ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Wireless power transfer technology for high capacity transit
• Chick magnet? Nest diet has big impact on attractiveness of hihi birds
• Animal bite force: Size of lunch dictates force of crunch
• Kids teach parents to respect the environment
• Lung cancer set to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths among European women
• Large scale production of Edge-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets (EFGnPs)
• Pinpointing protein locations
• Risk of cardiovascular death doubled in women with high calcium intake: High risk only in those taking supplements as well
• Gaps in mental health infrastructure for youth identified in many US communities
• Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy
• Protein discovered that prevents light-induced retinal degeneration
• More evidence needed for scale up of mobile device technology in health
• Diclofenac used and recommended globally, despite cardiovascular risks
• Whole genome sequencing better at tracing TB outbreaks than standard test
• Stopping cold: Scientists turn off the ability to feel cold
• Connection between narcissism and envy explained
• Newer, shorter-course antibiotic shows similar effectiveness for treating skin infection
• Eradicating bacteria linked to gastric cancer
• Platelet-rich plasma (prp) treatment shows potential for knee osteoarthritis
• In some dystonia cases, deep brain therapy benefits may linger after device turned off
• Some autism behaviors linked to altered gene
• NASA's Orion lands safely on two of three parachutes in test
• Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition
• No link found between genetic risk factors and two top wet AMD treatments
• Reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty
• Picky eater fish clean up seaweeds from coral reefs
• Climate change affects the flight period of butterflies in Massachusetts
• NASA satellites find freshwater losses in Middle East
• Marketing technique: Activating gender stereotypes just to knock 'em down
• Molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer identified, potential predictor of treatment outcome
• Problem-solving training helps mothers cope with child's cancer diagnosis
• NASA set for new round of J-2X Testing at Stennis Space Center
• Landsat 5 sets Guinness world record for 'longest operating Earth observation satellite'
• Year three: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission highlights
• New doppler radar wind profiler will replace old system near shuttle landing facility
• NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lead U.S. science team for dark energy mission
• Building a biochemistry lab on a chip
• Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline
• Discovering cell surface proteins' behavior
• Ancient insects shed light on biodiversity
• 'Get off my lawn:' Song sparrows escalate territorial threats
• Youths with autism spectrum disorder need help transitioning to adult health care
• Name-brand or generic? Your political ideology might influence your choice
• Middle East river basin has lost dead sea-sized quantity of water: Researchers cite pumping from underground reservoirs
• Precision of GPS in cities improved by 90 percent
• Identification of abnormal protein may help diagnose, treat ALS and frontotemporal dementia
• Cell shape changes during mitosis
• Opioid prescription is on the increase
• Using light to control cell clustering
• Refocusing important on and off the court, says recent study
• Scientists create automated 'time machine' to reconstruct ancient languages
• Cheap, strong lithium-ion battery developed
• Long-term success rates for eradication of Barrett's esophagus after endoluminal therapies
• Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself
• Early music lessons boost brain development
• Model aims to help companies make products we actually want
• New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells
• Scopolamine: An old drug with new psychiatric applications
• Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays, study finds
• Helicopter parenting can violate students' basic needs

Wireless power transfer technology for high capacity transit Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Scientists have developed a wireless power transfer technology that can be applied to high capacity transportation systems such as railways, harbor freight, and airport transportation and logistics. The technology supplies 60 kHz and 180 kW of power remotely to transport vehicles at a stable, constant rate.

Chick magnet? Nest diet has big impact on attractiveness of hihi birds Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Chicks that stock up on their five-a-day outshine their love rivals in later life, a new study shows.

Animal bite force: Size of lunch dictates force of crunch Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:01 PM PST Even in the same animal, not all bites are the same. A new study finds that because the force in a muscle depends on how much it is stretched, an animal's bite force depends on the size of what it is biting. The finding has direct implications for ecology and evolution.

Kids teach parents to respect the environment Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST A child can directly influence the attitude and behavior of their parents towards the environment without them even knowing it. Researchers have, for the first time, provided quantitative support for the suggestion that environmental education can be transferred between generations and that it can actually affect behavior.

Lung cancer set to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths among European women Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST Lung cancer is likely to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of cancer death among European women by the middle of this decade, according to new research. In the UK and Poland it has already overtaken breast cancer as the main cause of cancer deaths in women.

Large scale production of Edge-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets (EFGnPs) Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST Researchers have pioneered a simple, but efficient and eco-friendly way to produce Edge-selectively functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (EFGnPs) by dry ball milling graphite in the presence of various gases.

Pinpointing protein locations Posted: 12 Feb 2013 06:00 PM PST An innovative technique which pinpoints protein locations and helps researchers unravel the protein's functions has just been developed.

