ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Is your school ready for an opioid overdose?
• Chemical in plastics linked to genital abnormalities in baby boys
• When a picture is not worth 1,000 words
• Accurate tools can help vulnerable areas prepare for disasters, recover afterward
• The Black Sea has lost more than a third of its habitable volume
• Study reveals gap in market for wearable technologies that monitor sedentary behavior
• Technology and innovation not driven by climate change
• Destruction of Old St Paul's Cathedral highlights devastating impact of Great Fire of London
• Paleontology: A monster put in its place
• LED-lighting influences the activity of bats
• Living with the risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Electronic circuits printed at one micron resolution
• Food puzzles enhance feline wellbeing
• Endangered right whale population threatened by entanglements and dramatically declining birth rate
• Synthetic heart valves could help surgeons improve surgical skills
• Nondrug approaches effective for treatment of common pain conditions, review suggests
• New survey finds 75 percent of Americans think discrimination still an issue for women
• Habitat is a crucial factor in survivability of released tortoises
• Increasing number of US adults using marijuana as fewer people perceive the drug as harmful
• Concerns over glutathione skin bleaching in the UK
• Patients with cancer at heightened risk of injuries during diagnosis
• High alcohol intake associated with slightly decreased female fertility
• Persistent childbirth pain increases risk of postnatal depression
• Internet and mobile devices prompt positive lifestyle changes
• Life thrived on young Earth: scientists discover 3.7-billion-year-old fossils
• Study on multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis supports improved education of clinicians
• Gaming for gut research
• Newer epilepsy drugs taken while pregnant not linked to lower IQs in children
• Military should address gender stereotypes when integrating combat roles, study finds
• Researchers identify genetic marker for heart failure
• Signaling cascade that drives fatty tumors
• Out of sync: How genetic variation can disrupt the heart's rhythm
• Motivating eco-friendly behaviors depends on cultural values
• Accumulation of a product of cell metabolism found to be linked with kidney tumor growth
• ICU patients lose helpful gut bacteria within days of hospital admission
• Want to hit your target? Good luck, short stuff
• Lunar cycle affects timing of birth in cows
• Researchers use a single molecule to command stem cells to build new bone
• Forensic DNA analysis checks the origin of cultured cells
• Brain perceives taste with all senses, scientific evidence reveals
• Stem cell agency spinal cord injury clinical trial passes safety hurdles
• Body's cellular building blocks arise from genetic tugs of war
• Antibody reduces harmful brain amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's patients
• Discovery one-ups Tatooine, finds twin stars hosting three giant exoplanets
• New key in fighting Kennedy's disease
• Weight loss following bariatric surgery sustained long-term
• Parents' psychiatric disease linked to kids' risk of suicide attempt, violent offending
• Connection between chronic pain, anxiety disorders found by researchers
• High-speed 'electron camera' films atomic nuclei in vibrating molecules
• Massive loss of African savannah elephants
• Sexual function problems occur after heart attack, disparities exist between men and women
• Crowdsourcing can help create better science tests cheaper
• Feeling heavy, light, or about right? Your genes may be to blame
• First test of oral rabies vaccine brings hope to the world's rarest canid
• CRISPR/Cas9 technology to inactivate cancer mutations, say scientists

Is your school ready for an opioid overdose? Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:35 AM PDT A new article offers great back-to-school questions for parents to ask teachers, principals, and school administrators to see if their school is ready to handle a possible opioid overdose.

Chemical in plastics linked to genital abnormalities in baby boys Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT Doctors and researchers know that human-made chemicals commonly found in plastics, foods, personal care products and building materials can interfere with how hormones like estrogen and testosterone work in the body.

When a picture is not worth 1,000 words Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT A researcher conducted a study to find out the differences in what "experts" and "novices" gleaned when they viewed visuals produced by scientists. She showed graphic elements to 12 scientists and 17 lay people. Participants were shown versions of global satellite data visuals about sea surface temperatures and chlorophyll.

