ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Antibody therapy opens door to potential new treatment for HIV
• First safe way to deliver drugs to the placenta
• Deadly fungus threatens African frogs
• Clinicians need to screen 'nicotine naive' teenagers for vaping, says addictions expert
• Study offers clues to better rainfall predictions
• Tiny genetic switches found in lizard tail regeneration
• Apples or fries: When apples are the default side-dish, children still choose fries
• Team highlights ways to address global food system challenges
• Drug-like peptides show promise in treating 2 blood diseases
• Scientists put some muscle behind their research
• In scientific first, researchers visualize proteins being born
• Bright dusty galaxies are hiding secret companions
• Quick test for Zika effectively detects virus in monkeys
• Zika virus may cause microcephaly by hijacking human immune molecule
• Severe stroke prognoses differ depending on the doctor
• Gene linked to Alzheimer's disease impairs memory by disrupting brain's 'playback system'
• Physics: From the atomic to the nuclear clock
• New treatment for children with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• How did birds get their wings? Bacteria may provide a clue, say scientists
• Teaching computers to understand human languages
• Sonic net could save birds and aircraft, study suggests
• Does the moon affect our mood or actions?
• A view through wood shows futuristic applications
• Seismic response of fiber-reinforced concrete coupled walls
• Moderate sedation more effective than general anesthesia for TAVR patients
• Galaxy-sized peanuts? Astronomers use new imaging software to detect double ‘peanut shell’ galaxy
• How fish can regenerate eye injuries at the cellular level
• Understanding tiny droplets can make for better weather forecasts
• How to remove environmental pollutants from raw meat
• Analysis of electric vehicles to optimize the in- and out-of-car experience
• National study casts doubt on higher weekend death rate, proposals for seven-day hospital services
• A crack in the mystery of 'oobleck' -- friction thickens fluids
• Genetic variants in patients with crohn's disease prevent 'good' gut bacteria from working
• First sensory system that detects air humidity described
• 'Super males' emerge from male-dominated populations, study finds
• Australian swift parrot listed as critically endangered
• Blood analyses may predict risk of delirium in older surgical patients
• Silk keeps fruit fresh without refrigeration, according to study
• Experts decipher disease behind one of the world's most famous paintings
• Mothers' excess pregnancy weight gain, elevated blood sugar 'imprint' obesity in children
• Continental drift created biologically diverse coral reefs
• Increasing marbling in beef without increasing overall fatness
• Fastest-ever molecular imaging reveals reaction crucial for vision
• Pattern learning key to children's language development
• Climate change may contribute to rising rates of chronic kidney disease
• Looking to light highways with light-emitting cement
• Achieving fish biomass targets: The key to securing a sustainable future for coral reefs
• Researchers track critical development in the young brain
• Animal study shows flexible, dissolvable silicon device promising for brain monitoring
• Expanding tropics pushing high altitude clouds towards poles, study finds
• Rapid-response immune cells are fully prepared before invasion strikes
• New insights into light color sensing, transfer of genetic traits
• Immunization rates climb when pediatricians have easy access to vaccination records
• Speedy ion conduction in solid electrolytes clears road for advanced energy devices
• Price of IVF: Study examines financial savings vs. medical complication costs
• Getting a better measure of spin with diamond

Antibody therapy opens door to potential new treatment for HIV Posted: 06 May 2016 01:01 PM PDT Researchers are developing an antibody-based drug that may provide a better strategy for long-term control of HIV. New results from a clinical trial suggest that a single dose of a so-called broadly neutralizing antibody enables patients' immune systems to better fight the virus.

First safe way to deliver drugs to the placenta Posted: 06 May 2016 01:01 PM PDT Scientists provide proof of principle for safe, targeted delivery of drugs to the placenta during pregnancy, for the first time. The discovery could one day help prevent some premature births and treat complications such as preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and sometimes fluid retention.

Deadly fungus threatens African frogs Posted: 06 May 2016 01:01 PM PDT Misty mountains, glistening forests and blue-green lakes make Cameroon, the wettest part of Africa, a tropical wonderland for amphibians. Africa has been mostly spared from the deadly and rampant pathogen that wiped out entire species in Australia, Madagascar and Panama -- until now.

