ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Preschoolers can outsmart college students at figuring out gizmos
• Europe may experience higher warming than global average
• Birds display lateralization bias when selecting flight paths
• Colored diamonds are a superconductor's best friend
• Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain
• How river networks move across a landscape
• Plasma plumes help shield Earth from damaging solar storms
• Crystals ripple in response to light: First propagating surface phonon polaritons in a van der Waals crystal
• Future electronics with super-efficient hard drives: Electricity controls magnetism
• Icy wreckage discovered in nearby planetary system
• Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders
• Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations
• Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex
• Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure
• Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse
• 'Seeing' bodies with sound (no sight required)
• Some people really just don't like music
• Warming temperatures are pushing two chickadee species -- and their hybrids -- northward
• Are you smarter than a 5-year-old? Preschoolers can do algebra
• Storing extra rocket fuel in space for future missions?
• Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function
• Earth's mantle plasticity explained: Missing mechanism for deforming olivine-rich rocks
• E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens
• Hubble witnesses an asteroid mysteriously disintegrating
• Engineering team increases power efficiency for future computer processors
• Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health
• Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms
• Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates
• Computational tool offers new insight into key biological processes
• Energy drinks linked to teen health risks
• Going nuclear -- in a small way
• Santorini tree rings support the traditional dating of the volcanic eruption
• Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified
• Robotic prosthesis turns drummer into a three-armed cyborg
• Testis size matters for genome evolution
• Love or kill thy neighbor? New study into animal social behavior
• Extraordinary momentum and spin discovered in evanescent light waves
• Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival
• Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say
• New research could help make 'roll-up' digital screens a reality for all
• Elephant age estimated from voice: A powerful conservation tool?
• Learning how to listen with neurofeedback
• Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months
• New robotic refueling technologies tested
• Maize and bacteria: A one-two punch knocks copper out of stamp sand
• Look back at US soybeans shows genetic improvement behind increased yields
• New insights into ancient Pacific settlers' diet: Diet based on foraging, not horticulture
• Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone
• New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases
• New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe
• Human activity influences beach bacterial diversity
• Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy
• The Eurasian lynx as a key to the conservation and future viability of the endangered Iberian lynx
• Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma
• Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows
• Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs
• Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study

Preschoolers can outsmart college students at figuring out gizmos Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Preschoolers can be smarter than college students at figuring out how unusual toys and gadgets work because they're more flexible and less biased than adults in their ideas about cause and effect, according to new research.

Europe may experience higher warming than global average Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST The majority of Europe will experience higher warming than the global average if surface temperatures rise to 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, according to a new study.

Birds display lateralization bias when selecting flight paths Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Flocks of birds manage to navigate through difficult environments by individuals having predispositions to favor the left- or right-hand side. Researchers flew the budgerigars down a tunnel where they were met by an obstacle, and a choice of two paths to fly through. Sometimes the paths were of equal size, and sometimes one would be bigger than the other. Some birds had no bias and would choose the wider gap every time, while others with a distinct bias preferred going to one side, even if it was significantly narrower than the alternative.

Colored diamonds are a superconductor's best friend Posted: 06 Mar 2014 12:24 PM PST Nitrogen-vacancy centers -- flaws in a diamond's crystal lattice that produce color -- have received much attention for their sensitivity to magnetic fields. Researchers have now used N-V diamond sensors to detect the tiny magnetic fluctuations that occur on the surface of high-temperature superconductors in hopes of discovering how these much ballyhooed but still mysterious materials work. With their chip sensor, they hope to measure the properties of a single magnetic vortex.

Marijuana's anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:28 AM PST Cannabinoid receptors, through which marijuana exerts its effects, have been found in a key emotional hub in the brain involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. This is the first time cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse model.

How river networks move across a landscape Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PST Large river networks -- such as those that funnel into the Colorado and Mississippi rivers -- may seem to be permanent features of a landscape. In fact, many rivers define political boundaries that have been in place for centuries. Now researchers have developed a mapping technique that measures how much a river network is changing, and in what direction it may be moving.

Plasma plumes help shield Earth from damaging solar storms Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PST Scientists have identified a plasma plume that naturally protects the Earth against solar storms. Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere, stretches from the planet's core out into space, where it meets the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted by the sun. For the most part, the magnetosphere acts as a shield to protect Earth from this high-energy solar activity. But when this field comes into contact with the sun's magnetic field -- a process called "magnetic reconnection" -- powerful electrical currents from the sun can stream into Earth's atmosphere, whipping up geomagnetic storms and space weather phenomena that can affect high-altitude aircraft, as well as astronauts on the International Space Station. Now scientists have identified a process in Earth's magnetosphere that reinforces its shielding effect, keeping incoming solar energy at bay.

