ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New results from inside the ozone hole
• Nonconcussion head impacts in contact sports linked to brain changes and lower test scores
• Liquid to gel to bone: Temperature-sensitive gelling scaffolds made to regenerate craniofacial bone
• Dietary amino acids improve sleep problems in mice with traumatic brain injury
• Differences in educational achievement owe more to genetics than environment, finds study of UK students
• Researchers show optimal framework for heartbeats
• Chameleons use colorful language to communicate: Chameleons' body regions are 'billboards' for different types of information
• Arctic cyclones more common than previously thought
• Staying ahead of Huntington's disease
• The mystery of lizard breath: One-way air flow may be 270 million years old
• Fire vs. ice: The science of ISON at perihelion
• Brain's never-before-seen cellular response to concussions could lead to therapy
• Clues about protein mechanism critical to plant growth, yield
• Malnourished children still have hope beyond first 1,000 days
• Muscular head pumps give long-proboscid fly edge
• More powerful approach to analyze melanoma's genetic causes
• Game-changing shift occurring in cancer discovery, treatment
• Pine plantations provide optimum conditions for natural forests to develop underneath them
• Alpine glacier, unchanged for thousands of years, now melting: New ice cores suggest Alps have been strongly warming since 1980s
• Even when test scores go up, some cognitive abilities don't
• New system allows for high-accuracy, through-wall, 3-D motion tracking; Technology could revolutionize gaming, fall detection
• Study finds biomaterials repair human heart
• Rising mountains dried out Central Asia
• New strain of bird flu packs a punch even after becoming drug-resistant
• Teens publish studies on pest-killing wasps, berry fungus
• Biodegradable or not?
• New evidence for assessing tsunami risk from very large volcanic island landslides
• Carbon capture technology could be vital for climate targets
• Researchers uncover mechanism controlling Tourette Syndrome tics
• Antivirals for HCV improve kidney, cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients
• Spanking children slows cognitive development and increases risk of criminal behavior, expert says
• Supervolcanoes discovered in Utah: Evidence of some of the largest eruptions in Earth's history
• Step closer to muscle regeneration
• Education: Learning with 'stronger peers' yields no boost
• Key role of protein in segregation of genetic material during cell division
• Egg dumping -- and rearing
• Novel cancer cell DNA damage repair mechanism unveiled
• Runaway process drives intermediate-depth earthquakes
• Announcing project AGORA: Ambitious comparison of computer simulations of galaxy evolution
• SIRT5 regulation has dramatic effect on mitochondrial metabolism
• The garden microbe with a sense of touch: Common soil dwelling bacterium responds to forces and curvature
• Magpie parents know a baby cuckoo when they see one
• Precise docking sites for cells
• Different food fish can cause different allergies
• Post-Sandy, Long Island barrier systems appear surprisingly sound
• HIV causes structural heart disease, study concludes
• Urban sprawl threatens water quality, climate protection, and land conservation gains
• New test facilitates diagnosis of autism in adults
• Fossil primate shakes up history of tooth-combed primates
• Are overweight children less able to handle advertising?
• Serengeti's animals under pressure
• New gene therapy proves promising as hemophilia treatment
• Video of failed bike stunt lends insights into biomechanics of facial fracture

New results from inside the ozone hole Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:56 PM PST Scientists have revealed the inner workings of the ozone hole that forms annually over Antarctica and found that declining chlorine in the stratosphere has not yet caused a recovery of the ozone hole.

Nonconcussion head impacts in contact sports linked to brain changes and lower test scores Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:55 PM PST Repeated blows to the head during a season of contact sports may cause changes in the brain's white matter and affect cognitive abilities even if none of the impacts resulted in a concussion.

Liquid to gel to bone: Temperature-sensitive gelling scaffolds made to regenerate craniofacial bone Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:53 PM PST Bioengineers have developed a hydrogel scaffold for craniofacial bone tissue regeneration that starts as a liquid, solidifies into a gel in the body and liquefies again for removal.

Dietary amino acids improve sleep problems in mice with traumatic brain injury Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:53 PM PST Scientists have discovered how to fix sleep disturbances in mice with traumatic brain injuries -- a discovery that could lead to help for hundreds of thousands of people who have long-term and debilitating sleep and wakefulness issues after they suffer concussions.

Differences in educational achievement owe more to genetics than environment, finds study of UK students Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:53 PM PST The degree to which students' exam scores differ owes more to their genes than to their teachers, schools or family environments, according to new research. The study, which took place in the UK, looked at students' scores for their GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education), a UK-wide examination at the end of compulsory education at 16 years old.

