ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Live cell imaging using a smartphone
• New drug could help prevent artery disease in high-risk patients
• A fertilizer dearth foiled animal evolution for eons?
• Inside the world of cell signaling: A G-protein breakthrough
• Researchers confirm molecule's role in kidney formation
• Why big brains are rare
• Atomic clock mimics long-sought synthetic magnetic state
• Dyslexics show a difference in sensory processing
• Store and supply: How the brain saves time
• Report finds additional radioactive materials in gas-well drill cuttings
• Music in the brain: The first imaging genetic study linking dopaminergic genes to music
• Ultra-small nanocavity advances technology for secure quantum-based data encryption
• Tattoos mark the spot for surgery, then disappear
• HIV patients have nearly twice the heart attack risk
• Report calls for improved methods to assess earthquake-caused soil liquefaction
• Vitamin D improves gut flora and metabolic syndrome
• Huntington's disease linked to dysfunction of brain structure
• Light powers new chemistry for old enzymes
• The challenge of defining maturity when the brain never stops changing
• Children can 'catch' social bias through non-verbal signals expressed by adults
• Epigenetic change ties mitochondrial dysfunction to tumor progression
• Honey, I shrunk the circuit
• Study finds 'striking' use of double mastectomy
• Understanding randomization of clinical trials crucial to success
• Cellular process behind premature aging discovered
• Magnetic force pulls baby reef fish back home
• Secret code language of bacteria revealed
• Fewer children per man than per woman
• New ultrasound technique is first to image inside live cells
• Female promiscuity in butterflies controls paternity
• Impact of climate change on microbial biodiversity
• Rejuvenating the brain's disposal system
• Artificial leaf as mini-factory for drugs
• Scientists crack genetic code determining leaf shape in cotton
• Food withdrawal results in stabilization of important tumor suppressor
• Driverless platoons: Analysis finds autonomous trucks that drive in packs could save time and fuel
• Scientists build bacteria-powered battery on single sheet of paper
• Routine drug screening should be part of primary care settings, study recommends
• One more piece in the puzzle of liver cancer identified
• Light-induced vesicle explosions to mimic cellular reactions
• Optical control of a neuroreceptor alleviates chronic pain
• Supercluster of galaxies near Milky Way
• For older adults, poor vision can lead to physical decline and cognitive problems
• Declining male offspring further imperil endangered flycatchers in southern California
• Nanoarray sniffs out and distinguishes multiple diseases
• Flame retardant exposure linked to income, BMI and household smoking
• RNA pathway plays key role in health, lifespan, fly study shows
• 'Glue' that makes plant cell walls strong could hold the key to wooden skyscrapers
• Threading the RSV vaccine needle
• Novel technique helps identify elusive molecules
• 133 new species described by the California Academy of Sciences in 2016
• High-severity wildfires complicate natural regeneration for California conifers
• For geriatric falls, 'brain speed' may matter more than lower limb strength
• Hope for metastatic prostate cancer patients: Targeted alpha therapy shows impressive results
• Graphene able to transport huge currents on the nano scale
• Chemistry research breakthrough that could improve nuclear waste recycling technologies
• Speeding up comprehension with grasping actions
• A cure for social anxiety disorders
• Addictive cravings still detectable after death
• Sex evolved to help future generations fight infection, scientists show

Live cell imaging using a smartphone Posted: 21 Dec 2016 11:13 AM PST A recent study shows how smartphones can be used to make movies of living cells, without the need for expensive equipment. The study makes it possible for laboratories around the world to do the same thing.

New drug could help prevent artery disease in high-risk patients Posted: 21 Dec 2016 11:13 AM PST Approximately 2,200 Americans die each day from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. The most common cause is blocked blood vessels that can no longer supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart and brain. A recent study has shown that a protein inhibitor drug prevents these blockages, and could be a new therapeutic approach to prevent heart attack, stroke and other diseases caused by blocked blood vessels.

A fertilizer dearth foiled animal evolution for eons? Posted: 21 Dec 2016 10:28 AM PST Earth was inhospitable to complex life for billions of years, practically suffocating evolution in a nearly oxygen-free environment. Then came a shift in phosphorus concentrations to ocean shallows, and after that, the evolution of complex life exploded, scientists report.