Crystals ripple in response to light: First propagating surface phonon polaritons in a van der Waals crystal Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PST Minuscule waves that propagate across atom -- thin layers of crystal could carry information, light, and heat in nanoscale devices. For the first time, the frequency and amplitude of these waves, called surface phonon polaritons, can be tuned by altering the number of layers of crystals, and they travel far making practical applications for these signals feasible.

Future electronics with super-efficient hard drives: Electricity controls magnetism Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PST Researchers have demonstrated how a magnetic structure can be altered quickly in novel materials. The effect could be used in efficient hard drives of the future. Data on a hard drive is stored by flipping small magnetic domains. Researchers have now changed the magnetic arrangement in a material much faster than is possible with today's hard drives. The researchers used a new technique where an electric field triggers these changes, in contrast to the magnetic fields commonly used in consumer devices. This method uses a new kind of material where the magnetic and electric properties are coupled. Applied in future devices, this kind of strong interaction between magnetic and electric properties can have numerous advantages.

Icy wreckage discovered in nearby planetary system Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST Astronomers have discovered the splattered remains of comets colliding together around a nearby star. The researchers believe they are witnessing the total destruction of one of these icy bodies once every five minutes.

Detailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST The most detailed 3-D picture yet has been created of a membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and autism. The mGlu1 receptor, which helps regulate the neurotransmitter glutamate, belongs to a superfamily of molecules known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs sit in the cell membrane and sense various molecules outside the cell, including odors, hormones, neurotransmitters and light. After binding these molecules, GPCRs trigger a specific response inside the cell. More than one-third of therapeutic drugs target GPCRs -— including allergy and heart medications, drugs that target the central nervous system and anti-depressants.

Warmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:25 AM PST Researchers have debated for more than two decades the likely impacts, if any, of global warming on the worldwide incidence of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that infects more than 300 million people each year. Now, ecologists are reporting the first hard evidence that malaria does -- as had long been predicted -- creep to higher elevations during warmer years and back down to lower altitudes when temperatures cool.

Combatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A protein containing a metal complex for blue paint inhibits growth of a pathogenic bacterium through iron deprivation. Scientists have found a new method using an artificial metalloprotein (a protein that contains a metal) to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is a common bacterium that can cause diseases in humans and evolves to exhibit multiple antibiotic resistance.

Smart nanofibers to treat kidney failure Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:28 AM PST A simple way to treat kidney failure. A new technique for purifying blood using a nanofiber mesh could prove useful as a cheap, wearable alternative to kidney dialysis.

Common mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST Stem cell scientists have identified a mutation in human cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that likely drives relapse. The research could translate into improved patient care strategies for this particular blood cancer, which typically affects children but is more deadly in adults.

'Seeing' bodies with sound (no sight required) Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST People born unable to see are readily capable of learning to perceive the shape of the human body through soundscapes that translate images into sound, according to researchers. With a little training, soundscapes representing the outlines and silhouettes of bodies cause the brain's visual cortex -- and specifically an area dedicated in normally sighted people to processing body shapes -- to light up with activity.

Some people really just don't like music Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:04 AM PST It is often said that music is a universal language. However, a new report finds that music doesn't speak to everyone. There are people who are perfectly able to experience pleasure in other ways who simply don't get music in the way the rest of us do.

Warming temperatures are pushing two chickadee species -- and their hybrids -- northward Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST The zone of overlap between two popular, closely related backyard birds is moving northward at a rate that matches warming winter temperatures, according to a study. In a narrow strip that runs across the eastern U.S., Carolina Chickadees from the south meet and interbreed with Black-capped Chickadees from the north. The new study finds that this hybrid zone has moved northward at a rate of 0.7 mile per year over the last decade. That's fast enough that the researchers had to add an extra study site partway through their project in order to keep up.

Are you smarter than a 5-year-old? Preschoolers can do algebra Posted: 06 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST Millions of high school and college algebra students are united in a shared agony over solving for x and y, and for those to whom the answers don't come easily, it gets worse: Most preschoolers and kindergarteners can do some algebra before even entering a math class. A new study finds that most preschoolers and kindergarteners, or children between 4 and 6, can do basic algebra naturally.

Storing extra rocket fuel in space for future missions? Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:23 AM PST Future lunar missions may be fueled by gas stations in space, according to engineers: A spacecraft might dock at a propellant depot, somewhere between the Earth and the moon, and pick up extra rocket fuel before making its way to the lunar surface. Orbiting way stations could reduce the fuel a spacecraft needs to carry from Earth -- and with less fuel onboard, a rocket could launch heavier payloads, such as large scientific experiments.

