ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Zika virus and health systems in Brazil: From unknown to a menace
• Research points to a new treatment for pancreatic cancer
• Scientists challenge conventional wisdom to improve predictions of bootstrap current
• Are low wages an occupational health hazard?
• Mapping the circuit of our internal clock
• Autism and cancer share a remarkable number of risk genes in common
• Curious new bush species growing 'bleeding' fruits named by a US class of 150 7th graders
• Early warning: Current Japanese encephalitis vaccine might not protect
• Children with autism learn new words much like others do, study finds
• Changing colors for built-in sunblock
• Seeking to rewind mammalian extinction: The effort to save the northern white rhino
• Delayed onset adulthood keeps young Brits away from ballot box
• Assessment of total choline intakes in the United States
• Transplanted nerve cells survive a quarter of a century in a Parkinson's disease patient
• Experimental Alzheimer's drug reverses genetic changes thought to spur the disease
• Planet Nine: A world that shouldn't exist
• No evidence of an association between silent brain infarcts and having migraine with aura
• Ebola vaccine: Promising phase I trials
• Scientists reveal how cell corrects errors made in gene transcription
• Giving patients a tool to search for health care prices did not result in lower spending
• Recurrent viral respiratory tract infections during first 6 months and risk of T1 diabetes
• New tool allows scientists to visualize 'nanoscale' processes
• Introducing the disposable laser
• Likely cause for recent southeast US earthquakes: Underside of the North American Plate peeling off
• One in four patients with COPD suffer from depression
• Placenta size, offspring bone development linked
• Birds of a different color: Why some birds have more than one color type
• Algae use their 'tails' to gallop and trot like quadrupeds
• Herbal remedies are an overlooked global health hazard
• Intermediates in a chemical reaction photographed 'red-handed'
• Imodium abuse: Anti-diarrhea medication containing loperamide dangerous for self-treatment of opiod addiction
• Research on modern day animals reveals insights into extinct animals
• Estimates of cheetah numbers are 'guesswork,' say researchers
• Turn up the heat to increase altitude tolerance
• New guidelines explain how to monitor and treat hyperthyroid cats
• Why Labrador retrievers are more interested in food than other breeds
• Watch immune cells 'glue' broken blood vessels back together
• Mother's hepatitis B supports chronic infection in children, study finds
• Alternative explanations for the evolution of monogamy and sibling cooperation
• Extended rest between weight-lifting sets could help muscle growth
• Number of HIV infections falling in United States, but fails to meet reduction goals
• Arizona Black Rattlesnake on ‘extinction trajectory,' biologists find
• Dry eyes no more: New insight may lead to better detection, treatment of common autoimmune disease
• Corticosteroids for managing tuberculous meningitis
• Medieval women better dressed than men
• Breast cancer patients upbeat on body changes
• Depression worsens COPD symptoms
• Funding decline for a US government HIV/AIDS initiative raises concerns
• Car crashes: Predicting high risk locations
• Literature on cycads continues to accumulate
• Biophysics of bacterial cell division: Closing the ring
• Motorcycle right behind the racing cyclist can improve time in Giro prologue
• Scientists double number of known genetic risk factors for endometrial cancer
• Kids' eating habits highlight need for healthier lunchboxes
• Researchers publish largest eye study among Latinos
• Replication of colored 3-D models simplified
• Bacteria use traffic-cop-like mechanism to infect gut
• Adults with bipolar disorder at equal risk for anxiety or depression following mania
• US National Autism Indicators Report 2016: Vocational rehabilitation
• Combining pap, hrHPV tests could drastically reduce cancer miss rates

Zika virus and health systems in Brazil: From unknown to a menace Posted: 03 May 2016 01:15 PM PDT A new article examines the Zika Virus epidemic in Brazil and the Americas. On February 1, 2016, a World Health Organization (WHO) emergency committee declared clusters of birth defects suspected of being linked to an epidemic of Zika virus in the Americas as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Research points to a new treatment for pancreatic cancer Posted: 03 May 2016 01:14 PM PDT Researchers have shown how controlling cholesterol metabolism in pancreatic cancer cells reduces metastasis, pointing to a potential new treatment using drugs previously developed for atherosclerosis.

Scientists challenge conventional wisdom to improve predictions of bootstrap current Posted: 03 May 2016 01:14 PM PDT This article describes a new finding about the composition of bootstrap current at the edge of fusion plasmas.

