ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Statins show promise to reduce major complications following lung surgery
• How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball
• Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus?
• Genetic study of 'co-evolution' could provide clues to better food production
• Planet Mars behaving like a rock star
• Fat, sugar cause bacterial changes that may relate to loss of cognitive function
• In social networks, group boundaries promote the spread of ideas, study finds
• Independence at home program national demonstration saves more than $25 million
• Island rodents take on nightmarish proportions
• Conservatives demonstrate more self control than Liberals, studies suggest
• Pregnancy safer for women with lupus than previously thought
• Mistletoe species lacks genes found in all other complex organisms
• Astronomers discover 854 ultra-dark galaxies in the famous Coma Cluster
• Cells too stiff to scavenge leads to lupus, an autoimmune disease
• Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor
• Legacy of slavery still impacts education in the south
• More accurate method for blood glucose testing
• Dual internal clocks keep plant defenses on schedule
• Study looks at antibiotic choice for treating childhood pneumonia
• Weight-loss surgery may greatly improve incontinence
• New formula expected to spur advances in clean energy generation
• Scarlet macaw skeletons point to early emergence of Pueblo hierarchy
• Smart insulin patch could replace painful injections for diabetes
• California's wildflowers losing diversity in face of warmer, drier winters
• PrEP data links anti-HIV immune response to reduce chance of infection
• Scientists create synthetic membranes that grow like living cells
• Bass use body's swimming muscles to suck in food
• Printing electronics with nanomaterials a cost-friendly, eco-friendly alternative
• For black rhino, zoo diet might be too much of a good thing
• Neurobiology: X-raying ion channels shows they widen and narrow to adapt to what's passing
• Manning up: Men may overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened
• Detecting exoplanets close to their host star
• Cardio-oncology services may improve patient care if more widely available
• Elevated blood pressure in young adults associated with middle-age heart issues
• Gene that controls soybean seed permeability, calcium content, identified
• The challenge of measuring a bird brain
• Structural origin of glass transition
• Emergence of 'Devil's staircase'
• Efficient conversion from spin currents to charge currents in a superconductor
• Clients lost in system when safety-net agencies close
• Blue light sets the beat in biological pacemaker
• Turning fake pills into real treatments
• Car of the future: Autonomous, or cooperative
• Two cultures, same risk for cognitive impairment
• Better outcome prediction of postanoxic coma
• Reversing the deadly side effects of Tylenol overdose
• Researchers successfully target 'Achilles' heel' of MERS virus
• From Darwin to moramora ('take it easy'): Ten new subsocial spider species from Madagascar
• Research team evolves CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases with novel properties
• Taking a close look at formidable camel spider jaws
• Cell that replenishes heart muscle found by researchers
• Destructive power of bubbles could lead to new industrial applications
• Unpacking the mysteries of bacterial cell cycle regulation
• Smoking allowed in growing number of restaurants, bars in Georgia
• The Southeast Pacific produces more nitrous oxide than previously thought
• The secrets of secretion
• New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment
• Legumes control infection of nodules by both symbiotic, endophytic bacteria
• Best Practice Framework is good benchmarking tool for Fracture Liaison Services worldwide
• The mite and the rose: Non-threatening new mite species found in Xinjiang, China

Statins show promise to reduce major complications following lung surgery Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:25 PM PDT Statins have been shown to reduce complications from cardiovascular surgery. To determine whether statins might also help those undergoing major lung surgeries, a team of researchers conducted a well-designed study that randomized patients to receive either a statin or placebo before and after surgery. They found that patients undergoing major lung resection experienced fewer complications overall, however, the differences between groups for specific complications or changes in inflammatory markers failed to reach statistical significance.

How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:24 PM PDT Our brains track moving objects by applying one of the algorithms your phone's GPS uses, according to researchers. This same algorithm also explains why we are fooled by several motion-related optical illusions, including the sudden 'break' of baseball's well known 'curveball illusion.'

Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus? Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:24 PM PDT The interiors of several of our Solar System's planets and moons are icy, and ice has been found on distant extrasolar planets, as well. This ice must exist under extreme pressures and high-temperatures, and potentially contains salty impurities, too. New research focuses on the physics underlying the formation of the types of ice that are stable under these paradoxical-seeming conditions. It could challenge current ideas about the physical properties found inside icy planetary bodies.

