ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Physical cause for cell death in dry preservation of embryos
• Cougars could save lives by lowering vehicle collisions with deer
• Nearly a third of Hispanics in Texas don't have health insurance
• Gauging stem cells for regenerative medicine
• Hybrid immune cells in early-stage lung cancer spur anti-tumor T cells to action
• Over 20 countries environmentally suitable for Ebola transmission by bats
• Pre-stroke risk factors influence long-term future stroke, dementia risk
• New theropod dinosaur suggests that small T. rex-like arms evolved multiple times
• 'Rivet graphene' proves its mettle
• Ecologists identify potential new sources of Ebola and other filoviruses
• Ocean warming primary cause of Antarctic Peninsula glacier retreat
• HIV 'safe houses' identified inside the body
• Tropical cyclones on track to grow more intense as temperatures rise
• Newborn ducklings can acquire notions of 'same' and 'different'
• Record-breaking volcanic kettle on Iceland explored
• Novel algorithm predicts drug combinations to treat drug resistant fungal infections
• Dengue virus protein alters blood vessel surface, makes it leaky
• GAGA may be the secret of the sexes, at least in insects
• Prehistoric genomes from the world's first farmers in the Zagros mountains reveal different Neolithic ancestry for Europeans and South Asians
• Checkpoint in b cell development discovered with possible implications on vaccine potency
• Ability to turn off genes in brain crucial for learning, memory
• Biodiversity falls below ‘safe levels’ globally
• 'Smart' nanoparticle called PEARLs a promising gem to target, treat tumors
• Researchers discover new genetic mutation linked to osteonecrosis of the hip
• Protein pairs make cells remember
• Is artificial lighting making us sick? New evidence in mice
• Researchers coax human stem cells to rapidly generate bone, heart muscle
• Scientists trace origin cell of bone, soft tissue tumors, test drug target
• It's all in the genes: New research reveals why some chickens are resistant to bird flu
• Long noncoding RNA found to quell inflammation
• Butterflies' diet impacts evolution of traits
• Organic computers are coming
• Animal cancer breakthrough leads to human clinical trials
• Communication breakdown? Mismatch in expectations about prognosis in advanced cancer
• Older women who sustain facial injuries may have increased risk of facial fractures
• Simple method quickly tests hard-to-treat bacteria's susceptibility to different antibiotics
• Moderately reducing calories in non-obese people reduces inflammation
• Warm Jupiters not as lonely as expected
• Team-trained health care staff can reduce patient deaths by 15 percent
• Dads play key role in child development
• New signaling pathway for programmed cell death identified in leukemia cells
• Dark energy measured with record-breaking map of 1.2 million galaxies
• 'Green' electronic materials produced with synthetic biology
• Black bear links real objects to computer images
• Self-rated health worth doctors' attention
• Social media sites obstruct children’s moral development, say parents
• 23 ancient shipwrecks discovered off Greece
• Spinal cord stimulation is a safe, effective drug-free treatment for chronic pain, experts say
• New light harvesting potentials uncovered
• Terrified insect escapes a permanent tomb -- 50 million years ago
• Crossing the barriers: Pharmacy researchers improving drug delivery
• Opposites attract -- unless you're in a relationship
• Fish get arthritis, too
• To save water on lawns, throw some shade
• Zika experts: Varied neurological complications, virus still detectable after recovery
• New molecules kill multidrug resistant cancer cells
• Youngest siblings more likely to go into business, study finds
• Negative stereotypes affect female soccer performance
• Promising new insights into ALS
• The Ouzo Effect under the magnifying glass

Physical cause for cell death in dry preservation of embryos Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT Brine shrimp do it, water bears do it, why can't we dry preserve snow leopard or golden toad embryos and keep them on the shelf? A new study has determined that a critical issue in dry preserving whole cells may lie in the late-stage dynamics of sugar molecules as they transition into a glass state. The finding suggests possible solutions.

Cougars could save lives by lowering vehicle collisions with deer Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT A team of researchers has for the first time begun to quantify the economic and social impact of bringing back large carnivores. Using cougars and their value in reducing deer-vehicle collisions as a case study, the researchers found that within 30 years of cougars recolonizing the Eastern U.S., large cats could thin deer populations and reduce vehicle collisions by 22 percent -- each year preventing five human fatalities, 680 injuries and avoiding costs of $50 million.

