ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Once-a-day epilepsy drug may prevent seizures as well as twice-a-day drug
• Juvenile offenders probably more criminal to begin with
• Right whales threatened by planned seismic surveys along Mid- and Southeastern Atlantic seaboard, say scientists
• Worm infection counters inflammatory bowel disease by drastically changing gut microbiome
• Chemical composition of dust from beyond the solar system analyzed
• 'Winner-winner' behavior may shape animal hierarchies, study argues
• A new system for color vision
• For women, waiting to have children until after 30 minimizes career income losses
• Using ultrasound screening for fetal microcephaly
• Europa's heaving ice might make more heat than scientists thought
• SPECT-MRI fusion minimizes surgery for diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer patients
• Forest discovery: Trees trade carbon among each other
• Memory may aid emotion regulation, particularly in older adults
• Enzyme in myelination process could lead to better understanding of neurological disorders
• A single-atom magnet breaks new ground for future data storage
• New hope for malaria treatment as drug resistance found unable to spread for the first time
• Visualizing, predicting evolution by mapping the elusive 'fitness landscape'
• Mice with genetic defect for human stuttering offer new insight into speech disorder
• Great Barrier Reef risks losing tolerance to bleaching events
• Scientists crack secrets of the monarch butterfly's internal compass
• Memory suppressor gene could hold key to new Alzheimer's disease treatments
• Simple, efficient 3-D fabrication technique for bio-inspired hierarchical structures
• Antihistamines affect exercise recovery, may or may not be a problem
• Surface mutation lets canine parvovirus jump to other species
• Nanoscrolls created from graphene's imperfect cousin
• Dino dinner, dead or alive
• Coding, computers help spot methane, explosives
• Restaurant servers earn far more than abolitionists realize, new study indicates
• Dwarf dark galaxy hidden in ALMA gravitational lens image
• Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients
• Brain scan method may help detect autism
• Scientist identifies mechanism underlying peripheral neuropathy
• Nanotubes assemble! Scientists introduce 'Teslaphoresis'
• Lower-carb diet slows growth of aggressive brain tumor in mouse models
• Scientists develop recipe for testosterone-producing cells
• Radical route for the synthesis of chiral molecules
• Modified flu virus can 'resensitize' resistant pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy
• Plants force fungal partners to behave fairly
• Using methane rather than flaring it
• Supernova iron found on the moon
• Thyroid tumor reclassified to curb overdiagnosis of cancer
• Neratinib plus paclitaxel vs. trastuzumab plus paclitaxel in breast cancer
• Incidence of diagnosed thyroid cancer may be leveling off
• Study estimates number of births, terminations with Down syndrome in Massachusetts
• Income tax preparation chains target low-income workers
• Electrical brain stimulation enhances creativity
• El Niño’s warm water devastates coral reefs in Pacific ocean
• Self-driving mining truck stable at 90 km/h
• Scorpion toxin insights may lead to a new class of insecticides
• Sugary drinks tax would offer big benefits
• Chemical weathering controls erosion rates in rivers
• World-first new treatment for alcohol addictions
• Complex ideas can enter consciousness automatically
• Research team revs up connected-vehicle technology
• Scientists grow a material based on hafnium oxide for a new type of non-volatile memory
• Animal-encounter data under-detects hunted species in Amazon ecosystems
• Scientists discover how to control heart cells using a laser
• Global spending on health is expected to increase to $18.28 trillion worldwide by 2040
• Growth in maternal, child health funding outpaces spending on HIV, TB, and malaria
• People in Miyagi coastal areas continue to show higher levels of depressive tendencies

Once-a-day epilepsy drug may prevent seizures as well as twice-a-day drug Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:48 PM PDT A new study suggests that an epilepsy drug that can be taken once a day may control seizures as well as a drug that must be taken twice a day, according to a preliminary study.

