ScienceDaily: Top News

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• 'Cultural learners' in the cradle
• Specialized life forms abound at Arctic methane seeps
• Warmer climate could lower dengue risk
• Stone age hunters really did hunt well by throwing stones
• Getting to know more about sun storms
• Two become one: How to turn green light blue
• Study provides details of possible link between Zika, severe joint condition at birth
• Stress bites! Researchers study mosquito/bird interactions
• Tracing the evolution of bird reproduction
• Reduced activity of an important enzyme identified among suicidal patients
• Algorithm to find precise cancer treatments
• Study pushes back the origin of HIV-related retroviruses to 60 million years ago
• Some black teens may feel pulled between health and hair, study shows
• Plastic manufacturing chemical BPS harms egg cells, study suggests
• Simulating complex catalysts key to making cheap, powerful fuel cells
• Many more species at risk from Southeast Asia tree plantations, study finds
• Killer T cells recognize cancer in pre-clinical tumors, but are silenced as tumor develops
• Cheaper, more powerful electric car batteries are on the horizon
• To stop the bleeding, the platelet have to 'die'
• Heredity explains African-American paradox, researcher says
• Want a better memory? Try eating a Mediterranean diet
• Getting it 'just right' in the immune system
• Why are New England's wild blue mussels disappearing?
• DNA dominoes on a chip
• Slowly pulling proteins apart reveals unexpected path to stability
• Medicaid expansion did not increase emergency department use
• Deer evolution: Ancient DNA reveals novel relationships
• General support for science doesn't always correlate with attitudes toward specific issues
• 1967 solar storm nearly took US to brink of war
• System helps protect privacy in genomic databases
• Research reveals patient can have more than one breast cancer, points at treatments
• Research evaluates 18-month neurobehavioral outcomes in single-family room NICU
• Strategies needed for light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas reduction
• Scientists count microscopic particles without microscope
• Improved perovskite solar cells
• 'Fixing' blood vessel cells to diagnose blood clotting disorders
• African American surgical patients benefit in universally insured health system
• Researchers ID key drivers of heart complications in sickle cell anemia
• New class of artificial proteins created
• Studies in humans, animals show link between GALNT2 gene and levels of HDL cholesterol
• US diabetic kidney disease rate unchanged
• Researchers immobilize underwater bubbles
• Helper molecule reverses degeneration of muscle in mouse model of tissue aging, wasting
• Sex hormones skew outcomes in clinical trials -- here's how
• Why is breast cancer common but heart cancer rare?
• Obesity on the rise in adults with a history of cancer
• Serious security threat to many Internet users highlighted
• One in 5 are discharged from hospital with unstable vital signs
• Outdated assessment of treatment response makes good cancer drugs look bad
• LISA best strategy to prevent chronic lung disease in preterm infants
• In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia
• Light, caffeine improve driver alertness, study shows
• How to engineer a stronger immune system
• Latin-American, Caribbean health systems need more investment as populations age
• Promising new treatment for lupus on the horizon
• New insights on Great Lakes pre-European monuments
• Illuminating sulfides' roles in the body
• Volunteering later in life can enhance mental health and wellbeing
• New method opens up the possibility of customizing breast milk for premature children
• Cement design should take into account the water confined in the smallest pores

'Cultural learners' in the cradle Posted: 10 Aug 2016 08:38 AM PDT Well before starting to speak, children from a very young age pay higher attention to the information received from native speakers of their language compared to the information received from 'foreigners.' A new study shows that this behavior, replicated already at the age of five months, might be the foundation of acquiring culture specific knowledge.

Specialized life forms abound at Arctic methane seeps Posted: 10 Aug 2016 08:37 AM PDT Methane seeps have strong effects on the community structure at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean.

Warmer climate could lower dengue risk Posted: 10 Aug 2016 07:44 AM PDT Health researchers predict that the transmission of dengue could decrease in a future warmer climate, countering previous projections that climate change would cause the potentially lethal virus to spread more easily.

