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ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

New target for melanoma treatment

The PDK1 gene, known to regulate many cell functions such as metabolism and survival, is now identified as a key regulator in melanoma development and metastasis, offering new opportunities to interfere with cancer progression.

Use of cognitive enhancers discouraged in some patients

Cognitive enhancers -- drugs taken to enhance concentration, memory, alertness and moods -- do not improve cognition or function in people with mild cognitive impairment in the long term, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.

New insights solve 300-year-old problem: The dynamics of Earth's core

Scientists have solved a 300-year-old riddle about which direction the center of Earth spins. Earth's inner core, made up of solid iron, 'superrotates' in an eastward direction -- meaning it spins faster than the rest of the planet -- while the outer core, comprising mainly molten iron, spins westwards at a slower pace.

How and where imagination occurs in human brains

Philosophers and scientists have long puzzled over where human imagination comes from. In other words, what makes humans able to create art, invent tools, think scientifically and perform other incredibly diverse behaviors? The answer, researchers conclude, lies in a widespread neural network -- the brain's "mental workspace" -- that consciously manipulates images, symbols, ideas and theories and gives humans the laser-like mental focus needed to solve complex problems and come up with new ideas.

Light steered in new directions: Two-dimensional material could lead to shaped, wavy, curved, and sharply bending ways to steer light

For the first time, researchers have built and demonstrated the ability of two-dimensional disordered photonic band gap material, designed to be a platform to control light in unprecedented ways. The new material could lead to arbitrarily shaped, wavy, curved, and sharply bending ways to steer light.

On the road to fault-tolerant quantum computing: High temperature superconductivity induced in toplogical insulator

Scientists have induced high temperature superconductivity in a toplogical insulator, an important step on the road to fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Sex differences in presentation of acute coronary syndrome

A higher proportion of women than men 55 years and younger did not have chest pain in acute coronary syndromes (ACS, such as heart attacks or unstable angina), although chest pain was the most common symptom for both sexes, according to a new study.

Economic impact of childhood food allergies estimated

The overall cost of childhood food allergies was estimated at nearly $25 billion annually in a study of caregivers that quantified medical, out-of-pocket, lost work productivity and other expenses, according to a new report.

Scientists use 'wired microbes' to generate electricity from sewage

Engineers have devised a new way to generate electricity from sewage using naturally-occurring "wired microbes" as mini power plants, producing electricity as they digest plant and animal waste.

Harnessing the sun's energy with tiny particles

Engineers are using a falling particle receiver to more efficiently convert the sun's energy to electricity in large-scale, concentrating solar power plants.

Exposure to pig farms and manure fertilizers associated with MRSA infections

Researchers have for the first time found an association between living in proximity to high-density livestock production and community-acquired infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA.

Functional genetic variation in humans: Comprehensive map published

Scientists have presented a map that points to the genetic causes of differences between people. The study offers the largest-ever dataset linking human genomes to gene activity at the level of RNA.

Lifestyle changes may lengthen telomeres, a measure of cell aging

A small pilot study shows for the first time that changes in diet, exercise, stress management and social support may result in longer telomeres, the parts of chromosomes that affect aging.

Early-warning system to prevent fishery collapse

Threats from overfishing can be detected early enough to save fisheries -- and livelihoods -- with minimal adjustments in harvesting practices, a new study shows.

Binge drinking: Five or more drinks common for high school seniors, some drink more

Consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in a row is common among high school seniors, with some students engaging in extreme binge drinking of as many as 15 or more drinks, according to a new study.

Driven to clean: Nesting instinct among pregnant women has an evolutionary backstory

The overwhelming urge that drives many pregnant women to clean, organize and get life in order -— otherwise known as nesting —- is not irrational, but an adaptive behavior stemming from humans' evolutionary past.

Heart attacks in young women -- not all have chest pain

Chest pain is recognized as a symptom of heart troubles, but one out of five women aged 55 years or less having a heart attack do not experience this symptom. The research findings are the first to describe this phenomenon in young women.

Copper bracelets, magnetic wrist straps fail to help rheumatoid arthritis

Copper bracelets and magnet wrist straps have no real effect on pain, swelling, or disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new findings.

Rare gene variant linked to macular degeneration

An international team of researchers has identified a gene mutation linked to age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over age 50.

Young women with breast cancer overestimate the benefit of having second breast removed

A survey of young women with breast cancer found that many often overestimate the odds that cancer will occur in their other, healthy breast, and decide to have the healthy breast surgically removed even though most understood that removing both breasts does not extend their survival.

