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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


Having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, women more than men

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 04:36 PM PDT

New research shows that having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, but for women more than men.

Oldest existing lizard-like fossil hints at scaly origins

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 04:36 PM PDT

The fossilized remains of a reptile closely related to lizards are the oldest yet to be discovered. Two new fossil jaws discovered in Vellberg, Germany provide the first direct evidence that the ancestors of lizards, snakes and tuatara (known collectively as lepidosaurs), were alive during the Middle Triassic period -- around 240 million years ago.

Fat and obesity gene also affects hip fracture

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:44 PM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated a strong association between the FTO (fat and obesity) gene and hip fracture in women. While the gene is already well known to affect diabetes and obesity, this is the first study to show that its high-risk variant can increase the risk of hip fracture by as much as 82 percent.

Genetic study pushes back timeline for first significant human population expansion

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:43 PM PDT

Using new genetic tools, the authors conclude that the first significant expansion of human populations appears to be much older than the emergence of farming and herding, dating back to the Paleolithic (60,000-80,000 years ago) rather than Neolithic age (10,000 years ago). They also suggest that strong Paleolithic expansions may have favored the emergence of sedentary farming in some populations during the Neolithic.

Acupuncture or counselling plus usual care may improve depression symptoms

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:43 PM PDT

Acupuncture or counselling plus usual care 'may improve' depression symptoms.

Neurological basis for lack of empathy in psychopaths

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:43 PM PDT

When individuals with psychopathy imagine others in pain, brain areas necessary for feeling empathy and concern for others fail to become active and be connected to other important regions involved in affective processing and decision-making, reports a new study.

Vaccine against pneumococcal infections has led to widespread reduction in serious disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:43 PM PDT

Vaccination with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-7 [PCV7 -- a vaccine that covers 7 strains (serotypes) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is linked to overall decreases in the rate of serious infections caused by this bacterium, such as pneumonia and meningitis, referred to as invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but small increases in IPD caused by serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae not covered by the vaccine, according to a new study.

New adsorbent is more effective and environmentally friendly for treating wastewater

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:41 PM PDT

A new adsorbent for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater that is more effective, reusable and eco-friendly, has been developed.

How stress can rewire brain making benign smells malodorous

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 02:41 PM PDT

In evolutionary terms, smell is among the oldest of the senses. New research shows how anxiety or stress can rewire the brain, linking centers of emotion and olfactory processing, to make typically benign smells malodorous.

MicroRNA-31 might predict lung-cancer spread

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 01:08 PM PDT

A new study suggests that measuring levels of miR-31 in tumor tissue might accurately determine whether the most common form of lung cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The findings could lead to improvements in the ability of doctors to stage and treat certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Late Cretaceous Period was likely ice-free

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 12:39 PM PDT

For years, scientists have thought that a continental ice sheet formed during the Late Cretaceous Period more than 90 million years ago when the climate was much warmer than it is today. Now, researchers have found evidence suggesting that no ice sheet formed at this time. This finding could help environmentalists and scientists predict what Earth's climate will be as carbon dioxide levels continue to rise.

Dangers and potential of nanomaterials examined

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 12:36 PM PDT

After a decade of rapidly growing industrial use, unimaginably tiny particles surround us everywhere, every day, in everything we do. Used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, clothing, paints, food, drug delivery systems and many other familiar products we all use daily, little is known about the effects these materials have on health. Scientists are now finding inhalation of engineered nanomaterials negatively impacts gestational development in animal models.

Living better with heart failure by changing what you eat

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 12:36 PM PDT

Just 21 days of following a low-sodium DASH diet lowered blood pressure and improved heart function for older adults living with a common type of heart failure.

Astronomers discover densest galaxy ever

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:17 AM PDT

Imagine the distance between the sun and the star nearest to it -- a star called Alpha Centauri. That's a distance of about four light years. Now, imagine as many as 10,000 of our suns crammed into that relatively small space. That is about the density of a galaxy that was recently discovered by an international team of astronomers led by a Michigan State University faculty member.

