ScienceDaily: Top News

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• How our view of what makes us happy has changed in 80 years
• Digoxin increases the risk of early death in patients with heart problems, large study shows
• 'Fuzzy thinking' in depression, bipolar disorder: New research finds effect is real
• Shale-drilling additives in drinking-water taps near leak, new technique shows
• Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction
• Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes
• Primary care visits available to most uninsured, but at a high price
• Bystander CPR helps cardiac arrest survivors return to work
• New link between diabetes, Alzheimer's found
• Dietary supplements are good for coral health, study shows
• Real stereotypes continue to exist in virtual worlds
• Bat disease: Scientists identify tissue-degrading enzyme in white-nose syndrome
• Biologists shines light on origin of bioluminescence
• Premature birth alters brain connections
• As the river rises: Cahokia's emergence and decline linked to Mississippi River flooding
• Researchers 'un-can' the HIV virus
• Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors
• Double-digit growth for firms creating own online communities
• New climate projections paint bleak future for tropical coral reefs
• Chicxulub and the deccan eruptions: Just a coincidence?
• Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT
• Cellular bubbles used to deliver Parkinson's meds directly to brain
• Combining computer vision, brain computer interface for faster mine detection
• Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags
• Detecting knee-cushion problems early could lead to better treatments
• Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective, kinesiologist finds
• Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients
• Gigantic whales have stretchy 'bungee cord' nerves
• How does a mobile DNA sequence find its target?
• Youth just as likely to try e-cigarettes as smoking
• Cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians, study shows
• Revolutionary method of making RNAs
• Fjords are 'hotspots' in global carbon cycling
• Study points to possible treatment for lethal pediatric brain cancer
• Defects in atomically thin semiconductor emit single photons
• Mystery of India’s rapid move toward Eurasia 80 million years ago explained
• School competitive food policies appears tied to neighborhood socioeconomics
• Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football
• Kids likely to sleepwalk if parents have history of nocturnal strolls
• Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia
• Foundations of heart regeneration uncovered: Outer layer of heart must be healed first
• Juvenile shale gas in Sweden
• Human clinical trials begin for deadly hendra virus therapy
• Evidence of briny water on Mars
• Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior
• Lens turns smartphone into a microscope: Costs only 3 cents
• Pollen and clouds: April flowers bring May showers?
• The random raman laser: A new light source for the microcosmos
• Personal cues can have a strong effect on craving in individuals with addiction
• Lab test commonly used to assess water toxicity may not predict effects on field populations
• Psychological technique helps smokers quite tobacco
• Ocean currents disturb methane-eating bacteria
• Sixth DNA base discovered?
• Warm oceans caused hottest Dust Bowl years in 1934/36
• Impact of family, neighborhood on mental health revealed in comprehensive study
• Undersea volcano: Axial Seamount off Northwest coast is erupting
• New test predicts sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients
• From brittle to plastic in one breath
• Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies
• Rapid innovation in semiconductors provides hope for better economic times

How our view of what makes us happy has changed in 80 years Posted: 04 May 2015 06:07 PM PDT Our view of what makes us happy has changed markedly since 1938. That is the conclusion of the psychologist who has recreated a famous study of happiness conducted in Bolton in 1938.

Digoxin increases the risk of early death in patients with heart problems, large study shows Posted: 04 May 2015 06:07 PM PDT There is conflicting evidence about whether digoxin, a drug that has been used worldwide for centuries to treat heart disease, might contribute to an increase in deaths in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Now, the largest review of all the evidence to date shows that it is associated with an increased risk of death in these patients, particularly in those being treated for AF.

'Fuzzy thinking' in depression, bipolar disorder: New research finds effect is real Posted: 04 May 2015 02:10 PM PDT People with depression or bipolar disorder often feel their thinking ability has gotten "fuzzy", or less sharp than before their symptoms began. Now, researchers have shown in a large study that effect is indeed real – and rooted in brain activity differences that show up on advanced brain scans.

