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Difficult dance steps: learning how membrane transporters move

Researchers have tried for decades to understand the undulations and gyrations that allow transport proteins to shuttle molecules from one side of a cell membrane to the other. Now scientists report that they have found a way to penetrate the mystery. They have worked out every step in the molecular dance that enables one such transporter to do its job.

Study: It's not easy 'being green'

Think you don't recycle enough? You're not alone. However, people's ability to overcome self-doubt plays a critical role in how successfully they act in support of environmental issues, according to a new study.

Defending against electromagnetic attacks

Electromagnetic radiation is invisible to people, however electromagnetic fields can interfere with or damage electronic devices. A new measuring instrument can now determine the strength, frequency, and direction of the attack.

Living with chronic pain

People who suffer with chronic musculoskeletal pain face a daily struggle with their sense of self and find it difficult to prove the legitimacy of their condition.

Process holds promise for production of synthetic gasoline from carbon dioxide

A chemical system can efficiently perform the first step in the process of creating syngas, gasoline and other energy-rich products out of carbon dioxide.

Molecular imaging tracers help determine treatment plans for brain metastases

Imaging with the molecular imaging tracer 18F-FDOPA can help distinguish radiation-induced lesions from new tumor growth in patients who have been treated with radiation for brain metastases, according to new research. Using this amino acid tracer, researchers found that physicians could accurately differentiate the two types of lesions 83 percent of the time. Progression-free survival could also be predicted through evaluating the 18F-FDOPA imaging results.

Understanding hearing

Children learning to speak depend on functional hearing. So-called cochlear implants allow deaf people to hear again by stimulating the auditory nerve directly. Researchers are working to overcome current limits of the technology. They are investigating the implementation of signals in the auditory nerve and the subsequent neuronal processing in the brain.

Mice can inherit learned sensitivity to a smell

A surprising example of apparent inheritance of an experience: Researchers found that when a mouse is trained to become afraid of a certain odor, his or her pups will be more sensitive to that odor, even though the pups have never encountered it.

MRI technique reveals low brain iron in ADHD patients

Magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive way to measure iron levels in the brains of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study. Researchers said the method could help physicians and parents make better informed decisions about medication.

Air pollution, genetics combine to increase risk for autism

Exposure to air pollution appears to increase the risk for autism among people who carry a genetic disposition for the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to newly published research.

Novel rehabilitation device improves motor skills after stroke

Using a novel stroke rehabilitation device that converts an individual's thoughts to electrical impulses to move upper extremities, stroke patients reported improvements in their motor function and ability to perform activities of daily living.

Imaging shows long-term impact of blast-induced brain injuries in veterans

Using a special type of magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have found that soldiers who suffered mild traumatic brain injury induced by blast exposure exhibit long-term brain differences, according to a new study.

PRP therapy improves degenerative tendon disease in athletes

Ultrasound-guided delivery of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improves functionality and reduces recovery time in athletes with degenerative disease in their tendons, according to a new study.

To boost concern for environment, emphasize a long future, not impending doom

Looking back on a nation's past can prompt action that leads to a greener future, according to new research. The research suggests that one strong way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior is to emphasize the long life expectancy of a nation, and not necessarily its imminent downfall.

Cardiac MRI reveals energy drinks alter heart function

Healthy adults who consumed energy drinks high in caffeine and taurine had significantly increased heart contraction rates one hour later, according to a new study.

New drug cuts risk of deadly transplant side effect in half

A new class of drugs reduced the risk of patients contracting a serious and often deadly side effect of lifesaving bone marrow transplant treatments, according to a study.

Bronchial thermoplasty shows long-term effectiveness for asthma

The beneficial effects of bronchial thermoplasty, a non-pharmacologic treatment for asthma, last at least five years, according to researchers. The therapy, in which heat is applied to a patient's airways during a bronchoscopy procedure, was approved by the FDA in 2010. The researchers report that reductions in severe asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, medication use and missed workdays continued out to five years after the procedure was performed.

When aluminum outshines gold: Aluminum's valuable plasmonic properties detailed

Aluminum's plasmonic properties may make it far more valuable than gold and silver for certain applications. Researchers provide experimental and theoretical proof of the metal's potential.

Reforestation in Lower Mississippi Valley reduces sediment

A modeling study shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and the amount of sediment entering the area's rivers and streams -- and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.

