ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Researchers gear up galaxy-seeking robots for a test run
• FDG PET evaluates immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
• Marine life quickly recovered after global mass extinction
• In MS, can better sleep improve cognition?
• Drying Arctic soils could accelerate greenhouse gas emissions
• Household air pollution linked to higher risk of heart attacks, early death
• Molecular imaging of neuroendocrine tumors optimizes radiotherapy dose
• Algorithm ranks thermotolerance of algae
• Gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs
• Failed star creates its own spotlight in the universe
• Rolling on Molly: US high school seniors underreport ecstasy use when not asked about Molly
• Bird brain? Ounce for ounce birds have significantly more neurons in their brains than mammals or primates
• Arc volcano releases mix of material from Earth's mantle and crust
• Where were you born? Origin matters for species interactions
• Cereal science: How scientists inverted the Cheerios effect
• Success in second language learning linked to genetic and brain measures
• Light-matter interplay probed: Physicists achieve quantum Hall state with light
• Video game playing negatively influences adequate sleep and bedtimes
• Novel capping strategy improves stability of perovskite nanocrystals
• Probing proteins' 3-D structures suggests existing drugs may work for many cancers
• Experimental antibiotic treats deadly MRSA infection
• Antarctic lakes are a repository for ancient soot
• Sleep duration varies by alcohol drinking patterns, race, and sex
• New planet is largest discovered that orbits two suns
• High efficient solar water heating achieved with nanoparticles
• Conversion efficiency of 18.2% achieved using perovskite solar cells
• Electrical conductivity of salt water in seismogenic zones theoretically determined
• Low-tech system overcomes barriers preventing doctor-patient chat about drinking habits
• Lack of transportation hampers hungry children from getting free summer meals, study finds
• Scientists amplify light using sound on a silicon chip
• Caffeine has little to no benefit after 3 nights of sleep restriction
• New approach to microlasers
• Training helps those with mild cognitive impairment, study shows
• New research reveals secrets of former subglacial lakes in North America
• Ferroelectric materials react unexpectedly to strain
• Chronic sleep restriction negatively affects athletic performance
• Adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with stage IB non-small cell lung cancer
• New research uses novel approach to study plant mimicry
• El Nino drives fastest annual increase on record of carbon dioxide
• Autologous stem cell transplant should be standard care for HIV-associated lymphoma
• Efficient hydrogen production made easy
• Topical application of antiretroviral drug combination prevents transmission of (S)HIV
• Recharge with sleep: Pediatric sleep recommendations promoting optimal health
• Unraveling the food web in your gut
• DNA shaping up to be ideal framework for rationally designed nanostructures
• Botox's sweet tooth underlies its key neuron-targeting mechanism
• Reclaiming the immune system's assault on tumors
• New insights into neural computations in cerebral cortex
• What are risk factors for dementia after intracerebral hemorrhage?
• Hospital or outpatient care when patients present with hypertensive urgency?
• Mounting tension in the Himalaya
• Six in ten adults prescribed opioid painkillers have leftover pills
• Military members with PTSD/depression can be treated successfully in primary care settings
• Proper maternal folate level may reduce child obesity risk
• Nano 'hall of mirrors' causes molecules to mix with light
• Weird, water-oozing material could help quench thirst
• Carbon dioxide biggest player in thawing permafrost
• Storage technologies for renewable energy can pay off
• Businesses can save 30% on electrical bills by adjusting production schedules
• Study suggests another look at common treatments for hemophilia

Researchers gear up galaxy-seeking robots for a test run Posted: 13 Jun 2016 03:27 PM PDT A prototype system that will test a planned array of 5,000 robots for a sky-mapping instrument is taking shape. Dubbed ProtoDESI, the scaled-down, 10-robot system will run through a series of tests on a telescope in Arizona from August-September.

FDG PET evaluates immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2016 01:50 PM PDT Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) have a collective reputation for not responding very well to chemotherapy. Researchers now report a means of evaluating an immunotherapy that fights off NSCLC by strengthening a patient's own immune system.

