ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New approach to prioritizing research on the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals
• New detection method for Goby fish invasion
• What a moth's nose knows
• Long-term study shows impact of humans on land
• Stellar parenting: Making new stars by 'adopting' stray cosmic gases
• New imaging technique could reduce need for amputation
• Scientists root out the 'bad seeds' of liver cancer
• Losing fat while gaining muscle: Scientists close in on 'holy grail' of diet and exercise
• Four factors predict neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with low birth weight
• Better way to image metastatic prostate cancer
• Neuroticism predicts anxiety, depression disorders
• Good boss? Bad boss? Study says workers leave both
• Depressive symptoms prevalent among Division I college athletes
• Recommendation to omit radiation therapy after lumpectomy is not frequently implemented
• Prenatal exposure to flame retardants linked to poorer behavioral function in children
• Honeybees, ants may provide clues to suicide in humans
• New findings point to central nervous system role in painful diabetic peripheral nerve disease
• Diabetes, heart disease, smoking increase risk of death for older adults with dementia
• Asthma, allergies: Protective factor found in farm milk
• Treating major depression in older adults with diabetes may lower risk of death
• Ancient rodent's brain was big ... but not necessarily 'smart'
• Welcome to the world: New chameleon emerges from wilds of Tanzania
• New way to detect human-animal diseases tested in lemurs
• More than one in 20 US children have dizziness, balance problems
• Males can drive creation of new species, new finding shows
• Nano-coating makes coaxial cables lighter
• Alternative to platinum: Iron-nitrogen compounds as catalysts in graphene
• Novel nanotechnology technique makes table-top production of flat optics a reality
• New record in nanoelectronics at ultralow temperatures
• Test rapidly, accurately profiles genetics and treatment of brain tumors
• Earthworms could be a threat to biodiversity
• Spending more on food is associated with a healthier diet, weight
• Neural network built using plastic memristors
• New tool to determine the risk of prostate cancer death
• Child abuse exposure, suicidal ideation in Canadian military, general population
• High drug price trend has 'infected' generics, experts say
• Study identifies new class of anticancer compounds for possible targeted therapy in blood cancers
• Stress inhibits spatial perception
• Sequence of rare Hawaiian crow's genome will assist conservation efforts
• New theory linking brain activity to brain shape could throw light on human consciousness
• Mercury levels in rainfall are rising in parts of North America
• Capitalize on 'life transitions' to instill better environmental behaviors
• Uncertainties in tree-ring-based climate reconstructions probed
• Human impact has created a 'plastic planet'
• New record in nanoelectronics at ultralow temperatures
• To help diabetics, intelligent socks are paired with smartphones
• Tuberculosis: Discovery of a critical stage in the evolution of the bacillus towards pathogenicity
• Storm Desmond stripped agricultural land of soil and nutrients
• Both hemispheres of the brain process numbers
• The Milky Way's clean and tidy galactic neighbor
• HIV protein manipulates hundreds of human genes to advance progression into AIDS, study shows
• Life expectancy three years longer for children born into smaller families in developing world
• Uncorrected farsightedness linked to literacy deficits in preschoolers
• Uncovering hidden microbial lineages from hot springs
• Inflammatory changes in the brain twenty years before Alzheimer onset
• Electric transport across molybdenum disulfide grain boundaries
• Important falls in death rates from leukemia in Europe predicted for 2016
• One in 10 suicide attempt risk among friends, relatives of people who die by suicide
• Forest corridors prove critical to biodiversity, pollination success in the tropics
• Twenty-five-point drop in IQ caused by lack of gene copy

New approach to prioritizing research on the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:49 PM PST Researchers have developed a new way to prioritize investigations on the environmental impacts of the estimated 1500 active pharmaceutical ingredients currently in use.

New detection method for Goby fish invasion Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST Conventional methods of stock monitoring are unsuitable for certain fish species. For example, the infestation of an area with invasive Ponto-Caspian gobies cannot be identified in time by standard methods. Researchers have now developed a simple, effective and cost-efficient test for these introduced non-native fish.

What a moth's nose knows Posted: 27 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST A transplantation experiment in moths shows how the brain experiences reality through the senses.

