ScienceDaily: Top News

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• External brain stimulation temporarily improves motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's
• Discrimination during adolescence has lasting effect on body
• Last chance for oasis in China's desert
• Sustained remission of multiple myeloma after personalized cellular therapy
• Stress main cause of smoking after childbirth
• Exotic states: How to spawn an 'exceptional ring'
• Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds
• What's behind million-dollar crop failures in oil palm? Would you believe bad karma?
• Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse
• High rate of Texas bugs carrying Chagas disease
• Routinely screen those older than 70 for brain health, world expert panel advises
• Study reveals need for better understanding of water use
• Ebola virus disease in Liberia
• New directions in mental health care for older adults
• Finding iconicity in spoken languages
• Female cowbirds pay attention to cowbird nestling survival, study finds
• Pride can keep you on track or send you off the rails
• Physician-patient decision making may differ in care of racial/ethnic minorities
• Rise in disability benefits for children with mental disorders consistent with population trends
• Easy explanations for life's inequities lead to support for the status quo
• Smoking doesn't always mean a shortened life span or cancer
• Metal-eating microbes in African lake could solve mystery of the planet's iron deposits
• Mindfulness may make memories less accurate
• Scents sell: The sweet smell of success
• How hashtags and @ symbols affect language on Twitter
• Android widgets may boost effectiveness of sleep-monitoring apps
• Caterpillar deceives corn plant into lowering defenses against it
• Brain plasticity in leprosy
• Celeste: A new model for cataloging the universe
• Low rate secondary surgeries for removal, revision of vaginal mesh slings for stress urinary incontinence
• Researchers use 'nanopore' scanners to find early signs of cancer
• Immunity study signals new ways to treat liver failure
• Physicists catch a magnetic wave that offers promise for more energy-efficient computing
• Preventing chromosomal chaos: Protein-based genome-stabilizing mechanism discovered
• Study proves pipeline replacement programs are effective
• Finding missing people faster
• Human-like nose can sniff out contamination in drinking water
• New Ebola test could help curb disease spread
• New giant virus discovered in Siberia's permafrost
• Mothers use variety of strategies to mitigate risks to daughters' body image
• Dental research effort aims to stem India's oral cancer problem
• First estimate of the number of small, primordial galaxies in the early universe
• New wearable technology can sense appliance use, help track carbon footprint
• Making the most from carbon in plants
• Probation for schools spurs transfer patterns linked to family income
• Older kids less likely to have car seats checked for safety than infants
• Spheroid stem cell production sows hope for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment
• Paving the way to ever-safer anaesthesia
• One step towards faster organic electronics
• Peering into fish brains to see how they work
• Poor motor skills in two-year-olds could indicate slow development in mathematical proficiency
• Epicolactones: The eight-step path
• New UK Type 2 diabetes prevention programme shows 'promising' early results
• Effects of MVA85A vaccine on tuberculosis challenge in animals
• Rail bound traffic vulnerable to terrorist attacks
• Making the 'Internet of Things' configuration more secure and easy-to-use
• Does our mental health as teenagers determine our entry into parenthood? Yes, and no.
• Study points to a possible new pathway toward a vaccine against MRSA
• Capturing introns: Targeting rapidly evolving regions of the genome for phylogenetics
• Nearly half of testicular cancer risk comes from inherited genetic faults

External brain stimulation temporarily improves motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:35 PM PDT People with Parkinson's disease (PD) tend to slow down and decrease the intensity of their movements even though many retain the ability to move quickly and forcefully. Now, scientists report evidence that the slowdown likely arises from the brain's 'cost/benefit analysis,' which gets skewed by the loss of dopamine in people with PD. In addition, their small study demonstrated that noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain corrected temporarily improved some patients' motor symptoms.

Discrimination during adolescence has lasting effect on body Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:35 PM PDT In both blacks and whites, everyday feelings of discrimination can mess with the body's levels of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, new research suggests. In African-Americans, however, the negative effects of perceived discrimination on cortisol are stronger than in whites, according to the study, one of the first to look at the biological response to the cumulative impact of prejudicial treatment.

Last chance for oasis in China's desert Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:35 PM PDT Ten percent of the world's cotton is produced in the Xinjiang region in northwestern China. Irrigating the cotton fields, however, is causing ecological problems. After many years of research, a team of international researchers has developed a set of recommendations aimed at preserving the local environment.