Are low wages an occupational health hazard? Posted: 03 May 2016 12:30 PM PDT Low wages should be recognized as an occupational health threat, according to a new editorial. The authors believe that low wages should be considered among the psychosocial factors -- such as long work hours and high job strain -- identified as occupational risks to health.

Mapping the circuit of our internal clock Posted: 03 May 2016 12:26 PM PDT Researchers have shown for the first time how neurons in the SCN are connected to each other, shedding light on this vital area of the brain. Understanding this structure -- and how it responds to disruption -- is important for tackling illnesses like diabetes and posttraumatic stress disorder. The scientists have also found that disruption to these rhythms such as shifts in work schedules or blue light exposure at night can negatively impact overall health.

Autism and cancer share a remarkable number of risk genes in common Posted: 03 May 2016 12:26 PM PDT Autism and cancer share more than 40 risk genes, suggesting that common mechanisms underlying the functions of some of these genes could conceivably be leveraged to develop therapies not just for cancer but for autism as well, an extensive assessment has found.

Curious new bush species growing 'bleeding' fruits named by a US class of 150 7th graders Posted: 03 May 2016 12:26 PM PDT A class of 150 7th graders from the USA has helped select a name for a newly discovered plant from Australia. A biology professor challenged the students to come up with ideas for what to call the new species last spring.

Early warning: Current Japanese encephalitis vaccine might not protect Posted: 03 May 2016 12:26 PM PDT Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the leading cause of viral encephalitis (infection of the brain) in Asia. There is no specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis (JE) which can cause death or serious long-term disability, and WHO recommends JEV vaccination in all areas where the disease is recognized as a public health priority. A new study suggests that current vaccines may fail to protect individuals against an emerging strain of the virus.

Children with autism learn new words much like others do, study finds Posted: 03 May 2016 10:20 AM PDT Children with autism are capable of learning new words the same way any child would—by following someone's gaze as they name an object. They just take longer to pick up the skill, new research suggests.

Changing colors for built-in sunblock Posted: 03 May 2016 10:18 AM PDT Too much sunlight can harm plants; with an eye to learning from nature's success, scientists found that an orange-colored protein that protects cyanobacteria from overexposure to sunlight shifts to a reddish color that helps dissipate excess energy as heat.

Seeking to rewind mammalian extinction: The effort to save the northern white rhino Posted: 03 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT In December 2015 an international group of scientists convened to discuss the imminent extinction of the northern white rhinoceros and the possibility of bringing the species back from brink of extinction.

Delayed onset adulthood keeps young Brits away from ballot box Posted: 03 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT The poor voter turnout of young Brits can be explained by the delayed transition to adulthood, says new research. Research shows that if today's young adults were as 'mature' as young people from the pre-war generation, voter turnout among young people in the UK these days would be 12 percentage points higher.

Assessment of total choline intakes in the United States Posted: 03 May 2016 10:16 AM PDT Choline is an essential nutrient and plays a critical role in brain development, cell signaling, nerve impulse transmission, liver function, and maintenance of a healthy metabolism. Researchers have analyzed the usual intakes of choline and compared them with the dietary reference intakes for U.S. residents aged ?2 years.  Choline can be found naturally in foods including eggs, liver, beef, salmon, shrimp, cauliflower, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and breast milk. Symptoms of a choline deficiency may include low energy levels, memory loss, cognitive decline, muscle aches, nerve damage, and mood changes or disorders.

Transplanted nerve cells survive a quarter of a century in a Parkinson's disease patient Posted: 03 May 2016 10:15 AM PDT In the late 1980s and over the 1990s, researchers pioneered the transplantation of new nerve cells into the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease. The outcomes proved for the first time that transplanted nerve cells can survive and function in the diseased human brain. Some patients showed marked improvement after the transplantation while others showed moderate or no relief of symptoms. A small number of patients suffered unwanted side-effects in the form of involuntary movements.

