ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Better water management could halve the global food gap
• New study finds clear differences between organic and non-organic milk and meat
• To encourage physical activity, potential to lose a financial reward is more effective than gaining one
• How humans impacted the Everglades
• Mind-controlled prosthetic arm moves individual ‘fingers’
• Heart attack patients with cardiogenic shock fair well 60 days post-discharge
• Threat of cytomegalovirus far outweighs Zika risk, researcher says
• New way bacterial infections spread in the body: Hitchhiking on our own immune cells
• Freezing steak improves tenderness of some cuts
• Garden plant residues can improve soil
• Microchip used to build a first-ever artificial kidney
• Using light to control protein transport from cell nucleus
• Immigration not to blame for terrorism, UK study indicates
• Raising a child has a bigger effect on the immune system than gastroenteritis
• Jawless fish brains more similar to ours than previously thought
• A new spin on quantum computing: Scientists train electrons with microwaves
• Vulnerability to depression linked to noradrenaline
• Discovery lays the foundation to expand personalized chemotherapy for leukemia patients
• Scientists discover new microbes that thrive deep in the earth
• Sweet discovery in leafy greens holds key to gut health
• Visualizing a parasite crossing the blood brain barrier
• New subgroups of ILC immune cells discovered through single-cell RNA sequencing
• Scientists prove feasibility of 'printing' replacement tissue
• Ancient flowering plant was beautiful, but probably poisonous
• New research challenges cascading effects of shark declines
• Complete genome of all strains of the gibbon ape leukemia virus sequenced
• Clouds reveal new particle formation process
• Eternal 5D data storage could record the history of humankind
• The mystery about the Chelyabinsk superbolide continues three years later
• Small clumps in the body: How nanoparticles react to proteins
• Sex with the other species: Tree frogs with foreign sex chromosomes are less fit
• Taking a closer look at so-called 'adherent' patients
• Four billion people affected by severe water scarcity
• Infants should sleep in their own beds to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
• Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Solar cells help purify water in developing countries
• Tissue fluid flow can reveal onset of osteoarthritis
• Interferon not beneficial for most stage III melanoma
• Light used to measure the 'big stretch' in spider silk proteins
• Rooting the family tree of placental mammals
• Drug development crisis linked to bad technology choices
• New semiconducting material could lead to much faster electronics
• Lactation, weather found to predict milk quality in dairy cows
• Effectiveness of a herpesvirus CMV-based vaccine against Ebola
• Virtual reality therapy could help people with depression

Better water management could halve the global food gap Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:07 PM PST Improved agricultural water management could halve the global food gap by 2050 and buffer some of the harmful climate change effects on crop yields.

New study finds clear differences between organic and non-organic milk and meat Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:07 PM PST Both organic milk and meat contain around 50 percent more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced products, report researchers who conducted systematic literature reviews and analyzed data from around the world.

To encourage physical activity, potential to lose a financial reward is more effective than gaining one Posted: 15 Feb 2016 02:21 PM PST Financial incentives aimed at increasing physical activity were most effective when the rewards were put at risk of being lost, according to new research. The study, which tested the effectiveness of three methods of financial incentives to increase physical activity among overweight and obese adults, shows that depending on how they are framed, incentives of equal amounts can have significantly different effects on outcomes.

How humans impacted the Everglades Posted: 15 Feb 2016 12:47 PM PST Excavations show the role early humans played in forming the tree islands that dot the river of grass.

Mind-controlled prosthetic arm moves individual ‘fingers’ Posted: 15 Feb 2016 12:46 PM PST Physicians and biomedical engineers from Johns Hopkins report what they believe is the first successful effort to wiggle fingers individually and independently of each other using a mind-controlled artificial "arm" to control the movement.

Heart attack patients with cardiogenic shock fair well 60 days post-discharge Posted: 15 Feb 2016 12:23 PM PST Heart attack patients who experience cardiogenic shock have a higher risk of death or rehospitalization than non-shock patients in the first 60 days post-discharge, but by the end of the first year, the gap between the two groups narrows, according to a study.

