ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Technology eases migraine pain in the deep brain
• Invention could help pharmaceutical industry save money
• Control of gene expression: Histone occupancy in your genome
• Molecule blocks pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease
• About one baby born each hour addicted to opiate drugs in U.S.
• Scaling-up production of biopolymer microthreads
• The bright side of death: Awareness of mortality can result in positive behaviors
• Ireland's Aran Islands: Old maps and dead clams help solve coastal boulder mystery
• Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer
• High-yield path to making key ingredient for plastic, xylene, from biomass
• Formaldehyde exposure may affect fertility in men
• Synthetic stool a prospective treatment for C. difficile
• Science fair winner publishes new study on butterfly foraging behavior
• Antimicrobial resistance for common urinary tract infection drug increases five fold since 2000
• Why bigger animals aren't always faster
• Student-devised process would prep Chinese shale gas for sale
• Night-warming effect found over large wind farms in Texas
• Prenatal exposure to insecticide chlorpyrifos linked to alterations in brain structure and cognition
• Darwinian selection continues to influence human evolution
• Courtship in the cricket world
• Bilingualism fine-tunes hearing, enhances attention
• Remarkable outburst seen from old black hole
• Unknown function of transcriptional regulator of development and cancer reveaked: Jarid2 may break the polycomb silence
• How does the immune system fight off threats to the brain?
• High-strength silk scaffolds improve bone repair
• Rogue stars ejected from the galaxy are found in intergalactic space
• From decade to decade: What's the status of our groundwater quality?
• Not all altruism is alike, says new study
• 'Cloud' computing technology should make sharing medical images easier and more efficient
• A new drug to manage resistant chronic pain
• Neurodevelopmental disorders: How human cells 'hold hands'
• Mutltitasking hurts performance but makes you feel better
• Halting an enzyme can slow multiple sclerosis in mice
• Molecular spectroscopy tracks living mammalian cells in real time as they differentiate
• Redefining time: Extremely precise clock signals transmitted over long distances
• Conquering LED efficiency droop
• Cost study shows timing crucial in appendectomies
• Enzyme could slow part of the aging process in astronauts -- and the elderly
• Vitamin D may protect against viral infections during the winter
• Light weights are just as good for building muscle, getting stronger, researchers find
• Electric charge disorder: A key to biological order?
• Gene that plays key role in inheritance (FANCM) identified
• Old star, new trick: Astronomers have detected arsenic and selenium in ancient star for first time
• Key protein's newly discovered form and function may provide novel cancer treatment target
• Rapid test strips detect bacterial contamination in swimming water
• Record-breaking radio waves discovered from ultra-cool star
• Brain circuitry associated with addictive, depressive behaviors identified
• Restoring hearing with discrete device: A middle-ear microphone for more convenient cochlear implants
• Yellowstone 'super-eruption' less super, more frequent than thought
• Superconducting strip could become an ultra-low-voltage sensor
• Antarctic albatross displays shift in breeding habits
• Scientists uncover exciting lead into premature aging and heart disease
• Twenty-four new species of lizards discovered on Caribbean islands are close to extinction
• Attosecond lighthouses may help illuminate the tempestuous sea of electrons
• Pulling plug on pacifiers: New data do not support recommendation to restrict soothers in breastfeeding infants
• Armpits, belly buttons and chronic wounds: The ABCs of our body bacteria
• Improved adult-derived human stem cells have fewer genetic changes than expected

Technology eases migraine pain in the deep brain Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:26 PM PDT New brain stimulation technology can prevent debilitating migraine attacks from occurring, a new study suggests. The technique, using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), applies a mild electrical current to the brain from electrodes attached to the scalp.

Invention could help pharmaceutical industry save money Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:26 PM PDT Researchers have invented a protein purifier that could help pharmaceutical companies save time and money. Chemists have developed high-performance membranes that are highly suitable for protein purification, a crucial step in the development of some new drugs.

Control of gene expression: Histone occupancy in your genome Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:26 PM PDT When stretched out, the genome of a single human cell can reach six feet. To package it all into a tiny nucleus, the DNA strand is tightly wrapped around a core of histone proteins in repeating units -- each unit known as a nucleosome. To allow access for the gene expression machinery the nucleosomes must open up and regroup when the process is complete.