Juvenile offenders probably more criminal to begin with Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:44 PM PDT It's a long-simmering debate in juvenile justice: Do young offenders become worse because of their experience with the justice system, or are they somehow different than people who don't have their first criminal conviction until later in life? A longitudinal study covering 931 people from birth to age 38 finds juvenile offenders are probably more criminal to begin with.

Right whales threatened by planned seismic surveys along Mid- and Southeastern Atlantic seaboard, say scientists Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:56 AM PDT A series of seismic surveys for oil and gas planned for the mid- and southeastern Atlantic coastal areas of the United States pose a substantial threat to one of the world's most endangered whale species, according to a group of renowned marine mammal scientists urging a halt to the surveys in a statement released today.

Worm infection counters inflammatory bowel disease by drastically changing gut microbiome Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:55 AM PDT Infection with worms counters inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) by triggering immune responses that change the mix of bacteria, or microbiome, in the gut.

Chemical composition of dust from beyond the solar system analyzed Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:53 AM PDT A dust detector on the Cassini space probe -- known as the cosmic dust analyzer (CDA) -- has identified several extremely rare and minuscule particles of interstellar dust from outside our solar system, and examined their chemical composition. Surprisingly it turns out that the different dust particles are very similar in composition and have collected the whole element mix of the cosmos. The experts therefore suspect that dust is continually destroyed, reformed and thereby homogenized in the "witch's cauldron" of outer space.

'Winner-winner' behavior may shape animal hierarchies, study argues Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT Researchers have developed a behavioral model that explains the complexity and diversity of social hierarchies in ants, and which scientists believe may help us understand the nature of other animal societies -- from primates to dolphins.

A new system for color vision Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT The swirling skies of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night illustrate a mystery that has eluded biologists for more than a century -- why do we perceive the color blue in the dimly lit night sky? A newly discovered mechanism of color vision in mice might help answer this question, researchers say.

For women, waiting to have children until after 30 minimizes career income losses Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT Working women who want to minimize career income losses related to motherhood should wait until they are about 30 years old to have their first children, suggests new research. The work seems to hold true regardless of whether a woman has earned a college degree.

Using ultrasound screening for fetal microcephaly Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a statement on the use of ultrasound screening for fetal microcephaly following Zika virus exposure.

Europa's heaving ice might make more heat than scientists thought Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:52 AM PDT A new set of experiments sheds light on how much heat is created when ice is deformed, which could help scientists understand the possibility of a subsurface ocean on one of Jupiter's moons.

SPECT-MRI fusion minimizes surgery for diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer patients Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes could benefit from SPECT-MRI imaging of their sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) to assess whether metastases are present.

Forest discovery: Trees trade carbon among each other Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Forest trees use carbon not only for themselves; they also trade large quantities of it with their neighbors, botanists report. The extensive carbon trade among trees -- even among different species -- is conducted via symbiotic fungi in the soil.

Memory may aid emotion regulation, particularly in older adults Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT In a study exploring the relationship between memory for specific past experiences and recovery from strong negative emotions, research psychologists report that episodic memory may be more important in helping midlife and older adults recover from a negative event than it is for younger adults.

Enzyme in myelination process could lead to better understanding of neurological disorders Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT The removal of the enzyme Dnmt1 during oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation in the central nervous system resulted in inefficient myelin formation and neurological deterioration, including loss of control of bodily movements, in mice, report scientists.

A single-atom magnet breaks new ground for future data storage Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:47 AM PDT Scientists have built a single-atom magnet that is the most stable to date. The breakthrough paves the way for the scalable production of miniature magnetic storage devices.

New hope for malaria treatment as drug resistance found unable to spread for the first time Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:42 AM PDT Resistance to a key anti-malarial drug cannot be passed on by mosquitoes in a breakthrough scientists believe could drastically improve the way we battle the disease.

