ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Mapping the mind of worms
• Study provides new evidence on role of person-to person transmission in drug-resistant TB
• Intense industrial fishing
• Could better eye training help reduce concussion in women's soccer?
• Researchers discover greenhouse bypass for nitrogen
• Too much sitting, too little exercise may accelerate biological aging
• Small intestine GIST associated with better prognosis in younger patients
• Mississippi River: Reviving floodplain to reduce Gulf of Mexico's dead zone
• Study identifies molecular signal for maintaining adult neuron
• Global threat to primates concerns us all
• Soft robot helps the heart beat
• Prehistoric mega-lake sediment offers key insight into how inland regions responded to ‘super-greenhouse’ event
• Novel mechanism identified that protects pancreas from digestive enzymes
• Magnetic recording with light and no heat
• A toolkit for transformable materials
• 'Collateral' lethality may offer new therapeutic approach for cancers of the pancreas, stomach and colon
• International effort announced to try to save the world's most endangered marine mammal
• Toxic brain cells may drive many neurodegenerative disorders, study finds
• Traffic jam in empty space
• Super-resolution imaging offers fast way to discern fate of stem cells
• Which facebook 'friends' help most when looking for a job? Depends where you live in the world
• Heat from earth’s core could be underlying force in plate tectonics
• Massive sea lion, fur seal hunting in the Patagonian coasts is altering Southern Atlantic Ocean ecosystems
• Severe side effects of approved multiple sclerosis medication
• Heartbeat could be used as password to access electronic health records
• Gestational diabetes increases risk for postpartum depression
• Study finds new target for controlling cell division
• Researcher examines effect of exercise on breast cancer survivors
• Deep-space mission to metal asteroid
• 2016 warmest year on record globally, NASA and NOAA data show
• New data show heightened risk of birth defects with antidepressants prescribed during pregnancy
• New broad-spectrum antiviral protein can inhibit HIV, other pathogens in some primates
• Vitamin B-12, and a knockoff version, create complex market for marine vitamins
• Luminescent proteins provide color to ecological and cheap bio-displays
• Harnessing the energy of fireworks for fuel
• Toward a 'smart' patch that automatically delivers insulin when needed
• What's behind the durian fruit's notorious stench?
• Cancer treatment for transplant patients discovered
• Protein involved in blood clotting stimulates liver repair
• Northern Quebec lichen yields two unique molecules and several antibacterial compounds
• Researchers develop ways to improve machining, milling processes
• Delirium could accelerate dementia-related mental decline
• Swamphens signal dominance through fleshy faces
• Five-minute chats in the waiting room may prompt families to eat more fruits, vegetables
• In Rett syndrome model, team shows how adult learning is impaired in females
• Talking to children about STEM fields boosts test scores and career interest
• Adoptees advantaged by birth language memory
• Highly gifted children benefit from explanation as much as their peers
• Nanofibers developed for healing bone fractures
• New avenue for anti-depressant therapy discovered
• Finding ways to fix the climate before it is too late
• Milestone in graphene production
• A big nano boost for solar cells
• Heavy alcohol use in adolescence alters brain electrical activity
• 'Bring it back,' but within bounds: Retrieval strains the forelimbs of dogs
• New insights in genetic defect allow prevention of fatal illnesses in children
• Food security threatened by sea-level rise
• New reconstruction of an ancient ice sheet
• Pitching in: Biologists study development of division of labor among bees

Mapping the mind of worms Posted: 18 Jan 2017 03:17 PM PST Biologists have identified signals that drive distinct behavior in microscopic nematode worms, and which may hold lessons for human brains.

Study provides new evidence on role of person-to person transmission in drug-resistant TB Posted: 18 Jan 2017 03:17 PM PST A study of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)in KwaZulu province, South Africa, builds on a growing body of evidence showing person-to-person transmission, not just inadequate treatment, is driving the spread of XDR TB.

