ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Zinc: The Goldilocks metal for bioabsorbable stents?
• Behavior of seabirds during migration revealed
• Neon exposes hidden ALS cells
• Psychological trauma after miscarriage is more likely in women using assisted reproduction
• HRT improves muscle function
• How petals get their shape: Hidden map located within plant's growing buds
• Cheating favors extinction, yeast study finds: Feedback between population and evolutionary dynamics
• Researchers tackle collapsing bridges with new technology
• HIV-infected children: Less-used regimen is more effective for children in low-resource settings
• New auto index redefines which cars are really 'made in America'
• New simulation speed record on Sequoia Supercomputer
• Scientists find mutation driving pediatric brain tumors
• The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age
• Risk of depression influenced by quality of relationships
• Weekend binge drinking could leave lasting liver damage
• Discovery helps explain how children develop rare, fatal disease
• Synthetic biology research community grows significantly
• Economics influence fertility rates more than other factors
• T cells rely on 'rheostat' to help ensure that the immune response matches the threat
• Electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce viral food poisoning
• Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models
• Encountering connections may make life feel more meaningful
• Colossal hot cloud envelopes colliding galaxies
• Mast cells give clues in diagnosis, treatment of dengue
• Good days, bad days: When should you make sacrifices in a relationship?
• A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away
• How some cancers 'poison the soil' to block metastasis
• In the Northeast, forests with entirely native flora are not the norm
• New research helps to show how turbulence can occur without inertia
• Professional culture contributes to gender wage inequality in engineering
• Nerve transfer can help repair brachial plexus injuries, help restore elbow functions
• No more reflux: New surgery in fight against reflux for patients whose medication no longer works
• ‘Catastrophic’ malpractice payouts add little to health care’s rising costs
• Cell response to new coronavirus unveils possible paths to treatments
• The many faces of the bacterial defense system
• Agencies should use common approach to evaluate risks pesticides pose to endangered species
• Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels, study suggests
• Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology
• Environmental labels may discourage conservatives from buying energy-efficient products
• New zooming technique for entering text into smartwatches
• Shifting the burden of recycling
• Synthetic derivatives of THC may weaken HIV-1 infection to enhance antiviral therapies
• Zebrafish study suggests that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is an antidote to cyanide poisoning
• Saturn's youthful appearance explained
• The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica
• Canada's distinctive tuya volcanoes reveal glacial, palaeo-climate secrets
• Mild iodine deficiency in womb associated with lower scores on children's literacy tests
• Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys
• Gastric bypass surgery alters hormones to relieve diabetes symptoms
• Graphene's high-speed seesaw
• How to manage motorway tolls through the Game Theory
• Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients
• Musical memory deficits start in auditory cortex
• Exploring the saltiness of the ocean to study climate change
• First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years
• How tetraplegic subject utilizes brain-machine interfaces to manipulate prosthetic arm, and regain and restore significant limb functionality
• Estrogen fuels autoimmune liver damage
• Women who drink before pregnancy less likely to take multivitamins
• Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury
• Does antimatter fall up or down? First direct evidence of how atoms of antimatter interact with gravity

Zinc: The Goldilocks metal for bioabsorbable stents? Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:44 PM PDT Stents can be lifesavers, propping open blood vessels to allow for healthy blood flow. But the longer a stent is in the body, the greater the risk of side effects such as inflammation and clotting. Designing a stent that will dissolve harmlessly after the artery has healed has been a challenge. Now scientistsare experimenting with a novel material that may lead to a new generation of bioabsorbable stents: zinc.

Behavior of seabirds during migration revealed Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:44 PM PDT The behavior of seabirds during migration -- including patterns of foraging, rest and flight -- has been revealed in new detail using novel computational analyses and tracking technologies.

Neon exposes hidden ALS cells Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT A small group of neurons in the cortex play a big role in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal disease. But the neurons have been difficult to study because they look so similar to others in the cortex. New research has isolated the brain's motor neurons that die in ALS and dressed them in a green fluorescent jacket. Now scientists can easily find them to study why they die and how to save them.

Psychological trauma after miscarriage is more likely in women using assisted reproduction Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT Subfertile women who conceive through assisted reproduction are more likely to experience a greater traumatic impact following early pregnancy loss compared with women who conceive naturally, suggests a new study.

HRT improves muscle function Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT Hormone replacement therapy significantly improves muscle function -- down to the muscle fiber level -- in postmenopausal women, a new study.

How petals get their shape: Hidden map located within plant's growing buds Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT Why do rose petals have rounded ends while their leaves are more pointed? Scientists have revealed that the shape of petals is controlled by a hidden map located within the plant's growing buds.