Stone age hunters really did hunt well by throwing stones Posted: 10 Aug 2016 06:02 AM PDT Stone objects collected by prehistoric hunters were effective as throwing weapons to hunt animals, research reveals.

Getting to know more about sun storms Posted: 10 Aug 2016 05:58 AM PDT A violent solar eruption can disrupt Earth's magnetic field, which in turn can interfere with power grids. Electrical power sector experts around the world are making contingency plans.

Two become one: How to turn green light blue Posted: 10 Aug 2016 05:54 AM PDT The upconversion of photons allows for a more efficient use of light: Two photons are converted into a single photon having higher energy. Researchers now showed for the first time that the inner interfaces between surface-mounted metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs) are suited perfectly for this purpose – they turned green light blue. The result opens up new opportunities for optoelectronic applications such as solar cells or LEDs.

Study provides details of possible link between Zika, severe joint condition at birth Posted: 10 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT More details have been uncovered of an association between Zika virus infection in the womb and a condition known as arthrogryposis, which causes joint deformities at birth, particularly in the arms and legs.

Stress bites! Researchers study mosquito/bird interactions Posted: 10 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT When researchers investigated how the stress hormone, corticosterone, affects how birds cope with West Nile virus, they found that birds with higher levels of stress hormone were twice as likely to be bitten by mosquitoes that transmit the virus. Their studies have implications for the transmission of other viruses such Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and perhaps even Zika, both known to be carried by the kind of mosquitoes used in this study.

Tracing the evolution of bird reproduction Posted: 10 Aug 2016 05:46 AM PDT What really came first -- the chicken or the egg? Birds' reproductive biology is dramatically different from that of any other living vertebrates, and scientists have long wondered how and when the unique features of bird reproduction originated. A new review examines answers from three sources--modern birds, fossils of primitive birds, and fossils of the dinosaurs from which birds are descended -- to shed new light on the subject.

Reduced activity of an important enzyme identified among suicidal patients Posted: 09 Aug 2016 03:58 PM PDT It is known that people who have attempted suicide have ongoing inflammation in their blood and spinal fluid. Now, a collaborative study shows that suicidal patients have a reduced activity of an enzyme that regulates inflammation and its byproducts.

Algorithm to find precise cancer treatments Posted: 09 Aug 2016 03:58 PM PDT Researchers developed a computational algorithm to analyze 'Big Data' obtained from tumor samples to better understand and treat cancer.

Study pushes back the origin of HIV-related retroviruses to 60 million years ago Posted: 09 Aug 2016 03:58 PM PDT A research group has used genomic data from the exotic Malayan flying lemur (colugo) to uncover the oldest lentivirus ever identified, whose first emergence may date to as early as 60 million years ago.

Some black teens may feel pulled between health and hair, study shows Posted: 09 Aug 2016 02:05 PM PDT Are lower levels of physical activity among African-American teens related to hair care? A new study has centralized itself around this very question.

Plastic manufacturing chemical BPS harms egg cells, study suggests Posted: 09 Aug 2016 02:05 PM PDT Previous research has found that bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical used in the manufacture of plastic bottles and other products, is as harmful to the reproductive system as bisphenol A (BPA), which BPS replaced. Research suggests that BPS can damage a woman's eggs - and at lower doses than BPA.

Simulating complex catalysts key to making cheap, powerful fuel cells Posted: 09 Aug 2016 02:04 PM PDT Using a unique combination of advanced computational methods, chemical engineers have demystified some of the complex catalytic chemistry in fuel cells -- an advance that brings cost-effective fuel cells closer to reality.

