ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Well-child visits linked to more than 700,000 subsequent flu-like illnesses
• Experiments show initial gain in fusion fuel
• Solving an evolutionary puzzle: Atlantic killifish thriving in highly polluted water
• First global geologic map of Jupiter's largest moon Ganymede details an icy world
• Motion-capture cameras, computer software assist skaters with jumps
• Cities support more native biodiversity than previously thought
• Technology decodes more information from single photons
• San Francisco's big 1906 earthquake was third of a series on San Andreas Fault
• Help for a scarred heart: Scarring cells turned to beating muscle
• Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel
• Investigating the fiber of our being: How our gut bacteria metabolizes complex carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables
• The physics of curly hair
• Genome of American Clovis skeleton mapped: Ancestor of most present-day Native American populations
• New pathway for fear discovered deep within brain
• Jaw dropping: Scientists reveal how vertebrates came to have a face
• Revision to rules for color in dinosaurs suggests connection between color and physiology
• Stirring-up atomtronics in a quantum circuit: What’s so 'super' about this superfluid?
• Skin reactions during radiation therapy preventable
• Double mastectomy halves death risk for women with BRCA-related breast cancer
• Herding robots: New system combines control programs so fleets of robots can collaborate
• Link between zebra mussels, risk of algae blooms
• Prostate cancer advance could improve treatment options
• From surf to turf: Archaeologists and chemists trace ancient British diets
• How stellar death can lead to twin celestial jets
• Physicists reveal novel magnetoelectric effect
• Continued decline of African forest elephants, study shows
• Genetic find might lead to cattle that are more resistant to TB
• Great tit can remember other birds' food hideaways for up to 24 hours
• Four unknown galaxy clusters containing thousands of galaxies discovered 10 billion light years from Earth
• Poaching threatens savannah ecosystems
• Bees fight to a stalemate in the battle of the sexes
• Healthy habits pay off in long term
• Atlantic Ocean risk zones for leatherback turtles identified
• Growing impact of lethal 'legal highs:' U.K. Deaths report
• Smoking cessation may improve mental health
• New imaging technique can diagnose common heart condition
• Potential route to bladder cancer diagnostics, treatments
• Tibetan mastiffs equally adapted to high altitudes of Tibet
• Fifty-five genes linked to powerful tumor suppressor predict breast cancer survival
• Study challenges a close link between recent weight gain and diabetes
• Change in guidelines for type 2 diabetes screening tests may lead to under-diagnosis in children
• Potential for targeting aggressive breast cancers
• What makes memories last? Prion-like proteins help create long-term memories
• Preterm infants more likely to have elevated insulin levels in early childhood
• Three doses of HPV vaccine recommended against genital warts
• 'Growth charts' for cognitive development may lead to earlier diagnosis, treatment for children with risk for psychosis
• Kidney failure risk for organ donors 'extremely low'
• Macro-portrait of future bird and wetland scenarios under climate change
• New way to measure electron pair interactions
• Antibody treatment used by researchers to protect humanized mice from HIV
• Tech products can turn 'uncool' when they become too popular
• I smoke, but I’m not a smoker: Why some 'non-identifying smokers' face risks while denying behavior
• Data on today's youth reveal childhood clues for later risk of STDs

Well-child visits linked to more than 700,000 subsequent flu-like illnesses Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST New research shows that well-child doctor appointments for annual exams and vaccinations are associated with an increased risk of flu-like illnesses in children and family members within two weeks of the visit. This risk translates to more than 700,000 potentially avoidable illnesses each year, costing more than $490 million annually.

Experiments show initial gain in fusion fuel Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST Ignition – the process of releasing fusion energy equal to or greater than the amount of energy used to confine the fuel – has long been considered the "holy grail" of inertial confinement fusion science. A key step along the path to ignition is to have "fuel gains" greater than unity, where the energy generated through fusion reactions exceeds the amount of energy deposited into the fusion fuel.

Solving an evolutionary puzzle: Atlantic killifish thriving in highly polluted water Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:46 AM PST For four decades, waste from nearby manufacturing plants flowed into the waters of New Bedford Harbor -- an 18,000-acre estuary and busy seaport. The harbor, which is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, is one of the EPA's largest Superfund cleanup sites. It's also the site of an evolutionary puzzle that researchers have been working to solve.

First global geologic map of Jupiter's largest moon Ganymede details an icy world Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:45 AM PST Scientists have crafted the first global geologic map of Ganymede, illustrating the varied geologic character of the solar system's largest moon.

Motion-capture cameras, computer software assist skaters with jumps Posted: 12 Feb 2014 11:45 AM PST Physicists studying skating know that proper air position is critical to successful jumps. A computer simulation now enables skaters and their coaches to observe an athlete's actual movements on a computer screen and then see how those movements can be manipulated to improve jumping technique.

