ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Two for one in solar power: New process could revolutionize solar energy harvesting
• Scientists invent self-healing battery electrode
• Graphene nanoribbons for 'reading' DNA
• Near-future heat and precipitation extremes predicted
• Volcano discovered smoldering under a kilometer of ice in West Antarctica: Heat may increase rate of ice loss
• Oxygen, phosphorus and early life on Earth
• Protein coding 'junk genes' may be linked to cancer
• 'Virtual reality hands' may help stroke survivors recover hand function
• Environmental toxins linked to heart defects
• Heart disease number one cause of pregnancy-related deaths in California
• Childhood cancer treatment takes toll on hearts of survivors
• BMI may predict heart disease risk for type-2 diabetic patients
• 'Mini-kidney' structures generated from human stem cells for first time
• Hospitalized children more likely to die after cardiac arrest during night shift
• One minute of CPR video training could save lives
• CPR for 38 minutes or longer improves chance to survive cardiac arrest
• New device offers hope to people blinded due to incurable eye disorders
• Eye injuries in NHL cost franchises more than $32 million
• Residents of most polluted US Cities have increased risk of dry eye syndrome
• Cardiac surgeon report cards do not influence referrals, study shows
• Large-scale analysis describes inappropriate lab testing throughout medicine
• Mandatory calorie postings at fast-food chains do not influence food choice
• Study finds donor age not a factor in most corneal transplants
• Safety in numbers? Not so for corals
• CHICA, automated system improves autism screening rate
• Inflammatory skin damage blocked by bleach solution in animal study
• Persistent gene therapy in muscle may not require immunosuppression
• Tipping the balance between senescence, proliferation
• Blocking signal-transmitting cellular pores may prevent kidney damage
• Promising approach to improve outcome for children with high-risk leukemia
• iPads help children with autism develop language
• Decline in creativity? It depends on how you look
• New heart disease and stroke prevention guidelines not fully supported by health insurance
• Nanoparticles to probe mystery sperm defects linked to infertility
• Gentle pasteurization of milk – with microwaves
• Cataract Surgery Saves $123.4 Billion in Costs, Delivers a 4,567% Return to Society
• Medication errors common on admission to mental health units
• Ambiguous results in screening for celiac disease

Two for one in solar power: New process could revolutionize solar energy harvesting Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:57 PM PST A process that could revolutionize solar energy harvesting has been efficiently demonstrated in solution for the first time.

Scientists invent self-healing battery electrode Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:57 PM PST Researchers have made the first battery electrode that heals itself, opening a new and potentially commercially viable path for making the next generation of lithium ion batteries for electric cars, cell phones and other devices. The secret is a stretchy polymer that coats the electrode, binds it together and spontaneously heals tiny cracks that develop during battery operation, according to the research.

Graphene nanoribbons for 'reading' DNA Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:56 PM PST One of the methods used for examining the molecules in a liquid consists in passing the fluid through a nano-sized hole so as to detect their passage. Researchers have found a way to improve this technique by using a material with unique properties: graphene.

Near-future heat and precipitation extremes predicted Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:56 PM PST Unlike long-term climate predictions, forecasts about the next twenty to fifty years are fraught with major uncertainties. In spite of this, however, ETH-Zurich scientists have now managed to make projections about the future distribution of heat and precipitation extremes.

Volcano discovered smoldering under a kilometer of ice in West Antarctica: Heat may increase rate of ice loss Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:56 PM PST A temporary seismic array in Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica recorded two bursts of activity in 2010 and 2011. Careful analysis of the events shows they originate from a subglacial volcano at the leading end of a volcanic mountain chain. The volcano is unlikely to erupt through the kilometer of ice that covers it but it will melt enough ice to change the way the ice in its vicinity flows.

Oxygen, phosphorus and early life on Earth Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:55 PM PST Two billion years ago the Earth system was recovering from perhaps the single-most profound modification of its surface environments: the oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans. This led to a series of major changes in global biogeochemical cycles.