Shale-drilling additives in drinking-water taps near leak, new technique shows Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT Substances commonly used for drilling or extracting Marcellus shale gas foamed from the drinking water taps of three Pennsylvania homes near a reported well-pad leak, according to new analysis from a team of scientists.

Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT Newly published observations in patients and experiments in mice provide evidence that cigarette smoke reduces expression of the protein NLRX1 in the lung, taking the restraints off a destructive immune response that results in COPD. The researchers hope that pinpointing the protein's role could lead to improved COPD risk assessment, diagnostics, and treatment.

Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes Posted: 04 May 2015 01:35 PM PDT While black and white men under age 65 diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer received similar treatment, blacks had a 76 percent higher risk of death than whites, research shows. Male breast cancer is a rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in men and approximately 2% of all breast cancers in the United States. Black men have a higher incidence of breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age than their white counterparts.

Primary care visits available to most uninsured, but at a high price Posted: 04 May 2015 01:34 PM PDT Uninsured people in the United States don't have any more difficulty getting appointments with primary care doctors than those with insurance, but they get them at prices that are likely unaffordable to a typical uninsured person, according to new research.

Bystander CPR helps cardiac arrest survivors return to work Posted: 04 May 2015 01:34 PM PDT In Denmark, more bystanders performing CPR contributed to more cardiac arrest survivors returning to work, a study concludes. Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected. It occurs instantly or shortly after symptoms appear.

New link between diabetes, Alzheimer's found Posted: 04 May 2015 01:33 PM PDT A unique connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease has been uncovered by researchers, providing further evidence that a disease that robs people of their memories may be affected by elevated blood sugar.

Dietary supplements are good for coral health, study shows Posted: 04 May 2015 12:50 PM PDT Most people know the health benefits of taking daily supplements, but what about endangered corals? A new study has found that the critically endangered Staghorn coral may benefit from supplemental nutrition to mitigate the adverse impacts of global climate change.

Real stereotypes continue to exist in virtual worlds Posted: 04 May 2015 12:50 PM PDT Stereotypes related to gender and appearance that burden women in the real world could follow them into virtual ones, according to researchers. In a study of how people interacted with avatars in an online game, women received less help from fellow players than men when they operated an unattractive avatar and when they used a male avatar.

Bat disease: Scientists identify tissue-degrading enzyme in white-nose syndrome Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT Scientists have figured out the likely way that white-nose syndrome breaks down tissue in bats, opening the door to potential treatments for a disease that has killed more than six million bats since 2006 and poses a threat to the agricultural industry.

Biologists shines light on origin of bioluminescence Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT Bioluminescence at least in one millipede may have evolved as a way to survive in a hot, dry environment, not as a means to ward off predators, according to scientists.

Premature birth alters brain connections Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT Premature birth can alter the connectivity between key areas of the brain, according to a new study. The findings should help researchers to better understand why premature birth is linked to a greater risk of neurodevelopmental problems, including autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorders.

As the river rises: Cahokia's emergence and decline linked to Mississippi River flooding Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT As with rivers, civilizations across the world rise and fall. Sometimes, the rise and fall of rivers has something to do with it. At Cahokia, the largest prehistoric settlement in the Americas north of Mexico, new evidence suggests that major flood events in the Mississippi River valley are tied to the cultural center's emergence and ultimately, to its decline.

Researchers 'un-can' the HIV virus Posted: 04 May 2015 12:49 PM PDT If the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a bit like a hermetically sealed tin, can no one has yet been able to break open. The good news is that researchers have now identified a way to use a "can opener" to force the virus to open up and to expose its vulnerable parts, allowing the immune system cells to then kill the infected cells.

Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors Posted: 04 May 2015 11:19 AM PDT Scientists have developed a significantly better computer tool for finding genetic alterations that play an important role in many cancers but were difficult to identify with whole-genome sequencing. The tool is an algorithm called CONSERTING, short for Copy Number Segmentation by Regression Tree in Next Generation Sequencing.

