ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Tax evasion impacts country credit ratings and lending costs says new study
• Tropical forest protected areas can protect biodiversity
• Intimate partner violence shows bidirectional link with maternal perinatal depression
• How mold on space station flowers is helping get us to Mars
• Is level of education the key factor in finding a match through online dating?
• It's a 3-D printer, but not as we know it
• Watching electrons cool in 30 quadrillionths of a second
• College students whose friends text and drive more likely to do it too, study shows
• Drivers for low-priced solar photovoltaic systems in the United States
• Statement on the importance of insect collections released
• New framework sheds light on how, not if, climate change affects cold-blooded animals
• Defects could improve solar cells, researchers theorize
• Discoveries on women veterans' long-term health outcomes
• Infant-friendly flu vaccine developed with key protein
• Researchers examine effect of return policies on consumer behavior
• Global analysis reveals why many bat populations are in decline
• Airlines aren't learning enough from near misses
• New research on inflammation and cancer
• Study provides insights on sources of environmental contamination following Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
• Young people after Obamacare: Some ER visits down, others way up
• Early agriculture staved off global cooling, mounting evidence suggests
• Post-term delivery raises risk of complications and illness for newborns
• Nearing the limits of life on Earth
• Synthetic biologists use bacterial superglue for faster vaccine development
• Physical attraction linked to genes that control height
• Reproductive, survival benefits of mothers, grandmothers in elephants
• Physicists develop a cooling system for the processors of the future
• 30 percent of global fish catch is unreported, study finds
• Researchers advocate improvements in end-of-life care
• Slow heart rate does not increase risk of heart disease
• Using electrical signals to train the heart's muscle cells
• The tip of an iceburg: Four new fungus gnat species from the Scandinavian north
• Real acupuncture no better than sham acupuncture for treating hot flushes: Study
• Firefighter drone that flies, crawls up walls
• 1,541 snout moth species and counting in the United States and Canada
• Protein 'handbrake' halts leukemia in its tracks
• Diamonds used to 'probe' ancient Earth
• Scientists detect deep carbon emissions associated with continental rifting
• Virtual bone biopsy helps identify why people with diabetes are at risk of bone fractures
• New methods for more energy-efficient internet services
• Psoriasis patients have reduced access to efficient treatment method with age
• New method for converting solar energy into electrical power using photo-bioelectrochemical cells
• Scientists 'artificially evolve' sleeping sickness bacterium
• A sense for infrared light
• Graphene oxide 'paper' changes with strain
• Young whites at elite colleges see Asian-Americans as more competent than other minorities
• Immunity genes could protect some from E. coli while others fall ill
• Most parents say they set limits on teen drivers, but teens don't always think so
• New robotic gripping surface for sensitive devices adds a new dimension to handling: A boost for industry 4.0
• Intensive exercise with intervals 'more effective'
• One-step printing process provides cost-efficient transparent, conductive and patterned coatings for flexible touchscreens
• New mechanism controlling plant root development uncovered
• How dogs see your emotions: Dogs view facial expressions differently
• Swedish capercaillies are becoming real citizens in Brandenburg
• Depression, obesity common among bipolar patients with exhausted stress system
• Size matters: Small units on a big surface results in fewer calories
• New tool puts accurate DNA analysis in fast lane
• A new method to improve the pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian cancer based on ultrasound
• First study of arthropods in US homes finds huge biodiversity
• New gene fault behind ovarian cancer found by scientists

Tax evasion impacts country credit ratings and lending costs says new study Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:32 PM PST High levels of tax evasion are linked to higher interest rates and can be a predictor of a country's credit risk, according to a new study.

Tropical forest protected areas can protect biodiversity Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:15 PM PST In one of the first tests of its kind, researchers use networks of camera traps to chart wildlife population changes, and find species faring well.

Intimate partner violence shows bidirectional link with maternal perinatal depression Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:11 PM PST Intimate partner violence severity has a statistically significant association with depression symptom severity among pregnant women and new mothers living in poor neighborhoods in Cape Town, South Africa, according to a cohort study.