Protein coding 'junk genes' may be linked to cancer Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:55 PM PST By using a new analysis method, researchers have found close to one hundred novel human gene regions that code for proteins. A number of these regions are so-called pseudogenes, which may be linked to cancer. The expectation is now that this recently developed protein analysis method will open up a whole new field of research.

'Virtual reality hands' may help stroke survivors recover hand function Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST "Virtual reality hands" — controlled by stroke survivors' thoughts — could help them recover use of their hands and arms.

Environmental toxins linked to heart defects Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST Children's congenital heart defects may be associated with their mothers' exposure to specific mixtures of environmental toxins during pregnancy, according to research.

Heart disease number one cause of pregnancy-related deaths in California Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST Heart disease is the leading cause of women's pregnancy-related deaths in California — but nearly one-third could be prevented.

Childhood cancer treatment takes toll on hearts of survivors Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST Cancer treatment takes a toll on the hearts of child survivors, according to research.

BMI may predict heart disease risk for type-2 diabetic patients Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST Researchers have discovered a simple way to further predict a diabetic patient's risk for heart disease: by measuring their body mass index or BMI.

'Mini-kidney' structures generated from human stem cells for first time Posted: 17 Nov 2013 12:54 PM PST Diseases affecting the kidneys represent a major and unsolved health issue worldwide. The kidneys rarely recover function once they are damaged by disease, highlighting the urgent need for better knowledge of kidney development and physiology.

Hospitalized children more likely to die after cardiac arrest during night shift Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Hospitalized children are more likely to die after a cardiac arrest if it occurs during the night shift, according to research.

One minute of CPR video training could save lives Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Just one minute of CPR video training for bystanders in a shopping mall could save lives in emergencies, according to research.

CPR for 38 minutes or longer improves chance to survive cardiac arrest Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Performing CPR for 38 minutes or longer can improve a patient's chance of surviving cardiac arrest, according to a study.

New device offers hope to people blinded due to incurable eye disorders Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Research shows promising data about a device that helps people who have lost their vision due to a blinding genetic disease to recognize common objects. In the study, the researchers found when the objects' outlines had been enhanced, there was increased recognition. The device, called the Argus II, is the first FDA-approved retinal implant for adults with retinitis pigmentosa.

Eye injuries in NHL cost franchises more than $32 million Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Research shows that wearing visors in the National Hockey League (NHL) could cause a four-fold decrease in the risk of eye injuries. Furthermore, the study found that eye injuries over the last 10 seasons have cost the NHL and its associated franchises more than $32 million in missed games.

Residents of most polluted US Cities have increased risk of dry eye syndrome Posted: 16 Nov 2013 02:11 PM PST Residents of major cities with high levels of air pollution have an increased risk of dry eye syndrome, according to a study. Study subjects in and around Chicago and New York City were found to be three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with dry eye syndrome compared to less urban areas with relatively little air pollution.

Cardiac surgeon report cards do not influence referrals, study shows Posted: 15 Nov 2013 05:37 PM PST Despite nearly universal awareness of report cards on risk-adjusted mortality rates of individual cardiac surgeons, cardiologists in New York State do not use these reports when making patient referral decisions.

Large-scale analysis describes inappropriate lab testing throughout medicine Posted: 15 Nov 2013 05:36 PM PST A new study finds that, on average, 30 percent of all lab tests are probably unnecessary -- and equally as many necessary tests may be going unordered.

Mandatory calorie postings at fast-food chains do not influence food choice Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:44 PM PST Posting the calorie content of menu items at major fast-food chains in Philadelphia, per federal law, does not change purchasing habits or decrease the number of calories that those customers consume, researchers have reported.

Study finds donor age not a factor in most corneal transplants Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:44 PM PST Ten years after a transplant, a cornea from a 71-year-old donor is likely to remain as healthy as a cornea from a donor half that age, according to a study. Corneas from donors over age 71 perform slightly less well, but still remain healthy for the majority of transplant recipients after 10 years, the study found.

Safety in numbers? Not so for corals Posted: 15 Nov 2013 11:14 AM PST Traditionally, it was assumed that corals do not face a risk of extinction unless they become very rare or have a very restricted range. A team of scientists has revealed that global changes in climate and ocean chemistry affect corals whether scare or abundant, and often it is the dominant, abundant corals with wide distributions that are affected the most.

