ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Maternal obesity and poor nutrition in the womb impairs fertility in female offspring
• 'Marijuana receptor' might hold the key to new fertility treatments for men
• Is a popular painkiller hampering our ability to notice errors?
• Clathrate ices identified in comet 67P
• Blood-brain barrier breakthrough reported by researchers
• New microwave synthesis technique produces more-affordable hydrogen
• How an ancient civilization conserved water
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder symptoms improve, relapse preventable with sustained medication
• The future is here: Interactive screens on your packages
• Six-step hand-washing technique found most effective for reducing bacteria
• Quantum dots enhance light-to-current conversion in layered semiconductors
• Many ICU patients trade critical illness for new illness, ICU-acquired weakness
• When life returned after a volcanic mass extinction
• Transcranial direct current stimulation can boost language comprehension
• Cyclodextrin dissolves away cholesterol crystals
• Developing ways to study influenza D virus
• World Trade Center firefighters needing sinus surgery had more intense, longer exposure to caustic dust and have higher eosinophil levels
• Revealing news to young adult children
• More complete genetic map of scleroderma disease makes more effective medications possible
• The missing brown dwarfs
• Clearing the way for real-world applications of superhydrophobic surfaces
• Key gene in development of celiac disease has been found in 'junk' DNA
• Viruses work together to attack their hosts
• Timber skyscrapers could transform London's skyline
• New perceptual illusion: How the index finger can be fooled
• Switching specific G-protein-coupled signalling pathways on and off
• The Strait of Gibraltar proves no obstacle for eels
• Physicists discover flaws in superconductor theory
• New models predicting where to find fossils
• AMOR, a love potion for plant fertilization
• What really happened on Easter Island?
• Simultaneous cocaine, alcohol use linked to suicide risk
• Curiosity leads us to seek out unpleasant, painful outcomes
• Bronchial carcinoma: Added benefit of crizotinib for first-line treatment not proven
• Restoring ecosystems: How to learn from our mistakes
• Intracellular recordings using nanotower electrodes
• Protective effect of genetically modified cord blood on spinal cord injury in rats
• Skateboarding sent about 176 youth to US emergency departments every day
• Common prostate cancer treatments suppress immune response, may promote relapse
• HPV vaccine may be effective in adolescents with kidney disease, but less so in those with a kidney transplant
• Kidneys have an innate clock that affects many metabolic processes in the body
• Traditional skin tests used to predict allergies to antibiotics are useless, say researchers
• Wisdom is a matter of both heart and mind, research finds
• 'Climate-smart soils' may help balance the carbon budget
• Cancer thwarts treatment by 'stealing' blood vessels
• Maternal obesity, diabetes in pregnancy result in early overgrowth of baby in the womb
• Ditch 'colonial' thinking to boost access to surgery for world's poor, rich nations told
• Most patients likely to see reductions in pain and disability after bariatric surgery
• Inflammatory factors cause damage to back of eye following keratoprosthesis implantation
• Gender perceptions of sexual harassment can influence workplace policy effectiveness
• New role identified for scars at the site of injured spinal cord

Maternal obesity and poor nutrition in the womb impairs fertility in female offspring Posted: 08 Apr 2016 01:38 PM PDT New research involving mice suggests that maternal obesity and poor nutrition during pregnancy affects the egg reserves of female offspring.

'Marijuana receptor' might hold the key to new fertility treatments for men Posted: 08 Apr 2016 01:38 PM PDT Scientists have shown that a cannabinoid receptor, called 'CB2,' helps regulate the creation of sperm. Not only does this provide more evidence that marijuana can disrupt fertility in males, but it also suggests a therapeutic strategy for treating male infertility.

Is a popular painkiller hampering our ability to notice errors? Posted: 08 Apr 2016 01:37 PM PDT According to a new study acetaminophen could be impeding error-detection in the brain.

Clathrate ices identified in comet 67P Posted: 08 Apr 2016 01:37 PM PDT For decades, scientists have agreed that comets are mostly water ice, but what kind of ice -- amorphous or crystalline -- is still up for debate. Looking at data obtained by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft in the atmosphere, or coma, around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, scientists are seeing evidence of a crystalline form of ice called clathrates.

Blood-brain barrier breakthrough reported by researchers Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT The blood-brain barrier has stymied direct treatment of brain disorders. In a recently published study, a researcher reports finding a way to pass therapeutics through the barrier, using readily-available agents.

