ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Insect mating behavior has lessons for drones
• Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations
• Before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high is a risk factor for death
• Hypothermia occurs during surgery in around half of patients
• Blood pressure medications can lead to increased risk of stroke
• A patient's budding cortex -- in a dish? Networking neurons thrive in 3-D human 'organoid'
• Pembrolizumab shows real promise against head and neck cancer, study suggests
• Researchers engineer E. coli to produce new forms of popular antibiotic
• Working together to build drought resiliency
• Anticoagulant medications: Newer, easier to manage medications may not always be the best choice
• Phase 2 trial identifies genetic dysfunction that makes many types of cancer vulnerable to an immunotherapy
• Colorectal cancer genetically different in older and younger patients
• New 'designer carbon' boosts battery performance
• Less-invasive method for kidney diagnostics
• Alzheimer's culprit causes memory loss even before brain degeneration
• Social work researchers create easier, accurate way to analyze TSCC trauma results
• Migraine surgery for teens: Good results in initial experience
• Little-known quake, tsunami hazards lurk offshore of Southern California
• ONT-380 has stage IV HER2+ breast cancer patient 'worrying about normal stuff again'
• Rewriting the book on chemo-resistant cancers with a DNA library
• Biomarker analysis reveals several potential treatment targets in subtype of anal cancer
• Laser beam compressed into thin filament
• Race influences warfarin dose
• Prosthetic hands with a sense of touch? 'Sensory feedback' from artificial limbs
• Severe flooding hits central Texas, Oklahoma
• Restricting firearms access for people who misuse alcohol may prevent violence
• New technique harnesses everyday seismic waves to image Earth
• Finding loopholes in the genome
• 'Green chemistry' to quantify the components of cosmetics
• Entolimod may be a promising treatment option for many solid tumors
• Dry mouth: Acupuncture-like electrical nerve stimulation may help
• Microscopic sonic screwdriver invented
• Inmates denied methadone treatment less likely to seek it once free
• Parental smoking puts nearly half a million UK children into poverty
• Testing how well kidneys are functioning: ACR outperforms eGFR, study suggests
• Godwits are flexible, when they get the chance
• Smoking legislation prevents more than 11,000 child hospital admissions in England each year
• Stem cell switch on the move
• All forms of smoking are bad for the heart
• Trees are source for high-capacity, soft batteries
• Sharp-eyed Alma spots a gigantic flare on famous red giant star
• Hybrid ships will soon be on the market
• Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk
• Food or fuel? How about both?
• Using carbon nanotubes to improve bio-oil refining
• Manipulating cell membranes using nanotubes
• Sensor measures properties of tiny amounts of fluid
• Constructing complex molecules with atomic precision
• New Wi-Fi antenna enhances wireless coverage
• First successful study of virus attack on cancer
• Parents feel racial socialization may help minority children succeed in school
• Unmanned aerial vehicle used to study gray whales from above
• Brain training induces lasting brain, mental health gains for veterans, civilians with brain injury
• Understanding how cells follow electric fields

Insect mating behavior has lessons for drones Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT Male moths locate females by navigating along the latter's pheromone (odor) plume. Two strategies are involved: males must find the outer envelope of the pheromone plume, and then head upwind. Can understanding such insect behavior be useful for robotics research? Yes, according to an entomologist, whose research using computer simulations shows that such insect behavior has implications for airborne robots (drones) that ply the sky searching for signature odors.

Smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkiller during operations Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT New research shows that both smokers and those exposed to passive smoke require more anesthetic and painkillers to reach the same level of anesthesia as non-smokers.

Before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high is a risk factor for death Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT New research suggests that, before an operation, low blood pressure rather than high blood pressure is an independent risk factor for death.

Hypothermia occurs during surgery in around half of patients Posted: 29 May 2015 04:36 PM PDT A study shows that hypothermia occurs in around half of patients undergoing surgery, despite national guidelines for its prevention.

Blood pressure medications can lead to increased risk of stroke Posted: 29 May 2015 04:35 PM PDT The importance of preventing hypertension is reinforced by a study showing anti-hypertension medicines can increase stroke risk by 248 percent, according to new research.

