ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Letting go of the (genetic) apron strings
• Potential New Drug Target for Protection against Certain Neurodegenerative Diseases
• From soda bans to bike lanes: Which 'natural experiments' really reduce obesity?
• Food-delivery process inside seeds revealed
• Levee detonations reduced 2011 flood risk on Mississippi River, study finds
• Squid enrich their DNA 'blueprint' through prolific RNA editing
• Pigs gain the same with corn-ethanol co-product as with corn-soybean meal diet, says study
• Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems
• Changes in a blood-based molecular pathway identified in Alzheimer's disease
• Photodynamic therapy for pancreatic cancer made simpler, cheaper
• Navigators are integral to clinical research process, study concludes
• Backup system that helps sustain liver during crisis discovered
• DNA of tigers under study
• New approach uses 'twisted light' to increase efficiency of quantum cryptography systems
• Firms don't use controversial skimming/penetration strategies to price products
• Potential prognostic marker for recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Apple of the mind's eye: how good is our memory of everyday visual stimuli?
• Did a volcanic cataclysm 40,000 years ago trigger the final demise of the Neanderthals?
• Measuring treatment response proves to be a powerful tool for guiding leukemia treatment
• Less futile end-of-life care observed where palliative care knowledge is greater
• International study raises questions about cause of global ice ages
• Scientists must reduce antibiotic use in experiments
• Sipuleucel-T in prostate cancer: Indication of added benefit
• Serious risks from common IV devices mean doctors should choose carefully, experts say
• UN urged to ensure open access to plant genomes
• Glimpse into the regulation of water exchange in the brain
• Detailed genetic map of world wheat varieties developed
• The oldest old are changing Canada
• Troops who don't pass the smell test likely have traumatic brain injury
• Thinking of drinking and driving? What if your car won't let you?
• Healthy grain fiber helps barley resist pests
• Review of global guidelines for sepsis needed
• New transitory form of silica observed
• First blood test for osteoarthritis could soon be available
• Neuropsychology: Power naps produce a significant improvement in memory performance
• Autistic and non-autistic brain differences isolated for first time
• Stinging nettle chemical improves cancer drug
• Superfast computers a step closer as a silicon chip's quantum capabilities are improved
• Birds flying high over the great lakes have a new strategic plan
• America's aging population will require more neurosurgeons to handle increased brain bleeds

Letting go of the (genetic) apron strings Posted: 20 Mar 2015 03:09 PM PDT A new study sheds light on the handing over of genetic control from mother to offspring early in development. Learning how organisms manage this transition could help researchers understand larger questions about how embryos regulate cell division and differentiation into new types of cells.

Potential New Drug Target for Protection against Certain Neurodegenerative Diseases Posted: 20 Mar 2015 03:08 PM PDT Hypermethylation - the epigenetic ability to turn down or turn off a bad gene implicated in 10 to 30 percent of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) - serves as a protective barrier inhibiting the development of these diseases, researchers have found. Their work may suggest a neuroprotective target for drug discovery efforts.

From soda bans to bike lanes: Which 'natural experiments' really reduce obesity? Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT Many public health researchers take advantage of 'natural experiments' -- comparing people's calorie consumption or physical activity levels, either before and after a policy or environmental change, or in contrast to a similar group of people not affected by that change. But not all natural experiments are created equal. A public health team has now systematically reviewed the state of the science.

Food-delivery process inside seeds revealed Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT Inside every seed is the embryo of a plant, and in most cases also a storage of food needed to power initial growth of the young seedling. New work identifies biochemical pathways necessary for stocking the seed's food supplies. These findings could be targeted when engineering crops for higher yields.

Levee detonations reduced 2011 flood risk on Mississippi River, study finds Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT A controversial decision in 2011 to blow up Mississippi River levees reduced the risk of flooding in a city upstream, lowering the height of the rain-swollen river just before it reached its peak, according to a newly published computer modeling analysis.

Squid enrich their DNA 'blueprint' through prolific RNA editing Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT RNA editing of genomic information was thought to be sparingly used, based on a limited number of studies in mammals and flies. But recently, investigators discovered the most prolific usage yet of RNA editing in the common squid, Doryteuthis pealeii, a behaviorally sophisticated marine organism that has long been prized for studies of the nervous system.

Pigs gain the same with corn-ethanol co-product as with corn-soybean meal diet, says study Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT Distillers dried grains with solubles, or DDGS, are increasingly common in swine diets in the United States. In recent years, different types of DDGS have come on the market. Results from this study indicate that whereas there are some differences in retention of energy and nutrients among the different sources of DDGS when used in pig diets, these differences are not of such a magnitude that they affect growth performance.

Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT An extensive study of global habitat fragmentation -- the division of habitats into smaller and more isolated patches -- points to major trouble for a number of the world's ecosystems and the plants and animals living in them.