New microwave synthesis technique produces more-affordable hydrogen Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:26 AM PDT Scientists create a molybdenum-based material that could be a low-cost alternative to platinum for splitting water to make hydrogen fuel.

How an ancient civilization conserved water Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:25 AM PDT High-resolution, aerial imagery bears significance for researchers on the ground investigating how remote, ancient Maya civilizations used and conserved water.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder symptoms improve, relapse preventable with sustained medication Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:25 AM PDT People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) fare better and are less likely to relapse when treated with medication on a long-term basis, according to researchers.

The future is here: Interactive screens on your packages Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:24 AM PDT Instead of reading a label, consumers could be interacting with an electronic screen on packaging in the future, thanks to a revolutionary new development that could revolutionize the packaging industry.

Six-step hand-washing technique found most effective for reducing bacteria Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:24 AM PDT The six-step hand-hygiene technique recommended by the World Health Organization is superior to a three-step method suggested by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in reducing bacteria on healthcare workers' hands, new evidence shows.

Quantum dots enhance light-to-current conversion in layered semiconductors Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:24 AM PDT Scientists combined the excellent light-harvesting properties of quantum dots with the tunable electrical conductivity of a layered tin disulfide semiconductor to produce a hybrid material that exhibited enhanced light-harvesting and energy transfer properties. The research paves the way for using these materials in optoelectronic applications such as energy-harvesting photovoltaics, light sensors, and light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Many ICU patients trade critical illness for new illness, ICU-acquired weakness Posted: 08 Apr 2016 10:24 AM PDT Some patients who suffer from muscle weakness six months after ICU discharge demonstrate persistent muscle wasting, even when the biologic functions that commonly cause muscles to atrophy have returned to normal, a new study has found.

When life returned after a volcanic mass extinction Posted: 08 Apr 2016 08:24 AM PDT A new study used fossils and mercury isotopes from volcanic gas deposited in ancient proto-Pacific Ocean sediment deposits in Nevada to determine when life recovered following the end-Triassic mass extinction 201.5 million years ago.

Transcranial direct current stimulation can boost language comprehension Posted: 08 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT How the human brain processes the words we hear and constructs complex concepts is still somewhat of a mystery to the neuroscience community. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can alter our language processing, allowing for faster comprehension of meaningful word combinations, according to new research.

Cyclodextrin dissolves away cholesterol crystals Posted: 08 Apr 2016 08:22 AM PDT Cyclodextrin has been shown in mice to dissolve cholesterol crystals and prevent plaque formation. The drug is already approved for use in humans and could be tested in patients to treat atherosclerosis.

Developing ways to study influenza D virus Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:33 AM PDT Researchers have found antibodies to the newly discovered influenza D virus in pigs, cattle, horses, goats and sheep, but not poultry. A researcher has proven that the guinea pig can be used as an animal model and is developing a way to study the virus in living cells—trachea and lung epithelial cells from swine and cattle.

World Trade Center firefighters needing sinus surgery had more intense, longer exposure to caustic dust and have higher eosinophil levels Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:27 AM PDT Firefighters who responded in the first two days of the World Trade Center disaster and those who worked at the site for six months or longer are more likely to need sinus surgery than firefighters whose exposure to the site's caustic dust was less intense or shorter term, according to new research.

Revealing news to young adult children Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:27 AM PDT Experts have identified three tips that could help parents communicate big news to their adult kids, while making sure that their relationship grows stronger: providing access to information, relating as peers, and communicating with candor.

More complete genetic map of scleroderma disease makes more effective medications possible Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:24 AM PDT Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that affects one out of every 10,000 people in Europe and North America, mostly middle-aged women, and causes death in a high percentage of cases. Scientists have now carried out the largest study to date of the disease with a sample of more than 5000 affected patients.

The missing brown dwarfs Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:24 AM PDT When re-analyzing cataloged and updated observational data of brown dwarfs in the solar neighborhood, astronomers have found that a significant number of nearby brown dwarfs should still be out there, awaiting their discovery. The study challenges the previously established picture of brown dwarfs in the solar neighborhood.

Clearing the way for real-world applications of superhydrophobic surfaces Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:24 AM PDT Researchers call for consistent and standardized testing of superhydrophobic, i.e. extremely water-repellent, materials.

Key gene in development of celiac disease has been found in 'junk' DNA Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:24 AM PDT 40% of the population carry the main risk factor for celiac disease but only 1% develop the disease. A newly found gene that influences its development has been found in what until recently has been known as 'junk' DNA. Celiac disease is a chronic, immunological disease that is manifested as intolerance to gluten proteins present in wheats to an inflammatory reaction in the small intestine that hampers the absorption of nutrients. The only treatment is a strict, life-long, gluten-free diet.

