ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Too many avoidable errors in patient care, says report
• Lack of stem cells to blame for recurrent miscarriages
• New insights into atomic disordering of complex metal oxides
• Citizen scientists help NASA researchers understand auroras
• Molecular-level relationships key to deciphering ocean carbon
• Treeing it up: Research team documents design of wood-based polymers
• Legionnaires' disease: New drug class offers potential new treatment for lethal bacteria
• Quality of life not notably better for women choosing double mastectomy
• Variation in medical marijuana program regulations impacts enrollment
• Where prostate cancer spreads in the body affects survival time
• New study finds troubling health care outcomes for US workers without paid sick leave
• Collective memory discovered in bacteria
• Warming up optoelectronic research for new generation of optoelectronic devices
• Eye cells may use math to detect motion
• Multi-scale simulations solve a plasma turbulence mystery
• I'd like to thank...myself
• Towards the goal of precision therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
• Dementia plaques attack language center of brain
• Plasma processing technique takes SNS accelerator to new energy highs
• New therapeutic target in myeloma discovered
• Discovery identifies new treatment target for age-releated macular degeneration, Alzheimer's
• Drug-loaded nanocarriers in tumor targeted drug delivery
• Leaf mysteries revealed through the computer's eye
• Scaling up tissue engineering
• Huntington's disease gene dispensable in adult mice
• Potential Western Atlantic spawning area found for Atlantic bluefin tuna
• Shipwrecks, tree rings reveal Caribbean hurricanes in buccaneer era
• Songbirds pinpoint effects of Huntington's disease
• Meditation and ballet associated with wisdom, study says
• Suffering warthogs seek out nit-picking mongooses for relief
• Vitamin D level, body fat in newborn linked to health status in pregnancy
• Cancer cells eat their neighbors' 'words'
• 'Thinking and feeling' in close relationships
• Healthy lifestyle advice provides long-term benefits
• Few studies focus on threatened mammalian species that are 'ugly'
• How cancer cells fuel their growth
• Genes influence sleep/wake timing of seizures in people with epilepsy
• Giant reed is a photosynthetic outlier, study finds
• Trust your aha! moments: Experiments show they're probably right
• Mutated gene safeguards against heart attacks
• Even plant-supporting soil fungi affected by global warming, study finds
• Improving modern vaccines: Sugar polymer tails wag the protein dog
• Talk about yourself on social media?
• Preemies' gut bacteria reveal vast scope of antibiotic resistance
• Professor urges physicians to help victims of torture seeking asylum
• Down the drain: Here's why we should use rainwater to flush toilets
• Clinician communication reduced distress related to the detection of incidental nodules
• Lung cancer screening: New Canadian guideline
• N95 respirators vs surgical masks: Protecting health workers from respiratory infections
• Toxic byproduct of hemoglobin could provide clues for cerebral hemorrhage and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• Female traders can reduce market crashes, expert says
• Team finds new approach to curbing cancer cell growth
• Cellular aging process unexpectedly enhances insulin secretion
• Ultra-bright light: A new source of quantum light
• An ocean observatory for the Red Sea
• Bid to beat baby chest infection boosted by immune study
• Antibiotics use affects the abundance of resistant bacteria in soil
• Teen girls see big drop in chemical exposure with switch in cosmetics
• New mothers with postpartum psychiatric disorders face increased risk of suicide, study shows
• Hop, skip and a jump: Researchers reveal molecular search patterns

Too many avoidable errors in patient care, says report Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:10 PM PST Avoidable harm to patients is still too high in healthcare in the UK and across the globe -- making safety a top healthcare priority for providers and policy makers alike.

Lack of stem cells to blame for recurrent miscarriages Posted: 07 Mar 2016 06:10 PM PST Scientists have discovered that a lack of stem cells in the womb lining is causing thousands of women to suffer from recurrent miscarriages.

New insights into atomic disordering of complex metal oxides Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:42 PM PST A study could soon pay dividends in the development of materials with energy-related applications.

