ScienceDaily: Top News

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• 2015 Antarctic maximum sea ice extent breaks streak of record highs
• Scientists produce clearest-ever images of enzyme that plays key roles in aging, cancer
• Affordable camera reveals hidden details invisible to the naked eye
• Artificial whisker reveals source of harbor seal's uncanny prey-sensing ability
• Favorable one-year clinical outcomes for catheter-based aortic valve replacement with latest generation of device
• Scholars challenge colleges to reform STEM learning
• Suppression of epigenetic brain proteins induces autism-like syndrome
• Three months after flyby, New Horizons team publishes first research paper
• New study questions long-held theories of climate variability in the North Atlantic
• Infection with two species of schistosome does not affect treatment efficacy
• Engineers create artificial skin that can send pressure sensation to brain cell
• Updated Pap smear test guidelines lead to decreased STI screening, study finds
• Alcohol and first sexual experience: Risks for young women
• New study highlights environmental, economic shortcomings of federal biofuel laws
• New test to predict relapse of testicular cancers
• Trained medical interpreters can reduce errors in care for patients with limited English proficiency
• Neuroscientists decode the brain activity of the worm
• Stem cell treatment lessens impairments caused by dementia with Lewy bodies
• Mound near lunar south pole formed by unique volcanic process
• Team describes rapid, sensitive test for HIV mutations
• Sexual transmission of Ebola virus in Liberia confirmed using genomic analysis
• Environment of the Cantabrian Region over the course of 35,000 years reconstructed
• First steps to create biodegradable displays for electronics
• Sendai virus defends against a threat
• Why cancer anemia treatment leads to tumor growth
• Scientists find potential epilepsy drug
• Cancer-driving signals cause high-risk neuroblastoma
• US neuroscientists call for creation of 'brain observatories'
• Buzzing bees can't resist caffeinated nectar
• 'Paleo' sleep? Sorry, pre-modern people don't get more Zzzzs than we do
• Animal scientists identify mutations that led to pigs that lack immune systems
• Special class of T cells shown to both attack cancer cells and enlist other immune cells
• Using experts 'inexpertly' can lead to policy failure
• Dreams turned off and on with a neural switch
• How to fall gracefully, if you're a robot
• New potential indirect effects of humans on water quality
• How can plants utilize hardly digestible organic phosphorus?
• Sex pheromone assembly line in Manduca sexta
• Shape of a pipe dramatically affects how pollutants will spread
• Patterning oxide nanopillars at the atomic scale by phase transformation
• Shining light on orphan receptors
• Quantum physics meets genetic engineering
• Mutations driving leukemia identified
• Towards a favorable systemic radio-immunotherapy target
• When punishment doesn't fit the crime
• What's behind your thirst? Discovery advances our understanding of how our brain controls body hydration, temperature
• Tiny plant shows us how living things cope with big changes
• New avenue for combating deterioration in blood stem cells
• Scientists develop genetic blueprint of inner ear cell development
• Yoga in jails helps make better fathers
• Researchers identify a new culprit behind fibrosis
• Rare mutation may extend survival in lung cancer patients with brain metastases
• Test helps identify patients for home monitoring device for progression of age-related macular degeneration
• Shift in weaning age supports hunting-induced extinction of Siberian woolly mammoths
• Research could revolutionize farming in developing world
• Sex and sea turtles: New study reveals impact of climate change, sea level rise
• Biochar can boost crops in west africa: Soil conditioner for agriculture in cities
• Mini DNA sequencer tests true
• For children with rare genetic disorder, more extensive epilepsy surgery yields better seizure control
• Researchers link organ transplant drug to rise in rare lymphoma

2015 Antarctic maximum sea ice extent breaks streak of record highs Posted: 15 Oct 2015 02:07 PM PDT The sea ice cover of the Southern Ocean reached its yearly maximum extent on Oct. 6. At 7.27 million square miles (18.83 million square kilometers), the new maximum extent falls roughly in the middle of the record of Antarctic maximum extents compiled during the 37 years of satellite measurements -- this year's maximum extent is both the 22nd lowest and the 16th highest.

Scientists produce clearest-ever images of enzyme that plays key roles in aging, cancer Posted: 15 Oct 2015 01:03 PM PDT The telomerase enzyme is known to play a significant role in aging and most cancers. Scientists have discovered several major new insights about this enzyme and they are now able to see the complex enzyme's sub-units in much sharper resolution than ever before.

