ScienceDaily: Top News

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• 'Tis the season for youth to curb binge-drinking
• Conservation targeting tigers pushes leopards to change
• Genome sequencing traces MRSA spread in high transmission setting
• Abandoned wells can be 'super-emitters' of greenhouse gas
• Commonalities in how different glassy materials fail
• Germanium: Semiconductor milestone
• Even in our digital age, early parental writing support is key to children's literacy
• The gold standard: Affordable catalyst for energy and environmental applications
• Metal test could help diagnose breast cancer early
• Possible genetic link found in treatment-related cognitive issues in children with leukemia
• Brain tumor: Key found for suppression of growth in medulloblastomas
• Being lower in pecking order improves female tit birds' memory: Rare case in nature in which female has better cognitive ability
• New insight into risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Controlling obesity with potato extract
• New technique could harvest more of the sun's energy
• How pace of climate change will challenge ectotherms
• Temperature anomalies are warming faster than Earth's average, study finds
• Smoking still causes large proportion of cancer deaths in the United States
• Toxic fruits hold the key to reproductive success, for fruit flies
• Warmer Pacific Ocean could release millions of tons of seafloor methane
• Are you helping your toddler's aggressive behavior? Link between affectionate parenting, language development, aggression explored
• Turning biological cells to stone improves cancer, stem cell research
• Storing hydrogen underground could boost transportation, energy security
• Paying attention makes touch-sensing brain cells fire rapidly and in sync
• People with opioid dependence in recovery show 're-regulation' of reward systems
• Platinum agent combination treatment for triple-negative breast cancer well tolerated in phase II clinical trial
• New resource on health threats posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals
• Experience counts with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, study shows
• Debate on safety of e-cigarettes continues
• Heart disease patients advised to avoid being outside in rush hour traffic
• Combining insecticide spraying and bed nets no more protective against malaria than nets alone
• Composite materials can be designed in a supercomputer 'virtual lab'
• What quails can teach us about the gait of dinosaurs
• Staining every nerve: New approach offers scientists best image resolution
• Astronomers identify gas spirals as a nursery of twin stars through ALMA
• Nanotechnology against malaria parasites
• Long-term endurance training impacts muscle epigenetics
• Ancient balloon-shaped animal fossil sheds light on Earth's ancient seas
• Stroke: Neuro-rehabilitation helps patients cope with loss of motor function
• PRM-151 therapy well tolerated in patients with advanced myelofibrosis
• Asbestos: An ongoing challenge to global health
• Brain mechanism that drives us to eat glucose discovered

'Tis the season for youth to curb binge-drinking Posted: 09 Dec 2014 10:37 AM PST With the holidays around the corner, we're all a little more likely to indulge, especially when it comes to alcohol. While a few extra drinks might be brushed off as holiday cheer, they can actually signal a problem in young adults.

Conservation targeting tigers pushes leopards to change Posted: 09 Dec 2014 10:36 AM PST A leopard may not be able to change its spots, but new research from Nepal indicates that leopards do change their activity patterns in response to tigers and humans -- but in different ways. The study is the first of its kind to look at how leopards respond to the presence of both tigers and humans simultaneously. Its findings suggest that leopards in and around Nepal's Chitwan National Park avoid tigers by seeking out different locations to live and hunt. Since tigers -- the socially dominant feline -- prefer areas less disturbed by people, leopards are displaced closer to humans.

Genome sequencing traces MRSA spread in high transmission setting Posted: 09 Dec 2014 10:36 AM PST Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, with the largest burden of infections occurring in under-resourced hospitals. While genome sequencing has previously been applied in well-resourced clinical settings to track the spread of MRSA, transmission dynamics in settings with limited infection control is unknown. In a new study, researchers used genome sequencing to understand the spread of MRSA in a resource-limited hospital with high transmission rates.

Abandoned wells can be 'super-emitters' of greenhouse gas Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:04 AM PST Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown, and possibly substantial, source of the greenhouse gas methane to the Earth's atmosphere. After testing a sample of abandoned oil and natural gas wells in northwestern Pennsylvania, the researchers found that many of the old wells leaked substantial quantities of methane. Because there are many abandoned wells nationwide, the researchers believe the overall contribution of leaking wells could be significant.

