Tuesday, March 29, 2016

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


The non-driving millennial? Not so simple, says new research

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:51 PM PDT

The popular notion that millennials are choosing not drive may be oversimplified, a new report suggests. In a suburban community with low density and no public transportation, teens obtained their drivers' licenses on average within a month of their 16th birthday.

Stressed out: scientist details cells' response to lesions

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:51 PM PDT

A researcher details several coping strategies cells use when they face replication stress: the cellular version of choosing yoga, meditation or a trip to the movies after a stressful event.

2016 Arctic sea ice wintertime extent hits another record low

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:51 PM PDT

Arctic sea ice appears to have reached a record low wintertime maximum extent for the second year in a row, according to scientists.

A sensitive subject: Researchers catalog patterns of vibration on skin of the hand are part of how we sense the world through touch

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:51 PM PDT

Patterns of vibration on the skin of the hand that are part of how we sense the world through touch have been cataloged, for the first time, by researchers.

New method of trapping multiple particles using fluidics

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:51 PM PDT

Precise control of an individual particle or molecule is a difficult task. Controlling multiple particles simultaneously is an even more challenging endeavor. Researchers have developed a new method that relies on fluid flow to manipulate and assemble multiple particles. This new technique can trap a range of submicron- to micron-sized particles, including single DNA molecules, vesicles, drops or cells.

Gene blocking lettuce germination also regulates flowering time

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:47 PM PDT

This study of lettuce and Arabidopsis shows for the first time that a gene known to direct the depth of seed dormancy and the timing of germination also influences flowering. The findings also suggest that the gene does this by influencing production of certain microRNAs -- tiny snippets of genetic material that govern transition from one phase of the plant's life cycle to another.

Vascular brain injury evident in people in their 40s

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:47 PM PDT

For the first time, a large study has shown that people as young as their 40s have stiffening of the arteries that is associated with subtle structural damage to the brain that is implicated in cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Study offers efficient alternative for Ebola screening program for travelers

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:19 PM PDT

As of Jan. 31, 2016, a total of 28,639 cases and 11,316 deaths have been attributed to Ebola, figures that may significantly underestimate the actual scope of the 2014 outbreak in West Africa. One strategy recommended by the WHO required exit screening at airports for passengers who depart from countries with Ebola. Researchers now provide an alternative policy for Ebola entry screening at airports in the United States.

Expectation may be essential to memory formation

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT

A theory that links memory encoding to expectations of future relevance may better explain how human memory works, according to psychologists.

Desert mangroves are major source of carbon storage, study shows

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:18 PM PDT

Short, stunted mangroves living along the coastal desert of Baja California store up to five times more carbon below ground than their lush, tropical counterparts, researchers have found. The new study estimates that coastal desert mangroves, which only account for 1 percent of the land area, store nearly 30 percent of the region's belowground carbon.

Charged salts can extract specific central lanthanide elements, scientists show

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:32 AM PDT

Researchers wanted to find out if it was possible to make a molecule that could selectively bind to metal cations in the middle of the lanthanide series. The team provided a proof-of-principle in a new article.

High out-of pocket costs limit access to lifesaving specialty drugs

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:31 AM PDT

Specialty drugs have become important treatment options for many serious and chronic diseases, and in some conditions like cancer they represent the only chance for long-term survival. But, insurers increasingly require patients to share the high costs of these medications. Two new studies have found evidence that such cost-sharing arrangements are associated with significant reductions in access to these drugs.

Physicists 'undiscovered' technetium carbide

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:31 AM PDT

Technetium carbide does not exist -- it was pure technetium that was mistakenly considered as such, say physicists. This is important from the view point of chemistry of transition metal carbides which are in many ways considered as promising substances.

Safer, cheaper, 'greener,' more efficient system for the synthesis of organic compounds

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:31 AM PDT

Chemists have devised a safer, more environmentally friendly, less expensive and more efficient water-based system for the synthesis of organic compounds typically used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, cosmetics, plastics, textiles and household chemicals.

GI tract bacteria help decrease stroke

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:31 AM PDT

Certain types of bacteria in the gut can leverage the immune system to decrease the severity of stroke, according to new research. This finding can help mitigate stroke -- which is the second leading cause of death worldwide.

