ScienceDaily: Top News

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• How financing constraints affect workplace safety
• Genetics of African Khoesan populations maps to Kalahari Desert geography
• Drinking to belong: Students and low self-esteem
• Age before youth: Older cranes lead the way to new migration patterns
• European earthworms decrease species diversity in North America
• Butterflies: Agonistic display or courtship behavior?
• An exceptional palaeontological site going back 100,000 years is unearthed in Arrasate
• Scientists have discovered a specific molecular biomarker for malignant melanoma
• Gamblers more prone to violent behavior
• Young people exposed to vaping ads less likely to think occasional smoking bad for health
• Scientists discover what extraordinary compounds may be hidden inside Uranus and Neptune
• Browsing antelope turned ancient African forests into grassy savanna ecosystems
• Twin study helps unravel the genetic blueprint of the human brain
• Nutrient pollution is changing sounds in the sea
• Single HIV mutation induces distinct T cell immune responses
• Fungi contribute to delayed healing of chronic wounds
• Common bacteria show promise for treating celiac disease
• New treatment may help those with rare immune cancers
• It may be time to abandon dreaded digital rectal exam, research shows
• High quality evidence suggests Vitamin D can reduce asthma attacks
• Working from home loses its appeal over time for both companies and employees
• Tourism is threatening Arthur Conan Doyle's lost world
• A minimalist theory to predict protein movements
• New tool can calculate renewable energy output anywhere in the world
• Hypertension: Releasing the pressure at its source
• Nanotechnology supports treatment of malignant melanoma
• Food allergies: Allergic to soy?
• CRF overexpression increases anxiety in primates
• Killing germs with electron beams
• Doughnut in a cage holds the key to bacteria's survival
• Deaths from ovarian cancer decline worldwide due to oral contraceptive use
• Increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia with hospital admission during school holidays
• Early life exposure to antibiotics is related to increased risk of allergies later in life
• Obesity linked to improved survival in kidney cancer
• Global warming data not enough to predict animal extinction, lizard study finds
• Promising drug leads identified to combat heart disease
• Heavy burden of EHRs could contribute to physician burnout
• African fishers undertake highly risky expeditions to make a living
• Tumor microenvironment acts as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy
• Most parents rely on outdated advice when caring for a child with concussion
• Sex in later life: Better for women than men?
• Super-resolution microscope builds 3-D images by mapping negative space
• A new angle on anxiety
• 'Traffic jam' in brain linked to common cognitive disorder
• Helpers for energy acquisition from plants
• Blue coral snake, calliophis bivirgata: A mysterious beauty armed with exotic toxins
• Medicinal properties of tropical fruit 'asam keping'
• Getting real with nanotubes
• Women do ask for pay rises but don’t get them
• Suicide prevention's front line: Family and friends
• Detecting forest fragility with satellites
• New technology for remotely mapping beaches
• Heredity a major factor in ADHD, binge eating and alcohol dependence
• Was a researcher just served a world first CRISPR meal?
• New HIF-2 kidney cancer therapy more effective than current treatment, study shows
• During drought, dry air can stress plants more than dry soil

How financing constraints affect workplace safety Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:38 AM PDT A new study has examined how financing constraints impact workplace safety and the implications for firm value and employee welfare.

Genetics of African Khoesan populations maps to Kalahari Desert geography Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:38 AM PDT Geography and ecology are key factors that have influenced the genetic makeup of human groups in southern Africa, according to new research. By investigating the ancestries of twenty-two KhoeSan groups, researchers conclude that the genetic clustering of southern African populations is closely tied to the ecogeography of the Kalahari Desert region.

Drinking to belong: Students and low self-esteem Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT It's that time of year again, when students old and new are heading to university. Certain behaviors might be expected in the coming months, drinking in particular. Drinking is widespread among student populations, whether for social enrichment or the need to conform. However, many college students experience the darker side of binge drinking; violence, unsafe sex or poor academic performance. New research examines motivations for drinking in students with low self-esteem, finding that these individuals indulge far more than their more confident peers.

