ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Genetic editing shows promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Life-producing phosphorus carried to Earth by meteorites
• Disincentives to energy efficiency can be fixed
• Half of those diagnosed with PTSD also suffer from depression
• 'Lending circles' help low-income communities join the financial mainstream, study suggests
• Candidate drug provides benefit in spinal muscular atrophy animal models
• Saturn's metal-poor 'cousin' discovered with little telescope
• Heart health matters to your brain
• Strategy to clean up cheating in online courses
• Tiny airplanes and subs could be next hurricane hunters
• Obese patients trust diet advice from overweight physicians more than normal weight physicians
• Cosmic CSI team focuses on burned-out stars
• Seeing our errors keeps us on our toes
• Spintronics approach enables new quantum technologies
• Common control patterns govern swimming animals
• Zebrafish help identify mutant gene in rare muscle disease
• New way to improve stem cells' cartilage formation
• Catalyst could jump-start e-cars, green energy
• Exposure to rocket attacks in Israel increases adolescent violence
• Behold the 9-day fresh strawberry: New approach to slowing rot doubles berry shelf life
• Cognitive ability differences among the elderly explained
• Bringing cheaper, 'greener' lighting to market with inkjet-printed hybrid quantum dot LEDs
• Roman seawater concrete holds the secret to cutting carbon emissions
• Biomarker could help scientists choose the right cell line when conducting stem cell experiments
• Scientists find potential new clues for identifying breast cancer risk
• Wi-Fi signals enable gesture recognition throughout entire home
• Mental block: Professor discovers way to alter memory
• Hubble maps 3-D structure of ejected material around erupting star
• Anatomy determines how lizards attract partners and repel rivals
• Anxious? Activate your anterior cingulate cortex with a little meditation
• Detecting disease with a smartphone accessory
• Never forget a face? Researchers find women have better memory recall than men
• Why innovation thrives in cities
• White-tailed deer and the science of yellow snow
• An 'extinct' frog makes a comeback in Israel
• Quantum model helps solve mysteries of water
• Cheerful women are not associated with leadership qualities, but proud ones are, study finds
• A new species of yellow slug moth from China
• Two biomarkers predict increased risk for 'silent' strokes
• Not really 'bath salts': Update on 'designer stimulants'
• Test to improve stem cell safety
• Scientists create novel silicon electrodes that improve lithium-ion batteries
• Weather conditions do not affect fibromyalgia pain or fatigue
• Innate immunity: When DNA is out of place
• Metamaterials: Leading light waves astray
• Drug resistance may make malaria parasites vulnerable to other substances
• The fight against genome parasites
• The intensity of land use doubled in the 20th century
• Stopping the worm from turning
• Climate change may increase the risk of severe thunderstorms
• Enhancer RNAs alter gene expression: New class of molecules may be key emerging 'enhancer therapy'
• Altered neural circuitry may lead to anorexia and bulimia
• Dogs, humans affected by OCD have similar brain abnormalities
• Australian lake untouched by climate change
• Surgery for obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers is safe and effective, study suggests

Genetic editing shows promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:39 PM PDT Using a novel genetic "editing" technique, biomedical engineers have been able to repair a defect responsible for one of the most common inherited disorders, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in cell samples from Duchenne patients.

Life-producing phosphorus carried to Earth by meteorites Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT Scientists may not know for certain whether life exists in outer space, but research now shows that one key element that produced life on Earth was carried here on meteorites. In a new study, researchers reveal findings that explain how the reactive phosphorus that was an essential component for creating the earliest life forms came to Earth.

Disincentives to energy efficiency can be fixed Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT A new study finds that utilities aren't rewarded for adopting energy efficiency programs, and that reforms are needed to make energy efficiency as attractive as renewables.

Half of those diagnosed with PTSD also suffer from depression Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT About one of every two people diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder also suffer symptoms of depression, according to new research.

'Lending circles' help low-income communities join the financial mainstream, study suggests Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT An innovative financial lending program is helping low-income individuals, particularly immigrants, build credit and enter the financial mainstream, according to a pair of new articles.

Candidate drug provides benefit in spinal muscular atrophy animal models Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT The drug RG3039 demonstrates that it can extend survival and improve function in two spinal muscular atrophy mouse models.

Saturn's metal-poor 'cousin' discovered with little telescope Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:35 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered a hot Saturn-like planet in another solar system 700 light-years away.

Heart health matters to your brain Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT People suffering from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at an increased risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study.