Cheating favors extinction, yeast study finds: Feedback between population and evolutionary dynamics Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:42 PM PDT Cooperative behavior is widely observed in nature, but there remains the possibility that 'cheaters' can exploit the system, with uncertain consequences for the social unit as a whole. A new study has found that a yeast colony dominated by non-producers ('cheaters') is more likely to face extinction than one consisting entirely of producers ('co-operators'). The findings are the results of the first laboratory demonstration of a full evolutionary-ecological feedback loop in a social microbial population.

Researchers tackle collapsing bridges with new technology Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:41 PM PDT Researchers have proposed a new technology that could divert vibrations away from load-bearing elements of bridges to avoid catastrophic collapses. The "wave bypass" technique has many similarities to those being used by researchers looking to create Harry Potter-style invisibility cloaks, which exploit human-made materials known as metamaterials to bend light around objects.

HIV-infected children: Less-used regimen is more effective for children in low-resource settings Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Researchers find better outcomes for efavirenz over nevirapine in children over age 3.

New auto index redefines which cars are really 'made in America' Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Researchers have revealed a new Made in America Automotive Index that evaluates and ranks 253 car models based on country of origin and several factors not addressed by the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA).

New simulation speed record on Sequoia Supercomputer Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Computer scientists have set a high performance computing speed record that opens the way to the scientific exploration of complex planetary-scale systems. Scientists have announced a record-breaking simulation speed of 504 billion events per second on LLNL's Sequoia Blue Gene/Q supercomputer, dwarfing the previous record set in 2009 of 12.2 billion events per second.

Scientists find mutation driving pediatric brain tumors Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT A type of low-grade but sometimes lethal brain tumor in children has been found in many cases to contain an unusual mutation that may help to classify, diagnose and guide the treatment of the tumors, report scientists.

The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Vitamin D is crucial to the growth of healthy bones. It is especially important that babies get enough of it during the first twelve months of their lives when their bones are growing rapidly. This is why health care providers frequently recommend that parents give their babies a daily vitamin D supplement. But how much vitamin D should babies be given?

Risk of depression influenced by quality of relationships Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT After analyzing data from nearly 5,000 American adults, researchers found that the quality of a person's relationships with a spouse, family and friends predicted the likelihood of major depression disorder in the future, regardless of how frequently their social interactions took place.

Weekend binge drinking could leave lasting liver damage Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Long after a hangover, a night of bad decisions might take a bigger toll on the body than previously understood. A new study has revealed a unique connection between binge drinking and the risk for developing alcoholic liver disease and a variety of other health problems.

Discovery helps explain how children develop rare, fatal disease Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Biochemistry researchers have published conclusive scientific evidence that the gene ATP7A is essential for the dietary absorption of the nutrient copper. Their work with laboratory mice also provides a greater understanding of how this gene impacts Menkes disease as scientists search for a treatment.

Synthetic biology research community grows significantly Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT A new analysis finds the number of private and public entities conducting research in synthetic biology worldwide grew significantly between 2009 and 2013.

Economics influence fertility rates more than other factors Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Based on a recent study by an anthropologist, economic changes have the greatest impact on reducing family size, and thus slowing population growth, compared to other factors. Understanding the causes of declining birth rates may lead to improved policies designed to influence fertility and result in reduced competition for food, water, land and wealth.

T cells rely on 'rheostat' to help ensure that the immune response matches the threat Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT A properly functioning immune system is a lesson in balance, providing protection against disease without attacking healthy tissue. Scientists have identified a mechanism that helps T cells find that sweet spot where the strength of the immune response matches the threat.

Electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce viral food poisoning Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Researchers have studied how electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce the possibility of food poisoning through virus.

Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Uncertainty issues are paramount in assessing risks posed by natural hazards and in developing strategies to alleviate their consequences. A new model estimates the balance between costs and benefits of mitigation following natural disasters, as well as rebuilding defenses in their aftermath.

Encountering connections may make life feel more meaningful Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Experiencing connections, regularities, and coherence in their environment may lead people to feel a greater sense of meaning in life, according to a new study.

Colossal hot cloud envelopes colliding galaxies Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:15 PM PDT Scientists have completed a detailed study of an enormous cloud of hot gas enveloping two large, colliding galaxies. This unusually large reservoir of gas contains as much mass as 10 billion Suns, spans about 300,000 light years, and radiates at a temperature of more than 7 million degrees.

Mast cells give clues in diagnosis, treatment of dengue Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:15 PM PDT A protein produced by mast cells in the immune system may predict which people infected with dengue virus will develop life-threatening complications, according to researchers.