Citizen scientists help NASA researchers understand auroras Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:42 PM PST Aurorasaurus is a citizen science project that tracks auroras through the project's website, mobile apps and Twitter.

Molecular-level relationships key to deciphering ocean carbon Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:42 PM PST A vast numbers of chemical compounds work together to reduce and store atmospheric carbon in the world's oceans. Now, an international team of scientists are using new technological developments to analyze and understand these molecular-level relationships.

Treeing it up: Research team documents design of wood-based polymers Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST Scientists recently demonstrated the design of softwood lignin-based polymers with potential application as alternatives to petroleum-based polystyrene. These softwood materials can be obtained from sources such as pine, cedar, spruce, and cypress trees.

Legionnaires' disease: New drug class offers potential new treatment for lethal bacteria Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST A new class of drugs has shown promise for treating the bacteria that cause legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal lung infection.

Quality of life not notably better for women choosing double mastectomy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST Contralateral prophylactic mastectomies were associated with slightly higher satisfaction in women's perception of how their breasts looked and felt, but primarily among women whose mastectomies were followed by reconstructive surgery.

Variation in medical marijuana program regulations impacts enrollment Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST A new study found that while 14 of the nation's 24 medical marijuana programs were essentially nonmedical in practice, they enrolled more than 99 percent of overall participants. Fewer than one percent were enrolled in 'medicalized' programs that adhere to accepted professional standards in medicine. The study analyzed the extent to which medical marijuana laws and program regulations incorporate accepted medical practice, good pharmaceutical manufacturing practices as established by the FDA, and restrictions on controlled substances.

Where prostate cancer spreads in the body affects survival time Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST In the largest analysis of its kind, researchers have found that the organ site where prostate cancer spreads has a direct impact on survival.

New study finds troubling health care outcomes for US workers without paid sick leave Posted: 07 Mar 2016 03:40 PM PST There are 49 million US workers without paid sick leave, causing an even greater divide in health care disparities as well as undesirable health care outcomes. A new study is the first to examine the relationship between paid sick leave benefits and delays in medical care and forgone medical care for both working adults and their family members.

Collective memory discovered in bacteria Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:30 PM PST Individual bacterial cells have short memories. But groups of bacteria can develop a collective memory that can increase their tolerance to stress. This has been demonstrated experimentally for the first time.

Warming up optoelectronic research for new generation of optoelectronic devices Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST A team of physicists is creating tailor-made materials for cutting-edge research and perhaps a new generation of optoelectronic devices. The materials make it easier for the researchers to manipulate excitons, which are pairs of an electron and an electron hole bound to each other by an electrostatic force.

Eye cells may use math to detect motion Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST In a study of mice, scientists showed how one type of neuron in the eye may distinguish moving objects. The study suggests that the NMDA receptor, a protein normally associated with learning and memory, may help neurons in the eye and the brain relay that information.

Multi-scale simulations solve a plasma turbulence mystery Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST Cutting-edge simulations have yielded exciting answers to long-standing questions about plasma heat loss that have previously stymied efforts to predict the performance of fusion reactors. The findings could pave the way to developing fusion as an alternative energy source.

I'd like to thank...myself Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST When Leonardo DiCaprio accepted his Oscar for Best Actor in 'The Revenant' this year, he acknowledged the hard work of the movie's entire team. But such generosity isn't always the case. On large teams -- such as big film production crews -- size can lead people to inflate their own contributions while diminishing their team members' work. A new study finds that the bigger the teams, the more individual members of a team 'over-claim' their contributions.

Towards the goal of precision therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly lethal disease, therefore effective and tolerable treatment is urgently needed. Authors of a new report provide an updated review of the genetic abnormalities and mechanisms that drive carcinogenesis of HCC, and discuss the targeted therapeutics clinically investigated in patients with this disease.

