ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Nature pulls a fast one on astronomers: Two galaxies caught masquerading as one
• Overcoming brittleness: New insights into bulk metallic glass
• What could possibly go wrong? A lot: Injuries from the Tough Mudder
• Algorithm identifies individual grains in planetary regolith
• Molecule critical to healing wounds identified
• HIV protein may impact neurocognitive impairment in infected patients
• Bait research focused on outsmarting destructive beetle
• Can certain herbs stave off Alzheimer's disease?
• Whither the teakettle whistle
• Variation of halogens in Martian soil calls for an atmosphere-surface cycle
• How teens choose their friends
• Chronic diseases hinder good cancer survival rates
• Ocean's carbon dioxide uptake can impair digestion in marine animal
• Success of climate talks vital for 2°C target
• Tasmania home to first alpine sword-sedge
• The Gorgons of the Eastern Pacific: Scientists describe two new gorgonian soft coral species
• Vivax malaria may be evolving around natural defense
• Team-based approaches needed to fight high blood pressure
• New hologram technology created with tiny nanoantennas
• Multicenter study underscores need for uniform approach to bladder cancer
• Organic lights and solar cells straight from the printer
• Revisiting quantum effects in micro- and nano-electromechanical devices
• Rising concerns over tree pests and diseases
• The ash dieback fungus, Chalara fraxinea, might have a mechanism to define territory and to combat viruses
• Enrollment in SNAP does not substantially improve food security, dietary quality
• Study shows bariatric surgery may turn back the effects of aging
• Researchers home in on roots of Caribbean populations using new DNA analysis method
• Key links between consumption, climate change
• New technique for developing drugs to treat serious illnesses
• Treatment of pelvic nodes individualized by inclusion of sentinel nodes is feasible
• Understanding a protein's role in familial Alzheimer's disease
• Alcohol ads in US magazines still expose consumers to risky content, messages
• Close social proximity to gunshot victim may increase own risk of victimization
• New avian flu virus emerges in Taiwan: researchers working to prevent infection
• Alberta plan fails to protect headwater havens for vulnerable wildlife
• Starting dialysis after conception may improve birth rates
• Pediatric ICU nurses with more experience, education cut inpatient mortality
• Social media brings academic journals to general readers
• Late afternoon, early evening caffeine can disrupt sleep at night
• New hope offered to patients with severe aortic stenosis
• Smartphone apps to help smokers quit come up short
• Cuts to local health departments hurt communities
• Immune-modulating drug unexpectedly benefits mice with fatal mitochondrial defect
• Has the idea of 'zero deforestation' lost its meaning

Nature pulls a fast one on astronomers: Two galaxies caught masquerading as one Posted: 15 Nov 2013 05:18 PM PST What might look like a colossal jet shooting away from a galaxy turns out to be an illusion. New data from the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) reveal that two galaxies, one lying behind the other, have been masquerading as one.

Overcoming brittleness: New insights into bulk metallic glass Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:45 PM PST Researchers have found a bulk metallic glass based on palladium that's as strong as the best composite bulk metallic glasses and comparable to steel, aluminum and titanium.

What could possibly go wrong? A lot: Injuries from the Tough Mudder Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:45 PM PST The Tough Mudder, an extreme sports event that bills itself as "probably the toughest event on the planet," resulted in injuries ranging from multiple electrical burns to seizure-induced Todd's paralysis. A case series of serious injuries sustained by participants in one such race was reported in a new article.

Algorithm identifies individual grains in planetary regolith Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:03 AM PST Researchers have developed an image analysis and segmentation algorithm specifically to aid planetary scientists with the task of analyzing soil samples taken by Mars rovers.

Molecule critical to healing wounds identified Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:03 AM PST Skin provides a first line of defense against viruses, bacteria and parasites that might otherwise make people ill. When an injury breaks that barrier, a systematic chain of molecular signaling launches to close the wound and re-establish the skin's layer of protection. A study now shows that the molecule FOX01 is critical to the wound-healing process.

HIV protein may impact neurocognitive impairment in infected patients Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST A protein shed by HIV-infected brain cells alters synaptic connections between networks of nerve cells, according to new research. The findings could explain why nearly half of all patients infected with the AIDS virus experience some level of neurocognitive impairment.

Bait research focused on outsmarting destructive beetle Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST Researchers are closing in on finding an effective bait to get ahead of the destructive spread of mountain pine beetle, which is now killing not only lodgepole pine forests, but jack pine.

Can certain herbs stave off Alzheimer's disease? Posted: 15 Nov 2013 08:15 AM PST Researchers have found that antioxidant extracts from spearmint and rosemary fight mild cognitive impairment in an animal model.

Whither the teakettle whistle Posted: 15 Nov 2013 08:15 AM PST The source and mechanism of a whistling kettle has never been fully described scientifically; acknowledging the vibrations made by the build-up of steam escaping through two metal spout plates is about as far as the explanation went. That wasn't enough for engineers who, through a series of experiments, have produced the world's first accurate model of the whistling mechanism inside the classic stovetop kettle.

