ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Carbon-financed cookstove fails to deliver hoped-for benefits in the field
• Forests, species on four continents threatened by palm oil expansion
• Warnings of imminent extinction crisis for largest wild animal species
• A minute of secondhand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels
• Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks
• Indicators of Parkinson's disease risk found in unexpected places
• New model may help solve the mystery of how lithium stabilizes moods
• Videos reveal birds, bats and bugs near Ivanpah solar project power towers
• Diabetes prevention programs beneficial in improving cardio-metabolic profiles
• Cod and climate
• Gene therapy for metabolic liver diseases shows promise in pigs
• Should the gray wolf keep its endangered species protection?
• Serendipitous observation may lead to more efficient solar cells and new gas sensors
• Dragon ants are coming: New 'Game of Thrones' species identified
• Frog reproduction in created ponds may be affected by disease and food availability
• Morphology suggests an endangered goby in southern California is a new species
• The brain’s super-sensitivity to curbs
• Scientists simulated a nuclear explosion of an asteroid
• White dwarf lashes red dwarf with mystery ray
• Even thinking about marriage gets young people to straighten up
• Photos capture challenges for teens with autism, show animals as resource
• Stroke Care: Randomized penumbra 3-D trial of next generation stent retriever meets primary endpoints
• Transformations to granular zircon revealed: Meteor Crater, Arizona
• Water resilience that flows
• Seeing structure that allows brain cells to communicate
• Studies in mice provide insights into antibody-Zika virus interactions
• Jupiter's great red spot heats planet's upper atmosphere
• When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent
• Resveratrol appears to restore blood-brain barrier integrity in Alzheimer's disease
• Ketone drink gives competitive cyclists a boost by altering their metabolism
• Tuned gels reveal molecules that drive stem cell differentiation
• Disposable and ultrafast optical humidity sensors provide better moisture control for manufacturing and storage
• Nanodisks drive a polarizing transformation
• More efficient way to write data into non-volatile memory devices improves performance
• New nano tech to cool down buildings
• 20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm cuts high blood pressure
• Finding the loneliest young star
• Maintaining a healthy heart through bile acids
• Updated testing guidelines make more women eligible for herceptin, yet benefit uncertain
• Link between carbohydrate consumption and adropin
• Stroke patients heading directly to endovascular centers could get treatment faster
• Bizarre bacteria causing major cattle disease named by researchers
• Excluding high-risk cardiac patients from public reporting linked to improved outcomes
• Mix up plant species to keep soil healthy
• Revolutionary web browser lets you lead a smarter life when you get a HAT
• ADHD medication reduces risky behavior in children, teens, research finds
• Reducing carbon emissions using waste marble powder
• Common brain changes found in children with autism, ADHD and OCD
• Gene therapy in a droplet could treat eye diseases, prevent blindness
• After-hours email expectations negatively impact employee well-being
• Discovery of new Hepatitis C Virus mechanism
• New type of cancer therapy described
• Astronomers uncover hidden stellar birthplace
• 'Screen-and-treat' scheme for hepatitis B may prevent deadly complications
• Gene therapy developed for muscle wasting
• Did the LIGO gravitational waves originate from primordial black holes?
• The hot attraction of gold
• The eyes are the window into the brain
• Genetic profiling increases cancer treatment options, study finds
• Improving safety of neutron sources

Carbon-financed cookstove fails to deliver hoped-for benefits in the field Posted: 27 Jul 2016 02:20 PM PDT A study of the the first clean cookstove intervention in India financed through the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism found expected benefits from newer, more 'efficient' stoves -- based on their performance in lab tests -- did not materialize in the field.

Forests, species on four continents threatened by palm oil expansion Posted: 27 Jul 2016 02:20 PM PDT As palm oil production expands from Southeast Asia into the Americas and Africa, vulnerable tropical forests and species on four continents face increased risk of loss, a new study finds. The largest areas of vulnerable forest are in Africa and South America. But because forests in all 20 countries studied contain high concentrations of different mammal and bird species at risk of extinction, conservation efforts need to incorporate localized solutions tailored to each region.

