ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Important gaps found in evidence for best methods for cleaning hospital rooms to prevent healthcare-associated infections
• Non-native marine species' spread, impact explained by time since introduction
• Depressed teens at risk of heart disease, early monitoring urged
• Shade may mitigate invasive plant presence, richness
• Southern-style eating strikes again: Study finds diet pattern increases heart disease risk
• Charting the slow death of the universe
• Researchers identify nerve-guiding protein that aids pancreatic cancer spread
• Scientists determine how antibiotic gains cancer-killing sulfur atoms
• Engineering a permanent solution to genetic diseases
• Traitors in our midst: Bacteria use toxins to turn our own bodies against us
• Stepchildren who view former stepparents as family maintain relationships after divorce
• Boosting solid-state memory technology
• New hybrid microscope offers unparalleled capabilities: Vibrations used to identify materials' composition
• New research sheds light on the molecular origins of Parkinson's disease
• Bioengineers identify key genes, functions for sustaining microbial life
• Astronomers discover new planet orbiting two stars
• Big data analysis of state of the union remarks changes view of American History
• Newly identified tadpole disease found across the globe
• Math boosts brain research
• Clearing habitat surrounding farm fields fails to reduce pathogens
• Movie theaters in developing economies should consider the big screen
• Carnivorous dinosaurs strolled along beach
• Saving the unloved, one crowd at a time
• Anesthesia professionals key to identifying children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing prior to surgery
• Seniors at high risk for readmission after ambulatory surgery
• Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, study of 83,000 veterans finds
• Scientists pioneer method to track water flowing through glaciers
• Education intervention with residents improves understanding of transgender issues
• As California wildfires burn, southern plant species are shifting northward
• Municipal utilities drive sustainability in smaller cities
• Link between hunger and health care costs
• Drug candidate kills cancer cells through overstimulation
• Raises for elected representatives could lead to better representation
• Poor survival among colorectal cancer patients tied to biomarker csn6
• Price of wind energy in the United States is at an all-time low, averaging under 2. 5¢/kwh
• The asylum trap and humanitarian confinement
• Nanotech wound healing in diabetes
• Women having a baby by IVF are at increased risk of reflux disease after birth
• Scientists present review of liposomes: A basis for drugs of the future?
• Receptor that helps protect brain cells has important role in support cells for the retina
• Atomic-level defense secrets revealed
• Small, modular, efficient fusion plant
• Portable ultra-broadband lasers could be key to next-generation sensors
• Carbon dioxide-spewing volcano drives reef from coral to algae
• First gene that causes mitral valve prolapse identified
• Depth-sensing camera gleans 3-D information in bright sunlight as well as darkness
• Altered brain development among former NFL players, study suggests
• New computational method predicts genes likely to be causal in disease
• Severe droughts could lead to widespread losses of butterflies by 2050
• Volcanic vents preview future ocean habitats
• Kids, teens win when mental health providers team with family doctors
• Predicting the effect of toxic compounds on individuals: Crowdsourcing initiative for systems biomedicine
• New hydrogel stretches, contracts like a heat-driven muscle
• New details of transmission of stimuli in living organisms unveiled
• Big data maps world's ocean floor
• Brushing off the dust: New snail species found lying in a museum since the 19th century
• Places with more marijuana dispensaries have more marijuana-related hospitalizations
• Developing a better flu vaccine
• Study examines how, why states adopt drunk driving laws
• Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients

Important gaps found in evidence for best methods for cleaning hospital rooms to prevent healthcare-associated infections Posted: 10 Aug 2015 02:28 PM PDT While a new study points to several promising cleaning tactics of "high-touch surfaces," there's a lack of evidence as to which is the most effective at reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Non-native marine species' spread, impact explained by time since introduction Posted: 10 Aug 2015 02:24 PM PDT The time since the introduction of a non-native marine species best explains its global range, according to new research by an international team of scientists. The study also contains a warning: The vast majority of marine invaders have not yet finished spreading.

Depressed teens at risk of heart disease, early monitoring urged Posted: 10 Aug 2015 02:24 PM PDT Teens with major depression or bipolar disorder are at high risk of early heart and blood vessel disease. For the first time, experts urge early monitoring and assertive intervention to reduce risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease among teens with major depression or bipolar disorder.