Risk of cardiovascular death doubled in women with high calcium intake: High risk only in those taking supplements as well Posted: 12 Feb 2013 04:20 PM PST High intakes of calcium (corresponding to diet and supplements) in women are associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, but cardiovascular disease in particular, compared with women with lower calcium intake, a new study suggests.

Gaps in mental health infrastructure for youth identified in many US communities Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST Mental health facilities that provide outpatient specialty services for youth are a critical element of the mental health care infrastructure, especially for youth who are uninsured or publically insured.

Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk.

Protein discovered that prevents light-induced retinal degeneration Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:22 PM PST Scientists have found a protein that protects retinal photoreceptor cells from degeneration caused by light damage. This protein may provide a new therapeutic target for both an inherited retinal degenerative disease and age-related macular degeneration.

More evidence needed for scale up of mobile device technology in health Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST Despite the hundreds of pilot studies using mobile health -- also known as 'mHealth'', which describe medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices -- there is insufficient evidence to inform the widespread implementation and scale-up of this technology, according to researchers.

Diclofenac used and recommended globally, despite cardiovascular risks Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST A new study finds that the painkiller diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the same class as aspirin) is the most commonly used NSAID in the 15 countries studied and is included in the essential medicines lists of 74 low-, middle- and high-income countries, despite its known tendency to cause heart attacks and strokes in vulnerable patients.

Whole genome sequencing better at tracing TB outbreaks than standard test Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST A new form of genetic testing of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis can provide better information on TB transmission and also trace TB outbreaks more accurately than the current standard test, according to a new study.

Stopping cold: Scientists turn off the ability to feel cold Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST Neuroscientists have isolated chills at a cellular level, identifying the sensory network of neurons in the skin that relays the sensation of cold.

Connection between narcissism and envy explained Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST Narcissism has long been associated with envy in the field of psychology, but a new study provides new evidence about that connection.

Newer, shorter-course antibiotic shows similar effectiveness for treating skin infection Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST Treatment with a newer antibiotic, tedizolid phosphate, once daily for 6 days was statistically noninferior (no worse than) in efficacy to the antibiotic linezolid twice daily for 10 days for both early (at day 2 to 3) and sustained (at day 11) clinical responses in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, according to a new study.

Eradicating bacteria linked to gastric cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:20 PM PST In an analysis of the results of interventions to eradicate the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (a risk factor for gastric cancer) in seven diverse community populations in Latin America, researchers found that geographic site, demographic factors, adherence to initial therapy and infection recurrence may be as important as the choice of antibiotic regimen in H pylori eradication interventions, according to a new study.

Platelet-rich plasma (prp) treatment shows potential for knee osteoarthritis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST A new study has shown that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) holds great promise for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment improved pain and function, and in up to 73% of patients, appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.

In some dystonia cases, deep brain therapy benefits may linger after device turned off Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST Two patients freed from severe to disabling effects of dystonia through deep brain stimulation therapy continued to have symptom relief for months after their devices accidentally were fully or partly turned off, according to a new report.

Some autism behaviors linked to altered gene Posted: 12 Feb 2013 02:19 PM PST Scientists have identified a genetic mutation that may underlie common behaviors seen in some people with autism, such as difficulty communicating and resistance to change.

NASA's Orion lands safely on two of three parachutes in test Posted: 12 Feb 2013 01:49 PM PST NASA engineers have demonstrated the agency's Orion spacecraft can land safely if one of its three main parachutes fails to inflate during deployment.

Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST Ever wonder how sometimes people still get through security with explosives on their person? Research has revealed a new way to better detect molecules associated with explosive mixtures.

No link found between genetic risk factors and two top wet AMD treatments Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST New findings from a landmark clinical trial show that although certain gene variants may predict whether a person will develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), these genes do not predict patients' responses to Lucentis™ and Avastin™, two medications widely used to treat "wet" AMD.

Reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST For the first time, scientists have measured how successfully a queen ant establishes new colonies. The work revealed that the queen was still reproducing several decades after mating.

Picky eater fish clean up seaweeds from coral reefs Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:44 PM PST Using underwater video cameras to record fish feeding on South Pacific coral reefs, scientists have found that herbivorous fish can be picky eaters – a trait that could spell trouble for endangered reef systems.

Climate change affects the flight period of butterflies in Massachusetts Posted: 12 Feb 2013 12:44 PM PST Biologists have found that butterflies show signs of being affected by climate change in a way similar to plants and bees, but not birds, in the Northeast United States. The researchers focused on Massachusetts butterfly flight periods, comparing current flight periods with patterns going back more than 100 years using museum collections and the records of dedicated citizen scientists. Their findings indicate that butterflies are flying earlier in warmer years.