Genetic study of 'co-evolution' could provide clues to better food production Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT In 1964, renowned biologists Peter Raven and Paul Erhlich published a landmark study that introduced the concept of co-evolution. Now, an international team of researchers has used genomics to analyze the co-evolution theory and identified the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Scientists believe that understanding how co-evolution works could help provide clues for producing heartier plants and food for a growing global population.

Planet Mars behaving like a rock star Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT If planets had personalities, Mars would be a rock star according to recent preliminary results from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft. Mars sports a 'Mohawk' of escaping atmospheric particles at its poles, 'wears' a layer of metal particles high in its atmosphere, and lights up with aurora after being smacked by solar storms. MAVEN is also mapping out the escaping atmospheric particles.

Fat, sugar cause bacterial changes that may relate to loss of cognitive function Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT A study indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of 'cognitive flexibility,' or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations. This effect was most serious on the high-sugar diet, which also showed an impairment of early learning for both long-term and short-term memory.

In social networks, group boundaries promote the spread of ideas, study finds Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT Social networks affect every aspect of our lives, from the jobs we get and the technologies we adopt to the partners we choose and the healthiness of our lifestyles. But where do they come from? Research shows how social networks form and what that means for the ideas that will spread across them.

Independence at home program national demonstration saves more than $25 million Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:19 PM PDT House calls, a long-running option dating back to the early days of medicine, can be used in a new way to improve geriatric care and lower costs, says a new report.

Island rodents take on nightmarish proportions Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:19 PM PDT Researchers have analyzed size data for rodents worldwide to distinguish the truly massive mice and giant gerbils from the regular-sized rodents. They found that the furry animals with chisel-like teeth are 17 times more likely to evolve to nightmarish proportions on islands than elsewhere. The results are in keeping with an idea called the 'island rule,' which previous studies claimed didn't apply to rodents.

Conservatives demonstrate more self control than Liberals, studies suggest Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:18 PM PDT Evidence from three studies uncovers a 'critical difference' in self-control as a function of political ideology.

Pregnancy safer for women with lupus than previously thought Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:18 PM PDT Most women with lupus whose disease is not very active will have a safe pregnancy, new research concludes. The study also identified several risk factors that might put some women with systemic lupus erythematosus at higher risk for bad outcomes in pregnancy.

Mistletoe species lacks genes found in all other complex organisms Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT A discovery made during an analysis of a species of mistletoe whose apparent ability to survive without key genes involved in energy production could make it one of the most unusual plants on Earth.

Astronomers discover 854 ultra-dark galaxies in the famous Coma Cluster Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT Astronomers have discovered 854 "ultra-dark galaxies" in the Coma Cluster. The new discovery surpasses the 2014 discovery of 47 mysterious dark galaxies by more than 800 and suggests that galaxy clusters are the key environment for the evolution of these mysterious dark galaxies.

Cells too stiff to scavenge leads to lupus, an autoimmune disease Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT Macrophage cells require agility to scavenge and digest dead cells and prevent an immune response to self. In lupus, the macrophages lose that agility, scientists report.

Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT Researchers have identified two proteins in a fetus' lungs responsible for initiating the labor process, providing potential new targets for preventing preterm birth. They discovered that the proteins SRC-1 and SRC-2 activate genes inside the fetus' lungs near full term, leading to an inflammatory response in the mother's uterus that initiates labor.

Legacy of slavery still impacts education in the south Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT Slavery was abolished more than 150 years ago, but its effects are still felt today in K-12 education in the south, according to a new study. Using regression analysis to explain differences in the degree of attendance disparities across most counties in the south, researchers found a correlation between historical geographic slave concentration and modern day K-12 school segregation. An increase in slave concentration is related to greater underrepresentation of white students in public schools.

More accurate method for blood glucose testing Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT Researchers have found a way of obtaining more accurate measurements from glucometers: by using blood plasma or serum rather than whole blood.

Dual internal clocks keep plant defenses on schedule Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT Time management isn't just important for busy people -- it's critical for plants, too. A new study shows how two biological clocks work together to help plants deal with intermittent demands such as fungal infections, while maintaining an already-packed daily schedule of activities like growth. The researchers also identified a gene that senses disturbances in the 'tick-tock' of one clock, and causes the other clock to tighten its timetable.

