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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Do wearable lifestyle activity monitors really work?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

Wearable electronic activity monitors hold great promise in helping people to reach their wellness goals. These increasingly sophisticated devices help the wearers improve their wellness by constantly monitoring their activities and bodily responses through companion computer programs and mobile apps. Given the large market for these devices, researchers analyzed 13 of these devices to compare how the devices and their apps work to motivate the wearer.

Boosting global corn yields depends on improving nutrient balance

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

Ensuring that corn absorbs the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is crucial to increasing global yields, a study finds. A review of data from more than 150 studies from the U.S. and other regions showed that high yields were linked to production systems in which corn plants took up key nutrients at specific ratios -- nitrogen and phosphorus at a ratio of 5-to-1 and nitrogen and potassium at a ratio of 1-to-1. These nutrient uptake ratios were associated with high yields regardless of the region where the corn was grown.

Healthy humans make nice homes for viruses

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 01:24 PM PDT

The same viruses that make us sick can take up residence in and on the human body without provoking a sneeze, cough or other troublesome symptom, according to new research. On average, healthy individuals carry about five types of viruses on their bodies, the researchers report. The study is the first comprehensive analysis to describe the diversity of viruses in healthy people.

Nanoribbon film keeps glass ice-free

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:52 PM PDT

Scientists who created a deicing film for radar domes have now refined the technology to work as a transparent coating for glass. The new work could keep glass surfaces from windshields to skyscrapers free of ice and fog while retaining their transparency to radio frequencies (RF).

Don't underestimate your mind's eye: Objects don't need to be seen to impact decision-making

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT

Objects in our visual environment needn't be seen in order to impact decision making, according to new research. Take a look around, and what do you see? Much more than you think you do, thanks to your finely tuned mind's eye, which processes images without your even knowing.

Computerized emotion detector

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Face recognition software measures various parameters in a mug shot, such as the distance between the person's eyes, the height from lip to top of their nose and various other metrics and then compares it with photos of people in the database that have been tagged with a given name. Now, new research looks to take that one step further in recognizing the emotion portrayed by a face.

The genetics of coping with HIV

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

We respond to infections in two fundamental ways. One is 'resistance,' where the body attacks the invading pathogen and reduces its numbers. Another, which is much less well understood, is 'tolerance,' where the body tries to minimize the damage done by the pathogen. A study using data from a large Swiss cohort of HIV-infected individuals gives us a glimpse into why some people cope with HIV better than others.

Impact that doomed the dinosaurs helped the forests bloom

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 11:15 AM PDT

Some 66 million years ago, a 10-km diameter chunk of rock hit the Yucatan peninsula with the force of 100 teratons of TNT. It left a crater more than 150 km across, and the resulting megatsunami, wildfires, global earthquakes and volcanism are widely accepted to have wiped out the dinosaurs and made way for the rise of the mammals. But what happened to the plants on which the dinosaurs fed?

Study on global carbon cycle may require reappraisal of climate events in Earth's history

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

A recent study of the global carbon cycle offers a new perspective of Earth's climate records through time. Scientists suggest that one of the current methods for interpreting ancient changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans may need to be re-evaluated.

First water-based nuclear battery can be used to generate electrical energy

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

For the first time using a water-based solution, researchers have created a long-lasting and more efficient nuclear battery that could be used for many applications such as a reliable energy source in automobiles and also in complicated applications such as space flight.

Slowed processing speed linked with executive deficits in multiple sclerosis

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

A new study supports the role of slowed processing speed in the executive deficits found in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Following this study, experts say that MS cognitive research should focus on two key domains -- processing speed and memory.

Scientists twist radio beams to send data: Transmissions reach speeds of 32 gigibits per second

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Researchers twist four radio beams together to achieve high data transmission speeds. The researchers reached data transmission rates of 32 gigabits per second across 2.5 meters of free space in a basement lab. For reference, 32 gigabits per second is fast enough to transmit more than 10 hour-and-a-half-long HD movies in one second and is 30 times faster than LTE wireless.