Experimental Alzheimer's drug reverses genetic changes thought to spur the disease Posted: 03 May 2016 10:15 AM PDT When given to old rats, the drug, which is known to affect signaling by the neurotransmitter glutamate, reversed many age-related changes that occur in a brain region key to learning and memory. The drug also produced effects opposing those seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Planet Nine: A world that shouldn't exist Posted: 03 May 2016 10:15 AM PDT Earlier this year scientists presented evidence for Planet Nine, a Neptune-mass planet in an elliptical orbit 10 times farther from our Sun than Pluto. Since then theorists have puzzled over how this planet could end up in such a distant orbit. New research examines a number of scenarios and finds that most of them have low probabilities. Therefore, the presence of Planet Nine remains a bit of a mystery.

No evidence of an association between silent brain infarcts and having migraine with aura Posted: 03 May 2016 10:15 AM PDT A large cross-sectional study focused on women with migraines with aura and compared their brain MRI images with those of women not suffering from migraine. No differences between these two groups of women were found with regard to number of silent infarcts and white matter hyperintensities (WMH).

Ebola vaccine: Promising phase I trials Posted: 03 May 2016 10:14 AM PDT The clinical phase I trial of a potential vaccine against the dreaded Ebola virus has been successfully completed at four partner sites in Africa and Europe. The safety of the tested vaccine 'rVSV-ZEBOV', which induces persistent antibodies against the virus, has been confirmed by researchers.

Scientists reveal how cell corrects errors made in gene transcription Posted: 03 May 2016 10:13 AM PDT The dynamics of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) backtracking process is poorly understood. Scientists have now built a Markov State Model from extensive molecular dynamics simulations to identify metastable intermediate states and the dynamics of backtracking at atomistic detail. The results reveal that Pol II backtracking occurs in a stepwise mode where two intermediate states are involved.

Giving patients a tool to search for health care prices did not result in lower spending Posted: 03 May 2016 10:13 AM PDT Offering a price transparency website and app to employees at two large companies was not associated with reduction in outpatient spending or out-of-pocket costs.

Recurrent viral respiratory tract infections during first 6 months and risk of T1 diabetes Posted: 03 May 2016 10:13 AM PDT The associations between infection types during the first 2 years of life and between respiratory tract infections in the first 6 months and type l diabetes (T1D) have been the focus of recent research. Viral infections, particularly enteroviruses, have been hypothesized to cause T1D. Recent studies suggest that respiratory tract infections are associated with increased T1D risk if they are encountered within the first 6 months.

New tool allows scientists to visualize 'nanoscale' processes Posted: 03 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT Chemists have developed a new tool that allows scientists for the first time to see, at the scale of five billionths of a meter, 'nanoscale' mixing processes occurring in liquids.

Introducing the disposable laser Posted: 03 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT Since lasers were invented more than 50 years ago, they have transformed a diverse swath of technology -- from CD players to surgical instruments. Now researchers have invented a way to print lasers that's so cheap, easy and efficient they believe the core of the laser could be disposed of after each use.

Likely cause for recent southeast US earthquakes: Underside of the North American Plate peeling off Posted: 03 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT The southeastern United States should, by all means, be relatively quiet in terms of seismic activity. It's located in the interior of the North American Plate, far away from plate boundaries where earthquakes usually occur. But the area has seen some notable seismic events -- most recently, the 2011 magnitude-5.8 earthquake near Mineral, Virginia that shook the nation's capital.

One in four patients with COPD suffer from depression Posted: 03 May 2016 10:08 AM PDT One in four patients with COPD suffer from depressive symptoms, new research show, and if not treated, those symptoms can have a negative effect on their overall health and treatment effectiveness.

Placenta size, offspring bone development linked Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT A larger placenta during pregnancy could lead to larger bones in the children, a new study has shown. The study found that the relationship between the placenta and offspring bone remained robust even after adjusting for factors such as the child's height and weight and pubertal status.

Birds of a different color: Why some birds have more than one color type Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT In some animals, the same species can occur in two or more color types, or morphs. New research may help solve the mystery of how this can occur despite the pressures of evolution.

Algae use their 'tails' to gallop and trot like quadrupeds Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT Species of single-celled algae use whip-like appendages called flagella to coordinate their movements and achieve a remarkable diversity of swimming gaits.

Herbal remedies are an overlooked global health hazard Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT Scientists raise are raising awareness that long-term use of herbal remedies is no guarantee of their safety. Herbal remedies are an overlooked global hazard.

Intermediates in a chemical reaction photographed 'red-handed' Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have imaged and identified the bond configuration of the intermediates in a complex sequence of chemical transformations of enediyne molecules on a silver surface and has resolved the microscopic mechanisms that account for their behavior.