NASA satellites find freshwater losses in Middle East Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:11 AM PST A new study using data from a pair of gravity-measuring NASA satellites finds that large parts of the arid Middle East region lost freshwater reserves rapidly during the past decade.

Marketing technique: Activating gender stereotypes just to knock 'em down Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:10 AM PST A new study looks at the issue of product perception of consumers through the lens of gender stereotypes. The researchers conclude that while traditional gender stereotypes can still have a significant influence on consumer behavior in the 21st century, there are ways that firms can activate these stereotypes solely to transcend them.

Molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer identified, potential predictor of treatment outcome Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:10 AM PST A recently described master regulator protein may explain the development of aberrant cell growth in the pancreas spurred by inflammation. The team profiled gene expression of mouse pancreatic ductal and duct-like cells from different states -- embryonic development, acute pancreatitis and K-ras mutation-driven carcinogenesis -- to find the molecular regulation of these processes.

Problem-solving training helps mothers cope with child's cancer diagnosis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:10 AM PST A multi-site clinical trial of BRIGHT Ideas problem-solving training shows durable benefits in mothers of children diagnosed with cancer.

NASA set for new round of J-2X Testing at Stennis Space Center Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:08 AM PST NASA's progress toward a return to deep space missions continues with a new round of upcoming tests on the next-generation J-2X rocket engine, which will help power the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) to new destinations in the solar system.

Landsat 5 sets Guinness world record for 'longest operating Earth observation satellite' Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:07 AM PST Landsat 5 successfully set the new Guinness World Records title for 'Longest-operating Earth observation satellite' as stated in an e-mail from Guinness World Records sent to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Outliving its three-year design life, Landsat 5 delivered high-quality, global data of Earth's land surface for 28 years and 10 months.

Year three: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory mission highlights Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:04 AM PST On Feb. 11, 2010, NASA launched an unprecedented solar observatory into space. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) flew up on an Atlas V rocket, carrying instruments that scientists hoped would revolutionize observations of the sun. If all went according to plan, SDO would provide incredibly high-resolution data of the entire solar disk almost as quickly as once a second.

New doppler radar wind profiler will replace old system near shuttle landing facility Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:02 AM PST As NASA moves forward next year to place instruments on the International Space Station to take ocean-surface wind speed and direction measurements, the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has plans of its own to upgrade decades-old wind measurement equipment near the center's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF).

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lead U.S. science team for dark energy mission Posted: 12 Feb 2013 11:01 AM PST The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected three NASA-nominated science teams to participate in their planned Euclid mission, including one team led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Building a biochemistry lab on a chip Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Miniaturized laboratory-on-chip systems promise rapid, sensitive, and multiplexed detection of biological samples for medical diagnostics, drug discovery, and high-throughput screening. Using micro-fabrication techniques and incorporating a unique design of transistor-based heating, researchers are further advancing the use of silicon transistor and electronics into chemistry and biology for point-of-care diagnostics.

Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Creeping climate change in the Southwest appears to be having a negative effect on pinyon pine reproduction, a finding with implications for wildlife species sharing the same woodland ecosystems, says a University of Colorado Boulder-led study.

Discovering cell surface proteins' behavior Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Chemists are advancing scientific understanding of the structure and function of glycoproteins, in particular the number and positioning of sugars on them. Glycoproteins are membrane proteins and are often involved in human diseases. They facilitate communication between cells.

Ancient insects shed light on biodiversity Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:20 AM PST Evolutionary biologists have discovered that modern tropical mountains' diversity patterns extended up into Canada about 50 million years ago. Their findings confirm an influential theory about change in modern species diversity across mountains, and provide evidence that global biodiversity was greater in ancient times than now.

'Get off my lawn:' Song sparrows escalate territorial threats Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:19 AM PST Territorial song sparrows use increasingly threatening signals to ward off trespassing rivals. First an early warning that matches the intruder's song, then wing waving -- a bird's version of "flipping the bird" -- as the dispute heats up, and finally, if all other signals have failed, attack.

Youths with autism spectrum disorder need help transitioning to adult health care Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:19 AM PST Health care transition (HCT) services help young people with special health care needs such as asthma or diabetes move from pediatric to adult health care. However, youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have less access to these services, which are designed to prevent gaps in care and insurance coverage. A researcher recommends that the medical community develop HCT services for individuals with ASD as a way to ensure consistent and coordinated care and increase their independence and quality of life.

Name-brand or generic? Your political ideology might influence your choice Posted: 12 Feb 2013 10:19 AM PST Conservatives and liberals don't just differ when it comes to politics, they may also make different purchases at the grocery store, according to new research.