Marine life quickly recovered after global mass extinction Posted: 13 Jun 2016 01:49 PM PDT Reptiles rapidly invaded the seas soon after a global extinction wiped out most life on Earth, according to a new study. The oldest marine reptile fossils appeared 248.81 million years ago, the most precise date yet, according to the study. These pioneering marine reptiles, including the dolphin-like ichthyosaurs and sauropterygians, went on to rule the Mesozoic seas during the era of the dinosaurs.

In MS, can better sleep improve cognition? Posted: 13 Jun 2016 01:49 PM PDT People with multiple sclerosis often have trouble with memory, attention and mental processing. New research shows some of these issues could stem from sleep disorders.

Drying Arctic soils could accelerate greenhouse gas emissions Posted: 13 Jun 2016 01:49 PM PDT Soil moisture levels will determine how much carbon is released to the atmosphere as rising temperatures thaw Arctic lands, suggests new scientific research.

Household air pollution linked to higher risk of heart attacks, early death Posted: 13 Jun 2016 01:49 PM PDT Long-term exposure to household air pollution from lighting, cooking or heating with fuels such as kerosene or diesel may increase the risk of heart attacks and death. Burning cleaner fuels, such as natural gas, was associated with a lower risk of death, say experts. One-half the world's population lives in poverty and burns fuels for lighting, cooking and heating.

Molecular imaging of neuroendocrine tumors optimizes radiotherapy dose Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:38 PM PDT Aggressive neuroendocrine cancer is something of a dark horse -- a rare, elusive and persevering force linked to discouraging long-term survival rates. Researchers are presenting a molecular imaging technique that allows oncologists to set patients' radiotherapy doses right at that critical limit of delivering the most powerful kill to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) while protecting vulnerable vital organs.

Algorithm ranks thermotolerance of algae Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:38 PM PDT A new tool could play an important role in the race to save coral reefs and in any application that relies on rankings. The novel algorithm could help assess and predict the future of coral bleaching events by better understanding the coral's symbiotic partner: algae.

Gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:38 PM PDT A gene called Prkci can point cells in the right direction, according to a new study that demonstrated Prkci's role in organizing cells into balls and tubes during early embryo and organ formation.

Failed star creates its own spotlight in the universe Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:38 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered an 'ultracool' brown dwarf known as 2MASS 0335+23 that can generate flares stronger than the sun's.

Rolling on Molly: US high school seniors underreport ecstasy use when not asked about Molly Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:38 PM PDT A new study compared self-reported ecstasy/MDMA use with and without 'Molly' in the definition. Researchers found that reported lifetime use (8.0 percent vs. 5.5 percent) was significantly higher with Molly in the definition.

Bird brain? Ounce for ounce birds have significantly more neurons in their brains than mammals or primates Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:34 PM PDT The first study to systematically measure the number of neurons in the brains of birds has found that they have significantly more neurons packed into their small brains than are stuffed into mammalian and even primate brains of the same mass.

Arc volcano releases mix of material from Earth's mantle and crust Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:34 PM PDT Basalt from a common type of volcano shows a surprising contribution from the descending oceanic plate. Analyses show that magnesium atoms are somehow drawn out of the crust, deep below the surface.

Where were you born? Origin matters for species interactions Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:34 PM PDT Based on experiments with two species of beetle, ecologists have determined that the early life experiences of individuals that migrate between local habitats can have wide-reaching impacts on the distribution of species across entire ecosystems.

Cereal science: How scientists inverted the Cheerios effect Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:34 PM PDT Liquid drops on soft solid surfaces interact by an 'inverted Cheerios effect', which can be tweaked so that the droplets move towards or away from each other, according to an international group of scientists.

Success in second language learning linked to genetic and brain measures Posted: 13 Jun 2016 12:33 PM PDT A new study shows that the final grades that college students received in a second-language class were predicted by a combination of genetic and brain factors.

Light-matter interplay probed: Physicists achieve quantum Hall state with light Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:47 AM PDT Harnessing the shared wave nature of light and matter, researchers have used light to explore some of the most intriguing questions in the quantum mechanics of materials.