New terahertz source could strengthen sensing applications

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a room temperature, continuous wave, monolithic tunable terahertz source that could lead to advances in biosensing, homeland security, and space exploration.

Structure of Parkinson's protein could lead to new diagnostic, treatment options

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Chemists have identified the complex chemical structure of the protein that stacks together to form fibrils in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients. Armed with this knowledge, researchers can identify specific targets for diagnosis and treatment.

New target makes end run against therapy-resistant prostate cancer

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Suppressing the nuclear receptor protein ROR-?; with small-molecule compounds can reduce androgen receptor (AR) levels in castration-resistant prostate cancer and stop tumor growth, scientists have found.

Citrus scion/rootstock combinations show tolerance to huanglongbing

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists studied tolerance to huanglongbing under field conditions in trees of commercial citrus scion/rootstock combinations. All trees showed symptoms of HLB and tested positive for the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus bacterium by 20 months after planting. However, all trees continued to grow and showed increasing fruit production. 'Sugar Belle/Sour Orange', 'Tango/Kuharske' and 'Temple/ Cleopatra' exhibited the greatest growth rates and canopy volumes.

Scientists find 'outlier' enzymes, potential new targets to treat diabetes, inflammation

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Two enzymes have been discovered that appear to play a role in metabolism and inflammation--and might someday be targeted with drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and inflammatory disorders.

Driving curfews may curb teen crime

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:37 AM PDT

Teen driving curfews might do more than reduce car accidents, say investigators. They also may prevent teens from committing crimes.

An ancient killer: Ancestral malarial organisms traced to age of dinosaurs

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

A new analysis of the prehistoric origin of malaria suggests that it evolved in insects at least 100 million years ago, and the first vertebrate hosts of this disease were probably reptiles, which at that time would have included the dinosaurs. Researchers say it may have been involved in their extinction.

Biological mechanism passes on long-term epigenetic 'memories'

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

According to epigenetics -- the study of inheritable changes in gene expression not directly coded in our DNA -- our life experiences may be passed on to our children and our children's children. Studies on survivors of traumatic events have suggested that exposure to stress may indeed have lasting effects on subsequent generations. But how exactly are these genetic "memories" passed on?

Patients with skin infections fail to complete antibiotics, leading to poor outcomes

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

In the first study of its kind, researchers found patients with skin infections took, on average, just 57 percent of their prescribed antibiotic doses, resulting in nearly half of them getting a new infection or needing additional treatment.

Autism intervention studies lack diversity, study suggests

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

The field's leading research very rarely considers race or nationality of its participants which could present problems in creating the best interventions for young learners with autism spectrum disorders, a new report suggests.

Ocean temps predict US heat waves 50 days out

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

The formation of a distinct pattern of sea surface temperatures in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean can predict an increased chance of summertime heat waves in the eastern half of the United States up to 50 days in advance.

Oddball planet raises questions about origins of 'hot Jupiters'

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

Scientists have observed an exoplanet by the name of HD 80606 b. This planet is about the size of Jupiter, though four times as massive, and resides in a system 190 light years from Earth, in the constellation Ursa Major.

A world map of Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestry in modern humans

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

Most non-Africans possess at least a little bit Neanderthal DNA. But a new map of archaic ancestry suggests that many bloodlines around the world, particularly of South Asian descent, may actually be a bit more Denisovan, a mysterious population of hominids that lived around the same time as the Neanderthals. The analysis also proposes that modern humans interbred with Denisovans about 100 generations after their trysts with Neanderthals.

Weight loss amount is more important than diet type in reversing obesity-cancer link

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PDT

Researchers examined whether weight loss via four different diets was linked to reduced tumor growth in laboratory models of breast cancer.

Weight loss surgery beats diet at inhibiting breast cancer

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PDT

Weight loss surgery was more effective than a low-fat diet at reversing the cancer-promoting effects of chronic obesity in mice.

