ScienceDaily: Top News

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• A wife's happiness is more crucial than her husband's in keeping marriage on track
• New math and quantum mechanics: Fluid mechanics suggests alternative to quantum orthodoxy
• Worldwide study demonstrates accuracy of genetic analyses
• Environmental costs, health risks, and benefits of fracking examined
• No innocent bystander: Cartilage contributes to arthritis
• Brain inflammation dramatically disrupts memory retrieval networks, study finds
• Experts call for massive global response to tackle Ebola
• Corn spots: Study finds important genes in defense response
• Protein appears to protect against bone loss in arthritis
• Dendritic cells affect onset, progress of psoriasis
• Gray matter matters when measuring risk tolerance: May explain why risk tolerance decreases with age
• Potential link between assisted reproduction, autism: No link found
• Nicotine withdrawal reduces response to rewards across species
• Clues to how giant elliptical galaxies move
• From worm muscle to spinal discs: An evolutionary surprise
• Piglet health: A better understanding of the immune response to intestinal parasites
• Anemia: One-minute point-of-care test shows promise in new study
• Combining gut hormone with insulin proves more effective at controlling type 2 diabetes than other common treatments
• Scientists fabricate single-photon sources in solid matter
• NASA's Mars Curiosity rover arrives at Martian mountain
• First map of Rosetta's comet
• Cutting the cord on soft robots: Machine walks through snow, flames and can be run over by cars
• Unraveling mysteries of the Venusian atmosphere
• Faster way found to create insulin-producing cells
• Alien life search: Spotting atmospheric chemistry of alien worlds devoid of life
• Volunteer 'eyes on the skies' track peregrine falcon recovery in California
• Microbes evolve faster than ocean can disperse them
• Tipping the balance of behavior: Neurons found that control social behavior may have implications for autism
• Fat gene and mitochondria: Surprising cellular connection sheds new light on energy control
• Commensal bacteria help orchestrate immune response in lung
• Inflammation may be key to diabetes-heart disease link
• Few mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease patients suffer from malnutrition, yet almost one third are at risk
• Meditation may mitigate migraine misery
• Elderly who have had serious falls may show symptoms of post-traumatic stress
• Liposome research meets nanotechnology to improve cancer treatment
• 15 years of carbon dioxide emissions on Earth mapped
• Primary care doctors reluctant to provide genetics assessment in routine care
• Yogic breathing shows promise in reducing symptoms of PTSD
• Simple method turns human skin cells into immune strengthening white blood cells
• Ceramics don't have to be brittle: Incredibly light, strong materials recover original shape after being smashed
• New genetic targets discovered in fight against muscle-wasting disease
• Molecular mechanisms of birth defects among older women: Why older women can have babies with Down Syndrome
• Malaria parasites sense and react to mosquito presence to increase transmission
• Diverse gut bacteria associated with favorable ratio of estrogen metabolites
• Unusual host preference of a moth species could be useful for biological control
• High protein diets lead to lower blood pressure, study finds
• How salt causes buildings to crumble
• Compound protects brain cells after traumatic brain injury
• In mice and men, a shared gene of diabetes

A wife's happiness is more crucial than her husband's in keeping marriage on track Posted: 12 Sep 2014 10:48 AM PDT When it comes to a happy marriage, a new study finds that the more content the wife is with the long-term union, the happier the husband is with his life no matter how he feels about the nuptials.

New math and quantum mechanics: Fluid mechanics suggests alternative to quantum orthodoxy Posted: 12 Sep 2014 09:06 AM PDT The central mystery of quantum mechanics is that small chunks of matter sometimes seem to behave like particles, sometimes like waves. For most of the past century, the prevailing explanation of this conundrum has been what's called the "Copenhagen interpretation" -- which holds that, in some sense, a single particle really is a wave, smeared out across the universe, that collapses into a determinate location only when observed. But some founders of quantum physics -- notably Louis de Broglie -- championed an alternative interpretation, known as "pilot-wave theory," which posits that quantum particles are borne along on some type of wave. According to pilot-wave theory, the particles have definite trajectories, but because of the pilot wave's influence, they still exhibit wavelike statistics. Now a professor of applied mathematics believes that pilot-wave theory deserves a second look.

