ScienceDaily: Top News

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• A new factor in depression? Brain protein discovery could lead to better treatments
• Southern California wildfires exhibit split personalities
• Mechanism impairs blood flow with aging
• Artificial 'plants' could fuel the future
• 'Body maps' of babies' brains created
• Study defines criteria for MET-driven lung cancer suitable for crizotinib treatment
• Insight on fundamental process of DNA repair
• Dermatologists share tips to stop nail biting
• Untangling the mechanics of knots
• Increased detection of low-risk tumors driving up thyroid cancer rates, study finds
• Teens are not always irrational
• Children overcoming adversity
• Blood, teeth samples accurately predict a criminal's age
• Inspired by art, lightweight solar cells track the sun
• Genome mining effort discovers 19 new natural products in four years
• New drug-like compounds may improve odds of men battling prostate cancer, researchers find
• Should countries honor their climate debts?
• Lure of winning prizes encourages saving, researchers find
• Realizing carbon nanotube integrated circuits
• Dark matter: CRESST searches for 'lightweights'
• New analysis of textured surfaces could lead to more efficient, and less dangerous, power plants
• Rudeness damages medical staff performance
• Nano-dunes with the ion beam
• Continued smoking after MS diagnosis associated with accelerated disease progression
• A close-up view of materials as they stretch or compress
• New guidelines address long-term needs of colorectal cancer survivors
• Half diamond, half cubic boron, all cutting business
• Lack of adherence to usability testing standards for electronic health record products
• Iron supplementation during pregnancy and risk of malaria in malaria-endemic region
• Outcomes improve for extremely preterm infants
• Study finds high prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes in U.S.
• Studying Kangaroo Cartilage Could Help Human Treatment
• Large funnel-web spider find surprises scientists
• Trust game increases rate synchrony
• Employers must be more empathetic with families grieving stillbirths and miscarriages, researcher says
• Biologists zero in on proteins lumican, TNF-alpha as two-step trigger for deadly scar-tissue production
• Pancreatic cancer subtypes discovered in largest gene expression analysis of the disease to-date
• Fine particulate matter associated with slight increased mortality in Houston
• New molecule found to prevent preterm birth
• Silicon nanoparticle is a new candidate for an ultrafast all-optical transistor
• MicroRNAs are digested, not absorbed
• Linguists use the Bible to develop language technology for small languages
• Super-stretchable metallic conductors for flexible electronics
• Shouldering the burden of evolution
• Physicians have greater ability to help child abuse victims
• Glassy counterfeit protection helps prevent imitations of high-strength spare parts
• Glass-like coatings for automotive parts combine protection with beautiful color
• Copepod migrations are important for the ocean's CO2 uptake
• Ants on the march in non-native conifer forests
• A possible cure for allergies?
• The Achilles' heel of HIV
• False alarm from the body may be responsible for acute pancreatitis
• Brands are perceived in the same way as faces
• Lazing away the summer: Some dormice start their hibernation early
• Explaining the increase in dengue epidemics in Singapore
• First superconducting graphene created by researchers
• Link between insomnia, control of emotion
• Thinking people are born fat or born thin is bad for your health
• Brain damage during stroke may point to source of addiction
• Delayed effects of oil spill compromise long-term fish survival

A new factor in depression? Brain protein discovery could lead to better treatments Posted: 08 Sep 2015 03:04 PM PDT Low. Down. Less than normal. That's what the word depression means, and what people with depression often feel like. But sometimes, depression can mean too much of something -- as new research shows.The discovery, about a protein called fibroblast growth factor 9 or FGF9, goes against previous findings that depressed brains often have less of key components than non-depressed brains.

Southern California wildfires exhibit split personalities Posted: 08 Sep 2015 03:04 PM PDT Wildfires have ravaged both populated and unpopulated regions of Southern California at an increasing rate over the past few decades, and scientists are predicting that by midcentury, as a consequence of climate change causing hotter and drier summers, a lot more will go up in flames.

Mechanism impairs blood flow with aging Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:43 AM PDT With the world's elderly population expected to double by 2050, understanding how aging affects the body is an important focus for researchers globally. Cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death worldwide, often is associated with aging arteries that restrict blood flow. Now, researchers have identified an age-related cause of arterial dysfunction, a finding that could lead to future treatments for some forms of vascular disease.

