ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Psychologists develop first adult self-assessment for repetitive behaviours in autism
• Scientists identify key genetic factor that keeps moles from turning into melanoma
• Lightning reshapes rocks at the atomic level
• From a million miles away, NASA camera shows moon crossing face of Earth
• Researchers map 'self-regulation' to develop comprehensive definition
• Pandas set their own pace, tracking reveals
• Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue
• Parental experience may help coral offspring survive climate change
• Ultra-fast electron camera
• Meniscal transplant in patients age 50 and under relieves pain, delays additional surgery
• Romantic kissing is not the norm in most cultures
• Reserach team gets the beat, develops method of quantifying ciliary movement
• Astronomers unveil a distant protogalaxy connected to the cosmic web
• New survey on Americans' views on law enforcement, violence, and race
• Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis
• Ancient Chinese archives track decline of rare apes
• Milky Way-like galaxies may have existed in the early universe
• Powerful molecular promoter of colon cancers
• New medical research reporting requirements may lead to fewer positive outcomes
• Surveys reveal trends in global consumption of sugary beverages, fruit juices and milk
• Why the long face? Horses and humans share facial expressions
• Stroke therapy put to the test in preclinical randomized controlled trial
• Molecular cell cycle clock discovered that controls stem cell potency
• Scientists solve structure of important protein for tumor growth
• Sandcastles inspire new nanoparticle binding technique
• River buries permafrost carbon at sea
• Molecular trick alters rules of attraction for non-magnetic metals
• Source of liver stem cells identified
• How stress can tweak the brain to sabotage self-control
• Endoscopes still contaminated after cleaning, study shows
• Cancer treatment models get real
• Online tool enables public to track 'tip-of-the tongue' states, speech errors
• Long-term followup of type of bariatric surgery finds regain of weight, decrease in diabetes remission
• Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance
• Picking up the phone to improve mental health in seniors
• How makerspaces can be accessible to people with disabilities
• 'Yolks' and 'shells' improve rechargeable batteries
• Role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered
• State policies influence vaccination, disease outbreak rates
• New deep-sea anglerfish discovered in Gulf of Mexico
• Consuming highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression
• Two spin liquids square off in an iron-based superconductor
• Cancer markers may be present early during human development
• High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis
• What 15 years of mobile data can say about us
• Sustainable production: Cyanobacteria can manufacture biocatalysts for industry
• How stock market's 'spare tire' keeps economy churning during banking crises
• Communities with beautiful scenery, weather have lower rates of religious affiliation
• People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring, study shows
• Lost lithium destroyed by ancient stars
• Scientists solve planetary ring riddle: Universal particle distribution of Saturn's rings
• Whale-eating deep-sea shrimp discovered
• Fateful instinct: Open windows can be dangerous for cats
• Storytelling skills support early literacy for African American children
• Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health
• When new parents become unhappy, brothers and sisters become less likely
• How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration
• The ghost of a dying star
• Combined impact of smoking, early menopause on mortality
• Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste?

Psychologists develop first adult self-assessment for repetitive behaviours in autism Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:18 PM PDT The first self-assessment test designed to help clinicians diagnose autism in adults has been developed by a team of psychologists. These behaviors include common habits and routines, such as lining up objects or arranging them in patterns, fiddling obsessively with objects, or insisting that aspects of a daily routine remain exactly the same.

Scientists identify key genetic factor that keeps moles from turning into melanoma Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT Moles are benign tumors found on the skin of almost every adult. Scientists have known for years that a mutation in the BRAF gene makes them start growing, but until now haven't understood why they stop. Now, researchers have identified a major genetic factor that keeps moles in their usual non-cancerous, no-growth state.

Lightning reshapes rocks at the atomic level Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT A lightning strike can reshape a mineral's crystal structure, according to a new study. Researchers once believed only meteorites could do so.

From a million miles away, NASA camera shows moon crossing face of Earth Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT A NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth last month. The series of test images shows the fully illuminated 'dark side' of the moon that is never visible from Earth.