Affordable camera reveals hidden details invisible to the naked eye Posted: 15 Oct 2015 01:03 PM PDT Peering into a grocery store bin, it's hard to tell if a peach or tomato or avocado is starting to go bad underneath its skin. A new affordable hyperspectral camera technology uses both visible and invisible near-infrared light to 'see' beneath surfaces and capture hidden details.

Artificial whisker reveals source of harbor seal's uncanny prey-sensing ability Posted: 15 Oct 2015 01:03 PM PDT Engineers have fabricated and tested a large-scale model of a harbor seal's whisker, and identified a mechanism that may explain how seals sense their environment and track their prey.

Favorable one-year clinical outcomes for catheter-based aortic valve replacement with latest generation of device Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:49 AM PDT Findings from the PARTNER II Trial, which examined one-year clinical outcomes among high-risk or inoperable patients who received TAVR with the latest generation of balloon-expandable (SAPIEN 3) device, are being released by researchers, suggesting that the new device offers promising outcomes for patients.

Scholars challenge colleges to reform STEM learning Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:48 AM PDT America's colleges and universities need to transform not only how but what they teach in introductory science courses, a group of scholars argue.

Suppression of epigenetic brain proteins induces autism-like syndrome Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:48 AM PDT Findings of a new study reveal a key role of the BET protein family in the regulation of selected genes that control normal development and function of nerve cells.

Three months after flyby, New Horizons team publishes first research paper Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:48 AM PDT The New Horizons team described a wide range of findings about the Pluto system in its first research paper, just published. 'The Pluto System: Initial Results from its Exploration by New Horizons' appears in and on the cover of the Oct. 16 issue of the journal Science; the publication comes just three months after NASA's historic first exploration of the Pluto system in mid-July.

New study questions long-held theories of climate variability in the North Atlantic Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:48 AM PDT A new study challenges the prevailing wisdom by identifying the atmosphere as the driver of a decades-long climate variation known as the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation. The findings offer new insight on the causes and predictability of natural climate variations, which are known to cause wide-ranging global weather impacts, including increased rainfall, drought, and greater hurricane frequency in many parts of the Atlantic basin.

Infection with two species of schistosome does not affect treatment efficacy Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:48 AM PDT The parasitic disease schistosomiasis is caused by a trematode flatworm, different species of which can affect either the intestine or the urinary tract. Mixed species (co-) infections are common, and research is needed to understand exactly how infection by both urinary and intestinal parasites affects the course of infection and response to treatment.

Engineers create artificial skin that can send pressure sensation to brain cell Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:47 AM PDT Engineers have created a plastic skin-like material that can detect pressure and deliver a Morse code-like signal directly to a living brain cell. The work takes a big step toward adding a sense of touch to prosthetic limbs.

Updated Pap smear test guidelines lead to decreased STI screening, study finds Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:47 AM PDT Following the introduction of Cancer Care Ontario's 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines, female patients were 50 per cent less likely to undergo screening for sexually transmitted infections, a new study has found.

Alcohol and first sexual experience: Risks for young women Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:14 AM PDT If a young woman's first sexual experience involves alcohol, she is more likely to be at risk for problems such as sexual assault, and this risk may persist in her future, new research finds.

New study highlights environmental, economic shortcomings of federal biofuel laws Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:14 AM PDT The federal Renewable Fuel Standard and its overreliance on corn ethanol has created additional environmental problems in its 10-year history, resulting in unmet targets for cutting air pollution, water contamination and soil erosion, concludes a new study.

New test to predict relapse of testicular cancers Posted: 15 Oct 2015 11:14 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new test to identify patients who are at risk of suffering a relapse from testicular cancer. Assessing just three features of a common kind of testicular cancer -- called non-seminomatous germ cell tumor -- can identify those at most at risk of relapse even where there is no evidence of tumor spread. The researchers believe the test could be used in the clinic to make decisions about which patients should be given chemotherapy.

Trained medical interpreters can reduce errors in care for patients with limited English proficiency Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT For patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), errors in medical interpretation are common--especially when the interpreter is a family member or other untrained person, reports a new study.