Commonalities in how different glassy materials fail Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:03 AM PST Researchers have now shown an important commonality that seems to extend through the range of glassy materials. They have demonstrated that the scaling between a glassy material's stiffness and strength remains unchanged, implying a constant critical strain that these materials can withstand before catastrophic failure, despite the extreme variation found among this class of material's physical properties.

Germanium: Semiconductor milestone Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:03 AM PST A laboratory at Purdue University provided a critical part of the world's first transistor in 1947 -- the purified germanium semiconductor -- and now researchers there are on the forefront of a new germanium milestone. The team has created the first modern germanium circuit -- a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device -- using germanium as the semiconductor instead of silicon.

Even in our digital age, early parental writing support is key to children's literacy Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:03 AM PST Children of the Information Age are inundated with written words streaming across smartphone, tablet, and laptop screens. A new study says that preschoolers should be encouraged to write at a young age -- even before they make their first step into a classroom.

The gold standard: Affordable catalyst for energy and environmental applications Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:03 AM PST New nanoscale computational modeling predicts gold could be an effective and affordable catalyst for energy and environmental applications.

Metal test could help diagnose breast cancer early Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:01 AM PST It may be possible to develop a simple blood test that, by detecting changes in the zinc in our bodies, could help to diagnose breast cancer early, scientists say. In a world-first, the researchers were able to show that changes in the isotopic composition of zinc, which can be detected in a person's breast tissue, could make it possible to identify a 'biomarker' (a measurable indicator) of early breast cancer.

Possible genetic link found in treatment-related cognitive issues in children with leukemia Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:01 AM PST Common variations in four genes related to brain inflammation or cells' response to damage from oxidation may contribute to the problems with memory, learning and other cognitive functions seen in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to a research. The findings suggest the possibility of screening ALL patients for their risk of long-term treatment-related effects on memory, attention and learning and studying potential interventions.

Brain tumor: Key found for suppression of growth in medulloblastomas Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST A key factor that can suppress medulloblastoma, the most frequent child brain tumor, has been identified by researchers. Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor in children, and its treatment remains inefficient. The work opens new perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of these brain tumors with the discovery of a key factor called BCL6, able to suppress the growth of medulloblastomas in mice and in human tumor cells in culture.

Being lower in pecking order improves female tit birds' memory: Rare case in nature in which female has better cognitive ability Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST Scientists have found a rare case in nature in which the female of a species has the better cognitive ability. When it comes to remembering where a tasty titbit was left, female great tit birds are miles ahead of their male counterparts. This ability might have evolved because the females come second when there's food to be shared.

New insight into risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis Posted: 09 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST Variations in an enzyme belonging to the immune system that leaves individuals susceptible to Ankylosing Spondylitis have been identified by researchers. The variation in ERAP1 can be detected by genetic testing which, if available, could lead to people becoming aware of the risk of the condition earlier. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which mainly affects joints in the spine. In severe cases, it can eventually cause complete fusion and rigidity of the spine, called "Bamboo spine". It tends to first develop in teenagers and young adults with most cases first starting in people aged 20-30.

Controlling obesity with potato extract Posted: 09 Dec 2014 08:58 AM PST A simple potato extract may limit weight gain from a diet that is high in fat and refined carbohydrates, according to scientists. The results of their recent study with mice were so surprising that the investigators repeated the experiment just to be sure.

New technique could harvest more of the sun's energy Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:18 AM PST As solar panels become less expensive and capable of generating more power, solar energy is becoming a more commercially viable alternative source of electricity. However, the photovoltaic cells now used to turn sunlight into electricity can only absorb and use a small fraction of that light, and that means a significant amount of solar energy goes untapped. A new technology represents a first step toward harnessing that lost energy.

How pace of climate change will challenge ectotherms Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:18 AM PST 40 years of data has been analyzed to outline climate change challenge for ectotherms (animals who rely on external sources of heat to control body temperature). The research showed that many groups of ectotherms, which make up more than 90 percent of all animals, are able to change their physiological function to cope with an altered environment, but the rapid pace and fluctuations of human-induced climate change present serious challenges.