How mold on space station flowers is helping get us to Mars Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:30 AM PST What may seem like a failure in systems is actually an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to better understand how plants grow in microgravity.

Is level of education the key factor in finding a match through online dating? Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:27 AM PST When assessing a future partner, do we rank education as important criteria for success of the match? Age, appearance, intelligence, social status and chemistry are fundamental. But, is education up there with them? Researchers used an online dating field experiment to look closer at the issue, with fascinating results.

It's a 3-D printer, but not as we know it Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:25 AM PST 3-D printing techniques have quickly become some of the most widely used tools to rapidly design and build new components. A team of engineers has developed a new type of 3-D printing that can print composite materials, which are used in many high performance products such as tennis rackets, golf clubs and airplanes. This technology will soon enable a much greater range of things to be 3-D printed at home and at low cost.

Watching electrons cool in 30 quadrillionths of a second Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:22 AM PST Scientists have developed a new way of seeing electrons cool off in an extremely short time period.

College students whose friends text and drive more likely to do it too, study shows Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:22 AM PST Texting while driving is a significant risk factor for automobile collisions, and cell phone use while driving is especially prevalent among young people. More than half (52 percent) of a sample of 861 college students in a recent survey reported that they had texted while driving at least once in the past month. The survey also found that texting drivers were more likely to engage in other risky driving behaviors.

Drivers for low-priced solar photovoltaic systems in the United States Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST The price of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on homes and small businesses spans a wide range, and researchers have published a new study that reveals the key market and system drivers for low-priced PV systems.

Statement on the importance of insect collections released Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST A statement about the value of entomological collections has been issued. It outlines the need to implement protections for these irreplaceable resources.

New framework sheds light on how, not if, climate change affects cold-blooded animals Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST Cold-blooded animals like lizards, insects and fish have a preferred body temperature range at which they hunt, eat, move quickly and reproduce. Fear that a warming climate will constrict this temperature range underlies recent studies that warn of the detrimental effects of climate change on the activity and survival of cold-blooded animals. While not contradicting these warnings, a new paper offers a revised framework that may better answer how activity is affected by temperature.

Defects could improve solar cells, researchers theorize Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST Scientists are studying what may seem paradoxical -- certain defects in silicon solar cells may actually improve their performance. The findings run counter to conventional wisdom, according to a new paper they have published on the topic.

Discoveries on women veterans' long-term health outcomes Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST 13 new articles by Veterans Affairs researchers and colleagues are looking at differences in aging and mortality between veteran and non-veteran women.

Infant-friendly flu vaccine developed with key protein Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST Influenza causes serious illness among millions of people each year, resulting in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Those most at risk include infants younger than six months, because they cannot be vaccinated against the disease. Now, researchers have identified a naturally occurring protein that, when added to the flu vaccine, may offer protection to babies during their first months of life.

Researchers examine effect of return policies on consumer behavior Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST In 2014, product returns totaled about $280 million across all U.S. retailers. New research has examined existing studies on return policies to quantify the policies' effect on consumers' purchase and return behavior.

Global analysis reveals why many bat populations are in decline Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST Many of the 1,300 species of bat are considered to be threatened and declining. A new analysis reveals trends and causes of death in bats around the world, shedding new light on the possible factors underlying population declines.

Airlines aren't learning enough from near misses Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST When it comes to flight safety, US airlines are pretty good at learning from accidents. But new research shows airlines should be learning more from accidents that never happen.

New research on inflammation and cancer Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST An evolutionarily conserved molecular code, present on cell surface adhesion molecules, is a critical regulator of cell motility, recent research demonstrates. For decades scientists have known that human cells must recycle their adhesion receptors to enable cell motility. However, the basis for specifically regulating this in different environmental conditions in the body has not been known. The identified code sequence explains the specificity of receptor turnover.

Study provides insights on sources of environmental contamination following Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST Four years after Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster that led to major releases of radioactivity to environment, questions still remain regarding the original sources of radioactive contamination.

