ScienceDaily: Top News

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• High hepatitis C cure rate seen in trial of 6-week oral drug regimens
• Slick and slender snake beats short and stubby lizard in sand swimming
• Mechanistic insights into spinal muscular atrophy suggest new paths for treatment
• Genetic discovery about childhood blindness paves way for new treatments
• Personalized therapy for cardiovascular disease
• Family income, child behavior factors in legal disputes about kids with autism
• New catalyst process uses light, not metal, for rapid polymerization
• Rise in mass die-offs seen among birds, fish and marine invertebrates
• Up in smoke or bottoms up: How policy could affect substance abuse
• Ancient fossils reveal rise in parasitic infections due to climate change
• Sex and the single evening primrose
• BPA and BPS (substitute for BPA) affect embryonic brain development in zebrafish: Low levels of chemicals linked to hyperactivity
• Computers using digital footprints are better judges of personality than friends and family
• Mountain system artificially inflates temperature increases at higher elevations
• Hybrid 'super mosquito' resistant to insecticide-treated bed nets
• Curbing growth of physician self-referrals requires Congress
• As many as two-fifths of never-smoking teens are exposed to secondhand smoke worldwide
• 3-D printed Shelby Cobra
• Evolution: Rock sponges split up
• Beyond prevention: Sulforaphane may find possible use for cancer therapy
• Pediatricians miss autism symptoms in brief checkups
• One-size-fits-all approach can lead to over-treatment in older diabetes patients
• Two-faced fish clue that our ancestors 'weren't shark-like'
• Attitudes, practices surrounding end of life care in ICUs vary among Asian physicians
• New research on what the nose 'knows' reveals an unexpected simplicity
• How thoughts, behavior affect mood
• Water, water, everywhere: Controlling the properties of nanomaterials
• More clues to how drug reverses obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease
• Possible new target for treating brain inflammation found
• Web-based TAVR marketing found to overstate benefits, understate risks of procedure
• Solar cell polymers with multiplied electrical output
• From the bottom up: Manipulating nanoribbons at the molecular level
• New strains of parasites identified: Research on whipworms has implications for human health and animal conservation
• Summer no sweat for Aussies but winter freeze fatal
• Epigenetic switchboard now better understood
• Vision system for household robots
• Patients rarely learn of at-home provider quality data
• Virtual reality brain training game can detect mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often predates Alzheimer’s disease
• The mystery of the Alpine long-eared bat
• Curcumin's ability to fight Alzheimer's studied
• Mechanism leading to drug resistance, metastasis in melanoma patients discovered
• Disruptive children benefit from tailored classroom intervention
• Overweight, obese kids achieved healthier weights after participating in Head Start
• Social media could impact on quality of conference presentations
• Little or no benefit from nutrient additions to vitamin waters and energy drinks
• Graphene plasmons go ballistic
• Researchers dispute warning that drugs for high cholesterol could impair memory, cognitive functioning
• Do viruses make us smarter?
• Robot cameras monitor deep sea ecosystems
• Involuntary hospitalization of patients with anorexia nervosa in extreme situations can save their lives
• Using wearable technology, man leaves hospital without a human heart
• Beyond the bandages: Pediatric trauma nurses know about trauma-informed care
• They see flow signals: Researchers identify nature of 'sixth sense' in fish
• Children eligible for expanded Medicaid contribute more in taxes as adults
• Brain protein aids influenza recovery, scientists find
• Towards a new wheat allergy treatment for children
• Global warming reduces wheat production markedly if no adaptation takes place
• The brain thinks, the spinal cord implements: Research team identifies important control mechanisms for walking
• Fish peptide could help in battle against cardiovascular disease
• New therapeutic target for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia discovered

High hepatitis C cure rate seen in trial of 6-week oral drug regimens Posted: 12 Jan 2015 04:13 PM PST Thirty-eight of 40 volunteers with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections who received a combination of three direct-acting oral drugs for six weeks were cured in a recent clinical trial. A six-week course of therapy is half the length of time previously shown to achieve a similar cure rate using two direct-acting oral HCV drugs only.

Slick and slender snake beats short and stubby lizard in sand swimming Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST For swimming through sand, a slick and slender snake can perform better than a short and stubby lizard. That's one conclusion from a study of the movement patterns of the shovel-nosed snake, a native of the Mojave Desert of the Southwest United States.

Mechanistic insights into spinal muscular atrophy suggest new paths for treatment Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST New light has been shed on the underlying pathology of spinal muscular atrophy, a rare but devastating disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis and is the leading genetic cause of infant deaths. With no approved drugs currently available, the newly obtained insights may prove valuable as scientists currently work to define optimal treatment strategies for patients.