Temperature anomalies are warming faster than Earth's average, study finds Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:13 AM PST It's widely known that the Earth's average temperature has been rising. But new research finds that spatial patterns of extreme temperature anomalies -- readings well above or below the mean -- are warming even faster than the overall average. It may seem counterintuitive that global warming would be accompanied by colder winter weather at some locales. But scientists say the observation aligns with theories about climate change, which hold that amplified warming in the Arctic region produces changes in the jet stream, which can result in extended periods of cold weather at some locations in the mid-northern latitudes.

Smoking still causes large proportion of cancer deaths in the United States Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:13 AM PST Despite significant drops in smoking rates, cigarettes continue to cause about three in ten cancer deaths in the United States, a study has found. "Reducing smoking prevalence as rapidly as possible should be a top priority for US public health efforts to prevent future cancer deaths," the authors say.

Toxic fruits hold the key to reproductive success, for fruit flies Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:12 AM PST Scientists have now discovered why the fruit fly Drosophila sechellia is adapted to the toxic fruits of the morinda tree. Drosophila sechellia females carry a mutation in a gene that inhibits egg production. The flies have very low levels of L-DOPA, a precursor of the hormone dopamine, which controls fertility; interestingly, large amounts of L-DOPA are contained in morinda fruits.

Warmer Pacific Ocean could release millions of tons of seafloor methane Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:12 AM PST Water off Washington's coast is warming a third of a mile down, where seafloor methane shifts from a frozen solid to a gas. Calculations suggest ocean warming is already releasing significant methane offshore of Alaska to Northern California.

Are you helping your toddler's aggressive behavior? Link between affectionate parenting, language development, aggression explored Posted: 09 Dec 2014 07:10 AM PST Physical aggression in toddlers has been thought to be associated with the frustration caused by language problems, but a recent study shows that this isn't the case. The researchers did find, however, that parental behaviors may influence the development of an association between the two problems during early childhood. Frequent hitting, kicking, and a tendency to bite or push others are examples of physical aggression observed in toddlers.

Turning biological cells to stone improves cancer, stem cell research Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:19 AM PST Near-perfect replications of human and animal cells enables improved study of certain cancers and stem cells, as well as the creation of complex durable objects without machinery, scientists report. A new technique to transmute living cells into more permanent materials that defy decay and can endure high-powered probes is widening research opportunities for biologists who are developing cancer treatments, tracking stem cell evolution or even trying to understand how spiders vary the quality of the silk they spin.

Storing hydrogen underground could boost transportation, energy security Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:18 AM PST Large-scale storage of low-pressure, gaseous hydrogen in salt caverns and other underground sites for transportation fuel and grid-scale energy applications offers several advantages over above-ground storage, says a recent study.

Paying attention makes touch-sensing brain cells fire rapidly and in sync Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:18 AM PST Whether we're paying attention to something we see can be discerned by monitoring the firings of specific groups of brain cells. Now, new work shows that the same holds true for the sense of touch. The study brings researchers closer to understanding how animals' thoughts and feelings affect their perception of external stimuli.

People with opioid dependence in recovery show 're-regulation' of reward systems Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:18 AM PST Within a few months after drug withdrawal, patients in recovery from dependence on prescription pain medications may show signs that the body's natural reward systems are normalizing, reports a new study. In brain activity studies, patients with recent drug withdrawal showed heightened responses to drug-related cues, such as pictures of pills. In the extended-care patients, these increased responses to drug cues -- in a region of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, involved in attention and self-control -- were significantly reduced.

Platinum agent combination treatment for triple-negative breast cancer well tolerated in phase II clinical trial Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:18 AM PST New research shows that a combination of doxil, carboplatin and bevacizumab is a well-tolerated treatment regimen in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who received no prior treatment for their metastatic disease. The work also included genomic profiling to measure molecular correlates of response.

New resource on health threats posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:18 AM PST As governments, industry and public interest groups from across the globe prepare to meet next week to discuss endocrine-disrupting chemicals and other international chemical safety issues, scientists have released a new guide documenting the threat endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) pose to human health.

Experience counts with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, study shows Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:23 AM PST Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer is highly complex, and a new study suggests that medical centers with more experience centers have better patient outcomes. The study compared survival and other outcomes in 470 patients treated with radiation therapy at 101 treatment centers through a clinical trial held from 2002 to 2005.

Debate on safety of e-cigarettes continues Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:21 AM PST Opposing views on the potential impact of electronic cigarettes on public health are published in a new article. The commentaries, by two experts, differ in their views on the topic but are united in their call for a rational discussion based on evidence.

