ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Benefits of strip-till surface after five-year study
• 'Bad' genes lead teens to binge-eating
• Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts
• Mediterranean lifestyle may decrease cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglycerides
• Using low-dose irradiation, researchers can now edit human genes
• Coping by avoidance in making decisions for relatives in ICU may lead to PTSD
• First assessment for grieving youth developed
• First evidence of farming in Mideast 23,000 years ago
• Preserving photoreceptor cells following retinal injury
• How to cut worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world
• Gene mutation contributes to liver disease in patients of normal weight
• HIV susceptibility linked to little-understood immune cell class
• Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, fructose
• Banned chemical pollutant lowers fertility in UK porpoises
• DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT scanning, study finds
• Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism, study finds
• Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans
• Fungi: Key to tree survival in warming forest
• Experimental drug could treat hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause without harmful side effects
• New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation
• Schools with higher black, minority populations call cops, not docs
• Climate change reduces coral reefs' ability to protect coasts
• Stop misuse of biodiversity offsets, conservation experts say
• Resolving social conflict is key to survival of bacterial communities
• Space-eye-view could help stop global wildlife decline
• Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant
• Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel
• Atomic view of cellular pump reveals how bacteria send out proteins
• Long-sought discovery fills in missing details of cell 'switchboard'
• Ankle-brachial index associated with mild cognitive impairment
• Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68
• Computer security tools for journalists lacking in a post-Snowden world
• Pacific reef growth can match rising sea, study suggests
• Increasing prevalence of autism is due, in part, to changing diagnoses
• Readiness of America's biology teachers questioned
• New molecular butterflies help advance energy research
• Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins
• Vibration table promises different ways of testing
• Predicting the shape of river deltas
• Massachusetts schools are improving food options
• Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds
• Study uncovers mechanism responsible for pollen-induced allergies
• Twisted wasps: Two new unique parasitoid wasp species sting the heart of Europe
• The unexpected one: A new pale nectar-feeding bat species found in brazil
• Molecular mechanisms contributing to addiction resistance uncovered
• Boosting gas mileage by turning engine heat into electricity
• Programming adult stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and more by mimicking nature
• E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones
• Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease
• Source of debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis discovered
• Some Vietnam vets currently have PTSD 40 years after war ended, study finds
• Device keeps donor livers healthy outside the body until transplant
• Guidelines: Authors' conflicts of interest should lead to consequences
• New material forges the way for 'stem cell factories'
• Important molecule in ovarian cancer
• Gene knockout: Loss of a gene can be compensated by another gene
• Cold crystallization has a dual nature
• Job services lacking for young people with autism
• Genetic mutation causing lethal condition in infants identified
• Mind the gap: Static synapses on a moving structure

Benefits of strip-till surface after five-year study Posted: 22 Jul 2015 04:47 PM PDT After just five years, soil organic matter content was 8.6 percent greater in the strip-till plots when compared to the no-till plots. Furthermore, bulk density was reduced by 4 percent and penetration resistance, the force a root must exert to move in the soil, decreased by 18 percent.

'Bad' genes lead teens to binge-eating Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:50 PM PDT Binge-eating in teenagers may be linked to a gene variation, according to new research.

Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT Regular consumption of beet juice had positive cardiovascular effects on subjects during exercise and led to increased endurance, a clinical study has found. The scientists report that healthy male subjects who drank beet juice for 15 days had lower blood pressure and more dilated blood vessels at rest and during exercise.

Mediterranean lifestyle may decrease cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglycerides Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT A new review article explores the effects of the "ingredients" of Mediterranean lifestyle as a whole on post-meal blood triglyceride levels (PPL). Consistently elevated PPL is a cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Using low-dose irradiation, researchers can now edit human genes Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have employed a gene-editing technique involving low-dose irradiation to repair patient cells. This method is 10 times more effective than techniques currently in use.

Coping by avoidance in making decisions for relatives in ICU may lead to PTSD Posted: 22 Jul 2015 12:09 PM PDT Family members who make major medical decisions for relatives in an intensive care unit may suffer posttraumatic stress disorder if they cope by avoiding the situation, according to a new study.