Double-digit growth for firms creating own online communities Posted: 04 May 2015 11:19 AM PDT Double-digit revenue growth has been observed for firms that create their own brand-specific online communities. Engaging consumers through online social networks is an increasingly mission-critical activity for major brands. While some firms host their own brand-centric online communities, Facebook has become the dominant host for online communities of brand enthusiasts, taking over $10 billion and 10% of U.S. digital advertising spending in 2014.

New climate projections paint bleak future for tropical coral reefs Posted: 04 May 2015 11:19 AM PDT As greater atmospheric carbon dioxide boosts sea temperatures, tropical corals face a bleak future. New climate model projections show that conditions are likely to increase the frequency and severity of coral disease outbreaks, reports a team of researchers.

Chicxulub and the deccan eruptions: Just a coincidence? Posted: 04 May 2015 11:19 AM PDT Scientists have addressed the 'uncomfortably close' occurrence of the Chicxulub impact in the Yucatan and the most voluminous phase of the Deccan Traps flood basalt eruptions in India. Specifically, the researchers argue that the impact likely triggered most of the immense eruptions of lava in India -- that indeed, this was not a coincidence, but a cause-and-effect relationship.

Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT A recent study compared use of the novel Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT with other imaging methods and found that it had substantially higher detection rates of prostate-specific membrane antigen in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. It is especially noteworthy that this hybrid PSMA-ligand identified a large number of positive findings in the clinically important range of low PSA-values.

Cellular bubbles used to deliver Parkinson's meds directly to brain Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT Exosomes could help with longstanding medical issues from cancer diagnosis to sophisticated research tool. Now, they could potentially help with delivering potent antioxidants into the brain of Parkinson's patients.

Combining computer vision, brain computer interface for faster mine detection Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT Computer scientists have combined sophisticated computer vision algorithms and a brain-computer interface to find mines in sonar images of the ocean floor. The study shows that the new method speeds detection up considerably, when compared to existing methods -- mainly visual inspection by a mine detection expert.

Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags Posted: 04 May 2015 11:18 AM PDT Researchers are looking at how the biomechanics of clingfish could be helpful in designing devices and instruments to be used in surgery and even to tag and track whales in the ocean. Clingfish are considered one of the world's best suction cups, scientists say.

Detecting knee-cushion problems early could lead to better treatments Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT The menisci, best known as the shock absorbers in the knee, help disperse pressure, reduce friction and nourish the knee. Now, new research shows even small changes in the menisci can hinder their ability to perform critical knee functions.

Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective, kinesiologist finds Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT Kinesiology research offers encouraging information for cancer patients: A brisk walk or a slow jog on a regular basis may be the key to improved cancer treatments. Research also has shown that moderate exercise can help cancer patients counteract some of the side effects of treatment -- such as low blood count, fatigue, cachexia and lost muscle mass -- which has led to many researchers labeling this as "aerobic exercise therapy" for patients with cancer.

Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT Scientists have identified a mechanism that helps leukemia cells resist glucocorticoids, a finding that lays the foundation for more effective treatment of cancer and possibly a host of autoimmune diseases. The research focused on glucocorticoids, a class of steroid hormones.

Gigantic whales have stretchy 'bungee cord' nerves Posted: 04 May 2015 10:05 AM PDT Biologists have discovered a unique nerve structure in the mouth and tongue of rorqual whales that can double in length and then recoil like a bungee cord. The stretchy nerves explain how the massive whales are able to balloon an immense pocket between their body wall and overlying blubber to capture prey during feeding dives.

How does a mobile DNA sequence find its target? Posted: 04 May 2015 10:03 AM PDT To understand how transposable elements shape genomes, where they are maintained over generations, it is vital to discover the mechanisms behind their targeted integration. Researchers have identified an interaction between two proteins that is essential for the integration of a transposable element into a specific area of the yeast genome.

Youth just as likely to try e-cigarettes as smoking Posted: 04 May 2015 09:32 AM PDT Young people are just as likely to try electronic cigarettes as smoking, according to a new report. The findings reveal that approximately 20 per cent of youth between the ages of 15 and 19 experiment with vaping, the same number who try cigarettes.

Cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians, study shows Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have found that spirometry was underutilized for asthma diagnosis and management in US adults from 2001 to 2011, despite its accuracy, cost effectiveness and the publication of national guidelines advocating its use. Spirometry is a common test that allows physicians to determine how well a person's lungs work by measuring how much air is inhaled and exhaled as well as how quickly the air is exhaled.

Revolutionary method of making RNAs Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT Scientists -- and ultimately patients -- could benefit from a new approach to making ribonucleic acids.

Fjords are 'hotspots' in global carbon cycling Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT While fjords are celebrated for their beauty, these ecosystems are also major carbon sinks that likely play an important role in the regulation of the planet's climate, new research reveals.

Study points to possible treatment for lethal pediatric brain cancer Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT Using brain tumor samples collected from children in the United States and Europe, an international team of scientists found that the drug panobinostat and similar gene regulating drugs may be effective at treating diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, an aggressive and lethal form of pediatric cancer.

Defects in atomically thin semiconductor emit single photons Posted: 04 May 2015 09:10 AM PDT Researchers have shown that defects on an atomically thin semiconductor can produce light-emitting quantum dots. The quantum dots serve as a source of single photons and could be useful for the integration of quantum photonics with solid-state electronics -- a combination known as integrated photonics.

Mystery of India’s rapid move toward Eurasia 80 million years ago explained Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT In the history of continental drift, India has been a mysterious record-holder. More than 140 million years ago, India was part of an immense supercontinent called Gondwana, which covered much of the Southern Hemisphere. Around 120 million years ago, what is now India broke off and started slowly migrating north, at about 5 centimeters per year.

School competitive food policies appears tied to neighborhood socioeconomics Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT Policy changes in California to make the food and beverages that compete with school meal programs more healthy for students appear to have improved childhood overweight/obesity prevalence trends, although improvement was better among students attending schools in socioeconomically advantaged neighborhoods.

Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT A slight majority of concussions happened during youth football games but most concussions at the high school and college levels occurred during practice, according to a new article.

Kids likely to sleepwalk if parents have history of nocturnal strolls Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT More than 60 percent of children developed sleepwalking when both their parents were sleepwalkers in a study among children born in the Canadian province of Quebec.

Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT A new study in mice links three previously unrelated hypotheses about the causes of schizophrenia, a debilitating mental disorder that affects how people think, act and perceive reality. The new findings may eventually lead to treatment strategies targeted for the underlying causes of schizophrenia and related disorders.

Foundations of heart regeneration uncovered: Outer layer of heart must be healed first Posted: 04 May 2015 09:08 AM PDT Medical researchers have found that a key to the zebrafish's ability to regenerate cardiac tissue lies in the outer layer of the heart known as the epicardium. When this critical layer is damaged, the whole repair process is delayed as the epicardium undergoes a round of self-healing before tending to the rest of the heart. The finding points to a possible target for repairing the damage caused by a heart attack.

Juvenile shale gas in Sweden Posted: 04 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT Considering geological time scales, the occurrence of biogenic shale gas in Sweden´s crust is relatively young. Geoscientists found that biogenic methane in the Alum Shale in South Sweden formed due to deglaciation around 12 years ago. Moreover, the formation processes were due to complex interactions between neotectonic activity and the occurrence of a deep biosphere. Applying a new hydrogeochemical modelling approach, the specific methane generation process was unraveled and quantified for the first time in Europe.

Human clinical trials begin for deadly hendra virus therapy Posted: 04 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT The world's first human clinical trials for a treatment against Hendra virus, a rare but deadly viral disease, have just begun in Australia, using a human monoclonal antibody.

Evidence of briny water on Mars Posted: 04 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT Data collected on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover indicate that water, in the form of brine, may exist under certain conditions on the planet's surface.

Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior Posted: 04 May 2015 08:30 AM PDT Studies have long associated low-income areas with poor oral health. But dental researchers have sensed that other factors related to income may be at work -- in particular, education level. So they recently investigated how a parent or other caregiver's education level and dental habits affect children's dental health.

