ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Two-step mechanism of inner ear tip link regrowth
• Do parasites upset food web theory?
• Body clocks linked to osteoarthritis
• X-rays reveal new picture of 'dinobird' plumage patterns
• Long-distance cross-country skiers at increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances
• New surgical technique for Bell's palsy facial paralysis
• Video gamers really do see more: Gamers capture more information faster for visual decision-making
• Exposure to air transforms gold alloys into catalytic nanostructures
• Very high prevalence of chronic health conditions among adult survivors of childhood cancer
• Bacterium that causes gum disease packs a one-two punch to the jaw
• Cloud computing user privacy in serious need of reform, scholars say
• New details of natural anticancer mechanism uncovered
• First comprehensive and prospective characterization of a genetic subtype of autism
• Marks on Martian dunes may be tracks of dry-ice sleds
• Shining a light on cool pools of gas in the galaxy
• Black hole naps amidst stellar chaos
• Is a sleeping climate giant stirring in the Arctic?
• Moon radiation findings may reduce health risks to astronauts
• Chlamydia protein has an odd structure, scientists find
• Flu vaccines aimed at younger populations could break annual transmission cycle
• New tasks become as simple as waving a hand with brain-computer interfaces
• Why fruit ripens and spoils: Thousands of plant genes activated by ethylene gas
• Exercise for stroke patients' brains
• Diabetes drug points the way to overcoming drug resistance in melanoma
• Brown tide has emerged off Long Island, NY in Moriches, Quantuck and Shinnecock Bay, but not in Great South Bay
• Pilot program to decrease emergency room wait times
• Polymer nanoreactors create uniform nanocrystals
• Females fend off gut diseases -- at least among mice
• You're so vain: Study links social media use and narcissism
• Understanding the heart's rhythm
• Wood not so green a biofuel? Logging may have greater impact on carbon emissions than previously thought
• Discovery of gene responsible for multiple intestinal atresia in newborns
• Perfect pitch may not be absolute after all
• Tillage and reduced-input rotations affect runoff from agricultural fields
• Obesity can be predicted from infancy, researchers find
• Nanofiber sensor detects diabetes or lung cancer faster and easier
• Fetal neuromaturation associated with mother's exposure to DDT and other environmental contaminants
• Neurostimulation helps children’s intractable constipation, study finds
• Plunging fish numbers linked to dam releases
• Screening fails to affect breast cancer mortality statistics, UK study finds
• Potential disease-transmission sources in animals ID'd by calculating risk using social network mathematics
• Scientists discover new layer of the human cornea
• Graphene and semiconductor technology together: Smaller, cheaper, better
• Effective privacy protection in social networks
• Fukushima accident raised levels of radioactive strontium off the east coast of Japan by up to 100 times
• How to stop a trunk and start a tail? The leg has the key
• Less friction loss in combustion engines
• Fractal patterns spontaneously emerge during bacterial cell growth
• Intelligent door seal prevents poor air quality
• Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment: Genetic predictor of response to exposure therapy
• Modern humans did not settle in Asia before eruption of Sumatra volcano 74,000 years ago, study finds
• Nine genes account for pigmentation in the fruit fly
• Blueprint for blood vessel fusion discovered
• Partial livers from deceased donors saving the lives of infants
• Frequent soccer ball 'heading' may lead to brain injury
• 'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries
• Quick and simple ways to reduce risk from the most common form of cancer

Two-step mechanism of inner ear tip link regrowth Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:46 PM PDT Scientist have found an unexpected two-step process that happens during the growth and regeneration of inner ear tip links in mice. Tip links are extracellular tethers that link stereocilia, the tiny sensory projections on inner ear hair cells that convert sound into electrical signals, and play a key role in hearing. The discovery offers a possible mechanism for potential interventions that could preserve hearing in people.

