ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Solar-cell efficiency improved with new polymer devices
• Climate Change: Dwindling wind may tip predator-prey balance
• Using genetic screening to improve Korean white wheat
• Genetically driven gut feelings help female flies choose a mate
• A refined approach to proteins at low resolution
• Hadrosaur with huge nose discovered: Function of dinosaur's unusual trait a mystery
• Environmental pollutants make worms susceptible to cold
• The effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on acute hormonal reponses to resistance exercise in men
• Seeding plant diversity for future generations
• Spy on penguin families for science
• Climate change report identifies 'the most vulnerable' sections of the population
• Mitochondria's role in neurodegenerative diseases clearer thanks to mouse study
• Mycotoxin present in many types of food deteriorates neuroregeneration
• Using underwater robots for a better understanding of the underwater world
• Lymphatic fluid used for first time to detect bovine paratuberculosis
• For legume plants, a new route from shoot to root
• New biomedical implants heal bones faster, focus on personalized medicine
• Unique waste cleanup for rural areas developed
• Tree rings used to determine history of geological features, arroyos
• Quorum-sensing signals control when bacteria turn deadly
• Microplastic pollution discovered in St. Lawrence River sediments
• Sensing neuronal activity with light: New way of mapping neural networks in a living organism
• Research milestone in CCHF virus could help identify new treatments
• Curcumin, special peptides boost cancer-blocking PIAS3 to neutralize cancer-activating STAT3 in mesothelioma
• New insights on an ancient plague could improve treatments for infections
• Monitoring Ebola in wild great apes -- using poop
• Fall foliage season may be later, but longer on warmer earth
• Researchers discover how circular RNA is created, find link to degenerative disease
• Nile River monitoring influences northeast Africa's future
• Want to link genes to complex traits? Start with more diversity
• Peacock's train is not such a drag afterall: Flight unchanged with and without plumage

Solar-cell efficiency improved with new polymer devices Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT New light has been shed on solar power generation using devices made with polymers. Researchers identified a new polymer -- a type of large molecule that forms plastics and other familiar materials -- which improved the efficiency of solar cells. The group also determined the method by which the polymer improved the cells' efficiency. The polymer allowed electrical charges to move more easily throughout the cell, boosting the production of electricity -- a mechanism never before demonstrated in such devices.

Climate Change: Dwindling wind may tip predator-prey balance Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:28 AM PDT Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns may get the lion's share of our climate change attention, but predators may want to give some thought to wind, according to a zoologist's study, which is among the first to demonstrate the way "global stilling" may alter predator-prey relationships.

Using genetic screening to improve Korean white wheat Posted: 19 Sep 2014 11:07 AM PDT Korean white winter wheat is particularly susceptible to preharvest sprouting, according to researchers. Researchers have identified proteins that are differentially expressed in tolerant cultivars, with the goal of breeding more resistant varieties that can help increase wheat production in Korea.

Genetically driven gut feelings help female flies choose a mate Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:49 AM PDT Even among flies, mating is a complicated ritual. Their elaborate, and entirely innate, courtship dance combines multiple motor skills with advanced sensory cues. Now, researchers have determined that the Abdominal-B (Abd-B) gene, previously known as the gene that sculpts the posterior parts of the developing fly, is also important for this complex behavior, at least in the case of female flies.

A refined approach to proteins at low resolution Posted: 19 Sep 2014 09:22 AM PDT Crystals of membrane proteins and protein complexes often diffract to low resolution owing to their intrinsic molecular flexibility, heterogeneity or the mosaic spread of micro-domains. At low resolution, the building and refinement of atomic models is a more challenging task. The deformable elastic network refinement method developed previously has been instrumental in the determination of several structures at low resolution. Now, DEN refinement has been reviewed.

Hadrosaur with huge nose discovered: Function of dinosaur's unusual trait a mystery Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT Call it the Jimmy Durante of dinosaurs -- a newly discovered hadrosaur with a truly distinctive nasal profile. The new dinosaur, named Rhinorex condrupus by paleontologists, lived in what is now Utah approximately 75 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.

Environmental pollutants make worms susceptible to cold Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:06 AM PDT Some pollutants are more harmful in a cold climate than in a hot, because they affect the temperature sensitivity of certain organisms. Now researchers have demonstrated how this happens, and it can help us better predict contamination risks, especially in the Arctic.

The effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on acute hormonal reponses to resistance exercise in men Posted: 19 Sep 2014 08:05 AM PDT With protein supplement use by athletes on the rise, a group of researchers expanded upon prior research examining the effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and cortisol responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise.