Clinicians need to screen 'nicotine naive' teenagers for vaping, says addictions expert Posted: 06 May 2016 01:01 PM PDT An addictions expert calls on clinicians to screen for vaping among teens, who are either uninformed or misinformed about the dangers and risks associated with electronic cigarettes.

Study offers clues to better rainfall predictions Posted: 06 May 2016 01:01 PM PDT Seawater salinity depends largely on how much moisture is evaporated as winds sweep over the ocean. But pinpointing where the moisture rains back down is a complicated question scientists have long contended with. Scientists have now found a potential path to better seasonal rainfall predictions. Their study shows a clear link between higher sea surface salinity levels in the North Atlantic and increased rainfall on land in the African Sahel.

Tiny genetic switches found in lizard tail regeneration Posted: 06 May 2016 10:23 AM PDT Any kid who pulls on a lizard tail knows it can drop off to avoid capture, but how they regrow a new tail remains a mystery. Now, researchers have identified tiny RNA switches, known as microRNAs, which may hold the keys to regenerating muscles, cartilage and spinal columns.

Apples or fries: When apples are the default side-dish, children still choose fries Posted: 06 May 2016 10:23 AM PDT There has been a lot of enthusiasm for nudging individuals to eat better without restricting choice by making healthy foods more visible, attractive, and convenient. One such effort is for restaurants to serve meals with a default healthy side, such as sliced apples instead of fries, while still allowing the customer to opt out of the healthy side in favor of their preferred side dish.

Team highlights ways to address global food system challenges Posted: 06 May 2016 10:23 AM PDT A new study presents strategies to address the complex challenges of producing food for a growing global population, while reducing environmental impacts and increasing resilience in the face of climate change.

Drug-like peptides show promise in treating 2 blood diseases Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT Synthetic peptides called minihepcidins may potentially treat two serious genetic blood diseases in children and adults, new research suggests. Although those diseases, beta-thalassemia and polycythemia vera, have opposite effects on red blood cell production, treating animals with minihepcidin helps to restore normal levels of red blood cells and reduces spleen enlargement. It also controls the accumulation of excess levels of iron in beta-thalassemia that often causes severe toxic effects.

Scientists put some muscle behind their research Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT An old-fashioned neurobiology technique has been used by researchers to explore new avenues for treatments to reverse a late-onset neurodegenerative disease that robs men of the capacity to walk, run, chew and swallow.

In scientific first, researchers visualize proteins being born Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT A new technology has been developed that allows them to 'see' single molecules of messenger RNA as they are translated into proteins into living cells.

Bright dusty galaxies are hiding secret companions Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT A new study has cleared the air on what lies behind hot dust visible in the distant universe. Researchers found that the glow of heated dust reaching our planet is frequently due to three or four galaxies instead of a single one, as scientists had previously assumed.

Quick test for Zika effectively detects virus in monkeys Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT Scientists have developed a low-cost, rapid paper-based diagnostic system for strain-specific detection of the Zika virus, with the goal that it could soon be used in the field to screen blood, urine, or saliva samples.

Zika virus may cause microcephaly by hijacking human immune molecule Posted: 06 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have determined one way Zika virus infection can damage developing brain cells. The study also shows that inhibiting this mechanism reduces brain cell damage, hinting at a new therapeutic approach to mitigating the effects of prenatal Zika virus infection.

Severe stroke prognoses differ depending on the doctor Posted: 06 May 2016 07:58 AM PDT Families rely on doctor recommendations after a brain hemorrhage, but new research shows different physicians make very different decisions.

Gene linked to Alzheimer's disease impairs memory by disrupting brain's 'playback system' Posted: 06 May 2016 07:57 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how the major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease causes memory impairment. A specific type of brain activity important for memory replay is disrupted in mice with the E4 version of the apolipoprotein E (apoE4) gene, which may interfere with memory formation.

Physics: From the atomic to the nuclear clock Posted: 06 May 2016 07:57 AM PDT Measuring time using oscillations of atomic nuclei might significantly improve precision beyond that of current atomic clocks. Physicists have now taken an important step toward this goal.