Neuroscientists decode the brain activity of the worm Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT New findings on the brain activity of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans have been released by researchers. The scientists were able to show that brain cells (neurons), organized in a brain-wide network, albeit exerting different functions, coordinate with each other in a collective manner. They could also directly link these coordinated activities in the worm's brain to the processes that generate behavior.

Stem cell treatment lessens impairments caused by dementia with Lewy bodies Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Neural stem cells transplanted into damaged brain sites in mice dramatically improved both motor and cognitive impairments associated with dementia with Lewy bodies, according to neurobiologists.

Mound near lunar south pole formed by unique volcanic process Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Within a giant impact basin near the moon's south pole, there sits a large mound of mysterious origin. Research by geologists suggests that the mound was formed by unique volcanic processes set in motion by the impact that formed the basin.

Team describes rapid, sensitive test for HIV mutations Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method for detecting single nucleotide mutations directly in the RNA of HIV, including mutations that make it resistant to some drugs. In lab tests, the single-step system performed more quickly and with better sensitivity than standard technologies.

Sexual transmission of Ebola virus in Liberia confirmed using genomic analysis Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT A suspected case of sexual transmission of Ebola virus disease in Liberia was confirmed using genomic analysis, thanks to in-country laboratory capabilities. The work provides molecular evidence of Ebola virus transmission between a disease survivor and his female partner. It also demonstrates the value of real-time genomic surveillance during an outbreak.

Environment of the Cantabrian Region over the course of 35,000 years reconstructed Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT By combining three important palaeoclimatic records (small vertebrates, marine microfauna and stable isotopes of herbivores), a multidisciplinary team has reconstructed past environments of the Cantabrian Region (Spain) with the best resolution ever achieved.

First steps to create biodegradable displays for electronics Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT Americans, on average, replace their mobile phones every 22 months, junking more than 150 million phones a year in the process. Now researchers are on the path to creating biodegradable electronics by using organic components in screen displays. The researchers' advancements could one day help reduce electronic waste in the world's landfills.

Sendai virus defends against a threat Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT A research group demonstrated the mechanism by which the Sendai virus (SeV) escapes the host immune system. They examined the crystal structure of the complex of SeV C protein and transcription factor STAT1, and found that SeV C protein inhibits the signal transduction pathway of interferon gamma. Researchers are now trying to screen low molecular weight compounds for developing new anti-viral drugs.

Why cancer anemia treatment leads to tumor growth Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT Scientists have shown why a drug widely used to treat chemotherapy-induced anemia in ovarian and breast cancer patients also may shorten survival times in some patients by inadvertently stimulating tumor growth.

Scientists find potential epilepsy drug Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT A potential new class of drugs has been discovered in mice studies that may prevent the development of temporal lobe epilepsy, one of the most common and devastating forms of epilepsy.

Cancer-driving signals cause high-risk neuroblastoma Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT Researchers have discovered details of the abnormal molecular signals and biological events that drive a high-risk form of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Having investigated a signaling network involving three cancer-causing genes, the scientists aim to use these findings to develop more effective targeted treatments.

US neuroscientists call for creation of 'brain observatories' Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT What is the future of the BRAIN Initiative? This national White House Grand Challenge involving more than 100 laboratories in the United States has already made progress in establishing large-scale neuroscience goals and developing shared tools. And now leading American neuroscientists call for the next step: a coordinated national network of neurotechnology centers or 'brain observatories.'

Buzzing bees can't resist caffeinated nectar Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT For many people, the best start to the day is a nice, fresh cup of joe. Now, researchers find that honey bees find caffeinated beverages -- er, nectar -- irresistible too.

'Paleo' sleep? Sorry, pre-modern people don't get more Zzzzs than we do Posted: 15 Oct 2015 10:18 AM PDT It's tempting to believe that people these days aren't getting enough sleep, living as we do in our well-lit houses with TVs blaring, cell phones buzzing, and a well-used coffee maker in every kitchen. But new evidence shows that three ancient groups of hunter-gatherers -- living in different parts of the world without any of those trappings of modern life -- don't get any more sleep than we do.

Animal scientists identify mutations that led to pigs that lack immune systems Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:03 AM PDT Animal science researchers have identified a pair of genetic mutations that cause immune deficiencies in pigs that make them uniquely good models for testing potential medical therapies for people. The work advances previous research on pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency.

