Thursday, April 2, 2015

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Experimental Ebola vaccine safe, prompts immune response

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:58 PM PDT

An early-stage clinical trial of an experimental Ebola vaccine found that the vaccine, called VSV-ZEBOV, was safe and elicited robust antibody responses in all 40 of the healthy adults who received it.

Forecasting future flooding

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

The Pacific Northwest is dotted by small, low-lying, coastal cities where populations tend to cluster. These communities can be isolated and are susceptible to devastation from major storms that bring substantial wind, waves and storm surge. With climate change, it is anticipated that storms will only become more frequent and intense, signifying a need to understand how the areas will be affected. Future levels of flooding in Tillamook Bay has been the focus of recent study.

Common cholesterol drug stimulates the same receptors as marijuana

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

If you want the benefits of medical marijuana without the 'unwanted side effects' of cannabis, new research should leave you on a high note. According to a research, fenofibrate, also known by the brand name Tricor, may benefit a wide range of health issues, such as pain, appetite stimulation, nausea, as well as immune and various psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Deforestation is messing with our weather, and our food

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

Insight into how large-scale deforestation could impact global food production by triggering changes in local climate has been gained by new research. In the study, researchers from the United States and China zero in on albedo (the amount of the sun's radiation reflected from Earth's surface) and evapotranspiration (the transport of water into the atmosphere from soil, vegetation, and other surfaces) as the primary drivers of changes in local temperature.

Low Testosterone not just in males: Testosterone, atherosclerosis and obesity may be linked in females

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

While testosterone replacement therapies may be controversial in males, new research may extend this controversy to females too. That's because research involving mice suggests that there is an association between low levels of androgens, including testosterone, and atherosclerosis and obesity in females.

Computer model predicts how our livers will store fat

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

As part of an effort to understand how an experimental drug for atherosclerosis causes the build-up of fat in the liver, scientists have developed a computer model that can predict how the rate at which liver stores fat in response to various situations. Being able to model liver fat storage gives researchers a way to predict the side effects of drugs and environmental factors at much earlier stages in the research and drug development process, possibly reducing the number of experiments involving animal models.

Failed synchronization of the womb's clock with mother's body clock critical in miscarriages

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:16 PM PDT

If you are trying to have a baby, a good night's sleep is more important than ever. A new research report shows that the womb has its own 'body clock' that needs to synchronize with the mother's body clock to ensure optimal conditions for fetal growth and development.

Lethal prostate cancer can spread from other metastatic sites, study affirms

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT

A new genomic analysis of tissue from patients with prostate cancer has added more evidence that cells within metastases from such tumors can migrate to other body parts and form new sites of spread on their own.

'Firefly' mechanism makes cancer studies more efficient, less expensive

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 01:15 PM PDT

The mechanism that makes fireflies glow through a process called bioluminescence can be used to study tumor response to therapy as well, researchers have found. Bioluminescence has a major role in small animal research, and the technique has been widely applied in tumor models. The multiple tumor approach can also be used for high throughput screening of a vast range of anti-cancer drug therapies.

Eyeliner application may cause eye problems, study finds

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

People who apply eyeliner on the inner eyelid run the risk of contaminating the eye and causing vision trouble, according to research. This is the first study to prove that particles from pencil eyeliner move into the eye.

Ancient seashell coloration patterns revealed using ultraviolet light

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:54 AM PDT

Nearly 30 ancient seashell species coloration patterns were revealed using ultraviolet light.

Astronomers solve decades-long mystery of the lonely old stars

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:53 AM PDT

Many, perhaps most, stars in the Universe live their lives with companions by their sides – in so-called binary systems. Until recently, however, the ancient RR Lyrae stars appeared, for mysterious reasons, to live their lives all alone. A recent study led by Chilean astronomers shows that RR Lyrae stars may not be as lonely as previously thought.