Young people after Obamacare: Some ER visits down, others way up Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:18 AM PST While emergency department visits for young adults ages 19 to 25 decreased slightly overall following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, visits for mental illnesses in this age group increased 'significantly,' as did diseases of the circulatory system, according to a study.

Early agriculture staved off global cooling, mounting evidence suggests Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST Early human agriculture cancelled natural cooling of Earth's climate, new ice core data and other evidence confirm. Earth naturally cycles between cool glacial periods and warmer interglacial periods because of variations in its orbit around the sun. We currently are in an interglacial period, called the Holocene epoch, which began nearly 12,000 years ago.

Post-term delivery raises risk of complications and illness for newborns Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST Post-term deliveries, even among low-risk pregnancies, are associated with increased short-term risks to newborns, including illnesses and infections. The study isolates the post-term due date as a single, influential risk factor for the first time.

Nearing the limits of life on Earth Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST Scientists are looking for life in an area of Antarctica that is thought to be the place on Earth that most closely resembles the permafrost found in the northern polar region of Mars, at the Phoenix landing site. The scientists failed to find any active microbes, suggesting it will be unlikely and difficult to detect similar activity on Mars.

Synthetic biologists use bacterial superglue for faster vaccine development Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST A new technique uses strong isopeptide bonds to link virus-like particles and antigens to create viral vectored vaccines with fewer errors, report scientists at the conclusion of their investigation.

Physical attraction linked to genes that control height Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST Some may believe that chance brings you together with your loved one, but scientists have found a far less romantic reason. Mate choice is influenced by our genes, in part by those responsible for our height.

Reproductive, survival benefits of mothers, grandmothers in elephants Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST Only a few mammals and some birds are as long-lived as humans, and many of these species share interesting characteristics in how they age. A new paper explores lifetime reproductive patterns in African elephants. The study analyzed data from 834 female elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

Physicists develop a cooling system for the processors of the future Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST A solution has been found to the problem of overheating of active plasmonic components. These components will be essential for high-speed data transfer within the optoelectronic microprocessors of the future, say researchers in a new report.

30 percent of global fish catch is unreported, study finds Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST Countries drastically underreport the number of fish caught worldwide, according to a new study, and the numbers obscure a significant decline in the total catch.

Researchers advocate improvements in end-of-life care Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST The case is being made for policies and practices that give terminally ill patients more control over how and where they will die.

Slow heart rate does not increase risk of heart disease Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST Bradycardia -- a slower than normal heartbeat -- does not increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study. The heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times a minute in an adult at rest. But with bradycardia, the heart beats fewer than 50 times a minute. The condition can cause light-headedness, shortness of breath, fainting or chest pain due to the heart not pumping enough oxygen-rich blood through the body.

Using electrical signals to train the heart's muscle cells Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST Electrical stimulation of human heart muscle cells engineered from human stem cells aids their development and function, researchers have demonstrated for the first time. They used electrical signals, designed to mimic those in a developing heart, to regulate and synchronize the beating properties of nascent cardiomyocytes, the cells that support the beating function of the heart.

The tip of an iceburg: Four new fungus gnat species from the Scandinavian north Posted: 19 Jan 2016 08:11 AM PST Although Finland and its climate may not look like a biodiversity hotspot, scientists have recently described as many as four new fungus gnat species there. Three of the species are so far known exclusively from Finnish Lapland, while one of the species has a wider northern range. The names of the new species commemorate a forest researcher, Finnish mythology, Arctic nature and Sami language.

Real acupuncture no better than sham acupuncture for treating hot flushes: Study Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST Traditional Chinese acupuncture treatments are no better than fake acupuncture for treating menopause symptoms, new research reveals. However, in a surprise finding, both the real and sham treatments showed a 40 per cent improvement in the severity and frequency of hot flushes at the end of eight weeks of treatment. The benefits were sustained at six months after treatment.

Firefighter drone that flies, crawls up walls Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST An unmanned aerial vehicle, named the Fireproof Aerial RObot System, has been developed which detects fires in skyscrapers, searches the inside of the building, and transfers data in real time from fire scenes to the ground station.

