ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Studies point to clinical advantages of proton therapy
• Cyclic healing removes defects in metals while maintaining strength
• Study finds existence of protein in blood can be early predictor of kidney disease
• New mathematical method reveals structure in neural activity in the brain
• Fossils reveal humans were greater threat than climate change to Caribbean wildlife
• NASA studying 2015 El Nino event as never before
• Monkey model discovery could spur CMV vaccine development
• Firstborn, middle child, or last-born: Birth order has only very small effects on personality
• Life on Earth likely started 4.1 billion years ago, much earlier than scientists thought
• Poisonous frogs more likely to face extinction, study finds
• Gene could hold key to treating Parkinson's disease
• Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap
• Genomic ancestry linked to mate selection
• Queen or worker? Flexibility between roles relies on just a few genes
• Stressed dads affect offspring brain development through sperm microRNA
• Regrow a tooth? Fish, yes; humans, maybe some day
• Holocaust survivors' memories help researchers map brain circuitry for gratitude
• Significant nonmedical financial burden for families after child admitted to ICU
• New approach toward a broad spectrum malaria vaccine
• Solvents save steps in solar cell manufacturing
• Burnout, depression: Two entities or one?
• Are cars nanotube factories on wheels?
• Electronics get a power boost with the addition of a simple material
• Researchers project long-term effects of climate change, deforestation on Himalayan mountain basins
• Antiplatelet therapy with blood thinners reduces mortality for angioplasty patients
• Low household income can increase risk of death after heart surgery
• Trial results show that 'health risk assessment' benefits non-disabled elderly people
• Structure of an enzyme complex that plays a vital role in cancer development determined
• Study compares traditional, modern views of aging
• Powerful plastic microscope brings better diagnostic care for world's rural poor
• Biomarker finder adjusts on the fly
• X-citing X chromosome discovery could aid research on many sex-linked disorders
• Case report finds 'popcorn lung' in patient using e-cigarettes
• 3D printing provides low-cost alternative in bronchoscopy simulation training
• More rain leads to fewer trees in the African savanna
• The 20 lb. cereal box: Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weight
• Nanotechnology inspires next-generation dental materials
• What to do to prevent food allergies in infants
• Young babies don't experience tickles in the way you think they do
• Heavy TV watching leads to unhealthy perceptions of fast food health risks
• Whey protein optimization for athletes
• Boosting levels of a key growth factor may help prevent cardiovascular disease
• Genome-edited plants, without DNA
• Physical activity has greater impact on body composition in postmenopausal women
• Pledges by top three greenhouse gas emitters shut out other nations
• High-fat diet may cause changes in brain that lead to anxiety, depression
• The smell of death can trigger fight or flight in humans
• Structure revealed: Plant sugar transporter involved in carbon sequestration
• Experimental treatment regimen effective against HIV
• 'Molecular accordion' drives thermoelectric behavior in promising material
• Determining accurate life expectancy of older adults requires provider, patient discussion
• Orange lichens are potential source for anticancer drugs
• Unintended costs of health-care integration
• Surfing water molecules could hold key to fast, controllable water transport
• Building and breaking synapses
• New, potent way to boost immunity, fight viruses
• Alaskan boreal forest fires release more carbon than the trees can absorb
• Researchers learn how to steer the heart with light
• Research on 377,000 people worldwide highlights the role of genes in eczema
• Some patients in a vegetative state retain awareness, despite being unable to move

Studies point to clinical advantages of proton therapy Posted: 19 Oct 2015 04:18 PM PDT New data from clinical trials demonstrate the technology's potential advantages over conventional radiation, including less side effects and survival in some cases, for several harder-to-treat tumors: pancreatic, late-stage, non-small cell lung and chordoma and chondrosarcoma, two rare cancers found in bone or soft tissue.

Cyclic healing removes defects in metals while maintaining strength Posted: 19 Oct 2015 03:30 PM PDT An international team of researchers has developed a new technique called cyclic healing that uses repetitive, gentle stretching to eliminate pre-existing defects in metal crystals.

