ScienceDaily: Top News

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• A man’s best friend: Study shows dogs can recognize human emotions
• Pre-pregnancy potato consumption may be linked to gestational diabetes risk
• Real-time fishery management significantly reduces bycatch
• Runaway stars leave infrared waves
• From a cotton seed to a potential cancer drug
• Parents in dark about using epinephrine for kids’ food allergies
• New geological evidence aids tsunami hazard assessments from Alaska to Hawaii
• Cultural look at moral purity: Wiping the face clean
• Simplified artesunate regimen is non-inferior to WHO-recommended malaria treatment
• Fanconi Anemia: Genetic disease breakthrough announced
• Important associations between genetics, sleep behavior identified by study
• Why prostate cancer is more aggressive in obese patients
• Researchers work on lowering greenhouse gas emissions from poultry houses
• Colorectal cancer more likely to affect minorities at younger age
• Mountains west of Boulder continue to lose ice as climate warms
• Grazing towards sustainability
• Spider web research shows promise for noninvasive genetic sampling
• Uncovering oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs
• Long-term benefits of improving your toddler's memory skills
• Most energetic light ever observed from a few kilometers large star
• NASA's Terra satellite spots record-breaking Hurricane Pali
• Basic ratio capacity may serve as building block for math knowledge
• Long-term opioid use associated with increased risk of depression
• DNA supply chain explained
• Revealed: The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold
• Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans
• Racial disparity in premature births contributes significantly to infant mortality problem
• Tough times for the tree of life on coral reefs
• Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy
• Source of stem cells used for bone marrow failure treatment varies worldwide
• Scientists discover why X chromosome lacks 'housekeeping genes'
• Sedentary behavior linked to poor health in adults with severe obesity
• New images of dwarf planet Ceres
• Atherosclerosis is Alzheimer's disease of blood vessels, study suggests
• Untapped region in brain cell offers goldmine of drug targets for new autism treatments
• Cocaine addiction: Scientists discover 'back door' into the brain
• Overwhelming evidence? It's probably a bad thing
• Abrupt excitation phenomenon in high-temperature plasma
• How black men can succeed in IT careers
• Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function
• Improving catalysis through nanoconcentrator systems
• Two new species of frogs are discovered in Madagascar
• Neils help removing epigenetic marks
• New twists in the diffraction of intense laser light
• People who experience rage attacks have smaller 'emotional brains'
• Key to the development of fundamental treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease
• Acidification affects the ability of bacteria to clean our oceans
• Conflict among honey bee genes supports theory of altruism
• Biomarker can predict risk of preterm birth from first half of pregnancy
• Innate immune defenses triggered by unsuspected mechanism
• Use small plates to lose weight
• Preventing food waste better strategy than turning it into biogas
• Brain receptor regulates fat burning in cells
• Inflammation markers could guide depression treatments
• Gut reaction: Smart pill smells out the body's fiber factor
• New type of antidepressant found to act quickly in mice
• Newly identified enzyme may be the culprit in Pierce's disease grapevine damage
• Heart valves made from tissue rather than metal may be better for middle-aged patients
• Taking statins before heart surgery can help reduce post-surgical complications
• Even small reductions in kidney function may damage heart, blood vessels

A man’s best friend: Study shows dogs can recognize human emotions Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:45 PM PST Dogs can recognize emotions in humans by combining information from different senses -- an ability that has never previously been observed outside of humans, a new study published today reveals.

Pre-pregnancy potato consumption may be linked to gestational diabetes risk Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:44 PM PST Women who eat more potatoes before pregnancy may have higher rates of gestational diabetes -- the form that occurs during pregnancy -- compared to women who consume fewer potatoes, suggests a new study. The researchers propose that substituting potatoes with other vegetables, legumes or whole grains may help lower gestational diabetes risk.