Sustained remission of multiple myeloma after personalized cellular therapy Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:34 PM PDT A multiple myeloma patient whose cancer had stopped responding after nine different treatment regimens experienced a complete remission after receiving an investigational personalized cellular therapy known as CTL019. The investigational treatment was combined with chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant -- a new strategy designed to target and kill the cells that give rise to myeloma cells.

Stress main cause of smoking after childbirth Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:34 PM PDT Mothers who quit smoking in pregnancy are more likely to light up again after their baby is born if they feel stressed. Researchers studied more than 1,000 new mothers and found that the stress of caring for a newborn, sleepless nights, social pressure, and the idea that they no longer need to protect the baby -- all contribute to relapse.They also found that women who felt they were being supported by a partner were less likely to start smoking again.

Exotic states: How to spawn an 'exceptional ring' Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:20 AM PDT The Dirac cone, named after British physicist Paul Dirac, started as a concept in particle and high-energy physics and has recently became important in research in condensed matter physics and material science. It has since been found to describe aspects of graphene, a two dimensional form of carbon, suggesting the possibility of applications across various fields. Now physicists have found another unusual phenomenon produced by the Dirac cone: It can spawn a phenomenon described as a "ring of exceptional points." This connects two fields of research in physics and may have applications in building powerful lasers, precise optical sensors, and other devices.

Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time that phytoplankton (plant life) in remote ocean regions can contribute to rare airborne particles that trigger ice formation in clouds. Results show that the organic waste from life in the oceans, which is ejected into the atmosphere along with sea spray from breaking waves, stimulates cloud droplets to freeze into ice particles.

What's behind million-dollar crop failures in oil palm? Would you believe bad karma? Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:20 AM PDT What has spoiled tens upon tens of thousands of fledgling oil palm plants at elite corporate plantations in Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia over the last three decades? The answer to this problem, which has cost untold millions in spoilage and had adverse implications for the tropical environment, is 'bad karma', says an international team of genetic sleuths. They refer to a faulty gene message.

Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:29 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered an unexpected population of compact interstellar clouds hidden within the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy WLM.

High rate of Texas bugs carrying Chagas disease Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:27 AM PDT A deadly parasite that causes Chagas disease is widespread in a common Texas insect, according to a new study. The finding suggests that the risk of Texans contracting the disease may be higher than previously thought.

Routinely screen those older than 70 for brain health, world expert panel advises Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:27 AM PDT In a consensus paper, a global panel of leading aging experts suggests physicians routinely screen everyone older than 70 annually for cognitive problems.

Study reveals need for better understanding of water use Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:04 AM PDT A new study reveals a pressing need to better understand water use in America's rivers, with implications for drought-stricken regions of the country. Findings from the study showed that virtually all of the water entering the Wabash River in Indiana during summer months is withdrawn and then returned to the waterway.

Ebola virus disease in Liberia Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:04 AM PDT The social vulnerability indices used in climate change and natural hazards research can also be used in other contexts such as disease outbreaks, new research suggests. The study illustrates how census and household survey data, when mapped at the district level, can help highlight the locations of households and populations most vulnerable to disease outbreaks such as the Ebola virus disease.

New directions in mental health care for older adults Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:04 AM PDT The aging of the population, shifting diagnostic criteria, and new health care policy initiatives are some of the factors driving changes in mental health treatment for older Americans, according to new research.

Finding iconicity in spoken languages Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:51 AM PDT New research shows that for Indo-European languages, like English and Spanish, iconicity is more common than previously believed. The results are important for understanding the nature of human language, explains the lead author.

Female cowbirds pay attention to cowbird nestling survival, study finds Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:51 AM PDT Brown-headed cowbirds have a reputation for being deadbeat parents: They lay their eggs in other birds' nests and then disappear, the story goes, leaving the care and feeding of their offspring to an unwitting foster family. A new study suggests, however, that cowbird moms pay close attention to how well their offspring do, returning to lay their eggs in the most successful host nests, and avoiding those that have failed.