Dementia plaques attack language center of brain Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST The recent ability to peer into the brain of living individuals with a rare type of language dementia, primary progressive aphasia, provides important insight into the beginning stages of this disease, when it is caused by a buildup of a toxic protein found in Alzheimer's disease. The research also offers insight into why this dementia causes people to lose the ability to express themselves and understand language. The findings will guide Alzheimer's treatment, say researchers.

Plasma processing technique takes SNS accelerator to new energy highs Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST A novel technique known as in-situ plasma processing is helping scientists get more neutrons and better data for their experiments at the Spallation Neutron Source at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

New therapeutic target in myeloma discovered Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Targeting both CDK4 and ARK5, proteins responsible for maintaining energy balance within the cell, was extremely effective in causing cell death in myeloma, report scientists at the conclusion of their study.

Discovery identifies new treatment target for age-releated macular degeneration, Alzheimer's Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST For the first time, researchers have shown that a protein critical to the body's ability to remove waste products from the brain and retina is diminished in age-related macular degeneration, after first making the discovery in an Alzheimer's disease brain. The research team also discovered a key reason, identifying a new treatment target.

Drug-loaded nanocarriers in tumor targeted drug delivery Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Nanoparticulate delivery systems in cancer therapies provide better penetration of therapeutic and diagnostic substances with the cancerous tissue in comparison to conventional cancer therapies, report scientists.

Leaf mysteries revealed through the computer's eye Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST A computer program that learns and can categorize leaves into large evolutionary categories such as plant families will lead to greatly improved fossil identification and a better understanding of flowering plant evolution, according to an international team of researchers.

Scaling up tissue engineering Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST A method has been created for 3-D bioprinting thick vascularized tissue constructs composed of human stem cells, extracellular matrix, and circulatory channels lined with endothelial blood vessel cells. The resulting network of vasculature contained within these deep tissues enables fluids, nutrients and cell growth factors to be controllably perfused uniformly throughout the tissue.

Huntington's disease gene dispensable in adult mice Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Adult mice don't need the gene that, when mutated in humans, causes the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease. The finding suggests that treatment strategies for Huntington's that aim to shut off the huntingtin gene in adults -- now in early clinical stages -- could be safe.

Potential Western Atlantic spawning area found for Atlantic bluefin tuna Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Scientists have found evidence of Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning activity off the northeastern United States in an area of open ocean south of New England and east of the Mid-Atlantic states called the Slope Sea. Prior to this research, the only known spawning grounds for Atlantic bluefin tuna were in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea.

Shipwrecks, tree rings reveal Caribbean hurricanes in buccaneer era Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Records of Spanish shipwrecks combined with tree-ring records show the period 1645 to 1715 had the fewest Caribbean hurricanes since 1500, according to new research. The study is the first to use shipwrecks as a proxy for hurricane activity. The researchers found a 75 percent reduction in the number of Caribbean hurricanes from 1645-1715, a time that had little sunspot activity and cool temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere.

Songbirds pinpoint effects of Huntington's disease Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:27 PM PST Scientists have parsed the role of the Huntington's disease gene in an area of the songbird's brain responsible for complex, sequential movements. These findings not only give a clearer view of how the genetic mutation that causes Huntington's disease alters brain and behavior, it may also offer a new therapeutic target for treatment.

Meditation and ballet associated with wisdom, study says Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:04 PM PST A new study confirms the age-old conception that meditation is associated with wisdom. Surprisingly, it also concludes that somatic (physical) practices such as classical ballet might lead to increased wisdom.

Suffering warthogs seek out nit-picking mongooses for relief Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:03 PM PST Warthogs living in Uganda have learned to rid themselves of annoying ticks by seeking out the grooming services of some accommodating neighbors: a group of mongooses looking for snacks.