Do parasites upset food web theory? Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:46 PM PDT Parasites comprise a large proportion of the diversity of species in every ecosystem, but are rarely included in analyses or models of food webs. If parasites play different roles from other predators and prey, however, their inclusion could fundamentally alter our understanding of how food webs are organized. A new article has shown that including parasites does alter the structure of food webs, but most changes occur because of an increase in diversity and complexity.

Body clocks linked to osteoarthritis Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:45 PM PDT Scheduled exercise, regular meals and the periodic warming and cooling of joints could be used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis according to scientists. Their research may also help explain why older people are more prone to developing this common joint disorder.

X-rays reveal new picture of 'dinobird' plumage patterns Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:45 PM PDT The first complete chemical analysis of feathers from Archaeopteryx, a famous fossil linking dinosaurs and birds, reveals that the feathers of this early bird were patterned – light in colour, with a dark edge and tip to the feather ­­– rather than all black, as previously thought.

Long-distance cross-country skiers at increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:45 PM PDT Cross-country skiers who take part in one of the world's most challenging ski races, the 90 km Vasaloppet in Sweden, are at increased risk of developing arrhythmia – problems with the rate or rhythm of their heart beat – according to a study of nearly 53,000 race participants.

New surgical technique for Bell's palsy facial paralysis Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:44 PM PDT A surgeon is using electrical stimulation as part of an advanced surgical technique to treat Bell's palsy, a condition that causes paralysis on one side of a patient's face.

Video gamers really do see more: Gamers capture more information faster for visual decision-making Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:19 PM PDT Hours spent at the video gaming console not only train a player's hands to work the buttons on the controller, they probably also train the brain to make better and faster use of visual input, according to researchers.

Exposure to air transforms gold alloys into catalytic nanostructures Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:19 PM PDT Scientists have created promising gold-indium oxide nanoparticles through room-temperature oxidation.

Very high prevalence of chronic health conditions among adult survivors of childhood cancer Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:18 PM PDT In an analysis that included more than 1,700 adult survivors of childhood cancer, researchers found a very high percentage of survivors with 1 or more chronic health conditions, with an estimated cumulative prevalence of any chronic health condition of 95 percent at age 45 years, according to a new study.

Bacterium that causes gum disease packs a one-two punch to the jaw Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:44 PM PDT The newly discovered bacterium that causes gum disease delivers a one-two punch by also triggering normally protective proteins in the mouth to actually destroy more bone.

Cloud computing user privacy in serious need of reform, scholars say Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:44 PM PDT The current "non-negotiable approach" to user privacy is in need of serious revision, especially with the increased popularity of web-based software that shares information via cloud computing, experts say.

New details of natural anticancer mechanism uncovered Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:40 PM PDT Scientists have identified key triggers of an important cancer-blocking mechanism in cells. Termed "oncogene-induced senescence," this mechanism can block most cancer types and is commonly experienced when incipient skin cancers turn instead into slow-growing moles.

First comprehensive and prospective characterization of a genetic subtype of autism Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:40 PM PDT A new study describes the clinical presentation of Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and will help guide future research and clinical care.

Marks on Martian dunes may be tracks of dry-ice sleds Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:51 AM PDT NASA research indicates hunks of frozen carbon dioxide -- dry ice -- may glide down some Martian sand dunes on cushions of gas similar to miniature hovercraft, plowing furrows as they go. Researchers deduced this process could explain one enigmatic class of gullies seen on Martian sand dunes by examining images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and performing experiments on sand dunes in Utah and California.

Shining a light on cool pools of gas in the galaxy Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT Newly formed stars shine brightly, practically crying out, "Hey, look at me!" But not everything in our Milky Way galaxy is easy to see. The bulk of material between the stars in the galaxy -- the cool hydrogen gas from which stars spring -- is nearly impossible to find.

Black hole naps amidst stellar chaos Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:45 AM PDT Nearly a decade ago, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory caught signs of what appeared to be a black hole snacking on gas at the middle of the nearby Sculptor galaxy. Now, NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), which sees higher-energy X-ray light, has taken a peek and found the black hole asleep.