Study finds existence of protein in blood can be early predictor of kidney disease Posted: 19 Oct 2015 03:30 PM PDT A new study study has identified the presence of a specific protein in the blood used to look for heart damage. This protein can be an early indicator of end-stage renal disease -- and ultimately death -- in people with hypertension, regardless of race or baseline kidney function.

New mathematical method reveals structure in neural activity in the brain Posted: 19 Oct 2015 03:30 PM PDT A newly-developed mathematical method can detect geometric structure in neural activity in the brain. The method is a first step toward developing a new mathematical toolkit to uncover the structure of neural circuits with unknown function in the brain.

Fossils reveal humans were greater threat than climate change to Caribbean wildlife Posted: 19 Oct 2015 03:28 PM PDT Nearly 100 fossil species pulled from a flooded cave in the Bahamas reveal a true story of persistence against all odds -- at least until the time humans stepped foot on the islands.

NASA studying 2015 El Nino event as never before Posted: 19 Oct 2015 03:28 PM PDT Every two to seven years, an unusually warm pool of water -- known as El Nino, affects the local aquatic environment, but also spurs extreme weather patterns around the world, from flooding in California to droughts in Australia. This winter, the 2015-16 El Nino event will be better observed from space than any previous El Nino.

Monkey model discovery could spur CMV vaccine development Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:47 PM PDT Rhesus monkeys can, in fact, transmit Cytomegalovirus (CMV) across the placenta to their unborn offspring, new research shows. This finding establishes the first primate model that researchers can use to study mother-to-fetus CMV infections and spur development of potential vaccine approaches.

Firstborn, middle child, or last-born: Birth order has only very small effects on personality Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:43 PM PDT Psychologists analyzed central personality traits of over 20,000 grown-ups from Germany, the USA, and Great Britain. Who we become only marginally correlates with our birth position amongst siblings.

Life on Earth likely started 4.1 billion years ago, much earlier than scientists thought Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Geochemists have found probable evidence for life on Earth at least 4.1 billion years ago -- 300 million years earlier than previously documented, pushing the origin of life close to when the planet formed, 4.54 billion years ago.

Poisonous frogs more likely to face extinction, study finds Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Amphibians that use toxins to protect themselves against predators are at a higher risk of extinction than those who use other types of defense, a new study suggests, which poses a challenge to a long-held evolutionary hypothesis.

Gene could hold key to treating Parkinson's disease Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new gene linked to nerve function, which could provide a treatment target for 'switching off' the gene in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT A research team has found that loop-forming proteins inside the human chromosome appear to work like the sliding plastic adjusters on a grade-schooler's backpack. This discovery may allow researchers to reprogram human cells by directly modifying the loops that form in DNA.

Genomic ancestry linked to mate selection Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Genetic ancestry, as well as facial characteristics, may play an important part in who we select as mates, according to a new analysis.

Queen or worker? Flexibility between roles relies on just a few genes Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Two insect species from Latin America, the dinosaur ant and the red paper wasp, have been used to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning queen and worker roles in social insects. The research by an international team of scientists brings us closer to understanding how genomes are used to generate castes in social evolution.

Stressed dads affect offspring brain development through sperm microRNA Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT Researchers have shown at the molecular level how experiencing stress changes a male mouse's sperm in such a way that it affects his offspring's response to stress. This change is imparted epigenetically, or through a means other than the DNA code, by molecules called microRNAs, or miRs.

Regrow a tooth? Fish, yes; humans, maybe some day Posted: 19 Oct 2015 12:41 PM PDT When a Lake Malawi cichlid loses a tooth, a new one drops neatly into place as a replacement. Why can't humans similarly regrow teeth lost to injury or disease?

Holocaust survivors' memories help researchers map brain circuitry for gratitude Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:34 AM PDT Holocaust survivor stories helped a post-doctoral researcher with a series of studies on gratitude and how it functions in the brain. The study sheds new light on a very under-studied subject, said the study's senior author.

Significant nonmedical financial burden for families after child admitted to ICU Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:34 AM PDT Researchers found that families with children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit incurred significant nonmedical, out-of-pocket expenses and demonstrated work absenteeism and inability to perform daily activities, with lowest income brackets bearing the highest burden.