Shade may mitigate invasive plant presence, richness Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:26 PM PDT Shade may limit the presence of invasive plants along streams and rivers, based on a study conducted using stream condition data collected by means of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP).

Southern-style eating strikes again: Study finds diet pattern increases heart disease risk Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:26 PM PDT Southern favorites like fried chicken and bacon may taste great when consumed, but they can have negative effects on heart health, according to researchers.

Charting the slow death of the universe Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:25 PM PDT Astronomers studying more than 200,000 galaxies have measured the energy generated within a large portion of space more precisely than ever before. This represents the most comprehensive assessment of the energy output of the nearby Universe. They confirm that the energy produced in a section of the Universe today is only about half what it was two billion years ago and find that this fading is occurring across all wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the far infrared. The Universe is slowly dying.

Researchers identify nerve-guiding protein that aids pancreatic cancer spread Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT Scientists have identified a molecular partnership in pancreatic cancer cells that might help to explain how the disease spreads -- metastasizes -- in some cases. Their findings reveal urgently needed new targets to treat pancreatic cancer, which strikes nearly 50,000 people in the US each year and has only a 5 percent survival rate five years after diagnosis.

Scientists determine how antibiotic gains cancer-killing sulfur atoms Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT In a discovery with implications for future drug design, scientists have shown an unprecedented mechanism for how a natural antibiotic with antitumor properties incorporates sulfur into its molecular structure, an essential ingredient of its antitumor activity.

Engineering a permanent solution to genetic diseases Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT New research demonstrates a new technology advancing the field of genome engineering. The method significantly improves the ability of scientists to target specific faulty genes, and then 'edit' them, replacing the damaged genetic code with healthy DNA.

Traitors in our midst: Bacteria use toxins to turn our own bodies against us Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT Researchers who have revealed a highly efficient way that bacteria use toxins to interrupt the immune response say that until now, the trickery of these toxins has been underappreciated in science.

Stepchildren who view former stepparents as family maintain relationships after divorce Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT When stepfamilies dissolve after a divorce, little is known about the relationships between former stepparents and stepchildren. Now, researchers have found that stepchildren's views of former stepparents depended on emotional reactions to the divorce, patterns of support or resource exchanges, and parental encouragement or discouragement to continue step-relationships. Whether stepchildren maintained relationships with their former stepparents largely depended on whether stepchildren viewed their former stepparents as family.

Boosting solid-state memory technology Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:23 PM PDT Scientists have created a solid-state memory technology that allows for high-density storage with a minimum of errors.

New hybrid microscope offers unparalleled capabilities: Vibrations used to identify materials' composition Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:21 PM PDT A new microscope will allow scientists studying biological and synthetic materials to simultaneously observe chemical and physical properties on and beneath the surface.

New research sheds light on the molecular origins of Parkinson's disease Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:21 PM PDT Scientists have identified two proteins that appear to have a protective effect in the set of neurons most affected by this degenerative disease. When their activity wanes, disease sets in. This discovery suggests new avenues for preventing or treating Parkinson's.

Bioengineers identify key genes, functions for sustaining microbial life Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT A new study defines the core set of genes and functions that a bacterial cell needs to sustain life. The research, which answers the fundamental question of what minimum set of functions bacterial cells require to survive, could lead to new cell engineering approaches for E. coli and other microorganisms, the researchers said.

Astronomers discover new planet orbiting two stars Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT Astronomers have found a new planet orbiting in the 'habitable zone' of two stars, the 10th 'circumbinary' located by NASA's Kepler Mission. The planet, named Kepler-453b, is roughly 60 percent larger than Neptune and takes 240 days to orbit. Its erratic orbit, which limits the amount of times it transits directly between its stars and the Earth, means the next chance to discover it would not have come until 2066.

Big data analysis of state of the union remarks changes view of American History Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT Researchers used computational techniques to map recurring words and their relation to each other in 224-years of State of the Union remarks by American presidents. They identify 1917 as the start of modern political discourse.

Newly identified tadpole disease found across the globe Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT Scientists have found that a newly identified and highly infectious tadpole disease is found in a diverse range of frog populations across the world. The discovery sheds new light on some of the threats facing fragile frog populations, which are in decline worldwide.

