ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Diamond 'super-Earth' may not be quite so precious
• Empathy helps children to understand sarcasm
• From slowdown to shutdown: US leadership in biomedical research takes a blow, experts say
• Women suffer most from urinary tract infections, men more likely to be hospitalized
• Juno slingshots past Earth on its way to Jupiter
• Innovative deep-sea manned submarine under construction
• Postpartum depression spans generations, animal study suggests
• A slow, loving, 'affective' touch may be key to a healthy sense of self
• Clues to foam formation could help find oil
• Weighed down by guilt: Research shows it's more than a metaphor
• First computer-designed superconductor created
• Minimally invasive operation helps elderly patients after colon cancer treatment
• Breast cancer rates stable among active component service women
• Combination of anemia, high altitude challenge outcomes for children with pneumonia
• New therapeutic target that prevents cell division
• Excessive nerve cell pruning leads to disease
• Solving the Internet capacity crunch: First demonstration of a multicore fiber network
• Something in the (expecting mother's) water: Contaminated water breeds low-weight babies, sometimes born prematurely
• 'Cyberchondria' from online health searches is worse for those who fear the unknown
• Two genes linked to increased risk for eating disorders
• Part of brain that makes humans and primates social creatures may play similar role in carnivores
• Major leap towards graphene for solar cells
• DNA research sheds light on ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews
• Team uses a cellulosic biofuels byproduct to increase ethanol yield
• Surgeons report two new approaches to lessen postoperative pain
• Same-hospital readmission rate an unreliable predictor for all-hospital readmission rate
• Printed electronics: A multi-touch sensor customizable with scissors
• 'Yes' to one drug could become 'yes' for other drugs
• Archaeology experts solve 200 year old mystery of Roman statue
• Non-specific, specific RNA binding proteins found to be fundamentally similar
• Innovative wideband ring voltage-controlled oscillator developed
• Iron melt network helped grow Earth's core, study suggests
• Primate brains follow predictable developmental pattern
• Evolutionary question answered: Ants more closely related to bees than to most wasps
• How viral proteins are produced: New clues
• Sunscreen saves superhero gene
• Working together: Bacteria join forces to produce electricity
• Adherence to guidelines for severe traumatic brain injury saves lives
• A potential new strategy to address dementia
• New funding for development of mucosal vaccines based on nanoparticle technology
• No viral cause for breast cancer and brain tumors
• Abusive parenting may have a biological basis
• Malaria vaccine candidate reduces disease in children
• Babies learn to anticipate touch in the womb
• Rural land use policies curb wildfire risks -- to a point
• 'Brain training' may boost working memory, but not intelligence
• More than 500 million people might face increasing water scarcity
• Evaluating mobile weight loss apps on use of evidence-based behavioral strategies
• Parasites with greater infectivity associated with treatment failure
• Hooded seal barely affected by Brucella pinnipedialis bacteria
• First ever evidence of a comet striking Earth
• Generation gap in authors' open access views and experience, reveals survey
• Barnacle goose population continues to grow, triples in the eastern Gulf of Finland
• Liquorice alleviates troublesome symptoms following intubation
• Personalised therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease for diabetics
• Eating disorders associated with reproductive health problems
• Reading is good for your health
• Unexpected genomic change through 400 years of French-Canadian history
• Terrestrial ecosystems at risk of major shifts as temperatures increase
• Link between car crashes, adverse pregnancy outcomes

Diamond 'super-Earth' may not be quite so precious Posted: 08 Oct 2013 01:54 PM PDT An alien world believed to be the first-known planet to consist largely of diamond now appears less likely to be of such precious nature, according to a new analysis.

Empathy helps children to understand sarcasm Posted: 08 Oct 2013 01:53 PM PDT The greater the empathy skills of children, the easier it is for them to recognize sarcasm, according to a new study.

From slowdown to shutdown: US leadership in biomedical research takes a blow, experts say Posted: 08 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT The American Society for Cell Biology warns that temporary shutdown is inflicting long-term damage on American biomedicine.