Real-time fishery management significantly reduces bycatch Posted: 12 Jan 2016 01:09 PM PST Using real-time ocean management to regulate fisheries can significantly reduce accidental bycatch with less economic impact on fishermen, a study finds. By comparing results from six types of fishery closures commonly used to reduce bycatch, the study shows that dynamic closures, which typically close smaller areas for shorter periods based on fine-scale assessments of changing conditions, reduce bycatch up to three times more efficiently than closing large areas for longer times.

Runaway stars leave infrared waves Posted: 12 Jan 2016 01:09 PM PST Astronomers have discovered roughly 100 of the fastest-moving stars in the Milky Way galaxy with the aid of images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, and use of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory on Jelm Mountain near Laramie, Wyo.

From a cotton seed to a potential cancer drug Posted: 12 Jan 2016 11:46 AM PST Researchers are studying gossypol, a natural compound currently going through early phase clinical trials for prostate cancer. Gossypol is a natural component found in the cotton plant. The compound is currently going through early phase clinical trials for prostate cancer.

Parents in dark about using epinephrine for kids’ food allergies Posted: 12 Jan 2016 11:46 AM PST When a child has a food allergy, it's critical for pediatricians and allergists to show parents when and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector and to provide a written emergency food allergy action plan for home and school. But many parents say doctors don't give them this potentially lifesaving information about their children's emergency care, a new study reports. This communication gap needs to be fixed, researchers said.

New geological evidence aids tsunami hazard assessments from Alaska to Hawaii Posted: 12 Jan 2016 11:44 AM PST Prevailing scientific models about earthquake generation are challenged when it comes to forecasting earthquake probabilities where observations indicate a creeping megathrust (the gently-dipping fault between converging tectonic plates, where one plate is thrust below the other). New geological evidence aids tsunami hazard assessments from Alaska to Hawaii.

Cultural look at moral purity: Wiping the face clean Posted: 12 Jan 2016 11:44 AM PST Moral purity is both universal and culturally variable. Its existence is found East and West. But the specific form of purification may differ from one culture to another. Whether people should wipe their hands or face clean -- or rinse their mouth, or shampoo their hair, or wash their feet -- is likely to depend on the cultural meanings attached to each body part.

Simplified artesunate regimen is non-inferior to WHO-recommended malaria treatment Posted: 12 Jan 2016 11:44 AM PST In African children, a 3-dose intramuscular artesunate regimen is non-inferior to the WHO-recommended regimen for the treatment of severe malaria, according to a trial. The trial did not show non-inferiority of a similar 3-dose intravenous regimen.

Fanconi Anemia: Genetic disease breakthrough announced Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:57 AM PST A team of investigators has established the cause of a rare syndrome consistent with Fanconi Anemia, a chromosome instability disorder which is clinically typified by birth defects, bone marrow failure, leukemia, and susceptibility to solid tumors.

Important associations between genetics, sleep behavior identified by study Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:57 AM PST A research initiative exploring the utility of genetic information in the clinical setting has published a study and identified six noteworthy genes that affect human sleep duration. The focus of the paper was to identify the genes associated with sleep duration and validate the connection between sleep and several demographic and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, weight, ethnicity, exercise, smoking and alcohol.

Why prostate cancer is more aggressive in obese patients Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST Obesity has direct consequences on health and is associated with the onset of aggressive cancers, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are little known. Researchers have recently elucidated one of these mechanisms in prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men: in obese patients, the adipose tissue surrounding the prostate gland facilitates the propagation of tumor cells outside the prostate.

Researchers work on lowering greenhouse gas emissions from poultry houses Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST A research team is looking at how adding alum as an amendment to poultry litter reduces ammonia and greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions, specifically carbon dioxide, in poultry houses.

Colorectal cancer more likely to affect minorities at younger age Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The chance of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. Now, a study shows that minority and ethnic groups are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at younger ages and more advanced stages than non-Hispanic whites.

