ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Scientists find surprise lurking in crocodilian jaw
• Choir singing boosts immune system activity in cancer patients and carers, study shows
• New immune-stimulating drug, with chemo, shrinks pancreas tumors
• NASA examines El Nino's impact on ocean's food source
• Mixed results on benefits of antiarrhythmic drugs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
• No improvements with losmapimod after heart attack
• Device that detects congestion in the lung improves heart failure outcomes
• Two atrial fibrillation ablation techniques equal on efficacy and safety
• New device for heart failure patients fails to improve primary outcomes
• Cancer research shows promise for combating deadly lung cancer
• Stem cell therapy improves outcomes in severe heart failure
• Rate, rhythm control equally effective in post-operative atrial fibrillation
• No benefit from addition of aliskiren to 'gold standard' ACE inhibitor
• Deeper insight needed into nurse-industry relationships
• To treat a leading cause of osteoporosis, surgery is better than widely used medications
• Water cycle instability is here to stay posing major political and economic risks
• Yelp reviews can enhance government reports on hospital quality, study suggests
• Fat stunts growth of tobacco hornworm caterpillars
• Developing a faster-acting treatment for high-altitude affliction
• Quantifying the environmental benefits of skipping the meat
• Personalized ratings app may improve patient’s choice of nursing home
• Diagnostic tests for heart disease function differently for women, men
• New metallic glass bounces
• Common pesticides kill amphibian parasites, study finds
• Study links disparities in pain management to racial bias
• Fishing for the future of coral reefs
• Coral reefs highlight the key role of existing biodiversity for climate change adaptation
• Chasing after a prehistoric Kite Runner
• Recent evolutionary change allows a fruit fly to dine on a toxic fruit
• 'Topsy turvy' ocean circulation seen on distant planets
• 'Game changing' stem cell repair system
• Final stampede results: Glycemic benefits of bariatric surgery persist over time
• Vitamin D improves heart function, study finds
• Commercial bumble bee industry amplified a fungal pathogen of bees, study suggest
• Immune cell transforms from 'Clark Kent' to 'Superman'
• Brain marker of poor memory in schizophrenia patients identified
• Watch what you eat: The dangers of a bristle in your burger
• Family plays important role in heart health throughout life
• US prediction models for kidney injury following angioplasty hold up in Japan
• With mosquito Y chromosome sequencing, researchers lay groundwork for advanced disease control
• New method pioneered to identify brain cancer patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapy
• Bilingual baby brains show increased activity in executive function regions
• Tiny tubes move into the fast lane
• Twittersphere does listen to the voice of reason, sometimes
• Major upgrade will boost power of world's brightest x-ray laser
• New study adds key piece to autism puzzle
• How companies can synchronize digital strategies and investments
• Western lifestyle spells the end of biodiversity
• North Atlantic played pivotal role in last great climate tipping point
• New syndrome named, causes a rare intellectual disability
• Surgery residency program directors believe flexible duty hours improve continuity of care
• Microbiologists unmask the Hannibal route enigma
• Death of an independent director leads CEOs to make fewer acquisitions
• Potential new source for pain inhibition found
• 'Deep Learning' used to assist overburdened diagnosticians
• Unraveling truly one-dimensional carbon solids
• New fluorescent probes help solve cell membrane mystery
• Scientists push valleytronics one step closer to reality
• 'Key' to recognizing, immunizing herpes/common cold
• Nanotubes line up to form films

Scientists find surprise lurking in crocodilian jaw Posted: 04 Apr 2016 07:10 PM PDT Researchers discovered that alligators have a previously unknown second jaw joint that helps to distribute the extreme force of their bite - the most powerful of any living animal.

Choir singing boosts immune system activity in cancer patients and carers, study shows Posted: 04 Apr 2016 07:10 PM PDT Singing in a choir for just one hour boosts levels of immune proteins in people affected by cancer, reduces stress and improves mood, which in turn could have a positive impact on overall health, a new study has found.