Evolution, Civil War history entwine in plant fossil with a tragic past

A fossil leaf collected on a Virginia canal bank is one of North America's oldest flowering plants, a 120-million-year-old species new to science. The find raises questions about whether pollen evolved along with flowering plants or came later. It also unearths a forgotten Civil War episode reminiscent of "Twelve Years a Slave": Union troops forced a group of freedmen to dig the canal that exposed the fossil.

New light shed on solar water-splitting process

Scientists have provided new insight into how solar water-splitting cells work. An important and overlooked parameter, they report, is the ion-permeability of electrocatalysts used in water-splitting devices.

Most detailed catalog of galaxies traces evolution of the universe during last 10,000 million years

Astronomers have now identified and classified more than half a million galaxies, after seven years of close observation of the universe.

Head out to the ski slopes, for happiness' sake

Are you contemplating a skiing holiday? The all-out pleasure and enjoyment you experience on a pair of skis or a snowboard is positively priceless to enhance your overall happiness. This is true even if you only get to go out on the slopes once in a blue moon, say researchers.

Division of labor in the test tube

The division of labor is more efficient than a struggle through life without help from others -- this also applies to microorganisms. Researchers came to this conclusion when they performed experiments with bacteria that were deficient in the production of certain amino acids and depended on a partner to provide the missing nutrient. Bacterial strains that complemented each other's need showed a fitness increase of 20 percent relative to a non-deficient strain without partner.

Can big cats co-exist? Study challenges lion threat to cheetah cubs

New research into cheetah cub survival has refuted the theory that lions are a cub's main predator and that big cats cannot coexist in conservation areas. The study found that cubs in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park were seven times more likely to survive then on the Serengeti Plains and that lions were not found to be the cubs' main predatory threat.

New study suggests low vitamin D causes damage to brain

A new study suggests that a diet low in vitamin D causes damage to the brain.

Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools: the real picture

Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges.

Brain connectivity study reveals striking differences between men and women

A new brain connectivity study has found striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women that's lending credence to some commonly-held beliefs about their behavior.

Secrets to 'extreme adaptation' found in Burmese python genome

The Burmese python's ability to ramp up its metabolism and enlarge its organs to swallow and digest prey whole can be traced to unusually rapid evolution and specialized adaptations of its genes and the way they work, an international team of biologists says.

Scientists build a low-cost, open-source 3-D metal printer

Using under $1,500 worth of materials, scientists have built a 3-D metal printer than can lay down thin layers of steel to form complex geometric objects.

'Designer sperm' inserts custom genes into offspring

The "new genetics" promises to change faulty genes of future generations by introducing new, functioning genes using "designer sperm." Research shows that introducing genetic material via a viral vector into mouse sperm leads to the presence and activity of the genetic material in the embryos. These genes are inherited and functioning through three generations of the mice tested, and the discovery could break new ground in genetic medicine.

Functional importance of dinosaur beaks illuminated

Why beaks evolved in some theropod dinosaurs and what their function might have been is the subject of new research by an international team of palaeontologists.

Bothersome pain afflicts half of older Americans

Findings from a unique study underscore need for public health action on pain and disability in the elderly.

Energy drinks plus alcohol pose a public health threat

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study that examines the impact of a growing trend among young adults.

NASA investigating the life of Comet ISON

After several days of continued observations, scientists continue to work to determine and to understand the fate of Comet ISON: There's no doubt that the comet shrank in size considerably as it rounded the sun and there's no doubt that something made it out on the other side to shoot back into space.

Single spray of oxytocin improves brain function in children with autism, study suggests

A single dose of the hormone oxytocin, delivered via nasal spray, may improve the core social deficits in children with autism by making social interactions with other people more rewarding and more efficiently processed, researchers report.

Microplastic transfers chemicals, impacting health: Plastic ingestion delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue

With global production of plastic exceeding 280 metric tons every year, a fair amount of it makes its way to the natural environment. However, until now researchers haven't known whether ingested plastic transfers chemical additives or pollutants to wildlife. A new study shows toxic concentrations of pollutants and additives enter the tissue of animals that have eaten microplastic.

Kids whose bond with mother was disrupted early in life show changes in brain

Children who experience profound neglect have been found to be more prone to a behavior known as "indiscriminate friendliness," characterized by an inappropriate willingness to approach adults, including strangers. Now researchers are reporting some of the first evidence from human studies suggesting that this behavior is rooted in brain adaptations associated with early life experiences.

Microplastics make marine worms sick

Tiny bits of plastic trash could spell big trouble for marine life, starting with the worms. Marine worms play a key ecological role as an important source of food for other animals.