Inside the world of cell signaling: A G-protein breakthrough Posted: 21 Dec 2016 10:28 AM PST Scientists have few good methods for manipulating and investigating G-protein signaling. Now, scientists have developed small proteins to selectively block a certain type of G-protein signaling, creating a unique and powerful tool for studying cell processes that depend on this signaling.

Researchers confirm molecule's role in kidney formation Posted: 21 Dec 2016 10:28 AM PST A new discovery could help advance understanding to address issues such as birth defects and repair of the kidney after illness or injury, report scientists.

Why big brains are rare Posted: 21 Dec 2016 10:28 AM PST Do big-brained creatures steal energy for them from other organs or eat more to supply this expensive tissue? New work in large-brained fish suggests skimping elsewhere is not enough to meet the energy demands of an extreme brain.

Atomic clock mimics long-sought synthetic magnetic state Posted: 21 Dec 2016 10:27 AM PST Physicists have caused atoms in a gas to behave as if they possess unusual magnetic properties long sought in harder-to-study solid materials.

Dyslexics show a difference in sensory processing Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:55 AM PST Neuroscientists have discovered that a basic mechanism underlying sensory perception is deficient in individuals with dyslexia, according to new study. The brain typically adapts rapidly to sensory input, such as the sound of a person's voice or images of faces and objects, as a way to make processing more efficient. But for individuals with dyslexia, the researchers found that adaptation was on average about half that of those without the disorder.

Store and supply: How the brain saves time Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:55 AM PST Neurons in the brain store RNA molecules -- DNA gene copies -- in order to rapidly react to stimuli. This storage dramatically accelerates the production of proteins. This is one of the reasons why neurons in the brain can adapt quickly during learning processes.

Report finds additional radioactive materials in gas-well drill cuttings Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:55 AM PST Hydraulic fracturing has boosted US energy production while coming under scrutiny for its potential environmental impacts, mostly related to the wastewater the method generates. Now, a report takes a look at solid waste from horizontal gas wells. The study found that some well waste from the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania contained radioactive material not previously reported, with the potential for leaching from landfills into the environment.

Music in the brain: The first imaging genetic study linking dopaminergic genes to music Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Sounds, such as music and noise, are capable of reliably affecting individuals' moods and emotions, possibly by regulating brain dopamine, a neurotransmitter strongly involved in emotional behavior and mood regulation. However, the relationship of sound environments with mood and emotions is highly variable across individuals. A putative source of variability is genetic background, a study shows.

Ultra-small nanocavity advances technology for secure quantum-based data encryption Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a new type of light-enhancing optical cavity that is only 200 nanometers tall and 100 nanometers across. Their new nanoscale system represents a step toward brighter single-photon sources, which could help propel quantum-based encryption and a truly secure and future-proofed network.

Tattoos mark the spot for surgery, then disappear Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Tattoos aren't just for body art. They can have medical applications, too. Doctors are using them on patients to mark an area for future treatment -- particularly for non-melanoma skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma -- but the inks can cause problems. Now scientists have developed a better solution. In a new article, they report a new ink that glows only under certain light conditions and can disappear altogether after a period of time.

HIV patients have nearly twice the heart attack risk Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Current methods to predict the risk of heart attack and stroke vastly underestimate the risk in individuals with HIV, which is nearly double that of the general population, reports a new study. The higher risk exists even when virus is undetectable in blood because of antiretroviral drugs. Accurately predicting risk is vital for preventive treatment, say clinicians.

Report calls for improved methods to assess earthquake-caused soil liquefaction Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Effectively engineering infrastructure to protect life and to mitigate the economic, environmental, and social impacts of liquefaction requires the ability to accurately assess the likelihood of liquefaction and its consequences. A new report evaluates existing field, laboratory, physical model, and analytical methods for assessing liquefaction and its consequences, and recommends how to account for and reduce the uncertainties associated with the use of these methods.

Vitamin D improves gut flora and metabolic syndrome Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST A high fat diet alone is not enough to cause metabolic syndrome, a group of symptoms that pose as risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. This recent study shows it is needed in combination with vitamin D deficiency. Accordingly, vitamin D supplementation improves metabolic syndrome in mice. The next step would be to validate the results in humans.