Changes in a blood-based molecular pathway identified in Alzheimer's disease Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT New research identifies a bridge between the mechanisms that spur the destruction of neurons in Alzheimer's disease - accumulation of the amyloid-? peptide (the main component of plaques found in Alzheimer's patient brains) and chronic inflammation.

Photodynamic therapy for pancreatic cancer made simpler, cheaper Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:56 PM PDT Research finds the values measured with dynamic contrast enhanced computer tomography strongly correlated with fluorescence intensity measured directly from the pancreatic tissue.

Navigators are integral to clinical research process, study concludes Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT Qualified investigators are more likely to respond to opportunities for clinical trials if they are contacted by an institution-specific point person, or navigator, a study has concluded.

Backup system that helps sustain liver during crisis discovered Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT An antioxidant system that helps sustain the liver when other systems are missing or compromised has been discovered by scientists.

DNA of tigers under study Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT A 10-year study looked at DNA similarities of tigers -- living and extinct -- in order to better understand these animals as well as provide a new, more powerful tool for wildlife protection and, hopefully, reducing illegal wildlife commerce.

New approach uses 'twisted light' to increase efficiency of quantum cryptography systems Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have developed a way to transfer 2.05 bits per photon by using 'twisted light.' This remarkable achievement is possible because the researchers used the orbital angular momentum of the photons to encode information, rather than the more commonly used polarization of light. The new approach doubles the 1 bit per photon that is possible with current systems that rely on light polarization and could help increase the efficiency of quantum cryptography systems.

Firms don't use controversial skimming/penetration strategies to price products Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT Most firms do not use the skimming or penetration strategies that deliberately overprice or underprice new products. Marketers had long assumed that firms adopted either one of these two strategies for pricing new products.

Potential prognostic marker for recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:30 AM PDT The first evidence that the mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15) may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been discovered by researchers. MED15 overexpression was found to be associated with higher mortality rates in HNSCC patients with cancer recurrence, particularly in oral cavity/oropharyngeal tumors, according to the study.

Apple of the mind's eye: how good is our memory of everyday visual stimuli? Posted: 20 Mar 2015 10:30 AM PDT In our world of branding and repetitive advertising, it is feasible that we dutifully soak up visuals and messages and store them accurately in our mind's eye. New research tests this theory by examining our memory of the ubiquitous Apple logo and our perceived ability for recall. Researchers ask 'are we really paying attention?' Their experiment reveals some surprising insights.

Did a volcanic cataclysm 40,000 years ago trigger the final demise of the Neanderthals? Posted: 20 Mar 2015 08:23 AM PDT The Campanian Ignimbrite (CI) eruption in Italy 40,000 years ago was one of the largest volcanic cataclysms in Europe and injected a significant amount of sulfur-dioxide (SO2) into the stratosphere. Scientists have long debated whether this eruption contributed to the final extinction of the Neanderthals. This new study tests this hypothesis with a sophisticated climate model.

Measuring treatment response proves to be a powerful tool for guiding leukemia treatment Posted: 20 Mar 2015 08:22 AM PDT Measuring the concentration of leukemia cells in patient bone marrow during the first 46 days of chemotherapy should help boost survival of young leukemia patients by better matching patients with the right intensity of chemotherapy.

Less futile end-of-life care observed where palliative care knowledge is greater Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT The greater a director of nursing's knowledge of palliative care the lower the likelihood that nursing home patients will experience futile, aggressive end-of-life care, according to a new large national study. The association was evident whether or not hospice care was available.

International study raises questions about cause of global ice ages Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT A new international study casts doubt on the leading theory of what causes ice ages around the world -- changes in the way the Earth orbits the sun. The researchers found that glacier movement in the Southern Hemisphere is influenced primarily by sea surface temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide rather than changes in the Earth's orbit, which are thought to drive the advance and retreat of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.

Scientists must reduce antibiotic use in experiments Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT Scientists should reduce antibiotic use in lab experiments. According to a new article, molecular biology and genetic research such as the Human Genome Project use antibiotics in experiments. But it all adds to the global problem of antibiotic resistance according to the author.

Sipuleucel-T in prostate cancer: Indication of added benefit Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT Regarding Sipuleucel-T for use in prostate cancer, information submitted by the drug manufacturer provided better evidence on mortality. However, it is not possible to exactly estimate the extent of added benefit.

Serious risks from common IV devices mean doctors should choose carefully, experts say Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT Every day, patients get IV devices placed in their arms, to make it easier to receive medicines or have blood drawn. New research shows how serious the risk of blood clots from these devices is for hospitalized patients, and a new tool can help doctors decide when to use them.

UN urged to ensure open access to plant genomes Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:17 AM PDT A plant scientist has called for the United Nations to guarantee free and open access to plant DNA sequences to enable scientists to continue work to sustainably intensify world food production.

