ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Tiny high-performance solar cells turn power generation sideways
• New microfluidic chip replicates muscle-nerve connection
• Big step towards cure for HIV and other lifelong viral infections
• Clinical trial results support adalimumab treatment for painful skin condition
• The push for more clinical research data sharing is paying off
• Growing up on an Amish farm protects children against asthma by reprogramming immune cells
• Minorities less likely to have knee replacement surgery, more likely to have complications
• Study suggests 'use it or lose it' to defend against memory loss
• Desert elephants pass on knowledge -- not mutations -- to survive
• Drugs already on market prevent light-induced retinal degeneration in mice
• New dementia app helps memory loss patients find memories
• Contagion in popular places: From Zika to political extremism
• Cadmium-tellurium solar cells: Formula optimized
• Researchers inhibit tumor growth in new subtype of lung cancer
• Waste not: Edible wax coating slicks liquids with ease
• Astronomers make first accurate measurement of oxygen in distant galaxy
• Insect tibias are best suited for jumping and other emergency behaviors
• Three new species identified amongst the Tegu lizard family
• Asian giant honeybees may move in synchrony to ventilate nests
• Lasers melt rocks to reveal development of super-Earths and how giant impacts make magma
• Pregnancy procedure may be associated with increased risk of premature birth and neonatal loss
• The keys to a major process in DNA repair
• Next generation anode to improve lithium-ion batteries
• Deadly bat fungus in Washington state likely originated in Eastern US
• Trading farmland for nitrogen protection
• Recycling carbon dioxide
• 'Sandman's' role in sleep control discovered
• Programmable ions set the stage for general-purpose quantum computers
• The force is strong with embryo cells
• Sprinkling of neural dust opens door to electroceuticals
• Demonstrating strong electric fields in liquid helium for tests of matter-antimatter symmetry
• Scientists keep a molecule from moving inside nerve cells to prevent cell death
• Novel genetic mutation may lead to the progressive loss of motor function
• Free chrome plugin visualizes PubMed gene, protein, drug and disease connections
• New neurons created through exercise don't cause you to forget old memories
• Perpetual 'ice water': Stable solid-liquid state revealed in nanoparticles
• Consumption of natural estrogens in cow's milk does not affect blood levels or reproductive health
• Researchers shed new light on signals that trigger labor and delivery
• Inosine treatment helps recovery of motor functions after brain injury
• New research explores why people 'pass the buck'
• Is there difference in surgical site infection using sterile vs. nonsterile gloves?
• Routinely measured lipids show contrasting associations with risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes
• Why parents are the new 'heroes' in policing young drivers
• Insight into how cancer cells behave abnormally
• Method to study critical HIV protein
• Foraging strategies of smallest seals revealed in first ever satellite tracking study
• Blood sugar slumps affect how lean men treat the more rotund
• Paving the way toward novel strong, conductive materials
• How an enzyme in fireflies, click beetles and glow worms yields different colors
• Carbon nanotube 'stitches' make stronger, lighter composites
• Mantis shrimp use UV color spots, chemical cues to size up opponents
• Researchers work to understand causes of search and rescue in the Arctic
• Birds engage in all types of sleep in flight, but in remarkably small amounts
• New biochip-based blood test detects elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease
• First next-generation sequencing test for HIV drug resistance could help combat AIDS worldwide
• Getting light in shape with metamaterials
• Novel porous materials made from flexible 'spaghetti-like' molecules
• Microscope imaging system integrates virtual reality technology
• New genome reveals how Arctic microbes survive in cold extreme habitats
• A protective cap for bacterial RNA

Tiny high-performance solar cells turn power generation sideways Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:49 PM PDT Engineers have created high-performance, micro-scale solar cells that outshine comparable devices in key performance measures. The miniature solar panels could power myriad personal devices -- wearable medical sensors, smartwatches, even autofocusing contact lenses.

New microfluidic chip replicates muscle-nerve connection Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:49 PM PDT Engineers have developed a microfluidic device that replicates the neuromuscular junction -- the vital connection where nerve meets muscle. The device, about the size of a US quarter, contains a single muscle strip and a small set of motor neurons. Researchers can influence and observe the interactions between the two, within a realistic, three-dimensional matrix.