Huntington's disease linked to dysfunction of brain structure Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Scientists have identified a link between Huntington's disease and dysfunction of the subthalamic nucleus, a component of the basal ganglia, a group of brain structures critical for movement and impulse control.

Light powers new chemistry for old enzymes Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a method that irradiates biological enzymes with light to expand their highly efficient and selective capacity for catalysis to new chemistry.

The challenge of defining maturity when the brain never stops changing Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Neuroscientists don't know when your brain is a legal adult. While the law has to draw a line between adolescence and maturity, ranging globally from 10 to the early 20s, different parts of the brain mature at different rates, rather than growing up entirely overnight. A psychologist now argues that using current neuroscience tools to define when a brain 'reaches maturity' is much trickier than it may seem.

Children can 'catch' social bias through non-verbal signals expressed by adults Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Preschool-age children can learn bias through nonverbal signals displayed by adults and are likely to generalize that learned bias to other people, research shows. The findings point to a mechanism for the creation of racial bias and other biases in society.

Epigenetic change ties mitochondrial dysfunction to tumor progression Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:54 AM PST Scientists have identified a mechanism by which mitochondria can drive changes in nuclear gene expression that are associated with tumor progression.

Honey, I shrunk the circuit Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:46 AM PST It's possible to make transistors and diodes from advanced semiconductor materials that could perform much better than silicon, the workhorse of the modern electronics world, researchers have shown.

Study finds 'striking' use of double mastectomy Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:45 AM PST Nearly half of early stage breast cancer patients considered having double mastectomy and one in six received it – including many who were at low risk of developing a second breast cancer, a new study finds.

Understanding randomization of clinical trials crucial to success Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:45 AM PST A research team analyzed linguistic approaches to help cancer patients better comprehend the concept of randomization, being assigned by chance to treatment or control groups, in clinical trials.

Cellular process behind premature aging discovered Posted: 21 Dec 2016 09:34 AM PST In a new study, scientists have shown how two genes "balance" each other to maintain normal cell function. A disruption in one of the genes, called spns1, can induce degradation and premature "senescence"--or aging--while the other gene, called atp6v0ca, can jump in to suppress that degradation.

Magnetic force pulls baby reef fish back home Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST Baby reef fish have an internal magnetic 'compass' that directs them home at night, world-first research has revealed.

Secret code language of bacteria revealed Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST Antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a growing global challenge. Researchers have now discovered that bacteria use a code language to avoid being controlled. Understanding this code language will be paramount to developing new antibiotics in the future.

Fewer children per man than per woman Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST Men on average have fewer children than women and have them later in life. Differences are especially strong in eastern Germany, where men set a new world record for low fertility.

New ultrasound technique is first to image inside live cells Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST Researchers have developed a breakthrough technique that uses sound rather than light to see inside live cells, with potential application in stem-cell transplants and cancer diagnosis.

Female promiscuity in butterflies controls paternity Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST The eggs of some butterfly and moth species vary to give females control over the paternity of their offspring, according to new research. The new study reveals for the first time that the number and location of micropyles (small openings in the outer surface of a female insect's eggs which allow sperm to enter) are driven by a degree of female promiscuity.

Impact of climate change on microbial biodiversity Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:13 AM PST New research indicates that the impact of climate change on biodiversity depends on how much human beings have already affected the environment.

Rejuvenating the brain's disposal system Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:12 AM PST A characteristic feature of Alzheimer's disease is the presence of so called amyloid plaques in the patient's brain -- aggregates of misfolded proteins that clump together and damage nerve cells. Researchers have now discovered a strategy to help the brain remove amyloid plaques.

Artificial leaf as mini-factory for drugs Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:12 AM PST To produce drugs sustainably and cheaply, anywhere you want. Whether in the middle of the jungle or even on Mars. A 'mini-factory' whereby sunlight can be captured to make chemical products. Inspired by the art of nature where leaves are able to collect enough sunlight to produce food, chemical engineers have presented such a scenario. Their prototype reactor is consciously shaped as a leaf

Scientists crack genetic code determining leaf shape in cotton Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:12 AM PST Researchers know that the variation in leaf shapes can mean big differences in a farmer's bottom line. Now, a new discovery gives plant breeders key genetic information they need to develop crop varieties that make the most of these leaf-shape differences.