Researchers show optimal framework for heartbeats Posted: 11 Dec 2013 12:21 PM PST There is an optimal amount of strain that a beating heart can generate and still beat at its usual rate, once per second. Researchers have now shown that this "sweet spot" depends on the stiffness of the collagen framework that the heart's cells live within.

Chameleons use colorful language to communicate: Chameleons' body regions are 'billboards' for different types of information Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:42 AM PST To protect themselves, some animals rapidly change color when their environments change, but chameleons change colors in unusual ways when they interact with other chameleons. Researchers have discovered that these color changes don't happen "out-of-the-blue" -- instead, they convey different types of information during important social interactions.

Arctic cyclones more common than previously thought Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:42 AM PST From 2000 to 2010, about 1,900 cyclones churned across the top of the world each year, leaving warm water and air in their wakes -- and melting sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. That's about 40 percent more than previously thought, according to a new analysis of these Arctic storms.

Staying ahead of Huntington's disease Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:39 AM PST Researchers have made strides in staying ahead of Huntington's disease, a devastating, incurable disorder that results from the death of certain neurons in the brain.

The mystery of lizard breath: One-way air flow may be 270 million years old Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:39 AM PST Air flows mostly in a one-way loop through the lungs of monitor lizards -- a breathing method shared by birds, alligators and presumably dinosaurs, according to a new study that may push the evolution of this trait back to 270 million years ago.

Fire vs. ice: The science of ISON at perihelion Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:29 AM PST After a year of observations, scientists waited with bated breath on Nov. 28, 2013, as Comet ISON made its closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion. Would the comet disintegrate in the fierce heat and gravity of the sun? Or survive intact to appear as a bright comet in the pre-dawn sky?

Brain's never-before-seen cellular response to concussions could lead to therapy Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:29 AM PST A biology student spent the past few summers developing an experiment for observing the brain's cellular response to a concussion. The never-before-seen action could one day lead to therapies that mitigate brain damage following mild traumatic brain injuries.

Clues about protein mechanism critical to plant growth, yield Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:28 AM PST Scientists have made several scientific discoveries demonstrating the significant roles Heterotrimeric G proteins play in plant development and yield.

Malnourished children still have hope beyond first 1,000 days Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:27 AM PST New research is finding that global health workers should not give up on impoverished children after the first 1,000 days. In a longitudinal study of 8,000 children from four poverty-laden countries, health science researchers found that the developmental damage of malnutrition during the first 1,000 days is not irreversible.

Muscular head pumps give long-proboscid fly edge Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:27 AM PST A long-proboscid fly with an extra-long, tongue-like proboscis might seem to take extra-long to feed on a flower, but it actually has an advantage over its counterparts with average sized nectar-sipping mouth parts. It can suck up almost all nectar available in a flower in one go, because it has more efficient suction pumps in its head, say researchers.

More powerful approach to analyze melanoma's genetic causes Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:25 AM PST There may be a better way to analyze the genetic causes of cutaneous melanoma according to a study published. A statistical analysis using the natural and orthogonal interaction model showed increased power over existing approaches for detecting genetic effects and interactions when applied to the genome-wide melanoma dataset.

Game-changing shift occurring in cancer discovery, treatment Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:25 AM PST Research advances that have come to fruition over the past year demonstrate extraordinary progress in the fight against cancer, according to a new report. The report stresses, however, that recent budget cuts and years-long flat funding can only delay efforts to translate research into effective treatments for millions of individuals with cancer.

Pine plantations provide optimum conditions for natural forests to develop underneath them Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:24 AM PST If there is any native forest in the vicinity, tree, fern and herbaceous species typical of these forests penetrate under the pine plantations without any need for action. That way it is possible, to a certain extent, for native forests to be restored, thanks to the process known as ecological succession.

Alpine glacier, unchanged for thousands of years, now melting: New ice cores suggest Alps have been strongly warming since 1980s Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:24 AM PST Less than 20 miles from the site where melting ice exposed the 5,000-year-old body of Ötzi the Iceman, scientists have discovered new and compelling evidence that the Italian Alps are warming at an unprecedented rate. Part of that evidence comes in the form of a single dried-out leaf from a larch tree that grew thousands of years ago.

Even when test scores go up, some cognitive abilities don't Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:19 AM PST In new research, neuroscientists find that even high-performing schools don't influence their students' abstract reasoning.