Big step towards cure for HIV and other lifelong viral infections Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:48 PM PDT New research has taken us a step closer to finding a cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as other infections including the glandular fever virus, which is associated with the development of lymphoma. Some infections, such as HIV, cannot be cured with antiviral therapy because the virus effectively hides from the immune system.

Clinical trial results support adalimumab treatment for painful skin condition Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:43 PM PDT The results of two phase 3 clinical trials that led to FDA approval of adalimumab for treatment of the chronic inflammatory skin disease hidradenitis suppurtiva are now being published. An inhibitor of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor, adalimumab is the first such medication approved to treat the painful skin disorder.

The push for more clinical research data sharing is paying off Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:43 PM PDT In an ideal medical research landscape, clinical data would quickly be made available to all public and private researchers in the quest to speed up medical advances. The research community is getting closer to that ideal but more work needs to be done.

Growing up on an Amish farm protects children against asthma by reprogramming immune cells Posted: 03 Aug 2016 06:42 PM PDT By probing the differences between two farming communities, an interdisciplinary team of researchers found that substances in the house dust from Amish, but not Hutterite, homes is associated with changes to immune cells that appear to protect children from developing asthma.

Minorities less likely to have knee replacement surgery, more likely to have complications Posted: 03 Aug 2016 01:16 PM PDT Minority populations have lower rates of total knee replacement utilization but higher rates of adverse health outcomes associated with the procedure, according to a new study.

Study suggests 'use it or lose it' to defend against memory loss Posted: 03 Aug 2016 01:16 PM PDT Researchers have identified a protein essential for building memories that appears to predict the progression of memory loss and brain atrophy in Alzheimer's patients. Their findings suggest there is a link between brain activity and the presence of this protein.

Desert elephants pass on knowledge -- not mutations -- to survive Posted: 03 Aug 2016 01:16 PM PDT Despite reported differences in appearance and behavior, DNA evidence finds that Namibian desert elephants share the same DNA as African savanna elephants. However, Namibian desert-dwelling elephants should be protected so they can continue to pass on their unique knowledge and survival skills to future generations.

Drugs already on market prevent light-induced retinal degeneration in mice Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:14 PM PDT Combinations of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs protect against the loss of cells required for vision in a mouse model of the damage caused by blinding retinal diseases, report investigators.

New dementia app helps memory loss patients find memories Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:14 PM PDT People suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of age-related dementia sometimes have trouble recognizing friends and family or knowing what to talk about when they visit. A new app offers to help patients stay connected to their memories – and thus to their friends and family – and perhaps will even help them keep a conversation going.

Contagion in popular places: From Zika to political extremism Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:12 PM PDT The alert is out and South Floridians are taking heed. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a warning for visitors and locals to avoid a neighborhood in Miami after more than a dozen individuals contracted Zika, a new study shows how the flow of visitors through a popular place, such as the affected Wynwood area of Miami, determines the eventual severity and duration of such an outbreak.

Cadmium-tellurium solar cells: Formula optimized Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:12 PM PDT Solar cells could move closer to theoretical levels of efficiency, thanks to new findings. Researchers used advanced microscopy techniques to discover efficiency differences of crystalline structures of various mixtures of cadmium, tellurium and selenium.

Researchers inhibit tumor growth in new subtype of lung cancer Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths. Adenocarcinomas, a non-small cell lung cancer, account for about 40 percent of cancer diagnoses, but available treatments are limited. Researchers have identified a subtype of human adenocarcinoma. The research could help determine individuals who are at risk of developing lung tumors that may be amenable to a new therapy to inhibit their progression.

Waste not: Edible wax coating slicks liquids with ease Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT Materials scientists have created a 'superhydrophobic' coating that easily slicks away viscous liquids like syrup, honey and ketchup. They detail the engineering feat in a new paper that describes synthesizing and testing coatings made from beeswax and carnauba wax, which are edible and nontoxic.

