencies Posted: 26 May 2015 12:57 PM PDT The first empirical investigation has been released by investigators connecting credit default swaps to mortgage defaults that helped lead to the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

How racial stereotypes impact the way we communicate Posted: 26 May 2015 12:57 PM PDT Racial stereotypes and expectations can impact the way we communicate and understand others, according to research.The new study highlights how non-verbal 'social cues' -- such as photographs of Chinese Canadians - can affect how we comprehend speech.

On-demand X-rays at synchrotron light sources Posted: 26 May 2015 11:48 AM PDT Researchers have developed an 'X-rays on demand' technique in which ALS users can have access to the X-ray beams they want without affecting beams for other users.

Study suggests using excess stress to kill therapy resistant breast cancer Posted: 26 May 2015 11:48 AM PDT Maxing out the inherently stressed nature of treatment-resistant breast cancer cells thwarts their adaptive ability to evolve genetic workarounds to treatment, according to a study. Looking at tumor progression as essentially an evolutionary process, researchers highlight the feasibility of maximizing cell stress by inhibiting adaptive pathways to cause cell death.

Astrophysicist provides new fluid dynamics insights Posted: 26 May 2015 11:48 AM PDT New calculations by a theoretical astrophysicist provide tools that open a door to exploring the history of events in astrophysical flows and in plasma fusion devices.

New foam technology to lead advances in medical devices and protective equipment Posted: 26 May 2015 11:48 AM PDT A unique, high performance foam has been developed that can be used to make safer athletic gear and medical equipment, among other things. The developers anticipate an immediate benefit to the medical device and protective equipment industries while the collaborative project for the development of the new prosthetic sock is underway.

New chip makes testing for antibiotic-resistant bacteria faster, easier Posted: 26 May 2015 11:06 AM PDT We live in fear of 'superbugs': infectious bacteria that don't respond to treatment by antibiotics, and can turn a routine hospital stay into a nightmare. Now, researchers have designed a diagnostic chip to reduce testing time of antibiotics from days to one hour, allowing doctors to pick the right antibiotic the first time.

Fertilization regimen reduces environmental impact of landscape palms Posted: 26 May 2015 11:06 AM PDT Areca palms can be grown in a native sand soil or in a calcareous fill soil without supplemental phosphorus, and with no nitrogen applied during the rainy summer months (June-September) in southern Florida. This study also demonstrated that the negative effects caused by high nitrogen:potassium ratio turf fertilizers can be mitigated by adding a controlled release palm fertilizer that contains no nitrogen or potassium.

Advance in quantum error correction Posted: 26 May 2015 11:06 AM PDT Protocol corrects virtually all errors in quantum memory, but requires little measure of quantum states.

Babies can think before they can speak Posted: 26 May 2015 11:06 AM PDT Analogical ability -- the ability to see common relations between objects, events or ideas -- is a key skill that underlies human intelligence and differentiates humans from other apes. While there is considerable evidence that preschoolers can learn abstract relations, it remains an open question whether infants can as well. In a new study, researchers found infants are capable of learning the abstract relations of same and different after only a few examples.

Historian mapping out a new view of the Medieval world Posted: 26 May 2015 11:05 AM PDT Maps show us the way and identify major landmarks – rivers, towns, roads and hills. For centuries, they also offered a perspective on how societies viewed themselves in comparison to the rest of the world. New research looks at maps from the medieval and early-modern Muslim world.

Labor analgesia in low-income countries: Experience from Ghana Posted: 26 May 2015 11:05 AM PDT A program to improve pain control during labor at one of Ghana's largest maternity units greatly increased the use of safe and effective spinal analgesia for women undergoing cesarean section, reports a new article.

Clinical trial reduces stress of cancer caregivers Posted: 26 May 2015 10:24 AM PDT A randomized control trial demonstrates an intervention that successfully reduces the stress of caregivers in the context of cancer patients treated with stem cell transplantation. The study enrolled 148 caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (Allo-HSCT) patients.