New immune-stimulating drug, with chemo, shrinks pancreas tumors Posted: 04 Apr 2016 07:10 PM PDT The results of an early-stage (phase 1b) clinical trial for pancreatic cancer show that an experimental therapy can control tumors well enough to make some patients eligible for surgery, according to new data.

NASA examines El Nino's impact on ocean's food source Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT El Nino years can have a big impact on the littlest plants in the ocean, and scientists are studying the relationship between the two.

Mixed results on benefits of antiarrhythmic drugs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT Paramedics often give heart rhythm stabilizing drugs to patients who are suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest when they fail to regain a stable heart rhythm after electrical shock treatment.

No improvements with losmapimod after heart attack Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT Patients taking losmapimod, an anti-inflammatory drug currently being developed, for 12 weeks following a heart attack did not show improvements in the trial's primary endpoint, the rate of cardiovascular death, subsequent heart attack or urgent coronary revascularization, which includes placement of a stent or coronary artery bypass surgery, according to new research.

Device that detects congestion in the lung improves heart failure outcomes Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT In patients with heart failure, use of an investigational device that monitors the accumulation of fluid in the lungs appeared to cut heart failure-related hospitalizations by more than half, meeting the study's primary endpoint, and reduced deaths from any cause by 39 percent per year compared with standard assessment and treatment, researchers reported.

Two atrial fibrillation ablation techniques equal on efficacy and safety Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT Two established techniques for correcting the root cause of the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation show similar effects and safety outcomes, according to new research.

New device for heart failure patients fails to improve primary outcomes Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:10 PM PDT A new implantable medical device intended to help patients with heart failure by stimulating the vagus nerve did not significantly reduce rates of heart failure-related hospitalization or death from any cause in a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's 65th Annual Scientific Session.

Cancer research shows promise for combating deadly lung cancer Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:09 PM PDT Blocking the blood supply of small cell lung cancer tumors may help reduce their growth and delay the regrowth process after treatment, new research indicates. Small cell lung cancer is considered the most lethal of all lung cancers.

Stem cell therapy improves outcomes in severe heart failure Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:09 PM PDT A new stem cell therapy significantly improved long-term health outcomes in patients with severe and end-stage heart failure in a new study.

Rate, rhythm control equally effective in post-operative atrial fibrillation Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:09 PM PDT In the first large randomized trial to directly compare two approaches to preventing a type of abnormal heart rhythm that is the most common complication of heart surgery, the two strategies -- controlling heart rate and controlling heart rhythm -- performed equally well.

No benefit from addition of aliskiren to 'gold standard' ACE inhibitor Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:08 PM PDT In one of the largest trials ever conducted in patients who have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction -- a measure of the heart's ability to pump blood -- the investigational drug aliskiren failed to show superiority over full-dose treatment with the existing 'gold standard' therapy, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril, researchers reported.

Deeper insight needed into nurse-industry relationships Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:08 PM PDT A new article underscores the need for evidence-based investigation to understand in what ways nurse-industry relationships affect the ethical conduct of nurses, or what is normal and necessary interaction between nurses and industry as part of delivering healthcare.

To treat a leading cause of osteoporosis, surgery is better than widely used medications Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:08 PM PDT A leading cause of the bone-loss disease osteoporosis is hyperparathyroidism. Doctors commonly treat this using a class of prescription drugs called bisphosphonates, which are supposed to strengthen bones. A new study found those drugs actually increase the risk of fracture, meaning that taking them is worse than doing nothing at all. The research also revealed that patients who have surgery to remove the overactive parathyroid glands have fewer subsequent bone fractures.

Water cycle instability is here to stay posing major political and economic risks Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:08 PM PDT The current instability and unpredictability of the world water cycle is here to stay, making society's adaptation to new risks a vital necessity when formulating development policies, a UN expert warns. He says long-term water cycle stability 'won't return in the lifetime of anyone alive today.'

Yelp reviews can enhance government reports on hospital quality, study suggests Posted: 04 Apr 2016 03:07 PM PDT Yelp reviews of hospitals cover topics not found in the federal government's survey of patients' hospital experiences, according to the results of a new study. The additional information, which the authors say tends to be strongly linked to positive or negative reviews from Yelp contributors, could influence patient decision making on where to receive hospital care, and provide valuable information to hospital administrators, caregivers, and policymakers.

