ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Promising biomaterial to build better bones with 3-D printing
• Optical fiber transmits one terabit per second
• Rest and well-being: World's largest survey
• Alcohol shown to act in same way as rapid antidepressants
• Empowering diabetes patients through technology
• News from the primordial world
• Key to manufacturing more efficient solar cells
• Dementia: Catching the memory thief
• How baby's genes influence birth weight and later life disease
• How the brain decides between effort and reward
• Early onset menopausal symptoms could predict heart disease
• If legalizing pot, consider health, not profits, analysis says
• Moderate alcohol use linked to heart chamber damage, atrial fibrillation in new study
• Implicit bias may help explain high preschool expulsion rates for black children
• New insight into eye diseases
• Researchers identify treatment target for blinding diseases
• Identifying ecstasy's dangerous path
• Acupuncture reduces hot flashes for half of women, study finds
• Epigenetic clock predicts life expectancy
• Wireless, freely behaving rodent cage helps scientists collect more reliable data
• Paper offers insight on antidepressant-induced female sexual dysfunction
• Solution blooming for fracking spills?
• Breastfeeding saves mothers' lives, too, study shows
• Traveling through the body with graphene
• Smoking fathers increase asthma-risk in future offspring
• Randomized trial suggests eating bread made with ancient grains could benefit heart health
• Brain's biological clock stimulates thirst before sleep
• Study of North Atlantic Ocean reveals decline of leaded petrol emissions
• Depression in pregnancy increases risk of mental health problems in children
• Mechanical behavior of tiny structures is affected by atomic defects
• Americas declared free of measles
• Toward 'greener,' inexpensive solar cells
• Diabetes in children is a chronic, but treatable, disease
• Time window to help people who have had a stroke longer than previously shown
• Fungus makes mosquitoes much more likely to become infected with malaria
• New steel for better electric motors under development
• Tracking the amount of sea ice from the Greenland ice sheet
• Heart disease exercise program could work for bowel cancer patients
• One fly to rule them all: Flies are the key pollinators of the High Arctic
• Brown adipose tissue is able to secrete factors that activate fat and carbohydrate metabolism
• Climate change jigsaw puzzle: Antarctic pieces missing
• Using low rolling resistance tires to counter traffic noise
• How choosy should you be?
• Cystic Fibrosis: Ensuring adequate nutrition
• Foreign farms increase the risk of conflicts in Africa
• Antibiotics developed in 1960s show promise for TB therapy
• New imaging technique in Alzheimer's disease opens up possibilities for new drug development
• Scientists visualize quantum behavior of hot electrons for first time
• A perfect sun-storm
• Mass producing graphene using microwaves
• Groundbreaking study sheds light on treating cancer
• Blue stoplight to prevent runaway photosynthesis
• Energy drink use, with or without alcohol, contributes to drunk driving
• Forbidden fruit a fatal temptation for grizzly bears in southeastern British Columbia
• Low cancer symptom awareness linked to lower chance of survival
• Freezing technique is an effective alternative to lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer, study finds
• Tackling obesity in rural communities
• Optimization technique identifies cost-effective biodiversity corridors
• Sociologists examine shift from 'No Child Left Behind' to 'Children Left Behind'
• Researchers modify yeast to show how plants respond to a key hormone

Promising biomaterial to build better bones with 3-D printing Posted: 28 Sep 2016 06:37 PM PDT Engineers have developed a 3-D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly induces bone regeneration and growth. This hyperelastic "bone" material, whose shape can be easily customized, one day could be especially useful for the treatment of bone defects in children.

Optical fiber transmits one terabit per second Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:49 PM PDT Researchers have achieved unprecedented transmission capacity and spectral efficiency in an optical communications field trial with a new modulation technique. The breakthrough research could extend the capability of optical networks to meet surging data traffic demands.

Rest and well-being: World's largest survey Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:35 PM PDT Over two thirds (68 per cent) of the public would like more rest, according to the world's largest ever survey on the topic. The study also revealed that nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents said they need more rest than the average person, while 10 per cent think they need less.

Alcohol shown to act in same way as rapid antidepressants Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:35 PM PDT Can having a few drinks help people with clinical depression feel better? Yes. At least in terms of biochemistry, say scientists.