Food withdrawal results in stabilization of important tumor suppressor Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:12 AM PST Tumor suppressors stop healthy cells from becoming cancerous. Researchers have found that p53, one of the most important tumor suppressors, accumulates in liver after food withdrawal.

Driverless platoons: Analysis finds autonomous trucks that drive in packs could save time and fuel Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:12 AM PST Engineers have studied a simple vehicle-platooning scenario and determined the best ways to deploy vehicles in order to save fuel and minimize delays. Their analysis shows that relatively simple, straightforward schedules may be the optimal approach for saving fuel and minimizing delays for autonomous vehicle fleets. The findings may also apply to conventional long-distance trucking and even ride-sharing services.

Scientists build bacteria-powered battery on single sheet of paper Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:06 AM PST Researchers have created a bacteria-powered battery on a single sheet of paper that can power disposable electronics. The manufacturing technique reduces fabrication time and cost, and the design could revolutionize the use of bio-batteries as a power source in remote, dangerous and resource-limited areas.

Routine drug screening should be part of primary care settings, study recommends Posted: 21 Dec 2016 08:06 AM PST Drug misuse is so prevalent in Tijuana and East Los Angeles that community clinics in those areas should routinely screen for it, suggest experts.

One more piece in the puzzle of liver cancer identified Posted: 21 Dec 2016 07:24 AM PST Scientists are one step closer to unraveling the mechanisms behind liver cancer. The researchers discovered that RAF1, a protein known as an oncogene in other systems, unexpectedly acts as a tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Light-induced vesicle explosions to mimic cellular reactions Posted: 21 Dec 2016 07:21 AM PST Cells are the site of a multitude of chemical reactions, the precision of which is envied by scientists. A team of researchers has neared this level of control by controlling the explosion of polymersomes through laser irradiation. These hollow polymer spheres, which can mimic certain cellular functions, react to a specific wavelength and thus release their content on demand.

Optical control of a neuroreceptor alleviates chronic pain Posted: 21 Dec 2016 07:21 AM PST Pain serves as a valuable warning signal, but when it becomes chronic, pain should be considered as a real disease. An international team has identified and controlled one of the centers associated with chronic pain. This work made it possible to relieve the symptoms in mice and demonstrated the ability of the brain to remedy this problem.

Supercluster of galaxies near Milky Way Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST Astronomers have found one of the Universe's biggest superclusters of galaxies near the Milky Way. The Vela supercluster, which had previously gone undetected as it was hidden by stars and dust in the Milky Way, is a huge mass that influenced the motion of our Galaxy.

For older adults, poor vision can lead to physical decline and cognitive problems Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST When older adult's vision declines sharply, their participation in physical and mental activities also declines. A team of researchers has suggested that, since most vision loss is preventable, strategies to postpone vision loss might also help delay physical and mental decline among older adults.

Declining male offspring further imperil endangered flycatchers in southern California Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST A new study documents the steep decline of a population of endangered southwestern willow flycatchers over 16 years -- and the change in the sex ratio that has left the birds' future hanging on a dwindling number of males.

Nanoarray sniffs out and distinguishes multiple diseases Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST Before modern medical lab techniques became available, doctors diagnosed some diseases by smelling a patient's breath. Scientists have been working for years to develop analytical instruments that can mimic this sniff-and-diagnose ability. Now, researchers report that they have identified a unique 'breathprint' for each disease. Using this information, they have designed a device that screens breath samples to classify and diagnose several types of diseases.

Flame retardant exposure linked to income, BMI and household smoking Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST A class of flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been phased out of production in the US out of concern for their potential neurotoxic effects, particularly in young children. But the compounds persist in older furniture, plastics and textiles, and in dust. Now a new report examines the factors that help predict which children could be at a higher risk for exposure to these compounds.

