ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Dynamic DNA polymers can be reversed using biocompatible techniques
• Adding microbial xylanase to diets containing rice bran increases energy value for pigs
• Surprising mechanism of acid reflux damage identified by researchers
• Study advances understanding of colon cancer, colitis
• Squeezing out mountains, mathematically, on Jupiter's moon Io
• Many physicians make lack a firm understanding of the costs of medical tests, procedures
• Higher potato consumption associated with increased risk of high blood pressure
• Hormone shown to be important in liver disease
• Holidays in the sun hold key to boosting vitamin D, study finds
• Researchers combat developmental delays with 'super suits'
• New insights into human rare disorders with dogs
• First clinical use of bioabsorbable vascular grafts in children shows promise
• Study shows how neurons reach their final destinations
• Infertility risk posed by endometriosis may be half of previous estimation
• Jupiter's moon: Europa's ocean may have an Earthlike chemical balance
• Team measures microscale granular crystal dynamics for first time
• Genetic switch turned on during fasting helps stop inflammation
• Oregon's Coos Bay historically has avoided serious hypoxic conditions
• Thinning out the carbon capture viscosity problem
• Financial status affects success of students with learning disabilities
• Chesapeake Bay health improves in 2015
• Simple, rapid TB diagnosis feasible in low-resource, high-burden settings
• How does memory work?
• High-power prismatic devices may further expand visual fields for patients with hemianopia
• Relationship satisfaction depends on the mating pool, study finds
• Allan Sandage's last paper unravels 100-year-old astronomical mystery
• New mechanism for wound healing identified by biological laboratory scientist
• Words, more words ... and statistics
• Peering into tissue stiffness with VIPA-based Brillouin spectroscopy
• Genetically engineered crops: Experiences and prospects
• Evolution: Where did building blocks of life come from?
• Twitter location data can reveal users' home, work addresses
• More than ten risk factors identified in readmission of pediatric neurosurgery patients
• Blocking known cancer driver unexpectedly reveals a new tumor-promoting pathway
• Blocking apoptotic response could preserve fertility in women receiving cancer treatments
• Humans have been causing earthquakes in Texas since the 1920s
• Gone with the wind: Surprising potential to improve reliability in wind power
• Chance finding could transform plant production
• Cancer-fighting properties of horseradish revealed
• Invention promises rapid detection of E. coli in water
• Chemical emitted by trees can impact St. Louis' ozone levels
• First peek into the brain of a freely walking fruit fly
• How did the giraffe get its long neck? Clues now revealed by new genome sequencing
• EPO in very preterm infants does not improve neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years
• Critical shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons anticipated by 2035
• VA hospitals favor mitral valve repair vs. replacement
• Decision-makers hold overly optimistic expectations for critically ill patient outcomes
• Surgery surprise: Small rural hospitals may be safer, less expensive for common operations
• Plants display nature's optofluidic machinery
• Combining nanotextured surfaces with the Leidenfrost effect for extreme water repellency
• Mom's exposure to BPA during pregnancy can put her baby on course to obesity
• HIV-infected patients more likely to lack cancer treatment
• 30 percent of female physicians report sexual harassment
• Cooling, time in the dark preserve perovskite solar power
• Chronic fatigue patients more likely to suppress emotions
• Evolution of cellular power stations
• How shift work affect cognitive functions
• Skull condition thought extinct is actually widespread, research finds
• What makes the public more likely to second-guess authorities during a crisis?
• Fine-tuning for intestinal immune cells

Dynamic DNA polymers can be reversed using biocompatible techniques Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT DNA-based straight and branched polymers or nanomaterials that can be created and dissolved using biocompatible methods are now possible thanks to the work of biomedical engineers.

Adding microbial xylanase to diets containing rice bran increases energy value for pigs Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT New research is finding ways to make rice bran, an abundant co-product of the production of white rice for human consumption, more efficient as a feed ingredient for pigs

Surprising mechanism of acid reflux damage identified by researchers Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT The 'acid' in 'acid reflux' may not be the direct cause of damage to the esophagus as previously suspected, according to researchers following conclusion of their study.