Strategy to clean up cheating in online courses Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT One of the obstacles to acceptance of massive open online courses is the potential for widespread cheating. Two researchers are offering a solution – but it may require MOOC instructors to do a little homework themselves.

Tiny airplanes and subs could be next hurricane hunters Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Scientists envision a day when unmanned vehicles will swarm over, under and through hurricanes to help predict the strength and path of the storms.

Obese patients trust diet advice from overweight physicians more than normal weight physicians Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT New study indicates overweight and obese patients trust weight-related counseling from overweight physicians more than normal weight physicians and patients seeing an obese primary care physician were more likely to perceive weight-related stigma.

Cosmic CSI team focuses on burned-out stars Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Like a CSI unit, a team of astronomers at observatories worldwide has been digging around in the innards of dead stars, collecting evidence on how they died. The Whole Earth Telescope is shedding new light on the inner workings of stars.

Seeing our errors keeps us on our toes Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT If people are unable to perceive their own errors as they complete a routine, simple task, their skill will decline over time, researchers have found -- but not for the reasons scientists assumed. The researchers report that the human brain does not passively forget our good techniques, but chooses to put aside what it has learned.

Spintronics approach enables new quantum technologies Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT Researchers highlight the power of emerging quantum technologies in two recent articles. New technologies exploit quantum mechanics, the physics that dominates the atomic world, to perform disparate tasks such as nanoscale temperature measurement and processing quantum information with lasers.

Common control patterns govern swimming animals Posted: 04 Jun 2013 12:33 PM PDT What do swimmers like trout, eels and sandfish lizards have in common? According to a new study, the similar timing patterns that these animals use to contract their muscles and produce undulatory swimming motions can be explained using a simple model.

Zebrafish help identify mutant gene in rare muscle disease Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Zebrafish with very weak muscles helped scientists decode the elusive genetic mutation responsible for Native American myopathy, a rare, hereditary muscle disease that afflicts Native Americans in North Carolina.

New way to improve stem cells' cartilage formation Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Bioengineers are interested in finding innovative ways to grow new cartilage from a patient's own stem cells, and, thanks to a new study, such a treatment is a step closer to reality.

Catalyst could jump-start e-cars, green energy Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have designed a new type of nanostructured-carbon-based catalyst that could pave the way for reliable, economical next-generation batteries and alkaline fuel cells, providing for practical use of wind- and solar-powered electricity, as well as enhanced hybrid electric vehicles.

Exposure to rocket attacks in Israel increases adolescent violence Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT A study followed 362 Israeli adolescents from the southwestern Negev from 2008 to 2011, and conducted annual assessments of exposure to rocket attacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as acts of violence.

Behold the 9-day fresh strawberry: New approach to slowing rot doubles berry shelf life Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Scientists have developed a way to double the shelf life of strawberries. Shining UV light onto the berries under conditions that mimic the inside of a home refrigerator delayed rotting to up to nine days.

Cognitive ability differences among the elderly explained Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT A new study shows compelling evidence that associations between cognitive ability and cortical grey matter in old age can largely be accounted for by cognitive ability in childhood.

Bringing cheaper, 'greener' lighting to market with inkjet-printed hybrid quantum dot LEDs Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT It's not easy going green. For home lighting applications, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) hold the promise of being both environmentally friendly and versatile. Though not as efficient as regular light-emitting diodes (LEDs), they offer a wider range of material choices and are more energy efficient than traditional lights. OLEDs can also be applied to flexible surfaces, which may lead to lights or television displays that can be rolled up and stowed in a pocket.

Roman seawater concrete holds the secret to cutting carbon emissions Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Scientists analyzed samples from a Roman breakwater submerged in the Bay of Naples for over two millennia, revealing the secrets of crystal chemistry that allow Roman seawater concrete to resist chemical attack and wave action for centuries. Materials and processes for manufacturing extraordinarily durable Roman maritime concrete released much less carbon than most modern concrete, presenting important opportunities for better quality and reduction of atmospheric carbon.

Biomarker could help scientists choose the right cell line when conducting stem cell experiments Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT Stem cells that strongly express a gene called WNT3 are biased to develop into cells and tissues including pancreas, liver and bladder. This discovery suggests that other genes may serve as biomarkers for selecting stem cells with a preference for turning into different tissue types. Such markers would make it easier for stem cell scientists to choose the right cell line to start with when generating specific tissues for study.

Scientists find potential new clues for identifying breast cancer risk Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT New research provides critical insights into how normal breast precursor cells may be genetically vulnerable to develop into cancer. Scientists discovered that a particular class of normal breast precursor cells have short chromosome ends (known as telomeres). As a result, these cells would be expected to be prone to acquiring mutations that lead to cancer if they managed to stay alive. These findings suggest new indicators for identifying women at higher risk for breast cancer.

