ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Eyeing up Earth-like planets
• Spectacular Moroccan fossils redefine evolutionary timelines
• Affordable Care Act results in dramatic drop in out-of-pocket prices for prescription contraceptives
• Scientists study ways to integrate biofuels, food crops on farms
• Discovery could improve in vitro fertilization success rates for women around the world
• Taking the pain out of office work
• Fewer women than men are shown online ads related to high-paying jobs
• Adolescent exposure to e-cigarette tv ads increases likelihood of future use
• Pupil response predicts depression risk in kids
• Extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy for cervical and endometrial cancers does not increase risk of duodenal toxicity
• Unlocking lignin for sustainable biofuel
• Poverty plays complex role in entrepreneurship for Indian women
• Research on friendship: How U.S. adults rely on friends for expressive, instrumental and companionate support
• Faced with limited choices, prisoners become entrepreneurs to meet their needs
• Study reveals brain network responsible for cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis
• Using sonar to navigate: Bats do it, dolphins do it, and now humans can do it, too
• Mascots: Can a humanlike figure actually harm a company?
• Yes, it pays to win back lost customers
• Reusable shopping bags encourage shoppers to buy produce -- and junk food?
• Goat meat consumption on the rise as immigrants keep ties to home culture
• Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed
• Brain circuit in fruit fly that detects anti-aphrodisiac uncovered
• Molecule linked to muscle fatigue in humans; enhances exercise tolerance when fed to mice
• Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer
• Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21
• Age-related self-destruction of cells makes kidney prone to injury
• Higher vitamin D doses may be needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks
• Temperature a dominant influence on bird diversity loss in Mexico
• Childhood stress fuels weight gain in women
• Customer commitment has many faces, differs globally
• Tracking measles cases introduced to British Columbia during the 2010 Games
• Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism
• Oorganization of human brain is nearly ideal
• C. difficile needs iron, but not too much: Insights into maintaining it 'just right'
• Timber and construction: A well-matched couple
• Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke, new study finds
• Omnidirectional free space wireless charging of multiple wireless devices
• Smartphones may be detrimental to learning process
• Down to the quantum dot
• Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent
• Association between genetic condition, hormonal factors, and risk of endometrial cancer
• Benefit of extending anticoagulation therapy lost after discontinuation of therapy
• Life expectancy substantially lower with combination of diabetes, stroke or heart attack
• Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified
• Microfabricated device allows evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity of pro-drugs
• Crystal structure and magnetism: New insight into the fundamentals of solid state physics
• An improved age for Earth's latest magnetic field reversal using radiometric dating
• Serious adverse events rare in healthy volunteers participating in phase I drug trials
• Magnetic hyperthermia, an auxiliary tool in cancer treatments
• New information on brain development, fertility discovered
• Mesothelioma: Aspirin may delay growth of asbestos-related cancer
• Policies on children's tech exposure confusing
• Enriched blood cells preserve cognition in mice with features of Alzheimer's disease
• Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found
• Rubber expansion threatens biodiversity, livelihoods research suggests
• Engineers give invisibility cloaks a slimmer design
• Researcher disputes claim that humans can distinguish one trillion odors
• Gym steroid use has impact on memory
• Experts call for more understanding of hospital weekend death risk
• Cancer drug 49 times more potent than Cisplatin

Eyeing up Earth-like planets Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:32 PM PDT Almost 2000 exoplanets have been discovered to date, ranging from rocky Earth-like planets to hot-Jupiters, and orbiting every type of star. But how many of these distant worlds are habitable? Today's technology means that we currently have very little information about what exoplanets are like beyond their presence, size and distance from star. With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope we may have our first glimpses into atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets.

Spectacular Moroccan fossils redefine evolutionary timelines Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:32 PM PDT Some of the oldest marine animals on the planet, including armoured worm-like forms and giant, lobster like sea creatures, survived millions of years longer than previously thought, according to a spectacularly preserved fossil formation from southeastern Morocco.

Affordable Care Act results in dramatic drop in out-of-pocket prices for prescription contraceptives Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:10 PM PDT Average out-of-pocket spending for oral contraceptive pills and the intrauterine device (IUD), the two most common forms of contraception for women, has decreased significantly since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect, a study says.