New system allows for high-accuracy, through-wall, 3-D motion tracking; Technology could revolutionize gaming, fall detection Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:18 AM PST Imagine playing a video game like Call of Duty or Battlefield and having the ability to lead your virtual army unit while moving freely throughout your house. Gaming could become this realistic, thanks to new technology that allows for highly accurate, 3-D motion tracking. The new system, dubbed "WiTrack," uses radio signals to track a person through walls and obstructions, pinpointing her 3-D location to within 10 to 20 centimeters -- about the width of an adult hand.

Study finds biomaterials repair human heart Posted: 11 Dec 2013 10:17 AM PST Biological scientists investigated a biomedical application following a coronary artery bypass surgery and found that the application allowed the human body to regenerate its own tissue.

Rising mountains dried out Central Asia Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST The uplift of two mountain ranges in Central Asia beginning 30 million years ago expanded the Gobi Desert and set Central Asia on its path to extreme aridity, a new study suggests.

New strain of bird flu packs a punch even after becoming drug-resistant Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST Researchers have reported that a virulent new strain of influenza -- the virus that causes the flu -- appears to retain its ability to cause serious disease in humans even after it develops resistance to antiviral medications.

Teens publish studies on pest-killing wasps, berry fungus Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST We know more about wildlife this week, thanks to research by two Canadian teens. Teens from Ottawa and rural British Columbia published their research in this week's issue of a scientific journal.

Biodegradable or not? Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:46 AM PST In order to improve the evaluation process for the long-term consequences of pesticides, scientists have developed a new detection method and a model that can enable determinations regarding whether and how readily biodegradable the residues of pesticides are.

New evidence for assessing tsunami risk from very large volcanic island landslides Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST The risk posed by tsunami waves generated by Canary Island landslides may need to be re-evaluated, according to researchers. New findings suggest that these landslides result in smaller tsunami waves than previously thought by some authors, because of the processes involved.

Carbon capture technology could be vital for climate targets Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:42 AM PST The future availability of carbon capture and storage will be pivotal in reaching ambitious climate targets, according to a new comprehensive study of future energy technologies.

Researchers uncover mechanism controlling Tourette Syndrome tics Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:41 AM PST A mechanism in the brain that controls tics in children with Tourette Syndrome has been discovered by scientists.

Antivirals for HCV improve kidney, cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:41 AM PST Researchers reveal that antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) improves kidney and cardiovascular outcomes for patients with diabetes. Results show that incidences of kidney disease, stroke, and heart attack were lower in patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin compared to HCV patients not treated with antivirals or diabetic patients not infected with the virus.

Spanking children slows cognitive development and increases risk of criminal behavior, expert says Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:39 AM PST A scientist makes a definitive case against spanking, including how it slows cognitive development and increases antisocial and criminal behavior.

Supervolcanoes discovered in Utah: Evidence of some of the largest eruptions in Earth's history Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:39 AM PST Evidence of an eruption 5,000 times larger than Mount St. Helens was found in the Utah desert, with traces of ash identified as far away as Nebraska. These supervolcanoes aren't active today, but 30 million years ago more than 5,500 cubic kilometers of magma erupted during a one-week period near a place called Wah Wah Springs. By comparison, this eruption was about 5,000 times larger than the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.

Step closer to muscle regeneration Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:39 AM PST Muscle cell therapy to treat some degenerative diseases, including Muscular Dystrophy, could be a more realistic clinical possibility, now that scientists have found a way to isolate muscle cells from embryonic tissue.

Education: Learning with 'stronger peers' yields no boost Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:39 AM PST A new study contradicts the popular theory that students perform better when surrounded by higher achieving classmates.

Key role of protein in segregation of genetic material during cell division Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:39 AM PST Researchers have reported the regulator mechanisms of mitosis, a key stage of the cell-cycle for the correct transmission of genetic information from parents to sons.

Egg dumping -- and rearing Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST Many birds have reason to worry that the eggs in their nest might not be their own: Birds often deposit eggs into other nests and it is not easy for parents to tell their eggs from others. Researchers have discovered that tree sparrows can recognize eggs deposited by other tree sparrows but do not always reject them.

Novel cancer cell DNA damage repair mechanism unveiled Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST Cancer cells have an exceptional ability to repair damage to their DNA caused during uncontrolled cell division. Scientists have now unveiled a novel piece of the puzzle of cancer cell DNA repair mechanisms that explain the mechanistic changes in the genetic code of cancer cells.