Video game playing negatively influences adequate sleep and bedtimes Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT A new study found that gamers will push off obtaining adequate sleep in order to continue video gaming. Results show that on average, gamers delayed going to bed 36 percent of the nights they played video games. Average game playing was 4.6 nights per week. The average delay in bedtime on the nights spent gaming was 101 minutes.

Novel capping strategy improves stability of perovskite nanocrystals Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT Perovskite materials have shown great promise for use in next-generation solar cells and LEDs, but their instability remains a critical limitation. Atoms on the surface are vulnerable to reactions that can degrade the material, so molecules that bind to the surface (capping ligands) are used both to stabilize perovskite nanocrystals and to control their properties. Researchers have used unique branched ligands to synthesize perovskite nanocrystals with greatly improved stability and uniform particle size.

Probing proteins' 3-D structures suggests existing drugs may work for many cancers Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT Examining databases of proteins' 3-D shapes, scientists have identified more than 850 DNA mutations that appear to be linked to cancer. The information may expand the number of cancer patients who can benefit from existing drugs.

Experimental antibiotic treats deadly MRSA infection Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT A new experimental antibiotic successfully treats the deadly MRSA infection and restores the efficacy of a commonly prescribed antibiotic that has become ineffective against MRSA. Scientists are racing to develop a new class of antibiotics to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, which are responsible for 19,000 deaths annually and represent $3 billion in annual health care costs.

Antarctic lakes are a repository for ancient soot Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:46 AM PDT Remote lakes in a perpetually ice-free area of Antarctica show not only the chemical signature of ancient wildfires, but also some much more recent evidence of fossil-fuel combustion, according to new research.

Sleep duration varies by alcohol drinking patterns, race, and sex Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:43 AM PDT Compared to their white counterparts within each alcohol drinking pattern (never, moderate, excessive) investigated, black men and women were significantly more likely to get less than six hours of sleep, less likely to get seven to eight hours of sleep and generally more likely to get nine or more hours of sleep. Short sleep disparity increased with increasing alcohol consumption between black and white men. Long sleep duration was more common among heavy drinkers, but only in black men and white women.

New planet is largest discovered that orbits two suns Posted: 13 Jun 2016 11:43 AM PDT If you cast your eyes toward the constellation Cygnus, you'll be looking in the direction of the largest planet yet discovered around a double-star system. It's too faint to see with the naked eye, but astronomers have now identified the new planet, Kepler-1647b.

High efficient solar water heating achieved with nanoparticles Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:11 AM PDT A research team in Japan discovered through numerical calculations that nanoparticles of transition metal nitrides and carbides absorb sunlight very efficiently, and confirmed experimentally that nitride nanoparticles, when dispersed in water, quickly raise water temperature.

Conversion efficiency of 18.2% achieved using perovskite solar cells Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:11 AM PDT A research group in Japan achieved energy conversion efficiency exceeding 18% using standard size perovskite solar cells.

Electrical conductivity of salt water in seismogenic zones theoretically determined Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:11 AM PDT Scientists have succeeded in theoretically determining the electrical conductivity of NaCl solution (salt water) in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment at ground depths ranging from 10 to 70 km. By comparison with electrical conductivity data collected underground, the theoretical approach indicated the presence of salt water deep underground. This discovery may reinforce the theory that underground salt water influences the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Low-tech system overcomes barriers preventing doctor-patient chat about drinking habits Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:09 AM PDT Primary care doctors are reluctant to talk to patients about their drinking habits, for fear of being perceived as judgmental. But a simple, intervention that encourages discussion could resolve this issue, according to a recent study.

Lack of transportation hampers hungry children from getting free summer meals, study finds Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:08 AM PDT Lack of transportation is a hurdle for many Texas families whose children could benefit from free meals, according to the Texas Hunger Initiative.

Scientists amplify light using sound on a silicon chip Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:08 AM PDT Scientists have found a way to greatly boost the intensity of light waves on a silicon microchip using the power of sound. In a new article, a research team describes a new waveguide system that harnesses the ability to precisely control the interaction of light and sound waves.