Nearly a third of Hispanics in Texas don't have health insurance Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT The percentage of Hispanics in Texas without health insurance has dropped by 30 percent since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, but almost one-third of Hispanic Texans ages 18 to 64 remain uninsured, shows a new report.

Gauging stem cells for regenerative medicine Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT A new benchmark for generating the most primitive type of stem cell has been described by scientists in a new report. While stem cells--cells that have the potential to differentiate into other types of cells--exist in adult humans, the most useful stem cells are those found in embryos, which are pluripotent, capable of becoming nearly any cell in the body.

Hybrid immune cells in early-stage lung cancer spur anti-tumor T cells to action Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT Researchers have identified a unique subset of these cells that exhibit hybrid characteristics of two immune cell types -- neutrophils and antigen-presenting cells -- in samples from early-stage human lung cancers. This is the first study to describe this phenomenon in a human tumor.

Over 20 countries environmentally suitable for Ebola transmission by bats Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT Though the West African Ebola outbreak that began in 2013 is now under control, 23 countries remain environmentally suitable for animal-to-human transmission of the Ebola virus. Only seven of these countries have experienced cases of Ebola, leaving the remaining 16 countries potentially unaware of regions of suitability, and therefore underprepared for future outbreaks. A new study reports these findings and more in the journal eLife.

Pre-stroke risk factors influence long-term future stroke, dementia risk Posted: 14 Jul 2016 01:33 PM PDT If you had heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, before your first stoke, your risk of suffering subsequent strokes and dementia long after your initial stroke may be higher. Taking good care of your heart disease risk factors -- even if you have never experienced a stroke -- is not only important to prevent the first stroke, but it can go a long way to prevent a second stroke and dementia, say researchers.

New theropod dinosaur suggests that small T. rex-like arms evolved multiple times Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:25 PM PDT The discovery of a theropod dinosaur with Tyrannosaurus rex-like arms suggests that these unusual forelimbs may have evolved multiple times.

'Rivet graphene' proves its mettle Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:25 PM PDT "Rivet graphene" has enhanced electronic properties and the ability to be transferred from one surface to another without contaminating polymers, according to scientists.

Ecologists identify potential new sources of Ebola and other filoviruses Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:25 PM PDT An international team of ecologists has identified the bat species with the greatest potential to harbor filoviruses -- a family that includes Ebola virus. The researchers suggest that areas where many of these species overlap, notably in Southeast Asia, should be targeted for disease surveillance and virus discovery efforts.

Ocean warming primary cause of Antarctic Peninsula glacier retreat Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:24 PM PDT A new study has found for the first time that ocean warming is the primary cause of retreat of glaciers on the western Antarctic Peninsula. The Peninsula is one of the largest current contributors to sea-level rise and this new finding will enable researchers to make better predictions of ice loss from this region.

HIV 'safe houses' identified inside the body Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have identified cells that provide 'safe houses' for the human immunodeficiency virus during antiretroviral therapy. HIV needs to be "housed" in a cell, a safe haven, so to speak, to live and replicate, explain authors of a new report.

Tropical cyclones on track to grow more intense as temperatures rise Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:18 PM PDT Powerful tropical cyclones like the super typhoon that lashed Taiwan with 150-mile-per-hour winds last week and then flooded parts of China are expected to become even stronger as the planet warms. That trend hasn't become evident yet, but it will, scientists say.

Newborn ducklings can acquire notions of 'same' and 'different' Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:18 PM PDT Scientists have shown that newly hatched ducklings can readily acquire the concepts of 'same' and 'different' -- an ability previously known only in highly intelligent animals such as apes, crows and parrots.

Record-breaking volcanic kettle on Iceland explored Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:14 PM PDT The Bárdarbunga eruption on Iceland has broken many records. The event in 2014 was the strongest in Europe since more than 240 years. The hole it left behind, the so-called caldera, is the biggest caldera formation ever observed.

Novel algorithm predicts drug combinations to treat drug resistant fungal infections Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:14 PM PDT Scientists have created an algorithm that can identify drug combinations to treat fungal infections that have become resistant to current drug treatments. This new study represents a strategy for treating complex diseases and finding new uses for existing drugs.

