ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Nurturing during preschool years boosts child's brain growth
• Regenerating brain tissue brings hope for a new treatment against Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s
• Flipping a chemical switch helps perovskite solar cells beat the heat
• Why is visceral fat worse than subcutaneous fat?
• What scientists know -- and don't know -- about sexual orientation
• Role of life's timekeeper -- a novel theory of animal evolution
• Medical literature may overemphasize role of hospital volume in patient outcomes
• Gut feeling: Research examines link between stomach bacteria, PTSD
• Female pelvis adjusts for childbearing years
• New advance announced in fight against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
• Controlling RNA in living cells
• United States absorbed carbon dioxide despite a drought
• Enigma in ant communication solved
• Head impacts from single season of high school football produce measurable change in brain cells
• Framing discourse around conservative values shifts climate change attitudes
• Soy shows promise as natural anti-microbial agent
• Internet video portals do not control views well
• Environmental impacts of demand-side technologies, strategies for carbon mitigation
• Risks of harm from spanking confirmed by analysis of 5 decades of research
• Online HIV prevention resources face resistance from black female college students
• Microbial cooperation in the intestine
• The light stuff: A brand-new way to produce electron spin currents
• Algae disrupt coral reefs' recycling
• Rare Earth atoms see the light
• Meaning of brain scans for 'pain' called into question
• Modern DNA reveals ancient male population explosions linked to migration and technology
• For some cancers, risk lower among kids of non-US-born Hispanic mothers
• Infants who ate rice, rice products had higher urinary concentrations of arsenic
• Effort to detect, isolate asymptomatic C. difficile carriers linked to lower incidence
• New technique accelerates isolation of potato late blight resistance genes
• New gene-detecting technology brings new, resilient superwheat closer
• Researchers find potential new treatment target for deadly brain cancer
• Ancient marine sediments provide clues to future climate change
• Birth defects, pregnancy terminations, miscarriages in users of acne drug
• Expand HPV vaccination programs in Canada to include males, say experts
• Can mountain-climbing bears rescue cherry trees from global warming?
• Researchers discover fate of melting glacial ice in Greenland
• Landslide risk remains high a year after magnitude-7.8 Nepal earthquake
• Micro-sized, liquid-metal particles for heat-free soldering
• Live-bearing anemone undergoes major shifts in nutrition as young develop
• Responsible pet care associated with well-controlled blood sugar in diabetic children
• Mammal-like reptile survived much longer than thought
• If your favorite brand is sincere, is innovation what you expect?
• Critically endangered and ancient Himalayan wolf needs global conservation attention
• Tracing the ancestry of dung beetles
• New understanding of enzymes could help to develop new drugs to treat diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's
• Potential target for revolutionary antibiotics
• Red light controls signaling in human cells
• 20 year-old puzzle solved through genetic advances
• How and why single cell organisms evolved into multicellular life
• First happiness genes have been located
• New spin Seebeck thermoelectric device with higher conversion efficiency created
• Attitude makes a champion, study shows
• Pre-pregnancy obesity increases odds of having overweight children
• Hearing aid use is associated with improved cognitive function in hearing-impaired elderly
• Fighting against counterfeit medicine
• Do bed bugs have favorite colors?
• Researchers one step closer to understanding regeneration in mammals
• Lemur family tree shake-up: Extinct, living lemurs in one evolutionary tree
• Are money problems and violence related?

Nurturing during preschool years boosts child's brain growth Posted: 25 Apr 2016 04:28 PM PDT Children whose mothers were nurturing during the preschool years, as opposed to later in childhood, have more robust growth in brain structures associated with learning, memory and stress response than children with less supportive moms.

Regenerating brain tissue brings hope for a new treatment against Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:16 PM PDT Researchers developed a nanogel that enables the growth of new neurons. Working with animal models, researchers were able to cross the electroencephalic barrier, introduce a nanogel and achieve the growth of neurons within the gel, which shows that it is possible to promote regeneration of brain tissue.

Flipping a chemical switch helps perovskite solar cells beat the heat Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:15 PM PDT A simple chemical conversion could be another step toward making cheap, efficient and stable perovskite solar cells.

Why is visceral fat worse than subcutaneous fat? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Researchers have long-known that visceral fat -- the kind that wraps around the internal organs -- is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat that lies just under the skin around the belly, thighs and rear. But how visceral fat contributes to insulin resistance and inflammation has remained unknown.