Study looks at antibiotic choice for treating childhood pneumonia Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT Hospitals are doing a better job of using antibiotics less commonly associated with antibiotic resistance to treat children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), new research shows.

Weight-loss surgery may greatly improve incontinence Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:49 PM PDT For severely obese people, bariatric surgery may have a benefit besides dramatic weight loss: it can also substantially reduce urinary incontinence. This study is the first to examine the longer-term effects of the surgical procedure on incontinence three years after bariatric surgery.

New formula expected to spur advances in clean energy generation Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT Researchers have devised a new formula for calculating the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric materials, the first new formula in more than a half-century, designed to speed up the development of new materials suitable for practical use.

Scarlet macaw skeletons point to early emergence of Pueblo hierarchy Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT New work on the skeletal remains of scarlet macaws found in an ancient Pueblo settlement indicates that social and political hierarchies may have emerged in the American Southwest earlier than previously thought. The findings suggest that the acquisition and control of macaws, along with other culturally significant items like chocolate and turquoise, may have facilitated the development of hierarchy in the society.

Smart insulin patch could replace painful injections for diabetes Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT The first 'smart insulin patch' that can detect increases in blood sugar levels has been developed by researchers. The patch has the ability to secrete doses of insulin into the bloodstream whenever needed.

California's wildflowers losing diversity in face of warmer, drier winters Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT Fifteen years of warmer, drier winters are affecting California's wildflower diversity, scientists report. Grasses and wildflowers may be able to withstand the current drying period through their extensive seed banks, which can lie dormant for decades waiting for the right conditions to germinate. However, California's drought is expected to intensify in the coming decades, so this rescue effect may end up being too late for some species, they add.

PrEP data links anti-HIV immune response to reduce chance of infection Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT Some individuals exposed to HIV-1, but who remain uninfected, have a certain pattern of virus-specific immune responses that differentiated them from individuals who became infected.

Scientists create synthetic membranes that grow like living cells Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT Chemists and biologists have succeeded in designing and synthesizing an artificial cell membrane capable of sustaining continual growth, just like a living cell.

Bass use body's swimming muscles to suck in food Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT Bass are strong swimmers but they can't capture prey without also exerting a powerful suction into their mouths. A new study shows that the power to form that vacuum comes from the very same muscles they use to swim.

Printing electronics with nanomaterials a cost-friendly, eco-friendly alternative Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:08 PM PDT Researchers are focusing on printed electronics: using inkjet technology to print electronic nanomaterials onto flexible substrates. When compared to traditional methods used in microelectronics fabrication, the new technology conserves material and is more environmentally friendly.

For black rhino, zoo diet might be too much of a good thing Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:08 PM PDT A new study shows that captive black rhinos -- but not their wild counterparts -- are at high risk for two common health problems suffered by millions of humans: inflammation and insulin resistance.

Neurobiology: X-raying ion channels shows they widen and narrow to adapt to what's passing Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:07 PM PDT The Nobel Prize winner Roderick MacKinnon suggested that ion channels (the pores on the cell membrane that regulate the exchange of ions between the inside and outside of cells) were like rigid tubes through which molecules of varying size move. Now it seems that he was wrong: a team of scientists used the most robust technique in this field, x-ray crystallography, to watch ionic channels to change their diameter as they adjust to the size of the ions crossing them.

Manning up: Men may overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT Societal norms dictating that men should be masculine are powerful. A new study finds that men who believe they fall short of those ideals might reassert their masculinity in small but significant ways.

Detecting exoplanets close to their host star Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The 'vector Apodizing Phase Plate' (vector-APP) coronagraph was installed at the 6.5-m Magellan Clay telescope in Chile in May 2015, and the first observations demonstrated an unprecedented contrast performance very close to the star, where planets are more likely to reside.

Cardio-oncology services may improve patient care if more widely available Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT The impact of cancer treatments on cardiovascular health is an important consideration when treating cancer patients, but many hospital training programs have no formal training or services in cardio-oncology and a lack of national guidelines and funding are frequent barriers to establishing such programs, according to an American nationwide survey.

Elevated blood pressure in young adults associated with middle-age heart issues Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT Young adults who had blood pressure that was elevated but still within normal range for long periods of time were more likely to show signs of cardiac dysfunction in middle age, according to a study.