Math boosts brain research Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT Human memory is the result of different mental processes, such as learning, remembering and forgetting. However, these distinct processes cannot be observed directly. Researchers have now succeeded at describing them using computational models. The scientists were thus for the first time able to identify gene sets responsible for steering specific memory processes.

Clearing habitat surrounding farm fields fails to reduce pathogens Posted: 10 Aug 2015 01:20 PM PDT The effort to improve food safety by clearing wild vegetation surrounding crops is not helping, and in some cases may even backfire, according to a new study. The findings call into question the effectiveness of removing non-crop vegetation as a way to reduce field contamination of fresh produce by disease-causing pathogens.

Movie theaters in developing economies should consider the big screen Posted: 10 Aug 2015 11:58 AM PDT In emerging economies, where real estate is expensive and space is limited, there has been a boom in multiplex movie theater construction fueled by the conviction that small screens with many show times will increase ticket sales. But new research finds that the strategy doesn't always work.

Carnivorous dinosaurs strolled along beach Posted: 10 Aug 2015 11:58 AM PDT Some 142 million years ago, two carnivorous dinosaurs strolled along the beach in what is now Germany. Their footprints fossilized and have been analyzed by a biologist who now provides insight into the two hunters' daily life.

Saving the unloved, one crowd at a time Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT A newly released study offers hope of conservation to the world's low-profile and more unloved members of the animal kingdom. The study demonstrates that a "Wisdom of Crowds" method can successfully be used to determine the conservation status of species when more expensive standard field methods are not feasible.

Anesthesia professionals key to identifying children at risk for sleep-disordered breathing prior to surgery Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:22 AM PDT Knowing which risks may come into play before or during surgery is especially important where children are concerned. Implementation of a screening questionnaire helps anesthesia professionals identify children with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) before undergoing a general anesthetic.

Seniors at high risk for readmission after ambulatory surgery Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Patients 65 and older who have ambulatory surgery are 54 percent more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than younger patients, regardless of their health before surgery, reports a large national study. The likely cause, based on previous research, is difficulty understanding medication dosing and discharge instructions, as well as cognitive impairment among older patients. About 9 million ambulatory surgeries annually are performed on patients 65 and older.

Cardiovascular benefits to testosterone replacement, study of 83,000 veterans finds Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Men whose low testosterone was restored to normal through gels, patches, or injections had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause, versus similar men who were not treated, a Veterans Affairs database study of more than 83,000 patients found.

Scientists pioneer method to track water flowing through glaciers Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Seismic sensors have, for the first time, been used to track meltwater flowing through glaciers and into the ocean, a critical step to understanding glaciers as climate changes. Meltwater moving through a glacier can increase melting and destabilize the glacier. It can speed the glacier's flow downhill. It can move boulders and other sediments toward the terminus of the glacier. And it can churn warm ocean water and bring it in contact with the glacier, scientists report.

Education intervention with residents improves understanding of transgender issues Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT The term 'transgender' has made its way into mainstream media, but for many physicians, or physicians-in-training, who do not typically treat transgender patients, transgender medicine is still a mystery. Researchers conducted an intervention with physician resident trainees and found that by providing education about transgender identity, the residents' knowledge and willingness to assist with hormonal therapy increased significantly.

As California wildfires burn, southern plant species are shifting northward Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT After wildfire, Northern California forests are beginning to look more like those seen in Mexico and Southern California.

Municipal utilities drive sustainability in smaller cities Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Small cities and rural areas lag behind in environmental protection policymaking because they often lack the financial or technical resources needed. According to newly published research, places that have municipal utilities have the capacity to pursue sustainability -- and are more likely to leverage that capacity to adopt more green energy policies.

Link between hunger and health care costs Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT Low-income people who struggle to put food on the table also use the health care system more, which means higher health care costs, according to new research.

Drug candidate kills cancer cells through overstimulation Posted: 10 Aug 2015 10:21 AM PDT A drug candidate that overstimulates proteins crucial for tumor growth shows promise as a new strategy to treat a wide range of cancers. The demands of rapid cell division put a strain on cancer cells, and the approach works by tipping cell stress over the edge. Researchers show that the drug candidate inhibits tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer and efficiently kills a broad range of human cancer cells.