Accurate tools can help vulnerable areas prepare for disasters, recover afterward Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:33 AM PDT Assessments that tell policy makers how vulnerable and resilient their communities are to devastating floods and other destructive events aren't always accurate, according to the first-ever validation of a wide range of available tools.

The Black Sea has lost more than a third of its habitable volume Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT With rivers providing an abundant supply of fresh water, the upper layers of the Black Sea are less dense than its saltier lower layers. A permanent boundary between the two prevents any vertical mixing. The oxygen, derived from the atmosphere and photosynthesis, remains restricted to these surface waters. However, this precious gas is essential to the development of the majority of living species. Recent research has shown that this oxic boundary shoaled from 140 to 90 metres between 1955 and 2015. A compression of almost 40% of the habitable space in the Black Sea, directly linked to its eutrophication and global warming. This phenomenon could be accompanied by major ecological and economic consequences.

Study reveals gap in market for wearable technologies that monitor sedentary behavior Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT Wearable technology to monitor the time you spend being sedentary could encourage changes in behavior that helps improve health, research reveals. Sedentary behavior monitoring is under-represented in the wearable tech market, a new study has found.

Technology and innovation not driven by climate change Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT Climate change was less important for technological innovation among Stone Age humans than previously assumed.

Destruction of Old St Paul's Cathedral highlights devastating impact of Great Fire of London Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:31 AM PDT "Thus lay in ashes that most venerable Church, one of the most antient pieces of early piety in the Christian world," wrote John Evelyn in September 1666. On the 350th anniversary of the fire, to mark the occasion, the University of Leicester Special Collections has made available a number of contemporary eye-witness accounts held within the University archives that illustrate the damage caused to the great historical and religious site of Old St Paul's, as well as highlighting some of its previous unfortunate encounters with fire.

Paleontology: A monster put in its place Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:30 AM PDT An analysis of the fossil known as the Minden Monster has enabled paleontologists to assign the largest predatory dinosaur ever found in Germany to a previously unknown genus, among a group that underwent rapid diversification in the Middle Jurassic.

LED-lighting influences the activity of bats Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:30 AM PDT The widespread replacement of conventional bulbs in street lighting by energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has considerable influence on bats as urban nocturnal hunters. Opportunistic bats lose hunting opportunities whereas light sensitive species benefit, scientists have found.

Living with the risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:30 AM PDT What are the expectations of persons who decide to have their risk of Alzheimer's Disease tested? What should doctors pay attention to when ascertaining individual risks? What is the benefit of risk determination for patients and their close others, while options to treat the disease remain insufficient? According to current estimates, the number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer's Disease worldwide is 40 million – and rising. The burdens imposed on the patients, on their caregivers, and on society are considerable.

Electronic circuits printed at one micron resolution Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:30 AM PDT A research team has developed a printing technique for forming electronic circuits and thin-film transistors (TFTs) with line width and line spacing both being 1 ?m. Using this technique, the research team formed fully-printed organic TFTs with a channel length of 1 ?m on flexible substrates, and confirmed that the TFTs operate at a practical level.

Food puzzles enhance feline wellbeing Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT Greater understanding of the importance of environmental enrichment in enhancing an animal's physical and social environment is bringing benefits for pet cats -- particularly those that are kept solely indoors.

Endangered right whale population threatened by entanglements and dramatically declining birth rate Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT The most endangered large whale species in the Atlantic is threatened by increasing rates of lethal and debilitating entanglements and a dramatic 40 percent decline in birth rates since 2010. About 500 North Atlantic right whales still survive after two decades period of modest annual growth, but the two new emerging trends are casting doubt on the species overall recovery.

Synthetic heart valves could help surgeons improve surgical skills Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT A new invention has made it possible for doctors to vastly improve their bypass surgery techniques without relying on animals. The polyvinyl 'tissue' makes it possible for surgeons and medical residents to practice bypass surgery using the synthetic material as opposed to the current practice of using the arteries and veins of dead pigs or human cadavers.