New treatment for children with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Posted: 06 May 2016 07:57 AM PDT Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) affects hundreds of thousands of people each year, many of them children. Now, a recent study investigates the effects of a new steroid treatment on children suffering from ARDS.

How did birds get their wings? Bacteria may provide a clue, say scientists Posted: 06 May 2016 07:56 AM PDT New research has used bacteria to show that acquiring duplicate copies of genes can provide a 'template' allowing organisms to evolve novel traits from redundant copies of existing genes.

Teaching computers to understand human languages Posted: 06 May 2016 07:56 AM PDT A set of algorithms has been developed that will help teach computers to process and understand human languages. The algorithms will enable a computer to act in much the same way as a human would when encountered with an unknown word. When the computer encounters a word it doesn't recognize or understand, the algorithms mean it will look up the word in a dictionary (such as the WordNet), and tries to guess what other words should appear with this unknown word in the text.

Sonic net could save birds and aircraft, study suggests Posted: 06 May 2016 07:56 AM PDT Introducing a noise net around airfields that emits sound levels equivalent to those of a conversation in a busy restaurant could prevent collisions between birds and aircraft, saving passenger lives and billions in damages, new research has found.

Does the moon affect our mood or actions? Posted: 06 May 2016 07:56 AM PDT While the full moon cannot turn people into werewolves, some people do accuse it of causing a bad night's sleep or creating physical and mental alterations. But is there any science behind these myths?

A view through wood shows futuristic applications Posted: 06 May 2016 07:04 AM PDT Researchers have made a block of linden wood transparent, which they say will be useful in fancy building materials and in light-based electronics systems.

Seismic response of fiber-reinforced concrete coupled walls Posted: 06 May 2016 07:04 AM PDT Use of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete in construction will allow for the use of less and simpler steel reinforcement while maintaining good structural behavior and potentially reducing the amount of post-earthquake repair. Such results will lead to a cheaper way to construct safe buildings with reduced life-cycle costs for the owner.

Moderate sedation more effective than general anesthesia for TAVR patients Posted: 06 May 2016 07:04 AM PDT Researchers conducted the largest observational study of minimally invasive transfemoral—entry through the groin—TAVR to find whether the use of moderate sedation is associated with improved patient outcomes, specifically evaluating 30-day mortality and length of hospital stays, as compared to traditional general anesthesia.

Galaxy-sized peanuts? Astronomers use new imaging software to detect double ‘peanut shell’ galaxy Posted: 06 May 2016 07:02 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered an unusually shaped structure in two nearby disc galaxies. Scientists recently developed new imaging software, making it possible to observe the double "peanut shell shape" formed by the distribution of stars bulging from the centers of these galaxies.

How fish can regenerate eye injuries at the cellular level Posted: 06 May 2016 07:02 AM PDT Scientists have examined the key function in the process of regeneration in the eyes of fish. Surprisingly, a single genetic factor triggers two central steps in the process of regeneration -- cell division and the differentiation of progenitors into the different retinal cell types.

Understanding tiny droplets can make for better weather forecasts Posted: 06 May 2016 07:02 AM PDT Understanding how small water droplets behave improves our ability to describe evaporation and condensation of water at widely different scales, which has implications for everything from nanodroplets to climate models.

How to remove environmental pollutants from raw meat Posted: 06 May 2016 07:02 AM PDT Six months ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer associated consumption of red meat and processed meat to cancer risk. However, in its analysis it made no reference to some carcinogenic environmental pollutants that are already present in raw or unprocessed meat. A study shows that only cooking processes that remove fat from meat can reduce the concentrations of these substances.

Analysis of electric vehicles to optimize the in- and out-of-car experience Posted: 06 May 2016 07:01 AM PDT An international research team has been working to acquire, pool and develop knowledge on various aspects of electric and hybrid vehicles, such as vehicle dynamics, drivability, and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The aim of the four-year project was to propose and develop new analysis techniques and tools for use at the design stage of electric vehicles in order to address the specific challenges they pose.