Empowering diabetes patients through technology Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:35 PM PDT Researchers have received a five-year, $4 million federal grant to study how mobile technology can assist African American and Hispanic patients in adhering to their diabetes treatment plans.

News from the primordial world Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:33 PM PDT A new study offers a twist on a popular theory for how life on Earth began about four billion years ago. The study questions the "RNA world" hypothesis, a theory for how RNA molecules evolved to create proteins and DNA. Instead, the new research offers evidence for a world where RNA and DNA evolved simultaneously.

Key to manufacturing more efficient solar cells Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:11 PM PDT In a discovery that could have profound implications for future energy policy, scientists have demonstrated it is possible to manufacture solar cells that are far more efficient than existing silicon energy cells by using a new kind of material, a development that could help reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Dementia: Catching the memory thief Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:06 PM PDT It's over a hundred years since the first case of Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed. Since then we've learned a great deal about the protein 'tangles' and 'plaques' that cause the disease. How close are we to having effective treatments -- and could we even prevent dementia from occurring in the first place?

How baby's genes influence birth weight and later life disease Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:05 PM PDT Genetic differences have been found that help to explain why some babies are born bigger or smaller than others. It also reveals how genetic differences provide an important link between an individual's early growth and their chances of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease in later life.

How the brain decides between effort and reward Posted: 28 Sep 2016 12:02 PM PDT In a new study, researchers investigated what parts of the brain may be involved in deciding if something is worth the effort. The team found a relevant pattern of activity in three areas of the brain, the supplementary motor area (SMA), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and putamen.

Early onset menopausal symptoms could predict heart disease Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:44 AM PDT Women who experience hot flashes and night sweats earlier in life are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared to women with later onset menopausal symptoms, according to research. Up to 80 percent of women experience menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flashes and night sweats, at some point during the menopause transition.

If legalizing pot, consider health, not profits, analysis says Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:42 AM PDT A new analysis of marijuana legislation offers a framework for states that are considering legalizing the drug and want to protect public health, rather than corporate profits.

Moderate alcohol use linked to heart chamber damage, atrial fibrillation in new study Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:34 AM PDT Researchers have found that even moderate alcohol consumption may change the structure of the heart in ways that increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Implicit bias may help explain high preschool expulsion rates for black children Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:31 AM PDT Preschool teachers and staff show signs of implicit bias in administering discipline, but the race of the teacher plays a big role in the outcome, according to new research. The results help explain why black students tend to be suspended at much higher rates than white students, the authors say.

New insight into eye diseases Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:30 AM PDT Many diseases that lead to blindness, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, are caused by the death of certain cells in the human retina that lack the ability to regenerate. But in species such as zebrafish these cells, known as Muller glial cells (MGs), do serve as retinal stem cells that are capable of generating new cells. In a new study, a research team investigated whether the regenerative power of cells in zebrafish could be recreated in mammals, specifically mice.

Researchers identify treatment target for blinding diseases Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:19 AM PDT A common pathway involved in photoreceptor death has been identified in retinitis pigmentosa, advanced dry age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases, with early evidence of a possible halt to vision loss related to treatment of the pathway.

Identifying ecstasy's dangerous path Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:17 AM PDT In an important discovery in the battle against the United States' growing drug epidemic, an economist has found the Carolinas could be a hotspot for the trafficking and production of the drug Ecstasy.

Acupuncture reduces hot flashes for half of women, study finds Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:17 AM PDT Hot flashes – the bane of existence for many women during menopause – can be reduced in frequency by almost half for about 50 percent of women over eight weeks of acupuncture treatment, according to scientists.

Epigenetic clock predicts life expectancy Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:10 AM PDT Why do some people lead a perfectly healthy lifestyle yet still die young? A new international study suggests that the answer lies in our DNA.

Wireless, freely behaving rodent cage helps scientists collect more reliable data Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:10 AM PDT The EnerCage (Energized Cage) system is created for scientific experiments on awake, freely behaving small animals. It wirelessly powers electronic devices and sensors traditionally used during rodent research experiments, but without the use of interconnect wires or bulky batteries. Their goal is to create as natural an environment within the cage as possible for mice and rats in order for scientists to obtain consistent and reliable results.

Paper offers insight on antidepressant-induced female sexual dysfunction Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:08 AM PDT One in six women in the U.S. takes antidepressants to improve her well-being, but what is she to do when the medication that is meant to help disrupts another area of her life?