Scientists study ways to integrate biofuels, food crops on farms Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Planting bioenergy crops like willows or switchgrass in rows where commodity crops are having difficulty growing could both provide biomass feedstock and also limit the runoff of nitrogen fertilizer into waterways -- all without hurting a farmer's profits.

Discovery could improve in vitro fertilization success rates for women around the world Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Chromosomal abnormalities in human embryos created for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, can be predicted within the first 30 hours of development at the cell-1 stage which results from the union of a female egg and male sperm, researchers have discovered.

Taking the pain out of office work Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Treadmill work stations are potentially helpful in reducing the neck and shoulder muscle pain associated with computer work, a researcher suggests.

Fewer women than men are shown online ads related to high-paying jobs Posted: 07 Jul 2015 01:07 PM PDT Significantly fewer women than men were shown online ads promising them help getting jobs paying more than $200,000, raising questions about the fairness of targeting ads online, new research suggests.

Adolescent exposure to e-cigarette tv ads increases likelihood of future use Posted: 07 Jul 2015 12:24 PM PDT Adolescents who are exposed to e-cigarette TV advertising are more likely to try e-cigarettes in the future, according to a groundbreaking experiment. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that negatively affects adolescents' brain development, with increased anxiety and depression, and may make them more susceptible to conventional cigarettes, according to researchers.

Pupil response predicts depression risk in kids Posted: 07 Jul 2015 11:52 AM PDT How much a child's pupil dilates in response to seeing an emotional image can predict his or her risk of depression over the next two years, according to new research.

Extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy for cervical and endometrial cancers does not increase risk of duodenal toxicity Posted: 07 Jul 2015 11:52 AM PDT A study of women with cervical or endometrial cancer who require treatment to the para-aortic (PA) lymph nodes can safely receive extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (EF-IMRT) without increased risk of duodenal toxicity, scientists report.

Unlocking lignin for sustainable biofuel Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:48 AM PDT In an effort to further the commercial viability of cellulosic ethanol, a team of scientists used the Titan supercomputer to model the interaction of lignin and hemicellulose in the plant cell wall of a genetically modified aspen tree. The team's conclusion—that hydrophobic, or water repelling, lignin binds less with hydrophilic, or water attracting, hemicellulose—points researchers toward a promising way to engineer better plants for biofuel.

Poverty plays complex role in entrepreneurship for Indian women Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Over a billion entrepreneurs in the world operate in subsistence economies, often living hand to mouth. Is there a relationship between such poverty and entrepreneurial activity? A new study says yes and sheds light on the way in which two kinds of constrained consumption spur -- or in some cases impede -- entrepreneurial activity.

Research on friendship: How U.S. adults rely on friends for expressive, instrumental and companionate support Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT In the most inclusive study to date on friendship, new research looks at gender, age, and sexual orientation differences in the number of friends people rely on for support, to what extent they choose friends of the same gender, and overall life satisfaction. In a survey of more than 25,000 participants from all walks of life, this study examines how American adults rely on friends for expressive, instrumental and companionate support.

Faced with limited choices, prisoners become entrepreneurs to meet their needs Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Inside Gramercy maximum security prison, the market for nearly any kind of good or service is extremely limited, to say the least. But according to a new study, the severely restricted consumption choices faced by the 3,000 or so inmates at Gramercy create opportunities to pursue innovative and entrepreneurial business ventures.

Study reveals brain network responsible for cognitive changes in multiple sclerosis Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Decreased connectivity between network-specific brain regions are to blame for the central deficit common to the various cognitive changes associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), new research shows. The study found that, compared to healthy controls, individuals with MS exhibit weaker brain connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior brain regions.

Using sonar to navigate: Bats do it, dolphins do it, and now humans can do it, too Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Bats have been using sonar to navigate and communicate for ages, and now humans can do the same, thanks to lightweight and efficient ultrasound microphones and loudspeakers developed by physicists. The devices owe their flat frequency response to graphene, which makes a stiff and responsive diaphragm far superior to those in today's ultrasound receivers and transmitters. Biologists can even slap one on a bat to record its nightly ultrasonic conversations.

Mascots: Can a humanlike figure actually harm a company? Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:46 AM PDT Companies whose brands are represented by or associated with human or humanlike figures are often perceived to be taking advantage of consumers when they raise their prices, new research suggests.