A patient's budding cortex -- in a dish? Networking neurons thrive in 3-D human 'organoid' Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have perfected mini cultured 3-D structures that grow and function much like the outer mantle -- the key working tissue, or cortex -- of the brain of the person from whom they were derived. Strikingly, these 'organoids' buzz with neuronal network activity. Cells talk with each other in circuits, much as they do in our brains.

Pembrolizumab shows real promise against head and neck cancer, study suggests Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT Immunotherapy with the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab decreased the size of tumors by 30 percent or more in 24.8 percent of 132 patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. That's nearly twice as effective as the current preferred treatment.

Researchers engineer E. coli to produce new forms of popular antibiotic Posted: 29 May 2015 11:47 AM PDT In Science Advances, University at Buffalo researchers will report that they have managed to turn E. coli into tiny factories for producing new forms of the popular antibiotic erythromycin -- including three that were shown in the lab to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

Working together to build drought resiliency Posted: 29 May 2015 11:45 AM PDT As drought continues, and demand grows, researchers are looking to new models to improve the Rio Grande region's drought resiliency.

Anticoagulant medications: Newer, easier to manage medications may not always be the best choice Posted: 29 May 2015 11:45 AM PDT If you are over age 75, and taking an anticoagulant, the old standard may be the gold standard, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have determined.

Phase 2 trial identifies genetic dysfunction that makes many types of cancer vulnerable to an immunotherapy Posted: 29 May 2015 11:45 AM PDT A team of researchers has identified a genetic malfunction that predicts the effectiveness of response to a groundbreaking immunotherapy. The results of their Phase 2 clinical trial reveal that, regardless of its tissue of origin, tumors whose cells are deficient in repairing mismatched DNA sequences--and so preventing mutations--are far more susceptible to the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab than those that retain this ability.

Colorectal cancer genetically different in older and younger patients Posted: 29 May 2015 10:23 AM PDT While the overall rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) is declining, CRC specifically among young patients is increasing. Previous studies have shown that CRC in patients younger than 50 years old tends to be more aggressive than CRC in older patients. A new study offers early evidence of genetic differences between CRC in young and old patients, possibly pointing toward different treatments and strategies in combating the young form of the disease.

New 'designer carbon' boosts battery performance Posted: 29 May 2015 10:19 AM PDT Scientists have created a new carbon material that significantly improves the performance of batteries and supercapacitors.

Less-invasive method for kidney diagnostics Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new, less-invasive method to provide diagnostic information on kidney disease and its severity.

Alzheimer's culprit causes memory loss even before brain degeneration Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT A brain protein believed to be a key component in the progress of dementia can cause memory loss in healthy brains even before physical signs of degeneration appear, according to new research.

Social work researchers create easier, accurate way to analyze TSCC trauma results Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT A social work research team has proposed and tested an alternative method to using the Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Children in assessing trauma in children -- especially those in the juvenile justice system.

Migraine surgery for teens: Good results in initial experience Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT As in adults, migraine surgery is effective for selected adolescent patients with severe migraine headaches that don't respond to standard treatments, reports a new study.

Little-known quake, tsunami hazards lurk offshore of Southern California Posted: 29 May 2015 10:18 AM PDT While their attention may be inland on the San Andreas Fault, residents of coastal Southern California could be surprised by very large earthquakes -- and even tsunamis -- from several major faults that lie offshore, a new study finds.

ONT-380 has stage IV HER2+ breast cancer patient 'worrying about normal stuff again' Posted: 29 May 2015 10:15 AM PDT Promising clinical trial results show activity of the investigational anti-cancer agent ONT-380 against HER2+ breast cancer, in one case specifically against brain metastases and in another case in overall survival of heavily pretreated HER2+ breast cancer patients.

Rewriting the book on chemo-resistant cancers with a DNA library Posted: 29 May 2015 10:15 AM PDT Researcher are finding out why ovarian cancer is resistant to certain types of chemo and hope to eventually identify a different drug target.

Biomarker analysis reveals several potential treatment targets in subtype of anal cancer Posted: 29 May 2015 10:14 AM PDT A multiplatform biomarker analysis of squamous cell anal carcinoma samples has revealed several actionable targets.

Laser beam compressed into thin filament Posted: 29 May 2015 08:21 AM PDT Scientists have been researching the process of laser pulse filamentation -- the effect produced when a laser beam propagating in air focuses into a filament. The researchers discovered how this process influences the preliminary transition of a beam passing through quartz glass, which has applications in the field of nonlinear optics.