Researchers 'smell' new receptors that could underlie the many actions of the anesthetic drug ketamine

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:50 AM PDT

Researchers are continuing their work in trying to understand the mechanisms through which anesthetics work to elicit the response that puts millions of Americans to sleep for surgeries each day. Their most recent study looked at ketamine, an anesthetic discovered in the 1960s and more recently prescribed as an anti-depressant at low doses. They have identified an entirely new class of receptors that ketamine binds in the body, which may underlie its diverse actions.

Older workers bring valuable knowledge to the job

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:49 AM PDT

In the workplace, age matters - but hiring or promoting based on age-related mental abilities can be a minefield, according to new research. Older executives bring valuable skills to the job, such as higher "crystallized intelligence," which includes verbal ability and knowledge born of experience, according to a study. But compared with their younger counterparts, older executives show marked declines in "fluid intelligence," which involves the ability to reason, the research found.

How we hear distance: Echoes are essential for humans to perceive how far away a sound is

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:08 AM PDT

Mammals are good at figuring out which direction a sound is coming from, whether it's a predator breathing down our necks or a baby crying for its mother. But how we judge how far away that sound is was a mystery until now. Researchers report that echoes and fluctuations in volume are the cues we use to figure the distance between us and the source of a noise.

Complete camel skeleton unearthed in Austria

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 11:07 AM PDT

Archaeologists working on a rescue excavation uncovered a complete camel skeleton in Tulln, Lower Austria. The camel, which was dated to the time of the Second Ottoman War in the 17th century, most likely died in the city of Tulln. Genetic analyses showed that the animal was a male hybrid of a dromedary in the maternal line and a Bactrian camel in the paternal line. The find is unique for Central Europe.

Presence of heart pouch may explain strokes of unknown origin, study finds

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

A pouchlike structure inside the heart's left atrial chamber in some people may explain strokes that otherwise lack an identifiable cause, according to researchers. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term severe disability and the fourth-most-common cause of death in the U.S. About 80 percent of the 700,000-plus strokes that occur annually in this country are due to blood clots blocking a brain artery. In up to a third of these cases, the clots' origin cannot be determined.

Lifting families out of poverty, with dignity

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

America's welfare state is quietly evolving from needs-based to an employment-based safety net that rewards working families and fuels dreams of a better life, indicates a new study. The major reason, authors indicate: the little-known Earned Income Tax Credit, a $65 billion federal tax-relief program for poor, working families. The program has been expanded dramatically during the past 25 years, while cash welfare has been sharply curtailed.

Predicting chronic pain in whiplash injuries

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

While most people recover from whiplash injuries within a few months, about 25 percent have long-term pain and disability for many months or years. Using special MRI imaging, scientists identified, within the first one and two weeks of the injury, which patients will develop chronic pain and disability. This is the earliest these patients have been identified and will enable faster treatment. The imaging revealed large amounts of fat infiltrating the patients' neck muscles, indicating rapid atrophy.

Migrating immune cells promote nerve cell demise in the brain

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

The death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in a certain region of the brain is the principal cause underlying Parkinson's disease. In mice, it is possible to simulate the Parkinson's symptoms using a substance that selectively kills dopamine-producing neurons. Scientists have now shown that after this treatment, cells of the peripheral immune system migrate into the brain, where they play a major role in the death of neurons.

Oral pain specialists treat complex health issues, according to new survey

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

Dental researchers conducted a survey to better understand the work done by oral pain specialists. Answers revealed that patients on average visit 2.2 doctors over 17 months before visiting the pain specialists for find what causes their discomfort.

New instrument dates old skeleton before 'Lucy'; 'Little Foot' 3.67 million years old

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:32 AM PDT

A skeleton named Little Foot is among the oldest hominid skeletons ever dated at 3.67 million years old, according to an advanced dating method. Little Foot is a rare, nearly complete skeleton of Australopithecus first discovered 21 years ago in a cave at Sterkfontein, in central South Africa. Stone tools found at a different level of the Sterkfontein cave also were dated at 2.18 million years old, making them among the oldest known stone tools in South Africa.

Scientists drill down to genetic root of prostate tumor development

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT

Scientists have revealed the root of prostate cancers in individual men, discovering that despite huge genetic variety between tumors they also share common gene faults -- insight that could offer new treatment hopes. They also revealed more detail about how prostate cancer spreads, showing that the group of cells that first spread from the prostate carry on traveling around the body, forming more secondary tumors.

