| Supernova 'crime scene,' shows single white dwarf to blame Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT Astronomers have determined the pre-explosion mass of a white dwarf star that blew up thousands of years ago. The measurement strongly suggests the explosion involved only a single white dwarf, ruling out a well-established alternative scenario involving a pair of merging white dwarfs.  |
| Optics, nanotechnology combined to create low-cost sensor for gases Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT Engineers have combined innovative optical technology with nanocomposite thin-films to create a new type of sensor that is inexpensive, fast, highly sensitive and able to detect and analyze a wide range of gases. It may find applications in everything from environmental monitoring to airport security or testing blood alcohol levels -- and is particularly suited to detecting carbon dioxide.  |
| Being born in lean times is bad news for baboons Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT The saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' may not hold up to scientific scrutiny. Baboons born in times of famine are more vulnerable to food shortages later in life, finds a new study. The findings are important because they help explain why people who are malnourished in early childhood often experience poor health as adults.  |
| Herpesvirus activates RIG-I receptor to evade body's immune system Posted: 02 Apr 2015 03:35 PM PDT Using herpesvirus, molecular immunologists have discovered a cellular process that activates a critical immune defense against pathogens, which could have implications for developing drugs to bolster one's immunity to infection. Some herpesvirus infections lead to cancer.  |
| Oil dispersant used in Gulf Oil Spill causes lung and gill injuries to humans and aquatic animals, also identifies protective enzyme Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT New research suggests that Corexit EC9500A, an oil-dispersal agentl, contributes to damage to epithelium cells within the lungs of humans and gills of marine creatures. The study also identifies an enzyme that is expressed in epithelial cells across species that has protective properties against Corexit-induced damage.  |
| Cigarette smoke makes superbugs more aggressive Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant superbug, can cause life-threatening skin, bloodstream and surgical site infections or pneumonia. Researchers now report that cigarette smoke may make matters worse. The study shows that MRSA bacteria exposed to cigarette smoke become even more resistant to killing by the immune system.  |
| Hormone, bone tests may be indicative of dialysis patients' heart health Posted: 02 Apr 2015 02:43 PM PDT Approximately 2 million kidney disease patients in the world receive some sort of dialysis treatment. Now researchers say that in these patients, high parathyroid hormone levels and subsequent bone loss are major risk factors for worsening of coronary artery calcification.  |
| Natural oil dispersion mechanism found for deep-ocean blowout Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:18 PM PDT A first-of-its-kind study observed how oil droplets are formed and measured their size under high pressure. They further simulated how the atomized oil spewing from the Macondo well reached the ocean's surface during the Deepwater Horizon accident.  |
| Through the grapevine: Molecular mechanisms behind Pinot berry color variation Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT Variations in the color of grapevine berries within the Pinot family result from naturally-occurring genetic mutations that selectively shut down the genes responsible for the synthesis of red pigments, called anthocyanins. This has led to the emergence of Pinot blanc and Pinot gris from Pinot noir.  |
| DNA can't explain all inherited biological traits, research shows Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT Characteristics passed between generations are not decided solely by DNA, but can be brought about by other material in cells, new research shows. Scientists studied proteins found in cells, known as histones, which are not part of the genetic code, but act as spools around which DNA is wound. Histones are known to control whether or not genes are switched on.  |
| Astronomers watch unfolding saga of massive star formation Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT Astronomers are getting a unique, real-time look as a massive young star develops, with the promise of greatly improved understanding of the process.  |
| Modular brains help organisms learn new skills without forgetting old skills Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT New research suggests that when brains are organized into modules they are better at learning new information without forgetting old knowledge. The findings not only shed light on the evolution of intelligence in natural animals, but will also accelerate attempts to create artificial intelligence.  |
| Raising retirement age would widen benefit disparities for disadvantaged Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:17 PM PDT The age to receive full Social Security benefits should be closer to 70, according to a report. 'We're living longer and healthier than ever before, but the statutory age of retirement for receiving Social Security benefits doesn't reflect that,' says the study's lead author.  |
| Placenta reflects arsenic exposure in pregnant women, fetuses, study shows Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT The placenta can be used to reliably measure arsenic exposure in pregnant women and how much of the toxic metal is transferred to their fetuses, a study shows in the largest ever analysis of household drinking water arsenic and the mother-to-fetus connection.  |
| TRMM satellite makes direct pass over Super Typhoon Maysak Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite delivered a remarkable image of Super Typhoon Maysak on March 31. TRMM obtained an image straight over the top of a super typhoon with a double eye-wall, Super Typhoon Maysak, as it roared through the warm waters of the West Pacific south of Guam.  |
| Can light therapy help the brain? Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT An innovative therapy that applies red and near-infrared light to the brain is now being tested for Gulf War Illness, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD.  |
| Small RNA plays big role suppressing cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT The micro RNA miR-22 has long been known for its ability to suppress cancer. However, questions remain about how it achieves this feat. For example, which molecules are regulating miR-22, and which are miR22 targets? Researchers have unraveled some of these relationships, identifying several interactions that directly impact liver and colon cancer.  |
