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• Warm-blooded fishes swim faster and farther than cold-blooded counterparts
• Local media helps communities to cope after traumatic events
• Employers prefer male managerial potential to female proven track record
• Solomon Islands dolphin hunts cast spotlight on small cetacean survival
• Viewing violent news on social media can cause trauma
• What drives the evolution of bird nest structures?
• Customers will pay more today if there's payback later, shows equal billing study
• Child behavior is worse when dads feel unsupported
• Vulnerable grassland birds abandon mating sites near wind turbines
• Comprehensive stroke centers may improve bleeding stroke survival
• Mapping app turns art into a sharable walking route
• Parents often misperceive their obese children as 'about the right weight'
• Using fresh whole blood lowers childrens' donor exposure risk in heart surgery
• Study solves ovarian cell mystery, shedding new light on reproductive disorders
• Memory task-specific encoding by neuronal networks in the human hippocampus
• How managers and colleagues can help staff who witness workplace aggression
• Securing supply of sea scallops for today and tomorrow
• Researchers reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics in lab
• Mobile phone video microscope automates detection of parasites in blood
• Plant toxin causes biliary atresia in animal model
• Genetically isolated sloth bears rely on habitat corridors to connect populations
• Snakes' dining habits shaped by ancestry, relationships more so than ecology
• Fishermen, communities need more than healthy fish stocks
• Sea lion strandings: The view from the rookery
• When mom gains too much weight during pregnancy, her child is more likely to be obese
• Channeling valleytronics in graphene
• Molecular homing beacon redirects human antibodies to fight pathogenic bacteria
• Tiny silicone spheres come out of the mist: Targeted medicine?
• Fecal microbiota transplant cures C. diff, blocks multi-drug resistant pathogens, study shows
• Missing link in evolution of complex cells discovered
• Blocking obesity-associated protein stops dangerous fat formation, mouse study shows
• New stem cells hold potential for generating mature functional tissues
• Explosive volcanoes fueled by water
• A better way to build DNA scaffolds: Long, custom-designed DNA strands
• Could mobile phone data help bring electricity to the developing world?
• Brain chemical may offer new clues in treating chronic pain
• Conservationists 'on the fence' about barriers to protect wildlife in drylands
• Flower find provides real-time insight into evolution
• Carrot or stick? Punishments may guide behavior more effectively than rewards
• Airflow model to reduce time on the tarmac
• Survival rates in trauma patients after Massachusetts health insurance reform
• Biologist are increasingly becoming data scientists, expert says
• Inkjet printing process for kesterite solar cells
• Is diet or exercise the best way to reduce diabetes risk?
• Going high-tech to study fragile cold-water reefs
• Insight into Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly mechanism
• 'Super-cool' way to deliver drugs
• Foreclosures fueled racial segregation in U.S., study finds
• Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered
• The next step in DNA computing: GPS mapping?
• Thermometer-like device could help diagnose heart attacks
• From the depths of a microscopic world, spontaneous cooperation
• Social network experiments create a tipping point to improve public health
• Springing into action: New biosafety process introduced
• Scientists X-ray chocolate
• Blood markers could help predict outcome of infant heart surgery
• Earthquakes: Supercycles in subduction zones
• Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control
• 'Dr. Google' doesn't know best: Search engine self-diagnosis and 'cyberchondria'
• New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information

Warm-blooded fishes swim faster and farther than cold-blooded counterparts Posted: 06 May 2015 01:43 PM PDT Marine scientists have long known that some species of fish possess a unique physiological characteristic -- a web of arteries and veins lying very close together -- that enables them to raise their internal temperatures higher than that of the water surrounding them. Now, a new study has demonstrated that species possessing the ability to warm their core -- a process called endothermy -- are able to swim two and a half times faster than those whose body temperature doesn't change.

Local media helps communities to cope after traumatic events Posted: 06 May 2015 01:43 PM PDT Local media's sensitive approach to communities trying to cope in the face of trauma helps local people adapt to the stressful events by strengthening community bonds.

Employers prefer male managerial potential to female proven track record Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT Male job applicants who are perceived to have high levels of leadership potential are rated as a better employment prospect than a female applicant with prove leadership track record.