Cities support more native biodiversity than previously thought Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST The rapid conversion of natural lands to cement-dominated urban centers is causing great losses in biodiversity. Yet, according to a new study involving 147 cities worldwide, surprisingly high numbers of plant and animal species persist and even flourish in urban environments -- to the tune of hundreds of bird species and thousands of plant species in a single city.

Technology decodes more information from single photons Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST It's not quite Star Trek communications. Yet. But long-distance communications in space may be easier now that researchers have designed a clever detector array that can extract more information than usual from single particles of light.

San Francisco's big 1906 earthquake was third of a series on San Andreas Fault Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Geologists have uncovered geologic evidence that supports historical narratives for two earthquakes in the 68 years prior to San Francisco's devastating 1906 disaster.

Help for a scarred heart: Scarring cells turned to beating muscle Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Poets and physicians know that a scarred heart cannot beat the way it used to, but the science of reprogramming cells offers hope -- for the physical heart, at least.

Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST Plastic shopping bags, an abundant source of litter on land and at sea, can be converted into diesel, natural gas and other useful petroleum products, researchers report. The conversion produces significantly more energy than it requires and results in transportation fuels -- diesel, for example -- that can be blended with existing ultra-low-sulfur diesels and biodiesels.

Investigating the fiber of our being: How our gut bacteria metabolizes complex carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST New research begins to uncover how our gut bacteria metabolize the complex dietary carbohydrates found in fruits and vegetables.

The physics of curly hair Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST The heroes and villains in animated films tend to be on opposite ends of the moral spectrum. But they're often similar in their hair, which is usually extremely rigid or -- if it moves at all -- is straight and swings to and fro. It's rare to see an animated character with bouncy, curly hair, since computer animators don't have a simple mathematical means for describing it. But now, researchers have developed the first detailed model for a 3-D strand of curly hair.

Genome of American Clovis skeleton mapped: Ancestor of most present-day Native American populations Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST The Clovis people were not the first humans in America, but they represent the first humans with a wide expansion on the North American continent -- until the culture mysteriously disappeared only a few hundred years after its origin. Now genome mapping shows that some 80 percent of all present-day Native American populations on the two American continents are direct descendants of the Clovis boy's family.

New pathway for fear discovered deep within brain Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:28 AM PST Fear is primal. In the wild, it serves as a protective mechanism, but for humans, fear is more complex. A normal amount keeps us safe. But too much fear, like PTSD, can prevent people from living healthy lives. Researchers are working to understand how the brain translates fear into action. Today, scientists announce the discovery of a new neural circuit that links the site of fear memory with a brain area that controls behavior.

Jaw dropping: Scientists reveal how vertebrates came to have a face Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:27 AM PST Scientists present new fossil evidence for the origin of one of the most important and emotionally significant parts of our anatomy: the face. Scientists show how a series of fossils, with a 410 million year old armored fish called Romundina at its center, documents the step-by-step assembly of the face during the evolutionary transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates.

Revision to rules for color in dinosaurs suggests connection between color and physiology Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:27 AM PST New research revising rules on deciphering color in dinosaurs may provide a tool for understanding the evolutionary emergence of flight and changes in dinosaur physiology. While surveying melanosome shape in fossil and extant specimens, a research team unexpectedly discovered that ancient maniraptoran dinosaurs, paravians, and living mammals and birds uniquely shared the evolutionary development of diverse melanosome shapes related to color. The similarity could relate to a key shift in dinosaurian physiology.

Stirring-up atomtronics in a quantum circuit: What’s so 'super' about this superfluid? Posted: 12 Feb 2014 10:26 AM PST Atomtronics is an emerging technology whereby physicists use ensembles of atoms to build analogs to electronic circuit elements. Using lasers and magnetic fields, atomic systems can be engineered to have behavior analogous to that of electrons, making them an exciting platform for studying and generating alternatives to charge-based electronics. Using a superfluid atomtronic circuit, physicists have demonstrated a tool that is critical to electronics: hysteresis. This is the first time that hysteresis has been observed in an ultracold atomic gas.

Skin reactions during radiation therapy preventable Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:28 AM PST Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying a thin transparent silicone dressing to the skin from the first day of treatment, a clinical trial shows.

Double mastectomy halves death risk for women with BRCA-related breast cancer Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:28 AM PST Women with BRCA-related breast cancer who have a double mastectomy are nearly 50 percent less likely to die of breast cancer within 20 years of diagnosis compared to women who have a single mastectomy, according to a new study.

Herding robots: New system combines control programs so fleets of robots can collaborate Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:27 AM PST A new system combines simple control programs to enable fleets of robots -- or other "multiagent systems" -- to collaborate in unprecedented ways.

