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• First real-life trial finds oral cholera vaccine protects against endemic disease, could speed up global control efforts
• Mothers who smoke, give birth preterm more than triple their CVD risk
• A little jolt helps the brain get back on track
• Spawning frequency regulates species population networks on coral reefs
• Cost of low-risk childbirth varies widely among hospitals
• Surfer-shaped waves found in near-Earth space
• New psoriasis drug is more effective than current treatment
• Countries have boundaries, but fish do not
• Phthalates: 'Safer' replacements for harmful chemical in plastics may be as risky to human health
• Long-term effects of type 2 diabetes on the brain, thinking
• Why social workers aren't discussing religion, spirituality with clients
• Stratospheric accomplice for Santa Ana winds and California wildfires
• Disrupting cells' 'powerhouses' can lead to tumor growth, study finds
• Male koalas raise their voices to avoid conflict
• New horned dinosaur reveals evolution of nose horn in Triceratops family
• Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice
• Social engagement aids disaster preparedness
• Crowdsourcing brain data
• Wearable electronics: Tiny wires could provide a big energy boost
• Deaths attributed to low levels of education: Lack of education as deadly as smoking
• Remediating abandoned, inner city buildings reduces crime, violence in surrounding areas
• Targeting bacteria in the gut might help burn, trauma patients
• Drug candidate significantly reduces HIV reactivation rate
• Seafloor hot springs a significant source of iron in the oceans
• Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets
• Volcanic eruptions that changed human history
• Panel outlines new diagnostic criteria for central nervous system disorder
• Blood test could identify diabetes decades before it develops
• Treating breast cancer with progesterone could aid survival
• Bonelike 3-D silicon synthesized for potential use with medical devices
• Brain activity changes after cognitive rehabilitation, TBI study shows
• Probiotics - for plants
• Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy linked to liver cancer, other diseases later in life
• Patent filings by women have risen fastest in academia, finds study
• Lymphoma: How the tumor escapes the immune response
• Reform to resident physicians' work hours does not improve surgical patient safety
• Why do puddles stop spreading?
• Messages of individual blame for black Americans perpetuate racial inequality
• Glimmer of hope for patients with leukodystrophies
• Hybrid cells cause chaos around cancers
• Army suicide attempts, risk profiles for enlisted soldiers, officers
• Hastening the dawn of hybrid rocket engines
• Bricks to build 'an Earth' found in every planetary system
• Medication could improve gastric bypass results, study suggests
• Learning categorical information gives children a feeling of deja vu
• Cost-saving ultrasound degassing now possible in continuous processing of aluminum melt
• Production of iPS cells: Discovery of the fifth element
• A black hole under the gravitational lens
• Keeping the smells of onions, garlic and other stinky foods under wraps
• Impact of smoking on California's economy in decline at $18.1 billion per year
• Examining the neonicotinoid threat to honey bees
• Peppermint oil and cinnamon could help treat and heal chronic wounds
• 3-D views reveal intricacies in intestines that could lead to discoveries for IBD
• Vaccines: Practices, hesitancy among general physicians in France
• New method to develop more efficient drugs
• Recent agricultural pest stems from one fly generation's big genetic shift, evolution study finds
• Think twice before ordering your next steak
• IT-based concepts for effective coordination of public authorities, general population
• Potential treatment identified for a rare but deadly form of lymphoma in HIV patients
• Record-breaking heavy rainfall events increased under global warming

First real-life trial finds oral cholera vaccine protects against endemic disease, could speed up global control efforts Posted: 08 Jul 2015 05:55 PM PDT An oral cholera vaccine (Shanchol) given as part of routine health services is safe and protects against severe cholera in children and adults in urban Bangladesh where the disease is endemic, according to the first real-life trial of this vaccine. The findings lend support to the use of the vaccine in routine mass vaccination programs to help to control cholera in endemic countries.

Mothers who smoke, give birth preterm more than triple their CVD risk Posted: 08 Jul 2015 05:55 PM PDT Mothers who smoke and have a preterm birth more than triple their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research in more than 900,000 mothers. The researchers also discovered that CVD risk was even greater in smoking mothers with more severe or recurrent preterm births.

A little jolt helps the brain get back on track Posted: 08 Jul 2015 03:18 PM PDT Applying mild electrical stimulation to an area of the brain associated with cognitive control helps people with schizophrenia recognize errors and adjust their behavior to avoid them.