What scientists know -- and don't know -- about sexual orientation Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Over the last 50 years, political rights for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals have significantly broadened in some countries, while they have narrowed in others. In many parts of the world, political and popular support for LGB rights hinges on questions about the prevalence, causes, and consequences of non-heterosexual orientations. In a new report, a team of researchers bring the latest science to bear on these issues, providing a comprehensive review of the scientific research on sexual orientation.

Role of life's timekeeper -- a novel theory of animal evolution Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT This novel research disputes modern interpretations of Darwin's theory, though probably remains compatible with Darwin's original hypothesis.

Medical literature may overemphasize role of hospital volume in patient outcomes Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Current medical research and literature may be overemphasizing the role that hospital volume plays in patient outcomes, according to a study by researchers.

Gut feeling: Research examines link between stomach bacteria, PTSD Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:13 PM PDT Could bacteria in your gut be used to cure or prevent neurological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or even depression? Two researchers think that's a strong possibility.

Female pelvis adjusts for childbearing years Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT Mother Nature has the answer: With the onset of puberty, the female pelvis expands; with the onset of menopause, it contracts again. In contrast, the male pelvis remains on the same developmental trajectory throughout a lifetime. The striking results of this study suggest that the morphology of the female pelvis is influenced by hormonal changes in puberty and during menopause.

New advance announced in fight against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT A lab-based study seems to have discovered a way of 'reversing' symptoms for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The researchers have demonstrated that genetic and pharmacological approaches can be used to lower levels of toxic metabolites in the nervous system and thereby alleviate several symptoms of neurodegeneration.

Controlling RNA in living cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:12 PM PDT A system of modular proteins that can be used to track or manipulate RNA inside living cells has been developed by researchers. The new strategy is based on human RNA-binding proteins that normally help guide embryonic development. The research team adapted the proteins so that they can be easily targeted to desired RNA sequences.

United States absorbed carbon dioxide despite a drought Posted: 25 Apr 2016 01:11 PM PDT The warm spring of 2012 in the U.S. caused plants to absorb more carbon, thereby compensating for reductions during the subsequent summer drought, researchers have demonstrated.

Enigma in ant communication solved Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:38 AM PDT In many animal species, physical battles and other aggressive acts determine a certain "pecking order." In the world of ants, fights that involve biting and restraining often determine winners and losers. A new study, however, shows how 'winner-winner' behavior may shape animal colonies.

Head impacts from single season of high school football produce measurable change in brain cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:36 AM PDT Repeated impacts to the heads of high school football players cause measurable changes in their brains, even when no concussion occurs, according to new research.

Framing discourse around conservative values shifts climate change attitudes Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:33 AM PDT Conservatives' attitudes toward climate change and other environmental concerns shift when the issues are reframed in terms more closely aligned with their values, a new study indicates.

Soy shows promise as natural anti-microbial agent Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:33 AM PDT Soy isoflavones and peptides may inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses, according to a new study. Soybean derivatives are already a mainstay in food products, such as cooking oils, cheeses, ice cream, margarine, food spreads, canned foods and baked goods.

Internet video portals do not control views well Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:31 AM PDT The majority of video reproduction portals on internet, with the exception of YouTube, have quite unsophisticated systems for controlling fraud in the number of views, and some of them even seem to completely lack such systems, according to new research.

Environmental impacts of demand-side technologies, strategies for carbon mitigation Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:31 AM PDT A new article aims to advance our understanding of life cycle environmental and natural resource implications of energy efficiency technologies.

Risks of harm from spanking confirmed by analysis of 5 decades of research Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:31 AM PDT The more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and to experience increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems and cognitive difficulties, according to a new meta-analysis of 50 years of research on spanking.

Online HIV prevention resources face resistance from black female college students Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:24 AM PDT Black female college students were often unlikely to use online resources related to HIV prevention, due to the stigma associated with the disease and concerns that their social network would learn they were accessing HIV-related materials.

Microbial cooperation in the intestine Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:24 AM PDT Medical researchers report on a rare example of cooperation between different species of bacteria in the intestine.

The light stuff: A brand-new way to produce electron spin currents Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:23 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated using non-polarized light to produce in a metal what's called a spin voltage -- a unit of power produced from the quantum spinning of an individual electron.

Algae disrupt coral reefs' recycling Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT Coral reefs--the world's most productive and diverse marine ecosystems--rely on a masterful recycling program to stay healthy. A new study explores how a process known as 'microbialization' destroys links in coral reefs' delicate food chain.

Rare Earth atoms see the light Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT Physicists have discovered a promising new route for combined optical and solid-state-based quantum information.

