ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Zinc: The Goldilocks metal for bioabsorbable stents?
• Behavior of seabirds during migration revealed
• Neon exposes hidden ALS cells
• How petals get their shape: Hidden map located within plant's growing buds
• Cheating favors extinction, yeast study finds: Feedback between population and evolutionary dynamics
• Researchers tackle collapsing bridges with new technology
• New simulation speed record on Sequoia Supercomputer
• Scientists find mutation driving pediatric brain tumors
• The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age
• Risk of depression influenced by quality of relationships
• Weekend binge drinking could leave lasting liver damage
• Discovery helps explain how children develop rare, fatal disease
• Synthetic biology research community grows significantly
• Economics influence fertility rates more than other factors
• T cells rely on 'rheostat' to help ensure that the immune response matches the threat
• Electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce viral food poisoning
• Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models
• Encountering connections may make life feel more meaningful
• Colossal hot cloud envelopes colliding galaxies
• Good days, bad days: When should you make sacrifices in a relationship?
• A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away
• How some cancers 'poison the soil' to block metastasis
• In the Northeast, forests with entirely native flora are not the norm
• New research helps to show how turbulence can occur without inertia
• Nerve transfer can help repair brachial plexus injuries, help restore elbow functions
• No more reflux: New surgery in fight against reflux for patients whose medication no longer works
• ‘Catastrophic’ malpractice payouts add little to health care’s rising costs
• Cell response to new coronavirus unveils possible paths to treatments
• Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels, study suggests
• Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology
• Environmental labels may discourage conservatives from buying energy-efficient products
• New zooming technique for entering text into smartwatches
• Synthetic derivatives of THC may weaken HIV-1 infection to enhance antiviral therapies
• Saturn's youthful appearance explained
• The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica
• Canada's distinctive tuya volcanoes reveal glacial, palaeo-climate secrets
• Mild iodine deficiency in womb associated with lower scores on children's literacy tests
• Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys
• Gastric bypass surgery alters hormones to relieve diabetes symptoms
• Graphene's high-speed seesaw
• How to manage motorway tolls through the Game Theory
• Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients
• Musical memory deficits start in auditory cortex
• Exploring the saltiness of the ocean to study climate change
• First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years
• How tetraplegic subject utilizes brain-machine interfaces to manipulate prosthetic arm, and regain and restore significant limb functionality
• Estrogen fuels autoimmune liver damage
• Women who drink before pregnancy less likely to take multivitamins
• Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury
• Does antimatter fall up or down? First direct evidence of how atoms of antimatter interact with gravity
• What triggers those late-night snack cravings?
• Competing for milk can be a stressful thing for hyena twin siblings
• Pathogen fighting 'innate' cells could revolutionize immunizations
• 'Smart' paper and antennaless RFID tags
• Tiny worm sheds light on giant mystery about neuron
• Deep, detailed image of distant universe
• Identification of stem cells’ two separate roles raises possibility of therapies that could inhibit fat formation, promote muscle repair
• Shedding light on the long shadow of childhood adversity
• Neurodevelopmental outcomes for children born extremely preterm
• Study compares effectiveness of two vs. Three doses of HPV vaccine for girls and young women

Zinc: The Goldilocks metal for bioabsorbable stents? Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:44 PM PDT Stents can be lifesavers, propping open blood vessels to allow for healthy blood flow. But the longer a stent is in the body, the greater the risk of side effects such as inflammation and clotting. Designing a stent that will dissolve harmlessly after the artery has healed has been a challenge. Now scientistsare experimenting with a novel material that may lead to a new generation of bioabsorbable stents: zinc.

Behavior of seabirds during migration revealed Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:44 PM PDT The behavior of seabirds during migration -- including patterns of foraging, rest and flight -- has been revealed in new detail using novel computational analyses and tracking technologies.