Lens turns smartphone into a microscope: Costs only 3 cents Posted: 04 May 2015 08:30 AM PDT Researchers have created an optical lens that can be placed on an inexpensive smartphone to magnify images by a magnitude of 120, all for just 3 cents a lens.

Pollen and clouds: April flowers bring May showers? Posted: 04 May 2015 08:30 AM PDT The main job of pollen is to help seed the next generation of trees and plants, but a new study shows that the grains might also seed clouds.

The random raman laser: A new light source for the microcosmos Posted: 04 May 2015 08:29 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a newly emerging technique known as random Raman lasing emission can produce a bright, speckle-free, strobe light source with potential application in high-speed wide-field microscopy.

Personal cues can have a strong effect on craving in individuals with addiction Posted: 04 May 2015 08:29 AM PDT Unique person-specific cues -- such as the presence of a specific friend or hearing a specific song -- appear to have a robust effect on craving addictive substances, a recent study shows. The study also found that person-specific cues may have a longer effect on craving than more general substance-specific cues, such as the presence of bottles, syringes, or lighters.

Lab test commonly used to assess water toxicity may not predict effects on field populations Posted: 04 May 2015 08:29 AM PDT Hyalella azteca are invertebrates that are widely used for sediment and water toxicity studies. Investigators have found that H. azteca collected from sites influenced by agricultural/urban runoff are as much as 2-times less sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides than lab-grown H. azteca. In contrast, the insecticide sensitivities of H. azteca collected from undeveloped sites beyond the influences of agricultural/urban runoff were similar to those of lab-grown populations.

Psychological technique helps smokers quite tobacco Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that motivational interviewing can make smokers see tobacco as something disagreeable, thus helping them to quit the habit. Motivational interviewing is a psychological technique of direct intervention that seeks to produce changes in patient behavior.

Ocean currents disturb methane-eating bacteria Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Bacteria that feed on methane can control its concentration once it is released from the ocean floor. This can potentially stop the greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere. But ocean currents can easily disturb dinner, according to a new study.

Sixth DNA base discovered? Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Is there a sixth DNA base? A team of researchers suggests that the methyl-adenine that would regulate the expression of certain genes in eukaryotic cells could have a specific role in stem cells and in early stages of development.

Warm oceans caused hottest Dust Bowl years in 1934/36 Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT Ocean hotspots that caused the record heat during the Dust Bowl years may help long range forecasters predict the likelihood of extremely hot summers in Central US months ahead, scientists say.

Impact of family, neighborhood on mental health revealed in comprehensive study Posted: 04 May 2015 07:12 AM PDT A team of researchers from Sweden and the United States has examined the potential role of the family environment and neighborhood factors on mental health outcomes in a new study. The study includes highly detailed data on over 500,000 children in Sweden and covers a timespan of more than a decade. During the course of the study, 4.8 percent of the children developed a psychiatric disorder.

Undersea volcano: Axial Seamount off Northwest coast is erupting Posted: 04 May 2015 07:07 AM PDT Axial Seamount, an active underwater volcano located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon and Washington, appears to be erupting -- after two scientists had forecast that such an event would take place there in 2015.

New test predicts sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients Posted: 04 May 2015 06:44 AM PDT A new test has been developed to predict sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients in whom such forecasts were previously impossible. The novel method uses a combination of nuclear medicine, C-reactive protein and electrocardiogram.

From brittle to plastic in one breath Posted: 04 May 2015 06:44 AM PDT A new theory shows it may be possible to turn brittle two-dimensional materials into superplastics simply by changing the environmental conditions around them.

Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies Posted: 04 May 2015 06:44 AM PDT Exposure to outdoor air pollution during the first year of life increases the risk of developing allergies to food, mould, pets and pests, new research concludes. The study showed that the sensitivity to allergens was associated with exposure to traffic-related air pollution during infancy.

Rapid innovation in semiconductors provides hope for better economic times Posted: 04 May 2015 06:43 AM PDT A new study reveals that innovation in an important technology sector is happening faster than experts had previously thought, creating a backdrop for better economic times ahead.

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