Gene that controls soybean seed permeability, calcium content, identified Posted: 22 Jun 2015 11:11 AM PDT Researchers have pinpointed the gene that controls whether soybean seed coats are hard or permeable, a finding that could be used to develop better varieties for southern and tropical regions, enrich the crop's genetic diversity and boost the nutritional value of soybeans.

The challenge of measuring a bird brain Posted: 22 Jun 2015 11:11 AM PDT To understand what's going on within a species, you have to know how to measure their brains. And if you want to study wild species without killing your subjects, you have to figure out a way to measure their brains without removing them from their respective skulls. The method commonly used to compare the size of an animal's skull and brain can be far from accurate, researchers say.

Structural origin of glass transition Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated through computer simulations that the enhancement of fluctuations in a liquid's structure plays an important role as a liquid becomes a solid near the glass-transition point, a temperature below the melting point. This result increases our understanding of the origin of the glass transition and is expected to shed new light on the structure of liquids, thought until now to have been uniform and random.

Emergence of 'Devil's staircase' Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Researchers have revealed a novel magnetic structure named the "Devil's staircase" in cobalt oxides using soft X-rays. This is an important result since the researchers succeeded in determining the detailed magnetic structure of a very small single crystal invisible to the human eye.

Efficient conversion from spin currents to charge currents in a superconductor Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Scientists have successfully measured the spin Hall effect in a superconductor for the first time. The spin Hall effect is responsible for the conversion of magnetic flow to current flow and has not been thoroughly examined in superconductors.

Clients lost in system when safety-net agencies close Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT Safety-net agencies, such as food banks and nonprofits offering health care, serve vulnerable individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and help them connect with services, such as health care, legal aid and housing. An American researcher offers recommendations for agency leaders and policymakers to make sure safety-net agencies are sustainable and, if they do close, clients continue to receive the services they need.

Blue light sets the beat in biological pacemaker Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:52 AM PDT Using optogenetics, researchers have established a new approach for pacing the heart and synchronizing its mechanical activity without a conventional electrical pacemaker. This finding could help avoid many drawbacks of electrical pacemakers.

Turning fake pills into real treatments Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:51 AM PDT A series of fascinating studies showed that many people respond positively to placebo pills -- even when they are told that the pills don't have any active ingredients. Researchers are now testing these "open-label" placebos for the first time among cancer survivors.

Car of the future: Autonomous, or cooperative Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT The self-driving car has strong potential for improving traffic flow, road safety, and reducing the environmental impact of traffic. But only if it is designed to communicate with other cars and smart road systems. Not all self-driving cars fulfill this requirement. Scientists call for an integral innovation approach that requires European policy makers and companies to set up standards for the development and implementation of this new technology.

Two cultures, same risk for cognitive impairment Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT Diabetes is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, age-related conditions that affect memory and thinking skills. However, little is known about how the diabetes-cognitive decline link compares across cultures.

Better outcome prediction of postanoxic coma Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT EEG-measurements enable better prediction of the outcome of a coma that was caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. A new method helps to make reliable and correct estimates in about 50% of patients, instead of only 10% of patients with the methods currently used. This involves continuous EEG-measurements focussing on the speed with which the brain's activity recovers. It seems that recovery over time is a better indicator of the severity of brain damage than single brief measurements, which are currently done.

Reversing the deadly side effects of Tylenol overdose Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:47 AM PDT New research could help reverse deadly side effects caused by excessive doses of the drug acetaminophen, the major ingredient in Tylenol and many other medicines. Researchers have developed a mathematical model of acetaminophen metabolism based on data from rats. The findings suggest that giving patients glutamine -- a common amino acid in the body -- alongside the standard antidote for acetaminophen overdose could prevent liver damage and boost the body's ability to recover.

Researchers successfully target 'Achilles' heel' of MERS virus Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:47 AM PDT Researchers studying the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have found molecules that shut down the activity of an essential enzyme in the virus and could lead the way to better treatments for those infected. The team identified molecules that inhibit an enzyme essential to MERS virus replication, and also discovered a characteristic of the enzyme that is very different from other coronaviruses.