Neon exposes hidden ALS cells Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT A small group of neurons in the cortex play a big role in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal disease. But the neurons have been difficult to study because they look so similar to others in the cortex. New research has isolated the brain's motor neurons that die in ALS and dressed them in a green fluorescent jacket. Now scientists can easily find them to study why they die and how to save them.

How petals get their shape: Hidden map located within plant's growing buds Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:43 PM PDT Why do rose petals have rounded ends while their leaves are more pointed? Scientists have revealed that the shape of petals is controlled by a hidden map located within the plant's growing buds.

Cheating favors extinction, yeast study finds: Feedback between population and evolutionary dynamics Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:42 PM PDT Cooperative behavior is widely observed in nature, but there remains the possibility that 'cheaters' can exploit the system, with uncertain consequences for the social unit as a whole. A new study has found that a yeast colony dominated by non-producers ('cheaters') is more likely to face extinction than one consisting entirely of producers ('co-operators'). The findings are the results of the first laboratory demonstration of a full evolutionary-ecological feedback loop in a social microbial population.

Researchers tackle collapsing bridges with new technology Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:41 PM PDT Researchers have proposed a new technology that could divert vibrations away from load-bearing elements of bridges to avoid catastrophic collapses. The "wave bypass" technique has many similarities to those being used by researchers looking to create Harry Potter-style invisibility cloaks, which exploit human-made materials known as metamaterials to bend light around objects.

New simulation speed record on Sequoia Supercomputer Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Computer scientists have set a high performance computing speed record that opens the way to the scientific exploration of complex planetary-scale systems. Scientists have announced a record-breaking simulation speed of 504 billion events per second on LLNL's Sequoia Blue Gene/Q supercomputer, dwarfing the previous record set in 2009 of 12.2 billion events per second.

Scientists find mutation driving pediatric brain tumors Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT A type of low-grade but sometimes lethal brain tumor in children has been found in many cases to contain an unusual mutation that may help to classify, diagnose and guide the treatment of the tumors, report scientists.

The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Vitamin D is crucial to the growth of healthy bones. It is especially important that babies get enough of it during the first twelve months of their lives when their bones are growing rapidly. This is why health care providers frequently recommend that parents give their babies a daily vitamin D supplement. But how much vitamin D should babies be given?

Risk of depression influenced by quality of relationships Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT After analyzing data from nearly 5,000 American adults, researchers found that the quality of a person's relationships with a spouse, family and friends predicted the likelihood of major depression disorder in the future, regardless of how frequently their social interactions took place.

Weekend binge drinking could leave lasting liver damage Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT Long after a hangover, a night of bad decisions might take a bigger toll on the body than previously understood. A new study has revealed a unique connection between binge drinking and the risk for developing alcoholic liver disease and a variety of other health problems.

Discovery helps explain how children develop rare, fatal disease Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Biochemistry researchers have published conclusive scientific evidence that the gene ATP7A is essential for the dietary absorption of the nutrient copper. Their work with laboratory mice also provides a greater understanding of how this gene impacts Menkes disease as scientists search for a treatment.

Synthetic biology research community grows significantly Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT A new analysis finds the number of private and public entities conducting research in synthetic biology worldwide grew significantly between 2009 and 2013.

Economics influence fertility rates more than other factors Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT Based on a recent study by an anthropologist, economic changes have the greatest impact on reducing family size, and thus slowing population growth, compared to other factors. Understanding the causes of declining birth rates may lead to improved policies designed to influence fertility and result in reduced competition for food, water, land and wealth.

T cells rely on 'rheostat' to help ensure that the immune response matches the threat Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:19 PM PDT A properly functioning immune system is a lesson in balance, providing protection against disease without attacking healthy tissue. Scientists have identified a mechanism that helps T cells find that sweet spot where the strength of the immune response matches the threat.

Electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce viral food poisoning Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Researchers have studied how electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce the possibility of food poisoning through virus.