Worldwide study demonstrates accuracy of genetic analyses Posted: 12 Sep 2014 09:06 AM PDT Physicians envision a future in which genomic data from patients is heavily used to manage care, but experts have questioned the accuracy and reliability of these analyses. Now, a study by 150 researchers in 12 countries finds real strength and agreement across RNA genomic sequencing techniques and laboratories -- as well as ways to improve what little variability exists to set a new high standard.

Environmental costs, health risks, and benefits of fracking examined Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT Rising supplies of natural gas could benefit the environment by replacing coal as a fuel for electricity, but hydraulic fracturing poses dangers for people living near the wells, a new analysis finds.

No innocent bystander: Cartilage contributes to arthritis Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT Cartilage plays an active role in the destruction and remodeling of joints seen in rheumatoid arthritis, rather than being an 'innocent bystander' as previously thought, researchers report.

Brain inflammation dramatically disrupts memory retrieval networks, study finds Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT Brain inflammation can rapidly disrupt our ability to retrieve complex memories of similar but distinct experiences, according to scientists. The study specifically identifies how immune system signaling molecules, called cytokines, impair communication among neurons in the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical for discrimination memory. The findings offer insight into why cognitive deficits occurs in people undergoing chemotherapy and those with autoimmune or neurodegenerative diseases.

Experts call for massive global response to tackle Ebola Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT The current Ebola outbreak now requires a 'rapid response at a massive global scale,' according to experts. The outbreak which began in December 2013 now spans five countries in West Africa and has so far killed nearly 2000 people, with the WHO predicting that 20,000 may become infected.

Corn spots: Study finds important genes in defense response Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT When corn plants come under attack from a pathogen, they sometimes respond by killing their own cells near the site of the attack, committing "cell suicide" to thwart further damage from the attacker. This cell sacrifice can cause very small, often microscopic, spots or lesions on the plant. Researchers have now scoured the corn genome to find candidate genes that control this important defense response.

Protein appears to protect against bone loss in arthritis Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:24 AM PDT A small protein named GILZ appears to protect against the bone loss that often accompanies arthritis and its treatment, researchers report. Arthritis as well as aging prompt the body to make more fat than bone, and the researchers have previously shown GILZ can restore a more youthful, healthy mix. It also tamps down inflammation, a major factor in arthritis, they say.

Dendritic cells affect onset, progress of psoriasis Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:24 AM PDT Different types of dendritic cells in human skin have assorted functions in the early and more advanced stages of psoriasis report researchers. The scientists suggest that new strategies to regulate the composition of dendritic cells in psoriatic skin lesions might represent an approach for the future treatment of the disease.

Gray matter matters when measuring risk tolerance: May explain why risk tolerance decreases with age Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:24 AM PDT The gray matter volume of a region in the right posterior parietal cortex is significantly predictive of individual risk attitudes, new research has found. Using a whole-brain analysis, scientists found that the grey matter volume of a region in the right posterior parietal cortex was significantly predictive of individual risk attitudes. Men and women with higher grey matter volume in this region exhibited less risk aversion.

Potential link between assisted reproduction, autism: No link found Posted: 12 Sep 2014 08:22 AM PDT Over the past five years, several studies have focused on infertility treatment, partly because of the coincidental rise in both the diagnosis of autism and the use of assisted reproduction. A recent study examined a potential link, and concluded that there is none.

Nicotine withdrawal reduces response to rewards across species Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:53 AM PDT While more than half of US smokers try to quit every year, less than 10 percent are able to remain smoke-free, and relapse commonly occurs within 48 hours of smoking cessation. In a first of its kind study on nicotine addiction, scientists measured a behavior that can be similarly quantified across species like humans and rats, the responses to rewards during nicotine withdrawal. Learning about withdrawal and difficulty of quitting can lead to more effective treatments to help smokers quit.