Warnings of imminent extinction crisis for largest wild animal species Posted: 27 Jul 2016 02:20 PM PDT A team of conservation biologists is calling for a worldwide strategy to prevent the unthinkable: the extinction of the world's largest mammal species.

A minute of secondhand marijuana smoke may damage blood vessels Posted: 27 Jul 2016 02:20 PM PDT Rats' blood vessels took at least three times longer to recover function after only a minute of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke, compared to recovery after a minute of breathing secondhand tobacco smoke. With many states legalizing medical and recreational marijuana, and possible corporate expansion within the cannabis industry, this type of research is important to help understand the health consequences of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke, researchers said.

Avoiding stumbles, from spacewalks to sidewalks Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT Researchers are developing a new space boot with built-in sensors and tiny 'haptic' motors, whose vibrations can guide the wearer around or over obstacles. A preliminary study was designed to determine what types of stimuli, administered to what parts of the foot, could provide the best navigation cues.

Indicators of Parkinson's disease risk found in unexpected places Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT Clues that point toward new risk mechanisms for developing Parkinson's disease are hiding in some unusual spots, according to a new study.

New model may help solve the mystery of how lithium stabilizes moods Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT New model provides a fresh perspective that can sharpen research aimed at pinning down lithium's biochemical targets and guide design of new treatments of mood disorders that are as effective as lithium but with fewer side effects.

Videos reveal birds, bats and bugs near Ivanpah solar project power towers Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT Video surveillance is the most effective method for detecting animals flying around solar power towers, according to a new study.

Diabetes prevention programs beneficial in improving cardio-metabolic profiles Posted: 27 Jul 2016 01:24 PM PDT A new study shows that lifestyle modification programs modeled on diabetes prevention programs (DPP) trials not only achieved weight reduction, but also additional metabolic benefits -specifically, reductions in blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Cod and climate Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:08 PM PDT In recent decades, the plight of Atlantic cod off the coast of New England has been front-page news. Since the 1980s in particular, the once-seemingly inexhaustible stocks of Gadus morhua -- one of the most important fisheries in North America -- have declined dramatically.

Gene therapy for metabolic liver diseases shows promise in pigs Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:08 PM PDT With a shortage of donor organs, medical researchers are exploring therapeutic strategies for patients with debilitating liver diseases. Researchers are testing a new approach to correct metabolic disorders without a whole organ transplant.

Should the gray wolf keep its endangered species protection? Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:08 PM PDT A decision by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from protection under the US Endangered Species Act may be made as early as this fall. Research presents strong evidence that the scientific reason advanced by the service for delisting the gray wolf is incorrect.

Serendipitous observation may lead to more efficient solar cells and new gas sensors Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:07 PM PDT While investigating perovskite crystals, scientists made an observation that could make perovskite solar cells more efficient. It could also lead to new sensors for oxygen and water vapor.

Dragon ants are coming: New 'Game of Thrones' species identified Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:07 PM PDT The dragons from 'Game of Thrones' have come to life in insect form. New ant species that appear dragon-like due to their large and distinctive spines were recently found in the tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea. Although they lack fire-breathing capabilities, the unique, spiny characteristics of the ants reminded the scientists who discovered them of the mythical dragons from the fantasy series and inspired them to name the ants after the 'Game of Thrones' dragons.

Frog reproduction in created ponds may be affected by disease and food availability Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:07 PM PDT Food availability and disease in created habitats may affect the reproductive output of reintroduced frogs, according to a new study.

Morphology suggests an endangered goby in southern California is a new species Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:07 PM PDT An endangered fish along the coast of California -- the tidewater goby -- may actually be two species rather than one, according a new study.

The brain’s super-sensitivity to curbs Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:06 AM PDT Humans rely on boundaries like walls and curbs for navigation, and researchers have pinpointed the areas of the brain most sensitive to even the tiniest borders.