Intense industrial fishing Posted: 18 Jan 2017 01:37 PM PST A new study examines how China maintains large catches and what it means for fishery management elsewhere

Could better eye training help reduce concussion in women's soccer? Posted: 18 Jan 2017 01:37 PM PST With the ever-growing popularity of women's soccer, attention to sports-related concussions is also a growing concern. High school female soccer players incur a higher concussion rate than males, and researchers noticed in photographs of female soccer players, the players often had their eyes closed. They wanted to quantify whether female athletes closed their eyes more frequently than male counterparts, as a first step toward determining if less visual awareness might expose players to a higher risk of injury.

Researchers discover greenhouse bypass for nitrogen Posted: 18 Jan 2017 01:37 PM PST Production of a potent greenhouse gas can be bypassed as soil nitrogen breaks down into unreactive atmospheric N2, an international team of researchers has discovered.

Too much sitting, too little exercise may accelerate biological aging Posted: 18 Jan 2017 12:15 PM PST Elderly women who sit for more than 10 hours a day with low physical activity have cells that are biologically older than their chronological age by eight years compared to women who are less sedentary, research shows.

Small intestine GIST associated with better prognosis in younger patients Posted: 18 Jan 2017 12:13 PM PST Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are tumors that arise is the wall of the digestive tract, and most often occur in the stomach or small intestine. Though more common in later in life, GISTs can occur in adolescents and young adults (AYA) under 40 years old as well. Researchers report findings from the first population-based analysis of AYA patients with GIST.

Mississippi River: Reviving floodplain to reduce Gulf of Mexico's dead zone Posted: 18 Jan 2017 11:50 AM PST Researchers are reviving one of the Mississippi River's main filters: the floodplain. The result is a unique environment that removes nitrogen, a contributor to the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone.

Study identifies molecular signal for maintaining adult neuron Posted: 18 Jan 2017 11:50 AM PST Research in mice points to better understanding of how the structure of nerve cells in the adult hippocampus may deteriorate, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders, report researchers.

Global threat to primates concerns us all Posted: 18 Jan 2017 11:37 AM PST In cooperation with an international team of experts, scientists demand immediate measures to protect primates.

Soft robot helps the heart beat Posted: 18 Jan 2017 11:37 AM PST A customizable soft robot that fits around a heart and helps it beat has now been developed by researchers, potentially opening new treatment options for people suffering from heart failure.

Prehistoric mega-lake sediment offers key insight into how inland regions responded to ‘super-greenhouse’ event Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:49 AM PST Sediment found at the site of one of the largest lakes in Earth's history could provide a fascinating new insight into how inland regions responded to global climate change millions of years ago.

Novel mechanism identified that protects pancreas from digestive enzymes Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:25 AM PST Researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which the stress hormone FGF21 keeps digestive enzymes from damaging the pancreas.

Magnetic recording with light and no heat Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:24 AM PST A strong short light pulse can record data on a magnetic layer of yttrium iron garnet doped with Co-ions. The novel mechanism outperforms existing alternatives allowing ever fastest write-read magnetic recording accompanied by unprecedentedly low heat load, researchers report.

A toolkit for transformable materials Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:23 AM PST Researchers have developed a general framework to design reconfigurable metamaterials. The design strategy is scale independent, meaning it can be applied to everything from meter-scale architectures to reconfigurable nano-scale systems such as photonic crystals, waveguides and metamaterials to guide heat.

'Collateral' lethality may offer new therapeutic approach for cancers of the pancreas, stomach and colon Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:22 AM PST Cancer cells often delete genes that normally suppress tumor formation. These deletions also may extend to neighboring genes, an event known as 'collateral lethality,' which may create new options for development of therapies for several cancers.

International effort announced to try to save the world's most endangered marine mammal Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:22 AM PST An ambitious, emergency plan to help save the vaquita porpoise from extinction in the northern Gulf of California has been recommended by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA). The plan involves relocating some of the remaining vaquitas to a temporary sanctuary, while crucial efforts aimed at eliminating illegal fishing and removing gillnets from their environment continue.

