ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Financial worries linked to mental health issues among university students
• Scientists identify Down' Syndrome gene
• Developmental psychology: Preschoolers sharing with others expect to get something back
• New insight from the wonderful world of radiolaria
• The importance of being protected: How to choose your sunglasses
• First Bell Beaker earthwork enclosure found in Spain
• New breakthrough in understanding dystonia
• Study demonstrates rapid decline in male dog fertility, with potential link to environmental contaminants
• Cascade of events leading to prion disease described
• Hi-tech test to find elusive sawfish
• Cardinals may be shielding Atlanta residents from West Nile virus, study finds
• Highly curative hep C treatment safe, effective for drug users
• Mechanism tied to plant height discovered
• Human brain recordings provide highly sought insights into cause of Parkinson's disease
• Needle biopsies for noninvasive breast cancer: Routine analysis wastes millions
• Scientists pinpoint Ebola's weak spots
• New study confirms adage that with age comes wisdom
• Study finds racial disparity in emergency department opioid prescriptions
• New model recreates early spread of Parkinson's disease in the brain
• Researchers turn to policy to tackle health disparities in an age of personalized medicine
• In sync: Simultaneous prescription refills boosts medication adherence, study shows
• Thyroid tumor: It takes two to tango
• Drought conditions slow the growth of Douglas fir trees across the West
• Flint lead crisis adds up to $395 million in social costs
• Lake Tanganyika fisheries declining from global warming
• For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in lower-income countries
• Scientists discover potential avenue to treating type 2 diabetes at early stages
• Using nanotechnology to give fuel cells more oomph
• New results on the Higgs boson and the building blocks of matter presented at ICHEP
• Transmitting energy in soft materials
• Evidence from China shows how plants colonized the land
• Towards a better screen
• Novel technology may prevent burn scars
• FDA commissioner discusses future of cardiovascular medicine
• Negative attention from teachers can lead to more negative student behaviors
• A plant present in Brazil is capable of colonizing deforested areas
• Dormant copies of HIV mostly defective, new study shows
• Two classes of medications linked to similar results in peritoneal dialysis patients
• Scientific serendipity yields new neuron type in mouse retina
• Researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows cancer to survive without glucose
• Flu vaccine uptake slightly higher in provinces that allow vaccination by pharmacists
• Mcr-1 gene isolated from human for the first time in Brazil
• Okinawa mozuku: Treasure under the sea
• Low oxygen, high risk: How tumors adapt to become more aggressive
• Small molecules to help make SMARTER cereals
• How the Vikings started the worldwide distribution of gaited horses
• Accounting for ozone: Study first to quantify impact of oil and gas emissions on Denver's ozone problem
• New light shed on how neutrinos behave
• Archaeology team makes world-first tool discovery
• Researchers modifying surface properties of materials to obtain specific properties at a lower cost
• Fresh look at burials, mass graves, tells a new story of Cahokia
• Prototype chip could help make quantum computing practical
• Playground zoning increases physical activity during recess
• Assisted-living facilities limit older adults' rights to sexual freedom, study finds
• College students who misuse stimulants more likely to have ADHD, substance-use disorder
• HIV stigma influenced by perceptions of masculinity, study reveals
• Targeting brain cells to alleviate neuropathic pain
• Working, volunteering could reduce disablement in seniors, study finds
• Thousands of new cancer cases in Ontario each year due to environmental exposures
• Aesthetic appeal of dormant Zoysiagrass enhanced with colorants

Financial worries linked to mental health issues among university students Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:53 AM PDT Experiencing financial difficulties and worrying about debt at university increases the risk of mental health conditions such as depression and alcohol dependency, according to new research. The work found that symptoms of anxiety and alcohol dependence worsened over time for those who were struggling to pay the bills. Those who were more stressed about their debt had worsening levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Scientists identify Down' Syndrome gene Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:53 AM PDT Geneticists have identified an enzyme that regulates the production of sperm and egg cells in human reproduction, and may be linked to Down's Syndrome, Edwards's Syndrome and other chromosomal irregularities.