First assessment for grieving youth developed Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:47 AM PDT The first test ever constructed to assess Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder—a problematic syndrome of grief—has been released by researchers. Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) has been included as a proposed diagnosis for further study in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

First evidence of farming in Mideast 23,000 years ago Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:47 AM PDT Until now, researchers believed farming was 'invented' some 12,000 years ago in an area that was home to some of the earliest known human civilizations. A new discovery offers the first evidence that trial plant cultivation began far earlier -- some 23,000 years ago.

Preserving photoreceptor cells following retinal injury Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:47 AM PDT There is a significant increase in the immune system's 'alternative complement pathway' following retinal detachment, researchers report, adding that this pathway facilitated early photoreceptor cell death after injury. Additionally, by blocking the alternative complement pathway, through both genetic and pharmacologic means, photoreceptors were protected from cell death.

How to cut worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a simple solution to worrying levels of arsenic in our rice. Rice is the only major crop grown under flooded conditions. It is this flooding that releases inorganic arsenic, normally locked up in soil minerals, which is then absorbed by the plant. Too much arsenic is associated with a range of health problems including, at worst, bladder and lung cancer.

Gene mutation contributes to liver disease in patients of normal weight Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major worldwide health problem. The disease is strongly associated with obesity and has been found in a high percentage Asian patients of normal weight. The PNPLA3 mutant genotype has been consistently shown to be a major factor in the development of NAFLD, but the effect of a patient's weight on the relationship between NAFLD and the mutant gene had not been determined until now, at the conclusion of a study on the issue.

HIV susceptibility linked to little-understood immune cell class Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT High diversity among certain cells that help fight viruses and tumors is strongly associated with the likelihood of subsequent infection by HIV, researchers have found.

Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, fructose Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT A diet high in soybean oil causes more obesity and diabetes than a diet high in fructose, a sugar commonly found in soda and processed foods, according to a new study. In the U.S. the consumption of soybean oil has increased greatly in the last four decades due to a number of factors, including results from studies in the 1960s that found a positive correlation between saturated fatty acids and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Banned chemical pollutant lowers fertility in UK porpoises Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are struggling to successfully reproduce as a result of chemical pollutants found in European waters, a research study concludes.

DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT scanning, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Using new laboratory technology, scientists have shown that cellular damage is detectable in patients after CT scanning. In this study, researchers examined the effects on human cells of low-dose radiation from a wide range of cardiac and vascular CT scans. These imaging procedures are commonly used for a number of reasons, including management of patients suspected of having obstructive coronary artery disease, and for those with aortic stenosis, in preparation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT A brain-chemistry deficit in children with autism may help to explain their social difficulties, according to new findings. The research team found a correlation between low levels of vasopressin, a hormone involved in social behavior, and the inability of autistic children to understand that other people's thoughts and motivations can differ from their own.

Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:46 AM PDT Can butter help prevent diabetes? By comparing 55 fatty acids in blood levels of dolphins and their diets, scientists have discovered a specific dietary saturated fat, called heptadecanoic acid, that may help alleviate what's known as 'pre-diabetes' in humans. This new study supports a growing body of nutritional science showing that perhaps not all dietary saturated fats are bad, and -- in fact -- that some may be good.

Fungi: Key to tree survival in warming forest Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT Land managers may use fungi to ensure health of planting and reforestation efforts, researchers report. A team of scientists is studying pinyon pine trees and their susceptibility to severe drought conditions. While many tree species become vulnerable to insects during drought conditions, the team discovered a twist: the pinyons that were insect-resistant were not surviving the drought.

Experimental drug could treat hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause without harmful side effects Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT Researchers have discovered an experimental medication that treats hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms without the life-threatening risks of hormone replacement therapy, according to a scientist.

New smart drug targets, reduces site-specific inflammation Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT The uniqueness of a new novel anti-inflammatory molecule can be found in a singular property. When injected, it is as a non-active drug. However, a localized site with excessive inflammation will activate it. Most other anti-inflammatory agents effectively inhibit inflammatory processes, though in a non-specific manner and in areas that include sites of necessary normal inflammatory homeostasis.