Toxic brain cells may drive many neurodegenerative disorders, study finds Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:22 AM PST While most of us haven't heard of astrocytes, these cells are four times as plentiful in the human brain as nerve cells. Now, a team led by researchers has found that astrocytes, which perform many indispensable functions in the brain, can take on a villainous character, destroying nerve cells and likely driving many neurodegenerative diseases.

Traffic jam in empty space Posted: 18 Jan 2017 10:22 AM PST An important step towards a completely new experimental access to quantum physics has been made by researchers in Germany. The team of scientists has now shown how to manipulate the electric vacuum field and thus generate deviations from the ground state of empty space which can only be understood in the context of the quantum theory of light.

Super-resolution imaging offers fast way to discern fate of stem cells Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:58 AM PST A new way to identify the state and fate of individual stem cells earlier than previously possible has now been developed by a team of scientists.

Which facebook 'friends' help most when looking for a job? Depends where you live in the world Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:57 AM PST Research used anonymous Facebook data from almost 17 million social connections in 55 countries to determine that the role of weak and strong ties in job searches is important around the world, but the value of a single strong tie is even more important for job seekers in countries with pronounced income inequality.

Heat from earth’s core could be underlying force in plate tectonics Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:57 AM PST For decades, scientists have theorized that the movement of Earth's tectonic plates is driven largely by negative buoyancy created as they cool. New research, however, shows plate dynamics are driven significantly by the additional force of heat drawn from the Earth's core. The new findings also challenge the theory that underwater mountain ranges known as mid-ocean ridges are passive boundaries between moving plates. The findings show the East Pacific Rise, the Earth's dominant mid-ocean ridge, is dynamic as heat is transferred.

Massive sea lion, fur seal hunting in the Patagonian coasts is altering Southern Atlantic Ocean ecosystems Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:56 AM PST Sea lion hunting by the Europeans at the Atlantic coasts of South America – it started in the 19th Century and continued up to the second half of the 20th century in Argentina and Uruguay – changed its nutrition guidelines of these pinnipeds as well as the structure of the coastal trophic network, according to new research.

Severe side effects of approved multiple sclerosis medication Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:52 AM PST The multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy alemtuzumab can trigger severe, unpredictable side effects. Scientists report on two patients for whom the infusion of alemtuzumab significantly worsened symptoms. The team also describes a treatment that successfully curbed the harmful side effects.

Heartbeat could be used as password to access electronic health records Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:52 AM PST Researchers have devised a new way to protect personal electronic health records using a patient's own heartbeat.

Gestational diabetes increases risk for postpartum depression Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:52 AM PST Gestational diabetes raises the risk of postpartum depression in first-time mothers, researcher have concluded.

Study finds new target for controlling cell division Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:52 AM PST Modern genome sequencing methods used to measure the efficiency of synthesis of individual protein during cell division has found that the enzymes that make lipids and membranes were synthesized at much greater efficiency when a cell is ready to split.

Researcher examines effect of exercise on breast cancer survivors Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:52 AM PST A new study has focused on the effects of exercise and physical activity on postmenopausal breast cancer survivors taking AIs -- hormone-therapy drugs that stop the production of estrogen. The work concludes that a combination of resistance and aerobic exercise helps mitigate the side effects of AIs and improves health outcomes in breast cancer survivors, particularly their body composition.

Deep-space mission to metal asteroid Posted: 18 Jan 2017 09:41 AM PST Scientists are planning to send a deep-space probe to a metal asteroid, enabling them to see what is believed to be a planetary core. Psyche, an asteroid orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter, is made almost entirely of nickel-iron metal.

2016 warmest year on record globally, NASA and NOAA data show Posted: 18 Jan 2017 08:25 AM PST Earth's 2016 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and NOAA. This makes 2016 the third year in a row to set a new record for global average surface temperatures.

New data show heightened risk of birth defects with antidepressants prescribed during pregnancy Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:39 AM PST Antidepressants prescribed to pregnant women could increase the chance of having a baby with birth defects, new research indicates.