Developmental psychology: Preschoolers sharing with others expect to get something back Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:53 AM PDT Preschoolers expect someone who has benefited from their generosity to reciprocate when an opportunity arises to do so, suggests new research.

New insight from the wonderful world of radiolaria Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:52 AM PDT Tiny radiolarians by the name of Sticholonche zanclea have complex exoskeletons built from silica or strontium sulfate and can take on a myriad of strange forms. Dead radiolarians sink to the bottom of the ocean and are transformed into a siliceous ooze, covering a large part of the ocean floor. These fossil radiolarians are very useful for dating geological structures, and have been the focus of research for hundreds of years.

The importance of being protected: How to choose your sunglasses Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:52 AM PDT Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the chance of developing alterations in the lens by 4%. Choosing the right pair of sunglasses can reduce such complications, say investigators.

First Bell Beaker earthwork enclosure found in Spain Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT Archaeologists have discovered an earthwork enclosure in southern Spain dating from the Bell Beaker period of 2,600 to 2,200 BCE. The complex of concentric rings may have been used for holding rituals; such earthwork enclosures have previously only been found in the northern half of Europe.

New breakthrough in understanding dystonia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT Are cellular lipids the missing link between a faulty gene and a neurological disorder? Researchers have managed to get a clearer view on the roots of dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary twisting movements. The scientists unraveled the mechanism by which DYT1 dystonia -- the disease's most common hereditary form -- causes cellular defects. The findings shed new light on this poorly understood condition -- and may, ultimately, lead to new medical approaches to overcome it.

Study demonstrates rapid decline in male dog fertility, with potential link to environmental contaminants Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT The fertility of dogs may have suffered a sharp decline over the past three decades, a new study has found. The research found that sperm quality in a population of stud dogs studied over a 26-year period had fallen significantly.

Cascade of events leading to prion disease described Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:51 AM PDT New experiments in mice now enable researchers to evaluate prion disease progression and potential therapeutic interventions in vivo, according to a new report.

Hi-tech test to find elusive sawfish Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:50 AM PDT Scientists can now reliably predict which bodies of water contain the endangered and elusive sawfish species -- by conducting a simple test.

Cardinals may be shielding Atlanta residents from West Nile virus, study finds Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:50 AM PDT A bird species that does a poor job spreading West Nile virus but is particularly likely to get mosquito bites may explain why human infections with the disease are relatively uncommon in Atlanta, Georgia -- despite evidence of high rates of virus circulating in the local bird population, according to a new study.

Highly curative hep C treatment safe, effective for drug users Posted: 09 Aug 2016 06:50 AM PDT Hep C patients being treated for opioid addiction achieved high rates of sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of therapy with elbasvir-grazoprevir compared to those taking placebo for 12 weeks before beginning the drug treatment. The patients in the elbasvir-grazoprevir group saw a reduced viral load, regardless of ongoing drug use.

Mechanism tied to plant height discovered Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT Dwarfed plants add color and a diversity of architectures to landscapes and gardens, and a university undergraduate class discovered a key mechanism that leads to their small stature.

Human brain recordings provide highly sought insights into cause of Parkinson's disease Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT A team of researchers is the first to systematically record neural activity in the human striatum, a deep brain structure that plays a major role in cognitive and motor function. These two functions are compromised in Parkinson's disease, which makes the neuron-firing abnormalities the study results revealed key to better understanding the pathophysiology of PD and, ultimately, developing better treatments and preventions.

Needle biopsies for noninvasive breast cancer: Routine analysis wastes millions Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT For patients with the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, routine testing for estrogen and progesterone receptors in tissue taken at the first 'needle' biopsy is both unnecessary and wasteful, according to results of a study.

Scientists pinpoint Ebola's weak spots Posted: 08 Aug 2016 02:22 PM PDT Scientists have now have a high-resolution view of exactly how the experimental therapy ZMapp targets Ebola virus. The new study is also the first to show how an antibody in the ZMapp 'drug cocktail' targets a second Ebola virus protein, called sGP, whose vulnerable spots had previously been unknown.