Artificial 'plants' could fuel the future Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:43 AM PDT The developer of a new technology that turns sunlight into liquid fuel, along with two other leading nanoscientists, discuss the remarkable science behind it -- and how learning from nature's genius could transform our energy future.

'Body maps' of babies' brains created Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:42 AM PDT Body maps, which show how certain parts of the brain correspond to the body's topography, have been studied extensively in adult humans and other primates. But now American researchers are among the first scientists worldwide to study body maps in infants, which can provide crucial information about how babies develop a sense of their physical selves and their earliest social relationships.

Study defines criteria for MET-driven lung cancer suitable for crizotinib treatment Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:41 AM PDT Many cancers include increased copies of the gene MET. But in which cases is MET driving the cancer and in which do these increased copies happen to "ride along" with other molecular abnormalities that are the true cause of the disease? A study defines criteria for MET-amplified cancer likely sensitive to treatment with crizotinib.

Insight on fundamental process of DNA repair Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:41 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new component of the molecular machinery a cell uses to repair damaged DNA. The discovery adds important knowledge about a fundamental life process that protects from diseases such as cancer.

Dermatologists share tips to stop nail biting Posted: 08 Sep 2015 11:11 AM PDT Breaking a nail is one thing. Breaking a nail-biting habit is another, say dermatologists. Nail biting typically begins in childhood and can continue through adulthood, and the side effects can be more than cosmetic, say dermatologists.

Untangling the mechanics of knots Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:51 AM PDT Researchers have analyzed the mechanical forces underpinning simple knots, and come up with a theory that describes how a knot's topology determines its mechanical forces.

Increased detection of low-risk tumors driving up thyroid cancer rates, study finds Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:51 AM PDT Low-risk cancers that do not have any symptoms and presumably will not cause problems in the future are responsible for the rapid increase in the number of new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed over the past decade, according to a study. According to the study authors, nearly one-third of these recent cases were diagnosed when clinicians used high-tech imaging even when no symptoms of thyroid disease were present.

Teens are not always irrational Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:51 AM PDT Teenagers are irrational and make bad decisions. Or do they? Researchers find that adolescents between 10 and 16 years of age can be more analytical in their economic choices than young adults. The study suggests not only that society should give adolescents more credit for rationality but also that parents should help children hone their cost-benefit analysis skills in making real-life decisions.

Children overcoming adversity Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:51 AM PDT A set of four new studies suggest, contrary to prior belief, children in difficult situations need to do more than dream of a happier and successful future self: They need a strategy for becoming that person. Researchers' findings of 'left behind' children in China could apply to children anywhere enduring adverse situations, say authors of a new report.

Blood, teeth samples accurately predict a criminal's age Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:34 AM PDT Forensic biomedical scientists have developed a test to predict individuals' age on the basis of blood or teeth samples. This test may be particularly useful for the police, as it can help track down criminals or identify human remains.

Inspired by art, lightweight solar cells track the sun Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:34 AM PDT Solar cells capture up to 40 percent more energy when they can track the sun across the sky, but conventional, motorized trackers are too heavy and bulky for pitched rooftops and vehicle surfaces.

Genome mining effort discovers 19 new natural products in four years Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:33 AM PDT It took a small group of researchers only four years -- a blink of an eye in pharmaceutical terms -- to scour a collection of 10,000 bacterial strains and isolate the genes responsible for making 19 unique, previously unknown phosphonate natural products, researchers report. Each of these products is a potential new drug. One of them has already been identified as an antibiotic.

New drug-like compounds may improve odds of men battling prostate cancer, researchers find Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:33 AM PDT Researchers have discovered new drug-like compounds that could ultimately be developed into medicines that offer better odds of survival to prostate cancer patients. The new compounds target the human protein P-gp, which causes resistance against a majority of the drugs currently available for treating cancer and HIV/AIDS. The new compounds, discovered via computer-generated models, are good candidates for development into drugs since the compounds have low toxicity to noncancerous cells.

Should countries honor their climate debts? Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:28 AM PDT All countries have contributed to recent climate change, but some much more so than others. Those that have contributed more than their fair share have accumulated a climate debt, owed to countries that have contributed less to historical warming. This is the implication of a new study in which a researcher shows how national carbon and climate debts could be used to decide who should pay for the global costs of climate mitigation and damages.