Imodium abuse: Anti-diarrhea medication containing loperamide dangerous for self-treatment of opiod addiction Posted: 03 May 2016 10:05 AM PDT The over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication Imodium, or its key ingredient loperamide, is increasingly being abused by people attempting to self-treat their opioid addiction, with sometime fatal results.

Research on modern day animals reveals insights into extinct animals Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Powerful head and neck retractions of vertebrate carcasses, including dinosaur fossils, have puzzled researchers as to whether they occurred just before an animal's death in agony, or after. Now experiments performed in the wild on large ostrich chick cadavers show that they occur post-mortem.

Estimates of cheetah numbers are 'guesswork,' say researchers Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Current estimates of the number of cheetahs in the wild are 'guesswork', say the authors of a new study that finds that the population in the cheetah stronghold of Maasai Mara, Kenya, is lower than previously thought.

Turn up the heat to increase altitude tolerance Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Simple heat-based exercise can be just as effective as low-oxygen training to improve physical performance and altitude tolerance, new study reveals. The new work suggests that heat-based exercise can offer a more efficient means of improving altitude tolerance and physical performance than normobaric altitude training can provide.

New guidelines explain how to monitor and treat hyperthyroid cats Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Over the last 30 or so years, veterinary professionals' understanding of clinical feline hyperthyroidism has evolved tremendously.

Why Labrador retrievers are more interested in food than other breeds Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Dog owners tell their vets that Labrador retrievers are always interested in food, and new work shows there might be a biological truth to the claim. A study links a gene alteration specifically found in Labs to greater food-motivated behavior, describing the first gene associated with canine obesity. The variation also occurs more frequently in Labradors chosen as assistance dogs, and might explain why these canines seem more trainable with food rewards.

Watch immune cells 'glue' broken blood vessels back together Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT As we age, tiny blood vessels in the brain stiffen and sometimes rupture, causing 'microbleeds.' This damage has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline, but whether the brain can naturally repair itself beyond growing new blood-vessel tissue has been unknown. A zebrafish study describes for the first time how white blood cells called macrophages can grab the broken ends of a blood vessel and stick them back together.

Mother's hepatitis B supports chronic infection in children, study finds Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT Chronic hepatitis B infection could one day be cleared from a person's system with a series of shots. 'Hepatic macrophages' -- liver immune cells that eliminate foreign substances and toxins -- could be the target of future treatment, say researchers.

Alternative explanations for the evolution of monogamy and sibling cooperation Posted: 03 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT The textbook 'monogamy hypothesis' argues that monogamy favors the evolution of cooperation by increasing sibling relatedness, since helpers are as related to the full siblings that they care for as they are to their own offspring. Two experts in social and reproductive behavior say that the proof isn't all there.

Extended rest between weight-lifting sets could help muscle growth Posted: 03 May 2016 07:47 AM PDT Researchers have found that extended rest intervals between sets of weight-lifting could help with muscle growth.

Number of HIV infections falling in United States, but fails to meet reduction goals Posted: 03 May 2016 07:47 AM PDT The number of new HIV infections occurring annually in the United States decreased by an estimated 11 percent from 2010 to 2015, while the HIV transmission rate decreased by an estimated 17 percent during the same time period, according to new research.

Arizona Black Rattlesnake on ‘extinction trajectory,' biologists find Posted: 03 May 2016 07:47 AM PDT A combination of drought and fire has put the Arizona black rattlesnake on an "extinction trajectory," according to researchers. The Arizona black rattlesnake is found at higher elevations in Arizona and western New Mexico. The researchers collected DNA from 118 specimens of the rattlesnake and analyzed its genetic structure. They found both a shrinking population and a reduction in its movement across an already limited range.

Dry eyes no more: New insight may lead to better detection, treatment of common autoimmune disease Posted: 03 May 2016 07:47 AM PDT Sjogren's syndrome affects an estimated four million people in the U.S., but diagnosis is often delayed because its symptoms are similar to other conditions. A new study describes a protein with the potential to be an earlier and more precise indicator of the disease.

Corticosteroids for managing tuberculous meningitis Posted: 03 May 2016 07:46 AM PDT A review update has been released to evaluate the effects of corticosteroids being used alongside anti-tuberculosis medication to treat people suffering from tuberculous meningitis Tuberculous meningitis is a serious form of tuberculosis (TB), which affects the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. The infection causes headache, coma, and death is common. Survivors are also at risk of being disabled from brain damage.