World's most endangered sea turtle species in even more trouble than we thought

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:12 AM PDT

Researchers used novel approach with historic film to discover just how endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles are. Kemp's ridley turtles are currently classified as critically endangered on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. The species was on the brink of extinction in the 1980s, but a Mexico-U.S. bi-national conservation program initiated in 1978 was able to reverse its decline.

Impacts of salinity determined for agave

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:02 AM PDT

Hydroponic experiments evaluated the effects of salinity on biomass accumulation and nutrient levels of four types of Agave. Several Agave species showed variation in response to high levels of salinity. Agave parryi and Agave weberi plants were determined to be relatively tolerant to high levels of salinity; the scientists said both show potential to be grown as crops in saline soils in semiarid regions.

Enzyme may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease caused by HIV medications

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:02 AM PDT

Approximately 37 million people are living with HIV. Antiviral medications are used to control the disease and prevent its progression to AIDS. Although antivirals improve health and increase survival for people with HIV, their use also has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Now, researchers have identified an enzyme that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease caused by HIV medications.

Engineering black gold, as light as the bones of birds

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:02 AM PDT

A new material is more solid and 30 percent lighter than standard gold, scientists report. In their study, the team investigated grain boundaries in nanocrystalline np-Au and found a way to overcome the weakening mechanisms of this material, thereby suggesting its usefulness.

Mutation found that causes rare disease

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

A mutation that causes a rare systemic disorder known as X-linked reticulate pigmentary disorder (XLPDR) has been discovered and, significantly, the unexpected cellular mechanism by which the mutation causes the disease.

Simple blood test can detect evidence of concussions up to a week after injury

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

Researchers detected evidence of concussions in patients up to 7 days after their injury using a simple blood test -- which could greatly expand the window for diagnosing concussions, especially in patients who experience a delayed onset of symptoms.

Research on largest network of cortical neurons to date

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

The largest network to date of connections between neurons in the cortex, where high-level processing occurs, has been published. It has revealed several crucial elements of how networks in the brain are organized.

Oregon's new birth control law increases access, but more still to be done

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

Experts applaud Oregon's new birth control law, which allows women age 18 or older to obtain some methods of hormonal contraception directly from pharmacies, without having to visit a prescribing clinician, yet note how the law could go even further to improve access to all forms of contraception, according to a new article.

Researchers make biosensor one million times more sensitive

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

To provide oncologists a way to detect a single molecule of an enzyme produced by circulating cancer cells, physicists and engineers have developed an optical sensor, based on nanostructured metamaterials, that's 1 million times more sensitive than the current best available. The device proved capable of identifying a single lightweight molecule in a highly dilute solution.

Abandoned drug resurrected, found effective against human viruses

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

Scientists have resurrected a discarded drug that helps human cells in a lab dish fight off two different viruses. Based on what they learned about how the drug works, it might also help fight the viruses that cause Ebola, dengue and Zika, among others, they say.

Quantum effects at work in the world's smelliest superconductor

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

Quantum effects are the reason that hydrogen sulphide -- which has the distinct smell of rotten eggs -- behaves as a superconductor at record-breaking temperatures, which may aid in the search for room temperature superconductors, researchers have found.

Improved 'liquid biopsy' technique enhances detection of tumor DNA in blood

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

People with cancer have tumor DNA in their blood. A new way to quiet background 'noise' in the blood sample allows researchers to sequence minute quantities of these molecules to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Multilingual circuit: 'Optomechanical transducer' links sound, light, radio waves

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

A "piezo-optomechanical circuit" has been developed that converts signals among optical, acoustic and radio waves. A system based on this design could move and store information in next-generation computers.

Stem cells used to successfully regenerate damage in corticospinal injury

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:46 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully directed stem cell-derived neurons to regenerate lost tissue in damaged corticospinal tracts of rats, resulting in functional benefit, a new article reports.

Study highlights importance of multimodal communication in higher education

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT

Research finds that 'multimodal' communication -- using a mix of words, images and other resources - is important for students and faculty in higher education, a finding that argues for increased instruction in multimodal communication for undergraduates.

Conspicuous consumption may drive fertility down

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:57 AM PDT

A new mathematical model shows how fertility goes down as the cost of achieving social status goes up. The study authors developed a mathematical model showing that their argument is plausible from a biological point of view.