Spawning frequency regulates species population networks on coral reefs Posted: 08 Jul 2015 03:17 PM PDT Releasing larvae more often is beneficial for a species' network, new research on tropical coral reef ecosystems shows. The study on reproductive strategies is critical to assess the conservation of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.

Cost of low-risk childbirth varies widely among hospitals Posted: 08 Jul 2015 03:17 PM PDT The cost of having a baby can vary by almost $10,000 in the United States, depending on which hospital is chosen, researchers have found. Childbirth is the leading cause of hospital admission in the United States.

Surfer-shaped waves found in near-Earth space Posted: 08 Jul 2015 03:17 PM PDT The universe overflows with repeating patterns. From the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, scientists are often rewarded by observing similar patterns in vastly different places. One such pattern is the iconic surfer's waves seen on the ocean - a series of curled hills moving steadily in one direction. The shape has a simple cause. A fast fluid, say wind, moving past a slower one, say water, naturally creates this classic shape. Named Kelvin-Helmholtz waves in the late 1800s after their discoverers, these waves have since been discovered all over the universe: in clouds, in the atmospheres of other planets, and on the sun. Now two recently published articles highlight these shapely waves at the boundaries of near-Earth space.

New psoriasis drug is more effective than current treatment Posted: 08 Jul 2015 03:17 PM PDT A phase II clinical trial shows that a new psoriasis drug called guselkumab has greater efficacy than the current standard of care for the chronic skin condition. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes itchy, dry and red skin. It also increases a patient's risk for depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. The disease affects nearly 3 percent of the world's population.

Countries have boundaries, but fish do not Posted: 08 Jul 2015 01:05 PM PDT Many species transcend political boundaries, so countries must work together on environmental management practices, marine science researchers argue in a new paper.

Phthalates: 'Safer' replacements for harmful chemical in plastics may be as risky to human health Posted: 08 Jul 2015 01:05 PM PDT According to a new series of studies, two chemicals increasingly used during manufacturing to strengthen plastic wrap, soap, cosmetics, and processed food containers have been linked to a rise in risk of high blood pressure and diabetes in children and adolescents.

Long-term effects of type 2 diabetes on the brain, thinking Posted: 08 Jul 2015 01:05 PM PDT In just two years, people with type 2 diabetes experienced negative changes in their ability to regulate blood flow in the brain, which was associated with lower scores on tests of cognition skills and their ability to perform their daily activities, according to a new study.

Why social workers aren't discussing religion, spirituality with clients Posted: 08 Jul 2015 01:04 PM PDT Licensed clinical social workers, who account for the largest number of clinically trained helping professionals, believe that discussions about their clients' religion and spirituality can often lead to improved health and mental health, but practitioners are not integrating these conversations into their counseling sessions.

Stratospheric accomplice for Santa Ana winds and California wildfires Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:12 PM PDT Southern Californians and writers love to blame the hot, dry Santa Ana winds for tense, ugly moods, and the winds have long been associated with destructive wildfires. Now, a new study finds that on occasion, the winds have an accomplice with respect to fires, at least: Natural atmospheric events known as stratospheric intrusions, which bring extremely dry air from the upper atmosphere down to the surface, adding to the fire danger effects of the Santa Anas, and exacerbating some air pollution episodes.

Disrupting cells' 'powerhouses' can lead to tumor growth, study finds Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:12 PM PDT A study implicates defects in mitochondria, the energy-production centers of cells, as playing a key role in the transition from normal to cancerous. In their report, researchers note that looking for defects in cytochrome oxidase C could be a biomarker for cancer screening.

Male koalas raise their voices to avoid conflict Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:12 PM PDT A team of international scientists has tracked the love lives of koalas, uncovering some curious behaviors and finding that male koalas make their distinct bellows to avoid confrontation with competitors.The researchers have mapped what they believe to be the first-look inside the social system of a large group of wild koalas at St. Bees Island near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

New horned dinosaur reveals evolution of nose horn in Triceratops family Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:10 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a striking new species of horned dinosaur based on fossils collected from a bone bed in southern Alberta, Canada. Wendiceratops pinhornensis was approximately 6 meters long and weighed more than a ton. It lived about 79 million years ago, making it one of the oldest known members of the family of large-bodied horned dinosaurs that includes the famous Triceratops, the Ceratopsidae.

Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:10 PM PDT Using gene therapy, researchers have restored hearing in mice with a genetic form of deafness. More than 70 different genes are known to cause deafness when mutated. The scientists focused on a gene called TMC1 because it is a common cause of genetic deafness, accounting for 4 to 8 percent of cases, and encodes a protein that plays a central role in hearing, helping convert sound into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

Social engagement aids disaster preparedness Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:10 PM PDT Community participation and strong social networks can aid preparedness to natural disaster such as tsunamis in vulnerable regions, shows new research conducted in the south of Thailand.