Visualizing, predicting evolution by mapping the elusive 'fitness landscape' Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:42 AM PDT Suppose you were trying to design a vaccine to combat next season's influenza virus. Having a detailed map that tells you exactly how various strains of the flu bug will evolve would be extremely helpful, explain researchers. Creating just that sort of map is the goal of evolutionary biologists who study a conceptual tool called the fitness landscape, which provides a way to visualize and predict evolution.

Mice with genetic defect for human stuttering offer new insight into speech disorder Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:42 AM PDT Mice that vocalize in a repetitive, halting pattern similar to human stuttering may provide insight into a condition that has perplexed scientists for centuries, according to a new study. These mice, which carry a mutation in a gene associated with stuttering in humans, may help scientists understand the biological basis of the disorder, and potentially lead to treatments.

Great Barrier Reef risks losing tolerance to bleaching events Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:39 AM PDT New research suggests that Great Barrier Reef (GBR) corals were able to survive past bleaching events because they were exposed to a pattern of gradually warming waters in the lead up to each episode. However, this protective pattern is likely to be lost under near future climate change scenarios.

Scientists crack secrets of the monarch butterfly's internal compass Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:39 AM PDT Researchers have cracked the secret of the internal, genetically encoded compass that millions of monarch butterflies use to determine the direction -- southwest -- they should fly each fall to reach central Mexico.

Memory suppressor gene could hold key to new Alzheimer's disease treatments Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT While research has identified hundreds of genes required for normal memory formation, genes that suppress memory are of special interest because they offer insights into how the brain prioritizes and manages all of the information, including memories, that it takes in every day. These genes also provide clues for how scientists might develop new treatments for cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Simple, efficient 3-D fabrication technique for bio-inspired hierarchical structures Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT Scientists have developed a novel method for the rapid and maskless fabrication of bio-inspired hierarchical structures, using a technique called laser interference lithography, demonstrating its potential in large-area, low-cost and high-volume 3-D fabrication.

Antihistamines affect exercise recovery, may or may not be a problem Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT After vigorous exercise, some 3,000 genes go to work to aid recovery by boosting muscles and blood vessels, but in the presence of high doses of antihistamines almost 27 percent of the gene response is blunted, according to researchers.

Surface mutation lets canine parvovirus jump to other species Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT A key mutation in the protein shell of canine parvovirus -- a single amino acid substitution -- plays a major role in the virus' ability to infect hosts of different species.

Nanoscrolls created from graphene's imperfect cousin Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT Seeking an alternative, a team of researchers is looking to graphene oxide -- graphene's much cheaper, imperfect form. Graphene oxide is graphene that is also covered with oxygen and hydrogen groups. The material is essentially what graphene becomes if it's left to sit out in open air. The team fabricated nanoscrolls made from graphene oxide flakes and was able to control the dimensions of each nanoscroll, using both low- and high-frequency ultrasonic techniques.

Dino dinner, dead or alive Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT Many meat-eating dinosaurs would have been expert scavengers, relying on carrion to make up a significant portion of their calorific intake, new research suggests.

Coding, computers help spot methane, explosives Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:20 AM PDT A modern twist on classic mass spectrometers could soon help detect rogue methane leaks, hidden explosives and much more. With the help of modern data analytics, researchers show that a technology using a so-called 'coded aperture' can shrink these devices while maintaining their performance.

Restaurant servers earn far more than abolitionists realize, new study indicates Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:47 AM PDT The practice of tipping restaurant servers and bartenders has economic advantages for everyone concerned: restaurant owners, their customers, servers and other workers.

Dwarf dark galaxy hidden in ALMA gravitational lens image Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:46 AM PDT Subtle distortions hidden in ALMA's stunning image of the gravitational lens SDP.81 are telltale signs that a dwarf dark galaxy is lurking in the halo of a much larger galaxy nearly 4 billion light-years away.

Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT Patients who get blood quickly after severe injuries are less likely to die, according to researchers. In this study, researchers tracked trauma patients taken from the scene of their injury to hospital who received at least one unit of blood within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital.