New broad-spectrum antiviral protein can inhibit HIV, other pathogens in some primates Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:39 AM PST A protein-coding gene called Schlafen11 (SLFN11) may induce a broad-spectrum cellular response against infection by viruses including HIV-1, researchers have discovered.

Vitamin B-12, and a knockoff version, create complex market for marine vitamins Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:39 AM PST Vitamin B-12 exists in two different, incompatible forms in the oceans. An organism thought to supply essential vitamin B-12 in the marine environment is actually churning out a knockoff version.

Luminescent proteins provide color to ecological and cheap bio-displays Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST Mobile phone, computer and TV displays all use very expensive color filters and other components, which cannot be easily recycled. Scientists have designed a new screen, which is cheaper and ecological as it uses a hybrid material. This material's luminescent proteins can be used in backlighting systems and color filters made using a 3-D printing technique.

Harnessing the energy of fireworks for fuel Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST The world relies heavily on gasoline and other hydrocarbons to power its cars and trucks. In search of an alternative fuel type, some researchers are turning to the stuff of fireworks and explosives: metal powders. And now one team is reporting a method to produce a metal nanopowder fuel with high energy content that is stable in air and doesn't go boom until ignited.

Toward a 'smart' patch that automatically delivers insulin when needed Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST Treatment for certain diabetes cases involves constant monitoring of blood-glucose levels and daily insulin shots. But scientists are now developing a painless 'smart' patch that monitors blood glucose and releases insulin when levels climb too high. The device has been tested on mice.

What's behind the durian fruit's notorious stench? Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST Most people who have tried durian either love it or hate it. The fruit's yellowish flesh is sweet and custard-like, but it comes with an overpowering stench of garbage. Scientists studying the unique fruit have now analyzed a set of 20 stinky and fruity chemical ingredients and found that a mere two compounds can re-create the overall smell.

Cancer treatment for transplant patients discovered Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST Nephrologists have published a letter that profiles a novel drug combination with the potential to help prevent rejection of a donor kidney in transplant patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Protein involved in blood clotting stimulates liver repair Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST A new pathway in the body that stimulates liver repair has been uncovered by researchers. Using an experimental model of high-dosage acetaminophen, the team found that liver injury activated blood clotting, which then stimulated liver repair.

Northern Quebec lichen yields two unique molecules and several antibacterial compounds Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:38 AM PST Two unique molecules have been discovered by researchers in a species of lichen growing in northern Quebec. A number of compounds with interesting antibacterial properties have also been isolated from the lichen, according to an article.

Researchers develop ways to improve machining, milling processes Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:34 AM PST Fixing flaws introduced during the machining of large components used in the aircraft and heavy equipment industries can be time-consuming for manufacturers – and costly if they must scrap the flawed parts after they've been fabricated. A new approach is helping manufacturers eliminate those flaws before the parts are created.

Delirium could accelerate dementia-related mental decline Posted: 18 Jan 2017 07:34 AM PST When hospitalized, people can become acutely confused and disorientated. This condition, known as delirium, affects a quarter of older patients and new research shows it may have long-lasting consequences, including accelerating the dementia process.

Swamphens signal dominance through fleshy faces Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:34 AM PST What's in a face? In addition to their plumage, Pukeko -- large purple swamphens found in New Zealand -- convey information about their status through their faces. A new study shows that the strongest predictor of male dominance in Pukeko is the size of their frontal shield, a fleshy ornament on their bill that can change quickly.

Five-minute chats in the waiting room may prompt families to eat more fruits, vegetables Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:34 AM PST Low-income families were more likely to use their federal food assistance on nutritious food after learning that their dollars can be doubled for more fruits and vegetables, a new study finds.

In Rett syndrome model, team shows how adult learning is impaired in females Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:33 AM PST In mouse models of Rett syndrome -- which in humans is seen overwhelmingly in females -- researchers have demonstrated how failure of Mecp2, the mouse equivalent of the human gene of the same name, has biological consequences that prevent adult females from learning how to gather newborn pups in the days immediately following the pups' birth. They reversed the defect.