Genetic discovery about childhood blindness paves way for new treatments Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST Finding genes for retinal degenerations has immediate benefits for people living with blindness and vision loss, their families, and their physicians. Establishing a genetic cause confirms the clinical diagnosis at the molecular level, helps predict the future visual prognosis, suggests therapies, and allows some patients to join clinical trials. While more than 200 genes for retinal degenerations have been identified, approximately 40-50 percent of cases remain a mystery.

Personalized therapy for cardiovascular disease Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST Researchers have announced results showing that patients with cardiovascular disease and the appropriate genetic background benefit greatly from the new medication dalcetrapib, with a reduction of 39 percent in combined clinical outcomes including heart attacks, strokes, unstable angina, coronary revascularizations and cardiovascular deaths. These patients also benefit from a reduction in the amount of atherosclerosis in their vessels. This discovery may also pave the way for a new era in cardiovascular medicine, with personalized or precision drugs.

Family income, child behavior factors in legal disputes about kids with autism Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST A national survey of parents of kids with autism indicates these families with higher incomes are more likely to use their procedural safeguards -- including mediation and due process hearings -- to solve disputes with schools over their children's education.

New catalyst process uses light, not metal, for rapid polymerization Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST A team of chemistry and materials science experts has created a novel way to overcome one of the major hurdles preventing the widespread use of controlled radical polymerization.

Rise in mass die-offs seen among birds, fish and marine invertebrates Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST An analysis of 727 studies reveals that there have been more instances of rapid, catastrophic animal die-offs over the past 75 years. These mass kills appear to have hit birds, fish and marine invertebrates harder than other species.

Up in smoke or bottoms up: How policy could affect substance abuse Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST Half of young drivers who died in car crashes in American states such as California, Hawaii and West Virginia were under the influence of either alcohol or marijuana, or both. This is the story told by the statistics recording fatal road accidents involving 16- to 25-year-olds in nine US states.

Ancient fossils reveal rise in parasitic infections due to climate change Posted: 12 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST A paleobiologist has found indications of a greater risk of parasitic infection due to climate change in ancient mollusk fossils. His study of clams from the Holocene Epoch indicates that current sea level rise may mimic the same conditions that led to an upsurge in parasitic trematodes, or flatworms, he found from that time. He cautions that an outbreak in human infections could occur.

Sex and the single evening primrose Posted: 12 Jan 2015 12:50 PM PST Sex or no sex? Using various species of the evening primrose as their model, researchers have demonstrated strong support for a theory that biologists have long promoted: Species that reproduce sexually, rather than asexually, are healthier over time, because they don't accumulate harmful mutations.

BPA and BPS (substitute for BPA) affect embryonic brain development in zebrafish: Low levels of chemicals linked to hyperactivity Posted: 12 Jan 2015 12:46 PM PST Bisphenol A, known as BPA, is produced in massive quantities around the world for use in consumer products, including household plastics. In response to public concerns, many manufacturers have replaced BPA with a chemical called bisphenol S (BPS), which is often labeled as "BPA-free" and presumed to be safer by consumers. Scientists have provided evidence that both BPA and BPS cause alterations in brain development leading to hyperactivity in zebrafish.

Computers using digital footprints are better judges of personality than friends and family Posted: 12 Jan 2015 12:44 PM PST Researchers have found that, based on enough Facebook Likes, computers can judge your personality traits better than your friends, family and even your partner. Using a new algorithm, researchers have calculated the average number of Likes artificial intelligence (AI) needs to draw personality inferences about you as accurately as your partner or parents.

Mountain system artificially inflates temperature increases at higher elevations Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:13 AM PST While the western US has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the Western US likely is not as large as previously supposed, researchers suggest.

Hybrid 'super mosquito' resistant to insecticide-treated bed nets Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:13 AM PST A hybrid mosquito, resulting from interbreeding of two malaria mosquitoes, now has the ability to survive the insecticides used to treat bed nets -- which have been key to preventing the spread of malaria in humans, scientists report.

Curbing growth of physician self-referrals requires Congress Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:13 AM PST Recent American federal reports show that physicians are increasingly referring services such as diagnostic imaging to businesses in which they have a financial stake. The controversial practice depends on loopholes in existing law that the new Congress could consider closing, write two doctors.