Immune system marker tied to improved bone marrow transplant outcomes

The risk of death following bone marrow transplantation can be reduced about 60 percent using a new technique to identify bone marrow donors who make the most potent cancer-fighting immune cells.

'Vicious cycle' shields, spreads cancer cells

A "vicious cycle" produces mucus that protects uterine and pancreatic cancer cells and promotes their proliferation, according to research.

Plankton Portal uses crowd-sourcing to classify strange oceanic creatures

Today, an online citizen-science project "Plankton Portal" launches. Plankton Portal allows you to explore the open ocean from the comfort of your own home. Dive hundreds of feet deep, and observe the unperturbed ocean and the myriad animals that inhabit the earth's last frontier.

Video games improve your motion perception, but only when walking backwards

Psychologists examined whether action video game players had superior motion perception. They discovered that playing first-person action games can enhance your perception of movement – but only when you're walking backwards.

New catalyzer to avoid environmental pollution from chlorinated volatile organic compounds

Researchers have developed and patented a new catalyst that efficiently removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorinated in gas streams, pollutants involved in the destruction of the ozone layer and acts as greenhouse gases, in addition to having toxic effects in humans.

Who was eating salmon 45,000 years ago in the Caucasus?

Why did anatomically modern humans replace Neandertals in Europe around 40,000 years ago? One hypothesis suggests that Neandertals were rigid in their dietary choice, targeting large herbivorous mammals, such as horse, bison and mammoths, while modern humans also exploited a wider diversity of dietary resources, including fish. This dietary flexibility of modern humans would have been a big advantage when competing with Neandertals and led to their final success. But new research does not support this hypothesis.

Ten-year project redraws the map of bird brains

Pursuing their interests in using the brains of birds as a model for the human brain, neuroscientists have just completed a mapping of the bird brain based on a 10-year exploration of the tiny cerebrums of eight species of birds.

Osteoarthritis and the (not so) painful step toward a cure

A novel technique for imaging muscle function while in motion has been developed. Research in this area could uncover the root of musculoskeletal disorders, such as the development of osteoarthritis following ACL surgery.

Carbonation alters the mind's perception of sweetness

Carbonation, an essential component of popular soft drinks, alters the brain's perception of sweetness and makes it difficult for the brain to determine the difference between sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Mt. Zion dig reveals possible second temple period priestly mansion

An archaeological dig at Jerusalem's Mount Zion has revealed the lower levels of what appears to be a first-century mansion, perhaps priestly, unusually well-preserved because of the historical vagaries of the city's rebirth following its 70 C.E. destruction by the Romans. The dig is revealing domestic details in the lives of Jesus's enemies, the city's elite classes, including luxury architectural elements and possible commercial interests.

Patient-specific cure discovered for dangerous heart rhythm disorder

A research team has successfully and completely reversed the effects of the hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) mutation in long QT syndrome 2 in patient-specific heart cells, scoring a world's first. This novel experiment paves the way for the better understanding on how drugs affect cell and intra-cell disordered function and allows safe testing of new compounds on patients' own cells, without the risk of side effects to the patients themselves.

Brain is hard-wired for chronic pain

Researchers used brain scans to show that the structure of the brain may predict whether a person will suffer chronic low back pain. The results support the growing idea that the brain plays a critical role in chronic pain, a concept that may lead to changes in the way doctors treat patients.

Link between oil spill exposure and hematologic, hepatic toxicity

A new study reports that workers exposed to crude oil and dispersants used during the Gulf oil spill cleanup display significantly altered blood profiles, liver enzymes, and somatic symptoms compared to an unexposed control group. Investigators found that platelet counts were significantly decreased in the exposed group, while both hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were notably increased. Their findings suggest that oil spill cleanup workers are at risk for developing hepatic or blood-related disorders.

Host genome controls skin microbiota and inflammation

Numerous studies have linked gut microbiota with various diseases such as obesity or diabetes. Little is known, however, on how gut and skin microbiota composition is controlled. In a recent study, researchers show that composition of skin microbiota is controlled by the host genome and that skin bacteria may have a greater influence on inflammatory diseases than previously thought. Their landmark findings will open the door to identify gene variants controlling skin microbiota and to define their link to various diseases such as skin inflammatory disorders.