Clues to how giant elliptical galaxies move Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:53 AM PDT New clues to how giant elliptical galaxies move have been discovered by an international team of astronomers. Elliptical galaxies have long been considered as essentially being made up of old stars that move randomly within them, like a swarm of bees. This has been challenged in many instances in the past ten-twenty years, but giant elliptical galaxies are still considered as a nearly round and non-rotating group of old stars by astronomers.

From worm muscle to spinal discs: An evolutionary surprise Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:53 AM PDT Thoughts of the family tree may not be uppermost in the mind of a person suffering from a slipped disc, but those spinal discs provide a window into our evolutionary past. They are remnants of the first vertebrate skeleton, whose origins now appear to be older than had been assumed. Scientists have found that, unexpectedly, this skeleton most likely evolved from a muscle.

Piglet health: A better understanding of the immune response to intestinal parasites Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:53 AM PDT Parasitologists are closer to understanding the disease process behind porcine neonatal coccidiosis. The disease affects piglets during the first days of their life and can cause heavy diarrhea in the animals. The parasite Cystoisospora suis damages the intestinal mucosa to such a degree that it threatens the growth and survival of the pigs. The researchers have now analyzed the immune response to the infection.

Anemia: One-minute point-of-care test shows promise in new study Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:51 AM PDT A simple point-of-care testing device for anemia could provide more rapid diagnosis of the common blood disorder and allow inexpensive at-home self-monitoring of persons with chronic forms of the disease. About a third of the population is at risk for anemia, which can cause neurocognitive deficits in children, organ failure and less serious effects such as chronic fatigue. Women, children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions such as kidney disease are more likely to suffer from anemia.

Combining gut hormone with insulin proves more effective at controlling type 2 diabetes than other common treatments Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:09 PM PDT Combined treatment with a drug that mimics the action of a gut hormone and basal insulin is more effective at improving blood sugar control than other anti-diabetic treatments, with similar rates of hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels) and greater weight loss, a systematic review and meta-analysis shows.

Scientists fabricate single-photon sources in solid matter Posted: 11 Sep 2014 06:09 PM PDT A breakthrough in quantum information processing was achieved using state-of-the-art diamond growth technology. A research group has successfully fabricated for the first time in the world single-photon sources of SiV (silicon vacancy) centers – one of the color centers in diamond during the growth of thin film diamond, which have high purity and crystalline quality – by introducing them at extremely low concentrations.

NASA's Mars Curiosity rover arrives at Martian mountain Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:30 PM PDT NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has reached the Red Planet's Mount Sharp, a Mount-Rainier-size mountain at the center of the vast Gale Crater and the rover mission's long-term prime destination.

First map of Rosetta's comet Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:27 PM PDT Scientists have found that the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko -- the target of study for the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission -- can be divided into several regions, each characterized by different classes of features. High-resolution images of the comet reveal a unique, multifaceted world.

Cutting the cord on soft robots: Machine walks through snow, flames and can be run over by cars Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Engineers have developed the world's first untethered soft robot -- and demonstrated that the quadruped, which can literally stand up and walk away from its designers, can walk through snow, fire and even be run over by a car. The hope is that such robots might one day serve as a search and rescue tool following disasters.

Unraveling mysteries of the Venusian atmosphere Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Underscoring the vast differences between Earth and its neighbor Venus, new research shows a glimpse of giant holes in the electrically charged layer of the Venusian atmosphere, called the ionosphere. The observations point to a more complicated magnetic environment than previously thought -- which in turn helps us better understand this neighboring, rocky planet.

Faster way found to create insulin-producing cells Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT A study highlighting a protocol to convert stem cells into insulin-producing cells has been published by researchers. The new procedure could be an important step in the fight against type 1 diabetes. The protocol can turn stem cells into reliable, insulin-producing cells in about six weeks, far quicker than the four months it took using previous methods.

Alien life search: Spotting atmospheric chemistry of alien worlds devoid of life Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Astronomers searching the atmospheres of alien worlds for gases that might be produced by life can't rely on the detection of just one type, such as oxygen, ozone, or methane, because in some cases these gases can be produced non-biologically, according to extensive simulations. Researchers have carefully simulated the atmospheric chemistry of alien worlds devoid of life thousands of times over a period of more than four years, varying the atmospheric compositions and star types.