Seeding plant diversity for future generations Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:34 AM PDT Researchers have constructed a 'hit list' of the plant species most needed to boost the overall diversity of the Millennium Seed Bank, which is storing seeds in its vaults for future generations.

Spy on penguin families for science Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:25 AM PDT Online volunteers are being asked to classify images of penguin families to help scientists monitor the health of penguin colonies in Antarctica. Recent evidence suggests that populations of many species of penguin, such as chinstrap and Adélie, are declining fast as shrinking sea ice threatens the krill they feed on. By tagging the adults, chicks, and eggs in remote camera images Penguin Watch volunteers will help scientists to gather information about penguin behavior and breeding success, as well as teaching a computer how to count and identify individuals of different species.

Climate change report identifies 'the most vulnerable' sections of the population Posted: 19 Sep 2014 07:18 AM PDT A report has looked at which sections of the population are left most exposed to food shortages after extreme weather events. Extreme weather events leave populations with not enough food both in the short- and the long-term.

Mitochondria's role in neurodegenerative diseases clearer thanks to mouse study Posted: 19 Sep 2014 06:27 AM PDT A new study sheds light on a longstanding question about the role of mitochondria in debilitating and fatal motor neuron diseases and resulted in a new mouse model to study such illnesses. Mitochondria are organelles -- compartments contained inside cells -- that serve several functions, including making ATP, a nucleotide that cells convert into chemical energy to stay alive. For this reason mitochondria often are called "cellular power plants."

Mycotoxin present in many types of food deteriorates neuroregeneration Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:39 AM PDT The effect of Ochratoxin A on the subventricular zone of the brain, which in the adult mammalian brain is where neurogenesis primarily occurs, has been the focus of recent research.

Using underwater robots for a better understanding of the underwater world Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT It is where we all came from and it is vital to our future, but Earth's oceans, seas and waterways remain a mystery to us – a final frontier. A new project is at the forefront of a revolution in communications, creating an underwater 'internet of things', that will mobilize robots to work in groups, interacting together and passing back information to us on life underwater.

Lymphatic fluid used for first time to detect bovine paratuberculosis Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Paratuberculosis, also known as Johne's disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Paratuberculosis mainly affects ruminants and causes treatment-resistant diarrhea and wasting among affected animals. The disease can cause considerable economic losses for commercial farms. The animals produce less milk, exhibit fertility problems and are more susceptible to other conditions such as udder inflammation.

For legume plants, a new route from shoot to root Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:38 AM PDT Legume plants regulate their symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria by using cytokinins—signaling molecules that are transmitted through the plant structure from leaves into the roots to control the number of bacteria-holding nodules in the roots. Legumes, an important plant family which includes lentils, soybeans, and peanuts, have the ability to prosper in nitrogen-poor soil environments thanks to an ingenious adaptation: they develop a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the bacteria to infect them within special structures known as nodules that are located along their roots.

New biomedical implants heal bones faster, focus on personalized medicine Posted: 18 Sep 2014 06:34 PM PDT A major success in developing new biomedical implants with the ability to accelerate bone healing has been reported by a group of scientists, which suggests a move toward a future of personalized products. "It is very much like your taste in music and TV shows. People are different and the new trend in biotechnology is to make personalized medicine that matches the patient's needs," he says. "With regard to implants, we have the problem of variations in bone density in patients with osteoporosis and in some cases, even healthy individuals."

Unique waste cleanup for rural areas developed Posted: 18 Sep 2014 06:01 PM PDT A unique method has been developed to use microbes buried in pond sediment to power waste cleanup in rural areas. The first microbe-powered, self-sustaining wastewater treatment system could lead to an inexpensive and quick way to clean up waste from large farming operations and rural sewage treatment plants while reducing pollution.

Tree rings used to determine history of geological features, arroyos Posted: 18 Sep 2014 06:00 PM PDT A new study uses tree rings to document arroyo evolution along the lower Rio Puerco and Chaco Wash in northern New Mexico, USA. By determining burial dates in tree rings from salt cedar and willow, investigators were able to precisely date arroyo sedimentary beds 30 cm thick or greater. They then combined this data with aerial imagery, LiDAR, longitudinal profiles, and repeat surveys to reconstruct the history of these arroyos. Arroyos are deep, oversized channels that have vertical or steeply cut walls made up of silt, clay, or sand.

Quorum-sensing signals control when bacteria turn deadly Posted: 18 Sep 2014 05:59 PM PDT No matter how many times it's demonstrated, it's still hard to envision bacteria as social, communicating creatures. But by using a signaling system called "quorum sensing," these single-celled organisms radically alter their behavior to suit their population. Chemists now report that they have been making artificial compounds that mimic the natural quorum-sensing signals.