Age before youth: Older cranes lead the way to new migration patterns Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:37 AM PDT Whooping cranes are changing migration patterns in response to climate and land use change, and these new patterns are being determined by the older, more experienced, members of the population, say researchers.

European earthworms decrease species diversity in North America Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT European earthworms invading the forests of North America are responsible for a decline in species diversity in the forest understory. Scientists have now been able to demonstrate this general pattern for the first time. In invaded forests, the vegetation on the forest floor has changed dramatically: The species diversity of native plants is declining, yet the amount of non-native (exotic) plants is increasing, and so is the amount of grasses.

Butterflies: Agonistic display or courtship behavior? Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT A study shows that contests of butterflies occur only as erroneous courtships between sexually active males that are unable to distinguish the sex of the other butterflies.

An exceptional palaeontological site going back 100,000 years is unearthed in Arrasate Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT An important site containing at least 40 species reflecting fauna during the Upper Pleistocenewas discovered in 2012 by quarry workers after carrying out a blasting operation. When they spotted the presence of a great many fossil remains in the clay that filled the cave, they halted the works. After confirming the importance of the site, researchers decided in 2013 to carry out an emergency excavation to retrieve the bone remains.

Scientists have discovered a specific molecular biomarker for malignant melanoma Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT Melanoma is one of the types of cancer that poses the greatest challenge to researchers because it manifests itself in many ways, it contains a large number of mutations and displays high metastatic capacity. To date, clinicians mostly base their diagnosis on observation, such as by measuring thickness: a tumor depth of only two millimeters implied a poor prognosis.

Gamblers more prone to violent behavior Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT Men who gamble are more likely to act violently towards others, with the most addicted gamblers the most prone to serious violence. A new study found that gambling in any capacity -- pathological, problem, or so-called casual gambling -- related to significantly increased risk of violence, including domestic abuse.

Young people exposed to vaping ads less likely to think occasional smoking bad for health Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:33 AM PDT Exposure to advertisements for e-cigarettes may decrease the perceived health risks of occasional tobacco smoking, suggests new research, prompting concern that this may lead more young people to experiment with smoking.

Scientists discover what extraordinary compounds may be hidden inside Uranus and Neptune Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that the depths of Uranus, Neptune and their satellites may contain extraordinary compounds, such as Carbonic and Orthocarbonic acids (the latter also known as Hitler's acid).It is no accident researchers have chosen these planets as a subject for their research. These gas giants consist mainly of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, which are the three cornerstones of organic chemistry.

Browsing antelope turned ancient African forests into grassy savanna ecosystems Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT By comparing the timing of the evolution of thorns on about 2,000 woody tree species in southern Africa and the time that antelopes arrived in Africa, a group of scientists found that trees like African acacias evolved thorns as a defense mechanism at exactly the same time that antelope arrived in Africa.

Twin study helps unravel the genetic blueprint of the human brain Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT Researchers have found a strong genetic contribution to almost all cortical and subcortical brain structures, and have identified three clusters of genetically related structures. The research paves the way for a genetic blueprint of the human brain and better understanding of normal brain development, cognitive functioning and age-related diseases.

Nutrient pollution is changing sounds in the sea Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT Nutrient pollution emptying into seas from cities, towns and agricultural land is changing the sounds made by marine life -- and potentially upsetting navigational cues for fish and other sea creatures, a new study has found.

Single HIV mutation induces distinct T cell immune responses Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that a single T cell-selected HIV mutation can produce different T cell adaptations. The finding demonstrates that the complexity of the HIV/T cell co-evolution is much higher than previously thought.

Fungi contribute to delayed healing of chronic wounds Posted: 06 Sep 2016 07:31 AM PDT Fungal communities found in chronic wounds can form mixed bacterial-fungal biofilms and can be associated with poor outcomes and longer healing times, researchers have discovered. Their report is the first deep characterization of the fungi found in diabetic foot ulcers.