Lure of winning prizes encourages saving, researchers find Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:28 AM PDT People are more willing to save money when offered the chance to win a prize, according to a study. The research examined Prize Linked Savings (PLS) products, and states that a PLS savings account adds a randomly determined element to an otherwise standard savings account. Instead of receiving a typical fixed-interest rate, depositors periodically receive a chance to win a specified, and potentially large, prize in accordance with their deposit amounts -- i.e., larger deposits means a higher chance of winning.

Realizing carbon nanotube integrated circuits Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:28 AM PDT Newly developed, solution-based encapsulation layers have been used by researchers to create air-stable, wafer-scale integrated circuits made from single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Dark matter: CRESST searches for 'lightweights' Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:28 AM PDT Scientists have searched for the particles of dark matter in numerous experiments - so far, in vain. With the CRESST experiment, now the search radius can be considerably expanded: the CRESST detectors are being overhauled and are then able to detect particles whose mass lies below the current measurement range. As a consequence, the chance of tracking dark matter down goes up.

New analysis of textured surfaces could lead to more efficient, and less dangerous, power plants Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:28 AM PDT The boiling of water is at the heart of many industrial processes, from the operation of electric power plants to chemical processing and desalination. But the details of what happens on a hot surface as water boils have been poorly understood, so unexpected hotspots can sometimes melt expensive equipment and disable plants. A new analysis may help researchers get closer to more efficient, less dangerous power plants.

Rudeness damages medical staff performance Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:14 AM PDT Incivility among medical staff members has grave consequences for quality of patient care and diagnostic accuracy, a new study reports. For the purpose of the research, 24 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) teams from hospitals around Israel participated in a simulation exercise involving a premature infant suffering from the common but severe medical complication necrotizing enterocolitis (in which bowel tissue disintegrates).

Nano-dunes with the ion beam Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:14 AM PDT Many semiconductor devices in modern technology are based on nanostructures. Producing arrays of regular nanostructures usually requires substantial effort. If they were self-organized, the production of such devices would be considerably faster and the costs would therefore sink. Researchers have now demonstrated a method for self-organization of nanostructured arrays via broad ion beam irradiation.

Continued smoking after MS diagnosis associated with accelerated disease progression Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:12 AM PDT Continued smoking after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) appears to be associated with accelerated disease progression compared with those patients who quit smoking, according to an article.

A close-up view of materials as they stretch or compress Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:12 AM PDT Materials scientists want to squeeze every bit of performance out of materials, particularly in the aerospace industry, where small advantages in weight or extreme temperature tolerance translate into tremendous performance benefits. A group of researchers, motivated by potential pay-offs, describes how they created a system to squeeze and stretch a material while rotating and bombarding it with high-energy synchrotron X-rays, which capture information about how it responds to mechanical stress.

New guidelines address long-term needs of colorectal cancer survivors Posted: 08 Sep 2015 10:12 AM PDT New American Cancer Society Cancer Survivorship Care guidelines released today provide primary care clinicians with recommendations for providing comprehensive care to the estimated 1.2 million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.

Half diamond, half cubic boron, all cutting business Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT Researchers combine diamond and cubic boron nitride with a novel alloying process for a superhard material.

Lack of adherence to usability testing standards for electronic health record products Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT The lack of adherence to usability testing standards among several widely used electronic health record (EHR) products that were certified as having met these requirements may be a major factor contributing to the poor usability of EHRs, according to a study.

Iron supplementation during pregnancy and risk of malaria in malaria-endemic region Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT Among women in a malaria-endemic region in Kenya, daily iron supplementation during pregnancy did not result in an increased risk of malaria, according to a study. Iron supplementation did result in increased birth weight, gestational duration, neonatal length, and a decreased risk of low birth weight and prematurity.

Outcomes improve for extremely preterm infants Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT Over the last 20 years, complications have decreased and survival has improved for extremely preterm infants, according to a study. Evaluation of current in-hospital complications and mortality data among extremely preterm infants is important in counseling families and considering new interventions to improve outcomes, experts say.

Study finds high prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes in U.S. Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT In 2011-2012, the estimated prevalence of diabetes among U.S. adults was 12 percent to 14 percent and the prevalence of prediabetes was 37 percent to 38 percent, indicating that about half of the U.S. adult population has either diabetes or prediabetes, according to a study. Though data from recent years suggests that the increasing prevalence of diabetes may be leveling off.