Raises for elected representatives could lead to better representation Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:38 AM PDT Paying elected representatives more may result in better policies for voters, new research suggests. Increasing the prestige, salary and other benefits of elected may translate to the enactment of policies in favor of voters and away from special interest groups, researchers note.

Poor survival among colorectal cancer patients tied to biomarker csn6 Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:38 AM PDT A protein called CSN6 has been found to be correlated with poor survival among patients with colorectal cancer, according to a study. The study revealed that CSN6, a subunit of a protein complex known as COP9 signalsome, is overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissue samples. The finding could be significant in the search for alternative treatment strategies for colorectal cancer.

Price of wind energy in the United States is at an all-time low, averaging under 2. 5¢/kwh Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:38 AM PDT Wind energy pricing is at an all-time low, according to a new report. The prices offered by wind projects to utility purchasers averaged under 2.5¢/kWh for projects negotiating contracts in 2014, spurring demand for wind energy.

The asylum trap and humanitarian confinement Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:38 AM PDT Reception centers for migrants seeking asylum trap the people seeking help through social disempowerment as they become increasingly dependent on so-called humanitarian government, according to research.

Nanotech wound healing in diabetes Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT People with diabetes mellitus often suffer from impaired wound healing. Now, scientists have developed antibacterial nanofibres of cellulose acetate loaded with silver that could be used in a new type of dressing to promote tissue repair.

Women having a baby by IVF are at increased risk of reflux disease after birth Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT Women who give birth to babies conceived by in-vitro fertilization are at increased risk of experiencing long-term symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, according to the results of a study. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a common condition in which acid from the stomach travels up into the esophagus and causes heartburn, regurgitation and pain when swallowing.

Scientists present review of liposomes: A basis for drugs of the future? Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT A review of liposomes, microscopic capsules widely used all over the world in the development of new drugs, has been published by an international team of researchers. Their review discusses the major achievements in the field and points to the most promising areas for its further development.

Receptor that helps protect brain cells has important role in support cells for the retina Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT A receptor that is already a target for treating neurodegenerative disease also appears to play a key role in supporting the retina, scientists report.

Atomic-level defense secrets revealed Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT The molecular secrets of plants' defense mechanisms have been revealed at the atomic level. The study focuses on the plant hormone jasmonate and its interaction with three key proteins. The findings could help scientists develop dream crops that are better equipped to fend off pests, diseases and future challenges created by fluctuating climate, researchers say.

Small, modular, efficient fusion plant Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT Advances in magnet technology have enabled researchers to propose a new design for a practical compact tokamak fusion reactor -- and it's one that might be realized in as little as a decade, they say. The era of practical fusion power, which could offer a nearly inexhaustible energy resource, may be coming near.

Portable ultra-broadband lasers could be key to next-generation sensors Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT A custom-tailored, compact laser diode has been developed by integrating multiple wavelength emitters into a single device. Capable of emitting broadband wavelengths on demand, the device is smaller than a penny and works at room temperature. It can also emit light at frequencies within +/- 30 percent of the laser central frequency, which has never before been demonstrated in a single-laser diode.

Carbon dioxide-spewing volcano drives reef from coral to algae Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT A dramatic shift from vibrant coral communities to carpets of algae has been documented by researchers in remote Pacific Ocean waters where an underwater volcano spews carbon dioxide.

First gene that causes mitral valve prolapse identified Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:37 AM PDT The first gene in which mutations cause the common form of mitral valve prolapse, a heart valve disorder that affects almost 2.5 percent of the population, has been identified by an international team of researchers.

Depth-sensing camera gleans 3-D information in bright sunlight as well as darkness Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT Depth-sensing cameras, such as Microsoft's Kinect controller for video games, have become widely used 3-D sensors. Now, a new imaging technology addresses a major shortcoming of these cameras: the inability to work in bright light, especially sunlight.

Altered brain development among former NFL players, study suggests Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT Former National Football League players who started playing tackle football before the age of 12 were found to have a higher risk of altered brain development compared to those who started playing at a later age. The study is the first to demonstrate a link between early exposure to repetitive head impacts and later life structural brain changes.