Mountains west of Boulder continue to lose ice as climate warms Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST New research indicates an ongoing loss of ice on Niwot Ridge and the adjacent Green Lakes Valley in the high mountains west of Boulder is likely to progress as the climate continues to warm.

Grazing towards sustainability Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:55 AM PST The benefits of utilizing pasture and robust cows over high-yield, intensive systems will be the focus of a seminar. An important part of this work is the collaboration not just with scientists but also farmers. This is to ensure that knowledge from farmers contributes to the research agenda and dissemination of best practices and vice versa.

Spider web research shows promise for noninvasive genetic sampling Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Using web samples from black widow spiders fed with crickets, researchers have successfully used DNA samples to identify both the spider and the species of its prey.

Uncovering oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Last week, an international group of researchers shed light on oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs and reported that the quantity and location of oxygen in gallium nitride (GaN) can be fine-tuned to improve the optical performance of europium-doped GaN devices.

Long-term benefits of improving your toddler's memory skills Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Preschoolers who score lower on a memory task are likely to score higher on a dropout risk scale at the age of 12, new research shows. In a new article, the authors offer suggestions for how parents can help kids improve their kid's memory.

Most energetic light ever observed from a few kilometers large star Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Scientists working with the Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) observatory have reported the discovery of the most energetic pulsed emission radiation ever detected from the neutron star in the center of the supernova of 1054 A.D., known as the Crab pulsar.

NASA's Terra satellite spots record-breaking Hurricane Pali Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Shortly after NASA's Terra satellite passed over Tropical Storm Pali it strengthened into a record-breaking hurricane.

Basic ratio capacity may serve as building block for math knowledge Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Understanding fractions is a critical mathematical ability, and yet it's one that continues to confound a lot of people well into adulthood. New research finds evidence for an innate ratio processing ability that may play a role in determining our aptitude for understanding fractions and other formal mathematical concepts.

Long-term opioid use associated with increased risk of depression Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Opioids may cause short-term improvement in mood, but long-term use imposes risk of new-onset depression, a new study shows. The link was independent of the known contribution of pain to depression, and the study calls on clinicians to consider the contribution of opioid use when depressed mood develops in their patients.

DNA supply chain explained Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Cell survival depends on having a plentiful and balanced pool of the four chemical building blocks that make up DNA. However, if too many of these components pile up, or if their usual ratio is disrupted, that can be deadly for the cell. Chemists have discovered how a single enzyme maintains a cell's pool of DNA building blocks.

Revealed: The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST The freaky, flexible coils of the UTI bacterium let it survive where others cannot. But researchers have unlocked its secrets, advancing the effort to block it from setting up shop in the urinary tract.

Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST Research on Bengalese finches showed that each of their vocal muscles can change its function to help produce different parameters of sounds, in a manner similar to that of a trained opera singer.

Racial disparity in premature births contributes significantly to infant mortality problem Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST Black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to have a baby born between 16 and 22 weeks gestation, a time period in which the life of a baby outside the womb is not viable. The racial disparity in what are known as 'previable' preterm births may explain much of the racial disparity in infant mortality.

Tough times for the tree of life on coral reefs Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST Marine scientists are calling for a re-think of how marine protected areas are planned and coordinated, following a global assessment of the conservation of tropical corals and fishes. Researchers have analyzed the extent to which the evolutionary histories of corals and fishes are protected, rather than looking at individual species.

Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST Clouds play a bigger role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet than was previously assumed. Compared to clear skies, clouds enhance the meltwater runoff by a third, an international team of researchers has discovered.

Source of stem cells used for bone marrow failure treatment varies worldwide Posted: 12 Jan 2016 09:48 AM PST The use of peripheral blood stem cells and bone marrow as stem cell sources for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with bone marrow failure has been the focus of recent research. Authors studied the factors associated with the use of each stem cell source.

Scientists discover why X chromosome lacks 'housekeeping genes' Posted: 12 Jan 2016 08:36 AM PST In humans, males have XY chromosomes, females have XX but only one of these is active, meaning that both sexes only have one active copy of the X chromosome. A team of researchers studying the evolution of the X chromosome has discovered why it contains such an unusual mixture of genes.