Studying Kangaroo Cartilage Could Help Human Treatment Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:24 AM PDT Understanding the biomechanics of natural cartilage could lead to the development of better artificial joint implants. That's exactly the goal of researchers. The team studied kangaroo cartilage as an analogue for human tissue, and found that a network of collagen protein close to the surface played an important role in helping the cartilage absorb forces without damaging.

Large funnel-web spider find surprises scientists Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:23 AM PDT Scientists studying funnel-web spiders in Australia's south east have found a large example of an unexpected funnel-web species.

Trust game increases rate synchrony Posted: 08 Sep 2015 08:22 AM PDT When people build trust, their hearts get in sync and beat as one, a new study shows. When a public goods game is used to introduce trust conditions during a cooperative task, participants' heart rate arousal and synchrony is increased.

Employers must be more empathetic with families grieving stillbirths and miscarriages, researcher says Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT With the rate of stillbirths now topping that of infants who die before their first birthdays, employers — and society in general — must become more empathetic to families grieving the death of a baby through stillbirth or miscarriage, says a researcher.

Biologists zero in on proteins lumican, TNF-alpha as two-step trigger for deadly scar-tissue production Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT Scientists have made more progress in understanding the process behind scar-tissue formation and wound healing – specifically, a breakthrough in fibroblast-to-fibrocyte signaling involving two key proteins – that could lead to new advances in treating and preventing fibrotic disease.

Pancreatic cancer subtypes discovered in largest gene expression analysis of the disease to-date Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT A new study on pancreatic cancer paves the way for potential personalized medicine approaches for the deadly cancer type.

Fine particulate matter associated with slight increased mortality in Houston Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:40 AM PDT Fine particulate matter released from a variety of sources in Houston was associated with slight increased mortality risk from 2000 to 2011, according to research.

New molecule found to prevent preterm birth Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:38 AM PDT Premature births are intimately linked with inflammation of the uterine tissue, a biological response which induces contractions and preterm labor. In their search for a mean to prevent this phenomenon and complications related to deliveries occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, researchers have discovered an agent that shows efficacy in inhibiting inflammation and preventing or delaying uterine contractions and premature delivery in murine models – without adversely affecting the fetus or the mother. This discovery is a giant step towards preventing prematurity, which is the world's leading cause of infant death and the origin of potentially severe, long-lasting physical, intellectual or psychological impairment for the 10% of infants born preterm world-wide.

Silicon nanoparticle is a new candidate for an ultrafast all-optical transistor Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:36 AM PDT Physicists have experimentally demonstrated the feasibility of designing an optical analog of a transistor based on a single silicon nanoparticle. Because transistors are some of the most fundamental components of computing circuits, the results of the study have crucial importance for the development of optical computers, where transistors must be very small and ultrafast at the same time.

MicroRNAs are digested, not absorbed Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:36 AM PDT There has been a lot of controversy in recent years over the issue of whether exogenous microRNA molecules can be absorbed from food and even have a physiological effect. A new study using mouse models settles the question by demonstrating that the posited dietary uptake does not take place. This questions the potentially promising concept of creating functional foods based on microRNAs.

Linguists use the Bible to develop language technology for small languages Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:33 AM PDT Apple's Siri, Google Translate and other language technologies have long been the preserve of people who speak English or other majority languages. If you speak Welsh, Faroese or Galician, technology will be of little or no use. Linguists now show that they can produce language technology -- based on Biblical verse and Wikipedia articles -- for up to 100 small and big languages at the same time.

Super-stretchable metallic conductors for flexible electronics Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:33 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how to stretch metal films used in flexible electronics to twice their size without breaking. The discovery could lead to dramatic improvements and addresses one of the biggest challenges in flexible electronics, an industry still in its infancy with applications such as bendable batteries, robotic skins, wearable monitoring devices and sensors, and connected fabrics.

Shouldering the burden of evolution Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:12 AM PDT What the last common ancestor between humans and African apes looked like has remained unclear. A new study now shows that important clues lie in the shoulder.

Physicians have greater ability to help child abuse victims Posted: 08 Sep 2015 07:12 AM PDT New state laws in Pennsylvania are shaping the fight against child abuse through physicians and other healthcare providers.

Glassy counterfeit protection helps prevent imitations of high-strength spare parts Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT Visible security features on automotive spare parts represent a seal of quality for manufacturers and consumers. They guarantee that spare parts are original. Whereas for the driver original parts mean a lower risk of an accident, the proof that they are original protects the manufacturer from any claims for compensation which are brought on the basis of counterfeit products. In the case of spare parts that are subjected to high stresses, such markings wear off too quickly. Now researchers have developed methods and materials which can be used to ensure that security markings remain visible for a long time even when parts are dirty or subjected to high stresses.