Finding a sensible balance for natural hazard mitigation with mathematical models Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Uncertainty issues are paramount in assessing risks posed by natural hazards and in developing strategies to alleviate their consequences. A new model estimates the balance between costs and benefits of mitigation following natural disasters, as well as rebuilding defenses in their aftermath.

Encountering connections may make life feel more meaningful Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:16 PM PDT Experiencing connections, regularities, and coherence in their environment may lead people to feel a greater sense of meaning in life, according to a new study.

Colossal hot cloud envelopes colliding galaxies Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:15 PM PDT Scientists have completed a detailed study of an enormous cloud of hot gas enveloping two large, colliding galaxies. This unusually large reservoir of gas contains as much mass as 10 billion Suns, spans about 300,000 light years, and radiates at a temperature of more than 7 million degrees.

Good days, bad days: When should you make sacrifices in a relationship? Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT A new study suggests that while making sacrifices in a romantic relationship is generally a positive thing, doing so on days when you are feeling especially stressed may not be beneficial.

A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Simply sending children with asthma a text message each day asking about their symptoms and providing knowledge about their condition can lead to improved health outcomes.

How some cancers 'poison the soil' to block metastasis Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Cancer spread or metastasis can strike unprecedented fear in the minds of cancer patients. The "seed and the soil" hypothesis proposed by Stephen Paget in 1889 is now widely accepted to explain how cancer cells (seeds) are able to generate fertile soil (the microenvironment) in distant organs that promotes cancer's spread. However, this concept does not explain why some tumors do not spread or metastasize.

In the Northeast, forests with entirely native flora are not the norm Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT Two-thirds of all forest inventory plots in the Northeast and Midwestern United States contain at least one non-native plant species, a new US Forest Service study found. The study across two dozen states from North Dakota to Maine can help land managers pinpoint areas on the landscape where invasive plants might take root.

New research helps to show how turbulence can occur without inertia Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:21 AM PDT For more than a century, the field of fluid mechanics has posited that turbulence scales with inertia, and so massive things, like planes, have an easier time causing it. Now, new research has shown that this transition to turbulence can occur without inertia at all.

Nerve transfer can help repair brachial plexus injuries, help restore elbow functions Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT Results highlight the effective use of nerve transfer in patients suffering from brachial plexus injuries for reconstruction of elbow flexion to help improve their quality of life.

No more reflux: New surgery in fight against reflux for patients whose medication no longer works Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT A new procedure involving a magnetic ring of beads that fits around your pinky has been shown to stop GERD in people whose medication stopped working.

‘Catastrophic’ malpractice payouts add little to health care’s rising costs Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:20 AM PDT Efforts to lower health care costs in the United States have focused at times on demands to reform the medical malpractice system, with some researchers asserting that large, headline-grabbing and "frivolous" payouts are among the heaviest drains on health care resources. But a new review of malpractice claims suggests such assertions are wrong.

Cell response to new coronavirus unveils possible paths to treatments Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT Scientists have used lab-grown human lung cells to study the cells' response to infection by a novel human coronavirus (called nCoV) and compiled information about which genes are significantly disrupted in early and late stages of infection. The information about host response to nCoV allowed the researchers to predict drugs that might be used to inhibit either the virus itself or the deleterious responses that host cells make in reaction to infection.

Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels, study suggests Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT Researchers claim to have calculated, for the first time, the upper safe limit of vitamin D levels, above which the associated risk for cardiovascular events or death raises significantly, according to a recent study.

Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT A team of researchers is proposing a new investigative roadmap for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo devo," to better understand how innovation at the genetic level can lead to ecological adaptations over time. Evo devo seeks to understand the specific genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary change.

Environmental labels may discourage conservatives from buying energy-efficient products Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT When it comes to deciding which light bulb to buy, a label touting the product's environmental benefit may actually discourage politically conservative shoppers.

New zooming technique for entering text into smartwatches Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT Researchers have developed a solution to the problem of entering text into the next generation of ultra-small computers. Called ZoomBoard, this text entry technique is based on the familiar QWERTY keyboard layout. Though the full keyboard is impossibly small on a watch-size display, simply tapping the screen once or twice will enlarge an individual key until it can be comfortably and accurately pressed.