New approach toward a broad spectrum malaria vaccine Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:33 AM PDT Malaria affects millions of people worldwide. Plasmodium falciparum enolase participates in parasite invasion of host red blood cells and mosquito midgut epithelium. Anti-enolase antibodies interfere with the invasion, inhibiting parasite growth and transmission. A pentapeptide insert of parasite enolase, conserved in all Plasmodia species, but absent from host enolases, shows considerable protection against malaria when displayed on Archaeal gas vesicle nanoparticles. A vaccine based on this motif could confer protection against all malaria parasites.

Solvents save steps in solar cell manufacturing Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:33 AM PDT Advances in ultrathin films have made solar panels and semiconductor devices more efficient and less costly, and researchers say they've found a way to manufacture the films more easily, too.

Burnout, depression: Two entities or one? Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:29 AM PDT Burnout and depression overlap considerably, according to the latest study on the subject. The findings are based on a survey taken by 1,386 public school teachers, from pre-K to 12th grade across the United States during the 2013-14 academic year.

Are cars nanotube factories on wheels? Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:29 AM PDT Scientists detect the presence of carbon nanotubes in cells extracted from the airways of Parisian children with asthma. Their results suggest nanotubes may be common components of airborne pollution and vehicles may be a source.

Electronics get a power boost with the addition of a simple material Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:29 AM PDT The tiny transistor is the heart of the electronics revolution, and materials scientists have just discovered a way to give this workhorse a big boost, using a new technique to incorporate vanadium oxide -- a functional oxide -- into the electronic devices.

Researchers project long-term effects of climate change, deforestation on Himalayan mountain basins Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:28 AM PDT As part of an multi-disciplinary study, a team of researchers found that climatic changes, an increase in agricultural land use and population growth in the Himalaya Mountain basins could have negative impacts on water availability, further stressing a region plagued by natural disasters and food insecurity.

Antiplatelet therapy with blood thinners reduces mortality for angioplasty patients Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:27 AM PDT Patients with acute coronary syndrome who have undergone angioplasty have a reduced risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality but an increased risk of bleeding when given glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitors after the procedure, according to a new study.

Low household income can increase risk of death after heart surgery Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:27 AM PDT Low household income was associated with higher risk of death after cardiac surgery in Sweden despite that the entire population has access to free health care, according to a new study.

Trial results show that 'health risk assessment' benefits non-disabled elderly people Posted: 19 Oct 2015 11:27 AM PDT Implementation of a collaborative care model among community-dwelling older people using a health risk assessment instrument resulted in better health behaviors and increased use of preventative care, according to a new study.

Structure of an enzyme complex that plays a vital role in cancer development determined Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:10 AM PDT Researchers have deciphered the long-sought atomic structure of PRC2, an enzyme complex that plays a key role in the development of several types of cancer, in particular blood cancer.

Study compares traditional, modern views of aging Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:10 AM PDT Traditional societies may see the aging process in a more positive light than modern societies, according to a researcher.

Powerful plastic microscope brings better diagnostic care for world's rural poor Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT A plastic, miniature digital fluorescence microscope has been developed that can quantify white blood cell levels in patients located in rural parts of the world that are far removed from the modern laboratory.

Biomarker finder adjusts on the fly Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT Bioengineers have developed a continuously tunable method to locate biomarkers in DNA and RNA. Finding biomarkers is important for the detection of diseases and design of therapies to treat them.

X-citing X chromosome discovery could aid research on many sex-linked disorders Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT A new genetic discovery could help scientists understand exactly how one X chromosome in each cell of a female's body gets 'silenced' -- and perhaps lead to better treatment for X-linked diseases.

Case report finds 'popcorn lung' in patient using e-cigarettes Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT A case report has been presented of acute inhalation lung injury related to the use of e-cigarettes and a flavored e-cigarette liquid containing diacetyl.