As many as two-fifths of never-smoking teens are exposed to secondhand smoke worldwide Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:13 AM PST Many teens who have never smoked are being exposed to the health dangers of tobacco. A new study estimated the prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure worldwide among teens who had never smoked, and found that one third of those teens are exposed to secondhand smoke inside the home and more than two-fifths of those teens are exposed to secondhand smoke outside the home.

3-D printed Shelby Cobra Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:12 AM PST A new 3-D printed vehicle pays homage to the classic Shelby Cobra in celebration of the racing car's 50th anniversary.

Evolution: Rock sponges split up Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:56 AM PST New light on the evolution of the so-called rock sponges has been revealed by researchers suggesting that conventional, morphology-based taxonomies do not accurately reflect the true genealogical relationships within the group.

Beyond prevention: Sulforaphane may find possible use for cancer therapy Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:56 AM PST New research has identified one of the key cancer-fighting mechanisms for sulforaphane, and suggests that this much-studied phytochemical found in broccoli and other foods may be able to move beyond cancer prevention and toward therapeutic use for advanced prostate cancer.

Pediatricians miss autism symptoms in brief checkups Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:56 AM PST Researchers studied pediatric exams where care providers performed autism observations for 15-33-month-old children. Even the researchers missed referrals for 39 percent of the children with autism, based on the brief observation alone. Parents are the experts for their children, and researchers explain that tools are available for parents to be educated, and in doing so, they can work with care providers and have an impact on their children's care.

One-size-fits-all approach can lead to over-treatment in older diabetes patients Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:55 AM PST Diabetes treatments have saved many lives, but in older patients with multiple medical conditions, aggressively controlling blood sugar with insulin and sulfonylurea drugs, could lead to over-treatment and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), according to new research.

Two-faced fish clue that our ancestors 'weren't shark-like' Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:55 AM PST An investigation of a 415-million-year-old fish skull strongly suggests that the last common ancestor of all jawed vertebrates, including humans, was not very shark-like. It adds further weight to the growing idea that sharks are not 'primitive.'

Attitudes, practices surrounding end of life care in ICUs vary among Asian physicians Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:54 AM PST A majority of physicians surveyed throughout Asia reported almost always or often withholding life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life care for patients in hospital intensive care units when there is little chance of meaningful recovery, although attitudes and practice of end-of-life care varied widely across countries and regions on the continent, according to a report.

New research on what the nose 'knows' reveals an unexpected simplicity Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:54 AM PST Two types of neuronal processors found in the rat olfactory bulb solve the difficult problem of identifying constantly fluctuating environmental odors through linear summation. A team working for 5 years across two continents have made thist surprising discovery, explaining that it's an operation no less straightforward than the one a child uses to add or multiply numbers.

How thoughts, behavior affect mood Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:51 AM PST The mood swings of people with bipolar disorder are influenced by their thoughts, according to researchers. The study found that both thoughts and ascent behaviors predicted bipolar risk, characterized by a hypomanic personality style, while negative thoughts and descent behaviors were associated with depression.

Water, water, everywhere: Controlling the properties of nanomaterials Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Properties of water molecules on the surface of metal oxides can be used to better control these minerals and use them to make products such as more efficient semiconductors for organic light emitting diodes and solar cells, safer vehicle glass in fog and frost, and more environmentally friendly chemical sensors for industrial applications.

More clues to how drug reverses obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Researchers have identified how a promising drug in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders improves the metabolism of sugar by generating a new signal between fat cells and the liver.

Possible new target for treating brain inflammation found Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST An enzyme that produces a class of inflammatory lipid molecules in the brain has been identified by researchers. Abnormally high levels of these molecules appear to cause a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder, they report.

Web-based TAVR marketing found to overstate benefits, understate risks of procedure Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, has been called one of the biggest advances in cardiac surgery in recent years. The procedure delivers a new, collapsible aortic valve through a catheter to the valve site within the heart - a repair that otherwise requires open heart surgery. While a boon for many patients who would not have been a candidate for conventional surgery, researchers have discovered that marketing for TAVR does not accurately portray the risks associated with undergoing the procedure.

Solar cell polymers with multiplied electrical output Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Scientists paired up photovoltaic polymers that produce two units of electricity per unit of light instead of the usual one on a single molecular polymer chain. Having the two charges on the same molecule means the light-absorbing, energy-producing materials work efficiently when dissolved in liquids, which opens the way for a wide range of industrial scale manufacturing processes, including "printing" solar-energy-producing material like ink.