Synthetic derivatives of THC may weaken HIV-1 infection to enhance antiviral therapies Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT A new research report shows that compounds that stimulate the cannabinoid type 2 receptor in white blood cells, specifically macrophages, appear to weaken HIV-1 infection.

Saturn's youthful appearance explained Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:15 AM PDT As planets age they become darker and cooler. Saturn, however, is much brighter than expected for a planet of its age -- a question that has puzzled scientists since the late 1960s. New research has revealed how Saturn keeps itself looking young and hot.

The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Although many amphibians have been reported to live or spend part of their life underground, the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica, has never been reported dwelling in subterranean habitats until now. A new study marks the first record of all life stages of the species from a drainage gallery of Serra da Estrela Natural Park in Portugal.

Canada's distinctive tuya volcanoes reveal glacial, palaeo-climate secrets Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Deposits left by the eruption of a subglacial volcano, or tuya, 1.8 million years ago could hold the secret to more accurate palaeo-glacial and climate models, according to new research. The detailed mapping and sampling of the partially eroded Kima' Kho tuya in northern British Columbia, Canada, shows that the ancient regional ice sheet through which the volcano erupted was twice as thick as previously estimated.

Mild iodine deficiency in womb associated with lower scores on children's literacy tests Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Children who did not receive enough iodine in the womb performed worse on literacy tests as 9-year-olds than their peers, according to a recent study.

Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT When teenage girls are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, they tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study.

Gastric bypass surgery alters hormones to relieve diabetes symptoms Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT Gastric bypass surgery alters the hormones and amino acids produced during digestion, hinting at the mechanisms through which the surgery eliminates symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study.

Graphene's high-speed seesaw Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT A new transistor capable of revolutionizing technologies for medical imaging and security screening has been developed by graphene researchers. The researchers report the first graphene-based transistor with bistable characteristics, which means that the device can spontaneously switch between two electronic states. Such devices are in great demand as emitters of electromagnetic waves in the high-frequency range between radar and infra-red, relevant for applications such as security systems and medical imaging.

How to manage motorway tolls through the Game Theory Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Sophisticated mathematical methods could be used to improve traffic management.

Targeted screening for C. difficile upon hospital admission could potentially identify most colonized patients Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Testing patients with just three risk factors upon hospital admission has potential to identify nearly three out of four asymptomatic carriers of C. difficile, according to a new study.

Musical memory deficits start in auditory cortex Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Congenital amusia is a disorder characterized by impaired musical skills, which can extend to an inability to recognize very familiar tunes. The neural bases of this deficit are now being deciphered. According to a new study amusics exhibit altered processing of musical information in two regions of the brain: the auditory cortex and the frontal cortex, particularly in the right cerebral hemisphere. These alterations seem to be linked to anatomical anomalies in these same cortices.

Exploring the saltiness of the ocean to study climate change Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:13 AM PDT Details are emerging from a recent research expedition to the Sub-Tropical North Atlantic. The objective of the expedition was to study the salt concentration (salinity) of the upper ocean. Scientists explored the essential role of the ocean in the global water cycle.

First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT For the first time, fossil jaw measurements confirm that land animals developed legs millions of years before their feeding systems changed enough to let them eat a land-based diet. The pattern had been hypothesized previously, but not really tested.

How tetraplegic subject utilizes brain-machine interfaces to manipulate prosthetic arm, and regain and restore significant limb functionality Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have presented impressive findings detailing how the use of brain-machine interfaces and robotic prosthetic arms may help those suffering from upper-limb paralysis or amputation regain the ability to grasp and manipulate objects.

Estrogen fuels autoimmune liver damage Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT A new study in mice may help explain why women are more prone than men to a form of liver damage by implicating the female sex hormone estrogen in the development of autoimmune hepatitis.