Molecule blocks pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:26 PM PDT Researchers have found novel compounds that disrupt the formation of amyloid, the clumps of protein in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease believed to be important in causing the disease's characteristic mental decline. The so-called "spin-labeled fluorene compounds" are an important new target for researchers and physicians focused on diagnosing, treating and studying the disease.

About one baby born each hour addicted to opiate drugs in U.S. Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:05 PM PDT About one baby is born every hour addicted to opiate drugs in the United States, according to new research. Physicians found that diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome, a drug withdrawal syndrome among newborns, almost tripled between 2000 and 2009.

Scaling-up production of biopolymer microthreads Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:44 PM PDT Development of new therapies for a range of medical conditions -- from common sports injuries to heart attacks -- will be supported by a new production-scale microthread extruder. The system is in the final stages of testing and validation and will soon be manufacturing thousands of hair-like biopolymer threads a day.

The bright side of death: Awareness of mortality can result in positive behaviors Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:43 PM PDT Contemplating death doesn't necessarily lead to morose despondency, fear, aggression or other negative behaviors, as previous research has suggested. Following a review of dozens of studies, University of Missouri researchers found that thoughts of mortality can lead to decreased militaristic attitudes, better health decisions, increased altruism and helpfulness, and reduced divorce rates.

Ireland's Aran Islands: Old maps and dead clams help solve coastal boulder mystery Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:43 PM PDT Perched atop the sheer coastal cliffs of Ireland's Aran Islands, ridges of giant boulders have puzzled geologists for years. What forces could have torn these rocks from the cliff edges high above sea level and deposited them far inland? While some researchers contend that only a tsunami could push these stones, new research finds that plain old ocean waves, with the help of some strong storms, did the job.

Potent protein heals wounds, boosts immunity and protects from cancer Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:43 PM PDT Lactoferrin is an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits. The major form of this powerful protein, is secreted into human biofluids (e.g. milk, blood, tears, saliva), and is responsible for most of the host-defense properties.

High-yield path to making key ingredient for plastic, xylene, from biomass Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:42 PM PDT Chemical engineers have discovered a new, high-yield method of making the key ingredient used to make plastic bottles from biomass. The process currently creates the chemical p-xylene with an efficient yield of 75-percent.

Formaldehyde exposure may affect fertility in men Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:42 PM PDT Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in Chinese men may be linked to reduced fertility, reports a new article.

Synthetic stool a prospective treatment for C. difficile Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:21 PM PDT A synthetic mixture of intestinal bacteria could one day replace stool transplants as a treatment for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile). C . difficile is a toxin-producing bacteria that can overpopulate the colon when antibiotics eradicate other, naturally protective bacteria living there.

Science fair winner publishes new study on butterfly foraging behavior Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:21 PM PDT A University of Florida lepidopterist has spent his life's work studying moths and butterflies. But it was his teenage daughter who led research on how color impacts butterflies' feeding patterns.

Antimicrobial resistance for common urinary tract infection drug increases five fold since 2000 Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:21 PM PDT In a surveillance study of over 12 million bacteria, investigators found E. coli antimicrobial resistance to ciprofloxacin, the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial for urinary tract infections in the US, increased over five-fold from 2000 to 2010.

Why bigger animals aren't always faster Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:21 PM PDT New research shows why bigger isn't always better when it comes to sprinting speed. "Typically, bigger animals tend to run faster than smaller animals, because they have longer legs," said the lead researcher. "But this only works up to a point. The fastest land animal is neither the biggest nor the smallest, but something in between. Think about the size of an elephant, a mouse and a cheetah."

Student-devised process would prep Chinese shale gas for sale Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:21 PM PDT Chemical engineering students have designed an environmentally friendly process for turning shale gas extracted from China's Sichuan Basin into a range of profitable products.

Night-warming effect found over large wind farms in Texas Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:20 PM PDT Large wind farms in certain areas in the United States appear to affect local land surface temperatures, according to a new article.

Prenatal exposure to insecticide chlorpyrifos linked to alterations in brain structure and cognition Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:20 PM PDT Even low to moderate levels of exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos during pregnancy may lead to long-term, potentially irreversible changes in the brain structure of the child, according to a new brain imaging study. The changes in brain structure are consistent with cognitive deficits found in children exposed to this chemical.

