ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Algae virus can jump to mammalian cells
• Genomic study sheds light on protective effects of malaria vaccine candidate
• Dead men punching
• In an urban environment, not all vultures are created equal
• Ocean heat content reveals secrets of fish migration behaviors
• Immune responses provide clues for HIV vaccine development
• Antarctic species threatened by willful misinterpretation of legal treaty
• The power of thank you: Gratitude linked to positive marital outcomes
• Researcher finds key clues about 'betel nut' addiction that plagues millions worldwide
• California 2100: More frequent and more severe droughts and floods likely
• First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss
• New giant tortoise species found in Galapagos
• Beavers take a chunk out of nitrogen in Northeast rivers
• Cats retain multiple functional bitter taste receptors
• Dive of the RoboBee
• For Latinos, African ancestry adds to risk of glaucoma
• New care approach to liver operations speeds patient recovery
• Scientists find cells rhythmically regulate their genes
• Gene therapy could aid weight loss without affecting bone loss, new research finds
• This fish out of water cools down fast
• Test tube foals that could help ensure rare breed survival
• New device improves full-color image projection
• Magneticum Pathfinder: Evolution of the universe in unmatched precision
• Astronomers catch a black hole shredding a star to pieces
• Nano power grids between bacteria
• Synthetic batteries for the energy revolution
• Targeting mutant proteins might be silver bullet for neurodegenerative diseases
• Cosmic 'Death Star' is destroying a planet
• Study reveals how brain multitasks
• Biologists discover bacteria communicate like neurons in the brain
• Antipsychotics use among older adults increases with age
• Teenagers and mutant tomatoes
• Algorithms to improve user-generated recordings
• Scientists predict cool new phase of superionic ice
• Gone with the wind: Migratory birds need less time to travel along longer routes when they optimize for wind support
• Blood pressure medication can't undo all damage
• Worldwide shift in heart medication delivery required
• New technique permits cell-specific examination of proteins in Alzheimer's brain tissue
• Genetic defense for violent crimes could backfire for defendants
• Internet TV means more options, not viewing time, even for binge watchers
• Unmanned hexacopter monitors health of endangered Southern Resident killer whales
• Test could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the brain
• Marijuana use more than doubles from 2001 to 2013; increase in use disorders too
• Parts of Philippines may submerge due to global warming
• Lifestyle, occupational factors that may put truck drivers in danger
• Fish story: Analysts see nations' misuse of 'rational use' when it comes to fishing rights
• 76-million-year-old extinct species of pig-snouted turtle unearthed in Utah
• Tiny DNA building block is identical regardless of species
• Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing
• Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Indication of considerable added benefit
• Provision of mental health care services, not just screenings, critically important for children with food allergies
• New research paves the way to begin developing a computer you can control with your mind
• Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer
• How diet may affect the progression of multiple sclerosis
• Anammox synthesizes 'rocket fuel' hydrazine with special protein
• Different memory resolutions map onto different brain locations
• Staphylococcus aureus Achilles' heel
• Oxygen levels and the rise of fire
• A 'fuzzy' method for interpreting fMRI recordings
• Health economists call for strategies for universal access to medicines

Algae virus can jump to mammalian cells Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT New research provides first direct evidence that an algae-infecting virus can invade and potentially replicate within some mammalian cells. It follows up a 2014 study that found signs of a chlorovirus in throat swabs of human participants.

Genomic study sheds light on protective effects of malaria vaccine candidate Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT An international team of researchers has used cutting edge genomic methods to uncover key biological insights that help explain the protective effects of the world's most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S). Applying highly sensitive sequencing technology to more patient samples than previously tested, the team was able to determine that genetic variation in the protein targeted by RTS,S influences the vaccine's ability to ward off malaria in young children.

Dead men punching Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT Biologists used cadaver arms to punch and slap padded dumbbells in experiments supporting a hotly debated theory that our hands evolved not only for manual dexterity, but also so males could fistfight over females.

In an urban environment, not all vultures are created equal Posted: 21 Oct 2015 03:51 PM PDT Not being picky about your food means you can live just about anywhere, and some vultures are good at adapting to landscape fragmentation caused by humans, but new research shows that different vulture species use city environments in different ways.