Pride can keep you on track or send you off the rails Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:51 AM PDT New research explores how aspects of personal pride can reinforce discipline or make us want to pamper ourselves. Researchers found that when people took pride in an accomplishment and chalked that up to being disciplined and responsible, they were more likely to continue making disciplined choices through the day. But when people considered a self-control goal that they had before feeling proud -- a goal such as eating healthy, working out or saving money -- they were more likely to think they had made good progress toward their goal, and therefore were more likely to indulge in a reward that veered from making disciplined choices.

Physician-patient decision making may differ in care of racial/ethnic minorities Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:51 AM PDT Racial and ethnic inequalities in medical care are widely documented in literature. However, variations in Americans' experiences with healthcare, specifically regarding physician-patient communication and shared decision-making about treatment plans, are not well understood. A new study suggests that a patient's race/ethnicity may influence the amount and type of information they receive from physicians regarding treatment recommendations.

Rise in disability benefits for children with mental disorders consistent with population trends Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:50 AM PDT The percentage of poor children who received federal disability benefits for at least one of 10 major mental disorders increased from 1.88 percent in 2004 to 2.09 percent in 2013, and such growth is consistent with and proportionate to trends in the prevalence of diagnosed mental disorders among children in the general US population, says a new report.

Easy explanations for life's inequities lead to support for the status quo Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:50 AM PDT What if you heard that on planet Teeku, the Blarks were a lot richer than the Orps, and you had to guess why? In a new study, participants were asked to select from several potential explanations for this fictional disparity. A majority focused on inherent traits of the Blarks and Orps (maybe the Blarks were smarter, or better workers than the Orps), rather than on external factors.

Smoking doesn't always mean a shortened life span or cancer Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:50 AM PDT Not all smokers experience early mortality, and a small proportion manage to survive to extreme ages, research shows. Using long-lived smokers as their phenotype, the authors of a study identified a network of SNPs (a DNA sequence variation occurring commonly within a population) that allow certain individuals to better withstand environmental damage (like smoking) and mitigate damage. Collectively, these SNPs were strongly associated with high survival rates.

Metal-eating microbes in African lake could solve mystery of the planet's iron deposits Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:50 AM PDT An isolated, iron-rich bay in the heart of East Africa is offering scientists a rare glimpse back into Earth's primitive marine environment, and supports theories that tiny microbes created some of the world's largest ore deposits billions of years ago.

Mindfulness may make memories less accurate Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT Mindfulness meditation is associated with all sorts of benefits to mental and physical well-being, but a new study suggests that it may also come with a particular downside for memory. The findings show that participants who engaged in a 15-minute mindfulness meditation session were less able to differentiate items they actually encountered from items they only imagined.

Scents sell: The sweet smell of success Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT The concept of 'olfactory branding' has been the focus of recent research, and how in some settings, such as the hotel lobby, it can supplant or augment the more traditional audiovisual marketing signals.

How hashtags and @ symbols affect language on Twitter Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT When tweeters use hashtags, they tend to be more formal and drop the use of abbreviations and emoticons. But when they use the @ symbol to address smaller audiences, they're more likely to use non-standard words such as 'nah,' 'cuz' and 'smh.' When they tweet to others in the same city, they're more likely to use unique words specific to that area, a new study shows.

Android widgets may boost effectiveness of sleep-monitoring apps Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT An effective smartphone application should make data collection easy, but not so easy that the user forgets to access and reflect on that information, according to a team of researchers.

Caterpillar deceives corn plant into lowering defenses against it Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:41 AM PDT In a deception that likely has evolved over thousands of years, a caterpillar that feeds on corn leaves induces the plant to turn off its defenses against insect predators, allowing the caterpillar to eat more and grow faster, according to chemical ecologists.

Brain plasticity in leprosy Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:41 AM PDT A new study shows that nerve damage caused by leprosy is associated to changes in the brain of patients.

Celeste: A new model for cataloging the universe Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:41 AM PDT Astrophysicists, statisticians and computer scientists have developed Celeste, a new statistical analysis model designed to enhance one of modern astronomy's most time-tested tools: sky surveys.

Low rate secondary surgeries for removal, revision of vaginal mesh slings for stress urinary incontinence Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:40 AM PDT A follow-up of nearly 60,000 women who received a synthetic vaginal mesh sling for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence finds the risk is low for needing a second surgery for mesh removal or revision (about one in 30 women 10 years after surgery), according to a study.