Heart disease patients advised to avoid being outside in rush hour traffic Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:19 AM PST Heart disease patients have been advised to avoid being outside during rush hour traffic. The position paper on air pollution and cardiovascular disease also recommends decreasing the use of fossil fuels. "More than 3 million deaths worldwide are caused by air pollution each year. Air pollution ranks ninth among the modifiable disease risk factors, ahead of low physical activity, high sodium diet, high cholesterol and drug use," a corresponding author noted.

Combining insecticide spraying and bed nets no more protective against malaria than nets alone Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:18 AM PST The combined use of spraying insecticide inside homes and insecticide-treated bed nets is no better at protecting children against malaria than using bed nets alone, a study in The Gambia suggests. The findings should encourage donors to invest their limited resources in additional bed nets, the more cost-effective solution to tackling malaria, authors say.

Composite materials can be designed in a supercomputer 'virtual lab' Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:18 AM PST Scientists have shown how advanced computer simulations can be used to design new composite materials. Nanocomposites, which are widely used in industry, are revolutionary materials in which microscopic particles are dispersed through plastics. But their development until now has been largely by trial and error.

What quails can teach us about the gait of dinosaurs Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:17 AM PST Motion scientists and zoologists have completed the first detailed analysis of the bipedal gait of quails. The scientists analyzed the effect the birds posture has on the movement of their legs and on their stability when they walk.

Staining every nerve: New approach offers scientists best image resolution Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST Scientists can now explore nerves in mice in much greater detail than ever before, thanks to an approach that enables researchers to easily use artificial tags, broadening the range of what they can study and vastly increasing image resolution.

Astronomers identify gas spirals as a nursery of twin stars through ALMA Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST Astronomers have found spiral arms of molecular gas and dust around the "baby twin" stars, binary protostars. Gas motions to supply materials to the twin were also identified. These observational results unveil, for the first time, the mechanism of the birth and growth of binary stars, which are ubiquitous throughout the universe.

Nanotechnology against malaria parasites Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST Malaria parasites invade human red blood cells, they then disrupt them and infect others. Researchers have now developed so-called nanomimics of host cell membranes that trick the parasites. This could lead to novel treatment and vaccination strategies in the fight against malaria and other infectious diseases.

Long-term endurance training impacts muscle epigenetics Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST Long-term endurance training in a stable way alters the epigenetic pattern in the human skeletal muscle, research shows. The research team behind a new study also found strong links between these altered epigenetic patterns and the activity in genes controlling improved metabolism and inflammation. The results may have future implications for prevention and treatment of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Ancient balloon-shaped animal fossil sheds light on Earth's ancient seas Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST A rare 520-million-year-old fossil shaped like a 'squashed bird's nest' that will help to shed new light on life within Earth's ancient seas has been discovered in China by an international research team. The fossil is of a probable 'chancelloriid', a group of bizarre, balloon-shaped animals with an outer skeleton of defensive spines.

Stroke: Neuro-rehabilitation helps patients cope with loss of motor function Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:16 AM PST The majority of patients who survive a stroke usually continue to suffer from permanent motor disorders (hemiparesis) or a linguistic handicap (aphasia). A new study reveals an improvement in the efficiency of the brain activity when patients receive a treatment combining motor revalidation with non-invasive brain stimulation. These results were demonstrated via the technique of functional MRI.

PRM-151 therapy well tolerated in patients with advanced myelofibrosis Posted: 09 Dec 2014 05:10 AM PST A study that investigated the potential of the compound PRM-151 (PRM) for reducing progressive bone marrow fibrosis (scarring) in patients with advanced myelofibrosis has shown initial positive results. Myelofibrosis is a life-threatening bone marrow cancer.

Asbestos: An ongoing challenge to global health Posted: 08 Dec 2014 02:08 PM PST Challenges to global health can evolve from policies and decisions that take years or decades to unfold. A new article describes the current state of asbestos use worldwide, a story that began over 100 years ago, and the real and contrived controversies regarding asbestos.

Brain mechanism that drives us to eat glucose discovered Posted: 08 Dec 2014 02:07 PM PST Scientists have discovered a mechanism in the brain that may drive our appetite for foods rich in glucose and could lead to improved treatments for obesity.

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