Computers used to 'see' neurons to better understand brain function Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST A study reveals new information about the motor circuits of the brain that may one day help those developing therapies to treat conditions such as stroke, schizophrenia, spinal cord injury or Alzheimer's disease. In this study, which processed images and reconstructed neuronal motor circuitry in the brain, the researchers collected and analyzed data on minute structures over various developmental stages, linking neuroscience and computer science.

Earth's mantle plasticity explained: Missing mechanism for deforming olivine-rich rocks Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST The Earth's mantle is a solid layer that undergoes slow, continuous convective motion. But how do these rocks deform, thus making such motion possible, given that minerals such as olivine (the main constituent of the upper mantle) do not exhibit enough defects in their crystal lattice to explain the deformations observed in nature? Scientists have provided an unexpected answer to this question. It involves little known and hitherto neglected crystal defects, known as 'disclinations', which are located at the boundaries between the mineral grains that make up rocks.

E-cigarettes: Gateway to nicotine addiction for U.S. teens Posted: 06 Mar 2014 08:22 AM PST E-cigarettes, promoted as a way to quit regular cigarettes, may actually be a new route to conventional smoking and nicotine addiction for teenagers, according to a new study. In the first analysis of the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking among adolescents in the United States, researchers found that adolescents who used the devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth around the country also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent.

Hubble witnesses an asteroid mysteriously disintegrating Posted: 06 Mar 2014 07:08 AM PST The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has photographed the never-before-seen break-up of an asteroid, which has fragmented into as many as ten smaller pieces. Although fragile comet nuclei have been seen to fall apart as they approach the Sun, nothing like the breakup of this asteroid, P/2013 R3, has ever been observed before in the asteroid belt.

Engineering team increases power efficiency for future computer processors Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST Scientists have made major improvements in computer processing using an emerging class of magnetic materials called 'multiferroics,' and these advances could make future devices far more energy-efficient than current technologies.

Heart failure unknowns a roadblock to managing health Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST Patients and their families lack basic skills and knowledge to manage a heart condition successfully, new research shows. A systematic review of 49 studies, involving more than 1,600 patients and their caregivers, showed that this lack of knowledge leads to confusion, delays in seeking help, and uncertainty about the long-term outlook and how to manage their own care. Part of the problem is heart failure is not well understood by many patients or their families. Heart failure is not a heart attack, though the latter can cause the condition. Heart failure refers to an overall decline in function in which blood flow can't meet the body's demands.

Japanese Town: Half the survivors of mega-earthquake, tsunami, have PTSD symptoms Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new study shows that more than half the survivors in one Japanese town exhibited 'clinically concerning' symptoms of PTSD following the country's mega-earthquake and tsunami. Two-thirds of survivors also reported symptoms of depression. Having work to do has proven important in increasing resilience.

Addressing the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:55 AM PST A new, joint series called 'Obstetric Care Consensus' is being introduced by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The first issue addresses the rapid increase in cesarean births. In 2011, one in three pregnant women in the U.S. delivered babies by cesarean delivery. While cesarean delivery may be life-saving for the mother, the baby or both, the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates since 1996 without clear indication raises concerns that this type of delivery may be overused.

Computational tool offers new insight into key biological processes Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a computational tool designed to guide future research on biochemical pathways by identifying which components in a biological system are related to specific biochemical processes, including those processes responsible for gene expression, cell signaling, stress response, and metabolism.

Energy drinks linked to teen health risks Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:53 AM PST The uplifting effects of energy drinks are well advertised, but a new report finds consumption among teenagers may be linked with poor mental health and substance use. The researchers found that high school students prone to depression as well as those who are smoke marijuana or drink alcohol are more likely to consume energy drinks than their peers. The researchers are calling for limits on teen's access to the drinks and reduction in the amount of the caffeine in each can.

Going nuclear -- in a small way Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:52 AM PST New research has provided a comprehensive overview of new small-scale nuclear reactors, which could be suitable candidates to cope with the world's ever growing demand for energy. According to official estimates world energy consumption in 2035 will be more than double that of 1995. A substantial challenge for engineers and scientists over the coming decades is to develop and deploy power plants with sufficient capacity and flexibility to meet this increasing need while simultaneously reducing emissions. The new article aims to show to what extent a new type of nuclear reactor, termed the 'Small Modular Reactor' (SMR), might provide a solution to fulfil these energy needs.