Crowdsourcing brain data Posted: 08 Jul 2015 12:10 PM PDT Crowdsourcing brain data with hundreds of adults in a short period of time could be a new frontier in neuroscience and lead to new insights about the brain, neuroscientists have shown.

Wearable electronics: Tiny wires could provide a big energy boost Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:43 AM PDT Wearable electronic devices for health and fitness monitoring are a rapidly growing area of consumer electronics; one of their biggest limitations is the capacity of their tiny batteries to deliver enough power to transmit data. Now, researchers have found a promising new approach to delivering the short but intense bursts of power needed by such small devices.

Deaths attributed to low levels of education: Lack of education as deadly as smoking Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT A new study estimates the number of deaths that can be linked to differences in education, and finds that variation in the risk of death across education levels has widened considerably.

Remediating abandoned, inner city buildings reduces crime, violence in surrounding areas Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT Fixing up abandoned buildings in the inner city doesn't just eliminate eyesores, it can also significantly reduce crime and violence, including gun assaults, researchers report in the first study to demonstrate the direct impact of building remediation efforts on crime.

Targeting bacteria in the gut might help burn, trauma patients Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:15 AM PDT Burn patients experience dramatic changes in the 100 trillion bacteria inside the gastrointestinal tract, research shows. The findings of a new study has now shown that there was an increase in potentially harmful bacteria, and decrease in beneficial bacteria. The findings suggest that burn patients might benefit from treatment with probiotics.

Drug candidate significantly reduces HIV reactivation rate Posted: 08 Jul 2015 11:14 AM PDT Unlike other antiretroviral therapies, a natural compound called Cortistatin A reduces residual levels of HIV virus from infected dormant cells, establishing a near-permanent state of latency and greatly diminishing the virus' capacity for reactivation, scientists report.

Seafloor hot springs a significant source of iron in the oceans Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:39 AM PDT A two-month voyage tracking a deep current flowing from one of the most active underwater volcanoes on Earth proves that iron released from hydrothermal vents travels thousands of miles, providing a significant source of iron to support life in the broader oceans.

Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:39 AM PDT Observations have for the first time demonstrated a link between a very long-lasting burst of gamma rays and an unusually bright supernova explosion. The results show that the supernova was not driven by radioactive decay, as expected, but was instead powered by the decaying super-strong magnetic fields around an exotic object called a magnetar.

Volcanic eruptions that changed human history Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:38 AM PDT It is well known that large volcanic eruptions contribute to climate variability. A new study uses new evidence found in both ice cores and corresponding tree rings to show the timing and associated radiative forcing of nearly 300 individual volcanic eruptions extending as far back as the early Roman period.

Panel outlines new diagnostic criteria for central nervous system disorder Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:16 AM PDT New diagnostic criteria have been introduced for neuromyelitis optica, now called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, which is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is sometimes mistaken for multiple sclerosis.

Blood test could identify diabetes decades before it develops Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:16 AM PDT Scientists show for the first time that a small molecule circulates in the blood of people who are in the early stages of type 1 diabetes. A simple blood test could detect this biological marker years, maybe decades, before symptoms develop.

Treating breast cancer with progesterone could aid survival Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:16 AM PDT A special technique where breast cancer cells are "rescued" for research has been developed by researchers. Coupled with advanced scientific technologies, this has provided a unique insight into the hormone regulation of breast cancers, which is expected to lead to new treatments for the disease.

Bonelike 3-D silicon synthesized for potential use with medical devices Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:14 AM PDT A new approach for better integrating medical devices with biological systems has been developed by scientists with the first skeleton-like silicon spicules ever prepared via chemical processes.

Brain activity changes after cognitive rehabilitation, TBI study shows Posted: 08 Jul 2015 10:14 AM PDT Results of a trail demonstrate for the first time significant changes in cerebral activation after memory retraining in individuals with TBI.

Probiotics - for plants Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:46 AM PDT In plants, beneficial bacteria and fungi are endophytes. Scientists have known for decades that plants like legumes (peas, beans, and lentils) have beneficial bacteria in nodules attached to their roots. These bacteria "fix" vital nitrogen, turning it into a form the plant can easily use. However, researchers have recently found some nitrogen-fixing bacteria actually live inside plant tissue--in the leaves, stems, and roots -- with impressive results.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy linked to liver cancer, other diseases later in life Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:41 AM PDT In a new study of more than 125,000 pregnant women, researchers found that the risk of hepatobiliary cancer and immune-mediated and cardiovascular diseases later in life is higher in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) than in women without this condition.