Schools with higher black, minority populations call cops, not docs Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Poor schools that have more black and minority students tend to punish students rather than seek medical or psychological interventions for them, according to a sociologist's new report.

Climate change reduces coral reefs' ability to protect coasts Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Climate change reduces coral reefs' ability to protect coasts.

Stop misuse of biodiversity offsets, conservation experts say Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Australian scientists have warned governments against using biodiversity offsetting to meet existing conservation commitments, saying that research had shown that interest in offsetting -- creating a similar environment in a different location to replace ones damaged through development -- had surged.

Resolving social conflict is key to survival of bacterial communities Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Far from being selfish organisms whose sole purpose is to maximize their own reproduction, bacteria in large communities work for the greater good by resolving a social conflict among individuals to enhance the survival of their entire community.

Space-eye-view could help stop global wildlife decline Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Conservation scientists need to collaborate with space agencies, such as NASA and the European Space Agency, to identify measures which help track biodiversity declines around the world. Scientists are calling for urgent cooperation.

Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant Posted: 22 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Using large-scale zebrafish drug-screening models, researchers have identified a potent group of chemicals that helps bone marrow transplants engraft or 'take.'

Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:18 AM PDT In studying how cells recycle the building blocks of DNA, scientists have discovered a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. They found that normal cells have highly selective mechanisms to ensure that nucleosides -- the chemical blocks used to make new strands of DNA -- don't carry extra, unwanted chemical changes. But the scientists also found that some types of cancer cells aren't so selective. These cells incorporate chemically modified nucleosides into their DNA, which is toxic to them. The findings indicate that it might be possible to use modified nucleotides for specific killing of cancer cells.

Atomic view of cellular pump reveals how bacteria send out proteins Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:18 AM PDT The structure of a simple but previously unexamined pump that controls the passage of proteins through a bacterial cell membrane has been discovered by researchers. This achievement that offers new insight into the mechanics that allow bacteria to manipulate their environments.

Long-sought discovery fills in missing details of cell 'switchboard' Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:18 AM PDT A biomedical breakthrough reveals never-before-seen details of the human body's cellular switchboard that regulates sensory and hormonal responses. The work is based on an X-ray laser experiment.

Ankle-brachial index associated with mild cognitive impairment Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:17 AM PDT Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred significantly more often, in a recent study, in individuals diagnosed with a lower ankle brachial index (ABI), which is a marker of generalized atherosclerosis and thus cumulative exposure to cardiovascular risk factors during lifetime. Interestingly, this strong association was only observed in patients with non-amnestic MCI, but not amnestic MCI. Examination of differences by gender revealed a stronger association of a decreasing ABI with non-amnestic MCI in women.

Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68 Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT A diagnostic test to quickly detect enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that caused unusually severe illness in children last year, has been developed by researchers. The outbreak caused infections at an unprecedented rate, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and 14 reported deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Computer security tools for journalists lacking in a post-Snowden world Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT Despite heightened awareness of surveillance tactics and privacy breaches, existing computer security tools aren't meeting the needs of journalists working with sensitive material, a new study finds.

Pacific reef growth can match rising sea, study suggests Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT The coral reefs that have protected Pacific Islanders from storm waves for thousands of years could grow rapidly enough to keep up with escalating sea levels if ocean temperatures do not rise too quickly, according to a new study.

Increasing prevalence of autism is due, in part, to changing diagnoses Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT The greater than three-fold increase in autism diagnoses among students in special education programs in the United States between 2000 and 2010 may be due, in large part, to the reclassification of individuals who previously would have been diagnosed with other intellectual-disability disorders.

Readiness of America's biology teachers questioned Posted: 22 Jul 2015 10:04 AM PDT Data spanning 1987 to 2007 show changing demographics among public high school biology teachers. The workforce has become less experienced and has been destabilized by turnover, and biology teachers are more likely than other science teachers to work outside of their discipline.