Santorini tree rings support the traditional dating of the volcanic eruption Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:52 AM PST Will the dating of the volcanic eruption of Santorini remain an unsolved mystery? The question whether this natural disaster occurred 3,500 or 3,600 years ago is of great historiographical importance and has indeed at times been the subject of heated discussion among experts. After investigating tree rings, scientists have concluded that the volcano erupted in the 16th century BC, rather than any earlier than that.

Target for shutting down growth of prostate cancer cells identified Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have identified an important step toward potentially shutting down the growth of prostate cancer cells. Metastatic prostate cancer currently is treated with drugs that inhibit a protein called Androgen Receptor. This treatment initially halts cancer growth, but eventually the cancer becomes resistant to the drugs. These new findings offer a new avenue of research.

Robotic prosthesis turns drummer into a three-armed cyborg Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:51 AM PST Scientists have created a robotic drumming prosthesis with motors that power two drumsticks. The first stick is controlled both physically by the musicians' arms and electronically using electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors. The other stick "listens" to the music being played and improvises.

Testis size matters for genome evolution Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:38 AM PST Scientists used a sequence dataset from 55 species of primates to test for a correlation between molecular evolutionary rates across a genome (substitution rates) and testes weights, used in the study as a proxy for increased sperm production and competition.

Love or kill thy neighbor? New study into animal social behavior Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST A theoretical study has shed new light on the conditions that lead to the evolution of spite or altruism in structured populations. Understanding the way in which social behaviors such as altruism -- when animals benefit others at their own expense -- develop is a long-standing problem that has generated thousands of articles and heated debates.

Extraordinary momentum and spin discovered in evanescent light waves Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Researchers have identified unexpected dynamic properties of a type of light wave called evanescent waves. These surprising findings contrast sharply with previous knowledge about light and photons.

Waiting for donor heart: Motion prolongs survival Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST For many people with advanced cardiac insufficiency, a heart transplant may be their only hope. But waiting for a donor heart to come along is a race against time. Patients who remain active and stay in good shape psychologically can significantly increase their chances of surviving this period. Anxiety-ridden, depressive and passive patients, on the other hand, run the risk of further serious deterioration of their heart's ability to function, a research study shows.

Eating red, processed meat: What scientists say Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:37 AM PST Recent reports warn about a link between eating red and processed meat and the risk of developing cancer in the gut. These reports have resulted in new nutritional recommendations that advise people to limit their intake of red and processed meats. A recent perspective paper, authored by 23 scientists, underlines the uncertainties in the scientific evidence and points to further research needed to resolve these issues and improve the foundation for future recommendations on the intake of red meat.

New research could help make 'roll-up' digital screens a reality for all Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:36 AM PST New technology could make flexible electronics such as roll-up tablet computers, widely available in the near future. So far, this area of electronic design has been hampered by unreliability and complexity of production.

Elephant age estimated from voice: A powerful conservation tool? Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:36 AM PST Researchers have been able to estimate the age of an elephant based on its vocal sounds. Results showed that they could distinguish infants, calves, juveniles, and adults with 70 percent accuracy and youngsters (infants/calves) from adults with 95 percent accuracy. The call feature that was most useful for doing this was overall frequency -- not surprisingly, since vocal frequency usually decreases as an animal grows larger.

Learning how to listen with neurofeedback Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:36 AM PST When listening to music or learning a new language, auditory perceptual learning occurs: a process in which your recognition of specific sounds improves, making you more efficient in processing and interpreting them. A neuroscientist now shows that auditory perceptual learning can be facilitated using neurofeedback, helping to focus on the sound differences that really matter.

Atypical development in siblings of children with autism is detectable at 12 months Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST Atypical development can be detected as early as 12 months of age among the siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder, a study has found. 28 percent of children with older siblings with ASD showed delays in other areas of development, identified in their social, communication, cognitive or motor development by 12 months. The most common deficits were in the social-communication domain, such as extreme shyness with unfamiliar people, lower levels of eye contact and delayed pointing. "Having a child in the family with autism spectrum disorder means that subsequent infants born into that family should be regularly screened for developmental and behavioral problems by their pediatricians," said the study's lead author.

New robotic refueling technologies tested Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST NASA has successfully concluded a remotely controlled test of new technologies that would empower future space robots to transfer hazardous oxidizer -- a type of propellant -- into the tanks of satellites in space today.

Maize and bacteria: A one-two punch knocks copper out of stamp sand Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST Scientists are working toward a simple, practical way to remediate mine waste laced with copper and other toxic elements. And they are shedding light on the inner workings of the plants and bacteria that do the cleanup.