Scientists simulated a nuclear explosion of an asteroid Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Scientists are developing measures to protect the Earth from potentially dangerous celestial bodies. With the help of supercomputer SKIF Cyberia, the scientists simulated the nuclear explosion of an asteroid 200 meters in diameter in such a way that its irradiated fragments do not fall to the Earth.

White dwarf lashes red dwarf with mystery ray Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered a new type of exotic binary star: in the system AR Scorpii a rapidly spinning white dwarf star is powering electrons up to almost the speed of light. These high energy particles release blasts of radiation that lash the companion red dwarf star, and cause the entire system to pulse dramatically every 1.97 minutes with radiation ranging from the ultraviolet to radio.

Even thinking about marriage gets young people to straighten up Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT You don't have to get married to settle down and leave behind your wild ways -- you just have to expect to get married soon.

Photos capture challenges for teens with autism, show animals as resource Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Through use of photographs, adolescents with ASD were able to share their accounts of difficulties transitioning out of school, their struggles with socialization and how they use animals as a source of companionship, a new study has demonstrated.

Stroke Care: Randomized penumbra 3-D trial of next generation stent retriever meets primary endpoints Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT The Penumbra 3D Trial successfully met the primary trial endpoints, demonstrating non-inferiority in both safety and efficacy of the company's next-generation stent retriever, Penumbra 3D Revascularization Device, when used with Penumbra System aspiration devices compared to Penumbra System aspiration devices alone.

Transformations to granular zircon revealed: Meteor Crater, Arizona Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Having been reported in lunar samples returned by Apollo astronauts, meteorites, impact glass, and at a number of meteorite craters on Earth, granular zircon is the most unusual and enigmatic type of zircon known. The mechanisms and transformations that form this distinctive granular zircon have, until now, remained speculative because it has not been produced in shock experiments.

Water resilience that flows Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT Researchers developed an affordable way to monitor rivers and stream flow, 24/7, using open source products.

Seeing structure that allows brain cells to communicate Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:03 AM PDT For more than a century, neuroscientists have known that nerve cells talk to one another across the small gaps between them, a process known as synaptic transmission. But the details of how this crucial aspect of brain function occurs have remained elusive. Now, new research has for the first time elucidated details about the architecture that allows brain cells to communicate.

Studies in mice provide insights into antibody-Zika virus interactions Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT In research that could inform prophylactic treatment approaches for pregnant women at risk of Zika virus infection, investigators conducted experiments in mice and identified six Zika virus antibodies, including four that neutralize African, Asian and American strains of the mosquito-borne virus. The team also developed atomic-level X-ray crystal structure images showing four of the antibodies in complex with three distinct regions (epitopes) of a key Zika protein.

Jupiter's great red spot heats planet's upper atmosphere Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that Jupiter's Great Red Spot may provide the mysterious source of energy required to heat the planet's upper atmosphere to the unusually high values observed.

When targeting cancer genes, home in on the one percent Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT Drugs that stop the overproduction of proteins by cancer cells may shut them down, but it also shuts down production of essential proteins in healthy cells. Researchers have found a protein with an active site that opens and initiates translation only when the protein binds to a small subset of mRNAs -- those critical to regulating the growth and proliferation of cell. Drugs to block this protein may allow a more targeted drug approach, say the investigators.

Resveratrol appears to restore blood-brain barrier integrity in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT Resveratrol, given to Alzheimer's patients, appears to restore the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, reducing the ability of harmful immune molecules secreted by immune cells to infiltrate from the body into brain tissues, say researchers. The reduction in neuronal inflammation slowed the cognitive decline of patients, compared to a matching group of placebo-treated patients with the disorder.

Ketone drink gives competitive cyclists a boost by altering their metabolism Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT A drink developed for soldiers to generate energy from ketones allowed highly trained cyclists to add up to 400 meters of distance to their workouts, a new study reports. The supplement, which will be commercially available within the year, works by temporarily switching the primary source of cellular energy from glucose or fat to ketones -- molecules derived from fat that are known to be elevated in people consuming a low-carb, Atkins-like diet.