Study advances understanding of colon cancer, colitis Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT The transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4-alpha) plays a key role in colon cancer and colitis. HNF4-alpha comes in two major isoforms, P1 and P2, but how these are distributed in the gut is not understood. Now researchers have determined the distribution of the P1 and P2 isoforms in the colon. They report that maintaining a balance of P1 and P2 is crucial for reducing risk of contracting colon cancer and colitis.

Squeezing out mountains, mathematically, on Jupiter's moon Io Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT The odd-looking mountains on Jupiter's innermost moon, Io, are made by a tectonic process unique to Io (and maybe the early Earth), suggests a numerical experiment.

Many physicians make lack a firm understanding of the costs of medical tests, procedures Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT Physicians are increasingly being asked to help contain costs and reduce the use of low-value health care services. However, a recent study found that while the overwhelming majority of physicians surveyed felt that doctors had a responsibility to control costs, less than half reported having a firm understanding of the costs of tests and procedures to the health care system.

Higher potato consumption associated with increased risk of high blood pressure Posted: 17 May 2016 04:18 PM PDT Higher intakes of boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes, and French fries is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) in adult women and men.

Hormone shown to be important in liver disease Posted: 17 May 2016 12:17 PM PDT High levels of a digestive hormone called secretin may play an important role in the management of certain chronic liver diseases, according to new research.

Holidays in the sun hold key to boosting vitamin D, study finds Posted: 17 May 2016 12:14 PM PDT Holidays abroad may hold the key to tackling Scotland's vitamin D deficiency, research suggests. Vitamin D is known to be associated with good bone health. It has also been linked to wide-ranging health benefits including lower blood pressure, reduced heart disease risk and better chances of surviving cancer.

Researchers combat developmental delays with 'super suits' Posted: 17 May 2016 11:13 AM PDT "Super Suits" have been created by experts to assist children who have developmental delays. The suits are exoskeletons and other devices that are light, comfortable and effective.

New insights into human rare disorders with dogs Posted: 17 May 2016 11:12 AM PDT Three novel canine genes for Caffey, Raine and van den Ende-Gupta syndromes have been discovered by investigators. Research reveals close similarities of the canine models of human rare disorders and highlights the potential of comparative research approach for the development of rare disease diagnostics and treatments. Gene discoveries will benefit also veterinary diagnostics and breeding programs.

First clinical use of bioabsorbable vascular grafts in children shows promise Posted: 17 May 2016 11:12 AM PDT Current cardiovascular valve or blood vessel implants are generally associated with a number of complications, have limited efficacy over time, and may necessitate repeated interventions over a patient's lifetime, especially when implanted in a young child. Researchers report success with implantation of bioabsorbable vascular grafts used to correct a congenital cardiac malformation. Over time, the grafts are designed to biodegrade as a patient's own cells and proteins reconstitute natural functioning tissue, thus reducing permanent implant-related complications.

Study shows how neurons reach their final destinations Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT The discovery that unattached, sliding microtubules aid in neuronal migration, could ultimately help researchers better understand how neurons gone astray contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, say investigators.

Infertility risk posed by endometriosis may be half of previous estimation Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT The infertility risk posed by endometriosis is about half previous estimates and indicates a possible detection bias in earlier studies, according to a new report.

Jupiter's moon: Europa's ocean may have an Earthlike chemical balance Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT The ocean of Jupiter's moon Europa could have the necessary balance of chemical energy for life, even if the moon lacks volcanic hydrothermal activity, finds a new study.

Team measures microscale granular crystal dynamics for first time Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT Mechanical engineers have, for the first time, analyzed interactions between microscale granular crystals -- a first step in creating novel materials that could be used for impact mitigation, signal processing, disease diagnosis, or even making more controllable solid rocket propellants.

Genetic switch turned on during fasting helps stop inflammation Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT A key molecule that keeps gut bacteria in check has been discovered by a team of scientists. The study shows a molecular pathway by which the brain communicates with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to prevent unnecessary activation of the immune system during fasting by strengthening the barrier against gut microbes.

Oregon's Coos Bay historically has avoided serious hypoxic conditions Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT A study of the 15-mile length of Coos Bay, from the ocean to the city of the same name, finds the bay is free of toxic levels of reduced oxygen that often affect other Oregon locations in the summer months.