New study confirms adage that with age comes wisdom Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:39 PM PDT Older adults are better at interpreting the correct slope of a hill than young adults, which researchers believe is because of greater life experience.

Study finds racial disparity in emergency department opioid prescriptions Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT A racial disparity has been found in opioid prescriptions for emergency department visits for non-definitive pain-related conditions, say authors of a new report.

New model recreates early spread of Parkinson's disease in the brain Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT They're two of the biggest mysteries in Parkinson's disease research -- where does the disease start? And how can it be stopped early in the process?

Researchers turn to policy to tackle health disparities in an age of personalized medicine Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT Genetic research is a valuable tool in understanding diseases and their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, significant obstacles limit the clinical use of this knowledge to all groups. Genetic applications in healthcare must advance in a way that reduces racial and ethnic disparities.

In sync: Simultaneous prescription refills boosts medication adherence, study shows Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:36 PM PDT A refill synchronization program -- in which patients were able to receive all refills at the same time -- increased medication adherence by more than 10 percent in some patient subgroups, new research shows.

Thyroid tumor: It takes two to tango Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Autonomous adenomas are the most common benign tumors of the thyroid gland. Mutations in two genes account for around 70 percent of the cases. Scientists have now discovered another key trigger.

Drought conditions slow the growth of Douglas fir trees across the West Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Douglas fir trees are consistently sensitive to drought conditions that occur throughout the species' range in the United States, according to a study.

Flint lead crisis adds up to $395 million in social costs Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT The social costs related to lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan, amount to $395 million from April 2014, when the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River, to the present day, not counting the $58 million already spent by the state on medical care and water provisions, says a new report.

Lake Tanganyika fisheries declining from global warming Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT The decrease in fishery productivity in Lake Tanganyika since the 1950s is a consequence of global warming rather than just overfishing, according to a new report. The lake was becoming warmer at the same time in the 1800s that the abundance of fish began declining and the lake's algae started decreasing. Large-scale commercial fishing did not begin on Lake Tanganyika until the 1950s.

For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in lower-income countries Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Nearly one-third of the adult population worldwide had hypertension in 2010. For the first time in history, high blood pressure is more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Three-quarters of the world's adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries and may lack access to proper care. From 2000 to 2010, high blood pressure prevalence decreased in high-income countries while increasing in low- and middle-income countries.

Scientists discover potential avenue to treating type 2 diabetes at early stages Posted: 08 Aug 2016 01:34 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new potential target for drugs to prevent type 2 diabetes. A new paper shows that blocking a cellular glucose sensor in muscle improves insulin responsiveness.

Using nanotechnology to give fuel cells more oomph Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:20 PM PDT Applying nanotechnology to fuel cells gives them more oomph, report researchers. The project is part of a $13 million program to advance fuel cell performance and durability and hydrogen storage technologies announced last month.

New results on the Higgs boson and the building blocks of matter presented at ICHEP Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:20 PM PDT Large Hadron Collider (LHC) performance surpasses expectations; results confirm the Higgs particle, show "bump" appears to be a statistical fluctuation, and offer insight into quark-gluon plasma at high energies complementary to those explored at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).

Transmitting energy in soft materials Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT Soft materials are great at damping energy -- that's why rubber tires are so good at absorbing the shock of bumps and potholes. But if researchers are going to build autonomous soft systems, like soft robots, they'll need a way to transmit energy through soft materials.

Evidence from China shows how plants colonized the land Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT New fossil finds from China push back the origins of deep soils by 20 million years, new research has uncovered. This is a key part of the stepwise conquest of the land and transformation of the continents, researchers have discovered.

Towards a better screen Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT Researchers have designed more than 1,000 new blue-light emitting molecules for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that could dramatically improve displays for televisions, phones, tablets and more.

Novel technology may prevent burn scars Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT A group of researchers has devised a new non-invasive method to prevent the scarring caused by second- and third-degree burns. Ten percent of all unintentional-injury deaths are the result of fire-related burns, according to the World Health Organization. But even for those who survive the destruction of skin and tissue cells, the road to recovery is never ending. Post-burn scarring creates lifelong physical, psychological and social challenges.