Darwinian selection continues to influence human evolution Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:20 PM PDT New evidence demonstrates that humans are continuing to evolve and that significant natural and sexual selection is still taking place in our species in the modern world. Despite advancements in medicine and technology, as well as an increased prevalence of monogamy, research reveals humans are continuing to evolve just like other species.

Courtship in the cricket world Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:20 PM PDT Everyone wants to present themselves in the best light - especially when it comes to finding a partner. Some rely on supplying honest information about their attributes while others exaggerate for good effect. A new study has discovered how male crickets could use similar tactics to attract a mate.

Bilingualism fine-tunes hearing, enhances attention Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:20 PM PDT A new study provides the first biological evidence that bilinguals' rich experience with language "fine-tunes" their auditory nervous system and helps them juggle linguistic input in ways that enhance attention and working memory. While many people do Sudoku to sharpen their minds, bilinguals' advantages in hearing, attention and working memory come automatically from knowing and speaking two languages, the researchers found.

Remarkable outburst seen from old black hole Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:17 PM PDT An extraordinary outburst produced by a black hole in a nearby galaxy has provided direct evidence for a population of old, volatile stellar black holes. The discovery provides new insight into the nature of a mysterious class of black holes that can produce as much energy in X-rays as a million suns radiate at all wavelengths.

Unknown function of transcriptional regulator of development and cancer reveaked: Jarid2 may break the polycomb silence Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:17 PM PDT Scientists used fruit flies to reveal an unknown function of a transcriptional regulator of development and cancer.

How does the immune system fight off threats to the brain? Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:17 PM PDT Like a police officer calling for backup while also keeping a strong hold on a suspected criminal, immune cells in the brain take a two-tier approach to fighting off a threat, new research finds. For the first time, the scientists managed to capture that reaction in action.

High-strength silk scaffolds improve bone repair Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:17 PM PDT Biomedical engineers have demonstrated the first all-polymeric bone scaffold that is fully biodegradable and offers significant mechanical support during repair. The technique uses silk fibers to reinforce a silk matrix. Adding microfibers to the scaffolds enhances bone formation and mechanical properties. It could improve repair after accident or disease.

Rogue stars ejected from the galaxy are found in intergalactic space Posted: 30 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT Astronomers have identified nearly 700 rogue stars that appear to have been ejected from the Milky Way galaxy.

From decade to decade: What's the status of our groundwater quality? Posted: 30 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT There was no change in concentrations of chloride, dissolved solids, or nitrate in groundwater for more than 50 percent of well networks sampled in a new analysis by the USGS that compared samples from 1988-2000 to samples from 2001-2010. For those networks that did have a change, seven times more networks saw increases as opposed to decreases.

Not all altruism is alike, says new study Posted: 30 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT Not all acts of altruism are alike, says a new study. From bees and wasps that die defending their nests, to elephants that cooperate to care for young, a new mathematical model pinpoints the environmental conditions that favor one form of altruism over another. The model predicts that creatures will help each other in different ways depending on whether key resources such as food and habitat are scarce or abundant, researchers say.

'Cloud' computing technology should make sharing medical images easier and more efficient Posted: 30 Apr 2012 10:59 AM PDT Patients find "cloud" technology a faster, more efficient way to store and distribute their medical images than current options, according to preliminary findings.

A new drug to manage resistant chronic pain Posted: 30 Apr 2012 09:47 AM PDT Neuropathic pain is the culprit behind many cases of chronic pain, resistant to common drugs. A new drug inhibits the transmission of pain signals throughout the body, protecting against not only neuropathic pain but also epileptic seizures, new study suggests.

Neurodevelopmental disorders: How human cells 'hold hands' Posted: 30 Apr 2012 09:47 AM PDT Biologists have advanced the knowledge of human neurodevelopmental disorders by finding that a lack of a particular group of cell adhesion molecules in the cerebral cortex -- the outermost layer of the brain where language, thought and other higher functions take place -- disrupts the formation of neural circuitry.