Ocean heat content reveals secrets of fish migration behaviors Posted: 21 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT A new method has been developed to estimate fish movements using ocean heat content images, a dataset commonly used in hurricane intensity forecasting. With Atlantic tarpon as the messenger, this is the first study to quantitatively show that large migratory fishes, such as yellowfin and bluefin tunas, blue and white marlin, and sailfish have affinities for ocean fronts and eddies.

Immune responses provide clues for HIV vaccine development Posted: 21 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT Recent research has yielded new information about immune responses associated with -- and potentially responsible for -- protection from HIV infection, providing leads for new strategies to develop an HIV vaccine. Results from the RV144 trial, reported in 2009, provided the first signal of HIV vaccine efficacy: a 31 percent reduction in HIV infection among vaccinees. Since then, an international research consortium has been searching for molecular clues to explain why the vaccine showed this modest protective effect.

Antarctic species threatened by willful misinterpretation of legal treaty Posted: 21 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT Some countries argue that setting up marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean would interfere with their right to 'rational use' of natural resources.

The power of thank you: Gratitude linked to positive marital outcomes Posted: 21 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT A key ingredient to improving couples' marriages might just be gratitude, according to new research.Researchers say they "found that feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last."

Researcher finds key clues about 'betel nut' addiction that plagues millions worldwide Posted: 21 Oct 2015 01:10 PM PDT For hundreds of millions of people around the world, chewing betel nut produces a cheap, quick high but also raises the risk of addiction and oral cancer. Now, new findings reveal how the nut's psychoactive chemical works in the brain and suggest that an addiction treatment may already exist.

California 2100: More frequent and more severe droughts and floods likely Posted: 21 Oct 2015 01:10 PM PDT A new study suggests that the weather patterns known as El Nino and La Nina could lead to at least a doubling of extreme droughts and floods in California later this century.

First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss Posted: 21 Oct 2015 12:18 PM PDT Researchers will launch the first Phase 1 human trials of a drug — derived from the female hormone estrogen — that may help patients with severe bleeding survive long enough to get to appropriate medical care. The drug may have a profound effect on an individual's ability to survive major blood loss.

New giant tortoise species found in Galapagos Posted: 21 Oct 2015 12:13 PM PDT A research team working in the Galapagos Archipelago has discovered there are two species of giant tortoises -- not just one, as had been long believed -- living on the island of Santa Cruz in the center of the Galapagos Archipelago.

Beavers take a chunk out of nitrogen in Northeast rivers Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:47 AM PDT Beavers, once valued for their fur, may soon have more appreciation in the Northeastern United States. There they are helping prevent harmful levels of nitrogen from reaching the area's vulnerable estuaries. By creating ponds that slow down the movement of water, they aid in removing nitrogen from the water.

Cats retain multiple functional bitter taste receptors Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:46 AM PDT Cats have at least seven functional bitter taste receptors, according to a new study. Further, a comparison of cat to related species reveals little relationship between the number of bitter receptors and the extent to which a species consumes plants. Together, the findings question the common hypothesis that bitter taste developed primarily to protect animals from ingesting poisonous plant compounds.

Dive of the RoboBee Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:02 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have demonstrated a flying, swimming, insect-like robot -- paving the way for future duel aerial aquatic robotic vehicles.

For Latinos, African ancestry adds to risk of glaucoma Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:02 AM PDT Latinos with African ancestry are at a higher risk for high pressure within the eye, a condition that if untreated can damage the optic nerve and impair vision, according to a report.

New care approach to liver operations speeds patient recovery Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Patients undergoing oncologic liver operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program returned sooner to their normal life function and adjuvant cancer therapies than patients who were treated with a traditional approach to perioperative care, according to a new study.

Scientists find cells rhythmically regulate their genes Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Even in a calm, unchanging environment, cells are not static. Among other actions, cells activate and then deactivate some types of transcription factors -- proteins that control the expression of genes -- in unpredictable and intermittent pulses. A new study shows that pulsing can allow two proteins to interact in a rhythmic fashion that allows them to control genes. These rhythms may underlie core processes in the cells of organisms across the kingdoms of life.