Honesty can keep companies' stock prices up during hard times Posted: 26 May 2015 10:23 AM PDT Honesty is the best policy, and a new study finds that companies can benefit when they publicly accept the blame for poor performance. Just taking responsibility, however, is not the entire solution, say authors of the report. When companies accepted the blame, they also had to explain how they were going to fix the problem.

Infusions of donor bone marrow cells help children with inherited skin blistering Posted: 26 May 2015 10:23 AM PDT Promising results from a trial of a new stem-cell based therapy for a rare and debilitating skin condition suggest that the therapy, involving infusions of stem cells, provide pain relief and to reduce the severity of this skin condition for which no cure currently exists.

New findings about mechanisms underlying chronic pain reveal novel therapeutic strategies Posted: 26 May 2015 10:23 AM PDT A critical role for a class of cells present in the brain and spinal cord, called microglia, has been discovered for those in pain. Researchers have found microglia to neuron signaling to be crucial in the development of pain hypersensitivity after injury, but also for one of the paradoxical effects morphine and other opioids sometimes produce, called hyperalgesia, which is an increase in pain sensitivity.

A push to open doors to care for the homebound Posted: 26 May 2015 10:22 AM PDT A new study examines a nearly invisible population of shut-ins for ways to treat the infirm, assist the rest. Researchers looked at the community-dwelling Medicare population, which they estimate to be about 2 million people in the United States. They explain that most older adults want to age at home, but with the ability to come and go as they wish. Being homebound means being trapped, unable to leave without considerable help.

'Squeezed quantum cats' and 'stable cats' for quantum computers Posted: 26 May 2015 09:49 AM PDT Scientists have reached deep into their bag of tricks to create so-called 'squeezed Schrodinger cats.' These quantum systems could be extremely useful for future technologies.

New urine test could reduce need for blood samples Posted: 26 May 2015 09:49 AM PDT If you've been to the doctor, you probably know what to do when you're handed a plastic cup and shown to the bathroom. Most patients hand over the sample and give little thought to what happens when it's shipped to the lab for analysis. Researchers have developed a new testing method that they believe will reduce costs, get faster results and lower the volume of urine needed for a sample.

Changes in forest structure affect bees, other pollinators Posted: 26 May 2015 09:49 AM PDT Over the past century, many forests have shifted from open to closed canopies. The change in forest structure could be contributing to declines in pollinator species, especially native bees, according to a new study.

ER doctors stress need for good communications with police Posted: 26 May 2015 09:49 AM PDT Not surprisingly, differences of opinion arise from time to time over a health care worker's duty to protect patient privacy and the police need to conduct a criminal investigation. A good working relationship with police is therefore essential for the smooth operation of a busy Emergency Department, experts say.

Co-operative tools: Intelligent handheld robots Posted: 26 May 2015 09:48 AM PDT Researchers have developed and started studying a novel concept in robotics -- intelligent handheld robots.

Genomic data reveals emergence in Africa of drug resistant strain of typhoid Posted: 26 May 2015 09:48 AM PDT The emergence of a novel strain of Typhoid fever in Malawi, Africa has been revealed by scientists. Research suggests that the H58-strain, which is likely to have emerged in Asia approximately thirty years ago, is now rapidly spreading across Africa, where it has been introduced on several separate occasions. A key feature of this strain appears to be its ability to acquire resistance to commonly available antibiotics.

Neuroscientists reveals autism's 'noisy' secret: 3-D simulator reveals inner workings of the autistic brain Posted: 26 May 2015 09:48 AM PDT Strapped into a motion-enabled simulator and wearing 3-D glasses, 36 adolescent volunteers recently experienced what it was like to 'travel' through a field of virtual stars. The experiments provided new and convention-busting data about how sensory stimuli are processed by the brains of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Severe ozone depletion avoided Posted: 26 May 2015 09:48 AM PDT We are already reaping the rewards of the Montreal Protocol, researchers say, with the ozone layer in much better shape than it would have been without the UN treaty. Although the Montreal Protocol came into force in 1987 and restricted the use of ozone-depleting substances, atmospheric concentrations of these harmful substances continued to rise as they can survive in the atmosphere for many years. Concentrations peaked in 1993 and have subsequently declined, the researchers say.