Emissions and costs of power plant cycling necessary for increased wind and solar calculated

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:16 AM PDT

New research quantifies the potential impacts of increasing wind and solar power generation on the operators of fossil-fueled power plants in the West. To accommodate higher amounts of wind and solar power on the electric grid, utilities must ramp down and ramp up or stop and start conventional generators more frequently to provide reliable power for their customers -- a practice called cycling.

Older is wiser, at least economically

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:10 AM PDT

The brains of older people are slowing but experience more than makes up for the decline. Researchers came up with this conclusion after asking the participants a series of financially related questions.

Uphill for the trees of the world

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:10 AM PDT

You'll need to get out your mountain boots to go for a walk in the woods in the future. A new study shows that forests are to an increasing extent growing on steep slopes all over the world.

Vitamin D alone does little to protect bone health in postmenopausal women

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 10:51 AM PDT

While calcium supplements noticeably improved bone health in postmenopausal women, vitamin D supplements did not reduce bone turnover, according to a recent study.

Professional French horn players in danger of developing noise-induced hearing loss

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:28 AM PDT

A new study has found further evidence that French horn players are one of the most at-risk groups of developing noise-induced hearing loss among professional orchestral musicians.

New steering tech for heavy equipment saves fuel, ups efficiency

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:28 AM PDT

Researchers have shown how to reduce fuel consumption while improving the efficiency of hydraulic steering systems in heavy construction equipment.

Disease-specific human embryonic stem cell lines placed on NIH registry

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:28 AM PDT

Scientists have announced that 16 human embryonic stem cell lines have been approved by the National Institutes of Health, making them freely available for federally-funded research in the USA. The stem cell lines, which carry genes for a variety of hereditary disorders, are considered to be ideal research tools for designing models to understand disease progression, and ultimately in helping scientists develop new treatments for patients.

Chemists slide a splitting catalyst over DNA for first time

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:26 AM PDT

Chemists have developed a catalyst that binds to DNA, slides over it, and splits the molecule in particular places. The researchers were able to do this by synthetically modifying a natural catalyst. This finding is a first in the field of chemistry and will help in the selective modification of polymers such as DNA.

Possible way to turn fungus from foe to friend

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:24 AM PDT

Candida albicans is a double agent: In most of us, it lives peacefully, but for people whose immune systems are compromised by HIV or other severe illnesses, it is frequently deadly. Now a new study shows how targeting a specific fungal component might turn the fungus from a lion back into a kitten.

Time to rethink misguided policies that promote biofuels to protect climate, experts say

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 09:24 AM PDT

Policymakers need to rethink the idea of promoting biofuels to protect the climate because the methods used to justify such policies are inherently flawed, according to a University of Michigan energy researcher.

New research shows how heart cells communicate to regulate heart activity

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:34 AM PDT

New research is leading to a better understanding of what happens during heart failure, knowledge that could lead to better therapeutics or a more accurate predictor of risk. The research found the heart is regulated not only by nervous systems but also by heart cells sending messages to each other through the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Rare mutations increase risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:34 AM PDT

Researchers have identified and validated two rare gene mutations that appear to cause the common form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that strikes after the age of 60. The two mutations occur in a gene called ADAM10, which now becomes the second pathologically-confirmed gene for late-onset AD and the fifth AD gene overall.

Adjusting bacteria in intestines may lead to obesity treatments

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:34 AM PDT

A drug that appears to target specific intestinal bacteria in the guts of mice may create a chain reaction that could eventually lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes in humans, according to a team of researchers.

Cheats of the bird world: Cuckoo finches fool host parents

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:34 AM PDT

Cuckoo finches that lay more than one egg in their victims' nests have a better chance of bamboozling host parents into fostering their parasitic young, a study has found.

Fusion, anyone? Not quite yet, but scientists show just how close we've come

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:31 AM PDT

The dream of igniting a self-sustained fusion reaction with high yields of energy, a feat likened to creating a miniature star on Earth, is getting closer to becoming reality, according to a new review of recent research.