Astronomers make first accurate measurement of oxygen in distant galaxy Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT Astronomers have made the first accurate measurement of the abundance of oxygen in a distant galaxy, essentially looking back in time at this galaxy as it appeared 12 billion years ago.

Insect tibias are best suited for jumping and other emergency behaviors Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT Insect tibias are best suited to withstand the high stress of emergency behaviors rather than the fatigue stress of normal behaviors, according a new study.

Three new species identified amongst the Tegu lizard family Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT The golden tegu lizard, previously thought to be a single species, may actually comprise four distinct clades, including three new cryptic species, according to a new study.

Asian giant honeybees may move in synchrony to ventilate nests Posted: 03 Aug 2016 12:11 PM PDT The Asian giant honeybee, Apis dorsata, builds its large single-comb nests out in the open, making them potentially vulnerable to extremes of temperature that may threaten survival. New research shows that these giant honeybees may use synchronized movements to ventilate and cool their nests.

Lasers melt rocks to reveal development of super-Earths and how giant impacts make magma Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:31 AM PDT New experiments provide insight into how Earth-type planets form when giant asteroids or planetesimals collide and how the interiors of such planets develop.

Pregnancy procedure may be associated with increased risk of premature birth and neonatal loss Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:31 AM PDT Researchers are urging surgeons to reconsider using a particular type of thread for a procedure to prevent premature birth, after new research found this thread was associated with an increased rate of premature birth and baby death compared with a thinner thread.

The keys to a major process in DNA repair Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:02 AM PDT For the first time, researchers describe in its totality the mechanisms by which DNA damaged by UV radiation is repaired, and how the proteins involved in this process cooperate to ensure its efficiency. This work opens new perspectives not only in the fight against cancer but also in combating certain bacterial infections.

Next generation anode to improve lithium-ion batteries Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:02 AM PDT Researchers have created a new silicon-tin nanocomposite anode that could lead to lithium-ion batteries that can be charged and discharged more times before they reach the end of their useful lives. The longer-lasting batteries could be used in everything from handheld electronic devices to electric vehicles.

Deadly bat fungus in Washington state likely originated in Eastern US Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT The White-nose Syndrome fungus recently detected for the first time in western North America is genetically similar to strains found in the eastern United States and did not likely originate in Eurasia, according to a study.

Trading farmland for nitrogen protection Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT Excess nitrogen from agricultural runoff can enter surface waters with devastating effects. Algal blooms and fish kills are a just a couple of possible consequences. But riparian buffer zones -- areas of grasses, perennials, or trees -- between farmlands and streams or rivers can help.

Recycling carbon dioxide Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT Turning carbon dioxide into stored energy sounds like science fiction: researchers have long tried to find simple ways to convert this greenhouse gas into fuels and other useful chemicals. Now, engineers has developed a technique powered by renewable energies such as solar or wind.

'Sandman's' role in sleep control discovered Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT Researchers have discovered what causes the sleep homeostat -- a switch in our brains -- to flip and wake us up. The discovery brings us closer to understanding the mystery of sleep.

Programmable ions set the stage for general-purpose quantum computers Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT Scientists have introduced the first fully programmable and reconfigurable quantum computer module.

The force is strong with embryo cells Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT For a cell in an embryo, the secret to becoming part of the baby's body instead of the placenta is to contract more and carry on dancing, scientists have found. The study could one day have implications for assisted reproduction.

Sprinkling of neural dust opens door to electroceuticals Posted: 03 Aug 2016 11:01 AM PDT Monitoring electrical signals from muscles and nerves has become easier with a 1x1x3 mm sensor that can be implanted anywhere in the body, powered and read out by ultrasound. With further miniaturization, these sensors could replace brain electrodes wired through the skull to control prosthetics, but also allow real time monitoring of nerve and muscle activity, or oxygen or metabolite levels. It could eventually be used to stimulate muscles or nerves, e.g. to treat epilepsy.

Demonstrating strong electric fields in liquid helium for tests of matter-antimatter symmetry Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:49 AM PDT Physicists and engineers demonstrated that it is possible to use liquid helium to apply an electric field several times larger than that used in previous neutron electric dipole moment experiments, which provides insights into the nature of the universe.