National study casts doubt on higher weekend death rate, proposals for seven-day hospital services Posted: 06 May 2016 07:01 AM PDT A new analysis of all patients across England receiving emergency hospital care has shown that, contrary to popular belief, fewer patients die after being admitted to hospital at the weekend compared to during the week. The death rate following a hospital admission at the weekend is higher only because the number of patients admitted to hospital at the weekend is lower.

A crack in the mystery of 'oobleck' -- friction thickens fluids Posted: 06 May 2016 06:58 AM PDT By revealing missing details behind the odd behavior of a science fair favorite -- a soupy mixture known as 'oobleck' that switches back and forth between liquid and solid -- scientists could help to end a long-running scientific debate and improve processes ranging from pouring concrete to making better body armor.

Genetic variants in patients with crohn's disease prevent 'good' gut bacteria from working Posted: 06 May 2016 06:58 AM PDT A major type of inflammatory bowel disease may be caused in part by genetic variants that prevent beneficial bacteria in the gut from doing their job, according to a new study.

First sensory system that detects air humidity described Posted: 06 May 2016 06:58 AM PDT Most insects have dedicated sensory systems to detect water vapor in the air, but little has been known about how they work. Now researchers are the first to discover a sensory system that directly detects humidity. The scientists have identified key genes involved in the fruit fly's ability to detect changes in external humidity, and they also discovered the sensory neurons -- the fly's humidity receptors -- in a strange, small sac in the insect's antennae.

'Super males' emerge from male-dominated populations, study finds Posted: 06 May 2016 06:58 AM PDT Males who evolve in male-dominated populations become far better at securing females than those who grow up in monogamous populations, according to new research into the behavior of fruit flies.

Australian swift parrot listed as critically endangered Posted: 06 May 2016 06:57 AM PDT The Australian Government has listed the iconic Tasmanian swift parrot as critically endangered, lifting its status from endangered. The reclassification comes after researchers found the swift parrot could be extinct in as little as 16 years.

Blood analyses may predict risk of delirium in older surgical patients Posted: 06 May 2016 06:57 AM PDT Delirium, or sudden severe confusion due to rapid changes in brain function that can occur with physical or mental illness, affects 15 percent - 53 percent of older surgical patients. New research may help clinicians assess a patient's risk of developing post-operative delirium, enabling preventive measures to safeguard their health. The research also provides insights into the the development of delirium, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Silk keeps fruit fresh without refrigeration, according to study Posted: 06 May 2016 06:57 AM PDT Biomedical engineers have demonstrated that fruits can stay fresh for more than a week without refrigeration if they are coated in an odorless, biocompatible silk solution so thin as to be virtually invisible. The approach is a promising avenue for preservation of delicate foods using a naturally derived material and a water-based manufacturing process.

Experts decipher disease behind one of the world's most famous paintings Posted: 06 May 2016 06:57 AM PDT It is one of the most famous paintings in American history: Christina's World, by Andrew Wyeth. The subject in the painting suffered from a mysterious disorder, which has never been diagnosed. Now, a neurologist has come up with a diagnosis.

Mothers' excess pregnancy weight gain, elevated blood sugar 'imprint' obesity in children Posted: 06 May 2016 06:56 AM PDT Children whose mothers gain excess weight or have elevated blood sugar during their pregnancies are more likely to become overweight or obese during their first decade of life, according to a new study.

Continental drift created biologically diverse coral reefs Posted: 06 May 2016 06:56 AM PDT An international research team has studied the geographical pattern of the evolution of corals and reef fish. Their findings show that today's geographical distribution of tropical marine diversity is the result of 100 million years of Earth history and the continental drifts that shifted the position of shallow reef habitats.

Increasing marbling in beef without increasing overall fatness Posted: 05 May 2016 07:31 PM PDT An expert on skeletal muscle growth in cattle, helped lead a study examining ways to increase marbling in beef without increasing overall fatness.

Fastest-ever molecular imaging reveals reaction crucial for vision Posted: 05 May 2016 07:29 PM PDT Every process that sustains life is carried out by proteins, but understanding how these complex molecules do their jobs depends on learning the arrangement of their atoms -- and how this structure changes -- as they react. No imaging method for observing molecular movement in such detail and speed had been available, until now.