From the bottom up: Manipulating nanoribbons at the molecular level Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Researchers have developed a new precision approach for synthesizing graphene nanoribbons from pre-designed molecular building blocks. Using this process the researchers have built nanoribbons that have enhanced properties--such as position-dependent, tunable bandgaps--that are potentially very useful for next-generation electronic circuitry.

New strains of parasites identified: Research on whipworms has implications for human health and animal conservation Posted: 12 Jan 2015 10:39 AM PST Researchers have discovered that there are three genetically distinct groups of whipworms – and only one of the three appears to be transmissible between humans and non-human primates. It is important information for public health officers around the world.

Summer no sweat for Aussies but winter freeze fatal Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:08 AM PST Australians are more likely to die during unseasonably cold winters than hotter than average summers, research has found. The researchers analyzed temperature, humidity and mortality data from 1988 to 2009 for Adelaide Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to come up with their findings.

Epigenetic switchboard now better understood Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:08 AM PST Epigenetic signals help determine which genes are activated at which time in a given cell. A novel analytical method enables systematic characterization of the relevant epigenetic tags, and reveals that the system adapts to the loss of single epigenetic writer and eraser enzymes.

Vision system for household robots Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:07 AM PST For household robots ever to be practical, they'll need to be able to recognize the objects they're supposed to manipulate. But while object recognition is one of the most widely studied topics in artificial intelligence, even the best object detectors still fail much of the time. A new algorithm could enable household robots to better identify objects in cluttered environments.

Patients rarely learn of at-home provider quality data Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:07 AM PST Patients discharged from the hospital could access state or federal quality reports about home health agencies. A new study, however, finds that patients, their families, and their care managers rarely, if ever, see these reports when deciding which agency to retain.

Virtual reality brain training game can detect mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often predates Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:04 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated the potential of a virtual supermarket cognitive training game as a screening tool for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a sample of older adults. MCI is a condition that often predates Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterized by memory loss and inability to execute complex activities such as financial planning.

The mystery of the Alpine long-eared bat Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:04 AM PST Biologists have confirmed that another five vertebrates have a similar geographical distribution to that of the only high mountain bat species in Europe.

Curcumin's ability to fight Alzheimer's studied Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:04 AM PST One of the most promising new treatments for Alzheimer's disease may already be in your kitchen. Curcumin, a natural product found in the spice turmeric, has been used by many Asian cultures for centuries, and a new study indicates a close chemical analog of curcumin has properties that may make it useful as a treatment for the brain disease.

Mechanism leading to drug resistance, metastasis in melanoma patients discovered Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:04 AM PST A mechanism that leads to resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma patients has been discovered by researchers who are investigating strategies to counteract it. Targeted biological therapy can reduce toxicity and improve outcomes for many cancer patients, when compared to the adverse effects of standard chemotherapeutic drugs. However, patients often develop resistance to these targeted therapies, resulting in more aggressive cells that can spread to other sites or cause regrowth of primary tumors.

Disruptive children benefit from tailored classroom intervention Posted: 12 Jan 2015 08:03 AM PST Kindergartners and first graders with high maintenance temperaments showed less disruptive behavior and more active engagement and on-task behavior in the classroom, thanks to a program that helps teachers, parents, and students recognize and adapt to individual differences.

Overweight, obese kids achieved healthier weights after participating in Head Start Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:32 AM PST Preschoolers who entered Head Start overweight or obese had achieved a healthier weight status than children in a comparison groups by the time they entered kindergarten, according to new research. The comparison groups included children in a primary care health system, which included those receiving and not receiving Medicaid.

Social media could impact on quality of conference presentations Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:32 AM PST A new pilot study into the impact of Twitter on conferences suggests that social media may impact on quality of presentations as speakers receive real-time feedback.

Little or no benefit from nutrient additions to vitamin waters and energy drinks Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:32 AM PST The nutritional benefits of novel beverages (vitamin waters, energy drinks, and novel juices) sold in Canadian supermarkets have been assessed by scientists how reviewed their micronutrient compositions. Findings suggest little to no nutrient additions by drinking these beverages.

Graphene plasmons go ballistic Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:32 AM PST Graphene combined with the insulting power of boron nitride enables light control in tiny circuits with dramatically reduced energy loss.

Researchers dispute warning that drugs for high cholesterol could impair memory, cognitive functioning Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:31 AM PST Review of clinical trials show no link between statin use and changes in cognition, say researchers who question whether there is substance to the US Food and Drug Agency's recent warning that statins could affect the memory, attention span and other cognitive abilities of people who take this drug to control high cholesterol. This follows a systematic review of 25 clinical trials incorporating nearly 47,000 people.