Nondrug approaches effective for treatment of common pain conditions, review suggests Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:28 AM PDT Data from a review of US-based clinical trials suggest that some of the most popular complementary health approaches -- such as yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture -- appear to be effective tools for helping to manage common pain conditions.

New survey finds 75 percent of Americans think discrimination still an issue for women Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:38 PM PDT In the wake of Hillary Clinton's historic nomination as the first woman presidential candidate of a major political party in the US, women continue to face obstacles in politics and the workplace, according to an American national poll. Three-quarters of Americans think there is at least some discrimination against women in this country, although just as many say it has decreased over the past generation.

Habitat is a crucial factor in survivability of released tortoises Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:38 PM PDT A team of wildlife experts has analyzed the effect of habitat quality on the survival and dispersal of released desert tortoises. Juvenile tortoises used in this study originated from eggs produced by females housed at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center in Las Vegas.

Increasing number of US adults using marijuana as fewer people perceive the drug as harmful Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT An increasing number of US adults are using marijuana, as fewer people perceive the drug as harmful, according to a survey of over 500000 US adults conducted between 2002 and 2014. As marijuana has become increasingly potent over the past decade, the authors say that the findings suggest the need for improved education and prevention messages regarding the risks of marijuana.

Concerns over glutathione skin bleaching in the UK Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT Skin bleaching with the use of glutathione is on the rise, despite the potential ethical issues and adverse side effects associated with the practice, warns a doctor from England.

Patients with cancer at heightened risk of injuries during diagnosis Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT Patients with cancer have heightened risks of unintentional and intentional injuries during the diagnostic process, reveal findings from a large study.

High alcohol intake associated with slightly decreased female fertility Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT Women who drink 14 or more servings of alcohol a week are slightly more likely to have reduced fertility, suggests a new study. In developed countries, up to 24% of couples experience infertility, defined as time to pregnancy of 12 months or more.

Persistent childbirth pain increases risk of postnatal depression Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT New research shows that women who experience persistent childbirth pain are more likely to develop postnatal depression following the birth of their child.

Internet and mobile devices prompt positive lifestyle changes Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:37 PM PDT When guided by internet programs or mobile devices, people can become more physically active, eat better, lose a little weight and reduce tobacco and alcohol use. Most studies using these interventions lasted less than six months, making it unclear whether these kinds of behavioral changes will be sustained over the long term.

Life thrived on young Earth: scientists discover 3.7-billion-year-old fossils Posted: 31 Aug 2016 02:24 PM PDT A team of Australian researchers has uncovered the world's oldest fossils in a remote area of Greenland, capturing the earliest history of the planet and demonstrating that life on Earth emerged rapidly in the planet's early years. The team discovered 3.7-billion-year-old stromatolite fossils in the world's oldest sedimentary rocks, in the Isua Greenstone Belt along the edge of Greenland's icecap.

Study on multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis supports improved education of clinicians Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:30 PM PDT A new study defines the current problems that lead patients to be misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the possible reasons why they are misdiagnosed.

Gaming for gut research Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:29 PM PDT You may not think of yourself in this way, but in some ways your body is just a host for hundreds of trillions of microbes (including bacteria) that colonize us in fairly unique combinations in our guts, inside our various orifices and on the surface of our skin. These tiny creatures are essential to our survival: we couldn't digest anything without them, for instance. Scientists are increasingly making links between the range of colonies of microorganisms that live on and within us, our lifestyle habits, and our health.

Newer epilepsy drugs taken while pregnant not linked to lower IQs in children Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:29 PM PDT Two newer epilepsy drugs may not harm the thinking skills or IQs of school-aged children whose mothers took them while pregnant -- but an older drug is linked to cognitive problems in children, especially if their mothers took high doses -- according to new research.

Military should address gender stereotypes when integrating combat roles, study finds Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:29 PM PDT Even though the U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier this year formally opened all combat jobs to women, based on focus groups with soldiers researchers say the U.S. military needs to work on changing significant cultural aspects to fully integrate women in the armed forces.

