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Thursday, September 25, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Fossil of ancient multicellular life sets evolutionary timeline back 60 million years

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 06:18 PM PDT

Geobiologists shed new light on multicellular fossils from a time 60 million years before a vast growth spurt of life known as the Cambrian Explosion occurred on Earth.

Think you have Alzheimer's? You just might be right, study says

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 06:18 PM PDT

New research suggests that people who notice their memory is slipping may be on to something. The research appears to confirm that self-reported memory complaints are strong predictors of clinical memory impairment later in life.

Biochar alters water flow to improve sand and clay

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 01:05 PM PDT

New research could help settle questions about one of biochar's biggest benefits -- the seemingly contradictory ability to make clay soils drain faster and sandy soils drain slower.

'Skin-like' device monitors cardiovascular and skin health

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:39 PM PDT

A new wearable medical device can quickly alert a person if they are having cardiovascular trouble or if it's simply time to put on some skin moisturizer, researchers report. The small device, approximately five centimeters square, can be placed directly on the skin and worn 24/7 for around-the-clock health monitoring. The wireless technology uses thousands of tiny liquid crystals on a flexible substrate to sense heat. When the device turns color, the wearer knows something is awry.

Bacterial 'communication system' could be used to stop, kill cancer cells, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

A molecule used as a communication system by bacteria can be manipulated to prevent cancer cells from spreading, a study has demonstrated. "During an infection, bacteria release molecules which allow them to 'talk' to each other," said the lead author of the study. "Depending on the type of molecule released, the signal will tell other bacteria to multiply, escape the immune system or even stop spreading."

New insights into flow and incision in bedrock-rivers

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

Scientists studying river flow in bedrock canyons for the first time have discovered that previous conceptions of flow and incision in bedrock-rivers are wrong.

A way to kill chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells: Cut down its protector

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:50 AM PDT

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecological cancer, claiming the lives of more than 50 percent of women who are diagnosed with the disease. A new study provides new insight into why ovarian cancer is often resistant to chemotherapy, as well as a potential way to improve its diagnosis and treatment.

New dinosaur from New Mexico has relatives in Alberta

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

A newly discovered armored dinosaur from New Mexico has close ties to the dinosaurs of Alberta, say paleontologists. From 76 to 66 million years ago, Alberta was home to at least five species of ankylosaurid dinosaurs, the group that includes club-tailed giants like Ankylosaurus. But fewer ankylosaurids are known from the southern parts of North America. The new species, Ziapelta sanjuanensis, was discovered in 2011 in the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness area of New Mexico by a team from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Colorado's Front Range fire severity not much different than past

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The perception that Colorado's Front Range wildfires are becoming increasingly severe does not hold much water scientifically, according to a massive new study.

Brain scans reveal 'gray matter' differences in media multitaskers

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

Simultaneously using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices could be changing the structure of our brains, according to new research. People who frequently use several media devices at the same time have lower grey-matter density in one particular region of the brain compared to those who use just one device occasionally.

Stem cells used to learn how common mutation in Asians affects heart health

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

Over 500 million people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that disables a common metabolic protein called ALDH2. The mutation, which predominantly occurs in people of East Asian descent, leads to an increased risk of heart disease and poorer outcomes after a heart attack.

Immune activity shortly after surgery holds big clue to recovery rate

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The millions of people who undergo major surgery each year have no way of knowing how long it will take them to recover from the operation. Some will feel better within days. For others, it will take a month or more. Right now, doctors can't tell patients which category they'll fit into. Now, researcher have discovered that the activity level of a small set of immune cells during the first 24 hours after surgery provides strong clues to how quickly patients will bounce back.

Evolution of snake courtship and combat behavior

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

A small study suggests snakes may have developed courtship and male-to-male combat behavior, such as moving undulations, neck biting, and spur-poking, over time.

Eyeless Mexican cavefish eliminate circadian rhythm to save energy

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT

The Mexican tetra fish has two variants, a fully-eyed fish living close to the surface and a blind, deep water, cave-dwelling fish. Scientists in this study used these two fish to study evolutionary adaptation in fish residing in near or total darkness.

Most metal-poor star hints at universe's first supernovae

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

In a new study, researchers point out that the elemental abundance of the most iron-poor star can be explained by elements ejected from supernova explosions of the universe's first stars. This reveals that massive stars, which are several tens of times more immense than the Sun, were present among the first stars.

Clear skies on exo-Neptune: Smallest exoplanet ever found to have water vapor

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

Astronomers have discovered clear skies and steamy water vapor on a planet outside our Solar System. The planet, known as HAT-P-11b, is about the size of Neptune, making it the smallest exoplanet ever on which water vapor has been detected.