Research shows positive side to pricing below cost

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT

A new reason has been found for firms to price below cost and it's not to undercut the competition. Turns out exchange rates and currency fluctuations may actually cause a corporation to price below cost to ensure consistent profit margins across a global supply chain.

View of the colorful microcosm within a proton

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:17 AM PDT

The proton sounds like a simple object, but it's not. Inside, there's a teeming microcosm of quarks and gluons with properties such as spin and "color" charge that contribute to the particle's seemingly simplistic role as a building block of visible matter. By analyzing the particle debris emitted from collisions of polarized protons at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), scientists say they've found a new way to glimpse that internal microcosm.

New hope for a type 2 diabetes cure

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

Gleevec, which is used in leukemia medications, holds promise for a dramatically more effective treatment of type 2 diabetes, report scientists.

CEO personality traits play role in incentive pay, compensation

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

Companies appear to structure compensation contracts and incentive pay based on a manager's personality traits, and not just firm characteristics, according to a new study.

Water bears do not have extensive foreign DNA, new study finds

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

Tardigrades, also known as moss piglets or water bears, are eight-legged microscopic animals that have long fascinated scientists for their ability to survive extremes of temperature, pressure, lack of oxygen, and even radiation exposure. Tardigrades have not acquired a significant proportion of their DNA from other organisms, a new study shows.

New materials: Metal foam handles heat better than steel

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PDT

A new study finds that novel light-weight composite metal foams are significantly more effective at insulating against high heat than the conventional base metals and alloys that they're made of, such as steel. The finding means the CMF is especially promising for use in storing and transporting nuclear material, hazardous materials, explosives and other heat-sensitive materials, as well as for space exploration.

How cancer stem cells thrive when oxygen is scarce

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 07:01 AM PDT

Working with human breast cancer cells and mice, scientists say new experiments explain how certain cancer stem cells thrive in low oxygen conditions. Proliferation of such cells, which tend to resist chemotherapy and help tumors spread, are considered a major roadblock to successful cancer treatment.

Scientists call for new strategy to study climate change impacts on coral reefs

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 06:52 AM PDT

An international research team calls for a targeted research strategy to better understand the impact multiple stressors will have on coral reef in the future due to global climate change.

Researchers identify SH2 domains as lipid-binding modules for cell signaling

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 06:52 AM PDT

Majority of human Src homology 2 (SH2) domains not only bind to proteins, but also interact with membrane lipids with high affinity and specificity. The SH2 domain-containing proteins play important roles in various physiological processes and are involved in cancer development. This study reveals how lipids control SH2 domain-mediated cellular protein interaction networks and suggests a new strategy for the therapeutic modulation of pY-signaling pathways.

Doubts about career potential can pave way for immoral professional conduct

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 06:52 AM PDT

For those highly determined to pursue a profession, receiving negative feedback may lead to the endorsement of immoral behavior, a team of researchers has found.

Moons of Saturn may be younger than the dinosaurs

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 06:47 AM PDT

New research suggests that some of Saturn's icy moons, as well as its famous rings, might be modern adornments. Their dramatic birth may have taken place a mere hundred million years ago, more recent than the reign of many dinosaurs.

How we know when to empty our bladders

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 05:53 AM PDT

A discovery has been made on just how we know when to empty our bladders, which may have the potential to lead to new therapeutic interventions for bladder dysfunction.

Molecular mechanism for higher brain functions, neuropsychiatric disorders

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 05:51 AM PDT

Intracellular protein trafficking is important for higher brain functions such as learning and memory, new research has found. The research group showed that a molecule, ARHGAP33 regulates synaptic functions and behaviors via intracellular protein trafficking and that the lack of ARHGAP33 causes neuropsychiatric disorder-related impaired higher brain functions.

The 'Not Face' is a universal part of language, study suggests

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 05:49 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a single, universal facial expression that is interpreted across many cultures as the embodiment of negative emotion. The look proved identical for native speakers of English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language. It consists of a furrowed brow, pressed lips and raised chin, and because we make it when we convey negative sentiments, such as 'I do not agree,' researchers are calling it the 'not face.'

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