Brain scan method may help detect autism Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT Scientists report a new degree of success in using brain scans to distinguish between adults diagnosed with autism and people without the disorder, an advance that could lead to the development of a diagnostic tool.

Scientist identifies mechanism underlying peripheral neuropathy Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT Recent research identifying the underlying mechanisms of peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, has raised the prospect that drug therapies can be developed for the treatment of this condition, which causes pain, numbness and/or tingling in the hands and feet.

Nanotubes assemble! Scientists introduce 'Teslaphoresis' Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:42 AM PDT Researchers have used a modified Tesla coil to assemble nanoparticles into a wire from a distance. Their process, 'Teslaphoresis,' may be used for the self-assembly of nano- and macro-scale materials.

Lower-carb diet slows growth of aggressive brain tumor in mouse models Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT Researchers have slowed a notoriously aggressive type of brain tumor in mouse models by using a low-carbohydrate diet. Glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor in adults, has no effective long-term treatment and on average, patients live for 12 to 15 months after diagnosis.

Scientists develop recipe for testosterone-producing cells Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to keep adult stem cells that are destined to become testosterone-producing cells multiplying and on track to fulfill their fate, a new study reports.

Radical route for the synthesis of chiral molecules Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT A new methodology has been developed for the selective formation of chiral molecules. The work combines two strategies which require very mild reaction conditions -- enantioselective iminium ion chemistry and photoredox catalysis -- to set quaternary carbon stereocentres with high enantioselectivity.

Modified flu virus can 'resensitize' resistant pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT A common flu virus could be used to overcome patients' resistance to certain cancer drugs -- and improve how those drugs kill cancer cells, according to new research.

Plants force fungal partners to behave fairly Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT Plants react intelligently to their environment: if they can choose between more cooperative and less cooperative fungal partners, they supply the latter with fewer nutrients and thus force them to cooperate more. Based on these findings, scientists believe that plants could also be used to test market and behavioral theories.

Using methane rather than flaring it Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT Chemists have found a new, direct way to convert gaseous methane into liquid methanol. This offers industry the interesting prospect of using the gas, rather than simply burning it off, as is currently the case.

Supernova iron found on the moon Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT Approximately two million years ago a star exploded in a supernova close to our solar system: Its traces can still be found today in the form of an iron isotope found on the ocean floor. Now scientists have found increased concentrations of this supernova-iron in lunar samples as well. They believe both discoveries to originate from the same stellar explosion.

Thyroid tumor reclassified to curb overdiagnosis of cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT An international panel of pathologists and clinicians has reclassified a type of thyroid cancer to reflect that it is non-invasive and has a low risk of recurrence. The name change is expected to reduce the psychological and medical consequences of a cancer diagnosis, potentially affecting thousands of people worldwide.

Neratinib plus paclitaxel vs. trastuzumab plus paclitaxel in breast cancer Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT While neratinib plus paclitaxel was not superior to trastuzumab plus paclitaxel as first-line treatment for ERBB2-positive metastatic breast cancer in terms of progression-free survival, the combination was associated with delayed onset and reduced frequency of central nervous system metastases, a finding that requires a larger study to confirm, according to an article.

Incidence of diagnosed thyroid cancer may be leveling off Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT The incidence of thyroid cancer in the US from 1983 to 2012 have been analyzed by researchers. The incidence of thyroid cancer has risen rapidly since the 1990s. This increase, chiefly comprising small papillary cancers, has been attributed to widespread diagnosis of subclinical disease.

Study estimates number of births, terminations with Down syndrome in Massachusetts Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:34 AM PDT A multi-institutional research team has estimated for the first time the number of children born with Down syndrome each year in Massachusetts over the past century, along with the numbers of pregnancies of a child with Down syndrome lost to either termination or miscarriage.