Meaning of brain scans for 'pain' called into question Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT Patterns of brain activity thought to show pain responses have been called into question after researchers saw such patterns in rare patients born without a sense of pain. The study was designed to test the 'pain matrix,' a pattern of brain activity that is often considered a marker for pain. The association is so pervasive that the 'pain matrix' has been used in research to suggest that social rejection or mental effort can cause 'pain.'

Modern DNA reveals ancient male population explosions linked to migration and technology Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT The largest ever study of global genetic variation in the human Y chromosome has uncovered the hidden history of men. Research reveals explosions in male population numbers in five continents, occurring at times between 55 thousand and four thousand years ago.

For some cancers, risk lower among kids of non-US-born Hispanic mothers Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT The children of Hispanic mothers not born in the United States appeared to have a lower risk for some types of childhood cancers, according to a new report.

Infants who ate rice, rice products had higher urinary concentrations of arsenic Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:17 AM PDT Although rice and rice products are typical first foods for infants, a new study found that infants who ate rice and rice products had higher urinary arsenic concentrations than those who did not consume any type of rice.

Effort to detect, isolate asymptomatic C. difficile carriers linked to lower incidence Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT An intervention at an acute care facility to screen and isolate asymptomatic Clostridium difficile carriers was associated with decreased incidence of healthcare-associated C. difficile infection, a finding that needs to be confirmed in additional studies, according to a new study.

New technique accelerates isolation of potato late blight resistance genes Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT A new method to accelerate isolation of plant disease resistance genes. The team has also identified a brand new source of blight resistance genes in Solanum americanum, a wild relative of the potato.

New gene-detecting technology brings new, resilient superwheat closer Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Scientists have pioneered a new gene-detecting technology which, if deployed correctly could lead to the creation of a new elite variety of wheat with durable resistance to disease.

Researchers find potential new treatment target for deadly brain cancer Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT A key player in brain tumor formation has been found that may lead to new therapies for a deadly and incurable cancer. The study is the first to show that a protein called OSMR (Oncostatin M Receptor) is required for glioblastoma tumours to form. Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly cancers, resistant to radiation, chemotherapy and difficult to remove with surgery.

Ancient marine sediments provide clues to future climate change Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was the major driver behind the global climatic shifts that occurred between 53 and 34 million years ago, according to new research.

Birth defects, pregnancy terminations, miscarriages in users of acne drug Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Canada's program that aims to prevent pregnancy in women who use the powerful acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane) is not effective, found a new study. Isotretinoin is used to treat severe acne. It can severely harm a fetus, causing craniofacial, cardiac and central nervous system defects, as well as a high likelihood of miscarriage or medical termination, report researchers.

Expand HPV vaccination programs in Canada to include males, say experts Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT Expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs to include males in Canada will help protect them against HPV-related cancers, according to an analysis.

Can mountain-climbing bears rescue cherry trees from global warming? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT As the planet warms, one way for plants and animals to find their way to cooler territory is to move up higher into the mountains. Now, researchers have found that cherry trees are indeed making their way to the mountaintops with help from an unexpected source: mountain-climbing bears.

Researchers discover fate of melting glacial ice in Greenland Posted: 25 Apr 2016 11:15 AM PDT A team of researchers has discovered the fate of much of the freshwater that pours into the surrounding oceans as the Greenland ice sheet melts every summer. They were surprised to discover that most of the meltwater found off the west coast of Greenland actually originated from ice on the east coast. Meltwater originating from the west coast of Greenland, on the other hand, is often kept pinned to the coastline by strong winds, which push it northward toward Baffin Bay.

Landslide risk remains high a year after magnitude-7.8 Nepal earthquake Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:31 AM PDT With the monsoon fast approaching, the landslide risk in Nepal remains high a year after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that killed more than 8,000 people, according to a research team.

Micro-sized, liquid-metal particles for heat-free soldering Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:31 AM PDT Scientists have developed liquid-metal particles that can be used for heat-free soldering and other applications.

Live-bearing anemone undergoes major shifts in nutrition as young develop Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:28 AM PDT The offspring of a brooding sea anemone transition from using egg yolks to prenatal, then post-natal, parental feeding during their development, according to a new study.

Responsible pet care associated with well-controlled blood sugar in diabetic children Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:28 AM PDT In a sample of young people with type I diabetes, those who actively helped care for family pets were 2.5 times more likely to have well-controlled blood sugar levels, according to a new study.

Mammal-like reptile survived much longer than thought Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered dozens of fossilized teeth in Kuwajima, Japan, and identified this as a new species of tritylodontid, an animal family that links the evolution of mammals from reptiles. The finding suggests that tritylodontids co-existed with some of the earliest mammal species for millions of years, overturning beliefs that mammals wiped out mammal-like reptiles soon after they emerged.