Common bacteria show promise for treating celiac disease Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:58 AM PDT Researchers have isolated an enzyme from bacteria present in human saliva that has potential as a therapy for celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disorder that causes severe digestive and other health problems among sufferers when they consume gluten.

New treatment may help those with rare immune cancers Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:58 AM PDT New research may help those with advanced mastocytosis and possibly many more people. Mastocytosis is a rare disease of the immune system in which the body produces too many abnormal mast cells. Mast cells control allergic and inflammatory responses. Research on a new drug shows that it may prolong life significantly and improve quality of life.

It may be time to abandon dreaded digital rectal exam, research shows Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:58 AM PDT The dreaded finger exam to check for prostate cancer used to be a mainstay of check-ups for older men. With its value now in question, some doctors share the risks and benefits with their patients and let them decide. So, should they or shouldn't they? Research suggests that in most cases, it is time to abandon the test.

High quality evidence suggests Vitamin D can reduce asthma attacks Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:56 AM PDT New research has found evidence from randomized trials, that taking an oral vitamin D supplement in addition to standard asthma medication is likely to reduce severe asthma attacks. Asthma is a common chronic disease affecting about 300 million people worldwide. The symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Low blood levels of vitamin D have been linked to increased risk of asthma attacks in children and adults with asthma. There has been a growing interest in the potential role of vitamin D in asthma management because it might help to reduce upper respiratory infections, (such as the common cold) that can lead to exacerbations of asthma. Several clinical trials have tested whether taking vitamin D as a supplement has an effect on asthma attacks, symptoms and lung function in children and adults with asthma.

Working from home loses its appeal over time for both companies and employees Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:55 AM PDT The benefits of working from home disappear over time for both employees and organizations if it is a full-time arrangement, a new study has found.

Tourism is threatening Arthur Conan Doyle's lost world Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:55 AM PDT The Guiana mountain tops – an wide area of tabular highlands and high cliffs with tepuis - are threatened by the impact of human activity, specially tourism, according to the warnings of researchers.

A minimalist theory to predict protein movements Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:55 AM PDT Proteins are large molecules that carry out all basic cell functions. In order to achieve this, they continually change shape by expanding or contracting parts; they hide surfaces or reveal them to interaction with other molecules. However, these changes are very difficult to observe and the methods used by scientists to study them involve costly simulations performed in supercomputers. A new study has now allowed the development of a much simpler method that permits equally precise predictions and can be done on a standard PC.

New tool can calculate renewable energy output anywhere in the world Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:55 AM PDT An interactive web tool to estimate the amount of energy that could be generated by wind or solar farms at any location has now been created by researchers.

Hypertension: Releasing the pressure at its source Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:52 AM PDT Researchers are eyeing the first new anti-hypertensive drug treatment strategy in more than 15 years, having identified a potential new way of treating high blood pressure, or hypertension, by targeting aberrant nerve signals in the carotid bodies, which sit on the common carotid arteries on each side of the neck.

Nanotechnology supports treatment of malignant melanoma Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:52 AM PDT Changes in the genetic make-up of tissue samples can be detected quickly and easily using a new method based on nanotechnology. A new study in first clinical tests with genetic mutations in patients with malignant melanoma.

Food allergies: Allergic to soy? Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:52 AM PDT Food allergies have been on the increase for years. There is currently only one solution for patients: avoid allergy-triggering products. Researchers are making an important contribution to consumer protection by developing methods to specifically and reliably detect allergenic substances in foods. In addition, they are helping to establish processes that reduce the allergy-triggering properties of food ingredients. Their research work focuses on soy.

CRF overexpression increases anxiety in primates Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:51 AM PDT Overexpression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a stress-related gene, increases anxious temperament in monkeys, new research indicates. The findings provide a direct link in primates between alterations in stress-related systems in the brain and the development of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders often begin early in life and anxious temperament during childhood is considered a risk for later development of anxiety and depression.