Thinning out the carbon capture viscosity problem Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT Researchers have used computer modeling to design carbon dioxide binding materials so that they retain a low viscosity after sponging up carbon dioxide, based on a surprise they found in their explorations. Although the chemists still have to test the predicted liquid in the lab, being able to predict viscosity will help researchers find and design cheaper, more efficient carbon capture materials.

Financial status affects success of students with learning disabilities Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT Only one third of undergraduates from 11 universities who reported having a learning disability were receiving accommodations, a new study has discovered.

Chesapeake Bay health improves in 2015 Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT The overall health of Chesapeake Bay improved in 2015, according to scientists. The largest estuary in the nation scored a C (53 percent) in 2015, one of the three highest scores since 1986. Only 1992 and 2002 scored as high or higher, both years of major sustained droughts.

Simple, rapid TB diagnosis feasible in low-resource, high-burden settings Posted: 17 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT A streamlined approach to tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis requiring a single sputum sample and providing rapid, accurate results to patients proved feasible in rural Uganda, according to new research.

How does memory work? Posted: 17 May 2016 10:19 AM PDT We tend to think our memory works like a filing cabinet. We experience an event, generate a memory and then file it away for later use. However, according to medical research, the basic mechanisms behind memory are much more dynamic.

High-power prismatic devices may further expand visual fields for patients with hemianopia Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT Three new eyeglasses have now been designedusing high-power prisms to optimally expand the visual fields of patients with hemianopia, a condition in which the visual fields of both eyes are cut by half. The new designs address some limitations of existing prism correction available to this population.

Relationship satisfaction depends on the mating pool, study finds Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT Relationship satisfaction and the energy devoted to keeping a partner are dependent on how the partner compares with other potential mates, a finding that relates to evolution's stronghold on modern relationship psychology, according to a study.

Allan Sandage's last paper unravels 100-year-old astronomical mystery Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT Carnegie's Allan Sandage, who died in 2012, was a tremendously influential figure in the field of astronomy. His final paper focuses on unraveling a surprising historical mystery related to one of his own seminal discoveries. While preparing a history of the Carnegie Observatories in the early 2000s, Sandage came across an unpublished 1944 exchange between two prominent astronomers that piqued his interest. The conversation predated by a decade Sandage's own work on stellar evolution.

New mechanism for wound healing identified by biological laboratory scientist Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT A researcher has identified a new mechanism for wound healing that has wide-ranging therapeutic potential for the treatment of injury, disease and even aging. Instead of replacing lost cells through cell division, the newly identified mechanism, which she has called wound-induced polyploidy, or WIP, maintains the size and function of injured or disease tissue by enlarging existing cells.

Words, more words ... and statistics Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT Picking out single words in a flow of speech is no easy task and, according to linguists, to succeed in doing it the brain might use statistical methods. A group of scientists has applied a statistics-based method for word segmentation and measured its efficacy on natural language, in nine different languages, to discover that linguistic rhythm plays an important role.

Peering into tissue stiffness with VIPA-based Brillouin spectroscopy Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT To bring Brillouin spectroscopy to biological samples -- such as a chicken breast, or a patient's potentially cancerous tumor -- researchers have recently developed a new virtually imaged phased array-based Brillouin spectrometer.

Genetically engineered crops: Experiences and prospects Posted: 17 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT An extensive study has found that new technologies in genetic engineering and conventional breeding are blurring the once clear distinctions between these two crop-improvement approaches.

Evolution: Where did building blocks of life come from? Posted: 17 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT Biological evolution was preceded by a long phase of chemical evolution during which precursors of biopolymers accumulated. Chemists have discovered an efficient mechanism for the prebiotic synthesis of a vital class of such compounds.

Twitter location data can reveal users' home, work addresses Posted: 17 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT The location stamps on just a handful of Twitter posts -- as few as eight over the course of a single day -- can be enough to disclose the addresses of the poster's home and workplace to a relatively low-tech snooper.

More than ten risk factors identified in readmission of pediatric neurosurgery patients Posted: 17 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT Big data provides insight into patient readmission after pediatric neurosurgery in a new study. The study looks at specific surgical procedures performed, such as cerebral spinal fluid shunt replacement or CSF shunt revision, as well as patient demographics and postoperative complications like surgical site infection.