Soy supplements don't improve asthma, study concludes Posted: 26 May 2015 09:48 AM PDT Despite previous findings suggesting a link between soy intake and decreased asthma severity, a new placebo-controlled study shows soy supplements do not improve lung function for patients with asthma. The paper highlights the importance of focusing on overall health -- not just one food -- to manage disease and the importance of performing well-designed studies.

Better fine motor skills with delayed cord clamping Posted: 26 May 2015 09:47 AM PDT The importance of the umbilical cord for both the fetus and for newborn infants was demonstrated by researchers several years ago, in a study that received great international acclaim. In a follow-up study, the researchers have now been able to show an association between delayed cord clamping (DCC) and children's fine motor skills at the age of four years, especially in boys.

New technique speeds nanoMRI imaging Posted: 26 May 2015 09:47 AM PDT NanoMRI is a scanning technique that produces nondestructive, high-resolution 3-D images of nanoscale objects, and it promises to become a powerful tool for researchers and companies exploring the shape and function of biological materials such as viruses and cells in much the same way as clinical MRI today enables investigation of whole tissues in the human body.

Where there's a will … well, there's another way Posted: 26 May 2015 09:45 AM PDT There's more than one way to gain a sense of control. The traditional view of a life in control is one in which an individual has taken actions to ensure success in both the near and long terms. "Secondary control," has been given short shrift in both the scientific literature and the attitudes of Western societies. Secondary control can be described as a mindset in which one accepts and adapts to the fact that much of life can't be bent to human will.

Hospice use linked to fewer depressive symptoms for surviving spouses Posted: 26 May 2015 09:45 AM PDT Spouses of patients receiving hospice for three or more days more frequently reported reduced depression symptoms, compared to surviving spouses of patients who did not receive hospice, a new report concludes.

Study finds association between exposure to aflatoxin and gallbladder cancer Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT In a small study in Chile that included patients with gallbladder cancer, exposure to aflatoxin (a toxin produced by mold) was associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. In Chile, gallbladder cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women. Exposure to aflatoxin, a liver carcinogen, is associated with gallbladder cancer in primates.

Study examines association of genetic variants with cognitive impairment Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT Individually rare but collectively common intermediate-size copy number variations may be negatively associated with educational attainment, according to a study. Copy number variations (CNVs) are regions of the genome that differ in the number of segments of DNA.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism associated with an increased risk of hip and other fractures Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT In an analysis that included more than 70,000 participants from 13 studies, subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk for hip and other fractures including spine. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is a low serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration in a person without clinical symptoms and normal thyroid hormone concentrations on blood tests.

New kind of wood chip: Biodegradable computer chips made from wood Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT Portable electronics -- typically made of non-renewable, non-biodegradable and potentially toxic materials -- are discarded at an alarming rate in consumers' pursuit of the next best electronic gadget. In an effort to alleviate the environmental burden of electronic devices, scientists have develop a surprising solution: a semiconductor chip made almost entirely of wood.

Starved for fire, Wisconsin's pine barrens disappear Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT A century spent treating wildfires as emergencies to be stamped out may have cost Central Wisconsin a natural setting that was common and thriving before the state was settled.

Who needs water to assemble DNA? Non-aqueous solvent supports DNA nanotechnology Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT Researchers have now shown that they can assemble DNA nanostructures in a solvent containing no water. They also discovered that adding a small amount of water to their solvent increases the assembly rate and provides a new means for controlling the process. The solvent may also facilitate the production of more complex structures by reducing the problem of DNA becoming trapped in unintended structures.