Polar bears unlikely to thrive on land-based foods

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:30 AM PDT

Polar bears, increasingly forced on shore due to sea ice loss, may be eating terrestrial foods including berries, birds and eggs, but any nutritional gains are limited to a few individuals and likely cannot compensate for lost opportunities to consume their traditional, lipid-rich prey -- ice seals.

How long do firms live? Finding patterns of company mortality in market data

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT

New research reveals a surprising insight: publicly-traded firms die off at the same rate regardless of their age or economic sector.

Alcohol-related cues, stress strongly impact females and increase 'craving'-like behavior

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:28 AM PDT

A study conducted in rats measuring risk factors that contribute to alcohol abuse suggests females are particularly sensitive to alcohol-related cues and stress which elicits a "craving" response.

Antioxidant therapy may have promising potential in concussion treatment

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

Antioxidants may play a key role in reducing the long-term effects of concussions and could potentially offer a unique new approach for treatment, a new study suggests. Common among athletes and soldiers, it is estimated that 3.4 million concussions occur each year in the United States. The development of a readily available oral supplement would have the potential to improve brain function in a percentage of concussion sufferers.

Phone counseling reduces pain, disability after back surgery

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

Having a short series of phone conversations with trained counselors can substantially boost recovery and reduce pain in patients after spinal surgery, a new study shows. The phone calls, designed to enrich standard pre- and post-operative care by reinforcing the value of sticking with physical therapy and back-strengthening exercise regimens, are a relatively inexpensive and simple intervention that can maximize surgical outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who undergo spinal surgeries every year, the investigators say.

Premature aging of stem cell telomeres, not inflammation, linked to emphysema

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

Lung diseases like emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis are common among people with malfunctioning telomeres, the "caps" or ends of chromosomes. Now, researchers say they have discovered what goes wrong and why.

Exercise for older mouse mothers lowers risk of heart defects in babies

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

In people, a baby's risk of congenital heart defects is associated with the age of the mother. Risk goes up with increasing age. Newborn mice predisposed to heart defects because of genetic mutations show the same age association. A new study demonstrates that older mouse mothers reduce this risk for their offspring to that of younger mouse mothers through exercise alone, according to researchers.

Springing ahead of nature: Device increases walking efficiency

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 10:27 AM PDT

It's taken millions of years for humans to perfect the art of walking. But research results show that humans can get better 'gas mileage' using an unpowered exoskeleton to modify the structure of their ankles.

Students drop their stereotypes of science when they 'meet the scientist'

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 09:07 AM PDT

Young people who may have thought that scientists were 'boring' and 'nerdy' changed their minds after having an opportunity to 'Meet the Scientist' face-to-face, a study says. The 'Meet the Scientist' sessions are part of a wider initiative in England to promote health literacy through science education.

Hong Kong's first identified dinosaur-era vertebrate

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:58 AM PDT

A ~147 million-year-old Jurassic-aged osteoglossoid osteoglossomorph fish Paralycoptera from outcrops at Lai Chi Chong has been described. This fossil represents the first dinosaur-era fish - as well as vertebrate - from Hong Kong to be identified.

Study of brain networks shows differences in children with OCD

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT

Communication between some of the brain's most important centers is altered in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a new study shows. The results are highly consistent with observations in the clinic, said a researcher. "Children with OCD are beset by preoccupations and can't easily move on from certain tasks and behaviors. As all complex behavior arises from brain networks, being trapped in this mode must arise from impaired brain network interactions in OCD. In our previous studies we had focused on assessing the structure and the neurochemistry of the anterior cingulate. We had long suspected that brain network interactions originating in this region are impaired in the disorder. But this is the first study to clearly demonstrate this."

