ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Breakthrough against hospital superbug, klebsiella pneumonia
• Underpinnings of drought tolerance in plants
• What bacteria sense in their surroundings
• Clear, strong stimulation may help prevent apathy for persons with dementia
• New study links excessive iron in cells with AMD, other diseases
• Bright light after night shift may enhance alertness and cognitive performance
• Study finds inadequate hydration among US children
• Stroke education helps patients recognize stroke symptoms, encourages fast response
• Implantable antibiotic-laced sponges reduce sternal infections in cardiac surgery
• Changing climate prompts boreal forest shift
• Closest ever look at dwarf planet Ceres
• Epic journey by blue whale
• Group discussion improves lie detection
• 'Sunscreen' layer detected on distant planet
• To be sperm, or not to be sperm?
• New drug triggers tissue regeneration: Faster regrowth and healing of damaged tissues
• Dendritic cells of elite controllers able to recognize, mount defense against HIV
• Dispersal of alien species redefines biogeography
• Variations in atmospheric oxygen levels shaped Earth's climate through the ages
• How the hawkmoth sees, hovers and tracks flowers in the dark
• Woodlice can calm their excited neighbors
• Milk proteins may protect against cardiovascular disease
• Dental implants result in better quality of life for osteoporotic women
• Longstanding biology problem put to rest
• Your phone knows how many steps you take per day, shouldn't your doctor?
• Spider and centipede venom evolved from insulin-like hormone
• Most heart muscle cells formed during childhood
• Infants' superior perception linked to later autism symptoms
• Added power for airplane galleys
• New tools aiding storm prediction, increasing ship navigational safety in Gulf of Mexico
• Regular soda, please: Hormone that differentiates sugar, diet sweeteners could exist in humans
• Scientists find way to disrupt brain tumor stem cells
• Virtual reality sheds new light on how we navigate in the dark
• Neuroscience and psychology paint more complete picture of sleep and memory
• College students who binge drink have more delayed sleep timing, variable sleep schedules
• Twitter data may help shed light on sleep disorders
• Daily aspirin could block growth of breast, other cancers, lab study suggests
• A protein provides emergency aid
• High salt prevents weight gain in mice on a high-fat diet
• Variable surfaces: Smooth or bumpy on demand
• Winner doesn't always take all
• DASH diet can substitute lean pork for chicken or fish to reduce blood pressure
• Longitudinal brain changes during transition from adolescence to adulthood found in ASD
• Gene modulation method may provide insight on regrowing inner-ear sensory hair cells
• New method detects early breast cancer via urine
• A cuckoo finch in sheep's clothing
• Wildlife density data better predicts conservation success
• Large doses of antioxidants may be harmful to neuronal stem cells
• Mini laser for real-time quality control
• Precisely simulating the production of ceramic tape
• Women with lupus and APS at risk of reduced fertility and pregnancy complication
• Wild mongooses avoid inbreeding with unusual reproductive strategy
• Movement in ADHD may help children think, perform better in school
• Exploring the deep-time roots of plant diversity
• Swift intervention doubles survival rate from cardiac arrest
• One nanocrystal, many faces
• Weekend screen time linked to poorer bone health in teen boys

Breakthrough against hospital superbug, klebsiella pneumonia Posted: 11 Jun 2015 04:41 PM PDT Researchers have developed a cutting-edge new medical therapy that could protect hospital patients against a lethal superbug.

Underpinnings of drought tolerance in plants Posted: 11 Jun 2015 04:41 PM PDT Drought is one of the most urgent environmental crises facing the world today. Scientists have now used a genome-wide approach to studying drought tolerance in plants and identified regulatory pathway that can be used to increase drought tolerance.

What bacteria sense in their surroundings Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT A new, rapid method is helping detect how bacteria sense and respond to changes in their environment. The food-poisoning pathogen, Salmonella, for example is adept at picking up cues to adjust to different locations and surrounding conditions. Researchers are trying to learn how external signals trigger some of its survival strategies, such as biofilm formation. Their new method could be tested in other bacterial species to increase knowledge about microbial sensing, and to develop practical medical, agricultural and industrial applications.