From Darwin to moramora ('take it easy'): Ten new subsocial spider species from Madagascar Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT A thorough research on nearly 400 Madagascan subsocial spider colonies adds to the unique biodiversity and endemism on the exotic island. Not only did the scientists find as many as ten new cobweb spider species, but they also gave them some very honorary and curious names.

Research team evolves CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases with novel properties Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT A team of researchers has found a way to expand the use and precision of the powerful gene-editing tools called CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided nucleases. In their report, the investigators describe evolved versions of the DNA-cutting Cas9 enzyme that are able to recognize a different range of nucleic acid sequences than is possible with the naturally occurring form of Cas9 that has been used to date.

Taking a close look at formidable camel spider jaws Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms for the many strange features on the fearsome-looking jaws of a little known group of arachnids. Called camel spiders, baardskeerders [beard-cutters], sun spiders, wind scorpions, and other colorful names, Solifugae are an order of arachnids that are neither spiders nor scorpions. In new research, scientists present the first comprehensive analysis of jaw morphology across Solifugae.

Cell that replenishes heart muscle found by researchers Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT Regenerative medicine researchers have identified a cell that replenishes adult heart muscle by using a new cell lineage-tracing technique they devised. Adult heart muscle is comprised of cells called cardiomyocytes. Most cardiomyocytes don't replenish themselves after a heart attack or other significant heart muscle damage. The new cell-tracing technique allows them to detect cells that do replenish themselves after being damaged.

Destructive power of bubbles could lead to new industrial applications Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT Cavitation bubbles can kill fish and damage boat propellers. Researcher say learning more about them could harness that power for industrial uses, like safer cleaning processes.

Unpacking the mysteries of bacterial cell cycle regulation Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT As part of their long-term investigation of regulatory factors in the bacterial cell cycle, molecular biologists now report finding a surprising new role for one factor, CpdR, an adaptor that helps to regulate selective protein destruction, the main control mechanism of cell cycle progression in bacteria, at specific times.

Smoking allowed in growing number of restaurants, bars in Georgia Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT Despite the passage of Georgia's Smokefree Air Act in 2005, the number of restaurants and bars that allow smoking has doubled in recent years, according to researchers.

The Southeast Pacific produces more nitrous oxide than previously thought Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT In addition to carbon dioxide there are plenty of other greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide is one of them. However, a global assessment of emissions from the oceans is difficult because the measurement methods used so far have only allowed rough estimates. Using a new technology for continuous measurements, researchers have now discovered that nitrous oxide emissions from the Southeast Pacific are much higher than previously thought.

The secrets of secretion Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT Living tissues rely on their ability to package, transport and secrete liquid, where and when it's needed. Nature's secretion system is responsive, self-regulatory and intrinsically linked with its surroundings. Synthetic systems haven't been able to replicate that complexity -- until now. A new system spontaneously releases only enough fluid to replace what is lost on the surface.

New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT An agent called PSMA-617 is capable of attaching specifically to prostate cancer cells. This agent can be labeled with various radioactive substances. When chemically bound to a weakly radioactive diagnostic radionuclide, it can detect prostate tumors and their metastases in PET scans. If labeled with a strongly radioactive therapeutic radionuclide, PSMA-617 can specifically destroy cancer cells. A first clinical application of this radiopharmaceutica has now delivered promising results.

Legumes control infection of nodules by both symbiotic, endophytic bacteria Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT Legume plants selectively regulate access and accommodation of both symbiotic and endophytic bacteria inside root nodule, new research shows. This provides a solid basis and platform for identification and selection of beneficial endophytic bacteria and highly efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to be used as biofertilisers in sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, these results contribute to the general understanding of the control mechanisms used by eukaryotic organisms to control microbial infection.

Best Practice Framework is good benchmarking tool for Fracture Liaison Services worldwide Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT The success of the Capture the Fracture Best Practice Framework has been confirmed as a single set of quality standards which can be used effectively to benchmark Fracture Liaison Services within a variety of health-care systems worldwide. Findings revealed that services for hip fracture patients had the highest proportion of gold grading while vertebral fracture the lowest.

The mite and the rose: Non-threatening new mite species found in Xinjiang, China Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT Three new eriophyoid mite species all coming from different genera were found in Xinjiang, China. One of the new species is the first representative of the genus Paracolomerus to be described from a plant of the rose family Rosaceae. Neither of the species is found to cause any apparent damage to their host plants.

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