Gene therapy could aid weight loss without affecting bone loss, new research finds Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT Delivering the hormone leptin directly to the brain through gene therapy aids weight loss without the significant side effect of bone loss, according to new research.

This fish out of water cools down fast Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT The tiny mangrove rivulus fish cools down by jumping out of water, according to a new study. The fish lives in tropical climates, and when the water is warm, will jump out to cool its body temperature down by air-chilling itself. This is an example of evaporative cooling. As temperatures warm in this area due to climate change, this could happen more often, say the researchers.

Test tube foals that could help ensure rare breed survival Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT The recent birth of two test tube foals in the UK, as part of a collaborative project conducted by leading fertility experts, could help benefit rare breed conservation and horses with fertility problems.The births mark the successful completion of a three-year program, the aim of which was to establish and offer advanced breeding methods that are not routinely available in the UK.

New device improves full-color image projection Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT A team of researchers has developed a new way to display full-color images using only two black patterns printed on transparencies affixed to two sides of a prism.

Magneticum Pathfinder: Evolution of the universe in unmatched precision Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:59 AM PDT The world's most elaborate cosmological simulation of the evolution of our universe was recently completed by astrophysicists. For the first time, a hydrodynamic cosmological simulation is large enough to be directly compared with large-scale astronomical surveys. The most comprehensive simulation within the 'Magneticum Pathfinder' project pursues the development of a record number of 180 billion tiny spatial elements in a previously unreached spatial area of 12.5 billion light years.

Astronomers catch a black hole shredding a star to pieces Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT A team of astronomers has observed a tidal disruption event in a galaxy that lies about 290 million light years from Earth. The event is the closest tidal disruption discovered in about a decade.

Nano power grids between bacteria Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT Microorganisms in the sea organize their power supply via tiny power-cables, thus oxidizing the greenhouse gas methane.

Synthetic batteries for the energy revolution Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT A team of researchers made a decisive step towards a redox-flow battery which is simple to handle, safe and economical at the same time: They developed a system on the basis of organic polymers and a harmless saline solution. The new redox-flow battery can withstand up to 10,000 charging cycles without losing a crucial amount of capacity.

Targeting mutant proteins might be silver bullet for neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT A mutant protein has been identified by scientists as culprit in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseases. CMT is a group of hereditary disorders that affects about 1 in every 2,500 people in the United States, making it one of the most common inherited neurological diseases. While different forms of the disease vary in their symptoms and underlying genetic causes, the common thread is that CMT damages the nerves in a person's arms and legs.

Cosmic 'Death Star' is destroying a planet Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT The Death Star of the movie Star Wars may be fictional, but planetary destruction is real. Astronomers announced today that they have spotted a large, rocky object disintegrating in its death spiral around a distant white dwarf star. The discovery also confirms a long-standing theory behind the source of white dwarf 'pollution' by metals.

Study reveals how brain multitasks Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT Researchers report that they have added to evidence that a shell-shaped region in the center of the mammalian brain, known as the thalamic reticular nucleus or TRN, is likely responsible for the ability to routinely and seamlessly multitask.

Biologists discover bacteria communicate like neurons in the brain Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT Biologists have discovered that bacteria -- often viewed as lowly, solitary creatures -- are actually quite sophisticated in their social interactions and communicate with one another through similar electrical signaling mechanisms as neurons in the human brain.

Antipsychotics use among older adults increases with age Posted: 21 Oct 2015 10:56 AM PDT Researchers find antipsychotic use among older adults increases with age despite known health risks. In 2010, more than three quarters of seniors receiving an antipsychotic prescription had no documented clinical psychiatric diagnosis during the year. In addition, among those who did have a diagnosed mental disorder and/or dementia, nearly half of the oldest patients had dementia, regardless of FDA warnings that antipsychotics increase mortality in people with dementia.