Volunteer 'eyes on the skies' track peregrine falcon recovery in California Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Datasets from long-running volunteer survey programs, calibrated with data from sporadic intensive monitoring efforts, have allowed ecologists to track the recovery of peregrine falcons in California and evaluate the effectiveness of a predictive model popular in the management of threatened species.

Microbes evolve faster than ocean can disperse them Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Scientists have created an advanced model aimed at exploring the role of neutral evolution in the biogeographic distribution of ocean microbes. Over the past sev­eral decades, ecol­o­gists have come to under­stand that both natural selec­tion and neu­tral evolution -- that vari­a­tion within and between species is caused by genetic drift and random mutations -- play a role in the bio­geo­graphic pat­terns of ocean microbes. New results flew in the face of the long held notion that microbes are infi­nitely mobile.

Tipping the balance of behavior: Neurons found that control social behavior may have implications for autism Posted: 11 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT Antagonistic neuron populations in the mouse amygdala that control whether the animal engages in social behaviors or asocial repetitive self-grooming have been recently discovered by researchers. Dubbed a 'seesaw circuit,' this discovery may have implications for understanding neural circuit dysfunctions that underlie autism in humans.

Fat gene and mitochondria: Surprising cellular connection sheds new light on energy control Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:32 PM PDT An unusual biochemical connection has been discovered by researchers, which has implications for diseases linked to mitochondria, which are the primary sources of energy production within our cells.

Commensal bacteria help orchestrate immune response in lung Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:32 PM PDT Signals from the bacteria that harmlessly -- and often beneficially -- inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract boost the immune system's ability to kill a major respiratory pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae, according to a study conducted on mice.

Inflammation may be key to diabetes-heart disease link Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:32 PM PDT Inflammation may be the reason high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels, researchers report. Anti-inflammatory medications might someday be used to reduce the risk of blood vessel disease in people with diabetes, they say.

Few mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease patients suffer from malnutrition, yet almost one third are at risk Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:31 PM PDT Many factors could lead to poor nutrition in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, including motor difficulties with swallowing and chewing (dysphagia), cutting, and bringing food to the mouth. PD-related constipation and depression can also dampen a patient's appetite and change dietary habits. A new report says that some of these patients are therefore at risk of malnutrition.

Meditation may mitigate migraine misery Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:31 PM PDT Meditation might be a path to migraine relief, according to a new study. "For the approximate 36 million Americans who suffer from migraines, there is big need for non-pharmaceutical treatment strategies, and doctors and patients should know that meditation is a safe intervention that could potentially decrease the impact of migraines," one author said.

Elderly who have had serious falls may show symptoms of post-traumatic stress Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:31 PM PDT Older adults who experience a serious fall may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the days following the event, finds a study. Women, people who were unemployed or who had less education were more likely to report post-traumatic stress symptoms, as were those with injuries to the back or chest.

Liposome research meets nanotechnology to improve cancer treatment Posted: 11 Sep 2014 01:31 PM PDT In treating cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are two of the best weapons in a doctor's arsenal. Reports have shown that ideally, both methods would be employed at the same time. But doing so produces levels of toxicity that often are deadly. To reduce the remote toxicity inherent to chemotherapy, the drugs can be administered into solid tumors by using liposomes, which are nanoscale vesicles made from fats and loaded with anti-cancer drugs, researchers report.

15 years of carbon dioxide emissions on Earth mapped Posted: 11 Sep 2014 12:18 PM PDT Scientists have developed a new approach to estimate carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels -- one that provides crucial information to policymakers. Called the 'Fossil Fuel Data Assimilation System,' this system was used to quantify 15 years of carbon dioxide emissions, every hour, for the entire planet -- down to the city scale. Until now, scientists have estimated greenhouse gas emissions at coarser scales or used less reliable techniques.