If your favorite brand is sincere, is innovation what you expect? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:26 AM PDT Open the box of that new smartphone. Oops, it feels differently from expectations based on what you'd seen. Embrace it or be disappointed? Your reaction is likely tied to your perception of the brand, says one researcher.

Critically endangered and ancient Himalayan wolf needs global conservation attention Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:26 AM PDT Although the Himalayan wolf is visibly distinct from its European cousin, its current distribution has mostly been a matter of assumption, rather than evident truth. Being the most ancient wolf lineage, known to science, its status has been assigned as Critically Endangered. Now, an international research team report the wolf from Nepal's largest protected area, thus proving its existence in the region.

Tracing the ancestry of dung beetles Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:26 AM PDT One of the largest and most important groups of dung beetles in the world evolved from a single common ancestor and relationships among the various lineages are now known, according to new research. New research provides important insights into the evolution and diversity of these species, which make up about half of the world's dung beetle fauna.

New understanding of enzymes could help to develop new drugs to treat diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Researchers shed light on the role of inositol phosphate molecules in gene regulatory complexes.

Potential target for revolutionary antibiotics Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Researchers have discovered which enzyme enables Escherichia coli bacterium to breathe. E. coli uses special enzymes to breathe, which are absent in the human body. This opens the door to the creation of new drugs which will be detrimental to the bacteria without harming humans.

Red light controls signaling in human cells Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:25 AM PDT Optogenetics now enables the development of new methods that can be used like light switches to turn on and off specific processes in cells. Optogenetic methods are based on the isolation and modification of light-sensitive proteins in a first step and their subsequent incorporation into an individual target cell or an entire tissue. A recent paper describes successful red light experiments.

20 year-old puzzle solved through genetic advances Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT A specific gene that plays a key role in an inherited eye disorder has been identified by researchers. The discovery solves a 20 year-old puzzle for a family in Liverpool who all developed epithelial recurrent erosion dystrophy (ERED), a genetic corneal dystrophy disorder that causes abnormality of the outer layer of the eye.

How and why single cell organisms evolved into multicellular life Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT The genome sequencing of the algae, Gonium pectorale, provides valuable clues into how and why single cells live together in groups -- one of the earliest steps on the path to a multicellular existence.

First happiness genes have been located Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT For the first time in history, researchers have isolated the parts of the human genome that could explain the differences in how humans experience happiness. These are the findings of a large-scale international study in over 298,000 people.

New spin Seebeck thermoelectric device with higher conversion efficiency created Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT A thermoelectric (TE) device using cutting edge thermoelectric conversion technology has been created by a team of researchers. Thermoelectric conversion technology that converts energy abandoned as waste heat back to electric power could potentially save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they say.

Attitude makes a champion, study shows Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT In their search for the optimal path to greatness, some athletes believe that the path should be clear of all obstacles, while others say that such challenges are instrumental to talent development. Now, a recent study suggests that what really distinguishes champions is how they face and overcome such obstacles.

Pre-pregnancy obesity increases odds of having overweight children Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of the child becoming overweight at age two, research shows. The study also found breastfeeding for at least six months helped reduce the likelihood of a child being overweight at age two.

Hearing aid use is associated with improved cognitive function in hearing-impaired elderly Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Older adults who used a hearing aid performed significantly better on cognitive tests than those who did not use a hearing aid, despite having poorer hearing, new research indicates.

Fighting against counterfeit medicine Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Around the world, especially in developing nations, counterfeit medicines are a real problem. Until now, in many countries there hasn't been a standard protocol to conduct investigations and pursue prosecution.

Do bed bugs have favorite colors? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Bed bugs generally prefer hiding spots that are red or black, but their preferences change according to age, sex, and other factors, new research shows.

Researchers one step closer to understanding regeneration in mammals Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:05 AM PDT A third species of African spiny mouse can completely close four millimeter ear holes and regenerate missing tissue, researchers have found, building upon their 2012 landmark discovery. This new study suggests that genetic factors underlie variation in regenerative ability.

Lemur family tree shake-up: Extinct, living lemurs in one evolutionary tree Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:05 AM PDT By combining genetic and anatomical data of extinct and living lemurs, a team of evolutionary biologists has developed the most complete evolutionary tree of lemurs yet. With extinct and living lemurs in a single evolutionary tree, scientists can better understand the evolution of these primates and what their future may be on Earth.

Are money problems and violence related? Posted: 25 Apr 2016 07:05 AM PDT An association between financials stress and severe domestic abuse has been discovered by researchers, however, the discovery doesn't prove that one leads to the other.

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