Threat of cytomegalovirus far outweighs Zika risk, researcher says Posted: 15 Feb 2016 11:36 AM PST Researcher studies the impact of CMV on healthcare providers.

New way bacterial infections spread in the body: Hitchhiking on our own immune cells Posted: 15 Feb 2016 11:33 AM PST Scientists studying one of the world's most virulent pathogens and a separate very common bacterium have discovered a new way that some bacteria can spread rapidly throughout the body – by hitchhiking on our own immune cells.

Freezing steak improves tenderness of some cuts Posted: 15 Feb 2016 11:33 AM PST Researchers have found that freezing strip loin and inside round steaks makes those cuts as much as 10 percent more tender when it comes time to eat them.

Garden plant residues can improve soil Posted: 15 Feb 2016 09:44 AM PST Leaving some of your plants and vegetables up over the winter is a good thing, say investigators. According to a new article, plant "litter" that remains after a harvest is called "residue." Leaving the residues in place over the winter, instead of pulling them up or tilling them into the soil surface, provides numerous benefits for the soil and your garden.

Microchip used to build a first-ever artificial kidney Posted: 15 Feb 2016 09:44 AM PST Nephrologists are making major progress on a first-of-its kind device to free kidney patients from dialysis. He is building an implantable artificial kidney with microchip filters and living kidney cells that will be powered by a patient's own heart.

Using light to control protein transport from cell nucleus Posted: 15 Feb 2016 09:37 AM PST Light can be used to control the transport of proteins from the cell nucleus with the aid of a light-sensitive, genetically modified plant protein. Biologists working in the field of optogenetics have now developed such a tool. The researchers employed methods from synthetic biology and combined a light sensor from the oat plant with a transport signal. This makes it possible to use external light to precisely control the location and hence the activity of proteins in mammalian cells.

Immigration not to blame for terrorism, UK study indicates Posted: 15 Feb 2016 09:37 AM PST Migration is overall not a source of terrorism according to new research.

Raising a child has a bigger effect on the immune system than gastroenteritis Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST Raising a child together has a greater effect on your immune system than the seasonal 'flu vaccine or travellers' gastroenteritis, a new study has found.

Jawless fish brains more similar to ours than previously thought Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST Researchers have shown that complex divisions in the vertebrate brain first appeared before the evolution of jaws, more than 500 million years ago. The study shows that two elements of brain genoarchitecture thought to be unique to jawed vertebrates are actually present in two jawless fish -- the hagfish and lamprey.

A new spin on quantum computing: Scientists train electrons with microwaves Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST In what may provide a potential path to processing information in a quantum computer, researchers have switched an intrinsic property of electrons from an excited state to a relaxed state on demand using a device that served as a microwave 'tuning fork.'

Vulnerability to depression linked to noradrenaline Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST Researchers report the first-ever connection between noradrenergic neurons and vulnerability to depression. This breakthrough paves the way for new depression treatments that target the adrenergic system.

Discovery lays the foundation to expand personalized chemotherapy for leukemia patients Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST Scientists have concluded a study of how inherited genetic variations in the NUDT15 gene cause serious chemotherapy toxicity; findings point to potential genetics-guided precision medicine.

Scientists discover new microbes that thrive deep in the earth Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST They live several kilometers under the surface of the earth, need no light or oxygen and can only be seen in a microscope. By sequencing genomes of a newly discovered group of microbes, the Hadesarchaea, an international team of researchers have found out how these microorganisms make a living in the deep subsurface biosphere of our planet.

Sweet discovery in leafy greens holds key to gut health Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:40 AM PST A critical discovery about how bacteria feed on an unusual sugar molecule found in leafy green vegetables could hold the key to explaining how 'good' bacteria protect our gut and promote health. The finding suggests that leafy greens are essential for feeding good gut bacteria, limiting the ability of bad bacteria to colonize the gut by shutting them out of the prime 'real estate.'