New family of proteins linked to major role in cancer

Scientists have described a new family of proteins that appear to play a key role in cancer and might be targets for future cancer drugs. A major new study sets out the structure of the new family, called glutamate intramembrane proteases -- the founding member of which plays a critical role in transforming healthy cells into cancer cells.

Sorting good germs from bad, in bacterial world

There are good E. coli and bad E. coli. Some live in your gut and help you keep healthy, others can cause serious disease -- even death. For pathologists, telling them apart has been a long and laborious task sometimes taking days. New technology using microscale electric field gradients now can tell the difference between good and bad bacteria in minutes from extremely small samples.

Appearing to be chronically ill may not be good indication of poor health

New research says how sick a patient appears to be may have limited value in diagnosing their actual state of health.

New research shows obesity is inflammatory disease

A new "obesity drug" may block the effects of high sugar and fat diets. Scientists reports on how an abnormal amount of the inflammatory protein, PAR2, appears in abdominal fat tissue of overweight humans and rats, and is increased on human immune cell surfaces. When obese rats on this diet were given a drug that binds to PAR2, its inflammation-causing properties were blocked, as were other effects -- including obesity itself.

Predict Alzheimer's disease within two years of screening

In a new study, scientists accurately predicted (at a rate of 90%) which of their research subjects with mild cognitive impairment would receive a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease within the following two years, and which subjects would not develop this disease.

Micromovements hold hidden information about severity of autism

Movements so minute they cannot be detected by the human eye are being analyzed by researchers to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and determine its severity in children and young adults.

Ethnic identification helps Latina adolescents resist media barrage of body images

A strong sense of ethnic identity can help Latina girls feel positive about their body and appearance, a new study concludes, even as this group slips further into dissatisfaction with themselves when compared to a media-filled world of unrealistic images of thin white women.

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes, depression

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression, according to a recent study.

Increased risk for cardiac ischemia in patients with PTSD

There is growing concern that long-term untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may increase the risk of developing a number of medical problems, particularly compromised cardiovascular health. Considering that up to 30% of veterans suffer from PTSD, this is an important goal.

Sports bras don't hold up, says researcher developing more supportive undergarment

A professor in apparel, textiles and interior design is researching the movement of breast tissue to develop a better supportive sports bra.

Birds with bigger 'badges' rule the roost

A New Zealand bird that conspicuously displays its status on the top of its head can provide valuable insight into the social conventions of all creatures, including humans, scientists have found.

Driver's eye movements key to controlled curve driving

All drivers know from personal experience that they must keep their eyes on the road when driving through curves. But how exactly does looking at the road guide the car through the curve? Research reveals new crucial aspects of eye movements in curve driving.

New evidence suggests Neanderthals organized their living spaces

Scientists have found that Neanderthals organized their living spaces in ways that would be familiar to modern humans, a discovery that once again shows similarities between these two close cousins.

Dual protein knockout could lead to new male contraceptive

A new male contraceptive could be on the horizon after scientists identified a novel way to block the transport of sperm during ejaculation.

Plastic found to account for the majority of marine microlitter accumulating in the food chain

Researchers have demonstrated that microplastics are transferred in the marine food web. The study also provided additional support to suspicions that many plankton organisms are unable to separate plastic particles from their natural food and that they therefore also ingest plastic.

New research shows promise for possible HIV cure

Researchers have used radioimmunotherapy to destroy remaining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells in the blood samples of patients treated with antiretroviral therapy, offering the promise of a strategy for curing HIV infection.

Face to face with Sweden's social robot

Human interaction with robots is about to get a little more personal. Meet "Furhat," the face of tomorrow's interactive technology.

Citrus fruit inspires a new energy-absorbing metal structure

It has been said that nature provides us with everything that we need. A new study may lend credence to that claim. Researchers have developed an aluminum hybrid that could be used to optimize technical components and safety materials. And the inspiration came from an unexpected source - the peel of the pomelo fruit (Citrus maxima). Pomelo fruits have a mass of one to two kilograms, but are able to withstand impact forces resulting from falls of over 10 meters. The fruit's impact resistance is mainly due to the hierarchical structuring of the peel, which is made up of a graded, fiber-reinforced foam. The new aluminum hybrid is the product of a bio-inspired approach, combining metals with different mechanical properties that reflect these naturally occurring structures and mimic the strength of the pomelo peel.

The secret beauty of the world wide web

From a distance these stunning images look likes stars exploding, fireworks or simply striking patterns - but what you're actually looking at are the hidden dimensions of the world wide web.