Researchers map 'self-regulation' to develop comprehensive definition Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT As clinicians move toward finding meaning for the term 'self-regulation,' a team suggests that the comprehensive definition includes reference to the following: Learning 'self-regulation' involves learning how to monitor and manage your internal states, understanding what it feels like to be calm and alert, and so also learning to recognize when certain activities help you to return yourself to those states most easily, as well as what pulls you out of them.

Pandas set their own pace, tracking reveals Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT When it comes to body clocks, pandas are the rugged individualists of the forest. A research team that has spent years getting unprecedented peeks into panda habits courtesy of five animals with GPS collars has learned their daily routines fall out of the ordinary.

Enthusiasm for personalized medicine is premature, prominent public health scholars argue Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT The increasing national focus on personalized or 'precision' medicine is misguided, distracting from broader investments to reduce health inequities and address the social factors that affect population health, two leading public health scholars argue. While investments in precision medicine may ultimately 'open new vistas of science,' enthusiasm about the promise of this research is premature, they say.

Parental experience may help coral offspring survive climate change Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:17 PM PDT Preconditioning adult corals to increased temperature and ocean acidification resulted in offspring that may be better able to handle those future environmental stressors, a new study shows. This rapid trans-generational acclimatization may be able to 'buy time' for corals in the race against climate change.

Ultra-fast electron camera Posted: 05 Aug 2015 01:24 PM PDT A new scientific instrument promises to capture some of nature's speediest processes. It uses a method known as ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) and can reveal motions of electrons and atomic nuclei within molecules that take place in less than a tenth of a trillionth of a second -- information that will benefit groundbreaking research in materials science, chemistry and biology.

Meniscal transplant in patients age 50 and under relieves pain, delays additional surgery Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT Most patients younger than age 50 with a torn or severely damaged meniscus experienced reduced pain and improved knee function following transplant surgery, according to a study. However, many patients required additional surgery within 10 years.

Romantic kissing is not the norm in most cultures Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT For generations, passionate kisses immortalized in movies, songs and the arts have served as a thermometer of romantic affection. But current research has found that not only is romantic kissing not the norm in most cultures, some find it uncomfortable and even flat-out repulsive.

Reserach team gets the beat, develops method of quantifying ciliary movement Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:57 PM PDT Researchers have figured out how to objectively quantify the beating action of cilia, the tiny, hair-like projections on cells that line nasal passages, the lungs and almost every other body tissue, according to a study. Such digital signatures could help doctors more quickly and accurately diagnose ciliary motion defects.

Astronomers unveil a distant protogalaxy connected to the cosmic web Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:20 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered a giant swirling disk of gas 10 billion light-years away -- a galaxy-in-the-making that is actively being fed cool primordial gas tracing back to the Big Bang. The finding provides the strongest observational support yet for what is known as the cold-flow model of galaxy formation.

New survey on Americans' views on law enforcement, violence, and race Posted: 05 Aug 2015 12:20 PM PDT A new American national survey reveals a disparity among blacks' and whites' perception of violence against civilians by police.

Computer algorithm can forecast patients' deadly sepsis Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:54 AM PDT A new computer-based method correctly predicts septic shock in 85 percent of cases, without increasing the false positive rate from screening methods that are common now.

Ancient Chinese archives track decline of rare apes Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT Historical records from China stretching back over 400 years have been used to track changes in the distribution of gibbons, which today are some of China's most threatened species. This is one of the first instances of using ancient historical records to reconstruct the course of extinctions across several centuries.

Milky Way-like galaxies may have existed in the early universe Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT A new, large-scale computer simulation has shown for the first time that large disk galaxies, much like our own Milky Way, may have existed in the early days of the universe. The simulation shows that the early universe -- a mere 500 million years after the Big Bang -- might have had more order and structure than previously thought.