Is a sleeping climate giant stirring in the Arctic? Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT Permafrost zones occupy nearly a quarter of the exposed land area of the Northern Hemisphere. NASA's Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment is probing deep into the frozen lands above the Arctic Circle in Alaska to measure emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane from thawing permafrost -- signals that may hold a key to Earth's climate future.

Moon radiation findings may reduce health risks to astronauts Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT Space scientists report that data gathered by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter show lighter materials like plastics provide effective shielding against the radiation hazards faced by astronauts during extended space travel. The finding could help reduce health risks to humans on future missions into deep space.

Chlamydia protein has an odd structure, scientists find Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT Discovery of the structure of a protein secreted by the chlamydia bug may lead to novel therapies for the common sexually transmitted disease, which infects more than a million Americans annually.

Flu vaccines aimed at younger populations could break annual transmission cycle Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT The value of vaccinating more children and young adults for influenza is being seriously underestimated. A new report suggests heavier emphasis on vaccinating those groups might save thousands of lives every year.

New tasks become as simple as waving a hand with brain-computer interfaces Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:33 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that when humans use brain-computer interfaces, the brain behaves much like it does when completing simple motor skills such as kicking a ball, typing or waving a hand. Learning to control a robotic arm or a prosthetic limb could become second nature for people who are paralyzed.

Why fruit ripens and spoils: Thousands of plant genes activated by ethylene gas Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:33 AM PDT It's common wisdom that one rotten apple in a barrel spoils all the other apples, and that an apple ripens a green banana if they are put together in a paper bag. Ways to ripen, or spoil, fruit have been known for thousands of years -- as the Bible can attest -- but now the genes underlying these phenomena of nature have been revealed. Scientists have now traced the thousands of genes in a plant that are activated once ethylene, a gas that acts as a plant growth hormone, is released.

Exercise for stroke patients' brains Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT Researchers found that while the typical brain responded to the visual stimulus with activity in cortical motor regions that are generally activated when we watch others perform actions, in the stroke-affected brain, activity was strongest in these regions of the damaged hemisphere, and strongest when stroke patients viewed actions they would have the most difficulty performing.

Diabetes drug points the way to overcoming drug resistance in melanoma Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT Despite the success of melanoma-targeting drugs, tumors inevitably become drug resistant and return, more aggressive than before. Researchers now describe how they increase the effectiveness of anti-melanoma drugs by combining anticancer therapies with diabetes drugs. Their studies, conducted in cell and animal models of melanoma, demonstrate that the combined therapy could destroy a subset of drug-resistant cells within a tumor.

Brown tide has emerged off Long Island, NY in Moriches, Quantuck and Shinnecock Bay, but not in Great South Bay Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT A brown tide has emerged within some, but not all, of Long Island's south shore estuaries. Monitoring has revealed that a brown tide has developed in eastern Moriches Bay, Quantuck Bay, and western Shinnecock Bay.

Pilot program to decrease emergency room wait times Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT Emergency department overcrowding has been a major issue nationally for 20 years and continues to increase in severity. To address this issue, a pilot study has been launched at UC San Diego Health System's ED to use telemedicine as a way to help address crowding and decrease patient wait times. The study is the first of its kind in California to use cameras to bring on-call doctors who are outside of the hospital to the patient in need.

Polymer nanoreactors create uniform nanocrystals Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT Using star-shaped block co-polymer structures as tiny reaction vessels, researchers have developed an improved technique for producing nanocrystals with consistent sizes, compositions and architectures – including metallic, ferroelectric, magnetic, semiconductor and luminescent nanocrystals.

Females fend off gut diseases -- at least among mice Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:21 AM PDT At least among mice, females have innate protection from certain digestive conditions, according to a new study. While it's tricky to draw conclusions for human health, the findings could eventually help scientists better understand and treat the millions of people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.

You're so vain: Study links social media use and narcissism Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:21 AM PDT Facebook is a mirror and Twitter is a megaphone, according to a new study exploring how social media reflect and amplify the culture's growing levels of narcissism.