CHICA, automated system improves autism screening rate Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST An automated system to help pediatricians focus on the specific health needs of each patient in the short time allotted for preventive care improves autism screening rates by identifying at-risk children at the 24-month visit. American children typically are not diagnosed with autism until age 4½ or 5 years.

Inflammatory skin damage blocked by bleach solution in animal study Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST Processes that age and damage skin are impeded by dilute bleach solution, according to a new study by researchers working with mice.

Persistent gene therapy in muscle may not require immunosuppression Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST In a new study, researchers evaluated the persistence of rAAV-mediated expression the gene encoding M-type ±-1 antitrypsin in patients that were AAT deficient

Tipping the balance between senescence, proliferation Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:01 AM PST p53 is produced as various isoforms as the result of alternative splicing and promoter usage. One isoform, p53-beta, accelerates cellular arrest, while another isoform, delta-133p53 represses replicative senescence in cultured cells. Researchers evaluated the expression of these two p53 isoforms in T lymphocytes from healthy donors and donors with lung cancer.

Blocking signal-transmitting cellular pores may prevent kidney damage Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:01 AM PST A group of investigators has identified a molecule that plays a key role in the breakdown of the kidney filter, presenting a potential therapeutic target for stopping the damage before it becomes irreversible.

Promising approach to improve outcome for children with high-risk leukemia Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST Results from a new study is showing that a drug withdrawn from the market in 2010 may enhance the effectiveness of bone marrow transplants for select pediatric leukemia patients. Combining the drug gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) with conventional chemotherapy may improve the outcome of bone marrow transplantation for some children battling high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

iPads help children with autism develop language Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST Some parents in a recent study were able to converse with their children for the first time with the help of language development programs on an iPad. Turns out children with autism can learn speech later than previously thought.

Decline in creativity? It depends on how you look Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST Research has suggested that young Americans might be less creative than in decades past, even while their intelligence continues to rise. But new research, closely studying 20 years of student creative writing and visual artworks, hints that the dynamics of creativity may not break down as simply as that. Instead, it may be that some aspects of creativity — such as those employed in visual arts — are gently rising over the years, while other aspects, such as the nuances of creative writing, could be declining.

New heart disease and stroke prevention guidelines not fully supported by health insurance Posted: 15 Nov 2013 08:15 AM PST The reality of existing insurance coverage precludes effective implementation of four newly released cardiovascular guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports the new guidelines and urges public and private insurance carriers to follow the recommendations so that Americans will have access to health care they deserve.

Nanoparticles to probe mystery sperm defects linked to infertility Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:47 AM PST A way of using nanoparticles to investigate the mechanisms underlying 'mystery' cases of infertility has been developed by scientists. The technique could eventually help researchers to discover the causes behind cases of unexplained infertility and develop treatments for affected couples. The method involves loading porous silica nanoparticle 'envelopes' with compounds to identify, diagnose or treat the causes of infertility.

Gentle pasteurization of milk – with microwaves Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:46 AM PST In the EU-funded project MicroMilk, researchers have developed a novel method for pasteurization of milk with microwaves. The system preserves the valuable components of milk, and is also suitable for heating viscous and concentrated dairy products due to minimized fouling formation. As a result, cleaning efforts can be reduced and detergents are saved. In the follow-up project MicroMilk Demo, the system will be transferred into industrial practice.

Cataract Surgery Saves $123.4 Billion in Costs, Delivers a 4,567% Return to Society Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:45 AM PST Cataract surgeries performed over one year eventually save $123.4 billion over 13 years and delivers a 4,567 percent financial return on investment to society according to the results of a cost-utility study. Researchers say that the results prove that healthcare interventions create substantial economic wealth.

Medication errors common on admission to mental health units Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:44 AM PST A recent study found that medication errors were common on admission to mental health services.

Ambiguous results in screening for celiac disease Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:44 AM PST Most children who undergo screening to detect gluten intolerance, celiac disease, can handle it well. However, many people feel that the discovery of the disease and the treatment they receive does not provide a better quality of life.

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