Viruses work together to attack their hosts Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:24 AM PDT Viruses work in groups to attack host cells more effectively, report scientists. The results of this study also show that natural selection "facilitates the teamwork of viruses in relation to their position in the same cell."

Timber skyscrapers could transform London's skyline Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:23 AM PDT London's first timber skyscraper could be a step closer to reality this week after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with conceptual plans for an 80-storey, 300m high wooden building integrated within the Barbican.

New perceptual illusion: How the index finger can be fooled Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:23 AM PDT Cognitive scientists have discovered new perceptual illusion.

Switching specific G-protein-coupled signalling pathways on and off Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:22 AM PDT Blue on, yellow off: using different-colored light, researchers are able to switch signalling pathways in the brain on and off. Depending on what kind of melanopsin the researchers used, signalling pathways were switched on either transiently or sustained. In mammals, the protein typically regulates the circadian rhythm.

The Strait of Gibraltar proves no obstacle for eels Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:22 AM PDT For the first time, it has been shown that eels from the Mediterranean Sea are able find their way through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic and potentially reach the Sargasso Sea to spawn along with eels from the rest of Europe. This is the conclusion from a recent study involving the tagging of eels in French waters.

Physicists discover flaws in superconductor theory Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:22 AM PDT Physicists report finding major theoretical flaws in the generally accepted understanding of how a superconductor traps and holds a magnetic field. More than 50 years ago, C.P. Bean, a scientist at General Electric, developed a theoretical explanation known as the "Bean Model" or "Critical State Model."

New models predicting where to find fossils Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:20 AM PDT An international team of scientists have developed a way to help locate fossils of long-extinct animals. The models were developed for Australia but the researchers provide guidelines on how to apply their approach to assist fossil hunting in other continents.

AMOR, a love potion for plant fertilization Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:20 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in discovering AMOR, a sugar chain that increases the fertilization efficiency in plants. AMOR was found to be responsible for activating pollen tubes to lead to fertilization. Moreover, through the collaboration between biologists and chemists, they have synthesized a disaccharide, which exhibits the same properties as AMOR. This discovery is expected to lead to advances in research to improve plant fertilization efficiency as well as carbohydrate chemistry for plants.

What really happened on Easter Island? Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:20 AM PDT Hundreds of iconic moai statues stand testament to the vibrant civilization that once inhabited Easter Island, but there are far fewer clues about why this civilization mysteriously vanished. Did they shortsightedly exhaust the island's resources? Were they decimated by European illnesses and slave trade? Such theories have spread widely, but recent evidence shows that the truth is not as simple as any one of these alone.

Simultaneous cocaine, alcohol use linked to suicide risk Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT A new study of hundreds of emergency department visits finds that the links between substance misuse and suicide risk are complex, but that use of cocaine and alcohol together was particularly significant.

Curiosity leads us to seek out unpleasant, painful outcomes Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT Curiosity is a powerful motivator, leading us to make important discoveries and explore the unknown. But new research shows that our curiosity is sometimes so powerful that it leads us to choose potentially painful and unpleasant outcomes that have no apparent benefits, even when we have the ability to avoid these outcomes altogether.

Bronchial carcinoma: Added benefit of crizotinib for first-line treatment not proven Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT In the only study of direct comparison, carboplatin in the control arm was not used in compliance with the Pharmaceutical Directive, reviewers report.

Restoring ecosystems: How to learn from our mistakes Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT Ecologists have issued a warning of underdocumented results of ecological restorations. The researchers show that continuous and systematic evaluations of cost-efficiency, planning, implementations and effects are necessary in order to make use of experiences in future projects.

Intracellular recordings using nanotower electrodes Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed an intracellular recording device, a long three-dimensional nanoscale-tipped microneedle-electrodes. Moreover, they demonstrated the needle penetrations into muscle cells and measured the signals. The nanoelectrode, whose size is longer than the conventional intracellular nanoelectrode, has the potential to be used in cells that are deep within a tissue, such as cells in brain slices or brain in vivo, thus accelerating the understanding of the brain.

Protective effect of genetically modified cord blood on spinal cord injury in rats Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT Researchers genetically modified cord blood which managed to increase tissue sparing and numbers of regenerated axons, reduce glial scar formation and promote behavioral recovery when transplanted immediately after a rat contusion spinal cord injury.