Tornadoes occurring earlier in 'Tornado Alley'

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Peak tornado activity in the central and southern Great Plains is occurring up to two weeks earlier than it did half a century ago.

For electronics beyond silicon, a new contender emerges

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:37 AM PDT

Using a quantum material called a correlated oxide, researchers have achieved a reversible change in electrical resistance of eight orders of magnitude, a result the researchers are calling 'colossal.' In short, they have engineered this material to perform comparably with the best silicon switches.

Camera sheds light on mate choice of swordtail fish

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:36 AM PDT

We have all seen a peacock show its extravagant, colorful tail feathers in courtship of a peahen. Now, a group of researchers has used a special camera to discover that female northern swordtail fish choose their mates based on a similar display.

Ebola outbreak 'out of all proportion' and severity cannot be predicated, expert says

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 09:29 AM PDT

A mathematical model that replicates Ebola outbreaks can no longer be used to ascertain the eventual scale of the current epidemic, finds new research.

Patients who never smoked or who quit smoking have lower risk of developing secondary cancers

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:29 AM PDT

Non-small cell lung cancer survivors who never smoked or who are former smokers at the time of diagnosis have a lower risk of developing secondary primary lung cancers compared to those who are current smokers, suggesting that increased tobacco exposure is associated with a higher risk of SPLC, according to new research.

New gene research helps pinpoint prostate cancer risk

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

A consortia of research hubs around the world encompassing 150 researchers has analysed more than 10 million genetic markers in 80,000 men with prostate cancer. "We now have 100 genetic regions and no other cancer has had this many loci identified to be associated with it. What we are looking for is the combination effect of how these loci work together and how much they can explain the heritability of prostate cancer," one researcher explained.

Forgotten ghost ships off Golden Gate revealed

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Researchers confirmed the discovery just outside San Francisco's Golden Gate strait of the 1910 shipwreck SS Selja and an unidentified early steam tugboat wreck tagged the 'mystery wreck.' The researchers also located the 1863 wreck of the clipper ship Noonday, currently obscured by mud and silt on the ocean floor.

How learning to talk is in the genes

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Researchers have found evidence that genetic factors may contribute to the development of language during infancy. Scientists discovered a significant link between genetic changes near the ROBO2 gene and the number of words spoken by children in the early stages of language development.

Human faces are so variable because we evolved to look unique

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT

Why are human faces so variable compared to other animals, from lizards and penguins to dogs and monkeys? Scientists analyzed human faces and the genes that code for facial features and found a high variability that could only be explained by selection for variable faces, probably because of the importance of social interactions in human relationships and the need for humans to be recognizable.

Scientists create therapy-grade stem cells using new cocktail to reprogram adult cells

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:19 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new cocktail that's highly effective at coaxing adult cells to become quality pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using a new combination of reprogramming factors, they produced a higher quality result than the traditional formula. The new mix delivers fewer colonies of iPSCs, but 80% of them pass the toughest pluripotency test.

Gene variant that dramatically reduces 'bad' lipids: Role of rare APOC3 variant in reducing triglyceride levels identified

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:18 AM PDT

A rare genetic variant that dramatically reduces levels of certain types of lipids in the blood has been identified in through a study that used data collected from around 4,000 healthy people in the UK. The study is the first to emerge from the UK10K Project's cohort of samples from the general public and demonstrates the power of whole genome sequencing at scale.

The benefits and dangers of supplements

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

From multivitamins to supplements that pledge to help with everything from depression to treating athlete's foot, whole stores are filled with these alternative medications. With so many options out there it can be difficult for patients to know what is beneficial or even where to start.

Endocrine-related protein found to be master regulator in other important diseases

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Investigating a protein known to influence human glucose levels, scientists found that this factor has a broader reach than first thought, acting on key gene pathways involved in cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric, and cancer-related diseases.