Develop after-sex contraceptive pill for routine use, urge researchers: Political opposition biggest hurdle

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT

A contraceptive pill that could be routinely used after, rather than before, sex and fertilization is probably scientifically feasible and would probably be welcomed by many women, say researchers.

Researchers successfully test model for implant device reactions

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:35 AM PDT

A team of researchers has used mathematical modeling to develop a computer simulation they hope will one day improve the treatment of dangerous reactions to medical implants such as stents, catheters and artificial joints. Results from their computational model of foreign-body reactions to implants were consistent with biological models in lab tests.

Reliable method detects suicidal propensity

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:32 AM PDT

A simple measurement of the sweat gland activity of a depressed person can determine if he or she is suicidal -- with 97 percent accuracy. Now another large clinical study confirms the correlation.

No age-related differences in post-concussion symptoms

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:32 AM PDT

Do young athletes fare worse after sustaining a sports-related concussion than older athletes? To find out, researchers compared symptoms associated with concussion in middle/high school-age athletes with those in college-age athletes to determine whether age-related differences exist. These researchers found no significant differences between the two age groups in the number or severity of sports-related concussion symptoms or in the amount of time it took for athletes' concussion symptoms to return to baseline values.

Northern moths may fare better under climate warming than expected

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:32 AM PDT

Moths in northern Finland are less susceptible to rising temperatures than expected, suggesting high latitude moth populations around the world may be partly buffered from the effects of rapid climate warming, according to a new Dartmouth-Finnish study based on the most extensive analyses yet conducted of seasonal patterns in forest animals.

iPhones for the eyes: Smart phone photography to help diagnose eye disease

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT

Researchers describe the relatively simple technique of fundus photography in eyes using a smartphone, an inexpensive app for the smartphone, and instruments that are readily available in an ophthalmic practice.

HPV linked to growing number of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT

The human papillomavirus (HPV) may be to blame for the alarming increase of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer, according to researchers.

Warning of potential side effects of a product can increase its sales

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:18 AM PDT

Drug ads often warn of serious side effects, from nausea and bleeding to blindness, even death. New research suggests that, rather than scaring consumers away, these warnings can improve consumers' opinions and increase product sales when there is a delay between seeing the ad and deciding to buy or consume the product.

Playing with blocks may help children's spatial, math thinking

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:18 AM PDT

Playing with blocks may help preschoolers develop the kinds of skills that support later learning in science, technology, engineering, and math, according to a new study that examined over a hundred three-year-olds of various socioeconomic levels. Researchers emphasized the importance of the study's implications because block building and puzzle play can improve children's spatial skills that in turn support complex mathematical problem solving in middle and high school.

Responsive interactions key to toddlers' ability to learn language

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:18 AM PDT

Responsive interactions are the key to toddlers' ability to learn language, according to a new study. Researchers studied 36 two-year-olds, who learned new verbs either through training with a live person, live video chat technology such as Skype, or prerecorded video instruction. Children learned new words only when conversing with a person live and in the video chat, both of which involve responsive social interactions, thus highlighting the importance of responsive interactions for language learning.

Cross-ethnic friendships in schools make youths feel less vulnerable, safer

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:18 AM PDT

A new study found that cross-ethnic friendships in urban middle schools help make youths feel safer and less vulnerable. Researchers examined 536 Latino and 396 African American sixth graders from 66 classrooms in 10 urban American middle schools. The research suggests that these friendships increased feelings of safety and decreased those of vulnerability because no one ethnic group is numerically more powerful than any other group.

New theory for analysing interacting nuclear spins in solvents

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:15 AM PDT

Hardly a spectroscopic method boasts so many different applications as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, better known as "NMR." The approach of NMR spectroscopy is based on monitoring the so-called nuclear spin, namely the angular momentum of atoms, or, more precisely: the magnetic moment associated with them. The atom thus becomes a bar magnet, whose axis is aligned within a magnetic field but is otherwise arbitrarily oriented within its environment.