Powerful molecular promoter of colon cancers Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT Cancer researchers already know of some oncogenes and other factors that promote the development of colon cancers, but they don't yet have the full picture of how these cancers originate and spread. Now researchers have illuminated another powerful factor in this process, by unraveling an additional pathway for the origin of colon cancer.

New medical research reporting requirements may lead to fewer positive outcomes Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT The adoption of new transparent reporting standards may have contributed to a significant reduction in the percentage of studies reporting positive research findings among large-budget clinical trials.

Surveys reveal trends in global consumption of sugary beverages, fruit juices and milk Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT A team led by researchers has estimated global intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, and milk across 187 countries. Variation was identified by age, sex and region, with implications for national and global nutrition policies.

Why the long face? Horses and humans share facial expressions Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT Horses and humans use similar facial expressions to communicate, according to new research.

Stroke therapy put to the test in preclinical randomized controlled trial Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:48 AM PDT In the midst of what some call a 'crisis' in the ability to replicate results of laboratory studies, a European consortium has conducted a preclinical randomized controlled trial (pRCT) -- which mimics the design and rigorous standards of a clinical trial but is done in animals, and provides one more view of the drug's efficacy before it is used in the clinical trial setting.

Molecular cell cycle clock discovered that controls stem cell potency Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:13 AM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, found further evidence of how the differentiation of pluripotent cells is tied to and controlled by the cell cycle clock. This deeper understanding of how cells become differentiated is extremely important when considering therapeutic potentials.

Scientists solve structure of important protein for tumor growth Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:12 AM PDT Scientists have used a highly specialized X-ray crystallography technique to solve the protein structure of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), important regulators of a tumor's response to low oxygen (hyopoxia).

Sandcastles inspire new nanoparticle binding technique Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:12 AM PDT Researchers show that magnetic nanoparticles encased in oily liquid shells can bind together in water, much like sand particles mixed with the right amount of water can form sandcastles.

River buries permafrost carbon at sea Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:02 AM PDT As temperatures rise, some of the organic carbon stored in Arctic permafrost meets an unexpected fate -- burial at sea. As many as 2.2 million metric tons of organic carbon per year are swept along by a single river system into Arctic Ocean sediment, according to a new study.

Molecular trick alters rules of attraction for non-magnetic metals Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:02 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated for the first time how to generate magnetism in metals that aren't naturally magnetic, which could end our reliance on some rare and toxic elements currently used. Researchers detail a way of altering the quantum interactions of matter in order to 'fiddle the numbers' in a mathematical equation that determines whether elements are magnetic, called the Stoner Criterion.

Source of liver stem cells identified Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:02 AM PDT Scientists have identified stem cells in the liver that give rise to functional liver cells. The work solves a long-standing mystery about the origin of new cells in the liver, which must constantly be replenished as cells die off, even in a healthy organ.

How stress can tweak the brain to sabotage self-control Posted: 05 Aug 2015 11:02 AM PDT A challenging morning meeting or an interaction with an upset client at work may affect whether we go for that extra chocolate bar at lunch. In a study, researchers placed human volunteers in a similar food choice scenario to explore how stress can alter the brain to impair self-control when we're confronted with a choice.

Endoscopes still contaminated after cleaning, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT Potentially harmful bacteria can survive on endoscopes used to examine the interior of the digestive tract, despite a multi-step cleaning and disinfecting process, according to a study.

Cancer treatment models get real Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT A custom flow perfusion bioreactor has been used by researchers to show the value of testing cancer samples in realistic environments. By placing cancer cells in a three-dimensional scaffold and subjecting them to the forces that push, pull and continually flow through the body, the researchers are better able to test the efficiency of cancer-fighting drugs.

Online tool enables public to track 'tip-of-the tongue' states, speech errors Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:26 AM PDT Researchers have produced a web-based tool allowing everyday people to engage in 'citizen science' by recording speech errors, something that is difficult to capture in the lab setting.

Long-term followup of type of bariatric surgery finds regain of weight, decrease in diabetes remission Posted: 05 Aug 2015 09:18 AM PDT While undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy induced weight loss and improvements in obesity-related disorders, long-term followup shows significant weight regain and a decrease in remission rates of diabetes and, to a lesser extent, other obesity-related disorders over time, according to a study.

Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Women who have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight should keep a close eye on their alcohol consumption, according to a study. The researchers found that changes in how alcohol is metabolized after surgery can speed its delivery into the bloodstream, resulting in earlier and higher peaks in blood-alcohol levels.

Picking up the phone to improve mental health in seniors Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Therapy provided via telephone for older adults in rural areas is effective in treating anxiety disorder, a new study has demonstrated. Experts write that the health-care system lacks the capacity to help the growing elderly population and that relying too heavily on sedative medications isn't the answer.

How makerspaces can be accessible to people with disabilities Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have released new guidelines to make MakerSpaces more accessible to people with disabilities, as these communal spaces with soldering irons, 3-D printers, sewing machines and other "making" tools continue to pop up nationwide.

'Yolks' and 'shells' improve rechargeable batteries Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT One big problem faced by electrodes in rechargeable batteries, as they go through repeated cycles of charging and discharging, is that they must expand and shrink during each cycle -- sometimes doubling in volume, and then shrinking back. This can lead to repeated shedding and reformation of its "skin" layer that consumes lithium irreversibly, degrading the battery's performance over time. Now researchers have found a novel way around that problem: creating an electrode made of nanoparticles with a solid shell, and a "yolk" inside that can change size again and again without affecting the shell.

Role of intra-abdominal fat in IBD uncovered Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:10 AM PDT Intra-abdominal fat cells may contribute to the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study.

State policies influence vaccination, disease outbreak rates Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT Lax state vaccination laws contribute to lower immunization rates and increased outbreaks of preventable diseases—like whooping cough and measles—according to a new study.

New deep-sea anglerfish discovered in Gulf of Mexico Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT They are some of the most interesting and unique creatures in the oceans -- deep-sea life. Most people can identify a shark or sea turtle or whale, but many are shocked to see what a lanternfish or oarfish looks like. Deep-sea creatures can be down-right scary looking. Adding to the list of deep-sea creatures, marine biologists recently found a never-before seen species from the deep waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Consuming highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT A diet high in refined carbohydrates may lead to an increased risk for new-onset depression in postmenopausal women, according to a study. The study looked at the dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, types of carbohydrates consumed, and depression in data from more than 70,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the National Institutes of Health's Women's Health Initiative Observational Study between 1994 and 1998.

Two spin liquids square off in an iron-based superconductor Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:03 AM PDT A new study describes how an iron-telluride material related to a family of high-temperature superconductors develops superconductivity with no long-range electronic or magnetic order. In fact, the material displays a liquid-like magnetic state consisting of two coexisting and competing disordered magnetic phases. The results challenge a number of widely accepted paradigms into how unconventional superconductors work.

Cancer markers may be present early during human development Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:02 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a link between the genomes of cells originating in the neural crest and development of tumors -- a discovery that could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

High salt intake could be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis Posted: 05 Aug 2015 08:02 AM PDT Here's another reason to put the salt shaker down: New research involving mice shows that diets high in sodium may be a novel risk factor in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) by influencing immune cells that cause the disease.

What 15 years of mobile data can say about us Posted: 05 Aug 2015 06:46 AM PDT Mobile communication has not shrunk the world as expected, according to an overview of big data analysis revealing the nature of our social interactions with greater accuracy than ever before. Large-scale anonymized datasets from mobile phones can give a better picture of society; a new report highlights the main contributions in the field of mobile phone datasets analysis in the past 15 years.

Sustainable production: Cyanobacteria can manufacture biocatalysts for industry Posted: 05 Aug 2015 06:46 AM PDT Using photosynthetically active microorganisms, researchers have succeeded in manufacturing several biocatalysts suitable for industrial application: a crucial step towards sustainable chemical processes, according to authors of a new report.