Scientists keep a molecule from moving inside nerve cells to prevent cell death Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:45 AM PDT A groundbreaking scientific study has found one way an RNA binding protein may contribute to ALS disease progression.

Novel genetic mutation may lead to the progressive loss of motor function Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:45 AM PDT Researchers have identified the genetic cause and a possible therapeutic target for a rare form of pediatric progressive neuropathy.

Free chrome plugin visualizes PubMed gene, protein, drug and disease connections Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:45 AM PDT New text-mining tool helps researchers map connections between genes, proteins, drugs, diseases.

New neurons created through exercise don't cause you to forget old memories Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT Research has found that exercise causes more new neurons to be formed in a critical brain region, and contrary to an earlier study, these new neurons do not cause the individual to forget old memories, according to new research.

Perpetual 'ice water': Stable solid-liquid state revealed in nanoparticles Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that gallium nanoparticles can form a solid core surrounded by a liquid outer layer over a temperature span of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. The discovery marks the first time that this stable phase coexistence phenomenon at the nanoscale has ever been directly observed.

Consumption of natural estrogens in cow's milk does not affect blood levels or reproductive health Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT A new study investigated cow milk's effects on blood hormone levels in adult mice and found that naturally occurring levels, and even levels as high as 100 times the average, had no effect on the mice. The study further determined that only when the mice were given 1,000 times more estrogen than average did it have any impact on reproductive health.

Researchers shed new light on signals that trigger labor and delivery Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT In a normal full-term pregnancy, signals from the mature organs of the fetus and the aging placental membranes and placenta prompt the uterus' muscular walls to begin the labor and delivery process. It's still unclear how these signals accomplish this goal or how they reach from the fetal side to the maternal side. A team of researchers has now unlocked key clues in understanding what triggers the birthing process.

Inosine treatment helps recovery of motor functions after brain injury Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT Brain tissue can die as the result of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurodegenerative disease. When the affected area includes the motor cortex, impairment of the fine motor control of the hand can result. Researchers found that inosine, a naturally occurring purine nucleoside that is released by cells in response to metabolic stress, can help to restore motor control after brain injury.

New research explores why people 'pass the buck' Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT People are more likely to delegate decisions--or "pass the buck"--when faced with choices that affect others than when those decisions affect only themselves, according to new research.

Is there difference in surgical site infection using sterile vs. nonsterile gloves? Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT Outpatient cutaneous surgical procedures are common and surgical gloves are standard practice to prevent postoperative surgical site infection. But, is there a difference in SSIs when sterile vs. nonsterile gloves are used for these minor procedures? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the medical literature examined that question, according to a new article.

Routinely measured lipids show contrasting associations with risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:44 AM PDT An analysis using genetics finds that increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and possibly triglyceride (TG) levels are associated with a lower risk of diabetes, and increased LDL-C and TG levels are associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, according to a study.

Why parents are the new 'heroes' in policing young drivers Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:07 AM PDT Parents are vital in encouraging their children to obey the road rules and young drivers are keen to show their parents they can be trusted, which means they may hold greater power in enforcing driver restrictions compared with traditional policing, according to new research.

Insight into how cancer cells behave abnormally Posted: 03 Aug 2016 09:01 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on the metabolic switch observed in abnormal cells like cancer. Based on experimental evidence of metabolic oscillations, they show that changes in metabolic state can be described robustly by alterations in the ability of the oscillator to resist external perturbations.

Method to study critical HIV protein Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:18 AM PDT Researchers are studying a protein called Nef involved in HIV progression to AIDS with the ultimate goal of blocking it. He and his collaborators have developed a new hybrid method to study this HIV protein that compromises the immune system. The method also could work on many other proteins that damage cellular processes and cause diseases.

Foraging strategies of smallest seals revealed in first ever satellite tracking study Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:18 AM PDT The first ever satellite tracking study of one the world's endangered seal species has revealed new information about their migration habits and hunting patterns.

Blood sugar slumps affect how lean men treat the more rotund Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:18 AM PDT When slim men suffer bouts of low blood sugar, chances are that they will make unfair decisions involving the more rotund people they engage with in the workplace.