Solution blooming for fracking spills? Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:05 AM PDT Wastewater from oil drilling and hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – is often laden with salts and can spill, contaminating soils. In a recent study, researchers tested a method that extracted a large percentage of the salt present in soils contaminated by brine spills.

Breastfeeding saves mothers' lives, too, study shows Posted: 28 Sep 2016 11:05 AM PDT Breastfeeding is not only good for children, but also for their mothers, providing more health benefits and preventing more maternal diseases than previously known, new research shows.

Traveling through the body with graphene Posted: 28 Sep 2016 10:59 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded to place a layer of graphene on top of a stable fatty lipid monolayer, for the first time. Surrounded by a protective shell of lipids graphene could enter the body and function as a versatile sensor. The results are the first step towards such a shell, say authors of a new report.

Smoking fathers increase asthma-risk in future offspring Posted: 28 Sep 2016 10:59 AM PDT Offspring with a father who smoked prior to conception had more than three times higher chance of early-onset asthma than children whose father had never smoked. Both a father's early smoking debut and a father's longer smoking duration before conception increased non-allergic early-onset asthma in offspring. This suggests that not only the mother's environment plays a key role in child health, but also the father's lifestyle, shows a new study including 24,000 children.

Randomized trial suggests eating bread made with ancient grains could benefit heart health Posted: 28 Sep 2016 10:59 AM PDT Eating bread made with ancient grains could help lower cholesterol and blood glucose, a recent randomized trial suggests. Compared with modern grain varieties which are often heavily refined, ancient grains offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory profiles. They also contain beneficial vitamins (B and E), minerals (eg, magnesium, iron, potassium), which protect against chronic diseases.

Brain's biological clock stimulates thirst before sleep Posted: 28 Sep 2016 10:58 AM PDT The brain's biological clock stimulates thirst in the hours before sleep, according to a study. Scientists have known that rodents show a surge in water intake during the last two hours before sleep. The study now reveals that this behavior is not motivated by any physiological reason, such as dehydration. So if they don't need to drink water, why do they?

Study of North Atlantic Ocean reveals decline of leaded petrol emissions Posted: 28 Sep 2016 07:16 AM PDT A new study of lead pollution in the North Atlantic provides strong evidence that leaded petrol emissions have declined over the past few decades. For the first time in around 40 years, scientists have detected lead from natural sources in samples from this ocean. In the intervening period, the proportion of lead in the ocean from humanmade sources, most importantly leaded petrol emissions, had been so high that it was not possible to detect any lead from natural sources.

Depression in pregnancy increases risk of mental health problems in children Posted: 28 Sep 2016 07:11 AM PDT Depression in pregnancy increases the risk of behavioral and emotional problems in children, says a new review.

Mechanical behavior of tiny structures is affected by atomic defects Posted: 28 Sep 2016 06:44 AM PDT Scientists have measured the mechanics of tiny crystalline ceramics. Materials are made of atoms, and if they are arranged periodically, they are called crystalline structures. If the size of these crystalline structures is 1,000 times smaller than a single human hair diameter, then they are called nano-structures such as nano-rods, nano-wires, nano-ribbons, nano-belts etc.

Americas declared free of measles Posted: 28 Sep 2016 06:35 AM PDT The Region of the Americas is the first in the world to have eliminated measles, a viral disease that can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and even death. This achievement culminates a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella throughout the Americas.

Toward 'greener,' inexpensive solar cells Posted: 28 Sep 2016 06:22 AM PDT Solar panels are proliferating across the globe to help reduce the world's dependency on fossil fuels. But conventional panels are not without environmental costs, too. Now scientists report a new advance toward more practical, "greener" solar cells made with inexpensive halide perovskite materials. They have developed low-bandgap perovskite solar cells with a reduced lead content and a power conversion efficiency of 15 percent.

Diabetes in children is a chronic, but treatable, disease Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:34 AM PDT For those people living with diabetes, every day requires around-the-clock monitoring and management, explain experts. This daily monitoring can be a particular challenge for young people who also have to be attentive to when and what they eat and drink, as well as their activities at home, in school or while hanging out with friends. Even a minor ailment like a cold may require changes in the medical regimen because of the effect inflammation has on the blood sugar.