Teenagers and mutant tomatoes Posted: 21 Oct 2015 09:06 AM PDT Biology professors and students use tomatoes from campus garden to teach high schools students about genetic diversity. Students learn about dominant and recessive genes and the genetic influence on the characteristics we can see and the ones we cannot. They use Punnett squares to predict gene combinations, discuss the science behind GMO foods, and even extract the DNA from red and purple mutant fruits.

Algorithms to improve user-generated recordings Posted: 21 Oct 2015 09:04 AM PDT Sound quality on phones, video recorders and dictaphones is often poor, distorted or noisy with garbled speech or indistinct music. Now, acoustic scientists have developed new algorithms to improve user-generated recordings, after tests revealed the extent to which consumers are struggling to control quality.

Scientists predict cool new phase of superionic ice Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:52 AM PDT Scientists have predicted a new phase of superionic ice, a special form of ice that could exist on Uranus and Neptune, in a theoretical study performed by a team of researchers.

Gone with the wind: Migratory birds need less time to travel along longer routes when they optimize for wind support Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:52 AM PDT Each year migratory birds travel over thousands of kilometers. In spring and autumn, billions of individuals move from colder and less productive areas across vast distances to warmer and more productive places. To do so, however, it seems that the shortest route does not necessarily grant the fastest journey. Birds can save energy and time if they use wind support.

Blood pressure medication can't undo all damage Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT Patients on antihypertensive medications are still at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, despite controlled numbers. A new study sought to determine whether effective treatment of hypertension could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease to that seen in people who have always had ideal blood pressure levels.

Worldwide shift in heart medication delivery required Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT Many people in the world who need essential heart medicine do not get it, even in rich countries, says new research. A radical change is required in how such medicines are provided and preventative care organized in health care systems, the authors say.

New technique permits cell-specific examination of proteins in Alzheimer's brain tissue Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:51 AM PDT A novel method to examine the structure and function of proteins at the cell level has been developed by researchers, providing greater means to study protein changes found in Alzheimer's disease.

Genetic defense for violent crimes could backfire for defendants Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:50 AM PDT As genetic evidence plays a larger role in the judicial system, psychology research is finding that genetic information is perceived in biased ways. A new study included three experiments with a total of more than 600 participants.

Internet TV means more options, not viewing time, even for binge watchers Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:50 AM PDT The option of watching television online will not influence the amount of time a person spends viewing TV, but it does make the experience more pleasurable, according to a new study.

Unmanned hexacopter monitors health of endangered Southern Resident killer whales Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:50 AM PDT A research team flying a remotely operated hexacopter in Washington's San Juan Islands in September collected high-resolution aerial photogrammetry images of all 81 Southern Resident killer whales that showed the endangered whales in robust condition and that several appear to be pregnant.

Test could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the brain Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:49 AM PDT Women with particularly aggressive forms of breast cancer could be identified by a test that predicts whether the disease is likely to spread to the brain. An analysis of almost 4,000 patients with breast cancer found that testing for high activity in a particular gene could pick out women who were at greater risk of developing secondary brain tumors compared to women who tested negative.

Marijuana use more than doubles from 2001 to 2013; increase in use disorders too Posted: 21 Oct 2015 08:49 AM PDT The estimated prevalence of adults who used marijuana in the past year more than doubled in the United States between 2001 and 2013 to 9.5 percent, according to a new article. As is the case with alcohol, many individuals can use marijuana without becoming addicted. However, the clear risk for marijuana use disorders among users (approximately 30 percent) suggests that as the number of U.S. users grows, so will the numbers of those experiencing problems related to such use.

Parts of Philippines may submerge due to global warming Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:49 AM PDT More than 167,000 hectares of coastland -- about 0.6% of the country's total area -- are projected to go underwater in the Philippines, especially in low-lying island communities, according to recent research.

Lifestyle, occupational factors that may put truck drivers in danger Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:45 AM PDT Truck drivers who are frequently fatigued after work, use cell phones while driving, or have an elevated pulse pressure – a potential predictor of cardiovascular disease - may be at increased risk for getting into truck accidents, according to a study. The findings suggest that characteristics of the profession may put truck drivers at risk.

