ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Animal foraging tactics unchanged for 50 million years
• Do women talk more than men? It's all about context
• For bees and flowers, tongue size matters
• Mutation stops worms from getting drunk
• Dodos and spotted green pigeons are descendants of an island hopping bird
• Rainwater discovered at new depths, with high pressure and temperatures over 300 degrees Celsius
• Gene discovery could lead to better soybean varieties for northern United States
• Prostate cancer in young men: More frequent, more aggressive?
• Extending Moore's Law: Shrinking transistor size for smaller, more efficient computers
• Best-ever efficiency points to clean, green gas-diesel engine
• Likely origin of lung fungus invading Pacific Northwest found by study
• 3-D nanostructure could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage: functional advantages of 3-D boron nitride predicted
• New assay to spot fake malaria drugs could save thousands of lives
• Nanophotonics experts create powerful molecular sensor
• Protein's 'hands' enable bacteria to establish infection, research finds
• New feathered predatory fossil sheds light on dinosaur flight
• New materials for future green tech devices
• Directly visualizing hydrogen bonds
• Understanding melanoma development
• 'Game theory' model reveals vulnerable moments for metastatic cancer cells' energy production
• Brain responses to emotional images predict ptsd symptoms after Boston Marathon bombing
• Removing disordered regions of shape-shifting protein explains how blood clots
• Neurons, brain cancer cells require the same little-known protein for long-term survival
• Taking B vitamins won't prevent Alzheimer's disease, researchers conclude
• Physicists detect process even rarer than the long-sought Higgs particle
• Does cat poop parasite play a role in curing cancer?
• Cholesterol activates signaling pathway that promotes cancer, study shows
• Little too late: Pathogenic bacterium in 700-year-old skeleton identified
• Ötzi's non-human DNA: Opportunistic pathogen discovered in Iceman tissue biopsy
• Progress in allergic asthma research after ingestion of fruits
• Smallest Swiss cross: Made of 20 single atoms
• Hidden variations in neuronal networks may explain differences in traumatic brain injury outcomes
• Zinc deficiency magnifies, prolongs lethal immune response to sepsis
• New combination drug controls tumor growth, metastasis in mice
• Fungicides for crops: Worrying link to fungal drug resistance in UK, warns scientists
• Capturing cancer: A powerful new technique for early diagnosis
• Moderate alcohol use associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation
• Beneath the surface: What zebrafish can tell us about anxiety
• Pulmonary inflammation successfully alleviated through targeted drug delivery
• Acute glaucoma discovered to be an inflammatory disease
• Antibiotic use prevalent in hospice patients despite limited evidence of its value
• New technology for diagnosis of cancer cells
• New route for ovarian cancer spread discovered
• A-maize-ing double life of a genome
• Flower development in 3-D: Timing is the key
• Best for bees to be stay-at-homes: Imported bees don't do as well as locals
• 3-D-printed anatomy to mark a new era for medical training

Animal foraging tactics unchanged for 50 million years Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:57 PM PDT Animals have used the same technique to search for food that's in short supply for at least 50 million years, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed fossilized sea urchin trails from northern Spain and found the tracks reflect a search pattern still used by a huge range of creatures today.

Do women talk more than men? It's all about context Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:43 PM PDT A new study has been able to tease out a more accurate picture of the talkative-woman stereotype we're so familiar with -- and they found that context plays a large role. Using so-​​called "sociometers" -- wearable devices roughly the size of smart­phones that col­lect real-​​time data about the user's social interactions -- the research team was able to tease out a more accu­rate pic­ture of the stereo­type.

For bees and flowers, tongue size matters Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:43 PM PDT When it comes to bee tongues, length is proportional to the size of the bee, but heritage sets the proportion. Estimating this hard to measure trait helps scientists understand bee species' resiliency to change.

Mutation stops worms from getting drunk Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:43 PM PDT Neuroscientists have generated mutant worms that do not get intoxicated by alcohol, a result that could lead to new drugs to treat the symptoms of people going through alcohol withdrawal. The scientists accomplished this feat by inserting a modified human alcohol target into the worms.

Dodos and spotted green pigeons are descendants of an island hopping bird Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:43 PM PDT The mysterious spotted green pigeon was a relative of the dodo, according to scientists who have examined its genetic make-up. The authors say their results support a theory that both birds are descended from 'island hopping' ancestors.