Patent filings by women have risen fastest in academia, finds study Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT The number of women across the globe filing patents with the US Patent and Trade Office over the past 40 years has risen fastest within academia compared to all other sectors of the innovation economy, according to a new study.

Lymphoma: How the tumor escapes the immune response Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT Natural killer cells of the immune system can fend off malignant lymphoma cells and thus are considered a promising therapeutic approach. However, in the direct vicinity of the tumor they lose their effect. Scientists have now elucidated which mechanisms block the natural killer cells and how this blockade could be lifted.

Reform to resident physicians' work hours does not improve surgical patient safety Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT Work-hour restrictions for resident physicians, revised nationally four years ago largely to protect patients against physician trainees' fatigue-related errors, have not had the desired effect of lowering postoperative complication rates in several common surgical specialties, according to new study results.

Why do puddles stop spreading? Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT When you spill a bit of water onto a tabletop, the puddle spreads -- and then stops, leaving a well-defined area of water with a sharp boundary. There's just one problem: The formulas scientists use to describe such a fluid flow say that the water should just keep spreading endlessly. Everyone knows that's not the case -- but why? This mystery has now been solved -- and while this phenomenon might seem trivial, the finding's ramifications could be significant.

Messages of individual blame for black Americans perpetuate racial inequality Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT Why is it that messages about black absentee fathers, such as Obama's 2008 Father's Day address, are so pervasive in society? A new article suggests that such messages align with broader beliefs that black Americans place too much blame on 'the system' and instead need to hear messages that encourage individual responsibility. A consequence of that, the researchers say, is that they perpetuate structural racial inequalities.

Glimmer of hope for patients with leukodystrophies Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT Leukodystrophies are deadly neurodegenerative diseases that affect one in 7,000 children and remain incurable. These genetic diseases attack myelin or the 'insulating rubber sheath' surrounding neurons, which leads to deteriorating health for affected children. Today, nearly 20 types of leukodystrophies have been characterized, but many other forms remain undefined, leaving nearly 40 percent of families awaiting a diagnosis. Montreal researchers discovered a new crucial gene associated with these orphan diseases.

Hybrid cells cause chaos around cancers Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT Like all cells, those in tumors need access to the body's fine network of blood vessels to bring them oxygen and carry away waste. Tumors have learned to game the process called angiogenesis in which new vessels sprout from existing ones, like branches from a tree. Now, researchers have built a simulation to understand how cancerous tumors manipulate blood-vessel growth.

Army suicide attempts, risk profiles for enlisted soldiers, officers Posted: 08 Jul 2015 09:33 AM PDT A new analysis of US Army data details rates of suicide attempts during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and researchers have identified risk factors for suicide attempts by enlisted soldiers and officers, according to an article.

Hastening the dawn of hybrid rocket engines Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:15 AM PDT Hybrid rocket fuel research by mechanical engineers could hasten the day when a simpler, safer hybrid engine propels space missions.

Bricks to build 'an Earth' found in every planetary system Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:14 AM PDT Earth-like planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way are three times more likely to have the same type of minerals as Earth than astronomers had previously thought. In fact, conditions for making the building blocks of Earth-like rocks are ubiquitous throughout the Milky Way.

Medication could improve gastric bypass results, study suggests Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT New findings about the mechanisms involved -- or not involved -- in the effects of the most common form of bariatric surgery suggest that combining surgery with a specific type of medication could augment the benefits of the procedure.

Learning categorical information gives children a feeling of deja vu Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT During development, children must learn both broad facts about the world (that dogs have four legs, for example) and information that is more specific (that the family dog is scared of snow). While research in developmental psychology suggests that young children should have an easier time learning specific, concrete facts, a new study reveals that they learn general facts so effortlessly that they often can't tell that they learned anything new at all.

Cost-saving ultrasound degassing now possible in continuous processing of aluminum melt Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Having proved that ultrasound degassing of molten aluminum alloys is cleaner, greener and cheaper than current methods, a team of scientists has now taken the breakthrough a step further.

Production of iPS cells: Discovery of the fifth element Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Since 2006, research has succeeded in generating, from specialized adult cells, induced pluripotent cells (iPS cells), with huge potential applications, particularly for regenerative medicine. However, the process has still not been completely mastered. Now a molecule that may favor the production of these induced stem cells has been discovered by researchers.