Wi-Fi signals enable gesture recognition throughout entire home Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:42 AM PDT Researchers have shown it's possible to leverage Wi-Fi signals around us to detect specific movements without needing sensors on the human body or cameras. Using a Wi-Fi router and a few wireless devices in the living room, users could control their electronic devices from any room in the home with a simple gesture.

Mental block: Professor discovers way to alter memory Posted: 04 Jun 2013 10:42 AM PDT A series of studies shows it is possible to manipulate an existing memory simply by suggesting new or different information. The key is timing and recall of that memory.

Hubble maps 3-D structure of ejected material around erupting star Posted: 04 Jun 2013 09:15 AM PDT A flash of light from a stellar outburst has provided a rare look at the 3-D structure of material ejected by an erupting nova. Astronomers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to observe the light emitted by the close double-star system T Pyxidis, or T Pyx, a recurring nova, during its latest outburst in April 2011.

Anatomy determines how lizards attract partners and repel rivals Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:40 AM PDT Catching the attention of females in a darkened rainforest amid a blur of windblown vegetation is no easy task. But male Anolis lizards on the island of Jamaica have evolved an ideal visual technique. A new study now solves the mystery of why their close relatives on the neighboring island of Puerto Rico do not adopt the same strategy.

Anxious? Activate your anterior cingulate cortex with a little meditation Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:40 AM PDT Scientists, like Buddhist monks and Zen masters, have known for years that meditation can reduce anxiety, but not how. Scientists have now succeeded in identifying the brain functions involved.

Detecting disease with a smartphone accessory Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:39 AM PDT Engineers have created a new optical sensor that plugs in to a smartphone and, using disposable microfluidic chips, allows for inexpensive in-the-field diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer linked to AIDS.

Never forget a face? Researchers find women have better memory recall than men Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:39 AM PDT New research suggests women can remember faces better than men, in part because they spend more time studying features without even knowing it. And, researchers say a technique can help improve anyone's memories.

Why innovation thrives in cities Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:39 AM PDT Double a city's population and its economic productivity goes up 130 percent. Researchers think they know why.

White-tailed deer and the science of yellow snow Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:39 AM PDT New research from wildlife ecologists indicates that white-tailed deer may be making the soil in their preferred winter homes unfit to grow the very trees that protect them there.

An 'extinct' frog makes a comeback in Israel Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT The first amphibian to have been officially declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature has been rediscovered in the north of Israel after some 60 years and turns out to be a unique "living fossil," without close relatives among other living frogs.

Quantum model helps solve mysteries of water Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT Scientists have revealed a major breakthrough in the modeling of water that could shed light on its mysterious properties.

Cheerful women are not associated with leadership qualities, but proud ones are, study finds Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT Women are perceived as being more willing to lead if they show that they are proud of their personal performance. If, however, they give a cheerful impression, they are judged to have less willingness to leadership roles than men who display similar emotions. This is one of the initial findings of a long-term project in which economic researchers are investigating the selection and assessment of leaders.

A new species of yellow slug moth from China Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT A new species of the slug moth genus Monema has been described from China. The name refers to the peculiar caterpillars resembling slugs in many of their characteristics. The recent study of the representatives of the Monema genus in China records four species in total and a subspecies present in the country.

Two biomarkers predict increased risk for 'silent' strokes Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:27 AM PDT Two biomarkers being investigated as predictors of heart and vascular disease appear to indicate risk for "silent" strokes and other causes of mild brain damage that present no symptoms, report researchers.

Not really 'bath salts': Update on 'designer stimulants' Posted: 04 Jun 2013 08:27 AM PDT The last few years have seen the emergence of a new drug problem in so-called "bath salts"—- actually "designer stimulants," packaged and sold in ways that skirt drug laws.

Test to improve stem cell safety Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:47 AM PDT Scientists have developed a test to identify unsafe stem cells. It is the first safety test specifically for human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Scientists create novel silicon electrodes that improve lithium-ion batteries Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:47 AM PDT Scientists have dramatically improved the performance of lithium-ion batteries by creating novel electrodes made of silicon and conducting polymer hydrogel, a spongy material similar to that used in contact lenses and other household products. The scientists developed a new technique for producing low-cost, silicon-based batteries with potential applications for a wide range of electrical devices.