Rainwater discovered at new depths, with high pressure and temperatures over 300 degrees Celsius Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:42 PM PDT Researchers have found that rainwater can penetrate below the Earth's fractured upper crust, which could have major implications for our understanding of earthquakes and the generation of valuable mineral deposits. It had been thought that surface water could not penetrate the ductile crust - where temperatures of more than 300°C and high pressures cause rocks to flex and flow rather than fracture - but researchers have now found fluids derived from rainwater at these levels. Fluids in the Earth's crust can weaken rocks and may help to initiate earthquakes along locked fault lines.

Gene discovery could lead to better soybean varieties for northern United States Posted: 15 Jul 2014 01:59 PM PDT A soybean gene whose mutation affects plant stem growth has been discovered by scientists, a finding that could lead to the development of improved soybean cultivars for the northern United States. "This gene could help us improve the yield potential and adaptability of soybeans for specific growing areas," the lead researcher said. "We can now focus on developing a variety of elite semideterminate soybean cultivars, which could perform very well in high-yielding, irrigated environments such as Nebraska and northeastern Indiana."

Prostate cancer in young men: More frequent, more aggressive? Posted: 15 Jul 2014 01:59 PM PDT The number of younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased nearly 6-fold in the last 20 years, and the disease is more likely to be aggressive in these younger men, according to a new analysis. Typically, prostate cancer occurs more frequently as men age into their 70s or 80s. However, the researchers found that when prostate cancer strikes at a younger age, it's likely because the tumor is growing quickly.

Extending Moore's Law: Shrinking transistor size for smaller, more efficient computers Posted: 15 Jul 2014 01:59 PM PDT Over the years, computer chips have gotten smaller thanks to advances in materials science and manufacturing technologies. This march of progress, the doubling of transistors on a microprocessor roughly every two years, is called Moore's Law. But there's one component of the chip-making process in need of an overhaul if Moore's law is to continue: the chemical mixture called photoresist. In a bid to continue decreasing transistor size while increasing computation and energy efficiency, chip-maker Intel has partnered with researchers to design an entirely new kind of resist.

Best-ever efficiency points to clean, green gas-diesel engine Posted: 15 Jul 2014 01:58 PM PDT The one-cylinder test engine in the basement of a University of Wisconsin-Madison lab is connected to a life-support system of pipes, tubes, ducts and cables. You might think that the engine resembles a patient in intensive care, but in this case, the patient is not sick. Instead, the elaborate monitoring system shows that the engine can convert 59.5 percent of the chemical energy in its fuel into motion — significantly better than the 52 percent maximum in modern diesel truck engines.

Likely origin of lung fungus invading Pacific Northwest found by study Posted: 15 Jul 2014 12:45 PM PDT Cryptococcus gattii, a virulent fungus that has invaded the Pacific Northwest, is highly adaptive and warrants global "public health vigilance," according to a study by an international team of researchers. C. gattii, which likely originated in Brazil, is responsible for dozens of deaths in recent years since it was first found in 1999 on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, well outside its usual tropical habitats.

3-D nanostructure could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage: functional advantages of 3-D boron nitride predicted Posted: 15 Jul 2014 12:45 PM PDT A three-dimensional porous nanostructure would have a balance of strength, toughness and ability to transfer heat that could benefit nanoelectronics, gas storage and composite materials that perform multiple functions, according to engineers.

New assay to spot fake malaria drugs could save thousands of lives Posted: 15 Jul 2014 12:45 PM PDT Chemists have created a new type of chemical test, or assay, that's inexpensive, simple, and can tell whether or not one of the primary drugs being used to treat malaria is genuine -- an enormous and deadly problem in the developing world. If widely used it could help save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Nanophotonics experts create powerful molecular sensor Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:28 AM PDT Nanophotonics experts have created a unique sensor that amplifies the optical signature of molecules by about 100 billion times. Newly published tests found the device could accurately identify the composition and structure of individual molecules containing fewer than 20 atoms.

Protein's 'hands' enable bacteria to establish infection, research finds Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:27 AM PDT Biochemists have discovered how protein's 'hands' enable bacteria to establish infection. "These structures are like small hands on the surface of bacterial cells," said the study's principal investigator. "They make the bacteria capable of recognizing something and grabbing it from the environment. It's amazing that such a tiny molecule can do that." The research may help scientists develop targeted treatment and intervention methods.