Clear, strong stimulation may help prevent apathy for persons with dementia Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT Nursing home residents with dementia are less likely to be apathetic if they live in an appropriately stimulating environment, according to nursing researchers. Apathy is one of the most common neurobehavioral symptoms in dementia, with about 90 percent of older adults with dementia experiencing it.

New study links excessive iron in cells with AMD, other diseases Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT A new molecular mechanism that contributes to age-related macular degeneration due to accumulation of excessive iron within the cells of the retina has been described in a new scientific report.

Bright light after night shift may enhance alertness and cognitive performance Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT Bright light at the end of a night shift may have potential as a countermeasure to improve driving performance, particularly for low light work environments and commutes that occur before dawn, a new study suggests.

Study finds inadequate hydration among US children Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:42 PM PDT More than half of all children and adolescents in the US are not getting enough hydration -- probably because they're not drinking enough water -- a situation that could have significant repercussions for their physical health and their cognitive and emotional functioning, according to the first national study of its kind.

Stroke education helps patients recognize stroke symptoms, encourages fast response Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:41 PM PDT Clear, simple preparedness messages can help patients recognize symptoms of a subsequent stroke and speed up emergency room arrival times. Stroke education materials dramatically improved hospital arrival times, specifically among Hispanic stroke patients, a new study suggests.

Implantable antibiotic-laced sponges reduce sternal infections in cardiac surgery Posted: 11 Jun 2015 02:34 PM PDT Cardiac surgeons often "crack open" the flat bone that forms the middle front section of the chest, known as the sternum, in order to reach important structures. When a sternal wound infection (SWI) occurs, serious complications and even death may result. Implanting antibiotic-laden sponges between the sternal halves before closure has been adapted to prevent infections. While a recent report questioned this practice, a meta-analysis clearly established that the sponges do work.

Changing climate prompts boreal forest shift Posted: 11 Jun 2015 01:13 PM PDT With warming summer temperatures across Alaska, white spruce tree growth in Interior Alaska has declined to record low levels, while the same species in Western Alaska is growing better than ever measured before. According to researchers, 'The movement of an entire biome is often hypothesized in models of probable future climate, but the Alaska boreal forest is actually shifting today, and the process is well underway.'

Closest ever look at dwarf planet Ceres Posted: 11 Jun 2015 01:13 PM PDT NASA's Dawn mission is observing the dwarf planet Ceres from 2,700 miles above its surface, and this week released a new image of Ceres.

Epic journey by blue whale Posted: 11 Jun 2015 01:12 PM PDT Scientists studying blue whales in the waters of Chile through DNA profiling and photo-identification may have solved the mystery of where these huge animals go to breed, as revealed by a single female blue whale named "Isabela."

Group discussion improves lie detection Posted: 11 Jun 2015 01:12 PM PDT Researchers designed four experiments in which groups consistently distinguished truth from lies more accurately than one individual, demonstrating that the group advantage in lie detection comes through the process of group discussion, not the product of a "wisdom of crowds" effect.

'Sunscreen' layer detected on distant planet Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has detected a stratosphere, one of the primary layers of Earth's atmosphere, on a massive and blazing-hot exoplanet known as WASP-33b.

To be sperm, or not to be sperm? Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT Researchers have found, for the first time in vertebrates, a genetic switch that determines whether germ cells become sperm or eggs. The gene is named foxl3, and has been identified using a small fish called medaka. In medaka without this gene's functionality, surprisingly, sperm are produced in the ovaries of females.

New drug triggers tissue regeneration: Faster regrowth and healing of damaged tissues Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT The concept sounds like the stuff of science fiction: take a pill, and new tissues grow to replace damaged ones. Researchers have now announced steps toward turning this idea into reality. They have detailed how a new drug repaired damage to the colon, liver and bone marrow in animal models -- even saving mice who would have died in a bone marrow transplantation model.