Fat stunts growth of tobacco hornworm caterpillars Posted: 04 Apr 2016 02:04 PM PDT Tobacco hornworm caterpillars eating a high-fat diet are smaller than their counterparts eating a medium- or low-fat diet. New research found that fat decreased the caterpillars' food consumption, leading to the smaller body size.

Developing a faster-acting treatment for high-altitude affliction Posted: 04 Apr 2016 02:04 PM PDT Pulmonary edema is a significant risk for anyone spending time at high altitudes, and also affects people with chronic conditions including congestive heart failure. Researchers show an inhalable form of the drug Ambrisentan could offer a faster-acting treatment option for this life-threatening condition.

Quantifying the environmental benefits of skipping the meat Posted: 04 Apr 2016 02:04 PM PDT A new study tracks the emissions associated with 39 vegetarian meat alternatives, finding that producing these foods generates approximately 10 times less greenhouse gas emissions than producing comparable beef-based products.

Personalized ratings app may improve patient’s choice of nursing home Posted: 04 Apr 2016 02:04 PM PDT A new app can improve a patient's choice of a nursing home. This is important, because when rating quality measures for nursing homes, patients and experts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) usually don't agree on what is best, leading researchers to conclude that patients may benefit from a more personalized approach to choosing a nursing home.

Diagnostic tests for heart disease function differently for women, men Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:34 PM PDT Tests used to diagnose and assess the severity of coronary artery disease appear to function differently for women and men who have stable symptoms, according to researchers.

New metallic glass bounces Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT Engineers have generated a bulk metal glass that is unusually strong and shock resistant.

Common pesticides kill amphibian parasites, study finds Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT A recent study explored the effects of six commonly used pesticides on two different populations of a widespread parasite of amphibians. They found that a broad range of insecticides commonly used in the US kill amphibian parasites, which could potentially decrease the number of parasites that amphibians must defend against. For the pyrethroid and neonicotinoid pesticides tested in this study, this pattern has not been documented before.

Study links disparities in pain management to racial bias Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT Disparities in pain management may be attributable in part to bias, a new report suggests. The research has documented that black Americans are systematically undertreated for pain relative to white Americans, likely due to both the over-prescription and over-use of pain medications among white patients and the under-prescription of pain medications for black patients.

Fishing for the future of coral reefs Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT New fishery regulations based on science are needed in the Caribbean to give coral reefs a fighting chance against climate change, according to an international study.

Coral reefs highlight the key role of existing biodiversity for climate change adaptation Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT New research on coral reefs suggests that existing biodiversity will be essential for the successful adaptation of ecosystems to climate change.

Chasing after a prehistoric Kite Runner Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT Scientists have discovered an ancient animal that carried its young in capsules tethered to the parent's body like tiny, swirling kites. They're naming it after 'The Kite Runner,' the 2003 bestselling novel.

Recent evolutionary change allows a fruit fly to dine on a toxic fruit Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT Fruit flies in one lab happily eat a noni fruit that is normally toxic to fly species. Researchers there are probing the genetic basis for this ability, which may explain how insects adapt to new foods -- a line of research that could apply to agricultural pests.

'Topsy turvy' ocean circulation seen on distant planets Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT The salt levels of oceans on distant Earth-like planets could have a major effect on their climates. A new study reveals that the circulation in extremely salty or fresh water extra-terrestrial seas would influence their temperatures -- and could in fact make for more habitable conditions for alien life.

'Game changing' stem cell repair system Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT Stem cell therapies capable of regenerating any human tissue damaged by injury, disease or ageing could be available within a few years, following landmark research.

Final stampede results: Glycemic benefits of bariatric surgery persist over time Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT In the final, five-year follow-up report from the influential STAMPEDE trial, research shows that bariatric surgery's beneficial effects on blood glucose control in mild and moderately obese patients with type 2 diabetes may persist for up to five years, with the advantage over diabetes medications-only approach widening over time.