Texting too tempting for college students even when inappropriate

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT

College students may realize that texting in the shower or at a funeral is inappropriate, but many do it anyway, according to psychologists. The researchers suggest that college students are not necessarily trying to create new norms in texting behaviors, but that breaking with these norms is just too tempting for them in most cases. When they receive texts, the temptation to check their texts and send messages back is much greater than the urge to pay attention to their present situation.

Old cancer drug could have new use in fighting cancer

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT

An old cancer drug can not only kill cancer cells, but also works to change how certain cancer cells function, weakening those cells so they can be killed by other drugs, a veterinary researcher has discovered.

Anticancer drug can spur immune system to fight infection

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT

Imatinib, an example of a 'targeted therapy' against cancer, or related drugs might be tools to fight a variety of infections, scientists say. Imatinib, is an example of a "targeted therapy" against certain types of cancer. It blocks tyrosine kinase enzymes, which are dysregulated in cancers such as chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Where no smartphone has gone before

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:57 AM PDT

Star Trek's 'Tricorder' was an essential tool, a multifunctional hand-held device used to sense, compute, and record data in a threatening and unpredictable universe -- and it's no longer completely science fiction. A new invention may be able to turn smartphones into powerful hyperspectral sensors, capable of identifying the chemical components of objects from a distance.

Barriers found that prevent Ugandans with rheumatic heart disease from receiving needed penicillin

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:45 AM PDT

Access to penicillin can prevent deaths from rheumatic heart disease. Researchers collaborated to learn about obstacles that prevent people from receiving the medication and find ways to overcome them.

Quantum teleportation on a chip: Significant step towards ultra-high speed quantum computers

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:45 AM PDT

The core circuits of quantum teleportation, which generate and detect quantum entanglement, have been successfully integrated into a photonic chip by an international team of scientists. These results pave the way to developing ultra-high-speed quantum computers and strengthening the security of communication.

Team succeeds in doubling life span of mice suffering from premature aging

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:45 AM PDT

An increase in the capacity to produce nucleotides, the 'building blocks' of DNA, reduces genome fragility and counteracts premature aging in mutant mice for the ATR protein. The experiments may explain the beneficial effects of folic acid, a precursor of nucleotides, which are clinically used to alleviate the degenerative symptoms associated with aging.

Food-poisoning pathogen: A multi-faceted poison?

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 08:45 AM PDT

The Bacillus cereus bacteria is one of the potential causes of food poisoning. A recent study shows that this versatile pathogen produces 19 different variants of a poison that causes nausea and vomiting in human beings. This variety could explain why some cases are relatively benign and others can result in death.

'Beige' fat-burning cells in humans identified

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

For the first time, a research team has isolated energy-burning 'beige' fat from adult humans, which is known to be able to convert unhealthy white fat into healthy brown fat. The scientists also found new genetic markers of this beige fat.

Simplifying SNP discovery in the cotton genome

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a strategy that simplifies the discovery of useful single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the complex cotton genome. This method will be useful for marker-assisted selection, linkage and QTL mapping, and genetic diversity studies. It has the added benefit of being applicable to other economically important allotetraploid species, including the brassicas, and can be extended to species that do not currently have a reference genome.

Mighty microexons take center stage in shaping of the brain

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

Complex brain disorders, such as autism or schizophrenia, still puzzle scientists because their causes lie hidden in early events of brain development, which are still poorly understood. This is about to change thanks to researchers who have developed a powerful model that will allow researchers to better understand the physiology behind many disorders.

Value of local knowledge in recovering endangered species

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

A new study explores how recreational anglers' understanding of the ecosystem and fishing practices influence their views of conserving bocaccio, canary rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish in Puget Sound.

Light-powered gyroscope is world's smallest: Promises a powerful spin on navigation

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

A new detection scheme that may lead to the world's smallest gyroscope has been uncovered by scientists. More than creative learning toys, gyroscopes are indispensable components in a number of technologies, including inertial guidance systems, which monitor an object's motion and orientation. Space probes, satellites, and rockets continuously rely on these systems for accurate flight control. But like so many other essential pieces of aerospace technology, weight is a perennial problem.