Many more species at risk from Southeast Asia tree plantations, study finds Posted: 09 Aug 2016 02:04 PM PDT As more of Southeast Asia's forests are cleared for tree plantations, a study finds that 42 percent of mammal, bird and amphibian species endemic to the region's forests face a higher risk of extinction from habitat loss than previously thought. Many of the species inhabit small ranges in remote forests that cross national borders. Transboundary protected areas and greater use of remote sensing to monitor risks is vital for their survival, say investigators.

Killer T cells recognize cancer in pre-clinical tumors, but are silenced as tumor develops Posted: 09 Aug 2016 02:04 PM PDT In a tumor's pre-clinical stages, certain immune cells can recognize changes that make these cells behave as cancerous cells and attempt to launch an immune attack. However, the T cells that are recognizing these 'driver' mutations in the tumor are rapidly turned off and then permanently silenced, making the cells non-functional. If researchers can find a way to reverse that silencing, the tumor-recognizing T cells could be rescued and could potentially improve the performance of certain immunotherapies.

Cheaper, more powerful electric car batteries are on the horizon Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:58 AM PDT The White House recently announced the creation of the Battery500 Consortium, a multidisciplinary group led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and working to reduce the cost of vehicle battery technologies. The Battery500 Consortium will receive an award of up to $10 million per year for five years to drive progress on DOE's goal of reducing the cost of vehicle battery technologies.

To stop the bleeding, the platelet have to 'die' Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:53 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the mechanism of the platelet programmed cell death, resulting in acceleration of the blood coagulation process by a factor of 1,000 to 10,000.

Heredity explains African-American paradox, researcher says Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:53 AM PDT An evolutionary historian has determined that the region of origin of ancestors contributes to descendants' risk of developing certain medical conditions.

Want a better memory? Try eating a Mediterranean diet Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT The Mediterranean diet can improve your mind, as well your heart, shows a new study.

Getting it 'just right' in the immune system Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT Scientists have proposed a solution to the puzzle of how our immune system scales its response to any threat to our health to make it 'just right.' Their ideas could support a range of medical research. While T-cells usually move around the body, when an infection occurs, they slow down and accumulate around the dendritic cells that help the T cells read the severity of the infection.

Why are New England's wild blue mussels disappearing? Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT The Gulf of Maine coastline, historically home to one of the richest shellfish populations in the US, is undergoing a dramatic change, with once-flourishing wild blue mussels all but disappearing, according to ecologists.

DNA dominoes on a chip Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT Normally, individual molecules of genetic material repel each other. However, when space is limited DNA molecules must be packed together more tightly. This case arises in sperm, cell nuclei and the protein shells of viruses. An international team of physicists has now succeeded in artificially recreating this so-called DNA condensation on a biochip.

Slowly pulling proteins apart reveals unexpected path to stability Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT Researchers have taken a different approach to studying the conformations of larger proteins. By slowly pulling apart a protein called Protein S, they discovered a previously unknown stable conformation made possible by balancing charges between two domains. The results show some of the field's long-held ideas need to be revised.

Medicaid expansion did not increase emergency department use Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:52 AM PDT Researchers have found that the expansion of Medicaid insurance coverage in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act did not increase hospital emergency department visits, as was widely predicted by policymakers and researchers.

Deer evolution: Ancient DNA reveals novel relationships Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT Researchers have sequenced mitochondrial DNA from museum specimens of rare species of deer. Analysis of partial nucleotide sequences has enabled the team to refine our picture of the evolutionary history of cervids.

General support for science doesn't always correlate with attitudes toward specific issues Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT US adults perform comparably to adults in other economically developed countries on most measures of science knowledge and support science in general, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

1967 solar storm nearly took US to brink of war Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT A solar storm that jammed radar and radio communications at the height of the Cold War could have led to a disastrous military conflict if not for the US Air Force's budding efforts to monitor the sun's activity, a new study finds.

System helps protect privacy in genomic databases Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT In a new study, researchers describe a new system that permits database queries for genome-wide association studies but reduces the chances of privacy compromises to almost zero.