Bacterial communication: And so they beat on, flagella against the cantilever

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new model to study the motion patterns of bacteria in real time and to determine how these motions relate to communication within a bacterial colony. They chemically attached colonies of E. coli bacteria to a microcantilever, coupling its motion to that of the bacteria. As the cantilever itself isn't doesn't generate any vibrations, or 'noise,' this allowed the researchers to monitor the colony's reactions to various stimuli in real time.

The future face of molecular electronics

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

The emerging field of molecular electronics could take our definition of portable to the next level, enabling the construction of tiny circuits from molecular components. In these highly efficient devices, individual molecules would take on the roles currently played by comparatively bulky wires, resistors and transistors. A team of researchers has identified a potential candidate for use in small-scale electronics: a molecule called picene.

Making quantum dots glow brighter

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Researchers have found a new way to control the properties of quantum dots, those tiny chunks of semiconductor material that glow different colors depending on their size. Quantum dots, which are so small they start to exhibit atom-like quantum properties, have a wide range of potential applications, from sensors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells, to fluorescent tags for biomedical imaging and qubits in quantum computing.

A heart-felt need for dairy food: Small serving beneficial, large not necessary

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

A daily small serve of dairy food may reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, even in communities where such foods have not traditionally formed part of the diet according to new research.

Each tree species has unique bacterial identity, microbiome research shows

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

Each tree species has its own bacterial identity. That's the conclusion of researchers who studied the genetic fingerprints of bacteria on 57 species of trees growing on a Panamanian island.

Neuroimaging technique identifies concussion-related brain disease in living brain

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:22 AM PDT

An experimental positron emission tomography (PET) tracer is effective in diagnosing concussion-related brain disease while a person is still alive. A new study suggests that an experimental radiolabeled compound, which is designed to latch onto a protein called tau that accumulates in the brain with repetitive blows to the head, can be registered on a PET scanner to effectively diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Unraveling cell division: Process of mitosis more clear, thanks to new research

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:19 AM PDT

The process of mitosis has made more clear, thanks to recent research. A new study describes how Topo 2, an enzyme that disentangles DNA molecules and is essential for proper cell division.

Judging a fish by its color: For female bluefin killifish, love is a yellow mate

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:19 AM PDT

Researchers used male replicas of bluefin killifish and controlled their movement with robotic arms to improve repeatability in experiments designed to determine how fertile female fish would respond to male courtship. The surprising result: The females preferred males with yellow fins, contrary to existing research that indicated a preference to blue and red.

Cats lend a helping paw in search for anti-HIV drugs

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT

A protein found in both the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) -- which causes AIDS in cats -- and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) might inspire new anti-HIV drugs, researchers report. They offer up a detailed, 3-D molecular map of FIV integrase that could help scientists also understand how this protein works in HIV.

New drug formulations to boost fight against respiratory illnesses, antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:48 AM PDT

Antibiotic resistance is a challenge in the treatment of diseases today as bacteria continuously mutate and develop resistance against multiple drugs designed to kill them, turning them into superbugs. New ways to enhance the efficacy of drugs used to treat respiratory system infections and antibiotic-resistant superbugs have now been uncovered by researchers.

Cancer-fighting cocktail demonstrates promising results as treatment for advanced cervical cancer

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT

Combining a standard chemotherapy drug with a second drug that stops cells from dividing improves both the survival and response rates for those with advanced cervical cancer, a new study finds. Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the U.S., according to the CDC, but cases and deaths have declined over the years as more women have received regular Pap tests.

More cheese, please! News study shows dairy is good for your metabolic health

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT

Researchers studied the dairy-eating habits of healthy French-Canadians' and monitored how dairy consumption may have an effect on their overall metabolic health. It's well known that dairy products contain calcium and minerals good for bones, but new research has shown that dairy consumption may also have beneficial effects on metabolic health and can reduce risk of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Burnout caused by more than just job stress

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT

Impossible deadlines, demanding bosses, abusive colleagues, unpaid overtime: all factors that can lead to a burnout. But when it comes to mental health in the workplace, the influence of home life must also be considered to get the full picture.