Blocking known cancer driver unexpectedly reveals a new tumor-promoting pathway Posted: 17 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT While investigating a potential therapeutic target for the ERK1 and 2 pathway, a widely expressed signaling molecule known to drive cancer growth in one third of patients with colorectal cancer, researchers found that an alternative pathway immediately emerges when ERK1/2 is halted, thus allowing tumor cell proliferation to continue.

Blocking apoptotic response could preserve fertility in women receiving cancer treatments Posted: 17 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT Female cancer patients of reproductive age could preserve their fertility during radiation and chemotherapy through treatments that target the DNA damage response in oocytes (the cells that develop into eggs), an approach that works in animal models, say researchers.

Humans have been causing earthquakes in Texas since the 1920s Posted: 17 May 2016 10:07 AM PDT Earthquakes triggered by human activity have been happening in Texas since at least 1925, and they have been widespread throughout the state ever since, according to a new historical review of the evidence.

Gone with the wind: Surprising potential to improve reliability in wind power Posted: 17 May 2016 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a particular form of carbon coating not necessarily designed for wind turbines may indeed prove a boon to the wind industry -- a serendipitous finding.

Chance finding could transform plant production Posted: 17 May 2016 09:23 AM PDT An almost entirely accidental discovery by researchers could transform food and biofuel production and increase carbon capture on farmland. By tweaking a plant's genetic profile, the researchers doubled the plant's growth and increased seed production by more than 400 per cent.

Cancer-fighting properties of horseradish revealed Posted: 17 May 2016 09:20 AM PDT Horseradish contains cancer-fighting compounds known as glucosinolates. Glucosinolate type and quantity vary depending on size and quality of the horseradish root. For the first time, the activation of cancer-fighting enzymes by glucosinolate products in horseradish has been documented.

Invention promises rapid detection of E. coli in water Posted: 17 May 2016 09:20 AM PDT The new technology has cut down the time taken to detect E. coli from a few days to just a couple of hours. It is also an inexpensive way to test drinking water (C$3 per test estimated), which is a boon for many developing countries, as much as it is for remote areas of Canada's North.

Chemical emitted by trees can impact St. Louis' ozone levels Posted: 17 May 2016 09:18 AM PDT St. Louis' hazy summers can sometimes be too hot to handle for people with respiratory issues; increased ozone levels can make the air tough to breathe. A team of engineers focused on a study of St. Louis' late-summer air quality. They found that naturally occurring compounds processed in the night sky can have a big impact on ozone levels the next day.

First peek into the brain of a freely walking fruit fly Posted: 17 May 2016 09:18 AM PDT Researchers have developed a technique for imaging brain activity in a freely walking fruit fly. Working with one of the most common model organisms in science, the team shows for the first time what goes on in the brain of the fly during courtship -- when it's unrestrained.

How did the giraffe get its long neck? Clues now revealed by new genome sequencing Posted: 17 May 2016 09:18 AM PDT For the first time, the genomes of the giraffe and its closest living relative, the reclusive okapi of the African rainforest, have been sequenced -- revealing the first clues about the genetic changes that led to the evolution of the giraffe's exceptionally long neck and its record-holding ranking as the world's tallest land species.

EPO in very preterm infants does not improve neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years Posted: 17 May 2016 09:18 AM PDT A new study randomly assigned 448 preterm infants born between 26 weeks 0 days' and 31 weeks 6 days' gestation to receive either high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) or placebo (saline) intravenously within 3 hours, at 12 to 18 hours, and at 36 to 42 hours after birth.

Critical shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons anticipated by 2035 Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Looking ahead to 2035, a growing disparity is projected between the number of cardiothoracic surgeons needed and the number available. Researchers cite such trends as fewer trainees in surgery residency programs, more exam failures, and fewer American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications at a time when an aging population will require more cardiothoracic surgical services. They estimate that cardiothoracic surgeons would have to increase their caseload by 121 percent to meet demand, something that is not feasible.

VA hospitals favor mitral valve repair vs. replacement Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Little is known about mitral valve surgical outcomes within the largest US federal health system -- the Veterans Administration Health System. New data presented from 40 VA cardiac surgery centers reveal that although MV repair rates increased from 48 percent in 2001 to 63 percent in 2013, a wide variability exists in repair rates among medical centers. This is especially important because MV repair mortality rates were significantly lower in patients with primary degenerative disease.