Europe-wide studies published on cormorant-fishery conflicts

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:15 AM PDT

Findings from a major Europe-wide study into cormorant-fishery conflicts are published this week, providing one of the most detailed ecological and socio-economic investigations of these fish-eating birds, their impacts and implications for their management.

New device to revolutionize gaming in virtual realities

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:15 AM PDT

How is it possible to walk through 3-D virtual realities while staying in one place? Engineers have solved this problem and are now introducing their "Virtualizer".

New methods increases food and bioenergy production from cassava

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

New ways to utilize starch from cassava can provide food to an additional 30 million people without taking more arable land than today. By 2030, the figure will be 100 million. In addition, the same land can also contribute to an increased production of bioenergy.

Caffeine consumption slows down brain development, rat study shows

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

Humans and other mammals show particularly intensive sleeping patterns during puberty. The brain also matures fastest in this period. But when pubescent rats are administered caffeine, the maturing processes in their brains are delayed, a new study shows.

Scientists confirm functionality of emergency ventilation system for horses

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

Respiratory or cardiovascular arrest in outdoor animals poses a huge challenge to veterinarians. Ventilation equipment is generally hard to operate and requires electricity and compressed air. Vetrinary anaesthesiologists have now developed an inexpensive device for the ventilation of large animals. It is easy to transport and can save animal lives in emergencies.

Scientists develop artificial surfaces insects cannot stick to

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

Beetles, cockroaches, and ants will have a harder time walking up the sides of buildings or air conditioners in the future -- thanks to the bio-inspired, anti-adhesive surfaces. The team studied plant surfaces in order to determine what influence cell form and microstructure as well as surface chemistry exert on the adhesion behavior of insects.

The dragon awakens: Colossal explosion from supermassive black hole at centre of galaxy revealed

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

Two million years ago, a supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy erupted in an explosion so immensely powerful that it lit up a cloud 200,000 light years away, astronomers have revealed.

Counting on neodymium: Promising candidate for information processing with magnetic molecules

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:13 AM PDT

Magnetic molecules are regarded as promising functional units for the future of information processing. Scientists have now produce particularly robust magnetic molecules that enable a direct electrical readout of magnetic information. This was made possible by selecting the rare earth metal neodymium as the central building block of the molecule.

Sports medicine specialists make pitch to prevent overuse injuries in young athletes

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:05 AM PDT

Numerous studies indicate that approximately half of the sports-related injuries among children and adolescents in this country are caused by overuse. And overuse injuries are preventable.

Voyager 1 magnetic data surprise intrigues researchers

Posted: 24 Sep 2013 06:05 AM PDT

Scientists are exploring surprising data from Voyager 1's crossing of the heliopause into the interstellar medium of our galaxy.

Drug found to eradicate HIV permanently from infected cells

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:01 PM PDT

The anti-fungal drug Ciclopirox causes HIV-infected cells to commit suicide by jamming up the cells' powerhouse, the mitochondria, according to a new study. And unlike current anti-HIV drugs, Ciclopirox completely eradicates infectious HIV from cell cultures, with no rebound of virus when the drug is stopped.

Brain may rely on computer-like mechanism to make sense of novel situations

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:59 PM PDT

Our brains give us the remarkable ability to make sense of situations we've never encountered before -- a familiar person in an unfamiliar place, for example, or a coworker in a different job role -- but the mechanism our brains use to accomplish this has been a longstanding mystery of neuroscience. Now, researchers have demonstrated that our brains could process these new situations by relying on a method similar to the "pointer" system used by computers. "Pointers" are used to tell a computer where to look for information stored elsewhere in the system to replace a variable.

New password in a heartbeat

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:59 PM PDT

Researchers propose a system to prevent cyberattacks on pacemakers, defibrillators and other devices that use wireless communications.

Managed care reduces hospitalizations in nursing home residents with advanced dementia

Posted: 23 Sep 2013 02:57 PM PDT

Nursing home residents with advanced dementia commonly experience burdensome, costly interventions that do not improve their quality of life or extend their survival. Now a new study suggests that providing intensive primary care services may result in less burdensome and less costly care for these terminally ill residents.

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