1,541 snout moth species and counting in the United States and Canada Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST Two snout moth scientists have produced a list of 1,541 species for the United States and Canada. Research publications on these economically important moths over the last 30 years have resulted in changes to the classification, as well as additions such as species new to science, tropical species newly recorded from the United States, and others introduced from Europe and Asia.

Protein 'handbrake' halts leukemia in its tracks Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST Melbourne researchers have showed that they can stop leukemia in its tracks by targeting a protein that puts the handbrake on cancer cell growth.The researchers discovered that targeting a protein called Hhex could cure acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in preclinical disease models, and could be a key target for new therapies for human leukemia.

Diamonds used to 'probe' ancient Earth Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST By using an ion probe to analyze the carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of the Witwatersrand diamond, which have been pristinely preserved for more than three billion years, researchers found that plate tectonics was likely in operation on Earth as early as 3.5 billion years ago.

Scientists detect deep carbon emissions associated with continental rifting Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST Scientists are studying carbon emissions through fault systems in the East African Rift (EAR) in an effort to understand carbon emissions from Earth's interior and how it affects the atmosphere.

Virtual bone biopsy helps identify why people with diabetes are at risk of bone fractures Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST A study using high resolution imaging to create a "virtual bone biopsy" has shed new light on why people with type 2 diabetes are at risk of bone fractures. Researchers used high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) to assess bone structure and strength at a microstructural level in living patients. The images showed that individuals with type 2 diabetes have structural defects within their bones, which could weaken them and go some way to explaining the greater rates of fracture found in older men and women with the disease.

New methods for more energy-efficient internet services Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST Billions of people use the internet, which requires huge data centres and results in an enormous energy consumption. Researchers have now developed techniques and algorithms to manage and schedule the resources in these large data centers at a lower cost, greater efficiently, more reliability and with a lower environmental impact.

Psoriasis patients have reduced access to efficient treatment method with age Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST Age plays a huge role when it comes to patients' access to psoriasis treatment, research shows. Researchers who have examined if patients of varying ages have the same access to the most efficient psoriasis treatment, found that an age increase of 30 years resulted in an average 65 per cent reduction in likelihood of obtaining treatment with biologics.

New method for converting solar energy into electrical power using photo-bioelectrochemical cells Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST A new paradigm for the development of photo-bioelectrochemical cells has been developed.

Scientists 'artificially evolve' sleeping sickness bacterium Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST Scientists are trying to artificially evolve a bacterium linked to the spread of deadly sleeping sickness, African Trypanosomiasis. They aim to better understand the genomics of Sodalis glossinidius, a bacteria which, when present in the gut, allows the Tsetse fly to become a carrier of the parasitic disease.

A sense for infrared light Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST A measuring system for light waves in the near-infrared range has been developed by researchers. The new system can be used for the precise generation of attosecond-duration light bursts for the exploration of atomic systems, as well as for the controlled dynamics of electrons in crystals.

Graphene oxide 'paper' changes with strain Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:28 AM PST The same slip-and-stick mechanism that leads to earthquakes is at work on the molecular level, where it determines the shear plasticity of nanoscale materials, report scientists. Plasticity is the ability of a material to permanently deform when strained. The researchers, thinking about future things like flexible electronics, decided to see how graphene oxide "paper" would handle shear strain, in which the sheets are pulled by the ends.

Young whites at elite colleges see Asian-Americans as more competent than other minorities Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:28 AM PST Asian-Americans are stereotyped as 'cold but competent' -- and more competent than blacks and Hispanics -- by young white students at elite colleges, according to a recent study.

Immunity genes could protect some from E. coli while others fall ill Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:48 AM PST When a child comes home from preschool with a stomach bug that threatens to sideline the whole family for days, why do some members of the family get sick while others are unscathed? According to a new study, a person's resistance to certain germs, specifically E. coli bacteria, could come down to their very DNA.