Alzheimer's patients can still feel emotion long after memories have vanished

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:50 AM PDT

A new study further supports an inescapable message: caregivers have a profound influence -- good or bad -- on the emotional state of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Patients may not remember a recent visit by a loved one or having been neglected by staff at a nursing home, but those actions can have a lasting impact on how they feel.

Drivers, don't trade in your smartphone for Google Glass yet

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:49 AM PDT

Texting while driving with Google Glass is clearly a distraction, a new study has concluded -- but there is a twist. In the study, texting Glass users outperformed smartphone users when regaining control of their vehicles after a traffic incident.

Pain keeps surgery patients awake, extends hospital stay, study finds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 10:46 AM PDT

Pain can make it difficult for some patients to get a good night's rest while recovering in the hospital following certain surgical procedures, often resulting in longer hospital stays, according to researchers.

Skin coloring of rhesus macaque monkeys linked to breeding success, new study shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Skin color displayed amongst one species of monkey provides a key indicator of how successfully they will breed, a new study has shown. The collaborative international research also shows that skin coloration in male and female rhesus macaques is an inherited quality -- the first example of heritability for a sexually-selected trait to be described in any mammal.

Modest effect of statins on diabetes risk, bodyweight related to mechanism of action

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

The mechanism by which statins increase the risk of type 2 diabetes has been investigated in a large-scale analysis from an international team led by researchers, using information from genetic studies and clinical trials.

New analysis of human genetic history reveals female dominance

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Female populations have been larger than male populations throughout human history, according to new research. The research used a new technique to obtain higher quality paternal genetic information to analyze the demographic history of males and females in worldwide populations.

New anti-cancer peptide vaccines and inhibitors developed

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Two new anticancer peptide vaccines and two peptide inhibitors have been developed as part of a larger peptide immunotherapy effort. The vaccines and inhibitors are designed to target the HER-3 and IGF-1R receptors, which are over-expressed in cancers of the breast, pancreas, esophagus and colon.

Alcohol consumption influenced by genes, research shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

How people perceive and taste alcohol depends on genetic factors, and that influences whether they 'like' and consume alcoholic beverages, according to researchers. In the first study to show that the sensations from sampled alcohol vary as a function of genetics, researchers focused on three chemosensory genes -- two bitter-taste receptor genes known as TAS2R13 and TAS2R38 and a burn receptor gene, TRPV1.

Brain areas activated by itch-relieving drug identified

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:37 AM PDT

Brain areas that respond to reward and pleasure are linked to the ability of the drug butorphanol to relieve itch, according to new research. The findings point to the involvement of the brain's opioid receptors -- known for their roles in pain, reward, and addiction -- in itch relief, potentially opening up new avenues to the development of treatments for chronic itch.

Natural gas usage will have little effect on carbon dioxide emissions, researchers find

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

Abundant supplies of natural gas will do little to reduce harmful U.S. emissions causing climate change, according to researchers. They found that inexpensive gas boosts electricity consumption and hinders expansion of cleaner energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Enzyme discovery paves way to tackling deadly parasite diseases

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT

An enzyme found in all living things could hold the key to combating deadly diseases such as sleeping sickness, a study suggests. Researchers say this discovery creates an opportunity to design drugs that block activity of the enzyme -- known as pyruvate kinase -- in species that cause infection. Blocking the enzyme would effectively kill the parasite, without affecting the same enzyme in the patient.

Nanotechnology leads to better, cheaper LEDs for phones and lighting

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Using a new nanoscale structure, electrical engineers have increased the brightness and efficiency of LEDs made of organic materials -- flexible carbon-based sheets -- by 57 percent. The researchers also report their method should yield similar improvements in LEDs made in inorganic, silicon-based materials used most commonly today.

2-D materials' crystalline defects key to new properties

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Understanding how atoms 'glide' and 'climb' on the surface of 2-D crystals like tungsten disulphide may pave the way for researchers to develop materials with unusual or unique characteristics, according to an international team of researchers.

'Fracking' wastewater that is treated for drinking downstream produces potentially harmful compounds

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

Concerns that fluids from hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' are contaminating drinking water abound. Now, scientists are bringing to light another angle that adds to the controversy. A new study has found that discharge of fracking wastewaters to rivers, even after passage through wastewater treatment plants, could be putting the drinking water supplies of downstream cities at risk.

'Greener,' low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:35 AM PDT

As tech company LG demonstrated this summer with the unveiling of its 18-inch flexible screen, the next generation of roll-up displays is tantalizingly close. Researchers are now reporting a new, inexpensive and simple way to make transparent, flexible transistors -- the building blocks of electronics -- that could help bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays and other bendable gadgets to consumers in just a few years.