Do viruses make us smarter? Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:31 AM PST Inherited viruses that are millions of years old play an important role in building up the complex networks that characterize the human brain, researchers say. They have found that retroviruses seem to play a central role in the basic functions of the brain, more specifically in the regulation of which genes are to be expressed, and when.

Robot cameras monitor deep sea ecosystems Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:31 AM PST Advanced photographic tools in an unmanned Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) have been used to make major advancements in estimating deep-sea ecosystem diversity at 'landscape' scales, researchers report. By using a camera on the Autosub6000 AUV to take a continuous stream of high resolution photographs of life on the sea floor, this new method revealed a tenfold increase in the precision of deep sea ecosystem diversity estimates relative to the use of scientific trawling.

Involuntary hospitalization of patients with anorexia nervosa in extreme situations can save their lives Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:30 AM PST Involuntary hospitalization of patients with anorexia nervosa in extreme situations can save their lives, experts report. Anorexia nervosa affects 0.5%-1% of women during their lifetimes, and about one tenth that number of men, putting the lives of patients with anorexia at risk in severe cases of the illness.

Using wearable technology, man leaves hospital without a human heart Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:30 AM PST Wearable technology allows 24-year-old with a total artificial heart to wait at home for a heart transplant. It's the latest milestone in efforts to replace the failing heart.

Beyond the bandages: Pediatric trauma nurses know about trauma-informed care Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:30 AM PST Pediatric nurses play a key role in preventing post-traumatic stress in injured children and their families by practicing "trauma-informed care". A new study surveyed pediatric trauma nurses, revealing that they are knowledgeable about practicing trauma-informed care, but need for additional training to help families cope after a child's injury.

They see flow signals: Researchers identify nature of 'sixth sense' in fish Posted: 12 Jan 2015 06:30 AM PST A team of scientists has identified how a "sixth sense" in fish allows them to detect flows of water, which helps resolve a long-standing mystery about how these aquatic creatures respond to their environment.

Children eligible for expanded Medicaid contribute more in taxes as adults Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST Children who received expanded Medicaid benefits in the 1980s and 1990s contributed more to the US tax system as adults, a new study has found. They also were more likely to attend college and less likely to die prematurely in adulthood.

Brain protein aids influenza recovery, scientists find Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST A brain protein that boosts the healing power of sleep and speeds an animal's recovery from the flu has been discovered by researchers who say that the discovery could lead to alternative treatments for influenza and other infectious diseases, possibly by using intranasal sprays to stimulate the production of the brain protein, called AcPb.

Towards a new wheat allergy treatment for children Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:29 AM PST Most of the children that received a new oral immunotherapy treatment were able to eat 100 grams of wheat bread without side effects, a new study shows. This result has overcome the risk of accidental ingestion by patients with this allergy. This research could be the basis for large clinical trials with more patients with the aim of assessing the therapeutic benefit of this new approach. Wheat is one of the most frequent childhood food allergies (about the 35% at the age of 12). A common treatment of this disease is avoiding eating wheat products, although this can mean a nutritional imbalance for children.

Global warming reduces wheat production markedly if no adaptation takes place Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:29 AM PST Future global wheat harvest is likely to be reduced by six per cent per each degree Celsius of local temperature increase if no adaptation takes place. Worldwide this would correspond to 42 million tons of yield reduction, which equals a quarter of current global wheat trade, experts warn.

The brain thinks, the spinal cord implements: Research team identifies important control mechanisms for walking Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:29 AM PST Even after complete spinal paralysis, the human spinal cord is able to trigger activity in the leg muscles using electrical pulses from an implanted stimulator. Now researchers have succeeded in identifying the mechanisms the spinal cord uses to control this muscle activity. These mechanisms still work even if the neural pathways from the brain are physically interrupted as the result of a spinal cord injury. This is the first time throughout the world that the spinal-cord activation patterns for walking have been decoded.

Fish peptide could help in battle against cardiovascular disease Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:29 AM PST A major international review of a peptide originally found in fish that could be used in the battle against cardiovascular disease has been released by scientists. "We have been working on this exciting peptide for a number of years; it exhibits a very interesting pharmacological profile. Design and evaluation of small molecule drugs has potential for use in the treatment of several cardiovascular diseases," said one investigator.

New therapeutic target for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia discovered Posted: 12 Jan 2015 05:29 AM PST New interactions between two molecules involved in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been found by scientists that may offer a new therapeutic target for cancer treatment. The scientists discovered that STAT3, a molecule which has the potential to cause cancer, associates with and regulates the levels of PRL-3, a gene which has been implicated in various types of cancers.

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