Most parents say they set limits on teen drivers, but teens don't always think so Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:48 AM PST Parents may intend to set strong limits on their teen drivers but their kids may not always be getting the message, a new nationally-representative poll in the U.S.A suggests.

New robotic gripping surface for sensitive devices adds a new dimension to handling: A boost for industry 4.0 Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST Components with highly sensitive surfaces are used in automotive, semiconductor, display and optical technologies. The proprietary Gecomer® principle reduces the risk of surface contamination with residues, and of mechanical damage due to gripping.

Intensive exercise with intervals 'more effective' Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST Short bursts of intensive exercise provide a more "time-efficient" and realistic way of preventing, delaying and managing Type 2 diabetes and also losing weight, a study has found. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are linked, with over 80 per cent of people with the condition classed as overweight or obese -- diet and physical activity interventions are the cornerstones for management of both conditions.

One-step printing process provides cost-efficient transparent, conductive and patterned coatings for flexible touchscreens Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST Mobile phones and smart phones still haven't been adapted to the carrying habits of their users. That much is clear to anyone who has tried sitting down with a mobile phone in their back pocket: the displays of the innumerable phones and pods are rigid and do not yield to the anatomical forms adopted by the people carrying them. By now it is no longer any secret that the big players in the industry are working on flexible displays.

New mechanism controlling plant root development uncovered Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST A new cell division regulator that shapes plant root systems has been uncovered by researchers. These findings could lead to new techniques to improve root architecture in favor of higher crop yields.

How dogs see your emotions: Dogs view facial expressions differently Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST A recent study shows that the social gazing behavior of domestic dogs resembles that of humans: dogs view facial expressions systematically, preferring eyes. In addition, the facial expression alters their viewing behavior, especially in the face of threat.

Swedish capercaillies are becoming real citizens in Brandenburg Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST Using molecular genetic tools, scientists have demonstrated the existence of a grandchildren's generation of capercaillies in the south of Brandenburg in East Germany. A pilot conservation project reintroduced these endangered birds to two German nature reserves as recently as 2012. The founder population was wild caught in Sweden and then transferred to Brandenburg.

Depression, obesity common among bipolar patients with exhausted stress system Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:42 AM PST Older bipolar patients often have decreased activity in the hormone system responsible for the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. Low levels of cortisol in bipolar patients were also associated with depression, low quality of life, obesity, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome. These discoveries could provide important clues as to how treatment strategies for depression and bipolar disorder can be improved, according to a dissertation.

Size matters: Small units on a big surface results in fewer calories Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST How does the size of the table we eat at influence how much we eat? This is the question that researchers posed and answered in a new study. They found that table size does have a significant impact on how people perceive the food it holds and consequently how much people eat.

New tool puts accurate DNA analysis in fast lane Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST Rice University scientists have developed a tool to analyze the thermal behavior of DNA and RNA strands. It could speed the design of molecular diagnostics that positively identify disease subtypes to inform optimal treatment.

A new method to improve the pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian cancer based on ultrasound Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST In a landmark study, investigators from Europe propose a new and simple method to assess the risk of malignancy of women with an adnexal mass. The method identified between 89-99 percent of patients with ovarian cancer using the results of ultrasound examination, which can be obtained in referral and non-referral centers. The work is based on the 'Simple Rules' criteria developed by the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis group to improve accurate diagnosis of ovarian cancer before surgery.

First study of arthropods in US homes finds huge biodiversity Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST The first study to evaluate the biodiversity of arthropods in US homes finds that humans share their houses with any of more than 500 different kinds of arthropods -- at least on a short-term basis. Arthropods are invertebrate animals with exoskeletons, segmented bodies and jointed limbs, such as insects, spiders, mites and centipedes.

New gene fault behind ovarian cancer found by scientists Posted: 18 Jan 2016 07:42 PM PST Women who carry an inherited fault in the gene BRIP1 are over three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those without the fault, according to a new study. Around 18 women in every 1,000 develop ovarian cancer, but this risk increases to around 58 women in every 1,000 for women with a fault in the BRIP1 gene.

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