Dengue virus protein alters blood vessel surface, makes it leaky Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:14 PM PDT The major symptom of severe dengue disease is leakage of blood plasma out of small blood vessels, which can lead to shock and death. A study now suggests that the dengue virus protein NS1 can disrupt the innermost layer of blood vessels and make them more permeable.

GAGA may be the secret of the sexes, at least in insects Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:14 PM PDT Without simple repeating sequences of the DNA 'letters' GA on the X chromosome, distinct genders could never have evolved, at least in flies and mosquitoes, report scientists.

Prehistoric genomes from the world's first farmers in the Zagros mountains reveal different Neolithic ancestry for Europeans and South Asians Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:12 PM PDT Populations in the ancient Fertile Crescent are the ancestors of modern day South Asians but not of Europeans, new research shows. The earliest farmers from the Zagros mountains in Iran, i.e., the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent, are neither the main ancestors of Europe's first farmers nor of modern-day Europeans. Researchers say that this came as a surprise.

Checkpoint in b cell development discovered with possible implications on vaccine potency Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:09 PM PDT Researchers report a new quality-control checkpoint function in developing B cells, cells that produce antibodies to protect the body from pathogens.

Ability to turn off genes in brain crucial for learning, memory Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:09 PM PDT Every time you move around, you are turning on genes in your brain. A study in mice shows that if such genes get stuck in the "on" position, the consequences can include faulty brain wiring that affects learning and memory.

Biodiversity falls below ‘safe levels’ globally Posted: 14 Jul 2016 12:06 PM PDT Levels of global biodiversity loss may negatively impact on ecosystem function and the sustainability of human societies.

'Smart' nanoparticle called PEARLs a promising gem to target, treat tumors Posted: 14 Jul 2016 10:51 AM PDT A team of biomedical researchers has discovered a 'smart' organic, biodegradable nanoparticle that uses heat and light in a controlled manner to potentially target and ablate tumors with greater precision.

Researchers discover new genetic mutation linked to osteonecrosis of the hip Posted: 14 Jul 2016 10:50 AM PDT Osteonecrosis or 'bone death' of the femoral head is a disease caused by interruption of blood flow in the hip bone. Patients experience pain and the bone and surrounding joint collapse. Many patients are under the age of 25 when diagnosed. Researchers discovered a new genetic mutation that could lead to better treatment and help understand a much more common form of osteonecrosis of the femoral head -- osteonecrosis induced by the use of steroids.

Protein pairs make cells remember Posted: 14 Jul 2016 10:47 AM PDT Even single cells are able to remember information if they receive the order from their proteins. Researchers have discovered that proteins form pairs to give the signal for storing information in the cell's memory.

Is artificial lighting making us sick? New evidence in mice Posted: 14 Jul 2016 10:47 AM PDT Along with eating right and exercising, people should consider adding another healthy habit to their list: turning out the lights. That's according to a new study showing many negative health consequences for mice kept under conditions of constant light for a period of months.

Researchers coax human stem cells to rapidly generate bone, heart muscle Posted: 14 Jul 2016 10:47 AM PDT Researchers have mapped out the sets of biological and chemical signals necessary to quickly and efficiently direct human embryonic stem cells to become pure populations of any of 12 cell types, including bone, heart muscle and cartilage.

Scientists trace origin cell of bone, soft tissue tumors, test drug target Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:09 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a type of cell surrounding blood vessels can also serve as a starting point for sarcoma, a form of cancer that occurs in bones and connective tissues.

It's all in the genes: New research reveals why some chickens are resistant to bird flu Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:07 AM PDT The genes of some chickens make them almost completely resistant to a serious strain of bird flu, new research has revealed. Until now, scientists around the world have paid little attention to the role the genetics of birds play in the transmission of flu, focusing instead on how the virus itself evolves and infects.

Long noncoding RNA found to quell inflammation Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT A long non-coding RNA (lincRNA) -- called lincRNA-EPS -- responsible for regulating innate immunity has been identified by a team of scientists. This discovery points to an unrecognized role for lincRNAs in the immune system and may lead to new insights into inflammatory diseases caused by uncontrolled immune responses such as lupus or inflammatory bowel disease.