3D printing provides low-cost alternative in bronchoscopy simulation training Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT 3D-printed tracheobronchial tree models compared favorably against other more standard models in training pulmonary physicians to perform bronchoscopy, researchers have found. The study compared the two models based on realism, accuracy, look and feel, and overall usefulness as a teaching tool. Currently, most simulation centers use models that are more expensive than 3-D-printed models and fail to capture the subtle anatomical details of the airways.

More rain leads to fewer trees in the African savanna Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:08 AM PDT Researchers might have finally provided a solution to the ecological riddle of why tree abundance on Africa's grassy savannas diminishes in response to heavy rainfall despite scientists' expectations to the contrary. The researchers found that the ability of grasses to more efficiently absorb and process water gives them an advantage over trees. This raises concerns that the heavy tropical rains that could accompany climate change may lead to fewer trees on savannas.

The 20 lb. cereal box: Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weight Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:07 AM PDT Over 200 American kitchens were photographed to determine if the food sitting out on counters could predict the weight of the woman living in each home.

Nanotechnology inspires next-generation dental materials Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:07 AM PDT Have a cavity? Ask your dentist about filling it with a mixture of nanoparticles including silica and zirconia. These white fillings resemble teeth better than their metal alternatives and are less likely to come loose or fracture teeth. This is just the beginning argue scientists in a review of 'nanodentistry.' Next-generation dental materials incorporating nanotechnology aim to help teeth self-heal, rebuild enamel, and protect against bacterial infections.

What to do to prevent food allergies in infants Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:07 AM PDT With food allergies in children on the rise, parents often ask the question, How do I prevent food allergies in my baby? A new review, based on the latest evidence, interprets new evidence to guide physicians and families regarding food introduction and allergy prevention.

Young babies don't experience tickles in the way you think they do Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:07 AM PDT When you tickle the toes of newborn babies, the experience for them isn't quite as you would imagine it to be. That's because, according to new evidence, infants in the first four months of life apparently feel that touch and wiggle their feet without connecting the sensation to you.

Heavy TV watching leads to unhealthy perceptions of fast food health risks Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:40 AM PDT The amount of TV adolescents watch is likely to bias their views about the consequences of eating fast food, suggests new research. Investigators surveyed over 1,000 teenagers who reported hours of TV viewing, beliefs about the consequences of eating fast food, and their frequency of fast food consumption.

Whey protein optimization for athletes Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT While whey protein supplementation helps athletes build lean body mass, progress can be stifled by overlooking a key facet of training: muscle recovery. New research tests a whey protein supplement fortified with compounds designed to aid in muscle recovery following highly demanding resistance exercise.

Boosting levels of a key growth factor may help prevent cardiovascular disease Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT New research indicates that low levels of a growth factor called stem cell factor (SCF)—which is thought to be important for blood vessel repair—are linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In a study of 384 patients with a first coronary event and 409 event-free individuals, SCF measurements had a predictive value that was in the same range as that of established cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL and HDL cholesterol. Moreover, smokers and diabetics had reduced levels of SCF in the circulation, and low blood levels of the growth factor were associated with more severe disease among patients with atherosclerosis.

Genome-edited plants, without DNA Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:37 AM PDT The public and scientists are at odds over the safety of genetically modified (GM) food. According to a January 2015 Pew Research Center report, only 37% of the public believe that GM foods are safe,which is in stark contrast to the support from 88% of scientists. There is concern that adding DNA of different species will lead to unintended, undesirable consequences. Scientists have now created a way to genetically modify plants using CRISPR-Cas9 without the addition of DNA. Because no DNA is used in this process, the resulting genome-edited plants could likely be exempt from current GMO regulations and given a warmer reception by the public.

Physical activity has greater impact on body composition in postmenopausal women Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:34 AM PDT Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, regardless of your age. But a new study shows that some types of physical activity have a greater impact on body composition in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women.

Pledges by top three greenhouse gas emitters shut out other nations Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:34 AM PDT Pledges by the three largest emitters -- the United States, the European Union, and China -- leave very little room for the rest of the world to emit, suggests a new article by subject experts.