Researchers use 'nanopore' scanners to find early signs of cancer Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:41 AM PDT The tiniest of scanners could be a huge step forward in the fight against cancer. "Nanopore" scanners could save lives by detecting individual DNA molecules, making it possible to diagnose colorectal and lung cancers at their earliest stages.

Immunity study signals new ways to treat liver failure Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT Patients with liver failure could benefit from a treatment that helps the immune system to combat infections linked to the condition, research suggests. A study in mice has revealed that treatment with an immune-boosting molecule called CSF-1 helps to trigger the body's natural defense mechanisms in the liver.

Physicists catch a magnetic wave that offers promise for more energy-efficient computing Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT A team of physicists has taken pictures of a theorized but previously undetected magnetic wave, the discovery of which offers the potential to be an energy-efficient means to transfer data in consumer electronics.

Preventing chromosomal chaos: Protein-based genome-stabilizing mechanism discovered Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT An international team has determined that the protein lamin A plays a central role in maintaining genomic structural stability. Their findings present a comprehensive model for explaining the biophysical underpinnings of chromosome dynamics and organization. The study also provides insight into the pathology of a number devastating human diseases associated with a mutated form of the lamin A protein.

Study proves pipeline replacement programs are effective Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT Natural gas pipeline safety has improved substantially in the United States, but there were still 18 fatalities and 93 injuries from pipeline incidents in 2014. Now a new study suggests that replacing older natural gas pipelines curbs leaks and improves consumer safety.

Finding missing people faster Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:06 AM PDT The mobile app, developed with the support of SAR teams around the nation, provides step-by-step instructions on search plans for first responders and response teams and provides search guidance, protocols and strategies.

Human-like nose can sniff out contamination in drinking water Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:06 AM PDT A bioelectronic nose that mimics the human nose can detect traces of bacteria in water by smelling it, without the need for complex equipment and testing. According to a study, the technology works by using the smell receptors in the human nose. The sensor is simple to use and it can detect tiny amounts of contamination in water, making it more sensitive than existing detection methods. The authors of the study say this could make the technology even more useful in the field.

New Ebola test could help curb disease spread Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:06 AM PDT A new Ebola test that uses magnetic nanoparticles could help curb the spread of the disease in western Africa. Research shows that the new test is 100 times more sensitive than the current test, and easier to use. Because of this, the new test makes it easier and cheaper to diagnose cases, enabling healthcare workers to isolate patients and prevent the spread of Ebola.

New giant virus discovered in Siberia's permafrost Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:06 AM PDT A new type of giant virus has been discovered in the same sample of 30,000-year old Siberian permafrost from which Pithovirus had already been isolated. Microscopic, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metagenomic technologies have allowed the scientists to draw a detailed portrait of this new virus, dubbed Mollivirus sibericum.

Mothers use variety of strategies to mitigate risks to daughters' body image Posted: 09 Sep 2015 07:05 AM PDT Mothers bear some responsibility for their daughters' weight, socialization to accepted gender roles and general well being, researchers conclude at the end of a recent study. The analysis revealed common ways in which mothers and daughters rejected, negated or resisted oppressive messages and stereotypes related to general or personal body images.

Dental research effort aims to stem India's oral cancer problem Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:12 AM PDT New work has resulted in innovative techniques that utilize some of the world's most sophisticated lasers to noninvasively probe into mouth lesions to determine the growth of cancerous cells and eradicate them. Now, this focus is on stemming India's oral cancer problem with a portable diagnostic device.

First estimate of the number of small, primordial galaxies in the early universe Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:12 AM PDT Astronomers have generated the most accurate statistical description yet of faint, early galaxies as they existed in the universe 500 million years after the Big Bang.

New wearable technology can sense appliance use, help track carbon footprint Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:12 AM PDT A new wearable technology can sense what devices and vehicles the user interacts with throughout the day, which can help track that individual's carbon footprint, enable smart home applications or even assist with elder care.

Making the most from carbon in plants Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:12 AM PDT Researchers are looking for more effective ways to get at all the carbon in biomass to create more energy and biochemicals. However, a lot of the carbon is in lignin – support tissues in plants, which makes up about a third of the biomass. International teams of scientists are working together to better understand how lignin can be efficiently deconstructed to release its carbon for a more renewable and sustainable energy future

Probation for schools spurs transfer patterns linked to family income Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:11 AM PDT Schools placed on probation due to sub-par test scores spurs transfer patterns linked to household income, a study by sociologists finds. Their study of a school accountability program in the Chicago Public Schools reveals that families were responsive to new information about school quality and that those with more financial resources were the most likely to transfer to other schools in the district or to leave the district altogether.