Killing germs with electron beams Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:51 AM PDT Medical products, packaging and food can be safely and efficiently sterilized with electron beams. In the future, researchers also plan to use accelerated electrons to eliminate germs from tissue transplants and to change the properties of the organic material in the process.

Doughnut in a cage holds the key to bacteria's survival Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:51 AM PDT Scientists have shed new light on how bacteria survive – they rely on a doughnut. The researchers found that bacteria have a unique doughnut-shaped protein that sits in a cage inside their cells to help them store potentially dangerous iron. They believe this discovery could lead to innovations in medical imaging and could even be used to track cancer cells, or look for damage caused by heart disease.

Deaths from ovarian cancer decline worldwide due to oral contraceptive use Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:50 AM PDT Deaths from ovarian cancer fell worldwide between 2002 and 2012 and are predicted to continue to decline in the USA, European Union and, though to a smaller degree, in Japan by 2020, according to new research. The main reason is the use of oral contraceptives and the long-term protection against ovarian cancer that they provide.

Increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia with hospital admission during school holidays Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:50 AM PDT A new study shows that adults admitted to hospital during school holidays are 38 percent more likely to have pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia than those admitted during term time.

Early life exposure to antibiotics is related to increased risk of allergies later in life Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:50 AM PDT New research shows that exposure to antibiotics early in life is related to increased risk of developing allergies later in life.

Obesity linked to improved survival in kidney cancer Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:50 AM PDT Obesity almost always increases cancer risk and worsens outcomes, but researchers report that overweight patients with advanced kidney cancer had significantly longer survival than those who were normal or underweight.

Global warming data not enough to predict animal extinction, lizard study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:49 AM PDT Current models used to predict the survival of species in a warming world might be off target because they ignore the spatial distribution of shade, report scientists.

Promising drug leads identified to combat heart disease Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:49 AM PDT Using a unique computational approach to rapidly sample, in millisecond time intervals, proteins in their natural state of gyrating, bobbing, and weaving, a research team has identified promising drug leads that may selectively combat heart disease, from arrhythmias to cardiac failure.

Heavy burden of EHRs could contribute to physician burnout Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT For every hour physicians provide direct clinical face time to patients, nearly two additional hours is spent on electronic health records (EHRs) and other clerical work within the clinic day. Experts say this may be contributing to their burnout.

African fishers undertake highly risky expeditions to make a living Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Fishers in Central Africa often cover hundreds of miles in very basic boats without engines searching for food to feed their families and make a living, a new study shows.

Tumor microenvironment acts as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Researchers have discovered the importance of tumor environment as a source of resistance to treatment in colorectal cancer, the fourth most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

Most parents rely on outdated advice when caring for a child with concussion Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Many parents would rely on outdated advice when caring for a child with a concussion, inadvertently making matters worse, a new survey reveals. The survey asked 569 parents nationwide what measures they would take if their child's concussion symptoms lasted for more than a week.

Sex in later life: Better for women than men? Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Having sex frequently -- and enjoying it -- puts older men at higher risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. For older women, however, good sex may actually lower the risk of hypertension.

Super-resolution microscope builds 3-D images by mapping negative space Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated a method for making 3-D images of structures in biological material under natural conditions at a much higher resolution than other existing methods. The method may help shed light on how cells communicate with one another and provide important insights for engineers working to develop artificial organs such as skin or heart tissue.

A new angle on anxiety Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT Clinical anxiety affects up to 30 percent of Americans who are in great need of better treatments with fewer side effects. A study finds that certain neurons in the hypothalamus play a central, previously unknown role in triggering anxiety.