Long-term study shows impact of humans on land Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST Humans have been working the land to sustain our lives for millennia. This has created socio-ecological systems and landscapes that are a product of both human actions and natural forces. Now researchers are reporting on a 10-year project that studies the long-term effects humans have had on the land. Their research has led to some surprising reasons why communities survive or fail.

Stellar parenting: Making new stars by 'adopting' stray cosmic gases Posted: 27 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST Astronomers have for the first time found young populations of stars within globular clusters that have apparently developed courtesy of star-forming gas flowing in from outside of the clusters themselves. This method stands in contrast to the conventional idea of the clusters' initial stars shedding gas as they age in order to spark future rounds of star birth.

New imaging technique could reduce need for amputation Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST A new MRI imaging technique could reduce the need for amputation in patients with critical limb ischemia, according to a new study. The technique uses a new way of mapping blood delivered to the leg muscle immediately after operations on people with severely reduced blood flow to their limbs. Currently surgeons may need to wait days or weeks to see how successful the surgery has been.

Scientists root out the 'bad seeds' of liver cancer Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST The Achilles heel of hepatocellular carcinoma, a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, has been discovered by researchers. The key to disrupting chemo-resistant stem cells that become liver tumors from multiplying is to target the stem cell marker NANOG, they report.

Losing fat while gaining muscle: Scientists close in on 'holy grail' of diet and exercise Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:27 AM PST Researchers have uncovered significant new evidence in the quest for the elusive goal of gaining muscle and losing fat, an oft-debated problem for those trying to manage their weight, control their calories and balance their protein consumption.

Four factors predict neurodevelopmental outcomes for children with low birth weight Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST Four factors -- medical complications at birth, maternal education, early motor assessments, and early cognitive assessments -- help predict later cognitive function and motor performance for children born early and at a very low birth weight, finds a new study.

Better way to image metastatic prostate cancer Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST A recent study shows in a prospective, systematic manner that a PET/CT scan, using the radiotracer F-18-DCFBC to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is significantly more effective at detecting metastatic prostate cancer than conventional imaging methods.

Neuroticism predicts anxiety, depression disorders Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST For the first time, research has found that young people who are high on the personality trait of neuroticism are highly likely to develop both anxiety and depression disorders.

Good boss? Bad boss? Study says workers leave both Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST Workers leave good bosses and bad bosses in equal measure, a finding that companies can use to their strategic advantage, indicates new research.

Depressive symptoms prevalent among Division I college athletes Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST Nearly a quarter of Division I college athletes reported depressive symptoms while enrolled at a liberal arts university on the East Coast, says a new study. Women were almost two times more likely to experience symptoms than their male peers.

Recommendation to omit radiation therapy after lumpectomy is not frequently implemented Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST Nearly two-thirds of US women age 70 or older with stage I breast cancer who undergo lumpectomy and are eligible to safely omit subsequent radiation therapy according to national cancer guidelines still receive this treatment, according to new study results.

Prenatal exposure to flame retardants linked to poorer behavioral function in children Posted: 27 Jan 2016 10:26 AM PST New research suggests that prenatal exposure to flame retardants and perfluoroalkyl substances commonly found in the environment may have a lasting effect on a child's cognitive and behavioral development, known as executive function.

Honeybees, ants may provide clues to suicide in humans Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:16 AM PST Researchers have been examining scientific knowledge and drawing parallels between suicide in humans and the self-sacrificial behaviors of colony-like -- or eusocial -- species such as shrimp, mole rats and insects.

New findings point to central nervous system role in painful diabetic peripheral nerve disease Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:16 AM PST The central nervous system is a key contributor to the problem of painful peripheral nerve disease in people with diabetes, emerging evidence suggests. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) occurs in about one-half of all patients with diabetes. In addition to progressive and severe pain, patients with DNP have insensitivity to trauma, placing them at risk of foot ulcerations, infections, and amputations.

Diabetes, heart disease, smoking increase risk of death for older adults with dementia Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:15 AM PST Older adults with dementia and diabetes have a significantly higher risk for death than do people with just dementia, research shows. People with dementia who smoked tobacco were also at a much higher risk for death, and those with dementia who had coronary heart disease had a somewhat higher risk for death.