Mice sing like songbirds to woo mates

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:36 AM PDT

Male mice sing ultrasonic vocalizations beyond human hearing to seduce females, according to a new study. The male's loud, more complex hailing song is replaced by a softer, simpler song when the female is near. Researchers developed a new statistical method for analyzing song patterns in mice, because the animals may be useful in research on human communication disorders.

Depression often co-occurs with joint diseases

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:34 AM PDT

Depression is one of the leading health risks and affects 350 million people worldwide. Roughly one third of the participants in a recent study who were suffering from depression also suffered from at least one physical disease. This association was evident especially with arthrosis and arthritis that are degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the joints.

Interview blues: Anxious, slow talkers often do not get the job

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:34 AM PDT

Job candidates should focus on exuding warmth and assertiveness, a new study says. Researchers offer a few tips for those who are worried that their nerves might stand between them and acing their next job interview. Stop worrying about how much you might blush or your nervous tics, and focus more on being warm, friendly and assertive. The advice comes from researchers who carefully watched what anxious people do during an interview, and how others respond to them.

Combining magnetism and light to fight cancer

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:34 AM PDT

By combining, in a liposome, magnetic nanoparticles and photosensitizers that are simultaneously and remotely activated by external physical stimuli (a magnetic field and light), scientists obtained total tumor regression in mice. Non-toxic when they are not activated, such therapies can also achieve a reduction in adverse effects. These results demonstrate the importance of multiple treatments.

Expanding on liquid biopsies with exosomes

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 06:33 AM PDT

A new type of liquid biopsy for solid tumors based on analyzing exosomes from the blood is being tested by clinicians. "The term 'liquid biopsy' describes the fact that a simple blood sample can contain many tumor-derived molecules and even tumor cells, enabling molecular analyses similar to those possible in tumor tissue samples," says a co-lead investigator of the study.

Will the Affordable Care Act eliminate health disparities?

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:46 AM PDT

Two new studies from Massachusetts indicate that racial and socioeconomic disparities persist even with nearly universal access to health coverage. In an accompanying editorial, an expert offers perspective on why expanding health coverage is a significant step in the right direction, but may not be enough to end disparities.

ActiveGuard mattress liners reduce bed bugs' ability to lay eggs, study finds

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:45 AM PDT

Entomologists have found that bed bugs exposed to permethrin-impregnated ActiveGuard Mattress Liners are significantly less likely to take bloodmeals and to lay eggs -- even in pyrethroid-resistant populations.

Number of childhood cancer survivors increasing, most have morbidities

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:45 AM PDT

The prevalence of childhood cancer survivors is estimated to have increased, and the majority of those who have survived five or more years beyond diagnosis may have at least one chronic health condition, a new report suggests.

Cancer prevention efforts in the US a mixed bag

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:45 AM PDT

While there has been substantial progress in some cancer control efforts in the past several decades, like reductions in smoking and increased utilization of cancer screening, progress in some areas is lagging in the United States, according to a new report.

Well-designed classrooms can boost learning progress in primary school pupils by up to 16% in a single year, research reveals

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:44 AM PDT

Clear evidence has now been gathered that well-designed primary school classrooms boost children's learning progress in reading, writing and math. Natural light, temperature, air quality, color and individualized classroom design were noted as amongst the biggest physical factors impacting on pupils' learning progress.

Insight creates new memories in the brain

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:44 AM PDT

Scientists have visualized - for the first time - how the brain recombines memories of past events when these are complemented by new information.

Life for microbial specialists in the poisonous breath of sleeping volcanoes

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:43 AM PDT

Researchers have analyze the microbial community in volcanically active soils. In a mofette close to the Czech river Plesná in north-western Bohemia, the team found numerous organisms that were thriving in an environment which seems to be so hostile to life.

Treating a common gum condition could reduce risk of heart attacks in kidney disease patients

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 05:43 AM PDT

Treating a common gum condition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients could significantly reduce their risk of potentially fatal heart disease, researchers say. Over 10% of the adult population have CKD and those affected often have poor health outcomes due to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. CKD progressively worsens kidney function, raises blood pressure, and can cause progressive vascular injury and heart disease.