Time window to help people who have had a stroke longer than previously shown Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:34 AM PDT Time is of the essence when getting people stricken with acute ischemic strokes to treatment. Current professional guidelines recommend that stent retrievers be used to remove blood clots from stroke patients within six hours for people to benefit. But new research finds that the procedure has benefits for people up to 7.3 hours following the onset of a stroke.

Fungus makes mosquitoes much more likely to become infected with malaria Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:33 AM PDT A fungus that compromises the immune system of mosquitoes, making them more susceptible to infection with the parasite that causes malaria, has been discovered by scientists. Because environmental microorganisms can vary greatly from region to region, the researchers say the findings may help explain variations in the prevalence of malaria in different geographic areas.

New steel for better electric motors under development Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:33 AM PDT A new kind of steel for the motors in electric vehicles is now under development. The new steel would help make the motors smaller, lighter, more powerful and more cost effective.

Tracking the amount of sea ice from the Greenland ice sheet Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT By analyzing ice cores drilled from deep inside the Greenland ice sheet, researchers have started to calculate how much Arctic sea ice there was in the past.

Heart disease exercise program could work for bowel cancer patients Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT Could rehabilitation programs for heart disease patients be used to help people recovering from bowel cancer get back on their feet? That's the question cancer care experts have been exploring.

One fly to rule them all: Flies are the key pollinators of the High Arctic Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT Forget the view of the Arctic as an icy desert devoid of life. The Arctic summer is buzzing with insects -- and here as everywhere else, plants rely on them for pollination. But who are the insects driving the pollination services across the Arctic? A new study finds the biggest heroes among the most modest of animals: small flies related to our common house fly. This finding offers cause for concern, as arctic fly abundances are declining as the Arctic continues to warm.

Brown adipose tissue is able to secrete factors that activate fat and carbohydrate metabolism Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT Brown adipose tissue – the main organ generating heat in the body -- is also an endocrine organ that secretes signaling factors that activate the fat and carbohydrates metabolism, report scientists.

Climate change jigsaw puzzle: Antarctic pieces missing Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT A shift in westerly winds, which has led to climate impacts in Australia and the Southern Ocean, is human-induced, new research suggests. To date, limited data on Antarctic climate has meant that it's been difficult to disentangle changes caused by human activity from natural fluctuations.

Using low rolling resistance tires to counter traffic noise Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT Research shows that fitting tires with very low rolling resistance, combined with the right road surfacing, can provide just as much noise reduction as traditional noise barriers.

How choosy should you be? Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT When animals choose their mates, how discriminate they are varies a great deal. For some male Mormon crickets, any female will do; in contrast, blue peahens rarely fall for the first cock courting them. Across nature, all kinds of situations seem to occur (albeit with different frequencies): indiscriminate males and females, only choosy females, only choosy males, very choosy everybody, as well as any situation in between. In a recent study, researchers conclude that how choosy animals are is something that emerges predictably from the biology of each species and sex. This finding matters because choosiness is a key factor shaping the biodiversity of species. This, in turn, has implications for conservation.

Cystic Fibrosis: Ensuring adequate nutrition Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT People with cystic fibrosis (CF) need help to ensure they are getting correct nutrition and the right amount of enzymes. They also need constant reminders. Researchers are now developing a digital support device to promote autonomy, but are finding that this is no easy task.

Foreign farms increase the risk of conflicts in Africa Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT For the first time, researchers point to areas in Africa where foreign agricultural companies' choice of crops and management of fresh water are partly responsible for the increased water shortages and greater competition for water. This in turn increases the risk of outright conflicts between all those who need water – plants, animals and humans.

Antibiotics developed in 1960s show promise for TB therapy Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT First generation cephalosporins—antibiotics introduced as a treatment against bacterial infections in 1963—now show promise for tuberculosis (TB) therapy, according to new research. Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the most deadly infectious disease in the world. Standard TB therapy takes at least six months and patients infected with multi-drug resistant (MDR) or extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains undergo treatments that are even longer (up to 24 months). Treatment is often associated with severe side effects. Studies indicate that the cost of developing a new drug has soared to $2.6 billion.