Solomon Islands dolphin hunts cast spotlight on small cetacean survival Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT A new study on the impact of 'drive-hunting' dolphins in the Solomon Islands is casting a spotlight on the increasing vulnerability of small cetaceans around the world. From 1976 to 2013, more than 15,000 dolphins were killed by villagers in Fanalei alone, where a single dolphin tooth can fetch the equivalent of 70 cents -- an increase in value of five times just in the last decade.

Viewing violent news on social media can cause trauma Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT Viewing violent news events via social media can cause people to experience symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What drives the evolution of bird nest structures? Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT How to protect your chicks from predators? Build a dome over them! There is tremendous diversity among the nests of birds, in nest location, structure, materials, and more, but we know very little about the forces that shaped the evolution of this incredible variety. A new study finds that domed-shaped nests arose as a result of species transitioning to nesting on the ground, where the risk from predators is greater.

Customers will pay more today if there's payback later, shows equal billing study Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT A study of the best ways to structure equal billing plans says that smart companies should set them up so that customers get money back at the end of the term. Not only do they think they prefer to pay a little more each month to make sure they get that refund later but after having experienced a refund they are more satisfied and more loyal.

Child behavior is worse when dads feel unsupported Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT Children are more likely to display troublesome behavior in families in which the father feels unsupported by his partner.

Vulnerable grassland birds abandon mating sites near wind turbines Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT Shifting to renewable energy sources has been widely touted as one of the best ways to fight climate change, but even renewable energy can have a downside, as in the case of wind turbines' effects on bird populations. In a new paper, a group of researchers demonstrate the impact that one wind energy development in Kansas has had on Greater Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) breeding in the area.

Comprehensive stroke centers may improve bleeding stroke survival Posted: 06 May 2015 01:42 PM PDT People with brain bleeds are more likely to survive if they're treated at a comprehensive stroke center. Comprehensive stroke centers have the equipment and personnel to deal with the most severe strokes, including neurological critical care and 24-hour availability of neurosurgeons.

Mapping app turns art into a sharable walking route Posted: 06 May 2015 01:41 PM PDT The Trace app turns a digital sketch that you draw on your smartphone screen -- heart, maple leaf, raindrop -- into a walking route that you can send to a friend. The recipient of the "gift" receives step-by-step walking directions that eventually reveal the hidden shape on a map.

Parents often misperceive their obese children as 'about the right weight' Posted: 06 May 2015 01:41 PM PDT Although rates of childhood obesity have risen over the last several decades, a vast majority of parents perceive their kids as "about the right weight," according to new research. The authors believe it is the first study to examine the lack of change over time of parents' perception of their preschool child's weight status.

Using fresh whole blood lowers childrens' donor exposure risk in heart surgery Posted: 06 May 2015 01:41 PM PDT Children who undergo heart surgery are better off receiving fresh whole blood transfusions from a single donor, rather than receiving component blood from multiple donors. Limiting donor exposures reduces the patients' risk of complications, research shows.

Study solves ovarian cell mystery, shedding new light on reproductive disorders Posted: 06 May 2015 01:41 PM PDT A long-standing mystery about the origin of one of the cell types that make up the ovary has been solved by researchers. The team also discovered how ovarian cells share information during development of an ovarian follicle, which holds the maturing egg.

Memory task-specific encoding by neuronal networks in the human hippocampus Posted: 06 May 2015 01:37 PM PDT Epilepsy patients undergoing intracranial monitoring for seizure localization provide an excellent model to study discharge patterns of single neurons within the mesial temporal lobe during memory tasks. Animal models have shown that discharge patterns of CA3 neuronal populations influence the discharge of CA1 neurons. The researchers hypothesized that human hippocampal neurons have regionally and temporally specific and interrelated discharge patterns, which contribute to task specific memory formation and retrieval.

How managers and colleagues can help staff who witness workplace aggression Posted: 06 May 2015 11:26 AM PDT Just witnessing aggression or other bad behavior at work can affect our well-being, but the right support from employers and colleagues can limit the consequences.

Securing supply of sea scallops for today and tomorrow Posted: 06 May 2015 11:26 AM PDT Good management has brought the $559 million United States sea scallop fishery back from the brink of collapse over the past 20 years. However, its current fishery management plan does not account for longer-term environmental change like ocean warming and acidification that may affect the fishery in the future. A group of researchers hopes to change that.