Race influences warfarin dose Posted: 29 May 2015 08:21 AM PDT A new report demonstrates that clinical and genetic factors affecting dose requirements for warfarin vary by race. The study proposes race-specific equations to help clinicians better calculate warfarin dosage.

Prosthetic hands with a sense of touch? 'Sensory feedback' from artificial limbs Posted: 29 May 2015 08:20 AM PDT Researchers are exploring new approaches to designing prosthetic hands capable of providing "sensory feedback." New advances have been made toward developing prostheses with a sense of touch.

Severe flooding hits central Texas, Oklahoma Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT A stagnant upper-air pattern that spread numerous storms and heavy rains from central Texas up into Oklahoma has resulted in record flooding for parts of the Lone Star State.

Restricting firearms access for people who misuse alcohol may prevent violence Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT Restricting access to firearms for people who misuse alcohol could prevent firearm violence, but policies that more clearly define alcohol misuse should be developed to facilitate enforcement, according to a review of existing research and public policies.

New technique harnesses everyday seismic waves to image Earth Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT Earth researchers have devised a technique that transforms the tiny tremors generated by the everyday hustle and bustle of city life into a tool for probing the subsurface of Earth.

Finding loopholes in the genome Posted: 29 May 2015 07:11 AM PDT R-loops, thought to initiate cellular mutations, genome breaks and diseases, may be identified with an accuracy of between 80-90 percent at lower costs and effort.

'Green chemistry' to quantify the components of cosmetics Posted: 29 May 2015 07:10 AM PDT There are 10,000 components that can be used to make cosmetics. These components have to be monitored to guarantee consumer safety. Scientists have now developed three 'green' analytical methods to simultaneously analyze various components used in cosmetics. In these methods very little solvent is used and very little residue is produced in comparison with other analytical techniques.

Entolimod may be a promising treatment option for many solid tumors Posted: 29 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT The first clinical study of the anticancer effects of the novel agent entolimod are now available. Findings confirm preclinical evidence that the agent, which is derived from salmonella flagellin, is worthy of further investigation as treatment for some of the most common and most resilient solid-tumor cancers.

Dry mouth: Acupuncture-like electrical nerve stimulation may help Posted: 29 May 2015 07:09 AM PDT Phase III results indicate that acupuncture-like, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may be equally effective as pilocarpine, the current prescription medication in a pill, to treat radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth), according to a new study published.

Microscopic sonic screwdriver invented Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT Engineers have created tiny acoustic vortices and used them to grip and spin microscopic particles suspended in water.

Inmates denied methadone treatment less likely to seek it once free Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT When people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) are incarcerated in the United States, they are almost always forced off of the addiction-controlling medicine. In a randomized trial, inmates allowed to stay on MMT while in jail proved much more likely to seek treatment after release than those whose treatment was interrupted.

Parental smoking puts nearly half a million UK children into poverty Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT Smoking is not only bad for your health; it also puts 400,000 children in poverty in the UK alone. Smoking places a financial burden on low income families, suggesting that parents are likely to forgo basic household and food necessities in order to fund their addiction.

Testing how well kidneys are functioning: ACR outperforms eGFR, study suggests Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT The usefulness of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, a test used to check how well the kidneys are filtering blood) and albuminuria (excess protein levels in the urine, which can be a sign of kidney damage) for prediction of cardiovascular outcomes is controversial.

Godwits are flexible, when they get the chance Posted: 29 May 2015 05:35 AM PDT Black-tailed godwits are able to cope with unpredictable weather, a thorough analysis finds, following the extraordinary spring of 2013 in Belgium. That year, godwits were surprised by an exceptionally cold spring upon their return to the Netherlands. Nevertheless the godwits had a particularly productive breeding season that year, authors noted.

Smoking legislation prevents more than 11,000 child hospital admissions in England each year Posted: 29 May 2015 05:34 AM PDT The introduction of smoke-free legislation in England was associated with over 11,000 fewer admissions to hospital a year from respiratory infections in children, according to a new study.