New computational method predicts genes likely to be causal in disease Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT A new computational method improves the detection of genes that are likely to be causal for complex diseases and biological traits. The method, PrediXcan, estimates gene expression levels across the whole genome -- a better measure of biological action than single mutations -- and integrates it with genome-wide association study data. PrediXcan has the potential to identify gene targets for therapeutic applications faster and with greater accuracy than traditional methods.

Severe droughts could lead to widespread losses of butterflies by 2050 Posted: 10 Aug 2015 09:36 AM PDT Widespread drought-sensitive butterfly population extinctions could occur in the UK as early as 2050 according to a new study. However, the authors conclude that substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions combined with better management of landscapes, in particular reducing habitat fragmentation, will greatly improve the chances of drought-sensitive butterflies flying until at least 2100.

Volcanic vents preview future ocean habitats Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:12 AM PDT A world-first underwater study of fish in their natural environment has shown how predicted ocean acidification from climate change will devastate temperate marine habitats and biodiversity.

Kids, teens win when mental health providers team with family doctors Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:12 AM PDT Children and adolescents who receive integrated mental health and medical treatment are 66 percent more likely to have a good outcome than those who receive more traditional primary care, a study indicates.

Predicting the effect of toxic compounds on individuals: Crowdsourcing initiative for systems biomedicine Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT An international study presents the combined results of a 2013 DREAM Challenge: a crowd-sourcing initiative to test how well the effects of a toxic compound can be predicted in different people. The study, which is relevant to public and occupational health, shows that computational methods can be used to predict some toxic effects on populations, although they are not yet sensitive enough to predict such effects in individuals. It also presents algorithms useful for environmental risk assessment.

New hydrogel stretches, contracts like a heat-driven muscle Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT A new hydrogel that works like an artificial muscle -- quickly stretching and contracting in response to changing temperature -- has been developed by researchers. They have also managed to use the polymer to build an L-shaped object that slowly walks forward as the temperature is repeatedly raised and lowered.

New details of transmission of stimuli in living organisms unveiled Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT Researchers unveil new details about how cells in a living being process stimuli. The study focuses on so-called G-proteins, which help transmit external stimuli that reach a cell into its interior. Using a technique developed at PSI, the study authors discovered which parts of the G-proteins are vital for their functioning. In particular, they demonstrated that only a few amino acids, protein building blocks, have a major influence on their function. Other amino acids, however, can be altered without compromising their function. The new findings significantly improve our understanding of processes such as sensory perception and hormone activity, and aid the development of new drugs.

Big data maps world's ocean floor Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT The creation of the world's first digital map of the seafloor's geology is underway. It is the first time the composition of the seafloor, covering 70 percent of Earth's surface, has been mapped in 40 years; the most recent map was hand drawn in the 1970s.

Brushing off the dust: New snail species found lying in a museum since the 19th century Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT Having been collected back in the 19th century during an expedition in South America, a rather small snail species has been sitting around on the shelves of Madrid's National Museum of Natural Sciences ever since. Covered in more than a century-old dust, it was described as new only recently when an obscure specimen placed in the long tail of a historical collection drew the attention of Drs. Breure and Araujo.

Places with more marijuana dispensaries have more marijuana-related hospitalizations Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT People who live in areas of California with a higher density of marijuana dispensaries experience a greater number of hospitalizations involving marijuana abuse and dependence, an analysis has discovered.

Developing a better flu vaccine Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT Researchers say they have developed a method that could make a nasal spray flu vaccine effective for those under two and over 49 -- two groups for which the vaccine is not approved.

Study examines how, why states adopt drunk driving laws Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:09 AM PDT The severity of drunk driving within a state is not the most important predictor of whether states adopt new laws to restrict drunk driving -- nor is the political makeup of the state government. Instead, a study shows, the two strongest predictors of states adopting their first drunk driving laws were having a large population of young people and a neighboring state with similar driving laws.

Slowing down muscle loss in heart failure patients Posted: 10 Aug 2015 08:07 AM PDT Whenever cardiac insufficiency or serious heart defects worsen, such deterioration is often associated with a loss of muscular mass and muscular strength. Scientists have now succeeded in identifying the mechanism that underlies this disease, also known as cardiac cachexia. On the basis of these latest findings it may now be possible to influence the processes that strengthen and accelerate protein degradation in the body with the help of certain medications.

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