Our pupils adjust as we imagine bright and dark scenes

Conjuring up a visual image in the mind -- like a sunny day or a night sky -- has a corresponding effect on the size of our pupils, as if we were actually seeing the image.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol disrupts brain circuitry: No safe level of drinking during pregnancy, neuroscientist says

Prenatal exposure to alcohol severely disrupts major features of brain development that potentially lead to increased anxiety and poor motor function, conditions typical in humans with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, say neuroscientists.

Talk therapy may reverse biological changes in PTSD patients

New research suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) not only reduces symptoms but also affects the underlying biology of this disorder.

Tracking fracking pollution

A team of geochemistry researchers has just completed the first detailed study to examine the natural quality of groundwater prior to fracking.

Biotemplated design of piezoelectric energy harvesting device developed

Scientists have developed a biotemplated design for a flexible piezoelectric energy harvesting device, called a "nanogenerator."

Continuing with pledge pathways to 2030 could push climate goals out of reach

Current pledges for greenhouse gas emission reductions are inadequate and will further increase the challenge to reach internationally agreed climate targets, according to new research.

Current sound-localization theories turned 'on their ear'

New research challenges the two dominant theories of how people localize sounds, explains why neuronal responses to sounds are so diverse and shows how sound can be localized, even with the absence of one half of the brain.

New thermoelectronic generator

Through a process known as thermionic conversion, heat energy can be converted into electricity with very high efficiency. Because of its promise, researchers have been trying for more than half a century to develop a practical thermionic generator, with little luck. That luck may soon change, thanks to a new design -- dubbed a thermoelectronic generator.

Division of labor in the test tube: Bacteria grow faster if they feed each other

The division of labor is more efficient than a struggle through life without help from others -- this is also true for microorganisms. Researchers came to this conclusion when they performed experiments with microbes. The scientists worked with bacteria that were deficient in the production of a certain amino acid and therefore depended on a partner to provide the missing nutrient.

Art could help create a better 'STEM' student

Scientists have focused on how to incorporate creativity into STEM education with the implication that doing so will increase the quality of STEM graduates. STEM studies are about problem solving, and creative endeavors are exercises in problem solving, experts say.

Genome for the king cobra sequenced

Biologists who have recently sequenced the genome of the king cobra, say that their work reveals dynamic evolution and adaptation in the snake venom system, which seemingly occurs in response to an evolutionary arms race between venomous snakes and their prey.

Airborne radar looking through thick ice during NASA polar campaigns

The bedrock hidden beneath the thick ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica has intrigued researchers for years. Scientists are interested in how the shape of this hidden terrain affects how ice moves -- a key factor in making predictions about the future of these massive ice reservoirs and their contribution to sea level rise in a changing climate.

A living desert underground: In perpetual darkness of limestone cave, surprisingly diverse ecosystem of microbes discovered

Researchers have discovered a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of microbes in a limestone cave near Tucson, Arizona, eking out a living from not much more than drip water, rock and air. The discovery not only expands our understanding of how microbes manage to colonize every niche on the planet but also could lead to applications ranging from environmental cleanup solutions to drug development.

Nanoscale shape-memory oxide discovered: Opens door to applications in medicine, energy and electronics

Researchers have discovered a way to introduce a shape memory effect in bismuth ferrite that is larger than any observed in a metal. This discovery opens the door to applications in a wide range of fields, including medical, energy and electronics.

Companies could make the switch to wood power

Some companies could economically convert their operations to wood boilers for heat and power, according to a team of forestry researchers.

Rainfall to blame for decline in Arctic peregrines

Rain, crucial to sustaining life on Earth, is proving deadly for young peregrine falcons in Canada's Arctic, a new study shows.

Hubble traces subtle signals of water on hazy worlds

Using the powerful eye of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have found faint signatures of water in the atmospheres of five distant planets. The presence of atmospheric water was reported previously on a few exoplanets orbiting stars beyond our solar system, but this is the first study to conclusively measure and compare the profiles and intensities of these signatures on multiple worlds.

Tipping points: Where may abrupt impacts from climate change occur?

A new report extends the idea of abrupt climate change, stating that even steady, gradual change in the physical climate system can have abrupt impacts elsewhere -- in human infrastructure and ecosystems for example -- if critical thresholds are crossed.

Catastrophic collapse of Sahara Desert's wildlife

A new study warns that the world's largest tropical desert, the Sahara, has suffered a catastrophic collapse of its wildlife populations.

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Most Popular News