Yes, it pays to win back lost customers Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT The competition for customers in the service sector is fierce, and new customers are entering the market all the time. So when a company loses a customer, is it worth it to try to win that customer back? Yes, says a new study.

Reusable shopping bags encourage shoppers to buy produce -- and junk food? Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT Bringing reusable bags to the grocery store often means you are an environmentally friendly shopper. But it also influences the very things you buy. According to a new study, bringing your own bags makes you more likely to purchase organic food -- and junk food as well.

Goat meat consumption on the rise as immigrants keep ties to home culture Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT If you're seeing more goat meat in grocery stores and on restaurant menus these days, you can probably chalk it up to a particular expression of ethnic identity -- an expression that has important implications for immigrants, marketers, and policymakers, according to a recent study.

Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT T cells from patients with melanoma can trigger a protective immune response against the disease, according to a new study. These new findings demonstrate that T cells derived from lymph nodes of patients with melanoma can be expanded in number and activated in the laboratory for intravenous administration in the treatment of patients.

Brain circuit in fruit fly that detects anti-aphrodisiac uncovered Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:42 AM PDT New research has identified the neural circuit in the brain of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) that is responsible for detecting a taste pheromone, which controls the decision of male flies to mate with females.

Molecule linked to muscle fatigue in humans; enhances exercise tolerance when fed to mice Posted: 07 Jul 2015 10:41 AM PDT Everyone's muscles have different limits. While professional athletes can train for hours before feeling fatigued, others struggle to mow the lawn or climb stairs. No panacea exists to create an equal playing field, nor will one likely be discovered, but a new study questions whether this limit can be nutritionally extended.

Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:09 AM PDT After years of overtreatment for patients with low-risk prostate cancer, rates of active surveillance/watchful waiting increased sharply in 2010 through 2013, and high-risk disease was more often treated appropriately with potentially curative local treatment rather than androgen deprivation alone, according to a study.

Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21 Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:04 AM PDT A recent study looked at marijuana and alcohol use in people between the ages of 18 and 24. It's probably not surprising that the results show a drastic increase in alcohol consumption in people just over 21; after all, that's the minimum legal age to drink. What an economist-researcher found remarkable is that, at the same age, there was an equally dramatic drop in marijuana use.

Age-related self-destruction of cells makes kidney prone to injury Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT As advances in medicine allow individuals to live longer, people are facing unique age-related health challenges. As they age, organs such as the kidneys become more susceptible to injury, and their ability to self-repair is decreased. Researchers have found a cellular signal that causes kidney cells to die, making the kidneys prone to injury. This finding could lead to improved kidney function in the elderly.

Higher vitamin D doses may be needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT The current recommended minimum daily dose of vitamin D is not sufficient to restore healthy vitamin D levels in overweight or obese blacks, researchers report.

Temperature a dominant influence on bird diversity loss in Mexico Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT A wide-ranging study of gains and losses of populations of bird species across Mexico in the 20th century shows shifts in temperature due to global climate change are the primary environmental influence on the distributions of bird species.

Childhood stress fuels weight gain in women Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT When it comes to weight gain for women, childhood stress appears to be a bigger culprit than stress during adulthood, finds an American national study. Interestingly, though, neither childhood nor adult stress was associated with weight gain for men.

Customer commitment has many faces, differs globally Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT Companies that want to increase customers' loyalty and get their repeat business would do well to understand the nuanced ways in which and reasons why a customer is committed to that company, according to a recent study. The research provides a strategic blueprint for developing customer commitment.

Tracking measles cases introduced to British Columbia during the 2010 Games Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games brought more than just athletes to British Columbia. It also left the province with a bad case of the measles. A research team used whole-genome sequencing to track the outbreak, an approach they pioneered four years ago when analyzing TB outbreaks.

Predicting happiness of couples raising children with autism Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:02 AM PDT To understand what helps moms and dads of children with autism spectrum disorder strengthen their bond, researchers are examining the individual factors that predict relationship satisfaction for these couples. The researchers analyzed the impact that individual traits, such as optimism, social and spouse support, benefit finding and coping styles, have on the relationship satisfaction of parents who have children with ASD.