Researchers reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics in lab Posted: 06 May 2015 11:26 AM PDT The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing problem in the United States and the world. New findings by researchers in evolutionary biology and mathematics could help doctors better address the problem in a clinical setting.

Mobile phone video microscope automates detection of parasites in blood Posted: 06 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT A new mobile phone microscope that uses video to automatically detect and quantify infection by parasitic worms in a drop of blood has been developed by researchers. This next generation of CellScope technology could help revive efforts to eradicate debilitating diseases in Africa by providing critical information for health providers in the field.

Plant toxin causes biliary atresia in animal model Posted: 06 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT A new study is a classic example of how seemingly unlikely collaborators can come together to make surprising discoveries. An international team of gastroenterologists, pediatricians, natural products chemists, and veterinarians, working with zebrafish models and mouse cell cultures have discovered that a chemical found in Australian plants provides insights into the cause of a rare and debilitating disorder affecting newborns called biliary atresia, is the most common indication for a liver transplant in children.

Genetically isolated sloth bears rely on habitat corridors to connect populations Posted: 06 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT Habitat connectivity and corridors may play an important role in maintaining gene flow between isolated sloth bear populations in central India.

Snakes' dining habits shaped by ancestry, relationships more so than ecology Posted: 06 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT Diets of snakes from a temperate region in South America may depend more on phylogeny (ancestry) than ecology.

Fishermen, communities need more than healthy fish stocks Posted: 06 May 2015 11:25 AM PDT A new tool ranks the vitality of a fishery by looking at its economic and community benefits as well as its ecological health. Since 2010, researchers have visited and studied fisheries ranging from Alaska halibut and Oregon Dungeness crab to Norway cod, Louisiana shrimp, Nile perch in Uganda and blue swimming crabs in Indonesia to gather information and refine the tool.

Sea lion strandings: The view from the rookery Posted: 06 May 2015 11:05 AM PDT Wildlife biologists are describing conditions at the sea lion rookeries on the Channel Islands, where pups are going hungry because unusually warm water along the Pacific coast has made it more difficult for their mothers to find food.

When mom gains too much weight during pregnancy, her child is more likely to be obese Posted: 06 May 2015 11:05 AM PDT A new study has found that when an expecting mother gains more weight than recommended, does not exercise or smokes during pregnancy, the probability that her child will be overweight or obese at the age of eight sharply increases.

Channeling valleytronics in graphene Posted: 06 May 2015 11:05 AM PDT Scientists have discovered topologically protected 1-D electron conducting channels at the domain walls of bilayer graphene that should prove useful for valleytronics.

Molecular homing beacon redirects human antibodies to fight pathogenic bacteria Posted: 06 May 2015 11:04 AM PDT With the threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens growing, new ideas to treat infections are sorely needed. Researchers report preliminary success testing an entirely novel approach -- tagging bacteria with a molecular "homing beacon" that attracts pre-existing antibodies to attack the pathogens.

Tiny silicone spheres come out of the mist: Targeted medicine? Posted: 06 May 2015 10:48 AM PDT Technology in common household humidifiers could enable the next wave of high-tech medical imaging and targeted medicine, thanks to a new method for making tiny silicone microspheres. The researchers made silicone microspheres with a variety of properties for different applications, including colored, fluorescent and magnetic spheres.

Fecal microbiota transplant cures C. diff, blocks multi-drug resistant pathogens, study shows Posted: 06 May 2015 10:48 AM PDT A fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) not only cured a case of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection in a 66 year old man; it eliminated populations of multi-drug resistant organisms both in the patient's gastrointestinal tract, and several other body sites, researchers report.

Missing link in evolution of complex cells discovered Posted: 06 May 2015 10:48 AM PDT Biologists have discovered a new microbe that represents a missing link in the evolution of complex life. The study provides a new understanding of how, billions of years ago, the complex cell types that comprise plants, fungi, but also animals and humans, evolved from simple microbes.