Pattern learning key to children's language development Posted: 05 May 2016 07:29 PM PDT A new study reveals children's language development is a learnt skill and is intricately linked to their ability to recognize patterns in their environment.

Climate change may contribute to rising rates of chronic kidney disease Posted: 05 May 2016 07:27 PM PDT Chronic kidney disease that is not associated with traditional risk factors appears to be increasing in rural hot communities as worldwide temperature progressively rises. The condition has likely increased due to global warming and an increase in extreme heat waves, and it is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, say investigators.

Looking to light highways with light-emitting cement Posted: 05 May 2016 07:24 PM PDT Newly created material that can be used on highways absorbs solar energy, and returns it to the environment, it can last for up to 100 years, report scientists.

Achieving fish biomass targets: The key to securing a sustainable future for coral reefs Posted: 05 May 2016 07:24 PM PDT Scientists have completed a massive study that will help communities and countries of the Western Indian Ocean measure and restore fish populations while identifying the best policies for achieving global sustainable and conservation targets.

Researchers track critical development in the young brain Posted: 05 May 2016 07:24 PM PDT A recent study combined two related but different imaging techniques to non-invasively track the rate at which nerve fibers in children's brains become wrapped in myelin. The work could lead to new findings about diseases like multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies, in which the myelin sheath is damaged.

Animal study shows flexible, dissolvable silicon device promising for brain monitoring Posted: 05 May 2016 07:24 PM PDT An implantable brain device that literally melts away at a pre-determined rate minimizes injury to tissue normally associated with standard electrode implantation. The researchers describe a new class of technology that provides greater resolution for measuring electrical activity in space and time that matches or exceeds existing methods.

Expanding tropics pushing high altitude clouds towards poles, study finds Posted: 05 May 2016 07:12 PM PDT A previously observed trend of high altitude clouds in the mid-latitudes shifting toward the poles is caused primarily by the expansion of the tropics, a new NASA analysis of 30-years of satellite data suggests.

Rapid-response immune cells are fully prepared before invasion strikes Posted: 05 May 2016 07:12 PM PDT Through the use of powerful genomic techniques, researchers have found that the development of immune cells, called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), gradually prepares these cells for rapid response to infection. This work sheds light on the development and function of a cell type that is increasingly recognized as having an important role in the body's immune defense.

New insights into light color sensing, transfer of genetic traits Posted: 05 May 2016 07:11 PM PDT An international team has uncovered the regulation of a system that allows a globally abundant bacterium to efficiently capture sunlight and perform photosynthesis.

Immunization rates climb when pediatricians have easy access to vaccination records Posted: 05 May 2016 07:11 PM PDT Exchange of immunization data between a centralized city immunization registry and provider electronic health records led to significant improvements in pediatric immunization coverage, a reduction in over-immunization for adolescents, and increased completeness of immunization records, according to a latest study. Researchers compared the percent of children who were up-to-date for their age-appropriate immunizations and those who received extra, unnecessary immunizations before and after the implementation of two-way data exchange at point of care.

Speedy ion conduction in solid electrolytes clears road for advanced energy devices Posted: 05 May 2016 11:50 AM PDT Scientists have used state-of-the-art microscopy to identify a previously undetected feature, about 5 billionths of a meter (nanometers) wide, in a solid electrolyte. The work experimentally verifies the importance of that feature to fast ion transport, and corroborates the observations with theory. The new mechanism the researchers report points out a new strategy for the design of highly conductive solid electrolytes.

Price of IVF: Study examines financial savings vs. medical complication costs Posted: 05 May 2016 11:50 AM PDT A recent study may be the first in the United States to calculate the differences in infant hospital costs based on the number of embryos transferred at one time via in vitro fertilization.

Getting a better measure of spin with diamond Posted: 05 May 2016 11:50 AM PDT Diamonds are one of the most coveted gemstones. But while some may want the perfect diamond for its sparkle, physicists covet the right diamonds to perfect their experiments. The gem is a key component in a novel system that enables precision measurements that could lead to the discovery of new physics in the sub-atomic realm -- the domain of the particles and forces that build the nucleus of the atom.

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