Visualizing a parasite crossing the blood brain barrier Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:39 AM PST Researchers have identified how the parasite Toxoplasma gondii makes its way across the blood-brain barrier.

New subgroups of ILC immune cells discovered through single-cell RNA sequencing Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:39 AM PST A relatively newly discovered group of immune cells known as ILCs have been examined in detail. By analyzing the gene expression in individual tonsil cells, scientists have found three previously unknown subgroups of ILCs, and revealed more about how these cells function in the human body.

Scientists prove feasibility of 'printing' replacement tissue Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:38 AM PST Using a sophisticated, custom-designed 3-D printer, regenerative medicine scientists have proved that it is feasible to print living tissue structures to replace injured or diseased tissue in patients.

Ancient flowering plant was beautiful, but probably poisonous Posted: 15 Feb 2016 08:38 AM PST Researchers today announced the discovery of the first-ever fossil specimens of an 'asterid' -- a family of flowering plants that gave us everything from the potatoes to petunias and our morning cup of coffee. But these two 20-30 million-year-old fossil flowers, found perfectly preserved in a piece of amber, came from the dark side of the asterid family -- they belong to the genus Strychnos, which ultimately gave rise to some of the world's most famous poisons, including strychnine and curare.

New research challenges cascading effects of shark declines Posted: 15 Feb 2016 07:13 AM PST New research challenges a 2007 study claiming that shark declines led to rising populations of cownose rays, which were responsible for the collapse of oyster and shellfish industries along the Atlantic coast.

Complete genome of all strains of the gibbon ape leukemia virus sequenced Posted: 15 Feb 2016 07:12 AM PST Scientists have sequenced the complete genome of all five identified strains of the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV). The scientists were able to prove that selection has shaped parts of the genome of this group of viruses.  This is likely as a consequence of selective pressure from the host immune systems that the viruses face.

Clouds reveal new particle formation process Posted: 15 Feb 2016 07:12 AM PST In addition to precipitation, clouds influence the climate in various ways: they cover 70% of the Earth's surface and represent nearly 15% of the volume of the atmosphere. Scientists need to understand their underlying chemical and physical mechanisms in order to better integrate them into climate change models, say experts.

Eternal 5D data storage could record the history of humankind Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:06 AM PST Scientists have made a major step forward in the development of digital data storage that is capable of surviving for billions of years. Using nanostructured glass, scientists have developed the recording and retrieval processes of five dimensional (5D) digital data by femtosecond laser writing. The storage allows unprecedented properties including 360 TB/disc data capacity, thermal stability up to 1,000°C and virtually unlimited lifetime at room temperature (13.8 billion years at 190°C ) opening a new era of eternal data archiving.

The mystery about the Chelyabinsk superbolide continues three years later Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:06 AM PST Hundreds of webcams recorded the historic event: In 2013 February 15, the approach of asteroid (367943) Duende to our planet was being closely monitored by both the public and the scientific community worldwide when suddenly a superbolide entered the atmosphere above the region of Chelyabinsk in Russia. Three years and hundreds of published scientific studies later, we are still looking for the origin of such unexpected visitor, that caused damage to hundreds of buildings and injuries to nearly 1,500 people.

Small clumps in the body: How nanoparticles react to proteins Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:06 AM PST Scientists have found out that the protein haemoglobin influences the aggregation of individual gold nanoparticles to form clumps.

Sex with the other species: Tree frogs with foreign sex chromosomes are less fit Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST During the last glaciation, a huge ice shield reached up to the region of today's Berlin. By the time it started to melt about 20,000 years ago, it enabled a gradual re-colonization of the northern latitudes by many plant and animal species. Often, they took different colonization routes around the mountain ranges, for example the Carpathians - with astonishing outcomes for a special kind of re-unification that, for instance, happens in Poland: In the region of the Vistula River, two evolutionarily young species of tree frogs meet each other.