Good days, bad days: When should you make sacrifices in a relationship? Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT A new study suggests that while making sacrifices in a romantic relationship is generally a positive thing, doing so on days when you are feeling especially stressed may not be beneficial.

A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Simply sending children with asthma a text message each day asking about their symptoms and providing knowledge about their condition can lead to improved health outcomes.

How some cancers 'poison the soil' to block metastasis Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Cancer spread or metastasis can strike unprecedented fear in the minds of cancer patients. The "seed and the soil" hypothesis proposed by Stephen Paget in 1889 is now widely accepted to explain how cancer cells (seeds) are able to generate fertile soil (the microenvironment) in distant organs that promotes cancer's spread. However, this concept does not explain why some tumors do not spread or metastasize.

In the Northeast, forests with entirely native flora are not the norm Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Two-thirds of all forest inventory plots in the Northeast and Midwestern United States contain at least one non-native plant species, a new US Forest Service study found. The study across two dozen states from North Dakota to Maine can help land managers pinpoint areas on the landscape where invasive plants might take root.

New research helps to show how turbulence can occur without inertia Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT For more than a century, the field of fluid mechanics has posited that turbulence scales with inertia, and so massive things, like planes, have an easier time causing it. Now, new research has shown that this transition to turbulence can occur without inertia at all.

Professional culture contributes to gender wage inequality in engineering Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT Women engineers are underpaid for their contributions to technical activities, due to cultural ideologies in the engineering profession, according to new research.

Nerve transfer can help repair brachial plexus injuries, help restore elbow functions Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT Results highlight the effective use of nerve transfer in patients suffering from brachial plexus injuries for reconstruction of elbow flexion to help improve their quality of life.

No more reflux: New surgery in fight against reflux for patients whose medication no longer works Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT A new procedure involving a magnetic ring of beads that fits around your pinky has been shown to stop GERD in people whose medication stopped working.

‘Catastrophic’ malpractice payouts add little to health care’s rising costs Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT Efforts to lower health care costs in the United States have focused at times on demands to reform the medical malpractice system, with some researchers asserting that large, headline-grabbing and "frivolous" payouts are among the heaviest drains on health care resources. But a new review of malpractice claims suggests such assertions are wrong.

Cell response to new coronavirus unveils possible paths to treatments Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT Scientists have used lab-grown human lung cells to study the cells' response to infection by a novel human coronavirus (called nCoV) and compiled information about which genes are significantly disrupted in early and late stages of infection. The information about host response to nCoV allowed the researchers to predict drugs that might be used to inhibit either the virus itself or the deleterious responses that host cells make in reaction to infection.

The many faces of the bacterial defense system Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT Even bacteria have a kind of "immune system" they use to defend themselves against unwanted intruders -- in their case, viruses. Scientists were now able to show that this defense system is much more diverse than previously thought and that it comes in multiple versions.

Agencies should use common approach to evaluate risks pesticides pose to endangered species Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT When determining the potential effects pesticides could pose to endangered or threatened species, the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service should use a common scientific approach, says a new report.

Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels, study suggests Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT Researchers claim to have calculated, for the first time, the upper safe limit of vitamin D levels, above which the associated risk for cardiovascular events or death raises significantly, according to a recent study.

Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT A team of researchers is proposing a new investigative roadmap for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo devo," to better understand how innovation at the genetic level can lead to ecological adaptations over time. Evo devo seeks to understand the specific genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary change.

Environmental labels may discourage conservatives from buying energy-efficient products Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT When it comes to deciding which light bulb to buy, a label touting the product's environmental benefit may actually discourage politically conservative shoppers.

New zooming technique for entering text into smartwatches Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT Researchers have developed a solution to the problem of entering text into the next generation of ultra-small computers. Called ZoomBoard, this text entry technique is based on the familiar QWERTY keyboard layout. Though the full keyboard is impossibly small on a watch-size display, simply tapping the screen once or twice will enlarge an individual key until it can be comfortably and accurately pressed.

Shifting the burden of recycling Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT Over the past two decades governments around the world have been experimenting with a new strategy for managing waste. By making producers responsible for their products when they become wastes, policy makers seek to significantly increase the recycling -- and recyclability -- of computers, packaging, automobiles, and household hazardous wastes such as batteries, used oil motor, and leftover paint -- and save money in the process.

Synthetic derivatives of THC may weaken HIV-1 infection to enhance antiviral therapies Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT A new research report shows that compounds that stimulate the cannabinoid type 2 receptor in white blood cells, specifically macrophages, appear to weaken HIV-1 infection.