Vitamin D level, body fat in newborn linked to health status in pregnancy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:03 PM PST Overweight or obesity in pregnancy is linked to lower vitamin D levels in both the mother and the newborn, new research suggests. Obesity in pregnancy has become increasingly common. In addition to lower vitamin D levels, it has been associated with heavier infants who then are at higher risk for childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Cancer cells eat their neighbors' 'words' Posted: 07 Mar 2016 12:02 PM PST Cancer cells are well-known as voracious energy consumers, but even a veteran cancer-metabolism researcher was surprised by their latest exploit: Experiments in his lab show that some cancer cells get 30-60 percent of their fuel from eating their neighbors' 'words.'

'Thinking and feeling' in close relationships Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST Psychologists studying empathy in couples find that compassion is key to responsiveness; understanding alone isn't enough.

Healthy lifestyle advice provides long-term benefits Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST In a recently published study, providing advice over a 5-year period about leading a healthy lifestyle reduced the risk of heart-related deaths over the next 40 years.

Few studies focus on threatened mammalian species that are 'ugly' Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST Many Australian mammalian species of conservation significance have attracted little research effort, little recognition, and little funding, new research shows. The overlooked non-charismatic species such as fruit bats and tree rats may be most in need of scientific and management research effort.

How cancer cells fuel their growth Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PST Amino acids, not sugar, supply most building blocks for tumor cells, scientists have been surprised to find. These findings offer a new way to look at cancer cell metabolism, a field of research that scientists hope will yield new drugs that cut off cancer cells' ability to grow and divide.

Genes influence sleep/wake timing of seizures in people with epilepsy Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:44 AM PST New research shows that genetics plays a role in sleep/wake timing of seizures. Researchers studied 1,395 individuals with epilepsy in families containing multiple people with epilepsy to determine whether sleep/wake timing of seizures runs in families.

Giant reed is a photosynthetic outlier, study finds Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:40 AM PST Arundo donax, a giant reed that grows in the Mediterranean climate zones of the world, isn't like other prolific warm-weather grasses, researchers report. This grass, which can grow annually to 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) in height, uses a type of photosynthesis that is more common to crop plants like soybeans, rice and peanuts.

Trust your aha! moments: Experiments show they're probably right Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:40 AM PST A series of experiments showed that sudden insight may yield more correct solutions than using gradual, methodical thinking. In other words, say the researchers, it's absolutely worth listening to your "aha!" moments.

Mutated gene safeguards against heart attacks Posted: 07 Mar 2016 11:40 AM PST People with a specific gene mutation have a 50 percent lower risk of suffering a heart attack. This is what an international team of researchers discovered in a broad comparative study. If this gene were switched off with medications it could reduce the risk of coronary disease significantly.

Even plant-supporting soil fungi affected by global warming, study finds Posted: 07 Mar 2016 10:36 AM PST On a cool, fog-shrouded mountain of Costa Rica, a biologist is finding that warming temperatures are becoming an increasing problem for one of the most ecologically diverse places on Earth.

Improving modern vaccines: Sugar polymer tails wag the protein dog Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST Millions of people – particularly infants in underdeveloped countries – suffer from the serious life threatening illnesses of meningitis, pneumonia and influenza. Early vaccines were based on the large and complex carbohydrate (sugar) based polymers produced by the bacteria. More recently new glycoconjugate vaccines have been developed which involves 'fusing' the complex carbohydrates – the sugar polymer tails - onto carrier proteins. These sugar-protein complexes improve the effectiveness and longevity of the vaccine. However, there are still problems concerning the stability of formulations they are prepared in, warn researchers.

Talk about yourself on social media? Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:55 AM PST A network of brain regions involved in self-disclosure on Facebook has been determined by a team of researchers. In the first study to examine the intrinsic functional connectivity of the brain in relation to social media use, researchers observed connectivity between regions of the brain previously established to play a role in self-cognition, in 35 participants.

Preemies' gut bacteria reveal vast scope of antibiotic resistance Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:41 AM PST A new study of gut bacteria in premature infants reveals the vast scope of the problem of antibiotic resistance and gives new insight into the extreme vulnerability of these young patients, according to researchers.

Professor urges physicians to help victims of torture seeking asylum Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:41 AM PST Refugees seeking asylum in the United States are twice as likely to be granted protection if their application is supported by medical documentation of torture.