RNA pathway plays key role in health, lifespan, fly study shows Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST The piRNA pathway was thought to be most active in the reproductive organs of animals, but researchers have discovered in the common fruit fly that the pathway also operates in a non-reproductive body tissue, playing a vital role in maintaining health and lifespan.

'Glue' that makes plant cell walls strong could hold the key to wooden skyscrapers Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST Molecules 10,000 times narrower than the width of a human hair could hold the key to making possible wooden skyscrapers and more energy-efficient paper production, according to new research. The study solves a long-standing mystery of how key sugars in cells bind to form strong, indigestible materials.

Threading the RSV vaccine needle Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:14 AM PST Crafting a vaccine against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), a common cause of lung infections in infants, has been a minefield for 50 years. Researchers have now engineered a version of RSV that is highly attenuated, yet potent in its ability to induce protective antibodies.

Novel technique helps identify elusive molecules Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:13 AM PST A clever means of identifying carbohydrate molecules quickly and accurately has been developed by researchers. The results of his research pave the way for a new generation of analytic tools capable of ferreting out carbohydrates for diagnosis and eventual treatment of many diseases.

133 new species described by the California Academy of Sciences in 2016 Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:13 AM PST In 2016, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added new plant and animal species to our family tree. The new species include one bee fly, 43 ants, 36 beetles, one sand wasp, four spiders, six plants, 23 fishes, one eel, one shark, seven nudibranchs, five fossil urchins (and one fossil sand dollar), one coral, one skate, one African lizard, and an alarming new bird virus.

High-severity wildfires complicate natural regeneration for California conifers Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:13 AM PST A study spanning 10 national forests and 14 burned areas in California found that conifer seedlings were found in less than 60 percent of the study areas five to seven years after fire. Of the nearly 1,500 plots surveyed, nearly half showed no natural conifer regeneration at all. The study provides tool to help foresters prioritize their efforts.

For geriatric falls, 'brain speed' may matter more than lower limb strength Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST It's not only risk factors like lower limb strength and precise perception of the limb's position that determine if a geriatric patient will recover from a perturbation, but also complex and simple reaction times, say researchers.

Hope for metastatic prostate cancer patients: Targeted alpha therapy shows impressive results Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:02 AM PST Nearly three years of research have brought about remarkable results for the majority of 80 patients subjected to targeted alpha therapy of metastatic prostate cancer. The first assessments describes a full response in two patients in critical clinical condition with extensive metastases.

Graphene able to transport huge currents on the nano scale Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:02 AM PST New experiments have shown that it is possible for extremely high currents to pass through graphene, a form of carbon. This allows imbalances in electric charge to be rapidly rectified.

Chemistry research breakthrough that could improve nuclear waste recycling technologies Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:01 AM PST Researchers have taken a major step forward by describing the quantitative modelling of the electronic structure of a family of uranium nitride compounds – a process that could in the future help with nuclear waste recycling technologies.

Speeding up comprehension with grasping actions Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:01 AM PST Hearing or seeing a word doesn't mean that it is immediately understood. The brain must first recognize the letters as such, put them together, and "look up" what the word means in its mental lexicon. In an experiment, cognitive psychologists have shown how word comprehension can be sped up – namely by having study participants grasp objects while reading at the same time.

A cure for social anxiety disorders Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:01 AM PST Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder of our time. But the current treatment regimen for patients with this diagnosis has not proven very effective. Now a team of researchers believes they have found a cure for social anxiety disorders.

Addictive cravings still detectable after death Posted: 21 Dec 2016 06:01 AM PST A protein known as FosB in the reward centre of the brain alters in chronically ill people suffering from an addictive disorder (e.g. heroin addiction): it is genetically modified, split off and shortened. This modification under the stimulus of the drug results in the protein being more stable and therefore remaining longer in this part of the brain than in its original form – even as much as several weeks after withdrawal of the drug.  This means that a craving for this stimulus persists. This addictive craving is stored in a sort of "memory" function and, surprisingly, can still be detected after death.

Sex evolved to help future generations fight infection, scientists show Posted: 20 Dec 2016 07:01 PM PST Why does sex exist when organisms that clone themselves use less time and energy, and do not need a mate to produce offspring? Researchers aiming to answer this age-old question have discovered that sex can help the next generation resist infection.

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