Sedentary behavior linked to poor health in adults with severe obesity Posted: 12 Jan 2016 08:36 AM PST Sedentary behavior is associated with poor cardiovascular health and diabetes in adults with severe obesity, independent of how much exercise they perform, a study showed for the first time. For every hour spent sitting in 10-minute bouts, odds of diabetes increased 15 percent.

New images of dwarf planet Ceres Posted: 12 Jan 2016 08:29 AM PST Features on dwarf planet Ceres that piqued the interest of scientists throughout 2015 stand out in exquisite detail in the latest images from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which recently reached its lowest-ever altitude at Ceres.

Atherosclerosis is Alzheimer's disease of blood vessels, study suggests Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:22 AM PST In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up on the inner walls of arteries that deliver blood to the body. Studying mice and tissue samples from the arteries of patients, researchers now suggest this accumulation is driven, at least in part, by processes similar to the plaque formation implicated in brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Untapped region in brain cell offers goldmine of drug targets for new autism treatments Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:20 AM PST Scientists have discovered that an overlooked region in brain cells houses a motherlode of mutated genes previously tied to autism. The finding could provide fresh drug targets and lead to new therapies for the disorder, which affects one in 68 children in the United States.

Cocaine addiction: Scientists discover 'back door' into the brain Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:20 AM PST Individuals addicted to cocaine may have difficulty in controlling their addiction because of a previously-unknown 'back door' into the brain, circumventing their self-control, suggests a new study.

Overwhelming evidence? It's probably a bad thing Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:20 AM PST The old adage that says 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is' has finally been put to the test -- mathematically. A team of researchers has found that overwhelming evidence without a dissenting opinion can in fact weaken the credibility of a case, or point to a failure of the system.

Abrupt excitation phenomenon in high-temperature plasma Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:20 AM PST In the Large Helical Device (LHD) at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Japan, researchers have discovered the new phenomenon of abrupt excitation of fluctuations, and they and have clarified the mechanism of this phenomenon.

How black men can succeed in IT careers Posted: 12 Jan 2016 07:20 AM PST Expanding the range of black men's career options in an increasingly technology-oriented world will help alleviate high unemployment and poverty they often experience, according to a study examining the career paths of successful black men in college.

Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:35 AM PST A hormone that extends lifespan in mice by 40% is produced by specialized cells in the thymus gland, according to a new study. The team also found that increasing the levels of this hormone, called FGF21, protects against the loss of immune function that comes with age.

Improving catalysis through nanoconcentrator systems Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:19 AM PST A new approach in enhancing catalytic performance has been developed by scientists. In a new article, they present functionalized, self-assembled nanospheres that enable highly efficient catalytic conversion by acting as 'nanocentrators'.

Two new species of frogs are discovered in Madagascar Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:19 AM PST The Tsaratanana Massif –the highest mountain on Madagascar and one of the island's most remote regions– is home to several indigenous species. Yet, the majority of these species remain unknown to science due to the fact that this woodland area is difficult to reach. Thanks to a European expedition to this area, however, a group of scientists has discovered, among other species, two new species of very elusive frogs that live on the forest floor.

Neils help removing epigenetic marks Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:19 AM PST Two proteins have been identified that are important for the demethylation of DNA, report investigators.

New twists in the diffraction of intense laser light Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:18 AM PST A discovery could have a major impact on advancing smaller, cheaper, laser-driven particle accelerators -- and their potential applications.

People who experience rage attacks have smaller 'emotional brains' Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:18 AM PST Neuroimaging studies suggest that frontolimbic regions of the brain, structures that regulate emotions, play an important role in the biology of aggressive behavior. A new article reports that individuals with intermittent explosive disorder (IED) have significantly lower gray matter volume in these frontolimbic brain structures. In other words, these people have smaller "emotional brains."