Researchers identify genetic marker for heart failure Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:32 AM PDT A team of scientists has identified powerful predictors of congestive heart failure, a major cause of hospitalization and death in the United States. A mutated gene, SLCO1B1, was found to be associated with high levels of blood fatty acid, which is a strong predictor for the development of future heart failure and the mutation itself has a direct effect on heart failure risk.

Signaling cascade that drives fatty tumors Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:30 AM PDT A common cell signaling pathway that controls differentiation of stem cells may also control the formation of tumor cells in fat, according to a new study.

Out of sync: How genetic variation can disrupt the heart's rhythm Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:30 AM PDT New research shows how deficits in a specific pathway of genes can lead to the development of atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heartbeat, which poses a significant health risk.

Motivating eco-friendly behaviors depends on cultural values Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:30 AM PDT The specific cultural values of a country may determine whether concern about environmental issues actually leads individuals to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors, according to the new research. The findings suggest that individual concern is more strongly associated with motivation to act in countries that espouse individualistic values, while social norms may be a stronger motivator in collectivistic societies.

Accumulation of a product of cell metabolism found to be linked with kidney tumor growth Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:29 AM PDT Researchers have shown that when the metabolite fumarate accumulates in a hereditary form of renal cancer it leads to an epigenetic reprogramming that drives cancer. The tumor growth mechanism seen here could be similar in other cancers, such as lung and bowel cancer, where the enzyme that breaks down fumarate is not present or not fully functional.

ICU patients lose helpful gut bacteria within days of hospital admission Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:29 AM PDT The microbiome of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital differs dramatically from that of healthy patients, according to a new study. Researchers analyzing microbial taxa in ICU patients' guts, mouth and skin reported finding dysbiosis, or a bacterial imbalance, that worsened during a patient's stay in the hospital. Compared to healthy people, ICU patients had depleted populations of commensal, health-promoting microbes and higher counts of bacterial taxa with pathogenic strains.

Want to hit your target? Good luck, short stuff Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:29 AM PDT Tall quarterbacks might have more going for them than a clear view over the offensive line. New research shows that tall people are better than shorter people at correctly identifying the location of targets in their middle-distance vision -- between three and 20 meters away. (In football, that would be about three to 22 yards away.)

Lunar cycle affects timing of birth in cows Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:29 AM PDT A popular belief that there is a higher number of births around the full moon has been shown to be true for dairy cows, report investigators. Analysis showed that the birth rate was statistically higher during the near full and full moon. Furthermore, the number of deliveries was higher for cows that had previously given birth.

Researchers use a single molecule to command stem cells to build new bone Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:28 AM PDT An easy and efficient way to coax human pluripotent stem cells to regenerate bone tissue has been identified by researchers: feed them adenosine, a naturally occurring molecule in the body. The stem-cell-derived bone tissue helped repair cranial bone defects in mice without developing tumors or causing infection. The work could lead to regenerative treatments for patients with critical bone defects and soldiers who have suffered traumatic bone injuries.

Forensic DNA analysis checks the origin of cultured cells Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:28 AM PDT Cell lines are cultured cells that are commonly used in medical research. New results show that such cells are not always what they are assumed to be. Using genetic analyses, the researchers showed that a commonly used cell line that was established almost 50 years ago does not originate from the patient it is claimed to stem from.

Brain perceives taste with all senses, scientific evidence reveals Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:37 AM PDT The phrase "it looks so good you can almost taste it" may actually be scientifically proven based on the findings of a new study that explored how the brain processes stimuli predicting taste.

Stem cell agency spinal cord injury clinical trial passes safety hurdles Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:37 AM PDT A clinical trial using stem cells to treat people with recent spinal cord injuries has cleared two key safety hurdles, and been given approval to expand the therapy to a larger group of patients with a much higher dose of cells.

Body's cellular building blocks arise from genetic tugs of war Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:37 AM PDT Developing blood cells are caught in tugs of war between competing gene regulatory networks before finally deciding what type of cell to become, according to a study. Researchers report that as developing blood cells are triggered by a multitude of genetic signals firing on and off, they are pulled back and forth in fluctuating multi-lineage states before finally becoming specific cell types.