Tuned gels reveal molecules that drive stem cell differentiation Posted: 27 Jul 2016 11:00 AM PDT By monitoring stem cell differentiation on gels that mimic the stiffness of biological tissue, researchers have identified the metabolites that stem cells use when selecting bone and cartilage fates. When fed to standard stem cell cultures, these molecules were then found to guide stem cells to generate desired cell types. The study shows how new biomaterials can take the guesswork out of identifying factors that drive stem cell differentiation.

Disposable and ultrafast optical humidity sensors provide better moisture control for manufacturing and storage Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT Researchers have designed a low-cost, stable and ultrafast responsive sensor that is easy to manufacture, overcoming the challenge of producing a simple, fast and highly sensitive version.

Nanodisks drive a polarizing transformation Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT Manipulating magnetic and electric dipoles inside nanostructured insulators enables newfound control of light polarization at any angle.

More efficient way to write data into non-volatile memory devices improves performance Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT A scheme to write data into next generation memory chips has been developed. The proposal requires considerably fewer resources to write data safely into memory -- even during a system failure.

New nano tech to cool down buildings Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT A new system can lower room temperature in buildings.

20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm cuts high blood pressure Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT Blood pressure can significantly drop by applying 20 minutes of ultrasound to the forearm of type II diabetes patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, according to new research.

Finding the loneliest young star Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:46 AM PDT Alone on the cosmic road, far from any known celestial object, a young, independent star is going through a tremendous growth spurt. When a team of scientists examined infrared images of the same area, they realized this object has a lot of warm dust around it, which must have been heated by an outburst. Researchers determined it likely is a young star that has been outbursting for several years.

Maintaining a healthy heart through bile acids Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Groundbreaking research from the University of Alberta and McGill University has opened the door towards the future prevention of cardiac fibrosis -- a condition leading to heart failure for which there is currently no treatment.

Updated testing guidelines make more women eligible for herceptin, yet benefit uncertain Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Changes to HER2 testing guidelines for breast cancer in 2013 significantly increased the number of patients who test HER2-positive, according to a new study. Cancers that have an excess of HER2 protein or extra copies of the HER2 gene are called HER2-positive and can be treated with drugs like Herceptin that target HER2. HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Link between carbohydrate consumption and adropin Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:42 AM PDT Researchers report that levels of the peptide hormone adropin vary based on carbohydrate consumption and appear to be linked to lipid metabolism.

Stroke patients heading directly to endovascular centers could get treatment faster Posted: 27 Jul 2016 09:41 AM PDT Time is critical when it comes to ischemic stroke treatment: Patients need to receive certain treatments within six hours to maximize their chances of the best possible outcome. A new study assessed the real world delivery to care, specific causes of treatment delays and time lost due to interhospital transfers.

Bizarre bacteria causing major cattle disease named by researchers Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:22 AM PDT After more than 50 years of research, the tick-borne bacterium responsible for one of the most troubling and economically devastating cattle diseases in the Western United States has been named and genetically characterized by researchers.

Excluding high-risk cardiac patients from public reporting linked to improved outcomes Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:21 AM PDT A number of states – including Massachusetts and New York – mandate public reporting of mortality outcomes following certain cardiac procedures. While such reporting was originally intended to increase transparency and improve quality of care, a new study has shown that public reporting may in fact disincentivize physicians from offering potentially lifesaving treatment to patients who are at the greatest risk of mortality and poor outcomes. However, reforms to public reporting policies can mitigate these undesired effects, the authors report.

Mix up plant species to keep soil healthy Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:19 AM PDT Across the globe, soils are under threat. Due changing land use to feed a growing population, climate change, and contamination of land with toxic chemicals, this precious resource is deteriorating, posing a serious threat to our future food security. When it comes to keeping our soil healthy, maintaining plant species diversity is key, according to new research.