Understanding the heart's rhythm Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:21 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a previously unidentified potassium channel in cardiac cells that regulate the human heartbeat. This could be a significant step towards developing "biological pacemakers" to replace today's mechanical pacemakers, the researcher says.

Wood not so green a biofuel? Logging may have greater impact on carbon emissions than previously thought Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:21 AM PDT Using wood for energy is considered cleaner than fossil fuels, but a new study finds that logging may release large amounts of carbon stored in deep forest soils.

Discovery of gene responsible for multiple intestinal atresia in newborns Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:21 AM PDT Physicians have conducted a study that has led to the discovery of a gene that causes multiple intestinal atresia, a rare and life-threatening hereditary disorder that affects newborns. In addition to exploring novel therapeutic treatments for children with the disease, the discovery of the gene TTC7A will make it possible to develop a prenatal diagnostic test and a screening test for parents who are carriers.

Perfect pitch may not be absolute after all Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:20 AM PDT People who think they have perfect pitch may not be as in tune as they think, according to a new study in which people failed to notice a gradual change in pitch while listening to music. When tested afterward, people said notes that were in tune at the beginning sounded out of tune.

Tillage and reduced-input rotations affect runoff from agricultural fields Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:20 AM PDT A new study provides information about runoff under different management practices and can help farmers choose the practice that is best for them.

Obesity can be predicted from infancy, researchers find Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:17 AM PDT Infants as young as two months old already exhibit growth patterns that can predict the child's weight by age 5, according to researchers.

Nanofiber sensor detects diabetes or lung cancer faster and easier Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:17 AM PDT Researchers in South Korea have recently developed a highly sensitive exhaled breath sensor by using hierarchical tin dioxide fibers that are assembled from wrinkled thin tin dioxide nanotubes.

Fetal neuromaturation associated with mother's exposure to DDT and other environmental contaminants Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT A has for the first time found that a mother's higher exposure to some common environmental contaminants was associated with more frequent and vigorous fetal motor activity. Some chemicals were also associated with fewer changes in fetal heart rate, which normally parallel fetal movements.

Neurostimulation helps children’s intractable constipation, study finds Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT Home treatment with a simple, battery-operated system that applies four sticky electrode patches to the mid-section allowed a group of children with the most difficult-to-treat, possibly congenital, constipation to reduce soiling and improve elimination, according to new research.

Plunging fish numbers linked to dam releases Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:23 AM PDT An Australian study has thrown cold water on the notion that large dam releases compensate for the effects of interrupting natural water flows.

Screening fails to affect breast cancer mortality statistics, UK study finds Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:21 AM PDT New research from the UK analysing breast cancer mortality data spanning almost 40 years concludes that breast cancer screening does not yet show an effect on mortality statistics. The research analyzed mortality trends before and after the introduction of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme in 1988.

Potential disease-transmission sources in animals ID'd by calculating risk using social network mathematics Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:20 AM PDT Scientists have successfully identified animal species that can transmit more diseases to humans by using mathematical tools similar to those applied to the study of social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Their research describes how parasite-primate interactions transmit diseases like malaria, yellow fever or AIDS to humans. Their findings could make an important contribution to predicting the animal species most likely to cause future pandemics.

Scientists discover new layer of the human cornea Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a previously undetected layer in the cornea, the clear window at the front of the human eye. The breakthrough could help surgeons to dramatically improve outcomes for patients undergoing corneal grafts and transplants.

Graphene and semiconductor technology together: Smaller, cheaper, better Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT Mobile phones that bend, self-powered nanodevices, new and improved solar cell technology and windows that generate electricity are but a few of the potential products from the union of semiconductors and graphene.

Effective privacy protection in social networks Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT Researchers are working on new methods to help them gain a better understanding of the usage habits of participants in social networks. The results will be incorporated in the development of userfriendly tools for privacy protection.