Taking a closer look at so-called 'adherent' patients Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST Patients defined automatically as "adherent" by dint of their collecting their prescriptions each month are not necessarily any better than their "non-adherent" peers at actually taking their medication. It also found that replacing a patient's medication with one that looks different can have a detrimental impact on adherence.

Four billion people affected by severe water scarcity Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST There are four billion people worldwide who are affected by severe water scarcity for at least one month a year. That is the conclusion after many years' extensive research. This alarming figure is much higher than was previously thought.

Infants should sleep in their own beds to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST The advice given to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, has worked well, but the potential to save more lives exists. In addition to sleeping on their backs, infants should sleep in their own beds for the first few months to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST You may as well learn the expression "carbon-negative technology", or Bio-CCS, right away, because it has become a talking point in technological circles. A new article explains why.

Solar cells help purify water in developing countries Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST Researchers have developed a water purification plant that provides clean water far beyond the reach of the electrical grid – thanks to solar cells. These small and portable solar cell stations have now been placed across rural Bangladesh.

Tissue fluid flow can reveal onset of osteoarthritis Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:05 AM PST Reflecting the overall structural alterations in the tissue, changes in the flow of interstitial fluid in articular cartilage could be an indicator revealing the onset of osteoarthritis, according to a new study. New research focused on structural and functional changes in articular cartilage at different stages of osteoarthritis. By using finite element modelling, the study combined structural data with functional data measured from articular cartilage samples. This enabled a detailed analysis of how individual structural components affect cartilage loading, and how this process changes in the development of osteoarthritis.

Interferon not beneficial for most stage III melanoma Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:02 AM PST Most stage III melanoma patients do not benefit from treatment with interferon, show final results for the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial. Interferon was approved by the FDA in 1995 as a therapy for melanoma based on a study of patients with multiple large, palpable lymph nodes involved with cancer. However, the development of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the 1990s made it possible for physicians to detect microscopic amounts of cancer in lymph nodes that could not be detected by hand.

Light used to measure the 'big stretch' in spider silk proteins Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:02 AM PST While working to improve a tool that measures the pushes and pulls sensed by proteins in living cells, biophysicists say they've discovered one reason spiders' silk is so elastic: Pieces of the silk's protein threads act like supersprings, stretching to five times their initial length. The investigators say the tool will shed light on many biological events, including the shifting forces between cells during cancer metastasis.

Rooting the family tree of placental mammals Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST The roots of the mammalian family tree have long been shrouded in mystery -- when did the placental mammals go their separate ways? Now, researchers say they've found where the family tree of placental mammals first branched apart -- and when it happened.

Drug development crisis linked to bad technology choices Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST Despite lower costs and increased speed of research inputs, the budget for getting a drug to market is soaring. Researchers suggest that a focus on process efficiency has favoured experimental models with less validity, more than outweighing efficency benefits.

New semiconducting material could lead to much faster electronics Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST Engineers have discovered a new kind of 2-D semiconducting material for electronics that opens the door for much speedier computers and smartphones that also consume a lot less power.

Lactation, weather found to predict milk quality in dairy cows Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST The quality of colostrum -- the nutrient-rich milk newborn dairy calves first drink from their mothers -- can be predicted by the mother's previous lactation performance and weather, according to new research.

Effectiveness of a herpesvirus CMV-based vaccine against Ebola Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST As the latest in a series of studies, researchers have shown the ability of a vaccine vector based on a common herpesvirus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP), to provide protection against Ebola virus in the experimental rhesus macaque, non-human primate (NHP) model. Demonstration of protection in the NHP model is regarded as a critical step before translation of Ebola virus vaccines into humans and other great apes.

Virtual reality therapy could help people with depression Posted: 15 Feb 2016 06:01 AM PST An immersive virtual reality therapy could help people with depression to be less critical and more compassionate towards themselves, reducing depressive symptoms, finds a new study. The therapy, previously tested by healthy volunteers, was used by 15 depression patients aged 23-61. Nine reported reduced depressive symptoms a month after the therapy, of whom four experienced a clinically significant drop in depression severity.

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