Tiny heart, big promise: Understanding how cells become coronary vessels may lead to advances in repairing heart damage Posted: 26 May 2015 09:38 AM PDT Studying zebrafish, investigators have discovered a new source for cells that can develop into coronary vessels and have identified the signaling protein, a chemokine called CXCL12, which guides this process.

Monitoring magnetospheres: Debunking theory behind massive stars Posted: 26 May 2015 08:06 AM PDT Students researching magnetic, massive stars, have uncovered questions concerning the behavior of plasma within their magnetospheres.

Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types through MRI 'virtual biopsy' in animal studies Posted: 26 May 2015 08:06 AM PDT A tiny drug-delivery system has been invented that can identify cancer cell types in the brain through 'virtual biopsies' and then attack the molecular structure of the disease. The results could be used to deliver nano-scale drugs that can distinguish and fight tumor cells in the brain without resorting to surgery, the authors say.

How DNA is organized in our cells Posted: 26 May 2015 08:06 AM PDT A critical role for two proteins in chromatin structure has been uncovered by researchers. Their breakthrough helps explain how DNA is organized in our cells. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of what causes certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma.

Researchers solve another piece of the puzzle how forests can effect our climate Posted: 26 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT A first global scale study has estimated how forest emitted compounds affecting cloud seeds via formation of low-volatility vapors. According to the latest projections, terrestrial vegetation emits several million tons of extremely low-volatility organic compounds per year to the atmosphere. These oxidation products of compounds such as monoterpenes results in an increase of condensing vapors that can further form cloud condensation nuclei over the continents and thus has an influence on the cloud formation.

What is the most humane way to kill a cane toad? Posted: 26 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT Like many pests, cane toads are killed in their thousands in Australia every year, especially by community-based 'toad-busting' groups. New research has now revealed the most humane way to do it.

Therapy-resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed Posted: 26 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT A cluster of defined, non-coding RNAs are mechanistically involved in endocrine therapy resistance in human breast cancer cells, new research has revealed. Furthermore, resveratrol, a kind of polyphenol, was found to repress these RNAs and inhibit the proliferative activity of breast cancer cells which had acquired resistance.

Nearly indestructible virus yields tool to treat diseases Posted: 26 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT By unlocking the secrets of a bizarre virus that survives in nearly boiling acid, scientists have found a blueprint for battling human disease using DNA clad in near-indestructible armor.

Evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet Posted: 26 May 2015 08:02 AM PDT A new light has been shed on the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet. It shows for the first time that ice rises (pinning points that keep the floating parts of ice sheets in place) are formed during the transition between glacial and interglacial periods, which significantly slows down the response of the ice sheet to climate change.

How will Congressmen vote? Just look at their social circles, study finds Posted: 26 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT US Congress members' social circles are more important in how they vote than their liberal or conservative beliefs or constituents' opinions, according to a new model of voting behavior.

Smartphone app predicts GPA Posted: 26 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT If you're a college student wondering how your study and party habits will affect your GPA, wonder no longer. Dartmouth researchers and their colleagues have built the first app that automatically predicts college students' grade point average based on their smartphone data.

Climate change debate fueled by 'echo chambers,' new study finds Posted: 26 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT A new study demonstrates the highly contentious debate on climate change is fueled in part by how information flows throughout policy networks. Researchers found that 'echo chambers' -- social network structures where individuals with the same viewpoint share information with each other -- may help explain why, despite a well-documented scientific consensus on the causes of global changes in climate, half of US senators voted earlier this year against an amendment affirming that climate change is human-induced.

Study identifies Ebola virus's Achilles' heel Posted: 26 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT The molecular "lock" that the deadly Ebola virus must pick to gain entry to cells has been identified by researchers. The findings, made in mice, suggest that drugs blocking entry to this lock could protect against Ebola infection.

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