Skateboarding sent about 176 youth to US emergency departments every day Posted: 08 Apr 2016 07:19 AM PDT A study examined data for youth and adolescents 5-19 years of age who were treated in US emergency departments (EDs) for skateboarding-related injuries from 1990-2008. Nationally, over the 19-year period, there was an average of 64,572 children and adolescents treated each year for skateboarding-related injuries -- about 176 a day.

Common prostate cancer treatments suppress immune response, may promote relapse Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:17 PM PDT Prostate cancer patients and their doctors may want to think twice about the best timing for chemotherapy or radiation therapy in conjunction with a common nonsurgical treatment, based on international research findings.

HPV vaccine may be effective in adolescents with kidney disease, but less so in those with a kidney transplant Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:17 PM PDT Following vaccination against human papillomavirus, girls and young women with chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis had antibody levels above the threshold that indicates protection from infection. A significant proportion of patients with kidney transplants showed evidence of an inadequate antibody response to the vaccine.

Kidneys have an innate clock that affects many metabolic processes in the body Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:17 PM PDT Daily fluctuations caused by the kidney's circadian clock have an important effect on the levels of various amino acids, lipids, and other components of blood in the body, say researchers. In individuals who take medications, the kidney's circadian clock controls drug elimination from the body and therefore can influence the duration of a drug's action and the effectiveness of the therapy.

Traditional skin tests used to predict allergies to antibiotics are useless, say researchers Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT Skin tests traditionally used to predict allergies to amoxicillin, one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in children, are ineffective according to a new study. The findings determined that oral provocation or challenge test, with appropriate follow up, was a more efficient and safer screening method for diagnosing non-life threatening reactions to amoxicillin in children.

Wisdom is a matter of both heart and mind, research finds Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT The fluctuations of your heartbeat may affect your wisdom, according to new research. The study suggests that heart rate variation and thinking process work together to enable wise reasoning about complex social issues.

'Climate-smart soils' may help balance the carbon budget Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT While farm soil grows the world's food and fiber, scientists are examining ways to use it to sequester carbon and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. But here's the scientific dirt: Soil can help reduce global warming.

Cancer thwarts treatment by 'stealing' blood vessels Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT Cancers can resist treatment by 'stealing' blood vessels from nearby tissues, a new study shows. The important new study is the first to show that tumors can become resistant to drugs over time by learning to steal normal blood vessels from surrounding tissue -- a process that researchers call vessel co-option.

Maternal obesity, diabetes in pregnancy result in early overgrowth of baby in the womb Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT The babies of obese women who develop gestational diabetes are five times as likely to be excessively large by six months of pregnancy, according to new research. The study, which shows that excessive fetal growth begins weeks before at-risk women are screened for gestational diabetes, suggests that current screening programs may take place too late during pregnancy to prevent lasting health impacts on the offspring.

Ditch 'colonial' thinking to boost access to surgery for world's poor, rich nations told Posted: 07 Apr 2016 07:14 PM PDT Rich nations 'must abandon colonial narratives' and work alongside low and middle income countries to boost access to safe and affordable surgery for the world's poor, concludes an international blueprint for action.

Most patients likely to see reductions in pain and disability after bariatric surgery Posted: 07 Apr 2016 12:57 PM PDT In the three years following bariatric surgery, the majority of patients experienced an improvement in pain and walking ability, as well as a lessening of the degree to which back or leg pain interfered with work, according an analysis of a multi-site clinical study.

Inflammatory factors cause damage to back of eye following keratoprosthesis implantation Posted: 07 Apr 2016 12:56 PM PDT Researchers have identified inflammatory factors that contribute to optic nerve damage following keratoprosthesis implantation in a mouse model, a new report outlines.

Gender perceptions of sexual harassment can influence workplace policy effectiveness Posted: 07 Apr 2016 12:55 PM PDT Although 98 percent of all organizations have sexual harassment policies, sexual harassment remains an issue in the workplace. Researchers are evaluating how employees' interpretations of sexual harassment policies can invalidate the purpose of the policies. They found that employee perceptions of how exactly 'sexual harassment' is defined by a company's policy can, in effect, eliminate or reshape the meaning of these policies and contradict the norms and values of the companies that try to enforce them.

New role identified for scars at the site of injured spinal cord Posted: 07 Apr 2016 12:55 PM PDT For decades, it was thought that scar-forming cells called astrocytes were responsible for blocking neuronal regrowth across the level of spinal cord injury, but recent findings challenge this idea. According to a new mouse study, astrocyte scars may actually be required for repair and regrowth following spinal cord injury.

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