'Traffic jam' in brain linked to common cognitive disorder Posted: 06 Sep 2016 05:48 AM PDT A brain MRI could help improve the diagnosis of people with a common type of cognitive disorder, according to a new study. Vascular cognitive disorder is caused by disease of the vessels supplying blood to the brain. Strokes and transient ischemic attacks, or ministrokes, are risk factors. The resulting loss of healthy brain tissue adversely affects concentration and decision making and leads to problems with planning and organizing.

Helpers for energy acquisition from plants Posted: 05 Sep 2016 12:02 PM PDT Research into plant cells is far from complete. Scientists have now succeeded in describing the function of chloroplasts in more detail. These are plant and algal cell structures that are responsible for photosynthesis.

Blue coral snake, calliophis bivirgata: A mysterious beauty armed with exotic toxins Posted: 05 Sep 2016 10:02 AM PDT Toxicologists in Malaysia published the first report on the venom proteome correlating toxic functionalities of the Malayan blue coral snake, an exotic species from the country. The toxins are unique among snakes and have deep implication on antivenom production and drug discovery.

Medicinal properties of tropical fruit 'asam keping' Posted: 05 Sep 2016 10:02 AM PDT The fruit of the 'asam keping' tree can be used to prevent atherosclerosis - that is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries -, according to research.

Getting real with nanotubes Posted: 05 Sep 2016 10:02 AM PDT Carbon nanotubes show potential, but also many challenges, for the manufacture of flexible, wearable electronics, according to a research review.

Women do ask for pay rises but don’t get them Posted: 05 Sep 2016 10:00 AM PDT New research shows that women ask for wage rises just as often as men, but men are 25 per cent more likely to get a raise when they ask.

Suicide prevention's front line: Family and friends Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:48 AM PDT A suicide prevention hotline clinician says knowing the warning signs and what to say could save lives. Each year, close to 43,000 Americans die by suicide, and for the past two decades, suicide rates have been on the rise in the United States, particularly among men aged 45 to 64 and girls aged 10 to 14 -- a demographic whose rates have tripled since 1999.

Detecting forest fragility with satellites Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:48 AM PDT Over the past decades forests in different parts of the world have suffered sudden massive tree mortality. Now an international team of scientists has found a way to spot from satellite images which forests may be most likely to fall prey to such die-off events.

New technology for remotely mapping beaches Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:48 AM PDT The depth and pattern of sediment on the floor of intertidal zones changes daily, yet understanding where this sediment resides is vital to being able to better manage coastal areas. Science and industry will now be able to map beaches and sandbanks without getting any feet wet, following three years of collaborative research resulting in a new commercial license to sell new coastal mapping technology.

Heredity a major factor in ADHD, binge eating and alcohol dependence Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:48 AM PDT It is mostly hereditary factors that lie behind adults with ADHD often developing alcohol dependence and binge eating, concludes new research. Since heredity plays such a large role, it is important that ADHD is treated at an early stage, and that measures are taken to prevent individuals developing these disorders later in life.

Was a researcher just served a world first CRISPR meal? Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:47 AM PDT For (probably) the first time ever, plants modified with the "genetic scissors" CRISPR-Cas9 has been cultivated, harvested and cooked. D professor in Plant Cell and Molecular Biology served pasta with "CRISPRy" vegetable fry to a radio reporter. Although the meal only fed two people, it was still the first step towards a future where science can better provide farmers and consumers across the world with healthy, beautiful and hardy plants.

New HIF-2 kidney cancer therapy more effective than current treatment, study shows Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:45 AM PDT A new class of drugs called HIF-2 inhibitors is more effective and better tolerated than the standard of care drug sunitinib in treating kidney cancer, researchers have found.

During drought, dry air can stress plants more than dry soil Posted: 05 Sep 2016 08:45 AM PDT Newly published research finds that low relative humidity in the atmosphere is a significant, growing and often under-appreciated cause of plant stress in hot, dry weather conditions. The finding suggests that models used to gauge the impact of drought on ecosystems should be refined to more accurately account for the role of low atmospheric humidity.

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