New feathered predatory fossil sheds light on dinosaur flight Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:24 AM PDT A new raptorial dinosaur fossil with exceptionally long feathers has provided exciting insights into dinosaur flight. A new article asserts that the fossil has a long feathered tail that scientists believe was instrumental for decreasing descent speed and assuring safe landings.

New materials for future green tech devices Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:17 AM PDT Thermoelectric devices, which convert heat to electricity and vice versa, can harness that wasted heat, and possibly provide the green tech energy efficiency that's needed for a sustainable future. A new study shows how porous substances can act as thermoelectric materials -- pointing the way for engineering the use of such materials in thermoelectric devices of the future.

Directly visualizing hydrogen bonds Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:17 AM PDT Using a newly developed, ultrafast femtosecond infrared light source, chemists have been able to directly visualize the coordinated vibrations between hydrogen-bonded molecules -- the first time this sort of chemical interaction, which is found in nature everywhere at the molecular level, has been directly visualized.

Understanding melanoma development Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:17 AM PDT A new study shows how a genetic defect in a specific hormonal pathway may make people more susceptible to developing melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. The study looked at the role of the melanocortin1 receptor (MC1R), the receptor on melanocytes in the skin that gets called into action following ultraviolet exposure to help the skin lay down more UV-blocking melanin to protect itself. Fair-skinned people are more likely to inherit a defect in this receptor, and as a result, cannot make enough melanin to fully protect themselves from UV damage.

'Game theory' model reveals vulnerable moments for metastatic cancer cells' energy production Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:17 AM PDT Cancer's no game, but researchers are borrowing ideas from evolutionary game theory to learn how cells cooperate within a tumor to gather energy. Their experiments, they say, could identify the ideal time to disrupt metastatic cancer cell cooperation and make a tumor more vulnerable to anti-cancer drugs.

Brain responses to emotional images predict ptsd symptoms after Boston Marathon bombing Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:17 AM PDT By using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans from before the attack and survey data from after, the researchers found that heightened amygdala reaction to negative emotional stimuli was a risk factor for later developing symptoms of PTSD. This study intended to focus on whether patterns of brain activity predict teenagers' response to a terrorist attack.

Removing disordered regions of shape-shifting protein explains how blood clots Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT Researchers used x-ray crystallography to publish the first image of prothrombin. The protein's flexible structure is key to the development of blood-clotting. Blood-clotting has long ensured our survival, stopping blood loss after an injury. However, when triggered in the wrong circumstances, clotting can lead to debilitating or fatal conditions such as a heart attack, stroke or deep vein thrombosis.

Neurons, brain cancer cells require the same little-known protein for long-term survival Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:13 AM PDT Researchers show how the protein PARC/CUL9 helps neurons and brain cancer cells override the biochemical mechanisms that lead to cell death in most other cells.

Taking B vitamins won't prevent Alzheimer's disease, researchers conclude Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:55 AM PDT Taking B vitamins doesn't slow mental decline as we age, nor is it likely to prevent Alzheimer's disease, conclude researchers who have assembled all the best clinical trial data involving 22,000 people to offer a final answer on this debate. When looking at measures of global cognitive function -- or scores for specific mental processes such as memory, speed or executive function -- there was no difference between those on B vitamins and those receiving placebo to a high degree of accuracy.

Physicists detect process even rarer than the long-sought Higgs particle Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:55 AM PDT Scientists running the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful "atom smasher," report the first evidence of a process that can be used to test the mechanism by which the recently discovered Higgs particle imparts mass to other fundamental particles.

Does cat poop parasite play a role in curing cancer? Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:55 AM PDT From the litter box to the laboratory, a microscopic organism native to cats shows promise in treating cancer. Researchers' mutated strain of T. gondii has been found to reprogram the natural power of the immune system to kill cells. Found worldwide, T. gondii affects about one-third of the world's population, 60 million of which are Americans.

Cholesterol activates signaling pathway that promotes cancer, study shows Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:52 AM PDT Everyone knows that cholesterol, at least the bad kind, can cause heart disease and hardening of the arteries. Now, researchers describe a new role for cholesterol in the activation of a cellular signaling pathway that has been linked to cancer.