Variation of halogens in Martian soil calls for an atmosphere-surface cycle Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST Scientists have assessed the details of halogen variability and an unusual process that may influence it. The group investigated the potential for an existing halogen cycle on Mars, which would alter the current paradigm of halogens distributed mostly by water-related processes.

How teens choose their friends Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST A national study finds that the courses students take in high school have powerful effects on the friendships they make.

Chronic diseases hinder good cancer survival rates Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST For bowel cancer patients with several other diseases, the one-year survival rate is 46 percent. For those without other diseases it is 80 percent. The same disparity characterizes other major types of cancer, shows new research based on figures from the Central Denmark Region.

Ocean's carbon dioxide uptake can impair digestion in marine animal Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST Ocean acidification impairs digestion in marine organisms, according to a new study. Researchers have studied the larval stage of green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. The results show that the animals have problems digesting food in acidified water.

Success of climate talks vital for 2°C target Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST Achieving a global climate agreement soon could be crucial for the objective to keep global mean temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. The challenges of meeting the long-term target will otherwise increase drastically both in terms of the required emissions reductions and economic impacts.

Tasmania home to first alpine sword-sedge Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:46 AM PST Australian botanists have described a unique new species of sedge (family Cyperaceae, which includes Papyrus and Chinese Water Chestnut) from the mist-shrouded mountains of Tasmania. Lepidosperma monticola is a small plant that is only known from the south-west of the island.

The Gorgons of the Eastern Pacific: Scientists describe two new gorgonian soft coral species Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:49 AM PST Gorgonians are a type of soft corals easily distinguishable by the complex branching shape, which has also probably inspired their name, coming from the Gorgon Medusa -- a creature from the Greek mythology that had hair made of venomous snakes. The existence of Medusa outside myth might be debatable, but gorgonian corals do exist and scientists describe two new beautiful species.

Vivax malaria may be evolving around natural defense Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:49 AM PST Researchers have discovered recent genetic mutations in a parasite that causes over 100 million cases of malaria annually -- changes that may render tens of millions of Africans who had been considered resistant, susceptible to infection.

Team-based approaches needed to fight high blood pressure Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:49 AM PST Despite proven treatments, blood pressure control is still a challenge in the United States. Local, regional and national programs that use coordinated care and multiple resources, including an evidence-based hypertension treatment algorithm, are needed to reduce and control blood pressure.

New hologram technology created with tiny nanoantennas Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:49 AM PST Researchers have created tiny holograms using a "metasurface" capable of the ultra-efficient control of light, representing a potential new technology for advanced sensors, high-resolution displays and information processing.

Multicenter study underscores need for uniform approach to bladder cancer Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:49 AM PST A new study involving eight Italian research centers concluded that an aligned approach to the treatment of advanced bladder cancer is much needed, while confirming previously published results on survival estimates of associated salvage therapies.

Organic lights and solar cells straight from the printer Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:44 AM PST Flickering façades, curved monitors, flashing clothing, fluorescent wallpaper, flexible solar cells – and all printable. This is no make-believe vision of the future; it will soon be possible using a new printing process for organic light-emitting diodes.

Revisiting quantum effects in micro- and nano-electromechanical devices Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:43 AM PST New calculations shows that the influence of quantum effects on the operating conditions of nanodevices has, until now, been overestimated. Micro- and nano-electromechanical devices, referred to as MEMS and NEMS, are ubiquitous. These nanoscale machines with movable parts are used, for example, to trigger cars' airbags following a shock. They can also be found in smartphones, allowing them to detect how to adequately display the screen for the viewer. The trouble is that, as their size decreases, forces typically experienced at the quantum level start to matter in these nanodevices.

Rising concerns over tree pests and diseases Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:43 AM PST New research has found that the number of pests and disease outbreaks in trees and forests across the world has been increasing. There is growing concern that aspects of globalization - in particular, high volumes and new forms of trade - may increase the risk of disease spreading and provide opportunities for genetic reassortment which can enhance pathogenicity (the ability of an organism to cause disease).

The ash dieback fungus, Chalara fraxinea, might have a mechanism to define territory and to combat viruses Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:43 AM PST The fungus which causes Chalara dieback of ash trees has the potential to defend itself against virus attacks, research has shown.

Enrollment in SNAP does not substantially improve food security, dietary quality Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:37 AM PST In the past, SNAP has been shown to reduce poverty among the poorest Americans and generate economic activity. However, according to a new study, SNAP benefits alone may not be enough to provide its beneficiaries with the long-term food security or dietary quality they need.

Study shows bariatric surgery may turn back the effects of aging Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:37 AM PST Researchers say surgical weight loss may turn back the effects of aging at a genetic level, in the first study of its kind.