Link between zebra mussels, risk of algae blooms Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:27 AM PST Researchers are learning more about the impact invasive zebra mussels and native aquatic insect larvae have on the risk of algae blooms in two West Michigan lakes.

Prostate cancer advance could improve treatment options Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:27 AM PST Researchers have made an important advance in understanding genetic changes associated with terminal prostate cancer. The research highlights why relapses could happen in some men following hormone therapy. And it could help identify those patients that will develop fatal prostate cancer much earlier for life-extending therapy.

From surf to turf: Archaeologists and chemists trace ancient British diets Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:27 AM PST Studies of old rubbish dumps and dirty dishes have revealed that, 6,000 years ago, ancient Britons gave up their passion for fish to begin a love affair with milk.

How stellar death can lead to twin celestial jets Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:23 AM PST Astronomers know that while large stars can end their lives as violently cataclysmic supernovae, smaller stars end up as planetary nebulae -- colorful, glowing clouds of dust and gas. In recent decades these nebulae, once thought to be mostly spherical, have been observed to often emit powerful, bipolar jets of gas and dust. But how do spherical stars evolve to produce highly aspherical planetary nebulae?

Physicists reveal novel magnetoelectric effect Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:21 AM PST New research reveals a novel magnetoelectric effect that may provide a route for using multiferroic materials for the application of RAM in computers and other devices.

Continued decline of African forest elephants, study shows Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:33 AM PST New data from the field in Central Africa shows that between 2002 and 2013, 65 percent of forest elephants were killed. They are being poached, for their ivory, at a shocking 9 percent per year.

Genetic find might lead to cattle that are more resistant to TB Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:33 AM PST Scientists have identified genetic traits in cattle that might allow farmers to breed livestock with increased resistance to bovine tuberculosis.

Great tit can remember other birds' food hideaways for up to 24 hours Posted: 12 Feb 2014 06:33 AM PST Birds that hoard food for a rainy day better be sure that there are no great tits around to spy on where they hide their reserve of seeds and nuts. Biologists found that great tits can remember the position of such hideaways up to 24 hours after seeing it cached. Interestingly, even though great tits share this mental ability with well-known hoarders such as crows and jays, they do not store up food themselves.

Four unknown galaxy clusters containing thousands of galaxies discovered 10 billion light years from Earth Posted: 12 Feb 2014 05:24 AM PST Four unknown galaxy clusters each potentially containing thousands of individual galaxies have been discovered some 10 billion light years from Earth. An international team of astronomers used a new way of combining data from the two European Space Agency satellites, Planck and Herschel, to identify more distant galaxy clusters than has previously been possible. The researchers believe up to 2000 further clusters could be identified using this technique, helping to build a more detailed timeline of how clusters are formed.

Poaching threatens savannah ecosystems Posted: 12 Feb 2014 05:20 AM PST White rhinoceros may be extinct in twenty years with the current poaching rates. The loss of this megaherbivore is in itself a tragedy, but it may also have tremendous effects on the ecosystems they now live in.

Bees fight to a stalemate in the battle of the sexes Posted: 12 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST Just like humans, whether or not some genes are switched on in bumblebees is a result of a battle of the sexes between genes inherited from their mother and genes inherited from their father.

Healthy habits pay off in long term Posted: 12 Feb 2014 04:49 AM PST Can initial modes of behavior be used to predict how fit and healthy a person will be 18 years later? This question was in the focus of studies performed by researchers. A basic survey covered about 500 adults over a longer term. The result: Initial habits determine physical fitness and health in the long term.

Atlantic Ocean risk zones for leatherback turtles identified Posted: 11 Feb 2014 06:13 PM PST Researchers used data from satellite transmitters attached to the turtles to track their movements across the Atlantic Ocean. These movements were then overlapped with information on high pressure fishing areas to identify where the turtles are most susceptible to becoming entangled and where they may drown.

Growing impact of lethal 'legal highs:' U.K. Deaths report Posted: 11 Feb 2014 06:11 PM PST The deadly risk of so-called 'legal highs' and other designer drugs, such as the notorious 'meow meow', has been confirmed by a huge leap in their links to drug-related deaths in the UK.

Smoking cessation may improve mental health Posted: 11 Feb 2014 06:11 PM PST Although many health professionals who treat people with psychiatric problems overlook their patients' smoking habits, new research shows that people who struggle with mood problems or addiction can safely quit smoking and that kicking the habit is associated with improved mental health.

New imaging technique can diagnose common heart condition Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:48 PM PST A new imaging technique for measuring blood flow in the heart and vessels can diagnose a common congenital heart abnormality, bicuspid aortic valve, and may lead to better prediction of complications. The study revealed a previously unknown relationship between heart valve abnormalities, blood flow changes in the heart and aortic disease.