Dendritic cells of elite controllers able to recognize, mount defense against HIV Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT Investigators have added another piece to the puzzle of how a small group of individuals known as elite controllers are able to control HIV infection without drug treatment. The research team reports finding that dendritic cells of elite controllers are better able to detect the presence of HIV, which enables them to stimulate the generation of T cells specifically targeting the virus.

Dispersal of alien species redefines biogeography Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:44 AM PDT It has been hypothesized that globalization of human-mediated dispersal of species may break down biogeographic boundaries. However, empirical tests had been lacking until recently. An international research team has now discovered a comprehensive biogeographic reorganization for 175 species of alien gastropods across 56 countries. The data shows that homogenization is indeed happening. Geographic barriers to dispersal have fallen down but climate still limits how species colonize new areas.

Variations in atmospheric oxygen levels shaped Earth's climate through the ages Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:42 AM PDT Variations in the amount of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere significantly altered global climate throughout the planet's history. Efforts to reconstruct past climates must include this previously overlooked factor, a new study concludes.

How the hawkmoth sees, hovers and tracks flowers in the dark Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:42 AM PDT Using high-speed infrared cameras and robotic flowers, scientists have learned how the hawkmoth juggles the complex sensing and control challenges of seeing in the dark, hovering in mid-air and tracking moving flowers. The work shows that the creatures can slow their brains to improve vision under low-light conditions -- while continuing to perform demanding tasks.

Woodlice can calm their excited neighbors Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:42 AM PDT Woodlice, familiar to the amateur gardeners, are easily observable living in groups sheltered under stones or barks. Research shows how a 'contagion' between the different behavioral states of woodlice may govern the stability of their groups.

Milk proteins may protect against cardiovascular disease Posted: 11 Jun 2015 11:40 AM PDT The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that results in browned foods like seared steaks and toasted bread. When proteins and sugars are mixed together and heated, new chemical compounds are formed. Some are responsible for new flavors and some, according to a new study may protect us against cardiovascular disease.

Dental implants result in better quality of life for osteoporotic women Posted: 11 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT With age, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are at greater risk of losing their teeth. But what treatment for tooth loss provides women with the highest degree of satisfaction in their work and social lives?

Longstanding biology problem put to rest Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:30 AM PDT Comparing the genomes of different species -- or different members of the same species -- is the basis of a great deal of modern biology. DNA sequences that are conserved across species are likely to be functionally important, while variations between members of the same species can indicate different susceptibilities to disease. The basic algorithm for determining how much two sequences of symbols have in common -- the "edit distance" between them -- is now more than 40 years old.

Your phone knows how many steps you take per day, shouldn't your doctor? Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:30 AM PDT The rise of health apps has made it possible to chart your steps, heartbeat, and sleep patterns, but the availability of this constant stream of information has yet to reach patient electronic health records. In a commentary, researchers argue that these mobile devices could rapidly reshape the practice of medicine. The first steps though will be creating standards that can enforce cross-platform communications.

Spider and centipede venom evolved from insulin-like hormone Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:29 AM PDT Funnel-web spider venom contains powerful neurotoxins that instantly paralyze prey (usually insects). Millions of years ago, however, this potent poison was just a hormone that helped ancestors of these spiders regulate sugar metabolism, similar to the role of insulin in humans. Surprisingly, this hormone's weaponization occurred in arachnids as well as centipedes, but in different ways.

Most heart muscle cells formed during childhood Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:29 AM PDT New human heart muscle cells can be formed, but this mainly happens during the first 10 years of life, according to a new study. Other cell types, however, are replaced more quickly. The study demonstrates that the heart muscle is regenerated throughout a person's life, supporting the idea that it is possible to stimulate the rebuilding of lost heart tissue.