FDA commissioner discusses future of cardiovascular medicine Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT Advances in technology coupled with an increased use of social media and personal devices could offer new possibilities for treating patients and improving outcomes, but the new approaches must be rigorously evaluated, according to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., MACC.

Negative attention from teachers can lead to more negative student behaviors Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:05 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new method for observing and measuring teacher interaction with every child in a classroom. As a result of testing this method within K-3 classrooms, they found that students who receive more negative attention from teachers experience increases in problems with emotional regulation, concentration and disruptive behaviors.

A plant present in Brazil is capable of colonizing deforested areas Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:05 PM PDT Researchers have studied the genetic diversity and differentiation patterns of the native pioneer understory tree Miconia affinis. They collected leaf tissue from approximately 30 reproductive trees bearing inflorescences or infructescences in 11 different populations and estimated the influence of geographic distance, elevation and deforestation on the genetic structure. The genetic differentiation of this tree species significantly increased with elevation and geographic distance between populations.

Dormant copies of HIV mostly defective, new study shows Posted: 08 Aug 2016 12:05 PM PDT After fully sequencing the latent HIV 'provirus' genomes from 19 people being treated for HIV, scientists report that even in patients who start treatment very early, the only widely available method to measure the reservoir of dormant HIV in patients is mostly counting defective viruses that won't cause harm, rather than those that can spring back into action and keep infections going.

Two classes of medications linked to similar results in peritoneal dialysis patients Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:49 AM PDT A new study examined two classes of medications commonly prescribed to prevent cardiovascular events in dialysis patients and found no significant difference in outcomes.

Scientific serendipity yields new neuron type in mouse retina Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:49 AM PDT In the retina of mice, a new type of neuron that falls outside century-old classifications has been discovered. The new cell acts like one class of neurons but anatomically resembles another. It is not only a new kind of neuron, but it also exhibits a new way of conveying information within the retina of the eye.

Researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows cancer to survive without glucose Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT New research provides important clues that might help understand the resistance to drugs that 'starve' tumors, and also how cancer cells manage to survive in the center of the tumor mass, where barely any blood vessels can reach.

Flu vaccine uptake slightly higher in provinces that allow vaccination by pharmacists Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT People who live in provinces with policies that allow pharmacists to administer influenza vaccines are more likely to be vaccinated, according to a new Canadian study.

Mcr-1 gene isolated from human for the first time in Brazil Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT For the first time in Brazil, a particular antibiotic resistance mechanism conferring resistance to the important antibiotic, colistin, has been detected in a human. It was in a strain of Escherichia coli that was isolated from a diabetic patient's foot infection. The mechanism, called MCR-1, was incorporated into a plasmid, a short piece of DNA that exists independent of the genome, which can jump from one bacterium to another, spreading the resistance.

Okinawa mozuku: Treasure under the sea Posted: 08 Aug 2016 11:48 AM PDT Scientists have decoded the genome of Okinawa mozuku, a seaweed with healthy properties that plays a key economic and ecological role.

Low oxygen, high risk: How tumors adapt to become more aggressive Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:40 AM PDT Scientists have identified a novel mechanism that selectively operates in hypoxic tumors to enable tumor cells to thrive and continue to proliferate despite a low oxygen environment. The research team showed how the activation of this pathway leads to an unfavorable prognosis for patients with gliomas – a type of brain tumor – and how the pathway could be a valuable therapeutic target in cancer.

Small molecules to help make SMARTER cereals Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:40 AM PDT Researchers are rethinking plant breeding strategies to improve the development of new high-yielding, stress-tolerant cereal varieties. They say small gene-regulating molecules found in plant cells (known as small RNA) are involved in stress adaptation, and they could be exploited to breed plants with favorable stress-tolerant traits.

How the Vikings started the worldwide distribution of gaited horses Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:38 AM PDT Some horses have special gaits, which are more comfortable for the rider than walk, trot or gallop. Now, a study by an international research team has revealed that these gaited horses most likely originated in the 9th century medieval England. From there they were brought to Iceland by the Vikings and later spread all over Europe and Asia.