Stem cell switch on the move Posted: 29 May 2015 05:33 AM PDT The roots of a plant are constantly growing, so that they can provide the plant with water and minerals while also giving it a firm anchor in the ground. Responsible for these functions are pluripotent stem cells. In order to avoid differentiation and to remain pluripotent, these stem cells are dependent on signals from their neighboring cells. These signals are generated by only a small group of slowly dividing cells in the so-called quiescent centre inside the root. Biologists can now demonstrate how signals in plant roots determine the activity of stem cells.

All forms of smoking are bad for the heart Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT All forms of smoking are bad for the heart, the European Society of Cardiology has warned.

Trees are source for high-capacity, soft batteries Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT A method for making elastic high-capacity batteries from wood pulp has been developed. Using nanocellulose broken down from tree fibers, scientists have produced an elastic, foam-like battery material that can withstand shock and stress.

Sharp-eyed Alma spots a gigantic flare on famous red giant star Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT Super-sharp observations with the telescope Alma have revealed what seems to be a gigantic flare on the surface of Mira, one of the closest and most famous red giant stars in the sky. Activity like this in red giants - similar to what we see in the Sun -- comes as a surprise to astronomers. The discovery could help explain how winds from giant stars make their contribution to our galaxy's ecosystem.

Hybrid ships will soon be on the market Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT Hybrid cars have been a success. The shipping industry is now moving in the same green direction.

Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk Posted: 29 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT Simple measures of kidney function and damage may be just as good at predicting who is at risk for heart failure and death from heart attack and stroke as traditional tests of cholesterol levels and blood pressure, new research suggests.

Food or fuel? How about both? Posted: 29 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT In the United States, federal mandates to produce more renewable fuels, especially biofuels, have led to a growing debate: Should fuel or food grow on arable land? Recent research found encouraging, sustainable results when growing Camelina sativa with soybean in the Midwest.

Using carbon nanotubes to improve bio-oil refining Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT New catalyst structures based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes are set to make the refining of commodity chemicals and fuels from bio-oil more competitive.

Manipulating cell membranes using nanotubes Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT Researchers have developed a targeted method for opening up cell membranes in order to deliver drugs to, or manipulate the genes of, individual cells.

Sensor measures properties of tiny amounts of fluid Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT Researchers have developed fiber-based "optofluidic" sensors for measuring the properties of tiny amounts of fluid. The innovation increases the sensitivity of measurements and makes it less expensive for researchers and clinicians to study the properties of fluids.

Constructing complex molecules with atomic precision Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT Researchers have developed a waste-free and cost-effective approach for preparing complex organic molecules and revealing the physical nature of the processes that control the direction of chemical transformations.

New Wi-Fi antenna enhances wireless coverage Posted: 29 May 2015 05:29 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in using ionized gas in a common fluorescent light tube as an antenna for a Wi-Fi Internet router.

First successful study of virus attack on cancer Posted: 28 May 2015 01:31 PM PDT It's a new weapon in the arsenal of cancer fighting treatments: utilizing genetically modified viruses to invade cancer cells and destroy them from the inside. Now scientists have found that stage IIIb to IV melanoma patients treated with a modified cold sore (herpes) virus had improved survival.

Parents feel racial socialization may help minority children succeed in school Posted: 28 May 2015 01:31 PM PDT A connection between certain approaches to racial socialization in early childhood and parents' expectations for greater success in school has been uncovered by a new study. The researchers organized 16 focus groups involving 114 parents of children four years of age and younger from several ethnicity-language groups. Parents participating in the study felt that racial socialization in early childhood promotes school readiness, but were unsure of the best timing and particular approach for success.

Unmanned aerial vehicle used to study gray whales from above Posted: 28 May 2015 01:31 PM PDT Scientists are using an unmanned aerial vehicle to take very precise overhead images of migrating gray whale mothers and calves. This research will help scientists understand how environmental conditions control the reproductive success of individual whales and ultimately of the population.

Brain training induces lasting brain, mental health gains for veterans, civilians with brain injury Posted: 28 May 2015 12:36 PM PDT In the first study of its kind, veterans and civilians with traumatic brain injury showed improved cognitive performance and psychological and neural health following strategy-based cognitive training. The study was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of cognitive neuroscientists, rehabilitation specialists, and neuroimaging experts.

Understanding how cells follow electric fields Posted: 28 May 2015 12:36 PM PDT Weak electric fields may be important in guiding cells into wounds to heal them. Researchers have developed a screen to search for genes linked to electrotaxis, the ability to move in response to electric fields.

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