Caffeine has little to no benefit after 3 nights of sleep restriction Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:08 AM PDT A new study found that after restricting sleep to 5 hours per night, caffeine use no longer improved alertness or performance after three nights. Results show that relative to placebo, caffeine significantly improved Psychomotor Vigilance Task performance during the first two days, but not the last three days of sleep restriction.

New approach to microlasers Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:08 AM PDT Researchers describe a new way to build terahertz lasers that could significantly reduce their power consumption and size, while also enabling them to emit tighter beams, a crucial requirement for most practical applications. The work also represents a fundamentally new approach to laser design, which could have ramifications for visible-light lasers as well.

Training helps those with mild cognitive impairment, study shows Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:08 AM PDT Strategy-based reasoning training can improve the cognitive performance for those with mild cognitive impairment, a preclinical stage of those at risk for Alzheimer's disease, a new study shows.

New research reveals secrets of former subglacial lakes in North America Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT Researchers have provided a unique glimpse into one of the least understood environments on Earth by revealing for the first time former subglacial lakes and their drainage routes beneath the North American ice sheets.

Ferroelectric materials react unexpectedly to strain Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT Under too much strain, layered perovskite ferroelectrics turn off their polarization, researchers have found.

Chronic sleep restriction negatively affects athletic performance Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT A new study found that chronic sleep restriction negatively affects athletic performance. Results show that following sleep restriction, energy expenditure during submaximal exercise decreased 3.9 percent; maximal aerobic power decreased 2.9 percent and time to exhaustion decreased by 10.7 percent (37 seconds). Submaximal heart rate decreased after sleep restriction, as well as peak heart rate and Psychomotor Vigilance Test response speed.

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with stage IB non-small cell lung cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients improves overall survival and five-year OS in patients with tumor sizes ranging from 3-7 cm.

New research uses novel approach to study plant mimicry Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT Batesian mimicry is a common evolutionary tool where unprotected species imitate harmful or poisonous species to protect themselves from predators. To date, nearly all examples of Batesian mimicry have come from studies on animals. A new study provides a compelling example of plant mimicry between two New Zealand plants, Alseuosmia pusilla (known locally as small toropapa) and Pseudowintera colorata (commonly known as horopito or as a pepper tree).

El Nino drives fastest annual increase on record of carbon dioxide Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:07 AM PDT The rising concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has passed a symbolic threshold early due to the fastest annual increase on record, report scientists.

Autologous stem cell transplant should be standard care for HIV-associated lymphoma Posted: 13 Jun 2016 10:06 AM PDT According to researchers, people with HIV-associated lymphoma who receive autologous stem cell transplant have similar survival rates and are no more at risk of serious complications compared to those without HIV receiving this therapy.

Efficient hydrogen production made easy Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:27 AM PDT If you use a process to get the hydrazine to help, you create hydrogen from water by changing conductivity in a semiconductor, a transformation with wide potential applications in energy and electronics.

Topical application of antiretroviral drug combination prevents transmission of (S)HIV Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:24 AM PDT For the first time, researchers show that two powerful antiretroviral drugs can provide complete protection against HIV when delivered topically by a sustained release intravaginal ring (IVR) device. The combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine delivered at independently controlled rates via the pod-IVR was successful at preventing SHIV162p3 infection for over four months.

Recharge with sleep: Pediatric sleep recommendations promoting optimal health Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:24 AM PDT For the first time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has released official consensus recommendations for the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health in children and teenagers to avoid the health risks of insufficient sleep.

Unraveling the food web in your gut Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT Despite recent progress, the organization and ecological properties of intestinal microbial ecosystem remain under investigated. Using a manually curated metabolic module framework for (meta-)genomic data analysis, researchers studied species-function relationships in gut microbial genomes and microbiomes. The Flemish Gut Flora Project observed that half of the bacteria in the human gut were metabolic generalists, while others were specializing and feeding on specific substrates.