High-fat diet may cause changes in brain that lead to anxiety, depression Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:32 AM PDT A new study in mice reveals that increased body weight and high blood sugar as a result of consuming a high-fat diet may cause anxiety and depressive symptoms and measurable changes in the brain.

The smell of death can trigger fight or flight in humans Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:31 AM PDT Psychologists suggest that humans, like other species, can perceive certain scents as threatening.

Structure revealed: Plant sugar transporter involved in carbon sequestration Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:31 AM PDT Plants are surrounded by and closely associated with microbes. The majority of these are beneficial, but some can cause devastating disease. Plants feed these microbes just enough to allow the good ones to grow and prevent the bad ones from gaining strength. This system of microbe-feeding is mediated by proteins called sugar transporters. Researchers have unraveled the molecular structure of SWEET2, a transporter that plays a critical role in limiting the root microbe sugar supply.

Experimental treatment regimen effective against HIV Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:31 AM PDT Protease inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that are commonly used to treat HIV. Scientists have designed a new delivery system for these drugs that, when coupled with another investigational drug, rid immune cells of HIV and kept the virus in check for long periods. While current HIV treatments involve pills that are taken daily, the new regimens' long-lasting effects suggest that HIV treatment could be administered perhaps once or twice per year.

'Molecular accordion' drives thermoelectric behavior in promising material Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT Engines, laptops and power plants generate waste heat. Thermoelectric materials, which convert temperature gradients to electricity and vice versa, can recover some of that heat and improve energy efficiency. Scientists have explored the fundamental physics of the world's best thermoelectric material -- tin selenide -- using neutron scattering and computer simulations. Their work may aid energy sustainability and design of materials that convert heat into electricity.

Determining accurate life expectancy of older adults requires provider, patient discussion Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT Health care providers must have detailed discussions with their older adult patients to better determine their true life expectancy, according to researchers.

Orange lichens are potential source for anticancer drugs Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT An orange pigment found in lichens and rhubarb called parietin may have potential as an anti-cancer drug because it interferes with the metabolic enzyme 6PGD, scientists have discovered.

Unintended costs of health-care integration Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT As hospital acquisition of physician practices has led to more physicians becoming employees of hospitals, prices have gone up, with no offsetting evidence of greater efficiency.

Surfing water molecules could hold key to fast, controllable water transport Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new and potentially faster way of moving molecules across the surfaces of certain materials. The team carried out sophisticated computer simulations of tiny droplets of water as they interact with graphene surfaces. These simulations reveal that the molecules can "surf" across the surface whilst being carried by the moving ripples of graphene.

Building and breaking synapses Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a protein that's involved in helping control the architecture of connections between neurons -- a basic process involved in both healthy and diseased brains.

New, potent way to boost immunity, fight viruses Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:29 AM PDT Studying mice with a variety of viral infections, scientists have demonstrated a way to dial up the body's innate immune defenses while simultaneously attacking a protein that many viruses rely on to replicate.

Alaskan boreal forest fires release more carbon than the trees can absorb Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:24 AM PDT A new analysis of fire activity in Alaska's Yukon Flats finds that so many forest fires are occurring there that the area has become a net exporter of carbon to the atmosphere. This is worrisome, the researchers say, because arctic and subarctic boreal forests like those of the Yukon Flats contain roughly one-third of the Earth's terrestrial carbon stores.

Researchers learn how to steer the heart with light Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:24 AM PDT We depend on electrical waves to regulate the rhythm of our heartbeat. When those signals go awry, the result is a potentially fatal arrhythmia. Now, a team of researchers has found a way to precisely control these waves -- using light.

Research on 377,000 people worldwide highlights the role of genes in eczema Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:24 AM PDT In the largest genetic study of eczema in the world to date, a group of international researchers has combined data on 377,000 participants in 40 research studies worldwide, including the Bristol-based Children of the 90s, to identify 10 new genetic variants related to eczema.

Some patients in a vegetative state retain awareness, despite being unable to move Posted: 19 Oct 2015 09:24 AM PDT New insight into a vital cerebral pathway has explained how some patients in a vegetative state are aware despite appearing to be unconscious and being behaviorally unresponsive.

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