Research reveals patient can have more than one breast cancer, points at treatments Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT Breast cancer tumors are complex and dynamic. They comprise a population of continuously dividing cells that carry different genetic mutations. New research reveals that treating human estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer tumors with estrogen-deprivation therapy results in changes in the spectrum of mutations in the tumor population.

Research evaluates 18-month neurobehavioral outcomes in single-family room NICU Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:51 AM PDT The single-family room NICU increases maternal involvement, which results in better short and long-term neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm babies, new research suggests.

Strategies needed for light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas reduction Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:44 AM PDT Solutions including electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, vehicle connectivity, and automation are examined.

Scientists count microscopic particles without microscope Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:44 AM PDT Scientists put forward a simple new way of counting microscopic particles in optical materials. A laser beam passing through such a material splits and forms a pattern of numerous bright spots on a projection screen. The researchers found that the number of these spots corresponds to the number of particles in the material. This finding allows to determine the material structure without resorting to microscopy.

Improved perovskite solar cells Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:44 AM PDT Scientists have devised a method to improve perovskite solar cells, making them more efficient and reliable with higher reproducibility.

'Fixing' blood vessel cells to diagnose blood clotting disorders Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:44 AM PDT A new device could monitor blood clot formation and diagnose effectiveness of anti-platelet therapy by microengineering tiny hollow channels lined by chemically 'fixed' human endothelial cells that more closely mimic cellular and vascular flow conditions inside a patient's body than a bare surface.

African American surgical patients benefit in universally insured health system Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:44 AM PDT A new study utilized claims data from more than 630,000 patients living in the state of California and found no significant differences in post-operative complications or mortality between African American patients and white patients who were treated in a universally insured military health system.

Researchers ID key drivers of heart complications in sickle cell anemia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:36 AM PDT Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) develop heart complications and nearly a quarter die a sudden death. Now, researchers have linked malfunctioning molecular pathways to specific heart anomalies in SCA that result from progressive fibrosis and result in sudden death. The study opens a path to earlier noninvasive diagnosis and development of new targeted therapies to help SCA patients live longer with better quality of life.

New class of artificial proteins created Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:36 AM PDT Researchers report that they have developed a new class of artificial proteins. In the long term, the results could lead to better treatment of cancer and diabetes.

Studies in humans, animals show link between GALNT2 gene and levels of HDL cholesterol Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:36 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered how genes identified from genome-wide association studies affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, after comparing several animal models with human patient data. A large team of researchers detail their findings in a new paper.

US diabetic kidney disease rate unchanged Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:36 AM PDT The overall prevalence of diabetic kidney disease has not changed significantly in the United States for 30 years, but the characteristics of kidney disease have changed markedly, according to a study.

Researchers immobilize underwater bubbles Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:35 AM PDT Controlling bubbles is a difficult process and one that many of us experienced in a simplistic form as young children wielding a bubble wand, trying to create bigger bubbles without popping them. A research team has turned child's play into serious business.

Helper molecule reverses degeneration of muscle in mouse model of tissue aging, wasting Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:33 AM PDT Maintaining proper levels of an essential helper molecule is crucial for optimal muscle function. Some athletes are already taking supplements to increase synthesis of this compound, called NAD, with the hopes of reversing the natural decay associated with aging of the mitochondria, the cell's powerhouses. However, this is the first study to directly investigate the consequences of NAD deficiency on muscle function.

Sex hormones skew outcomes in clinical trials -- here's how Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:33 AM PDT Clinical research often excludes females from their trials under the assumption that 'one size fits all,' that a painkiller or antidepressant will be equally effective in subjects of either sex, but a growing number of scientists are criticizing this approach. One group argues that hormones make a difference in how potential therapeutics behave, and both males and females must be accounted for to move medical advances forward.