New molecular butterflies help advance energy research Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:57 AM PDT A new family of molecules that physically resemble butterflies is pushing the boundary of new materials research, scientists report. With these precisely designed molecules, the team also plans to learn how to better control and direct larger quantities of energy, and convert photo energy to light, electricity, heat or even molecular motion at will. Their research efforts will lead to the development of better materials and more efficient devices, such as sensors, light bulbs and solar panels.

Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:57 AM PDT Is it possible that too much iron in infant formula may potentially increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's in adulthood -- and are teeth the window into the past that can help us tell?

Vibration table promises different ways of testing Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:57 AM PDT It took decades for technology to catch up with the math that a researcher worked out to control vibration table shakers. This researcher knew that shaking in all directions at once was the key to realistic parts testing. Now a lab is putting the algorithms he developed more than 30 years ago to the test by shaking up nuclear weapon components.

Predicting the shape of river deltas Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT Researchers have devised a simple way to predict a river delta's shape, given two competing factors: its river's force in depositing sediment into the ocean, and ocean waves' strength in pushing that sediment back along the coast. Depending on the balance of the two, the coastline of a river delta may take on a smooth 'cuspate' shape, or a more pointed 'crenulated' outline, resembling a bird's foot.

Massachusetts schools are improving food options Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT Researchers examined schools across the commonwealth following the implementation of a statewide nutrition bill. Their findings show the feasibility of making significant improvements in the competitive foods and beverages available in schools.

Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT A study of the West Nile virus risk associated with 'dry' water-detention basins in Central Illinois took an unexpected turn when land managers started mowing the basins. The mowing of wetland plants in basins that failed to drain properly led to a boom in populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which can carry and transmit the deadly virus, researchers report.

Study uncovers mechanism responsible for pollen-induced allergies Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT When people are exposed to airborne allergens such as pollens, their immune system responds by sending neutrophils to the airways. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cells that move quickly to a site of injury or invading infection and cause inflammation. Now, a mechanism that is central to becoming allergic to ragweed pollen and developing allergic asthma or seasonal nasal allergies has been identified by a new study.

Twisted wasps: Two new unique parasitoid wasp species sting the heart of Europe Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT A rare finding of two new physiologically unique parasitoid wasp species was made at the heart of Europe, the Swiss Alps and Swiss Central Plateau. While hardly ever does a new species from the Old, presumably one of the best-studied, continent surprise with its standing out, now both Pteromalus briani and P. janstai show remarkable features.

The unexpected one: A new pale nectar-feeding bat species found in brazil Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:56 AM PDT Having been long-mistaken for one of its relatives, a new bat species, L. inexpectata, has been now discovered. With their unusually pale fur, peculiar skull shape and tooth morphology, the specimens had spent long years in some of the most reputed nature museums behind the wrong sign, expert say.

Molecular mechanisms contributing to addiction resistance uncovered Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT A genetic variant leading to a single change in the amino acid sequence of a cell surface protein, the mu-opioid receptor, is associated with lower susceptibility to a variety of addictive behaviors in humans, including smoking, alcoholism, and morphine abuse. A team of scientists reports evidence that the G allele in an analogous mouse model causes changes in hippocampal operation, and thus a 'loss of function' phenotype in the brain's microcircuitry.

Boosting gas mileage by turning engine heat into electricity Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Automakers are looking for ways to improve their fleets' average fuel efficiency, and scientists may have a new way to help them. The team reports the development of a material that could convert engine heat that's otherwise wasted into electrical energy to help keep a car running -- and reduce the need for fuels. It could also have applications in aerospace, manufacturing and other sectors.

Programming adult stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and more by mimicking nature Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Stem cells hold great potential for addressing a variety of conditions from spinal cord injuries to cancer, but they can be difficult to control. Scientists now report a new way to mimic the body's natural approach to programming these cells. Using this method, they successfully directed adult stem cells to turn specifically into muscle, which could potentially help treat patients with muscular dystrophy.