Women who drink before pregnancy less likely to take multivitamins Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Researchers have found a link between multivitamin use and alcohol consumption before pregnancy, uncovering a need for education about the importance of vitamin supplementation, particularly among women who drink alcohol during their childbearing years.

Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:11 AM PDT Results show positive impact that bone marrow stromal cell therapy can have for those suffering from certain types of traumatic brain injuries.

Does antimatter fall up or down? First direct evidence of how atoms of antimatter interact with gravity Posted: 30 Apr 2013 08:34 AM PDT The atoms that make up ordinary matter fall down, so do antimatter atoms fall up? Do they experience gravity the same way as ordinary atoms, or is there such a thing as antigravity? Recent results, which measured the ratio of antihydrogen's unknown gravitational mass to its known inertial mass, did not settle the matter. Far from it. If an antihydrogen atom falls downward, its gravitational mass is no more than 110 times greater than its inertial mass. If it falls upward, its gravitational mass is at most 65 times greater. What the results do show is that measuring antimatter gravity is possible, using an experimental method that points toward much greater precision in future.

What triggers those late-night snack cravings? Posted: 30 Apr 2013 08:03 AM PDT The circadian system increases hunger and cravings for sweet, starchy and salty foods in the evenings, according to new research. Eating higher-calorie foods in the evening can be counterproductive if weight loss is a goal since the human body handles nutrients differently depending on the time of day.

Competing for milk can be a stressful thing for hyena twin siblings Posted: 30 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated for the first time in a free-ranging mammal that hunger and conflict for access to resources can be "stressful" for subordinate siblings and socially challenged dominant siblings, and hence increase their cost of maintaining homeostasis.

Pathogen fighting 'innate' cells could revolutionize immunizations Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:59 AM PDT New research shows that small populations of preprogrammed immune cells can fight specific pathogens that they have never encountered. The findings have the potential to revolutionize how and when people are immunized, and potentially transforming our approach to preventing infectious disease.

'Smart' paper and antennaless RFID tags Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:59 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method to embed radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in paper, which could help combat document counterfeiting, and have developed antennaless RFID tags for use on metal.

Tiny worm sheds light on giant mystery about neuron Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:59 AM PDT Scientists studying neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans have found a gene, unc-16, that serves as a gatekeeper, restricting the flow of specific membrane-enclosed organelles from the cell body to the axon. Organelles clogging the axon could potentially interfere with neuronal signaling or cause the axon to degenerate, leading to neurodegenerative disorders.

Deep, detailed image of distant universe Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:59 AM PDT Staring at a small patch of sky for more than 50 hours with the ultra-sensitive Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), astronomers have for the first time identified discrete sources that account for nearly all the radio waves coming from distant galaxies. They found that about 63 percent of the background radio emission comes from galaxies with gorging black holes at their cores and the remaining 37 percent comes from galaxies that are rapidly forming stars.

Identification of stem cells’ two separate roles raises possibility of therapies that could inhibit fat formation, promote muscle repair Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT Many diseases – obesity, Type 2 diabetes, muscular dystrophy – are associated with fat accumulation in muscle. In essence, fat replacement causes the muscles to weaken and degenerate. Scientists have discovered the biological mechanism involved in this process, which could point the way to potential therapies.

Shedding light on the long shadow of childhood adversity Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT Childhood adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability in adult life and have an effect on the next generation, underscoring the importance of research, practice and policy in addressing this issue, according to a new article.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes for children born extremely preterm Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT Scientists conducted a study to assess neurological and developmental outcome in extremely preterm (less than 27 gestational weeks) children at 2.5 years.

Study compares effectiveness of two vs. Three doses of HPV vaccine for girls and young women Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT With the number of doses and cost of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines a barrier to global implementation, researchers have found that girls who received two doses of HPV vaccine had immune responses to HPV-16 and HPV-18 infection that were not worse than the responses for young women who received three doses, according to a new study.

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