Women suffer most from urinary tract infections, men more likely to be hospitalized Posted: 08 Oct 2013 11:22 AM PDT While women are far more likely to suffer urinary tract infections, men are more prone to be hospitalized for treatment. The first-of-its-kind research for the most common bacterial infection in the US is important in providing predictors of hospital admission at a time when the health care industry is searching for ways to reduce costs.

Juno slingshots past Earth on its way to Jupiter Posted: 08 Oct 2013 11:22 AM PDT NASA's Juno spacecraft will be passing within some 350 miles of Earth's surface Oct. 9 before it slingshots off into space on an historic exploration of Jupiter.

Innovative deep-sea manned submarine under construction Posted: 08 Oct 2013 11:21 AM PDT The University of Washington is working with Boeing and an Everett company to build a carbon-fiber submersible that will carry five passengers almost 2 miles deep.

Postpartum depression spans generations, animal study suggests Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:29 AM PDT A recently published study suggests that exposure to social stress not only impairs a mother's ability to care for her children but can also negatively impact her daughter's ability to provide maternal care to future offspring.

A slow, loving, 'affective' touch may be key to a healthy sense of self Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:29 AM PDT Researchers found that a loving touch, characterized by a slow caress or stroke -- often an instinctive mother/child gesture or between romantic partners -- may boost the brain's sense of body ownership and, in turn, play a part in creating and sustaining a healthy sense of self.

Clues to foam formation could help find oil Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:29 AM PDT Scientists have discovered two previously unknown ways bubbles form in foam as they investigated materials targeted for enhanced oil recovery.

Weighed down by guilt: Research shows it's more than a metaphor Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Ever feel the weight of guilt? Lots of people say they do. They're "carrying guilt" or "weighed down by guilt." Are these just expressions, or is there something more to these metaphors? Researchers have now found evidence that the emotional experience of guilt can be grounded in subjective bodily sensation.

First computer-designed superconductor created Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Scientists report the successful synthesis of the first superconductor designed entirely on the computer.

Minimally invasive operation helps elderly patients after colon cancer treatment Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Investigators have found that selected patients over the age of 70 were more likely to be discharged to their own homes -- instead of a nursing facility -- following laparoscopic operations when compared with patients who had a standard open surgical procedure for colon cancer.

Breast cancer rates stable among active component service women Posted: 08 Oct 2013 10:26 AM PDT Crude incidence rates of breast cancer among U.S. female active component service members have fluctuated slightly over the past 12 years, but have remained relatively stable, according to a new study.

Combination of anemia, high altitude challenge outcomes for children with pneumonia Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of young children around the world, and a study from an international group of researchers now finds that the risk of poor outcomes -- including persistent pneumonia, secondary infections, organ failure or death -- in children who contract pneumonia is four times higher in those who also have anemia and live at high altitudes.

New therapeutic target that prevents cell division Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have managed to decode a new mechanism that regulates cell division, in which the key molecule involved, Greatwall -- also known as Mastl -- could be a new therapeutic target for oncology treatments.

Excessive nerve cell pruning leads to disease Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Scientists have made important discoveries about a cellular process that occurs during normal brain development and may play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. The study's findings point to new pathways and targets for novel therapies for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions of people world-wide.

Solving the Internet capacity crunch: First demonstration of a multicore fiber network Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated successfully for the first time a multicore fiber-based network, which will form the foundation for the future Internet infrastructure.

Something in the (expecting mother's) water: Contaminated water breeds low-weight babies, sometimes born prematurely Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT Pregnant women living in areas with contaminated drinking water may be more likely to have babies that are premature or with low birth weights (considered less than 5.5 pounds), according to a new study.

'Cyberchondria' from online health searches is worse for those who fear the unknown Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT Turning to the Internet to find out what ails you is common, but for folks who have trouble handling uncertainty, "cyberchondria" -- the online counterpart to hypochondria -- worsens as they seek answers.