Income tax preparation chains target low-income workers Posted: 14 Apr 2016 07:01 AM PDT National tax preparation chains continue to exploit the working poor, many of whom spend a significant portion of a key federal anti-poverty tax credit just to pay for filing their taxes, a new study concludes.

Electrical brain stimulation enhances creativity Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:59 AM PDT Safe levels of electrical stimulation can enhance your capacity to think more creatively, according to a new study.

El Niño’s warm water devastates coral reefs in Pacific ocean Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:59 AM PDT Researchers visited Christmas Island, the world's largest coral atoll, to measure the effects of El Nino. Eighty percent of the coral is dead, they report. Corals are communities of animals that have tiny photosynthetic algae living inside them in a mutually beneficial relationship. Corals are very temperature-sensitive. A rise of just 1-1.5 degrees Celsius can stress coral enough to evict the algae until the heat stress subsides.

Self-driving mining truck stable at 90 km/h Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:57 AM PDT A self-driving truck has tested successfully at speeds of up to 90 kilometers-per-hour.

Scorpion toxin insights may lead to a new class of insecticides Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:56 AM PDT The molecular clues driving the effectiveness of scorpion toxins has now been identified by scientists. This finding could lead to the promising new candidates for insecticides, and fine-tuning these mutants to target a specific pest, they say.

Sugary drinks tax would offer big benefits Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:56 AM PDT A 20 percent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks would result in widespread, long-lasting public health benefits and significant health cost savings, a new study shows.

Chemical weathering controls erosion rates in rivers Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Chemical weathering can control how susceptible bedrock in river beds is to erosion, according to new research. In addition to explaining how climate can influence landscape erosion rates, the results also may improve scientists' ability to interpret and predict feedbacks between erosion, plate tectonics and Earth's climate.

World-first new treatment for alcohol addictions Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT An FDA-approved beta blocker could be the answer in treating alcohol addiction, researchers report. Alcohol addiction causes almost 3.8 percent of deaths worldwide, authors say.

Complex ideas can enter consciousness automatically Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT New research provides further evidence for 'passive frame theory,' the groundbreaking idea that suggests human consciousness is less in control than previously believed. The study shows that even complex concepts, such as translating a word into pig latin, can enter your consciousness automatically, even when someone tells you to avoid thinking about it. The research provides the first evidence that even a small amount of training can cause unintentional, high-level symbol manipulation.

Research team revs up connected-vehicle technology Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Cars, fire trucks and traffic signals are connected on live streets in an Arizona community, where engineering researchers are fine-tuning their technology and demonstrating its power to save lives and put an end to sitting at an empty intersection, waiting for the light to change.

Scientists grow a material based on hafnium oxide for a new type of non-volatile memory Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in growing ultra-thin (2.5-nanometre) ferroelectric films based on hafnium oxide that could potentially be used to develop non-volatile memory elements called ferroelectric tunnel junctions.

Animal-encounter data under-detects hunted species in Amazon ecosystems Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Evidence of wildlife passage, such as tracks, scat, fur, and disturbed surroundings, is a more accurate tool for assessing wildlife conservation status than actual encounters with animals, according to an international team of scientists from six universities.

Scientists discover how to control heart cells using a laser Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how to control the behavior of heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) using laser radiation. The new study will help scientists to better understand the mechanisms of the heart and could ultimately provide a method of treating arrhythmia.

Global spending on health is expected to increase to $18.28 trillion worldwide by 2040 Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Global inequities in health spending are expected to persist and intensify over the next 25 years, according to a new study that estimates total health financing in countries around the world.

Growth in maternal, child health funding outpaces spending on HIV, TB, and malaria Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:55 AM PDT Funding earmarked for improving maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries has grown faster since 2010 than funding for HIV, TB, and malaria, according to new research.

People in Miyagi coastal areas continue to show higher levels of depressive tendencies Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:54 AM PDT Depressive symptoms continue to be higher in coastal areas than inland areas of Miyagi, following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, new research shows.

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