Pancreatic stem cells isolated from mice

Scientists have succeeded in growing stem cells that have the ability to develop into two different types of cells that make up a healthy pancreas. The research team has isolated and grown stem cells from the pancreases of mice using a 3-D culture system previously developed by the scientists. The results could eventually lead to ways to repair damaged insulin-producing beta cells or pancreatic duct cells.

Smartphone 'microscope' can detect a single virus, nanoparticles

Your smartphone now can see what the naked eye cannot: A single virus and bits of material less than one-thousandth of the width of a human hair. An engineer has created a portable smartphone attachment to enable sophisticated field testing of fluid and solid samples for detection of viruses and bacteria without need for bulky and expensive microscopes and lab equipment. The device weighs less than half a pound.

Portable, low-cost early-warning test for osteoporosis

A handheld device for diagnosing the early signs of osteoporosis could be available for clinical use within five years.

New evidence on charitable gift restrictions and donor behaviour

New results for an economic experiment on charitable gift restrictions and donor behaviour demonstrates that offering the option to limit a charitable gift increases the average gift size for donors who choose to restrict their gift and for those who do not. These results suggest that restricted gifts are an important tool for increasing donations and may be less costly to the nonprot organization than originally believed.

Financial incentives motivate sedentary adults to exercise

A review study finds that financial incentives – as modest as $5 per week – can increase the amount of exercise people do.

New marker identified for early diagnosis of lung cancer

A protein called isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) is present at high levels in lung cancers and can be detected in the blood, making it a noninvasive diagnostic marker for lung cancers.

Why do young adults start smoking?

The risk of becoming a smoker among young adults who have never smoked is high: 14% will become smokers between the ages of 18 and 24, and three factors predict this behaviour.

Cost-effectiveness analysis aopplied to state breast cancer screening program

When public health budgets are constrained, mammography screening should begin later and occur less frequently, a cost-effectiveness analysis program concludes.

French islands under threat from rising sea levels

By the year 2100, global warming will have caused sea levels to rise by 1 to 3 meters. This will strongly affect islands, their flora, fauna and inhabitants. Scientists have studied the impact of rising sea levels on 1,269 French islands throughout the world. Their model shows that between 5% and 12% of these islands could be totally submerged in the future. On a worldwide scale, they predict that about 300 endemic island species are at risk of extinction, while the habitat of thousands of others will be drastically reduced.

Memory problems, emotional stress result in early readmissions of heart patients

Heart patients' mental state and thinking abilities may help predict whether costly and potentially dangerous early hospital readmission will follow their release after treatment, according to the results of a significant new study.

New organism discovered: Finding will help scientists understand the origins of multicellular life

Researchers have discovered and characterized a new organism that will help scientists understand the molecular mechanisms and ancestral genetic toolkit that enabled animals and fungi to evolve into diverse, multicellular life forms.

Accurate computer model of RNA tetraloop

A computational model accurately simulates the complex twists of a short sequence of RNA as it folds into a critical hairpin structure known as a "tetraloop."

Whole DNA sequencing reveals mutations, new gene for blinding disease

Researchers have tested DNA with the use of whole genome sequencing, a technique that takes into account all variants from both the coding and noncoding regions of the human genome. With this approach the authors report a number of unique RP mutations, a previously undescribed disease gene called NEK2 that involves the retinal photoreceptors, and structural DNA rearrangements originating in introns.

Biologists develop new method for discovering antibiotics

Biologists have developed a revolutionary new method for identifying and characterizing antibiotics, an advance that could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Vaccinating cattle against E. coli could cut human cases of infection by 85 percent

Vaccinating cattle against the E. coli O157 bacterium could cut the number of human cases of the disease by 85 percent, according to scientists.

Thyroid hormone key part in the vascular regulation of body temperature

Researchers have discovered a reason why people with disorders of the thyroid gland may be more sensitive to environmental temperature. According to the study, a previously unknown link has been found between the effects of thyroid hormone on blood vessels, and how this in turn affects body temperature.

Why kids breathe easier in summer

Until now, researchers believed that asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections contributed to disorders that affect children's breathing during sleep. Now a new study demonstrates that, contrary to this belief, viruses alone may be responsible for the seasonal variation seen in children.

Predicting who will have chronic pain

Abnormalities in the structure of the brain predispose people to develop chronic pain after a lower back injury, according to new research. The findings could lead to changes in the way physicians treat patients' pain by treating it aggressively with medication early on to prevent the pain from becoming chronic. Most scientists have assumed chronic back pain stems from the injury site.