Glass-like coatings for automotive parts combine protection with beautiful color Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT Today's car enthusiasts have a diverse range of requirements: popular issues that concern them include safety in the vehicle, a good driving experience, a powerful engine and sophisticated technology. If drivers want to make an impression with their vehicle, decorative elements such as coloured wheel rims, brake calipers, exhausts, footboards or bodywork and engine components are increasingly being added. In an ideal scenario, it is possible to combine decorative coatings with protection from corrosion and wear. Engineers have now developed such coatings.

Copepod migrations are important for the ocean's CO2 uptake Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT Zooplankton no bigger than grains of rice play a much larger role in the transport and storage of CO2 in the ocean than previously thought, scientists report.

Ants on the march in non-native conifer forests Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT A species of ant is thriving in habitats created by thousands of acres of coniferous forest planted in a UK National Park in the last 60 years, according to new research.

A possible cure for allergies? Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:41 AM PDT Researchers discovered a mechanism that stops the body reacting with an excessive immune reaction. This could be the basis for a new treatment for allergies, they say.

The Achilles' heel of HIV Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:40 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how cells in the body can detect the genetic material of so-called retroviruses. The pathogen of the immunodeficiency disease AIDS, the HI-1 virus, also belongs to this group. At the same time, HIV appears to circumvent this important defense mechanism.

False alarm from the body may be responsible for acute pancreatitis Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:40 AM PDT Researchers may have discovered one of the keys to understanding how the body develops acute pancreatitis. The results offer hope for the development of drugs that specifically target the disease.

Brands are perceived in the same way as faces Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:40 AM PDT A recent study on the psychology of trademarks shows that they are perceived by the same psychological mechanisms as those, which enable the recognition of faces. The survey result is particularly interesting for the advertising industry and brand management.

Lazing away the summer: Some dormice start their hibernation early Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:39 AM PDT Dormice (Glis glis) spend about eight months on average in hibernation. Wildlife biologists have shown for the first time that these animals can hibernate for up to 11.4 months, suggesting that this might, in fact, be a world record.

Explaining the increase in dengue epidemics in Singapore Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:39 AM PDT Population growth and increased temperature are the most important explanations to the significant increase of dengue incidence in Singapore since the 1970s, researchers have found.

First superconducting graphene created by researchers Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:39 AM PDT Graphene, the ultra-thin, ultra-strong material made from a single layer of carbon atoms, just got a little more extreme. Physicists have been able to create the first ever superconducting graphene sample by coating it with lithium atoms.

Link between insomnia, control of emotion Posted: 08 Sep 2015 06:39 AM PDT People who are losing the ability to regulate their emotions may be more likely to suffer from insomnia. And if they do, that insomnia is more likely to become persistent, research suggests. Researchers surveyed 2333 adult members of the general public in Sweden. They were asked to complete a series of questionnaires on emotional regulation and a series on insomnia. The researchers found that a reduced ability to regulate emotions was associated with an 11 per cent increased risk of developing a new bout of insomnia or reporting persistent insomnia.

Thinking people are born fat or born thin is bad for your health Posted: 08 Sep 2015 05:28 AM PDT Though the belief that DNA determines weight is highly debated, it appears to be shaping people's lives. A new study finds that those who believe that weight is outside of their control have less healthy BMIs, make poorer food choices, and report lower levels of personal wellbeing than those who don't.

Brain damage during stroke may point to source of addiction Posted: 08 Sep 2015 05:28 AM PDT A region of the brain -- called the insular cortex -- may hold the key to treating addiction, a pair of studies suggest. Scientists have come to this conclusion after finding that smokers who suffered a stroke in the insular cortex were far more likely to quit smoking and experience fewer and less severe withdrawal symptoms than those with strokes in other parts of the brain.

Delayed effects of oil spill compromise long-term fish survival Posted: 08 Sep 2015 05:28 AM PDT For 25 years, methodical research by scientists has investigated the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 on Alaskan communities and ecosystems. A new study on the effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska shows that embryonic salmon and herring exposed to very low levels of crude oil can develop hidden heart defects that compromise their later survival, indicating that the spill may have had much greater impacts on spawning fish than previously recognized.

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