Two genes linked to increased risk for eating disorders Posted: 08 Oct 2013 09:24 AM PDT Scientists have discovered -- by studying the genetics of two families severely affected by eating disorders -- two gene mutations, one in each family, that are associated with increased risk of developing eating disorders.

Part of brain that makes humans and primates social creatures may play similar role in carnivores Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT The part of the brain that makes humans and primates social creatures may play a similar role in carnivores, according to a growing body of research. In studying spotted hyenas, lions and, most recently, the raccoon family, biologists found a correlation between the size of the animals' frontal cortex and their social nature.

Major leap towards graphene for solar cells Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT Scientists have shown that graphene retains its impressive set of properties when it is coated with a thin silicon film. These findings have paved the way for entirely new possibilities to use in thin-film photovoltaics.

DNA research sheds light on ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT Many of the maternal ancestors of modern Ashkenazi Jews were European converts, according to new research. Analysis of DNA samples has shown that on the female line, the Ashkenazim are descended not from the Near East but from southern and western Europe.

Team uses a cellulosic biofuels byproduct to increase ethanol yield Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT Scientists have engineered yeast to consume acetic acid, a previously unwanted byproduct of the process of converting plant leaves, stems and other tissues into biofuels. The innovation increases ethanol yield from lignocellulosic sources by about 10 percent.

Surgeons report two new approaches to lessen postoperative pain Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT New combinations of postoperative pain treatment decreased both pain and the use of narcotic pain relievers according to two studies presented this week at the 2013 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

Same-hospital readmission rate an unreliable predictor for all-hospital readmission rate Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:25 AM PDT According to new research findings presented at the 2013 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, same-hospital readmission rates are an unreliable surrogate for predicting all-hospital readmissions rates.

Printed electronics: A multi-touch sensor customizable with scissors Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT If a pair of long pants is too long, it is cut and hemmed. A board that does not fit into a bookcase is sawed to the right length. People often customize the size and shape of materials like textiles and wood without turning to specialists like tailors or carpenters. In the future this should be possible with electronics, according to the vision of computer scientists who have developed a printable multi-touch sensor whose shape and size everybody can alter. A new circuit layout makes it robust against cuts, damage, and removed areas.

'Yes' to one drug could become 'yes' for other drugs Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT High school seniors who frown upon the use of drugs are most likely to be female, nonsmokers or hold strong religious beliefs, according to a new study. The work examines how teenagers' attitudes toward marijuana influenced their thoughts on the further use of other illicit drugs. The study was conducted as marijuana use continues to be on the upswing in the United States, along with more lenient legislation and diminishing public disapproval toward its use.

Archaeology experts solve 200 year old mystery of Roman statue Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT Archaeologists have been able to identify a stone head that was found in a flowerbed in Chichester over 200 years ago, and remained a mystery ever since. Using the latest laser scanning technology, they have revealed that The Bosham Head, as it is known, is from a Roman statue of Emperor Trajan, dating back to AD 122, and one of the most significant Roman finds in Britain.

Non-specific, specific RNA binding proteins found to be fundamentally similar Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:24 AM PDT Researchers have found unexpected similarities between proteins that were thought to be fundamentally different. The team published a new study showing that non-specific proteins actually have the ability to be specific about where they bind to RNA – seeking out and binding with particular sequences of nucleotides.

Innovative wideband ring voltage-controlled oscillator developed Posted: 08 Oct 2013 08:23 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new wideband ring voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), which is a key component of an IR-UWB (Impulse Radio Ultra-wideband) Radar system.

Iron melt network helped grow Earth's core, study suggests Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:26 AM PDT Scientists recreated the intense pressures and temperatures found deep within the Earth, resulting in a discovery that complicates theories of how the planet and its core were formed.

Primate brains follow predictable developmental pattern Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT In a breakthrough for understanding brain evolution, neuroscientists have shown that differences between primate brains -- from the tiny marmoset to human -- can be largely explained as consequences of the same genetic program.