Oorganization of human brain is nearly ideal Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:01 AM PDT The structure of the human brain has an almost ideal network of connections -- the links that permit information to travel from, say, the auditory cortex (responsible for hearing) to the motor cortex (responsible for movement).

C. difficile needs iron, but not too much: Insights into maintaining it 'just right' Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT Those bacteria that require iron walk a tightrope. Iron is essential for their growth, but too much iron can damage DNA and enzymes through oxidation. Therefore, bacteria have machinery to maintain their intracellular iron within a range that is healthy for them, scientists report.

Timber and construction: A well-matched couple Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT For the last 10 years, scientists have been conducting research into building structures and materials (concrete, steel and timber). According to their latest piece of research, timber is a very light, tough material which is being increasingly used in building due to the fact that it is a renewable item and consumes little energy in the manufacturing process.

Memory, thinking ability keep getting worse for years after a stroke, new study finds Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT A stroke happens in an instant. And many who survive one report that their brain never works like it once did. But new research shows that these problems with memory and thinking ability keep getting worse for years afterward -- and happen faster than normal brain aging.

Omnidirectional free space wireless charging of multiple wireless devices Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT Scientists have made great strides in wireless-power transfer development. A new WPT system is capable of charging multiple mobile devices concurrently and with unprecedented freedom in any direction, even while holding the devices in midair or a half meter away from the power source, which is a transmitter.

Smartphones may be detrimental to learning process Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT A yearlong study of first-time smartphone users has found that users felt smartphones were actually detrimental to their ability to learn. The research reveals the self-rated impact of smartphones among the users.

Down to the quantum dot Posted: 07 Jul 2015 09:00 AM PDT Using a single molecule as a sensor, scientists have successfully imaged electric potential fields with unrivaled precision. The ultrahigh-resolution images provide information on the distribution of charges in the electron shells of single molecules and even atoms. The 3-D technique is also contact-free. The first results achieved using 'scanning quantum dot microscopy' have now been published.

Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT Rejection of transplanted organs in hosts that were previously tolerant may not be permanent, report scientists. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation, they found that immune tolerance can spontaneously recover after an infection-triggered rejection event, and that hosts can accept subsequent transplants as soon as a week after. This process depends on regulatory T-cells, a component of the immune system that acts as a 'brake' for other immune cells.

Association between genetic condition, hormonal factors, and risk of endometrial cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT For women with Lynch syndrome, an association was found between the risk of endometrial cancer and the age of first menstrual cycle, having given birth, and hormonal contraceptive use, according to a study. Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that increases the risk for various cancers.

Benefit of extending anticoagulation therapy lost after discontinuation of therapy Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT Among patients with a first episode of pulmonary embolism (the obstruction of the pulmonary artery or a branch of it leading to the lungs by a blood clot) who received six months of anticoagulant treatment, an additional 18 months of treatment with warfarin reduced the risk of additional blood clots and major bleeding, however, the benefit was not maintained after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, according to a study.

Life expectancy substantially lower with combination of diabetes, stroke or heart attack Posted: 07 Jul 2015 08:58 AM PDT In an analysis that included nearly 1.2 million participants and more than 135,000 deaths, mortality associated with a history of diabetes, stroke or heart attack was similar for each condition, and the risk of death increased substantially with each additional condition a patient had, according to a study.

Brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia identified Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT Structural brain abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia have been identified by researchers, providing insight into how the condition may develop and respond to treatment.

Microfabricated device allows evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity of pro-drugs Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT A novel approach that dramatically simplifies the evaluation of the liver's drug-metabolizing activity, and the potential toxic effects of the products of that activity on other organs, has been developed by researchers.

Crystal structure and magnetism: New insight into the fundamentals of solid state physics Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:20 AM PDT A team has carried out the first detailed study of how magnetic and geometric ordering mutually influence one another in crystalline samples of spinel. To achieve this, the group synthesized a series of mixed crystals with the chemical formula Ni1-xCuxCr2O4 in which the element nickel was successively replaced by copper. They discovered through neutron scattering experiments at BER II not only how the crystal structure changes, but also uncovered new magnetic phases.