Key to the development of fundamental treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:18 AM PST Lewy bodies had been considered to be a key element of pathogenesis for Parkinson's disease. Although structural analysis for Lewy bodies with an electron microscope had been performed, it had no secondary structural information of proteins, which is important for the development of drugs. A research group have now succeeded in elucidating the secondary structure of Lewy bodies in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients for the first time with synchrotron Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy.

Acidification affects the ability of bacteria to clean our oceans Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:18 AM PST Marine bacteria are heavily influenced by the ongoing ocean acidification caused by human emissions of carbon dioxide.

Conflict among honey bee genes supports theory of altruism Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:16 AM PST Using modern genetic approaches, a team of researchers has provided strong support for the long-standing, but hotly debated, evolutionary theory of kin selection, which suggests that altruistic behavior occurs as a way to pass genes to the next generation.

Biomarker can predict risk of preterm birth from first half of pregnancy Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:16 AM PST Offering a standard biomarker test earlier in pregnancy could potentially help doctors to better identify women at risk of giving birth prematurely, thus enabling health services to focus treatments on women at highest risk, according to a new study.

Innate immune defenses triggered by unsuspected mechanism Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:16 AM PST A previously unsuspected mechanism is activated in the presence of pathogens after only a few hours: the activation of thousands of genes in the cells of the innate immune system and the triggering of its immune defenses.

Use small plates to lose weight Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:16 AM PST There are small easy steps that we can take to tackle the burgeoning problem of obesity. One of those solutions is surprisingly simple: use smaller plates.

Preventing food waste better strategy than turning it into biogas Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST Efforts to find alternative sources of energy has more and more municipalities looking at biogas facilities designed to recycle food waste. But encouraging people to work harder to cut food waste instead of collecting food waste and turning it into biogas cuts energy impacts more than biogas production and use, researchers have found.

Brain receptor regulates fat burning in cells Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST An unusual regulator of body weight and the metabolic syndrome has been discovered by researchers: a molecular mechanism more commonly associated with brain cells. Lowering levels of P75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR) -- a receptor involved in neuron growth and survival -- protected mice fed a high-fat diet from developing obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

Inflammation markers could guide depression treatments Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST Depressed patients with signs of systemic inflammation have elevated levels of glutamate in regions of the brain that are important for motivation. These findings suggest which forms of depression may respond best to drugs that target glutamate, such as the anesthetic ketamine.

Gut reaction: Smart pill smells out the body's fiber factor Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST Researchers have conducted the first ever trials of smart pills that can measure intestinal gases inside the body, with surprising results revealing some unexpected ways that fiber affects the gut.

New type of antidepressant found to act quickly in mice Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST The compound CGP3466B, already proven nontoxic for people, may effectively and rapidly treat depression, according to results of a study in mice. Researchers say that the compound -- previously shown to block cocaine craving in the brains of rodents -- delivers antidepressant effects to mice within hours instead of weeks or months, like currently available antidepressants.

Newly identified enzyme may be the culprit in Pierce's disease grapevine damage Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST A newly identified enzyme appears to play a key role in transmitting Pierce's disease from insects to grapevines. The discovery may lead to new diagnostics and preventive treatments for the disease, which costs California's grape and wine industries more than $100 million each year.

Heart valves made from tissue rather than metal may be better for middle-aged patients Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:14 AM PST Patients between the ages of 40 and 70 who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR) may fare better with tissue-based valves rather than metal-based valves, according to a review article.

Taking statins before heart surgery can help reduce post-surgical complications Posted: 12 Jan 2016 06:13 AM PST Using statins before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery can help reduce cardiac complications, such as atrial fibrillation, following surgery and also can reduce the risk of death during and after surgery, according to a review article.

Even small reductions in kidney function may damage heart, blood vessels Posted: 11 Jan 2016 01:27 PM PST Even small reductions in kidney function are associated with heart and blood vessel damage, according to new research.

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