Evolutionary question answered: Ants more closely related to bees than to most wasps Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Genome sequencing and bioinformatics resolves a long-standing, evolutionary issue, demonstrating that ants and bees are more closely related to each other than they are to certain wasps.

How viral proteins are produced: New clues Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Understanding how viral proteins are produced can provide important clues on how we might interfere with the process. Scientists have discovered that a key protease of a particular virus breaks itself down into two different functional molecules. The findings may have important implications for the development of defense strategies against diseases caused by flaviviruses.

Sunscreen saves superhero gene Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Next time your kids complain about putting on sunscreen, tell them this: Sunscreen shields a superhero gene that protects them from getting cancer. Researchers have found sunscreen provides 100 percent protection against all three forms of skin cancer.

Working together: Bacteria join forces to produce electricity Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Scientists have explored the relationships of two important bacterial forms, demonstrating their ability to produce electricity by coordinating their metabolic activities.

Adherence to guidelines for severe traumatic brain injury saves lives Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT Researchers found a significant reduction in the number of deaths of patients hospitalized in New York State with severe traumatic brain injury between 2001 and 2009. Data from 22 trauma centers in New York State were studied. The reduction in deaths at these centers corresponded to increased adherence to tenets of the "Guidelines for Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury."

A potential new strategy to address dementia Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions of people worldwide. As a result of an increase in life expectancy, the number of patients with dementia is expected to increase dramatically. Due to the lack of effective treatments that can slow down or reverse the progression of AD, preventive measures to lower the prevalence rate of AD by means of managing potential or actual risk factors is a reasonable clinical strategy. In this respect, identifying treatable factors which are able to promote cognitive deterioration would have important practical implications.

New funding for development of mucosal vaccines based on nanoparticle technology Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT New funds have been invested into the development of new, highly-efficient mucosal vaccines. The vaccines will be drinkable or given as a nasal spray. Researchers wil combine technologies to develop the next generation of effective mucosal vaccines based on immunomodulation and cell-targeted nanoparticles.

No viral cause for breast cancer and brain tumors Posted: 08 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT A major study has now disproved theories of a viral cause for breast cancer and the brain tumour, glioblastoma. The study, which was based on over seven billion DNA sequences, found no genetic traces of viruses in these forms of cancer. It has been scientifically proven that about 15 per cent of all cancer cases are the result of viral infection, but many researchers believe that even more cancers could be caused by viruses.

Abusive parenting may have a biological basis Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Parents who physically abuse their children appear to have a physiological response that subsequently triggers more harsh parenting when they attempt parenting in warm, positive ways, according to new research.

Malaria vaccine candidate reduces disease in children Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Results from a large-scale Phase 3 trial show that the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S, continued to protect young children and infants from clinical malaria up to 18 months after vaccination. Based on these data, scientists now intend to submit, in 2014, a regulatory application to the European Medicines Agency.

Babies learn to anticipate touch in the womb Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Babies learn how to anticipate touch while in the womb, according to new research. Using 4-D scans psychologists found, for the first time, that fetuses were able to predict, rather than react to, their own hand movements towards their mouths as they entered the later stages of gestation compared to earlier in a pregnancy.

Rural land use policies curb wildfire risks -- to a point Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Using Montana's fast-growing Flathead County as a template, a Washington State University researcher has found that moderately restrictive land-use policies can significantly curb the potential damage of rural wildfires. However, highly restrictive planning laws will not do much more.

'Brain training' may boost working memory, but not intelligence Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Brain training games, apps, and websites are popular and it's not hard to see why -- who wouldn't want to give their mental abilities a boost? New research suggests that brain training programs might strengthen your ability to hold information in mind, but they won't bring any benefits to the kind of intelligence that helps you reason and solve problems.