New therapeutic target may prevent blindness in premature babies at risk of retinopathy

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 06:20 AM PDT

New research opens the possibility of developing new, more selective drugs to control the abnormal growth of blood vessels and prevent blindness including retinopathy of prematurity, a disorder that may result in retinal detachment due to abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina of the eye.

Myth about Parkinson's disease debunked

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Using advanced computer models, neuroscience researchers have gained new knowledge about the complex processes that cause Parkinson's disease. Scanning the brain of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease reveals that in spite of dopamine cell death, there are no signs of a lack of dopamine -- even at a comparatively late stage in the process.

What's for dinner? Rapidly identifying undescribed species in a commercial fungi packet

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

For lovers of wild foods, autumn harks a season of bounty. Fungi of dizzying variety erupt from wood and soil, luring intrepid collectors to woodlands in search of elusive but delectable wild mushrooms. Part of their appeal lies in the allure of the treasure hunt, and their mysterious not-quite-meat, not-quite-vegetable qualities that belie an almost otherworldly existence. But are the mushrooms which you are eating known to science?

Imaging identifies asymptomatic people at risk for stroke

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Imaging can be a cost-effective way to identify people at risk for stroke who might benefit from aggressive intervention, according to a new modeling study. The study looked at people with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, a narrowing of the major blood vessels supplying blood to the head due to atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup. Carotid artery stenosis is the primary cause of up to 20 percent of ischemic strokes, which result from an obstruction within a blood vessel and make up 85 percent of all strokes.

Smoking, schizophrenia linked by alterations in brain nicotine signals

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT

Schizophrenia is associated with increased rates and intensity of tobacco smoking. A growing body of research suggests that the relationship between schizophrenia and smoking stems, in part, from an effort by patients to use nicotine to self-medicate symptoms and cognitive impairment associated with the disease. A new study sheds light on this hypothesis. The authors found that the level of nicotine receptors in the brain was lower in schizophrenia patients than in a matched healthy group.

The Gulf Stream kept going during the last Ice Age

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT

The warm Atlantic water continued to flow into the icy Nordic seas during the coldest periods of the last Ice Age. An ice age may sound as a stable period of cold weather, but the name deceives. In the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, the period was characterized by significant climate changes. Cold periods (stadials) switched abruptly to warmer periods (interstadials) and back.

219 million stars: Astronomers release most detailed catalog ever made of the visible Milky Way

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT

A new catalog of the visible part of the northern part of our home Galaxy, the Milky Way, includes no fewer than 219 million stars. From dark sky sites on Earth, the Milky Way appears as a glowing band stretching across the sky. To astronomers, it is the disk of our own galaxy, a system stretching across 100,000 light-years, seen edge-on from our vantage point orbiting the Sun. The disk contains the majority of the stars in the galaxy, including the Sun, and the densest concentrations of dust and gas.

Dental, nutrition experts call for radical rethink on free sugars intake

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT

Sugars in the diet should make up no more than 3 percent of total energy intake to reduce the significant financial and social burdens of tooth decay, finds new research. Free sugars are defined by the World Health Organization Nutrition Guidance Adivisory Group as follows: "Free sugars include monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates."

Consumption of high-fat dairy products associated with lower risk of developing diabetes

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT

People with the highest consumption of high-fat dairy products -- eight or more portions per day -- have a 23 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest consumption -- one or less per day, a new study shows.

Wastewater injection is culprit for most earthquakes in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, study finds

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT

The deep injection of wastewater underground is responsible for the dramatic rise in the number of earthquakes in Colorado and New Mexico since 2001, according to a new study. The Raton Basin, which stretches from southern Colorado into northern New Mexico, was seismically quiet until shortly after major fluid injection began in 1999.