Mutltitasking hurts performance but makes you feel better Posted: 30 Apr 2012 09:46 AM PDT People aren't very good at media multitasking -- like reading a book while watching TV -- but do it anyway because it makes them feel good, a new study suggests. The findings provide clues as to why multitasking is so popular, even though many studies show it is not productive.

Halting an enzyme can slow multiple sclerosis in mice Posted: 30 Apr 2012 08:49 AM PDT An antibody that neutralizes Kallikrein 6 is capable of staving off MS in mice, new research suggests.

Molecular spectroscopy tracks living mammalian cells in real time as they differentiate Posted: 30 Apr 2012 08:49 AM PDT Cells regulate their functions by adding or subtracting phosphates from proteins. If scientists could study the process in detail, in individual cells over time, understanding and treating diseases would be greatly aided. Formerly this was impossible without damaging the cells or interfering with the process itself, but scientists have now achieved the goal by using bright infrared beams and a technique called Fourier transform spectromicroscopy.

Redefining time: Extremely precise clock signals transmitted over long distances Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:54 AM PDT Scientists have successfully sent a highly accurate clock signal across the many hundreds of kilometers of countryside that separate two institutions.

Conquering LED efficiency droop Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:54 AM PDT Like a coffee enthusiast who struggles to get a buzz from that third cup of morning joe, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) seem to reach a point where more electricity no longer imparts the same kick and productivity levels-off. Now a team of researchers has devised a new design for green and blue LEDs that avoids much of this vexing efficiency droop.

Cost study shows timing crucial in appendectomies Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:54 AM PDT Removing a child's ruptured appendix sooner rather than later significantly lowers hospital costs and charges, according to a recently published study.

Enzyme could slow part of the aging process in astronauts -- and the elderly Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:54 AM PDT New research suggests that an enzyme, called 5-lipoxygenase, plays a key role in cell death induced by microgravity environments, and that inhibiting this enzyme will likely help prevent or lessen the severity of immune problems in astronauts caused by spaceflight. Additionally, since space conditions initiate health problems that mimic aging on Earth, this discovery may lead to therapeutics that extend lives by bolstering the immune systems of the elderly.

Vitamin D may protect against viral infections during the winter Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:54 AM PDT Vitamin D may be known as the sunshine vitamin, but a new research report shows that it is more than that. According to the report, insufficient levels of vitamin D are related to a deficiency in our innate immune defenses that protect us from infections, neoplasias or autoimmune diseases.

Light weights are just as good for building muscle, getting stronger, researchers find Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:53 AM PDT Lifting less weight more times is just as effective at building muscle as training with heavy weights, a finding that turns conventional wisdom on its head. The key to muscle gain, say the researchers, is working to the point of fatigue.

Electric charge disorder: A key to biological order? Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:53 AM PDT Researchers have shown how small random patches of disordered, frozen electric charges can make a difference when they are scattered on surfaces that are overall neutral. These charges induce a twisting force that is strong enough to be felt as far as nanometers or even micrometers away. These results could help scientists to understand phenomena that occur on surfaces such as those of large biological molecules.

Gene that plays key role in inheritance (FANCM) identified Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:53 AM PDT Scientists have identified relevant new functions of a gene that plays a crucial role in Fanconi anemia, a life-threatening disease. The FANCM gene is known to be important for the stability of the genome. Now, the researchers found that FANCM also plays a key role in the recombination of genetic information during inheritance.

Old star, new trick: Astronomers have detected arsenic and selenium in ancient star for first time Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:53 AM PDT For the first time, astronomers have detected the presence of arsenic and selenium, neighboring elements near the middle of the periodic table, in an ancient star in the faint stellar halo that surrounds the Milky Way. Arsenic and selenium are elements at the transition from light to heavy element production, and have not been found in old stars until now.

Key protein's newly discovered form and function may provide novel cancer treatment target Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:50 AM PDT Scientists' discovery that a protein vital for cell survival and immune balance has another form with a different function could yield additional cancer treatment strategy. Investigators suggests that safeguarding cell survival and maintaining a balanced immune system is just the start of the myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL1) protein's work. Nearly 20 years after MCL1 was discovered, scientists have identified a second form of the protein that works in a different location in cells and performs a different function.