Special class of T cells shown to both attack cancer cells and enlist other immune cells Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:03 AM PDT New insights about a subset of T cells has been shared by researchers, that suggest that they appear to both inhibit cancer growth and enhance the tumor-killing powers of other immune cells.

Using experts 'inexpertly' can lead to policy failure Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT Expert advice can often be compromised by human frailties -- like their current mood or what their values are -- and should be treated accordingly, experts say.

Dreams turned off and on with a neural switch Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT In dream or REM sleep, brain activity is more like awake than non-REM activity, and muscles are paralyzed. Various regions of the brain affect REM sleep, but neuroscientists have found a group of neurons in the medulla that seem to play a key role. Activating them makes mice go immediately into REM sleep, while inactivating them abolishes it. REM control could be useful for researchers studying the function of sleep in animals.

How to fall gracefully, if you're a robot Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT Researchers have identified a way to teach robots how to fall with grace and without serious damage. The new algorithm tells a robot how to react to a wide variety of falls -- from a single step to recover from a gentle nudge, to a rolling motion that breaks a high-speed fall.

New potential indirect effects of humans on water quality Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT A newly studied class of water contaminants that is known to be toxic and hormone disrupting to marine animals is present, researchers say, likely due in part to indirect effects of human activity.

How can plants utilize hardly digestible organic phosphorus? Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT Researchers have conducted a unique bioengineering experiment: phytase gene of Pantoea agglomerans (Gram-negative and known to be an opportunistic pathogen) was transplanted to Arabidopsis thaliana weed in order to increase the plant's ability to break down highly stable and insoluble phosphorus compounds.

Sex pheromone assembly line in Manduca sexta Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:01 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new evolutionary mechanism: A single amino acid change in a female moth enzyme is responsible for the production of new sex pheromones. The susceptibility of desaturases to major shifts in their specificities, due to minor mutations, may contribute to the divergence in moth pheromone communication and the evolution of new insect species.

Shape of a pipe dramatically affects how pollutants will spread Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:00 AM PDT The shape of a pipe has a large effect on the spreading of particles suspended in the fluid flowing through the pipe. Calculations show that round pipes produce symmetrical spreading along the flow direction, whereas rectangular pipes give an asymmetry.

Patterning oxide nanopillars at the atomic scale by phase transformation Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:00 AM PDT Scientists have carried out a study aimed at precisely controlling phase transformations with high spatial precision, which represents a significant step forward in realizing new functionalities in confined dimensions. Such a precise control of phase transformations opens up new avenues for materials design and processing, as well as advanced nanodevice fabrication.

Shining light on orphan receptors Posted: 15 Oct 2015 09:00 AM PDT Light has been used for the first time to activate a receptor for which the compound binding and controlling it naturally is unknown, researchers suggests. A team of scientists has now employed its novel application of optogenetics to identify a new compound that inhibits the orphan receptor ROS1, which has been linked to several forms of cancer.

Quantum physics meets genetic engineering Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:59 AM PDT A team of researchers has used engineered viruses to provide quantum-based enhancement of energy transport. The work points the way toward inexpensive and efficient solar cells or light-driven catalysis.

Mutations driving leukemia identified Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT An international team of scientists has identified novel genes associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia through the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.

Towards a favorable systemic radio-immunotherapy target Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT Survival probability of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has improved significantly over the past two decades. Monoclonal antibodies against targeted proteins on Reed-Sternberg cells in HL though a popular choice for immunotherapy have yet to demonstrate complete responses. In a new study, researchers have considered the ripple effects of 90Y-daclizumab, a drug which targets CD25+ tumor cells in Hodgkin's Lymphoma during radio-immunotherapy. The results demonstrated 30.4 percent complete and 19.6 percent partial responses in HL patients.

When punishment doesn't fit the crime Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT People with traumatic brain injuries -- such as those incurred from violent accidents or combat -- are more prone to misjudge when faced with situations involving dispute or requiring discipline, new research indicates.

What's behind your thirst? Discovery advances our understanding of how our brain controls body hydration, temperature Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT Scientists have made a breakthrough that advances our understanding of how the brain detects and prevents dehydration. The findings could have important clinical implications, as the key protein they discovered could be a target for the development of treatments and diagnostic tests for many health problems associated with the imbalance of bodily fluids.