Look back at US soybeans shows genetic improvement behind increased yields Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Soybean improvement through plant breeding has been critical over the years for the success of the crop. In a new study that traces the genetic changes in varieties over the last 80 years of soybean breeding, researchers concluded that increases in yield gains and an increased rate of gains over the years are largely due to the continual release of greater-yielding cultivars by breeders.

New insights into ancient Pacific settlers' diet: Diet based on foraging, not horticulture Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Researchers studying 3,000-year-old skeletons from the oldest known cemetery in the Pacific Islands are casting new light on the diet and lives of the enigmatic Lapita people, the likely ancestors of Polynesians. Their results—obtained from analysing stable isotope ratios of three elements in the bone collagen of 49 adults buried at the Teouma archaeological site on Vanuatu's Efate Island—suggest that its early Lapita settlers ate reef fish, marine turtles, fruit bats, free-range pigs and chickens, rather than primarily relying on growing crops for human food and animal fodder.

Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Using iron ions and chemistry found in the adhesive proteins of a certain mollusk, scientists have developed a hydrogel actuator that moves when its pH is raised. Hydrogels are soft networks of polymers with high water content, like jello. Because of their soft, gentle texture, they have the potential to interact safely with living tissues and have applications in a number of medical areas, including tissue engineering. The hydrogel moved on its own, bending like an inchworm where the ions had been deposited.

New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Vision scientists report that dogs have an area of their retina that strongly resembles the human fovea. What's more, this retinal region is susceptible to genetic blinding diseases in dogs just as it is in humans.

New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST A new dinosaur species found in Portugal may be the largest land predator discovered in Europe, as well as one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs from the Jurassic. T. gurneyi had blade-shaped teeth up to 10 cm long, which indicates it may have been at the top of the food chain in the Iberian Peninsula roughly 150 million years ago. The scientists estimate that the dinosaur could reach 10 meters long and weigh around 4 to 5 tons.

Human activity influences beach bacterial diversity Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Human activity influences ocean beach bacterial communities, and bacterial diversity may indicate greater ecological health and resiliency to sewage contamination. Beaches all contain bacteria, but some bacteria are usually from sewage and may contaminate the water, posing a public health risk.

Long-lasting device protects against HIV, pregnancy Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Women's reproductive health may never be the same, thanks to a biomedical engineer and his first-of-its-kind intravaginal ring that reliably delivers an antiretroviral drug and a contraceptive for months. The ring is designed to protect against HIV and herpes as well as unwanted pregnancy. It will be the first device with the potential to offer this protection to be tested in women. The ring, being manufactured now, soon will undergo its first test in women.

The Eurasian lynx as a key to the conservation and future viability of the endangered Iberian lynx Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:13 PM PST Understanding the mechanisms which control reproduction in lynx is essential for their continued viability and effective conservation. Scientists discovered that the Corpus luteum of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) has the longest lifespan among mammals known to date. This hormone producing tissue is responsible for restricting this lynx species (and presumably the other lynx species as well) to only having one estrous cycle per year (mono-estrous) and therefore only one opportunity per year to become pregnant.

Potential target found for drug to treat allergic asthma Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST An enzyme that helps maintain immune system function by "throwing away" a specific protein has a vital role in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma, new research in mice suggests. The finding suggests the enzyme could be a target for drugs used to treat allergic asthma.

Alzheimer's disease much larger cause of death than reported, study shows Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:12 PM PST Alzheimer's disease may contribute to close to as many deaths in the United States as heart disease or cancer, a new study suggests. Currently, Alzheimer's disease falls sixth on the list of leading causes of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whereas heart disease and cancer are numbers one and two, respectively. These numbers are based on what is reported on death certificates.

Personalized gene therapy locks out HIV, paving the way to control virus without antiretroviral drugs Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PST The immune cells of 12 HIV positive patients have been successfully genetically engineered by researchers to resist infection, and decrease the viral loads of some patients taken off antiretroviral drug therapy (ADT) entirely -— including one patient whose levels became undetectable. The study is the first published report of any gene editing approach in humans. "This study shows that we can safely and effectively engineer an HIV patient's own T cells to mimic a naturally occurring resistance to the virus, infuse those engineered cells, have them persist in the body, and potentially keep viral loads at bay without the use of drugs," said the senior author.

Cocaine, pleasure principle explored in new rat study Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST On the other side of the cocaine high is the cocaine crash, and understanding how one follows the other can provide insight into the physiological effects of drug abuse. For decades, brain research has focused on the pleasurable effects of cocaine largely by studying the dopamine pathway. But this approach has left many questions unanswered. The findings of the new study suggest that the same neural mechanism responsible for the negative effects of cocaine likely contribute to the animal's decision to ingest cocaine.

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