Runaway process drives intermediate-depth earthquakes Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a vital clue about the mechanism behind a type of earthquake that originates deep within the Earth and accounts for a quarter of all temblors worldwide, some of which are strong enough to pose a safety hazard.

Announcing project AGORA: Ambitious comparison of computer simulations of galaxy evolution Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST A long-standing difficulty with supercomputer simulations of the evolution of galaxies has been getting consistent results among different codes (programs) and with actual observations, so simulated galaxies look like real galaxies. But reproducibility is one of the most elementary principles in scientific methods. An ambitious new multiyear project AGORA aims to understand and resolve such inconsistencies.

SIRT5 regulation has dramatic effect on mitochondrial metabolism Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:38 AM PST The Sirtuin family of protein deacylases has received considerable attention due to its links to longevity, diabetes, cancer, and metabolic regulation. Researchers identified widespread regulation of proteins involved in metabolism by the mitochondrial sirtuin, SIRT5. These and related findings have widespread implications for understanding metabolic function in both normal and disease states.

The garden microbe with a sense of touch: Common soil dwelling bacterium responds to forces and curvature Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:37 AM PST A common soil dwelling bacterium appears to possess a sense of touch, researchers have shown. A study has found that Bacillus mycoides, which has been known to science since 1842, responds to forces and curvature in the medium on which it's growing.

Magpie parents know a baby cuckoo when they see one Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:37 AM PST Cuckoos that lay their eggs in the nest of a magpie so that their chicks can be raised by the latter better hope that their young are not raised together with other magpies. The chances of cuckoo fledglings raised in mixed broods being fed by their foster parents are much lower, according to research.

Precise docking sites for cells Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:37 AM PST The Petri dish is a classical biological laboratory device, but it is no ideal living environment for many types of cells. Studies lose validity, as cell behavior on a flat plastic surface differs from that in branched lung tissue, for example. Researchers have now presented a method to make three-dimensional structures attractive or repellent for certain types of cells.

Different food fish can cause different allergies Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:37 AM PST Different fish can cause different allergies when eaten. Research into protein provides new insight into these fish allergies.

Post-Sandy, Long Island barrier systems appear surprisingly sound Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:05 AM PST Results of a rapid response marine geophysical survey off Long Island following Hurricane Sandy show that despite the devastation on land, Sandy did not significantly disrupt the offshore barrier system that protects Long Island from long-term erosion. As a result, residents can rebuild with greater confidence the land will not begin to erode out from under them. The survey also found evidence of pollutants transferred to the offshore waters from Long Island's south shore estuaries.

HIV causes structural heart disease, study concludes Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:05 AM PST The findings of a study support the introduction of cardiovascular screening in all HIV patients, particularly those with a positive blood viral load.

Urban sprawl threatens water quality, climate protection, and land conservation gains Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:05 AM PST A groundbreaking study reveals that, if left unchecked, recent trends in the loss of forests to development will undermine significant land conservation gains in Massachusetts, jeopardize water quality, and limit the natural landscape's ability to protect against climate change.

New test facilitates diagnosis of autism in adults Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:02 AM PST Researchers have developed a new screening tool to facilitate the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in adults. The test is unique in that researchers have, as part of their evaluation, compared the group diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with psychiatric patients.

Fossil primate shakes up history of tooth-combed primates Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:02 AM PST Fossils discovered in Tunisia challenge several hypotheses concerning the origin of tooth-combed primates (Malagasy lemurs, Afro-Asian lorises and African galagos). The fossils are of a small primate called Djebelemur, which lived around 50 million years ago.

Are overweight children less able to handle advertising? Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:02 AM PST Weight, body shape perception, self-esteem and dietary habits all contribute to how children handle food advertising. A new study suggests that overweight children, in particular, could benefit from special training, in order to increase their media skills in relation to the exposure to advertising.

Serengeti's animals under pressure Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:02 AM PST Tanzania has one of the fastest growing human populations in the world, and the number of conflicts between humans and other species is expected to rise as pressure on land areas grows.

New gene therapy proves promising as hemophilia treatment Posted: 10 Dec 2013 12:25 PM PST Researchers have found that a new kind of gene therapy led to a dramatic decline in bleeding events in dogs with naturally occurring hemophilia A, a serious and costly bleeding condition.

Video of failed bike stunt lends insights into biomechanics of facial fracture Posted: 10 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST A man attempting a bicycle stunt made a significant —- if unintended -— contribution to surgical science, as a video of his crash allowed researchers to analyze the "kinematic and dynamic parameters" of the accident and resulting facial fractures.

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