Asthma, allergies: Protective factor found in farm milk Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:15 AM PST Fresh, unprocessed cow's milk has a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids than does pasteurized, homogenized or low-fat milk. This factor partly explains why children who consume the unprocessed product are less likely to develop asthma, say scientists.

Treating major depression in older adults with diabetes may lower risk of death Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:15 AM PST Effective treatment for depression could go a long way toward improving health status and even preventing death among older adults who also have diabetes, according to a new report.

Ancient rodent's brain was big ... but not necessarily 'smart' Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:15 AM PST Ancient rodent Paramys had a large brain that was even larger than some primitive primates of the same era.

Welcome to the world: New chameleon emerges from wilds of Tanzania Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:12 AM PST Scientists have discovered a new species of chameleon in Tanzania.

New way to detect human-animal diseases tested in lemurs Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:12 AM PST RNA sequencing is uncovering emerging diseases in wildlife that other diagnostic tests cannot detect. Researchers used a technique called transcriptome sequencing to screen for blood-borne diseases in Madagascar's lemurs, distant primate cousins to humans. The animals were found to be carrying several previously unknown parasites similar to those that cause Lyme disease in humans. The approach could pave the way for earlier, more accurate detection of disease outbreaks that move between animals and people.

More than one in 20 US children have dizziness, balance problems Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:12 AM PST More than 1 in 20 (nearly 3.3 million) children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a dizziness or balance problem, according to an analysis of the first large-scale, nationally representative survey of these problems in US children. Researchers found that prevalence increases with age, and girls have a higher prevalence of dizziness and balance problems compared to boys.

Males can drive creation of new species, new finding shows Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:11 AM PST Evolutionary biologists often debate on whether sexual selection can lead to new species. Most studies have focused on natural selection or, for the few studies that considered sexual selection, on how picky females select mates and drive evolution. Researchers, with the help of some stickleback fish, have shown that intense competition among males most definitely has a big say in creating new species.

Nano-coating makes coaxial cables lighter Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:11 AM PST Scientists use carbon nanotubes to make durable, flexible coaxial cables for aerospace applications with half the weight.

Alternative to platinum: Iron-nitrogen compounds as catalysts in graphene Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:11 AM PST A cost-effective catalyst material has been produced for fuel cells using a new preparation process which researchers analyzed in detail. It consists of iron-nitrogen complexes embedded in tiny islands of graphene only a few nanometres in diameter. It is only the FeN4 centres that provide the excellent catalytic efficiency -- approaching that of platinum. The results are interesting for solar fuels research, they say.

Novel nanotechnology technique makes table-top production of flat optics a reality Posted: 27 Jan 2016 09:11 AM PST Researchershave developed a simplified approach to fabricating flat, ultrathin optics. The new approach enables simple etching without the use of acids or hazardous chemical etching agents.

New record in nanoelectronics at ultralow temperatures Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST The first ever measurement of the temperature of electrons in a nanoelectronic device a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero was demonstrated in a recent research project.

Test rapidly, accurately profiles genetics and treatment of brain tumors Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST Brain tumors can be rapidly and accurately profiled with a next-generation, gene-sequencing test recently developed. The test, called GlioSeq, is now being used by oncologists to help guide treatment planning of brain cancers.

Earthworms could be a threat to biodiversity Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST The humble earthworm may be a threat to plant diversity in natural ecosystems, says a new study. The work found an association between the presence of these European-introduced invertebrates and reductions in the abundance of certain tree and other plant species in the understory of sugar maple forests in southern Quebec (Canada).

Spending more on food is associated with a healthier diet, weight Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST According to an epidemiological study, increasing the money you spend on food is linked to a better quality diet, particularly increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, leading to a healthier weight and decreased risk of cardiometabolic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.

Neural network built using plastic memristors Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST A group of scientists has created a neural network based on polymeric memristors -- devices that can potentially be used to build fundamentally new computers. These developments will primarily help in creating technologies for machine vision, hearing, and other machine sensory systems, and also for intelligent control systems in various fields of applications, including autonomous robots.