How stock market's 'spare tire' keeps economy churning during banking crises Posted: 05 Aug 2015 06:45 AM PDT In countries with strong legislation to prevent fraudulent corporate behavior, banking crises have a less severe impact on firms and the economy in general, a new study concludes.

Communities with beautiful scenery, weather have lower rates of religious affiliation Posted: 05 Aug 2015 06:45 AM PDT Counties in the United States with more beautiful weather and scenery have lower rates of membership and affiliation with religious organizations, according to a study.

People with type 2 diabetes benefit from blood glucose self-monitoring, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:58 AM PDT People with type 2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar if they follow a personalized blood glucose monitoring schedule, even if they don't use insulin, according to a new study.

Lost lithium destroyed by ancient stars Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:57 AM PDT Lithium, the lightest metal, used in batteries and mood-stabilising drugs, is rarer than it should be. Models of the period after the Big Bang explain how it, hydrogen and helium were synthesised in nuclear reactions, before the universe cooled enough for the stars and planets that we see today to come into being. Astronomers though think that about three times as much lithium was produced in that earliest epoch than remains today in the oldest stars in the galaxy, and the difference has proved hard to explain.

Scientists solve planetary ring riddle: Universal particle distribution of Saturn's rings Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:57 AM PDT University of Leicester study suggests universal particle distribution of Saturn's rings

Whale-eating deep-sea shrimp discovered Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:57 AM PDT Two new species of submarine shrimp-like creature, capable of 'stripping' a pig carcass in a matter of days, have been discovered by a team of scientists. These 3mm long scavenging crustaceans, known as amphipods, live in depths of up to 4500 metres in the North Atlantic Ocean. They act in swarms to strip the carcasses of dead marine animals, including whales, fish and seabirds.

Fateful instinct: Open windows can be dangerous for cats Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:57 AM PDT The summer months are dangerous for indoor cats. A large number of cats have accidents every year when they fall out of open windows or from balconies. Veterinarians strongly recommend keeping windows closed or to secure windows in an appropriate way.

Storytelling skills support early literacy for African American children Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Early narrative skills are tied to kindergarten literacy among young African American children, according to new research. The study is the first to demonstrate the connection between African American preschoolers' storytelling abilities and the development of their early reading skills.

Viruses thrive in big families, in sickness and in health Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Every child puts a household at increased risk for viral infections. A new study showed that childless households had infections during 3-4 weeks of the year, while families with six children were infected for 45 weeks. But only half who tested positive reported feeling ill. These results can help families and health care providers know when illness should be cause for concern.

When new parents become unhappy, brothers and sisters become less likely Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT New parents' drop in subjective well-being helps to explain why many remain with one child, even though they desire two. The investigation deals with a taboo subject: the notion that parents often experience a considerable loss of happiness after the birth of a first child. The new study shows that for mothers and fathers in Germany, the drop in life satisfaction during the year following the first birth is even larger than that caused by unemployment, divorce or the death of a partner.

How white blood cells limit muscle regeneration Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Researchers have identified a protein produced by white blood cells that puts the brakes on muscle repair after injury in mice. The findings point to a target for potential treatments aimed at enhancing muscle regeneration.

The ghost of a dying star Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT This extraordinary bubble, glowing like the ghost of a star in the haunting darkness of space, may appear supernatural and mysterious, but it is a familiar astronomical object: a planetary nebula, the remnants of a dying star. This is the best view of the little-known object ESO 378-1 yet obtained and was captured by ESO's Very Large Telescope in northern Chile.

Combined impact of smoking, early menopause on mortality Posted: 05 Aug 2015 04:52 AM PDT Women may now have yet another reason to quit smoking given the results of a new study. The Swedish study involving 25,474 women is the first to quantify the combined effects of smoking and age at menopause on overall mortality in terms of survival time by investigating the role of smoking as a possible effect modifier.

Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste? Posted: 04 Aug 2015 05:34 PM PDT Sleeping in the side position, as compared to on one's back or stomach, may more effectively remove brain waste and prove to be an important practice to help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, new research suggests.

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