Medieval women better dressed than men Posted: 03 May 2016 07:46 AM PDT Women in the Middle Ages often wore better quality clothes than men, concludes an expert who studied textile remnants from the period from 400 to 1000 A.D.

Breast cancer patients upbeat on body changes Posted: 03 May 2016 07:46 AM PDT Body image identity varies among women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer with many rejecting mainstream body shape ideals, new research shows.

Depression worsens COPD symptoms Posted: 03 May 2016 07:46 AM PDT Debilitating symptoms from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can worsen in patients who also experience depression, research suggests. Patients who had pre-existing depression or developed depression after COPD diagnosis were more likely to experience heightened COPD symptoms, such as increased breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance and hopelessness.

Funding decline for a US government HIV/AIDS initiative raises concerns Posted: 03 May 2016 07:45 AM PDT A new study finds a significant decline in funding for an important part of the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. The study finds a 33 percent drop in funding for a core activity called governance and systems, which supports infrastructure for delivering HIV- and AIDS-related services, particularly in low-income countries.

Car crashes: Predicting high risk locations Posted: 03 May 2016 07:45 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new blackspot identification method that offers an unbiased prediction of crash counts and allows a more accurate way to identify high-risk crash sites. The blackspot program aimed to reduce crashes by targeting high-risk locations and funding remedial works such as re-aligning the geometry or widening the shoulder of the road.

Literature on cycads continues to accumulate Posted: 03 May 2016 07:44 AM PDT Cycads are the most threatened plant group, prompting a growing need for meta-analysis of cycad literature.

Biophysics of bacterial cell division: Closing the ring Posted: 03 May 2016 07:44 AM PDT How bacterial cells divide in two is not fully understood. Physicists now show that, at high concentrations, a crucial protein can assemble into ring-shaped filaments that constrict the cell, giving rise to two daughter cells.

Motorcycle right behind the racing cyclist can improve time in Giro prologue Posted: 03 May 2016 07:44 AM PDT Researchers have shown how a motorcyclist riding right behind a racing cyclist can reduce the air resistance for the cyclist by almost nine percent. In a time trial this could mean a decisive advantage.

Scientists double number of known genetic risk factors for endometrial cancer Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT Researchers have identified five new gene regions that increase a woman's risk of developing endometrial cancer, one of the most common cancers to affect women, taking the number of known gene regions associated with the disease to nine.

Kids' eating habits highlight need for healthier lunchboxes Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT New research shows children aged 9-10 years old are receiving almost half of their daily energy requirements from 'discretionary' or junk foods.

Researchers publish largest eye study among Latinos Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT Researchers and clinicians have published results of the largest population-based study of adult Latinos and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the National Eye Institute-funded 'Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES).' The study is the first to analyze the risk and prevalence of early and late stage AMD and its impact on quality of life for older Latinos.

Replication of colored 3-D models simplified Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technique called Computational Thermoforming. It enables them to manufacture plastic replicas of digital 3-D models, in which the shape and colour are reproduced in detail. This technique extends the range of digital fabrication methods and represents an efficient and cost-effective alternative to color 3-D printing.

Bacteria use traffic-cop-like mechanism to infect gut Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT A study has found that a cellular syringe-like device used to invade intestinal cells also acts as a traffic cop -- directing bacteria where to go and thereby enabling them to efficiently carry out infection. This mechanism is critical to a pathogen's success.

Adults with bipolar disorder at equal risk for anxiety or depression following mania Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT Adults with bipolar disorder are just as likely to develop anxiety as depression following an episode of mania, according to data from a national survey of more than 34,000 adults.

US National Autism Indicators Report 2016: Vocational rehabilitation Posted: 03 May 2016 07:41 AM PDT Researchers looked at Vocational Rehabilitation, a federally funded employment program for people with disabilities that is administered by each state. They found that adults with autism are increasingly applying for services, but most are getting jobs that pay well below the poverty line.

Combining pap, hrHPV tests could drastically reduce cancer miss rates Posted: 03 May 2016 06:19 AM PDT Cytopathology researchers recently found that combining two diagnostic tests, Pap and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), dramatically decreased the chance of missing tumors and high-grade lesions by sevenfold.

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