Primary care doctors reluctant to provide genetics assessment in routine care Posted: 11 Sep 2014 12:16 PM PDT Physicians report many barriers keep them from giving patients guidance on genetic risks, disease, according to new research. Medical genetics medicine has traditionally been used to identify and diagnose rare diseases, but in the last decade it has been increasingly helpful in determining patients at risk for genetically-based conditions who can benefit from preventive health care, says the study's senior author.

Yogic breathing shows promise in reducing symptoms of PTSD Posted: 11 Sep 2014 12:16 PM PDT New research offers hope for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers there have shown that a breathing-based meditation practice called Sudarshan Kriya Yoga can be an effective treatment for PTSD.

Simple method turns human skin cells into immune strengthening white blood cells Posted: 11 Sep 2014 11:27 AM PDT For the first time, scientists have turned human skin cells into transplantable white blood cells, soldiers of the immune system that fight infections and invaders. The work could let researchers create therapies that introduce into the body new white blood cells capable of attacking diseased or cancerous cells or augmenting immune responses against other disorders.

Ceramics don't have to be brittle: Incredibly light, strong materials recover original shape after being smashed Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Materials scientists have developed a method for creating new structural materials by taking advantage of the unusual properties that solids can have at the nanometer scale. They have used the method to produce a ceramic (e.g., a piece of chalk or a brick) that contains about 99.9 percent air yet is incredibly strong and can recover its original shape after being smashed by more than 50 percent.

New genetic targets discovered in fight against muscle-wasting disease Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Findings of a new study offer the possibility of developing new ways of tackling an incurable condition known as muscle-wasting disease. To date, only six genes have been linked to the illness. Despite rigorous screening, at least 50% of patients have no detectable mutation in the 6 known genes. Now a breakthrough study has discovered two more genes linked to the disease.

Molecular mechanisms of birth defects among older women: Why older women can have babies with Down Syndrome Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Researchers studying cell division in fruit flies have discovered a pathway that may improve understanding of molecular mistakes that cause older women to have babies with Down syndrome.

Malaria parasites sense and react to mosquito presence to increase transmission Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:54 AM PDT Many pathogens are transmitted by insect bites. The abundance of vectors (as the transmitting insects are called) depends on seasonal and other environmental fluctuations. A new article demonstrates that Plasmodium parasites react to mosquitoes biting their hosts, and that the parasite responses increase transmission to the mosquito vector.

Diverse gut bacteria associated with favorable ratio of estrogen metabolites Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:53 AM PDT Postmenopausal women with diverse gut bacteria exhibit a more favorable ratio of estrogen metabolites, which is associated with reduced risk for breast cancer, compared to women with less microbial variation, according to a new study.

Unusual host preference of a moth species could be useful for biological control Posted: 11 Sep 2014 10:00 AM PDT Biologists have discovered that Gynnodomorpha permixtana, a well-known moth species from Europe and Asia, has changed its host preferences in order to adjust to Iran's northern region environmental conditions. This adaptation may be useful for biological control of problematic weeds in rice fields.

High protein diets lead to lower blood pressure, study finds Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT Adults who consume a high-protein diet may be at a lower risk for developing high blood pressure, concludes a study that found participants consuming the highest amount of protein -- an average of 100 g protein/day -- had a 40 percent lower risk of having high blood pressure compared to the lowest intake level.

How salt causes buildings to crumble Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT Salt crystals are often responsible when buildings start to show signs of aging. Researchers have studied salt damage in greater depth and can now predict weathering processes more accurately.

Compound protects brain cells after traumatic brain injury Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT A new class of compounds, given orally, protects brain cells from the damage caused by blast-induced traumatic brain injury and preserves normal brain functions, even when the compound is given 24 to 36 hours after the injury occurs. The researchers hope that this family of compounds might be developed into a new class of neuroprotective drugs for TBI and other currently untreatable forms of neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

In mice and men, a shared gene of diabetes Posted: 11 Sep 2014 09:59 AM PDT By using novel analysis tools, researchers were able to identify a gene involved in the development of type 2 diabetes in mice. Subsequently, further work revealed that this gene is also involved in human diabetes.

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