Potential route to bladder cancer diagnostics, treatments Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:48 PM PST Researchers conducted a genetic analysis of invasive bladder cancer tumors to discover that the disease shares genetic similarities with two forms of breast cancer.

Tibetan mastiffs equally adapted to high altitudes of Tibet Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:48 PM PST In a new study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, author Dong-Dong Wu, et. al., explored the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation of Tibetan Mastiffs, which were originally domesticated from the Chinese native dogs of the plains. Overall, they identified more than 120,000 SNPs, and in their analysis, narrowed these down to 16 genes that have undergone positive selection in mastiffs, with 12 of these relevant to high altitude adaption.

Fifty-five genes linked to powerful tumor suppressor predict breast cancer survival Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:47 PM PST A panel of 55 genes, almost all of which are impacted by the loss of a particular protein, appears to predict if breast cancer will become invasive, leading to poorer survival.

Study challenges a close link between recent weight gain and diabetes Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:47 PM PST It is a common notion that type 2 diabetes is precipitated by substantial progressive weight gain, but a new study suggests that this might not be true.

Change in guidelines for type 2 diabetes screening tests may lead to under-diagnosis in children Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:46 PM PST New guidelines for type 2 diabetes screening in children are less effective and more costly than previous screening methods, and may result in an under-diagnosis for children, research shows.

Potential for targeting aggressive breast cancers Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:46 PM PST A new study shows that targeting Twist, a nuclear protein that is an accelerant of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in human cells, may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer.

What makes memories last? Prion-like proteins help create long-term memories Posted: 11 Feb 2014 02:46 PM PST Prions can be notoriously destructive, spurring proteins to misfold and interfere with cellular function as they spread without control. New research reveals that certain prion-like proteins, however, can be precisely controlled so that they are generated only in a specific time and place. These prion-like proteins are not involved in disease processes; rather, they are essential for creating and maintaining long-term memories.

Preterm infants more likely to have elevated insulin levels in early childhood Posted: 11 Feb 2014 01:26 PM PST Researchers have found that preterm infants are more likely to have elevated insulin levels at birth and in early childhood compared to full-term infants, findings that provide additional evidence that preterm birth may be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, according to a study.

Three doses of HPV vaccine recommended against genital warts Posted: 11 Feb 2014 01:25 PM PST Two doses of vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) provide good protection against genital warts, but three doses is better according to an extensive register study.

'Growth charts' for cognitive development may lead to earlier diagnosis, treatment for children with risk for psychosis Posted: 11 Feb 2014 01:25 PM PST Researchers have developed a better way to assess and diagnose psychosis in young children. By "growth charting" cognitive development alongside the presentation of psychotic symptoms, they have demonstrated that the most significant lags in cognitive development correlate with the most severe cases of psychosis.

Kidney failure risk for organ donors 'extremely low' Posted: 11 Feb 2014 01:25 PM PST The risk of a kidney donor developing kidney failure in the remaining organ is much lower than in the population at large, even when compared with people who have two kidneys, according to results of new research.

Macro-portrait of future bird and wetland scenarios under climate change Posted: 11 Feb 2014 12:35 PM PST Macrosystems ecology is a new and emerging science using large amounts of information that are analyzed by faster and smarter computers to not only create greater understanding of how habitats interact, but also make better predictions about how these systems may react in the face of global climate change.

New way to measure electron pair interactions Posted: 11 Feb 2014 11:41 AM PST Measuring electron pair emission measurements has always been difficult because it was traditionally done using highly expensive synchrotron light sources, which are available in only a few laboratories worldwide. Now a team of researchers has developed a new way to measure the emission of electron pairs directly by combining two common laboratory instruments called time-of-flight spectrometers.

Antibody treatment used by researchers to protect humanized mice from HIV Posted: 11 Feb 2014 11:11 AM PST Scientists have shown that boosting the production of certain broadly neutralizing antibodies can protect humanized mice from both intravenous and vaginal infection with HIV. Humanized mice have immune systems genetically modified to resemble those of humans, making it possible for them to become HIV-infected.

Tech products can turn 'uncool' when they become too popular Posted: 11 Feb 2014 11:11 AM PST In the tech world, coolness takes more than just good looks. Technology users must consider a product attractive, original and edgy before they label those products as cool, according to researchers.

I smoke, but I’m not a smoker: Why some 'non-identifying smokers' face risks while denying behavior Posted: 11 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST While smoking among California adults has dramatically declined in recent decades, researchers report there is a surprisingly large number of people who say they use cigarettes, but don't consider themselves to be "smokers."

Data on today's youth reveal childhood clues for later risk of STDs Posted: 11 Feb 2014 10:29 AM PST Here's yet another reason to focus on kids' early years. Children who grow up in well-managed households, enjoy school, and have friends who stay out of trouble report fewer sexually transmitted diseases in young adulthood, according to a new analysis.

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