Butterflies' diet impacts evolution of traits Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT A new study finds that access to some nutrients may be a star player in shaping traits related to fitness such as fecundity and eye size over the long term. Given drastic increases in the availability of many nutrients due to the widespread use of fertilizers and road salts, the finding has important implications for agriculture and ecology.

Organic computers are coming Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT A team of researchers from Russia and Germany have managed to find a molecule that, to their opinion, could give the impetus to the development of organic electronics.

Animal cancer breakthrough leads to human clinical trials Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT Cancer treatment in people could be transformed thanks to a study on treating cancer in animals. Injecting oncolytic viruses (viruses that target cancer cells) intravenously into the spleen allows immune responses to be boosted much more rapidly and to much higher magnitudes than traditional vaccine methods.

Communication breakdown? Mismatch in expectations about prognosis in advanced cancer Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT Advanced cancer patients report far more optimistic expectations for survival prognosis than their oncologists, due to patients' misunderstanding of their oncologists' clinical judgment.

Older women who sustain facial injuries may have increased risk of facial fractures Posted: 14 Jul 2016 09:06 AM PDT Older women who sustain facial injuries have greater risk of facial fractures, especially those who are white or Asian, while older black women have decreased risk, according to an article.

Simple method quickly tests hard-to-treat bacteria's susceptibility to different antibiotics Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:11 AM PDT The recent emergence of bacterial infections that are resistant to many existing antibiotics is driving an urgent need for tools to quickly identify the small number of therapies that are still effective for individual patients. Currently, multi-drug resistant bacteria often must be sent to specialized laboratories for analysis, leading to several days of delay before results can guide therapy. Now investigators have developed a simple and versatile method using inkjet printing technology to test such bacteria for susceptibility to antibiotics in a clinical setting.

Moderately reducing calories in non-obese people reduces inflammation Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Eating less may help us lead longer, healthier lives, according to new results from a large, multicenter study. The paper reveals that a 25 percent reduction in calories can significantly lower markers of chronic inflammation without negatively impacting other parts of the immune system.

Warm Jupiters not as lonely as expected Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT After analyzing four years of Kepler space telescope observations, astronomers have given us our clearest understanding yet of a class of exoplanets called 'Warm Jupiters,' showing that many have unexpected planetary companions.

Team-trained health care staff can reduce patient deaths by 15 percent Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Team training of health care employees can reduce patient mortality by 15 percent, according to a new study. These study results are encouraging and demonstrate that health care organizations can see moderate to large improvements in their employees' performance and organizational results by participating in a health care team-training program.

Dads play key role in child development Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Fathers play a surprisingly large role in their children's development, from language and cognitive growth in toddlerhood to social skills in fifth grade, according to new research.

New signaling pathway for programmed cell death identified in leukemia cells Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT When adults develop blood cancer, they are frequently diagnosed with what is referred to as acute myeloid leukemia. The disease is triggered by pathological alterations of bone marrow cells, in which, in addition, an important mechanism is out of action: these cells do not die when they are damaged. Researchers have now discovered a molecular signaling pathway for self-destruction that is suppressed in leukemia cells.

Dark energy measured with record-breaking map of 1.2 million galaxies Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:07 AM PDT A team of hundreds of physicists and astronomers have announced results from the largest-ever, three-dimensional map of distant galaxies. The team constructed this map to make one of the most precise measurements yet of the dark energy currently driving the accelerated expansion of the Universe.

'Green' electronic materials produced with synthetic biology Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:07 AM PDT A new strain of bacteria that spins out extremely thin and highly conductive wires made up of solely of non-toxic, natural amino acids has been developed by scientists. They say the wires, which rival the thinnest wires known to man, avoid the harsh chemical processes typically used to produce nanoelectronic materials.

Black bear links real objects to computer images Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:07 AM PDT American black bears may be able to recognize things they know in real life, such as pieces of food or humans, when looking at a photograph of the same thing. This is one of the findings of a study which involved a black bear called Migwan and a computer screen.

Self-rated health worth doctors' attention Posted: 14 Jul 2016 08:07 AM PDT Patients' feelings are often a better predictor of illness and death than clinical tests, according to researchers. However, scientists haven't yet identified the channel that gives people a sense of impending illness. One theory is that fatigue is a marker.