Fukushima accident raised levels of radioactive strontium off the east coast of Japan by up to 100 times Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT Researchers in Spain have studied the spread of radioactive strontium in the coastal waters of eastern Japan during the three months following the Fukushima nuclear accident, which happened in March 2011. The samples analysed show the impact of the direct release of radioactive materials into the Pacific Ocean, and indicate that the amount of strontium-90 discharged into the sea during those three months was between 90 and 900 Tbq (terabecquerels), raising levels by up to two orders of magnitude. The highest concentrations were found to the north of the Kuroshio current, which acts as a barrier preventing radioactive material from being carried to lower latitudes.

How to stop a trunk and start a tail? The leg has the key Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT A new study reveals the mechanisms behind trunk to tail transition in vertebrates.

Less friction loss in combustion engines Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:42 AM PDT Researchers have developed a method that can reduce engine friction and wear even during production of engine components. Special coatings can help to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Fractal patterns spontaneously emerge during bacterial cell growth Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:41 AM PDT Despite bacterial colonies always forming circular shapes as they grow, their cells form internal divisions which are highly asymmetrical and branched. These fractal (self-similar) patterns are due to the physical forces and local instabilities that are a natural part of bacterial cell growth, a new study reveals. The research has important implications for the emerging field of synthetic biology.

Intelligent door seal prevents poor air quality Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:41 AM PDT For a long time, heat insulation was en vogue -- and nearly no one was concerned about poor indoor air quality. And yet excess carbon dioxide hampers concentration. Now, researchers have come up with an intelligent door seal system.

Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment: Genetic predictor of response to exposure therapy Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:41 AM PDT There is growing evidence that a gene variant that reduces the plasticity of the nervous system also modulates responses to treatments for mood and anxiety disorders. In this case, patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, with a less functional variant of the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), responded less well to exposure therapy.

Modern humans did not settle in Asia before eruption of Sumatra volcano 74,000 years ago, study finds Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:41 AM PDT When did modern humans settle in Asia and what route did they take from humankind's African homeland? New research refutes a recent theory that there is archaeological evidence for the presence of modern humans in southern Asia before the super-eruption of the Mount Toba volcano in Sumatra.

Nine genes account for pigmentation in the fruit fly Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:40 AM PDT Individuals of a particular species generally differ from one another. We are clearly most adept at recognizing members of our own species, although dog and cat owners will be ready to confirm that their pets look unique. Differences within species relate to characteristics such as size and shape but also to color: it is not only humans that show a wide range of skin pigmentation. Nevertheless, the cause of the variation in skin color in animals has remained largely a matter for conjecture. Recent work sheds light on the topic.

Blueprint for blood vessel fusion discovered Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:40 AM PDT The fusion of blood vessels during the formation of the vascular system follows a uniform process. In this process, the blood vessels involved go through different phases of a common choreography, in which the splitting and the rearrangement of endothelial cells play a critical role. Researchers have now been able to demonstrate this in a living organism, the zebrafish.

Partial livers from deceased donors saving the lives of infants Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:38 AM PDT New research reveals that transplantation of partial livers from deceased adult and teen donors has become less risky for infants and young children, helping to save these young lives. New findings indicate that risk of organ failure and mortality from partial or split liver transplant was comparable to whole organ transplant in this pediatric population.

Frequent soccer ball 'heading' may lead to brain injury Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:22 AM PDT Researchers have shown that soccer players who frequently head the ball have brain abnormalities resembling those found in patients with concussion (mild traumatic brain injury). The study used advanced imaging techniques and cognitive tests that assessed memory.

'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:22 AM PDT Researchers have confirmed the particle-by-particle mechanism by which lithium ions move in and out of electrodes made of lithium iron phosphate, findings that could lead to better performance in lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, medical equipment and aircraft.

Quick and simple ways to reduce risk from the most common form of cancer Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:22 AM PDT Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States, with one in five Americans expected to develop a form of skin cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are simple steps people can take to reduce their skin cancer risk.

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