Weather conditions do not affect fibromyalgia pain or fatigue Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:46 AM PDT Weather conditions including temperature, sunshine, and precipitation have no impact on fibromyalgia symptoms in female patients, study suggests. Results suggest, however, that individual patients may be sensitive to some changes in the weather.

Innate immunity: When DNA is out of place Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:46 AM PDT In animal cells, DNA molecules are normally restricted to the cell nucleus and the mitochondria. When DNA appears outside these organelles – in the so-called cytosol - it most probably originates from a bacterial pathogen or a DNA virus. This is why cytosolic DNA triggers a strong response by the innate immune system. However, various types of insult can also lead to the release into the cytosol of the cell's own DNA. In this case, the resulting immune response may precipitate an autoimmune disease.

Metamaterials: Leading light waves astray Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:46 AM PDT The development of structured synthetic materials with unusual electromagnetic properties, so-called metamaterials, promises to provide access to special physical effects of great technological interest. Metamaterials have already been fabricated that have a negative refractive index for electromagnetic waves -- bending them in the opposite sense to light waves entering water, for instance -- which opens up completely novel opportunities for the manipulation of light. One of these makes it possible, in principle, to create cloaking devices that seem to make objects disappear. Indeed, such an invisibility cloak has already been realized for microwaves.

Drug resistance may make malaria parasites vulnerable to other substances Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:45 AM PDT Malaria parasites that develop resistance to the most effective class of anti-malarial drugs may become susceptible to other treatments as a result. The discovery could reveal potential new drug options, which would be essential in the event of resistance to the best anti-malarials.

The fight against genome parasites Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:45 AM PDT In the gonads of animals, genome parasites such as transposons pose a serious threat to evolutionary fitness. With their ability to bounce around in the genome, they often cause dangerous mutations. To protect genomic integrity, animals evolved a sophisticated mechanism – the so called piRNA pathway – to silence the deleterious transposons. Not much is known about the molecular processes and the involved factors that constitute the piRNA pathway. Researchers have now identified about 50 genes, that play important roles in the piRNA pathway of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster.

The intensity of land use doubled in the 20th century Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:45 AM PDT The growth of green plants – which can be measured in terms of "net primary production", or NPP for short – provides the energetic foundation for all life on Earth. The share of NPP appropriated by humans (HANPP) through agriculture and forestry, bioenergy production, and vegetation fires doubled over the course of the past century. Researchers have shown that while land is used more efficiently, simultaneously, the intensity of land use has increased continuously. Researchers warn that an increased expansion of bioenergy use would drastically raise HANPP to over 40%.

Stopping the worm from turning Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:45 AM PDT Almost one in six people worldwide are infected by parasitic worms, while parasitic infections of livestock cause economic losses of billions of Euro per year. Resistance to the few drugs available to treat infections is increasing and there is an urgent need to identify additional strategies to control parasitic diseases. A new study describes a rational approach to identifying proteins that might be involved in the larval development of a particular worm that infects pigs.

Climate change may increase the risk of severe thunderstorms Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:45 AM PDT Analysis has suggested that changes in the atmosphere will lead to more frequent conditions favorable for severe thunderstorms. According to recent studies there will be more damaging winds related to thunderstorms. The number of tornadoes and large hail is expected to remain at the same level as today.

Enhancer RNAs alter gene expression: New class of molecules may be key emerging 'enhancer therapy' Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT In a pair of distinct but complementary papers, researchers illuminate the functional importance of a relatively new class of RNA molecules. The work suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" or "eRNAs" could provide a new way to alter gene expression in living cells, perhaps affecting the development or pathology of many diseases.

Altered neural circuitry may lead to anorexia and bulimia Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT New research suggests that the altered function of neural circuitry contributes to restricted eating in anorexia and overeating in bulimia. The research may offer a pathway to new and more effective treatments for these serious eating disorders.

Dogs, humans affected by OCD have similar brain abnormalities Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT Another piece of the puzzle to better understand and treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has fallen into place with the publication of new research that shows that the structural brain abnormalities of Doberman pinschers afflicted with canine compulsive disorder (CCD) are similar to those of humans with OCD. The research suggests that further study of anxiety disorders in dogs may help find new therapies for OCD and similar conditions in humans.

Australian lake untouched by climate change Posted: 04 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT Researchers have found that a lake on an island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has been relatively untouched by changes in climate for the past 7000 years, and has so far also resisted the impact of humans.

Surgery for obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers is safe and effective, study suggests Posted: 03 Jun 2013 04:31 PM PDT Around half of people with an extreme form of obsessive compulsive disorder responded well to a type of psychosurgery that proved to be safe and effective, according to new research.

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