New tool to determine the risk of prostate cancer death Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:55 AM PST A new prognostic biomarker has been identified by researchers: the neuropeptide pro-NPY, which may help determine the risk of dying from prostate cancer. This particular type of protein is very specific to prostate cancer cells and could help identify whether newly diagnosed patients require radical prostatectomy surgery or if it is safe to delay surgery.

Child abuse exposure, suicidal ideation in Canadian military, general population Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:54 AM PST Military personnel in Canada were more likely to have had exposure to child abuse than individuals in the general population and that exposure was associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior that had a stronger effect on the general population than military personnel, according to an article. Suicide is an important public health problem among both military and civilian populations. The ability to accurately anticipate who will think about, plan, and attempt suicide is a difficult task.

High drug price trend has 'infected' generics, experts say Posted: 27 Jan 2016 08:54 AM PST Pharmaceutical companies use several strategies to keep affordable generic drugs from the market, illustrating an emerging trend that authors say is becoming as harmful to consumers as high-cost brand-name drugs, authors report in a new article.

Study identifies new class of anticancer compounds for possible targeted therapy in blood cancers Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:17 AM PST A new class of small-molecule compounds has been discovered that researchers say are good candidates for development of novel targeted therapies in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. This new class of compounds drives cancer cells to suicide, the researchers report.

Stress inhibits spatial perception Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:16 AM PST Neuroscientists have investigated the effects of stress on the perception of scenes and faces. In a behavioral study, they compared the results of stressed participants with those of an unstressed control group. They were able to show that stress inhibits the perception of complex spatial information. The reason for this lies in the processing of this information in the hippocampus, an area in the temporal lobe of the brain, which is influenced by the stress hormone cortisol.

Sequence of rare Hawaiian crow's genome will assist conservation efforts Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:15 AM PST Scientists have fully sequenced the genome of the Hawaiian crow. This crow was once reduced to a population of about 20 birds, and the sequencing of the species genome will be important to track any genetic challenges that may occur due to the reduced genetic diversity now seen in the species.

New theory linking brain activity to brain shape could throw light on human consciousness Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:15 AM PST Scientists have shown that complex human brain activity is governed by the same simple universal rule of nature that can explain other phenomena such as the beautiful sound of a finely crafted violin or the spots on a leopard. They have identified a link between the distinctive patterns of brain function that occur at rest and the physical structure of people's brains.

Mercury levels in rainfall are rising in parts of North America Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:15 AM PST An analysis of long-term trends in the amount of mercury in precipitation in North America found recent increases at many sites, mostly in the center of the continent. At other sites, including those along the East Coast, mercury levels in rainfall have been trending steadily downward over the past 20 years. The findings are consistent with increased emissions of mercury from coal-burning power plants in Asia and decreased emissions in North America.

Capitalize on 'life transitions' to instill better environmental behaviors Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:15 AM PST House moves or a change of job provide an idea 'window of opportunity' to promote more sustainable behaviors, according to a new psychology study.

Uncertainties in tree-ring-based climate reconstructions probed Posted: 27 Jan 2016 07:15 AM PST Current approaches to reconstructing past climate by using tree-ring data need to be improved on so that they can better take uncertainty into account, new research suggests.Tree growth rings are commonly used as climate proxies because they can be well-dated and the width of each ring is influenced by the climatic conditions of the year it grew in.

Human impact has created a 'plastic planet' Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST Planet Earth's oceans and lands will be buried by increasing layers of plastic waste by the mid-century due to human activity, according to new research.

New record in nanoelectronics at ultralow temperatures Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST The first ever measurement of the temperature of electrons in a nanoelectronic device a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero was demonstrated in a new research project.

To help diabetics, intelligent socks are paired with smartphones Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST Diabetic neuropathy is the leading cause of amputation due to foot ulcers, costing the U.S. alone more than $10 billion annually. Now, students have developed SenseGO, a machine-washable sock containing dozens of micro-fabricated pressure sensors. Changes in pressure are registered as electrical signals and relayed to a smartphone app, which informs the patient of developing risk. By giving patients the tools to prevent the development of foot ulcers, this can dramatically reduce health care costs related to diabetes.