Zebrafish study suggests that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is an antidote to cyanide poisoning Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT With the remains of a recent lottery winner having been exhumed for foul play related to cyanide poisoning, future winners might wonder how they can avoid the same fate. A new report involving zebrafish suggests that riboflavin may mitigate cyanide's toxic effects.

Saturn's youthful appearance explained Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT As planets age they become darker and cooler. Saturn, however, is much brighter than expected for a planet of its age -- a question that has puzzled scientists since the late 1960s. New research has revealed how Saturn keeps itself looking young and hot.

The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Although many amphibians have been reported to live or spend part of their life underground, the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica, has never been reported dwelling in subterranean habitats until now. A new study marks the first record of all life stages of the species from a drainage gallery of Serra da Estrela Natural Park in Portugal.

Canada's distinctive tuya volcanoes reveal glacial, palaeo-climate secrets Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Deposits left by the eruption of a subglacial volcano, or tuya, 1.8 million years ago could hold the secret to more accurate palaeo-glacial and climate models, according to new research. The detailed mapping and sampling of the partially eroded Kima' Kho tuya in northern British Columbia, Canada, shows that the ancient regional ice sheet through which the volcano erupted was twice as thick as previously estimated.

Mild iodine deficiency in womb associated with lower scores on children's literacy tests Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Children who did not receive enough iodine in the womb performed worse on literacy tests as 9-year-olds than their peers, according to a recent study.

Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT When teenage girls are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, they tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study.

Gastric bypass surgery alters hormones to relieve diabetes symptoms Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Gastric bypass surgery alters the hormones and amino acids produced during digestion, hinting at the mechanisms through which the surgery eliminates symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.

Graphene's high-speed seesaw Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new transistor capable of revolutionizing technologies for medical imaging and security screening has been developed by graphene researchers. The researchers report the first graphene-based transistor with bistable characteristics, which means that the device can spontaneously switch between two electronic states. Such devices are in great demand as emitters of electromagnetic waves in the high-frequency range between radar and infra-red, relevant for applications such as security systems and medical imaging.

How to manage motorway tolls through the Game Theory Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Sophisticated mathematical methods could be used to improve traffic management.

Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Testing patients with just three risk factors upon hospital admission has potential to identify nearly three out of four asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile, according to a new study.

Musical memory deficits start in auditory cortex Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Congenital amusia is a disorder characterized by impaired musical skills, which can extend to an inability to recognize very familiar tunes. The neural bases of this deficit are now being deciphered. According to a new study amusics exhibit altered processing of musical information in two regions of the brain: the auditory cortex and the frontal cortex, particularly in the right cerebral hemisphere. These alterations seem to be linked to anatomical anomalies in these same cortices.

Exploring the saltiness of the ocean to study climate change Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Details are emerging from a recent research expedition to the Sub-Tropical North Atlantic. The objective of the expedition was to study the salt concentration (salinity) of the upper ocean. Scientists explored the essential role of the ocean in the global water cycle.

First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT For the first time, fossil jaw measurements confirm that land animals developed legs millions of years before their feeding systems changed enough to let them eat a land-based diet. The pattern had been hypothesized previously, but not really tested.

How tetraplegic subject utilizes brain-machine interfaces to manipulate prosthetic arm, and regain and restore significant limb functionality Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have presented impressive findings detailing how the use of brain-machine interfaces and robotic prosthetic arms may help those suffering from upper-limb paralysis or amputation regain the ability to grasp and manipulate objects.

Estrogen fuels autoimmune liver damage Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT A new study in mice may help explain why women are more prone than men to a form of liver damage by implicating the female sex hormone estrogen in the development of autoimmune hepatitis.

Women who drink before pregnancy less likely to take multivitamins Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have found a link between multivitamin use and alcohol consumption before pregnancy, uncovering a need for education about the importance of vitamin supplementation, particularly among women who drink alcohol during their childbearing years.

Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Results show positive impact that bone marrow stromal cell therapy can have for those suffering from certain types of traumatic brain injuries.

Does antimatter fall up or down? First direct evidence of how atoms of antimatter interact with gravity Posted: 30 Apr 2013 08:34 AM PDT The atoms that make up ordinary matter fall down, so do antimatter atoms fall up? Do they experience gravity the same way as ordinary atoms, or is there such a thing as antigravity? Recent results, which measured the ratio of antihydrogen's unknown gravitational mass to its known inertial mass, did not settle the matter. Far from it. If an antihydrogen atom falls downward, its gravitational mass is no more than 110 times greater than its inertial mass. If it falls upward, its gravitational mass is at most 65 times greater. What the results do show is that measuring antimatter gravity is possible, using an experimental method that points toward much greater precision in future.

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