Researchers home in on roots of Caribbean populations using new DNA analysis method Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:33 PM PST Those of us who want to learn about our ancestors -- who they were, where they came from and how they mingled (or didn't) with others around them -- often turn to historical records or elderly family members for answers. But a new study indicates that the answers can also be found within our own genes.

Key links between consumption, climate change Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST Models of future climate scenarios have taken insufficient account of population patterns and trends, according to a review. The review examines the interconnections between population growth and climate change, from the perspective of global health.

New technique for developing drugs to treat serious illnesses Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST Researchers exploit the power of evolution to create designer proteins to build drugs for the treatment of serious illnesses.

Treatment of pelvic nodes individualized by inclusion of sentinel nodes is feasible Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST Treatment of pelvic nodes individualized by inclusion of sentinel nodes (SN) can be easily integrated into an IMRT-based treatment strategy, according to the new study conducted by a group of researchers. The target volume concept seems to correctly cover individual pelvic nodes, which is indicated by the absence of any nodal recurrence within five years of follow-up.

Understanding a protein's role in familial Alzheimer's disease Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST Researchers have used genetic engineering of human induced pluripotent stem cells to specifically and precisely parse the roles of a key mutated protein in causing familial Alzheimer's disease, discovering that simple loss-of-function does not contribute to the inherited form of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Alcohol ads in US magazines still expose consumers to risky content, messages Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST A new report calls into question whether existing American federal and voluntary standards for alcohol advertisements curtail potentially damaging content and protect public health.

Close social proximity to gunshot victim may increase own risk of victimization Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:32 PM PST New research finds that within a high-crime African-American community, the closer an individual was to a gunshot victim socially, the greater their risk of also becoming a victim.

New avian flu virus emerges in Taiwan: researchers working to prevent infection Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:31 PM PST A novel strain of influenza A, H6N1, has been reported in a 20-year old woman in Taiwan. Health officials fear the virus, which is very similar in structure to the H7N9 avian flu virus which killed 45 and infected 139 people in China last year, may infect more people.

Alberta plan fails to protect headwater havens for vulnerable wildlife Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:31 PM PST Scientists said today that the draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan released recently by the Alberta government falls far short of protecting vulnerable fish and wildlife populations and headwater sources of precious water that are cherished by southern Albertans.

Starting dialysis after conception may improve birth rates Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:31 PM PST Compared with women with advanced kidney disease who conceived after starting dialysis, women who conceived and then started dialysis during the pregnancy had a much better live birth rate (91% vs 63%), and their infants were of similar birth weight and gestational age. In both groups of women with kidney disease, babies were likely to be premature and of low birth-weight, which reflects the high-risk nature of these pregnancies.

Pediatric ICU nurses with more experience, education cut inpatient mortality Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:58 PM PST Nursing leaders from 38 children's hospitals demonstrated that nursing education and experience significantly impact outcomes for patients who underwent cardiac surgery. The researchers recommend that there be no more than 20 percent of nurses with less than two years of clinical experience in pediatric ICUs to decrease mortality rates.

Social media brings academic journals to general readers Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:58 PM PST A study recently published shows that a handful of academic journals have successfully leveraged social media to reach many times the readers of the journals themselves. But the majority of journals have yet to embrace social media and so lag behind professional organizations and patient advocacy groups in their ability to disseminate information in a culturally relevant way.

Late afternoon, early evening caffeine can disrupt sleep at night Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:58 PM PST A new study shows that caffeine consumption even six hours before bedtime can have significant, disruptive effects on sleep.

New hope offered to patients with severe aortic stenosis Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:57 PM PST The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano became the first in the nation to treat a patient with the catheter-based SAPIEN 3 heart valve using the transapical approach (through the ribs). This new phase of a clinical trial, also known as Partner II, may offer older patients with inoperable heart valve conditions a second chance at life.

Smartphone apps to help smokers quit come up short Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:57 PM PST Most popular smartphone apps do not include evidence-based practices known to help smokers quit, finds a new study.

Cuts to local health departments hurt communities Posted: 14 Nov 2013 12:57 PM PST A new study finds that many local health departments aren't able to meet goals to increase health care access.

Immune-modulating drug unexpectedly benefits mice with fatal mitochondrial defect Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST In a lab devoted to increasing healthy lifespans, the transplant anti-rejection drug rapamycin showed unexpected health benefits and increased survival in a mouse model of a fatal mitochondrial defect. Children with the untreatable condition suffer from brain damage and muscle weakness, and rarely live beyond 6 or 7 years. The drug enables the body to bypass the mitochondrial defect by switching its metabolism to burn fats and amino acids instead of glucose, and thereby reduces toxic byproducts.

Has the idea of 'zero deforestation' lost its meaning Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST What exactly does "zero deforestation" mean? Experts say that, while the idea seems simple and compelling, ambiguity surrounding global definitions and metrics actually creates risks for forest conservation and accountability.

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