Fish story: Analysts see nations' misuse of 'rational use' when it comes to fishing rights Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:44 AM PDT The term "rational use," as applied to fishing rights in Antarctic waters, has been misused by certain countries, an analysis by a team of researchers has concluded.

76-million-year-old extinct species of pig-snouted turtle unearthed in Utah Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:44 AM PDT In the 250-million-year evolutionary history of turtles, scientists have seen nothing like the pig nose of a new species of extinct turtle discovered in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Tiny DNA building block is identical regardless of species Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:35 AM PDT The diameter of a single, cylindrical DNA component is always the same, regardless of whether it forms part of a fruit fly, a beech tree, or a human being. This tiny building block in the DNA architecture is part of what is known as the nucleosome. If it is the same in all species, what universal principle or law of nature is in effect?

Cancer-causing parasite may accelerate wound healing Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:33 AM PDT A cancer-causing, parasitic worm could help patients recover from their wounds, say researchers. They report that the parasite could live for decades in the human body, and would have an incentive to keep its host healthy while chewing away at its cells.

Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Indication of considerable added benefit Posted: 21 Oct 2015 07:32 AM PDT Renal insufficiency is less frequent under belatacept than under treatment with ciclosporin A in patients with kidney damage from rejection reactions, say experts.

Provision of mental health care services, not just screenings, critically important for children with food allergies Posted: 21 Oct 2015 06:48 AM PDT Mental health screenings – for anxiety, for example – is routinely recommended by various pediatric societies. Now, findings from a large-scale screening effort in a pediatric food allergy clinic questions the wisdom of such guidelines.

New research paves the way to begin developing a computer you can control with your mind Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:36 AM PDT A team of researchers has been able to predict participants' movements just by analyzing their brain activity. This study is the first human study to look at the neural signals of planned actions that are freely chosen by the participant and could be the first step in the development of brain-computer interfaces.

Alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:36 AM PDT Saying that the link between alcohol and cancer is dangerous is nothing new. Five Spanish universities and more than 300,000 female volunteers participated in a European investigation that is now confirming that alcohol intake increases the chances of developing breast cancer. This risk quadruples with the intake of each daily glass of wine or beer.

How diet may affect the progression of multiple sclerosis Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:36 AM PDT Dietary fatty acids affect the development and progression of autoimmune chronic-inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In a collaborative study, researchers now found that long-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of CNS reactive immune cells in the intestinal wall. On the contrary, short-chain fatty acids promote the development and propagation of regulatory cells in the immune system.

Anammox synthesizes 'rocket fuel' hydrazine with special protein Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:35 AM PDT Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria are known for their ability to convert ammonium into nitrogen gas without using oxygen. The chemical compound hydrazine, also used as rocket fuel and the strongest reductant on earth, is central in this process. An international team of microbiologists now describes the protein that synthesizes hydrazine in anammox in full detail.

Different memory resolutions map onto different brain locations Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:35 AM PDT Neuroscientists have shown that memories of the same events co-exist at different resolutions in the brain. Coarse and fine memory scales are distributed across different parts of the hippocampus, a brain area that plays an important part in memory.

Staphylococcus aureus Achilles' heel Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:35 AM PDT Staphylococcus aureus is both a transient skin colonizer and a formidable human pathogen, ranking amongst the leading causes of skin and soft tissue infections, as well as severe pneumonia. Scientists attempt to work out new strategies to fight against this pathogen, of which numerous strains are now resistant to antibiotic treatments.

Oxygen levels and the rise of fire Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT New research reveals widespread fire occurred on Earth more than 80 million years after plants first invaded the land. The findings indicate that although plants were first detected on land more than 440 million years ago, there is only scant evidence of fire at that time.

A 'fuzzy' method for interpreting fMRI recordings Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT A method for data analysis used in medical diagnostics has been tested for the first time on resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. The method, which relies on "fuzziness," proved to be as robust as the well-known and regularly used sample entropy (SampEn) method but with the advantage of offering greater detail than sample entropy

Health economists call for strategies for universal access to medicines Posted: 21 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT Health economists outline the importance for universal access to medicines in the control of neglected diseases, other major infections, and chronic diseases.

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