Vitamin D improves heart function, study finds Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:29 PM PDT A daily dose of vitamin D3 improves heart function in people with chronic heart failure, a five-year research project has found. The study involved more than 160 patients who were already being treated for their heart failure using proven treatments including beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors and pacemakers.

Commercial bumble bee industry amplified a fungal pathogen of bees, study suggest Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:28 PM PDT Scientists hoping to explain widespread declines in wild bumble bee populations have conducted the first long-term genetic study of Nosema bombi, a key fungal pathogen of honey bees and bumble bees. They found that N. bombi infections in large-scale commercial bumble bee pollination operations coincided with infections and declines in wild bumble bees.

Immune cell transforms from 'Clark Kent' to 'Superman' Posted: 04 Apr 2016 12:28 PM PDT A previously unknown type of immune cell has been discovered by scientists, opening new avenues in the effort to develop novel therapies for autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes.

Brain marker of poor memory in schizophrenia patients identified Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:38 AM PDT A pattern of brain activity that may be a sign of memory problems in people with schizophrenia has been identified by researchers. The biomarker, which the researchers believe may be the first of its kind, is an important step toward understanding and treating one of the most devastating symptoms of schizophrenia.

Watch what you eat: The dangers of a bristle in your burger Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:38 AM PDT Wire-bristle grill brushes, used for cleaning grill grates, may lose bristles when used. These bristles can adhere to the grill, become stuck to food, and then accidentally be ingested. A literature and national database review yielded case reports and documented injuries from ingestion, sometimes requiring surgery.

Family plays important role in heart health throughout life Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:38 AM PDT Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and the burden is increasing -- much of which could be reduced through modifiable risk factors. A new review examines the role of the family for heart health by focusing on interdependence of the family, shared environment, parenting style, caregiver perceptions and genomics.

US prediction models for kidney injury following angioplasty hold up in Japan Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:38 AM PDT Models developed by the American College of Cardiology NCDR CathPCI Registry to predict the likelihood of angioplasty patients developing acute kidney injury and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis have proven to be effective among patients in Japan. This finding suggests these models may have international application as a preventive tool, according to a study.

With mosquito Y chromosome sequencing, researchers lay groundwork for advanced disease control Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:19 AM PDT Ever since the groundbreaking Anopheles gambiae genome sequencing project was published in 2002, efforts have been underway to harness genomics for novel vector-based malaria control strategies. Researchers have assembled a diverse and multinational team of scientists to crack the genetic code of the Y chromosome in malaria mosquitoes for the first time.

New method pioneered to identify brain cancer patients most likely to benefit from immunotherapy Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:18 AM PDT A promising method has been developed to assess how changes in the immune response can help predict the effectiveness of a new immunotherapy in people with glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and deadly type of brain cancer.

Bilingual baby brains show increased activity in executive function regions Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:17 AM PDT Babies raised in bilingual households show brain activity associated with executive functioning as early as 11 months of age, new research demonstrates. The study also gives evidence that the brains of babies from bilingual families remain more open to learning new language sounds, compared with babies from monolingual families.

Tiny tubes move into the fast lane Posted: 04 Apr 2016 11:17 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have shown that carbon nanotubes as small as eight-tenths of a nanometer in diameter can transport protons faster than bulk water, by an order of magnitude.

Twittersphere does listen to the voice of reason, sometimes Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT In the maelstrom of information, opinion and conjecture that is Twitter, the voice of truth and reason does occasionally prevail, according to a new study. Tweets from "official accounts" can slow the spread of rumors on Twitter and correct misinformation that's taken on a life of its own.

Major upgrade will boost power of world's brightest x-ray laser Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:43 AM PDT Construction will begin on a major upgrade to a unique X-ray laser. The project will add a second X-ray laser beam that's 10,000 times brighter, on average, than the first one and fires 8,000 times faster, up to a million pulses per second.

New study adds key piece to autism puzzle Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT The first study to use eye-tracker technology to monitor eye movement of children with autism spectrum disorder during an interactive conversation shows that children with the developmental disability fixate longer on a speaker's mouth rather than the eyes when the conversation turns emotional.