A black hole under the gravitational lens Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Turbulent processes take place close to supermassive black holes, which lurk in the centers of nearly all galaxies. They swallow up matter flowing in from the outside while at the same time producing so-called gas jets which shoot out into space in two opposite directions. Researchers have now succeeded in localizing the origin of the high-energy gamma radiation in such a jet: it apparently originates very close to the black hole. This discovery was made possible by a micro-gravitational lens effect that occurs by chance and selectively amplifies the light from different regions close to the black hole like a magnifying glass. An unusual observation method uncovers processes near the event horizon of a distant, massive monster.

Keeping the smells of onions, garlic and other stinky foods under wraps Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:12 AM PDT Some of the world's most popular foods and seasonings can also be the smelliest -- think garlic, onions, certain cheeses and the notoriously stinky Asian durian fruit. No amount of plastic wrap seems to contain their stench, but now scientists have developed a new film that could finally neutralize the odors of even the most pungent fare.

Impact of smoking on California's economy in decline at $18.1 billion per year Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:10 AM PDT Results of a study on the cost of smoking in California, one of the first US states to implement a comprehensive tobacco control program, have been released. Researchers estimated expenditures for smoking-attributable costs (healthcare, lost productivity from illness, and lost productivity from premature mortality) for the year 2009. The total cost came to $18.1 billion, amounting to $487 per California resident and $4,603 per smoker.

Examining the neonicotinoid threat to honey bees Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:10 AM PDT The decline of honey bees has been a major concern globally for the past decade. One of the factors that could be contributing to the decline is the use of insecticides -- specifically neonicotinoids -- that persist in rivers and streams. Researchers now report that although sunlight plays an important role in degrading pollutants, its effects on neonicotinoids can diminish dramatically even in shallow water.

Peppermint oil and cinnamon could help treat and heal chronic wounds Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:10 AM PDT Infectious colonies of bacteria called biofilms that develop on chronic wounds and medical devices can cause serious health problems and are tough to treat. But now scientists have found a way to package antimicrobial compounds from peppermint and cinnamon in tiny capsules that can both kill biofilms and actively promote healing. The researchers say the new material could be used as a topical antibacterial treatment and disinfectant.

3-D views reveal intricacies in intestines that could lead to discoveries for IBD Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:10 AM PDT A technology whose roots date to the 1800s has the potential to offer an extraordinary new advantage to modern-day medicine. Scientists detail how stereomicroscopy can provide physicians an invaluable diagnostic tool in assessing issues within the gastrointestinal tract.

Vaccines: Practices, hesitancy among general physicians in France Posted: 08 Jul 2015 08:10 AM PDT Authors present and analyze the attitudes and practices of over 1,500 general physicians in France, in a context of distrust toward vaccines.

New method to develop more efficient drugs Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:07 AM PDT A new approach to develop highly-potent drugs has been uncovered by researchers, which could overcome current shortcomings of low drug efficacy and multi-drug resistance in the treatment of cancer as well as viral and bacterial infections, a new report suggests.

Recent agricultural pest stems from one fly generation's big genetic shift, evolution study finds Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:07 AM PDT The genes of a fruit fly that has plagued American apple producers for more than 150 years is the result of an extremely rapid evolutionary change, a new study reveals.

Think twice before ordering your next steak Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:07 AM PDT High consumption of livestock products could have serious consequences for people and the environment, according to a recent article. The article emphasizes that the demand for livestock-based foods has soared over the last few decades. The article's authors emphasize that, if left unchecked, worldwide meat consumption and production could lead to species loss, climate risks, poverty, and even social breakdown as large meat-producing companies continue to displace small-scale farmers.

IT-based concepts for effective coordination of public authorities, general population Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:06 AM PDT To get a handle on crisis situations you need volunteers from the general population. A new project investigates how volunteers' help can be incorporated into the crisis management efforts of public bodies. Research is focusing on IT supported and systematic integration of existing structures such as associations, companies and citizens' initiatives.

Potential treatment identified for a rare but deadly form of lymphoma in HIV patients Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:06 AM PDT A potential treatment for a rare but previously incurable form of lymphoma that is observed primarily in patients with HIV/AIDS infection has been identified by researchers.

Record-breaking heavy rainfall events increased under global warming Posted: 08 Jul 2015 07:06 AM PDT Heavy rainfall events setting ever new records have been increasing strikingly in the past thirty years. While before 1980, multi-decadal fluctuations in extreme rainfall events are explained by natural variability, a team of scientists detected a clear upward trend in the past few decades towards more unprecedented daily rainfall events.

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