Infants' superior perception linked to later autism symptoms Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:29 AM PDT People with autism are often described as 'seeing the world differently.' They tend to show superior perception for details, like, for example, the autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire's highly accurate representations of cityscapes drawn from memory. Now, researchers show that those differences in perceptual skill are present very early in infancy, before the onset of clinical symptoms of autism.

Added power for airplane galleys Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:27 AM PDT The galleys inside airliners voraciously consume power - a vital yet limited resource in a plane. Additional power units may soon come to the rescue: housed inside trolley carts in the galleys, these units deliver both supplemental power and thus uncouple the power to the cabin and the kitchen from that which is supplied to the rest of the aircraft.

New tools aiding storm prediction, increasing ship navigational safety in Gulf of Mexico Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:26 AM PDT Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida may be more prepared for hurricane season thanks to some new tools in the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System.

Regular soda, please: Hormone that differentiates sugar, diet sweeteners could exist in humans Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:26 AM PDT We've all been there: We eat an entire sleeve of fat-free, low-calorie cookies and we're stuffing ourselves with more food 15 minutes later. One theory to explain this phenomenon is that artificial sweeteners don't contain the calories or energy that evolution has trained the brain to expect from sweet-tasting foods, so they don't fool the brain into satisfying hunger. However, until now, nobody understood how organisms distinguish between real sugar and artificial sweetener.

Scientists find way to disrupt brain tumor stem cells Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:26 AM PDT Brain tumor stem cells can resist treatment and regrow tumors, but scientists have identified a vulnerability in these cells that could lead to a new approach in battling deadly brain tumors.

Virtual reality sheds new light on how we navigate in the dark Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:26 AM PDT A series of immersive virtual reality experiments has confirmed that the human brain's internal navigation system works in the same fashion as the grid cell system recently found in other mammals.

Neuroscience and psychology paint more complete picture of sleep and memory Posted: 11 Jun 2015 09:26 AM PDT A new study integrates neuroscience and psychological research to reveal how sleep suppresses certain nerve cell activity that promotes forgetting, insuring that at least some memories will last.

College students who binge drink have more delayed sleep timing, variable sleep schedules Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT A new study suggests that students who initiate and/or continue drinking and engage in binge drinking in college have more delayed sleep timing and more variable sleep schedules.

Twitter data may help shed light on sleep disorders Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT Researchers have built the beginnings of 'digital phenotype' of insomnia and other sleep disorders based on data from Twitter.

Daily aspirin could block growth of breast, other cancers, lab study suggests Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT A new lab study found that a daily dose of aspirin was effective at blocking breast tumor growth. Previous studies have already shown a similar effect on colon, gastrointestinal, prostate, and other cancers.

A protein provides emergency aid Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT Small heat shock proteins ensure that other proteins do not clot, allowing the cell to survive stress. Defects in these 'small helpers' are associated with medical conditions like cataracts and cancer. Now, scientists have characterized a small heat shock protein responsible for embryonic development in the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode. Presumably, a similar protein exists also in humans.

High salt prevents weight gain in mice on a high-fat diet Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT In a study that seems to defy conventional dietary wisdom, scientists have found that adding high salt to a high-fat diet actually prevents weight gain in mice. The findings highlight the profound effect non-caloric dietary nutrients can have on energy balance and weight gain, and suggest that public health efforts to continue lowering sodium intake may have unexpected and unintended consequences.

Variable surfaces: Smooth or bumpy on demand Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way of making soft materials, using a 3-D printer, with surface textures that can then be modified at will to be perfectly smooth, or ridged or bumpy, or even to have complex patterns that could be used to guide fluids.

Winner doesn't always take all Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT Theoretically predicted and now demonstrated experimentally for the first time using soil bacteria: weaker organisms can prevail against stronger ones -- if they are superior in number. This acts as a driving mechanism in the maintenance of genetic diversity, scientists report.

DASH diet can substitute lean pork for chicken or fish to reduce blood pressure Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT Adults who are following the DASH-style eating pattern to lower their blood pressure can expand their protein options to include lean, unprocessed pork, according to research. This study applies only to cuts of unprocessed lean pork, such as tenderloin and fresh, uncured ham trimmed of visible fat.