| A new breakthrough in thermoelectric materials Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT Scientists have developed a scalable production method for a state of the art alloy for the use in solid state thermoelectric devices. This new alloy is nearly twice as efficient as existing materials and may lead to a new host of applications. Uses include refrigeration, consumer electronics, transportation as well as novel devices which have not been produced yet do to the inefficiencies of existing materials.  |
| Adolescent drinking affects adult behavior through long-lasting changes in genes Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT Binge-drinking during adolescence may perturb brain development at a critical time and leave lasting effects on genes and behavior that persist into adulthood. The findings were reached using an animal model.  |
| Element of surprise helps babies learn Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT Cognitive psychologists have demonstrated for the first time that babies learn new things by leveraging the core information they are born with. When something surprises a baby, like an object not behaving the way a baby expects it to, the baby not only focuses on that object, but ultimately learns more about it than from a similar yet predictable object.  |
| Personalized melanoma vaccines marshal powerful immune response Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:14 PM PDT Personalized melanoma vaccines can be used to marshal a powerful immune response against unique mutations in patients' tumors, according to early data in a first-in-people clinical trial.  |
| Widest possible photosynthesis, absorbing any color of sunlight, from oranges through near-infrared Posted: 02 Apr 2015 01:13 PM PDT A small team of chemists, having learned the secrets of light absorption from chlorophylls a and b, can now tune molecules to absorb anywhere in the solar spectrum. They are using this facility to synthesize pigments that fill gaps in the sunlight absorbed by native pigments and to push deeper into the infrared than any native pigment.  |
| Circulation of highly pathogenic avian flu in North American birds Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses of Eurasian origin continue to circulate and evolve in North American wild birds. The term 'highly pathogenic' refers to the ability of an avian influenza virus strain to produce disease in chickens. The population-level impact of these viruses on free-living wild bird species is currently unknown.  |
| How to crowdsource the world for emergency medicine Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT Two new studies illustrate the power of social media and the Internet to promote scholarly dialogue around the world and the importance of establishing criteria for what constitutes high-quality blogs and podcasts.  |
| Algae from wastewater solves two problems: Biofuel and clean-up Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT In one of the first studies to examine the potential for using municipal wastewater as a feedstock for algae-based biofuels, scientists found they could grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90 percent of nitrates and more than 50 percent of phosphorous from wastewater. Wastewater treatment facilities currently have no cost-effective means of removing large volumes of nitrates or phosphorus from treated water, so algae production with wastewater has the potential of solving two problems at once, said a study co-author.  |
| Study finds new genetic clues to pediatric seizure disorders Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new genetic mutation at the heart of a severe and potentially deadly seizure disorder found in infants and young children. The finding may help scientists unravel the complex biological mechanism behind these diseases. Epileptic seizures are the result of bursts of electrical activity in the brain caused when groups of neurons fire in an abnormal pattern.  |
| Body's cancer defenses hijacked to make pancreatic, lung cancers more aggressive Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT A vital self-destruct switch in cells can be hijacked, making some pancreatic and non small cell lung cancers more aggressive, according to research. Researchers found that mutations in the KRAS gene interferes with protective self-destruct switches, known as TRAIL receptors, which usually help to kill potentially cancerous cells.  |
| Dual therapy's 1-2 punch knocks out drug-resistant lung cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Capitalizing on a rare opportunity to thoroughly analyze a tumor from a lung cancer patient who had developed resistance to targeted drug treatment, scientists identified a biological escape hatch that explains the resistance, and developed a strategy in mice for shutting it down.  |
| 'Open' stem cell chromosomes reveal new possibilities for diabetes Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Cells of the intestine, liver and pancreas are difficult to produce from stem cells. Scientists have discovered that chromosomes in laboratory stem cells open slowly over time, in the same sequence that occurs during embryonic development. It isn't until certain chromosomal regions have acquired the 'open' state that they are able to respond and become liver or pancreatic cells.  |
| iPSC model helps to better understand genetic lung/liver disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Using patient-derived stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) to study the genetic lung/liver disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, researchers have for the first time created a disease signature that may help explain how abnormal protein leads to liver disease.  |
| Scientists create artificial link between unrelated memories Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT The ability to learn associations between events is critical for survival, but it has not been clear how different pieces of information stored in memory may be linked together by populations of neurons. In a new study synchronous activation of distinct neuronal ensembles caused mice to artificially associate the memory of a foot shock with the unrelated memory of exploring a safe environment.  |
| With geomagnetic compass hooked to the brain, blind rats act like they can see Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT By attaching a microstimulator and geomagnetic compass to the brains of blind rats, researchers have found that the animals can spontaneously learn to use new information about their location to navigate through a maze nearly as well as normally sighted rats. Researchers say the findings suggest that a similar kind of neuroprosthesis might also help blind people walk freely through the world.  |