Accounting for ozone: Study first to quantify impact of oil and gas emissions on Denver's ozone problem Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:38 AM PDT A new study is the first to directly quantify how emissions from oil and gas activities influence summertime ozone pollution in the Colorado Front Range confirms that chemical vapors from oil and gas activities are a significant contributor to the region's chronic ozone problem.

New light shed on how neutrinos behave Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:38 AM PDT Scientists have announced an exciting new result that could improve our understanding of the behavior of neutrinos. Neutrinos have previously been detected in three types, called flavors - muon, tau and electron. They also exist in three mass states, but those states don't necessarily correspond directly to the three flavors.

Archaeology team makes world-first tool discovery Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:38 AM PDT How smart were human-like species of the Stone Age? New research reveals surprisingly sophisticated adaptations by early humans living 250,000 years ago in a former oasis near Azraq, Jordan.

Researchers modifying surface properties of materials to obtain specific properties at a lower cost Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:12 AM PDT Three types of functional coatings have been developed that are resistant to microorganisms and have self-cleaning and anti-reflective properties. By modifying the surface of paints he has managed to vary their properties or their possible applications at a lower cost in comparison with the materials existing on the market.

Fresh look at burials, mass graves, tells a new story of Cahokia Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT A new study challenges earlier interpretations of an important burial mound at Cahokia, a pre-Columbian city in Illinois near present-day St. Louis. The study reveals that a central feature of the mound, a plot known as the 'beaded burial,' is not a monument to male power, as was previously thought, but includes both males and females of high status.

Prototype chip could help make quantum computing practical Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT An important step toward practical quantum computers has been made, with a new paper describing a prototype chip that can trap ions in an electric field and, with built-in optics, direct laser light toward each of them.

Playground zoning increases physical activity during recess Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Most grade school students are likely to claim recess as their favorite period of the day; however, in many cases recess still can be sedentary with students not engaging in enough physical activity. Now researchers have found that zones with specific games can improve physical activity, improving a child's chance of engaging in the recommended 60 minutes of 'play per day,' an effort endorsed by many health organizations as well as the National Football League.

Assisted-living facilities limit older adults' rights to sexual freedom, study finds Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Older adults in assisted-living facilities experience limits to their rights to sexual freedom because of a lack of policies regarding the issue and the actions of staff and administrators at these facilities, according to research.

College students who misuse stimulants more likely to have ADHD, substance-use disorder Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT A new study finds that college students who misuse stimulant drugs are more likely to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder or substance-use disorder than are students not misusing stimulants.

HIV stigma influenced by perceptions of masculinity, study reveals Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Whether an HIV-positive man has met cultural expectations of masculinity might impact how much stigma he experiences, according to a new study.

Targeting brain cells to alleviate neuropathic pain Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:06 AM PDT Chronic neuropathic pain -- caused by nerve damage as a result of an injury, surgery or a debilitating disease like diabetes or cancer -- could be greatly reduced in animals when the injury is treated targeting microglia brain cells within a few days, say scientists. This research will help in the quest to help the more than 1 million Americans afflicted with this chronic pain.

Working, volunteering could reduce disablement in seniors, study finds Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:04 AM PDT Working or volunteering can reduce the chances of chronic health conditions leading to physical disability in older Americans, according to researchers.

Thousands of new cancer cases in Ontario each year due to environmental exposures Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:04 AM PDT The estimated burden of cancer from environmental carcinogens is significant, particularly when compared to other known cancer risk factors. Between 3,540 and 6,510 new cancer cases in Ontario each year result from environmental factors, says a new report.

Aesthetic appeal of dormant Zoysiagrass enhanced with colorants Posted: 08 Aug 2016 09:04 AM PDT Scientists quantified the impact of colorants applied in autumn on zoysiagrass in the transition zone. Persistence of green color increased with application volume, but differences among colorants were limited. Compared with tall fescue, colorant-treated zoysiagrass had significantly higher color ratings for 98-112 days at 80 gal/acre, 112-154 days at 160 gal/acre, and 138-154 days at 240 gal/acre. Results showed that duration of acceptable color on zoysiagrass lawns can be enhanced by increasing colorant application volume.

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