Social media sites obstruct children’s moral development, say parents Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:04 AM PDT A 'parent poll' carried out by a team at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues found that only 15% of parents thought that popular social media sites provided a positive influence on a young person's character.

23 ancient shipwrecks discovered off Greece Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:04 AM PDT An expedition to the Fourni archipelago in Greece has found 23 new shipwrecks dating from around 1,000 BC to the 19th century AD.

Spinal cord stimulation is a safe, effective drug-free treatment for chronic pain, experts say Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:03 AM PDT A new study finds another safe and effective drug-free treatment option for chronic pain sufferers -- spinal cord stimulation (SCS), experts say.

New light harvesting potentials uncovered Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:03 AM PDT Significant new potentials for light harvesting through narrowing the bandgap of titania and graphene quantum dots have been uncovered by scientists.

Terrified insect escapes a permanent tomb -- 50 million years ago Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:02 AM PDT Thousands of insects, plants and other life forms have been found trapped in ancient amber deposits, but a new discovery shows a rarity of a different type -- the one that got away. This insect literally was frightened out of its skin.

Crossing the barriers: Pharmacy researchers improving drug delivery Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:02 AM PDT A number of drugs -- from insulin to cancer chemotherapy -- can be delivered only via injections, which are far more difficult for patients than taking a simple tablet or pill. It can also be more expensive, as this type of drug has to be prepared very carefully and sometimes can only be administered in a clinical setting. Now a pharmaceutical sciences team is working on a means around this problem.

Opposites attract -- unless you're in a relationship Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:01 AM PDT If we are in a relationship we are more likely to be attracted to faces resembling our own, but for single people, opposites attract. Relationship status affects who and what we find attractive.

Fish get arthritis, too Posted: 14 Jul 2016 07:01 AM PDT The very first bony fish on Earth was susceptible to arthritis, according to a new discovery that may fast-track therapeutic research in preventing or easing the nation's most common cause of disability. The finding contradicts the widely held belief that lubricated joints enabling mobility -- called synovial joints -- evolved as vertebrates ventured onto land.

To save water on lawns, throw some shade Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:24 AM PDT How much water does your lawn really need? A study re-evaluated lawn watering recommendations by measuring water use by lawns in Los Angeles. The standard model of turfgrass water needs, they found, lacked precision in some common urban southern California conditions, like the Santa Ana winds, or in the shade.

Zika experts: Varied neurological complications, virus still detectable after recovery Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:22 AM PDT The International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases (ICND) just drew to an end in Toronto. Among the many questions addressed there were these: How diverse can the neurological complications after a Zika infection be? How long does the virus survive in the body? How is the spread of the infection developing world-wide.

New molecules kill multidrug resistant cancer cells Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:22 AM PDT Newly discovered molecules can kill multidrug resistant cancer cells by blocking cells' defenses against cancer drugs, according to a new study. The lead author hopes the findings provide an initial step towards more effective treatments in the future against resistant cancers.

Youngest siblings more likely to go into business, study finds Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:22 AM PDT The last-born children of non-entrepreneurial parents are more likely to go into business than first-borns, new research into birth order effects has found.

Negative stereotypes affect female soccer performance Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:22 AM PDT Subjecting female soccer players to a negative stereotype about their abilities reduced their dribbling speed significantly, according to a new study. The results demonstrate the impact negative stereotypes can have on athletic performance. There continues to be a stereotype that women are inferior as soccer players. This view continues regardless of women's success on the field.

Promising new insights into ALS Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:17 AM PDT Research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has led to interesting and unexpected conclusions. When scientists were investigating the relevance of the higher expression of the IP3R2 protein in blood of ALS patients, the general expectation was that lowering the expression of this protein would have a protective effect on the affected motor neurons. But the exact opposite was true: IP3R2 turned out to be a protector against the negative effects of inflammation during ALS. Even more, the same mechanism may also apply to other diseases, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis, say investigators.

The Ouzo Effect under the magnifying glass Posted: 14 Jul 2016 06:17 AM PDT Pour some water into your glass of ouzo or pastis, and the beverage will change from transparent to milky: this is the well-known 'Ouzo effect'. But what will happen if you simply place a drop of ouzo on a surface and wait? Scientists have studied the phenomena taking place, and distinguish four 'life phases' of the drop, within no more than a quarter of an hour.

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