Decision-makers hold overly optimistic expectations for critically ill patient outcomes Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT More than half of the family and friends making decisions for critically ill patients have significantly different estimates for the patient's survival than their doctor -- but that's not only because of a misunderstanding, researchers report.

Surgery surprise: Small rural hospitals may be safer, less expensive for common operations Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT They may be in small towns. They may only have a couple of surgeons. But for common operations, they may be safer and less expensive than their larger cousins, a new study finds.

Plants display nature's optofluidic machinery Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT If you place a houseplant next to a sunny window, you may notice the leaves bending toward the light. Plants don't have brains, so the vast majority of movement is controlled by the interaction of light and fluid within plant cells. Optofluidics combine optical systems, which respond to and control light, with microfluidic systems, which move fluids through small channels.

Combining nanotextured surfaces with the Leidenfrost effect for extreme water repellency Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Combining superhydrophobic surfaces with Leidenfrost levitation -- picture a water droplet hovering over a hot surface rather than making physical contact with it -- has been explored extensively for the past decade by researchers hoping to uncover the holy grail of water-repellent surfaces. In a new twist, researchers report an anomalous water droplet-bouncing phenomenon generated by Leidenfrost levitation on nanotextured surfaces.

Mom's exposure to BPA during pregnancy can put her baby on course to obesity Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT Prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical used in plastic water bottles and canned food, is associated with measures of obesity in children at age 7, according to researchers. 94 percent of pregnant women studied had detectable levels of BPA. The researchers are the first to show associations between prenatal exposure to BPA and measures of body fat in their school-aged children.

HIV-infected patients more likely to lack cancer treatment Posted: 17 May 2016 09:05 AM PDT HIV-infected patients with cancer in the United States appear to be less likely to receive cancer treatment, regardless of insurance and other existing health conditions, a new report suggests.

30 percent of female physicians report sexual harassment Posted: 17 May 2016 09:04 AM PDT In a survey of high-achieving physician-scientists, nearly a third of women reported experiencing sexual harassment. As women now make up about half of medical school students, the researchers emphasize the importance of recognizing unconscious bias as well as overtly inappropriate behaviors.

Cooling, time in the dark preserve perovskite solar power Posted: 17 May 2016 07:15 AM PDT A new study has found both the cause and a solution for the pesky tendency of perovskite solar cells to degrade in sunlight, a research breakthrough potentially removing one roadblock to commercialization for this promising technology.

Chronic fatigue patients more likely to suppress emotions Posted: 17 May 2016 07:15 AM PDT Chronic fatigue syndrome patients report they are more anxious and distressed than people who don't have the condition, and they are also more likely to suppress those emotions. In addition, when under stress, they show greater activation of the biological "fight or flight" mechanism, which may add to their fatigue, according to new research.

Evolution of cellular power stations Posted: 17 May 2016 07:14 AM PDT Mitochondria are the power stations of human cells. They provide the energy needed for the cellular metabolism. But how did these power stations evolve, and how are they constructed? Researchers studied the role of so-called oxidase assembly machinery, or OXA, in the development of the inner membrane of mitochondria and the energy supply of cells.

How shift work affect cognitive functions Posted: 17 May 2016 07:13 AM PDT A new study shows that compared to non-shift workers, shift workers needed more time to complete a test that is frequently used by physicians to screen for cognitive impairment. However, those who had quit shift work more than five years ago completed the test just as quick as the non-shift workers.

Skull condition thought extinct is actually widespread, research finds Posted: 17 May 2016 07:13 AM PDT Some forensic anthropologists thought the skull condition called cribra orbitalia was a thing of the past -- but new research finds that it not only still exists, but is fairly common in both North America and South Africa.

What makes the public more likely to second-guess authorities during a crisis? Posted: 17 May 2016 06:44 AM PDT In a digital age when people have many information sources, during a crisis they won't always seek guidance from the government or other official channels. Why not?

Fine-tuning for intestinal immune cells Posted: 17 May 2016 06:43 AM PDT An international team of researchers has unraveled a new regulatory mechanism how food components and environmental factors influence the immune system. Various substances present in the intestines can bind to an important controller, the Ah receptor. This system is in turn regulated by the Ah receptor repressor and as a result, it influences the degree of the immune response. If the controller is not properly adjusted during bacterial infections, there can be life-threatening septic shock, for example.

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