Blocking obesity-associated protein stops dangerous fat formation, mouse study shows Posted: 06 May 2015 10:36 AM PDT By changing mouse genes to block a protein associated with obesity, scientists have prevented fat from forming around the animals' internal organs, even when the animals eat an unhealthy diet. The study found that these genetically engineered mice also retained their sensitivity to insulin (normally blunted by obesity), despite gaining weight.

New stem cells hold potential for generating mature functional tissues Posted: 06 May 2015 10:16 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell that could potentially generate mature, functional tissues. They report using these new stem cells to develop the first reliable method for integrating human stem cells into nonviable mouse embryos in a laboratory dish in such a way that the human cells began to differentiate into early-stage tissues.

Explosive volcanoes fueled by water Posted: 06 May 2015 09:51 AM PDT Geologists have tapped water in surface rocks to show how magma forms deep underground and produces explosive volcanoes in the Cascade Range.

A better way to build DNA scaffolds: Long, custom-designed DNA strands Posted: 06 May 2015 09:50 AM PDT Imagine taking strands of DNA - the material in our cells that determines how we look and function - and using it to build tiny structures that can deliver drugs to targets within the body or take electronic miniaturization to a whole new level. While it may still sound like science fiction to most of us, researchers have been piecing together and experimenting with DNA structures for decades. And, in recent years, scientists have moved the use of human-made DNA structures closer to a variety of real-world applications.

Could mobile phone data help bring electricity to the developing world? Posted: 06 May 2015 09:50 AM PDT Researchers have used anonymized cell phone data to assess the feasibility of electrification options for rural communities in Senegal, demonstrating a potentially valuable approach to using data to solve problems of development.

Brain chemical may offer new clues in treating chronic pain Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT A chemical in the brain typically associated with cognition, movement and reward-motivation behavior -- among others -- may also play a role in promoting chronic pain, according to new research. The chemical, dopamine, sets the stage for many important brain functions, but the mechanisms that cause it to contribute to chronic pain are less well understood.

Conservationists 'on the fence' about barriers to protect wildlife in drylands Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT To fence or not to fence? That is the question facing conservationists concerned with barriers that keep wildlife in and people out. Researchers say that new policies must be developed before fences are erected -- particularly in dryland ecosystems where mobility is essential for both humans and wildlife.

Flower find provides real-time insight into evolution Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT A scientist who discovered a new Scottish flower has made an unexpected second finding that provides unique insight into our understanding of evolution. The original find was made even more rare after discovering that the Mimulus peregrinus a hybrid plant, most of which are normally infertile. Instead, this one doubled the amount of DNA in its cells and evolved to form a new species in a process known as polyploidisation, the same mechanism by which wheat, cotton and tobacco originated.

Carrot or stick? Punishments may guide behavior more effectively than rewards Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT When it comes to rewards and punishments, which is more effective -- the carrot or the stick? A simple experiment suggests that punishments are more likely to influence behavior than rewards. The results stem from a study involving 88 students at a university.

Airflow model to reduce time on the tarmac Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT A mechanical engineering professor describes in a new article a new mathematical tool he developed to calculate the flow of turbulent air produced by a plane's wing tips when an airplane takes off. He says that "time spent twiddling your thumbs on the tarmac" could be significantly reduced, as a result.

Survival rates in trauma patients after Massachusetts health insurance reform Posted: 06 May 2015 09:05 AM PDT A study of survival rates in trauma patients following health insurance reform in Massachusetts found a passing increase in adjusted mortality rates, an unexpected finding suggesting that simply providing insurance incentives and subsidies may not improve survival for trauma patients, according to a report.

Biologist are increasingly becoming data scientists, expert says Posted: 06 May 2015 09:04 AM PDT Biology is rapidly acquiring the character of a data science. Billions of data points on genes, proteins and other molecules are compiled in large files and systematically studied. This should lead to more knowledge and understanding about living organisms, including crops and livestock that are the basis of food security for the world population, an expert explains.

Inkjet printing process for kesterite solar cells Posted: 06 May 2015 08:15 AM PDT A research team has developed an inkjet printing technology to produce kesterite thin film absorbers. Based on the inkjet-printed absorbers, solar cells with total area conversion efficiency of up to 6.4 percent have been achieved. Although this is lower than the efficiency records for this material class, the inkjet printing minimizes waste and has huge advantages for industrial production.