Tuberculosis: Discovery of a critical stage in the evolution of the bacillus towards pathogenicity Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST It is the disappearance of a glycolipid from the bacterial cell envelope during evolution that may have considerably increased the virulence of tuberculosis bacilli in humans. Scientists have shown that this disappearance modified the surface properties of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, favoring its aggregation in "cords" and increasing its pathogenicity.

Storm Desmond stripped agricultural land of soil and nutrients Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST More large storms in the future, such as Storm Desmond, will increase the loss of valuable soil and nutrients from agricultural fields, according to new research. In the wake of Storm Desmond, and the wettest November and December since rainfall records began, farmers in the North West of England are once again struggling with waterlogged soil, livestock and crop loss.

Both hemispheres of the brain process numbers Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:38 AM PST Researchers have located an important region for the visual processing of numbers in the human brain and showed that it is active in both hemispheres. The scientists published high resolution magnetic resonance recordings of this region.

The Milky Way's clean and tidy galactic neighbor Posted: 27 Jan 2016 05:35 AM PST Many galaxies are chock-full of dust, while others have occasional dark streaks of opaque cosmic soot swirling in amongst their gas and stars. However, the subject of this new image, snapped with the OmegaCAM camera on ESO's VLT Survey Telescope in Chile, is unusual -- the small galaxy, named IC 1613, is a veritable clean freak! IC 1613 contains very little cosmic dust, allowing astronomers to explore its contents with great clarity.

HIV protein manipulates hundreds of human genes to advance progression into AIDS, study shows Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:44 AM PST Researchers have deciphered how a small protein made by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS manipulates human genes to further its deadly agenda. It has long been known that HIV causes AIDS by hijacking the body's immune cells, transforming them into HIV factories and killing other immune cells that normally fight disease. HIV also hides in cells and continues to undermine the host's immune system despite antiretroviral therapy that has improved the outlook of those with AIDS.

Life expectancy three years longer for children born into smaller families in developing world Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:44 AM PST Children born into smaller families in the world's poorest nations will live an expected three years longer than those born into larger families, new research suggests.

Uncorrected farsightedness linked to literacy deficits in preschoolers Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:44 AM PST A study funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has shown that uncorrected farsightedness (hyperopia) in preschool children is associated with significantly worse performance on a test of early literacy.

Uncovering hidden microbial lineages from hot springs Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:44 AM PST Biologists have utilized the largest collection of metagenomic datasets to uncover a completely novel bacterial phylum -- "Kryptonia."

Inflammatory changes in the brain twenty years before Alzheimer onset Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:34 AM PST Roughly twenty years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear, inflammatory changes in the brain can be seen, according to a new study. The findings of the researchers, who monitored several pathological changes in the brain, suggest that activation of astrocytes at an early stage can greatly influence the development of the disease.

Electric transport across molybdenum disulfide grain boundaries Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:34 AM PST A scientific team has identified previously undiscovered differences in grain boundaries. According to the paper, it is essential to understand the atomic structures of GBs in order to control and improve electrical transport properties in both bulk and low-dimensional materials.

Important falls in death rates from leukemia in Europe predicted for 2016 Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:26 AM PST Death rates from leukemia among people of all ages in Europe are falling, according to the latest predictions for European cancer deaths in 2016. The study by researchers in Italy, Switzerland and the USA looked at cancer death rates in the EU 28 member states as a whole and also in the six largest countries -- France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK -- for all cancers, and some individual cancers in men and women.

One in 10 suicide attempt risk among friends, relatives of people who die by suicide Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:26 AM PST People bereaved by the sudden death of a friend or family member are 65 percent more likely to attempt suicide if the deceased died by suicide than if they died by natural causes. This brings the absolute risk up to 1 in 10, reveals new research.

Forest corridors prove critical to biodiversity, pollination success in the tropics Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:25 AM PST As tropical forests become increasingly broken up by roads, farm fields, pastures and other developments, corridors of trees provide vital pathways for pollinators and contribute to a rich diversity of plant species, scientists have confirmed.

Twenty-five-point drop in IQ caused by lack of gene copy Posted: 27 Jan 2016 02:25 AM PST Even in study participants whose IQ was considered to be normal, the researchers found a substantial 25 points IQ drop induced by 16p11.2 gene deletions.

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