More than 500 million people might face increasing water scarcity Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Both freshwater availability for many millions of people and the stability of ecosystems such as the Siberian tundra or Indian grasslands are put at risk by climate change. Even if global warming is limited to two degrees above pre-industrial levels, 500 million people could be subject to increased water scarcity -- while this number would grow by a further 50 percent if greenhouse-gas emissions are not cut soon. At five degrees global warming almost all ice-free land might be affected by ecosystem change.

Evaluating mobile weight loss apps on use of evidence-based behavioral strategies Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT In a new study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, UMass Medical School behavioral psychologist and weight loss expert Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., and colleagues find that mobile apps to help people lose weight are lacking when it comes to strategies for changing behaviors.

Parasites with greater infectivity associated with treatment failure Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:17 AM PDT Relapses after treatment for Leishmania infection may be due to a greater infectivity of the parasite rather than drug resistance, as has been previously thought.

Hooded seal barely affected by Brucella pinnipedialis bacteria Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:15 AM PDT A doctoral research project studying the bacterium Brucella pinnipedialis, which commonly occurs in hooded seals, found that this bacterium does not cause disease in hooded seals, as other Brucella bacteria do in other species.

First ever evidence of a comet striking Earth Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:15 AM PDT The first ever evidence of a comet entering Earth's atmosphere and exploding, raining down a shock wave of fire which obliterated every life form in its path, has been discovered by a team of South African scientists and international collaborators.

Generation gap in authors' open access views and experience, reveals survey Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:14 AM PDT The results of a 2013 author survey on open access publishing, with over eight thousand respondents.

Barnacle goose population continues to grow, triples in the eastern Gulf of Finland Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:14 AM PDT Birdwatchers performed a counting of barnacle geese throughout Finland during the weekend 31 August-1 September 2013. According to the results, the autumn population of barnacle goose increased by eight per cent year-on-year. The highest growth was observed in the eastern Gulf of Finland, where the autumn population tripled.

Liquorice alleviates troublesome symptoms following intubation Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:14 AM PDT In Traditional Chinese Medicine, liquorice is regarded as a "panacea". A recent study has now, for the first time, scientifically confirmed the healing properties of this natural substance. Researchers investigated patients who require a particularly thick tube (known as a double-lumen tube) following lung surgery and who consequently suffer frequent sore throats, hoarseness and coughs. The prescription of liquorice markedly reduced the frequency of post-operative symptoms. Even more importantly, patients were extremely happy and had less medical complaints following surgery.

Personalised therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease for diabetics Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT 600,000 to 800,000 Austrians suffer from diabetes mellitus. Thanks to the biomarker known as NT-proBNP (a hormone specific to the heart), the sub-group of people who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease can be determined even though their hearts appear to be healthy. This group accounts for around 40 per cent of all diabetics.

Eating disorders associated with reproductive health problems Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Women with eating disorders are less likely to have children than others in the same age group. The likelihood for miscarriage was more than triple for binge-eating disorder (BED) sufferers and the likelihood of abortion more than double for bulimics than others in the same age group.

Reading is good for your health Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT People with poor reading skills are likely to be less healthy than those who read easily, according to recent research. Literacy skills are important for keeping in good shape.

Unexpected genomic change through 400 years of French-Canadian history Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that the genomic signature inherited by today's 6 million French Canadians from the first 8,500 French settlers who colonized New France some 400 years ago has gone through an unparalleled change in human history, in a remarkably short timescale. This unique signature could serve as an ideal model to study the effect of demographic processes on human genetic diversity, including the identification of possibly damaging mutations associated with population-specific diseases.

Terrestrial ecosystems at risk of major shifts as temperatures increase Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Over 80% of the world's ice-free land is at risk of profound ecosystem transformation by 2100, a new study reveals. "Essentially, we would be leaving the world as we know it," says a researcher who studied the critical impacts of climate change on landscapes.

Link between car crashes, adverse pregnancy outcomes Posted: 08 Oct 2013 06:12 AM PDT Motor vehicle crashes can be hazardous for pregnant women, especially if they are not wearing a seat belt when the accident occurs.

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