Little too late: Pathogenic bacterium in 700-year-old skeleton identified Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:51 AM PDT Researchers have recovered a genome of the bacterium Brucella melitensis from a 700-year-old skeleton found in the ruins of a Medieval Italian village. Researchers used a technique called shotgun metagenomics to sequence DNA from a calcified nodule from the pelvic region of a middle-aged male skeleton excavated from the settlement of Geridu in Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy. Geridu is thought to have been abandoned in the late 14th century.

Ötzi's non-human DNA: Opportunistic pathogen discovered in Iceman tissue biopsy Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:50 AM PDT Ötzi's human genome was decoded from a hip bone sample taken from the 5,300 year old mummy. However the tiny sample weighing no more than 0.1 g provides so much more information. A team of scientists analyzed the non-human DNA in the sample. They found evidence for the presence of Treponema denticola, an opportunistic pathogen involved in the development of periodontal disease.

Progress in allergic asthma research after ingestion of fruits Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:50 AM PDT The interaction between two proteins can be the responsible for the allergic asthma episodes after eating an infected fruit, new research suggests. Alternaria alternata is a fungus that proliferates in fruit and vegetables crops and also when are collected and are on sale for the final consumer. A protein known as Alt a 1 and related to the virulence is found in the spores, this protein is described as the major allergen of this fungus. According to this research, this protein can be a major cause of childhood asthma in U.S.

Smallest Swiss cross: Made of 20 single atoms Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:50 AM PDT The manipulation of atoms has reached a new level: Physicists were able to place 20 single atoms on a fully insulated surface at room temperature to form the smallest "Swiss cross", thus taking a big step towards next generation atomic-scale storage devices.

Hidden variations in neuronal networks may explain differences in traumatic brain injury outcomes Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:49 AM PDT Hidden differences in the properties of neural circuits can account for whether animals are behaviorally susceptible to brain injury, new research shows. These results could have implications for the treatment of brain trauma. People vary in their responses to stroke and trauma, which impedes the ability of physicians to predict patient outcomes. Damage to the brain and nervous system can lead to severe disabilities, including epilepsy and cognitive impairment.

Zinc deficiency magnifies, prolongs lethal immune response to sepsis Posted: 15 Jul 2014 05:49 AM PDT A key immune response pathway regulated by zinc has been discovered by scientists that may hold clues to stopping sepsis, one of the leading causes of death in America's intensive care units. As many as 20% of people who develop sepsis will die, not from the infection itself -- but from the overload of inflammatory chemical signals created by the immune system which ultimately leads to organ failure.

New combination drug controls tumor growth, metastasis in mice Posted: 14 Jul 2014 06:36 PM PDT A combination drug has been developed that controls both tumor growth and metastasis, a mouse study has shown. By combining a COX-2 inhibitor, similar to Celebrex, and an epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, the drug controls angiogenesis, limiting a tumor's ability to grow and spread.

Fungicides for crops: Worrying link to fungal drug resistance in UK, warns scientists Posted: 14 Jul 2014 06:34 PM PDT Aspergillus -- a common fungus that attacks the lungs and is found in soil and other organic matter -- has become resistant to life-saving drugs in parts of rural Yorkshire, researchers report. Although the link has been made before in the Netherlands, it's the first time its been made in the UK between drug resistance in Aspergillus and fungicides used on crops. Experts warn their findings, now published, are significant and raise serious implications for transplant patients, those with leukemia and people who suffer from severe asthma.

Capturing cancer: A powerful new technique for early diagnosis Posted: 14 Jul 2014 03:24 PM PDT An innovative technique for early disease detection, which researchers call immunosignaturing, has been described in a new article. Rather than using a reductionist biomarker paradigm, immunosignaturing relies on a multiplexed system in which the entire population of antibodies circulating in blood at a given time is profiled.

Moderate alcohol use associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation Posted: 14 Jul 2014 03:24 PM PDT Even in moderation, consumption of wine and hard liquor may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, an abnormally fast heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure and dementia, according to new research. Moderate drinking was defined as one to three drinks per day. The research did not identify a similar risk for moderate consumption of beer.