Revolutionary web browser lets you lead a smarter life when you get a HAT Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:19 AM PDT RUMPEL, a ground-breaking hyperdata web browser that makes it simpler for people to access and use online data about themselves, is being rolled out to the public this month.

ADHD medication reduces risky behavior in children, teens, research finds Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:10 AM PDT New research provides some of the first evidence that medications taken by millions of American children to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder offer long-term benefits.

Reducing carbon emissions using waste marble powder Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT The ongoing fraud investigation into the nearly $7 billion Mississippi clean coal plant has sparked debate on whether carbon capture is a viable technology. But to lesser fanfare, other industrial efforts to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere are moving forward successfully. Now scientists report a new approach to accomplishing this while also cleaning up waste from the marble industry.

Common brain changes found in children with autism, ADHD and OCD Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT A team of scientists has found similarities in brain impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. The study involved brain imaging of white matter in 200 children.

Gene therapy in a droplet could treat eye diseases, prevent blindness Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are among the leading causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness worldwide. Currently, gene therapy can be administered to treat these conditions -- but this requires an injection. Now researchers report a new way to deliver the treatment topically, without a needle.

After-hours email expectations negatively impact employee well-being Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT A new study finds a link between organizational after-hours email expectations and emotional exhaustion, which hinders work-family balance. The results suggest that modern workplace technologies may be hurting the very employees that those technologies were designed to help.

Discovery of new Hepatitis C Virus mechanism Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered the mechanisms that suppress the propagation of the hepatitis C virus with the potential of improving pathological liver conditions. Using model mice, they confirmed that when a certain enzyme is inhibited, HCV particle production is reduced leading to an improvement of pathological liver conditions. They thereby identified a new drug target for the development of new HCV drugs.

New type of cancer therapy described Posted: 27 Jul 2016 08:09 AM PDT A new study has found that a new chemotherapy is effective against both pediatric and adult cancers, and that it allows other chemotherapies to more readily reach their targets.

Astronomers uncover hidden stellar birthplace Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:35 AM PDT Astronomers have uncovered a hidden stellar birthplace in a nearby spiral galaxy, using a telescope in Chile. The results show that the speed of star formation in the center of the galaxy - and other galaxies like it - may be much higher than previously thought.

'Screen-and-treat' scheme for hepatitis B may prevent deadly complications Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:35 AM PDT Research into Africa's first 'screen-and-treat' program for hepatitis B suggests the initiative may reduce deadly complications of the virus. The hepatitis B virus infects around 250 million people worldwide, and is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids. It is commonly transferred from mother to baby during birth. However the virus causes no immediate symptoms, and can remain silent in the body for decades until triggering severe complications such as liver damage (cirrhosis) and cancer.

Gene therapy developed for muscle wasting Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT A discovery could save millions of people suffering from muscle wasting disease.

Did the LIGO gravitational waves originate from primordial black holes? Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Binary black holes recently discovered by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration could be primordial entities that formed just after the Big Bang, report Japanese astrophysicists. If further data support this observation, it could mark the first confirmed finding of a primordial black hole, guiding theories about the beginnings of the universe.

The hot attraction of gold Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Gold had long been considered a non-magnetic metal. But researchers recently discovered that gold can in fact be magnetized by applying heat.

The eyes are the window into the brain Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Insight into how neurons in the cerebellum respond to rapid eye movements may provide clues for modern medical technology.

Genetic profiling increases cancer treatment options, study finds Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT Genetic profiling of cancer tumors provides new avenues for treatment of the disease, according to a study. In this research, the investigators used next-generation gene sequencing technology to analyze tumor samples for more than 100 patients. More than 90 percent of those patients had gene mutations that could impact their treatment.

Improving safety of neutron sources Posted: 27 Jul 2016 07:34 AM PDT There is a growing interest in the scientific community in a type of high-power neutron source that is created via a process referred to as spallation. The issue here is that scientists do not always understand the mechanism of residue nuclei production. Scientists have now presented findings which contribute to improving the risk assessment of future high-power spallation neutron beam facilities.

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