Longitudinal brain changes during transition from adolescence to adulthood found in ASD Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:44 AM PDT The atypical trajectory of cortical/brain development in autism spectrum disorder extends well beyond young childhood and into late adolescence and young adulthood, a new study demonstrates.

Gene modulation method may provide insight on regrowing inner-ear sensory hair cells Posted: 11 Jun 2015 08:42 AM PDT An expert in the biology and physiology of the inner ear has developed a method to temporally modify the expression of the retinoblastoma-1 gene in mice. Modulation of the RB1 gene can allow for the regrowth of cells in the inner ear and potentially restore hearing and balance caused by the loss of sensory hair cells.

New method detects early breast cancer via urine Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:19 AM PDT Medical researchers have developed an approach for detecting breast cancer by means of urine samples. The method involves determining the concentration of molecules that regulate cell metabolism and that are often dysregulated in cancer cells. These molecules, referred to as microRNAs, enter into the urine over the blood. By determining the composition of microRNAs in the urine, the scientists succeeded in establishing with 91 percent accuracy whether a test subject was healthy or diseased.

A cuckoo finch in sheep's clothing Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT Cuckoo finches in Africa have adopted a unique disguise to help them lay their eggs in other birds' nests, biologists have found.

Wildlife density data better predicts conservation success Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT A recent study makes a strong case for a new approach to conservation planning that uses much more robust data sets in order to better protect birds, plants, and animals.

Large doses of antioxidants may be harmful to neuronal stem cells Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:13 AM PDT Stem cells are especially sensitive to oxygen radicals and antioxidants shows new research.

Mini laser for real-time quality control Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:03 AM PDT Good quality and precision are essential – a dictum that also applies to products from the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. While the quality of chemical products is often still being monitored manually during the production process, a laser-based system could take over this task in future, allowing for a continuous monitoring in real time.

Precisely simulating the production of ceramic tape Posted: 11 Jun 2015 06:03 AM PDT Manufacturers of ceramic tape currently have to rely on their own experience when it comes to configuring the tape properties. But now a new combination of macroscopic and microscopic simulation is facilitating this process by predicting how the slurry will flow through the machine and determining the alignment of the ceramic particles.

Women with lupus and APS at risk of reduced fertility and pregnancy complication Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:22 AM PDT New recommendations for women's health and pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were recently developed. These evidence-based recommendations provide crucial guidance to support family planning, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and the menopause in these patients.

Wild mongooses avoid inbreeding with unusual reproductive strategy Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:21 AM PDT Researchers studying banded mongooses in Uganda have discovered that these small mammals are able to discriminate between relatives and non-relatives to avoid inbreeding.

Movement in ADHD may help children think, perform better in school Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:21 AM PDT The constant movement of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be distracting -- but the fidgeting also may improve their cognitive performance.

Exploring the deep-time roots of plant diversity Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:15 AM PDT The origin of vascular plants, more than 400 million years ago, changed the surface of our planet forever.

Swift intervention doubles survival rate from cardiac arrest Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:15 AM PDT Researchers have found that early cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than doubles the chance of survival for patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The percentage of patients who receive life-saving resuscitation has also increased substantially thanks to so-called SMS Lifesavers.

One nanocrystal, many faces Posted: 11 Jun 2015 05:12 AM PDT A promising catalyst seemed erratic in reducing the toxins released by burning gasoline and other such fuels. The catalyst's three different surfaces behaved differently. For the first time, researchers got an atomically resolved view of the three structures. This information may provide insights into why the surfaces have distinct properties.

Weekend screen time linked to poorer bone health in teen boys Posted: 10 Jun 2015 04:09 PM PDT Weekend screen time is linked to poorer teen bone health -- but only in boys, reveals new research. The apparent lack of impact of leisure screen time on teen girls' bone health may be explained by their different body fat distribution, suggest the researchers.

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