False memories could be a side-effect of human ability to learn rules

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Our tendency to create false memories could be related to our ability to learn rules according to new research. New research suggests that individuals who are particularly good at learning rules and classifying objects by common properties are also particularly prone to false memory illusions.

Surgeon employs novel technique using cadaver meniscus to reconstruct finger joints

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

Artist Joost van Oss was chopping wood a few years ago when he injured the middle knuckle on his right hand. The intense pain and swelling that followed nearly ended his career as a painter and a sculptor. But thanks to a novel surgery using knee meniscus from a cadaver to reconstruct his finger joint, he's back to cooking, sailing, painting and sculpting – all pain free.

Flying doctor bees to prevent cherry disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:30 AM PDT

A method to use bees to deliver disease control to cherry blossom, preventing brown rot in cherries, is being introduced by researchers. "Brown rot is caused by a fungus that significantly impacts the cherry industry through costs of applying fungicide, yield loss and fruit spoilage," says the project's leader and bee researcher.

Tonsil stem cells could someday help repair liver damage without surgery

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

The liver provides critical functions, such as ridding the body of toxins. Its failure can be deadly, and there are few options for fixing it. But scientists now report a way to potentially inject stem cells from tonsils, a body part we don't need, to repair damaged livers — all without surgery.

Are weak values quantum? Don't bet on it: Key technique used to probe quantum systems may not be so quantum after all

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Over the past 20 years, a strange idea called a "weak value" has taken root in quantum information science. Many of the things you can do with quantum technologies entail being able to gain information from quantum systems. But there is a quantum conundrum: we can't say what a particle is doing when we're not looking at it, but when we do look at it, we change its behavior. But what if we could look "a little"?

Imaging studies open a window on how effective antibodies are formed

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Sometimes, in order to understand what's happening in the immune system, you just have to watch it. By imaging the immune response, researchers have observed how two types of immune cells, T and B cells, interact with one another during a critical period following infection in order to prepare the best antibodies and establish long-lasting protection.

Good news for young patients with a leukemia subtype associated with a poor prognosis

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:28 AM PDT

Adjusting treatment based on early response to chemotherapy made a life-saving difference to young patients with an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype associated with a poor outcome, researchers have found. The results are good news for children and adolescents with Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), a subtype that until now was associated with a poor prognosis. Ph-like ALL accounts for as much as 15 percent of the most common pediatric cancer.

Most stars are born in clusters, some leave 'home'

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 08:26 AM PDT

New modeling studies demonstrate that most of the stars we see were formed when unstable clusters of newly formed protostars broke up. These protostars are born out of rotating clouds of dust and gas, which act as nurseries for star formation. Rare clusters of multiple protostars remain stable and mature into multi-star systems. The unstable ones will eject stars until they achieve stability and end up as single or binary stars.

India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully inserted into orbit around Red Planet

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 07:25 AM PDT

India's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully entered into an orbit around the planet Mars this morning (Sept. 24, 2014) by firing its 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) along with eight smaller liquid engines. In the coming weeks, the spacecraft will be thoroughly tested in Mars orbit and the systematic observation of the planet using the spacecraft's five scientific instruments is expected to begin.

New 'designer proteins' in fight against Alzheimer's, cancer

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT

Scientists are lending Mother Nature a helping hand in fight against cancer and Alzheimer's with the development of a new, more effective way to make amino acids. The new 'designer proteins' can be used to make more effective drugs with fewer side effects, they report.

Look into my eyes: Children can be trained to improve recognition of other people's emotions

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT

Children can using training to spot crucial cues on someone's emotional state, new research has shown. It is hoped the findings could lead to new or improved interventions for children and adults who have difficulty recognizing emotional states in others.

Higher risk of autism found in children born at short and long interpregnancy intervals

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT

Children who were conceived either less than 1 year or more than 5 years after the birth of their prior sibling were more likely to be diagnosed with autism than children conceived following an interval of 2-5 years, a study concludes.

Skin cells can be engineered into pulmonary valves for pediatric patients

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT

Researchers have found a way to take a pediatric patient's skin cells, reprogram the skin cells to function as heart valvular cells, and then use the cells as part of a tissue-engineered pulmonary valve. A proof of concept study provides more detail on this scientific development. This study is the first step toward demonstrating the feasibility of creating a patient-specific pulmonary valve that contains live cells from the patient, researchers say.

New EEG electrode set for fast, easy measurement of brain function abnormalities

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:48 AM PDT

A new, easy-to-use EEG electrode set for the measurement of the electrical activity of the brain has been developed, making it possible to attach the electrode set on the patient quickly, resulting in reliable results without any special treatment of the skin. As EEG measurements in emergency care are often performed in challenging conditions, the design of the electrode set pays particular attention to the reduction of electromagnetic interference from external sources.