New imaging technique in Alzheimer's disease opens up possibilities for new drug development Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:30 AM PDT Tau PET is a new and promising imaging method for Alzheimer's disease. A case study in Sweden now confirms that tau PET images correspond to a higher degree to actual changes in the brain. According to the researchers behind the study, this increases opportunities for developing effective drugs.

Scientists visualize quantum behavior of hot electrons for first time Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:29 AM PDT Scientists have, for the first time, identified a method of visualizing the quantum behavior of electrons on a surface. The findings present a promising step forward towards being able to manipulate and control the behavior of high energy, or 'hot', electrons.

A perfect sun-storm Posted: 28 Sep 2016 05:29 AM PDT A geomagnetic storm on January 17, 2013, provided unique observations that finally resolved a long-standing scientific problem. For decades, scientists had asked how particles hitting Earth's magnetosphere were lost. A likely mechanism involved certain electromagnetic waves scattering particles into the Earth's atmosphere. More recently, another mechanism was proposed that caused particles to be lost in interplanetary space. Scientists recently found that both mechanisms play a role affecting particles at different speeds.

Mass producing graphene using microwaves Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:53 PM PDT A simple new method for producing large quantities of the promising nanomaterial graphene has been discovered by an international team of researchers.

Groundbreaking study sheds light on treating cancer Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:52 PM PDT A new cancer treatment that uses red lights to target and kill cancer cells alternatively without surgery has been presented by researchers.

Blue stoplight to prevent runaway photosynthesis Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:52 PM PDT An international team using the green alga Chlamydomonas as a model has found a switch that triggers the suppression mechanism to prevent runaway photosynthesis. The switch is a blue light photoreceptor protein called phototropin.

Energy drink use, with or without alcohol, contributes to drunk driving Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:51 PM PDT Highly caffeinated energy drinks (EDs) have been of concern to the public-health community for almost a decade. Many young people consume EDs with alcohol to decrease alcohol's sedative effects and stay awake longer, enabling them to drink more alcohol. Adding to the growing body of research linking ED consumption with risk-taking and alcohol-related problems, this study examined its relationship with drunk driving. Importantly, the researchers differentiated between the different ways in which EDs are consumed: exclusively with alcohol, exclusively without alcohol, or both with and without alcohol depending on the occasion.

Forbidden fruit a fatal temptation for grizzly bears in southeastern British Columbia Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:51 PM PDT With its rustic small mountain towns, postcard-perfect vistas, and abundance of "pow" days, British Columbia's East Kootenay region has an undeniable lure for outdoor enthusiasts of all varieties—and the appeal extends beyond ski bums and hikers. The resource-rich Elk Valley (including the towns of Jaffray, Fernie, Elkford, and Sparwood) is also a highly desirable home for wildlife like grizzly bears which are drawn to the area's bountiful fruit supply.

Low cancer symptom awareness linked to lower chance of survival Posted: 27 Sep 2016 07:50 PM PDT In regions where cancer survival is poorer, people on average have lower awareness of cancer symptoms, according to new research.

Freezing technique is an effective alternative to lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer, study finds Posted: 27 Sep 2016 01:41 PM PDT A deep-freezing technique known as cryoablation is a viable alternative to traditional surgery in many early-stage breast cancers, researchers have found in a new clinical study.

Tackling obesity in rural communities Posted: 27 Sep 2016 01:40 PM PDT Currently, excess body weight contributes to as many as 1 in 5 cancer-related deaths. Obesity is associated with increased risk of at least eight types of cancer. Now obesity has been identified as a health risk that is "quickly overtaking tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer."

Optimization technique identifies cost-effective biodiversity corridors Posted: 27 Sep 2016 01:40 PM PDT A new optimization technique could help conservation biologists choose the most cost-effective ways of connecting isolated populations of rare, threatened and endangered species living in protected areas.

Sociologists examine shift from 'No Child Left Behind' to 'Children Left Behind' Posted: 27 Sep 2016 01:40 PM PDT Sociologists look back to 2007 to understand how the No Child Left Behind Act acquired an alternative meaning: "NCLB means children left behind."

Researchers modify yeast to show how plants respond to a key hormone Posted: 27 Sep 2016 01:40 PM PDT Researchers have developed a novel toolkit based on modified yeast cells to tease out how plant genes and proteins respond to auxin, the most ubiquitous plant hormone. Their system allowed them to decode auxin's basic effects on a diverse family of plant genes.

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