DNA shaping up to be ideal framework for rationally designed nanostructures Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT Scientists developed two DNA-based self-assembly approaches for desired nanostructures. The first approach allows the same set of nanoparticles to be connected into a variety of three-dimensional structures; the second facilitates the integration of different nanoparticles and DNA frames into interconnecting modules, expanding the diversity of possible structures. These approaches could enable the rational design of nanomaterials with enhanced or combined optical, electric, and magnetic properties to achieve desired functions.

Botox's sweet tooth underlies its key neuron-targeting mechanism Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT The Botox toxin has a sweet tooth, and it's this craving for sugars -- glycans, to be exact -- that underlies its extreme ability target neuron cells in the body, while giving researchers an approach to neutralize it.

Reclaiming the immune system's assault on tumors Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT One of the major obstacles with treating cancer is that tumors can conscript the body's immune cells and make them work for them. Researchers have now found a way to reclaim the corrupted immune cells, turn them into signals for the immune system to attack the tumor, and even prevent metastasis.

New insights into neural computations in cerebral cortex Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT Scientists have provided strong evidence that the arrangement of synaptic connections within the dendritic field supports an active role for dendrites in cortical processing and that these dendritic computations shape how neurons encode visual information.

What are risk factors for dementia after intracerebral hemorrhage? Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT Larger hematoma size and location were risk factors associated with dementia after an intracerebral hemorrhage when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, according to a new article.

Hospital or outpatient care when patients present with hypertensive urgency? Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:23 AM PDT Do ambulatory patients who present in office settings with hypertensive urgency -- systolic blood pressure (BP) at least 180mm HG and diastolic BP at least 110 mm Hg -- do better when they are referred to the hospital or when they have their BP managed in an outpatient setting?

Mounting tension in the Himalaya Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT In the days following the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, afterslip produced little surface evidence of continued movement. That meant only one of two things could be happening: either the part of the fault that hadn't moved was experiencing a slow-slip event, a slow-motion earthquake, or it remained completely locked, accumulating further strain in that segment of the fault. A new research paper finds it is likely the latter.

Six in ten adults prescribed opioid painkillers have leftover pills Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT In the midst of an epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction and overdose deaths, a new survey suggests that more than half of patients prescribed opioids have leftover pills -- and many save them to use later.

Military members with PTSD/depression can be treated successfully in primary care settings Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT The rate of PTSD and depression is high among active military members, but stigma often prevents them from seeking care from a mental health specialist. A new study finds that treating such patients in primary care settings with a program that includes specially trained nurses and telephone therapy significantly improves outcomes after one year. The findings support the idea that such efforts can bring more military members under a high-quality treatment umbrella sooner.

Proper maternal folate level may reduce child obesity risk Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT Proper maternal folate levels during pregnancy may protect children from a future risk of obesity, especially those born to obese mothers, according to a new study.

Nano 'hall of mirrors' causes molecules to mix with light Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT Researchers have successfully used quantum states to mix a molecule with light at room temperature, which will aid in the exploration of quantum technologies and provide new ways to manipulate the physical and chemical properties of matter.

Weird, water-oozing material could help quench thirst Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT Nanorods have an unusual property -- spontaneously emitting water. After further development, the nanorods could be used for water harvesting and purification, or sweat-gathering fabric.

Carbon dioxide biggest player in thawing permafrost Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT Carbon dioxide emissions from dry and oxygen-rich environments are likely to play a much greater role in controlling future rates of climate change caused by permafrost thaw than rates of methane release from oxygen-poor wetlands in the Arctic, according to research.

Storage technologies for renewable energy can pay off Posted: 13 Jun 2016 09:22 AM PDT Storage systems can make economic sense for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, according to new research.

Businesses can save 30% on electrical bills by adjusting production schedules Posted: 13 Jun 2016 08:18 AM PDT Industrial manufacturing businesses can save over 30 percent on electrical bills, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 5 percent, by adjusting production schedules, according to new research.

Study suggests another look at common treatments for hemophilia Posted: 13 Jun 2016 08:18 AM PDT Participants who received a recombinant therapy— the present standard in the United States — developed antibodies or "inhibitors" to the treatments at almost twice the rate as those whose treatments were made from human plasma, new research shows.

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