Why is breast cancer common but heart cancer rare? Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:33 AM PDT Malignant cancers strike certain organs, such as the colon or breast, more often than others. Researchers propose that this vulnerability in some organs may be due to natural selection. Humans can tolerate tumors in large or paired organs more easily than in small, critical organs, such as the heart, and so the larger organs may have evolved fewer mechanisms to defend against cancerous cells.

Obesity on the rise in adults with a history of cancer Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT Obesity was found to be more prevalent in patients with a history of cancer than in the general population, and survivors of colorectal and breast cancers were particularly affected. This study is among the first to compare rates of obesity among US cancer survivors and adults without a history of cancer.

Serious security threat to many Internet users highlighted Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT Researchers have identified a weakness in the Transmission Control Protocol of all Linux operating systems since late 2012 that enables attackers to hijack users' internet communications completely remotely.

One in 5 are discharged from hospital with unstable vital signs Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT Twenty percent of people hospitalized are released before all vital signs are stable, a pattern that is associated with an increased risk of death and hospital readmission, a new study shows.

Outdated assessment of treatment response makes good cancer drugs look bad Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT Patients are missing out on successful treatments because current measures make them seem unsuccessful.

LISA best strategy to prevent chronic lung disease in preterm infants Posted: 09 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT A new study compared seven different ventilation strategies. Based on data collected from 30 different trials and over 5,500 infants younger than 33 weeks' gestational age. LISA, or Less Invasive Surfactant Administration (on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) was the best in preventing the primary outcome of death and/or chronic lung disease as well as other secondary outcomes including severe intraventricular hemorrhage and air leak.

In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:28 AM PDT It is impossible to predict the onset of schizophrenic psychosis. If factors linked to a risk of psychosis can be identified, however, these may yield significant insights into its underlying mechanisms. Scientists have now established a link between particular genes and the size of important brain structures in individuals with an elevated risk of psychosis.

Light, caffeine improve driver alertness, study shows Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT Bright light combined with caffeine can improve driving performance and alertness of chronically sleep deprived young drivers, according to a road safety study.

How to engineer a stronger immune system Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT With a trick of engineering, scientists have improved a potential weapon against inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Their work could one day benefit patients who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or organ transplant rejection.

Latin-American, Caribbean health systems need more investment as populations age Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT Though the health systems in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama have considerable strengths, citizens still reported gaps in the way primary care is organized, financed and delivered in those countries. Those who had better experiences were less likely to say that their health system needed major reforms, outlines a new report.

Promising new treatment for lupus on the horizon Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT A drug originally used to boost the immune system is showing promise as a potential new treatment for lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the body's own organs and tissues.

New insights on Great Lakes pre-European monuments Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT Merging an innovative modeling technique with old-fashioned sleuthing, researchers have shed new light on the mystery of pre-European archaeological monument sites in Michigan, even though 80 percent of the sites they're studying no longer exist.

Illuminating sulfides' roles in the body Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:27 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have created an injectable compound or 'probe' that illuminates hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfides in different colors when they are present in cells.

Volunteering later in life can enhance mental health and wellbeing Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:21 AM PDT Becoming a volunteer later on in life can result in good mental health and wellbeing, according to researchers. However, their study found these effects did not apply before the age of 40, suggesting that the association with volunteering may be stronger at certain points of the life course.

New method opens up the possibility of customizing breast milk for premature children Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:21 AM PDT There is a difference between breast milk from women who give birth prematurely and from women who give birth to full-term babies. However, a new research method has demonstrated that this difference evens out after a few weeks. This may be of importance to premature infants who have other and more specific nutritional needs compared to full-term infants.

Cement design should take into account the water confined in the smallest pores Posted: 09 Aug 2016 09:21 AM PDT Cement paste has a large amount of water in its structure, and much of it is confined in the smallest pores of the cement which are about one manometer in size. The extreme temperatures in which cement finds itself in certain infrastructures, such as oil wells, lead to changes in water state, which in turn cause internal stresses in the cement. Scientists have characterized the physics of this water in order to contribute towards better cement design.

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