Talking to children about STEM fields boosts test scores and career interest Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:31 AM PST Parents who talk with their high schoolers about the relevance of science and math can increase competency and career interest in the fields, a report suggests.

Adoptees advantaged by birth language memory Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:28 AM PST Language learning very early on in life can be subconsciously retained even when no conscious knowledge of the early experience remains. The subconscious knowledge can then be tapped to speed up learning of the pronunciation of sounds of the lost tongue, report scientists.

Highly gifted children benefit from explanation as much as their peers Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:28 AM PST We often assume that highly gifted children always perform at maximum capacity. However, new research shows that this group also benefits from training and explanation. Strangely enough, the benefits are the same for both groups.

Nanofibers developed for healing bone fractures Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:28 AM PST In future, it may be possible to use nanofibres to improve the attachment of bone implants, or the fibers may be used directly to scaffold bone regeneration. This would aid the healing of fractures and may enable the care of osteoporosis. This is detailed in a new dissertation.

New avenue for anti-depressant therapy discovered Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:26 AM PST Researchers have made a ground-breaking discovery revealing new molecular information on how the brain regulates depression and anxiety. In so doing, they identified a new molecule that alleviates anxiety and depressive behavior in rodents.

Finding ways to fix the climate before it is too late Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:26 AM PST Scientists and policymakers rely on complex computer simulations called Integrated Assessment Models to figure out how to address climate change. But these models need tinkering to make them more accurate.

Milestone in graphene production Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:26 AM PST For the first time, it is now possible to produce functional OLED electrodes from graphene. The OLEDs can, for example, be integrated into touch displays, and the miracle material graphene promises many other applications for the future.

A big nano boost for solar cells Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST Solar cells convert light into electricity. While the sun is one source of light, the burning of natural resources like oil and natural gas can also be harnessed.

Heavy alcohol use in adolescence alters brain electrical activity Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST Long-term heavy use of alcohol in adolescence alters cortical excitability and functional connectivity in the brain, according to a new study. These alterations were observed in physically and mentally healthy but heavy-drinking adolescents, who nevertheless did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for a substance abuse disorder.

'Bring it back,' but within bounds: Retrieval strains the forelimbs of dogs Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST Hunting dogs such as the popular breed retriever are ideally suited for retrieving birds or small game. However, the weight the dogs carry strains their locomotor system. A motion study has shown that the dogs tilt forwards like a seesaw when they carry the prey in their mouths. This can make already existing joint and tendon damage worse. Therefore, adjusted weights should be used for the training of puppies and adult dogs. Furthermore, the joints should be checked regularly by specialists.

New insights in genetic defect allow prevention of fatal illnesses in children Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST A team of scientists was able to characterize a new genetic immunodeficiency resulting from a mutation in a gene named STAT2. This mutation causes patients to be extremely vulnerable to normally mild childhood illnesses such as rotavirus and enterovirus. The comprehensive analysis of the genetic defect allows clinicians to provide children with the proper therapies before illnesses prove fatal.

Food security threatened by sea-level rise Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST Coastal countries are highly prone to sea-level rise, which leads to salt-water intrusion and increased salinity levels in agricultural land. Also typical for these regions are floods and waterlogging caused by cyclones and typhoons, as well as prolonged drought periods.

New reconstruction of an ancient ice sheet Posted: 18 Jan 2017 05:24 AM PST A new model reconstruction shows in exceptional detail the evolution of the Eurasian ice sheet during the last ice age. This can help scientists understand how climate and ocean warming can affect the remaining ice masses on Earth.

Pitching in: Biologists study development of division of labor among bees Posted: 17 Jan 2017 04:26 PM PST Biologists tested a variation of the reproductive ground plan hypothesis in solitary, ground-nesting bees of south central Washington State. Their findings could shed light on development of division of labor in social bees.

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