How companies can synchronize digital strategies and investments Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT Conventional wisdom in strategy holds that companies need to choose between cost-cutting or revenue growth. Pursuing both strategies at the same time can result in incoherence -- or getting stuck in the middle, some argue. That conventional wisdom, however, is challenged by a new study which suggests that information technology investments can enable firms to pursue dual-focus or ambidextrous IT strategies successfully.

Western lifestyle spells the end of biodiversity Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT Contrary to what many economists suggest, 'development is not always good for Nature,' a biologist argues. It is broadly accepted that biodiversity and the ecosystem are both fundamental to sustaining humanity and life on Earth, but in recent centuries they have been subject to heavy pressures due to overexploitation. Environmental protection is also raising concerns because of our improved understanding of the interconnections between human wellness and ecosystem health.

North Atlantic played pivotal role in last great climate tipping point Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT An international research team has discovered ground-breaking new reasons why large continental ice-sheets first grew in North America and Scandinavia during the late Pliocene Epoch era, 2.7 millions of years ago.

New syndrome named, causes a rare intellectual disability Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT Pediatric researchers, using high-speed DNA sequencing tools, have identified a new syndrome that causes intellectual disability. Drawing on knowledge of the causative gene mutation, the scientists' cell studies suggest that an amino acid supplement may offer a targeted treatment for children with this condition.

Surgery residency program directors believe flexible duty hours improve continuity of care Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT Directors of general surgery residency programs believe that flexible work hour schedules for surgeons in training (residents) improve the continuity of patient care as well as resident training without compromising patient safety.

Microbiologists unmask the Hannibal route enigma Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT Microbiologists have recently released results that may have answered one of ancient history's greatest enigmas: Where did Hannibal cross the Alps?

Death of an independent director leads CEOs to make fewer acquisitions Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT CEOs who have experienced an independent director's death engage in fewer acquisitions after the director's death, according to a new paper by strategic management experts.

Potential new source for pain inhibition found Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:42 AM PDT A new neurological mechanism has been found that appears to contribute to a reduction in pain. According to the researchers, the discovery of neuroligin-2 as a cause exacerbating chronic pain is significant for the research community. Although the findings likely won't immediately lead to new pain therapies, the findings offer a potential new therapeutic direction to investigate.

'Deep Learning' used to assist overburdened diagnosticians Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT A laboratory has developed tools to facilitate computer-assisted diagnosis of X-rays, CTs and MRIs, freeing radiologists to attend to complex cases.

Unraveling truly one-dimensional carbon solids Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT Elemental carbon appears in many different forms, including diamond and graphite.Researchers have succeeded in developing a novel route for the bulk production of carbon chains composed of more than 6,000 carbon atoms, using thin double-walled carbon nanotubes as protective hosts for the chains. These findings represent an elegant forerunner towards the final goal of carbyne's bulk production.

New fluorescent probes help solve cell membrane mystery Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT Scientists have developed new fluorescent probes that prove the existence of 'raft domains' in the live cell membrane -- opening new possibilities to study how toxins and viruses invade cells.

Scientists push valleytronics one step closer to reality Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT A big step has been taken toward the practical application of 'valleytronics,' which is a new type of electronics that could lead to faster and more efficient computer logic systems and data storage chips in next-generation devices. Researchers experimentally demonstrated, for the first time, the ability to electrically generate and control valley electrons in a two-dimensional semiconductor.

'Key' to recognizing, immunizing herpes/common cold Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT Prior to this study, it was known that interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3), a protein coding gene, contributed to a first line of defense against viral infection by triggering antiviral activity. However the activation of IRF-3 following infection was not fully understood. The study found that an interaction with the protein S6K1 and the signaling adaptor STING is a fundamental regulatory mechanism for IRF3 and, thus, helps trigger antiviral responses.

Nanotubes line up to form films Posted: 04 Apr 2016 10:40 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a simple filtration technique produces wafer-scale films of highly aligned carbon nanotubes. The thin films offer possibilities for flexible electronic and photonic devices.

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