Avoiding falls: Math model helps researchers aid diagnosis, treatment of stability problems

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:46 AM PDT

A mathematical model has been designed by researchers that lends new insight to how humans walk. Every step we take is a balancing act as the body falls forward and sideways, explains one investigator. "We were able to show that the next foot position can be predicted way in advance of when the foot is placed -- as early as the middle of the previous step -- based on how the body is falling," he said. "Nobody knew that such high predictability was possible with such a simple model and with only normal walking data."

Solar energy-driven process could revolutionize oil sands tailings reclamation

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 03:21 PM PDT

A civil engineering research team has developed a new way to clean oil sands process affected water and reclaim tailings ponds in Alberta's oil sands industry. Using sunlight as a renewable energy source instead of UV lamps, and adding chlorine to the tailings, oil sands process affected water is decontaminated and detoxified -- immediately.

Infant cooing, babbling linked to hearing ability, researcher finds

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 03:21 PM PDT

Infant vocalizations are primarily motivated by infants' ability to hear their own babbling, research shows. Additionally, infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants to help correct their hearing soon reached the vocalization levels of their hearing peers, putting them on track for language development.

Does size matter? MRI measures of joint's geometry suggest role in athletes' severe knee injuries

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 03:20 PM PDT

With only 200-300,000 per year, ACL injuries are far less common than ankle ligament injuries, which number more than two million annually. But ACL injuries can end sports careers and are proven to lead to the early onset of osteoarthritis, putting young athletes on track for joint replacement as early as their 30s. Research provides insight into the potential role of the knee's geometric characteristics in increasing injury risk.

Dying brain cells cue new brain cells to grow in songbird

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 03:20 PM PDT

Using a songbird as a model, scientists have described a brain pathway that replaces cells that have been lost naturally and not because of injury. If scientists can further tap into the process, it might lead to ways to encourage replacement of cells in human brains that have lost neurons naturally because of aging or Alzheimer's disease.

Best friends' drinking can negate protective effects of an alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene variant

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:12 PM PDT

Alcohol use that begins during adolescence affects the development of alcohol use disorders during adulthood. A new study looks at the effects of interplay between peer drinking and the functional variant rs1229984 in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B) among adolescents. Peer drinking reduces the protective effects of this ADH1B variant, experts have found.

Study questions accuracy of lung cancer screens with FDG-PET technology in some geographic regions

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT

FDG-PET technology is less accurate in diagnosing lung cancer versus benign disease in regions where infections like histoplasmosis or tuberculosis are common, a new study suggests. Misdiagnosis of lung lesions suspicious for cancer could lead to unnecessary tests and surgeries for patients, with additional potential complications and mortality.

Rate of diabetes in U.S. may be leveling off

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 01:11 PM PDT

Following a doubling of the incidence and prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. from 1990-2008, new data suggest a plateauing of the rate between 2008 and 2012 for adults, however the incidence continued to increase in Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults, according to a study.

The fickle El Niño of 2014

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 12:36 PM PDT

Prospects have been fading for an El Niño event in 2014, but now there's a glimmer of hope for a very modest comeback. Scientists warn that unless these developing weak-to-modest El Niño conditions strengthen, the drought-stricken American West shouldn't expect any relief.

Immune system is key ally in cyberwar against cancer

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists who are fighting a cyberwar against cancer find that the immune system may be a clinician's most powerful ally. "Recent research has found that cancer is already adept at using cyberwarfare against the immune system, and we studied the interplay between cancer and the immune system to see how we might turn the tables on cancer," said a co-author of a the study.

Note to young men: Fat doesn't pay well

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT

Men who are already obese as teenagers could grow up to earn up to 18 percent less than their peers of normal weight, researchers report. The team compared extensive information from Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the results were found across the board.

Insects' fear limits boost from climate change, study shows

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT

Scientists often measure the effects of temperature on insects to predict how climate change will affect their distribution and abundance, but a new study shows, for the first time, that insects' fear of their predators, in addition to temperature, ultimately limits how fast they grow.

Facial masculinity not always a telling factor in mate selection

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT

Women living where rates of infectious disease are high, according to theory, prefer men with faces that shout testosterone when choosing a mate. However, an international study says that may not be true.

Impact of temperature on belowground soil decomposition

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT

Earth's soils store four times more carbon than the atmosphere and small changes in soil carbon storage can have a big effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. A new paper concludes that climate warming does not accelerate soil organic carbon decomposition or affect soil carbon storage, despite increases in ecosystem productivity.

Mefloquine fails to replace SP for malaria prevention during pregnancy

Posted: 23 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT

Two large randomized controlled trials conducted in Africa tested an alternative drug for malaria prevention in HIV-negative and HIV-positive pregnant women.

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