E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Electronic cigarettes or 'e-cigs' have been touted as a tool smokers can use to wean themselves off of traditional cigarettes, which many believe are more harmful than their 'e' counterparts. But because e-cig liquid also contains nicotine and emits carcinogens, is that perception really true? One team now reports that much of the nicotine in e-cigarettes is the addictive form of the compound.

Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT Late- and post-menopausal women have significantly greater volumes of fat around their hearts -- a risk factor for heart disease -- than their pre-menopausal counterparts, a study has shown for the first time.

Source of debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis discovered Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT As disabling as its delusions and hallucinations, psychosis' devastating toll on memory arises from dysfunction of frontal and temporal lobe regions in the brain that rob sufferers of the ability to make associative connections, a study has found, pinpointing potential target areas for treatments to help the more than 3.2 million Americans for whom medication quells the voices and visions, but not the struggle to remember.

Some Vietnam vets currently have PTSD 40 years after war ended, study finds Posted: 22 Jul 2015 08:55 AM PDT While it has been 40 years since the Vietnam War ended, about 271,000 veterans who served in the war zone are estimated to have current full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) plus subthreshold war-zone PTSD and more than one-third have current major depressive disorder, according to an article.

Device keeps donor livers healthy outside the body until transplant Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT A deceased donor liver has been preserved and kept healthy outside the body in a device that mimics the body's physiological functions and successfully transplanted into a human, for the first time in Ontario.

Guidelines: Authors' conflicts of interest should lead to consequences Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT A guideline—recommendations on diagnosing and treating a particular disorder—aims to present the best possible treatment for patients. However, when guidelines are compiled their authors often have conflicts of interest, for example as a result of funding or membership in specialist societies that are in close contact with industry. In a recent original article, authors determine that most guideline authors do declare their conflicts of interest. However, this rarely has consequences for their collaboration.

New material forges the way for 'stem cell factories' Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT If you experience a major heart attack the damage could cost you around five billion heart cells. Future stem cell treatments will require this number and more to ensure those cells are replaced and improve your chances of survival.

Important molecule in ovarian cancer Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT An important new target for ovarian cancer therapy has been identified by scientists. Contrary to current research, this new study found that LKB1 is an important molecule in the cancer's promotion and survival. Their research definitively shows that ovarian cancer cells still have LKB1 and that this molecule allows ovarian cancer spheroids to change their metabolism, promote tumor cell survival and make them more resistant to chemotherapy.

Gene knockout: Loss of a gene can be compensated by another gene Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT New methods for modifying the genome are currently widely discussed: Using CRISPR/Cas for instance, scientists can remove parts of the genetic code of a gene, thereby knocking it out. Furthermore, there are ways to inhibit translation of a gene into a protein. Both methods have in common that they impede production of a protein and should therefore have comparable consequences for an organism. However, it has been shown that consequences can differ, after a gene is either knocked, out or only blocked. Scientist now find that additional genes compensate for a knocked out gene and either attenuate consequences or completely compensate deficits.

Cold crystallization has a dual nature Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT In some vitrous substances, when heated, not one, but two physical mechanisms are responsible for crystallization, as scientists have discovered. The first-time use of numerical image processing to assess the degree of crystallization of liquid crystals led to the surprising results.

Job services lacking for young people with autism Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT As autism becomes more prevalent, the need grows for services that help young people with the disorder to find and keep jobs, indicates new research. Some 50,000 people with autism spectrum disorder turn 18 years old every year in the United States, and these "transition youth" -- shifting from high school to adulthood -- represent the largest group seeking vocational employment services in the growing autism population.

Genetic mutation causing lethal condition in infants identified Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT Newborn children born with a mutation in the Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein gene develop severe protein losing enteropathy, according to a new case study. Protein losing enteropathy is a condition of the GI tract that results in loss of protein from the body, and often leads to severe abdominal swelling, malnutrition and early death in affected infants

Mind the gap: Static synapses on a moving structure Posted: 22 Jul 2015 07:18 AM PDT In biology, stability is important. A new study characterizes a novel way in which neurons remain electrically stable when confronted with chronic increases in neuronal activity.

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