Middle East river basin has lost dead sea-sized quantity of water: Researchers cite pumping from underground reservoirs Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:19 AM PST Already strained by water scarcity and political tensions, the arid Middle East along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is losing critical water reserves at a rapid pace, from Turkey upstream to Syria, Iran and Iraq below.

Precision of GPS in cities improved by 90 percent Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Researchers have developed a new system which improves the ability of a GPS to determine a vehicle's position as compared to that of conventional GPS devices by up to 90 percent, and which can be installed in any vehicle at a very low cost.

Identification of abnormal protein may help diagnose, treat ALS and frontotemporal dementia Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment. Researchers are beginning to recognize ALS and FTD as part of a spectrum disorder with overlapping symptoms. Now investigators have discovered an abnormal protein that first forms as a result of genetic abnormalities and later builds up in the brains of many patients with either disease.

Cell shape changes during mitosis Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST Scientists have gained new insight into the process of mitosis in mammalian cells. Researchers have succeeded in deciphering a heretofore unknown mechanism that plays a key role in cell shape changes during mitosis. They investigated the transient degradation of a protein that regulates specific structures of the mechanical scaffold of the cell, the actin cytoskeleton.

Opioid prescription is on the increase Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:17 AM PST More and more opioids are being prescribed for pain relief, study suggests

Using light to control cell clustering Posted: 12 Feb 2013 09:17 AM PST A new study pairs light and genetics to give researchers a powerful new tool for manipulating cells. Results of the study show how blue light can be used as a switch to prompt targeted proteins to accumulate into large clusters.

Refocusing important on and off the court, says recent study Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST If an employee's performance drops in one area, does that mean they're slacking off? It could mean that they've simply shifted and refocused their efforts on a different set of tasks -- a positive sign of adaptability that should be considered in performance evaluations, says a new study. The study draws on statistics from professional basketball players for its data and conclusions.

Scientists create automated 'time machine' to reconstruct ancient languages Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Ancient languages hold a treasure trove of information about the culture, politics and commerce of millennia past. Yet, reconstructing them to reveal clues into human history can require decades of painstaking work. Now, scientists have created an automated "time machine," of sorts, that will greatly accelerate and improve the process of reconstructing hundreds of ancestral languages.

Cheap, strong lithium-ion battery developed Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Researchers have developed a new lithium-ion battery design that uses porous silicon nanoparticles in place of the traditional graphite anodes to provide superior performance.

Long-term success rates for eradication of Barrett's esophagus after endoluminal therapies Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST A new study reports that endoluminal (endoscopic) therapies, combining resection and ablation techniques, for patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or early mucosal cancer have a high success rate, with durable results and a low risk of complications. The researchers noted that endoscopic surveillance after successful eradication is required.

Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Notorious among athletes and trainers as career killers, Achilles tendon injuries are among the most devastating. Now, by carbon testing tissues exposed to nuclear fallout in post WWII tests, scientists have learned why: Like our teeth and the lenses in our eyes, the Achilles tendon is a tissue that does not repair itself.

Early music lessons boost brain development Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST Musical training before the age of seven has a significant effect on the development of the brain, showing that those who began early had stronger connections between motor regions -- the parts of the brain that help you plan and carry out movements.

Model aims to help companies make products we actually want Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers have developed a model that will, hopefully, help companies develop innovative products that people actually want to use. The model is a first step towards capturing the behavior of both companies and consumers, so that we end up with more iPods and fewer Edsels.

New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers have reached a remarkable 10.7 percent efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1 percent held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. Such significant efficiency, independently certified, was achieved with less than two micrometers of photovoltaic active material – 100 times less than with standard techniques.

Scopolamine: An old drug with new psychiatric applications Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Scopolamine is an anticholinergic drug with many uses. For example, it prevents nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.

Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays, study finds Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST Researchers say that crew rotation and passengers connections systematically spread flight delays due to a domino effect. The work, that proposes a new methodology to assess the degree of air traffic congestion.

Helicopter parenting can violate students' basic needs Posted: 12 Feb 2013 08:18 AM PST When is it time for parents to back away? A new study shows that college students with overcontroling parents are more likely to be depressed and less satisfied with their lives. This so-called helicopter parenting style negatively affects students' well-being by violating their need to feel both autonomous and competent. Parental overinvolvement may lead to negative outcomes in children, including higher levels of depression and anxiety. Studies also suggest that children of overinvolved or overcontroling parents may feel less competent and less able to manage life and its stressors. In contrast, evidence suggests that some parental involvement in children's lives facilitates healthy development, both emotionally and socially.

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