Older kids less likely to have car seats checked for safety than infants Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:09 AM PDT Booster seat-aged children are twice as likely to suffer serious injury or death in a car crash than younger children but a new study shows they may be less likely to have car seats inspected for proper use. Less than a quarter of car seat and booster checks analyzed in a recent study were conducted in children ages four and older.

Spheroid stem cell production sows hope for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:09 AM PDT In a small pilot study, researchers have demonstrated a rapid, simple way to generate large numbers of lung stem cells for use in disease treatment.

Paving the way to ever-safer anaesthesia Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:08 AM PDT Researchers have made a breakthrough that could help prevent patients suffering stress to the body and from feeling pain or becoming aware during anesthesia.

One step towards faster organic electronics Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:08 AM PDT For years we have believed that ordered polymer chains increase the conductivity of plastic. And a new generation of polymers has been developed. It is true that these new polymers are more conductive, but for completely different reasons.

Peering into fish brains to see how they work Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:08 AM PDT One of the fundamental challenges facing neuroscientists who want to understand how the brain works is actually figuring out how the brain is wired together and how neurons interact. Now transgenic zebrafish are being used by researchers to unlock the secrets of the brain.

Poor motor skills in two-year-olds could indicate slow development in mathematical proficiency Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:08 AM PDT Two-year-olds with poor motor function also exhibit poor mathematical skills, a new study shows. This knowledge will make it easier for teachers to identify children who may need extra help.

Epicolactones: The eight-step path Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT The biomimetic synthesis of epicolactone, a compound which was first isolated from an endophytic fungus, is described in a new article by researchers who have succeeded in producing a highly complex molecular structure in a minimal number of steps.

New UK Type 2 diabetes prevention programme shows 'promising' early results Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT A program aimed at preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes in people at high risk of the disease has achieved "promising" early results, a study has found.

Effects of MVA85A vaccine on tuberculosis challenge in animals Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT A new systematic review of animal studies testing a vaccine for tuberculosis raises questions about whether the studies provided sufficient evidence to move into trials of children.

Rail bound traffic vulnerable to terrorist attacks Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT The implications of terrorist attacks targeting trains are becoming increasingly extensive. The number of casualties has increased and there has been a fivefold in injuries since the 1970–80s. At the same time, more than half of the attacks are carried out without any injuries or casualties according to a dissertation.

Making the 'Internet of Things' configuration more secure and easy-to-use Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT With an ever increasing number of everyday objects from our homes, workplaces and even from our wardrobes, getting connected to the Internet, known as the 'Internet of Things' (IoT), researchers have identified easy-to-use techniques to configure IoT objects, to make them more secure and hence help protect them from online attacks.

Does our mental health as teenagers determine our entry into parenthood? Yes, and no. Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:07 AM PDT The effects of parenthood on mental health are complex, but a new study reveals a different angle to the relationship: how a person's mental health at 16 influences whether or not he or she becomes a parent, as well as whether or not parenthood has an effect on that mental health going forward.

Study points to a possible new pathway toward a vaccine against MRSA Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT New research has uncovered why a particular strain of Staphylococcus aureus -- known as HA-MRSA -- becomes more deadly than other variations. These new findings open up possible new pathways to vaccine development against this bacterium, which the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions says accounts for over 10,000 deaths annually, mostly among hospital patients in the United States.

Capturing introns: Targeting rapidly evolving regions of the genome for phylogenetics Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT Researchers have developed a technique to capture rapidly evolving genomic regions to understand evolutionary relationships among closely related species. Typically, studies use protein-coding genes, which evolve at a relatively slow rate. The current study targets introns (the non-coding part of genes), which evolve at a much higher rate. Using publicly available genomic data, the technique was successfully tested on a recent, rapid radiation of plants in the Heuchera group.

Nearly half of testicular cancer risk comes from inherited genetic faults Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:06 AM PDT Almost half of the risk of developing testicular cancer comes from the DNA passed down from our parents, a new study reports. The research suggests genetic inheritance is much more important in testicular cancer than in most other cancer types, where genetics typically accounts for less than 20 percent of risk.

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