Tiny plant shows us how living things cope with big changes Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT A small freshwater plant that has evolved to live in harsh seawater is giving scientists insight into how living things adapt to changes in their environment. In adapting to new surroundings, organisms must develop ways to perform everyday functions, such as securing food and oxygen, and reproducing. The latest study is one of the first to track such a significant lifestyle transition in the lab, instead of relying on fossil clues.

New avenue for combating deterioration in blood stem cells Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:57 AM PDT Using mouse embryos, researchers have replicated the deterioration with aging of blood stem cells, particularly red blood cells, and were able to alleviate the fetal anemia suffered by the mouse embryos and prevent death in 40 percent of the cases. This is a first step towards the development of potential treatments for anemia caused by a deficient activity of these stem cells, such as the aplastic anemia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Scientists develop genetic blueprint of inner ear cell development Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:48 AM PDT Using a sensitive new technology called single-cell RNA-seq on cells from mice, scientists have created the first high-resolution gene expression map of the newborn mouse inner ear. The findings provide new insight into how epithelial cells in the inner ear develop and differentiate into specialized cells that serve critical functions for hearing and maintaining balance.

Yoga in jails helps make better fathers Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:48 AM PDT Yoga can help fathers in jail be better dads, new research shows.

Researchers identify a new culprit behind fibrosis Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:48 AM PDT A new molecule has been identified by researchers that involves skin fibrosis, a life-threatening disease characterized by the inflammation and hardening of skin tissue. The new study is the first to investigate the role of this molecule in skin fibrosis and paves the way toward new and improved therapies for the disease.

Rare mutation may extend survival in lung cancer patients with brain metastases Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:48 AM PDT Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to the brain have a dire prognosis. But researchers have identified a subset of those patients with a rare genetic mutation who are living significantly longer than patients without the mutation.

Test helps identify patients for home monitoring device for progression of age-related macular degeneration Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:47 AM PDT Use of a qualification test within a retinal practice appeared to be effective in predicting which patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration would be good candidates to initiate use of a home monitoring device for progression to more severe AMD, according to a study.

Shift in weaning age supports hunting-induced extinction of Siberian woolly mammoths Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:47 AM PDT Chemical clues about weaning age embedded in the tusks of juvenile Siberian woolly mammoths suggest that hunting, rather than climate change, was the primary cause of the elephant-like animal's extinction.

Research could revolutionize farming in developing world Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:10 AM PDT A brand new technology has the potential to reduce crop losses across the developing world and boost the incomes of subsistence farmers, report scientists. The technology is designed to combat parasitic 'nematodes' - microscopic worms which infect crop plants from the soil, and are responsible for a 12.3% reduction in global agricultural productivity, a loss of around £100 billion annually.

Sex and sea turtles: New study reveals impact of climate change, sea level rise Posted: 15 Oct 2015 08:10 AM PDT Because sea turtles don't have an X or Y chromosome, their sex is defined during development by the incubation environment. Warmer conditions produce females and cooler conditions produce males. The shift in climate is shifting turtles as well, because as the temperature of their nests change so do their reproduction patterns.

Biochar can boost crops in west africa: Soil conditioner for agriculture in cities Posted: 15 Oct 2015 07:42 AM PDT In West Africa, many farmers move to the cities, where they cultivate soils, many of which are not very fertile. An international research team involved in the "Urban FoodPlus" project is looking for ways of boosting crop yields. In their experiments, they have identified biochar as an effective agent. It can be manufactured from crop residues at low costs.

Mini DNA sequencer tests true Posted: 15 Oct 2015 07:42 AM PDT Public access to Oxford Nanopore's MinION™ miniature sensing device has enabled an international consortium to evaluate the technology and provide a standard protocol for its use. Preliminary analysis of data generated in five very different laboratories indicates the performance and accuracy of the device is consistently good. Data are freely available for re-analysis and innovation in the Nanopore analysis channel on F1000Research.

For children with rare genetic disorder, more extensive epilepsy surgery yields better seizure control Posted: 15 Oct 2015 07:42 AM PDT Children with the genetic disorder tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) often need epilepsy surgery for severe, uncontrollable seizures. A new study finds that seizure control is improved for patients undergoing more extensive surgery.

Researchers link organ transplant drug to rise in rare lymphoma Posted: 15 Oct 2015 05:46 AM PDT The immunosuppressive drug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been linked by a researcher to an increased risk of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma in solid organ transplant patients, suggests a new report.

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