Red grapes, blueberries may enhance immune function

In an analysis of 446 compounds for their the ability to boost the innate immune system in humans, researchers discovered just two that stood out from the crowd -- the resveratrol found in red grapes and a compound called pterostilbene from blueberries.

Clean energy least costly to power America's electricity needs

Findings show carbon pollution from power plants can be cut cost-effectively by using wind, solar and natural gas. It's less costly to get electricity from wind turbines and solar panels than coal-fired power plants when climate change costs and other health impacts are factored in, according to a new study.

Urban agriculture: The potential and challenges of producing food in cities

In light of their many benefits, urban gardens are popping up across the nation. But the challenges growers face must be understood and addressed if urban gardens are to become widespread and even profitable.

How birds got their wings: Fossil data show scaling of limbs altered as birds originated from dinosaurs

Birds originated from a group of small, meat-eating theropod dinosaurs called maniraptorans sometime around 150 million years ago. Recent findings from around the world show that many maniraptorans were very bird-like, with feathers, hollow bones, small body sizes and high metabolic rates. But the question remains, at what point did forelimbs evolve into wings -- making it possible to fly?

Energy from tides and currents: Best arrangement of tidal sails device determined

In the long sprint to find new sources of clean, low-cost power, slow and steady might win the race -- the slow-moving water of currents and tides, that is. Just as wind turbines tap into the energy of flowing air to generate electricity, hydrokinetic devices produce power from moving masses of water.

Massive carbon credit sale announced in Madagascar

The Government of Madagascar and the Wildlife Conservation Society have announced that 705,588 carbon credits are certified for sale from the Makira Forest REDD+ Project.

First-time measurements in Greenland snowpack show a drop in atmospheric carbon monoxide since 1950s

A first-ever study of air trapped in the deep snowpack of Greenland shows that atmospheric levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the 1950s were actually slightly higher than what we have today, not lower as has been predicted by computer models. And improved combustion technology has been linked to the lower CO levels.

Depletion of 'traitor' immune cells slows cancer growth in mice

Scientists have developed a strategy to slow tumor growth and prolong survival in mice with cancer by targeting and destroying a type of cell that dampens the body's immune response to cancer.

Physical contact plus ethical marketing equals increased consumer preference

Can world-saving claims like "not tested on animals" and "phosphate free," help sell bottles of shampoo and bars of soap? A new study proves such statements can make consumers more likely to buy, especially when one's sense of touch is appealed to alongside one's sense of social justice.

Death and disability from air pollution down 35 percent in the US

Improvements in US air quality since 1990 have sparked a 35 percent reduction in deaths and disability specifically attributable to air pollution.

New insight into reducing racial, ethnic disparities in diabetes

Despite higher rates of diabetes in black and Hispanic women, the rate at which women die of diabetes-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer is the same for all postmenopausal women, regardless of race or ethnicity, according to a new study.

Speeding up cancer diagnosis during surgery

Experts have developed a highly accurate prototype technique which can produce a detailed 'spectroscopic fingerprint' of each tissue layer removed during surgery. This technique — which can produce detailed maps of the tissue rich in information at the molecular level — has the potential to speed up and improve the diagnosis of cancer tissue during the operation as well as reduce unnecessary surgery.

Wetlands more cost-effective in nutrient removal, but multiple payments would be of uncertain value

Removing nitrogen from the environment "the natural way" by creating a wetland is a long-term, nutrient-removal solution, more cost effective than upgrading a wastewater treatment plant, but it isn't necessarily socially beneficial to offer landowners multiple payments for the environmental services that flow from such wetlands, according to a new study.

New class of drug targets heart disease

Researchers have created a drug that replaces key peptide linked with heart failure, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Human activity affects vertical structure of atmospheric temperature

Human influences have directly impacted the latitude/altitude pattern of atmospheric temperature. That is the conclusion of a new report. The research compares multiple satellite records of atmospheric temperature change with results from a large, multi-model archive of simulations.

A protein that can mean life or death for cells

Scientists have discovered that the protein Mitofusin 2 plays a crucial role in correctly measuring stress levels, and also makes sure the pathways of cell repair or cell death are effective.

Heavily logged forests still valuable for tropical wildlife

New research has found rainforests that have been logged several times continue to hold substantial value for biodiversity and could have a role in conservation.

Environmental complexity promotes biodiversity

A new study helps explain how spatial variation in natural environments helps spur evolution and give rise to biodiversity.

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

FeedaMail: ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

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