An improved age for Earth's latest magnetic field reversal using radiometric dating Posted: 07 Jul 2015 07:19 AM PDT The Earth's magnetic field experiences reversals such that north becomes south. The age of the latest reversal is unclear. Researchers have dated volcanic ash that was formed immediately before the last reversal. This result and chronology of the associated sedimentary rock identifies the age of the reversal as 780,000 years ago. This new age will contribute calibrating the geological time scale.

Serious adverse events rare in healthy volunteers participating in phase I drug trials Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:36 AM PDT Many people believe that phase I trials with healthy volunteers are very risky and because they pose risks with no benefits, unethical. But how risky are such trials? Less than 1% of 11,000 healthy volunteers who participated in 394 phase I trials for new drugs experienced serious complications, according to a new meta-analysis of participants in non-cancer, phase I medication trials. In addition, none of the volunteers died or suffered persistent disabilities linked to the experimental drugs.

Magnetic hyperthermia, an auxiliary tool in cancer treatments Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature) has been used for centuries to combat tumors and reduce their effects. New research aims to use a different system (magnetic nanoparticles) to increase body temperature. These nanoparticles absorb energy from magnetic fields and convert it into heat which is used to raise the temperature in tumors and combat them.

New information on brain development, fertility discovered Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT A gene that is mutated in Seckel Syndrome, a rare disease that causes microcephaly and growth defects, has been found to be crucial for the correct division of brain stem cells. and even plays a role in fertility, researchers report.

Mesothelioma: Aspirin may delay growth of asbestos-related cancer Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:34 AM PDT Aspirin may help mesothelioma patients, a new study suggests. The finding could eventually give doctors and patients a potential new tool to fight against this devastating disease, which kills about 3,200 people a year nationwide, and advance knowledge of how to fight other cancers.

Policies on children's tech exposure confusing Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Guidelines on children's exposure to radio frequency waves from technology are confusing for parents, new research suggests. The review found a wide variety of different protocols and guidelines across 34 countries.

Enriched blood cells preserve cognition in mice with features of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Researchers have successfully tested two new methods for preserving cognition in laboratory mice that exhibit features of Alzheimer's disease by using white blood cells from bone marrow and a drug for multiple sclerosis to control immune response in the brain.

Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT A biological process called endoplasmic reticulum stress appears to play a key role in causing neuropathic pain, according to a new study. The discovery could eventually lead to new therapeutics for controlling chronic pain associated with trauma, diabetes, shingles, multiple sclerosis or other conditions that cause nerve damage.

Rubber expansion threatens biodiversity, livelihoods research suggests Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Increasing amounts of environmentally valuable and protected land are being cleared for rubber plantations that are economically unsustainable, new research suggests. More widespread monitoring is vital to design policy that protects livelihoods and environments.

Engineers give invisibility cloaks a slimmer design Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT Researchers have designed a new cloaking device that overcomes some of the limitations of existing 'invisibility cloaks.' In a new study, electrical engineers have designed a cloaking device that is both thin and does not alter the brightness of light around a hidden object. The technology behind this cloak will have more applications than invisibility, such as concentrating solar energy and increasing signal speed in optical communications.

Researcher disputes claim that humans can distinguish one trillion odors Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:33 AM PDT A researcher is disputing recent findings that the human nose is capable of distinguishing at least 1 trillion odors. He says the data used in a 2014 study published in Science does not support this claim. He says this is important because those findings are already making their way into neuroscience textbooks, misinforming up-and-coming investigators and cutting off potentially productive lines of research that do not adhere to those findings.

Gym steroid use has impact on memory Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT People using anabolic steroids to improve muscle growth and sporting performance are far more likely to experience issues with their memory, according to new research.

Experts call for more understanding of hospital weekend death risk Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT Two academics say more research is needed to understand why patients are more likely to die in hospital on the weekend. The research found that the heightened risk of death after admission to hospital on the weekend -- the so-called 'weekend effect' -- is a feature of several developed countries' healthcare systems. The international nature of the findings suggests that this is a phenomenon that not only crosses time, but also geography.

Cancer drug 49 times more potent than Cisplatin Posted: 07 Jul 2015 06:24 AM PDT A new cancer drug has been found to have effectiveness for ovarian and bowel cancer that is 49 times as potent is Cisplatin. The key to this new drug, researchers report, is that it can shut down a cancer cell's metabolism. They add that the new drug could be cheaper to produce and less harm to healthy cells than alternative therapies.

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