Paving the way toward novel strong, conductive materials Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:18 AM PDT Bulk metallic glasses are metallic alloys whose neatly ordered atomic structure can be altered into an amorphous, non-crystalline structure -- giving metal the malleability of plastic, while maintaining its durability and conductivity. However, these alloys are complex, often containing five or six different elements, including expensive noble metals like gold or palladium and scientists have no clue which combinations of elements will form them. Now, researchers have developed a method to predict which alloys may form a bulk metallic glass.

How an enzyme in fireflies, click beetles and glow worms yields different colors Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:17 AM PDT The glow of fireflies at dusk is a welcome sign of summer. The same enzyme that helps give these familiar bugs their characteristic flash of yellow, yields red light in acidic conditions. Similar enzymes are responsible for red and green lights in other beetles. Despite years of study, however, scientists still don't know the molecular details of how the enzyme works. Now one team reports new insights into this mystery.

Carbon nanotube 'stitches' make stronger, lighter composites Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:17 AM PDT Aerospace engineers have designed carbon nanotube 'stitches' that strongly bind composites, which could produce lighter, more damage-resistant airplanes.

Mantis shrimp use UV color spots, chemical cues to size up opponents Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:17 AM PDT Mantis shrimp, often brightly colored and fiercely aggressive sea creatures with outsized strength, use both the ultraviolet reflectance of their color spots and chemical cues when fighting over resources, according to new research.

Researchers work to understand causes of search and rescue in the Arctic Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:17 AM PDT Search and rescue operations in Nunavut have more than doubled over the past decade. In the communities of the vast northern Canadian territory, it's commonly felt that climate change is one factor making hunting riskier in the spring and fall. A new study shows a strong link between environmental conditions and search and rescues cases across Nunavut, moving scientists closer to understanding the impact of climate change on Inuit.

Birds engage in all types of sleep in flight, but in remarkably small amounts Posted: 03 Aug 2016 08:17 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have discovered that birds can sleep in flight. They measured the brain activity of frigatebirds and found that they sleep in flight with either one cerebral hemisphere at a time or both hemispheres simultaneously. Despite being able to engage in all types of sleep in flight, the birds slept less than an hour a day, a mere fraction of the time spent sleeping on land. How frigatebirds are able to perform adaptively on such little sleep remains a mystery.

New biochip-based blood test detects elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:40 AM PDT Researchers today unveiled results from a new blood test to help identify which patients are at an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. The findings showed that the biochip test, which allows multiple tests to be run on one blood sample, was as accurate as existing molecular tests that analyze DNA.

First next-generation sequencing test for HIV drug resistance could help combat AIDS worldwide Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:40 AM PDT New research demonstrates that a first-of-its-kind next-generation sequencing test can detect HIV drug resistance mutations that conventional tests fail to identify. This test could play a critical role in helping clinicians to optimize HIV treatment regimens, while also helping public health initiatives to minimize the development of global resistance to antiretroviral drugs.

Getting light in shape with metamaterials Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:40 AM PDT Converting light from one wavelength to a shorter wavelength is typically inefficient. To tackle that inefficiency, a team built a structure with metallic cavities that improves the light conversion efficiency by orders of magnitude.

Novel porous materials made from flexible 'spaghetti-like' molecules Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:40 AM PDT Scientists changed our understanding of metal-organic frameworks. They uprooted the belief that these frameworks must be made from rigid starting materials.

Microscope imaging system integrates virtual reality technology Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:40 AM PDT CaptiView is a microscope image injection system that overlays critical virtual reality imaging directly onto the brain when viewed through the eyepiece during surgery.

New genome reveals how Arctic microbes survive in cold extreme habitats Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:39 AM PDT Scientists have revealed how a tiny Arctic microbe, crucial to shaping the surface of glaciers, survives in such extreme conditions.

A protective cap for bacterial RNA Posted: 03 Aug 2016 07:39 AM PDT Researchers have unraveled the structure and function of bacterial decapping enzyme. These structural investigations open up a new field of research, say the investigators.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States