| Mitochondria altered in human cell model of Parkinson's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Based on research in fruit flies, it has long been suspected that the most common mutation linked to both sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease (PD) wreaks its havoc by altering the function of mitochondria in neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. Using stem cells derived from patients who have PD, scientists have confirmed that finding in human cells for the first time.  |
| Sounds from helmets colliding explored as alternative to understanding football collisions Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT When football helmets collide, they produce an unmistakable sound. New research of those sound waves produces a unique understanding of the forces involved in those collisions and, perhaps one day, researchers hope, inexpensive sensing methods may be developed for a safer game.  |
| Black holes don’t erase information, scientists say Posted: 02 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT Shred a document, and you can piece it back together. But send information into a black hole, and it's lost forever. A new study finds that -- contrary to what some physicists have argued for the years -- information is not lost once it has entered a black hole. The research presents explicit calculations showing how information is, in fact, preserved.  |
| Statistical analysis reveals Mexican drug war increased homicide rates Posted: 02 Apr 2015 09:13 AM PDT In the short term, the Mexican government's war against drugs increased the average murder rate in regions subjected to military-style interventions, a new statistical analysis suggests. The Mexican government--beginning in December 2006 during former President Felipe Calderón's term and continuing through current President Enrique Peña Nieto's administration--has been fighting an internal war against drug traffickers. A 2013 report by Human Rights Watch estimates 60,000 people were killed between 2006 and 2012 as a result of the military interventions and drug cartels fighting each other for control of territory.  |
| Microbes scared to death by virus presence Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:47 AM PDT The microbe Sulfolobus islandicus can go dormant, ceasing to grow and reproduce, in order to protect themselves from infection by Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 9 (SSV9), researchers have discovered. The dormant microbes are able to recover if the virus goes away within 24 to 48 hours -- otherwise they die.  |
| Road revolution by connecting vehicles: Computational framework for optimizing traffic flow Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:47 AM PDT Drivers trying to get to work or home in a hurry know traffic congestion wastes a lot of time, but it also wastes a lot of fuel. In 2011, congestion caused people in US urban areas to travel an extra 5.5 billion hours and purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel costing $121 billion. But despite the tangle of vehicles at busy intersections and interstate ramps, most of the country's highways are open road with vehicles occupying only about 5 percent of road surface. Researchers envision vehicles exchanging information -- such as location, speed, and destination -- to generate individualized instructions for drivers.  |
| Genetic alterations associated with risk of prostate cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT 22 genetic variations that are associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer have been identified by an international team of researchers. Prostate cancer affects one out of every 6 men during their lifetime and is the second most common cause of cancer-related death for men in the United States, resulting in an estimated 27,500 deaths in 2015.  |
| One-third of college STEM majors switch fields by graduation Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT About a quarter of high performing students who began pursuing a bachelor's degree between 2003 and 2009 declared a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) major; however, nearly a third of these students had transferred out of STEM fields by spring 2009, according to a study.  |
| Hubble finds phantom objects near dead quasars Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has photographed a set of wispy, goblin-green objects that are the ephemeral ghosts of quasars that flickered to life and then faded. The eight unusual looped structures may offer insights into the puzzling behaviors of galaxies with energetic cores.  |
| One test can predict which kids will become nearsighted Posted: 02 Apr 2015 08:46 AM PDT A study of 4,500 U.S. children over 20 years has identified a single test that can predict which kids will become nearsighted by the eighth grade: a measure of their current refractive error. The refractive error, or eyeglasses prescription, results from mismatches in the size and optical power of the eye that lead to blurry vision.  |
| Cancer's relentless evolution Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT In new research, investigators describe compulsive evolution and dramatic genetic diversity in cells belonging to one of the most treatment-resistant and lethal forms of blood cancer: acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The authors suggest the research may point to new paradigms in both the diagnosis and treatment of aggressive cancers, like AML.  |
| Accurate blood pressure measurement fundamental to early diagnosis in pregnancy Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Accurate blood pressure measurement is fundamental to the early diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, says a review. The diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, as well as obstetric haemorrhage, sepsis and safe abortion contribute to more than half of all maternal deaths globally, so the accuracy of BP measurement is vital, the review concludes.  |
| Liver injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis leads to a leaky gut Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that can progress to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, is associated with leakiness of the intestinal wall, which in turn may worsen liver disease, according to research.  |
| Depression, insomnia are strongest risk factors for frequent nightmares Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:15 AM PDT Symptoms of depression and insomnia are the strongest predictors of having frequent nightmares, a new study concludes. "Our study shows a clear connection between well-being and nightmares," reports the lead author.  |