Mega-quake possible for subduction zones along 'Ring of Fire,' new study suggests

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:29 PM PDT

The magnitude of the 2011 Tohoku quake (M 9.0) caught many seismologists by surprise, prompting some to revisit the question of calculating the maximum magnitude earthquake possible for a particular fault. New research offers an alternate view that uses the concept of probable maximum magnitude events over a given period, providing the magnitude and the recurrence rate of extreme events in subduction zones for that period. Most circum Pacific subduction zones can produce earthquakes of magnitude greater than 9.0, suggests the study.

Brain scans used to forecast early reading difficulties

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:28 PM PDT

Researchers have used brain scans to predict how young children learn to read, giving clinicians a possible tool to spot children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties before they experience reading challenges.

3-D printing of rocks and fossils

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 05:28 PM PDT

Geologists are using 3-D printing to study the pores within limestone reservoir rocks. A better understanding of the pore networks within the rocks could help industry get at more oil.

Tropical tree microbiome discovered in Panama

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:53 PM PDT

Despite the fact that tropical forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems on the planet, more is known about belly-button bacteria than bacteria on trees in the tropics. Scientists working on Panama's Barro Colorado Island discovered that small leaf samples from a single tree were home to more than 400 different kinds of bacteria. The combined sample from 57 tree species contained more than 7,000 different kinds.

EEG study findings reveal how fear is processed in the brain

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT

New research illustrates how fear arises in the brain when individuals are exposed to threatening images. This novel study is the first to separate emotion from threat by controlling for the dimension of arousal.

Researcher develops, proves effectiveness of new drug for spinal muscular atrophy

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT

Approximately one out of every 40 individuals in the United States is a carrier of the gene responsible for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), According to recent studies. This illness is a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscles to weaken over time. Now, researchers have made a recent breakthrough with the development of a new compound found to be highly effective in animal models of the disease.

New halogenation enzyme found: Discovery to impact pharmaceutical and agricultural industries

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT

One of the Holy Grails in chemical science has been to find the late-stage, site-specific incorporation of a halogen atom into a complex natural product by replacing an sp³ C-H bond -- one of the most inert chemical bonds known in an organic compound -- with a C-X bond, X=halogen.

New producer of crucial vitamin B12 discovered

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT

A single group of microorganisms may be responsible for much of the world's vitamin B12 production in the oceans, with implications for the global carbon cycle and climate change, researchers have discovered. Thaumarchaeota, they say, are likely dominant vitamin B12 producers.

'Squid skin' metamaterials project yields vivid color display

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:52 PM PDT

The quest to create artificial 'squid skin' -- camouflaging metamaterials that can 'see' colors and automatically blend into the background -- is one step closer to reality, thanks to a breakthrough color-display technology just unveiled.

X-rays unlock a protein's SWEET side

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:49 PM PDT

Understanding just how sugar makes its way into the cell could lead to the design of better drugs for diabetes patients and an increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables farmers are able to grow. Researchers have recently uncovered one of these "pathways" into the cell by piecing together proteins slightly wider than the diameter of a strand of spider silk.

Certain form of baldness at age 45 linked to higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:49 PM PDT

A new, large cohort analysis from the prospective Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, indicates that men who had moderate baldness affecting both the front and the crown of their head at age 45 were at a 40% increased risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer (usually indicates a faster growing tumor resulting in poorer prognosis relative to non-aggressive prostate cancer) later in life, compared to men with no baldness. There was no significant link between other patterns of baldness and prostate cancer risk.

Cells simply avoid chromosome confusion

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 12:41 PM PDT

Reproductive cell division has evolved a simple, mechanical solution to avoid chromosome sorting errors. This natural safeguard prevents incorrect chromosome counts and misalignments that lead to infertility, miscarriage, or congenital conditions, researchers report.

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