Down the drain: Here's why we should use rainwater to flush toilets Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST Research by environmental engineers indicates that it rains enough in Philadelphia, New York, Seattle and Chicago that if homeowners had a way to collect and store the rain falling on their roofs, they could flush their toilets often without having to use a drop of municipal water.

Clinician communication reduced distress related to the detection of incidental nodules Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST A cross-sectional survey showed a quarter of patients with detected incidental pulmonary nodules experienced significant distress related to the nodule. Detailed clinician communication increased patient knowledge, relieved distress, and improved patient experience.

Lung cancer screening: New Canadian guideline Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST Adults aged 55-74 years who are at high risk of lung cancer -- current or former smokers (i.e., have quit within the past 15 years) with at least a 30 pack-year history or more -- should be screened annually up to three times using low-dose computed tomography (CT), according to a new Canadian guideline.

N95 respirators vs surgical masks: Protecting health workers from respiratory infections Posted: 07 Mar 2016 09:40 AM PST Accumulated evidence does not indicate superiority of N95 respirators over surgical masks in protecting health care workers from contracting acute respiratory infections from patients, according to a systematic review.

Toxic byproduct of hemoglobin could provide clues for cerebral hemorrhage and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:42 AM PST A novel mechanism has been found that could protect the brain from damage due to stroke and a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, including sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, report scientists.

Female traders can reduce market crashes, expert says Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:40 AM PST Research shows that increasing the proportion of female traders can reduce the occurrence of the most extreme crashes.

Team finds new approach to curbing cancer cell growth Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:40 AM PST Using a new approach, scientists have discovered a novel drug candidate that could be used to treat certain types of breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma.

Cellular aging process unexpectedly enhances insulin secretion Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:39 AM PST A cellular program that causes aging can also bring unexpected benefits in the function of pancreatic beta cells and the production of insulin in mice and humans, new research shows.

Ultra-bright light: A new source of quantum light Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:39 AM PST A new ultra-bright source of single photons - 15 times brighter than commonly used sources and emitting photons that are 99.5% indistinguishable from one another - has been developed.

An ocean observatory for the Red Sea Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST New studies provide new insights into the physical and biological aspects of the Red Sea.

Bid to beat baby chest infection boosted by immune study Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST Babies at risk of a serious lung infection could be helped by a therapy based on the body's natural immune defenses. Scientists have found that a compound produced by the body's immune system can kill the virus that causes the disease -- known as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Antibiotics use affects the abundance of resistant bacteria in soil Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST When a certain type of antibiotic is phased in, the abundance of resistant genes in soil increases, new investigations show. When the antibiotic is phased out again, the abundance of resistant genes drops - and this happens relatively quickly. The scientists also found a correspondence in time between the first detection of antibiotic resistance in the health service and the detection of such genes for resistance in soil that had received applications of animal manure.

Teen girls see big drop in chemical exposure with switch in cosmetics Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST Even a short break from certain kinds of makeup, shampoos and lotions can lead to a significant drop in levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the body, according to a new study.

New mothers with postpartum psychiatric disorders face increased risk of suicide, study shows Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:37 AM PST New mothers who suffer from depression and other psychiatric disorders face a heightened risk of taking their own lives during the first year after they give birth, a new study shows. The study, which runs counter to conventional wisdom of motherhood as a state of unmitigated bliss, is based on one of the most exhaustive analyses ever conducted on the subject, taking advantage of rich data available to researchers in Denmark.

Hop, skip and a jump: Researchers reveal molecular search patterns Posted: 07 Mar 2016 08:35 AM PST Like an albatross scanning for pods of squid in a vast ocean, molecules on solid surfaces move in an intermittent search pattern that provides maximum efficiency, according to new research. While this behavior had been proposed theoretically, these researchers have made the first experimental observations of this phenomenon, providing a gateway for potential improvements in fields ranging from medical diagnostics to chemical production.

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