| Dying patients' choices not always aligned to caregivers' Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT An illuminating study compares the willingness of stage IV cancer patients, and their caregivers; to pay to extend their lives by one year against that of other end-of-life improvements.  |
| Bridging the gap between biodiversity data and policy reporting needs Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT Reporting under policy instruments to inform on the trends in biodiversity requires information from a range of different elements of biodiversity, from genetically viable populations to the structure of ecosystems. New research looks into the Essential Biodiversity Variables as an analytic framework to identify ways in which gaps between biodiversity data and policy reporting needs could be bridged.  |
| Battery energy storage project shows promise for electricity network Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT Scientists have revealed the potential of a new battery energy storage system to reduce electricity prices while improving power efficiency and quality.  |
| New treatment options for colon cancer Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT An existing chemotherapy drug used to treat leukemia could prevent and control the growth of colorectal tumors, scientists have discovered.  |
| Some false postive prenatal genetic screens due to mother's extra DNA segments Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT In prenatal care, maternal blood screening for extra chromosomes in the fetus is becoming increasingly common. Such tests might give false-positive results if the mother's genome contains more than the usual number of certain DNA segments, especially if the fetus has inherited an elongated chromosome. The tests could be improved to account for the fact that chromosomes can vary in size and composition among people.  |
| Deaths from cardiovascular disease increase globally while mortality rates decrease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:14 AM PDT Deaths from cardiovascular disease increase globally while mortality rates decrease, a new report suggests. Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of premature death in the world, include heart attacks, strokes, and other circulatory diseases. At the same time, efforts to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases appear to be working as the rise in deaths is slower than the overall growth of the population.  |
| Future antibiotic-making kit for amateurs? Kit could one day be widely available Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:13 AM PDT Researchers have developed a rapid, simple and safe method for generating large libraries of novel organic molecules in a fraction of the time required for traditional organic synthesis. Researcher hope to provide a 'do it yourself' method.  |
| Improved methods to assess membrane protein stability provide insight into the nature of substrate, ligand and lipid interactions Posted: 02 Apr 2015 07:13 AM PDT Membrane proteins account for up to 30% of the proteins present in an organism, though relatively few are well characterised compared to their soluble protein counterparts. This is largely due to their instability when extracted from membranes using detergent, which hampers their study. New straightforward and reliable methods are required to assess the integrity of extracted protein.  |
| Ocean-scale dataset allows broad view of human influence on Pacific coral reef ecosystems Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:21 AM PDT A study draws on data from nearly 40 islands and atolls across the central and western Pacific, including 25 unpopulated islands, to investigate the relative influence of environmental variation and human presence on reef fish assemblages. The resulting message is sobering.  |
| Rapid increase in neonicotinoid insecticides driven by seed treatments: Neonicotinoids may harm pollinators Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:21 AM PDT Use of a class of insecticides, called neonicotinoids, increased dramatically in the mid-2000s and was driven almost entirely by the use of corn and soybean seeds treated with the pesticides, according to researchers.  |
| Beta secretase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer's disease Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT With each new amyloid-targeting treatment for Alzheimer's disease that has been developed, there has been a corresponding concern. For example, antibodies targeting amyloid-beta peptide produce inflammation in the brain in some patients. Gamma secretase inhibitors tend to produce adverse effects by interacting with Notch, an important pathway for cellular signaling. Beta secretase 1 (BACE1) inhibitors are a new and promising target for Alzheimer's disease. Inhibiting BACE1 will limit the production of amyloid-beta which, in turn, should reduce the production of neurotoxic fibrils and plaques, scientists say.  |
| Alcohol dependency and early death Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT The mortality of alcohol dependent patients in general hospitals is many times higher than that of patients without alcohol dependency. In addition, they die about 7.6 years earlier on average than hospital patients without a history of alcohol addiction. This is what scientists discovered using patient data from various general hospitals in Manchester (England).  |
| Smart phone diagnosis? Biosensing platform quickly and accurately diagnoses disease and monitors treatment remotely Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT In much the same way that glucometers and pregnancy tests have revolutionized in-home diagnostic testing, researchers have identified a new biosensing platform that could be used to remotely detect and determine treatment options for HIV, E-coli, Staphylococcus aureas and other bacteria. Using this technology, they also have developed a phone app that could detect bacteria and disease in the blood using images from a cellphone that could easily be analyzed from anywhere in the world.  |
| What can parents do to prevent the further spread of the measles? Posted: 02 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT A pediatric infectious diseases specialist helps explain the facts about measles, and how parents can prevent further outbreak. A recent outbreak of confirmed cases of measles involved children who were not vaccinated against the extremely contagious virus, which manifests itself through rash, fever and coughing. While thought to be eradicated in the U.S., the illness has been traced to travelers who were infected in other countries.  |