Glimpse into the regulation of water exchange in the brain Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:15 AM PDT The mechanism that regulates the flow of water in brain cells has been discovered by researchers. The human brain is 80 percent water, which makes the constant regulation of the amount of fluid in the brain very important. Disruptions in the regulation of the direction or speed of the water flow are associated with medical conditions, including hydrocephalus ("water in the brain"), for example.

Detailed genetic map of world wheat varieties developed Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:15 AM PDT Researchers have produced the first haplotype map of wheat that provides detailed description of genetic differences in a worldwide sample of wheat lines. This is an important foundation for future improvements in wheat around the world.

The oldest old are changing Canada Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:15 AM PDT In 1971 there were 139,000 Canadians aged 85 and over. By 2013 their numbers had risen to 702,000. The Oldest Old as they have become known today represent 2% of the total Canadian population. "They are a demographic reality which has to be taken into account in formulating public policy", according to a Canadian demographer.

Troops who don't pass the smell test likely have traumatic brain injury Posted: 20 Mar 2015 07:15 AM PDT Decreased ability to identify specific odors can predict abnormal neuroimaging results in blast-injured troops, according to a new study. The olfactory system processes thousands of different odors, sending signals to the brain which interprets the smell by linking it to a past memory. If memory is impaired, as is the case with Alzheimer's disease, sleep deprivation, and acute traumatic brain injury, the task is not entirely possible.

Thinking of drinking and driving? What if your car won't let you? Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:18 AM PDT If every new car had a built-in blood alcohol level tester that prevented impaired drivers from driving the vehicle, the US could avoid 85 percent of crash deaths attributable to alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes. In just 15 years, that would mean preventing more than 59,000 deaths.

Healthy grain fiber helps barley resist pests Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:15 AM PDT Research has shed light on the action of the serious agricultural pest, cereal cyst nematode, which will help progress improved resistant varieties. Cereal cyst nematode is a microscopic parasitic worm that lives in soils and infects the roots of cereal crops such as barley, wheat and oats. This affects root growth and leads to poor nutrient uptake, a reduction in crop yield and, in susceptible varieties, more worm eggs in the soil for ongoing infection.

Review of global guidelines for sepsis needed Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:15 AM PDT Experts are calling for a global review of guidelines used to diagnose sepsis, after a study found one in eight patients with infections severe enough to need admission to an Intensive Care Unit in Australia and New Zealand, did not meet current criteria.

New transitory form of silica observed Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:15 AM PDT Silicon dioxide, commonly called silica, is one of the most-abundant natural compounds and a major component of the Earth's crust and mantle. It is well-known even to non-scientists in its quartz crystalline form. Silica's various high-pressure forms make it an often-used study subject for scientists interested in the transition between different chemical phases under extreme conditions. A research team was able to discover five new forms of silica under extreme pressures at room temperature.

First blood test for osteoarthritis could soon be available Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT The first blood test for osteoarthritis could soon be developed, thanks to new research. The research findings could potentially lead to patients being tested for osteoarthritis and diagnosed several years before the onset of physical symptoms.

Neuropsychology: Power naps produce a significant improvement in memory performance Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT Psychologists have shown that a short nap lasting about an hour can significantly improve memory performance. The study involved examination of memory recall in 41 participants. The volunteers had to learn single words and word pairs. Once the learning phase was over, the participants were tested to determine how much information they could remember. About half of the participants were then allowed to sleep, while the others watched a DVD. After that, the participants were re-tested and those who had taken a nap were shown to have retained substantially more word pairs in memory than the participants in the control group who had watched a DVD.

Autistic and non-autistic brain differences isolated for first time Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT The functional differences between autistic and non-autistic brains have been isolated for the first time, following the development of a new methodology for analysing MRI scans.

Stinging nettle chemical improves cancer drug Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT A cancer drug could be made 50 times more effective by a chemical found in stinging nettles and ants, new research finds. Derived from formic acid which is commonly found in a number of natural organisms including nettles and ants, Sodium Formate (E-237) is more commonly used as a food preservative.

Superfast computers a step closer as a silicon chip's quantum capabilities are improved Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT Research has demonstrated laser control of quantum states in an ordinary silicon wafer and observation of these states via a conventional electrical measurement.

Birds flying high over the great lakes have a new strategic plan Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:12 AM PDT Every year, many bird researchers catch warblers, finches, thrushes and other feathered travelers to better understand their routes and migration patterns. A number of conservation initiatives seek to secure land to help species make their trek thousands of miles southward. But without a collective vision, these efforts may not be enough to protect birds in the Great Lakes region.

America's aging population will require more neurosurgeons to handle increased brain bleeds Posted: 20 Mar 2015 06:11 AM PDT By 2030, chronic subdural hemorrhage (SDH) will be the most common adult brain condition requiring neurosurgical intervention in the U.S., according to a new study. And hospitals and neurosurgeons may be under-manned to handle the projected onslaught of patients.

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