Beneath the surface: What zebrafish can tell us about anxiety Posted: 14 Jul 2014 12:23 PM PDT One researcher has focused how genetics influence responses to stimuli that can trigger anxiety, and he's using zebrafish — a tropical member of the minnow family named for the black stripes on their bodies — to do so. His research team examines how fish with tweaked genes respond to different triggers compared to unmodified fish. The work could someday lead to better, more nuanced medications for anxiety disorders.

Pulmonary inflammation successfully alleviated through targeted drug delivery Posted: 14 Jul 2014 12:23 PM PDT Pulmonary inflammation can cause shallow breathing and the lungs to become brittle in patients who experience multiple blood transfusions, sepsis, lung surgery and acute lung trauma. This complication can leave patients on ventilators, which can further traumatize the lungs, and often results in a mortality rate of 30 to 40 percent. Now, a multidisciplinary research team has found that when delivered by a microscopic transporter called a nanocarrier, steroids can access the hard-to-reach lung endothelial cells that need it most and are successful at preventing inflammation in mice.

Acute glaucoma discovered to be an inflammatory disease Posted: 14 Jul 2014 12:23 PM PDT Acute glaucoma in mice is largely an inflammatory disease and that high pressure in the eye causes vision loss by setting in motion an inflammatory response similar to that evoked by bacterial infections, researchers have determined. The study has immediate clinical relevance in treating the tens of millions of people worldwide from what is known as acute closed-angle glaucoma.

Antibiotic use prevalent in hospice patients despite limited evidence of its value Posted: 14 Jul 2014 10:40 AM PDT Use of antibiotics is still prevalent among terminal patients who have chosen hospice care as an end-of-life option, despite little evidence that the medications improve symptoms or quality of life, research shows, and sometimes may cause unwanted side effects. It's another example of serious overuse of antibiotics in the US.

New technology for diagnosis of cancer cells Posted: 14 Jul 2014 09:28 AM PDT The type of therapy a cancer patient receives largely depends on the eye of a pathologist. However, human judgment is, by its very nature, subject to variation. To enhance the quality of diagnosis, scientists have developed a software that identifies cell structures and proteins in order to provide reliable diagnoses.

New route for ovarian cancer spread discovered Posted: 14 Jul 2014 09:26 AM PDT Circulating tumor cells spread ovarian cancer through the bloodstream, homing in on a sheath of abdominal fatty tissue where it can grow and metastasize to other organs, scientists report. The researchers found the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) rely on HER3, a less-famous sibling of the HER2 receptor protein prominent in some breast cancers, to find their way to the omentum, a sheet of tissue that covers and supports abdominal organs.

A-maize-ing double life of a genome Posted: 14 Jul 2014 07:59 AM PDT Early maize farmers selected for genes that improved the harvesting of sunlight, a new detailed study of how plants use 'doubles' of their genomes reveals. The findings could help current efforts to improve existing crop varieties. In the wild plants have to overcome the challenges posed by pathogens and predators in order to survive. However, once domestication by humans began plants grown as crops had to cope with a new set of artificial selection pressures, such as delivering a high yield and greater stress tolerance.

Flower development in 3-D: Timing is the key Posted: 14 Jul 2014 07:59 AM PDT Developmental processes in all living organisms are controlled by genes. At the same time there is a continuous metabolism taking place. Researchers have analyzed this interaction between metabolism and developmental processes in flowering plants. In a recent study on flower development, changes in metabolism were linked to three-dimensional morphometric data using micro-computed tomography for the first time.

Best for bees to be stay-at-homes: Imported bees don't do as well as locals Posted: 14 Jul 2014 07:59 AM PDT Bees born in the local area manage better than bees imported from elsewhere, a study has shown. "Many beekeepers believe that it is best to buy queens from outside instead of using the queens they have in their own beehives. However, there is increasing evidence that the global honey bee trade has detrimental effects, including the spread of new diseases and pests," says one expert.

3-D-printed anatomy to mark a new era for medical training Posted: 14 Jul 2014 07:41 AM PDT The creators of a unique kit containing anatomical body parts produced by 3D printing say it will revolutionize medical education and training, especially in countries where cadaver use is problematic. The '3D Printed Anatomy Series' is thought to be the first commercially available resource of its kind. The kit contains no human tissue, yet it provides all the major parts of the body required to teach anatomy of the limbs, chest, abdomen, head and neck.

You are subscribed to email updates from All Top News -- ScienceDaily To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610