Microplastic pollution discovered in St. Lawrence River sediments Posted: 18 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT Microplastics have been discovered widely distributed across the bottom of the St. Lawrence River, the first time such pollutants have been found in freshwater sediments. The microbeads likely originate from cosmetics, household cleansers, or industrial cleansers, to which they are commonly added as abrasives. Owing to their small size and buoyancy, they may readily pass through sewage treatment plants. Microplastics are a global contaminant in the world's oceans, but have only recently been detected in the surface waters of lakes and rivers.

Sensing neuronal activity with light: New way of mapping neural networks in a living organism Posted: 18 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT For years, neuroscientists have been trying to develop tools that would allow them to clearly view the brain's circuitry in action -- from the first moment a neuron fires to the resulting behavior in an organism. To get this complete picture, neuroscientists are working to develop a range of new tools to study the brain. Researchers have now developed one such tool that provides a new way of mapping neural networks in a living organism.

Research milestone in CCHF virus could help identify new treatments Posted: 18 Sep 2014 01:22 PM PDT New research into the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a tick-borne virus which causes a severe hemorrhagic disease in humans similar to that caused by Ebolavirus, has identified new cellular factors essential for CCHFV infection. This discovery has the potential to lead to novel targets for therapeutic interventions against the pathogen.

Curcumin, special peptides boost cancer-blocking PIAS3 to neutralize cancer-activating STAT3 in mesothelioma Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT A common Asian spice and cancer-hampering molecules show promise in slowing mesothelioma, cancer of the lung lining linked to asbestos. Scientists demonstrate curcumin and cancer-inhibiting peptides increase a protein inhibitor that slows mesothelioma.

New insights on an ancient plague could improve treatments for infections Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT Dangerous new pathogens such as the Ebola virus invoke scary scenarios of deadly epidemics, but even ancient scourges such as the bubonic plague are still providing researchers with new insights on how the body responds to infections.

Monitoring Ebola in wild great apes -- using poop Posted: 18 Sep 2014 12:08 PM PDT A group of international scientists has developed a new method to study Ebola virus in wildlife. The new methodology exploits the fact that, like humans, apes surviving viral infections develop antibodies against them. Typically, those antibodies are measured in the blood. The scientists, however, developed a laboratory technique that can isolate antibodies from ape feces.

Fall foliage season may be later, but longer on warmer earth Posted: 18 Sep 2014 10:48 AM PDT The fall foliage season in some areas of the United States could come much later and possibly last a little longer by the end of the century as climate change causes summer temperatures to linger later into the year, according researchers. The delay could result in a longer growing season that would affect carbon uptake, agriculture, water supplies and animal behavior, among many other areas.

Researchers discover how circular RNA is created, find link to degenerative disease Posted: 18 Sep 2014 10:09 AM PDT Our genetic information is stored in DNA, tiny strands of nucleic acid that contain instructions for the functioning of our bodies. To express this genetic data, our DNA is copied into RNA molecules, which then translate the instructions into proteins that perform tasks in our cells. In addition to known RNAs, circRNA molecules are abundant, yet little has been known about how they are produced, and next to nothing has been known about the role they play in disease. Now, researchers have discovered how circRNAs are produced.

Nile River monitoring influences northeast Africa's future Posted: 18 Sep 2014 07:16 AM PDT Research that monitors the volume of water in the Nile River Basin will help to level the playing field for more than 200 million northeast Africans who rely on the river's water supply. "Water levels can be affected by both human-made and natural causes, and our research separates the effects of rain downpours, drought and environmental degradation, so that we can learn about the effects of human uses," one author noted.

Want to link genes to complex traits? Start with more diversity Posted: 18 Sep 2014 07:16 AM PDT Life is rarely simple. From crop yields to disease risks, the biological characteristics people care most about are considered 'complex traits,' making it hard to identify the genes involved. Standard methods for tracking down such genes usually only implicate a broad genomic region, and the identities of the crucial gene/s remain a mystery. Now, geneticists are embracing a powerful approach that pinpoints more precise areas of the genome.

Peacock's train is not such a drag afterall: Flight unchanged with and without plumage Posted: 17 Sep 2014 02:32 PM PDT The magnificent plumage of the peacock may not be quite the sacrifice to love that it appears to be, researchers have discovered. "These feathers weigh about 300g and can exceed 1.5m, so it's expected that the male birds would be making a significant sacrifice in their flight performance for being attractive," one researcher said. However, experiments showed that in fact, the plumage made no difference to take-off and flight of the birds.

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