Antibody reduces harmful brain amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's patients Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:35 AM PDT Aducanumab, a new antibody has been shown to trigger a meaningful reduction of harmful beta-amyloid plaques in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. These protein deposits in the brain are a classic sign of Alzheimer's disease and contribute to the progressive degeneration of brain cells. The researchers furthermore demonstrated in an early stage clinical study that, after one year of treatment with Aducanumab, cognitive decline could be significantly slowed in antibody-treated patients as opposed to the placebo group.

Discovery one-ups Tatooine, finds twin stars hosting three giant exoplanets Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:35 AM PDT Scientists have discovered three giant planets in a binary star system composed of stellar 'twins' that are also effectively siblings of our Sun. One star hosts two planets and the other hosts the third. The system represents the smallest-separation binary in which both stars host planets that has ever been observed. The findings may help explain the influence that giant planets like Jupiter have over a solar system's architecture.

New key in fighting Kennedy's disease Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:35 AM PDT If a disease affects motoneurons, cells that control voluntary muscle activity, researchers should focus their efforts on motoneurons to find potential treatments, right? Not always, say scientists.

Weight loss following bariatric surgery sustained long-term Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:35 AM PDT Obese patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) lost much more weight than those who did not and were able to sustain most of this weight loss 10 years after surgery, according to a study.

Parents' psychiatric disease linked to kids' risk of suicide attempt, violent offending Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:34 AM PDT Risk for suicide attempts and violent offending by children appears to be associated with their parents' psychiatric disorders, according to a new article.

Connection between chronic pain, anxiety disorders found by researchers Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:34 AM PDT New study results provide insight into a long-observed, but little-understood connection between chronic pain and anxiety and offer a potential target for treatment. Researchers found that increased expression of PACAP -- a peptide neurotransmitter the body releases in response to stress -- is also increased in response to neuropathic pain and contributes to these symptoms.

High-speed 'electron camera' films atomic nuclei in vibrating molecules Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:34 AM PDT An ultrafast 'electron camera' has made the first direct snapshots of atomic nuclei in molecules that are vibrating within millionths of a billionth of a second after being hit by a laser pulse. The method, called ultrafast electron diffraction, could help scientists better understand the role of nuclear motions in light-driven processes that naturally occur on extremely fast timescales.

Massive loss of African savannah elephants Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:34 AM PDT The results of the first-ever pan-African survey of savanna elephants using standardized data collection and validation methods, has now been announced. The report confirms substantial declines in elephant numbers over just the last decade. The researchers report that the current rate of species decline is 8 percent per year, primarily due to poaching.

Sexual function problems occur after heart attack, disparities exist between men and women Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:31 AM PDT New research investigates what happens to men's and women's sexual function and relationships after a heart attack in an effort to help clinicians develop better care guidelines for patients.

Crowdsourcing can help create better science tests cheaper Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:31 AM PDT A group of researchers has found a way for schools, professors, textbook publishers, and educational researchers to check the quality of their test questions that turns out to be both fast and cheap. It invokes the power of crowdsourcing.

Feeling heavy, light, or about right? Your genes may be to blame Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:31 AM PDT Do you feel overweight, about right, or too skinny? Your answer to that question may be tied to genes you inherited from your parents, especially if you are a female, according to a new study.

First test of oral rabies vaccine brings hope to the world's rarest canid Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:31 AM PDT A new study reports on field trials of the oral vaccine SAG2 in Ethiopian wolves, Africa's most threatened carnivore and the world's rarest canid. The trials are the first ever conducted in wild populations of an endangered carnivore.

CRISPR/Cas9 technology to inactivate cancer mutations, say scientists Posted: 31 Aug 2016 08:08 AM PDT As for many other biomedical and biotechnology disciplines, the genome scissor 'CRISPR/Cas9' also opens up completely new possibilities for cancer research. Scientists have shown that mutations that act as cancer drivers can be targeted and repaired. The most relevant mutations could therefore be diagnosed faster, improving personalized therapies.

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