Is diet or exercise the best way to reduce diabetes risk? Posted: 06 May 2015 08:15 AM PDT Though people often think of the benefits from exercise, calorie restriction and weight loss as interchangeable, it appears that they may all offer distinct and cumulative benefits when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes risk.

Going high-tech to study fragile cold-water reefs Posted: 06 May 2015 08:15 AM PDT Coral reefs are generally associated with warm, shallow and crystal-clear waters in the tropics. Other species of coral, however, flourish in the deep cold ocean where they also form large reefs. Now researchers have applied a technique to study these important and fragile cold water reefs without affecting them or altering their surrounding physical environment.

Insight into Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly mechanism Posted: 06 May 2015 08:15 AM PDT For decades, numerous research works have identified the structures of most EBOV encoded proteins except two, the L protein and nucleoprotein (NP), because of the difficulties they present in the expression, purification and crystallization process. Recently, researchers identified the structure of the EBOV NP core domain.

'Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Posted: 06 May 2015 08:15 AM PDT Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body.

Foreclosures fueled racial segregation in U.S., study finds Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT Some 9 million American families lost their homes to foreclosure during the late 2000s housing bust, driving many to economic ruin and in search of new residences. Hardest hit were black, Latino, and racially integrated neighborhoods, according to a new analysis of the crisis.

Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say.

The next step in DNA computing: GPS mapping? Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT Conventional silicon-based computing, which has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent decades, is pushing against its practical limits. DNA computing could help take the digital era to the next level. Scientists are now reporting progress toward that goal with the development of a novel DNA-based GPS.

Thermometer-like device could help diagnose heart attacks Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT Diagnosing a heart attack can require multiple tests using expensive equipment. But not everyone has access to such techniques, especially in remote or low-income areas. Now scientists have developed a simple, thermometer-like device that could help doctors diagnose heart attacks with minimal materials and cost.

From the depths of a microscopic world, spontaneous cooperation Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT A clever combination of two different types of computer simulations enabled a group of researchers to uncover an unexpectedly cooperative group dynamic: the spontaneous emergence of resource sharing among individuals in a community. Who were the members of this friendly, digitally represented collective? Escherichia coli, rod-shaped bacteria found in the digestive systems of humans and many other animals.

Social network experiments create a tipping point to improve public health Posted: 06 May 2015 08:13 AM PDT Convincing a large group of people to change its behavior is no popularity contest, a new study shows. In a novel experiment, researchers found that certain public health interventions work best when key 'influencers' in a face-to-face social network are exposed to the program. What's surprising, they say, is that those key influencers are not the most socially connected people in the network.

Springing into action: New biosafety process introduced Posted: 06 May 2015 08:12 AM PDT While new and groundbreaking innovations in biotechnology are developed in laboratories, it is crucial that scientists employ the highest level of safety measures within the laboratory to prevent any unintentional effects on human health or environment. To that end, researchers are developing and making available to the public a proactive, biosafety process to review all proposed biotechnology research and manage potential risks preemptively.

Scientists X-ray chocolate Posted: 06 May 2015 08:12 AM PDT An X-ray study may lead to higher quality chocolate. The study offers new insights into the formation of fat bloom, an unwelcome white layer that occasionally forms on chocolate.

Blood markers could help predict outcome of infant heart surgery Posted: 06 May 2015 08:12 AM PDT New research suggests it may be possible to predict an infant's progress following surgery for congenital heart disease by analysing a number of important small molecules in the blood.

Earthquakes: Supercycles in subduction zones Posted: 06 May 2015 08:12 AM PDT When tectonic plates collide, they produce earthquakes like the recent one in Nepal. Researchers are providing new ways to explain how and why earthquake supercycles occur in zones where one plate moves under another, such as off the coast of Japan.

Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control Posted: 06 May 2015 08:09 AM PDT People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds.

'Dr. Google' doesn't know best: Search engine self-diagnosis and 'cyberchondria' Posted: 06 May 2015 06:57 AM PDT Research is aiming to improve search engines after finding online self-diagnosis of health conditions provides misleading results that can do more harm than good.

New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information Posted: 06 May 2015 06:57 AM PDT The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article by an international team of researchers.

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