Rapid test strips detect bacterial contamination in swimming water Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:48 AM PDT Researchers have developed a rapid testing method using a simple paper strip that can detect E. coli in recreational water within minutes. The new tool can close the gap between outbreak and detection, improving public safety.

Record-breaking radio waves discovered from ultra-cool star Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered flaring radio emissions from an ultra-cool star that is not much warmer than the planet Jupiter, shattering the previous record for the lowest temperature at which radio waves had been detected from a star. The detection technique may be used to hunt for giant planets outside our solar system.

Brain circuitry associated with addictive, depressive behaviors identified Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Scientists have determined how specific circuitry in the brain controls not only body movement but also motivation and learning, providing new insight into neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease -- and psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression.

Restoring hearing with discrete device: A middle-ear microphone for more convenient cochlear implants Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Cochlear implants have restored basic hearing to some 220,000 deaf people, yet a microphone and related electronics must be worn outside the head, raising reliability issues, preventing patients from swimming and creating social stigma. Now, engineers have developed a tiny prototype microphone that can be implanted in the middle ear to avoid such problems.

Yellowstone 'super-eruption' less super, more frequent than thought Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT The Yellowstone "super-volcano" is a little less super -- but more active -- than previously thought. Researchers say the biggest Yellowstone eruption, which created the two-million-year-old Huckleberry Ridge deposit, was actually two different eruptions at least 6,000 years apart. Their results paint a new picture of a more active volcano than previously thought and can help recalibrate the likelihood of another big eruption in the future.

Superconducting strip could become an ultra-low-voltage sensor Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Researchers studying a superconducting strip observed an intermittent motion of magnetic flux which carries vortices inside the regularly spaced weak conducting regions carved into the superconducting material. These vortices resulted in alternating static phases with zero voltage and dynamic phases, which are characterized by non-zero voltage peaks in the superconductor.

Antarctic albatross displays shift in breeding habits Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT A new study of the wandering albatross -- one of the largest birds on Earth -- has shown that some of the birds are breeding earlier in the season compared with 30 years ago.

Scientists uncover exciting lead into premature aging and heart disease Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that they can dramatically increase the life span of mice with progeria (premature aging disease) and heart disease (caused by Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy) by reducing levels of a protein called SUN1. Their findings provide an exciting lead into developing new methods to treat premature aging and heart disease.

Twenty-four new species of lizards discovered on Caribbean islands are close to extinction Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT Twenty-four new species of lizards known as skinks have been discovered on Caribbean islands, half of which already may be extinct or close to extinction. The loss of many skink species can be attributed primarily to predation by the mongoose -- a predatory mammal that was introduced by farmers. Other types of human activity, especially the removal of forests, also are to blame, according to the researchers.

Attosecond lighthouses may help illuminate the tempestuous sea of electrons Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:09 AM PDT Scientists have developed an elegant new method to study electrons' fleeting antics using isolated, precisely timed, and incredibly fast pulses of light.

Pulling plug on pacifiers: New data do not support recommendation to restrict soothers in breastfeeding infants Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:09 AM PDT Binkies, corks, soothers. Whatever you call pacifiers, conventional wisdom holds that giving them to newborns can interfere with breastfeeding. New research, however, challenges that assertion. In fact, limiting the use of pacifiers in newborn nurseries may actually increase infants' consumption of formula during the birth hospitalization, according to a new study.

Armpits, belly buttons and chronic wounds: The ABCs of our body bacteria Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:02 AM PDT Minutes after you were born, bacteria moved in. Their populations have exploded, diversified and spread in and on your body, including your skin. Scientists are learning how and why bacteria colonize particular places, possibly pointing to ways of treating skin and other conditions. Researchers have discovered that each person's collection of bacteria is unique -- like fingerprints. But unlike your fingerprints, the bacterial communities can change depending on your diet, environment, health, age and many other factors. Swab samples from about 200 volunteers' belly buttons contained an astonishing variety of bacteria -- nearly 4,000 different strains, many of which are completely new to scientists.

Improved adult-derived human stem cells have fewer genetic changes than expected Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:02 AM PDT Scientists have evaluated the whole genomic sequence of stem cells derived from human bone marrow cells—so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells—and found that relatively few genetic changes occur during stem cell conversion by an improved method.

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